Running alone...

Dan J.S. said:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is after work. Do I run before
dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food settles? 9pm. Problem with 9pm, is that sometimes
I am tired, and it's easy to skip.

I appreciate the dilemma and you're looking for the least bad option. I am not a "morning person"
(at least when it comes to running) but I found that when I was marathon training and the longs runs
just couldn't be fitted in anywhere else, early morning running wasn't as bad as I feared. Tough to
do in complete darkness but it's amazing what you can get used to. Try it for a couple of weeks
before you discount it as an option.

Tim

--
Remove the obvious to reply by email.

"Dan J.S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ok, I am trying to get into running. This time, I have to go solo. In the past, I had a friend or
two for motivational purposes, these friends are

on

Quoted message said:

schedules that are incompatible with mine now. I have a few problems,

maybe

Quoted message said:

someone here can give me an insight:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is

after

Quoted message said:

work. Do I run before dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food

settles?

Quoted message said:

9pm. Problem with 9pm, is that sometimes I am tired, and it's easy to

skip.

Quoted message said:

I want to avoid that. Problem with 6pm is that I am hungry for dinner. I

was

Quoted message said:

thinking about eating a protein bar on the train on the way home, so I

have

Quoted message said:

some energy, etc. Any comments?

It doesn't sound like you're either a morning person OR an evening person? I'm not a morning person,
but I more often than not, head out for my run at 9-10 PM this time of year. I need to put a little
distance between running and my last meal (otherwise I cramp), so if I were you I'd either go before
supper or a few hours after. In the summer months I typically run late afternoon, early evening
before sunset.

Quoted message said:

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside. I have been running on
and off for years, I would like to get into it. I consider myself a novice runner. I don't do
more than 5k runs, and really run to control weight, and also to get back to higher energy
levels. What

do

Quoted message said:

you guys/gals do to motivate yourself? Maybe there is some FAQ on this, since I know this is asked
over and over again.

Motivation has to be found within yourself, not from a FAQ. A training partner can help, but at the
same time can hinder. For example, I usually run alone, but this past Sunday I had planned a run
with my brother. Long story short, his wife was sick, he was watching the kids, the run got
postponed. Now had, I not counted on my running partner, I could have gotten that run in earlier in
the day, but without his wife watching his and my kids the run did not happen. The moral being, with
a running partner you get the possible benefit of motivation, but the snag is that you need to find
a mutual time to run. I view a running partner as a nice thing when it happens, but more often than
not it doesn't. I have two possible running partners, and I'm lucky if I get one or two runs in per
month with them.

perdy.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Ok, I am trying to get into running. This time, I have to go solo. In the past, I had a friend or
two for motivational purposes, these friends are on schedules that are incompatible with mine now.
I have a few problems, maybe someone here can give me an insight: snip

I can only speak for myself. In your situation, I'd run at 6 PM, before dinner. As a non-morning
person myself, I'll never be sufficiently motivated to get up early on a dark winter morning if the
option to bag it is there. Ditto for eating dinner first and waiting until later to run. It is just
too hard to get going again after you're already fed, warm, and relaxed. You've already admitted
that motivation may be an issue. Don't make it harder.

One other thing when running alone. If you're planning to run, say 4 miles, don't plot the course so
that you come close to home during the run. Plot the course so that you got "out" 2 miles, then you
HAVE to run the full distance back. You don't want to find yourself passing by your house with a
mile to go, especially if you're hungry. ;-)

Just my 2 cents.

-Fountainhead

"Dan J.S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is

after

Quoted message said:

work.

Can't you run at lunchtime? You get to skip lunch - good for the waistline - plus you're generally
running at the best time of day in terms of light and temperature. Just remember to have a large
brekkie else you'll be wilting half way around your route.

Quoted message said:

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside.

Crikey, who doesn't feel like this? I always make it a rule to do my exercises and get changed every
day. If I can stand at the door after that effort and I still don't feel like running, I won't.
Happens about once a month. I go back in and eat something *bad* to punish myself. Never fails to
get me out running the following day.

Roger.

Dan J.S. said:

Ok, I am trying to get into running. This time, I have to go solo. In the past, I had a friend or
two for motivational purposes, these friends are on schedules that are incompatible with mine now.
I have a few problems, maybe someone here can give me an insight:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is after work. Do I run before
dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food settles? 9pm. Problem with 9pm, is that sometimes
I am tired, and it's easy to skip. I want to avoid that. Problem with 6pm is that I am hungry
for dinner. I was thinking about eating a protein bar on the train on the way home, so I have
some energy, etc. Any comments?

I'm guessing the 6pm option may be the best. Depending on length of your commute home, can you grab
either a protein or energy bar (short ride) enroute or light meal (longer ride) before you leave? Or
perhaps having a heavier lunch that would last longer?

I run after work - about 4:30-5pm. I generally either eat a late lunch or have some munchies around
3-3:30pm or so so my stomach doesn't growl while I'm running. One trailhead is about 100 m from the
lab door 🙂 I drive (or drive/bike when weather was warmer and less snow) home after that. I may
have a slim-fast in the car to catch that 1/2 hr optimal refueling window. I like the break between
day and evening work so prefer to run then, but I do tend to run better in mornings, although not
necessarily real early since I'm up late.

Quoted message said:

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside.

Perhaps a different perspective. Rather than viewing it as a method of weight control, consider it
play time - something that's fun, rather than a necessity. Maybe running on trails rather than road.
Changing routes. I'm not sure what kinds of things you do for fun now, but perhaps they could be
combined with running somehow or running cast in that perspective.

Running is my personal time to play, but I'm only running 3 days/wk for now but may cross-train on
other days - like skiing and snowshoeing when the snow is as nice as it's been. If the weather is
driving, sleeting rain, I may not go very far and just test some of my rain gear or whatever. While
running with others can be somewhat helpful and I've enjoyed the couple runs I've done with others,
I like the freedom of not having to meet somebody somewhere at a certain time. Other people may
need to have a fixed time to form a habit of running. I'm still at the point in my running, that
certain things seem to work and others seem to promote injury. I'm most likely to mess up when
running with others, but that's me. When running alone, I can adjust my run to fit what works best
for me on that day.

Just some thoughts.

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Dan J.S. said:

Ok, I am trying to get into running. This time, I have to go solo. In the past, I had a friend or
two for motivational purposes, these friends are on schedules that are incompatible with mine now.
I have a few problems, maybe someone here can give me an insight:

Good for you, Dan. Running partners are very nice but ...

Quoted message said:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is after work. Do I run before
dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food settles? 9pm. Problem with 9pm, is that sometimes I
am tired, and it's easy to skip. I want to avoid that. Problem with 6pm is that I am hungry for
dinner. I was thinking about eating a protein bar on the train on the way home, so I have some
energy, etc. Any comments?

Some of us run when we can. For example, at times I run before dawn, morning, afternoon, and night.
I do tend to let me food settle a bit but after you do a few runs you'll figure out how much
settling you need. I also like fine wine do I keep track of which wines are "runnable" and which
aren't. Normally, I only wait 30 to 45 minutes after a meal. FWIW, IMHO, LOL, a horse is a horse of
course of course, a sports bar on the train home sounds like a good stop-gap measure (eat the bar,
change clothes, run, recover, eat supper).

Quoted message said:

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside. I have been running on and
off for years, I would like to get into it. I consider myself a novice runner. I don't do more
than 5k runs, and really run to control weight, and also to get back to higher energy levels.
What do you guys/gals do to motivate yourself? Maybe there is some FAQ on this, since I know
this is asked over and over again.

A couple of things that work for me. 1) Get dressed. Once I have on the uniform, it seems a waste
not to use it. 2) Select a running event/race. There are some of us here who don't run the events as
races but do use them as social activites (beats dancing). So, sign up for a 5K or a juicy 10K and
use it as motivation. 3) I don't know about this first hand but some people I live with (OK, one
person) really likes to have her day organizaed. If you are one of these types, pick a time and make
it part of your daily routine.
4) Another one that I don't know first hand, put a "before" picture of Jarrad (Subway sandwiches
fame) on your television. 5) Read rec.running. There are several threads that would be good for
motivation. One is the weekly training logs that David (SwStudio) starts. The others are the
event reports. You can find them at kinder.cis.unf.edu/rec.running

I'd also recommend a good book or two. If you're into the science side Noakes is a good read (I've
worn out two copies already). Others would be Higdon's, Glover's, Lydiard's, and Galloway's books.
Your local library may have copies of these. Some of the authors have more than one book out there
so take a look at them.

Layne

-------------------------------------------------------
The rec.running report archives may be found at kinder.cis.unf.edurec.runningOpen ↗

In article said:

Ok, I am trying to get into running. This time, I have to go solo. In the past, I had a friend or
two for motivational purposes, these friends are on schedules that are incompatible with mine now.
I have a few problems, maybe someone here can give me an insight:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is after work. Do I run before
dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food settles?

I'll chime in with the people who suggest trying to run in the AM anyway. Hell, you don't have to be
awake to run. In fact there is something to be said for being half-asleep for that first mile.

Quoted message said:

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside.

What I do is tell myself that _anything_ is better than nothing, and if I'm really feeling lazy I
will just walk to the end of the street and back. Usually once I get out the door I'm ok.

Karl

Dan J.S. said:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is after work. Do I run before
dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food settles? 9pm. Problem with 9pm, is that sometimes
I am tired, and it's easy to skip. I want to avoid that. Problem with 6pm is that I am hungry
for dinner. I was thinking about eating a protein bar on the train on the way home, so I have
some energy, etc. Any comments?

Good ideas from others. I have a long 60km commute from work, then a 3.5km (2
mile) short bus home. 3 or 4 times a week I have my running gear under my work clothes on the long
commute. I whip off the clothes "superman style" and run home with my backpack. Sometimes just
the 3.5kms, but usually I run a more circuitous route, often via a local track where I can put
my backpack down.

Quoted message said:

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside. I have been running on and
off for years, I would like to get into it. I consider myself a novice runner. I don't do more
than 5k runs, and really run to control weight, and also to get back to higher energy levels.
What do you guys/gals do to motivate yourself? Maybe there is some FAQ on this, since I know
this is asked over and over again.

You need focus. Choose a local 5k race. Check the net for training schedules. See if there is a
local running club.

Good luck.

Anthony.

Tim Downie said:

I appreciate the dilemma and you're looking for the least bad option. I am not a "morning person"
(at least when it comes to running) but I found that when I was marathon training and the longs
runs just couldn't be fitted in anywhere else, early morning running wasn't as bad as I feared.
Tough to do in complete darkness but it's amazing what you can get used to. Try it for a couple of
weeks before you discount it as an option.

I'll second Tim's take on this. Get it out of the way early in the morning, feel better all day and
remove the anxiety that goes with trying to run after work. I used to have a hard time running once
a week at night and this was meeting other runners. I would be emotionally drained from the work day
leaving me very little motivation to meet my friends. If I had to do it alone at night I might never
had started running.

If you have a wife and/or kids you will not be taking time from them and likely keep peace. If your
have neither, It will give you time to hunt for a mate and then bump uglies to create children. 😉

In addition, watching the sun come up while you run, assuming you don't live in Alaska, is good
for the soul.

--
Doug Freese "Caveat Lector" [email hidden]

I'll bet jogging isn't the only activity Dan is forced to participate in, alone.

"Dan J.S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Ok, I am trying to get into running. This time, I have to go solo. In the past, I had a friend or
two for motivational purposes, these friends are on schedules that are incompatible with mine now.
I have a few problems, maybe someone here can give me an insight:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is after work. Do I run before
dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food settles? 9pm. Problem with 9pm, is that sometimes
I am tired, and it's easy to skip. I want to avoid that. Problem with 6pm is that I am hungry
for dinner. I was thinking about eating a protein bar on the train on the way home, so I have
some energy, etc. Any comments?

I run before dinner. The thought of having a large meal in my stomach as I'm running would deter me.
Although I do go for a post dinner walk around the neighborhood often.

Runners find that eating in between meal snacks is beneficial. My personal choice is Famous Amos
Chocolate Chip cookies. I sometimes have a breadstick or two if I want a nibble before I leave to
run. Protien bar would be ok as long as you know you can run after eating one. I'd suggest you try
giving yourself a time buffer between the protien bar and running. Experiment and you'll find what
works best for you.

Quoted message said:

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside. I have been running on and
off for years, I would like to get into it. I consider myself a novice runner. I don't do more
than 5k runs, and really run to control weight, and also to get back to higher energy levels.
What do you guys/gals do to motivate yourself? Maybe there is some FAQ on this, since I know
this is asked over and over again.

Make yourself a monthly mileage goal. And add up the miles as the month progresses. A monthly goal
will allow yourself the flexability to have a busy week where running may take a back seat.
Setting a weekly mileage goal some times puts too much stress on yourself if you need to skip a
few days in a row.

Most of all enjoy.

Andy

Doug Freese <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In addition, watching the sun come up while you run, assuming you don't live in Alaska, is good
for the soul.

One of the things I enjoy about running in the morning this time of year is that as I progress it
gets lighter. When I first start I think to myself "by the time I return it will be light." It is
good for the sould.

Andy

Doug Freese said:

In addition, watching the sun come up while you run, assuming you don't live in Alaska, is good
for the soul.

Watching the sun come up or down *is* good for the soul - even in Alaska
🙂 Some of us don't live in Barrow, where that is an issue for a couple
months yet. Actually, where I live the sunsets tend to be prettier, because the pinks and purples
play against the mountains. Sunrise, OTOH, the sun just pokes up behind the mountains without too
much fanfare.

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

"Dan J.S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ok, I am trying to get into running. This time, I have to go solo. In the past, I had a friend or
two for motivational purposes, these friends are

on

Quoted message said:

schedules that are incompatible with mine now. I have a few problems,

maybe

Quoted message said:

someone here can give me an insight:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is

after

Quoted message said:

work. Do I run before dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food

settles?

Quoted message said:

9pm. Problem with 9pm, is that sometimes I am tired, and it's easy to

skip.

Quoted message said:

I want to avoid that. Problem with 6pm is that I am hungry for dinner. I

was

Quoted message said:

thinking about eating a protein bar on the train on the way home, so I

have

Quoted message said:

some energy, etc. Any comments?

Given a choice, I personally would go for the earlier run time, and maybe have a snack on the train
before hand. Hunger sensation tends to go away while you're running, anyhow, which is one of the
reasons that the diet gurus recommend brisk exercise to stave off the urge to nosh. Now me, I don't
really have a choice, since I have to look after my kids and make dinner when I get home from work,
so I do run after they're asleep, usually around 10 pm or 10:30. For me, that's a less desirable
time--running in the dark takes a lot of the fun out of it.

Quoted message said:

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside. I have been running on
and off for years, I would like to get into it. I consider myself a novice runner. I don't do
more than 5k runs, and really run to control weight, and also to get back to higher energy
levels. What

do

Quoted message said:

you guys/gals do to motivate yourself? Maybe there is some FAQ on this, since I know this is asked
over and over again.

Set yourself little goals--sign up for a 5K race a couple months out, and set a goal to run it a
little faster than you think you can today. Or sign up for a 10K a couple months out, and set a goal
of building up your distance a little bit so you get through it. Keep a log, both so you can track
your progress and so you see those glaring weeks where you didn't run but once or twice and promise
yourself you won't do that again unless you're on crutches :-)

I've also gotten a lot of motivation by running with a beginner-friendly club once a week.

Dan-

I have a long, often congested drive home each day. My workplace is in a nice, sidewalked area, so
what I do on my 'run' days is bring my gear to work, then strech and run there before changing and
driving home.

Advantages-

I dont have to get up early to run. I am NOT a morning person. Also, I like to strech
well/leisurely, and that is hard to do when you're in a rush to finish and leave for work. This way
I can strech randomly during the day, then towards the end of the day before changing, and I know
that I'm well streched.

I don't have to mix it up with the morons on the Atlanta freeways. I run, and make myself
fitter/stronger, while the rest of the population raises their blood pressure in the maddening
traffic. By the time I'm done, its on the backside of the rush hour, and getting home is
considerably easier.

I get to run before my evening meal. No worries about waiting long enough after I eat. Also, the
drive home gives me enough time to 'get hungry again', since strenuous exercise is known to surpress
appetite for a period.

The only downside is if you have kids/family who want to see you, you do end up getting home later.
But if you came home to run, they still don't get to see you. While, the AM run avoids all that,
there are too many obstacles to morning runs for me, and the after-work run has too many upsides.
For me, it's a no-brainer.

Run safe!

-- Aceyman

Dan J.S. said:

Ok, I am trying to get into running. This time, I have to go solo. In the past, I had a friend or
two for motivational purposes, these friends are on schedules that are incompatible with mine now.
I have a few problems, maybe someone here can give me an insight:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is after work. Do I run before
dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food settles? 9pm. Problem with 9pm, is that sometimes I
am tired, and it's easy to skip. I want to avoid that. Problem with 6pm is that I am hungry for
dinner. I was thinking about eating a protein bar on the train on the way home, so I have some
energy, etc. Any comments?

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside. I have been running on and
off for years, I would like to get into it. I consider myself a novice runner. I don't do more
than 5k runs, and really run to control weight, and also to get back to higher energy levels.
What do you guys/gals do to motivate yourself? Maybe there is some FAQ on this, since I know
this is asked over and over again.

Dan,

If I were you I'd run directly after work and make it a priority. As far as running alone, I almost
always run alone and that's fine with me although I do enjoy running with others occasionally. I
wouldn't want to run with someone else more than once a week because I want to do what I want to do
rather than compromise with someone else.

I consider it an advantage to run alone. Not only does it permit me to do whatever I want to do but
it's also a good time to do some thinking or to let my mind wander or to check out nature or
whatever. This is my personal quality time.

My motivation is that I really don't want to be fat. I've been in decent shape most of my life and
can't stand the thought of being really fat. My problem is that all I have to do is nothing to gain
weight. The good news is that whenever I begin to walk/jog/run/whatever I immediately stop gaining
weight then slowly but surely begin to lose weight. Fortunately, there's just something that isn't
condusive to being a distance runner and being fat.

For motivation, feel really good about yourself every day when you get done with your workout.
Hopefully, knowing that you are one day closer to being in shape will be enough motivation.

Make your workout a priority. The only days you should miss a planned workout is when there is a
really good reason. Also, whenever you miss a workout, do whatever you can to make it up.

Good luck!!

Doug Gilliam

"Dan J.S." <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ok, I am trying to get into running. This time, I have to go solo. In the past, I had a friend or
two for motivational purposes, these friends are

on

Quoted message said:

schedules that are incompatible with mine now. I have a few problems,

maybe

Quoted message said:

someone here can give me an insight:

1. Running time. I am not a morning person, so the only time to run is

after

Quoted message said:

work. Do I run before dinner? 6pm? or after dinner, wait till food

settles?

Quoted message said:

9pm. Problem with 9pm, is that sometimes I am tired, and it's easy to

skip.

Quoted message said:

I want to avoid that. Problem with 6pm is that I am hungry for dinner. I

was

Quoted message said:

thinking about eating a protein bar on the train on the way home, so I

have

Quoted message said:

some energy, etc. Any comments?

2. Motivation. When running alone, it is hard to get yourself outside. I have been running on
and off for years, I would like to get into it. I consider myself a novice runner. I don't do
more than 5k runs, and really run to control weight, and also to get back to higher energy
levels. What

do

Quoted message said:

you guys/gals do to motivate yourself? Maybe there is some FAQ on this, since I know this is asked
over and over again.

In article said:

Dan,

If I were you I'd run directly after work and make it a priority. As far as running alone, I
almost always run alone and that's fine with me although I do enjoy running with others
occasionally. I wouldn't want to run with someone else more than once a week because I want to do
what I want to do rather than compromise with someone else.

It's also easier to relax and run at your own pace when you're not with a group. Group work works
well for speed training if you can find training partners who have a similar level of ability, but
for slow running, I'd rather be alone too.

I don't have any advice on discovering motivation. You have it or you don't. If you don't know
why you want to run, then don't. If you do know why but are prone to "forget" when conditions
become adverse, remind yourself why you want to run, and why it's important to you. If this
proves impossible, maybe it's not that important to you, in which case, by all means do something
else instead.

Would't look for a training partner for every run to provide motivation. Running is a big time
commitment (if you take it seriously) and you need to spend some time alone. Finding a training
group for regular speed work or finding regular races may help you keep focused though.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗