Still not alot fun

It's because you're a punk. Every "Mitchell" are low-life [censored], and
punks.

You think it's going to get better? Your naivety is so friggin cute.
There's a reason that treadmills, stair climbers, and stationary bikes
all end up being expensive clothes hangers.

"Ignoramus29573" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 16:11:47 -0500, Doug Mitchell

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi Guys,

I started walking/jogging sometime in November 2004 (44 year old male).

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

now jog 2.5 times week (sometimes 2, more usually 3). Today, after 3

days

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with no jogs (ice storm took care of two days and the other day
was...Valentine's Day...any excuse will do 🙂) I did 6.5 km in about 38
minutes...so nothing speedy. Anyways for the past couple of months I can

jog

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the whole time i.e. no walk breaks needed; and so I was hoping now the
individual runs would be more....fun. But it still seems like alot of

work.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

After a run is over I am glad that I went but only because I know it is
'good' for me. I guess after more weeks of running each run will be more
enjoyable? Do you recall similar feelings?

I see nothing wrong with taking walk breaks if they make things
more pleasant.

This would bug me to regress ie go back to walking after having left it.

Quoted message said:

Leave your watch at home when
you go running, if you wish.

Now that is a suggestion I will implement. I find myself now doing many
different routes. That way I cant compare my time to an earlier timed run! I
guess I thought that each successive run would be quicker than the previous
one...at least at my stage; but it hasnt worked out like that.

Quoted message said:

I consider running a form of entertainment and enjoyment. Not some
sort of masochism.

I am just hoping I get over the 'hump' soon. It can be a fine line between
enjoyment and masochism 🙂.

"Miss Anne Thrope" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

There's a reason that treadmills, stair climbers, and stationary bikes
all end up being expensive clothes hangers.

I dont have any of those....except clothes hangers.

"...and stationary bikes
All end up being expensive clothes hangers."
~ Ms. High Con

"Not! I bycycle my spincycle all the time ~
Honest, I really do. My fave
Gadget, among them ~ Titanium Macaroon, brain, spincycle,
And on mine
Only hangs my Brooks XLong black tights,
For my ballet practice and everything else
That I need
In my suitte case, for my Nut's
Cracker, Jack!"
~ Twittering

"Masochism !
What's that?"
~ Twittering

"Problems humping"
Just hum, says Ms.
Ann Lauterbach, the Annotater ~"
~ Twittering

"Clothes hangers ~
Or aeroplane flyer?
Daddy, come on down,
Bring mama, Bigshot, Petty, Mactavish, Leibe, Herman, Gertrude, Granny,
Pop,
Marrion, Tom, Allan, Michael, David,
Christine, Jesse, Nell, Kenneth, Lottie, Kenneth, Joanne, Julie,
Doris, WInfield, Buddy, Bob, Aline, Roseanne, Susan, Doug,
Sam, Jeffery, Jim, Steve, et al, et al, et al,

[ .^.^. ]

And
The Pepsi Generation!"
~ Twittering

Doug Mitchell said:

Hi Guys,

I started walking/jogging sometime in November 2004 (44 year old male). I
now jog 2.5 times week (sometimes 2, more usually 3). Today, after 3 days
with no jogs (ice storm took care of two days and the other day
was...Valentine's Day...any excuse will do 🙂) I did 6.5 km in about 38
minutes...so nothing speedy. Anyways for the past couple of months I can jog
the whole time i.e. no walk breaks needed; and so I was hoping now the
individual runs would be more....fun. But it still seems like alot of work.
After a run is over I am glad that I went but only because I know it is
'good' for me. I guess after more weeks of running each run will be more
enjoyable? Do you recall similar feelings?

--
D. Mitchell

I never expected running to be fun, but I have found it so from the
start. Some people do exercise because it is good for them and don't
enjoy it, but I figure if I am going to keep it up I need to do
something I enjoy. So one possibility is find another kind of exercise
you enjoy more.

The other possibility is to look for what would make running more
enjoyable to you. Would you enjoy it more with other people? I love
the time alone, myself. Can it be a meditative time? I always thought
swimming was the most boring of all but now I am enjoying swimming at a
coached masters swim practice--I'm struggling so hard to pay attention
to my form that I certainly don't have time to be bored. You could do
complicated variations in your running if that kind of thing appeals to you.

Two things make me eager to stick with the running, though I'm finding I
have to increase ridiculously slowly to avoid hip and knee problems.
One is a goal--a sprint triathlon in May. The other is being fascinated
by the feelings of my body exerting itself. What can my body do? What
is it like to keep breathing hard? How do my legs feel when I am done?
That sounds pretty silly but I think it is what makes me enjoy running
even on a track (easier on the joints). And I look at the stars, as I
run at 5:30 am.

Pam

"...and that Dr.
Anita Gurian!"
~ Twittering

[Hey!]

....Fobby
Got here early!

Leafing through rec.running, I read a message from
[email hidden] of 15 Feb 2005:

Quoted message said:

I consider running a form of entertainment and enjoyment. Not some
sort of masochism.

Well, if you're a masochist, then the pain *is* the "entertainment and
enjoyment" part.

mas·och·ism
Function: noun
A sexual perversion characterized by pleasure in being subjected to pain or
humiliation especially by a love object -- compare SADISM

Phil M.

--
"What counts in battle is what you do once the pain sets in." -John Short,
South African coach.

"..Arthur, author
Me, please, so I can author
You, too,
Again!"
~ Twittering

"Doug Mitchell" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Anyways for the past couple of months I can jog
the whole time i.e. no walk breaks needed; and so I was hoping now the
individual runs would be more....fun. But it still seems like alot of
work.

Quoted message said:

After a run is over I am glad that I went but only because I know it is
'good' for me. I guess after more weeks of running each run will be more
enjoyable? Do you recall similar feelings?

When I started running, I didn't like it much. I'd go out and run like hell
for 35 minutes, way beyond my comfort point. Then I picked up a book my
wife bought that said "slow down and enjoy it". As Robert Frost said,
"...and that has made all the difference."

Back off and enjoy it. Forget about the watch. Even the fast guys do a lot
of their running at a comfortable pace. If you're not comfortable, you're
going too fast.

-- Dan

Leafing through rec.running, I read a message from
[email hidden] of 15 Feb 2005:

Quoted message said:

Hi Guys,

I started walking/jogging sometime in November 2004 (44 year old
male). I now jog 2.5 times week (sometimes 2, more usually 3). Today,
after 3 days with no jogs (ice storm took care of two days and the
other day was...Valentine's Day...any excuse will do 🙂) I did 6.5 km
in about 38 minutes...so nothing speedy. Anyways for the past couple
of months I can jog the whole time i.e. no walk breaks needed; and so
I was hoping now the individual runs would be more....fun. But it
still seems like alot of work. After a run is over I am glad that I
went but only because I know it is 'good' for me. I guess after more
weeks of running each run will be more enjoyable? Do you recall
similar feelings?

Are you following any sort of training plan? What is your typical weekly
running program? Since you're running 3 days per week, make sure you are
spacing out your running days with at least one day of rest in between
each running day. Do some other activity on your non-running days, such
as an easy bike ride or a brisk walk.

Most of your runs should be at a "conversational" pace. That means that
you could carry on a conversation without getting winded. If you are
winded, then slow down or walk for a while.

Is your weight an issue? Carrying around extra baggage can certainly keep
you from making faster progress. However, consistant running and other
activites on your off days will help.

Phil M.

--
"What counts in battle is what you do once the pain sets in." -John
Short, South African coach.

Doug Mitchell said:

Hi Guys,

I started walking/jogging sometime in November 2004 (44 year old male). I
now jog 2.5 times week (sometimes 2, more usually 3). Today, after 3 days
with no jogs (ice storm took care of two days and the other day
was...Valentine's Day...any excuse will do 🙂) I did 6.5 km in about 38
minutes...so nothing speedy. Anyways for the past couple of months I can jog
the whole time i.e. no walk breaks needed; and so I was hoping now the
individual runs would be more....fun. But it still seems like alot of work.
After a run is over I am glad that I went but only because I know it is
'good' for me. I guess after more weeks of running each run will be more
enjoyable? Do you recall similar feelings?

--
D. Mitchell

What are your reasons for running - stress relief, weight loss/control,
fun, exercise, relaxation, fitness, gotta be faster than the guy next
door, challenge, etc ...? That can have a lot to do with how much you
enjoy it and how you run.

Make sure your efforts are at conversational effort. Don't race the
clock unless you're in a race. Leave your watch at home, except maybe
you might need it to know when to come home. The first step in running
is usually building a base of miles - slowly. Learn to listen to your
body - breathing so you're not running too hard - as well as any
messages your body may send you.

You might provide some information on your general activity levels. Are
you normally active in other things, and just now taking up running? Or
starting from a sedentary life style? This can affect how you feel
toward running and some issues. In particular, you may need to be
careful about doing too much too soon and allowing muscles, tendons,
ligaments of your feet, ankles, legs, and rest of body time to adapt.

If you're doing it just because it's "good" for you, you might want to
increase the diversity of your runs. Looks like you have started
changing routes, but you might want to consider easy trails. If you're
doing it for aerobic conditioning, you might want to consider hiking up
steep hills or biking in addition to your runs. If you hike, you might
want to throw some running in a hike (in running shoes, not hiking boots).

Don't be afraid to walk if you need to. I'd rather run 1 hr with an
occasional walk break than 30 min with no breaks. As I increase the time
that I run/walk (about 90-99% running, unless extended steep hill or
deep snow), the time that I can continuously run (barring interruptions
like loose dogs, getting lost on trail, photo stops, etc) increases. I
used to let those little interruptions bother me, but as I ran (/walked)
longer, I found there was almost always something where walking or
stopping for a bit was needed (ice, deep snow), and it could happen in a
race also. No, I'm not a purist, but I do enjoy trail running and the
time out there is more important to me than if I had to walk 30 min up a
25% hill. (This is where your goals are important - why are you
running.) I prefer the challenge of hilly trails rather than the
challenge of speed. YMMV.

FWIW, I've jogged somewhat most winters since late 70s, but just took up
more structured running about 4 years ago. Interestingly, it was about a
year after that when I started hating running (and almost quit after all
those years) because of all the regimen. Do it this way, don't do that,
etc. Formal schedules don't fit Alaskan winters well. I was beginning to
feel more sedentary than I had ever been. After some struggles
(including finding the right shoes and having a PT help with muscle
imbalances), I finally found what seems to work for me and I love
running now more than I ever did. It's an adventure; it's not exercise.
I'll explore new trails (herd trails off my usual main ones or official
trails I've never run before). I'm 57 female and feel like a kid with a
new toy.

Relax and enjoy your running. You'll find you'll get faster without
trying while you're first starting. Varying the length and intensity
(long, slow; short, a little faster) of your runs will help also. As
your runs get longer, you'll find the shorter ones get easier.

Good luck.

Dot

--
"You try to slow down and enjoy it. You try to look at the scenery. But
your brain can kind of go blank. All you want to do is tell your feet to
keep working."
-Cedar Petrosius, women's winner 2004 Matanuska Peak Challenge (14mi,
9000ft up and down)

Thanks for the detailed reply Dot.

Doug

"Dot" <dot.h@#duh?att.net> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Doug Mitchell said:

Hi Guys,

I started walking/jogging sometime in November 2004 (44 year old male).

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

now jog 2.5 times week (sometimes 2, more usually 3). Today, after 3

days

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with no jogs (ice storm took care of two days and the other day
was...Valentine's Day...any excuse will do 🙂) I did 6.5 km in about 38
minutes...so nothing speedy. Anyways for the past couple of months I can

jog

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the whole time i.e. no walk breaks needed; and so I was hoping now the
individual runs would be more....fun. But it still seems like alot of

work.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

After a run is over I am glad that I went but only because I know it is
'good' for me. I guess after more weeks of running each run will be more
enjoyable? Do you recall similar feelings?

--
D. Mitchell

What are your reasons for running - stress relief, weight loss/control,
fun, exercise, relaxation, fitness, gotta be faster than the guy next
door, challenge, etc ...? That can have a lot to do with how much you
enjoy it and how you run.

Make sure your efforts are at conversational effort. Don't race the
clock unless you're in a race. Leave your watch at home, except maybe
you might need it to know when to come home. The first step in running
is usually building a base of miles - slowly. Learn to listen to your
body - breathing so you're not running too hard - as well as any
messages your body may send you.

You might provide some information on your general activity levels. Are
you normally active in other things, and just now taking up running? Or
starting from a sedentary life style? This can affect how you feel
toward running and some issues. In particular, you may need to be
careful about doing too much too soon and allowing muscles, tendons,
ligaments of your feet, ankles, legs, and rest of body time to adapt.

If you're doing it just because it's "good" for you, you might want to
increase the diversity of your runs. Looks like you have started
changing routes, but you might want to consider easy trails. If you're
doing it for aerobic conditioning, you might want to consider hiking up
steep hills or biking in addition to your runs. If you hike, you might
want to throw some running in a hike (in running shoes, not hiking boots).

Don't be afraid to walk if you need to. I'd rather run 1 hr with an
occasional walk break than 30 min with no breaks. As I increase the time
that I run/walk (about 90-99% running, unless extended steep hill or
deep snow), the time that I can continuously run (barring interruptions
like loose dogs, getting lost on trail, photo stops, etc) increases. I
used to let those little interruptions bother me, but as I ran (/walked)
longer, I found there was almost always something where walking or
stopping for a bit was needed (ice, deep snow), and it could happen in a
race also. No, I'm not a purist, but I do enjoy trail running and the
time out there is more important to me than if I had to walk 30 min up a
25% hill. (This is where your goals are important - why are you
running.) I prefer the challenge of hilly trails rather than the
challenge of speed. YMMV.

FWIW, I've jogged somewhat most winters since late 70s, but just took up
more structured running about 4 years ago. Interestingly, it was about a
year after that when I started hating running (and almost quit after all
those years) because of all the regimen. Do it this way, don't do that,
etc. Formal schedules don't fit Alaskan winters well. I was beginning to
feel more sedentary than I had ever been. After some struggles
(including finding the right shoes and having a PT help with muscle
imbalances), I finally found what seems to work for me and I love
running now more than I ever did. It's an adventure; it's not exercise.
I'll explore new trails (herd trails off my usual main ones or official
trails I've never run before). I'm 57 female and feel like a kid with a
new toy.

Relax and enjoy your running. You'll find you'll get faster without
trying while you're first starting. Varying the length and intensity
(long, slow; short, a little faster) of your runs will help also. As
your runs get longer, you'll find the shorter ones get easier.

Good luck.

Dot

--
"You try to slow down and enjoy it. You try to look at the scenery. But
your brain can kind of go blank. All you want to do is tell your feet to
keep working."
-Cedar Petrosius, women's winner 2004 Matanuska Peak Challenge (14mi,
9000ft up and down)

Doug Mitchell said:

Hi Guys,

I started walking/jogging sometime in November 2004 (44 year old male). I
now jog 2.5 times week (sometimes 2, more usually 3). Today, after 3 days
with no jogs (ice storm took care of two days and the other day
was...Valentine's Day...any excuse will do 🙂) I did 6.5 km in about 38
minutes...so nothing speedy. Anyways for the past couple of months I can jog
the whole time i.e. no walk breaks needed; and so I was hoping now the
individual runs would be more....fun. But it still seems like alot of work.
After a run is over I am glad that I went but only because I know it is
'good' for me. I guess after more weeks of running each run will be more
enjoyable? Do you recall similar feelings?

Hi, Doug, congratulations on your running! You are already superior to the
majority of fellows your age! I started running last year at the age of 46
after about 25 years of no formal exercise. Progress is slow. If you're
making rapid progress, it is due to natural ability or you're about to
break down someplace. My running is kind of like the Significant
Relationships in my life: not *always* pleasant, but always worthwhile.

I can relate to your not wanting to walk. I think this feeling is part of
finding our new identity as runners. I look back on last year's journal --
I worked so hard, for example, to be able to run (however slowly) for 30
minutes without walking. I run. I am a runner.

I have only recently gone back to taking walk breaks -- and I should have
started long ago. Spending an hour outdoors while alternately running 10
minutes and walking 2 is still a "run" if I use Hal Higdon's definitions.

I'm living a contradiction: I say that to me speed is not an issue; at the
same time, I am training seriously (for me) toward a personal best time in
the 5K. I am really, really slow. To give you an idea, last night's
training run in the rain on trails I covered 5.3 Km in 38:30 or so, or
7:16/Km. -- And yet my goal is to race at 5:35/Km in April. I am
following the Hal Higdon Intermediate 5K training plan.

In his Novice 5K training section Mr. Higdon says:

http://www.halhigdon.com/5K%20Training/5-Knovice.htm

Quoted message said:

Run: Put one foot in front of the other and run. It sounds pretty simple, and
it is. Don't worry about how fast you run; just cover the distance--or
approximately the distance suggested. Ideally, you should be able to run at
a pace that allows you to converse comfortably while you do so.

And later on in the definitions for the Intermediate plan he says:

http://www.halhigdon.com/5K%20Training/5-Kinter.htm

Quoted message said:

Long Runs: Once a week, go for a long run. Run 5 to 7 miles at a comfortable
pace, not worrying about speed or distance. You should be able to carry on a >conversation while you run; if not, you're going to fast. Don't be afraid to stop
to walk, or stop to drink. This should be an enjoyable workout, not one during
which you punish yourself.

You heard the man, "Don't be afraid to stop to walk..."

--
Daniel
[email hidden]

"Doug Mitchell"

Quoted message said:

Hi Guys,

I started walking/jogging sometime in November 2004 (44 year old male). I
now jog 2.5 times week (sometimes 2, more usually 3). Today, after 3 days
with no jogs (ice storm took care of two days and the other day
was...Valentine's Day...any excuse will do 🙂) I did 6.5 km in about 38
minutes...so nothing speedy. Anyways for the past couple of months I can
jog
the whole time i.e. no walk breaks needed; and so I was hoping now the
individual runs would be more....fun. But it still seems like alot of
work.
After a run is over I am glad that I went but only because I know it is
'good' for me. I guess after more weeks of running each run will be more
enjoyable? Do you recall similar feelings?

Sounds like you need people to run with, or perhaps sign up for a
race to have a goal. The goal doesn't have to be time-related,
simply knowing you are running in a race in xx weeks is something
to think about on the run.

Have you considered joining a running club? The majority of them
are not full of competitive people, rather just runners looking for like
minded people for support and company. Even if you prefer running
alone (I do), it's still great to have other 'runner friends' to talk with.

cheers,
--
David (in Hamilton, ON)
www.allfalldown.org
www.absolutelyaccurate.com