dcrowell

Okay, I've been reading about everyone else around here dabbling in running. Now it's my turn.

A week ago I was supposed to run a 4K. I didn't even buy running shoes until two days before. I didn't train at all. I was saved by bad weather. I didn't run.

This past week I ran indoors at the YMCA. 1 mile, 3 times. Not a huge distance, but I did better than I thought I would. For some perspective, the last time I ran a mile, I was in high-school, and despite being lean and muscular I could barely breathe and almost vomited.

Today, I ran a 5K (3.1 miles). I rode my bike 4 miles to get there, but I did go easy on the speed on the ride. The run was the Frostbite 5k. The route is hilly. A map of the route is here:
https://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=409970

For the first 1.5 miles I kept up a good pace without walking. I think my first mile was about 11:30. After the halfway mark I did drop to a walk a couple of times to recover before getting back to a jog.

I saw a lot of Couch to 5K t-shirts. There were some icy spots on the road.

I think my finish was 34:15 (or was it 37:15?), but I'm waiting for the official results to show up on the website. I did a lot better than I thought I would.

The ride home was much slower. My legs are sore.

Some observations from a bicyclist point of view:

• Running requires fewer layers of clothes in cold weather
• A 5K run wasn't bad, but a 5K bike ride is nothing
• I was generating enough heat during the entire run, it was like climbing a hill on the bike, constantly
• A lot of people run - how can we get them on bikes?
• Once the run was over, I quickly got chilled
• I had minor knee pain, and will probably look into one of those bands that goes around the leg just below the knee

I don't think I'll ever become a regular runner, but I'll do it enough to train for my Triathlon in late July.

sillygolem

If you're having a little knee pain you should probably work on your stride before getting a pad. The best thing to do is get a camera and record yourself running on a treadmill: Any odd positioning or jerky motion you're making will become evident. There are tons of videos on Youtube that you can compare it against for proper form.

dcrowell

sillygolem,
It was just my right knee, which I sometimes have problems with on the bike too. I don't think it's my form.

As an update, my official time was 34:16.39.

CraigB

Good for you, dcrowell. Just make sure you're not injuring yourself.

I still think of the idea of my being able to jog a mile without interspersed walking as kind of a fantasy. Currently, 3 minutes at a time is kicking my ass.

jbrow1

Great job ! I've started running again after a loooong time not running. Biking has given me the ability to run farther than when I could when I was younger and in better shape. Alot of it was mental, xx amount of miles running doesn't seem near as far as it used to, since learning how to ride 50-60 miles on a bike. Take care of your knee too!

thcri

I started two weeks ago doing the "Couch to 5K" program. I am in the second week and now a bad cold and sinus infection set me back. The first week was easy but moving into the second week was a bit tough on me. I had a car accident twenty some years ago and had a compound fracture on my left Tibia and I may not be able to do much running do to the pain. Will hit it again later this week after my cold is gone and see how it goes.

dcrowell

On Sunday, the day after I ran the 5k, I did an early morning 34-mile ride on my single-speed. I went home and started reading a book, figuring I'd stay in the rest of the day.

My training partner sent me a message asking if I wanted to do a 2-hour spin class. Sure, I'm a glutton for punishment. So, I did. I even managed to complete it.

Today, I'm walking funny.

I'm supposed to go on some kind of group run after work today, but I have no idea how far we're running. <shrug>

Boyd Reynolds

Good on you! That's a good time for a first 5k. What do you think your cadence is?

I'll add to your list of observations that running brings the endorphin high much sooner than riding.

dcrowell

Thanks! I was quite happy with my time on the 5k. I really expected to be near the end, especially without much training.

The endorphin high comes quicker because running is harder work than cycling.

CraigB

I'm still waiting for an endorphin high from any physical activity. Honestly. "Second wind" is probably the closest I've ever come.