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Anyone ever run a 10K or half-marathon?


MarkB

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Meant to check into this earlier in the year but totally forgot about it, and now have only 40 days before the event. Shouldn't be too bad as I'm not in terrible shape right now, but I'll need to build the stamina up considerably in that time if I decide to do the 10K.

If anyone has done it, what are the main issues you faced, and how hard is it? I know that will be up to personal capabilities, but some experiences or insight would be appreciated.

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hardest part was the training, cuz there are days where i was just dragging. you gotta change it up during your training cuz your body will get used to things and want to slow you down. what i'm saying is, don't just go out there and run the same thing everyday. try different distances and vary the surfaces, and tracks.

otherwise, just make sure to have at least two pairs of good running shoes, and have some good ones for the day of the race. don't go buying brand new shoes the day of the race. shoes need to have a good break in period.

besides that, good luck! it should be fun.

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Thanks for the input guys.

Homer, it's a street 10K, so I'll probably be doing roadwork. I might be getting a few guys together to do it as well and raise some money for charity, so if we do, we'll probably end up on some treadmills as well. Do you think the changeover from treadmill to road and vice versa would have any impact, and what do you think would be a comparable distance to run on a treadmill to make up per mile of roadwork, given that the legs will obviously work harder and take more punishment on roadwork?

I'm currently wearing 2 different pairs and models of 310's. One is just a casual walking sneaker, the other is more like a basketball shoe, which I'll probably be doing my running and training in. I was always rolling over my ankles when I was playing basketball years ago, so the high ankle supports help prevent that.

I wonder if olyrunner is still around...

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i recommend alternating easy days and hard days. with each hard day, make it progressively longer. as for treadmills, they're easier on the knees, but again i'm not a fan of it for any other reason because it's monotonous. if you use a treadmill, then try to use one that can vary the resistance so that it's not the same thing the entire time. i prefer outdoors because of the varying hills and such, which closely resembles the actual race. if knees are a problem, try softer surfaces such as grass, beaches, wooded trails...

but personally, if it's gonna be a road race, i would do running on a road surface at least once a week to get used to it.

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Thanks Homer, I'll definitely keep that in mind. I walk to and from work Monday to Friday, which is 2 miles each way, so I'm thinking if I convert that to a downhill run home on Friday evenings and an uphill run to work on Monday mornings, that should at least be a start.

wrigley, I'm aiming for an hour as a target, since it's my first time. The quickest time recorded in last year's race was 31:39, so I'm hoping to at least hit an hour.

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10K's are tough. Your best bet is to use a treadmill that has a running program with hills going up and down, just like what you're most likely to experience when you do this. To make sure you're ready, try doing it on an incline for the majority of your training, so at least your legs will have some built up stamina and strength. Another great way to stay in shape for running is to take up a sport - basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, football - it's all good

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only problem with spending the majority of your time doing any one thing is over development of certain muscles versus others, which in turn puts you at a high susceptibility for injury. like i said, just vary it. eat a good balanced quality diet with your rich vegetables and meats with quality fats.

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Honestly, i never have ran one, but my dad has ran 11 marathons and a lot of these. Honestly, hardest part is actually just deciding to do it, and staying committed. Also, remember to pace yourself, dont blow up too early.

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I run five miles a day and have done countless races from 5ks up to a full marathon.

Just stay comitted to a training program. I would start out by trying to run 2 miles a day five days a week. At the end of the week, bump it up to three. The next week stay at three, but mix in a couple of 4 milers. Do four miles the next week and slowly move into 5 milers and then up to six.

It's great to hear about people running, there aren't many exercises that are better for you than getting out for a morning run. I have a 5K coming up and hope to run it around 18:30 or so.

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  • 1 month later...

I ran my 5K this morning and got 3rd place overall and won my age group. My time was under what I hoped for, but it still needs work. 3.2 miles in 19:32. Not bad.

How's the training going on your side?

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Congrats Pirate. :wtg:

Training is going...well, I have to admit, not the greatest. My calves have been playing up and are taking 3 or 4 days to recover from anything over a mile run, so while they're fine while I'm running, and I'm in pretty good physical condition as far as weight and stamina, I'm not actually doing much running. I did just over 2 last week and 5 minutes after stopping, when I was walking home, my leg cramped up terribly in the street and I had to sit there for what seemed like hours for it to calm down.

The event is in 6 days, and I've not broken 2 and a half miles yet. In all honesty, I'm considering pulling out, mainly because of the short distance I've covered so far and for the fact that at this point, I don't trust my calves to be able to cover the distance. I just got back from holiday an hour or so ago, so I'm planning a 3 miles run tomorrow to see if I can make a last ditch effort to hit the distance, but if that doesn't work out, I probably won't take part.

"Gutted" doesn't quite cover it. :(

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Eat bananas... you are cramping and need potasium. I hate the yellow fruit, but they are a life saver after races for me.

Running is very physical, yes, but it is much more a mental challenge. Overcoming pain is the key to succeeding.

Good luck MarkB.

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I'm on 3 a bananas day as is. I've also tried less bananas, more salt, less salt, more sugar and less sugar, all with the same results - evil, evil cramps.

I'm used to physical pain by now, which is one of the reasons I want to do it so much, and I can work through the mental. If I just had the pain and it wasn't impossible to run, I wouldn't care, I'd be able to do it, but when your leg feels like solid oak wood...meh, makes it kinda hard.

Thanks Pirate, appreciate it. :)

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I'm on 3 a bananas day as is. I've also tried less bananas, more salt, less salt, more sugar and less sugar, all with the same results - evil, evil cramps.

I'm used to physical pain by now, which is one of the reasons I want to do it so much, and I can work through the mental. If I just had the pain and it wasn't impossible to run, I wouldn't care, I'd be able to do it, but when your leg feels like solid oak wood...meh, makes it kinda hard.

Thanks Pirate, appreciate it. :)

Try drinking a glass of milk during breakfast. Always worked with me. Otherwise eggs during lunch.

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Meant to check into this earlier in the year but totally forgot about it, and now have only 40 days before the event. Shouldn't be too bad as I'm not in terrible shape right now, but I'll need to build the stamina up considerably in that time if I decide to do the 10K.

If anyone has done it, what are the main issues you faced, and how hard is it? I know that will be up to personal capabilities, but some experiences or insight would be appreciated.

I've done 1 triathlon ... a 1/2 Ironman Race (swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, and run 13.1 miles).

Have a different goal for each day. Speed days, over-distance (LSD) days, TT's, incorporate fartleks, hills, etc.

A 10K shouldn't be much of a problem (6 miles). It should take an hour or less.

For the race strategy, I would suggest harnessing yourself for the first half and try to kick it up for a good second half split. In my race, I went all all out on the swim and bike and endured double leg cramps on the 3rd mile of the 13.1 run. The rest of the "run" was just brutal as cramps kept coming and going.

Train as if you were going to run a little longer distance and then pace yourself during the actual race.

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