Why am I running??

[Bazza1234]

I know- I know! I think too much !!

I really started out running (as opposed to exercising) because I got a bit bored with exercising, just "started" to run and then realised that I couldn't - and furthermore didn't even really know "how" to run. Even before that I only ever wanted to be able to easily walk 5K's. Now I can run/walk 5 ks and have signed up for a 14 K race in August - so at the moment, I am getting on with this C25K programme which will hopefully eventually lead me on to being able to run for 30 minutes and then I will start to train using run/walk for this 14K race and after that, who knows??

BUT - do I really want or need to run for 30 minutes continually?? SHOULD! (at my age) even be doing it???

Questions! Questions!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Bazza1234 I don't know how old you are so I can't answer your question about running at your age. What I would say is: Do you enjoy your running? Do you feel fitter? Are you happier since you started it? If you answer 'yes' to 2/3 then keep on going

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

"Do you enjoy your running?"

Well I am not sure that I could say that I like the physical act of running. But I am enjoying the fact that so far, I am doing something that I did not think I could do - there is a lot of satisfaction in that.

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Your like quite a lot of runners on here Bazza who only discovered they could run later on in life. The only reason I started this lark was because I could not run 100 metres to catch a bus!!! That was about 6 weeks before my 60th birthday, I found C25K and uploaded onto my iPod but it took me another 3 weeks to pluck up the courage to try it. That was 3.1/2 years ago. I can honestly say it changed my life, retirement was not something I was looking forward to, now how stupid was that!?!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Bazza, you sound as if you are not sitting inactively on the couch all day and are probably way more active than the average gentleman of your years, so my question to you would be "Do you enjoy running?" If you do then, as long as you keep it in moderation (your run/walk philosophy is a great way to go) then it is unlikely to do you any harm. To all those who said to me "It'll kill you" when I started running, I replied "That's better than dying slowly. What a great way to go!". Running is part of our DNA and it has taken so many of us so many years to discover the truth.

If you don't enjoy running, then not only do I pity you, but I think you must be slightly mad to continue doing it. I admire your zest for life, sir, and hope that you have many happy years trying to find the answers.

Keep running/walking, keep smiling.

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I'm 67 Finished W4D2 this morning with no problem at all, except that it rained on me - It NEVER rains where I live!! - but as, I said, not sure about the longer running times called for in this programme. I will give it a go though. I guess I am looking ahead towards the 14 K Sydney City to Surf that I have signed up for. Trying to figure out how I should train for it (run/walk - and if so, what ratio??) There are plenty of training programmes for longer distances out there and some are run/walk - but most only say , do what feels right regarding the ratio and pace. So in my mind, I am wondering - if I am going to run/walk this 14K in August , do I really need to do 30 minutes non-stop?

yes- I know - only I can decide -- but it is probably a moot point anyway - I think I will be doing a LOT of walking anyhow See here google.com.au/search?q=sydn...

[ChrisL Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Bazza, have you found this page on Galloway's website?jeffgalloway.com/training/m... It is not easy to stumble upon but actually suggests run/walk ratios based on the time you currently run a mile (at least I think that is how it works).

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to ChrisL]

Thanks -- have found that page before but something is strange about it. For example, my time to run 1K is about 8 minutes. there is 1.6 k in a mile so my time to run a mile would be about 12minutes 50 seconds. If I plug that figure into that webpage , I get silly figures relating to the running of a 5 K race. BUT - if I plug 8 minutes into the page, I get correct figures. The races that Galloway talks about 5K and 10K on that page are races designated in kilometres - but he asks you to plug in the time for a Mile into it.

[ChrisL Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

It is confusing. The paces are all in mins per mile. You enter your time for a mile and then it gives you paces in minutes per mile and the elapsed time for each distance. If you put in 12:50 for a mile it suggests a pace of 13:23 mins per mile (ie 8:22 mins per km) for a 5k that you would complete in 41:34 which sounds about right?

It confuses the hell out of me that all the shorter race distances are in km but paces are usually still spoken of in miles. I was talking to a proper runner the other day and mentioned my pace of 4:37 and he nearly fell off his perch. I was talking km and he is used to miles....

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to ChrisL]

Duh!! Got it now!!! Anyway I guess the general principle is that if you run a kilometre or mile in a certain time , then you must run slower than that over longer distances - eg for 10K multiply by 1.15. I suppose that general principle still applies regardless of whether you have tested yourself over 1klm or 1 mile. I haven't done an "magic mile" as he describes yet -- I have just been working backwards from my times that I have been running in the Parkrun 5K's

[Mummysaurus Graduate]

Bazza, can I suggest you have a look at Jeff Galloway, he has written a few books about his method for run/ walk he has completed many many marathons and I believe is nearer your own age.........I have used his method on my long runs since I graduated in December and can now happily run 6 or 7 miles and without injury and am currently working towards doing a half marathon.......good luck

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to Mummysaurus]

Thanks - yes I know Jeff Galloway - his 5K programme at the Mayo clinic website is what got me to here

What ratio do you use when running the long runs, at what pace? - and why did you pick that particular ratio?

[Mummysaurus Graduate]

Hi Bazza1234

I have tried a few ratios on a treadmill I run 3 mins walk 1 min to do maybe 5 or 6k at about an 8k/hr I am a very slow runner at the best of times LOL

for my long run I have tried 3:1 and 2:1 which were ok but I was sore the next day and found the last mile or so very hard I prefer 1:30 or 1:1 and if I want to stay strong to the end or go much further than normal I do 30:30 the ratio's I got from one of JG's books the one for half marathon and they are based on what pace you run a magic mile, he suggests for my pace of about a 12 min mile that I should do long slow runs at 13.30 min mile and ratio of 30:30 this can be quite mentally challenging to run for such short bursts......but the fact that you can then achieve your distance goal without it slowing your times down is amazing and certainly worth trying

[Julia321 Graduate]

Bazza - if you find yourself full of questions, you might enjoy "Running like a girl" by Alexandra Heminsley. (Yes, I've guessed you're not a girl, but you will probably enjoy it anyway).

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to Julia321]

Thanks Julia - I will look for it.

I am not asking this question because I doubt myself - or have any doubts about running or anything else. I am simply running -- but it is good to know WHY we do what we do. If for no other reason as to give us future direction. I will only know about these 20-30 runs after I have attempted them - but really the only reason I will even be attempting them is because they are part of this programme - and at this time, I don't know whether my future running plans will need the ability to run for 30 minutes

[thinlizzyIwish123 Graduate]

It's funny, I'm asking this question each time before I head out for my runs. I think why am I doing this I must be mad - but I think I am enjoying it. I am not totally sure why other than it's making me feel better about myself and I am achieving more than I thought I ever could.