Week 8.2 - hard!!

[Golfisgood]

Gosh that was hard - possibly due to long round of golf yesterday (about 15K steps). Man I was close to postponing after3 or 4 minutes (it is a slight uphill section and I was struggling) then just panted around like a crazed person (unless I am passing someone when I go into non-panting made for a short while.) Thank heavens for all support links here e.g. first 10 minutes of pain!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done, but if you are panting you are not running at a pace at which you can speak clear ungasping sentences........... you are going too fast.

[Golfisgood Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks Tim. As I told my postman a couple of weeks ago, "if I go slower I'd be running backwards". I find running hard but I'm pretty sure I could run 30 minutes or more even now, but I trust the program rather than me!!! Again, I am grateful for the resources here which have helped enormously. So - get that badge ready

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Golfisgood]

It is possible to run on the spot and be out of breath, so it is nothing to do with pace, but rather cadence and running efficiency.If you cannot breathe properly, you cannot supply your muscles with the vital oxygen to make them function, you will tire quickly and your run will be hard.

An easy conversational pace equates to approximately 75% of your maximum heart rate, which is the perfect zone to build the solid aerobic base required to run faster and further, which is why it is the pace at which elite athletes spend up to 80% of their training time.

Any faster is too fast for a new runner.

[Golfisgood Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

OK - point taken!! I looked at the stats on MapMyWalk and I had increased pace - but I felt certain that I was going same pace as previous runs so my bad.

[Golfisgood Graduate in reply to Golfisgood]

Right, so I took your advice Tim and, for run 3 today, my first mile (including the walk) was 13m10s compared to 11m57s previously. The breathing was much more relaxed when running (I find I breathe normally at brisk pace now). Next mile was quicker but included a downhill section. And I ran to the end with little difficulty. Onto week 9 - thanks for your help again!!

[Rennur Graduate]

Even going slower than you can walk at a brisk pace is fine. It is the physiological action of running that makes it harder than walking. You been practising walking for 50 years, but just 2 months of training up to a 5K run so it will be hard. You are trying to run before you can jog! As for golf, you know my views on that - a good walk spoiled!

[Golfisgood Graduate in reply to Rennur]

You guys are the experts, and I appreciate the advice. I was shocked that I ran 1 mile quicker than my normal slow pace as I did not try to do that. In my mind I try to run slowly and feel I get much slower as I progress, although MapMyWalk seems to suggest I run a fairly even pace of just over 12 mins per mile normally - which is a pace that I find comfortable. I did suffer from slight wheezing to begin with but that has gone since slowing down or getting fitter.

As for golf, it is good for fitness and I get to socialise with my friends and have met many new friends that way (English/Irish/Asian/Japanese and Thai). The disadvantage of running is that it seems to be a solitary sport. Although there is a running club at the end of my road so I hope to join them soon!

[Rennur Graduate in reply to Golfisgood]

Touché . I miss the craic of the cricket team. But it's great having time to myself when running.

[Golfisgood Graduate in reply to Rennur]

See reply above to Tim. I completed todays run 3 and went 1 min slower for the first mile (we can assume the walking pace was similar). Then found I could speed up for miles 2 and 3 and was breathing OK. At the end I felt I could have run for 2 mins more at least, so that is encouraging for next week.