Comments on: Getting Tough

By: Blain

Blain — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 19:56:20 +0000

Pleased to meet you.

I’m in marathon training myself (although I’m kinda taking this week off — I changed shoes and my legs feel like nails have been driven through them), and what you say grabs my attention in a couple of spots.

I learned a few weeks back that I can’t run with other people. I’m doing run/walk intervals, and nobody seems to want to do those intervals, and, if I try running with others, even if they go slower than I run, I get worn out. So I stick to my intervals, and I don’t get out of breath. Out of breath is a bad sign — it means you’ve gone anaerobic, and that’s just not sustainable in distance running. FWIW, my intervals are timed using the interval timer on my watch, and I’m running about 90 seconds and then walking 75 seconds, and then repeating. Every week, I add about 5 seconds to my running interval, and take away a second or two from my walking interval, and will continue to do so until I’m walking 1 minute. I’ll keep 1 minute walks from now on forever, but will continue increasing my running intervals as time goes forward.

Have you looked into the Phedippidations Global Half Marathon in October? Which marathon are you training for?

By: Mark Butler

Mark Butler — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 05:05:15 +0000

I am with you Jacob. I like to pace back and forth if necessary. I used to run quite a bit when I was younger, and still walk a lot, although I would much rather play a good game of volleyball. My problem is that I need a piece of paper to write down my thoughts to get very far in any organized thinking process. Walking is great for when I am stumped though.

By: Kristen J

Kristen J — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 22:12:24 +0000

Dang Geoff! I was going to tell Jacob about knitting. Seriously talk about meditation and pondering, nothing is better than knitting or crochetting. Sometimes it works a little too well for me. In the middle of a session I’ll find my brain waves have slowed down so much that I need a nap.

By: Geoff J

Geoff J — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 21:27:36 +0000

I’m with you Jamie — I don’t like running unless there is a ball involved. But I have been going on 3-4 mile walks in the evenings this year and have really enjoyed that. It’s after the kids are in bed and I get an about an hour of guilt-free iPod time plus some exercise. I even get some ponder-time in (despite the music).

And no Jacob — you are not alone. I think that a lot of us need some mindless/repetitive activity to occupy part of our brain to allow us to think clearly with the rest of it. It works the same with knitting and the like I think.

By: Jamie J

Jamie J — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 21:14:09 +0000

My body is not made for running but I love to walk. Some friends and I have been walking for almost a year now and it makes a huge difference in how I feel. I know what you mean about the perspective. There is a very steep hill where I live and it took me a long time to get the courage up to walk it. I did a month or so ago and realized it’s not all that bad. I mean it was hard but I did it. I proved to myself that I could.

Good luck with the training!!

By: Eric Nielson

Eric Nielson — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 21:10:07 +0000

Running seems to be theraputic (sp?) for many people. Ryan at BofJ is in training for a marathon as well. He has some interesting posts on the subject as well. Good luck on you marathon/2.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 20:16:44 +0000

I am not much of runner and I will never use the phrase “only a half marathon.” However, if I started running, I think I would want to run to something like Minor Threat.

On second thought, I might not want music at all because I find my ability to ponder is greatly enhanced by walking. Maybe it would work with running as well. I can think a million times better if I am walking than if I am just sitting there on a couch or something, am I the only one?

By: Kristen J

Kristen J — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:36:18 +0000

One of my favorite songs to run to is the Presidents of the United States “Kick Out the Jam” is got just the right beat and pace. The problem with that song is that it’s too short. I’ll often hit repeat.

I also like Wall of VooDoo’s “Mexican Radio” because it is just the right rythm for my running pace. Another one is Talking Heads “Same as it Ever Was” also for the rythm.

I know those songs sound weird, it’s all about speed and rythm for me.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:13:27 +0000

What do you find is good to listen to?

I used to listen to a song by Tool, “46 and 2,” it’s awesome cuz it talks about breaking through and muscle memory and stuff—easy to relate to running/exercise. Plus a song by Monster Magnet called “Powertripping” or something like that—it was very ego-centric–I’m better than everyone–kind of song. Fun to work out to.

By: Kristen J

Kristen J — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 15:19:54 +0000

I love to listen to music when I run but I haven’t so far because I’ve been running with my friend. When we start to hit the longer runs I’m not going to make it with out music so my friend will have to deal with a silent running partner. I’m sad right now because I can’t get my ipod to charge and I don’t want to spend money on a new one.