Running 6.5km - anyone jog or run here?
 

I can't run for shit. I think I have asthma and never got puffers, plus I'm a skinny ectomorph computer geek, and various other excuses.

So there's this bakery that sells a a bread I have a small love affair with, and gmaps says it's about 3.2km away. I'm thinking I should run there a few times a week and actually get some exercise in rather than driving.

My question is, is that way too far for someone who doesn't run to start with? I mean I'm not trying to set a landspeed record, but even going slowly am I setting myself up for failure by trying to go that far? I really have no concept of how far that is.

Simple google searches say a guy from men's health magazine can do 6k in 20 minutes or so, and someone like me it might take 50-80 minutes.

And if I do actually convert this from a GFY thread to putting shoes on once (50/50) any running tips? Am I supposed to eat before I go? Not eat? Drink? Bring water? Eat my bread on the way home?

Start by walking ...

Should be able to walk it in an hour instead of running and dropping dead.

Do it! Just save the bread for once your done with your workout. Also get a heart rate monitor

walk 2 months, jog 2 months, run 2 months


maybe even bike it on occasion

start walking now :)

As said above, there is no need for you to run the whole way. Get some headphones, put on some tunes and pace yourself. There is no answer to your question as no one here knows your physical condition.

Get a heart rate monitor. Eventually as you build your endurance, you can set goals to to be within 65-70% of your max heart rate for 45-60 minutes. To figure this out you can use the following formula.

(220 – your age) * .65
(220 – your age) * .7


Example for a 22 year old:

(220 – 22) * .65 = 128.7
(220 – 22) * .7 = 138.6


In the example above, a 22 year old's target heart should be between 129 and 138 beats per minute for 45-60 minutes.

Obviously you want to wear comfortable running shoes.

Don't eat right before your run. I've found that doing cardio first thing in the morning upon awakening is the best for fat loss, but it's not for everyone. Running on a completely empty stomach is not easy, and it can be dangerous if you're hyperglycemic or diabetic.

I would experiment to see what works best for you, but on your first couple runs get a meal in 2 hours before you go out.

Eat something with a complex carb source, (whole grain bread, yams, plain oats, sweet potatoes, brown rice, etc) and a lean protein source, (turkey, lean chicken, fish) or if you don't eat meat, (broccoli, almonds, etc). Stay away from simple carbs, simple sugars or food with very high fat content, (white bread, white rice, etc).

On your way home, don't eat your bread while running. :1orglaugh But if you're just going to walk then you can enjoy your bread.

Oh yeah, and bring a bottle of water. Above all, try to enjoy yourself, don't stress out about trying to get a good exercise. Any type of physical activity is better than none at all. :thumbsup

also, perhaps buy that bakery and expand it's reach. you seem to have developed a passion. I'd probably buy a nice hearth oven baked loaf if you could overnight it for under $10

i jog all the time, love it!!

Oh and one more thing, if you don't think you have the energy to go out there and start walking, jogging, whatever; you can try some tea before you go out, (no cream, no sugar though!). If you're into supplements, one of those 5 hour energy bottles would be okay too.

I'm over 220 lbs and in "ok" shape. I took up jogging last year. Start slow and in about 6 weeks you should be able to do it no problem.

Try this running program Couch to 5K If you have an iPhone, you can get the app. It's a great way to start if you're new to running.

only when i see these :

http://www.creditcardchaser.com/wp-c...ice-lights.jpg

Call them, maybe they deliver.

It would depend on your age a bit, but if its been a while since you were in high school there are some health risks involved so easing into it is definitely a must.

If you don't exercise at all normally 3.3km's will turn you off running forever, even if you could last that long, which is probably unlikely. No, you don't need to walk for 2 months first, unless you are say in your 50's+, you can still start off running and walking a bit. Build up slowly, never increase your distance more that 10% at a time and if anything hurts? stop and walk it off.

Heart rate monitors are expensive.. I use one, but honestly, after you have been running a while you know what your heart rate is without even checking so if you can feel your chest pounding you are going too hard and need to gear down or walk. Also if you think it will save you from a heart attack you're wrong. High blood pressure is a far more important gauge on that and you can't measure that while running so as long as you check it often and it isn't high you are fine.

I have run 3 full marathons and finished 3 triathlons and have red well over a dozen books on running alone, but the one book you want for form and running without pain is called Chi Running by Danny Dreyer. It is short and simple and will teach you how to run without pain. So for about 11 bucks and some decent shoes you can finish anything you want ;)

Get a stopwatch...
on day 1, walk the distance
on day 2, run for 5 seconds, then walk for 1:55mins, repeat
on day 3, run for 6 seconds, then walk for 1:54mins, repeat
on day 4, run for 7 seconds...

before you know it, you will be up to running the entire distance this way..

walk - this is what I do; my fridge is emoty 99% of the time and I go to the shops about 3-4 times per day + I take a longer walk


all in all, I cover a few kilometers every day and even though I could do with losing a few kgs, I would have been three times plumpier if I drove everywhere

I was running last night. After a test run, it seems that I can run fast and far. I recommend that you don't eat a huge meal within an hour of your run. Eat a little bit of carbohydrates for a short term boost of energy.

For someone who doesn't run it's quite a way, there's no shame in running as far as you can and then stopping to catch your breath.. then get running again.
When i was in the marines we did lots of fast 1.5 mile runs to build up our base fitness, after a few weeks 10 miles was easy, then 10 weeks later we were covering 60 miles in a night, with 10st of kit on our backs after very little food for days!
Doesn't matter how you do it or how long it takes you... so long as your doing it and pushing yourself.
Body gets used to anything pretty quickly as long as you stick at it and as soon as you notice the fitness building up... it wont even hurt, you'll just feel stronger and better :)

http://nikerunning.nike.com/ - Sign up and it will give you a training schedule based on the parameters you enter.

The Nike+ section in particular is what you're looking for.

I really got into running like 6 years ago, and kept at it for a couple of years... When I first started, I think I managed to go 2.5km in 25 minutes or so, and it took me about 3 months to work up to 11km in an hour.

I liked it, especially treadmill running, was cool to just zone out for an hour, but I started to get shin splints and sore knees.

Even if your unfit 6km isn't to far at start with unless you have other health issue. Any easy walk will still be under an hour, slow run around 45 minutes. Put your shoes on and give it a go but take enough money to get a cab if you really can't make it all the way.

Hopefully you don't smoke.

I try to run 2x a day, 12kms in total.
I swear if im not feeling well or stressed out, tired etc going for a run is like charging my batteries, I always feel great afterwards.I have made it a habit that when I wake up, jogging is the first thing I do.

30-45mins later I am wide awake and feel great, motivated and energized.

by the end of the work day, after sitting on my ass all day I start to feel lazy again, I throw on the shoes and go for another jog :)

Before you start to run make sure you walk for at least 5-10 minutes so you muscles get a chance to warm up. Then try a jog about a mile and see how it goes.

The key to running is to build up distance slowly and listen to your body. Also a good pair of running shoes purchased from a running store where they fit them correctly is essential. A good pair of running shoes should only cost you between $90 - $120 for new balance, brooks, ascis etc.

I am not a big runner however in the spring and summer I usually run about 3.5 miles each week and a couple of times a month will run 7 miles if I get the time..

I run a 5k just to warmup...

and I smoke more than a pack of cigs a day and hit the bong like it's going out of style...

you can do it no problems.. that small of a run you do not need to worry about food or anything like that...

have fun and enjoy

I run about two miles every day. Have been for years.

I prefer my brain unshaken. I'd walk.

barefootsies is right.. ive been walking over 10km for a month now and i feel way better and i look better! the best incentive you get is when people tells you how much you're changing.. but if you're skinny then just do it for fun no need to lose weight

walk on your hands the whole way

That's too much too soon. Start slow. I've lost 35 pounds in 3 months just running and cutting out SUGAR from my diet.

1st advice: don't pay much attention to GFY advice :winkwink:

See, the thing is that every body, every condition, every health is completely different. As an example, I exercise 4-5 times a week, and I do 15-20 minutes bike every day.... yet I wouldn't be able to run the distance you want to run. One of the reasons is I'm pretty muscled (hence heavy) and I was a basketball player, hence my ankles are shit. Plus, I smoke 12-16 cigs a day. Thus, I run 200-300 meters and I have to slow down. After 20 mins of jog/walk/jog/walk I cover around 5km and I feel a step closer to sudden death :Oh crap

My wife never ran and she started going to the gym 2 months ago. She jogs 30-40 minutes every day, then goes to some gym class or spin bike class.

A friend going to the same gym runs 1 hour at full speed. A trainer at that same gym can't even run, he can barely walk!

So, my point is that you should discover your rhythm, what can you do and what you can't. Plus, it's not the same running down the street that having runner's paths or running on a treadmill.

If you want to try, just do like some people already said: start WALKING, then add some speed, then walk again and so on. Just be sure to take the time you can jog and add 15-30 seconds a week for the jog interval. That way you'll probably be able to jog the entire distance in a couple months

Running and cycling use your muscles completely differently. I used to cycle everywhere but running would kill me too.