RE: [at-l] a beginers running question?

[Adrian Dorris <adorris@emilyslist.org>]

It's true, running won't fully prepare you for hiking.  I'd been running
for years before the first time I went hiking and those first 10 miles
about killed me.  So you only get better at hiking by hiking.  However,
the benefits of running should be looked at apart from hiking.  You'll
lose weight, build aerobic capacity (which will come in handy on the
trail), and feel better.  And what you're experiencing as a beginner are
normal symptoms.  If you're serious about strengthening your legs and
furthering your distance, you should start off running what you can (a
quarter or half mile), then slightly increasing the distance each
subsequent week.  So the first week run a half mile 3-4 times, then the
following week run three-quarters of mile, and so on.  At this rate
you'll be up to two miles in two months; five miles in five months.
Sure, the incremental increases won't come easy; you'll have to push
yourself.  Consistency is also extremely important; you can't run one
week, take a week off, and then expect to increase by the planned
increment.  

If you're interested in beginner's programs, check the Runner's World
web site.  They have lot's of hand information for beginners.

Take Care,

Adrian

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Paul Miller [SMTP:jeanpaul@iname.com]
> Sent:	Saturday, August 28, 1999 12:45 AM
> To:	AT-L
> Subject:	[at-l] a beginers running question?
> 
> i have been tryign to train by running( i coudl be joggin too i am nto
> really sure what the diffrence is) recently .. now i admit i have not
> a clue
> as to what i am doing.  i have only been at it for two weeks..  but
> right
> now(figuratively) i am running in field. on grass some mowed some not
> so
> mowed.  cause i find pavement hurts my legs.  i am loosing my wind
> after
> about what i think to be half a mile...  but then again it is a big
> field we
> are talkgin about who knows how big it is..    but either way i am
> jsut
> blasted by the end of two laps which i think are 1/4 miles each(some
> times
> only one).    then I walk until I am revived and jog or run again
> until i
> completely blow out again.  by this time my legs no matter how much a
> stretch are burning and the calves are soars and i feel all wobbly.
> i
> strecth again before i stop and i make sure i dont stretch until i
> have run
> for jsut a bit to warm up slightly.
> 
> so the syntoms i am getting are:
> that pain in your stomach area from breathing to hard
> sore legs in general
> sore calves in paticular
> and this feeling of complete wastedness after a few laps
> 
> is this normal for a new runner or am i doign somethign wrong i woudl
> hate
> to be hurting my self. after all i am doign this so i can get
> healthier not
> worse. and i woudl hate to be starting all wron g and not makign any
> prgress... now the thing is i am running or jogging about as slow as i
> can
> with out turnign it into a really fast walk.(i think but the
> definitions
> somethimes confuse me)
> 
> so any suggestions or hints...  if i was to be able to run 2 miles i
> woudl
> be happy forget a marathon.
> 
> Wisperlite
> 
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