'Join my run challenge: How far can you go in 2014?' blog discussion

The_Grateful_!!!!! wrote: »

Stick with it and you won't regret it, the first month is hard but its amazing how quickly your body adjusts. The best advice I can offer is remember the old saying that running is 99% mental/1% physical and you will be fine.

Thanks. I've just done my second run (and just made it home before the rain arrived!) Another 3.4km clocked up today. I actually enjoyed it more than the first one, tried a different route and it was dark already because of having to work but both were preferable to me, you feel slightly less conspicuous in the darker environment! I ordered better running gear last night too so look forward to that arriving. I need to crochet myself a beanie hat to keep my ears warm though as it's tricky keeping a hood in place. I've only just learned to crochet but will see if I can add some kind of earphone holder (probably just some loops to thread them through) as the hooks on the earphones I bought are slightly big for me!

Next run on Wednesday but I also brought home an 'airwalker' today which I bought second hand for £20 and will make sure I at least use this for half an hour or so if the weather is bad.

I can't wait to start feeling the difference in my clothing and also look forward to the challenge of trying to better my achievements for each run. :j

kevsan wrote: »

Good Effort. I started 2 years ago with the c25k podcasts and they really do work. You've made mention a couple of times of wanting to avoid the rain - can i suggest you give it a go, it can actually be great fun (particularly in the dark!!) and i find preferable to being in the gym and you do get the roads to yourself.

If you are going out in the dark on your own, make sure you can be seen and take sensible precautions... obviously high viz / reflective wear / and a mobile phone / other form of ID- - i carry one of these.... http://www.theidbandco.com/Yellow-Sports-ID-Wristband-Small-Medium-12 You can probably get cheaper ones, but i've had no complaints with the one i linked to.

I also have a head torch in order to be seen, but then most of my runs are on roads in the dark.

Good luck.

Hi Kevsan, thanks for the encouragement. You're right, I have a fixation about getting caught in the rain; it's just too cold to be caught out and be wet through! I'll bear your words in mind though, I'm sure if it started raining half way through I'd persevere with no problem, but it's finding the motivation to go out if it's raining before I've even started. I know I'm being a big wuss!

Good safety tips too. I'm using my phone to play the podcasts from, so that's not an issue. At the moment I have no high visibility gear, but have given it some thought. Everywhere I plan to run, if dark, has street lighting, but I'm still considering getting something. I made myself a hat to wear last night and have some bright yellow wool, so as a start will make myself some sweat bands using that, but of course it's not reflective. I like the sports ID idea, that would kill 2 birds with one stone as I don't currently carry any ID.

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

... At the moment I have no high visibility gear, but have given it some thought. Everywhere I plan to run, if dark, has street lighting, but I'm still considering getting something...

Definitely get something high vis to wear if running at night, even where there's streetlights. I nearly got reversed over before I got my high vis jacket, thinking I was 'safe' in something with reflective bits on. They're only reflective when lights are pointing straight at you! I recently bought a new, bright red waterproof to run in (as my high vis isn't waterproof) and again nearly got reversed over the first/only time I wore it. It's going back to the store and I'm getting a proper high vis running waterproof instead.

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. I admit I haven't bought anything yet, mostly just because I haven't thought to at the right times. I'll take a look in a bit. Have any of you any recommendations re good waterproof gear? So far I've been lucky and haven't been caught in the rain but I'm pretty sure my leggings and hoodie are not best suited to wet weather!!

Go into Sports Direct and look at their Karimoor running jckets. They're about £15-20, which isn't much for a running jacket. They do the job.

sh1305 wrote: »

Go into Sports Direct and look at their Karimoor running jckets. They're about £15-20, which isn't much for a running jacket. They do the job.

How funny, I've literally just got back from my local Sports Direct! I'm now armed with a long sleeve running top (£5) and a running jacket (£23), both Karrimor. I was going to order online a couple of nights ago but thought I was better off buying in store to check sizes (and to save postage costs). This turned out to be a wise move as I was going to order size 12's to be safe but came back with a size 8 and a size 10 - if only all my normal size 10 clothes still fit me the same!

I haven't been able to go running today and came home half way through on wednesday due to pain in/behind my knee so I picked up a knee support while I was there. Hoping it will settle with rest, but want to minimise the risk of any further problems (I've always had knee issues, even when I used to do long distance running at school). I also grabbed one of those easy to hold water bottles as I think I'm going to need to keep myself watered as I start to run further and as the weather improves during the year. Not the most moneysaving afternoon but still a lot cheaper than the gym! :rotfl:

I bought a second hand airwalker the other day so plan to use that to make up for not being able to go running, as it's a no impact exercise it doesn't seem to cause any aggravation.