This is fun? I felt like I was going to die...
Discussion
With a wedding less than a year away and a well-lunched lawyerly belly, I went out today and bought a pair of running shoes, full of good intentions of becoming the Adonis that I've always known was lurking beneath (if there's such a thing as a ginger Adonis)...
It was about 11 years ago at school since I did any serious exercise (unless you count adrenaline sports such as waiting to see how much the latest service for the car is going cost - that gets the pulse racing
), so I waited till 9.30pm when I knew there wouldn't be too many people around, pulled on the trainers of destiny and started pounding the tarmac.
All was going well until around the half-way mark (i.e. the end of my road), I noticed that my heart seemed to be making a desperate break for freedom by trying to smash through my ribcage. My lungs had grown to twice their normal size but couldn't seem to get any air into them. Molten lava filled my legs and I also made the fascinating discovery that my brain has its own pulse.
I now know how I felt those 11 years ago when I completed my last school cross-country run ever and promised that I'd never put myself through that again.
I'm just about breathing properly again and the double-vision is subsiding. I am very disappointed however, not to discover any six-pack attempting to break through.
I've always looked at joggers with a deep sense of suspicion. And now I feel vindicated. They're all clearly
ing mad people with sadistic tendencies...
It was about 11 years ago at school since I did any serious exercise (unless you count adrenaline sports such as waiting to see how much the latest service for the car is going cost - that gets the pulse racing
), so I waited till 9.30pm when I knew there wouldn't be too many people around, pulled on the trainers of destiny and started pounding the tarmac. All was going well until around the half-way mark (i.e. the end of my road), I noticed that my heart seemed to be making a desperate break for freedom by trying to smash through my ribcage. My lungs had grown to twice their normal size but couldn't seem to get any air into them. Molten lava filled my legs and I also made the fascinating discovery that my brain has its own pulse.
I now know how I felt those 11 years ago when I completed my last school cross-country run ever and promised that I'd never put myself through that again.
I'm just about breathing properly again and the double-vision is subsiding. I am very disappointed however, not to discover any six-pack attempting to break through.
I've always looked at joggers with a deep sense of suspicion. And now I feel vindicated. They're all clearly
ing mad people with sadistic tendencies...
The trick when starting out is to not push yourself until you feel like you're dying. It will probably be a pathetically small run coupled with lots of walking, but if you make it really hurt the first time your body will all of a sudden become very good at planting excuses for not doing it again in your head. But hell, take it easy, increase your distance when you feel comfotable and you may actually enjoy it, like us nutters do....
Thats what I feel like when I go running. My heart causes my whole chest to bounce around and then I have to runa around to everyone going "look at that" "how cool is that". I get mental heart beating in my head as well. I found after a week I could run quite well.
In the runs I did I included a run up a steep hill (gets you fit quickly i think, its got a german name that sounds like fart licking). Take a break after about 2 or 3 days as your legs will be screwed. Next day your a lot better at running. Ohh I did a bleep test a couple of times as well.
I put myself through this as I was meant to do go through testing for crewing a tall ships boat. In the end i didn't even need to do it.
In the runs I did I included a run up a steep hill (gets you fit quickly i think, its got a german name that sounds like fart licking). Take a break after about 2 or 3 days as your legs will be screwed. Next day your a lot better at running. Ohh I did a bleep test a couple of times as well.
I put myself through this as I was meant to do go through testing for crewing a tall ships boat. In the end i didn't even need to do it.
Nuggs
It will get easier. I started training and playing rugby again about 8 weeks ago. I have also joined the gym over the road from work. 30 mins a day 3 times a week in gym and 2 1 hour long rugby sessions a week and the difference is pretty good already.
Last night I walked out of training with my arms shaking and nearly threw up. Makes you wonder why sometimes! But then I figure that it's doing me some good and will help me enjoy time with the kids better etc. and have more energy for various physical activities(just got to find someone to join me in that one
)
Stick with it and before too long you'll see the difference. I haven't played for 8 years and I used to play at a pretty high level as a teenager. I didn't realise how unfit I was.
Some of the lads I train with are in very good condition. I train at my pace to an extent. If you need a break take one and walk for a bit. No disgrace in being sensible.
It will get easier. I started training and playing rugby again about 8 weeks ago. I have also joined the gym over the road from work. 30 mins a day 3 times a week in gym and 2 1 hour long rugby sessions a week and the difference is pretty good already.
Last night I walked out of training with my arms shaking and nearly threw up. Makes you wonder why sometimes! But then I figure that it's doing me some good and will help me enjoy time with the kids better etc. and have more energy for various physical activities
(just got to find someone to join me in that one) Stick with it and before too long you'll see the difference. I haven't played for 8 years and I used to play at a pretty high level as a teenager. I didn't realise how unfit I was.
Some of the lads I train with are in very good condition. I train at my pace to an extent. If you need a break take one and walk for a bit. No disgrace in being sensible.
Join the RAF!!! (No don’t really its pants)
I hate running, I mean really hate it. I just could never run when I was at school, out of breath after 100m.
When I was doing my basic training I lost 4inched off my waist in 8 weeks! We would run everyday and march everywhere, just brisk walking really. I eat like a pig, fry up every morning massive lunch and huge dinner and the weigh kept falling off!
As its been said the key is to really push and push, when you think you are totally shagged out carry on, I used to puke on nearly every run. I found my big break was with the breathing, long deep breaths from the start, it made a world of different. Control it too, don’t just gasp when you feel like it. Make sure you do your warm up and warm down thoroughly otherwise you will wake up stiff the next day.
At school I was always tubby but at the end of my training I could run 12 miles and not even think about it!
I hate running, I mean really hate it. I just could never run when I was at school, out of breath after 100m.
When I was doing my basic training I lost 4inched off my waist in 8 weeks! We would run everyday and march everywhere, just brisk walking really. I eat like a pig, fry up every morning massive lunch and huge dinner and the weigh kept falling off!
As its been said the key is to really push and push, when you think you are totally shagged out carry on, I used to puke on nearly every run. I found my big break was with the breathing, long deep breaths from the start, it made a world of different. Control it too, don’t just gasp when you feel like it. Make sure you do your warm up and warm down thoroughly otherwise you will wake up stiff the next day.
At school I was always tubby but at the end of my training I could run 12 miles and not even think about it!
RobDickinson said:
Best thing to do is take it easy and build up slowly.
Also - your better off finding something physical that you enjoy and using that to get fit rather than just jogging, unless you enjoy that....
Now I've got Sky+ I record films to watch when I'm on the exercise bike. Just go on 4-5 times a week for 25 mins a time, and am slowly upping the resistance every few months. Don't want to build up too much muscle, just get much fitter.
I feel I've managed to up my fitness much more quickly this way, as the films distract the physical anguish almost completely if they are good, so I don't mind getting back on the bike even a second time in an evening for example.
Compared to when I went to the gym anyway, 15 mins at a gym was like torture sometimes, so being comfortable in your own home with a nice drink and a film to watch is so much better. Especially at this time of year, bloomin freezing outside
Dave
Nuggs said:
(if there's such a thing as a ginger Adonis)..
I believe the lesser known strawberry blonde Adonis
has been sighted out and about under the cover of darkness in a certain mid-Sussex town, the whereabouts of which I cannot divulge because the rarity alone dictates that he must be protected at all costs from predatory females.I had exactly the same symptoms on Monday - heart jumping out of ribcage, iron lungs, brain pulse and numb legs. I was making a mad dash from top floor delivery suite, down all the stairs, across the hospital dodging people and across to the car park while carrying 5 towels and a delivery instrument pack!! The rest of the midwives found it highly amusing when me and the midwife I was with arrived back bright red and half dead!!
I run an awful lot, which made a difference from me being the very fat wheezy kid at school.
Enjoyable exercise is the key.
The reults? I used to weigh 13 stone, I now way 9 1/2 and i'm 5'7.
The important thing to remember is that the hardest thind to do is actually motivate yourself to do it in the first place. Stick with and you'll become hooked I guarantee it.
By the way, get a light Mp3 player (not an iPOD) and use that to help youget a rythm going.
Combover
Enjoyable exercise is the key.
The reults? I used to weigh 13 stone, I now way 9 1/2 and i'm 5'7.
The important thing to remember is that the hardest thind to do is actually motivate yourself to do it in the first place. Stick with and you'll become hooked I guarantee it.
By the way, get a light Mp3 player (not an iPOD) and use that to help youget a rythm going.
Combover
Nuggs, road running is an excellent way to exercise, because it is the most honest about your ability. With any other form of exercise you can cheat yourself if you want, but not with road running. Also, you reach your limit very rapidly (as you found).
It will get easier, but it will never get easy. The first two miles of a run are always the worst, so if you always do two mile runs or less you will suffer.
Be careful of running up hills too enthusiastically at this stage - it's a good way to damage your achilles tendon, which is Not a Good Thing.
Running with music is a good way to take your mind off things, and to drown out the sound of wheezing, gasping, etc.
Don't expect running to be 'fun'. Ever see a smiling runner? But when it is over you get an unbeatable 'feel good' factor, probably all those endorphins rushing round your bloodstream. And there is no better way of burning calories.
As you get fitter, the feeling stays the same, but the distance you cover will increase dramatically.
It will get easier, but it will never get easy. The first two miles of a run are always the worst, so if you always do two mile runs or less you will suffer.
Be careful of running up hills too enthusiastically at this stage - it's a good way to damage your achilles tendon, which is Not a Good Thing.
Running with music is a good way to take your mind off things, and to drown out the sound of wheezing, gasping, etc.
Don't expect running to be 'fun'. Ever see a smiling runner? But when it is over you get an unbeatable 'feel good' factor, probably all those endorphins rushing round your bloodstream. And there is no better way of burning calories.
As you get fitter, the feeling stays the same, but the distance you cover will increase dramatically.
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