I currently run 3 days per week (20-25 miles total weekly), and like to strength train 1-2 times per week.  I have tried yoga, but become easily bored with it.  I am not very good at it either, so perhaps that is my excuse not to pursue it!  I am wondering what some of you do in between running days to cross train.  I would like to continue to increase my distance running, so I am looking for exercises to complement that goal.  Any suggestions?

Thanks! 

Before I started running I went to a running store and got a pair of asics that were fitted for me (according to the guy working there) and I feel great during my runs. BUT as soon as I finish I get serious pain in the back of my legs just below my calves. The pain normally last for around 10 minutes. BTW, I stretch before and after my runs.

 Any idea what is causing the pain?

 Anyone have training tips for running a marathon where the first 13 miles or so is downhill? The elevation change is going to be somewhere close to 2750 feet.

I began running about 4 months ago after I signed up for a 5 mile race. I did okay for a beginner I suppose.. 49m45. Any way right after the race, maybe even towards the very end of it, my hip flexer hurt. I have never had any kind of pain there before. In 2 days the pain went away but I gave myself a 1 1/2 week break from running. I ran about 2 miles and I had to stop because the pain returned. Does anyone know anything about this? Is there some kind of stretch I could do to prevent this? Please help me! I want to keep on running but now I'm a little discouraged...

I have signed up to do Nottingham Half Marathon in September and am 8 weeks into what will turn out to be a 31 week programme. I am following the training plan put together on the Robin Hood Marathon website, as i have never done any running before i started on the 'get you round' programme and plan to switch to the 'sub 2hr' plan in 2 weeks time. I confess that i am quite competitive and am finding the running both enjoying and challenging and feel the sub 2 hr will give me added motivation, the first 6/7 weeks have been about getting used to running regularly but now mileage is starting to go up and find myself bursting to go out and attempt 5 miles on Sunday for the first time!!

I could do with some advice though on things which are bothering me at the moment due to the massive expanse of advice i am getting online and in magazines;

1. Is it too soon to embark on a sub 2hr plan bearing in mind i have only been running 2 months - the last thing i want to do is injure myself.

2. During the week i run when i get home from work, at weekends i get up and run first thing in a morning, usually about 7.30 - 8.30, whenevr i get up, i justget up, have some water, stretch and start running. I have read that you should not run on an empty stomach, but if i eat then surely i have to wait a couple of hours before running and i worry that if i dont run as soon as i get up, i will get distracted and find something to stop me going. Getting up and going is working for me at the moment, i dont want to have to change it. It does not seem to be affecting me at the moment but i guess it may do as i up the miles.

3. Warm ups? I currently do about a minute or two of stretching before i go out, is this enough of a warm up, should i do some gentle jogging first before kicking into my normal miles? Again, i dont seem to be feeling any ill effects but as the mileage increases i dont want to be putting myself at any risk.

4. Any tips for pacing? I currently do 2 miles at about 9.10 pace, 3 miles at 10.20 pace and my first attempt at 4 miles was 10.47. i think it varies a lot due to distance obviously but also the amount of hills that are around where i live and how many i encounter depending on which route i take. I want to know how i can better control the pace i want to run at?

sorry it is so long winded but these are burning questions i have and feel this may be the best place to get them answered. Thank you.

For the last couple of weeks I've been struggling to pace myself when I'm running, no matter what distance or pace I set out to run at I set off far too quickly and then blow up by about half way and have to stop and walk for a bit, then start running far to quickly again and struggle the rest of the way home. 

I'm beginning to get really frustrated with myself.  As a bit of background I had some bad news about a family member around the same time as I stopped being able to pace myself, could the two things be connected?  If anyone else has experienced this and is able to offer some help I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks

Emma 

Here in the UK it has just started to get warm. I began my training back last September, and have therefore been running in anything temperature wise down to -2 degrees Celcius. This was fine - after 5 mins of running I would get warm whatever the temp.

But now this heat! All of a sudden my long run (7 miles) has become REALLY hard. My speed over distance had been steadily increasing, but all of a sudden my times have gone into reverse. Yesterday I finished, lay on the sofa, and then left a huge puddle when I got up. My legs feel heavy when running, its hard mentally to push myself to complete the distance, I sweat like nothing i've experienced before, and recovery now seems to take 30 mins when previously it was about 10. 

Is this really down to the heat, or is it all in the mind? I would run early in the morning to avoid the sun, but I have to be up at 6.30 as it is. Is there any advice to be had? Or do I just need to acclimatise!?

 thanks!

-Prisoner Squats (3 sets of 25)

-Weighted Walking Lunges (Across basement 8 times there and back, 3 sets)

-Weighted Lateral Lunges (20 each side, 3 sets)

-Calf rasiers - (3 sets of 25 on each leg)

-Planks (3 sets, 1min each)

-Crunches (4 sets of 50)

-Curls (3 sets of 20 reps)

-Bench Press (3 sets of 15 reps)

-Tricep Workouts (3 sets of 20 reps)

-Push ups 3 sets of 15-20)

Is this a good way to go upon training? What works best for you?

I am currently training for a Half Marathon in Septemeber.  I would like to finish in 2hrs - anything under would be great.  I have a good general level of fitness.  I run approx 3 times a week - sometimes more but rarely less.

 Each week i have been increasing my milage, but Im not really getting any quicker - any tips on a good way to increase both?

 My last run was 6.9 miles in 1hr 18 mins.  This is the furthest i have ran, and i was pleased as it is a fairly hill route, and i didnt stop at all.  I am planning on doing the same route tonight, so will see how i get on.  I am best to start sticking to a lower milage and work on getting faster?  Will i naturally get faster the more comfortable i get with the distance?

 Any tips / Ideas will be a great help

Thanks

Dan

Anybody got any advice on what i should do? If you have a weight routine that works for you that would be great.

Thanks all.

I spoke to my doctor about this a few days ago and he said that it was nothing to worry about a it's just because I haven't done it much before and that it'll go when I get used to it.

 However, about 10 hours after the jog, my hips started to hurt and now, about 24 hours later, both hips, shins and to a lesser degree ankles hurt quite a lot. My right side hurts the most, but only just.

 Is there any way that I can prevent this in future, or is it just a case of "grin and bear it & getting used to it"?

 Also, if it still hurts after jogging, should I go see my doctor again? He wasn't my usual doctor and didn't know my history (I went in quickly to get a prescription that didn't require much knowledge about it) and obviously, I don't trust him as much as my usual doctor...

 and here comes 7 years later.......

My questions I have just got into running in the past 2-3 mos. I have the bug, and with that I am very competetive! I want to see what I can do! But I am afraid of setting my sites to high and being let down. I have a goal of 15:59. My best 5k so far was on a VERY humid and hot morning here in Orlando, in which I ran a 20:34. The week before this without competition I ran just 3 miles (I know not a 5k) in 19:12. I figured with that time I'm easily capable of under 20 minutes. What I would like to ask is a 15:59 if I work my ass off over the next 6 months, i owuld like to make it happen before I turn 26 at the end of November.

 Does anyone have any tips or advice? Thanks and anythignis appreciated!

I used to be a good distance runner when I was at school (middle distance and cross country) but haven't done much since.

I want to get back into it and, more importantly, regain a decent level of fitness.

For the last few months I've been doing the odd 3-mile run or two each week in the evenings when I get back from work. I have to say, it feels great to be running again.

My only problem is my perceived fitness level. When I'm running, my breathing is fine (normal breaths). My heart rate is quite fast (I average around 165 for a 20min run) but it doesn't feel uncomfortable. Because of this, I want to run faster but my legs just won't do it!!

Does anyone have any tips from improving leg muscle fitness?

I'm sure the answer will be to keep on running, and build it up gently, but I thought I'd ask anyway!

Thanks all,

Anto

I used to be a good distance runner when I was at school (middle distance and cross country) but haven't done much since.

I want to get back into it and, more importantly, regain a decent level of fitness.

For the last few months I've been doing the odd 3-mile run or two each week in the evenings when I get back from work. I have to say, it feels great to be running again.

My only problem is my perceived fitness level. When I'm running, my breathing is fine (normal breaths). My heart rate is quite fast (I average around 165 for a 20min run) but it doesn't feel uncomfortable. Because of this, I want to run faster but my legs just won't do it!!

Does anyone have any tips from improving leg muscle fitness?

I'm sure the answer will be to keep on running, and build it up gently, but I thought I'd ask anyway!

Thanks all,

Anto

I've been running regularly since the end of January as part of a major life over haul! Right now I am running between a 9 and 10 min/mile  on average, 3 times a week, usually 2x5 or 6k and one longer run at about 11k or so. I am trying to increase my speed all the time and am increasing length by 10% per week roughly (on the long run - the 2x5k are slowly increasing in distance and speed). I have just done a 10k race and I am enjoying running so much I am looking at a couple more challenges  to keep me working towards something. 

So I have found a 14k race in September and a half marathon in mid october that I really want to do. (I'm building for a full marathon next spring). Can anyone recommend any good marathon training schedules I can find online? Most of them seem to start 14 weeks before the race - do I just keep doing what I am doing until then?  

While I am not in the 'serious runner' category I am looking to get the best time I can, not just finish it - although this is my first so I would be happy with finishing it - and am therefore looking to train properely and safely. 

In addition to running I also do circuit training (resistence) / weights twice a week, kickboxing 2-3 times a week and swimming whenever possible (once or twice a week usually).

Cheers

Lex

 I did training for the 10km before that but now... i've lost the will to train! I was training around a 1.1 mile route or 1.5 mile route as they are not to far from home, what i like persoanlly.

 I have lost motivation to get training for my next 10km in august in cheshire. Dad has told me he will be running at his pace, 7 minutes miles, we did 8 minutes 11 when we ran together, so i need help to get training so i can beat him!!!

 Can someone please give me help/tips to get out and training again! i've got 13 weeks till the race so advice when to start to train again would be nice to know aswell.

 Thanks alot and hope someone kind replys =D

Any ideas?

I've just started running because I want to improve my fitness and lose some weight.  I am 5'11", 195lbs.  I completed my first two runs in 26.5 and 24 minutes.  Both were 2.5 miles.  My rough target is to do two 5 mile runs per week, not sure what target time I should set just yet.  With work and family commitments getting more than two sessions per week will be difficult.

Here's the question.  Should I focus on improving my time first or increasing my distance.  A goal that I have set myself is to run all the way on any run.  I just know that as soon as I allow myself a short section where I  walk I will be stopping all of the time.

Thanks