The Official Eidos Jogging Thread

[CaptainMcMulla]

Originally Posted by Lo

Buy a rowing machine.

It is the definitive of exercise machines when used correctly (and you buy a decent one)

I had my "virgin voyage" yesterday and after ten minutes I could not physically go on. Tomorrow I am upping the odds and am going for twelve minutes. After that I am going to build up more strength but I already have good upper body strength in spite of being lean.

It works the lower back, the upper and lower arms and the lower abdomen muscle group as well as calf muscles.

I paid £130 odd for mine. It's got a computer system so you can monitor your vitals

Just plant it near the TV and watch Rambo....or something - you'll get a mental determination to do it. Personally I went 20 extras by watching G.I. Jane

Thanks for the advice. But i really cant afford one of those machines right now. I do have a pre season friendly this sunday. I'll see how i fair in that game. Then i'll get back to you guys.

[Lo]

Good luck, mate!

[CaptainMcMulla]

Oh no. The local council have pulled down all the local goalposts down. So my pre season friendly is cancelled. I am really disappointed, i was so looking forward to the game.

[Sophia Leigh]

I thought I really should share my little story here since there are other runners and walkers around....

About seven weeks ago I was out for my run, doing my usual route, I was running on my way back, came around a corner to see a strange van parked on the side of the road - this is a main road but this particular part has houses on one side and a field on the other. I thought it was quite strange to be parked there - it was on the side with no houses, the side door was also open but no sign of anyone. Naturally I started to get worried (thinking someone was going to jump out and try to grab me) as I had to approach this van and I could not cross the road due to traffic.

I stopped running to try to catch my breath (in case I was going to have to fight - I do martial arts so thats my first instinct) and proceeded to walk briskly. As I came past the opened door I walked out wide but glanced in to see a horrible naked man in the doorway - I won't go into further discription here but you get my point...

I got past the van as quick as possible, dialed 000 (emergency) and took down the number plate and continued on. The police came quickly and picked me up etc, van took off.

My hubby is now quite overprotective and doesn't want me to go running by myself anymore as I do have to pass some bushy areas, I have found myself a running buddy which I am greatful for because he pushes me harder which is fantastic, however I do miss the freedom of spontaneaously deciding to go for a run, it is now very coordinated, I do miss the solitude of it that I used to sometimes enjoy.

Now my point here is that I always carry my phone with me, I pass so many people running by themselves and none of them are carrying their phones. If I wasn't able to call the police when I did then it could have been "interesting" to see how the events could have unfolded instead...

[Lo]

Good lord what a terrible and unsettling experience, Sophia

Good idea to carry your phone with you, however. Great thinking.

That said it is indeed a crying shame that you can no longer feel safe enough to go it alone on the old tarmac But at least your jogging partner is spurring you on hehe!

That pervert sounds dreadful but thank goodness you were able to note his number plate for this should now go on register and maybe the cops will pay him a visit for his tendencies for flashing. Revolting man grrr

[Gillie]

That is a dreadful story I do hope it has not shaken you too much.
It is a sad when you feel not safe to run alone anymore a cell phone sounds like the best idea.
What an awful man. Take care.

[Keir]

That all sounds a bit weird. Anyway, glad you're OK

My running has been coming on well since my winter of indulgence. I've run six 10k-ers this month and did a nice sub 40 minute 10k the other day.

Only problem is as I've upped my mileage, my right knee has started to complain again. After about 7k it feels like I've smacked it against something and now it's clicking a lot when I bend it fully. Having to rest it this week which is annoying because I'm gagging for a run. Swimming and cycling just don't hit the spot

[spyhopping]

That sounds awful, it's good to be observant when you're out on your own anywhere. It's no good, but I never take my mobile with me on a run because on the stuff I wear there's nowhere comfortable to keep it.

That's a quick time for a 10k, Kier, must have taken some good training. Knee pains are horrible, I'd get painful "sticky" knees when cycling a few years ago. It might be worth looking into glucosamine supplements, they are supposed to be good for helping painful joints and cartilage. The only complaints I get with a run are occasional twinges in my achilles tendon, but other than that I'm lucky enough to not get many injuries. Mustn't be pushing myself hard enough!

Since moving away from the mountains and any proximity to a gym (my old one was amazing with it's cold pool, jacuzzi and steam room ) my fitness started to decline, and I began to feel frustrated. So, I've started a bit of a schedule now, and it's making me feel great when I have the time to stick to it. The length of the run will increase as I go along, but right now it's three 30 minute runs a week and a bit of core strength stuff with rest days between.

Do other runners here bother with heart rate monitors? I got bought one as a present recently because I mentioned that I was finding it hard to know when I was at the right intensity. It's the kind that you have as a skin contact strip around your chest with a watch to pick up the signal, going to test it out soon. I read it's good to aim for 60-80% of your max heart rate as a good training zone.

[sheenashirley]

I agree that the solitude of running is really part of the appeal. It is meditative, even though sometimes I can run and think of nothing (other than how I'm doing and if I'm going to make it) it is a fantastic escape and a great way to get perspective on things.

I am toying with the idea of going along to a running club (there's a big one near me) but I'm in no rush, because I also enjoy the loneliness of the long distance runner.

[Keir]

Originally Posted by spyhopping

That sounds awful, it's good to be observant when you're out on your own anywhere. It's no good, but I never take my mobile with me on a run because on the stuff I wear there's nowhere comfortable to keep it.

That's a quick time for a 10k, Kier, must have taken some good training. Knee pains are horrible, I'd get painful "sticky" knees when cycling a few years ago. It might be worth looking into glucosamine supplements, they are supposed to be good for helping painful joints and cartilage. The only complaints I get with a run are occasional twinges in my achilles tendon, but other than that I'm lucky enough to not get many injuries. Mustn't be pushing myself hard enough!

Since moving away from the mountains and any proximity to a gym (my old one was amazing with it's cold pool, jacuzzi and steam room ) my fitness started to decline, and I began to feel frustrated. So, I've started a bit of a schedule now, and it's making me feel great when I have the time to stick to it. The length of the run will increase as I go along, but right now it's three 30 minute runs a week and a bit of core strength stuff with rest days between.

Do other runners here bother with heart rate monitors? I got bought one as a present recently because I mentioned that I was finding it hard to know when I was at the right intensity. It's the kind that you have as a skin contact strip around your chest with a watch to pick up the signal, going to test it out soon. I read it's good to aim for 60-80% of your max heart rate as a good training zone.

Thanks! I've always been good at running. It's not training really, just when I live healthily my running improves. If I could run more frequently (and maintained the healthy lifestyle for a year or so) I'd be able to get some really great times.

Thanks for the tip too. I'm thinking some kind of exercising of the joint may help. My knee is feeling better now, the clicking has almost stopped. Perhaps this cold was a blessing because it's made me rest it.

My tendons also give me terrible trouble. I am sure to stretch to warm up and down, but sometimes they're really painful the next day. I've tried different shoes (currently on a pair of Saucony which seem to help). I think my tendons are naturally tight. I'm thinking about yoga to help.

Glad to hear you've got back into it. There's nothing quite like a good fitness routine to boost happiness and confidence it has to be said.

With regard to heart rate monitors, I have one (it's on my Garmin 405 GPS watch) but I rarely use it because my heart rate scares me, lol (I need to relax) - but also because I run for fun. Monitoring times and distances is good, but if I start looking at my heart rate and calories, etc, then I feel that I'm danger of removing the fun and enjoyable aspect of running and turning it more into a science. I'm so competitive that I try to turn every run into a personal best and sometimes I forget to enjoy the freedom and experience of running as it is.

[One of Seven]

It's cool to see active people on these forums. I recently got a gym membership and I weighed 245 in December. Well I've been going for about four months 5 days a week now, and I've had a twenty pound weight loss, 225! If I keep goin' at this rate I'm going to be a skinny bastard in no time!

[Ruum Taedor]

Great progress, One of Seven! You don't seem like the skinny bastard type to me. You are fine the way you are. I don't think you'll be joining the skinny bastard's club anytime soon, of which I'm a member in good standing.

[Lo]

Same here. But then recently I discovered cookies with Smarties in them......

[One of Seven]

Don't be tellin' me about those.

[Keir]

Originally Posted by One of Seven

Don't be tellin' me about those.

Fair play to you for your gym routine. That's discipline and mental strength

Last couple of weeks I haven't been working out every day due to a cold and then a mate's stag do over in Ireland ( ) but did a good 10k last night and I'll be going for a swim at some stage today.

[One of Seven]

Haha I guess. When I went to see my doctor yesterday, I weighed 222. I had a 6 pound loss in one month, my doc claims I'm losing the right way, but she doesn't want me to lose much faster. I thought it was awesome personally.

[Danielsun]

i love running i go on the cardio machine at the gym or jog to rayleigh or southend, or if i am lazy i will cycle to get there quicker lol

running a mile tomorrow for breast cancer research as well as other activities which will be fun

i have always wanted however to get invovled in the london marathorn and do something for charity but i have never known how definatly one of my aims in life to do that... before i get too old to run it anyways