In response to Anna's post, I thought I'd offer a quick history of my life as a runner. Because it didn't really start until my senior year of college...Let's start by saying I got incredibly out of shape during high school. I gained almost 10 lbs. during Senior year alone. And that wasn't from any drug or anything. It was from eating too much and working out too little. I was FAT. And lazy. And just...out of shape. And I didn't do too much to remedy this through much of college. Fast forward to 2004. I was watching the Ironman competition on television and the network did a special feature on one competitor who was in his 70's...nearing 80 if I remember correctly. Here was an OLD DUDE running, swimming and biking in one of the toughest competitions in the world. In that moment all I could think was, "I can't even run a mile...I'm pathetic."
Rather than give in to my pathetic nature and live out the remainder of my life as a loserish tub of lard, I decided that if OLD DUDE could do the Ironman, I could at least run a 5K. That seemed a small enough goal. So how did I do it?
I set out a 3-mile running route near my apartment complex. 3-4 times a week i ran this route. I would run as far as I could, and then I would walk until my heart rate came back down, and then I would run again until I had to stop. At first, I could only run for maybe 5 minutes before I had to rest. Keeping this up for weeks on end, I was able to finally run the entire route without stopping. I ran my first 5K, without stopping, about 2 months after I started this entire experiment.
I found music was KEY to a successful run--especially in my first few years of running. I started out with the old school Discman. I made myself a mix of songs with upbeat tempos that made me want to dance. Instead of dancing, though, I was running. I should also note that if you ever saw me running with my headset on, it would be a normal occurrence to see me singing along or bopping my hands to the beat. I have fun...even if I look weird.
Going further than a 5K distance simply meant practicing. Even after my first 5K, I kept running the same route. I found the more in shape I got, the faster I could make it through the route. The first 5K took me close to 40 minutes I think. In my most recent 5K, in May, I came in under 30 minutes. Plus, the more you run, the longer distance you can handle. I've set routes now for 4 or 5 miles as well. So far, 7 miles without stopping is the furthest I've gone. But it really comes down to setting a goal and then working toward it.
As to side aches, I've found I get them most often when I set too fast a pace, drink too little water in advance, or even if I eat too soon before running. And shin splints might be my expertise as I've developed them way too often for my liking. If you push yourself too hard too fast, shin splints can develop. But that's a great excuse for any of us who want a reason not to work out. Shin splints most likely develop because your shoes aren't supportive enough. I'm a huge fan of Asics. I just by mine at Big 5. But if you really want to find the right shoe for your foot, and you're willing to pay the price for them (Maybe close to $100 or more?), I'd suggest Salt Lake Running Company. They work with you and help fit your foot to the best shoe out there.
Final thought before I post--running really can be fun. A lot of it is psychological. Not psych yourself out before you begin. Just go out there and have a good time. And remember, that starting anything new isn't always easy. You'll be sore and there will be days/weeks you'll want to stop. But let me "TESTIFY" that the feeling of finishing a race or a course you've worked for weeks to be ready for, is one of the best feelings in the world. YOU CAN DO IT!
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