Ok, that is it. I am ready, no more couch potato. I am ready to start running (well, more like walking and jogging for the first days).
I haven't buy a new pare of running shoes in the past 2 years, no that the ones I have are in too bad condition but wonder if a good pair of shoes will help.
Do you have any favorite ones? Which are the best for the beginner?
I live in a city so I don't think I need one for rocky streets.
Also, do anybody want to join me in this adventure? We can cheer each other and help to stay away for the bad food, share tips, etc.
Anyone?!
Check out:
for extra motivation from other running moms. They are also on Facebook.
Don't get hung up on brand. Go to a running store and have them fit you. Then run around the store in them. Go with whatever feels good. I have thought of getting into running, or at least the walking/jogging, but I'm not at the point yet of being able to start. I wish you luck in your endeavor.
Oh, also, you might want to look into one of the Nike plus things if you have an ipod. You don't need the special shoes, just put it in one of those velcro key holders that attach to your laces. It really helped me to track how far I was going and the added music was great.
Nike Lunarglide's are awesome! They absorb all the shock of however your feet hit the pavement. They auto correct no matter how slow, or fast you run. I love them, my husband loves his (he no longer has knee or back problems now). I found them because I read Fitness magazine at the gym and they were rated one of the best running shoes for the year. If you purchase them from Nike.com or a Nike store you can wear them for a month and still return them if you don't like them. Good luck! I started running a year ago and LOVE it now! Never pictured myself to be a runner.
Go to a store that specializes in running shoes (here we have Roadrunner) They can ,measure your foot and how you run on you foot (pressure points ect) to see what show will work best for you. Then you can buy it there or look for cheaper somewhere else.
Good for you! That is awesome.
I started my running hobby last year to train for a marathon this past spring. To get yourself motivated, sign up for small races, like 1 mile and 5k's (3 miles).
The shoes that I love and will never stray from ever again are the Nike Free 5.0's. You can wear them with no socks, however I wear socks with them. I've worn Asics, Addidas, and a different type of Nike style shoe and found that with the Free's I have no knee, ankle, or leg problems. They are close to mimic barefoot running. If you want to do the barefoot running you wear the Vibram Five fingers -- but I don't recommend you go there just yet. You will feel muscles in your feet that you thought you never had! Our feet are not meant to be in pointy shoes as the natural placement of our toes is to have room to spread when we hit the surface and to utilized all your foot muscles for better balance and for improved speed (check out some of the Olympic runners).
If you don't want to spend a lot of $$$ on a tennis shoe, go onto ebay and find a used pair first. That's how I got my first pair of Nike Free's. I spent $30 on a pair of shoes that I wasn't sure I was going to like - they were previously test samples used lightly. I ended up liking them and bought my next brand new pair off of ebay for less than what it would cost in the stores.
Running stores can help you to a certain extent - friend of mine who went there and got fitted for a pair of tennis shoes and the shoes they suggested screwed up her knee and she had to go into sports therapy as she was running the marathon with me! She took them back and stuck with the brand that she was wearing previously since her body is used to the way she ran.
Fitness magazine is a good motivator too. You will at times be sick of it and fall of the "running wagon" - I have --- was off the wagon for a week! But then you get back on and feel much better. As long as you get back on is what counts. Get a mp3 player, load up your favorite music, get an armband for the mp3 player and start easy with walking, then later walk-run-walk-run, then run. Don't expect to be running soon -- give your body time. In between, do a day of rest or do weights. Log your work-outs and only log your weight when you start. DO NOT weigh yourself until a month later. When I began running and weight training, believe it or not...I am almost the same weight (- 2 lbs) as when I started -- however, I fit better in my jeans and shorts. Your muscle will replace the fat.
You will find that the more you work out, the more healthy foods you will eat.
Good luck to you!
