You could run for your life but not really for any other reason

Guest Blog Post by Aimee Bartis Blogger, a middle school technology teacher. a reader. a writer. a mom of 3 boys. a wife. a daughter. a Chihuahua lover. a sister. a friend. a wanna be runner

So announced an orthopedic surgeon in 1995. I had had 2 ankle surgeries and was training for the Danskin triathlon with my sister in law. I was in terrible pain. He gave me a cortizone shot and sent me on my way. I didn't enter the triathlon. I went to California instead. My sister in law competed and rocked it.

Fast forward to summer 2009. I was training for the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk. It's a walk, I can do that. But walking all that time is boooorrrriiiinnnnggg. (the actual walk was not boring, just training for it by myself) I started thinking about running again. I had also completed the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I was feeling strong. I could do anything.

My sister in law, Laura, has always been a runner. As long as I've known her, she's run. But in the fall of 2008 she took it up a notch. She trained to run a half marathon. This sounded close to impossible to me. But, once again, she rocked it. She was so committed to it. She transformed her body and her life. I was (and still am) so proud of her. She inspires me in a lot of ways. But she's really my inspiration to run. This is us at the 3 Day Walk.

So, while we are walking in the 3 Day, I pop off. "After this I'd like to do a 5k." That's when I found out about the iPhone app - Couch to 5K. My friend Monica had used it and really liked it. I decided I would buy it as soon as I was rested up from the 3 Day. Well, the 3 Day didn't go exactly as planned (huge asthma attack and month long fall out). But, I did buy the app and started the program on December 14, 2009.

The C24K program is 9 weeks. I wanted to stay on track so I picked out a goal run that was in exactly 9 weeks. Then I told my husband, sister in law and brother in law. Now people knew. I had to follow through.

At first I was not fast but all hunched forward. I felt stupid and like I would fall over at any moment. I talked to my husband about it and he helped me sit back into my run. Now I feel more that Rocky. Ya know the scene when he runs and punches? That's me. Slow and steady.
I can not say enough about the C25K program. It eases you into running. You warm up. You walk. You run. Repeat. Cool down. It prompts you "You are half way through" "5 minutes left". Your running time gradually increases.

I highly recommend. You can learn more about it here. I'm enjoying it. My ankles are holding up well. I read this article today that I think explains why. I don't think I could have run so effectively without getting into shape first. The 30 Day Shred whipped me into shape, strengthened my core and legs.

My race is on Saturday, February 13. My goal is simply to not die. Just kidding (kinda), I think it will go well. My actual goal is to run a 5K a month.

Here are some random thoughts on starting to run:

• If you are on Twitter, hook into a group like #momsrunning. I've met great ladies there who really encourage me (thanks @timeoutmom and @fitcheerldr)
  find someone to hold you accountable and to encourage you.


• I run by myself but I text and/or Twitter about my runs. People want you to succeed. Well, normal people do anyway.


• I run in the early morning so I let my husband know how long I'll be gone and my route. That way he knows when to worry.


• I didn't load up on gear. I run in the shoes that I did the 3 Day in. And I had cold weather gear from the 3 Day (thank you Buffy). But I did buy a think that straps my iPhone to my arm.


• Read all you can about running and cross training. It will help keep you motivated and improve your training.


• Load your iPod or other MP3 player with music that will get you moving. Think of all the 'trash' no one wants to listen to but you. I have rap music from college, Broadway show tunes, and teen pop princesses. And I have it on shuffle so I never know what's coming next.


• I've found that chewing gum helped me learn to breath through my nose and not pant like a dog.


• I'm a dancer by nature so somethings I swing my arms or do arm dancing routines for a change of pace.

Check out Aimee Bartis' Blog: http://http//aimeebartis.blogspot.com/2010/01/running.html

Check out Aimee on Twitter: http://twitter.com/aimeebartis

8 Tips for New and Beginning Runners

GUEST POST by Amanda Espinoza, Founder & Contributor - http://www.themomcrowd.com/

8 Tips For Runners Starting from Scratch

Have you thought about running as a way to workout? As a way to lose that postpartum muffin top? If you want to run, you can do it! It is just a matter of wanting to do it and carving out the time in your schedule. Even if you have never ran a day in your life - you CAN run! You just need to be sure that you don't have joint problems or any other condition where running would make your condition worse.

Myself and a few other friends are gearing up to run a Half Marathon in San Antonio, TX in November. My friend, Natalie, asked me what she needed to know before she started running.

Here are 8 tips if you are brand new to running.

1. Know the lingo and set a goal.
In McKenna's first 5K post http://www.themomcrowd.com/my-first-5k-race/ she recommends to find a Fun Run in your area and register for the race. Because the race fees are usually non-refundable, you are more likely to do the race.

Here are the types of most races:
5K = 3.1 miles
10K = 6.2 miles
10 Mile Race
Half Marathon = 13.1 miles
Marathon = 26.2 miles

2. Have a good pair of running shoes.
Your feet and your joints will thank you! Saving your body is worth the price of a new pair of shoes. An article for beginners on RunnersWorld.com says, "Cross-trainers, aerobics shoes, and other athletic foot--wear don't have enough cushioning to handle running's impact--nor does the pair of running shoes you wore two years ago. Buy new running shoes, or you risk getting injured."

3. Stretch, Stretch, Stretch before and after your run.
Set a stretching routine that you can follow every day. Don't ever skip stretching, unless you want to pull a muscle. Additionally, stretching after you run will help with soreness. I really dislike stretching after I run, because I just want to be done. So I only do three stretches when I am done: touch my toes, stretch my quads and my calves. For me, these are the 3 areas that I will most likely be sore later. Here is great post with stretching suggestions!
Thanks TimeOutMom for the link!)

4. Take baby steps!
You can start running in intervals while running and walking. Go for 30 minutes by doing a 1:4. This means that you run for 1 minute, then walk for 4 minutes. You do that same pattern 6 times until you have completed 30 minutes. Then the next week you can do 2:3. Running for 2 minutes and walking 3 for 30 minutes. You keep up this pattern until you can run 30 minutes straight.

If you decide that you want to start running without any walking, then you can start with a short distance. Only do a quarter of a mile until that quarter of mile gets easy. Then, do a half mile until a half mile gets easy. And so forth. Eventually doing 3 miles will be easy!

5. Take rest days.
You need rest days! Sometimes we want to come out of the gate fast and workout every day, but your body needs recovery days. While you should maintain a minimum of 3 runs a week, you also shouldn't run every single day.
MarathonRookie.com says:

You should not run every day. Your body needs to rest between runs so it can recover from one run to the next, getting stronger between each run. Nutrition and eating the right foods at the right time also play a vital role in recovery. Take recovery days equally as serious as your running days.

6. Have accountability and support.
Doing a race with friends will help you stay accountable. You can cheer each other on during the training weeks. Text your friend and see if they ran that day. You also need the support of a spouse or friend to help you watch the kids when you go on runs.

7. Run for a cause.
Need some inspiration to run? Run for a cause. If you run a half marathon or a full marathon you can sign up with an organization and help raise money to support their cause. Angie of Me and My Good Life Blog ran a marathon and raised 4,536 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in honor of her father. She claims that she is not a runner. If you need some inspiration for running read her Gonna Run a Marathon Blog.

8. Brag!
There is nothing wrong with getting on your blog, Facebook, Twitter or texting a friend to tell people that you ran that day! Knowing that I will get to update my Facebook status and Tweet my run gets me out of bed. (If you do tweet about running you can use the hashtag #momsrunning.) My friend, Dawn, also set up a Blog
just for the 4 of us running together to cheer each other on.

Now it is time to get out there and run! :) Do you like to run? Have you thought about running? Have you ever completed a Half or Full Marathon?

RESOURCES: More Articles About Running

Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Runner Training For Your First Half Marathon

Half-Marathon Training

Six Simple Rules for Safe Runs

RunningMoms.com

Train Before Your 5K Goal

Guest Blogger Bio:
Amanda is the founder and a contributor of an encouraging, informative, and inspiring parenting blog written by five moms. You can read more about our first 5K's and Dawn's first Half Marathon on our blog. http://www.themomcrowd.com/category/running