Running distance.

[hc00]

I have been doing running as well as bodywieght exercises since I joined this site, and I was just wondering about 3 things

1). Where can I get one of those GPS distance calculating watches, because I have been trying to work out the distance on maps and am not sure as to how accurate the maps scales are.

2). Apparently there are things you can do while running to improve the amount of ground you can cover before becoming out of breath and needing to catch your breath before you can start running again. Are there and if so what are they.

3). If I run between once a day and once every two days, how long would you expect until I'm fit enough to do the PRMC if I put an average amount of effort into it?

(Thats if there is a sort of average time and amount of effort)

[hc00]

4). Also apparently swimming is supposed to be a more efficient way of training for fitness than running. I dont know about that.

But what my question is, is why can I swim at full tilt much further and longer than I can run at full tilt??

[letsrole]

lol, right. Questions 1 and 2, I don’t know.

Swimming gets you fit, but not running fit, it's almost like it's its own type of fitness but won't do you any harm, increases CV which is needed for running so helps the heart out and builds up muscles. To get better at running its better to run as it uses specific muscles.

Tilt? What’s that?

As for question three, that depends how hard you are pushing yourself and distance you are covering, only you can really judge that. If you are going about average I’d say 2 months (well that’s what the navy web site suggests and that’s not exactly hard).

[hc00]

lol, right. Questions 1 and 2, I don’t know.

Swimming gets you fit, but not running fit, it's almost like it's its own type of fitness but won't do you any harm, increases CV which is needed for running so helps the heart out and builds up muscles. To get better at running its better to run as it uses specific muscles.

I thought as much, It was just puzzling me how i could swim better than I ran. And by full tilt I mean full speed/effort. Eg. Sprinting

As for question three, that depends how hard you are pushing yourself and distance you are covering, only you can really judge that. If you are going about average I’d say 2 months (well that’s what the navy web site suggests and that’s not exactly hard).

So two months maybe, I thought it would be longer than that

I was thinking of getting a watch from ebay but I dont know if the watches from ebay would be accurate.

Just had a look at the ebay ones now... wow they're expensive

[Worthers Original]

I wouldn't bother with the gps watches, they're very nice but their expense doesn't really justify the purchase. As long as you have a rough idea of how far you're running then everything else is relative to that. Run further and you know you can run further. Run faster and you know you can run faster.

Map scales on maps are accurate. Try using a website like http://rp.rac.co.uk/routeplanner, just go through the stages to bring up a map of where you run and then use the ruler facility to get a fairly accurate distance for your route.

The thing to do that helps you to run further before running out of breath is to run more slowly. Instead of a gps watch you'd be better off buying a heartrate monitor with a chest strap. Run at a pace that keeps your heart rate below 170bpm, even if that includes stages of walking. Don't forget to start off slightly slower for the first half mile(ish), keeping your heart rate at about 150, if you aren't warming up before you run.

If you can get a running partner then all the better.

[letsrole]

Is there any way to plan a route online that is cross country, because on that one my feilds just appear in white

[hc00]

I wouldn't bother with the gps watches, they're very nice but their expense doesn't really justify the purchase. As long as you have a rough idea of how far you're running then everything else is relative to that. Run further and you know you can run further. Run faster and you know you can run faster.

I suppose that is a given , I wold just like to test my times on the prmc test distances.

Map scales on maps are accurate. Try using a website like http://rp.rac.co.uk/routeplanner, just go through the stages to bring up a map of where you run and then use the ruler facility to get a fairly accurate distance for your route.

The few sites I have tried havent been accurate, I run through (well past) a field that is wide enough to fit 6-8 500m running ovals in it, but apparently the field is less than 500 meters wide according to all of them.

I am going to try that site though

The thing to do that helps you to run further before running out of breath is to run more slowly. Instead of a gps watch you'd be better off buying a heartrate monitor with a chest strap. Run at a pace that keeps your heart rate below 170bpm, even if that includes stages of walking. Don't forget to start off slightly slower for the first half mile(ish), keeping your heart rate at about 150, if you aren't warming up before you run.

Im not warming up before I run, I should probably put more effort into it (warming up). I might try a heart rate monitor, thanks for the suggestion

If you can get a running partner then all the better.

Yep, I know when exercising with someone else I always perform better, the unfortunate bit though is that there is no one

[hc00]

I tried that map thing, still dont believe its very accurate (Using the above mentioned field) though it says my set course is 1.3 miles (2.6 there and back) so...

I just cant wait till I can run it all.

[Jobag]

Run at a pace that keeps your heart rate below 170bpm

What is the reason behind this? I usually average about 190bpm on my runs when i use a HR monitor

[Worthers Original]

Run at a pace that keeps your heart rate below 170bpm

What is the reason behind this? I usually average about 190bpm on my runs when i use a HR monitor

170 is just a fairly averagely good percentage of your max heart rate to not train above if you want to avoid overtraining. 190 is high, especially if it is sustained for several miles. Hitting 190 when you sprint at the end of a run isn't so bad but I'd say it serves little purpose and just adds a risk of injury. At such a high heart rate you aren't training aerobicly but anaerobicly, if you want to improve fitness you need to train aerobicly.

You may, of course, be a freak (heart rate wise)

[Worthers Original]

hc00, if you are running approx 2.6 miles but are finding it hard to run the whole distance then try as I suggested and run a little slower. Don't worry about time, that will come as you get fitter. To be confident of success at PRMC (and confident in your level of fitness generally) you need to be running quite a bit further and you will only manage that by lowering your heartrate.

You need to build confidence that you can tackle any distance. When I first started running I thought the idea of running 5 miles was just crazy talk but I now know, from having spent years running, that anything up to 16 miles should be considered as little more than determined effort to overcome the boredom, physically it is a piece of piddle. Running fitness is easily built if you take your time and allow your body to slowly get used to the demand made of it. It's tough when you start and I, like most, struggled to run 1 mile when I first started.

I'd say to forget distance and concentrate on time. Run 15minutes this week, twenty the next and so on. Keep your heartrate down. You don't need a heartrate monitor just run at a pace that feels comfortable, not an all out, lung busting effort. Run every other day. Try and enjoy it. I don't know how old you are but I'm sure you have plenty of time to get fit for joining the Marines. Concentrate on that as opposed to the lesser of the two evils PRMC. Do you want to rush and be fit enough to scrape through PRMC or do you want to take your time and be ready to start training proper?

Warming up. I don't bother, I just take it easier for the first five minutes or so until I feel warmed up and then just slip into a slightly faster pace. Better to do that than warm up poorly and then head off at full steam only to pick up an injury.

I'm sure that if money wasn't so tight that the Government would do well to introduce PT for people considering joining the Armed Forces, possibly run at the local TA. It might save some people from getting injured and also provide help for those less sporty types who still have something to offer.

[hc00]

Thanks for the tips Worthers. Currently I run every day (unless I oversleep ) I will start running every 2nd day (which is what I was planning on doing anyways).

And I will try to run slower, Thats the hardest bit fro me I run at about 80-90% without thinking about it.


I cant even run a mile yet but it will come, especially if I slow down a bit. Damn the uneven ground in my area though

And the Pt idea is good but I know from personal experience that at this level of fitness I'd feel a bit of an arse if I did any exercise with people I dont know. And others may have the same attitude. (I wouldn't know as all my friends were quite fit, why wasn't I... )

hc00, if you are running approx 2.6 miles but are finding it hard to run the whole distance then try as I suggested and run a little slower. Don't worry about time, that will come as you get fitter. To be confident of success at PRMC (and confident in your level of fitness generally) you need to be running quite a bit further and you will only manage that by lowering your heartrate.

You need to build confidence that you can tackle any distance. When I first started running I thought the idea of running 5 miles was just crazy talk but I now know, from having spent years running, that anything up to 16 miles should be considered as little more than determined effort to overcome the boredom, physically it is a piece of piddle. Running fitness is easily built if you take your time and allow your body to slowly get used to the demand made of it. It's tough when you start and I, like most, struggled to run 1 mile when I first started.

I'd say to forget distance and concentrate on time. Run 15minutes this week, twenty the next and so on. Keep your heartrate down. You don't need a heartrate monitor just run at a pace that feels comfortable, not an all out, lung busting effort. Run every other day. Try and enjoy it. I don't know how old you are but I'm sure you have plenty of time to get fit for joining the Marines. Concentrate on that as opposed to the lesser of the two evils PRMC. Do you want to rush and be fit enough to scrape through PRMC or do you want to take your time and be ready to start training proper?

Warming up. I don't bother, I just take it easier for the first five minutes or so until I feel warmed up and then just slip into a slightly faster pace. Better to do that than warm up poorly and then head off at full steam only to pick up an injury.

I'm sure that if money wasn't so tight that the Government would do well to introduce PT for people considering joining the Armed Forces, possibly run at the local TA. It might save some people from getting injured and also provide help for those less sporty types who still have something to offer.

[Ruth]

One of the best things I got told was to go as slow as your heart rate says you should and not as fast as your pride wants to!

[Worthers Original]

And I will try to run slower, Thats the hardest bit fro me I run at about 80-90% without thinking about it.

Disclipline, a training partner or a heartrate monitor.

I cant even run a mile yet....

So you're where loads of people start and you're right, it will come.

And the Pt idea is good but I know from personal experience that at this level of fitness I'd feel a bit of an arse if I did any exercise with people I dont know. And others may have the same attitude. (I wouldn't know as all my friends were quite fit, why wasn't I... )

Yep and imagine if they got together to train though.

[Pilgrim Norway]

Just passing !

Here's something from another section of the MForums which may help
on these pages too.....

Quote :-

Here is something to aim for - this "lad", running in the Men 65 to 69 age
class had the following times ( and placings at that moment ) during
his run :-

http://emitag.com/oslomar/2005/mt00386.htm

Therefore his ten kilometer time was : 47.29 and he was number 158 then
and his twenty k' time was 1:34:15 - his time through the finishing line
was 3:21:42. finishing number 120 in the field and in First Place for his group.......... quite canny.

To trace what YOU ( any of you ) would have to deliver you may like
to click in on :-

http://www.emit.no/oslomar/zhel.htm

The other results are here - and you can test your Norwegian too !

http://www.oslomaraton.no/

So - girls and boys - go out and enjoy the dark, cold, windy bits of road
running -jogging past the local pub(s) and being chased by dogs, drunks
and uppity kids, idiots, stalkers, rapists and girls - -

It's worth it

'Aye
_________________

Unquote....
Good luck