I went jogging today - first time in over 3 years.

[UdoKier]

And when I jogged 3 years ago, it was only for a few days - I sprained my ankle and gave up on it.


I'm at a record 265 lbs (6'2") and want to get back to a more reasonable 200~220 lbs.


I was a mere 175 lbs at age 20... but I was also an anorexic chainsmoker then.


Anyway, it was nice to get my first runner's high in years. Only 20 minute jog today, but I will gradually work may way back to longer runs.

YAY!

[dhinojosa]

1. Good job

wtg

[Left Is Write]

2. Great!

I love my exercise. I feel sluggish and cranky if I skip it.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

3. I love running!

Don't forget to stretch before AND afterward. Everyone says afterward is more important.

[Left Is Write]

5. After is better, because the muscles are warm and pliable.

It also relieves any stress from the exercise.

Five minutes or so of walking before jogging is a pretty good warmup. Five minutes after to reduce the heartrate, then the stretch.

[UdoKier]

11. Yes. I agree, and I did.

nt

[LostinVA]

23. Per sports med people now: NO stretching beforehand

Unless your doctor tells you to because of an injury, etc. It can actually INJURE you. God, we used to spend 45 minutes stretching in HS back in the early 80's...

[UdoKier]

29. I have never heard that.

Is that really so? I actually enjoy the warm-up stretching...

[dave29]

4. way to go!

I'm about to start again myself after two years.

[Township75]

6. Good Job! HEre is some advice!

Your body needs time to acclimate to the impacts caused by running on your joints, tendons and muscles. New runners are often encouraged to start by walking 4 minutes, then jogging for 2, the walking for 4, and repeating the cycle.

If you are comfy doing what you are doing, have fun. Don't believe that No Pain No Gain is always true though.

Keep on running!

[UdoKier]

19. Sounds like good advice.

Thus far it seems to be my cardiovascular system that needs to catch up. No pain anywhere yet. In fact I just went for an hour and a half bike ride across the Golden Gate to Marin county and back, even more exercise! (too bad I so love to eat!)

[Township75]

30. Wow! That is awesome!

Good for you! If you are happy with your training, then don't change it.

A lot of people find cross-training helps a lot. I enjoy taking a nice run one day, then biking the next. I think they help flush-out lactic acid and reduce soreness from each other. Of course, rest days are nice too.

Keep us posted.

[MissMarple]

7. Congratulations.

They say taking care of ourselves enables us to take care of others. :-)

[UdoKier]

13. Makes sense.

Although having kids to take care of has definitely put a crimp in my exercise time.


I tried weights, etc. but what a pain in the ass. Changing weights, positions, move here, go there. I'd rather just do some push-pus, situps, then run. I don't care about being all cut.

[Melynn]

8. I want to start jogging again

Great stress reliever in these days of the neo-thug BushCo.

[The Donkey]

9. Way to be!!

That's impressive to go for a full 20 minutes, especially after all that time off. Prepare to be sore for a few days, but try to at least go walking to help keep the imminent stiffness away.

[UdoKier]

12. It was a very mellow jog. As slow as I could.

I slowed to a walk a couple times during, but the last 8 minutes or so were not so bad.


I miss being able to run for an hour like it was nothing...

[UdoKier]

10. Just to clarify - I ran daily until about 10 years ago.

When we lived in Japan, I found it much harder to run there.

I never stopped riding my bike, so I'm not TOTALLY sedentary.


Now that I live in SF, I guess I have no excuse not to run...

[hickman1937]

14. Can I ask, why was it harder to run in Japan?

just curious.

[UdoKier]

17. more extreme weather, fewer suitable jogging places...

more exhaust gas right in your face...

I guess I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to sultry summers and cold winters.

My regular jogging days were in San Diego, CA - an ideal climate for exercise, with plenty of beautiful biking and jogging paths.

[hickman1937]

20. Japan sounds like Michigan.

Wish me luck, I start again next week, after a 5 year lay off.

[UdoKier]

22. Good luck.

I thought Michigan was full of lakes and forests!

[hickman1937]

24. Southeast Michigan is full of suberbs. Northern Mich is full

of lakes and forests. Except where I grew up in Oakland county, which has about 300 lakes in a 20 mile square radius. Everybody lived on a lake. Then the wealthy found the place. It's now a rich ghetto.

[Abelman]

15. Super!

I too am on the weightloss method of exercise. Some say it works, and it does!

I wish you all the luck and will power and fortitude you can handle!

[Nikia]

16. Good luck on your exercise regiment

If you start feeling overtrained, cut back a little but don't quit. Getting back into it takes time.

[MissMillie]

18. Welcome to my bad-ass world

I never purposefully jogged in my life until 3 weeks ago. I managed a 2 mile jog earlier this week.

Mind you, I'm slower than molasses running up-hill in January, but let me tell you... it's one of the best feelings I know to set a new jogging goal for myself, and to meet it.

[UdoKier]

21. Another thing I missed about daily runs- better regularity.

I found that it kept things running smoothly.

Since I stopped, I've become more prone to heartburn and constipation. Hope the exercise tones up my innards a bit too!

[Scout1071]

25. Good work. I just starting "woggin" (walk/jog) again 2 mos ago

for the first time in a few years. Keep it up. It feels great and I've lost 10 lbs. But, I can already tell I have more energy and jogging more every single day. We did 4 miles today.

Great work! Hang in there.

[amazona]

26. good for you, just be careful

I think jogging injuries sideline a lot of people in the way you describe.

175 is too slim for 6'2 -- your goal of 200-220 is more reasonable.

I think if you take your time, you can do this -- go for it!

[R. A. Fuqua]

27. be careful if you have ankle vulnerabilities--

baby those ankles--make sure you have really good running shoes, warm-up, stretch etc.

Also--are there any other activities that you like? If you are trying to get into shape--you may want to mix it up a bit (cross train)--try some swimming, biking etc--so that you don't get bored with just running.

Good luck!!!

[UdoKier]

28. I don't know if it's so much a vulnerability as too much body weight.

When I sprained it last time, I had stepped in a pothole a kinda funny way, but kept running because it didn't hurt much right away.

I intend to take it slow this time. And I love to ride my bike, and my older son loves to go out for rides with me.