Treadmill runners don't know the struggle. You can get off the machine, go tinkle, then continue your workout. If you are hungry, you can grab a snack on your way out of the gym at the specified time. The biggest concern is if the handrails were wiped down recently.
I only know this because I started trail running last fall, and found myself so far flung out of my comfort zone I had NO idea what I was doing, or HOW I got talked into doing this. But I don't quit. So rather than dwell in the past, I will give future runners that want to try something new (which I can't recommend enough) a few key pieces of advise before you hit the road.
I will warn you, some of this may be T.M.I.
1. If you have had children, your bladder is no longer your friend. I have no idea why this happens, but since I am not the first runner to blog about this, I will go ahead and assume it is a real life issue. Go potty before you go running. I don't care if it's a mile, three miles, or twenty miles. Potty first 100% of the time. Also, Always made a new line of "modern" light bladder leakage pads. You should buy those. I can only wish I was joking. My first 5K, by the end I was a bit damp. Not too bad, but enough to learn to make better beverage choices before a run. (I drank a latte before I ran- this was a BAD idea). When your body is in full run mode, your muscles are focused on keeping you upright, so holding the contents of your bladder is not the current concern. So hence the reason I give you the lesson, go potty and wear back-up.
2. Your shoes are going to need to be replaced often. How often? Well, as soon as you start to feel pain when you run, usually about four to six months. My husband cries about this. My shoes cost the same amount as a good bottle of Scotch. The shoes last longer, but it is the reason I don't drink anymore. I can't afford the calories, nor the price. I would rather run.
3. You will probably not lose weight running alone. You just read that three times to make sure I was serious, didn't you? I know some celebrities like Jenny McCarthy say, "I run for 45 minutes a day and lost the weight like everyone else..." Uh, no. Not exactly. That's NOT how it works. If you aren't eating enough protein, and you are eating junk, no amount of running is going to make you lose the weight. I can't recommend group programs enough. I am doing Weight Watchers right now, because after 10 months of running 20+ miles a week, I had actually GAINED weight. Now, with a lot of help, tweaking the diet to match the calorie output, I have lost eleven pounds.
4. If you are going to run a half marathon, or a marathon get a coach. They are worth their weight in gold. They have experience, advise, and can give you the push you need to get to the next step. I plan to start with one in the Spring so next Fall's Happy Girl, my name is on the first page of results. I want to go faster and I want to have more stamina. You can't get these on your own.
5. Okay, this one, I have NOT personally had an issue with, but since I found out some runners do have this problem, you should know about it. Runners push food through the digestive system much faster than normal people. This isn't an issue with shorter distance and half marathon runners, but marathon and ultra runners have had to leave the course to find a bathroom, or worse have an accident. The intestines are full of little finger like villi that if stimulated by vigorous activity for extended periods of time push through solid waste in record time. That is great news if you suffer from IBS-C, but if you have normal or fast body functions, this is an issue, and you will want to consider personal ways to deal with it.
6. Winter runners are the beasts of the road. I joined the Winter Warriors group this last month and had my first run with them last week. I live where the air hurts to breathe. I live where it snows. It is pitch-black dark by 4 in the freaking afternoon. The group run starts later than that. I live where it does this neat "ice rain" thing. Running through that makes me feel like I am training my body to be a superhero. By the end of the first run, my lungs hurt and I had a shopping list for what I need to survive another crazy night of running. I bought a head lamp, and found a gator mask to put over my mouth to protect my beautiful, pink lungs. I left my house with gloves, yak trax, a mask, head lamp, light jacket, long sleeved shirt, tights, sweat pants, two pairs of running shoes, and lip balm. My family laughs at me. They threaten to get me a yellow vest so I look like a minion for real. I thought, "humm, a yellow vest may help me stand out in the dark..."
7. Runners come in every shape and size. I was stunned during my first race to see that the runners passing me were larger than I was. The magazines and news show perfect thin bodies crossing finish lines, but in reality, the majority of us are a size 8 or larger. There is no excuse why you can't run. Everyone that can walk, can run. You may run as slow as a turtle crossing a peanut butter road, but you can do it. Don't think you have to wait until you are a certain size to start running. You just have to start.
I hope this helps someone. If you love my blog, please share. I am trying to get enough visitors and eyes on my blog to do this full-time someday. (While other people run my coffee roasting business :)) Visit nectaroflife.com if you want to learn more about my day-job.
Copyright December 10, 2014 Attention Scrapers, Cheaters, Copiers, Thieves, and would-be jerks: this blog and every ounce of content on it belongs to me-NOT you. Don't re-word, splice, steal, or otherwise try to pass this off for something you would write. If you want to pay me for content, I can do that. If you fail to heed my polite warning, I hope your children flush large, valuable items down the toilet, or small items, I am fine with that too. Plumbing problems are the WORST, don't you think?
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