The Running/Keeping Fit Thread

[Fosterbloke]

I'm still at the gym doing 5x5

[EwarWoo]

For the past couple of years I've been doing a ****load of power walking. Hit the stage where Sundays I'm by myself I'll do 20k+ in 3 hours (when I have my son we'll do 15k or so, but much slower, still pretty proud of him).

I've recently however decided to start trying some running. My knees are ****ed so it makes me nervous, but can jog 1k no drama after much effort, just need to extend it.

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at the moment I do 7k or so before work. Once I can run all of this will start parking ~7 k from work Mondays and Fridays.

With my Sundays that will give me 56k or so per week

[Norbs]

I've always thought power walkers look like good people fleeing the scene of a minor crime, like putting dog **** on a door handle.

[EwarWoo]

Lost 30kg power walking so will take it

[Alex]

We have 2 Olympic Speed Walkers live near us, so see them training all the time. Its quite a sight to behold becase they move fast as ****. Quicker than I can jog.

Why start running though? You seem to be nailing power walking? 20k in 3 hours seems rapid as ****. Why not push on with that more? Or is the key to speeding up that, running?

[Norbs]

Lost 30kg power walking so will take it

I've gone the opposite way to you and stopped running as it ****ed my knees and have put on a load of weight. Is there a knack to it or is it literally walking as fast as you can keeping one foot on the ground? Is it better for your joints as you're not 'landing' on each stride?

[Alex]

http://www.teamgb.com/athletes/dominic-king

This guy and his brother.

[EwarWoo]

Why start running though? You seem to be nailing power walking? 20k in 3 hours seems rapid as ****. Why not push on with that more? Or is the key to speeding up that, running?

Well, I've been walking with a colleague. They can't keep up (no surprise, my walking pace is insane) but now they've started to jog. I want to keep up. part pride, part personal challenge, just something to do.

I've gone the opposite way to you and stopped running as it ****ed my knees and have put on a load of weight. Is there a knack to it or is it literally walking as fast as you can keeping one foot on the ground? Is it better for your joints as you're not 'landing' on each stride?

Well, what I've been reading is latest research shows running doesn't hurt your knees, in fact it can delay issues. All the landing **** that hurts long term is conditioning against issues. Another part of why I've started. But as for power walking, I don't do that mincing ****, I just walk fast, no special gait, just fast. You have to swing your arms a bit for momentum, and need running shoes for the flexibility and support, but it really is jut walking.

I don't think about feet on ground or any of that ****, just walk as fast as I can.

I can max out at over 8km/h walking, which is barely any slower than my jogging pace

[Red_Polo]

I've gone the opposite way to you and stopped running as it ****ed my knees and have put on a load of weight. Is there a knack to it or is it literally walking as fast as you can keeping one foot on the ground? Is it better for your joints as you're not 'landing' on each stride?

There are good meta-analyses showing distance running is not bad for your knees in the way that many orthopods still tell people it is. However, it is postulated there is some negative effect of repeated high loads particularly in those with joint inflammation, but that it is made up for by improvement to overall health (cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and tone, healthier weight) as well as some of the positive effects load can have on joints. I've had a serious knee injury before and can't run as I used to. My rule is to listen to my body - I am not concerned there is hidden damage to worry about when I'm running without pain.

So I guess I just feel based on what evidence there is out there and my personal experience, that I'd likely be less healthy overall if I didn't run. If you do want to or need to avoid running (if I get pain, I stop) then swimming and cycling are your best friends, although if you've got the time then brisk walking is good too especially if you hit the hills!

30kg loss from power walking is amazing, good on you Ewar

[Irishnev]

Lost 30kg power walking so will take it

well done - I always preferred ‘fast walking’ unless it’s running after a football

[Assassin]

For the past couple of years I've been doing a ****load of power walking. Hit the stage where Sundays I'm by myself I'll do 20k+ in 3 hours (when I have my son we'll do 15k or so, but much slower, still pretty proud of him).

I've recently however decided to start trying some running. My knees are ****ed so it makes me nervous, but can jog 1k no drama after much effort, just need to extend it.

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at the moment I do 7k or so before work. Once I can run all of this will start parking ~7 k from work Mondays and Fridays.

With my Sundays that will give me 56k or so per week

Very impressive

Are you in full funny walk mode at 20k+ in 3 hours?

30kg Over what period was this and what was your starting weight if you dont mind sharing

I recently started walking a lot more, averaging 10 km/day. However, 11 days ago I really upped my walking/lost the plot I have totalled 205k in the last 11 days, keeping the tempo at an average 6kmh

[EwarWoo]

Cheers guys.

Was basically over 12 months I lost 37, had a pre diabetes scare so went from 137 to 100 dead mid Jan to end Nov last year. I lost track at Christmas, 5 weeks of hols with my dad over popped on 7kg and haven't got rid of it yet. It's harder to motivate the diet side when you don't feel unhealthy. Lol.

And yeah, just walking normal, but fast. I just keep pushing until my heart rates over 140 and sit there. 205k's in 11 days puts me to shame but. That's some serious distance.

[Alex]

Dropping that much in 12 months is seriously impressive.

What made you start with the power walking? Its fascinating to me, as its not a 'usual' way of doing exercise.

[EwarWoo]

I didn't really, I just started with walking, with the walks slowly getting longer, and was almost hitting 6k in an hour naturally so set it as a challenge. I just found once I was hitting a rythmn I slowly sped up over time naturally.

And I used to live about 6.5k from work so walking that in an hour was another challenge I gave myself. Which turned out to be impossible, wasted too much time waiting at crossings. Lol.

These days my long walks are almost all by Brisbane River. You can easy walk 25k without waiting at a single crossing so your pace doesn't get thrown off and it's all pretty flat.

[Alex]

Any specific shoes you use? Or just trainers? I imagine this would be a killer on my calf muscles as they get tight at a days walking around a city.