Anyone here run?

[phaux]

Most my life I've just run 2 miles around 5-6 times a month, nothing big. Not too long ago I bumped it up to 3 mile runs. Well, then something happened, I suddenly found myself no longer tired or out of breath when I ran. I could run and at the end of the run, instead of panting and being drenched in sweat I could simply breath through my nose and stopped sweating within minutes of running. So, I've been pushing myself farther and farther and now I'm doing 5-7 mile runs a couple times a week just fine. My questions:

Why am I no longer out of breath? Is it a cardio thing, breathing pattern, muscles just getting to be where they need to be, etc?

Towards the end of the longer runs it starts to tighten up behind my knee a little. What's going on there and how do deal with that when running? It doesn't hurt, just feels weird and I don't feel like having something snap or tear.

The next day, I'm never sore, I'm just stiff/uncomfortable. It's not like when hitting the bench the next day I have sore muscles. It's more like nothing wants to move, expecially my feet in the morning, they're pretty unhappy. Anything to be done about this?

[ceyko]

Get ready for several various opinions and levels of knowledge. I'm currently out of shape and getting back into running again. I personally have no input on the sore feet, but would like to understand the pain behind your knee a little better.

When you say behind the knee - do you mean it feels like bone, muscle or tendon related? Now that I'm older what I've found works best is to stretch a little (maybe a little more for sore areas) and instead of starting off in a full run/jog - just trot for awhile up/downhill until the muscle feel warm. Then slowly start stepping it out a little. (Stride/technique could also be an issue)

This is a total guess on my part, but you're probably in decent shape at a minimum. Have you started upping your runs now that it is cooler in the mornings? For me - cool temps make the difference in a 3 mile vs 6 mile run. Also have you changed diet, drinking habits, hydration?

Several on here have much better advice that I do. It's like guns though, a lot of opinions/personal experiences/research - in the end though you have to try them and do what you like and/or what works for you.

[phaux]

Get ready for several various opinions and levels of knowledge. I'm currently out of shape and getting back into running again. I personally have no input on the sore feet, but would like to understand the pain behind your knee a little better.

When you say behind the knee - do you mean it feels like bone, muscle or tendon related?

It feels like something is getting taught on the backside of my leg directly behind my knee. It starts around 5 miles in. It doesn't hurt, just feels tight back there. Only on the right leg.

Have you started upping your runs now that it is cooler in the mornings?

No, I prefer to run when it's hot. I feel that it pushes me more, I could be totally wrong though. I'll try running in the morning when it's cool and see how that goes.

Also have you changed diet, drinking habits, hydration?

No, suppose I should start eating healthier as I don't right now. As for drinking I usually have 2-3 drinks about 4 days out of the week. Hydration, I start drinking a good bit of water 1-2hrs before I go run.

[samuel642000]

When i used to run daily, I noticed after a certain distance which I think was around 4 miles, going further really wasn't all that more challenging. Now I'm not saying I just started running marathons right off the bat, but within about a 2 week time span I was up to and over 10 miles. I personally believe, it's just your body is used to it and can take more abuse.

The leg thing sounds like a dehydration issue, you're supposed to hydrate the day prior, from what I've always been told. So if you're not hyrdating all day you might just have a belly full of water.

That being said I remember nothing on the time it takes for water to actually be usable haha.

[Sean88gt]

Not unless being chased.

[lowthreeohz]

Not unless being chased.

fuck you for getting here to say that before me.

[Sean88gt]

fuck you for getting here to say that before me.

I felt you chasing me.

[ELVIS]

run the 8 mile turkey trot with me on thanksgiving morn???

god bless.

[mustang_revival]

Don't discount a good set of running shoes properly fitted and for your running style.

http://www.runontexas.com/

Buddy who is runner highly reviewed this place for a custom suggestion.

[BP]

Don't discount a good set of running shoes properly fitted and for your running style.

This. Shoes are the most important thing and they wear out way faster than you realize. Good ones last around 300 miles, which you are hitting every 6 months at your pace.

My wife has some custom ones made by Nike a couple of times a year. We went to every shoe store within a 20 mile radius and found one pair she was comfortable with and now she just orders the same shoe but in the colors she wants online.

[phaux]

run the 8 mile turkey trot with me on thanksgiving morn???

god bless.

I'm down.

Don't discount a good set of running shoes properly fitted and for your running style.

This. Shoes are the most important thing and they wear out way faster than you realize. Good ones last around 300 miles, which you are hitting every 6 months at your pace.

Ya, I suppose here in the next few weeks I'll start looking around at different shoes.

Gunna try and knock out 9 miles this weekend and see how I do. I think I'll try a half marathon here in a few weeks. May be getting ahead of myself though. I really need to shave some pounds. Was talking to an acquaintance who does extremely long runs and she was saying that when she gains even a few pounds it makes a huge difference on her run.

[no4njnk]

Everyone is different so you just have to try things. Tight muscles are faster but too tight or get an imbalance and you get niggles like the pain behind your knee. I have to do core and stiff leg deadlifts to keep my hamstrings from getting too tight. When my hamstrings are too tight my calf and lower back start getting some pains. Very delicate cycle.

Your body is becoming more efficient which is why you can run longer. It sounds like your pacing it pretty good (not too hard) so you keep improving. Just make sure you do not up your longest run or weekly mileage by more than 10% each week.

Shoes are hard but make sure you get a good fit and try on several pairs. I believe for most people it is something like every pound is worth 2 seconds/mile or 5 seconds. Honestly it is dependent on the person since I am running faster now than I was earlier this year when I weighed about 5 pounds less. Find your comfort zone and stick with that. Getting marathon skinny puts a lot of stress on the body.

[phaux]

Just make sure you do not up your longest run or weekly mileage by more than 10% each week.

Ya, I did a 7.4M last Sunday and decided to do 8.8 last night. My hip is feeling it today.

Getting marathon skinny puts a lot of stress on the body.

I'm not sure I want to get to that point. Those guys are sticks. Why exactly does it stress the body?

[no4njnk]

The hormones cannot keep up and body breaks down. More importantly testosterone goes to hell. Just mentioned because a lot of people try to lose too much weight when they start off running.