First Run huge success... very motivated... tell me nice things
Hey Guys & Gals,
So I don't really have a question, I just wanted to share. I haven't really ever run outside before. I used to run on a treadmill to warm up for the gym but that was it. I'm a 31 year old Irish overweight guy (95kg) who has had a pretty sedentary job up until now but do enjoy swimming or gymming when I have the chance.
Recently I've arrived in Barcelona with the aim of getting fit here and losing weight. I'll be here for at least two or three months and am not working or doing anything else, so I'm dedicated. Today I went for my first run and it was brilliant!
I didn't measure the distance but I ran for an hour and fifteen minutes (stopping to stretch three times), from Passeig de Gracia to the top peak of the Parque Gruell (the gaudi park). There was a significant incline so I took it nice and easy. Also, I pulled my calf muscle previously (last year) so didn't want to overdo it. Even though it was lashing rain, I really got into it, bouncing around in puddles etc. and got proper soaked, deadly stuff
So after my first run, I'm thinking the following things:
1. I need gloves and a hat (my head and hands were a bit cold)
2. I need a heartrate monitor (any suggestions for a cheap one??)
3. I think my runners are OK, they feel good and supportive, do I really need this gait thing?
4. I don't know whether I should listen to music or not, today I didn't!
5. Should I try to join a running group or get a running mate, how would I go about that? (I'm new in barcelona, maybe it would be a good way to meet people!)
6. I'm going to start doing some kind of structured training. I'm looking at Hal Higdon's programmes that a friend referred me to.
However, what I'm really thinking about is.... my first Marathon... arghhhhhhhhh! I don't even want to write the words down or speak them out loud cos I'm so unsure of it. But it just so happens that the Barcelona Marathon is the 20th of March. You have to register by the 20th of February... Would it be doable to do a marathon training programme in that time (taking into account that I'm not actually working or doing anything else)?
OK, so I started by sharing, but now I am asking questions (and just generally ranting), but I really enjoyed my run today. I think it could be the start of something beautiful ;-)
Thanks for reading,
Conor.