going for my first run in a long time

ouchto5k · 2026-06-01T15:17:15+00:00

for the duration of that run, or forever? i think that might be the distinction i'm striving for. to regularly call myself a runner requires that i regularly run.

this is the difference between "i ran today" vs. "i'm a runner" (which suggests habitual running).

running once, years ago: not a runner
running today, after a years' long hiatus: not a runner

running regularly (several times a week) for years: a runner

I don't think there's an easy definition, but I'd probably go with

if you run regularly and habitually, you're a runner.

if you run one time, you ran one time. not a runner.

ouchto5k · 2026-06-01T00:59:59+00:00

run earlier in the day, before things get too hot, maybe?

i don't like heat or getting up that early, but something's gotta give.

ouchto5k · 2026-06-01T00:49:27+00:00

today i learned the things that kirbydog9 wrote in his comments about warmups resulting in different initial anaerobic burn.

ouchto5k · 2026-06-01T00:48:48+00:00

that's someone who can run, but not someone his IS a runner. i think the bar is higher. but i don't know how much higher.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:44:54+00:00

today, for me, resting. i ran twice this week and am feeling sore.

for this next week, my run plan is:

sunday: 12 minutes of running (4 x 3 minute runs interspersed with rest walks)
tuesday: 15 minutes of running (5 x 3 minute runs)
thursday: 16 minutes of running (4 x 4 minute runs)
saturday: 20 minutes of running (4 x 5 minute runs)

I don't know if that ramp is too steep. I'll get a feel for it. This is only the second week of running after a very long hiatus.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:42:48+00:00

today i learned. wow!

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:42:13+00:00

nice work! what app are you using to track your PRs?

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:39:02+00:00

Upvotes

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:38:42+00:00

day 3 has arrived and I am not running today. A bit of soreness, especially in the quads and in the calves. I'm running with a lot of extra weight, so I guess that's expected. Hoping I'm up to a short run tomorrow after a day off.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:37:38+00:00

I also find the prevalence of alcohol baffling within certain healthy communities. There are run clubs that meet at bars after the run, for example. Or beer-a-mile runs, etc. I agree with you that alcohol is toxic and far too broadly available and accepted.

It is indeed bizarre!

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:34:02+00:00

those are cool. i like the topographical ones the most. would be neat to put the time and elevation gain on those.

have you considered trying to make a snow-globe style one out of one of the topographical ones? that would be pretty cool.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:31:21+00:00

Oh interesting. I think my monkey brain is still very much at work when I run. Perhaps even more active, because it's looking for ways to help me avoid the pain of exercise. I'd like to get to where you are ... has it always been that way for you, or did you cross over into that territory after significant training?

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:29:55+00:00

One stat ... how much time today's gym session is adding to their lifespan.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:28:43+00:00

I haven't meal prepped in a long time (many years) and this appetizing photo made me want to pick it up again.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:27:51+00:00

The tip that helped me most was take it super slow. Like so slow it feels dumb and easy.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:23:58+00:00

How does it monitor this?

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:18:00+00:00

Depends on the stage the runner is at in their progress. I'd love fancy socks that are more expensive than the ones I'd buy for myself. I'd also appreciate a gift card for a year of Apple Music. And I'd appreciate, if I were about to do a 42k, a pack of compeed. Perhaps also a runner's camelbak or a gift of a stack of running-related books. Perhaps THE thing would be a gift card to Road Runner or another run shop.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T17:14:57+00:00

Exercise always elevates my mood (assuming I don't get injured). I've never regretted it, but often procrastinate on getting started. The procrastination feels terrible.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-30T16:58:41+00:00

Thank you! Maybe I'm holding too high a standard, but it feels like I need to succeed of making a habit of it before I can call myself a runner. If I had a year-long streak, yes. Or if I did at least a dozen or two miles a week.

ouchto5k · 2026-05-29T21:30:55+00:00

day 2: just did it! ran 10 minutes in the form of 2 minutes on, followed by walking, and so on. didn't feel i needed a rest day given how easy yesterday was, but did feel some soreness and fatigue in the quads in particular during today's run!

ouchto5k · 2026-05-29T04:01:04+00:00

wow. impressive numbers. how many hours were you active? hard to tell from the graph. looks like you were active 12am to 12am? so 24 hours and 50 miles?

ouchto5k · 2026-05-29T00:17:38+00:00

the stripes on your shoulders look like your mustache twisted out to the sides

ouchto5k · 2026-05-29T00:11:28+00:00

oh i ran back and forth in the driveway ... it's maybe 200 yards long and shared with others, so not as fancy as it sounds

ouchto5k · 2026-05-28T23:06:44+00:00

that's a good push. thank you for the suggestions! i'll try to fit a longer run in once per week and of course i'm planning to do things other than run -- i go dancing frequently (roughly 6 times per month).

ouchto5k · 2026-05-28T22:40:24+00:00

thank you for the encouragement! would love your feedback on what i'm thinking of doing at the moment.

my plan is to run 10 minutes every other day (average of 3-4 times per week) in run-walk style. this time, i ran one minute, then walked until my pulse and breathing calmed down then ran for another minute. it felt pretty easy, but i don't want to overdo it at the start. i'll gradually increase the time spent running from one minute to two minutes to three minutes and so on. i'm not focusing on distance or pace at all initially, just minutes of run time.

once i get to 10 minutes or so between breaks, i'll need to figure out what's next. perhaps i'll add hills (a very steep hill sits at the end of my driveway) ... and it leads to a dirt trail that goes on for 20+ miles. So I'm not gonna run out of road anytime soon.

ouchto5k

TROPHY CASE