Busybird Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 My DD has been having a bit of a hard time socially at school recently so, when she brought home her Race for Life entry form (she ran it with school last year) she asked me to enter as well to keep her company - and I said I would I tried running before and wrecked my knees. I walk a lot and do a daily aerobic workout with yoga and pilates type exercises so am not totally unfit but I don't want to spend the money on running shoes. The race is in June and will be on mixed terrain. If I did a gentle build up off road do you think I could get away with wearing my old cross trainers? If I am just asking for trouble trying to run then I will walk the route but my DD can run the distance (she does cross country with school) and I don't want to let her down. I can see you all saying that I need proper running shoes but I haven't the money for them. Can anyone think of a way around this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 don't know much about running shoes. When I did the Race For Life a few years ago, I switched between walking, jogging and running all the way around. I know there were quite a few people walking all the way. I just wore whatever trainers I had at the time. I found the course was so crowded you couldn't run very well anyway. Good luck and well done for entering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Isn't it just 5K? I wouldn't worry about shoes. You could get round 5K in wellies so I'm sure ordinary cross trainers will be fine. Well done and good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 You'll see people doing it in boots with heels . If you're not planning on a "race" time, I'm sure you'll be fine in anything comfy and sensible . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybird Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 OSH said I wouldn't worry about shoes. You could get round 5K in wellies That's okay then - footwear sorted I guess 5K is a very short distance to most but I would struggle to run up our road I am considering training in the dark in case anyone I know see's me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Good for you. I have seen people doing it in flipflops before now! You'll be fine. Each race has a different course terrain - the one at Silverstone is on the track, so very flat; while the one I do is on very hilly and rough ground. Enjoy it, however you do it and I hope that your daughter does too. 'tis only 5km and a nice stroll if you don't feel like running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I agree that you don't need to go to the expense of new trainers. Loads of people run-walk so don't feel the need to put your poor old knees under too much pressure. You DD may well find that it would be better to start off together while you have the puff and then go off and complete without you. She can then jog back to give you words of encouragement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Well done for agreeing to enter! I'm v impressed. The only thing is for training for the race - you probably don't want to be jogging much in older, less suitable shoes particualrly if you already have slightly dodgy knees. Maybe look for an alternative for training - dunno, how about cycling? Swinmming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyBee Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Well done for entering. You'll probably last longer if you run slowly. I'm over 50, overweight and haven't run since I left school. I have tried a couple of times and failed miserably. I have just recently joined the Womens running network, who have started a beginners class nearby. We run each week and have built up from running a minute and walking 2 in the first week to week 4 this week where we ran 6 minutes and walked for 1 minute 4 times. The aim is that by the end of 10 weeks we will be able to run for 30 minutes non stop. I am at the back of the group and run very slowly, but am managing to do it each time. It is unbelievable! It might be worth looking to see if there is something similar near to you, then you could amaze your daughter! Jenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 the one I did is partly on an old cow pasture field it's all over the place.... but easier on a flat path.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 The Race for Life in Edinburgh is round Arthur's Seat which is an extinct volcanoe - hence somewhat of a slog upwards . A good downhill at the other end though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I'm doing the race for the 8th time this year and I don't run it - the knees won't allow it! In fact i've hobbled round on crutches twice! It is SUCH a worthwhile thing to do, well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Well done for entering. Walking is quite acceptable in the Race For Life. Any 'sensible' supportive footwear will do if you are going to . ( I wore my gym trainers last year, the terrain was uneven grass with a few rabbit holes to catch the unwary out) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I'm joining in this year with my 2 daughters we will probably walk well me and oldest DD youngest may run but i felt that it didn't matter how you did it and i walk alot but don't do running lol so walk it is, 5K not far anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 If running wrecks your knees then don't do it. Just walk round. You'll still finish ahead of quite a few of the runners, without all the anguish. Walking provides you with most of the fitness benefits of running but without the risk of aggravating an existing injury. You should still get some new shoes though - you need to replace your shoes every six months for aerobics or gym work, even if they aren't mucky, as the cushioning will have gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybird Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 Thanks for all your positive responses. I am feeling a bit better about entering - less of a fraud if plenty of others walk - especially in flip flops, high heels or wellies The Race I have entered is in Bath and DD tells me that she can't run flat out anyway because of the crowds, queues at gates and stiles and so on I think that I will up my aerobic workout at home (which I do barefoot on carpet Docsquid) and see how my knees hold out. If that is okay then I will try a few trial jogs around the local fields. I have plenty of time to build up slowly and we are only talking 5K. I am overweight and the least active in the family so I guess I would just like to be able to run even some of the distance - for my own satisfaction as well as to support my DD. Whether I would have the courage to run amongst others even if I could is another question altogether... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I really wouldn't worry about walking. I have run 2 and probably over half of the women walked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 A colleague last year went around pushing a pram... Through mud, rabbit holes, you name it!! Really wouldn't worry about walking - it is one of those events that is definitely all about the getting out and taking part rather than what time you finish in. The number of people last year with names of friends and/or family on their back who are either won their fight, fighting or lost their fight to cancer - was a real inspiration and brought a tear to two to my eye. I must hunt out when our local one is to enter again this year.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I really wouldn't worry about walking. I have run 2 and probably over half of the women walked. There are so many people taking part you can't really do much else but walk or jog. Except the first 5K I ever did at Hyde Park in 2003 was won in world record time by Paula Radcliffe ....... but then she was at the front Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedReader Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Well Ive gone & registered for the race for life so have between now & 27th June to be able to run 5k. There is a group of us doing it & I have some articles on training to run 5k in 8 weeks so really have no excuse. Ill start planning my training just after Ive finished this bit of cake RR x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dippy bird Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Good Luck! I have done it 3 times so far.I love the atmosphere (not the running).I cry every year!!! Such an amazing cause. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazard Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 i'm doing it this year with my friend not running jogging or walking we are doing it in a pony and carriage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 (edited) well i did mine Sunday and it had a brilliant atmosphere, we walked along with approx 2000 of 2800 people walking, i was worried about feeling lazy walking as i do alot of walking and could have easily walked longer but it was SOOOO hot!! very emotional reading peoples signs on their backs. But alot of laughs along the way too!! am going to do it every year now hopefully. Also aprt from a few runners at the front it wasn't a race! Interesting comment about the running lessons as i haven't run for about 40years but would be fun to try! Edited July 14, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I'll be doing mine again Sunday week. I think this is my 8th now. Although I've had that weird bug that has been going around, not enough to be off work, but stiff muscles and exhausted. I doubt that I will be beating my fastest time this year! Good luck to anyone else who is running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
