For new runners....what not to do...really!
I just started running last year, mostly as a way to destress. I am told by those with more experience not to increase my distance by more than 10% at a time. I am very bad at following this rule. The first time I broke it was early on when I was tired of repeating this little 1 mile circle of trail for 4 miles. The whole trail was 6 and I thought to myself if I can do 4 in an hour I should be able to do 6 in an hour and a half right? uhhh yeah, took closer to 2 hrs and it was well and truely by the time I finished. Recovery over the next few days wasn't fun, and I have tried to be nicer to myself since then.
Last weekend I was supposed to run my first 10 mi, got lost and ran 15 instead. Thinking back, I enjoyed the majority of it. The weather was nice and crisp, trees just starting to change, a really lovely day for the first 13 mi. The last two were pretty rough, cramping gastrocs, burning pain in both hips, and a lovely snapping sensation every time I raised my right leg. Stumbled across the finish, running mostly because it hurt more to walk. But I did it, and was glad that I reached the half marathon mark in relatively good condition.
The rest of Saturday was a lot of icing down , stretching unfortunately brought on pretty bad cramping. And though by now I'm no longer sore, I have been feeling punked out and easily tired all week almost like I was fighting off a cold.
Lesson learned.....don't overdo it, and from now on carry a map! : )
