STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Metric · Gucci

help me run

RyanJ · Coach

1) what do you wear to run? When I start out in the morning I am always cold but by the time I am finished and the sun is up, I am roasting. What can I wear to compromise between freezing and burning?

I would just say layer. I start out w/ a t or long sleeve t and have a tank underneath. I usually end up wrapping it around my my waist half way into my run because I warm up.

2) breathing...sometimes I forget to breathe and find myself holding me breath as I run (I do this during workouts too) Then if I concentrate on my breathing I start to feel like I am over doing it. How do you regulate your breathing without hyperventalating?

I don't really have an advice on breathing. I think they more you run the better you will get at it. I have been running so long that I don't even think about breathing. They better your endurance gets the easier breathing will be.

3) stretches...should you stretch before and after the run? For how long? What stretches do you do? Help me not be a running mess! Thanks!

I don't do a lot of streching before. I have read and found that stretching before can actually do damage. I will warm up by walking about ten mins. or doing some sort of goofy aerobics. The first mile I take is slow and run it at about 9 mins and then after the first mile I push my self and run faster.

I always strech after I run. My streching usually last about 15 mins. I make sure I strech all the muscles in my legs and my back.

Here aer a few streches that I always to. Anything that streches your legs muscles are a good idea. You will probably find that some streches feel like they don't do anything, so you may have to do a few to find the streches that you like.

Good luck!

Hip streches

Leg and lower back

Inner thigh

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

For breathing you need to find a rythm that you're comfortable with...For example, when I run I breathe in over 3 or 4 steps (I can't remember at the moment, it's something I just feel when I'm doing it), and breathe out over the same number. If you're going up hill, or upping the intensity, you should increase the rate of your inhalations and exhalations.

For stretching - I'm a big believer in at least 1/2 an hour of stretching post run, after a suitable cool-down. Just remember that you should hold each stretch for 60 seconds.

Kel · Coach

Metric wrote:

2) breathing...sometimes I forget to breathe and find myself holding me breath as I run (I do this during workouts too) Then if I concentrate on my breathing I start to feel like I am over doing it. How do you regulate your breathing without hyperventalating?

I do this to when i do any sort of exercising. I swear i forget to breathe and then i become a little lightheaded. Yeah i am a bit of a exercise moron.

Maddie · Coach

After just saying that I never work out, I did used to work out.

1. I like wearing light leggings and then layer on top.

2. I always breathe in through my nose and breathe out through my mouth. It keeps me concious of my breathing and keeps me from getting side aches.

3. Usually stretch afterward, but if you're doing a hard run, you can warm up, stretch, then work out, then stretch again.

halah · Kenneth Cole

Congrats on starting the couch to 5k. I think it's a great plan and is what got me started running a year ago.

Wear layers that you can shed. ONce you get a couple of weeks into the plan reward yourself by buying some nice running outfits!

Music and counting my steps help my breathing. Music helps me kind of zone out while I'm running so I'm more relaxed. If I feel like I'm getting out of breath I start breathing to my steps "in 1, 2, 3, 4; out 1, 2, 3, 4" in through my nose and out through my mouth.

Stretch before and after. I always make sure to stretch my calves (stand with your toes on a curb or step and let your heels sink down) and I do a few other stretchs like RYANJ mentions below. I only stretch for about 10 min before and after the run. If I don't stretch before my calves start hurting about 10 min into a run so it really does make a difference.

Good luck!

PrincessPink · BCBG

Metric - congratulations! Let me know if you want a running buddy to compare notes with. I'm always looking for extra motivation - if I have no one to be accountable to, then its so easy to blow off! I have recently gone back to running - and my running buddy just tore up her ankle, so its all me. I let my trainer go and signed up for PUSH instead - its personal training customized just for me via monthly DVDs. Between that and staying consistent with running, I should be able to achieve my goals by mid-summer. Let me know if you are interested!