HurricaИe wrote:
i can't seem to do it right... i can stay afloat and shit but i can't swim at a pace that gives me a workout... then again, speedos are for capitalists anyways
Well, when I first began to swim as a workout, I couldn't get halfway across the pool without stopping for a breather. Then I was able to cross the entire pool and back, albeit a very slow pace. Now, I get a decent workout and decent pace. How long have you tried to swim, unless you're a real natural, you can't really expect to start off strong.
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Same with running, if you haven't been running before whether it be actual jogging or a sport that involves a lot of running, don't expect to start off with long distances or any kind of real speed. First, running does not do much for upper body strength but it will shed the fat and make you more leanish. Like Ender and Nuke, while running for Cross Country/Track, I built up a lot of leg strength or at least significantly more than before, whereas I barely improved in upper body strength. Gain leg strength and lose fat through running, and if you want, work out with weights for upper body strength.
If you decide to start running, get good shoes. You can get trainers, but I wouldn't recommend it, invest in a solid pair of running shoes. I haven't checked in a long time, but these were some good shoes: Adidas Supernova, Nike Pegasus, and Nike Air Max Moto. There are other brands that are good too, it's just that I've always felt comfortable with those three pairs. In my experience, Adidas shoes tend to be heavier and more cushioned, making them ideal for long, slowish runs, whereas the Nikes were lighter, better for sprints and stuff like that. The price range for decent shoes was about $70-100 in my own experience. Best thing to do is, if you have a runner specialty shop nearby, go and try some out. They'll tell you the average lifespan of your shoes depending on how much you run per week. I haven't tried the Nike Free, but I heard they're good. Don't get those Shox things though, waste of money.
You can run on a treadmill or outside, you'll get the same workout, but I prefer going outdoors, especially on trails. I think treadmills are good for seeing your progress since you can see that you're going faster and faster with the same breathing rate, but it takes a lot of the fun of running out since your staring ahead, unmoving and unable to see anything. Plus, it's always fun to run up and down hills. Try running with a friend too, not only can you get some motivation to actually go run, but I find it's always more fun with other people than alone.
Since I don't really know how athletic you are, I can't really say what you can/can't do. But during Cross Country/Track, we always had to run 1 mile or 10 minutes, regardless of athletic level, for warmup. Don't try a workout run, whether they be sprints or long distance, without having warmed up. After the warmup, stretch. I cannot stress the importance of stretching enough - it's easy to get hurt if you haven't stretched your muscles out. After the workout, you'll want to stretch again. Then do your warmdown (cooldown), a little more important than the warmup IMO. A short little run, 1 mile for us. If you don't do the warm/cooldown, your muscles will be hurting later.
(Sorry for the huge text, this is a last suggestion) Here is why I think the Nike Shox suck/is a waste of money is this: you shouldn't ever be running on your heels. The Shox are supposed to help dampen the shock of landing on your heel when running, but this is something you have to avoid. Always try to run on the front of your feet, you'll move faster and you won't get shin splints. Run on your heels constantly, your shins will feel like they're cracking/splitting. So yeah. A friend of mine never ate anything before practice, he would always be the one feeling faint. Don't eat right before running, but make sure you eat something. A PB&J sandwhich is an excellent runner's food.