The Running Thread

[Victor Mildew]

Just passed 800 miles for the year this morning. Only 73 Miles to my goal at John O'Groats

That's great! Nice to rack up the distance, doubly so when you think of it in a real world destination.

I did my route over a minute faster this morning, which doesn't sound like much but think how far someone would be ahead of you if you let them go for a minute. Well I was impressed anyway Still way off what I used to be able to do, but I'm never gettting any speed pace back by going up and down hills.

[mcjihge2]

Do you ever feel like you have to keep up a distance for the week so as not to lose your fitness? Its becoming like a bit of chore to me sometimes.

[poshrule_uk]

I try to maintain similar distance each week but I don't beat myself up if I don't hit it. Life and stuff happens but I enjoy running so it doesn't feel like a chore

[Oblomov Boblomov]

Do you ever feel like you have to keep up a distance for the week so as not to lose your fitness? Its becoming like a bit of chore to me sometimes.

Something I do find difficult with running is how quickly you 'lose' it. If I don't run for anything over a week, my fitness/speed/endurance goes right down the drain.

[sawyerpip]

I've only recently started up with the running but managed to push myself to a (slow) 10km last week. It's a pain taking my phone with me when I go out so does anyone have any recommendations for a watch that can play Spotify offline as well as track the run so that I can leave the phone at home? I have googled it but there seem to be a lot of options, I'm only running casually at the moment so I don't need all the bells and whistles regarding the tracking, and ideally something that also looks okay to wear for casual use.

[mcjihge2]

I've only recently started up with the running but managed to push myself to a (slow) 10km last week. It's a pain taking my phone with me when I go out so does anyone have any recommendations for a watch that can play Spotify offline as well as track the run so that I can leave the phone at home? I have googled it but there seem to be a lot of options, I'm only running casually at the moment so I don't need all the bells and whistles regarding the tracking, and ideally something that also looks okay to wear for casual use.

I use one of these arm band things for my phone,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Xperia-XZ-Z5-Premium/dp/B06Y6CQ5VK/ref=asc_df_B06Y6CQ5VK/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310068305035&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2897552855811444323&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046536&hvtargid=pla-698105429988&psc=1

The one i got i had to sew some more velcro on because it was for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[Victor Mildew]

I also use something similar. It's not ideal, but it gets the job done. The only downer I suppose is having a phone on your arm makes you a prime mugging target.

[Harry Bizzle]

I've only recently started up with the running but managed to push myself to a (slow) 10km last week. It's a pain taking my phone with me when I go out so does anyone have any recommendations for a watch that can play Spotify offline as well as track the run so that I can leave the phone at home? I have googled it but there seem to be a lot of options, I'm only running casually at the moment so I don't need all the bells and whistles regarding the tracking, and ideally something that also looks okay to wear for casual use.

Take the phone and get something to carry it. Decathlon do some great shorts with a snug midline pocket at the rear so your phone doesn’t bounce about. You can’t even tell it’s there.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/run-dry-m ... 790&c=BLUE

If you’re the sort of miscreant who likes enormous Pro Max XL Big Boi phones then it might not fit. There’s also running belts you can get which are a lot better than having a phone on your arm.

[Rubix]

New 10k PB yesterday by over 2 and a half minutes from my last PB. Wore my new Hoka One One Carbon X-2 and hit a sub 45 minute (44:37)

[Curls]

Anyone got any cheap watch recommendations? A GPS and a timer are all i need really. I love the fancy stuff but I'm short cashed right now. Doing rehab runs so need something to make sure im timing myself ok.

[poshrule_uk]

New 10k PB yesterday by over 2 and a half minutes from my last PB. Wore my new Hoka One One Carbon X-2 and hit a sub 45 minute (44:37)

That's amazing and a massive PB!

[Rubix]

New 10k PB yesterday by over 2 and a half minutes from my last PB. Wore my new Hoka One One Carbon X-2 and hit a sub 45 minute (44:37)

That's amazing and a massive PB!

[hamm sandwich]

Anyone got any cheap watch recommendations? A GPS and a timer are all i need really. I love the fancy stuff but I'm short cashed right now. Doing rehab runs so need something to make sure im timing myself ok.

The Garmin Forerunner 35 is a cracking watch. Super reliable GPS and HR monitoring from £85 on Amazon. I used the Forerunner 25 for years and loved it which is essentially the same thing without the heart rate monitor but the price difference is negligible so best to go for the 35

[Rubix]

Saturday I reached my virtual goal from Lands End to John O'Groats taking 8 months and 14 days to cover 874 miles.

1x 5 week injury
6x pairs of different running shoes used (2 of which have been retired)
2x parkruns counted
1x treadmill run counted
4x new distance PB's (5k, 10, Half and parkrun)

[poshrule_uk]

Run report - 05/09/21

Bedford Running Festival - 20 Miles 2:42:58

I'm always quick to post about the good one's but yesterday this race turned into a bit of struggle and I feel it's important to share the less successful with the successful (though I still consider this to be a win and refuse to call it a failure)

Saturday night I had a couple of hours sleep if that (sometimes I get random night's of insomnia for no reason)

You then add in it was unseasonably warm 20 degree+ day.

Apart from all that I felt good. I felt fresh and had tapered well.

My plan was to try and hit sub 2:30, I wasn't expecting to hit it and always expected the last 5 miles to be slower but not compared to what came.

The race started and I quickly hit my stride, it wasn't easy due to the lack of sleep but I was dealing with it and at mile 10 I came in at about 1:14:30 so I was pleased and I then hit 13.1 in about 1:38. Miles 14 and 15 were slower but this was a loop I had ran earlier and was probably the slowest part of the course.

Then the last 5 miles my body just gave up. My calfs seemed to go and my hips were no longer complying and my stride was gone all of a sudden I could only take steps.

I persevered on but by about mile 16 I could no longer run and I had to walk which was new territory for me as I just couldn't do it anymore. I carried on and did a bit of run/walk/run until the start of mile 19.

At the start of mile 19 I decided I was going to run this last mile no matter what. I wasn't walking along that finish line. I picked myself up and just mentally concentred on each step, the next tree whatever I could focus on to get to the end.

When I could hear the crowd at the end I was so happy and felt like crying as I saw the line because it was over and I had somehow won.

At this point I got my medal, water, and other bits and tried to ignore the burning feeling in my calf's which were on fire and sat down happy.

From this I will learn, sometimes you don't realise what strength you have until you're challenged.

[BTB]

First run in a few weeks over the weekend. Only 5k, and I know others have mentioned it on here but damn do you lose it easily. Last 2k were a struggle and pace really dropped off, sore the next day as well. Around this time last year I ran my first half marathon, but hey I'll go for another one tomorrow, the first run in a while is always the worst and before I've gotten back into the swing of things quite quickly.

[Sprouty]

I ran 100k total last month for the first time ever and am pretty happy with that. I originally intended to do so in May, then pulled my neck at around the 85k mark and took a couple of months to fully recover. This month I am on track to repeat the same. My runs are mostly 3k or 5k, with occasional 10k's thrown in (mainly to catch up if I fall behind). I'm finding though that I can't seem to push myself on pace beyond the 5.30 min/km rate. Maybe this is my peak, but I'd like to push it further. Does anyone have any tips for improving pace? Something I tried today was running short sprints then slowing back down to a jogging pace. My overall time was a little shorter than normal, which I was actually pretty happy with as it was the first time I tried this tactic.

Also, anyone had any run ins with dog walkers?! I literally had an off lead dog running between my feet on a recent run, with the owner being rather offended that I found this to be dangerous rather than cute. I ended up stopping and waking their dog back to them, only to be shouted at me for resuming my run afterwards as it was distracting their dog and not helpful to them. I have no idea how to deal with these sorts of people in a manner that explains they are idiots without coming across as 'aggressive'.

[Spindash]

Do we have anyone doing London on Sunday?

Does anyone have any tips for improving pace? Something I tried today was running short sprints then slowing back down to a jogging pace. My overall time was a little shorter than normal, which I was actually pretty happy with as it was the first time I tried this tactic.

Three top tips:

1. Run more (but increase your mileage carefully)
2. Slow down for 80% of your runs (you should be able to hold a conversation)
3. Speed up for 20% of your runs (like those short sprints)

[Sprouty]

Do we have anyone doing London on Sunday?

Does anyone have any tips for improving pace? Something I tried today was running short sprints then slowing back down to a jogging pace. My overall time was a little shorter than normal, which I was actually pretty happy with as it was the first time I tried this tactic.

Three top tips:

1. Run more (but increase your mileage carefully)
2. Slow down for 80% of your runs (you should be able to hold a conversation)
3. Speed up for 20% of your runs (like those short sprints)

Thanks! I ran 200km over the last two months, so I actually intend to drop my distance this month to a monthly total of 60km. My legs need a bit of a break and returning to the office part time will make those mid morning runs a challenge.

I do find that mixing distances helps. I accidentally shaved 3 minutes off my best 10km time this week, to just over 55 minutes. Not sure how that one happened, just ran at what I thought was a reasonable pace and found myself chopping a nice chunk off. I shall definitely try mixing my pace and see if that helps further.

[hamm sandwich]

I’m running the Silverstone half marathon next weekend with the wife, we’ve been training together for the last couple of months so hopefully nothing catches us out on the day. I’ve run quite a lot of halfs and a couple of marathons but she’s used to shorter distances and tends to shy away from races although we’ve built up to a comfortable 15km plod in recent weeks. Going for our last training run tomorrow. Anyone here running london tomorrow?