The Running Thread Vol 2

[Smitters]

ukaskew said:

Interesting stuff thanks (and to Mark earlier), it's the Cotswold 24 hour relay race ( http://www.100milerun.com/cotswold-24-hour-race/), handy as it's reasonably close to me. I like the look of Runstock as well (although that's 'only' for 8 hours), that one has clear incentives (you 'medal up' as you go) and seems aimed at soloists more so, which might help a bit.

I'm very much a solo runner and wouldn't have any kind of support network (young family so I'd be going alone), so I'd be doing it to see how I cope mentally as much as physically. I'm very happy in my own company and have never felt the need to be in a club or friends with other runners, so I guess this would test my limits in that respect.

The results from last years Cotswold 24 are eye watering, a soloist managed 198km!

I'm in for Cotswold. Similar set up too - self supported. I've run some of the course and there's a mix of grass, trail and tarmac. A few folks on Strava have their race loaded up, so it's easy to see where to go. I think the Solo winner has his up from 2016 and 2015.

Likewise, I train alone 95% of the time, happy with or without headphones and just potter along in my own little world. How long can I potter for? I imagine I might end up falling in with someone for a lap, but you probably just see lots of different people, including the racing snakes whipping past as part of teams of eight while we soloists ponderer endlessly on the word "relentless"...

We'll all be easily identifiable on Sunday by our 1000 yard stares!

[tenohfive]

For the Strava users out there - nice idea I thought:

http://2016.strava.com/en-gb

[KTF]

Another 100 miler for those who like that sort of thing:

http://secondwindrunning.co.uk/p/qe2qe100

Start: Home Park, Windsor, SL4 6HX at 09:00
Finish: Queen Elizabeth Country Park, PO8 0QE

A self-navigation 100 mile race from Queen Elizabeth's home town of Windsor to Queen Elizabeth Country Park in the South Downs National Park.

[fiatpower]

I am going to New York in May/June for a week and being a runner wanted to fit in a run around central park. Ideally i'd like to do it as part of a race or parkrun type event just for personal preference. I've looked on the Parkrun USA website and they don't have one in New York, is there anything similar in the USA that anyone knows of?

[egor110]

fiatpower said:

I am going to New York in May/June for a week and being a runner wanted to fit in a run around central park. Ideally i'd like to do it as part of a race or parkrun type event just for personal preference. I've looked on the Parkrun USA website and they don't have one in New York, is there anything similar in the USA that anyone knows of?

You could see if there's a hash hound harriers group ( there will be)

[bigandclever]

You could look for the Orchard Street runners. Joe Dinoto is the main fella. Not Central Park, usually a Tuesday night gritty street running, but a hell of a lot more fun, with dinner and drinks afterwards.

You could also look here and see if there are any nyrr events on when you're there. For example, there's a 10k in Central Park on April 9, or a 4 miler on May 14.

http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017

Edited by bigandclever on Wednesday 4th January 21:35

[The jiffle king]

http://www.roadracerunner.com/Races/RunningCalenda...

This might help. There will be loads of races in NY. I use a site called rungeorgia and there are lots every week.l in my state so there must be lots in NY

Edited by The jiffle king on Thursday 5th January 01:27

[VEA]

First run out with my new head torch this morning. Revolutionary.

[fiatpower]

Thanks everyone. Don't appear to be any races when i'm out there! Will take a look at one of the running clubs.

[anonymous-user]

Feeling very good today, went out and did a run at 160 bpm and did a 7:40 average. This is some 20 seconds per mile faster than 2 months or so ago at the same HR when I started doing the heart rate training.

[The jiffle king]

Did a couple of nice park runs when back in the UK at Christmas. Braunstone was good and some quick runners there on Christmas eve. Also did Ludlow on NY eve and that was a great trail park run. The people were lovely and when we got there they explained the course and told us to expect to be 3-4 mins down on our usual 5k time. It was 450 ft of hills according to strata and I still managed sub 20 so was pleased

Back in the US now and had a nice easy run yesterday and just come back from 8 hilly miles with 6 at tempo pace.... ice and snow are coming tomorrow so thought I needed to get in the miles whilst i could

Happy running everyone

[Mothersruin]

Glad you liked Ludlow - I live a few miles away.

[The jiffle king]

Mothersruin said:

Glad you liked Ludlow - I live a few miles away.

It was great and the course was tough but interesting all the way round. I have a mate just outside Tenbury so will do this one again

[AndStilliRise]

Marathon training has started. 21m on Sunday which i am not looking forward too. Not sure how i am going to do it on my own. I can do the distance as part of an event or something but on my own, generally finding it boring, long and cold!

[johnwilliams77]

AndStilliRise said:

Marathon training has started. 21m on Sunday which i am not looking forward too. Not sure how i am going to do it on my own. I can do the distance as part of an event or something but on my own, generally finding it boring, long and cold!

Same
My first is in May
Ran about 15km on the treadmill in a busy gym with TVs, music and loads of people and it was boring beyond belief.

[SpydieNut]

also doing longer runs, but not sure why i don't find them boring. i run on the road only now, but in the past have done a 3+ hr stint on the treadmill at the gym. still not bored - i made a programme to vary pace and incline a bit to keep it interesting. i had a 1 min break every 30 min to drink (and sips while running) and eat something and watched TV

on the road i'm on my own and go out very early - think 4am. but the roads are quiet and i enjoy the solitude and the sounds of my surrounding countryside. i take a camelbak with water and food and did 24m last sat and will do 26 next wk, so only a shortish 15m this sunday.

[johnwilliams77]

SpydieNut said:

also doing longer runs, but not sure why i don't find them boring. i run on the road only now, but in the past have done a 3+ hr stint on the treadmill at the gym. still not bored - i made a programme to vary pace and incline a bit to keep it interesting. i had a 1 min break every 30 min to drink (and sips while running) and eat something and watched TV

on the road i'm on my own and go out very early - think 4am. but the roads are quiet and i enjoy the solitude and the sounds of my surrounding countryside. i take a camelbak with water and food and did 24m last sat and will do 26 next wk, so only a shortish 15m this sunday.

Impressive
I wish I could
a) Run that far
b) Really really enjoy it. I enjoy an hour but wish I could enjoy 2 / 3. It will be more fun in the marathon with all the people / atmosphere.

[SpydieNut]

johnwilliams77 said:

Impressive
I wish I could
a) Run that far
b) Really really enjoy it. I enjoy an hour but wish I could enjoy 2 / 3. It will be more fun in the marathon with all the people / atmosphere.

Thanks, but it's nothing special - I believe most people would be able to do that - just keep building mileage slowly. As for enjoying it, there's no doubt it's better in a crowd - I'm part of a club and we run 7-8pm on Tues and Thurs nights and the banter is great. The workload is varied too - and we do hill repeats, longer routes with sections (uphill and downhill) of 'effort' followed by a couple of minutes jog to recover.

I realise long slow runs, where you aren't mixing up the pace etc, can have the potential to get boring, but I make a conscious effort to think about things - everything from footfall/strides, breathing, how things are feeling, looking at pace on my watch, but also looking around, listening to the animals I pass. Some people listen to music while they run, but i've never done that.

bottom line i think is just keep at it. in groups would help, as you can chat. the stronger you get the longer you'll be able to run and without pains etc, so you can take enjoyment from that.

Edited by SpydieNut on Friday 6th January 12:58

[johnwilliams77]

SpydieNut said:

Thanks, but it's nothing special - I believe most people would be able to do that - just keep building mileage slowly. As for enjoying it, there's no doubt it's better in a crowd - I'm part of a club and we run 7-8pm on Tues and Thurs nights and the banter is great. The workload is varied too - and we do hill repeats, longer routes with sections (uphill and downhill) of 'effort' followed by a couple of minutes jog to recover.

I realise long slow runs, where you aren't mixing up the pace etc, can have the potential to get boring, but I make a conscious effort to think about things - everything from footfall/strides, breathing, how things are feeling, looking at pace on my watch, but also looking around, listening to the animals I pass. Some people listen to music while they run, but i've never done that.

bottom line i think is just keep at it. in groups would help, as you can chat. the stronger you get the longer you'll be able to run and without pains etc, so you can take enjoyment from that.

Edited by SpydieNut on Friday 6th January 12:58

Thanks. I have been doing a lot of other work: cycling, leg sessions in gym for a while now and I am feeling minimal discomort today after my 10 or so miles yesterday which is nice. Now to have the same feeling after 15, 20.

[RizzoTheRat]

johnwilliams77 said:

SpydieNut said:

also doing longer runs, but not sure why i don't find them boring. i run on the road only now, but in the past have done a 3+ hr stint on the treadmill at the gym. still not bored - i made a programme to vary pace and incline a bit to keep it interesting. i had a 1 min break every 30 min to drink (and sips while running) and eat something and watched TV

on the road i'm on my own and go out very early - think 4am. but the roads are quiet and i enjoy the solitude and the sounds of my surrounding countryside. i take a camelbak with water and food and did 24m last sat and will do 26 next wk, so only a shortish 15m this sunday.

Impressive
I wish I could
a) Run that far
b) Really really enjoy it. I enjoy an hour but wish I could enjoy 2 / 3. It will be more fun in the marathon with all the people / atmosphere.

I wouldn't even manage the 4am start let alone the 24 miles

Wimped out of a club 8k training run last night as it was fecking freezing. I want to aim to do about 1000 km this year so need to make more club runs. Already on 23km this year (and 28k this week) though so not feeling too guilty yet, despite this being way below the mileage loads of you lot do in a single run