The Running Thread

[E38Ross]

i had to do an emergency change of plan this morning as the wind down the back straight was like hitting a brick wall. still di my 1 mile at LT to start with....what felt like 5:30 pace was actually......5:55!!!!! honestly, it was THAT bad.

so instead of doing 5x400m reps at 1500m pace i did 8x300m, starting at the 200m mark, running the bend, home straight, then round the 100m round and then a 100m slow jog/walk recovery. was doing each 300m rep in 53 on the nose, quickest was a 52, slowest a 54. given i'd done VERY little 1500m speed work i felt (relatively) fine after those.

then had a 7-8 min break before doing 6x200m with 100m jog recovery (to miss the wind i started at 200m mark, ran to finish, ran back to 100m start and ran to 100m past the line, jogged back to 200m mark and so on. did each 200m in 31 with the last 2 being a 29.5 and then a 28.

was hard motivating myself, that first mile was demoralising....it was that windy! including a 2 mile warm up and 1 mile warm down i did around 7 miles total including the recoveries.

[Speckle]

First run after London this morning. Calves and shins still quite sore so, just a gentle 5 miles in the end. It was nice to be out running again but, I probably need another couple of days rest I think.

Good luck to everyone running MK tomorrow, hope the weather eases a little for you.

[Mark-C]

I'm definitely out of MK Marathon tomorrow. A quick trot around the block suggests that the 0.2 mile bit is fine but the other 26 is not a good idea. Osteopath booked for first thing Monday to get back and leg lined up and pointing in the right directions.

Very frustrating - was fairly sure (well as sure as you can be with this distance) that a return to running sub 3h 30m was on the cards.

Good luck to everyone who is doing it.

[lost in espace]

Mark-C said:

I'm definitely out of MK Marathon tomorrow. A quick trot around the block suggests that the 0.2 mile bit is fine but the other 26 is not a good idea. Osteopath booked for first thing Monday to get back and leg lined up and pointing in the right directions.

Very frustrating - was fairly sure (well as sure as you can be with this distance) that a return to running sub 3h 30m was on the cards.

Good luck to everyone who is doing it.

Cheers Mark sorry about your injury but you are doing the right thing. Heavy rain, about 10 degrees and a headwind which swings around at the time when we start running south, so its a headwind all the way.

My friend did the VLM in 4 hours after drinking 2 pints and a bottle of wine the night before, he is running tomorrow so I will see if I can beat him.

[iamrcb]

Be warned, I have had a beer or two.........

I took up running a few years ago and do 2 to 3 runs a week (7 to 20k range) and I enjoy it tremendously.

It definitely frees up a bit of room for a good share of beer + chips and makes me appreciate my local area (urban to rural) a lot more. I've done about 20 races (10k to half marathons, trail and road) and have enjoyed them all. Even in my pokey south wales valley village I see a fair amount of runners, early morning and late night. Running must be more popular than ever?

But is it me or do "most" people seem capable of running a 10k, a very large amount of people capable of running a half and a lot of people are good for a marathon. i.e. is it really that special? I know there is a difference in finishing and running a good time but it seems that running is starting to be portrayed as "easy". Its not good enough to have done a marathon, but to have done 50 on the bounce is "really good"

or

Is it just that runners notice other runners and their relative performance difference more, like drivers of Volvo 480 Turbo owners probably see more other Volvo 480 Turbo owners than everyone else!

I suppose when a couple of thousand turn up at a race, there are hundreds of thousands that couldn't or wouldn't want to be there, and are at home (usually at home, warm, in bed - lucky sods)

Edited by iamrcb on Saturday 28th April 22:03

[E38Ross]

There is a monumental difference between doing a race, and racing one.

Let people think it's easy. I shut people up by asking them to run as quick as I can. If they don't run VERY regularly, they won't be able to do it unless they are very fit or do lots of hard physical activity, and those are the people who understand.

My mate did a half not long ago and bragged about it. Fact is I would have been over 50 minutes ahead!

[spikeyhead]

iamrcb said:

Be warned, I have had a beer or two.........

I took up running a few years ago and do 2 to 3 runs a week (7 to 20k range) and I enjoy it tremendously.

It definitely frees up a bit of room for a good share of beer + chips and makes me appreciate my local area (urban to rural) a lot more. I've done about 20 races (10k to half marathons, trail and road) and have enjoyed them all. Even in my pokey south wales valley village I see a fair amount of runners, early morning and late night. Running must be more popular than ever?

But is it me or do "most" people seem capable of running a 10k, a very large amount of people capable of running a half and a lot of people are good for a marathon. i.e. is it really that special? I know there is a difference in finishing and running a good time but it seems that running is starting to be portrayed as "easy". Its not good enough to have done a marathon, but to have done 50 on the bounce is "really good"

or

Is it just that runners notice other runners and their relative performance difference more, like drivers of Volvo 480 Turbo owners probably see more other Volvo 480 Turbo owners than everyone else!

I suppose when a couple of thousand turn up at a race, there are hundreds of thousands that couldn't or wouldn't want to be there, and are at home (usually at home, warm, in bed - lucky sods)

Edited by iamrcb on Saturday 28th April 22:03

I started running a few weeks ago, having not run in 20 years. I rather suspect that the cast majority know they can't run more than a mile.

[m444ttb]

I'd be surprised if the average man can run a mile. Under 10 mins at least! I look around work and so many people clearly do no more exercise than it takes to get a massive coffee (then take the lift back to their floor!).

Anyhow, race day today. Highworth Running Club's annual 5 mile race. Small but popular locally easily filling up its 500 places. I suspect today may well see a good 1/4 missing though. The weather is awful! 2 hours until I hope to be well into the 2nd mile and it's heavy rain and very strong wind. The latter could really help if it's there to push you up the big hill at the end. So I've assumed it will be in my face instead lol

[anonymous-user]

Ross has hit the nail on the head. There is a big difference between completion and competition.

A marathon isn't too hard to complete in the 6-7 hour range (a 6 hour marathon requires an average of 13:44/mile or just beyond a brisk walk) but as soon as you start training for times it becomes a lot harder. Those who run under 4 hours are a whole world away from those who walk/jog in 6 hours, and equally 3 hours is another world away from 4 hours in terms of the training/talent required.

In terms of portraying running as 'easy', there's been a lot of discussion on running boards about the shift in how running is portrayed to the general public as a participation event, where completion is the goal as opposed to serious competition. A marathon now seems to appear on people's bucket list as something to complete. That isn't to put down those who do a marathon for charity or to tick it off, but it irks me when someone thinks that completing a marathon is the be all and end all of a runner, which increasingly seems to be becoming the norm.

Pearl Izumi actually got in a bit of trouble for this ad campaign, but it's true in places: http://www.wearenotjoggers.com/book.html

(P.S: Apologies if I've got up on my high horse, but it irks me when joggers say to me that they're better than me at running because they've done a marathon and I haven't)

[E38Ross]

cookie118 said:

but it irks me when joggers say to me that they're better than me at running because they've done a marathon and I haven't)

i know what you mean. i tell them i train for 5k/10k and they ask "why don't you run a marathon, anyone can do 5 or 10k" to which i say "i know, but not many can do it as quick as i can" i'd be tempted to say "maybe you should tell kenenisa bekele that"

i'm not that quick in runners terms (as you know i did a 17:35 5k park run though reckon a few more weeks i should beat that; and i'm with a guy in training who's a 35:30 10k runner)so brisk by most standards, but far from amazing but it still takes a LOT of training or sports to get to that level, i don't care who you are.

another difference between people like you and i vs the casual runners:

most weeks i see runners when i'm out on my long steady run, i have never been overtaken despite usually doing around 7:30/mile and almost always overtake people....today when it's ridiculously windy and pissing down with rain, i didn't see a single other runner.

that, my friend, is a big difference.

[E38Ross]

oh - and good luck to those racing today. it'll be interesting with the wind

i can't believe the weather is so crap and we're right at the foot of May now. running today, despite some gloves, my hands were STILL cold. my face was bloody freezing too because of the wind.

google maps had my run earlier at 10.5 miles. long enough, takes the weekly total up to around 41. just need to get my arse in gear and do more 1500m and 800m pace stuff, so suspect the mileage may have to decrease a small amount.

[dave_s13]

cookie118 said:

.............

Pearl Izumi actually got in a bit of trouble for this ad campaign, but it's true in places: http://www.wearenotjoggers.com/book.html

.............)

in some places yeah, in others...what an utter cnunt

According to that I'm a lowly "jogger"... despite absolutely fckucking killing myself every time I go out.

Saying that though, I'm posting on here and should be out running (jogging!!) as it's the Leeds half in a couple of weeks and I need to get a long 'un in but by eck, it's bstrd freezing, blowing a gale and pi$$ing it down.

/MTFU??

[E38Ross]

MTFU and get out you pansy! i did my run this morning....got a few odd looks from passers by and a few friends drove past in the car and beeped the horn and waved at me don't think i was going too slow at that point....hope not

decision time guys.....

i've decided i'll go ahead and order some inov8 roclite trails shoes, question is though, which ones.

http://www.sportsshoes.com/product/INO68/inov8-roc...

http://www.sportsshoes.com/product/INO30/inov8-roc...

or

http://www.sportsshoes.com/product/INO40/inov8-roc...

come on guys, help me out!

[anonymous-user]

E38Ross said:

another difference between people like you and i vs the casual runners:

most weeks i see runners when i'm out on my long steady run, i have never been overtaken despite usually doing around 7:30/mile and almost always overtake people....today when it's ridiculously windy and pissing down with rain, i didn't see a single other runner.

that, my friend, is a big difference.

Yeah, I've never been overtaken on a long run either
It's a tricky matter to comment on, there's nothing wrong with casual running as it's a great way to get/stay fit, but its the attitude of some casual runners where distance, and especially the marathon is the defining feature of how good a runner you are. I'm by no means the greatest (I wouldn't see which way ewenm went) but I work hard at what I do, training 6 days out of 7 and I hate that being trivialised because I've chosen not to do a marathon (yet).

ETA: According to the pearl izumi ad I'm a jogger as well because I sometimes run with an iPod and it does come across very badly in places (don't think that all 'serious' runners think like this either-on the whole I've found runners of any standard including internationals are keen to give advice, help and encouragement).

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 29th April 12:17

[E38Ross]

cookie118 said:

Yeah, I've never been overtaken on a long run either
It's a tricky matter to comment on, there's nothing wrong with casual running as it's a great way to get/stay fit, but its the attitude of some casual runners where distance, and especially the marathon is the defining feature of how good a runner you are. I'm by no means the greatest (I wouldn't see which way ewenm went) but I work hard at what I do, training 6 days out of 7 and I hate that being trivialised because I've chosen not to do a marathon (yet).

don't let it get to you. as said, you're pretty close to me, though i suspect a bit sharper on the track....and whilst it's not amazing pace it'll EASILY put us in the top 0.1% of the population....i can't imagine 60,000 people in the UK beating me at running. let the others think what they want, you and I both know they're wrong.

alternatively, ask them to come along for a training session of 16x400m off 60 secs rest

hand on heart that's what I did; to my surprise the bloke actually turned up. and, again, hand on heart....he was dead last except the first rep where he ran 90 seconds, beating only a 55 year old woman, the next rep was over 100s and in total he managed to run 7 reps, each progressively slower. he never came back after that and the next day told everyone at uni i'm "a machine" because i could sprint 16x400.....i claimed 74/75s 400m is NOT sprinting

Edited by E38Ross on Sunday 29th April 12:03

[Highway Star]

E38Ross said:

MTFFU and get out you pansy! i did my run this morning....got a few odd looks from passers by and a few friends drove past in the car and beeped the horn and waved at me don't think i was going too slow at that point....hope not

decision time guys.....

i've decided i'll go ahead and order some inov8 roclite trails shoes, question is though, which ones.

http://www.sportsshoes.com/product/INO68/inov8-roc...

http://www.sportsshoes.com/product/INO30/inov8-roc...

or

http://www.sportsshoes.com/product/INO40/inov8-roc...

come on guys, help me out!

I can't comment on the roclite shoes but I have the inov8 mudclaws and they are brilliant, most of my running is across heavy fields and up muddy hills and I have never slipped. Uncomfortable for even a short distance on the road though. I'll be breaking them out for this afternoon's run when the wind has died down a little, I can see one field I run across from our bedroom, it's currently completely underwater

I know what you mean about competition vs completion. I swim a lot, still compete and last year broke a European record in my age group (part of a relay team) and won a few medals at Masters nationals. So it makes me laugh when people ask why I haven't swam the Channel as if just completing that is the apogee for swimmers (don't get me wrong, it is an amazing achievement, but you know what I mean).

As a runner I'm definitely way off the pace of many here, but I think I can get quicker and run a respectable 10k (for me that would be sub40) and then look at joining a local club and do some proper races as a way of improving further. I don't want to start competing yet as I'll be down the back and my own competitive streak will come through and be frustrated; I don't expect to win, but I do want to be semi 'competitive'!

[dave_s13]

Sorry Ross, I've made a brew and just about to put the Xbox on. The Mrs is out with the kids...rare this.

It's raining upwards at the moment, I can deal with sideways but upwards? Fcuck that!!

[Use Psychology]

anyone who tells you 'you're not a runner because...' isn't a runner, they're a dick.
its clearly a continuum from slow running to fast running - there is no set point where you become a runner. call it what you want, worry about what you're doing, and not about what other people are doing.

i did my first run in a few months this morning (20 degrees and sunny btw )... really must get back into the habit. Have a great forest here about 3 minutes from my front door, need to use it more often. its bloody hilly here though, compared to where I used to run (York). I find my pace drops by more than 2 min/mile up a long steep hill...

[m444ttb]

Back home, showered and warming up. It was awful. Heavy rain all the way and mega puddles as a result. The real killer was the wind for the 2nd and 3rd miles. I had nobody to hide behind for shelter either so it killed my times. The wind made then rain feel like hail stone! Thankfully I blitzed the first mile and had an extra 15 seconds in hand. I thought I was on for a really bad time but did, subject to confirmation, a 35 min 12. Only 12 seconds slower than I'd have hoped for in perfect conditions. All in all happy.

[E38Ross]

Use Psychology said:

anyone who tells you 'you're not a runner because...' isn't a runner, they're a dick.
its clearly a continuum from slow running to fast running - there is no set point where you become a runner. call it what you want, worry about what you're doing, and not about what other people are doing.

sort of, sort of not. there is a difference between jogging and running. running is quicker than jogging, fact.

however, some people state "running" is a certain speed (such as my Garmin watch....comes with set mins/mile, below a certain speed you're jogging, above it you're running). on the other hand, some say the difference between jogging and running is more to do with effort (and thus heart rate)...in that scenario what may be an easy "jog" for me might be a "run" for someone else.

according to some science chappy who commented on a BBC interview regarding running, his definition of jogging is <6mph, running is >6mph. depends who you read.

Edited by E38Ross on Sunday 29th April 13:07