The Running Thread
Discussion
- is there a good value training watch (to show distance run and maybe heart rate if it's not too dear)
Well done for entering the VLM, lets hope you get in. I would start by using an android/iphone phone and runkeeper, if you pm me I will add you to my streetmates and drop you the odd encouraging comment on your performance.
Join your local running club, or your local slimming club/gym may have a running program.
The Garmin 210 is a good starter watch.
lost in espace said:
- is there a good value training watch (to show distance run and maybe heart rate if it's not too dear)
Well done for entering the VLM, lets hope you get in. I would start by using an android/iphone phone and runkeeper, if you pm me I will add you to my streetmates and drop you the odd encouraging comment on your performance.
Join your local running club, or your local slimming club/gym may have a running program.
The Garmin 210 is a good starter watch.
Thanks Lost. I have an iPhone4. I put a walking app on it last year but it never seemed to work properly. Can you recommend a good running app? Well done for entering the VLM, lets hope you get in. I would start by using an android/iphone phone and runkeeper, if you pm me I will add you to my streetmates and drop you the odd encouraging comment on your performance.
Join your local running club, or your local slimming club/gym may have a running program.
The Garmin 210 is a good starter watch.
Re Garmins, I've been looking at the reviews and there does seem to be some reliability problems with them?
Blackpuddin said:
Thanks Lost. I have an iPhone4. I put a walking app on it last year but it never seemed to work properly. Can you recommend a good running app?
Re Garmins, I've been looking at the reviews and there does seem to be some reliability problems with them?
I've used most of them and rate endomondo as the best. It's got all the features the others have and also some great best time/distance/goal features. It's easy to create routes and if you get a Garmin watch you can download your data to Garmin connect or endomondo very easily. Re Garmins, I've been looking at the reviews and there does seem to be some reliability problems with them?
el stovey said:
It says it's closed now. Was it only open for one day?
i believe so, its the most farcical entry system ever, if you cant get near a computer on the one day its open then you are screwed.as i said last year, they are just cutting out the club runners and turning it into an elite/charity event. whilst there is nothing wrong with that, not everyone can commit to raise £1500 minimum sponsorship
Blackpuddin said:
Thanks Lost. I have an iPhone4. I put a walking app on it last year but it never seemed to work properly. Can you recommend a good running app?
Re Garmins, I've been looking at the reviews and there does seem to be some reliability problems with them?
I use a free app called sportstracker on my nokia n8. Its easy to use & seems fairly accurate. It shows my local parkrun as 5.01km. It can also be set to beep every 500m/1km which is handy for pacingRe Garmins, I've been looking at the reviews and there does seem to be some reliability problems with them?
Re VLM: If you are a club runner, your club will have a number of entries to distribute among members. My club does a ballot system for the 5 (I think) entries it gets, always over-subscribed of course.
Alternatively, train your arse off and get one of the good-for-age/championship entries
That said, there are plenty of other marathons out there to do in the UK and abroad. London gets the most coverage in the UK but biggest doesn't necessarily mean best.
Alternatively, train your arse off and get one of the good-for-age/championship entries
That said, there are plenty of other marathons out there to do in the UK and abroad. London gets the most coverage in the UK but biggest doesn't necessarily mean best.
pablo said:
el stovey said:
It says it's closed now. Was it only open for one day?
i believe so, its the most farcical entry system ever, if you cant get near a computer on the one day its open then you are screwed.as i said last year, they are just cutting out the club runners and turning it into an elite/charity event. whilst there is nothing wrong with that, not everyone can commit to raise £1500 minimum sponsorship
I don't really know what to make of it. It's great that people are raising money for charity but it seems a shame that people who really want to run a marathon can't because there's loads of fatties having a fun walk/jog around london for the day.
I've lost count of the number of people who have told me they ran the London marathon and then when I ask how they did, they come up with a time that suggests they stopped for lunch on the way. As I said they aren't any less worthy than someone who runs the whole way but it is a marathon. There's plenty of charity walks people can do if they want to raise money. It seems there's a kudos about doing a marathon even if you walk much of it.
ewenm said:
E38Ross said:
A vote from me for Garmin forerunner 205,no heart rate (unless you get the 305) but all the watch you ever need imo.
How many times have you had to return it? 
ked up There's perceived kudos amongst the general public to the LONDON Marathon.
My approach would (will!) be this:
My approach would (will!) be this:
- Check budget airline routes from nearest airport.
- Check for open marathon in any of those destination cities that I'd like to visit.
- Plan long weekend (or more) around doing that marathon.
ewenm said:
There's perceived kudos amongst the general public to the LONDON Marathon.
My approach would (will!) be this:
I wouldn't mind trying Berlin as my first one, though it's usually quite hot isn't it? Is it a fast course? My approach would (will!) be this:
- Check budget airline routes from nearest airport.
- Check for open marathon in any of those destination cities that I'd like to visit.
- Plan long weekend (or more) around doing that marathon.
Tim330 said:
I use a free app called sportstracker on my nokia n8. Its easy to use & seems fairly accurate. It shows my local parkrun as 5.01km. It can also be set to beep every 500m/1km which is handy for pacing
Thanks Tim, I checked the other two recommendations and they both appear to have issues regarding updates, the Sport Tracker one has strong support and having downloaded it, it looks just the job, many thanks to all. el stovey said:
I think cancer research wanted £100 entry and £2,000 sponsorship.
I don't really know what to make of it. It's great that people are raising money for charity but it seems a shame that people who really want to run a marathon can't because there's loads of fatties having a fun walk/jog around london for the day.
I've lost count of the number of people who have told me they ran the London marathon and then when I ask how they did, they come up with a time that suggests they stopped for lunch on the way. As I said they aren't any less worthy than someone who runs the whole way but it is a marathon. There's plenty of charity walks people can do if they want to raise money. It seems there's a kudos about doing a marathon even if you walk much of it.
You share my thoughts exactly! I don't really know what to make of it. It's great that people are raising money for charity but it seems a shame that people who really want to run a marathon can't because there's loads of fatties having a fun walk/jog around london for the day.
I've lost count of the number of people who have told me they ran the London marathon and then when I ask how they did, they come up with a time that suggests they stopped for lunch on the way. As I said they aren't any less worthy than someone who runs the whole way but it is a marathon. There's plenty of charity walks people can do if they want to raise money. It seems there's a kudos about doing a marathon even if you walk much of it.
Take this for example. James "Arg" Argent from that TOWIE programme did the VLM in 6hrs 1 min.
That works out to 4mph. That's slower than a fast walk is it not? Where's the achivement in that!!
I've just entered the ballot for next years VLM, which would be my first marathon, and i intend to run the whole wya if i get in!
ewenm said:
There's perceived kudos amongst the general public to the LONDON Marathon.
My approach would (will!) be this:
The London thing annoys me - I've got friends that run and keep trying to get into London but just don't get the idea of doing a different marathon. Madness!My approach would (will!) be this:
- Check budget airline routes from nearest airport.
- Check for open marathon in any of those destination cities that I'd like to visit.
- Plan long weekend (or more) around doing that marathon.
In line with your approach above I can recommend Prague, Seville and Palma for cheap Marathon weekend getaways - decent but not massive entries, OK courses and stuff to do when not running. I'm sure there are plenty of others but these are ones I've done.
Are we doing the same discussion again
Interestingly in the U.S Boston is seen as THE marathon for marathon runners, as you have to have done 3hr 5 (men) to qualify. If you reach the Boston standard with (a lot of) time to spare then the next aim is the Olympic trials standard (2:19 for men). This seems to help to push up the standard in the masses as it gives people a big incentive to train and aim for sub 3 and club runners try to qualify for the Oly Trials, which in turn pushes everyone else on including the guys at the top (at the US olympic marathon trials 4 men went sub 2:10)
Japan has the Fukuoka marathon which has a 2:42 qualifying standard
and apparently if you fall behind 2:46 pace you get hoiked off by a broom wagon!
We had a faily brutal session yesterday, our coach calls it the W which is 4,3,2,1,2,3,4,3,2,1,2,3,4 (00m's) with 60s recovery after the 4s, 45s after the 3s, 30s after the 2s and 10s after the 1s. It's a relentless session that punishes any error in pace judgement pretty ruthlessly. I had to pull out of the final 2 and 3 to be sick, before putting in my first sub 60 400m of the year on the last rep, so a bit of a mixed bag!
Interestingly in the U.S Boston is seen as THE marathon for marathon runners, as you have to have done 3hr 5 (men) to qualify. If you reach the Boston standard with (a lot of) time to spare then the next aim is the Olympic trials standard (2:19 for men). This seems to help to push up the standard in the masses as it gives people a big incentive to train and aim for sub 3 and club runners try to qualify for the Oly Trials, which in turn pushes everyone else on including the guys at the top (at the US olympic marathon trials 4 men went sub 2:10)
Japan has the Fukuoka marathon which has a 2:42 qualifying standard
and apparently if you fall behind 2:46 pace you get hoiked off by a broom wagon!We had a faily brutal session yesterday, our coach calls it the W which is 4,3,2,1,2,3,4,3,2,1,2,3,4 (00m's) with 60s recovery after the 4s, 45s after the 3s, 30s after the 2s and 10s after the 1s. It's a relentless session that punishes any error in pace judgement pretty ruthlessly. I had to pull out of the final 2 and 3 to be sick, before putting in my first sub 60 400m of the year on the last rep, so a bit of a mixed bag!
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