The Running Thread
Discussion
I enjoy running for different reasons, but my favourite time was in the 6 months before I started marathon training in 2010 when I ran without a watch and unconsciously built up my mileage. Not once did I run with a watch, but I knew the routes were 8 miles, 10 miles 6 miles or 20. I then entered a race and smashed my PB becaue I ran on feel alone and then I set out on a marathon program. It was great not to worry about times, but I also liked training and seeing gradual improvement.
Having said that, I only compare my times against myself and I wish everyone else well with theirs, but it's not a competition to me
Do times matter? Not really, but its a benchmark... When I lived in Barcelona, I used to run from my house, past the Olympic stadium and to the castle on Mont Juic, 1 lap around it and back home. It was about 9.25 miles and brutal on the way up. I used it for tempo runs and one day decided to see whether I could do it in less than an hour. I failed by 2 minutes, but through training and many attempts, eventually ran it in 58:37. It was not a race, no-one else would have run from my house doing the same route, but the time mattered to me as a personal challenge. I ran because I liked running, but this gave me extra incentive....
anyway, enough rambling from me in trying to answer why times matter... off for a jog out in 90 minutes.
Having said that, I only compare my times against myself and I wish everyone else well with theirs, but it's not a competition to me
Do times matter? Not really, but its a benchmark... When I lived in Barcelona, I used to run from my house, past the Olympic stadium and to the castle on Mont Juic, 1 lap around it and back home. It was about 9.25 miles and brutal on the way up. I used it for tempo runs and one day decided to see whether I could do it in less than an hour. I failed by 2 minutes, but through training and many attempts, eventually ran it in 58:37. It was not a race, no-one else would have run from my house doing the same route, but the time mattered to me as a personal challenge. I ran because I liked running, but this gave me extra incentive....
anyway, enough rambling from me in trying to answer why times matter... off for a jog out in 90 minutes.
lepetitoeuf said:
This is very lovely guys, seeing so many profess their love of running simply for what it is.
However the one thing I can't stand about running is the obsession with times and PBs. People are saying they love running and derive huge enjoyment from the process of just getting out there, but in the same sentence as comparing their PBs and performance to others.
Surely if you simply love the process of running, then PBs and relative performance are irrelevant?
Relative to others I agree, but PBs are important as I am racing someone, myself.However the one thing I can't stand about running is the obsession with times and PBs. People are saying they love running and derive huge enjoyment from the process of just getting out there, but in the same sentence as comparing their PBs and performance to others.
Surely if you simply love the process of running, then PBs and relative performance are irrelevant?
lepetitoeuf said:
Surely if you simply love the process of running, then PBs and relative performance are irrelevant?
I don't compared PBs to others as such but getting target times is important for me not because I want to best myself. I enjoy the sense of satisfaction you get after reaping the benefits of training. I love that feeling, but likewise I realise you can't pb all the time. Different strokes for different folks but I love the feeling you get when you know (and feel!) that you're in basically the best shape of your life after some hard work. It's fantastic.
Good luck to the lads and lassies (incl. my wife) doing the Great Glen Ultra starting 0100 tomorrow - the rain should keep the midges away... http://www.greatglenultra.com/
cerb4.5lee said:
Spot on!....
I love reading about the experienced and very talented runners on here and now I am 40 my best days are probably behind me now! but I just enjoy being out there running so to me it doesn't matter how quick or slow you are just enjoy it.
Don't think you PB days are behind you! Start off gently and get your body used to the idea of running: not too fast, not too far. The first kilograms will fall off you and you'll be fitter. We got a dog ten years ago and I started running with him first thing in the morning, three miles or so. Today I have progressed to running in a local race series and I am still turning in personal bests in races. Last September, I managed my best ever marathon at a whisker under 2:54! I am 52, so go for it!I love reading about the experienced and very talented runners on here and now I am 40 my best days are probably behind me now! but I just enjoy being out there running so to me it doesn't matter how quick or slow you are just enjoy it.
Mike
Managed a slightly quicker pace on an 8.7km crosscountry (Elstead Marathon, great event, nice bit of countryside and ends up going through a river) last night than I managed on a 10km roadrace on Wednesday. Only the 4th time I've ever run more than about 6 or 7 km. I think this shows I need to be doing longer distances more regularly (usually do 5km 2 or 3 times a week).
Having only really started running in the autumn I'm amazed I can now do 10k or so at a faster pace than I could manage over 5k in February.
Having only really started running in the autumn I'm amazed I can now do 10k or so at a faster pace than I could manage over 5k in February.
Anyone fancy giving me some advice. I am 45 been running for 4 years, run a sub 3:50 marathon and my parkrun this morning was 20:50. I am 12st 4lbs/6' and trying to lose a stone, and am on a low carb high fat diet that I love which is definitely burning fat, although I am also starting to put on muscle for the first time in my life.
It the hills! I just slow down. If its a big hill, I will tend to pick up speed a bit. But the shorter stuff everyone steams past me. I am now doing core and weight training, to include holding 2x 8lbs dumbbells and stepping up on a big stool 5 x 10 times.
Any tips on running or training technique. Its plenty hilly around here, but I don't specifically hill train.
If I had managed to keep my speed up today on hill at the parkrun I think I could shave 20 seconds off my time easy.
It the hills! I just slow down. If its a big hill, I will tend to pick up speed a bit. But the shorter stuff everyone steams past me. I am now doing core and weight training, to include holding 2x 8lbs dumbbells and stepping up on a big stool 5 x 10 times.
Any tips on running or training technique. Its plenty hilly around here, but I don't specifically hill train.
If I had managed to keep my speed up today on hill at the parkrun I think I could shave 20 seconds off my time easy.
Berlin Mike said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Spot on!....
I love reading about the experienced and very talented runners on here and now I am 40 my best days are probably behind me now! but I just enjoy being out there running so to me it doesn't matter how quick or slow you are just enjoy it.
Don't think you PB days are behind you! Start off gently and get your body used to the idea of running: not too fast, not too far. The first kilograms will fall off you and you'll be fitter. We got a dog ten years ago and I started running with him first thing in the morning, three miles or so. Today I have progressed to running in a local race series and I am still turning in personal bests in races. Last September, I managed my best ever marathon at a whisker under 2:54! I am 52, so go for it!I love reading about the experienced and very talented runners on here and now I am 40 my best days are probably behind me now! but I just enjoy being out there running so to me it doesn't matter how quick or slow you are just enjoy it.
Mike
cerb4.5lee said:
Wow that is something special, thanks for the kind words of encouragement and as you say there should be plenty left in me, cheers.
Yep. You are only going to get quicker and fitter if you keep it up. I run every Saturday with a 43 year old and he was running 42 min 10kms five years. Just last month he managed a 38:40Vary your training - tempo, fartlek, long slow runs etc and you will surprise yourself.
Running is wonderful and seeing yourself improve is kinda addictive !
PGNCerbera said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Wow that is something special, thanks for the kind words of encouragement and as you say there should be plenty left in me, cheers.
Yep. You are only going to get quicker and fitter if you keep it up. I run every Saturday with a 43 year old and he was running 42 min 10kms five years. Just last month he managed a 38:40Vary your training - tempo, fartlek, long slow runs etc and you will surprise yourself.
Running is wonderful and seeing yourself improve is kinda addictive !
E65Ross said:
On the subject of diet, how would you all describe yours? Do you eat healthily all the time, or have the odd treat, or do you say "I run so I can eat the fatty stuff!"?
I must admit I am in the camp of I run so I can eat/drink more but I do respect those that not only dedicate their time to run but also tailor their diet as well. I eat an outrageous amount, and not all of it's healthy. I usually have a chocolate bar a day to keep my blood sugar up, as well as bananas/apples. I usually binge on food at least once a week, on stuff which is definitely not healthy. I justify it by training twice a day (or 9-12 times a week) and making sure my healthy eating is proper healthy eating.
I need to shift a bit more body fat in prep for the London Tri (and for the ladies) so no more pizzas for me for the time being, and I'm thinking about experimenting with a gluten free/no grain diet purely to see what happens. I like to experiment with various eating habits to see what works best for me. I went full veggie in October and the weight just flew off despite eating a lot more food to compensate, missed the steak a lot but I now incorporate a lot my meat free meals into my eating routine
I need to shift a bit more body fat in prep for the London Tri (and for the ladies) so no more pizzas for me for the time being, and I'm thinking about experimenting with a gluten free/no grain diet purely to see what happens. I like to experiment with various eating habits to see what works best for me. I went full veggie in October and the weight just flew off despite eating a lot more food to compensate, missed the steak a lot but I now incorporate a lot my meat free meals into my eating routine
Well that was a surprise. Entered a local 5k charity cross country and ended up being the fastest in my age category at a fairly sedate 29:55. I think the majority of faster people were doing the 10k (2 laps of the same course). Certainly wasn't expecting my name when they were announcing the results 
As for food, I'm not a competitive runner (see above time) which I suspect is a big difference when it comes to diet. Those of you who are seriously quick and winning races are probably getting a decent advantage from a proper diet. I run to get fitter and stop myself getting fatter. Saturday morning Parkrun is justification for the huge fry up we have afterwards, and Friday nights cross country ended up on the pub with a big steak and chips (you're supposed to have protein after a run aren't you?)
As for food, I'm not a competitive runner (see above time) which I suspect is a big difference when it comes to diet. Those of you who are seriously quick and winning races are probably getting a decent advantage from a proper diet. I run to get fitter and stop myself getting fatter. Saturday morning Parkrun is justification for the huge fry up we have afterwards, and Friday nights cross country ended up on the pub with a big steak and chips (you're supposed to have protein after a run aren't you?)
When training properly I tend to eat very healthily, and feel absolutely fantastic. As said previously, when this stomach thing came back I started eating a LOT more chocolate, ice cream, cakes, biscuits etc and generally was feeling rubbish. This past 3 weeks I've eaten no "treats" aside a single chocolate bar and I've been eating a lot of fish or lean meats, lots of veg, beans (tinned 5 bean salad with peas, sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli and spinnach all mixed up with tinned mackerel and tinned chopped tomatoes for lunch today is a typical example....lovely!) rice, pasta or potatoes and I'm feeling so, so much better in myself.
I think it makes a big difference and the cravings for chocolate etc has really died down. I have had the odd steak or lamb shank etc which I don't mind having, but it's cutting the bad processed crap out that I find makes the biggest difference.
I think it makes a big difference and the cravings for chocolate etc has really died down. I have had the odd steak or lamb shank etc which I don't mind having, but it's cutting the bad processed crap out that I find makes the biggest difference.
Fast food (McD's, KFC, Dominoes) tends to be a treat and no more than once a month. Majority of food tends to be sensible with small portions and more fresh than processed.
I am not overly watching but trying to pick healthy options without being excessive about it. I take a similar view to others that I train fairly hard so can enjoy some normal food.
I am not overly watching but trying to pick healthy options without being excessive about it. I take a similar view to others that I train fairly hard so can enjoy some normal food.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff