The Running Thread

The Running Thread

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RizzoTheRat

25,085 posts

191 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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As a relatively new runner myself:

- The gait analysis from a running shop is well worth it, my local Sweat Shop reckoned I needed medium support and they then produced loads of pairs of trainers over a decent price range to try, I used my old trainers again for a run some time back and found my arches hurt a bit in them now I'd got used to proper ones.

- I get some back trouble but I've had a lot less problems with it since I started running, presumably due to building up my core strength

- Couch to 5 K (aka C25K) is a great program, got me from sloth to semi-regular runner without doing so much that it put me off. You can get phone apps to tell you when to run or walk, but I used some podcasts that were really good http://www.c25k.com/podcasts.htm

- Some form of tracking app on your phone like Run Keeper or Map My Run is good because you can see hard number on how much you've improved

- Can't recommend Parkrun enough, I've met loads of other runners of varying abilities through it and now meet up with some for midweek runs, as well as getting plenty of encouragement for races. Like being in a running club but free.

krallicious

4,312 posts

204 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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I still cannot shake my cold which is driving me nuts. I haven't been running since Sunday and a gym session left me knackered and feeling awful.

On the plus side, I have signed up for another Half in Basel (3 länderlauf) which is on the 17th May and I am looking for a 1.44.xx with the outside chance of getting closer to a 1.40. I'm also going to try and run the Gt. Yarmouth Half as I should be visiting my parents around that time. It has the added bonus of going past where I grew up so it will be nice to see the old area again.

ED209

5,740 posts

243 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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Longest run ever this morning 15.3 miles in 2hrs 12 mins, 901 ft of climbs in that according to strava. I hit a massive wall at 13 miles and almost stopped.

Doing Edinburgh marathon and i really cannot see how i could do another 11 miles after today though i know the Edinburgh marathon is overall down hill though so it might not be as brutal as todays run, the last 7.5 miles being all up hill.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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Craphouserat said:
Guys

Apologies I have not read this thread...slightly large ! Basically I want to start running.....mainly to get my fitness levels up and try and lose some weight. I have a very bad back ( couple of spinal ops and possibly more ), never ran before.

Can you recommend a decent pair of trainers for approx £50-£70 - don't want to spend too much just in case my back cannot take it.

Any basic advice much appreciated.
I don't know you, of course, but would suggest easing gently into running, starting off with cycling.

It will be much easier to run if you have already lost excess weight, especially if you have a history of back problems. You won't be running that far to begin with.

Trainers wise, there are schools of thought that less cushioning in the heel and not striking the floor with the heels is more efficient and better for the knees, Hips and back than landing on the heels.
-I would agree although it might show up any previous weakness in a calf muscle as it has with me.

Build up gently,

Good luck

Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 12th March 16:54

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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I took a chance (prayed to the calf
Muscle gods) and picked up the pace a bit earlier, trying to avoid killing myself or straining anything - Warmed up a bit and then did a 23:00 5k, which I'm quite pleased with at this stage with only 2-3 short, steady runs/week in the past months.

No ill effects so far and it felt comfortable.

I Must not over-do it....

I'd like to do a Park Run in the near future, but I'm really not confident about my calf holding up for a race.

Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 13th March 18:46

Smitters

3,995 posts

156 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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About to do my first double day - basically commuting in and back. Taking it easy both ways at first, but if I find I can stomach it without niggles, it gives me a great opportunity to get some steady miles in and then pick up the pace, or go longer on the way home. Fingers crossed - if it goes well it can be a weekly staple and a good mileage/time on feet builder.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Smitters said:
About to do my first double day - basically commuting in and back. Taking it easy both ways at first, but if I find I can stomach it without niggles, it gives me a great opportunity to get some steady miles in and then pick up the pace, or go longer on the way home. Fingers crossed - if it goes well it can be a weekly staple and a good mileage/time on feet builder.
How far is it?

Smitters

3,995 posts

156 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Shortest route is 10k. Got about 200m of climb going in, 150 back home. Scope to run further/off-road each way too.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Smitters said:
Shortest route is 10k. Got about 200m of climb going in, 150 back home. Scope to run further/off-road each way too.
That's keen. Good luck

Craphouserat

1,494 posts

200 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
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MC Bodge said:
I took a chance (prayed to the calf
Muscle gods) and picked up the pace a bit earlier, trying to avoid killing myself or straining anything - Warmed up a bit and then did a 23:00 5k, which I'm quite pleased with at this stage with only 2-3 short, steady runs/week in the past months.

No ill effects so far and it felt comfortable.

I Must not over-do it....

I'd like to do a Park Run in the near future, but I'm really not confident about my calf holding up for a race.

Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 13th March 18:46
Thanks for the advice - I will be getting the bike serviced soon so this will also be getting utilized.

Currently thinking I will go with the couch - 5k guide. Been reading a fair bit on the NHS site about running and read similar t owhat you have said about how to run.

Thanks again.

CHR

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
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Craphouserat said:
Thanks for the advice - I will be getting the bike serviced soon so this will also be getting utilized.

Currently thinking I will go with the couch - 5k guide. Been reading a fair bit on the NHS site about running and read similar to what you have said about how to run.

Thanks again.

CHR
No problem. I once read,
"don't play squash to get fit, get fit to play squash" and I think that it also applies to running to a certain extent.

A range of exercise and strength building can be beneficial. I've also been doing yoga for a few months and finding it very beneficial.

evo4a

737 posts

180 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
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Been running a lot on the treadmill recently, mainly to build up pace and know what I can run at.
Just transferred back to the road as the weather is good and did a 48:30, 10k. About the same as my treadmill 10k, quite surprised as I found it easier on the road than the treadmill.

ocrx8

867 posts

195 months

Sunday 15th March 2015
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North London half was surprisingly hilly today. Good to run through Wembley stadium. Big downside for me was that it was NOT a 13.1 mile course! I was not alone in this measurement, either, and my Garmin has always been bang-on previously. Missed out on a championship place for London 2016 as a result....



Edited by ocrx8 on Sunday 15th March 15:51

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Sunday 15th March 2015
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evo4a said:
Been running a lot on the treadmill recently, mainly to build up pace and know what I can run at.
Just transferred back to the road as the weather is good and did a 48:30, 10k. About the same as my treadmill 10k, quite surprised as I found it easier on the road than the treadmill.
That is interesting. I'd always assumed that purely treadmill running didn't transfer that well to the road.

lost in espace

6,136 posts

206 months

Sunday 15th March 2015
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ocrx8 said:
North London half was surprisingly hilly today. Good to run through Wembley stadium. Big downside for me was that it was NOT a 13.1 mile course! I was not alone in this measurement, either, and my Garmin has always been bang-on previously. Missed out on a championship place for London 2016 as a result....
Great time!

Forgot to start my Garmin so not sure on distance. It was hilly that is for sure, 600 foot of climb. Managed 1.48 as opposed to my Cambridge half last weekend of 1:45, but that only had a climb of 60 foot. So I am making progress, that a marathon, followed by 2 halfs. 22 miler next weekend then Paris and London. My training has been a bit all over the place so nothing amazing expected. It was a good half, felt a bit like a mini London marathon the crowds and bands really lifted the spirits. Very busy though, after my nasty experience last week with crowded streets at Cambridge I decide to start at the back, but soon got pissed off overtaking people. 9/10 of the runners at the back had headphones, and were taking selfies as they ran. One girl ran into a bollard because she was taking photos.

Cybertronian

1,516 posts

162 months

Monday 16th March 2015
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ocrx8 said:
North London half was surprisingly hilly today. Good to run through Wembley stadium. Big downside for me was that it was NOT a 13.1 mile course! I was not alone in this measurement, either, and my Garmin has always been bang-on previously. Missed out on a championship place for London 2016 as a result....

Edited by ocrx8 on Sunday 15th March 15:51
Excellent finish time, but commiserations on just missing a championship place - I know how sought after such places are.

I had similar distance issues at yesterday's Silverstone Half, where I covered 13.23 miles (last year was 13.18). I'm completely OCD about running the shortest, legal line on a course and find it hard to believe that I could gained that much additional distance from all the various twists and turns. Like you, I've trained and raced often enough with my Garmin to know its own tolerances for error, and also like you, believe it to be very precise. The data track looks very clean, with no obvious signs of jumpiness (1 second recording). Had it have been 13.18 or shorter, I'd have scored a very minor PB, but a PB nonetheless.

gazza285

9,780 posts

207 months

Monday 16th March 2015
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Did my first Duathlon yesterday, all off road in the Grizedale Forest, 9k run, 24k bike and a 6k run to finish. Never have I felt less like running at the start of the last leg, putting back on cold and wet running shoes didn't help. Finished 40th out of 162 starters in 3.22. Absolutely knackered...

Smitters

3,995 posts

156 months

Monday 16th March 2015
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MC Bodge said:
Smitters said:
Shortest route is 10k. Got about 200m of climb going in, 150 back home. Scope to run further/off-road each way too.
That's keen. Good luck
Cheers - In an ideal world I'd do it once a week, do the in run very easy, then do whatever I wanted, harder, hilly, longer or whatever running home. Annoyingly, it's quite hard to get a lift in and only do it one way.

I was very tired on the return leg, more than I expected. HR was 10bpm higher for a given pace and it was only quicker due to net downhill. However, I was recovered enough to attempt a 14km LSD session on Sunday pm, although I ran out of puff at eight km! Need to pay more attention to nutrition around the weekend to ensure the sessions are useful and not just a struggle.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Monday 16th March 2015
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Smitters said:
Cheers - In an ideal world I'd do it once a week, do the in run very easy, then do whatever I wanted, harder, hilly, longer or whatever running home. Annoyingly, it's quite hard to get a lift in and only do it one way.

I was very tired on the return leg, more than I expected. HR was 10bpm higher for a given pace and it was only quicker due to net downhill. However, I was recovered enough to attempt a 14km LSD session on Sunday pm, although I ran out of puff at eight km! Need to pay more attention to nutrition around the weekend to ensure the sessions are useful and not just a struggle.
Good effort. 2x10km is possibly more difficult/energy intensive than 1x20km. It will presumably get easier.

When I started biking 25km each way to/from work, in addition to other exercise, I was very hungry all the time. Eat more! It is easier to take it easy on a bike though.

Keep hydrated. I find electrolyte drinks very helpful too.

Smitters

3,995 posts

156 months

Tuesday 17th March 2015
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I just had one of those runs - where you feel invincible, with unlimited leg strength and you just float round. Amazing. As long as I recover well, I'd say that's a guaranteed mojo for a week!

MC Bodge said:
Good effort. 2x10km is possibly more difficult/energy intensive than 1x20km. It will presumably get easier.

When I started biking 25km each way to/from work, in addition to other exercise, I was very hungry all the time. Eat more! It is easier to take it easy on a bike though.

Keep hydrated. I find electrolyte drinks very helpful too.
Bound to get easier - adaption and all that. My main concern is that I run three times a week - I don't have time for more as I have a baby - so a double day represents great value for money, but also is quite a hike in mileage, which as we all know, is a recipe for injury.

I've just got a bunch of High5 tabs from Wiggle (on offer) so am now equipped to recover at the desk. Good to do the stroll to the water cooler too - to keep the legs ticking over.

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