The Running Thread Vol 2
Discussion
feef said:
Seriously lacking in motivation here.
A couple of friends have completed some pretty epic races (half marathon for one which is a big achievement for him, and a Courmayeur to Chamonix trail race for the other) which has spurred me on in one sense, but the sudden change in the weather and an increased workload means I'm getting home and am just not in the mood to go out and get rained on or blown about.
How do you tackle your motivation demons?
Get signing up to some events. Could be 10k, Half Marathon, Marathons which gives you a target to aim for. Plenty of races these days in various forms so no excuse. Once you have signed up and paid your money, get a plan together on how to achieve that target. A couple of friends have completed some pretty epic races (half marathon for one which is a big achievement for him, and a Courmayeur to Chamonix trail race for the other) which has spurred me on in one sense, but the sudden change in the weather and an increased workload means I'm getting home and am just not in the mood to go out and get rained on or blown about.
How do you tackle your motivation demons?
Before I joined a small running clinic, I used that as a reason to get out each knowing if I didn't do the training I wouldnt complete the race. Now I joined a small running clinic my coach set's me targets on times, paces, goals to achieve which drive me on.
Plus now I see the huge improvements I have made in terms of times, fitness and weight loss I want to keep going. Picking up an injury and being off for 2 weeks means I hate it and want to get out running again.
Bloody great. After being on here yesterday saying about my nice runs lately I was out last night running in the woods with the dog. Despite the mega headtorch I managed to be a complete cock and roll my ankle over a stone. Had to limp back over a mile to the car and drive home. Pretty sore by now. Ankle was like a tennis ball so spent the evening in A&E. Couple of X rays later and as well as the normal sprain I have chipped a piece off the bottom of my Fibula! Now resigned to big plastic boot of shame and crutches. So that's this year written off. Just as I was working up to my first marathon. Got a race booked in a few weeks too 
RB Will said:
Bloody great. After being on here yesterday saying about my nice runs lately I was out last night running in the woods with the dog. Despite the mega headtorch I managed to be a complete cock and roll my ankle over a stone. Had to limp back over a mile to the car and drive home. Pretty sore by now. Ankle was like a tennis ball so spent the evening in A&E. Couple of X rays later and as well as the normal sprain I have chipped a piece off the bottom of my Fibula! Now resigned to big plastic boot of shame and crutches. So that's this year written off. Just as I was working up to my first marathon. Got a race booked in a few weeks too
Ahh, gutted for you Had a lengthy spell out myself earlier this year and it's pretty grim watching everyone else pushing on while you can't train.
On the plus side your fitness does recover quickly, so best not to rush back
Bad luck - feel for you. I hated being out of action with injury, where I felt like a leper - friends didn't quite know how to interact with me anymore...
For what it's worth, I used the 2 months of down time to re-evaluate what running means for me. I concluded that running myself ragged in the pursuit of becoming faster and faster was not sustainable in the long-term, and that eventually, my speed would slow anyway. I'm now far more relaxed and kinda just go with the flow; self-preservation to run well into the future is now my ultimate goal, so skipping runs if I'm ill or just not feeling right no longer irk me like they used to.
Good luck with recovery!
For what it's worth, I used the 2 months of down time to re-evaluate what running means for me. I concluded that running myself ragged in the pursuit of becoming faster and faster was not sustainable in the long-term, and that eventually, my speed would slow anyway. I'm now far more relaxed and kinda just go with the flow; self-preservation to run well into the future is now my ultimate goal, so skipping runs if I'm ill or just not feeling right no longer irk me like they used to.
Good luck with recovery!
AbzST64 said:
It's Salomon Skyline Scotland for me this weekend which should be pretty epic!!
Heading down tomorrow to see some of the VK and also heading out with some of the Salomon athletes for a run in the hills which should be great (hoping Kilian comes along, but if not im meeting him & Emelie before the talk in the evening).....then Saturday im running ROS. Was meant to be doing The Glencoe Skyline but switched race due to injury and not managing to get the climbing/miles in id hoped but will still be a hard race with some top names on the start line!
Sunday is chill day on the hills watching the elites do the Glencoe skyline!
Hope the weather stays fine, looks a mixed bag currently but nothing too bad so keeping the fingers crossed!
Likewise, myself and my wife are doing RoS, will be slow as it's her first hill run (she's a very experienced ultra runner but mainly on the flat) and I haven't run properly for about three months, looks like a bit of rain about midday but dry otherwise; last year was a scorcher and actually a bit cooler will be a good thing!Heading down tomorrow to see some of the VK and also heading out with some of the Salomon athletes for a run in the hills which should be great (hoping Kilian comes along, but if not im meeting him & Emelie before the talk in the evening).....then Saturday im running ROS. Was meant to be doing The Glencoe Skyline but switched race due to injury and not managing to get the climbing/miles in id hoped but will still be a hard race with some top names on the start line!
Sunday is chill day on the hills watching the elites do the Glencoe skyline!
Hope the weather stays fine, looks a mixed bag currently but nothing too bad so keeping the fingers crossed!
Best of luck and all the best to the Ultra runners too....that ones going to be a toughy as it's got a lot of bog....!
Has anyone had a bad experience joining a running club? My running has gotten a bit stagnated and I’m not really improving, I’ve got a 10 mile race in a couple of weeks which is further than I’ve ever run so I’m going on some longer runs, but once that’s done I’ll probably drop down to 7k runs again.
Will running in a club bring me benefits? A guy at work joined one a few months back and says he wished he’d done it sooner!
Will running in a club bring me benefits? A guy at work joined one a few months back and says he wished he’d done it sooner!
FunkyNige said:
Has anyone had a bad experience joining a running club? My running has gotten a bit stagnated and I’m not really improving, I’ve got a 10 mile race in a couple of weeks which is further than I’ve ever run so I’m going on some longer runs, but once that’s done I’ll probably drop down to 7k runs again.
Will running in a club bring me benefits? A guy at work joined one a few months back and says he wished he’d done it sooner!
You only want to hear bad experiences? Seems a strange motivational method.Will running in a club bring me benefits? A guy at work joined one a few months back and says he wished he’d done it sooner!
Go and try one. Be your own man. They're all different.
SHutchinson said:
You only want to hear bad experiences? Seems a strange motivational method.
Go and try one. Be your own man. They're all different.
Sorry, I meant that I've only heard good things so wondered if anyone joined one and regretted it - because of timings, location, etc. I'm going to have to shift my life around a bit to join so want to be certain joining a positive Go and try one. Be your own man. They're all different.
FunkyNige said:
Sorry, I meant that I've only heard good things so wondered if anyone joined one and regretted it - because of timings, location, etc. I'm going to have to shift my life around a bit to join so want to be certain joining a positive
Here's one - it will cost you money that you could otherwise spend on other stuff.Apart from that...
Nobody will (should) force you join the club sessions. Attend the ones that work for you.
The club is a good way to meet like minded people and you may end up finding that a near-neighbour is of similar ability so you end up running with others outside of the club setup. It's also a good way to get into races that you wouldn't otherwise try - like cross country or a club-only league. There may be a little banter and rivalries with other clubs / athletes.
Best bit is that I can't stand being beaten by my own clubmates. If I was to enter the home straight with a clubmate in sight, I'm always inspired to kick like an Olympic medal is at stake, even if the overall result doesn't change for the club.
FunkyNige said:
Has anyone had a bad experience joining a running club? My running has gotten a bit stagnated and I’m not really improving, I’ve got a 10 mile race in a couple of weeks which is further than I’ve ever run so I’m going on some longer runs, but once that’s done I’ll probably drop down to 7k runs again.
Will running in a club bring me benefits? A guy at work joined one a few months back and says he wished he’d done it sooner!
A club bought me benefits when i first joined, went to interval sessions twice a week for about 5 weeks and then knocked 40 seconds or so off my park run time when i had been stuck on the same time for months (i think i did 10 in a row all within 10 seconds of each other). The sessions definitely made me faster.Will running in a club bring me benefits? A guy at work joined one a few months back and says he wished he’d done it sooner!
Found triathlon, lost interest and then left the club due to another members far right political views. Don't miss it to be honest.
I'm running my first half marathon on Sunday, start time is 10.10. Any advice on what to eat between now and then? I've throttled back my training and will now rest for two days but diet is likely to be just as important.
I'm not aiming for a time other than to get round without getting collected by the broom wagon.
I'm not aiming for a time other than to get round without getting collected by the broom wagon.
Venisonpie said:
I'm running my first half marathon on Sunday, start time is 10.10. Any advice on what to eat between now and then? I've throttled back my training and will now rest for two days but diet is likely to be just as important.
I'm not aiming for a time other than to get round without getting collected by the broom wagon.
If it at all helps - I'm running a half on Sunday too - Forest of Dean for me.I'm not aiming for a time other than to get round without getting collected by the broom wagon.
I had my last run yesterday - a 4 miler that was horrible, felt rubbish, breathy, legs heavy, achy, twingy, etc... - which means I'll probably have a cracking run at the weekend
I'll keep eating the same and make sure I have the same breakfast at 7am each morning and hopefully be regular in my morning pooh time too. Other diet will be roughly similar but I won't shy from any additional carbs if I feel like.
I'm going to have a couple of beers tonight but then nothing but water to keep well hydrated all the way through - more important than any special diet imo.
Rest up and have the odd stretch out when you feel like it.
Worked for me last time - I'm a plodder so it's probably all academic anyway lol.
Thanks both, I too am a plodder and have been running circa 12 miles a week all year so hopefully have a general level of fitness to carry me through.
With regard to the carbs would you have a load of pasta the night before? I'm thinking I might stick to meat/fish and two veg with the potatoes being the carbs.
Great East Run for me btw.
With regard to the carbs would you have a load of pasta the night before? I'm thinking I might stick to meat/fish and two veg with the potatoes being the carbs.
Great East Run for me btw.
Just eat normally would be my recommendation. Maybe throw in an extra banana on race morning and perhaps also avoid a vindaloo the night before.
No need to pile in pasta until you burst. You've not been doing that before every long run I assume? This shouldn't be any different.
Good luck and enjoy.
No need to pile in pasta until you burst. You've not been doing that before every long run I assume? This shouldn't be any different.
Good luck and enjoy.
If you dont normally eat pasta then doing so the day evening before the race is probably not a good idea. If you do then just have the amount that you would normally have or just eat what you have been having before your normal long runs as its only an extra mile and a bit on top.
It takes a few days for it to register so shovelling it in the night before wont make any difference.
It takes a few days for it to register so shovelling it in the night before wont make any difference.
Grand, I'll not do anything different. May allow myself a gentle curry tomorrow night though- it wouldn't be unusual for a Friday after all! I ought to mention the 12 miles a week is not in one go, normally in 3 or 4 mile runs 3 or 4 times a week. I did extend to about 11 miles on one occasion and it was fine so hopefully I've done enough. There is a hill about a third of a mile long at mile 9 which may prove tricky but I'll just take shorter strides and slow down.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff