The Running Thread Vol 2

[GTO-3R]

RobM77 said:

GTO-3R said:

RobM77 said:

GTO-3R said:

I've been finding it very difficult to get my running mojo up and going this year. I took a break last November to give my body a rest after a busy running year (for me) and didn't run again until the start of Jan where I was only going out on a Sunday morning for a slow long plod. Now the season is approaching, I feel really unfit and finding it difficult to get my speed back. When trying 5-10K pace I get out of breath easily and don't feel like I can maintain a speed that I would have easily done last year!

I know I've got to go through feeling st again to get back to where I was but it's making me not want to run

Have you tried starting with lots of easy miles and then adding the speed stuff in later? Perhaps twice a week initially, then 3 times a week, but keep it all conversational zone 2 HR, just looking at the scenery and waving to dog walkers, then perhaps after 3-4 weeks bring in some intervals and then eventually tempo?

Yeah that's what I've been doing the last couple of weeks. Getting back out with my running club doing some easy runs, having a chat and did some speed work on my own on a different day. The speed work is what's lead me to realise how far off I am and sapped my mojo a bit. I've got the Wilmslow half in 10 days so I have something to train for at least, even if I don't get near my "usual" time.


Is there a Pistonheads Strava group?

That'll come. The biggest hurdle is being able to do those easy runs regularly, you can then build the speed work on top. Maybe resolve to take the half marathon easy, at least for the first 10-15km?

Yeah I'm not going to push it too early. Going to try a tempo run tonight, 4 x 5 min with 2 min jog in between. For the half I'm going to do what you say and take it easy to start and see how I go, use it as a training exercise more than anything

[GTO-3R]

Smitters said:

GTO-3R said:

Is there a Pistonheads Strava group?

https://www.strava.com/clubs/157370

Excellent, just joined.

Cheers

[S1KRR]

GTO-3R said:

I've been finding it very difficult to get my running mojo up and going this year. I took a break last November to give my body a rest after a busy running year (for me) and didn't run again until the start of Jan where I was only going out on a Sunday morning for a slow long plod. Now the season is approaching, I feel really unfit and finding it difficult to get my speed back. When trying 5-10K pace I get out of breath easily and don't feel like I can maintain a speed that I would have easily done last year!

I know I've got to go through feeling st again to get back to where I was but it's making me not want to run

I was similar. Last October-ish I signed up for Brighton marathon for 2020. Last year I didn't do enough Tempo stuff prior to Brighton19, then after that disappointment I got injured whilst training for NYC (Nov19) So I felt like a good build up over Dec to April would address some of the deficiencies in my training, and allow me to do a better job this time

Of course in Jan I lost interest in running altogether. Weather was crap, and NYC was my slowest time ever due to the injury, and I think it just made me thing "Whats the point, I'l never get a reasonable time no matter how I train"

I was still going through the motions in training, 2 maybe 3 runs a week. 1 a bit longer than the others. But longest run this year has been 17K. I rode my bike a lot more recently, had a few swims as well just to mix it up a bit. So Ive not been sat on the sofa eating (too much) cake.

Now I'm re-finding some of my form, and some of my motivation (not been easy with the stormy weather!) I'm at the tipping point.

Brighton is now 7 weeks away.

Part of me wants to do it because I've paid £70ish for it! But then I will need to buy a £17.50 park and ride ticket as well!
Part of me says "You aren't ready, it's a waste of time, you have to respect the distance! Cut your losses, train through Summer for your Autumn "A" Race (Brighton was a B Race for me)

Of course it may still be cancelled if the media finally manages to tip the UK into virus based chaos.



What say you lot?

[SpydieNut]

I think going from max 17km runs up to 42km in 6 weeks, leaving a little time to taper, is hugely optimistic. I doubt you’d get a time you’re happy with and that’s if you don’t pick up an injury, which I think you may well - which would set you back again. Can you postpone it to next year? Part of getting your mojo back again is enjoying it, which you won’t do if you’re massively underprepared or injured. I’m coming back from a couple of months off with a hamstring injury and taking it slowly. I’d entered Manchester Marathon, but knew I wouldn’t be ready to run it as well as I’d like, even though I think I could have got around, so I decided in Jan to postpone to next year and I’m glad I did (£10 cost to defer but that’s nothing). My next race is a 1/2M in July and I’ll be fine for that. Short term sacrifice for longer term gain by avoiding repeat injuries

[Candellara]

SpydieNut said:

I think going from max 17km runs up to 42km in 6 weeks, leaving a little time to taper, is hugely optimistic.

I agree. That's pretty much what I did although I had a couple of 25km runs done. Ended up with chronic stress fractures as a direct result of the marathon that I subsequently ran.

[smn159]

Candellara said:

SpydieNut said:

I think going from max 17km runs up to 42km in 6 weeks, leaving a little time to taper, is hugely optimistic.

I agree. That's pretty much what I did although I had a couple of 25km runs done. Ended up with chronic stress fractures as a direct result of the marathon that I subsequently ran.

I'm down for Brighton and was up to 17 miles but I've lost the last 4 weeks to a calf strain, with another 2 weeks of rebuilding mileage likely. Could probably get round, but will be a real stretch an no-where near my planned pace. I'm going to defer I think and re-group.

[Candellara]

smn159 said:

I'm down for Brighton and was up to 17 miles but I've lost the last 4 weeks to a calf strain, with another 2 weeks of rebuilding mileage likely. Could probably get round, but will be a real stretch an no-where near my planned pace. I'm going to defer I think and re-group.

Pretty much what happened to me last year. Ramped up my mileage and frequency for training, strained a thigh muscle, over compensated onto my left leg, ran the marathon anyway. Got round and in a good time for my 1st - 3hr 54 but then took 3 months to heal my stress fractures and to be honest, my left leg still isn't quite right.

[smn159]

Candellara said:

smn159 said:

I'm down for Brighton and was up to 17 miles but I've lost the last 4 weeks to a calf strain, with another 2 weeks of rebuilding mileage likely. Could probably get round, but will be a real stretch an no-where near my planned pace. I'm going to defer I think and re-group.

Pretty much what happened to me last year. Ramped up my mileage and frequency for training, strained a thigh muscle, over compensated onto my left leg, ran the marathon anyway. Got round and in a good time for my 1st - 3hr 54 but then took 3 months to heal my stress fractures and to be honest, my left leg still isn't quite right.

Yes, I've also learned the hard way that it's always better to err on the side of caution and to properly address any underlying issues - also out for three months following a late injury but running London anyway!

Gutting after 3 or 4 months of training, but that's how it goes sometimes

[Candellara]

Smitters said:

https://www.strava.com/clubs/157370

Joined

[Candellara]

Super quick treadmill run tonight in the gym. 5KM in 20.58 and 42.18 for 10km.

Just need to try and translate this into some sort of equivalent road pace. Any tips?

[johnwilliams77]

Candellara said:

Super quick treadmill run tonight in the gym. 5KM in 20.58 and 42.18 for 10km.

Just need to try and translate this into some sort of equivalent road pace. Any tips?

Keep at it!
The running channel has some good sub 20 tips

[S1KRR]

smn159 said:

Candellara said:

SpydieNut said:

I think going from max 17km runs up to 42km in 6 weeks, leaving a little time to taper, is hugely optimistic.

I agree. That's pretty much what I did although I had a couple of 25km runs done. Ended up with chronic stress fractures as a direct result of the marathon that I subsequently ran.

I'm down for Brighton and was up to 17 miles but I've lost the last 4 weeks to a calf strain, with another 2 weeks of rebuilding mileage likely. Could probably get round, but will be a real stretch an no-where near my planned pace. I'm going to defer I think and re-group.

Thanks everyone. You've confirmed it in my mind to defer.

[Candellara]

S1KRR said:

Thanks everyone. You've confirmed it in my mind to defer.

I think you need to be regularly running 25 to 30km and be doing leg and core strengthening exercises before your muscles are strong enough for a marathon distance without injury. My left leg muscles weren't strong enough at the time and then the bone starts to take the impact.

[Smitters]

Just to save you the bother, doing a parkrun for kilometres 8 to 13 of your 35km long run is a terrible idea. You may go a bit quick, meaning the remaining 22km are simply an inevitable slide into agony.

[keo]

Just getting back into running. Did a new route enjoyed it guessing 4 ish miles. BUT I knocked/ paused my phone in my pocket so the run wasn’t recorded on my app. This is terrible, if it’s not recorded it doesn’t count! Ha

Oh well!

[Parsnip]

18km @4.40/km on Friday and felt very comfortable, ran the last 3km at 4.25 and was still feeling very good - would have knocked out another few km to see what the half time was, but DIY needed doing!

Got the Garioch Half in 3 weeks and was thinking of aiming for anything under 1.40 as an early season pace barometer - may readjust down to 1.35 and see what happens. The season's plan is to hit 39.xx for a 10k and then get the sub 1.30 1/2 at the Great Scottish run later in the year, so look to be well on track.

Did a recovery 5k and a load of stretching on Saturday and then a recovery 5k followed by a Les Mills Bodypump class on Sunday, which I think cancelled out all of the stretching I did...

5x2km @ 3.55 tonight with 400m rest - literally Satan's own interval session - last time I tried the last 2 intervals were too much to hold full speed, so will see how we go.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Smitters said:

Just to save you the bother, doing a parkrun for kilometres 8 to 13 of your 35km long run is a terrible idea. You may go a bit quick, meaning the remaining 22km are simply an inevitable slide into agony.

I often build my local PR into my weekend long run but luckily for me it's only about 1k from home so I tend to try and save it to the end. The tiredness of my legs can then dictate the pace Mind you my long runs to date are only up to around 10 miles (I've only done half marathons so far) so not as extreme as your example. It's also inevitably the attractive member of the opposite sex (or same if you like that sort of thing) in front that sets my pace and usually quicker than I want. Perv

[bigandclever]

Quick question for the more lunatic posters... has anyone done the Spine Fusion recently? Got 3 months to sort my life out for it, but I’m looking for pointers, mainly on navigation.

[RobM77]

keo said:

Just getting back into running. Did a new route enjoyed it guessing 4 ish miles. BUT I knocked/ paused my phone in my pocket so the run wasn’t recorded on my app. This is terrible, if it’s not recorded it doesn’t count! Ha

Oh well!

This is what drove me into getting a running watch. Strava's UI, at the time at least, was also terrible! The watch was an absolute revelation: easier to use, does what you ask it to immediately, doesn't lag or lock and need unlocking, and of course it's much lighter. I take my phone on long runs for safety, but have never used it to record runs or walks since I got the watch

[anonymous-user]

RobM77 said:

keo said:

Just getting back into running. Did a new route enjoyed it guessing 4 ish miles. BUT I knocked/ paused my phone in my pocket so the run wasn’t recorded on my app. This is terrible, if it’s not recorded it doesn’t count! Ha

Oh well!

This is what drove me into getting a running watch. Strava's UI, at the time at least, was also terrible! The watch was an absolute revelation: easier to use, does what you ask it to immediately, doesn't lag or lock and need unlocking, and of course it's much lighter. I take my phone on long runs for safety, but have never used it to record runs or walks since I got the watch

You can often edit the activity or do a manual one in most apps if you don’t press start or it pauses etc.

I‘ve got an Apple Watch which I use to record most workouts, swims and runs etc but usually use my phone for the map and route following on longer runs plus it’s a bit easier to read, as I often run in new places and am following new routes or using the heatmap on strava

I had a Garmin multi sport watch and used to use Garmin connect or endomondo before that but it all got replaced years ago by my Apple Watch which has become excellent now especially with strava.