The Running Thread

[lost in espace]

First Herts cross country Sunday league today at Chesham golf course, managed a respectable 35:30 over 5 miles. Good fun. No results out yet but I was out of the points damn must run harder! All the marathons are making me lazy over the shorter distances.

[ewenm]

E38Ross said:

thanks Ewen. Even I was amazed at how consistent that was! Felt pretty good and pushed on in the last 2 miles but the wind meant it was purely to sustain the same pace! the last 200m i overtook a chap which was nice too in a bit of a sprint finish

have you got any races coming up? i've got another XC race in a fortnight then a flat HM in 4 weeks. Based on the 10M time, what you reckon I should aim for in the half? i was thinking sub 1:19?

6 min/mile for the HM would seem like a good target based on your nice, even-split 10M time and how you felt at the end of the race.

I've got no big race plans coming up. There's a local road 4 miler (5 laps, 1 hill per lap) next weekend that I might do although my mum is here for the weekend. I'm enjoying my running and training again but committing to any big races means taking out a lot of family weekend time which is difficult.

[Locke]

E38Ross said:

Cybertronian said:

Best of luck for today, Ross. Hope you get what you're hoping for at the Great South.

Thanks mate.

Did it in 59:05 so just under 5:51/mile average. Went off conservatively and felt strong at the end and if I'd have known sub 59 was on the cards I'd have pushed harder! On the whole I shouldn't moan, I got sub 60 for 10 miles which was what I was after.

I don't consider myself quick but was around 70th out of 25k people is pretty funny

Wow! Brilliant time Ross I'd guess you'd be around the hour mark but thought if anything you'd be slightly over not under. Very impressive time and great position too.

[E38Ross]

Locke said:

E38Ross said:

Cybertronian said:

Best of luck for today, Ross. Hope you get what you're hoping for at the Great South.

Thanks mate.

Did it in 59:05 so just under 5:51/mile average. Went off conservatively and felt strong at the end and if I'd have known sub 59 was on the cards I'd have pushed harder! On the whole I shouldn't moan, I got sub 60 for 10 miles which was what I was after.

I don't consider myself quick but was around 70th out of 25k people is pretty funny

Wow! Brilliant time Ross I'd guess you'd be around the hour mark but thought if anything you'd be slightly over not under. Very impressive time and great position too.

Pah, yee of little faith

Only kidding and thanks

[ewenm]

E38Ross said:

I don't consider myself quick but was around 70th out of 25k people is pretty funny

This raises the wider issue of the congestion of the race calendar. There are so many races nowadays that the top guys don't all focus on the same events so the front of the "big" races tends to be a little sparse and is often a handful of Africans, a big gap and then some lonely fast Brits.

UKA could sort this out by instigating some sort of national points league for road races where certain (existing) races are nominated as "championship" races that count to an annual title/prize. Hopefully that'll come in soon, there have been trials and talks about it in the past. It could encourage the top UK runners all to do the same races so push the standard up.

Edited by ewenm on Monday 29th October 08:38

[E38Ross]

yeah know what you mean Ewen, that'd be good. was amazing though just before the start seeing the likes of Tariku Bekele etc. Boy do those guys shift!

[ewenm]

E38Ross said:

yeah know what you mean Ewen, that'd be good. was amazing though just before the start seeing the likes of Tariku Bekele etc. Boy do those guys shift!

I did a half marathon in Spain a few years ago and was stood on the start line next to Sammy Wanjiru (RIP ). My claim to fame was that I was beat him over the first half-mile. Suicidal early pace by me you might think... but no, he slipped, fell over at the start and came past me after about 800m like I was standing still His pacemakers were a bit confused though

We shared a taxi back to the airport afterwards and he seemed a really nice guy Obviously had some demons too though

[JCW]

Need some advice. Slow compared to you guys but really pleased with my 27:03 today which if I consistently run 3x5km runs per week without Fartlek intervals means I'm improving by around 30 seconds per week.

Bearing in mind I have only been running three months and am still transitioning to forefoot strike I can't increase the mileage too much.

Now the problem. During my 10k race a couple of weeks ago I picked up a knee injury which feels like pain on the outside of the knee where the tendons and bones are located. Without ibuprofen I cannot get more than 2k without it going...

I took a week off after the 10k and have tried RICE every night but it only alleviates the issue slightly. Off to see the physio on Friday but wondered of anyone had some tips as to managing the pain.

Don't really want to have to stop running/rest now that my times are coming down!

[E38Ross]

JCW - where are you based? i'm a chiropractor working in Portsmouth i could get you cheap treatment as a mate on the off chance you live near by.

[Locke]

Ross - Did you watch the GSR on TV afterwards? Was there a very slight glimpse of you crossing the finish line during the Joe Pavey interview?

[E38Ross]

Not had a look, possibly. My dad said he could just about see me at the start! Just off out for 8 miles or so before work. I'm tired

[JCW]

Ross, thanks but I'm based in Oxfordshire. May take you up on the offer after the Physio.

[E38Ross]

Pictures for GSR are up online, so proof that it was me and not Tim spencer at least

http://www.greatrun.org/photos/photos.aspx?ref=gre...

My bib number was 364. I look fked in a few of the pics. A shame they're so bloody expensive!!

[InertialTooth45]

Had a really good speed session last night.

Did a timed mile as part of it. First time I've ever done that. Managed a 7:30. My usual race pace for a half is about 9-9:15 min mile. So does that seem like a goodish time?

Got a 12 mile cross 'hellrun' on Saturday so thinking a spin session and a swim session this week to give my legs a rest but still get a good workout in.

[Highway Star]

E38Ross said:

Pictures for GSR are up online, so proof that it was me and not Tim spencer at least

http://www.greatrun.org/photos/photos.aspx?ref=gre...

My bib number was 364. I look fked in a few of the pics. A shame they're so bloody expensive!!

Do I spy you wearing Gel-DS Racers there? What are they like? How does the sizing come up?

My only road shoes are a pair of Nike Air Pegasus 28s which are ok for training, but a bit big and heavy really.

I'll probably have another pair of running shoes on my Christmas list, so am looking at these as they get good reviews. I am overpronator, reasonably large for a runner (6'2'' and 13 1/2 stone so relatively powerfully built - no goatee though) and hitting middle age brings about the odd hip and back problem so some degree of cushioning is desirable. I wore Asics for training when a teenager and always got on well with them.

[E38Ross]

You spy correctly, good spot! I really like them, I wanted to wear my asics piranhas which are in another league for lightness but they don't offer enough cushioning for anything above 10k IMO whereas I'd be happy to wear the DS racers for even a marathon in suspect.

For me at least, they offer good amounts of cushioning bit are still much lighter than most other road shoes. Fit wise, I use the same size as my other running trainers of that helps. You could try the DS trainer if the racer isn't up your street. My advice would be to find a local ish shop that stock them and try.

On sportsshoes.com they sell them for under 70. I do all my speed sessions in them, and am on my 4th pair!

[Highway Star]

Nice one - I'd only use them for races, not training and I'm only planning on going up to HM distance in the next year or so.

Seen them on Amazon in my size for £65 which I think is pretty good.

[Cybertronian]

Whilst we're on the topic of racing flats, what should the typical lifespan be for them? Cushioned trainers are around 400 - 500 miles from experience but I have no idea what racing flats should be able to live up to?

I have a pair of Nike Flyknit Racers, ridiculously light (less than 160g for my size 8s) but I question their longevity...

[E38Ross]

Highway Star said:

Nice one - I'd only use them for races, not training and I'm only planning on going up to HM distance in the next year or so.

Seen them on Amazon in my size for £65 which I think is pretty good.

Yeah go for it they're a good shoe. I'd certainly advise wearing them once or twice in training before racing though!

[E38Ross]

Cybertronian said:

Whilst we're on the topic of racing flats, what should the typical lifespan be for them? Cushioned trainers are around 400 - 500 miles from experience but I have no idea what racing flats should be able to live up to?

I have a pair of Nike Flyknit Racers, ridiculously light (less than 160g for my size 8s) but I question their longevity...

Varies on running style, Body mass, running surface etc and the shoe itself.

I reckon about 300 miles for me from the DS racers which I think are just over 200g, bit my piranhas weigh a stupidly light 120g or so, and I reckon 150 miles tops. So far they've done just the speed in one track session and a 5k race, that's it!