The Running Thread

[MC Bodge]

markh1973 said:

Struggling for motivation at the moment - I started running to try and help with my depression which worked (at least to a degree).

Since starting to return to running following tearing my knee ligament skiing I have been finding running shorter and slower than I am used to really tough. Did parkrun with my 9 year old in what was for him a new PB but it has taken me the best part of the week since then to feel that physically I can run again and the whole feeling of struggling to recover is proving tough.

Have my first 10k race since injury in 2 1/2 weeks which I thought was going to be achievable but am now wondering whether it is. It doesn't help that work and other things are getting on top of me at the moment leaving me feeling flatter than I really want to admit.

Not sure that anyone can actually give me any advice but sometimes you just have to write things down.

Maybe do some running for running'a sake, not for times and races for a while? Preferably in pleasant surroundings.

Do some cycling?

"Run Wild" by Boff Whalley is quite a good read.

Ps. I had been making decent, injury-free, progress myself and injured myself last week. Very frustrating as injury recovery has been more common for me than actually running in the past few years....

[ewenm]

Agreed on Run Wild by Boff Whalley - fantastic book that felt like it could have been written about me!

[E65Ross]

just 4.2 miles from me today, and didn't feel too bad although I'm still struggling with breathing because of my vocal cord problem. Cycling isn't too bad so I've been doing some of that. Please excuse the cheeky post but after what I've been through I've decided to try and raise money by doing a sportif, in aid of the charity "brain tumour support", a charity whom my surgeons have both worked with. If any of you would consider sponsoring I'd be extremely grateful. Annoyingly, I set it up expecting to do the New Forest sportif in September but then decided to do one around the South Downs in July, but I can't change the event date so it still states New Forest....this should be changed by Just Giving over the next day or 2.

https://www.justgiving.com/Ross-Fripp/

I haven't given up on running though, by any means! I wanted to do something relatively short term and whilst I want to be ambitious I want to be able to actually do it too, hence the cycle ride instead.

Many thanks for taking the time to read. Any questions, please ask either on here or by PM.

Ross

[ED209]

Well today was a first for me running wise, the first time i have ever threw the towel in on a run and stopped.

Me and the wife were meant to be doing a steady 18 miles in the build up to Edinburgh marathon. We were doing an out and back route along part of the c2c route up here in Durham, Basically 9 miles out all up a gradual incline then 9 easy miles back. That was how it was meant to go anyway. Within half a mile of leaving home I didn't feel right, no energy, pain in my groin, head generally not in it. I felt worse after 10 miles than i did after 20 miles last week, at one point i had to stop for 30 seconds or som because i felt my heart was racing and i couldn't catch my breath properly even though the pace was slow.

Anyway after 15.3 miles my legs were aching, my head hurt and my breathing was laboured so I am ashamed to say i stopped, the wife then finished her run, collected the car and picked me up.

The full marathon now looks a long way off for me, I think my head might have gone after today.

15.3mi Distance
2:20:34 Moving Time
9:09/mi Pace
Elevation 861ft
Calories2,558

[Smitters]

ED209 - don't let one off run obscure all the really good runs you've had to get to an 18 miler. They didn't just evaporate. Take a couple of days, some VitC and some rest and come back strong. Better an off day now than on race day.

[krallicious]

These runs happen. Just keep sticking with it and don't go for distance on your next couple of runs. Just go for the fun of it.

[SpydieNut]

planning a training road run tomorrow first thing, then in the afternoon a nice trail run.

on Sunday - same trail, done more times.

just getting some miles on the legs - more endurance than speed at present.

think i'll be able to test out my new rainy-weather running gear too

[markh1973]

Thanks all for your comments - I found the motivation to go out again last night and the positive is that my legs don't ache as much as they did after parkrun. Today was a longer but slower run - in fact the longest run I have done since injury.

I would normally be out running on trails not roads but I am still having to be careful not to twist my knee particularly so have been sticking to the (relative) smooth of the pavements.

I will get back to where I was (and more given that I have the Beachy Head marathon in October). I think the fact that I was able to get back running in half the time they had expected had made me think everything was going to be easier than it is. I now have to deal with the reality that this phase may be tougher than the first bit.

[lost in espace]

Anyone running London marathon up to £100 sponsorship for free here.

https://promotions.betfair.com/backyourself?rfr=79...

Be quick!

[Tycho]

RizzoTheRat said:

eric twinge said:

Yes that sounds about right. I'll let everyone tear off and then step up the pace in the last third if I can. I think I'll be too busy enjoying the atmosphere to worry about my time.

Everyone I know who's run London reckon the atmosphere is incredible, with supporters along the whole route. Last time my Mrs took her headphones to listen to some music in the quiet patches, and never used it as it was never quiet. Put your name on your shirt and you'll get thousands of people cheering you on by name.

Rizzo is right, I never used my headphones and the fact that people are cheering you on helps more than you think. Definitely be careful with your pace starting out. I set a 1/2 marathon PB in the first half of London last year even though it felt relatively relaxed and paid for it later on. The atmosphere over Tower bridge is unreal, it must be 10 deep all the way along and you get the feeling that this is how it feels to enter Wembley as a player.

I think it is meant to be cool on Sunday so take a bin bag to wear at the start but remember to put holes in it before you try and put it on.... If you are getting there by train then be warned that it is absolute chaos so leave with plenty of time to spare. The atmosphere at the start is great anyway so get there early and relax.

No matter what your time you do you will have an amazing experience so good luck and enjoy.

[KTF]

lost in espace said:

Anyone running London marathon up to £100 sponsorship for free here.

https://promotions.betfair.com/backyourself?rfr=79...

Be quick!

The finish time is down to the second though which is pretty tricky to hit.

[andy_s]

Good luck to the other runners on the Hoka Fling tomorrow, including my wife; 53 miles up the West Highland Way.
Some are then doing London the next day!

[chonok]

Not sure if this is the right thread for my question, but I have recently (within the last 2 months), got back into running (and bought myself a bike!), I also have a half marathon planned in 4 weeks time.

I normally use one of the SiS gels after about an hour of running and then one of the SiS recovery shakes when I get back. I normally drink about 400ml of water (runs are usually around 7-11 miles)

I was wondering if I should be using one of the Sis energy tabs in my water, as well as using the gels? Do these do pretty much the same thing? I notice that the blurb on their website says that you can use both, but is this really necessary, as I don't want to overdo it?!

Thanks

[KTF]

The sis go tabs that I use replace whatever minerals you use whilst exercising. The gels contain carbs which replace the energy.

You can get an sis drink that contains carbs but I believe that comes in powder rather than tabs. It's all explained on their site.

[chonok]

Thanks, that explains it..

[KTF]

I am 21838 in London should anyone want to add me to their tracking list.

[MC Bodge]

Having stretched, exercised, massaged and balanced on my dodgy ankle, I put my "soccer brace" on and tentatively went for a run earlier.

Laps of the local park on case I had a problem ended up as a steady 24 minute 5k, with no issues. Hallelujah!

Ice followed

I wasn't expecting to be back in action so quickly.

[ExV8]

Good luck to those taking part in London tomorrow.

[Cybertronian]

KTF is through 5k and on target for a 3:27ish finish.

UPDATE - KTF's approaching 25k and has slowed a smidge but still on target for his sub-3:30 finish.

UPDATE 2 - He's slowed a touch but pacing is still steady with a 3:31 finish predicted.

UPDATE 3 - Less than 2k to go and looks like 3:31 still on if he can produce a fast finish. Keep at it!

UPDATE 4 - KTF's finished in 3:33 - well done and good effort!

Edited by Cybertronian on Sunday 26th April 13:47

[KTF]

Thanks for the updates Found the last few miles very hard work so the time sadly dropped off. Still a PB though.

Was very busy all the way round so hard to settle into a relaxed pace.

Found it tougher than the training runs and people randomly stopping when they saw someone they knew in the crowd didn't help either.

I would do it again but I think it's a tough course to get a PB on due to the sheer numbers.