Improving my running

Author
Discussion

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
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At risk of a thread diversion, if it is any consolation so those who are struggling and having to persevere with running, I am a reasonably good runner for my age and training, but I have recently been trying to improve my swimming and I am rubbish!

ED209

5,740 posts

243 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
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MC Bodge said:
At risk of a thread diversion, if it is any consolation so those who are struggling and having to persevere with running, I am a reasonably good runner for my age and training, but I have recently been trying to improve my swimming and I am rubbish!
Find a local masters swimming group and go to some sessions.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,633 posts

157 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
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Update time again. I'm now down to 9:25/mile and getting much better at distance, I can now cover over 1.5 miles before my brain tells me I need to start walking. I've also done a couple of slightly longer runs of 3.1 miles (5k) rather than my usual 2-2.2 miles.

I definitely need some new running shoes now but the ones I've got, which I've had since 2013, are obviously no longer available, I'm a little but worried about getting new ones in case I don't get on with them. The idea of walking around the shop for 2 minutes to work out whether they're going to be ok to run in before spending £100+ on them is crazy. Any tips?

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
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Do you know whether you need support to counter pronation? Do your ankles roll in as you run? In any case these are the top guys https://www.lancashirerunner.co.uk/

Edited by ian in lancs on Saturday 17th August 14:20

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
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Robmarriott said:
I definitely need some new running shoes now but the ones I've got, which I've had since 2013, are obviously no longer available, I'm a little but worried about getting new ones in case I don't get on with them. The idea of walking around the shop for 2 minutes to work out whether they're going to be ok to run in before spending £100+ on them is crazy. Any tips?
The ones you have may not really suit you.

There are arguments for and against pronation correction.

What shoes do you currently have?

Ps. Are you concentrating on trying to keep up a quick step rate, short stride, lifting your knees and being light on your feet? It might feel strange at first, but it will be more efficient (and far more pleasant) than plodding with slow, jarring steps.

Skyedriver

17,655 posts

281 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
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MC Bodge said:
Ps. Are you concentrating on trying to keep up a quick step rate, short stride, lifting your knees and being light on your feet? It might feel strange at first, but it will be more efficient (and far more pleasant) than plodding with slow, jarring steps.
Interested here.
My typical running (jogging) tends to be shortish strides and I see a few (younger) runners with long strides, almost antelope spring in their pace, which looks both elegant and "easy" making good time and distance with apparently minimal effort. I try it but end up back in the short stride shuffle after a few yards. (I'm 66 though so maybe the spring has gone from my step).

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
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Robmarriott said:
There are arguments for and against pronation correction.

Really? Do you have references?

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
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ian in lancs said:
Robmarriott said:
There are arguments for and against pronation correction.

Really? Do you have references?
It's hardly radical news.

Pronation correction as in, some people recommend supportive shoes that constrain the feet, ankles etc. To accommodate a running style that may contribute to injuries and/or lack of efficiency.

Other people recommend wearing shoes with far less support and often less cushioning, strengthening and conditioning the feet and legs and running with less impact on the heels etc.

The latter approach has worked better for me, after years of the former, with orthotics, pronation control shoes and the like.


Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,633 posts

157 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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MC Bodge said:
What shoes do you currently have?

Ps. Are you concentrating on trying to keep up a quick step rate, short stride, lifting your knees and being light on your feet? It might feel strange at first, but it will be more efficient (and far more pleasant) than plodding with slow, jarring steps.
Currently have New Balance 1080v4, the current 1080 is v9 but I’m not sure what they might have changed because they look completely different.

The ‘80’ means they’re a neutral shoe, no pronation correction in the sole and they’ve been fine for years so I don’t want something which feels different.

Regarding the stride thing, I’m not really sure, I run on my own so it’s difficult to know what I’m doing if I’m honest. I know I’m faster when I actively try for longer strides but I don’t feel like I’m plodding normally either.

SlidingSideways

1,345 posts

231 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
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Robmarriott said:
Currently have New Balance 1080v4, the current 1080 is v9 but I’m not sure what they might have changed because they look completely different.
You're right to be wary. I had some 860 v4's that were brilliantly comfortable. Ordered some v9's (same size and width) when they wore out assuming that they would be basically the same, and they're fractionally narrower which makes them nowhere near as comfortable frown

Harpoon

1,859 posts

213 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
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Robmarriott said:
Update time again. I'm now down to 9:25/mile and getting much better at distance, I can now cover over 1.5 miles before my brain tells me I need to start walking. I've also done a couple of slightly longer runs of 3.1 miles (5k) rather than my usual 2-2.2 miles.

I definitely need some new running shoes now but the ones I've got, which I've had since 2013, are obviously no longer available, I'm a little but worried about getting new ones in case I don't get on with them. The idea of walking around the shop for 2 minutes to work out whether they're going to be ok to run in before spending £100+ on them is crazy. Any tips?
Find a decent running shop - they'll usually have a treadmill in-store so you can test out a few pairs rather than just walking around.

I would agree you are right not just to jump to the new version. I had several pairs of Nike Zoom Structure running shoes but one model change (v14 to v15 IIRC) completely changed the toe box shape and they didn't fit me anymore.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,633 posts

157 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
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There’s a couple of running shops near me apparently so I’ll have to give one a go, thanks for the confirmation of my thoughts.

Anyway, ran 10k last night, the third time in my life, once in 2014 when I did it in 1:19.xx, once this year when I stopped for a drink twice (3 laps of the same route so stopped after each lap), which doesn’t count as a full 20k on Strava, moving time was about the same as 2014.

Last night I managed it non stop, cross country, including a badly rutted green lane which meant I had to walk for longer than I’d have liked... 1:06.56. I’d be under an hour on solid, flat ground I think.

Mega happy with it and I don’t ache today.

gregs656

10,816 posts

180 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
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Good effort Rob, pleased to see this thread bumped.

I went to a running store when I had a problem with my left food going numb (which may still happen I haven't been running regularly for longer distances for a while so don't know), they told me I over pronate which I knew already and I bought a pair of shoes that were wildly different from the light weight nikes I'd been running in for years.

Made no difference, but not really their fault.

I think it was a striking problem, I tend to run shorter distances barefoot now and I am sure if I worked at it that would be the way to go for me.

Mothersruin

8,573 posts

98 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
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gregs656 said:
Good effort Rob, pleased to see this thread bumped.

I went to a running store when I had a problem with my left food going numb (which may still happen I haven't been running regularly for longer distances for a while so don't know), they told me I over pronate which I knew already and I bought a pair of shoes that were wildly different from the light weight nikes I'd been running in for years.

Made no difference, but not really their fault.

I think it was a striking problem, I tend to run shorter distances barefoot now and I am sure if I worked at it that would be the way to go for me.
I had the same, right foot would go numb after a bit - changed up to a faster cadence, forefoot striking and it's never happened since.

gregs656

10,816 posts

180 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
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Yeah, I am fairly certain that would be the case for me - for example I was absolutely fine on a cross trainer, where there is no impact.

I guess for me it is not that the running store didn't do exactly what they advertised, it's just what they advertised wasn't what I needed.

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
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Robmarriott said:
There’s a couple of running shops near me apparently so I’ll have to give one a go, thanks for the confirmation of my thoughts.

Anyway, ran 10k last night, the third time in my life, once in 2014 when I did it in 1:19.xx, once this year when I stopped for a drink twice (3 laps of the same route so stopped after each lap), which doesn’t count as a full 20k on Strava, moving time was about the same as 2014.

Last night I managed it non stop, cross country, including a badly rutted green lane which meant I had to walk for longer than I’d have liked... 1:06.56. I’d be under an hour on solid, flat ground I think.

Mega happy with it and I don’t ache today.
Good.

It will probably be worth working on your speed a little too. Run fast for a minute, have a rest, and repeat until you've done it 5 times.

Have you managed to shed some of the weight too?

throt

3,038 posts

169 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
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Intervals is awesome for running.

I use to use the lamp post, sprint to the next then jog to next. Use to do this throughout my 10k course. The improvement is unreal.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,633 posts

157 months

Sunday 1st September 2019
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I tried intervals during the week, the fast bits felt awesome but obviously my recovery time wasn’t as good as normal so I wasn’t any faster overall.

Having said that, I’ve done 5k this morning at a PB of 30.38 and a 2 mile PB of 19:03 so there’s still an improvement.

In response to the weight question, yeah, I’ve shed a big chunk, down to 94.0kg from 116.1! The running has helped the weight loss, the weight loss has helped the running!

Edited by Robmarriott on Sunday 1st September 12:09

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Sunday 1st September 2019
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Robmarriott said:
I tried intervals during the week, the fast bits felt awesome but obviously my recovery time wasn’t as good as normal so I wasn’t any faster overall.
That doesn't matter. It's the hard efforts and speed that are important.

Robmarriott

Original Poster:

2,633 posts

157 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
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Finally got my 5k under 30 minutes, and by some margin last night - 28.55! Very happy with it buy boy do I ache this morning...

From day one of this thread, I've aimed to do 10k in under an hour before the end of September, I'm going to do another 5k this week and then try for the 10k on Saturday. Fingers crossed.