I did my local 5k in Cardiff, that was.. a run. I don’t feel like doing another. I have done a Thanksgiving 5 mile race a few times in the US, I started doing it because it’s a big local thing so lots of people I knew were doing it, and it was my original challenge to do it in under 40 mins.

I did the Fan Dance last winter, that was a laugh because it was fairly epic and up in the mountains with snow, low visibilty and navigation was required. If I can keep up the running I’m currently doing I might have another go this winter.

That’s the one that DD and Yeti wussed out of, incidentally 🙂

Why are you running?

As above, it’s because I want to be good enough to enjoy it. I want to be able to do big adventury stuff, but I don’t like town based events.

Dont buy into all that commercialised BS about big races,

Of course they’re run to make money. But lots of people enjoy them too. They’re not all about “commercialised bullshit” which belittles lots of folks’ efforts, not to mention money raised. There’s plenty to enjoy whether it’s a “big” event or a “little”, and I suppose, more authentic one.

That’s the one that DD and Yeti wussed out of, incidentally

To be fair mol, I’m happy to argue the discussion with you but let’s not start bullshitting now…please.

i agree completely with molgrips (on most things)

i’ve done a few normal ‘races’ (half marathons, 10k’s, park-runs), and they’re kinda dull.

but fell-races are great, so i do those.

i like to get better at running because i enjoy running, not because i want to move from 3167th to 3165th at the local half’.

if anything, i’m a better road-runner, than a fell-runner (going on results/positioning), but i much prefer running off road.

I guess you’re either a doer or a thinking-about-doing-er mol. Which one are you?

I do. I’ve done loads of events. Just usually the ones I fancy doing, and not the ones I don’t.

To be fair mol, I’m happy to argue the discussion with you but let’s not start bullshitting now…please.

Sorry, that was intended to be light hearted banter, I apologise unreservedly if I offended.

i agree completely with molgrips (on most things)

🙂

I might do a fell race one day. It does appeal much more than road running.. but I do find myself on downhills thinking ‘this would be way better on a bike’

Not offended mol, just calling bullshit, that’s all.

It was good… I may do it again this year, I wonder if anyone would care to join me?

How many of the thousands running the Cardiff half marathon this weekend feel they have a “chance”?

*Waves highly cushioned shoes around* That’s me! I’ve got no chance!

Cardiff half is my first race for about 7 years. I will 100% run a personal worst. But thats cool, I’ll beat someone (probably) and I know that “racing” will push me more than just going for a run.

To be honest Molgrips, your description of running just sounds like you’re not that fit, and need to run more.

That’s not me trying to wind you up by the way, you sound like you’re in a similar situation to me.

I used to be 10 1/2 stone, and ran 8.30 half marathons by running once a week. I’m now 14 1/2 stone, cycle 35 miles a week, and have run 3 times a week since April. I’ll be lucky if I finish it under 10 minute miles.

I’m fitter than people I work with, but I weigh too much and havent built up enough running fitness.

I figure that pushing myself by entering a race which I’ll struggle to do well in will lead me to train more and improve, rather than thinking about where I put my feet when I’m running.

Oh, and you know you said running feels shit? It always does, doesn’t matter how fast or fit you are. You just get to feel shit for less time per given distance as you get better!

To be honest Molgrips, your description of running just sounds like you’re not that fit, and need to run more.

I’m not that fit, no, and I need to be fitter of course, who doesn’t? But better to train without glaring problems with technique than with, isn’t it?

Oh, and you know you said running feels shit? It always does

That’s not what some people say. People on here seem to enjoy running for the hell of it, bounding along effortlessly with the wind in their hair. I’d like to be able to enjoy it like that. Well.. with the wind on my scalp.

People on here seem to enjoy running for the hell of it, bounding along effortlessly with the wind in their hair.

This….but with less of the second bit.

Maybe Col Wax needs to work on his technique, so it feels better to do 🙂

Agree that when you start running its shit. When you get fit, are well rested and not injured then running is absolutely not shit

Its ace.

For me, it didn’t get any better until I fixed my stride.

You may not have had such a bad gait to begin with, which is why you just needed to get fit.

Like swimming really.

Now swimming…there is something I have to force myself to do.

Zzzzzzzzzzz.

Hehe.. and I find swimming quite easy. The training part is dull as hell even so.

I still had to work on my technique though!

colonel wax – Member

Oh, and you know you said running feels shit? It always does,

nah – but maybe i’m fitted with a extra-large endorphin tank or something…

mmmmmh cupcakes.

Sorry, where was I, yes. Things being easy.

Running is easy if you’re not pushing yourself, same with swimming.

It’s semantics but I don’t feel anyone can say they find either quite easy unless their easy runs are sub 7 min mile and their easy swims are sub 1m35s per 100m.

I don’t find either easy.

Oh yeah, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I don’t enjoy running, coz it’s ace.

But it’s not easy, and if you push yourself it’s not exactly enjoyable at the time. Well it is, but it’s not pleasant. well, OK you do have times when you feel like it’s no effort and you could run forever, but not always.

Oh, you know what I mean.

My dad says “it never gets easier, you just go faster”

I can enjoy running, but it hurts. Afterwards I feel ammmmaaaaazzzing ( it really is like post sex buzz, y’know? 😳 ) but at the time, if someone said to me “you can stop s’ok” I would every single time.

Love running, but every time I start running I’m like ” why am I doing this” and then about 1/2 hour in when everything is warmed up its almost effortless ( for about 30 seconds) then a hill comes along, or the person I’m running with just ups the pace a bit, and its hurty again.

That’s me running. Ok?

it really is like post sex buzz, y’know?

What a slightly empty feeling because you went off to quick and then collapsed just before the finishing line?

In which case I know exactly what you mean.

Maybe Col Wax needs to work on his technique, so it feels better to do

Nah, I’ve found that just running more has improved my running. It’s pretty simple, and I don’t need to overthink it at my level of ability.

I’ve got some barefoot shoes, and they’re OK. Works different muscles when I’m running and I quite like the wide toe box.

I also wear cheapo Nike Pegasus (last years colour from Sports Direct) and I can run faster, further and longer in them. So I’ll stick to them in the future I reckon.

Afterwards I feel ammmmaaaaazzzing

I don’t get that 🙂

Of course they’re run to make money. But lots of people enjoy them too. They’re not all about “commercialised bullshit” which belittles lots of folks’ efforts, not to mention money raised. There’s plenty to enjoy whether it’s a “big” event or a “little”, and I suppose, more authentic one.

I’m not belittling peoples efforts but some events have crept into popular consciousness to the exclusion of others.
The mass marketing bullshit and peoples inability to see further than whats on the telly has meant that when people think about a “marathon” they cant think further than London! or one of the big city ones. whilst lots of the other events go to the wall. I dont have a beef about London as such its just that lots of traditional races and events have gone to the wall through lack of interest.
I have only ever run one but speak to people about running and all they ask is have you done London or do you run Marathons. For all the big participation events I am not sure it contributes much to club athletics, coaching and support for youngsters coming into the sport.

A good example of an alternative is the Wirral AC Birkenhead park races.
An evening of races over different distances for all ages, age group awards etc. This is what runnings all about, that and cross country and track :edit and Fell of course!

More creative different events would be good.

I want to do a real sprint triathlon where you swim 2 lengths, run 200m and ride 1km 🙂

I didnt know you had raced already Molly, its not for everyone. I’m a bit Steve McQueen esque where racing is concerned (but without the looks 🙁 )

I think it’s people who don’t run that ask if you’ve done London. As such, it doesn’t bother me. If all that was available were small authentic grass-fed, free range, organic fell races, then a fraction of people would even get off their arses and try running in the first place.

Steve McQueen esque?

More creative different events would be good

Its Friday afternoon and I am ranting but……. Why do people need to be snorkelling through mud, carrying logs and crawling under barbed wire to gain a stificate etc?
How many different types of unique events is enough to get people involved? I love running 5 milers, accesible, cheap and readily available. I’ve ran hundreds of them over the last 30 years and I will be as excited running the next one as I did the last.
Thats just me 🙂

Steve McQueen esque?

“Racing is life, anything before or after is just waiting” 🙂

I’d like them to be creative in terms of location. There could be some lovely runs in the hills around here, but it seems fell running is only popular up north.

I’d like them to be creative in terms of location. There could be some lovely runs in the hills around here, but it seems fell running is only popular up north.

Search for “trail race” rather than fell, here are 9 for example.

Hmm.. they do look much more fun than running around a park 🙂

There’s a gazillion events all over the place every day of the week – more than enough for several lifetimes, and plenty of novelty events. Road, track, xc, fell, multi-terrain, trail, multisport, LDWA, parkrun, ultra, stupid log carrying, barb-wire fence corporate bollocks, blah, and still they keep coming. But if you don’t like racing, you don’t like racing. Me, I’m rubbish, but love a good tussle. One of my favourite t-shirts is Steve McQueen racing his dirt bike.

I want to do a real sprint triathlon where you swim 2 lengths, run 200m and ride 1km

Funny you say that, but I reckon 200m or 400m are my favourite distances at the moment. I love the feeling of almost effortless power for the first 150m or so, feeling every foot-fall and trying to make the next faster, then dumping anything left to get over the line. Short, sweet and visceral.
I’m absolutely useless at them though. 😀

Feel like this –

Reality –

I love sprinting..

Steve McQueen esque?
“Racing is life, anything before or after is just waiting”

Love this! I’m wishing my life away until my 2014 season starts.

Entertaining thread too 🙂

You want to have a look at the WFRA site Molgrips here

Fan Fawr race is a quid, and Sugar Loaf race is £4. bargains, and running in nice places close to Cardiff.

Oh that looks good… ta.

You could just ignore the others and then it ceases to be a “race”
I am rubbish at fell racing running but I like running on the Fells. I run them very rarely and I think you need a special mindset to be competitive! I remember running the Coniston fell race years ago when I was in good shape and felt good to the top and was in the top handful, not bad for a non fell runner.
I turned with the others then lost about 80 places on the descent 🙁

You could just ignore the others and then it ceases to be a “race”

Then I might as well race the clock at my convenience.

I thought I did ok on the descents in the Fan Dance, until some blokes came literally tumbling past me at almost freefall speed. I’ve absolutely no idea how they were behind me in the first place mind, maybe they got lost on the way to the start.. badly lost 🙂