MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Aye, I wondered about the shadow if light was only on one side. Got the wife a wee petzl bindi for Xmas, it's perfect tbh, I'll mibbe just buy another.
Spot on Matt, I think most folk just don't give it long enough, they just never get past the 'this is ****in horrible' stage, and don't ever get to see the benefits a bit of application brings.
Dumyats never a mountain btw. 🤣
Dumyats never a mountain btw. 🤣
'Tis to those of us that live in the flatlands. The biggest hill I have in running distance is a railway bridge.
Spot on Matt, I think most folk just don’t give it long enough, they just never get past the ‘this is **** horrible’ stage, and don’t ever get to see the benefits a bit of application brings.
I tend to suffer from extreme lethargy sometimes when running. Lungs aren't screaming, legs aren't aching/tired I just have an unstoppable desire to stop running and walk for a bit. It frustrates me no end because every now and then I'll get a run when I just seem to hum along at a decent pace and feel like the wind is blowing me along.
I only run 2-3 times a week (at best), typically not much more than 5-7km.
I suspect it may be due to:
- The hills i run on near home (East Anglia so not big but it is a bit lumpy)
- Poor hydration / fueling
- Running on tired legs (though I don't run that much!)
- Not running enough!
I'm making an effort this year to get better hydrated and eat healthier prior to runs. Will see if that makes a difference. Any other ideas on what it might be?
I get that feeling - for me, I think it's also a lot to do with finding running really boring, and not (yet) being at the stage where I can attain that zen like state of detachment that some folk seem to manage. I think I just want to walk a bit to break up the monotony of huffing along, plopping one foot in front of the other with nothing do or look at (this goes more for boring town running than exciting running in the woods in the dark where there is DEFINITELY a bear chasing you).
Things that have helped me so far include:
- Being really stubborn
- Running with someone and having a conversation (I don't do this often because I actually really like running alone)
- Podcasts or audiobooks - I find having something to focus on really helps
- Varying my route - long straight pavements are the bane of my life
- Setting myself goals - if I slow down too much I definitely won't make (whatever irrelevant goal I have set myself)
Though that may be completely different to what you're experiencing.
Any other ideas on what it might be?
I reckon you need more miles, built up slowly over more days per week. But then you already knew that!
I get it running on the footpaths in beautiful scenery so it's not just the city running. I also don't like music/podcasts when running. I used to do loads of road cycling so well used to being mentally tough and pushing on when all you want to do is curl up into a ditch and die.
I reckon you need more miles, built up slowly over more days per week. But then you already knew that!
True dat! It's almost certainly the answer I'm looking for if not the one I want to hear 🙂
I reckon you need more miles, built up slowly over more days per week. But then you already knew that!
True dat! It’s almost certainly the answer I’m looking for if not the one I want to hear 🙂
Yeah but I was trying to give you an excuse 😉
(I do find the above helps me to push on, but there's definitely no substitute for miles)
Varying my route – long straight pavements are the bane of my life
Can you get offroad? I am loucky with my surroundings, but I find having to concentrate on moving over rough ground or distracted by the lovely venue is the answer...
But then I do have places like this to run on my doorstep...
Well my painful Achilles seem to be on the mend touch wood. I've been doing heel lifts and cut back on my runs for the last 3 weeks I've only done the club's mudclub offroad Friday runs 17 miles, 12 miles then today 14 miles but at a steady pace between 9.30/10 min mile and I'm feeling so much better for it , I think i need to be sensible and the xc racing will have to wait for another year
Can you get offroad? I am loucky with my surroundings, but I find having to concentrate on moving over rough ground or distracted by the lovely venue is the answer…
Sadly no (at the moment) - we live fairly close to the middle of town, it's a 20 minute drive to anything offroad really, and I like to run in a morning before work which means out the door. Totally agree with you, a few years ago I worked 45 minutes drive away and used to stop for a few miles in the mud and the dark on the way home - that was great (though being able to walk to work has far more benefits).
Hopefully we'll be moving in a couple of years, and I'm angling for somewhere much closer to mud.
djambo, I think one thing that really helped turn me from a pained plodder into quite a decent runner was upping my cadence. I can now cruise at around 186 steps per min even when running gently. I'm also 6'5" so not exactly a natural twinkletoes.
January miles bring April smiles. I'm not sure if that is a saying, well it is now. Well on the way to proper mileage now in the build-up towards my main goal of Manchester marathon.
Dumyats never a mountain btw.
Ok, you and me, let's run up from the Uni... 😋
Ok, you and me, let’s run up from the Uni…
Better still, try it at the end of the Ochils 2000s race. It's not a massive climb but Jesus it hurts after all the rest!
Isn't it's full name Dumyat hill.....
Shh you...
Inspiring MOAB, like. I sort of went the opposite way, started trail running a couple of months back with plenty of bike fitness but no running miles since school cross country 1988... After the first two or three runs I had crippling DOMS. The second week was easier and I started planning longer routes, third week I ran 40 odd miles, next week a bit more and so on, until the Friday before Xmas when my ankle packed up. Quelle surprise. Three weeks of limping around have followed, just getting some tentative hobbles in this week but it's still a bit soon. Rather cross at my stupidity tbh.
Hoping to do a local 30km trail race at the end of March, doesn't leave much time to start again from zero.
Btw, my inspiration to start running in the first place came from reading a couple of books, by Richard Askwith and a bloke from Chumbawumba (!)
I'm lucky to have a canal at the end of my road - run a mile in either direction and I'm in open countryside. Been stepping up the mileage a bit these past few weeks - a week in Cornwall running bits of the coast path was really enjoyable. Went out tonight onto the canal at dusk - glorious sunset and running in my own "tunnel" with some good tunes was great. See if I can keep this going for a few more months injury-free and will see if I can do a 50km and maybe more.
Does anyone here use compression sleeves for their calves? Curious as to the benefit in helping with shin splints as I'm developing a worrying niggle 🙁 A new pair of shoes wouldn't go a miss either but that will have to wait for the time being.
I wear compression socks on longer runs, I'm not sure they do anything for me, but I feel like they do.
Oh, and they make me look like a big bald Britney Spears, so that's good. 😊
I use compression calf sleeves and they seem to help keep my calves from tightening too much like they used to
I started running last year with c25k after buying some new Asics fitted by a "running" shop. Did a few runs and was fine. But developed shin splints as the amount of running increased.
Stopped straight away and left them to heal. Went back to it but running barefoot on the beach. No problems started pushing the mileage up no problem. Tried running on the beach in my shoes. Shin splints straight away.
I've since moved away from the beach to a town so have just bought some barefoot shoes. Merell vapour gloves. So going to try those and do c25k again taking it nice and easy.
Not read back through the thread so sorry if its already come up. But anyone else running barefoot or minimalist shoes?
I wear compression socks for most runs.
I suffered badly from tight calves atthe start which compression socks solved almost over night.
Probably don't need to wear them all the time but they are part of my "set up" now.
Mines are from. Decathlon.
Likewise I had funcy brooks shoes that the running shop "fitted me" for on the treadmill etc. Suffered from shin splints running on road.
I went to a basic neutral decathlon shoe and it may be coincident or the socks but I've not suffered with sore shins or calves since
Equally - tread carefully with the barefoot shoes. Your calves and shins will be under higher stress than with a cushioned shoe especially as you fatigue and your calves fatigue. Your entirely reliant on your body's own skeleton to disipate the shock
I do have a pair of 5 fingers I do shorter 2-3km runs in more as a drill than with a view to running long distances in
Does anyone here use compression sleeves for their calves?
Yes, but only to keep the nettles/brambles from tearing my legs to shreds.
I initially bought them to experiment, would they work for me? What do they actually do? Would I notice any difference running in them/not in them?
Truest answer for me is they keep nettle/brambles at bay. 🤷♂️🥴
I used to run in cushioned high heel drop stability shoes now i run in zero drop not barefoot ones though I use altra as I have fat feet, I do have some merrell barefoot ones I use occasionally if I do a short run they are very comfy.
I used to get sore in my store fitted shoes all the time it's less so in the new ones although it's taking time to strengthen and lengthen my Achilles but I'm getting there I'm pain free during the run now as a plus point and going further if a bit slower
See M-o-a-B’s post is what this threads all about.
Getting out and enjoying the outdoors, whilst getting a sweat on and pushing what motivates you.
Awesome.
Nice pictures of the Darn Walk and Mine Woods there Matt 😉
I do miss living in Stirling... trying to engineer a way back! It may take some time though....
I started running a few weeks ago and have just finished Week 8 of the Garmin running program. Yesterday I made it up the first hill feeling like an actual runner, which isn't bad at 129kg! I died after that mind! I do wish the system would take into account where you are - running 3.4km in the Lake District is a bit harder than a London park!
I am hoping that as the distances increase over the last 4 weeks as I push up to a 5k non-stop (it won't be fast mind) that it starts having a positive impact on my physique. I haven't had much time to ride lately, plus have a back injury which is really sore when mountain biking, so took to running in an attempt to get some level of fitness back and help towards rehabilitation of a raft of injuries. I am starting Yoga on Monday too... something else I never thought I would do.
So if you are in the South Lakes and see a fatty attempting to run it could well be me 😀
Capt K, I hear good things about fell foot parkrun if it's in range of you.
Beat my PB on the annual club x-c race today by over a minute, pretty happy with that though some of it was probably due to fast dry conditions for the time of year. Also the first time I've managed to beat my handicap target of 50 mins, a good start to my V50 decade!
Good going Kronos, keep it up, I've found running is tremendous for weight loss, and for definition too.
Re. Calf sleeves, yes, I wear them. Only bring them out for long runs, half marathon and up, and they seem to help me but I’m aware that may be entirely in my head. Mine too are from Decathlon, they’re quite snug, not very expensive and look rather silly, all of which are good points to me!
I’ll echo the above about weight loss, I’ve lost over 2 stone since I started running. I can cycle reasonably Ok when I’m fat, but running sorts out the fat from the thin!
Finally, those looking for new shoes, there’s a new Nike range out soon, the Pegasus 36 for instance is due out next month, so keep an eye out for bargains. The Pegasus 35 if a phenomenal all round shoe and if you can pick it up for a bargain that’ll sort you out.
If you want a proper quick shoe the vaporfly actually lives up to the hype 🙂
FWIW calf-sleeves won't help with shin-splints you need to back-off and let the inflammation recover. I tried the whole barefoot style thing a few years ago, but still suffered from niggly injuries if trying to build up the distance. I've gone the other way now - Hoka One One shoes mean I can train back-to-back if needed.
Fell Foot is about 10 minutes away by car, so I shall have a look at that when the time comes! Thinking I may do one early Feb just to see where I have got to!
My time is not going to be impressive mind 😀
Nice one cap'n K.
Get on that hill - I do the Wallace Monument woods (!) I felt like such a biffa and walked half of it to start with, and still do on a 'bad' day. But I can also get up non stop and enjoy the challenge now. And running on the flat after is ace!
Fell Foot is about 10 minutes away by car
You in Ulverston, Capt Kronos?
Out again this morning despite my legs still feeling like slabs of meat hanging in the freezer vans you sometimes see parked outside kebab shops in a morning.
I actually went for a ride on Saturday, which was hard work... I did the 22ish mile red loop at Dalby and it would be lying to say I wasn't knackered by the end. Or half way round. In my defence it's my first proper ride in ages (last few have been steady group rides with lots of stops, this was solo with just a couple) but still.
Anyway, the point is that I was still tired from that when I woke up early this morning, but I thought I may as well go put a couple of miles in since I Was awake. My initial plan was to do my usual two mile loop, but as (heavily pregnant) Mrs Monkey had woken me up early I thought I may as well push it out to three.
I started out feeling ok, then flagged a little bit about half way around, then seemed to find a pace I was happy at with maybe a mile to go - this seems to be the way most of my runs go at the moment. That said, Strava says that my first mile was noticeably quicker, the second two (well, 1.9) were a bit slower and within a few seconds of each other. So who knows.
The last three (well, 2.9 but we're all friends right?) mile run I did I managed an 11:13/mile average; this morning I knocked over half a minute off that for a 10:40/mile average. I'm pretty pleased with that all told tbh, everything is moving in the right direction and I'm hoping that I can get a bit quicker before I really start to struggle to improve any more.
Not done much training recently due to some personal challenges but fancied a long run on Sunday so tried to enter a local trail HM yesterday. It was full but decided to run the route anyway starting at the back and keeping out of the way of the other runners. Felt quite good and although not a challenging course, all off road (500m road section) and quite rough underfoot in places. averaged around 7:15 miling and my time was a smidgen slower than the O/50 winner (I am 55 this year) I had a bit in reserve so confident I could have pulled a minute or 3 out of the bag if I had been racing.
Sore feet today and a bit tired but quite happy with that 🙂
Anydody else from here at Hedgehope on Sunday?
Just outside Ulverston - Spark Bridge up in the Crake Valley.
My running plans have been postponed for 24 hours - stomach bug and running would be living dangerously! Starting Yoga tonight is going to be tense enough!!!!
^nice, love it round there. Was visiting my Dad in Ulverston over Xmas, was hobbling/jogging over the backs in that general direction, also Roudsea Wood for the first time ever.
Much of December off with a chesty thing, ambled round in the donkey half of the County XCs this weekend, entered Dark Mountains at end of month. No clue what I'm doing 🙂
@stever I am in dark mountains too! If it helps I did it last year. Sooooo cold!! Sooooo long!!! Tough tough navigation and I managed to get a blister that ended up just being a massive hole in my heel. Couldn't put shoes on for weeks.....oh it was horrible, I am dreading it this year, yet also looking forward to it?
Good luck 😂🤣
See you both at DM then. Looking forward to it, it's one of my favourite races of the year, with a nice high degree of suffering like a dog!
I had a lovely hike/run this morning up the mountains near me - 800m ascent in the first 5km meant it wasn't a fast start 🙂
Beautiful weather for it, good company, and we made up for the slow climb with a nice fast run back down the loose rocky trails.
@djtom 8 teams in total in my category, 3 have a Tom in them. What category you racing in? I suspect we are in same one racing each other?
About a month till entries for the 3 peaks fell race open. Just saying...
Thinking of entering Carnethy 5, you did it Spin? I'll be very, very slow....
Not one I've ever done. A bit short for the travel time involved for me. Meant to be good though and sells out quite quick I think.
Where are you based?
What I have done down that way is the Baddingsgill Round. Thought it was a great wee low key race over some tough terrain.
I'm in Prestwick Spin, so it's 90 mins along the road, it'd be good prep for the Arran ridge race in June.
Forgot you'd said you were doing that. Which one is it again?
The shorter one, 26k and 3000m of climbing. Think it's called the Tarsuinn trail, I love the Arran ridges, canny wait!.
Still a pretty big day that! Any other training races planned?
No hill races as yet, need to get started, I was up Narnain yesterday, was dying to get running down, dont think the wife would have appreciated it though! 🤣
Yeah, it is pretty nice over this side from Ulverston - Roundsea is great with the dog, and the scenery is quite nice.
I still miss Scotland though. I moved down about 10 years ago and have never really settled - we were just discussing where we may head back to at some stage (again) today!
Right. Well, I decided that a suitable way of justifying myself getting a gps watch is as a reward for training and completing a half marathon.
This was a sudden, probably poorly thought out idea I had yesterday morning.
The Great Eastern Run is in October, (so plenty of time to get training) and I live a short distance away.
So there we are. I don't know how quickly it sells out, but I have put my name down for info once entries are open & we'll see what happens.
Just need to sort out my IT band issues once & for all!
So it starts again! After a couple of weeks off (not including parkruns (from racing, not running (RED since Sept 30))) I have my first race of this year. York Knavesmires Brass Monkey Half Marathon. I've done it the last couple of years and it's a flat and fast course (2 years, 2 pbs) so hopeful I can continue the trend. The start of mara training proper...
Yet another update. I feel like I'm using this thread as a blog, so sorry about that.
Two miles this morning, only partly in the rain, and I reckon I'm getting toward the point on the curve where improvement gets a lot more incremental. I still improved on my best time for this particular loop (9:38/mile average vs 9:49/mile) but obviously only by a few seconds rather than half a minute or so. I reckon it's not long now until I have a run that's slower than the last one, and I need to remember that actually that's fine, the important thing is to keep running.
In fact that time may well be tomorrow, as that'll be the last run this week and I'm planning on taking it nice and easy to try and avoid wonking myself up. Depending what time I wake up I might do a longer steady run, but most likely it'll be another two miler at an intentionally steadier pace.
Then I'm out on the bike (social ride) on Saturday, and planning a rest day on Sunday.
Been off STW for a few weeks, just catching up. My illumination solution is an Exposure with the mount sewn onto the front of a waterproof cap. Might sew a mount onto a lighter weight cap too as it can get a bit warm and sweaty when it's not deepest winter
MY arbitrary goal for 2018 was 5000km of running, just exceeded that. The 18-week London marathon plan started on christmas eve with 2 runs, and the schedule doesn't have a single rest day between now and 28th April :O Following the P&D 85 mile+ plan, ramping up from the 77 mile/week average from Bournemouth last autumn.
Started 2019 with a bit of a bang, double parkrunning on NYD: 11km Farnham-Rushmoor, 5km Rushmoor parkrun in 16:07, 5km Rushmoor-Frimley, 5km Frimley parkrun in 16:50, 17km Frimley-Farnham, 43km for the day including a 2:50 marathon ignoring the stops!
I have XC every Saturday in Jan, half marathon in Feb another in March and the 24km Orion 15 XC, leading up to the big event at the end of April. I'll be 40 the week before London, so the goal is to podium in the vets category, which will probably require a low 2:24. Actually, looking back through results, this time varies massively - the 3rd V40 in 2013 ran 2:32 while in 2016 it was 2:21, so maybe I need to set my goal time faster :O
Baby #2 arriving mid May might put running on the back burner slightly for a while, but signed up for the Yorkshire marathon where I'll be sporting an England vets vest for the old-guffers championship 🙂
double post
Bit late to the thread, but I've read the last couple of pages so feel like I can join in now...
My big target (along with the wife) is to complete the Great North Run as it's a few days before our 10th anniversary. I completed it 12 years ago but three children later my "dad-bod" has me weighing about 3 stone more so I've got a lot of training to do! Aiming to complete in under 2 hours.
At the moment I can run 5k in just under 30 mins (about 5.50min/km) but I'm done in at the end of that. So I need to improve a little on that pace and then manage to hold it for 4x the distance!
My first runner question.... is there an alternative solution to sore nipples than micropore tape? It works, but hurts like hell getting it back off and has a habit of rolling over the ends while running and then sticking to my top, pulling around and being generally a bit painful. Only really a winter problem with it's temperature related effects.
is there an alternative solution to sore nipples than micropore tape?
2 things that work for me. 1 is to be very careful what tops I buy, if it chafes then it doesn't get worn for long runs. 2 is Charlie the Bike Monger's Bum Butter applied liberally. I do have a friend who really suffers with it and now accepts he runs with a skintight base layer on underneath that doesn't move or rub.
is there an alternative solution to sore nipples than micropore tape?
There are loads of antichafing creams on the market, or just use vaseline. FWIW I usually use a smear of the Decathlon stuff but also carry a very small pot of vaseline with me for long days out.
Thanks, will give the vaseline a try tonight. I use the Decathlon lube stick thing for the top of legs areas and it works pretty well, but it doesn't seem to deposit enough material to combat material on skin rather than skin on skin.
If that doesn't work then it's either persevere with the tape or look in to a base layer.
@djtom 8 teams in total in my category, 3 have a Tom in them. What category you racing in? I suspect we are in same one racing each other?
@ajf We've entered elite, and judging from your initials it looks like we'll be racing each other! Different partner this year, but one I know well. Our nav should be pretty good, so we just need to keep the speed up now. Some strong competition in there this year, so it'll be pretty hot up the sharp end!
Tight baselayers, no nipple worries any more here.
I put small circular plasters on my nipples if it's a long race where I'll be wearing a club vest as opposed to a tight top. These are small enough to just stick to the skin and not the surrounding hair, if applied carefully so don't hurt when removing. I think I bought about 100 from eBay for about £2 so won't need any more for a while!
Vaseline and a second short sleeve top (not tight) underneath the usual long sleeved one seemed to work last night for 7km in 2 degrees temps.
Might have to look in to a more specific tight baselayer as a linger term solution.
Micropore and even plasters under the arms if I am wearing a vest. Vaseline liberally applied as well.
The Spine race starts on Sunday. Now that's a race! :-0
https://thespinerace.com/
Blimey Charlie. That looks brutal and some.
A couple of ladies from the same club as myself did The Spine last year. Thoroughly impressive!
Anyone else running in the cross country nationals at Harewood House (Leeds) in Feb? I have enthusiastically entered and will be chuffed if I can finish in the top half.
Well about 5 runs in from starting out again and I've picked up a small injury, my right calf is a little swollen but I'm walking just about ok after a day or so. Didn't really warm up but took the first mile easyish, pushed on and felt something not right in my calf. Hobbled/walked/jogged back home.
I'm taking it as a bonus as it's usually been my knee that's knocked it on the head.
I'll rest it for a few more days then get back to it, quite enjoying getting out for a run.
@djtom shame there is a lot less elite teams so far this year. 20 last year, 8 this year? I'll keep an eye out for you. Not exactly sure what you look like but suspect I know which of the 3 Toms you are. We will be probably heading off at a similar time (one of the first)
@MrSparkle every year I know someone doing it and every year I think "Idiot"! Fascinating bonkers race! Might get over to Edale way on Saturday so can see the condemned off and then the Trigger race competitors coming in. Anyway wouldn't you prefer Dark mountains? Know you have a thing for running around on a Dark Un?
Well I was supposed to be out on the mountain bike today, even got the chain lubed but due to unforseen circumstances I couldn't make it. That left me at about 8.30 this morning with nothing really to do for the day.
So I thought I'd go out for a run before the inevitable housework took over (we now have a clean kitchen and I have lunch for all next week).
Normally I run before work at about 6.30 so it was a bit of a novelty to be out in daylight - the increased traffic was less fun, but I guess you can't win 'em all. I didn't really have a plan when I went out, but since I didn't really need to rush I found myself taking the longer route at all the junctions.
The loop I did ended up being just under 4 miles (I think it was 3.8 according to Strava) and it felt steady, but OK. When I got home and looked at my average pace I did a bit of a double take - I was expecting to be somewhere in the high 10min/miles, maybe even into the 11s but it was actually 9.54/mile.
I'm well pleased with that, it definitely feels like the effort is paying off in terms of how good I am at running if nothing else. I'm tempted to run the route again in reverse tomorrow and see how that goes, but I think I'll see how I feel in the morning.
Well done FMC, it's great seeing a bit of progression.
Wee wake up call for me this morning, was a good 2 mins short of where I thought I was at parkrun, never felt good at all. I think all the empty miles I did during Marcothon, no speedwork etc, have bitten back.
It's only January, I'll file it and move on.
I did park run this morning ran 2.25 at Z2 and 2.25 at z4 and last bit as max beans as racing in morning
Never really felt challenged and got 23.08
I think that's the difference between a non runner doing marcothon and a runner. I've never really conditioned so it brought me on a long ways.
Cheers @Nobeerinthefridge, great at this end too!
What is this Marcothon I keep hearing being mentioned?
I did get out this morning, only did a couple of miles in the end. Definitely feeling it in my legs from yesterday, I pushed a bit too hard at the start and struggled at the end, but I made it with an average 9:29/mile which I'm more than happy with. I reckon with fresher legs I could prooooobably get fairly close to 9:00/mile over two miles (the first mile was 9:04) so that's something to aim for in the next couple of weeks.
Day off tomorrow so we'll see what happens Tuesday.
Marcothon is a wee motivational thingy, basically run either 3 miles, or 25mins (whatever comes first) every day in december.