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The Annual Running thread - beginners/ultras/whatever

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having chatted with the owners they get a lot of people in who try on the shoes, then make some pathetic excuse about how “they’ll think about it”, “it’s not the colour they wanted”, etc… and go buy online.

To add a bit of balance, I try them on in Forum then buy them online in Pete Bland's 😉


 
Posted : 02/10/2019 5:40 pm
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I would hope so but I am not sure the evidence bears that out (I will try to find it later) having both is great and all for encouraging people to simply be active but in my view there is an element of displacement

Glupton took me to my first parkrun. 3 months later I joined a running club and dragged a triathlope mate long with me ....we avoiding the town's athletics club as that holds zero interest running circles is even more boring than running around town.

Like cycling it's all about getting into the hills for me.


 
Posted : 02/10/2019 10:44 pm
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I sort of get what surfer is trying to say, but you are coming across as a bit sour and snobbish.

Whatever. I wasnt "trying" I said it

running circles is even more boring than running around town

Horses for courses I try to get off road as much as I can but in my youth it was all about the circles 🙂


 
Posted : 03/10/2019 12:46 pm
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I get it. But athletics club would not have been a way into running for me.

Id not be running if id not been exposed to a group that hill runs.

As it is there's zero formality we are just a whatsapp group that meets up and runs

We don't count on any "club" list or running participation list....and judging by the number of people we meet on the hills - we probably are not alone.

Very few of us even race.


 
Posted : 03/10/2019 1:39 pm
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we avoiding the town’s athletics club as that holds zero interest running circles is even more boring than running around town.

You'd be surprised, I much prefer running circles to running in town (though I prefer trail to both...) Running circles with a club you're usually following a coach's directions, maybe doing intervals, technique work, some kind of fartlek, etc. Between exercises you're chatting to your club mates.

And all that with no traffic lights, dog shit, cars...


 
Posted : 03/10/2019 5:20 pm
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^^Yeah cars are the worst bit - especially the $£^&ers that park 3/4 on the pavements.


 
Posted : 03/10/2019 5:22 pm
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I do actually do a session on a track on Thursday nights with a club I'm a member of when I want to do speed work in the lead up to a race. I'm aware of how boring I find it compared to hill running.

But my point was it wasn't an entry path for me. I saw it as a necessary evil to get faster.


 
Posted : 03/10/2019 5:30 pm
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But my point was it wasn’t an entry path for me. I saw it as a necessary evil to get faster.

Ah, gotcha. I can't see it as an entry path either, unless you've been going since your parents signed you up at school. Although I do dispute the "necessary evil" bit: I really enjoy the twice-weekly run sessions at the track with my triathlon club.


 
Posted : 03/10/2019 9:53 pm
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Doing my 1st 10k on Sunday. Parkrun time predicts 40'


 
Posted : 03/10/2019 10:30 pm
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Track with a group is undoubtedly the best way of doing sessions, however since my 1st child arrived nearly 4 years ago, I've made about 2 track sessions with the club. I integrate my intervals into my 20km trail commute, and have improved my times across the board subsequently. Proves that the track isn't a necessity, but I do have the odd race outing on the track.


 
Posted : 03/10/2019 10:49 pm
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Wheres yer 10k Al?

Just signed up for a wee cheeky half marathon in kirkintilloch on Sunday!.


 
Posted : 03/10/2019 11:30 pm
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So what we all up to this fine weekend?
I'm a week out from a half and a currently ill so it'll be light for me.
3.5 gentle miles up to parkrun, run directing once I'm there, 3.5 miles back on Saturday.
1.5 miles to Junior parkrun and 5 miles back Sunday.

Anyone up to anything more interesting?


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 11:17 am
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Anyone want to use my Oxford Half place next weekend (13th October)?

I’m not able to use it, sadly. Free to a good home! Not sure about the switching logistics. You might have to be me for the day.


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 11:27 am
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Depending on ill children and a plethora of other plans, I am either doing the ParkRun tomorrow and aim for a PB or going for a longer (around 10 mile) slower pace run on Sunday.


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 11:30 am
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So what we all up to this fine weekend?

Left my swimming kit at home this morning, so an extra 10k tempo run is on the cards for this afternoon. Then another trip up a mountain on either Sat or Sun, just not sure which. Or which mountain for that matter 🙂 The other day will be a bike day.


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 11:30 am
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Quiet year for me, not had much enthusiasm for racing. Ace news in that our club half has just been voted Best Half Marathon in the North (the power of social media!). Small plug - Four Villages Half Marathon and we're ramping up for the January edition now.

Couple of health niggles on the back burner now and mojo slowly returning in time for the winter gloom and filth. I do like the XC season. Anyone else doing the British Fell Relays in 2 weeks? Should be a good one in the Peak.


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 12:18 pm
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@nobeerinthefridge Loch Ness with work peeps.

Just found Borders xc to be full 😭


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 12:25 pm
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I've got Wakey parkrun tomorrow as it's a club league event then off trac 10 at Tickhill on Sunday.
10 miles mostly off road through farmers fields and it's going to be raining so should be extra muddy. I've got the trail talons at the ready. Next weekend it's Isle of Axholme half. My first half for a while so will see how I get on.
I managed a wake up and run 18 this morning, was warm but wet and dark to start off with. I like running first thing, but not every day....


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 12:52 pm
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Hopefully Nonsuch parkrun tomorrow if leg feels ok. Not sure a pb on but we’ll see.
Did pyramid track session last night and it was strangely compelling. Round and round and round, but nothing to think about so very therapeutic. Finished off with a 4x400 and despite tired legs after 7k of running managed my best time in 30 years - 1:30. I reckon i can get it down to 1:20 if fresh. Fast team got a 4:57 which wasn’t bad at all. Just shows how fast you have to run to get a 4 minute mile as they were ripping around.

Next week might do the Richmond Park XX race with the club. 5 miles, two laps, could probably just about make it.


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 1:22 pm
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Unlikely to be much for me this weekend - niggling shin splint that I want rid of and hoping to do the Windgather fell race next weekend...


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 1:36 pm
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riding in to hazlehead for the park run.

Wife and daughter meeting me there and going for a walk while i run - then we will go for walk and a coffee in the park then pending when my parents are due to arrive ill either Ride home on the road or run home through the woods.


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 1:47 pm
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Rest day today after 8.5 mile club longer interval sesh last night, pacing parkrun (25 mins) tomoro, then Half Marathon on sunday, which I'll PB at, as I've only ever properly tried for a half time once before, and it was ****in roasting with a brutal headwind, and the wheels came off big style. 🙂

Need to get a big run in before Jedburgh ultra in 3 weeks too.


 
Posted : 04/10/2019 2:40 pm
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That was awesome! Loved pacing a really comfortable time, means you can chat, encourage and be a nuisance!

Came across a 12 year old lad who'd went out too quick and had a stitch at the side 1km in, talked him round to a PB, brilliant, made my morning that.

24.53 so paced it not too bad, it's pretty hilly and lots of heavy tree cover to play havoc with the GPS pace.


 
Posted : 05/10/2019 12:16 pm
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Well thwt didn't go to plan. We all slept in this morning......would you believe that with a 2 month old....

Got to the start in the car with 10minutes to spare.

Ran pacing my self for a 25 mins finish since it's my first parkrun since may...about half way my stomach turned and we stepped on the gas as much as my guts would let me.

Ran a 22.39 and continued on straight to the cafe and used the facilities

And have been back about 4 times.....

I appear to have caught an illness.....just hoping it isn't rotovirus from the little one (she's just had her jabs so was warned about the possibility)

My Garmin also didn't catch a GPS signal prior to starting so I just have an accelerometer distance measurement 🙁

As D:ream said....things can only get better ...


 
Posted : 05/10/2019 12:46 pm
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My other half was there Terry, she was going out about some borderline ginger bloke that was just in front of her with shite running down his legs...


 
Posted : 05/10/2019 1:06 pm
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Really enjoyed the pacers last week so we’ll done for doing it. No pacers for me this week and I had four excuses:

1. Still feeling Thursday evening’s track session.
2. Drank too much last night.
3. Sore calf strapped up.
4. Muddy and slippery at Nonsuch.

New PB: 23:38. Went out a bit harder today. Might have been better a touch slower but picked it up for final 2k. All good fun.


 
Posted : 05/10/2019 1:15 pm
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Lol at Duckman! It's strawberry blond a tell ye! 😂


 
Posted : 05/10/2019 1:25 pm
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Anyone know if the Strava training plans are worth it?

10K Plan VO2 Max/Lactate Threshold

8 Weeks The 10K requires equal parts speed and stamina. This 8-week 10K plan builds your speed but also improves your stamina.

I'm busy with work at the moment so not riding but running 10 - 12 km every other day (so I dont go mad). I find the relative effort a useful tool. If left to my own devices I tend to just bang out variations of the same run and it's getting a bit boring.


 
Posted : 05/10/2019 1:43 pm
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I'm brown

.....well up top.

Beards ginge


 
Posted : 05/10/2019 1:58 pm
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Aye, she mentioned the brown! I realise time is at a premium, but entered anything else this year?


 
Posted : 05/10/2019 2:22 pm
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Mhari your Mrs ?

That's my first park run after recovering from the lairig ghru

Planning some duathlons over winter. Hoping to get some TT form for next season due to the time premium.

And looking at taking an hour off the lairig ghru next year if I get an entry.


 
Posted : 05/10/2019 2:43 pm
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No, my other half was the tall blonde in the Vegan Runners top. I did the Clova duathalon the other week, first time I have ever raced a bike and I loved it...Less said about the 9 miles with 2800ft run the better.Thats some target for the LG as you were what: A wee bit over 5?


 
Posted : 06/10/2019 6:35 am
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At the start of the season I had half an eye on that but alas I was not running due to injury and I was offshore working when it happened.

The run looked tough.

5:15 last year. More running down hill and more squatting. My lower back gave in and hip adductors stopped firing.

Work on that there's a tremendous amount of time to be gained.


 
Posted : 06/10/2019 6:43 am
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Well I didn't manage the parkrun again due to our ill daughter insisting she competed in the inter-school cross country race she'd entered. Despite having to stop half way around due to her sore throat hurting when she was gasping for air, she recovered and was in third place until she was pipped (quite literally) at the last 2 metres and ended 5th. Still, that does still mean she has qualified for the regional final next month 🙂

I ended up doing what was meant to be a steady 5.5 mile run on Sunday but I was feeling good in the final 1.5 miles (which includes the big climb up Otley Road as featured in the World's last week) and ended up PBing all all segments all the way up.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 11:29 am
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Took 9 minutes off my Half Marathon time yesterday, on what was a pretty lumpy route as well. Ran pretty steadily to come in at 1hr 38mins. Fairly happy, on a flatter route and with some more specific training there's defo more gains to be made.

I've only ever really went at one half mara before, and it was a bit of a disaster, hence the big time gain. 🙂

Was the Neil McCover half, named after a local policeman that was killed on his road bike, sadly. Good to keep peoples memories alive IMHO.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 1:05 pm
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Nice work all. Getting proper jealous, running has been impossible for a month now. Rode yesterday, one of those crappy rides where everything goes wrong, all the time thinking "this would have made an excellent run..." Grr.
Time for another chat to the physio. I can walk fairly pain-free, so walked to work today (10km) and just got shooting pains down my shin and foot.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 2:31 pm
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Well, that was embarrassing.
Volunteered at junior parkrun yesterday. They were running a new course and so asked me, as an experienced volunteer who can run a bit, to be the lead runner so no-one got lost. No problem thinks I, kids were given the instruction to follow the lead runner and to let me know if I was holding them up…you can see where this is going can’t you…
I didn’t warm up, why would I, these are kids. I didn’t even take my thicker running top off that I wear when I’m stood around, again, why would I, it’s no issue.
From the start I find myself in a sprint off with kids trying to overtake me. I did the first lap (1km, give or take) at a pace of just under 6 mins/mile with a heartrate of circa 180bpm. I had to pull off after that as I couldn’t keep going any more.
Said child completed the 2km event in just under 8 minutes.
I got royally abused by the rest of the team, quite rightly.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 2:53 pm
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Anyone know if the Strava training plans are worth it?

Just had a look at the marathon plan - 4 runs a week, a combination of fartlek+easy runs during the week and a long run at the weekend. And repeat for the next 12 weeks. Nothing wrong with that of course, but I don't think you really need a plan for it.

These seem a bit more interesting: https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training-plans/


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 3:14 pm
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Never followed one but the plans on the Coolrunning site look reasonable


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 3:51 pm
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proper lol @ Lunge! well done mate! 🙂

dogbone, if you use a garmin watch, there are training plans on garmin connect that look good, tell you what you should be doing on the watch face, you can pick the timecale ie 12 weeks, 16 weeks etc, and put in a target time too.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 4:36 pm
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I have seen a fair degree of success following the Pfitzinger and Douglas plans in their book Advanced Marathoning. A variety of distances per week and duration of training catered for.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 10:09 pm
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So, Saturday’s forecast looks like chucking it down all day. A perfect day for me to do my first ever cx race (sans bike) in Richmond park, methinks.


 
Posted : 10/10/2019 9:42 pm
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roots - Surrey League I assume? Which club are you racing with? I would ordinarily be racing too but kids swimming is taking precedent this season.


 
Posted : 10/10/2019 10:25 pm
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Sutton Runners, re-named by my daughter as the highlighters due to the dayglo shirt. I think it’s surrey league and I am “racing” in the loosest sense of the word. I’m only doing it because there are more than 10 in our team and only the first 10 go towards the result.
My good (edit: and only) wife is doing child duty.


 
Posted : 11/10/2019 12:05 am
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Good luck roots!

My XC debut is the county champs 4 man relay next week, however we're the 4th team from the club, so no pressure*.

*I'll still have the fear though, big style! 🙂


 
Posted : 11/10/2019 9:51 am
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