MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Enjoyable (almost) 4km run this morning.
I'm working towards a 10km trail run on the 2nd of November, which is basically straight up, bit of a traverse then straight down again. Enjoyed it last year and hoping to prepare a little better this year.
Today's run was deliberately fasted for the avoidance of stitch, I seem to need a very long period between eating and running!
How long can you realistically run on an empty stomach? I think at last year's event I maybe had a banana for breakfast then a gel halfway round...
How long can you realistically run on an empty stomach?
You can go quite a long way at a low intensity. I routinely do long training runs on empty, up to 16 miles, but they low intensity, slow runs.
But if I'm racing, even if it's just 10k, a light breakfast (porridge, bagels, etc.) at least 2 hours before you start and a gel on the start line works for me. I likely want take any food on in a 10k but will for anything more than that.
Has anyone ran/hiked Tour du Mont Blanc? I'm looking into a trip next summer to do it over 4 or 5 days, would be good to hear from anyone who has done it before.
What would be a good time for a first marathon?
Depends on a load of factors - I did my first (and only!) marathon 2 years ago. Only ran once or twice a week and only usually to about 1.5 hours. During my training I tried to up it but only broke the half marathon distance once during training about a month before the actual event but didn't feel too bad afterwards. Wanted a sub 4h30m and got something annoying like a 4h31m but the sense of achievement was incredible. Would I do another? Maybe but I've barely done anymore running since until a couple of months ago when I entered a local 10k which I'd done before and enjoyed. Started training by basically going straight up to 10k again from the off but was finding it difficult to get up to my pre-marathon fitness in such a short space of time but did the race last weekend, aiming for a sub 55 minute plod and did a 53. Can't comprehend how some people were doing 32s (5 minute miles!)...
Plan is to keep it up as its just easy exercise and once past the first mile or so, its actually enjoyable once you get into a groove...
What would be a good time for a first marathon?
Mine was 3:09, but I'd done a fair bit of running before that. Vague plan to do Seville next February, but not sure I CBA to do the road training needed to get the speed up. I'd like to do a sub 3 sometime in my life...
That's where I'm at. I'm pretty sure I could get a marathon PB if opted for a road one but I hate running on the road. Even the training would depress me.
That’s where I’m at. I’m pretty sure I could get a marathon PB if opted for a road one but I hate running on the road. Even the training would depress me.
Can confirm. I did my sub-3 earlier this year and the training was dull and hard work.
It its when it's Sunday morning and all your mates are off on a nice, slow social run around the the trails and you have to go out solo for a long road run with a pile of work at goal pace. Dull, dull, dull.
I get the road running training thing. I try as much as possible to do a mix during my runs - got an old tarmac railway line near me I use to get some easy distance, a nice few miles off road on a flood bank by the river and some nice quiet country lanes with decent footpaths alongside I can use. What I can't get my head around is the people who do laps of the racecourse near me - 3ish km tarmac loop inside it littered with dog walkers and kids on bikes and you see loads of people lapping it. Definition of mundane - I like to treat my running like my rides and see some scenery!
I know a guys who’s entire marathon training is done on a 1 mile lap round a park. He’ll do 22 mile long runs with efforts round there, will be going round the same circle for 3 hours.
Saying that, I also know a fella who did the same on a track. Though he did change direction every 10 laps apparently.
I'm obviously weird because I enjoy road running and even training for a marathon. It probably helps that the roads are wonderful round here. I even go back and forward on a particular 2.5km flat stretch when I want to do proper work at effort/pace, roughly once a week during marathon training. Once or twice I've done as much as 20km at marathon pace there, 4x up and down the same stretch. But that's still a lovely bit of road through a flood plain with birdlife and views into the hills.
Quick question for the runners who have done 50K events, How do you know when you're good enough?
I've been hoping to get a 50K run done for most of this year and did have one pencilled in for May but unfortunately I ended up with an injury and had to shelve it, however I'm back to being injury free and have been running well (for me) for the last few months. Previous to my injury the longest run I had done was 32km and since being over the injury the longest run I have done is 25km, both of these were hilly trail runs, not particularly fast but consistent.
I've been running consistently for about the last 3 1/2 years, as in at least twice a week, and I know I can do a half marathon with relative ease anytime I feel like it
I'm running 4-5 times a week at the moment, a mix of plodding 10k's hilly 10k's and intervals on the treadmill (I have the use of one at work, it wouldn't be my first choice) and trying to get one long run in a week (aiming for 30k this week). The event that I'm looking at is about 6 weeks away, is this doable? Should I just throw caution to the wind, enter and see how it goes?
Since no-one else has replied to you @Bazz!
"Good enough" is so, so dependant on what your aim is: If you're just aiming to finish within the cut-off times, you're probably more than 'good enough' already, you just need to know your body and pace yourself. If you're trying to win, or aiming for a specific time target, only Smarties have the answer! 'Not particularly fast but consistent' is exactly what you need most of the time, longer events are as much mental as they are physical, if you can keep your head right, keep feeding yourself and keep moving forward, you'll get the job done.
Maybe as evidence of that, I ran 'The Lap' Ultra in the Lakes a few weeks back - 75km with 2,800m of ascent round the summits surrounding Windermere. Not my first Ultra, and not the longest or hilliest I've ever run, but still a distance where completing isn't a certainty but can still be a decent bet if you're sensible about it. I've been running well recently, over shorter distances at least, and while I would have liked to have clocked up more long runs in the build up, I went in pretty confident that I'd get round even if it wasn't that quick. Max finish time is 24hrs, I'd set a loose target of sub-18, I ran/jogged/fast shuffled far more than I was anticipating, managed the physical issues I had pretty well (knee pain on descents from about 45km onwards), pushed a bit harder when I could and cruised when I needed to, and finished well inside my target in 14:41:41.
Also, benefitting from the fitness accrued for and from the Ultra, after a good week and a bit of recovery, I've run a 5km PB and 10km PB in the past two weeekends, both on relatively hilly courses - 22:21 for 5km and 46:30 for 10km 🙂
Thanks @Pyro for your response. Well I thought sod in the end and entered, it's the Beat Box Hill 50k in Dorking, Surrey, starting/finishing at the top of Box Hill as the name suggests. My only real goal is to finish and with a cut off time of 10 hours that should easily doable, I could probably walk it in that time, that said i'd like to finish in 6-7 hours. I had a great training week last week with a 32k run in 3h 30m a days rest then a sub 2 hour half marathon and a couple of slow 10k runs after a couple more days rest.
2 and a half weeks out now and I've had to reduce the volume a little now as I can feel a couple of sore bits creeping in where my last injury was and I don't want this to get any worse so I'm hoping the work is basically done.
Fingers crossed!
Bleurgh. Got the Great Eastern Run this weekend (Peterborough 1/2 marathon, basically).
Training has been going OK and am aiming for 1hr 55 or thereabouts - so around 5:30 pace.
But, my old friend sore IT bands have raised their ugly head in the last few weeks. I've kept on with some training and some times that aren't really flaring up and other times they are pretty sore from the off. It's been an ongoing issue I have had for years, but has not been an issue for the entire training build-up to this run.
I guess it started to become a problem as the weekly mileage increased.
Just hoping to get round it now & not have to stop. Sometimes I can keep running through the soreness, other times it almost makes my knees give way - so will see how it is on Sunday.
Planning on just doing a lot of stretching this week & no proper running. Might do a few km on Wed to keep my legs moving and then a short run on Saturday too.
OK. So, I got the Great Eastern Run done, as posted about above.
I was aiming for 1hr55 and did it in 1hr51m35s, which I was pretty pleased with.
Predictably, my IT bands were a pain in the ass (hmmm, pain in the knees I suppose) from just over 5km onwards. It wasn't ever bad enough that I needed to stop and it kept coming and going. Once I stopped though at the finish, I could barely get going again. Knees still sore 2 days on.
If they hadn't been playing up, I feel that I could have got much nearer to 1hr50.
Now need to work on strength & flexibility to try & solve this IT band issue, which has hung around like a bad smell for over 20 years now.
@Bazz - you're in very much the same position as I was last year. I'd entered my first (and only?) 50km and just slowly built the distance up. I think the longest run I did before the event was 37km - and that was 3 months before my Ultra. I just maintained that level of fitness by doing shorter runs. The Ultra was a success and, if anything, I could have carried on further. Although my goal was only to finish the run, my time was actually 5h42m. I hope this gives you some encouragement/confidence.
In other news - I'm helping with the Dramathon on Saturday. I'll be at the food station in Aberlour should anyone be doing the event and want to say hello.
Thanks @scotroutes and @mogrim that is exactly the sort of encouragement that I need. Just over a week to the event and I'm feeling relatively confident, I've been running every other day for the last week and a half with a couple of sessions on the elliptical trainer and some resistance leg work on the other days and in this last week i'm going to basically rest and recover with just a couple of short runs (5k ish) and some yoga to keep me flexible.
I'll report back next Sunday.
markr88 - my normal climbing partner did TMB over 5 days in September. I've done quite a lot of the stages. What do you want to know - he's not a great runner but is strong, i think it would be a really good experience ( unless the weather is horrible)
I'd kind of assume 2000m of sleep vert a day - thats more scary than the distance i think
For reference, I've never thought of eating for anything up to an hour, 75 mins, though I've been caught out a few times at the longer end of that range.
@Scotroutes - might see you at Dramathon. My missus is running and I'm taxi/photographer so will be running that way myself.
@wbo at present just getting my head around how to break up the legs. Most guides I can find tend to be based around 10 days.
Also seems like there's some legs people use buses or ski lifts?
Argh, despite being very tentative with my training I've still managed to pick up some sort of tendinopathy in my right calf.
Only really sore when I sit still for any length of time then move again. Once up and walking about it eases off.
So with that in mind and my 10km event next week, do I continue to rest up, or do one short run tonight and one short run mid-next week in order to keep fitness up?
Had planned a 10km at race pace this Saturday but now think that's a bad idea 🙁
Has anyone ran/hiked Tour du Mont Blanc? I’m looking into a trip next summer to do it over 4 or 5 days, would be good to hear from anyone who has done it before.
Bit late to this, but I did it on a bike in 4 days last year and it was a real challenge (had a sizeable add-on on 3rd day tho).
Met some British lads running it in 4 or 5 days, and I was full of admiration for them. Running uphill would undoubtedly be quicker than pushing an enduro bike, but the heat is a big factor and there are limited opportunities to re-stock with food and water (and Switzerland is extortionate), so you'll possibly be carrying a heavier pack than usual too (or hungry/thirsty).
Downhill and flat sections (not many of those) would be much harder on foot obvs.
We met thousands of people hiking it (10 days seemed average), maybe a dozen riding it and just that one group running it.
Okay, so I'm just back from my first 50k event. I got round no problem, finished in 6 hours and 1 minute, slightly annoyed to not get in under 6 hours. Conditions on the North Downs was a bit of a mixed bag, generally not too bad but a few areas were properly sloppy and some of the exposed chalk was like ice.
My legs are toast, by about 35k going uphill was more comfortable than going down hill! Quads and hip flexors are gonna ache in the morning.
Aye, but are you smiling? Was it a good day out on a decent autumn day?
Am at Jedburgh today, providing medical cover for the 3Peaks ultra. It's been beautiful here almost all day, sunny, colourful and enough breeze to stop anyone from overheating. Plus the trails are nearly dry. It's been a lovely day and there are loads of happy runners milling about in the post -race social. Happy days.
Hi, some return to running advice.
I broke my collarbone 3 weeks ago. Clean break so no op, it is being left to heal itself.
Recovery is going well, I have been Zwifting for a couple of weeks now to keep fitness ticking over.
Any STW advice on returning to running. I think I am probably 3 weeks away from running, however if any previous experience to share that would be great.
My legs are toast, by about 35k going uphill was more comfortable than going down hill! Quads and hip flexors are gonna ache in the morning.
Yeah, that's pretty normal. People who haven't done that kind of event assume uphills are the bad bit, but if you're not used to it the downhills are far, far worse.
On Saturday I went under 20 minutes in a Parkrun for the first time in almost five years. It’s not actually meaningful, and my local event has many many faster runners, but it feels satisfying nonetheless to have ticked off this little target again.
Well done, 20 on a parkrun is usually a pretty decent effort, they aren't generally the fastest of courses. A while since I have done that! (just checked, Jan 2023!) I'm around 21-22 currently but hoping to work it down over the next couple of months. Ribble Valley 10k should be a sub-40 target if I get my arse in gear.
Big recommendation for Beachy Head marathon. Completed it over the weekend, 3:45 and sneaked into the top 20.
But what a course and what an event. Stunning scenery, brutal climbs, mud, great support, just a magnificent event. If it wasn’t so far from the midlands I’d definitely be back next year.
If any of you like trails then it definitely needs to be on your list.
In the manner of the all-round trainer question, is there an all-round winter trouser?
I've been looking at the likes of OMM and invo8 but they tend to fall into either warm or waterproof/windproof.
Ideally I'd like a close fitting trouser that's windproof and waterproof. I'm guessing the best compromise would to wear warm leggings underneath?
Thanks
Spotted these on sale, dunno if they might be useful to some on here - probs a bit overkill for my pottering round the local woods, though I do fancy trying some longer mountain routes this year...
Inov8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max Trail Running Shoes £50 on SportsShoes.com
Spotted these on sale, dunno if they might be useful to some on here – probs a bit overkill for my pottering round the local woods, though I do fancy trying some longer mountain routes this year…
Inov8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max Trail Running Shoes £50 on SportsShoes.com
Looks at the 2 boxes containing trails shoes that arrived earlier this week...hmmm...
I wouldn't say they're overkill, I think they're designed for easy to mid Trail terrain rather than proper mountain running, although I've no doubt they'd cope in the right mountain terrain. Well, for me at least.
For pottering about in the local woods, and a bit of road there and back/inbetween woods. They "look" like what I'd go for.
Would like them, but the colour!!
They'll look fine when they're covered in mud though, right?
piemonsterFree Member
I wouldn’t say they’re overkill, I think they’re designed for easy to mid Trail terrain rather than proper mountain running, although I’ve no doubt they’d cope in the right mountain terrain. Well, for me at least.For pottering about in the local woods, and a bit of road there and back/inbetween woods. They “look” like what I’d go for.
Well it didn't take much to convince me... You can never have too many running shoes, right?
True
Watching this week's annual Pennine Way races has put me again on my quest for the ideal winter trouser.
I acknowledge there's probably not one that does everything but is there one that is warmish and waterproof? I don't know if a tight/ waterproof is the preferred combination.
Ideally something close fitting that can deal with ankle deep mud and ice and keep out the wind too. Some insulation would be perfection.
Can't say perfect but I've got some winter tights from Nike - thick with windproof patches that have gotten through 10 winters.
Picked up some Patagonia winter running tights that were cheap and very nice.
I acknowledge there’s probably not one that does everything but is there one that is warmish and waterproof? I don’t know if a tight/ waterproof is the preferred combination.
Assuming you're not going to be standing around for any length of time, and you've got somewhere to carry them, I'd go for some decent winter tights and some overtrousers you can put on if it gets really grim.
This thread has been a little quiet of late.
So, I ran the Kingston Break-fest run 20 miler today, nice flat course, very competitive field lots of marathon runners using it as a pre London or Brighton marathon event. Awesome weather, perfect in fact, and got round in 3 hours and 29 seconds, I was pretty happy with that but amongst the field there today it was barely average 😂
Anyone else been running in the sun?
I ran the breakfast 20 in Kingston today too! Not really my thing as I prefer hills and trails, but I enjoyed it. The weather was amazing and was just on the limit of not being too hot.
it was a prep run for the London marathon which is 7 weeks away. Felt good at 22km so pushed on from there and it looks like the training is working.
good stuff for getting it done! Running on the flat hard stuff is relentless.
Yeah. Did a half marathon distance yesterday (first since last year) up to one of our remote lochs. Weather was stunning and my biggest "hurdle" was avoiding the thousands of frogs 🙂
@root-n-5th yeah not really my thing either, I was going to do a trail half marathon on the South Downs yesterday, but a mate who is training for Brighton marathon was doing this so I said I'd tag along instead, road running sucks 🤣
I think i can finally call myself a "runner", only took up running at start of December with C25K, a dislocated knee and knackered spine had put me off for years, but turn 50 in May and wanted new challenge to raise money for Diabetes charity as daughter is T1, so saw the London Landmarks half marathon on 6th June and entered to set myself a new challenge and got on well with the person who runs the charity, so now down to do Edinburgh and Cardiff as well for them...
I managed my first 13 miler last week, but up to now have been running as much as i can off road to help joints, I have also swapped one of my two strength sessions per week from the classic weight training to more run focussed knee and hip mobility/strength work.
I have been following the Coopah app plan, which seems to have done me well
Questions for the more experienced:
- Should I try and get some longer runs in on the road, as my events are road based and stop running off road?
- Any race day tips for London?
- Ideally i cannot see myself doing longer than half marathon on the road, but would like a crack at a trail full marathon, and there is one that goes along the Norfolk coast here, as few friends have said longer distances off road can often be easier than road marathons due to changes of pace and terrain? Am i best building up to a distance of about 17-18 miles for that in August?
Given the rubbish weather, I've come out of running retirement this year and very slowly building myself up to 10k again (have entered local 'race' at end of April).
Up to about 4.5 miles now but must admit finding it really hard work.
Only real benefit is it has made me think that when it's over I need to get back on the bike!
- Should I try and get some longer runs in on the road, as my events are road based and stop running off road?
Yes, for a half you'd want to have done at least 10 or 11 miles on the roads in the shoes you're going to race in.
At the very least I'd want a few runs in those sooper-dooper comfy road shoes you've bought yourself.
haha @scotroutes - weirdly i have been doing my easy short run and my long weekend run off road in some mid range Asics trail shoes, my third run for the week is usually about 5 miles and is usually intervals of some sorts... and done that on the road in my new fancy sneeks (Asics Superblast 2) thinking they'd be like running on a large cloud, but actually still come back with the same aches and stiffness (which doesn't last thankfully!)
Also @scotroutes, thanks for suggesting Run better with Ash on youtube, i have been a religious convert to his soft yorkshire tones for my warm up and cool downs
That looks bloody lovely @Sctroutes. Certainly better than the 18 miles around the streets of the West Midlands I did last night.
Where are you based @scotroutes? It's felt very spring like in the Lakes recently with nice dry trails
I'm doing WHW recce this weekend; Tyndrum to Fort William over two days. Forecast looks reasonable at present.
@mark88 - I'm in Aviemore. We expect it to be reasonably wintery for a bit longer than most folk. Having said that, it's been fairly dry and we did have 16C last weekend. The weather for your recce looks pretty good. Remember some photos.
Anyone else doing the Leith hill half this weekend? My goal is to get round!
I ran the MK Festival of Running Half Marathon yesterday (16/3).
I only took up running in June last year, and if you'd said to me back then that I'd be 20lbs lighter and doing a half within ten months I'd have thought you mad. However, I did, and finished in 2:10, which was my target time, so I'm chuffed with that. Not quick by some folk's standards, but quick for me.
Anyhow, trumpet-blowing over.
Scotroutes - Those first pictures make me a bit jealous, I do have the a lot of trial running just a mile from home but it doesn't look like that.....
I am a recent runner too, started around 10 months ago and I just have one word of warning for those that have started recently and have not yet ended up injured - Dont do too much too soon!
Build up the intensity and distance slowly, don't add a load of distance out of nowhere or run harder than usual more than once a week until those legs are used to things (the 80/20 'rule' is widely accepted for a reason) or you will likely end up like me, spending hundreds on physio and taking nearly 3 months off running over the Christmas period because you have some kind of tendon / hip issues - If you look at my strava that week's activity shows higher than usual elevation, higher than usual pace and higher than usual distance.
Back at it now, building slowly and touch wood no huge issues other than than one calf protesting if I run too many hills in a week.
Trying to work out if I can get ready for a September 50k ultra right now... longest run being just 15k that feels a long way off though!
For 2025 I have set the targets of running a marathon a month and cycling a Gran Fondo (or longer) each month as well.
Saturday I completed marathon #3 for the year. I don't run fast but I offset that with sheer stubbornness to get the distance done 🤣.
April marathon will be an eight hour event involving laps of 4.3miles around Devilla Forest. Should be interesting!
After many failed attempts at getting into running, this year it seems to have "stuck" and I am really enjoying it. I feel like I did when I first discovered cycling 10 years ago.
I have done spits and spats of running before with friends. I always figured my cycling fitness would carry me though which it definitely didn't. Endless hip pain, knee pain, whatever. Running always felt clunky and clumsy to me because I just barely did it, and always would try go fast when alone which caused loads of issues. No technique, over-expectation, just a mess basically.
After starting from "scratch" this year and forgoing any kind of expectation I feel much better; springier, and lighter on my feet. Also lost a good 6Kg which helps too...
I've been focusing on easy and increasingly longer jogs/runs on & off-road, and building up muscle endurance almost exclusively since New Year. It's funny because I'm quite cardio-fit from cycling so my HR stays low and I can breathe fine at jogging speed...so it SEEMS like it's not training but it definitely is. What a difference in such a short time.
In recent weeks I've started to incorporate some speed work in the form of strides towards the end of my runs and it seems to be doing wonders. Certainly noob-gains. I decided I'd test my progress and did a parkrun on Saturday morning and managed to get sub 25 minutes without it feeling *too* sufferfesty - whereas my first one in January it was about 29 minutes and felt awful. Happy with that.
I have entered a trail half marathon in Lochinver in May that I have been fairly excited for. Looks ace - my aim is mostly just to enjoy it, feel like I "belong", and not feel like I've been hit by a bus come 15km.
In terms of this race in May, I would be really happy with about 2h15 mins. That's a 6.24/km pace which feels really quite doable at this point. My "Easy run" pace at the moment is about 5.45/km but I of course want to account for terrain / mud / steep climbs etc of which I know there's a decent amount on that course. I'd still be chuffed with anything under 2h30. If I got closer to 2h with another 6 weeks of training and noob gains, and a race-day boost I would be absolutely overjoyed. But - most of all as I said I just want to feel like I enjoyed myself and that my body was capable for the whole race.
All my mates are now bothering me to try an Ultra next year, but I'm not sure I really want to just yet. One thing I like about running is that you can get a comparatively good workout in such a short time with little faff compared to bikes, which means essentially more time to do other stuff I like. 20Km seems like a really nice length.
---
P.S - It's true what they say but I was always in denial. For anyone considering making a first bash into running: The complete lack of faff on a weeknight run when compared to sorting the bike out is bliss.
That's very cool to hear @elray89 and I couldn't agree more with your comment on the lack of faff.
Ultra's are awesome, but if you don't want them to be an ordeal then the training is long and hard, which maybe defeats the object for you. I'm really liking small, local trail races at the moment, 10k, maybe half marathon. They all seem to be super friendly and the courses have lots of variety, might be something worth looking at for you.
Penultimate "winter" Monday evening social run tonight.
Stunning evening after a bluebird day.
That's very cool to hear @elray89 and I couldn't agree more with your comment on the lack of faff.
Ultra's are awesome, but if you don't want them to be an ordeal then the training is long and hard, which maybe defeats the object for you. I'm really liking small, local trail races at the moment, 10k, maybe half marathon. They all seem to be super friendly and the courses have lots of variety, might be something worth looking at for you.
Yeah! I was having a look at some smaller races for later in the year up to half distance. There's a few really nice trail events; I'd even do a road half tbh - I think I enjoy road running just as much at this time of the year at least. Great for people watching and a bit of exploring round town with a podcast or something.
I'm a terrible bu**er for overcommitting to hobbies though, so expect me in the entry list of some kind of awful 100 mile job in a couple years haha.
But yeah, feels like I have to go out for twice the time on the bike to get the same (at least perceived) feeling of "I have now done a good exercise". Feel fitter on the bike too though so all thumbs up.
Right i've my last longish run on sunday a local trail 10k, before my main event, half marathon on 06/04... any tapering tips?
I've not posted here for ages, but actually I've been running quite a bit - steadily building up mileage to hopefully do a half marathon distance sometime over summer. I'm following a plan on my watch which seems to be working pretty well, I've done nearly 60k in total so far this month, running four times a week which is way more than I've ever managed before. Obviously pocket change to some on here, but I'm definitely feeling the difference in a good way.
Is there any advice for strength exercises to complement running that I can do at home with a kettlebell or dumbells? I'm currently doing kettlebell swings and goblet squats a couple of times a week, pull-ups and push ups plus a fair bit of stretching (static stretches after a run, dynamic stretches just through the day whenever I get up from my desk).
Bonus points for being easy to fit in!
I've not posted here for ages, but actually I've been running quite a bit - steadily building up mileage to hopefully do a half marathon distance sometime over summer. I'm following a plan on my watch which seems to be working pretty well, I've done nearly 60k in total so far this month, running four times a week which is way more than I've ever managed before. Obviously pocket change to some on here, but I'm definitely feeling the difference in a good way.
Is there any advice for strength exercises to complement running that I can do at home with a kettlebell or dumbells? I'm currently doing kettlebell swings and goblet squats a couple of times a week, pull-ups and push ups plus a fair bit of stretching (static stretches after a run, dynamic stretches just through the day whenever I get up from my desk).
Bonus points for being easy to fit in!
I can never remember what they're called - Bulgarian split squats I think? - but doing kettlebell/dumbell lunges with one foot raised behind you on a chair or similar. That's a very good exercise for running and biking - and general core stability / balance! Isolating each leg allows you to overcome and target any imbalances you might have which go unnoticed during two-leg squats etc.
Ah yeah, I think I've seen those - I'll give them a blast in this afternoon's session. Cheers!
Evening all, looking for advice re. training
Ive entered b the Round Sheffield Run in June and trying to ascertain how to train for it - 20km, 11 stage
I followed a Garmin training plan for the 1/2 marathon and that was pretty good but this is a lot more interval based as there is a walk between each stage!
https://www.roundsheffieldrun.com/stage-route-info
Any thoughts - not just "I'd do some intervals" please
Well eight years after failing in my first attempt, I completed the Gloucester 10km yesterday. My proper running mate paced me round to a - to me anyway - very respectable 52m35s. It's a flat course and the weather was amazing, but not sure I could have gone any harder. I was very happy to turn off at the split for the half marathon. That's for another day/year.
I've quite enjoyed the discipline of putting the work in as I'm just not a natural runner at all. The event was superbly organised and I'd definitely do another one. Much more "fun" than running on your own. And I can still walk this morning which is a win, especially as my post run stretching looked a lot more like joining my riding mates in the pub and having a few beers!
Wrote some post race/post beer nonsense: https://www.pickled-hedgehog.com/one-and-done/
Well done Alex, that's ace (though I've never get on with running with other people - I like solo runs the best).
Big thing for me is that - as long as I manage a couple of km today (I have a 5km cadence drill in my plan) I'll tick over 100 km run for March. That's a big volume milestone (or km-stone, I guess) for me.
Thanks. I was up to around 90km/month during the 100 days of exercise thing. But then I injured my knee and had to really scale it back in Jan and a bit of feb. Did enough tho to get me round. Knee was great so MUST keep doing the exercises!
I will carry on running for sure, but priority will be riding. Still if the weather stays as nice as it has been, that 7am run is definitely on the agenda. Sets you up for the day.
Did a 21km yesterday in the Pentlands, at a delibrately "easy" pace. Felt so much better than I have before when I've done it off-the-cuff with a friend and had to walk half of it. Turns out training works! Got my first sunburn of the year as well, mad.
I ended up getting sore hips at about 17km, which required me to stop and stretch my glutes a couple of times. Frustrating because effort-wise it felt really doable - but I am sure it is just conditioning as I haven't done anything longer than 15km this year. I also think sometimes a slow pace feels less "flowy" and seems higher impact. Might go for another long run this weekend, but perhaps leave from the house and do a road / mixed surface run. Really enjoyed myself.
Seems my idea of finishing my trail race in May in 2h15 might be achievable. Managed 2h20 yesterday on similar length and elevation, without pushing myself at all. Still though, not going to revise down the time.
FWIW I found during the December Marcothon (at least 5km per day for 31 days) that it wasn't totally monthly distance that did it for my legs, it was zero days of recovery. I'll not be repeating that in 2025. I'd much rather run a few, longer days.
I think i can finally call myself a runner, finished the London Landmarks Half marathon yesterday, fastest I have done the distance in training is 2 hours 33, got in at 2:09 hours and thought blimey i've knocked a huge amount off, only to find they had to shorten the course by a few hundred metres due to changing course with 15 mins to go due to "casualty on the line" at Charing Cross station!
Plan was to run 10:00 min miles dead on, but managed 9.5 mins miles despite it being really warm in centre of London and my 95kg diabetic carcass not liking the heat too much!
Great day though, and would thoroughly recommend it as an event.
@scud - well in. I was there yesterday running for Movember. I was well chuffed with a PB of 01:46:03.... until as you say the course was 700ish metres short. Was still pleased tho, as i wasnt dead on my feet. Great atmosphere.
@v7fmp, it was a good day, i daftly saw the Finish line and thought, i've got a left in tank, and started to "sprint (go a bit quicker)" and then the course turned right away from the finish!
Do you know what happened to the lady that was getting CPR and they had screens up around, hoping it was a good outcome?
Congrats on PB mate, that's a great time, next target for me is try and get down as close to 2 hours as i can, was just chuffed to get round at decent pace for me yesterday though.
@scud - i know what you mean, i knew it went right, but wasnt how far, so didnt want to go to early... once i knew it was in sight i gave it all i had!
I didnt know about the woman, hopefully all is ok. I think the heat probably caught a few out, felt hotter than expected!
I am already looking forward to next years event!
Managed to run my 2nd formal marathon yesterday in Brighton. Have run marathon distance several times but this was only the 2nd time in a formal race. Great day if I did get sunburnt:) also started a pen later than I planned (to be sociable) and so spent the entire race weaving through people. Managed 4:05 which I was pleased with given the traffic and that I had to stop for the loo half way round!
One more marathon before the summer and then I can really start to put the Km's into the legs