17.5k for the week, apart from some sore calves when running (which goes away if I up the pace…) that felt pretty good.

Last full week of running was at the end of April, was doing 20-25k a week.

Another 15-18k next week and then I’ll start gradually upping the distance, as I was planning to do a month ago! 😬

Day 87 of my lockdown streak and another 60+ mile week complete. Had a couple of days when I just didn’t want to go this week but dragged myself out and am glad I did.
My running club is doing some very unofficial club runs too which have been awesome.
When the weather is this good it’s just awesome to be out running.

Just realised I did 49.3Km last week, which is more than my monthly total from not long ago. A few aches and pains, but rest day today and back on it tomorrow.

@lunge – great streaking, it gets to a point where you’ll not want to break it no matter what. I was struggling after Dewsbury 10k with a very sore calf which I almost certainly should have rested, but managed to drag myself out for a week of 3 to 4 mile efforts just to keep my streak intact. That was in Feb so about 9 months into my current streak. I wasn’t going to be denied this time like I was previously with the dog/leg interface. Keep up the good work!

@alanf, I’ve had a few days when I just didn’t want to play, but dragged myself out. My rule is that to count as a run it has to be 5k or more and no slower than 11 minute miles. Any less I classify as a walk!

@turboferret Is the self-supported part of the challenge or out of necessity? I’d be happy to time my weekend run to coincide with dropping supplies to you if needed.

I had my biggest ever running week – 4 runs totalling a marathon, longest of which being a half marathon on Saturday. I wanted to get away from usual routes so it left me in the unknown a litte so had to contend with lots of busy pavements, road works and a steep climb at 19km, but it went pretty well.

I did the planned 20km run/hike up a local mountain with my mate, it’s the first time he’s been up a mountain since lockdown started 3 months ago, and he suffered like a dog on the downhills 🙂

And it was my turn to suffer this morning – I did a 100km (road) bike ride yesterday, with another mountain in the middle of it, and boy could I feel it this morning!

Beaten up in the faster group at an unofficial club run once again and I absolutely loved it.
With no races at the moment it’s soooo good to have a chance to push myself a bit.
Any new runners out there I would urge you to join your local club when they open up again. They are very friendly, great fun and give you a chance to push your limits.

@mark88 that’s a kind offer, but I’d like to try it unsupported. There are different sets of times listed on the FKT site, unsupported (carrying own supplies) self-supported (stopping at shops etc to restock) and supported (assistance on route). A friend of mine has done the Jubilee Greenway self-supported, he stopped for a McDonalds breakfast and a Starbucks, but I like the sound of doing it solo. To be honest, I struggle to get much in the way of fluids in during a hard run, and I’ll be early so it’ll be pretty cool, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. I say this now in total ignorance!

My timing isn’t necessarily particularly sociable either:

km Time Landmark
0 04:20 Buckingham Palace
1 04:23 Hyde Park Corner
2 04:27 Carriage Drive
3 04:31 Kensington Palace
4 04:35 Bayswater Road
5 04:38 Paddington Station
6 04:42 Little Venice
7 04:46 Lisson Grove
8 04:50 St Johns Wood
9 04:53 London Zoo
10 04:57 Camden Lock
11 05:01 St Pancras
12 05:05 Kings Cross
13 05:08 Chapel Market
14 05:12 Wharf Road
15 05:16 De Beauvoir Town
16 05:20 Hackney
17 05:23 Cambridge Heath Road
18 05:27 Hertford Union Canal Start
19 05:31 Victoria Park
20 05:35 Entrance to Greenway
21 05:38 Pudding Mill Lane
22 05:42 Abbey Mills Pumping Station
23 05:46 Upper Road
24 05:50 Barking Road
25 05:53 Newham Hospital
26 05:57 Viking Gardens
27 06:01 Beckton Park
28 06:05 New Beckton Park
29 06:08 University of East London
30 06:12 Fishguard Way
31 06:16 Royal Victoria Gardens
32 06:20 Woolwich Foot Tunnel South
33 06:23 The Reach Climbing Wall
34 06:27 Docklands GoKarting
35 06:31 Aggregate Recycling Plant
36 06:35 Greenwich Ecology Park
37 06:38 O2 Arena
38 06:42 North Greenwich
39 06:46 Essex Water
40 06:50 Greenwich Power Station
41 06:53 Cutty Sark
42 06:57 Glaisher Street
43 07:01 Sayes Court Park
44 07:05 Pepys Park
45 07:08 Surrey Quays
46 07:12 Durand’s Wharf
47 07:16 Sovereign Crescent
48 07:20 Rotherhithe Street Bridge
49 07:23 Kings Stairs Gardens
50 07:27 Bermondsey Wall West
51 07:31 City Hall
52 07:35 Clink Street
53 07:38 Blackfriars Bridge
54 07:42 Jubilee Bridge
55 07:46 Lambeth Palace
56 07:50 Parliament
57 07:53 Horseguard Parade
58 07:57 Buckingham Palace

So I’m planning on increasing my running mileage over the next weeks and months, would like to get to the stage where I’m running 30-35k a week. Doing that on my current 3/4 runs a week, plus 1 MTB ride is fairly easy – enough days free for rest days.

However, I’d like to start doing some local MTB rides of an hour or 2, as there’s some nice trails about 7 miles away. Would like to do this couple of times a week at least, plus maybe one other MTB ride further away by car, so 3-4 MTB rides a week.

Now, 4 MTB rides a week, plus 3/4 runs per week, well that seems like a recipe for injury!

Those who ride and run a lot, how do you do it? Would doing 2 or 3 longer runs be better than doing 3 or 4 shorter runs? Those sort of runs I’d need a rest day after, although the MTB rides wouldn’t be a big one – maybe 1000ft climbing and 20 miles max.

Running was meant to be just a way to keep my fitness up over winter when I found it hard to get out on the bike, but here I am 6 months later trying to not make it my primary exercise!

It’s a dilemma I wrestle with ta11pau1 as I just don’t seem to have the time – or maybe to be brutally honest –  to commit to both running and cycling as I’d like. So it’s one or the other for me and I usually get out 4-5 times a week. In the winter its more running dominated with more cycling in the summer. I reckon commuting – either running or cycling – would help greatly, but it’s not an option for me.

Yeah I suppose it’ll depend on the week, good weeks like we’ve had with dry weather I might prioritise the cycling, with a run or 2. Crap weather I can bang out the miles running.

Before I had 3-4 weeks off running I was had done a couple of 10-11k runs, I’ll get back to there but my it’s gonna take my legs a few weeks to get used to it again, I suppose as long as I’m running one or two times a week I won’t have the ‘reset’ that I’ve just had.

90 mins on the bike is definitely much easier than 45 mins running, and tbh after a normal 6.5k run like today I don’t feel like (and my garmin backs this up) I need a rest day the next day, so I’ll probably be OK running/riding 5/6 days a week total with a day or 2 rest.

Those who ride and run a lot, how do you do it? Would doing 2 or 3 longer runs be better than doing 3 or 4 shorter runs? Those sort of runs I’d need a rest day after, although the MTB rides wouldn’t be a big one – maybe 1000ft climbing and 20 miles max.

I wouldn’t say I’m an example of someone doing big miles on foot or by bike tbh, but I find they complement each other fairly well.

Try and up your miles a bit, even if you have to slow down, I try to stay above 5 miles, ideally 7 or 8, and will happily do that in the morning, then go to my local trails in the evening, maybe 15 miles and 1200′ of climbing.

Sometimes my legs feel heavy from running, but spinning them out on the bike helps, and after a few miles they feel good again.

As @Nobeerinthefridge says, to avoid injury you just need to build up the volume slowly, trust me I know I’ve been there. Its perfectly doable, I’ve managed to build up from 30km to 75km run weeks now. This is then on top of a couple of gravel rides a week usually 50-100 km. Most run programs tend to have you do one slower long run a week. So perhaps look at getting that into your routine somewhere.

I think the key is to let your body adapt to the new stress your planning on putting on it. Do less intense/shorter runs and combine it with the cycling and see how it goes. Don’t push things too quickly, let your body adapt and then if you feel like it increase intensity or distance as you see fit. Build it up slowly.

I’ve dropped-off my running past week or so, picked-up an injury of sorts right at the top of my right hip, feels like I’ve bashed it against it something but happended near the end of my last run. Hopefully chiropractor on Friday will have some thoughts as I’m missing it.

Doing a run in the morning then bike in the evening is usually fine, although obviously your pace on the bike might suffer a bit. The other way round is tougher. (I’m ignoring triathlon brick workouts as they’re a bit more specialist).

At the moment I’m doing something like:

Running: Mon (slow/recovery)-Wed (intervals) -Fri (tempo/hills) -Sat (long, usually mountain)
Riding: Tue – Thur – Sunday (long ride)

If I wanted to add another ride in it would probably be an easy recovery ride, probably on the Friday.

Most of my runs are ‘slow’ now tbh, around 6:00 – 6:20 /km – I’m happy at 5:30 /km on road and am pushing 5:05 /km for 5k as my fastest pace. I’d rather focus on building the length of my runs than speed – getting comfortable with 10-15k runs is a target.

I think just building up slowly on both counts is the way to go 🙂 If I was to do a run and ride on the same day it’d be a few hours apart so might be pushing it a bit. 4pm run and 8pm ride…

Interesting reading all.

Had a terrible run today and had some bizarre heart rate data. I did a hard interval session yesterday of 3 minutes zone 4/5, 2 minutes recovery x 5 which went well, but I was tired as expected. Did the speed bit between 3:50/km and 4:20/km as gradient involved.

Today was a 40 minutes zone 2 run. The legs felt a bit heavy, as expected, but my heart rate reading suddenly jumped from 145 to 165+ on a downhill after 10 minutes and stayed there for the rest of the run. I certainly didn’t feel like I was pushing my max heart rate from perceived effort as I was running slowly, but could this really have happened? Is this a sign of overtraining or just a dodgy hrm?

I didn’t feel great during the run and got slower trying to keep breathing in check, legs were heavy and feel shattered now. Any ideas welcome! Thanks.

Here is Strava link: https://strava.app.link/b7RgmQMpo7

If you’re using Strava might be worth keeping an eye on https://intervals.icu/ to keep track of the total “load” and building that up slowly, does a reasonable job giving a number of how “hard” a workout is, bearing in mind distance and speed etc.

Though does seem to count bike rides higher than runs which doesn’t feel quite right to me, a run that felt hard scoring less than an easy ride.

Any one else having difficulty finding trainers? I wanted some new Nikes and struggling to find much in my size – guessing it’s the lockdown effect…

@dashed, there’s new Nike shoes out soon that may also explain the shortages. The new Pegasus came out last week, and there’s a few other models imminent too.

Cool – thanks. I’ll hold fire on new shoes

Well I managed a 10 min jog a min walk a 10 min jog a 1 min walk then a 15 min jog, my covid recovery has really come on this week , very pleased to be getting somewhere now

Well done firestarter, best of luck sir.

Dashed – it’s murder, sportsshoes has hardly anything in my size, not just bikes that have been flying off the shelves!

So my ‘local’ trails mean 16 miles and 1800ft of climbing… haha.

I’ll try and keep these to a couple of times a week max while also trying to run 15-20k and building this up. I think 24hrs or so rest from each of these will be fine.

30-40 miles of mtb and 20k running seems a good place to start. Sorry for the mixed units, I wish strava would let you see runs in km and rides in miles!

Cheers nobeer it’s a long way from my ultra runs but it’s a start

I always tend to run more in the winter time (I do struggle keeping a bike clean after every ride), but this year I alternate run / ride . not training for anything specific just trying to slowly build up the running miles 11.5miles yesterday. slow and steady and enjoy the journey.. currently running inov8 terra ultra (zero drop) and love them.
I do find the running helps to stabilise my knee muscles and you defo get more bang for the buck time wise. but a sweet singletrack is pure bliss.

would love an ultra at some point (never done a marathon ) maybe the Iceland Ultra. happy running riding

Amazing and perplexing machine, the human body. After feeling awful on Wednesday morning on a slow run, with an elevated heart rate and feeling ill, I rested and went out last night to meet some club mates (at a distance) to do a recce of the 10K course at Nonsuch for a couple of weeks time. I was offered a lift there but decided to run the 5K there intending on doing one lap of 4.5Km then run home.

Running at a conversational pace I felt good so did the 10K, then ran home, did a loop to make it 21.5Km and have bagged my first half marathon and longest run by 4km, all the while feeling my body was working well, being able to keep the heart rate in zone two while still running at a steady 6min/km. Not fast, but that’s not the point, it felt easy and relaxed. I feel the plan is coming together!

Good job @root-n-5th, always nice to set a new personal best 🙂

I did hill repeats this morning and as usual the hardest bit was getting out of bed, once I was up and out I enjoyed it. Prior to WFH I hardly ever went running first thing, and it’s a nice way to start the day. Now busy making plans for tomorrow, with presumably another mountain to climb somewhere.

Well done root!

Minor feel good Friday for me too. Similar to root, last few runs have felt real hard work, even walked some of the hillier bits, but today after a late night and wine last night I’ve ran my quickest ever 5k (24m50s). Wasn’t even going to bother going out as I felt tired and crap.

@dooosuk

Excellent! I’ve had a few parkrun pbs after late nights and beer. Must be all those carbs and maybe the anaesthetic qualities.

Aaaaaarrrrrggghhhh!!!!!!

Toes hurting again. I’m cursed, cursed I tell you. The toe box in these new shoes couldn’t be any bigger. I give up, I might get the loppers out later.

Race to the stones has gone virtual this year, with free entry and do a sponsorship bit for charity. Log your miles for a week and challenge yourself.
Usually a 100k ultra.

https://www.racetothestones.com/virtual-challenge/

@loum Might try that, cheers.

Any headphone recommendations for someone whose ears don’t confirm to normality – things don’t stay in them?

Thanks.

Any headphone recommendations for someone whose ears don’t confirm to normality – things don’t stay in them?

Jabra Elite 75t, they fit securely and work well.

Any headphone recommendations for someone whose ears don’t confirm to normality – things don’t stay in them?

I’d look for something with hooks over the ears.
Check the reviews on Scarbir. He likes these Mpow Flame Pro, I’m going to buy some soon.
https://www.scarbir.com/tws/mpow-flame-pro-review

In ear buds never work for me, so I ended up with these at Christmas

https://eu.jbl.com/JBL+Endurance+SPRINT.html?dwvar_JBL%20Endurance%20SPRINT_color=Red-GLOBAL-Current&cgid=headphones-wireless#start=1

Magnetic hooks over ears and work very well.

Bought myself a pair of running shoes, so me and the OH could do a sport together and be reasonably equal.

We did a few lengths of the local football field alternating each length with a walk. This was the middle of last week and my legs are still ruined.

A couple of gentle rides on Zwift have helped but looks my legs are a bit to used to cycling at the mo.

It’s probably the first time I’ve run in 30 years. My left knee was particularly unhappy with the experience.

This pandemic has illustrated something I already knew: that I’m not really a runner, I’m a guy who likes running in the mountains. Take away the mountains and I’ve got zero interest in the running bit! Still,it’s re-kindled my love of mountain biking and when I can get back to the mountains I’ll get back to the running.