The Annual Running thread – beginners/ultras/whatever

IMO the c25k over 9 weeks, although long, is great precisely because it’s long: it gives your body ample time to adapt.

On the first of the month I was dashing through the garden wearing worn out minimal barefoot shoes and booted one of the kids toys with my little toe. My last run was nine days before. Not ran since. I’ve been biking, but nothing too demanding. Starting to really miss running now. Have been for a few short lunch time walks this week. Will probably just going out for a short run soon, maybe the weekend.

New shoes today. Set of parkclaws.

Had done nearly 600 miles on the brooks adrenalins and they were getting a little tired.

Seem good on first 5k.

After doing the couch25k in summer of 2021 and road running 2 or 3 times a week ever since, I decided to try a trail run this weekend.

I had a go at a 10k race at Hamsterley Forest (of MTB fame!).

It was pretty tough: entire first half all uphill, second half all downhill.

Really enjoyed it and came third overall in just over 48 min.  Very chuffed.

Now working though some new aches and pains (like in the arches of my feet?!).

@jam-bo, how is the fit on the Park Claws? I’m tempted by a pair but have always found Innov8 shoes very narrow in the toe.

Cracking run @nobbingsford, that’s a good time with that amount of elevation. Good work.

This is the profile for my next event. Lumpy is the word.

That final descent to the finish should be fun 🙂

That final descent to the finish should be fun

Indeed, it’s the 22 miles before then that may give a challenge.

The last 3 miles is down a gravel track and I’ll be in road shoes so it’s not quite as good as you’d hope…

@jam-bo, how is the fit on the Park Claws? I’m tempted by a pair but have always found Innov8 shoes very narrow in the toe.

seem pretty roomy. they are their widest fit according to the blurb. i went up half a size based on recommendations on sportshoes.com.

One of those ephemeral questions, but probably worthwhile putting it here…

Should I join a running club?

I’ve had a rough patch in terms of motivation, pretty much since running the Lakes in a Day last year. Entering a target event didn’t help, I did less running in the run-up to the Itera expedition race than I should have, and suffered on the foot stages because of it. I’m entered for the OMM in a couple of weeks, but am just struggling to bring myself to care.

I’m never going to be a fast runner (nor do I need to be, except in the event of short-notice cake sales), and I’ve no interest in running competitively, dwelling on my 5k/10k/half/marathon PBs etc etc. I don’t enjoy running for the sake of running – I orienteer so the nav takes my mind off how much my legs hurt. I take zero joy from slogging long hard boring miles on pavement, and I can’t deal with the petty internal politics that was endemic in the last running and cycling clubs I had any involvement with. I’d orienteer more, but my local club events are only once a week, and that’s not enough to keep me in running shape (round’s a shape, right?)

So in spite of all of that second paragraph, would it be a good idea to outsource the motivation by joining a local club and going through the programme? I can see a benefit for me in running more – and indeed, I was a lot fitter and faster during lockdowns when I was running more – but even in good weather and daylight, I’m struggling to motivate myself to do anything, run, bike or otherwise. Is joining a club going to help, or does anyone have any alternative sage wisdom as to what might work?

@pyro, I’m a big fan of running clubs, but you have to find the right one.

I’ve run faster and further than I would have without joining, and have also had a great deal of fun doing it.

The one I’m a member of does run some roads in the winter when it’s dark, but always trails when it’s brighter, has lots of different pace groups and weekend groups for longer stuff too.

They’re also free of politics unless you’re on the committee.

Do it.

@lunge, good luck with that Snowdonia marathon.  Looks like bloody hard work to me.  Enjoy!

Did the Yorkshire Marathon at the weekend…

Over the last 2 years I’ve been doing a lot more running than I used to but usually only a 10k run every other week during the warmer weather and shorter lunchtime runs during winter so I’m by no means a “proper” regular runner. Signed up to the marathon earlier in the year (was kinda roped into it) so coming off my holidays in August thought I’d better start to get some proper training in so was taking my runs up to 10 miles, then 13 and topped out at just short of 16 miles a few weeks back, all of which running at sub 10 minute miles. Scarily though, only ran a couple of +13 mile runs!

Aims for the marathon were:
1) survival
2) raise some money for charity
3) nice to get under 5 hours, bloody brilliant to get 4h30m

First time doing an event of this size (had done a local 10k before which was great) and it was brilliant. Support, atmosphere, organisation etc. Really good. Set off at 9.30 on Sunday, through the centre of York and out towards Stamford Bridge which was just past the halfway point. All going well, feeling pretty fresh. The stretch from Stamford Bridge back to York though was along the A166 – wide, winding, gently up and down road instead of the small, picturesque roads we’d been on previously – absolutely mind numbingly awful. Got up to 18/19 miles still feeling fresh but then started to get pains in my right thigh. Kept going but could sense my pace dropping to closer to 11 minute miles. By the time I hit 22 miles I was struggling. Walking 100m, running half a mile, walking 100m etc. To be fair, I was still moving faster than a lot of people by that point! Last mile or so I found a last bit of energy, including for the last hill up to the university followed by a last 200m “sprint” (felt like a sprint anyway!).

Finished in 4h31m. Such a MASSIVE emotional outpouring at the end… seeing the support of my friends and family. Seeing my kids, nieces and nephews along the route, surprise appearances by some of my best mates. But I did it – ran 26.2 miles which for someone who has only gone past the 13 mile barrier twice previously, I was dead chuffed with.

And along with my BiL who was also roped into it, raised £1000 for the MS Society.

Initial thoughts were that I’d never, ever even contemplate doing such a thing ever again but sat here now on a comfy chair with my blisters healing (the tape on my right foot came off after 6 miles!), maybe I will!

@Pyro joining a club is a great idea, your running improves and you get to meet loads of great people (dependent on club!)

Where are you based? My club does trail runs every week, with an optional road run from the pub through the winter. We do club races, social runs and all sorts, as well as a strong fell Championships / Relays team, and others who run but don’t race.

Thanks Lunge and Pieface

I’m based in Horsforth, Leeds, and there’s a local club based less than half a km from my house (so perfect for convenience) but they’re predominantly road based. They may be better for training/fitness, their groups and paces are nice and clearly laid out on their website, which is good for someone like me who has no idea what their pace is other than ‘slow’. There’s also a fell club, but everything on their website is how great their top runners are with only a cursory ‘we train on X evening’, which is a bit offputting.

@Pyro – what about Pudsey & Bramley? (or is that who you mean)?

You really shouldn’t judge a club by its website, the site probably gets very little attention / thought, and there’s probably loads more going on than the single training run.

@Pieface – No, was looking at Horsforth Harriers and Horsforth Fellandale. They’re both 5-10mins walk from my house, so there’s less excuse of not being arsed to drive to a training session!

I know the website’s likely to be less important, but it’s the first port-of-call for numpties like me, so lots of information that reassures me that I’m not going to turn up and immediately be shelled out the back of a training session is a good thing! (that latter part being one of the many things that put me off a previous running club a lot of years back)

Well P&B are small but accomplished club, maybe a bit further than you were hoping for but probably a bit more cavalier than most running clubs but still getting the results!

@DaveyBoyWonder well done 👍

On to the next one.

Clubs are mostly great. I’d run with mine a lot more if I didn’t WFH and therefore have the ability to head out in daylight.

@Pyro – maybe a better bet for you than a club would be to find a mate or two to run with? I typically run with a riding mate who does adventure races. We only run on days where the weather makes riding impractical.

… as an aside ome of my favourite running memories are from 20+ years ago when i lived in Meanwood and used to run through the woods to Headingley Golf Club.

@Lunge – that marathon looks like a monster!

Hardest/hilliest “run” i’ve done was the Point to Pinnacle in Hobart: https://pointtopinnacle.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/P2P-Website-Map-2019.pdf

Almost 1300m climb half marathon. 1km at the start is flat, then it just goes straight up. Fortunately the surface is all tarmac so at least there’s no traction issues!

@DaveyBoyWonder

Initial thoughts were that I’d never, ever even contemplate doing such a thing ever again but sat here now on a comfy chair with my blisters healing (the tape on my right foot came off after 6 miles!), maybe I will!

… you know you want to. Decent time that for someone who seems to have hardly trained for it, too 👍

@Pyro
I wouldn’t be put off by the fact the local club is mainly road based – and if they’ve got access to a track that’s even better. Most of my running is done off road, but there’s definitely “fun” to be had squeezing the last bit of speed out on a track or asphalt. Running on the flat also makes it a lot easier to be consistent and see how your pace is improving (or not…), as you don’t have to worry about the gradient, the surface you’re running on, mud etc. Presumably most of your local clubs will allow you to go along for a day to see what it’s like, so personally I’d be phoning them and giving them all a go.

@lunge The Snowdon marathon is generally televised on Welsh TV, so if you’re up the front expect to have a camera in your face.  A buddy of mine has won in the past.  The final descent can be pretty slippery if it’s been wet recently, and the cameras love to catch anyone falling on their arse 🙂

Looks epic though!

Thanks for the comments all. I’ll drop the most local a message and see what’s what – I’m in that weird quandary where I probably don’t need to do their ‘Absolute Beginners’ group, but it might well be a good place to start because my fitness at the moment feels rubbish.

And @reeksy, Meanwood Trail has been a regular run and ride route for 20+ years for me now, it made a great 20km loop that I was doing at least 2/3 times a month during lockdown (Horsforth – Golden Acre – Meanwood trail – coffee and cake at the new-ish cafe in Meanwood Park – Headingley – Beckett Park – Woodside Quarry – home). I just can’t imagine trying to run 20km at all at the moment!

The final descent can be pretty slippery if it’s been wet recently, and the cameras love to catch anyone falling on their arse

I’ve heard this. I’m debating having Mrs Lunge at the top with a pair of trail shoes that I can swap in to as I’m not sure the Vaporfly’s are the right tool for a 3 mile off road descent.

Has anyone done the Lakes in a Day ultra before? Tempted to enter the 2023 event

Edit** I’ll post this on the hill walking thread when I get on my PC, probably more suitable 🙂 *

I spent weds and Thurs recceing legs 1 and 2 of BGR. No problems with leg 1, although I was surprised how boggy the stretch between skiddaw and great calva was. And also halls fell ridge was gnarlier than I thought, although it was very gusty on weds so it felt particularly exposed. If I have the luxury of recceing leg 1 again I might have a look at the parachute/ middle ridge

Leg 2 on Thurs was a lot tougher as it rained all day and I got lost on top of Fairfield in the mist (so many cairns on that plateau), couldn’t make out the summit cairn on Raise either. Was out for about 6.5 hours

On Friday I had a day handy in the lakes. Was going to park in wasdale for a recce of the second half of leg 3 but instead just did a ‘trail run’ (more of a ‘fast trek’) of the coledale horseshoe, with a Wainwright bag of grasmoor thrown in

Still buzzing from such an extended trip on the fells although absolutely no views to speak of apart from off blencathra briefly

@spawnofyorkshire I did Lakes In A Day last year, it was awesome. An epic day out, although the weather was pretty grim. Really well organised and loads of friendly runners to chat to. They had pizza at the checkpoint in Ambleside, this saved my life! It was my first 50 miler, I’m now hooked… You should do it ; )

@fingerbang that looks like a cracking few days out.The Bob is still on my list, I’ve recce’d all of it, just need to bring it all together and hope for the best. Are you planning on doing the round next year?

@doom_mountain that’s good to hear. Planning on doing it with my mate. It’ll be my second ultra and first 50miler

@doom_mountain I’d love to as I don’t want to leave it til I get too old and more injuries creep in plus I’m obsessed with the BG now and im up for the training but it’s the logistics that are a problem, and asking people to wait in lay-bys and hand me food at 3am. Plus support runners

I don’t have any of that in place right now whether it’s for a club ratified attempt or just so I’m not running solo unsupported. Im might have to make myself available for support runs just so I can call in a favour on my attempt

If you want to join forces then I’m happy to talk

At the minute im happy to recce as much as possible for its own sake. I’ve seen a YouTube vid (‘trail running couple’) who recced leg 3 as an out and back from dunmail raise which I hadn’t considered before but need to build my endurance base over winter for that kind of thing. They also recced legs 4 and 5 from seatoller. Some big days out there but that is kind of the idea!

@spawnofyorkshire I did LIAD this year as my first (official race) ultra. Nice route, well organised, good aid stations and the camping set up in Cartmel worked well with the bus to the start.

I was surprised how big an event it was though- I was never really running alone apart from about 30mins out of Ambleside.

For the BG ponderers I would say do it! I helped out on a round on jubilee weekend this year and it got me re-hooked (I remember having it as a longer term goal pre-uni but drifted into triathlon instead). There is a Facebook group where people often ask for support, arrange recces etc that is worth joining if you need a hand. It’s tentatively on my list next year, maybe with the lakes traverse in April and a BG in July/August?

@fingerbang I’m convinced that Doddick will be the better descent for a lot of people coming off Blencathra, particularly in the wet. You can save a minute or two by cutting through a metal gate and down the field at the bottom.

I got down in 23 mins on my BG in wet conditions, an 8 minute saving on schedule. No way I’d have been that fast on Halls Fell in those conditions.

Horses for courses but definitely worth trying at some point.

@alwillis – cheers, we’d been pondering logistics so good to know the camping/bus thing works.

Happy London Marathon ballot day all. I sit here expecting yet another e-mail of disappointment…

First week of C25K complete and I think some better trainers might be needed. I’ve been using my old old Nike trail shoes that wave a worn out bald spot on the sole as they were my dog walking trainers.

Bit of a moon on a stick, but what would be the best for the buck choice at my level, say around £70. Hoka seem popular, and maybe more specialist than your Nikes / adidas.

I don’t need to be gait checked at this earLy stage do I?

Happy London Marathon ballot day all. I sit here expecting yet another e-mail of disappointment…

Thought the results are the 30th??

DrP

EDIT – i stand corrected!! It’s today!

Bit of a moon on a stick, but what would be the best for the buck choice at my level, say around £70. Hoka seem popular, and maybe more specialist than your Nikes / adidas.

I don’t need to be gait checked at this earLy stage do I?

Resident shoe geek here.

My default answer to this is a pair of good, neutral daily trainers.

For your price you might be able to get some discounted Nike Pegasus 39 (not 38 or 37, they’re not good…). If not, Reebok Floatride Energy 4 are worth a look as are Puma Velocity Nitro, New Balance 880’s or Saucony Ride’s.

Buy the pair that fit the best and don’t worry about gait analysis.

Happy London Marathon ballot day all. I sit here expecting yet another e-mail of disappointment…

I’m fully expecting the same, for about the tenth time!
It’s probably not a bad thing though as I’m nowhere close to being able to run a marathon and seem to have an incredible inability to do any “proper” training 🤣

Happy London Marathon ballot day all. I sit here expecting yet another e-mail of disappointment…

I’ve had no emails yet but like you, I assume more disappointment to add to the previous ten years.

A work colleague of mine managed to secure a ballot place last year. I’ve just seen on Instagram that he’s been successful again. The d*ck!