The Annual Running thread – beginners/ultras/whatever

but as I always say about doing exercise ‘properly’ …….. 1 min hard 2 mins easy and repeat is achievable for anyone (within reason) – it’s just that your 1 min hard might see you do 400m while I’ll only do 300m, but it’s still a minute of hard. And if you’re prepared to make that effort, whether you’re a 32min runner aiming to get into the 29’s, or a 45 min runner trying to get into the 40’s, you’re a proper runner in my book

(substitute running for cycling, or bootcamp, or whatever)

2 minutes hard, 1 minute rest :-0

Crikey – that sounds painful.

Did some 1 minute reps last Wednesday after having a break from that sort of thing following my marathon but think it’s time to get back into the groove. It was bloody hard work in the humidity!

On a more sedate note, I, along with a group of like-minded ‘friends’ (perhaps should be nutters) decide to do the length of the Dearne way from source (Birds Edge) to end where Dearne meets Don (Mexborough/Denaby) approximately 30 miles.

What a great route and pretty much all offroad which was nice.

The hardest part was the logistics of getting to start and back from end, but that was organized for me

For those North West based I can recommend the Sandstone Trail. 34 miles and perfect for a summers morning 🙂

I got absolutely drenched at the Madrid Alpine Marathon this weekend, all good fun though. Cut 20min off last year’s time and improved 50 places in the results, too 🙂

I’m Chairman of our local running club. I’ve been a member for nearly 20 years and am a fell runner rather than a road runner. Anyway, slightly embarrassingly I’d never run a marathon. Cut a long story short, I’ve got a few things going on and I’m ticking a few boxes so decided that it was about time. I spotted Bolton Hill Marathon was coming up and took the plunge. I’m reasonably fit so I thought I should be able to wing it as it was only a fortnight off. I thought I should get at least one long run in but didn’t have time so I ran 11 miles into work and back home again that night.

The race was pretty low key – only 76 taking part. It was on/off road and 3100′ of climb. I ran to feel and it was only towards the end where I was suffering a bit with hip, groin and stomach pain. A bit of tactical walking up hill sorted me out. Finished in 4:04:58, 15th overall and 2nd V55. I was pretty sore straight after but managed to drive up to Lakes later and got a couple of Wainwrights in with the Mrs and the dogs on Sunday so can’t have been too bad.

Nice one Mr Sparkle. I remember doing my one and only marathon without any long runs also. Managed a “respectable” time. Long (often very slow) runs are over rated. Good basic fitness is more important (I had qualified to run in the Inter counties a few weeks earlier so was in good shape) and although my longest run was only 12 miles I was doing that home from work a couple of nights a week and it was often sub 70 mins 🙂

Sounds like a good event I will look out for that next year.

I have a new motivation after Saturday. Was volunteering at Parkrun when the race director, a stereotypical old-skool runner, asks what my marathon PB is. 3:45 I reply, he looks shocked, disappointed almost, “oh, I thought you’d be much faster than that”.

So there we go, a sub 3:30 goal is set, I just need to find a quick course and get training.

Did my first ParkRun last Saturday in a time of 28.14. Went again on Saturday and did it in 26.21.

Aiming for <25mins next week now I am getting a grip on pacing it correctly.

Managed 25.39 on Saturday – still room for improvement.

Cheers Surfer. I’m enjoying it now it’s over! The route was interesting but it’s certainly no PB course…

http://www.time2runevents.co.uk/info2.cfm?info_id=224860

Right you trail running weirdos*, I need some el cheapo off road shoes – I don’t want to chance running in my normal trainers (as I love them and they’re strictly for clean hard stuff only). Have a couple of trail races in June and July and one I know definitely goes through some water courses. I’ll probably do more so n+1 applies. Don’t want waterproof – just something reasonably tough, neutral, blah blah. Anything available in last year’s colours at 50% RRP or something along those lines would do. Thanks luvvies

*only joking. 😛

Sportshoes.com – you’ll get a decent pair for around 40 quid. I love new balance trail shoes, proper comfy, just need a half size up.

Cheers Nofridgeinthebeer, I’ll check that out. Which NBs do you wear?

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/new691843/new-balance-mt620v2-trail-running-shoes-~-ss18/

These ones mate.

Yes, I saw those. How do they size up – I’m 42, nearly always buy 42.5 in trainers (Salomon and Mizuno) – what’s your experience?

I’m a 10 in normal shoes, always a 10.5 in these matey.

10?

*swoon*

😂😂😂😙

#globalrunningday today.

Glad I ran 12k last night 🤮🤴🧞‍♂️

Ran the 12k home from work last Wednesday, ended up working late and getting my hydration and fuelling wrong in the heat.

Repeated again today, got it right this time and finished really strongly, all of the last 7k progressively quicker. Happy boy here.  😊

Nice work – I very rarely do evening runs – I always find something wrong. Just prefer to use whatever juice my muskles have been storing up overnight so just head out on a coffee and my own awesomeness first thing. It’s been great but now nursing a can’t-****-stand-up-straight back injury after sprintervals on Tuesday morning. So your happiness can do one Nobeer!

Nightmare! Old age doesn’t come alone DD!.

I don’t reslly run at night either, I prefer just before lunch or dinner. I really struggle first thing though…

It’s been great but now nursing a can’t-****-stand-up-straight back injury after sprintervals on Tuesday morning

surfer will no doubt be along in a minute to tell me I’m wrong, but anecdotally (i.e for me at least) stretching your hamstrings is vital to avoid back pain the day after running…

I prefer morning and evening, or at least when my body could handle it 🙁

Reflecting on my younger years I underperformed significantly when racing, trained twice per day most work days (pre kids) shorter 3/4 in the morning then anything from a track/hill session/run up to 12 miles in the evening. My evening run home (usually about 3 per week) was 12 miles and often under 70 mins. sometimes I had done a 4 mile loop in close to 20 mins in my lunch hour. My race times were a bit disappointing in comparison…

Much prefer a morning run, just feels easier to get my food and drink right and also my energy levels seem higher. I tend to do any training runs under 10 miles fasted so that fits in too.

I enjoy cycling fasted, but running I feel low, possibly hydration though as it can be 10hours since I’ve drank any water, and don’t reslly want to neck a load then run.

Similarly, it can be 12 hours easily since I’ve eaten.

don’t reslly want to neck a load then run.

just have a cup of strong coffee. Caffeine. Bit of hydration. Job jobbed.

@Lunge

I have a slow metabolism I need hours between eating and running. Even before quite long runs I dont eat, just a glass of water and strong coffee.

Its important work out what works for you, finding a place for number 2 can be a PITA (see what I did there) so get that sorted before you leave. nowadays its more about finding a discrete location. Years ago it was about catching back on!!!

Took the opportunity for a final BG recce today and went from Langdale up to Pike of Stickle then to Scafell and back by much the same route. This took in the one wee bit I hadn’t been on, between Rossett Pike and Broad Crag.

I also went up Broad Stand having not been up or down it for years and was verbally abused by some random walker! I was past the hard bit when this guy on Mickledore started shouting “There’s that guy! Where’s your rope! Where’s your f***ing rope!?” He repeated the last bit a few times and I stopped and looked back to see what it was all about and it was clearly directed at me. His pals seemed to find it quite amusing. Bizarre.

On the back of doing me first mara with no training a fortnight ago, I have now entered my first Ultra. It’s tomorrow. I really am a dick.

Best of luck sparkles! 🙈😂

I have now entered my first Ultra. It’s tomorrow. I really am a dick.

Lol 🙂

Don’t forget you’re allowed to walk uphill in ultras! What have you entered?

Long “run” planned for Sunday, 40km or so in the local mountains. Summer has just about started here, and it’ll be the first outing this year with a bit of heat… should be interesting!

Cheers Nobeer.

Believe me, there will be plenty of walking going on! This is about just finishing it. It’s the Five Passes Ultra from Grasmere in the Lakes. 10,000′ of climb. What could possibly go wrong?

first outing this year with a bit of heat… should be interesting!

I on the other hand spent 8hrs out in the Mamores yesterday and maybe had my hood down for a quarter of it!

Glasgow men’s 10k this morning, hoping to hang on to the 45 minute pacer!.

Ended up doing 46.20, PB by nearly 2 minutes, chuffed really as 45 was a bit unrealistic. Need goals though!.

Nice work Nofridge! PBS are awesome! 👏

Merci Mr Darcy!

Was hanging onto the 45 until about 7.5k, then faded a tad and decided to ease off. Got another go at Paisley 10k in a couple of months, need to get the training in before then. 👌🏻

I was going to post an update to see how everyones getting along, seems like some are doing far better than they realised … which is awesome.

Me, well have only been able to fit in once a week over at QECP (normally do 3) but when home I’m rattling local dry hardpack of between 12-15k…

It’s been so nice running offload on dry trails ain’t it. And HCC have been nice a friendly and strumming back the nettles on the footpaths I use… so thanks guys.

Got another go at Paisley 10k in a couple of months,

I predict a significant PB, there’s lots of things to run away from in Paisley. 😉

And joking aside, well done today.

Tbf, there were some tasty characters around high st and gorbals today!

Thanks Spin.