Author Topic: Cross Training: Running (Read 421386 times)

BrianI · « **Reply #975 on:** 18 January, 2013, 06:43:05 pm »

Bought a new pair of tights in Decathlon today, so I figured I may as well make the most of what was left of the afternoon to complete week 7 run 3 of the Couch to 5k programme!

Also bought a pair of trail running shoes from the afore mentioned French purveyor of sporting goods, as I think I might try my hand at trail running, as pounding the streets is getting a little tedious...

Still in two minds whether to give Parkrun a bash - nearest one to me is at Cramond, Edinburgh.

I probably should be getting the kms in for the Tour of East Lothian 100km audax on the 17th Feb though....

mattc · « **Reply #976 on:** 18 January, 2013, 06:51:38 pm »

Quote from: BrianI on 18 January, 2013, 06:43:05 pm

Also bought a pair of trail running shoes from the afore mentioned French purveyor of sporting goods, as I think I might try my hand at trail running, as pounding the streets is getting a little tedious...

Still in two minds whether to give Parkrun a bash - nearest one to me is at Cramond, Edinburgh.

What's to lose Brian? They really are great events.

But may I suggest that - funds allowing - you buy your next shoes from a proper running shop? It's just as easy to f**k up your feet/legs on trails as on roads. They might also know what will work best on the routes you're using (there is a hyooooge variation in 'trail' surfaces and shoes - it took me ages to buy mine as I really didn't know what I needed. Still not sure, ongoing experiment ...)

citoyen · « **Reply #977 on:** 30 January, 2013, 10:52:28 am »

As mentioned somewhere upthread, I've been getting a lot of post-run tightness in my calves, which a couple of you suggested was probably due to not "warming down" properly. I took this advice on board and looked up some stretching exercises. Following yesterday's lunchtime run, I did the first exercise listed on this page, repeating it several times for each leg:
http://www.theflexibilitycoach.com/articles/8_10_ways_to_stretch_tight_calf_muscles.htm

Wow. It really works. The difference it has made is staggering. My legs feel perfectly normal today.

Thank you for the advice, chaps!

The run itself was pretty good too. Lovely day for it - sunny and mild. Started off gently, averaging a bit over 5min/km, but pushed it towards the end, taking the last km in 4.08 to squeeze through the 10km mark just inside 50 minutes. Sweet.

d.

teethgrinder · « **Reply #978 on:** 30 January, 2013, 07:29:06 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 30 January, 2013, 10:52:28 am

As mentioned somewhere upthread, I've been getting a lot of post-run tightness in my calves, which a couple of you suggested was probably due to not "warming down" properly. I took this advice on board and looked up some stretching exercises. Following yesterday's lunchtime run, I did the first exercise listed on this page, repeating it several times for each leg:
http://www.theflexibilitycoach.com/articles/8_10_ways_to_stretch_tight_calf_muscles.htm

Wow. It really works. The difference it has made is staggering.

Boom tish!

mattc · « **Reply #979 on:** 30 January, 2013, 07:43:35 pm »

Does this mean you're only doing the ONE stretch Citoyen?!?

Maybe when something else breaks, you'll build some others into your routine!

citoyen · « **Reply #980 on:** 31 January, 2013, 09:51:16 am »

I wasn't doing any stretches before, so it's a start...

The reason I wasn't is that getting changed, running, showering etc takes up nearly all of my allotted hour, so by the end of it I'm in a rush to get back to my desk, but I guess I'd be better off shortening my run (or running faster?) to allow for some proper warming down time at the end, incorporating a range of stretches. Or I could do the warm down instead of showering, but I don't think my colleagues would thank me for that.

d.

citoyen · « **Reply #981 on:** 31 January, 2013, 09:53:07 am »

Quote from: teethgrinder on 30 January, 2013, 07:29:06 pm

Boom tish!

Pun not intended.

d.

citoyen · « **Reply #982 on:** 03 February, 2013, 04:29:18 pm »

Crikey. I'm slightly awestruck at that. Well done!

d.

zigzag · « **Reply #983 on:** 03 February, 2013, 04:49:28 pm »

wow, that's serious! if my legs managed that distance (although i doubt it), i'd be sitting with the black toenails now waiting for them to come off. it must be tricky to keep your body warm for so many hours in the cold.
yesterday /after the parkrun/ i came home and had to put even more clothes on and have three big cuppas till i warmed up.

citoyen · « **Reply #984 on:** 03 February, 2013, 06:31:47 pm »

I recorded my best parkrun time yesterday since before I got ill - ie first time under 22 mins since the 1st of January. Probably would have been quicker still but for the EVIL headwind in the last 2km. Didn't mind the cold so much - until I stopped running...

Meridian TV cameras were there to do a piece on parkrun, so those in the SE may see me on Meridian news some time in the next few days. They might even show my wicked sprint finish up the slope, where I passed fellow VM40-44 runner Mike and thus finished first in my age category for the first time. Woo!

d.

citoyen · « **Reply #985 on:** 05 February, 2013, 05:39:57 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 03 February, 2013, 06:31:47 pm

I recorded my best parkrun time yesterday since before I got ill...

Further confirmation today that I've well and truly shaken off the lingering chest lurgy - I did the 10k lunchtime run in 46 minutes, which is a PB by a significant margin.

d.

mattc · « **Reply #986 on:** 05 February, 2013, 06:00:57 pm »

Quote from: Oranj on 03 February, 2013, 03:21:06 pm

Thames Trot for me yesterday. Ended up with 75km in 6:59 [Garmin Connect].

I got seriously lost on roads I know well in Pangbourne, but in my defence the last-minute routesheet (changed to avoid all the flooding along the towpath) that was emailed out on Thursday had a right turn there which got changed to a left in the sheet handed out on the day and I hadn't noticed. I also managed a few small route errors later on too.

Your diversion towards Theale looks pretty funny on that map

But I can see how it might have happened. 75km is a much nicer number anyway

Impressive pacing too.

I enjoyed hanging out at the Benson checkpoint with some runners I vaguely knew, waiting for their friends/spouses. It was a really nice atmosphere - somewhere between an Audax (fruitcake looked good) and a TT (support teams). Not too frantic even when the 'bulge' arrived, and an impressive demographic spread (gender, age, equipment styles).

I'll probably enter a couple of LDWA events this year (20-30 miles?) and the Compton 20 in April (cos it's local). Intention being walk-run, with the emphasis on walk, depending on my fitness when they come around.
(I intend sticking to the 'budget' end of the event spectrum).

JJ · « **Reply #987 on:** 06 February, 2013, 10:00:19 am »

I'm gob-smacked! The very idea of running 75km! Well done.

zigzag · « **Reply #988 on:** 06 February, 2013, 11:55:36 am »

Quote from: Oranj on 04 February, 2013, 10:33:15 am

Sounds like your shoes are too small ZigZag. I've had my fair share of lost/black toenails over the years, but usually from bashing my feet about on trails and so on.
<...>

regarding the shoe size - i think they are the right size.. i've bought another pair of trainers (after a black toenail incident) with more room in the front and also asked for advise in a couple of specialist shops and they assured that i shouldn't get black toenails, but still got after next marathon

i think there might be something else that's causing this issue, i've done a lot of reading about it and most suggest that shoes are too small. but there's ample room to wiggle toes, bigger trainers would just be too big.
and there's no easy way to test new trainers - i'd need to run a marathon distance to find out if they keep my toes happy.

i hope your ankle and knees heal/recover soon.

citoyen · « **Reply #989 on:** 06 February, 2013, 12:14:57 pm »

Quote from: JJ on 06 February, 2013, 10:00:19 am

I'm gob-smacked! The very idea of running 75km! Well done.

I was gobsmacked at the idea of 75km, but I just looked at the data on Garmin Connect and now I'm even more gobsmacked. Also slightly envious. Oranj, very impressed indeed with your ability to keep up what is a pretty decent pace for such a long time. And that climb up to Binfield Heath doesn't look too steep on Google Streetview but I bet you felt it in your legs after 68km...

Chapeau.

d.

mattc · « **Reply #990 on:** 06 February, 2013, 05:10:59 pm »

Quote from: zigzag on 06 February, 2013, 11:55:36 am

Quote from: Oranj on 04 February, 2013, 10:33:15 am
Sounds like your shoes are too small ZigZag. I've had my fair share of lost/black toenails over the years, but usually from bashing my feet about on trails and so on.
<...>

regarding the shoe size - i think they are the right size.. i've bought another pair of trainers (after a black toenail incident) with more room in the front and also asked for advise in a couple of specialist shops and they assured that i shouldn't get black toenails, but still got after next marathon
i think there might be something else that's causing this issue, i've done a lot of reading about it and most suggest that shoes are too small. but there's ample room to wiggle toes, bigger trainers would just be too big.
and there's no easy way to test new trainers - i'd need to run a marathon distance to find out if they keep my toes happy.

i hope your ankle and knees heal/recover soon.

Bruce Fordyce cuts flaps in the front of his shoes to avoid this problem when running the 90km Comrades [google him!].
_{(just happened to be listening to an interview)}

agagisgroovy · « **Reply #991 on:** 09 February, 2013, 10:22:56 pm »

9.5 miles today. Did walk up some of the hills though. Felt strong finishing and still had energy to take the new BSO for a test pootle.

JJ · « **Reply #992 on:** 12 February, 2013, 06:52:56 pm »

Going to try running home tonight, after almost 3 weeks out with shin splints. It'll either set me up or set me back!

L CC · « **Reply #993 on:** 12 February, 2013, 08:29:27 pm »

My blisters have just about healed so I'm setting the zombies on me again tomorrow. Even I can 'run' faster than the shambling undead.
Previous attempts at 'running' have been kiboshed by dodgy knee and hip. Fingers crossed they'll stay uncomplaining this time.

JJ · « **Reply #994 on:** 12 February, 2013, 08:55:27 pm »

Quote from: boabacca on 12 February, 2013, 08:29:27 pm

Fingers crossed they'll stay uncomplaining this time.

Crossing mine for you too.

I made it home with only mild twinges. Now to see if I can gently build it up. I've a marathon entered in 2 1/2 weeks, but that might be over-ambitious.

citoyen · « **Reply #995 on:** 16 February, 2013, 11:57:20 am »

20.52 on today's parkrun - 8 seconds slower than PB, dammit. Still my fastest run since 1 December, so that's good - I lost a bit of form in January through illness but I seem to be almost back to full strength now.

I might have got a PB but I was slowed down by a stretch of heavy mud in the third km that might easily have cost me ten seconds. Perfect conditions apart from that - I finished 10th and six of the nine ahead of me got PBs.

d.

SteveC · « **Reply #996 on:** 04 March, 2013, 01:51:01 pm »

Bought a new pair of running shoes on Saturday, from a 'proper running shop'.
They had me jogging up and down 'The Corridor' in Bath!
As I was paying the chap said "don't go trying for a PB the first time you wear them. If it happens, fine, but don't push for it".
Just been for a 30 minute run over lunch and, according to Endomondo, I achieved not one but two PBs! And I wasn't pushing, just enjoying the sunshine. The PBs were for mile and Cooper distance (how far in 12 minutes).
I feel

BrianI · « **Reply #997 on:** 04 March, 2013, 06:03:05 pm »

Still not finished NHS Couch to 5k programme. It was supposed to take 9 weeks and all.....

mattc · « **Reply #998 on:** 04 March, 2013, 06:08:51 pm »

Stick at it Brian. As long as you made it off the couch, you're doing OK!

(You did, didn't you ... ? )

SteveC · « **Reply #999 on:** 04 March, 2013, 08:22:13 pm »

Brian did get off the couch as he and I were sending supporting PMs before Christmas. I was lucky as I was working away so had a very fixed timetable with two 'easy' slots for getting out running. Brian wasn't so fortunate as college isn't as structured.

But college in the Scottish highlands or being stuck away from home for eight months doing a fairly frustrating job--all the fortune wasn't on my side.