The Official Running Thread

[assfly]

I'm in week 4 of 20 marathon training. For a marathon I hope actually happens. But felt it necessary to start planning so that I don't turn into a fat lump whilst waiting for races to start again.

[Sandstorm]

Surely there's no worse place to be a chubster doing marathon training than in Kenya? All those whippets sprinting passed you on the way to another world record....

[assfly]

Surely there's no worse place to be a chubster doing marathon training than in Kenya? All those whippets sprinting passed you on the way to another world record....

that's quite true, but I can assure you not all Kenyans are built like Eliud Kipchoge! Thankfully the elite runners tend to train upcountry in Iten to save us amateurs the embarrassment.

[handyman]

Have done fark all since mid January. Got back into it mid June and are working on getting my times down nice and slowly. Almost 40, so don't want to break down with unnecessary injuries.

[Sandstorm]

Have done fark all since mid January. Don't want to break down with unnecessary injuries.

Me either

[ASMO]

The simple answer is don't, walking briskly is good enough for us mortals, leave the running to dogs and horses.

[sorCrer]

Yeah it's not good currently.

Pre lockdown I'd run 8 x 21's, 2 x 32's and a 42 excluding all the in between training. Dropped from 91 to 83kg's. Now I'm back to 91.5kg's. I have managed to walk 8km every day this week and will start running again tomorrow.

[sorCrer]

The simple answer is don't, walking briskly is good enough for us mortals, leave the running to dogs and horses.

Man will actually outrun both dogs and horses.

[Sandstorm]

Yeah it's not good currently.

Pre lockdown I'd run 8 x 21's, 2 x 32's and a 42 excluding all the in between training. Dropped from 91 to 83kg's. Now I'm back to 91.5kg's. I have managed to walk 8km every day this week and will start running again tomorrow.

I've been walking every day for the last 3 months with the wife (she doesn't like running, so we walk fast). However it doesn't keep you as nearly as fit as running and the weight refuses to shift at walking pace.

[Fangle]

It wasn’t against Kenyans, but cross-country. Our club didn’t have enough seniors, so even though I was slow, used to run with our team in the fast race. If it was a four lap course it was embarrassing to be overlapped by so many, and my team mates all mocking me.

[sorCrer]

Yeah it's not good currently.

Pre lockdown I'd run 8 x 21's, 2 x 32's and a 42 excluding all the in between training. Dropped from 91 to 83kg's. Now I'm back to 91.5kg's. I have managed to walk 8km every day this week and will start running again tomorrow.

I've been walking every day for the last 3 months with the wife (she doesn't like running, so we walk fast). However it doesn't keep you as nearly as fit as running and the weight refuses to shift at walking pace.

Not the best for weight loss (does help) but IMHO a critical exercise for runners as they get older.

[assfly]

I've brought yoga and a bit of strength training (situps, pressups, deadlifts, squats and lunges) into my running schedule. It's made such a difference. On my longer runs I can feel how much stronger my core in the second half of the run. Somwhere in there, there is a six pack ready break out. Somewhere.

[Monkey Magic]

Had signed up for a half marathon that was due May and training on track to do it comfortably.

However once lockdown hit that went out the window and only just now getting back to 5k since we dropped to level 2.

At this stage I really cant see me singing up for anything longer than 10k in next 12 months

[robmatic]

I'd planned to get back to marathon/ultra fitness this year after taking a bit of time off last year due to the missus having a baby. Lockdown really messed up those intentions though.

Now I could probably start some sort of training schedule, but running in Istanbul in the summer is horrible due to the heat and humidity and I kind of hate it, even though I know that it will pay off in the autumn.

[sorCrer]

Had signed up for a half marathon that was due May and training on track to do it comfortably.

However once lockdown hit that went out the window and only just now getting back to 5k since we dropped to level 2.

At this stage I really cant see me singing up for anything longer than 10k in next 12 months

I just go out and run them although I do have 'muscle memory'. 10km's is nothing and 21km is a great distance if you're a little fit. Anything over 30kms or 3 hours starts to hurt a bit.

[assfly]

I'd planned to get back to marathon/ultra fitness this year after taking a bit of time off last year due to the missus having a baby.

Sounds like a great opportunity to get out and about for a 6 hour jog.

[Fangle]

Sorc, It looks as if you now have at least a strong foundation to go for faster times. You should be able to get close to a nine hour comrades with all this background. Or have you done that already?

[assfly]

I've been watching various documentaries on ultra-marathons.

The Barkley Marathons must be one of the most difficult on earth, both physically and mentally.

[sorCrer]

Sorc, It looks as if you now have at least a strong foundation to go for faster times. You should be able to get close to a nine hour comrades with all this background. Or have you done that already?

Nah. Always just ran at the back and enjoyed it. Was going to attempt a sub-10 this year. I'm built more like a sprinter though with big muscular legs. I'd probably be way more suited to but hate cycling. Also getting older.

[Fangle]

Sorc, It looks as if you now have at least a strong foundation to go for faster times. You should be able to get close to a nine hour comrades with all this background. Or have you done that already?

Nah. Always just ran at the back and enjoyed it. Was going to attempt a sub-10 this year. I'm built more like a sprinter though with big muscular legs. I'd probably be way more suited to but hate cycling. Also getting older.

Not like a sprinter like Usain Bolt?

[EnergiseR]

Was going great guns and was down to a pretty regular 23 min 5km and was including hill work in that so happy out. Then sliced foot open a week ago and now can't walk. The doctor initially said back running in hopefully two weeks but went to get stitches out yesterday and they left them in due to not healed. Now saying no running for a month. Pretty sad about that as is the dog

[FullbackAce]

So I feel like absolute shit right now. I'd been running systematically for the last 3 years or so. I peaked last fall when I ran 25km in 2:10 without much trouble, felt like I had endless energy in general. I relaxed a bit in winter(to one day a week) which I usually do, thinking I'd pick it back up towards the end of February but then the pandemic hit. the gyms closed and I was stuck home for the most of it. Which extended my 2-month break all the way to June(6months). Also worth mentioning that my diet was almost perfect last year but I started eating garbage during the pandemic, probably out of pure boredom as I had nothing else to do. I started running again three weeks ago and I discovered I couldn't even run more than a mile without dropping half dead...

I'm running every day now but the progress is much slower than it was 3 years ago, in fact, I'm still stuck around a mile a day... Now I'm wondering If I threw away 3 years of work and will have to start over completely. Needless to say I'm very angry at myself.

[assfly]

I'm running every day now but the progress is much slower than it was 3 years ago, in fact, I'm still stuck around a mile a day... Now I'm wondering If I threw away 3 years of work and will have to start over completely. Needless to say I'm very angry at myself.

You can be back to where you were sooner than you think. Your muscle memory will kick in after a couple of long runs. Sounds like you need a program and a diet and stick to it religiously.

[Uncle fester]

Monday. First run since Feb.
So unfit that I skipped the Delayed bit of DOMS and went straight to muscle soreness.

[robmatic]

So I feel like absolute shit right now. I'd been running systematically for the last 3 years or so. I peaked last fall when I ran 25km in 2:10 without much trouble, felt like I had endless energy in general. I relaxed a bit in winter(to one day a week) which I usually do, thinking I'd pick it back up towards the end of February but then the pandemic hit. the gyms closed and I was stuck home for the most of it. Which extended my 2-month break all the way to June(6months). Also worth mentioning that my diet was almost perfect last year but I started eating garbage during the pandemic, probably out of pure boredom as I had nothing else to do. I started running again three weeks ago and I discovered I couldn't even run more than a mile without dropping half dead...

I'm running every day now but the progress is much slower than it was 3 years ago, in fact, I'm still stuck around a mile a day... Now I'm wondering If I threw away 3 years of work and will have to start over completely. Needless to say I'm very angry at myself.

I'd expect you to still have decent base fitness after a 6 month break, which will enable you to get back to your old groove before too long.

After a long break, there are a couple of psychological factors in play I think. Firstly, your brain will be pushing you to run at your old pace when you don't have the fitness for it, so you blow up. Especially if you're carrying more weight than you were previously used to. After you get beyond that though, progress should be good because you have higher expectations of what you can achieve. For example, you might not have have psychological barriers at 5km and 10km; you'll just blast past those distances.

[robmatic]

I've been watching various documentaries on ultra-marathons.

The Barkley Marathons must be one of the most difficult on earth, both physically and mentally.

It's definitely crazy.

Look at how long it takes quite strong athletes to complete one lap. Nine hours for approx. marathon distance when they are fresh? The course must be brutal.

[assfly]

It's definitely crazy.

Look at how long it takes quite strong athletes to complete one lap. Nine hours for approx. marathon distance when they are fresh? The course must be brutal.

18 finishes since 1995 is ridiculous. From what I've seen, runners lose their minds long before their body give in. The part about finding the book and tearing out a page is just sadistic.

[average joe]

Yeah it's not good currently.

Pre lockdown I'd run 8 x 21's, 2 x 32's and a 42 excluding all the in between training. Dropped from 91 to 83kg's. Now I'm back to 91.5kg's. I have managed to walk 8km every day this week and will start running again tomorrow.

I've been walking every day for the last 3 months with the wife (she doesn't like running, so we walk fast). However it doesn't keep you as nearly as fit as running and the weight refuses to shift at walking pace.

Not the best for weight loss (does help) but IMHO a critical exercise for runners as they get older.

As a young man I walked a lot. I once had to walk to a training centre +-50K's away from my house. I walked a 100 odd K's and lost 10KG and a perfectly good pair of office shoes in one day, just walking. Took me 6 hours going, 6 hours coming back, my feet was roasted and I dropped 2 pant sizes. The next day I had on hiking shoes, started of a bit stiff but got better as I went. Didn't lose to much weight though as I reckon I shed most of the excess the day before. It is possible to lose weight just walking. You just need to push it to the limits.

[handyman]

So I feel like absolute shit right now. I'd been running systematically for the last 3 years or so. I peaked last fall when I ran 25km in 2:10 without much trouble, felt like I had endless energy in general. I relaxed a bit in winter(to one day a week) which I usually do, thinking I'd pick it back up towards the end of February but then the pandemic hit. the gyms closed and I was stuck home for the most of it. Which extended my 2-month break all the way to June(6months). Also worth mentioning that my diet was almost perfect last year but I started eating garbage during the pandemic, probably out of pure boredom as I had nothing else to do. I started running again three weeks ago and I discovered I couldn't even run more than a mile without dropping half dead...

I'm running every day now but the progress is much slower than it was 3 years ago, in fact, I'm still stuck around a mile a day... Now I'm wondering If I threw away 3 years of work and will have to start over completely. Needless to say I'm very angry at myself.

I'd expect you to still have decent base fitness after a 6 month break, which will enable you to get back to your old groove before too long.

Serious question, you really can still have base fitness after 6 months of no activity? I thought you would have to start from scratch?

Asking because I'm starting now after 5 months of fark all running.

[robmatic]

So I feel like absolute shit right now. I'd been running systematically for the last 3 years or so. I peaked last fall when I ran 25km in 2:10 without much trouble, felt like I had endless energy in general. I relaxed a bit in winter(to one day a week) which I usually do, thinking I'd pick it back up towards the end of February but then the pandemic hit. the gyms closed and I was stuck home for the most of it. Which extended my 2-month break all the way to June(6months). Also worth mentioning that my diet was almost perfect last year but I started eating garbage during the pandemic, probably out of pure boredom as I had nothing else to do. I started running again three weeks ago and I discovered I couldn't even run more than a mile without dropping half dead...

I'm running every day now but the progress is much slower than it was 3 years ago, in fact, I'm still stuck around a mile a day... Now I'm wondering If I threw away 3 years of work and will have to start over completely. Needless to say I'm very angry at myself.

I'd expect you to still have decent base fitness after a 6 month break, which will enable you to get back to your old groove before too long.

Serious question, you really can still have base fitness after 6 months of no activity? I thought you would have to start from scratch?

Asking because I'm starting now after 5 months of fark all running.

I mean compared to a newbie. This isn't a very scientific opinion but from muscle memory and general fitness.

[FullbackAce]

So I feel like absolute shit right now. I'd been running systematically for the last 3 years or so. I peaked last fall when I ran 25km in 2:10 without much trouble, felt like I had endless energy in general. I relaxed a bit in winter(to one day a week) which I usually do, thinking I'd pick it back up towards the end of February but then the pandemic hit. the gyms closed and I was stuck home for the most of it. Which extended my 2-month break all the way to June(6months). Also worth mentioning that my diet was almost perfect last year but I started eating garbage during the pandemic, probably out of pure boredom as I had nothing else to do. I started running again three weeks ago and I discovered I couldn't even run more than a mile without dropping half dead...

I'm running every day now but the progress is much slower than it was 3 years ago, in fact, I'm still stuck around a mile a day... Now I'm wondering If I threw away 3 years of work and will have to start over completely. Needless to say I'm very angry at myself.

I'd expect you to still have decent base fitness after a 6 month break, which will enable you to get back to your old groove before too long.

After a long break, there are a couple of psychological factors in play I think. Firstly, your brain will be pushing you to run at your old pace when you don't have the fitness for it, so you blow up. Especially if you're carrying more weight than you were previously used to. After you get beyond that though, progress should be good because you have higher expectations of what you can achieve. For example, you might not have have psychological barriers at 5km and 10km; you'll just blast past those distances.

Yea you're probably right. The most frustrating part is remembering how hard I worked the first time around and knowing I have to go through it all over again.

[Slick]

I've been trying to get back out for a few runs after a bit of a lay off. Have developed a bit of back pain in the lower part after a game of tennis a couple of weeks ago which has delayed things. However, have read a couple of things on line that it's best just to get out and run it off so might try that tomorrow...

[Jock42]

anyone have any recommendations for knee and ankle supports?

[assfly]

anyone have any recommendations for knee and ankle supports?

Normally the stretchy blue ones you can pick up in a chemist work for me.

[Nols]

So I feel like absolute shit right now. I'd been running systematically for the last 3 years or so. I peaked last fall when I ran 25km in 2:10 without much trouble, felt like I had endless energy in general. I relaxed a bit in winter(to one day a week) which I usually do, thinking I'd pick it back up towards the end of February but then the pandemic hit. the gyms closed and I was stuck home for the most of it. Which extended my 2-month break all the way to June(6months). Also worth mentioning that my diet was almost perfect last year but I started eating garbage during the pandemic, probably out of pure boredom as I had nothing else to do. I started running again three weeks ago and I discovered I couldn't even run more than a mile without dropping half dead...

I'm running every day now but the progress is much slower than it was 3 years ago, in fact, I'm still stuck around a mile a day... Now I'm wondering If I threw away 3 years of work and will have to start over completely. Needless to say I'm very angry at myself.

I'd expect you to still have decent base fitness after a 6 month break, which will enable you to get back to your old groove before too long.

After a long break, there are a couple of psychological factors in play I think. Firstly, your brain will be pushing you to run at your old pace when you don't have the fitness for it, so you blow up. Especially if you're carrying more weight than you were previously used to. After you get beyond that though, progress should be good because you have higher expectations of what you can achieve. For example, you might not have have psychological barriers at 5km and 10km; you'll just blast past those distances.

Yea you're probably right. The most frustrating part is remembering how hard I worked the first time around and knowing I have to go through it all over again.

Possibly worth distinguishing between simple aerobic capacity and other factors like tissue health. While your aerobic fitness might be absolute shit after a 5 month lay-off, your muscles, joints, connective tissues etc will be starting from a higher base than a person who is literally starting running for the first time. You'll still have some of those conditioning adaptions in your favour.

[EnergiseR]

Lads back running a few weeks and struggling to get the time to move significantly downwards. Any tips? Not doing any longer runs these days due to life so just the 5-6kms a day with the dog. Have plateaued at 22.35-45 for 5 km and run that consistently. Plenty of up and down hills so not taking it easy on myself but can't seem to push it on.

[Jock42]

Do you ever do interval or low hr runs?

[EnergiseR]

Do you ever do interval or low hr runs?

Do a bit of mixed intervals but the oul dog is a German Pointer so wants me to keep up in the rest sections. I am a big fan of the quarter mile repeats. Never do low hr runs as it seems like cheating. I reckon the long slow runs might be what is missing alright. I just struggle with the jogging along bit

[Tattie]

You will definitely plateau if you’re running the same distance/type of run every time. More miles and variety is the key. If longer runs are out of the question then intervals or shorter faster runs will work.

[Duff Paddy]

Lads back running a few weeks and struggling to get the time to move significantly downwards. Any tips? Not doing any longer runs these days due to life so just the 5-6kms a day with the dog. Have plateaued at 22.35-45 for 5 km and run that consistently. Plenty of up and down hills so not taking it easy on myself but can't seem to push it on.

I think you can only push yourself so much without running buddies