Who goes running part 2 !!

[MikeJ]

Been struggling for a few weeks, but that's mainly due to my diet I think (actually the wife's diet, which means I eat less). Ran along the cost in Durban last week, being chased by a few monkeys at one point but managed 8k there. Then did 10k and 6k on a treadmill in Joburg on consecutive days.

10ks this week on Tuesday and Thursday, and going for a long run over the weekend, probably Sunday.

Meanwhile I've bought a bike, so can start riding to work a few days per week. It's about 15k and pretty flat, so ideal commuting really. I don't get the bike until next Saturday though.

(for those of you that a) want a bike and b) are paid via PAYE, look in to the Cycle To Work scheme. I've saved over 40% off my bike!)

 

[MikeJ]

20k in around 1 hour 55 mins. Longest time, longest distance. Not sure when I'll get the use of my legs again.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

20k in around 1 hour 55 mins. Longest time, longest distance. Not sure when I'll get the use of my legs again.

Lots of eggs and water you wont believe it but eggs are so common we have forgotten about them

This time of year now its warmer and the blood gets flowing easier I do a lot of shorter but faster runs . No training plan tells you to keep doing this but I have always done this this time of year and I enjoy it .
Last night fast 25 minutes . Today you should do an easy but this morning I did a fast 35 mins
Loves it !

 

[MikeJ]

I'm pretty good at drinking water, I run with a backpack and drink as I'm running. My in-run fuel was jelly tots, which were ok but I should look at something designed for runners rather than just pick something off the shelf (they had no jelly babies...).

I'd not really planned the run, so didn't have any high protein food ready when I got back. Ended up with a salad, with a small amount of chicken and ham.

Yesterday and this morning I felt really bad when I first woke, but once I'm up and moving it's ok. I was out with the dogs three times yesterday, and gardening for much of the afternoon.

Aiming for 10ks this week and next week, and then a long run the weekend after.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I use SIS gels and drinks I mix from SIS powder "drugs" as my kid tell me
Sprinted a hill with my 17 year old daughter yesterday who is as fast as hell and pulled a calf muscle . So stationary bike for a few days and a bit of rest

 

[Hireday.com]

Always working up to a 10k in under 1 hour. Can get 5k in 25 minutes, but struggle to make up the distance.

I think the best thing to do is be dropped off 10k from home with no wallet and no phone. Then I'll have to do it!

 

[MikeJ]

Try doing some longer runs, staying out for an extra two or three Km. Don't worry about the time build your legs up to doing longer distances. You'll then have stuff in the tank for a faster 10k.

 

[MikeJ]

Oh, and slow down. I have the same issue, but if I'm going for a long distance I have to force my pace down to keep something for later on. I've only been running for about four years. Then I could barely do a 5k. Now I'm doing two 10ks during the week, and a longer run at the weekend.

 

[GraemeL]

Speedwork is an essential part of a plan to improve or even achieve a 10k time. I don't like it as it means getting out of breath a lot. Fartlek is easier on the brain! Am over 60 now and running 10k under an hour is not so difficult.

Totally agree with Mike on this point

Oh, and slow down. I have the same issue, but if I'm going for a long distance I have to force my pace down to keep something for later

.

 

[MikeJ]

Running has been cut right down because I'm cycling to work. I've run twice in the last month, and both times it was really bad. Last night I struggled to do a 5k, and had bad pains in my upper right chest.

The problem (I guess) is cycling isn't particularly aerobic, apart from the last 200m which is up a steep hill to my house. Most of the time I'm breathing normally. Running, I'm breathing much harder the whole time.

We're away over the weekend, but I'll hopefully get another run in on Monday night to see if it's improved.

 

[quikshop]

Last night I struggled to do a 5k, and had bad pains in my upper right chest.

It's amazing how quickly your body loses its aerobic endurance. I'm slowly building my running capacity with a couple of 20 minute runs a week, a long way off my peak of 15k cross-country runs up hills I'd struggle to walk up now

Baby steps...

 

[MikeJ]

Did a long walk on Saturday, and was camping over the weekend so my body's telling me not to run tonight. I'll see how I feel when I get home, I'm in Germany for the next two days and won't have time to run there.

 

[MikeJ]

Forced myself out last night and managed a 5k without stopping. I was in real pain for the first 1500 meters or so, then it eased up (though the second half is downhill, which would have helped).

Will probably cycle to work on Thursday, and hope to go camping over the weekend again so probably won't run again for a week. Guess the trick is to make sure I run at least once per week to maintain my aerobic capacity.

I'll not cycle to work in the winter, so will get the running back into shape then. Meanwhile, I noticed today my weight has gone back up to 13 stone for the first time in a year or two. So, sat in the lounge at the airport ignoring the cakes

 

[MikeJ]

First 10k in three weeks last night, which was surprisingly comfortable. I've been travelling for the last couple of weeks, and my running stuff went on 13 different flights and stayed in 7 different hotels, but didn't actually get used.

Off to Cyprus on holiday next week, and there's a walkway along the beach which is ideal for an early morning run. Providing I'm not hungover....

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I cant do drink and running Mike . I used to but these days I stay well a way from drink and any other thing thats bad for me I live like a monk

 

[MikeJ]

A few drinks don't bother me too much, touch wood. However, I do suffer really badly from hangovers, but there's no knowing when they'll hit. A couple of pints can leave me dying the following day, other times I can be out on a real session and get up feeling fine the following day.

Did 11.4km last night, along a canal so nice and flat. It was pouring with rain, and quite windy, but despite that I really enjoyed it. If I'd had more time, I'd have gone further but it's starting to get dark in the evenings now. By the time I'm back from holiday, I think I'll be stuck running on the road. I've tried using a head torch for running before, but didn't get on with it.

 

[MikeJ]

Too dark to ride to work now, so back to running regularly. Did a couple of 5ks in Cyprus, but it was too hot to run far, and the time difference meant running in the mornings (when it was cool) wasn't really for me.

A couple of 10ks this week, and hopefully out for a long run over the weekend.

 

[MikeJ]

Really didn't fancy the run on Saturday. Struggled round a 10k, and was in pain most of the time.

Having said this....

A few drinks don't bother me too much, touch wood. .

.... I'd had a couple of glasses of wine the night before. Normally I run in the evenings, but this was a morning run, and the GLW has a theory it's sulphites in the wine that causes issues the following day.

Had a few beers watching From The Jam last night, so not sure if I'll run today.

 

[RedundancyClaim]

Just started, looking to run the Manchester 10k next year - could anyone recommend a descent fitbit or alternative?

 

[MikeJ]

I use Runkeeper on my phone to track my runs, if that's all you're looking to do. I just use the basic, free version. If you've got a smart phone, that will probably do you.

Are you much of a runner? If you're starting from scratch, I can send you a course I took from a magazine about 15 years ago, which is how I started running. I'm now doing 30k per week most weeks.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Just started, looking to run the Manchester 10k next year - could anyone recommend a descent fitbit or alternative?[/QUOTE

I like the advance we have seen in the sport over the years with kit and nutrition and the tec is really impressive
Me I wear the latest Nike kit and use SIS nutrition but I don't have any of the tech because the rest of my life is dominated by things like that. This is the one time of day I am away from my phone and the I pad so I don't use it but that's just me people I know here love it
I do old schol speedwork between lamp posts

 

[Matt.WD]

Trying to get back into running (5 & 10k distance) after a bit of a break. Anyone recommend any upcoming events in the West Midlands? Preferably off road (and flat)!

A while ago I did what was probably considered a 'fell running' event. The people who do those for fun are bonkers...

 

[MikeJ]

Back on the road last night, intended doing a 5k as I'd not run for 10 days but I ended up doing a 10k. It's hard finding the right balance between being rested and seizing up.

I got a running light for Christmas, that sits on the middle of my chest. That lets me run along the river where there's no lights.

 

[Iain_Henderson]

Been running for a few years now and have used the free Runkeeper app/account since the beginning and highly recommend it.

Got the Fitbit Charge 2 at Christmas and although it enhances my tracking it doesn't really work without being linked to GPS (without GPS it estimates the distance ran based on the stride length you set. When connected to my phone and using it's GPS it not only works out my accurate stride length it plots my run on a map)

ATM I'm logging my runs on both Runkeeper and the Fitbit..not sure which one I'll stick with yet.

 

[MikeJ]

I use Runkeeper, and generally it's pretty good. The GPS isn't perfect (it had me running through a river last year!) but I find it useful to check the breakdown km by km for timing.

I've been thinking about upgrading, but I'm not sure I'd get any benefit from the additional features

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

6 miles at 5 am this morning a young gladiator over took me you don't see people out running at that time of the morning here let alone get over taken
This annoyed me a bit but then I thought "hang on I'm a granddad its bound to happen" !

 

[MikeJ]

It's nice when it's cold and dry. As long as it's not raining, I love running at this time of year.

 

[GraemeL]

Anyone tried Maffetone method?

G

 

[Iain_Henderson]

Hadn't heard of the Maffetone method until today - interesting read but probably not for me as I like my carbs too much!

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I had to be cautious when googling an unknown term !

Basically the lottery in this country has been investing in UK sport for two decades now .
So much has been learnt by Uk athletics UK cycling and other elite lottery funded groups .

The results have spoken for themselves but my point is, this belongs to all of us we are all part of it . The methods and training have filtered down to amature club level as there are mostly no big secrets . So everything you need is there and its free .

People will always try to get you to part with your money but the actual answer is discipline and hard work (not being tempted to put things in your system that taste nice ).
Giving your body what it needs and not what you like is the only thing that gets results

 

[garyk]

Anyone tried Maffetone method?

G

Am I over-simplifying it but it looks to me about eating right and exercising more? I get the whole individual testing part for intolerances and that but just read what I thought was common sense; which I know doesn't always get applied!

 

[GraemeL]

Re Maffetone - I was interested in it because it seems to offer something that other methods do not and I don't mean the diet. (For diet suggest Professor Tim Noakes - The Real Meal Revolution in which fat is good!) I too love pies and pasties and bread but eat a little less of them than I used to.

I have been running for many years on a casual 'keep fit' basis and latterly doing some 1/2m and 10k events, trying quite hard to get good times (by my standard) and to improve them. Best 1/2m time was 1h 47m and 10k was 49m (on a hilly course). For all of the events I trained used a runners world plan and followed it fairly closely. The worst part of training, by far, was the interval and fartlek training, where getting seriously out of breath several times on one training run was the norm. I hate getting out of breath! I am 62 by the way.

So Maffetone offers "The holistic, low-stress, no pain way to exceptional fitness". This training method was used by Mark Allen, who won the Ironman 6 times. Many will and do decry the method because it is definitely counter intuitive. Essentially 'no pain - you gain'

I won't go detail about the reasoning Maffetone uses, but it has transformed the way I train. Now I run each day at a pace that is limited by my heart rate, keeping it below a level determined largely by my age - doing about 7 miles on about 5 days a week. When I started this 5 months ago, going up hills it meant I had to slow sometimes to a walk. As my body had adjusted I can now run (slowly) up the same hills and still keep heart beat under the limit. Running on the flat is also faster than it was 5 months ago, still keeping heart rate under target. I don't need to lose weight but oddly enough I have reduced body fat around my waist and hips - which is curious as I am training less hard than I used to, but is just what Maffetone predicts.

After each run I do not feel tired and am never out of breath. I can definitely run further, albeit slower, than I did before when training.
I have done some tests and it seems that although I am running much slower in training than I used to, I can run faster over a measured distance, but thats still different to an actual event. We will see - it could be all psychological! I have entered a 10k in June and if my time has improved I will stick with the plan.

I still eat bread every day!

Graeme

 

[MikeJ]

10k round Hyde Park on Sunday morning, another after work last night. I missed a couple of weeks thanks to a cold, and still haven't fully recovered.

I've a rough aim of doing 1000k over a year, which should be achievable even taking in to account my travels.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Yes you will make the 1000 K .There is still 11 months a 1 week to go. I will but keep no record !
Just done 4 miles in a cold wind but life here changes by the minute . I am now gong to change a handbrake cable . (life in the fast lane in Devon !)

 

[MikeJ]

In theory it should be fine. I had a couple of trips last year when I couldn't run because of where I was (you really don't run in India or Saudi Arabia), and I struggled to run last summer when I was cycling in to work a few times each week. I should be better this year though.

I've got an issue with my left knee, as it hurts like hell when I kneel on it. It's fine to run or walk though, so I'm hoping it's nothing more than a bruise.

 

[Iain_Henderson]

Interesting read. I have neither ran a marathon nor even a mile at under 5 minutes!

Mashable: How Nike plans to break one of the most daunting barriers in human performance. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwgL6qljQ

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I have been following and I think the margins are getting so tight that it will be many years before the 2 hrs go . Over the next few years it will just be seconds shaved off the record

 

[MikeJ]

Back from 10 days in California. I did a few runs there, a couple around 6k and one shorter, but these were much more hilly than I'm used to at home.

Went out last night for a 10k on my usual route, and found it quite comfortable all the way round. Someone (Jeremy, possibly?) recommended I get more hills into my routine - there's a good one opposite my house, so I may start doing that at the end of my usual run to get some muscle build going on.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Back from 10 minutes in Exeter
6 miles flat 5am in the morning 8 degrees no wind still dark but spring is in the air perfect running conditions just maybe still too cold for me.
Yes you need hills Mike big ones that talk ! Big ones that say "don't F%%k with us running boy"

 

[techygirlD]

Just recently getting back into running after being diagnosed with a health condition that kept me from running for about one year. I used to do 5k runs 5-7 times a year. I've mostly been limited to the treadmill indoors, as the cold is bad for my health. But now that it is starting to get warmer I am looking forward to getting back outdoors Ideally, I'll be ready to run a marathon by the end of the year.