general running thread

Anyone got any advice for Shin splints? I think I've over done it this weekend, running Fri, sat & sun, and I'm in agony . I'm planning on having a couple of rest days but is there anything I can do to ease the pain and/or stop it recurring? I've not been running long and doing a 5 mile race in 2 weeks so I really want to get up and running again as I need to do some serious training if I'm going to finish it!

Yes he's fine now thanks Kiwi! He and DD are busy trying to avoid me as they know their homework needs doing and they are not ready for the hols to be over - unlike their mummy!

well done itsaboatjack!
It is so difficult arranging running sessions around children. Hope your little one is better Please.

well done itsaboatjack!
It is so difficult arranging running sessions around children. Hope your little one is better Please.

Well done! Two hours 1 minute is a good time! I'd be super proud of myself if I could manage that! Heck I'd be pretty pleased if I could run 13miles, but right now I can't claim that!... one day...
Ice those legs, have you got skins to help with doms?
And um...ibuprofen? I reckon I'd need all of the above! but I've not run two marathons and half marathons in my timie...

Well the sun came out in East London today, a bit of wind but generally very nice running conditions.

I've got a couple of blisters, my knees are not happy but otherwise I got round ok in 2hrs 1min so quite happy with that. Queueing now to collect my bag then home for a soak.

Hi Boatjack, good luck with your race today! Hey Cooee, envy of your good 7 miler. I feel like a caged animal as I got up on thursday bright and early, running gear on... when of course ds announced that he had a bad tummy. Cue 'accidents' and the cancellation of holiday camp, lots of pants changing and me stuck with the kids with no escape grraaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! And since then I've not been child free. And being at home has meant a very unecessary close relationship with the chocolate cupboard has ensued. Not good. Bad mummy. I feel fat. The scales are the same but I nevertheless FEEL fat. So four days with no excercise and I am chomping at the bit to go out! (Who would have thunk it!!! Me - WANTING TO EXERCISE - if you knew me you would recognise a big change!!!). I am desperate for them to go back to school tomorrow so i can put them in breakfast club and get cracking again. Runkeeper training plan must be really cross with me as I'll have skipped at least two sessions now - sob!. Kiwi, I agree about the incline increase on the treadmill and also maybe increase it up and down at intervals? And also think it's very likely you are running too fast when on the road. But I'm a mere amateur so don't take my advice! So yes tomorrow it is. I can't wait. It'll be a 5k hot shoes shuffle but at least it's something. If I'm going well for time I'll try to up it to 7k. In the meantime it's sunny but cold (what happened to the promise of a balmy weekend?!) so we are off to the playground.

Also just wanted to say to Kiwi, put your treadmill on a slight incline, it will help it to be more similar to running outside iykwim.

Hello all, can a late comer join in.

Funny that I've found this thread tonight, I'm supposed to be having an early night, but can't sleep. I need to get up at 6am tomorrow as I am doing the East London half marathon.

I am a born again runner. I started about 8yrs ago and have done the GNR, run to the beat half, the London Marathon twice and a few 10ks. I took a rest break after the marathon last year though and just got fat and lazy! I was trying to get back into my running but just couldn't muster the enthusiasm, so in order to give myself something to aim for I rashly signed up to tomorrow's race a few months ago, got started quite well but then of course the terrible weather kept hindering me. So I know I'll be able to get round tomorrow but whether it'll be in one piece remains to be seen.

I'm also signed up to the London 10,000 at the end of May so I'm looking forward to getting to know you all while training for that.

Hi hedge, you're right, it was a jump straight from 7 to 10 and I think that plays on my mind. With 7, I get to 3 miles and think 'I'm nearly half way there, this is EASY' but with 10, I think 'not even a third of the way there. OH GOD'. Still haven't made it to 13 yet, eek!

Had a fab 7 mile run earlier though, first one this year without long sleeves on, you know when everything is just good? Weather lovely, friendly people, lambs frolicking - I expected to get ran over as a punishment for it being so positive!

Please, I had your exact run the other week, I think sometimes it all just goes a bit wrong? Had good ones since though

Hope everyone enjoys their runs this weekend- love this thread!

I'm wondering if you are running at a much faster pace when you are outdoor Kiwi?

I'm still very snotty Sunday is starting to look a bit dodgy (I will do it regardless by I may have to walk some if it). I've signed up for another 10k in May

thank you for your messages. I downloaded mapmyrun on my phone and went outdoors this morning. I van not run outdoors! I managed about a mile, ran and walked the second mile, and pretty much walked the third mile. I felt so disheartened... but I'm sure that I will get there doing a combination of treadmill and road running.
Reading about your distances is amazing!!

Hi Pleaseput, that was how I felt on the 10K on Sunday! My aim us to get the GN10K done in under an hour!
I've never used Runkeeper, used to use mapmyrun on the iPhone but then my lovely husband bought me a Garmin Forerunner 110 for my birthday last year! I actually burst into tears when I opened it as was so happy. I like uploading to Garmin Connect, especially as it has an iPhone app so I can then check on prior runs quickly on the phone.
I'll be sort of swimming tomorrow if you count hurling down slides and then climbing stairs in Wet 'n' Wild!

Hi welcome Fyou! Well I managed 7 miles yesterday - of running hell. My body was tired and not up for it from the get go but my dad had the kids and so i felt like I should take the opportunity of the time. So I thought, "Ok my body is tired but it's supposedly good to do some fatigued runs to build up endurance etc so I'll just go slow and stead but long". Well I did the lap with all it's hills in constant rain and no music or mental efforts could take away the fact that all I could think of was the end point. I was running a perimeter and so really I knew if I could make half way there would be no point in going back as I'd still have the same distance to cover! At least I did it and of that I'm pleased. But oy, some days your body is just saying NO isn't it! My hip/left buttock is still moaning at me after I've done four miles or so. Makes me feel 'elderly' , especially as it feels like a hip joint sort of ache. I hope I can withstand the training to get to 13 miles. I think maybe more flat runs will boost my confidence at running longer as at the moment most of my runs are a bit undulating/hilly!
66 mins on a 10k isn't shocking if you ask me! I managed it in a wee bit less than that but still over an hour. My next one I want to get in at under an hour. I swam today. A positively amazonian woman got in next to me and was like a speed machine. Awesome. I tried to keep up with her and after two lengths was on the verge of a collapsed lung hahaha! I gave up and did my own thing!
Does anyone else have any issues with runkeeper's pace/distance sometimes going a bit haywire? On the weekend I'd barely got going and it decided I was already on two miles and running at some ludicrous speed like 15 miles per hour or something. Was quite annoying. I resorted to using Mapmyrun at the same time but it was irritating as I'm trying to follow the Runkeeper's half marathon training plan. Not sure how you can get it to sort itself out when that happens?
Kiwi, any running is better than no running outside or inside. I don't know the answer to your question though. I must say I used to find the same thing that I could go longer/steadier on the treadmill - but I think that was because the elevation is the same, you keep your pace more even and you can constantly stare at the time/distance. But I could never concentrate on the telly. Just music turned up super loud! Funnily enough I now feel the opposite and can't stand a treadmill - I get too bored and frustrated and actually find my legs don't like the surface as much (shin splinty for me ?). Now I find running outside better as it's more varied and I can picture the end point of my route. Plus I sort of like feeling like I've beaten the elements by going out despite the horrible wind/rain/snow.

I'm the opposite kiwi - can run on the roads but can barely do 10 minutes on the treadmill.

Followed your example please and set out intending on a random run this morning - it turned out to be not that random but I did a steady 6k

I have found it inspirational reading this thread and noting your progress! I have been a sporadic runner and never been able to manage a long distance it run for any great length of time. Even though I really enjoy running and, especially, "my time".
However, I bought a treadmill last week and suddenly found that I can run three miles comfortably. I am very distracted watching telly at the same time but also pushing myself watching the clock and distance tick along.
I'm concerned about why I can run on the treadmill but not be successful on the road (local street and country park). After reading about parkruns on here I have discovered that the inaugural local parkrun is happening on Saturday morning! I am half-hearted about giving it a go.
I'm going to run on the treadmill again today and try to improve my time a little.

The GNR is 13.1m, half marathon! First did it in 2011, run/walk in 2:47, trained properly last year and ran the whole way in 2:25.
I find a bunged nose is harder to deal with than a cough, probably cause I'm asthmatic so more used to coping with lungs that don't want to play!
Thanks about the name, it's a mantra I took on a few years ago when I realised the only opinion that really matters in my life is my own.

Hi Fyou (top name) you are welcome to join. How far is the GNR? Well done on doing your 10km don't worry about your time at least you did it.

I'm still very snotty,I'm getting worried about Sunday now

Can I join in please? I've run the GNR twice now, but since last one I've struggled with my running mojo, I signed up for a 10k just before Christmas but got a bad bout of flu two days before so had to drop out! Haven't managed more than 3.5 miles when I've been out running since but had entered the another local 10K which I did on Sunday! My muscles are still aching as I was ill prepared, 6th last with a dire time of 66:52!
Going back out on Thursday or Friday for a recovery run then hoping this was the kick up the backside I needed. I am doing the Great North 10K in June and the GNR again in September.
Last year I was running 5 miles 3 times a week with a long run on a Sunday morning (earning my Yorkshire puds and gravy on my Sunday lunch) and I'd ideally like to be back there as felt really fit and happy.
Running is my me time, nothing like it to clear your head.

You'll do it Hedgepig. You'll be great . Just do interval runs this week and then go for it on Sunday. I had a great 6 mile run on Saturday along he river. Sun was shining it was beautiful out! I went 'random' running this morning just following my nose along trails and up hills today. 4 miles. The runkeeper seems a bit squirmy though at the outset in terms of pace or distance. So I've been using mapmyrun at te same time! My hip/flute is still kicking in at around the four mile mark - the old lady stiff hip thing takes over. Annoying. Should get it looked at but don't want to spend the money on it. I know duh! I should get it sorted. I think my 7 year old would beat me too Hedgepig.

Thought not though!!!

Evening another though CooEee is are you doing big jumps in distance ? It seems to be recommended that you only increase distance by 10% a week, so if you are doing bigger jumps than that then it would be hard to maintain your pace.

My weekend running was fairly poor I marshalled at the park run on Sat ::polishes halo:: and did a 3km fun run with DS1 on Sun. He bear me hands down, how can kids just zoom off like that . I am totally snotty at the moment. It's my 10km race on Sunday I hope feel tickety boo by then. This is my big target I set myself last year , it seemed fairly impossibly then .

Well done dame! It's a brilliant feeling isn't it?!

Please, I do exactly as you do. I LOVE knowing how many calories have gone and what hat means in terms of treats!!

Thanks doyouthink, that helps a lot! The 10 mile run is actually a lot hillier so that probably impacts too.

I re-ran my mismeasured route and it came out with longer distance again. And I did a sub 5min km and a new mile PB. Go me!

It's only a little over 4k total though I'm hopeful it will translate though to my longer runs.

Morning all! If I could do 7 miles at a 9 minute mile pace I'd be happy! It's gorgeous and sunny. I'm off to try 5 miles today as instructed by run keeper , your equivalent to nipping to the corner shop ! I'm just focussing on the calories burnt today in my head, picturing all the chocolate bunnies that have been slaughtered by my fair hands

Why is it that I can run outside by myself no probs, do an exercise class no probs but doing any strength exercises in a park on my own makes me feel like an absolute tool? I guess it wasn't helped by a poodle the other day coming up and licking my face and giving me the fright of my life mid sit ups!