Brand new running thread 2018, come and join us!!

Hi, please can I join you too?

I graduated from C25K in Feb. I'm running 3 times a week. I run 5k twice and one "long run" of 8k which has taken me 58 mins. I'd like to get my 5k time down to sub 30 mins (currently PB is 33.17). I'm aware I need to do some interval work. I'd like to do some strength work too. But each time I research via google I fall down the hole of millions of sites full of jargon I don't understand. Oh, and no hills where I live!! So for now I keep plodding on.

Like farine I'm following a low carb diet. But I've been doing it since September. I started C25k in December.

Hello!
Fairly new to running have almost finished couch to 5k and really enjoying it.
Any tips on increasing from 5-10k? I'd love to run a marathon eventually although I know that requires a lot of training.
On my last run I noticed my top was chafing on my upper arm a bit, where's the best place to buy running gear? I only have a couple tops and a pair of fabletics leggings which I love but They're the only pair I'm finding comfy!
Also I know I need to be doing some strength and flexibility exercises. Is there a good programme to follow that someone could point me in the direction of?

Well done Just you are making such great progress.
Beautiful sunny run today, incorporating proposed new park run route to see how it felt.

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I didn't get lost this morning and ran exactly as long as I intended. 8.5 kilometres.

I'm still slow but running for an hour now feels comfortable.

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Yay! It counts!

I ran for an hour then looked at Google maps. To my dismay, I was 59 minutes walk from my hotel!

I didn't want to miss breakfast so I tried to run whenever it was level or downhill.

*counts

I think it count Just- I've found walking intervals really helped me build my distance up.

I got lost on my run this morning (travelling so not familiar with the area.) Therefore, my run was 12k instead of the 8k I'd normally do. Although the last 4k involved a fair bit of walking. Not sure if that "counts."

I don't think we've had any rain here for a week at least! I almost miss it! emummy

I'm the same farine although there are some very steep ones near me- and my house is on a hill, so I can't avoid them all!

First run since my race today, steady 3 miles ish in the sun (strava gps was playing up, but it's a route I've done before so I'm fairly confident of the length).

Is June 25th too soon to do another half? I really want to try another race, and after that there's nothing even vaguely local until the end of September.

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It's definitely much more difficult running on a low carb diet but there is some research out there saying that it's more efficient for long distance runners - once they've made the switch to burning fat. I'm going to give it a month and see where I am then.

Did a gentle 1.5 mile warm up last night followed by a hills rep session and a gentle run home. I did a very hilly 10km race recently and it made me realise that I spend my life designing routes which avoid hills. So from now on I'm going to do a hills rep session once a week. Will be good to track progress and improvement on last night's effort!

Damp and drizzly interval session through the forest today, felt quite chilly!

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@farine, I know the heat gave a lot of people issues in Plymouth, so that could be partly to blame too. I could definitely have done with a light rain instead!

I'm not an expert on running at all, but I do know a bit about nutrition/physiology. Basically, by low carbing, you're depriving your body (especially your muscles) of an easy energy source, so it has to rely on metabolizing proteins and fats and burns more fatty tissue. That's great for weight loss, but it doesn't work so well for intensive exercise, when your body needs the easy energy sources- basically it's too slow to give your muscles energy at the rate they need it.

I don't know if there's a way to make a compromise- e.g. low carbing say 5 days out of 7, and eating carbs for 48 hours before your long run, and eating carbs the week before any races. I know that would cause some people to struggle the rest of the time, and obviously it would slow down your weightloss.

Or maybe take this as a new baseline, and see if your body does adapt and you can improve on your times from this level?

Anyway, good luck whatever you decide going forwards.

@LadyLance I ran the Liverpool half - and yes it was hot. Not as hot as London, which I also did but crashed and burned under the heat. I want the cold snowy Sunday mornings back!!!

I think you may be right about low carb and distance but I am significantly overweight and this seems to help me lose weight. I'm hoping my body adapts and the whoosh I'm suddenly slim and speedy

farine Your time was still really good, hope you feel better tomorrow! I don't know about where you are, but it was really hot yesterday. That could have affected your time too- apparently it feels hotter on the road and surrounded by people as well.

I do think though that low carbing and distance running don't really go together. It sucks, but I think you will have to pick one :(

Glad your new shoes feel good just

I haven't run today- did a little swimming and went for a 30 minute brisk walk this afternoon. I'm going for a proper swim tomorrow and going to walk a friend's dog for 45 minutes. Planning to try a short run again on Wednesday, assuming my legs have recovered as I expect them to!

Well done for doing it Farine, hope you recover soon!
The numbers in bold are the cumulative total in miles that we've run this month, so you can add yours on whenever you run.

I found my half marathon really tough yesterday. 2:25 time which is my slowest ever. I think it's the switching to a low carb diet that's had an impact - although I did have gels in the race.

Planned to do a Swiss ball class and HIIT today but I feel so knackered I'm having a rest day - especially as I have a Hills session tomorrow evening.

The numbers in bold at the bottom of posts - what are they?

More great running Just, that sounds like quite a hill! The new shoes sound lovely, I wish you many happy miles in them!

I ran 8.5k this morning. I started with a very long hill, climbing almost 200 metres over a mile or so.

My new Brooks feel fantastic.

Fantastic, Lady!

I just bought a pair of Brooks Glycerin. They're bright blue and lovely.

Definitely planning to relax, although madly I'm also looking at possible races for the rest of the year. There's another relatively local half in about five weeks that I'm considering, then possibly looking at Bristol and Exeter for the autumn!

I'll aim to do some gentle walking and swimming for the next few days, and see how I recover!

LadyLance, well done for sticking with it when it got tough. Don't be disappointed, it sounds like you did really well. Enjoy your afternoon - I hope you are planning to relax.

Well done LadyLance, great result! May be time for wine & cake?!
I have a dog so usually get plenty of walking after a race. Swimming sounds nice though.

I'd love to hear how everyone else got on with their races today as well!

I finished Just which was the main goal! My chip time was 2:41, which I'm a little disappointed with, as I know I went off too fast and could have done things differently BUT it was a great day, really well supported and organized and even though it was hot there was enough water provided and shade that I never felt overheated. I would definitely train harder next time- the last 3 miles were horrid, and I think it's because I never got past 10 miles in training. Home now and had a shower and don't feel completely crippled, so I'm calling it a win!

I had a plan to walk for 5 minutes at each water stop to help me take on fluids and not overheat and walked some steep sections in the last two miles, but I'm really proud of myself for finishing, and I guess it gives me a target to improve on for next time!

Hope everyone else's running is going well! What sort of training/exercise do people do the week after a race? I'm thinking maybe some swimming?

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