Running goals, motivation and chat 2026 - Part 3!

Well done on your ultra warrior @tinks3110 that sound like loads of fun. Good luck for your hybrid race.

I did club run last night, I ran with the faster group and the fastest lady in the club was there. Me and another guy I often run with were chatting to her as we were running down hill and didn’t realise how fast we were going. When we started climbing again she kept the same pace and was just chatting effortlessly while me and the other guy were hanging on for dear life trying to still talk and not look like we were dying! 😂😂. We were literally doing my 10k race pace 😂, I don’t usually have to talk at that pace! 😂.

track tonight. Good session. Now I’m debating whether to do a gentle hills session tomorrow or just to give myself 2 days rest before my first ultra on Saturday. Decisions decisions 🤔😂

hi all

I've been awol again! Was away beginning of last week and resting from running after my calf injury.

sunday was my ultra warrior. I finished 3 laps just outside the 5 hour window and am so proud of myself. 36k (furthest I’ve ever run) and 75 obstacles. Still on a bit of a high. Can’t say the same for my body 🤣 one of my toenails has a blister underneath it.

next up I have a wild hybrid race thing on 11th July. Happy running all xx

Thank you @SFRSmum im really looking forward to it. It’s my first ultra so will see how it goes. I’m running it with a group of friends. I’m the only female though and some of the guys are pretty quick, though I am better over long distances than all bar one of them. So mostly my job is to tell the young fast ones to slow down continuously or they’ll never make it!! You do walk more when you’re on trails. I think I walked about a third of cheddar and still somehow managed to come in 1st 😂😂.

if this goes well I’m thinking of a 50 miler.

well done on your intervals @SFRSmum

welcome to the thread @captainbarnacles123 that’s a good 5k time. I don’t think sub 2 is unachievable for you.

Glad the heat is taking away the not running gilt @BogRollBOGOF hope you’re back to normal soon.

I actually got up and ran at 6:30 this morning. It’s almost unheard of for me but I managed to get 10k in before heading off to a conference for work. I then went and did very warm hill repeats with the gang this evening with a nice pint after. I would usually run there and back but I didn’t tonight as it was so hot and I’d already been out once today.

Well done @captainbarnacles123 that's an impressive 5k time compared to you HM times, you'll definitely be able to achieve that sub 2hr goal.

Sorry to hear your injured @BogRollBOGOF although it's good you've got a plan and there are some activities still on the ok list.

I've been to run club tonight, we short intervals, I really enjoyed it, and managed to get up to some good speeds, I think I'm going to focus on a bit of speed work when all my mega runs are over (last one is in November 🤣) it will be interesting to see where I am with that. At the moment its mainly time on feet and perseverance.

Good luck with the 50k @Whataninterestinglookingpotato ultras really are my favourite distance. Although I feel like a bit of a fraud as I'm definitely not fast and I definitely don't run even half of the distance, I'd say id be lucky if I ran a quarter of The Wall.

I’m using the Coopah app for a running plan. I’m aiming to get a sub 2 in my half marathon in September. I’ve done 2 before and my fastest time was 2.14, and 2.26 before then. Part of the plan said to have a B goal. So I opted for a 5km PB. I did it today, in 21 degree and managed a 25min!! I’m so pleased with myself. A couple of years ago I’d have never have dreamed that I’d get under 30minutes.

Sorry to hear that you’re on the injury bench @BogRollBOGOF healing vibes to you. Hopefully you’ll get round your half ok.

club run for me tonight on a very warm evening. We only did 5 miles tonight but that was fine for how hot it was. Despite the heat there was a good group of us as those that showed up from the 3 faster pace groups ran together. Nice evening and good vibes. Now chilling in the pool but need to go and make some dinner. Sigh.

Sounds like you’ve had a great running week @SFRSmum. 100 miler is crazy!! I have my first 50k in 2 days weeks time but will see how I get on with that before I try and go further. Hats off to you!

welcome to the thread @DesLynamsMoustache well done on your 10k success! That’s a fantastic time especially considering you’re new to running.

rest day from running for me today. Though I’ll pop to the gym later for some very boring strength training. Bit my favourite but needs to be done!

Hello! Can I join please?

I had my first race yesterday, a 10k, and I was absolutely delighted to get sub-1 hour - 58:12. I was aiming for 1:03, the fastest I had gone in training, as it was a hilly race and hot so I was stunned to realise in the last km I was on course for sub-1 hour! I absolutely loved it and have signed up for all sorts in the months ahead

Next event is a 10k trail race in a month. I’ve mostly been doing road/paths so will be fun to try something a bit different. I’ve only been running since the start of the year, although I had a head start aerobically from some cycling, so I am definitely very much a novice still!

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato Well done to DD1, fantastic to get such a high place on her first trail half!

I've thought I'd had a fairly laid back week, maybe not! I went back to running on Wednesday and did an easy 11k, which felt absolutely fine, so I went to run club on Thursday, where we did hills. Which again was fine!

Had a 10k race on Saturday but I didn't race it, I ran it relaxed with my friend, which was lovely. Then yesterday I did an 11k social run with run club in the morning and then the 21k challenge for summer solstice at 9pm, so all in all it's been fairly busy!
Legs feel heavy today, but it's rest day today

I've not got anything on now until my 100 miler in 4 weeks.

Hope everyone has had a good week of running x

Hey all. Hope everyone has had a good weekend of running. Also hope that all those racing got on well.

dd1 and I did giants head half today. I wasn’t racing particularly but was pacing dd1 for her first trail half. She found it tough as it was hot and very hilly but a lot more runnable and less technical than cheddar last weekend.

she came in somewhere between 5th and 7th female over all (preliminary results that keep changing) so that’s fantastic for her first trail race. It’s also the furthest she’s ever run so super proud of her. I really enjoyed the run and as I wasn’t racing I was able to take pics of the giant and the views which was nice.

happy running all.

sorry for all the typos. My brain hasn’t quite kicked back in yet 😂

@SFRSmum well done on your 70 miler! I hat an achievement.
thinking about running vests/packs, I brought the Salomon cross 4 running backpack for this marathon as my old one was rubbing me even on a half. Did commit the crime of wearing it for the first time in race day, but honestly I was so pleased I wore it. It didn’t rub at all and my shoulders/back feel fine. It was a bargain as well as it’s a lot cheaper than their usual running vests. I think it paid about £35 for it from sports shoes with their app discount.

cheddar gorge challenge marathon for me today. Definitely change by name and challenge by nature. I don’t think I have ever done anything so hard!! It was relentless, steep up hills with very steep technical down hills and even then flatter bits across fields were tough due to the rutted ground! However, it was a lovely event and the support from the Marshalls could not be faulted. I think I was first female too, thought I have to sit for the official results to come out to confirm but I was told I probably was at every aid station and then at the finish. 5:05 which gives you an idea of how hard it was. Also 4150 feet of elevation.

how others have got on well with their races and runs this weekend.

@tinks3110 hope the leg is feeling better after a rest. It can be hard to sit it out when needed, glad it seems to be getting better nicely

I've completed my 70 miler (rat race - the wall) I ran the runnable until about 30 miles in, then I walked. It was tough,, but not in a too many hills or too far, it was the roads that went on forever at 40 miles in I had a mini melt down and was ready to quit, luckily I came across a wonderful lady who stuck with me till the end.
I won't sign up again, due to the road sections, but I've got my 100 miler coming up next month, I think I'll walk the vast majority of that though.

Things to consider and work on - any advice welcome - my pack really hurt my shoulders, I swapped to a different one at the drop bag station which was better but those miles waiting for painkillers to kick in were hell. Is this a case of do more shoulder strength work? Bad pack?

My feet - really surprised by this one, I used kintoe socks which have been really reliable previously, and I ended up with 2 massive blisters on my little toes. I only had spare kintoe socks which although I love, made dressing toes really tricky. I'll be getting new trainers next week for the 100 miler as mine are just about done in so wonder if that was the cause

Sorry for the massive post!

I’ve not had the best week, pulled my calf at class on Wednesday morning but had a 9 mile relay in a team of 3 in the evening. In hindsight I should’ve pulled out but I didn’t want to let my team down. Ran 3 laps (9 miles) on 1 leg basically, so painful 😣 I rested yesterday and today and it’s feeling a lot better but I’m not going to run this weekend and let it get better properly

Reading along good to hear about your runs. I’m still sat on injury bench not run for 5weeks but I have restarted and building up my strenght training and been out on the bike 3x a week plus had a swim. So hoping this rehab will put me in good place to restart when hip / back issue settles down a bit more. DH has just signed up to a coastal marathon in Sept to keep himself motivated. He has bit of something to prove to himself as last time he did that route as an 31m ultra he collapsed at the end & was vomiting blood. It was a tad scary but he was dehydrated with salt imbalance but after an hour in the medic tent with fluids he was let go. It had been very humid day so despite drinking he hadn’t taken on enough electrolytes. Really hope he’s learnt his lesson this time!

That sounds fun @tinks3110 !

I have been a bit AWOL - I got lazy after my marathon and am nursing an injury. But I had me fastest parkrun since last November on Saturday, so the rest has done me some good.

I'll go and catch up on the thread now.

Happy Monday all,

I did an event called the Drop with some gym friends yesterday, we were blindfolded and driven 10 miles on a bus, dropped off and had to make our way back to the finish within 5 hours! Probably the craziest thing I'v ever done but we made it back. Due to mixed abilities in our team we walked most of the way but were very happy to make it back before the cut off.

This week I'm doing a 3 person relay run around a local reservoir, I am the 9 mile leg. Looking forward to it

@SFRSmum well done to your little one on completing her first park run. I hope that your older dd enjoys her 17k for 17 years. It’s lovely to run with them isn’t it. Even dd2 has started coming to track with me sometimes though she said she isn’t coming to anything else until she can run further and faster, she’s currently about half way through couch 2 5k. Good luck for your big race next weekend. Which one is it you’re doing?

DH and I had a couple of nights away on the Shropshire/powys boarder and did quite a bit of walking. We got back earlier than planned this afternoon as we were going to stop in the wye valley for lunch but we were both still too full from breakfast.

I wasn’t going to run today but as we were home I decided to do most of the local winter hilly trail race that I did I’m December. I just decided to change the last couple of miles as I would have had to have kept the dog on the lead due to sheep and ground nesting birds, but the way I decided to go instead was so overgrown and I was cut to pieces. It was so bad we had to turn back and so I ended up being about a mile short. 9 miles rather than the panned 10 done but it was still good fun and nice to get out. Good prep for next weekend when I’m running cheddar gorge challenge marathon.

@Lemontreeinthecity I second the above comment on getting a proper fitting and gait analysis. Everyones run style is different and it's worth getting the right shoes for you to prevent injury. Most places charge a small fee usually taken off the price of a purchase but it is worth it.

We did parkrun yesterday but I did it with my 6 year old (her first completed parkrun, we attempted last year but she only managed 1out of the 3 laps) so we were took it easy, 41 mins I think it was but I'm so proud that she didn't give up half way round. Yes we walked a bit but that's ok. She enjoyed it and that's what matters.

To be honest, I was happy to have the excuse to go slow, we were interval training at run club on Thursday, short repeats, and I really pushed and my right hamstring has been letting me know it's there since, I don't think it's injured I think it's just worked but I've got my big run next weekend so I'm being sensible and not doing much.

17k planned for tomorrow, daughters 17th birthday and she wanted to run 17k for it, we've agreed to split it with a lunch break in the middle to take it easy.
Same daughter also wanted to get a sub 30 5k PB this week, which we did on weds, she knocked 3 mins off her time and managed 28mins.

Feeling very lazy today, might do a short gentle run tonight but I really CBA 🤣

@Lemontreeinthecity trainers are a really personal thing. Different ones are right for different people. My current rotation are: asics novablast 5s for daily training, Saucony endorphin speed 5s for tempo and track, Saucony endorphin pro 4s for racing, Saucony omni 9s (I think) for the gym, also mixed terrain runs in the summer as they are stable, Saucony xodus ultra 4s for trail. I also have some old asics gel trabuco which I use for really muddy shorter trails and walking at present.

i do have some Saucony endorphin elites sat in my basket at the moment. Trying to convince myself I don’t them 😂.

but what suits me won’t suit everyone and so I would go to a proper running shop, try lots on and get fitted properly.

I’m a huge fan of brooks trainers. I’ve got the glycerin gts (21 I think…) and the glycerin max. Absolute game changers!

@BogRollBOGOFi also opted for a lie in rather than parkrun today. We did go swimming later that afternoon.
On my day off this week I’ll be doing the parkrun route and just getting some practice in. I really want to be a sub 30. Best had been 30’58”.
anyone recommend any good trainers - I’ve kept to my Nikes - they are getting old though…