Running goals, motivation and chat 2026 - Part 3!

Hi all. Not posted on this thread for a while but have been lurking. Well done on everyone’s progress and races. Did anyone do London landmarks the other week? It was my first time and I loved it. So much so that I think it sent me a bit loopy and I found myself signing up for Manchester next year 🙈

Thank you! Fastest 10k I've ever done was 58 mins (in 2020). Recently I've done 1: 04, 1: 03 and on Sunday I managed 1: 02 :24 on a hilly route with road crossings, so that was encouraging. Average length of boss's two weekly runs is about 4k and he's not fast 😁

Can I hop on too. Hello fellow runners!

Ive been running a couple of years but still feel very much like a beginner. Still struggling with breathing and huffing and puffing.

I'm signed up for Venice marathon in October. I’ve done a 1/2 before and didn’t particularly love it but it’s a kind of bucket list thing.

Doing 3 runs a week to maintain at the moment before starting the marathon block in October. Am so daunted by the distances I will have to cover!

well done on your 10k @Goditsmemargaret

welcome to the thread @zurigo good luck for your upcoming race!!

Good for you @zurigo - I love this post! What times are your 10ks if you don't mind me asking and what have you gleaned from stalking you boss' Strava.

Ooooh can I join please?

I've been running 'properly' since 2019, when I joined a C25k programme with a local club. I did it because I was feeling bad for being so unfit and short-changing my energetic DC, because they didn't have a DM who could run around and kick a ball with them. At that point, running 5k was my one and only goal - and knowing myself as I do I thought I'd do it and then it would probably taper off and I'd end up unfit again. But that didn't happen! I caught the running bug and I discovered that despite my non-running build (short, hourglass shaped), I'm actually not a bad runner and after 'graduating' from the C25k course I joined my running group's quickest pace group and have stayed there for almost seven years.

In that time I've done 10ks and a couple of half marathons and I try to run 3x a week. This past year though I've struggled a bit, because I went back to work 4 days a week after a long break and this winter the weather was so awful it made finding a time to run when it was light and not raining really challenging. I kept my running ticking over though and next week I'm running in a charity 10k with work. I've been training for the last few weeks and have done three 10ks, each one slightly faster than the last, so I'm feeling pretty good. I'll be the oldest one from work doing it and I'm hoping not to be the slowest! The younger women I work with have done almost no training and neither has my 47-year-old boss (who I've been Strava stalking 😂), so fingers crossed.

Hi everyone,

@Jumbojem DH and I were also a bit upset by our Hyrox photos and are now holding each other accountable. I purchased Hume scales which I now regret as the reviews are appalling but anyway.

I'm feeling a bit down in the dumps like I'm never going to make any progress which is stupid because I've already made loads.

But I did a 10k race last Sunday on a whim - got a ticket for free. It's my first 10k since my Before Cancer days so I was delighted to get round with no walking breaks.

Then on the race results there was an option to check vo2 max levels as had my watch on. It said fitness poor! I feel like I'm doomed. I think it's weight related. I now look much slimmer than I did before but I'm still really heavy on the scales - 14 stone at 5 ft 7. I put on 4 or 5 stone during my cancer treatment and I can't shift the final 2 stone.

Anyway I'm still going with my combined Hyrox / marathon plan.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree well done on your long run. A marathon that’s partially on sand sounds like a challenge. Enjoy the start of tapering.

@Jumbojem good luck with you 5k speed plan. I would like to improve my speed over shorter distances but I signed up for so much stuff (mainly half’s) in May that I probably need to get those done first.

glad you’re enjoying your deload week @tinks3110 glad to hear that your out and running quicker this time.

Well done on the beach race @xsquared running on sand sounds tough!

im feeling ok after the marathon on Sunday. I’d booked leave for yesterday so took the dog for a nice walk in the sunshine. Hips and my adductors on my injured side are a bit creaky but not too bad. Debating run club tonight. Will see how the day goes.

Well done @tinks3110 on your HM - great stuff!

@Goditsmemargaret great work on your hyrox. I was watching some on YouTube last week as one of DS1's friends has taken it up and trying to persuade the other boys to join in - it looks absolutely brutal!

Brilliant time for your marathon @Whataninterestinglookingpotato - gret running!

@xsquared well done on your beach run - any tips? I have discovered that the marathon I'm doing in May is partly on sand.

@BogRollBOGOF well done on staying consistent. Nothing like a soul run to lift the spirits.

@Jumbojem hope your 5K training pays off.

I did my last long run yesterday. I creaked around close to 20 miles with plenty of stops for snacks and drinks. I had a couple of good runs last week on holiday and am now looking forward to dropping the distance in the lead up to marathon day.

Amazing time @Whataninterestinglookingpotato congratulations!
Also well done to @xsquared
With no races on the horizon I've started a 5k PB plan. Doing short but faster runs feels strange after weeks of long but slow runs. I'm not sure I'm built for speed! I bought some bathroom scales today also as I was a bit horrified by my race photos from last week.

well done @Whataninterestinglookingpotato that’s an amazing time!
sounds great @xsquared well done xx
Ive had a deload week after my half marathon last Sunday. It’s been nice and an achievement for me as whenever I’ve run a half before I haven’t been able to run for at least a week and this week I’ve been out 3 times

Very well done with your time at Newport marathon @Whataninterestinglookingpotato . You have qualified for GFA for London and others for next year, so that's exciting!

For me, I had a last minute transfer beach race today. It was lovely, I didn't intend to race it, as I didn't want to put that pressure on myself having only got a transfer this week, but I beat my previous attempt at the course, so I am happy.

Hope your long run went well @BogRollBOGOF

Well. Today I ran Newport marathon. I’m honestly so pleased with my time. It was hotter than I would have liked and my leg hurt a fair bit at points but despite that I finished in a time of 3:25:45. Bloody thrilled. First member of my club home and hopefully good enough to apply for GFA for London for next year!! Now to go and it in the garden with a beer!!

Hope everyone has had a good running weekend.

@BogRollBOGOF Garmin is such a negative nelly! Hope the weekend runs go well.

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato good luck for Sunday ,last time I checked weather looked good for running? Have a great time, I'm sure you will do amazingly! Oh, my trail race was from cheddar and up (and up, up) over the Mendips so I expect the trail marathon will cover some of the same ground. I think I looked at that running weekend they have but I'm away that weekend. I do need to look for more events to keep my motivation up.
@Goditsmemargaret ooh, hyrox and similar are something I know very little about but well done on your event. Sounds like you've got a busy summer with the individual event, 10k and mara to train for!

Good luck! @Whataninterestinglookingpotato
I'm sure you’ll smash it x

Well done on your hyrox @Goditsmemargaret

well done on your trail race @Jumbojem sounds like a tough course but fun. I’m doing cheddar gorge challenge trail marathon in June which will be a bit like that I think!

the taper madness has now well and truly set in. I’m doing cheddar gorge twitchy and thinking I should have gone to track tonight because others who are running on Sunday have. But I decided ages ago that o don’t do a track session in marathon week. I went to club run last night and did 7.5 miles and I need to take my car into the garage tomorrow so will run there and back which is one way completely up hill and then completely down hill to get it later. Then a 4 mile shake out on Friday and that’ll be it!! Marathon time! 😱

Hi, myself and partner did a doubles Tryka on the weekend (Hyrox format event) and in the height of the post race high I signed up for the singles in twelve weeks. I'm now wondering what I was thinking as I'm also trying to get first marathon ready for October.

I did some interval training today, 6 round of 600m sprints, I'm signed up for a 10k race in two weeks.

Well done @tinks3110
Thank you for all the abroad recommendations, lots to think about, might depend who would come with me. Saw an old work friend who is doing Newport mara then immediately going to Rhodes on holiday and running a half there the weekend after (just jog round) which sounded like a lovely way to end the months of mara training.
I finished my 15 mile trail, time was around 3.08, official results aren't out yet. Nearly 2,500 ft of elevation so it did feel like I was going uphill most of the time. Took loads of fuel and did much better in that regard, discovered SIS Beta bars are like slightly soft haribo and much easier and less mess than gels. Also a ready peeled easy peeler was a bit mid race for a burst of freshness.
I've already got Copilot to programme me a 5k pb attempt for my next goal. But also want to just run for fun for a bit, a bit of soul running as @BogRollBOGOF so nicely described it.
Good luck for Newport @Whataninterestinglookingpotato sounds like you will both smash it and have a blast.

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato
thank you, I think because I’d never run that kind of half before I was a bit worried but like you say sometimes just drifting off in your head and not being aware of the miles is the best way to go. I hope your races coming up go well, when I’ve done a big road race before i try to embrace the support, high fiving kids and accepting jelly babies and beer if it’s the great north run

Well done @tinks3110! that’s a great time! Support is nice on a race but tbh I do also quite like to drift off into my own world at times too. Despite all the races I do most of the are small and local. Our towns half had the most road side support of any race ive done. I’ve got 3 big ones coming up now and it’ll be something completely different!

well done to you for getting out this week @SFRSmum nice that your dd is running with you. I do like that dd1 has got more into running lately. It’s so good for their mental wellbeing. Dd1 has been struggling a lot with uni pressure and the running has really helped.

Well done on your long run @OhOneOhTwoOhThree sounds lovely. I did think I probably should wear sun cream for the marathon or I could end up pretty burnt!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree the taper madness hasnt really quite set in yet as I have run every day this week since Tuesday 🙈. Final longish run of 9 miles with a few of the gang. One of the guys is running Manchester next weekend and then London the week after as he’s the support runner for one of our running friends (also out with us today) who has epilepsy. He’s going for a sub 3 for himself in Manchester and then has to support our other friend in London the next week who’s going for sub 3:30! Honestly crazy!

I’ll take it easy this week though so I’m nice and rested for the big day. I swing between over thinking it and blocking it out at the moment! 😂

Forgot to put my time 🙈 2:10:31