Running goals, motivation and chat 2026 - Part 3!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree
thank you for remembering!
I had the BEST run! I absolutely loved it! And I got a half marathon PB, which had stood since 2012. I really think taking that race pressure away today really helped me. I was still nervous but just thought well I just want to get round, it’s just a long run. I tried a different breakfast which seemed to work well and my fuelling is plan was better. I ran with no music for the 1st lap to 6.6 miles and just took it all in. I had said to myself to maintain pace at 10-10.30 per mile and for the first time ever I managed it. I thought I’d struggle without support at the roadside as my other halfs have been road runs (GNR and Leeds half) but I actually found it quite relaxing in my own little bubble. My knee was sore at the end, about mile 12 but by then I knew I’d be ok. Best of all I am feeling confident for ultra warrior in June and might even try for 3 laps.
the organisation of the whole event was great, would recommend wild deer events

@Jumbojem and @tinks3110 hope your events went well! Looking forward to your run reports!

@BogRollBOGOF glad you are feeling better. Long may it continue.

@SFRSmum glad that your running is going well and that DD is also enjoying it. Hope you manage to fit in your long run.

How's the taper madness @Whataninterestinglookingpotato ?

18 sunny and breezy miles from me today along the coastal path. Public service announcement - don't forget your body glide when you go on holiday. And it's time to start wearing sunscreen even if it's a bit cloudy out there. Ask me how I know...

@BogRollBOGOF soul run sounds lovely. I live in the country, and do run in town after work sometimes but I much prefer getting out on my local trails, feels less pressure to run fast too somehow!

Ive had a good week, quite a few short runs, no long run, although strava says ive done 45km this week, so not as short as I thought. I might do a long run tomorrow or tuesday, although ive got a running festival next weekend where im doing a 10k, a half and 2 x 5ks and then the following week im doing a 25km run so it might be wise to just skip a long run this week. Although, my ultra in June is in the back of my mind so im not sure what to do for the best. Id quite like to do 30k just to remind my legs I do long runs too!

My daughter has started taking running a bit more seriously, which i am pleased about as she struggles with quite severe mental health issues, but its meant that I go out with her quite a bit, which is lovely but the runs are short and easy.

I think, just writing this, ive decided to try and do a long run this week. I hate bitty training weeks. Makes me nervous 🤣

Good luck for your races @Jumbojem wnd @tinks3110

@Jumbojem Lanzarote marathon festival has become quite popular with our running club. They do a marathon, a half and a 10k. I’m considering it for later this year to get some winter sun. I was thinking of doing the marathon but now I feel that maybe the half is a good shout as I won’t need to worry about training or being exhausted after and can just enjoy the break!

im tapering (kind of) but did hills Thursday night (not a particularly tough session), track Friday night (tough session) and park run today. Didnt go flat out at park run but somehow ended up with my fastest time this year. Dd1 also got a 5k PB today. Medium length run of about 8 or 9 miles planned for tomorrow with the gang, then a light week of running before Newport marathon! Eeek!

@Jumbojem
i hate it when runs feel like that. Hope your run tomorrow is better.

Ive been taking it easy this week, had a great 4.5 mile in the sunshine on Tuesday and a quick 5k on Thursday. Went for a sports massage yesterday before my trail half tomorrow, really think I need to make the massage a regular thing as I carry on running longer distances.
Im trying to relax about tomorrow and think of it as a training run and not a race! I’ve got my plan so will see how it goes

Morning runners!

I’ve had a couple of decent runs this week. Off to parkrun shortly and then we are going on holiday for a week. Luckily it’s somewhere we go often, so I already have some running routes.

@Jumbojem friends of mine loved the Berlin half. They were less keen on the Athens and Istanbul races they did (I think they may have been marathons). Another friend did a half in Cyprus which she said she enjoyed.

I’m beginning to think about the second half of the year after my May marathon but no form plans yet. Tentatively planning a sprint tri if I can improve my cycling over the next few months.

Meant to ask, has anyone got any recommendations for European half maras? I do fancy doing an abroad one next year. One that's not super tough to get an entry for preferably!

Hey all, hope everyone's had a good week, running or otherwise.
All my runs this week have felt awful, heavy legs and felt like running through treacle. I've got my hilly trail 15 miler Sunday so I'm hoping my legs wake up by then!
Think I'll be glad after that to have nothing planned and just enjoy some early summer runs with no pressure. At the same time, thinking it's nice to have the focus of an event to train for...

Well done to potato junior!

I had a good 13 miles, stayed strong for most of it but got really hungry 11.5-12 miles in. Like proper sick with hunger hungry. But made myself finish. Luckily I was meeting DH for lunch nearby and he’d already got a table and the food came quickly.

I have managed to find a replacement event the same weekend in May as my deferred marathon so have booked my spot and accommodation as it’s in a nice place for a weekend away.

Well done to all who ran and raced this weekend.

I marshalled the running clubs easter 10k today. Dd1 ran it and got a PB of 55:53 which she is chuffed with. She’s made a big improvement in such a short space of time she’ll soon be faster than me!

@tinks3110 hopefully the slower trail races will be a bit of a reset for you. It’s easy to put too much pressure on yourself with regards to time and pace and be disappointed if it all feels harder than it should. You’ve done so well and made so much progress in a year. I do think it’s natural to plateau a bit for a while, but that doesn’t mean you won’t continue to improve. You’ve done great.

Well done @tinks3110 on your pb.

Congratulations @tinks3110 that's a great improvement on last year!

Well done @etchedinstone - are you training for something?

My friend and I have decided to defer the marathon we were planning to do together in May until next year as her training hasn't quite gone to plan. I have a couple of other options for that weekend so will carry on with my own training (although the temptation to sack it off is strong!)

morning all,
hope everyone who ran yesterday enjoyed.
I didn’t have the best race but finished in 53.55 and should probably take it as a positive that this time last year my 10k pb was over an hour! I am very much in my own head at the moment and spent a lot of yesterdays race telling myself it was too hard and I couldn’t do it . I am hoping the slower pace of a trail half next week will bring the enjoyment back for me

Last week was my highest mileage in decades. 32 miles and with 3 decent sessions in there too.

Going to be careful and hover around this or even reduce slightly for a couple of weeks or I’ll end up injured. I am in my 50s now and surely should have learned by now that throwing yourself 100% into training every week is a recipe for injury.

Well done all on your respective runs and races, especially if you ran today in the storm!

@SFRSmum I have Edinburgh coming up in May, but I'm just not feeling it.

@TheDaffsareOutRunning that sounds bonkers for a parkrun. I like the sound of @SFRSmum's 70-100 participants. We had just over 400 yesterday, which was a bit quieter than usual.

Great work @SFRSmum on your trail HM!

Well done on your hills @Jumbojem and your long run @xsquared

Glad you are feeling better @Whataninterestinglookingpotato . Enjoy the taper!

6 sunny and windy miles from me today. While I was out I saw a young guy wearing one of the tops from last week's 20 mile race, and wanted to tell him I had one of those too even though I'm twice his age and half his speed .

13 mile long run on the plan for me tomorrow.

Amazing running all, looks like a bit of a hills theme this week. I also had hill reps Thursday, four times up the longest and steepest hill near me. Then up it again and on some more hills for todays 10 miler, although flattish fields for the return. Ran with a friend and the second half was a new run route. I was a bit worried as last time I'd been on a walk that way there had been cows in some of the fields. Thankfully looks like there is a crop planted in the o e this year and some of the others the path had been fenced off from the field so it is a route I can enjoy again over the summer.
I have the hilly 15 mile trail run next weekend, the entry pack says the first 2 miles is all uphill, yikes!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree I did! Husband came down late last night and was able to take over child responsibilities.
It was a beautiful run, trail, half marathon, incredibly hilly (950m gain, 3100 feet) and it took me over 3 hours but I'm pleased with myself, I ran along with a lovely lady in her late 60s/early 70s and she was a true inspiration. I probably could have pushed and knocked a few minutes off my time but I enjoyed her company and it was never on my plan to race this run anyway.

@xsquared do you have anything big your working towards? Well done on your long run, i like to sneak a park run or social run in on long run days to help break it up.

@TheDaffsareOutRunning sounds crazy! Our local parkrun has 70 to 100 usually, I saw they had 140 this morning!! I really dont enjoy them the same when they are busy. Ive done a couple as a tourist and they have been 300+ people and i really disliked them.

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato glad your feeling better. Sounds like a good last long run, i love a bit of elevation but not at race pace 🤣 im a walk the hills kind of gal, enjoy the taper!!

parkrun sandwich for me today. It's been a while since I've done parkrun, but it felt good even after 9k at the start and we completed a total of 26.5km for our long run.

I'm really lacking in motivation this time round for some reason. Last year, I was so diligent with my training, and getting really excited about Boston. I just haven't felt the same this year.

Wow sounds like a killer run @Whataninterestinglookingpotato hope you can enjoy an easy recovery day now.

just reading to catch up well done everyone some great running, and hopefully all the niggly bugs / viruses will head off soon.

Ive had been busy life week but got in the usual 3x 5k plus long dog walks to keep ticking over. Parkrun was bonkers this morning nearly 800 and didn’t see anyone I knew it felt “pushy & racy” normally it’s a chilled one but think there was lots of tourists. It’s a holiday location. I nearly bailed out passing the carpark at 2k as wasn’t e joying it at all but I’m glad I finished. I’ll give it a miss next week though and hopefully it will calm down abit in May before the main summer season hits.

Well done on your hill repeats @tinks3110 ans @thenewaveragebear1983 good fun!

well done on your fast run @OhOneOhTwoOhThree

I hope the antihistamines sorted you out @BogRollBOGOF and your face isn’t water boarding you!!

I feel much better today after a rest day yesterday. My sore throat is gone and fingers crossed it’s not come to anything more so far! I got my last long run in today pre marathon! I went with a young lad from the running club that I often run with, I planned the route and stupidly decided that 1200+ft of elevation was a fantastic idea as if we can run at pace on that then the marathon course should feel easy 😂. So 17.3 very hilly miles done! My friend went on and did 20 as he’s doing London and is a week behind me! I’m sure he was trying to kill me off up some of those hills! 😂. But serval miles in at race pace despite the hills and not a bad average for a training run.

on the taper now and I’m so ready for it!! 😂😂

Glad you are feeling better @BogRollBOGOF

Well done on your hills @tinks3110 and @thenewaveragebear1983

Hope you avoid the lurgy @Whataninterestinglookingpotato

@SFRSmum are you going to be able to do your HM tomorrow?

I really struggled with a 5 mile run on Wednesday, quite possibly because I'd been swimming on Tuesday. The sun was shining and the water wasn't as cold as it has been so I went twice as far as I have been doing and I think it took more out of me than I realised at the time. I made myself had a rest day yesterday and had a really fast (by my standards) run this evening (not sure I'll ever be able to repeat that pace ). I'm volunteering tomorrow at parkrun and will run later in the day to give my legs time to recover from today's efforts.

Have a lovely weekend all!

Urgh hill reps for me too @tinks3110, there’s a road by me that is super steep called Ivor Road, it’s become a bit of a weekly thing to do the “Ivor fiver” - five up, gentle run down, no rest 🤮. Although I’m local legend on strava now which i guess is something 🤷‍♀️