Running goals, motivation and chat 2026 - Part 3!

And just in terms of how the carbon plated shoes felt - they were very comfy, and whilst not as plush as my others, they had bounce and I didn’t feel over tired at any point. It’s unusual for me not to have very low level aches the following day but I was genuinely fine.

I also have quite wide feet. I find the Brooks Glycerin fit me well. Any other brooks shoes can feel restricted though.

I got the Nike Zoomfly 6 carbon plated shoes. They fit so well, especially for a wider foot. The guy in the shop said up to 300 miles but the foam tends to be less effective after about 150-200 miles. Luckily I have a number of other pairs…. 😂

I'm back to my 5.30 5km runs with two of my friends from next week. My half marathon training seems to have peaked so I now have a bit more time to do less planned/structured runs. The early rise will be a shock though! I have a 10km race on Sunday, I’m on the fence of whether I’m hoping for a PB, I got one that I never imagined I’d get earlier this year (53 minutes which is the fastest I’ve managed). The weather looks miserable but there’s an empire biscuit in the goody bag at the end so it’ll be worth it! 😆

@captainbarnacles123 I have wide feet which makes it sadly easier as lots of brands just don't fit me 😐 I used to love Saucony and currently in Hokas.

How different did the carbon plated ones feel? How many miles do you get out of them?

I am back to my usual 0540 gym wake up call tomorrow, so going to lift, but gingerly....

@tinks3110 well done!! I’m sure you’ll smash your next long run. I did a half marathon distance on Monday as a training run. My first one too that wasn’t a race. It felt a bit strange but I found it ok!

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato
have a lovely birthday! Hope you both enjoy your run ❤️

Thought I would pop back on to see if anyone else required a bank loan after gait analysis… (not from the gait analysis itself - but from falling in love with lots of different shoes!) I’ve firmly been a brooks girl for years and go between the Glycerins and Glycerin Max. I still use the Max for long runs and recovery but went I was needing a new pair and feeling some niggles I thought I’d go to have a gait analysis done. I tried on so many pairs - shoes for easy runs, shoes for tempo runs, shoes for racing… I ended up buying a pair of carbon plated shoes that I will just wear for races and fast runs but when I put them on OH MY GOD, it was like a Cinderella moment. And obviously I needed a pair of “in between” shoes as well….
so I’m now the proud owner of a pair of Brooks, Nike, Saucony and the Hokas are also living rent free in my head…

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato
I hope you have a lovely birthday run with your daughter x

Well done @tinks3110 you’ll be fine for your 15 miler. It’s amazing how quickly you can recover.

we are in Greece at the moment and I have done 4 miles before breakfast each day with dd1 for the last 2 days. It’s my birthday tomorrow and I have a longer run planned. Dd1 wants to come too, dd1 is someone who will not give in if she is struggling, or even admit it but just goes a bit quiet and moody. I love her dearly and I have purposely slowed down for her without saying anything the last two mornings but in a way I would like to be able to go a bit faster. Still nice that she wants to do it with me. Hopefully she’ll be on good form! It’ll be nice to run with her in my birthday as long as she isn’t being moody 🤣

well I returned from my French wine and cheese adventure Monday evening not really believing that I'd manage my scheduled 13.1 mile training run which I'd delayed over the weekend.
But I put on my big girl pants and went out and I did it! I've never run a half marathon that wasn't a race. Not going to lie I found it really tough out there on my way and had to give myself a talking to a couple of times. Super proud of finishing it, it wasn't fast but it was the full 13.1
My legs are in bits today and I'm slightly worried about my planned 15 miler on sunday 🙁but sure I'll get there. 6 weeks to go!

I did a very slow/ run-walk 6.5km again, which was simultaneously frustrating but also reassuring because it went okay.

I just want to run though, argh!

Well done @captainbarnacles123, sounds like sub-2 is well within reach!

Morning all and welcome @RappelChoan !

I've just upgraded to a Garmin 55 - mainly as I wanted something waterproof for swimming. Before that I had a 45S.

I've had another week of running to plan (I'm just using a runners world 12 week HM plan). A nice 8 miles yesterday, although I didn't run my planned route as I realised 3 miles in that I'd lost my key - luckily it was on the ground near my starting point. Phew. Especially as I was locked out on Saturday morning after parkrun and had to wait for DH to get back from his run .

I've also had an open water swim and been out on my bike, and stayed up to date with the YWA August calendar so not too bad a week at all.

@RappelChoan
Hello! If you’re looking at signing up to a running plan I recommend Coopah. I heard about it through Women’s Running podcasts and gave it a go. I have friends who like the Runna app too.

I am doing a half marathon at the end of September. This will be my third. I had a half marathon run on my plan for this morning, although not at race pace and managed to do this 7 minutes faster than my race last year! I’m aiming for a sub 2 half (this morning was 2 hours 6 minutes and was mostly “easy pace”).

The Coopah app had strength programmes in it as part of the plan too but I also do a bootcamp every week. The apps aren’t for everyone and I wasn’t sold before but I’m really glad I gave it a go this time.

Thank you! Not done much at all except hope Coach Bennett will see me right… I love yoga, hate running, so I’m happy to do a mixed program for sure. I’m terrible at eating, so I also know I have to get that organised. And maybe see this as a long term lifestyle not something to get over and done with.

Hello… please can I join? I have a marathon to run in April 2027, I’m not a natural runner but I do sponsored things every few years. I will be 50 by then and I think I need to be less haphazard and do more than just rely on mental attitude and Nike Run Club.

If anyone has a Garmin recommendation I’d be grateful as there are so many - I want to be able to hear music and Nike coaching runs through it and know that it will all work for 6 hours or so!

I am very conscious of not getting injured as I have a weak ankle and can feel myself getting older so I basically need to read all your energetic posts to feel that I too can do this!!

I’m glad that your injury was feeling better today @JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff something else I have found really helpful during recovery and I still do them regularly now has been resistance band work outs. There’s a guy called Vlad Ixel and the channel is called strength for runners on YouTube and he does 16 minute works outs which target all the right bits. I’ve found them to be really helpful.

enjoy the wine cheese and rugby @tinks

20 miles and 3200ft of elevation done today with the trail gang. A really fun morning that included my favourite bit of the race, crashing downhill through the woods towards the finish!! I am now cut to pieces and a bit stingy but we had a nice sea dip and a pint after. Pleased to see again how well I fared. I just hope I can do as well on race day. Off on holiday early hours of tomorrow morning. Will try and keep the running up while away but inevitably it will slide a bit. But I’m looking forward to the break.

happy running all.

No running for me this weekend, I’m enjoying wine and cheese and rugby in Toulouse

Ah thanks!

Yeah I asked AI (mark of desperation) for some advice, and you know what, it really came good. It advised a mix of very simple gentle stretches and mobilisation, including lots of legs up the wall + straddle! The little girl from next door was over and was looking at me like "wtf is X's mum doing?!" 😁

I did 6.5k on 4mins run, 1 min walk. I thought I would find that beyond frustrating but actually, it was okay. My injury areas were a bit tired but not painful and warmed up as it went on. So let's see!

Healing vibes to you guys who are injured.

I hope HRT has a positive effect @BogRollBOGOF

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff do go careful if it’s spreading into you adductors. They’re temperamental little buggere. That’s what I injured almost 10 months ago now and though I can run fine, it’s been a long road, I can still feel the injury at times and for long races I still tape as a precaution. I’m hoping not to have to for my upcoming ultra but I thought that for my recent marathon and then felt really tweaky the week before and didn’t want to risk it. The fear of reinjuring is strong!

I went to my local parkrun today for the first time in a couple of months and got a course PB! I was also First Lady which I believe is the first time I have managed that at a parkrun! It was an absolutely chucking it down but it actually made a nice change to run in the rain.

20 miles with the trail gang on the cards for tomorrow. Hoping for dryer weather as we’re going to do the last part of Septembers ultra as an out and back and we all want a sea dip at the end!!

... argh :/

My L glute med is still really fatigued and glitchy. It is then pulling on adductor and hamstring and making the whole area kind of hum.

I am going to try jeffing a short distance tomorrow after 2 days of gentle stretching and mobility, but feel really down in the mouth about it tbh! Just keep thinking of all the fitness I will be losing....

I think you do more strength training than I do @JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff I really have to make myself!! 🤣.

Hopefully you’ll adjust to the longer distances fairly quickly, it does always feel harder to start with or when getting back to it after a break, but I’m sure you’ll get there. Make sure you rest hydrate and fuel well alongside your busy life!

Ah thanks @Whataninterestinglookingpotato

Yeah my kids are 11, 8, and 8. They all run but just short distances at this age. We allow them to go for a run by themselves which is often just 10-15 mins, but I figure what matters is building as a fun positive thing from an early age. Hoping it'll pay dividends later!

Yes I lift heavy weights once a week (so squats, deadlift, bench etc) and do 2 lots of reasonably intensive circuits each week too. So that would be stuff like rounds of box jumps, press ups, sandbag lunges, mountain climbers etc. So 3 sessions a week really. I think my body is just adapting to running longer distances and there'll be peaks and troughs!

from what you’ve said @JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff you’re juggling a lot more than I am with family life and work commutes. I work full time, but unless I’m out on visits I am working from home and the summer holidays are actually a quieter time for me (it’ll go a bit crazy when I’m back from holiday in September) my kids are also young adults and can sort themselves out. Dd1 is also a runner and we often run together when she’s home from uni. So I have a lot more time to run these days. A few years ago things didn’t look like this and I didn’t and therefore couldn’t run as much.

you’re doing great with the time it seems you have.
do you strength train much alongside? I find it boring but if I want to be durable I have to be regular with it. Found that out the hard way after an injury last autumn took me out for ages and despite being ok generally now I can still often feel it and am very paranoid about reinjuring.

i hope you’re feeling better soon.

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff I heart Adriene!

Hope you feel better soon.