Parkrun newbies and trying a sub 30 - keeping each other motivated! 🏃‍♀️ 🎉

@Lemontreeinthecity is 10k a distance you usually run? If it’s not I would start by doing 6 or 7k and building it up.

3 runs a week is a pretty standard amount of running to build for your first half. Though you may need to go up to 4 days as you get nearer.

I run 6 days a week usually. Monday is strength, Tuesday club which is usually 7 or 8 miles but I’m adding extra miles on now and aiming to run a half marathon distance that evening, Wednesday is usually 4-6 slow miles, usually trail, Thursday is hill repeats with about 3 miles run before hand, Friday is a track intervals session, Saturday is usually park run, but this week was a long run due to weekend plans, Sunday is usually a long run of 15-20 miles often trail but sometimes road and usually with friends. I aim for about 50 miles a week now so I’m used to the distance in time for proper marathon training to start in December.

Wow this is quite the schedule! How do you have time to fit it all in?

I know I popped in ages ago then never had the courage to actually do a park run 😅 but I ran my 10k! (Very slowly!) Then did a 5k with the local sands group as a group ribbon run, joining together with a park run. 34.37 so not fast but my fastest so I am chuffed 😊 @Lemontreeinthecity I mostly only do 2 runs a week, I used the Nike run club but take 2 weeks to do one if you see what I mean. So a long one and intervals or whatever

@Lemontreeinthecity

I'm not training at the moment - still recovering from flu or whatever viruses I had - chest is still raspy and I finished up with a blooming UTI as well. Put it this way - I wasn't going to risk a coughing fit whilst running.

I normally train at the gym, either in classes or in the gym on my own. I can't go heavy - too damned old and unfit.

I've had the running coach suggest that leg curls and leg extensions are best for running, but I'm only managing 19-21 kilograms. I also do sit to stand with varying weights, but never more than 9kg thus far.

I've been going much heavier on the adductor and abductor - way above 80k - but don't imagine I'll manage that on my return.

Our trainer advised us to practise using our running arms with weights - I do mine with 7k or 7.5kg usually. I also do side raises and overhead presses with free weights, but can't manage more than 7.5kg. Also low rows.

I go heavier with the machines: 21 kg usually for shoulder press, shoulder fly and lateral pull.

I did go to cheer the other women over the line at the Parkrun graduation of the 2nd cohort of the RunningClub. They did brilliantly.

One of the women is in age category below me - she's 60-64 - and she made it over the line in 45 minutes and 3 seconds.

Not jealous. No sirree. Not jealous at all. twitches

Mine was a disaster. I cycled to a new parkrun but was UNPREPARED for the cold. My feet were so numb when I got there that I didn’t realise that I was doing my (now 1 year old) injury some damage until it was too late. Feel like I’ve set my recovery back a few months - DAMN. Now I’ll have to take a break from running again, so frustrating. (Got a good time though!) (and first in my age category!) (but was it worth it? NO.)

The only strength training I do is my physio exercises, but my physio knows the aim is to be running again so has set me good ones for that.

I do weighted Bulgarian squats, deadlifts (5kg but would like to increase, might ask for more weights for Christmas), seated calf raises and normal calf raises. 3 or 4 times a week. It’s so boring but I’m very motivated because I want to be able to run (pain free) again!