Is there a general running thread?

[Sirzy]

I am pretty new to running (started in Septmember) but have some pretty ambitious targets in 2014 (10k and half marathon) so looking for other runners to advice, kick up the backside and generally chat about all things running.

I have seen a few couch to 5k threads but I didn't get on with that so can't use those threads so thought a thread for all runners whether they are new to it or experienced runners would be good?

Nice work on the runs everyone! Glad you got out twelve, though the dogs don't sound great. Can you take some Bonios next time? or some mace

Have just got in - did 5.5k in 38 mins and a couple of seconds, so I reckon that's another 35 minute 5k? I fell down the ditch again too! Same bloody ditch, even. No wee this time; a fallen branch caught my foot as I trotted carefully along the ribbon of cracked and pitted tarmac that risibly calls itself a footpath in our village, and I went base over apex. Not hurt though!

And for the first time, I had some blokes running with me, encouraging me on. Dave Gahan, Billie Joe Armstrong and John Lydon, mainly.

That must be under 35 mins if you did 5.5 in 38 mins (unless you did the last .5 really fast ). You need to plan a different route though if you're going to keep falling in that ditch

I love listening to Green Day when I'm running, I had no music on again today. Dull, dull, dull.

I just worked it out on a pace calculator thingy- if you did 5.5 in 38 mins then that's 6.54 mins/km. So 5k would be 34.33 mins!

Eau are you practising without earphones for your HM? And when you say 'tapering' what do you mean?
I had to go without headphones the other day, but only because it was so windy they would've got blown out!

I think we can all be satisfied by a Sunday well run today
I'm having a break tomorrow, i can feel my section scar feeling a little tender from over worked tummy muscles.

Yes, I don't want the first time I run without music to be race day so I'm getting used to it now (but the music is going back on straight afterwards!). Tapering is when you reduce your weekly mileage a week or two before an event so that your legs aren't all knackered on the day.

Well done TwelveLegged.

I went yesterday in the wind, as had a busy day today and thought. I would take the opportunity while it was not raining. But I have spent all day thinking it would of been lovely to done my long run today instead.

Yesterday I walked a mile, ran 11 in 1:50 then walked a mile back. So I feel positive that I will at least be able to finish my half marathon in 2 wks time.

Runkeeper reckons my pace was 7:01 but the signal round our way is a bit marginal. Plus that includes falling-down-a-ditch time Whatever, I'm pretty pleased. It didn't feel like horribly hard work in that I seemed to be breathing easily - could feel my legs tiring, but I wasn't hugely puffed like I usually get.

merry, are you and Eau doing the same HM?

My dozy dh came home from work today and said 'they're putting all the signs up for the half marathon on 9th march' all proud of himself that he'd remembered until I said but mine is the week before

And on the subject of music, I'm a convert, at least for nighttime runs. I've never run with headphones before; I usually like the ambient noise (birds, wind in trees and suchlike) but there's not much of that after dark. I definitely need to do a mainly punk playlist; when shuffle threw up "Tin Soldiers" by Stiff Little Fingers I was off like a greyhound!

Eau, won't they let you take music on a HM?

On race day I get pulled along by the adrenalin of the race and the encouragement from the onlookers - but the ban on music still annoys me, it's very purist.

It was super busy with runners here today, and looking at this thread can see why!
The dog thing is funny, I run with my dog, for the most part on lead. When I'm running on my own I don't seem to have any trouble, and walking him on lead its pretty rare I have any trouble - he isn't remotely aggressive, or nervous, just big! The first few times it happened on runs I was too surprised to react but I'm getting fiestier now! So today I was running along the seafront and a man tucked his terrier next to the sea wall on my left, so I put Giant Dog on my right and gave them a wider berth, but the terrier ran straight out at us yapping and snarling. I didn't stand on it, it I did shout back at him to shorten the bloody lead! I would be seriously cross to injure myself dodging someone else's dog.

On the injury thing, I'm not sure how to increase my mileage. The first couple of months I went from 2 miles to 5 miles quite easily, but then I just got awful shin splits. Now I'm kind of stuck at 2-3.5 miles and daren't go over it as I just seem I end up in pain - and not in th right way! Shoes are good, I've got a couple of months base mileage now, but stumped!

I don't know anything about shin splints TwelveLeggedWalk so really can't help, I would have thought increasing very slowly maybe even half a mile a week would be ok?

I know what you mean about dogs, I run with mine (1 or 2 depending in distance) and with or without them people are very inconsiderate. I have a belt and lines and I have run with them on leads and got terrible shoulder pain from only a few miles. I always pull the lines in towards me when I come across people and apart from most people never saying thank you which is one of my big bug bears, others don't always offer the same courtesy. We had two big fluffy dogs (not great on breeds) running around in front of us and then chasing mine and friends dog with a vague 'no you can't play with them' coming from the owners! Ours were on their lines so getting tangled was very likely and it was a bit of a nightmare but we wandered past smiling. I think for the dogs someone running even without their own dogs instantly says I want to play! My whippet x is very vocal when she's excited, really like she's talking to you but I guess it could sounds like a growly bark :(

twelve, I suffer with shin pain a bit too. Years ago I got it really badly, so I can definitely sympathise. I might encounter the same as I try to go further.

Maybe a sports physio would be useful? I vaguely remember reading online about an exercise to strengthen the muscle at the front of the shin, which stops the foot from flapping down too hard. I think I stood with my back against a wall and raised my feet so I was standing on my heels, hold for a few seconds, repeat. As I recall it seemed to help.

And yes most road races ban any kind of music for safety reasons. I had to get used to no music for my first half in November and now never run with music. I did a 5 mile run through the forest where headphones were also banned but it was a very narrow windy route so I guess they want you to be able to listen out for other runners. I have been in a race where I couldn't get past another runner and they had no idea I was there until the path widened and I went round because they had headphones on and that was quite annoying from my pov.

My headphones allow me to hear ambient noise, so even when running in the park, I can hear someone behind me. It's a controversial topic on running forums....always ends in a bun fight!

I am quite afraid of dogs, so I try and give them a wide berth when I see one coming towards me. This means I sometimes keep my head down and don't make eye contact with dog or owner. But if I see someone pulling their dog in/calling it to them I usually say thank you, and if I have enough puff I apologise and tell the owner that I'm afraid of dogs.

I haven't worn headphones since my ipod shuffle went through the washing machine in the pocket of my running jacket last year .

I used to have only one in when I used them. I think with races it's a h&s box to tick, they have to risk assess and it's an unnecessary risk as not everyone will be sensible enough to have their music quiet enough to hear what's going on around them.

My dss used to be terrified of dogs so I am always aware of how others may feel at seeing my dogs!

It's not just on running forums that it's a controversial topic I think some people can be quite snobby about it, I've been told that I'm missing out on birdsong, the sound of the wind in the trees etc- I can hear all that! The skylarks drown out my music once they get going, the loud buggers. And I've been told music is a dangerous distraction- surely no more dangerous than listening to music in the car?

I never run within biting distance of a dog, you just never know. Sometimes I stop to allow the owner time to get them on the lead. The majority of dog owners here are really good, they will get them on a short lead and sometimes stop to let me go past and I always say thank you. I've only ever had one rubbish dog owner whose enormous lab ran up to me barking; of course he was just being friendly I was a bit nervous and I'm not even scared of dogs.

While we are on the subject of four legged animals , any thoughts on what to do about horses?

I was running along a path yesterday when 2 riders (riding 2 abreast) came towards me. I slowed down, went to the side and gave them a wide berth, but was a bit worried about spooking the horses, especially as I was in a hi-vis yellow jacket. It's the first time I've seen riders on that path (it's a cycle route along an old railway track, so pretty flat and straight, but not very wide in parts). The fields around are so saturated that my guess is they can only ride on the hard paths.

I see a lot of cyclists too, but they usually tuck in behind one another and ride in single file.

I run past a livery stables with expensive-looking racehorses that are always out being exercised by jockeys. I either walk slowly or stop because racehorses are jumpy fuckers and I don't want to startle them with my hi-vis. I also move over so they don't have to trot on the bumpy/slanty side of the road. I don't want to end up on the wrong side of a large, skittish animal! I've got to know the jockeys now and they always say hello to me.

Old school runners can be a bit sniffy about the increased popularity of their sport. I've had a old style runner complain about fat people running and getting injured - suggesting it's not something they should be doing and complaining about how everyone has jumped on the band wagon, purists annoy me in every walk of life....they suck the joy out.

I mean who cares what you get your kicks from when you run - it's just me and Dizzy Rascal out there....I feel like I'm on the dance floor and I get a big adrenalin high when I good tunes comes on...I don't run to hear the sounds of nature - I go for a walk in the hills when I want to do that.

And dogs and their owners are a pain in the butt! I hate it when a dog comes running at me, I feel if the owner can't be in control of their dog then they should put them on a lead, have had a few dogs jump up on me while running, generally I'm not scared of dogs but for some reason I feel very vulnerable to them when I'm running, you can never tell what they are going to do.

With horses i take my cue from the rider. If they're coming towards me i generally get on the opposite side of the road, pull the dog in close and slow to a walk. If its's a problem for them i find they will usually stop the horse.

The trouble round here is that they are often walking their dogs too, off lead obviously, and then give my bull terrier a dirty look as we go by even though I KEEP HIM ON A LEAD. Grrr

The worst for me is when you're coming up behind riders...i do a lot of coughing and clearing my throat to alert them to my presence!

Re headphones. I use them because otherwise i would get bored, but I don't use well worn paths with loads of other people. I keep the volume low so i can hear vehicles - more often than not I'm tucked in the hedge before they even know I'm there. And when on the main road I take them out. Works for me.

Dogs off their leads bug me when I am running, I will always move aside to let dog walkers with dogs on leads past but I get annoyed with dogs off leads sniffing around me and jumping up!

I couldn't run without music, my running playlist is nothing like what I listen to normally though! I only use one headphone so I can still hear around me

Another 4 miles, yay! Ran the towpath with my dog offlead and my music on loud. Shall I deregister from MN now?

I'm off out in 10mins to run with a pack of mostly off lead dogs twelveleggedwalk but I won't be listening to music as we'll be chatting!