2015 Running Thread Part 7

[Anglaise1]

New running thread...
running total for September so far:
84.9

I think Matt Fitzgerald is an advocate of running as much and as often as you can and says that magical things can happen when you squeeze two runs in on one day
food for thought!

My understanding is pretty much line with what you say Anglaise lots of easy miles is a good strategy to improve at running.

Obviously different strokes for different folks, not to mention the fact that it takes a significant amount of time and effort to get to the stage where any running feels 'easy'

Although I do see your point Keyser, if time available to run is limmited there is a need to prioritize...especially if you are aimed at a certain event

The cardiologist is a marathon runner
wow, what better endorsement could there be :o
glad to hear that your heart murmur us not a thing to cause concern Louey, must have been a stressful time before you got the all clear.

Great you are back running again kimmi . You and cinnamon are amazing.

Sorry to hear about your pita mark 2 suzanne, hope it settles soon.

Glad you got the all clear and marathon support from cardiologist Louey. I guess family worry about us too much sometimes but hopefully it will reassure them too.

Welcome pink good advice from others re mixing types of run and just doing one long one a week. Do you have a parkrun near you? They are great fun and and suitable for runners of all abilities.

7.5 early ones through the sunrise this morning. A refreshing 8 degrees today, that's more like it!

480 + 7.5= 487.5

8 degrees!
oh cool luxury :o

So pleased you had the OK for your heart, Louey. I guess it's understandable that your nearest and dearest are worried and hopefully they will have faith in the cardiologist's OK for you to do the marathon. Sometimes only another runner can understand a runner...but I do know of 2 runners who dropped dead (while running) this summer, one who livesd nearby was a complete running addict, had recently had a heart op and carried on running regardless. He was found dead on a footpath following a very hot evening's run, age just 50.
Kimmi well done on getting back running after such a short time, you and Cinnamon are inspirational.
Family 8??C lol - were you in a vest top and shorts? It is around 11??c in the early morning here at the moment and I've changed from vest top to T shirt and shorts, autumn is on its way.
Suzanne I'm not sure there is one ideal running strategy for everyone, but if you can run a lot without injuries then I can't see it will do any harm. You've improved with long slow runs, I think?

Forgot to add my run this morning, 6.5 miles with the dog
494

2.85 miles tonight, 496.85

2.5 miles ish this evening, total slog, I needed to pee from around 5 minutes in and just wasn't feeling it at all.

499.35

had recently had a heart op and carried on running regardless. He was found dead on a footpath following a very hot evening's run, age just 50
blimey I dont know what to say about that, his poor family, maybe he thought medical advice just didnt apply to him.

Anglaise Yes my easy running pace has gone from about 11:00 to 9:30 from long runs only
but...low hanging fruit, easier to make gains when you are starting out!
I'd probably have to change my training if I want to make further improvements, thats if I've even got it in me:o

Although I do see your point Keyser, if time available to run is limmited there is a need to prioritize...especially if you are aimed at a certain event

Yes- that's the crux of it I think. If you're not time constrained and not prone to injury then doing lots of easy miles on top of the specific interval/hill/track/LSR work is likely to be beneficial, but for the average person who is fitting training around work, kids etc., the risk is substituting the "work" sessions with easy sessions due to tiredness, logistics etc.

The whole distance thing is interesting because it's very difficult to isolate that factor at scale (most sports science "trials" are pretty flawed) and also if it's correlation or cause- i.e. does running more miles make you a better runner or do more naturally talented runners tend to want to run more miles because they enjoy it more and can do it without succumbing to injuries due to their superior biomechanics. I suspect the truth is somewhere in the middle of those two things. I suppose one way would be to look at how the pros and the amateurs compare over the ultras, but even then, you go pro because you're good, not to become good, so there'd still be a bias.

You guys always have such deep running discussions, never really thought about it tbh. I don't do loads of miles and my lack of focussed training coincided with having a baby so can't really define which had the greatest effect!

I must have missed your post karatekimmi, glad to see you back out and had to smile at your pee yourself comment!

4 miles from me, very misty and damp this morning but looks like it's going to be a wonderful day! It's very dark at 5.45 now 503.35

does running more miles make you a better runner or do more naturally talented runners tend to want to run more miles because they enjoy it more and can do it without succumbing to injuries due to their superior biomechanics
Very true I had forgotten consider the direction of causality!

A quick 3.29 from me on the treadmill last night.

The treadmill is in the garage and the doorway was being guarded by a giant weta (don't google if you are squeamish of insects) so I very nearly didn't do it, but I plucked up enough courage to step over it and do my run.

I certainly think my running has improved the more miles i have done. Especially with the treadmill which i think forces you to do smaller strides which is what all the running gurus seem to recommend.

giant weta
Astounding insects!
Doesn't that belong back in the jurassic when oxygen levels were higher ??

I wish they did suzanne. They hide in the wood pile and frighten the shit out of me by clinging to the logs when I pick them up. Also the cat brings them in and crunches them up on the living room rug (obviously 2 bowls of wiskas a day is not enough)

Quick run before hairdressers this morning! No giant insects thankfully!
509.51 with mine and whowould's.

I googled the weta...that would have me running away fast - its huge!
12 miles from me, some with the dog, most with a couple of girlfriends from the club. One of them was the women's champion at the HM I did on Sunday, she did 1H26 which is slow for her, normally she does around 1H19.
She is definitely one of the "talented runners", or sportswoman in general (she used to play football for France). She only runs a few times a week but still manages times that most of us can only dream of.
Good genes count for quite a lot, as does starting athletics when young.
521.51

2.5 from me - did my first hill sprints, only x4 and I think I need to find a bit more of a hill, did a gentle jog before and after

524.01

Giant weta looks awful.

Meant to go for five but do rang me after 3.86 so stopped there

527.87

11 from me 538.87

I can stay calm (ish) when faced with spiders, but faced with large insects I find it hard not to panic, I'd have to wear some sort of space suit if I lived in your neck of the woods Fardelsbear :o

Weta looks quite a cool dude. Insects don't bother me it's snakes that make me panic. Adders in the heather are my greatest fear.

Have to say I'm not focused enough to do a specific training plan. I do intervals when I remind myself, and lots of hills, but thats more because I like them and I want to do hill races. Friend's husband is suggesting I should do more specific sessions using a heart rate monitor, working out percentages etc, but I'm not sure I have that level of drive atm.

8 (mainly junk/chatting with friend) miles tonight, though a good hill session included . First outing for the head torch this season, reminds me I need to get a new brighter one.

546.87

12 from me to make 558.87. Did 10k of hills and 9k of contour running. Felt pretty good and got about 20 prizes on Strava (I'm such a Strava whore these days- I'm going to end up one of these people who drives to the start of a sector and races it from a standing start just to get a PR).

runtothehills Have you looked at the Ay Up light? It was originally designed for mountain bikers but now comes with a head harness for runners. You can also get an extension lead so the battery goes in your pack rather than on your head. Super bright so really awesome for night racing and has 2 bulbs that you can direct individually (one at your feet, one out on the path).

I nearly stood on a snake on Saturday. Not sure who was more scared, me or the snake. I saw a couple of wild boars on the path today but they tend to scuttle off when they see you. They're talking about a cull though as there are A LOT of them now.

11.5 mostly flat miles.
Like the sound of the Ay Up light Keyser. It is dark in the mornings here now so something like that would be very useful (no streetlights in the countryside and need something to scare off the wild boar)
570.37

2 miles just wanted to go flat out round the local loop. That's it till Monday!

572.37