Anyone for a running training thread?

[milkfromthesleepycow]

So I was a good runner in what feels like a previous life (pre kids!) and have recently got back into it. Done the couch 25k program and am gradually building up the mileage with a view to doing a half marathon in may and a full marathon in October next year.
Could do with some support /chat with anyone else training for a race or just wants to debate the finer points of the importance of interval sessions (I hate them!)
I was sure there used to be a running thread on here but I can't find it!

I'm building up milage again following injury at new year.
I'm jeffing to reduce impact and it's speed that's aggravating my achilles tendon. I can gently run 5k or go further by jeffing.

I deliberately swerved the pressure of an autumn half like I'd normally do, but I've signed up to a 10 mile race that I'm now confident about completing.

Longer term, I've got a deferred marathon place next spring, so my targets are about increasing stamina gently. Hopefully if I'm confident at 10 miles as my base, that should be a good starting point for picking up more formal marathon training.

I run on mixed surfaces so while I'm not specifically doing focused training run, there is variation of pace, slopes and surface so some informal fartlek and hills going on.

Haven't got any formal races lined up but I tried cross country for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and really enjoyed it.

However, it's the mixed terrain and the competitiveness that I find challenging. Hoping to make it to a couple of the xc training sessions to improve my performance. The next one us notoriously muddy!

Anyone with tips on running in mud? I've invested in a pair of Inov8 Mudclaws which I'll take for a spin at some point.

I've put my name in the London Marsthon ballot for the first time, so fingers crossed!

You NEED spikes for proper cross country.

Definitely? I've been to the shops that would normally sell spikes and there was not a single one in my size. :( I am a size 4.5 or 5 and none in stock anywhere.

Ordered and tried a pair of Brooks XC Mach 19 in a 4.5 but it was like trying on Cinderella's glass slipper, so they are being returned. There's very little online at the moment unless I'm looking in the wrong places!

Hello 🙂

@xsquared cross country sounds interesting- I run on the moors once a week, is it similar? I can definitely see how spikes would be an advantage! Hope your search goes well

@BogRollBOGOF I'm doing roughly the same as you. I've been reading about MAF training and am going to try a run today keeping my HR below 140. I only seem to have one speed when running and I really want to increase my distance. Up to 6.5 miles for LR so far

@Quackpot Hi

You don't need spikes for XC, definitely not. I run a Xc season and use spikes maybe once, if it's icy. Mudclaws a great option, they can be pretty tough on the feet though as there's little give. Perfect for racing Xc rather than running off road.

And I'm pretty competitive in terms of time for my age (50), 3.18 at the marathon distance in April.

No where near that at present due to life circumstances changing a lot, so only running 20 miles a week, and just for mental health, but happy to join.

Did 7 this morning with a mate, wonderful running weather here.

I completed Manchester Half today and have signed up for Manchester Marathon in April 2023 so definitely up for a training and support thread

May I join? I've been getting back into running for the last year or so. Like OP, pre-kids I was pretty good (in retrospect!). I've just done a trail 25k in 2 hours 44, which is probably ok given the hills involved. But I'm feeling a bit meh about it!

@Sambal2 thats amazing!!

I wear spikes when racing XC, but not for training, especially this early in the season when the ground is ok. They don’t have good ankle support. Even warming up before a race I wear trail shoes. You can normally pick spikes up on Amazon and most running shops would have a few pairs.

I’d love to join too. I’m slowly getting back to fitness after being injured for a few months - basically since spring. I normally like 10 mile or half marathons, but am setting my sights on a 5k PB instead as I can’t build up serious mileage until further in my recovery. Aiming for sub 21 minutes. I’ve entered a race in December and am going to enter another one in January as a back up!

building up again after covid in summer.
I manage up to 6k again. but am very slow (around 6.2m/k) and sometimes have to give up and walk a bit.

my teens want to enter a 10k in march and as one of them will be below 16 I will have to register as 'coach'.

I find most training plans too much to fit in with work. I run 2x week and do one strength session at home.

@Runningnewbie well done on half! What's your plan for the marathon? I'm planning on building base miles during winter then starting a training plan with some speed /tempo next March (for half) then marathon plan after I've done my half in may. I don't work well without a plan!

@Sambal2 time sounds amazing with hillls! What's got you feeling meh? I get like that when I'm comparing current times to old times

@Shopgirl1 5k speedster! Sounds like you have a good plan. Recovery is really tough

@greenacrylicpaint the things our kids talk us into! Are they fairly motivated and will be taking you out for training runs or is it vice Versa? My kids legs are a little short yet but I do have daydreams of running with them in the future...

@needastrongoneagain wonder how long we'll hold onto the lovely running weather?

My attempt at HR training was awful. I was having to run so slowly to keep in zone 2 that my form was awful (I could have walked faster!!) and I hated it. Think I'll flip back to training by pace.
I'm still really slow so will do a 7.5 mile run tomorrow at 13mm as a long run. Work and children are in the way today but might manage some weights after the kids are in bed tonight

Following! I have much more ambitious goals as ftm I just want to run 5km a bit faster! I'm trying to keep HR down but like @milkfromthesleepycow it slows me down to practically walking. I have just joined a running group in RL and am regretting it as I am by far the slowest.

@milkfromthesleepycow I did c25k with my teens during the first lockdown.

they don't train with me anymore but come on runs occassionally. they are quite motivated. the school encourages exercise and they have a couple of froends who also want to enter the run.

Cheers @Runningnewbie and @milkfromthesleepycow I may be fishing for compliments :) I should say that was the time on my app; the official time includes an additional 15 min spent standing around eating crisps and drinking Pepsi (possible my fave part of the race?). Meh feeling probably because of the race photos, yikes.

@greenacrylicpaint 6.2m/k is fast!!

my heart rate following covid is really high during exercise, but very low at resting.

I showed the dr the measures of my smart watch but they are not concerned.

Oh lord race photos! I've got a particularly awful one from a half marathon attempt when my littlest had just turned1. Human embodiment of the tomato! Put me off racing (and looking in mirrors!) for a while!

That's interesting @greenacrylicpaint. I had covid a couple of months back. my hr when running seems to be much higher than I thought it would be but I've been on a whole life revamp, lost 25kg and I'd just assumed I was still really unfit.
I'll stick to conversational pace and see if it gets better
Encouraging the docs aren't worried and that you have a low resting rate.

Another runner here. I've been through a long phase of being unmotivated and disappointed with my run times. But recently did my fastest 5k in 4.5 years, and fastest 10k in 3 years so hopefully trying to turn things around. I want to do xc this season, but I've never worn spikes. I've got some salomon trail shoes which seem OK for most courses. In fact I have considered wearing my normal trainers this Sunday as I reckon the ground will be pretty dry....
I'm also hoping to do a half marathon next month.

Also a runner returning to fitness here! It’s taken a back seat for most of the year due to our wedding, then honeymoon, then getting Covid, then attempting to marathon train without a good enough base and getting injured…

i’ve had some decent physio, have been building back up gradually (lots of jeffing!) and want to use winter to use a base to train for a spring marathon!
i’m using a programme called Fast Fall I bought off Instagram a couple of years ago, 2 speed work sessions per week + 2 runs of jeffing- focussing on technique and heartrate and then aiming for 2 x gym sessions a week for strength!

Just heading out on run 1 for this week!

Running on heart zone can be very useful, but unless you have a chest strap, heart rate measurements are unreliable at the best of time. I'd just go with how you feel - under 140 to me sounds like easy, conversational pace - the sort of pace you feel like you can keep going forever.

I run a lot (think races, marathons, etc), and have used running pace calculators before (Macmillan for instance). If you plug in your 5k time, then it will tell you what your pace should be depending on the type of run you're doing and the goal you're aiming for.

Race photos are the worst! I even avoid Parkrun because of the camera!

I HR train. The common formulas for calculating Max HR are, well, less than accurate!

My HR, even at 50 is circa 200bpm, I know this for a fact as I'm HR tested every 6-12 months for training. Even my average HR for a marathon is about 175/177bpm.

And definitely a chest strap monitor for accurate readings, the wrist based ones are much less so.

So it may be that the HR you are running to is too low for you? Just a thought. 😊

And race photos are grim, agree!

5k early this morning for me.