Running goals, motivation and chat 2025

[Jumbojem]

All welcome! A place to share or goals and achievements and to motivate each other along the way.
A virtual mumsnet run club perhaps?

I have been on a half mara chat group the last few years but currently not training for one. So, my 2025 goals are:
Now until spring - get fitter for a 15 mile hilly trail run event in April.
Summer - try for a 5k PB, try to get faster?
Autumn - maybe do a half mara? Cross Country again ( I am slow and old but love this).

Who else wants to join me?

I'm definitely in - thanks for setting the thread up.

I made some progress in regaining fitness last year but my distance isn't great, parkrun is a push some weeks. So...

Starting with RED January I'll be doing a mile minimum most days, except Fridays when I have yoga and Pilates. Then I'm going to start an 80/20 heart rate plan for a spring 10K, with the hope of improving my VO2 max.

Is the hilly 15 mile one you've done before @Jumbojem?

I'm in! Graduated couch to 5k last September but been struggling to run outside. Planning to work on that if the weather plays ball and get my outside 5km time down. Also signed up for a huge Conqueror virtual challenge- I've done a few shorter ones but they're so expensive that I picked a long one (and now am panicking ).

I have entered a 10k in march. together with my teens.
hope not emberass the teens to go below one hour, but am still quite slow. have just added one interval session per week. but not sure if I can keep this up regularly.

I’m in, not a serious runner but have been going to the gym and training with 20 fat buster run being part of that. Last time I went I suddenly felt really amazing and was finding it so much easier! My goal is to do 30 mins twice a week (at least) not loads I know but really good for me. I’m recently 40 and trying to look after myself in between everything else 😂

Im after a new pair of trainers and my sister (serious runner) said I should get my gate looked at professionally but I’m thinking I just need a pair of Nikes from SportsDirect?! Anyone got any thought on this?

don't bother with gait analysis.

try on a few pairs and buy one big enough (a thumb width space infront of longest toe) that feels good.
if no joints squeaks after running they are good for you.

Thanks! a whole thumbs width that’s a lot lucky for me I’m in between sizes so often find a 6 big on me. Wondering whether just to get a pair online.

I'm in. I can't run at the moment following a horrible stress fracture in late October but I've started back at the gym with the bike, elliptical and strength training, and hoping to add in some walking on the treadmill after my next physio appointment on Friday. Should be allowed to start a running recovery plan in late February/March time, so hopefully I can use this thread to track my progress. Before my injury I was aiming to go sub 50 for 10k (last race was 50:30), maybe I'll get there in the summer!

I'm in. Paris marathon on April 12th to celebrate my big birthday. I'm slow but should get round. The 20 mile long run weekends are feeling horribly close now the Christmas is out of the way.

Probably a couple of 10ks in the run up and a half in the autumn.

I would like to get the 10k below the hour - currently 63 minutes and also need to lose a stone so will have to focus on not eating back all the exercise particularly now I'm in peri menopause.

Half marathon in April (not ran that far since 2022) and another in September

Thanks for joining me everyone!
Some great goals and aims in there, from marathons to just getting out there and doing some regular running. @EddieVeddersfoxymop and @bloodredfeaturewall a sub 1hr 10k is a good aim, reminds me that I want to do the local 10k in June and do better than the 1hr13 I did back in 2023.
@chutneypig no, I've not done the trail race before, 15 miles will be the furthest I've ever run. Good luck with RED Jan, hope the weather is kind. I have switched my Garmin to HR rather than pace for its suggested runs as I was struggling with pace.
@Bejinxed mara training is intense I gather, I'm to chicken to try for one at the mo so hats off to you.
@thepurplepenguin hope recovery goes well, sounds like you've got a good plan. Injury sucks!
@LittleMG might be good to go to a shop where there is lots of shoes you can try and see what feels comfy. If you buy direct from places like Brooks you often get a 90 day period where you can return, even if worn, if they aren't right for you. I generally buy previous years models from online shops like sportshoes. But yes, buy them a bit on the bigger size as your feet will swell with the heat of running and it will be more comfortable for your toes.
@Ti7ch I hear you, I trained for a couple of half maras a couple of years ago and can't believe I ran such distances now a 10k seems a feat. Are you following a plan?

I'm in. I have a half in February and another in April. Just getting back into it after some time off for illness so the aim is to just finish the February half by cut-off.

I'm in.
I've got a half in September but want to keep my mileage up between now and then so am following a Garmin 1/2m plan.
Have got a stinking cold atm, everything hurts and the thought of running is making my innards shrivel but I know that I will get back into it in a couple of days.

My third pair of Brooks Glycerin 20s are nearing the end of their life and I can't find them in my size anywhere. Anyone know if the Glycerin 21s have a similar feel? I tried some other brands on in a running shop and they all just felt wrong.

I'd like to be in. I was in the half-marathon one but I kept getting ill as I pushed the distance, so I topped out at 10 miles (which I was happy enough with) and then felt I didn't really belong with the half-marathoners!

This year I've decided to try and aim to do 5k in 30 minutes instead, but even with that, Garmin has some decent long runs on the training plan - most are 4-8 miles - so that should be enough distance to keep me happy. I don't have a race lined up.

I tried a gait analysis last year and was both happy and disappointed - the result was good in that I got a pair of shoes that felt great, but the actual analysis was really just a brief glance at my moving feet. Maybe the chap was just that expert, but it eroded my trust a bit.

He did say I run too much on my toes, and I can see for myself I run on the outside of my feet because of how my shoes wear.

Good luck to everyone for their 2025 running!

Can I join?

I did a hilly 10 miler in September after a long break from running (inc. two babies in two years) and I feel like I need to challenge myself this year. Not sure what yet though!

Great to see so many people joining!

How long is your challenge @EddieVeddersfoxymop?

It's great to do events as a family @bloodredfeaturewall - I say as a family, I'm usually a long way behind my teens and husband. I was planning for an April 10k as a target but it was such a pain to book I haven't got round to it yet.

On the shoe front I wouldn't go for gait analysis straiI did have it once I'd completed c25k and had a niggle, and the stabilityreally did help at that point @LittleMG

Sounds like a very sensible stratgey@thepurplepenguin - fingers crossed for a green light on Friday.

That sounds very glamorous @Bejinxed - are you spending a few days there for your birthday?

I didn't do any halfs last year @Ti7ch - I'd love to get back to the 3 or 4 a year I used to do. Have you started training for the April one yet?

Good luck easing back in @BearWoman and that your cold is short lived @MagpiePi

How many runs a week is that Garmin plan @CatherineMaitland? I wouldn't mind doing that once I've got a big of regularity back in my running.

Welcome @MissScarletInTheBallroom!

Hi @chutneypig - it's 4 runs a week for now with Amy Parkerson-Mitchell. I tried a plan that had 3 runs a week and it wasn't enough for me. I'm a few weeks into the plan and the distances did start off a bit shorter.

Hi @chutneypig, yes I'm going to take the opportunity to have a long weekend in Paris - hopefully plenty of time for good food even if I'm not able to do much tourist stuff!

I did a marathon in 2023 and loved it - the day was absolutely amazing even though the training was really hard but I couldn't walk properly for 3 days afterwards!

Hello runners of Mumsnet! I'm training for Manchester marathon in April with the aim to get a good for age time to qualify for London in 2026. Have had a break from training for a few weeks due to a cold and travelling for Christmas, but keen to get back to it and company and encouragement always helps.

I'll join! Definitely not as fit as some on this thread though 😅

I run 5k every morning (Mon-Fri) but struggle to go any further than this and need to up my game. I'd like to do a 10k in June 🤞

I'm in. Half marathon training for February has begun. I've had a base of about 10k over the last couple of months so it's simple to build back up again. I've already got this week's 10k done.

Hello runners!

My running plans for this year include a half marathon in March and a 50k in July. I did the same 50k last year and fell off the running wagon afterwards apart from parkrun, so I need to find myself an autumn event to keep me ticking over.

Wow, lots of us, brilliant! Love reading everyone's goals and plans as it really keeps me motivated.
@MagpiePi I have glycerins and went to check but they are also the 20s so can't help you with how the newer ones compare. My running friend has the 21s and loves them (and become a Brooks convert after always being a Nike faithful). But she didn't have any of the earlier ones. Do Brooks still have the 90 days happy guarantee?

I’ll have a look at the Brooks thanks everyone. I was wishing the gym was open so I could have gone today, very unlike me 😂

I'd like to join! 🙋‍♀️
I run regularly and after some coaching I really got my mojo back in 2024, after about 5 years of feeling like I wasn't making any progress. But got a slight injury in October, so have been trying to be sensible since then but I've entered a 10k in mid January....which feels a bit soon!
And I'd like to do a couple of half marathons to try and get closer to my pb (not sure if that's feasible!)
Still trying to persuade myself to go out for my first run of the year....

My DH and DS are aiming to get back to parkrun by Easter (both have been injured) and DD (who hates sport ) says she wants to start running which I'm excited about

Half Marathon in March
12km in May
50km in June

Aiming for 120km every month!

I haven't done a sub 30 5k for 2 years, so that would be ace to do this year. I'm slow.