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 have a flat half race tomorrow, which I usually manage a PB in. However, it is going to feel like -2°C , and I've not really worn long sleeved tops for a race before.

Not sure how tomorrow will go, as I've not been training specifically for this event, but instead I'm on the 3rd week of a longer marathon plan.

I don't do early mornings.
local park run is at 8am. not going to happen for me on a saturday.
maybe in the summer when that's the only time below 25 degrees...

also as an 'aftersweater' can't run during my lunchbreak. just need a couple of hours not to be bright red in the face.

good luck @xsquared

Have a good half tomorrow @xsquared

I managed to get out and run today - just a gentle 5k as I haven't been up to running all week. Hoping to get a long run in tomorrow as I need to get on with my half marathon plan for March.

Hope it goes well @xsquared it was 4c here and my normally hot DH did a half trail today and left his gloves in the car but said his hands never warmed up. He felt chilled after too but he does struggle with raynards and is very lean but the grey gloom here just hung damp in the air today.

Thanks all.

@JanuaryOSunshine , your dh must have really struggled without his gloves. As a fellow Raynard's sufferer, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on just running if I went without my gloves.

Is there anything that helps it? The raynards as his fingers go white, it’s got worse as he’s got older but he’s never seen anyone about it I just wondered if he should. He’s super fit though but nearly 50 so I wondered if as you age it’s just assumed it will get worse?

It was cold for volunteering at parkrun this morning despite the Big Coat.
Not helped by plan A being going as a family, and intending on running home so dressed for running rather than max warmth when it turned out that DS2 wasn't coming so it was just me and DS1 so I had to drive back, partially defrosted and then needed to warm back up properly before heading out for a run.

Good luck @xsquared

Hope it went well @xsquared
Did half mile intervals this morning, times 6. Second time trying an interval run and once again enjoyed it. I need to push myself out of comfort zone to improve and it's easier when you know it's only for a bit. I took 1 min walk breaks between each interval. Still no clue what is the ideal length or number of intervals, but today's felt about right, was 5 miles overall with WU/CD.

Thanks all. I needn't have worried as I managed to get a PB despite conditions.

@JanuaryOSunshine, Re Raynards, I don't know whether there's anything that can improve or treat it. I usually just plunge my hands in a basin of hot running water to help them warm up quicker, after I've been for a run.
I'm 45, and I think it has got worse as I've got older, as I can get white fingers just sitting for too long at work! There's no harm in your dh seeing the GP about it if it's bothering him though.

Congratulations on the PB@xsquared.

This week's training has gone well, distance starting to build now my training has switched into marathon prep mode, total of 32k over 5 runs with the longest 1h25. For once I managed all my strength training plus two bike rides and a swim so feeling tired but proud of myself. Next week is going to be harder juggling as I have a few work commitments that will get in the way of my training but will do as much as I can.

I'm on a Mirena coil fpr my HRT and haven't had a period in years, definitely don't miss the uncertainty!

Good one today. I realise the cold makes it harder to get out the door but makes me run faster

Did an extra lap and felt good

Well done @xsquared and @UnaOfStormhold

I managed 10 miles today although I couldn't drag myself out until mid afternoon so it was rather a grey and dreary one.

Well done on the runs today it’s been dank and cold today so stuck to yoga and housework plus parenting. But I’m excited a change of logistics tomorrow means I get the opportunity to do a sunrise trail run with the dog tomorrow morning so hoping the weather will be ok and I can tick off dog walk and run for me..yah.

Lovely 5 mile beach run this morning with a very surprising pace of 8.55 minute miles, which is brilliant as a usually average 9.3 minute miles.
Days are getting longer, so it will soon be much easier to get out

I saw my first daffodills (technically small narcissi) today, and I'm beginning to see more shoots preparing for action. I haven't spotted any crocuses or snowdrops yet which feels a bit later than recent years.

A good week for running so far. Even Garmin is calling me productive 😁
I've appeased it with some paced interval running to get some anaerobic points (I find it really hard to clock those up) and I've done a 10 mi long run.

Gym DOMs wasn't so bad to start the week. I know it's good for me in the long run, but pushing out into cold, damp gloom when your muscles already feel like lead is not motivating!

An argument with a tree root that sent me flying has now left me with very bruised knees that hurt after I've been for a short walk so yet another no run week for me which is annoying. Oddly my knees are very bruised at the front where I landed on them but the pain is at the back. Hopefully lots of ice and ibuprofen will sort them out quickly.

to cold where I am for running plus have a scratchy throat and don't quite feel ok. hopefully will be able to get out on friday.

ouch in sympathy to the injured. take it easy but keep the joint moving.

Hope your not too sore @Londonmummy66

i ran Monday but family appear to have 1 by 1 got the full on snotty cold that could be covid as exhausted too had hoped to run today but woke up full of snot and storm has started to hit here again heavy rain & strong winds. Think it be yoga sess before work and a dog walk at lunchtime instead.. Friday looks just as wet and windy so hopefully can out again Saturday.

Sorry to hear about the various injuries, viruses and rubbish weather preventing running.
@BogRollBOGOF well done on the progress, getting Garmin to say productive is always a great reward. It's a hard task master, isn't it? I've only managed productive a few times over the years.
I tried to do some intervals again yesterday but misprogrammed my watch so it started straight out on an interval with no warm up. I was short of time so just went with it but got stitch which made the other intervals a bit rubbish. Lesson learnt, pay more attention to setting up the run out don't ignore a warm up!
Storm Eoiwyn is going to be a running challenge the next few days, although it hasn't actually rained for a while here. An improvement on last January where I think it didn't stop!

@Londonmummy66 hope your knees are a bit better today.

@JanuaryOSunshine hope you feel better soon and give yourself all the time you need!

@Jumbojem I only ever used to do five minutes walk to warm up, but I'm a bit more sensible nowadays! Fortunately as I decided on an app my workouts get sent to my watch automatically - worth the money just for that.

I had a tempo run yesterday, which I actually quite enjoyed - yay to the follicular phase! I was seriously warm as I went at lunchtime and the sun came out just after I set off. Lovely, but meant I was a bit warm even in just my long-sleeved tshirt.

@bloodredfeaturewall hope your scratchy throat doesn't come to much

I hope everyone’s injuries and illnesses heal quickly.
Forced myself out fora run before the “ big storm” comes.

I injured myself stupidly about a day after I posted in this thread. I was making my bed and I tugged on the duvet and my phone fell off and landed right on my toe. I thought I'd broken it for a couple of days but now I think it was just badly bruised. Anyway, I'm off on a training course next week, I'll take my kit with me just in case people want to go for a run, and if not I'll start again in February.