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?

Managed a split run either side of thundery hail showers so 8k in total each time managed to nip home for 20mins whilst the stormy weather past by looping close to home.

my phone is too heavy for the legging pocket. if I have anything more than the house key they move south...

for short runs I only use my watch. for lnger runs an armband phone holder.

Made me laugh - I have zero hips so a similar issue. I safetypin my leggings to my knickers to hold them up........

Most people I know have either the Aonije one from Amazon (not sure on spelling) or Decathlon. I use legging/short pockets (including stuffing gels and soft water flasks in when needed) or a waist belt (decathlon) but I am thinking about getting the smallest decathlon one. One with soft flasks though (as I already have these) as we have cycling camelbacks and I can't stand the swooshing about of water noise/sensation when used for running.

Urgh, I sacked off running yesterday as it was wet and windy, it's still windy and intermittently wet but feel like I at least need to do a short easy run as won't be able to easily run tomorrow or weds. I am def not doing 50 minutes and sprint intervals that Garmin would like me to do!

I've used the Amazon ones, aonijie and utobest which are great for smaller local runs as they're 5ltr but with good front pockets. I've got a harrier 10th for long runs and it's great, loads of pockets and space for kit.

I ran with my trusty dog today! He is such a great running buddy.

Arh running with your dog is one of life’s joys if they are in a behaving mood I have to carry cheese or sausage treats in a small bag in my hand if I run with our dog. She’s mostly ok but is very food motivated so I have to be her favourite person or if she gets the wiff of a squirrel or pheasant it’s very challenging to get her back to me on trails.

I skipped yesterday due to weather (I usually don't mind rain but it was a bit much), so I definitely need to go today

I have a nice lunch in the diary so will need to go easy on what I order

Trying to keep up my 15-20mins of morning yoga I really do benefit from it but sometimes it feels SO hard to still my mind to prioritise it yet I have no problem finding 15min to scroll on MN!

I forced myself out of the door today for a 6k - haven’t run for days- my list of excuses is both creative and increasingly total BS. Other than the first km directly into a coastal head wind ( fuck off south westerlies, you wankers🤣) it was fine, almost enjoyable in fact, and I feel so much better after, Soggy feet but happy heart. I need to improve my playlist- I went overboard on the 90’s club anthems and some of them aren’t as good as I remember 🤣

@LaPalmaLlama well done getting out! I just got the Goretex version of my running shoes and they are making very happy in this weather.

On the playlist, I accidentally downloaded an 80's rock playlist once (was trying to download one song) and it turns out it's the best running playlist ever 😅

Postponed the lunch and did a longer run

May as well do both properly

Well done to everyone facing the weather

I ventured out for a gentle 5K today to see how the injury is working out. Seems to have held up so fingers crossed I can get back to the training plan in a week or so. It was wet and windy and very grey so not the nicest (especially when you're forcing yourself to go slow) but I kept telling myself that at least I got to run. Also helped I had scrambled eggs and smoked salmon to look forward to afterwards.........

I was thrilled with myself last week as I got out for 3 5km runs. Then I did my back in on Wednesday doing something totally innocuous and I'm only coming around now. Hoping to be back to a gentle trot by the weekend. And then I have a duathlon booked for the following weekend. Not ideal!!

Saw my private physio today and if all goes well over the next 4 weeks I am booked in for my first walk/run treadmill session with her on the 28th February. Woohoo! I am going to get a countdown calendar set up 😁

Can't believe I have to be supervised trying to jog for the first time in ages, but needs must!

that's great purple

I had a physio session on the treadmill a few years back.
it was very interesting.

• shoulders back
• turn the hip to fling the leg forward
• arms swinging
• knees high, step over (invisible) broom sticks
• engage your stomach
• relax your neck (swishy ponytail)

so mostly about posture and how you should 'run from your core'

how I didn't fall off the treadmill I don't know

ouch ouch ouch
hope your back is fine and damdy soon.

How do you go about getting a physio treadmill assessment? I've never heard of these but sounds exactly what I need!

I had physio sessions for a squeaky hip and asked her if we could do a session on the treadmill.
my physio is specialised in exercise and injury recovery. don't know if that makes a difference.

Thanks @bloodredfeaturewall . That treadmill physio does sound interesting.

Interesting chat about running gait and I’ve tried a few things over the years but can never sustain changes to my natural style. I have been trying a tiny lean forward recently which shifts my centre of gravity and makes me noticeably faster on flat tarmac surfaces. I do have to try stop my right arm swinging over as well or it gives me neck ache later on but it’s so hard to change in built muscle memory. I watched a couple folk on insta & read “running-with-the-kenyans” plus “lost art of running” by Shane Benzie were interesting.

@JanuaryOSunshine yes, there was a time a few years ago when everyone got obsessed with mid sole striking (was during Hoka mania) and heel strikers were practically sent off for "re-education" and then everyone decided that heel striking was fine and trying to change your gait is not generally a great idea as you change one thing but it effects the whole muscle and joint chain. I'm generally a mid sole striker but during v long races I'll start to heel strike - I'm obviously subconsciously trying to use different muscles as I get tireder. Now I just kind of let my running style take care of itself. That said, I do need to get down the gym and build my glutes up a bit- I'm very quad dominant at the moment.

Easy 10k with friends today- tomorrow probably around 7k running back from dropping the car off for its MOT.

Hope all the injured make a fast recovery

@Londonmummy66 hope the salmon and scrambled eggs lived up to expectations. I wile away many a run thinking about what I'm going to eat when I get home.

interestingly my physio never mentionend feet or knees, only my core.

I can't keep up everything all the time but try to a few hundred meteres each run to remind my body.

@LaPalmaLlama - they were indeed delicious. I spent the last 3 miles of the London Marathon telling myself that I couldn't give up despite pretty well hating it at that point on the grounds that I was going out for Dover sole in the evening.

Ran back from the car service place- not the most fun as pretty urban (loads of traffic light controlled road crossings so stop/start). Also loads of hills and just when I thought I'd have a sneaky walk a pack of teenage boys on bikes came the other way so then I couldn't as didnt want to look feeble 😂.

I'm contemplating running back to pick the car up but kind of time dependent.