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?

Hi, I've been out today, session 2 of week 2 on couch to 5k. Dare I say the jogging part (a whole 90 seconds!) felt a little more natural and slightly easier today. I felt I recovered quicker than the allocated 2 mins walking, so small gains already, I hope! Feel like I've got a long way to go to get my fitness back but I'm feeling inspired by the stories of older runners. I'm going to check out the YouTube runners that @BogRollBOGOF has mentioned.

@bogrollbogof I like crown my run too, the commentary is very amusing and I always find myself willing them on to PBs.

My son likes them too. He's competitively minded at parkrun.

We were taking it easy last week because he's got a non-running injury, and people were encouraging him on... he kept replying "I can run a 22 min parkrun!" 🤦‍♀️😂

His passion meter is high even if he's not full-power 😂

I’m in the yellow weather warning zone but the rain eased so I thought I’d nip out but it restarted raining hard 0.5k down the road meh I was wet so carried on and enjoyed a steady 7km in the end. But needed a bath after as felt quite chilled in the strong wind.
Hope the bank hol wend brings opportunities to run for your all.

anyone Training for a marathon should listen to Paula radcliffe’s marathon training podcast, dead informative. It’s coming out weekly atm to time with London next week however would be relevant to any

I’m laying low atm as two weeks ago ran a half…was not closed roads and at the half way point lost balance trying to get some gummies out of my pocket and tripped on a kerb. Ended up with blood on knees and face and lost two chunks of teeth (though didn’t realise this till later). I still finished in a reasonable time. Teeth now fixed and knees healing and although I don’t think I’ve done any permanent long term damage (except the teeth!) I’ve been out running since and found it all very hard work. Used AI (Claude) to do me a marathon training plan starting 3rd May (it’s in October) so hoping I will be ok by then

if anyone is doing London or Manchester next weekend best of luck I am in awe of you all. I’m going to watch Manchester

Whoop PR PB 🥳so pleased with that my best time in 6yrs that’s what losing 3-Stone does, makes it so much easier to run. Despite strong winds and rain I’m amazed I pulled that off. Need two days rest now as toe joint is sore and I must listen to my body.,I’ll walk the dog and do weights & yoga Sunday instead.

hope your body & confidence recover @Clearinguptheclutter it takes to recover when you have a fall like that. I crashed off my bike last year just on a curb but it grazed my hip but shook me up more plus at my age I just don’t bounce any more.

Ouch! I hope you're healing up OK.

For my recent 10k, I parked up away from the chaos zone and jeffed to the start. I caught my foot on a kerb while running but fortunately did manage to rebalance after threatening to face plant.

It's worth including some balance and core work when doing strength work. The one time I have had a heavy landing was when I was C25k-ing after injury and I suspect that I'd lost a bit of my usual balance and strength while recovering despite having had an active recovery period.

@Clearinguptheclutter - ouch - I'm lying totally low as my knees are still giving me grief after tripping over a tree root in January.

Congrats @JanuaryOSunshine

Great parkrun this morning... a reward for a lazy week off my weight loss plan
Seriously though, I was fresh, well rested and well fuelled.

I'm not significantly down on the weight, but can tell I've lost a little since my peak in the winter and that does help.

Well done @JanuaryOSunshine that's an amazing parkrun and weight loss achievement.
I too fell of my bike last year and I know what you mean about not bouncing any more! I hope you are doing ok @Clearinguptheclutter.

Well done @BogRollBOGOF I'm looking forward to running a parkrun. I think losing weight is going to be key for me and I'm sure (hope!) it will make running a lot easier when I get to my target weight!

OMG @Clearinguptheclutter hope you are recovering well. You poor thing.

I've been a bit AWOL from the thread but still jeffing along and doing daily yoga (which I think helps with strength and balance). I missed my long run last weekend as we were away watching a friend run a marathon - managed to see her 3x around the course so that was great. Need to do 16 miles tomorrow which is not so great.

Welcome @SoapCollector and well done on great parkruns @BogRollBOGOF and @JanuaryOSunshine

Nice short 5k trail run with dog this morning but she was being a pickle kept disappearing in the undergrowth so after the third time I had to run /walk with her back on the lead. She’s normally really good but had the scent of something!

Hi, can I join?

I’ve been running on and off since I did c25k back in 2021 but over the last year or so have been working on improving my times and distances. I’ve done a couple of 10k race now which have been really fun and have another really hilly trail on coming up in a few weeks. My plan for that one is to finish and not stress about my time as it’s trail with insanely steep hills.

I also have a flat 10k in June I would like to try for a PB on and then my first half the end of June. The furthest I have run so far is 11 miles, but felt I could have gone further so not stressed about it.

my issue currently is I’ve started to get blisters on then inside of my right foot after a longer run. I love my shoes and feel they’re good for speed but the blister issue could be a problem. I’m torn between just ignoring it and hoping my feet toughen up and trying some different shoes. But don’t know what. There’s no many out there! I also don’t want to spend mega bucks on them.

good luck to everyone with your goals.

welcome @Whataninterestinglookingpotato

what docks do you wear?
I don't have an issue with very tight running socks (unless I get sand and water in at the beach).
once the socks lose the elastic and become less tight they start to rub.

Socks are a good point. I just wear my. Formal every day socks tbh. I may try some specific running ones and see if they help.

If you're wearing cotton socks on long runs, then they could well be the reason why you're getting blisters.

Still not running but took a trip to the Marathon Expo in London today. Main purchase was yet another pair of Goodr sunnies (and a pair of marathon socks). I've managed to bag a last minute place volunteering on the baggage lorries on the Mall at the finish line on SUnday so I'm really looking forward to it as the atmosphere is great (if a little over emotional).

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato
gosh you def need proper socks!!!
have a look at Hilly for starters

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato dh and I both run in balega socks plus on really long runs I’ve been known to Vaseline my feet to avoid blisters but that was running 10m+. Yes the balega socks cost more but they have lasted well washing 2-3x a week. Worth the investment for happy feet.

Did an impromptu lunch break run as work was quiet and sun was shining but it was busier out as holiday makers still around still I got a decent 2.5k up hill all the way on coastal path before turning round for the fun run back to the car.

It’s not been an issue before this last week or so, but was aware that most people wear running socks. I just thought I’d get some at some point but as it hasn’t been an issue I hadn’t got round to it 😂.

I’ve done plenty of 10m+ runs in my normal socks without issue. But I think my luck has run out and I’ll invest in some socks 😂.

Oh no that’s so painful, sorry to hear that.

I tripped a while back and ended up getting funny looks as I ran home bleeding on knee, shoulder and face!

But reading about teeth is my fear so I really don’t want to do that again

I like running socks so much, that my pretty ankle socks are disappointing now 😂

I like a bit more cushion on my heel and toes and elasticity in the middle to hold them in place.

Cotton socks are too saggy to stay put and not creep round my short, wide feet