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 draw full of running and hiking socks! Just wear the same few favourites though, which are some Hilly ones and I like toe socks for trail running. Not to everyone's taste, but in my head I feel like they help my feet move to aid balance, I have a Hilly pair and Injinji. They are also good if you have problems of your toes rubbing together.
I need new road and trail shoes, but I'm so indecisive! I've found some trail shoes I like (New Balance), vainly want them to look good too as they will double up as shoes for both walking and runs on my summer holiday. So chose ones suitable for light trail and road mix. But they are this season's and even in the current sale they have not sadly reduced. No idea about the road shoes, might just go for another pair of Brooks glycerin but try to see if there's a past season pair in my size somewhere rather than pay for current season. Unfortunately they are a popular shoe, OH has already looked in his size and said no go.
I'm really enjoying the Garmin "improve fitness" plan I found on the Garmin Connect app, I set the target as just before my holiday (so a couple of months). It's strength and running, body weight strength for me as I am beyond feeble. Anyone else find the Garmin plan runs are really random lengths of time though? I've had 38min and 53 min base runs this week, why not 40 and 60 mins?! I feel silly when OH asks how long I'll be saying "38 minutes"🤣
Anyway, speedwork is still a challenging work in progress but I'm definitely starting to be able to run longer. So slowly steadily building fitness back up.

Lurker here. 61 year old overweight asthmatic slow parkrunner and occasional 10k-er. I have loads of runderwear anti-blister socks and definitely recommend them. Recent purchase is the white anklet ones that are great for everyday/sightseeing on holiday wear too x

as so often, decathlon own brand is decent for running socks.

I have brought some running socks, they will come tomorrow.

i have also impulse brought myself some asics Novablast 5 as they appeared to be from the reviews just what I was looking for. I have adidas Duramo speed shoes at present which I love and can run quite fast times in (fast for me) but thought they might be a bit hard for the half. May still wear them for 10ks though. I didn’t want to go too cushioned for fear of them slowing me down but there were good deals on the asics gel nimbus and I was tempted as they are usually more expensive but the reviews said they were better for slower runs.

I have some asics trail scout 3 (I think) trail shoes which are grand now they’re broken in and I wear them a couple of times a week when I trail run with the dog. I’ll probably wear them for my up coming trail run, the first hill is on road but it potholed and muddy so it should be fine and they’re nice and stable on rough trails which much of the race will be.

I’ll take a look. Thanks.

I mainly wear Decathlon running socks.

I did get caught out buying online though. I bought a few packs thinking they were the same as my existing black socks, but when they arrived they were a horrible saggy cotton without the essential elastic sections to hold them in place around the foot. I ended up binning them all without using for runs as they were going to shift on my feet and cause blisters if I was going to attempt to run in them (too many bad historical experiences!). I couldn't risk keeping them for general use because they looked too much like my existing socks and would get jumbled up in odd pairs. It wasn't worth the cost and time of trying to return them, so binning was the only sensible option.

I normally recommend Decathlon stuff, but sometimes they do switch suppliers around so things can change without it being obvious. I'll only buy in store now.

I agree, decathlon online has become too much 'marketplace'.
I don't order from them, always buy in the shop and have a good feel, if not a try on.

warching the marathon and all the amazing views of london.

Why do so many shops dilute their brand by selling random stuff??? Really annoying.

Although in this case they were own brand socks hence thinking they were going to be the same.

Rest day here. Well earned as I had run 5 days in a row! I'd felt surprisingly good as they'd been quite varied and the longest run of 10k is well within my comfort zone.

The running socks made more difference than I thought would be possible! So much more comfortable!

I’ll pop into decathlon next time I visit dd at uni. The nearest one to us is over an hour away.

Decathlon online is a PITA now as they have so many random brands when I'm only interested in their own stuff usually. Sadly they don't have any shops in the SW, despite it being an affluent and sporty region (plus all those people going on holiday looking for swimwear, beach and camping equipment). Always mildly annoyed they never opened a Bristol branch despite numerous rumours. So my nearest is a substantial distance away so online my only option.
Was everyone keeping an eye on London and Manchester maras today? Very hot day for it. Anyone inspired for a mara next year?!
I had a lovely hillyish 4 miler in a nearby town, so slight change of scene which felt good. I'm off for a trail run in a new location with a friend on Tuesday so looking forward to that as well.

Manchester marathon completed, so hot! Didn't get the GFA time I wanted as I was getting light-headed in the heat, but I gave it everything I had. Still a PB too!

Whoop Woop @UnaOfStormhold
very well done indeed!

Well done! @UnaOfStormhold a great achievement 😁.

I think I’m going to go for Southampton marathon next year as it dd1s in city and I’ll probably do it for the Southampton hospitals charity which is where dd has most of her placements.

we’re also in the southwest. I think the nearest decathlon to us is Poole but I know there’s one in Southampton so I’ll pop in there next time I visit DD.

Amazing!! Well done you!!

Whoop well done @UnaOfStormhold

my DH did Southampton Marathon a few years ago @Whataninterestinglookingpotato we stayed in the premier inn right by the start which was great for logistics but had to park the car by the train station to be outside the road closures. We’ve also in SW and would love a local decathlon

Well done @UnaOfStormhold - I was volunteering on the baggage lorries at London and everyone said it was brutal out there in the heat. Sometimes its just about being sensible and getting to the finish line rather than chasing a time.

Well done! I went to watch, I was hot and bothered just watching. Fantastic achievement

You'd think there'd be a Decathlon at Cribs Causeway. Possibly even somewhere like Plymouth.

There's been enough times we've forgotten something Decathlon-y when heading south west!

I think you can filter out the other sellers in search - that's what I do on the French site anyway!

Wow, congratulations! I haven't seen many people getting PBs because of the heat, so extra kudos!

Got my new asics novablast 5s today. Took them out for an 8.5 mile run. My god they’re bouncy!! Went over on my ankle once and definitely had to be a bit careful about where I stepped. I’m sure I’ll get used to them though and my time was pretty speedy considering the hills and the heat. They just wanted to take me forwards. Good fun!

I've had a couple of good runs, either up and early on the trails to beat the heat, or finding a shady stretch for intervals.

I do love the feeling of air and sun on my (suncreamed) skin

@BogRollBOGOF I too have loved being outside but I've found running in the heat quite difficult! I've now just finished week 4 of the couch to 5k. I've had a nosy at week 5 and it looks like a big step up in training 😬 currently debating whether to repeat week 4 again or give week 5 a go first!

Hope everyone enjoys the lovely weather this bank holiday weekend 😁.

it's definitely harder work in the heat!
on the plus side I had the gym all by myself and the lovely gym attendant gave me a masterclass in running form on the treadmill. how much I can use that outside is another question though...