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?

Hello @princessspotify and welcome to the thread!

Park run for me this morning I got a time of 36.06 so I'm super pleased with that. Been a bit wet here too but the rain managed to hold off while I was running.

Welcome @princessspotify and well done on the parkrun it’s such a lovely community to run in.

well done @Sparticle hope you have warmed up now.

Welcome @princessspotify

hope your first park run went well @Tinkerbellflowers

well done to all the other park runners on your runs and getting out there in not the nicest weather!!

I dragged my bum out of bed and made it to park run this morning for the first time in 6 years 😂. There was a good crowd of about 250 runners despite the weather.

I came in with a time of 25:40 which I was quite pleased with as it’s very much trail across farmers fields and felt like it was all up hill. I looked back at my time from the only other park run I’ve ever done in 2019 and my time for that was 41 mins. So there’s definitely been an improvement! That course was easier too! Today’s efforts got me first in my category! Who’d have thought it! 😂.

went for a nice fat breakfast with my friend after, which was a nice little treat!

roll on next weeks 10k.

Did my longest run for a couple of years this morning but I was fasted which was probably an error (why don’t I learn I’ve been running on/off for 10yrs now!) started to bonk abit at the 10k mark plus it went really humid as the sun burst from the clouds and my HR started going into zone 4 I noticed. Still I got 12.7k done and downed a pint of hydration drink when I got in but realised I was chilled too from the wind. An excuse to crash out for a couple of hours after.

Well done @JanuaryOSunshine that’s fantastic!

Well done @JanuaryOSunshine

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato wow great parkrun time, and so satisfying seeing the improvement over the years.
Well-done all parkrunners, I didn't get out of bed until 9. But I did thi k of you all as I watched the rain out the window!
@JanuaryOSunshine well-done on the long run, it's hard to eat before running if you just want to get out isn't it?
Going to get out now for a run, although think I missed the window in the rain, vaguely planning a "longer" run tomorrow. There are a couple of trail halves in the autumn I'm interested in so need to start upping mileage/elevation.

Well done on the long run @JanuaryOSunshine hope you are having a restful afternoon.

That's a really good park run time @Whataninterestinglookingpotato well done! And first in your category too! My next goal is to improve my parkrun time.

Sorry well done too @Whataninterestinglookingpotato- the advert in the MN app meant I didn’t see your post before 🙄 That is such a brilliant time!

Good evening, I need to pick your running brains! I've been looking at getting a running watch and so far a Garmin Forerunner 55 is looking like a favourite for me. Do any of you have this watch? If so would you recommend it? Thank you 😀

@SoapCollector I’ve had a vivoactive 45 for a few years now and it’s been ok. I didn’t want a big watch and it was the smallest garmin in my price range I could find at the time. Battery life was excellent for the first 3yrs it’s less so now but they make good watches. I loved my much cheaper Tom Tom watch prior to that as it was simplier to use with a great app. The garmin connect App is ok but taken a while to get used to.

I had the previous incarnation of the 45s for a few years and did a marathon with it. The battery life did begin to ail and I replaced it with a 255s which comes with more data, and DS got another year out of the 45s before the battery became too weak for practical use.

The 45 had plenty of data and functions to support and enhance my running and I've used features like "workouts" and "coaching".
I like the extra detail of the 255s, but it's a bonus for geeks rather than the simpler models lacking.

Only just discovered this thread and it's really interesting! I'm typically a 10k runner but also do parkruk every so often. However this year my aim is to up the distance for a change. I'm doing a 10miler in mid July, which will be my longest run to date. With a view to doing a half in October. Going to take it easy and not aim for a time, which will be nice as im usually pushing for a pb in my 10k races! Next year I'll be back to focusing on my 10k time, im hoping to go sub 55..im also thinking of working on my 5k pb next year as i think I can get sub 26 if I really work at it.

Welcome @Pea1985 a 10 miler is a great goal! You may find that naturally as you’re able to run further, you’ll be able to run the shorter distances faster. That’s kind of what happened to me. Aiming for a sub 50 min 10k in next weeks race, though I’m not sure I’ll get it. I’d be happy with 50 mins, fastest to date is 50:55.

off for a long run this morning, the route would be planned is 14 miles which seems a little excessive 😂. But I’m just going to take it steady and see how I go. It’s a nice morning to be out after yesterdays rain.

good luck with your watch choice @SoapCollector I don’t have a garmin so can’t be much help, but everyone seems to rave about them. I’m still happy with my good old Apple Watch.

Lots of great parkruns yesterday! I was touring yesterday, very busy as another local run was off.

My husband has a 55 and likes it, plenty of metrics. He doesn’t wear it as a watch generally. DS and I have vivoactives as we wear them every day - similar level of metrics I think but touchscreens. I palmed my 255 off on my daughter - that had a bit more in the way of detailed training feedback but to be honest I don’t miss being told I’m unproductive!

Are you heading out for your longer run @Jumbojem? I’m just back from four miles run/walk and for once am feeling good on it!

How do you fit fasting in with running @JanuaryOSunshine? I’ve just started IF and it feels a bit trial and error at the moment.

Welcome @Pea1985!

fell a bit off the wagon due to holidays. did a lot of hiking though.
sorry to hear about your injury @Londonmummy66hopefully surgery does the trick!

went to the gym yesterday. session with a different trainer and everything hurts. still debating if I should attempt a run or leave it a day.

Morning all and welcome @Pea1985! I'm aiming for a 10 mile race at the end of August which will also be my longest although I won't sign up for it until a week or two in advance, just in case... I'm going to use the Nike Run app half marathon plan as they don't have a 10 mile plan option but it's 12 weeks today so that will hopefully help to focus my mind.

I got myself out for a nice run this morning - 7 miles, which is the longest I've ever run and it didnt feel like a slog! Got out before the rain too thankfully. Feeling nicely smug now.

@chutneypig i just run first thing normally 5-7k not bothered at all being fasted & run better for it normally (I’m in my 50s), but I’m realising if I’m going to run for over an hour I probably need a banana. I do have a hot water with lemon before I go out.

Thanks @JanuaryOSunshinethat’s really helpful. I felt pretty good today and not hungry after, which was a plus.

Just done 11.5k, nice easy pace and felt strong. Planning to do 13k next weekend.

Whats the views on fueling for 10 miles? Today's run took 1hr 15 and I felt ok without fuel. Wondering if I'll need something for anything further?

@Pea1985 i think fuelling is really individual. Fluid yes I’d recommend if doing 12k+ if warmer. My DH runs long distances often with nothing, however if it’s above 15c temperature he will now take a fluid with hydration tablet in it. He badly bonked at the end of a 30m hilly trail ultra, not because he didn’t drink enough fluids but because his body salts became really unbalanced and he was vomiting blood by the end. I know that’s the extreme end but he thought because he’d had a carb drink in his hydration pack for the first half and water in the second part of the run he’d be ok as he was protecting his stomach but the hot weather was his undoing. So I’d experiment, I much prefer whole foods to gels as I can’t stomach them well, so ill have an oats bar or salty nuts.

Well done on your longest run @Sparticle

@chutneypig running fasted will probably be a bit trail and error for a while. I find I can do 5-8k fine fasted but start to feel quite floppy if I attempt to do more than that. It Was fine doing park fun fasted yesterday as it’s 9am, only 5k and I was going out for breakfast afterwards. I wouldn’t have attempted today’s run fasted though. It wouldn’t have gone well.

well done on your run @Pea1985. As for fuelling 10 miles. I haven’t fuelled for that distance in practice but probably would on race day to give myself an extra boost. In practice I’d just make sure I’ve eaten something before hand. Today was the first time I have fuelled a practice run. I munched down a couple of energy bites at around the 15k mark and that gave me the boost I needed to get through the last 6/7k. I also had 2x bits of toast with peanut butter before hand as knew I’d be going a fair way.

we are all different and you need to see what works best for you. I prefer the gummies to gels mid run as I just find them easier to get down.

I did 14 and a bit miles today at a steady pace, it was lovely and sunny and good for the soul running down country lanes with beautiful views. It’s the furthest I’ve ever run and it makes me quite hopeful that I can achieve my goal time of 1:55 for my half in a few weeks. Todays was 1:57 but I didn’t push my pace at all.

well done everyone on a great weekend of running 🏃‍♀️

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato well done on 14 miles, looks like a 1.55 half is attainable in a few weeks.
I managed just over 8 this morning and felt good, hip a bit stiff in the last couple of miles and knees feel it now I'm back. @Pea1985 I had 2xtoast and a lot of tea for my 8 miles. Wished I had some water as warm but didn't need more fuel (I have a lot of fat I'd like my body to use as fuel but wishing it doesn't make it happen 🤣). For a 10 mile I usually have a gel after an hour (high5 aqua are the only tolerable ones for me), otherwise I struggle mile 8 onwards.
Garmin's - I have the 255 upgraded from the 45, same as @BogRollBOGOF I love the 255 but the 45 was perfectly acceptable (and still works, just the strap came away from the body). DS and OH have the 55 and have had them a fair few years with no issues. OHs battery doesn't last so well now and he keeps muttering about getting a Coros. They only wear for running but I have always worn mine 24/7, I have the "S" version so a little bit smaller.

Hello runners! Great to see everyone's achievements, well done for all the long runs and speedy parkruns! I had a steady parkrun yesterday doing a bit of local tourism as I needed to be in pace to watch DS1 competing in his sport late morning.

Very long 26 mile run for me today. I used to use gels when I ran faster, now that I run walk I prefer real food, so I had some porridge and coffee before I left home, and got round on a couple of mini flapjack bites, a bag of salt and vinegar crisps and a carton of apple juice. I also drank about a litre of water and some lucozade sport at the end. The ice cream and iced coffee at 11 miles was absolute rocket fuel, need to get DH to arrange for that at one of my stops on the ultra :-)

I managed to catch my foot on a small kerb at mile 20 and literally flew through the air like superman - my hands took the brunt when I landed, but had also grazed my leg and bruised my hip. A couple of people stopped to ask if I was OK, which was kind. I was tempted to phone DH to come and pick me up, but decided to keep going and see how I felt (answer - cautious). Ready for a nice snooze now.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree wow!! 26 miles! That’s impressive. That ice cream is very well deserved!! Glad you’re ok following your flight through the air, what a nightmare! Amazing that you kept going. Well done!