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?

@thepurplepenguin I also have osteopenia (at 48) - my family has a history of it so I shouldn't have been surprised, but it was still a blow to be diagnosed. Still, I do believe it's better to know early before it gets full blown, so I'm really digging into the strength work which I believe can make a huge positive difference. I recommend Margaret Martin's melioguide resources for exercise tips tailored to your activity level and fall risk, plus she has some sensible sounding advice on what yoga and strength moves to avoid. Hailey Happens is doing a new bone building course which I'm planning to do when it comes out in a few weeks. I'd quite like to book myself an annual DEXA scan to give myself a way of measuring progress and hopefully inspiring myself by seeing both muscle % and bone density increasing!

@MagpiePi @bluefineliner have you tried Nike Run Club? They do lots of free guided audio runs including various sorts of intervals, plus really interesting interviews with athletes. I certainly find it helps to have someone in your ear saying keep up the pace, right to the end etc.

I find breathing is a handy guide for run pace - if I can breathe through my nose, I know I'm doing a nice easy pace, 3 steps per breath is harder and 2 is close to threshold.

@UnaOfStormhold I’ve looked at the Nike app in the past but the Garmin one is so easy as it uploads automatically to my watch and you get vibration cues for changes of pace/starts and ends of intervals etc. I am probably a bit unusual because I don’t take a phone with me when I run. I get sweaty ears with headphones and earbuds just fall out, but I actually just prefer my own thoughts.

I can run at a reasonably consistent pace for long runs, considering how hilly it is round here, and can also manage different length intervals at consistent paces; they’re just not necessarily the exact paces that the Garmin program thinks I should be doing!

@magpiePI I'm another slow 50+ runner hoping for some PBs this year, although thinking about deleting all records from my garmin and starting afresh on the records. I have put my events into the calendar and just do the daily suggestions on the days I want to run, I've also switched to heart rate rather than pace recently. But...it always seems to suggest speedwork on a Tuesday which I can't do so I've been guilty of just doing easy runs for a while. Really do need to start doing intervals and hill work. Not sure how to increase my cadence though?

First weekend of the year and we've certainly been given some even more challenging than usual conditions for getting out running. However sounds like lots of you have got out there. Travelling and visiting yesterday but did a slow but hilly 5 miles today.
@JanuaryOSunshine your frosty trail run sounds glorious!

Also, I have gained some carbon plated shoes from my DS who outgrew them before he barely wore them (saving for races which never happened). I thinking need to go to parkrun or somewhere where I might run faster to try them. However I'm worried about looking "all the gear" as they are bright yello lightweight race shoes and I'm a slow overweight 50 Yr old who clearly needs to focus on other running issues before going down the speed shoe route.

I'm sitting here wrapped in a blanket trying to find the enthusiasm to go out for a run......

@Jumbojem - I've seen people say that using a faster than normal music track to run to is a useful aide in increasing cadence. Not sure if that will help?

bonus point if they look like hovercrafts...

don't worry about the look of them. you only need a little mud to mute the colours

My Garmin also does this - "But...it always seems to suggest speedwork on a Tuesday which I can't do so I've been guilty of just doing easy runs for a while." Not sure why...

Is it just me that is despairing at the weather and researching buying a treadmill. I don’t really have space but there are good offers about ….

I had a soggy run today, overslept and missed going with friends so i went alone. I was expecting the rain/cold to be the worst thing, but actually much of the roads and paths were ankle deep slush/water which was unpleasant but it was pretty mild.

Hi can I please join? I've got my half marathon next month. X

@UnaOfStormhold Thank you so much for sharing those resources, that's really helpful! I'm sorry to hear you're in the same boat. There's no family history of it for me, but it could possibly be the result of an anti seizure medication I take. That's only me speculating from what I found via Dr Google though 😆, I need to see my GP to discuss it properly. I have been to the gym twice this weekend even though I loathe the machines, I am prepared to do anything to get stronger!

nothing nicer than a hot chocolate after a wet and windy run.

Hello @bakewellbride - how's the training going for next month?

Grim slush here too so I opted for a treadmill run after my yoga class. Although I had to wait for one to come free, our gym is rammed with January enthusiasm. I'd be very tempted @Clearinguptheclutter although we don't have space at the moment but the children are (hopefully) going to university this year so ..... I've never paid much attention to cadence @Jumbojem but I can see a definition progression as I up the spreed on the treadmill. Self preservation I think so I don't fly off!

I'm going to take some baby steps this week and do some foundation HR runs from my plan. I hope the weather plays ball though.

@Jumbojem
I sometimes move the sessions around if they’re not convenient.
Click on ‘this week’s schedule’ in the Garmin Coach section, then click on the session and then on the 3 dots in the top RH corner and pick reschedule.

I don’t think there’s any special technique to running with a quicker cadence other than just running with shorter, quicker steps.

Urghh my gym the same this weekend! Hate January!!

Feeling quite chuffed with myself, managed 7 miles outside this morning. It was a bit icy, so the pace was a bit slower.
Cant quite work out my clothing for this cold weather, a base layer, long sleeved top and bright jacket and a woolly hat. I was absolutely roasting!

@chutneypig hey it's going ok-ish thanks. I'm not managing to get out and run as much h as I'd like but recently did 9.2 miles in an hour and a half. Going to do something shorter next week and one ten mile trial run then just shorter runs / resting.

I did this particular half marathon last year and it's a challenging route VERY hilly and rural so I must practise hills some time soon!

How are you getting on? What's your situation?

Instead of a hat I wear a fabric band from hygge @Doublethecuddles it keeps my ears warm and if I get hotter I just take it off as it wraps on my wrist easily. I like the fabric bands as I can fold them up depending on how cold it is.

Heavy metal works best for me. I've had a few blazing parkruns from that strategy 😂

Oops, I might not have run since last Monday. Weather. Parkrun cancellations. Post-gym DOMS. General school holiday inertia.

Mojo booked in to start tomorrow...

@Doublethecuddles I had the same problem. Had to take off my hat and gloves after the first mile, and use my buff on my head instead of around my neck to keep my hair off my face. Six and a bit miles done, rest day tomorrow hurrah!

Running planned for the week.
Wed looks least bad for my long run.
Will do a short guided fartlek later, and some hills at the end of the week.

Not an inspiring week! It seems to be either cold rain or clear with ice.

Enjoying everyone’s updates. I’ve been away and back today so training starts tomorrow ( kids back to school as well). Going to have a pretty unstructured first week just to get back into it. Also got a numb big toe from my ski boots so need to shake that off

I need to make a new running playlist for 2025- feel free to hit me with your suggestions- it’s kicking off with Sia- Unstoppable.

Just about to do an intervals run at gym. Hats off to everyone running outside 🥶