Running goals, motivation and chat 2025 - Part 2!

[Sparticle]

Hi all, just setting up a second thread - I hope you don’t mind @Jumbojem but the other one was getting a bit close to ending…

Sorry to keep harping on about the weather but it’s still raining up here so instead of running this morning I’m going to get back on my lovely water rowing machine which I’ve neglected totally since starting running back in Jan/Feb. I miss it (and I miss the muscle toning it gave me) so I’m going to get back on this morning for a change.

Might do parkrun tomorrow or a longer run, haven’t yet decided.

Thanks for the new thread. What’s a water rowing machine? I’ve fancied a rowing machine for ages but haven’t really got room for one.

I can’t seem to get myself up and out to run this week - runs are getting longer so instead of feeling like about 30mins it’s more like an hour. Which means getting out by 0615 really, if I want to avoid hundreds of secondary school kids. Maybe I’ll try running in the evening for a bit, until the end of term anyway. I did get my bike out yesterday, first time for ages, and that was fun. I managed to get myself up the monster hill at the end, took me about 3 months to be able to do it when I was cycling that route regularly pre covid. So my fitness is definitely improving 💪

Well done on riding up the hill @NormaMajors1992coat!

A water rower has a water tank to provide the resistance and it’s meant to be a more natural feel. I started out after Covid with a v cheap machine I got off FB marketplace for £40, used that for a year and then a friend was selling his water rower (not the original brand in the link) so I bought his last summer. I use Apple fitness+ workouts which stupidly I’ve still been paying for even though I’ve not been doing any of them. (Pre running this year I would do the rowing, strength, core, dance, hiit workouts a few times a week.)

I find running in the evening harder to get out to do after work but it’s not too bad as long as I leave enough time after eating.

https://www.waterrower.co.uk/waterrower-oak-rowing-machine

Ooh that’s a lovely looking thing! Trying to think where I could put one. Maybe I’ll keep it on the list for when the DC leave home 🤔

Thank you for starting a new thread @Sparticle 🙂

Thanks for the new thread! @Sparticle

off to track tonight, which will be hot and tiring.

Thanks for new thread- name changed from January. Still feeling crappy both DH and I haven’t run all week so tad grumpy. No rain here just hot & humid. Hope the wend races and park runs go ok

Thanks for the new thread @Sparticle it has been a manic work week here before I go on holiday, which coincided with a few eves out so not much running here this week.
Looks like the forecast is hot still for the weekend so good luck to those racing or park running. It is forecast to be well over 30 degrees where I'm going so if I'm to run will have to force myself out early!

Morning all. I’m feeling a bit down with the shit weather we have up here I’m afraid. I wanted to do a long run this morning before the rain returns and plotted a mostly flat canalside 12km (which would be my longest yet) but quite frankly the strong wind and threatening skies have totally put me off.

Which of course means I’m now p-ed off with myself for not getting out there even though I know I’d feel better afterwards. Self-sabotage is a real thing!

Hope you’re all having a better morning and are able to get out and about, whatever your plans. :)

I'm surprised at the variation in weather, meant to be 28° today and 30° and sunny for tomorrow which I panicking about already!

I managed a shuffle around the streets in the drizzle this morning, same as last time with one minute less of walking and I went a bit further and felt pretty good for most of it. Still not quite managing 5k in 42mins 🫤
The weather here is annoying too - often either too hot or too windy at the moment. My phone conked out just before I left so I ran with nothing in my ears for the first time, surprisingly enjoyable and means I don’t always need a pocket which is good. I thought I had nabbed a bargain with a refurbished iPhone 13 but it’s very flakey unfortunately. And the GPS on my admittedly cheap as chips watch didn’t work today either! 😤

I've been enjoying running and had a 10k in May to work towards but not now got another one til September. I'd like to get to an hour long 10k (from 1h11min race conditions) but I typically go at 7 mins per km. My 5k pb is 32mins.

Any suggestions for improving my time?

Also now I'm getting in longer runs more routinely I'm starting to ache more which doesn't feel good. I don't want to injure myself.

@Sparticle we all have days when we don’t want to get out and having rotten weather doesn’t help. Don’t beat yourself up just tell yourself you’ll do it next time and stick to it.

@NormaMajors1992coat well done on your run today. I have been running without headphones a bit more since joining the running group and I’m actually quite enjoying it.

@ZenNudist just keep running to improve your times. Intervals and hills will help but as you can run further I’ve always found I’ve naturally got quicker over shorter distances. My 5k time is now 24 mins from over 30 before Christmas.

no run for me today as been helping dd1 move out of her uni accommodation. I have the half tomorrow and it’s going to be hot!! About 30 degrees! I did a track session last night and melted a little! I think I’m going to take my hydration vest tomorrow. What everyone’s thoughts on using them for a half? I haven’t before for 10ks but I think with the heat it would be good to be able to have a sip whenever I feel like it and it’ll save time stopping at water stations.

I like your description of out for a shuffle @NormaMajors1992coat that describes my running style perfectly! I've been out today for a run/walk, my first run in just over a week, pleased my foot is doing ok so far with running again! Hopefully I'll be back on the couch to 5 training next week.

Rain was forecast here, but it didn't happen. Hope your day has got better @Sparticle

Good luck with the half tomorrow @Whataninterestinglookingpotato

@Fizbosshoes good luck for tomorrow!

@Sparticle thank you for the new thread!

Just a 7 mile mid week run for me, and parkrun this morning with some extra miles afterwards. Long run tomorrow, hoping to get out early. to beat the heat.

@ZenNudist getting faster for me - abit not that fast - came from being lighter (I lost weight), strength training, running further slower I was training for a HM slowly but every week did a fast one normally at park run, a midweek 7k run with intervals or hilly bits and then a long slow run, naturally my other runs got faster. However genetics plays a huge part once you have the basics in place. My friend is in her 70s took up running in her 60s and is just fast, she’s 5mins faster than me at PR you’d never know it to look at her she’s such an inspiration.

@Fizbosshoes good luck with the North Downs run tomorrow!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/exercise/5242157-running-goals-motivation-and-chat-2025?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Here's the old thread to link the two threads up. Hope I've done the link correctly! I wasn't sure if the old thread would disappear forever once it got to 1000 posts.

Thanks Soap - sorry I forgot to do that!

Didn’t get out in the end for a run, went to visit a friend this afternoon and have had to work late tonight to catch up on a project I’m working on. (It’s raining anyway!)

Good luck @Fizbosshoes and @Whataninterestinglookingpotato for tomorrow ☺️

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato I don't normally wear a hydration vest for a half but would consider it on a hot day. Check how the neckline of the hydration vest lines up with whatever you plan to wear. I generally only wear mine with a tshirt because I worry with a vest the chafing might outweigh the benefit....
Good luck 😊

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato sorry I missed that you had a HM tomorrow - hope it goes well. I've deffo used a hydration vest for HMs - sometimes because it's a trail course and even if there isn't a mandatory kit list I like to carry a few things with me, and also when its been really hot so I don't need to rely on the water stations. I am not very good at remembering to drink at the best of times, but have trained myself to have a few sips at the end of each mile on my long runs. Hope you are pre-hydrating this evening!

Oh and yes to chafing @Fizbosshoes - I usually have a small tin of vaseline in my pack, and sudocrem in my post-race bag :-)

Slightly off topic, but please could I ask, if anyone is willing to share, what sun cream you all use on your faces when running and what do you use to remove it along with all the other face dirt and sweat accumulated during a run. I've got quite fair sensitive skin and eyes and lots of sun creams run into my eyes once I get warm on a run! Lots of skin products can cause stinging on my face. 😬

Thanks all. I think I will wear my vest. I can wear it with a running vest without it chaffing so that’s all good. Wasn’t going to buy think it’s sensible as so hot.

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree has just reminded me that I forgot to buy Vaseline. Never mind! I shamefully wasn’t pre-hydrating yesterday evening. I was drinking beer in the pool 🙈😂.

good luck today @Fizbosshoes

Good luck to all racing today 💪

@SoapCollector I use mainly sensitive baby 50+ sunscreen as I’m very fair skinned I never put it on my forehead but wear a visor instead that avoids any going in my eyes. Been using this one lately it’s been ok www.childsfarm.com/products/childs-farm-50-spf-sun-lotion-cream-fragrance-free