Running goals, motivation and chat 2025 - Part 2!

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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.

so they have now updated the offical times and mine was 55.17, I thought the 53.17 was a bit out!! Anyway I am still very happy with my time.

It’s still totally awesome @tinks3110

@LovesToWalk before I did my first parkrun I checked the slowest finishers and so saw I would come in at about 75% and that would be ok. I think there are more walkers now so if you are running you are highly unlikely to come last. Parkruns are generally friendly and very mixed in ability.

Still a great time @tinks3110

welcome @LovesToWalk ill second that you do not need to fear parkrun if you can do the London marathon!!

strength training for me in a bit. I feel I need it after this weekend! I feel a bit done in but will club run tomorrow and then have another 10k race on Wednesday. It’s a trail one and I’m not going for a PB so a bit more relaxed than the last one! Then I’m off to the festival to ruin all my hard work! 😂

Our parkrun averages 400-500 folk at the moment so they get people to line up in approx finish times shouting out 20min line up, 25 min line up, 28min, 30min, then 35min then everyone else. This really helps with bunching up and the local running club often supply pacers. There’s nearly always a 30min pacer. But ours is a fast flat course there’s often 200-300 under 30mins, but equally walkers too. It’s a nice atmosphere as we get many holiday makers. This time of year though I don’t go as prefer go run earlier when it’s cooler. I’ll go back again in October probably once numbers drop a bit.i do find it bonkers the high numbers under 20mins which is so fast on think.

@LovesToWalk welcome! I am in fear of marathons so good on you for going for a second after hating the first one.
@tinks3110 huge congratulations on the 10k time. Were you the poster who did something like 1.01 last time and just missed going sub 1hr? If so you smashed it this time.
Some great parkruns too. I rarely do parkrun, I like a lie in! Not a great choice here either, nearest has a narrow start, has several 180 turns and a very narrow bit where it is v busy with open water swimmers year round. My next nearest are either 1.5 mile uphill, then back down, or a beach (sand) route during the summer. Both of those are rubbish for a good time! I feel like I should do it sometime soon though as it does get you to push beyond usual pace. Plus I'm cross at the predicted 5k time Strava is giving me and want to prove it wrong and that I can run faster (I'm happy with the predicted times it gives for all longer distances!).
I have been following the Garmin plan to the letter though for the last 3 weeks, including doing the body weight core, strength and mobility workouts it suggests. Although 50 minutes of running and 25 minutes of core post work on Thursday is going to be a challenge!

yes that was me! I was 5 seconds over an hour last time 🙈

Well done everyone on some great running!!

i wanted to ask what shoes are we all wearing? I have asics novablast 5s which I love and I feel are a good all round shoe and suit my feet but they will probably be dead by the time I finish marathon training and I’m thinking of trying something different. It’s tricky as I don’t have any running shops around here. I do have an asics outlet shop, but that’s about it. i have high arches and small but fairly wide feet. I know that asics do suit me, but a change might be fun.

what are everyone’s favourite shoes?

I've got short, high volume, stupidly wide feet and wear New Balance 860s (wide); they are supportive.

Admittedly I prefer the previous v13 model to current v14 which seem to be a bit straight on the inner toes, not V-ing out enough. I've managed to get some cheap old stock v13s to move on to when I'm finished with my current pair.

Finding footwear is a bloody nightmare.

@BogRollBOGOF I’ve been thinking of trying new balance as I’ve heard they’re good for wider feet. But I worry a bit as I have quite narrow heels but wide at the toes and don’t want them to slip.

shoes are such a minefield. I’m tempted to just get more novablasts but also don’t want to feel I’m missing out on something great in another shoe. They’re also expensive so want to get it right!

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato I always get Asics Kayano. They are a bit wide for me, but I need arch support for over pronation. I have narrow feet and a low arch.

Garmin wants me to run 5 out of 7 days this week and I’m going to have to say no. I ran last night and my form was dreadful because my legs were so tired. So pushing my long run to tomorrow.

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato Good luck on your 10k today! Hope the weather is kind to you where you are x

Trainer wise, I have some old New Balance Fresh Foam, and want some more, but they do seem wider than last time I got them.

I've started on an old 5-10k plan to get used to the routine of tempo/intervals/long slow runs, and had forgotten how brutal intervals are 😂

@Stripeymouse 5 times is a lot in one week!!

Thanks for the shoe info all. I think I may have to go somewhere and try some different brands.

@Stripeymouse 5 times is a lot in one week. How far does it have you running. I will often run 5 times a week, but I’m a bit weird.

Good luck with the plan @LovesToWalk intervals are brutal but they do you good, I guess.

10k trail tonight will be fun on very little sleep! Hey ho. I’m sure I’ll be ok once I get going!

Good luck with today’s 10kms. It’s quite warm here today, hope it’s cooler with you.

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato It’s got me doing three 40min easy runs, one 1hr long run and a 35min state run. I am used to running every other day. I’m nervous of causing an injury if I’m running more. Plus I look forward to my runs. If I’m doing it too often I’ll get bored and just stop altogether.

Hello! Can I join you, please? I wear these trainers too - my feet sound much like yours. I’ve been wearing the v13s for most of this year but they’re showing signs of wear after nearly 700km.

A new pair of v14s arrived for me today - I buy the extra-wide width (2E) online. I originally had Brooks Adrenaline GTS trainers but I found they were marginally too narrow for me for long runs. I really liked them for midweek runs though.

I’m currently making my mind up about whether to keep a new pair of Hoka Gaviotas too - I’ve not had them before but I was struggling to find the 2E width I needed in the 860s so I thought I’d order them, as I can try them out for 30 days before sending them back and there are free returns. It feels a bit cheeky to wear them outdoors until I’m sure I’m keeping them though!

I have been running for about 18 months and I predominantly run-walk (Jeff) when I’m by myself. I am a slower runner. I have run one half marathon but I’m doing my second next month and my third the month after that! I feel underprepared at the moment - although I’ve not long hiked a marathon so I’ve got a lot of miles in my legs and I am following my training plan religiously. Things ought to come together but I haven’t run more than 6 miles lately.

I’m struggling with most of my runs at the moment despite my consistency but hoping for a “good” run when I go again tomorrow.

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato I too have a high instep. I like ASICS, my latest pair are the Gel Contend 9. They were quite reasonably priced at Sports direct, I think around £50. I also have a pair of Brooks Ghost that were just over £100. The Brooks trainers have more cushioning on the forefoot. If I were to run a longer distance I'd probably choose the Brooks but to be honest there's not much difference in feel when running. Maybe there would be if I ran further than my usual 5k! Good luck with the 10k today!

Welcome to the thread @lightanddreamy 🙂

Please can I ask those who wear a heart rate monitor or Garmin type watch when running, does your heart rate get very high? I bought a Garmin watch a few weeks ago and have been looking at the stats/ charts after my runs and my heart rate seems to be going a lot higher than it should for my age when I'm running. I don't feel unwell with it but was just interested to know if anyone else has this happen?

Me! It makes it very hard for me to run continuously, as my HR is high at modest paces.

On my last run I ran 3km, each kilometre at a pace around 7:20/km, and I was at 170bpm almost immediately. My HR peaked around 189bpm by the end of that portion of my run - it creeps up if I don’t stop to walk. Using the 220 - age formula, quite a bit of my running is beyond what “should” be my max HR…

I have been to the GP who has reassured me my heart is fine but I’m waiting on a blood test to check I’m not low in iron. I suspect this is just how I am though and I’ve rather resigned myself to Jeffing (which I enjoy) to make running feel “easy”.

@SoapCollector mine is very slowly coming down as the weeks go by and my fitness slowly improves. It is too high though. Peaked yesterday on an easy run at 176. It was 187 at Park run. I’m assuming (possibly incorrectly) that as long as I feel ok and don’t have any symptoms it’s fine!

Thank you for your replies @Stripeymouse and @lightanddreamy. You've both made me feel a bit better! On my last parkrun it peaked at 180, so I tried an easier flatter jeffing run/ walk yesterday and it still peaked at 170 towards the end of the session! The Garmin said my V02 max was fine for my age so I'm taking that as a good sign! Resting and walking heart rate are good. Will see how it goes. 😀

Another who wears new balance as I need a wider shoe and getting a 8.5W is always hard but men’s shoes seem to be the wrong shape. I have Salomon trail shoes men’s with their othro insole which are comfy too.

I think with HR it’s working out what’s “normal” for you and how you feel when it’s higher. Mine is naturally low and I can really feel it and know I’m pushing it if it goes to 150. I wear a Garmin which isn’t as accurate as a hr strap but it’s pretty good I think.

My heart rate used to go really high and even now will when I first start off, on steep hills or if I’m dehydrated. Though the average is much lower now probably around 150. I have peaked at 190 before now though which is a lot higher than it’s supposed to for my age! Last nights race peak was 180.

10k trail race last night. There were styles and fences to climb over, bridges to cross, cows and a horrible hill that you have to do twice. Not my fastest 10k by any means at 53:02 but 8th lady over all, 3rd in my category and 1st for my club so all in all not bad. Its was a lovely event with food after.

Forgot to say.. welcome @lightanddreamy

also thanks all for the shoe info!

omg @Whataninterestinglookingpotato well done on your time! That's amazing, especially as it was clearly not a simple flat road race!

Welcome @lightanddreamy - I'm not sure if it's any help, but when I'm just trying to get miles in, audiobooks keep me going! x

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato great time, what an interesting sounding race, certainly plenty to keep you in your toes. The cows probably wondered what on earth was going on, might have made their day!