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.

Ive had an interesting week. Good week run wise, manged my 18k at the beginning of the week although I walked the 2km of sand as I wasnt putting my tired legs through that after the 10k race the day before

I signed up for an ultra (29 miles, near tebay, in march with a 14 hour cut off) so decided i needed some trail shoes. Of I trot to get another gait analysis done. Did the test run in my usual shoes. Lady was shocked at poor performance (67% I think) made me do it again just incase there was an error, nope. Just poor performance.
Tried trail shoes. Performance shot up to 91%. Turns out, id been told at my previous gait analysis that I overpronate and I actually dont. I have a right side weakness in my lower back due to a old back injury which hasnt flared up in over 10 years but it does cause me to pull my right leg in when im running, which can look like over pronation. Apparently. So ive been running in support shoes which I didn't actually need.
First set of trail shoes I tried were like running on clouds. Couldn't believe the difference. Bought trail and new running shoes.

Park run this morning, and while it was still 30 seconds slower than my pb (windy!) I felt comfortable all the way round and probably could have pushed a bit harder.

Did my 10 mile race and got a pb. Missed out on sub 70 by 20 seconds, but that will be next year's goal!

@SFRSmum glad the shoes made so much difference!! Happy running in your new shoes.

well done @xsquared that is a fantastic 10 mile time!!

I tried to go for a run earlier but got to the end of the road and thought nope! It’s still just too painful and I’d have just ended up doing more damage. So I went for a walk with the dog instead.

Thanks @Whataninterestinglookingpotato .

I hope you can be up and running comfortably soon. Best to rest the risk further injury.

Great time @xsquared !

I did just over 10k this morning, was fuming as my garmin ran out of battery at 4.95 miles 😂

will be taking it steady this week probably just a couple of 5ks as have a 8.8 mile race on Sunday

Thank you @tinks3110 .

It's annoying when your watch dies mid run.

Good luck with the race next week.

@SFRSmum new shoes sounds fab hope they work out well.
@xsquared great time well done.

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato hope the injury niggles settle down soon.

@tinks3110 I’m on a garmin streak of 10k steps a day min. I was trying to do 365days and lost it on day 315 as I had a migraine fell asleep with it on 9k steps, I restarted and now on day 115 but left my watch at home this morning walking the dog I was athhhh so after the long dog walk I had to still do 10k steps over the day to keep my streak 😂my DH did take my watch with him when he walked to the shop to help. I’ve finished the day on 14k after gardening & second dog walk so Ive kept my streak for another day…

Hi all, a while since I posted so I won't try to reply to everything but hope @Whataninterestinglookingpotato you are feeling better soon and well done @xsquared on a great 10 miler! Really interesting about the shoes @SFRSmum - I should probably go and get my gait done again as it's been years since I last did it.

@tinks3110 it is maddening when your watch conks out. I had a double whammy yesterday as both my watch and my phone stopped working. I was using the phone for navigation, but fortunately knew more or less how to get back.

A mixed bag of running for me over the last couple of weeks as my routine was a bit mixed up - a pre-work London run last week, a local 7 miles at the weekend (no parkrun as I was volunteering), and a muddy trail run yesterday. I'm visiting my parents and it's so strange running round the village where I grew up, as you wouldn't have got me out there for love nor money as a teen .

I have a marathon and HM booked for the spring, so training starts again in a few weeks. In the meantime I'm on over 900 miles for the year, so should make it to 1000 by the end of December. Although I was just reading a Lazarus Lake post on FB where he was talking about dropping back to 1000 miles next year from 3000. There aren't enough hours in the day/week/month/year for me to run that far!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree Congratulations on the 900miles, and for likely the 1000. It's been my goal for a couple of years now, and I break it down to monthly goals. Usually start well but something happens along the way, heatwave, injury or illness which then means I'm so far off track the year goal is out of reach. Maybe 2026 will be the one?!
Just checked Strava, I am at 700 miles for the year so hopefully 1000 next year is doable.

Thinking about next year I am aiming to do Newport Half with the aim of then supporting a couple of people I know doing the mara once I've finished. The Big Cheese on the Mendips and spring or autumn forest of Dean trail half. I was intending spring but that would mean doing three events within a few weeks so possibly not the best idea.
Other half mentioned it would be nice to do a race abroad so that is something to think about. A smaller race not one of the big events, open to suggestions on that one!
Not been out yet today, the lovely sunny but cold weather has been replaced with mild and very wet here so waiting to see if it stops...

I Waited for the heavy rain to pass and had an amazing sunset as I ran. Got up a couple of hills non stop and felt strong. Nice to get some fresh air before dark.

Sounds lovely @RunningInto

Good to see you planning ahead @Jumbojem. I hope 2026 will be your year! I didn't plan mine out carefully, but the 20 weeks of ultra training clocks up the mileage (but then I drop off afterwards big time!)

I got DH to drop me at parkrun this morning so I had to run home afterwards, giving me another 5.25 miles to add to my total. Hoping for 6 or 7 tomorrow if the weather is OK.

Did parkrun today. Our home run wasn't on, DS won't do two nearby courses and I find another nearby one too busy so we went a bit further affield and cocked the timings up a bit so started 2 mins behind. Nice course and it was a bit more weather resistant than I expected. My legs felt awful; a bad combination of post-race, cold, poor warm-up and digging out my trail runners. I got into the second half more.

I'm hazily hoping to do about 10k tomorrow...

I've also set an early alarm for one of the mornings next week...

Glad I waited until today, I had to wear my sunglasses! Lovely 8 miles, although running into the wind funnel of a hedge lined lane was hard going at one point, was glad to turn the corner.
I have entered the 15 mile trail race and Forest of Dean half which are both April. Cross country ends February so I think that will keep me motivated over winter. Newport Half was full already but it was a week after the 15 miler so wouldn't have been ideal timing wise anyway.
Well done those of you who got out,it's a hard time of the year for motivation and time.

I managed the 8.8 mile race yesterday, time was ok and I was just happy to finish. The trail sections were awful, very slippy and I spent the whole time worrying I was going to fall over. The weather was ok during the race and then it peed it down when we were walking back to the car, it was so cold
well done everyone that got out running over the weekend. I’ve got Abbey Dash 10k on Sunday with the run club, hoping for a PB

I did my early run!

It was more enjoyable than I expected despite being sub-zero. I warmed up in the house first which helped.

I've had a power nap each day after work. I think it's the walking to/ from work at sunrise/ sunset depleting my energy levels.

Congratulations on the race @tinks3110 and well done on the early run @BogRollBOGOF it certainly was a chilly one yesterday.
I have had speed intervals/threshold on the run plan for a few days. But I really struggle with speed work in the dark, anyone else? The street lights round here are awful, they did upgrade to led but it just makes a bright pool of light in a small area and between the lights it's pitch black. Was petrified of not spotting recycling bins when I was running the evening before bin day, then there's the unexpected puddles you couldn't see. I was hoping to get out in daylight today as WFH but the spread of meetings didn't give me enough time. Sorry to be moany but finding it hard to stick to a plan when my only daylight runs are at the weekend.

I wouldn’t want to be sprinting in the dark either. Plus it’s been icy and there’s mountains of wet leaves everywhere. I’m nervous about slipping.

I’ve been slow to realise the positive effect running has on my brain. I’m a different person post run. I’m Calmer, my brain is quiet, less irritable and therefore I’m happier. Plus I’m more healthy. Win win

Well done everyone for getting out and running!
Ive done a few indoor runs this week, just couldn't motivate myself to go outside.
I did do hill reps this week outside, got absolutely soaked, and really tried hard and I loved it! Was really suprised as I was dreading it!

12km easy run tonight (should have been yesterday but today suits better as I need to wait 3hrs after work for my sons train to come in!)

Got my 10 miler on Sunday. Hoping for a sub 1hr 30min, I think its definitely achievable
Its to be very cold but dry. So perfect conditions for me.

Ive moved up to 4kg weights now in my strength training, and definitely starting to see definition in my arms and abs. 4kg is massive for me, I really struggled with 1kgs when I started about 6 weeks ago

Happy running everyone!

That's great progress on the weights!

When I started at my circuits class 5 years ago, I was on 2-3kg, but now tend to use 6kg as my default. Sometimes up to 8kg for some moves like chest press where I can take a bit more. If it's just holding and legs doing the work, I can go up past 10kg each side. My biggest challenge is gripping heavier weights and my forearms rather than actually moving with them.

I like exercise where progress is measurable

Well done on the dark runs and weights. It’s been harder to find motivation this week but I’ve done two runs, walked the dog daily and made myself do some weights & yoga this morning. I was feeling fatigued though so dropped down my weight & some reps. Hoping I’ll pick it up abit more next week & some energy returns.

I've got my early alarm set again for next week... but first there's parkrun and probably a long run on Sunday.

Sub-30 parkrun

Yes! @BogRollBOGOF well done!!

I haven’t run since Thursday in the hope that I can get a PB at the Abbey Dash tomorrow. I’m not holding out much hope as when I signed up in June I was running 10k in just over an hour so predicted just over an hour 😂 and now I’m running it in 53 mins 😂 so am in the completely wrong pen. Will be happy with anything under 53 but not sure how busy it will be and if I can get out in front of the slower runner in my pen

Well done @BogRollBOGOF on the sub 30!

10 miler done today, 1hr 28 mins and 50 seconds

So so so pleased! I learned a few things. Husband dropped me off and went ot get kids breakfast, in hindsight this was silly. Its was freezing (literally 2 degrees!) And I got cold,.quickly.

Started out very well, but I did feel the last 2k I flagged a bit. I could feel it was a struggle. Maybe under fueling. I had a porridge pot in the hotel, I did plan on having a banana and nut bar when I got there but it was so cold I didn't wnat to take my gloves off and there were no bins to put my rubbish in.
I did have a couple of glucose tablets half way, which did help.

I also started my period (again!!) Last night, But had invested in some super super pads and didnt leak through this time, thank god.

Hope the abbey dash went well @tinks3110 and you got that PB

No PB for me today, it didn’t feel good from the start but I was happy to come in at 54.02 slightly over my 10k PB. It was so busy, there was no warm up. It just wasn’t my day today and given I saw a gentleman being given CPR near to the finish I’m just grateful my body got me round. I hope he’s ok, I’ve been thinking about him.

well done @SFRSmum! that’s a brilliant 10 mile time