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.

@SoapCollector I don’t run on the days I do weights as I prefer it plus my older body needs it spread over the week. I just do hand held weights & body weight stuff at home watching Caroline Girvan on you tube. Plus yoga with Adrienne. I think it’s just finding what you enjoy and get a buzz from.

Thanks @RunningInto I do find weights in a gym quite boring (but I think I need to do it!) I'd much prefer to be outside moving around. I'm going to check out the Caroline Girvan workouts 🙂.

I ran 4.75 miles with run club on Tues but got a niggle in my knee so haven’t been out since. I went to strength class this morning because i thought it was upper body but it was actually back squat 😥
this afternoon I’ve been in the ice bath and sauna.
hoping to get out running again over the weekend

There’s whole threads on here of people who do Caroline Girvan workouts I started with a 10min dumbbell workout and light weights and now do 20min one with heavier weights. She does do whole programmes like “iron” (too intense for me) depends what you want

Hope it ease up soon @tinks3110

@SoapCollector i also find doing weights quite boring. If I can make classes such as legs bums and tums or the lift classes I tend to do those instead as they’re a bit more motivating. In the winter I do about 50/50 running and strength sessions but when the weathers nice I want to be outside! I have to force myself to go to the gym as if I don’t do any strength training I end up injured.

im also a lot less flexible since I’ve been running more so I’ve started trying to do a quick YouTube yoga session most mornings before work. Not sure whether or not it’s doing anything as yet.

Hope your knee feels better soon @tinks3110 and you’re able to get out over the weekend.

I only do strength training in a class environment, I wouldn't have a clue or be motivated to train on my own! I love the classes, there are usually about 8-9 people and everyone is really supportive of each other and we push each other to lift heavier 😄
I have seen a big improvement in my running since I started the strength training.
Thanks for all your good wishes about the knee, it feels better today so I might go out on sunday morning for a quick 5k

Morning all - just picking up on the yoga/flexibility point - I do a daily Yoga with Adriene YouTube video. There's a monthly calendar to follow, mainly old videos with a couple of new ones each month. I try to follow the calendar, but sometimes mix them up e.g. if I'm short of time and need a shorter session than the one billed for that day. I have been doing YWA off and on for a good 10 years or so, but started in earnest with the daily yoga at the back end of last year. As well as keeping me mobile, it's also helped with core strength and I can now do a proper push up.

I didn't run yesterday as planned as the weather was awful. We're going for a long walk today, so might save running until parkrun tomorrow.

I’ve had a focus on just doing 20mins dumbbells twice a week plus the core bits and I’m really suprised I’ve gone from 30sec wobbly plank to 2min15 plank plus from 1-2 weak full body push ups to 12 full ones now in 40secs. I’m not strong strong but in my 50s it’s been really good to see progress. The video does a 4min plank challenge which I laughed about at the beginning but now I’m thinking maybe…my point is set your own goals for your own body and it’s great to see improvement. My oldest teen iDD is very fit trains 15hrs+ a week competes nationally in her sport rattles off pushups with ease & can do a 4min+ plank.

That's great @RunningInto (I'm also in my 50's and keen to preserve strength). I might check out the videos when I get home, I have dumbbells somewhere from my Jillian Michaels fad.

I do a circuits type weights class and a gym session with DH each week.

At the gym we're probably 50:50 on workin together/ seperately, but it's nicer having him around anyway, and since I started going with him, it's helped his consistency.
I find that the weights sets are short enough not to get totally mind-numbed by it, and have enough satisfaction about what I achieve. There's a spa area to look forwards to too

The worst bit is doing some cardio warm up. I've brought it down to 1km on the rowing machine. 10 mins on an exercise bike like DH does is brain rot!

I had a nice mid-length, relaxed, hilly trail run yesterday... the trick is to go the way round that has all the gates and stiles going in the sloggy uphill direction and a freer downhill charge with gravity on your side

I originally did it the other way round when I first did it, flipped it for a change and that was that!

Thank you all for sharing your training info. Sounds like lots of you have made great gains from it. Body pump classes maybe a good idea for me. I used to go to circuit training classes years ago (I'm now in my 50's) and enjoyed it, I was very fit and young at the time and still am in my head - until I start exercising 😂.

@BogRollBOGOF I love down hill running even more than on the flat running, down hill with a gentle wind behind me is when I'm at my best!

Glad your knee is feeling better @tinks3110

I'm not running today, muscles have the DOMS from the gym session yesterday! I might give parkrun a go tomorrow if the soreness improves!

Hope you all have a good weekend!

Parkrun today. Finally broke my 24 minute 5k. I’ve been stuck at 24 mins for ages and today I did it woohoo!! 23:18 😱.

so happy with that!!

hope everyone else has had a good day!

Hmm, strength training is the thing I know I should do but have yet to "get around" to. It's not something I enjoy, despite owning several dumbbells, kettle bell and those stretchy band things. Def an area I seem to be "all the gear, no idea"in!
For those doing Bristol to Bath trail, Garmin tells me it's in 9 weeks. Given I've not run more than 5k in a while I have added the event to my Garmin calendar and it will give me a training plan. Went for a trail run yesterday with a friend but we both felt a bit off so didn't quite make the intended 10k. It was a glorious evening though.
Did a slow ploddy 10k on flat roads today as plan said 1h 12 min easy run. Garmin now says I'm over reaching so will switch to a walk tomorrow as also need to get the teens out for some fresh air and movement.

@Jumbojem gosh, is it really only 9 week until Bristol to bath?! That’s coming round quick. I’m not worried as my weekly mileage is pretty high and. Wasn’t planning to specifically train for it. I might do a marathon on the 12th October and that will need some training but I think Bristol to bath could be part of that. Looking forward to it. It would be nice to know who each other are but I don’t know how we could without outing ourselves on here!

Well done @Whataninterestinglookingpotato!

We're on holiday at the coast. About 50% of the people at this morning's parkrun were first timers - it was a lot busier than when we were last here in January!

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato well done 23.18! That's an amazing achievement.

Absolutely smashed that parkrun pb @Whataninterestinglookingpotato 👏👏👏

Wow @Whataninterestinglookingpotato amazing time we’ll done

Thanks all. I was super pleased!

long run for me today. I actually managed to get out at 8am for the club long run. So did 12 miles with them and as I live 1km from where we meet I ran there and back so actually ended up doing a whole half marathon distance. It was nice to get out early but I don’t know if I’ll manage it every week!!

hope everyone else has had/is having a good running weekend.

Hi, would it be ok to join please?

I started C25K in March then kept going. I recently did a steady 10km. I feel like I’m slightly obsessed with discussing pace and distances and all things running, my family are bored of me.

I’ve done a couple of Park Runs, but I prefer running on my own. I’m aiming to get out three or four times a week and do some strength training, but that seems to have taken a back seat as it makes me ache so I don’t run.

Welcome @Stripeymouse my family and friends are also really bored of listening to me talking about running. I’m glad I found this group so I can rattle on about it to my hearts content! 😂.

glad you’re getting out and enjoying regular runs. I would just make a point about trying to fit in some strength training. It does help to do it along side in terms of performance and also it helps to prevent injury. I don’t like doing it when the weather is nice outside, but do try at least once a week. If I’m sore after I still run my way through it and it usually helps stop the aching.

Did another 5k run tonight.

That brings me up to 55km in July and I need to beat 67km, which is what I managed in July last year.

Should be doable as long as I keep up the momentum!

Welcome to the thread @Stripeymouse 😀. My family are also hearing a lot of running chat from me! I started couch to 5k earlier this year in April, I completed it a couple of weeks ago. Well done on the 10k distance!

My first interval speed work session today listening to Steve Cram on the couch to 5k unlocked. Only 25mins but hard work so should help in the long run.

@SoapCollector its amazing the difference intervals make. My pace has increased a lot since I’ve been doing them!

well done on you runs @MissScarletInTheBallroom another 12k this week sounds pretty achievable!