Run for your life

[runrunrun2026]

Anyone fancy a running thread? (I did look but couldn’t see one - feel free to call me an idiot and point me in the direction of an existing one if it exists 🙏)

Chat about training and upcoming races, motivation, s&c to support running etc.

I used to be really fit before kids and now I’m…. Not 😂😭. However, all is not lost and the youngest is finally sleeping better so 2026 is my year to regain my fitness. I used to mainly cycle but time pressures mean running feels like a much more achievable thing to focus on. I also like the idea of entering some events to focus on. My goal for this year is to qualify for a GFA entry to the London marathon. I think the cut off for my age (I’m 41) is about 3:40 ish so I’ll need an autumn marathon (or a couple) to target.

Anyone want to join me?

Yes! I’m currently stuck on 4 miles after a long break. Considering a half at end of June but it’s a hilly one.

@2026newname👋👋👋

Great! Welcome! What’s the half? I’m currently looking for one in May but at this stage I think I want a flat one as I get quite motivated by trying to get a certain time and at this stage trying to factor in hills feels insurmountable 😂

I just came into this section of MN to see if I could find some inspiration and seek advice on whether you’d think aiming for a half marathon in August this year as a slightly overweight perimenopausal 48 year old woman who has never run more than 20 mins (didn’t manage to graduate from the couch to 5k program many times of starting it) would be completely bonkers?

I am struggling with unhealthy eating habits and don’t want to fixate on calories and diets and would prefer to have a strong and fit aim… but is this madness?

Hi @runrunrun2026 we have a very active thread called running goals and motivation 2025 part 2 (filling it up before we make a new one). Just for your info but by all means start a new one.

I am also hoping for a good for age time for London 2027. It’s 3:43 for vet40 (well 2026 was, might change for 2027). I actually did a 3:28 marathon back in October but not sure whether I can use it as although it was completely on paved paths it officially counts as trail so hoping to do it again in Newport in April. The issue is that I got injured in November and I’m still not back to full capacity. So we shall see. If I’m still as I am now I may need to defer my place and try for good for age in the autumn. But may then need to be for 2028 as the cut off for 2027 is September 30th.

how’s training going? I’m just upping my miles and pace again post injury but after 3 faster sessions on the trot last week I’m feeling it so will have to take it steady this week. Very annoying as I felt great at the beginning of the week and almost back to normal. Hey ho.

Hello @Isadora2007 ! What a great target. Can you pinpoint why you didn't manage the couch to 5k? Was it lack of motivation, time, did you get injured or was there some other practical issue?

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato - thank you! Your thread is exactly what I am looking for. I am not sure why I din't spot it. I will join you

At the beginning of the year I decided I wanted to try and run every day in Jan, not necessarily a long way each day (most days I did 5 or 6k but a couple of days I did 2k and a couple of days I did 7/8k) but go out every day to get back in the habit. I managed it until the day after I wrote this message when I got struck down by a stomach bug (courtesy of my wonderful small children). Feeling much better now though. I am trying not to get too caught up in pace at the moment although I can feel that I am starting to have more than one pace, which is a good start 😂At the beginning of Jan I had 'very slow' and now I have 'slow' and 'very slow' and I can manage short periods of 'oh I actually feel like I am running' before collapsing in a heap.

My natural pace (if that's a thing) was always about 5min/km and I could run at that pace for 2 / 2.5hrs comfortably without it being a big deal. I've never really trained my running because I have mainly done it for a bit of a change alongside cycling, which was the thing I did in a structured way. I am hoping that the GFA target could be doable given I don't actually have to get any faster than I used to be, I just have to run further (at the same pace) 🤔Maybe I am being too optimistic but I respond well to targets so I am going with it!

Are you recovered from your injury and just wrking on getting thr fitness back or is the injury itself still causing you any issues?

Good luck @runrunrun2026 as you used to be able to keep up that pace hopefully it’s achievable for you. An average pace of 7:55/mins mile gave me a 3:28 marathon. That felt quite ok when I was doing it.

unfortunately the injury is still playing up. I can run on it but if I push the pace it starts to complain. i have physio this week so we shall see.

Ummm in all honesty part laziness or lack of motivation. I do work 5 days a week and find it hard to fit in anything around the child related activities and responsibilities I have in a week too. But I know I could and should be more focused on health… so I was hoping this might be the answer.

It’s hard isn’t it - I’ve struggled so much to exercise consistently since having kids. I’m quite an all or nothing person so having to do ‘what I can’ rather than want I want to do / had planned to do is so demotivating for me.

I think the answer to your question is that the HM is possible but will require dedication and a fair bit of commitment. Some people respond to big targets better than small
ones but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Would setting a date for a park run then a 10k as waypoints to the HM feel motivating for you?

Hi - Am I ok to join chat? I am looking to do Richmond in September. Anyone doing this?