Running goals, motivation and chat 2026 - Part 3!

[BogRollBOGOF]

Hello runners!

Continuing on with our general running chit chat...

Meant to ask, has anyone got any recommendations for European half maras? I do fancy doing an abroad one next year. One that's not super tough to get an entry for preferably!

Morning runners!

I’ve had a couple of decent runs this week. Off to parkrun shortly and then we are going on holiday for a week. Luckily it’s somewhere we go often, so I already have some running routes.

@Jumbojem friends of mine loved the Berlin half. They were less keen on the Athens and Istanbul races they did (I think they may have been marathons). Another friend did a half in Cyprus which she said she enjoyed.

I’m beginning to think about the second half of the year after my May marathon but no form plans yet. Tentatively planning a sprint tri if I can improve my cycling over the next few months.

@Jumbojem
i hate it when runs feel like that. Hope your run tomorrow is better.

Ive been taking it easy this week, had a great 4.5 mile in the sunshine on Tuesday and a quick 5k on Thursday. Went for a sports massage yesterday before my trail half tomorrow, really think I need to make the massage a regular thing as I carry on running longer distances.
Im trying to relax about tomorrow and think of it as a training run and not a race! I’ve got my plan so will see how it goes

Good luck for your races @Jumbojem wnd @tinks3110

@Jumbojem Lanzarote marathon festival has become quite popular with our running club. They do a marathon, a half and a 10k. I’m considering it for later this year to get some winter sun. I was thinking of doing the marathon but now I feel that maybe the half is a good shout as I won’t need to worry about training or being exhausted after and can just enjoy the break!

im tapering (kind of) but did hills Thursday night (not a particularly tough session), track Friday night (tough session) and park run today. Didnt go flat out at park run but somehow ended up with my fastest time this year. Dd1 also got a 5k PB today. Medium length run of about 8 or 9 miles planned for tomorrow with the gang, then a light week of running before Newport marathon! Eeek!

I've had a good week. Did a good "soul run" on some trails that were too muddy through the winter and paused to take pretty photos. I haven't had enough runs like that since the autumn and getting into countryside definitely boosts my soul.

Pushed hard at parkrun today despite struggling with hayfever. My airways haven't fully cleared since being ill a few weeks ago and I think that's being exacerbated by general congestion from hayfever now but at least my energy is back to normal.

I feel like I'm progressing on fitness again. I've also used the Easter break to do some other fun stuff like swimming that I've struggled with.

Note to self nag remind DH about the bike brake cable... again...

@BogRollBOGOF soul run sounds lovely. I live in the country, and do run in town after work sometimes but I much prefer getting out on my local trails, feels less pressure to run fast too somehow!

Ive had a good week, quite a few short runs, no long run, although strava says ive done 45km this week, so not as short as I thought. I might do a long run tomorrow or tuesday, although ive got a running festival next weekend where im doing a 10k, a half and 2 x 5ks and then the following week im doing a 25km run so it might be wise to just skip a long run this week. Although, my ultra in June is in the back of my mind so im not sure what to do for the best. Id quite like to do 30k just to remind my legs I do long runs too!

My daughter has started taking running a bit more seriously, which i am pleased about as she struggles with quite severe mental health issues, but its meant that I go out with her quite a bit, which is lovely but the runs are short and easy.

I think, just writing this, ive decided to try and do a long run this week. I hate bitty training weeks. Makes me nervous 🤣

@Jumbojem and @tinks3110 hope your events went well! Looking forward to your run reports!

@BogRollBOGOF glad you are feeling better. Long may it continue.

@SFRSmum glad that your running is going well and that DD is also enjoying it. Hope you manage to fit in your long run.

How's the taper madness @Whataninterestinglookingpotato ?

18 sunny and breezy miles from me today along the coastal path. Public service announcement - don't forget your body glide when you go on holiday. And it's time to start wearing sunscreen even if it's a bit cloudy out there. Ask me how I know...

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree
thank you for remembering!
I had the BEST run! I absolutely loved it! And I got a half marathon PB, which had stood since 2012. I really think taking that race pressure away today really helped me. I was still nervous but just thought well I just want to get round, it’s just a long run. I tried a different breakfast which seemed to work well and my fuelling is plan was better. I ran with no music for the 1st lap to 6.6 miles and just took it all in. I had said to myself to maintain pace at 10-10.30 per mile and for the first time ever I managed it. I thought I’d struggle without support at the roadside as my other halfs have been road runs (GNR and Leeds half) but I actually found it quite relaxing in my own little bubble. My knee was sore at the end, about mile 12 but by then I knew I’d be ok. Best of all I am feeling confident for ultra warrior in June and might even try for 3 laps.
the organisation of the whole event was great, would recommend wild deer events

Forgot to put my time 🙈 2:10:31

Well done @tinks3110! that’s a great time! Support is nice on a race but tbh I do also quite like to drift off into my own world at times too. Despite all the races I do most of the are small and local. Our towns half had the most road side support of any race ive done. I’ve got 3 big ones coming up now and it’ll be something completely different!

well done to you for getting out this week @SFRSmum nice that your dd is running with you. I do like that dd1 has got more into running lately. It’s so good for their mental wellbeing. Dd1 has been struggling a lot with uni pressure and the running has really helped.

Well done on your long run @OhOneOhTwoOhThree sounds lovely. I did think I probably should wear sun cream for the marathon or I could end up pretty burnt!

@OhOneOhTwoOhThree the taper madness hasnt really quite set in yet as I have run every day this week since Tuesday 🙈. Final longish run of 9 miles with a few of the gang. One of the guys is running Manchester next weekend and then London the week after as he’s the support runner for one of our running friends (also out with us today) who has epilepsy. He’s going for a sub 3 for himself in Manchester and then has to support our other friend in London the next week who’s going for sub 3:30! Honestly crazy!

I’ll take it easy this week though so I’m nice and rested for the big day. I swing between over thinking it and blocking it out at the moment! 😂

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato
thank you, I think because I’d never run that kind of half before I was a bit worried but like you say sometimes just drifting off in your head and not being aware of the miles is the best way to go. I hope your races coming up go well, when I’ve done a big road race before i try to embrace the support, high fiving kids and accepting jelly babies and beer if it’s the great north run

Well done @tinks3110
Thank you for all the abroad recommendations, lots to think about, might depend who would come with me. Saw an old work friend who is doing Newport mara then immediately going to Rhodes on holiday and running a half there the weekend after (just jog round) which sounded like a lovely way to end the months of mara training.
I finished my 15 mile trail, time was around 3.08, official results aren't out yet. Nearly 2,500 ft of elevation so it did feel like I was going uphill most of the time. Took loads of fuel and did much better in that regard, discovered SIS Beta bars are like slightly soft haribo and much easier and less mess than gels. Also a ready peeled easy peeler was a bit mid race for a burst of freshness.
I've already got Copilot to programme me a 5k pb attempt for my next goal. But also want to just run for fun for a bit, a bit of soul running as @BogRollBOGOF so nicely described it.
Good luck for Newport @Whataninterestinglookingpotato sounds like you will both smash it and have a blast.

Hi, myself and partner did a doubles Tryka on the weekend (Hyrox format event) and in the height of the post race high I signed up for the singles in twelve weeks. I'm now wondering what I was thinking as I'm also trying to get first marathon ready for October.

I did some interval training today, 6 round of 600m sprints, I'm signed up for a 10k race in two weeks.

Well done on your hyrox @Goditsmemargaret

well done on your trail race @Jumbojem sounds like a tough course but fun. I’m doing cheddar gorge challenge trail marathon in June which will be a bit like that I think!

the taper madness has now well and truly set in. I’m doing cheddar gorge twitchy and thinking I should have gone to track tonight because others who are running on Sunday have. But I decided ages ago that o don’t do a track session in marathon week. I went to club run last night and did 7.5 miles and I need to take my car into the garage tomorrow so will run there and back which is one way completely up hill and then completely down hill to get it later. Then a 4 mile shake out on Friday and that’ll be it!! Marathon time! 😱

Good luck! @Whataninterestinglookingpotato
I'm sure you’ll smash it x

A decent week of running here. Nothing exciting, but sucessfully back on to term time routine. However between that, hayfever and PMT's usual effects on my body, my Garmin is now whinging that I'm Unproductive 🙄

That's a status I usually tend to swerve and it's more likely to choose Strained for a couple of days.

Weekend plans are the usual parkrun (note to self, don't VO² max it this time...) and a long run.

A few days back DH was bragging commenting about how much his body battery had gone up during his civilised day at work in an office chair... I'm on my feet all day with lively teenagers to keep alive... tbh, I'm surprised my stress isn't higher 😂
I'm fond of a post-work nap. My brain and body are usually equally spent!

@BogRollBOGOF Garmin is such a negative nelly! Hope the weekend runs go well.

@Whataninterestinglookingpotato good luck for Sunday ,last time I checked weather looked good for running? Have a great time, I'm sure you will do amazingly! Oh, my trail race was from cheddar and up (and up, up) over the Mendips so I expect the trail marathon will cover some of the same ground. I think I looked at that running weekend they have but I'm away that weekend. I do need to look for more events to keep my motivation up.
@Goditsmemargaret ooh, hyrox and similar are something I know very little about but well done on your event. Sounds like you've got a busy summer with the individual event, 10k and mara to train for!

I had a lovely "unproductive" parkrun. It was a hormonal, dead-legged slog, but a beautiful day for it and I had a nice chat before it got going. I'm still glad I did it, and it was just a get-out-and-do-it run that was never going to be glamourous.

Hopefully I should feel better for tomorrow's long run...

Hope your long run went well @BogRollBOGOF

Well. Today I ran Newport marathon. I’m honestly so pleased with my time. It was hotter than I would have liked and my leg hurt a fair bit at points but despite that I finished in a time of 3:25:45. Bloody thrilled. First member of my club home and hopefully good enough to apply for GFA for London for next year!! Now to go and it in the garden with a beer!!

Hope everyone has had a good running weekend.

Very well done with your time at Newport marathon @Whataninterestinglookingpotato . You have qualified for GFA for London and others for next year, so that's exciting!

For me, I had a last minute transfer beach race today. It was lovely, I didn't intend to race it, as I didn't want to put that pressure on myself having only got a transfer this week, but I beat my previous attempt at the course, so I am happy.

well done @Whataninterestinglookingpotato that’s an amazing time!
sounds great @xsquared well done xx
Ive had a deload week after my half marathon last Sunday. It’s been nice and an achievement for me as whenever I’ve run a half before I haven’t been able to run for at least a week and this week I’ve been out 3 times

Long run was lovely and while not energetic, it was much less uncomfortable than the previous day as I expected. Definitely another soul run, and getting some pretty, sunny trail runs in is putting back some of the joy that I was struggling with over the winter with the weather, darkness and mud restrictions.

Hopefully this should be a decent week for routine/ consistency.

Garmin is also happier and switched from Unproductive to Maintaining to Productive.

Amazing time @Whataninterestinglookingpotato congratulations!
Also well done to @xsquared
With no races on the horizon I've started a 5k PB plan. Doing short but faster runs feels strange after weeks of long but slow runs. I'm not sure I'm built for speed! I bought some bathroom scales today also as I was a bit horrified by my race photos from last week.

Well done @tinks3110 on your HM - great stuff!

@Goditsmemargaret great work on your hyrox. I was watching some on YouTube last week as one of DS1's friends has taken it up and trying to persuade the other boys to join in - it looks absolutely brutal!

Brilliant time for your marathon @Whataninterestinglookingpotato - gret running!

@xsquared well done on your beach run - any tips? I have discovered that the marathon I'm doing in May is partly on sand.

@BogRollBOGOF well done on staying consistent. Nothing like a soul run to lift the spirits.

@Jumbojem hope your 5K training pays off.

I did my last long run yesterday. I creaked around close to 20 miles with plenty of stops for snacks and drinks. I had a couple of good runs last week on holiday and am now looking forward to dropping the distance in the lead up to marathon day.

I went to a 5k plan and got a new pb following my marathon a few years back. I enjoyed the change of focus and it still used that aerobic gains. It was also nice dropping milage getting into the humid end of summer which tends to be hard work.