This is the New Running Thread

[Wallace]

I can't find the old one in Health, and we deserve to be in brand new shiny Sport and exercise anyway

hello all fantastic times here congratulations

hatwoman that sounds dreamy, Bushy park is gorgeous n fact lots of places around are great to run, I usually go by the river and honestly whatever the time of the year it is lovely especially early in the morning

hello sparkly - are you close by then? I'm in kingston so a favourite route is along the river to Hampton Ct then back through Bushy. When I've upped my mileage a bit I like to do Richmond park too, and sometimes along the river to Ham and back through Richmond Park . I do love it. I read once that with all the park and river running it's considered to be one of the best places for medium-long distance running.

hatwoman am in Kew usually go along river from Chiswick bridge sometimes to Richmond lock / old dear park, planning on actual Richmond park in warmer weather am not too far from sheen gate
but am quite rubishly slow atm

Mine was in sheffield, called the percy pud and you get a xmas pudding when you finish. I am struggling tyhis week as my shins really hurt, dont know what it is so taking it easy just on case.

Mmmm, Christmas pudding - how fab! We got a banana at the finish !

Stockingmonster, the aching shins are probably just because you raced and pushed yourself harder than usual. I had shockingly stiff calves and tight hamstrings for a couple of days after my race; haven't been for a run since then but will go tonight.

I always love my summer running routes, as we have two or three lovely parks close by, but in these dark evenings (can't run in the day unfortunately) I am forced to revert to my 'winter' routes - dull but well-lit roads populated with lots of traffic . I don't really enjoy these routes, but even if I felt safe running in the parks in the pitch black (which I doubt), I couldn't anyway as they are all locked up.

LOL at Christmas pudding V banana

went for caeful 3 miles today all ok

am thinking about Christmas as I will be at inlaws from the 23rd to the 27th and wondering if there is a place to run there on the 24th and 25th
all that Christmas food and long car journeys need working

My friend missed the raceas she was ill, so we are going to do the route again a week on Sunday. I wont be n a rush that time though, just realised another friend has asked me to go out clubbing on th Saturday, that could be funny.

Good stretch for tight shins is just to kneel down with your bum on your feet so your lower legs are flat to the floor with your feet pointing backwards and hope not to tie yourself in knots like Smiles did with my last description

, never quite cracked yoga either Twink but that one is good.

Have cut down a little as I have been a bit off colour but can feel the urge again. Might run to work and into town tomorrow, it is fairly easy and I can take the scenis route home.

Hope it is not shin-splints sockmonster, they are nasty.

I wear a tubi grip and smother the offending limb in the delightfully smelling deepheat if it is just a normal injury and do a couple of slow runs.

My biggest crime is not stretching after a run. I try to do it, but it is sporadic at best. I suffer with a recurring hamstring injury (tore the hamstring insertion where it joins the back of the knee a couple of years ago) and I really need to stretch religiously. The trouble is that I stretch for a few weeks, problem goes away, so I stop bothering. I need to do it all the time to stop everything getting tight and causing the problem to recur.

I have to confess to wimping out of my run last night. It was absolutely bitter as I walked from the bus stop to home after work, and once inside in the warm I just couldn't summon up the motivation to get out again. Oh well. I don't miss many planned runs, but was still mildly annoyed with myself for being pathetic!

Hi! I have just run for 20mins non-stop for the first time since having ds. Before I was pregnant I had just worked up to 5k in about 35mins, so not very fast, but I was quite chuffed! Really enjoying running again, but you all seem to be much more experienced runners than me. I know there was a couch potato to 5k thread, but just wondered is it worth starting a thread for less experienced runners?

stay here rolandbrowning - there are all sorts of abilities on here. When I started running again I was similar about 35 minutes for 5km. I can now do it in about 29 minutes but would love to be able to improve that by a couple more minutes - maybe next summer I will - who knows!

And well done on the 20 mins non-stop!

hi all

RB I am certainly not very experienced but I like hanging out with the pros it is inspirationalwell done on the 20mins

about stretching I do it and do it even more religiously now otherwise it hurts

wave to Twink
my iliotibial-whats-it is better, run again 3 miles today still twinges but am so grateful to be out been doing squats etc to work on the quads

hope Saturday is not too wet as it is my next planned run

Never guess what happened to me this morning. I was talking in the playground tto another mother who I saw out running the other day. I mentioned that I started running regularly about 18m ago. Her response:

"Oh good for you! That's brilliant. See, it's never too late.'

Posted it on chat but I think it's relevant here. At least I can stop worrying about my time - it seems I'm lucky to be still able to get to the end of the street.

Thamks HTHMIS it's good to know I'm not too far behind! I will be entering the Great Manchester Run which is 10k in May, so I'll be stepping up the training after Christmas and I can't wait. I am just getting back to the point where I enjoy it instead of just thinking about when I can stop. Well done on your 5k time BTW.

oh Orm are we talking free travel or letter from the queen? PMSL

Ooh both I should hope sparkly. There has to be some compensation for being so ancient.

one of the things that convinced me running was for me is that it can be done anywhere by most people at any age, still remember talking to a lady in her seventies who run her first marathon in her sixties very inspiring

I was struck by that the first time I did a race - just looking around at everyone - all ages, all shapes and sizes, men and women. it's definitely a very inclusive sport.

although, I have to admit, we were doing an 8 mile race and as part of the same event they do a 2-lap 16 mile race. the 16 milers set off about half an hour later. when we were about 6 miles in we started getting overtaken by the leaders of the 16 mile race and my friend looked at their lithe and slightly scrawny bodies and their incredible pace and said "I think they're another species..."

But I'm only 43

Orm!!! only a couple of years till I am put out to pasture then?

As a matter of interest, do people think there are different disciplines and motivations behind running in the open or in a Gym?
I was talking about it last night and whilst I love road and off road running, have always found the thought of running on a treadmill a little intimidating. Or do you find once you are running it doesn't make any difference? Just curious really. Not thinking of joining a Gym, I'd have to run/cycle to get to one and then be too knackered tired to achieve anything.

Hi roland.... I for one would love to have you stay on this thread. I'm sort of in the middle. Can manage 10k but haven't done any races at all. Pretty soon you will be more experienced and welcoming other new runners, and it is so inspirational having something to aspire to.

Smiles - I used to love running on the treadmill at the gym and couldnt think of anything worse than running outside. Since having my children and not being able to justify the cost of the gym I have found that I love running outdoors and when I have been back on a treadmill I absolutely hated it!! Time goes sooooo slowly on a treadmill because you are watching it constantly!

......if I was on a treadmill behind the person I was talking to I think I would soon find some motivation!! Rofl

Running on a treadmill is sooooooo boring.

I have one in the garage and only go on if it is treacherous ice outside. I can manage about 2 miles and then lose the will to live.

I suppose from that point of view, if you have to run in a gym for whatever reason, it takes a lot of self discipline. I think I would have one at home for days when I don't get out, I am pretty good at focussing on other things if the task in hand is on a singular mental plane. And then there is music.
Mmm could ask santa for one but we don't have room, and shed is full of crap.
I am alternating between running and cycling again as weather is still not suiting my poor body.
No chance whatsoever of improving my personal best at the moment. Bring on a spring.