Runners Updates

Well, I'm very slowly easing back in from injury. I did 3 crappy miles yesterday at a 8.3 minute mile pace. I'm amazed at how hard it feels, when i could run 13.1 miels last month relatively easily. And my ankle keeps hurting. Grrr. Fecking injury.

I was supposed to do the Wilmslow half marathon this morning and then another run this afternoon (5 mile recovery run)

My sister had a baby on Thursday, she had a crappy, hard labour. We went to see her yesterday with the intention with the intention of travelling to wilmslow this morning but she was feeling rough and had had some horrible news about an old school friend so it didn't seem appropriate for a flying visit ☹️ so we stayed to help her and her husband out a little today.

Anyway that means now I'mm just have to do my run in one long go....18-20 miles should do it ? eek better get my arse in gear and get out the door ?

quote:Originally posted by wodger_woo
I was supposed to do the Wilmslow half marathon this morning and then another run this afternoon (5 mile recovery run)

My sister had a baby on Thursday, she had a crappy, hard labour. We went to see her yesterday with the intention with the intention of travelling to wilmslow this morning but she was feeling rough and had had some horrible news about an old school friend so it didn't seem appropriate for a flying visit ☹️ so we stayed to help her and her husband out a little today.

Anyway that means now I'mm just have to do my run in one long go....18-20 miles should do it ? eek better get my arse in gear and get out the door ?

id="quote">

I cannot get my head around runnign five miles to "recover" after doing a HM in the morning ? You impress me, lady.

I'm still only going out sporadically - did 4k yesterday in about 25mins, loved running through puddles - but the slidy mud wasn't so good. Am hoping to go out either tonight or tomorrow night, as I'll be in the sick bay for a few weeks aftwerwards, which is poo, hopefully wont have lost two much of my fitness

I went out today for the first time in 6 weeks ? (I've had a series of awful colds (which has meant I've been having asthma problems) and my knees have been a bit dodgy - all of which has meant time off).

I've gone back to week 4 of my 13 week 10km plan (which is my own amalgamtion of the 5 and 10km plans) and so did 12 minutes run and 2 walk, twice. I covered 4.7km, although i had the dogs with me so had to stop once or twice to let them pee ?

I'm hoping to get back into it regularly again now - especially with the R4L coming up in June and the 10km in September. I'd like to do them both with ease.

Well I went out. I onlly did 3 miles though but that is better than not going out at all.

I've got a 10km run in 5 weeks, which sounds doable, except I'll be in sunnier climes for 2.5 of them with no intention of running (unless it's to the bar for a mojito) - all of a sudden it sounds quite scarey!

I've just got home from doing a very hilly 6k with my trainer. This included a horrible set of very steep stairs right at the end as well.

Yesterday I did a very easy 10k race, part of which was along the beach, and as the tide was coming in meant running on soft sand. Was quite good fun though, and I may try and include some more beach runs in my schedule.

I have another hill training session on Wednesday, so may take it easy tomorrow and just do my weights in the gym.

Hope all those with injuries heal soon - and can I say how impressed I am at the amazing improvements people have been making.

Pleased to report that I am now back running after a year break, and loving it. Been running again for 3 weeks now and managed 3 miles today - 2.5 miles running and 0.5 mile walking to warm down. That took me just over 35 minutes so I guess I'm doing something like a 15 minute mile. Not great time-wise but I'm getting faster.

I always used to run outdoors but this time round have been on the treadmill and actually quite like it as I don't have to worry about not hearing cars and holding them up (live out in the sticks with little country lanes and have to listen to music when I run). About to google to read up on the differences between treadmill and outdoor running to reassure myself that treadmill running is still exercise and doing me good - anyone know anything about this?

I'll still do the odd outdoor run but there's something relaxing about running on the treadmill - being able to just run without worrying about traffic etc.

I did 9.5km today in one hour and 5 mins, so I'm very pleased. I'm hoping to be able to do 10k in one hour in July, although I need to seriously look into some kind of training plan as I always run at approx. the same pace and I get confused when I see references to recovery runs, etc.!
Feel a little sore now, right at the top of my leg, under my hip bone but more towards my groin. How can I stretch that out?

I don't think I am running too fast, I am pretty slow. It's my legs that are the problem, not my lungs. However, I am not really measuring speed or distance just doing timed runs.

L
xx

Is it possible to be genetically bad at running?

I started following the BUPA training plan 3 weeks ago. The first week is 5 mins walk to warm up then 1 minute running/2 minutes walking repeated 6 times. The first time I went out I could only manage to run for 1 minute and even now I still can't manage all 6 reptitions (sometimes 4, sometimes 5).

Both my lungs and my legs are pushed to their limits. I wouldn't have said that I was particulary unfit (I do 40 minutes of aerobics 3 times a week plus yoga and dancing).

I have quite a bad back problem but it isn't that that's stopping me.

Could it be that I'm just not designed for running? Has anybody got any tips?

quote:Originally posted by Purple Pixie
Is it possible to be genetically bad at running?

I started following the BUPA training plan 3 weeks ago. The first week is 5 mins walk to warm up then 1 minute running/2 minutes walking repeated 6 times. The first time I went out I could only manage to run for 1 minute and even now I still can't manage all 6 reptitions (sometimes 4, sometimes 5).

Both my lungs and my legs are pushed to their limits. I wouldn't have said that I was particulary unfit (I do 40 minutes of aerobics 3 times a week plus yoga and dancing).

I have quite a bad back problem but it isn't that that's stopping me.

Could it be that I'm just not designed for running? Has anybody got any tips?

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Stick with it PP. Fitness isn't necessarily easily transferrable from one activity to another - essentially fitness is just getting good at what you do. Running is new for you, and although you're already active, your fitness won't be running specific. Go at your own pace and just try to do a little more each time you go out ?

I've not been out for two weeks now[:I] There's been a number of excuses - too windy, not enough time, been ill. Really wanted to go out yesterday but I've got an awful chesty cough so thought better of it. I'm also having problems with my calf muscles - they are really tight and I'm getting cramp a lot. I went swimming the other week and it was all going ok. Then I got the worst cramp I've ever had in my life in the middle of the pool and had to pull myself back using the lane rope. I was crying with the pain - it was ridiculous. Now they feel like they are going to cramp at any time and I don't know what to do about it.

We can't go out this evening as we have an architect coming round but we're hoping to go for a longish gentle run tomorrow evening and see how I get on.

Well done to everyone who's keeping up with it.

quote:Originally posted by Headless Lois
I don't think I am running too fast, I am pretty slow. It's my legs that are the problem, not my lungs. However, I am not really measuring speed or distance just doing timed runs.

L
xx

id="quote">

You might be running faster than you think though. I always feel like I'm barely moving, especially at the end of a run, but MrSC says that I run a bit too fast and tries to slow me down (so he doesn't have to run faster to keep up). I think at this early stage it's hard to know what the 'right' pace is so it's worth trying to go a bit slower if that's possible. You're doing the BUPA plan same as me, aren't you?

Can i join too?

i've not been running (properly) for about 5 weeks. i've been fairly unmotivated, but reading how everyone else is doing has given me a bit of a boost and i'm determined to get out this evening for a run.

i slowly worked my way up from running for 10 minutes in an embarassing lurch to running for 50 minutes. my fitness has dropped somewhat in the missing 5 weeks though, but i'm determined to get back to how i was and possibly even better it.

does everyone have something to aim for with their running, like a 10k or marathon? or is it just running for "keep fit" reasons? i think i need a goal to motivate myself...

Teenybash I am always entering races - I need the motivation and having a specific target to aim for makes the training so much easier. My aim this year is to do the Auckland marathon again. (I broke my leg two weeks before it last year and was gutted to miss it.)

Lois - do you have any particular pains in your legs, or do you just feel as though they can't carry you any further. I used to get that feeling, and felt as though my legs became heavy and solid and I couldn't continue. I worked out the points it occurred and set my iPod to play something really inspiring at the time to spur me to continue. I also found joining a running group really helpful, so don't know if this is a possibility for you?

Whitty - are you thoroughly stretching your calves? If mine start to stiffen I'll stop and stretch them in the middle of a run if I need to. Mine can get really tight as I have an implant in my leg.
I also saw a physio about it, and some of mine was referred pain, and the actual site of the injury was the base of my spine (which didn't hurt at all!), possibly caused by poor posture running downhill. I had to do lots of core strength exercises to help this. It may well be worth seeing a physio if you suffer any pain.

quote:Originally posted by Imelda

Whitty - are you thoroughly stretching your calves? If mine start to stiffen I'll stop and stretch them in the middle of a run if I need to. Mine can get really tight as I have an implant in my leg.
I also saw a physio about it, and some of mine was referred pain, and the actual site of the injury was the base of my spine (which didn't hurt at all!), possibly caused by poor posture running downhill. I had to do lots of core strength exercises to help this. It may well be worth seeing a physio if you suffer any pain.

id="quote">Yes I do stretch them. I've recently been getting treatment for my lower back. I'd read that the two can be related and have started doing my core work. I'll continue with that and see how I go. ?

Thanks CCL. I'll try and persevere then. It's just a bit demoralising to be so pathetic at it. Maybe one day I'll actually be able to run for 2 minutes consecutively!

Wow there are a lot of runners on here! It's great as I feel like I'm constantly boring my non-running friends with my achievements.

Keep it up everyone. I'm on a cross training night tonight, so off to play netball!

Quick question. If I supplement my running with cycling (which I may well do now the evenings are lighter), how far should I try and cycle? 3 miles maybe, if I'm aiming to run 6 miles?

quote:Originally posted by spacecadet_99

quote:Originally posted by Headless Lois
I don't think I am running too fast, I am pretty slow. It's my legs that are the problem, not my lungs. However, I am not really measuring speed or distance just doing timed runs.

L
xx

id="quote">

You might be running faster than you think though. I always feel like I'm barely moving, especially at the end of a run, but MrSC says that I run a bit too fast and tries to slow me down (so he doesn't have to run faster to keep up). I think at this early stage it's hard to know what the 'right' pace is so it's worth trying to go a bit slower if that's possible. You're doing the BUPA plan same as me, aren't you?

id="quote">

I am doing a similar plan to the BUPA one - I should be finished and running 5k by now!

Imelda, I can't join a running groups as I don't have specific time to set aside for running, my times vary. I'll try the Ipod thing. I think I need to vary my route too. I am getting mental blocks in a 'I can't run as far as that tree' type way

L
xx