The Running Thread 🏃‍♀️

[Lottiedooda]

im doing couch to 10K and I found week 3 absolutely shit. I don’t know why but it was brutal. I’m now at the end of week 6 (15 minutes of non stop running whatttt) and finding it much easier end almost getting frustrated with the app stopping and starting running. Maybe try just going at your own pace without the app and running and walking as and when your body feels it - or keep trying with the app.

I used a C25k app and really struggled to get passed week 3. I had some outdoor PT sessions and told her I've been trying to run. Anyway she took me out. Showed me how improve my technique (wow what a difference) and the 2nd time we went i ran for 38 minutes non stop and managed 5k All be it my time is slow....but now i know I can do it I can improve on that.

I also think the start stop was hindering me too as I struggled to get going again once I stopped.

 

[frustrated]

No I've not had this happen to me. Could it be where you are in your menstrual cycle maybe?

 

[nbx512]

Well. I went out for a run just after my last post and tried to slow it down a bit. For context of where I am today, the weather is fucking grim running on a mixture in parts of pavement, gravel and just pure mud.

Distance: 6km
Time: 41:02
Avg Page: 6'49"/km
.........Avg Heart Rate: 182BPM

Did honestly feel a lot easier and I could have carried on tbh but needed to get back. I will try again to slow it down tomorrow and see if it makes any difference to my heart rate.

If it's no trouble and you want to that would be amazing, thank you I've never had any kind of plan written for me just taken ones off the internet. I only started running in 2018, but into general fitness since I got to about 23. Before that I was the image of bad health, not overweight (actually had an eating disorder in my teens so verging on the other end of the spectrum) but terrible diet and smoked from 14-23

I just tried to send you a message so we don't spam here but it won't let me. Would you be able to send me one please?

Well done you I set myself small goals when I started running at the first lockdown and found that really helped me, keep doing what your doing


It’s such a wonderful feeling being out running in the cold weather Iv been doing a bit of reading and they say strength work is important for running, I haven’t done any since March I tried to do some at home but wasn’t enjoying it the way I did when at the gym so gave up looking forward to going back, I’m in Scotland and we are level 4 just now so all our gyms are closed

Omg I know! So I'm in Aus so we're pretty open now but my motivation for home gym work puts during our months long lock down was non existent. You can definitely do stuff from home though. I can point you in the direction of some resources if you'd like?

 

[Reflected view]

There is, indeed. Running podcasts for C25K graduates - NHS (www.nhs.uk)




I have some frankly shocking news.

After the last attempts at a walk round the block faltered due to a) my going back to work and doing 7000+ a day there and b) Mr D losing interest thanks to prolonged reduced hours at work and an absence of daylight or movement, he tried out my fancy new scales last week and was horrified at his visceral fat percentage along with being the 'wrong side of a healthy BMI', so when I repeated the suggestion that we could go and walk around the nearest park as an exercise, he accepted - and actually got up to do it this morning.

He, of course, being far slimmer than I am and not hampered by joint and tendon issues, decided that running would be easy. I tried to encourage him to warm up a bit longer before starting, but by the time 'On your toes, not your heels and don't try to go too fas-', he was off. And promptly stopped 20 yards further on. I continued to walk whilst benignly smiling through his 'I've got a good base level of fitness' and saying that I could give him some pointers on gait when we're home as I could obviously see it from my position behind him. I could tell that, lovely guy though he is, there was probably an element of 'But you aren't exactly a runner, Dragon' in his eyes.


Anyhow, after the first lap, I felt warm, my hip pain wasn't worsening, I wasn't out of breath and perfectly able to talk - so I thought I'd try something. I lifted up slightly more on my toes, felt them flex and spread under my weight and, as everything felt OK, I put one foot in front of another and jogged the last half of the second lap.

So, compared to actually walking, I ran.

I. Ran.


I didn't need lions, tigers or bears chasing after me. I just needed to be warm, relaxed and in a decent sports bra.

I. Ran.



My heart kept up, my lungs could get air, my feet worked as feet should.

And I Ran.


I decided to go back to walking as soon as I felt my hip pain twinge slightly more, but I kept going for more than a single pace. More than he did, too, because I concentrated upon form and how my body felt.

I would have happily walked another lap and possibly a short jog again, but he was clearly in no shape to manage that, so we went home again, where I demolished a banana the moment I got my shoes off and dinner tasted great (lamb steak, boiled potatoes, leeks and peas). He, however, is snoring on the sofa and I'm quite happily doing some slow stretches in front of the telly before having a bath.


I've got two weeks off now (well, one working from home and one off). I am very tempted to go there without him to try this some more. Because I've just proven to myself that I can still run, albeit just a tiny distance, an almost tectonic pace - but I can still run.




In my head, I'm now planning a visit to the running shop that is literally one bus stop away from the park and eyeing up Parkrun for when they reopen. This may all be pipe dreams. But if I can still run, maybe they aren't that far fetched after all?

Brilliant, well done

 

[Welshgal]

I‘m in the same boat with all the icy/slippery roads right now. I try to use this time for longer but slower runs, so that I can really concentrate on where I‘m going and keep prepared in case I do slip.
Definitely want better shoes for this sort of weather but all the shops are closed so nothing I can do about it right now

 

[Rxt156]

Had to comment after reading this thread. Started couch to 5k at the beginning of the year and finished it last week. Could barely imagining finishing week 5 and now I’m loving running for 30/40 mins without stopping!

How long would you recommend waiting before thinking of building up to 10k?

Well done !!!

Don’t wait! Get started whenever you feel ready.

There’s loads of training plans online for all speeds and distances. Keep up the good work.

 

[Reflected view]

Just checking in I haven’t been for a run for a week because I’ve not been well. I want to go but I know it might do more harm than good. Really need to make sure I do stick with it though when I am better! hopefully after this weird week it will start getting warmer which always makes it easier to get out there in the morning!

Hope your feeling back to yourself soon, remember to take it easy and listen to your body, all the best

 

[slamvs27]

I've had a bad hip flexor injury that still hasn't healed yet, unfortunately...missing my fave running weather of the year

 

[It’s The Truman Show]

Defo run-walk is the way to go I think. You will get it back!

I'm planning to do a run on my lunch break from work today. I'm working from home so that does make life easier and my top hack is getting dressed in my running gear first thing so I don't have to get changed. The hardest bit for me is always the making myself go but once I'm doing it I enjoy it so this helps to remove a hurdle. It's mostly psychological, the procrastination Anyone else like this?

Yes same here. I have to do my exercise first thing or same as you I put the gear on and then I might as well do a workout / run before showering. I have it all (the running gear) on the banister so as I stumble out of the bedroom to the loo first thing I take it with me and put it on.

 

[Saddlesoap]

Going on a completely new route this morning, with an incline ....wish me luck

 

[Giggling Squid]

Thanks - yes thankfully. It’s quite a bit off road which I have never done before so should be an interesting experience, only signed up for it last week so bit last minute haha.

I love off-road running. I would say, because of it being off-road, don’t be disappointed if you’re a little slower than you were hoping for - it might just be me, but I find off-road is harder than road running!

 

[Tippingpoint23]

Second this 100%.

100% agree when I was running regularly a few years ago I had awful trainers and was in constant pain in my ankle resulting in some damage - once I’d healed i got proper trainers and have never experienced the pain since due to running (I have in heels or flip flops but that’s because they are not practical shoes haha). Getting shoes properly for you is something easily overlooked but incredibly vital!

 

[Millyve]

Week 4 Day 2 tomorrow for me on my couch to 10K. Not finding it to difficult legs only ached after my first run a couple weeks ago so going good.

 

[BashmentLady]

One thing that is great for new runners is Strava, as now a couple of years later I can look back to my pace when I first started and compare it with now and can feel a sense of achievement. Also at the start it was motivating to see myself getting a bit quicker as the months went by, would defo recommend it.

Absolutely second this. And see if any of your pals are on it. The tiny competitions in my mind in my former job Strava - a surprisingly strong motivator!

 

[YellowLadybird]

As someone with loads of ankle/shin issues, I absolutely swear by Hoka Bondi. Yes they look huge, but omg are they comfy and I've never once had shin splints since I started using them as my main shoe!

 

[Giggling Squid]

I’m after some advice.... I’ll try & keep it short!!
Last summer I started the couch to 5k all was going well for the first 4 weeks or so then I got shin splints so took 2 full weeks off & went back slowly but still kept getting them gave up
I’m desperate to start again but really scared they will come back, any tips on what I could maybe do to avoid getting them again ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I’d look at doing some strengthening work on your gluten and see if you can get a physio appointment... even remotely they’ll be able to give advice

 

[orange club biscuit]

Well it’s now the 5th Jan and I haven’t been on a single run since NYE

I’m 6 weeks pregnant and my running has taken a huge nose dive, I feel so slow already and my resting heart rate is so high, finding it all really hard. It’s also been so so icy here since NYD, black ice covering the roads and the trails! I’ve been on my bike Zwifting instead but it’s not quite the same. I need to get out soon I think or it’ll be even harder! Are there any other pregnant runners here who can reassure me that it’ll all be OK?!

 

[BashmentLady]

Anyone running Christmas morning?

I really fancy it... but wondering if it would be daft. I usually run before the kids rise anyway, but equally they might get up early as they are excited and I don't want to delay their excitement as mummy has gone for a run

I'm genuinely considering it. I've only taken up running this year. I can't say I've found it a mental health relief [though I reckon I would be much worse if I didn't]. I've experienced an awful lot of loss over the last few years and the empty seats at the dinner table truly haunt me. So going out for a run and having a wee escape before facing that, rather than being surrounded in it, seems like a good idea.

 

[Saddlesoap]

I need some running gear advice please!!! As it’s getting a lot colder I don’t really know what to wear whilst running. I get hot VERY, VERY quickly. I usually go out in running leggings and a tshirt but I can feel the effects of this in my chest with it being quite sore post run. Not to mention people look at me as though I’m insane haha. I’m concerned about wearing a sweater and getting far too hot and having to take it off and getting out of stride. Does anyone have advice. Is it on to go out in just a tshirt due to the fact I heat up quickly or can anyone recommend a good long sleeve that I won’t over heat in?

I wear shorts and three layers on top, vest, long sleeve, and zip hoodie. Usually take the zip off once I'm warmer. Always wear 2 fleece buffs over my ears cos I get ear ache.

I seen to run better in shorts from some reason

Really struggling at the moment. Want to run, but the ground is so hard with frost and pavements icy I'm terrified of injuring myself!

 

[Reflected view]

V slow 2.5k this morning (~18 minutes ish), it rained all night and I very much did not want to go running seemed a lot harder than the last one and it was a lot of telling myself "just go another minute... Just until that gate... Now until that bench" but at least it's done I guess?

Well done you should be proud of yourself no matter what, you got yourself out the door and done it