The Running Thread 🏃‍♀️

[cx199]

This is so true! I remember thinking I am a pretty decent runner and then seeing all the times other people had done their 5k in when they were all 'I don't even run!' was such a buzzkill! I love Strava and tracking my runs but I am terrible at getting too caught up in the times. I did my first 10k at the weekend in an hour which I was so buzzing with and then seeing people do 12/13k in the same time totally bought me down which I know is so silly. Getting up and out is the main thing, the mental health side of things and the fresh air and exercise are so much more than the numbers on the screen

Highly recommend checking out elapsed times on Strava (you can see it under the ‘View Analysis’ bit). It shows you the total duration of the run, including where they’ve paused their watch / phone and had a break.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a break, but if you’re comparing yourself against others, give yourself a fair shot and compare against peoples elapsed times.

 

[Saddlesoap]

Starting Run 50 in Feb tomorrow. Really hoping I can start off well, am aiming for 6km

 

[SpiceWeasel]

Well done everyone!!!

I did W4R3 today and my boyfriend tagged along - it was quite nice to have company and we were a fairly matched pace (which is also annoying as he hasn't done any exercise for months ).

My new Asics arrived today and they TRANSFORMED my run - my legs don't feel like death so thank you very much for the recommendations

I love my Asics they’re a total game changer! My boyfriend is banned from coming running with me because he pisses me off for the same reason

 

[JLXRD]

Anyone else really missing parkrun?

Definitely! I didn’t go every week but I do still miss it, especially how much it helps my speed!

 

[orange club biscuit]

Thank you! I've been looking at these since yesterday - I went for the novice but only so that I can build couch to 5k into the start and do a few weeks solidly at 5-10k before I start. Exciting though!

Defo recommend - I used Hal Higdon for my second marathon and loved it - was pretty easy to follow although the mileage is quite high towards the end!

Ah I’m so envious of all of you marathon runners! I will have to live vicariously though you via this thread. My husband and SIL are doing the IRL london marathon but I’ll have just have had a baby so I’ll be watching (and probably crying 🥲). Just love the marathon day, it’s so incredible and emotional!

 

[Notworthy]

Got a few friends trying to convince me to do an Ultra but I value my feet too much to bother #respectthefeet

 

[Minniemousesshoes]

Have you tried having a sports massage? I’ve never had one but have heard they are good for the legs.

thank you - I think it might. I did try one a few years ago but they guy didn't seem to know what he was doing - I'll see if I can find someone else.

It's amazing how sore tight calves can be - I was literally holding back tears while running last week.

 

[Mulholland Drive]

My best at half-marathon (competing) distance is 4:02/km, but my average on my own is 4:22, and its been getting gradually slower as I get older

 

[Steph’s]

Have you been properly fitted for running shoes ? It could be that you don’t have enough support around your foot

No I haven’t been able to, only started running start of January! I bought new shoes which were great to start with and much better than what I was started off in, just the last week or so! I did have a week and a half off due to weather

 

[stopthescams]

I loved reading all Your stories and tips! I start C25K tomorrow for the 3rd time. I took up running in 2012 and hated it but also loved it - i got quite good and would regularly run 10k home from work, did race for life and so on, I was super fit In general and did a lot of exercise. Anyway an injury put me out late 2014 and I've struggled getting back in to exercise since 2015. I yo-yo back and for and generally start exercising in January and lose a lot of weight, go on holiday in the summer and then lose all momentum and interest. I'm
Now the biggest I've been and the unfittest and I miss how exercise feels. Started c25k in first lockdown and got to week 3 then got bored, started again in November firebreak and did 2 weeks and injured myself. So back to it tomorrow with a new mindset and aim to hopefully break the cycle and get back to where I was! I'll check in here for some accountability!

You can do it!! I started and gave up on couch 2 5k so many times and I’ve just finished it and now started 10K one today.

I think the thing that got me through to the end this time was not expecting to be amazing off the bat and celebrating getting to the end of each week

 

[Brian Butterfield]

I have ulcerative colitis so can only run on a treadmill now. I miss running outside so much!

I have IBS so I struggle to determine sometimes what is actually the cause

PS Well done you!


Good luck to you too

 

[VomitCulture]

Can anyone recommend a good sports bra? I’m a size 10 34D if that helps

Been slacking a bit the last week or so.. well I say slacking I’ve been a busy bee did 5.5k tonight in 31 mins and on Saturday 29 mins.. gonna try and do a 10k at the weekend I’m dying for a good stretch

I got this one from Amazon the other day, it's not the prettiest of bras but it's very adjustable and really straps them down tight with minimal jiggle!

 

[laughing]

I have been trying to do C25K for about five years.

I'm not a runner so stopped and started, stopped and started it again and again.

Never before got passed week 3, then just before Christmas got to week 5, then got ill.

When back to it with a pal who started it at the end of last year and is now running her 5k.
I ran with her, very slowly about 6 weeks ago and got to 25 minutes of running ( about 2 miles)
6 weeks on and still only doing 25 minute run at about 2.5 miles, but I do it three times a week, so happy with it.

I had to switch Sarah Milligan off, she was doing my head in.

Question - does anyone get a really nasty upset tummy when they have finished running. You almost feel that you could have an accident!

 

[royray]

I think I have shin splits now instead of calf pain any tips please? I’ve tried stretching, resting, heat compress

If you have shin sprints you really need to rest, continuing to run on them could end up with you getting a stress fracture and the recovery time for that is even longer than shin splints. I had them last year when I first started running and although it was really frustrating I just had to stop running for a couple of weeks to let my legs recover. I needed new trainers as the ones I was running in were really old and not cushioning my feet properly so that was also a contributing factor.

One of the other things that caused me to get shin splints was the fact that I used to heel strike when I ran. What part of your foot lands first when running? It should actually be the middle of your foot, not your heel. So if it’s your heel that lands first then you heel strike and you should try to change it as this might be why your shins are hurting. There are exercises on YouTube to help with that, and they talk about the optimum running technique. Changing this was hard and involved me having to really think about every single step I took, but has stopped me getting the pain since and has made running much easier. Here are a few videos I personally found helpful.





When I started running again I had to start off really slow, and actually what helped me more than going back to the start of C25k was actually just slowly running for 1km in one go and doing that 3 times a week until I felt like my legs were ready to go back to C25k, and I jumped in at week 4 or 5. I found it easier to pace myself running for longer bursts rather than the short bursts in weeks 1 and 2.

 

[Brian Butterfield]

So pleased to find this thread.

I was super fit not that long ago then got diagnosed with a chronic illness that has left me fat, unfit, and too exhausted to run.

Been trying to get back into it and you guys have all made me feel so much better about my super slow pace. Really motivates me to keep going

Thank you

 

[Shep]

Did my last interval run today. With less walking and more running my time improved a little. if I have no aches will be completing week 6 tomorrow. This is where I ended last time due to injury and then lockdown ended and i went back to swimming.
25 minutes running. When I have done it I will feel so proud.

@Clickbait How are You getting on?
@fluffyglitterbug I know you won’t be a french fry yet. How’s it going? Maybe a chunky chip?

 

[vanillaswirl]

Has anyone done the yellow 10k runner app? I was initially doing c25k and did around 2 weeks but switched to 10k runner with the idea of wanting a long programme/long term goal. Currently on week 4 day 3 - love that you can give feedback at the end of the run and skip runs if the previous one has been 'easy'.

I was really into fitness prior to lockdown one, doing HIIT/strength training. I have only run 5km on one occasion when everyone was tagging people to run 5km for the NHS during lockdown one and was really pleased to get it done in 26minutes because I honestly didn't think I'd manage.

My biggest problem is that I get extremely 'in to' things and then want to do it every day so finding the 'rest' days really hard.

 

[orange club biscuit]

Highly recommend checking out elapsed times on Strava (you can see it under the ‘View Analysis’ bit). It shows you the total duration of the run, including where they’ve paused their watch / phone and had a break.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a break, but if you’re comparing yourself against others, give yourself a fair shot and compare against peoples elapsed times.

100% this!

During lockdown 1 following that 5k challenge someone started up the ‘Ross Barkley challenge’ where people tried to run the fastest 5k possible in intervals whilst pausing their watches in between - someone broke the ‘world record’ sprinting downhill and walking back up there is also the Twitter account called strava wankers which kept me highly entertained!

 

[Saddlesoap]

Sounds so basic but I never used to warm up or stretch before a run - so made sure I walked at a fast pace for five mins first and followed emmakirkyo’s 4 min running warm up (she has lots of helpful running tips on her Instagram - I followed the warm up she posted 20th Nov )
Also had a black coffee an hour before... think that gave me some energy haha

I'm so bad at not warming up, so I'm off to check out your recommendation.

Also I know is off topic, but a bit anxious about COVID. Last night I started just random cough, it's like one firm exhale, it carried one for an hour, do decided to go to bed. Didn't cough at all through night and woke up fine, took the dog out and did a workout fine, but in the past hour it's started again. I'm 99% sure it's anxiety cos I feel pressure in my throat, but there's a very nagging 1% in me....

 

[Steph’s]

Hey have you tried to foam roller ?

Yes I use it before and after I run but for some reason this week they have just been unbearable! Really knocked my confidence with running!