The Running Thread 🏃‍♀️

[nbx512]

So glad I found this thread. I’ve just started up outdoor running again 10 days ago. I’m 5 months PP so having to start from scratch. I don’t do the C25k, I just do my own thing. Today I managed 1.35k (11mins) non stop & then a mix of running/walking up to 3.25k. I’m just focusing on increasing my stamina of how long I can be out for so today was circa 30mins. Surprised how much I’m enjoying running in this weather. I did manage to get up to a 10k between baby one & baby 2 so would love to get back there.
Any one have any tips on how not to get a stitch or what best to do if you get one as finding this is causing me to struggle at the mo, thanx

Congrats at getting back into it and for you bub! A stitch could be caused by a couple of things:
- are you eating before you run? If so, what, how much and how close to your run?
- are you overexerting yourself on runs? Try to keep to a pace where you could have a conversation easily. This may feel slower than walking atm but it'll help you get fitter faster and prevent injury (and stitches!)

In terms of getting rid of a stitch I normally start walking and clasp my hands behind my head. Basically that position really opens up your lungs so they can take in more oxygen and then get it to the muscles that are hurting.

 

[Mammaschark]

What’s so good about running when you get into it ? Is it really good once you start and get past the barrier ? How do you feel ?

 

[SpiceWeasel]

Great progress! And yes morning daylight makes such a difference! Can’t wait for those summer mornings where it’s actually warm. Honestly don’t think I’ve ever hated winter so much as this year in lockdown!

Thank you! And I know, same! Love going to the gym this time of year usually and going for a swim/sauna! There was a time in the summer I was having to get up at 4.45am to go for a run cos otherwise it was too warm, a distant memory now

 

[anonesk223]

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.

amazing! have you got any technique tips? I think this is stopping me progressing my time!

 

[Chedranian Girl]

Has anyone here tried 'Zombies Run' / 'Zombies Run 5k' instead of the regular C25K? I found it so much fun! I didn't get to finish it because I'm terrible and lazy and use a treadmill that broke haha, but it was a great alternative to the regular one. A bit tougher, I think, the initial runs felt longer? I might start it up again

 

[Steph’s]

Good for you. Did you ever think you could get that far? I certainly didn’t. I did try running on my own about a year before I downloaded it but I was no good. Having someone in your ear has made all the difference to me.
Week 4 daunted me. Only 90 seconds walking before 5 minutes running. The last couple of minutes were tough but the joy when I did it! Loads of luck, not that you need it as you know you can do it

no I have never ran before! I always thought I’m too slow, I get sore shins, my calves hurt, I get a stitch etc. I always think the first run of each new week is a bit daunting but your body and mind can do powerful things with a little bit of a push! It’s a great feeling once you’ve completed a run isn’t it?! Best of luck to you too. I enjoy checking in here and following everyone’s updates

Good for you. Did you ever think you could get that far? I certainly didn’t. I did try running on my own about a year before I downloaded it but I was no good. Having someone in your ear has made all the difference to me.
Week 4 daunted me. Only 90 seconds walking before 5 minutes running. The last couple of minutes were tough but the joy when I did it! Loads of luck, not that you need it as you know you can do it


If I did that they would probably send a pair of slippers

no I have never ran before! I always thought I’m too slow, I get sore shins, my calves hurt, I get a stitch etc. I always think the first run of each new week is a bit daunting but your body and mind can do powerful things with a little bit of a push! It’s a great feeling once you’ve completed a run isn’t it?! Best of luck to you too. I enjoy checking in here and following everyone’s updates

 

[Reflected view]

Thanks!
I'm just holding out for when it becomes consistently fun seem to always have one really enjoyable one followed by one that is a struggle (although maybe that is because I push myself too much on the fun one so the next will be harder ). Any tips for getting past the mental block where it's like physically can carry on but your mind is saying no you can't?

The only thing that seems to work for me is not thinking about the run, time or distance, I just start running singing my heart out or I have a million and one things going round my head, that seems to distract me from the actual run and before I know it it’s over, have really good music, I absolutely love dance music I have found that I run to the beat I’ll speed up or slow down throughout the run, hope this helps

 

[laughing]

Since starting this thread I've basically abandoned running. It's making my chest hurt and I cannot get past week 3 of couch to 5k. Debating giving it another try but honestly...I feel like maybe I need to give up on running and find a new exercise. Anyone else ever experienced this feeling?

Week 3 is the hardest ever. I hated this week and had to repeat it for two more weeks to run it comfortably.

Week 4 and 5, were hard but ok but then got sick so now back doing week 4.

Keep going!

 

[SpiceWeasel]

Which one spice if you don’t mind me asking, I want to do one myself and I’m on annual leave for a couple of weeks around then

It’s Lytham, I’ve done a 10K there before which was great, nice and flat!

 

[Mulholland Drive]

Yayy I love this thread already! I’m not a “typical” runner - I’m a big gal and I plod rather than run, but finish lines not finish times and all that I’ve ran several 10ks, did a couple of half marathons but honestly I hated them. 10k is just about my distance I think, which is a shame because I’d love to run a marathon one day, but I’d be looking at a six hour finish, don’t know if I’ve got the stamina!
I love cold weather running, the darker and colder the better for me, I hate summer running because I’m too hot and self conscious. This time of year is perfect for me!

Good for you!

10K is a respectable distance. Concentrate on that, and the half and full marathons will come in good time.

 

[YellowLadybird]

I used to be very into running but the current outbreak has got me paranoid about going out when not 100pc necessary. My mum got an exercise bike last year so I've been using that along with doing a push-up programme to try and still improve my strength and fitness. I don't want to go back and not be good at running - one of the things I would love to do in the future is a tough mudder but I need more upper body strength first!

 

[SpiceWeasel]

Get your gear on and get out the door - once you start it's fine (at least that's what I tell myself )

I always tell myself I can stop and turn back after 10 minutes if it’s as bad as I think it will be but I never do!

 

[nbx512]

Do the Saucony Guide 13s give a nice "bounce" if that makes sense? I just bought some Adidas Ultraboost to replace my previous Adidas (which I really liked) and whilst the Ultraboost are really comfortable they don't really give me that light-footed bouncy energy return and my knees are hurting.

Yeah they're pretty soft but they don't bounce compared to the asics nimbus lite, Nike oddysey reacts or Nike pegs if that makes sense? I use the guides for my long runs (though I set a 5km PB in the guide iso's many moons ago lol).

My shoe rotation is:
Saucony guide 13 and Brooks Ravena = long/ easy/ recovery (I don't like the Ravena as much as the adrenalin and wish I'd gotten those or another pair of guides)
Tempo/ slower speed work: oddysey react (I'll be moving these shoes to the easy run category)
Speed work: Nike peg 36s, Nike peg turbo or Nike tempo next %.

I really want to try the saucony endorphins pros and have been kicking round getting the meta racers but I've got 3x pairs of the reacts atm so need to whittle the collection down a bit lol And add the asics gel nimbus to the list! I tried them at a running store and bought a different pair because I wanted a racing shoe but I think the nimbus lite would work perfectly as a tempo shoe. It's got so much spring it's incredible.

I've got the most overpronated feet imaginable, and I don't wear stability shoes. I figured that if my muscles have developed to cope with how my feet are naturally, why would I change that? I've tried and it just gives me cramps and blisters, but I've run up to 10k in a pair of neutral shoes in the past.

Yes exactly! I still wear stability shoes for easy recovery and easy long runs because I want to give my muscles a break (and I pronate a bit) but I'm in neutral shoes for all my other stuff

 

[Welshgal]

hi everyone!
I have just started running doing the couch to 5k but feel I would benefit from some better suited trainers. I have looked at the Nike Infinity React and the Nike Pegasus, both recommend by friends. Does anyone have any experience in either of these? Any pros/cons to either?

I have two pairs of the Nike Pegasus and I love them. Think they are great for beginners Check if they have a sale on before you buy a pair. like @cx199 I‘ve always gotten mine cheaper

 

[Lollypad]

Brilliant Yeah you’ve got loads of time! Also you won’t have to do your long runs through the grimness of Jan and Feb. Have you got a potential training partner or someone to run with?

My partner would run with me I think but I’ve always preferred solo running - when I was half marathon training going out for 2 hours on my own was a great form of therapy!

Brilliant Yeah you’ve got loads of time! Also you won’t have to do your long runs through the grimness of Jan and Feb. Have you got a potential training partner or someone to run with?

Thank you! I have a friend doing the actual marathon (hopefully) so we can swap training horror stories. My partner would run with me but I'm so slow that I just feel a bit of a bother, and when I was HM training I actually quite liked the long runs and the time on my own - might be different when I'm looking at 4 hours for a long run though

Hal Higdon has some good marathon training programmes. I’m doing one at the moment called Novice Supreme and it’s supposed to take you from beginner to marathon distance in 30 weeks, might be worth a shot.

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!

 

[Tippingpoint23]

You've done amazing. 70 minutes is great, hope I'll be able to do it in a similar time when I get to that point.

Thanks I’m doing a half marathon in august so got a goal to get me moving haha. I’ve been having gels whilst running which really seem to help me. Maybe psychological maybe not!
I’m sure you’ll do well too - the app really does work it’s magic.

 

[Saddlesoap]

Ooooh fuel is a super interesting topic! I'm pretty much the opposite to you, I do the vast majority of my runs fasted just after I've woken up. This does mean that I have a large dinner the night before to kind of tide me over.

Some things to consider when thinking about how you fuel before a run:
- time between fueling and running
- aiming to eat refined carbs and not too much fibre, protein or fat as the body has to work harder to break this down. Some ideas are: bananas (I eat about ½ a banana if I have to cycle to a workout), white bread/ bagel with a bit of jam, a few gummy lollies (a friend has exactly 5 sour patch kids before each run lol), glass of juice etc. With my banana I give it about 30-45min between eating it and starting to run.
- fueling during a run generally isn't necessary unless you're going for more than 60-90min but that's just an average so figure out what works well for you. My stomach reacts badly to the vast majority of running gels and chews out there, the only brand I've found that works for me is the maurten gels which should be available globally and revvies which are probably Australia only but are caffeine strips which dissolve on your tongue. Keep in mind that you need to train your body to be able to take in fuel when running, simply put blood is diverted AWAY from the stomach when running so fueling means your body needs to practice being able to digest as well as keep exerting itself.

Thanks!
I wish I could eat bananas cos they seem like the perfect food, but I can't bear them
I did go through a phase of eating raisins and that did help actually, I'd forgotten about that.

 

[whathastheworldcometo]

I haven't posted here for agggggggges. I refuses to run over summer cos it was too hot, but decided I don't have that excuse anymore.

I also got a puppy in April, so want to start going out with her. The dogs normally get me up around 6am, so I think my plan is to run a mile a day. Nothing too taxing, but I think I'm more likely to actually do it if I'm not focussing on doing 5km. Will I get fitter though?

Yes, if you do it on a regular basis soon you will want to run more than 1 mile as it will feel so easy to you.

I find it better to start slow and be patient and simply enjoy the process.

 

[BashmentLady]

Managed 5.49km this afternoon. I had to stop a few times to catch my breathing, but I ran the whole thing

My calf is really hurting now though

Yeeeo! Well done! Give your calf atleast a day, if not more, and maybe try some youtube stretches. Excellent stuff!

 

[Into_the_tunnel]

Hello, if anyone can offer advice I'd be grateful. I had plantar fascitis which has practically gone I can only feel it very occasionally now. Is it sensible/possible to return to running again? Has anyone else done that? I fancy training a half in march, thanks

Echo decent shoes. My friend with PF does Brooks Glycerin with her orthotics. Fiendishly expensive but they mean she can run.

She has had reoccurrences over many years but ran ultras with me so manages it.

I think it is like AT, it will be a weakness and if you overdo it then you will feel it, if you do your stretches and run sensibly then it will be kept at bay.