Any runners here?

[HorseboX]

the only time i run is away from the police

[DrDoolittle]

I think I'm going to go along to a local running club and do some hill runs with them.

My mate runs marathons and trains with our local running club. I've seen them practising hill runs, it looks like hell on earth.

Legs are sore today after a long run last night.

[What??? No beer???????]

You should try ans sort out some sort of training plan, aim to get out and run 4 or 5 nights a week. You dont need to be going for all that long during the week, maybe half and hour, 45 mins just to get the miles in, then at the weekend you want to be getting the longer runs in. 50, 60, 70, 80 % of the half marathon on the saturday and a shorter one on the sunday with mondays and fridays doing no running to recover.

Gradually up how far your going each week and you'll improve alot. And yeah, an awful awful lot of it is in your head

[TheGayTent]

Update:

Ok, so I have got a proper pair of running trainers. I went into a shop at my mate's gym and they have a treadmill machine with a video camera attached to it that records you running. They then showed me my running style in slow motion and explained what kind of support I needed.

So I got the trainers (luckily there was a sale on too) and i've been training 3 times a week on the road, plus 1 or 2 gym sessions a week too.

Usually have been doing two midweek runs typically between 4-7 miles long, and a longer weekend run. I did 10 miles for the first time on sunday and managed to get round in 1hr 42.

Am aiming to get round the half marathon course in about 2hr 20.

It's less than 2 weeks away now, and am wondering if any seasoned runners could give me any advice on how close to race day should I be training?

Was thinking i'm not going to go out at all on the day before, but no idea whether i should have 2 days off or a week even?

When would you do your last 'long' run and then maybe only do shorter ones?

[ragescotland]

I've just started pre-season training so I'm now a runner!

I can be found running round Arthur's seat on Sundays and Thursdays.

For me all you need is a nice environment to run in and some good songs on the ipod shuffle and your away.

Recently back from holiday and found myself with terrible jetlag, went for a wee 5am jog round Arthur's Seat, nothing quite like it, a jogger's heaven.

[Sooperstar]

For me all you need is a nice environment to run in and some good songs on the ipod shuffle and your away.

Recently back from holiday and found myself with terrible jetlag, went for a wee 5am jog round Arthur's Seat, nothing quite like it, a jogger's heaven.

Thankfully the last Arthur's Seat session was Sunday just passed. We're actually going to start using footballs at the next session which seems a very novel idea!

[stoopidbird]

Update:

Ok, so I have got a proper pair of running trainers. I went into a shop at my mate's gym and they have a treadmill machine with a video camera attached to it that records you running. They then showed me my running style in slow motion and explained what kind of support I needed.

So I got the trainers (luckily there was a sale on too) and i've been training 3 times a week on the road, plus 1 or 2 gym sessions a week too.

Usually have been doing two midweek runs typically between 4-7 miles long, and a longer weekend run. I did 10 miles for the first time on sunday and managed to get round in 1hr 42.

Am aiming to get round the half marathon course in about 2hr 20.

It's less than 2 weeks away now, and am wondering if any seasoned runners could give me any advice on how close to race day should I be training?

Was thinking i'm not going to go out at all on the day before, but no idea whether i should have 2 days off or a week even?

When would you do your last 'long' run and then maybe only do shorter ones?

Taper taper taper!!! Never underestimate the importance of this before a big event. For a half mara, your last long run should be absolutely no less than a week before the event, marathon runners do their last big one 2 weeks before. Then do nothing! Well actually, do one very gentle light jog or two to keep the muscles ticking over. But definitely no running for 48 hours before the event, gets both your mind and body bored and so raring to go on the day. Good luck!

[TheGayTent]

Taper taper taper!!! Never underestimate the importance of this before a big event. For a half mara, your last long run should be absolutely no less than a week before the event, marathon runners do their last big one 2 weeks before. Then do nothing! Well actually, do one very gentle light jog or two to keep the muscles ticking over. But definitely no running for 48 hours before the event, gets both your mind and body bored and so raring to go on the day. Good luck!

Thanks.

So I think i'll do a 10 miler a week before and maybe a 3 or 4 miler 3 days before then nothing til race day.

[Steako]

Update:

Ok, so I have got a proper pair of running trainers. I went into a shop at my mate's gym and they have a treadmill machine with a video camera attached to it that records you running. They then showed me my running style in slow motion and explained what kind of support I needed.

So I got the trainers (luckily there was a sale on too) and i've been training 3 times a week on the road, plus 1 or 2 gym sessions a week too.

Usually have been doing two midweek runs typically between 4-7 miles long, and a longer weekend run. I did 10 miles for the first time on sunday and managed to get round in 1hr 42.

Am aiming to get round the half marathon course in about 2hr 20.

It's less than 2 weeks away now, and am wondering if any seasoned runners could give me any advice on how close to race day should I be training?

Was thinking i'm not going to go out at all on the day before, but no idea whether i should have 2 days off or a week even?

When would you do your last 'long' run and then maybe only do shorter ones?

I used to run a lot, not as much anymore, although i am trying to get fitter again. I have run quite a few half marathons and 2 full marathons. I normally found that i would have my last big run about 5-7 days before and then maybe 1 or 2 shorter and slower paced runs up to 48hrs before. Plenty of carbs the day before the race for energy and a top tip i picked up once was to take an imodium about 2 hours before running. Last thing you want is to have to stop for a number 2.

[sparklecazza]

I did the Cancer Research 10k run in October, and the British London 10k on Sunday. I only started running again after doing it at school (I'm 29) last year as I wanted a cheapy way to get fit that didn't involve paying vast sums in gym membership. When I started I couldn't run for more than 3 mins without wanting to die, however I built it up slowly to being able to run for an hour!

I used this to help with my training,

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/running/mi...ningplanner.pdf

I'd definitely say, get a decent pair of running shoes from a specialist running shop. On Sunday I made do with ancient trainers held together with gaffa tape - not a good plan and I was in agony for two days afterwards!

I'm going to do another Cancer Research 10k in October, then another one this time next year, then aim for a half marathon in Autumn ish 2009.

[sparklecazza]

Oh yeah, and if it's your first one, don't go mad - take it slowly, run a bit, jog a bit, walk if it gets painful and move aside to let faster people past. There's no point rushing it and doing yourself an injury. Don't get caught up in the crush and run hard at the beginning either - it'll wear you out!

[TheGayTent]

Last night I did 5 miles in 43 mins.

Am quitely confident now, and am actually looking forward to it

[Steako]

Last night I did 5 miles in 43 mins.

Am quitely confident now, and am actually looking forward to it

Glad to hear it, i used to be quite competitive. By that i mean i was always wanting to beat my previous times, not that i was actually competitive in the race. I always got a sense of achievement if i beat my previous time, if i didn't i would train harder.

Should be looking at sub 2 hours on the day with that pace. Wasn't you originally looking at 2'20?

Edited July 9, 2008 by Steako

[TheGayTent]

Glad to hear it, i used to be quite competitive. By that i mean i was always wanting to beat my previous times, not that i was actually competitive in the race. I always got a sense of achievement if i beat my previous time, if i didn't i would train harder.

Should be looking at sub 2 hours on the day with that pace. Wasn't you originally looking at 2'20?

Yes I was. I won't be able to do 8.5 min miles for 13 miles though. I'm aiming for 10 min miles now with a bit extra thrown in for the 2 big hills on the course. I reckon 2hr 15 will be ok.

[stoopidbird]

I did the Cancer Research 10k run in October, and the British London 10k on Sunday. I only started running again after doing it at school (I'm 29) last year as I wanted a cheapy way to get fit that didn't involve paying vast sums in gym membership. When I started I couldn't run for more than 3 mins without wanting to die, however I built it up slowly to being able to run for an hour!

I used this to help with my training,

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/running/mi...ningplanner.pdf

I'd definitely say, get a decent pair of running shoes from a specialist running shop. On Sunday I made do with ancient trainers held together with gaffa tape - not a good plan and I was in agony for two days afterwards!

I'm going to do another Cancer Research 10k in October, then another one this time next year, then aim for a half marathon in Autumn ish 2009.

Ooh I did that British 10k on Sunday too. Nice couse, utterly appalling organisation, never again! Also I just went to look at the photos today (I know it's a different company) and the ones under my bib number are actually of some bloke, and the number on his bib is blatantly one up from mine, and if you search under my name you get the same pictures of him! Not that I was going to buy any but still, I wanted to know how truly rotten I looked! Ha.

[stoopidbird]

Thanks.

So I think i'll do a 10 miler a week before and maybe a 3 or 4 miler 3 days before then nothing til race day.

Sounds perfect. I'm lucky in that my brother-in-law does everything from sprint runs to marathons to olympic distance triathlons to (gulp) double ironman(s) (ironmen? What's the plural?) so he's a wealth of information on training, but for some other great tips I'd recommend reading the website www.runnersworld.co.uk - the articles are really good and the people on the forums are dead helpful if you have a specific question on any aspect of running/tri. Er, I am not paid by them or anything, honest!

[whitesweatysock]

Yes I was. I won't be able to do 8.5 min miles for 13 miles though. I'm aiming for 10 min miles now with a bit extra thrown in for the 2 big hills on the course. I reckon 2hr 15 will be ok.

2 years ago i ran the london marathon, it was my first organised race. i trained to run 10 minute miles and all the way through train i constantly ran 10 minute miles, on the day of the race i decided that i was going to try and run 9 minute miles, which i did achieve, at the mid way stage i was running 8.5 minute miles( which i never did in training) and felt every comfortable. this was achieved by covering lots of miles in training, a good breakfast, and the crowd played a very big part. if you are training by yourself i think you will find it a lot easier when you start to run in a large group. plan your mile times and try and stick to them, focus on the next mile marker and target time, not the finish line.

my tips are flapjacks for when your waiting to start running, and take a drink at every drinkstation even if you don't want one, have a mouthful and ditch it. good luck and i'm sure you will be surprised at your finishing time.

[TheGayTent]

Sounds perfect. I'm lucky in that my brother-in-law does everything from sprint runs to marathons to olympic distance triathlons to (gulp) double ironman(s) (ironmen? What's the plural?) so he's a wealth of information on training, but for some other great tips I'd recommend reading the website www.runnersworld.co.uk - the articles are really good and the people on the forums are dead helpful if you have a specific question on any aspect of running/tri. Er, I am not paid by them or anything, honest!

double ironman? Sounds tough - what does it involve?

2 years ago i ran the london marathon, it was my first organised race. i trained to run 10 minute miles and all the way through train i constantly ran 10 minute miles, on the day of the race i decided that i was going to try and run 9 minute miles, which i did achieve, at the mid way stage i was running 8.5 minute miles( which i never did in training) and felt every comfortable. this was achieved by covering lots of miles in training, a good breakfast, and the crowd played a very big part. if you are training by yourself i think you will find it a lot easier when you start to run in a large group. plan your mile times and try and stick to them, focus on the next mile marker and target time, not the finish line.

my tips are flapjacks for when your waiting to start running, and take a drink at every drinkstation even if you don't want one, have a mouthful and ditch it. good luck and i'm sure you will be surprised at your finishing time.

A good breakfast? I presume that isn't what i'm envisaging?

I've been told the tip about water by someone else - will definitely do that thx.

I wonder if the girlfriend will bake me some flapjacks

Will let you know on the 21st my time

[AndrewD]

I've just started cycling again and went out today on a spur! Did 17 miles in 90 minutes. Not good.

[Sooperstar]

How long did 8 miles take you?

I might get my football team to do a 10km run this summer, in preparation for the new season. I think the furthest i've ever run in one go at the same pace is 4 miles. Need to improve.

The runs we've been doing are 5km's, but it's round Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh which is a bugger of a hill.

My best time was 24 minutes flat (not bad for an asthmatic social smoker who goes on dring and drugs binges every weekend!), the worst was 24:54 and that was where I went up the hill too fast, thought I was going to collapse at the end and when I got told my time I was gutted!

[Purple Monkey]

I try running every now and then to remind myself how much it sucks and that I should really stick to swimming.

[stoopidbird]

double ironman? Sounds tough - what does it involve?

Double ironman is 5 miles swim, 225 miles on the bike (jeez) and then (wait for it) 52 miles run - or 2 marathons. All done continously over probably 36 hours or so (no sleep). I am going to spectate because I can't imagine why anyone would do this to themselves and I want to see grown men hallucinate and weep!

[Steako]

Double ironman is 5 miles swim, 225 miles on the bike (jeez) and then (wait for it) 52 miles run - or 2 marathons. All done continously over probably 36 hours or so (no sleep). I am going to spectate because I can't imagine why anyone would do this to themselves and I want to see grown men hallucinate and weep!

I work with a woman who done an Ironman, she said it was the hardest thing she has ever done. I ran a marathon before and i was in shit state for 10 days afterwards. God knows what it would be like to do a 'Double Ironman'.

[whitesweatysock]

i fancy this for next year link to website

Edited July 10, 2008 by whitesweatysock

[sparklecazza]

Ooh I did that British 10k on Sunday too. Nice couse, utterly appalling organisation, never again! Also I just went to look at the photos today (I know it's a different company) and the ones under my bib number are actually of some bloke, and the number on his bib is blatantly one up from mine, and if you search under my name you get the same pictures of him! Not that I was going to buy any but still, I wanted to know how truly rotten I looked! Ha.

Yes, complete rip-off merchants! Can't think what it was the £30 went for! Also, my time was something like 1 hour 39 minutes at the end. I'm not a fast runner but it took me over half an hour to get to the start line, ridiculous! Why on earth didn't they roughly separate the people who were running from the walkers, at least? I spent a lot of time trying not to knock people over. I've not got a problem with people walking at these things, especially if they are doing it for charity, but it seems silly to have walkers starting with people who are going to speed round!