'My first 10,000m outside run – 57:45' blog discussion

MSE_Martin

popshed wrote: »

Hi Martin,
I wanted to come on here and thank you for belittling my efforts
I started running just over 2 years ago and have lost a lot of weight and kept it off. I regularly do 10k distances on the streets and was quite pleased with my fastest 10k of around 57 minutes.

Tell a lie, I did *once* manage a 53 minute 10k but that was on a totally straight, totally flat towpath adjacent to the River Dee. I've never used a treadmill, in fact when I tried to get some proper running shoes for the first time last summer, I was unable to use the one in the shop at all, had to resort to jogging about outside while the proprietor assessed me.

Anyway, I'm not sure why you'd bother keeping your own spreadsheets about your running when there are so many good (and free) alternatives. I use all 3 of these simultaneously though as you can't have too much data.

http://nikerunning.nike.com (iPhone - much better now there's Nike+ GPS app, v.good social motivation)
http://runkeeper.com (iPhone & Android - Not as good socially as Nike. Paid version apparently does coaching, not tried it)
http://www.adidas.com/com/miCoach/ (iPhone & coming to Android in May I think. Social motivation poor but coaching is brilliant, lost a further half stone after 8 month stall thanks to interval training in this app)
I also recommend:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com for plotting out your routes in advance.
There's also http://slowgeek.com/ which I think is for those on Android who want to use Nike+ social motivational tools, but not tried it.

Not belittling your efforts at all - and if it makes you feel better - i run on a tow-path by the canal so there are no slopes apart from the run to and from the tow path. Im just frustrated with the gulf between treadmill and outside.

HAving said that last night I smashed my record for my 6k standard run doing it in 30mins 5 seconds which bodes well for dropping the 10k time to 55 ish

Former_MSE_Neil

MSE_Martin wrote: »

OK I am going to ask our MoneySaving running guru (our lead techie neil) to answer some questions in here - as its him I ask

Ha - a running guru is a bit extreme but I do love to run and all things running :-) so I will try answer some questions.

blades123 wrote: »

Hello,

Great blog. Can anyone direct me to a good website that helps people to start running? In the past i was an active guy such as rowing and circuits but found running to be hard. I'm well built guy (not fat) so there is quite a bit of me to move around and often i would decide not to run as my legs would spend two days recovering. It prob down to not warming up and down correctly so i need some advice with this.

Thanks

There are literally hundreds of websites devoted to getting you starting running. In the UK we have a couple called realbuzz.com/ therunningbug.co.uk and i'm sure a lot more. They provide a forum and a heap of information regarding stretching etcetc that said there is nothing better than getting out there and chatting with other runners. There are running clubs all over the country, they are for all levels and should NEVER be seen as intimidating.

If you dont want to goto a club maybe consider a Parkrun - these are free timed 5km runs held every week across the country http://www.parkrun.org.uk/ at these runs a number of people of all ability turn up and share stories issues etc.

jazzycatbristol wrote: »

What runners watch did you use Martin? I struggle with pedometers so that sounds like a good idea.

With regards to runners watches - in my opinion the Ferarri of the watches are the Garmin Range. Not cheap but amazingly powerful - i love mine! You can pick an old edition around £100 and if your savvy about it and look a few weeks after the London Marathon they can sometimes be found on ebay ;-)

popshed wrote: »

Hi Martin,
I wanted to come on here and thank you for belittling my efforts
I started running just over 2 years ago and have lost a lot of weight and kept it off. I regularly do 10k distances on the streets and was quite pleased with my fastest 10k of around 57 minutes.

Tell a lie, I did *once* manage a 53 minute 10k but that was on a totally straight, totally flat towpath adjacent to the River Dee. I've never used a treadmill, in fact when I tried to get some proper running shoes for the first time last summer, I was unable to use the one in the shop at all, had to resort to jogging about outside while the proprietor assessed me.

Anyway, I'm not sure why you'd bother keeping your own spreadsheets about your running when there are so many good (and free) alternatives. I use all 3 of these simultaneously though as you can't have too much data.

http://nikerunning.nike.com (iPhone - much better now there's Nike+ GPS app, v.good social motivation)
http://runkeeper.com (iPhone & Android - Not as good socially as Nike. Paid version apparently does coaching, not tried it)
http://www.adidas.com/com/miCoach/ (iPhone & coming to Android in May I think. Social motivation poor but coaching is brilliant, lost a further half stone after 8 month stall thanks to interval training in this app)
I also recommend:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com for plotting out your routes in advance.
There's also http://slowgeek.com/ which I think is for those on Android who want to use Nike+ social motivational tools, but not tried it.

I have used a number of these devices and reviewed a number on my blog - i will check with martin whether I can self promote on here the link to my blog post with varying reviews. These are a great substitute to the pricier watches talked about earlier. There is another free one called Endemondo. These devices should be used as a rough guide as they tend not to be 100% accurate.

On top of all of the tech stuff check out run schedules on RunnersWorld.co.uk and one of the other cool aids I have used are audiotracks by AudioFuel they have a few "freebie" tracks here they utilise the fact that your stride can be influenced by the BPM of a song and adding audio coaching to push you on also helps. Fpr any of you that have ever been to a spin class, the audiofuel tracks are very much like that - tough but motivational. Martin - thats what you need to try next ;-)

I'll follow this thread and engage when I can.

Anyone can be a runner, there are no boundaries - 3 years ago i did my first 10k in 62 mins, last summer I was at 42 mins, at the same starting point I was around 16 stone now i'm 12...

Keep on running

popshed

Hi Neil,
When it comes to tunes, there's a couple of good podcasts I use. I found a lot of "running music" tended towards the dance/electronic end. However The JogTunes Indie Podcast and Indie Soup Runner's Edition have a good range of tunes, again free (both on iTunes).

I've also tried tagging the BPMs of my own music using Tangerine but I get bored hearing the same songs over and over so I just use the podcast archives.

Former_MSE_Neil

Popshed,

If we are talking podcasts go over to http://marathontalk.com don't be put off by its title whilst the subject matter focuses a little on marathons its generally a well rounded weekly hour of entertainment. I have listened to it during many of my LONG runs and it takes away an hour+

N

SimWo73

If you are just getting started then you could check out whether there is a Run in England group near you www runinengland co uk, or a local club. Most will let you have a free trial so if there are a number in the area you can see which one suits you best.

I use a Garmin and upload all my runs to fetcheveryone which is great if you love reviewing your stats. I started using it when my PC crashed and I lost all my history which was saved locally

Former_MSE_Neil

Hey

Martin said that I can post my running blog link on here so have done so. I started a review on Free Running Apps, it was posted a couple of months back so some of the free ones are now sadly not free any more.

Neil

Green2

Shame on you, Martin ! Running outside is free !;)
No, really well done, it must be daunting crossing from the dreadmill to the open air. I love it, especially off-road running.
True geeks leave behind the spreadsheet and use running logging software on site such as http: // www . fetcheveryone . com
You can log your runs, including type of run, time, terrain, weather, mood, even type of trainers/sports bra! then Fetch can generate clever graphs to calculate mileage & pace.
I second Neil's recommendation of Garmins, I have the Garmin 205. I can hook it up to my netbook to import run data directly onto Fetch. If you get a Garmin with a HRM, you can even map that onto your runs. Garmins are a bit dear but definitely worth it!

btw, Fetcheveryone is a totally free, has a friendly bunch of runners of all abilities and a great place to find out about races, training and to log your runs.

PlasticMan_2

...well, OK, I had planned to run 8 to start with.

I regularly do my local Parkrun. These are weekly free well-organised 5k runs that take place around the UK, and I can't recommend them enough. The downside is that you have to turn up at 9am on a Saturday! But there is a feeling of satisfaction with having run 5k before your weekend really starts, and running with other people is great for pushing yourself. There are quite a few in London Martin - I've done the Finsbury park one once. Your time is recorded on their website and emailed out to you (better than a spreadsheet!). My local one now attracts over 200 people per week.

Anyway, I recently won the local Parkrun "runner of the month" (for being keen rather than fast) which got me a free pair of running shoes from a local sports shop, and now I've started joining the shop's weekly run as well. Last night I lost the group, and had to make my own way back, hence the longer than planned run. But I did it in about 51 mins which is my best 10k time, so that was a bonus. :j

Edit: Just noticed Neil already mentioned Parkrun - well consider this a recommendation! As he says, it seems to cater for widely varying abilities - we have people finish in anything between 15 and 50 minutes.

Simon_c_2

Congratulations !!

Now, get your name on an entry form for a 10k race They're great fun.

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/foundevents.asp?evntTitle=&evntDate=a%3Afut&distance=10&county=101&area=&distanceFromHome=&evntSurface=&evntGround=&evntWheelChairAccessible=&ms=&sp=&v=2

And are you considering a celebrity entry to the London Marathon next year ?

Also, if you have smartphone (iphone or 'droid) you can log your outside runs with free apps from runkeeper.com and mapmyrun.com and a few others.

camaj

MSE_Neil wrote: »

Anyone can be a runner, there are no boundaries - 3 years ago i did my first 10k in 62 mins, last summer I was at 42 mins, at the same starting point I was around 16 stone now i'm 12...

Colour me impressed. I can do 5k in under 30mins (outside! I seem to find it harder on a treadmill) and I'm close to 11st. God knows how you could manage 62mins with an extra 4st to carry, unless you'd done a lot of training previously.