'Join my run challenge: How far can you go in 2014?' blog discussion

danothy

I've been struck down with a chest infection this week, and as a result I'm dropping behind on my quota. Such a shame too, as I'd stuck in plenty of km during the first three weeks of the month.

I just want this cough to go

Twiggy_34

I haven't been running since my last post either, today is the first day that my knee hasn't hurt with normal walking or going down stairs. My plan is to resume on Monday as that will give me the weekend without pain as well to (hopefully) ensure full recovery. I have quite missed it but it's also been kinda nice to have a genuine excuse to skip it! lol

I didn't find week 1 of the NHS 5k challenge too difficult and had done 2 of the 3 week 2 sessions. Think I'll stick to the week 2 session for 2 runs next week and see how I'm feeling, and then move up to week 3.

I'm looking forward to seeing how much difference is made by my new running clothes! :T

G_Model101

I'm in also!

Age - 29
Fitness level. - Fit? I dunno!
Whether you have any official races planned - Reading Half marathon, Marathon on 6th April (dunno where yet!) Milton Keynes marathon 5th May, Ultra marathon Summer, Clarendon marathon- October
And whether you have a running spreadsheet. - Old skool stuck up on my wardrobe

--My goal for this year is 1500 miles, which is quite a big increase on the 600 or so I managed last year.
--I want to fit in 30 (unnoffical) half marathons and around 10 full marathons. most of these will just be me running myself, but I'll enter the odd race that I can afford,
--I'd also like to do an ultra in the summer, but I have no idea which one to go about attempting! Anyone help me out?

To achieve my goal I'll need to be running around 30 miles a week, a goal I'm currently not meeting! I've probably done around 45 miles this month...I haven't ran in 9 days due to me thinking that I wouldn't need a transition period in migrating from trainers to "barefoot" running shoes. God my calves were in pain!

The_Grateful_Ghoul

As a self-confessed lazy male that would much sooner spend my spare time sat in my living room in a pair of shorts with the heating turned up whilst I play on my games console, the motivation for going out for a run will always be somewhat of a struggle in a cold dark January.

You wake up its dark, you finish work its dark and the weather seems to consist of being cold, wet and windy and you already know every lyric to every song on your running playlist so without any races booked, what could possibly motivate this ageing gamer to keep on running?

I discovered a smartphone app called Zombies, Run! Which allows you to enter the post-apocalyptic world of Zombies and start running for your life! The story plays out through your headphones, with characters talking directly to you and directing you on your missions. Collect supplies for the other survivors as you run and use them to upgrade your base when you’re back home.

You simply attach your running playlist, and then start up the app on your phone as you go for a run, this is where things get interesting because you will hear at intervals in your earphones that zombies are getting closer and the only way to evade them is to run faster.

Despite the fact I was running down a busy street tonight, the Rocky theme started playing followed by a voice in my ear saying the zombies were 30 metres away! In my head, I was running away from zombies to save my own life with a Gonna Fly Now playing loudly.

I think the reality I looked like I was in a Harry Hill sketch running like a bloody nutter! :eek:

However, I'm still running so I guess it worked. :beer:

Twiggy_34

The_Grateful_!!!!! wrote: »

I think the reality I looked like I was in a Harry Hill sketch running like a bloody nutter! :eek:

However, I'm still running so I guess it worked. :beer:

Ha ha, thanks for sharing that, I just had to read it out loud to my other half! :rotfl:

On an aside, managed to go for a run again today, bit nervous though as pain kicked in with my knee again. I'm wondering whether I need to invest in better running shoes to absorb some of the impact or something... will see how it goes on Weds though and take it from there. Fortunately it's pay day friday so can head back to sport direct then if needs be.

Dizzy_Ditzy

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

Ha ha, thanks for sharing that, I just had to read it out loud to my other half! :rotfl:

On an aside, managed to go for a run again today, bit nervous though as pain kicked in with my knee again. I'm wondering whether I need to invest in better running shoes to absorb some of the impact or something... will see how it goes on Weds though and take it from there. Fortunately it's pay day friday so can head back to sport direct then if needs be.

Go to a specialist running shop and ask them for gait analysis. Most of them do it free and are incredibly helpful.

Then, armed with the info they give you, head to sports direct. You'll have a much better idea of what to look for




And in other news, I shaved a WHOLE MINUTE off my mile time at the weekend :j:j considering it was totally crappy weather and we were going against the wind and rain, I'm more chuffed than a chuffed person :j

Keep it up guys, the dark nights are getting less dark

Twiggy_34

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

Go to a specialist running shop and ask them for gait analysis. Most of them do it free and are incredibly helpful.

Then, armed with the info they give you, head to sports direct. You'll have a much better idea of what to look for

Thanks for the tip, genuinely not sure we have any of those nearby though (didn't even know you could get specialist running shops!). I'll look into it though. I'm not sure my current shoes are running shoes at all, so proper running shoes over the ones I have could make a huge difference still.

Well done on shaving off that extra minute!

kevsan

Good Effort so far.. Dont underestimate how much a 'proper' pair of running shoes will help you. This is one thing you dont want to scrimp on.

As mentioned above, a proper gait analysis on a treadmill in the shop followed by trying some on the treadmill before you buy is something you cant get in other places.

Specialist running shops are all over the country and thrive for a reason. Whereabouts are you?

you could do a google search for local shops, or have a look in the back of runners world mag or similar, you'll find something near you.

Twiggy_34

Specialist running shops are all over the country and thrive for a reason. Whereabouts are you?

you could do a google search for local shops, or have a look in the back of runners world mag or similar, you'll find something near you

I've just done a google search and, as I suspected, it looks like my nearest options would be Bristol or Bath and both are about an hours drive away and are places I rarely go.

If I told you my local shops consist mostly of hippy shops, witch/pagan shops and crystal shops, followed closely by cafe's (mostly vegetarian) and then charity shops, you can probably work out where I live!

kevsan

Hmmm..

To be honest, it would be an hour well spent, coming from someone who spent years of injury trying to run on 'normal' trainers...

however.... if you are where i think you are.... you could try http://www.triuk.com/ in yeovill which might be a bit closer...

http://www.triuk.com/run-gait-analysis.php

i'll stop stalking you now!