Great Scottish Run 10k - Glasgow 5th October 2014

vegasvisitor

Just thought I'd report back with 9 days to go!!!

I was away on holiday for just over 2 weeks and managed to do treadmill while away. 5 times I did 3k, and once I did 2.65 miles whatever that works out as lol. So I've been taking it fairly easy, was a bit time restricted too but was getting better times than normal, so hopefully it has helped. I've not ran for a week though as I had a bit of a sore clicky knee towards the end of the holiday. I'm going Parkrun tomorrow though.

Next week I'll just do a shortish run and then the 10k is next Sunday. Wish me luck.

vegasvisitor

Ok, so the run was today! I did it in 1hr 14 minutes. Sore knees in the last 2k as was expected. Didn't terribly enjoy it, as others have said it's perhaps a tough distance because you try to keep a decent pace for 10k and it's a long time when you're not fast either!! It's a long time for me to be exercising that heavily I must say.

I'm not sure if I'll ever do it again, as I say I found it hard, but I'm sure over the coming days I'll think more of the achievement and might try it again!!

gleek1

Lesley - very well done! For a first one that is a decent time - especially given that your training did not go as planned and that you didn't really seem to be following a plan.

It is a shame you didn't feel you enjoyed it, but now you are up to this distance it would be even more of a shame if you gave it all up! Look up an 8 week structured plan that will have your week 4/5 mid week runs at regularly 4-5 miles and where your long slow runs max out at say 7 or 8 miles. That will give you a really good base and confidence that you have followed a tried and tested method! Check out https://www.runnersworld.co.uk for some tips and some plans - they have some for non subscribers too.

Well done regardless - hope you are putting your feet up tonight!!

vegasvisitor

I know, I must have pushed too hard to enjoy, however if I hadn't I'd have been annoyed. I really didn't want to be over 1.15, and we knew at the halfway point we were about 38 minutes or so, so we knew it was a problem and must have upped our pace a bit. We even managed quite an increase and a sort of final sprint (as well as I could with my stiff knees).

I sort of wonder if my knees will just always stiffen at 8k, as I do 5k pretty regular and find that fine (although also tough given that I push myself more for that). I ended up with a slight PB at parkrun last week. I'm going to just keep up the 3k midweek runs if I can and keep doing parkrun most saturdays for now and see what I fancy doing next Spring. There's a women's 10k in Glasgow in May, but need to see what my holiday plans are first.

Good luck all, hope your running plans work out well!

gleek1

Sounds like a plan, but your knees clearly are a problem. You really do need to go for further than 3k midweek if you want to improve your 10k time and enjoyment, but the first think i would be doing is going to an independent running shop and getting your shoes and gait analysed. Even if you have professionally fitted shoes currently, they might be worn out - depending on the pair I can get between 200 and 300 miles from mine - not a huge amount but my gait is odd and i am hard on them.

Also maybe go to a physio to see if your knee pain can be fixed by exercises - or look on you tube. Most people's knees have weak muscles round them - mine included - that might make the patella track incorrectly. Google cinemagoers knee and see if these symptoms make sense. I have pretty much been cured after getting exercises from the physio about 9 years ago - and keeping them up when I feel twinges.

Keep at the parkrun and keep us posted with your progress!!

vegasvisitor

Thanks gleek.

Already had my gait analysed, got defined as 'neutral' after a treadmill test, and got £115 trainers so I would hope they aren't the problem. I bought another pair of asics while on holiday though, again neutral ones so I could try them on a longer distance to see if it helps. My shoes aren't worn, only had them a few months and as I'm low mileage it can't really be that. I read somewhere that your muscle on your thigh contracts after a while and pulls on your knee. I could believe that. Probably the remedy would be pulling my feet up behind me after my runs, which is something I'm not very good at and that might also explain it. I do also have a long term back problem, have had a bursitis in the hip in the past, so I've not got great posture etc either, another thing that won't help! I know the sore knees will go away with rest after a few days like the did previously, but there's clearly something that makes them sore every time I reach pretty much exactly 8k. Bit annoying. I'll look at those sites, thank you very much for taking the time to post before and also today, much appreciated advice! :T

nikki1810

I managed my first 10k in 1:08:59 which is around 8 minutes faster than my personal best. The last 2km were tough, it seemed like everyone was passing me!

gleek1

Nikki - Well done! Clearly all the hills paid off!!!

Lesley. Hips, knees, lower back and feet are all connected. I have had bursitis on the hip too - solved by a cortisone injection. All I can say is stretch stretch stretch and try some of the exercises online - I think that one of the weak knee muscles is the VMO so it wouldn't hurt googling that as well.

Glad you got you gait analysed - don't be fooled to think that the more expensive the shoe the better it is for you - although they might be more plush, they might equally be too squidgy! I don't know where you went to get them done. I live in the East, but if you are in Glasgow then Achillies Heel in the West End gets a very good name if you need to get a re test!

Good luck!

pink_petal

Lesley - please don't give up! That is a really good time for your first race! I was running yesterday too but I did the half - my first one ever! Two years ago I ran the 10k and it was my first one - I did a similar time to you, I HATED it and said never again but I kept going and now run a 10k in about 55mins. My half marathon time yesterday was just over 2 hours - the last 3 miles killed me but I know what I need to work on now!

Keep at it!!

PP x

vegasvisitor

Well done Nikki and Pink Petal. Both done great!!

Thanks also for the encouragement. Will never do it in 55 mins, not will I try a half lol, but my knees are much better this morning so I can actually imagine running again. I can almost imagine trying a 10k again!! I am also thinking perhaps I didn't build up gradually enough. I also never mentioned I'm BMI 27 or 28 and 40 years old, so perhaps both of those facts contributed too!

Well done both on your achievements this week!!!