Running thread

Happy New Year fellow runners. I've enjoyed following your exploits over the last year, from newbies to veterans. Plenty of running tips and knowledge, all appreciated.

It was a frustrating year for me, with my running curtailed by injury - arthritis in my hip, and coughs and colds lately. I enter 2024 with a calf strain, which I'm determined not to promote to a proper pull or tear. Then I'll hopefully build up my fitness again.

I ran around 1000 miles in 2022, but only 260 in 2023. Hoping for a better 2024, with hopefully the opportunity to complete a few of these runs detailed in my Christmas present.
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Paladin said:
Happy New Year fellow runners. I've enjoyed following your exploits over the last year, from newbies to veterans. Plenty of running tips and knowledge, all appreciated.

It was a frustrating year for me, with my running curtailed by injury - arthritis in my hip, and coughs and colds lately. I enter 2024 with a calf strain, which I'm determined not to promote to a proper pull or tear. Then I'll hopefully build up my fitness again.

I ran around 1000 miles in 2022, but only 260 in 2023. Hoping for a better 2024, with hopefully the opportunity to complete a few of these runs detailed in my Christmas present.
baa9cf1b8f65303da071cd664517e4f6.jpg
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Hope back out again soon mate
 
Half marathon this morning out on the roads. Nothing too quick but a nice steady pace.

Nothing nobody already knows but after eating badly for the past 7/10 days it really shows when running the difference food makes to your energy levels and also how you recover.

The tough bit for me has never been the running but controlling the diet, but as its New Year thats seems a fitting resolution.
 
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franksinatra said:
Half marathon this morning out on the roads. Nothing too quick but a nice steady pace.

Nothing nobody already knows but after eating badly for the past 7/10 days it really shows when running the difference food makes to your energy levels and also how you recover.

The tough bit for me has never been the running but controlling the diet, but as its New Year thats seems a fitting resolution.
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I'm with you on the eating mate, shite diet over Christmas has me chugging through runs, looking forward to getting the nutrition sorted so the runs get easier.
Been off the beer for 4 months now but not felt any different, it's the food that gets yer not the beer
 
gaz76 said:
I'm with you on the eating mate, shite diet over Christmas has me chugging through runs, looking forward to getting the nutrition sorted so the runs get easier.
Been off the beer for 4 months now but not felt any different, it's the food that gets yer not the beer
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Yes totally. Sat here aching after a run today which was hardly challenging compared to historical efforts. But its been powered by chocolate, too much processed food and unhealthy snacks. Body feels completely different.

Late night snacking and chocolate has got to go next year.
 
I did my longest-ever run yesterday... 24k at a steady pace.

Hoping to build my longer runs up quite a bit before the Marathon in April. What are the longest runs you guys tend to do leading up to a marathon? 30k/35k?
 
Manchester33 said:
I did my longest-ever run yesterday... 24k at a steady pace.

Hoping to build my longer runs up quite a bit before the Marathon in April. What are the longest runs you guys tend to do leading up to a marathon? 30k/35k?
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20 milers are usually the sweet spot, I do 3 or 4 of them in a marathon training block, say 2 or 3 at easy/steady pace to get me used to being on my feet for that long, and a 20 mile race to get used to being at pace for that long. They are also good for experiments with gels and what not
 
Manchester33 said:
I did my longest-ever run yesterday... 24k at a steady pace.

Hoping to build my longer runs up quite a bit before the Marathon in April. What are the longest runs you guys tend to do leading up to a marathon? 30k/35k?
Click to expand...

As Gaz says 20 miles is typically what all the training schedules recommend. I agree its worth doing more than one, particularly as you have time on your side, before April. Tapering very much depends on the person but typically do your last 20 miler, 3 weeks before, and then start your tapering before race day.
 
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Manchester33 said:
I did my longest-ever run yesterday... 24k at a steady pace.

Hoping to build my longer runs up quite a bit before the Marathon in April. What are the longest runs you guys tend to do leading up to a marathon? 30k/35k?
Click to expand...
Also I should have also said, with it being your first mara, then I wouldn't do too high a mileage training block, you don't want to be totally fucked when it comes to the race and your also increasing the chances of getting injured by quite a bit.
 
Manchester33 said:
I did my longest-ever run yesterday... 24k at a steady pace.

Hoping to build my longer runs up quite a bit before the Marathon in April. What are the longest runs you guys tend to do leading up to a marathon? 30k/35k?
Click to expand...
I would go by time rather than distance.

3 hours has been found to be the maximum that we should really spend on our feet. Any more than that is counterproductive because of the recovery involved.

Having said that, others (see above) recommend doing 20-milers which I understand because I'm sure there is a psychological benefit to running a distance that starts with a 2.
 
Good advice guys, thanks. I'm going to map out my training plan. I have 3 races booked in between now and then, so going to work around those.
 
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Kudos to you all marathon botherers!!

Think halfs may be my limit (and still working back up towards them).

Had a scan on my lower thigh/knee before Xmas. Hoping it's something that can be sorted. Longer runs do tweak the hamstring but feel it's connected to the meniscus (as the physio pointed out).
Squatting on that leg is v painful.
 
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somapop said:
Kudos to you all marathon botherers!!

Think halfs may be my limit (and still working back up towards them).

Had a scan on my lower thigh/knee before Xmas. Hoping it's something that can be sorted. Longer runs do tweak the hamstring but feel it's connected to the meniscus (as the physio pointed out).
Squatting on that leg is v painful.
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Hope you get it sorted mate. Physios are worth their weight in gold.

I had a terrible dislocated shoulder 2 years ago. I've had to have operations and all sorts to get it right. I did 5 months of 'prehab' before the op and my 'bad' shoulder was stronger then than my other unaffected one! I recovered 6 months ahead of schedule post-op!

It's a ton of effort, but my point is that it's worth it.

It also helps that I have two physios in the family!
 
Manchester33 said:
Hope you get it sorted mate. Physios are worth their weight in gold.

I had a terrible dislocated shoulder 2 years ago. I've had to have operations and all sorts to get it right. I did 5 months of 'prehab' before the op and my 'bad' shoulder was stronger then than my other unaffected one! I recovered 6 months ahead of schedule post-op!

It's a ton of effort, but my point is that it's worth it.

It also helps that I have two physios in the family!
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Ha - lucky you!

Picked up a few injuries over the years.
My shoulder is a bit knackered after I fell off a skateboard (twice) during lockdown and I really should've seen someone then. Doesn't help having an awful mattress.

Dreading an op as it will mean time off exercising. I missed the gym for two weeks over Xmas and could feel myself dipping already.

But, physio rehab (exercises for the lower part of my thigh/hamstring) isn't working.
 
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somapop said:
Kudos to you all marathon botherers!!

Think halfs may be my limit (and still working back up towards them).

Had a scan on my lower thigh/knee before Xmas. Hoping it's something that can be sorted. Longer runs do tweak the hamstring but feel it's connected to the meniscus (as the physio pointed out).
Squatting on that leg is v painful.
Click to expand...
It will be a shame if you never manage a marathon owing to physical limitations. I recommend the average runner should aspire to run at least one and maybe two or three. The extra mileage, variety of training and diet takes fitness to a different level with secondary improvements at shorter distances, even down to 5k.
 
Tommy_Catons_Perm said:
It will be a shame if you never manage a marathon owing to physical limitations. I recommend the average runner should aspire to run at least one and maybe two or three. The extra mileage, variety of training and diet takes fitness to a different level with secondary improvements at shorter distances, even down to 5k.
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Yep, and more importantly there ain't no way your ever going to get more drunk than straight after a marathon, highly recommended
 
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