ILX running running thread

Last night I knocked out a 3 mile tempo run three days after the marathon. Legs feeling great.

Ran 10.75 miles today. It was funny actually. I wasn't planning for a specific distance, but I ended up running 8 miles out and then just ran out of gas at 10. The prospect of running 16 miles today didn't seem right, so I just caught a cab back home.

Also, it was the 100th run I've tracked with my Garmin. What a wonderful device.

Brighton half-marathon for me today. So cold, so windy, so wet... just a really horrible day for running. Finished in 1:32 something, which is a bit slow for me but probably just about what I expected cos I've mostly been doing long slow runs. Totally fucking pwned Fat Boy Slim though, saw him finish and I think he did like 2:15.

Nick - that's a brilliant time! Well done! I reckon you'd be around 65% on the calculator thingy (I'm obsessed with it!) which is good going.

I have got my 5K time down to 23:10 (64%ish age-graded) and my 10K down to 50:28 (59%) over the last 10 days or so. The 48 mins is in sight!

Nick, yeah, that's a fantastic time. I've run a 2:04 half... still working on breaking two hours (probably could if I made my training more specific to speedwork, admittedly that's not my goal right now so it happens when it happens).

Beautiful day in Texas for a trail run btw, I'm headed out the door for 10-11 miles or so:

Mostly sunny with temperatures rising to near 71F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.

I've got a few 30k trail races lined up starting 5 weeks from now... this is the first of a series of long runs that'll increase to 12, 14, 16 and so forth in the coming weeks. It's nice to step back from those ~20 mile runs I was doing the last couple months, now that marathon season is over.

That weather sounds lovely ilxor, cos it's it's still horrid here, I think we're having the end of the storm that blatted Madeira. Trail running is great too, so much more interesting than road races, you are basically making me very jealous.

Dr. C, I put my stats into that Runner's World thingy and it worked out at 66.0% (good age guessing though!). Sounds you're well on yer way with the 10k btw.

Ran 10 miles today, it actually got up to about 80 degrees -- really hot. I burned through three water bottles in short order. Good week, though -- 25 miles the week after a marathon, no lingering issues so very pleased.

Yeah, you've made a great recovery there. Only did about 25 miles myself!

You guys are making me miss 25 mile weeks instead of my current weekend warrior running.

first time breaking 10 miles slush slow no sleigh

feel like i've got ledley king's knee tho

Nice job!

It's snowing here in Austin, Texas (wtf?!) so I'm going to have trouble willing myself out the door tonight. Only have a 3 miler on the calendar, though, so here's hoping I can stick it out...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/birdnestsoup/BrightonHalf.jpg

^ get some weather up ye!

(and congrats to ogmor!)

you guys are awesome! so hardcore with your times (1.32?!) and distances!

i'm having a light month because my stupid hamstring is still bugging me a little, so i'm only running about every other to every third day, 3-5 miles. i'm going to step it up a bit in march though, as i'm feeling better. (in fact, today i had way too much energy to burn and couldn't believe how fast i was going for 4 miles. unfortunately i got a little overexcited and made myself ill. whoops!)

i was just about to ask where's maria but here you are!

hi there! have just been distracted by less running, which is changing fortunately (+ new boyfriend = less internet overall, which i will not complain about).

cheers guys, I only ran last night because I knew more snow was coming. love nick's pic, looks like you've got a proper runner's physique there.

Ah thanks but yeah, I think I need to start lifting weights or something!

guys, i've never run seriously before, but am joining a gym this week with a view to getting fitter and losing weight (play football for 2 x 1 hr sessions per week so not starting from complete scratch or anything).

is a half marathon at the beginning of july an unrealistic target to give myself in the medium term?

July's a bit close I think - there's always quite a high risk of injury if you build up your mileage too fast. I reckon you'd be better off looking for a local 10k instead so you could build up to it a bit slower, and you'd probably end up enjoying running more that way. Half-marathon in the autumn would be a realistic goal though.

proving u RONG will make it all the sweeter imo

but cheers!

Personally... I think that July sounds like a great target.

Either way, in the coming 2-3 months, I would just focus on running 3-4 times per week at your leisure. Work up to a nice base of about 12-15 miles per week, then if you're still interested in the half marathon come end of April or so, you can start throwing in a once-per-week longer run about 10 weeks out from the race, building up from 3 miles to 12 or so, adding a mile per week.

Haha, well if you're hell-bent on maiming yourself, I could try and dig out a couple of training schedules if those would be of any help...

x-post

This guy's pretty popular with n00bs and I won't argue that he puts together a decent training plan.

Here's a taste of what you'd be in for: http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

i'll be asking at the gym come thursday or friday so that's grand, but thanks anyway. i'll see how i am after the first few weeks and look at it from there.

xp cheers for that will have a look.

That link that ilxor posted is a good one actually.

i'll see how i am after the first few weeks

These coming weeks, just get into a mindset of being motivated to get out the door for a 20-30 minute run a few times a week, and you'll be golden. Half marathon or not, that's the cornerstone of enjoying running (for me), it's gotta be fun and exciting, not a chore.

yeah i'm printing that link and using it as a template- i won't be giving up my footy on mon/thurs but it'll certainly allow me to make up a schedule.

That said... I skipped my 3 miler last night, it was snowing in Texas and the roads were iced over so figured I'd wait for today's 50+ degree weather to get out there again. Gonna head out for 5-6 miles this evening... if I can get off work early enough, I'd like to hit the local park trail before dark.

one last question- if i'm running on a machine, will it make a lot of difference? i know that running on a road is tougher, but if it's just to get me in shape i'm thinking i should be fine.....

round where i am there's not much in the way of pleasant runs where you don't run the risk of being flattened by cars/eaten by dogs.

I think you're supposed to increase the gradient a little bit (to 2% maybe?) to replicate the air resistance you get from running outside. The good thing about running machines is that they're not so hard on your knees, but that might mean you end up really feeling it when you do a long run on the road. Try and get a few outdoor sessions in as well, just to get used to the harder surface.

It won't make much of a difference as to your fitness, either way, other than being reaaaaaaaalllly boring if you're comparing it to getting out into nature, hitting a good trail or not terribly busy road, and enjoying the fresh air, beautiful days, etc.

looked up a few sites in the meantime and there's a few public tracks/recommended routes of varying lengths/gradient around the place so looks like i spoke too soon. good to know.

xp otm
there are no cute dogs to pass/admire on a treadmill

ready to get back into this but the weather is SOOOOOOO shitty

there are no cute dogs ladies to pass/admire on a treadmill

Well look at what's on the Runner's World forum today!

"I'm training for a half marathon on a treadmill," says kristen.long2009. "If I run inside until the race, will that negatively impact my performance?"

http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/beginners/treadmill-training?cm_mmc=beginner-_-2010_02_24-_-forum-_-FORUMS%3a%20Insider%20Training%20

Nice timing, huh?

heh that thread is some opinions4u huh? i'll get some road/track running in, starting with 2 miles tonight.

When I was a member of a gym I used to love doing speedwork on the treadmill. Unless there's a tv, they're kind of boring for running distances on, but if you crank the speed right up, they're fucking mad. And terrifying. Never got used to the sweatiness of running indoors though.

Good luck out there, darraghmac!

If I'm traveling for work and staying in hotels, I find it easier to use treadmills than find a new route, but generally I can't stand it. 75 mins or so is hell. Counting down the minutes, staring at numbers, sweating like mad, watching CNN repeat stories...I also find I don't work as hard - the bounce of the treadmill? Calorie / kj numbers also tend to be way overinflated.

Ran 10 miles before work in Prospect Park (Brooklyn) this morning. It was lovely - the rain's melted the snow, 40 degrees, almost entirely alone, and legs felt good. I just wish I still had a bit of uphill in my life.

I love visiting New York and running there, I was able to fit in a hard 6-7 miler at Central Park (main loop?) before heading to the office one morning. But you local folks are probably used to that, huh?

Can't do the treadmill. Never again.

I don't know how many other Prospect Park runners there are on this board. Maybe a few? I've run in Central Park twice - really, unless you live nearby, it's not really viable to arrive and leave (sweaty) via subway or similar. I prefer Prospect park anyway - no tourists, better landscapes, denser vegetation, more sky, and a greenmarket at my entrance, meaning fruit in the summer at the end of your run!

xpost: somehow running on the treadmill feels like input-output exercise only, without any of the mental relaxation and kinetic pleasure that comes with running outdoors. But I've heard of a few - not many - people who say they actually prefer it!

The one thing I really miss from the gym is the rowing machine (I love u Concept II)

so if i can run outdoors, is there much point in my joining a gym? still think it would help in having someone work out a plan (though i now have one of those i guess) and having access to other facilities like weights etc. no pool though!

Nice to have gym membership, but I can think of other things I'd rather spend my money on. That's probably the reason I've got arms like twigs though, in fact I think I've seen snowmen with bigger biceps.

i think it depends on your goals? if your looking to improve your fitness generally the gym wld be helpful if your just interested in training for a hm or 10k than its probably not necessary

i'm actually alright for muscles tbh, it's just the blubber layer between them and visibility that is holding me back.