Well folks, I've just had a lovely long run along the Middlewood Way, the route I chose for my graduation run. This was by far my longest run ever (including school) and yet was one of the easiest I've experienced. Learned loads, including...
- Pacing is everything. If you keep at that easy conversational pace you can run, basically, forever. And there's fuel in the tank for a 200m sprint at the end.
- Shoes are like mattresses... ones you like when you get into them aren't the ones you need in the long run (ran 4k in my new Hokas on Tuesday and hated every single second of it. Hated. Hated. Hated. 7k in my Brooks felt like 3 steps in the Hokas).
- There are specialist running socks and they start at £14. £14 for a pair of socks!!!! And they are worth every single penny (got them free with the hateful Hokas, so at least that's something).
- When the forecast for Stockport is 36% rain and BBC North West says a small chance of showers, it means it will rain heavily for the entirety of your 50-minute run.
- There's a big difference between clothing made from technical sports fabric and a bog standard Matalan moisture wicking tee-shirt (which quickly becomes like a sodden bath towel).
- My new running belt allows me to carry 600ml of water on a long run without me noticing it.
- My new running belt doesn't work for the 200m sprint at the end.
- I don't need water on a 7k run.
- Running 7k 4 months after you were a pre-diabetic 17.5 stone couch potato feels gooooooood.
Happy running folks! I couldn't do it without you.
Written by
Pianism
Graduate10
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Great post Pianism full of tips and lessons learnt. I have always been dubious about spending £14 on a pair of socks...now i know
So sorry that your Hoka's have not been so enjoyable, hopefully it is a case of needing to get used to them - they look quite a bit more bulky than others. I have never tried a pair so don't know. BUT if you hate them will they let you change them at the shop?
Congrats on the health benefits too, here's to many more and the continued runs 🎉
Thank you. I don't actually find them bulky and the are quite light in comparison to my Brooks. It's just that they are spongy and the low heel drop (I think) makes my calves and Achilles hurt!
Brilliant progress and great that you are getting so much out of your running. Every run is a learning experience and learning from mistakes is part of that..we all make them! My running shop would certainly swap shoes after a short period of use, so worth a try.😊😊
Thanks for the tip on the sports clothing, it confirms what I was thinking. Sorry to hear you’re not happy with the Hokas, I can imagine it’s not fun running in uncomfortable shoes. The running belt sounds good though
I've been putting off buying anything "proper" because I'm dropping in size. But I'm going to have to now, I think. Don't want to be running in a rain jacket when it's warm!
Me too, it’s hard to justify the expense when you know you won’t wear it for long but with the warmer weather I realised I need some proper gear or I’ll be far too hot. I guess I can always sell it on once it’s too big for me
Ooh exciting....love shopping! Take those running shoes back when you are out shopping...most shops would change them, good luck. I need a shopping spree.
I keep looking at some Brooks from the uk and they state that you can sweat in them and If you dont get on with them just return them within 30 days for an exchange or refund...hopefully your shop will do the same.
Not sure - have written to them. Shopping did not go well... Adidas store was rubbish... Decathlon's sizes are a complete mystery to me... honestly, the XL running top I tried on would have fit my 7yo niece perfectly!! So it'll have to be sports direct when I get a moment or more Matalan tee-shirts and put up with the weight when wet...
And you will do it hun....just before Christmas I was bursting out of my size 14 clothes....one of the reasons i started running. I follow slimming world as best I can in France and the weight dropped off. Size 14 is slim anyway Jill
I know but sadly my bottom half is more like a size 16/18 😭 I started using My Fitness Pal a few weeks ago to track my calories n I linked it up to Pacer so it offsets my steps and exercise. Since then I’ve lost 6 pounds so I’m on the right track now. Well done on your weight loss, it must be nice to fit in your jeans more comfortably 😊
Lovely post Pianism! It is great to be able to look back at a run and learn so many things from it. Shame about the Hokas, you just can't tell when you try them on, whether they are going to suit longer times and distances, just as well you have the Brooks!
Such a lovely post and well done on the run ! Great achievement....I do worry about getting new runners as I think I may not like them, may go for Brooks 👟🏃♀️
My advice is don't take anyone's advice (except after they've done a gait analysis and start recommending shoes that would suit you). My local running shop has days where you can go and run in different shoes (outside rather than just on the treadmill). Don't know how I ended up with such different shoes this time than the first time... other than naivety over what works. Defo sticking to my trusted make and model from now on.
Well done ! That’s great and running somewhere where you remember struggling and having a nice easy run makes you see how much you’ve progressed. Well done on 7km, that’s major. If you can, take an extra day’s rest, I didnt and regretted it a bit. I might be shortly off to try my new rain jacket...
Sun has come out here now... typical! Actually, my legs feel better after the 7k than they have for ages after a run... a combination of the strengthening exercises and simply a ling easy run.
What a lot of things to learn from one run! 👏🏼😊 I’m totally with you on the technical fabric front. And have I mentioned my running sock habit? 🤪 Beware, there! Happy running. (And go back to the shop with the hated Hokas. It won’t be the first time they’ve encountered this syndrome.)
I love my new Hokas but we all have different gaits and different feet! Brooks didn’t do it for me but I know lots of people swear by them. Loved your post though!
Absolutely we are. I have Hoka trail shoes and they are great, which is why I bought these ones. They are just a different shoe and don't suit me - my intention wasn't to trash the brand.
I like they way they look and I like the way they feel when I first put them on. It's just that they cause me such a lot of pain when walking and running, and they feel too spongy for me. Yet I love running in my Hoka trail shoes. Glad you love yours - finding the right shoe is so important.
🌨🌧💦🏃 oh no! Wow it's like you've been in an intensive running course. All good info. Well done on your 7km and well done on your entire running journey. It's really impressive what you're achieving 👍😀
Just giggled my way through your ‘what I have learnt this week’ post and will keep a mental note of those socks 👍. Fabulous run though P. I have just bought some new bits from decathalon which I am hoping will be ok. Keep doing what you are doing 👍 it’s certainly working for you.
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