Losing my lockdown running mojo

[Penguinita]

I think I need some sort of new challenge, any suggestions? I’m fed up of running the same routes from my front door with the same horrid hills. And I’m only managing to get out twice a week for about 40 mins due to WFH full time and two small children!

Then to top it off, my Garmin changed my training status to “unproductive” after this morning’s run!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

That was very cheeky of your Garmin changing your status to 'unproductive', after your morning's run, who does he think he is talking to?!!, tell him to ?off. I am sure you ran the best you could,

if you can try and find other routes near to where you live.

[Penguinita Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

I know, the cheeky beggar, after I got up half an hour early too!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

We’re allowed to drive somewhere now to go for a walk/run so could you drive to anywhere close by? What about doing some intervals on shorter runs? Is it safe to listen to music? If so, could you try a different playlist?

How about a virtual race? There are loads around atm, just search online. If you fancy a virtual parkrun, damienair posts about this every Saturday.....

It is getting a bit tedious now but I’m sure we’ll soon see a relaxing of rules and we can get to some different run routes. You’ve done really well though sticking to a routine in such a busy life!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Oh boy, ask your pre c25k self to read that statement then give yourself a big pat on the back. With all that you have going on in your lite you are still able to go out twice a week running over hills for 40mins each time 🎉 fantastic effort. Garmin is just a bundle of electronics it knows nothing of your life. How about setting yourself a monthly distance or elevation gain target then if you have days where you run a little less you can top up with longer runs. Happy running 🤗

[damienair Administrator]

A smart watch can be too smart sometimes. Perhaps go into settings and teach Mr Garmin a lesson or two. Turn off all those settings. I’m not a triathlete and not will I ever be or do I want to be, so I don’t need all the fancy stuff. All you need is Pace, Distance and Time. Everything else unless your an elite athlete is nonsense. I don’t care or want to know about my VO2 Max, Cadence etc as it means absolutely nothing to me. Can I run 5K in under 30 mins without stopping? Yes. Can I run 10K without stopping in under 1 hour after some additional training? Yes. That’s all I care about.

Join some of us on Saturday morning for a virtual parkrun. We run our 5K and afterwards we post up our little run reports. It’s something to look forward to. Like you I’m bored, I’m usually running and training for parkrun PB’s , or 5K, 6K and 10K road races. Now I’m just running to stay active. But I’m running which is great. I’m training now for a sub 55 minute 10K. Not for a race but so as I’m fighting fit and ready for when the real parkrun returns.

Hopefully see you in the Virtual parkrun posts on Saturday morning.

Damien

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

A bit of a cheat this, but follow this link to some suggestions made recently.

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

[theoldfellow]

I have this thing about Strava. Right in the middle of the page it usually says:

'This was consistent with your usual efforts.'

Gee thanks! As it happens that is the MAIN reason why I will not buy Strava's premium package. Damned insulting technology.

The lockdown has made me run more off-road routes, just to get some variety (also barbed wire cuts etc., and much slower times), so I know the problem. Sympathy.

[ArthurJG Graduate10]

If it’s not practical to vary your route another option is to vary your run. The same 40 minutes on the same path can be a steady run one day, speed intervals the next and jeffing and fartlek on other days again. Another thing I’ve done is pacing practice - trying to hit exactly 35 minutes (or whatever, as long as it’s a bit slower than your best pace) for 5k but within that also aiming to hit a km exactly every seven minutes so it’s a consistent pace - I was testing myself before volunteering as a pacer at parkrun but I found it’s also a good way of setting a target that is challenging in its own way but doesn’t require maximum effort or maximum speed.