Hello everyone! How’s it going? It’s hard to believe Christmas is less than 3 weeks away. Where does the time go? Have you got any run gear on your gift list? I’ve been trying to get used to my new watch settings (early Christmas/ birthday/ whatever else I can think of gift). Just keep forgetting to pause it during impromptu photo shoots. 🙂 Auto pause has to be set for every run currently. Haha that will never happen! Did it again this morning! We’ve gone into full lockdown here but they are keeping most of the parks open which is good for us runners. I am planning on trying a few new routes soon. Not really running to a plan right now, just running to run and explore in the new season. The pic here is a collage of a few recent ones. How about you? I know there are lots of folk joining the Spring 2021 HM group. Any special plans for holiday runs? Let us know!
As always, if you're new here, or just browsing through the community posts, this is a great place to introduce yourself and let us know how you are doing. You’ll find plenty of support and knowledge from your fellow runners here.
Have a great week, everyone!!!
The Marathon Team xxx
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Less than 3 weeks to my marathon, and not really tapering yet - that's what you get when you do 2 marathons 13 weeks apart, and didn't train properly for the first one. I did a slow 12 k yesterday to scout the first section of the event. It has been 3 years since I ran there last, and since it's such a small event that I need to find my way, I thought a reccie was important. It's crazy how poorly I run when my brain is busy checking Google maps and wondering how far it is to the next turn. Not to mention the occasional wrong turn!Anyway, I figure I'll put in 4 runs this week. Depending on the weather, I'll move my long run to the end of the week, and repeat yesterday's route and keep going.
Very impressive C3PO. Very fit and highly organised. Navigation is my winter project. I have managed thus far with my faithful forerunner 35 and sticking to areas I know. I seem to remember getting to this point last year.! Hope Santa is listening..
Distance covered, total time elapsed and current pace in one display is all I need “in run”really. I check heart rate, stride length, cadence and lap times post run....I don’t need any more data.My 35 does it for me. If I could be bothered to work it out I could set training programmes I think, but for better or worse I just work out my own or follow a pinned plan.Just need to find a way of avoiding getting lost so I can be more adventurous in exploring the moors .....and finding my way home afterwards 🙂
I’m not bothered with heart rate or cadence etc,nor pace for that matter. I can’t read the watch on the run anyway 🤓
I want to explore more. it’s exciting getting off-road for adventures A local runner near me offers courses to learn the skills He organises the town’s ultra. They insist on the paper map for that 😃 As well as phone and these 3 words or whatever it’s called
All my runs are off road. If I want to venture further I need to learn to navigate on the North York’s Moors competently. Not a place where you would want to get lost and you can’t always rely on mobile connections. All makes life interesting.
Speaking of which, I’m just about to don mine again as run to the shop to collect a parcel. I’m running along the canal part of the way. Lovely day for it 😎🏃♀️
2 marathons in 13 weeks is really impressive C3PO! I find trying to run to Google maps challenging too, as you constantly have to stop and check your phone. Got us out of some jams though. And in the very cold days sometimes the phone freezes and you have nothing! Good luck with your runs and your next marathon! 💪👊
The cold is problematic, isn't it? A few winters ago, my phone died after my long run, just as I took it about to buy a ticket for the tram ride home. I couldn't face walking 8 k uphill home, so I ran to a school 3.5 k away where my husband was waiting for our son to finish his gymastics class.
It really is. My phone and watch died a few times in the cold last year, but i started bundling them up better and they lasted longer later in the season. Too many photos probably
Hi C3PO. Have you tried the Rungo app for mapping directions? You enter your route & it speaks turn by turn directions as you go. It does pretty well with the standard directions, but you can also review & customise the voice prompts if you want.
No, that sounds like what I would have needed. I spent lots of time converting the map to Google MyMaps, only to discover that it doesn't offer navigation. I'll definitely look into Rungo next time. Thanks!
The first time I typed my own notes into Rungo I grinned throughout my run! It was like magic how she read my notes to me - the typos were a special giggle!!! It worked a treat though - I had things like 'the river will be on your right now' and stuff like that. Just magic!!! I cant remember why I moved from Rungo to Komoot now - I think I found it easier to plot and the directions are better if you end up off course - but it doesn't have that magic text to voice feature as far as I know.
Gorgeous photos Decker! The snow should help with the festive feeling - our temps have finally dropped which has helped in that respect, if not in any other! My hip is still bothering me so another week of no running which will mean a major rethink of my ultra plan but that's OK (will have to be!!!) and more time to concentrate on my annual cycling target. I do need to dig out my warmer footwear though having almost lost my toes on yesterday's ride 🥶. Have a great week everyone.
Yes it is feeling a bit more festive with the dusting of snow! That Ultra isn’t going anywhere. Better to have a healthy hip in the long run so to speak. Yes warmer socks are on my shopping list too. Froze my toes the other day. Also running mitts. Much more sensible than my giant snowmobile mitts. Hope you recover soon!
Haha. My thermals are Aldi or Lidl ... and the top is good to go for a ride again (the bottoms come between me and my cycling pad and, as I remembered yesterday, that can often end in tears - so I'm opting for chilly quads today instead 😅)
After completing my HM last week I'm now straight into quarantine as I went home! Luckily we have a garden to walk around, and a cross trainer, so at the moment I'm off runs altogether! I'm trying to do a daily routine of: using the cross-trainer, yoga, and walking around the garden. I hope this will keep my fitness up? I also really want to do some strength too, because I've always neglected it.
I'm just looking forward to in two weeks when I can get out again but at least this gives me some time to figure out what new plan I'm going to do.
You’ve definitely earned some down time after that amazing HM effort! I should think crosstrain plus Yoga should keep your fitness top notch while you weather the lockdown. And if you find yourself really needing a run then you could maybe plan a short garden loop “route”. Hey someone ran a marathon on their apartment balcony so anything is possible!
ahh thanks Decker! I'm hoping to keep up the quarantine routine .. as for running a marathon around the garden.. thats some determination! I think I'd get dizzy
Absolutely beautiful photos Decker, you could use those for your Christmas cards.
I’m still in Ireland but I got back to a long run of 10 miles last week after a few weeks of low mileage. I’m planning to continue where I left off and sneak beyond the HM distance just to see how I get on. So, 18K this week. It’s nice to have different routes actually and I really enjoy plotting them beforehand.
I haven’t done any other exercise and really miss my Pilates so I am going to make a real effort to do some other strength stuff this week.
Oh, and I need to order some warmer leggings, it’s freezing here. I always forget how much colder it is here than at home.
Oh what are you thinking of distance-wise IP? Maybe 30k? It’s a nice balance between HM and mara. I wish you luck on the strength work. That is so my weakness! The cold always catches me off guard. I’m still getting used to the shift.
I haven’t got a particular distance in mind Decker. I just want to get used to running for longer. As Hidden suggested, a metric marathon might be a good next step... 🙂
Beautiful photos 📷 absolutely stunning. I'm still out there 3-4 times a week. I'm chasing 1000 miles by the end of the year. I'm on 937 miles so far so it should be good. Really enjoying it still. 15m run Saturday which felt great. No pressure just seeing the year out 😊
Meanwhile on the learner slopes.........rehab hill run this morning. It was cold and wet and the hills are steep, rocky and liberally sprinkled with patches of mud and standing water; lovely. This was a real test in that it was this run two weeks ago which sent me off to the physio with a very tight calf. She said that the muddy conditions require calves to work harder to keep the legs stable. So, I dug out my trusty la sportivas this morning; they are have really solid soles and are designed for rock hopping really, and it worked a treat. Not a glimmer of a problem. Ok I took it really slowly; probably my slowest over the route for ages, but I ran all of the hills and I think that I am back on course. Wednesday is long run day. I was up to 15k but maybe I will scale it back a bit given the two week break. Set the watch for 12k and see how I feel. 👍
Fantastic BC! I would only caution that you take it easy coming back online. I made the mistake in the summer of pushing too hard on my first comeback runs and wound up back on the IC. Good luck!
Thanks Decker; I agree. I ran this at 7:27/k. Ages since I ran anywhere that slowly, but my calf is as loose as a goose. Wednesday will be slow too. I have finally found my crawler gear 🙂.
What stunning pics Decker. 😍😍😍 Not surprised you keep stopping to take them! It’s funny but even though I’m on auto pilot when running, whenever I need to stop for someone on a narrow footpath, or if I have to cross a road (rare) I always remember to pause my watch. It’s second nature! You’ll end up remembering, I know you will!
I’ve signed up for the spring HM group again. No idea why, as the Bath Half has already been pushed back from March to September. I guess I just enjoy being part of a group! 🤣
Your pics are impressive as usual Decker. It’s great to see you back to full fitness now and knocking out those legendary long runs once again. 👍 It’s Something I’m just not built for 😂 1k to 10k is my thing and I’m happy there. Mind you I have a long (for me) hill run due tomorrow so I’ll be bracing myself for that and running through gritted teeth. I know it’s good for me so that keeps me going 😀👍
I might have been a bit silly coming back from zero (no runs since mid July) with only a 1k, then 2k then straight to 5k +5k back to back. Now feeling a sharp pain under the ankle and along side of my foot (peroneal tendon maybe) . So I'm giving at a week's rest for now. 🙁
Phew! I may have gotten away with it. 🙂 Only a slight niggle sensation during a few test joggettes of tens of metres. Still going to give it 1,5-2 weeks off though.
Lovely pictures, particularly the light over the river.
I'm happy to be out with my running club tonight, though think I might need to add another layer and gloves as it's going to be cold in the evening.
I'm now into week 4 of my HM plan, scheduled for a 10 miler for Friday (first official one of the plan, ignoring my accidental 11 miler last week). I have plans to use that run to scout out part of the route of a local HM race - it's supposed to be hilly and muddy so I want to get a sense of what I'm letting myself in for before I sign up, keeping open the option of going easy on myself by opting for a nice flat road route instead! <ignores the little voice whispering "you could always do both">
Otherwise, I'm happy that I'm finally being more consistent with strength work and yoga - fitting in daily yoga and 3 short strength workouts a week. I'm hoping to get to halfway on Lejog5 sometime this week (12 miles more to do) so that will really feel like progress.
Sounds like you are right on track with your training - both your running and strength work. Good for you. I’m still trying to get more consistent with strength work.
I have some Active Root ginger gel in my Christmas stocking. Sqkr was talking about it a while ago and it piqued my curiosity - I really like the idea of being able to make the gel to my preferred consistency, and have it in a reusable bottle. Also, I really really like ginger! So I'm looking forward to trying it when I get to do some longer runs next year 😊
I'm starting to pick up speed in my marathon training plan now, which is fun and also good for keeping warm 😂 I had an interesting time yesterday going through my notes from the last time I did this particular plan - I may post about it!
My training is off for now. started out with me having flu so getting a test my daughter coughing a bit so added her to the testing. I came back negative as I expected my daughter’s came back positive for covid so now I’m isolating. So neither of us can exercise at all. Both looking forward to running again when I am allowed out next! Thankfully she is not very poorly and my cold is getting better.
I’m new here. I started C25K at the end of July & completed a 10km last month. I was planning to roll straight onto an HM plan, but decided to delay a little until I complete a few preparations:
Cut back week – only did 2 short runs last week, suffered severe withdrawl symptoms 😊, but should start the HM plan on fresher legs.
Gait analysis & a new pair of Brooks shoes, to replace the basic Decathlon shoes that I started with.
Plan – was originally thinking about James Dunne’s plan, but it is quite high mileage. Now thinking about using the HU HM plan alongside James Dunne’s strength & conditioning.
Finding my easy pace, and controlling my pace. I’m rubbish at pacing, I got away with it up to 10km, but think it is going to become vital for the longer distances. I’ve run a couple of paced runs to practice & I’m getting closer to holding an easy pace (~6:50). However, not quite down to the speed that the VDOT calendar suggests (7:10-7:50 min/km). What does everyone think – how important is it to get my easy pace within the suggested range?
I’m not so technical on pacing but as a general rule if thumb, if you can ease your 10k pace down, it usually results in longer distances. It will still be tough at times, but it makes it much more do-able. For me, my pace came back online as the distance training progressed. Sounds like you are well setup to make it work though.
Wow, you sound good to go!!! I think everyone struggles with pacing - often trying to go slower is hard. Just keep plugging away at it. It's trying to help you recognise how you feel at different paces and also to reduce impact as you build distance; if you're slightly off it isn't going to matter too much .. just keep practicing 😊
Stunning photos Deker. I'm still out running 4 times a week and really enjoying it. Plus tonight I just received my 800 miles postcard on LEJOG4 so just 74 miles to go. On another note I ran 10 miles today and got a pb of 1.41 and 26 seconds.
My Xmas marathon just got a thumbs down from the municipality it was supposed to start in, so it's going virtual. I'm waiting for an email with details, but think I'll probably rerun my virtual London Marathon route, and see if I can improve my time. At least I don't have to keep practicing my 4 k hill!
Hello all.I moved over from B210k with the idea of getting to 10 miles and then seeing how I feel. You lovely lot have me lots of advice and stuff to think about 👍
I've joined the Spring HM group and have started running 3 times a week, previously I was on twice a week. That seems to be fine, and I'm trying to implement strength work into my week, which is sort of going OK. I'm not good at sticking to plans and the last two weeks I've run further than I intended on my long run day, longest run so far being 13k. So this week I cut back and was planning on running 11-13k again but only did 10k it really wasn't a good run but I stuck at it so I'm trying to be pleased for doing that.
Welcome! It sounds like you are right on track and being sensible regarding cutting back and avoiding injury. I hear you on the strength work, not my best area either but well done on sticking to your overall schedule. Good luck with the HM training too! 👍🏼🙂
We got partially unlocked two weeks ago, and the little snow we had yesterday has melted, so today was my longest run since my accidental HM eight weeks ago. I'm guessing at 18k, but don't actually know how far I ran in total as I failed to start Strava properly and only realised once I'd been heading uphill for some time and hadn't had any notification of distance. 😱 Apparently I got 10 mile and 15k PBs, and a second-fastest 10k though, so I'll take those!
Course, now I'm going to have to run it again and record the distance properly... 🏃♀️😜😂
You have to love an accidental HM run where you score two PBs! Also don’t be like me and remember to un-pause your watch the next time you go for it! 😁
I decided to try a different route for my first long run in the HM training plan. I planned to run to the far end of my usual route, then join a path along an old railway line, and then onto a canal path. My wife kindly agreed to pick me up at the far end.
I set off at 9am on Saturday. After about 5km, I left my familiar route, and joined the old rail line. Very quickly, I came on a "fisherman" at the side of the path. All kitted out for a long day with a folding chair, flask, umbrella etc, but no fishing rod, and no river in sight! Further along, there was another couple sitting at the side of the path, similar gear, but again no fishing rod. What were they waiting for?
It was only a bit later when I started meeting runners coming in the opposite direction, wearing race numbers, that I realised the "fishermen" were race stewards, and I was running the wrong way along the MK of winter half marathon route! Luckily, I met the runners towards the end of my run, and at a point where they were well strung out, so I dont think I caused too much havoc running in to opposite direction.
Anyway, it was my first experience of race day atmosphere (if a bit muted due to covid) with lots of runners to greet along my run! And in a way, my first training run gave me a better experience of a half marathon than I bargained for!
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.. as for running a marathon around the garden.. thats some determination! I think I'd get dizzy 
