Running

I've yet to chaff anything, I don't think I'm trying hard enough!

Got my first half marathon coming up in 10 days time and having finally run beyond 10 miles I fancy my chances of completing it without having to walk at any point. Still yet to run the distance but I've done a couple of 12 milers without any grief.

Any advice on 'last minute' prep that I should take on board? I really want to complete the distance before the event itself but having overcooked a 10k the other day giving me shin splints I don't want to break myself.

Also, is it OK to run with earphones in organised events? On the same note, do those of you that run with music have specific playlists/tunes for matching BPM and stride? Recommendations would be appreciated for more jogging pace rather than full tilt. Example, I recently discovered that My Sharona by The Knack is a perfectly outlined beat to lift me for a speedy finish but it's probably a little too pacey for me to keep up for the duration.

people run with earphones but it's not particularly 'good form' if you believe the runners world type articles as you'll be surrounded by a lot of people and you're more likely to hear someone shout 'passing on your left' if you don't have music on so you'll end up getting buzzed as people move past you without you noticing them until the last second or you end up blocking people behind you. but if you keep your wits about you and stay aware of what's going on it wouldn't be a major problem.

personally I love just getting caught up in the whole race experience, music kind of disconnects you from that a little bit.

Some events do specifically ban music so have a look at the race information, after that ts up to you.

I would advise not running at all for roughly a week to keep you fresh, doing light exercise and as much stretching as you can to keep you loose and flexible.

Some core stability stuff can't hurt...

HB - I thought that might be the case. Although without music I honestly don't think I could run to the end of my road.

I hadn't considered the race/crowd element though and I guess that would be a pretty big motivational factor but the more I think of that the more I think I'll try and race everyone from the start and end up blowing chunks after half an hour. I think the disconnection you speak of will keep me in check and I'll just put up with the sneers from the Runner's World types.

Ed - In that case I'll budget for a lung buster this weekend and lay up next week which sounds rather appealing! Must stretch though, I'm lazy at stretching.

Maybe I'll give up smoking too...

Cheers :) What time did you do? I absolutely love miles 10-13 as I take it relatively easily until that point, at which point I crank up the music, neck some lucazade and really pick up the pace right till the end. That road down to green park always seems so much longer than you imagine it to be though! I find the hardest part between 8 and 10 miles.

I was 1:32 - was shooting for sub 1:30. I saw the pace runner carrying the 1:30 sign cruise past me with 2-3 miles to go and there was no chance i was going to keep pace!

2nd run/walk of week two tomorrow morning, and I've decided that I want to be doing nonstop 3k's by end of 3rd week, and enter myself into a 5k for sometime in may, and possibly a 10k in july. Obviously this depends on my fitness, durability and such but I'm thinking it's doable. But its good to have goals to aim towards and as such it should keep me motivated to keep running. Also the change in weather we've had recently is only going to make me want to be out running more..

just be careful, too much too soon might just cause injury

Some events do specifically ban music so have a look at the race information, after that ts up to you.

I would advise not running at all for roughly a week to keep you fresh, doing light exercise and as much stretching as you can to keep you loose and flexible.

Some core stability stuff can't hurt...

erm, it can. especially if it'd be the first time doing core stability stuff - I.e. targeting muscle groups not conditioned to being targeted. DOMS anywhere on race day would be a shitty way to start the race.

Went for a run for the first time in 6 months yesterday - damn it was depressing.
Over 5 minutes slower over 5k than I was in the summer last year.
I guess that is what happens if you stop training.

^^ meant to say gentle

erm, it can. especially if it'd be the first time doing core stability stuff - I.e. targeting muscle groups not conditioned to being targeted. DOMS anywhere on race day would be a shitty way to start the race.

OK, googled DOMS and it appears I'm suffering a slight case of it today having ridden to work yesterday with a new higher gearing. I get the gist, I'm going to take it easy on the run up to race day.

I was 1:32 - was shooting for sub 1:30. I saw the pace runner carrying the 1:30 sign cruise past me with 2-3 miles to go and there was no chance i was going to keep pace!

Nice one! Think I'm going to try and do something september time (maybe run to the beat??? although i've heard its quite hilly) and would like to push for a sub 1:40 time, as my training for this last one wasn't amazing!

just finished my first half, 1.42.09. Liverpool Half Marathon, quite pleased as was shooting for 1.45.
Now just the small matter of the full one in Madrid in 3 weeks....

Had a quick run on Friday- first since the operation on my foot.

Felt great whilst I was running, had to have a lean on a fence when I stopped though, odd!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/75103845

tonight mathew, i am running home.

it's not actually that far but it feel somehow like more of a committment that doing a look round a couple of bridges.

i shall be springy and fleet footed.

today matthew I missed my first run, jamaican hangover and inability to roll out of bed at half six, to get in the run before making my way to work. Will run tomorrow morning and thursday, and Sunday as penance...

right you are mathew.

being on a ship for two and half months ruins your fitness a bit it seems. ran last night for a bit and it just made me so happy to be out and in the woods again. im feeling it today mind but it wont be long till im doing longer and longer runs again.

5k!

god damnit, this running lark is awesome!

Good effort, my other half manager 3.5k in 30 minutes today so very proud of her!

Had decided on getting jog on but went with my name as the shoes i wanted cant have writing on the heels and i thought telling myself to jog on was not particularly inspirational.

must pick different ones in 3 months and be a bit more creative.

and they are fncking hideous, the designer was a little underwhelmed by my creative input and kept trying to make suggestions, but the combination of yellow green pink and black will be pretty noticeable!

Has to wait 3 months though....

all that near-pukey, seeing spots, jelly legged failure plus another disastrous 4k on friday afternoon really had me down last week.

with that in mind and after a less than healthy weekend, i was a tad trepidatious about tonight's planned 5k run home. but with a cool breeze, the the sun shining on the river, hank williams yodelling cheerfully in my ears and my bag upon my back i trotted home without the slightest problem. i started really slowly at almost 7 minute per kilometre pace and gradually settled in to a gentle trot at just under 6 minute pace and felt great! i even did a couple of loops of the oval when i got here to make it up to 6k in total. even managed to stick in "sprint" over the last couple of hundred metres.

it's obvious to me me now i was trying to go too fast too soon. i need to spend more time at my own pace gradually upping it bit by bit before joining my boss/buddies who tend to go off far too quickly for me. i can keep up with them till about 3.5k then i just blow up which wasn't helping my confidence at all. it'll come, but after the today's very enjoyable session it's obvious to me that i was trying to go too fast.

very happy with today's effort. feeling mightily encouraged again. now to bed!

Good work dooks. Must have been the change in hours? Never fails to put a spring in my step.

I am going to keep with my 7k run each night and with a bit of luck get a few miles on the bike Sunday morning, I am interested to see how it works as I usually cycle to get fit and run for fun. Bet my riding drops off

today matthew I missed my first run, jamaican hangover and inability to roll out of bed at half six, to get in the run before making my way to work. Will run tomorrow morning and thursday, and Sunday as penance...

Just think of the words of the great roy castle

my left knee doesn't think i'm as awesome as the rest of myself... it should be ashamed

Good work dooks. Must have been the change in hours? Never fails to put a spring in my step.

I am going to keep with my 7k run each night and with a bit of luck get a few miles on the bike Sunday morning, I am interested to see how it works as I usually cycle to get fit and run for fun. Bet my riding drops off

Cycling really helps running, as it keeps fitness up, without impacting joints. Doesnt work the exactly same muscles though.

Running doesnt help cycling in the same way unfortunatly. So you end up running more, and just cycling to rest the joints, and for fun.

well IMHO.

my left knee doesn't think i'm as awesome as the rest of myself... it should be ashamed

Running off-road, strengthens joints without impacting them so much. If youre not injured try this.