Running

I can remember the shock of the transition from treadmill running (at least half an hour a day, 4 or 5 days a week) to the road; the treadmill is much more forgiving of bad shoes and poor technique. I found the treadmill much less physically stressful but it still offered opportunities for injury, since it is easier to run on a treadmill when you're tired.

I really think that the treadmill is only good for cardio. It may help you pound out some distance but the experience is nothing like the same number of miles on the road; you don't even have to carry your water/gels/whatever nor (on a more serious note) do you have to remain alert (no obstacles, course or other people on the road). If you're alternating between road and treadmill, then I think at best your technique won't suffer, but you won't gain much.

Is your knee pain from some other cause, Sparky, or from running? If the former, then alternating till your knee firms up is one thing (although I'd consider not running at all or just cutting down on the road running, till you're better). If the latter, then it's possible that something in your technique is the issue, in which case alternating may help you hide that rather than address it.

I had a few knocks skateboarding, biking and a bad landing when doing a parachute jump once. It's always hurt a little, probably for the last 7-8 years. It's not a bad pain at the moment, just an ache. My shins also ache a little bit, but nothing bad. As soon as it stops feeling achey and starts feeling sharp I stop for a few days. I'm not really looking to become a marathon runner or anything, just looking to get fitter, lose a little weight, do some different exercise to cycling and finish a half marathon I've signed up for in October. I don't really want to stop as I'm quite enjoying it in a weird way, but equally I don't want to screw my knees up. I've been to the doctors about it a few times over the years, and even got referred to a physio once. She said the knee was just getting old and I shouldn't do too much. Frankly I think that's just not good enough for a 29-year-old. I want to be active for 4-5 decades more yet - not about to sit on my arse all day because my knee aches sometimes...

So my first run in over a year was pretty poor. Was trying to be sensible and not kill myself, and I was in fivefingers on concrete.

http://runkeeper.com/user/kirth/activity/72968064

Where do you work Kirth? Looks like you're in my office.

In the NAO building, but not for them

Well done, team mate!

EEI, thanks mate! I'm aiming to get back in to real good shape asap, so will step it up on next run

In the NAO building, but not for them

Ah, I'm 100 yards down the road. That looks like a nice run, will have to steal your route. I normally go past all the embassies and into Hyde Park.

Well I used to run in battersea park all the time. There's a lot of other people there as well.

I'm no sports expert, but is floating around like Peter Pan a wise move on a rugby pitch? Sounds like it could be painful to me.

Playing on astroturf. So pain is a given.

I used to cycle past the embassies on my commute. Always careful not to catch the eye of the armed police outside the Israeli embassy, although they got to know the bike after a while.

Did 4.5 miles at lunch in 29mins (vff, not barefoot). Happy enough with that, given there's a bit of up and down (Camberwell->Herne Hill->Tulse Hill->Brixton). Need to find myself an interesting but flatter route around here to work on pace, though. Anybody in the area have recommendations? I get really bored just running around parks.

when I say barefoot, it really was vff... it's a bit dodgy round here to run actually barefoot. I used to in Battersea park, but dog shit and stuff...

I used to cycle past the embassies on my commute. Always careful not to catch the eye of the armed police outside the Israeli embassy, although they got to know the bike after a while.

Did 4.5 miles at lunch in 29mins (vff, not barefoot). Happy enough with that, given there's a bit of up and down (Camberwell->Herne Hill->Tulse Hill->Brixton). Need to find myself an interesting but flatter route around here to work on pace, though. Anybody in the area have recommendations? I get really bored just running around parks.

When I run past the embassies I gawp through the windows and armed police. Fascinating places. I don't think it's illegal to stare as you go past.

@stix.The boss girl who's on track for 245 marathon says
4 or 5 long runs before with at least one 24 in there.

Agree with that, difficult to separate the mental from my training plan from the bits that make sense!

You want to familiarise yourself with 'hitting the wall' so you want to do it several times, if you can manage a run that takes you longer then your worst case time that would be brilliant, and the further you can manage the better as It will limit the amount of unknown in the marathon!

Thanks looks like I may just have to up by a few miles then for my next three long runs.
When I did the 19 on Sunday it didnt feel all that bad considering it was supposed to be 18 fail on watch reading so I know i can go further but just wondering when that sneaky wall is gonna come up and smack me in the face :-)
I think I might be able to push myself to 22 in training fingers crossed !

So my first run in over a year was pretty poor. Was trying to be sensible and not kill myself, and I was in fivefingers on concrete.

http://runkeeper.com/user/kirth/activity/72968064

Hey you made your run I see well done !
Reckon it was the Guinness that gave you the spring in your step
Keep it up !

Yup I did make the run, although today my legs are killing me! Hopefully I'll be ok by tomorrow to do the 2nd one

Far too many roadworks at night!

[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/154015198[/ame]

So yet another run done, however my legs are killing me now! Again done in vff

http://runkeeper.com/user/kirth/activity/73284057

Any particular part of your legs, or the whole damn thing? That is, do you think this is just getting accustomed to running again, or something caused by the vff?

it's mainly just thigh burn... running in vff is different to general running so I'm really putting effort into not doing heel strike

If you find your calves complaining, you're overdoing the heel-strike avoidance. If not, fine.

ahh ok well it's not my calves so that's good. On the plus side, I've never really ran in normal shoes, so I don't have any habits already

If you find your calves complaining, you're overdoing the heel-strike avoidance. If not, fine.

I'm going to hold you to this, and do the 5 mile loop I did earlier in the week (Adidas) in the VFF's.

I don't think I'll make it due to my calves overloading, but I'll try.

My Garmin 305 is on the way out- fails to communicate with the PC unless you spend 20 mins wiggling the wire.

Is this the best thing to replace it with?

Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS Sportswatch: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

How long does it take to lock onto a GPS signal?

I started running at the same point that I stopped on this one- but not according to Mr Garmin:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/153792430

i quite like the fact that in my mind 15 miles @LRP tomorrow feels as though though is an easy run!