Running

Scott Jurek recommends rowing to strengthen the shoulders in his book Eat & Run. He probably knows a bit about this running lark.

he's a vegan, you can't trust a word he says.

I joined our local rowing club about two years ago with visions of entering long distance sea rowing races that they take part in, committee politics meant I didn't get to race but I did get taught to row and got slightly addicted to the pain that a Concept 2 rowing machine can inflict.

I'm no longer a member of the rowing club but I do now own a Concept 2. It's definitely helped my running, it's not made me much quicker but my race times have come down quite a bit as I'm far stronger in the final third of races.

I've been running for 8 years and have been saying for at least 4 of those years I'll break 40 mins/ 10k, 90 mins/ 1/2 marathon and 3hr 30min for marathon. I'm not saying it's all down to rowing but since starting rowing I've run 38.30 for 10k, 86 minutes for 1/2 marathon and 3hr 14 for Snowdon marathon.

Did my first run since foot stress fracture this evening - only about 25 mins around central Manchester (shitty place to run, but here with work), but no twinges, so will start to build again. On past evidence, will go straight for a 60 mile week and fuck myself up again, but hey ho.

Must confess, as concession to the foot, wore socks for a bit of padding, so this run may not really count.

by socks i'm going to assume you mean you wrapped your bare feet in rough hessian fabric before putting your shoes on.

Tesco bags sellotaped on, no shoes.

I'm going to pop to the Nationals tomorrow, mainly to shout abuse at the runners for churning up my back garden. I'll be the handsome one hanging out with Greenwich Tritons if anyone wants to say hello.

At last a sub-20min 5k!

Great success!

good lad was just gonna ask you that

that kid could actually be on Boscombe beach^^^ did you take that shot?

Well done Pifko. amazing.

Michael Palin was at parkrun this morning. I met him a few years ago at my graduation and got a photo with him (my mum's most prized possession). Managed a shy wave today. /csb

Did the Run and Become thing today and I always knew I'd end with with a pair of bloody Asics.
On the plus side Gel Cumulus come in all black so I can pretend I'm not.

Bloody hell I won my first race!! O.k it was only a little local race but a win is a win :) 8k Fell Race in Garnswllt, perfect terrain for me with lots of hills and mud. Overtook the leader at the start of the final hill at 6k and ran as fast as my little legs would carry me :)

I would have a celebratory beer but I've got to get 20 miles in tomorrow, so beer will have to wait until tomorrow evening :)

Well done fella, something I've never experienced!

@juanito, how was that for you?

Congrats! Be sure to buy Athletics Weekly next week #souvenir

Any tales from the xc national?

Muddy as a muddy thing.

15mm spikes saw me right and I actually enjoyed it, unlike last year.

I have no tales from the sharp end of the race mind.

Muddy as a muddy thing.

Fun!

Had an absolute shocker on first lap. Couldn't get legs going and was getting passed by waves of people about a mile in. Managed to pull it round in second half. 251st.
How did you get on 5awyr?
So so muddy. And lots of undulations.

Then the pub we were in ran out of draught beers.

Good fun though. (at least the second lap).

I saw some greenwich tritons...@kl was lacking a distinguishing feature.

About 5 minutes behind you in 609th. I actually quite enjoyed myself.

(We camped up to change not far from the Tritons. I also could not distinguish @kl.

Great run. Were you in spikes or trail shoes?

The woods out the back was really fun. The first third of the course less so.

Probably a faster course than Brighton. Apart from the mud...

All different densities and consistencies of mud as well. Beautiful.

Spikes. So much better than my run last year.

251st is serious business, well done indeed. What's next for you?

Well done runners!