Running

Yeah. I've thought about it being the new shoes as well. Maybe too much correction. Absolute pain in the ass. And all the barefoot-evangelizing you read on the internet doesn't help.

^ marketing, although now could be as good a time as any to try it out as you're almost starting over again after your time off...

This.

You want to buy some deep section bling rims?

pffffft!

It would be a disc + trispoke combo, if anything. Thats what batman would ride.

7 miles along the mersey just now, lovely. Passed 26.2 miles for the year, nearly 6 months to run a marathon, not bad going....

I've just taken up running in the last 6 weeks or so. I live in a great area of a city for it - I can mix up my routes with parks/trails/towpaths and can do decent distances without having to pound along pavements. I'm really enjoying it which to be honest I never thought I would. It's mainly for cardio/fat burning as I'm not cycling as much as I used to and am partially replacing it with running. I'm up to about 11-12km fairly comfortable - Not at a super fast pace but just over an hour. (edit- I can comfortably run up to 12k and have done a few times - But i don't do that everytime i go for a run. Usually more like 7-10k) Endurance isn't much of an issue - I think cycling has helped alot with my stamina, but my problem at the moment is I don't think my legs/knees have adjusted to it enough yet - getting a few twinges here and there. I tend to stretch a couple of miles in and it helps. I'm gonna sign up to the Birmingham half marathon in october - Give me something to aim for.

I was wondering how often would people suggest I run, I'd like to go everyday but that seems to be asking for an injury, is say 12k 4 times a week a reasonable asking - Give me a day to recover inbetween?

isn't that quite hefty distances if you haven't done much running before?

even though your stamina is fine, your ligaments etc might suffer?

I did think that, but I still need to get something out of it, and running half the distance I would barely break a sweat -

Unless, it would be better to run shorter distances, but run faster and try to improve my time, then work on building up onto longer distances?

Also - Probably not made very clear in the first post, I can run up to 12k and have done a few times - But i don't do that everytime i go for a run. Usually more like 7-10k

I did think that, but I still need to get something out of it, and running half the distance I would barely break a sweat -

Unless, it would be better to run shorter distances, but run faster and try to improve my time, then work on building up onto longer distances?

Find a conmfortable pace, and judge how much you're doing by time not distance. Build the strength and conditioning need to complete the half-marathon distance. Then consider shorter, faster runs, or interval training to improve your times.

I would'nt advise you on how many days a week you should run. you need to see how your legs feel.

Just went for a run and I decided to try and change my style to see if that will help with my knee problems. After reading about different foot techniques (heel/mid/fore/toe), I thought I'd change that up to try and get some more cushioning in my stride. I've been running a mid-strike/flat footed landing sort of stride (basically landing flat footed rather than heel, thinking this would give me the most advantage out of the padding in the shoes). I've moved up to the ball of my foot to try and do a forefoot thing. Did 2km. Way more work for my calves. They're a bit sore (well, pretty damn sore. I'm walking a bit funny right now), but hopefully over the next couple of weeks they'll strengthen up and I'll have taken a bit of stress off of my knees.

^ & ^^ be sure you have the appropriate footwear for your altered running style, otherwise injury awaits.

What brand/model are you running in at the moment?

For forefoot you're probably looking at something from Newtons or Vibram FiveFingers.

What'd be the point in forefoot running in trainers designed for heel/mid foot strike - when all the cushioning will therefore just be carried rather than utilised?

Good luck with the change.

P.s. From a physio website looking at the merits of forefoot running:

Warning - Transitioning from a REAR to a MID/FORE foot strike may seriously damage your health - this must be done with a careful programme that gradually introduces the concept into your training.

For forefoot you're probably looking at something from Newtons or Vibram FiveFingers.

What'd be the point in forefoot running in trainers designed for heel/mid foot strike - when all the cushioning will therefore just be carried rather than utilised?

I would have thought the current shoes would be fine. The RW Shoeselector includes a strike style question. Not sure how it chages stuff.

You'd need to be pretty efficient and light on your feet to run far in FiveFingers (folk do marathons in them. So it is doable though). Those Newtn get terrible reviews from actual users, and shops see a lot of customers returning them.

I'm using the Brooks Adrenalines GTS 11 which, apparently, have sweet forefoot DNA (in addition to sweet heel DNA) "which adapts to me individual foot fall."

As far as changing styles, everything I've read says don't try or be able to expect to be able to swap instantly. You'll need to start again. From what I've discovered today, I don't even think it's possible to swap instantly. 5k would have left me crawling home.

I would have thought the current shoes would be fine.

How so?

I mention Vibram and Newtons as popular forefoot sellers.

Have just had a play with the trainer finder, can't work out the logic behind it but the cynic in me wonders if sponsorship plays a part in the search rankings?

I wasn't (and still am not) prepared to splash £90+ on a pair of shoes that are only worth it if forefoot running works for me.

Me neither.

I'm using the Brooks Adrenalines GTS 11 which, apparently, have sweet forefoot DNA (in addition to sweet heel DNA) "which adapts to me individual foot fall."

As far as changing styles, everything I've read says don't try or be able to expect to be able to swap instantly. You'll need to start again. From what I've discovered today, I don't even think it's possible to swap instantly. 5k would have left me crawling home.

Yup, I imagine it'll be a long road. Fair play if you see it through and get the benefits. Most I'll do is some warm up drills up on the toes, but that's rare enough, and running remains good 'ol Heel Strike.

P.s. "Sweet forefoot DNA" did you make that up, or is that in the marketing gumpf?

That's what they call it (minus the "sweet" part). Apparently "DNA is a high energy return cushioning device consisting of highly viscous liquid that performs like millions of "nanosprings"."

aka Marketing Crap?

;)

Yeah. Being rather new to running I am pretty impressed with the level of bollocks involved. Super specialized running shoes, special running shoe laces, running socks, running shorts, running top, running arm band for your running digital device, special ergonomic running water bottle, running cap. And that's if the weather is nice.

Anyway, forefoot makes sense to me right now. It's either me trusting "millions of nanosprings" to protest my knees when I heel strike (as that's the only thing besides the knees that will be taking the impact), or I do what I would do naturally to lesson the load off my knees. I'm not trying to run marathons or win any races. I just want to be able to run without injuries.

Speaking of forefoot style shoes, the new Merrell Glove range seem to be getting the thumbs up at the moment.

^^ My local Runners Need has special Nipple Plasters and a Sports Forumla Washing Soap (for washing sports gear). Unbelievable.

If forefoot solves the problem, that'll be grand. A bit of work on strengthening your core and double checking any previous gait analysis / support trainer recommendation might offer better returns quicker though?

^ Merrels used to be (still are?) built on a Vibram sole, so probably quite similar to the FiveFingers, although without the individual toe bits by the look of them.

^^ My local Runners Need has special Nipple Plasters and a Sports Forumla Washing Soap (for washing sports gear). Unbelievable.

If forefoot solves the problem, that'll be grand. A bit of work on strengthening your core and double checking any previous gait analysis / support trainer recommendation might offer better returns quicker though?

I don't know how to do that stuff, though. Self-diagnosing using the internet is easier.

Local Run Shop for gait analysis (video + treadmill).

Core excercises:

http://www.physioroom.com/prevention/core_strength/core_strength_1.php

(edit - best if you can go to a gym class for core strength rather than learn un-guided. Yoga / Pilates may help).

Ah, yeah, well I had the gait analysis done a month or so ago. Which matched the one I had done a few years ago. I'm pretty confident in that.

^ Merrels used to be (still are?) built on a Vibram sole, so probably quite similar to the FiveFingers, although without the individual toe bits by the look of them.

That's how I understand them, but also with a liner so the seams can't rub you as easily as they can on the FiveFingers.

just got back from my first 6km, with two sprints on top of that.

lower calfs are sore, rest feels fine.

progress!