Running

Thanks everyone for the kind words and suggestions :) Actually what people are suggesting (i.e. building the mileage) fits more with my way of thinking and also the training I've done thus far... @Sainsburys_Ed I particularly like your thought of building in the walks from early on, rather than just introducing them when I'm suffering later on!! I think I will do that, starting from my longer run this week. As for people running past: I already got used to that idea as someone warned me to go extra slow at the beginning and then later on I'd be overtaking them all again. And that definitely seemed to work in the HM I just did: started with 6:57/km over the first 5, increased time over every split such that the very final one (20k to the end) was 5:20/km, so I was pleased with that, and I didn't have to walk at all.

Anyway, I'll let you all know how I get on :)

After cross season I decided I’d do a half marathon because why not?

I’ve not ran more than a lap or two in a cross race since I done a full one 4 year ago is it normal for ankles to be so tight?!

First run since last Sunday as I try to nurse an overworked calf back to health.

Anyone racing this weekend?

Anyway, I'll let you all know how I get on :)

Starting walking earlier on is a good idea if you're unsure about the full distance - You could even plan the walks to happen in conjunction with feed stations so you're taking on fuel under less pressure.

Also, you will most likely be able to tell people that you ran a negative split marathon! ;)

I'll be running Harrow Lodge parkrun on my own but at the same sort of pace as with a double pushchair and then 2m xc relays at 11.

I'd normally be around the A team but I'd be lucky to even get close to the B team. Crisps and beer injury diet is pretty unforgiving.

Officially yes but very low-key. A 10k at the Olympic Park tomorrow morning, organised by Uniqlo, and I'm literally turning up for the free t-shirt! Had a bit of a monster marathon-pace session yesterday evening (squeezed a sub-75 HM running 8 laps round Battersea Park) so legs are a little heavy. Will use tomorrow as a tempo run, no particular target in mind but will run hard and see what comes out.

Good luck with the calf.

Surrey half marathon on Sunday, would love to go sub 1:24 (did 1:24:06 at Wokingham) will be close as I felt I ran pretty much perfectly at Wokingham!

Not racing, but was planning a long run, so have entered the Cambridge Boundary Marathon tomorrow. Have had a pretty heavy week, will be c.15hrs training after tomorrow, so not planning on anything other than an enjoyable plod somewhere new. Only hope on time is to get home to see the Ireland game.

Gonna head to a local fast parkrun as part of a long run, which I suspect may be flooded.

Trail shoes at the ready then @5awyr.

Good luck @Sainsburys_Ed

@PhilPub I saw that Battersea session on strava. things are looking promising at the moment!

15 hours training in one week is big. top work @kl.

^^^you think one of you might have pointed out that they don’t hold marathons on Saturdays. Now sat in Cambridge with nothing to do but feel intellectually inferior and come back tomorrow.

I’m a fucking idiot.

Recce the route so you don't get lost tomorrow? Race pace plus 1min/mile should keep you fresh... ;)

You only need to know the route if you’re in the lead. Thanks for very wrongly assuming I might be that guy...

As it was still raining this morning I sacked it off and did a long slow run instead. Glad I did, as they posted a photo of a 30 metre stretch which looked to be over ankle deep for the entire length.

A good morning's work, won the race in 33:42 (chip) which is almost identical to my 10k split in the HM last week, which is pleasing given the training load this week, and a slightly twisty course on a windy day. And I think I might have signed up second place finisher to train with the club! (Keen parkrunner, first 10k in 35 mins.) Am now politely chasing Uniqlo about the first place prize that was mentioned on the event website. Can't beat a bit of free gear. :)

Nice one Phil. One of the Run Dem ladies was first female I believe.

Barcelona marathon in the morning.
Weirdly enough they give you the t-shirt before the race and can't decide if I should race in it. My number is already pinned to my normal top so don't think I can be bothered.

That’s like going to a gig wearing one of the band’s own t-shirts. You just don’t do it.

Hey there. More noob questions. I am looking at a training plan for improving my time at my second half marathon in May (Hackney Half). It says this: "2 x 5 mins of continuous hills (approx 45 secs up / 45 secs down)".

What does this mean? They don't mean running on an actual hill, that's just the term for running faster then slower, right?

Why do they have 2 x 5 mins? Why not just say 10 mins? It doesn't indicate taking a break after the first 5 mins.

Apologies if this is basic stuff but I can't see an explanation of it in this book magazine thing.

I'd assume it was running up an actual hill.

Just running faster would be described as intervals/fartlek.

For 2x5 mins I'd assume you take a breather between the two sets, whatever you need to recover ready to do the second set, i.e. a few minutes.

This would be my understanding too.

And what would one do if one didn't live anywhere near a hill?

That's a pretty standard strength building session, the idea being that you're repeating cycles of 45 seconds of high intensity, high workload running with 45 seconds of easy recovery running. It should be more clear though, a break of 5 or 10 minutes between intervals is required where you just do light jogging.

If you haven't got hills, is there a location near you where there are stairs that you could run up as that would have the same effect.

Run to a hill?

Move house