Running

Did another 5k yesterday before work. Managed a 26’27, so a solid 2 minutes faster without pushing myself too hard. Found the voice coaching on Strava and really liked hearing my split times. Helpef with pacing a bunch.

Great run. Definitely yes to sub-20. I was 43 when I did my first parkrun (having done a 3k the week before, my first run in about 25 years).

I did a 22:something. It was late September. Then out of action for a month with injuries. Started again in November. First sub-20 just before Xmas that year (more mileage and some specific training).

Pfft..
It's 18 at best.
Rock hill on the other hand.

Decided to run round the Ilkley Moor Fell Race route x 2 yesterday. 3000ft or climbing over 11 miles.
Absolutely no go in my legs at all.

My question is, when people are increasing their mileage does your performance suffer? I’m not sure if this is obvious, or a sign I’m overdoing it.
(I wonder if I’m even interested in the answer, I just feel knackered and want someone to tell me this is normal and I just need to get on with it!).

It’s normal and you just need to get on with it.

(But do listen to your body)

Well done Brighton marathoners...

@Sainsburys_Ed according to my strata it looks like you finished about 10 seconds ahead of one of my uni friends (@juanito 's brother)

I just installed the chrome strava plugin. It has shown that fatigue is currently at its highest ever. I don’t feel so bad now.
Funny how some squiggles, lines and numbers on a screen are what it takes to accept I might be tired.

good running at Brighton everyone.

@ewanmac If my brother was to train properly he would get GFA, until he does that he won't. He's a dick.

A week to London and I can't wait to spectate.

Road Relays yesterday were a bit rubbish for me. Couldn't get going on my leg, definitely never going running in hills the week before a big race ever again - my legs are so unaccustomed to it that they still hurt today - such a stupid decision. Train home was good fun though and made up for the day, including the ludicrous decision from race referee Bill Adcocks to start all leg 12 relay runners, bar the to 3, as a mass start. This left our leg 12 runner waiting to start for about 5 minutes AFTER our leg 11 runner had arrived. utterly stupid. Myself and some Lincoln Wellington guys spoke to him and he was incredibly offhand about it all.

Watching Callum Hawkins on catch up this morning was painful and horrible and painful and horrible. Not a great weekend for athletics officialdom.

didn't go perfectly to plan, felt like i was massively overheating at about 19miles, and heart rate was in the 170s and pace just dropped, a real shame as once i was back into the headwind i cooled down and pace improved a but, but unfortunately lost about 4 minutes in the last 10 rather than making up and minute and getting a GFA.

a much better experience than last year so not sure i'd do London again even if i had a GFA, Brighton is a good course and just so much less congested than London, which for me makes for a much easier run, will be back again next year gunning for a GFA though!

Well done ^ still a cracking mara time, gfa will come.

Relays sounds a mess at end. Not sure if it best favours leaders or mass-starters tho (pack of runners should push each other on a bit more?)?

If my brother was to train properly he would get GFA, until he does that he won't. He's a dick.

Yes, I'm sure he could. Last time I spoke to him he said he only ran because his GF made him :-)

@Sainsburys_Ed Glad you enjoyed it and you'll get GFA sooner or later.

I can't run to work as it's too far and I can\t carry anything

Mountain marathon people run around with 30l rucksacks, so you could try one of those (they are obviously designed for running so a bit different to a normal bag). I can fit a change of clothes and my lunch in one of those. Alternatively you can take a change of clothes and an extra lunch in on a Monday (on your bike or whatever) and run in on a Tuesday. And if it's safe to leave your bike, you can cycle in, run home one day then run in the morning and cycle home the next, so that you're not doing back-to-back runs on the same day.

If the distance is too far then not much you can do about that I guess...

Apologies if you've already considered all of these ideas

BBC website has one of the worst comment sections on the internet.

Amen to that. Avoid like the plague.

Alternatively you can take a change of clothes and an extra lunch in on a Monday (on your bike or whatever) and run in on a Tuesday. And if it's safe to leave your bike, you can cycle in, run home one day then run in the morning and cycle home the next, so that you're not doing back-to-back runs on the same day.

This is what I do, works a treat.

If the distance is too far then not much you can do about that I guess...

Commute in part of the way on public transport then finish off by running (i.e. get off a few stations/stops early). If no public transport then cycle a hack bike part of the way, lock it up and then run the remaining distance.

If in London then run as far as you want then use a Boris Bike for the remaining distance (I did this when I was building up to my full 7 mile run commute).

Or, get into work early and then go for a run (or go for a run at lunch).

you can use Boris bikes for a brick session if you are a du / tri sort of mode

@Sainsburys_Ed Strong running. Next time for the GFA. I'm dreading the shift in seasons and my own difficulty adapting to warmer climes. Mind you, Bank Holiday Mondays are just as likely to be freezing. Who knows…

While chewing the cud with some people after Saturday's parkrun, I was invited to my first ever group run. Made a pleasant change, and I enjoyed the hill sprint at Ally Pally and impromptu burn-up coming back down the Parkland Walk. Definitely doing more of them once this marathon business is out the way.

just FYI, London marathon GFA times have been updated...

https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/how-to-enter/good-age-entry/

The flattest mara in UK - where is it?

Daaaaaah that's irritating. I'm now outside the cut-off for 18-39. Too many people running close to 3 hours these days?

Manchester is what I was told, and having run it can confirm it is flat indeed. Also not a coastal one so less subject to prevailing winds

I've done a marathon at Harrow school's athletics track. that was pretty flat.

It was also in July on an overcast and humid day with a headwind for around 40% of each lap. Weirdly enjoyable.

https://metros.org.uk/images/banner_graphics/SVPResult_Final.pdf

always the bridesmaid....

Often when I run 12 laps of MP on the track I think, well that wasn't too bad but I couldn't imagine running another 94 laps. I don't think I ever will. Bonkers! Flattest UK marathon I've run was in Richmond (another pacing job) but it's not fast, mainly because of the mixed terrain surfaces. Another vote for Manchester from what I'm aware.

Looks like I was the quickest (long leg) V45 at the national road relays on Saturday. I'll take that! Rest day today, and trying to remind myself that it's too early for carb-loading...

I don't know about the absolute flattest but Edinburgh is downhill overall with only one or two small uphill sections and most of it is along the coast which is obviously pretty damn flat. If you're trying to qualify for something I'm not sure whether or not it counts though (something to do with it being downhill overall). Also as noted it is more exposed to headwinds being on the coast.

Boston marathon. WOW. catch it on iplayer.

Boston (uk) claims to be pretty damn flat, but you’ll be a bit lonely!

There are loads of niche marathons with zero altitude gain, there was one at dorney a few weeks back that went up and down the 2.5km flat side of the lake