Running

I did my first parkrun today, and my first ever 5km run. It was the furthest I've ever run, I think. Did it in 31:10 - hope I can eventually get that under 30 minutes. Quite fun, actually, although it did hurt.

awesome! 5k was a huge mental step for me, and going further after that is surprisingly easy. keep at it and you'll do 10k in a few months

http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/128173154

thought the aim was 3 laps in the hour Ed....

He forgot his aero bars

Neil, you should come out with the City Runners on Tuesday or Sunday. Normally do 11-12k Sundays and 7k on Tuesday. Real mixture of abilities, very social.

http://www.city-runners-club.co.uk/

Tuesday looks good, I'll check to see what part of the country I am meant to be in this coming week and then give you a shout

awesome! 5k was a huge mental step for me, and going further after that is surprisingly easy. keep at it and you'll do 10k in a few months

Cheers chap, we'll see. I'm happy to stick to parkrun for now and see how I get on.

So since after my run yesterday the top of my feet are really sore. I thought I'd just done my laces up too hard, and tied them looser twice during the run but it didn't help. Last time my shoes got so loose the support went out the window, even worse

Has anyone else had this? Hopefully I just over-tightened the laces from the beginning, but googling and finding running forums (they seem to be a bit like bikeradar i tell ya), i've been diagnosed with everything from stress factures to bad shoes via improper lacing of the shoe.

(one guy recommended lacing the shoe backwards, ie start from the top and have a knot at the toes. Kinda make sense as it would make for a bit more give at the top?)

((I also toyed with the idea of flexible laces as I went to bed, not sure if it's a a good idea or not though?))

I use lock laces (dirty triathlon tip) and they are great, shoes are always consistently tight, no having to do them up again and easy to get off at the end of a run when you're knackered.

I don't know if it will help youre issues but longer term I recommend them!

Has anyone else had this? Hopefully I just over-tightened the laces from the beginning, but googling and finding running forums (they seem to be a bit like bikeradar i tell ya), i've been diagnosed with everything from stress factures to bad shoes via improper lacing of the shoe.

(one guy recommended lacing the shoe backwards, ie start from the top and have a knot at the toes. Kinda make sense as it would make for a bit more give at the top?)

((I also toyed with the idea of flexible laces as I went to bed, not sure if it's a a good idea or not though?))

Could be all sorts. But its definitly worth playing with lacing patterns. For road running I lace my shoes a little loose. As your feet expand when they get all hot. You also dont need your shoes as tight as you think for road running.

For off road running, I have my shoes stupidly tight. I tad painful, but the extra control makes it worth it.

The tops of your feet are pretty sensitive though. So if you've rubbed or bruised them, because of the way you've fitted your shoes. It would'nt surprise me that this could linger and become very uncomfortable.

Runners world has diagramms of lacing suggestions.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--12334-0,00.html

^^
awesome, thanks! Lock laces seems handy, the flex could be good.

^
I'm not running on road but on grass in parks so surface isn't all flat all the time. Far from off road though. I'll have a play around with lacing patterns though, and tying a bit looser from the start, I guess it's about finding the sweet spot between room and support.

Will running socks make any difference? Spoke to my brother in law about it and he swears by em. So far though i've been happy enough regular socks, with wool socks now when it's colder

Had a lovely 5k (almost) 2.8 miles yesterday. Felt funny when I started but was soon enjoying it. First time I'd been running since our honeymoon (where I ran most days) and I still felt like I had some in the tank when I was finished, which is good but I could have pushed myself more.
My plan is to up my distance more now as on holiday I ran 10k a couple of times. Not saying that my time was good or anything C. 1hour.

Had a lovely 5k (almost) 2.8 miles yesterday. Felt funny when I started but was soon enjoying it. First time I'd been running since our honeymoon (where I ran most days) and I still felt like I had some in the tank when I was finished, which is good but I could have pushed myself more.
My plan is to up my distance more now as on holiday I ran 10k a couple of times. Not saying that my time was good or anything C. 1hour.

Did you know that Col (from Friday night rides) is into running? He and a couple of my Norwich mates do the Earlham Park parkrun most weeks. You could get involved.

Someone I work with does that as well Sparky and mentioned it to me. I'm busy this Saturday from 8am (beating) and will be walking a lot that day. So I'm going to try and get along next week.

^^^hope it went well - I did the first day last year, had to drop out of the rest due to injury, would have been back this year, but injured again. They're good people who organise good races. This year should be easier due to the better weather - it was pretty harsh last year.

Went really really well thank you, and I couldn't agree more about the organisers. We chatted at the finish line and they seemed really good people.

The race was arranged into waves with walkers going off at 0700, most runners going off at 0800, and the top 40 competitors from the Friday going off at 0900. We set off with the majority at 0800 (well actually 0806 because we were late and I needed to take a pre race cr*p...) and I ran the whole thing with a pal. We always knew that the fastest runners were behind us but I was very satisfied that we ended up being the first across the finish line (closest I've ever got to winning something!!). :)

I'm really happy we set off with the the 0800 group because we ran most of the race on our own. This was supposed to be a rest week and we just entered for some spur of the moment fun, we chatted the whole way and it was very relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable. Starting with the 0900 group we would have risked getting drawn into being competitive... Afterwards we both felt that, at a push, we probably could have challenged the winning times from the last couple of years but as you say the conditions were probably better and the winning time this year was way out of our league (c.3:15). It was much better that we had a stress free, fun run!

Another plus is that I think my pal might pace me for the whole final 50 of the TP100. He's done a plenty of 100km+ races (though never 100miles) and it'll be really good to have someone who actually understands running alongside me. I've had a few other friends offer (which is super kind) but none of them have run further than a marathon and I think that when the world turns dark his experience will be invaluable.

Great race followed up with wonderful dinner and a concert on the Sat, and a countryside pub ride on Sunday, all with the GF... best weekend of the year :)

^^
awesome, thanks! Lock laces seems handy, the flex could be good.

^
I'm not running on road but on grass in parks so surface isn't all flat all the time. Far from off road though. I'll have a play around with lacing patterns though, and tying a bit looser from the start, I guess it's about finding the sweet spot between room and support.

Will running socks make any difference? Spoke to my brother in law about it and he swears by em. So far though i've been happy enough regular socks, with wool socks now when it's colder

I also swear by proper running socks.

You dont need much kit to run. But what you do use should be absolutly fit-for-purpose.

cool. socks on the shopping list.

and shorts i think. 10km in cut off dickies isn't great for the last km's

Am I ok to run in shorts all winter or is it worth getting some tights to protect the old knees like cycling?

I'm still running in shorts which is unusual for me. Normally when things get cold my knees get achey very quickly. I'm usually the first person into leggings and the last person out. But, to answer the question, yes - I think leggings are a good idea for the winter.

i'm gonna get my longjohns out soon, coupled with some shorts that aren't dickies. Was just about ok yesterday without, really really don't want achy knees in the winter

Recently I've been mastering "running whilst blind", as 10 minutes into the run I am pulling my sweatshirt off over my head as I get up to temperature.

I find that being too hot really puts a dent in my performance also.

what do you do with it? i find it annoying to just having to take my mittens or beanie off

I am currently heavily addicted to Skins compression gear, and will be treating myself to some of their running tights very soon.

Was in thermo tights, thick compression top, and windproof jacket yesterday. Winter is well and truly here for me. On the plus side I did my first headtorch-night run the other day. Running through narrow mountain trails, in complete darkness. With only a small circle of light to guide your feet. Best done with some dark heavy metal on the ipod. Love it.

Thanks guys,
I usually run in some running addidas shorts and Karrimore t shirt. I'll treat myself to some tights for winter and probably keep the t on. My knees really hurt when cycling cold so It's probably for the best.
Can't wait to run when it's freezing cold!

what do you do with it? i find it annoying to just having to take my mittens or beanie off

Tie it round my waist- the tricky bit is taking the 305 off my wrist, then holding that in my teeth whilst pulling the sweater off, without taking my vest top with it, then getting the end of the 305's velco strap back through the eye without running into a lampost/tree.

I am currently heavily addicted to Skins compression gear, and will be treating myself to some of their running tights very soon.

Was in thermo tights, thick compression top, and windproof jacket yesterday. Winter is well and truly here for me. On the plus side I did my first headtorch-night run the other day. Running through narrow mountain trails, in complete darkness. With only a small circle of light to guide your feet. Best done with some dark heavy metal on the ipod. Love it.

Skins- to get the correct width fitting I'd need small, which doesn't work with a 188cm height. I got medium, which Nora Batty's on me, which as you can imagine is a strong look.

Skins- to get the correct width fitting I'd need small, which doesn't work with a 188cm height. I got medium, which Nora Batty's on me, which as you can imagine is a strong look.

They fit me brilliantly*. A real revalation. I'm an XL top, M bottoms. Spot on. I'm a neckless 5'7, 86Kg though. So maybe the fittings arent really standard :S

(*in a kind of perverse, super skin tight, way)

We seem to be going in opposite directions- I'm now 75kg to your 86.

If I start gaining weight, will you start losing it?