Running

Anyone running Brighton/London marathon (or any other marathon around the same time) this year? Need someone to tell me how well their training is going to depress me into running harder.

If anyone is doing the Box Hill Knacker Cracker 10k on New Year's day this year, I can offer a lift as I have been stupid enough to enter myself.

http://www.trionium.com/knackercracker/

Anyone running Brighton/London marathon (or any other marathon around the same time) this year? Need someone to tell me how well their training is going to depress me into running harder.

Might do my local one again. Its a tiny affair, with say 25 completing the marathon distance and maybe 100 do the half. To save on water stations the route returns to the start/finish line at half marathon distance, and then as people clap and try to hand you a medal, t-shirt etc. you have say no thanks I want to do that again, and follow the same route on more time.

fecking soul destroying.

sounds amazing.

If anyone is doing the Box Hill Knacker Cracker 10k on New Year's day this year, I can offer a lift as I have been stupid enough to enter myself.

http://www.trionium.com/knackercracker/

Maybe next year, it's sold out. I have to do it to complete my t-shirt collection though.
Nothing like a jolly old sing-song before a run!

Good luck. Are you doing fancy dress?

If anyone is doing the Box Hill Knacker Cracker 10k on New Year's day this year, I can offer a lift as I have been stupid enough to enter myself.

http://www.trionium.com/knackercracker/

No, but will throw buns at you as Club ride is taking it in en route!

So I'm about half-way through Haruki Murakami's What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. I'm going to give running a go. Tomorrow I am off to the shops to get me some trainers and lycra with the aim of clambering out of bed and going for a run on the morning of the first day of the 2011. It's happening, people. It's fucking going down.

^ Respek! Go for it, it a great way of life. Steady though, plenty of time; enjoy it, and don't let it become a chore.

I'll keep y'all posted!

BTW, I'm sure you know this, but go to a decent running shop and get fitted out for shoes - unsuitable ones will really ruin the whole sketch for you. Worth the up-front cost - you can then by them cheap on internet for the rest of time.

^^^ Depends on your base fitness but maybe start on a run / walk split at first, e.g. 2mins run 1min walk x5 then build from there. No shame in it, just sensible and could help avoid injury early on.

That run walk thing is about where i'll be for Sundays xc race i'm doing, my training log shows my run mileage for 2010 as 50 miles total. Shameful. Back in on it in 2011 for sure.

Runner's World online has loads of training programs from novice to super endurance.

Any advice on how to avoid stitches?

I've been getting one stitch per run, and just slow down and run through it- would be great not to develop one in the first place though

Slowing down a bit is usually the solution. To prevent watch what you eat and drink and when before you run (1), then think about your breathing during it (2).

What works for me:

1 Avoid food in the hour before your run. Drink until half hour before, then sip little bits only in this last 30mins. Pee as late as you can.

2 Try not to hold your breath (not sustainable) and if you find you breathe to a particular side - e.g. Starting the in / out breath in time with a particular foot hitting the floor - then try to switch it to the other side, e.g. other foot. Might not get rid of the stitch but will help you focus on your breathing and has helped me almost rid it entirely. Pacing your runs correctly helps too.

Any advice on how to avoid stitches?
I've been getting one stitch per run, and just slow down and run through it- would be great not to develop one in the first place though

Where?

If it's right side.. stretch left. or vice versa.

I find stomach breathing useful. You need to inhale and push guts out and vice versa..

I could show you what I mean but I'm no runnner.

I shall follow your advice- only recently started running so this is all a bit new to me.

One thing that I find surprising is heart rate- out for a 3.1 mile cycle (commute to work) average speed of 14.2 mph and my heart rate is 136 bpm av, max of 162. This was my old normal commute.

Now with running 4.9 miles my average heart rate is 152, with a max of 167.

I did this route three times over the holidays and those rates are pretty consistent.

So- is it normal to have a much higher average heart rate when running?

If I had an average of 152 when cycling I'd be averaging 20mph+

And yes, always right side

I don't know about HR.. your's is far lower than mine which is probbaly goof,

I was told to lean to the left in that case. Breath in deep (push stomach out) whilst stretching slightly to oppposiote direftion of stich,

Lean?! Are you mad?

Don't let Ed see you saying that.

Maybe next year, it's sold out. I have to do it to complete my t-shirt collection though.
Nothing like a jolly old sing-song before a run!

Good luck. Are you doing fancy dress?

I might stretch to a hat and sunglasses for that Blues Brother look.

No, but will throw buns at you as Club ride is taking it in en route!

I shall devour them with relish...

I would dearly love to get back into running. I used to run competitively and pretty well over long distance but fucked up my left knee (climbing) about 3 years ago. Non-impact stuff is fine - cycling = A-OK. Swimming would be awesome if I could stop drowning, but running is a no go. I can still just about manage a few short sprints in football and rugby but can't do more than about 70 metres without my knee really playing up/being properly sore for the next few days.

I bloody miss it - a hugely liberating activity. Wools. Do it, you won't regret it. Unless you fall over and graze your knee or something. That'd suck and you'd be all like: "Mumble mumble, this wouldn't have happened if I'd been walking. Whimper". And no one wants that.

@ dammit

You muscles are more accustomed to cycling and are built up tone more efficient, also heart rate is proportional to effort all other things being equal so chances are you are working harder which explains the heart rate.

To avoid stitches it's simples, run more, but the advice about not eating the hour before hand is solid, the other thing that I read somewhere is to contract the stomach muscles on the side of the stitch as you plant the leg of that side, I'm not sure if doing this actually helps or if the complicatedness of it distracts you from the stitch but I worked for
Lensman I started running.

sounds amazing.

I would have come last, last time. But luckily, due to the freak wether (over 30C, in May, in Norway WTF?), a guy just behind me collapsed. Wish I'd noticed, could done with his water.

Any advice on how to avoid stitches?

I only recently started running

This is pretty typical of a lot people new to running. After a while you'll stop getting them (most likely)

I haven't run for 6 weeks now for various reason, lack of motivation is the main one. Bruised 2 ribs last week and it hurts like hell, can't see myself getting up and running again within 2 weeks either, even signed up at a gym for the first time ever in order to get myself off the sofa and into shape again.
Probably gained 8lbs since, without any real change in diet, I consider myself fucked for at least another 2 months. Not happy.

Any advice on how to avoid stitches?

I've been getting one stitch per run, and just slow down and run through it- would be great not to develop one in the first place though

Avoid eating for a couple of hours before you run. Make sure your bowels are properly evacuated. If neither of these things apply, give yourself time, it will pass.