The Fitness Thread

[Dire Wolf]

For anyone interested, sportsshoes.com have been having a sale and I got a new pair of Mizuno Wave Inspire 18 running shoes for £49.99. Wave Inspire 20 are £90-100, so a good saving, for not a great deal of difference in shoe. I've been strictly a Brooks Ghost running shoe man for about 6 years, so this is a departure. I wore them for the 1st time this morning for an 8k run and they felt really good, and for that deal you'd be mad not to try them!

 

[Walshes Wolves]

For anyone interested, sportsshoes.com have been having a sale and I got a new pair of Mizuno Wave Inspire 18 running shoes for £49.99. Wave Inspire 20 are £90-100, so a good saving, for not a great deal of difference in shoe. I've been strictly a Brooks Ghost running shoe man for about 6 years, so this is a departure. I wore them for the 1st time this morning for an 8k run and they felt really good, and for that deal you'd be mad not to try them!

Not that I am a very good runner, but I also wear Brooks Ghost running shoes and to be truthful I find them very comfortable and they last me a long time.

 

[Langers]

Managed a new 5k PB yesterday - 21:04. So annoyed that I can't seem to break the 21 minute barrier - that's 3 times I've got under 21:10 but my target time keeps eluding me!

In other news, not had a beer in 10+ days now as I need to cut back for financial as well as health reasons. I've already noticed I'm sleeping better. It's my wife's birthday this weekend but once that's out of the way, I'm going to go without booze again and see what difference it makes over a longer time period.

And hopefully I'll beat that fucking 21 minute time.

 

[The Bear]

Run 5 seconds faster would be my advice.

 

[Dire Wolf]

Run 5 seconds faster would be my advice.

Why aren't you coaching elite athletes, your advice is cutting edge?

 

[Dire Wolf]

Managed a new 5k PB yesterday - 21:04. So annoyed that I can't seem to break the 21 minute barrier - that's 3 times I've got under 21:10 but my target time keeps eluding me!

In other news, not had a beer in 10+ days now as I need to cut back for financial as well as health reasons. I've already noticed I'm sleeping better. It's my wife's birthday this weekend but once that's out of the way, I'm going to go without booze again and see what difference it makes over a longer time period.

And hopefully I'll beat that fucking 21 minute time.

My 5K pb is 20.08 (annoying how close to sub 20 I got), but it's from a good few years ago. I'd be happy with sub 25 minutes these days. I almost find 5k harder than 10k because you're right on your threshold the whole time, whereas a 10k the added distance means you're not running at your pace limit as much. Maybe I'm just past it.

 

[Langers]

My 5K pb is 20.08 (annoying how close to sub 20 I got), but it's from a good few years ago. I'd be happy with sub 25 minutes these days. I almost find 5k harder than 10k because you're right on your threshold the whole time, whereas a 10k the added distance means you're not running at your pace limit as much. Maybe I'm just past it.

I know exactly what you mean! I do more 10k runs than 5ks but I'm never trying to beat my best time, it's just to get miles in the legs.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Running longer distances increases you aerobic capacity (obviously) and doing more mileage helps with that too.

However, if you combine that with some anaerobic work too 16 x 400m or 8 x 800m at sub 5k pace you'll find running a 5k will feel easier and easier.

But I got my 5k PB whilst running around 60-80 miles a week training for a marathon, specifically training for 5k or 10k pbs has never really worked for me.

 

[Langers]

Running longer distances increases you aerobic capacity (obviously) and doing more mileage helps with that too.

However, if you combine that with some anaerobic work too 16 x 400m or 8 x 800m at sub 5k pace you'll find running a 5k will feel easier and easier.

But I got my 5k PB whilst running around 60-80 miles a week training for a marathon, specifically training for 5k or 10k pbs has never really worked for me.

Yeah I think this is what I need to do.

Giving serious consideration to joining a local running club. I'm never going to be a world beater and I don't really care about beating other people (my competition is myself!) but I get a lot out of it and would be good to run with like minded people.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Yeah I think this is what I need to do.

Giving serious consideration to joining a local running club. I'm never going to be a world beater and I don't really care about beating other people (my competition is myself!) but I get a lot out of it and would be good to run with like minded people.

I'm in a running club, it's only 25 quid a year (insanely cheap) it means I get a couple of quid off races I enter, and best of all it means I have weekly access to a track where I can do some of the sessions I spoke about above more easily.

The track is great, particularly in the winter, it's lit, it's flat, there's no risk of missing a tree root in the pavement, and as you say you're running with people.

So if you can join a club with access to a track, or even not, get in there.

I've met a lot of good people through it too.

 

[Langers]

I'm in a running club, it's only 25 quid a year (insanely cheap) it means I get a couple of quid off races I enter, and best of all it means I have weekly access to a track where I can do some of the sessions I spoke about above more easily.

The track is great, particularly in the winter, it's lit, it's flat, there's no risk of missing a tree root in the pavement, and as you say you're running with people.

So if you can join a club with access to a track, or even not, get in there.

I've met a lot of good people through it too.

Think it's about £60 for my local one in Stourbridge but I don't mind that, just over a quid a week seems more than fair and if it's going towards the upkeep of a local community, I'm happy to pay it.

I think they get access to a local running track which would be great - the same one that they use as part of my most local Parkrun course.

I'm basically coming to the conclusion that I know very little about running and training so it would be beneficial to get advice from people that do!

 

[Dire Wolf]

You're clearly well beyond the whole 'Couch to 5k' beginners sessions, a running club would likely have a decent spread of abilities from intermediate through to very good club athletes, you'd very quickly find a group within the club of similar ability who would help your training and push you on. It's well worth it in your position IMO. You'll likely see benefits in your performances.

 

[ROVERT47]

In lapse mode at the moment, ain’t one of those saddo’s that go looking for the Hotel Gym.

 

[The Saturday Boy]

Think it's about £60 for my local one in Stourbridge but I don't mind that, just over a quid a week seems more than fair and if it's going towards the upkeep of a local community, I'm happy to pay it.

I think they get access to a local running track which would be great - the same one that they use as part of my most local Parkrun course.

I'm basically coming to the conclusion that I know very little about running and training so it would be beneficial to get advice from people that do!

When I was running regularly it was never about how fast or how far...just how much I enjoyed it. Then I found I was running faster and further. I would run from Stourbridge to Bewdley every Sunday but try and find different routes, see a track somewhere and go where it went.

There are plenty of things you can do to shave a few seconds off your PB but all that leads you to is thinking about how to shave a little bit more time. Stop trying to do that and maybe it will just happen.

 

[Tredman]

Been doing trail running with the local club past couple of Saturdays. As a very much lone early morning runner it’s been really nice to run with other people. Some epic views and routes too over the Chase.

 

[UKYankieWWFC]

Just signed up for my 1st ever 5k next Friday at 5.30pm
Will be running with the wife and 2 kids
I know 5k isn't very far at all and at 49 years old, it'll be the 1st run in a very long time....
Any tips from those that do this regularly?

 

[Stan Hullis]

Start running about 6 weeks ago

 

[UKYankieWWFC]

Start running about 6 weeks ago

I've been on the treadmill for the past 6 months, just understand treadmill v road is somewhat different

 

[ROVERT47]

Tore a calf muscle on my treadmill about 3 weeks ago, managed 35 mins this morning although feeling it a bit now.
You get to that time of your life when your head still says, ‘this is a piece of piss’ but your bodies saying, ‘fuck off’.

 

[Aikiwolf]

Just signed up for my 1st ever 5k next Friday at 5.30pm
Will be running with the wife and 2 kids
I know 5k isn't very far at all and at 49 years old, it'll be the 1st run in a very long time....
Any tips from those that do this regularly?

Don't run too quickly. If you feel like you've got energy left in the final couple of k then pick up the pace a bit.

Enjoy yourself.