The Fitness Thread

[Hereford Wolf]

AND... Week one is over, how did I do

Last Sunday went for a walk with Mrs D, about 6k
Monday about a 5k walk with a bit of jogging thrown in and to finish off
Wednesday, 2.5 mile "run". (walk for 90 seconds, jog for 60 seconds) Had to stop a couple of times and sit on a bench and it took me 38 minutes from front door to front door.
Friday, the same "run" only this time I was able to keep moving without sitting down/stopping. I mean, it's uphill back to my street and I WANTED to stop, my brain telling me it's fine to stop and my muscles screaming at me but in the nick of time, as I started the uphill section, a song hit in my headphones with a brilliant, thumping drum beat and that powered me upwards. Did that in 33 minutes!

Today was weigh-day... I am down to 15st 2lbs, a loss of 12lbs in a week. That has really given me a new purpose and a huge boost!
No bread, very few biscuits at home and none at work and no alcohol. I can do this!

Oh, but please tell me the running bit will get easier!!

I started just like you!
18 months later I completed my first marathon in 3hrs 29 mins.

You will soon begin to enjoy it and appreciate the benefits it brings.
Keep records so you can see your progress.

 

[Tredman]

AND... Week one is over, how did I do

Last Sunday went for a walk with Mrs D, about 6k
Monday about a 5k walk with a bit of jogging thrown in and to finish off
Wednesday, 2.5 mile "run". (walk for 90 seconds, jog for 60 seconds) Had to stop a couple of times and sit on a bench and it took me 38 minutes from front door to front door.
Friday, the same "run" only this time I was able to keep moving without sitting down/stopping. I mean, it's uphill back to my street and I WANTED to stop, my brain telling me it's fine to stop and my muscles screaming at me but in the nick of time, as I started the uphill section, a song hit in my headphones with a brilliant, thumping drum beat and that powered me upwards. Did that in 33 minutes!

Today was weigh-day... I am down to 15st 2lbs, a loss of 12lbs in a week. That has really given me a new purpose and a huge boost!
No bread, very few biscuits at home and none at work and no alcohol. I can do this!

Oh, but please tell me the running bit will get easier!!

Are you doing coach to 5k? It’s how I started and guides you through mixing walking with running. Too much too soon and you will get injured.

 

[Hereford Wolf]

Best running tip I ever had….

Start slowly and then slow down.

 

[Aikiwolf]

Are you doing coach to 5k? It’s how I started and guides you through mixing walking with running. Too much too soon and you will get injured.

Sounds like you were in the pub with @darlowolf64 and I when he asked for advice

C25k is a great app and yes Darlo, the running bit does get easier!

 

[Tredman]

It’s tough starting in winter.

 

[1986]

Looking for assistance here please .

I do a lot of running in the early mornings , so I tend to have the road to myself . I could be out for 2 hours at a time .
I would really love to have a pair of earphones or something similar that does not involve bringing the phone with me .
Is there a device out there that you can download podcasts to - and then tag the earphones/listening device to it as opposed to a mobile phone ? Water resistant as well .
Phones can be quite heavy when you are running long distances . I am looking for something light that will fit neatly into a pouch on my running belt .

Smart watches are an option - but can be quite pricey , but if I have to head down that direction then I will .

Many thanks in advance .

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

What do you currently use to record/track your run (assuming you do?)

 

[Tredman]

Shokz openswimm can do that https://uk.shokz.com/products/openswim-pro

 

[lemonjelly]

I still use a digital audio player that is separate to my phone. Loads are available, sound quality invariably better than your phone too.

 

[1986]

What do you currently use to record/track your run (assuming you do?)

No , I never record or track my runs . I am simply doing it for fitness and because my daily job involves sitting down a lot . I don't run in any races of any description - I simply do it to keep in shape and because it is a long distance it can get quite boring .

 

[1986]

Shokz openswimm can do that https://uk.shokz.com/products/openswim-pro

That looks to be what I am looking for Tredman . Many thanks . I had tried a few places , but they weren't sports related shops , they were just more into phones / laptops/gaming .

I knew there was something out there - just didn't know what exactly to ask for .

I'll give that a shot .

Thank you Sir .

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

The Garmin Forerunner Music 245/255 is a good option that would record both your time/distance (good way to monitor your fitness) and provide you with music. Can sync any old pair of headphones to it via Bluetooth.

Around 100 quid refurbished/2nd hand.

 

[Dire Wolf]

This is my run from today (a beautiful run along the banks of the Tyne in almost perfect conditions). I'm gradually getting some fitness back and I'm running 3-4 times a week again after going a lot of 2025 barely managing 1 or 2. A few years ago when I was in my early-50s, (not late-50s ), and pre-Covid, I was typically doing this at around 4:30-4:45 per km. Covid took a toll on me and I spent a year after having it really struggling with breathing and fatigue, so being at this level, while disappointing in comparison to what I was, is a real step in the right direction.

 

[Langers]

Did the longest run of my marathon training block today - 34km. Very achey now but really pleased with how it went. After having various injuries since the block started, I experienced no pain from them at all today.

4 weeks to go, Wolves 10k next week and a week after that, I start my taper.

 

[Alan]

That's damn near my entire caloric intake for a day, and I'm trying to gain weight! Admirable stuff, @Langers.

 

[Langers]

Wolves 10k yesterday - delighted with my time of 42:56 (my 2nd fastest ever when I've done very little speed work in 2026 due to marathon training and managing niggling injuries) and it's always great to run into Molineux, but what an absolute fucking farce of an event. Runthrough (organisers) fucked up big time by not sending out any packs, so the vast majority of the 2000+ runners had to queue for ages to get a race number. That had a knock on effect with queues for bag drops, supporter access culminating in a free for all at the start, compared to the staggered starts of last year which were based on estimated finishing times.

Basically, that meant some very slow runners were right at the very front, creating horrendous bottlenecks for the first 700m or so.

Some people didn't even get a race number and had to have their times manually inputted afterwards based on their strava data. Ridiculous when you pay not a small amount of money to enter.

I'm sure Runthrough will be receiving a lot of complaints today. A bit annoyed because the chaos meant I couldn't meet up with other people (including @Elephant Pyjamas) beforehand.

Anyway - hopefully they'll have learnt their lesson and next year's will run smoothly.

 

[lemonjelly]

Wolves 10k yesterday - delighted with my time of 42:56 (my 2nd fastest ever when I've done very little speed work in 2026 due to marathon training and managing niggling injuries) and it's always great to run into Molineux, but what an absolute fucking farce of an event. Runthrough (organisers) fucked up big time by not sending out any packs, so the vast majority of the 2000+ runners had to queue for ages to get a race number. That had a knock on effect with queues for bag drops, supporter access culminating in a free for all at the start, compared to the staggered starts of last year which were based on estimated finishing times.

Basically, that meant some very slow runners were right at the very front, creating horrendous bottlenecks for the first 700m or so.

Some people didn't even get a race number and had to have their times manually inputted afterwards based on their strava data. Ridiculous when you pay not a small amount of money to enter.

I'm sure Runthrough will be receiving a lot of complaints today. A bit annoyed because the chaos meant I couldn't meet up with other people (including @Elephant Pyjamas) beforehand.

Anyway - hopefully they'll have learnt their lesson and next year's will run smoothly.

View attachment 16559

been on bbc news since yesterday:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62lx288rz5o

 

[Langers]

been on bbc news since yesterday:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62lx288rz5o

Not surprised! It was so bad.