My Run Log - HM

[rhysduck]

Somehow I've managed to sign up to the Cardiff Half Marathon in October and having never actually done any running outside of playing Squash this is a bit daunting.

This will be my log over the coming months to track fitness, progress, times etc.

I'd like to average 9minutes a mile which should give me around the 2hr mark for the full 13mile half marathon.... Too ambitious?

Goals:
Run the Half Marathon in under 2h 00mins.

Go go go!!!

Discussion welcomed.

 

[mrthingyx]

Good luck!

don't fall into the trap of ignoring mobility and muscle strength whilst running as you will store up unpleasant problems for your near, mid and long-term future.

Which is why I loathe cardio.

 

[rhysduck]

First port of call is new shoes!

Ran my first mile on monday at a pace of 15min/mile (shocking I know)

Upped that to 12min/mile yesterday, felt a little faster and seemed fine when I got into the pace of things...

Long way to go.

 

[rhysduck]

Well... it was 5 months ago I started training and it was an abismall start with illness and other commitments for the first month or 2 so not much training for me.
Started properly in the middle of August so 6 weeks in and have had a massive cold for the last two weeks.
Luckily I've managed to shift it for this mornings run....

Spoiler

Definitely not the fastest of runs I've done and was the longest run I've done (only ever done a few 9ish mile runs before so wasn't exactly sure of how it would go! It was my first half marathon ever so was pleased that I just managed to finish it!

Onwards and upwards! Feeling good

 

[Zefan]

Well done on completing the half, sounds like it was quite the milestone for you! I echo mrthingx's comment, think about the bigger picture. Training using solely steady state cardio is generally not the best of ideas (running's probably the worst as well ), and can cause you all sorts of problems down the line. That said, whatever floats your boat, different strokes for different folks - my Dad has run all kinds of marathons all his life, just remember that there's a great deal you can be doing to prevent/minimise the problems that almost certainly will arise from training for these kinds of endurance events.

 

[rhysduck]

Well done on completing the half, sounds like it was quite the milestone for you! I echo mrthingx's comment, think about the bigger picture. Training using solely steady state cardio is generally not the best of ideas (running's probably the worst as well ), and can cause you all sorts of problems down the line. That said, whatever floats your boat, different strokes for different folks - my Dad has run all kinds of marathons all his life, just remember that there's a great deal you can be doing to prevent/minimise the problems that almost certainly will arise from training for these kinds of endurance events.

Thanks
Next milestone is to do it under the 2hr mark.

So what do you suggest? I haven't read up on the potential problems but can only imagine some of them (my feet were in bits after it on Sunday).
I'm still young (ish - 26) so don't want to be doing any damage this early in my life if I can help it.

 

[mrthingyx]

Thanks
Next milestone is to do it under the 2hr mark.

So what do you suggest? I haven't read up on the potential problems but can only imagine some of them (my feet were in bits after it on Sunday).
I'm still young (ish - 26) so don't want to be doing any damage this early in my life if I can help it.

The issue a lot of runners have is tight everything. Because you guys go for so many repetitions in a narrow range of movement, your muscles get REALLY tight.

You should be doing a lot of mobility and foam roller work to prevent vastus lateralis pulling your knee in all the wrong directions. You should be making sure your ankles still work the way nature intended, etc.

The easiest way of both diagnosing and supporting this type of work is the pistol squat (youtube it): it requires a massive range of both hip and ankle motion and a good level of supporting strength to ensure that your muscles will support the joints properly. If you can't pistol squat, then you can pick from any of the below as problems and address them as required:

- You can't get low enough (tight muscles);
- You can't control the descent (mobility and strength are lacking);
- You can't get back up (you don't have the strength)

Get a foam roller, Use it properly and you will dramatically reduce the chance of knee problems later.

 

[rhysduck]

Only just saw this.. thanks very much mrthingyx

Argos have one for £10 so shall go pick one up and do some research on how to use it..

My knees are a bit sore still