Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

Thanks! The issue with that route in general is that it goes over a level crossing, so it's basically luck of the draw. But i also think strava had some trouble and had to change the route to hide where i live the first time.
 
5K PB again. 18:52 :D

It was a local series of four 5K's in Wythenshawe Park (South Manchester) run by a friends running club (Sale Harriers). One every fortnight, really looking forward to do doing them again next year and will probably start doing ParkRuns whenever I have a Saturday off work.

Times for each one.

1 - 19:35
2 - 19:50
3 - 18:59
4 - 18:52

Really pleased considering my PB before this was 21:12 but it was from 3 years ago though.
 
Haven't been timing myself recently, but I did last night and my 10k is now down to 53 minutes, which I am pleased with as my original ultimate goal was 50. Maybe I should be more aggressive. How realistic is a 45 minute 10k?

PLUS: only 25 minutes slower than Mo Farah!
 
macmodder said:
Haven't been timing myself recently, but I did last night and my 10k is now down to 53 minutes, which I am pleased with as my original ultimate goal was 50. Maybe I should be more aggressive. How realistic is a 45 minute 10k?

PLUS: only 25 minutes slower than Mo Farah!
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You only started running recently. Just stick at it. Get the miles up, get fitter, lighter and stronger. If you put the work in, 45 mins is absolutely achievable, but it won't happen overnight or be handed to you on a plate.
 
Do many people here do Parkruns? At the moment I'm quite enjoying it and try to go out most Saturdays if I don't have anything else on. 17 runs so far since starting this year which isn't as good as it should be, pity I didn't know about it sooner as I could have been doing it for years.
 
Just started running yesterday to try to get in a bit of shape before Uni basketball trials. Did 2.5km in 15 mins, is that about right for a newbie or am I really slow? :p
 
semi-pro waster said:
Do many people here do Parkruns? At the moment I'm quite enjoying it and try to go out most Saturdays if I don't have anything else on. 17 runs so far since starting this year which isn't as good as it should be, pity I didn't know about it sooner as I could have been doing it for years.
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I'd like to do it when I can actually run for a reasonable distance (5k).

shootersam said:
Just started running yesterday to try to get in a bit of shape before Uni basketball trials. Did 2.5km in 15 mins, is that about right for a newbie or am I really slow? :p
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Sounds pretty good to me :)


To update the thread regarding my previous posts, my shin splints have pretty much gone now, still progressing with the couch to 5k program :)
 
semi-pro waster said:
Do many people here do Parkruns? At the moment I'm quite enjoying it and try to go out most Saturdays if I don't have anything else on. 17 runs so far since starting this year which isn't as good as it should be, pity I didn't know about it sooner as I could have been doing it for years.
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I've done my local one 3 or 4 times now I think. Not done it for a while. They are pretty annoying because the courses can vary so drastically, ours is actually all on park land with tight turns. It's a very slow course but there are some out there which are 100% flat tarmac with little turning so they are much quicker. It's no gauge really or a good measurement of where you are at against the competition on their courses round the country. I can't remember who it was or what his time was but someone quick came and took our course record so there was talk a few of us getting together to work and see who could get it back but nobody mentioned it for ages actually. Wee winter project maybe at some point on a cold frozen ground day when it'll be faster! :p

The last couple times I run it was to use it as a tempo before doing a session as it's right next to our track which is handy. They are very good idea though and definitely worth going to and getting involved with to see your progression and keep you aiming towards improvement. Plus they don't cost a penny! Win!
 
sigma said:
I'd like to do it when I can actually run for a reasonable distance (5k).
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Obviously do what feels comfortable for you but there's a whole mix of abilities at the couple of different locations I've tried - some people will walk/run the whole way and others will be getting very good times. There's no judgement though as it's recognised that achievement for one may be very different to what constitutes success for another. My advice would be to just get on and do it, also if you're starting from a low base you'll probably find it encouraging to see the progress. :)

xdcx said:
I've done my local one 3 or 4 times now I think. Not done it for a while. They are pretty annoying because the courses can vary so drastically, ours is actually all on park land with tight turns. It's a very slow course but there are some out there which are 100% flat tarmac with little turning so they are much quicker. It's no gauge really or a good measurement of where you are at against the competition on their courses round the country. I can't remember who it was or what his time was but someone quick came and took our course record so there was talk a few of us getting together to work and see who could get it back but nobody mentioned it for ages actually. Wee winter project maybe at some point on a cold frozen ground day when it'll be faster! :p

The last couple times I run it was to use it as a tempo before doing a session as it's right next to our track which is handy. They are very good idea though and definitely worth going to and getting involved with to see your progression and keep you aiming towards improvement. Plus they don't cost a penny! Win!
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It's odd but I guess a natural consequence of using local parks. My local one is comparatively hilly (for London at least) but if I go to the next nearest course it's basically three laps round an oval shaped lake and a very flat course so I set a time there that I'm struggling to get close to on my "home" course.

I do enjoy seeing the progression though and it's quite good fun recognising people from one run to another so you can generally tell whether they've had a good or a bad week depending on where they place in comparison to you.
 
semi-pro waster said:
Obviously do what feels comfortable for you but there's a whole mix of abilities at the couple of different locations I've tried - some people will walk/run the whole way and others will be getting very good times. There's no judgement though as it's recognised that achievement for one may be very different to what constitutes success for another. My advice would be to just get on and do it, also if you're starting from a low base you'll probably find it encouraging to see the progress. :)
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Appreciate the advice but I'm pretty happy running alone at the moment. I feel more comfortable just doing my own thing, have gotten into a good routine. The idea of a 'park run' all seems a bit too much at the moment, I'm still finding my feet (excuse the pun!). Not to mention that the park run is literally in a park, last time I did this the uneven surface destroyed my shins, it's something to work up to. I imagine it's quite fun though.
 
Hi guys, I've recently started running to train for an upcoming fitness test later this week. I must say that running is something I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever do. 18 months ago I weighed in at 27st 7lb (now 15st 6lb) and now I'm really enjoying putting on my running shoes and just going for a nice run.

I've just completed my longest run to date and I feel absolutely fantastic for it, I could've actually gone further which is a nice feeling. I was wondering if anyone else here has some advice on running with excess skin after big weight loss?

Tonight's run: http://www.strava.com/activities/185759365
 
I can't offer anything useful in regards to the excess skin, but perhaps suggest talc areas that rub regularly as I do with my thighs (they are huge from cycling and do rub occasionally), and for long runs a little skin care product works wonders, I use bio oil which is bloody miracle stuff.

That is an incredible weight loss and one you should be bloody proud of. To put it into some sort of perspective that is more weight than I have ever weighed!
 
Been running for a few months using the RAF fitness time as a target, which is 1.5mile (2.4km) in 11min 11 seconds or less. started up at 12 minutes and am now down to about 10.40

All I've been doing is simply doing the run and gradually increasing the pace. Would interval training allow me to improve the time even more?

I've read something along the lines of run half a mile at goal pace (as an example 9minute mile) then walk for half a mile or quarter of a mile, then do another half mile at goal pace and do this 5 or 6 times each workout so to speak.

Anybody got any thoughts on this? I'd really like to get the time below 10 minutes without being left heaving in the foetal position :p
 
Extend the distance to 2 then 2.5 then 3 miles. Do the 3 for a couple of weeks then do a fast 1.5 mile run and see the improvement.
 
Do you have any reasonable hills nearby?

I do hill rep's once a week down at the local playing fields (as part of my marathon training). It's about 150m up (distance, not incline!), though there's a flat section in the middle so not a constant gradient (goes average incline, flat, steep). I try to keep a steady pace going up and use coming down to recover.

At the start of June I was doing 6 rep's in a session, I'm now up to 20. Have a half marathon next Sunday so will see just where it's got me!
 
Having started running in Jan this year in a bid to improve my fitness a bit I finished my 1st half marathon yesterday. I came in at 1:56:14 which I am pretty pleased with for a first stab at it. I feel I probably had more left in the tank too but held myself back at the beginning for fear of running out of steam later on (finished with a 6 minute final mile).

Next week is a 10k for charity and a bit of light relief before another 1/2 in early October.

I think I might have the bug...

/Salsa
 
Great result Salsa - you must have been flying past people over the last mile at that pace.

I spent last week on holiday in Tuscany and did a few runs to keep the marathon training going. Ye gawds, it's hilly though...

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