Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

Savage are those parkruns IG, I did the same, proper bad fade at the end! Good for testing yourself though and that's a decent time. :)

Definitely, glad I did it though and to be honest I learn more from my poor runs than I do from the ones where it's pretty much perfect.

Next race is in two weeks, doing the Stockport 10. Took it really easy this week having only ran twice as my legs feel battered. Back to 4 runs this week I think and then 3-4 easy runs come race week. :)
 
I've been running in shorts and shirt/sometimes no shirt still during the last few weeks, is this a bad idea? I don't get cold, today I was sweating like mad and was still hot for over 20 minutes after the run.

Just thought is it bad on the joints since they don't have the warmth of muscles/blood flow?
 
I've ran with Ron Hill a few times as he visits my running club once a year or so. He often stays for a Q&A session afterwards and he always recommends covering your knees and elbows when it's cold. Regardless of how you feel mentally your body will actually deal with it differently if not prepared.
 
I've ran with Ron Hill a few times as he visits my running club once a year or so. He often stays for a Q&A session afterwards and he always recommends covering your knees and elbows when it's cold. Regardless of how you feel mentally your body will actually deal with it differently if not prepared.

Cheers man, got any sources too?
 
Google is usually a good bet.

First result from typing in "What happens to your joints when it's cold".

Weather and Pain

Only had a brief read myself but it looks into the thoughts behind why it has an effect but does state early on that there's no full agreement it actually causes pain.
 
I am not allowed to offer help/cheaper alternatives to like minded runners with regards to vouchers which cannot be used on your techy website to buy your techy stuff. China style moderation. Stick to the GD section and leave us alone, it's all good times in this thread and never any problems.... POWER, I MUST USE IT!
 
That doesn't relate to running though, I can't find anything about running, cold weather and joints.

No science or links for you sorry but just experience related which might help.

If you can finish the run not feeling cold and you can stretch off and relax without feeling your joints are very stiff and aching, then you are fine. When the temperature drops that little bit more you may feel fine on the run but 20 minutes after finishing your joints will feel awful even if you stretch off properly and that is not good. It does leave you feeling miserable and recovery wise it hinders you in my experience.

Where you live when it is down to the 2/3 degree's etc I would certainly look to be getting a long sleeve on or wear a compression top and a t-shirt. Shorts you will get away with until it's a bit cooler again, unless you are like me (which clearly you are not! haha) and in full tights, jacket, gloves and hat as soon as it is 6 degree's or below, brrrrr!
 
Yeah I still can't find any articles on this :/

I get a warm shower after the run and wrap up whilst I'm still warm. The park I run in is only five minutes away. My joints feel good, at least for now.. I did wear a jumper over my shirt the other night but I ended up taking it off because I got so hot in it.

I understand wearing jackets, gloves and a hat but once I'm warmed up I really can't feel the cold, though that might change now it's even colder.

I might get one of them compression tops for warming up and add/remove clothing to warm up / cool down.
 
Yeah I still can't find any articles on this :/

I get a warm shower after the run and wrap up whilst I'm still warm. The park I run in is only five minutes away. My joints feel good, at least for now.. I did wear a jumper over my shirt the other night but I ended up taking it off because I got so hot in it.

I understand wearing jackets, gloves and a hat but once I'm warmed up I really can't feel the cold, though that might change now it's even colder.

I might get one of them compression tops for warming up and add/remove clothing to warm up / cool down.

Sounds like you are being sensible, everyone is different so just see how it goes but when we get into the minuses you will see how much better you feel with covering all :) I have ran in -4 with shorts on (other than racing I mean), it felt OK but I got the achey knees later on which wasn't that bad and I kept telling myself it was no problem. Then I ran in full tights and kicked myself for not just using them the whole time as I felt much better after runs then.

If it's cold, just wrap up, you can always take stuff off.

And the other wee statement I seen somewhere was that if you walk out the door in your running gear and already feel warm, you are going to get too hot. You should be stepping outside and thinking it is chilly/cold but bearable, so by the time your body temp rises you will feel fine. So just try keep that wee balance when heading out for your run :)
 
Well my 20 week plan building to Manchester marathon next April starts today.

Feels like an heroic effort required to chalk off the 5 hundred and something training miles! Wish me luck!
 
All the best Fuggan.

My training plan for the Yorkshire Marathon this year was based on 16 weeks but I extended it out to 19 weeks to allow for a couple of weeks on holiday (though I still ran) and weekends away. Garmin Connect says total distance of 768km, so almost 500 miles.

It's all about building steadily IMHO. For instance my Tuesday night sessions started at 6 long (steady) hill reps and 10 short reps (sprint on a steeper hill). At the peak I'd taken that up to 20 long and 10 short, plus a pyramid session round the footy pitch.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, definitely agree with you there. My aim is to get to the start line fresh and injury-free having trained well. It's my first marathon so not aiming to set an amazing time, have something in the back of my mind but we'll see how I go. 20 weeks feels like a long time but that's taking into account the Christmas period where I'll most likely take a few days off and a few days off after Blackpool half somewhere in the middle of the plan.

Here is a link to my training plan if you're interested. I created it based on a recent 10k time so it's kinda tailored to my current fitness level.

Happy to take some feedback on!
 
As always Fuggan all the best with the training, if you have the same consistency with it as you did your 10K I'm sure you'll be fine.

And with it being such a long distance don't worry about the time for now. Do it, enjoy the experience and then take time off the next one. ;)

And for that matter good luck to everyone else for next year with their plans. :)

I'll be doing Manchester myself as well Fuggan.
 
Last race of the year on Sunday for me - charity organised 10k at Oulton Park race circuit. All the recent 10ks I've done have been with the misses, so looking to go finally going under 50 minutes. I've been under that in training and in longer races - Strava says I did 47:13 for 10k as part of the Chesterfield Half in September.

Have to agree with IG. York this year was my 2nd marathon and I felt so much better having an idea of what was coming. End result was a huge PB.
 
Nice mate, you've done a few before haven't you? What time are you looking at clocking?

Yeah, done three before.

Windermere 2011 - 4:40:xx
Lancaster 2012 - 4:13:xx
London 2013 - 3:56:xx

Can't remember the seconds. :p Happy completing the first and happy with the times of the other two as well given how I was training at the time (not great really) but now I'm much more consistent and hoping to knock off a considerable amount of time again.

I'll be happy with sub 3:15 but I'll be honest and say the real aim is a good for age time which is 3:05. Quite some ask though to be honest.
 
Hey guys, I'm just getting back into running after a bit of a break. I've bought most of the gear I'll need for some winter running, but I'm stuck trying to decide what sort of tights I should wear. I plan on wearing tights under shorts, but I don't really know whether thermal or compression would be more suitable for a British winter. Any suggestions?
 
Back
Top Bottom