Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

So having started to work up mileage ready for my edinburgh training plan my right knee has decided to throw a fit. Knee collapsing periodically even when walking was the final straw and I have a consultation this week to see what going on with it.

Fine when cycling/swimming; fingers crossed it just needs physio.

Cheers
 
Physio will probably give you some stretches and advice, but just generally i'd say that's a lesson most runners could greatly benefit from. If it starts hurting somewhere it shouldn't, don't run through the pain, stop. Nine times out of ten you'll only make it worse.
 
PermaBanned said:
Physio will probably give you some stretches and advice, but just generally i'd say that's a lesson most runners could greatly benefit from. If it starts hurting somewhere it shouldn't, don't run through the pain, stop. Nine times out of ten you'll only make it worse.
Click to expand...

Which is exactly what I did in October. Felt a problem with my knee and it really started giving way. But I was 3k into a 5k run with my running club and wanted to finish so pushed through. Ended up really doing my knee in.

Lunges, wall squats and a few others are the exercises the physio gave me for my knee.
 
Finally got back to runni g after 3 weeks off due to flu, then vacation, then bussness travel. 10.8m yesterday, 10.4 today, both at 8:00 min a mile.
 
Last edited:
Any one done the Manchester Marathon?

I'm doing it this year and it will be my first Marathon. Training is going quite well, up to 16 miles on my long runs so far.

I'm struggling to get a hotel close by that hasn't already been booked (yep, left it too late!), may have to travel up from Derby in the morning. So my question would be, is it a complete nightmare on race day with regards to parking (parking at Old Trafford) and what sort of time should i be aiming to get there?

Starting to panic now!
 
I've ran it last year, live locally so I travelled on public transport.

Just had a quick look on the website and it's possible to pre-book parking which is probably the best option, traffic from what I remember wasn't really that bad as most the roads are closed so the locals will avoid them anyway.

Race starts at 9.00 and to avoid any issues with parking, toilet stops, getting changed, starting relaxed etc I'd aim to be there from around 8.15 at the latest really. Don't want to be rushing before the race.

Trafford also isn't very far away from the City Centre if hotel places are availible there? Very easy to get there on the tram and free ticket on the tram with your race number too.

Car Park Link
 
Thanks IG...I've managed to get a hotel, but its slightly out of town so i've booked a parking space as well (N2 east so not far to walk!). I can relax a bit now, until the day! #eek!
 
Ran 10.5 yesterday, very cold and windy conditions.

Got 14.75miles this morning. Slightly bummed because I thought I did 15.25m strava claimed 15.1m but it always over reads, Garmn said 14.55 but it always reads less than I map out: http://www.sportrouteplanner.com

Still, its the longest run since my marathon just. Physically it was really hard, so horrible that I have lost so much fitness since my Marathon despite trying really hard to improve fitness! Back in October I could do 16miles at 8:00 a mile with an average heart rate around 155 and feel fine at the end of it, enjoying all of the run. I'm now 30second a mile slower, heart rate was way too high at 165 and it felt awful from mile 6.

I'm still debating if I should sign up for another marathon this spring. I have lost a load of training due to injury, sickness, travel and just no where near as fit as I was 2 months ago. I have loads more travel coming up so will miss a lot more training.


Still, today run was motivating (until I found I was slightly short on my goal), but way too hard for what it should have been. I'm really going to push training the next weeks and see what happens, but tomorrow night I fly out skiing for 4 days so will miss more training.
 
D.P. Best thing I ever did for my running in 2014 was take a break from the marathon, concentrated on getting out when I could and when I wanted too and entered shorter distance races instead and didn't do any long runs more than 12-14 miles from what I can remember.

That year I smashed my 5k, 10k and half marathon pb's by a good margin in each distance. Then used that speed I'd developed and started training for the Manchester Marathon in 2015 and proceeded to beat my 10k and half marathon pb's again in preperation and then knocked off 49 minutes from my previous marathon time (London 2013).

I'd consider leaving a spring marathon but by all means don't leave your gap as long as two years like I did and focus on shorter, possibly faster races instead to increase your base speed fitness / pace and go from there.

I'm not one for all the science myself personally but from my own experience and yours as well it seems the long distance races do take away some pace in order to be able to cope with running longer distances. Your approach is good, I admire the discipline involved but it's also good sometimes to just go out and run sometimes because you can, no watch, no goals, no route, just go. :)
 
There is a lot to be said for that Indigo.

Had my appointment at knee specialist this week, after knee collapsing when walking periodically. Of course, since making the appointment the knee had stopped behaving in this way but I really want reassurance I'm not hurting myself by training again so went for appointment.

Good news is nothing major wrong, at least nothing that manifests itself under physical examination. Next step is an MRI to see what is really going on, but chances are a small tear in meniscus.

His leaving message was the knee isnt swollen or inflammed so if it doesnt hurt there is no harm running on it in the meanwhile while tests continue. Just what I wanted to hear. Did a slow few miles afterwards to celebrate and felt ok.

Complicated things the knees....
 
You raise some very good points Indigo, and I have heard people use a similar strategy like 5-6 months focus on shorter races, 5-6 on a marathon with a 1-2 running break.
I think in my current situation it would probably be ideal, I seem to have maintained or even gained a little speed but lost all my endurance.

The thing is shorter races just don't interest me, in fact I was originally thinking of moving on to a 50m Ultra. I have a 10K signed up for April 9th, I originally intended as a fitness test before a marathon May 1st, but I really dont care about the 10K at all. The other thing is baby #2 is on it way end of may so summer training is likely limited at best which is why I wanted a Spring marathon rather than focus on an Fall marathon.

I will decide in the next few weeks, as I said 1 option is simply aim for a fun slow marathon in May, with an easy goal and no training stress. You can normally cut down to a half marathon race in the days before race-day as well.



Anyway, squeezed in another 7.5 mile run this morning, so 55 miles for the 5 work days. Off to Utah skiing tonight, running shoes packed but not expected to use them. 55 for the week and a 15mile MLR is really not too bad, its just much harder than it uses to be 3 months ago which is distressing.
 
Last edited:
After climbing 4000ft through thigh deep powder on my ski tour and thought I could punish myself with a sneaky 4 miles on the hotel treadmill. Remembet, Pain is weakness leaving your body! Actually it wasn't too bad, my feet hurt from being jammed in ski boots for 6 hours and I'm tired but my legs are med happy to keep pushing. Relaxing in the hottub with a beer.
 
ouch 6 hours in ski boots sounds uncomfortable - my feet hurt like anything after 3 hours with my Ice-skates on ! - get bad cramp in them afterwards - goes pretty quick though (thankfully)

good job I'm not superstitious - two races this weekend:

Park-run yesterday - 13th out of 580
XC today - 13th out of something

lol - was happy with the XC though - average pace 6'52 :)
 
Nicely done buckster!

It almost sounds bad DP till you finish with the hottub and beer....no sympathy what so ever :P

Got out for 8 miles today, figured the cold meant the bridleways would be solid...so so wrong so had to turn around and pick something else. Was very happy with 7:47/mi, was around the 7:50/8 mark but felt pretty good at mile 6 so upped to 7:33 and then 7:12 for the last 2 miles.
 
Buckster said:
ouch 6 hours in ski boots sounds uncomfortable - my feet hurt like anything after 3 hours with my Ice-skates on ! - get bad cramp in them afterwards - goes pretty quick though (thankfully)

good job I'm not superstitious - two races this weekend:

Park-run yesterday - 13th out of 580
XC today - 13th out of something

lol - was happy with the XC though - average pace 6'52 :)
Click to expand...

Great races, funny both 13th.

The ski boots are somewhat more comfortable tHan downhill boots, in climbing mode they flex forwards and I can leave them unbuckled, but still not like a running shoe!


Similar day to yesterday but bigger and more: 5000ft of climbing with a load of trail breaking in deep snow, then back to the hotel and 5 miles on the tread mill. The run is mostly mental, strangely my legs feel fine after 6.5 hours of hiking and skiing.
 
Itchytrigg said:
Nicely done buckster!

It almost sounds bad DP till you finish with the hottub and beer....no sympathy what so ever :P

Got out for 8 miles today, figured the cold meant the bridleways would be solid...so so wrong so had to turn around and pick something else. Was very happy with 7:47/mi, was around the 7:50/8 mark but felt pretty good at mile 6 so upped to 7:33 and then 7:12 for the last 2 miles.
Click to expand...

The climbing always starts so easy and fast but once 3000ft are on your legs it gets much more laboured. However, the reward is skiing completely fresh so, utter solitude and spectacular scenery.

That was a solid run, no way i can do 7:12 for 2 miles.
 
Hello,

Anyone got any gps watch suggestions.

I can only afford to go second hand really allthough the new tomtom runner 2 looks decent and only £100, just need distance, time and pace really with a nice display and good tracking.

And ability to upload to runtastic but I could move over to another platform.

Wouldn't want it to be too old incase the battery was duff.

Any ideas would be great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom