Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

too many days of drizzle/rain in the South, but had to get out their last night ... it's just the drying of the gear that's a pain.

not that competitive, but always thinks of Mr Sheens quote
Every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger
 
Went out for the first time in 2 weeks last night. That's only the 4th run since around the 15th March though.

Not sure if it was the booze effect from the weekend, the tea i had about 2 hours before or the lack of running but i really struggled to even do 3miles. Probably a combination of all 3 really but think it's shown i need to sort myself out in preparation for next Sundays half marathon!
 
Id very much appreciate some advice from you fine runners!

Me and my wife have entered a 8.5 mile 'fun run' and would like to complete it in a reasonable time and ideally run it rather than walk!

Id consider us both fit. We lift weights 3x a week at the gym, eat very healthy and regularly go on longish walks. We don't smoke or drink much. I play 7 a side outdoor football every week for the last 3 years and can run pretty much for the full game without any difficulty. Were both 30.

BUT neither of us have ever really run (other than at football and HIT sprints at the gym). We can only commit to 1x run a week and have only 7.5 weeks till race day.

What do you recommend we do with our 7/8 runs from now till then? Loads of couch to 5k/10k programmes online but not many which A) work over only 7/8 weeks and B) cover 8.5 miles that I can find.
 
If it was me i would try going for half distance on the first day, and just take your time, and enjoy the run, if it feels too much stop and head back earlier etc.
 
Yeah. Get out and see how you fair. One run a week isn’t ideal though really.

Although saying that my mate just did a quarter of a marathon in a team of 4 for the Manchester one and only did one practice run.

As I said. Get out and see how you get on. Keep to a slow pace even if it feels too slow and try and run for as long as you can. Then you at least know you’re starting point for a training plan.
 
Got out again tonight so 2 days in a row!

Getting really painful shin splints on the inside of my shins though still. These haven’t been tricky runs either. They’ve been slow with lots of walking.

There’s a very painful spot so I’ve rubbed it as hard as I can tonight and it feels a little eased so we’ll see.
 
Got out again tonight so 2 days in a row!

Getting really painful shin splints on the inside of my shins though still. These haven’t been tricky runs either. They’ve been slow with lots of walking.

There’s a very painful spot so I’ve rubbed it as hard as I can tonight and it feels a little eased so we’ll see.

Trainers on their way out or anything?

I am using 2 pairs now, trying to alternate using them
 
I don't think so, i also alternate 2 pairs and they're only from around October/November time.

I think i might try and get to a proper shop to check my gait as both pairs were just ordered online and whilst being good for a little while i've had more issues with injuries/aches in the last few months than any other period of running previously.
 
I don't think so, i also alternate 2 pairs and they're only from around October/November time.

I think i might try and get to a proper shop to check my gait as both pairs were just ordered online and whilst being good for a little while i've had more issues with injuries/aches in the last few months than any other period of running previously.

Yeah I had mine done by Up & Running, or a shop like that anyway.
They pointed me towards some Brooks Vapour's (Onto my 2nd pair of these now). I think they have a medium profile on the arch support.
Yesterday I used my Nike LunarGlides and noticed I was getting blisters, so popping the Vapours back on today, see how they hold up.
 
Id very much appreciate some advice from you fine runners!

Me and my wife have entered a 8.5 mile 'fun run' and would like to complete it in a reasonable time and ideally run it rather than walk!

Id consider us both fit. We lift weights 3x a week at the gym, eat very healthy and regularly go on longish walks. We don't smoke or drink much. I play 7 a side outdoor football every week for the last 3 years and can run pretty much for the full game without any difficulty. Were both 30.

BUT neither of us have ever really run (other than at football and HIT sprints at the gym). We can only commit to 1x run a week and have only 7.5 weeks till race day.

What do you recommend we do with our 7/8 runs from now till then? Loads of couch to 5k/10k programmes online but not many which A) work over only 7/8 weeks and B) cover 8.5 miles that I can find.

An honest answer would be to stop going to the gym and run 4x a week. I don't think you can reasonably expect to run 8.5 miles if you don;t come form a running back ground and will only run once a week. I mean you can try, but that just is not a realistic outcome.

Put on your running shoes, go out for a run being extremely careful to keep the effort down. It might feel silly and awkward but this is critical at this stage. Make sure you can breath easily and relaxed, can have a conversation. See how far you can run. Don;t try and kill yourself. Finish knowing you could run longer.

That will give you a basemark to know what to expect.. If you knock off 4-5 miles, then you have a good chance of doing the 8.5m. Don't be surprised if 1mile is hard if you are not used to it. As for training, repeat the above each week. See how far you can run without breaking yourself.
 
I don't think so, i also alternate 2 pairs and they're only from around October/November time.

I think i might try and get to a proper shop to check my gait as both pairs were just ordered online and whilst being good for a little while i've had more issues with injuries/aches in the last few months than any other period of running previously.

Sounds like the wrong kind of shoe, or very bad form. Make sure cadence is nice and high, stride length is short. That is, More but shorter steps are better, putting less load on the joints but also havign a more natural transfer of forces.
 
Yeah i think it must be shoe based as i don't imagine my form has changed over time and i'll sometimes take my headphones out and make sure that my feet aren't pounding down too hard and crashing to the floor.

Is there a way to measure just cadence? I think my old Garmin used to track that but my apple watch doesn't seem to. It'd be nice to get a number to check my mental "i'm taking short/frequent" strides is on point.
 
Yeah i think it must be shoe based as i don't imagine my form has changed over time and i'll sometimes take my headphones out and make sure that my feet aren't pounding down too hard and crashing to the floor.

Is there a way to measure just cadence? I think my old Garmin used to track that but my apple watch doesn't seem to. It'd be nice to get a number to check my mental "i'm taking short/frequent" strides is on point.
The Strava phone app measures cadence and I found it very close to what my Garmin footpod reads (a footpod is also useful for running inside/treadmill, or more accurate instant pacing).
 
Cool, might give the Strava phone app a go tonight then.

There is clear discomfort during the run, but if i stop and walk a bit it eases and lets me carry on a little longer. Then after the run it's largely subsided and last night i iced and rubbed it deep and it feels ok today so i don't feel like i'll cause issues continuing.
 
Flying to Boston today! Last week I came down with some weird sickness, quite possibly alergies (every day I wake up feeling Ok but progressively get worse through the day, RHR is sky high). Weather looks horrific as well. Too bad because I think I'm in good shape for a PR if I can get well. So I booked the Geneva Marathon as a backup. Will decide if I race Boston close to the start time. Genrva or Boston will be a fun run, the other a race.
 
If it was me i would try going for half distance on the first day, and just take your time, and enjoy the run, if it feels too much stop and head back earlier etc.

Yeah. Get out and see how you fair. One run a week isn’t ideal though really.

Although saying that my mate just did a quarter of a marathon in a team of 4 for the Manchester one and only did one practice run.

As I said. Get out and see how you get on. Keep to a slow pace even if it feels too slow and try and run for as long as you can. Then you at least know you’re starting point for a training plan.


An honest answer would be to stop going to the gym and run 4x a week. I don't think you can reasonably expect to run 8.5 miles if you don;t come form a running back ground and will only run once a week. I mean you can try, but that just is not a realistic outcome.

Put on your running shoes, go out for a run being extremely careful to keep the effort down. It might feel silly and awkward but this is critical at this stage. Make sure you can breath easily and relaxed, can have a conversation. See how far you can run. Don;t try and kill yourself. Finish knowing you could run longer.

That will give you a basemark to know what to expect.. If you knock off 4-5 miles, then you have a good chance of doing the 8.5m. Don't be surprised if 1mile is hard if you are not used to it. As for training, repeat the above each week. See how far you can run without breaking yourself.

Ok guys so iv been out for my first run today with my wife. We kept it nice and slow as you recommended and managed to do 7k in about 48 mins. Averaged 7 mins a km for the first 5.5km and then was a tad faster in the final 1.5k. All in all we kept an almost perfectly consistent pace all the way round per km. Was using map my run app which shouts out pace at every km. 7min - 7.15 per km for the first 5.5km.

It wasn't too hard. Got a little bored near the end. I think I could have done another 1-2k if I had pushed myself!

7km is about 4.3 miles right?! So thats just over half of my 8.5mile fun run.
 
That’s a decent go for your first attempt. I think if you’re limited to one run a week I’d aim for 10k next week which is around 6 miles and see how that goes.

I agree it can get a bit boring. I stick music on for the most part which I always think helps. Maybe even a podcast.
 
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