Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

platypus · 12 Mar 2010 at 15:35

I use these. Comfortable, light, excellent sound. Win win.

platypus · 25 Mar 2010 at 11:21

Kazz said:
Just wanted to say thanks Platypus for a great guide.

My other half has just started to take up running, so we went upto Northern Runner in Newcastle as linked on your guide. Staff and shop were fantastic, she runs with a lot more comfort after getting fitted with shoes to fit her needs. Cheers

Glad it helped.

I'm off for a trainer fitting at lunchtime, what fun

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platypus · 25 Mar 2010 at 11:24

[DOD]Asprilla;16211329 said:
Ok, did my first run in 7 months at the weekend. I had an injury to my patella tendon that required 6 weeks of physio and since then I've had 'the fear' that my knee would just start hurting as soon as I started.

I have a knee strap that I wore for ~6 months after having patella tendinitis, and it really helped.

You're more then welcome to it as I don't use it any more (it's been washed!), or if you want to buy a new one a quick search found it here.

platypus · 25 Mar 2010 at 11:25

T1Cybernetic said:
Does anyone know where i can get hold of an mp3 that beeps every 1 minute or even 30 seconds would do? It needs to be around 15/30 minutes long or even longer if possible.

I was looking for it for some interval type training

You can download an official bleep test from the Army website?

platypus · 25 Mar 2010 at 11:26

Got the list of races my training partner and I are going to enter this year:

Sunday 2nd May Grand East Anglia Run, Kings Lynn... 10K (pre-entry)
Thurs 6th May Cambridge Tri club 5K (impington) at 7pm (register on the web site, pay on the night) (RUN 1)
Sat 8th May Fell Race in the Peak District (drive up for the day, 2 and 1/2 hr drive) Cressbrook Crawl
Sun 9th May Sawston Fun Run, the usual Hash effort, cycle down there then pub afterwards
Thurs 27th May Cambridge Tri club 5K (impington) at 7pm (RUN 2)
Sunday 30th May Mull of Kintyre Half marathon (500 mile drive to the start)
Thursday 10th June Ely Runners 10K handicap 7pm or 5K Cambridge Tri club (RUN 3) 7pm
Thursday 1st July Saffron Walden 5K at 7pm.
Wednesday 7th July St Radegund handicap race, Fen Ditton back to the Rad, 7pm.
Thursday 2nd Sept Newmarket 5K at 7pm.
Sunday 12th Sept Grunty Fen 1/2 M
Sunday 19th Sept Chariots of Fire
Late Sept Yorkshire Three Peaks Cyclo-cross
Sunday 3rd Oct 10 mile race on the South Downs in Lewes
Sunday early Nov, The Whole Hog Run, Woodbridge Suffolk, teams of 3.
Mid Nov Brighton 10K
Sunday 28th Nov Hereward Way relay or Hell Down South
(2 or 3 fell races in Yorkshire in Nov/Dec thrown in for good measure) such as:
Kettlewell (early Nov)
Bolton-by-Bowland (early Dec)
The Stoop (mid Dec)

Should be a good season

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platypus · 25 Mar 2010 at 13:01

Well I now have a shiny new pair of Brooks Adrenaline 9 GTS. Good thing too because one of the other recommended shoes was a Nike, and I don't think I could bring myself to buy those!

platypus · 25 Mar 2010 at 14:09

Very much so. All the best people are

!

platypus · 30 Mar 2010 at 14:54

Pop them, get the skin underneath hard. Talcum Powder on your feet inside the socks.

platypus · 23 Sep 2010 at 11:33

Best winter tops without peer for running are Falke. Totally windproof.

platypus · 25 Oct 2010 at 15:14

lemonkettaz said:
Went for a 4mile run last night and not knee issues.

Seems like stretching/foam roller/and a few weeks of interval cross training have worked.

However my left calf is proper tight and the outside of my foot seems to be giving me jip now.... Not too much to worry about but I hope it doesn't get worse.

I really am thinking is it my trainers? I went to get a pair in December 09 from a specialist and ever since hammering the training in them I have had issues with my left leg.. first knee back in march/april.

Maybe it's my body getting used to all the training I started doing from last summer who knows.

I started running sort of in 2007 and I just bought off the shelf, no probs till I got some trainers properly.

Oh well, I'm doing alright now. I ran 1.5mile in 9:28 I think last week, will be doing a 1.5 timed run every week till basic and will keep plugging away at the cross training, with an occasional distance run in there for good measure

Hopefully I'll get to do some marathons one day

Come along to BMF in Cambridge, you can probably get a lift with the instructors. You get to meet the legendary Platypus™.

platypus · 4 Nov 2010 at 14:20

I'll always have a banana or something before a run, but never anything big.

platypus · 19 Nov 2010 at 11:09

Good time, well done

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platypus · 25 Nov 2010 at 15:41

Just a heads up, Amazon are selling the Garmin 305 for half price at the moment.

platypus · 25 May 2011 at 16:55

Its interesting you mention orthotics Ice. I run with orthotics (have done since my knee op), and a good training friend of mine does too. We both haven't been injury free since doing so in fact, and he's now taken to running 2/3 sessions a week without, and he's getting considerably better. Trouble is getting a properly impartial opinion...

@Gigi: Glad it's helped

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platypus · 20 Jun 2011 at 10:05

Plenty of RICE, and don't push it too early. Hate sprains!

platypus · 20 Jun 2011 at 10:06

Col_M said:
Hi gents, it's been a while since I've been out running regularly, I've done a few 3k runs now and again but nothing regular, however I've just signed up for the Prague 10k in September.

Do any of you know of a good training schedule that you can recommend for someone starting out?

I'm a big fan of Hal Higdon's programs. http://www.halhigdon.com/10ktraining/10kintro.htm.

Edit: Saw Richie's link as I clicked post

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platypus · 20 Jun 2011 at 11:35

I don't think I've ever run a race with a training plan that does the full run in one go. It's more about training pace and building mileage into your legs.

platypus · 29 Jun 2011 at 12:35

Col_M said:
I forgot how good you feel as a result of running, I don't feel so out of breath or sweaty in my everyday life.

A quote from "Born to Run":

Born To Run said:
There’s something so universal about that sensation, the way running unites our two most primal impulses: fear and pleasure. We run when we’re scared, we run when we’re ecstatic, we run away from our problems and run around for a good time.

If you haven't read this book, do so

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platypus · 4 Jul 2011 at 10:02

IceBus said:
Finally back to something approximating running after finally getting used to my orthotics (it's been nine months of hell trying to get this sorted) and I'm kind of shocked by my appalling fitness. I'd done my best to keep some level of fitness with weights etc. but to no avail.

I know it'll take time to get back into it, but it's kind of demoralising to be back to the level of coach potato. I reckon do this for a couple of weeks to make sure my foot is alright, then gradually up the length of running time/shorten the walking pauses.

You're actually in a good position. Ditch the orthotics, go barefoot, learn to enjoy running again

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I've been considering whether or not to remove some of my advice in the OP, namely that about running shoes. I've been doing a lot of research and reading recently, and I've had a change of heart so to speak. I've been barefoot running for 3 months now, and boy does it feel good.

Tell you what. I'll write up a little post about barefoot running and stick it in the reserved post #2, what do people think to that?

platypus · 4 Jul 2011 at 13:40

No I run in Evo Neo's, which are a barefoot shoe (if that makes sense!) with a 4mm thick puncture resistant sole, as I live in a city. I do however run completely barefooted once a week on a local Green (the grass such a liberating feeling), and I would love to run some trails barefooted, but doubt my feet will ever be hard enough.

It will take me a while but I'll put something together

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