Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

Fingers crossed @Ian_Eb

Last day at work for me tomorrow before heading to Spain. The weather looks to have settled a little.

Went for a run earlier and felt great which I guess is part of the taper process. Only slight concern is still the ankle. There’s some discomfort and that’s on a 6 mile run on the road! I do wonder how it’s going to hold up and whether to take some Naproxen with me just in case.
 
Watch the ankle! Friend of mine went out this morning as part of her final week before the 10 K at the weekend. All was good and then, walking kids into school, there was "a funny noise" and she is now in a boot awaiting an Achilles scan tomorrow. Running looks like it is off the cards for a good few months now!
 
It’s an odd one in that it aches at certain points if the run but then quickly goes. Just depends if the weekend will put a lot of extra strain on it (and that’s hoping I don’t roll it on the day!)

What didn’t go down well was broaching the fact I’m planning a run Thursday before we leave for the airport!
 
First full 5k since my ankle all the way back in November, only done a handful of 4k runs before that, very slow but at least just under 30 minute mark.

Felt like I had very little power in that foot on last half, only just realised that I might be able to get some free physio through my new job so going to give them a call tomorrow if can arrange an appointment.
 
Great news, bet that felt good.

Think I’ve said it before but there’s a guy who’s done something called mountain proof ankles which I’ve found have really strengthened.

Think I’ve found my next challenge. Called the David Goggins challenge. He seems to be an ex navy seal who’s created a 4x4x48 challenge where you do a 4 mile run every 4 hours for 48 hours.

Sounds like tiredness starts to make it very tough in the second half. It was just the weekend gone though so another 12 months before that’s attempted.


Also just thought I’d play with watch settings to get my data screens setup just right.
Came into the Climbpro screen which gives you details of all major ascents/descents over a course. It’s a brilliant feature usually to see what’s coming up.
Decided to check it out for Saturday.

Climb 6 - 2.2 miles - average 18%
Descent 6 - 1.5 miles - average 17%
Climb 7 - 2 miles - average 15%

Safe to say that’s going to be a slow section!
 
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Failure alert

Hit a DNF yesterday. Missed the final checkpoint by 5 minutes and they wouldn’t let me continue on towards the finish. Annoying as I was making up time in the last few miles and was well on track to finish under the final cut off. So ended up around 39 miles and just over 11000ft ascent.

The hills were all in the middle and I really struggled on them. In some cases a mile took over an hour. I’m just not used to hitting so much ascent over a small period on loose scree and scrambling up. Absolutely wiped me out and then a lot of the terrain was very rocky so struggled to run as again it’s not something I’m experienced with.

Got home and legs felt fine. Even today they feel fine and I might get out for another run later. I think since I had no choice but to walk a lot it didn’t cause too much issue.

Will definitely attempt it again. A little more practice getting fitness on scrambling will be the difference. Those bits really wiped me out and I had to stop and rest quite a lot.
Whenever the terrain smoothed out I had plenty ability to run even at the end so from that point I’m really pleased with fitness.
 
Mine goes in as a DNS I guess. Was clear of covid, but was not 100% convinced that my breathing was full ok. Will do it on a more controlled basis nearer to home and see how it goes.
 
Did you get out for another run last night? Hope it all went well.

If you were 5 mins later for the cut-off, were you able to see the check point approaching? I can't imagine how annoying it must have been to see it approaching, but knowing that you were just outside the time.

Still, onwards and upwards as they say :-)
 
No. Instead had a bbq and got very drunk.

Did get out this morning for a few miles and felt ok.

Couldn’t see the checkpoint. I knew I was behind but was just hoping for leniency as I knew I’d be able to make time up.

Currently eyeing up a George Fisher round attempt in the Lake District. Told the wife. She just rolled her eyes!

Hope you’re feeling better again today.
 
I can see the appeal of a BBQ & Beer/Wine :-)

George Fisher one sounds fun(ish) maybe you can go and do the Bob Graham at some point? I get the eye roll thing when I suggest stuff as well, so you're not alone in that :-)

Feeling ok so far, going to try a run again in a day or two and see how it goes.
 
Bob Graham might be a step too far for me at the moment.

Just had an email to say around 35 people also hit a DNF on Saturday so I was in good company. That’s around a 1 in 6!
 
I didn't mean straight away! just at some point in the future ;-)

It was the Spanish one this last weekend wasn't it?
 
Yeah the Spanish one.

Turns out next year is the 10th anniversary of it so might revisit for that. Would feel fitting to succeed on a “big” day.

Had a few days to reflect more. Obviously there’s the disappointment but given I started from scratch in October following my ankle injury and hadn’t done any scrambling/serious elevation. Plus the fact that even at the 39 mile mark and 12hrs in I felt capable of pushing on to try and hit the cut off whereas normally I’d expect my mental thought process to be to give up.

Lots of positives and a thoroughly great day. Not sure if you saw the Strava before or after I added pictures but there’s a few on there now. The weather was perfect and it’s been cloudy the other days we’ve been here.
For anyone else
https://strava.app.link/cLW2TyTAoob
 
Stunning scenery and weather. I was trying to place the photos in chronological order by the expressions on your face :-)
 
Haha yeah not sure they’re in any kind of order.
Generally the nice dirt tracks are early on and the unpleasant rock later on!


Back home now. A mate has just said his dad is having to pull out of Manchester marathon in a few weeks and did I want it. Trying to decide. I do really want to hit a sub 4hr and I’d say im capable. Just unsure if it’s too close to be doable in 2.5 weeks!

Think it’ll mainly depend on cost. It’s an expensive run and if he wants £80 then I’d probably pass. If he’s offering it for free then it’s tempting to get an initial idea of time.
 
I would probably baulk at £80 as well (I am probably a bit of a cheapskate :D )

Was looking at maybe Chester 1/2 and marathon (May and October) but not convinced, for the same reasons as you (Too soon and so on)
 
I failed even harder, had to stop just over a mile into my 5k today. Seems I may also be developing plantar fasciitis in my right foot after the ankle injury, that itself doesn't seem to be good either.
 
I had Plantar thingy, way back in the mists of time. I used some Superfeet Green insoles for a few months and it went away after a few months. It was only really an isse for maybe the first 20 mins after getting up in the morning though. Once I had walked around for a bit, it used to leave me alone for the day :D
 
@neoboy

Consider a plastic bottle filled with water in the freezer and roll your arch with that. I found it helped a lot.

Never really sure of the cause, i know some people suffer from it again it seems to linger forever but i usually just get it for short periods and it's never too severe.
 
Ok, so sticking a review of my current goals/events in here so i have some accountability. Albeit it's not very easy to quantify in some cases

Events/Challenges
1 - George Fisher round. Having looked at next challenges i think this matches my current levels/goals well. Will likely aim for it when weather is nice in April.
2 - Howgills marathon (May) - No set goal here beyond completing the run and enjoying the day.
3 - 3 Towers Ultra ~52 miles and 8000ft ascent (October) - As above, no set goal, beyond finishing the run and enjoying the day.
4 - Run the Lancaster Canal - This was suggested to me a few years back but never materialised, i quite like the idea of getting a train to Kendal and running back to Preston along the canal - One for summer with decent weather

Run 1 and 4 are non organised events that i believe i'd be capable of without too much prep, hopefully i can just make a snap decision based on weather. 2 and 3 are organised events, but as with everything i do, i rarely have specific targets in mind. I would like sub 5hrs for the Howgills, but not sure how achievable that actually is.

Goals
1 - As mentioned, i want to improve pace/bring down times. A sub 4hr marathon would be nice. I know this happens naturally but i'd like to be a little more agressive with it so more speed based workouts, rather than just some strides at the end of a run once a week.
2 - Work on more technical running. I'm naturally clumsy and have size 12 feet, so being agile and nimble on rocky/technical terrain is always a challenge. Would like to improve this area as it would help a lot
3 - Generally improve stamina on hills - Again i know this happens over time with training, but i fatigued massively on the steep climbs on Saturday. Being ~100kg i'm always going to suffer compared to lighter runners, but i think increasing quad/hamstring strength would help here.

Goals 2 and 3 are tricky because they to get to simulate the terrain means at least an hours drive each way which creates a bit long day out. It's a shame really that i don't have anything more local even in smaller quantities. Goal 1 i think is doable. I can generally run at that pace fairly comfortably, however it's rare i'll do a long road run on flat ground to get a better idea. I'm more used to long trail runs where running is mixed in with walking.

As for training, i'm a little unsure how to structure it. I kind of want to focus more on speed at this point in time, but at the same time i don't want to be losing my hill ability. I also want to try and up weekly mileage to a consistent 45-50 miles. Trying to do this whilst also doing some cycling and strength work will be tricky whilst keeping a happy wife!
 
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