Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

Windermere Marathon 22/05/2011 - 4:40:27
Lancaster Marathon 24/06/2012 - 4:13:00

27:27 knocked off, was hoping for Sub 4:00 but the hills on the Lancaster course made Windermere look a bit flat at times! Still chuffed with the time though and looking forward to do doing a flat marathon and breaking the sub 4:00 barrier.

Chester is the next one on October 7th this year followed by either London or Manchester next April.

Happy Days :D
 
Did my first 14 mile run today to set a new monthly total. Couldn't do much before May due to work commitments, having a few hours spare in an evening really makes a difference.

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saddler said:
Did my first 14 mile run today to set a new monthly total. Couldn't do much before May due to work commitments, having a few hours spare in an evening really makes a difference.

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Did my first 14 mile run a couple of weeks ago, very rewarding isn't it :)

Really upping my mileage now. I was in the same boat as you, this year has been shocking due to work, but now with 8 weeks off I can really focus.



16 mile run tomorrow.

Feel free to add me on Nike+, name is Captainrave (could use some friends :p)

IndigoGorilla - congrats on the marathon times! Looking to do a marathon sometime next year, but struggling at the moment. Missed out on the Brighton one which I REALLY wanted to do (my gf is running in it). The other two I am looking at are the Milton Keynes Marathon (reasonably nearby) and The Great Welsh Marathon (bit of a hike though the day before work). In the meantime I am going to do the Reading Half Marathon.
 
CaptainRAVE said:
Feel free to add me on Nike+, name is Captainrave (could use some friends :p)
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Think Ive added you. Doing longer runs is more fun, i'm definately not built for speed so distance suits me better. Its going to be harder though when the light goes as theres a lack of both streetlights and footpaths where I live making night distance running impossible.
 
saddler said:
Think Ive added you. Doing longer runs is more fun, i'm definately not built for speed so distance suits me better. Its going to be harder though when the light goes as theres a lack of both streetlights and footpaths where I live making night distance running impossible.
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Yes, I have been thinking that myself - we have streetlights, but I am still not a huge fan of running in the semi-dark. Will restrict it a lot more to weekends I think.
 
3.5 miles in 32 minutes on sunday, new insoles are stretching/hurting the bottom of my feet, really need that to sort itself out.
 
CaptainRAVE said:
Yes, I have been thinking that myself - we have streetlights, but I am still not a huge fan of running in the semi-dark. Will restrict it a lot more to weekends I think.
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Quite the opposite for me, I was a 100/200m sprinter at school, moving to distance I am finding it hard to pace myself, I feel the need to really go for it but force myself to "plod" along
 
It can be very difficult to control your pace - I was very much the same when I started, but my gf is very good at pacing and my watch helps when I am on my own. I still start off too quickly though and end up in pain for my 2nd mile.

Ran a very wet 5 miles this morning, glad I did though :)
 
Set a new personal best total of 35 miles for the week this week, doing 4 10ks and a wet 10mile today. Really need to remember to use my contact lenses more. Couldnt see a damn thing for the last 2 miles!
 
saddler said:
Set a new personal best total of 35 miles for the week this week, doing 4 10ks and a wet 10mile today. Really need to remember to use my contact lenses more. Couldnt see a damn thing for the last 2 miles!
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Good job :) - haven't done much myself this week. Have done two 5 mile runs and have an 8-10 mile run planned tomorrow. Was going to do it today, but the weather was horrible. Need to up my mileage next week though!
 
Was down the gym today on the treadmill and one of the staff asked if I would be interested in their Olympic challenge. Basically, they time runners for either 400m, 800m, 1600m and create a leader board. I'm 41 and never got into running until about a year ago. Mainly run the occasional 5k to keep fit. Thought I would give the 800m a go anyway. Managed it in 3:32. Someone on the board managed a 2:44. Do any of you run 800m? if so, what times?
 
Ran my first 10k on Saturday, not a race or anything, just by myself. Managed it in 43 mins.

I then did it all over again yesterday (Monday) and managed it in 45. I think i need to push my training harder as the furthest i've really run before then was just over 5k. The fact that i felt fine after doing two 10ks in three days indicates to me that i should be doing so much more.
 
LiE said:
I'm planning to add 20 or so minutes of incline treadmill interval sprints to my training and could use some advice on what trainers to go for. I don't really want to spend a fortune unless I absolutely have to.

I spotted these which have good reviews.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/KSWISS-Tubes-Run-100-Sneaker/dp/B00421BL9W/ref=pd_cp_sh_0

Any opinions here?
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Not sure on the actual trainers as never seen those ones before.

I know your only using them for 20 minutes at a time but I'd either get a gait analysis done at a running shop and see what type of shoes they recommend and go from there.

There are 3 types of general running shoe which are motion control, stability and cushion. Running in the wrong type can lead to injury and we all hate being injured.

That said if you'd rather not go down the running shop route to keep costs down then I'd be looking at a reasonably priced neutral shoe to start which is something between the two other types of shoe. A balance between would be better as I couldn't imagine anything worse than running in the kind of shoe that you don't need at all (e.g. need stability but run in cushion and vice versa).

Take a look at these links, although not a gait analysis is the closet thing you can do yourself to get an idea of what shoes to go for.

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/shoes/choosing-a-shoe-the-very-basics/481.html

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319-326-7152-0,00.html
 
Anyone else get cramp/shooting pains in the forward part of the arch/toes or is it just me :(
Also I sorta live in a valley there is no flat sections unless i do laps of my street so i'm forced into the forest behind the house, which involves a lot of uphill, Is this overdoing it as I feel Im taking for ever and a day to recover after a run
 
IndigoGorilla said:
Not sure on the actual trainers as never seen those ones before.

I know your only using them for 20 minutes at a time but I'd either get a gait analysis done at a running shop and see what type of shoes they recommend and go from there.

There are 3 types of general running shoe which are motion control, stability and cushion. Running in the wrong type can lead to injury and we all hate being injured.

That said if you'd rather not go down the running shop route to keep costs down then I'd be looking at a reasonably priced neutral shoe to start which is something between the two other types of shoe. A balance between would be better as I couldn't imagine anything worse than running in the kind of shoe that you don't need at all (e.g. need stability but run in cushion and vice versa).

Take a look at these links, although not a gait analysis is the closet thing you can do yourself to get an idea of what shoes to go for.

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/shoes/choosing-a-shoe-the-very-basics/481.html

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319-326-7152-0,00.html
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Good advice here - just to add to this, a very good way to keep costs down is to get your gait analysed and pick up a pair of "last seasons shoes" from a shop like JJB sports e.g. one of my favourite shoes are the Nike Lunarglides - since version 3 is out now, version 2 can be found much cheaper (but are still fantastic shoes).
 
I tend to run with a very long stride which I understand isn't ideal. I also find it harder to run slower and my stamina isn't great :p But when I try and go smaller I get I really awkward pain just below my right hip, like a twanging.

Any ideas on the pain? Not enough stretching perhaps?

And Should I just forget it and run however I feel comfortable? or try to correct my stride?

cheers
 
TripleT said:
I tend to run with a very long stride which I understand isn't ideal. I also find it harder to run slower and my stamina isn't great :p But when I try and go smaller I get I really awkward pain just below my right hip, like a twanging.

Any ideas on the pain? Not enough stretching perhaps?

And Should I just forget it and run however I feel comfortable? or try to correct my stride?

cheers
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Why do you find it harder to run slower? It can sometimes feel a bit strange running slower than you know you can but that said running at different paces and distances accordingly is what is generally going to make you a better runner. Although this very much depends on what your aims are as well as someone training to run a 5K in a certain time is never going to do the same Sunday run as someone preparing for a marathon.

If your worried about your stride/gait (how you run) potentially causing injury then I'd maybe try shortening your stride and seeing how that goes, wouldn't do it on too long a run though and would ease into it. Changing things too quickly will only lead to injury in the first place as it won't feel natural.

I have no idea on what would be causing the pain there but even if I did I know we can't discuss anything even slightly medical on here so I'll leave that anyway.

In terms of stretching as well some do and some don't. I've heard there is science behind both and therefore conflicting studies so it depends on whether or not you feel you'd benefit from stretching and if it makes a difference. Try a run stretching before and after and then try the same run but don't do anything and see what happens. I personally don't stretch and have never had any problems running, I only do this though because I don't like stretching before running as I just start slightly slower to warm up and will generally walk home after a run as my cool down so don't feel an extreme need. That said if I do get slight niggles then I will stretch in that case as mental thing more than anything else I guess.

Going to stop now in case I end up waffling. :p
 
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