Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

Itchytrigg said:
Need some thoughts on a watch. Have the Garmin Forerunner 15 at the moment which works well, but birthday incoming with no other ideas I like the idea of an upgrade. Any one have experience with the Garmin Vivoactive and/or the Forerunner 220?

Both look similar on running functionality, the 220 built in heart rate I'm not bothered about as I have a heart rate strap anyway, but I think it looks nicer than the vivo.
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DC rainmaker winter 2015 gear review has a nice section on recommended running watches:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/11/winter-sports-gadget-recommendations.html
 
The Darkness said:
DC rainmaker winter 2015 gear review has a nice section on recommended running watches:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/11/winter-sports-gadget-recommendations.html
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Thanks dude, some good stuff on there. I went with the vivo in the end, will see how it is. As it was from Argos if I think I made the wrong choice I can take back and change to the 225.

5.5 miles again today, was on some slippery and rough terrain and thought I rolled my ankle, couple miles later almost back at the office start feeling a pain just below the ankle deep in the foot. Should have stopped I guess but was so close I carried on. Getting some pain only on bending, which wasn't great but has eased off now and no issues whilst driving.

Hopefully a day off tomorrow will see it right, and just need to make sure on my Sunday long run to stop immediately if it gives any grief, or not go at all if it's still feeling funky.
 
^^ Hope you will be OK!


I just signed up for the New Jersey marathon, May 1st. Need to buy some fake tan now...


Yesterday I did my first key Long run: 9 mile warm up at 8:35/mile, 9 miles marathon pace at 7:25/mile, 2.2 mile cool down. Average pace about 8:00 a mile and I felt great.

Did an easy 9.5 miler this morning, now about to jump on a plane and go off skiing.
 
Thanks DP. Been fine so far today so hopefully will be fine for a run tomorrow.

Will be taking back the vivoactive, only worn it around this morning and not tried a run but there's just something I'm not liking about the square and small screen.
 
PermaBanned said:
Missed a few runs this week for personal reasons. It's going to be weird not having to step over a dog when I get in from a run :(
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Sorry to hear about the dog. Hope things improve soon.

D.P. said:
I just signed up for the New Jersey marathon, May 1st. Need to buy some fake tan now...


Yesterday I did my first key Long run: 9 mile warm up at 8:35/mile, 9 miles marathon pace at 7:25/mile, 2.2 mile cool down. Average pace about 8:00 a mile and I felt great.

Did an easy 9.5 miler this morning, now about to jump on a plane and go off skiing.
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Good luck with the marathon when it comes round and it sounds like the training is going well too which is great. Enjoy the skiing too.

Another Parkrun today and another where a local running club had their juniors out in force, I don't know if it was another test or if they just liked the course so much they're going to come regularly. I'm not sure how I feel about it, while it's good that they're doing sport it does somewhat change the feeling of the run as it becomes a bit more of a race and that bit less about fun particularly when you've got parents/coaches shouting at the children to get them to run faster. I suppose it would be one thing if they were coming along to join in with Parkrun and the whole ethos of the event but it appears that this is just another free race for them - maybe I'm judging it unfairly though as I don't really know the motivations.
 
A case of the man flu put hold to my long run this week. Hopefully it clears soon, this aching back muscles is a real fun gig.

However liking the forerunner 225, heart rate works pretty well just need to get out for a run with it!
 
my leg had an argument with a 1litre full of freshly boiled water - caffetiere on Tuesday

so going to be a month or so before back to near PBs at least :( and end of XC season for me as can't risk infection

I was fairly lucky, and put 30 mins of cold water on burns before I went to A&E so most is 1st degree, but 3 patches (largest about 6cm by 3cm) are 2nd degree :( doesn't hurt too much but have to be careful not to get infected - and wounds have to be kept dressed for a couple of weeks

in fact I may restrict myself for a week or so to do treadmill running only

I've not done any running at all this week

right faff :(

Ice Skating lessons tomorrow night - going to make sure I do no heroics as a "slide" would not be good !
 
So Hill run monday,
Stayed inside due to ice and the fact I'm still easing into it.

Running at 8:34 per mile
8% incline for 10 mins.
4% incline for 20 mins.

Hopefully heading out there next week.
 
Yikes Buckster that sounds nasty! Hope it heals up quickly for you and you can keep out any infections.

Ran yesterday, cold be damned, got 5.7mi in including a little hill work. Shall get out again today, no 2pm meeting this time so should be able to extend my lunch a little to get 6-7 miles in.
 
I wonder how hiking can fit into running training. I sometimes hike to town and back, largely because i'm a cheapskate and don't like spending more on public transport than i'm probably going to spend while i'm there. Anyway i did that today and tried recording it with strava just to see. Nearly ate all of my phone battery, but it was interesting to see. I know it's not exactly the same physiological process, but it uses a lot of the same muscles. Just at a "super easy" pace for a much longer period of time. Think it's probably beneficial to get your body used to constant efforts over several hours, be it through walking or on the bike.
 
PermaBanned said:
I wonder how hiking can fit into running training. I sometimes hike to town and back, largely because i'm a cheapskate and don't like spending more on public transport than i'm probably going to spend while i'm there. Anyway i did that today and tried recording it with strava just to see. Nearly ate all of my phone battery, but it was interesting to see. I know it's not exactly the same physiological process, but it uses a lot of the same muscles. Just at a "super easy" pace for a much longer period of time. Think it's probably beneficial to get your body used to constant efforts over several hours, be it through walking or on the bike.
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I think it is helpful but hard to say how much and I don't think it is a substitute for running.

I was wondering that this weekend, I spent 4 days doing ski touring, which is climbing a mountain and skiing down. Around 6-7 hours a day with breaks, and i would get very tired legs. The pace is slower than even a slow recovery run but there is a lot of leg strength involved on steeper pitches, plus some more explosive forces combat skiing through trees on sloppy snow. No doubt useful strength building like hill repeats, too bad my marathon is going to be flat!
 
I don't know about substitute, but I think it's certainly viable as a form of cross training.

I think hill repeats and strength work can have benefits beyond just getting you up hills faster, a good turn of speed can be invaluable in a race over any distance. Just look at Mo ;)
 
I thought this may be a better place to post this then the gym thread. I want to increase the intensity of my cardio sessions in the gym. I prefer to use a crosstrainer or stepper to a treadmill.

I'm limited to about 30 mins on a crosstrainer. I feel I can run at a higher pace for longer than 30 mins however I'm being limited by my calves, particularly my left calf. They feel tight after 15-20 mins so I'm forced to run at a slower pace.

I assume this is a common problem when running. Is there anything I can do apart from wait for the muscles to adapt?
 
I can't really comment on the effects of a cross trainer or your specific medical situation, but it sounds like the sort of thing that can lead to shin splints. General advice would be stretches (eg. some of these, not convinced all of them are necessary, find what works for you) after each run. Look into foam rolling either before or after running or indeed during rest. Or all three. It has a lot of benefits for recovery time, removing knots and lactic acid and doesn't really have any major downsides as long as it's done properly. Another thing that really helped me was self massage - or professional massage if you can afford it. Physio showed me how and where to do it and my muscles felt noticeably less tight pretty much overnight.

May be worth varying the type of running, I know when I started out doing some barefoot work it was incredibly intensive on the calves compared to running with shoes, maybe it's a similar effect?
 
PermaBanned said:
I don't know about substitute, but I think it's certainly viable as a form of cross training.

I think hill repeats and strength work can have benefits beyond just getting you up hills faster, a good turn of speed can be invaluable in a race over any distance. Just look at Mo ;)
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Interestingly Mo doesn't do any intervals;)
 
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