Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

so went for this light - test drive this evening including 3m of unlit pathway next to mainroad -
it's a lot safer seeing where you put your feet, and the cars don't dazzle you anymore;
100g but you forget you've got it on, mostly under skull cap.
will have to try the random kinda strobe one night, need to have it behave like a govee type device tuned to music beat say.
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Any goals for this year? I'm vaguely considering a marathon (having not done one since 2023), possibly late spring. I'm feeling in really good nick at the moment (ran 16k at sub 5 minutes kms yesterday without my HR topping 140), so keen to translate that into training for something proper.

The alternative is to aim to finally break a 1.30 half.
 
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Whilst very optimistic I’d love to do the marathon distance of this (or longer)


Overall I’m just hopeful to avoid injury and continuing to try and regain fitness and not agrivate my foot issues.
 
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Week 3 of couch to 5k completed.
The running shoes are making my knee hurt less than my sketchers were.
Was more worried about slipping over today than the run itself really.
My limiting factor is currently my calves burning.
 
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Week 3 of couch to 5k completed.
The running shoes are making my knee hurt less than my sketchers were.
Was more worried about slipping over today than the run itself really.
My limiting factor is currently my calves burning.

It might be worth trying to slow down the programme as you might be overdoing it a bit.

The C25K is a great starter and generally takes it slow, but with a higher starting weight you might find you need extra time to build up resilience in the joints. Especially if you’ve previously been inactive.

If you’re getting pain it’s worth just skipping a few sessions and replacing them with walks instead to lower the impact. See how it feels and then start again.
One of the biggest lessons in running is listening to your body and accepting it’s ok to reduce the intensity or walk whilst you recover. Better to do that and be ready for the next session than make it worse and have a long time off.
 
not sure in the current cooler UK freezing weather whether using some kind of legging is better for the muscles at nightime/dusk ,
it seems like it would be marginal once you are warmed up, but if it would reduce injuries maybe I should invest,
in comparison currently have a patagonia base layer 100 polartec and lightweight goretex on the top which is nicely toasty and doesn't leave you sweaty.
 
For me it always depended on conditions/duration.

An hour or two around home. I’d just wear shorts, down to around freezing. Maybe to -2/3.

Anything up in the hills with wind and tights all day long.
 
Are there any park runners who'd be happy to beta test an app for me?

Android only atm; iphone coming soon.
 
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Got out this morning. Second run in a row that i've battled cold conditions and hailstones. I didn't move to Spain for this!

Last week was probably a bit sketchy as there was a thunderstorm and i'm i was at the top of a local mountain and relatively exposed. Got a little nervous at times, and ended up changing the route home to drop below the treeline as it felt right above me.
Today i got out early for 10km before work.

Both times were relatively enjoyable. A bit like being home in the UK on the fells and being battered by rain. There's something about getting in the shower and the warm water stings that weirdly feels good. A nice for a novelty anyway. I'm sure i didn't feel the same when it was every day!


Any goals for this year? I'm vaguely considering a marathon (having not done one since 2023), possibly late spring. I'm feeling in really good nick at the moment (ran 16k at sub 5 minutes kms yesterday without my HR topping 140), so keen to translate that into training for something proper.

The alternative is to aim to finally break a 1.30 half.

Thinking about my post above. I think i'm going to change that down to the 23km version of the event. I think the marathon is a pipe dream given it has ~3000m elevation which makes it a hugely difficult event. The 23km has a cut off of 6hours which along still shows how brutal an event it is (for anyone that's been to Benidorm, it basically includes climbing the Puig mountain behind the town)

Thinking this morning, i think my main goals are just to regain consistency and try and get back proper fitness. Today i did 10km in 70 minutes and whilst i was generally running easy. I'd like to get my easy 10km down to sub 60 minutes. Maybe my 5k back to around 25 minutes. I've never been a fast runner, but if i can just get back to being able to run for a solid hour at an easy 9-9:30 pace i'll be happy.
 
I've set some very lofty goals this year in pursuit of a Boston qualification time in 2027 (targeting Manchester Marathon for the attempt).

Half Marathon - Sub 1:22
10k - Sub 37:00
5k - Sub 17:50

I am basically planning on doing a monster aerobic build over the first half of the year at least using the internets favorite in vogue training plan, norweigan singles approach. I agree with basically everything within in and do believe the best way for me to get better is to consistently run as much as I can while managing fatigue and avoiding injury. I may well switch to a more event specific Programme to see out the year depending on how my progress is going. First race is Alloa Half Marathon on the 22nd March - I am hopeful that sub 1:30 should be comfortable enough then.
 
Trying to decide if it makes sense to do this

Effectively the 24k version of the event i missed a cut off for on the 75km distance back in 2022. This has an achievable 5 hour cut off, even allowing for the 900m ascent. The scenery is outstanding and so even as a hike would be an enjoyable day out.
 
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