Running a Half Marathon

[Vacamion]

 

Down to do the Madrid half at the end of April.

 

I've been out running 4 times a week, doing 5km or sometimes 10km, getting up and out at 06:00 during the week and then a longer run on a Sunday, up to 10 miles.

 

I broke my 5km pb on the very hilly route I do twice this week. All was going well.

 

I went shopping yesterday and decided to fit in a cheeky treadmill at the gym en route, nothing too strenuous, just a quick 45 min, a break a sweat type lollop.

 

I popped a calf 

 

 

[LcFc_Smiv]

1 hour ago, Vacamion said:

 

Down to do the Madrid half at the end of April.

 

I've been out running 4 times a week, doing 5km or sometimes 10km, getting up and out at 06:00 during the week and then a longer run on a Sunday, up to 10 miles.

 

I broke my 5km pb on the very hilly route I do twice this week. All was going well.

 

I went shopping yesterday and decided to fit in a cheeky treadmill at the gym en route, nothing too strenuous, just a quick 45 min, a break a sweat type lollop.

 

I popped a calf 

 

 

Ah mate I’m gutted for you! It’s always those silly little things!

[Nick]

Got a 20k Fell Race on Saturday. If training involves 7or 8 pints a day over the bank holiday weekend I'm smashing it.

[fox_up_north]

Off the support on here, I decided to do my longest run in almost a year - 8 miles.

 

Of course, to challenge myself, I decided to do it uphill. So I "ran" (12.30 avg per mile) 4 miles uphill, on Snake Pass in the Peak and then 4 miles (9.20 avg) back down.

 

Lots of wind and rain and blisters but still did all 8 miles in less than 90 minutes so I'm pretty happy with that. Knees and legs felt fine, too.

[westernpark]

5 hours ago, fox_up_north said:

Off the support on here, I decided to do my longest run in almost a year - 8 miles.

 

Of course, to challenge myself, I decided to do it uphill. So I "ran" (12.30 avg per mile) 4 miles uphill, on Snake Pass in the Peak and then 4 miles (9.20 avg) back down.

 

Lots of wind and rain and blisters but still did all 8 miles in less than 90 minutes so I'm pretty happy with that. Knees and legs felt fine, too.

Great effort, I’ve joined Strava today to add some accountability to my running. 

[Vacamion]

On 31/03/2024 at 08:20, Vacamion said:

 

Down to do the Madrid half at the end of April.

 

I've been out running 4 times a week, doing 5km or sometimes 10km, getting up and out at 06:00 during the week and then a longer run on a Sunday, up to 10 miles.

 

I broke my 5km pb on the very hilly route I do twice this week. All was going well.

 

I went shopping yesterday and decided to fit in a cheeky treadmill at the gym en route, nothing too strenuous, just a quick 45 min, a break a sweat type lollop.

 

I popped a calf 

 

 

 

Well I did it.  I hobbled the last bit and had to walk the steepest bits and my leg was ridiculously double-strapped.

 

A rather shameful 2:40. I found it fairly punishing, lots of loooooong uphills followed by short steep downhills, and a tad warmer than I'm used to in Scotland (go figure).

 

Still, I've earned a cerveza or three.  

[Bellend Sebastian]

46 minutes ago, Vacamion said:

 

Well I did it.  I hobbled the last bit and had to walk the steepest bits and my leg was ridiculously double-strapped.

 

A rather shameful 2:40. I found it fairly punishing, lots of loooooong uphills followed by short steep downhills, and a tad warmer than I'm used to in Scotland (go figure).

 

Still, I've earned a cerveza or three.  

I don't think there's anything shameful about that, sounds like a bit of an ordeal. 

 

Enjoy those beers 

[LcFc_Smiv]

2 hours ago, Vacamion said:

 

Well I did it.  I hobbled the last bit and had to walk the steepest bits and my leg was ridiculously double-strapped.

 

A rather shameful 2:40. I found it fairly punishing, lots of loooooong uphills followed by short steep downhills, and a tad warmer than I'm used to in Scotland (go figure).

 

Still, I've earned a cerveza or three.  

Well done mate, nothing shameful about getting any race done! You’ve gone 13 miles more than most will have today.

[waddadamadda]

5 hours ago, Vacamion said:

 

Well I did it.  I hobbled the last bit and had to walk the steepest bits and my leg was ridiculously double-strapped.

 

A rather shameful 2:40. I found it fairly punishing, lots of loooooong uphills followed by short steep downhills, and a tad warmer than I'm used to in Scotland (go figure).

 

Still, I've earned a cerveza or three.  

Nice one! How did the calf hold up?

 

 

[Vacamion]

31 minutes ago, waddadamadda said:

Nice one! How did the calf hold up?

 

 

 

I put 2 x compression socks on it and ran with my other leg doing more work, and I could feel it after 10km, but nursed it round the course.

 

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

Congratulations to everyone who has recently ran a half marathon!

 

Unless you were running in a full marathon, of course.

[CosbehFox]

9 hours ago, Vacamion said:

 

Well I did it.  I hobbled the last bit and had to walk the steepest bits and my leg was ridiculously double-strapped.

 

A rather shameful 2:40. I found it fairly punishing, lots of loooooong uphills followed by short steep downhills, and a tad warmer than I'm used to in Scotland (go figure).

 

Still, I've earned a cerveza or three.  

I wouldn’t give a flyer about times in the heat. It’s an achievement to run in that heat up hills for duration of 13 miles 

[CosbehFox]

Anyone of experience of Robin Hood? Couple of yucky hills around Notts Castle but I’m looking at my next half around September and maybe squeeze one in abroad around November or a no stress Leicester 

[westernpark]

Booked onto the Monsal Trail half marathon end of October. Will make a weekend of it in Buxton.

[fox_up_north]

On 29/04/2024 at 09:31, westernpark said:

Booked onto the Monsal Trail half marathon end of October. Will make a weekend of it in Buxton.

Think you're overestimating Buxton's ability to be interesting there mate

[westernpark]

32 minutes ago, fox_up_north said:

Think you're overestimating Buxton's ability to be interesting there mate

I stay there about twice a year, when I say a weekend, I mean pizza at La Gaby’s and beer at Redwillow and the two Buxton Brewery places!

[Chris_OGrady]

On 29/04/2024 at 09:31, westernpark said:

Booked onto the Monsal Trail half marathon end of October. Will make a weekend of it in Buxton.

This sounds right up my street! I'm doing the Leeds one in a few weeks. The Buxton Brewery taproom by the Crescent is great. Thornbridge taproom nearby in Bakewell too 

Edited 2 May 2024 by Chris_OGrady

[westernpark]

1 hour ago, Chris_OGrady said:

This sounds right up my street! I'm doing the Leeds one in a few weeks. The Buxton Brewery taproom by the Crescent is great. Thornbridge taproom nearby in Bakewell too 

Always been disappointed by the Thornbridge taproom, with their service not beer! It’s better the run being on a Saturday tbh, so it’ll be busier in Buxton during the Saturday evening. You doing the Otley run after the Leeds one? 🤣

[ajthefox]

3 hours ago, Chris_OGrady said:

This sounds right up my street! I'm doing the Leeds one in a few weeks. The Buxton Brewery taproom by the Crescent is great. Thornbridge taproom nearby in Bakewell too 

You may already be aware but it's quite up and down the Leeds half. 

 

Last mile or so is hard work.

[Chris_OGrady]

8 hours ago, westernpark said:

Always been disappointed by the Thornbridge taproom, with their service not beer! It’s better the run being on a Saturday tbh, so it’ll be busier in Buxton during the Saturday evening. You doing the Otley run after the Leeds one? 🤣

No chance haha! I'll try and do a few of the city centre pubs though 

[SickoDicko]

Any recommendations on running shoes? I want to start going to around 15-20k, comfortably doing 8-10k atm but not in proper shoes at all 

[VLC86]

21 minutes ago, SickoDicko said:

Any recommendations on running shoes? I want to start going to around 15-20k, comfortably doing 8-10k atm but not in proper shoes at all 

Depends how much you want to spent really. I spent a fortune on some Hoka trainers with a carbon fibre plate in them and I would recommend them. I ran a marathon around a month ago and didn’t really have any fatigue in my calves/hamstrings.

 

You can spend silly money though so comes down to budget, comfort, speed etc etc.

[SickoDicko]

59 minutes ago, Costock_Fox said:

Depends how much you want to spent really. I spent a fortune on some Hoka trainers with a carbon fibre plate in them and I would recommend them. I ran a marathon around a month ago and didn’t really have any fatigue in my calves/hamstrings.

 

You can spend silly money though so comes down to budget, comfort, speed etc etc.

Yeah I've been looking at the carbon plated ones - budget wise not an issue but i don't want to be jumping into the £250+ ones yet! 

[westernpark]

32 minutes ago, SickoDicko said:

Yeah I've been looking at the carbon plated ones - budget wise not an issue but i don't want to be jumping into the £250+ ones yet! 

I buy a pair of new basic ASICS every 6 months. I run about 1500 miles a year and find them perfectly comfortable. I would recommend going to try on because I’m sure you’ll get lots of different answers, when the reality is everyone is different. Some running shops will even have a treadmill and can tell you what kind of foot you have. Nonetheless, don’t feel like you have to spend more than 50/60 quid, you can still get a very decent pair!

[fox_up_north]

My Saucony pair was about £140 but the difference is HUGE to your standard £60 off the shelf. 

 

As an aside - I did a relatively flat 9 mile route yesterday and flew round. Accounting for traffic stops and road crossings, it was a healthy sub 10 mins average and it was hardly cracking 160bpm.