FoxesTalk Strava virtual running club

[Xen]

13 hours ago, Facecloth said:

Another slightly quicker 5k today, 31:07. Reckon i can knock a little or that too, as I waited for what felt like ages to cross a road.

 

Edit: scrap that, checked my strava moving time, 30:34. Hopefully break 30 minutes in the next couple of runs.

Good effort - you'll break 30 in no time.

 

Judging by strava it looks like you run past my flat a lot of the time. Will have to meet up for a parkrun or something once all this craziness starts to settle down

[Facecloth]

5 hours ago, Xen said:

Good effort - you'll break 30 in no time.

 

Judging by strava it looks like you run past my flat a lot of the time. Will have to meet up for a parkrun or something once all this craziness starts to settle down

Sounds like a plan. 

 

I was doing Parkrun every week until early late Feb early March. Then there was the flooding, then I was ill for a couple of weeks (no Coronavirus) then the lockdown started. It was really helping to get me running, so was gutted when it had to stop.

[Sly]

My times have plateaued a little. 

 

I’ve struggled a bit recently, my shins and calves have been giving me grief. 

[Wolfox]

15 minutes ago, Sly said:

My times have plateaued a little. 

 

I’ve struggled a bit recently, my shins and calves have been giving me grief. 

Improvement is rarely linear….  You make occasional jumps and sometimes regress 

 

Stick with it 👍🏼 

[Izzy]

18 minutes ago, Sly said:

My times have plateaued a little. 

 

I’ve struggled a bit recently, my shins and calves have been giving me grief. 

Think I might knock it on the head until the gym re-opens and I can get back on that soft, bouncy treadmill.

 

My Achilles is proper fvcked after all this road running and it ain't getting any better.

 

Shame, but at least I tried!!

[RobHawk]

Back out today, made 5.6km in around 35mins. I wanted to push it and go faster but was worried about my calf and it hurts like hell now. Hoping it will feel a bit better in the morning. 

[StriderHiryu]

30 minutes ago, Sly said:

My times have plateaued a little. 

 

I’ve struggled a bit recently, my shins and calves have been giving me grief. 

How often are you running?

 

It's counter intuitive, but sometimes taking a break can dramatically improve your performances. You can heal up and then the next time when you run instead of being in pain, you feel good and can get into the zone. So try taking a whole week off!

 

The shins thing worries me a bit though, that sounds like your running shoes could do with replacement / upgrading. I said it in a previous post but a top quality pair of running shoes makes such a huge difference it's unbelievable. About 10 years ago I lost a ton of weight and the breakthrough for me was running shoes. I could only run 30 minutes and feel a lot of pain, but then I got new shoes and found literally overnight I could run twice as far and yet still not feel any ill-effects.

[Sly]

29 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

How often are you running?

 

It's counter intuitive, but sometimes taking a break can dramatically improve your performances. You can heal up and then the next time when you run instead of being in pain, you feel good and can get into the zone. So try taking a whole week off!

 

The shins thing worries me a bit though, that sounds like your running shoes could do with replacement / upgrading. I said it in a previous post but a top quality pair of running shoes makes such a huge difference it's unbelievable. About 10 years ago I lost a ton of weight and the breakthrough for me was running shoes. I could only run 30 minutes and feel a lot of pain, but then I got new shoes and found literally overnight I could run twice as far and yet still not feel any ill-effects.

I’ve just taken 3 days off and was feeling okay pre run. I’d tried some runs that had more gradients last week and I definitely felt those. 
 

I’ve earmarked getting my gait looked at ASAP, based on what has been said previously about getting the right shoe type. I just need the Corona thing to sort itself out. 
 

I’m running in a pair of Nike Downshifter 7s, which I actually picked up to do a load of Wolf Runs 2 to 3 years ago. I’m pretty sure that these aren’t the best pair of shoes for road running! 

[StriderHiryu]

6 minutes ago, Sly said:

I’ve just taken 3 days off and was feeling okay pre run. I’d tried some runs that had more gradients last week and I definitely felt those. 
 

I’ve earmarked getting my gait looked at ASAP, based on what has been said previously about getting the right shoe type. I just need the Corona thing to sort itself out. 
 

I’m running in a pair of Nike Downshifter 7s, which I actually picked up to do a load of Wolf Runs 2 to 3 years ago. I’m pretty sure that these aren’t the best pair of shoes for road running! 

Don't we all!

[Sly]

4 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

Don't we all!

Yes!! 
 

On a side note, I’m now dodging more people as I run around. Have people

just given up. I ran around a group of 15 people stood outside a shop

earlier.

 

I definitely want to continue this after Corona, as on the whole I’ve enjoyed it until recently. I feel fitter and the knee feels good, these were the main aims back in January. 

[StriderHiryu]

12 minutes ago, Sly said:

Yes!! 
 

On a side note, I’m now dodging more people as I run around. Have people

just given up. I ran around a group of 15 people stood outside a shop

earlier.

 

I definitely want to continue this after Corona, as on the whole I’ve enjoyed it until recently. I feel fitter and the knee feels good, these were the main aims back in January. 

Same thing here. It's been gradually getting worse as the weather has improved, but today honestly it did appear that people had completely given up altogether. I ran through a park which was packed and people were just sitting next together socialising not giving two monkeys about 2 metres, same with people around built up areas. I'm guessing that because Boris announced that they are going to ease up on lockdown measures that people have taken that as meaning the all clear is coming. I can understand why people are fed up, but at the same time it really doesn't bode well for the future. I think it speaks volumes as to what society has become in that people will knowingly choose to go on with their lives despite many deaths being preventable. It's also pretty obvious that both the US and UK have also decided that the death rate is acceptable enough to "take it on the chin" to get the economy going again.

 

There are of course arguments both ways, as the huge worldwide recession we are now in is going to bring pain to many for the next 3-5 years minimum. But at the same time I think it shows you that human beings are inherently selfish. Ultimately the number of deaths from the virus will be seen more as "an inconvenience" rather than a turning point, but the next time we face a world emergency this whole debacle has shown us how poor we (the human race) are with dealing with things. I think in my lifetime we will see at least one extremely serious problem related to the Climate and as such a thing won't be so easy to fix I worry what sort of global impact it will have. It won't be good that's for sure.

 

Anyway I'll leave the philosophical debate at the door. Definitely continue your runs and use this thread as motivation! Once we entered lockdown I tried to use the situation as an opportunity to improve myself and achieve something with all of the extra time. I chose to lose weight and to make the project I am working on (I co-founded a startup with friends) as badass as possible. Both are coming along quite nicely actually so though I am definitely fed up and a bit depressed, I'll feel like I still made progress despite all of the downtime. Try to do the same!

[UpTheLeagueFox]

13 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

Definitely continue your runs and use this thread as motivation!  

I use this thread as motivation.

Had a swollen knee after 25k in two days so rested.

Then decided on a walk yesterday - thought I'd try a little jog to start with to see how the knee felt.

Ended up doing 13k in 1h24" and included a PB 1k (5.24)

Safe to say it confused me 

[StriderHiryu]

Just now, UpTheLeagueFox said:

I use this thread as motivation.

Had a swollen knee after 25k in two days so rested.

Then decided on a walk yesterday - thought I'd try a little jog to start with to see how the knee felt.

Ended up doing 13k in 1h24" and included a PB 1k (5.24)

Safe to say it confused me 

Well that's awesome! Just goes to show you eh, that going for a walk was enough to inspire you to push a bit harder and then next thing you know, you'll be part of the Olympics team next year!

 

I think when you go running often, your body gets hooked on the endorphins that running produces. I've noticed that if I don't do anything in a day, I get really cranky. I mean like not having a coffee in the morning x10 cranky. So at least going for a walk get me feeling good again. I think this is actually awesome that your body gives you that sort of response as it's what prompts you get out and about and to improve.

 

Very good stuff!

[Wolfox]

Meh…. Not ran yet this week…. No niggles or jiggles and I could have found the time…. 
 

I’ll be back as I’ve generally been pretty good all year

 

You just have to accept the peaks with the troughs

[Facecloth]

Felt meh running tonight. I only dropped about 20 seconds off my PB, just felt like I struggled.

[Xen]

50 minutes ago, Facecloth said:

 I only dropped about 20 seconds off my PB

Fixed. Well done

 

[Facecloth]

6 minutes ago, Xen said:

Fixed. Well done

 

 I put only because I was surprised how close I was to my time considering how bad the run felt.

[Xen]

4 minutes ago, Facecloth said:

 I put only because I was surprised how close I was to my time considering how bad the run felt.

 It's funny how that works some times. A run can feel like absolute trash but be one of your best ever, then the next day you feel like you're flying but in reality you're well off the pace. Most of my best races have came on days where I've said to clubmates beforehand that "I'm really not feeling it today, just getting round will be fine" (genuinely feeling that way), then I get starte, everything goes brilliantly and I get a PB. I must look like such a faux-humble pr*ck fishing for attention  

Edited 7 May 2020 by Xen

[Sly]

My best run this year felt awful, it felt slow. Crazy huh! 

[David Guiza]

Really can't get rid of a niggly heel injury that I've had on and off for a few months. Feels fine once I'm a few miles in, but getting to that stage is easier said than done with the pain. Think I need to give up the ghost and have a week off.

 

Also, does anybody else struggle to eat/drink whilst running? I have taken to not drinking when doing competitive Half Marathons as I have to physically stop to drink and it just slows my time and rhythm. I have no idea how people do it without drowning! I only drink when marathon training/running as I can't physically cope without doing so. 

 

Congrats to anybody who managed a run today, so hot and muggy! 

[StriderHiryu]

I brought myself one of those backpacks with water / hydration support but I've got to say that I hated it! Running with 2 litres strapped to your back is very noticeable and whilst it was nice to be able to have a sip on what felt like the hottest day of the year so far, it literally weighed me down throughout and felt like a major nuisance to run with. That will be the first and last time I run with one of those on I think!

 

Gorgeous day to go running but packed everywhere. I'm definitely worried we may see a second spike of infections in the next month or so, but I truly hope I'm wrong as it's horrible being inside for the whole day.

[StriderHiryu]

1 minute ago, David Guiza said:

Really can't get rid of a niggly heel injury that I've had on and off for a few months. Feels fine once I'm a few miles in, but getting to that stage is easier said than done with the pain. Think I need to give up the ghost and have a week off.

 

Also, does anybody else struggle to eat/drink whilst running? I have taken to not drinking when doing competitive Half Marathons as I have to physically stop to drink and it just slows my time and rhythm. I have no idea how people do it without drowning! I only drink when marathon training/running as I can't physically cope without doing so. 

 

Congrats to anybody who managed a run today, so hot and muggy! 

Yep massively so! If I have a drink I find I get a stitch and it kills my run and pace. As mentioned above I brought a hydration backpack to see if it would make a difference, but it just felt worse.

 

As a result I just don't drink during my run and then neck a ton of water after I'm done! Probably a terrible idea to do it this way, but it's what works for me.

[David Guiza]

1 minute ago, StriderHiryu said:

Yep massively so! If I have a drink I find I get a stitch and it kills my run and pace. As mentioned above I brought a hydration backpack to see if it would make a difference, but it just felt worse.

 

As a result I just don't drink during my run and then neck a ton of water after I'm done! Probably a terrible idea to do it this way, but it's what works for me.

Yep that's pretty much my method too, glad we can struggle together.

 

Genuinely blows my mind when I compete in a race or watch the London Marathon coverage etc and athletes just take a swig like it's nothing! 

[KrefelderFox666]

Those struggling to eat/drink while running. I think there is a few things. It depends what you are eating and what you are drinking from. Sports bottles are perfect, no issues. Plastic cups, forget it, most of it goes down the shirt.

 

Maybe a suggestion is to go on a few tester runs, just short ones, carrying food and drink and just practising until you get comfortable. I have generally been OK with it as long as it is in a decent form. I'd struggle with a sandwich! Gels are easy, I also find jelly babies/Haribo decent. Have had flapjacks and cookies broken up bite size.

 

I hate long training runs when I look like a pack mule, just feels awkward. When I do 30K+ I try to loop back to my house about halfway to stock up so I don't carry too much at once.

 

Just see what works best for you, try things, everyone is different. HM you could possibly get away without food/drink, depending how quick you are and how hot it is. Any longer and it's not good for you/almost impossible.

[UpTheLeagueFox]

14k done yesterday, best outdoor 10k PB (62.30) and averaged 6.18 per kilometre, another PB over that distance

Pace per kilometre was better in the last five k's than the first nine - how the fook does that happen????