The Running Thread (formerly How fast can you run a 5k?)

[BenTheFox]

Leicester Half Marathon in 1:57. It was only my second Half Marathon but I beat my previous time of 2:03. I started much further back than I would have liked to but it was packed and I couldn'tget further forward. I started by the 2:20 pacer so spent the first mile or so just getting past people. Really pleased with my effort. I wasn't expecting sub 2 hours. 

[Ric Flair]

3 hours ago, VLC86 said:

I’m sorry but that’s really made me laugh, down the main road 😂😂😂

 

I wouldn’t have been laughing had I been in that group though, right at the start knowing you’ve ran further than you needed to isn’t ideal.

Hahahaaaa I remember thinking, this is a bit niche dodging cars and barriers 😂😂😂😂

[pkonline]

I was part of the group that went the wrong way too. Actually quite enjoyed the detour and running around the Curve, but aware it could have been pretty serious with cars on a dual carriage way.

 

Didn't really spoil the mood and really enjoyed the day. Personally I'm not fussed about times but appreciate some people it is important. Definitely do it again next year. I'm sure the organisers will do what they need to to avoid this happening again.

[Raj]

6 minutes ago, pkonline said:

I was part of the group that went the wrong way too. Actually quite enjoyed the detour and running around the Curve, but aware it could have been pretty serious with cars on a dual carriage way.

 

Didn't really spoil the mood and really enjoyed the day. Personally I'm not fussed about times but appreciate some people it is important. Definitely do it again next year. I'm sure the organisers will do what they need to to avoid this happening again.

Good attitude👍🏾

In the bigger scheme of things unless you were an Elite trying to win( Who WOULD have known the course beforehand!!) it's hardly going to pass you off enough to never do it.

We were in that group who went the right way, and saw the confusion with the runners going the wrong way and just said "Where the feck are them cvnts going"🤣🤣

 

Looks like the organisers have issued a statement  and loads of learning from it👍🏾👍🏾

 

[FLAN]

Just under 42mins  park run at weekend

walking fast as I’m recovering from ACL 

[VLC86]

I’m pretty broken still from Saturday. Immediately after I stopped my nose wouldn’t stop running and I’ve had a rough ride with asthma as well.

 

My upper body has decided to join the pain party today as well, so I’m obviously playing football tomorrow night ☠️

[Ric Flair]

12 hours ago, VLC86 said:

I’m pretty broken still from Saturday. Immediately after I stopped my nose wouldn’t stop running and I’ve had a rough ride with asthma as well.

 

My upper body has decided to join the pain party today as well, so I’m obviously playing football tomorrow night ☠️

I was wondering how you might be fairing up. What long distance running does to the body and immune system is quite astonishing.

 

I've just finalised my plans for 2026. Ultra marathon (34 miles) in March 2026 having never ran further than 20 miles and then Manchester marathon April 19th 2026. Need a careful training plan, might need to bring my ultra forward (it's just a run in memory of my mum from Welwyn Garden City to Bedford) as otherwise I could annihilate myself.

[VLC86]

5 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

I was wondering how you might be fairing up. What long distance running does to the body and immune system is quite astonishing.

 

I've just finalised my plans for 2026. Ultra marathon (34 miles) in March 2026 having never ran further than 20 miles and then Manchester marathon April 19th 2026. Need a careful training plan, might need to bring my ultra forward (it's just a run in memory of my mum from Welwyn Garden City to Bedford) as otherwise I could annihilate myself.

I wonder how much of the nose/breathing issues have been down to the conditions, but that’s definitely a learning curve for what I need to consider if I do anything similar. I got my first uninterrupted nights sleep last night so I feel better this morning.

 

2026 sounds decent. I’m very curious about ultras myself, have you found much about what mileage you need to put in to train for that kind of mileage?

 

I think my plan for next year will probably be a very flat marathon early in the year and probably, section me now, the Eryri again.

[Ric Flair]

23 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

I wonder how much of the nose/breathing issues have been down to the conditions, but that’s definitely a learning curve for what I need to consider if I do anything similar. I got my first uninterrupted nights sleep last night so I feel better this morning.

 

2026 sounds decent. I’m very curious about ultras myself, have you found much about what mileage you need to put in to train for that kind of mileage?

 

I think my plan for next year will probably be a very flat marathon early in the year and probably, section me now, the Eryri again.

I've got the benefit of a good work mate who is a prolific ultra marathon runner, did the 100 miler in Snowdonia in May as well. So I will pick his brains as I plot my training, I've found Chat GPT pretty useful so far too as I've done a broad plan. Looking like a few weeks of upwards of 40-45 miles which will be mind mending on hos to fit it in but will keep you posted.

[VLC86]

6 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

I've got the benefit of a good work mate who is a prolific ultra marathon runner, did the 100 miler in Snowdonia in May as well. So I will pick his brains as I plot my training, I've found Chat GPT pretty useful so far too as I've done a broad plan. Looking like a few weeks of upwards of 40-45 miles which will be mind mending on hos to fit it in but will keep you posted.

That UTB Snowdonia event looks absolutely savage.

[CosbehFox]

I’ve made the leap in ‘weight category’ too. Managed to get a place at Ashby 20. Working out my training plan 

[stretch1965]

23 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

I've got the benefit of a good work mate who is a prolific ultra marathon runner, did the 100 miler in Snowdonia in May as well. So I will pick his brains as I plot my training, I've found Chat GPT pretty useful so far too as I've done a broad plan. Looking like a few weeks of upwards of 40-45 miles which will be mind mending on hos to fit it in but will keep you posted.

@VLC86 @Ric Flair

Thinking of an ultra myself for next year and keep getting The Lap at lake windermere popping up. Its 47 miles as most I've done is the marathon.

After watching back Mount Eryri on S4C on Sunday 47 miles should be a doddle for VLC86, looked brutal.

[stretch1965]

8 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

I’ve made the leap in ‘weight category’ too. Managed to get a place at Ashby 20. Working out my training plan 

Did it last year, was well supported and got a great hoodie at the end. A few nasty hills in there tho. I started training from Christmas and was out 3-4 days a week with my big runs at the weekend. Only trained up to a 16 miler which worked for me. Good luck 

[VLC86]

15 minutes ago, stretch1965 said:

@VLC86 @Ric Flair

Thinking of an ultra myself for next year and keep getting The Lap at lake windermere popping up. Its 47 miles as most I've done is the marathon.

After watching back Mount Eryri on S4C on Sunday 47 miles should be a doddle for VLC86, looked brutal.

A doddle 😂 the marathon has humbled me.

 

Played football last night, legs started to feel human again before it so I thought I’d just coast through it… 2 minutes in my right glute has gone and I think it’s a bad one. What a tit.

[Lionator]

I’ve started running again after a difficult summer and it’s really helping. I’m trying to build up my endurance and a lot I’ve read on Reddit says to go at zone 2 on the Apple Watch. I’ve been going for 10km+ keeping my heart rate at below 140bpm but I’m really, really, really slow. Just looking for reassurance that this method works in the long term mixed in with a fast parkrun each week?

[Unabomber]

1 hour ago, Lionator said:

I’ve started running again after a difficult summer and it’s really helping. I’m trying to build up my endurance and a lot I’ve read on Reddit says to go at zone 2 on the Apple Watch. I’ve been going for 10km+ keeping my heart rate at below 140bpm but I’m really, really, really slow. Just looking for reassurance that this method works in the long term mixed in with a fast parkrun each week?

Yeah 100% I wish I had ran way slower when I first started to build up endurance. 

[CosbehFox]

4 hours ago, stretch1965 said:

Did it last year, was well supported and got a great hoodie at the end. A few nasty hills in there tho. I started training from Christmas and was out 3-4 days a week with my big runs at the weekend. Only trained up to a 16 miler which worked for me. Good luck 

Yeah I went a bit deeper on the route and yeah a couple of hills - and the fact you have to do them twice! Just trying to work out my training plan. 

[stretch1965]

Just booked the Lanzerote marathon on Saturday 6th December, 70 Euro to enter, Flights £63 return from East Mids Friday 5th 5.50am and return Sunday 18.25.

Anyone else fancy it?

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

9 hours ago, Lionator said:

I’ve started running again after a difficult summer and it’s really helping. I’m trying to build up my endurance and a lot I’ve read on Reddit says to go at zone 2 on the Apple Watch. I’ve been going for 10km+ keeping my heart rate at below 140bpm but I’m really, really, really slow. Just looking for reassurance that this method works in the long term mixed in with a fast parkrun each week?

What pace are you running at if you want to share it? But definitely distance is more important than speed, and longer running will make heart rate zone 2 more achievable at a quicker pace down the line 

[waddadamadda]

How many of us are in for Ashby 20?

 

In a real slump at the moment and desperately trying to fight my way out of it. Next year is shaping up to be a good one so it needs to happen quick as I’ve got my 3rd ultra booked, one marathon and a 54 mile London to Brighton cycle. 

[VLC86]

2 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

How many of us are in for Ashby 20?

 

In a real slump at the moment and desperately trying to fight my way out of it. Next year is shaping up to be a good one so it needs to happen quick as I’ve got my 3rd ultra booked, one marathon and a 54 mile London to Brighton cycle. 

Is it any good? I know nothing about it.

 

I need to come up with a plan soon, would want to get something booked in for very early in the year but no idea what there is.

 

Edit: Just seen it’s sold out either way.

Edited 29 October 2025 by VLC86

[howlinmadmurfdoc]

14 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

How many of us are in for Ashby 20?

 

In a real slump at the moment and desperately trying to fight my way out of it. Next year is shaping up to be a good one so it needs to happen quick as I’ve got my 3rd ultra booked, one marathon and a 54 mile London to Brighton cycle. 

I signed up for it because of running club pub peer pressure.

Currently can’t walk properly after my calf popping on Sunday at the 12 mile point of the Leicester half though so i reckon I’ll be paying my £5 cancellation fee and forgetting about it.

[Guesty]

On 29/10/2025 at 08:05, Lionator said:

I’ve started running again after a difficult summer and it’s really helping. I’m trying to build up my endurance and a lot I’ve read on Reddit says to go at zone 2 on the Apple Watch. I’ve been going for 10km+ keeping my heart rate at below 140bpm but I’m really, really, really slow. Just looking for reassurance that this method works in the long term mixed in with a fast parkrun each week?

I tried the zone 2 thing when I first started taking running seriously. It can work but you need to know your true heart rate zones.

 

I read about some formula like 220 minus your age to work out your max heart rate then basing your zones off that. But found I was having to walk at times. That formula would have my max heart rate at 179 with my heart rate zones based off that. But when running I've got it up to 198 when really pushing. When I looked into it, some people just have higher or lower than average heart rates and very few push themselves to find out their true max heart rate - so their zone 2 isn't correct.

 

I found the best way to try and find mine was to run a fast 10k then finish on a long uphill and keep going till I felt sick and couldn't go anymore (there are probably better ways). Then I manually changed my heart rate zones in the garmin app. But even now I rarely spend more than 50% of a run in zone 2 - even on easy runs with friends - and I've given up trying. 

 

It must work for some/most people but not me. Sometimes it's just as easy to go by feel and just enjoy it. I read if you can still talk whilst your running thats a good judge of zone 2.

[Lionator]

46 minutes ago, Guesty said:

I tried the zone 2 thing when I first started taking running seriously. It can work but you need to know your true heart rate zones.

 

I read about some formula like 220 minus your age to work out your max heart rate then basing your zones off that. But found I was having to walk at times. That formula would have my max heart rate at 179 with my heart rate zones based off that. But when running I've got it up to 198 when really pushing. When I looked into it, some people just have higher or lower than average heart rates and very few push themselves to find out their true max heart rate - so their zone 2 isn't correct.

 

I found the best way to try and find mine was to run a fast 10k then finish on a long uphill and keep going till I felt sick and couldn't go anymore (there are probably better ways). Then I manually changed my heart rate zones in the garmin app. But even now I rarely spend more than 50% of a run in zone 2 - even on easy runs with friends - and I've given up trying. 

 

It must work for some/most people but not me. Sometimes it's just as easy to go by feel and just enjoy it. I read if you can still talk whilst your running thats a good judge of zone 2.

Thank you, I’ll give it a go. I did another this morning and was in mostly zone 2 (average heart rate 133) and running 7:30 per km on a flat surface even though I have a pb 10km time of 52 minutes. 

[Vowels]

Finally achieved it for October this afternoon, which makes it about 29 days and 16 hours.