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

[waddadamadda]

22 hours ago, VLC86 said:

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.

I’ve never actually run the route before. First year I entered was covid so did it virtually dressed as where’s Wally around Thornton Reservoir and then 2 years ago woke up ill, turned up to run and was sent to hospital by the medic. Going for 3rd time lucky! 

[waddadamadda]

10 hours ago, howlinmadmurfdoc said:

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.

Oh no! I hope you heal swiftly. 
 

I also bowed to peer pressure from work colleagues as I had zero intention of entering. 

[Ric Flair]

On 29/10/2025 at 13:50, stretch1965 said:

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?

That's incredibly well priced!!!

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Don't ask me why...

 

But I decided to do a 50km run today. And now I'm in absolute bits 🤣

 

Pissed it down at one point too.

 

Marathon time was dead on 4 hours but thats elapsed time, lost in total 7 mins for three trains at a crossing and another 10-12 drinking and refilling. Think I would break 3:30 in a proper event with drinks available and the buzz of competition and crowd. 

 

Average moving pace of 5:25. Overall moving time was 4.5 hours. I'm pleased because not one split was over 5:30 pace until over 42k and even then they never touched 6 mins. 

 

Safe to say I won't be running for a couple of days bar a recovery run over the weekend 

[VLC86]

4 minutes ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

Don't ask me why...

 

But I decided to do a 50km run today. And now I'm in absolute bits 🤣

 

Pissed it down at one point too.

 

Marathon time was dead on 4 hours but thats elapsed time, lost in total 7 mins for three trains at a crossing and another 10-12 drinking and refilling. Think I would break 3:30 in a proper event with drinks available and the buzz of competition and crowd. 

 

Average moving pace of 5:25. Overall moving time was 4.5 hours. I'm pleased because not one split was over 5:30 pace until over 42k and even then they never touched 6 mins. 

 

Safe to say I won't be running for a couple of days bar a recovery run over the weekend 

Absolutely mental 😂.

 

Think you would easily crack 3.30 based on your half marathon time. Recon I’d be close ish on a flat course and you are much quicker than me.

 

I’m still having to hold myself back after last week which is a bit frustrating but I’ll get back to it soon.

[VLC86]

Got a mate who ran the Leicester half in 1h 17 😂 disgusting.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

3 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

Got a mate who ran the Leicester half in 1h 17 😂 disgusting.

That's my aim for my next HM event probably that Great Eastern again really. Would love to be sub 80 but the work and effort of intervals for that will be a killer 

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

10 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

Absolutely mental 😂.

 

Think you would easily crack 3.30 based on your half marathon time. Recon I’d be close ish on a flat course and you are much quicker than me.

 

I’m still having to hold myself back after last week which is a bit frustrating but I’ll get back to it soon.

Id like to be close to sub 3 eventually. I'm gonna do the Boston Lincs marathon in April I think that will be my first event. 

 

What I don't like though is I can't get my pace right. I know what I need to run for HM or Ten k or whatever, but a marathon is hard because it's a massive toll on the legs after 25k so it's hard to know what you'll have in the tank. Don't wanna go too quick and blow out 🤣

[VLC86]

7 minutes ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

Id like to be close to sub 3 eventually. I'm gonna do the Boston Lincs marathon in April I think that will be my first event. 

 

What I don't like though is I can't get my pace right. I know what I need to run for HM or Ten k or whatever, but a marathon is hard because it's a massive toll on the legs after 25k so it's hard to know what you'll have in the tank. Don't wanna go too quick and blow out 🤣

100%. Imagine my conundrum last week where I’m running up and down **** off hills and had no idea how I would cope 😂.

 

My initial plan was to follow the 4h pacer but half a mile in I decided it would be a bad idea and just ran like **** for the first half knowing I would have about half an hour drop off for

the second half. I had no idea at the time, but I ran my 3rd fastest 10k in 5 years on that first half.

 

Best advice is to use your watch and make sure it tells you your pace after every KM. If you are feeling good and your heart rate is low and you are below your time, keep pushing.

[CosbehFox]

Just done a nice slow as the first time to get something in the legs. Absolute ideal conditions today for running. 

[VLC86]

7 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Just done a nice slow as the first time to get something in the legs. Absolute ideal conditions today for running. 

Desperate to get back out myself, probably later once the Sunday roast has settled.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Been out of action for 3 weeks now thanks to my godforsaken back, eyeing up Wednesday as a possible return for a slowish 15/20km because I'm gagging but don't wanna **** myself over again

[VLC86]

Wanted to do another run today but did leg day in the gym on Monday and I can barely walk.

 

Randomly, I was in the gym yesterday wearing my marathon t shirt and within a few seconds of walking in some guy had a proper  chat with me about that specific run which was really nice. Was that any of you lot? Seemed a massive coincidence that another nutter had done it a few years earlier 😂

[JonnyBoy]

get up to decent fitness and two weeks post HM i have what i think is IT band knee pain (outside left knee), did feel horrendous after HM and couldn't walk down the stairs. 20 mins into any run starts to hurt.Always seem to get injury when i get into a decent rhythm of runs 

 

Any advice apart from don't run for a couple of weeks? going to strengthen my glutes in the gym 

[CosbehFox]

1 hour ago, VLC86 said:

Wanted to do another run today but did leg day in the gym on Monday and I can barely walk.

 

Randomly, I was in the gym yesterday wearing my marathon t shirt and within a few seconds of walking in some guy had a proper  chat with me about that specific run which was really nice. Was that any of you lot? Seemed a massive coincidence that another nutter had done it a few years earlier 😂

This is me. PT thought they would go ****ing hammer on these legs after the half last week - two days of walking like I've crapped my pants 

[VLC86]

3 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

This is me. PT thought they would go ****ing hammer on these legs after the half last week - two days of walking like I've crapped my pants 

I went really light as I knew it would **** me up. Said to my other half that evening that I thought I’d got away with it and now it’s a full on ordeal just to get out of chairs.

[VLC86]

3 hours ago, JonnyBoy said:

get up to decent fitness and two weeks post HM i have what i think is IT band knee pain (outside left knee), did feel horrendous after HM and couldn't walk down the stairs. 20 mins into any run starts to hurt.Always seem to get injury when i get into a decent rhythm of runs 

 

Any advice apart from don't run for a couple of weeks? going to strengthen my glutes in the gym 

Ouch, I had this when I did the half last year. Get some resistance bands and get on YouTube. I was really bad, to the point where just walking around it was hurting but dosed myself up and got it done.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Just done my 30k PB of 2:28, four mins of a stop at HM point included. Moving pace 4:49.  Absolutely knackered though. Mentally I struggle to get my body going much past HM point, the legginess comes into play massively. I do think I don't give myself loads of time to recover though, only a week ago i did 50km and ran 280+km in October. 

 

Did get my third best HM time today too which is decent considering that wasn't the aim. 

 

My Strava prediction of Marathon time is 3:12 😂 I agree with the other predictions it has done but that one is ambitious! But on we go, that's the aim anyway 👍

 

Need to do a parkrun soon and have a crack at my 5k PB time

[VLC86]

1 hour ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

Just done my 30k PB of 2:28, four mins of a stop at HM point included. Moving pace 4:49.  Absolutely knackered though. Mentally I struggle to get my body going much past HM point, the legginess comes into play massively. I do think I don't give myself loads of time to recover though, only a week ago i did 50km and ran 280+km in October. 

 

Did get my third best HM time today too which is decent considering that wasn't the aim. 

 

My Strava prediction of Marathon time is 3:12 😂 I agree with the other predictions it has done but that one is ambitious! But on we go, that's the aim anyway 👍

 

Need to do a parkrun soon and have a crack at my 5k PB time

Strava is a wild one when it comes to predicted times. My Garmin watch seems to be a lot more accurate.

[HowardsBulletHeader]

Been out of running for nearly 3 weeks because of a chest infection, tried a 5k first run back and posted a PB 27:32 (according to free Strava anyway). 

 

No idea how I managed it either, felt like I was still struggling from the chest infection when I was running despite feeling fine day to day. 

 

It has encouraged me a lot though, perhaps not as useless as I think I am! 

[Vacamion]

 

Doing Dresden parkrun tomorrow.

 

I've been out doing 5k 4 times a week for months and trying to improve.   Mrs Vac is an ultramarathon runner who has done several 100 milers.  But she hasn't run in 4 months.

 

She is still going to destroy me tomorrow.   

 

Looking forward to finding out.

 

 

[Guesty]

Guys you can get some real good deals on running shoes atm with Black Friday.

 

At Start Fitness I just got some Saucony Speed 5's for £113 reduced from £180. And some Saucony Pro 4 for £143 reduced from £230 (you do also have to pay £7 for delivery).

 

Maybe you're not a Saucony fan but a lot of stores are running some good deals on most brands this weekend.

[Ric Flair]

On 07/11/2025 at 14:19, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

Just done my 30k PB of 2:28, four mins of a stop at HM point included. Moving pace 4:49.  Absolutely knackered though. Mentally I struggle to get my body going much past HM point, the legginess comes into play massively. I do think I don't give myself loads of time to recover though, only a week ago i did 50km and ran 280+km in October. 

 

Did get my third best HM time today too which is decent considering that wasn't the aim. 

 

My Strava prediction of Marathon time is 3:12 😂 I agree with the other predictions it has done but that one is ambitious! But on we go, that's the aim anyway 👍

 

Need to do a parkrun soon and have a crack at my 5k PB time

Animal behaviour 

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

5 hours ago, Guesty said:

Guys you can get some real good deals on running shoes atm with Black Friday.

 

At Start Fitness I just got some Saucony Speed 5's for £113 reduced from £180. And some Saucony Pro 4 for £143 reduced from £230 (you do also have to pay £7 for delivery).

 

Maybe you're not a Saucony fan but a lot of stores are running some good deals on most brands this weekend.

Use start fitness a lot but the black fri deals are no cheaper than usual imo

 

Might get Adidas Evo sl if the price does drop 

[stretch1965]

15 hours ago, Guesty said:

Guys you can get some real good deals on running shoes atm with Black Friday.

 

At Start Fitness I just got some Saucony Speed 5's for £113 reduced from £180. And some Saucony Pro 4 for £143 reduced from £230 (you do also have to pay £7 for delivery).

 

Maybe you're not a Saucony fan but a lot of stores are running some good deals on most brands this weekend.

Saucony seem to be the only brand that my feet land right on gait analysis so that's all I wear. Just got some Hurricane 24s for £99 on sportshoes.