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

[SecretPro]

17 hours ago, SecretPro said:

9 weeks off thanks to a groin strain and nakard hip. Tomorrow morning im getting up for a 20 minute run before work for the first time. Imagine ill feel like death and immediately hate myself for losing so much fitness and then be utterly depressed as the thought of how long it's going to take to get myself back to September fitness levels to the point ill feel like putting my shoes in the bin and just accept getting fat for Christmas. 

 

I'll review my performance tomorrow. 

Wasn't as soul destroying as I expected. 

 

Did 5k, was about 14s slower per km that I would be on my pre-work run and was blowing a bit. 

 

I read after 9 weeks out you lose 19% VO2 max so probably about right. 

[Unabomber]

8 hours ago, JonnyBoy said:

 

Tried my colleagues on and ran around the office, they felt immense. Definitely next pair i will be ordering and good price point 

Just ordered myself a pair of these. My novablasts are great but getting pretty tired 

[JonnyBoy]

1 hour ago, Unabomber said:

Just ordered myself a pair of these. My novablasts are great but getting pretty tired 

 

I overpronate a bit and novablasts a bit too spongey on pavements for me but a workhorse on flat surface. Hopefully SL2 a bit more stable or save them for flat surface 

[VLC86]

Downloaded Runna the other day on a free trial to see what the training plan would be like if I ran this 2 day Ultra, some crazy numbers in there right from the off 😂.

 

Still undecided on booking it as I start a new job on Monday and wondering how I’d fit in 40-60 miles a week. 

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Just done my 3rd fastest HM in 1:38. 

 

Fairly pleased about it as for the first 10/11k I was pissing about in hrz2 at around 4:55-5mins pace per km. Decided to put my foot down more in the second half. 

 

Won't be topping my 1:27 until an event again, I can't get motivated to really push myself to a race pace unless it's an event. 

 

Second run in the Evo SL. Very nice shoes actually. Only thing I'm not keen on is the lace and the pad between the laces and foot. Can be slightly uncomfortable and the laces came undone which never happens in my other shoes, they're not as premium as they should be. 

 

 

On a different point anyone refusing to throw away old shoes?! I've got six shoes on rotation now, which I will use for differing distances or speeds. But the Brooks Glycerin and Nike Pegasus' I've got have now 650 and 700km on respectively. Still feel like they have life although I'll only now use them both in smaller slower pace jogs like recovery runs 

[VLC86]

3 hours ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

Just done my 3rd fastest HM in 1:38. 

 

Fairly pleased about it as for the first 10/11k I was pissing about in hrz2 at around 4:55-5mins pace per km. Decided to put my foot down more in the second half. 

 

Won't be topping my 1:27 until an event again, I can't get motivated to really push myself to a race pace unless it's an event. 

 

Second run in the Evo SL. Very nice shoes actually. Only thing I'm not keen on is the lace and the pad between the laces and foot. Can be slightly uncomfortable and the laces came undone which never happens in my other shoes, they're not as premium as they should be. 

 

 

On a different point anyone refusing to throw away old shoes?! I've got six shoes on rotation now, which I will use for differing distances or speeds. But the Brooks Glycerin and Nike Pegasus' I've got have now 650 and 700km on respectively. Still feel like they have life although I'll only now use them both in smaller slower pace jogs like recovery runs 

I threw a 5 year old pair of Hoka Rocket X2s the other week. Went out running in them and it was like running in plimsoles.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

17 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

I threw a 5 year old pair of Hoka Rocket X2s the other week. Went out running in them and it was like running in plimsoles.

I might chuck some out eventually. Just when you think about hoe much £ have been spent on them you do become reluctant 🤣

[VLC86]

4 minutes ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

I might chuck some out eventually. Just when you think about hoe much £ have been spent on them you do become reluctant 🤣

Yeah I get that, took me a while. Go running in them and then compare them to your current most used and that should help decide.

 

Im reluctant to use my Megablasts for anything other than races if I can avoid it. 

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

19 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

Yeah I get that, took me a while. Go running in them and then compare them to your current most used and that should help decide.

 

Im reluctant to use my Megablasts for anything other than races if I can avoid it. 

Yeah or I probably should use them for stuff like just going to the football in or something because they're all comfy 🤣

 

Bought the Puma deviate nitro with carbon plate back in the summer, used them the least out of all. Saving them for a parkrun as they're more speedy. Will try and break my PB for that on Xmas day fingers crossed 

[waddadamadda]

7 hours ago, VLC86 said:

Downloaded Runna the other day on a free trial to see what the training plan would be like if I ran this 2 day Ultra, some crazy numbers in there right from the off 😂.

 

Still undecided on booking it as I start a new job on Monday and wondering how I’d fit in 40-60 miles a week. 

Back to back weekend long run will take up the bulk of the high mileage week whereas as you’d have one really gentle recovery run. I guess it depends on what want. I’ve gone for 50K next year which I intend to put a hit of effort into rather than just finish. First ultra aim for me was to finish. 

[VLC86]

2 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

Back to back weekend long run will take up the bulk of the high mileage week whereas as you’d have one really gentle recovery run. I guess it depends on what want. I’ve gone for 50K next year which I intend to put a hit of effort into rather than just finish. First ultra aim for me was to finish. 

Yeah that’s true re long runs but it’s still wild The aim would always just be to finish it.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

On 10/12/2025 at 14:42, Ric Flair said:

You are an animal

 

I am a purveyor of both the Novablasts and EVO SLs and struggle to pick between the two but the Adidas are down to about £90 in some colours which is tasty. Go at least half a size up though.

 

You on strava?

 

Think I'm gonna take the plunge man, nicer looking shoe than the Nova last for my money n all

 

Aha I am, think you found me, welcome to my exclusive club of 3 followers brother

[JonnyBoy]

On 10/12/2025 at 14:45, Ric Flair said:

Marathon training is underway. Did a slow 10 miler on Sunday with minimal issues after and did an 11km tempo run yesterday which was horrid. Mix of cramping thighs (odd) and running in the dark around London with one between me cheeks was not ideal.

 

Foot is slightly aching today but nothing I'd ordinarily even register as being a potential problem so hopefully i'm ticking over OK.

 

I have bought yet more new trainers as was recommended some Asics Gel Kayano 31s for peroneal tendonitis which someone was selling an unused pair for just £40 on vinted so was a no brainer. Will do a few of the long runs in those and see if it helps protect my foot.

 

I have these for stability purposes can be like running with slabs on your feet, but very comfortable and supportive. Great for slow miles but not pace 

[Ric Flair]

18 minutes ago, JonnyBoy said:

 

I have these for stability purposes can be like running with slabs on your feet, but very comfortable and supportive. Great for slow miles but not pace 

Hahahaa a very good description that. Doing 20km in them in the morning.

[SecretPro]

Where's all this love for the Evo sl come from? Have I missed something? Its not even a new shoe is it?

[VLC86]

47 minutes ago, SecretPro said:

Where's all this love for the Evo sl come from? Have I missed something? Its not even a new shoe is it?

Decent price point, good reviews means they will be a good choice for a lot of people.

 

Never tried them but I’ve seen a lot of positive talk about them on YouTube.

[VLC86]

Got 10 miles in before the game today and really enjoyed it. The stretch of canal from Wigston to Foxton Locks is stunning when the sun is out.

[westernpark]

Running really gone downhill this month with social events for Christmas and having a lurgy lingering. Looking forward to a couple of solid weeks off around Christmas to get some progress back.

[BeardyFox]

Went out and ran a half this morning. Wanted to see where I’m at with my marathon training block starting in a week or so. 
Managed a personal best, however missed my goal time by 30 seconds. On one hand I’m frustrated that it’s so close but got to be happy with the progress. 
dropped the quickest mile at mile 12 so obviously had a bit left in the tank. 

[VLC86]

4 hours ago, BeardyFox said:

Went out and ran a half this morning. Wanted to see where I’m at with my marathon training block starting in a week or so. 
Managed a personal best, however missed my goal time by 30 seconds. On one hand I’m frustrated that it’s so close but got to be happy with the progress. 
dropped the quickest mile at mile 12 so obviously had a bit left in the tank. 

Well done. You’ve probably already said, but which marathon are you doing?

[BeardyFox]

41 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

Well done. You’ve probably already said, but which marathon are you doing?

Thanks mate. Doing London 

[Ric Flair]

My training block has not started well, this time not through injury (even though I could feel i was pushing things that i'll need to be very careful with)

 

But I've had a chest problem most of the year and having kept on at the doctors with it, its backfired as I've had a horrible reaction to some steroids that has given me full blown insomnia for nearly week now and i'm in absolute ruins. Now feel ill but not sure if that's as a consequence of not sleeping, its pure torture.

 

Going back the doctors tomorrow but running wise I think i'm going to just do a few gentle runs between now and the end of the year and hope I can attack the training block in January and still do OK.

[fox_up_north]

Did a parkrun with a good time (for me) of 25:20 but it's prompted me to get more suitable running shoes. 

 

Parts of it were like running through Pat Sharp's Fun House and I had to do baby steps to stay upright. 

 

So I've tried out and ordered some New Balance Goretex trail shoes

[VLC86]

9 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Mytraininy block has not started well, this time not through injury (even though I could feel i was pushing things that i'll need to be very careful with)

 

But I've had a chest problem most of the year and having kept on at the doctors with it, its backfired as I've had a horrible reaction to some steroids that has given me full blown insomnia for nearly week now and i'm in absolute ruins. Now feel ill but not sure if that's as a consequence of not sleeping, its pure torture.

 

Going back the doctors tomorrow but running wise I think i'm going to just do a few gentle runs between now and the end of the year and hope I can attack the training block in January and still do OK.

Rough one, I’ve had to have steroids for asthma before and although I didn’t suffer from that, I didn’t like the way they made me feel.

[FLAN]

Knocked 7 mins of my recent PB on Saturday. 4 mins fast walk 4 mins jog. 
recovering from an ACL