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

[CosbehFox]

52 minutes ago, westernpark said:

Great time. I am not a fan of park runs but my old man reckons Abbey Park is the best one in Leicester. I think he did his PB there.

Tbh I would rate as one of the best in the country. It’s as good as 1 lap. Theres only one bottle neck on the course. Big wide paths. It’s loop, no turn and back 

[fox_up_north]

Did my first triathlon last weekend. Some personal stuff buggered my preparation and meant I cocked up fluids and food on the day.

 

Swim - good

Cycle - good

Run - agony. Run, walk, stretch all the way. 

 

Still, I finished!

[waddadamadda]

7 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Just did sub 24 at Abbey Park Parkrun. That’s been a really long hard run mentally and physically to get back towards these times. As ever with your PBs, this was a surprise but I felt so strong in the mid part 

Nice one! I struggle with Abbey Park as, like Watermead, it’s too flat. 

[waddadamadda]

On 23/09/2026 at 19:32, CosbehFox said:

Confidence built now for Manchester Half 

 

A good 19k on Monday. The training is paying off now. Long distance is getting easier 

 

I’m a good year away from my PB I think but I’ve really enjoyed the comeback. 6 minute k’s coming down to 5:33 k’s 

 

 

Manchester Half is an absolute dream of a course and I’ve never ever been able to match what I achieved that day. Annoyed as I stopped for a chat with family and friends at mile 8 but it was the first and on my time I ran a sub 2. I went into it on the tail end of a marathon training block and had a blasts You’ll love it. 

[Groby Fox 13]

On 25/09/2026 at 12:13, ramboacdc said:

beat my current PB on 5k last night and clocked in at 36 minutes. I want to break that 30 barrier. I am happy I have gone from 44 to 36 in 8 weeks though. 

Superb progress 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 keep going 

[CosbehFox]

4 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

Nice one! I struggle with Abbey Park as, like Watermead, it’s too flat. 

I love my challenges too. The monster hill in Bergen this year was an experience and my all time fav in the UK is Gedling. 
 

Just think Abbey Park is the least stressful and most ideal particularly for those starting out. 
 

I did Chadderton before Stockport away the other week. 4 lapper but such a lovely park and vibe. Less than a hundred each week with a nasty hill four times but really what parkrun is all about 

[stretch1965]

17 hours ago, fox_up_north said:

Did my first triathlon last weekend. Some personal stuff buggered my preparation and meant I cocked up fluids and food on the day.

 

Swim - good

Cycle - good

Run - agony. Run, walk, stretch all the way. 

 

Still, I finished!

Nice one, which one did you do? I have only done sprint tri's but want ro do a half distance 70.3 next year. 

[James_lcfc]

13 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

Nice one! I struggle with Abbey Park as, like Watermead, it’s too flat. 

Too flat!?

 

There’s no such thing! 

[waddadamadda]

9 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

I love my challenges too. The monster hill in Bergen this year was an experience and my all time fav in the UK is Gedling. 
 

Just think Abbey Park is the least stressful and most ideal particularly for those starting out. 
 

I did Chadderton before Stockport away the other week. 4 lapper but such a lovely park and vibe. Less than a hundred each week with a nasty hill four times but really what parkrun is all about 

So far Bestwood is my favourite 

[waddadamadda]

20 minutes ago, James_lcfc said:

Too flat!?

 

There’s no such thing! 

Honestly my little legs can’t handle running flat courses!

[SecretPro]

Prep mainly done now for Leicester Half.

 

Ran 15KM at Half Marathon Race Pace this morning (4:30 per KM)

 

Went through 10K in 44:44 

 

Aiming for a sub 1:40 Half, though would love a sub 1:35

 

Was in my slow shoes today too (Vomero plus) so hopefully with the Vaporflys on ill get there...

[waddadamadda]

Ran the Golden Gates Gallop 5 miler this morning at Elvaston Castle. Nowhere near the speed of you guys but so happy to be back and being able to hold 9:30 minute miles across 5 miles. Here’s to pushing back towards to the sub 9’s. Finally feeling good since fracturing my wrist 12 months ago and the being hit with ‘womens health’ issues. Sucks being old. 

[CosbehFox]

Pulled off 10k pb for 2026 this morning as well. The double dipper of Blackbird Road to Glenfield and loop back around using Anstey Lane. Probably taught me what’s a little too quick for next week 

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Halfway through an AI training plan on WhatsApps meta thingy 😂 following it to aim for sub 80 mins in next months HM in the Great Eastern. Think sub 80 is ambitious and will require a 7 minute PB improvement on the same run last year. Worst case hopefully I'll be nearer 80 than 85 mins. 

 

Running 3:47KMs for 21k seems sickening to me atm 😂

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Also did my longest run before my half today, some good bits some bad. Goal time will require some serious race pace but let's see what the taper does for me.

[Ric Flair]

Ran 15km last night after a torturous hangover all of Saturday and some of Sunday. Feel worse than after running that bastard ultra 😂

 

Not sure if i'm in the nick I wanted to be in for Leicester, not hit some of the speed sessions I planned but did do a 12km block at 4:45 race pace in the middle of a half 2 weeks ago so it might come together on the day, we will see.

[fox_up_north]

On 26/09/2026 at 17:44, waddadamadda said:

Manchester Half is an absolute dream of a course and I’ve never ever been able to match what I achieved that day. Annoyed as I stopped for a chat with family and friends at mile 8 but it was the first and on my time I ran a sub 2. I went into it on the tail end of a marathon training block and had a blasts You’ll love it. 

Agreed. I clocked 1:48 there which gave me overconfidence for a full marathon 🤣

[Raj]

I feel like im going to plunder over the line for the Leicester 10km in about 2 days the way i feel!!

 

Cant belive i did sub 1.50 Half Marathon 20 years ago!!!

 

Take it from a fat 55 year old- you young uns hold onto what you've got, it soon goes!!

[VLC86]

10 miler tonight after playing 11 a side for the first time in ages at the weekend and my hamstring feels like it’s on the brink. I’ve quickly remembered why I knocked football on the head while training.

[Trumpet]

Can we have autumn now?

[FoxesWalk]

36 minutes ago, Trumpet said:

Can we have autumn now?

Every time my easy run turns into a sun baked sweat fest I get one step closer to building Mr. Burns’ sun blocker device 

[Trumpet]

39 minutes ago, FoxesWalk said:

Every time my easy run turns into a sun baked sweat fest I get one step closer to building Mr. Burns’ sun blocker device 

My heart rate has been +20 all summer and I’m a bit fed up of it at this point.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

On 29/09/2026 at 12:53, Trumpet said:

Can we have autumn now?

I think there's a lot of people hoping for it to cool down a bit before next weekend. I know of people doing 5 different halves across the country on the 11th.

[Chelmofox]

Stopped running for some reason. Weight ballooned to 92kg (from 75 when i was running a few years back). I really can yoyo, and i found turning 50 very depressing. Got back on the treadmill early August and have run 100km training this month. Dropped down to 84kg quite quite quickly. When i get under 80kg i will get back on the park runs and want to beat that 22min barrier that i just missed.

 

Think i need to set myself goals that arent weight loss!, as i hit these i get back on the food again.

 

 

[Ric Flair]

At somewhat of a cross roads with what I want to do next in running. This last year has been extremely fulfilling in doing my first marathon and ultra distance, but those two events and training blocks completely altered my previous running habits and goals.

 

After a period of prolonged recovery, i've set about a bit of a training block ahead of Leicester Half but as i'm becoming more experienced a runner i'm feeling less structured recently. Fitness levels are likely much stronger than a year - 18 months ago but I actually think over shorter distances I was quicker. I intend to try and PB a HM next weekend and yet my 5km and possibly even 10km PBs i'd struggle to beat right now if I full sent it.

 

Not sure whether to focus more on some shorter stuff next year and enjoy the love/hate relationship of that, I don't actually like the feeling of pushing it to the max but am competitive with myself.

 

I also am tempted by another ultra, but this time an official race rather than my own pilgrimage. The marathon and ultra took so much out of me this year and in terms of races i've done this year will be overall lower than the previous two and i'm equally torn on wanting to go for more experiences next year ala quantity over quality as I do enjoy the frequency of events and the day itself.

 

Wish I could do it all