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

[CosbehFox]

Ashby 20 today. 
 

First lap superb; felt strong, heart rate not too high and well on my target time 

 

Second lap; hell

[VLC86]

2 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Ashby 20 today. 
 

First lap superb; felt strong, heart rate not too high and well on my target time 

 

Second lap; hell

Fair play for getting it done though. Recon it was just fueling? I’ve had similar experiences when I’ve just not eaten enough.

[CosbehFox]

1 hour ago, VLC86 said:

Fair play for getting it done though. Recon it was just fueling? I’ve had similar experiences when I’ve just not eaten enough.

Training not perfect. It’s also in my opinion a very difficult route. Hills galore. The second lap starts with an absolute beast and then the next five miles are incredibly difficult

 

Still just squeezed inside 3hrs 30

[VLC86]

Has anyone ever done the Rosebud or Spring Run marathons in Northants?

 

My training takes me up to a full marathon around mid April so I’ve been looking at these rather than just going out and running one on my own.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Just done a 10km in 43:22, that's more or less a steady run at my HM pace but did go for it in the last km well under 4 min pace. Apparently my 10th ever quickest 10km.

 

Got the Kings Lynn 10km in May and I'm hoping to go under 40 mins for the first time. Ran it in 42:13 last year but have ran 10km quicker within 2 half marathons since but just over the 40 mins time. Gonna be tough but hoping I can do it as that's one more running achievement ticked off that I've had since day one

Edited 23 March by Heart-Shaped Fox

[Wolfox]

Did my first 5km in quite a while Friday. I was very slow, but I got out there.

 

I have been doing other exercise, so underlying fitness was ok.:.  I just kept plodding round…. Quite enjoyed it really and will try again soon 

 

 

[VLC86]

3 hours ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

Just done a 10km in 43:22, that's more or less a steady run at my HM pace but did go for it in the last km well under 4 min pace. Apparently my 10th ever quickest 10km.

 

Got the Kings Lynn 10km in May and I'm hoping to go under 40 mins for the first time. Ran it in 42:13 last year but have ran 10km quicker within 2 half marathons since but just over the 40 mins time. Gonna be tough but hoping I can do it as that's one more running achievement ticked off that I've had since day one

Crazy times.

[Messi]

Did “20 Along the Forth” 20 mile race at the weekend, it was so hilly but was happy with the time I did it in (2h 40m on the nose) - I’m hoping that I can do a similar pace at London but I’ll have abit more left in the tank because it’s a lot flatter because I was flagging at the end 😂! 
 

14 miles this weekend then a 22 mile easy run the weekend after then start of the taper - nearly there 😀

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

13 hours ago, VLC86 said:

Crazy times.

Not for what I want 🤣 there was a 10km on Sunday in the village where I used to live in, about 400 runners, sub 40 mins would get you about 180th 🤣 ridiculous pace.

 

The top 70+ year old got a time of sub 48 mins.... absolutely blows my mind 

[VLC86]

2 hours ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

Not for what I want 🤣 there was a 10km on Sunday in the village where I used to live in, about 400 runners, sub 40 mins would get you about 180th 🤣 ridiculous pace.

 

The top 70+ year old got a time of sub 48 mins.... absolutely blows my mind 

I guess but them sort of times have got to get you into the top 5% for any age range I recon.

[CosbehFox]

Very strange blister on my big toe after Sunday. I’ve had to pop it which I never do cos the pressure (like a stubbed toe) was killing 

[David Guiza II]

Interesting news today on the London Marathon - Revealed: secret plans for two-day London Marathon with 100,000 runners | London Marathon | The Guardian 

[VLC86]

20 hours ago, David Guiza II said:

Interesting news today on the London Marathon - Revealed: secret plans for two-day London Marathon with 100,000 runners | London Marathon | The Guardian 

Double the chances of getting a place, albeit still slim.

[David Guiza II]

1 hour ago, VLC86 said:

Double the chances of getting a place, albeit still slim.

Absolutely! Feels double-edged to me, in that it opens it up to more runners (hopefully) but I guess it also takes a bit of the glamour away from the one big day. 

Wonder if the other majors will follow suit too! 

[JonnyBoy]

On 06/03/2026 at 19:56, SecretPro said:

I dont wear a running watch as I just love my G-Shock Square but have been thinking of getting just a basic Garmin Forerunner 55 to wear whilst running, but then if I'm not wearing it all the time I guess I lose all the HR, Recovery and Sleep data potential and then if I am wearing it all the time I have to sacrifice the G-Shock (and the Garmin is ugly). One of life's greatest conundrums.

I have the basic Garmin 55, works fine for basic recording for runs etc and links to strava and garmin app. Not good if you want directions on your watch or download maps etc. But if you want it to do what it says on the tin it is absolutely fine, good battery life too. 

[Trumpet]

I’ve got the Garmin Epix Gen 2 and it’s fantastic. Garmin purists would say it’s end of life in terms of updates, which I’m not sure on or really care for. It does everything I need it to and I charge it about twice a week for a total of about an hour.

[waddadamadda]

On 25/03/2026 at 13:58, David Guiza II said:

Interesting news today on the London Marathon - Revealed: secret plans for two-day London Marathon with 100,000 runners | London Marathon | The Guardian 

Why it can’t be left alone and they simply change the ballot process? Say for example you’ve got in on the ballot, you can’t enter it again for 2 years. Ran for charity? Great but can’t do so for consecutive years. Also you need to have a deep connection to the charity and not because you want to run London.

 

Perhaps a minimum entry requirement for charity and ballot of say have run a half under x time. 

 

it’ll never work, the cost of shutting down London for a whole weekend would be insane. I feel that it devalues the event.

 

It’s a bit like changing the FA Cup from a 3pm kick off - totally unnecessary and a tradition that doesn’t need changing. 

[CosbehFox]

17 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

Why it can’t be left alone and they simply change the ballot process? Say for example you’ve got in on the ballot, you can’t enter it again for 2 years. Ran for charity? Great but can’t do so for consecutive years. Also you need to have a deep connection to the charity and not because you want to run London.

 

Perhaps a minimum entry requirement for charity and ballot of say have run a half under x time. 

 

it’ll never work, the cost of shutting down London for a whole weekend would be insane. I feel that it devalues the event.

 

It’s a bit like changing the FA Cup from a 3pm kick off - totally unnecessary and a tradition that doesn’t need changing. 

Yep strikes me as complete cash in. 

 

Personally think it will be a non starter for the road closures and knock-on to related services. Police trying to cover too many events. 

 

Another opinion I think the country could do with another big marathon event - London, Brighton and Manchester are the only ones which really capture the imagination. 

[VLC86]

I’ve got the Monsall half tomorrow followed by a gig in London that I’m driving to and then home. I need to be doing 23 miles in my plan this weekend so I’ll end up having to do another 10 on the Sunday. Vile 

Edited 27 March by VLC86

[SecretPro]

Bit the bullet and had a Garmin Forerunner 55 delivered today. I've always just used the strava app so used to everything in KMs. Do those with a watch use it in kms or miles? 

[Zear0]

12 hours ago, SecretPro said:

Bit the bullet and had a Garmin Forerunner 55 delivered today. I've always just used the strava app so used to everything in KMs. Do those with a watch use it in kms or miles? 

Kept mine in miles as couldn’t be bothered to change it. Hold up and go into system setting to change between units.

[Bellend Sebastian]

22 hours ago, SecretPro said:

Bit the bullet and had a Garmin Forerunner 55 delivered today. I've always just used the strava app so used to everything in KMs. Do those with a watch use it in kms or miles? 

Always been an imperial man (no pics of Darth Vader please) although I generally run either 3.11 miles (5k) or 6.23 (10k). My head is completely in minutes per mile, minutes per km means nothing to me. 

 

My number came through yesterday for the (Abbey Park) Leicester Big 10k, which I was alarmed is in just 2 Sundays' time. As I booked it while getting my breath back after the last one I have a hilariously low number, so run the risk of being mistaken for all elite athlete - until I actually start running

[fox_up_north]

Signed up to Carsington Water 10k next Saturday on a whim. Not raced above 5k for nearly a year but should be fine. 

[SecretPro]

4 hours ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Always been an imperial man (no pics of Darth Vader please) although I generally run either 3.11 miles (5k) or 6.23 (10k). My head is completely in minutes per mile, minutes per km means nothing to me. 

 

My number came through yesterday for the (Abbey Park) Leicester Big 10k, which I was alarmed is in just 2 Sundays' time. As I booked it while getting my breath back after the last one I have a hilariously low number, so run the risk of being mistaken for all elite athlete - until I actually start running

Im also running it, so I wouldnt worry. 

[VLC86]

Monsal half was a decent event. Very flat and quite scenic. I think my only criticism has been mentioned before and it’s how narrow the track is. At the start and near the end it can get quite congested.

 

I needed to do a 23 mile long run this weekend and couldn’t carry on with it yesterday so I’ve gone out and done another 10 mile top up this morning. Quite looking forward to doing nothing today now.