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

[BeardyFox]

That was brutal. Knew fairly early on that I was going to struggle with the heat. Had niggles from mile 7. Injury held out until mile 22 when all of a sudden both legs just locked up with cramp. 
Huge respect to the crowd that were cheering and managed to get me walking again. 
Finished it though and that’s what matters. 

[LcFc_Smiv]

1 minute ago, BeardyFox said:

That was brutal. Knew fairly early on that I was going to struggle with the heat. Had niggles from mile 7. Injury held out until mile 22 when all of a sudden both legs just locked up with cramp. 
Huge respect to the crowd that were cheering and managed to get me walking again. 
Finished it though and that’s what matters. 

Well done mate!!! No small feat going 26.2 miles, be proud of yourself!

[CosbehFox]

Some incredible efforts from City fans I know 

 

@Ric Flair crept in under 4 hours with an incredible last kilometre effort 

[Messi]

Sub 3h 40m today which I am absolutely buzzing with and would have snapped your hand off at the start of the day once I saw the weather and the fact I’ve spent the last 6 months training in pissing down rain and freezing weather in Glasgow 😂!

 

Couldnt run a mile under 11 mins without stopping when I started running in July so delighted with how today went! 
 

Incredible event 🙌🏻

Edited 26 April by Messi

[ren]

Managed sub 3:40, was on for 3:18 until the last 9k and I folded due to a combination of a stitch, leg cramp and the heat. Really crumbled but so good to see so many people digging deep in tough conditions.

 

Also good to chat to a few city fans there.

[David Guiza II]

3:14 for me - incredible day, but I do wish April would stop throwing up these unseasonably hot days! I never thought I'd look forward to the couple of underpass sections so much.

 

Beaten by Aaron Ramsey too, so I suspect my days are numbered. 

 

 

[fox_up_north]

12 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Some incredible efforts from City fans I know 

 

@Ric Flair crept in under 4 hours with an incredible last kilometre effort 

Incredible achievement on what I believe is a first go! 

[Ric Flair]

What an experience, a life long goal achieved and probably the marathon bug now secured for a long time. Just incredible and surprisingly was pretty consistent with my splits. Didn't hit the wall but it was a tough battle towards the end.

 

There's no bigger test in my opinion (until I run 38 miles end of May 😂)

 

Well done to everyone who ran yesterday and those who supported, it's a phenomenal occasion.

[Ric Flair]

Right then hit me with some other marathon suggestions for latter part of this year / March-May next year 😂

[stretch1965]

Just now, Ric Flair said:

Right then hit me with some other marathon suggestions for latter part of this year / March-May next year 😂

Lanzerote 5th Dec. return  Flights out of Luton Thurs-Sun £127. Marathons on the Saturday

[waddadamadda]

59 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Right then hit me with some other marathon suggestions for latter part of this year / March-May next year 😂

Chester in October 

Marathon Eryri in October (stalk the FB page to get a transfer as loads come up)

Boston UK in April - fast and flat 

 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Have really flatlined the last few weeks, struggling to get anywhere near PBs at the moment.

[Ric Flair]

34 minutes ago, waddadamadda said:

Chester in October 

Marathon Eryri in October (stalk the FB page to get a transfer as loads come up)

Boston UK in April - fast and flat 

 

Was going to try for Chester but realise its the same day as Leicester Half that we're trying to get loads of runners to join the BSLB. Dilemma.

 

Eryri is on the bucket list but feel scared of doing it until i've a few more under my belt.

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, stretch1965 said:

Lanzerote 5th Dec. return  Flights out of Luton Thurs-Sun £127. Marathons on the Saturday

Remember you posting this before, it is very tempting that. Think thats what I need to plan for 2027 at least once.

[waddadamadda]

34 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Was going to try for Chester but realise its the same day as Leicester Half that we're trying to get loads of runners to join the BSLB. Dilemma.

 

Eryri is on the bucket list but feel scared of doing it until i've a few more under my belt.

Eryri isn’t as bad as it seems. 3 significant climbs with the rest being flat or downhill. I ran this faster than Brighton……

[VLC86]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Right then hit me with some other marathon suggestions for latter part of this year / March-May next year 😂

You’ve not lived until you’ve done Eryri.

[VLC86]

38 minutes ago, waddadamadda said:

Eryri isn’t as bad as it seems. 3 significant climbs with the rest being flat or downhill. I ran this faster than Brighton……

Yeah, I ran my fastest 5k and 10k times last year on this. Might not mention miles 21-25 though.

[waddadamadda]

8 hours ago, VLC86 said:

Yeah, I ran my fastest 5k and 10k times last year on this. Might not mention miles 21-25 though.

Ah, if you look behind you on the way up it’s not that bad……the last descent though 

[SecretPro]

23 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

Chester in October 

Marathon Eryri in October (stalk the FB page to get a transfer as loads come up)

Boston UK in April - fast and flat 

 

Thought you needed a qualifying time for Boston UK or is it that your time there qualifies you for British Nationals? I know its a serious, serious race though. 

[VLC86]

Loch Ness in September (I think) had a negative overall incline. I don’t think it is as scenic as it sounds though but I’ve quickly, although not quickly enough, realised that scenic = utter hell.

[Ric Flair]

49 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

Loch Ness in September (I think) had a negative overall incline. I don’t think it is as scenic as it sounds though but I’ve quickly, although not quickly enough, realised that scenic = utter hell.

Hahahahahaaaaaaa

 

Think i'm probably going to re-group with a few decent Halfs and then train again during winter for a marathon or two in the spring of 2027. Wondering if 2 are possible in relatively quick succession. 

 

Really don't like how the marathon calendar falls in the UK, i'm glad there aren't many in the warmer months but there's very little even in Autumn.

[VLC86]

21 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Hahahahahaaaaaaa

 

Think i'm probably going to re-group with a few decent Halfs and then train again during winter for a marathon or two in the spring of 2027. Wondering if 2 are possible in relatively quick succession. 

 

Really don't like how the marathon calendar falls in the UK, i'm glad there aren't many in the warmer months but there's very little even in Autumn.

Two marathons? Definitely if you train well, it’s weird how adaptable your body is. In my training I’ve ran 25 plus miles two weeks in a row with my legs feeling alright the day after.

 

Its probably a different story if you are aiming for good times though, for me it would have anyway.

 

I think my next marathon is likely to be a flat one to go for a decent time but one step at time 

[Ric Flair]

Good luck @VLC86 this weekend son!

[BeardyFox]

On 27/04/2026 at 13:38, Ric Flair said:

What an experience, a life long goal achieved and probably the marathon bug now secured for a long time. Just incredible and surprisingly was pretty consistent with my splits. Didn't hit the wall but it was a tough battle towards the end.

 

There's no bigger test in my opinion (until I run 38 miles end of May 😂)

 

Well done to everyone who ran yesterday and those who supported, it's a phenomenal occasion.

I caught the back end of the horse you were talking about!

[BeardyFox]

After categorically ruling out any more races to my wife on monday. I'm starting to get the twitch again.

Thinking shorter distances for a while now though.