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

[James_lcfc]

Running is going pretty well at the moment so I'm ready for it to all come crashing down with a Christmas illness I seem to get every year!

 

Really hoping I can avoid it though and increase the mileage a little bit with the extra time off, so we shall see.

 

Built up to 3 threshold sessions/week now and am noticing some decent fitness gains without running really hard which is nice!

 

 

[Raj]

Since the Leicester  10km I've been doing a very short run a couple of times a week getting it as fast as I can.

Started about 11.50 and sunday did it at sub 11

It's amazing what a difference the day you e had, what you've eaten how you feel mentally  all make such a difference.

Also not pacing too quick etc as towards the end theres a 1minute hill.

 

Feel more challenging  doing this than a mundane 30 minute run.

 

Is it safe for me as a 54 year old though??

Edited 15 December 2025 by Raj

[goody2028]

Booked my first half marathon earlier. Happy with how it’s been improving lately so finally time to start working towards something. 

[westernpark]

Have a strange injury developing in my left foot. It’s like the arch of my foot has collapsed and is flat when walking and running- struggling to do things like calf raises on it. Has anyone had anything similar? 

[Tommy G]

4 minutes ago, westernpark said:

Have a strange injury developing in my left foot. It’s like the arch of my foot has collapsed and is flat when walking and running- struggling to do things like calf raises on it. Has anyone had anything similar? 

Plantar fasciitis?

[JonnyBoy]

23 hours ago, Raj said:

Since the Leicester  10km I've been doing a very short run a couple of times a week getting it as fast as I can.

Started about 11.50 and sunday did it at sub 11

It's amazing what a difference the day you e had, what you've eaten how you feel mentally  all make such a difference.

Also not pacing too quick etc as towards the end theres a 1minute hill.

 

Feel more challenging  doing this than a mundane 30 minute run.

 

Is it safe for me as a 54 year old though??

I did a half marathon at a reasonable pace about 1 month ago and I’ll go on on a 5km this week and be absolutely blowing.

 

i can’t get my head around it or running in general that you can feel so good one day then other days literally feel like you are running through custard 

[Raj]

9 minutes ago, JonnyBoy said:

I did a half marathon at a reasonable pace about 1 month ago and I’ll go on on a 5km this week and be absolutely blowing.

 

i can’t get my head around it or running in general that you can feel so good one day then other days literally feel like you are running through custard 

Think 70% is in the mind?

If you leave the house buzzing and think you'll do well you probably  will?

[JonnyBoy]

9 minutes ago, Raj said:

Think 70% is in the mind?

If you leave the house buzzing and think you'll do well you probably  will?

Maybe, a lot does depend on how many carbs I’ve eaten and how much sleep I have the night before! 

[westernpark]

3 hours ago, Tommy G said:

Plantar fasciitis?

I did think that initially but there’s no pain, it’s just a lack of muscle function in the foot. When I walk or run, it feels like I am not planting the foot down properly because there’s little feeling in the foot.

[Grebfromgrebland]

Sounds like a ruptured tendon but surely that would've hurt?

[VLC86]

10 miler this morning saw things happen that should never be spoken about again. I feel like I need to write an apology note to a farmer out Wistow way that finds my gloves.

[lcfc sheff]

2 hours ago, VLC86 said:

10 miler this morning saw things happen that should never be spoken about again. I feel like I need to write an apology note to a farmer out Wistow way that finds my gloves.

Did you shit yourself 🤣🤣🤣

[lcfc sheff]

I find it so hard to balance it all at the moment…

 

I try to run twice a week, but I also do pretty heavy weight training and work a physical job as a carpet fitter on top of all that. 
 

one seems to get focused on with detriment to the others, feel like I’m constantly aching and never feel fresh!
 

anyone else in a similar boat? I sleep and eat very well bar the stupid drunk cigs on mad Friday 🫣 

[VLC86]

1 hour ago, lcfc sheff said:

Did you shit yourself 🤣🤣🤣

I would have had I not found a nice little bush in the farmers field 😂 horrific.

 

Had an amazing end to the run though.

[Ric Flair]

On 16/12/2025 at 16:04, westernpark said:

Have a strange injury developing in my left foot. It’s like the arch of my foot has collapsed and is flat when walking and running- struggling to do things like calf raises on it. Has anyone had anything similar? 

I have had foot issues not too dissimilar and mine is peroneal tendonitis. Yours sounds like it would be collapsed arch, book in and see a physio ASAP and they will sort.

[HowardsBulletHeader]

After running my first ever 10k two weeks ago, I'd been doing 5ks to try and get that pace up ahead of another 10k attempt.

 

5k record down from 27:14 to 25:15

10k "record" (i.e attempt 2) down from 59:23 to 53:37.

 

As good as that sounds to complete amateurs like me, I recognise the reality is slightly different. 

 

The 1st 10k was literally a "get round" job, so feels like I should start with 53:37 as my base time. 

 

I work a "desk" job so I'm getting more and more conscious about my fitness and keeping active, determined to bring them times down.

 

First race I am targeting is the Rothley 10k,  I know I can do the distance now, so I would love to do better than 55 minutes in an actual race, particularly as I suspect its far hillier than the routes I've been running so I need to revise my target time! 

 

Plenty of practice needed in 2026! 

[fox_up_north]

On 21/12/2025 at 13:56, lcfc sheff said:

I find it so hard to balance it all at the moment…

 

I try to run twice a week, but I also do pretty heavy weight training and work a physical job as a carpet fitter on top of all that. 
 

one seems to get focused on with detriment to the others, feel like I’m constantly aching and never feel fresh!
 

anyone else in a similar boat? I sleep and eat very well bar the stupid drunk cigs on mad Friday 🫣 

I moved to heavy weight/ light weight on alternate weeks. 

 

Light weight weeks are 60% (ish) of max for around 12-16 reps first set, short sub 30 sec rest and then go again until tired. Repeat for 3-4 sets.

 

The idea is that I can balance it all and have the energy to run on other days. Heavy week is about 80-90% of max for shorter reps. Those weeks obviously have less energy for running. 

 

NB: I've got a very medium body that isn't particularly built for anything. No chance I get super slim, no chance I get super stacked. So I just spin plates a lot. 

[fox_up_north]

On a running note - I got all my parkrun data. 

 

First ever one in 2022 was 32 mins. 5 out of my 6 this year have been sub 26 mins, with 2 sub 25. I'm regularly top third (out of full field). 

 

All things considered, I'm pretty pleased. 

[VLC86]

1 hour ago, HowardsBulletHeader said:

After running my first ever 10k two weeks ago, I'd been doing 5ks to try and get that pace up ahead of another 10k attempt.

 

5k record down from 27:14 to 25:15

10k "record" (i.e attempt 2) down from 59:23 to 53:37.

 

As good as that sounds to complete amateurs like me, I recognise the reality is slightly different. 

 

The 1st 10k was literally a "get round" job, so feels like I should start with 53:37 as my base time. 

 

I work a "desk" job so I'm getting more and more conscious about my fitness and keeping active, determined to bring them times down.

 

First race I am targeting is the Rothley 10k,  I know I can do the distance now, so I would love to do better than 55 minutes in an actual race, particularly as I suspect its far hillier than the routes I've been running so I need to revise my target time! 

 

Plenty of practice needed in 2026! 

They are decent times depending on age etc and if you keep at it you will definitely get quicker.

[waddadamadda]

Who’s parkrunning Christmas Day? 

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

23 minutes ago, waddadamadda said:

Who’s parkrunning Christmas Day? 

Me 🤣 Tbf it's mostly all I've been looking forward to at Xmas. Not done the Parkrun since July and never at Xmas. Might do it NYD too actually. 

 

Hoping to beat my PB of 19:23 which until recently I thought a sub 19 was doable. Nursing a back injury again from work and slight shin discomfort during today's 10k jog about. So now I'm a bit more apprehensive about it. Definitely not going to run tomorrow and save my legs. Sometimes the mileage seems to take its toll, I should be about 270/280km by the end of December. 

 

Was planning on doing at least a 20 miler after the Xmas Day parkrun (single life for you), but again might have gone for a Burton that idea with my aches and pains 🤣

[stretch1965]

3 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

Who’s parkrunning Christmas Day? 

Doing Braunstone with wife and daughter. 

[CosbehFox]

4 hours ago, waddadamadda said:

Who’s parkrunning Christmas Day? 

Yes will be in Thetford. Then hopefully further afield from there on the 27th 

[Messi]

Still got the bug, started running in July after getting a place in the London Marathon through the ballot. I literally couldn’t run a mile without stopping and it was taking me over 11 mins to do a mile. 
 

Ran over 420 miles since then and lost just under 5 stone (since mid may) and absolutely delighted with the progress made - can’t wait till the end of April now.  
 

 

Edited 24 December 2025 by Messi

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

4 hours ago, Messi said:

Still got the bug, started running in July after getting a place in the London Marathon through the ballot. I literally couldn’t run a mile without stopping and it was taking me over 11 mins to do a mile. 
 

Ran over 420 miles since then and lost just under 5 stone (since mid may) and absolutely delighted with the progress made - can’t wait till the end of April now.  
 

 

Tbf mate they're really quick times! Well done with it especially in that time frame