Newbies 2

Hello everyone!

I'm Wyn and I've just started running.

I'm sure I'll learn a lot of good things from you guys here

afternoon all...welcome new newbies!

Blimpy are you back causing arguments again!?!?!?!   I do agree with what you've said (over the few pages i could be bothered reading back over anyway). Its definately best to get comfortable to go over distance before racing - well up to a point. I'm not sure many people will ever be comfy going over mara distance ever, let alone in training!

Hey...isn't it great when the big ball of fire in the sky goes down and it's cool enough to run? Can't complain mind you, but it is amazing how soon the novelty of the sun wears off??!!

Off on holiday next week- camping near Abersoch, so I really hope we keep the weather...was thinking of trying some beach (barefoot?) running- has anyone done this? Is it as ace as it sounds? Any advice??? I'm actually looking forward to swimming in the sea more than anything else!!

Hey all

Cheeze, fwiw I agree with Blimpy on this one. If you tell someone you've run a half marathon, the follow up question will be "Which one?". GPS are never that accurate either so there's no guarantee that it was half mara distance. It's amazing how often you see little huddles of people after a race comparing their Garmins and complaining that the course was short/long despite some bloke with a measuring wheel going round and certifying it accurately beforehand.

MDL, well done on your 5k. And another one entered as well!! First of many...

MD, where have you been hiding?

Still doing limited training and unlimited eating calling it recovery. At some point I'll have to get my finger out as I appear to have accidently pre-registered for Outlaw again next year. No idea how or when I'm going to explain that to Mrs NV. Going to be a lot of "Just nipping out for a paper dear" going on next year and coming home 6 hours later

On the subject of accurately logged Garmin distances, it appears that mine recorded a 4.2km swim instead of a 3.8k. That may have something to do with my inability to swim in a straight line though.

NV, good name change! I am sure that i swam at least 4k in IM, for the same reason. I'm pre-reg for Outlaw too, but not decided on that or IMUK yet...but it will be one or t'other! not been hiding just been catching up with sleep life et al. Back to some form of training now, i have the Royal parks half to aim for and want to get sub 90...assuming i don't break on the way to the start line. Have a few 10ks as training and stuff too, oh and a few tris and London to Canterbury sportif too...

Cheeze, kinda agree with Blimps and NV, you can say you ran 13 miles or half marathon distance in a traiing run(quite a mouthful though), but not a half mara, because its only a half mara if its a race.  

better go as i'm back to working, oh and i'm running home tonight too, its a bit warm

Hi all

I can see where you are coming from cheeze, I think if you have run hm distance then you have done just that, run hm distance. its just not official, who cares if anybody else counts it you should give yourself a pat on the back for making that landmark distance. thats my personal view. I'm also not that fussed about races myself, as long as i can see myself improving over speed and distance thats whats important & by running a hm distance you can get an idea where you are at fitness wise in comparison to others who have run this distance. I would stop short of saying i had ran a half marathon though as a marathon in itself is defined as an event and race. Of course if you have been running a while and your pb's are improved by tenths or secons rather than minutes you would want a more accurate distance to measure improvement. 

MD, one word: Outlaw!!!! I've tried to get into the Royal Parks a couple of years running now. Supposed to be a great race.

Just entered a marathon in Lincolnshire in October. 

NV I am leaning that way, the gf's family are in Derby so i could stay there and save a lot of hassle, and I can drive over there on the morning to race. Nice and easy.  I think the only thing stopping me is that I like the IM branded thing, thats the only downside to dong Outlaw...what's the bike course like? If it isn't too much climbing so i can lash the TT silly (I want a sub 11) and still be able to run then that's decision made...i think, nearly  Good luck for the mara - its nice to have a focus, but please don't do what I did for Dublin and take the 'its only a marathon, I'm an Ironman' attitude because it hurt. What time are you going for?

Well i've managed 2 runs in 2 days, ran home from work yesterday 5.8 miles in 42'29. Not the fastest but in the heat (32 degrees) with a backpack i'm not too disappointed at all. Then this morning i managed a nice solid 2.8 miles (cut short due to olympic shite shutting the park, roads, etc. i can't wait for it to start and then finish... anywy 2.8 miles in 21 mins something, splits were 8'08, 7'26 and the last bit was at 6'50 pace. Nice and easy! feet are blistered and battered now though, need new shoes! So that's the plan at lunch.

I remember your ill-fated Dublin mara MD. No, I needed a focus to get me training again. I was in danger of having to enter some short, fast, painful races so it was either find a long race or start doing intervals. There isn't much I won't do to avoid them! Time? Dunno. Reckon I should be 3:30 or thereabouts but we''ll see.

Bike course is pretty flat at Outlaw, something like 2000ft of climbing with only one lump of any note and I span up that without gettng out of the saddle. It was quite windy this year but that apparently isn't usual for the area. Run course is very flat as well, although neither are as flat as the swim  Good course for a fast time with your biking. The organisation is spot on. I've never been much of a brand chaser, it had a good reputation and the timing suited me so I didn't really even consider alternatives.

that's a good enough review for me, Outlaw it is then. It fits with the other plus points i had, including timing and location. Well that was an easy decision to make! I might try and swim Taiwan 70.3 if i have to go back this year...with free flights and the hotel being covered for most of the stay by my work i reckon that could be a good one, and the quality of the feild there isn't great so might get a reasonable result...he he he

3'30 is a very solid time to aim for, I'm going to run London next year (if i get in the ballot) or 14 come what may, i think i want to go for 3'20 or 3'15. But that will depend on form and fitness - i think Dublin last year pre injury i was going really well and my 15mile training runs were about 7'10 pace very comfortably too. Just need to rediscover that. Although my commute home the other day according to the garmin i did the first mile at 5'30 pace???? (moving time anyway) I don't think i can run that fast but if i did that's awesome.

Hey MD, how's things? I'm not causing any arguments at all, just saying how it is!

Well done on your run, Di, you will get quicker and quicker from now on - a positive frame of mind is half the battle!

Rosko, if an endurance runner is only improving by 10ths of a second, then their training is all wrong lol!

Hi to everyone I didn't mention.

Hi Guys

Sorry life kinda been getting in the way. Have been out for a few runs nothing special but I am getting onto a running track now so getting to have a good go at speed work. Still slow but im hoping it will pay off in a bit. We are doing relays tonight on a kinda trail route, should be good fun. As its the opening of the Olympics the team I am in have decided to go for a Torch Relay, with torches  not seen the top im wearing tonight but it should be a laugh.

Di - Awesome work Well Done!!!!

Wyn - Hi welcome So what running have you been doing?

MD, NV, Blimpy, Rosko Hi  hope all your training is going well

Hi Blimps, I'd expect nothing less than saying as you see it! Yeah going ok slowly getting back to form fitness and some motivation. Been a bad year on that front since i had to pull out of Dublin last year injured. Not really got back to anything. Still I'm back in the game and starting to get a bit fitter, running faster easier off less training so that all bodes well.

Hi Claire! track sessions are great for improving speed. i just don't like to do anything that hurts... enjoy the torch relay. It'll probably be more fun than the real thing that went past my office yesterday, i don't see what the fuss is about - just hurry up and start the races already!

well better get going and do some work - hi all those i didn't mention!

Hi all. I haven't been here for a few years but its good to be back Advice needed, i have started jogging 'properly' the last 2-3 weeks as i signed up for Bupa Great Birmingham Run 2012, i have upt my current pace to 3 miles with a little bit of a struggle but i have improved massively. I dont really have a schedule but i run for at least 40 mins 3 times a week, what do you suggest for next week? Do i do the same again?

Your sound advice is appreciated

Hi guys.

You ran 11.3 miles at 6:54 per mile in training, Rosco??!   That's awesome running, well done!

Slow but sure is the best way to come back, MD. No rush at all - good luck with it.

Hi to everyone else.

Hi guys.

You're right to start off like that, Glowy.  Once you're up to 3 or 4 miles without walking/stopping, then you can start to think about speed.

I'm just off for an 8 miler before a 5K race on Wednesday. 

Hope everyone else is running away, injury-free.