Started 8 wk beginner's schedule today

Hello all, another quick update. So far so good with the barefoot/midfoot thing Last week I ran 4k on Monday, 5k on Wednesday, 5k on Friday and 10k + 2k barefoot on Sunday with very few knee issues. I get the occasional twinge, couldn't really call it pain, but it's in a different place and if I bend my knees more it disappears within about 20 paces. And bending my knees more (and lots of post-run stretches) stops my calf muscles from screaming at me. No recurrence of the previous problem yet, so I'm hopeful that my plan has worked!! My pace is a bit slower than it was but that's more to do with not wanting to push it and cause my knee to have a hissy fit.

Still suffering with blisters from the Vibrams, tried taping up my arches but it rubbed off so back to the partyfeet patches. And the 2k that I ran barefoot was brilliant, my feet are definitely toughening up so I'm going to try and clock a few more km shoeless this weekend. I wanted to run this morning but I've got new job germs so I'm waiting a few days before I run again.

The only slightly odd thing is that after I've got back from a run I don't seem to have many aches or much muscle fatigue and I really miss it! Weirdly, unless something's aching it doesn't feel like I've done any proper exercise... I'm going to stick with 5k during the week and start to slowly increase my long run at the weekend again so that will probably help with the aches!

Hope everyone else is well and fit and enjoying some sunshine

(Forgot to say I'm currently reading Barefoot Ken Bob's book: Barefoot Running Step by Step and it's really good that's where the bending knees tip is from)

Hello, can I join in here please? I'm another Norfolk runner, seems to be a popular sport locally! I spent all last year working my way through couch to 5K and this year I've already completed the bridge to 10K app so things are going much better. I've done a few park runs and did the Race 4 life 10K lat Saturday. I've definitley been bitten by the running bug.

Someone was on about phone apps. I've got an iPhone and I use Run Kepper (free) and then I used Blue Fin Apps, couch to 5k, then bridge to 10K and now I've got the Hal Higdon Novice 2 half marathon app. All have been good although the bridge to 10K one likes to be the last app you open and don't lock the screen! I always use my run keeper app along side one of the others so if something goes wrong I still get my info. It's entertaining to see how the GPS bits differ on each app. Oh and they do drain the battery life so it's worth making sure they really have shut down when you finish your run. To do that double click the round button on your iPhone and all the apps that are still running appear on a bar at the bottom, press and hold on anyone and it comes up with a - button that you can click on the shut the app.  Urmm also I found the iPhone headphone were pretty good at staying in place when running but I've treated myself to some sennheiser over ear hook ones which are even better and have a nifty volume control on the cable.

Wotcha peeps,

back from me hols in spain at 0130 this morning, and keen to get back to the club run tomorrow evening, especially as my spanish training schedule went well, consisting mainly of beer, tapas, mums cooking, beer, tapas, pizza, beer etc

Spoke to my estate agent while I was over there, still little interest in the property market, so have reduced the price on my house again. I'm going to have to take a huge loss on the house if i'm going to sell it any time in the next 12 months. Wish I could afford to hold on to it for a few years until the euro crisis has gone, but need to free up the money to buy here in the UK.

Cant believe the weather here over the last week! The one week I take a holiday and England goes and gets all sunny!

evening norfolk lass and alibear30,

i'm a new runner (completed NHS couch to 5k last autumn. redoing it now after 2 months immobile after not doing much over winter)

i'd be interested in where to find the 'bridge to 10k' app please, alibear30

and your barefoot running sounds exciting, norfolk lass, i'd like to try those 'feet'.

tell me, did you get cramp at first, by having things seperating your toes?

are they tough enough for repeated rough/pavement running?

many thanks

good luck to you both

Hi everyone - sorry I've been a bit quiet lately, still running though! Welcome Alibear and Sarah

I've been a bit lazy over the bank holiday weekend - I gave myself the night off on Friday to celebrate exceeding my monthly target (I've still been doing the monthly mileage challenge thingy!) - then had a horrible cold wet run with Mr Cheetah on Sunday - as a result I just couldn't be arsed on Monday with my long run, we ordered in pizza instead! I joked that I was "carb-loading" so I could have a better run today.....

And it worked! I just ran my second half marathon distance!!! My time to beat from my first attempt was 02:21 - and I thought I was being a bit optimistic when I entered 02:15 as my expected finish time on the entry form for the real one - well, tonight I ran 13.12 miles in 02:09:07!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't know I could do it that quick, and I wasn't even trying! There was a lovely moment about 7 miles in when the heavens opened just as I needed cooling down

I think pizza is in order the night before the actual race! Running club tomorrow assuming my legs still work - they don't feel too bad at the moment.

Hope everyone is running well! xxx

Bounce

Bridge to 10K is an iPhone/Android  app http://blog.bluefinapps.com/about-bridge-to-10k/

They also make the 1/2 marathon app which I'm now using.

I'm worried though as all the local 1/2 Marathons say the have 2 1/2 hour cut off time with a 90min half way cut off time. I'm not sure I'll manage that , ah well will see how we go.

Ran 6 miles on Saturday int he sunshine which was very enjoyable and start week 4 of the training plan tomorrow. I'm debating going to a local running club, but they all seem to train on a Monday which is tricky for me, then there's spending more time away from the family which I don't think will go down well.

Thanks for the info Alibear30, i'll look it up - once i'm mobile - AGAIN off my legs this time with excruciating plantar fasciitis in left heel.

i'd heard folk complain about this, but had no idea how sore it can be.

well done you on the post-pizza personal best!!! good luck with the new 1/2 marathon app.

Had an amazing run tonight.

I entered the Wroxham 5k, and blitzed my 5k PB.

It was 24.57...its now 23.10!

I was gob smacked when I turned into the finish and saw the clock had just passed 23.00 minutes. I'm still waiting for someone to tell me there was an error!

Happy boy today  

well done '00shhhh!'

thats a great improvement, you deserve to be pleased

Long time no post - hope everyone is still OK!

First bit of news from me - I passed my driving test yesterday!

It's sort of running-related too, as it meant that I could get to a free training session in preparation for the half marathon at the running club this morning (it started at 9.30 and would have taken at least 45 mins by public transport - a 10min drive though!)

It was really useful - and we did a threshold running session afterwards, and I've decided to start incorporating some of it into my morning runs. I can also run further in the mornings now as it will be quicker for me to get to work as I can just drive myself!

The man doing the session has trained with Paula Radcliffe, and his "easy pace" for his long runs is 6m/m..... I don't think I'll ever be that fast however much threshold training I do!

Ooo I can do the odd Parkrun too now, as I'm actually able to get there! (It's actually very near to the driving test centre funnily enough)

Hope everyone is still running - I did my normal route with Mr Cheetah this evening, but it was really hard going after the session this morning. I'm thinking of driving somewhere tomorrow and doing my long run somewhere else for a change of scenery - just cos I can! I need a coolbag for the car for water supplies i think....

Woo hoo, well done Cheetah

Hope everyone is well. I've been reeeeally bad and haven't been running in a while... hence no posting, (well, actually i did try and run 2miles last week, but it turned into very much a run/walk thing - much more walking than running unfortunately).

I think i may have to start at the beginning again....