Northern Ireland Running - Page 17 - General running

Chris Capper

05/04/2005 at 09:16

Didn't go too well with yesterday's long run - was aiming for 19 but ended up only doing 17 - just suddenly got really really tired at 14 miles and couldn't run through it....is this a bad sign for the marathon? Mind you, the weather was unbelievable - started in rain, then sun, then hailstones....no excuse though

BaldyfromBangor - definitely thinking about a club - any recommendations people want to make on a public forum like this one?

Kenneth Bacon

05/04/2005 at 10:02

James Coleraine train on a Monday and Wednesday 6.00 from the Sports Centre at the Uni. We are doing hills in Ballymoney tonight.
Chris have you tried enery gels and do you carry a drink. I find the gels give me a boost when I am feeling tired and once you become dehydrated you start to feel tired.
Do you live in Belfast Chris?

Chris Capper

05/04/2005 at 10:28

Kenneth - funnily enough, I was thinking about carrying a drink during yesterday's run - but I do find it awkward - have you tried a belt or anything like that? I live in east Belfast.

Kenneth Bacon

05/04/2005 at 10:42

I have a belt which holds a 500ml bottle which I usually fill with Lucozade it has a pocket for a moble phone which holds 2 go gels. I find this a great help on long runs. Takes a bit of getting used to but once your wear it a few times you don't realy notice it. Some people go out the day before and find a safe place to leave drinks. You could also organise your long runs to go past a friends house or carry money and go into a shop. Its important that once you go over 10 miles to have a drink.
There are a number of clubs in Belfast if you look on the Federation website. I don't know them well enough to recomend one. In East Belfast you are not too far from Baldy club North Down in Bangor.

James Hislop

05/04/2005 at 10:42

I have a running belt by Nike which I wear on longer runs over 10 miles.
I have to wear mine quite tight around my stomach area, any lower and the belt moves around to much.

Can I join up with you in Ballymoney? is it at 6?

East Antim Harriers are a big club but I dont really know anyone.

Kenneth Bacon

05/04/2005 at 10:44

See you later James.
East Antrim Harriers are in Ballyclare.

Geraldine Gunn 2

05/04/2005 at 14:49

Sorry for the delay Kenneth, I am walking in Dublin. Big scaredy cat that I am!

baldyfrombangor

05/04/2005 at 20:02

Belfast clubs:

willowfield - competitive, not so many of us slower guys

annadale - ditto

north down - bangor, all ages, all abilities, mon night 730pm for fun and frolics!!! www.northdownac.co.uk

lagan valley - mary peters track, friendly and also good set up.

CIYMS - not the busiest

baldyfrombangor

05/04/2005 at 20:05

i tend not to use water except on 20 plus runs where i plank water the night before in bags.

those belts are a personal thing, i cant get used to them.

am starting numbers and times list on the mara thread, oh and a social after :-))

seamus henry

05/04/2005 at 22:40

Hi everybody - I just plod along on my own as it suits - by the time I would drive to a club and back I would have covered 5 miles. However I know I could improve if I was put under pressure to tag along with slightly faster runners - I mean 8.5 min milers. My ambition is sometime to run a marathon under 4 hours. I've completed 8 marathons and 9 half marathons in the last 2 and a 1/2 years. My times don't improve that much, but the are improving slightly.

I did 1 hour on the treadmill tonight whilst watching the Liverpool match. Liverpool's second goal was classy.

Kenneth Bacon

06/04/2005 at 09:10

Hi Seamus good result I can't believe that was the same team I went to see on Saturday. Running with a club would help or if you could get some one close to run with about you speed or sligthly faster would also help. Even running with a club once a week can make a big difference. I find when Iam running by myself I tend to run in the comfort zone and don't push myself hard enough. I think you will get close to 4 hours or even break it this year.

Jape

06/04/2005 at 10:23

Haven't posted for a while to this thread but wanted to react to the various points about a running club. I've been plodding along on my own too and haven't really been getting any faster. Was a bit scared to join a club as I might not be fast enough. But if you don't join, you'll never get faster as the comfort zone thing is probably true...

Might give Lagan Vally or North Down a go then after my knee has healed. Did my first proper long run of 15 miles and got injured. Hopefully I can still do a relay leg...:-(

James Hislop

07/04/2005 at 16:28

Sorr I havent posted, I've been a bit bogged down at work at the moment.

How's it going Jape? joining a club is the best thing I could have done to improve my running, before I was just running but at the club we do hill and speed work, and you get a chance to train with faster runners aswell.

Yesterday was a rest day and I'm joining up with Kenny & Springwell tonight, whats on tonight Kenny?

Hows your running going Ian, what will be your long run this week?

Seamus what will be your next race, Belfast Marathon? we must try and join up when we either collect our numbers or after the race?

Jape

07/04/2005 at 16:36

Hi James, think we're all in the same boat with work. (And I'm doing evening classes...) The knee is better today and I will do some cycling walking/running on the treadmill this evening, followed by sports massage. See how that works out.

Kenneth Bacon

07/04/2005 at 16:36

Hi James steady run tonight about 7 miles

James Hislop

07/04/2005 at 16:56

Good man Jape, you need to keep going, it is so easy to say "I'll do it tomorrow" or "I'll work extra hard on Sunday". Keep going.

Cheers Kenny, I see you at 6 :)
I'll bring the springwell top with me.

seamus henry

07/04/2005 at 19:40

Hi everybody. Kenny I doubt if I can crack 4 hours in Belfast - but I'll give it a go. Mind you I always have that intention but at mile 18 -20 its easy to go into the comfort zone again. I find the last hour or so in the marathon draining on the body.

James we'd better meet before the marathon as you'd have a long wait on me after it. Its good to run though. I'm doing the Programme 4 on the Horizon treadmill and its very tough. It goes to gradient 5 at times. I find it a good challenge but I need to be watching football or listening to fast music in order to keep going.

Ian and Chris and Jape Good luck in your training.

Louise Finlay

07/04/2005 at 19:53

Hi there just joined runners world. I live in Derry and just wondered where everyone is from. Any women out there?

James Hislop

08/04/2005 at 09:12

Hi Calypso
Welcome to RW, I'm in Coleraine nice to meet you.

Seamus I havent been on a treadmill for a good few weeks now, ever since I joined springwell.
The club run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, when I'm not with them I have a good 14 mile course that I do, from Coleraine - Portstewart - Portrush - Coleraine.

Good session last night, it will my last run til monday as I have to go to Ballyliffan for a stag weekend.

Kenneth Bacon

08/04/2005 at 09:32

Hi Calypso I am from Ballymoney and as far as I know we are all males so it will be good to get some female input. Are you training for any races?
Were did our spring weather go to its bitter cold out there. Hope it warms up for Sunday as I plan to do 20 miles.
Hi Jape stick at it when you stop its very hard getting back. Do you find that sports massage helps?
Seamus I think in the marathon a lot of the problems are in the head you have to keep thinking positive and no matter how bad your run is its an achievement to have run the distance. Do you use the treadmill a lot, I find them very boring prefer to be out on the roads.
James have a good weekend have a Guinness for me.