Northern Ireland Running

well I had taken a half day off work in the hope of getting an 18 mile run done - tomorrow is taken up with Down Royal races & Sunday I might be a bit on the delicate side!!  But there is no way I am running 18 miles in that rain, I hate when this happens & feel so guilty about it. If it clears up later I'll hopefully give it a go.

 At what point is the weather just to bad to go for a run?  I could manage a few no problem, but when you know you're going to be out for the guts of 3 hours, I tend to think the risks (flu/colds)  outweigh the benefits.  Do you agree or am I just being a big wuss!!!!

Heather the hardest bit is getting out the door. It's probably not as bad as you think once you get out but the big problem is getting out that door.

Ricky half in Dervock on the 21 July if your interested. KK McArthur Festival of Running.

Runner's guilt is a terrible thing Heather but I have learned to live with it.  With the weather and the football on television it's hard to get out the door these evenings.  I went out late one day last week (9.45pm) thinking I was the only one daft enough to run at that time but met four other runners on the way.

Had a reasonable run for most of the way at Lisburn but tailed off a bit after 10 miles and finished in 1:52.  It's the first time that the 10k leader hasn't caught me before the courses split.  Well done all from the forum who ran.  It must have been some finish to the 10k with only 2 seconds between first and second.

I'm helping at parkrun tomorrow so say hello if you are there.

Also dealing with runners guilt here today but conditions are horrendous.

Some good running at Lisburn.

Come on guys and girls. I was out in the rain at just before 7.00am this morning.  It's fine once you are out there.

TG surely you saw plenty of rain in Ukraine/Poland.

It only rained on game days Rodney. Every other day it was pretty warm.

It was only Poland I was in - Panorama killed the tourist trade to Ukraine for everyone over here I suspect

Did a tempo last night and 8 or so on Wednesday. Calendar seems quiet this weekend. Good luck to anyoen racing. I'm going to get the head down and do 6 weeks of hilly long runs and hill reps so probably won't race for a while apart from an odd parkrun.

Don't worry about it Heather - the roads around here are awful and H&S is a concern in such bad conditions re visibility both for runners and drivers.  To lessen the guilt, go for a quick run tomorrow morning if you've time.  What are you training for at the moment?  I'll probably be at Waterworks tomorrow amd am thinking of the Ards half next Friday.  It's one I've never done and would like to give it a go even though not running great at moment.  I hear it's quite hilly - anyone here ran it?

Heather, I'm with you on this rain thing! Horrible stuff! Gets in your eyes, makes your feet squelch in your shoes and it's cold! No, I wait until it stops too. And wait... and wait...

That weather on Wednesday was perfect for me but, even though entered for the half, I wasn't able to get down to Lisburn on the evening. I'm entered for Ards too, and hope to get to that. It's a great course, Irene. It's hilly all right, harder than the Lisburn half, but it's less busy, and you get a great spread afterwards in the leisure centre. I'm aiming too to be at the Waterworks tomorrow.

A mixed response with a few hardy souls prepared to tackle all weather conditions!! 

Irene, plans are to do Round the Bridges 10 miler next Thursday night - it is a great race, nice course which is quite flat, well organised & good spread afterwards!!  Haven't ever run Ards so can't comment but the thought of running up the hill at Scrabo always puts me off entering!!  After that its Dervock half marathon, thats why I want to keep my mileage at a decent level!!  

Paul, well done at Lisburn, it must have been tough enough in the heat.

Good luck to all the park runners tomorrow - I see Ballymena is water logged & has been cancelled!

Rain cleared here by teatime so I nipped out at Germany match half-time for a slow 3miler recovery run - had to revise my route though after coming across a flooded road! Legs feeling suprising decent after wednesday night & tried out the new asics so all good.

Heather -I generally dont let the weather bother me (or the time Paul OH  - 10pm runs are a common occurence here!) - although would probably avoid a long run if rain was heavy. Wouldnt have though rain/cold would have much impact on increased risks of colds etc as they are viruses. Hard training I suppose will lower the immune system however so make you more supsceptible to picking up the viruses.
That;s worth thinking about last place - much the same as you here - two young children 3 & 5 and long hours assocated with self employment. Will train on for a bit and when in more respectable shape will investigate some of the local clubs.
Would have been keen for Dervock half Rodney but am away caravanning with the family that weekend. Shame - checked the web & sounds like a great event! Maybe aim at Waterside for the next one.

Here's a dilemma I have that some of you can maybe help me with:
I have low arches and had custom orthotics made by UUJ when I last ran - I used these with neutral cushioned shoes such as Asics Nimbus & Nike Pegasus. I have resumed to running digging these old orthotics & nikes out with no injury problems to date other than a few niggles here and there which have came & went over the last 12 weeks. With my gait requiring a moderate stabilty shoe I have just purchased Asics Kayanos and am wondering could I now get away without using the orthotics or if I use the orthotics in them will I be over compensating the correction effect? Ran without them tonite in the new Kayanos and felt fine - albeit only a slow 33min run.
Any comments gratefully received!

OK..stupid question from the new boy. What is the consensus on running in heavy rain.....

a) try to keep dry using a somewhat breathable water resistant top - if so anything you would particularly reccomend? I generally find I hate rain proofs.

b) if warm enough - just usual training t-shirt or something (not cotton!) and accept you're going to get wet.

Does your choice depend on length/duration?

I'm hoping we won't have to worry too much about either on Thursday night at Limavady.

JP - I am the same and rarely use my rain jacket. Whatever makes you most comfortable would be my thoughts - as a priority before running in the cold & rain I'd make sure the nipple plasters are in place though!

JP if you're wearing something breathable it's maybe not too big a deal on shorter runs but on long runs I wouldn't be a big fan of wering a t-shirt and getting soaked. You can get some very good lightweight jackets which are good.

If I was doing a session I'd wear jacket to session, then take if off for the session. (New t-shirt in small ruck-sack).

Races are maybe a t-shirt underneath.

Just my opinion but I don't like running round like a drowned rat as per the last few days!!

Thanks guys - I'm just in from 12 miles - it was wet, dry, windy, calm, cool, and warm - seriously annoying weather. I chose to wear lightweight base layer under Karrimor t-shirt. Dumped the base layer after a mile, it was actually quite muggy this morning. Got showered on two or three times, soaked once, thankfully in the last two miles.

I've only got and old non-breathable, mesh sided waterproof, which ends up wetter on the inside than the outside, so I elected to leave it at home. I think I'll have to invest in a decent running jacket for winter if not before.

I don't mind the rain, but would wear a sleeveless waterproof jacket when it is wet but warm.

Ran Dervock Half course with Springwell runners this morning. I then did a 2nd lap on my own but cut onto the 10km course at the 19mile mark and got 21.2miles done. The course is a mixture of uphill and downhill. Miles 3,7,12 are uphill with miles 9, 13 downhill. Enjoyed running somewhere different for a training run. Thankyou to Springwell for inviting us to run the course.

Glad you enjoyed it Rodney. I got your entry this morning. Did you get caught in the rain on the second lap. 

Yes Kenny a real downpour for about 10minutes, then dried out again and finished before the next shower.

I did lisburn and had a poor half, ended up taking huge stomach cramps at mile 9/10 (eating too much mayo pasta all day).  I won't begin to describe the relief at seeing the finish line and the cubicles.  Finished it in 1:55 but walked a good 5 minutes of it, was expecting 1:47 ish for the hilly route based on my Omagh time.  A poor race for me but I have entered Ards as a means to try and make up for it. 

My mate did a terrific 1:35 at Lisburn , I honestly think an Omagh half based on his performance at lisburn could be sub 1:30.  Omagh is def the best PB half I am aware of and a hell of a lot milder than Lisburn.  I have no experience of Derry or Cookstown.

I had a bad night on Wed too Indo if that makes you feel any better - Have never done Ards - hear it is hillier/tougher than Lisburn?

I see Lisburn results now have been updated with split times for 1st 6 and last 7.  I had a bad positive split with 55mins for first 6 and 1hr11 for last 7 - tut tut must do better! Mind u the positive splits outweigh the negative splits at a quick glance so the hills have told on most I guess.

Considering Cookstown on 29th July - what is the course like/anyone done it?

Think have answered my own question re: Orthitics in Stability Shoes - went out yesterday afternoon for a tempo 4 miler with the orthotics and felt much more at home than without them, as tried on fridays recovery run, (all in the head probably) - even managed a couple of 8min miles which is a first for me since my return to plodding! So quite looking forward to another half to shake the Lisburn monkey of my back - Cookstown looks good.