My Forum

Having signed up to participate in this year's Great North Run, with just over two months to train for the event, I wonder whether it is reasonable to expect that I'd be able to run a sub two hour half marathon.

Although I've not run since late 2011, I've still remained active by swimming 3-4 times per week, to ensure I've kept the weight off in addition to eating a largely healthy diet. 

This time a year ago, I used to run 3 times per week and could complete a 10k run in approximately 40 minutes, so I wonder if it's an unreasonable expectation to finish a half marathon in under two hours?

When I've returned to running in years gone by, it has never taken me long to return to a decent level, given that I've remained active when not running, so I'm hoping on this occasion it'll be no different.

Have I left it too late, though?

I suppose it would really all depend upon whether you're returning to running after an injury or whether simply returning after a long lay off. 

If you're returning to running after injury, it would depend on what the injury was and what your average speed was before the injury? 

If you're not returning following an injury, have you kept yourself active in otherways, since you last ran?

Eitherway, I suspect that you may need to re-build strength in your legs, to help your muscles re-accustom themselves to the rigours of running. 

Perhaps, concentrating upon strength training on your days off from running may help to reduce the discomfort, since strengthing the muscles around a joint can help to improve its stability. 

About five years ago my wife ate Quorn and, a few hours later, suffered horrific stomach cramps, to the extent where we'd considered contacting the paramedics, such was her degree of discomfort.

Since that evening, we've stuck to white meat, fish, pulses and whey protein to gain our recommended daily protein intake, totally disregarding soya products

I've also got a German Shepherd, who's three and a half years old. 

She doesn't bat an eyelid when we pick up her walking lead.  However, whenever I pick up the blue flexible lead I put on her when she comes running with me, she spins on the spot, which is fun, especially when trying to attach it to her collar.

When I run, she comes with me every other day, covering between three and seven miles, depending upon the type of run I'm going out for. 

Regardless of the distance, however, when we return home she's always there, tennis ball in mouth, expecting me to throw it up the garden for her, while I perform my stretches. 

I may be knackered, but her unrelenting enthusiasm for a game of fetch knows no bounds, regardless of the outside temperature. 

But then I guess that's what they're bred for. 

I'm with Glyn on this one.

A few years ago, where I run, it was common-place for other runners to acknowledge one another.

Returning to running after a few years I've since found that the current blend of pavement pounders seldom acknowledge as they pass. 

Granted, we're not all part of the same organisation, however, as runners we're all striving to achieve a goal, whether we run recreationally or train to achieve a personal best in our next race. 

Why can't the camaradie, shared by runners on the line before the start of a race, extend to the footpaths as we all strive to reach our individual goals, whatever they may be?