My Forum

Hi all,

I was reading Tony's sub 20 5k thread that has already been achieved, sorry to hi-jack the thread, but I was just wondering - Would doing the parkrun everyweek be a decent equivalent to speed work training?

I enjoy the parkrun as a new runner, but I'd really like to break 20 mins within the next month. Currently sat at around the 20:40 mark, running around 15-20 miles per week, which includes the parkrun, a long slow run (7/8 miles) and a couple of recovery runs a week.

Once again sorry for the hi-jack, but I couldn't find any info on whether the parkrun is a good "training" method.

Thanks for the response.

Yeah I guess I'll take it a little bit more easy, maybe try to do a little more cycling when the weather picks up a little...don't fancy the 60 mph winds at the moment!

Hopefully I can keep my fitness progressing, as well as give the right parts of my body time to recover. Might take me a while to get the right balance.

Lets see if I can withstand the urge to run everyday!

Hello all,

I have been running for around 6 weeks, I am 26 years old, 5'11, 77kg (12 stone ish), 6 week old running shoes.

Started out running/walking on a 2 mile route, with just general soreness from using new muscles.

Progressed quite rapidly and was doing 5 mile runs after 3 weeks with no walking, maybe 3-4 times in a week, with only tight calves as a problem. I tended to run mostly on the road with maybe once a week up on the moors (Grassy/dirt tracks).

At that point I hit a bit of a wall, started picking up little niggles. Started off with a sore calf that cut my runs from 5 down to 2-3 miles. Then a sore achilles for a few days. Then finally a week ago, I got about 1 mile into a 3 mile run, and had to stop and walk back because of really tight calves and quite painful shins.

I took a few days off and went for a quick 2 mile run yesterday and felt okay. I woke  with my right shin throbing - the only word I can describe it. It doesn't hurt, but I know I can't run on it. I keep getting the feeling I'm getting shin splints...all the trouble is on my right side, calves, achilles and shins.

I think I may have over-trained too quickly or I'm doing something wrong.

Would a longer break from running be a better idea? A week? Could I cycle in the rest time? I just feel like I've hit a wall before my new hobby has even started, which is really frustrating...