The Running thread

[Risso]

I'm struggling to motivate myself back to run again.  Throughout the last 12-15 months I've dropped right off from doing 3 x 5KM runs a week for about a year following getting there with couch to 5K.  I never got to the point where I could say I really enjoyed it, or relished going out, apart from bizzarrely, running abroad on holiday early first thing when it was warm!  I did have a good sense of achievement for getting to that stage though.

I do go about one a week now (at best) and seem to struggle/be plataeu'd at about 3.5km, with a stop half way for a breather, but I just stop, don't walk.  I really would like to get back to the point I was at, but motivation is low and with the weather turning and dark night looming I know it will be a drag to get myself out there.  I'm thinking I might jump back in to C25K again, maybe at week 6 because I'm happy enough running for ten mins, to see if that gives me the push I need to get back up to 5K and then hopefully can stay there again!!

Any thoughts/other tips on motivation (my increasing gut should be the only one I need really!!)

Like Richard says, if there are any good park runs near you (usually on a Saturday morning) sign up for one of those, and then do a practice 5K in the week? Have a look to see if there are any 5K clubs near you as well, I go to one round here with my daughter, and we both really enjoy it. It's not serious, but we find it more motivational running with other people.

I'm the opposite to you, I absolutely despise the first 0 to 2K, and wish I was doing anything but, but after that I start to get into it and then do the last couple of kilometres quite strongly.

[Duncan Shaw]

Thanks for the tips/suggestions, I've done the parkrun in the past and will join in again once I'm up to 5K.
I dived back onto C25K at week 5 and it has been perfect, just the right spot to not be daunted again and now half way through week 6, so confident it it will drag me along to be doing 5K again.

[Risso]

Thanks for the tips/suggestions, I've done the parkrun in the past and will join in again once I'm up to 5K.
I dived back onto C25K at week 5 and it has been perfect, just the right spot to not be daunted again and now half way through week 6, so confident it it will drag me along to be doing 5K again.

Nice one, you'll find you're back to the 5K level in no time. I'm working my way through Jon's excellent 10K plan, and am at the point where I'm now actively looking forward to the next step.

[LeeB]

I need to get off my arse, the last couple of years though I'm finding every time I do I get a pull or niggle that puts me back to square one. I suspect it's as I'm carrying a bit of weight that I've not before, probably a stone and half, and I'm trying to go a bit too hard too soon.

[Risso]

I need to get off my arse, the last couple of years though I'm finding every time I do I get a pull or niggle that puts me back to square one. I suspect it's as I'm carrying a bit of weight that I've not before, probably a stone and half, and I'm trying to go a bit too hard too soon.

Yep, much better to build back up slowly and bit by bit.

[Risso]

Nice and easy 8K at our running club tonight. Started going to the gym and have booked a block with a trainer. They took my VO2 max and it's 45, which for my age is apparently in the 'excellent' category, which sounds promising.

[JD]

Nice and easy 8K at our running club tonight. Started going to the gym and have booked a block with a trainer. They took my VO2 max and it's 45, which for my age is apparently in the 'excellent' category, which sounds promising.

Good to hear Martin. Keep it going while you can.

[Jon Crofts]

Nice and easy 8K at our running club tonight. Started going to the gym and have booked a block with a trainer. They took my VO2 max and it's 45, which for my age is apparently in the 'excellent' category, which sounds promising.

45 is solid. But, how was it measured? The only real way is to do the test on a treadmill, wired up to a machine that measures your exhaled breath otherwise it’s just a guess I’m afraid mate. Sorry to piss on your chips!

[Risso]

Nice and easy 8K at our running club tonight. Started going to the gym and have booked a block with a trainer. They took my VO2 max and it's 45, which for my age is apparently in the 'excellent' category, which sounds promising.

45 is solid. But, how was it measured? The only real way is to do the test on a treadmill, wired up to a machine that measures your exhaled breath otherwise it’s just a guess I’m afraid mate. Sorry to piss on your chips!

Yeah, my trainer explained that. She's done it twice on the treadmill usuing the test where you work harder over a mile run. She explained that it's not as accurate as having the breath analyser but said it's a good approximation, and better than that on Apple Watch/Garmin. Both of those say it's about 43-44. Crucially I suppose, all three have increased quite a bit from 6 months ago, so accurate or not, they just reflect what I feel in myself, ie a lot fitter.

Getting on really well with your plan mate, and knocked out my fastest ever 5K last night, at just a bit over 24 minutes. I know that's not going to win me any gold medals any time soon, but I was well chuffed!

[Jon Crofts]

Nice and easy 8K at our running club tonight. Started going to the gym and have booked a block with a trainer. They took my VO2 max and it's 45, which for my age is apparently in the 'excellent' category, which sounds promising.

45 is solid. But, how was it measured? The only real way is to do the test on a treadmill, wired up to a machine that measures your exhaled breath otherwise it’s just a guess I’m afraid mate. Sorry to piss on your chips!

Yeah, my trainer explained that. She's done it twice on the treadmill usuing the test where you work harder over a mile run. She explained that it's not as accurate as having the breath analyser but said it's a good approximation, and better than that on Apple Watch/Garmin. Both of those say it's about 43-44. Crucially I suppose, all three have increased quite a bit from 6 months ago, so accurate or not, they just reflect what I feel in myself, ie a lot fitter.

Getting on really well with your plan mate, and knocked out my fastest ever 5K last night, at just a bit over 24 minutes. I know that's not going to win me any gold medals any time soon, but I was well chuffed!

Good to hear, I've found Garmin to be reasonably accurate in their later models but it's still all just guesswork based on a mathematical model at the end of the day. The worst one is the Max HR using 220 minus your age to give a max HR, absolute bollocks.

[Risso]

Yours not 140 then?

[Jon Crofts]

How very dare you.

[Risso]

Rutland Water 10K night run. Completed! ✔️

[dcdavecollett]

Well done.

Cycled round there last year.

[Axl Rose]

Good work, mate.

Haven't been there since I was a teen.