The athletics/running thread

[Gary the Enfield]

ok...

I figured there might be others reading this thread who (like me) are frankly boggled by the idea of a 10mile "recovery" run - or the idea of running 5K in under 3 hours... never mind running up and down hills - or adding swimming and cycling to the mix!!

so - I have summat to recommend.

the NHS "Couch to 5K" program. (It's free - your taxes have paid for it!!!)

the idea is to take you from "couch" (ie - total slobdom) to being able to run for 30mins (or about 5K) in 9 weeks of exercise.

you run 3 days a week - and each week it goes up a notch. (for the first week you only run in 1min bursts with 90secs of recovery walking in between!) I am just starting week 5 - which has me running for 3 or 4 bursts of 5mins with 3min recovery walks in between)

in other words - it is gently graded through the weeks....

I can recommend it - because the missus is on week 8 - and had actually NEVER run for more than 5 minutes in her entire life until she started the program - now she is comfortably running for 29mins non-stop.

(I have some catching up to do...)

I DID have a little background fitness - I haven't been a slob all my life - but I have been for a good few years now... but it is not killing me - and I can see I am making progress from week to week.

the way it works is that you download the podcasts - Laura - and load it onto a mobile audio-playing device of some description - and she tells you when to run and when to stop - a bit like having your own personal trainer... (occasionally she says you are doing "great" - though, how she knows that, I am not sure...)

anyway - as I said - your taxes have paid for it - it is free!!! (there is also a very active forum attached where people talk about cramp and what to wear and how to deal with common injuries and stuff!)

all of these running gods and goddesses had to start somewhere!

http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx

The greatest thing that can be said for it is it has got Charlie Brooker running!

Well done, the bish. You've finally outed yourself as one of us!

[Gooner Girl]

Just got an email through about entry to the national cross country championships at Parliament Hill. Sounds from their website that last years event was a complete nightmare...

How so?

http://www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk/in ... 2&Itemid=9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have you run Parliament Hill in the past GtE or am i getting confused with someone else?!

Aaaaah! That was the National x-country championship at Alton Towers, not the Masters or SEECC which is at Parliament Hill, Hampstead. PH is ALWAYS hellish.

I have run PH for the last 3 years and it it an unremitting, unforgiving 15k of the hilliest, boggiest, coldest terrain I have ever run. It's a three lap course with a field of national (and international) class athletes and I always find myself starting my 3rd lap when the winners are reciving their medals. I'm not alone either.

I hate it. I will, however, probably be doing it again this year.

Ah yes, forgot you would be a Veteran, and not a Senior man Martin...

Must have been the SEECC you have seen our athletes at, cos i know at least one of ours that comepetes in it is only 19/20 odd, cos i used to coach him. Sounds like the nationals are at PH this year, don't think many, if any of our athletes enter that one, despite the email appeal - though its a shorter distance then the others by the sounds of it! 15km? Harsh!

[Gooner Girl]

Jessica perfecting the hurdles position. Train 'em up early!

[Gary the Enfield]

Jessica perfecting the hurdles position. Train 'em up early!

She needs to lean forwards more. Otherwise fine.

[Gooner Girl]

Jessica perfecting the hurdles position. Train 'em up early!

She needs to lean forwards more. Otherwise fine.

You ever done any T & F yourself?!

[Gary the Enfield]

Jessica perfecting the hurdles position. Train 'em up early!

She needs to lean forwards more. Otherwise fine.

You ever done any T & F yourself?!

No. Running in small circles and hurling things/ yourself around don't appeal, strangely. I'll leave that to the youngsters.

[Gooner Girl]

That doesn't appeal but Parliament Hill does?!

Tis my new years resolution next year to learn how to pole vault properly (if i'm not having another baby...)

[Gary the Enfield]

That doesn't appeal but Parliament Hill does?!

Tis my new years resolution next year to learn how to pole vault properly (if i'm not having another baby...)

Other less gentlemanly types than myself may infer that pole vaulting and baby-making aren't diametrically opposed.

[Gooner Girl]

That doesn't appeal but Parliament Hill does?!

Tis my new years resolution next year to learn how to pole vault properly (if i'm not having another baby...)

Other less gentlemanly types than myself may infer that pole vaulting and baby-making aren't diametrically opposed.

Its a good job you're a gentleman then, isn't it.... Errrr....

[thebish]

Well done, the bish. You've finally outed yourself as one of us!

errr... I suspect I have a very long way to go before that company can be claimed!!

[Gary the Enfield]

Well done, the bish. You've finally outed yourself as one of us!

errr... I suspect I have a very long way to go before that company can be claimed!!

There's no snobbery in running. Not that I've found anyway.

[Gooner Girl]

Our club has been running this programme for beginners. Its supposed to be very good. Lots of clubs around the country are running it if you need the motivation of a group to get you going!

http://www.runengland.org/page.asp?sect ... un+England" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebish]

Our club has been running this programme for beginners. Its supposed to be very good. Lots of clubs around the country are running it if you need the motivation of a group to get you going!

http://www.runengland.org/page.asp?sect ... un+England" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bit far away fro me hun, else you could chase me round the track any day...

[Gooner Girl]

Our club has been running this programme for beginners. Its supposed to be very good. Lots of clubs around the country are running it if you need the motivation of a group to get you going!

http://www.runengland.org/page.asp?sect ... un+England" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bit far away fro me hun, else you could chase me round the track any day...

but what am i to do with you when i catch you? (within 25m of the start?!)

[Bruce Rioja]

Our club has been running this programme for beginners. Its supposed to be very good. Lots of clubs around the country are running it if you need the motivation of a group to get you going!

http://www.runengland.org/page.asp?sect ... un+England" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would, but I've got a bad knee.

[Bruce Rioja]

Jessica perfecting the hurdles position. Train 'em up early!

She'll never play for Arsenal tackling one-footed like that.

[thebish]

it's not hurdles - it's clearly early training for pole-dancing...

[Gooner Girl]

Jessica perfecting the hurdles position. Train 'em up early!

She'll never play for Arsenal tackling one-footed like that.

well she'll not be deigning to play for Bolton however much you beg her. She'll be wanting to play for the mighty Arsenal...

[Gooner Girl]

it's not hurdles - it's clearly early training for pole-dancing...

You visited many pole dancing places to note how they train, have you?!

[thebish]

it's not hurdles - it's clearly early training for pole-dancing...

You visited many pole dancing places to note how they train, have you?!

it's how I first met you, hun - remember?