The athletics/running thread

[boltonboris]

Did a 4 mile route near mine on Monday. Then last night was football training. First one I've been at since a niggly injury and too much Christmas cheer. Did doggies for 20 mins followed by 40 mins of high intensity 2 touch. I 'walked' downstairs this morning to let the cat out and almost flew down as my calves seized up on the second step down.

Spent the last 20mins gulping water and stretching them out...

What did you do for a warm down? Dynamic stretching is best after a high intensity workout like that.

Had a little jog, but it did nowt.. Wish I'd have stayed behind and done a bit of stretching.

[Gary the Enfield]

Did a 4 mile route near mine on Monday. Then last night was football training. First one I've been at since a niggly injury and too much Christmas cheer. Did doggies for 20 mins followed by 40 mins of high intensity 2 touch. I 'walked' downstairs this morning to let the cat out and almost flew down as my calves seized up on the second step down.

Spent the last 20mins gulping water and stretching them out...

What did you do for a warm down? Dynamic stretching is best after a high intensity workout like that.

Had a little jog, but it did nowt.. Wish I'd have stayed behind and done a bit of stretching.

you could try a gentle two mile jog just to ease out the lactic.

[boltonboris]

Gentle?! 2 mile?!

Went on the exercise bike at home when I got in from work. Feel good as new now. Set my alarm for shit o'clock tomorrow in the aim of a few sprints and drills on the pitch near me. Can't see it happening.

[Winter Hill White]

Running my first marathon in about ten days time on Sunday 20th January. I've been reasonably good at keeping to my training schedule. Starting to get a bit trepidatious now, though. Any tips from those who have done one?

Are you going for a time or just to finish?

Just to finish really.
Although I suppose the unspoken target in my mind is less than 5 hours.
I've done two HMs. One at 1hr 67m and one at 1hr 57m.

A lot may depend on the weather - Mumbai, where I'm doing the marathon, can get in the high 20s and 30s, even in January. Here in Delhi, it's apparently the coldest cold snap for 44 years; over the last week, I have even been wearing gloves when I run in the morning. Not sure it's affected Mumbai though. Just checked the current weather, and the 0530 temp was 19 degrees with 83% humidity. Forecast to reach 30 degrees by 1130.
The race in Mumbai starts at 0540 in an attempt to escape the worst of the heat.

[Gary the Enfield]

Running my first marathon in about ten days time on Sunday 20th January. I've been reasonably good at keeping to my training schedule. Starting to get a bit trepidatious now, though. Any tips from those who have done one?

Are you going for a time or just to finish?

Just to finish really.
Although I suppose the unspoken target in my mind is less than 5 hours.
I've done two HMs. One at 1hr 67m and one at 1hr 57m.

A lot may depend on the weather - Mumbai, where I'm doing the marathon, can get in the high 20s and 30s, even in January. Here in Delhi, it's apparently the coldest cold snap for 44 years; over the last week, I have even been wearing gloves when I run in the morning. Not sure it's affected Mumbai though. Just checked the current weather, and the 0530 temp was 19 degrees with 83% humidity. Forecast to reach 30 degrees by 1130.
The race in Mumbai starts at 0540 in an attempt to escape the worst of the heat.

I've no experience in running in that kind of heat for so long. I've done London twice, though and what I would say is take every opportunity to catch a drink station. Sip regularly and don't gulp. Don't worry about your first 2 miles being slow. You will catch up as it's a marathon not a sprint.

Make sure you taper properly and rest up as much as you can. Don't run in the last week apart from two slow 2-3 mile jogs. Carb load (potatoes, pasta, rice) for the last few days.

Other than that, enjoy yourself.

[Gary the Enfield]

Gentle?! 2 mile?!

Went on the exercise bike at home when I got in from work. Feel good as new now. Set my alarm for shit o'clock tomorrow in the aim of a few sprints and drills on the pitch near me. Can't see it happening.

That'll do it. Swimming will help too. Anything low impact.

[Winter Hill White]

Running my first marathon in about ten days time on Sunday 20th January. I've been reasonably good at keeping to my training schedule. Starting to get a bit trepidatious now, though. Any tips from those who have done one?

Are you going for a time or just to finish?

Just to finish really.
Although I suppose the unspoken target in my mind is less than 5 hours.
I've done two HMs. One at 1hr 67m and one at 1hr 57m.

A lot may depend on the weather - Mumbai, where I'm doing the marathon, can get in the high 20s and 30s, even in January. Here in Delhi, it's apparently the coldest cold snap for 44 years; over the last week, I have even been wearing gloves when I run in the morning. Not sure it's affected Mumbai though. Just checked the current weather, and the 0530 temp was 19 degrees with 83% humidity. Forecast to reach 30 degrees by 1130.
The race in Mumbai starts at 0540 in an attempt to escape the worst of the heat.

I've no experience in running in that kind of heat for so long. I've done London twice, though and what I would say is take every opportunity to catch a drink station. Sip regularly and don't gulp. Don't worry about your first 2 miles being slow. You will catch up as it's a marathon not a sprint.

Make sure you taper properly and rest up as much as you can. Don't run in the last week apart from two slow 2-3 mile jogs. Carb load (potatoes, pasta, rice) for the last few days.

Other than that, enjoy yourself.

Thanks for that. all useful stuff.
The course is by the sea for a lot of the way; indeed, three-and-a-half miles of the course is over a bridge linking one peninsular to another over the sea. I'm hoping the sea will produce a bit of a cooling breeze.
Anyhow, thanks again for the wise words, and I'll let you know how I fare.

[Gary the Enfield]

Running my first marathon in about ten days time on Sunday 20th January. I've been reasonably good at keeping to my training schedule. Starting to get a bit trepidatious now, though. Any tips from those who have done one?

Are you going for a time or just to finish?

Just to finish really.
Although I suppose the unspoken target in my mind is less than 5 hours.
I've done two HMs. One at 1hr 67m and one at 1hr 57m.

A lot may depend on the weather - Mumbai, where I'm doing the marathon, can get in the high 20s and 30s, even in January. Here in Delhi, it's apparently the coldest cold snap for 44 years; over the last week, I have even been wearing gloves when I run in the morning. Not sure it's affected Mumbai though. Just checked the current weather, and the 0530 temp was 19 degrees with 83% humidity. Forecast to reach 30 degrees by 1130.
The race in Mumbai starts at 0540 in an attempt to escape the worst of the heat.

I've no experience in running in that kind of heat for so long. I've done London twice, though and what I would say is take every opportunity to catch a drink station. Sip regularly and don't gulp. Don't worry about your first 2 miles being slow. You will catch up as it's a marathon not a sprint.

Make sure you taper properly and rest up as much as you can. Don't run in the last week apart from two slow 2-3 mile jogs. Carb load (potatoes, pasta, rice) for the last few days.

Other than that, enjoy yourself.

Thanks for that. all useful stuff.
The course is by the sea for a lot of the way; indeed, three-and-a-half miles of the course is over a bridge linking one peninsular to another over the sea. I'm hoping the sea will produce a bit of a cooling breeze.
Anyhow, thanks again for the wise words, and I'll let you know how I fare.

De Nada. Hope you get your time.

[Gary the Enfield]

Did a new session tonight.

Took a group out with the intention of doing 8 miles at a steady 7:30 minutes per mile.

I got back and we averaged 7:20 mpm. Everyone kept up and all were happy. Might just do it again next week.

[Gary the Enfield]

On another note I've been thinking of doing longer triathlons (part of my plan to do an Ironman before I'm 50) Anyway this means open-water swimming which in turn means I have to buy a wetsuit.

So I've just paid £162.00 for this (athlete not included):




It's gonna be snug!

[thebish]

i have to buy a wetsuit (for a kayaking course) - how do you measure yourself for one??

[Bruce Rioja]

i have to buy a wetsuit (for a kayaking course) - how do you measure yourself for one??

Ask this bloke

[Gary the Enfield]

i have to buy a wetsuit (for a kayaking course) - how do you measure yourself for one??

If you go on Blue Seventy's website bish they have a chart for your height range and weight range. I've yet to try one on but they accept returns without quibble.

You may be better off going to a wetsuit hire shop and trying a couple on. Your area must be swamped with swim shops, no?

[Gary the Enfield]

i have to buy a wetsuit (for a kayaking course) - how do you measure yourself for one??

Ask this bloke

Sorts out the buoyancy issue!

[thebish]

i have to buy a wetsuit (for a kayaking course) - how do you measure yourself for one??

Ask this bloke

[thebish]

i have to buy a wetsuit (for a kayaking course) - how do you measure yourself for one??

If you go on Blue Seventy's website bish they have a chart for your height range and weight range. I've yet to try one on but they accept returns without quibble.

You may be better off going to a wetsuit hire shop and trying a couple on. Your area must be swamped with swim shops, no?

I guess it's a bit liike buying all-in-one leathers - which I have never done because I think you'd have to try them on (and i just can't be arsed!) - cos surely it also depends on leg and torso length as well as weight and height...

[Gary the Enfield]

i have to buy a wetsuit (for a kayaking course) - how do you measure yourself for one??

If you go on Blue Seventy's website bish they have a chart for your height range and weight range. I've yet to try one on but they accept returns without quibble.

You may be better off going to a wetsuit hire shop and trying a couple on. Your area must be swamped with swim shops, no?

I guess it's a bit liike buying all-in-one leathers - which I have never done because I think you'd have to try them on (and i just can't be arsed!) - cos surely it also depends on leg and torso length as well as weight and height...

It does indeed. I'm worried my calfs will be too wide. Most triathletes are skinny buggers.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Do my calfs look big in this? Classic.

[Gary the Enfield]

Cross country race in Royston yesterday.

5.5 miles in icy, exposed and very hilly conditions but I got back in 44 minutes and 20 seconds.

Second toughest short race I've done.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I'm getting back into running again.

Mainly four mile routes around Crystal Palace Park and the relatively undulating surrounds.

One problem though - it's giving me some lower back pain, especially when I go uphill.

Any suggestions? Am I wrong to be landing heel-toe? Should I be making more of a conscious effort to be perfectly upright and not stooping (which I think I tend to do leaning into the hill).