The athletics/running thread

[Gooner Girl]

I think you probably have some kind of swimming coach already and yes it's tricky to help out without seeing your technique, but appreciate Sussex might be a bit far to come for a lesson. I meant more any queries about technique or training advice!

[LeverEnd]

I think you probably have some kind of swimming coach already and yes it's tricky to help out without seeing your technique, but appreciate Sussex might be a bit far to come for a lesson. I meant more any queries about technique or training advice!

I'm going to start the Swimfit classes at Horwich Leisure Centre. The instructor is a former pupil oddly enough. Maybe I should suggest she instructs me in German. Nice girl though, far too polite to laugh at me publically at least.

(And Pru? Ssshhh, before you start).

[Bijou Bob]

I though this was the running/athletics thread rather than the swimming thread? Can we get back on track to the stories of Harry's latest injury please?

[Gary the Enfield]

I though this was the running/athletics thread rather than the swimming thread? Can we get back on track to the stories of Harry's latest injury please?

Cross training is a useful tool (stop it Pru) to the athlete/ runner. No point in starting a separate swimming thread otherwise where does it end?

Triathlons, duathlons, aquathlons, Track and Field, Marathons, the list goes on.

[Harry Genshaw]

I though this was the running/athletics thread rather than the swimming thread? Can we get back on track to the stories of Harry's latest injury please?

Blimey! When I saw you had posted on this thread I thought for a minute you had done something athletic other than try & push start that Harley!

[Gooner Girl]

I though this was the running/athletics thread rather than the swimming thread? Can we get back on track to the stories of Harry's latest injury please?

Don't see you ever contributing much on this thread Bob so why are you reading it?! Shift your lardy arse and do some exercise Then you and Harry can compare injuries.

[thebish]

I though this was the running/athletics thread rather than the swimming thread? Can we get back on track to the stories of Harry's latest injury please?

Blimey! When I saw you had posted on this thread I thought for a minute you had done something athletic other than try & push start that Harley!

when you have a Harley - why would you ever need to run or swim??

[Prufrock]

When you'd tanked it into a lake?

[thebish]

When you'd tanked it into a lake?

good point! swim, Bob, swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim!!!

[Gary the Enfield]

Just got back from the Hadleigh Legacy 10k. It's a 3 lap race of the Olympic Mountain bike course.

Hilly, muddy, wet and windy.

54:30. Which when I talk you my normal 10k time is sub 45:00 should give you an idea of how tough this is. Just brutal. :0)

[Bruce Rioja]

Fortunately I appear to have picked one of the flattest courses in the Ironman calendar.

Are you sure about that, Gaz? The hill at the side of the Danube that leads up to the castle is that steep that it has its own funicular railway.

[thebish]

Fortunately I appear to have picked one of the flattest courses in the Ironman calendar.

Are you sure about that, Gaz? The hill at the side of the Danube that leads up to the castle is that steep that it has its own funicular railway.

and - it being an ironman competition - you have to pull the train up the tracks...

[Gary the Enfield]

Fortunately I appear to have picked one of the flattest courses in the Ironman calendar.

Are you sure about that, Gaz? The hill at the side of the Danube that leads up to the castle is that steep that it has its own funicular railway.

and - it being an ironman competition - you have to pull the train up the tracks...

The overall climb for the bike and run is 10m. About as flat as it's possible to get; which, given it'll be in the early 30's at that time of year, will do for me.

Also it's mainly on the Pest side I believe.

[Harry Genshaw]

Just back from another BOFRA fell race, this time at Whitestones near Staveley. Hammered it down on the drive all the way up and all the way back, but was surprisingly calm and rain free during the race. Unsurprisingly, the ground was absolutely sodden and after a long climb at the start, it was like running through ponds for a while where you just couldn't get any decent footing before a rapid descent. Fitness is still way off but I was pleased with my descent, despite slipping on wet rock half way down.

[Gary the Enfield]

Just back from another BOFRA fell race, this time at Whitestones near Staveley. Hammered it down on the drive all the way up and all the way back, but was surprisingly calm and rain free during the race. Unsurprisingly, the ground was absolutely sodden and after a long climb at the start, it was like running through ponds for a while where you just couldn't get any decent footing before a rapid descent. Fitness is still way off but I was pleased with my descent, despite slipping on wet rock half way down.

Well done mate. Racing out there today wasn't funny.

[Gooner Girl]

Well done Harry and Gary, it was grim out there today, impressive stuff.

Still feeling under the weather myself due to a large lack of sleep and the sniffles.

[Prufrock]

Not done anything for about a week. Been feeling really out of breath, quick heart, and dizziness. Got worried for a bit but a girl at work says she feels the same, and another says she had something similar last year which turned out to be a virus. Very disconcerting though. Always very wary of doing anything when ill, particularly if it's stressful on my heart, so sat about doing nothing after three really good weeks, v frustrating!

[Gary the Enfield]

Not done anything for about a week. Been feeling really out of breath, quick heart, and dizziness. Got worried for a bit but a girl at work says she feels the same, and another says she had something similar last year which turned out to be a virus. Very disconcerting though. Always very wary of doing anything when ill, particularly if it's stressful on my heart, so sat about doing nothing after three really good weeks, v frustrating!

It won't do you any harm Pru. Some athletes advocate a three weeks on one week off policy. Your body needs time to heal after exertion. Muscle has fantastic memory and you'll be back and raring soon.

If those symptoms persist though, I would speak to your GP.

[Armchair Wanderer]

On a similar note, running fairly long distances (marathons, but I'm sure it applies to anything more than a couple of miles) is good for your heart after you recover, but you need to recover.

I'm more into resistance than cardio but always tried jogging to the gym (around 600 yards). Over the summer it was hard work, but I've noticed recently I can to the whole distance without stopping and feeling pretty good about myself. I make sure I run to the gym on "leg day" so if I run back it tends to be gingerly with no acceleration and I stop when I get to the steep bit.

I can do a lot further on treadmills but running in the real world seems a lot harder, even when it's flat. Something to do with the bouncy surface of the treadmill and because you're not propelling yourself forwards, maybe.

[Gary the Enfield]

On a similar note, running fairly long distances (marathons, but I'm sure it applies to anything more than a couple of miles) is good for your heart after you recover, but you need to recover.

I'm more into resistance than cardio but always tried jogging to the gym (around 600 yards). Over the summer it was hard work, but I've noticed recently I can to the whole distance without stopping and feeling pretty good about myself. I make sure I run to the gym on "leg day" so if I run back it tends to be gingerly with no acceleration and I stop when I get to the steep bit.

I can do a lot further on treadmills but running in the real world seems a lot harder, even when it's flat. Something to do with the bouncy surface of the treadmill and because you're not propelling yourself forwards, maybe.

Running on a treadmill is fine but I would never do it for more than 1K. It really doesn't replicate running outside. It is too yielding a surface and no-one EVER runs in a completely straight line so it makes you plant your feet wrongly.

Plus, it's not outside. I know it sounds a bit obvious but there are factors like wind, rain, sun, people, traffic, dogs, trees etc. which all have an impact on your pace. In the gym, there's a button.