The Fretboard Running Thread 2023

Iamnobody

axisus said:

axisus said:

Parkrun today my best 5k in years - 22.53. Not bad seeing as I am 60 in the next week. 

So .... I turned 60 and this week got another big improvement - Today's 5K Parkrun - 22.19! 

Technically that is my best ever Parkrun in terms of age grading - 71.84%

Great stuff - age is just a number! Congrats - on the PB & the BD.

I didn’t start running until I was over 40 - hoping to be doing what you’re doing in 15 years.

djspecialist

May summary: 101km / 11 runs / longest 20km
Highlights: a couple of lovely sunny runs, plantar fasciitis has stayed away, my first hash

Iamnobody

Steady May for me - 51.6 miles over 10 runs. 

I’m not training for anything so just fitting in 2-3 runs a week around other workouts. Hitting the posterior chain hard in the gym with various lifting and functional classes and it’s increasing difficult to rest and fit running in. 

Benm39

May has been quite intensive,  125.2 miles,  15 runs,  longest distance 20miles.

Got the Hampshire Hoppit trail marathon on 18th June (starting tapering now) then first attempt at Serpent Trail 50km on 1st July... then hopefully some downtime before building back up for Clarendon Marathon in early October. 

Bidley

201km in May, my most ever. Still recovering from illness directly after Brighton Marathon, and trying to get that fitness back. It's been a bit of a slog.

Also trying to shift a few kg I gained in that time. Trying to lose weight while doing 5 hours of cardio a week is no joke!

chrisj1602

I’ve not had any consistency for a long time, I’ve been lazy and I’ve put weight on. Probably the beer more than anything.

I’ve just started a 14 week half marathon plan, beer is being cut back and I’ll be eating better… see how this goes…

axisus

I improved on my Parkrun times with a 22.15 followed by a 22.11 the next week. This week I blew out a bit, but I'm determined to get sub 22 despite my failing joints.

djspecialist

I ran the "Flaming June Half" on Sunday. Perhaps not surprisingly given the name, it was ridiculously warm: my PB was the only thing not sweating.

djspecialist

I ramped things up a bit in June: 131km total / 12 runs / longest 22km

Bidley

208km for me in June, longest run of 23km. The heat isn't doing much for my speed, but the last few cooler days I've felt better about my fitness. I've also got down to my best weight since the end of 2022!

I need to get a race or two in the calendar.

26.2

170K - 3 half marathons, 2 of which had brutal hills. I missed a week through work travel, which wasn’t ideal. Overall, not feeling all that good on the longer runs - my speed is down (even allowing for the heat) and I feel pretty clapped out. July is a big month, with a few long ones in the programme and that’ll tell me whether I’m going to be ready for my next marathon in early Sept. 

Bidley

Solid month @26.2

Which marathon are you doing in Sept?

26.2

Bidley said:

Solid month @26.2

Which marathon are you doing in Sept?

Richmond. Sept 9 I think. Done it 4 times before - nice flat course, but it can be hot. 

Iamnobody

Good work everyone another steady month for me 8 runs totalling 47.3 miles.

Nothing specific to train for and plenty of gym work means means running is taking a slight back seat. 

Benm39

75 miles in June as was mostly tapering for Hampshire Hoppit on 18th, which was a brutally hot and humid day to be doing a hilly trail marathon.  Since have remained tapering and tomorrow it's first time doing Serpent Trail 50k...

Bidley

Best of luck for today @Benm39 let us know how you get on!

Benm39

Wife and I decided we'd run together (she's normally a good bit slower) and we took our time enjoying the beautiful trail but still finished in just under 7hrs. Funny looking at some of the mile times which coincided with aid station check point stops being at or around the 20min mark. A very different experience to marathons where you are typically pushing to be running as much as possible.  A very enjoyable day out and I'll fancy another got next year but without spending 10min waits for Mrs M. Could certainly have knocked at least 30 mins and probably 45 off yesterday so will aim for around 6hrs to cover the 32ish miles next time.  Course is absolutely beautiful and would certainly recommend to anyone contemplating a 50k ultra.

axisus

Yay! Blitzed my 5k Parkrun PB today, did 21.42. I'm insanely happy about that!

2k in and I was up with two people who are usually a fair way ahead of me. I felt I wanted to go a bit faster, like my natural pace today should have been a tad faster. I held back at first thinking I would blow out later, but then I thought sod it, just go for it. So what If I blow up. So glad I did!

Benm39

Sweet,  nice one, that's a super impressive time

Bidley

July is shaping up to be my biggest month yet, 202km so far with a long run on Saturday to look forward to.

Yesterday I was feeling decent, and the weather was nice so I thought I'd tackle a speedy 5km. Not something I really ever do, I much prefer longer distance. My previous PB was 23:07 and I managed 21:36, with a 1km warmup/cooldown either side. Very pleased with that!

The 5km distance is a funny one. I know how to manage a 10km or a half, but 5km is difficult for me because I find the first 4-5km of any run the hardest. It takes me a while to get into a swing.

Which makes me think a bit more philosophically about running. Like @axisus says, often the thing at the forefront of your mind when tackling these speedy runs is "don't go too fast or you'll blow up". It's counterproductive because how many times does this actually happen? I think it's happened to me twice or three times ever, and that was at the very start of my running journey. Versus the countless times I've finished a run and thought " I could've gone a bit harder".

It's true what they say, 90% of running is mental.