The Fretboard Running Thread 2024

djspecialist

We're a bit slow out of the blocks this year ...

Still, better late than never!  Following on from the 2023 thread - how's your running going in 2024?  Are you preparing for an event?  Do you have any recent achievements to share?  Or perhaps you're facing some running challenges and would like to ask the tFB hive mind for tips.

Whatever the topic, please join the running conversation in this thread!

djspecialist

I was delighted to post a new PB (1:36:04) at the Cambridge Half Marathon last weekend.  And as of today, I'm just about able to descend a set of stairs without wincing.

Before that, January was a pretty solid month (131km / 14 runs.)  February a bit less so (98km / 11 runs), mainly due to a week spent beating up my legs on ski slopes instead of on running trails.

 Now looking forward to longer days and warmer weather - feels like spring is just around the corner!  (Famous last words?)

Iamnobody

Congrats on the PB.

I’m ticking over - usually 3 runs per week. 50 miles in Jan and 64 in Feb.

Currently injury free - touch wood and Garmin reckons that I’m maintain my highest ever Vo2 max at 52. I know that’s not an exact science on a watch. 

Not training for an event yet - but hoping to throw myself into trail running this year starting with a couple of HMs with a bit of elevation and then building from there to a winter ultra. That’s the plan anyway! 

26.2

Great PB @djspecialist! That’s great work!

I’m ramping up for Brighton marathon again in 5 weeks. Did 200K in February, longest run 30K.

I’ve got a 30K and a 32K this week (first one done), then a 34ish next week and tapering from there. 

Hope everyone is still running - let us know how you’re doing. 

TeleKinesis

djspecialist said:

I was delighted to post a new PB (1:36:04) at the Cambridge Half Marathon last weekend.  And as of today, I'm just about able to descend a set of stairs without wincing.

That's a great time! Well done.

Slow start for me this year, but got out for 40 minutes this evening. Nagging pain on knee means a bit of caution.

Been running on and off for about 10 years, mostly ~5k distances. Ran first half marathon last year, and on for third in April (knee permitting). I'm slow, but stamina is usually good.

I'd really like to attempt a full marathon in the next couple of years. Having never considered myself a 'proper' runner I think that would be a real achievement.

Definitely looking forward to warmer weather, and light in the mornings. Just makes things a lot nicer for long runs.

roundthebend

I've done a bit more running than usual, because I signed up for Burghley 7 (miles) - a closed road event around there beautiful town of Stamford and the stunning ground of Burghley House. That's this Sunday.

I got my 5k time down from 27:30 to 25:00 which is good but I was at 23:00 in the past without much training. The last couple of weeks I've let work get in the way so haven't been running. The event is on Sunday so I'll just see how it goes. I'm hoping for 1:00:00.

I'd love to get a 20:00 5k and 45:00 10k. That's my target this year.

Bidley

Great work on the PB @djspecialist !

I posted my annual PB at Cambridge Half too, 01:35:50. Didn't think it was possible to knock 6 mins off last year but there we go!

I'm training for Brighton Marathon again, it's nicer the second time around as I know I can do the full marathon distance, and I can miss a session here and there if life gets in the way. I've managed to stay injury/illness free thus far as well. Also I'm not pressuring myself for a time, just want to better last year (03:58:29).

Last long run next weekend, probably similar to @26.2 about 34km, then the lovely taper

26.2

Good to know you’re doing Brighton again @Bidley ;

djspecialist

Congratulations on your PB @Bidley - that's a huge improvement on an already very good time!  I was aiming for 1:35 this year but didn't quite have it in me on the day - maybe next year ...

Good luck @26.2 @roundthebend @Bidley for your upcoming events.

I need to get something in the calendar, but not sure what just yet. I'd like to do another marathon (first and only so far was Manchester in 2022) - but haven't committed to anything yet.  An alternative might be a trail run.  There's a dearth of interesting terrain around Cambridge, but I might tack something on to a visit back home to see my folks in North Yorkshire.

Bidley

Yes indeed @26.2 really enjoyed it last year, it'll be good to see how LME get on with a full year of planning etc behind them! I thought I'd book my accommodation early as I got shafted last year... nope, still shafted

Agreed Cambs isn't the best for trail running eh @djspecialist . I always need something in the calendar to give my runs a bit of meaning though. I fancy an Autumn marathon this year too, perhaps Loch Ness or Amsterdam. Might be tough fitting two training blocks in a year for a casual like me!

djspecialist

@bidley one of my standard long runs (~20km) is a mostly off-road loop which starts / end in Cambridge:

Head east out of the city through Fen Ditton, along High Ditch Road until the A1303 then over fields to Lode. Come back (still over fields) via Horningsea, join the towpath at Bait's Bite Lock and follow the river back into town.

The terrain isn't exactly exciting though.

26.2

Bidley said:

Yes indeed @26.2 really enjoyed it last year, it'll be good to see how LME get on with a full year of planning etc behind them! I thought I'd book my accommodation early as I got shafted last year... nope, still shafted

Agreed Cambs isn't the best for trail running eh @djspecialist . I always need something in the calendar to give my runs a bit of meaning though. I fancy an Autumn marathon this year too, perhaps Loch Ness or Amsterdam. Might be tough fitting two training blocks in a year for a casual like me!

Yes accommodation prices go up about a year ahead. 

A friend did Loch Ness last year and said it was a good course with a fair bit of downhill. 

BigMonka

I've been pretty consistent with doing a few runs each week until mid Feb when we went away on holiday for a few days and started each morning with a 5k run - since then I've been a little bit obsessed with maintaining my running streak! I've now done 25days in a row of at least 5km (regular 8mile runs on a Thursday evening too). 

Benm39

Can highly recommend the Serpent Trail if anyone fancies a really scenic selection of distances,  they do either 20k, 50k or 100k. Wife and I ran the 50k last year and it's a beautiful route and lots of very runnable sections along the trail. 

Hampshire Hoppit and Clarendon marathons ate both on the list again for this year and again are lovely routes across the downs. 

Will look up and post stats for year so far but Hoppit is first event on June 16th, then Serpent 50k about 3wks later.  Once you've done the training block for marathon distance you can essentially just maintain it with some occasional long runs and slow steady stuff then usual taper 2-3wks out. A marathon like the Hoppit then becomes the perfect long run pre the 50k then back into taper etc.... much more sustainable than trying to fit in multiple whole training blocks...

roundthebend

Burghley 7 this morning in pretty grim weather. Target was to beat 1 hour. Result 57:40. Pleased with how it went. 

Benm39

Dug out stats for year so far. 

January 11 runs,  101km, longest run 12.9km

February 15 runs,  137km, longest 16.4km

Have been doing hybrid strength and endurance programme from Tactical Barbell: Green Protocol which mixes in some weight training alongside a roughly 80:20 low/high aerobic intensity running programme.  Currently in a phase where I'm lifting twice a week and running on 4 days. 

humps.b

I'm struggling to find time to run at the moment, so just managed 3x runs in a week for the first time in a year or two! Just 5k each, but hoping to build up again from there.

What I really came to say was that I just got some Saucony Triumph 21s and they are absolutely amazing for slow runs! I usually feel a bit heavy and flat running slow (I'm less than 11 stone so I'm referring more to heavy slow landings), which makes it hard to keep the pace down as I just want it over. However, the new Triumphs are an absolute joy at any speed! (maybe not intervals, but I'm not there at the moment)

Iamnobody

roundthebend said:

Burghley 7 this morning in pretty grim weather. Target was to beat 1 hour. Result 57:40. Pleased with how it went. 

Nice work. Congrats. I’ve looked out the window several times today and thought. Nah, it’s too grim to go running. I’m not training for anything - I’ll wait until it dries up.

Benm39 said:

Have been doing hybrid strength and endurance programme from Tactical Barbell: Green Protocol which mixes in some weight training alongside a roughly 80:20 low/high aerobic intensity running programme.  Currently in a phase where I'm lifting twice a week and running on 4 days. 

I’m doing similar, not to any sort of programme though. I’ve seen tactical barbell what do you think of it? I do find it really hard to fit everything in and find rest days. As well as running and gym I do at least one boxing class a week and a more cardio based gym session that’s circuits based on a hyrox type mix of functional stations with running in between. 

My current approach is trying to make the hard days really hard and the easy days easy - a phrase that seems to be thrown around a lot. That does mean doubling up some days which is common with the hybrid approach. 

The problem (which is a nice problem to have) is 2 of my lifting sessions are small group with a trainer. It’s great that I turn up, get told what to do with form corrected etc. Have learnt Olympic lifts and sight variations to standard movements alongside doing the usual stuff. I like the element of surprise for each session it doesn’t get boring. 

So there’s loads of variety to keep it interesting. But sometimes it doesn’t give much balance. As an example Thurs was an hour of lower body. With some really fucked up variations recruiting muscles that don’t get a lot of activity, I managed a run over 12 hours later on Thurs but my legs are still feeling that weight session now. 

My third session is just me at the gym keeping it simple and filling gaps usually 5 x 5 on deadlift, bench, bent over rows, pull ups, shoulder press and bicep curls. I’ll usually throw in something to work the triceps and traps like dips, shrugs or farmer carries. Which is probably more in line with what you’re getting from the tactical barbell course I’d imagine? 

Benm39

I'm really enjoying the tactical barbell so far. Once you overlook that it's typically aimed at those in operational roles such as law enforcement,  armed services or fire etc,  it's a really simple philosophy that works on the premise of 'minimal effective dose' so it strips out all the additional accessory lifts etc in favour of 3-4 compound lists,  bench/OHP squat,  pullups and deadlifts.  I'm a very light lifter and am interested solely in functional strength and fitness rather than hypertrophy but you can tailor the various templates to suit your needs and ability level.  The endurance focus of Green Protocol fits really well with my long distance running training I find. 

Heartfeltdawn

humps.b said:

I'm struggling to find time to run at the moment, so just managed 3x runs in a week for the first time in a year or two! Just 5k each, but hoping to build up again from there.

What I really came to say was that I just got some Saucony Triumph 21s and they are absolutely amazing for slow runs! I usually feel a bit heavy and flat running slow (I'm less than 11 stone so I'm referring more to heavy slow landings), which makes it hard to keep the pace down as I just want it over. However, the new Triumphs are an absolute joy at any speed! (maybe not intervals, but I'm not there at the moment)

I got into the Saucony Triumph 20s last year and ended up buying six pairs. I absolutely adore them. 

So let's join this thread properly. 

Going 80:20 all the way. Running a minimum of 8km a day now. Am so reversed from how things were that I hate running on treadmills. Doing a 10km this morning at a nice aerobic pace was so bloody enjoyable and makes me feel good that I can do it despite being over three years the shelf life of a TTT and osteotomy on the left knee. Technically I should be in for the artifical knee now at the mere age of 46 but sod that. 

Times don't matter right now. It's all about distance and building up that aerobic base. 

Iamnobody

Benm39 said:

I'm really enjoying the tactical barbell so far. Once you overlook that it's typically aimed at those in operational roles such as law enforcement,  armed services or fire etc,  it's a really simple philosophy that works on the premise of 'minimal effective dose' so it strips out all the additional accessory lifts etc in favour of 3-4 compound lists,  bench/OHP squat,  pullups and deadlifts.  I'm a very light lifter and am interested solely in functional strength and fitness rather than hypertrophy but you can tailor the various templates to suit your needs and ability level.  The endurance focus of Green Protocol fits really well with my long distance running training I find. 

Sorry - forgot to reply to this. Thanks for the info. It sounds like a good plan - I thought it’d concentrate on the compound stuff. I’m a big fan of deadlifts these days, having not really bothered much if at all in the past.