Any Runners On Here??

[User169]

Re shin splints: try increasing your cadence and taking shorter strides. It may help...

...A lot of it is about improving your posture to use your whole body more and reduce the impact on your legs. [/quote]

Sensible stuff Smutch. There's a lot of running nonsense these days, but the two points you' make here seem to me the key to good running.

As you say, don't over stride - that way you'll get your body weight over your strike (more important than the heel/mid/front foot debate).

Key too, as ever, is a strong core. Once that's sorted out, you'll be in a position to drive your legs more efficiently.

 

[User169]

Still, 15k in 1:25:18 ... I know it's not fast for some of you, but it's fast for me!

Very respectable. Bet you knock off 5-10 minutes the next time.

 

[Ghost Donkey]

First running race of the year for me tomorrow, in fancy dress. That's not the way I intended the year to go race wise and I'm a bit surprised by that but training's had to take a back seat to family and house commitments. Missed a planned XC race a few weeks ago due to ill children. Never mind, I'm doing the county XC championships next Saturday. It's a short bike ride from where I live but I'm expecting a low placing! I've also signed up for a hilly half marathon in Yorkshire for April next year. Ironman training and general training I suppose about to kick off big time so I'll hopefully have some legs for that one .

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Very respectable. Bet you knock off 5-10 minutes the next time.

Not sure it'll be quite as much as that, but with any luck I'll be a bit quicker at least. Next goal is the Forest of Dean Spring half marathon, so I'll have to crack on and get some more distance work in.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Went out today for a four mile wind down in my old shoes, just to see whether my shinsplints were any better. They weren't, although I think that's got more to do with yesterday's 15k ... I've got a few days now where I won't be going running, so with any luck I'll be nicely rested by the time I get back on the road.

 

[smutchin]

I'm planning a New Year's Day duathlon.

My local parkrun, Whitstable, is on at the usual time of 9am, but there will also be a Margate parkrun at 10.30am. The idea is to run Whitstable then hop on the bike and cycle over to Margate. It's 29km between the respective parkrun start points, so if I run Whitstable in a comfortable sub-25 and don't hang about at the finish, I should be able to get to Margate in time. Just.

Plans may change according to the weather, but so far the forecast is for it to be dry with a south-southwesterly wind, which would be favourable conditions. It's going to be a challenge, though.

Won't be staying up late on New Year's Eve, mind.

 

[User169]

I went crossing yesterday (for the first time in 30 years) with my daughter.

A very stodgy course - the organizers didn't feel it was muddy enough so had given it a good watering.

My daughter was totally in her element and easily won her race over 2,3 km. I was just happy to stagger round 9km and not end up on my arse or face.

Edit:she's holding her prize - a manky old trainer sprayed silver - her favourite trophy yet!

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

1. There's a race this coming Sunday that I've run a couple of times, but sadly this year I might not get there
Unless, I can get a shift-swap, from my 6-2, to an afternoon

It's organised by Denby Dale Travellers
http://www.denbydaletravellers.org.uk/club_news.html (map/details linked on left of page


2. It's the 'Auld Lang Syne' fell-race on New Years Eve
(6mile/900feet of ascent)
http://www.woodentops.org.uk/index.php?topic=als&subtopic=home

Didn't go to 'Man v Bike' as I wanted to keep the legs okay for this morning, as there's some steep (tarmac) descents on 'M v B' - in 2011, the Garmin logged a 'best Pace' of 4:07min/mile on one of them!

'ALS' was a bit wet this AM, thankfully the worst rain was about 25 minutes before the start, it probably reduced visibility down to 50 yards, it was that hard!

One person from work had entered (251), Patrick O'Connor, a Consultant Anaesthetist, plus his son
Paddy's a reasonable Triathlete too! (Wakefield Triathlon Club)

Got to beat him though..........
I did

He was quicker than me, off the mark, & was about 30 places ahead coming out of the stream, but I must have caught/passed him on the gravel track climb afterwards, but didn't notice him
Think I got about 10 places (& 2 minutes??) on him
I stopped my watch at 1.01:39 (last year = 1.04:35)

I really suffered in the return leg, & lost a lot of time (or so it felt!!), the last mile was a real struggle - despite being overtaken by, & following, CatWoman in a (tight) cat-suit.......................


Alistair Brownlee flagged the race off, set off at the back, & passed me before the halfway mark (still in tracksuit!!)

Mick & Angela both did okay, I bet Angela by about 4 minutes??. & Mick was another 2 in arrears, but he did say it was going to be a (very) steady run for him today

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

He was quicker than me, off the mark, & was about 30 places ahead coming out of the stream, but I must have caught/passed him on the gravel track climb afterwards, but didn't notice him
Think I got about 10 places (& 2 minutes??) on him
I stopped my watch at 1.01:39 (last year = 1.04:35)
Mick & Angela both did okay, I bet Angela by about 4 minutes??. & Mick was another 2 in arrears, but he did say it was going to be a (very) steady run for him today

The preliminary results are out

425 finishers

1st = Tom Addison @ 42:09

16th = Matthew O'Connor @ 47:05 (Paddys son)
200th = me @ 1.01:37
209th = Paddy O'Connor @ 1.02:49
258th = Angela @ 1.05:59
294th = Mick @ 1.08:42


Last place = 1.47:26

 

[smutchin]

Done it! That was fun. Bloomin' tough going in places - mainly thanks to the evil crosswind which almost blew me into the sea several times along the Reculver-Minnis Bay coastal path (which runs across very flat, very exposed marshland). Took it easy on the Whitstable parkrun and came round in 23.21. Annoyingly, I was held up by the queue for scanning at the end - some pillock ahead of me had a badly printed barcode - which meant I was slow to get going ont the bike leg. That and the wind meant I was slightly late getting to Margate - having taken 1:02:17 to cover the 29km, I arrived just as everyone was setting off, so after changing my shoes, I started about two minutes behind the field, but was soon making my way through the back markers. The Margate course is along the clifftops and pretty exposed, so that involved plenty more being buffeted about by the wind, but I got round in a shade over 25mins, which I was pleased with. And indeed was very pleased overall with my performance. Could be quicker but I'm not in peak fitness and conditions weren't favourable, so not bad, considering. And a great way to start 2014!

Here are the strava logs for anyone who's into that kind of thing...

New Year's Day duathlon pt1 - Whitstable parkrun:
http://app.strava.com/activities/103184491

New Year's Day duathlon pt2 - Whitstable to Margate:
http://app.strava.com/activities/103184488

New Year's Day duathlon pt3 - Margate parkrun:
http://app.strava.com/activities/103184476

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Done it! That was fun. Bloomin' tough going in places - mainly thanks to the evil crosswind which almost blew me into the sea several times along the Reculver-Minnis Bay coastal path (which runs across very flat, very exposed marshland). Took it easy on the Whitstable parkrun and came round in 23.21. Annoyingly, I was held up by the queue for scanning at the end - some pillock ahead of me had a badly printed barcode - which meant I was slow to get going ont the bike leg. That and the wind meant I was slightly late getting to Margate - having taken 1:02:17 to cover the 29km, I arrived just as everyone was setting off, so after changing my shoes, I started about two minutes behind the field, but was soon making my way through the back markers. The Margate course is along the clifftops and pretty exposed, so that involved plenty more being buffeted about by the wind, but I got round in a shade over 25mins, which I was pleased with. And indeed was very pleased overall with my performance. Could be quicker but I'm not in peak fitness and conditions weren't favourable, so not bad, considering. And a great way to start 2014!

Here are the strava logs for anyone who's into that kind of thing...

New Year's Day duathlon pt1 - Whitstable parkrun:
http://app.strava.com/activities/103184491

New Year's Day duathlon pt2 - Whitstable to Margate:
http://app.strava.com/activities/103184488

New Year's Day duathlon pt3 - Margate parkrun:
http://app.strava.com/activities/103184476

Fair play to that...am looking to do a few duathlon's this year myself. I've never done one and been into running for the last four months or so. I thought I might have to stop after some early aggravations with my knee but a trip to the physio, and patience in gradually building up time and distance seems to be working out well.

I rather like the look of the London Duathlon...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...ucaLGLTZPfvximDXApLgFbg&bvm=bv.58187178,d.ZG4

So...I may have to ask for some info. on some of your experience if that's alright. Your running times are similar to mine...but slightly better.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

'Auld Lang Syne' photos
Seeing as 'Ghost Donkey' missed it

Glad to say, I barely feature.. an arm, or head, at the most

https://picasaweb.google.com/110439573756197443848/AuldLangSyne2013 (Daves own images)

http://www.photos-dsb.co.uk/ALS 3013/index.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42619358@N06/sets/72157639237782594/

And, this guy was last away, but before Alistair Brownlee, & passed me at the 4 & 1/2 mile mark!!!

CatWoman (in PVC catsuit........ seen near top of Daves pics) overtook me, with roughly 1/2 mile to go, so I followed her for a while....

 

[smutchin]

So...I may have to ask for some info. on some of your experience if that's alright. Your running times are similar to mine...but slightly better.

Sure, fire away - though I'm no expert... My approach to doing this was very unscientific, I just turned up and did it.

The hardest part was the second run - not so much because I was tired by then but because of the "brick" factor, that dead feeling you get in your legs when going from bike to run, because of the different muscles you use (or the different way you use them). Many triathletes do "brick training" - intervals of short, intense rides followed by short, intense runs - to get used to the transition, which is worth considering if you're planning on doing duathlons or triathlons. I've never done specific brick training myself and I didn't have a problem with bricking on the two triathlons I did last year, but I was in better shape then and had done a lot more in the way of general training.

I also suffered from a touch of cramp on the second run. I had an energy gel during the bike leg and tried to make sure I drank lots from my bidon, but I couldn't take my hands off the handlebars too much because it was so windy! So I probably didn't drink as much as I should have.

So, I feel I could have done better overall. However, that said, my PB for a standalone 10k is just under 45mins, which I achieved on a very flat course on a warm spring day. My total for the two 5ks in cold, wet, windy conditions, with a hard 29km bike ride in between, was about 48.5mins, so on reflection, I'm very pleased indeed with that.

And I'm fairly happy with my 28km/h average on the bike leg too, considering that bloody wind - in better conditions, I would expect to break 30km/h average on that route.

 

[smutchin]

I rather like the look of the London Duathlon...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDAQFjAA&url=http://londonduathlon.com/&ei=zxbGUtTOHsyzhAe4o4C4Cw&usg=AFQjCNH7K9XucaLGLTZPfvximDXApLgFbg&bvm=bv.58187178,d.ZG4

Just had a look at that. Hmmm, looks fun... But I'm not sure I fancy it at those prices!

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Just had a look at that. Hmmm, looks fun... But I'm not sure I fancy it at those prices!

Yeah right, agreed. There seems to be a bit of a lack of on-road duathlons however in the South West region. I like the look of the Classic distance for the London one.

And thanks, the brick training sounds well worth a go.I'll PM you nearer the time if that's okay?