Running When Tired

[chef]

Could not agree more, the only thing duller than running is talking to anyone who runs, they can't wait to tell you the pointless mileage and timing associated. Worst of all is someone who has stumbled round a marathon acting like they have changed the world.

I used to agree with you 100% but then as a motivational tool to do more exercise I went and bought a Garmin forerunner watch with heart rate. It lets you preset a pace/course, you then run against a 'virtual partner' (the pace/course you set).

I find it's now more of a challenge to try and better myself each time by adjusting/improving 1 of the main 3 variables I compare myself against: faster pace, further distance or lower heart rate.

Now it's no longer the most boring thing on earth but highly addictive but then that's just me being competitive against me. Plus afterwards, if I have run in the morning before breakfast then i find I'm alert and ready for the day rather than lethargic and lazy.

[Spacecadet]

a Garmin forerunner watch

How accurate do you find that?
I've been using my phone with Endomondo installed and it can be a bit out sometimes

[TheBigD]

How accurate do you find that?
I've been using my phone with Endomondo installed and it can be a bit out sometimes

Don't know about the Garmin, but it does get a lot of positive reviews. If you want somthing free for your phone, I'm using Strava and am pretty happy with it.

[chef]

How accurate do you find that?
I've been using my phone with Endomondo installed and it can be a bit out sometimes

very accurate. i wondered the same thing before I got it and found several reviews on youtube of people running around an official pre measured track and comparing watch accuracy, the forerunner 410 was the best of the bunch and was accurate to within the meter in the 2 & 5km tests they performed.

Personally, when I review the route it overlays on google maps in the online console once the run has been synced then it's pretty impressive that it knows which side of the path/track I am running down and doesn't get affected by running under heavy tree coverage or next to tall buildings.

Comparing it to the ipod nano 6th gen accelerometer (which is usually out by 200m or so when using Nike+ running, even after it's been calibrated) it's perfect.

[minestrone]

I have had my garmin 305 for about 6 years, it is probably about the best gadget I have ever purchased.

The PC software is tulip though and I have often fancied having a go at writing a version which I think I could do in a few weeks.

Stuff like order runs by course, saving data to cloud, adding metadata to runs so you can look at how many miles your shoes lasted etc, so may things could be added.

[FiveTimes]

How often are the more serious runners changing their trainers ?

Wife does two 6 mile runs in the week followed by a 13 mile at weekend. She has been on the same pair for 12 months and seem ok.

[Spacecadet]

I have had my garmin 305 for about 6 years, it is probably about the best gadget I have ever purchased.

The PC software is tulip though and I have often fancied having a go at writing a version which I think I could do in a few weeks.

Stuff like order runs by course, saving data to cloud, adding metadata to runs so you can look at how many miles your shoes lasted etc, so may things could be added.

You can load the Garmin data into Endomondo for some more stats.
As for building your own.. the Garmin data format is a fairly basic XML structure, it shouldn't take much more than an hour to write something to load that into a database.

[chef]

I would say the Garmin Connect dashboard is pretty good already, could be made better sure but it's not a pile of rubbish:

(this is an online pic, not one of my runs)

[BrilloPad]

How often are the more serious runners changing their trainers ?

Wife does two 6 mile runs in the week followed by a 13 mile at weekend. She has been on the same pair for 12 months and seem ok.

Sniff her trainers. If you pass out she needs a new pair!

I have heard it said 500-1000 miles is about right for a pair of trainers. All I know is that when I get a new pair they lose their spring after about a month.

[Mich the Tester]

How often are the more serious runners changing their trainers ?

Wife does two 6 mile runs in the week followed by a 13 mile at weekend. She has been on the same pair for 12 months and seem ok.

Don't be fooled by the shoe industry. When I was playing rugby I always managed to use the same pair of training shoes for a couple of years at a time for shuttle sprints, uphill sprints, touch rugby,occasional distance runs (5kms or so), weights training and anything else we did in training; in other words, those shoes got worked. I chucked them in the washing machine once a week, again, contrary to all the recommendations, and I always had the same thing; bottom of the range Nikes, bought from a cheapo shop, with no 'air' system or special features. The only thing that made me replace them was when the smell became so chronic it defeated the powers of Omo, Daz and Persil. (I know, I know, my knee is not much good, but that wasn't caused by running on trainers; it was an acute injury caused by turning wearing studs.)

If you run properly, you don't need to worry too much about shoes. If you need to worry about getting the right shoes, you need to visit an athletics club and get lessons in running; not just distance running, but do a few sessions of sprint training too as that helps with technique and strengthening your calves and achilles tendons, and then buy a decent quality pair of running shoes. Only get specially adapted shoes if the club athletics coach thinks you need them, and even then, ask another coach at the club to take a look first; the guys in the shop are trying to sell you shoes!