Running When Tired

[d000hg]

There's also a whole movement about barefoot running though I don't know if it's sensible or they're a bunch of nuts

[BrilloPad]

There's also a whole movement about barefoot running though I don't know if it's sensible or they're a bunch of nuts

Isn't it supposed to improve your posture or summat?

Not sure I fancy the blisters.

[Mich the Tester]

There's also a whole movement about barefoot running though I don't know if it's sensible or they're a bunch of nuts

It's not nutty, although it does attract some nutters.

Basically, if your legs and feet are strong enough then there's no problem with barefoot running, and barefoot running's a good way to become strong enough to run barefoot. Better to use Vibram's 'five fingers' though, to protect the soles of your feet against glass and little stones. Of course, build up gradually and always be aware of what your body's telling you; too much pain or pain after running, then ease up a bit or use trainers for at least part of your run. And be patient; some people seem to want to gain the fitness of an elite athlete with a year's training and it doesn't work that way. If you want the fitness, strength, speed, resistance to injury and endurance of an elite sportsperson who's spent 10 to 15 years from childhood onward training to get there, it'll take about 10 or 15 years to get there. You could start today by running the last 200 metres of your usual run barefoot, build up gradually, and one day you might run a marathon barefoot, if you fancy doing that. But don't expect to do that next year; take several years over it.

[mudskipper]

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.

Going to treat myself to one if/when I get to < 30 mins on my parkrun. Yep - I know that's not very ambitious, but I seem to have been stuck on around 35 for weeks. No idea how to improve - suspect I need to be doing it more than one a week.

[louie]

Might try running in the morning, with my short commute, should be able to fit 30 mins in. Anyone done this?

[Mich the Tester]

Going to treat myself to one if/when I get to < 30 mins on my parkrun. Yep - I know that's not very ambitious, but I seem to have been stuck on around 35 for weeks. No idea how to improve - suspect I need to be doing it more than one a week.

Try splitting the run into 2 runs of 15 minutes then 1 run of 10 minutes, with 3 minutes walking between the runs. That gives You 40 minutes and you can progress to 3 runs of 15, then 3 runs of 20. Interval training can be more effective than steady state running, especially for breaking through barriers. Plus, you will need to switch to twice a week and if you can add a bike ride or a gym session on top of that it would be very good.

It's a pretty solid athletic principle; if you watch 800 and 1500 metre runners in training, you'll see that they very rarely run 800 or 1500 in one go; instead they might run 300, then 500, then 300, then 500 with walking breaks, and gradually increase the lactic acid in their muscles.

[mudskipper]

Try splitting the run into 2 runs of 15 minutes then 1 run of 10 minutes, with 3 minutes walking between the runs. That gives You 40 minutes and you can progress to 3 runs of 15, then 3 runs of 20. Interval training can be more effective than steady state running, especially for breaking through barriers. Plus, you will need to switch to twice a week and if you can add a bike ride or a gym session on top of that it would be very good.

It's a pretty solid athletic principle; if you watch 800 and 1500 metre runners in training, you'll see that they very rarely run 800 or 1500 in one go; instead they might run 300, then 500, then 300, then 500 with walking breaks, and gradually increase the lactic acid in their muscles.

Yeah, been adding a 'round the pond' run midweek for last couple of weeks. I understand the interval principle, but walking always feels like failing. Already do cycling, so hopefully the twice a week run will help me improve. Don't want to do too much, because last time I got into running I buggered my hip for months. Last week I followed the '30' pacemaker for the first 1.5k or so and got a new PB, so this week I'll try and keep up for a bit longer.

[Mich the Tester]

Yeah, been adding a 'round the pond' run midweek for last couple of weeks. I understand the interval principle, but walking always feels like failing.

Please get that idea out of your head ASAP. Walking for a rest is an integral part of training. You can sit down for a moment if you want, but walking at least keeps the muscles moving. If you really need convincing, go to an athletic track and just look at how much time the athletes spend wandering about, sitting around talking, aimlessly stretching etc. You don't get fitter while training; you get fitter while resting. Obviously, that doesn't negate the need for the short bursts of hard work.

[Spacecadet]

Yeah, been adding a 'round the pond' run midweek for last couple of weeks. I understand the interval principle, but walking always feels like failing. Already do cycling, so hopefully the twice a week run will help me improve. Don't want to do too much, because last time I got into running I buggered my hip for months. Last week I followed the '30' pacemaker for the first 1.5k or so and got a new PB, so this week I'll try and keep up for a bit longer.

Go and pay for some coaching it could be one or more things holding you back and a few one on one sessions will target the right problems

[chef]

Go and pay for some coaching it could be one or more things holding you back and a few one on one sessions will target the right problems

surely a role for mr mudskipper