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[Fistwell]

You'll love every second of it. OK, maybe not every single second, that pleasure/pain thing, but to be fair your training is looking really solid and with 8 weeks to go you'll be more than ready and kick its arse.

Yeah we'll see. Worried about holding pace over the last 6 miles. Fitness is slowly starting to look up. Still getting used to 60miles/week, but getting better. Used to get tired only on easy miles, then managed to bring back quality sessions, only now starting to get comfortable. That last 18K on Sunday, I was gonna run easy but ended-up with a messy progression sort of run, about 30s/K average faster than initially expected. Not feeling any particular fatigue from it today (although I've been feeling some generic dull tiredness from more miles than usual). I've been good with not going too hard, I'll be vigilant to not over-train in the last month and a 1/2. It's always a fine line between hard enough and too hard. Hopefully I can learn from past mistakes. Had to exert restraint to keep yesterday's run under control. :3
/dear journal

Doesn't exactly look flat though, not too bad but there's a fair lump at 10 miles (going off some random strava activity, not always the best plan I know).

95 euros... crikey.

Yeah it's a bit hilly, but I'm more worried about me than the course. The price was kind of a doozy. But it's not like I'll race the M often, and this being my first one ever, I don't particularly mind. I even splurged on the shit shirt.

On the subject of marathons, I missed the hilly one I was really looking forward to earlier in the year but it's got a beastly big brother in November that I just signed up to. It's horrible laps of a challenging hill in often terrible weather. Yeah, not sure what I was thinking, I do these things when I' up late and try to fill gaps in the calendar. It's actually run over 5 days, but I think the mindfuck of a single day will do me fine. Still, gets the Strava climbing challenge out of the way in a single run...

Not sure how that works, a 5-day all-you-can-run type of things? Sounds demented.

Yes! Looking forward to your chronicle for that race.

Spoilers:

Spoiler

It's gonna suck, I'm gonna regret it, I'll question why I bother with running.

 

[iMAGINATION]

What are you using to measure your HR during runs. How are you wearing it?

I'm using a forerunner 235 on my left wrist and my resting heart rate is around 63. That was the first day I got the watch, I ran the other day and my average was around 160ish which is better, maybe it's still getting adjusted to me.

What do ya'll usually eat before running? Lets say you're going to run a 5K.

I'm not very hungry in the morning, which is when I usually run, so I think running on an empty stomach is hurting me. I'm gonna try eating a banana and some greek yogurt before my run today and see if I notice much of a difference.

Usually nothing, I find eating anything less than 4 hours before my run makes me sick.

 

[panda-zebra]

Not sure how that works, a 5-day all-you-can-run type of things? Sounds demented.

I worded it badly. It's a marathon consisting of (I think) 6 laps of a local landmark hill. But they run it 5 days in a row from the 8th to the 12th, so you can enter all 5 races if you're that way inclined, which totals 30 laps and well in excess of 20,000ft of climbing. Apparently people do it. 9 hours cut-off each day though, no pressure, just one of those thing you get through and ignore the time.

Spoilers:

Spoiler

It's gonna suck, I'm gonna regret it, I'll question why I bother with running.

And then you'll cross the line, stagger around a bit and not stop smiling for a week.

 

[Fistwell]

I worded it badly. It's a marathon consisting of (I think) 6 laps of a local landmark hill. But they run it 5 days in a row from the 8th to the 12th, so you can enter all 5 races if you're that way inclined, which totals 30 laps and well in excess of 20,000ft of climbing. Apparently people do it. 9 hours cut-off each day though, no pressure, just one of those thing you get through and ignore the time.

Sounds like punishment, self-loathing, etc. Good luck! ;D

And then you'll cross the line, stagger around a bit and not stop smiling for a week.

If I do an OK time and don't injure myself too bad.

 

[Randy Lanzarote]

After 19 months of doing shit all following a knee injury, I'm looking to get back into running, which of course means buying new stuff. I'm looking to get a GPS running watch that I can also listen to music on.

I've got a Sony Smartwatch 3 but the GPS on it never works.

I was looking the TomTom Spark or Runner with music capability, sine it seems to be the only watch that offers GPS/Music. Can anyone offer their opinions? Should I look to get the 3 model, and is there any difference between Runner/Spark models?

Ta!

 

[tmarg]

I was looking the TomTom Spark or Runner with music capability, sine it seems to be the only watch that offers GPS/Music. Can anyone offer their opinions? Should I look to get the 3 model, and is there any difference between Runner/Spark models?

Ta!

I had a spark (without the music player, but apparently the running functions are the same) and the pace data it displayed during runs was terrible. If you looked at it afterwards on the app it would be fine, but what it showed on your wrist could be off by like 2 minutes/mile. I ended up returning it and getting a Garmin 230 which I am way more happy with, but that doesn't play music.

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

There we go, did it.

 

[panda-zebra]

After 19 months of doing shit all following a knee injury, I'm looking to get back into running, which of course means buying new stuff. I'm looking to get a GPS running watch that I can also listen to music on.

I've got a Sony Smartwatch 3 but the GPS on it never works.

I was looking the TomTom Spark or Runner with music capability, sine it seems to be the only watch that offers GPS/Music. Can anyone offer their opinions? Should I look to get the 3 model, and is there any difference between Runner/Spark models?

Ta!

Don't. I've got the watch without music (Spark) and it's fine - simple, works well, no complaints. But the one with music & bt headphones always gets poor reviews (audio cuts out, people having to wear the watch on the wrist they prefer not to in order to keep the watch and the headset closer to each other avoid this).

The Spark/Runner thing seems to be for different markets and just branding. Spark isa Runner 2. There's Runner 3 that has the ability to track back to your start point that I'm highly suspicious is just a firmware flash away from working on Runner 2s/Sparks, but of course TomTom want you to buy the newer one. Come November there will no doubt be another revision again.

I had a spark (without the music player, but apparently the running functions are the same) and the pace data it displayed during runs was terrible. If you looked at it afterwards on the app it would be fine, but what it showed on your wrist could be off by like 2 minutes/mile. I ended up returning it and getting a Garmin 230 which I am way more happy with, but that doesn't play music.

TBF the live pace reporting I find accurate enough. I have it set up to show time of day or activity time on the large top area, current pace bottom left and overall pace bottom right. Only time current pace goes off slightly is if I go through heavily wooded areas and GPS struggles, then it always reports a lot slower than I'm doing, but soon sorts itself out when back in the open. I only really pay attention to that when trying to run slow though, hard to get a feel for long slow miles early on.

There we go, did it.

Well done, rest day tomorrow!

 

[Fistwell]

There we go, did it.

But!

...


lol

Nice work!

 

[JB1981]

Brah that's not a 5k. Great run tho!

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

>.<

 

[The_Inquisitor]

I'm using a forerunner 235 on my left wrist and my resting heart rate is around 63. That was the first day I got the watch, I ran the other day and my average was around 160ish which is better, maybe it's still getting adjusted to me.



Usually nothing, I find eating anything less than 4 hours before my run makes me sick.

Make sure when you wear your watch during running it's very snug on your wrist and an inch higher than normal. It's a best practice for optical based HRM. I think the 194 might have been your running cadence. It happens sometimes.

 

[Paganmoon]

Brah that's not a 5k. Great run tho!

3.1(06) miles = 5km though, how is that not a 5k?

 

[Fistwell]

3.1(06) miles = 5km though, how is that not a 5k?

3,10686...

But close enough!

 

[tmarg]

TBF the live pace reporting I find accurate enough. I have it set up to show time of day or activity time on the large top area, current pace bottom left and overall pace bottom right. Only time current pace goes off slightly is if I go through heavily wooded areas and GPS struggles, then it always reports a lot slower than I'm doing, but soon sorts itself out when back in the open. I only really pay attention to that when trying to run slow though, hard to get a feel for long slow miles early on.

Mine might have just been malfunctioning or something, but it was terrible. I got it while training for a half, and I was running 11.5 mile training runs at a fairly steady ~8min/mile. It would start out accurate at the beginning of the run, and then gradually slow until at the end it was showing 9:40-10:00. And then I'd check the app afterwards and it would say that I never went under 8:20. It was worse than not having anything, because it was making me question my own intuition regarding how fast I was going, despite the fact that I was more accurate than it was.

 

[Paganmoon]

3,10686...

But close enough!

Oh, come on Poor guy's going to have to do another run tomorrow at that pace now

I'm sure he ran a few extra steps after stopping the app

 

[Fistwell]

Oh, come on Poor guy's going to have to do another run tomorrow at that pace now

I'm sure he ran a few extra steps after stopping the app

Yeah just messing around.

 

[Paganmoon]

Yeah just messing around.

But yeah, make sure you run exactly 3.10685596 miles next time

 

[DBT85]

Start by completing that beginner training plan and see if you actually enjoy running.
Then, figure out what do you want out of running.

Then, if what you want out of running requires fancy gear you can start looking for one. Chances are you won't need anything but shoes. I strongly advise against a HRM for beginners. Learn your easy pace by feel. Don't become slave to a watch. Just run, enjoy it and figure out your limits by yourself. You won't get burned out if you can't even run 5k.

Nevertheless, all the cheap watches or devices that can pair with your phone are of interchangeable quality. They're ok accuracy wise but don't expect great responsivity. You need to carry both the device and a phone to use them, it's annoying.

For the best monitors, you need a strap. If the strap is paired to a GPS-less watch, you can probably get one in your price range. Otherwise you are looking at 2-3 times your budget.

If you want ultra low budget heart rate monitor then look on eBay for a Garmin forerunner 305 watch and heart rate strap. Last time I looked they were £20 or less. I used the same thing up until about 6 months ago when I got a new watch but I kept the strap and still use it with my new 920xt.

The only negatives are that the 305 watch is bulky and not wearable as an everyday watch, and it can take 5mins to find the GPS so you have to turn it on before you get ready to leave. Other than that it does everything you'd need and accuracy is spot on.

Edit: or a 310xt should be around the same price range and is a slightly improved model.

Thanks folks. It is more for logging it for me to look at later than having to use as an aid straight away.

As it is my plans of going out this morning to start things off were put on hold by wifey having her waters break at midnight! lol.

 

[Duebrithil]

If I do an OK time and don't injure myself too bad.

Oh, the smiling will happen regardless, believe me

 

[Randy Lanzarote]

Don't. I've got the watch without music (Spark) and it's fine - simple, works well, no complaints. But the one with music & bt headphones always gets poor reviews (audio cuts out, people having to wear the watch on the wrist they prefer not to in order to keep the watch and the headset closer to each other avoid this).

Hmmm..... That's a shame. I can see me running with my Sony watch on one wrist, and the Mrs' Garmin on the other!

Or I could look for a BT headset with built in music storage. :/

 

[panda-zebra]

Hmmm..... That's a shame. I can see me running with my Sony watch on one wrist, and the Mrs' Garmin on the other!

Or I could look for a BT headset with built in music storage. :/

Check the reviews for the Runner 3 with music, maybe they improved whatever it was that upset all those Runner 2 w/music owners. But yeah, a watch on each wrist, balance!

Mine might have just been malfunctioning or something, but it was terrible. I got it while training for a half, and I was running 11.5 mile training runs at a fairly steady ~8min/mile. It would start out accurate at the beginning of the run, and then gradually slow until at the end it was showing 9:40-10:00. And then I'd check the app afterwards and it would say that I never went under 8:20. It was worse than not having anything, because it was making me question my own intuition regarding how fast I was going, despite the fact that I was more accurate than it was.

When mine wanders it ends up around 10 minute miles also and I'd be running around 8s, does it down a long trail by an old canal that's in the shadow of a large hill and very overgrown. Only place I've noticed it, but it's consistently off and around those numbers. Could be a flaw in the algorithm that tries to compensate for poor GPS reception, but to have it begin OK and drift to be off by 2 min/mile over the course of an hour... yep, I'd have sent it back.

 

[Bread]

i've been using apple earpods while i run and the cord is super obnoxious. since i'm running on a treadmill i probably only need bluetooth earbuds, anyone have any recommendations?

 

[xezuru]

So this is pretty off topic but is there any feet health people in here? I've gotten a job where I'm basically walking miles, carrying shit, and pivoting, which so far is fine for my legs and back but my feet mostly toes get all sore and tingly and my big toe I think is swollen and red and knuckle is dark. I've tried with my stability running shoe and my looser fitting skateboard shoe and neither really did any better. Any here that can help out?

 

[slow-twitch]

Spoilers:

Spoiler

It's gonna suck, I'm gonna regret it, I'll question why I bother with running.

The existential crisis is only a short part of the last 10k. Soon enough you are too tired to have sustained thoughts. You just focus on keeping form and pace.

You're experienced enough so I'm sure your training will be sufficient. Don't stress too much and get used to run marathon pace on tired legs as much as possible, that's what the race is all about.

So this is pretty off topic but is there any feet health people in here? I've gotten a job where I'm basically walking miles, carrying shit, and pivoting, which so far is fine for my legs and back but my feet mostly toes get all sore and tingly and my big toe I think is swollen and red and knuckle is dark. I've tried with my stability running shoe and my looser fitting skateboard shoe and neither really did any better. Any here that can help out?

How long have you been working there?
Are you overweight?
Any foot deformity?
You are probably simply getting used to being on your feet all day.

Be sure your shoes fit well and are comfortable. See a podiatrist if your problem lasts longer than a month or becomes worse.
There is not much more to say than that.

 

[xezuru]

How long have you been working there?
Are you overweight?
Any foot deformity?
You are probably simply getting used to being on your feet all day.

Be sure your shoes fit well and are comfortable. See a podiatrist if your problem lasts longer than a month or becomes worse.
There is not much more to say than that.

Yeah It's only past my second week, so i'll keep a look out. Not overweight or any deformity that i can think of besides some pronation but didn't really know what to look out for when I have a big ole red toe for weeks. No pain either, mostly just swollen tinglies.

 

[Oxn]

So this is pretty off topic but is there any feet health people in here? I've gotten a job where I'm basically walking miles, carrying shit, and pivoting, which so far is fine for my legs and back but my feet mostly toes get all sore and tingly and my big toe I think is swollen and red and knuckle is dark. I've tried with my stability running shoe and my looser fitting skateboard shoe and neither really did any better. Any here that can help out?

Yeah It's only past my second week, so i'll keep a look out. Not overweight or any deformity that i can think of besides some pronation but didn't really know what to look out for when I have a big ole red toe for weeks. No pain either, mostly just swollen tinglies.

Ultraboost dude, Ultraboost.

But if not you definitely need better sneakers. Skateboarding sneakers dont cut it.

 

[The_Inquisitor]

Yeah I fucked up biking 28 Sunday, I am not strong enough. Cratered hard on my run tonight. Hopefully I will be okay by tomorrow evening's group run.

 

[panda-zebra]

mostly just swollen tinglies.

Get a spiky ball and gently massage your feet in the mornings and evenings for 5 minutes. Swelling and pressure on nerves can turn that tingly stuff to more uncomfortable or problematic numbness. The footwear doesn't seem to be helping either.

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

But yeah, make sure you run exactly 3.10685596 miles next time

Sounds like a challenge!

 

[Fistwell]

This fucking sun is a challenge....



<- dead

 

[xezuru]

Ultraboost dude, Ultraboost.

But if not you definitely need better sneakers. Skateboarding sneakers dont cut it.

Get a spiky ball and gently massage your feet in the mornings and evenings for 5 minutes. Swelling and pressure on nerves can turn that tingly stuff to more uncomfortable or problematic numbness. The footwear doesn't seem to be helping either.

Well the running shoe I was using was Brooks Adrenaline GTS 16s or so Ive had for a while, I don't know if I need more cushioned shoeware for 10h shifts or what, but thanks for reccs. If I ever decide on new shoes how much toeroom do I want?

 

[panda-zebra]

Well the running shoe I was using was Brooks Adrenaline GTS 16s or so Ive had for a while, I don't know if I need more cushioned shoeware for 10h shifts or what, but thanks for reccs. If I ever decide on new shoes how much toeroom do I want?

I have some of those and Defyance, they're not the widest at the toe end but have more than enough cushioning. You might find your big toe pops through those if you're wearing them for 10 hours at a time and they're a bit narrow on you.

 

[Randy Lanzarote]

How's the Gear Fit 2 for GPS tracking (and audio playback)?

 

[KeRaSh]

Put my new running shoes to the

Spoiler

short

test yesterday. I must say they feel sooo much better than my previous pair. This will definitely enable me to get back into a 3-4 runs per week mindset.

After absolutely loving the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 10 I though the 11 would be a great follow up and any issues I had with the new model were a problem with me and not the shoe.
After reading up on different models and their successors it seems that follow up models can completely change a shoe for the worse for some people.
Now rocking the Nike Air Zoom Wildhorse 4. I clock most of my miles through forests so I thought a trail running shoe would suit me well. Hopefully the initial feel of the shoe holds up. I can definitely feel the weight reduction compared to my previous pair.

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

There we go. I won't be going at that pace again for a while cos it feels awful and I don't enjoy it.

 

[KeRaSh]

There we go. I won't be going at that pace again for a while cos it feels awful and I don't enjoy it.

They should have kept their mouths shut. You shaved off another two full minutes

Spoiler

and six seconds

?
Absolutely crazy. I can't even get close to my 30 minute 5K from last year. Hats off, my friend!

 

[Horsefly]

Impressive, congrats!

do we have a runtastic gaf group?

 

[Fistwell]

There we go. I won't be going at that pace again for a while cos it feels awful and I don't enjoy it.

Great job! Nearing 4:30/Km, next stop: 4min/K, sub20min 5K! Full steam ahead!

But, seriously, great job!

do we have a runtastic gaf group?

Dunno, but there is a Strava group.

 

[Paganmoon]

There we go. I won't be going at that pace again for a while cos it feels awful and I don't enjoy it.

Jesus... you started the week with saying you want to go below 25 minutes for a 5k, and youre at sub 23 minutes, like 3 days later.

Well done dude. My knees ache just thinking about that pace.

 

[Fistwell]

Easy fix: Don't think with your knees!

(pro tip: I usually think with my stomach)

 

[panda-zebra]

There we go. I won't be going at that pace again for a while cos it feels awful and I don't enjoy it.

Yeah yeah... you say this now, but...

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

Thanks you guys. I don't usually sprint, cos I don't enjoy it. Plus today I went on a straight path for once, no slopes or nothing.

Yeah yeah... you say this now, but...

I wouldn't do it every day, or every time rather. It makes me feel queasy when I'm done.

 

[panda-zebra]

I wouldn't do it every day, or every time rather. It makes me feel queasy when I'm done.

It really does, it's unpleasant at best and gut-wrenching/painful/torturous at worst when you're at your limit like that. Still, that pace will be a lot easier for you soon. If you can lop 2 minutes off a sub-25, there's definitely more to come.

 

[Fistwell]

I know at the end of a race if I've given it a decent effort if I'm sure I'm going to violently barf, and/or want to die, have to lie down, feel like I'm about to pass the f out, etc.

You get used to it.

Spoiler

/edgelord

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

I'm at my wit's end with shoes. Spent hours at the runner's shop today feeling confident in my purchase only to regret it later on as I spent more time in my shoes.

Some facts about me: I'm EXTREMELY flat-footed. I over-pronate according to every gait analysis I've done, but that might be due to my anatomy (bow-legged).

I recently started running and was fitted with a pair of Brooks Ravenna 7 and developed some posterior shin splints in both legs after a couple months of running (5-10 miles/week, nothing major). I realized the shoes were sized too large for me, so I returned to the shop today to get fitted for a new pair while I rest up my legs.

First thing's first: The only shoes that have EVER felt comfortable for me were a pair of New Balance Minimus Vibrams shoes with almost zero support and a pair of Saucony Guide 7s.

Today I tried on so many fucking shoes, from Ravenna 8s to New Balance 860s to Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2, and then finally settled on the Nike LunarGlide 8s. They felt comfortable at first despite the fact that my feet felt like they were "rolling in" a bit, but several hours after wearing them from the store my feet felt tired, a little tingly, and there was this pressure on the inside of my (nonexistent) arches.

What the fuck do I do? It seems like nothing the store guys are recommending me fit well. There's always something wrong. ALL my problems disappear at the end of the day when I take my stupid shoes off, it's incredible. Might that be why I enjoyed the minimalist New Balance shoes?

I don't even know why I'm posting this, I'm just hoping one of you guys might notice something and steer me in the right direction, because it seems like I have to waste more time and money figuring this situation out, all the while jealous of every friend posting his/her running progress online. :/

 

[kottila]

Just buy all the saucony guide 7 stock you can find. Amazon still has them

I've been able to find shoes that were discontinued years ago on obscure websites for a low price, but the well ran dry and I've had to change models

 

[Fisico]

I know at the end of a race if I've given it a decent effort if I'm sure I'm going to violently barf, and/or want to die, have to lie down, feel like I'm about to pass the f out, etc.

You get used to it.

Spoiler

/edgelord

When I was running untrained as a kid that's what I always got back then, now I don't really anymore, does it mean I'm not at 100% !!??

Spoiler

To be fair it's a mix of cardio resistance, leg resistance, and overall physical resistance, I think legs are my weak point and I never quite know how far I can push with them

 

[Oxn]

I'm at my wit's end with shoes. Spent hours at the runner's shop today feeling confident in my purchase only to regret it later on as I spent more time in my shoes.

Some facts about me: I'm EXTREMELY flat-footed. I over-pronate according to every gait analysis I've done, but that might be due to my anatomy (bow-legged).

I recently started running and was fitted with a pair of Brooks Ravenna 7 and developed some posterior shin splints in both legs after a couple months of running (5-10 miles/week, nothing major). I realized the shoes were sized too large for me, so I returned to the shop today to get fitted for a new pair while I rest up my legs.

First thing's first: The only shoes that have EVER felt comfortable for me were a pair of New Balance Minimus Vibrams shoes with almost zero support and a pair of Saucony Guide 7s.

Today I tried on so many fucking shoes, from Ravenna 8s to New Balance 860s to Nike Air Zoom Odyssey 2, and then finally settled on the Nike LunarGlide 8s. They felt comfortable at first despite the fact that my feet felt like they were "rolling in" a bit, but several hours after wearing them from the store my feet felt tired, a little tingly, and there was this pressure on the inside of my (nonexistent) arches.

What the fuck do I do? It seems like nothing the store guys are recommending me fit well. There's always something wrong. ALL my problems disappear at the end of the day when I take my stupid shoes off, it's incredible. Might that be why I enjoyed the minimalist New Balance shoes?

I don't even know why I'm posting this, I'm just hoping one of you guys might notice something and steer me in the right direction, because it seems like I have to waste more time and money figuring this situation out, all the while jealous of every friend posting his/her running progress online. :/

People may tell you not to, but i say look into Ultraboost. It has changed my life.

 

[Fistwell]

When I was running untrained as a kid that's what I always got back then, now I don't really anymore, does it mean I'm not at 100% !!??

Spoiler

To be fair it's a mix of cardio resistance, leg resistance, and overall physical resistance, I think legs are my weak point and I never quite know how far I can push with them

For me very clearly the weakest link is finding the energy to sustain intensity. Leg muscles are fine, they could carry me to go way faster than what my lung+heart or energy burning capacities allow me to do. Especially when it's hot and/or I'm tired. On the positive, I become rapidly aware whenever I'm brushing with my limits.