Running

[Andrewlang]

Yikes, sorry to hear about your accident. Injury can really pull you out of it mentally sometimes and it can be hard to regain the habit if injury doesn't allow. I speak to a lot of people who say 'I used to be really fit until I hurt my knee and couldn't run anymore'. That there are other exercises they could do doesn't seem to have occured to them but I guess the point is that they lost the habit - it takes between 18 to 254 for a new behaviour to become habit (66 days on average apparently) and I'd bet it's much much quicker to lose it.

Aaaanyway, good luck.

Andrew

[Russ Greaves]

Just seen this. Looks great!

Anyone going to sign up?

www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com/en/locations/cambridge

[soulhalshall]

Different sorts of challenges now for running now as hard to know when a race will be, so no concrete goals that way, which means running to have a platform built for any future races or goals. I ran a marathon on the final weekend before lockdown here in Ireland, a PB at 3.18, 16 mins faster than I had rún in Athens last November. I am trying to maintain a good level of fitness in anticipation of a possible half marathon in September (Cork city) and Athens marathon in November with a mixture of longer runs, time trials and speed sessions.

[Russ Greaves]

Got right back into running. I joined a club, which I never thought I'd do. I had running down as a solo pursuit, but being part of a club really does improve the quality of your training. It's also inspiring to see people in their 50s and 60s still putting the miles in and enjoying it.

The whole concept of age-graded times also shifts the goalposts on improving and PBs.

[soulhalshall]

Agree about the quality of training together, and experienced runners can often pace themselves more sensibly than, well, me I suppose. That said, I seldom go into my club because of the children's weekday activities but I enjoy seeing the club colours at races. Though not an active member of the community I like to be a bit part of it and read about club news online.

As well as the usual road races I've got into parkruns, trail running and cross country in the last year which has been good for variety though cross country is a bit of a slog.

[sneakyfate]

As I'm now 65 years old, the concept of age-graded times is very dear to me, since my actual times are inevitably getting slower and slower. I didn't run the Cambridge Half Marathon this year (I volunteered instead), but I did run the Covid-delayed version in October last year. I was initially a bit gutted that for the first time it took me over two hours (2:00:17), mostly due to getting severe leg cramps on the finishing straight. But then I fed the time into an age-grade calculator and it told me my performance was about the same as my best ever time of 1:34:39 in my youth! My best ever performance on age-graded score was in 2012 when I ran 1:41:57 at the age of 55, but that was an exceptional year for me. So as long as I can keep my scores in the 60-65% range, I'm happy enough, and even if/when I can't, I'm just thankful that I can still run (and cycle) quite decent distances at my age.

[Russ Greaves]

Yes, age-graded times really do allow everyone to compete on a level playing field. I run/race with some excellent runners who are 50 and 60+ and it's opened my eyes to the fact that running can be a productive, enjoyable and indeed competitive endeavour right into your advanced years. I naively thought I'd missed the boat by not getting into running until my 30s! The fact is, right now I'm getting better in absolute terms, and with age-graded times there is an opportunity to get better in relative terms for many years after my PB days are behind me.

Running is a gift and I strongly recommend it to anyone who is capable, even if you just do a few miles a week. The benefits for physical and mental health are significant. Having said all that, I can't even convince my wife to get into running, so I don't expect anyone on here to be converted if they're not already part of the choir!

[soulhalshall]

I have found that when coming back from long injuries, there has been satisfaction in chasing a new post-injury PB as an initial goal. I have seen similar in my dad, who was an excellent runner in his 30s, surprisingly delighting in new era PBs which he would have run in his sleep before operations held him back.

So, do you folks use the Nike Alpha, Vapour etc shoes? I was reluctant so went half way last year and got the slightly cheaper nylon-plated Saucony Endorphin Speed, but I'm holding back on the clumpy Nikes, though they seem undoubtedly to improve times and recovery.

[Russ Greaves]

I have the Alphafly, but only because I got 50% off. I've worn them once but so many people in my club swear by them. I prefer my pair of Brooks Hyperion Tempo, but will probably don the Nikes for a few longer races I have planned. You can really feel the energy return in them.

I've been amazed at how much depth there is to running once you get into that world, from the shoes to the training methods, the nutrition, hydration, psychology, cadence, posture, recovery, GPS watches, predicted times, race tactics, group dynamics... sometimes it's nice just to put on a pair of familiar old shoes, leave the watch at home, and run.

[sneakyfate]

I've always had a restricted choice of shoes as I have almost totally flat feet, so need extra support. About 9 years ago, I had custom orthotics made that I wear in almost all my footwear other than slippers and wellies, which gave me a broader choice of shoes, but more recently I had heel pain and got a pair of Hoka Bondi 7s on the advice of my podiatrist, since the shape of the shoe's heel reduces the amount of shock to my own heels. The problem is that they are a bit chunky. I still have a pair of Saucony Ride 13s, which are lighter, so I'm tempted to use those for shorter runs such as parkrun.

I am still mourning the loss of Cambridge (Milton Country Park) parkrun, which failed to reopen after the pandemic closure - Storey's Field is now my favourite event, even though Coldham's Common is a little closer to my home - I'll probably do the latter more once the course dries out a bit.

Mar 22, 2022 18:03:30 GMT Russ Greaves said:

sometimes it's nice just to put on a pair of familiar old shoes, leave the watch at home, and run.

Agree up to a point - I don't actually leave the watch at home - I just turn off all the notifications, press start and then totally ignore it until the end. I'm just too curious as to how far I've gone and in what time to abandon it completely, but I've learned how not to worry about it any more.

[Denton]

Mar 22, 2022 23:54:28 GMT sneakyfate said:

I've always had a restricted choice of shoes as I have almost totally flat feet, so need extra support. About 9 years ago, I had custom orthotics made that I wear in almost all my footwear other than slippers and wellies, which gave me a broader choice of shoes, but more recently I had heel pain and got a pair of Hoka Bondi 7s on the advice of my podiatrist, since the shape of the shoe's heel reduces the amount of shock to my own heels. The problem is that they are a bit chunky. I still have a pair of Saucony Ride 13s, which are lighter, so I'm tempted to use those for shorter runs such as parkrun.

I am still mourning the loss of Cambridge (Milton Country Park) parkrun, which failed to reopen after the pandemic closure - Storey's Field is now my favourite event, even though Coldham's Common is a little closer to my home - I'll probably do the latter more once the course dries out a bit.

Mar 22, 2022 18:03:30 GMT Russ Greaves said:

sometimes it's nice just to put on a pair of familiar old shoes, leave the watch at home, and run.

Agree up to a point - I don't actually leave the watch at home - I just turn off all the notifications, press start and then totally ignore it until the end. I'm just too curious as to how far I've gone and in what time to abandon it completely, but I've learned how not to worry about it any more.

I've got flat feet and it's a pain, the best brand i've found are New Balance. Comfiest running trainers going

[soulhalshall]

I haven't got flat feet but I used to wear custom insoles, first in both shoes then just one then got rid altogether. Some physios I spoke to were completely against them. I reckon I may have one leg longer than the other which was causing I injuries but I found general muscle strengthening in lower legs helped even if one insole kept the wolf from the door for a while.

New Balance Fresh Foam Zante Pursuit I found great and so light.

Amazing how the Nikes have taken over so quickly. Last summer I'd say one or two people in my club wore them, now it's 30+ and you hardly see anything else at the front end of a road race start line (less so parkrun).

[rocky]

Mar 22, 2022 18:03:30 GMT Russ Greaves said:

I've been amazed at how much depth there is to running once you get into that world, from the shoes to the training methods, the nutrition, hydration, psychology, cadence, posture, recovery, GPS watches, predicted times, race tactics, group dynamics... sometimes it's nice just to put on a pair of familiar old shoes, leave the watch at home, and run.

Too much of modern-day running is driven by commercial pressures to have and use the latest (expensive) gear/nutrition/brands etc.  Personally, the best way to enjoy running is to leave it all behind - just get out each day and run according to how you're feeling on the day and appreciate the beauty of nature, which almost inevitably means you finish the run feeling emotionally and physically satisfied.

Richard Askwith's Running Free is a great read, (mostly) consistent with my approach to running these days: Running Free 

[Russ Greaves]

It's definitely a matter of personal preference - you can really strip it back to just the running, or you could go all-in on the gear/nutrition/brands. Most people will fall somewhere in the middle. I take it seriously enough to want to be better, and I recognise there are some advantages to engaging with those other aspects, so I've got the shoes and the watch etc. I think I'm likely to always see some value and appeal in competing in races, but the joy of just running for the sake of it is hard to beat. You really can have/do both.

[rocky]

Mar 29, 2022 8:24:39 GMT Russ Greaves said:

It's definitely a matter of personal preference... 

Agreed.  It's also probably an age thing. But the constant competition (e.g. to improve one's PB, to beat AN Other, to keep up with the latest gear), eventually wears thin. Perhaps it coincides with the natural slowing down/increasing aches & pains with age?  Anyway I now get satisfaction and enjoyment out of every run, and that's 6-7 days per week, probably 75+ km per week.  I don't often know how fast or how far I've run, but am much more in tuned with the local flora and fauna.