Got something to say? Need a running partner? Need information? Post your comments on the forum.
Mike | Add a comment! Aimed at people planning to run in the Bristol 10k this May, a couple of Bristol & West AC’s best running coaches are presenting what looks to be a really useful short day all about doing a 10k.
Keith and Chris are extremely experienced coaches, nice guys, and very committed to supporting new and recreational runners.
Highly recommended.
That’s my New years resolution (although I did start it before Xmas)
What’s he talking about?
Over the past two years I have been struggling with numerous injuries, including acute tendonitis in my left achillies, and I have basically pushed myself too much on each of my come backs and aggravated the injuries, I took a couple of months off to totally rest my body, I have used this time to think about why I keep on failing at comeback into running and came to the conclusion that constant pounding would expose the weaknesses in my ankle. So I looked into different forms of cross training and there are numerous areas of cross training that can compliment a runners training schedule. But for me its all about fitting in another activity into my already hectic day to day life. SO for Xmas my wife didn’t know what to get me so I suggest she bought me a bike. That’s exactly what she did. I used to race road and mountain bikes so getting back in the saddle was not an issue although I did forget about the joys of breaking in a new saddle!!!
I have done a few weeks of just cycling in and out of work, mainly to get used to it again, now that I am content that my fitness has gone up a couple of extra notches last week I decided to add in my lunch running sessions.
Monday - I drove to work but this enabled me to just go for a run and test my running, and managed a sub 20 min 5k.
Tuesday - I cycled in, then joined Phil Parry for a speed session (2 x 6 mins, 2 x 4 mins and finally 2 x 2 mins with 2 mins recovery between each effort) then a cycle home.
Wednesday - was a cycle in, 3 mile run and cycle home.
Thursday - was a cycle in and out no running
Friday - was a day of rest
Although they say it takes time to feel the benefits but I already feel so much fitter, and best of all no twinges in my ankle. So now for the push towards the Bristol 10k in May and some other races in between!!!
Injury, Races, Training and Bristol 10k, Cycling, Injuries, Speed work, cross training Jo | 1 Comment. Add yours! The Bristol Half Marathon had helped me get out there and start training again but in the end I didn’t get a chance to run. My daughter became ill and we spent five hours, the night before the race, in hospital. She was fine in the end but I couldn’t leave her on the day so my plans to mostly run, but walk if I needed to, kind of drifted away.
There was a lot less reason to run after that and my training has drifted down to one day a week on a Friday. The good thing about it is that my runs have become consistent and longer. They tend to last around 45 minutes. The last one was 25 because I had to get back but it was still better than I was used to.
My main challenge with my running has been my diaphragm and getting a side stitch. The pain is so impractical that on one of my runs I ended up running for four minutes, and walking for one, for the whole session.
I do my training on a treadmill while watching either Deal or No Deal and / or Beverly Hills 90210. At the start I was happy to train with watching or listening to anything. I used the time to track my progress. For the first kilometer I would feel whether all was ok with my ankles, knees, hips, hamstrings etc. At about 2.5km I would start to falter a bit because the stitch would appear. From that point on I would mostly be running consistently if I was running slowly but when I ran at a normal pace I would be hurting. I would start at around 7.5km /hour and increase my speed steadily.
When I ran for 9kms I managed to do the last couple of minutes at 10km/h and the last few seconds at 11km/h. My best time for a 10km was about an hour and that was when I was really pushing myself. I did the 9km while training for the Bristol Half though and now the next major race is the Bath Half in March. That’s too far away to motivate me to get out there for more than once or twice a week but I do want to get out there.
There’s no other way to improve than by training but usually it’s the training for something that has helped. I’m going to have to find some smaller goals and see how that goes.
I’m Chloe, 16, and I’m new to BRR. I’ve been running since February this year, and it’s probably the best thing I’ve ever done.
I pulled out my school trainers – regulation for P.E and size 5, because my feet haven’t grown for almost 5 years. You’d think they were tattered and falling apart. Think again. Physical Education in school is something I had always dreaded. I can’t catch, throw, kick or hit a ball to save my life, and due to this, I often humiliated myself in front of the whole class. For this reason, the trainers had been barely used and looked almost new.
Then, I began to run – Twice a week, three times a week, whenever I had the time. 3.5K, 5K, 10K round the downs. A massive weight of GCSE stress, teenage issues and feeling forever exhausted was lifted. I could suddenly handle the amount of homework and revision, feel good about myself, and smile more. Therefore, in a moment of post-run endorphins madness, my Mum and I signed up for the Bristol 10K. It was the day before my first exam (English Language Paper 1), and I had never run anything like it before. I’d simply stood at the sidelines munching a chocolate bar and waving, or something equally as un-athletic.
Furthermore, when I ran, I had aches and pains which I dismissed as normal. It was only during the 10K when my right foot ended in excruciating, hobbling-worthy pain that I decided enough was enough. So, this morning, my Mum and Dad drove me to Moti on Whiteladies Road (http://www.mymoti.com/bristol/) and they were FANTASTIC! I advise them to anyone who needs a good pair of running trainers. “Gait analysis” – I had no idea, either. But, after being filmed on a treadmill, the guy in the shop showed me that my legs weren’t straight when I ran, and neither were my shoulders or hips. I put on a different pair of trainers, was filmed again, and repeated this another 2 times.
When he showed me the videos being compared, it was evident that a pair of trainers can make a huge difference. From running in quite a…strange way, I slipped on a pair of trainers and began to run like a human being! All aches and pains disappeared! I used to think that brands and breathable shoes were just sales pitches, but I couldn’t be more wrong.
Ben | 1 Comment. Add yours! The words ‘running’ and ‘community’ are ones which I never thought I would write together, except maybe to reference ‘That Nod’ to other runners. When I started running I though it was a sport for lone wolves (a.k.a. loners) people like Obe Wan Kenobi in Stars Wars, except swap a cave on an isolated planet for a semi-detached house in Kingswood.
My perception has however totally changed, in fact being part of the running community has made me enjoy the sport even more. Firstly I’m now a member of a Running Club, which not only helped me improve my speed and endurance, but has also seen a lot of banter being thrown around. Yet it’s more than just joining a club, every week at Parkrun you’ll see people and recognise them and discuss how it’s the most horrific course you’ve ever run. It’s all about making connections.
I ran the Bristol 10k with my best mate as my wing man (think Turner and Hooch). Being with him not only improved my performance but certainly it made it more fun and social as we tackled the course, I had a blast (wow, who says that seriously?).
If you’re new to running and you need motivation then get some other people involved, start some banter. You’re already part of a community, you just might not know it yet.
Check out our comprehensive list of running clubs.
