Official Running Thread

[Anchorman]

Thanks mate. I take it that my complete absence of anything resembling a personality won't be a factor in the award?

Key word in your post; 'painless'. You'll be back in 2022.

Talking of which we're still 2 weeks away from 2022 but I think it's time to invite people to submit a review of their running year: the highs, the lows (sorry) - achievements in terms of PBs, annual mileages, best running experiences of 2021 etc.

For me, it's been a bit of a golden year, consistently breaking through the hallowed 80% AG and sneaking into the top 100 in my age category for Parkruns (87th) and 10k (86th). I've stayed free of serious injury (just 3 weeks off for my heel problem) and usually prevailed over the old gits I've come up against.

But we've all got one more opportunity for our 5k SBs on Xmas Day, so someone (probably called Artie) can still pull out the Big One...............

Thank you, Saucony Endorphins!

Disappointing year for me with all the cancellations of parkrun and track sessions in the first part of the year, I became something of a plodder which I convinced myself it was something of a good thing to take a break from ‘speedwork’ (I use that word at a bit of a stretch!)

When things resumed I was clearly a way short of the sort of times I was posting before but started heading back in the right direction. Then one morning I just woke up with a pain in my knee. Like most of us on here would, I I just tried to run it off(!!) Then when that didn’t really work, a few rest periods of ever increasing length, then off to the physio, then a different one until finally the Specialist courtesy of Mrs. A’s company healthcare scheme for the news of a torn meniscus.

After a bit of research on my options I’m going for the quickie surgery, booked in for next month. Frustrating as it is, I know I’ve been generally lucky with injury over the years so can’t complain too much. Also on the plus side, as I’ve just added yet another year to my Old Git status those age graded time requirements seem less daunting and may provide a bit of motivation. Obviously when I hopefully resume running again to start off with they’ll seem impossible but the Old Git club have 80% proof GNT for inspiration!

Well done to everyone for all the brilliant achievements I’ve seen on here over the last year, my posts may be pretty rare but I’m a regular reader of this thread so always know how everyone’s running is going.

Happy New Year Running All.

 

[knocky1]

[MENTION=9083]Anchorman[/MENTION] that sounds bloody awful. Seems that you are in the right frame of mind to deal with it.Good luck.

Talking of 2022 does [MENTION=26634]Simgull[/MENTION] or anyone know if the Hove Prom/Hove Park New Year's Day Double is happening? I fear not from looking at their websites...........

 

[Simgull]

[MENTION=9083]Anchorman[/MENTION] that sounds bloody awful. Seems that you are in the right frame of mind to deal with it.Good luck.

Talking of 2022 does [MENTION=26634]Simgull[/MENTION] or anyone know if the Hove Prom/Hove Park New Year's Day Double is happening? I fear not from looking at their websites...........

Definitely no doubles on NYD - it all became a bit unmanageable last time with nearly a thousand runners at each- I think the general view was it had just become unfair as it put too much pressure on the volunteers as the chances of something going wrong were much higher with so many people. I think this decision may have also been applied nationally by parkrun - and all of this was before COVID became a factor.

 

[knocky1]

Definitely no doubles on NYD - it all became a bit unmanageable last time with nearly a thousand runners at each- I think the general view was it had just become unfair as it put too much pressure on the volunteers as the chances of something going wrong were much higher with so many people. I think this decision may have also been applied nationally by parkrun - and all of this was before COVID became a factor.

Makes sense. I remember the last one. I was still drunk and dazed and nearly took a tumble in Hove Park. There were quite a few bundles.

My achilles is playing well but my hips are not happy with the return to running so, bearing in mind your comments on the hips being behind most problems, I'm working on a stretching and strengthening routine.

 

[Notters]

Argh, have accidentally ordered New Balance 860v11 instead of 880v11. Am I going to have problems? I didn't realise they weren't neutral. Have not yet had any gait analysis or anything.

 

[Bozza]

That's me done for 2021 - the first time I've run every day of a calendar year.

I finished the year on 3117.4 miles and 132,556 feet of hills, which averages out at 8.5 miles/day; 59.9 miles/week and 259.8 miles/month.

I was going to just have a little plod today, but I noticed I'd not completed the Strava monthly half-marathon challenge, which i couldn't ignore. I ran a 1:34:34 half which is, apparently, my second best. It's a good four minutes outside my PB, and I certainly wasn't trying to beat that, but it's a nice little confidence boost as it feels like I've lost a lot of fitness and/or speed over the second half of the year.

No rest for the wicked, straight into RED (Run Every Day) January during which I'll pass my two-year Run Streak. I'll very possibly be undetaking a short Dog Jog to get home from [MENTION=236]Papa Lazarou[/MENTION]'s house in the wee early hours of tomorrow morning. It's a good job that runners aren't breathalysed...

 

[Artie Fufkin]

Just jumping on to wish all NSC Runners a Happy New Year! Here's to a happy and healthy year of running in 2022 guys.

 

[FloatLeft]

Definitely no doubles on NYD - it all became a bit unmanageable last time with nearly a thousand runners at each- I think the general view was it had just become unfair as it put too much pressure on the volunteers as the chances of something going wrong were much higher with so many people. I think this decision may have also been applied nationally by parkrun - and all of this was before COVID became a factor.

Does this mean there is no Park Run tomorrow?

Right now at 11:10pm I’m thinking I’m up for it.

Come 4am I’ll be thinking maybe I’ll give it a swerve.

 

[Simgull]

Does this mean there is no Park Run tomorrow?

Right now at 11:10pm I’m thinking I’m up for it.

Come 4am I’ll be thinking maybe I’ll give it a swerve.

Well it’s nearly 4am and I’m looking forward to four hours sleep and then parkrun in the morning.

Yes it’s on but no NYD doubles. I think Bevendean is off in case you fancied that with a hangover!

 

[Bozza]

Nearly 4am and I’ve filed my first run of the year exactly as predicted above.

Turns out running with a large Labrador whilst being absolutely wasted is not very easy.

But I’m up and running for 2022!

 

[Barham's tash]

Did 6km yesterday and signed up to the Vitality London 10k this morning which is in May. My aim is to do it in 55 minutes which having only ever twice posted sub 30 minute 5ks is quite a stretch aim.

Anyone with any tips for improving pacing I’m all ears!

 

[big nuts]

I hurt my back the Monday before Christmas, so I've had an uneventful end to the year, after a slow start when I had Covid in Jan and missed the first week of 2021.

Pleased to have completed 2,110 miles for the year and set some nice PB's throughout (5k - Hove Prom in October, HM - Goodwood in April & Marathon - Brighton - Brighton Ultra Marathon)

I''m signed up for the Manchester Marathon in April and then looking to get a charity spot for London in October.

First target though is to get through tomorrow's comeback run unscathed.

Good to see some New Year Park Runs amongst this group this morning.

 

[Artie Fufkin]

That's me done for 2021 - the first time I've run every day of a calendar year.

I finished the year on 3117.4 miles and 132,556 feet of hills, which averages out at 8.5 miles/day; 59.9 miles/week and 259.8 miles/month.

I was going to just have a little plod today, but I noticed I'd not completed the Strava monthly half-marathon challenge, which i couldn't ignore. I ran a 1:34:34 half which is, apparently, my second best. It's a good four minutes outside my PB, and I certainly wasn't trying to beat that, but it's a nice little confidence boost as it feels like I've lost a lot of fitness and/or speed over the second half of the year.

No rest for the wicked, straight into RED (Run Every Day) January during which I'll pass my two-year Run Streak. I'll very possibly be undetaking a short Dog Jog to get home from [MENTION=236]Papa Lazarou[/MENTION]'s house in the wee early hours of tomorrow morning. It's a good job that runners aren't breathalysed...

Another phenomenal year of running Bozza!

 

[Artie Fufkin]

Did 6km yesterday and signed up to the Vitality London 10k this morning which is in May. My aim is to do it in 55 minutes which having only ever twice posted sub 30 minute 5ks is quite a stretch aim.

Anyone with any tips for improving pacing I’m all ears!

The Vitality London 10k is great fun. Gradually building up our time spent running and maintaining some nice consistency from one week to the next would be my main tips. Take it easy and keep the running relaxed most of the time, sprinkle in some harder efforts, and improvements will come over time. Happy running!

 

[Artie Fufkin]

I hurt my back the Monday before Christmas, so I've had an uneventful end to the year, after a slow start when I had Covid in Jan and missed the first week of 2021.

Pleased to have completed 2,110 miles for the year and set some nice PB's throughout (5k - Hove Prom in October, HM - Goodwood in April & Marathon - Brighton - Brighton Ultra Marathon)

I''m signed up for the Manchester Marathon in April and then looking to get a charity spot for London in October.

First target though is to get through tomorrow's comeback run unscathed.

Good to see some New Year Park Runs amongst this group this morning.

A fantastic year of running with a brilliant set of PB's Big Nuts! Onwards and upwards! I have a feeling you're on target for an even better 2022. Hopefully see you in Manchester.

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

Worthing Parkrun. Good turnout. Not much wind. 21.20 was a tad disappointing, but with the gift of a birthday just allowed me to scrape over the 80% AG (80.08%). A Portslade Hedgehopper vet woman got well north of 90%.Also a PB from legend Graham Godden who clearly didn't over-indulge over the festive period.

 

[Artie Fufkin]

Looking back at 2021 it was a somewhat up and down year for me. Started off the year pretty strong but a calf injury in April and Covid in November made it feel like a really stop start kind of year. Mileage down to 2,853 miles reflects that feeling.
Not a lot of racing either but was super happy to have PB'd at the London Marathon which was my main goal of the year. Another year of learning a lot.
Excited to try to keep improving this year with Manchester in April and London in October will be my A race once again.

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

Looking back at 2021 it was a somewhat up and down year for me. Started off the year pretty strong but a calf injury in April and Covid in November made it feel like a really stop start kind of year. Mileage down to 2,853 miles reflects that feeling.
Not a lot of racing either but was super happy to have PB'd at the London Marathon which was my main goal of the year. Another year of learning a lot.
Excited to try to keep improving this year with Manchester in April and London in October will be my A race once again.

'Mileage down to 2,853'* says it all!

*that's about what we do in our car

 

[Artie Fufkin]

'Mileage down to 2,853'* says it all!

*that's about what we do in our car

Not a lot of that was "quality" work though GNT. I spent most of the year keeping it comfortable, which works for me to stay as injury free as possible, but I think if I'm going to try to get a bit quicker this year I need to increase the % of "quality" in the ~3,000 mile range.

It's always a fine volume X intensity balance to navigate (run easy to train hard) but I think taking a leaf out of your book and getting down to parkrun more frequently for some fun sharper efforts would be a good place for me to start.

HNY!

 

[Bozza]

Did 6km yesterday and signed up to the Vitality London 10k this morning which is in May. My aim is to do it in 55 minutes which having only ever twice posted sub 30 minute 5ks is quite a stretch aim.

Anyone with any tips for improving pacing I’m all ears!

This is my 10km PB history since I was able to return to running in autumn 2019...

27/10/19 48:01
21/11/19 46:10
01/03/20 45:57
21/03/20 44:34
10/05/20 43:58
07/06/20 43:24
07/11/20 41:32
25/02/21 39:05

Over this time, I've not done anything special at all. No speed work, fartleks, hill sprints, Park Runs nor speed-specific training plans - I just go out running, mixing up road and hilly trails on the Downs.

So, for me, the key has just been consistent running, week after week, month after month and then, every now and again, putting in some real effort to see if I've improved at the shorter distances.