The Loneliness of a Long-Distance Runner

[kinboshi]

I'd love to do it but I'm probably busy. If the plans fall through I might yet make it.

Hopefully, you won't be running then.

[kinboshi]

The TR24 is getting closer, the same number of days Jebus spent in the desert hanging out with the devil.

I've struggled with some recent training runs, and hoping it was down to general tiredness and a bit of a cough I picked up.  Went out on Thursday and felt much better.  It's a bit dispiriting when you get to the business-end of your training and you feel like you're almost back at square one, can only imagine how professional sportsmen feel when they're ill or injured.

One problem I've had recently is little flying insects, and them getting in my eyes!  Not something I've struggled much with before, but I guess I'm running in the evening at the moment rather than the morning and so I'm running when they're most active.  Managed to swallow a few, but no harm done there (to me anyway), but when the little buggers get in your eye it brings you to an abrupt halt.  So I decided I needed to get some running shades to protect my eyes.  Never worn them before, so will be going out in them today for the first time and see how they feel.  Didn't want to spend loads on them, but didn't want to get a crappy pair either.  So went for these: http://sunwise.co.uk/products/windrush-black/ and they're certainly light and seem well-made.  Like the interchangeable lenses as well, so I can wear them to protect my eyes from flying ants even if there's not much sun about.

[Vinodh]

Just came across the look alike thread Kinboshi that window cleaner one was just too good, I am sorry, cant stop my laughing till now whoever did that, vwp!!!!!

[kinboshi]

Just came across the look alike thread Kinboshi that window cleaner one was just too good, I am sorry, cant stop my laughing till now whoever did that, vwp!!!!!

When I first thought it, I thought it was me in the video!

[Honeybadger]

I hope it is okay to post this ITT. I have been cunningly tricked into signing up for something ridiculous called Survival Of The Fittest. It is on 12th October in Nottingham. Apparently I've got to run for 10km, and every so often there are obstacles to go over and things like that.

I signed up for this several months ago, and obviously have not even bought a pair of running shoes yet, let alone started to get fit. Optimistically I may perhaps get my lazy ass in gear and start training by the end of the month. Which gives me about 14 weeks to try to get fit enough to have some sort of chance of completing the thing without dying.

To say I am unfit is a massive understatement. Apart from one brief interlude (see below) I have not done any exercise at all for around ten years. I am substantially overweight, with no latent fitness whatsoever. If I ran 100m to the end of the street right now I would be sweating, dizzy and feeling sick by the time I got there.

What I want to know is do I have any sort of chance at all of getting fit enough in three months to be able to do this thing?

About four years ago I did actually get myself sort of fit. On advice I started by doing four minutes walking followed by one minute of slow running, for twenty minutes. Then after a few days increased the ratio of running etc. I gather there is now an app called Couch to 10k which guides you through this process methodically. After about three months I was able to run very slowly for at least half an hour without stopping. I was loving it, pretty much addicted to it tbh. And it had a hugely beneficial impact on my life in all sorts of unexpected ways. Unfortunately I hurt my Achilles Tendon, probably because I was running five times a week in crap trainers. And that was the end of that - I couldn't run any more and by the time it got better (it took over a year) I had lost all momentum. Four years later I am back to how I was... think Jabba the Hutt after he has really let himself go.

I would be over the moon merely to be able to jog very gently round the course. But it is 10k... that sounds like rather a long way! I have never run even 5km before, let alone 10 km.

Am I drawing dead on this? Or have I got a chance? Any thoughts, suggestions or advice would be much welcomed. Or you can just laugh and take the piss... that'd be just as good, and probably more appropriate.

[Rexas]

Gotta say stu, in all seriousness, glgl on this matey. Is this for charity, or as more of a personal challenge? Will support this in any way I can, think it's fantastic when people get involved in things like this!

[corkeye]

I hope it is okay to post this ITT. I have been cunningly tricked into signing up for something ridiculous called Survival Of The Fittest. It is on 12th October in Nottingham. Apparently I've got to run for 10km, and every so often there are obstacles to go over and things like that.

I signed up for this several months ago, and obviously have not even bought a pair of running shoes yet, let alone started to get fit. Optimistically I may perhaps get my lazy ass in gear and start training by the end of the month. Which gives me about 14 weeks to try to get fit enough to have some sort of chance of completing the thing without dying.

To say I am unfit is a massive understatement. Apart from one brief interlude (see below) I have not done any exercise at all for around ten years. I am substantially overweight, with no latent fitness whatsoever. If I ran 100m to the end of the street right now I would be sweating, dizzy and feeling sick by the time I got there.

What I want to know is do I have any sort of chance at all of getting fit enough in three months to be able to do this thing?

About four years ago I did actually get myself sort of fit. On advice I started by doing four minutes walking followed by one minute of slow running, for twenty minutes. Then after a few days increased the ratio of running etc. I gather there is now an app called Couch to 10k which guides you through this process methodically. After about three months I was able to run very slowly for at least half an hour without stopping. I was loving it, pretty much addicted to it tbh. And it had a hugely beneficial impact on my life in all sorts of unexpected ways. Unfortunately I hurt my Achilles Tendon, probably because I was running five times a week in crap trainers. And that was the end of that - I couldn't run any more and by the time it got better (it took over a year) I had lost all momentum. Four years later I am back to how I was... think Jabba the Hutt after he has really let himself go.

I would be over the moon merely to be able to jog very gently round the course. But it is 10k... that sounds like rather a long way! I have never run even 5km before, let alone 10 km.

Am I drawing dead on this? Or have I got a chance? Any thoughts, suggestions or advice would be much welcomed. Or you can just laugh and take the piss... that'd be just as good, and probably more appropriate.
[/quote

] make sure you jog 3x per week min. Also get at least one running partner who is also just starting out, better still several people. Doing it alone won't push you as much. Glglglgl

[kinboshi]

Stu, it's doable, but it's not going to be easy.

You have to build it up slowly, otherwise your body will not be able to cope with the demands and you'll pick up an injury.

Speak to Danny Bell as he did something very similar. The key is sticking to the schedule and not finding excuses. You'll be happy to know that when I started my training for my first marathon I couldn't run for more than a few minutes. So I started on a run-walk regime. Slowly built it up so that I could run for 10 minutes, then 20 and then 30.

Not only can you do it, you'll also start to enjoy it perversely.

[Jon MW]

Stu, it's doable, but it's not going to be easy.

You have to build it up slowly, otherwise your body will not be able to cope with the demands and you'll pick up an injury.
...

So would building up to a 5 mile run in a month be unlikely then?

Because I'm beginning to think that my plan to carb load for 3 months just might not do the trick 

[kinboshi]

5 or 6 miles (10K is 6.2 miles I think) in a month or so from scratch is going to be very tough.  Two months and it'd be a lot easier, or if you're not starting from scratch a month is probably doable.

Three months, and it's definitely doable.  The carbo-loading is the fun bit

[peejaytwo]

About four years ago I did actually get myself sort of fit. On advice I started by doing four minutes walking followed by one minute of slow running, for twenty minutes. Then after a few days increased the ratio of running etc. I gather there is now an app called Couch to 10k which guides you through this process methodically. After about three months I was able to run very slowly for at least half an hour without stopping.

my daughter started the couch to 5k on 29th april and sunday is the event day (5k or 30 mins non stop)

she was capable of walking for an hour but generally hated exercise so started from a pretty low fitness level. the structured
training plan has really helped her and she's never given in when it got harder.
as i already did a little running (2 miles every now and again) i started the couch to 10k at the same time but missing off the
first 2 weeks of the schedule. i have to say that running with someone will definatly help as will the runkeeper app to track your progress and pace.

GL with it and kudos to you guys running 10k all the time

[Jon MW]

5 or 6 miles (10K is 6.2 miles I think) in a month or so from scratch is going to be very tough.  Two months and it'd be a lot easier, or if you're not starting from scratch a month is probably doable.

Three months, and it's definitely doable.  The carbo-loading is the fun bit

My original plan was a 5k in mid August but I got a bit carried away when I got the email saying about running in the Olympic Stadium.

That still gave me plenty of time, but just as I was starting to actually do any kind of training I got a pretty big bout of tonsillitis - I'm not completely over it now but I'm thinking I'm really going to have to start doing something again now and hope that the tiny bit of training I'd started before still has some benefit.

[kinboshi]

You're not going from zero though are you Jon?  You do other exercise with your swimming and stuff, so you'll at least have a base level to start from.

[Jon MW]

You're not going from zero though are you Jon?  You do other exercise with your swimming and stuff, so you'll at least have a base level to start from.

I've been mainly sitting on a sofa eating ice cream for a couple of months - but no, in terms of a base level of fitness it still won't 100% be from scratch.

If it comes down to it I'll just rely on my stubborn refusal to quit and my miserly compunction to not let the entry fee go to waste

[kinboshi]

You're not going from zero though are you Jon?  You do other exercise with your swimming and stuff, so you'll at least have a base level to start from.

I've been mainly sitting on a sofa eating ice cream for a couple of months - but no, in terms of a base level of fitness it still won't 100% be from scratch.

If it comes down to it I'll just rely on my stubborn refusal to quit and my miserly compunction to not let the entry fee go to waste

Stubborness and pride are essential attributes for a runner.  Being tight doesn't harm in this situation either