The Runners' Thread
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Wow, that's crazy. I'm supposed to be doing a half marathon with one of my buddies at roughly the same time. I don't think I'm going to be in shape for it, but I've got a couple 5Ks lined up just prior to that time.
Shoes are very important. I've gone through different brands and shoe styles over the past 7 years. My advice ... buy lots of shoes and find out what works for you.
Successful running is ~25% physical ability and ~75% mental attituide. You'll never be able to compete if you don't think you can. One day I decided that I'm a bad ass - the next day I knocked 30 seconds off my 5k time - apparently I was right.
Bue-yea.
~LoudMusic
Shoes are very important. I've gone through different brands and shoe styles over the past 7 years. My advice ... buy lots of shoes and find out what works for you.
Successful running is ~25% physical ability and ~75% mental attituide. You'll never be able to compete if you don't think you can. One day I decided that I'm a bad ass - the next day I knocked 30 seconds off my 5k time - apparently I was right.
Bue-yea.
~LoudMusic
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I used to run every morning in the exercise trails at my old high school which isn't that far away. Lot's of people run through the neighborhoods, but one side effect of suburbia is that every house has a dog, and not always on a chain, so you see people running with big sticks. My mom had run a marathon when I was a little kid, and my Uncle still runs in the New York, and Boston Marathons so I was predisposed to enjoy it I suppose. I have since ruined both knees though, and have had to resign myself to bicycling to stay in shape. (Which is still ok, because I get to take in more scenery) 
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I've inherited knee problems and have a left leg that becomes painful after running. I just jog in place or climb stairs.
Originally posted by Tom McDonnell
I used to run every morning in the exercise trails at my old high school which isn't that far away. Lot's of people run through the neighborhoods, but one side effect of suburbia is that every house has a dog, and not always on a chain, so you see people running with big sticks. My mom had run a marathon when I was a little kid, and my Uncle still runs in the New York, and Boston Marathons so I was predisposed to enjoy it I suppose. I have since ruined both knees though, and have had to resign myself to bicycling to stay in shape. (Which is still ok, because I get to take in more scenery)
I think cycling is one of the most underrated forms of exercise.
I ride a fair bit, but you have to pick your times because the State Govt here has made no facilities for cyclists, and the people who drive here seem to hate cyclists. It's quite dangerous, especially on the main roads.
Cool! A running thread! This is one of my big hobbies. I usually do 30-40 miles a week with a 13 miler on saturdays. At my last track meet I improved, but not too much. 2:15 800 and a 5:17 mile. I really need to get under 5 minutes this year! Honestly, I'm not too concerned with track, the 10k is my best distance 
. I've got a 40:12 in that. My biggest recommendation for anyone else is try on all the shoes you can before you buy, it's the most important part of all. Then go out on the roads and give em' heck!
. I've got a 40:12 in that. My biggest recommendation for anyone else is try on all the shoes you can before you buy, it's the most important part of all. Then go out on the roads and give em' heck!Hey - good one Frentzey!
You know what else I found made a big difference - proper running socks.
I got two pairs of Thorlo running socks - some wool ones, and some of the acryllic ones (with the blue heel and toe sections) and they are fantastic - help with padding and reducing heat in the shoe. I've had no blisters at all.
Nice time for the mile - I'm really not that much of a hurry (well, that and I can't run that fast for that long!)
You know what else I found made a big difference - proper running socks.
I got two pairs of Thorlo running socks - some wool ones, and some of the acryllic ones (with the blue heel and toe sections) and they are fantastic - help with padding and reducing heat in the shoe. I've had no blisters at all.
Nice time for the mile - I'm really not that much of a hurry (well, that and I can't run that fast for that long!)
Originally posted by frentzey
Hey - when you run, do you get people in trucks that swerve near you, throw trash, etc? I can't stand those people, there are so many here in South Carolina. I just feel good by thinking about their jealousy (I think that's what it is, masked by hatred)
Think of them when they're 50 with high blood pressure, a walking time bomb just waiting for their heart attack!
During the week I run on treadmills at the gym (it's a five minute walk from the office) - just on a 0.5 to 1.0 slope, but my big distance run on the weekend is at Centennial Park in Sydney (http://www.cp.nsw.gov.au/), and the park's not a through-road as such, it's a 3.6km circuit with a combined carpark/access road around the outside, which cars share with cyclists. I've never had any problems there - if cars starting giving crap to runners and cyclists, I suspect they'd suddenly be confronted with about a hundred angry runners and cyclists.
I tend to stay away from public roads here - I find it very hard to run on the concrete they used for footpaths. I tend to stick to asphalt paths, like bike tracks.
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"You know, asphalt is 30 times softer than cement" -- Runner friend of mine.
That's cool man - I'm all about running in big open parks. Too bad we don't have any good ones in my little town. I stick to back roads and such. We have several indoor facilities here, but I can't stand doing 8 (or more) laps for a single mile, YUCK! The weather is cold and rainy right now though, so I've been inside once, and freezing my bum off the rest of the time.
Well, I've got a ways to go before I can be competetive in a 5k again, but hopefully that will happen soon enough for me to win a couple of the local races.
~LoudMusic
That's cool man - I'm all about running in big open parks. Too bad we don't have any good ones in my little town. I stick to back roads and such. We have several indoor facilities here, but I can't stand doing 8 (or more) laps for a single mile, YUCK! The weather is cold and rainy right now though, so I've been inside once, and freezing my bum off the rest of the time.
Well, I've got a ways to go before I can be competetive in a 5k again, but hopefully that will happen soon enough for me to win a couple of the local races.
~LoudMusic
Wow - outright contention...
At this stage I just want to finish - the Sydney Half Marathon will be good - it's around the CBD and a couple of the parks (check out http://www.smh.com.au/news/specials/local/halfmarathon/), there's a time limit of 150 minutes (and if you don't make it in that time - you're out!!) and I'll be happy with a time between 100-120 minutes.
I'm pretty sure the distance won't be an issue. I'm comfortably running well over 10km on my big runs now (14.4km on Saturday, and there was probably another 4km left in me) and increasing my distance gradually, so I should be able to run 20-25km by the end of May.
I'm actually looking forward to this - running around the CBD and parks early on a Sunday morning with the traffic blocked off will be pretty cool.
At this stage I just want to finish - the Sydney Half Marathon will be good - it's around the CBD and a couple of the parks (check out http://www.smh.com.au/news/specials/local/halfmarathon/), there's a time limit of 150 minutes (and if you don't make it in that time - you're out!!) and I'll be happy with a time between 100-120 minutes.
I'm pretty sure the distance won't be an issue. I'm comfortably running well over 10km on my big runs now (14.4km on Saturday, and there was probably another 4km left in me) and increasing my distance gradually, so I should be able to run 20-25km by the end of May.
I'm actually looking forward to this - running around the CBD and parks early on a Sunday morning with the traffic blocked off will be pretty cool.
Guys - a little tip from you, if you could.
Does anyone have any advice on running with a head cold? I've picked up a bit of a sniffle and have read conflicting reports - some indicating that it's okay to train provided the infection's above the neck, and some suggesting taking some time off.
Does anyone have any advice on running with a head cold? I've picked up a bit of a sniffle and have read conflicting reports - some indicating that it's okay to train provided the infection's above the neck, and some suggesting taking some time off.
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But
50m - 5.91 et indoors
60m - 6.81 et indoors
100m - 10.47 et outdoors
200m - 21.81 outdoors
400m - 49.87 outdoors
Of course that was 17 years ago now..
800m - 1:59.32.. at the age of 31.. 3 years ago. Tore my achilles tendon at the Provincial championships the week after that.. and haven't done much since. I did some jogging last year, and it was the first time I had been comfortable running again. Once it warms up again, I'll likely start running again.. not too good at longer distance stuff though. I'll be 35 next year, and can compete in races under sub-masters category...might try that if I have the time.
50m - 5.91 et indoors
60m - 6.81 et indoors
100m - 10.47 et outdoors
200m - 21.81 outdoors
400m - 49.87 outdoors
Of course that was 17 years ago now..
800m - 1:59.32.. at the age of 31.. 3 years ago. Tore my achilles tendon at the Provincial championships the week after that.. and haven't done much since. I did some jogging last year, and it was the first time I had been comfortable running again. Once it warms up again, I'll likely start running again.. not too good at longer distance stuff though. I'll be 35 next year, and can compete in races under sub-masters category...might try that if I have the time.
Fogelhund? a 49.87 400? That's flying. In '99, I ran cross-country and track in my senior year at high school. I also played basketball in between to help stay in shape. We had four guys that year running 50 sec 400 and we just missed going to state by a nose (literally, we got beat out by a leaner at the line). It's okay though, I still ended up going in long jump and high jump. I was in such great shape back then... I'd love to be again, but I just don't have the time now that I'm in college. But, like LM said,
I don't remember any of my times from CC, but I know they were upper 1/3 of the pack. 15 minutes sounds close. Anyway, I truly enjoy running, and I'm gonna make myself start doing it again when the weather gets nice.
Oh, shoes and socks do make a huge difference. I've got a pair of Nike Kukini's, you know the blue ones with no laces. My girlfriend calls them snot shoes because she thinks the plastic cage that holds them tight looks like snot. And, of course, Nike Dri-Fit socks with blue swooshes that match. My matching outfits were the only thing my coach ever complained about.
I don't remember any of my times from CC, but I know they were upper 1/3 of the pack. 15 minutes sounds close. Anyway, I truly enjoy running, and I'm gonna make myself start doing it again when the weather gets nice.
Oh, shoes and socks do make a huge difference. I've got a pair of Nike Kukini's, you know the blue ones with no laces. My girlfriend calls them snot shoes because she thinks the plastic cage that holds them tight looks like snot. And, of course, Nike Dri-Fit socks with blue swooshes that match. My matching outfits were the only thing my coach ever complained about.
Yeah LoudMusic, attitude is really important, as I found last November. The August before, I ran a 10k and broke my old record by 13 seconds - my time was 44:41. But that was only 13 seconds over a 7 month period. 
In the following 10k in November, I decided to go out hard and simply flow, and in the end I had a 40:12. That's 4 minutes and 29 seconds off in a 3 month period. I hope I can do some more of that soon.
In the following 10k in November, I decided to go out hard and simply flow, and in the end I had a 40:12. That's 4 minutes and 29 seconds off in a 3 month period. I hope I can do some more of that soon. 
Nah - I was just referring to the fact that it had been four months since anyone had posted here.
I've got the Sydney City to Surf run coming up on Sunday the 11th - the 14.4km won't be a problem, but the course is pretty hilly. I've been doing some hard treadmill work at the gym (basically four km or so at good pace up decent inclines), so hopefully I'll be ready. I do wish I was 5 kilo lighter though!
I've got the Sydney City to Surf run coming up on Sunday the 11th - the 14.4km won't be a problem, but the course is pretty hilly. I've been doing some hard treadmill work at the gym (basically four km or so at good pace up decent inclines), so hopefully I'll be ready. I do wish I was 5 kilo lighter though!
Bloody hard! It was Sydney's hottest August 11th on record - 27 degrees celsius (it's friggin' winter!!). I ran 77 minutes dead - I was thinking somewhere between 75 and 80 minutes, so that was pleasing.
I got to the top of Heartbreak Hill running all the way (a bit past the 8 km point), and then turned right from New South Head Road into Old South Head Road (you start to head south to Bondi) and for some reason I had it in my head it was flat from there on - but it's not, it's a gentle incline.
Heartbreak Hill really hurt me - my heart rate was right up, so from that point I pretty well walked the uphill sections, and ran the flats and downhills (still at pretty reasonable pace though).
I think I heard somewhere they treated 3,000 people for problems coping with the heat. They got 57,000 runners!!!!
I also forgot how much of the course is concrete surface - not only is it very hard to run out (feet are fairly sore today) but you copped a double whack of the sun - from above, and reflected off the ground!
So, I need to drag my arse out and do more hill work - I'm pretty sure I can find 7-10 minutes pretty easily - I think I went out a bit hard a bit early. Lesson learnt.
It was good though - it's a real party for the people along the route - a couple of jazz bands, a rock cover bands, lots of little kids with hoses (who were more than welcome!) - I'll definitely do it again next year. It was my second event, so I'm getting more of an idea of pacing in these events.
I've got a 10km run next month over the Harbour Bridge - it runs concurrently with the Sydney Marathon, over the Olympic course. Might have a shot at the 42km in this event in 2003.
Sage
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lol...
Oh boy, I'm so sorry I haven't seen this thread before... I love running. I'll be joining the Cross Country team in the fall semester, and the Track team in the spring (more than likely, I'll do sprinting, and I might consider long jump). I'm not anywhere near what you guys are doing though... I've yet to do more than 7 miles at a time. 
Asthma doesn't help either, but for the most part, it doesn't hurt me too much... about 2.5 miles into a run, my asthma will kick up, and will last about another 0.5 to 2 miles, before it winds down. Bleah.
My biggest strength is uphill... I always surprise myself when I go flying by fellow trainees up steep hills... it certainly helps that I'm an avid cyclist, and that most of the muscles used for uphill running are also the muscles used for cycling. I'm also great at opening up my stride downhill. Interestingly, my "weakness" would be running on totally flat land... even a small gradient, uphill or down, makes my day better for some reason. I'm just a weirdo. :weird:
Oh boy, I'm so sorry I haven't seen this thread before... I love running.
I'll be joining the Cross Country team in the fall semester, and the Track team in the spring (more than likely, I'll do sprinting, and I might consider long jump). I'm not anywhere near what you guys are doing though... I've yet to do more than 7 miles at a time. Asthma doesn't help either, but for the most part, it doesn't hurt me too much... about 2.5 miles into a run, my asthma will kick up, and will last about another 0.5 to 2 miles, before it winds down. Bleah.My biggest strength is uphill... I always surprise myself when I go flying by fellow trainees up steep hills... it certainly helps that I'm an avid cyclist, and that most of the muscles used for uphill running are also the muscles used for cycling.
I'm also great at opening up my stride downhill. Interestingly, my "weakness" would be running on totally flat land... even a small gradient, uphill or down, makes my day better for some reason. I'm just a weirdo. :weird:
