• The forums will be unavailable for a few hours on Saturday 6th June, when they do return they will initially be in a degraded state with some features missing, but normal posting/reading will be possible. The main website will not be affected by these updates.
    New user registrations are currently disabled.
    Some other features of the forum are also currently disabled.

Running Thread 2026

Thats part of my standard route, not massively into the depths but on the edges between bournmoor and Shiney - its a lovely treck about

I nearly pulled a hamstring just thinking about sub 20....Ive only ever managed one sub 25 but I was close last park run. No more silly fast runs as in the Sunderland half soon for my first ever half
Haha, ran 19:15 back in my prime around 2019-2020 but can't see me getting back to that. Started doing more hiking after COVID then I broke my ankle in 2023 and after I recovered I was kinda just going through the motions a bit. Decided to do my first ever marathon last year and it really got me going again, my times have been steadily coming back down.

Ah you've still got 2 months, the odd blast will be fine 😄
 

Thats part of my standard route, not massively into the depths but on the edges between bournmoor and Shiney - its a lovely treck about

I nearly pulled a hamstring just thinking about sub 20....Ive only ever managed one sub 25 but I was close last park run. No more silly fast runs as in the Sunderland half soon for my first ever half
Ran from home and made my way to the main entrance and gradually down to the river, ran along to the new bridge then came back along the river and out the gate by the washy highway flyover. Then up back towards Penshaw on the path alongside the highway, that is about a mile of incline , nee wonder it felt hard work.

Never ventured through to bournmoor, and rarely go through Shiney, mostly riverside and Penshaw or Lambtons when it's open.
 
Ran from home and made my way to the main entrance and gradually down to the river, ran along to the new bridge then came back along the river and out the gate by the washy highway flyover. Then up back towards Penshaw on the path alongside the highway, that is about a mile of incline , nee wonder it felt hard work.

Never ventured through to bournmoor, and rarely go through Shiney, mostly riverside and Penshaw or Lambtons when it's open.
When Lambtons fully opens again I think I'll have a jog about as walked around it but never had a run and its lush around there
 
When Lambtons fully opens again I think I'll have a jog about as walked around it but never had a run and its lush around there
It's open now marra. Every day from 10am until July I think when it goes to weekends then closes from October.

You can get in the front from where they're building the new houses and shops, or there's a gate down on the riverside almost under the washy highway
 
It's open now marra. Every day from 10am until July I think when it goes to weekends then closes from October.

You can get in the front from where they're building the new houses and shops, or there's a gate down on the riverside almost under the washy highway
OH might have a jaunt about Sunday = also as I'm a fairly noob at running (18 months) how do I know if my form is right as there is so many conflicting videos on youtube i know shoulders wise up right but some of the videos have point your toes straight up as they leave the ground etc , some say push down etc I have no idea as I just run slowly and have never had any training but am very injury prone as I'm old and had loads of footy injuries - hamstrings, calfs, ankles etc. Any links to what people say the right things and exercises are to do with form?
 
OH might have a jaunt about Sunday = also as I'm a fairly noob at running (18 months) how do I know if my form is right as there is so many conflicting videos on youtube i know shoulders wise up right but some of the videos have point your toes straight up as they leave the ground etc , some say push down etc I have no idea as I just run slowly and have never had any training but am very injury prone as I'm old and had loads of footy injuries - hamstrings, calfs, ankles etc. Any links to what people say the right things and exercises are to do with form?
Nee idea on form, other than keep your chest up, don't double over when knackered or you'll not be able to get a lung full.

There's that much conflicting advice around on you tube and Facebook videos, best thing to ignore them I reckon and as long as you're enjoying running.

If you looked at 10 people running z they'll all be slightly different.

Regards injuries, I'd say try and do some cross training, some weights or swim/bike couple of times a week. You could google exercises for running and there'll be loads of videos to follow, most you'll be able to do them at home in anything from 10mins upwards
 
OH might have a jaunt about Sunday = also as I'm a fairly noob at running (18 months) how do I know if my form is right as there is so many conflicting videos on youtube i know shoulders wise up right but some of the videos have point your toes straight up as they leave the ground etc , some say push down etc I have no idea as I just run slowly and have never had any training but am very injury prone as I'm old and had loads of footy injuries - hamstrings, calfs, ankles etc. Any links to what people say the right things and exercises are to do with form?
Warm up properly before a run. With dynamic stretches not standing stretches (sure they’ve got a proper name). Squats, leg crossover thingys, leg kicks, glute bridges. 5mins is all it takes. Doesn’t stop injuries but it’s certainly helped me with fewer niggles.

Warm down properly. Cool down after run, walk for a few mins after run too. Then proper stretches afterwards. Protein after a run, and not to stir any potential discussion- I find creatine helps too.

And don’t forget your electrolytes!

Form - just run. I’ve battled to improve cadence and I’ll just never be a 180 cadence runner. Saps me. 165 at easy miles and 175-180 at full pelt.

I do like to think that I’m getting pulled by my hips when I run. Like somebody has lassoed my hips and is pulling me in the direction I’m running. Helps me keep up straight and not slouch. I look about 10 metres in front of me. Doubt any of the above is what the social media lot will tell you but this is what works for me.

The hip thought might be placebo but it focuses my mind to keep me upright and it’s my go-to thought when I can feel my form dipping due to fatigue.
 
Last edited:
OH might have a jaunt about Sunday = also as I'm a fairly noob at running (18 months) how do I know if my form is right as there is so many conflicting videos on youtube i know shoulders wise up right but some of the videos have point your toes straight up as they leave the ground etc , some say push down etc I have no idea as I just run slowly and have never had any training but am very injury prone as I'm old and had loads of footy injuries - hamstrings, calfs, ankles etc. Any links to what people say the right things and exercises are to do with form?
As already mentioned mix things up, bit of core work.

I am 54 and following years of just running I got issues with both my knees in January 2025 to a point I couldn't even bend down.

Ended up with knee overload and a touch of bursitis. It took almost 12 months of exercises, gym work and reduced running to sort out.

I scrapped one of my running days to do pilates as well.
 
Some people are just fortunate like that. Others aren’t. I’m in the latter camp and constantly have niggles, the dynamic stretches have reduced that for me.
That's one way of looking at it. I only run once a week now. For the next couple of days I am walking on egg shells, or alternatively, moving like an unoiled tin man. An age thing also.
 
Ive been thrown into coral which i don't understand as my predicted finish time isn't that slow and its the last wave?
Some of the big marathons now are starting the slowest runners earlier so they can get the roads open quicker. It's really pants as you get stuck behind and have to weave in and out of people walking quite early on.
 
Ive been thrown into coral which i don't understand as my predicted finish time isn't that slow and its the last wave?

That’s weird mate - I put my predicted time as 5 hours and I’m in dark green?
Some of the big marathons now are starting the slowest runners earlier so they can get the roads open quicker. It's really pants as you get stuck behind and have to weave in and out of people walking quite early on.

Just seen this one - that would make sense except I’m in dark green and it’s the wave before coral and my estimated time is 5 hours
 
I think I put mine at around 5 as well but I cant remember. Where do I find that? I mean either way im looking forward to it. Debating what to wear is the dilemma
 
Some of the big marathons now are starting the slowest runners earlier so they can get the roads open quicker. It's really pants as you get stuck behind and have to weave in and out of people walking quite early on.

Canny. Stops me going off at stupid pace then crashing hard later.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: TAD
Back
Top