The Motor Forum

Gooner · Last edited by Gooner on Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:12 pm; edited 1 time in total

One of our managers at work is putting together a team for the 2010 Bupa London 10000. And I've signed up! We will be raising money for a leukaemia research charity. His 3 year old son, who is about the same age as my Sophie, is currently battling the disease so it's hit home for me a bit.

I'm getting a bit overweight these days and haven't run properly since I was 16, when I last ran for my schools cross-country team. I used to be pretty good back then and even had a pop at the county championships, though being a typical teenager I never trained. I've been meaning for so long to get fit again and become more active but have never had the motivation to do it. Now I have no choice, I'm hoping I'll be able to stick to it and at the very least keep up with my colleagues.

It's going to be a bit of a mission and I've got to put in some serious training if I've any chance of not falling down flat after half a mile but I'm hoping that getting together with my colleagues will help with this. I have no proper training gear so I'll need to go shopping this weekend. My wife's also booked me a meeting with our local leisure centre to look at a gym membership - they offer a training package and as she works there I should get a discount.

I'll try to keep you all updated on how I get on (and how much Christmas will set me back!) in the meantime, wish me luck!
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simonp · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:07 pm Post subject:

6200 miles?!

Gooner · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject:

Edited. It's been a long week!
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gonnabuildabuggy · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:02 am Post subject:

10km, no problem once you've done a couple of training runs. #If I can do a half maratthon anyone can.
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Gooner · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:45 am Post subject:

You make it sound like a piece of piss. You clearly do not realise how unfit I am. I'm real hoping I'm underestimating myself though.
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Skyhook · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:39 am Post subject:

BeN · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:39 am Post subject:

garry · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:53 am Post subject:

Good luck.

Echo much of what skyhook said.

If you're a bit on the heavy side get some decent trainers to protect your knees.

Frank Bullitt · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:29 am Post subject:

Gooner · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject:

Great advice. I always used to run in Mizuno trainers when I was younger as they were much comfier than Nike or Adidas. I don't know if they do them still though. I'm not so heavy that my knees will suffer, though as I will be using the gym to help my fitness I may not lose much weight if I increase my muscle mass.

I signed up to the gym today at our local leisure centre thinking I'd get a discount through my wife. As it turns out, because she has worked there over a year, my membership is free! Bonus! I'm having an induction next Sunday so I've got a week to prepare for my new regime.
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garry · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:56 am Post subject:

You can still buy Mizuno trainers, but i'd get to a specialist shop if at all possible (runnersworld, sweatshop, etc). They can stick you on a machine to see how you run and suggest shoes that will work for you. They're checking for stuff like overpronation (tend to roll onto the outside of the foot). Makes a huge difference.

garry · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:15 am Post subject:

Frank Bullitt · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:54 am Post subject:

Yip, it's a chance to mull over all those things that are going on and put them into context while getting the adrenalin pumping.
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DetmoldDick · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:23 pm Post subject:

I did the Berlin Marathon in my 40th year. I wanted to something I had never done before, perhaps something to do with midlife crisis or something.

Although I was generally fit (I was in the Army at the time) the idea of doing a marathon was pretty daunting. Even in the Army you tend not to run more than 10km. Your 10km run may well be as daunting to you as the marathon was for me but preparation is everything.

The advice about the time on your feet is really good advice. You should really be out for at least 40 minutes per session to get any benefit, don´t even think about speed...you will only overdo it and get yourself injured. Maintain a speed that allows you to hold a conversation, at this speed you are actually burning more fat than runnning faster, where you burn off blood sugars.

You will need to go out at least 3 times a week. I would take one session a week as your "long run" whereas you go out for 40 minutes, then the next week 45 minutes and then 50 etc.. You should have at least one day a week for recovery, probably the day after your "long run".

What I did on my sessions was run/walk for exactly half the designated time then turn round and run/walk back. You will get a moral boost every time you go out because your turn-round point gets further and further away as your fitness levels rise.

As for shoes I found Asics were best for me, though this is very much a personal preference thing. Mizuno make very good shoes and if they work for you stick with them.

Good luck
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DradusContact · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject:

I used to be able to do 10k in 41 minutes when i was at my peak, id say anything under an hour is reasonable.
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Gooner · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject:

All of us participating are aiming for 1 hour. There will be some friendly competition but I'm going to pace myself. Back in the days when I won the 1500m and 800m at my school sports day 3 years in a row, at each event each year I was always near the back by the end of the first lap. The satisfaction of slowly overtaking the early sprinters was very enjoyable and I'd like to repeat that.

My training plan is going to involve going to the gym 3 times a week at first, starting slowly with low weights and a short cycle and run followed by going swimming with our little ones on Saturday mornings. Once I'm happy I can sustain a reasonable period of physical activity in the controlled environment of the gym I'll start going out for runs.

The 10k does seem daunting, not really form the point of view of the distance but more the route. The race starts at Buckingham palace and goes in a loop out towards embankment, into the city, towards Fenchurch Street and Gracechurch Street then back via St Pauls and Nelsons Column. That seems a long long way to me!
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