Random Running Questions

Might reconsider the shockz/bone conduction based on your/others comments. The shockz are kinda in a similar style to what I have already

+1 on this. I would throw another issue into the mix with cold weather running - Raynaud's disease. I won't say I have been 'suffering' with this (because it's not that big a deal) but I do get it most times running in cold weather and it can be annoying. Apparently it's very common so probably a good lot of runners experience it. Basically a loss of sensation/numbness in the tips of your fingers, which turn white. Don't think there's any definitive reason given for why it happens. Low salt levels is one possibility. I would throw on a couple of pairs of gloves in anything below six or seven degrees. Usually does the trick.

Any suggestions for a kinda newbie (returned to running after a long hiatus). When I was in my late 20’s I was hitting out sub 19 5k’s after only a few weeks of training. Now in mid 40’s and times are abysmal after 4 Months, Doing mixed training currently

Mon : ‘long’ run (for me) 13k just over an hour

Tues : Slowish medium run 7.5k about 32.5 mins

Thursday : hill repeats 5k total , 25 mins

Saturday: parkrun just under 22mins.

with work, kids and other things these are really the only days that fit

Way, way, WAY too much hard running. I can run a 5k in sub-17 - my "slowish medium run" for 7.5k would be closer to 37 minutes. An easy long run would also be close to 5:00/k pace (more than an hour for 13k).

A minimum of 80% of your running should be at a slow pace, and that pace is much slower than you think. If you couldn't easily keep up a conversation for the whole length of it, you're going too fast. If you're going to do a parkrun every Saturday, that should be the only hard running you do all week, and even that's too much

I took a look over a thread you have and I must say kudos for the fantastic effort and you haven’t given up. Things that I found help are footwear (new pair of race runners took a big chunk off my 10k time on their 1st run) food you eat before a run too there’s a whole science behind it. I listen to music (loaded to watch) when I run as it makes it tolerable (earphones I have let you hear your surroundings). If you are running races regularly there’s people you’ll recognise that are slightly faster than you from other races , shadow them and try beat in the last km

I don’t really like running but it’s the easiest sport to fit into my schedule & I had to make significant lifestyle changes recently (younger sibling had a heart attack and I discovered my cholesterol was sky high).

Is it a pain in the outside of your knee and only hurts when you bend it? Does it hurt more going down stairs than up?

Has anyone tried Electrolyte tables that you swallow rather than the dissolvable sort? Something like: https://www.hollandandbarrett.ie/shop/product/precision-engineered-electrolyte-formula-180-tablets-6100141496

I tend to sweat quite a lot and can be prone to cramp so was thinking something like this would be pretty easy to take during a run

You should look up IT Band syndrome and see if it sounds like your symptoms or head to the physio.

I have used these in the past and find them fine....pretty inexpensive to try out.

In relation to cramps, my experience of those has probably only when I've veered close to or over edge of my capabilities in performance over a long distance like half/full marathon. It's worth trying out to see if it helps though and I have used them when running in warmer weather but I have heard it suggested Ireland is not warm enough to need such things but I take them if even for a placebo effect.

Need to change runners in the next few months but I'm in the middle of training for the Cork City marathon in June. Should I go ahead and change runners say in May or wait until after the marathon?

Buy new runners and start rotating them with your older ones I reckon. Probably wear the new ones then with less miles for the marathon.

What sort of life are people getting out of their watches?

I've a Forerunner 235 for the last 7 years and although it's had moments of weirdness, freezing or displaying the wrong time it's generally been great and seems in as good shape now as when I bought it.

I'd die inside though if it suddenly packed in. Can't be running naked 😀

Has anyone any experience of one just suddenly giving up the ghost?

My 920xt was acting weird recently and then finally seized up but a master reset (weird combination of button holding and pressing) fixed it.

Garmin forerunner 410 for about 8 years I reckon. Was still absolutely fine when I sold it on.

then had vivoactive 3 for 2 years. Again it was perfect when sold on and I upgraded to a Fenix 6 pro which I have worn basically every day for the last 2 years. Gets plenty of use for golf and running. I would imagine I’ll easily get another few years out of it before I change again

Anyone got any recommendations for a nice, flat, sheltered running spot in Dublin? I usually run in Tymon Park but it seems to be ALWAYS windy up there these days.

I'm not mad about Bushy as it's boring AF to run.