Random Running Questions

Do try it. Despite someone's scepticism above it is the one way of training that would find consensus approval from those with any amount of knowledge. Let us know how you get on.

I've never been able to swim well because I've never been able to go slow enough to breathe properly and efficiently. It took me a lot of expensive swimming lessons to learn that basic thing about myself, but I was happy enough because it reinforced what I was doing right with my running. It made me think about why I couldn't go slow enough in the pool - I eventually put it down to some form of drowning anxiety. Having to get to the wall as soon as possible. I've never had a problem understanding the value of slow running (or more exactly, the value of slow running within a proper training regime that balances speed, long, steady, easy, recovery paced runs). But the fact that I can't do it when swimming helps me understand why some runners struggle with this.

With advice from here last night I managed a slower run even though I found it quite difficult to do so but I got through it and ran considerably longer so I’m happy with the first time trying a slower run. Thanks all for the tips.

Well done. My only tip would be to think of those runs as "easy runs" rather than "slow runs" - it's a small thing but just frames it in a more positive light.

Pace is basically stride length multiplied by cadence.

If you're having difficulty with running form when trying to slow down, have a think about that.

Run for a bit at your normal pace, the pace where you feel your form is good.

Think about the length of your stride, and your cadence, focus on them.

Slowing down is simply reducing one of those two things.

Try to actively do that, again focusing on it.

For me, my stride length stays pretty much the same while my cadence drops. Form stays pretty much the same.

Important to note we're not talking about high intensity fast running here where your form takes on a different shape.

I have started training for the Dublin half marathon and am using the Garmin coach for the training plan.

I have ignored the pacing for my short runs and tried follow it for my long run last week. I found it too slow for my normal pace. I didn't understand the reasoning behind it, and to be honest, never bothered researching it.

After reading the posts yesterday and that reading the linked article I am getting more of an understanding for the reasoning.

Today I went for the coached run and really tried sticking to the pacing, it was still a struggle to slow down, but I found that while.my run took longer, I enjoyed it a little more and didn't really notice the time difference.

Have a long run planned for tomorrow, so that'll be the real test for me.

So, thanks everyone for all of the advice and tips posted here.

My 5km time would be between 22min-23min most of the time.

I signed up online to a running coach before I joined a club for a 10 mile last year, the variety of the runs in that schedule improved my times; running hill reps, doing 1km x 6 times at a faster pace with recovery time in between all of them, doing long slow runs.

Last year I managed to break 21 mins.

This year, I have broken 20 mins in the 3 of the 5 parkruns that I have completed.

Also, new runners helped as the ones I had would not have had foam which definitely gives a bit of bounce.

New goal is to break 19 mins before I reach the age of 50, possibly a bit too optimistic but good to have something to aim for.

Great shout! I have snorted out loud laughing while out running listening to that podcast....get some strange looks

Yep the reduced stride length can feel a little strange alright 😊

It's really not that difficult...imagine yourself jogging alongside a young child or getting close to a closed rail crossing and not wanting to stop. Better still, look at how slowly super fit footballers can jog off when they are being substituted when their team is leading

Has anyone ran any of the events in Portumna?

I'm thinking of doing the half but it sounds a bit chaotic....would be interested to hear people's experience 🤔

No, if its a long slow run, its about getting time on the feet etc so a five min break will not negatively impact the benefits much at all.

Go with it, much nicer running with others, and definitely a good idea not running it too fast.

With an old running group I used to link in with, we'd stop at the half way point to use the bathroom, something to drink etc. Not a big deal