A few quick queries

donfers

what do you think is the peak age range for distance runners?

ya of course it depends on training/lifestyle etc but in general would it be 29-35?

have you noticed that your running training has had a significant effect on your performance in other sports?

I'd imagine a person who is running 20 miles plus a week has a good level of fitness and surely this enables them to more effective at other sports like football or rugby or whatever - yes of course running won't make you a messi or a brian o driscoll but it can't be denied that improved fitness is an aid in almost all sports, thus the question remains has your running helped you noticeably in other sports?

drinking water while on the run - what's the best way to do it? I am still having problems with this, I just want a few sips every few kilometres to stop my mouth being so dry but carrying a bottle on a belt is a nuisance - what's the best way to cope?


running alone or with others - a lot of people recommend a jogging buddy, i have to say that at this point i would really like nothing less than a jogging buddy, i like doing my own thing at my own pace, on top of that i don't like the idea of having a chat while i am running, still getting my breathing right for goodness sake, so unless the jog was at a remarkably slow place or i was a very high level runner comfortable with running at a decent pace and having a chat i honestly don't see the benefit in this - do people share this view or am I just an unusually unsociable runner?


last query is that I always run while listening to music on my iphone, i believe that a lot of races don't allow this - I am just not used to running without music, i tried it for a few minutes during some runs and everything seems so dead and somehow slower in that non-musical environment, how to adapt to that?

RoyMcC

Age for peak performance - I'd say your spread isn't far off.

Without a doubt moderate mileage will improve general fitness and this translates into all sports and life generally. If your other sports demand top end speed though there's a point at which mileage will damage this without specific speed training.

Water. 1. Get used to a water bottle. 2. Plan your route to go past watering stops - shops, garages etc. 3. Run loops and stash a drink in a hedge.

You will undoubtedly train better in a group situation but, like you, many just prefer not to.

Get to appreciate your surroundings, the world about you. Engage with the act of running. Music is a poor substitute.

TFBubendorfer

1) Age performance - everyone is different, but on the whole your age spread is roughly ok. I do know a few guys who set their best times in their 40s, though.

2) 20 miles a week is not much. But it's a lot better than nothing

3) water - if you're only doing 20 miles a week, who long is your longest run? 8 miles? You really do not need to bring anything for runs under 10 miles, and I know plenty of people who don't drink anything for 20 miles either. This is Ireland, not the Arizona desert. Make sure you're well hydrated before you go out and you'll be fine.

4) If you're happier running alone then continue running alone, for all the reasons you just mentioned. Nothing wrong with it.

5) Give running without music a try - you might be surprised!

ThePiedPiper

I'd agree with the peak age, but there's no reason why somebody can't stay very competitive well into their 40s and 50s. One of the guys in our club is nearly 50 and is still running 1.14 half marathons and 2.40 marathons. Age isn't a big barrier in distance running.

When I played football 10-15 years ago, I supplemented normal training with my own training of 20 -25 miles per week. I wasn't the most skillful footballer but my superior fitness aided me a lot, I could run people into the ground.

I agree with TBF on the water issue. I don't bother carrying any for a run of less than 10 miles except on the hottest day or if it's just a very casual jog with a group. Otherwise, I'll just have a 500ml bottle with a sports cap.

I used to be a very anti-social runner myself. Ran solo for the guts of 5 years. I always figured it'd be hard to find someone who was going to go at the exact pace I wanted to. I started running with a club last year and doing a few runs with friends. I find it much more enjoyable. However, I'd generally only do this for longer runs. For interval training or speed work, I always keep to myself. When you become more comfortable running, the company is nice to have.

I've never been a fan of running while listening to music. For me, it's a safety issue as much as anything else. A car flying up behind me on a country road can make me do a jump at the best of times, if I couldn't hear traffic coming from behind me, I think it'd be dangerous. As well as that, I like concentrating on my running, looking at the countryside and my thoughts when I'm running. Everyone's different I suppose.

Mr Slow

donfers wrote: »

still getting my breathing right

On your long runs if you can't carry on a conversation, you're running too fast.

donfers wrote: »

everything seems so dead and somehow slower in that non-musical environment, how to adapt to that?

I was starting to become dependant on music for pace, leave it behind at least once a week, enjoy your surroundings!

Cleanman

donfers wrote: »

I'd imagine a person who is running 20 miles plus a week has a good level of fitness and surely this enables them to more effective at other sports like football or rugby or whatever - yes of course running won't make you a messi or a brian o driscoll but it can't be denied that improved fitness is an aid in almost all sports, thus the question remains has your running helped you noticeably in other sports?

I'm not sure I completely agree with this statement, for the following reasons.

For anyone playing a field sport at a decent level, there's team training 2/3 times a week with a game at the weekend, two weight/strenght sessions and at least one stretching session. That all adds up. To throw in another 20+miles on top IMO would only lead to fatigue at best and injury at worst! Add in that most field sports are speed and power based, the beneifts of say, three 7 mile runs a week are questionable.

In saying all that, I think a lot of teams concentrate too much on speed/power training and don't put enough emphasis on stamina training and I'd be a big supporter of throwing in some form of "long distance running" into training.

But I guess the benefits depend on your base. If you're only doing one training session with your club midweek and a game at the weekend, 20+ miles would be a huge beneift. In my experience though, most people doing just the one midweek session are not going to be motivated to do the miles on their own.

Interested to hear what you think?

Tipp man running

Age spread seems there abouts but everyone is different..a lot depends on when you took up running. In my mid 30's now and find I'm really dropping my times lately and feel stronger than ever..started running again about 3 years ago after a lot of track and cross country when I was younger...

Played a lot of soccer before I retired last year and always found I had an advantage pre-season on the other players and great endurance towards the end of matches...however had to work at the speed and power training like the rest of the team.

The only time I ever think about water is if my long run is going to be over 14miles..then I might stash a bottle out the road depending on the weather.

I mainly run alone myself although I sometimes do my long runs with a partner when it fits both our schedules...either way I don't mind.

I never use music in races, interval training or speed work, I like to concentrate on my form and pace. However on a long slow run it kills the time a bit.

firemouth

3) water - if you're only doing 20 miles a week, who long is your longest run? 8 miles? You really do not need to bring anything for runs under 10 miles, and I know plenty of people who don't drink anything for 20 miles either. This is Ireland, not the Arizona desert. Make sure you're well hydrated before you go out and you'll be fine.


one sure way to train poorly and to increase your chance of injury is inadequate hydration.you might know people that do it but your the first ive heard reccomending it

TFBubendorfer

firemouth wrote: »

one sure way to train poorly and to increase your chance of injury is inadequate hydration.you might know people that do it but your the first ive heard reccomending it

2 things:

1) running less than 10 miles will not leave you in a dehydrated state that will make you train poorly and get you injured
2) when quoting other people's comments, use the "quote" button

G-Money

Sorry to hijack your thread OP but I have one or two queries myself. What's the situation with the Master's events. Can anyone enter them or do you have to be of a certain standard?

I turn 35 next year so I guess I would be eligible on age grounds but I don't know if you still have to be close to elite level to compete in them.

Nwm2

donfers wrote: »

have you noticed that your running training has had a significant effect on your performance in other sports?

I'd imagine a person who is running 20 miles plus a week has a good level of fitness and surely this enables them to more effective at other sports like football or rugby or whatever - yes of course running won't make you a messi or a brian o driscoll but it can't be denied that improved fitness is an aid in almost all sports, thus the question remains has your running helped you noticeably in other sports?

Distance running and soccer have very different requirements. A recent study showed that soccer players were covering 8-12km per game, but doing this either walking, jogging slowly or close to all out sprinting. Almost nothing at the ~15km/hr typical distance running pace.

Personally I find my fitness is by far the best on the soccer pitch if I am playing 1-2x per week on top of my triathlon training, but if I come back from not playing soccer for a few months the sprinting takes a lot out of me.

No surprise to sports scientists there.

Separately, I recall coming back to brazilian jiu jitsu after several months triathlon training. Even though i was fitter than ever by most people's standards, i was extremely ill prepared for the 3-5 minutes sparring matches.

Fitness is extremely sport-specific unfortunately.

Nwm2

donfers wrote: »

drinking water while on the run - what's the best way to do it? I am still having problems with this, I just want a few sips every few kilometres to stop my mouth being so dry but carrying a bottle on a belt is a nuisance - what's the best way to cope?

....

last query is that I always run while listening to music on my iphone, i believe that a lot of races don't allow this - I am just not used to running without music, i tried it for a few minutes during some runs and everything seems so dead and somehow slower in that non-musical environment, how to adapt to that?

1. For up to 10k races or 15k training runs, I don't take any liquid. Learn to live with it maybe

2. I always use my ipod in cycling or run training (podcasts, not music), but wouldn't dream of one when racing, too much to concentrate on. On race day you won't miss it.

firemouth

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

2 things:

1) running less than 10 miles will not leave you in a dehydrated state that will make you train poorly and get you injured
2) when quoting other people's comments, use the "quote" button

advising somone to skimp on water is bad advice,plain and simple!

RayCun

Different people have different requirements for water. TFBubendorfer is not 'skimping' when he doesn't take water on a 10 mile run. I don't take water over that distance either, unless it's very hot or I'm running hard.

rainbow kirby

RayCun wrote: »

Different people have different requirements for water.

^ This, some people genuinely do like to sip water throughout their runs, others tend to keep a high enough general level of hydration throughout the day that they can get out and run decent distances without carrying extra water. Experiment of one really, OP is in the first group. He could try something like this or this if he doesn't like carrying a belt with bottles.

firemouth

RayCun wrote: »

Different people have different requirements for water. TFBubendorfer is not 'skimping' when he doesn't take water on a 10 mile run. I don't take water over that distance either, unless it's very hot or I'm running hard.

i didnt say he was skimping,what TFB does on his own runs is his business,i said advising somebody else to skimp was bad advice.The original quote which started the thread talks about the need for a small amount of water every few kilometres,after which TFBubendorfer advises that water is not needed for anything under 10 miles and knows people who dont drink anything for 20 miles.Your right in what you say about people having different requirements and thats exactly why TFB shouldnt be advising running such distances with no water.

RayCun

firemouth wrote: »

The original quote which started the thread talks about the need for a small amount of water every few kilometres,after which TFBubendorfer advises that water is not needed for anything under 10 miles and knows people who dont drink anything for 20 miles.

OP was talking about taking a sip of water to stop his mouth getting dry, TFB was saying that you don't need to drink water to keep hydrated over that distance.

robinph

donfers wrote: »

running alone or with others - a lot of people recommend a jogging buddy, i have to say that at this point i would really like nothing less than a jogging buddy, i like doing my own thing at my own pace, on top of that i don't like the idea of having a chat while i am running, still getting my breathing right for goodness sake, so unless the jog was at a remarkably slow place or i was a very high level runner comfortable with running at a decent pace and having a chat i honestly don't see the benefit in this - do people share this view or am I just an unusually unsociable runner?

Running in a group is great and you really should try it. If your not able to have an easy chat during the long runs then you are most likely going too fast. Although even though the group may be fairly chatty at the start of the run, towards the end there is a lot less conversation going on.

firemouth

donfers wrote: »

running alone or with others - a lot of people recommend a jogging buddy, i have to say that at this point i would really like nothing less than a jogging buddy, i like doing my own thing at my own pace, on top of that i don't like the idea of having a chat while i am running, still getting my breathing right for goodness sake, so unless the jog was at a remarkably slow place or i was a very high level runner comfortable with running at a decent pace and having a chat i honestly don't see the benefit in this - do people share this view or am I just an unusually unsociable runner?

I normally run 3/4 times a week alone and dont see anything wrong with it,i do however run once a week with a group and always find it an extremely productive session,I find the group sessions a great way of monitoring my progress and fitness