The official running thread™


“On top of that you tend to have a pretty good diet – because you want to get everything just right – you won’t be drinking [alcohol] a whole lot because you’re training pretty much every day… and you tend to be of good socioeconomic status.

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So I felt that I hit a plateau by re-doing the Garmin 5k plan over and over again. I did not improve at all the second half of last year.
Followed by multiple bouts of colds/flu this year, my running almost came to a complete halt, and I have regressed significantly, fitness wise.

I feel much better, and have now started the Garmin 10k plan, with the idea to run the Wild Jozi 10k trail run in July. Entering now and using that as my goal (just to finish, not a specific time goal).
I will also do some additional weight-training at home in between running days, just to mix things up and see how much it helps.
 
So I felt that I hit a plateau by re-doing the Garmin 5k plan over and over again. I did not improve at all the second half of last year.
Followed by multiple bouts of colds/flu this year, my running almost came to a complete halt, and I have regressed significantly, fitness wise.

I feel much better, and have now started the Garmin 10k plan, with the idea to run the Wild Jozi 10k trail run in July. Entering now and using that as my goal (just to finish, not a specific time goal).
I will also do some additional weight-training at home in between running days, just to mix things up and see how much it helps.
Have you tried the Garmin daily suggested workouts? I'm a complete newbie and have started jogging for the first time in Nov last year. Basically trying to do 2 km every other day.

Got a Garmin at the start of April and followed the suggested workouts each day. It's done wonders for my running. Doing a 5K pretty much daily now and even managed a 28:32 5K.

I still need loads of work to build my base since my heart rate is still high, but have seen huge progress in staying in zone 2 with minimal walking intervals.
 
Have you tried the Garmin daily suggested workouts? I'm a complete newbie and have started jogging for the first time in Nov last year. Basically trying to do 2 km every other day.

Got a Garmin at the start of April and followed the suggested workouts each day. It's done wonders for my running. Doing a 5K pretty much daily now and even managed a 28:32 5K.

I still need loads of work to build my base since my heart rate is still high, but have seen huge progress in staying in zone 2 with minimal walking intervals.
I'm guessing this is a feature on the Forerunner series?

I have a Venu 2, so some of the more specialised running features are missing.
 
I'm guessing this is a feature on the Forerunner series?

I have a Venu 2, so some of the more specialised running features are missing.
Yes, sadly it's limited to the Forerunners and was the main reason I picked one up.

How does your plan look in terms of zone 2 base runs? I think my main improvement came when I actually started paying attention to my heart rate and tried to stay in zone 2 for my runs. For me this was extremely frustrating as I constantly had to walk to keep low enough. It's easier now with about 4 min of walking in a 40 min session when the bpm gets out of bounds. I still struggle with going slow enough to keep at a constant zone 2 heart rate. Each week is a little better as my base improves.
 
An example of what my GSW looks like for the week. (It does change depending on how you perform, sleep etc.)
Mon: Tempo run 31min @ 156 bpm + 10 min warm up and 10 min cooldown @ 139 bpm.
Tues: Base run 46 min @ 139
Wed: VO2Max 40 min: 7 x 2:00 @ 178 with 1 min rest between intervals and warmup/cool down
Thurs: Base 46 min @ 139
Fri: Anaerobic 7x1:00 @ 4:40 pace + warmup and 3 min rest intervals
Sat: Long run 1:26:00 @ 139
Sun: Recovery 30 min @ 127 or can take a rest day
 
Yes, sadly it's limited to the Forerunners and was the main reason I picked one up.

How does your plan look in terms of zone 2 base runs? I think my main improvement came when I actually started paying attention to my heart rate and tried to stay in zone 2 for my runs. For me this was extremely frustrating as I constantly had to walk to keep low enough. It's easier now with about 4 min of walking in a 40 min session when the bpm gets out of bounds. I still struggle with going slow enough to keep at a constant zone 2 heart rate. Each week is a little better as my base improves.
The Garmin plans are mostly based on tempo/cadence, and not heart rate.

I've tried an unstructured zone 2 plan, but it didn't work for me. I need a structured plan that runs on my watch to guide me.
 
The Garmin plans are mostly based on tempo/cadence, and not heart rate.

I've tried an unstructured zone 2 plan, but it didn't work for me. I need a structured plan that runs on my watch to guide me.

All the advice I got was that it would be better to focus on heart rate instead of pace since it's easier to use as a measure of effort since bpm can be much higher at same pace depending on temperature etc.

With the GSW you get a heart rate target like 139 and can be slightly above/below that while still being in the acceptable zone. You can also change to base it on pace, but heart rate is recommended.
 
All the advice I got was that it would be better to focus on heart rate instead of pace since it's easier to use as a measure of effort since bpm can be much higher at same pace depending on temperature etc.

With the GSW you get a heart rate target like 139 and can be slightly above/below that while still being in the acceptable zone. You can also change to base it on pace, but heart rate is recommended.
Yeah, if I want that, it looks like I need to set up custom plans, and I don't have time for that.
 
That sucks. Glad I went for a Forerunner then.
I got the Venu 2 about R2k cheaper at the time. It does most of what I need it to do, it's only on the more "hardcore" fitness side that it is lacking.

I'll have to re-evaluate my requirements in the coming months. Maybe a FR55, or 65 (if it releases) is on the cards. I'm not enough of a runner to justify spending more on the higher end FR's.
 
I got the Venu 2 about R2k cheaper at the time. It does most of what I need it to do, it's only on the more "hardcore" fitness side that it is lacking.

I'll have to re-evaluate my requirements in the coming months. Maybe a FR55, or 65 (if it releases) is on the cards. I'm not enough of a runner to justify spending more on the higher end FR's.

Decided to spoil myself and got a FR 165. The only thing it doesn't have which the higher end ones have is training load status and dual band GPS. Otherwise it does everything I want and more.

To be honest I think I would've been just as happy with a FR 55. I basically never use the touch screen on the FR 165 and the AMOLED screen is nice, but at the cost of battery life (need to charge once a week).

That being said the GSW was worth every penny for me. It keeps me motivated and have seen huge progress. I think I would've stopped running by now if I stuck to my own 30 min daily jogs with no variation.
 
Did the new Modderfontein half marathon this weekend in 2:12.
Last year was the
first run but they already changed the route to a tough double lapper of quite a few hills.
 
Decided to spoil myself and got a FR 165. The only thing it doesn't have which the higher end ones have is training load status and dual band GPS. Otherwise it does everything I want and more.

To be honest I think I would've been just as happy with a FR 55. I basically never use the touch screen on the FR 165 and the AMOLED screen is nice, but at the cost of battery life (need to charge once a week).

That being said the GSW was worth every penny for me. It keeps me motivated and have seen huge progress. I think I would've stopped running by now if I stuck to my own 30 min daily jogs with no variation.
My one big gripe with Garmin is that there are so many models, with many overlapping features, that it becomes difficult to really tell them apart. At least for someone starting out in a sport.
 
My one big gripe with Garmin is that there are so many models, with many overlapping features, that it becomes difficult to really tell them apart. At least for someone starting out in a sport.
That's so true. I knew GSW was a feature I wanted and looked at the models which had that. Almost went for a Vivoactive, but saw that it didn't have the feature so opted for the 165 instead.
 
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