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[recipher]

OK this isn't good. All this talking of running has me interested in it! PLEASE guys more lifting chat, I'm not built to be a runner!!!!

Maybe we should split the thread

I'm not built to be a runner either. To be honest, unless you are up at the front of the field with the whippets (and I'm certainly) not, runners come in all shapes and sizes. Go watch the finish of a marathon, and you'll see some sights. Good on 'em, I say!

I'm a runner but I'm also a cyclist, swimmer (almost), triathlete (ditto), hillwalker, mountaineer, mountain biker, blah. You could say I was a lifter too, if I wasn't using the machines

My aim is to be in all-round, complete, tip-top, A1 shape, which means doing a lot of CV work and getting in the gym to make myself stronger too.

Only then, will I be able to show 'em. I'll show 'em all....

[Swallow]

I found watching Rambo Saturday night made me really want to push myself in the gym sunday, and I managed 8 reps at 100kg barbell squat!

FWIW, I did 15*70kg, 12*80kg 12*90kg (which surprised me!) and then 8*100kg. Feels really good increasing weight and therefore targets!

[ascender]

OK this isn't good. All this talking of running has me interested in it! PLEASE guys more lifting chat, I'm not built to be a runner!!!!

Trust me, if I can be a runner, anyone can. I must have been a good 3 stone heavier than anyone else in the marathon that I ran a couple of years ago! When you start running, the weight will come off and then you can only get faster as it does.

[ascender]

You've got plenty of time.

I started running last April, maybe 3 times a week, no more than 20 miles total. Then I broke my collar bone and didn't start running again until July. I ran 2 (hard, hilly) marathons in October, meeting my target times for both of them (under 4 hours). And that was off only 3 months training from a dead start.

My first "long" run in July was 7 miles (to qualify as a "long" run is should be at least 18 ) which I remember as being painful and hard.

Then my distance went up like this - 10, 13, 8 (week off with new baby), 16, 18, 20, 10, 21, half marathon, 20, 14, 10, marathon, 6, 14, 10, marathon.

So, you've got plenty of time to get up to speed. My advice would be to lay off the "recovery" runs, cycle or swim instead on those days, it'll help your body recover. Make every run have a purpose - speed, hills, tempo, long. Look after yourself - eat properly, everything in moderation, sleep well.

I'm running Lochaber on 22/4 and I expect to get in 7 runs over 18 miles between now and then. Loads of time.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. I'm just going to stick in for the first 3 or 4 weeks, following the schedule and see what happens. Even if I go with the aim of just getting round FLM and then maybe going for Edinburgh.

I don't want to make the same mistakes as last time when I set off too quickly and also my training I didn't do enough runs over 18 miles.

I was going to substitute rest days for cross training as I'd really like to do some tris later in the year. I also noticed last year that even training for short tris seemed to benefit my running.

I've also decided to give up the booze once the beers in the fridge are finished. Eek. Can only help with the weight loss though.

My biggest regret is not keeping the momentum going after completing a marathon in 2005. I really think that's the secret to this fitness lark.

[Nijo]

My training went 2, 4, 4, 8, 4, marathon over the space of 2 weeks. The night before the big run I had a refried bean burrito.

I think you should listen to Recipher's advice.

[recipher]

I think you should listen to Recipher's advice.

All donations welcome.

My biggest regret is not keeping the momentum going after completing a marathon in 2005. I really think that's the secret to this fitness lark.

Indeed. Never stop moving. I always try to have some hare-brained scheme on the go - massive endurance hillwalks, mountaineering in the Alps, mountain bike endurance races, marathons, Ironman, adventure racing, etc. Keeps me sane (and fit) and drives my wife insane.

[Matt]

Thanks to Rossco my brief "I can run I can RUN!" belief has been replaced by proper lifting Seriously, when my back is better I may give some running a go. I'd like to get up to 5 miles, that would be enough for me. Actually I could probably do close to that now, but it would be horrible and not a pretty site....

Back on the bench as it's all I can do. 100*3, which was very hard, then managed 105 for a single, the second rep wasn't going up. Very pleased to do 105 after the 3 100's. I've been stuck on 100*3 for a while though, I need to start getting an extra rep or two out.

[Rossco]

Alot of my exercises were just staying on the same weight for ages, and I just think I wasn't trying to get the extra reps out to push it to the max. I've started just going for it now, chucking the weights up every single time I'm at the gym and amazingly I'm managing it, gotta have belief that you can do it and just go for it!

Had a killer workout there, my traps and delts were pushed to the limit, was literally sweating blood at the end to get the reps out!!

Struggling with my lats recently though, not really feeling them being worked as much as I used to. I do wide and close pulldowns, behind neck and straight arm pulldowns, its still working but just dont feel it as much, as I think my arms tire out more than my lats do. Maybe I just need to put more weight on and really push it.

I'd like to try some different lat exercises though, any recommendations?

[ascender]

Indeed. Never stop moving. I always try to have some hare-brained scheme on the go - massive endurance hillwalks, mountaineering in the Alps, mountain bike endurance races, marathons, Ironman, adventure racing, etc. Keeps me sane (and fit) and drives my wife insane.

I have to say that I've always wanted to do the Marathon des Sables, but just think I'll never be fit enough. I've done quite a bit of research on it and even the horror stories don't put me off, its just something I'd love to have a go at. With a 2 year wait to enter, its one of those things, should you enter and train towards it, or only enter when you're fit enough.

Or just don't!

[Commander Marklar]

150lb row/lat-pull + chest press today. Up from 130 a week ago, just managed 3x8 so it looks like it'll be up again next week Kind of pissed off 'cos I couldn't get on a rower so it means I should rest tomorrow (which I will) through lunch rather than cycle+weights+cycle. Just cycling... *sigh*

Joanne something or other, she's a team GB mountain biker? She works here, was running today. Did about 2 miles and had to stop

[recipher]

I'm interested in MdS too but the sand puts me off, rather than the distance. It's the sand in my shoes, rubbing the skin off and causing horrible open blisters. There's nothing you can do to prepare for that.

[ascender]

I'm interested in MdS too but the sand puts me off, rather than the distance. It's the sand in my shoes, rubbing the skin off and causing horrible open blisters. There's nothing you can do to prepare for that.

That's definitely more than a bit worrying! I'm not sure, I've read quite a few accounts where people have said that as long as you get decent gaiters and do some very long walks instead of runs in your training, you can minimise the risk of both of those things. I do think that the mental part of it is maybe the really tough part of the event.

[Spagoli]

...... I do think that the mental part of it is maybe the really tough part of the event.

It's all mental I reckon anything over 10miles anyway. 10k is just about short enough to be eyeballs out but anything over the 10m I reckon starts to require that little something else. Thats why some people you can beat in training really come onto their own on the long runs, like they say that marathon doesnt start till you get to 20miles.

Plenty of time ascender yet, ideally you want 16 weeks but to be honest as long as your sensible you'll be fine. just set a reasonable target dont expect miracles and you'll be fine. I've loads of training plans, if you want any for a specific time give me a shout.

My chest has been tight all day so my 9miles recovery run was well needed tonight. Not looking forward to tomorrows interval session, started to dread it already!

[recipher]

Intervals tomorrow for me now. I'm looking forward to it but I'm wrong in the head.

If you get your head right, it makes things that are, on the face of, ridiculous, if not easy, then possible.

I might dig around a bit more around MdS. That's the only thing putting me off - the sand. I reckon I'm well equipped to do the distance. Long and slow I've done enough long distance hillwalking on my own to be confident.

One thing at a time though - Ironman first. Well, marathon is next but that's a stepping stone.

[Matt]

Struggling with my lats recently though, not really feeling them being worked as much as I used to. I do wide and close pulldowns, behind neck and straight arm pulldowns, its still working but just dont feel it as much, as I think my arms tire out more than my lats do. Maybe I just need to put more weight on and really push it.

I'd like to try some different lat exercises though, any recommendations?

Stop ALL behind the next bollocks. Too much strain on neck and shoulder joints. You aren't doing anything / working any muscles you're not working by pulling to your chest. So stop it. Right now!

I had great success with DoggCrapp back, which is basically one exercise for width followed by one for thickness.

Width is pull-ups, rack chins, pull downs wide, pull down closes.

Thickness is barbell rows, t-bar rows, rack deads, full deadlifts.

Just deadlift all the time

So do one exercise for both thickness and width and you're away.