In reply to TheDrunkenBakers:
Have dabbled in running on and off over the years, and due to some bucket list ambitions of the spine and C2C, I started properly getting back on it a few months ago. I have always been a good longer distance fast hiker, but wanted to increase my fitness and running ( in my case plodding ability) on the flats in the hills.
For context I am closer to 50 than 40, potato shaped, and whilst I try to eat healthily I love a cake and a beer. I climb once or twice a week and try to run 3 / 4 times a week usually around 35 - 45 k a week.
for me enjoying the downtime and headspace of being out running is great, I don’t run on the roads (well about 1k to the closest woods to my house). I love running in the hills, woods, trails as being in nature motivates me too.
Also having the right gear so I will be warm / dry/ not slipping everywhere in the mud and a good torch this time of year so I’m not constantly tripping over stuff helps. This stops me making excuses due to weather.
I do a shorter faster 7k every week and try to beat my previous time. Then the other runs are all between 10 - 20k depending on time and how my niggles (knees / calves) are feeling. Theses runs I also run by heart rate not pace and I have found that to be a great way of not getting too carried away and pushing too hard. If you have a watch that can measure your heart rate or heart rate zones it can be quite a fun game, it’s surprising how slow you have to run sometimes to stay in the moderate zones, for data geeks I’ll do one of them as a tempo run and the others at moderate pace.
For me initially the goal of doing the spine was what got me back on it, but recently I heard an interesting point that changing from being goal orientated (I want to run the spine), to habit orientated (I want to be a runner). Was a much healthier way to make a change that would stick, and I would say I am now more in the latter camp. Even though the sight of my sweaty arse splashing through mud in my local woods would probably be a million miles from the normal insta runner!😂. I actually really enjoy being out plodding round my local trails. The goals are still there but running has now become part of my weekly routine like climbing.
it’s hard at first but take it slow and enjoy your self.
I hope some of this helped.
Ryan