A year of running every day :)

Some time around now one year ago I decided to run everyday and now, one year on, I'm still plodding on. I'm not sure of the mileage for the full year as I've only had a garmin since last Christmas but, so far in 2012, I'm averaging getting on for 6.85 miles a day with 1,285 feet of climb. Some interesting feedback from my (first :) ) year:

1. Running daily is a doddle

2. Having a dog to run with is a prime motivator, especially with pretty much all of my weekday running in the winter being headtorching in the hills around Settle

3. I haven't run to any particular plan but just run as I feel like - sometimes ploddy, sometimes fast(ish), sometimes long and sometimes short

4. It may be a coincidence or it may be down to the running but I haven't had a cold or a sniffle all year. Once or twice I've felt like I might be going down with something but its almost been like my body has rejected it flat and next day I've been fine and dandy

5. I'm not sure its improved my racing completely - sometimes I've just raced on the back of too much running (Borrowdale a week after a failed Bob Graham attempt with daily running in between was never going to be my finest blast) but in other races I've definitely raced really well

6. I've probably lost about 20 pounds in weight

7. 99.9999999% of my running has been in the hills and off road

8. I haven't had much in the way of injuries - the odd minor ankle twist and one (probably fractured) little toe injury that still flares up from time to time. Tempting fate I know but I have less niggles now than I pretty much ever have had

9. The quality versus quantity of running is (for me) completely irrelevant. I run better the more I run. Full stop.

10. I'm now on my fifth pair of Walshes for the year

Quite possibly the best thing I've ever done from a running point of view :D

Well done. I need to lose weight so might need to bridge that gap from 5 days plus 1 day of crosstraining to the full 7 days.

Keep going and you will be the next Ron Hill

Well done Stolly. Do you have a minumum time/distance rule?

Im currently trying to run twice on 2 days of the week tues/thurs and 5 days overall. I got a book on how to run quicker (by Julian Goater) and he says mixing sessions is what its all about even if some are just 20mins very steady in am and then intervals/quicker for an hour at night. Hope it might speed me up a bit (and I'm too fat!).

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Originally Posted by Will

Well done Stolly. Do you have a minumum time/distance rule?

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I did have a sort of minimum, more time based than distance, of say 40 minutes but nowadays I'm not especially bothered. I think my shortest distance run has been just over a mile, which I did the day before a really long and mental run - the shortness of one was more than compensated for by the mentalness of the other. To be fair I think I've only run such a paltry one miler a couple of times with otherwise quite a variation of distances, depending how I feel and what I'm planning for the weekend. My running in the last 7 days for instance has been:

Tuesday 5.2 miles (624 ft)
Wednesday 3.8 miles (586 ft)
Thursday 2.5 miles (309 ft)
Friday 9 miles (1670 ft)
Saturday 11 miles (1602 ft)
Sunday 9.2 miles (2078 ft)
Monday 3 miles (435 ft)

Having run with you before you started your regime and then witnessed the transformation, I can vouch for it massively improving your running both in speed and strength (and you weren't exactly a slacker before). The weight has dropped off you too. It's also improved my running because its inspired me to get out more and I need to keep up! I'm definitely stronger and faster then I've ever been so thanks for that!:)

Fair play to you Stolly, it an impressive effort. All the best for the future.

A year of being dragged round them *leeding Settle hills by a running madman (recently joined by a running madwoman), being chased by cows, needing to get my paws resoled 5 times and my only respite is those interminable photo shoots....well I need a rest :rolleyes::D

Harry

:thumbup: ha ha ha. He got dragged along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path too...and got chased by cows there.

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Originally Posted by Alf

A year of being dragged round them *leeding Settle hills by a running madman (recently joined by a running madwoman), being chased by cows, needing to get my paws resoled 5 times and my only respite is those interminable photo shoots....well I need a rest :rolleyes::D

Harry

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Originally Posted by Stolly

9. The quality versus quantity of running is (for me) completely irrelevant. I run better the more I run. Full stop.

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This is interesting. Most of 'the books' suggest a focus on quality but I would agree that, for me and my limited experience, I ran better and had better results when I had a higher mileage and didn't worry about taking rest days, rep sessions etc. Difficult to judge when each run and race is so different, and I suspect that in my case this is pyschological: 'quality' sessions feel more like serious hard work and make running seem more like a chore than a joy.

Only been racing since last November but my best results have all been on the back of longer but more leisurely runs, and when I am enjoying myself. My worst results have come when the race felt like a 'quality' session: a chore not a joy.

Not a very scientific approach and I'm sure quality sessions work wonders for others. This could actually just mean I'm lazy and hate hard work...

Glad it's working for you Stolly

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Originally Posted by Howgill Tarrier

This is interesting. Most of 'the books' suggest a focus on quality but I would agree that, for me and my limited experience, I ran better and had better results when I had a higher mileage and didn't worry about taking rest days, rep sessions etc. Difficult to judge when each run and race is so different, and I suspect that in my case this is pyschological: 'quality' sessions feel more like serious hard work and make running seem more like a chore than a joy.

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Its a bit of a generalisation but I'm not particularly driven by races, maybe doing one event each month, so I don't worry too much about them and my racing 'performance'. That said the very best training for races that I know of is actually running races. And if I did run a race each week I know for sure my race times would improve.

But so would the chance of injuries and, in any event, running with Harry my collie is much more fun ;)

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Originally Posted by Howgill Tarrier

This is interesting. Most of 'the books' suggest a focus on quality

tolly

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Do they?

I don't think they do...

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Originally Posted by Stolly

Its a bit of a generalisation but I'm not particularly driven by races, maybe doing one event each month, so I don't worry too much about them and my racing 'performance'. That said the very best training for races that I know of is actually running races. And if I did run a race each week I know for sure my race times would improve.

But so would the chance of injuries and, in any event, running with Harry my collie is much more fun ;)

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Deff think doing a bit of quicker stuff must help speed. Only way I've ever got quicker in the past was doing shorter races - but then I drop off again and never really improve. Having seen my pals doing a bit of speedwork consistently each week over the last year or so, and now thrashing me over each time we go out - I have realised I need to do a bit too if I want to keep up with them. All I usually do is a steady pace when out generally so I spose it stands to reason that speed isn't going to get much quicker unless I tweak things a bit. Although, losing weight must help increase speed, and runnng every day for a year is a great achievement either way and must have done wonders for your general stamina/fitness.

Did you find you had to get into a routine of running before work/odd hours etc?

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Originally Posted by IainR

Do they?

I don't think they do...

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http://www.humankinetics.com/product...ing-faster-the

This seems like a good one to me. Not read many running books but is interesting, accessible, and very enthusiastic. Talks a lot about varying sessions, increasing cadence, using speed as part of the base rather than just high milage (although Im still fat and slow - ask me in 6 months). Would def recommend it though.

Great stuff Stolly, it sounds like the best thing about it is that you've really enjoyed your running. I wish I could say the same!!

TBH I think that can all help.. but I'd go for a base period of 6 > 12 months gradually building mileage..

Speed at the end..

Look at Farah.. 130 mile weeks for 10k..

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Originally Posted by IainR

TBH I think that can all help.. but I'd go for a base period of 6 > 12 months gradually building mileage..

Speed at the end..

Look at Farah.. 130 mile weeks for 10k..

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Blimey!

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Originally Posted by IainR

Do they?

I don't think they do...

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Perhaps not - can't say I've read every one yet, and I've definitely not found the one that gives away the 'secret' that all runners who are faster than me must surely know and are just not telling me...

The ones I have read suggest a lot of structured 'quality' sessions including hill reps, fartleks, thresholds etc, as opposed to what Stolly has been doing.

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Originally Posted by Howgill Tarrier

Perhaps not - can't say I've read every one yet, and I've definitely not found the one that gives away the 'secret' that all runners who are faster than me must surely know and are just not telling me...

The ones I have read suggest a lot of structured 'quality' sessions including hill reps, fartleks, thresholds etc, as opposed to what Stolly has been doing.

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I'm shocked at that... recipe for injury and breakdown...

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Originally Posted by Howgill Tarrier

Perhaps not - can't say I've read every one yet, and I've definitely not found the one that gives away the 'secret' that all runners who are faster than me must surely know and are just not telling me...

The ones I have read suggest a lot of structured 'quality' sessions including hill reps, fartleks, thresholds etc, as opposed to what Stolly has been doing.

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The 'secret' - good ancestry, since we are not all born equal.

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Originally Posted by BritNick

The 'secret' - good ancestry, since we are not all born equal.

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I don't think .1 % of us have hit a level where we can say our genes are holding us back..

So I don't think the secret is ancestry.. more likely good mileage, a good diet, plenty of sleep, little alcohol, 2 good sessions a week.. sensible racing schedule..

Really??

Let's imagine that 0.01% of us have, then. In that 0.01% there will be some who are fast and some who are not.

So who trains, diets, doesn't drink, lives the lifestyle to get to that level that genetics is holding them back? Its such a nonsensical argument that you only hear poor runners use.. basically as an excuse for not training seriously..

I'm as guilty as anyone, I just won't say genetics is holding me back when I know it is me..

Yes Iain, what I'm getting at is, if you are slovenly with your training you may still be faster than the person next to you who is equally slovenly with his. If you put two people in an identical environment you would not expect them to return identical race times.

I just don't get why its even a factor... there are so many factors which effect us.. factors which we can control and act upon.. any reference to genetic limitations just seems to be reaching for that excuse..

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Originally Posted by BritNick

The 'secret' - good ancestry, since we are not all born equal.

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I am with Iain R on this Genes have Damn all to do with ability to run fast or slow. In fact there are far to many factors, such as distance, time of day, mental application, diet muscular/skeletal makeup, Lifestyle, both living and working environment terrain etc etc etc, so to even tryand begin to isolate a single one is futile IMO.

Back to topic well done Stolly looks like the key thing for you is the pleasure you get from running and TBH that is what running/walking infact doing any thing that float`s your boat is all about.

I think it would be worth bearing in mind that whilst Stolly runs for enjoyment it doesn't mean he just ambles along all the time. I think that's the mistake many runners with a structured training regime make about those of us that run mainly for enjoyment. I don't want to speak for him (he's more than capable of doing that!) but from an observer's viewpoint, I'd say he regularly pushes himself on hills and if Harry isn't around, he'll blast a regular route to get a pb. From my own experience, I don't follow a strict training routine but I do train with the fastest men at my club whenever I can get there and push myself flat out to keep up and I vary my routes to find more challenging and interesting ones (as well as picturesque ones) which inevitably means I get stronger and faster. I think a lot of us that run for pleasure are still keen to challenge ourselves and regularly set goals to achieve and that's why we improve. Stolly set a goal to run everyday and has done that. In the process he has trained his body (and mind) to run when its tired, in all weathers, at different speeds and over a huge variety of distances and its made him a better runner without taking away the enjoyment.

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Originally Posted by Howgill Tarrier

The ones I have read suggest a lot of structured 'quality' sessions including hill reps, fartleks, thresholds etc, as opposed to what Stolly has been doing.

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Well said JohnK:)

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Originally Posted by JohnK

Back to topic well done Stolly looks like the key thing for you is the pleasure you get from running and TBH that is what running/walking infact doing any thing that float`s your boat is all about.

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Originally Posted by Hes

Stolly set a goal to run everyday and has done that. In the process he has trained his body (and mind) to run when its tired, in all weathers, at different speeds and over a huge variety of distances and its made him a better runner without taking away the enjoyment.

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Didn't mean to imply that Stolly wasn't pushing himself or taking it easy!

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Originally Posted by Howgill Tarrier

Didn't mean to imply that Stolly wasn't pushing himself or taking it easy!

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Haha don't worry HT. Over time I have managed to "forge" my stubby, stout, short arse rugga player shaped body into a well oiled fell running machine. My results (cough) speak for themselves - I'm the very same stolly that came 65th out of 171 runners at the High Cup Nick in February, 28th out of 122 at the Blakey Blitz in March (despite running a very hot and sweaty 18 miles the day before and on the day starting at the back of the field with my dog) and, more recently came 43rd out of 187 at the Ingleborough fell race. Almost elite then ;)

Great stuff Stolly, keep enjoying it:)

no, sorry about that, I wasn't having a go but badly explaining that I think that keen runners when running mainly for enjoyment, probably do quite a bit of the recommended training techniques without thinking about it too much. Either way, its all good stuff!:) My run this evening was neither focussed or fast but nevermind:o

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Originally Posted by Howgill Tarrier

Didn't mean to imply that Stolly wasn't pushing himself or taking it easy!

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Originally Posted by IainR

I just don't get why its even a factor... there are so many factors which effect us.. factors which we can control and act upon.. any reference to genetic limitations just seems to be reaching for that excuse..

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I've got many genetic limitations which have been seriously limiting my running and cycling for years, i'm a complete biomechanical disaster, are you saying it's all in my head?

Good work Stolly :thumbup: I am impressed with what you have achieved and like the way you have gone about it.

A little bit of inspiration and motivation - something which racing etc doesn't really do for me - thank you :D

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Originally Posted by Will

Did you find you had to get into a routine of running before work/odd hours etc?

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In the week I mostly run in the evenings when I get home from work - say 6 till 7 pm or thereabouts whilst at the weekends I fit in runs and adventures to suit. Don't get me wrong I can understand super keen runners wanting to do fartlek, sprint training and all that palava and others with not many hills near them doing hill reps but, for me, quite honestly life's too short. All the same I do tend to really push it from time to time and I always, always try and run the hill climbs which, given that I'm always running in the hills, means that even short runs usually include a bloody good struggle and some lung coughing uppering.

As for Britnick and Mr Brightside mentioning that genetically they aren't set up to run as well as others, from my point of view while there are still chubsters overtaking me in races I figure I can still try a bit harder :)

Your efforts to run everyday Stolly are quite inspiring I think. Tho' I've never come close, especially latterly. Its still out there in the ether as an idea and we all know someone's doing it! Nice one! Keep it up! FRA Forum's Ron Hill! :)

[QUOTE=JohnK;498068]I am with Iain R on this Genes have Damn all to do with ability to run fast or slow. In fact there are far to many factors, such as distance, time of day, mental application, diet muscular/skeletal makeup, Lifestyle, both living and working environment terrain etc etc etc, so to even tryand begin to isolate a single one is futile IMO.

There is evidence starting to appear that genes may play a part in how much a person can improve/achieve. There was a Horizon programme on a few months back that looked into the various aspects of exercise and it included a study of increases in VO2 max after exercise. The results seem to suggest that up to 15% of the population are "super-responders" who achieve high increases in VO2 max whereas up to 20% of the population show very little improvement (with the rest obviously being somwhere in the middle). While studies like this need repeating by other research groups to ensure that as many contributing factors (such as diet etc) are being normalised acuurately the evidence does seem to be heading that way for certain physiological parameters that aid things like running. Some links below to some of the reports and research.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17177251

http://www.pbrc.edu/heritage/index.html

http://jap.physiology.org/content/10...e2=tf_ipsecsha

A run a day sounds a fantastic idea. Hats off to you. I don't think I'm that motivated but I wish I were!!:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by JohnK

I am with Iain R on this Genes have Damn all to do with ability to run fast or slow.

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Well that's just plain blinkered. You are suggesting that every being is born as a blank canvass with identical innate ability? Then how do you account for the incredible variety in the world? How do you account for race horses' selective breeding to produce the winners? There is quite a variation in their race times too, and I would suggest they would be less subject to the environmental variations and vagaries that humans bring upon themselves.

Genetic variations (mutations) enabled some humans to survive the plague. Similar variations give some low natural heart rates, high VO2max, low lactate production, etc. (Lance Armstrong is a case in point).

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Originally Posted by BritNick

Well that's just plain blinkered. You are suggesting that every being is born as a blank canvass with identical innate ability? Then how do you account for the incredible variety in the world? How do you account for race horses' selective breeding to produce the winners? There is quite a variation in their race times too, and I would suggest they would be less subject to the environmental variations and vagaries that humans bring upon themselves.

Genetic variations (mutations) enabled some humans to survive the plague. Similar variations give some low natural heart rates, high VO2max, low lactate production, etc. (Lance Armstrong is a case in point).

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I suspect natural selection has has an effect on the gene pool. It would certainly, neatly, give us the answer as to why all the best sprinters are black. As suggested by the BBC in their Olympic coverage; that slavery of the blacks may have pushed them into a survival of the fittest scenario. Other possibilities are of a more difficult environments to live in. I.e food and water scarce severe heat etc.
It certainly would fit in with Darwins theories.
My opinion is that most are born with a similar ability. But some choose to make the most of it and get very good, and of those some have a slight genetic advantage from birth and become elite, at whatever it is they chose to stick with.
Nurture and nature probably equal elite, but mainly nurture.

nature does play a part

but there's so many factors within our control (body weight, training, rest) that until those facets are honed as well as they can be, nature cannot be used as a reason.

For example: BritNick beat me at Eccles Pike last night as he has a better body weight, does lots of training and has years more experience than me

that's my excuse and i'm sticking to it:D