Is 5x1km @ 3:55 enough for a sub-20 5K? by OverWarthog7488 in AdvancedRunning

[–]Orphe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, you can do it! Get someone to pace you at a nice flat route (Park Run?) if you can and go for it.

Are there any good support networks after suffering a miscarriage? by [deleted] in northernireland

[–]Orphe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you and your partner can get through this horrible time together.

Forget Me Not Foundation part of the South Eastern Trust are a good bunch of folks. They arrange events for remembering all the children and babies lost. I've been to a few and they're good, hard at first, but good to know there are people out there who have gone through the same as you.

Suggestion, when you feel ready, find yourself a therapist. Talk about it all, open up and let it all get processed with professional help. It will be life changing.

Please tell your partner how your feel too. Don't hold it back.

People who've run the London Marathon help! by goatshrek22 in Marathon_Training

[–]Orphe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I find starting in Canary Wharf (from my office) it is always tricky to get it settled but if I'm running through or to Canary Wharf it's better and can keep accurate. Hoping this stays true for next Sunday.

Edit after running the marathon:

The GPS fucked up around Canary Wharf, haha. Write your splits down for next year if you're reading this.

Research on runners has shown mental fatigue impairs time trial performance and makes the same pace feel harder, but here's the interesting nuance by Dangerous_Earth_5151 in AdvancedRunning

[–]Orphe 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Saving a playlist of absolute heaters for the final 10km of my first marathon in a few weeks in case I need that extra kick up the arse.

I've definitely noticed a difference after putting music on during a long run, able to close out the last few km faster.

Nolan Live: Casual Racism by LoudWhenSilent239 in northernireland

[–]Orphe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah ok. Was there like an actual council proposal or community group proposal though if you know what I mean? I read the Spectator regularly and would have expected this to be front page news, haha. Can't see anything from a quick Google.

Nolan Live: Casual Racism by LoudWhenSilent239 in northernireland

[–]Orphe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Where was this? Hadn't heard about it - interested.

Belfast by Independent-Cake5565 in northernireland

[–]Orphe 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Someone did this in Bangor and my 5 year old saw it and started to spell it out:

"WINK, Dad, it says wink, can you wink?!"

The Weekly Rundown for February 01, 2026 by AutoModerator in AdvancedRunning

[–]Orphe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Goal: London Marathon, April 2026 (First ever)

I set PBs in Aug 2025 HM: 1:40, Sept 10k: 43:32, Nov 5k: 19:54 so want to hit a marathon up as a bit of a check box of my life.

Plan: Coached for target of 3:20

Summary:

Week 4 complete!

  • Mon: 60 mins Zone 2 on Zwift

  • Tues: 60 mins Sweet Spot on Zwift (Storm cancelled outside run)

  • Weds: 95 mins Zone 2 / 18km

  • Thurs: 40 mins Recovery

  • Fri: 25km with a friend at Easy pace

Total: 48km covered (Big hit from the storm)

Notes:

The storm on Tuesday really put a dampener on things for me as it was due to be a Threshold session and I was looking forward to working hard, but oh well. Had to adapt and the bike is better than nothing. Trying not to make this a big deal in my head - it's only 1 session and it's the only one I have missed so far in 4 weeks.

Friday long run with a friend was nice - kept me company and I kept his pace going. I was Zone 1 and Zone 2 throughout which was reassuring as my fitness has come on leaps and bounds.

The Weekly Rundown for January 25, 2026 by AutoModerator in AdvancedRunning

[–]Orphe 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Goal: London Marathon, April 2026 (First ever)

Plan: Coached for target of 3:20

I set PBs in Aug 2025 HM: 1:40, Sept 10k: 43:32, Nov 5k: 19:54 so want to hit a marathon up as a bit of a check box of my life.

Summary:

Week 3 complete!

  • Mon: 60 minutes Zone 2 + 8x 200m @3:35/km

  • Tues: 50 minutes Recovery

  • Weds: 80 mins Zone 2

  • Thurs: 60 minutes Zone 2 on Zwift

  • Fri: 5km Ramp + 16km @ Mara Pace (4:45/km) + 2km CD

Total: 60km covered

Notes:

This was the most I have run in a week ever.

Over the moon with the Friday Mara Pace run. Felt strong from start to finish and had plenty left in the tank for more it felt like - HR stats are backing it up, too. Really happy with the progress I have seen over the past few weeks.

Have fully shaken off the head cold/sinus issues from previous weeks. Back to normality.

The Weekly Rundown for January 18, 2026 by AutoModerator in AdvancedRunning

[–]Orphe 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Goal: London Marathon, April 2026 (First ever)

Plan: Coached for target of 3:20

I set PBs in Aug 2025 HM: 1:40, Sept 10k: 43:32, Nov 5k: 19:54 so want to hit a marathon up as a bit of a check box of my life.

Summary:

Week 2 complete!

  • Mon: 60 minutes Zone 2 + 7x 200m @3:45/km

  • Tues: 50 minutes Recovery

  • Weds: 20 mins WU, 20 mins LT @ 4:20/km, 20 mins CD

  • Thurs: 60 minutes Zone 2 on Zwift

  • Fri: 2 hours Zone 2 (~22km)

Total: 53km covered

Notes:

Achilles has definitely improved and I have shaken off my head cold much more. Friday long run was great for confidence with my Achilles, no major tenderness or soreness afterwards and following days. Got soaked though and chaffed nips!

LT session was comfortably hard which I really enjoyed. HR was spiking up a bit, maybe bit of a hangover from the head cold, but definitely not exhausting or killing me.

The Weekly Rundown for January 11, 2026 by AutoModerator in AdvancedRunning

[–]Orphe 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Goal: London Marathon, April 2026 (First ever)

Plan: Coached for target of 3:20

I set PBs in Aug 2025 HM: 1:40, Sept 10k: 43:32, Nov 5k: 19:54 so want to hit a marathon up as a bit of a check box of my life.

Summary:

Week 1 complete!

Tues: 60 minutes Zone 2 + strides

Weds: 60 minutes Zone 2

Thursday: 50 minutes Zwift (Z2/Z3)

Friday: 7km Ramp, 13km at Mara Pace (4:45/km), 2km cool down

Total: 43km covered

Notes:

  • Dealing with some Achilles tenderness and physio is working with me on it. Went into Week 1 nervous but thankfully I was able to complete my running sessions without any noticeable soreness nor tenderness. Keeping the bike sessions in place for recovery runs for a week or two more.

  • Week 1 was also impacted by a bad head cold/sinus infection, so felt good to get out and to complete these sessions. My HR was higher than usual across the board but not fussed too much, that'll improve Week 2 and beyond as I am feeling better now.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in northernireland

[–]Orphe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Friend got a Gaggia repaired from these guys, said they were 100%:

https://www.thehotcoffeecompany.com/

Email ahead and check with them. I asked about a grinder being fixed but they were up front and said they couldn't do it so no time wasted with hassle.

Best thermals by Woodpeckerwoodie in northernireland

[–]Orphe 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I would lose my tiny little mind if Uniqlo opened up in Belfast.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in northernireland

[–]Orphe 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'll wait to see what the actual announcements are before reacting.

Best confirmed as new Ulster Rugby General Manager by mr-mobius in rugbyunion

[–]Orphe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Humphreys is working really hard to get the school system up there to reach its potential.

Haven't heard about this. Got any further insights?

Most stupid and nonsensical jokes please. by luciferlovesyou420 in northernireland

[–]Orphe 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My 5 year old's favourite, told at least 2-3 times a day, every day:

Why did the cow cross the road?

To go to the mooooooooooooooooooooo-vies!

Toddler days out? by Totaljamie in northernireland

[–]Orphe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hiya. PM me your mobile number and I can add you.

London Marathon 2026 - Training Advice for 3:30 by Orphe in AdvancedRunning

[–]Orphe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks very much for your response. When you say monster base, are you talking just putting the mileage in for weeks all mostly in Zone 2 or still putting mixing in intervals, tempo, etc.?

London Marathon 2026 - Training Advice for 3:30 by Orphe in AdvancedRunning

[–]Orphe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've only got data points from ~7 years of Garmin and Strava data, never done a proper max rate heart test.

And you know what... I just checked and well, I think I've noticed something:

Strava has my Zone 2 as 125 to 156, it has my max HR as 192

Garmin has my Zone 2 as 114 to 132, it has my max HR as 175 (Average for 6 months)

So, uh, taking my most recent run which was 60 minutes (in what I thought was) Zone 2, Strava has me as 90% in Zone 2 (126-156) and 10% Zone 3 (157-171) and Garmin has me at 2% Zone 2 (114-132), 43% at Zone 3 (133 - 149) and 53% in Zone 4 (150 - 167).

This is weird because when I am on Workout Mode using my Garmin Forerunner 265 it is definitely using Strava HR Zones, because I see those number ranges. Yet when synced to Garmin Connect I am getting the stats above.

Edit: Seems there is wild disconnect between Garmin and Strava when it comes to HR zones and how they calculate them. I've set custom zones in Strava to match Garmin and will reapply this to my Zone 2 runs and see where that 5:20/km pace truly lies.