Run With Coach Parry

Today on the Ask Coach Parry Podcast we chat about running shoe wear patterns and what could be causing irregular running shoe wear patterns in this case. Grant submitted his question and this is what he wanted to know: I don't know if this is something you'd be able to answer, but if so, your guidance would really be appreciated. I have been running now for 2 years and am planning on doing my first Comrades Marathon next year. I just have one concern though that I'd like to have resolved before entering the Comrades Marathon on 1 September. The shoe wear on my right shoe is much worse than the left shoe (the left shows no wear while the right shows major wear that appears to be from heel striking) and when I start ramping up the mileage to 50-60km + per week, I get the onset of shin splints only on the right side. I don't know if it’s to do with one leg being longer/shorter than the other etc. Who can I consult about something like this, ie a biokineticist or a physiotherapist and what kind of shoe would

Over the last two days we’ve discussed the start of the Comrades Marathon up run as well as the first half of the Comrades up run. Today we look at the second half of the Comrades up run Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Yesterday we looked at the start of the Comrades Marathon up run in Durban and what you could and should expect. Today we are taking a look at the first half of the Comrades Marathon up run. Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

In the build up to the 2014 Comrades Marathon we did a series of podcasts talking through the Comrades Marathon down run route including the start, the first half and the second half. Those three podcasts were probably the most popular that we did in the build up to the 2014 Comrades Marathon down run.Many people have asked us to do the same for the Comrades up run but sooner than we did in the build up for the down run. So here they are. Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Entries for the 2015 Comrades Marathon open on 1 September 2014 and a lot of people are sitting at home thinking ‘I’d love to run the Comrades Marathon, but can I?’. We did a webinar before entries opened for the 2014 Comrades Marathon called “Is the Comrades Marathon for me” that was pretty popular (We will do another one this year so watch this space). We have been getting a lot of similar questions in and it is a very broad question but what does it take to run the Comrades Marathon? Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Today’s question on the Ask Coach Parry Podcast and it was submitted by Christopher. We shared the secret about how to get faster over a 10km a few weeks ago and how that can then be used to improve your marathon time. Christopher wanted to know how does he run a sub 4 hour marathon, as he is currently stuck running 4:30’s? Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

In this episode of the Ask Coach Parry Podcast we chat about an ITB release. Leon TeBurgh submitted a question. Leon said he has been struggling with a knee problem for about 3 years now, after a long time of being lazy and hardly doing any exercise at all. He has been to 2 physio’s, 2 biokineticists, 2 surgeons as well as a podiatrist. All of them told him that the problem is iliotibial band syndrome or ITB, with the exception of the podiatrist, who told me to get new shoes, gave him a long list of exercises to do to strengthen the muscles. Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Today’s question is from Dorothy Graham and she wants to know what is the right Comrades Marathon goal for her. She says she is a 59 year old lady living in Zimbabwe, she ran the Comrades Marathon in 2013 and finished outside the 12 hour cut off. She that experience she swore never again with the heat and the wind. As in true Comrades Marathon style a friend has asked her to run again next year and she is thinking about it. Dorothy wanted to know what the goals have to be to finish under 11 hours, which is what her Comrades Marathon goal was last time. Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

We got an email in from Depak and he asked the following question: “I have a mild meniscus tear. I have consulted an arthroscopist who has ruled surgery out as of now. I want to run the Comrades Marathon. Is it possible? I have completed a full marathon in 3:55 and done a half marathon in 1:45.” Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Today’s question comes from Eric Maritz. Eric says he lacked mental toughness at this year’s Comrades Marathon and would like to try and develop his running mental toughness. He asked what would be the best way to go about developing running mental toughness for the Comrades Marathon. Would it be back to back weekend long runs? If so what is the best way to do my weekend runs to simulate some end of comrades running while still getting the intended benefit of the long run? Will it help to race a 30km or two in February or March? Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

The question Lindsey answers on today’s episode of the Ask Coach Parry Podcast has again got to do with the Comrades Marathon up run. Vicky submitted it as she is concerned about how tough the up run is compared to the down run. Her question is a follows:I entered my first comrades this year but became very tired. I got to Drummond in 6:05 and called it quits at Drummond as I did not think I would make the 12-hour cut off. I am very disappointed as I trained really hard for the Comrades Marathon. I want to try the Comrades up run, but I can only imagine how hard it is if the Comrades Marathon down run was this hard. Please help! – Vicky Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Derrick Pienaar was a Comrades Marathon novice in 2014 and has his eye on a Comrades back to back medal in 2015. Derrick managed to finish the Comrades down run in 11:40 this year. He did approximately 1400km’s leading up to this year’s Comrades Marathon and felt confident that he would finish the race. He says he’s super fired up to go for his Comrades back to back medal next year. Derrick’s question is as follows: What would be a realistic goal for improvement, as far as time goes, for his Comrades back to back medal on the Comrades up run? Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Today on the Ask Coach Parry Podcast we look at a stress fracture from running in particular a fibula stress fracture. Gayle emailed us and wanted to know how you start running again after a fibula stress fracture after she picked one up running the Comrades Marathon. She also wanted to know how you prevent a re-occurrence of it. Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Oscar Benjamin submitted a question via the Ask coach Parry podcast website and he wants to know, in terms of difficulty – the Comrades Marathon vs Ironman, which is harder? Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

If you've ever wondered if you can finish the Comrades Marathon this is for you. The next question for Lindsey Parry comes all the way from Dundee in Scotland. Chris Toll says he is an 85kg, 51 year old back of the pack runner. He has run/walked 7 marathons in the last 3 years and his quickest was his latest one in Edinburgh in May where he did 4.45. Chris says he is never going to be a fast runner but he is ready for a challenge to get the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up. He thinks the Comrades Marathon might just be it. Chris however is afraid that he may not be up to it. He would to love to visit South Africa again, and the most iconic marathon in the world would just be the cherry on top. Chris asked if the right goal for him is to finish the Comrades Marathon and is it achievable. He also wanted to know if the 12 hour (Vic Clapham) training programme or 11 hour (Bronze) training programme would be most suitable. Most importantly he asked if he can finish the Comrades Marathon? Read More &midd

Derrick Fourie submitted his question for the Ask Coach Parry podcast a few days ago and we answer it today. Derrick said he is currently deciding between the Bill Rowan Comrades training programme and the silver Comrades training programme.  In the Comrades training programme the qualifying marathon would be run at the beginning of December. Derrick asks if it is possible to alter the training programme? He wants to run his Comrades Marathon qualifier the Kaapsehoop marathon at the beginning of November.Derrick also wanted to know what the different training paces are for a silver Comrades training programme as opposed to the Bill Rowan Comrades training programme? Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Many people set the goal to start running to run a marathon. Today’s question comes from Polokwane and Janet wanted to know realistically how long after you first start running can you expect to run your first marathon? Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Gaby is trying to improve her running and she wants to know if there are any specific running stretches or exercises that will help her running. She also asked if things like squats and lunges help to make you a better runner. Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

Our question for Lindsey today comes from Anthony Collier from the UK and is about what would be a realistic Comrades Marathon goal. Anthony asked the following: “Running the Comrades Marathon has been on my bucket list for many years and I can get to do it in 2015. I know that Comrades is a major challenge and that makes me very nervous so I am really wavering about applying for a place. Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com

This question comes from Joseph who has foot arch pain. and he wants to know why do his arches in his feet hurt when running, what could be causing it? Read More · Training Programs · www.CoachParry.com