BIG HALF 2019 reflection plus 3 BIG changes I'm making to my TRAINING!

[@2spoons]

Keep em in formed in the Watt Bike as I only just bought a bike and should have checked it had Bluetooth so I could connect my iPhone... I picked up a: BH Fitness SB Series SB1.16 H9135L Indoor Studio Bike - lots of weight on the front wheel and good for solving pounding but does not measure any wattage that a watt Bike could

[@swepeuaq]

Haven't been for a run in months after suffering with terrible pain under my left foot. Decided to join a gym and go kickboxing lessons instead. A few sore calf muscles and bruised toes but think my flexibility and strength have improved. Possibly going for a run this weekend and see what happens.

[@BenParkes]

Good luck on your run Ben! Hope your foot is all sorted now..

[@melodyfawssett3948]

I just love watching you and Sarah at work! You are such a cheerful, inspiring runner and I love regularly checking in with your channel to keep me motivated and excited about my own running ‘down under’. Would love to hear a bit from Sarah about running big distances and managing health as a woman. Thoroughly enjoying the channel!

[@2spoons]

That was a fab time Ben - returning from any giggles at pace can lead to mega injuries... - that was a great time... and keep up the faith

[@rjargall]

I heard 'Berlin training' right? YEWWWWWW

[@BenParkes]

That’s the next big road goal!

[@rjargall]

Awesome Ben - looking forward to following it!

[@danielreynolds6199]

Really looking forward to seeing your future videos on the three areas you're taking action on. Other than running I do little else to help complement and after a couple of poor recent race results myself I'm all ears to how I can improve. Keep up the good work Ben!

[@BenParkes]

Thank you Daniel. I think all these areas should really help anyone’s running, well that’s what I’m hoping for!! Future updates will be up over the next few weeks.. hopefully they’ll give you some ideas. All the best!

[@TheFODRunner]

Joining a gym has made the biggest difference to my running without a shadow of a doubt, best decision you’ll make I guarantee that!

[@TomDymondPage]

The FOD Runner joining in?

[@TheFODRunner]

Tom Dymond joining a gym 🙈 corrected it!

[@DanRuns]

I’m a fan of yoga and I transitioned from a groupon deal to just doing it at home. I could always do more of it but it’s been beneficial (in my opinion!). Yoga With Adriene is a good one if you fancy it at home

[@BenParkes]

I’ll probably do the same Dan.. but just seen 3-6 months of being taught and shown proper technique. I’m so tight and inflexible.. I can never get in any of the poses doing it at home. So paying for that expert guidance really! Only ever hear great things about it. Cool it’s working well for you too!

[@DanRuns]

Ben Parkes absolutely. I learned the basics and got put through the ringer and then began to apply it at home. I was rubbish went I first went and I’m not that flexible even now but some of the stretches work well for the legs after a long run. I’m a way off from doing handstands on my head :)

[@BenParkes]

ooooh handstands on my head.. can't wait for that class!! Sounds like you've got to a good place with using it to complement your running. Hopefully will get to your level soon!

[@briantwigley]

I ditched the soft flasks and got the bladder and tube and I’ve had 0 problems with it 👍🏻

[@BenParkes]

I would do that.. but like to know how much water I have left. Probably a sensible upgrade in case a bottle fails mid race!

[@briantwigley]

Good point, I only know it’s run out when it’s run out 😂

[@bikeinmotion]

If the bite valve is leaking then welcome to the club. Just write hydrapak a mail, they will sent you new ones... already got twice a delivery... and they kept saying strange it only happens to me :)

[@BenParkes]

Yeah.. it's always comes out from the seal around the bite valve. Just so annoying! The newer Salomon bottles are way better, but they don't fit in my pack. Will message hydrapak, thanks for the advice!

[@bikeinmotion]

@@BenParkes It happened to me on the bladder valve twice and since the bladder has a pressure it just keeps on running out ... super sticky sh**y :)

[@Rosenrot213]

Have treadmill, elliptical and spin bike in my home gym, work ft, and out every Saturday for long run/hike, mix it up keeps the motivation going.. Zwifting or zwift run really enjoying mid week after work

[@BenParkes]

How are you finding Zwift Run? I’ve never tried it.. but enjoying the community aspect of Zwift. Think it’s got a lot of potential of bringing people together. Do you just use a foot pod?

[@Rosenrot213]

I find it helps motivation, although when zwifting it's hard to type/chat and run, I usually use it for training workouts that I configure with zwofactory dot com and just enjoy the virtual world with all the data on screen, group runs are good fun too. Using hrm and footpod (garmin) via pc and large screen which are both quite accurate. So far no problems with Zwift, just makes me use the treadmill more.

[@BenParkes]

Will check out that website, will be interesting to see what's out there. Thank you! Yeah, imagine it's impossible to chat with other runners while running.. Sounds like you've got a good set up going on there though and it's keeping you happy and running, so great all round!

[@joeculligan8937]

Grea5 video as always Ben. I do Orangetheory Fitness 2-3 times a week. It is a one hour class with a heart rate monitor and a trained professional coaching you through the workout. You are on a water rower, weighted floor work, and treadmill work. I highly recommend it. Also your first class is free. So, if you don’t like the workout it will cost you nothing.

[@BenParkes]

Hey Joe. I’ve never heard of that.. but will look it up, sounds interesting. Great it is working well for you!!

[@themindfulrunner1228]

Looks like some nice winter sun in Majorca Ben. Try Kalenji soft flasks. Half the price of Salomon ones and better. Yoga is great for running. It will strengthen your core, improve flexibility, helps your breathing, and will give you a greater understanding of your body. Keep up the good work.

[@BenParkes]

Ah.. decathlon is very close to home. Will go and have a look! Thank you! Can’t wait to start the yoga when I’m back from Majorca.. Hope all is well with you 🙌

[@themindfulrunner1228]

All well thanks. Training going well for my first 50km in April. Thanks to being motivated and your training plan 👍 Going to a yoga class is great as they’ll correct your poses. If you also want to try some at home I highly recommended Yoga with Adriene. You’ll find her on KZbin. She has all sorts of sequences and some for runners. Her guidance is top notch. Enjoy your yoga and hope you find some soft flasks that don’t leak.

[@Marco-wt2cj]

Cycling is a great way to cross train, low impact, different muscles used and it does improve the cardiovascular system! Personally i cannot stand gyms, if the weather is awful I use zwift and free body core exercises. Thanks for showing us a bit of Mallorca, i m gonna go there for sure!

[@BenParkes]

Hey Marco.. yes, enjoying Mallorca, very beautiful place! Am enjoying cycling so far, even though it's just on the bike in the flat.. (living in central London, it is not ideal for cycling outside) See you on Zwift soon!!

[@jonathanhaynes6048]

ii'm surprised that you haven't been a gym member to help and strengthen with your running..its helped me in my long recovery from a Achilles injury I use the gym for cardio with the cross trainer and spinning classes which really help.. Then for strength I use weight squats leg press leg curl and plenty more..look forward to plenty more info on your progress over the coming weeks and months.. ben..

[@BenParkes]

Thanks Jonathan.. I was a member of a gym many years ago in my 20's when my only goal was to get as big as possible!! haha.. how times change. So I've been enjoying going back with a very different focus of getting stronger for improving the running. Actually enjoying it far more now. Will just do some cardio for warm ups, then use the weights. Cool to hear how it's helped you get back to running after an achilles injury, hopefully all is ok now! All the best.

[@jonathanhaynes6048]

Ive had too many up's and down's with this my worst ever injury ive had in 25plus yrs running want will be will be now..Just hope to able to run if not competing will see..Thanks ben for reply all the best to you too...

[@alanneillceaiej8394]

Another fab video - great tips, beautiful locations and as always so easy watch somebody ‘living the dream’ and calling it how it is... not envious at all. Will be interesting to see how you get on with the Watt bike. Thanks 👍

[@BenParkes]

Thanks Alan. Will certainly feature the Wattbike a bit coming up.. loving it so far! Appreciate the support, thank you!

[@TomDymondPage]

Best of luck on your journey Ben, I look forward to keeping up with it all. I’m looking to go Gran Canaria in a few months of the back of your uploads!

[@BenParkes]

Thank you Tom! Really enjoyed my time in Gran Canaria.. such an amazing place for running. All the best for your trip if you do go!

[@johanlarsson23]

great video Ben! Nice to see you back in training! Now only 2 weeks before I run the Milano Half marathon I cannot wait! :)

[@BenParkes]

GOOD LUCK Johan!! Let me know how you get on!

[@Colston3]

Them technical downhills would definitely be the death of me. Keep up the great work, it will come.

[@BenParkes]

They're nearly the death of me too.. many times!!

[@nberkel]

Always a journey, just like life. Hope the changes prove worthwhile!

[@rickers500]

Good luck with the X-training and yoga Ben. I've been doing both spin and yoga for the last 12 months and it has really helped with the running though I was getting a bit of a clash with hard bike and threshold running workouts so had to step back and plan the week a bit better!

[@aadrien666]

Great video as always Ben! I work on strength training usually 3 times per week, and I feel that has helped my running immensely! I'm also thinking of signing up for yoga, as there are classes available where I work! :D

[@BenParkes]

Most place do a promo offer to try before signing up.. maybe they do near your work. I found yoga really hard and didn’t stick to it, so determined to try harder second time around. Hope your running is going well!

[@alecfrancis2084]

Only recently found the channel but love it! I’m also a home worker, and completely agree with joining the gym for strength work. I found I just wouldn’t do it when at home.

[@runningwithmarc]

Best cross training I can advice people to do, is taking proper rest days. and stop comparing yourself to other peoples abilities, we're all at different points in our running 'career' so listen to your journey. I do short yoga sessions and lots of cold water therapy/swimming and regular massage.

[@BenParkes]

Agree Marc.. proper rest days with nothing (other than walking) is what I do with all my athletes. Then cross training etc can be mixed into easy run days. That approach is working well. Kudos to you for cold water therapy, I’m not strong enough for that! All the best with your running 🙌

[@jl121982]

Hey! Awesome video! How do you pace yourself on these trail runs with lots of ups and downs? Do you just go by pace, feel or do you have a set HR range? If yes, which HR range do you try and stick to?

[@robbiegreenslade]

Ben - what sunglasses are those? Are they running specific sunglasses?

[@BenParkes]

They are from GoodR. I like to run in them.. they are very comfortable!

[@heavyt5702]

Thanks for sharing these great tips, Ben. I’ve bought an indoor bike as well, not quite as fancy as a Wattbike. For me it was about getting some cardio in whilst being unable to run but now I’m back running it will still be used to complement my other training. I’m not very flexible at all so find yoga tough, even basic stuff is tricky. By the way, awesome location 👍

[@alfielaskey1081]

Zero dislikes 👍

[@cmg1788]

I try to do strength training at the gym 2 times a week when training for a half but with my first marathon in april the gym has taken a back seat as im just too tired with the extra mileage. Good luck with the xtraing looking forward to your updates

[@garystefan8550]

Hi Ben, does your new gym not have a watt bike?

[@BenParkes]

It’s a pure gym.. so more on the budget end of the spectrum as only costing me £14.99/month. The equipment is good, but not at Wattbike level. Have only ever seen Wattbike‘s in Virgin Active / Nuffield Health etc!

[@HInc7647]

Finding a yoga class, teacher and style that you like does take a while! It will be so good for you 👍

[@dorotex86]

Nice video! Yoga is soooo overpriced! 80 quid is actually a bargain if you have managed to get it, some studios ask for 150+