Runners united (come join us if you are addicted to running!)

herecomesthesciencebint yes, on the same mileage 3 years ago I was about 20 secs/km faster...but it is a massive achievement when you wake up and think, 'oh, it's only 8 miles today' and it really doesn't seem that far to you. So I guess it's a question of setting realistic goals (I'll never be, and never would have been a Moshi) and continuing to get out there. I suspect this is why I feel in the end that distance matters more to me than speed - I like running a long way more than I like running fast. I'd like to do both, but ain't gonna happen. My work running buddy (a better runner than me by far) and I always say though that we want to still be doing this when we are 60 and that is the real goal...

Just popped on to say congratulations to driving - fantastic news!

peach DP snorting with laughter at notion that she might run (she did do C25k for a bit, but actually hated it, I think...). especially given her current debilitated state

DD knows what running shoes are, I am proud to say (she's 2)

Awww congratulations Driving, that's lovely news! Does your DP run too or are you running for two (three!).

Hey there Iread, good to hear from you. Glad the back held up. Hope it's ok tomorrow too.

at Moshi swimming 1500 miles.

no, that was something else - the macmillan pace calculator, you can just google it. The perceived effort scale is the Borg scale, but there are simplified versions too - they range from supine (on the couch) to heart about to leap out of your chest...I like moderation.

there is a school of thought (mostly espoused by young, speedy male runners) that running slowly just teaches your body to, well, run slowly. I may be the living embodiment of that theory - but I just think that I am no longer young and my muscles, joints and tendons can't take both mileage and speed, so I have to compromise...

and thanks!

Thanks drivingmisscrazy -was the scale the link you sent me? I meant to say it came up blank when I clicked on it....

Oh and CONGRATULATIONS !!

sleepwhenidie I find the perceived effort scale useful - you can look it up online. Otherwise, you might find a few runs out with a heart rate monitor a good way to gauge the effort you need to achieve a particular pace. You want to build endurance, and for that you need to run a lot at relatively low heart rates, but to throw in some speed work. I think you should probably go and get a running book to give you the theory and some sample sessions. It's actually quite hard to keep your pace down when you are keen to run fast - it's a discipline all of its own...

IreadthereforeIam - well done...hope recovery continues

well, just to add to the running thread babies, we went for a scan today, and DP is 8.5 weeks with our second (measuring 9), lovely heartbeat, all looking good :) probably due around the same time as peaches. Delighted, although still cautious at such an early stage. You guys are the first to know :)

Well, I went out, did 7 miles, and I'm still walking - lets hope I'm still walking tomorrow . I just want to be able to complete this race now - I don't care about time (it's my first one after all), and with this back thing flaring up again, anything is better than nothing. I think I might have to start doing more swimming after this!!

drivingmisscrazy I think you are probably spot on about the relationship between the speed I run and the urge to walk . I definitely find pacing myself difficult but am working on it. Can't ever imagine being a distance runner though, but I would like to get to the kind of steady state when your head clears of thinking about how hard running is and it becomes almost like meditation IYKWIM? I get it when I swim and am pretty sure runners must have that too?

I haven't been on for a while - what with holidays and life just getting a bit mad here!! Anyway, I did start another thread on here, but then though I'd post it on here too - here's where all the experts are, after all!!

I have a rather sore lower back at the moment - and a history of bad backs. I've prolapsed a disc in the past (8 years ago) and suffered a lot of discomfort when I was pregnant with ds's aged 7 and 4 (don't we all!?). I have pain quite a lot/ often, but I had been keeping it under control (pretty much) with pilates and a bit of running.

The thing is, I've been training for a half marathon which is on may 15th, and 2 weeks ago I managed to hurt myself doing a rather silly pilates move without doing it properly. I was in quite a lot of discomfort (voltarol is a splendid thing), and now it is a constant ache.

I really need to train. I'm supposed to be doing 8 miles tonight, but I don't know whether I should. Part of me hopes it'll help to loosen my muscles up, another part of me wonders if it'll do more harm than good.

What should I do?? I'm supposed to be going out at 6. I could go out, take it easy and do 11 minute miles and just see how far I get?

Hi all - I can't keep up with this thread! So hello to anyone I've missed saying hello to, and hope you're all running well.

A bit of a depressing running day for me today, I finally got back to the gym as ds1 and 2 were back at school so I could get ds3 in the creche. Decided to do a speed session, and have realised that my previous pace has completely deserted me - lost in the previous marathon campaign. I did some speed work before but I think I went about it all wrong and now I feel I'm paying the price.

Anyway - have decided the only way is up, and to keep plugging away. I've fallen into the classic habit of doing all my runs at the same (slow!) pace and the only way to rectify that is to put the effort in consistently.

My "novice 2" marathon improver programme starts in early June, so I'm going to try and concentrate on speed and general fitness until then, while keeping up a slightly longer run at the weekend and a proper long run every other weekend. Sound like a plan?

fishie I met a sports therapist recently who was wearing those shoes - he loved them and said they are going to be the next big revolution in footwear!

Wheelybug I think I fall somewhere in between. I've been doing between 30 - 50K a week most weeks since December (the travel obviously makes it a bit difficult sometimes).

I get my shoes from niketown always. There is now a new nike running store here in Exeter but it only just opened. Since I am in London for work several times a month, normally, it's not been an issue since I started running (51 weeks ago!) to go there and get my shoes. I was going there before anyway to get 'robics gear. It's a rare trip home that doesn't see me in one or both of niketown and the apple store. :)

They sound interestin fishie - are they the ones with toes ?

Welcome westernway !

DrNo - No prob re the shoes, and maybe there'll be a small footed newbie on here - Everyone, Listen up ! DrNo sent me some running shoes to see if they fitted as they were a little small on her same on me.... So, if anyone wears a 5 (or probably more a 4.5) running shoe I can post you DrNorhtener's Asics. It'd be a real shame for them to go to waste ! Shout if you think they might work...

On the subject of shoes - South West Londoners (or maybe Londoners in general if you go to central London) - where do you buy your runners ? I usually go to Lanson Running in Hampton Wick but would like to go somewhere different. Any recommendations ?

thetastigma - don't worry, I don't do anywhere near that distance in a week either. I do less than 20 miles in a week (3 runs 2x 5 ish and then one 7-8 miles) although intend to increase shortly when I have more time.

hello again runners. i cannot keep up with this thread! I've got new Vivo barefoot running shoes. Did 8k with them last night and were fab.

I have been getting increasingly fed up with trad shoes and their tiny toeboxes, the final straw was when I tripped up and couldn't save myself because of the enormous rubber bumpers.

westernway welcome! looks like you are doing great and lots of races coming up. Advice on shoes? What do you need to know? Best advice I'd give is go to a proper running shop (runners need have branches all over UK), i.e. one that will do a gait analysis. This will give you crucial info about what kind of shoes you need - a good shop will be able to tell you whether the shoes are for neutral, supinator or pronator etc. Once you find a make and model that suits you just stick with that. If you have the wrong shoes, you are more likely to get injured. For some very lucky runners it doesn't matter, but for most of us it does (carrying extra pounds - or years - also impacts)

hi can I join please. Compaired to alot of you I am very amature. Only started last year for the 5k Race for Life. And have only done one 10 k at christmas I am very slow (1hr 18 min Southsea Portsmouth RNLI Santa Run, but it was in a Santa Suit and had some beach running included). But I am now down to do Netley Soton 'Run in the Park 10k 15/05/11, Marwell 10k 22/05/11 and Race for Life 10k 22/07/11 although my training has gone all to pot this Easter.
I run with the Lee on Solent branch of 'Run in England'.
Any advice on running shoes would be apreciated

no, not for last 4 months - I think I might see some benefit if I had! gradually built up from about 40k per week in jan - doing a few weeks with lots of distance before half but generally would be happy enough with about 50k of mileage a week and a bit more speed!

yes, Dr No building endurance alright, but sometimes I feel that I am enduring rather than enjoying my running!

Going to go out at lunchtime and buy either a Garmin or maybe the new Nike watch thingy. Just in case I can't use my iPhone on Sunday, so that at least I get the mileage and pace info.

This thread is very depressing. I thought I w running a lot but I have never done 60K in a week (I have done 60K in 7 days but by the time the week unwound and the timing differences resolved I was back on a 50K week).

I've obviously nit been doing as well in training as I thought. :(

Is anyone else here on runkeeper? Is there a mumsnet street team?

drivingmisscrazy have you been doing 60k per week for last four months..that's very impressive! As you both say it must help your body be more used to endurance but I have no idea about speed I'm afraid as I always find it hard going that bit faster..feel like my lungs will explode!

driving I was thinking the same thing - that I seem to have hit a plateau. My speed is just not increasing, but like you, my mileage is increasing steadily, and touch wood, I too am running pain free atm. So, we can safely say we are getting stronger and building up our endurance

I've got the gamin 305 and it is fine. I was worried about the size as I have tiny wrists but it isn't as heavy as it looks and it is nice having a big clear screen to read. Only issue I have is that it is a bit slow getting the initial GPS signal so I have to remember to allow time for that before heading out.

moshi watch out for lyme disease if there are ticks - especially on bracken; friend of mine was seriously ill after being bitten in the West of Ireland - facial paralysis, meningitis, the lot - it took him almost a year to recover. And the docs didn't catch it because it's assumed that Lyme is only in the US - not so. Watch the kids, too.

I fancy doing a duathlon (rubbish at swimming) - I quite frequently bike home from work (about 12k) and then go for a run, or vice versa, so possess both kinds of muscles :o

Am feeling a bit :( about my running - I've put in so much work, and seem to be getting very little return (e.g. 4 months of solid base building, but still only getting about 6.30m/km on longer runs) for it. I can't honestly say I'm seeing much progress in terms of pace, although it is easier, and I am running a good bit of distance without getting hurt.

I suspect that there's only so far I can get with this and should just accept my limitations - which are partly psychological in that I find it hard to push myself too much beyond my comfort zone. Maybe I should join a running club so that I too can collapse in a heap on the grass like Dr No :o

better rescue DD from her spot in front of the tv dressed in her pjs and bike helmet...