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

Oh, and just I feel I belong!

10/04/11 - Brighton Marathon: Pawsnclaws
17/04/11 - VLM: MoshiMoshi/ Passmyglass/ Doyouthinktheysaurus
02/05/11 - Ashdon 10K: bonkers20
10/05/11 - Burbage Skyline 5.75 miles: Hatwoman
14/05/11 - Chester Half Marathon: IreadthereforeIam
15/05/11 - Oxford Town and Gown 10k: Goldberry
21/05/11 - Clare Burren Marathon Challenge - drivingmisscrazy
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday
22/05/11 - Merchant Taylors' Triathlon: MoshiMoshi
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Half Marathon: backwardpossom, squix
29/05/11 - Stirling R4L: squix
30/05/11 - BUPA 10K: MoshiMoshi
05/06/11 - Seaford Half Marathon: Doyouthinktheysaurus
05/06/11 - Tilty Hilly 5(mile): bonkers20
05/06/11 - RFL 10k: LaLa
08/06/11 - Claver Peak 5 miles: hatwoman
11/06/11 - Clumber Park R4L 10k Hamster
12/06/11 - Bath R4L 5k Dillinger
12/06/11 - Redcar half marathon - DrNortherner
19/06/11 - Dash for Dads - Pawsnclaws
19/06/11 - Half Ironman UK 70.3 - Twink, MoshiMoshi
25/06/11 - Lewa half marathon Kenya - Masterandmargaritas
26/06/11 - Stortford 10 miles - thecoo
26/06/11 - Colworth half marathon - cestlavie
02/07/11 - Achill Half marathon - drivingmisscrazy
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
10/07/11 - Felsted 10K: bonkers20
17/07/11 - RFL St Albans - Pawsnclaws
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun, popsycal, LaLa
23/09/11 - Notting Half Marathon: cestlavie
24/09/11 - mooathon, donegal: drivingmisscrazy
25/09/11 - Edinburgh Urbanathlon: backwardpossom
16/10/11 - Abingdon Marathon: MoshiMoshi
30/10/11 - Great South Run: Wheely
10/12/11 - Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon (half): drivingmisscrazy

Wow, this thread moves fast I'll try to join in after the lovely welcome I got but I can't even pretend to call myself a runner; I'm a shuffler jogger.

Well done on the Arkendale run DrNo I chickened out but did the same course on monday and it took me 1hr 03mins Am very glad I didn't do it on sunday; you would have been halfway home before I fell over the finish line!

These last few weeks I have been getting slower and finding my runs so much harder. I'm waiting for the results of a blood test for deficiencies, specifically iron and folic acid, as I'm also losing a lot of hair so I'm almost hoping something comes up, that it all might be connected somehow and I can get a supplement that will give me lush locks and bags of energy at the same time!

My DH keeps telling me to have a week or so off running but I'm just terrified that if I stop, I won't start again as I've done that in the past with other hobbies. Not sure what to do?

Congrats on all the pregnancies btw!

So who are the other preggers, I knew there was one (but forgotten who).

I am 12 weeks now, and tbh have only been doing one run a week for a while now, which is either 3, 5 or 8 (which has been a few weeks)

I'm also A but negative.

oh, didn't realise you were pg too! so 3 pregnant ladies - you're almost an ante-natal club all on your own (a very very exclusive one). What's your weekly mileage? usually? and how far along are you?

congrats, by the way

Thanks for the advice again, I am going to postpone for a month or so - I'm also common (A+).

Penguin, are congratulations in order? Sorry if I've misread it, but if you are pregnant then that is a good enough goal . How many weeks are you?

I have a big bowl of Dorset Cereals Nutty Mueseli (I have NO idea how to spell that!) when I get in from my long run. Then loads of chocolate later...

but what kinda of distance and time frame? (also am in the US atm). Being pg sucks at times. I shouldn't be increasing distance (much) but don't know how long to run for

actually scrub that I'm just making excuses

Penguin, um, sign up for a race? maybe for a charity dear to you and yours - you mention mountains, perhaps Mountain Rescue?

I'm getting jealous of the people who have a race to train for. I'm struggling to keep up the motivation to run. Any tips?

I tend to gorge on marzipan when I get in from a run

I would also be happy with that pace at 11 miles

thecoo - that'd be on a VERY good day...

Thanks for the input paws and squix - though I'm only training for 10 miles at the moment, so it sounds like I may not need to worry yet.

drivingmiss I thought you said you were slow... if you're running 11 miles in 1hr45 then that's not too bad at all.

I had a rest day today and all I've done is eat - probably why I had jellybeans on my mind... can't wait to get back out again tomorrow.

paws; I keep a bag of dolly mixtures in the car (mostly to hide them from DD!) but I have been known to scoff a handful after a long run. I'm sure my muscles love 'em

No I only bothered with sweets and gels once over 14 miles - I don't much like them but you really need something once you get to those distances. One thing I've not really got a handle on is eating right after a run, but that's meant to help with muscle recovery.

I'm curious about gels and sweets and the like; I usually run on an empty stomach, or if going for a long run in the morning, maybe a banana and/or slice of wholemeal toast. If running at other times of day, I find anything but a very light meal really buggers me up repeats on me. My longest runs are around the 11 mile mark now (which takes me a long time- around 1h 45mins). Do I need to refuel? Will it help me? Just curious as to the rationale behind it and whether a totally recreational runner like me should even bother?

thecoo - I am experimenting with eating on the run at the moment - I'm training for a 1/2 and am trying dried apricots and jelly babies for my long run, don't really like the gels either. I don't eat for the first 45 mins but then have 2 every 30 mins or so. So far, for me, the biggest difference has been having a proper brekkie before I go. I ran a hilly 4 miles yesterday morning before breakfast and I found it really hard going - I was much slower than I wanted to be. This breakfast thing has been a revelation

We are having horrible weather up here at the moment - 0% chance of a tan - more likley to get trench foot. Very wet and windy. I think tomorrow will definitley be an intervals on a treadmill session.

PenguinArmy I prefer the sweets to the gels, but yes when you need them the gels are very readily absorbed - especially when you have them with water.

thecoo little and often is the general advice I think. Look at the carb content on the pack - I'm aiming to get 45g of carbs every hour, which for me is a pack of my lemon sweets, about 6 sweets per pack so yes one every 10 minutes.

I used to think those gels were rank. When I did tough guy and had one half way round when I was starting to get hypothermia, it was the best thing ever. Funny how when they are needed they are suddenly very yummy. That changed my mind to them. They are now a part of my first aid kit in my mountaineering gear.

MrsWeds I last gave blood in early January so am due to do it this week - have postponed the appointment for obvious reasons! I'm dead common (O neg) so I'm sure they can wait a week or two.

TheMaster I've been given a very unstylish running vest by my charity - bright yellow! I'm seriously thinking I may steal DH's short cycling shorts for Sunday, pretty certain they'll be OK so I'll take them for a trial run tomorrow. They do however expose my footballer knees!

Sounds like lots of breathlessness and heaviness going around! Hope you're all ok...

Quick question: I've been given a tube of jellybeans and seem to remember reading that they (or was it jellybabies?) are good to give energy on long runs - is this true? If so, how many would you eat and at what point on the run? e.g. would I eat 1 every 10 minutes or what?

Seems a much nicer alternative than slimy gels!

MrsWeds I gave blood about two months ago, it knocked me for six actually and I couldn't get my running back up for another week, so I suggest waiting.

Thigh length tight shorts here, all year round . I'm out there with my shorts and proud of it. Actually in all honesty, the tighter they are the less wobble there is...

Paws don't worry about the heat, you will be fine. Have you got a lightweight sleeveless t-shirt to wear? My favourite coolest one is loose fitting and that very porous cotton material, no chafing and it wicks away the sweat. I'm looking forward to a little light UK running. Perhaps I'll book myself in for a UK marathon next year.

Tapering sounds very frustrating!

Just looked up Liverpool though .... DH will kill me!

oh I haven't ran this week yet, think will do it friday or the weekend. Don't to risk pulling muscles before my outdoor climbing session tomorrow.

I may order some little shorts, try and get a tan going on. Speaking of clothes buying, I'm not going to fit into my running top for much longer. I guess they do sports pg clothes somewhere.

wahoo clothes shopping this weekend

Would have to be on the waiting list Moshi .