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

Evening all.

Well done on yout great time DrNo, really impressive

On the subject of garmins, I wouldn't be without mine. I love all the stats it brings up on the computer and would never be able to pace myself without it. Well worth the money IMO.

I wear long tights in the winter and have recently gone to capri length ones which are uncomfy and need replacing. I feel really hot when running already though so I think it will have to be shorts soon. Has to be cycling shorts stylee ones for me though, can't stand the thought of loose, flappy shorts.

MrsWed I use the SIS Go gels which are pretty good. No caffeine, they taste palatable and my stomach can cope with them. In the past when I have tried lucozade drinks with caffeine it has been a sprint for the toilet I use a combination og gels and jelly babies!

Running wise, I did 15 on Saturday. A nice plod at a very slow pace, legs felt really heavy though and I had to pick up the pace to race home to use the loo at the end Did 5 on Sunday, felt really sluggish the first mile but picked up after that.

I'm not enjoying tapering at all. I feel all antsy and restless. I'm worried about gaining weight and having bad dreams about marathon day

Nearly there for you paws. I hope the weather is kind to you. It's looking a bit warm at the moment midweek, hopefully it will cool a bit by the weekend

DrNo, congrats on your PB, brilliant time. As you were first to reply you can have the trainers - if you PM me (never had one of them before!) I'll post them to you.

Also interested in new shorts as I've only got 3/4 length tight ones or full length ones. Not convinced by the buttock-revealing ones though!

I did a steady 13 miles on Sunday with no ill effects, so am going to try 15 miles this weekend. I took an energy gel with me (Lucozade one) and had it about 6 miles in, which made me feel a bit odd because of all the caffeine. Are the sweets any better?

This is my old Garmin

I can do intervals with it but at least one of the intervals involves me stopping, swearing a bit and pressing lots of buttons all at the same time to make it work (user error more than anything else though).

Peachy, my sister ran until about 35 weeks pregnant with no bother at all apart from needing the loo quite often.

Moshi, glad you are on the mend. I feel funny every time I hear Radio Five trailing their commentary of the London Marathon, so god knows how you lot all feel! Paws, hope you are feeling more excited than nervous - are you eating lots of carbs this week?

Happy running all.x

ohhhh lots of interesting Garmin advice, thank you .... will definitely do some more research.

I've been wondering about summer leg wear too. I alternate between a pair of Ron Hill tracksters - the ones with stirups underneath but I find that they are just a tad too short in the leg (I'm 5' 7 which I wouldn't have thought too tall) and a pair of Gore running tights which I think will get a bit too warm shortly. I only like long shorts that finish just above the knee, in the past I've tried lighter cycling shorts with some success.

think the trick to avoiding chafing (ouchy ouchy for that man, paws) is relationship between length and flabby bit well toned inner thigh - you want the seam to be further down than any bit that might rub together IYSWIM. And not too flappy otherwise they kind of bunch up - that's why the rowing shorts are good.

I did a 10k in rather hot weather a few weeks ago and wore tight underarmour type shorts under a pair of normal baggy shorts. I wore the underarmour ones to stop chafing.

I love the idea of shorts but worry about rubbing. I did a half a few years ago in torrential rain and wind, and in the last mile ran past this poor guy running with his legs about a foot apart and blood streaming down between his thighs.

I've tried hard over the years to forget the memories of being made to do cross country at school in thick purple PE knickers. We were only allowed to add the matching pleated skirt for netball!

Penguin - California does not count

DrNo - yes, the leg maintenance is an issue, and the tanning potential is limited (expanse of lightly tanned flesh ending, um, just above the ankle, anyone?).

I too have been doing junk miles - or rather, have extended my base building period for too long. I did fartlek on Sat which suited me well; intervals I think I will keep for the gym as I can't seem to structure them properly outside and faffing around with laps on the watch (I have a Polar) - should probably read the instructions. Ran a (sort of) tempo on Sunday - i.e. a good bit faster than training pace. So 2 longish easy runs, 1 tempo or fartlek, 1 hill session and 1 LSD

Every one wears silly tiny shorts in CA

These are so short, I am certain that if there is a gust of wind I may expose a buttock. Not a good look. I have told dh I will not be wearing them!

I only ever wear shorts when on holiday abroad and have tanned legs. Plus waering shorts means I have to defuzz all the time and quite frankly I can't be arsed

Anyway. Have spent time today thinking about my running. And I can clearly see I have been doing too many junk miles. I do one club session a week, then would do 2/3 normal mid week runs which I will now add in some speed work, with a LSR at a weekend. Am signing up for 1 more 10k and 1 10mile race before I do my half marathon. Eek.

I can't help but LOL at your DH DrNo, do you think he just wants to admire the view .

I too have been pondering the summer leg atire question. I have one pair of running shorts from last year - baggy-ish but from what I remember they rubbed quite a bit. I have been wondering about tighter ones although my legs really wouldn't look good in too short ones.

in winter I wear Ronhill leggings - just the standard old blue ones; in spring and summer a variety of shorts. I quite like loose fitting (but not those horrible racing shorts that men seem to favour...) but not baggy - i've a couple of nice adidas pairs, and a good pair of patagonia trail shorts with good pockets like these. Other than that I quite like rowing shorts - they are decently thigh covering, but looser fitting than most lycra. Like the Powerhouse brand. But no pockets, so those'll have to be on your top!

How funny DrNortherner - just been browsing around trying to find running shorts (with a pocket) that I'm not embarrassed to wear... I usually wear tracksuit bottoms or 3/4s (loose) but have recently started wearing tight capris with a very large tshirt to hide my fat arse curves.

How short are these shorts - show us a pic!

Can I ask all you ladies what you wear on your legs when you run? I wear either full length tights or capri pants but dh bought me a pair of very short running shorts and he is adamant I will run better in them

They are extremely short and one will feel very self concious

this is my garmin

It's the entry model, easy to use, and I have come to love it!

Blimey you lot chat a lot.

Please can someone link to a Garmin that you can do intervals with? I don't want one of those where you have to add the shoe thingy to it either. Just one all singing, all dancing Garmin. But not too big please.

I managed a 10k on Saturday then 13.5k with my buddy on Sunday. Why can't I go any faster? I seem to have plateaued at the same speed for the last year. I need to do some intervals I know, I just find it hard to get out doing them.

Paws, good luck this week. I'm sure 21 degrees is manageable Just remember to keep tipping the water over your head, it really works wonders.

Peachy, I didn't run when pregnant, I think I would have died had I tried. I reckon you should listen to your body, if you are too tired then don't run. How about a little swim instead?

C'estlavie, I saw a cestlavielife posting last week, I had to do a double take and I got very confused trying to work out how you might have kicked out an abusive dh.

Ooh thanks for the tip paws

I love gadgets and would love a Garmin. sigh

PPS if anyone likes or fancies trying Powerbar Rideshots (little lemon or cola sweets filled with energy gel) - they are on special offer in Holland and Barratt at the moment. 99p per pack but the second pack is then 1p, so effectively £1.00 for two packets (much more expensive usually).

PS whoever recommended Born to Run - what a great book. I read it in two days flat (wish I could run as fast as I can read ....).

And a real lesson in the counter-intuitive stuff too - training smart instead of just banging the miles out. How amazing were some of the athletes in that book?! In fact it's really inspired me to just enjoy this marathon - stop worrying about the heat/the time/etc., and just enjoy the moment.

I've got a Garmin, I think it's handy but as cestlavie says it only gives you average pace. Fine for me as I do my intervals at the gym (so I know I can't cheat ) but could otherwise be quite irritating. It also means I seem to end up going faster than I planned because when you get home the average seems to go down - so yesterday I planned to do my 7 mile easy run in about 12 minute miles, but when I got home my watch adjusted itself and said I'd done an average of 11 minute miles. Fine for training, but I'm going to have to really watch it in the marathon because I need to hold back for at least the first half.