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Hope your day went ok DrNortherner and that they appreciate your honesty - you're only human remember !

moshi - sorry you're still not feeling any better, although good news on your puppy's sleep. The taper-illness thing sounds a bit like getting ill when you go on holiday.. you keep going and then suddenly stop and it plays havoc with the immune system.

I'd be up for a run round Richmond Park if we can sort it out.

Cestlavie - hope you have a better week next week.

Nothing to report here other than aching a bit from the class yesterday. I can feel the bits I obviously don't use when I'm running (upper body is a bit sore from press ups !!).

Actually, to put it a slightly different way - I can (reasonably) happily run 13+ miles at close to 8.00 m/m. On the other hand, running 5 miles at 7.30 m/m virtually kills me...

Good luck today DrNo - there's a lot of sensible, pragmatic advice on here to which I'd just add, is it too late to pull a sickie?

Interesting point about getting sick during tapers Moshi. It does seem to happen doesn't it? I wonder what the physiological effect of cutting back exercise is on the immune system etc. Well done on getting the puppy to sleep through - guess you've got the knack after 4 kids now!

Hi Squix - I tend to wake up waaaay too early before any race anyway so have plenty of time to get some food (usually brown toast and bananas plus lots of water). I also like to get down the start fairly early to enjoy the atmosphere, stretch my legs and drink more water! Love getting to big half marathons early - there's always loads going on.

Not a great running week here. Times slipped back a little on both my interval session and tempo run this week (not much, but by about 5 - 10 secs per mile). Feeling a little like I've reached a plateau over the last few weeks and not really being able to get past 7.30 m/m even on tempo runs even when pushing hard.

Am doing 3 runs per week - distance circa 5 miles (tempo), 8 miles (interval) and 13 miles (long run). Am a bit restricted as they need to be in on way to work so need to be relatively time efficient. Any thoughts appreciated on what other people have done to get through their own plateaus (absent running clubs etc).

DrNo hope your day at work isn't too bad and the effects of the cock-up can be mitigated in some way. Fessing up is always hard but better to get it off your chest. When I was working my job definitely had the potential for very costly mistakes - luckily it never happened but at least it wasn't a job where someone's life depended on me. Just keep saying "it's only money" .

Moshi I'm still not feeling 100% to be honest, but I think it's just a post-viral thing - I just feel wheezy and have a dry cough still. Funny enough I think I'm fine running, I just have a massive coughing fit every now and again. I'm more bothered that I feel I missed the last week of real training, but there's nothing I can do about it now. Are you going to do a run today or give it a rest?

Moshi feel free to hit me with any dog related questions! I must confess when we got ours I had a period of about 4 weeks of thinking we had made a huge mistake. And ours was 9 months old when we got him, so you have more work as yours is brand new. He needs to settle down, you need to get to know him, and I promise, he will become your best mate, and that of your kids.

Welcome to all the newbies. This is my favourite section on MN. I had a nightmare day at work yesterday, discovered I have made a monumental cock up, and today I have to face the music and see my Director of Sales
Wish me luck!

Anyway, we did a run out into the dales with the club, 5.5 miles in all, and for a good while my friend and I managed an 8.40 mm. That is amazing for us and we were dead chuffed. Looking forward to our 10k on Sunday now. Not that I can sustain that speed for 10k though..........

Enjoy your dall everyone

Hello again. Thanks for all the advice!

Possum ? I?m really looking forward to it.

Peachsmuggler ? thanks for the salute! Not feeling terribly organised just trying to get some miles in my legs whilst I can. I don?t think I can get away from an early start on the day can I? I?m trying to make my long runs rehearsals for the race ? so trying to run at the same time as the race, trying different food the night before / breakfast and deciding whether wine gums, jelly babies or dried apricots are good for a wee boost whilst I?m actually out. I think leading up to it what you suggested sounds like a good plan.

Wheelybug ? sounds good ? I might practice that this weekend.

I also use goodrun guide to measure my routes. Not used it for anything else yet but it has suited my requirements so far.

I use www.runningahead.com - great log and good mapping, but not sure if you are looking for routes, or just mapping?

did a really good 12.5k this morning - really enjoyed it - it was dead easy (despite 4 decentish hills) although my time wasn't speedy. But felt good at the time and after. I am back on track...

I use www.mapmyrun.com but I don't really like the upgraded site - prefer the older version.

gb.mapometer.com/en/

Welcome Squix. When I ran on Sunday, it was an 8am start. My plan was to eat breakfast at 6.30 (porridge) and then I had a banana at 7.30. Seemed to work ok.

M&M - I use gb.mapometer.com/en/

Hi squix and welcome. You sound both organised and dedicated, I salute you!

Personally yes I would get up early and have the porridge. Am sure some people can get away with a banana an hour before the race but I would struggle on that I think. Good idea to be up early anyway to waken your body up before the race. I think I did my longest run 2 weeks before my half and cut back on the long run the week before but the midweek runs only cut back on the week running up to the race. Are you going to follow a particular plan leading up to the race?

Master I use goodrunguide.co.uk but I think mapmyrun.com is the most popular

Was planning run this afternoon but when we got back from DD's swimming class this afternoon was so shattered I had to crawl into bed. Will try again tomorrow

Well done possum, brilliant time.

Welcome Squix.

I'm just off to bed but want to know how/what website can I use to map out a run in London when I come back in a couple of weeks?

Thanks everyone!

Hi squix I'm doing the half marathon at Edinburgh too :)

Possum that's a fab time - you must be very pleased with yourself.

Moshi sorry you're still not feeling well. Really don't think you should push yourself to run if you're not up to it. Why not go for a long walk instead - that way you're at least on your feet, but not stressing your lungs and tempting a chest infection? One of my best friends has just got a puppy and she also says it's just like having another baby... bummer about the early mornings!

Cestlavie it's a pain you're having to postpone your long run and I can understand why some of you are struggling with your tapers. I've cut down to 4 runs from my usual 5 as suggested, and really trying to make each of them count, but feel a bit weird on the weekdays I'm supposed to be resting - I get a bit antsy. Today did some strength training exercises instead just to get rid of the feeling, so hopefully that will solve the problem and do me some good too!

Think I'm going to have to do tomorrow's run after DH gets back (I'm not working from home like I usually do so unlikely to fit it in between work and kids coming back from school), so I'm glad the evenings are nice and light now.

Hello - do you mind if I join your thread?

I took up running again last year after 3 years of doing very little after having DD. I initially started again because I wanted to lose weight, but it didn't take long for the running bug to bite. I did lose the weight (3 1/2 stone eek!) through the classic combination of diet and exercise and somehow I have found myself entered for a half marathon at the end of May! (Edinburgh - if anyone else is doing that one too). I've done a couple of halfs before but a loooong time ago and I am really enjoying training again.

My current weekly programme is as follows: 1 long very slow run on a sunday morning - currently at about 12 miles, 1 interval session - about 45min with 10 mins steady, 3 effort + 2 recovery x 4, 15 steady, 1 short 35 minute run whilst DD is at dancing class - it always tends to be a negative split as I worry I won't get back in time for pick up and then 1 steady run about 50 mins - 1 hour, usually hilly which I just enjoy as running should be fun! Today was an interval day - which I always find hard work but feel great afterwards.

My target is to do the 1/2 marathon in under 2 hours. My long runs are at about 11.5 / 12 mins per mile and my shorter runs are probably about 9.5 mins per mile so I am really trying to work on speed at the moment. I am also about to start a big project at work so fitting it all in will be tricky but hopefully the lighter nights will give us more running time.

My current questions are around eating before a race - the 1/2 marathon starts at 8am - do I really need to get up at 6 to eat my porridge before hand? Also I notice lots of you are tapering - is a two week taper about right for a 1/2?

Looking forward to lots of running chat!

Hope you are feeling better today Moshi. Take it very easy, you will do more harm than good by pushing yourself to run when you are not 100%. I must admit I would love a dog but the whole puppy stage puts me right off

paws I'm just at the start of my taper and I can completely relate to what you are saying. I am already getting stressed, I am acutely aware of every discomfort that might be a niggle and I am obsessing about what pace I should start the marathon at

From what I've read it's normal to get a bit antsy during the tapering. I hope you enjoy your gently 5 miler today. Just keep reminding yourself how strong your legs will feel marathon day

My knee is a bit grumbly today which is really worrying me. My head tells me it's due to having just finished 2 night shifts and not being able to rest my legs enough but we shall see. I've slept for 5 hours this morning and my knee felt much better when I got up so....fingers crossed. I will run tonight but will play it by ear as to pace.

cestlavie I hate it if I have to miss a run, just feel all out of sorts. Hope you manage to squeeze it in somewhere.

Well done possum on your official time ! That's great.

moshi - that puppy sounds as bad as my dd2 . I'd love a dog but can't face going through the puppy stage (much my same reasoning for not having any more children...).

Went to a body attack class this morning instead of my usual treadmill run. Was good for change but I prefer running !!

Seems like there's a few taper worries on here today! It's a strangely tough part of the training isn't it? For ages you've been looking forwards to dropping the mileage and then when you do you suddenly feel stressed that you're not running enough...

The puppy sounds quite hard work Moshi! I would be inclined to see how you feel tomorrow for the 8 miler. I know just how you feel, but I also know that in that situation when I do end up going for the run I more than often than not make my cold worse and set myself back another week. Given your timeline, not sure you want to risk that. Is there a compromise like paws says? Maybe a light session down the gym to keep yourself ticking over.

Well done possum. It's great when you get your official time and it's a bit better than you thought.

Peaches thanks for the thought but can't really run home on Friday. It's the one night a week I try to get back at a sensible time to see the kids and sticking the long run on then would screw that up.

Have a good day all

Morning all, sat in the school car park waiting to drop off the boys, then off to the gym for a gentle run. I'm not enjoying this tapering at all, it makes me feel unsettled and doubts are setting in!

Moshi puppies are hard work. Pretty much up there with a new baby, but the disruption doesn't last quite as long! Do you use the doghouse section here? It's a wealth of information.

I would play tomorrow's run by ear, and if in doubt miss it or go for a walk instead. Have you seen a doctor about your chest? Infections can creep up but you've got time for antibiotics worst case scenario.

Have a good day all.

Message me your name Moshi and I'll look for you on FB