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

My event was missed off again. :( So I added it again. :)

01/05/11 - Great West Run (Half Marathon) Thetasigmamum
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
29/05/11 - Plymouth Half Marathon: sungirltan
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
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
10/07/11 - Felsted 10K: bonkers20
17/07/11 - RFL St Albans - Pawsnclaws
17/07/11 - Dublin Mountain Plod (HM) - drivingmisscrazy
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

I had a gorgeous run out today - from Marazion right round the bay to Mousehole. Lovely, so it was, and no flies. Which was good. The best bit was there is a considerable hill and it was no trouble at all. In fact I ran faster than normal. So I am less concerned about the race next week now. Sad to be going back to Isca tomorrow but there you go - real life has its demands.

pawsnclaws - I can't even begin to imagine how difficult that must be for all of you. All of us seem to have deep-seated reasons to run - and yes, you do just soldier on, which is perhaps the lesson that running teaches you - fortitude, but also perspective

Hi all have been absent a few days trying to keep three boys amused! Just on the train down to Brighton - we fancied a seaside break but no plans to run 26 miles this time!

I've done a couple of short runs this week, still feel a bit tired and jaded though so taking a break this weekend till my usual 7 miles on Sunday.

Hope the anniversary passed peacefully for you DrNo. We have the added complication that ds1's birthday is obviously the day his twin brother died. But as time has gone on we've realised that keeping busy and distracted is probably a blessing. I just try and find a little quiet time in all the birthday madness for my thoughts and a few tears, then you just soldier on, don't you?

Happy Easter to all, have a lovely weekend whatever you're up to.

Thanks backward. We have a new, supersized car but still seem to have more stuff than space in the car

Hope your 11 mile runs go ok backward and driving. You are right driving it's very much a psychological barrier. I tend to talk myself through, reminding myself it's only half a mile each way more than the previous run....Or I count the miles down rather than up, that worked well in the marathon.

backwardpossum I have to do one of those on Sunday. Also scared, even though I have done 10 without too much trauma...it's psychological, innit?

Have a great time camping, DoYou

I'm trying to plan an 11 mile route for tomorrow morning. Scared!

DrNo I hope you were very kind to yourself yesterday.

MrsWed I hope your 20 miler goes well this weekend.

Peach I am keeping everything crossed for you. Great that they are scanning you very regularly, that's so reassuring isn't it. I hope the next 3 weeks whizz by.

driving you speak an awful lot of sense there. I started running after recovering from cancer surgery when my mental health was at an all time low. Running has done wonders for me and whilst I may not be challenging any world records I feel so fortunate just to be able to get out and run. It's a very liberating feeling.

Moshi you really are a glutton for punishment I can never understand how Triathletes can get off the bike and run, I can barely walk to the sofa after I have been out on my bike

We are off camping for a few days today. I am hoping to be able to get out and run this weekend at some point. Yesterdays 2 miles were stiff and uncomfortable. Quads still really sore and stiff. I got passed by a runner bounding along and felt really envious. I know it's just a post marathon thing but my mind is desperate to get back to some good mileage. Just waiting on the legs....

Have a lovely weekend everyone

02/05/11 - Ashdon 10K: bonkers20
08/05/11 - Birchanger 10k: thecoo
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
29/05/11 - Plymouth Half Marathon: sungirltan
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
12/06/11 - The Heroes half marathon - Futurity
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
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
10/07/11 - Felsted 10K: bonkers20
17/07/11 - RFL St Albans - Pawsnclaws
17/07/11 - Dublin Mountain Plod (HM) - drivingmisscrazy
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

Added a 10k I'm going to do as part of my training (6 miles at race pace).

Leg already feeling quite a lot better, so very glad I skipped the speed session yesterday. Will see how it feels in the morning to decide whether to do tempo run or not.

DrNorth am thinking of you. I lost my brother nearly 4 yrs ago - I had just started running and sometimes I think it's the only thing that stopped me going over the edge. I dread the anniversary every year too, so I hope you're ok and that the run helps.

yes Dr No, it is a very long time; I wish I had been running properly for 37 years! It's more that I run because I don't want to end up like him - dead at 45 leaving behind a young family (and yes, I am angry with him about that).

Running, it's a funny old game. And sometimes I think you just have to revel in the fact that you are tripping around your local park (or whatever) in the spring sunshine and that you are completely and joyously alive (soppy..) even if you are running slower than you would ideally like, or more inefficiently than the Paula Radcliffe that you are in your head.

enjoy your yummy dinner - roast chicken, potatoes, salad and choc cake here (my mum's 77th birthday today)

peachy delighted things are progressing well. I have everything crossed for you.

drivingmisscrazy 37 years for you? That's such a long time to be without someone you love isn't it? Sorry. It's so hard, but like you I only started running properly after dad died. It became my therapy. Strange really as dad could not run for toffee! I remember challenging him to a sprint around the block when I was about 13 and I won by a long way

Thanks everyone else for your kind messages and my thoughts are with all of you who have also lost a parent, funny how we end up on a running thread

Had a steady 6.5 miler with my dog and now have a glass of wine whilst dh is pan frying seabass for dinner, he has made a special effort! Tonight we will raise a glass to my Dad

helo runners! Haven't posted for a few days, been quietly driving myself mad with anxiety but much better now as scan this morning revealed pregnancy is continuing nicely and am now 9+1. Phew!

Haven't run since last friday due to combination of hot weather/feeling crappy/being busy but hope to get out sometime this weekend.

Really enjoyed all the race reports. Agree that it gives a really good flavour of what it is like out there. While watching VLM on Sunday I was getting a bit carried away thinking if/when I do a marathon that is definitely the one to do in terms of atmosphere occasion but all your reports have made me revert to my previous thinking that maybe a quieter Autumn one is best to do first and then if that goes well do the VLM one day.

Am so surprised at everyone's Garmins freaking out at a slosh of water! I thought waterproofness would be a given on one of those. Crazy!

Drno, these anniversaries are always hard, but hope you found some comfort in your run today.

thecoo, hope the leg heals soon. I think you are very wise to cancel some runs and see how it goes.

Still having a little giggle at Doyou gripping the toilet walls

sorry futurity!

oops..my event has been missed off..have added it again:

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
29/05/11 - Plymouth Half Marathon: sungirltan
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
12/06/11 - The Heroes half marathon - Futurity
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
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
10/07/11 - Felsted 10K: bonkers20
17/07/11 - RFL St Albans - Pawsnclaws
17/07/11 - Dublin Mountain Plod (HM) - drivingmisscrazy
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

A quiet, peaceful run sounds like a lovely way to gain some headspace to think about your Dad DrNo.

I've got the day off work today (yippee!) so have made the most of it and been out for a leisurely 5 miles along the river in the sunshine.

Will be glad when 'serious' training is over - looking forward to not having to have my brain in my legs all the time (does this hurt, what's that twinge, is that serious...blah blah), I'm starting to send myself a bit mad now.

just thought I would update list - some of you have new races to add!

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
29/05/11 - Plymouth Half Marathon: sungirltan
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
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
10/07/11 - Felsted 10K: bonkers20
17/07/11 - RFL St Albans - Pawsnclaws
17/07/11 - Dublin Mountain Plod (HM) - drivingmisscrazy
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

good for you Dr No - I have one of those days coming up too, except it's 37 years since my dad died...one of the reasons I run, actually.

very very warm here, and air full of alarming looking insects (I am allergic to horseflies so tend to leap about yelping if I see anything large and black with 6 legs and wings); but I seem to be running well - 5 miles today in just under 50 minutes. Legs feeling my 4 day running streak (!) and the 3 units of alcohol I had last night...but all good.

I hate flies too. Am I the only one who keeps finding them in my mouth? I'm fed up of hawking and spitting up flies that have landed straight in my throat. Am I the only mouth breather?

I think all you post marathoners are running more than I am this week! Although I finally broke the 10k barrier(which I've been trying to do since Xmas) on Monday, by just setting off and running, without checking how far I was going. When I got back, I'd done 13k. It was a lovely run too. The bluebells are out, and at one point I was running through a storm of blackthorn blossom.

God I could never do a triathalon. One looks like one is having an epileptic fit when swimming. I am a seriously shit swimmer. Dh loves triathlons , and they are great to watch.

Moshi bet you love the running club, I love mine, the chance to run with lots of other running geeks enthusiasts and the benefit of a coach, and so cheap too, only £40 a year here!

I am at work today, after work I am planning a LSR woth my dog. Its 2 years today since my Dad died, last year I was a mess, but this year I seem to be holding up, but think a run on my own will do me good.

Hope you all are enjoying this wonderful weather

Great to hear your report moshi. Sorry to hear about your Garmin - did it recover once dry?

Welcome pavlov - sounds like you're off to a great start.

thetasigma - flies, yuck!!! Even worse than butterbur's yoofs, though it's a close call

My leg is still sore. I did my easy run on Tues eve and then iced it afterwards, but no improvement. Although it's not terrible I've decided to cancel a few runs until it goes away, as I really don't want to get injured at this stage! Luckily I still have plenty of time before my race, so if I let it get better now it shouldn't be a problem.

Oh, and I can't sleep - been awake since 4am...

Hola! Sorry for absence, have come back to shocking work life pandemonium and trying not to bring my VLM grumps to the thread. Luckily my post marathon mode swing is shortlived and indeed I caught myself looking at pictures of the race today and thinking - oooh you look happy there, maybe it would be worth doing it again next year

Haven't been for a run yet: really put my legs through the wringer and one of the toes on my left foot has been pretty badly injured, so I'm going to leave it until the weekend. But I'm beginning to feel like I would like to, which is a big step forwards.

In retrospect I've realised that I enjoy the preparation and the aftermath of a marathon a great deal more than the actual event. Which is good, because they make up 99% of the entire enterprise. But is also bad, because I've got to run the damn thing to actually get the benefit. Hmmmm.

I have to say I did laugh at your race report Moshi particularly the bit about the crowd being too noisy. I think that's when I realised what a spectacularly bad mood I was in, when I found myself thinking: 'oh for God's sake just shut up already and leave me to suffer in peace!'. Sounds like your judgement was spot on, though and I'm envious you're able to get out for a leg stretch so soon.

Pavlov I loved your post about reaching a level where you can just run and not think about anything else. How addictive that is. Very true: that's an important thing to hang onto, more than any race or split time, I think.

Must go to bed now...rest legs. Hope everyone is dreaming up exciting new things to do over the summer