runners united (burning up pavement, burning up threads)

wheelybug I've only got a mountain bike with hybrid tyres on it. It is quite a small frame and is quite light for a mountain bike but I am still trying to persuade dh that I need a road bike as well. Unfortunately I'm also trying to convince him I need a digital slr and I don't think I'll get either!

doyouthinktheysawus the south downs way looks like a cool cycle. I don't live too far from it (NE Hants) but have never been down that way at all I don't think.

hat Both arms!!! OUCH!!

Have just done a 4 mile run. I started slowly as I wasn't sure if my tea had settled but then I found it really hard to pick up the pace. It was an ok run though. I need to enter a 10k though as I keep only doing 4 miles as in the tri I'll only have to do 3.

Yes I just read it in the Evening Standard DH brought back. Such a shame, I remember him winning the London Marathon - he seemed such a big personality.

Paws, I knew you would find a way to run back tomorrow! Good for you!

DrNo, that drill session sounds hardcore, and you are hardcore. Do it!!!

I am, if anything, getting even more tired. Longing to run, but losing the will to get off the sofa...

Our wedding reception was just outside Alfriston....

Evening all - reeling with the news of hatwoman's DH, I had visions at first of him bound up in plastercast like a mummy, both arms to his sides. What a nightmare. If it was my DH he would instantly become totally incapable .

Did a nice speed session in the gym following the Moshi formula . I don't know about you lot, but the speed sessions really get me sweating. I get off the treadmill bright red and looking like someone has squeezed a sponge over my head, then have to go and pick ds3 up from the creche - I swear sometimes they wonder what I've been up to.

DH is working from home tomorrow so he can look after ds3 while I drop the car off then jog back. I just had to empty the car out, good God what a mess. A carrier bag full of crushed up raisins, crisp fragments, tissues, scribbly bits of paper and dried up pens - we're a driving biohazard zone.

ooh dear Hat - two broken arms, that doesn't sound good (states bleeding obvious...). But I agree - he sounds hard !!

Am liking the sound of all these South Downs stuff, having grown up spitting distance from them. But must remember I have enough challenges on my list at the moment ....

DrN - that sounds fun. I don;t have the competotve drive to try to catch up with the person infront but if someone's breathing down my neck I'll push really hard to stop them over-taking

hat 2 broken arms?! Oh God. And why no pot? Poor dh. Hope he is a good patient.....

I am doing a drill session tonight, then a point to point race tomorrow with my club that should be interesting.....it's only 3 miles but they handicapp the faster runners and in theory we all arrive back together. That means I will be setting of first, and will get chased by the super fast lot...not sure I like the sound of it tbh. But could mean I get a super fast time by my standards? Am debating on chickening out and going for a nice 6 miler instead......

PS Forgot to say thank you so much to all for your positive thinking. It really does help and that is what makes this a special thread. Nobody on here is a negative thinker nor the type to dwell on adversity but, at the same time, everyone is incredibly supportive and sympathetic to terrible news. Go us!

Congratulations to Iread on your first half and a fab time! You must sign up for another one now and aim to get below 2 hours as you just KNOW you can do it!

hat - what bad luck for MrHat! How able is he around the house (I mean as a result, not generally!)?

No running today but a nice hour of ballet with stretching and barre work which resulted in a Eureka moment when I was working my inner thighs and glutes instead of my quads when extending my leg from first position and demi-pointing, pointing and then drawing it back. 'twas very exciting!

Planning a nice medium-long run tomorrow.

Glad to hear you're feeling better Hat. My god, your DH sounds as hard as nails!!!! Hope he heals quickly!

hatwoman, both arms!!!

That must have hurt! Hope his bike's ok

Glad you are feeling better

forgot to say - I'm feeling better. still feeling a bit nervous about the tripping thing but on balance am feeling ok.

hi everyone - so much running! anyone would think this was a running thread.

moshi - so glad you've had positive news. I hope they can get on with the op soon and that all goes well.

iread - congrats on the half.

not much running here (makes a change) got out for a short 2-3 miles during the week but then everything went a bit pear shaped as dh came a cropper on his mountain bike and broke his arms. yep you did read that right. arms plural.

thankfullly neither break is very severe and the doc has just told him they'll heal without a caste. they're both still pretty painful but now he's been told that the pain doesn't mean he's doing awful irreparable damage he's happier. I give him 10 days max before he's back on his bike.

Right MrsWeds, finally got my finger out and sponsored you!

Come on paws, man up!!!! Get DS on your back, get the car seat in one hand, and perhaps an ice-cream roulade in the other and run like the wind . Yes, I agree there is a limit.... ha ha.

As another sign of being perhaps too focused on running, am off to a gig on Thursday night with a friend from university who I've not seen for ages and who lives out of town. She's asked to stay over and tragically my immediate thought was not "hooray, not seen said friend for ages, that would be brilliant" but rather "but I have to leave early for my long run on Friday, how will that work then..." (didn't say this obviously!)

I went to have my gait assessed yesterday at Sweatshop. I'm an overpronator apparently (and my left foot is worse, which might account for my pesky knee). However, they didn't have the right size of the trainers they recommended but gave me the name and code. They were really helpful and showed me some different stretches to do which might help.

I went back down to 3 miles yesterday as my knee is going from uncomfortable to painful but can definitely see a difference in my fitness. Might go out again today in the lull of nursery and sleep as I won't get out tomorrow. Hmm...I can see running becoming a bit of an addiction.

I know, it's ridiculous isn't it?! I'm constantly trying to multi-task and combine my run with doing something hideously practical, but even I had to admit that 6 miles with a 2.5 year old in a pushchair and balancing an enormous car seat on my back might be pushing my luck ..... DH was chuckling when I told him and said "um you could always do what normal people do - and get a taxi?"

Iread I don't think I've congratulated you yet - well done. A great time. Out of interest, do you know if it's the same route as the marathon?

paws love that slight obsession about trying to fit running in around normal life!

oh come on Paws - just think how that would trump a vienetta !!

Well done Iread, that's a really good time.You sound deservedly pleased with that! Can we quote on the "definitely not doing a marathon" in the future

Hope the tapers are going well drivingmiss, squix and mrswed (mental note, must remember to sponsor you!). Weather is looking quite good I think... not too hot anyway. I think your race strategy makes a lot of sense drivingmiss - the sensible advice is always to start off comfortably and pick up towards the end to deliver the best time, plus of course the mental boosts of passing people in the second half of the race and knowing you?ve got plenty left in the tank at halfway. This is far better than my usual race strategy of racing off like startled rabbit and making steadily louder whimpering noises from about mile three onwards.

If you?re thinking about doing stuff on the South Downs doyou, there?s also the Oxfam 100K Trailwalk from London to Brighton... am thinking of doing that next year! Sounds brilliant.

Hope you had a less stressful weekend moshi - are you still aiming for the triathlon next weekend?

Very good run for me this morning after a weekend of a little too much alcohol (including a Eurovision evening with themed drinks). Haven?t done a longer tempo run for a while (been focusing on intervals and long slow runs) and did just 8 miles in 60 mins, average 7.40 min/ mile at a fairly steady basis, albeit with a few quick pauses for London traffic. Key lesson: mental discipline is so important for holding a higher tempo for a longer distance. By mile two, I was already thinking that I definitely couldn?t hold the pace for much longer but as soon as you start drifting like that, and thinking about how far left you?ve got/ difficult sections to come, you?re screwed. Spent most of the run just trying to stay focused on technique, timing and milestones and absolutely not thinking about how far left there was and whether I could make it. Sometimes I forget just how important the mental side. Actually quite a good article about this is this month?s edition of Runners World by Ms Radcliffe.

Happy running all. Hope you all find time to do so!