runners united (burning up pavement, burning up threads)

hill profile for tonight's race and the reason it's worth it

I'd forgotten that I'd put Burbage on the race list. As you may have guessed from my considerable absence from this thread I've been incredibly lazy recently. Nearly got out of Burbage as dh was meant to be away but he rearranged things for me. doing it with 2, possibly 3, friends. all are LOADS faster than me, at the best of times, let alone when I've barely been training.

I did a race a few weeks ago - took a southern pavement runner with me and he beat me . he was impressed though and really enjoyed it.

Other news - we moved house 2 weeks ago. some of you may be vaguely aware that we moved north just over 2 years ago and were in a rented house - kind of suck it and see. anyway we decided to stay and sold our house down south and bought a really rather nice farmhouse up here. am loving it.

I hope the appointment goes ok on Friday Moshi. I think the 'not knowing' is the worst bit. You are in my thoughts.

Driving you sound like you have prepared really well for your Half, you have lots of long runs ion your legs, you will be fine. Before my Marathon I went from feeling fairly confident over 18 -20 miles to doubting my ability to run 4-5 miles in the week before, it's just what tapering does to you I think!

MrsWed it would be worth listening to the recent Marathon Talk podcasts from before the VLM. There was a great one about tapering and what to do in race week and then race day. Really helped me, lots of great advice.

Hope you are all ok paws, must have been a very scary experience for you!

I still have a dodgy knee. Am planning to try a run tonight but not very long. I have a physio appt tommorrow so will just take it easy and see what they say. I am going to test ride a new mountain bike on Thursday, really keen to get off-road in the Downs for some cycling this summer and if I can't run for a while, I will need to do something to burn off my chocolate habit

drivingmiss it's much easier to try to give the right advice rather than listen to it yourself!

My next HM isn't til end of June but that's just because there wasn't anything sooner near London that I and a friend could both make. I've been up past 13 miles in training already so it's not the distance I'm worried about, just the time - in fact I'm cutting back my long runs to seem if I feel less knackered on the other runs. PB is 1.49 for HM and was definitely hoping to beat that but given how training is going at the moment plus the fact it's probably going to be hot on the day, it doesn't feel like it's going to happen at the moment.

Hello all. Hope you are doing ok, Moshi, and all best wishes to your mum. I'm missing running group tonight as I have to go to a PTA meeting. Yawn... But, I feel like I'm definitely back in the swing of things. No foot twinges at all, although I'm finding the changed gait tougher on my calves and achilles. I think I'll be up for a 5k soonish, and then might do a 10k in September. The 10k I've pulled out of is this weekend, but am cheering myself up with a family trip and picnic at Blenheim Palace. Hope it doesn't pour with rain...

Glad to hear all are okay paws and hopefully not too shaken by it. Enjoy the break from running today... combination of the accident and no running suggests an early afternoon evening glass of wine perhaps?

Good to hear about the scan drivingmiss. You've got to love 'normal' although it would be nice if they could use words like 'exceptional' or 'amazing' perhaps? Would be very positive (okay, albeit a little random). Try not to worry about the running - ran 4.5 miles intervals this morning and I also feel like I'm still struggling to make any progress and, like you, my legs are feeling heavy every time I set out.

I don't know what the right advice is, but given the timing to your HM, maybe winding down the mileage and giving your legs a 'rest' would help - doing shorter runs. I think sometimes people (like, um, me) try to push yourself further than you should to try and recapture your performance by running harder and further when all you end up doing is driving yourself into the ground and making yourself more knackered for the race itself.

Moshi I hope all goes OK on Friday and you get a better idea of what your mum is facing - will be thinking of you. Keep us posted.

Welcome Debi - we try and support ourselves and others through life's bigger and smaller traumas, as well as finding a bit of escape through running.

My little trauma of the day - someone hit the side of my car on the school run. Thankfully not too much damage (I think), we were very lucky as it was a huge recovery vehicle - he pulled out of a side road on my left to turn right without looking right, and hit the back passenger door (right where ds2 was sitting)/wheel arch, but luckily I was going very slowly and he was pulling out from a junction so hadn't had the chance to gather much speed. It was a massive bang though and the car was pushed onto the other side of the road. The main thing is we are all safe and sound - a lucky escape I think.

No run for me today, I haven't had a break in a week or so and so am having a full day off. Happy running all.

Hope you're doing okay Moshi. It's just bloody awful waiting for these appointments. Don't forget to make sure you're looked after as well as your mum.

peach that John Lewis ad should carry a warning before screening like warnings before films or news reports - "please look away now if scenes of children growing up disturb you..."

Hi Deb and welcome to the thread!

Much appreciate the kind words. Received time and date for appointment with consultant at Radcliffe's. Friday lunchtime. Staring into the abyss as a friend said is a difficult thing indeed. Keep reminding myself if it feels bad to me, what on earth must it be like for mum.

Good luck hat!

Wondering about Moshi too, she's been quiet recently......

sfxmum I have an only too, and I am an only Ds is 9 now, and I used to mourn each phase, only now I embrace it. They have to grow up don't they, or what's the alternative?! Each phase brings it's own magic (and problems!)

Peachy hope all goes well with the scan hun. Thinking of you xx

Hi Hat, I see you are running today! Good luck!

Science, I do use running to maintain my weight and can empathise with feelings of not wanting to fuel properly for fear of wiping out calories you have just burned. However I think the key is just as you have said, you have made the association between eating something and improved performance on your long run. If you can do the same with your recovery "meal" and see an improvement there too then that will be another positive association. Actually there was a marathon runner on Supersize versus Superskinny the other night who massively restricted her food intake and one of the things that really helped her was seeing an improvement in her PBs and her recovery times after upping her food intake.

driving, well am not using much energy "thinking" about running, ha ha

thanks for the heads up on the Fairy ad Sleep. If it is anything like the John Lewis one.....(snivelling wreck emotcion)

welcome Deb, there are cyclists here too! Triathletes and such like so am sure we can offer support and encouragement from both angles!

hi all. Moshi - just seen your news - I'm so sorry to hear that. thinking of you and family.

Apologies if that was really bad advice about the log, I don't have experience of an eating disorder but I thought that if there was a clear deficit of calorie intake shown by it then it may make sciencebit feel more comfortable taking on more fuel for her runs and afterwards then she would perform better, recover better and it would become a more natural thing to do? I meant well.....

Welcome Debi you sound like you will fit right in .

Can I join your thread? I haven't read it all yet but some people to chat to about running/exercise sounds good. I think my only rl running friend is getting bored of me talking about what I've done as she's way fitter than me!

I've done a few 10Ks (2 about 3 yrs ago & 1 last Nov) then spent the winter training for a sprint triathlon which I did last week. Loved it & planning to do another one in June or July. So I'm not a proper runner & get more of a buzz from cycling but running is what I do most of.

peachsmuggler do not watch the new Fairy ad if you find the thought of ds growing up makes you tearful...I keep having to switch it off

And sending love to Moshi.

Oh and you definitely need carbs for those long runs - and some protein immediately after. I have read that there is a window of about an hour after you do a hard training session where whatever you eat is burnt immediately as fuel anyway so you should make the most of it . If you read anything about athletes' training and diet they will always mention ensuring protein intake straight after training to get muscles repairing themselves asap - a six hour wait for food after a 12m run just can't be good for you....

Great time possum, sounds like you are really on track for your half.

at your DS and tired running antics DrNo. It's lovely to hear about everyone's kids running and cycling. I get a bit teary when I think of DD (3) not being little anymore, but then there are so many lovely things to do together when they get a bit older. In other tearful moments, I am completely with you DrNo on MT. Sometimes when I see her on tv or talk about her I can feel tears of rage surfacing. Hideous.

Still no blimmin running here as too tired. Am hoping second trimester brings surge of energy. Got 12 week scan on Thursday and am absolutely bricking it.

herecomesthesciencebit I have been trying to lose weight since new year and between then and a month ago I exercised on average 6 days per week, a mixture of sessions of weight training and cardio (rowing/treadmill/stairmaster) in the gym/swimming and running - running has been featuring more heavily since the weather improved! During that time I was also careful about what I ate, without feeling like I was depriving myself...so good carbs but none after 6pm most nights, plenty of healthy snacks and a couple of treats a day (a skinny latte, a glass of wine or a couple of squares of dark choc). My aim is to get to my target weight, a few more lbs away, then keep up the exercise and therefore be able to eat more or less what I want rather than feeling like I am "watching my weight" which feels soo dull.

I would highly recommend using something like livestrong.com or myfitnesspal to log your food intake and exercise sessions. It sounds as if rationally you know you need more food to provide enough energy but these apps will show you in black and white whether you are eating enough to maintain your weight. For most people it focuses their mind in the opposite direction, to stop them eating too much but for you it may help you get your head around what is an appropriate amount to consume given your activity levels?

Interestingly for the last month DS has been mostly off school and we have been away from home - I haven't been watching what I eat at all and exercise has been more sporadic, only 3 weights sessions for example as no gym available. Lots more running though. I have been feeling like I have put weight on but weighed myself at the gym today and have lost a pound - so I can only credit the running for being so effective at keeping weight in check....fwiw I still feel like I look better overall - ie more firm/toned with regular weight training though .

x-post with you science - A bit different from you but I started running to lose weight and now use it to maintain weight (plus still trying to lose a bit) and do find the whole nutrition re-fueling thing tricky as I don't want to take on the extra calories that are sometimes needed.

DH, on the otherhand, loses weight by just breathing and has health issues and struggles to cope if he doesn't eat enough so has very different running nutrition needs although doesn't always take that on board !!