Runners united: I run, I do running, I am a runner

Hello all. I'm ashamed to confess that I haven't plodded a single step since last week. After a weekend of (too rare these days) socialising and (even rarer) camping I was looking forward to a 20 minute plod at lunchtime but I forgot to load my sports bag into the car this morning. As I am not 9 I won't make myself do it in my pants, I'll have to go tomorrow lunchtime instead, then it will be six days since my last run, hardly what you would call regular!

Sciencebint I loved your HM review, especially that you made it in sub 1:50 after all.

Good luck for your 10k tomorrow DebitheScot.

oh and good luck debi for tomorrow !

Sorry to hear abut the motivation issues driving - As I said earlier to cest - I definitely go through peaks and troughs with this. I think if you stick with it, hopefully it will come back.

squix - your dad's training session sounds great (I think...) ! I've given up already on my '6 week 6 pack' - I actually found it made my ankle pains worse and I didn't want that to stop me running.

Just did a gentle 5K in the gym - ankle (well bit below it really) still twinging. grr. Definitely worse though since the w/e when I was resting, ha ha. So do wonder if its more of an issue wiht my birkenstocks. Its not bad enough to stop me running on sunday given its a 5K and then we'll see what happens. Mind you, kind of nice to do a gentle 5K where I didn't get out of breath at all. Good to feel I've come a long way!

Desperately planning how I'm going to keep running over the hols - thankfully my creche have surprised me by offering me 1hr gym slots if I want them (its usually closed during the hols for holiday club) so as long as I can palm off the bigger one I should be able to keep up some decent exercise (except maybe in Italy if its too hot).

thank you all: you are so nice ; refocussing is a good idea, as is some variety perhaps. Debi I think you are right about the 5 miler - that half was a disaster for me, and totally rocked my confidence. I wasn't ready. So I am going to focus on getting below about 2:15 for the sept half, e.g. back to my HM times from 2008. And then we'll chip away from there.

Debi i wouldn't run today, but a swim or gentle bike ride might be good

Hi driving, know what you mean. Felt like this 2 - 3 months ago where you feel like you've reached a plateau and you just can't push through, be it distance or speed. Have also had one less good race where I was nowhere near my original target (for various reasons). Know also what you mean about needing to pick yourself up when it all begins to feel like a bit of a slog rather than fun - am in process of trying to do so at the moment!

For me, it's a little bit a case of trying to start afresh mentally. I've got a race in the diary for mid September so am trying to focus on that and the plan to getting a better time in that.

Maybe it's a case of stepping back a bit, refocusing on your aims or even changing your aims if you think you need to and building a plan towards them. You've got a HM about the same time as me (early September) so there's plenty of time to work towards it?

yes futurity I do know what you mean about focussing on your own goals; but it's hard sometimes. I suppose the goal doesn't have to be speed, either. My main thing for this year was to run 2000k and not get injured. I'm on target so far...

I have the 305 but I think the only difference between that and the 205 is it has heart rate monitor (which I no longer use but might do in the future). Never had a problem losing signal..just takes a while to get one.

I know what you mean about motivation Driving . After I trained for half marathon in 2009 but never got to do it (due to illness) I then ran the distance myself when I was better and almost killed myself! After that I lost all motivation and didn't run for AGES. It was only in the summer of 2010 when I did a bootcamp for 6 weeks with some fun lovely ladies that I got my interest back in exercise and then started running again. The running club started up at the local gym a few weeks later and then the half marathon was mentioned and I was away again and hooked. I always need something to aim for (hence entering a few more runs already) and even though I am a fellow plodder I am (trying) to learn to accept that and focus on my own goals rather than that of other speedy people if you see what I mean.

Sorry if waffling..am sleepy today after Take That concert last night (fab!). No run this morning as my legs are recovering but will go out tomorrow.

I don't know about the higher spec models, but I have a 205 and I can't honestly see that you'd need much else - you can do intervals on it, laps, etc etc. I think most people on here have this model. It's been superceded but seems fine to me. The GPS signal is fine, even under trees.

Sorry folks, I know this has been done before....Garmins!

I am buying DH one for his birthday next month and have been looking at the bewildering array on offer. He is quite into his running and quite good, so I think it would be a worthwhile investment to get a good model with a range of features, however I would be interested in your feedback on what features/models you have found the most useful.

Thank you!!

hello runners. My injury has cleared up and I am up and out. Tripped over a tree root but managed to roll on to my bottom so not too bad. Do you all fall over occasionally? I do it about two or three times a year. It seems to be one of those things that people use to tut tut about running, like 'ooh you will destroy your knees'.

I am avoiding the shred as far as possible. It is my unrunnably bad weather exercise.

Hi all! Went for a weekend away and all sorts of actvity happens here. Well done on the race Science!

Sorry to hear about the motivation issues DRiving - I am sure most of us suffer from it at one point or another! Do you do a range of training? I have to admit that I would struggle to only 'do running', which is why I only run 3 time a week max and do something else 2/3 times a week. Stops me getting bored, and generally has the positive effect of strengthening core/legs and therefore benefiting running overall.

Well, since my short run and circuit session of friday, I did went away and therefore ate and rank far too much! Did manage a session in a hotel gym (luxury for me, as I am not a gym member - could not justify the expense as there is no way I could manage to get there more than once a weeK.) Did a session on the bike and the rower, purely because they are thigs I hardly ever do and just wanted to mix it up. Then did 7 miles yesterday. Was ok, but it felt pretty warm.

I have decided to join a running club at the end of the month when DH returns home from being away 5/6 days a week (hurray - it has been YEARS!) Unfortunately he has decided that he wants to join too, so I will only be able to go fortnight (grr...) Hopefully they may force me to do intervals/speed drills etc that I am pretty rubbish about disciplining myself to do.

thanks Bonkers. How do I train? well, slowly, clearly :) I try and do some kind of speedwork, a long run and some easy runs each week.

Do you go by the above neck/below neck symptom rule for exercising when you're feeling unwell, driving? I would say you should give your interval run a miss today and see how you are tomorrow.

I'm sorry you're feeling demotivated. I know from my own experience what an elusive, slippery thing motivation can be! I'm not an expert about training but I'm sure lots of other people can help with some concrete advice. I want to say that it sounds like you need to focus more on speedwork but that's a bit, well, duh! of course, but what sort of speedwork and how much, that I don't know.

Wow squix - can your dad come and make me run up some hills too please? He sounds brilliant. No idea about hillwork - one of my routes has a longish steady hill at the beginning and two nasty short sharp ones near the end that I try to force myself up quickly if I can. The longish steady one I just try to maintain normal pace up but perhaps I should push myself more too.

I seem to be the only person on mumsnet not shredding! I don't have time for any more exercise sessions really. My cross training (of sorts) is a weekly/twice weekly trip to the climbing wall, and running around after two boisterous under fives.

Driving I would NOT do your planned training today. If you feel you must do something then do some stretching. I don't think training today will be any benefit for you. How about going for a swim?

I hope others can help you with your motivation. I haven't been on here long enough to really know how you train. I do suspect that feeling rubbish today isn't helping at all.

woken up with achy joints and killer headache...not sure what to do about my intervals run planned for today.

I'm feeling very demotivated about my running - 700 miles this year so far and one crappy race and an average pace of about 10.40 mm to show for it. Help, ladies (and gent)?

And welcome to new posters on the thread

Hello new thread - didn't realise I had been away that long.

Well done all the racers, hope all the concert goers have had fun.

Just back from a long weekend in Devon - and the end of my week long birthday celebrations - lots of sunshine, running,wine and cakes.....a great mix.

Treated to lovely afternoon tea at a posh hotel, great Sunday lunch at an organic farm restaurant, bbq, picnic at the beach - not quite sure how we fitted it all in. So far being 40 is great .

Some good runs with my dad and sister too. Dad made me run up huge hills ( a killer 1 in 5) and then made me maintain 7.30 pace for about 5 mins at the end of the run on the flat. Most of the hills were hard and I realised that I probably need to do some specific hill sessions in my program. Most of my routes are hilly but i just tend to trot up them. So what do you suggest - short and steep or long and steady?

Trying to work out how to fit in decent runs over the next 5 weeks before we go off on our big holiday - busy at work so I think some early morning runs on the cards for me. Ohhhh and must break out the shred DVD - has anyone else started with it yet?

Ooo shiny new thread that I need to catch up with.

Welcome back driving.

9k for me on Saturday and then hilly 12k on Sunday. Not much time between now and Sunday to do a lot more as I am handing over to my replacement whilst having a handover for my new job, whilst still doing two other jobs all in the last week of school and just before going on leave...

Ooh new thread! thanks debi

I am really tired again today - all self-inflicted. Did a wonderful 12 miles yesterday taking in a large hill with views South over the Tay and North towards the Angus Hills. The weather was perfect but I don't think I ate enough before or after (Nike+ watch says 1600 calories ). Also, I have discovered that isotonic sport drinks give me sore teeth the next day so I can't eat much today either.

Going to skip running club tonight and scoff instead!

Hello Stoatie!

Yes I would have balked at that pace a while back! I am actually quite a fast sprinter over a very short distance. I just need to train my body to maintain it. I seem to lack consistency. Some days I run and can not muster anything faster than 9.5 mm.

Glad you had a good holiday driving. I always think any extra weight put on during a holiday is easily lost - how much permanent damage can a fortnight realistically do? Hope your DD is much better and you catch up on lost sleep.

DrNo - does sound like you running is coming on nicely. I am sure you would have balked at paces like that not long ago.

Was not looking forward to a LSR today given the heat but managed 18M at average pace of 8:34m/m. Some done on the G Trainer to save my legs which is definitely helping with keeping the injuries away.

Finally, welcome Stoatie!

I too am healthy eating on countdown to holiday but having a bit of a wobble today due to late night last night, not much to eat yesterday so feeling particulalry hungry today and the dds between them being up from 2-5. Still trying to be good.

Glad you had a good hol driving.

cest - although I haven't done anything as much as a half yet, I definitely feel despondent with running after building up to a race. I just keep plodding away and evnetually it all seems to come back. Helps if there's another goal in place.

meant to say too Dr No that I am watching the extra and nibbles - a few holiday pics show slightly more wobble than I would like. Need to tone up a bit too . Wrecked today due to DD having high temp in the night - but seems more or less fine again now.