runners united: the one with the time running with other people

Good luck to all running tomorrow. MOSHI i will be thinking of you at the start line, I will be in your dust by the way but if I get round in one piece for my first HM I will be happy.

I'm sure it's on my bedside table, so will scan it and put a link on here, if that's ok? :)

It's a handtowel size - I'll use it for the gym if I ever go to a gym again

possom if it's not too well buried, I'd love to see that plan... what are you planning to do with your embroidered towel? Will it have pride of place in the downstairs loo? Or is it one of those tiny ones (I got one the last time I did the Richmond 10k and thought it was a beer mat until DB pointed out it was for patting dry sweaty gym equipment )

I wouldn't mind that 10k plan possom if you can find it.

futurity I could almost guarantee it!

I forgot to mention, I got a spot prize which was a lovely towel with "Triathlon Inverness" embroidered on it

sticky I have a 'personal best 10k' plan from Women's Running if you'd like me to dig it out and post it up here or scan the page and send it to you in an email if you like? :)

Loved the report possum especially as it was your first tri...ouch to the finger!...I felt your frustration as I read your write up. Bet you end up doing another one at some point though?

sticky, google Improvers 10k training plan, or maybe sub 60 minute (or whatever time you are after) 10k training plan. Should be some on the Runners World website I would think.

No thank goodness, it was a beautiful day - nicer than most of our summer actually! It was a bit breezy though, the wind was in my face for most of the cycle which didn't help. It was ok for the run though - it was on the seafront and was sheltered a bit by the breakwater wall.

It's a steep learning curve possum, a tri. 3 different disciplines to improve on, not to mention the transitions. Was it cold out there today?

Thanks folks. :)

I'm not too bad actually, peach - more tired from having to get up at 6am then anything I think! Maybe I could have pushed myself harder in the cycle...

Loved the race report possum, I think you did brilliantly, and this was your first one!!! If you do decide to do another you have already identified areas of improvement. Maybe you could borrow a road bike. Finger sounds painful! Hope it's ok tomorrow! Are you shattered tonight?

Gosh you all have speedy kids! Am having real trouble getting DD (3.5) out of the pram. She just needs more practice and currently trying to get her to do walk/pram on longer distances. Only 8 weeks till DD2 due and need DD1 on that buggy board at the very least!!

no, moshi's already done the wee drama, so rhet doesn't have to...

Possum that sounds painful, hope your finger's OK tomorrow. Fab race report! I'm never likely to try a tri, but it's really interesting to hear what they're like.

peach that's hilarious!! Good to have a working doorbell again, tho. DD1 is 7 (and she's been on top of the world all day!)

Trying to decide what to do tomorrow. I think a 10k, trying to do it fast and see what my baseline is, then work off that to see how to improve. Most plans (I've seen, at any rate, please do someone let me know if I should be looking at something) seem to assume you'd be working up to 10k, rather than just wanting to improve it. Any voices of experience gratefully heard!

And I meant a wee dram Rhet. No drama, however wee!!!

Possum sorry about stuck finger, hope it is not too painful. Sounds like the tri went well for you, apart from that little mishap.

Peach re your doorbell, how funny (that is the sort of thing I do, you are not alone)

Rhet, I hope you are having a "wee dram" rather than a "wee drama" (see Peach's post above - unless there is something subtle that I have previously missed!)

Sorry forgot the lovely paws, sorry the run didn't work out today, but the thing to remember is that you have done the marathon before. Take confidence from that and concentrate on recuperation over the next few days. What's your tapering schedule?

Well done possum, looking forward to the details!

sticky, sounds like a lovely parkrun. Well done to your DD1, how old is she?

Hope the run goes well tomorrow fanny

master, if you don't mind me asking, do you live in a small town/village, or is it a big town that is near so much amazing wildlife?sorry, don't know too much about Kenya

Rhet, hope you are enjoying DP's birthday, and having a wee drama

ibby, poor old DS2, bless him. Are you superwoman, can't believe how much you achieved today!!! I went to the post office with DD (whingeing as was making her walk most of the way) to pick up doorbell (more about that in minute) and was so shattered couldn't do much for rest of afternoon except have 90 minute nap!!!

Had a real dufus moment. Couple of weeks after we moved in here the doorbell stopped working. After couple of weeks trying new batteries then landlord ordering new one which I couldn't collect as he had ordered it in his name by mistake. Anyhoo, after missing it being delivered yesterday we went to collect today and when I opened it saw it was one of those ones you screw the button in at the front door and then plug in the receiver to a socket. I though, ooh that looks familiar. Realised the plug in thing in the kitchen is in fact the doorbell receiver. I had thought it was one of those air fresherner things and turned it off!!!! Of course turned it on and doorbell is fine. What a twit. Am so embarassed.

Ok race report time!

Up at 6am and had some Weetabix and got my things together before heading off at 7am. Arrived on time, got my bike sorted out and registered. I was in the second heat for the swim and I was feeling very comfortable throughout the swim. I did a mixture of crawl and breast stroke (i.e. a couple of lengths of crawl, one of breast stroke to get my breath back) and did the 400m in 9:32 which was 13th fastest of 32 women (19th fastest of all competitors - there were 50!) and only 7 seconds slower than the guy who eventually went on to win the event, which I'm rather pleased with. Got out the pool to the transition area. Put my helmet on, socks and shoes, chucked a t-shirt on over the tri suit and then tried to lift my bike off the rack... this is where it all went wrong! I trapped my finger in the metal under the seat and as it was so heavy, as I was putting the bike down onto the ground, it got more and more stuck. I realised I couldn't get my finger out and a bloke came over to help me! How embarrassing! So, eventually managed to get my finger free, but the transition 1 time was up to 2:32! :( My finger is still sore, I suspect I might have a purple nail tomorrow!

Anyway, went off on the run on the bike (11.3km), and it was so slow! The route was similar to a 10k I'd done there before, so I kind of knew what was coming. The bike I have is a mountain bike, and was really heavy and I just didn't feel like I could get properly going. I'm actually embarrassed to type my time! (35:43 - 27th out of the 32 women and 45th out of 50 in total).

T2 went much better though, and got off the bike, put it up onto the rack, helmet off, cap on and off to the run in 39 seconds . I left the transition area saying "which way, which way?" then saw the MASSIVE luminous yellow sign that pointed the runners in the right direction. Ah well, gave the small crowd a giggle anyway! Did the 3k in 17:58 (16th of the 32 women, 31st out of the 50 competitors) which was slower than I had hoped for, but I misjudged the distance. I got confused as I was running and was thinking it was 5 km (I think I thought 3 miles instead of 3km) and I didn't have my Garmin so had no idea what my pace was. There were no km markers, so couldn't even judge it by my watch. I knew I was going more slowly than my normal pace but I passed a few runners on this leg and came home in 1:06:15. So I finished 41st out of everyone, and was the 23rd woman.

So all in all, it was a little disappointing, but I enjoyed the day. The cycling was a bit of a disaster and the 1st transition lost me some valuable time. If I were to get into doing triathlons, I'd really have to work on my cycling and possibly invest in a roadbike. A mountain bike is really no use in an event like that, it's far too heavy and the tyres cause too much resistance. I'm delighted with the swim and the run wasn't too bad, although could have been better. Wish I'd remembered my Garmin so I could have paced myself better! I'm disappointed with my overall finishing position, but it could have been worse! I think I'll stick to running for now...

Baxter's 10k next week, which I'm starting to get really excited about. Backwardpossom junior is doing the under 5s 400m run! Never too early to get them involved, right?

Strides, fanny, are series of fast paced short intervals towards the end of runs (usually general aerobic runs) where you focus on form. For example, today I did 4M with 4 x 75m with 75m jog recoveries in between. I don't stress over running exactly 75m and just count in my head to 20 each set. The idea is that you teach your body to run fast without constantly doing tempo runs or speed intervals and putting yourself at risk of breaking down from overdoing things. I think they have more of a place in marathon training which mostly consists of lots of longer runs at a slower pace. I have learnt a lot from my ballet teacher about how movement requires as much electrical (ie neuron) stimulation as muscle work (ie run training) and I think the strides help with that aspect in getting the neurone firing so that on race day it all comes together and you can run the entire race fast!

We've had a lovely relaxing day here today. The boys were mostly on good form so that helped. I cycled to Parkrun this morning (26:54, had tummy issues again for some of it) then cycled home and then went for a run with ds1 again. He did 1.55 miles in 17:30 which is a minute faster than last week.
Then watched rugby, played, sorted photos, dh and ds1 did some gardening, I took ds1 out on his bike (his 2nd ride without stabilisers) then we all went out for tea.

Our Parkrun is 2 laps and you can do 1 and get a time so I've told ds1 he can do it once he can do the 1.5 mile route we do in 16 minutes. He's only 5 so I don't think he should do much further than that yet.

Well done possum on the tri.

June - my preference would be front-of-t-shirt. not sure why though!

Do you have any of that paper where you can print on it from PC and iron whatever you have printed on to the t-shirt? Or could you write your name on a piece of paper and stick it/glue it/saftey pin it to whichever side of the t-shirt you don't have your sticker on?

Re my previous post: I should add a disclaimer that I do not normally manage to pack so much into a day..today a bit of a one-off I think.

hey paws having a cold really affects your performance, you should take it easy in the next few days to make sure the cold is really out of the way.c also the first run after you've not been well is usually disastrous so try not to worry...

fanny I'm always not 100% after a long run, it really takes a lot out of you.

ibby Oh wow you really have packed the day with stuff :D Poor ds2, aww, they have to learn that side of things as well don't they. Hope he gets his t-shirt soon!

So, my very important question:
Do I put my "cheer me on" sticker with my name at the front or at the back of my t-shirt? I keep changing my mind.

Well done backwardpossum.

Welll done on parkrun orange, sticky and stickyDD. I ventured to a different one this morning with DS1 and DS2, at Gorleston, by the sea. Weather was fantastic - blue sky, sparkling sea, and actually rather warm even at that time in the morning. It was a very matey set up more so than the one I usually go to, but possibly because they have smaller numbers. Unfortunately DS2's shoelace came undone while he was running (I don't run with him) and he was really upset about having to stop and do it up. He passed the finish line and burst into tears. He usually finishes ahead of DS1, so when DS1 crossed the line first I knew something was up...We did enjoy a paddle in the sea afterwards! It was DS2's 10th run, so he will possibly get the t-shirt next week (though the weekly email has referred to a delay in getting the t-shirts since they switched sponsors)

Moshi envious that you have already planned runs in SF.

Fanny hope you feel better soon, do you think it is also post-GNR anti-climax type thing? Have a good run tomorrow.

Now knackered, due to early start with parkrun (30 miles from here). Before we went I surpassed myself and put the washing machine, baked some choc chip muffins, had breakfast then hung the washing out. After the parkrun, went on to my mum's (about a mile away). Took her to Homebase in the morning and then spent the afternoon digging over flower beds ready for bulb planting. DH not back until tomorrow afternoon, but 10k not until 4pm (weird) so lots of time to psyche myself up...

Good luck to others racing tomorrow.

Well done backwardpossom and futurity look forward to hearing more.

Well I didn't manage 20 miles today! I made it to 12, but was just exhausted and couldn't get enough air in my lungs to go any further - definitely not over this cold, as I was producing huge quantities of snot and felt very wheezy afterwards. So .... two weeks to the marathon and my confidence has taken a massive beating because I know from experience just how hard those last 6 miles are from 20. Now it's those last 8 miles from 18.

The trials and tribulations, eh?

great to hear you had a good time at the tri backwardpossom. Looking forward to hearing more....

Orange you need to come and do our parkrun which is along a river so completely flat... I feel like Ive been cheating now . Hill training isn't exactly fun, but it is very effective. It's great for the virtuous feeling after!

rhet good to hear the news re DD's grandad.

So, I did the parkrun in 40 minutes this morning - because DD1 did it with me :) I was so proud of her. There was a lot of chatting! She only has to do 10 runs to get the T-shirt, apparently, so she's very motivated by that (and all the clapping of course )