Runners United: Where we support each other through the good runs, the bad runs and everything in between.

Ibby ? hope you?re feeling better today.

Rhet ? My Garmin is red and black. I?m another anything but pink person. Sadly dd is going through a princess phase (well kind of, she went to daycare in a pink chingsam, pink converse boots, grey surf chick hoodie, and clutching her favourite rugby ball) so the house is a bit overwhelemed with the colour. I stay clear, and my running tops are black, black and black, sometimes with a hint of red or white piping. Shorts are also um, black, though DH?s pair that I generally nick do have hi-vis go-faster stripes... I would say I can?t imagine the combination of pink stuff and running, but then thought when I looked in the mirror after this morning?s effort, my face was a rather fetching fuschia...

Did 10km this morning (hotel treadmill) in 49:38, which I was happy with. I spent the time I couldn?t run doing lots of upper body/abs work, and I definitely noticed that building the core body strength came through and helped out in the last couple of km. Sadly when I got to the office, there was a large plate of mini-danishes so I ate three which probably undid all the benefit of the run. Still fairly happy though ? first time I have got sub 50 min on a 10km, even if it was treadmill.

My thoughts were:

First 2km: I?m so happy to be running again
2-4km: Why is there a mirror right in front of the jogging machines. I don?t want to see myself jog. Ooh look how my face jolts up and down and gets sweatier and redder.
4-8km: I hate treadmills I hate tread mills dull dull dull dull dull. Is there something wrong with the distance meter on this ? why isn?t is going down? There?s a 3hour time difference between here and home. That means it?s really 3am for me. Why am I running at three am. Why did I decide to do 10 km this is so dull. Maybe I?ll speed up the run to get it over with.
8-10km ? yippee, I?m on for

Ended up staying out too late again at book club but felt necessary as won't be there for a while. In bed now and feeling enormous!

Rhet, c'mon you are dying to get a pink garmin. You could wear it with a pair of fanny's DD's boots and be the toast of Dublin! Still no name, am always too tired to discuss, but we MUST get our fingers out. Am more than impressed by your Xmas shopping antics. I mean I understand that in a few weeks you won't have time to wipe your arse, but seriously, completing Xmas shopping at beginning of nov is amazing. I almost started today, buying vile yapping pink poodle from hamleys today that DD wants but in the end I couldn't be bothered to get off my ass to get my card details so didn't bother....

LOL ibby - Futurity, I got mine in Waitrose (cos I is posh) but happy to post it in a week or so to you (or Ibby). Or in fact I could photocopy the article and post to both. Its a 1 page race review so not overly exciting but I just thought as you'd done it and all.

I'll have a proper look at the smartcoach thingy. I know I want to get to HM distance pre-christmas so that after christmas I can get a few runs in at that distance (my half mid feb) to keep the demons at bay on race day.

Rhet - post your sponsorship thingy again (here or on FB).

Hello again bonkers

Hi again bonkers - sounds like you've been working hard. When is your Dad due to move?

bonkers welcome back! only wiifitmama and Dr No's dh got places, at least so far!

what did you do with the 45 umbrellas - a challenge for any charity shop to shift, surely?

rhet I've just been having a nose at your Glendalough run. Looks lovely, I hope you get good weather for it. We'll be getting that poster too! Though may pass it on to DD2's best friend who is mad mad mad about penguins, bless her!

Looking at the map, realised the last time we were in Glendalough was for DD1's 2nd birthday. How time flies...

Off to see if those fruit and nut energy bars are on the RW website as well. The fruit and nut bars you can get at Pret are lush, I wonder could they be like them?

Hmmm, about 700 posts since I was last here! What a slacker I am. You'll excuse me if I don't read them all. You are all brilliant!

We went away for 1/2 term. I had planned on getting at least a couple of longer runs in (7 milers) in prep. for my 10 miler on the 13th. I failed, but I have a very good reason. I was summoned to my Father's house to help clear it in preparation for him moving. My Mother passed away last year and he's not wanted any of us to touch a thing so it all got left to the very last minute. My Mum (bless her) was a collector. We must have found about 45 umbrellas and a whole cupboard full of Tupperware style storage pots. It will be so lovely to have him settled in his new (smaller and more manageable) place in time for Xmas. A new stage of his life.

Anyway, I did a short run with my 12 yo son, who is like a bloody goat. Leaping all over the place while his veteran Mum ran steadily behind.

I did some intervals at work today....so good to stretch out, but it does interfere with the nattering somewhat.

I will do a long run at the w/e and then just hope for the best for the race. I will not be beating my 77 min PB me thinks!

Has anyone heard about the Olympic run thingy whatnot? I think we're meant to hear by the 4th Nov. Is that right?

Cheers for that wheely ..do they sell that in Tesco as I won't be able to get to a Smiths for a while?

I found the Smart coach fine..I don't stick to it rigidly but it does follow a nice structure like you suggested with the variety of runs as well as slowly increasing mileage and having a lesser week every few weeks. I find it reassuring to plug in all the figures and print it out and then tweak it accordingly.

have just looked at route and elevation for saturday and it's basically up a very large hill and down the other side...

I'm watching that too ibby whilst ignoring reading student essays...I love David Attenborough. I want the OU poster. We have ordered almost all the children's presents for Christmas , bar stuff for stockings.

I think my first race in 2012 will probably be this on April 15, given that I didn't get a place in the Olympic Run :( did I mention that already??

It's near home and by April I should be back to regular running; am still dithering about the Dublin Marathon at end of October - might decide on that early next year. I want to, but I'm also scared of it...

rhet I have the pink one although its mainly grey. It was a gift so I didn't choose it, but I wouldn't unchoose it now IYSWIM. Like Monkey I've got three DS so I'm partial to the odd bit of prettyifying.

Well done debi
Thats good mulittasking ibby

wheely have just flipped all the way through DH's shared copy of Runners World to look for article on Great Eastern - only to reread your message and realise that you said Womens Running. Doh...

Incidentally in RW (Dec) there is v yummy looking recipe for fruit and nut energy bars. Prob v expensive to make though. Have a v good recipe for Granola bars which really hit the spot when out on long walk.

Am supposed to be working also but have one eye on mumsnet and one eye on Frozen Planet on TV - much more interesting than typing formulae to answer a student query!

Welldone Debi - there's quite a few of us signed up for spring halfs now.

God sorry - me back again - I also meant to say futurity, Womens Running this month has an article on the Great Eastern Run if you want to buy it/ stand in a newsagents reading it or I am more than happy to post it on once I've finished it.

Eeeekk. Entries finally opened and I've done it! £20 to enter then an extra £10 for a technical tshirt which I had to have as it'll be my longest race ever. Put down an estimated time of 2 hrs which might be ambitious! I think 7 miles is the longest I've ever run. Entries only opened today and 150 have already entered.

05/11/11 - Glendalough Trail Run - rhetorician
06/11/11 - Lancaster Half Marathon - Fannybanjo
06/11/11 - Bonfire Burn 10K - Futurity
06.11.11- Tidworth 10k- Tulip27
12/11/11 - Ashton Court 10K - N4NNY
13/11/11 - Stebbing 10 Mile - bonkers20
19/11/11 - Maasai Mara Half Marathon - M&M
20.11.11- Gosport Half-Marathon- Tulip27
20/11/11 - Leeds Abbey Dash (10k) - DrNortherner
27/11/11 - City of Norwich half marathon: ibbydibby, MoshiMoshi
27/11/11 - Bicton Blister (10M) - RunningAllDay
27/11/11 - RNLI Reindeer Run Stirling Uni 10K - Squix
03/12/11 - Jingle Bells 5k Phoenix Park - rhetorician
22/01/12 - Four Villages Half Marathon (Helsby) - Fannybanjo
19/02/12 - Brighton Half marathon - Wheely
04/03/12 - Milton Keynes Half Marathon - pawsnclaws
10/03/12 - Blackpool Half Marathon - DrNortherner, Fannybanjo
11/03/12 - Cambridge Half Marathon - Futurity, Runnerstipple, Cherry (what have I done??)
25/03/12 - Edale Skyline - (21 miles. 4,500 ft climb) Hatwoman
25/03/12- Fleet Half Marathon- DebitheScot
01/04/12 - Reading Half-Marathon - RunningAllDay, Tulip27
22/04/12 - VLM: ibbydibby
29/04/12 - Shakespeare Half Marathon - FairyBasslet
27/05/12 - London Bupa 10K - Futurity
09/06/12 - Blenheim Sprint Triathlon - Cherry
29/06/12 - San Francisco Marathon - MoshiMoshi

Right, now I really am going to do some work.

Also meant to say - Ibby glad all went well, take it easy !

vicar - well done on the 5 miles - you are right to be proud. Well done too on your 6 mm DrNo !

Off to try and finish my book (Secret Life of Bees DrNo !)

How rude of them ibby did they not realise you really needed tea and cake

Loving the whilst running thoughts ! I'm not really sure what i think about - much the same I think (definitely 'its nice to be away from the DCs ).

Great pics N4NNY - looks amazing. Thanks for sharing yours too Bumply.

Squix - I too am feeling sore throaty. But I thought I was coming down with a cold last week, headed it off and wonder if Sunday's efforts have bought it round again. It'll be that wind and spray !

I too need to start thinking about a half marathon plan futurity. Am thinking I'll do my own thing - 1 speed intervals (sometimes hills maybe ?), 1 tempo, 1 LSR and 1 short recovery run. But I'll have a look at a few plans and see as it would be comforting to follow a proper plan I think. How did you find smartcoach ? I had a quick look and a lot of the comments don't seem to think v. highly of it.

DrNo - Really a strong possibility for the Thunder Run. Must be a train from london to nearby and then cabs ? I think realistically a mixed team, thereby having 8 people would be more my scene as that means 3 x 10Ks maximum. I can possibly drag a couple of others in if required.

rhet - I have the unisex garmin 110. I'm not a fan of pink anyway (although do have a number of pink running tops) but it was £23 more on amazon. Good news on the potty work ! I am planning an attempt weekend after next (Fri-Sun).... Her pre-school keep telling me she keeps asking to go and almost makes it so I feel I ought to make an effort. Plus she gets terrible rashes from poos, plus we had to not go swimming one day on hols because we'd run out of swimming nappies. I think its time (gibbers in corner at thought).

Good to see you back cest - good luck with the move.

moshi - that Richmond Park run also looks a possibility (even nearer for me than kingston which is only about 10 mins away) although am put off by the thought of laps. I have only looked at it on my phone so will take a peruse on the computer. DH is keen to do whichever one I do too so need to grab-a-granny.

My aches from Sunday have pretty much gone except for a cramp in my left calf first thing in the morning when I first do stairs. Just a swimming lesson for me today - all on the back, yuk, and I was tired. No running this week I don't think. Body Balance tomorrow if cold comes to nothing.

Mostly this week I am dedicating myself to drinking red wine and stuffing my face. Recovery I call it.

Yes varicose veins I think sfx my mum has them very badly an so did her dad. When pregnant with ds2 had them bad in groin sort of area but not been too bad since. I also had a laproscopy (if thats how you spell it) a few years ago and they said I have them internally throughout my pelvic region. I seem to be ok when running but its in the evening after my run and just seems to be pmt time. I will be going to docotors in a month time if still no bfp as it will be a year . So will see how I go and mention it then it still the same.
Glad the potty training going well Rhet

sfxmum, they will be tested. Watched doctor putting them in sample jar and wished I hadn't. Feeling unusually exhausted tonight - just knackered really. Not sure if real or imagined.

Did ask if I could run tomorrow. and nurse said yes, but doctor said see how you feel as bleeding could go on for several days. DH away tomorrow night, so maybe not a good idea to go out. Hmm.

Rhet I have "unisex" (I think) 110 - it's grey. I did not fancy the pink one either. Sorry you didn't get Olympic run place. Am still waiting the email...

Thanks for kind words and suggestions of though have been lounging on settee and downing many cups of all evening. Haven't had alcohol for 18 months or so - was never a huge drinker anyway, just the odd glass now and then. However was beginning to feel a bit rough after just the odd glass, so now don't drink at all. Bit sad really as there are times when I would love a glass - but hate the thought of suffering the next day.

Took DS1 to his band this afternoon, leaving DH to cook tea (usual arrangement). Headed for Waitrose, fo a much anticpated and needed cup of tea and cake - only to discover that cafe shut for refurbishment. Felt ridiculously disappointed, bought a crunchie, and sat in the car to eat it. Not quite the same thing though!

Well done vicar at running club.

DrNo am a bit interested in Thunder Run....

I also meant to say amazing photos N4nny, I sent you a friend request. And well done on your 5 miles vicar, if you could do it while talking you're obviously doing well. And sounds unpleasant ibby, I hope you haven't gone for a run.

Right now must do some work.

This was just what I needed to read tonight I'm a 45 year old lesbian for god's sake, what would I be doing with a pink sports watch? it made me properly laugh which is no mean feat after the foul mood ds1 put me in tonight when he was being very unlike him and being horrid and sooo rude at bedtime. I'm wondering if he's coming down with something (ds2 is fine after his weird sickness on Monday morning).

I briefly mentioned the thunder run to dh tonight but I also hadn't considered the travelling afterwards bit.

vicarina this is the one place we can brag Well done on your 5 miles.