Runners United. C'mon let's be awesome at running in 2012!!

Welcome 8oreighty! This is the best thread on MN. It's a shame there isn't a thread competition, because we can get competitive at race time.

Lol...I have visions of us crazy MN ladies singing like loons at Cambridge!

N4NNY what's running school? Is that like running club, but with learning included? Do you have to take exams?! Well done though!

Cherry Ditch the ear phones and run with ME! We can sing if you like.
What do you like? I have very broad tastes - classical, musicals, Carpenters, kids songs, Kate Bush (might be a bit screechy!), Take That, bit of Ed Sheeran if you like, or Tinie Tempah (the last two are in my repetoire courtesy of the pre-teen). That's sorted then. Honestly, train without them for a while so you're used to it and you'll love it.

Cherry, just a quick post, re no music. They were really strict about this at the Ipswich Half last year, loads of signs saying you will be ejected from the race if you use them. I hadn't practiced without but in the end it was okay, although I did spend a lot of time searching for the hero inside myself and feeling proud in my head (not my normal choice of running song).

I did see one person with headphone wires taped behind her ears, but only one. I'm determined to try some of my longer runs music free this time. The upside though was really hearing the support from the crowd and the marshals, I found that a great help, especially when I was struggling at 11 - 12 miles.

Well done debi and N4NNY

I had running school tonight and we were doing intervals it was horrible. Driving rain and wind that no matter which direction we ran we were running into it the side gusts almost knocked me off my feet at times too. Feels good now I'm warm and toasty knowing that's the first run of 2012 done and the weather can't get much worse than that (can it)

I expect so...tends to be a good atmosphere at these sort of things...I shall just start randomly talking to people I expect...or breaking into song!

Balls. I'm just going to have to deal with no music aren't I?

I do run at running club without headphones and that's fine as everyone chats a lot. Do you think people will chat during the race then?

Watching obem now on playback . Missing the comedy receptionist from the Southampton hospital

Blimey Debi ..its awful out there...well done!

Cherry - I've done a race where no
Headphones we're allowed and everyone was wearing them but have a feeling the wording is a bit stronger here. Do you have a shuffle ? If so can you pop it in a pocket to whip out if you need to and think you can get away with it ?

Otherwise try practising. My iPod battery ran out at mile 6 out of 11 the other week and the first 5-10 mins were awful and then I sort of forgot about it so you may be surprised.

Well done debi. I was meant to go tonight but DH just got in, have awful period pain and the weather is crap so I am going to drink red wine and eat pasta and chocolate. Purely medicinal.

go debi! also off to watch babies being born, although have done that in real life only a few weeks ago

Oh and I am going to look like the woman on the front of RW by the end of the month

cherry ...don't panic! I am off to watch babies being born on Channel 4 so a quick response..someone posted this same thing a while ago on this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/sports_and_exercise/1322301-Half-marathon-rules-say-that-ipods-are-not-allowed-Is-that-usual-why

and I put my thoughts on there.

Short answer is, in this case, you can't wear them..they are strict in the rules.

However, this will not be a lonely race where there is no-one to talk to ...it is going to be packed in the middle of Cambridge..plenty to see and plenty of people to talk to...all in the same boat with no headphones. I have never run a whole half without headphones..the first one I got to about 10 miles and then plugged in (a very tiny half marathon and I was TOTALLY on my own). Second one allowed headphones so I did (I like listening to music..I admit it!).

I ALWAYS ran with headphones until I joined running club and it was weird at first but you get used to it...we now run for an hour and chat for a bit but then run and it is fine as you have company (even if you aren't talking!). I would suggest you try running without headphones before the event but I am sure you will be fine..there will be lots of people desperate for a natter !

woops..not so short answer!

I did it. 4.5 miles, 40 mins. It was quite windy hurricane winds and heavy ish torrential rain and I had dry feet until I stepped in a puddle 10 yards before I got home but it felt great, well it did once I got inside. I love the feeling of coming in from the cold and I actually quite like running in the dark.

I had the same horrible discovery for my marathon cherry. Hence was planning to run with my buddy most if not all way to have someone to moan to but she has been laid low since our 16 miler early December so I may be on my own. FOUR hours (plus!) with my own head? Bleugh.

cherry I have heard of this but not sure how strict races are. I will say that during a HM, music kind of doesn't even register to me when I'm racing - you zone out. You'll be fine and it also means you'll chat to people along the way. I don't intend to put music on on my next HM, it can distract.

I made an awful discovery today ...

futurity runnerstipple bonkers I was perusing One step beyond website whilst bored at work today and the info on the Cambridge half and discovered to my horror.

NO SODDING HEADPHONES ALLOWED!!

Ahhh!!! Is this normal for longer races? Do you think I can get away with wearing them? I am imagining all kinds of crazy headgear to hide the headphones. I am not sure I can run without cheesy music.

Otherwise I'm going to have sing all the way round. Really loudly. or strap a ghettoblaster to my back - doesn't look like they have outlawed music that isn't played through headphones ...

(sorry, I've ignored everything else here today, I'm just a bit panicked by this discovery)

I'm fucking starving. And I mean starving. Not just starving starving - I mean proper starving. that's all.

Welcome to the mad house 8oreighty - we're a very friendly bunch on here and we have advice re how to trim pubes, what is the best thong to wear whilst running AND the piece de resistance is we have a competition as to who sees the most cocks at a race. I'm the winner so far of that. Anyway, sod what you look like, I still look a twat running but it don't matter, by the time anyone's laughed, I'm flying past! Walk run is definitely what you need. Loads of plans online and only way to get fitness up without killing yourself.

I prefer waxing peach. For some reason plucking makes me feel as if I am going to pee my pants. It feels as if every single hair is connected to my bladder, strange. Threading really hurts I only had it done once and the woman lied it hurts more than waxing I was praying in my head for her to stop.
I get scissors out for the long ones Sticky. Love the pic .
Welcome 8oreighty. I did the couch to 5k, some weeks I repeated as was struggling. But as long as you keep at it , it gets easier. I don't really like running in ther dark but lots of people do. Just wear a high viz jacket, keep to well lit areas and take a phone with you.
Well you can tell its new year couldn't even get a car park space in gym car park. Just done 6k at gym and I did it without needing my inhaler half way through . Still a bit slower than normal but getting better. Think I am still going to have to stick with the treadmill for a bit as the cold air still sets me off coughing. But by the looks of the weather at the mo don't think thats a bad thing.

8oreighty welcome - Couch to 5k is a great programme - and if you miss a week, or struggle one week, you can just repeat it. A lot of us on here started with walk/run (and have used it when coming back after pg, or injury) and things gradually progressed from there. The main thing is to enjoy it - and not worry about what anyone else thinks - you are the one out there doing it for you, not anyone else, and treat it as 'you' time to think, relax, play music, while also getting fitter. you will make quick progress too.

We are all a bit nuts, so most of us take perverse pride in running in shite conditions; you can run in the dark, with a flashlight - make sure you are visible (where do you run?) and safe though. I'm not much of one for running in the dark, but I do when I need to.

synchronised swimming

Ah fanny you caught me! Actuallly I just come here for the pants discussions. Never run in my life. Are Garmins some sort of pants as well?

Hi 8oreighty welcome to the thread!

Debbiethescot - thanks yes got the couch to 5k one...just need to use it. so do you all go out in this rain and wind?! And can one run in the dark? I have a headtorch - cool or what.

Fishie - the news is that they've oversold the synchronize swimming so we may not have the tickets after all !

No not joking Debi !