Is there a general running thread?

Well, apparently I am the only one who feels like there are hills here - everyone else perceives them to be flat. I'm like the princess and the pea I try not to complain!

If there were loads of hills here I hope I would try to be positive about them, like you are. I bet your legs are really strong because of them :)

Elvis, you are so lucky not to have hills. I live in a valley so literally EVERY road goes up, and straight away too. Man I hate them, but it find them a useful way to measure my fitness ie; I can now jog up some hills that 2yrs ago would have reduced me to hyperventilating and walking.
Every time I conquer a slope I feel v pleased with myself. I also think of the bum toning

Thanks Coo, I think a 10k obstacle race would be my limit, could never do a half marathon one!

My tip for finding it hard to run on hills is to avoid them forever! I come from marshland, so super flat, and now live in Norfolk. DH jokes that I can detect a 1% gradient - sometimes I complain about running uphill here, when'd he swears down it is flat. I spend quite a lot of time when route planning thinking about which way to do a loop to get maximum downhill and minimum uphill!

I don't think it would take much to get to 8 if you can already do 8.11; would it be a matter of doing some shorter, say 5k, runs with plenty of threshold/sprints? Then do five miles, alternating 8.30 and 8, then building from there? I don't really know what I am talking about but would probably try that. I am more focused on increasing mileage atm though.

EAT, do you run home form work door to door? I wish I could do that but work 25 miles away!

Hi Elvis, haven't done a tm yet, but have done this: www.ratracedirtyweekend.com it was very good fun, I only did the half which was 13 miles, it was tough, but due to the nature of some of the obstacles you generally had a few seconds every so often to catch your breath. It was generally the simple, quick obstacles, such as logs, under / over type things that I found hardest. The climbing ones were actually ok, and felt 'safer' as there were a lot of people doing the same thing. I'd definitely recommend as it was great fun.

My quickest average is 8.11 so I have a good way to go to get to 8! My problem is hills, they just kill me! In terms of general distance, I find 10+ miles I don't really enjoy, 8 is perfect, but 5-6 probably more realistic in terms of fitting in with lifestyle. I'm not sure why the 5 mile fixation has come from, mainly as there's some straight forwards, scenic 5 mile loops I think!

Sounds v fetching EATmum

Looking fairly ridiculous in a mix of running/work clothes this morning, because I'm planning a run home at the end of the day. Hope this lovely sunny weather holds!

karatekimmi- which running buggy do you have? DD is 4 months old but im looking to purchase one for when she gets to 6 months so I can take her out with me.

Yes, if I can do 10 minute miles, I'd be happy!! I start slow and finish faster on my normal 5k route, and peak at about 6-7 k on a 10k run, depending on where te downhill sections are

I'm another one who has to get a babysitter in if I want to go for a run, although I have a running pushchair so mini kimmi comes out with me for park runs and other weekend runs.

Wow! 8 minute miles!is that even possible?
[Except where Runkeeper inexplicably fouls up and decides I'm Linford Christie, despite all evidence to the contrary. For my self esteem I have to reluctantly delete those ones ...]

Gosh, anjelika, that sounds full on. Sorry for my flippant remark earlier

I aim to run Monday (steady 10k), Tuesday (45 min ish speed work), Thursday (45 min ish stamina session) and Saturday (easy 10 miles plus) - at the moment, though, I am generally doing easy runs instead of speed and stamina runs, but I figure better to run than not at all. Today I chickened out though.

I am just following a programme, not sure of the rationale behind doing these particular runs on these days - though I would imagine that an easy/steady run before a speed work run would loosen the muscles up.

Hi Elvis. I am mostly on my own at the moment with 3 DCs, 2 of which are still at pre school so running after work isn't an option unless I get a babysitter. A friend kindly sat for me over Xmas so I could go out a couple of times. Is anyone running on consecutive days? I've managed to avoid it so far but now I'm going to have to if I am to get 3 runs a week in. Any recommendations for which should be the shorter run?

hi guys, can i join in? do any have you have asthma? it doesn't bother me when running day to day but tend to get chest infections when i get the cold so this knocks my training progress quite a bit, very frustrating. i have been running for years but i am still the slowest runner ever :(

Thanks twelve - I couldn't be bothered to go out at all today though :)

I don't know if anyone else has noticed days starting to get lighter - I'm finding that is making me feel more optimistic about running at the moment.

Hi anjelika sounds like you have set yourself an achievable goal. I am jealous of you having time to yourself in the day to run - I have to tag my runs onto the end of working days, as I never have a minute to myself at home. Am currently organising dd2's pre-school hours and hoping to get 3 hours a week to myself to run, though may increase my hours a little from September (teacher) and might have to use pre-school funding for childcare instead :(

Hi coo. I would love to hear about tough mudder: a friend has suggested a team of us do it at some point in the future. 8 min miles over five sounds challenging! That's a proper fast run! What distance do you favour for racing?

Not sure why I said no aim, and then clearly stated one?!

Can I join too? Had done new trainers for Christmas that I'm hoping will sort my arch pain out, been ill past few days though so missed a couple of runs . No aims in particular I did the rat race dirty weekend at burghley last year, which I'll do again and possibly a tough mudder too?

My main aim at the moment would be to get to an 8 minute mile over 5 miles, I'm not sure why I have this particular fixation though?!

Was windy here today, especially out in the fields. I managed 4 and a bit miles but my bloody Garmin conked out again.

I had a fab race with a fella on a bike as well he was asking about running and then challenged me to a sprint to the end of the road. He won, but in my defence I had just run 4 miles.

Can I join in please too? I picked up an IT band injury in Spring 2013 so had a couple of months off then built up again slowly with C25K over the summer and since then have been trying to run 3 times a week for anywhere between 30 and 40 minutes. Am toying with doing a local 10k in May and have downloaded a 5k to 10k training app. Started the programme before Xmas but over the break have just been trying to get out when I can so have deviated from it a bit. I mainly work from home so tend to run in the daytime after I've dropped the kids off. Would love to try a park run one weekend too.

Elvis I am so impressed at 10k in 9min miles. I would LOVE to be able to do that.

Right now I am feelling tired, a bit sick, and massively demotivated after my last run being crap and work being horrendously shitty to go back to. I just want to curl up in my bed until March. That is clearly not giong to get me to 10k though!

Thanks elvis! The curry was delicious.

Morning all!
Hideous storms overnight. Lovely running conditions this morning though, y'know when it's all clean and blue skied and fresh feeling. Blustery though, so not easy.
Did a shorter run with faster intervals today, which I don't enjoy but hey ho.
Covered about 3.25 miles in half an hour so not too shabby

I really hate it when you are running and it's windy and you're thinking, what's the problem? This is easy! Then you turn around...

Did 10k with my running partner today. He is really chivalrous: lets me lead, says the pace is challenging, though he could leave me for dust if he wanted. Knowing this does push me on, though, as I am keen to show him I can do it passably. Ran average 9 min mile pace, which I was v pleased with.

Happy anniversary, fish - how was your curry?

Nice one, OhOne - it is easier when the weather holds off until you are at least outside, isn't it?

Weather Gods obviously like the GNR as it was pretty windy there but it was behind us all the way :)

The weather gods do it deliberately to spite us, sirzy.