Runners thread - runners of all abilities welcome

Morning all!

My half-marathon is at the end of September so I'm hoping I have a bit of time to work up to it. I can currently manage 5 miles so working on gradually increasing my long runs over the next few months - have gone up from 3 miles on each run to 5 miles in about six weeks, which isn't too bad (by my standards anyway!).

I'm very slow on my long runs but managed some speed/ hill intervals the other day, so hoping that will help.

No running today - circuit training instead which will leave me shattered but happy!

Morning all! You're v keen up and at 'em already today.
Rest day for me today, with pilates later.

Hi CQ, I'm glad the reluctant dog has served one useful purpose if he got you to de-lurk! That pic was taken on a particularly steep hill! If he's off the lead he trots along so slow that he's in danger of getting run over, and when he's on the lead I can practically feel the resentment flowing out of him...

Get well soon Sirzy!

Hi CQ, that's why I started taking mine too for time saving but actually they both love it! One will go further so if I'm doing a long run I do two loops and drop the greyhound home before going out again :)

I would also like to say that I have ever been to a rave and certain only not a 10k, blimmin phone!

It's soooo foggy here this morning, met my friend as usual and my hair was soaked when we got back, fringe dripping and the end of my ponytail really wet too, the air is soooo damp.

Jeregrette, on and off (a lot of off) for about 3 years!!! Never thought of myself as fast!! But happy to do long distance ie 5 miles regularly, only when I started entering Race for Life did I realised that I was faster than my peers (5'2, slightly overweight and middle aged)!!! I still prefer the gentle run across the countryside (with dog in tow) rather speed runs!! But each to there own.

Hi all, I've been lurking for a bit and have been prompted to jump in by the photo of the reluctant Thursdaydog - I'm so glad I don't have the only one like this! I've 2 dogs, one loves running and the other hates it after about 2 miles so I have to drag her the rest of the way. If I can let her off the lead she trots along quite happily but she just HAS to go at her own pace. Some days I don't have time to run and walk them separately so we go for a quick drag instead!

Hi Sirzy - I was on the guinea pigs thread for a while. Lost my mojo big time but am now back in my stride, running 3 -4 times a week and entered for a 10k on 23rd March. Good to see you're still making fantastic progress - and getting faster

Thanks so much to everyone for all the advice about when and what to eat and hopefully avoiding digestive issues. Will try out some of the liquid fuelling options you use MrsFrankTurner and just keep experimenting. You'll all made me think I shouldn't give up on the potential half marathon goal yet. Will see how the 10km goes. At least it is in the morning so should be ok. I've got another one in May, also in the morning, but then an evening one in June which I'll have to think more carefully about. It's weird, as I've had occasional cramps before but they've always gone pretty quickly and I'm usually ready for food after parkrun!

How did the half marathon go Blatherskite? And when is yours Vlad?
Would have been nice to run today - weather was lovely

I haven't ever suffered cramps but I vary how soon after a run I feel like eating spacechimp. I tend not to eat while running but have found when running longer races a jelly baby chewed up a bit and kept in my cheek is a good way to get some sugar in. I need to be hydrated but don't worry too much about calories. I agree you just need to play around with what you do and find what works.

Hi vladthedisorganised! I'd only done two 10k raves before my first half.

Hope it goes well EauRouge and I have no idea the difference but I'll ask my chiropodist Friday

Is that your reluctant dog ThursdayLast?

And now that has finally posted....
Sorry you're not well Sirzy, hope you feel better soon.
Eau, good luck with the foot doc, hope it is productive. Also, I have no idea about goats!

And hello blathers and vlad

Thank you everybody! Was surreal even for rural Cornwall.
Here is another time I was keen to share with you before, but couldn't...
(My apologies for spamming)

Hi everyone - may I join you?

I've just bitten the bullet and entered my first ever half-marathon: the last race I entered was a 5k so this will be something to aim for. Just hoping to get around it - not ready to break any records yet!

I love the goat photo Thursday!

Yes, would love to see photos of where everyone else runs- love the goats! Are they stacking goats?

It'll be a while longer before I can get any photos but I have got a chiropodist (or possibly podiatrist- what's the difference?) appointment on Saturday morning so hopefully I'll be able to run again after that.

Place marking to come and say "Hi" later. I did my first half marathon on Sunday and am beginning to feel like an actual runner rather than a pretender :)

I do my second half in 5 weeks!

rubbing pics that would be, ummmm, different!!!! RUNNING -goddam spellcheck!

Rubbing pics would be lovely running at 6am usually means I get some nice sunrise photos!

Spacechimp-my stomach is AWFUL! I regularly start to cramp during a run & have to be super careful what I eat when I get in! I have found my stomach seems to react when I really exert myself (speed or hills) but I can go, literally, for hours at a steady constant speed and be fine. I have found fuelling myself with liquid instead of solid is kinder to my stomach so I drink a homemade honey, salt & orange juice mix on a v long run (75 mins plus). After most runs I will have a fruit & yoghurt smoothie waiting for me (thanks DH!) or I'll drink chocolate soy milk.....that's usually me done until 3 hours later; not ideal but I throw up or get an upset stomach if I try anything more solid before everything has settled again! Try different things -everyone is different :-) I have just discovered Trek protein bars which I haven't reacted badly to yet! I had one this morning after a fast 5 miles & stomach was fine, I'm going to try one again post long run on Saturday and see how my stomach copes with it

Sounds like your running is going great though

Love it ThursdayLast!!!!

Gorgeous! I was thinking the same as I ran through my local country park which was full of blossom and smelling far nice than usual

5 miles done in a smidge under 50 minutes

I have often wished I could upload a pic to the running thread, never more so than today...

The sun is finally out, I've done what I needed to do this morning and I'm going to reward myself with a run

The old me would have had a bar of chocolate instead

Sorry spacechimp, thats not something I've experienced and it sounds pretty rotten. Maybe try the 10k and see how that feels?

I just did a lovely 8.5miles - my longest run yet - although my lower back and knees were starting to complain on the hime stretch. I think I might look into local HMs later in the year. It felt doable today.

So I've had a light lunch post-run, I'm watching the clock to see when my carb cravings hit. Instead of denying them (and therefore eating more but snackily) I'm going to allow myself a bit of toast

space I sometimes get bad stomach cramps after running as well, and absolutely cannot eat beforehand. I try and drink lots of water and eat bland carby things but it seems quite random when it comes and goes.

Just back from a nice 2 miles in the sun, fastest time yet, 9.30/mile average, with the second mile at 9.05. Getting quicker!