Happy when we are running!

[MoshiMoshi]

Hear ye! Hear ye! All those who want to liberate themselves from the shackles of their domestic and work lives, join us here in our continued bid to run and be happy and feel free !

So Sorry Peach - I have been there too and its a horrible time. Look after yourselves.

Just a quick message to wish you all a very happy new year. I really hope that 2011 brings you and your families much joy, happiness and good health. Keep on running, ladies!

Hang on in there, peach. New year new beginning I hope!

Really sorry to hear your news Peach, have been there several times myself and it is a tough thing to go through physically as well as mentally. Just to be practical - make sure you eat well, lots of iron rich foods and even multi-vitamins with iron etc to help get your strength back up. Thinking of you.x

This year's running goal is to complete the Edinburgh marathon, so will be stepping up the mileage starting tomorrow! Have only managed a couple of runs over the holidays and I'm currently lying on the sofa feeling podgy and hungover so it will be nice to get back into the running groove again.

For marathon people, what training plans are you using and what times are you aiming for?

Happy New Year

Pleased to see you are going for a marathon this year too, Weds. Hoping that popsy is joining you at Edinburgh still? My plan started a few weeks ago and came from a book called Advanced Marathoning by Pfitzinger & Douglas. I am hoping for a sub-3.15 this time and then depending on what happens will be going for a better time at Abingdon in October as it is said that the first training plan will gear you up better for a second marathon in building the base (of that makes sense!) I would also have used Hal Higdon's schedules. Do you have any idea which one you will use?

Sorry terrible typos and grammar! Must try harder.

Hmm, definitely not advanced...that is seriously impressive!

I'm hoping for around 4 1/4 hours, and at the moment my training plan is about as sophisticated as 'run a bit further every week'...

MrsWednesday - I ran my first marathon last year in October and pretty much made up my own schedule by mixing up the Runners' World schedule with information from the McMillan website (google it - it's fabulous). The plan lasted for ca. 26 weeks, followed by a three-week taper. ( I know this is longer than normal, but I had not run for years).

As I had very limited hours available to train, the key thing I did was to avoid "junk miles", i.e. runs at an aimless speed with an aimless goal. I basically did three to four sessions a week - a long run; a steady-state tempo/aerobic threshold session; a fartlek/intervals session; and, sometimes, a short recovery run. I used the McMillan tempo calculator to determine the correct speeds and did the faster sessions on a treadmill (to save my joints a bit and to ensure that I couldn't slow down!). Towards the end I also spent a good part of my long runs practising running at intended marathon tempo and I think this helped a lot on the day.

I actually found the training quite enjoyable, while I am not in Moshi's class, I managed it in 3:48, which I didn't think was bad for a beginner in her 40s!

Weds - Well, the book is called Advanced... but it is for first timers too! It just tries to address serious runners (read fanatical!) I think rather than those who want to get around and just finish.

I would second TRQ's recommendation to check out McMillan's website. His pace predictors are really useful and have good information on training paces to ensure you get the most out of each scheduled run. I agree that focusing on the quality sessions means you can avoid the junk miles and try to save your joints and avoid overuse injuries if you are on limited time, either because you are time poor during the week or because you are starting the training with less time before the race than you anticipated.

BTW TRQ, 3:48 is brilliant! This will be my first marathon so I have no idea what I will manage but the McMillan guide should be useful in managing my expectation nearer the time.

Thanks ladies for all your kind words, they're very much appreciated.

Thanks also for the advice mrswed, I am normally low on iron anyway so will remember to take multivitamin. Think my strategy of existing on Xmas chocolate will have to be kicked into touch next week when we get home. Once physical side of it is over will be concentrating on eating well, running, and positive thoughts.

Good luck with the marathon training, you must be so excited!

Oh great, thanks for the advice, I'm having a look at that running calculator now and it is really helpful.

Completely understand the point about not doing junk miles - I think realistically I'll only be able to do 3 sessions a week so will perhaps aim to do a long run, an interval session and either hills or go to running club.

Did my first ever run beyond half marathon distance today (14 miles) so feels like I've broken a bit of a barrier in my head!

Thanks very much for your advice

I flounced a while back but have returned to ask....MN marathon last weekenbd in April 20011????

gnr mirror ballot is also open

early entry gnr open til friday

popsy - isn't that the weekend Easter falls on this year?

weekend before then?

Right, have entered the GNR ballot even though I said I was only going to do the GSR this autumn. But can always defer !!

Have entered for the Kingston Breakfast run in March - 8.2 miles. I got back to 10.5K on Sunday after not running that far (or much at all) for about a month - was absolutely fine so definitely do-able.

That is if feet hold up - still a bit sore from running despite having rested for a bit. But, have got some new running shoes coming this week. Went to running shop and explained and they think it might jut be the support in the shoes having broken down as I've had them a while. Hoping so.

MN marathon, well done fo rthinking about it Pops - what about the very last w/e in April which is also may bank hol. We also have that extra royal wedding bank hol so gives everyone 4 days to do a run.

Popsy - hope you are ok. Was thinking about people who we haven't heard from in a while on this thread - you, hat, M&M, Twink and others. Hope everyone ok !

Phew - dragged myself to my running group last night after a month off . Thought it would be horrendous, but I actually kept up pretty well. Am determined to keep going every week through the rest of the winter. Hoping to do the Oxford Town and Gown 10k in June, but maybe a couple of 5k's before that. Good luck with the training, marathon people - I am in awe.

Just wanted to pop in and say hi .... have signed up for my first marathon (Brighton) this year and am horrified to find I'm half way through my 26 week programme! I'm up to about 12 miles this week, reasonably comfortably but slowly. I can't believe I've got to crank it up to 20 in the next 8 weeks or so. Just keep telling myself to think of the charity!

Anyway, am struggling with the nutrition side of things - specifically I know once I get to about 10 miles my legs switch off without something to eat. I can't have wheat or gluten or caffeine (runners trots ) - any recommendations to keep me going? (To rephrase - going as in moving rather than having to find a public toilet on the way).

Hi Pawsnclaws - good luck on the training. Sounds like you're in pretty good shape to get up to the full marathon distance. How about bananas? I eat those before longer runs and should be sufficiently bland to avoid troubling your stomach!

Separately, does anyone know of any good half marathons in the south east in March/ April time? Was thinking about Hastings but don't know anything about how well organised it is/ what the route's like...

Paws - my bro is doing brighton as his first marathon this year. Its our home town too.

Cestlavie - I think Hastings is very well organised and established. But, it is v-e-r-y hilly I believe.....

Is Reading too far away ? That's supposed to be a good one

(Disclaimer - I have never run a half marathon so may be talking rubbish)

Managed 5 miles in teh gym this morning on 3 hours sleep so feeling quite virtuous.

Thanks Wheely. And well done on 5 miles on 3 hours sleep!

Reading's fully booked already. As is Brighton. Not sure how I feel about hilly... did Nottingham last September which was very hilly and became particularly unthrilling around Mile 8 I recall..

I think it may just be hilly at the beginning ....

Yes I was right... although its the first 8 miles that is hilly. Flat after that

www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/ratingsall.asp?sp=&v=2&ugn=46&en=56637

Thanks cestlavie, I don't know if they still do the Berkhamsted half but have done that before - quite hilly but the last mile all downhill and stunning views through NT estates. I may check and see if it's on as it would usually be the first week of March, and I need a race pre-Brighton.

I started a thread about barefoot running and Popsycal recommended this as the place to ask.

I've been getting more into running over the winter and I'm now clocking up about 15 - 20 km 3 times per week. I'm starting to get minor injuries especially when I run on hard ground. This is mostly my knees feeling seized up or shakey, my shins and the muscle on the front of my legs also ache a bit and my heels hurt. I've been watching some videos on youtube to try to decide if it's my style that is the problem, and how to improve it. I came across a few videos which suggest running barefoot to help change to a healthier running style which will reduce the number of injuries. I'm not brave enough to go properly barefoot so I'm thinking about getting something like these. Before I spend a lot of money on really ugly shoes, I'd love to hear anyone's feedback on barefoot running. Did it help you to have less injuries in the long term? (I realise it takes a while to readjust). Do you find it comfy?