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 !

[bhmm]

Urgh. Went to running group last night after eating Burns Night haggis [bgrin]. Not ideal running fodder. My running group is at 7.15 pm and I struggle with whether to eat before it (at 5.30 with the kids)or wait until afterwards, which means not eating until at least 8.30. I have more energy if I've eaten, but sometimes feel a bit heavy and queasy. We did intervals last night, involving brief sprints - I'm surprised the haggis didn't make a re-appearance!

It looks silly but I silent sing whilst running - it really helps with my breathing...it could also be why I haven't made many friends at they gym cos I look a little mad, but hey ho!

hello runners. i've got a new iphone and the mapmyrun gps app is the BEST it records route, length etc all for me. does tell me i've gone 10% shorter than i thought i had :( saves a lot of time though.

Welcome to the thread, Dillinger, sharpscratch and fishie!

fishie I used to use RunKeeper but was so depressed as I seemed to be so slow. Anyway, after my husband bought me a Garmin, and after checking on MapMyRun, I realised that my RunKeeper under-records distances which is why I seemed to be so much slower!

goldberry - I have decided to try get along to my local running club as I am desperate to improve and think doing speed sessions in a group would help. They meet at 6.30 for a warm up before intervals at 7-something. So I think I will be having a snack with the kids and then eat later after the run. I am happy to feel a bit heavy from eating if it is an easy or short run but would rather not if it is a hard session.

fishie - have you looked at Runmeter for the iPhone? Really good app, with pretty much all the functionality of a Garmin - it can be a little off on distance sometimes, but I think all GPS based devices can be a little off sometimes.

MoshiMoshi - speed sessions, ouch. Good luck with those. Not sure I'd be eating anything before those for fear of seeing it come back up

well so long as i suspect i've done more than it tells me i'm ok. rather smugmaking.

Thankyou for the warm welcome

13/02/11 - Liversedge half marathon: Mrs Wednesday
20/02/11 - Eton half marathon: Passmyglass
06/03/11 - Bath Half Marathon: MoshiMoshi
13/03/11 - Spen 20: Mrs Wednesday
19/03/11 - Dorney Lake Half Marathon MoshiMoshi
27/03/11 - Kingston Breakfast Run 8.2m wheely
02/04/11 - Miles for Missing People 10K: MoshiMoshi (may ditch this race if we are collecting our NEW PUPPY that weekend )
17/04/11 - VLM: MoshiMoshi/ Passmyglass
15/05/11 - Oxford Town and Gown 10k: Goldberry
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday (is that right? anybody else?)
12/06/11 - Bath R4L 5k Dillinger
10/07/11 - British 10K: MoshiMoshi

Okay its only a 5k but I thought I could aim to beat my time from last year (34mins 15secs) Im such a newbie arent I

Dillinger - we all started out somewhere and little steps helps progress you more than trying to bite off more than you can chew. Good to see you have a target too!

peach - how are things going with you generally? Hope all OK now and the running is helping.

sfx - when is the date for your op? Hope it is not worrying you.

12 miles this morning. Average pace 7:45m/m. I always start slowly especially when it is so cold so pacing ranged from 8:30 to 7:16m/m. At least it was all headed in the right direction ie progressively faster!

Keep on running everyone.

Fast as always MoshiMoshi!

I'm really struggling to get my average below 7.50 minutes per mile on distances some way shorter than (8 miles or so) - 7.16 is only about one step short of flying isn't it?! Need to get my distances up to 12 miles or so but think I'd be closer to 8.30 at that point.

Actually I'm loving the running in the cold - would be nice if it could be sunny as well but hey, you can't have everything!

Happy running all

I'm with Peach - Moshi, you MUST NOT get any faster. Or I must. One of the two .

Welcome (back in some cases I think) new people !

So, another 5 miles in the gym today and it appear my feet aren't sore anymore am . No idea what has been causing it - although one theory (amongst many) is that recently I've worn thinner socks because I had a rubbed bit on my heel and so was wearing longer socks which were thinner. So maybe shoes were a bit tight.
Or, I thought it was mainly hurting from the treadmill and historically I have run slower on the treadmill (so presumably differently) and i have started running faster on the treadmill so maybe I'm running better (have been trying to concentrate on making sure I do heel to toe too).
Who knows. But good whilst it lasts ! Also finding 5 miles quite 'easy' so must try to increase my distance in the gym but its so dull on the treadmill.

I've booked my RFL with my Mum and SILs so will add to the schedule :

13/02/11 - Liversedge half marathon: Mrs Wednesday
20/02/11 - Eton half marathon: Passmyglass
06/03/11 - Bath Half Marathon: MoshiMoshi
13/03/11 - Spen 20: Mrs Wednesday
19/03/11 - Dorney Lake Half Marathon MoshiMoshi
27/03/11 - Kingston Breakfast Run 8.2m wheely
02/04/11 - Miles for Missing People 10K: MoshiMoshi (may ditch this race if we are collecting our NEW PUPPY that weekend )
17/04/11 - VLM: MoshiMoshi/ Passmyglass
15/05/11 - Oxford Town and Gown 10k: Goldberry
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday (is that right? anybody else?)
12/06/11 - Bath R4L 5k Dillinger
10/07/11 - British 10K: MoshiMoshi
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug

heel to toe? I try to land on ball of foot. not tm though. Day off work tomorrow, hope to go far and I love the cold too.

hello

can't recall who asked about barefoot running but I found this

lovely to see new and old posters

moshimoshi it is on 17/02, am not dealing with it very well because I am a control freak and don't fancy being put to sleep, really freaks me out, the cutting needles and general gore I am fine with

happy running

sfx - sorry to hear you are worrying. I had my wisdom teeth out ages ago and the only thing I can remember about having a general anaesthetic was losing lots of weight afterwards? Could that be A Good Thing? Anything really!

wheely - sounds as if you should be increasing your "long" run if 5 miles is easy now. 4-5 miles classifies as a recovery run for me, so is done nice and slowly. I then do longer ones at a faster clip. Have you got a variety of runs you do/can do? That way you test your body more and get more out of each session, eg a speed session, a mid-length run and then a longer one. Distance covered varying according to fitness level which will obviously improve over time. That way you keep getting faster and stronger and fitter (hurrah!)

cestlavie - speedwork speedwork speedwork. Are you doing all of your runs at the one speed? If you only run at one speed you will find it hard to go faster. Try doing some speedier stuff (called Intervals) once a week and this will help improve your speed over time. If you also have runs of increasing length each week then that works your endurance. Together you will find your average pace improves much quicker than just running more and more each week which can result in a plateau.

Day off running today so will pop down to Bootcamp for an hour of circuits to focus on conditioning work. I am convinced body conditioning and a strong core are essential for good running as it helps with form, especially when tiring over longer runs.

Keep on keeping on everyone! Our list is looking really promising and we have a good list of runners there. First one to race is MrsWeds. Are you tapering now I wonder?

Thanks Moshi. Yep, doing speedwork. Find it hard to fit in interval training - running usually involves running various distances into work - so speedwork gets limited to 3 - 5 mile tempo runs. Probably need to flex it a bit more with intervals but hard to find the time...

Thank for the advice Moshi.

At the moment I only get to run 3x week, 2 of which have to be in the gym for childcare for dd2. I have 1.5 hours from dropping her, procrastinating, work out, shower and dressed and pick up so realistically time wise I could do very maximum of 1 hr 10 mins but realistically 1 hr. But to be honest, I struggle to last more than 45 mins (aobut what I do 5 miles in on the treadmill) due to boredom. But, at one point I could only last 30 mins so I might be able to stretch it. I do pyramid running (have I made that term up) i.e. start slowly, increase my speed per km and then reduce it per km when I've had enough.

Come September dd2 will be in preschool 3x week so the plan is to devote more time to running with the view of doing a half marathon and then a marathon. So, unless I get a GNR place or decide to do GSR as long as I maintain my distance of 8 miles when I get there I think that will put me in a good position for September ?

Thanks Moshi am doing ok, taking things one day at a time. Am running every other day, just 4 miles and yes it really helps. Feeling really pretty unfit but not going to do any speed work at the moment, will just keep running regularly and build up the miles again I think.

Am very impressed with your circuits on a "day off" Moshi!

Cestlavie wonder if you could do fartlek training on way to work? Depends how busy your route is though.

Sfxmum sorry you are stressing about the op. If it's any consolation I had a GA once and actually when they put me under it was one of the lovliest feelings I've ever felt! However I am the opposite from you, I have a really problem with the gore and blood. Good luck anyway.

Wheely glad the feet are better!

Dillinger, that sounds like a great plan. Improving on a previous race time is s great place to start and will give you motivation and something to aim for. Best of luck!

Goldberry at your haggis in reverse worries! I agree that if you're doing speedwork then a proper dinner is going to be too much. I've certainly felt very queasy after speed and hill sessions and am sure it would have been worse post dinner. What about having a bagel at 5.30 and then something more substantial at 8.30?

Think I will try 5 miles tomorrow and see how that goes.

Hello! Can I ask for some more advice? I'm off this afternoon for my first ever 16 mile run ..... and am just mentally dreading it. I need some help with positive thinking! So stupid because I know that I'm physically capable of it and that I'm doing the marathon for charity so I'm not giving up .... but it all seems overwhelming at the moment. Any ideas?!

moshi thanks will keep that in mind, thanks too peachy, I have had it before too which is part of the problem, am being a big baby

mrsW good luck as you are the first

about positive thinking pawsnclaws I think everyone is different, visualisation before going out is good, personalty I don't much like counting miles until I am well over half the target distance
some people focus on breathing to an almost hypnotic state
but it has been a while since I did more than 10k

happy running all

paws - how did it go? Am sure it went fine but let us know won't you?

7 miles with some strides today. Nothing too taxing as I am saving myself for 18 miles tomorrow. SLOOOOWW.

Eek, didn't realise I was the first! Tapering is going well, I haven't run since last Saturday as I've got a sore knee and calf (I'm the biggest hypochondriac runner ever).

Got new trainers, thought they'd made a difference but now I think I am just a bit knackered, particularly my left leg. Sigh. A bit worried about how I'm going to do this bloody marathon now.

Popsy, glad you're back and that you've had your problems diagnosed, hopefully won't be long before you've got your fitness back.

Moshi, I am seriously impressed by your speed and energy. Have you got some to chuck in this direction please?

Good luck with your op sfxmum.x

Peach, glad you are getting out, running is a great way of keeping positive and feeling strong I think.

Really good to see new runners joining and old ones returning. Happy injury free running everyone.

Ooh Moshi, was reading in Runners World about strides - it's probably a stupid question but what does it mean? Sorry that sounds really daft.

Thanks sfxmum and MoshiMoshi, well I made it out - was very cold but managed my 16 miles and felt much better than I have the last couple of weeks. Had been feeling very breathless recently and so have started iron tablets - feeling better already. Still felt I had some energy by the end. I also broke my own cardinal rule and took my iPod out (hate using it outside, it doesn't feel safe not being able to hear traffic etc) but it helped massively as a distraction.

Happy running all.

MrsWeds - I am still trying to work out strides myself ! They are basically where you do a series of short distances, eg 10x100m, where you focus on form and accustom your body to fast running in preparation for the race. So if doing 100m you steadily accelerate in the first 70m and and then cruise at a fast (not all out) pace for 30m making sure of things like your arms are pumping nicely (hip pocket to eye socket), your legs are kicking back and not overstriding, your core is strong etc.

paws - well done on the 16 miles!

I know what you mean about having a distraction. I miscalculated my route and ended up doing 20 miles but felt terrible all the way! I never fell into my rhythm and felt the impact of every footfall. Average pace was 9:20m/m which is over a min/mile slower than my long run pace. I think I need a day's rest as I have been tending to do things on my rest days which aren't entirely restful.

Happy running everyone and enjoy the rest of your weekends.

Well done paws on your long run, I tend to do longer ones with an iPod too.

Sorry you're hurting Mrsweds, hope the tapering helps. Do you have a time in mind for your half?

Moshi hope the 18 miles goes well today, and just out of interest, what's a really slow pace for you doing that?

Am going to do 5 miles today. For first time in aeons. Really looking forward to it. Going after lunch, as spent morning watching Andy Murray match (ouch!)