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 !

Hello hat! I have been wondering where you were and am glad it is just work that has kept you away. Pleased you have some awesome sounding races in the diary and that you have added them for our vicarious enjoyment. One day I am going to ask if you can accompany me on my first fell race .

Welcome to, RunForFun! Add your name to the list and the date of your race - I think the GNR is on 18 Sept, although could be wrong. We can all support you along the way with your training and any questions you have running-related or otherwise. I am sure you can improve on your time from last year, especially with the tips shared on here! Good luck with the training although it is best to get some decent regular running in now rather than leaving it until it is time to start a training programme. Your body will thank you for it and experience less of a jolt to the system when you do some structured training for the GNR.

Hello all, am just diving in to say hi. Have got a busy weekend planned but somehow I'm going to have to fit in my planned 18 miles tomorrow morning. Then helping at a school disco tomorrow afternoon so I may be a bit stiff and useless . May have to station myself near the crisps and fizzy pop .

I've just found out the drinks at the Brighton Marathon are Powerade ION4 so I'll have to try some before I get there as I'd just adjusted quite nicely to the Lucozade powder stuff.

DoYou my BIL and family live in Worthing, we love it there. Any excuse to visit.

Have updated the list for the GNR - yes it is my first time at GNR - first time for HM and only the 2nd event I've entered... did a 10k last October as my first race, started running June 2010...

was a spur of the moment thing last weekend whilst drinking ... didn't really expect to get lucky in the ballot - was kind of a "what have done moment" when I got the email last night...

Now looking for some events to enter during the late spring/summer to build up and get used to running in a crowd rather than on my own in the early morning...

20/02/11 - Eton half marathon: Passmyglass
27/02/11 -Kilimanjaro half marathon: themasterandmargaritas
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
10/05/11 - Burbage Skyline 5.75 miles Hatwoman
15/05/11 - Oxford Town and Gown 10k: Goldberry
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday
08/06/11 - Claver Peak 5 miles: hatwoman
12/06/11 - Bath R4L 5k Dillinger
10/07/11 - British 10K: MoshiMoshi
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun

Woop! Woop! Well done, hamster! Now it is officially on the list you can focus on strategy. One way to schedule your summer is to work backwards using a training programme that you like the look of and see where some shorter practice races might fit into it. Runners World is a good place to start looking.

Good luck with the 18 miler, paws.

20/02/11 - Eton half marathon: Passmyglass
27/02/11 -Kilimanjaro half marathon: themasterandmargaritas
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
10/05/11 - Burbage Skyline 5.75 miles Hatwoman
15/05/11 - Oxford Town and Gown 10k: Goldberry
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday
08/06/11 - Claver Peak 5 miles: hatwoman
12/06/11 - Bath R4L 5k Dillinger
12/06/11 - Redcar half marathon - DrNortherner
10/07/11 - British 10K: MoshiMoshi
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun

Thanks for being so nice folks! I have popped in here before yes, don't get on MN as much as I used to but will make an effort to get here much more, I think the support will be good. Ds was at a friends after school so dh and I got a run together, just did 5.5 miles but he is much pacier than me so I push it a bit more. It feels great to be running pain free Tomorow morning I have an Armed Forces Fitness sesh, then a long run on Sunday with a friend.

I bought a hi vis running jacket today from my local charity shop for £2! What a bargain, although my running wardrobe is getting quite large now But I do like splashing out on new kit.

What do you guys love most about running? I love how free I feel of everything. Tonight was mild, I was peeling off layers!

DrNo - EVERYTHING!

20/02/11 - Eton half marathon: Passmyglass
27/02/11 -Kilimanjaro half marathon: themasterandmargaritas
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/ Doyouthinktheysaurus
10/05/11 - Burbage Skyline 5.75 miles Hatwoman
15/05/11 - Oxford Town and Gown 10k: Goldberry
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday
08/06/11 - Claver Peak 5 miles: hatwoman
12/06/11 - Bath R4L 5k Dillinger
12/06/11 - Redcar half marathon - DrNortherner
10/07/11 - British 10K: MoshiMoshi
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun

Lovely weather for running today, it's like Spring. Hope everyone is out there making the most of it

Hope your 18 miler went ok Pawsandclaws. 17 miles for me with 4 fairly tough hills, first 10 miles easy at about 11mm, last 7 miles betwen 10.15 and 10.30 mm. I felt much stronger than last week and the weather was glorious. Went off road for about 5 miles aswell which was muddy but nice.

Saw a meadow full of snowdrops in bloom aswell which was just beautiful. That's one of the reasons I love running DrNortherner, seeing the changing seasons.

Happy running everyone.

Hi all, did my 18 miles, felt a bit sluggish today - think I didn't eat enough last night and then set off very early (otherwise I feel bad leaving DH with ds x 3 for too long) so only had a little porridge before I left - and paid the price! Anyway, got back exactly 3 hours and 45 minutes after I left, to find all the menfolk still in PJs and dressing gowns watching telly .

I've got 8 weeks tomorrow so think I've got time for 2 x 20 miles, will see how I feel.

hi everyone. I did a short and, erm, sweet run this morning. went with 2 of the guys that are doing the fell race (and a dog each) and they were both much quicker than me. we started from about where this photo is taken, then along the viaduct, up the hill on the right of the photo, then along the river and back up to the start. 3.6 miles with 450 feet of climb. I'm starting to get my running feet again. can't wait for he race season. nothing like a fell race and a pint of beer on a summer evening.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/images/monsaldale01a.jpg&imgrefurl=www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/derbylimestone.html&usg=__UgD8FXk2-CbbtWdvvesB3fH-LOQ=&h=296&w=370&sz=22&hl=en&start=0&sig2=ho80hCdMJndIsvPoK7xyBQ&zoom=1&tbnid=XT0r1lGVtOmSlM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=158&ei=YsVWTdr_EYyr4AbTr6XlBg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmonsal%2Bhead%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1T4TSEA_en-GBGB287GB287%26biw%3D1419%26bih%3D730%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divnsm&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=490&vpy=108&dur=326&hovh=201&hovw=251&tx=164&ty=131&oei=K8VWTbHEMMiDhQfv74jZDA&page=1&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">forgot the photo

That's a gorgeous photo hatwoman - what a view. Will try and post some pics of my runs. I'm in N Yorks with the Dales on my doorstep!

Did an armed forces fitness session this morning and got covered in mud, totally covered. Right through to my underwear. It's great as we do loads of core stuff and squats and lunges which I know can only improve my running.

Have been hungrier than normal today and went in the snack cupboard.....

What do you guys snack on when you feel peckish?

REspect!

God, am starting to feel slightly intimidated inspired by you lot running all these races!

My run didn't go as planned yesterday - my calves were still so stiff and I couldn't run more than a couple of minutes at a time without them seizing up. So ended up mostly walking instead. Had another day's rest to day, so hopefully tomorrow I can get back out again! I've really missed my runs this week...

That picture is amazing hatwoman

Put my feeble hills to shame

Well done on your 18 miler pawsandclaws. Great that you carried on even though you felt sluggish. I had a run like that last weekend and was just so glad I finished. At the end of the day, if you can run 18 miles feeling sluggish, there is no stopping you!

DrNorthener, I get starving on my rest days since my mileage has increased. Running seems to suppress my appetite but my days off I'm always starving. I'm trying to plan that in and eat a bigger breakfast and snack on half a bagel or a bowl of cereal. It sort of goes against the grain as I'm so used to having to watch what I eat but running burns it up I guess

Normally I would have been tucked up in bed hours ago after a lovely post long run glass of wine but I'm working a night shift tonight and trying to ignore my achey legs

I hope running is burning up the extra - I also seem to be starving lately!

Do you normally eat before you go out for a long run? My long runs are still very short runs by the standards on this thread, so it's not really an issue for me yet. This morning I just went straight out after a cup of redbush tea, then had a bowl of muesli when I got back. Wondering if I'll still be able to do that as I increase my mileage...

Managed 5 miles this morning which I'm ok with - it just felt so good to be out there again! Hopefully I can get back on track this week, as my calves were fine.

DrNortherner are you doing BMF? I always see them in our local park, would love to do it but because ds3 is so little I need the creche at the gym for everything except my weekly long run. The guys I see in the park get worked really hard but it looks fun.

thecoo I feel like I'm getting nutrition majorly wrong tbh. By twelve miles yesterday I was completely out of energy and it was too late for me to loop back for another gel. I find bananas and porridge the only thing I can tolerate before a long run.

Not feeling so bad this morning, went out last night and was ravenous so I'm afraid I overindulged on curry. I also managed to rip off a toenail on the run yesterday without even noticing until I got back I found my sock soaking in blood - hurts today though!

I always eat thecoo before a long run. 1 cup of coffee and a bagel 2 hours before seems to do the job. I also make sure I have a decent meal the night before, if I have a light meal the night before I notice it on my long run.

That sounds really painful DrNorthener, are your trainers the right size? I used to get blisters and painful toes before I got fitted for new trainers last year. Now my shoes are a size bigger than my feet and I get no problems with my toes.

I have chafing though from my long rtun yesterday Nowhere unmentionable, it's across my back, think it must be my underwear May have to consider going without undies It's very painful!

Twas pawsandclaws with the toenail problem not me!

Am off this afternoon with a friend for a steady 10k, we will probably do a few hill sessions too.

I am just starting to look at training plans for my half, and wonder how you lot measure your runs if you don't have a garmin? I haven't invested in one yet but am wondering if I should.

May I join you? I'm hoping to be able to run the Bristol 10k on 15th May. I did 3.2 miles today but slow pace and several walking rests. It was my first proper run for ages so was actually pretty happy with that. Feeling really good now. Had that great feeling you get when it is raining but you go out anyway and grin at all the poor people in their cars!

Sorry DrNorthener....sleep deprived I've a Garmin by the way, I'm a stats addict, can't run without it I had a Nike+ but found it useless. Garmin is the old style, very big but doesn't bother me when I am running.

Welcome bloominbnora and well done on the run.

I have a Garmin, just a basic model and pretty old but it does the job. Not so bothered for the long easy runs as I know the distances for my various runs but good for intervals.

Doyou I think my shoes are ok as I've been using the same type for a couple of years, think I just managed to catch the edge of my nail in my sock and it ripped a bit ..... Then kept ripping. Can't believe I didnt feel itvat all. I have a very bad chafing mark under my boobs, I have to wear a pretty serious running bra due to being an E cup, and when the band underneath gets wet it rubs a couple of layers of skin off. I find a spot of lansinoh nipple cream best for healing. Have you tried sports lube?

Ps I also have a runkeeper app on my phone but haven't worked out how to use it yet!

Bloomingnora I love being out in the cold or even rain. In fact one of my nightmares about the marathon is a hot sunny day!

20/02/11 - Eton half marathon: Passmyglass
27/02/11 -Kilimanjaro half marathon: themasterandmargaritas
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 )
10/04/11 - Brighton Marathon: Pawsnclaws
17/04/11 - VLM: MoshiMoshi/ Passmyglass/ Doyouthinktheysaurus
10/05/11 - Burbage Skyline 5.75 miles Hatwoman
15/05/11 - Oxford Town and Gown 10k: Goldberry
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday
08/06/11 - Claver Peak 5 miles: hatwoman
12/06/11 - Bath R4L 5k Dillinger
12/06/11 - Redcar half marathon - DrNortherner
10/07/11 - British 10K: MoshiMoshi
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun

paws - well done on completing your 18 miler! The long ones only get easier I am told and having done a few 16s, 2x20s and an 18, I can confirm this! Are you fueling up every 45 mins or so? I never used to take anything, not even water, if I was out for less than 1h 45m and having been told to fuel up 45 mins into every MLR or LR, I now don't get that fuzzy feeling 90 mins into the run. My strategy is to take a gel every 45 mins having started the morning with a banana or a gel. I also only drink Lucozade now after reading that carb drinks provide huge benefits during training runs. A gel is not the nicest breakfast but is all I can palate at that time of the morning as my Sunday LRS usually start before 7am. I can confirm I also have 5 black toenails and have since bought shoes another 0.5 size bigger despite having worn the same size for the past 12 years.

hat your run scenery looks gorgeous. Much more inspirational than the towpaths along the Thames!

coo - glad you managed a run without problem after all. You should make sure to pay extra attention to your calves if they are suffering as they are obviously your weak spot.

DrNo - I use a Garmin and although I used to manage fine without one as I knew the route lengths of my favourite runs, I now don't run without it as it is so useful for data which I post on Fetch.

Welcome to nora!

I did 18 miles today with some at marathon pace. My schedule called for 16 with 12@MP but I think my weakness is endurance (or lack of it) so extended the length of the run and reduced the number of MP miles to reduce the impact. I did a 4 mile warm up and then:7:51, 8:04, 7:15, 7:17, 7:08, 7:18, 7:18, 7:13, 7:19, before deciding to slow down to LR pace. My average pace ended up around 8:05m/m. From the look of those splits I need to work on even pacing! I had to hold back quite a lot to what I felt was LR (long run) pace rather than MLR (medium long run) pace, which I guess means MP effort rather than HMP pace effort. Still felt like a good run and was able to join in DH straight afterwards for an hour at Bootcamp focusing on conditioning. All in all a good but tiring day!

Happy running every one. It is exciting to see so many regular committed runners on here now and I hope to be able to support you as I hope I can lean on you for support when having a Bad Day.