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 !

As always, very impressed by your times Moshi but know how gutted you must be to be so close and yet not make it. That is a great PB though and knowing you made it on a day when you weren't in perfect injury free form should be a real boost for the next HM and full marathon. Sure you've thought of it but I take it there was nothing on the course (e.g. inclines) which slowed you down/ took it out of you in the middle of the race?

Well done on all of you in the middle of marathon training at the moment - Paws, Passmy, Doyou, MrsWednesday. Very tough to fit in the increasingly long runs around the family hence me not having done one since DS arrived 5 years ago - only see them properly at the weekends, and long runs just wipe out so much of the time with them. Interesting thought about doing them before they get up - course given DD's current waking times, I'd have to be going out running at about 2.30am! Next year for sure though - very jealous of all you people doing the VLM. It'll be fantastic and worth all the pain of training!

Happy, injury free running all! Enjoy the sunshine.

Hello,
I'm fairly new to MN....be nice to me :-)

I've recently started running again. I have 2 DS (11 & 1).

I've never been one for putting the kids to bed and then going out for a run, but luckily I have a job which allows me flexibilty to run at lunch time.

At the moment I'm running maybe once or twice during the week (about 5 miles) and then once at the w/e.

Just building my mileage up again, but I'm pleased that I haven't lost my legs yet (I'm 40) as I ran just over 5 miles in 40 mins yesterday.

I'm going to sign up for a horrid (muddy hills) 10K in May and then do a league (5mile, 10K and 10mile) during the summer/autumn. I love to run but it helps to have signed up for some races to keep my motivation going.

Welcome, bonkers. We are really friendly on this thread as we all share a common obsession interest - running! It is the only place I come to regularly and is a lovely running club of sorts where you are guaranteed to get lots of support and, if we can help, advice on all things running-related or otherwise.

There is a list of races so add yours when you have signed up and then we can discuss a training schedule that suits you.

Trip to the physio confirmed I am in decent shape after yesterday's race so that has to be a bonus. Am feeling a bit better about the result and that I could shave a couple of minutes off without a stitch and especially if I were to focus on training for a half. Anyway, my goal is VLM so bring it on!

Any idea where popsy and hat are these days? I think we have lost highfibrediet to Australia sadly .

Moshi - glad you're feeling better about it all and that you are in good physical shape.

I have just sort of agreed to do Bath half with (trailing massively behind) my brother next year. He assures me its flat but my recollection of bath is big hills.

Have just been looking at the BUPA training plans and realised I have pretty much, bar 2 10 mile runs, done the 10 mile intermediate training plan and I could start a half marathon intermediate one at week 8/12. Not that I'm going to but made me feel better anyway (or lazy that I don't push myself further ).

Cestlavie - I don't know if I've been really thick but have just been reading another thread that you are on (marathon accomodation) and realised you are a boy . Not that it matters but its quite amusing having been assuming everyone was female. At least that explains your fast running times . Moshi - you're female aren't you ??? .

Wow Moshi that is impressive, well done

I too had a stitch in my last half, I just sort of had to breathe through it but once its there tis difficult to shift it entirely, it comes back.

Welcome bonkers. Some of us are NOT so fast I can assure you.

Good for you sfx. Build it up slowly.

I popped out for a quick 6k tonight and it was rather nice, even in 28 degrees.

I was thinking about Hattie the other day too. I hope she is okay.

Enjoy your running all.

Sorry - hello Bonkers and welcome. Good luck with the training !

oh and yes to wondering where Pops and Hat are - also Twink . I hope HighFibre is settled in Oz - would be nice to hear how things are going down under for her.

Wheely, I too assumed c'est was a chick. I imagined her with long, flowing, golden ringlets. Maybe he has.

Wow you are all so fast! Well done Moshi, that is a fabulous time. I will be nowhere near that in my half

I take my hat off to you marathon runners, the dedication to training is huge, and juggling with kids and jobs is tough. I only have 1 child and that is hard enough!

I have a day off on Thursday so I am planning on doing a 10 miler. Mo pressure, might even walk some, just want to get my legs used to being on my feet for that distance as I have no done it before. Hoping for sunshine to motivate me.

Loved Moshi's account of the race. Massages and stuff before?! Is this common place? Hope so, I'll deffo be using those services before mine, will be disappointed otherwise

Thank you for the welcome Wheely and Moshi (friendliest topic I've seen on MN so far!).

I'm pretty excited about finding a group of kindred spirits, and women to boot!

Yay. OK, on with the day.

ps Moshi, what a great 1/2 marathon time!

I can categorically confirm I am female. Hilariously on another running thread there was an assumption I was a gay male for a while. I now constantly wonder whether I an coming across particularly camp and effeminate but in a male way !

Welcome bonkers! Can confirm am definitely female! My hip feels much better today, am going to do my speed session at the gym. The disadvantage is that I don't feel it works me as hard as running outside. The advantage is that once I've set the time and speed I can't change it!

Ha! I thought you were female too cestlavie I assume everyone is female and a similar age to me though, clearly not, most of you are probably much younger than me heading too fast toward forty

Welcome Bonkers, hope your training goes well!

28 degrees Masters wow, that's hot!

Hope training goes this week after your half, Moshi

Good luck with your 10 miler DrNO, hope it goes well.

Speedwork for me too tonight paws, probably mile repeats for me. It's a beautiful day down here but I'm coming off 2 night shifts so don't feel like running at all. I shall give myself a metaphorical kick up the bum and head out when DH gets home

Thanks for noticing Wheely! Yes, been on MN for quite some time now, ever since DS decided he didn't like sleeping very much as a baby.... thankfully, he now lies in bed til, oooh, 6.30am sometimes now - his sister on the other hand...

This is a particularly friendly thread though - lot of runner's forums out there (e.g. RW) tend to attract a slightly more competitive and hectoring set of folks. And of course, DW gets not unreasonably more than little bored with talk about splits, intervals and Garmins!

Doyou - if you're heading towards forty rather faster than you might like then apart from running, we definitely have something in common

Are there some men here then? On Mumsnet?

I'm over 40 - won't tell you all by how much though! These old legs still have a little life in them!

I would say that post-40 I'm definitely past my peak physically running-wise, but stronger in terms of my determination.

Ended up doing more of a sort of tempo run today at the gym, think it did me good.

Thanks for all the congratulations etc. It keeps everything in perspective for me as I do tend to do myself down quite a bit. As I skid towards 40 (38 this year) I worry I am losing the ability to run fast and run that magical sub-3 marathon. Completely irrational and nothing to do with the fact everything aches and injuries spring up out of nowhere rather like those eyes do on those potatoes lurking in my cupboard . My 8 miler was very slow today and my left shin and right knee are very sore...

Anyway, someone said, would I rather run a 1h30m02s half and a 3h14m59s marathon or a 1m29m59s half and a 3h15m02s marathon? That shut me and my whining up.

cestlavie - now we all know you are male, you will probably have a lot of questions aimed at you when us wimmin are trying to work out whether moans related to our DHs are down to genetics (ie the Men Are From Mars Women Are From Venus school of thought)!

Thanks Moshi though I fear I might be more use on running related moans (which is saying something!)

hi and welcome to all new to thread

I am over 40 too and yes it is all different but I hope there will be many many more running years, I certainly never did it for the speed

Sorry for dropping you in it Cestlavie .

For the record, I am only 36 this year (and female). Even less excuse for not running further .

5 miles on the treadmill this morning which kept being interrupted by phone calls so a bit frustrating.

Hope those that can are making the most of the sunshine.

oh and my mum only took up running at the age of 66 so lots more years in us all yet

I confess to a 40th birthday this year on Kate and Will's big day. I even get a day off work .

cestlavie, it's a credit to you that you have (unintentionally) disguised yourself well, you must be very in touch with your feminine side.

Another +40 female here too.

Theres a lady that runs near me who looking at her face looks late 60's 70's but from behind or from the neck downwards she looks in her 20s.

Maybe its your mum Wheelybug !

A definite incentive to keep running me thinks.

Just a short session today, unfortunately it had to be in the gym for the second day running as I was out last night and DH is out tonight. Did a gentle hill session, just 40 minutes. Really pleased with my new shoes, I think by the time of the marathon I'll have done about 80 miles in them which seems just about right.

Four and a bit weeks to go for me! I think I've got two big runs left, am thinking maybe another 20 this weekend and a 15 the next which will be exactly three weeks to go. Or may do it the other way round. Either way, only a week and a half to go before I start cutting back!

Happy running all.

Just updating the list:

20/02/11 - Eton half marathon: Passmyglass (DNS due to illness)
27/02/11 - Kilimanjaro half marathon: themasterandmargaritas - a fabulous 2h15m on a mountainous route!
06/03/11 - Bath Half Marathon: MoshiMoshi - a horrible 1h30m02s run with a stitch from halfway
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
10/04/11 - Brighton Marathon: Pawsnclaws
17/04/11 - VLM: MoshiMoshi/ Passmyglass/ Doyouthinktheysaurus
10/05/11 - Burbage Skyline 5.75 miles: Hatwoman
14/05/11 - Chester Half Marathon: IreadthereforeIam
15/05/11 - Oxford Town and Gown 10k: Goldberry
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday
30/05/11 - BUPA 10K: MoshiMoshi
08/06/11 - Claver Peak 5 miles: hatwoman
11/06/11 - Clumber Park R4L 10k Hamster
12/06/11 - Bath R4L 5k Dillinger
12/06/11 - Redcar half marathon - DrNortherner
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun, popsycal

If Weds is missing the Spen 20, then the next racer is me followed by Wheely. Any amendments to make laydees and gent ?

Yesterday's 8 miler was painful on my left shin and right knee so I did my speed session on the Alter G Trainer today. 9 miles with 5x1k at 5K race pace (I estimated 6 min/mile) off 2 minute recoveries. The problem with using a treadmill of any sort, I decided when running today, is that it doesn't accustom your body to the impact of hard tarmac when road racing which is what wears you down over the course of a long race such as a half or full marathon. As bad as that micro damage is to your muscle fibres, it is important to get used to it and recovering sufficiently quickly for the next session. This is all the more reason to do those long runs on a surface replicating the surface of the marathon (whereas to date I have tried to soften the impact by hitting trails and running on grass verges). My problem is that I need to use the Alter G trainer to avoid exacerbating my injuries so I can soak up the marathon mileage. Anyway, food for thought...