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 !

These thingies? scary shoes

Am actually developing a phobia of the toe-socks and toe-shoes phenomena, they make me feel quite queasy. I guess that answers my question about barefoot running!

Yup, those are the ones! But anyway, the theory is that you run leaning forward a bit, and run on the balls of your feet, rather than heel-toe-heel-toe. It's supposed to keep your knee slightly bent, making your body into a kind of springy s-shape, absorbing the shock - whereas when the heel strikes the ground first, that straightens your leg, increasing the shock to ankles, knees and hips. Or something. Sounded convincing at the time. I think you can do it with shoes on. Try googling 'Pose running'. HTH!

Hat you are hard, I'm sure you can do it, d you use GPS? best of luck

foot thingies very freaky imo, but maybe they are the future or a fad who knows

Suda I would love to go running with my daughter in the future, she is only 5 although she wants to enter a race next year, those walk/ jog/ walk for GOSH

no london marathon place fr me phew!!

did get a raincoat though....is that normal??

sfxmum -ds2 is 5 and comes with me from time to time...we do a mile or so....he is speedy!!!

I got a raincoat last year (I think). I asked for a small one and it's ENORMOUS. I gave it away iirc. got a nice baggy zip top one year.

I've been over on another forum for fell runners (they are so 'ard it's ridiculous) and there are 3 of us doing this race for the first time. I'm not worried (much) about the running. It's the navigation. I really really don;t want to get lost on Kinder Scout

just received my acceptance letter for the VLM 2011! ive only ever run 10ks before so it all seems very daunting...

congratulations Moshi and isore

popsy dd has come out with us on occasion she runs like the wind then stops abruptly to look at a snail or a stick

Hmm, have revised my marathon plans to sub-3:15 already and I haven't even begun training. Apparently I need to be running a spanking 1:20-1:25 HM minimum to achieve sub-3! I think I am on just under sub-90 min HM form currently if conditions are right so will need to see how my training goes from now on.... ...

Congrats to you isore! Let the training commence... !

Hello - not running but want to. Am 3 stone overweight and have a good sports bra but need tummy support too to really be comfy. How should I begin in order not to lose heart?

Hat, you're certainly hard enough but I do sympathise with your navigation concerns. I did a course in the summer to reduce the chance of me not getting off Dartmoor next month and I'd be happy to scan in the notes and email them to you if you think that would be of any help - they're in non-tech-speak.

SFX - I'm doing Hampton court Run10K this weekend (I think you said you ere meant to be there but have had to pull out).

Have only done Race for Life before, and 2 years ago, so a bit scared to be honest.

I got rejected from the marathon which is a good thing. DH did too (definitely a good thing) and bro did too - not such a good thing as he wants to do a marathon in his 40th year which starts in a few days time !

Welcome Suda and Kitty - I started with Couch to 5K which starts you very gently. There is usually a thread running on here too for support ! My Mum's just done it at the grand old age of 66 and is now running 5K 3 times a week and claims to have never run before (used to hide at the start of x country at school and pretned she'd done it).

Kittyfoyle, I started running when I was 3+stone overweight, babysteps are key. Couch to 5k, a Race for Life programme or similar are ideal starting points. If you can find a mate to go with you, so much the better as you're more likely to stick to your plans.

Write your sessions in your diary/on the calendar as you would with any other appointment and STICK TO THEM. They're important, not something you can cancel at the whim of someone else.

Post here, let us know your plans and what you achieved. We're good at positive motivation and the occasional bol88cking when required.

wheelybug yes that is right was meant to do it with a friend she will still be there, am actually quite disappointed and almost feel like I could but I have not done a 10k in ages, on Monday I did a slow but comfortable, unintentional 5miles, might plump for that fundraiser posted earlier in mid November

good luck I am sure you will enjoy it

Wow Moshi that's amazing, I've heard nothing here, I guess that's because I'm overseas. I bet I don't get a place for that reason, after all there are about a million trillion Kenyans more able to do it than me.

Hattie, you are not hardcore, but you can and you will do it, it's an amazing experience and I have no doubt you will enjoy every single minute of it. Good luck.

It's great to have some newbies, welcome.

wheely - if your brother is interested I have decided not to take up my place in Edinburgh on 22 May 2011. The terms and conditions permit transfers to take place so maybe he could think about it (and take my place?!) I chose it as it is fast being downhill most of the way! As an incentive, I would be prepared to waive the entry fee subject to him paying the £10 transfer fee... Plus the Scots are lovely and I fancied a nice day in Edinburgh beforehand. I am sure you will be absolutely fine. Worry not. Hampton Court is absolutely gorgeous and the run will be a lovely one at the very least.

Moshi - I'll ask him thanks ! He did mention Edinburgh for the down hill reasons but I think he is probably settling on the New Forest marathon which is nearish him.

Yes, am at least looking forward to the scenery on sunday - I did postgrad work in heritage management before becoming an accountant () so its right up my street - in more ways than 1(DH and I had our second date there too ). Sorry you won't be there SFX - how about Kingston breakfast run in March (my next goal - 8 not 16 - if I survive sunday).

Oh and my parents are up this weekend so I am taking my Mum (aforementioned - started running at 66) to buy her first pair of proper running trainers at a proper running shop. Am hoping she doesn't faint at the price .

I need new ones - do you just buy the same as you had before (properly fitted) or go for refitting ??

Wheely, if your shoes worked well for you and they still make the same version of the same model then stick with them. If they have been 'updated' then be a little cautious as sometimes there are changes which can mean an expensive mistake (Asics are particularly renowned for this, according to friends & I've had the odd issue with New Balance too)

Good luck to your Mum - I bought my mum her first bike at age 62 and she's a gym bunny now, she's 66 next month :)

Thanks Twink - I have Brooks. I think they do update them v. regularly - each year I guess as mine are GTS10 and there is a 9,8,7, etc. I have tried to find the same online but my size is out of stock so am guessing they are being updated..... Will ask tomorrow although hoping to get a bit more wear out of the current pair.

Hi all,

So, what are the exercise plans for the weekend? I failed miserably this morning to get up for my planned 2 mile run (short and fast in theory) because I had a crazy dream in which I woke up and forgot to go running and was late for work, hence confusion when I really woke up).

I have a hockey match tomorrow afternoon and am planning to attend a cycling event on Sunday.

However I should probably attempt to squeeze in a short run this evening to atone for this morning's failure.

What are you lot up to this weekend? Inspire me!

• Cal

I'm still out of action with my foot. I've been a bit more careful with it today and it's feeling a bit better (it doesn't hurt at all except when I put weight on it). Am still hoping it's going to get better without me having to go and see someone expensive! Happy running everyone !

Hi everyone, I went out for my last run before Sunday today - ended up being a bit longer than was possibly ideal - 10 miles - becuase I wanted to do part of Sunday's route. It was scary as hell tbh. I went up Kinder Scout - was completely in the clouds - no visibility at all, unbelievably windy, raining too. even the dog kept looking at me as if I'd lost the plot. Navigating went ok - ish. I did go wrong at one point...spent about 10 mins mucking about going back and forth and trying to work out which way to go...whilst also feeling vaguely unsettled by the gun shots from the grouse shoot (I knew there was a shoot on but had assumed it would be cancelled because of the weather). I so nearly decided to turn back. but decided to have one last go at a particular path for a bit longer to see if it started to make sense - and it did.

and then...once I was lower down and out of the cloud I was meant to go through a field of cows and a bull...I chickened out and took a detour...which involved getting the dog over lots of locked gates and, at some point, I must have put my compass down...because I no longer have it. at least I made it back to the car. and the man in the car park let me off paying. I didn't have change and I think he felt sorry for me.

moshi....i may consider buying your edinburgh marathon place from you....

did i really just say that????

Hi every-one, I've just found this thread & please excuse me for not reading it all as it's huge but is any-one training for the great south run?