Runners united (come join us if you are addicted to running!)

[MoshiMoshi]

This is a continuation of the thread "Happy When We Are Running" for those of us who are committed to running in order to preserve a sense of ourselves and maintain a degree of sanity in our lives which are otherwise taken over by family and work-related matters.

All runners are welcome, experienced and newbies, if you are a keen runner. We promise to support you in your efforts and have a running (excuse the pun!) list of races (see below) which various of us have entered in order to provide advice and support along the way.

So what are you waiting for? Spring is here and there is no better time to enter those races you have been wondering about entering and lose those winter pounds, and all for free (well, as long as you have a decent pair of trainers suitable for your running gait ). Alternatively, if you don't want to race you can just join us to enjoy the racing vicariously and learn about training and what (not) to do along the way.

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
25/06/11 - Lewa half marathon Kenya - Masterandmargaritas
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun, popsycal
23/09/11 - Notting Half Marathon: cestlavie

Wow well done wheely and possum.... I feel positively slow and ancient compared to you two...

I dream of a sub 30 min 5k and sub 60 min 10k - got away to go in terms of getting fit again really....

Have been out yesterday and today though so I will do it.... Just very slowly

hope you're enjoying your new puppy, moshi - must be like having a new baby ....

Moshi We need to see pics of your puppy What's his name?

I am so looking forward to running club now the nights are lighter, tomorrow we are running to the next village and doing some off road stuff. Can't wait

Dh has a camelback that he uses for cycling, and yes it has a tube so you don't have to take it off. Think I would feel weird running with it though....

BIL run marathons and in training he strategically leaves bottles of water hidden along his route. Don't think I could be faffed with that. Think I need to get a proper running bottle for warmer, longer runs.

Butterbur yes, the camelbaks have the tube you drink through. I don't have any problems with it apart from a very sweaty back!!

Well done on the pb possum, and brilliant that you did it in those conditions! Have been wanting to say Awsome possum since Sunday

Wheely, your placing was excellent. I think taking on hydration requires a bit of experimenting. Am useless at it in a race!

Let us know how the gels go MrsWeds, woudl be interested as have never tried them. Although I think if wine gums work for you, go with it!!!

Glad the 20 miles went well Moshi. Hope you manage to stave off the illness. Looking forward to hearing more about the puppy!

Happy tapering Doyouthink!

Welcome Butterbur, I also hate holding a bottle but don't mind using a Runner's Aid which is the one with a hole in it, that paws mentioned. It means you are not really actively gripping which makes quite a diference. I generally only take water with me if going over an hour but am pregnant at the moment so will take one all the time I think, especially in these increasing temps!

Rubbish about your planned run on Friday Cestlavie and boooo to client meetings. Am guessing you can't run home??

Good stuff Hamster, you'll get there!

DrNorth, am very impressed by your BIL's organisational skills, however in my sick mind I would be forever wondering if someone had found them and done wees in them!

just reading Jeff Galloway's Book on Running - trying to find ways to stop myself being a lazy runner - by which I mean slowing down when I feel a bit tired (I like to tell myself that I could keep going if I wanted to, but that's not helpful, is it?). He says that it's my analytical logical brain winning out over my creative side . I need to find the inner resources to keep going when it gets tough (actually, I think I know the source of this tendency).

But the book is good, and related to an earlier discussion, he recommends pushing out the long run way beyond the intended distance (17-19 miles for the half marathon, e.g.), but also running it 2 minutes per mile slower than goal pace. (it's on Google Books if you want to look). Does anyone else have favourite running books? And do you have any tips for my motivational problems (I'm all focussed on easy mileage, which isn't helping to make me any faster)?

Sounds interesting driving, thanks for the recommendation!

Thanks all for the good wishes. Still feeling very pleased with myself today!

Welcome butterbur, I'm a newbie here, too, but this is a really friendly and supportive thread! :)

Putthehamster I was doing 10k in 1 hour 15 mins only 6 months ago - when I was about a stone heavier! :) Definitely achievable!

The official time is in - 55'58" - I can't believe it! So pleased

Well done possum :)

Think I'll go for just a 3 mile run tonight. DH wasn't happy that I started back of at 5 miles and then was sore.

Also I'm going to be lazy and probably just run once a week .

Maybe twice a week for when I want to a 5-8 mile run

Welcome newbies! It is so nice to see the thread growing.

DrNo - I am hopeless at posting pics and think my Mac won't allow but if you wanted to you could find me on FB where you can see pics of her!

misscrazy - if you follow a plan with a variety of runs it is harder to do them all easy as you are forced to vary your effort level. Have you tried following one before?

penguin - little acorns and all that is the best way to progress. Huge leaps can result in huge setbacks and much frustration.

I spent last night in bed with my cold thinking I would let the new puppy learn to be without us during the night. As expected there was plenty of barking which my husband couldn't cope with and he went down to let her out (arrrrrggghhh!) He came back all exasperated to find DD3 in bed with us as she had been woken by it too. Or else the dog was woken by DD3 as I has left the monitor on in the kitchen. Either way it is not easy to get tough when others intervene! The little thing was so pleased to see me when I went down at 6am this morning to let her out and give her breakfast. I can see my new getting up time sliding forwards from 7 to 6am permanently now ...

Taking another day off with my cough and cold still here. Do you think it would matter if I missed tomorrow's scheduled 8 miles? I am in two minds whether doing it would make things worse and prolong the illness. This tapering makes me very indecisive which is not like me.

Message me your name Moshi and I'll look for you on FB

Morning all, sat in the school car park waiting to drop off the boys, then off to the gym for a gentle run. I'm not enjoying this tapering at all, it makes me feel unsettled and doubts are setting in!

Moshi puppies are hard work. Pretty much up there with a new baby, but the disruption doesn't last quite as long! Do you use the doghouse section here? It's a wealth of information.

I would play tomorrow's run by ear, and if in doubt miss it or go for a walk instead. Have you seen a doctor about your chest? Infections can creep up but you've got time for antibiotics worst case scenario.

Have a good day all.

Seems like there's a few taper worries on here today! It's a strangely tough part of the training isn't it? For ages you've been looking forwards to dropping the mileage and then when you do you suddenly feel stressed that you're not running enough...

The puppy sounds quite hard work Moshi! I would be inclined to see how you feel tomorrow for the 8 miler. I know just how you feel, but I also know that in that situation when I do end up going for the run I more than often than not make my cold worse and set myself back another week. Given your timeline, not sure you want to risk that. Is there a compromise like paws says? Maybe a light session down the gym to keep yourself ticking over.

Well done possum. It's great when you get your official time and it's a bit better than you thought.

Peaches thanks for the thought but can't really run home on Friday. It's the one night a week I try to get back at a sensible time to see the kids and sticking the long run on then would screw that up.

Have a good day all

Well done possum on your official time ! That's great.

moshi - that puppy sounds as bad as my dd2 . I'd love a dog but can't face going through the puppy stage (much my same reasoning for not having any more children...).

Went to a body attack class this morning instead of my usual treadmill run. Was good for change but I prefer running !!

Hope you are feeling better today Moshi. Take it very easy, you will do more harm than good by pushing yourself to run when you are not 100%. I must admit I would love a dog but the whole puppy stage puts me right off

paws I'm just at the start of my taper and I can completely relate to what you are saying. I am already getting stressed, I am acutely aware of every discomfort that might be a niggle and I am obsessing about what pace I should start the marathon at

From what I've read it's normal to get a bit antsy during the tapering. I hope you enjoy your gently 5 miler today. Just keep reminding yourself how strong your legs will feel marathon day

My knee is a bit grumbly today which is really worrying me. My head tells me it's due to having just finished 2 night shifts and not being able to rest my legs enough but we shall see. I've slept for 5 hours this morning and my knee felt much better when I got up so....fingers crossed. I will run tonight but will play it by ear as to pace.

cestlavie I hate it if I have to miss a run, just feel all out of sorts. Hope you manage to squeeze it in somewhere.

Hello - do you mind if I join your thread?

I took up running again last year after 3 years of doing very little after having DD. I initially started again because I wanted to lose weight, but it didn't take long for the running bug to bite. I did lose the weight (3 1/2 stone eek!) through the classic combination of diet and exercise and somehow I have found myself entered for a half marathon at the end of May! (Edinburgh - if anyone else is doing that one too). I've done a couple of halfs before but a loooong time ago and I am really enjoying training again.

My current weekly programme is as follows: 1 long very slow run on a sunday morning - currently at about 12 miles, 1 interval session - about 45min with 10 mins steady, 3 effort + 2 recovery x 4, 15 steady, 1 short 35 minute run whilst DD is at dancing class - it always tends to be a negative split as I worry I won't get back in time for pick up and then 1 steady run about 50 mins - 1 hour, usually hilly which I just enjoy as running should be fun! Today was an interval day - which I always find hard work but feel great afterwards.

My target is to do the 1/2 marathon in under 2 hours. My long runs are at about 11.5 / 12 mins per mile and my shorter runs are probably about 9.5 mins per mile so I am really trying to work on speed at the moment. I am also about to start a big project at work so fitting it all in will be tricky but hopefully the lighter nights will give us more running time.

My current questions are around eating before a race - the 1/2 marathon starts at 8am - do I really need to get up at 6 to eat my porridge before hand? Also I notice lots of you are tapering - is a two week taper about right for a 1/2?

Looking forward to lots of running chat!

Possum that's a fab time - you must be very pleased with yourself.

Moshi sorry you're still not feeling well. Really don't think you should push yourself to run if you're not up to it. Why not go for a long walk instead - that way you're at least on your feet, but not stressing your lungs and tempting a chest infection? One of my best friends has just got a puppy and she also says it's just like having another baby... bummer about the early mornings!

Cestlavie it's a pain you're having to postpone your long run and I can understand why some of you are struggling with your tapers. I've cut down to 4 runs from my usual 5 as suggested, and really trying to make each of them count, but feel a bit weird on the weekdays I'm supposed to be resting - I get a bit antsy. Today did some strength training exercises instead just to get rid of the feeling, so hopefully that will solve the problem and do me some good too!

Think I'm going to have to do tomorrow's run after DH gets back (I'm not working from home like I usually do so unlikely to fit it in between work and kids coming back from school), so I'm glad the evenings are nice and light now.

Thanks everyone!

Hi squix I'm doing the half marathon at Edinburgh too :)

Welcome, squix! I am sure you will get some answers on here. I must get some laundry done and take the rubbish out and cook something for DH's dinner. If nobody has answered by the time I return I will try my best to do so! Having a new puppy seems to have doubled my workload at home for some reason .

Well done possum, brilliant time.

Welcome Squix.

I'm just off to bed but want to know how/what website can I use to map out a run in London when I come back in a couple of weeks?

Hi squix and welcome. You sound both organised and dedicated, I salute you!

Personally yes I would get up early and have the porridge. Am sure some people can get away with a banana an hour before the race but I would struggle on that I think. Good idea to be up early anyway to waken your body up before the race. I think I did my longest run 2 weeks before my half and cut back on the long run the week before but the midweek runs only cut back on the week running up to the race. Are you going to follow a particular plan leading up to the race?

Master I use goodrunguide.co.uk but I think mapmyrun.com is the most popular

Was planning run this afternoon but when we got back from DD's swimming class this afternoon was so shattered I had to crawl into bed. Will try again tomorrow

Welcome Squix. When I ran on Sunday, it was an 8am start. My plan was to eat breakfast at 6.30 (porridge) and then I had a banana at 7.30. Seemed to work ok.

M&M - I use gb.mapometer.com/en/

gb.mapometer.com/en/

I use www.mapmyrun.com but I don't really like the upgraded site - prefer the older version.

I use www.runningahead.com - great log and good mapping, but not sure if you are looking for routes, or just mapping?

did a really good 12.5k this morning - really enjoyed it - it was dead easy (despite 4 decentish hills) although my time wasn't speedy. But felt good at the time and after. I am back on track...

Hello again. Thanks for all the advice!

Possum ? I?m really looking forward to it.

Peachsmuggler ? thanks for the salute! Not feeling terribly organised just trying to get some miles in my legs whilst I can. I don?t think I can get away from an early start on the day can I? I?m trying to make my long runs rehearsals for the race ? so trying to run at the same time as the race, trying different food the night before / breakfast and deciding whether wine gums, jelly babies or dried apricots are good for a wee boost whilst I?m actually out. I think leading up to it what you suggested sounds like a good plan.

Wheelybug ? sounds good ? I might practice that this weekend.

I also use goodrun guide to measure my routes. Not used it for anything else yet but it has suited my requirements so far.