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

Moshi He left the mess for you to sort?! I'd be having words

Think I will give AFF a miss on Saturday. Can fit in an hours run this evening and a LSR tomorrow so will deffo rest Saturday.

Thanks all for asking about my monumental work cock up. My Director of sales was suprisingly cool about it, so all OK in the end. Something else has hit the fan for him to worry about today....

thecoo I never thought about hurding the sheep, maybe thats what they mean about determination. Looking at the pictures from last years race they are running towards great herds of sheep......afterwards though ther is a big BBQ and homemade cakes for sale. Yum. Then it's dashing back home for ds's birthday party.....and more cake!

just quick post

welcome all newbies to thread, lovely place this is

good luck to moshi and DrN for the weekend

hope all those gearing up for races are doing well and are injury free

here not much this week, cold turned nasty lost voice and chest went funny, not enough to make me stay in bed but enough to stop me going out, feels like a step back on an already protracted recovery but hey ho all part of the game

happy running all

moshi - Oops at Puppy deposits and glad dd3 is ok - I have had a similar experience with dd1. Better to be safe than sorry though. Hope some more rest (if you're getting any ?!) sorts you out at least.

easter weekend not really good for me - we're away, then back but probably meeting up with people. But I would otherwise be up for a meet up.

DrNo - think you've made right decision regarding the Armed forces session. The run sounds interesting (esp. for a city dweller !) - good luck, I'm sure you won't be last ! Are there online results for previous years so you can hopefully get some idea ? Glad work was ok after all.

cestlavie - of course you have a huge advantage being male with running . At least, that's what most of us females haveto think to make us feel better for not running as fast .

SFX - sorry to hear you've been struck by the lurgy. I thought of you on Sunday during the Kingston Run - I think I ran through the sign for where you live IIRC ? Maybe see you there another time ?

Reposting as I have booked the Great South Run for October - Next challenge, 10 miles !

02/04/11 - Miles for Missing People 10K: MoshiMoshi
03/04/11 - Arkendale 10k, DrNortherner
10/04/11 - Brighton Marathon: Pawsnclaws
17/04/11 - VLM: MoshiMoshi/ Passmyglass/ Doyouthinktheysaurus
02/05/11 - Ashdon 10K: bonkers20
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
21/05/11 - Clare Burren Marathon Challenge - drivingmisscrazy
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday
22/05/11 - Merchant Taylors' Triathlon: MoshiMoshi
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Half Marathon: backwardpossom
30/05/11 - BUPA 10K: MoshiMoshi
05/06/11 - Seaford Half Marathon: Doyouthinktheysaurus
05/06/11 - Tilty Hilly 5(mile): bonkers20
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
19/06/11 - Dash for Dads - Pawsnclaws
19/06/11 - Half Ironman UK 70.3 - Twink, MoshiMoshi
25/06/11 - Lewa half marathon Kenya - Masterandmargaritas
26/06/11 - Stortford 10 miles - thecoo
26/06/11 - Colworth half marathon - cestlavie
02/07/11 - Achill Half marathon - drivingmisscrazy
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
10/07/11 - Felsted 10K: bonkers20
17/07/11 - RFL St Albans - Pawsnclaws
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun, popsycal
23/09/11 - Notting Half Marathon: cestlavie
24/09/11 - mooathon, donegal: drivingmisscrazy
25/09/11 - Edinburgh Urbanathlon: backwardpossom
16/10/11 - Abingdon Marathon: MoshiMoshi
30/10/11 - Great South Run: Wheely
10/12/11 - Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon (half): drivingmisscrazy

So asking for advice please - My next race is RFL 5K in July and then the GSR in October. Although the RFL is a social family thing we're doing, I also want to go for it and try and do a really fast time. At the same time I need to maintain my distance for October.

So, I have 2 gym sessions and 1 outside session a week. My plan is this -

1 gym session, 5K speed work (what do I do ??)

2nd gym session - 5-6 miles as usual.

outside - longer run, maintaining current distance (8 and a bit miles) with view to doing the end of the Bupa 10 mile training plan when dd2 starts pre-school (mid sept, giving me 6 weeks until the GSR)

If I can to do a 5K outside run once a week as well.

DO you think that will fit the bill ?

HAd usual Thursday treadmill run today - was feeling v. sore and tired (combination I guess of Sunday, class on Tuesday using other muscles and lack of sleep) so only did 5K. Won't run now until Sunday so hopefully that should sort me out.

hello runners! I am in Belfast for a work thingy - day finished earlier than expected, it's a beautiful day, and I've time to go for a run. But, of course, I've no gear of any kind...grrr. Tomorrow I have something all day, so only running days this week are Tues, Sat, Sunday - I normally like to get out 4, preferably 5 times.

Moral of the tale: keep running stuff in the car even if you think you won't get to use it. Am , but really keen to get stuck into my last 7 weeks' training for the HM on May 21st

Grrrr for you Drivingmisscrazy...

Doyouthink - am I right in thinking you did GSR last year (have just been searching for any relevant threads and your name came up). Do you have any tips for accomodation ? We appear to have left it a bit late - there are a couple of options through the booking site on GSR but trying to work out how far away they are !

2 planned rest days for me today and tomorrow - a mixture of work and family stuff.

I'm thinking about the GSR too, Wheelybug - my dad and sister have both entered and are trying to persuade me to join them. Other end of the country for me, but I think it's close to where my sister lives - could be a nice combination of family visit and a run. Although they are both faster than me - it could spur me on to a better time.

Drivingmisscrazy - good idea about keeping kit in the car.

Hope all of you that are suffering with lurgy-ness are feeling better soon and wishing 'fast feet' to all of you racing this weekend.

I have added my two races in.

02/04/11 - Miles for Missing People 10K: MoshiMoshi
03/04/11 - Arkendale 10k, DrNortherner
10/04/11 - Brighton Marathon: Pawsnclaws
17/04/11 - VLM: MoshiMoshi/ Passmyglass/ Doyouthinktheysaurus
02/05/11 - Ashdon 10K: bonkers20
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
21/05/11 - Clare Burren Marathon Challenge - drivingmisscrazy
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Marathon: MrsWednesday
22/05/11 - Merchant Taylors' Triathlon: MoshiMoshi
22/05/11 - Edinburgh Half Marathon: backwardpossom, squix
29/05/11 - Stirling R4L: squix
30/05/11 - BUPA 10K: MoshiMoshi
05/06/11 - Seaford Half Marathon: Doyouthinktheysaurus
05/06/11 - Tilty Hilly 5(mile): bonkers20
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
19/06/11 - Dash for Dads - Pawsnclaws
19/06/11 - Half Ironman UK 70.3 - Twink, MoshiMoshi
25/06/11 - Lewa half marathon Kenya - Masterandmargaritas
26/06/11 - Stortford 10 miles - thecoo
26/06/11 - Colworth half marathon - cestlavie
02/07/11 - Achill Half marathon - drivingmisscrazy
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
10/07/11 - Felsted 10K: bonkers20
17/07/11 - RFL St Albans - Pawsnclaws
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun, popsycal
23/09/11 - Notting Half Marathon: cestlavie
24/09/11 - mooathon, donegal: drivingmisscrazy
25/09/11 - Edinburgh Urbanathlon: backwardpossom
16/10/11 - Abingdon Marathon: MoshiMoshi
30/10/11 - Great South Run: Wheely
10/12/11 - Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon (half): drivingmisscrazy

car could be home to the old knackered, past their best running shoes, on the grounds that you are only going to do the occasional few miles in them. I never know what to do with the old runners (as we call them here) that have too many miles on them to be ok to run in, but look perfectly functional otherwise. If you do lots of miles, then there's only so many 'gardening' pairs that you need...

Wheely I was meant to do it but had to pull out as I fell while out running on the Downs the weekend before and really did my leg in

We left it really late to sort out accommodation and in the end booked a Premier Inn which was more Chichester way than Portsmouth because that's the closest we could find with a family room!! There are a couple of Travelodge's I think in Portsmouth but they get booked very quickly.

Hope you feel better soon Moshi, so annoying to get ill at this stage. Do get plenty of rest, I think that's probably most important at this stage, more than getting more miles in.

Good luck this weekend DrNo, hope it goes well!

My legs feel like lead at the moment. Did intervals Tuesday which felt really hard and an easy 8 miler yesterday which was wet and windy! I have had a bit of an ache from my knee's which actually feels worse walking than running Yesterday's run seemed to loosen everything up so I'm hoping the reduced mileage will sort me out.

15 miles very slow on Saturday.

Hope everyone who is ill feels better soon

Hi Wheely I would recommend getting in there early - we left it very late (ie this week!) to book something for next weekend, and when I checked even about three months ago everything in Brighton itself was booked! After a trawl through some - umm - choice looking b and bs, we went for a premier inn place nearer Gatwick, on the basis that we could then be about 15 minutes drive from the marathon park and ride.

DoYou I'm suffering from leaden legs too. Had a horrible 4 mile run yesterday, I felt sluggish and hot. Hopefully the next week of almost complete rest will do it. Just a short run today, then 6 miles on Sunday - then hardly anything during next week.

Oh and DH came in yesterday and said "I think I'm coming down with a cold ....."

Sorry to hear you are suffering too paws. So annoying isn't it?! I was so looking forward to this drop in mileage thinking how much easier it would feel and it doesn't at all

Hopefully you will feel rested after next week and raring to go for the big day!

Tell your DH to keep his cold to himself

DoYou I just keep repeating to myself .... "this is NOT a drop in fitness .... this is tired legs from the training ...." - am starting to annoy myself now with all this doubt.

My DH is a very generous man especially when it comes to sharing his coughs and colds. I'd say he brings more home from work than the boys do from school. I'm hoping this is just typical manflu and actually just a mild sniffle!

I think this bit is actually worse than the hard training paws The doubts are really creeping in here too.....yesterday when I got back from my 8 miles all I could think was on marathon day I have another 18 to do and I feel shattered I quite happily did 11 on the same day last week!

It will be fine paws. I think many runners find this bit the toughest. Less time spent running means more time to think about it, not always a good thing

Doyou and paws - the taper is tough psychologically. I've always hated it. It's even worse when you're doing the shorter runs and finding them difficult and the doubts just get worse... I think you just have to trust on the (much deeper) experience and advice of other people and training plans and absolutely believe that you're doing the right thing.

There are a lot of things in running that are counter-intuitive and I really struggle with - like doing your long runs more slowly than you can, or having low mileage weeks to help your body rest and absorb training. I always want to run as hard and far as I can which is definitely not the right thing to so. You guys are doing the right thing.

Thanks for your wise words cestlavie, it helps!

I agree with cestlavie that as fat and slow as we feel, we must trust in the training. The schedules were written by experienced people after all!

I am ditching my 10K tomorrow as I want to recover from my cold. I will be taking a slow 16 miles in though as I reduce my long runs towards the race date in two week's time. I went for a slow 3 mile run to test how I felt and there is still wheeziness although the shin pain is much less. So the enforced time off due to a cold has helped in another way!

Happy running everyone.

Hope a more leisurely weekend (well, with a 16 miler thrown in) makes you feel even better Moshi.

Have a great weekend all and hope everyone stays fit and healthy/ gets fit and healthy!

Wise words indeed cestlavie - I think also I'm quite an impatient person (but sadly I don't have the athletic ability to match) and so on race day I'm going to have to drum it into myself to calm down and take it slowly for at least the first half - or by 20 I'll be a staggering knock-kneed heap.

Just a very slow 3.5 mile jog for me today with ds2 (6) and the dog. He ran all the way, but he's such a motormouth (ds2 that is) I don't know how he found the energy. What that boy doesn't know about Lego Star Wars on the Wii isn't worth knowing!

Moshi I hope your shin improves, splints are a bitch and I got one a few weeks before I did tough guy a few years back. Shame race day is so close otherwise new trainers might be in order

I need some kicking up the arse to go up a run tomorrow. It is very warm here atm, but should cool down to 20 for the weekend. Can't run in the day though, I don't do heat I used to be a winter runner and stop in May and start in September. Am outdoor climbing on Sunday though, should be lovely as it's right at the top of the mountain with views over the town and sea.

Good news about the shins, Moshi - I think ditching your 10k tomorrow is a good idea. Hope your cold shifts quick, too!

I have been so lazy this week (read: I've done no running since the 10k on Sunday) and I'm not going to manage to get out for a long one at the weekend. So I decided to get out tonight and did 8.5 miles. :) I got out from work (am now on holiday for 2 weeks yay!) and thought a run to de-stress from the awful term I've just had would be fine. So, got to the second village along and then thought I better turn around! Great run :)

penguin - thanks for the sympathy vote. It's a drag but not the end of the world and certainly workable. Just means I have to downgrade my expectations if I feel pain on the day. Consider this an arse/kicking too - get out there before you have time to think about it as you will feel better for having done so! Temperature is a personal thing bit definitely something which can be changed as all of us are capable of adjusting to local environment if we put ourselves out there enough. It's a case of what you are used to and getting used to a certain level of discomfort.

DrNo - best of luck on Sunday with your 10K. You are sounding really strong at the moment so should try to give it your all. (Do you have a race plan or pace you are aiming for?)

Cross post. Brilliant start to the holidays for you, possum! Those moments when we have a stern word with ourselves are definitely more satisfying than this we have with others!

Those not this (stupid iPhone!)

Wow such a busy thread this week.... I've finally gone back to work and promptly spent a couple of days away on a training course in a hotel in a none too salubrious area just outside Liverpool, so just 3 shorter runs for me this week.... Around 5k each time...

Took DD out with me tonight too - fastest run we've done together yet but still had to have some walk breaks and felt the pain of that in tight calf muscles when I got back - but at least she felt good when we got back and is keen to go out again too

paws I have a 12 yo version of your DS2 - but his repertoire extends to loads of other games too especially pokemon....

Sorry to hear you're still not well moshi and that you're missing the 10k - take it easy ....

Good luck dr no for Sunday too

Happy running everyone else

Oooh, DrNo just searched for Arkendale and this thread came up! I might be doing the race on Sunday, depending on illness and I am ALWAYS last so don't worry! It's a lovely course, not that hilly, and I don't think there will be any livestock in the way at the moment but we do run past my horses, so give 'em a wave!

Happy running everyone else! I would join the thread but my times are shameful