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, I had to ring them a few weeks ago because I was doing such a fantastic job of losing every bit of paper they were sending me. As well as reminding me of my runner's number - again, they kindly told me which pen I'm in. Apparently, whoever put the entry in for me (wasn't me - long story) put me down for a finish time of 4 hours, which is what determines your pen number. If you're chasing sub 3.30 I imagine you'll be in pen 3 or 2.

Am still giggling at Penguin's 13 wees pregnant - exactly how I felt each time (sorry Penguin!)

Moshi I have no idea about that sort of tech stuff, but ds1 is 8 and has been coming out with some fairly choice language recently - everything "sucks" apparently . I blame the parents! . Seriously though his poem was lovely, I got a card from ds2 saying I was a superb violin player (not sure about the superb) a great dancer (definitely untrue) and a marathon runner (just about true).

I looked at our marathon photos on the web today and they're hilarious - as usual I look like I'm barely moving. Ds1 however looks like he's flying!

Wishing all of our VLM ladies all the best, the last few days of the taper are unsettling but you've got all the excitement and best bits to come! Can I just add one small tip - you can never get enough Vaseline. I was covered in the stuff but still rubbed very raw under my bra, despite topping up supplies along the way from the St John Ambulance people.

I also shed a tear at your marathon report Paws - you've set the standard for the next lot running on Sunday

Can't believe you've signed up for another one already!

Welcome Fascicle and Chair.

I'm so excited for you all running London! Have been listening to Marathon Talk today on my run home from work, it was all about the count-down of what to do in the last week before your 'A-race' as they call it (). Wish mine was sooner, I will explode by 22nd May.

Lovely poem, particularly the very specific mention of Asics!

Fab run home from work today, sunny but breezy and I felt the best I've felt for ages even though I did my longest ever run on Sunday. Feeling a bit more confident about actually getting round Edinburgh now - I may even send out a sponsorship link soon to make it official.

thetasigmamum, I also have to do a lot of travel for my work and it is causing a bit of a problem for my training as I can often only get out once during the week. May try and take my trainers when I'm away on Thursday/Friday. So no advice, only sympathy! Sounds like you are v well prepared for your race, hopefully on the day you'll be able to relax and enjoy it.

Happy running everyone.

hello and welcome to all newbies to thread

moshi that is very sweet

best of luck to all VLM have a great time

here all a bit holiday crazy hopefully will go out with dd tomorrow of day after for a run and she can ride her bike, all weather dependent
she is a very motivational trainer, 'come on mum faster, are you being slow because you are 42?'
to think that 6 years ago I went through such a lengthy labour

I am peeing about once an hour atm

meant to add about the boobs, dd is completely obsessed with them, although perhaps in not quite the same way

penguin as I dimly recall that part of the pregnancy really is challenging on the bladder, as well as towards the end, anyway as you were, it is never the same again is it?

Fantastic race report paws, sounds like it was absolutely brutal out there so well done again! Especially considering how many people didn't make the finish line. Can't believe you are signing up for another one, good stuff!

Moshi your ds sounds adorable. I don't know much about 8 year old boys but his internet browsing is probably par for the course I would imagine. Perhaps cestlavie can fill us in on what it is liek to be an 8 year old boy, if he can remember that far back!

squix, thanks for the heads up on that programme. I saw a little article on the bbc website about the subject but didn't realise it was a whole show, will look out for it.

Chair welcome! I am pregnant and running (sort of). The general advice is to only keep doing things you have already been doing so make sure you have a good base so that when you do get pregnant you can carry on. My only other advice is that you will have to play it by ear. I am 8 weeks at the moment and so exhausted (and feeling sick) that I am only geting out there when I don't feel it won't wipe me out for the rest of the day! Was planning on going this afternoon but was so shattered (dreadful night's sleep) that I decided it would be counter productive. Good luck!

thetasigmait sounds like you are physically very well prepared. I can totally understand your nerves, but you will be fine with that training under your belt. You just need to take it steady at the start and after the first couple of miles your nerves will settle. Good luck!

Welcome too fascicle and gizmo, so exciting to have so many VLMers on here. Thinking if I feel ok on SUnday I might come in and have a look/do some cheering!

My DS1 (aged 8) is also boob-obsessed at the moment, couldn't get him away from the computer earlier when I was trying to buy a shock absorber bra online.

I am totally in awe of you Paws being someone who doesn't like to stray too far out of my comfort zone...Moshi what's your target time for the VLM, so that I can and ...I remember the very first London Marathon because it passed by my house - it's about 4 x as big now, but I do recall the waves and waves of runners, and that you couldn't cross the road for about an hour. So good luck to you all (I am pretty sure that I am never going to run a marathon...)

So, managed a 5 miler this afternoon at about 6:30 min/k pace which felt very easy indeed :) aiming for about 6:10/k for upcoming half, which I think is do-able, given that if I push I can easily do a 8.5k course in about 47 minutes. I've 6 weeks to go, and really need to put some long runs in. Longest so far was 16k - which was fine, so planning on stretching that out by 2k each week until I get to 22, and then a last 20k before the final week.

I keep hoping to get out in the evenings, but DD (2.3) is being particularly difficult about going to bed at the moment (we have a Battle of Wills in this house to make hitting the wall seem like fun...). Like a couple of others, I've been travelling a lot - sometimes this is good for running (no familial negotiation, no office to get to), but the last few occasions it's just been impossible, so I feel for you.

Welcome to the newbies, although I am only a thread old on here myself!

Thanks for the reassurance re the DC obsessed with boobs question everyone!

misscrazy - well the plan is to aim for sub-3:15 but it is my first marathon and a lot can go wrong in 26 miles so I will have a short term plan to get to 20 miles at a comfortable pace keeping some in the tank for a blow out 10K after that. If I can manage 7m20s miles then I know I will be on track and can deviate a bit above or below to still hit my target time. Many I know have had to deal with disappointment at Brighton and Paris who seemed on track for close to 3:0x so I am trying to remind myself that I have to account for uncontrollable variables like the weather or flare-ups of injuries (of which I have many!)

Just had pasta for dinner (again). Am sure I am getting fatter but don't dare step on scales for fear of scaring myself.

that's so impressive! the only chance I'd have of running that kind of pace for more than about a mile is the race I'd run in my dreams. I've concluded that I have no natural talent for running whatsoever, so getting under about 9 minutes a mile is a major achievement given my basic lack of raw material. But good luck to you - I really hope you achieve your goal, as you've clearly worked very hard for it. I wish the same to all the other VLM runners - achieving the goal (I'm not sure any of you should really try and match Moshi)

peach I seem to recall my preferred publications were 'Shoot!' and 'Match' when I was eight years old (which just to be clear where football magazines!) Mind you, those were the days when an Atari was only one step down from mission control at Houston so I imagine it's all a bit different now. I'll look forward to the joys of Moshi's discoveries with DS in a couple of years time no doubt

Am so jealous of all you VLMers out there. I am soooooo signing up for next year. It's a great idea for you lot to meet up at the start together. I've done it with friends before but there is a lot of hanging around so it's great to have people to fret with talk to!

Moshi love the idea is splitting the run into 20 miles plus a fast 10k. Not heard that before but might think about similar for next HM.

Happy running tapering!

Moshi Great West Run, 1/05/11
Chair I only started running last May, but when I was pregnant with my children I was a fanatical aerobics person (still am to a certain extent although laying off the step, combat, Bodyjam etc till after my half as I don't want to get injured and the muscle groups (and the flexibility requirements) are way different). I didn't stop doing classes (with DC3 I was stepping until week 37, she was born at week 39) but I did gradually cut down as time went by - (when I stopped at w37 I was doing 3 classes a week, at the start I was doing 9, mainly in groups of 2). It's not the same but certainly there is no reason to stop doing what you normally do so long as you feel fine and your midwife is cool with it.

So, at the moment I am in Canary Wharf at a conference. This evening I had a fabulous 10K run partly on the marathon course - the crash barriers are already in position! It was brilliant actually, I felt quite inspired and very jealous of the people running on Sunday although I am certain I could never do a marathon - my little feet would explode.

One of the things that worries me about running though, is all the science around it. Me, I just go out and run at what seems to me to be a fairly constant pace (and Runkeeper backs me up on this). I haven't really got faster since about the first month of my running, but then I was very fit when I started, just in a different way, and it took a little bit of time to adjust to running non-stop (I've never done the run-walk thing, I'm saving that for my half if necessary). I don't have a running watch, so although the run keeper woman whispers in my ear at every kilometer it's not so easy to judge pace etc on the hoof (especially as I zone out and often only realize she has spoken when she is finishing - sometimes I miss her altogether!). And ultimately - I am slow. I know I am. I don't really care (much), I run the route I set out on (I have a few to choose from) and when I'm done, I'm done. But there is no denying I'm slow. I may finish the GWR last (I hope not - aiming for 2:15) but if I do, so long as I finish, that was my goal.

The other science thing that worries me is all this gel stuff. I'm a vegan so I can't imagine that any of this sciencey stuff would be available to me anyway - but reading about it in runners world freaks me out, a bit. I only recently started taking water out on a run with me - I was regularly running for 1:45-2:00 without any drink at all but then the spring sprung and it got hotter so I started taking a small amount of water, but I don't start drinking till after 16k (fear of needing the loo, again. This isn't just a fear, I think it's a phobia).

As for eating before running - until it got hot, when I was at home I was running at lunchtime (all through the winter). When away it was either early or late but neither really suit me. Now I'm trying to run at about 7:45ish - DH gets back from taking DC1 to the school bus at 7:45, so I can go out then while he drives the other two younger ones to school. I am NOT a morning person. If I go out as close to 7:45 as possible, that means waking up at 6 and having a hot drink with soya milk for breakfast (and maybe a dry slice of toast) straight away - to ensure I have used the facilities before I set out (see? Phobia). If I run in the evening, I'm not worried, it will be hours after my lunch (toast) and so long as my last drink is about half an hour before I set out I reckon I'll be fine. I don't notice much difference in ties between the runs at the different points in the day, perhaps because I don't push myself to exhaustion.

Blimey, so much to catch up on!

paws Your marathon report was fab. Hats off to you for getting round. You should be so proud of yourself.

wheely I bet Kylie is amazing live, you will have a fab time. Am quite

Welcome to the newbies.

Cestlavie as an 8 year old the technology was not there for you to google 'boobs' but did you look at ladies underwear in your Mums Gratten/Littlewoods catalogue? I certainly remember looking at men in tight tanga briefs......

Moshi lol at your ds looking for Katie Prices boobs. I wouldn't worry too much. My ds is 9 and am sure he would be searching too but sadly for him his spelling lets him down

Had a tough session at running club tonight, doing a drills session tomorrow for the first time. Oh and have started reading Paula Radcliffe's autobiography which is proving to be very interesting.

Thinking of all you VLM's. We will all be watching on Sunday, cheering you on from our house and sending lots of positive vibes.

Laughing at cestlavie giving us the male perspective - I remember a few years ago I was a bit concerned at all the pushing and pulling and stretching and prodding going on with ds1 whenever I took his nappy off, and I asked DH in all seriousness if he could injure himself. DH reassured me that a fair amount of prodding and pulling wasn't going to do any lasting damage ! Oh the joys of boys .....

X-post with DrNo - yes I remember the Grattan catalogue. My brother was always quite interested in the ladies undies section, although I think only a few pages were of interest before you got to the Miss Mary of Sweden corsetry section!

theta I'm a vegan as well, most of the gels are fine and the ones I found even stated they were suitable for vegans as well

Feeling better about DS's boob obsession. At least he is leaning in the right direction and I can look forward to being a grandmother one day !

Off to the VLM Expo today with DCs 1, 2 and 3. Leaving DC4 at home with the puppy and a sitter so I can have a good look around!

paws it was great to read your race report - really impressed that you stuck it out despite the heat. It's also great to see what you learned, so thanks for sharing that.

thetasigma I've been running on and off for about 4 years now, and this is the first time I've even had such a thing as a training plan! I think as long as you are enjoying running and are happy with how you're doing there's no need to worry about the 'sciency' stuff. It's only when you need a bit of extra motivation (or you enter a race only to find everyone else is much faster than you) that you need to get into it. I'm enjoying reading everything I can lay my hands on at the mo, but there was a time when I preferred to just relax and have fun running, and I'm sure I'll go through both phases on and off as time progresses and circumstances change. Don't feel pressured into being 'sciency' if you don't want to, but if you do then there are so many helpful people on here to help you get your head around it all.

Also wanted to point out that Scott Jurek (amazing ultramarathon runner) is a vegan. He does take some gels, but mostly relies on 'real' food. I've been reading about him in Tim Ferriss's 4 Hour Body, as there's a chapter that breaks down the nutrition of several sportspeople. Apparently Scott Jurek is bringing out a book himself next year about both running and nutrition, so should be an interesting read.

Got my speed session today, but am going to have to do it in the evening after DH home because of school hols. Hope I still have some energy left by then!

Moshi, definitely no need to worry about your ds. My 8 year ds is similarly obsessed and has 'form' for fondling the boobs of a naked mannequin in John Lewis!

thetasigmamum, as PenguinArmy says, there seem to be plenty of vegan gels. I'm vegan as well and use Vegebears (as well as gels and drinks) for fuelling whilst running. If I'm doing a long run in the morning, as well as having breakfast a few hours before, I also top up with a banana about half an hour before I go out. As for speeding up - until recently I used to run at one pace. I have found that forcing myself to run at slightly different paces and doing interval sessions (I love those!) have really improved my speed overall and ability to run at different speeds for different runs.

Enjoy the Expo Moshi - do report back!

hello you lot. crikey I will never keep up you are very chatty. bras - I really love freya active, nothing budges, it doesn't chafe and no monoboob. Clothes - sis found an ace shop on a visit to Australia - lululemon got me shorts and a bra. It is Canadian so you in foreign parts might have a branch but only a couple of London stockists in UK.

science - I run either after a small meal or have some dried fruit / nuts. I don't take water, there's a nice loo at 6k if need a drink or anything else. I don't have a plan, just try to do 50k a week. I don't enter races either, am in woods / grass and try to avoid road.

AAAgghhh pants. I just printed off the Hal Higdon training plan (anyone used those by the way?) with a view to the Chester marathon and have realised that out of the 18 week programme weeks 5 - 14 (so pretty much the critical part) will be during the school holidays. I managed to fit stuff in this time because ds1 and 2 were mostly at school and I could take ds3 to the creche at the gym once a week and do my speed work on the treadmill - but ds1 and 2 are now too old for the creche.

This is going to take some planning .

Weather looking good for Sunday. VLM ladies! cestlavie are you going for the ballot for 2012? I'm seriously considering it. If only it was in February or even March!

The summer holidays really are a pain with autumn races aren't they ? One of the reasons I am only doing a 10 miler rather than half this autumn as I dfidn't know how to fit the training in. Although had I got a ballot place for a half I was going to have to put the girls into play mornings at the local leisure centre a couple of times a week - do you have anything like this locally ? Tis expensive though.

I will go in the ballot for VLM for next year. I expect I'd end up deferring until 2013 if I got a place. I am pretty sure though I am signing up for the Brighton Half in Feb.

Kylie good last night although the O2 is so massive and I booked the seats a bit late, that it felt likeit could have been anyone on stage with a kylie soundtrack ! Great stages/costumes etc though. Next month I am taking him to see the Monkees. I really do need to sort out his music taste .

Drunk too much red wine though and so my 8 am run round Richmond Park became a 930 one but feel better for doing it ! Was still quiet and the few other runners I met all were smiley which is nice. I did find myself chuckling as I was running up one of the hills remembering everyone's description of how they ran up hills.

Right, we're off on hols on Saturday (cottage has wifi and will take laptop so I can check on how everyone does on sunday. look for local activities) and have a busy couple of days coming up so better go and start packing whilst MIL is here looking after the children.

Oh, my bro sent me the link to his official marathon photos and I was impressed with the video footage. Although DD1 giggled at his running style at the finish. I don't think she quite appreciated what he'd been through.

hello running ladies! my running day has finally come back around :) thinking of getting a running vest with incorporated bra. lots of nike ones for not too many pennies - are they are good? any other recommendations? i am on 34b ish boobs so dont need too much support.

also wondering about new trainers. i have been running is addidas supernovas for 3 years now - its the same pair just not v dirty as i tredmill ran for a long time after dd. how often should you replace?