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

Good to hear you're feeling a bit less worried now Moshi - 'tis all very normal I'm sure. Enjoy the Expo. You'll absolutely be in your element! In a reverse of the norm, I imagine it'll be the children dragging mummy out of the 'shop' with mummy pleading "no, just one more minute...."

I might have to get that book by Scott Jurek thecoo - he is quite an obsessed chap isn't he? I seem to recall from Born to Run that he was the guy who used experiment using razors to shave his trainers before weighing them in water to see comparative wet and dry weights.

thetasigmamum I think everyone has different ways of looking at running and ultimately you can be as scientific or as unscientific as you like. Some of the best runners historically (e.g. fell runners) have been people who've just got out there and run every day as far and as hard as they want with no sort of training plan. Lots of other people just run for the love of it and don't care how fast or how far they go. That being said, today I think 'science does matter if you want to improve your performance - if you don't care then it doesn't matter. And to be honest, 'science' can be as simple as you want, maybe just doing one interval run per week, or one shorter faster run. Just do whatever works for you.

What do you think to Paula Radcliffe's autobiography DrNo? I thought it was okay but found her a little dull to be honest. I mean I know that she's obviously pretty obsessed about running (hey, maybe she could join this thread now she's a mum!) but I didn't get much of a sense of 'her' in the book. I found something like 'Feet in the Clouds' to be more inspirational and to have really interesting people in it.

Paws I am definitely going for the VLM ballot. If I don't get it then I'll either try to get a sensible sponsorship package for something I believe in (bit tricky, cos the amounts you have to raise are pretty high particularly if people know it isn't your first marathon). Failing that I'll go for Brighton and hope it's cooler than this year!

Actually, there is also a 56 mile London to Brighton ultra over the South Downs which sounds pretty amazing...

Hi suntangirl - I think usual advice is replace every 300 - 500 miles depending how hard you work your trainers (e.g. if you're big and fast, vs. little and slow). If you have trainers which provide support it might be worth being closer to the 300 mile end of that scale as you need that cushioning to reduce risk of injury.

Hello runners - can I ask some advice on Baby joggers? Do any of you run with one? I am desperate to get back running after having my third baby 5 weeks ago. I know it's early days but my birthday is coming up and my DH says I can have a baby jogger - yippee!!

So my question is do I go for the Baby jogger FIT with 16" wheels (Kiddicare £259.00) or ask DH to splash out on a Baby Jogger Performance, with the 20" wheels (£339 from pushchair.co.uk which includes a basket and rain cover).

Now I haven't run since being 8 weeks pg as I was too sick, but did run London last year and would love to aim for another spring marathon next year. It's going to be strange starting from scratch! Can anyone give me any personal recommendations?

I am torn because while I know the larger wheels are easier to run with it looks like that pushchair is for running only. The other one might be more use for off road walking etc so it seems odd to spend more on something I will use less IYSWIM, but how good is it for running with especially if I want to get up to 10 miles plus with bubs? (Also I might have to splash out on a raincover for it too).

Any advice would be gratefully received

Strangeways I would have loved a baby jogger for ds3, in fact I wish I'd got one (only the expense put me off). I couldn't find many second hand (none in my area) but have you thought of that?

The only other thing I would say is that the second hand ones I saw were going for a lot of money so it seemed to me they didn't depreciate much and were a good investment. Maybe worth getting the one you really want on the basis that you#ll probably get your money's worth and a return if you sell?

Thanks Paws I have trawled Ebay and preloved for second hand ones, but there aren't many about. The only ones I have found are still quite pricey and need couriering (is there such a word?!) which adds more expense! The way I justify the expense is that I am not a gym member and it's good for my health - I am quite low maintenance in other ways !

That was exactly my problem, the only ones I found were up in places like Cumbria and were still really expensive (and got snapped up quickly). If I'd cottoned on to the idea earlier though I would have felt the expense was justified; as it was ds3 was getting a bit older and heavier and I wasn't sure how much use I would get.

theta I'm not one who buys in particularly to the science stuff - I reluctantly started using the gels because I needed something in the last half of the marathon, but I have issues with food allergies so have to be careful anyway. I guess most of the sweets we would rely on have gelatine in them so would be a problem, but vegan gels are a definite possibility. Have you read Born to Run? cestlavie recommended it and it's fantastic - Scott Jurek (mentioned by thecoo I think already) seemed to have a lot in common with the Mexican runners featured in that they both rely on maize, corn and cereals as fuel, and run amazingly well on it.

I think I'll probably try the VLM ballot again this year and worry about the heat if I get a place. Definitely one I'd love to do, but the chances of getting a ballot place seem so slim. I'm not sure I can take on the fundraising commitment the charities expect to be honest. It's a shame they no longer have the rule where if you get turned down a certain number of times you get a place.

Oh and by the by I just looked at another forum to get some information on the Chester marathon. No way would I post there, everyone is fantastically serious! I don't think anyone on the thread had a PB over 3.30 .....

paws. Definitely try for a ballot place but agree the chances aren't good. But if you do get a place it is the most amazing experience. I ran for a charity and the fundraising was harder than the training! Best of luck.

Good luck to those running London on Sunday - I will be watching and no doubt feeling jolly emotional - bar giving birth to my three children it was the best experience of my life

I'll read back over this thread to see what you are all up to - I am so excited to get running again soon.

Welcome strangeways

Paws go for a ballot place, nothing to lose and everything to gain! I got in and it was the first time I'd entered the ballot! I can't believe how lucky I was tbh, never normally do well in raffles or competitions

I won't be entering the ballot next year. I've entered Brighton (guaranteed rain and high winds now) and I am thinking of doing an off-road marathon which will be about 3 weeks after Brighton

An ultra cestlavie Sounds a bit too erm...long and hilly for me There are a few marathons in the South Downs though. Steyning Stinger, Three Forts Marathon (which I plan to do), South Downs Marathon and Beachy, of course. Although the Downs aren't that high they go up and down an awful lot IYSWIM

Moshi I went to the expo today too! Feel like I've spent most of the day on various forms of transport tbh but still managed to spend a bit of money....got a gel belt I wanted and some other bits I didn't need essentials and now have my race number! Feeling very excited now

Hi all, just a quickie, I just read that Katie Price has pulled out of VLM due to a knee injury..........she did it in 2009 in 7 hours and 11 mins apparently.

cestlavie I am enjoying the Paula book so far, but yes, I can see what you mean about her being dull

Moshi, I think such curiosity is very normal, isn?t it, in 8/9 year olds? My DS (9) doesn?t show a lot of interest in boobs, as such, but we don?t bother with clothes much in our house and I?ve been feeding his baby sister a lot this year, so he?s probably rather boobed out. But I?m pretty sure he has a lively interest in bums and sex, it?s just he doesn?t mention it to us!

LOL at Grattan catalogue, I remember seeing a porno mag in the late 1980s that someone had just tossed into a ditch and being both shocked and curious, although I think it would be considered very softcore now!

StrangewayshereIcome ? I think I know where you?re coming from and depending on your own physiology and schedule a marathon next spring is perfectly sensible. I ran London 7 months after DS2 arrived (very easy birth, very easy baby) but that probably was a bit much and I ended up with a personal worst marathon time! On the other hand, DD will be 10.5 months old on Sunday when I run my next marathon and my training has gone well enough to make me hopeful of a PB or at least a good for age time. . IME the key things are to start very gently and give yourself several months to build a base of regular running before launching into a marathon schedule. And if things are sore and achy ? rest them! You need to be doubly careful about joints and ligaments because of post baby hormones.

By the way, I have an incredibly ancient babyjogger that I trained with after DS2 and DD, so if you wanted to give one a trial and see if it?s worth the money then I?d be happy for you to have it, if you?re willing to pay the courier. It?s not very pretty - it needs a bit of TLC to fix up the sun canopy properly and I wouldn?t rely on its brakes to work on a steep hill, but other than that I think it?s still got some miles left in it, and I don?t want to just sling it in the skip. Just let me know if you fancy it.

CestLaVie, if you want to try out the south downs in a sort of lightweight ultra, can I recommend Oxfam's Trailwalker event? Very well supported and administered, surprisingly flat and if you really want to you can run parts or even all of it.

Only problem is the amount of funds you need to raise to do it. And it's sold out for this year. How about a mumsnet squad for 2012?

stranger - i thought about getting a running pram. there is some reason why the wheels are different sizes on different models (i mean on running prams - obv they are different to regualr buggies!)- i got some prof advice i will dig it out for you later

cestlavie 0- thanks for that. think i will have to go to the serious running shop and have them look at me and my trianers as i cant tell. they look brand new but they dont feel quite as springy as before - i think thats my clue isnt it?

meanwhile pouring here and i am a wimp so just done 60 mins non stop on the treadmill. not much inkwo but i never htought i could run non stop for an hour - i ama amazed! and a bit scared as i could have carried on about another 20 mins i reckon - clearly i am not pushing myself enough out on the roads! does anyone else find htis?

I spoke to a friend the other day who is running the VLM this year - she's got in 2 times out of 10 on the ballot and the other times has had a charity place. I think I'll definitely put in (you know I tried last year?). My usual running partner also tried the ballot and didn't get accepted, but decided that if she wanted to run a marathon it had to be London, so I think she'll try again.

My good news is that another friend of mine has decided she might do Chester with me. That would be amazing.

hello all: despite my best laid plans, seemingly I am not going out to do hills tonight :o I think the evening running isn't going to work for me - DD no longer goes meekly to bed at 7, and I often have work to do...

paws friend of mine is at about week 13 of the Hal Higdon schedule (whether beginner or intermediate I can't recall) - it's going well for her. She particularly likes the step-down weeks that aid recovery.

Paula Radcliffe - 10 min mile is presumably walking, for her? As I said, my running hall of fame includes Sonia O'Sullivan (passed her :o), Catherine McKiernan (probably not famous there, but is here) and Brendan Foster...nothing rubbed off on me, unfortunately

Chasing weekly mileage now, 5.5 weeks away from my first half (May 21st), so out for a 10 miler tomorrow. At least it's cooler now

I've decided I'm going to go for a ballot place in VLM for next year - I know chances are slim, but you never know... If I survive my 10 mile race without injury then I'll do a half around Sep or so and that will have me ready to start training for the marathon. If I don't get in then I'll look for another one to enter instead I think.

Will have a look out for the Paula Radcliffe biography - she's amazing! Still busy reading Feet in the Clouds which someone here recommended, but will need something new to read when done with that.

I listened to the BBC radio 4 programme that someone on here also mentioned yesterday - it was great! So thank you to that person (sorry I can't remember who )

Had a hard speed training session today. I ran at total of about 4 miles including 3x 1mile fast intervals with 4.5-5 mins recovery inbetween and it really finished me off! Got a bit of mild asthma this evening, but feeling proud that I pushed myself. Of course my "speed" intervals are at the pace most of you do your long slow runs at...

No run for me tomorrow, but will probably go for a bike ride instead with my boys.

Wow, lots of chat to catch up on.

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend - hope it all goes to plan and all your hard work comes to fruition.

Drivingmiss - my 1/2 marathon is the day after yours - 5.5 weeks blimey. I am looking forward to it but it seems to have come round very quickly. Hmm - quite excited about it - particularly with all the marathon news at the moment.

sungirltan - I find I give up quicker on the treadmill rather than outside - I find it easier to step off . Outside, I know I am either going to have to complete my circular route or run back the way I came, so I might as well stick to what I was planning. I don't mind the treadmill - particularly for intervals I think it is great. The treadmills at the gym I use have their own TVs and I sometimes have to be selective on what I watch....I can't watch anything funny as I have been known to giggle too much and fall off the machine or any food programmes as I just end up feeling really, really hungry.

I don't think I will ever be able to do the full 26 and a bit miles - I don't think my knees would take it and it can be a struggle for me to fit in all the training I need to for the 1/2. I did the moonwalk just before I was pregnant with DD - my sister dragged me round and we did it in 6 hrs 40 so I am more than happy with that and working towards time goals is a big enough challenge for me - I am not naturally built for speed.

To all those contemplating the VLM ballot - go for it! At the very least, if you get the rejection letter, you could pick up a place in the Paris marathon. No ballot, and a frankly more glamorous venue than the Isle of Dogs

Thecoo, that sounds like a good session. If you get running related asthma, do you find it comes on as you are running or afterwards? Are you asthmatic otherwise?

squix you sound like my kind of runner! not built for speed either (short, stocky type) and probably never going to do a marathon. I've a good friend doing the training at the moment, and I do find myself thinking that I'm not sure I can be bothered...I too struggle to fit in the training between DD, cooking, the house, the garden, the extended family, endless work, allotment etc...something has to give, and it's the marathon. Or to put it a bit differently, staying fit and sane IS a priority for me, running 26.2 miles isn't, although I greatly admire people who have the discipline and talent to do it.

I think you're right, Drivingmisscrazy. That's the basic obstacle to doing a marathon, isn't it? It's not that it's physically not accessible to all of us, just that you must a) have the time available to do the training b) accept that without it you're not going to be able to wing it.

Although having said that, the time commitment per week can be made quite reasonable for 75% of a marathon campaign - say 8-10 hours per week. It's the ability to maintain it for many weeks in a row and put aside a much higher commitment for a crucial 6 weeks or so that can be tricky.

squix I don't think my knees or, even more importantly my feet, could take a full marathon. They are practically exploding with pus after a 20K run as it is. I have very small feet - size 4, and although I'm short, at 5'2" I think they are perhaps disproportionately little. I'm convinced that is a factor in how much they hurt. I change my shoes every 300 miles and I've had my gait analyzed several times, so I know it's not that I'm wearing the wrong shoes. I just think they want me to know they are there and there is a limit to what they will take (they are fine after a 10K run, fine after anything up to 16K really).

sungirltan It sounds like I'm the opposite to you - I hate tready running. I had to do it when the snow was, at least, while my route was sheet ice (I did run in falling snow several times till the route became impassable) and I found it torture. I've also had to do it when abroad - Swedish treadys have seen a lot of me this year - but I just find it desperate. I like the wind on my face, basically. And most of all I like running beside water. The longest I have ever managed on a tready is 10K but my last trip to Stockholm, a month ago, it was all I could do to keep going for 5K each day. :( I hate watching the stats but they hold an awful fascination for me and I can't tear my eyes away. :(

The info about gels was interesting but I don't think it would be wise to experiment 2.5 weeks before my race. Maybe afterwards. A marathon running friend told me he takes a bournville bar with him. Obviously I can't do that, I was thinking about a vegan bar (Nakd do some nice choc orange ones) but actually since I've managed several 20K runs without, I think I might be better off leaving well alone. This time, anyway.

Sorry for brief post but bit busy here with renovations. Big welcome to strangeways and get the buggy you think you will use the most. I did have a Baby Jogger for DC1 but ended up running a lot using the Phil'n'Teds with DCs 2 and 3, and then DCs 3 and 4. While the Baby Jogger was a superior buggy to run with (fixed front 16" wheel and ultra light with a single frame construct that didn't rattle) there is no doubt the PnT was far more useful and ended up doing waaaaay more miles despite the fact it was heavier and rattled a bit after a few hundred miles.

Whoever it is who is using trainers from three years ago - CHANGE THEM! You can start to use a training log eg on Fetch to keep a log of the mileage (I need to change mine around 300 miles as I am injury prone) to keep an eye on the tally. Treadmill running may be more deceptive as there is no obvious signs of outer wear and tear to make you think you need to change them.

Getting nervous about Sunday now. I have a bed in a house on Shooters Hill which is near my start line so I am looking forward to a good nights sleep without being woken by a puppy at 6am. Instead I will be waking up then with butterflies instead!

Moshi Shooters Hill! That's my home turf - went to the primary school just down the road Truly, I wish you your dream race.

gizmo I don't normally get asthma but every now and then it appears. A doctor prescribed an inhaler for me a few years ago when it appeared after I'd recovered from a bout of bronchitus, and I occasionally get it during the hayfever season or if I overdo the running a bit. Last night was the first time I'd got wheezy in about a year though. I felt it very slightly when I was warming up, but it didn't really bother me during the training itself. It was afterwards, when I got home that I got the wheezes which lasted until I went to bed. Fine this morning though.

All you VLMers must be getting sooooo nervous excited now - a friend of mine is doing it too and I'm feeling quite jealous of you all! It will be fab to read all the race reports on here once it's over.

Hi Strangeways - welcome to the thread!

Thanks gizmo. Trailwalker sounds absolutely fantastic! Am so up for that... Have actually already mailed a group of like minded friends from uni this morning and got one other guy who's already mailed back and is up for it (he's a little nuts though and has his name down for the Marathon des Sables in 2013 so may not be a fair reflection of general enthusiasm...!)

Can't believe that previous failed ballot entries don't count anymore for VLM paws. That's very disappointing - I'd be counting on that a bit having a couple of failed attempts to my name already... Will definitely still be going for it though!

thecoo - have just finished Feet in the Clouds. Very good book. Am also trying to find my next running read so any thoughts welcome...