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

DrNo and peach - In just under 4 weeks' time I have a standard distance tri to do, something like a 1500 mile swim, 40K ride and 10K run. 4 weeks' later I have the Half Ironman which is 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run (70.3 miles in total which is why it is called Ironman UK 70.3 [insert big swinging willy emoticon]. I did a few sprint tris after I'd had DC3 in a bid to cross train to get fit. Then got pregnant with DC4 and haven't biked or swum since. I am not as competitive about it as the running although funnily enough my bike splits always suggest I am a better cyclist than runner. Actually, that is not funny. It's just plain depressing [sceptical].

Ahem. I mean .

Thanks everyone - I was being a bit head in the sand about a sports physio as I don't have the spare cash at the moment but I know really what I need to do. Hmm. I'll maybe try something really gentle and see how that goes (she says, knowing that even 12x walk 1 min run 1 min is going to leave me gasping for breath with a bright red balloon face )

Will have a go later this week and let you know how it goes, and if it's impossible then I'll at least have some feedback fir the physio

moshi a 1500 mile swim? Now that is impressive

Hee hee. I meant 1500 metres of course.

wheely no worries about sending them back. See if anyone else on here will benefit from them. They are deffo not a 5 as it says are they?!

OMG moshi at the ironman. You must be super fit. Respect to you! Do you enjoy cycling? Your bianchi looks very nice indeed - is it a carbon frame?

peach the interval session was far from refreshing - it was such hard work I was gasping for breath and spitting into the grass. We did a half mile jog to the track, then a variation of a number of 400m circuits for about 45 mins, then a warm down jog back to the club house. Did 5.2 miles in total. In technical running terms I am f**ked

Hello - I have added in another race for me - I hope I have cut and pasted the right list and got everyone's race on there. I have entered the Great South Run at the end of October with a couple of family members - be a challenge as they are both speedy.

01/05/11 - Great West Run (Half Marathon) Thetasigmamum
02/05/11 - Ashdon 10K: bonkers20
07/05/11 - Forres (Benromach) 10k: backwardpossom
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
29/05/11 - Plymouth Half Marathon: sungirltan
30/05/11 - BUPA 10K: MoshiMoshi
05/06/11 - Seaford Half Marathon: Doyouthinktheysaurus
05/06/11 - Tilty Hilly 5(mile): bonkers20
05/06/11 - RFL 10k: LaLa
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
12/06/11 - The Heroes half marathon - Futurity
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
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
10/07/11 - Felsted 10K: bonkers20
17/07/11 - RFL St Albans - Pawsnclaws
17/07/11 - Dublin Mountain Plod (HM) - drivingmisscrazy
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun, popsycal, LaLa
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, squix
10/12/11 - Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon (half): drivingmisscrazy

Did a really hard 12 miles on Sunday - I think I was tired after a party with 15 four year olds on Saturday (that was harder work than most of my long runs) and I didn't help myself by having a takeaway on saturday night - not the most nutritious of meals to feul up before a long run. I was also trying a new route and had to turn round as I ran out of pavement on a main A road.

Made up for it today with 5 1/2 miles at 1/2 min a mile faster than my 13.1 mile target - felt ok afterwards too. We were visiting family and my route was flat - made such a difference. Also tried out my sister's Garmin Forerunner 305 and I think that's the model I've settled on - it's nowhere near as big as it seems in the pictures and is incredibly light as well.

Pavlov and peach- its interesting about posture isn't it - I have always thought I had dreadful posture - my husband today told me that I look 'elegant' - never though of myself like that before

dratted child up since 4.30...this really isn't helpful when logging 60k a week

Urgh to child up at 4.30am. My puppy was up at 6.15am and that was bad enough (but jolly useful to sit at computer before DCs up!)

DrNo - my cycling usually involves me hopping on my (carbon) Bianchi the day before the race to remind myself how to ride it and then racing on it before putting it away after a race so I can just run again . The HIM is not going becoming a habitual thing though! I was curious and my friend who I introduced to triathlon a few years ago went on to do it twice and talked me into joining her and her husband. It felt rude to say no seeing as I was the one who was so enthusiastically signing her up for races!

squix - good running going on there. I agree that the 305 looks a good model and I think I would have chosen it over my 405CX if I had known about the screen freezing on the 405 when wet. Picture please when you get it!

Another recovery run for me today. I should be biking but left the beast down in the house we are renting in the New Forest. Incidentally, the New Forest is The Tick Capital of the UK and I have gone right off it down there. We have all found ticks embedded is us after our last trip down there. Urgh.

moshi watch out for lyme disease if there are ticks - especially on bracken; friend of mine was seriously ill after being bitten in the West of Ireland - facial paralysis, meningitis, the lot - it took him almost a year to recover. And the docs didn't catch it because it's assumed that Lyme is only in the US - not so. Watch the kids, too.

I fancy doing a duathlon (rubbish at swimming) - I quite frequently bike home from work (about 12k) and then go for a run, or vice versa, so possess both kinds of muscles :o

Am feeling a bit :( about my running - I've put in so much work, and seem to be getting very little return (e.g. 4 months of solid base building, but still only getting about 6.30m/km on longer runs) for it. I can't honestly say I'm seeing much progress in terms of pace, although it is easier, and I am running a good bit of distance without getting hurt.

I suspect that there's only so far I can get with this and should just accept my limitations - which are partly psychological in that I find it hard to push myself too much beyond my comfort zone. Maybe I should join a running club so that I too can collapse in a heap on the grass like Dr No :o

better rescue DD from her spot in front of the tv dressed in her pjs and bike helmet...

I've got the gamin 305 and it is fine. I was worried about the size as I have tiny wrists but it isn't as heavy as it looks and it is nice having a big clear screen to read. Only issue I have is that it is a bit slow getting the initial GPS signal so I have to remember to allow time for that before heading out.

driving I was thinking the same thing - that I seem to have hit a plateau. My speed is just not increasing, but like you, my mileage is increasing steadily, and touch wood, I too am running pain free atm. So, we can safely say we are getting stronger and building up our endurance

drivingmisscrazy have you been doing 60k per week for last four months..that's very impressive! As you both say it must help your body be more used to endurance but I have no idea about speed I'm afraid as I always find it hard going that bit faster..feel like my lungs will explode!

Going to go out at lunchtime and buy either a Garmin or maybe the new Nike watch thingy. Just in case I can't use my iPhone on Sunday, so that at least I get the mileage and pace info.

This thread is very depressing. I thought I w running a lot but I have never done 60K in a week (I have done 60K in 7 days but by the time the week unwound and the timing differences resolved I was back on a 50K week).

I've obviously nit been doing as well in training as I thought. :(

Is anyone else here on runkeeper? Is there a mumsnet street team?

no, not for last 4 months - I think I might see some benefit if I had! gradually built up from about 40k per week in jan - doing a few weeks with lots of distance before half but generally would be happy enough with about 50k of mileage a week and a bit more speed!

yes, Dr No building endurance alright, but sometimes I feel that I am enduring rather than enjoying my running!

hi can I join please. Compaired to alot of you I am very amature. Only started last year for the 5k Race for Life. And have only done one 10 k at christmas I am very slow (1hr 18 min Southsea Portsmouth RNLI Santa Run, but it was in a Santa Suit and had some beach running included). But I am now down to do Netley Soton 'Run in the Park 10k 15/05/11, Marwell 10k 22/05/11 and Race for Life 10k 22/07/11 although my training has gone all to pot this Easter.
I run with the Lee on Solent branch of 'Run in England'.
Any advice on running shoes would be apreciated

westernway welcome! looks like you are doing great and lots of races coming up. Advice on shoes? What do you need to know? Best advice I'd give is go to a proper running shop (runners need have branches all over UK), i.e. one that will do a gait analysis. This will give you crucial info about what kind of shoes you need - a good shop will be able to tell you whether the shoes are for neutral, supinator or pronator etc. Once you find a make and model that suits you just stick with that. If you have the wrong shoes, you are more likely to get injured. For some very lucky runners it doesn't matter, but for most of us it does (carrying extra pounds - or years - also impacts)

hello again runners. i cannot keep up with this thread! I've got new Vivo barefoot running shoes. Did 8k with them last night and were fab.

I have been getting increasingly fed up with trad shoes and their tiny toeboxes, the final straw was when I tripped up and couldn't save myself because of the enormous rubber bumpers.

Thanks for the warning, misscrazy! We scared ourselves silly about it but are now a bit more cool about being vigilant for early signs of it developing.

Welcome westernway! Add your races to the list and keep us updated with progress. I agree you need to see your local proper running shop to get your gait analysed and a recommendation. Best to do this than buy a pair based on guess-work and find they are wrong for you.

Chomping at bit but DH has asked me to (waste time! and) have lunch today once the youngest is deposited at nursery. We have 2.75 hours of childfree time! We are then on a mission for the renovation project. Run must wait until this evening...

They sound interestin fishie - are they the ones with toes ?

Welcome westernway !

DrNo - No prob re the shoes, and maybe there'll be a small footed newbie on here - Everyone, Listen up ! DrNo sent me some running shoes to see if they fitted as they were a little small on her same on me.... So, if anyone wears a 5 (or probably more a 4.5) running shoe I can post you DrNorhtener's Asics. It'd be a real shame for them to go to waste ! Shout if you think they might work...

On the subject of shoes - South West Londoners (or maybe Londoners in general if you go to central London) - where do you buy your runners ? I usually go to Lanson Running in Hampton Wick but would like to go somewhere different. Any recommendations ?

thetastigma - don't worry, I don't do anywhere near that distance in a week either. I do less than 20 miles in a week (3 runs 2x 5 ish and then one 7-8 miles) although intend to increase shortly when I have more time.

Wheelybug I think I fall somewhere in between. I've been doing between 30 - 50K a week most weeks since December (the travel obviously makes it a bit difficult sometimes).

I get my shoes from niketown always. There is now a new nike running store here in Exeter but it only just opened. Since I am in London for work several times a month, normally, it's not been an issue since I started running (51 weeks ago!) to go there and get my shoes. I was going there before anyway to get 'robics gear. It's a rare trip home that doesn't see me in one or both of niketown and the apple store. :)

Hi all - I can't keep up with this thread! So hello to anyone I've missed saying hello to, and hope you're all running well.

A bit of a depressing running day for me today, I finally got back to the gym as ds1 and 2 were back at school so I could get ds3 in the creche. Decided to do a speed session, and have realised that my previous pace has completely deserted me - lost in the previous marathon campaign. I did some speed work before but I think I went about it all wrong and now I feel I'm paying the price.

Anyway - have decided the only way is up, and to keep plugging away. I've fallen into the classic habit of doing all my runs at the same (slow!) pace and the only way to rectify that is to put the effort in consistently.

My "novice 2" marathon improver programme starts in early June, so I'm going to try and concentrate on speed and general fitness until then, while keeping up a slightly longer run at the weekend and a proper long run every other weekend. Sound like a plan?

fishie I met a sports therapist recently who was wearing those shoes - he loved them and said they are going to be the next big revolution in footwear!

I haven't been on for a while - what with holidays and life just getting a bit mad here!! Anyway, I did start another thread on here, but then though I'd post it on here too - here's where all the experts are, after all!!

I have a rather sore lower back at the moment - and a history of bad backs. I've prolapsed a disc in the past (8 years ago) and suffered a lot of discomfort when I was pregnant with ds's aged 7 and 4 (don't we all!?). I have pain quite a lot/ often, but I had been keeping it under control (pretty much) with pilates and a bit of running.

The thing is, I've been training for a half marathon which is on may 15th, and 2 weeks ago I managed to hurt myself doing a rather silly pilates move without doing it properly. I was in quite a lot of discomfort (voltarol is a splendid thing), and now it is a constant ache.

I really need to train. I'm supposed to be doing 8 miles tonight, but I don't know whether I should. Part of me hopes it'll help to loosen my muscles up, another part of me wonders if it'll do more harm than good.

What should I do?? I'm supposed to be going out at 6. I could go out, take it easy and do 11 minute miles and just see how far I get?

Get out there Iread and do a loop near home so you can bail if it gets bad. The anticipation is probably going to be worse and you need to test the waters at some stage.

drivingmisscrazy I think you are probably spot on about the relationship between the speed I run and the urge to walk . I definitely find pacing myself difficult but am working on it. Can't ever imagine being a distance runner though, but I would like to get to the kind of steady state when your head clears of thinking about how hard running is and it becomes almost like meditation IYKWIM? I get it when I swim and am pretty sure runners must have that too?