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

Well, I went out, did 7 miles, and I'm still walking - lets hope I'm still walking tomorrow . I just want to be able to complete this race now - I don't care about time (it's my first one after all), and with this back thing flaring up again, anything is better than nothing. I think I might have to start doing more swimming after this!!

sleepwhenidie I find the perceived effort scale useful - you can look it up online. Otherwise, you might find a few runs out with a heart rate monitor a good way to gauge the effort you need to achieve a particular pace. You want to build endurance, and for that you need to run a lot at relatively low heart rates, but to throw in some speed work. I think you should probably go and get a running book to give you the theory and some sample sessions. It's actually quite hard to keep your pace down when you are keen to run fast - it's a discipline all of its own...

IreadthereforeIam - well done...hope recovery continues

well, just to add to the running thread babies, we went for a scan today, and DP is 8.5 weeks with our second (measuring 9), lovely heartbeat, all looking good :) probably due around the same time as peaches. Delighted, although still cautious at such an early stage. You guys are the first to know :)

Thanks drivingmisscrazy -was the scale the link you sent me? I meant to say it came up blank when I clicked on it....

Oh and CONGRATULATIONS !!

no, that was something else - the macmillan pace calculator, you can just google it. The perceived effort scale is the Borg scale, but there are simplified versions too - they range from supine (on the couch) to heart about to leap out of your chest...I like moderation.

there is a school of thought (mostly espoused by young, speedy male runners) that running slowly just teaches your body to, well, run slowly. I may be the living embodiment of that theory - but I just think that I am no longer young and my muscles, joints and tendons can't take both mileage and speed, so I have to compromise...

and thanks!

Awww congratulations Driving, that's lovely news! Does your DP run too or are you running for two (three!).

Hey there Iread, good to hear from you. Glad the back held up. Hope it's ok tomorrow too.

at Moshi swimming 1500 miles.

peach DP snorting with laughter at notion that she might run (she did do C25k for a bit, but actually hated it, I think...). especially given her current debilitated state

DD knows what running shoes are, I am proud to say (she's 2)

Just popped on to say congratulations to driving - fantastic news!

herecomesthesciencebint yes, on the same mileage 3 years ago I was about 20 secs/km faster...but it is a massive achievement when you wake up and think, 'oh, it's only 8 miles today' and it really doesn't seem that far to you. So I guess it's a question of setting realistic goals (I'll never be, and never would have been a Moshi) and continuing to get out there. I suspect this is why I feel in the end that distance matters more to me than speed - I like running a long way more than I like running fast. I'd like to do both, but ain't gonna happen. My work running buddy (a better runner than me by far) and I always say though that we want to still be doing this when we are 60 and that is the real goal...

Ah that is such lovely news Driving, congratulations to you and your DP! Fantastic

There are some older ladies at my running club who are probably in their 60s at least; fantastic figures, slim, toned and energetic and can run for miles whilst chatting at the same time - that's what I want to be like.

Congrats, driving! :)

Congrats misscrazy! And well done to you Iread on getting that run in which must be a great confidence booster at this stage.

Puppy training today - hurray - for our ankle biting jumping nipping puppy.

Congratulations driving, lovely news

Hope you are still recovering ok today Iread

Herecomes I wear a sweatband under my Garmin because I also have tiny wrists, works a treat. I also have a soft velcro strap for it which I got with my bike mount kit. I prefer that too as it's more flexible.

I did 4 miles on Tuesday, legs feeling much better and have my long run (only 8 miles though!) today instead of Saturday as we are off camping again. I'll go very slow and cut it short if it feels too much.

I have entered Windsor Half Marathon in Spetember. Will add to the list when I get a chance. A nice excuse to run in a lovely place and take the ds's to visit Windsor Castle aswell

thanks all; I have decided to take today off - I think I need a rest and to reconsider my mileage load...

what about this for the next 3 weeks until half?

this week - a 6 miler and a long run (13)
2/05 - a 60k week with another 13 miler
9/05 a 50k week with a 12 miler
15/05 - 2 x easy 10k + race on Saturday

here's my shoes! neos took them for another 10k this morning, lovely. It really is the first time I've ever had enough room for my toes. I got them from Terra Plana in Covent Garden, there's a 20% off shopping evening coming up on 5th May. (i got 10% off as I work in CG).

Does anyone else map with iphone? Is consistently undercounting by 10% which is rather galling.

oops

quick dip in to say

driving congratulations how lovely
I think I am of the same school of speed, but I want to still be running when I am old. or in other words for as long as I possibly can no matter how slow

what is this Borg thing? the only Borg I know are scary and turn you into their collective

off to jog soon I think

happy running weekend

forgot to say dh will be doing his half marathon on the 8th, he is worried he hasn't put in enough training but I guess since it is the 1st he should chalk it up as experience, must sort out banner with dd

also it is his birthday on the 6th and he said 'no alcohol' until after

Just quickly popping in to say hi, as still not able to run - have ordered new shoes as think mine are very worn and resting for a bit longer until all twinges gone as don't want to aggravate the achilles problem (if that's what it is...)

Fishie I have the Vivo Barefoot Lucy's but I can't run very far in them, so was building up to 3-4 miles a while back (got very stiff calves from different running style). Haven't worn them for a while though, although they are VERY comfy, especially for walking.

drivingmiss congratulations, that is such wonderful news! :)

Congrats to you and your DP Driving ! Lovely news.

thecoo - hope the news shoes sort you out.

theta - maybe a stupid question but do Niketown do anything other than Nike ? How are you feeling for the weekend ? Good luck for Sunday !!

So, off I went to the gym with Moshi's speed session plan written out to look at as I didn't think I'd remember it all. Dashed from helping at school to make sure dd2 got into the creche on time so I had lots of time and then bumped into a friend and chatted for 30 mins . So, didn't have time for an hours run. So, I did similar to Tuesday which I think is a good use of a short time. Was feeling bad though but then remembered the long weekend so, my plan is to not drink tomorrow lunchtime (hopefully easy as liver transplant friend is coming for lunch) and do 5 miles tomorrow and then a longer run on Sunday.

Afternoon all

DRiving congrats to you and your dp, you must be delighted! Another running thread baby, how wonderful

Lots of great running going on here. After my monster interval sesh on Tues I rested yesterday and just did a 5 mile recovery run, but I was so slow, I barley got over 10 m/m. Is this normal? I enjoyed it, breathing wasn't laboured, was ticking along nicely but could not muster up any more speed. Not sure if I am still pooped from Tues of if all the crap street party food I ate at work today made me sluggish.....

Whilst running it occured to me to remember to ask you guys how flexible you all are. am very unflexible and can barley touch my toes, have always been like this. I seem to have short/tight calfs and hamstrings. Can I improve this? Will it hamper my running?

Off to cook dinner ready for dh and ds returning from footie training...

thanks to you all - I think we are just starting to realise that by Christmas we will have 2 children! I can't tell you how weird that is for us...

I also have Moshi's speed session written down (adapted for the less fit amongst us, so shorter fast bits, planning to work up as I go), but haven't managed to get to gym yet.

I feel antsy, having not run for 2 consecutive days, although in my heart of hearts I know it will do me good (I've run about 190k in the last month) and my calves certainly need a break. I'll run better tomorrow because of it - but find it hard not to see my mileage clocking up (I think I am an addict). But will do 10k tomorrow and a long 13 miler on Sunday; and then a heavy week next week. I'd like to build up to a consistent 50k a week, but having only really come back to regular running in January I think I'm doing well to be out there and not injured.

Dr No I think everyone has runs like that (at whatever speed!) - some days I just don't have it, but it doesn't matter overall.

I am not very flexible either, never have been - also suffer from tight calves. Like hamstrings this is (apparently) to do with imbalances in muscle groups - the ideal strength ratio between hamstrings and your big thigh muscle is 50:50, but even most elite athletes have a huge disproportion (thigh muscle twice as strong as hamstring - heard this from big honcho physio guy on the radio). So the trick is to strengthen the weaker muscle. Same with calves - often compensating for weakness in ankles. Some light weight training for the legs might help. Keep meaning to get to that myself. One day. Probably won't hamper your running per se, but might cause problems when you try to build volume

Driving Congratulations!

Wheely No, they just do Nike. I have been running in Voomero+ shoes since I started running 52 weeks ago. And they have been fine for me. :)

I'm basically bricking it. :( The race website is rubbish and the arrangments for parking and spectators etc seem very......approximate. There is a real possibility that my DH and the DCs won't actually be able to see me finish (if I do) since they can't realistically walk two miles to the stadium and all the roads between here and there will be closed from about 9am. And they don't really fancy hanging round there from 7:30. I am trying to persuade them that they can walk in to town, have breakfast at giraffe, and then stroll v slowly to the stadium taking lots of breaks - but DH isn't keen since he thinks DD2 will play up. :(

oh, and we will need a new thread soon...this one has moved at about a 7mm. V. speedy

DrNo, I am fairly flexible due to years of yoga. It is difficult to say if it helps with running as I took up running after yoga but have read lots of articles to say that they complement each other well. I think there used to be some accepted wisdom that they were incompatible, but this has been debunked. It may not be just the flexibility that yoga gives you that is good for running though as it is just as much about strength (and also stamina!).

Since doing yoga again recently for the first time in earnest since DD was born I have noticed a massive difference in my abilities, due to the increaded muscle strength I have from running. I have found it so interesting to see how my body has changed though running. I would be surprised, therefore, if the flexibility had not affected my running.

Will be interested to see what Moshi has to say as I know she is quite into ballet so must be pretty flexible.

Theta, am so sorry that you are having there pre-race worries. I hope that you are able to get your family sorted in order to see you at the finish, and that you are able to enjoy the race.

Right! I am going out running tomorrow. I am! It is 2 weeks since I have run, but the weather is cooler, I am feeling slightly less vile than I have the last couple of days, and I feel the need. Am hoping to head out about 11am when hopefully the streets will be nice and empty, what with everyone staying indoors watchin' some posh folks getting hitched!