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

Fingers crossed for a smooth pregnancy, Peach and happy birthday!

Re: triathlon - I'm a pretty good swimmer and am really enjoying my running, so it's the cycling bit that's putting me off. I love cycling, but my bike isn't great and I'm not sure I can afford the expensive equipment (thanks for reminding me about the costs, paws, I tend to get carried away with myself - hence signing up for a half marathon...!) I had a look for some sprint triathlons in the area and there's one in August about 20 miles away, so I'll maybe go and watch this year to see the standard and then make a decision for next year :)

Peachy Happy Birthday and congratulations! Everything crossed for you xx

Happy birthday and secret smiley congratulations to you. Fingers crossed. Having had several mcs myself I can understand your nervousness and am sending lots of positive thoughts.

This thread is the busiest it has ever been! Must be the lovely sunshine inspiring us all.

[Am unreasonably pleased to be considered 'not short' , must be first time ever!]

I can't run with music, it puts me off my breathing. Love the peace and quiet too, it's often the only quietness I get in my day.

oooh hello! Just found the running threads here .... I already spend far too much time on the Runners World forums..... ahem!

Well I run too, well there's a surprise! All this talk about lovely spring running, it's rainy running here in the Southern hemisphere.

it's raining in California too. The locals are all in a fluster

I don't run with music either MrsWednesday - I have a fabulous huge park to run in (the biggest in Europe, apparently!) and I like the peace and quiet and the space to think. But most people think it's strange not to have music.

I do find I run better if I'm not actually thinking about running, but about other stuff, IYSWIM. I'm not fast, but I'm not very good with discomfort, so suspect that I could run a lot faster than I do. How do you make yourself run when (as someone upthread) you want to throw up. I'd just stop!

Peachy happy birthday and congratulations
I really understand how you feel having had a few myself but really it is one day at the time constantknickers checking but you know were we are

re music I usually run to music, occasionally obsessive about playlists but have also run to audio books and silence works sometimes too depends on mood

I currently have a sore throat getting better and the plodding plan continues

happy running all

My god, so much chat since I last looked! Are you all on holiday with nothing to do or is it just that there are so many of us now?

Congrats peaches and hope all goes well.

Cestlavie was also wondering about ebay for Garmin. Better make sure we're not bidding against each other! Found out 2 of my friends have the 305 and are v happy, but not sure I need a heart rate monitor so may go for the 205. DH is frequently in NYC these days, so have also wondered about buying on Amazon.com and having it shipped to his hotel - much cheaper than here.

Moshi how are you feeling?

DrNortherner I was only joking, not at all offended, so please don't feel - I forget that you can't see me smiling when I type!

I have a running playlist that I listen to occasionally, with some of my favourite faster songs, but mostly I prefer to run in peace and quiet. If I'm doing a longer run next to noisy roads I sometimes listen to podcasts to take my mind off things though.

Had a rest day today, but running again tomorrow, so hope weather stays lovely!

A huge congrats to you peach! Take it steady theseearly days but try not to worry and not enjoy being pregnant. Nothing you do will jeopardise the pregnancy I am sure so just go with the flow and keep reasonably active. And belated happy birthday too!

Still have a sore throat but feeling better today. Physio has said I must do mid-week runs on the G Trainer now and can only do my LSR outdoors. I have a permanent shin splint and it is quite painful so if i want to race at London I have to be careful. Praying I don't lose fitness or the ability to run properly on Tarmac.

Welcome to newbies! I see we are from various parts of the UK and the globe and thought it might be interesting to see where we all are (I'll start!):

MoshiMoshi - London, UK

Dr Northerner - Harrogate, N Yorks.

Dh and I are both members of our running club, I also do Armed Forces Fitness, dh is in a cycling club and plays football. Fitting it all in is a nightmare. Ds does football and rugby too........

My Parents were not sporty at all, I never was till adulthood. Dh rubbed off on me!

Oh and I knew you had it in you, cestlavie!

Sorry, meant to say make a cumulative list! eg

MoshiMoshi - London, UK
DrNortherner - Harrogate, N Yorks

Thanks Moshi - have been trying to get under 7.30m/m for some time so quite pleased about that.

Day's looking lovely for running again if anyone's lucky enough to be able to get out there. Am hoping for a light, slow 5 miles through woodland today but juggling work and kids today so will have to see.

MoshiMoshi - London, UK
DrNortherner - Harrogate, N Yorks
Cestlavie - London, UK

MoshiMoshi - London, UK
DrNortherner - Harrogate, N Yorks
Cestlavie - London, UK
IreadthereforeIam - Chester, UK

I have a poorly child again, so I'm under house arrest! I think I may go mad before I get to my mum's!

Ah a list.....I see

MoshiMoshi - London, UK
DrNortherner - Harrogate, N Yorks
Cestlavie - London, UK
IreadthereforeIam - Chester, UK
TheCoo - Bishop's Stortford (Herts), UK

hello lovely day here again, heading out at lunchtime

MoshiMoshi - London, UK
DrNortherner - Harrogate, N Yorks
Cestlavie - London, UK
IreadthereforeIam - Chester, UK
TheCoo - Bishop's Stortford (Herts), UK
Sfx - London, UK

MoshiMoshi - London, UK
DrNortherner - Harrogate, N Yorks
Cestlavie - London, UK
IreadthereforeIam - Chester, UK
TheCoo - Bishop's Stortford (Herts), UK
Sfx - London, UK
Pawsnclaws - St Albans, UK

Another beautiful day here but am getting a bit concerned at the 18 degrees we had here yesterday - I know it's not exactly the Marathon des Sables, but pawsnclaws doesn't do even the mildest heat! We went to Lanzarote last year and they had a heatwave - it went up to 48 degrees - but it was dry and we could lounge around the pool. Running a marathon in warm spring sunshine could be the end of me!

Off this afternoon to watch ds1 in his first (tag) rugby game, they've organised a set of matches with another local school to give everyone in year 3 a chance to play a match. Hopefully out tonight for a gentle jog.

Paws and thecoo you guys live in the two places we're thinking about moving out to! Might have to ask for some local insight at some point as we're pretty clueless about both places other than the fact they look lovely and aren't too far out of London going north!

Ask away cestlavie, I've lived in St Albans for many years now and it's got a lot going for it - nice green areas (for running ), good nurseries and schools, some lovely restaurants and a generally family friendly feeling. The only downsides I can think of are the costs - ridiculous house prices and the season ticket is an outrageous expense for just an OK service.

I know BS quite well as my mum and dad are in East Herts and we used to take the dogs over to Hatfield Forest, it's lovely.

MoshMoshi - London, UK
DrNortherner - Harrogate, N Yorks
Cestlavie - London, UK
IreadthereforeIam - Chester, UK
TheCoo - Bishop's Stortford (Herts), UK
Sfx - London, UK
Pawsnclaws - St Albans, UK
Hamster - Doncaster, S Yorks

Been a while since I posted on the old thread....

Too much to comment on everything but hope all well today - Moshi hope you hold up ok for the marathon after all your hard work....

Congrats peach - hope it stays put this time... And belated answer to old thread - yes I am a "lass"

Penguin - you post on another thread I am on too... Hope you're well and looking after yourself

Chest infection finally gone, and asthma heading the right way too... Been signed off work for nearly 3 weeks now, but may get signed fit to go back next week, and can't wait to get back out running too... Weather is fantastic up north too - was 18 here yesterday too

MoshMoshi - London, UK
DrNortherner - Harrogate, N Yorks
Cestlavie - London, UK
IreadthereforeIam - Chester, UK
TheCoo - Bishop's Stortford (Herts), UK
Sfx - London, UK
Pawsnclaws - St Albans, UK
Hamster - Doncaster, S Yorks
MrsWed - Leeds, W Yorks

Hopefully running home from work today - 5 miles along the canal.

MoshMoshi - London, UK
DrNortherner - Harrogate, N Yorks
Cestlavie - London, UK
IreadthereforeIam - Chester, UK
TheCoo - Bishop's Stortford (Herts), UK
Sfx - London, UK
Pawsnclaws - St Albans, UK
Hamster - Doncaster, S Yorks
MrsWed - Leeds, W Yorks
Doyouthinktheysaurus- Nr Brighton, West Sussex

Very warm down here again. I'm worrying about the heat too paws. Last summer I really struggled with the heat and felt it today. Did a slow 11 miles, legs a bit weary from my cycle ride yesterday but rest day tommorrow.

The end feels in sight now, just got to get through saturday's 20 miler and I can start to relax.

Hope everything is ok with your niggles Moshi, you have done so well with your training so far, you just need to get to the start line now, as fit and niggle free as possible.

I have a few niggles which I am just nursing along, keeping everything crossed nothing breaks or falls off

Glad to hear you are on the mend hamster.