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

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
Wheelybug - London, UK

Hope our marathon runners' niggles stay as niggles. Take care of yourselves - not long to go now esp. Paws !!

I hope those that can are enjoying the sunshine and not finding it too arduous. The gym is already beginning to feel v. warm (has v. little aircon) !

A gentle 4 miles in the gym this morning. Felt much better than Tuesday so feeling like I might make it over the finish line on Sunday .

As for fititng it all in with DH. DH's main problem is fitting running in around work - he'd love to do more but often can't. I agree how good it is for kids to see their parents running - even dd2 now says, when she sees my trainers coming out 'run mummy ?'. My Dad has always enjoyed sport and done regular stuff (now mostly golf). My mum used to swim regularly until about 2 years ago when she took up running (although she says she really doens't enjoy it !).

So pleased with myself! I was supposed to do an easy 40 min run today (and then 4-5 miles L/R tomorrow) but felt really good and ended up doing 5.5 miles in 51 minutes (which is super speedy for a plodder like me - don't laugh). I feel confident now that I can do the 10 mile race in June at a 10 min/mile pace so I don't show myself up. Woohoo!

Cestlavie I enjoy living in Stortford - commuting into London is easier from here than it was when we lived in Wimbledon! (though obviously more expensive...) It feels like the best of both worlds, lots of country to explore but convenient for London too if you want a bit more excitement. St Albans is also lovely though - DH has a friend who lives there. Happy to answer any questions you have.

DrNortherner - lucky you living in Harrogate, I think it's fab there. Sadly a bit far for DH to commute to his job in London...

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
Wheelybug - London, UK
Drivingmisscrazy - Dublin, Ireland (originally from London, though)

I hate running in the heat as well, and it is glorious here - at least in the summer the park has water (for the polo horses!)

DD (2.2) also says, 'going running' when I appear in my gear and comments on all runners as they pass...she is still sick and I have been up to my eyes at work, so 3 days have passed without a run - I usually try not to let more than 2 days pass without running. But will be out for a longish one tomorrow - usually I find I run well after a brief break (tempting fate...) I want to get to 200k for March.

running in heat makes me dizzy dh mocks me as I am from a warm country and he is Scotland born
anyway about fitting it in atm an at home studying and doing part of dh's self employed admin, so I am more flexible during term time

for dh it is harder but he fits longer runs at weekend along with sculling, during week he usually does a couple of swim session and circuit

I think it is important for dd to see us active and that is partly why we will be entering the GOSH family run with another family whose parents are also runners

this year dd can ride her bike well enough to ride along while we run so easier on holidays hurrah

sfxmum I'm the same - I don't do well running in the heat, and I grew up in sunny South Africa! I'm not a big fan of the heat in general, even when not running. Where are you from originally?

DH has just texted to say he'll be late again tonight - I might actually just go to bed early then set the alarm for early o'clock tomorrow rather than hang around tonight waiting. I was planning a slow 5 miles, but by the time he gets back I'm unlikely to have enough time and I hate rushing.

sfxmum when is the GOSH run?

the coo Portugal - I try to make it to the gym regularly but haven't managed yet this year mostly because of having had surgery mid Feb hopefully back next week

Paws link to GOSH

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
Wheelybug - London, UK
backwardpossom - Moray, Scotland

So... been a bit lazy and haven't actually done any running since Sunday (naughty possom). I have another 10k race on Sunday before upping the mileage again for the half, but I will probably go out for a 4 mile run tomorrow afternoon.

Then I'll probably ruin my good work by having a bottle of wine... hehe!

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
Wheelybug - London, UK
Drivingmisscrazy - Dublin, Ireland (originally from London, though)
backwardpossom - Moray, Scotland

Sorry, missed out Drivingmisscrazy - apologies!

thecoo yes Harrogate is a beautiful town. I think that every time I drive past the stray.

Such a lovley evening I am off for a run now with the dog will meet ds and dh at fotball training and get a lift back, so only about 4.5 miles in total. Might throw in a lap or 2 of the stray!

Then we are having a Chinese takeaway for dinner. Yum

Thanks for all the lovely kind wishes. Nice to tell people as obviously too early and too stressful to tell people in RL.

I blame my inability to run in the heat on my Scottishness!

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
Wheelybug - London, UK
Drivingmisscrazy - Dublin, Ireland (originally from London, though)
backwardpossom - Moray, Scotland
peachsmuggler - London, UK

OOh Mrs Wed you are not far from me......we could meet up at the Leeds 10k!

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
Wheelybug - London, UK
Drivingmisscrazy - Dublin, Ireland (originally from London, though)
backwardpossom - Moray, Scotland
peachsmuggler - London, UK
penguinarmy - California, USA

desperately tries to think where she knows hamster from

Well that was an interesting run! Made it out for my 6 mile gentle run when DH got home, and decided to do a nice hilly route heading out of town - only I forgot that I usually do it in the daytime and that by 8 pm it would be dark and the streetlights stop before the top of the hill. Got to the top of the hill and turned to come back, only to go over on my foot and suddenly find myself with both feet off the ground, pitching forwards downhill!

No harm done I think, my ankle felt a bit sore but managed to jog home OK. I scared myself though and DH was fuming I'd headed out on a lonely unlit road.

Apart from that it was actually a nice run .

Oh no paws you OK? Hope you didn't roll all the way down the hill?!

Looks like another sunny day here, off for an hours walk along the river with a friend and the dogs this morning after the school run as I don't work Fridays. Then supermarket shop, then a run this afternoon before school pick up. Out for dinner tonight, looking forward to it.

Wishing you all a great weekend.
x

finally, I am about to get out for a run. Lovely cool sunny morning; DD up at 6 (again!) - sleep deprivation and good running oh well, something is better than nothing, I guess

paws any bruises? hope you ok, get a head torch next time and maybe a helmet

hope to fit in a short run today despite annoying lingering cold and soreish throat, at least no temp so it should be fine, w/end busy and far too many people out

happy running and have a great weekend

Just been out for a short run as feeling so much better.... Did just over 5k albeit very slow by most standards (5k time was just under 34 mins) but I did it without stopping or walking and feel great...

The sun is out, the birds are singing and the woods are coming back to life....

Must remember to stretch now and go get a shower...

Hope you're not to sore paws and that your feel better soon sfx...

Thanks paws and thecoo - I may well have some questions for you especially (unsurprisingly) about schools and things when we manage to get our act together a little more... whenever that is!

Hope the shin splints aren't troubling you too much Moshi - they're incredibly frustrating things to get and seem to come out of nowhere. Hope they clear up quickly.

Lovely run this morning, usual 13 miles on a Friday morning. Clear blue morning skies and very quiet and still along the canals and rivers (obviously apart from my panting and wheezing!). Took 1 minute off last week's time and at 8.09 m/m it's slowly sneaking down towards my target 8.00 m/m. Slowly.

I'm with all those who suffer in the heat and the temperature is definitely creeping up - soon as it starts to get anywhere close to the high teens I really start to feel it and my performance suffers. A friend of mine is thinking about the Marathon des Sables and I was tempted but I think I'd actually pop if I tried it. Or I'd need someone to run alongside me with a sunshade, huge electric fan and a barrel of iced water.

Good luck for your races this weekend Wheely and possum - have fun doing them. Everyone else have a great weekend and happy running y'all!

9k in beautiful spring sunshine here - and about 8c so not hot yet....not very fast but I am a right plodder - I find it hard to make myself run at paces that are slightly uncomfortable except on a treadmill. But I figure that I building excellent endurance :o

happy running everyone!

Hope you are ok, paws?!

sfx - also have sore throat but going for gentle trot on the Alter G Trainer today.

Have a lovely weekend everyone! I am off to see my horse in Devon with DS and will fit in a 20 miler, shin permitting, when down there. Collecting the puppy on the way back on Sunday which is extremely exciting! Just sprayed anti-chew stuff around the house in preparation...

Oh and GOOD LUCK, wheely! looking forward to your race report.

Ankle fine this morning, just took the dog for a lovely long walk. Spring has definitely sprung, hasn't it? We'll be losing an hour's sleep this weekend, but at least we have the lighter evenings to make up for it.

Wheely are you all set for your race?! Feeling confident?!

I love the clocks going forwards - we run on DD time anyway it means is when she's up at 6am, it'll actually be 7am in the new world! Hooray! We'll technically be having a lie-in. Only technically, obviously...

Glad to hear no lasting damage from you fall paws

Hope you feel better soon sfx

Bet it feels good to be back out there hamster. Such lovely weather too!

Sounds pretty speedy to me cestlavie

I am a plodder too drivingmisscrazy

Enjoy your weekend away Moshi*, hope youtr niggles stay at bay.

Another beautiful day here on the South Coast. No running for me though, rest day before my final 20 miles tommorrow.

My knee is a bit stiff which I think is due to my bike ride the other day. Lots of stretching with the foam roller for me today!

Good luck with your races Wheely and possum, hope all goes well.