runners united (burning up pavement, burning up threads)

[drivingmisscrazy]

calling all runners, veterans, newbies, fast, slow, anyone who likes to run to keen sane, keep things in perspective and to get out into the spring sunshine. We are a friendly bunch and all of us have things to learn from each other! Welcome. Please join us

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

bonkers classic anxiety dream!

well I just set off with Moshi's trusty speed intervals to get in a 45 minute session at the gym before shopping and lunch and all the rest. Place is bloody closed because it's a bank holiday weekend - Monday is a bank holiday, today is a normal working Saturday, surely?

furious - and then they will close it down (it's run by the local authority) because of lack of business - um, because you are never open when people can actually go! Will have to try and find 40 minutes at the other end of the day now. Grrrr

Afternoon all. Good luck before I forget to thetasigmamum and bonkers, will be thinking of you.

Went out this morning for a 10 mile run, but got hot and actually only did 8.5 - I was close to home and just thought sod it. I did it a bit faster than usual though, and ran out of water at 6 miles which may not have helped. I also managed to swallow a fly at 6 miles and retched and coughed so violently I scared a dog and his owner!

DS3 has a dreadful cough so we've had a few rough nights recently - not helped by a few too many beverages at a friend's house yesterday to celebrate the wedding. Hoping for an early night tonight after a barbecue in this glorious weather .

Well, despite being merde-visaged last night, I did 11.4 miles this morning. I'd gone out to do 12, but went the wrong way coming back in to the village and cut 0.6 miles off my run by accident. I tell you what though, it was a bloody struggle. Shows how much of a difference rest/food/preparation etc makes to a run.

Good luck tomorrow, bonkers and thetasigmamum

Best of luck to bonkers20 and thetasigmamum for your imminent races -Go girls!

I am gently easing my way back into running, after a week off following VLM. Feeling a bit creaky (although that might be mental as well as physical!).

Lots of events on the list for the next few months - I'm looking forward to hearing about everyone's race experiences. Just trying to decide what I should sign up for next.

Just a quick good luck to bonkers and thetasigma for your races... hope all goes well!

Thanks for all the good wishes. I feel like a bit of a fraud when some if you have run practically as far as I will tomorrow....but then, I've run that far loads of times too (well - 6 times) in the last couple of months. The difference is of course running on your own terms and running on someone else's. I am incredibly wound up about this. My main worries revolve around toilets (obviously. Obsessed so I am) and just the whole ore race period. The parking. The hanging around (we had thunder hail this afternoon. What if we have thunder hail early tomorrow? We will be drowned rats before we even run). The remembering to take what I need and not taking stuff I don't need. The decision vis a vis glasses or sunglasses. I hate squinting, I wear my prescription sunglasses outside for 9 or 10 months a year, I've been running in them since March - but I'm not sure they would do well in thunder hail.

Oh well. What will be will be. My team lost today and the whole season is therefore abject failure when it looked so very promising until a couple of weeks ago and that is probably worse than anything that can happen tomorrow. I'm sure it is.........

thetasigmamum - I think your nerves will stand to you - will drive you on. I'll think of you as I run my training half marathon distance (typed 'marathong', perhaps a new item of running underwear?!!) - I'm kind of dreading it, as I am tired and ratty today, and need more sleep than I am able to get. Also horribly behind on work, as DP is so sick and tired that I am doing most of the childcare and chores on top on my job....moan over, time for bed.

Looking forward to race report tomorrow!

Ooh driving you should patent that phrase! You could make a fortune

thetasigmamum the toilet thing is always a big issue for me (particularly post DS). I struggle to find a happy medium between staying hydrated and needing the loo all the time. Been experimenting on my training runs with varying success...

perhaps the 'marathong' could help? I struggle with this too, especially with early morning runs . One of those tomorrow, so must try and get some kip

Good luck theta!
I think you are not alone in being anxious about toilets. It's a PAIN being a woman. The only race there has ever been enough loos was the Race for Life. Millions of them!
I tend not to need loads to drink ie I never take water out with me for runs up to about 10 miles, but on race day it's the nerves that do me in.

the and bonkers - really hope you enjoy your races! Remover that running and, in particular, facing your nerves in races is what helps you deal with your fears directly. As such it is a great metaphor for what you must do in life as surely we must all learn to confront that which we are scared of or uncomfortable doing and in doing so become stronger and more confident in ourselves.

Can I join? In a fraudulent kind of way? I'm getting back on the wagon and thought you might inspire me!

I started running when DD2 was 4 months old. Did a beginners course through the women's running network and carried on; did one race of 4.5 miles. Moved area, lost momentum and was just building up again when I fell pregnant with DD3. Had every intention of carrying on while pregnant but was crippled with first trimester tiredness and didn't get back into it. So, DD3 is 10 wks, I went out for the first time last week inbetween breast feeding and was pleasantly surprised to find I didn't need to start right back at the beginning of 1 min run/ I min walk.

It's going to be tricky to fit in. DD3 is still feeding a lot. DH works 300 miles away and is only home usually from 10pm Fri til 5 pm Sunday and I don't have any regular child care. I'm thinking I will run on Saturday and Sunday, shred or pilates DVD as and when I can be bothered can fit it in during week and run if I have a grandparent around (they live an hour away and I usually see someone every couple of weeks).

My first goal is to get up to 30 mins continuous running.

Welcome robino! Sounds like you are determined but realistic given your constraints which bodes well. Best to be realistic about what can be done as there is nothing more depressing that feeling like you've failed and cannot continue. Breastfeeding and running is not without it's challenges too!

Why does my iPhone think "remember" should be "remover"?

46 miles on the bike yesterday which included 1 hour warm up, 3 x 15 mins at pace with 10 mins rolling recovery, warm down. It was fun but took 3 hours so I will need to practice my race pacing to get up to speed for my races.

Good luck to bonkers and theta for your races today.

Back from camping. Did 8 miles while away. I got hopelessly lost though and ended up just going out and back a few times on a long no through road. It felt ok, that's what matters I guess.

The plan is to build my long run to 11-12 miles next week and then up to 14-15 the week after. It's only a matter of weeks until my half

robino - welcome; that sounds difficult, but as Moshi says a realistic plan is the key (this coming from the queen of over-estimation, lol). Just did half marathon distance - various distractions along the way (massive police checkpoint, a heron, a little shrew, some cows - you wouldn't guess that I actually live in a city!). I did it in 2:16 without pushing hard at any point - 4 minutes slower than the one I raced in 2008. So I am pleased enough with that - I am 3 years older (which makes a difference at my age) but clearly fitter - it didn't even feel that long, although I was tired at about the 10 mile mark. The race is in 3 weeks; should I do one more long run, at or near the race distance?

My big problem is the start: it's taking me a good 30 minutes to get up to pace and to get toilet break, stretching (very tight calves at the mo) out of the way so that I can actually run at a decent pace. I'd say this cost me almost 10 minutes today. How should I handle this on race day - just run through it? calves so tight at points that I lost all feeling in my foot though. Advice/tips very very welcome

I'm very excited - have ordered a Garmin 205. Can't wait to try it out! :)

My left foot is sore today - there's a pain in the arch. I wonder if I need me gait analysed again. Not what I wanted 3 weeks before the half marathon.

Hi All, Sounds like some good running (and cycling) going on this weekend !

Welcome robino - sounds a tricky situation. I started running (again) when dd2 was about 4.5 months which was hard enough with the breastfeeding etc. I also had issues with childcare during the week as, although DH isn't away, he's out at least 7 - 9 and often later. Luckily my local authority leisure centre has a fantastic creche from 6 months so I have been doing 2 of my runs in the gym each week. Is anyhting like this an option for you in a few months ?

I did just over 8 miles this morning. Wanted to try and pace myself and run a slower pace than usual. Struggled to stick to anything. I wanted to run between 5.15 and 5.30 a km. According to my garmin I did an Av pace of 5.34 but it was all over the place (my maximum pace was 4.55). So a bit more practice required on this and actually I wonder if I need to slow down even further as when I look at my average run times on Garmin connect it didn't actually end up much slower than others. Anyway, on a more positive note I haven't run that far since I did the Kingston run so feel better about that and want to start increasing that distance AND it was my 4th run this week which is what I want to try and maintain.

Still shedding sand from my trainers everytime I run after the beach running on hols !!

I survived. And I wasn't last not by a long chalk, even thoug I was slow (2:19). It was freezing though. And it was practically ALL hills which I wasn't really prepared for both in terms of expectation ( the route just doesnt look so hilly when seen from the window of a camper van) and training ( I did no hill training). Running uphill was fine (I knew this would be the case, I have once or twice run up significant hills but some time ago) - running down was very difficult (I knew this too hence the no hill training) - something to do with my dyspraxia I think. I just find it very hard going downhill to keep my balance. And there were about 6 significant downhill stretchs. Still, it was fine. I was careful. It was hilarious to overtake people going uphill and have them overtake me again going downhill (I could see them doing double takes).

I'm not sure if or when I will do another. I'd like to not leave it at one but I thought the organization of this race was atrocious so Id rather not enter this one again but instead maybe think about Bristol in the autumn or bath next spring. Or Plymouth next year maybe.

I should probably point out that I don't have a ferociously weak bladder or bowels -I'm just scared of suddenly developing them. I've always been scared of this, since I was a kid - I never use to eat or drink on exam days until after the exam, just in case. :)

thetasigmamum well done! that's a very good time, given that you hadn't trained for hills...I'll be happy with something like that for mine - actually just going to try to work out the elevation which will put fear of god into me!

the difference between a well organised race and badly organised one is massive and I think really has an effect on your confidence. I think you should definitely do another (flatter) one!

Just marking my place on the new thread! Hello all, and welcome to the newbies

Any news yet from Thetasigmamum

Good luck to Bonkers for tomorrow! Hope you get your 50 mins, that would be a fab time!

We have been to Chester for the weekend, did the zoo today. Managed to fot in 5k this morning before a big hotel brekkie! Want to do a LSR tomorrow, about 10 miles, will try and get out at 8am as we have a local gala and ds is in teh parade.

Enjoy BH Monday all!

thetasigmamum just seen your post. Well done you!!! That is a fab time mate, I will be delighted to get similar for my half.

thetasigmamum congratulations! that is a great time..I would be really happy with that time and you did that with hills as well!

Entered another race today for October so will add it to the list:

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
25/09/11 - Edinburgh Urbanathlon: backwardpossom
02/10/11 - Standalone 10K: Futurity
16/10/11 - Abingdon Marathon: MoshiMoshi
30/10/11 - Great South Run: Wheely, squix
10/12/11 - Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon (half): drivingmisscrazy

I checked my entry after I had done it and it has me in category "FV35"...does that make me (whispers) a veteran? That makes me feel ancient!

Hope everyone is enjoying the bank holiday and getting some nice runs in. 9 miles tomorrow for me. Been blessed with perfect running weather recently..I have forgotten what it is like to run in rain but I am sure that come the summer I will soon remember!

futurity I know what you mean about the lack of rain - I think I've only got drenched once in 2011 and I have clocked quite a few miles at this point. Went out early, and it was bright, but cool, with a strongish wind (which I did not appreciate being in my face on the way home...) - it was perfect and I came home with left over water!!

Hello, have been pointed in your direction by drivingmisscrazy but am joining with trepidation since I'm very much a newbie to the running malarky. I used to be good at it, two babies and 15 years ago! Have been going about 8 weeks and am up to 8k, but want to get to 10. Am doing ok, have a longstanding knee injury which is coping, and am running on hills 3-4 times a week so think I could probably do 10k on the flat. I am horribly slow (I think? I don't have a clue, I just feel slow) usually run at about 6.75k/hr average, 9k/hr on the roads, I feel very sluggish sometimes. Am doing R4L in May, only 5k though, but meant to be doing 10k in June and am very worried about both! I also need to shed my chocolate habit, and the related weight...