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

easy 5 miler this morning (actually longer because of all the security in Dublin ahead of the Queen's state visit to Ireland), good steady pace. Race bib and chip arrived in this morning's post - I can't believe I am actually going to run this thing...

MrsWeds I hated the tapering phase - worst bit of the whole thing. I just stuffed my face and felt really out of sorts. Now, where's that sponsorship page?!

Had a quick look for your sponsorship page MrsWed but seem to have lost it amongst the millions of messages on here...! Would you mind re-posting? As everyone says, taper is always awful... think a light short run might help, at least psychologically, providing you really do take it easy.

Argh - having trouble keeping up with the thread again! drivingmisscrazy - you were right, I did pull out of my race. Good luck with yours, and you too MrsWeds. I haven't been running much over the last week as I've had this on-going stomach pain which I was beginning to think might be an ulcer or something, but it seems to have pretty much gone now. Off to running group this evening.

paws the marathon route in Chester is a bit different. They were in the local paper recently advertising it - and they were holding up a copy of the map, so it might be online - worth a search? I know that part of it will be around the walls (those steps are going to be interesting )
Thanks for all the good wishes - bum's feeling a bit better today - I'm going out for a slooow 3 miles this evening. Hopefully it'll loosen me up a bit!! Then Pilates tomorrow night to put everything back in it's place!

Argh - I just lost a message too. MN must be having a funny turn.

Anyway, in summary -

mrsW please repost sponsorship page or PM me, I'd like to add to it.

driving - you'll be fine, I'm sure !

I missed the gym again today - still feel really thick headed but hoping its the antibiotics which I finish today. But on the plus side, I have lost a few pounds this week, which is more than I have done in the last month. Must give up running - it clearly adds pounds .

debi - I think I've decided to go for a hybrid and just get as good a one as DH is prepared to fork out for (well it is my birthday ). Then see how it goes. Although just did a 'bike finder' thing on halfords and it came up with no bikes for me - assume it must be shortness. Probably need to go there or to a proper bike shop.

Any recommendations for makes/ bikes folks ? I think driving and doyou linked to theirs a while ago. Will go and have a nose !!

finally got a moment to get on here and catch up! Taping hell sounds awful MrsWednesday ...I will be thinking of you and drivingmisscrazy this weekend. Hope the weather stays cool for you both.

I've got a few more weeks until my half. Did 10 miles this morning...it was hard..its the warmth that just drains me so much and it isn't really THAT hot! Stuffed jelly babies into me and drank water so that helped. Almost ran into a swarm of bees/wasps (not sure which..didn't dare get close enough!) which was scary. Took so long to do 10 miles...I think I may have to put back my goal to 2 hours 30 mins (was thinking of 2 hours 20mins) as I just can't see how I can maintain a faster pace. Whose idea was it to do a spring/summer half marathon!? Oh yes..it was my friend...who has dropped out!

Well done on your 10 miles futurity. The warmth saps my energy too but it does get easier the more you train in warm weather. Starting well hydrated helps a lot when it is hot.

I did a slow 15 miles today and felt good although my shin pain is still there. I was sort of hoping it would go away but may have to be more inventive if I want to start my autumn marathon training injury-free. Mind you, maybe I should start as I will no doubt go on and just keep my injuries .

Tapering is horrible. I felt fat, slow and twitchy.

wheely - I think I did offer before but you are welcome to try my road bike you know. It is carbon fibre and fast but quite old so not shiny and new so I would worry about lending it. I think we are both shorties!

Should of course have said NOT worry about lending it!

Before I forget - pack favourite post-race beverage and snack, flip flops, compression tights and baby wipes for after the marathon, MrsWeds. All very useful. Do NOT wear skinny jeans. Your feet will swell and you may have to cut yourself out of them.

misscrazy - you are RACING not running. You know you can do it! You are racing against yourself and your pride. But racing nonetheless.

Message to MrsWeds applies equally to possum and squix of course. If only I would check the list before posting (doh).

Yes it's a big race weekend coming up for the MN runners! We need to get t-shirts printed up for next year's events How is everything going Squix and Backwardspossom? Driving you are top of the list

Thanks for all the wise words on tapering. Just getting out and running for 5 miles today - driving, we are running and suffering in parrallel this week - made me feel loads calmer. I think part of it that you spend so much time running and thinking about running that in the last few days when you aren't doing so much, there is a big void to fill - and I'm filling it with stress and worry!

Top tips Moshi, will pack my fit flops, tracky bottoms and a large cake - have got a very long list of stuff to take with me, having gone through all the pre-London posts to get everyone's tips. Assuming you are not doing the triathlon this weekend, is that right?

Nabbed this from the Marathon Talk facebook page today :

which I can't decide whether is inspirational or intimidating.

Futurity I hope your friend is coming to cheer you on at the very least! Congrats on getting ten miles under your belt.

Iread, hope the recovery run goes well!

Glad you are on the mend Wheely and thanks again for the sponsorship.

Goldberry enjoy running club, am looking forward to going to mine again once I'm out of marathon mode (couldn't hack the pace of running club as well as doing long runs at weekends, my legs aren't up to it!)

Hope all injuries are healing. Happy running.

thanks to you all - Moshi can't quite envisage myself as a racer, but I take your point! MrsWeds indeed; I'm not quite sure what to do tomorrow - 3 miles, maybe, or possibly nothing. Am a bit worried about what happens after the race - no mention has been made of showers or the like, so I imagine I will get something to eat, get back in my car and do the 3 hour drive back to Dublin. DP may need the fire brigade on standby to lever me out! I'll be delighted with 2h30 on a tough course; would hope for 2h10 on a flat one (but I don't like boring road races, so am probably never going to find out)

futurity I think 10 miles is actually the key barrier when building distance; and you will run faster on the day (I keep telling myself this, but am unable to believe it)

on the bike thing - I just loved my bikes, not sure that they would really cut it as road bikes (Trek hybrids, actually). All nicked and long gone to some unappreciative 14 year old, sadly :(

we are in good spirits here today as DP has been going back and forth to the clinic with a lump in her breast, but consultant has signed her off until November (precautionary check, primarily because they won't do a mammogram on a preg woman, although they do routinely in the US ), and is pretty sure that it's fine. This has been a bit of a shadow hanging over the pregnancy, although I think we both knew in our heart of hearts that it was probably ok. But you can never be too careful.

Off to Sufjan Stevens tonight (which might impact on my running plans for tomorrow :) - through the strangely deserted city - very high security on account of Her Maj's visit - actually quite moving (I should point out that I am English, although I have lived here for many years now)

hello

best wishes to mr hat ouch I hope he is a non fussy patient

driving it was the best gig I have been to over that past 12 months, a real fun party Enjoy I am slightly
re DP I am glad it seem there is nothing to worry about, but of course one worries, and btw mammograms HURT instrument of torture that thing is, surely something better can be invented

hang in there with the dreaded tappering you will be primed on the day
best of luck

I dragged myself around for 5 miles today, heavy head and sore shoulder from a restless night but the point is I went out and did it,

sfxmum - I often feel like that after one of my sleepless nights, but am usually glad I did it...

yes, I know they really really hurt

I um'd and ah'd all afternoon about going for a cycle tonight but then I made white chocolate and raspberry brownies and ate one. It was so amazing I had to have another one so I made myself go for a 10 mile cycle first!

Oh thank you moshi, that's a very kind offer. I'm sort of thinking that, as I have never really done much cycling (a 20 mile or so ride every couple of years as an adult probably !) a hybrid would be useful anyway and would get me into cycling before I try anything too complicated - but I would love to take you up on that offer next year sometime if I stick to my guns and am seriously looking to do triathlons.

mrsW - that video is great. I trust you've been pratising your cartwheels to get you over the finish line...

driving - glad your fears have been allayed !

Just watched that video of end of the Boston marathon.. Loved the people cartwheeling and doing press-ups! It's the ones who collapse that really hit home though. I wondered today after running 10 miles that how on earth could I run another 16! Think you are right about 10 miles being some sort of barrier ..I did feel I was aiming for that in my training rather than 13 if you see what I mean..it feels like such a milestone :-)

Hello all! Running group went really well - more intervals this week. I managed to up my pace without totally killing myself! So, Squix, Possum and driving are up next - good luck all. Must get my arse in gear and sign up for a 5k to keep me motivated...

Ooh thanks for all the nametags! I've been tapering (!) and feeling fat and sluggish. Have had a 5km jog earlier tonight and it was a struggle, so not filling me with confidence!

I'm in the blue starting pen for Sunday - squix where will you be? My race number came in - 24544. It's all starting to get a bit real... eek!

I've raised almost £700 for Macmillan Cancer Support with this race, so am feeling rather pleased with myself. I know I'm a relative newbie here, but if any of you would like to sponsor me and has a pound to spare, please PM me and I'll message you my Just Giving page. :)

Hope you're all well, sorry I've not been keeping up to date. Moshi I'm glad to hear that your mum is being treated quickly! Think about you a lot.

Squix and MrsWed how are you feeling about Sunday?

hat hope your man recovers quickly from his broken arms. How awful for him!

Iread huge well done on your great time!

Hi to everyone else, I hope the running is going well! x

I'm only 788; I have to say I like events without too many people, or pens, for that matter...

oops - posted under DP's username (actually not that drunk, just on her computer)