runner united (we talk almost as fast as we run)

[drivingmisscrazy]

a thread for runners to chat, debate, share tips, triumphs (and the occasional disaster!) - new runners particularly welcome, the only thing that's required is enthusiasm (and a pair of running shoes)

29/05/11 - Stirling R4L: squix
29/05/11 - Plymouth Half Marathon: sungirltan
30/05/11 - BUPA 10K: MoshiMoshi
01/06/11 - BHF Canary Wharf 10K jog: june2009
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
06/07/11- Yately 10k (not actually booked yet): DebiTheScot
10/07/11 - RFL 5K, Kingston & Kempton Park: Wheelybug
10/07/11 - Felsted 10K: bonkers20
16/07/11 - Phoenix park 5 miler - drivingmisscrazy
17/07/11 - RFL St Albans - Pawsnclaws
17/07/11 - Dundee Half marathon - TheChewyToffeeMum
17/07/11- Chichester (Sprint) Triathlon: DebiTheScot
20/08/11 - Frank Duffy 10 mile, Dublin - drivingmisscrazy
03/09/11 - Dingle Half-Marathon - drivingmisscrazy
11/09/11 - Bristol Half- Marathon - thetasigmamum
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun, popsycal, LaLa
23/09/11 - Notting Half Marathon: cestlavie
25/09/11 - Edinburgh Urbanathlon: backwardpossom
25/09/11 - Windsor Half Marathon: Doyouthinktheysaurus
02/10/11 - Standalone 10K: Futurity
02/10/11 - Bradford Half Marathon - MrsWednesday
02/10/11 - Baxter's River Ness 10k - backwardpossom
16/10/11 - Abingdon Marathon: MoshiMoshi
30/10/11 - Great South Run: Wheely, squix
19/02/12 - Brighton Half marathon - Wheely

emma I don't have much of a plan either, just that I know most serious trainers always say that most people run their easy miles way too fast, and anecdotally I've heard of lots of runners who have knocked minutes off PBs by slowing down their easy pace. However, I suspect I am simply making a virtue of necessity!!

ps the principle is that you shouldn't be running most of your weekly mileage at or close to threshold pace

Well am all ready guys. Camera and Garmin are charged, dh's number is pinned on (mine to be collected tomorrow...) kits out and ready, trainers ready, packed lunches made.....had chicken, rice and loads of veg for dinner, a few good brews of Yorkshire tea and a couple of jaffa cakes.

Up and out at 7am tomorrow to drop dog off at kennels for the day and off we go.

Good luck futurity. Weirdly, I know whilst I am running I will be thinking of you running too and although I have never met you I am certain it will help I a feeling a tad emotional at the messages of support I have had from friends and family today, that I have raised nearly £1000 and the help, friendship and support I have had from a bunch of women (and one man) I have never met. You are all wonderful

And this is without wine. With wine I might be telling you all how much I love you

Good luck DrN!

Good luck DrNo! And although I'm looking forward to reading your race report, I'm not at the same time as I think it will make me all teary and emotional like the last lot of reports and driving and her dp's test results! I used to be such a cold hearted old goat but since having the dc's, I'm just stupidly emotional!

Will be thinking of you and futurity tomorrow.x

Well done badger and hamster . Hope your foot gets sorted hamster.

Driving I will join you in posting my splits - I am delighted on my shorter runs (5 miles) if they start with a 9 ...

Oooof - did military fitness trial class this morning and I am sore. Quite enjoyed it though.

I was expecting my arms and shoulders to ache. I am a complete wuss when it comes to press ups and upper body stuff and I wasn't wrong, I wasn't expecting my legs to be quite so sore - I think it demonstrates that my running technique needs some work. I rely far too much on my quads and I am sure that I should bring in my hamstrings and inner thigh muscles more - those are the surprising aches I have. As you all suggested the instructor said to go into the middle group - so now I just need to work out if I can afford it. I'm not using the gym as much these days ( only really to take DD swimming or to pootle up and down the pool myself) but I do use it more over the winter. I still need to try a body pump class at the gym - that might work similar muscle groups but I quite enjoyed doing the class outside and just using the park as a gym.

Was planning on a long run tomorrow - will see how stiff I am in the morning....

peach - or cheerleader-in-chief hope you enjoy your trip in Scotland . Do you have anything nice planned?

Weather is a bit pants here (east coast of scotland) at the moment. It's hard for us to believe that parts of the uk have a drought and hosepipe bans. We are decidedly soggy. And I am still running in a long sleeve top.

drno soooo excited for you and futurity . Sending you both lots of fast and strong vibes. Have a good sleep and will be thinking of you in the morning.

Cheers! I will be thinking of you as well DrNo and looking forward to hearing your report. Off to bed now to sleep (hopefully!)

Good luck tomorrow everyone. I remembered I have a 5k tomorrow. Haven't exactly prepared well for it... unless beer and peanut M&M's count? Oops.

Glad the 10k went well Hamster, and well doneBadger too!

Deb, your cycle sounds fun, hope DH doesn't get a bruised ego from you speeding off! Ha ha.

Driving, yes I've read the same thing about the long slow run. The problem I usually have is adjusting pace, am a bit of a one speed runner at the best of times, but I think it takes practice, and discipline to slow yourself down by an extra minute a mile. The other tricky thing that am sure we can all agree on is that as it is often difficult to fit in running with family life anyway so the thought of taking even longer over the long run seems counter intuitive. However, when I get back to running I am really going to try to do my long runs slower and also be more scientific about nutrition/recovery/cross training etc. BTW you can all throw this back in my face next year when I don't do it

squix, I quite enjoyed the sogginess yesterday as soooo nice to be home. Just catching up with family and attending nephrw's birthday party while up. Also letting my lovely family and in-laws run around after me! Am sure BMF will have you finding muscles you didn't know you have!

Science, I agree we are all products of life experiences and am sure you DH and family love you just the way you are

good luck for your 5k possum

squix - I tried a short sleeve top yesterday and my arms were all frozen and numb by the time I got home! My nephew's first birthday party was yesterday too - his mum and dad had the garden all decked out with colourful decorations. It looked very forlorn in the rain. Your military fitness trial sounds great. Although, I wouldn't even begin to know how to involve different muscles in my running without falling over or something!

What you say really resonated with me, science. My body, and particularly my boobs, will never be the same post-babies. Like you I try to focus on the fact that I am stronger and fitter than I ever was when I was younger, before children. I used to smoke and drink far too much and shunned any form of exercise until my late twenties. Have you seen the blog Shape Of A Mother? I found it really inspiring and reassuring - women from all over the world talking about their relationship with their post-baby bodies.

oh yes, good luck for today possum. Here's hoping beer and peanut butter m&m's prove to be ideal 5k preparation.

We are in one of the drought areas. We have had a couple of really heavy downpours i the last week, but apart from that virtually nothing for months. When I ran on Friday it was around 15 degrees with sunny intervals.

When I visited Scotland las t week with DD we managed to time it ideally! Didnt get rained on once, and 3 out of the 4 days were t-shirt and shorts weather. I must have brought it with me!

Good luck to those racing today. I am about to head to our conservatory/family room (one of the main reasons we bought the house...it is MASSIVE and we use it for so many things) for a killer circuits session with DH. Fun....

Enjoy your circuits Notyummy! That is hardcore!

MrsWeds, did you enjoy the party or are you lying in a darkened room somewhere?

Master, I always think your runs with all the little kids cheering you on sound lovely. If I run past a group of children in London I always expect them to shout something derogatory about my arse!!

Good luck drno! Hope you have better weather than here (lots of rain).
I've not been running as I have a bad cold, at least the sore throat didn't develop.

Another one here with depressing boobs... At least we can put a bra on that. Im looking at swimwear for our holiday and goooone are the bikini days!!!

Really looking forward to joining that running club and hoping the instructor does all the tempo, intervals and stuff you mentionned on here!

Looking forward to race reports :)

Been for a run today...just saying, I'm on the wrong thread if I'm expecting a round of applause!

Things I note:
I do my best runs in the morning. I can't understand why though as all I have is a cup of tea before I head out.

I had to stop to let an open top jeep thing by and as I let them past the passenger put her hand over her mouth in mock shock. I thought she was going to apologise for me having to stop to let them by as I was going at a really nice pace, but no, she just said "mind your toes". I don't mind slowing down but I really mind stopping.

I didn't do a warm down. I'll let you know how my limbs are tomorrow.

5 miles in 44 mins. Bye now. Toddler napping and ironing calls.

Survived (waves weakly). 2 hours 22 mins so roughly in my target time despite a shocking last mile. Next time I will definitely train up to 13 miles as found last two so hard. Had to walk for a bit but then got angry with myself so started plodding again. Got a shiny medal and am pleased I got through it. Need to sleep now so may do more detailed report later/tomorrow.

yay futurity! That sounds a real battle, well done for getting through it. Look forward to reading your full report.

Yayyy well done Fururity! that's a great time. I know what you mean about the end, it can be a slog when you've not trained to that distance, but marvellous stuff lady. Enjoy yourself this evening!!!

Hooray futurity that is awesome well done you. A great achievement.

DrNo too we shall no doubt get a full post run report soon.

Fantastic stuff futurity = what an achievement and glad to hear it doesn't sound like your last half !!

And well done too hamster !

Was supposed to do a gentle 5K on friday evening but at the start saw a guy who was obviously trying to stay ahead of me so I sped up and sped off - very childish. Anyway, thankfully he went a different way so I could slow down but thought I'd better carry on running fast to make the most of the run. Was going to do 9 miles this morning (which would have been my longest run ever) but coul'nt face the rain so will go out in a mo for probably 8 miles.

Also went looking at bikes yesterday at our local independent bike shop -decided on a good hybrid. The one I liekd best was quite a sporty one. Dh did take me into halfords to try and see if we could find a cheaper one but I couldn't, or maybe wouldn't.

I need to address my stomach area too. I still haven't started my '6 week 6 pack' but must.

Great runs everyone !!

Futurity- well done! Great stuff.

You know what I was staying about being in a drought area..... It has been raining since 12 noon and windy and around 11c. Rubbish!

Did 45 minute circuits session with DH. Really pushed myself. Can feel shoulders and arms already.....

Well done futurity I thought of you whilst running today

Well, I did it Chip time is 1.58 and 03 seconds. So just under my secret target of 2 hours. I agree with futurity though, I will train to 13 miles next time as I found the last 2 bloody tough.

Despite an early start, there seemed so much to sort out here this morning, and the dog had to be dropped at kennels so we arrived at my Mums house at 8.45am. Picked her up and drove to the local college for park and ride. Got the shuttle bus, got my number, the sun was shining and everyone was in a good mood. We jogged to the start line, only had a few mins to spare and we were off. First 5 miles felt good, and I ran them all in under 9 mins so glad I banked this time at the beginning. Once out of the sea front we ran about 5 miles up dual carriage way, back again, then along the sea front to the finish. At times it was hot, at times there was a breeze. We saw the front runners pass us on teh way back which was good to see and the crowds were great, saw a few people I know. Lots of people shouted our names from our shirts! At about 7 miles I think (splits will tell me when) I got a horrific stitch. A proper hurts to breathe stitch and I slowed considerably and did that mile in about 9.5 mins. Took me a while to recover from that and was averaging just over a 9 min mile. Once off the dual carriageway we had about 3 miles to go and mentally I was losing it. Dh really kept me going. Then I seemed to get some rhythm back and started overtaking a few people. Everyone seemed to be struggling at this point. I looked at my watch and resigned myself to the fact that sub 2 hours was slipping away, for some reason I thought the finish line was further up the seafront than the start line.......but it wasn't! I could see the end, and my watch said 1.56. So although I thought I had nothing left I opened up my stride and went for it, overtaking about 10 people to the end. Dh and I crossed the line hand in hand together (although my chip time says 1 second faster
I am so so so delighted with my time

I am knackered, and my legs ache, and my hips are a little sore. Having takeaway for tea

Thank you ALL for your encouragement and support. This is my fave thread ever on MN.

Oh, ate Lucozade jelly beans throughout and am thinking I can run and digest stuff at the same time. i can not forgive them for the stitch and the thought of one now makes me want to vomit