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

can't run and digest food not can........

That is amazing DrN. I am sure your dad would be very proud.

drno wow you must be so happy :) congrats, we thought about you today!

Reading the reports of hm are making me sooo nervous. I really need to step up my game. I feel like i must be crazy to have taken on the challenge. The friend who is doing the same hm ran 9 or 10 miles the other day, her longest run. my longest run to date is 10k .

I'm just feeling down because i have not been able to train since thursday...must stay positive!!!

I didn't actually eat many jelly babies despite taking loads with me. I just couldn't face them as thought I would throw up. Probably part of reason I slowed so much in last two miles.

Having Chinese tonight and already plotting my next one in the Autumn (or shall I stick to 10k's?)

Woooo hoo cracking stuff from Futurity and drno. Very proud of you both. Lovely race report drno - enjoy your takeaway.

Slow, sore 8 miles from me this morning - I really felt yesterday's exertions - inner thighs and hamstrings in particular. Where have they been hiding ? How did I not know I had them?

Well done futurity and Dr No. You both did brilliantly. Dr No, I love that you and Mr DrNo crossed the line together and that he helped you with pushing through the stitch.

I'll be back in a bit when on comp with our comedy of errors!

Squix - if you are not used to doing much stength/cross training then that is where you feel it - running good for the quads but not so good for the back of the leg. If you don't train both then there is the risk of thebecoming unbalanced and physical issues arising - god work though!

Brilliant DrNo, fantastic - we all thought you would do it! You must be so very pleased and proud of that (I am so pleased for you!!!) Great race report too. Apologies if you get another random friend request from me, I accidentally deleted you when trying to get rid of someone called Dave

Futurity, that is fantastic! Really, really well done.

I hope you are both enjoying takeaways, admiring your medals and basking in the glow of races well run

Back later once children have been put to bed.

"So although I thought I had nothing left I opened up my stride and went for it, overtaking about 10 people to the end. "

This is my favourite bit! What a heroic effort Dr No, and a fantastic time. Well done. Enjoy your takeaway and I hope you're not too sore tomorrow.

So race report...where to start? Woke up stupidly early and had my porridge and banana. Picked up by my lovely friend (who ran most of the race with me) and we got there in plenty of time. It was sunny but cold...was glad I took a warm top with me. Spent ages queuing for loo (ended up going again before start and during the run!) and met up with other friends.

Not a huge amount of people (340ish) and we set off promptly and everyone wizzed off but my friend and i stuck to a 10min 20 ish pace. We were soon joined by a lovely older chap who we got talking to ...he then told us he was the sweeper and we looked behind and realised we were last!:). Wasn't bothered though and we actually ended up passing a few people so only came 8th from last in the end.

It started raining after about 30 minutes and carried on throughout the run but it wasn't a problem..probably the coolest run I have done for a long time.

It was great running with someone and it was lovely when we both saw respective families a few times...really gave us a lift. There was a fair bit of support on the course when in the villages (jelly babies handed out!) but a lot was quiet and that I found hard when after 11 miles my friend picked up the pace as she could see she could achieve 2 hours 15. Those last two miles were HARD and as the course was so quiet I didn't feel shame in walking a bit but soon got grumpy and started to run again. Yes I wish I hadn't slowed down so much at the end but as I had done most at a good speed I still managed 2 hours 22mins which was roughly my goal. I did laugh at the end straight as they had taken down the finish arch! Lots of people there clapping and I was so chuffed to have made it.

So...next time?! Yes there will be a next time as this distance interests me...the calculating of pace...the challenge...it appeals to me (despite the commitment needed). Also seeing as I keep trying to enter the London Marathon I have to keep this distance running business up until I get that done! What could I differently? Not sure at this stage...don't know why I didn't feel like eating even though i merrily ate jelly babies during training. Think is was because i was running faster..I just thought i would throw up if I ate but i need to sort that as it must of added to the last two miles hell. As said before I have to do at least 13 miles in training as that would help mentally. It would help if I had longer legs to keep up with my friend (!) but failing that I could do with losing 1/2 stone as I always feel slightly ploddy and out of breath. I need to mix up my training more with more hills/speed work and do some more cross training on my new bike :)

That's all for now! Can't ever see me getting under two hours but next goal is 2 hours 10-15 which most of my friends did and I am sure is an achievable goal. Now..what Chinese to have...?

DrNo how brilliant, what a lovely time and it sounds like a great experience. I am delighted both for you and futurity that it went so well.I too love that you had such support from dh, you obviously are a strong team.

June how long have you got to go?

I too am slightly concerned about the last 2 km, as I know having done the same race before, that the last two are just slightly up hill and very dusty.

Great report, futurity - you really get across the mental element (in both the literal and colloquial senses of the word!) of hm running. Like June2009, reading your and DrNo's reports has made me so aware of how much I need to do before I'm in any way ready for my own hm. You've both done so well.

I went to get the latest races list and ended up right at the beginning so I hope this is the one, I added my half marathon on 25/09.

15 weeks to go .

I am looking for a 10 miles race in london before then, does anyone know of one or how to look for one? I googled it quickly just now but coudln't find anything obvious. I must go back to my feelings after completing the 10k race, I really felt like I could have gone on longer at that pace, it must be possible.

Thank you for the reports, they're brilliant and really helpful :D

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
25/09/11 - London Half Marathon Run to the beat: June2009
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

Here are my splits:
1 00:08:34 1.00 08:34
2 00:08:12 1.00 08:12
3 00:08:22 1.00 08:22
4 00:08:46 1.00 08:46
5 00:08:52 1.00 08:52
6 00:08:40 1.00 08:40
7 00:09:02 1.00 09:02
8 00:09:36 1.00 09:36
9 00:09:09 1.00 09:09
10 00:09:12 1.00 09:12
11 00:09:08 1.00 09:09
12 00:09:29 1.00 09:29
13 00:09:40 1.00 09:40
14 00:01:18 0.16 08:01

Off for a bath. Feel free to offer comments

Well done futurity and DrNo you should be so proud of yourselves!

I'm a bit meh about the 5k today. It was ridiculously hilly and parts were off road and on grass and things. Basically, my pace on the roads was between 7:30 and 8:00 min/miles and on the grass/hills/stones (!) it jumped to between 10:00 and 11:00 min/miles. Grr. My time was 28:04 which was disappointing, but I suppose I should be happy given the conditions.

I think I'll do a timed 5k soon for myself on a flat-ish route, so I can get a more realistic view of how I'm doing at that distance. :)

Weeps at your splits! Not posting mine as they are shocking near the end

That's a good time, backwardspossom, especially given some serious off-roading! Your pace on the road is v. speedy.

Great race reports futurity and drNo. You should both be feeling so pleased with yourselves ! And how nice of DH/friend running all/most of the way with you.

drNo - your Dad would be so proud !

futurity - A bit mean I think to have taken down the finish arch as they must have known you were on your way and its not like you did a slow time ! I hope it didn't take anything away from it.

futurity don't weep at my splits. Don't take away from what you achieved today. You ran 13.1 miles. Not many people can

Futurity would you post your splits please? :)

Ok so our race was not in the same league at all as the hm's run today and didn't start in the best way.
The team was meant to be next door neighbour 'T' and 4 others inc 'G' who seemed to be in charge, and his son. 2 people had pulled out so that's where me and dh came in.
We got there in plenty time but as it was torrential rain we stayed in the car and had our lunch waiting for neighbours to arrive. They were running late so gave me G's phone number and we went looking for him. His phone was off and the organisers weren't up for letting me look through the details of all the teams to figure out what team number they were so we could find them.

Eventually T and family arrived about 20 mins before the start time and it was a mad panic to work out who was doing what. It worked with 2 people running at once so 5 sets of 2.62 mile laps altogether. G was going to do 3 and was happy to do 2 back to back so as I was also doing 2 and was changed me and him went 1st. It was only spitting rain but I had a killer stitch part way round. I did it in 20:36 which I didn't believe!

Dh was 3rd and handing over to me. But I misjudged the time and needed a last minute poo and wasn't expecting him to be fast and I wasn't in the pen waiting. They had to shout for me and I had to shove people out of the way to do the handover! Dh's time was 20:29 but that includes him waiting for me so I was not happy at his time! He has never run!!

My 2nd run was also pretty good although the rain was very heavy and it was windy. Then we had another handover issue! T had suffered with his back in his 1st leg so G offered to do a 4th leg but again, they misjudged the time and no one was there for me to hand over to! My time was 20:50 but must have been 20:30ish again. (I was thinking of you driving during this leg and telling myself that if you could do a hm in worse weather that I'd be fine!)

We don't know our final time but must have been about 3hr20. And the most important thing that I'm sure you wanted to know is that I had 2 men between my legs and only one of them was my husband

hearty congrats to DrNo and futurity - both of you had to battle to the end and did it! In terms of the last 2 miles, I am definitely with Jeff Galloway on this one - always run further in training than you plan to race. The adrenaline will get you over the line, but you won't run as well as you can - my IHMOID (Infamous Half Marathon of Indefinite Duration, for the newbies :o) was notable for me in terms of fitness: I could run big hills fairly well, and the last 2 miles were by far the easiest, because I had run the distance (and more) before. For my next one I am planning to build up my long run to about 18 miles before the race. Again long slow miles (although I take Peach's point about not wanting them to take any longer than they really have to be :o). So just as 10k seems like a fairly short run to me now so presumably 21k will if I can run 30.

Futurity it sounds like you learned a good lesson about numbers of runners - the same thing happened with IHMOID for me - about 1000 runners, a third peeled off for the mini (oh, how I wish I had gone with them) another third split for the full, leaving about 300 halfers - if you calculate that half of them were faster than me, that leaves those at the back ploughing a very lonely furrow indeed. I never felt lonelier than when picking my way down a steep rocky hill in the driving wind and rain, and it helps so much when there's company to spur you on.

I didn't run today, so will do long run tomorrow - old friend of DP's here visiting her kids (long and painful custody battle :() - DP can't drink at the mo, obviously so I had to have her share...and then up at 6.30 to drop them to the airport. Also cold, windy and pissing with rain. I've ages to my half, and will catch up my mileage during the week. Did weeding on windswept allotment instead...

DrNo and futurity. I'm telling you, the last 500m of the GNR felt like the previous 13 miles combined. 500 (YES!), - 400 (I've only done 100m since the last one?!) - 300 (you ARE joking, scrapes limp body off road and carries on) - 200 (I honestly don't think I can make it - knew I should not have started the "sprint" finish at 12.6 miles) - 100 (is that cheering? Is that the finish line...yes, smile for the crowds) - 0 (I DID IT!).

Well done both of you. Brilliant times!

Lol Bonkers...so true! The last mile took forever...I couldn't believe how long it seemed to go on for.

Splits: (just dragged myself off sofa to get watch..bids for sympathy before types shocking times );

1: 10.19
2: 10.19
3: 10.47
4: 10.22
5: 10.31
6: 10.23
7: 10.44
8: 11.00
9: 10.39
10: 10.38
11: 10.49
12: 11.18
13: 12.27
14: 11.05

All over the place!