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

Hi All

Popping in from my folks to mark my place (and hoping the tap of keys gets dd2 off to sleep).

June well done on your run - great time. Sounds fun apart from the laps but glad it worked for you.

moshi - hope the interview went well and the baptism of fire didn't put her off (and if it did, she'd be no use anyway!). Am in awe of anyone with 4 children as am helping look after my neice and nephew - they're all great but its hard work ! And on top of your grief and worries about your Mum no wonder you had to spill. Pleased you've got out to boot camp. Hope the running continues soon. I love the garfield quote - Garfield always reminds me of my biggest brother who was a big fan way back when...

I did an enjoyable 5 miles yesterday evening along the cliffs. 5K tomorrow morning. Has got hot hot hot here though (apologises to Masters on mentioning the heat when its probably still cooler than her winter).

A question to those in the know - If I am planning a race pace of 8 min/mile, what would you run a LSR at ? Am never sure how much slower one should go.

Good luck this weekend lala and bonkers if you're around !

drNo - check emails for piece of mind but its probably just the postal system ! Hope you get some reassurance. I think nerves and twinges normal at htis point.

now stop worrying hen, it'll come tomorrow.

at all the mad runners out there. I love motivational man, I'm going to try that, as I will never be able to run like Tampax lady.

Driving, if it's any consolation I have spent the last 12 years looking for a blasted leopard, only to 'bump' into one last month in the car, on a track that I had run along only hours before! I have had a few scary lion experiences though.

Themasterandmargaritas wow - I feel excited when I see deer out on a run - I can't imagine what it must be like to see leopards and elephants.

DrNorthener - I think comming up to a race you do notice more - although I assume 'right shit' is a typo? If not I applaud you for being soo in tune with your body

I wish I could say "no I couldn't go for a run today, there were too many elephants around"

I saw a man in a pink swimming costume at the pool last week!

I'm back home now and my 4 pairs of tri shorts have arrived (plus a tshirt and a buff I didn't order!) so no excuse for not getting back into the training properly now. (I will send 3 pairs of the shorts back once I've tried them on)

LOl at right shit

eek, I just looked up the British Military Fitness as I quite fancied it. But at £32 a month for 1 class a week I don't think so!

Loving the "right shit" comment. What talent to feel things so acutely.

Rollercoaster of emotions at the moment. Uh oh.

PS Debi - I could spend ages trying to work out which pair is the perfect pair of tri shorts. For the first time I bought a tri suit although have yet to race in it as I have opted out of my summer races. It's a black racer back 2XU one and very tight fitting (but without camel toe thankfully). Still not sure what one does about needing a pee in one of those though. I guess you just let it all out as Chrissie Wellington does apparently (too time wasting for her to actually GO for a wee)?

what's camel toe? this thread is getting wackier by the day!

I didn't want to buy a trisuit as I thought I'd look better than I was & people might laugh at me
For the last one I wore a tight sports vest with support which was similar to swimming cossie material but a bit thicker and my cycling shorts. They were fine but took a while to dry & I need new ones anyway so thought I might as well get trishorts & wear them for cycling except really long days which I'll keep my old ones for as they're more padded.

Debi the military fitness classes here are ?150 for an 8 week period, and you can do up to 3 classes a week. Problem is (and I assume that's why they do it this way) I'd only want one a week as it would be to supplement my running fitness - and nearly 20 quid a class (an hour long) seems like too much of a demand on the family budget. Shame, as I think it would benefit me

Went out for my run this morning as I wouldn't be able to get out later. I managed to split it 16min run, 1min30s walk and 15min run and it felt really good. I was starting to think that I would never improve-just got to put a bit of effort in and push myself.

Hope the heat isn't hindering any running plans.

Well done Badger. No plans for me to run today, had a gruelling session last night with the club (first time I had run for a week). Hoping to do local parkrun tomorrow, then go for longer run on Sunday, then time trial on Monday..maybe. (DH has helpfully suggested that I might want to give one of these a miss..hmm will see about that). Do any of you do the parkrun, just wondering as have not seen it mentioned much (if at all) on any of these threads.....

I am wondering if I need to take my training more "seriously".....when I have a race coming up I make sure I can do the distance (or thereabouts), and if don't have a race looming then aim to get out at least once a week in addition to my 2 nights at the running club. When I run on my own, I note the time it has taken at the end of the run, and compare it to previous times. Feel sad if took longer than previously, good if did run faster than previously. However at recent club night, we warmed up by jogging at 50% of our race pace, then tempo speed at 70%, then same distance at race pace. Coach said that in order to improve speed, should aim to do a 6 mile run weekly, at tempo speed. Realise that I probably should give this a go if I am to take my speed up a notch or 2, but just wondered what others do? Ie are you in the "go for a run" camp, or are you more specific than this?

thanks for all your offerings on the subject of exhibitionist runners...had felt a bit silly mentioning this, having posted it!

Hope you are ok Moshi

ibbydibby I was going to ask kind of the same question.
Personally I think I probably don't take it as seriously as others here, I feel like if I did I would have to run more often than my once or twice a week but I do a lot of weight lifting/cardio on the side which I don't want to reduce.

When you guys say you go for a run, do you run fast or do you jog? Do you always have the next race in mind?

When I go running I go for a jog (around 6.5 mins per km) and do some 6x 200m sprints on a hill.

I think I'm hooked somehow though, I want to run another 10k or a half marathon. I know it's a big jump from 10K to HM and I probably would only go for "trying to finish it" rather than time.

How did you prepare for your first HM? There is one at the end of september in london, run to the beat (nike), would that be enough time to prepare for it from now? Would I need to be 100% committed to running and drop most of my other training?

driving yes thanks re ailments, deep down I know when I am doing too much. Need to incorporate a rest day somewhere in the schedule.

There's a "motivational" type guy in one of the spin classes I do, I think he's funny "come on, come on, nearly there GO FOR IT!!" .
There used to be a loud groaner on the treadmill as well which was quite funny too (I am so immature!) I must admit to doing some embarrassing groaning of my own when I am on the rowing machine, pushed by my trainer.... I used to stop myself but then decided to just let go otherwise I don't give it 100% and the personal training is expensive. (and no one in the gym actually cares :)

Thanks for all the fitting shops locations, I'll have to decide where to go.
How often do you change your trainers?

There's a triathlon in Canary wharf at the end of june, I've never done this, are there places you can specifically train for triathlons? I think the swimming is first so you'd cycle the 10k and run the 2k wet I guess? Is that part of the fun? If anyone has a good website to recommend for triathlon send it my way please :D

Thanks for the thought ibby.

June - check out the tritalk.co.uk website for useful information and a useful members' forum too. Multisport races are a LOT of fun. As a runner there is no better feeling that running past the cyclists who whizzed past you on the second leg but struggle to run with their big cyclists' thighs. GO FOR IT. You will also find there is not a great difference between a 10K and a HM. There are more similarities between those two distances than you realise as a HM feels like a more controlled 10K. If anything a 10K is harder work as you are running at a higher percentage of your output. The Run to the Beat one is well organised if a little expensive. Crowd support is great if that helps you when racing.

June think you've got plenty of time to prepare for an HM at the end of September - most schedules are 12 weeks and given you're already 'training' it should be absolutely fine. In terms of training, I think 3x a week is fine for HM training if you're just aiming to get round - actually, I only usually do 3x a week and am meant to be trying to do a PB on the next one! Key thing is that you can find time for a longer run once a week, especially towards the end of the schedule. As Moshi says, I find 10K's harder work than HM's because it feels like you're pushing yourself hard all the time - with an HM there's more of an ebb and flow to it and it's more measured. Bit like the difference between speedwork and longer runs.

On trainers, I think usual advice is to change them every 300 - 500 miles though I guess that depends on how hard you are on them and how much cushioning you need. I do about 25 - 30 miles a week and change mine every 3 - 4 months if that helps.

Well done on the run this morning Badger. I was out on my long run this morning and boy was it hot, even by 7.30am. Had to very carefully measure out my magicall elixir Lucozade Sport to make sure I didn't run short by the end. Bizarrely (especially bizarrely for London!) ended up chatting to another bloke randomly for a couple of miles as we were going about the same pace and in the same direction through the canals. Very friendly chap who had ideas for a couple of new routes so all in all a very good start to the day!

Happy, not too hot, running all!

I agree June plenty time for you to do a half. Just pick a schedule that you think fits in with your lifestyle. I get about 300 miles out of my trainers - in practice about 8-9 months of regular running. Also "Is that part of the fun?" - I think this is why I will never do a tri - I can think of nothing worse than getting on a bike wet.

Been out for a very hot but pleasantly breezy 4.25 miles - slow and steady. Want to fit in a 9 mile run somewhere this weekend but DH seems to be planning a golf marathon so we will see.

June, I think when training for a particular event, it is useful to have some "smaller" (ie shorter) event(s) lined up, then the event will be part of your training routine, but you are doing it because you have paid to do it rather than because it says so on your training schedule (if you have one) - if you see what I mean.

I particularly enjoy 10 mile races - have done 2 this year, and seem a nice challenging distance but not quite up to the half marathon. Whereabouts in London are you, roughly?

Driving I see noone answered your question of hat a camel toe is?
<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=farm1.static.flickr.com/37/117719344_595e87dece.jpg&imgrefurl=www.flickr.com/photos/rich_mellish/117719344/&usg=__41-vk1L5DTRoUV2BT5o8EWtcIHw=&h=500&w=325&sz=101&hl=en&start=0&sig2=-XmkoK2C3k-1PPm8IRrb0g&zoom=1&tbnid=-0KRV72MZl6wxM:&tbnh=172&tbnw=112&ei=UyDpTc6cO4eztAadqumACQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcamel%2Btoe%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D809%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=212&page=1&ndsp=37&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=34&ty=86&biw=1440&bih=809" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this is a camel toe

Gorgeous day here. We did a 4 mile walk along the river to the next town and caught the train back. I ma getting antsy and thought my last long run was last weekend, but some folk at running club, and a few training plans in Runners Word say a 12 mile run 1 week out is the last one. So thats tomorrow. Thinking I might run instead of BMF.......long slow run will have less chance of injury...thoughts?

Still no race number for me in the post though. Have checked emails and I am registered.

June I always used to run at the same pace, till I joined my local club, then I discovered the joys of threshold/tempo/interval/hills etc!

drNo

I think 12 miles a week out is fine for a half, myself...slow and easy

DD squeaking and squawking upstairs - overtired as she woke up early...always spells trouble at the end of the day. Putting my hands over my ears.

I didn't know what a camel toe was!

Getting on the bike wet is fine and in my practice tri and the real one I was dry by about half way through the bike. (Apart from the padding in my shorts which didn't fully dry)
I need to get over my fear of open water I think. And also be able to swim continuously without having an end to touch every 33 metres.

Those of you who can't commit the time or money for BMF, either Billy Blanks Bootcamp or the 30 Day Shred DVDs have a vaguely similar hard work/pain to BMF. (Especially if you do 2 of the 20 minutes Shred workouts back to back!)

Great to hear about all the running. I am away for a few days and struggling to fit anything in because of childcare issues, however did pilates in my hotel room yesterday morning whilst DD watched Lazytown! (I have a dvd dowbloaded to my itunes.) Managed a v short (about 4 miles I think) run along the Forth and Clyde canal this evening, which was very nice!