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

me too peach although we are very happy here (NE Hampshire). We've tried to go back a couple of times but dh couldn't get a decent job up North.
I think you are right Wheely, we are a hardy bunch
I'll have a look at the blog too driving, it does sound funny. I get odd looks all the time esp from the kids at work when I come out with things like telling them to 'wheesht'

Hi all, no running for me today. Have decided to do a steady 5 mile with SIL tomorrow instead of running club. Less chance of injuy as club are doing off road stuff tomorrow.

This tapering is totally affecting my mood. Feel snappy, irritable and really emotional. It's hit me like a train that I am running this HM because my Dad's dead Sounds stupid to say that, of course I knew he was dead....but think I was so caught up in the training and stuff, now it's nearly here, and it's for him.....God I am not making any sense am I? I just want to talk to him today which is absolutely ridiculous and I haven't felt like this for ages. My head is all muddled.

Oh DrNo, I'm so sorry you're feeling like that. I wish I had some words of wisdom for you but I'm well known by my friends for being useless at anything involving emotions.
I'm sure your Dad will be very proud of you for all the effort you've put in and all the money you've raised. It will be an amazing achievement and you will run the race and finish it and cross the line in the time you've aimed for, despite your worries of the last few days.
And then you'll report back to you and enjoy the praise we will lavish on you!

Chin up.x

DrNo So sorry to hear you are feeling like this.... I think focusing on all the training has given you something to think about (if you are anything like me..thinking about it ALL the time!) but now that it has eased off it allows space for other things to enter your thoughts which for you, understandably, is about your Dad. As Badger says he would be very proud of you and would be willing you on when you are feeling like your legs want to stop and you should be very proud when you cross that line having run in his memory. x

Sorry, I meant report back to us.

hey drno Can you write him a letter? I know that feeling it's horrible because they're not here and there's nothing you can do about it. Putting what you want to say on paper might be a good way of letting it out.
xx

DrNortherner- I'm sorry to hear you're feeling low, and I'm so sorry about your Dad. Nothing you say is ridiculous and you're making total sense. I'm sure that getting out there on the weekend and running the race will help how you're feeling now. It's great what you're doing to honour his memory.

ChewyToffee - thanks so much for those race ideas. The Dundee half is a bit soon but the others are definite possibilities. I might well join you on a Monday night when the days get a bit shorter but for the moment I'm really liking the early mornings, weirdo that I am!

Sorry DrNo that you're having a tough time. The tapering seems to have this effect and coupled with you obviously feeling very emotional about your dad. Agree with June about the letter, or maybe is there some nice quiet place, perhaps a place that was special to him, you could go and take some time to yourself and tell him what you've been thinking?

Am sure Sunday will be an emotional day for you, and am sure your dad would have been very proud. It is great that you are doing something so positive in his name. Well done, and chin up lass.

DrNo sorry too; can't put it better than the other ladies, though. Running is odd - most of the time it's a way of escaping emotion, but sometimes it's in the middle of a run that everything just comes out - there's many a run that I've done with tears streaming down my face.

My workmate just did her first (she now says only!) marathon in 4:22, with a 2:02 halfway split. I am running a half with her in September (we are 'tortoise and hare', I think I know which one I am!) and would really like to at least come close to her time. How can I do this? I've about 14 weeks....her sister has a chronic (and very nasty) lung disease - that's what she was fund-raising for. Dead chuffed for her - but slightly envious of her talent (she's run far fewer miles than me this year )

in my defence, she is 6 foot tall and I am 5 foot 2 in good light...

hello all

drN like others have said I am sorry you are feeling low, but you loved your dad, he died, you miss him and you will miss him always in many different ways, feeling sad is part of it, you are doing something in his memory and in celebration of him - go do it, it will be a very special and unique event for you
I know it is weird when we suddenly realise that life does indeed go on, it feels almost like a betrayal but it really isn't, take care.

about the Scottish hardyness, dh was born in Edinburgh and is mother is Scottish he often bring is up when it suits, despite not leaving there as a baby at other times he claims his dad's Irish roots as well

no running here busy family time, also lack of exercise really affects my mood particularly when there are stresses at play but normal service will resume shortly.

happy running

actually reading back sounds like I might be minimising your feelings which was not the intention at all sorry, these feelings are hard and unique

Blimey guys you are all great. Really you are

Thanks for the kind words. I do write letters to him. I have lots from the early days. I walked my dog this afternoon at the Gorge near our house. It is on of my favourite places in the world, it's where I spent alot of time just walking the dog just after he died. Walkimh with tears rolling down my face. There is a bench there overlooking the valley, dedicated to a man called Ernie, who it says is a much loved Dad and Grandad, just like mine. I have adopted Ernie's bench as a place to think about my Dad, I always say hi to Ernie too. Hope Ernie doesn't mind

Dh is running me a bath, then an early night for me. Tomorrow is a new day.

Thanks everyone

also someone, somewhere is feeling the same way about Ernie; it's the old adage: grief is the price we pay for love.

sfxmum I never felt that at all. Don't worry!

Wow. This thread is a whole lot more than a running thread. It has laughter, tears, pregnancies, worries, bereavement, illness, injuries, education, style, bumbags and spitting.

Where else on MN do you get all that?

Ssshh... Keep quiet about the spitting and bumbags. Everyone will want to join us

yeah, DrNo - you could combine enthusiasms and spit into your bumbag...

DrNo - I felt exactly the same. So it is perfectly normal. Or we are both mad. Either way, go with the flow. I found it strangely cathartic although emotionally exhausting. But once the race began it was just running as usual even though many said running a marathon was very emotional. I meant it when I said he will be with you all the way.

I too have a bumbag. A running one though with bottles and it is essential on long runs for carrying fluids and gels. I refuel on longer runs (ie more than 12 miles). Incidentally, refueling is as much about getting the carbs in during a run as before the next run, ie it has an important role in replenishing stores of glycogen for future runs. So even if you don't feel the need for fuel, it is always worth taking it as part of training UNLESS you are specifically running to get used to the feeling of not having eaten or fueled during the run (ie running when bonking, to coin the cycling phrase).

Off to hospital v early tomorrow for mum's operation. Thanks for the posts everyone. Dog has gone to her brother's house for a sleepover and to give DH a break tomorrow. Will be browsing the phone to see what is going on here I expect and to cheer myself up as it is always such a lot of fun to read the chit chat even if I don't find time to post.

Sorry if I have inadvertently missed out a welcome to newbies. You are still welcome!

All the very best of luck for tomorrow Moshi, much love to you and your mum.

DrNo, everyone has said it better than I could, so will just offer a supportive hug. Tapering sent me mad too - not being 'allowed' to run properly to clear your head doesn't help. Sounds like the walk to Ernie's bench with the dog was just what you needed to get a bit of head space to think of your dad.

MoshiMoshi Hope your mum's operation goes well tomorrow. Will be thinking of you.

Sorry for backtracking slightly...Who said "wheesht" earlier on? (Debi?) I thought that was just an Irish thing. All my inlaws think I'm odd for some of the things I say, wheesht being one of them. And "giving out" instead of telling off.

I was out for my run yesterday and I'm feeling more confident and able every time I run. Managed it in 31mins.

And welcome emmabemma!

Moshi - hope all goes well tomorrow

Drno. - sorry you're feeling down. You're doing a great thing in his memory
Roll on the weekend.

Cheesy hugs to both.

Best wishes to you and your mum tomorrow, moshi

DrNo I found tapering hellish enough and that was without the things going on for you. Sending hugs.