Runners united: I run, I do running, I am a runner

[DebiTheScot]

We've run out of room on the other thread so I hope you don't mind me starting the new one.
This thread is for runners to share running stories and chat about life in general too. Anyone with running shoes welcome!

Our latest race list is below. Feel free to add or remove races from it.

06/07/11- Yately 10k: 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
24/07/11 - Harrogate town centre 10k - DrNortherner
20/08/11 - Frank Duffy 10 mile, Dublin - drivingmisscrazy
03/09/11 - Dingle Half-Marathon - drivingmisscrazy
11/09/11 - Bristol Half- Marathon - thetasigmamum
11/09/11 - Bristol Half- Marathon- N4nny
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
25/09/11 - New Forest Half Marathon: MoshiMoshi
02/10/11 - Standalone 10K: Futurity
02/10/11 - Bradford Half Marathon - MrsWednesday
02/10/11 - Baxter's River Ness 10k - backwardpossom
02/10/11 - The Run, Northampton - YeahThatsTheBadger
09/10/11 - Great Eastern Run, Peterborough - Futurity
16/10/11 - Abingdon Marathon: MoshiMoshi
30/10/11 - Great South Run: Wheely, squix
20/11/11 - Leeds Abbey Dash (10k) - DrNortherner
19/02/12 - Brighton Half marathon - Wheely
27/05/12 - London Bupa 10K - Futurity

bookmarking

June you asked me the other day about triathlon training. About 6 months before the tri I started swimming 2 or 3 times a week. I could swim- as in, I didn't drown when I was out of my depth- but wasn't any good and couldn't do crawl with my head in the water. I didn't have lessons, just built it up gradually. The first few times I could hardly do 1 length and 400m seemed like miles. Now 400m seems reasonably short. My technique is pretty bad I think but I can do it. The swim times in that one ranged from 5 mins to about 14 mins and I did it in 10:48. I was 370th out of 436 for the swim and 355th overall.
I was only running once a week when I started the swimming and didn't do any cycling until 6 weeks before it. I then followed a 6 weeks training plan in the 220 magazine I mentioned the other day. It had 3 fitness levels and I did the middle one.

oooo there's a park run about 2 miles from my house. I think I might sign up for it. Presumably you just turn up when you want once you've registered?
Reading about my local one the weekly report kept talking about a Paula Fudge winning every week. I kept reading and discovered she's a former world record holder and Commonwealth gold medalist! Then I googled her and discovered it was in 1978! She's 60 next year and still runs 5k in 20 mins!

I average 15.5mph on my bike when doing about 45 mins (inc a couple of traffic light stops which do make quite a difference). When I did 25 miles on Saturday I averaged 13.5mph.

That race looks awesome m&m and yours sound fun too peakrunner

(nearly caught up)

Hi all. I've kept a low profile this week as I've had very little chance to get out and run. Only managed one lunchtime this week due to one thing and another. It was slightly longer again so still going in the right direction, so to speak. Will definitely get out tomorrow morning though.

I've found out the park run has started up in Bedford recently. That's my new short-term goal, to get to 3.5 miles so I can go and do that. It's an excellent idea isn't it?

Good luck with the races this weekend. Peakrunner yours sounds like a blast!

robino have you looked behind the tumble dryer?

Morning ladies - do you mind if I join you?! I've been lurking for a while...

I'm training for the GNR but this week slipped a bit as so tired. Need to get my shit together today! Generally I run 4 times a week - long run (10 miles at the mo, going to up that to 11 on Sunday), 2 x 8 miles and a short tempo or hill run. As long as I do it in under 2 hours I will be happy. Anyone else doing GNR?

Robino have you looked in the tumble dryer? Or in the filter bit of washing machine...

Quenelle and Debi, I have been doing our local parkrun since last August, it is seriously addictive. Both DS1 and DS2 have done it as well (they are 14 and 10) and are desperately trying to notch up a few more runs to get the t-shirt (they will get a parkrun t-shirt after 10 runs, so about 4 more to go I think).

It is really interesting having the opportunity to run the same route on a weekly basis and get an "official" time for it. Debi yes you turn up whenever you want once registered - there is no commitment to go every week. They rely solely on volunteers though, so after you run a few you may feel like offering to help out once in a while. Think you have to sign up by 6pm this evening if you want to run tomorrow. Have to admit though that I do get a obsessive about it, love it when I get a PB, feel really down when I don't....

5K in 20 mins at the age of 60!! In awe!

Would love to do a park run regularly but it clashes with family commitments on a Saturday morning and I would need to get a lift there as we are down to one car which my DH would be using. Saying that a friend at running club does it fairly regularly so I could go with her although would be scared I would be last!

ibbydibby - yes, I think I'm happy without a pace alarm. Now I've got used to my Garmin I find I don't want to check it all the time when I'm running (though I did at first!) so I think a pace alarm would just needle me. It beeps at the end of every lap (you can preset laps to miles or km) and that's it - so I do look at it then to see what my pace over that lap was. I'm not bothered about intervals either.

It doesn't come with any software, it installs itself via USB connection and then you just upload your run data to Garmin Connect - which is geek heaven! Lots more in-depth analysis if that's your bag.

stickylittlefingers - I'm not pregnant (though am worryingly broody just now) - I've got a soon-to-be 1 year old; I think the physio meant that my body was still recovering from pregnancy when I started running regularly, plus the way I always carry my daughter on the same hip.

Master - good to know you kept running on your dodgy hip and nothing bad happened! I hope the strengthening exercises will stop mine recurring too.

Peakrunner - your race sounds scary but fun! I am in awe of proper hill runners. I go out hillwalking on my own a lot and sometimes run back to the car if I'm feeling frolicky, but I suspect my pace is quite a lot more plodding than yours.

Hello fannybanjo! I think your training sounds like it's going pretty well if you're up to 10 miles on your long run already, and you've got till 18th Sept. You've oodles of time!

I have PM'ed you thecoo

Wishing the racers the very best of luck this weekend and hope to see your race reports so I can enjoy the races vicariously!

Just an hour of Bootcamp today as it was a rest day for me. Body conditioning and a chance of the kids and the dog to play in the park in the gorgeous sunshine!

Hi fannybanjo - there are a few on the list doing the GNR... I'm one of them :) I'm not at 10 miles tho. Did 7.5 this morning (tho it was meant to be 6, I got lost . Lost within 2 miles of your own house is a bit inducing!!)

Anyhoo Emma sorry I got the wrong end of the stick there!! But still very happy to hear you have the all clear to keep running :)

And Driving how cool is that!! We used to take DD1 to see the elephants and meerkats at the zoo. Weirdly, just before we moved away from Dublin, the elephants were taken to Berlin zoo. This year we were living near Berlin, so we went to see them (not that we could tell if they were the same ones, of course, but dd1 was sure they were and I wasn't going to rain on her parade )

Have lots of fun at the races this weekend. Hope all goes to plan!

they recently re-did all that part of the zoo - so there's a fantastic area for the elephants now (they used to look a bit miserable). Did you live in Dublin then?

I need to crank up my distances a bit and get more running in - I have been very lax the last couple of weeks - half is only 7 weeks away!

Welcome sticky and fanny (not sure about lumping those together in the same sentence).

Good luck this weekend to driving Paws Debi and chewy and I think a newbie was doing the RFL with Paws too so good luck too (sorry - haven't scrolled back down). Oh and peakrunner, that run sounds interesting - have fun !!

No running of late here - after a horrible 5 miles on tuesday I think Ive had a bit of an odd bug which my Mum seems to have had too and left me with a stinking headache. So, missed gym session yesterday (actually, never intended to go as it was my birthday) and had meant to go out this monring as my parents were here but decided not to. Will see how I feel tomorrow and maybe get 2 runs in over the w/e although DH has had to go to B'ham for a meeting today which may run well into the w/e - grrr.

Good news though - I have the promise of a bike and will be buying it tomorrow if DH gets back in time (or I could just go and get it but not sure how I'd get it home with both the dds intow). V. exciting - so I have no excuses for not trying a tri ! Just have to remember how to cycle now !!

Thanks for the warm welcome ladies!

Emma to be honest, I have ran for years and years and doing long runs between 10-14 miles for at least a year but NEVER entered a race. I usually do longer runs of 13-14 miles in the winter when I prefer to run in the cold - I get very warm and struggle to run in the summer so tend to keep to around 10 miles on a long run. I know I won't have a problem finishing it but I would like to do it in around

what bike are you going for Wheelybug? Excited for you!

Forgot to say welcome to fanny! It sounds to me like you could manage sub-1:45 in your HM with your background in running. You seem to have sufficient endurance and should focus on working in a few quality speed sessions towards the race date to practice running faster and hey presto, come race day and you will be flying! What are your usual paces for your various runs?

I have always run although had breaks here and there for various reasons. It's only since I had baby no 4 I have decided to focus on getting races in to record some PBs for posterity. Ultimately I am hoping to run a sub-85 HM and sub-3 marathon before I reach 40! As I am effectively still coming back to fitness I am working on short term goals of sub-90 (ran 90.02 in March) and sub-3:15 (ran 3:27 in April). Racing and training ate very different prospects altogether and I need much more race experience which is what I am going to work on now I am a FV35!

Good luck to the racers this weekend - busy weekend for races with a right mix of them (5Ks, 5 miles, half marathons and triathlons!) so looking forward to the race reports. They're great for helping think about how to plan your own race and what stuff might come up.

Good luck with yours especially driving - know you've been a bit stressed about running lately so hopefully it'll be a good opportunity to get back on track (whilst listening to the animal chorus!)

Moshi, given your times it doesn't surprise me that you're a forefoot/ midfoot runner! Apart from technique it must be linked to speed - I know when I'm doing intervals I'm definitely landing nearer the top of the foot. Surprised you're not running on your toes!

House is on the market now thecoo so slowly getting there. We just need someone to take leave of their senses and offer us a ridiculous amount of money so we can move somewhere nice... still trying to figure out where but probably Harpenden or your neck of the woods (so might be in for the Bishops Stortford 10 mile run next year!)

Peakrunner love the sound of that race! Would it be cheating to forecast a time of 15 minutes then just stroll down it with a stopwatch?!

Had a somewhat painful 12 mile run in today - tried to structure it at 8.20 m/m for the first 6 miles, 9.00 m/m for the next 2 (very much uphill) miles and then pick up the pace to 8.00 m/m for the last 4 (mainly downhill) miles. All on target for the first two stages but then fell to pieces a bit in last 4 miles which were much more at 8.30ish. Maybe should have been a case of listening to my body rather than the schedule....

I think it is this one futurity - www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_2_fx_wsd_2011/#/uk/en/model/features?url=uk/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_2_fx_wsd_2011

I went to our local independent bike shop and this is what they recommended for general use + capability of doing a basic triathlon and not too much money. Given I haven't cycled much ever I didn't want to spend shedloads on a road bike only to find I didn't use it. It looked quite sporty in the shop and was a nice colour ().

So, am going to aim for the London to Brighton next year too I think.

Good luck this weekends racers!

I think I had a similar bug the other week wheely. Me and Dh had really bad headaches for a few days. I never get a sore head so they really knock me for six.

My ma works in WHSmiths in Harpenden cest. It's the reason we end up with loads of tat in our house as if there's anything free in the papers (lego, toys, seeds) she brings it home. My Dad cleared out the shed the other week and there were five or six lilo's, sunhats and bags (all branded with The Sun or The Mirror!). Useful? Yes, but neither of them swim or would venture into the sea/swimming pool, sit out in the sun etc. If it's free, my Ma has to have it just because she hasn't had to pay for it!

Been out for 5k on Monday and Wednesday. I have found them easier cos I've taken out a little bottle of water with me. My mouth gets really dry by the last 2k. Going to increase my distance this evening I think. Just got to plan my route...

I too was considering the parkrun but my closest is Milton Keynes and looking at the pictures, everyone looks quite good, so I might leave it a while!

Had a thought that we could do a Parkrun as a get-together run if/whenever we manage it?

what a gorgeous looking bike! it seems like it ticks all the boxes for you. I have a similar sort of bike which I use for family rides and I used to use for long distance riding before I got my road bike.

I only got the road bike as it was a bargain sale bike (£200) and it was near my birthday :)

Cannot ever imagine spending £1000+ on a road bike which my friend up the road did! I may have back in the day when I had something called "disposable income" but that time has long since gone!

Actually I am going to see Harry Potter on Monday so should use the appropriate smilies [hwink]

Badger are you far from Bedford? The park run is in Bedford Park which is gorgeous.

MoshiMoshi good idea for a meet-up at a park run. I'll definitely be there when I've managed to catch up

Uh oh. I have just bought a pair of Newton's online as a little experiment with running gait. As I am a forefoot striker I wondered whether they might suit me as I would love to dispense with my chunky Asics Kayanos/2160s...

I went to the local gym recently where they had a chap checking running gait with a wizzy computer connected to the treadmill.

Anyway, he was very clued up on Newton and said how they helped people become forefoot strikers and that that was better for running as makes you faster and prevents injuries.

He said you have to take it very slow when getting used to them and not just go out and do 10k. However, that was assuming you were already a heel striker (which I am..nice and neutral apparently!)..you're not by the sounds of it so these should be right up your street. Price he told me was quite scary..£140 I think?