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

Loved the reports. driving, chewy and "Debi - thanks! Is there any news from Paws* on RFL yesterday?

Had frustrating weekend. Intended to do 5 mile race on Friday evening, but started getting sore throat at lunchtime, so opted out - had not registered, so no great loss. Was lovely sunny evening though, and then read FB reports of friends who had done it so felt a bit sad.

Thought would do parkrun instead on Sat morning, but throat still bad so again opted out. In retrospect this was a good move I think, as the heavens opened just before it was due to start!

Sore thoat got better through Sat, so pondered the possibility of 10 race on Sunday. I have not been training over this distance recently, but did a 10 mile race in May so felt I still had it in me.....then discovered that cut-off date was Friday and absolutely no entries on the day. And then read other FB reports on this last night and felt a bit more sad...On the plus side I did haul myself for 6 or 7 miles yesterday morning, and arrived back home just before the afternoon deluge started.

Debi I like the sound of a triathlon that does not involve open water!

fanny no, not at all! DD1 is 2.5 (today, actually) DD2 due late November so trying to get as much running in as possible before then...

peach - hope the scan went well ! And yes, its true archaeology is nothing like Indiana Jones. In 3 years I didn't even dig up one useful item ! But the study tour was fab (even if my friends were in places like Egypt and greece and italy...which is not to run Ireland down because I love it, but the other locations were a bit more glam).

Driving - my dd2 is a very similar age to your dd (she's 2.4) in that case. Its a lovely age (mostly....).

A forest run sounds lovely fanny. Hope it went well.

driving my DD3 is also 2.5 - born 4 Feb. . Little minx she is - permanently hungry

So much for my forest run... Never mind another day. When DH back in going to
do nice easy 4 mile recovery run. I have habit of trying to push myself on shorter runs but Moshi's advice re getting plan through Runners World going to change that. I think half my problem is I hate feeling like I'm jogging although my times would feel like jogging to some!! My aim is to try and get a 1hr 50 GNR and I'm going to try my hardest!!

Hope everyone has had a good day. Perfect running weather for me, cool, damp and no wind I'm a wimp!

wheely my cousin did her degree in archeology in York. Shes now a teacher (isn't everyone!)

great race reports, really interesting and inspiring!

I've just been ticking over. 4.5 miles yesterday between showers, then a quick 5k before breakfast this morning, in the pouring rain - funnily enough, only saw one other runner out! Went out to brunch with a friend, so it was nice to feel virtuous and stuff my face!

Fanny - I got Paula Radcliffe's book "How to run" out the library a couple of weeks ago, and that had lots of plans for different mileage/speeds as well. The one for the fast marathon made me feel quite faint!! There was some good info re shoes, which was useful for me. I got me a new pair today, as I figured my (much beloved) current pair are well over the 500m mark. Very keen to go and try them out now!

Driving - Glendalough looks fabulous. Yes, we did used to live in Dublin (and latterly Wicklow), and moved away in 2006. We used to be in the Wicklows every weekend walking. Fabulous, we really miss it. But it's not so bad in NE England either...

Well done and thank you for the superb race reports from debi, chewy and, our reluctant racer, driving. Now where is paws...?

Had a thought that would be cyclists might like to read the Lance Armstrong books if they haven't already. It's Not About The Bike is a great read and inspirational if you are into a bit of triathlon/cycling.

20M today in 2:48:15. Done on the G Trainer which was a real exercise in mental strength to stay on there for that long! The neoprene shorts were very sweaty afterwards! A tasty young rugby player from Wasps was on the G Trainer after me. Is it just me that gets lecherous in my old age?

fanny - how is the RW plan working for you?

Don't worrry Moshi. I'm sure he found the sweaty neoprene really attractive!

Wow Moshi - 20M on a treadmill, that is amazing mental strength. Do you watch TV or listen to something ? I will think of you tomorrow when I am struggling mentally with a paltry 6 on the treadmill !!

Will take a look at the Lance Armstrong book - I have much AMazon vouchers (for kindle) and Waterstones vouchers to spend ! Born to Run is already on my kindle list.

Oh and the book people do the Paula Radcliffe book - I got it free as I had enough points but worth a look (I think its the same one Sticky refers to - has plans and training stuff in it).

sticky I saw that Paula Radcliffe book in Tesco - it's not in my library yet though... I'll definitely give that a look at - thanks

Moshi is a G trainer a type of treadmill? I am gobsmacked anyone could run 20 miles on a treadmill!! respect due...!! Mmmm rugby player - I agree that even at 80 they'll still make me a bit weak at knees - my DH used to play as a boy for St Helens - he always kept the build which I love...!! I am following plan this week - did 11 miler LSR yesterday so recovery run today. Probably be around 9 min mile then.

Is it me or does anyone else find the Paula Radcliffe hard to read - lots of paragraphs in pastel boxes. Maybe it's my eyesight.

Impressed by 20m on treadmill Moshi - not sure if I would last 10m let alone 20...

Off to running club tonight. Stood out in back garden only 30 minutes ago saying to DH what a lovely evening it is....now pouring with rain. As DH helpfully said, may have stopped by the time I go out...we'll see.

hey everyone! just dropped in to congratulate Debi and Chewy on their brilliant reports. Although I'm not sure I want to do a triathlon any more Debi, they sound blimmin' hard work. I hadn't realised the Dundee half was partially off-road, Chewy - I do my weekly long runs on trails so maybe that'd suit me.

Had a rest day today after yesterday's 9.5 miler. If I'd been sticking to my vague training plan it would have been 10.5 miles yesterday and a shorter run today, but I'm wary of knackering my hip any more than I absolutely need to, just in case Thursday's steroid injection doesn't work. Hip doesn't feel too bad though so it'll be 5 miles at race pace tomorrow instead.

bloody hell Moshi, I've just been googling G-trainers! They look v. high tech indeed - is it weird running in one?

Emma - it's very hot and sweaty running on a G Trainer as you wear neoprene shorts and it gets hot inside the treadmill as the motor is also in there. I have to disassociate completely to get the sessions done on it which is the opposite to how I usually run as I like to really tune in! I watched the Tour de France Montpellier leg today. Those cyclists' strong toned legs kept me sufficiently distracted. Oh gawd. I really am become a lecherous old lady.

sorry - have become.

ibbydibby sorry about shed - don't know about planning rules but I have a feeling that a shed isn't a permanent structure so falls outside regs? We have a bloody huge Tesco going up at the end of our street - it's a cul-de-sac, so no-one thought to protest, or even saw the plans...

lovely intervals for me tomorrow, 2 miles HM pace (which is known as a jog to most of you...), 2 x 1 mile 10k pace, and 2 x 800 5k pace...I am really going to start to try to focus on pushing myself a bit. My fastest split on Sat was at my goal HM pace and it really wasn't difficult - so I just need to tell myself that I can do that x 13...

driving - what are the recoveries in between those intervals? They are quite high end - presumably you have built up to those ones before doing them, ie 2 X steady, 2X tempo, 2 X MRP? That way you have the confidence you can ramp up the speed a little more having done the session before at a marginally slower pace.

moshi you surely don't mean toned legs like this - look at number 12?

All fine at scan, though terrifying 10 minutes when sonographer went very quiet looking at heart and then asked for consultant. Felt sure it was bad news but then baby moved and she got the measurements she needed without the consultant. Phew! And we are having another girl!!!!! Delighted and very excited!

20 miles on the treadmil Moshi, that's intense!

peach have been fretting vaguely about you today so delighted to hear all is well. And a sister - fabulous! DD is just starting to get her head around the sister idea and keeps asking us where her sister is. When told 'in mummy's tummy' she asked if DP had eaten her! (nothing if not logical, my daughter). But keeps asking and giving DP bits of food 'for my little sister'. It's very cute. DD2 is very lucky to have such a wonderful big sister waiting for her.

Hoping all will be OK with our scan Weds - am getting nervous about heart defects because of the slightly increased nuchal etc etc.

Arrrgghhh Driving!!! Disclaimer first please!!!!

Awww your DD sounds so sweet Driving. my DD was so pleased as she wanted a girl. Hope all goes well for you guys on Wednesday, very stressful this baby business eh? What time is your scan?

it is - I'm sure if nothing has ever gone wrong you don't have this sense of dread about it though. It's at lunchtime, but they are always busy so it could be any time (I now know this is because they are doing emergency scans and cvs/amnios at the same time, so am more understanding than I might otherwise have been)