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

Quick question - does anyone do Pilates alongside their running? I am considering starting with a good instructor near me. Would be interested to hear if anyone finds it works well with running - I'm sure it would as it's basically stretching which I feel
I need - muscles feel quite tight. I did used to do hard circuits class twice a week but I went too thin - was burning too many calories and just wasn't putting enough back in.

notyummy - it felt good, it's sort of my default pace for any distance up to 10KM. I could have gone further but it's hard to say how much by. My average pace on my long runs tends to be between 9:10 and 9:20, so quite a bit slower, but then they are off-road.. so I dunno.

My four year old won't come near me either! I don't blame her, I sweat buckets when I run.

fanny - I don't do Pilates but I bet it's great to do alongside running - as well as stretching, doesn't Pilates help you build a strong core? Which I'm told is important for runners.

just did almost exactly the same distance as Emma - pretty much at HM pace, with a km of warm-up - so most of it faster than my target pace. A little longer than Saturday's race, but 4 minutes faster! It's all psychology...

delighted with that

Fanny - I do pilates and yoga as well as running and circuits. I don't find the pilates based around stretching that much (although there is some.) It is excellent for your core though, and I have found it has really helped with my upper body strength. I find the yoga great for stretching and generally structure my exercise so I do a 50 min yoga DVD the day after my long run (currently anywhere between 9 and 14 miles.) I find this balances things out well as it isn't high impact and gives my muscles a really good stretch and a gentle work out.

been reading the thread but not had much time to post...so busy coming up to the end of term.

Anyway, did 9 miles this morning with a bit off road, through some woods,along a trail and through some stinging nettles....was lots of fun! I could get used to that sort of running.

I was pondering about triathlons ....I have various races planned (10K's and 1/2 marathons - and London Marathon if I get in) over the next 9 months...can I really get into triathlons at the same time? Or is it better to concentrate just on the triathlons and focus on the run,bike,swim equally rather than being hugely bias towards the running (which I would be at the moment given all the running I am doing).

Ibby thanks for sorting out the race list for me.

I am thinking about doing some pilates again too. Have done in the past for back probs and it's fab. There is also a hot yoga place that has just opened here - has anyone done this?

futurity I have found my overall fitness is better since adding in more swimming and biking. Just running really did my back in. Re: races, most tris are in the summer because of the outdoor swimming so I guess you would be looking at next summer for entering any. You could do a duathlon in the winter though which is just bike and running

futurity I agree with WIWCML, my fitness is better since doing all 3 sports. Plus I enjoy training more and I go out more often. There are quite a few pool races around but not many in the middle of the summer. I found a couple in the autumn when I was looking yesterday. I want to do another one with pool swim in Sept/Oct but haven't found one yet with distances I fancy.
Personally I have found that with running being my strongest bit I had more confidence to go for it and enter one. Both times I have been able to really push on the cycle and still feel like I'll cope with the run.
Start with a sprint one and see how you go.

I bought Runner's World and Triathlete's World today, they were £6 for both and will keep me going for a while. I want them to do a subscription where you get RW or TW on alternate months.

debi the oddest thing... I was running this mornign and thinking about your race rep and tris in general. Just musing hmm yes but I haven't got a bike. And there was one right in front of me, in the bushes. Must have been nicked and dumped. was quite the coincidence though! I didn't take it, reported it

Hmmmm, looks like I need to add a race to the list. Wait there.

Ha ha ha! Just looking for the next race in the set I was planning on doing (5 mile, 10K, 10 mile) and see they have put photos of the 10K up and there's one of ME! But I look hideous. It's near the end and I have a tragic face.
What's it worth give you the link? In fact, with little skill you could find the photos. But which one's me.....

OK, back to the matter in hand. Well, they don't have a date for the 10 mile yet. Stuff it.

Thanks Emma and Yummy - it's definitely worth me trying but it's a 4 hour course on Saturday so you learn the basics then you can join in classes with some basic knowledge. I think I may just book myself in! Emma what yoga DVD do you do?

SORRY that should be YUMMY what Yoga DVD do you do...??

fishie sounds to me like you were sent a strong sign there - get the bike shop..! . However I too ran past a discarded rusty old pink bike yesterday but no urge whatsoever to get biking. My undercarriage just ain't got the heart for it.

wishiwascherrymenlove (great name!) I haven't done (Is it Bikram yoga) it but my best friends husband does it 3 times a week in Manchester and raves about it - he's lost loads of weight and his fitness has improved too. Go for it!

link please bonkers :) I can't keep track as to whether you are on my FB otherwise I would hunt the picture down myself (stalker moment)

Thanks for the tri advice. I am in no rush (am scared) but could see me doing something next year...I just have to go and learn how to swim properly (technique and all that) but I know the local pool does lessons on those types of things so I may well look into it.

Come on bonkers - you know its the right thing to do. When I started running a friend and I agreed we would buy an official photo from each new distance we did. My 5K one and 10K are bl**dy awful. My 8.2M is actually not too bad (and has my dad in the background !) but i think its hard to look good in a running photo !!

Sounds like some good running today - I guess we must be thankful for the autumnal weather in some respects !!

5 miles on the gym for me - went fairly well. But, now I've sorted my ipod issues (although somehow the monkees still managed to creep in...grrr), my Garmin is sick. It keeps coming up low battery so I took it in today to have battery changed and they said the battery is fine. And I have a nasty feeling I got it for my birthday last year.... which means - if there was a year's guarantee it'll have just run out. Is this telling me to get a GPS . Annoyingly that's 2 runs not recorded now.

We are staying at my bro's this weekend for my niece's birthday and he wants me to go running wiht him on sunday morning. Yes, that's the brother who is doing VLM on a Good For Age ticket next year. Wibble.

It would be nice to find a tri all us aspiring tri-athletes could get to and hold hands together... But not sure if that would be possible !

found your photo Bonkers ...I think! You don't look bad at all!

fannybanjo - I use Kristian MacGee's MTV POwer Yoga, which sounds really dodgy, but I actually find really good. Enough variety and movement to keep you interested, and a couple of really quite challenging bits. First 20/25 minutes are fairly quick moving through different poses, and the second half more focused on stretching - working up to a full crab at the end!! 5 minute additional pilates 'core' workout as a separate bit if wished.

Thanks for that yummy - I'll have a nosey at that one - see if I can get it on eBay! I'm not motivated enough to a DVD though...

Can I say that if you are mildly curious that Blenheim is a lovely one to do (especially if you only do the one)? Granted it is very pricey but it is the most beautiful setting with a stunning lake and bike / run course. With great marshalling and camraderie as there are lots of nervous people who are doing their first. These big events attract a lot of first timers so you will not be too intimidated by the scarily fast looking people who are also there. How many are interested? If we all committed now it would be rather nice, no, to all put it in the race diary for next year...

I watched the Blenheim Tri on tv the other day and was very much taken by the scenery and if I was to do one it would be that one! It is not exactly local for me though ....don't they start very early in the morning?...would have to stay over which isn't really viable for me. If it was closer I would definitely be interested...will ponder some more! (goes to look at the event website...)

Just had a peek at the Blenheim website - does look beautiful and at least does have a super sprint which is the same distances I was looking at for the Women's tri at Dorney Lakes in July.

well, here I am - on the far left as you look at it, toiling up the hill with a big grin (the others are vile and make me think I need to lose a stone, get a haircut and stop frowning :) )

good picture driving...are you smiling!?

I always...without fail...look like I am walking in these types of pictures..I never look bold and confident...always look like I am out for a stroll.

Wheely That super sprint distance does seem very accessible ...400m swim is 20 lengths of my local pool (can probably do 3 at the moment!).