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

Another busy bee here, trying to get various bits and pieces done before summer hols...good to see your pics driving and bonkers. Am ashamed to admit that whenever I am in a race and see an official looking camera person, I try to smile and look as if I am enjoying myself, even if I am decidedly not enjoying myself. Fails every time though, and the picture comes out looking as if I am in agony, mouth wide open, gasping effect, scraggy messy hair etc etc.

Loving that you're all tempted to turn into triathletes now!
The dorney lake one looks good, I could do that or Blenheim but not both at that price. The 2 I've done were £25 and £35. Pool ones are cheaper I think.
There was a photographer on Sunday, I'll have to look for the photos.

Debi, I went to spectate at a triathlon a few weeks ago as someone from the runing club was competing. There were several of us from the club spectating, and all, I think, pondering the possibility of entering next year....although have to say that I would only (possibly) do it if either a) the swim was in a pool, or b) I did it as part of a relay and someone else did the swim! DH did comment afterwards that he predicted that I would now get into triathlons, and much as I would like to at least do one, think will stick with running for now (as less gear needed!)

I think that we are all, on this list, defined by our love(?) of running, and all things outdoors, so I guess more likely to be drawn to other outdoorsy activities.

Should really go out for a run this morning, but going shopping instead - want to hit the sales before they end (maybe they have ended already). DS1 is having an activities week, and has ruined at least one pair of trousers by being dragged along the ground (that was part of the activity...)

My take on Dorney Supersprints v Blenheim is this:

• Dorney Lake is cheaper but it is much less scenic and involves circuits of a very boring and flat course. Many use it is a pre-season sharpener as it is a fast course but otherwise it is not as scenic as Blenheim.

• Blenheim is more expensive but arguably this is because of the extra manning required around the course. You will cover more ground around the beautiful grounds as the lake is bigger and the bike/run course is over a larger area which is quite beautiful and nicely distracting to compete on.
• Blenheim is undulating which makes for a nicer bike/run. Dorney can feel a bit repetitive and the run is particularly uninspiring (an up and down loop done a couple of times).
• the 400M swim at Dorney is a bit of a "washing machine" experience the entire swim as it involves everyone jostling for position the entire distance. It is an out and back loop which means there is a line everyone is trying to follow. Contrast that with Blenheim where you have the entire lake where a wider line can be taken by those wishing to avoid being drowned by the masses flailing around the swim course.
• I wouldn't compare the two events as they feel so different despite both having the supersprint course distance. If you are looking for a one off day go for Blenheim as it has such a nice vibe with more stalls dotted around to really soak in the experience.

Gosh, I sound like I work for Blenheim Tri, no?

Blenheim stunning, DH going there this weekend for the CLA Game Fair with DD1, I mentioned Tri to him - he laughed as he knows my swimming would end up in full rescue mission... Sooo I will leave you ladies to do the hard work.

Feel crappola this morning, didn't get chance to do my 5 miler yesterday as DH didn't get home until 9pm but this morning I feel a bit throaty and tired so will see how day pans out before I venture out. My plan says 5 miler with 15 mins of 30 sec sprint/90 sec jog. I tend to incorporate similar into one of my runs anyway so should be okay....

What I wouldn't give for a Costa Vanilla Latte this minute....

Now you mention it Moshi I'd also heard that Dorney is quite boring. I cetainly don't like the sound of that swim. I don't think there's that much difference in price is there?

Photos of me cycling on very wet road
cycling
running I like that I can see muscle definition in my legs in this one

debi - your pictures are censored! nice easy 7k this morning - one of my problems I think is that my endurance is poor. I also find the first mile ok, but it's the second that I find hard (pace drops) after that it picked up again and I was running HM pace + about 15 seconds...

so I conclude that I ran my 5 mile race at easy pace. Doh.

Blenheim does sound better..I think I could only commit to it after finding out about marathon place as couldn't really do two big things in one year...not fair on the family. Does it fill up quickly though?

debi can't see the pics and desperate for a gawp at your muscly thighs.... (not in a perverted way I should add!) Need some inspiration today...

try this instead and put number 642 in

this link should work for the [[http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=1muzgyh&pictureid=16195009
thighs photo]]

Brilliant photo debi you look great - real effort in your face too! Great thighs, you have a lovely figure. I hide my legs under tights.... Even in 100 degree heat there's me, running along with legs on fire cos I won't wear shorts.

Great photos ..really shows your effort and the wet conditions. I assume they don't take photos of the swimming bit? (shudders at idea of me in a wetsuit being photographed!)

Thanks I wear shorts to run for about 8 months of the year.
No there's no swimming photos (not that I was in a wetsuit). There is a funny wetsuit photo of me at the bottom of the photos on my profile page on here though.

I wear shorts for all but the most freezing of conditions; I figure that people have better things to be doing than looking at my legs (which are not my worst feature... :))

If I could find a decent pair of shorts that are comfy, don't ride up and aren't showing the "banjo" they're that short then I'd probably convert... Any recommendations anyone? I find Nike tights are best for me but bought a pair of Nike Capri ones in sake last week and the crotch is half way down my thighs, I spent whole of my run looking like I had bad case of thrush ! Same goes for sports bras, any decent ones make my chest look like sunken soufflés.

Great pics Debi ! I tend to run in Capri's most of hte time but pulled up to my knees when its hot as the only tight shorts I can find are far too short (and given my legs are v. stumpy they must be super short on most people).

So, no one pointed out my absolute stupidity re my garmin but I had a brain wave last night - Given the fact my watch battery was fine, and the low battery thing only came up when I changed to sports screen it occurred to me that perhaps its the battery in my footpod (dur). So, now I just have ot work out how to open the battery bit of my footpod and of course can't find my box/instructions anywhere.

science - I too don't know what I'd do without my CL and driving - I have fallen asleep with them in after too much wine many a time. I always hope a miracle has occurred in the morning .

futurity - I don't intend to sign up for a tri for a while yet as I want to make sure I can still ride a bike ! So, I'll hold off and we can all discuss later in the year. I too am awaiting the outcome of the marathon ballot although I'm fairly certain I'd defer for 12 months as then I'd have more time to train but who knows if I get lucky !

Off to search the internet for garmin instructions.

Lovely photo, debi! Agree you have a stunning figure and are a very photogenic runner (a rare thing!)

debi just saw the picture on your profile of you in a wetsuit...that is very impressive! Was it a maternity wetsuit ??

I agree Wheely...am not going to do anything until later in the year until I find out about my fourth most likely unsuccessful marathon entry. If I don't get in again I will defintely set myself a new goal of triathlon in 2012.

hi all

scan all good - heart fine, kidneys, bladder etc - spot on for dates. Thrilled and relieved - back to Dec 3 due date again! Now for the name discussions in earnest.

went to running shop after and there were 4 blokes talking well, blokeishly about running; I asked where the sports bras and was dismissed into a corner; I thought really, I'd like to support my local running shop, but I am not spending ?50 in a shop where one of women runners' key requirements is treated like you aksed for...well...use your imagination. Bought a bright red shock absorber - quite snazzy and will stop me mixing it up with ordinary bras.

this is actually drivingmisscrazy - have decided to revert to my original mn username...you'll all get used to it soon enough - will cut and paste race list with new name later

hurrah, rhetorician! Great news about the scan. What a relief for you both.

Shock absorbers are my sports bra of choice too - I have four! (but I've bought the same model for about ten years now, so I just get them cheaply on ebay)

I've decided to brave a local running shop soon, to see if they can tell me how badly I over-pronate because of my flat feet, and whether I might need sturdier shoes. I'm nervous because of likely bloke-ish factor and also because I don't want to be inveigled into spending £100+ on new shoes I might not really need... but have no willpower and am pathetically suggestible. If I'm not careful I'll end up handing over the entire contents of my wallet and one of my children.

To that end, does anyone local - maybe Chewy, squix or possum, have any experience of the Run 4 It chain? (specifically in Dundee?)

Congratulation Driving, or should that be rhet???

That's great news, you must both be relieved! I thought they never amended dates after the 12 week scan? Maybe that's an NHS Trust thing. Oooh a little Christamas baby!!! I went through the baby name book yesterday and wrote down about 10 possible names. Haven't shown to DP yet as I know that he will laugh at each and every single one. I know I will also think his are rubbish. This is going to ba hard work!!!! Did you and your DP have any leftover names from DD1 that you didn't use?

well we ended up with 3 different EDD - but because of ahem our method we know that we can't be more than a day or so out. She was slightly ahead of dates, but we've gone back to the original EDD now.

Unfortunately we gave our other favourite name to DD1 as a second name, on the grounds that we weren't sure that we'd have another....it feels like such a big responsibility, doesn't it?

Ahh, of course, that makes sense!

DD's name was the only one we even vaguely agreed on, oh dear...