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

must have x-posted with moshi - good advice there. I have that sore outside of the knee thingy sometimes although I'm not a particularly large-hipped woman (not small-hipped, either, though!). It doesn't bother me too much though, more a twinge - that's the other thing that is so hard to judge, what's a twinge and what's a twinge waiting to turn into an injury? So I don't know if I ramped up volume and (ha, ha, ha) speed, whether that knee might turn nasty on me. I seem to be doing the writing I should be doing for work on the the thread. OK. I'm going now :o

Running in the New Forest until Thursday next week and seeing my paces suffer as the terrain is all shingly and undulating/hilly! Had a good session yesterday doing HMP intervals by perceived effort and was pleased to get them about right. I sometimes wonder whether I rely too much on my Garmin and am going to make an effort to run by feel a bit more as I feel I glance at my watch a bit too often when racing which makes me anxious and less relaxed when racing. The whole point of running is to get into the zone and the Garmin, while it's useful, does prevent that rather.

Pleased to see some Mojo returning for DrNo (and indeed, rhet). And plenty of decent running being put in, despite the looting and rioting (sciencebint) and to show our DCs a good example of what it means to live healthily (sfx). My DS is showing promise as a runner and is a keen cyclist so I am wondering about introducing him to the delights of duathlons. That will be enough to set the precedent for my DDs to want to follow. They are already asking about running with me ("can I manage 3 miles yet, mummy?") and are out horse-riding in the New Forest while I tap this on my iPhone. My cunning plan to have a sporty active family is taking shape... DH even joined me on my 4M run with the dog this morning (in the RAIN) as I assured him it was meant to be an easy paced run. And he admitted feeling the better for it.

Keep on keeping on running friends. It's the way forwards (literally and metaphorically!)

Wow, thankyou all for the really helpful messages. I have to say I do really enjoy running and I feel physically good all the time now (I have never been fit in my life!).
Ds (15) has been running for a few months now as well and goes mainly outside. I agree about it being a fantastic example.

rainbow get yourself onto The Runners World website and download a beginners 10k training plan and sign up for a race. It sounds like you have the bug!

Ds on a day out with a friend today so dh picked me up from work (he has the summer hols off and we did a 6 muddy and wet 6 miler through the woods with the dog. Loved it. Although my hair gets all frizzy in this drizzle and running in a baseball cap doesn't cut it. I am thinking about inventing something us women can wear over our hair to protect the frizz, who's with me?

Dr No - a shower cap? lol. My mental image of you gets more and more bizarre - hawking, spitting, speedy woman with dog...and floral shower cap. Ho, ho. ho. Raining here too.

DP and I going to the movies tonight. Yay.

I was thinking of something a bit cooler than a shower cap Maybe if Nike did showercaps..........

Seriously, we can put men on the moon, so I should be able to run in the rain and keep non frizzy hair. I am working on a prototype as I type. We'll all be wearing one this time next year. It's the future.

I did notice on Tues at running club that none of the other ladies seem to spit. I get embarrassed about spitting when in the company of people I don't know. Then I think to much about swallowing it. Maybe I have some medical condition where I produce excess phlem........

What you going to see?

the beginners - gay dad movie with christopher plummer and ewan mcgregor. Might be shit. Who cares?

Welcome rainbow! Nothing to add to the great advice you'vehad here. Although I remember having twingey knees when I started but it went away (and then lots of other twinges appeared).

10K in the gym this morning with speed intervals. Was OK and my last run before hols.... Really hoping to keep going over the hols although checked it out on maps and it looks v. rural (am not confident of running in rural settings) and looking at the way the roads bend (in Italy - surely the romans sorted that out ???) I am assuming B-I-G HILLS. Eek. That'll besure to make me lose my pasta.

Frizzy hair doesn't bother me so much when I run - I am more concerned with the illimunous pink face I am usually sporting.

For those not on facebook - I had notification today that my nomination fo rmy Mum to be one of the people to carry the olympic torch has gone through to the next stage. I only entered her because I joked I was going to. Oops. She's entering into the spirit of it though.

beginners thoroughly recommended - really cute movie - more of a rom com with an extra storyline (which was brilliant) than I'd realised. really enjoyed it. Off for a gentle 11k in the park this morning. Happy hols and happy running!

Hi again all

dp has the day off today - yay! But now doing nights all weekend - boo! Looks like I'll be a solo guest to the wedding tomorrow

I have 2 questions for you all

1 what are your favourite brands of running trainers? I've got a pair of brookes but need to replace as they're quite worn

2 if you don't have a garmin, how do you measure your run lengths? I use google maps but it's not great as I often run on paths and across fields

also for all those with running dcs there are quite a few Kids triathlons about, and there is usually a kids race at some of the big ones - it's not too serious, looks like fun. Ds will be entered when he can ride a bike!

Cherry I run in brooks but best to go along to a running shop and see what they suggest for you . Are you happy with the ones you have ? If so search online you may get a good deal (i never do but most people seem to manage it)

On mapmyrun you can put it on a sateleite setting which is quite useful for off roading - you get a photo view

Hope wedding goes ok on your own.

Signing in again! The good news is that I have done more running than keeping up with the thread; the bad news is not much more!

Well done to all for whatever you're achieving; it's really tricky fitting things in, isn't it? DH is now working 13 or 14 hr days again and staying away a couple of nights a week. This being the holidays, the DDs and I have been visiting grandparents so I have packed my running gear each time and snuck in a quick run but I'm probably only managing twice a week on average.

Having said that, I managed 4 miles the other day. We're on holiday, DH and DDs dropped me off on the seafront and I ran home, which was great (my usual runs are not picturesque) but the last mile was a great big hill so not pleasant. I have promised a friend that I will do a local 10k in the middle of September so am aiming to increase my long run by about half a mile a week - will this kill me?

And one more question. DD1 starts reception in September and DD2 starts pre-school in the mornings. This will leave me with only DD3 (5 months) in the mornings (oh, the freedom!). I am considering investing in a second hand running buggy so I can get out a couple of mornings a week - has anybody run with one? Do you have any advice or recommendations?

Hi all. Just got back from the gym adn ran 5k on a gradient of 1%. Same time of 37.5 minutes as last time but hopefully better overall because of no gradient last time (hopeful smiley).

I have one rather major problem though and dont know if there is anything i can do. I sweat profusely (fine) but I get large wet patches on the crotch area which makes it look like I have had an accident! Is there anything I can do to avoid this?

Hello everyone. Haven't managed to keep up with the thread much this week but looks like lots of good running going on.

I went out for my usual plods on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes. Yesterday's was particularly good. I got my Garmin working after five minutes and did a further 3.06 miles in 30 mins, averaging 9.48 min/mile. In fact, I would describe it as more of a trundle now than a plod. All going in the right direction but there's a pain starting to develop down the front of my left shin. I'm hoping some thorough stretching and crossing of fingers will keep injury at bay.

rainbowinthesky I usually wear either looseish black shorts which don't tend to show the sweat so much or a running skirt in a glorious shade of bright red which has shorts sewn in, the skirt bit covers up any sweaty patches that might develop.

Can I just add to the other advice you got about your knees? When you do your stretching make sure to do an <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=runningtimes.com/rt/images/200405/IT%2520Band%2520stretch%25201.jpg&imgrefurl=runningtimes.com/04may/itb.htm&h=328&w=345&sz=13&tbnid=INfB4Nuzg024yM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=96&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dit%2Bband%2Bstretches%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=it+band+stretches&docid=2s0-ainxFY7Z2M&sa=X&ei=TTFFTo2XKYmGhQfK8LnBBg&ved=0CEgQ9QEwBQ&dur=562" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IT band stretch as well.

Hi all, sorry not been posting - been to Center Parcs in Lakes for a week - I surprised myself massively, I absolutely loved it! Was great albeit very expensive...

Hired bikes so I now have the cycling bug - was peeved as wanted to get right into it and go off road but not possible with two toddlers in a trailer but good lord, got some cardio in pulling 4 stone of toddlers up hills! Definitely going to look into buying a bike and if anyone has any tips what's a good buy then let me know, it would be a road bike.

Did couple of short slowish runs to keep fitness up but back out as normal tomorrow and LSR planned for Sunday. Can't wait!

Will have a good catch up tonight when kids in bed and see what everyone's been up to.

Back from holiday and been out for a very short run to make sure I hadn't forgotten what to do . Will go out a bit longer tomorrow in a bid to avoid the piles of washing and the fact I have to do the weekly shop.

Was pleased to find my running pack for the half had turned up...makes it all a bit real now

Bookmarking. Still on hol but have swapped air bed & tent for B&B & 4 poster bed for 2 nights. We've had a really good week but the kids are now exhausted and VERY grumpy! And we've got a wedding to go to tomorrow. They've just gone to bed for an 'early' night! I can't wait to get them back to 7.15 bedtime!
And I've done no running at all while we've been away, didn't get a chance really but I don't mind.

Evening all and hello everyone.

Re trainers I run in Asics, love them, tried Adidas supernova once and never forgave them for giving me sore shins

My boss gave me a voucher yesterday for £50 at our local Up and Running shop for completing a difficult project so I am off to treat myself, what should I get?!

Not sure what can be done about a sweaty groin. I say wear your sweaty with pride, it shows you are working hard and not poncing about

Have no idea about running buggies. I only have 1 ds and he is 9 so it is much easier for me to get out. I take my hat off to those of you with more than one, and very young kids.

I did a very enjoyable 10k tonight, just me and the dog. A random van driver shouted an obscenity at me so I flicked him the v's. How do you respond?!

Where on earth is cestlavie these days?

I've not run with a custom running buggy, but did run a bit with the big=wheeled i=candy. It was ok on the flat and gave me a good workout. It's a bit weird not being able to swing your arms though. I'm not sure I'd buy one - surely it's only a few months that you really can't leave them for 45 mins - which is whisper it kind of the point?

Dr No get less of that than I used to (old age) - but it does annoy me, like these men think that women shouldn't do physical activity; and usually they are the most unprepossessing specimens. I usually comfort myself with reminding myself that I could outrun them any of the day of the week.

Nice running socks are always a treat? A bra? A running jacket for the winter?

Which brings me to: do any of you run in the dark in the winter? I try not to, but it's not always possible - I have a red flashing light on an armband and a radioactive glowing fluorescent T-shirt...I ride a bike, so running in the dark actually seems less dangerous somehow.

Well done DrNo - I am convinced that's the correct response ! Enjoy spending the voucher - anything you need ?

Hmmm sweaty groins - wear more black so it doesn't show up ?

Glad holidays have been good futuruty and debi. Am off v. early doors tomorrow (need to leave at 3.30 am and DH not home yet... grrr).

Has just occured to me that the place we are staying is a farm estate starting in Monte.... my basic grasp of Italian confirms to me that that does mean bloody great hill. At least by my reckoning it looks a km from heart of the estate to the main road so I can always do hill training for 2 weeks up and down. Or just sit on my arse and drink chianti..

Oh and DH has won the laptop argument - we realised there was no TV there and whilst we prefer to the DDs not to watch TV on hols I think there is always a point where a DVD is useful. So, in it goes... At least it means I can keep you up to date with my chianti drinking hill training.

wheely enjoy the chianti hill training. Italy! V. jealous . See?

That will be my face after lots of chianti hills.

oh Italy how lovely Wheely enjoy

DrN I would agree with Rheth on the shopping list ideas, I am ever so slightly obsessed with socks atm

I can't advise on running buggies but I am sure there are sites out there with great recommendations I see a few about on my outings they all look like different makes so there must be choice

drama day with dd's guinea pig, the poor pet might not make it, sleeping at Vet's tonight, she is very upset.

I will go running in the morning I think I need the release, it is stressful this parenting lark isn't it? getting them ready for life independent from you, and at the same time wanting desperately to spare them any pain

happy running and a good weekend all

socks: so important. Inov8 thin ones for summer, smartwool for winter