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

Well done Piff.
Sleep- altitude training supposd to be very good for increasing fitness. Not sure about intervalas altitude as it harder,maybe just norma lrunning might be best unless you eally want to push yourself.
I ran my 10k tonight but it was so hard, I run alot better in the morning but can't with school holidays. I just too tired in the evening and cant seem to find the right time to eat

Rhet I'm in West Cork, near Bandon. Love road running and think I might try to join the local athletics club. I just can't get on with threadmilling. My dh is a Londoner and I lived there for years. Only after we left did I discover the beauty of the English countryside

Did a 10k this evening. It was chucking it down and I got completely soaked, still fab though. I managed it in just over an hour.

Just popping in on my iPhone from our holiday in the New Forest to wish the new folk a very warm welcome! Please copy and paste the most recent race list and enter your race(s) so you can't deny it is happening and we can all support your efforts in training and on the day. Lots of running happening I see and pleased to see people have rediscovered their mojo (rhet!) and are sensibly cross-training too. Am clocking up my miles with another 20 miler yesterday which felt fine. Not fast but I am anxious not to injure myself so am cautious on the LSRs. My intervals are going well and an hitting paces which is exciting! I am Majorca-bound on Thursday for a long weekend with DH and will look forward to reading about your exploits - running related or otherwise - on my return.

PS sciencebint - another way to up mileage other than increasing your long run, if time is poor, is to squeeze in a short 2-3 mile run on the same day as another short run. More time required changing/showering but it is effective to avoid injuring yourself as the body more easily adapts to just a few extra miles on the same day as a running day.

'Tis holiday season indeed around here!

Science I struggle to get up past 25 miles per week as well, just in terms of juggling time around work and life. I also find it hard to fit in more than 4 quality runs per week without my legs really feeling it as well and the fifth run being just a bit rubbish (if I can even find the time to do it!). Agree with Moshi that if I do fit an extra run it, doing it on a 'running day' is definitely easier on the legs than not giving yourself a day's break from training. Also agree with rhet though that in the absence of training for a +HM distance I wouldn't get too hung up on actual miles but rather the quality of the runs you're doing. Personally, I'd be much happier absolutely nailing each training session (hmmm, miracles may happen) than adding a few miles on to my weekly mileage!

Morning all. I am loving this thread, welcome to all the newbies

It feelks like lots of good training and lots of race entering going on. Rhet you do seem to have your mojo back and then some, go for it! cest good to have you back, london riots were deffo a good time to be out of London, although you could probably outrun all those hoodies

I did a drill session last night with running club. we did 6 x 250m sprints with 30 sec recovery in between each on a track (accuratley measured and marked out but on a field not a proper track surface) so it was uneven and lumpy and bloody hard! Then speed ladders, hopping over hurdles and other plyometric stuff, then loads of core and balance work (I doscovered my balance on one leg whilst holding a medicine ball is not good...), and some dynamic stretching to finish. It was tough but enjoyable and today I ache.

Rhet you are up racing next! Then me. What you aiming for? Interestingly, my next 10k was the first ever 10k I entered last year and I did it in 1 hour 15 mins, so I will have a complete benchmark of just how much I have improved in my first 12 months as a propeer runner!

hello everyone - especially to new runners, who I hope will migrate to soon-to-be-new thread with us.

Bandon, eh? bet there's some lovely running around there - West Cork is one of my absolute favourite places in the whole world.

Well, I just went out for a longish run before my race on Saturday - it was fine, although I had a struggle in the middle for a mile or so. As they say, had nearly all the seasons at once! It was a bit of a slog, tbh. Am hoping for about 1h 45 for the 10 miles - nothing too ambitious. I think after the half and the 15k I might focus on some shorter races next year.

Leaves are turning, autumn on its way (I love autumn) - a great running season, I always think.

Yeah, autumn is my favourite running season, too :)

Autumn is soooooooooo the best season for running. Sharp, clear blue mornings. Crunchy, floaty golden leaves. Soft, springy tread underfoot. Cool, smoky wood-burned skies. Actually, autumn is just the best season per se!

cest that was almost poetic!

Rhet there are some great spots to run locally. Hilly though!

I'm looking forward to some Autumn running. I've been a real fair weather runner in the past. This year I fully intend to plough through.

I feel very much a rookie compared to some of you, 7 miles being the longest I've managed to run without stopping in my entire (sporadic) running career.

Really hoping hanging out on this thread will keep me motivated to improve. I apologise in advance for the lameness of furture questions

encyclo - I really think that we have every level of runner on here and all of us have stuff to learn. The running folk are very encouraging when things aren't going that well (I'm just emerging from a bit of a slump thanks to all the support on here). I think a lot of it is about setting goals that are realistic - so yours might be running 8 miles without stopping, and then 9, and before you know it you'll be dashing off 10 miles.

Goals don't have to be speed, either, although for many people that's the thing. Mine are more to do with distance and keeping injury at bay, although I wouldn't say 'no' to a little more speed - not least because it would make the tedious long runs take up a little less time!

hills are your friend :o

Rhet that's good advice. I nearly broke my arm patting myself on the back when I finally ran 10k last week. No sooner had I ran one when I was beating myself up about only running a 10k. Completely forgetting I could only run for 30 secs back in May. Well now I'm up to 7 miles, but feel like a cheat cos the first mile is on a down hill!

I will try adding an extra mile to my weekend LSR (get me using the lingo!), and see how that goes.

I needs some 'proper' running kit too. The Primark leggings and 09 GNR tshirt just aren't cutting it anymore.

I really need to learn not to hunch over when I run I did a 9 mine run Sunday and my shoulders and across between them really aches. Trying to decide if it will be with getting a sports massage before my HM or wait and get it sorted afterwards

Ooh and speaking of running kit. It's my birthday next month, should I ask dh to get me a garmin? Are they worth it?

Yes and yes

I presume I'm looking at the Garmin 405 Forerunner possom? Is that the latest one?

Speedy moving thread! I've noticed the autumnal looking leaves when out on my LSR yesterday...when does Autumn "technically" start I wonder?

Was glad I got that run out of the way to be honest as had a week off on holiday and then the week before was a lesser mile week so hadn't run that distance for a few weeks and was worried how it would go. Did 10 miles and tried my first gel - wasn't exactly tasty so then had some jelly babies :)

Have noticed that my training plan has now gone up to 5 days a week...maybe I shouldn't of clicked on "advanced" or whatever it was when I came up with this plan on the runnersworld site! Perhaps I will change the fifth run to a bike ride...will see how I go.

I have the 305 which is fine but chunky! I think the 405 is the newer smaller one.

I have a 205 and it does everything I need and more. I absolutely love it :)

I ran outside today which I havent done for a couple of weeks and much prefered it to the treadmill. I think I will still extend my membership for dd's swimming and so I can do some crosstraining but will do at least half of my running outside. Took the dog with me which made it fairly hard with poo, wee and sniff stops.

I have the Garmin 205 as well; it's more than adequate. You will soon be addicted to its 'bleep' as you clock off the miles...although I've got more used to mine now and occasionally don't even notice it.

N4NNY I do the hunching thing when I'm getting tired so try quite consciously to put my shoulders back and open my chest (!) - I tell myself it helps to get more air into my lungs.

encylco good running gear is a treat, although I can't say that it speeds me up any!

ps, is there a proper running shop in Cork? If so, where? I'll be there at the beginning of Sept (when there is still money in the bank account), so might get myself a treat (you know you're a runner when...and all that)

I do the hunching thing too. Had a deep tissue massage on Sat and she said everything was tight.

I have the Garmin 110 and I love it. Even the dog knows the run starts with a beep

Running club tonight, hills in the pine woods

So I get home tonight start telling dh all about this thread and how I'd like a Garmin, yada, yada, yada, he burst out laughing and went upstairs. Came down with a Garmin under his arm! He'd bought it two weeks ago for me.

Score! What a good egg he is too, being very supportive. In the past he's kind of sabotaged my efforts, but this time he's being uber supportive.

Rhet, there's The Edge, just off the Kinsale Road roundabout, really good for biking, swimming and running. And there's John Buckley at the bottom of Shandon Street. He's the one the real runners go to. Definitely understand the concept of spending any and all spare cash on running gear. I've already got my eye on a good few bits.