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 Debi and welcome to newcomers (though feeling a bit of a stranger here as not posting regularly..still bogged down with work, but end is in sight...I think)

All this talk of triathlons....we went to spectate at one on Sunday, as several friends had entered. DH thought that this would become my new desire, but sadly not. I really could not face the swim in open water, think of all the "stuff" lurking there. The water quality was given the all-clear only days beforehand, there had previously been signs up advising of blue-green algae. Had the water tests still shown positive for this, the event would have been switched (I think) to run-bike-run.

My times are not great at the moment, not sure why. Eg at parkrun on Saturday (5k) I was particularly slow, whereas the running club friend who I usually beat by a few seconds (competitive? me?) managed to go under 24 minutes. Then at running club on Tuesday we did a time trial - I was beaten this time by several runners who I beat last time. The trouble is I go home and moan and whinge, and DH gets the brunt of it! Sometimes I think the harder you try for a certain time, the slower you are, somehow. Eg my best, ie fastest, runs have been those where I have not felt as if I am running at my best. Weird. Or maybe I am over-analysing?! Alternatively I am not doing enough training on my own, relying solely on running cub sessions.

Interestingly, DH was encouraging me to buy a Garmin this morning - think he wants to borrow it!

Hope you are soon better, Driving

Well done debi that's a great time! I love that feeling you get when you've trained really hard and everything comes together on race day thats why we do it I guess!!
I'm Currently sat in hospital with poorly dd testing out mn by phone
Is there's a fellow Derbyshire fell runner on here?

The problem with the mumsnet phone app is you can't read the thread when you write your message so I forgot I was going to mention that dh is doing his first tri next week. I can't ride a bike without stabilisers so it's not for me! It looks like tri can become an expensive sport if you get in to it and as for all those rules and regulations! I think I'll stick to simple running!

ibby - I am buying my DH a garmin so I can borrow it!!

And that reminds me - many thanks to those who posted their thoughts on the garmins. I still haven't made my mind up, but will have to at some point in the next fortnight.

WELL DONE debi!!! What a huge chunk off your previous 10K time. Imagine where you could be in a year's time?

Running going a bit strangely with a 8 mile run yesterday that took all my effort to maintain 8:45m/m. Some days it just seems so much effort. Then today I did 11 miles with the usual slow start when warming up and ending up at a nice and brisk 6:15m/m. What is that all about?

Forgot to say WELCOME to newcomers! The more the merrier on here. Only proviso is plenty of positive thinking with a pair (at least) of decent running trainers each.

Every time I come back there's a new thread... Didn't realise that there was a mumsnet app though until saw Peakrunner mention it, so am busy downloading that and might be better at keeping up then!

Running not going very well - feel like I'm just not getting my fitness back since my injury. Perhaps it's the heat, but I'm finished after just 30 mins at a slow pace, and not getting out as often as I'd like. Have joined a local mums running meetup though so maybe that will help.

DrNo quite inspired that you've improved so much in such a short time. I ran a 10k in 1:08 a few years ago, so there must be hope for me too...

Testing the app...

Not that I'm trying to force you all to try a tri but there are quite a few with pool swims. I found about 6 within an hours distance of me in July. But I do live in a very populated part of the country. The main ones are open water tho. And some are expensive to enter.
I don't think I'll ever do a full one tho as they are nearly all open water and I can't swim if I can't see!
Honest a 400m swim (10 mins), 20km bike (45 mins) and 5k run is not that hard.
(my times for last one)

Newbie alert... What's "shredding"?
As for Garmins. I love my 405 which was a present so I have never compared any other models but have recently got the Runkeeper app which does pretty much the same thing. Logging progress can be really inspirational

I agree that tris are a lot of fun and a great way of keeping the nerves at bay in racing. As a runner, I find that tris distill the nerves with the distraction of two other disciplines. Plus they are a great way to cross train and keep running injuries at bay! In the interests of encouraging the thread members and keeping the spirit of collegiality alive, I shall volunteer to join in any tri that any of you in the London/Greater London area might be tempted to enter! All on zero swim training and cycle training... At least the run will be OK !

Peak = 30 Day shred. Exercise DVD featuring scary stern lady who makes you workout properly, as opposed to dancy/Lorraine Kelly gentler styles that have little impact on fitness and weight. 3 levels, 20 minutes a day. Strength, cardio and abs sections. The majority of the cardio probably easy for most runners - the rest of it not so much, particularly if you use a respectable level of weights!

hello and welcome to everyone who joined over the last few days

Shred did 2 days with one day rest in between, cardio fine the rest ouch! but in a good way

re triathlon, well am only just starting to ride a bike, and swimming I used to compete when a child/teen a few days ago I tried a front crawl and nearly drowned the breathing was all over the place, it really is a different set of skills

might try RunKeeper, downloaded but not used because was using the other programme c2 10K, it was a good way to get back into it

happy running all

Thank you for that link upthread master. They were really good and it helped to be able to see someone doing them, rather than a description and random photos.

I really don't think I could give a tri a go. I didn't learn to swim 'til I was 14. And DH laughs that when I try breaststroke, my legs are like a frog that has been run over! And last time I was on a bike, I was going too fast, hit a huge rock and broke my collarbone. I'll just stick the running I think...

No running again tonight. DH is out. So plyometrics and Lauren Fleshman drills it is then!

Oooo I have come back from a night out and am very excited to see I have got the tri vibes going!

If anyone is ever thinking of doing one, i'd suggest Blenheim which is what I did last month. You really don't need to be in great shape or have a fancy bike. It also lets you feel quite smug at the end! Swimming in a lake and on a wetsuit is very different - I would suggest practicing that beforehand . To whoever has mentioned stroke - I had a bit of nerves in the water and did mostly breast stroke and still came out in a reasonable position

next year I think I will do blenheim again and maybe Hyde park sprint.

Anyway sorry for massive digression from running, off to bed now to dream about transition and wetsuits x

debi well done - great time.

driving glad to hear you are feeling better - hope your lungs recover soon. when's your 5 miler?

2 early morning runs for me this week - both shortish but my early morning pace seems to be catching up with my mid day pace which must be good sign. Although I find it strange doing anything other than just going out to run at that time - much harder than doing it later in the day.

Haven't looked at the race list - any one racing this week end ? Good luck if you are.

squix I'm doing the race for life this weekend if that counts my sponsorship looks pitiful cause I doing a half marathon in a few weeks do can't or won't ask people twice and feel the half is more of an achievement.

Hi all. It's hard to keep up with you all!!! Did I see that one of you also pregnant? I'm 8 weeks tomorrow an currently on holiday but still trying to do something albeit scaled down. Been for two 4km runs this week.. I know just short but it's hot here in Spain ( was 36 yesterday?!) so have to go early and don't wanna get up early every day!! My son going to bed late and sleeping late in fact still asleep! Gonna still keep running aiming for 3 times this week. As well as swimming and running around after my 4 year old!

I'm also doing RFL this weekend N4NNY - Whereabouts are you doing it ? I am doing Kempton Race Course (hopefully not over the jumps).

On the subject of Tri's - Moshi, have you done any open water swimming round here ? I was reading there was somewhere in Ham ?

wheelybug I'm in Bristol

Meant to say good luck with yours fingers crossed for a nice weekend

Thanks N4NNY - I mostly doing it as my Mum 'wanted' (ok, was co-erced) into running a 5K race as she took up running last year and has reached 5K (actually a bit more) so am doing it along with her and my 2 SILs. We're not going to run together but she wanted someone to start with.

Good luck with yours - weather here looks good. 21 and sunny so not too hot but not wet !

Sadly its not like that today though. DD1's sports day had to be cancelled (but of course, we still get to go and pick them up early....)

hello! I usually only lurk a little on this thread, but thought I'd post today because I just had such a lovely run :). It wasn't really much faster than usual, but I felt all easy and light, the weather was fab, all the other runners and dog-walkers were smiley (probably thinking "why is that woman that funny beetroot colour - best smile sympathetically, the poor thing") and all was well with the world! I think it was that "flow" feeling :)

I'm working towards the GNR in September. The way I feel at the moment, I can't wait! Though it was only 5.5 miles today (funny distance because it's to the pub and back. It was shut though - that's not the reason for my euphoria!)

madeindevon2, it's me, I'm pregnant! Am also in Devon. (parallel lives?). I don't live in Devon and was not made there, just visiting! However am not really running anymore, other than shorts runs as part of another exercise class. Well done you on keeping it up. I was very intermittent after about 7 weeks as felt rough and tired. Am 21 weeks now and too tired/big/lazy

Good luck N4NNY and Wheely in your RFLs this weekend!