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 themaster

Back from my 10K. 46:29. I'm really chuffed. Race report later, must feed the children and other things.

Wow - well done both of you! Brilliant achievements - can't wait to read your reports.

Well done to you both
46mins for 10k is very fast!
And well done M&M for a great time ESP so soon after your other, more dramatic one!

Bonkers Wow! That is a speedy time. You must be chuffed. And master so glad you got the time you wanted and no cramps!

I did 8 miles today and found it hard going tbh. Finding it hard to believe I ran a HM only a month ago, couldn't have managed 10 today let alone 13. It is true what they say - if you don't use it you lose it! Need to gat back on track with my weekly 10 milers, but as SIL is in Spain for teh summer hols I have no running bud....

DRiving maybe some time off from races and fretting about times will do you good? You do seem to be quite hard on yourself and the times you get and teh pace you run at. You are a great runner, and cover distances 90% of the population can only dream about so go easy on yourself, it is meant to be fun

Does anyone wear insect repellent when running? If I eat another god damn fly I will sprout wings I'm sure. Today I was getting attacked by the blighters. I do run in a wood, by a river, and the paths are often very narrow with overgrown grass/trees/shrubs/nettles/green things that flies like.

Regarding supplements I take Glucosamine Sulphate and Cod LIver Oil, have done for a while now ever since someone suggested it when I had Shin Splints. I think they do something positive......

Off to MIL's tonight for Raost beef and Yorkshire puds

Hi All

Really pleased for you M&M that it went so much better ! Fab time. Well done.

And fantastic time Bonkers !!

Just popping in to report in - RFL was ok, hot and humid and I felt really dehydrated ! A rather disappointing 25 mins but came 7th (not at all miffed that I didn't notice that the person who passed me and came 6th was my SIL.. no not miffed at all ).

Most importantly though I am v. proud of my Mum. She did 40 mins although was disappointed in herself that she had to walk a couple of times, But y'know she's 67 and is vowing to do another to prove she can run it all . Go Girl !!

Crikey, I wouldn't be disappointed with 25 minutes! Shame about the SIL though. Still, 7th place is v creditable indeed, so far my only race result was 2,103th place or something, so 7th sounds as good as 1st to me!

Well done to your mum too.

DrNo, I don't wear insect repellant but I think I would if I were running later in the day - so far I seem to get up before most of the flies and midges. Tesco do a decent cheap one that I wear when I'm hillwalking in the summer months.

Well done master, bonkers and wheely! You all did fantastically!

I haven't run for the last 4 or 5 days as my calf muscles are really, really tight and sore. Not sure what caused it but hoping to get out tomorrow. I did spend most of last night on a bouncy castle/climbing wall/slide with ds at a wedding so still got plenty of exercise!

After wheelybug fantastic 25 mins I'm ashamed to post my time :-( but it was a Pb for me so I guess I should be happy :-). It was very hot, it was my first run after being I'll last weekend and I struggled a little and had to walk I'm now very worried about my half marathon hoping it's was just a blip post illness

Well done on the PB N4NNY - That's what counts at the end of the day ! And it wasn't nice - v. humid.

BTW, thanks for the links SFX to Ham and other open water info everyone. I am getting massively ahead of myself but will remember these in the future !

wheelybug meant to say well done that's a fab time and one I can only dream of.

Hi running people,

46 mins for a 10k - what I can only dream of ... my Race for Life is next Sunday. I did a 4k run yesterday quite comfortably in around 25 minutes, so I am feeling quite confident for next week. I am aiming to go under 30 minutes as have never managed that in previous 5k races.

I see in fact there is another person doing the same RFL in St albans as me - pawsnclaws are you out there?

I definitely find doing lots of cross training, so not just running, is the way to go for me. Have just invested in a child bike seat, so whilst DP was at work this afternoon, DS and I went for a bike ride. not quite sure how impressed he was by it all, everytime I looked round, I could just see a big bottom lip sticking out underneath the slightly too big cycle helmet!

We are off to the lake district this week, so taking running stuff, bikes oh and wetsuits for a bit of open water swimming fingers crossed!

I've been doing quite a bit of cycling with ds2 on the back. He's nearly 3 so the added weight does make quite a bit of difference. He doesn't seem to notice that we go the very long way round to get to the ducks/park etc.

Have just been for a half hr run in my new shoes, they were fine but I did feel a bit of pain in the arch of 1 foot near the end. Hopefully just a bedding in thing. I did some intervals on my run and they felt so much easier than a few weeks ago. Have to make sure I don't do too much this week, if it's hot and I'm tired next Sunday it'll be hard work.

Ahhhh, just poured my self a lovely glass of Blossom Hill.

So, DH and DS2 came with me to the race (DS1 stayed at home). We got the with plenty of time to spare which was lovely. I'd had porridge a banana for breakfast and had drunk enough. Off to the loo at 10.30 which I'm glad I did because there was (as usual) a long queue. Then just time for a warm up and off to the start line at 11am. I wasn't even sure which way the race went (even though I've done this race a couple of times). I started about 1/2 way in the pack of 336 runners, which is a good place for me. It usually means I only overtake. I felt good. By 3K I had settled into a good pace and started my usual style of aiming for who I would pass next. I didn't stop for water at just past 5K as I was in a really good pace. At 6K I felt heavy in my legs though my breathing was fine. I gave myself a little motivational talk and then felt better. By 8K the pack was pretty spread out and I was thinking I wouldn't be able to pass anyone else. It was getting quite tough by then to keep up my pace. At 9.5K I saw DH and DS2 which spurred me on. Not much left for a sprint finish, but it was a downhill finish which was good. I'm really pleased with my time. I was the 12th FV35 woman and 15th woman overall (fast older ladies...yay!). 98th out of 336 in total.
This was my sort of race. Road and only mildy undulating. I run best when I can keep my pace going rather than tripping and stumbling over tracks and wet fields.

Hooray for all the racers!

Excellent work master, am sure it laid some ghosts to rest, and loving the cheapness!

Wheely, 25 mins is a great time, and wow to coming 7th. Your mum sounds pretty inspirational too!

Bonkers. Am speechless. 46 minutes! Amazing, well done you!

N4NNY, please don't be embarassed about posting your time, we are all running at different speeds and lengths! It's fantastic you got a pb, that's all any of us can hope for, so well done!

Driving, I think you are right about refocussing and concentrating on the many positive things that running brings you. Also, like you were saying, once DD2 arrives, you ain't gonna have time to scratch yer arse!

DrNo, you do your insects don't you? Think of them as small, protein-based refuelling snacks.

Have spent the weekend removing limescale from bathroom taps and cleaning oven job extractor fan (the glamour!) as we are moving in 4 weeks. Hurrah! Found lovely house just up the road from here with big garden which DD will love. Loving the thought of not dragging pram, DD, and shopping up 2 flights of stairs before getting to front door.

Fantastic day for racing! glad everyone did well

I ran a wonderful 12 Peak District miles this morning, ok it took nearly 3 hours but that was at chatting pace, I'm concentrating on time on my feet rather than speed at the moment. A few club members have done this 56 mile race in September and I might do it this year. But I might chicken out. lets see how training goes!

Regarding supplements I take Glucosamine and cod liver oil for joints (I stock up when they are on offer ); 1000mg vitamin C adn zinc for immunity because nothing knocks training out like getting a cold! I dont knwo what works but I'll let you know if I'm still running when I'm 80

I need to stock up on insect repellant, apparantly Avon Skin so Soft works against midges. I was bitten by a a horsefly

I tend to train in the fells but prefer road racing so I understand what you are saying bonkers about liking to get in to your stride.

Congratulations on your new pad, peachsmuggler. Sounds lovely. Well done on rour run yesterday Peakrunner - 12 miles at any pace is not to be sniffed at.

Hip feels fine today, but I think I will splash out on some glucosamine and cod liver oil just in case they help.

I had an anxiety dream last night about my half marathon. I'd forgotten my running gear, and had to do the race in what I was wearing: jeans, my converse, and a button-down shirt. As if that wasn't bad enough, the race organisers had decided to mix it up a little with a Krypton Factor style dexterity test at every mile marker - you weren't allowed to pass until you got it right.

Emma - you'll be so pleased when you do the HM and you don't have to do a Krypton Factor test, it'll seem easy!!

Interesting about the cod liver oil and stuff.... does anyone else have (occasional) problems with pins and needles? I was doing a 45 min tempo run this morning (can you tell I'm doing the BUPA training rather religiously?? ) and the last 20 mins I could hardly feel my right foot. This doesn't happen all the time, but I'm not sure what's triggering when it does. Weird.

Anyway, hope you're all having a good day today. It's warm and sunny in the NE, which is very cheering after all that rain :)

stickylittlefingers I had the pins and needles problem and was told I was tying my laces to tight. Now I tie them securely but not tight and it seem to cure the problem

Well done weekend racers. There are some fab times there and what sounds like some very enjoyable races!

That really is a pretty impressive 10K time bonkers. Average 13kph or so it sounds like which is fast whichever way you look at it!

Good to hear about your HM time themaster, especially after having that tough half a couple of weeks back. That must really make you feel pretty positive about running and it's definitely within touching distance of sub 2 hours...

Well done too wheely. Seventh position is a great result. Actually, sometimes positions are almost more meaningful than times as they tell you how tough were the overall course conditions.

stickylittlefingers, also agree worth checking whether shoes are too tight. If it carries on, might be worth checking out as may be down to wrong shoe fit for you/ running style.

In terms of supplements I usually have Berocca to overload with Vitamin C for immunity (like Peakrunner) and have 'gentle' iron as well to keep up oxygen efficiency - to be honest, think the latter is probably a placebo in a generally healthy diet but hey!

Am slowly getting running mojo back after an uninspired couple of weeks. Know how you feel though drivingmiss and I'm as guily as fretting about times and distances and performance as much as anyone. We shouldn't lose sight of all the great reasons we run and how enjoyable it is. Actually, there's a great article in this month's RW about someone who's just thrown away his Garmin to find the pleasure in running again.... (cue collective shocked intake of breath and sound of bodies tumbling to the floor!)

Throwing away Garmin and running without it?!? Does not compute!

Thanks, I'll see if a looser lace helps. I'm hoping it's not the shoe. I have done two HMs and a few 10ks in them, so hoping that they can get me through til September. They are so comfy, the idea of having a new pair is scary...

But I don't even own a Garmin!

Thanks for the words everyone !

My bro reckons, based on his wife's garmin and all of ours, the race was about 300m longer (mine actually measured it as 600m longer but I don't think that was accurate) which would put my time as something like 23.50 which I would be v. happy with.

Ah well. I don't think 5K is my favourite distance. I never thought I'd say I prefer running longer ...

for all those thinking about triathlons - Zest mag this week have an easy 1st time triathlon 12 week plan. Haven't had a good look at it yet but if anyone wants it I can email it.

Can you send me it please. Watched the Blenheim palace tri on tv the other day and was quite taken by it..and not just because Jenson Button was in it and looks hot in a tri suit

stickylittlefingers - if you've done a couple of HM and various 10K's in them, wonder whether your shoes might be a bit broken down hence affecting your foot (i.e. not providing enough support in the right areas). Usual advice is to get a new pair of shoes every 300 - 500 miles and given that number of races, sounds like you might have done that many in them?