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 master, wheely (and mum), bonkers and N4NNY - seems like you all did great in your own way. Would love to have a place in a race one day - maybe when I'm in the very old veterans section I won't have so much competition! My current FV35 seems to be the most competitive!

I went for a very gentle run yesterday with some local mums - I was worried they'd all be super fit, but only 3 of us turned up anyway and one was having trouble with her knees, so it was nice and slow. I went out again with my boys later to top up, so felt lovely and smug with myself...

Where did that bloke throw his Garmin? Happy to rootle through the rubbish for it .

driving sometimes we've just got to adapt to circumstances to stop ourselves going mad - you've got a lot on your plate (and more coming!) so it sounds like your plan to ease off yourself and try to run just for pleasure is spot on.

DrNorth perhaps you're running too fast and the flies don't have time to get out the way!

Actually here it is (not that Zest recycle their articles... posted on their website last year but exactly same article/plan) - its 6 weeks not 12 !
www.zest.co.uk/other-fitness/womens-triathlon-training-plan/367.html

Gosh things move quickly here!

Going back a bit:

sfx - thanks for the iink to open water swimming in Ham. Looks good and is much closer than Datchet!

Emma - I have a sore hip occasionally which is down to a slight imbalance in my SI joints which the chiropractor sorts out on a regular basis. Is it a dull ache or sharp pain?

master - delighted to see you get your well deserved PB!

bonkers - stunning time! That's 7.5m/m by my calculations which, if you can hold for 6.2 miles, will translate with some training to a pretty decent HM time. There is obviously some talent lurking there waiting to be unleashed!

wheely - your 5K time is a fabulous time and you should not be disappointed at all with that. You are clearly a talented runner and that is a great time.

N4NNY - well done on your PB. We all started somewhere and you should take heart at how much you can improve.

peakrunner - great solid run there!

19 miles on the Alter G Trainer today at 8:34m/m. Hoping that these LSRs early on will reap dividends on race day in October. I would have died of boredom were it not for the athletics being shown on the TV. Mo Farah is a beautiful runner. Oh to fly like that!

I think I might have forgotten to mention my good news? Mum had the all clear on Friday. Now just the small matter of a casino requesting she settle her £8K debt...

Hooray on news for your mum Moshi - that's great and so good to hear quickly as well. £8K debt less good of course, but health so much more important. You must feel like a weight's been lifted...

at the thought of your mum in a casino Moshi.

Super, super run bonkers, so speedy.

Wheely, excellent time too, how fabulous is your mum?

N4NNY, a PB is a PB is a PB. Be proud of what you have achieved.

Driving, I think sometimes the pressure of having to run or ought to be running can take away the pleasure of it all. I honestly think that was partly why my HM two weeks ago just didn't come together. Perhaps you should take a break and just do some pleasure runs, without worrying about how long it takes but just enjoy the moment.

So race report from me:

The race is totally unheard of and was only advertised the week before on the radio. Start was supposed to be at 7.15 so we got there at 6.50 and there was barely anyone there! People turned up to register and by the time the admin was all done it was past 8am. Two of the friends I was with got too frustrated by the Kenyan laid back-ness of it all, however years of Africa meant my patience was not quite so tested! We bonded at the start line with some elite runners from the highlands of Kenya, who were planning a 1.10 run. We were the only white people there, so were considered quite a novelty.

We set off along some small roads that I didn't know so well then some I did know well and went up, up and up the hills for about 11k. The first half felt really good, I took water regularly and it was quite cloudy. I saw one young girl running totally barefoot no Vibrams for her.

The second half was downhill til about 16k then up and down hills and I just kept telling myself, 5k to go, 4k to go, 3k to go, then at 2k there was the steepest hill, I've never felt so despondent. But I was determined to not stop.

My legs felt pretty heavy towards the end but I wasn't out of puff and I do think I could have pushed myself a bit more. Roll on the next one.

I meant to say also, thanks for all your support, it really makes a difference. I feel a little daft that I had to go out and prove I could do it.

great report TheMasters - you set the scene perfectly!

Thanks for that Wheely - interesting reading...the swimming bit still baffles me but I understand the rest.

moshi that is really wonderful news about your mum!

Great report M&M, it sounds like an interesting experience.

I've got a pdf of a short version on the 220 tri magazine that's got a 6 week sprint tri training plan in it as well as some other training tips and articles. I can email it to anyone who wants it.

DH had the genius idea tonight of using Google street view to follow the cycle route for this weekend's tri. It was good to see where it goes but I felt drunk after following it all the way round! It looks like about 6 miles of gentle uphill then 12 miles of mostly flat and downhill. There's 1 big section on a single track road with some tight bends so it could be fun!
My start time for the swim is 15 mins ahead of my friend who beat me by 11 mins in the last one. But I'd expect her to beat me by more this time as she's fitter than me and it's longer.

and brilliant news about your mum moshi. Ouch for the 8k though!

Well done all the racers - lots of inspiring performances - PBs, top 10 results and running with elite kenyan runners - brilliant stuff.

I had 2 runs I was v. chuffed with over the weekend - a lovely 5 miles in the only hour of sunshine we had on Saturday morning (i even wore shorts!) then a soggy 81/2 miles on Sunday which was meant to be my long slow distance which I normally run @ 10:30 min miles - I felt great at the end and did the last mile in 8:30. ( it was flat / downhill ) which I was really pleased with. I am just about managing my new regime of going out before work 2 days a week (although 3 days this week as I'll be working on Saturday grrrr), once I am up I'm fine but getting up is tricky.

Moshi - brilliant news about your mum .

Fantastic news about your mum, Moshi. My aunty, who is living with my mum at the moment, is going through six courses of chemo following a mastectomy. We're hoping for similarly good news for her too, and as the cancer so far hadn't spread to her lymph nodes it looks positive so far.

My hip: dull pain, sort of on and off. Though last Sunday for the first time it was a bit sharper sometimes. That's interesting about the chiropractor. My husband sees a good physiotherapist for his back - he actually specialises in sports stuff so I was thinking of going to see him for a consultation, which feels a bit of an indulgence as there's nothing very wrong. I hope it's not that I've been overdoing it... I don't feel like I'm overdoing it, I think I've been quite careful with increasing my distances and stuff. Thanks for asking!

squix, I struggle to get going in the mornings too, but it's worth it an hour or so later when I'm exercised, showered and feeling all healthy and virtuous!

Thanks so much for all your congratulations. I feel all puffed up [hsmile]

Moshi great news about your Mum. Yay yay yay. I am thinking of training to do another HM. I've done 2 (Heidelberg in 1993 and GNR in 2007). My GNR time was 1:40.23. I clearly have to do another to get my time under 1:40! I will certainly do a 10 miler in November.

masters, that race sounds lovely - apart from the hills of course.

I need to go back and read some more race reports......I love reading them.

Great news about your mum Moshi! The all clear, not he 8k debt obv

Sorry about your aunt Emma, hope the chemo goes well.

Loved all the race reports!

Congratulations, bonkers, wheely, masters" and N4NNY. Don't be embarassed about your time, N4NNY*, coaches at the running club are very good at reminding us that we are really only competing against ourselves, so we should aim to better our own times rather than equal someone else's time (if that makes sense). Am finding that entering races is helping me - gives me something to train for.

Great news about your mum, Moshi!

Have at last been out for a long run this morning, about 7 miles I think. Didn't time it though. Have been overwhelmed with work in last few weeks, and have been heaily reliant on 2 club sessions per week, plus Saturday parkrun, to keep myself "ticking over", have not done a solo run for ages. Felt good, though one of the narrow lanes that I often use was riddled with police cars though not sure why. Also a fireman's hose attached to a water hydrant, but no sign of any hunky firemen at the other end (nor fire engine, or any other equipment). V strange. Am v pleased that I went out, as had been feeling v tired and lethargic, but feel better now for having done something.

Just can't decide if to enter a 5 mile race on Friday evening, or a 10 mile race on Sunday. Think both will take last minute entries. DH has helpfully pointed out that if I do both then I should do parkrun on Saturday as well. As if...

oops, re last sentence, DH has said shouldn't do parkrun, rather than should..

Emmabemma - virtuous is a nice way of putting it . Sorry to hear about your Aunt - fingers crossed you get good news soon.

Ibby - I thought your DH was being a bit harsh there ;)

Emma - sorry to hear about your Aunt - hope things continue in a positive direction.

Moshi - so pleased about your Mum. Good luck with the gambling issue !

5 miles on the treadmill this morning that felt like I was running through custard. In fact, at 2Km I wasn't sure how I was going to continue but managed it slowly. Have felt queasy (just typed squeezy...) on and off since so wonder if its a bit of a bug. Niece was having tummy issues over the w/e and my Mum said she felt similar yesterday but is much better today so fingers crossed.

Foot really sore too - which reminds me, I forgot to mention I managed to get a 5 min free physio check on it on saturday at a fair thing where they were touting for business. She reckoned it was just that I'm not getting any younger and I need to do more strengthening exercises. Nothing disasterous but not what a girl needs to hear the week of her birthday :o

That was thoughtful of the physio wheely - maybe that's the blunt honesty you get when you're not paying them to be nice to you!

Thanks for the good wishes about my aunty - she's doing really well, she's broken the back of the chemo now, as she's 3 courses in, and is tolerating it really well. Plus, the other promising news is that her tumour cells respond to herceptin, which is this new wonder drug that should also massively reduce the chances of recurrence. She'll start that when the chemo is over. So things are looking about as good as they could do given the situation.

Hip was really sore again today! So have booked a consultation with the physio on Thurs and trying not to feel too despondent. I can run on it, it doesn't hurt when I'm walking at all, but I don't want to risk serious injury.

LOL Cest - I just thought maybe it was what Physio's learnt at Physio School - a friend of mine who has a recurrent knee problem had a series of physio appointments and apparently every session he kept saying 'well you're not in your 20s anymore you know'.

Hope yours is more tactful Emma ! (unless you are still in your 20s of course).

hey guys, back from holiday! The hotel gym had a high altitude room with treadmills!! which sadly I could not use as the gym was being refurbished and opened the day we left. We did get to see it though as they launched it the night before, weird seeing all these healthy people drinking champagne and eating cake in the gym

Debbie, how have you been training for your triathlon? and did you ever have swimming classes?
I think I would like to do one next year, I can swim and I think I'm quite fast but it doesn't look like proper controlled swimming compared to the other people I see at the gym's swimming pool. I also worry about loosing my contact lenses in the water. :S

moshi great news about your mum :D how are you feeling now? you must be emotionally exhausted, take it easy.

Well after a few days of doing nothing but swimming on holiday I had a disastrous 5k on sunday (the day after getting back, slow and really hardwork) and a better 9k yesterday with a running partner.

When you run with a partner do you talk or stay silent ?? We talked the whole way through so didn't particularly go fast (9k in 1 hour 7minutes). It was also the first time we ran together so didn't really know if our paces were going to match (they kinda did).

also I did 9k instead of 5 yesterday so that would kind of be my long run, tomorrow would usually be my long run and I'm supposed to do 12 or 13k (based on my HM plan) and Im wondering wether to just have a shorter run & fartleks and leaving a longer run for sunday or do another long run tomorrow. that might be pushing it for me I think, trainer said don;t do too much this week... mmmm. ideas?

I'm going to try and catch up properly on the thread now, since I'm too skint to be looking online for garmins ;)

June - welcome back! Glad you sound like you had a nice holiday. I would ease into your schedule as you have not done any running since you have been away. Nothing to be gained by ploughing on as if you had done your sessions but plenty to be lost by trying to push yourself. You will catch up soon enough. I think I must agree with your trainer this time !

Thank you everyone for your support I was feeling very despondent about my running but speed really doesn't matter not to me anyway I am going to be happy with just getting out there with the ability to move and remember my life could be very different were it not for a very skilfully surgeon who with out his skill I would be paralysed from the neck down.

So I'm gonna be proud of my race for life time of 37mins 28 secs slow but hey I can walk, I can run so who cares.

Hi all! I had a bit of a break after my 5k - I wasn't enjoying running and I think it was because I'd completed my half marathon goal and was on a bit of a downer after the high of Edinburgh.

Went back to running club tonight and did a gentle 2.5 miles in about 24 mins so pleased enough with that. It wasn't as painful as I'd feared amd think I'm getting the bug back again, which is just as well as I have a potential 10k next weekend...

Hope everyone is well, I'll try and catch up but if anyone wants to summarise any massive events in the last couple of weeks, I'd be grateful!