runners united: the newly garminified thread for people who love running

[rhetorician]

all welcome: young, old, fast, slow, running for a week or 20 years, on-road, off-road, racing. Add yourself to the list, or just post!

20/08/11 - Frank Duffy 10 mile, Dublin - rhetorician
29/08/11 - Spofforth 10k Trail Race - DrNortherner
03/09/11 - Dingle Half-Marathon - rhetorician
04/09/11 - Great Scottish Run Half-Marathon: EmmaBemma
11/09/11 - Bristol Half- Marathon - thetasigmamum
11/09/11 - Bristol Half- Marathon- N4nny
11/09/11 - Addidas 5K: MoshiMoshi
18/09/11 - GNR: Hamster, Run for fun, popsycal, LaLa, SLF, Fannybanjo
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, Quenelle
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
09/10/11 - Herts 10k - WishIwasCherryMenlove
16/10/11 - Abingdon Marathon: MoshiMoshi
30/10/11 - Great South Run: Wheely, squix
30/10/11 - Nairobi Standard Chartered Half Marathon - M&M
05/11/11 - Glendalough Trail Run - rhetorician
19/11/11 - Maasai Mara Half Marathon - M&M
20/11/11 - Leeds Abbey Dash (10k) - DrNortherner
27/11/11 - City of Norwich half marathon: ibbydibby
19/02/12 - Brighton Half marathon - Wheely
22/04/12 - VLM: MoshiMoshi, ibbydibby
27/05/12 - London Bupa 10K - Futurity

bonkers and ibbydibby - take a look at this clip of the Norwich HM. It looks nice and reasonably flat!

Ibby and Moshi I know that area very, very well. I had images of running around the Cathedrals and the old part of the city. Easton isn't exactly beautiful!

That it is quite flat is appealing though.

I went to Notre Dame.

Hello all! Wow! Some amazing distances and times being run. Well done everyone!

Sorry not been about for a while-RL is just a bit hectic and stressful right now. I know that running would help with it all but any weekday runs have got to be in the gym which isn't very motivating. It's so much HARDER running on a treadmill. I'm trying to get two outdoor runs in at the weekend but it's proving difficult at the moment.

There's only just over 4 weeks left until my 10k so I really need to get my arse in gear!

Hope you've all had lovely sunshine like we've had here. It's been a nice change from the last week of rain.
Good luck weekend racers. Is it just emmabemma

badger - All is not lost! If you can mainly use a treadmill then the ideal thing to do with your impending 10K is fit in some speed intervals which is perfect for treadmills as you can adjust the settings (speed and distance) so you can't wimp out and don't have to work out the distance, and it is climate controlled (no rain or terrible hot weather to distract you). You can also make sure you use the time you have efficiently! Let me know if you would like help thinking of some sessions so you can teach your legs to run fast for your 10K. 4 weeks is ample time to fit it in!

Oh crikey Fanny, no wonder you freaked out. Dogs off leads and owners who cant control are also a pet peeve of mine. Have had a few incidents with dogs over just the last few months. The only other incident I have had was running past a group of teens lads and one of them thought it would be funny to run along side me with his mates cheering him on . I just ignored him as had ipod on anyway and carried on at my normal pace, he soon got out of breath and stopped then all his mates were laughing him
And no it wasn't dressed as Batman peachs, I might of been less scared if it was.
DrNo we only bashing dogs that can't be controlled and off the lead, Im scared of them at the best of times but when I get jumped at Im surprised I dont have a heart attack. So pleas don't set your dogs on me
Glad you had a good holiday and have seen te benefits Sleepwhenidie.
My foot is a little sore after my intervals yesterday, hopefully nothing and won't get worse before next week.

I actually quite like dogs as a rule, and might think about getting one in a few years - I'd like to run with a dog. But there are too many people who don't train them, and aren't in control of them, and off-lead you've no idea whether you are looking at a well-trained dog or not...I've been bitten, and knocked over by large dogs that the owners couldn't control.

Work all day today and then a sort of tempo run at the gym (my speed sessions are not very clearly defined - I need to work on this) - just went up a km per hour for each km I ran - so warm up and then 9, 10, 11, 11.5, 10.5, 9.5, but I got fed up in the last km and ran it at 11kph. Was quite pleased with it.

I find running on a treadmill easier physically but dreary: i listen to podcasts and try to keep the sessions under an hour (in fact I use the gym for short sessions)

busily trying to mesh schedules with DP and work out drop off and pick up for DD, plus running; DP doesn't drive and can no longer use the bike (even if she were confident enough to cycle with DD on the back, which she isn't), and it's over a mile to walk to the nursery. She finds it hard, I think, to do there and back - slight touch of SPD, maybe. So am trying to minimise her trips there. It's a logistical head-wreck!

rhet don't think I'd like to cycle whilst preggars with a toddler on the back! In fact, went out for a bike ride the other day and it only proved to me I am a runner not a cyclist

Did my 30 day shred DVD today in absence of a run, it really is a good blast of 20 mins if anyone fancies buying it. Gilliam McMichaels woman yells "If you want results they aint coming for free" I think we should adopt this as our new mantra!

This weekend I am planning on signing up for a few more races so watch the list grow!

My goal is to run a 50 min 10k. If it doesn't happen in 2011 it will in 2012.

Lets all list our goals, it can only help us get there.

OK, my 2012 goals are:

2:00 half (pref sub...)
55 min 10k
25 min 5k

there, I've said it

yes, I think her centre of gravity is all off, and she's not the most physically confident person at the best of times (unlike DD who will try anything!)

Thanks Moshi And yes please to some speed interval help.
The gym is one of the local council run ones, so climate control is pretty nonexistent! I am a sweaty little thing at the best of times but had no idea there would be such a difference between running indoors and out. I look like I've just had a shower and have such a red face. On Monday, PIL's were at the house when I got back and FIL said, "look, here's the lady with the big red face.." Lovely. Thanks. Most helpful and encouraging.

Ooh, Rhet, that's a good idea about podcasts. I'm off to search...

My goals? Run this 10k and cross the finish line without looking like I'm about to keel over. And raise as much money as I can.
And if I do it I'll enter some more races.

Another good run for me today, 4.6 miles. I'm still painfully slow but I my goal is to run the 10k nonstop and if i have to do it at snails pace to achieve that then so be it. However (I can't believe I'm writing this) I may start doing one of my runs each week as interval training. Oh no, I'm hooked!!

badger there's tons of great stuff out there - I listen to In Our Time (I am a nerd after all) and other documentary type stuff; it's better than music because you quickly get used to the length of given songs.

Mine is the council gym too, and it's basic modest - but the windows open wide and look over the playing fields. Mind you, nearly got my head taken off by a slíotar (here, linky linky for those of you who don't know what I'm on about - encylco you can look away!) at close range. Hospitalisation would surely have ensued.

badger - I have, out of necessity, used a treadmill for 2 years for 2 runs a week and thats in a local authority gym with barely any aircon too so I feel your pain. I find it harder than outside (although agree physically better). My top tips for treadmill running are:

• find something to take your mind of it that suits you. I listen to music but have the TV on the news channel on mute so I have something to look at that doesn't need sound

• take extra water with you and use it to throw on your face as well as drink. I only did this, this summer and it worked really well to keep cooler.

• Do intervals or a structured session like rhet describes - it gives you something to think about.

My 2012 goal(s) is to work on the half marathon distance. I have my first one booked for feb so hope for a sub-2 hr and then to do an autumn half (ideally GNR or London Parks) and try and get it nearer 1.45 but suspect that might be a bit ambitious (esp. if its GNR).

And a triathlon - my goal for that will be to finish without drowning or falling off a bike.

Ankle feeling much better. Hopeful to start running next week.

Ok badger, how about something like this (a sort of pyramid interval session):

W/up 2 miles easy/steady (starting easy and increasing to steady)
0.25M fast*
60 second jog recovery
0.50M fast
90 second jog recovery
0.75M fast
2 mins jog recovery
1M fast
2m30s jog recovery
0.75M fast
2 mins jog recovery
0.5M fast
90 seconds jog recovery
0.25M fast
60 seconds jog recovery
W/down (as time allows but can be as little as 0.25M)

• the "fast" sections can be subjective to allow for the distance you are targetting and your current level of fitness. So as you have a 10K coming up, I would go for 85-90% effort, ie a pace where you can utter a few words for a chat but not really have an easy conversation. The jog recoveries can be slow enough to gather yourself for the next interval. The key is to make sure you finish each interval as strongly as you did the previous one so your pace is consistent and you don't find yourself dying towards the end. Better to have a slightly slower fast pace that you can maintain than one that peters out as you work through the sessions. If you are time poor, you can always work back down the pyramid from an earlier stage, eg just go up to 0.75M and back again, but bear in mind the intensity should be as high if not higher if you are going to do that! These sorts of sessions should show a difference in pace in a few weeks if you do them properly. Good luck!

Having a massive clear out and have got to a box of stuff from my childhood days which my dad kept for some reason. It has lots of letters from him and I am finding it hard to look at them but am not sure what to do with them. Will I regret it if I throw them away? I had thought I would ditch the old stuff but am finding it hard now faced with that prospect.

6.5M av 8:22m/m today. Easy in anticipation of a harder session tomorrow with some 5K and 10K paced miles.

Actually, it was harder than it sounds as I was trying to ignore the man who kept trying to outrun me and not make him eat my dirt.

Loving the goal listing. I think it is great as I can see that there is potential for you to achieve them with a bit of focused training. Bit scared of posting mine in case I don't come anywhere close to them. The interim ones are a sub-1:30HM and sub-3:15 marathon and then the next ones are a bit more lofty being a sub-85 HM and sub-3 marathon (but I have given myself until I reach 40 to try do the latter ones). My ultimate goals are to raise a happy healthy family and see them grow up with beautiful families to keep me happy and occupied when I am a little old lady (that still runs).

Rhet I am laffing my head off at the sliotar comment. They are lethal little buggers aren't they?

Dr No I loved the Shred DVD "I want you gargling your heart!" Ha ha. Mind you Gillian Michaels is a total wimp about running. Can barely manage 3 miles.

Moshi as a newbie I can only guess you recently lost your Dad? I am so sorry to hear it. Maybe keep them for now, especially if you feel unsure. Amazing times btw.

Oooh Goal lisiting... hmmm. Need to think about it, but I see a HM in my future.

encyclo do any of your children play GAA?

bit of a rubbish run this morning, probably because of the tempo (?) run I did at 6pm last night, plus the fact that I cycled about 18k yesterday and up to nursery and back - so covered about 30k under my own steam. Also DP keeps waking me up with her tossing and turning and getting up to pee (so unreasonable ) - I'm a light sleeper and find it hard to get back to sleep...

so I'm tired and feeling the faster running in my legs today. Oh well, I kept slogging round

Hello All

I've been advised to post here to ask for some help on encouraging a 6 yr old to run and also for advice as to how far and how often etc. Thanks

Rhet my ds10 plays both hurling and football, season nearly over now of course so he's pulling on his rugby kit tomorrow. Run 'em ragged that's my philosophy!

DD15 has sn but she has trained with GAA and with the rugby team too.

Moshi Don't throw that stuff out. You are so lucky to have it. Even if it's just too painful to read right now, I am pretty certain you will regret getting rid. I would love to have something like that from my Dad. I do have a tape of us messing around when I was about 9/10, singing silly songs, being stupid and having a laugh. i've only listened to it once since he died and it broke my heart, but I will listen to it again, one day. (when I get a tape player...)

encyclo Is Gillian really a running wimp?! Wow. I could kick her butt in a 10k then

wheely hope the ankle pain is gone for good and next week you can resume running pain free.

Kimberlina Has your ds run before? The general rule is for a kid of 6 is that they should run no more than 3 miles in any one session HTH. Although my ds is 9 and he would struggle with 3 miles, he is more of a sprinter.

kimberlina - Dr No is right, and probably not more than 2-3 x week: he might enjoy the concept of fartlek (and will at least snigger at the name :)) - this is running but with short bursts of speed - so fix on a goal - a tree, or a postbox and run fast to that point, and then slow down again. Probably for no more that 1.5 miles. Is he particularly interested in running?

encyclo so you are knee deep in stinky kit then?

moshi - don't throw it out, like Dr No I now have very few things of my dad's (his horrid SIL chucked out everything from his parents' house when they died :() - some letters he wrote to my mum and few other things. They are irreplaceable - one day your children will be interested in them too. Just put them somewhere safe if you don't want to read them at the moment.

He is interested as he sees me and DP going out for runs regularly and sometimes accompanies on a bike. Are there running clubs for children his age?

don't know about running clubs - here (in Ireland) they can start at running club at 8, but this is because of liability insurance, rather than other issues. You just have to watch intensity because his skeleton is still developing. Hopefully others will have more advice soon