runners united: the one with the time running with other people

[rhetorician]

all welcome to come and join in - we talk a lot on here, and are always glad of new people to natter with about running (and everything else)

moshi you have to go to San Fran with dh to check it out, tis a HUGE decision. Think master had a very good idea in taking the littlest Moshette with you, leaving the older 3 to fend for themselves with housekeeper ?

Blackpool is indeed the home of stag and hen parties and kiss me quick hats Not too far from me though, it's a flat route by the sea so sounds quite pleasant.

sticky when is Richmond 10? Do you know there is a fuck off big hill in it?

I think I need a slap round the face from my running friends on here. How do you all feel about being beaten by a friend? My SIL who is faster than me keeps signing up for the races I am signed up for, including my next 10k which I am doing with a team from work. When I race with her I get all antsy and nervous and set off too quick as I panic that I don't want her to whoop me. Stupid isn't it? See, someone slap me please.

Thanks for your advice folks. I agree that a hideously expensive qualified nanny might be the best option, even if she is going to be scarily alien to a complete stranger to the kids. I think SF will be a fabulous place to raise the family but it is daunting as it will be a permanent move and I actually love my life here in London with the fabulous schools our kids are in. My main concern is DS's school as it is quite possibly The Best School For Boys Ever. It is a selective school which boys sit the 7+ or 8+ entrance exam for and he sailed through it and thrives there. They do so much for boys and have the most incredible 44 acres of playing fields on the riverside which is amazing for anywhere let alone London. It is also a school where he is all set until he is 18 and the sort of place that sorts out not just the academics but also the social side of life for boys. And as it is quite exclusive, I think the networking can be very useful for setting up in the future. So it is incredibly scary finding an alternative in a foreign place where we know nobody.

Cross post with DrNo - what you describe is actually quite useful as it means you have a competitive instinct which, if you nurture and use to your advantage, will mean you can whoop ass when racing your SIL. I too suffer from the most incredible self-induced nerves but am now at a stage where I think I can recognise it in advance and talk myself into my zone when I am running. More race experience will always help on that front too. But I actually think recognising it is the main thing and once you do that you can employ any number of mind games to turn it to your advantage. Have you chosen a 10K programme? I think you have come on SO much this past year that you will improve at an impressive rate for a while once you get more consistent training schedules done. It is all about being consistently consistent with your running and avoiding injury so you don't set yourself back to square one (my habit!)

I haven't got a 10k programme no. Do I need one? Can it make me faster before November? She has a gym membership and a PT, both of which I don't so she is at a huge advantage to me. Just wish I didn't mind that she can beat me!

Evening all ? thought I?d catch up on here whilst I?m printing off some papers for a meeting tomorrow - good job I?ve got lots to print as there?s loads to catch up on!

Moshi - wow ? how exciting ? I had my best shoe shopping experiences anywhere in the world in San Fran, I?d love to go back. We went as part of our honeymoon ? (ahhhh?.squix gets all misty eyed at the thought of shoes honeymoon)

Fanny . runforfun and sticky - how are you doing today how are the legs ? ohh and fanny - how is your wrist?

paws & wheely - I found I had to experiment too. I found I was feeling ill about an hour after a long run but drinking during the run, some jelly babies and a small glass of milk when I come back seems to work for me. But I think it?s worth playing a round a bit to see what works. DD likes sort out my Jelly babies and tells me I can only eat the pink ones at the top of the hills. I generally feel rubbish on a long run about 75% in - I just sort of expect it now and let it go. I think I read somewhere that an espresso is good before a run so maybe small cups are better than large.

Well done tulip & possum too. I have a 10K in a few weeks too ? no niggles with ankle today so hopefully it should be back to business as usual with a 6 am run tomorrow.

DrNo - as our friends across the pond say, do bears sh!t in the woods?! Here is a link you should look at to see which one might suit your needs. You should plan according to your ability to stick to one I think rather than an aspirational one as the best result will come from being able to follow the principles laid down. But they are just suggestions so feel free to adapt according to your week if need be. Just be sure to alternate Hard Day with Easy Day so your body can rest from a hard session.

Re Posting - my name seems to have been lost from my 10k - is it s sign ?

24/09/11 - Nairn Triathlon: backwardpossom (eeeeek!)
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, Tulip27
25/09/11 - Runway Run 10k: Ibbydibby
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
02/10/11 - Great Edinburgh Run 10k - Squix
02/10/11 - Big Fun Run 5k London Victoria Park - Wiifitmama
02/10/11- Camberley 10k- DebitheScot
09/10/11 - Great Eastern Run, Peterborough - Futurity
09/10/11 - Herts 10k - WishIwasCherryMenlove
15/10/11 - Donadea Forest Trail 10k - rhetorician
16/10/11 - Abingdon Marathon: MoshiMoshi
16/10/11 - Aviemore 10K: Piffpaffpoff
22/10/11 - Shockabsorber 10K Richmond Park - sfx
23/10/11- Thruxton Mass Attack Duathlon- DebitheScot
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
13/11/11 - Stebbing 10 Mile - bonkers20
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, MoshiMoshi
19/02/12 - Brighton Half marathon - Wheely
22/04/12 - VLM: MoshiMoshi, ibbydibby
27/05/12 - London Bupa 10K - Futurit

Moshi Sounds like you may be hot housing a temporary nanny then! Hopefully you will get something sorted. However I do not envy you having to decide to move 4 children lock stock and barrel over the Atlantic. My friend is moving to Perth when all papers are finalised and she has 4 children too (all under 9) - her DH is military though so she is used to moving around. San Francisco will have some pretty fantastic schools though but I am sure you have already done your research! Everything in life has pros and cons but you know what, you have ONE life so live it to the full. Go for it girl, I doubt you will regret it.

DrNo I too am considering Blackpool HM - in fact my friend and I are entering the Lancaster one in November. Re your SIL, like Moshi said, healthy competition is what makes us strive to do better. I would be the same! I too want to get faster for November so be interesting to see what others think. I am planning on upping mileage to around 40 miles a week with good quality intervals and longer tempos. I am sure we can do it! Yes very tired today but soreness isn't too bad.

Paws If I have a latte or a fizzy drink I cannot run probably. I had lemonade last LSR I did before GNR and was pretty ill during run. Water and white tea is all I can drink pre-run. You need to make sure you are hydrated properly - believe me I know, I suffered kidney stones from dehydrating my body by drinking wine the night before a run (no more than half a bottle) not enough water then running in summer heat. I was very poorly, collapsed at home and hospitalised for few days on drip. YOU MUST DRINK WATER!!!!

Plugged my Garmin in before to get stats for GNR. Splits were okay, started slightly too fast though but it is downhill for first 3 miles so very easy mistake. Last 3 miles were slowest but only went tad over 9m/m. Garmin has my average pace at 8.50m/m. My aim was an average 8.30m/m so I know I can work on that for next HM! I have gone from being disappointed with my time to very happy with it - considering I have NEVER once raced and have only covered the distance 3 times in my life, I should be happy.

"cannot run properly not probably!"

So much to catch up on.
Great report sticky. Can imagine the rain being very welcoming. I love running in the rain. Thats a pain about your washing machine. Hope you get it sorted soon.
RunforFun well done on your pb.
Wheeley could it be a bit of acid making you feel sick when you running. I have acid reflux and it worse when I run. Might be an idea to try a bit of gaviscon before you head out and see if it helps.
Wow moshi San Francisco no wonder you feeling stressed.
Rhet what is dp doing at college? Sorrry if you already said?
10 mins after put dn to bed last night, ds2 come down to say dn crying. Went up to him, poor little thing cying his heart out saying he wants his mum and telling me daddy is ill. I could of cried, felt so awful for him. He went to sleep not long after that. He had another cry after his afternoon sleep today and again when I put him to bed tonight . Poor little thing, it is so awful. But he been good.
Managed to get out for an easy 5k tonight, first run in a week. However my foot still playing up abit. But good besides that.

Thanks for all the tips re hydration/fuelling. Today actually may have a different explanation - DH has come home with what seems to be a bit of a tummy bug so maybe its that too. But, I do have a general problem so I will be taking these tips on board. I had been planning on trying jelly babies in advance of the GSR so I have something to give me an extra boost if required. Actuallynow I think about it, I have drunk loads of coffee all weekend which is unusual - although I love it, I usually am good at limiting myslef to 1. I need to get back to that discipline (and cut out wine during the week - have managed it today ).

moshi - sounds like a big decision and seems a sudden one. Does it need to be made overnight ? I hope you reach a solution. And just think, if you go, it'll get you out of being class rep .

Whilst you're recommending following a plan to DrNo can I ask some advice - once I'm through GSR, my next big one is Brighton Half in Feb. I want to factor in some rest time just in case my ankle needs it but, obviously I don't have far to go between the two distances. Is it best to just carry doing what I'm doing (increasing my long run - as well as my own intervals/tempo sessions) or is there benefit to starting a half marathon plan even though they usually start at quite short distances ?

fanny - I think you definitely should be pleased with yourself !

squix - glad the ankle is improving.

Peach - how was Caballo Blanco ??

cross point orange - thanks for the advice, something I hadn't considered. Think I have some probably out of date gaviscon around here somewhere.

Poor DN. It must be so heartbreaking for you all.

Actually moshi - looking at your link, I have probably answeredmy own question. I hadn't looked at the RW plans and see they are for particular times (at half marathon) so I guess they are worth looking at for sure. Just need to get my bro to give me his subscriber number (well I did buy his RW sub as a pressie).

Just realised it was wheely who was feeling sick - apologies paws for telling you off! wheely get drinking water woman!!!

orange - poor little DN. I am sorry I must have missed the goings on. Is he with you for long? What has happened to his parents? I am hopeless at keeping up here. Apologies. You sound like you are doing a great job of caring for him.

wheely - I can understand wanting to rest your ankle but I think you should try maintain the volume of running miles as there will be less of an impact to the system when you commence the schedule for the HM. You could incorporate more rest days to help the ankle but maintain the LSRs which will really help when you deal with the longer runs and you will find faster running easier over longer distances. Look for a plan that suits the time you have between the GSR and your HM and factor in that it will fall over Christmas and tailor it according to your requirements/family/work situation. Does that make sense? I have found that stopping and starting with each pregnancy made it harder to regain lost ground whereas if you continue ticking over your body will absorb the training and therefore any improvements much quicker!

Moshi he is with us at least a week maybe two, although my sister is having him a couple of nights. Db is very ill, he was told about 12 months ago he had about a year left. Dsil is on a training course for work which is compulsory (she has not told work either of them are ill) and db not well enough to care for dn.

I am so sorry for you and your family orangehead; how old is your nephew?

On way home from Caballo Blanco. It was great! He is a pretty unassuming, but inspiring guy. He basically described how he had got into ultrarunning, how he set up the race, and how the race had gone over the years. He also showed a film which was great as gave you a better sense of the location and the town etc.

He has an amazing outlook on life and running, and made me want to go crazy and do am ultramarathon. Perhaps I should do a marathon
first...

Cest, if you didn't make it, don't worry, he is not anti-shoe!!! He said he likes anything that is cheap or free!

Got my copy of Born To Run signed! It says "To peachsmuggler. run Free! Caballo Blanco"

Thanks moshi. I was only thinking of 1-2 weeks rest on the ankle. Nothing drastic and then only if it was required which hopefully it won't be. I think I would still be able to fit in 3 months of training though so will take a look at the r w plans. I quite like having structure.

drno I was miffed when my sil best me in rfl esp as she passed me near the end and I didn't realise it was her until we crossed the line. I could have caught her if I'd realised ;-). Not that I'm competitive. Ahem .....

He just turned four last week. They also have a 1 year old, he has gone to dsil mums house.

orange that is truly dreadful. Poor you and your little DN. I hope you get through this and your DB is not in a bad place. A friend's close friend has terminal cancer and is so forthright and brave about her predicament (leaving her two kids, husband dead already) that it makes me feel so in awe of how strong she is. Keep us posted if we can possibly help at all. Failing that, go running!

Crossposts as slow on my phone.

orange - thinking of you all.

peach - sounds fab.

orange Just want to give you a big hug x

Thanks Moshi, he has Aids sil is hiv positive thankfully both the kids are ok.

orange, my heart breaks for you DN, and for your whole family. It must be good to be able to do something practical for your brother and SIL. I can't imagine how tough it must be.