Runners United: the one where we talk about running, life, the universe and everything inbetween

[Pawsnclaws]

New thread everyone!

Rest for me today - just six days to go and I've woken with a sore throat .....

To me - there junk because they burn me out and don't benefit me whereas to anyone else, they may benefit. We're all different.

Oh yes yes yes to micro scooter. DD1 and DD2 both had them. There's a lovely turquoise one in John Lewis - around £50 but well with it. It's either one of them or a balance bike for DD3 for her birthday.

I have entered the Cambridge 1/2 marathon. Have you?

you know what - I think she might like an orange one. It will also be very handy if she is happy to scoot while DP pushes DD2 in the pram...buggy will not take a buggy board, unfortunately. Thanks for the tips. You ladies are a mine of useful information.

Arghh they're junk not there - sorry Rhet . Damn iPhone fucks me over sometimes.

peach I suppose I didn't really mean junk miles...I mean I should make the effort to do mix up the runs like you are all saying as I could quite easily just do the same pace for every run which is no good for no one!

fanny you are right about hills...I live in the flattest area possible but there is one road in the village which is a hill and at running club we sometimes charge up it as fast as possible..have a breather and jog down and then do it again. We haven't done it for a while but that is definitely what you mean so I will make the effort to do it when out for my runs.

Wheely yes..think I will start with pool first. I've found out about swimming lessons and will (hopefully) start next Wednesday evening to improve my style and stamina which will be good. I will see how I go before I think about tri's seriously as I may will hate it!

Bonkers Yes! There are 3 of us on the list who have entered it...add yourself to it :)

has anyone seen this. I'm no fan of Oliver's, but he is dead right about this pile of bullshit from the government (by which I mean I find JO intensely irritating if I have to see or listen to him, although I do like his recipes); I get very cross when I see fat 3 year olds...

Wheely my MIL would definitely have treated a granddaughter as a little dolly. Probably a good thing I couldn't deliver one for her!

sfx I wouldn't say I know how you feel, because I don't - but for me I've always felt there's that little boy missing from our family. He was ds1's identical twin too, so it's sort of weird that I'll never have to wonder what he would have looked like. We do have some nice pictures of them together after they were born, which ds1 likes to look at occasionally. I still feel very broody now, but it's tempered by being hugely thankful for what I have .

fanny did I mention I ran a marathon then? Yes, am feeling pretty good apart from the calf, which still looks mottled and swollen. I'll give it a go running gently tomorrow, then reassess. You lot do realise I'm not seeing a physio because I'm shit scared I think they'll tell me to rest it? Tragic or what!

I like the occasional fat coke too. I'm also very fond of pineapple Bacardi Breezers which DH likes to present to me with a cocktail cherry and umbrella a la Derek Trotter. I live life on the edge, me.

futurity it's absolutely fine to go out every other day, run X miles at 10 m/m if people are happy with that however if you want to get faster, there are ways to do it. I love mixing runs up, I'd be bored shitless doing same thing every time. I write a plan down and try to stick to it, my friend follows it too. it's a bit like this;

Sun - Steady run (8 miles at easy to steady pace - approx 8.30 m/m)
Mon - Intervals
Tues - Rest
Wed - Hill intervals (6-8 x 2 mins with recovery down) 1 mile warm up, 1 mile cool down (so I park 1 mile from steep hill, run to it - do intervals, then jog back to car.
Thurs - Rest
Fri - LSR (this may change back to a Sunday but I am doing them with a friend so Fri better). At the moment on 15 miles, next week is a 16 miler.
Sat - Rest

I find that on my steady runs, they are the ones I notice I am getting stronger at as the other 3 runs are training me to work more efficiently. I always aim to run steady runs at the pace which I am training for (so HM pace). I want to be completing next HM at 1hr50m so I need to run from the start at the slowest 8.30m/m. I find that setting realistic goals is only way to do it. Yes, I would kill to be doing HM in 1hr30m but it isn't going to happen. However, I am sure, if I put hardcore training in, I could get to 1hr40m, but Rome weren't built in a day!

Set yourself a goal and then set up a plan. You will find what works for you.

PS I will be honest, I find the Runnersworld etc ones too complex, can never follow them properly however they do work for a lot of people but there is NO way I could run 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Hmm, that banana muffin recipe looks good, but I have no baking powder .... do you think I could just use SR flour instead? Is gluten free flour though which unfortunately means baked goods come out flat as a witch's tit don't rise quite so well?

paws I take it from your post that you sadly lost a twin? I am so sorry. Hope your calf gets better and you NEED to see a physio, that mottling doesn't sound great. Please, do as you know you should, make an appointment. What's the point of making it worse, resting for a few weeks better than never running again.

rhet I agree re JO being a bit of a prick, however I have to say, I commend him on his work with schools. He doesn't have to be arsed.

My take on children and obesity is the parents and the children need educating as to what is in food, calorie and fat wise BUT I also blame large supermarkets for their constant BOGOF on crap and NEVER any decent offers on fresh fruit and veg. In all honestly, you are always going to get lazy fuckers who can't be arsed what they feed their kids, no amount of education or free fruit would change that. Plus tighter advertising and I wouldn't allow any of this Coco Pops character shite on cereal boxes etc. Everything over certain amount of sugar and fat content should be plainly boxed.

fanny - thanks for showing me your schedule...I agree..Runnersworld ones can be a bit full on...I can manage 4 runs a week which is generally LSR Tuesday, running club Thursday (must persuade them to do more hill work) and then Friday and Saturday. I shall put some thought to what I do in each run and take it from there.

Rhet I like JO recipes but I have never more than glimpsed at his shows, I am not a fan of cookery shows, as a rule, same as I don't like X Factor and the like and any other sort of reality shows, generally speaking

But in the issue of regulation I already had a huge rant this morning on the subject of care homes and elderly care in hospitals, so I shall spare you, there are many reasons why people are fat and children are obese, not all immediately obvious, some quite obvious but too entangled with other social problems to be worth their time

IMO some regulations is important as is upholding some standards and imbuing a sense of personal responsibility and ability to control one's own life, the two work well together and are not mutually exclusive. Look at the banks as an example of failure on both counts

and I said I would not rant [sorry]

peach you hormonal softie

Paws I am sorry for your loss, it is all those futures we plan, imagine and dream of, that get taken away, it is a very human trait to grieve for them I find, don't think it detracts from enjoying the present, quite the contrary I believe

I always look at when I have most and least time and plan it that way and I am of the camp that firmly believes that rest and recovery more important than adding in miles just to up your weekly mileage. I ran a 1hr57m GNR (first ever race and HM) on 3 to 4 runs a week, not mega fast but not bad for my first ever half. I know with determination, I will get quicker. You have to want to, that's all.

Definitely push the hills, if Moshi lived in a massively hilly area, imagine what her times would be! My friend noticing the impact the hill training having too - she's ran a very easy 10 miler today at 8.40m/m - she wouldn't have done that a few weeks ago. Yes, again, not super fast but it's the ease at which you are running these longer sessions which you notice. I'm desperate to get back out but can't, not yet anyway. Shitgate mark 3 not an appealing prospect.

Some points to note from the current discussion:

1. One thing that is often overlooked is that Training = breaking down body (part of the process in building it up and getting fitter and stronger over time) whereas Rest = recovery (body regenerating). They have to work together.

1. Not everyone will need as much rest as others which is why some people can run 6 days a week without getting injured and others can only manage 3 before they reach their tipping point.

1. The point about building up slowly and gradually is to help your body adapt over time to the increased loading. If you overdo it, eg suddenly stick a longer LSR with a speed session in the same week, you will likely injure yourself and end up back at square one.

This is why the often quoted rules are said to be don't increase your mileage by more than 10% a week, don't introduce any quality work in too quickly instead adding a new session every few weeks, incorporate a cutback week (so your body can absorb the training) etc.

So we will all know people who were able to improve without sticking religiously to the rules, but they are only a guide and if you understand the reasons behind them, then you can make them work for you better.

Carb-loading with the LFDT Rocky theme tune in the back of my mind ...

sfx - I agree that health and obesity is tied in with social issues to quite a large extent. There are so few obese people waddling up and down King's Road and we all know why. This was also borne out this morning when I was watching DD2's swimming lesson at school and none of the children were chubby. Not a single one. And these are 4-5 year olds when it is easy to be a bit chubby at that age. Except when the parents are so well educated and motivated (with a choice of Waitrose or M&S Foods to shop from) that it isn't even an issue.

Countries differ greatly though and I recall when MacDonalds became quite popular in Asia, suddenly all the kids started growing much taller but there were quite a few fat Asian kids for the first time. They looked westernised. But then in the middle east it is often a sign of wealth being able to be plump, suggesting you do not need to lift a finger as you are so wealthy with so many staff to do things for you.

Wise words from Moshi as usual! Again, what works for me, won't work for anyone else, it's a case of finding what works for YOU. I could well find that in a few weeks, I am burned out. However my friend, doing similar (but nott exact) routine, may fly. I tend to make sure I don't just add miles on LSR every week, I will sit back one week and recuperate then add extra on the week after. Moshi I am wrong to do hard sessions as many times as I am?

I am SOOOOOO slow ..... I think with the marathon training I've just lost the habit of running fast.

So my plan is to prepare for the MK Half next March, and hopefully do a few shorter races as prep on the way.

Details of plan - oh um right, yes, better think about that one. But in short:

• one speed session a week (intervals)
• one tempo run or hill session
• one easy run
• one LSR.

Plus/or:

• one swim a week. I love to swim, but I worry about ds3 in the creche at the gym which is where the pool is (long story, but he has epipens which I have with me at all times - the creche keep two in his bag while he's in there but I'm not convinced they would know what to do in an emergency, and the pool is a good way from the creche, whereas the treadmills are just a few steps away).

• would also love to try an aquathlon, though they seem a bit fewer and further between.

• parkrun with a friend when we get the chance.

• one of the mums in ds2's class has a personal trainer doing a kind of boot camp in her garden once a week. If I could persuade ds3 to sit and watch telly at hers for an hour that would work really well.

• continue with the alcohol avoidance plan, currently doing well on maybe 2 glasses of wine a week.

• hopefully as a result of the above - shift some of the stubborn flab I haven't lost from having ds3. DH pointed out the other day that at my current weight I'm running at my weight in 2008 + ds3 on my back.

Laydees ..... I want you to make me great again . YLFDT!

paws sounds like a plan! Boot camp sounds great - I really need to get back to circuits, may convince friend to come. Sorry you feel low about your weight - I'm the opposite (please don't think this is a gloat) as I feel a bit skinny today (as lost weight being ill) so please don't think being thin makes you happy, it doesn't. I agree alcohol is a nightmare, I always dropped it when needing to lose weight. However I have got to the point where in my 20's I wanted to be skinny, now in my (nearly late!) 30's, I want to be strong and healthy and look fit. Funny how we change.

Thanks fanny, I've truly never been skinny but after having ds1 and ds2 I didn't find it hard to lose - in fact the weight came off both times really nice and slowly with a combination of watching what I ate and exercise. It hasn't been easy this time, and it does seem to be one step forwards two steps back!

But there really is no magic way to do it, I just have to cut out the extras and be realistic about how much I'm eating. In fairness I don't eat lots of crap, it's all home cooked stuff .... there's just too much of it says she trying and failing to ignore the waft of banana muffins coming from the oven.

paws, that looks intense!!! I don't think you are slow, and remember you've been training for distance, not speed. You will naturally get faster with a HM plan. Ha ha, your DH sounds like a hoot, with his breezer presentation. Years since I had a BB, they're very sweet as I recall...

I have to I agree with JO. This policy, is not a policy at all. It is utter bullshit. Total cliche to say it, but the obesity thing is a real ticking time bomb. I also hate these adverts for chocolate cereals. They are deliberately misleading. Chocolate weetabix -Fuel for Fun my arse. Like fanny said, the supermarket offers are mainly based on treat foods.

peach the BBs are lovely, and guess what only 100 calories/1.1 units of alcohol per bottle! DH is very funny, he likes to hand them over with a flourish to "the lovely Raquel"!

On the food/obesity issue, I once bought some Tesco own brand rice crispies and on the back was a "healthy snack" recipe, consisting of ..... rice crispies, marshmallows, and a bag of toffees. Apparently this was healthy because the rice crispies contain iron. If anyone out there actually believes this shit, then we're all done for.

I do worry about my health what with my crap genes (diabetes and strokes all the way in my family - the gift that keeps on giving). My mum is diabetic, her mum was diabetic, my brother has pre-diabetes and I had gestational diabetes. It's scary stuff but the answer isn't rocket science - shift the gut and move your arse, right?

Agree that activity is key to taking control of your health. I suspect part of the reason I am so fanatical about sport is that I am adopted and have no idea what my family medical history might be. So at least I am doing what I can about the things I do have control over even if my destiny suggests that I may eventually succumb to some life threatening illness.

That and the fact I am a fidget bum .