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 .....

I heart Lance Armstrong too. We have his quitting lasts forever quote, along with a lush picture of him on a huge canvas in our attic room.

I thought it was your dh drno who bought you the v. Short v. Tight running shorts a while back. He does seem to, ahem, like running gear :-)

Glad decision made, hope you can now plan and prepare and make the best of it (sounds v. Exciting from where I'm sitting but would be apprehensive if it happened to me).

Whilst on the subject of intervals - I tend to do 1 km at speed then 500m recovery. Should my intervals be shorter ?

Ah yes, my Hal Higdon book says to aim to do the last third of the LSR that bit faster.

I absolutely buy the whole idea of "the wall" being a big deal psychologically. When I did the Brighton marathon I hit a succession of small walls rather than one big one - looking back, they were bad patches rather than anything else. As evidenced by the fact that when I saw DH at 25 miles, he was a bit miffed that I shoved my water bottle at him, said "I've had it with this f*ing marathon" and sprinted (that's a relative term) away with a face on me like a slapped backside and more energy than he'd seen me with for the last 10 miles.

Now either something weird happened to me physiologically at 25 miles - unlikely I think - or psychology (and the desire to get out of the 25 degree sun) took over and pushed me on. I know which one I believe!

ah, psychology. This is absolutely my weak point, and why I find it hard to move out of my comfort zone. I am working on it...

Me too rhet, or at least in terms of speed - I will push myself on distance but I never get out of the comfort zone speedwise.

I went out today with the intention of doing just a couple of miles but with intervals, I don't think it really works for me as these days it takes me ages to warm up properly and feel loose, so only manage three spurts of 0.25m of my higher pace
I think this week being just pre period best keep ambitions low and keep it steady

about mind, it is tricky for me I already struggle to control anxiety and it is useful skill to watch out for it, acknowledge, let it go. but regarding running I seem to have lost the pure joy of it, the feeling of just letting go.
I don't find straightforward mantras very useful so have to find my own tricks

but I think the worst time was when my friend's super fit, and very young husband (31)just dropped dead while playing hockey, I know it is unrelated and that he had an undiagnosed genetic problem, but still, I just could not shake it off, for quite some time I would start running and my heart would just race in a wild way.

the mind is another universe half the time

apologies for downbeat post I am actually feeling cheerful positive and productive today

I'm exactly the same, paws - the only time I can push on speed is when I am about 2 miles from home, which suggests (i) that my fitness is reasonable, e.g. still have it in the tank after many miles and (ii) that I somehow don't have any confidence in my ability to sustain this for long (which is generally justified). I do some motivational stuff, but a lifetime's scepticism about pop psychology isn't helping me here. Counting is good, as is 'next tree', 'to the gate' etc. I wish I was better at it.

You could be my twin rhet, I know absolutely what you mean about confidence. I don't really if I'm honest regard myself as a "real" runner, I would never have the confidence to join a running club or anything like that. I don't really tell people in RL much about my running for fear of looking a bit of a fraud, even though it's a big part of my life.

If anyone has any tips (preferably before Sunday ) that would be very useful. Oh and if anyone could run the marathon for me/provide any handy shortcuts ......

DH doesn't help, he would rather I wasn't running on Sunday (mostly because he regards it as a surefire way to ruin a nice weekend away, but he's also worried about my health).

sfx one of my school mum friends died suddenly in a similar way aged 39 - nearly two years ago now. She was slim, fit and generally healthy - but had a persistent cough/cold and it infected her heart muscle. The night before she died we were sat in the pub before a school concert and she was telling me how proud she was of her son. The next day she was gone. I guess the lesson, cliched as it is, must be to enjoy our life for what it is. Sorry to hear about your friend, that's so sad.

I think I lack focus (which means I'm a great multi-tasker :o) - e.g. I start saying a mantra then want to giggle and my mind starts to wander - which is the opposite of the intended effect, no? I can't really take myself seriously as a person who would run about saying 'you are strong' or whatever in my head (what if I accidentally started to say it out loud ?)

that's crap about your friend sfx, and yours paws

gotta go, lecture in 15 mins then cycle sprints across town to pick up dd

paws things got considerably easier at sfxtowers when dh started running too, apart from the fact that the bastard is faster than me

yes live life to the full and the best you can everyday no question

rhet there are plenty of folks about who so such qualms I am sure I have mentioned 'shouty man' before

paws you are about to run a marathon and you don't consider yourself a real runner?! Good God woman are you mad?! You are a runner, and a bloody good one at that

FWIW, I think even someone who runs 5k twice a week is a runner. The very nature of pulling on your trainers and getting out there on a regualr basis makes you a runner.

wheely it was indeed my dh who bought me the tight shorts. It is not just running gear that makes him randy. Even the sight of me bending over the washing machine in my tatty dressing gown seems to do it I am still loling at fanny who says she wears her garmin whilst shagging to see how fast she goes

Regarding hitting the wall, I thought it was a term for when glycogen stores are depleted and you can not physically go any faster? Although, in my half I slowed to a crawl at mile 11 onwards, then when I realised I could get sub 2 I somehow mustered the energy to run faster. PMSL at paws and her marathon rant at her poor dh. I guess he expected you to be bouncing along, hair flowing behind you, beaming at his presence?

Rest day for me. Off to the pub tonight with the girls

There's a lady I often see on the treadmill at the gym, I dread her getting on the one next to mine as she mutters "help me Jesus" under her breath all the time. It irritates me and I can't really work out why, I think it's because it just seems such a bizarre thing to be asking for divine intervention with.

We have a shouty man too! He cranks the treadmill up to the max and shouts things like "YES! LET'S FUCKING DO THIS!" every 2 minutes or so.

LOL at Paws shouty man!

I am very similar to you all with confidence and completely understand the giggling at mantra thing Rhet ...I try and do it but then feel like I am not taking it seriously so stick to counting..but then my mind wanders doing that as well! :)

I tend to worry about that I am going to pass out/be sick or something when I push myself too hard...it probably isn't THAT hard that I am going for..I just THINK it is...which stops me from pushing...vicious circle! I need someone poking me the whole time telling me I can do it...but then I wouldn't believe them anyway and would start arguing with them! Am I beyond help!!

Have to remind myself I am doing a half marathon on Sunday...haven't been thinking about it too much as I've been busy but better keep an eye on eating and drinking until then.

futurity I have very similar feelings I guess that is why a combo of a running buddy for speed and alone longer slower runs are my ideal

tomorrow I will be supporting This Man
only baking mind there is a cake sale fundrasing and welcome to school

forgive the indulgence of posting here but though you of all people would appreciate his effort

LOL paws

I have been known in recent years to say "come on girl" to myself while running. It sounds twatty to me so I can only guess what others are thinking.

I am a veteran though so I am allowed to mutter to myself.

Regarding running gear getting the OH's excited. Yup, mine's like that. I just phoned him from work and mentioned I'd been running at lunch time. His response was "oh, so is your buttock pert now then?". It's not even his Birthday until Sunday!

See I can try and run fast or up hill till I puke but I have a pathological issue with distance. I have to plan my longer runs so I can,cut short if i need to otherwise I worry I won't make it. Hence why its taken me so long to build distance. I am too chicken. But 10 miles for me tomorrow (i have only run this distance once and then it was when I knew I could call somweone to get me if I needed to) but feeling almost positive about.... I think.

sfx I can't see from the mobile site what running teacher man is doing - a marathon a day ? For how long ? Mind you I see 1 as hard enough !

I want to hear about sfx's shouty man now. Is anyone else thinking of "hi, I'm a shouty man!" on Horrible Histories now?!

Wheely it's 21 in 21 days used to teach at our school

Shouty man 'come on yes yes you cab come on' and assorted orgasmic noises it can be alarming when he approaches from the rear and sound comes suddenly over head phones, most other people just say Good morning

Ladies I am stood boiling eggs laughing at paws "LETS FUCKING DO THIS!!!" man (fucking brilliant that!) and *DrNo's" "bent over washing machine in manky dressing gown" as my DH the same! I have these cotton thongs I buy from Asda that are ace to run in but two sizes too big - DH loves em! They are bloody awful!

Oh am excited - the coach who "discovered" Paula Radcliffe lives next door to my Auntie! He's massive in junior running coaching and an MBE. His name's George Bunner. Anyone heard of him? I can't wait to harass meet him!

This thread is indeed the best tonic ladies. I love you lot. The funny thing is, quite often something someone said pops into my head and brings a smile to my face. That's fab isn't it? That's not to mention the sound intelligent advice freely given too. Thanks in no small part to you, I feel much more positive about my Impending Upheaval.

Oh Moshi forgot to say congratulations on deciding to move! When you expecting to be there? And at you doing "easy" MP of 7 min miles....

Anyone know if you run VLM for a charity how much you need to raise?