runners united: no speed limits (LFDT), all running all out for fun/glory etc

[rhetorician]

12/11/11 - Ashton Court 10K - N4NNY
13/11/11 - Stebbing 10 Mile - bonkers20
19/11/11 - Maasai Mara Half Marathon - M&M
20.11.11- Gosport Half-Marathon- Tulip27
20/11/11 - Leeds Abbey Dash (10k) - DrNortherner
27/11/11 - City of Norwich half marathon: ibbydibby, MoshiMoshi
27/11/11 - Bicton Blister (10M) - RunningAllDay
27/11/11 - RNLI Reindeer Run Stirling Uni 10K - Squix
03/12/11 - Jingle Bells 5k Phoenix Park - rhetorician
07/01/12 - Bupa Great Winter Run 5k Holyrood park - bumply
22/01/12 - Four Villages Half Marathon (Helsby) - Fannybanjo
19/02/12 - Brighton Half marathon - Wheely
04/03/12 - Milton Keynes Half Marathon - pawsnclaws
10/03/12 - Blackpool Half Marathon - DrNortherner, Fannybanjo
11/03/12 - Cambridge Half Marathon - Futurity, Runnerstipple, Cherry (what have I done??)
25/03/12 - Edale Skyline - (21 miles. 4,500 ft climb) Hatwoman
25/03/12- Fleet Half Marathon- DebitheScot
31/03/12 - Olympic Park Run - wiifitmama, runerstipple
01/04/12 - Reading Half-Marathon - RunningAllDay, Tulip27
22/04/12 - VLM: ibbydibby
29/04/12 - Shakespeare Half Marathon - FairyBasslet
27/05/12 - London Bupa 10K - Futurity
09/06/12 - Blenheim Sprint Triathlon - Cherry
29/06/12 - San Francisco Marathon - MoshiMoshi

new thread, peeps; all welcome to chat - new, old, fast, slow, etc

Debi what did your students say? rhets belt still tickles me!

Sticky you may find you CAN do a marathon at your HM pace. However if you keep up the speed training you will get faster, even in a few weeks you will notice the difference. Maybe add an extra mile every other week onto your LSR and see how it feels and aim to run a small portion of your LSR at HM pace. To do HM at

Yay for you futurity! Tho blimey, if I can do a sub 2 hr half, then you can too.

fanny thanks for your confidence in me :). I'm going to keep up with the 5 mile sessions on Wednesdays since the last one was such a confidence booster, and see where I get. I must admit, tho, being currently garminless means I find it hard to judge pace - I only see what I've done when I've got back. But of course I can see effort. Weirdly, I can do better 5k times during a LSR than I do on a 5k. Something to do with being warmed up and feeling good on the way home, I think. It's a little frustrating though!

oh, and I've just printed off a marathon plan from the Smart coach on the RW site. It's getting serious now folks.

Off now to be shouted at by Jillian!

I want that belt too!

DrN enjoy the Vikings, I'm helping out at Tudor day in a couple of weeks .

Just back from outdoor circuits, and for the first time I actually felt it was manageable. It was at a different mum's house today, and she has this great hill in her garden, so he had us all sprinting up and down it with ankle weights. It was fun. Though ds3 did make me laugh, I was (trying to do) the plank and hold for a minute, and he sat on my back and said "are you still breathing mummy?" But I missed Jillian today, so she's probably going to be cross with me - naughty monkey .

All this talk of marathons is putting me to shame. No marathons planned here for 2012. Want to build a good base of HM's first. Will do a marathon before I am 40. That is another goal.

Viking assembly was good. The kids did really well. Most of them were wearing home made papier mache viking helmets, some had bought ones from ebay. My child was wearing a bright orange hairy one with a huge WKD logo on the front. Dh said I should be proud that amongst the homemade hats ds was advertising alcohol The perks of working for a hotel group, great free gifts from suppliers!

I have decided stuff the housework, tis a glorious day for a run

Sticky ....I do wonder whether it would be possible for me....difficult to tell...hang on..will just look up what pace that would be...(goes to mcmillian calculator..types in...passes out!). 9min 10seconds per mile. Well I can just about do that for 5K...would imagine getting there for 10K..but for half marathon!? My friend is aiming for it but she is about 2-3 inches taller than me. Give me hope everyone...is there anyone here who is my height (5ft 4in) who can run at that pace?

I can't ever see me getting to a sub-2 hour half, but would love to do so. My best 10 mile race was 1.30, but that was 5 years ago before I got old and fat aged gracefully!

The hat sounds great DrN!

Reminds me of when we were little and my dad used to take us to the Christmas party at the factory where he worked. One kid was sat on Father Christmas's knee, and said loudly "oh look, I get one of those torches for Christmas every year!" while pointing to the standard issue HUGE bright yellow torches every factory worker got given to do the job! Lots of knowing looks exchanged, as I think everyone used to get a torch or several in their stocking every year!

hi girls. I am reeling from non-running stuff that I find really hard to believe I'm part of. Our PTFA is imploding - 2 resignations and a lot of ill-feeling. it's laughable really. I mean who TF do we think we are? resignations? we'll be having an inquiry next. let's get our toys back (the ones that have been thrown out of the pram) and get a grip.

I'm a working/running gal and have never seen myself as anything more than a good pair of hands when it comes to PTFA but I am embroiled. HTF did that happen? embroiled to the extent that I stood outside the school gate talking for 30 minutes (in my running kit) at 9 am getting crosser and crosser, went for a run (good pace - but have temporarily lost my garmin so can't have a proper look), came back to find another email which made me really cross. and I replied. dh was telling me not to but I couldn't stop myself. I like lending a hand but I'm just not interested in political headaches. especially not PTFA ones so I have no idea why I rose to the bait.

excuse my random non-running ranting. I'm more cross with myself for allowing this to get to me. It's like an episode of the Archers/Emmerdale. and no-one looks good. I'm off to find my garmin and then I'll catch up with your news which is doubtless far more interesting than mine.

Oh hat I am so with you on this one. Every year I promise myself "just say no" .... and end up seething at some stroppy imperious email reminding me of my obligations in relation to the Bottle Tombola or Santa's effing Grotto. I mean it's not exactly running the UN, is it, but sadly a lot of these organisations get taken over by women who need to get a job who need to get a life with a skewed sense of priorities.

I agree with your DH though, always best to rise above it. Our PTA at the last school was lovely and welcoming, but sadly this one is a nest of vipers.

Sticky, I think for a first marathon, if you feel like a getting round plan is not enough, then maybe for a a sub 4.5 hour. I think that is what I am going to do when I get round to one, though on the actual day, getting round will probably be more realistic. We have all seen on here that whatever your training, on the day conditions often mean you need to drastically alter your expectations.

futurity, I would also like to do a sub 2 hour half. The only half race I did, was in 2.24 but I feel I am vastly more experienced now and have run 13 miles in training at just under 2.15. While I know knocking 15 mins off that would be tough I think it is realistic, especially with all the advice garnered here from you lovely ladies! I can just about maintain 9 min miles over 10k so would take a lot to build up but think with speedwork and hills I could do it. Am sure you can too. The improvement you've made these last few months has been immense. No reason why you can't keep going! I am 5 foot 4 too btw!

monkey, your friend has a hill in her garden? DS3 sounds supercute!

Good girl DrNo, you can't waste a lovely day on housework!

Had a good night's sleep for once and then lay in while DP took DD to playgroup. God, I could not keep awake. Read for a bit, but was falling asleep on and off till 10.30. Awesome. Decided I would collect DD from playgroup as wanted fresh air and hoping walking will get things moving but was the first day that I felt totally knackered walking. Really sore back and hips and felt I had to go really slow. Hope this is sign of impending labour!!!

blimey hat that all sounds extremely stressful and extremely silly (tho I suppose I should check that PTFA is like a PTA but with ?friends attached?).

futurity I'm only an inch taller than you. I can't do it yet, but I'm determined to get my speed up. And actually height isn't any excuse, since the fastest runner I know is a good bit shorter than me! So you're not getting out of it that way, lassie!

drno the hat sounds brilliant!

monkey a hill in her garden?

yes peach, I thought the same re 4.5 hrs. It was just the gradations of plan they had. But the RW one seems quite good. I chose the moderate one, and am adding the 5k park run into it as a 4th run. I like having a plan!

And crossing my fingers that you are close to getting to labour. One of my ex-colleagues has just had a gorgeous little girl. Those little tiny babies are so cute!

Yep, a hill in her garden. Attached to the back of a picture postcard house . I went to someone's house a while back, and it was like Downton Bloody Abbey - they have over 100 acres, and peacocks strutting across the drive several of which I nearly killed, they seem to be remarkably stupid birds. Serious property envy here.

Our garden is tiny, I would so love to move, mainly for a bigger garden, but the market here isn't so great. We would love to move a bit further out from London where there is more for our money, prices here are silly for what you get.

futurity I'm the same height. I noticed at the marathons I did that all the better runners were short and lean, unlike me .

Oh "Friends"!!!! I thought Hat, was calling it the the PT-fucking-A . tell them to shove it up their arsed Hat. Some people just get off on power and drama, utter losers. Such a shame when something that should be a positive thing turns sour. Agree it is best to rise above it, but much easier said than done.

LOL at "nest of vipers"

Did you decide yet on potential marathon sticky. I think I'd like to do Edinburgh as probably won't be hot, though in May and would be easy logistically if staying with PILs in Falkirk. Actually thinking that, wouldn't be doing till DD1 in school so would probably have to do trip north on own with DD2. Maybe this won't work. Anyway won't worry, as potentially three years hence! I just need to persuade DP to move back to Scotland in meantime

I was thinking F for friends was like mates but it isn't is it? That's just what they call the people who raise money and organise things isn't it? 'The friends of -insert school name-' When I was thinking of the other kind of friend it made me want to spew!

Lol at you using height as an excuse. I'm 5 foot 7 so I've got no excuse do I? Or maybe that's why I get shin splints, too much height above my shins

Worryingly the kids didn't say anything when this appeared on the screen (they were doing powerpoints and I'd forgotten to close it. One of them had a link to a video on a website in her powerpoint and it opened it on another tab, they then closed their tab and up popped this one!) but a couple of them were whispering to each other. They'll probably be at home now setting up an account to stalk me!

Oh and my friend had her baby. I won't tell peach and rhet how long the labour was 32 hours but she had a boy who was 8lb 7 (she's about 5 foot nothing!) and they are both doing well.

Ive signed up to my next run the Brighton half I just hope we don't have to much bad weather that stops me running between now and february

Futurity I am 5 foot nuffink on a tall day so definitely possible, I don't think height has anything to do with it..... Not sure what does though. Am pretty sure speedy Gonzalez moshi is about my height too (probably a bit taller, most people are)

Ooh sore back peach sounds promising I think (although have never gone into labour myself). Keep us informed !!!

hat sounds absolutely irritating and frustrating. You need a big scream !

Spent the morning shopping instead of the gym. Was productive in a Christmas
Preparation kind of way.

N4NNY - great news you've signed up for Brighton. Maybe see you there!

wheelybug I'll be the one coming in with the road sweeper as my tail runner. :)

That gives me hope then that speed isn't just restricted to the taller ladies..I'll just have to keep pushing myself (and possibly lose half a stone!)

peach I'm definitely thinking Kielder. However, if I get going on this plan - the marathon ange linked to upthread in Sunderland is on 6th May. And if you enter before 30 November it's £30. Hmmmmm

futurity I'm hoping the pushing myself will also mean losing one and a half stone. Possibly the making of stonking cookies isn't helping the cause!

N4NNY Brighton sounds like a nice unhilly course!

Yayyy N4NNY! Good for you!

Congratulations to your friend Debi. Please tell me that was her first?????

£30 is well cheap for a marathon eh? Would be nice training over winter too and start of May presumably isn't often too hot in Sunderland . Maybe you should do it!!!!

Very difficult to cut out the cookies, but put it this way, if your training for a marathon you'll need a lot of fuel!!! Speaking of which, have to ice and decorate the cupcakes I made for DD's children in need sale tomorrow. MUST NOT EAT THEM!!

SIL was just telling her friend had a sweep and baby was born 4 hours later. Flip!!! God, hope I don't have baby in Swimming Pool Cafe...

well, peach, you might get a free cup of tea out of it... (more than I got in north bloody durham )

futurity I am 5 foot 4 and did a HM in 1.58......it can be done! One of teh best femal runners at our club is very short, only about 5 foot, if that and she is speedy. She does have a very unnatractive style though. Running style I mean, I am not turning into Gok Wan! She has very little leg lift and seems to shuffle more than run but it works for her.

debi great news about your friends baby, glad they are doing well. No pressure peach and rhets dp

hat It's a serious business this PTA malarkey isn't it? They are called 'friends' at our school. Due to working 4 days a week I can not help out, but I do volunteer at fayres and stuff.....

monkey my SIL has a hill in her garden. I don't even ahve a garden Just a yard!

debi do you teach Yr 5's? My ds is 9 and his handwriting is terrible. Any tips much appreciated!

In other news, I ran 6.05 miles today in 52 mins. Very pleased ans want a sub 55 on Sunday so should achieve it as today was quite steady. The team are meeting in our hotel in Leeds at 8.30am, the Manager is putting on bacon butties for us and everyone else is going to eat them. Me and my mate are a bit about a bacon buttie an hour before a race! Think I'll pass on that.