Runners United - Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

[MoshiMoshi]

All ye fine runners who wish to get together to discuss running-related topics, or otherwise, come and join us here. We are a friendly and incredibly supportive group of runners, varying in ability, but all bonded together by a common theme of loving running, committed to squeezing it into our busy lives and wanting to improve our own PBs. So whether you are a full-time mum, part-time working mum, full-time working mum, working from home mum, mum who is studying, or even a dad , add your race to the list so you can be sure of some moral support and advice along the way. And if you aren't racing, don't worry as you can enjoy the race reports and race vicariously.

03/12/11 - Jingle Bells 5k Phoenix Park - rhetorician
11/12/11 - Stockport 10 (mealworm one) -orangehead
01/01/11 - Morpeth 11k Road Race - AngeChica
07/01/12 - Bupa Great Winter Run 5k Holyrood park - bumply
08/01/12 - Southwest Road Runners First Chance 10k - RunningAllDay
22/01/12 - Four Villages Half Marathon (Helsby) - Fannybanjo
19/02/12 - Brighton Half marathon - Wheely
04/03/12 - Milton Keynes Half Marathon - pawsnclaws
04/03/12 - Duchy Marathon - RunningAllDay
10/03/12 - Blackpool Half Marathon - DrNortherner, Fannybanjo
11/03/12 - Cambridge Half Marathon - Futurity, Runnerstipple, Cherry (what have I done??), Bonkers20
25/03/12 - Edale Skyline - (21 miles. 4,500 ft climb) Hatwoman
25/03/12 - Fleet Half Marathon- DebitheScot
25/03/11 - Run Northumberland HM - AngeChica
31/03/12 - Olympic Park Run - wiifitmama, runerstipple
01/04/12 - Reading Half-Marathon - RunningAllDay, Tulip27
15/04/12 - Cambourne 10K - Futurity
22/04/12 - VLM: ibbydibby, AngeChica
28&29/04/12 - Wye Forest 50 (miles!) - RunningAllDay
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

Not sure quite what i meant re 'staying chilled up' to monkey and ange.. Maybe chilled out ... Or curled up...

Yeap..will do product review :)

Have also asked for Zest book. Have got myself new shoes and the Nathan thing which my DH can wrap up for me! Also asked for long sleeved top and some 3/4 length tights.

So yes...mainly running stuff on my list...oh..and Take That DVD!

definitely good to focus on the postivesfx I do count my blessings I have my DS. Also true that the positive experience of childhood is the most important thing to ensure.

Actually dad's doing OK ATM fanny, one of his feet drags slightly so no more running :( but he can still do lots of walks and bike rides. Bit about slightly reckless behaviour when effectively has a trap door in his skull. And the night time Ebay habit. He can't sleep so spends the nights buying gadgets on Ebay!

I am now awarding myself 2 rest days and a custard slice. I am officially knackered. Have done 22 miles in 5 days due to new running club and that's a bit of a jump.

PS My colleague does Nike running app on his iPhone. No idea if it's any good or not.

May I say enoy the run if you get to do it rhet.

Dropping in to check up on what's up with baby Rhet and say hello to the lovely ladies on here! Life is a bit chaotic to say the least and my latest trauma has involved the breeder, who was going to look after my dog for three weeks over Christmas/New Year, dropping out. As I will be on a plane in two weeks it has sent me into a bit of a panic to find someone suitable. After a day of calling around I have two options which I will be checking out in the next few days. One of which is my running coach, who offered out of the kindness of his heart (and because he is considering getting a dog). I haven't met him yet as he is an online running coach who I knew from Runner's World and he is coming down to London to meet us and so I can check his suitability.

Isn't life amazing how people can turn out to be far more than you initially thought they would be? No time to read as I have to take DDs to collect DS from football in a mo. Keep on keeping on!

shoes are made to be dirty - otherwise it doesn't count

ooh, hadn't realised that the santa hats had arrived

running presents, even stocking fillers are hard to give when the giver is a non runner I need to be specific about what I want, must think of a list

the things about distance is funny the possibilities just blossom when you get going
off to 'the village' turning of the lights and so on, dd will sing in her school choir along with the rest of the local primaries, I think they are singing Boney M that was from last years Nativity

I am embarrassed to be seen in clean ones

moshi I am a great believer in making genuine connections with people, often lovely things happen. I hope you get the dog's situation sorted

Hello ladies, welcome newbies,

Peach ? sorry to hear your news - I hope your dad and the family are coping ok.

Orange ? sad story about exh?s sister. If you decied to get in touch I think you will almost certainly have a positive impact ? though it might not be immediately/obviously visible ? and there could be negatives too. However, if you decide it?s best not to don?t beat yourself up ? like others have said it can be such a huge undertaking. I have a friend who runs a small children?s home ? and I don?t know anyone else more loving, patient and caring ? but even she has said that she needs to be careful about the impact on her daughter ? and she?s professionally trained. Moshi makes a very good point about capacity.

Ange ? I?m sure your dad is chuffed to bits that you?re doing it and very proud of you.

Well I dragged myself out this morning ? did my usual 5 miler and it tuned out to be a pb - that?s 5 pbs in the last 3 weeks. This training rather that plodding lark is having an effect.

Question for you all - Does anyone here work full-time or care for pre-school kids full-time? Because if so I?m in awe. I work for myself and dds are school age, also dh wfh school hours only 2-days a week ? so although it?s sometimes a bit tight I can generally carve out enough time for running.

lawyers been a bit busy so haven?t got to the application I wanted to ask you about (you?ll laugh when you see the question. It?s very lawery). I?ll probably get to it next week.

Right must go and bake a million buns for the school christmas fair. Fortunately a momentous stage was reached last week ? dd1?s piping skills surpassed mine. So the job is officially hers.

it was a bit like when a dad realises his kids can actually tackle him at football.

sfx that sounds lovely and heartwarming. I get very emotional listening to children singing .

moshi good luck with the dog, if we didn't have a dog ourselves who is incredibly shy and nervous I would take her myself for a little holiday chez Monkey.

wheely chilled up sounds ..... well, cold!

I too think of everyone with their mn names rather than real names - obviously know most of you on fb, but if we DID ever meet I fear I would give the game away shockingly and out you all . Not many Fannys about really, it's a shame you don't hear it much often. Though DH swears there was a female lawyer in one of their Asian offices called Fanny Pong .... I think if I had a daughter I'd be tempted to reclaim the name Fanny - be loud, be proud, be Fanny!

Evening rubbers.

Spoke to dad today, he seems ok and had a nice chat with him. I think it is part of the relief you feel initially. He has been keeping busy organising funeral etc which I think helps.

Ang, your dad sounds like a star, he must be do chuffed you are training for the marathon.

Moshi, hope you manage to get your doggie settled somewhere nice for Xmas.

DD is going to be in pre-school Christmas play next Sunday. She is being an angel and I may just have to blub!!!

you all know each other on fb?? so how do you do that then? pm and then make friends? I'm not remotely anonymous here anyway so may as well join in. if I'm allowed

Hi all

Monkey hope you are feeling better now.

Mosho good luck on the dog front. Is the plan that the dog joins you eventually?

Can't remember who was asking about running apps but I have runkeeper. Not the best as it loses position a lot, but ok for something free.

For Xmas presents I've asked for some handweights for shredding purposes. What's the zest tri book then?

Went to rubbing club last night. Very good. Went out in the 10.5 minute group but am finding it quite comfortable so I should move up to the 9.5 minute group.

Had such a difficult day with ds. I know you'll all prob think it ridiculous as you have older kids but bloody hell toddlers are hard work. The piece de resistance was throwing a vase of flowers on the floor when my Nct friends were over. I just find it so hard when he cries or has a tantrum , it makes me want to cry too. As hat said I take my hat off to full rime sahms!

As a result it's o'clock here

Hellooooo, sorry not to have posted much recently, has baby rhet made an appearance yet???

Life is too tricky at the moment to fit any running in. We are experiencing unseasonal torrential rains which means it is taking forever to get back from work and therefore leaving no time to run. Plus we have all had a serious flu and are wiped out. We have one week left of term, which is full of the usual school concerts, assemblies and sports day. How do I fit in my full day at work as well? The power has been mostly off too as a result of the serious rain. Some major roads have almost been washed away and I'm sitting in darkness as we speak.

How is babypeachlet? Has Fanny washed her mouth out with soap yet? Has C'est moved successfully into his new abode? Moshi sounds like you are in full leaving mode!

I'm contemplating making a special journey back to the UK to run the Reading Half with my sister. It seems slightly over the top but I'd love to run in the UK.

Sorry for the doom and gloom me me me post, I'm now off to read about all your exciting running you have been doing and become very .

I've just had a quick skim and wanted to say, Wheely, Hatty, MrsW, here's to Twink and her dh . I can't believe it's been 2 years. They were an inspirational couple with an amazing dd. I'm now inspired to get out in the rain on Sunday and run. .

hat will pm you re facebook ....

Have pmd you Hat

master, sounds like a mare! Hope the rain stops soon and you all get back to health! Baby peachlet is great, though have done a rubbish job at feeding her today. She has been sleeping most of day and we have been out at DD1's swimming lesson. She is waking now so will try and get her properly awak for decent milkage!

DD1 exhausted and just wrote on my face with felt pen then hit he in face when told off at which point I burst into tears. She is now creating merry hell in bath for DP. Sigh...

Poor you Peachy, i remember those days well. Have you had any you time in the last couple of weeks?

Brrrrrrr....any one else got really cold weather? We?ve got gritters out and DD and I just back from going to a friend in the village to play? 5 minute walk back was freezing. Planning to do 8 miles tomorrow morning (dropping DH?s car for a service and running back) think I will need to wrap up for that one, should be good as it?s mainly downhill

rhet good luck tomorrow ? if you run, run like the wind, if you are other wise engaged - good luck to you and DP

moshi sooo glad you have found your dog sitter

m&m - sounds miserable, hope things pick up soon

hat - I work full time (I co-own/ run a small company - so it?s full time and then some) ? a mix of consultancy and training. I also do some other voluntary stuff as well. Over the summer it wasn?t too bad ? I would do 2-3 early morning runs (between 6 and 7am) during the week and then one long run at the weekend ? generally starting at 8am. I am very conscious of running not eating into family time, so try to minimize the impact. I struggle during the winter though as I am finding it impossible to get out of bed for 6am at the moment. Now I do one long run at the weekend, one evening at running club (but back in time to read bedtime story) and 1 lunchtime run. I?ve just finished a couple of big client projects so during December and January I should have a little more time.

Ange - I have an only, and am unlikely to have any more. Had DD when I was 35, turned 40 this summer and just recently diagnosed with early start of menopause. We had been trying for a bit to have another baby but with me working for myself and DH?s career being in a precarious industry, didn?t really try that hard. Was hoping that by the time things got back on track for DH, we could go for it then diagnosed with this. I realise that I could still theoretically get pregnant but it?s really unlikely for me. DD has lots of cousins and friends and she (and we) won?t ever know any different, it just is what it is.

Ange - so sorry to read about your dad ? my dad sounds like a similar age to yours and runs too (did the GSR with me and sis last month and beat us both) and I know he would find it incredibly frustrating not to be able to run. Hope your VLM training goes well.

Hmmmm....hand weights arrived ? 2 kg ? Jillian might be out the box after the weekend!

hat if you get monkey and peach on FB I am on both of theirs with initials VH. I am a fulltime SAHM of a preschooler and 1 at school (plus DH leaves early and comes home late) so have had to rely on gym membership with crèche until dd2 started preschool recently. So I used to do 3 runs a week, 2 on the treadmill then longer run at w/e. Now dd is in preschool 3 mornings it is obviously much easier to fit it in except now I'm trying to fit in 4 runs, 2 swims (Inc 1 lesson) and a pilatesish class. I still put dd in the crèche 1 hour a week, is supposed to be for the swim but sometimes ends ip being a TM run if I can't fit the running in otherwise. I have been v. Lucky to have an affordable gym with a lovely crèche down the road.

masters sounds tough. Take care !

I am not sure monkey and I are connected on FB as I can't think what her name is in RL...?

hat I am friends with Moshi, Wheely and (I think) monkey..

Looks like I will be doing my 5k tomorrow; I am feeling a bit coldy - mind you, my last attempt at it was 2 years ago after no running at all, so my chances of a 5k pb are at least reasonable [sgrin].

No sweep for DP, midwife clearly wasn't in the mood. They'll do one next Friday if baby hasn't appeared...

I have a full-time job, but it has flexible hours and requires a lot of self-directed work. This is both good and bad - it's hard for me to protect my time. I'd say over the course of this pregnancy I have done the lion's share of the childcare, fitting work in where I can. Certainly my running has taken priority over my research for the last few months - I try and run on days when dd is at nursery, on Tuesdays ('my' day as she is at home) I get my run in to or from work; on Thursdays, when I have her all day, I ask DP if I can have about an hour for a treadmill run at dinner time. It's often very tricky, but running has become non-negotiable (within reason). I've taken to going out for a run at weekends around lunchtime, when dd often watches tv for half an hour or so, so doesn't require too much of DP. I am acutely aware that aspects of my career are suffering, but my family are my priority for now - I am being paid 30% less and working at least 10 hours a week more, so I feel - for the first time in my life - that my commitment has limits.

Sorry - that was long; clearly needed to get that off my chest!

Am I the solo racer this weekend? that's a first, I think...but I am sure there will be some parkruns (which is really what mine is - it's 5k, in a park??)

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