100 Miles by Halloween (Run/Walk/Cycle/Hop etc.)

[RunFatGirlRun]

NB: suspect this should rightly be in a fitness topic but wanted folk to see it - happy to ask MNHQ to change it if need be.

Would anyone like to join me in a fitness challenge to do 100 miles by Halloween, of your chosen sport?

I have just started running and want a challenge that's doable but challenging for me. I can currently do 2 miles on a good day, but to do 100 miles would need to sustain this (and improve) over the next 10 weeks.

So I wondered if there was anyone out there who is improving their fitness and starting out cycling or jogging or hiking (or even swimming!) and wants to hang out here?

I'm guessing this is more appealing for novices like me but heck, anyone's welcome.

I'm not using a pedometer because they're not too accurate for runners apparently, but using websites that enable you to track your route and work out distance travelled. I'll find some links if anyone's interested.

If so: my name is RunFatGirlFun, I'm overweight and unfit and getting old, and today I ran 1.5 miles, and I have 98.5 miles to go!

[feetheart]

Not really, Boxing Day is a bit of a non-day most years. Its a very local run and does lots of different kids races.
What I really liked was that they don't award prizes 'for running fast' but do award one for the best excuse posted before the event as to why you aren't going to run fast :)

[kelda]

Good luck with your 5ks Feetheart! You must be very motivated to plan a race for Boxing Day!

[feetheart]

I'd like to add my thanks for starting the thread and well done for doing so well that you had the change your name :o

I didn't make it to 100 this time as the knee twinge made me rest. Also missed our badly publicised inaugural local half marathon as I had another commitment - would have been a very different experience to GNR but at least I could have got home easily.
Really need to get back out now but it keeps raining (and although I love a cold run I can't stand cold and wet). However I have promised DS(8) that I will do the local Santa Run 5k with him and a Boxing Day 5k event as well. Just need to find a few longer races to spur me on again.

Enjoy the running/roller blading (delete where appropriate) and thanks again for the initial thread FraggleRock

[FragglerockAmpersand]

Thanks Kelda :) and well done you too! I LOVE the idea of rollerblading!

There's been some amazing achievements on this thread. And I just can't believe how different I feel. And it's all a journey etc. etc. and I'm only halfway there - I might pop onto the thread periodically and report on progress towards a half marathon (and shamelessly post a link to the sponsorship page )

Hope everyone posts a wee update. I'm terribly proud of us all

[kelda]

Well done RunFAtgirlrun!

You've done brilliantly! I reached 100 miles but there is no way that I can run 3 miles, that's fantastic

Thank you for coming up with this idea, it certainly encouraged me to push myself to achieve something!

And I am still rollerblading

[RunFatGirlRun]

Good morning everyone!!! Oh God, I can't believe I haven't been posting. I've been running, just not posting. What a dufus.

So I just wanted to round the thread off (not that we won't all keep running!) by saying firstly massive THANKS to everyone for getting stuck in - I hope we all feel fitter, happier, healthier etc.!

I didn't make my 100 miles target by a long bleeding shot BUT - I began my attempt to get healthy and strong in early July, and in 5 months I have gone from running nowhere to running 3 miles and swimming frequently. I have better skin, my incipient IBS has calmed down, and although I don't weigh myself (I get real anxiety problems around that so I avoid it where I can) I would judge I've lost around 1.5 stone, and am able to wear clothes that haven't fit me for 5-6 years. I have never felt so fit and happy and healthy, and I'm so grateful to everyone for their support.

My running journey isn't over - I'm aiming to do a half marathon next year for Macmillan, in memory of my lovely Granny.

I'll be name-changing now as this name was for a specific period and ... well: I don't feel fat anymore!

[kelda]

I was wondering how you are all getting on -
well down Feetheart! You're doing great! But you need to get on with the physio exercises.

RunFatGirlRun - how are you getting on?

I've been having physio for my leg - it's not sciatica exactly but it is some sort of spine problem that is causing pain down one side. Wlaking is fine but climbing stairs is very painful.

I'm still roller blading!

[feetheart]

Billy No-Mates here

Out this morning but my knee started to twinge so I cut the run short - serves me right for not keeping up with the physio exercises.

2.7 miles
83.4 in total
16.6 to go

Not even sure I will get to 100 by 31st now but being on here has spurred me on to try rather than sit on my backside feeling smug after the GNR.
Now planning more races and will set my own challenge for Nov/Dec if no-one else wants to join me.

[feetheart]

Is it just me now then?

3.6 miles
80.7 in total
19.3 to go

Down to below 20 but will have to push to get them in before 31st. If weather is good at the w/e I could be tempted to try a long run.

[feetheart]

Back to dark roads this morning, much better.

3.6 miles
77.1 in total
22.9 to go

This thread is really pushing me along. I thought 100 miles by Halloween would be reasonably easy to reach but I'm going to have to work to get there.
Anyone fancy a 100 miles by NYE thread next?

[feetheart]

First proper run on a treadmill as weather was horrible. It was interesting in some ways - I can see me getting competitive with the distance/time display but I much prefer running in the fresh air.

3.5 miles
73.5 in total
26.5 to go

Think I may have to pick up the pace if I am to get to 100 by 31st.

[RunFatGirlRun]

Evening all! 1.5 miles down today - a mere 70.5 to go!

MNHQ have moved this to the Exercise topic, and I'm getting no end of hilarity out of having a thread in here

[RunFatGirlRun]

Hi everyone - just to say I'm going to ask MNHQ to move this to a fitness topic, because I believe it'll go 'poof' in a bit because it's in chat....

[RunFatGirlRun]

Thanks for being so encouraging, folks. TWATS indeed, and I didn't let it stop me. Went out with DH and did a quite fast 1.5 miles with a sprint at the end

DH thinks that part of the problem is that I'm unconsciously running a lot faster without realising, which is why I can't seem to go as far. . . tomorrow I'm going to have a shot at going inchingly slowly and seeing if I can do a good 2 miles again.

So that's me with 72 miles to go

Feetheart I know what you mean about being scared of the lean mean sorts: there's this couple I seem to run past very frequently, 55 if they're a day, lean as whippets and brown as nuts, sporting hundreds of pounds worth of running paraphernalia! I'm sure they're lovely but I'm so awestruck by them I keep a wide berth!

[feetheart]

kelda - the gym is part of the local council sports complex that includes a fab new 50m swimming pool and more exercise classes than you can throw a stick at. Actually took me ages to join but I realised that I enjoy this running lark so much that I want to get better and I don't want rubbish cold, wet, snowy, icy weather to stop me. Even the thought of running on a treadmill, which I HATE, is better than not running. Tis a bit scary :)

[feetheart]

I agree, twats. You are the one doing the exercise, making yourself healthier, making yourself feel better, they are not.
I haven't had much in the way of negative comments whilst running but then I tend to run early in the morning and in the countryside if I can so not much opportunity. I do get some supportive comments and I will say something encouraging if I walk past someone running, especially if they aren't the lean, mean running type (who scare me a bit)
However I am 5'10" and tend to make eye contact with, and smile at, everyone I encounter - possibly in an attempt to deflect anything negative before they even think about it :)

Out again this morning, possibly the last warm morning run before the cool, crisp autumn mornings start.
3.6 miles
70 in total
30 to go

[kelda]

RunFatGirlRun they are all twats. You are doing brilliantly. It takes guts to get out and run. I can walk fine, but I will find every excuse under the sun not to go out running because it makes me feel self concious.

It's great you are swimming. I took the children swimming today, which meant I didn't actually swim at all

[RunFatGirlRun]

Oo I'll have a read of that in a sec, Kelda.

Bah, just one mile today - 73.5 to go.

I don't know what's happened to me - I have lost my running mojo My swimming mojo is intact, but ... I just can't run I don't know who that superstar was who ran 5k just for the hell of it last month, but it sure as hell wasn't me.

I think I've basically lost confidence. I know I'm strong and fit enough to do 2 miles at the absolute least, but just can't. I've started feeling really self-conscious which is ridiculous as I'm so much smaller than when I started. But for instance today I got sarcastically wolf-whistled at by some twat coming out of an office, and then when a gang of French teenagers were blocking a path on the river and I sort of asked them to move over they all kind of smirked and tittered. and every now and then people go, "ooooh, well DONE, you're doing EVER SO WELL", like I'm a 90 year old amputee, not a fucking size 18 33 year old with both legs fully present.

ANYWAY. I just need to get my confidence back then I'll be OK. DH is going to come with me tomorrow and he's good for a boost.

Hope everyone's feeling less epically sorry for themselves than I am

[kelda]

that's a BBC link.

[kelda]

feetheart, hope you enjoy the gym. I don't think I've even been in a gym!

I've just been reading this abouit the benefits of walking:
here

[feetheart]

RunFatGirl - oh dear. Hope you are now starting to feel much better. Dark chocolate is a good source of iron too :)

kelda - rubbish about sciatica but :) at being able to tell GP how much you exercise, hope she was impressed.
Not quite the same but when I went for a gym induction recently I was able to answer a similar question posed by the puffed up gym instructor with 'I've just done my second half-marathon' Stopped treating me like a geriatric dodderer after that :)

4.4 miles
66.4 in total
33.6 to go

[kelda]

Sorry forgot to say hope you are feeling better soon RunFatGirlRun!

[kelda]

thank you for my lovely flowers!

I'm not exactly feeling fitter because my GP thinks I have sciatica. Fortunately walking is ok, but it's very painful climbing the stairs and even at nighttime. When the doctor asked me how much exercise I did, I told her I walk about 100 miles/ month

[RunFatGirlRun]

Oh my goshness and CONGRATS to Kelda for finishing - now you need to do another 100 miles my Christmas

[RunFatGirlRun]

Morning all! Some GREAT totals here, I'm so impressed!

Is everyone actually feeling fitter and happier and healthier? Because of course that's the main aim of the thread!

Well, 3 miles to report, taking me to 74.5 go Safe to say I shan't be troubling the leaderboard any time soon.

Could I just say though - beware to anyone doing what I did, as I've been quite unwell in the last week with anaemia - faint, dizzy, sick, headachy, vague etc.

I basically went on a vegan crash diet and went from being a couch potato to running 3-4 times a week and swimming long distances almost every day. Now you'd think it'd be obvious that this might bring problems, but muggins here failed to cotton on

I am now taking a big fat dose of iron every morning and making sure I eat eggs and fish, and feeling rather better, although my runs are still much harder work than this time last month. So be warned, chaps! Moderation in all things!