Edinburgh 2014 - chasing the hairy haggis

[Mitchy1nge]

thread for anyone training for the full marathon or the half or any of the other events

it's my first marathon so am very excited, I know that in theory if I can do 21 miles then 26 (plus 385 yards) is achievable but only started running again a few months ago, it's so much more addictive than it used to be

how did it go louwn? I don't feel too bad but have NO energy, luckily tomorrow there is a slow plodders meet so I will go out with them, how bad can it be?

also have found another running club to join, think am someone who benefits a lot from running in a group

Now the kids are back to shool I was able to get out running today, so have done a slow 10k. And have booked my accommodation for Edinburgh so I NEED to do it now otherwise it's a waste of money

well done :)

accommodation is a good point, I did have an apartment organised for me and a few friends but the whole who is coming with thing has exploded severely the main thing for me is that my personal pacer/coach is there

Hark at you posh folk with your personal coach!!!

yes that's me! we must try to meet up for some pasta the night before, to do away with that particular misconception! actually is that possible? does anyone else fancy it?

I do have someone to pace me though, if he survives London which he will be doing at a proper sort of speed, he's such a big help to me

Managed 3 miles in the wind and rain this morning. AND Body Pump so am feeling tired but happy for getting back on it.
Plucking up the courage to join a running club for variety. Sometimes run with one of the mums from school and it makes a nice change.

Well done kaff.

Yes I am up for meeting up if possible. I can't do pasta sadly as I'm gluten free but I'm up for a drink. Well just a small one of course....

how do you carb yourself up then? rice? or do you not do carbs?

Sadly my tum is witness to the fact that I do eat carbs :-(

I eat rice, gluten free pasta and occasionally gluten free bread. I've never had to " carb up " before as I've never run for more than about 100 mins

I'm hoping that running a Bit more will lose some of my podge

honestly think one of the main reasons to run is simply so I can stuff my face with pasta and not worry about it so much

today is day 1 of applying some principles from 'the art of running faster' :) apparently training twice a day (not increasing the volume at all, just dividing it) is supposed to help so have been out with my Slow And Not Very Far group this morning and will do something similar tonight probably at new running group

thanks wind and rain for making me feel super smug about it

I don't know if I could be bothered with having to get changed , run, shower etc twice a day < lazy>

Please let us know if you feel it makes a difference.

Sadly I have not lost much weight running. Dh insisted I've lost a bit of back fat but I think he's just trying to stay on my good side . I blame my hormones /age /thyroid < always good to have an excuse >

How are all the poorly peeps ?

I probably won't shower until tonight but was barely 2 miles this morning and I didn't even stop shivering far less sweat (with my slow joggers group), yoga in a minute then need to do the horses then Actual Running Club this evening. I don't know how far/fast they go, but told the coach my lowly pace and distances and he felt there would be a group for me. Also get £5 off physio this week for joining the club so that's a plus!

is hard to lose weight while running I think, although I lost 9kg last year which was probably a bit too many and 3 have come back since I got more marathon-focused , you do have to eat quite a lot - it's not the end of the world is it?

know am a bit obsessed with the weekly mileage but just remembered it was supposed to be about 35 a week this month

Slow joggers group doesn't sound much fun if you are actually shivering. And can't be adding much to your weekly target .

I am a very anti social runner so have no desire whatsoever to join a club. I go running for time alone, away from dh/kids/colleagues. I'm fortunate to love in a rural areas so perfectly safe to run alone . I feel quite angry that in the 21st century some women still don't have that freedom .

How did Actual Runming group go? I'm impressed by 35 miles, I'm only up to 35 km this week . I'm scared to go up any faster as I've been doing so little for months. The good thing is that I'm running so slowly it's not very tiring .

Where are the rest of you?

slow group is really helpful for adding some easy miles, and if I'm losing the plot it gets me out there again - Actual Group was fun, it was 2 mile intervals (I think, Garmin didn't pause and resume so I gave up after a while) and some interesting moves

but that's plenty isn't it, 35km? not good at conversions but it must be almost double the distance of your race?

have barely scraped 11 miles together so far this year and just 5 this week but will run tomorrow and aiming for 16 on Sat

< faints> at thought of 2miles intervals

I'd be struggling at 200m intervals

35km is about 22 miles, but I'm meant to be working on distance during this phase. Then start to work on speed next month.

I notice that I'm meant to be doing my long runs off road, but I've no idea how to do this. I live in the country but all the roads are Tarmac and the verges are long grass with lots of potholes . I've tried running on the verges where the grass is shorter but that's not very reliable.

The fields are very wet and muddy, you would need Wellies not running shoes .

The plans seem to refer to trails , I assume through man made forests, but it's all farmland around here.

Any suggestions?

have you got trail shoes? I'm still running off road sometimes (but only because I'm scared of being hit by a car , or when I have to run with the dog) but now the mud is so thick and deep in places, if I wouldn't expect the horses to trot through it I shouldn't ask it of myself! Some footpaths are more free draining than others though and I can run quite easily round the muddy bits. Obviously anywhere the horses go is badly churned up, but it is still possible, it's just a different sort of running experience. Probably how I hurt my calf.

Do you know your local bridleways and footpaths? I started running where I ride and then began linking the routes together when I realised as a human I was allowed on footpaths! Is there a ramblers association local to you? They might have published walks online that you could try.

I was struggling and my pace was only 10:30! They have a rolling sort of programme:

Hill session
1 Mile Intervals
400 Intervals
2 Mile Intervals
Fartlek/Short Intervals
Incline Session
Timed Pyramid Session
800/1200 Intervals
Sprints/Shuttles

it should be a good extra thing to do each week, all the yucky looking difficult stuff that might be fun in a group but not alone? there is a social run tonight but have dance with a friend instead

yuck, the calf thing is a strain - obviously a mild one from the sort of cumulative strain of the increasing distances but physio is adamant that a complete rest (from running at least) is necessary both to heal it properly and to prevent a more serious injury

I think I was expecting a nice massage and some new stretches

on plus side she has taped up my foot and my leg with tiger print kt tape and it looks really cool, I hope it lasts until I see her again on Tuesday

Sorry to hear about the calf strain , that's a bit of a nuisance. Are you allowed to do other exercise or is it total rest ? For how long?

Tiger print tape sounds...em...interesting. Not sure what you can wear at this time of year to show it off. Though they say that animal print is the new neutral and goes with anything

Actual Running Group sounds very scary. As you say, the kind of training you probably wouldn't do alone

Thanks for tip about bridalways, I shall ask local friends who have horses. Although one is distraught as her horse just had a big op for colic and is very poorly :-( .

Perhaps I need to invest in trail shoes, I have none.

oh dear, hope your friend's horse will be ok - colic surgery often doesn't end well

I think you will struggle on wet grass in road shoes, no traction, but you could try?

I didn't ask about other exercise, the 'no running' thing was a bombshell dropped at the very end so I was a bit 'what do you mean, no long running no fast running or no actual running?' and it was just no running at all then I got an email a bit later reminding me not to run! Next appointment is Tuesday so maybe it will be better by then. Have a hot gel thing to put on it and when it isn't hurting some gentle soleus stretches to do. Dance was ok tonight, it's belly dancing so not too much wear and tear on the lower limbs, yoga should be ok and I should think riding will be fine. The tiger print looked interesting with my shimmery purple skirt anyway!

LOL at belly dancing skirt! You must have a washboard stomach! Especially with the yoga and riding.

Horse is apparently on bran mash, which is a good sign. I'm a non horse person so I just smile and nod. I don't understand at all, but I know that he is like a family member to her. And her other horse is pining :-(

You are right about the road shoes on the grass, it didn't work . Will investigate trail shoes. I fear the small niggle on bottom of foot is related to always running on Tarmac so will only get worse over the next month if I don't address it.

DH helpfully working away so no exercise for me over the weekend . Except Jillian

not quite a washboard, that would be good after 3 enormous babies, but am lucky my core is very strong so have good balance etc, prob helps with running too - actually I think the people with some fat there look much nicer doing those dances, a tiny bit of wobble seems to help

what is the niggle in your foot? now is the time to sort out anything questionable as still scope for recovery before training intensifies etc

Small twinge on ball of left foot when I land . Dunno what it it