If you run you are a runner! - runners thread 3

[Sirzy]

Another new thread for all runners out there. Old thread can be found here - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/exercise/2014081-Runners-thread-runners-of-all-abilities-welcome

Runners of all abilities more than welcome to join in our chat and motivation!

Aargh just typed a long post and the iPad lost it! Well done to all those with new PBs and to all who have had lovely runs in the sun, sorry I have not named you all but have been away at relatives and this thread moves so fast. Not a lot of running for me, a very hilly 5k yesterday with lovely sea views compensating for the hills and winds!

yegods thanks for good wishes for my 10k! Have spent this pm making choc chip cakes and flapjacks for the Club cake stall, nice relaxing pottering. Good luck to eau and fish for you 5 miles tomorrow, lets hope it doesn't rain and isn't too hot either!

blathers wanted to say well done on your half. I really recognise some of your feelings re experienced runners, I have had some similar experiences of feeling deflated when comparing my times etc to others at my Club even though I have for eg got a PB. I am trying to work on not comparing myself since I think my problem is really down to my perception not to what they are doing because everyone is genuinely trying to be encouraging. I am by nature quite competitive though so it is tricky for me...

Completely agree with Roquefort re the competitiveness thing and comparing yourself to others. I even get downcast sometimes by the distances/times people on this thread do, even though my rational brain knows how hogwhimperingly stupid that is. I just have to remind myself that running at all is reasonably impressive, and that being in the back markers at Parkrun doesn't mean I should pack up and go home.

Hello and apologies for the grumpy post last time, bloody knees!!

Picking up on the competitiveness I find it hard not to compare too. DH has just recently started running and I feel like he's already doing so much better than me.

I guess the achievement is getting out and keeping going. So, I think we are all bloody marvellous and deserve for our efforts.

We are all bloody marvellous Polka! Well said!

I had a glass of wine earlier and in a fit of stupidity I have signed up for the Great South Run in Portsmouth in October. It's 10 miles. Holy cow bags!

I think my brother is doing that. What date is it? I'll come and cheer :)

Ah thanks Polka. It's 26.10.14. Or you could sign up too?

I'm doing 10k in Sept, then half and full marathon next year. I daren't fit anything else in!

Hooray for us all! Great South Run is meant to be a good one Cardiff, I would like to do it but I have a half on 8 November so a bit tight! (And also DH would probably veto, he thinks I am doing too any races as it is....)

Or even too many...

Have you had one too many roque?!

Polka - yes, definitely sounds like you have enough on your plate as it is!

Roquefort - I like the fact it is described as "flat" and I have been to Portsmouth a couple of times so not totally unfamiliar territory. Shame you can't do it with me either, we will have to set up a runners thread meet-up at a race tbc in 2015!

I think so too, and I only started running 4 weeks ago!

A meet up is a good plan. But do we have to run?!?!

Sheesh this thread gallops along!

Now Blathers you must NOT belittle your fantastic achievement by comparing yourself to others. There will always be those who are faster/stronger/fitter/younger and as long as you are out there enjoying it then that's all that counts. Hope you are feeling less achey and tired now. Do you do any yoga at all? I love it for a good stretch - haven't time for classes but roll around on a mat at home doing it occasionally.

I was interested to read about iron deficiency contributing to aches - I'm always borderline on the iron levels when I give blood so I must make a big effort with my diet and see if that helps. Actually, I've been practically booze free since New Year, and last week on holiday I did have one or two shandies, and my god I could feel it in my joints the next day.

Cardiff - a great PB on your 5k, I'm inspired to go and do a Parkrun someday soon so I can see how slow I am these days!

And Postmanpat I'm glad to find you are Snailrunner on MFP - thanks for all the encouraging messages!! Can't remember who everyone is that I've 'friended' - hopefully no weirdos.

Cinnamon - love the photo of you and all the dog runners. Where do you get the hands free harnesses for running with? Would they work with 2 dogs? The potential for disaster is of course doubled though

There, all caught up! Have good intentions of running early tomorrow before off to the inlaws for more food & chocolate. Enjoy the Bank Holiday everyone!!

I think comparing ourselves to others is normal - it is one of the measures we naturally use to see whether we're improving etc.

But it is key to remember which cross-section of the population you're comparing to! Even if you're near the back at parkrun, you're well ahead of many people on the sofa who couldn't or can't be bothered to run 5km (or run/walk 5km) at all.

I signed up for a triathlon that was supposed to be my practice at Olympic distance before the London one....in my naivety I thought because it is small and local it would be perfect. I recently looked at last years times and realised that because it is small and local it attracts serious club triathletes and virtually no beginners like me. I am going to be right at the back and I do suspect that will be pretty demoralising. When I did my first parkrun the week before last I was the 4th female out of 60+, which felt like a huge boost. If you hang out with serious club runners who've been running for years you really need to remember they are NOT representative of a cross section of the population!

Rambling now, sorry!

Just back from 10km in the early morning sunshine and a new PB :) 50:27

I am now learning to just compare with myself rather than others. Helped by the fact my closest running friends can do 10k in 50 mins which I know I won't be able to do for a long time if at all!

Great PB pootle , now to see what I can manage later! Not a PB day for me I don't think ,the course is lovely but off road and a it 'undulating' and I usually do my best times on the road.

polka I was totally wine-less last night I will have you know as racing today! Cardiff a meet up is a great idea. There is a lovely race in Worthing in early Dec which is women only, I usually do the 5k but might do the 10 this year.

Oh and pootle my DH says exactly the same as you about serious club runners not being representative! He gets very cross with me for forgetting this and I know he is right. 3 years ago I had never run any further than to catch a bus so I must remember that. I think doing a really big race like the Brighton half or indeed Great south Run is good for this because you see a much wider cross section of runners whereas as you say at the local events it can be full of whippet like club runners. I am always well towards the back of the field at local league races but come in the front half in ginger ones I have done which is quite a confidence booster.

Right, breakfast eaten, off to dig out my club vest...

ginger ones? What on earth is that? Of course I meant bigger ones. Bloody iPad.

Good Luck today runners!

My dh always says the same pootlebug! He reckons only 10% of the population are doing regular exercise so actually we are all in the top 10% and rock!!!

I have two CQ! The line is sinkage from me and then splits part way down, the very quickly learned to run together despite their massive size difference and have had very few problems. I got mine from here and she was so helpful! I sent her measurements as per website photo and a pic of the dogs and she custom adjusted the standard sizes for free :) my whippet pulls and I had a very sore shoulder very quickly. Even with a dog the does pull holding something in your hand can cause problems later on so I think they're a must have! And no I don't get any commission

Hi, been lurking for a while and would like to join the thread...if no-one minds!

I ran a few Race for Life about 7-8 years ago, then gave up running and sat on my arse for a while...then I remembered that my mum and my grandfather both died of heart disease at the age of 52, which is only 8 years away for me...

So, last year I started on the 5:2 diet, lost 2.5 stone (still maintaining) and in September last year did the Shine night time walking marathon (did it to raise money for prostate cancer which my dad was diagnosed with the previous year - he's doing really well). Walking a marathon was a massive challenge, and I was really pleased to complete it. Could never imagine running that far...just walking it nearly killed me!

Wanted to carry on exercising, but it was winter once I'd done the walk, so decided I could get the same level of exercise in a shorter amount of time if I started running.

Did couch-5K-10K and am signed up for the Bristol 10K on 11 May. Currently doing 10K in around 1:07 - would love to get under 1:05 if at all possible, but not sure I can go any faster.

Looking for another challenge, I was persuaded by dh and a friend to sign up for the inaugural Severn Bridge half marathon which takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend. I seriously have no idea whether I will be able to run this far, but am prepared to give it a go.

Love reading everyone's stories, and am also a little obsessed with buying running gear...but manage to mainly shop at Sports Direct, which keeps the costs down a little.

Anyway, I've rambled on enough...

Eau and I completed our 5 miler this morning - we came in joint last but what the hell The others who crossed the line with us were a lady running in memory of her ultra sporty husband who sadly died while running, and a 66 year old who 15 years ago was in a wheelchair with an industrial disease. So we did it in very good company!

Hello emsie. Sounds like the bug has bitten you good and proper!

My knees still hurt! I think we did really well considering our combined list of ailments. Going to kick back and drink lots of tea in the garden in the sunshine now.

Congratulations to you both and also to your two running mates.

Hey everyone, I have just started running (walk/jog) and am my biggest problem is my confidence. I have a couple of questions for you seasoned runners and hope you don't mind:

1. were you confident when you started? Confident in ability and confident you don't look like a complete tit? I'm struggling with both of these at the moment!

2. I know the thread it called "if you run you're a runner" but did you all feel like a runner in the early days? What was the turning point or moment you felt like a runner? I have a 5km run I'm working towards in June and will take it from there. I am in the VERY early days of running and obviously feel like a complete fraud, what with most of it being walking!

I'm very impressed you all do so well and hope that one day I can be a "proper" runner like you lot! You're such an inspiration to me to keep going!

Sorry for the typos!