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!

I'm sure there's nothing very special about my club, all will work in fairly similar ways, it's just a case of finding the one that suits you best. Most will allow you to go along for free for a few sessions to see if you enjoy it.

With both of the clubs I've tried Degustbus, it's impossible to be "too slow" as everyone will do run-backs. Basically, we run along for a while - usually until a change in direction on the route we are taking or until people are getting very spread out - then the faster runners will loop back and run to the last runner before turning round and continuing on the route. This means that everyone can run at their own pace while still staying together and that no-one is ever left behind. It also means that the faster runners usually get in a longer run as the loop backs all add to the distance. That's why Sunday's run was somewhere between 6 and 10 miles despite us all running the same route in the same time.

I think the run back thing is fairly common in running clubs as UK Athletics recommend it. A proper UKA club will mean you get registered with UKA too and you can get the "affiliated" discount when you book races. It's usually about £2 a race but it all adds up.

x-posts SoftKitty :)

Another thing about beginners - both of the clubs I've tried have had Beginners groups where they do a Couch-to-5k type course and my current club do a Step-Up group too where those who have just finished c25k or the beginners group can have time to become more confident before joining the main club runs - usually called social runs for a reason These runs tend to be shorter and work on the same run-back principal of the social runs so again, it's impossible to be too slow or left behind.

I joined a couple of running clubs - one proper affiliated club and one leisurely group, they've both been great, the leisurely one an actual godsend when I was limping around everywhere. The proper one does proper stuff but now has split into quite a range of groups and the beginner group has people who can only run for a few minutes at a time. It's great for me because I can struggle to run alone if it's not round a particular group of fields

woke up having a small cry about what a long climb back it will be to run any sort of distance again but there is only one way to find out! the calf itself is so so so much better but am still having achilles and arch pain if I do much walking

I have been considering a running club but most round here are on Tuesdays and Thursdays and they are not great days for me .

In other news I am going to run today despite having sore legs from HIT last night.

wow...this thread moves so fast! I know I will not be able to add everything I want to but I will make a start!

WRT the ice bath - I have never had the pleasure but after the Royal Parks HM last year, I paddled in the Princess Diana memorial - the water was ice-cold and it felt amazing on my feet & legs!

I also love my Garmin, and I am often tempted to wear it as my 'day' watch...I just get embarrassed as I am NOT built like a runner and think that any serious athletes will be looking at my GPS watch and my wobbly bits & won't be able to put the two together!!

I love the idea of joining a running club but find it hard to commit to attending the same day every week. How flexible can they be?

Welcome to all the newcomers and well done on some brilliant times for ppl! Well done all!

I am a member of a running club here in Hungary but I don't run with others. Mainly because they go out at 6 and I refuse to leave my daughter with a sitter an hour before bedtime. So I run at 7. However through the running club I get reduced entry fees for the races.

I did 5k this am. Very very slow. And I want a garmin too!

Oh, I should add that I sometimes run with music - depends on the route and my mood. I have the earphones that don't fall off (They have a hard loop around the lower back of my head, so I can hang them comfortably around my neck when they are not actually in my ears.) I love them. Sometimes I will take my music with me but only put it on towards the end of the run when I am in need of serious distraction! I have a few mixes from Rockmyrun that I love for an extra energy boost.

I used to run with my phone in my pocket or in an armband, but I find it irritating so I don't take it with me unless I am running somewhere new. I would use Runkeeper App, now I upload straight from my Garmin onto Runkeeper, which automatically updates myfitnesspal. (Geek? Me? No way )

femalejosh I am also on the MN Team on Garmin. I think I added you but wasn't sure...I hope so! Otherwise I may have made a few friends with random strangers

Right - now I am off for a lunchtime run. My Hubby wants to join me - he is NOT a runner, so this will be interesting....

You'd be best off looking at the clubs around you and seeing what's available briteside. UKA have a search facility which might help.

The website is here and the club search is one of the 4 smaller boxes under the banner.

Like Halle one of my local clubs only did Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and started at 6:15 on the week days which doesn't work for me now as DH doesn't get back from work until almost 7 since he changed his job and I'm almost always at parkrun on Saturdays. The other club runs pretty much every day of the week though with their long, marathon training runs on Sundays and weekday sessions starting at 7pm which makes getting there a lot easier. Every one is different, it's just a case of finding one that works for you.

Hi RhondaJean!!

One of our coaches said she started a cake club that like to run! She definitely navigates by cake but there are lots who run to burn the alcohol calories!

I think it's very worthwhile SoftKittyWarmKitty! Mine is slightly different to blatherskite's club. We have a Monday night beginners training and a Wednesday seniors training and a social run Saturday morning as organised activities and quite a bit of juniors stuff too. The training is usually round or out and back and mostly involves some kind of intervals which you take at your own pace. I joined because ds1's teacher found out I ran and bullied me into it! There are other groups who really are people who've found they run at a similar pace and go or running together rather than club runs iyswim. Us with dogs go Monday nights as it's a good night for everyone. Tuesday the faster men go together and although I'm not excluded id never go because I would die!! There is also cross fit which is only £1 for club members on Thursdays and some of the ladies who run and don't work have Thursday morning runs.
We have our fb page so we just put up I want to go for an x mile run at this time anyone about and usually there's someone who would like to do similar.

you don't HAVE to show up every time your club meets, but once you get to know people you will find lots of informal runs going on at various other times

eg if there is a DB page people can say that they would like company for part or all of their long run, usually at a specified pace,

but membership can be worth it through discounted physio, gym membership, sweatshop purchases and so on plus you usually get about £2 off race entries around UK

FB page obviously

am trying to decide whether to go and be shit at running club tonight or go for nice bike ride with friend

Eek scary!

Exciting!!

did 15 miles on my bike, jsut got in as it bucketed it down :)

sirzy soooooo exciting!

I had an OK run this afternoon - 5km in 36mins. DH came with me, he lasted 2.8km before walking home

I was managing a fairly decent pace until the last km, then (TMI) got stomach cramps and then had to hobble home as quickly as possible to the bathroom! Grrrr...not sure what brought that on!

Thanks for the link blather amd off to have a look now!

yes i am a mix of excited and shitting myself! I am in the slow group at the back thankfully

Good timing chopsticks

Glad you made it back briteside

I had friends trying to talk me into the Great Birmingham Run the other night. My club swap is official on the 1st May and then I can start entering stuff again - it's very tempting!

Good luck Sirzy!!

Ooooh exciting sirzy!
Hi Rhonda and good running today brite.
How is everyone else today?

Running clubs aren't for me I don't think, part of the joy of running is that I can squeeze it in where and when and for how long as suits me.
Also, I prefer running alone (1yo DS ).

Today I did around 4 miles, 3 straight running then some sprint intervals at the end.

Go for it Blather.

Thursday, I am the same. I like running on my own without having to think about others, it is very much my 'switch off' time.

I am hopjng to get out for a run when DS is in bed tonight all being good. If not it will be tomorrow morning

Evening all.

I'm not in a running club. I was umming and aahing about going along to my local Sweatshop running group this evening but I bottled out in the end. Maybe next week.
So I went out on my own, and boy I'm glad I did. I went out far too fast and so the last third was absolute hell. By the time I got home I was sweating buckets and I feel like shit! Never mind, I guess we all have our off days. Just glad I chose not to make my debut with my local running group after all.

Good luck Sirzy, always exciting when your number arrives in the post!

Wow sirzy fab stuff!

I had to do an emergency wee im some bushes on my run home tonight, i couldnt run it was so uncomfortable

Which side of the road do you run on? Facing traffic or with it behind you?

How far is the great Manchester run Sirzy? Looks like we need a new thread soon!

No running for me today, I'm babysitting tonight but will either go tomorrow after my meeting or early Thursday as normal.

I run facing it Theonlyoneiknow, as if I was walking :)

Its only 10k, my first race though - not sure picking one with 40,000 others is a good idea!

I know the threads are filling up very quickly now!

I always run facing the traffic

Wow that's huge!!!!!