2015 Running Thread Part Two

[Tiredemma]

.... apologies for lack of original title

4 miles tonight

1378.35

2.75 slow miles for me today. Felt better for it.

So 478.78

Following on from the food talk recently I have discovered if I have anything too fatty within about 3 hours before running I feel very sick! So I will lay off the peanuts on running days.

Suzanne I was wondering that too. Or maybe a difference in approach - are men perhaps more likely to enter and think they can do it kinda thing but women more likely not to enter until they know that they can put the training in? Like a difference in confidence levels or something? Just thinking it's not so long ago really that it was considered completely nuts that a woman could run a marathon so we there's a different attitude / cultural expectation etc. Can't quite explain myself!

Actiongirl I think it depends where you are starting from - I only started running last May after spending my 20s and the first half of my 30s parked on my rear drinking beer. So I don't have a decent base of fitness to start from. So I am getting on the training now to give myself the best chance of not completely shaming myself in front of my fitness fiend work mates that I'm doing the event with.

Just upping my mileage really. I have only done 2 "multi run days" so far and won't get to do them that often, maybe every fortnight.

Anyway, verrry long winded way of saying I am sure you'll be fine! Once the Spring is a little more apparent it will feel less horrendous!

I think partly cultural expectations Edith, a marathon is seen as a feat of physical prowess, and physical prowess is something that has been seen as a masculine trait in the past.

Running is typically something that is done in leisure time and women tend to have less of it ( we are expected to use our 'free' time for domestic work and childcare) to fulfill your potential as a distance runner most people have to put in quite a bit of running time, and not be over stressed with all the other stuff that comes with family life

Edith, you may be right. I will feel more like it when there is some WARMTH and the days are brighter.

Suzanne - I never knew a single woman who ran when I was growing up. I was aware of some dads that did it, but women did 'keep fit' in pastel leotards. Hopefully my children will see a different way of keeping fit (well, they are always asking if I have just been for a run on a weekend morning and they know that mummy runs, then she lies on the foam roller and squeals). In fact lots of the mums I know run and do ironmen comps and triathlons, there has been a real fitness revolution for women I think.

Brilliant run aggressive Could you do a few more of those, like one a week, so our running mileage total looks really good

mitchy what's all that about? Get well soon but I'm going to have to really concentrate to remember who you are with a new name!

No run for me today as I was at college all day (felt like weeks) but at least I've managed my 10000 steps by leaving the car at home and walking to/from the train station both ends.

action speaking of foam rollers, I have been looking at them on Amazon and they seem to come in all shapes and sizes and prices. Do you have any recommendations?

That makes sense Suzanne, especially the "free time"!

It's great to see more women running and doing well in ultra events. I definitely agree that men do generally have more free time though.

Mitchy/Polly can't believe your calf is injured again It's a shame you're missing your HM this weekend but don't worry you've still got plenty of time before your marathon. Hope your physio is helpful on Monday.

it true fitness wasnt really a 'thing' when I was growing up...then again neither was obesity

Re free time:
I'd go further and say that men are more likely to feel justified in spending their free time doing things which are 'self actualizing' where as women feel as if they ought to spend their free time doing things which enrich the lives of others.

(I'm not suggesting that this applies to everyone of course)

on a completely different note I've just ordered a pair of these www.sportsshoes.com/product/xte3/xtenex-auto-locking-laces/
has anyone tried them?

OhOne - no, I bought the most basic one. Mine is grey and fat, but long and thin works as well too. I augment it with a hockey ball for the really hard spots in my quads.

FWIW, my PT only has a basic one too and he is really into the whole self myo-fascial thing. I expected him to have a pricey 'Grid' or similar. I think as long as they are firm and you use them properly, they work. Mine was one of the cheapest off amazon.

Suzanne, those laces look cool, let us know how they get on. Thanks for shoe info btw, I went for another pair of clouds for running and the inov8 for gym/poss running (its my b'day next week, sadly all my present involves running kit . Inov8 do a 6mm, 4mm and 3mm/zero drop shoe, so I am really hoping they are comfy and over time I can drop down from the 6mm. I have totally benefited from coming out of thick heeled 10mm shoes, my running has improved and best of all I never get back ache any more after a run.

I always feel guilty on a long run. Always. That 2/3 hours that the run takes plus showering, I feel terrible for the time away from the house and jobs. Its partly because I am a sahm so I theoretically have time in the week (though I can't do long runs then as the roads are too busy) but also it is weekend time and I should be - doing the dishwasher/making everyones breakfast/tidying the house/ironing -delete as appropriate.

It will be easier in the summer when I can be out by 6am and back by 9am and then the day has barely started.

478.78 + 3.2 = 481.98

Finding the breathing fine now, the legs are fine - just the guts :(

Aggressive I think just finishing a half marathon or marathon in any time is a huge achievement. Last year I did my local half marathon 9 Months after starting running. It was nowhere near my 10km time about 2 mins per mile slower but I did it and it was a new pb and not bad considering I was only able to run once a week.
This year I'm doing the same one and alot more running so I hope it will be closer to my 10km pace and 21 minutes faster overall. I'm bot asking for much.

Actiongirl yep, I hear you re guilt! I work ft and feel as though any free time should be spent with dh and dd. That once I finish work I should rush home rather than run. Weekends the same. BUT I figured out last year (during / after horrible bout of depression, anxiety, etc) last year that I either got to feel guilty or I got to feel completely mad and that's no good to anyone! So I choose guilt.

I got a foam roller this week - what a coincidence! We use them in our pilates class sometimes, so I've been doing self-roller ing, but I've got one long enough to lie along too. Makes for a good core workout just balancing on it.

I skipped parkrun this morning (it's quite far away and the 2yo was at his Granny's) so went out and did a nearby footpath route. Hmm. Cows in the fields since I last did it I had to take a paddle in an ice cold stream to clean my shoes off

So 4 + 482 = 486

Wouldn't it be great if guilt could just be discarded like rubbish?

Oh and I get the guilt too (SAHM).

DP is SO good - he knows the benefits in general and to me in particular so he's v encouraging. He feels the same if he doesn't get his exercise. But still...it's why I don't run quite so much at this time of year.

Summer is better. Bloody love being able to go out a 7pm for 2 hrs

I was an sahm when my children were small, it's just plain difficult to get any time for yourself with small children, I really appreciate the fact that they're grown up and I have my life back now!
(my daughter runs and lifts weights btw so I seem to have had a good influence :o)

it doesnt last for ever and if you can just keep up some sort of regular running habit there will come a time when you can indulge without feeling as if you ought to be doing something else.

I was totally on board with the ethos of zero drop running shoes Actiongirl, and for all other activities I am religious about wearing totally flat shoes, but my running is much better with the 12mm drop shoes that I'm wearing now

Amazing AgressiveBunting, well done you!

Agree about the guilt too but the kids get a better mummy and dh gets a better wife as I'm a much calmer, happier person when I run so figure it benefits us all. Plus it's good for dh to slend time with the children too. I can't run weekday day times so it tends to be early mornings, evenings or weekends for me and they're often not dressed when I get back weekends and not awake mornings

Running helps my stress levels and levels my mood so it is a positive for us all - zaps any guilt! I am also setting a postive example for my DC about being active and taking postive responsibility for my health. And I get a sticker

We have just got a trigger point roller (had a solid one before). It is shorter but more evil - DH loves it! It is also hollow so currently being packed in ski bag filled with socks...

action I averaged 7min/km, but there was a lot of variation so I spent 2 hrs 21mins at 10mins/km, of which 36mins was over 12 mins/km.

bambino totally agree with you- definitely not dissing the hikers. It's all about achieving against your own goals. My Crossfit instructor always says "don't have any regrets" before the tests- i.e. do your best, don't spend the rest of the week thinking "coulda, shoulda, woulda" and that's now my racing mantra. Good luck in your half.

Also agree with the comments re leisure time and women having less of it, although tbh that's not a massive issue in HK with our helper culture. Here I think it's more the fact that guys just think "Hell, I'll give it a go" whereas women worry more about not being able to do it. Actually though, possibly my view of how many women there were overall was skewed by me being quite far forward in the pack where you would tend to find more men due to them being (on average) faster. I'll make sure I check the results next week and report back!

Rest day for me today, and then back on it tomorrow.

Sorry- Anglaise Suunto says it was 1256m ascent and 1650 descent- it's a summit to sea course but with hills in the middle.

I hear what your saying about the guilt, but I feel quite sad that people feel that way. I get a babysitter in for my Monday and Wednesday runs as DH is either at work or running with me (club nights). I do feel bad sometimes if he's crying as I go, but if I didn't have this time for myself it, I'd go crazy I think (it
Probably helps that bedtimes aren't the most fun for me!! He goes to bed lovely for all our sitters!!)

I didn't realize Hong Kong had a 'helper culture'
(whatever that is ) ?

Sorry aggressive my last post should have been for action girl regarding having to run the marathon at 10km pace. Apologies.

I'm smothered today now and dosing up on the uniflu so I won't be outside the door.

I also suffer the guilts when I go out for a run. Or to a class. Or If I sit down on the couch. There's just always so much other stuff to be doing. ??

I find it so much easier when daylight comes earlier too, much prefer fitting run in early. I get the guilt a bit but mainly it's the practicalities as weekends are busy ferrying kids to their activities, DH sometimes working, is only time he can fit in a long cycle if not working. Evenings too busy to run, again kids activities, DH football and works long hours.
I work 3 days a week so have 2 weekdays I can get out for long daytime runs while kids at school. A real luxury. The house is a bit manky but given the choice of a run or cleaning toilets there's not much competition!
I do get twitchy if I don't run for more than a couple of days and family seem to prefer happy mum to clean house ( well, tbh I don't think they really notice the house!)

Out early this morning to try out my new toy - head torch. Hoping it will open up possibility of early runs while still dark.
4.84 so 490.84