2015 Running thread part three

[actiongirl1978]

Woo! How exciting to be the last on one thread and the first on another!

A super-hilly but social 6 miler from me this morning - 755.6. Might try to get out to Lantau Island this weekend for a bit of a change of scene and to see how I go for time on the first half of a course I raced back in October.

itsvery If you can do 8 miles you should be fine - the excitement of the event will carry you the last few miles. Just make sure you pace yourself (no faster than current 8 mile pace). I just drink water in the stations for road races. Start the race well hydrated and try not to chugg down a load of water during it unless you're sweating really heavily. No need to go overboard on carb loading, but just eat good quality carbs with meals in the week leading up so you replenish your glycogen stores. I usually eat porridge and a banana on race mornings. Can't help re. peeing- I have a horse bladder- did a 5hr race on Saturday and only peed when I got home, 2hrs and 2 beers after finishing.

Woo hoo, managed to force myself out of warm cosy bed really early ( for me!) and fit in a 4.84 this morning. Love my head torch. Buzzing!
760.44

itsvery good luck in your hm. You should be fine running the distance if you can do 8 miles already.
Can't really advise on fluid intake, I run in cold climes and often don't take any water on board at all during hm but if it is a hot day ( for Scotland) water stations are usually enough.
I always feel the need to pee loads before a race and spend ages in queue for toilets but once race starts I am fine and never need to go during. And I have a bladder with capacity of a mouse!

760.44 + 6.5 = 766.94

Two club runs from me, slow and steady - I'm finding it a real effort to get out, I can't wait for light nights!!

I know what you mean cinnamon I get so jealous of everyone booking races and all the marathon talk at club, but o wouldn't swop it, and there is always next year!!

Oh, and about keeping going during race just make sure you don't set off too fast, keep your pace comfortable. I sometimes break the distance down mentally into routes I do and I can tell myself, well I know I can run that.
And sometimes I have even found a friendly fellow runner to chat to for part of it if we are about the same pace, that is a brilliant way to not notice the miles tick past
Main thing is relax and enjoy it, if you are not looking for a particular time then take your time and be comfortable, and if you do walk a bit, so what? Loads of people do.

Edith well done on your long run. I did 11 miles for the first time on Sunday with a similar pace, it sounds like we are in the same ball park with training.

Hester - it definitely works better for me going out empty. Even the sucking of a jelly baby or a jelly bean or a slurp of diluted high juice is enough to give me horrible cramps. I had porridge yesterday morning at 7am, then some dark choc about an hour before I ran at 1pm and I just felt full and lumbering and the very opposite of energised from the porridge (and this was after three trips to the loo during the morning so in theory empty).

So from now on thats it, I run without food. I will have some carbs the day before though (and no fibre where possible )

Let us know how it goes.

I would try to increase from 8 over the next couple of long runs itsveryyou. For the race try and wee as close to the race as you can and don't drink too much at water stations. I just have a few jelly babies in my pocket and have one around 6,9and 11/12 miles depending how I'm feeling or a bit before water so I can wash them down.

Well done EdithDickie!

4 lovely miles from me this morning, and getting light at the end! Still hankering for a long run just me and the road, which is weird as I do very little road running!
770.94

Hello new thread 3.5 miles from me last night. Coldish but at least not windy.

Itsnotme I'm doing a half on the 1st March too. Which one are you doing? I would also say increase your long run you've still got a bit of time. I did an 11.5 mile run last Sunday and have decided that will be my longest as I'm going to taper this time. I think if you can get to 10 or 11 you'll be fine. Last year I trained to 11 and was ok. The excitement and crowds will get you through.

Re eating I just had water and jelly babies for last year's half and then at the finish they were giving out chocolate. Isotonic drink good at the end too.

ItsVery - I am running my first HM at the end of April. I have done some longer runs than you, up to 11 miles so far, but I am not fast.

I have been told to eat what you normally eat, wear what you normally wear, and pace yourself. I intend to do the first 2 or 3 miles really slowly as a warm up and pace about a 12 min mile, before accelerating a bit.

The atmosphere will carry you a lot, I know when I race short distances I always make a lot more effort than I do in training. Good luck!

For the 3 halfs I've done I've only trained to 10 miles, after that it's only a parkrun left :) and the atmosphere on the day will get you through. And definitely Don't. Go. Off. Too. Fast. If anything take the first couple of miles slower than normal as you can always speed up later.

I like to have a small water bottle with me for a half so I can sip it when I need it. If the water stations are doing bottles I'll take one of theirs, if they are doing water in cups I'll take my own bottle.
As for food - I used to run first thing in the morning so am used to running empty but will try and have a banana and/or smoothie about 3 hours before a half, any later and it wants to make a return journey (sorry TMI!)
Like family - I always need to wee lots before any race but am OK once I've started.

Take your time and ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY, even the hard bits when you think you might die, smile for any cameras you see and celebrate hugely as you cross the finish line, it's a BIG achievement.

Think that covers my half marathon tips/experiences :)

Am doing a HM in just over 5 weeks .

Great tips feet!

You could try drinking while moving. I always end up choking as I take a mouthful of water whilst breathing in. Not a good move.

Just this second back from the dr and I have the all clear on my knee (with anti inflammatories). I am determined to ease into it so watch out for measly miles from me - apart from that, I am excited

2.2 from me today, just a short brisk recovery run. Having some pain around left hip just now, so lots of stretching and foam rolling going on, hope it's better soon. If not may need to consider physio if the budget allows. My half isn't till end of May and I don't want anything to go wrong!
So 770.94+ orangeflutie's 3.5 + my 2.2=776.64*

Feetheart all the half marathon talk is making me wish I was doing one this spring. I've got a few 10k races coming up but no half until autumn.

Got a place on the Great Scottish run this year. In the ballot for RPH too. If I get a place I will have a difficult decision to make as Glasgow is my home city but I loved the RPH last year. My one and only half! Has anyone done the a Glasgow one?

3.1 from me this morning. Much lighter now at 6.30am.

New total 774.04

Eek cross posts with emummy

Total 779.74

Hello people, I'm a bit of a newbie and have signed up to do a 10k in April.
Someone in another thread mentioned a book they had read that really helped them. I think they said there was an element of NLP to it. Does anyone know what it is?
Or indeed does anyone have any running book recommendations?

Hi humbert.

I enjoyed Running like a girl by alexandra hemmingsley

All this race talk is very inspiring.

Good news on the knee stillearnin :) I'm sure your miles certainly won't be measly compared to mine.

2.1 from me this morning, run fairly gingerly, and I stopped half way round to talk to some birdwatchers who were trying to see a little bunting. How exciting. I also saw a buzzard kill a rabbit - apart from that, it was completely uneventful and I felt fine. No cramps - yay! Oh and I did pass one extremely agreeable young man who gave me a beautiful grin as he ran past. I wanted to turn round and run after him :o He looked like this (minus the sword obviously) I think he had Pirates kit on - hmm, perhaps I might start attending their matches.

781.84

Thanks Skinny
Oooh it's pretty cheap to download on kindle too. Excellent.

Hester what a lovely way to pass a run! I look grimmer than grim while I am running, that will never happen to me!

Stilllearnin that is great news. Measly miles or not, you are still running again which is great news for you.

THANK YOU, you lovely lot! For your comments, advice and encouragement, and for the suggestion of jelly babies - now that's exciting!!

I've gone from a reluctant 'I can't run' person to a 'Ooh, am actually enjoying this and looking forward to my next run' person over the past few months and am very pleased with the mileage uppage and the weight downage :0)

Will let you know how it goes...

hester that is v naughty (plus I thought you meant he was dressed as a pirate and wondered if the rolling pin had had some unforeseen effects). I have a big gush of loving and looking after my body today - a good thing.

Ah yes, I see where the confusion might lie. Tis the local rugby team.

itsvery sounds like a good place to be! I eagerly look forward to it. I can't have gorgeous young men to run past every day unfortunately.

itsvery you are clearly now officially Hooked On Running

family, does that make me a HOR?!

hester yeah, it feels good! This time of year I see lots of turtles sunbathing and squirrels fettling about...not eye candy as such, but certainly make for a nice view.