This is the New Running Thread

[Wallace]

I can't find the old one in Health, and we deserve to be in brand new shiny Sport and exercise anyway

Oooh goody!

I am going running tomorrow morning. After a break of 7 weeks. Not really supposed to be but if you don't tell anyone I won't!

Lots of newcomers. Hello.

Orm - you be careful. Jogging only

Jasmeen and Mrswednesday - thanks for the encouraging words.

I have as my goal the race for life next year and also there is a 4mile fun run in a local village that I watch my brother run in so that's a goal too! I bought myself an ipod shuffle today as I need some music to run to rather than the voice in my head going 'this is hard, i'm knackered, Ican't do it..etc' on a loop!!

Off to bed now so will catch up tmrw.

Good idea. iPod is brilliant for running.

Hello all. Another regular runner here....more to offset my love of good food! Feel like I need to do something to improve...I can quite happly go out and run 6/7 miles in about 50/55 mins, which isn't bad, but never really push myself.

In answer to the question further down the thread, I believe the official advice is to increase distance by 10% a week where possible.

Thready - yes I seem to manage to swim 4 times a week (60 lengths in 45 minutes each session) but I think I need to start running. I think running is much higher fat burning.

Hey Ladies - Im a runner also...6months pregnant too and still going strong with the 4/5milers about 5 times a week. Its the only thing that keeps me feeling normal really.

Did anyone else run throughout pregnancy? Does it REALLY help with labour if your fitter??

Hi!
Iused to be on the old thread but have really lapsed somewhat.
I am GOING to join a new running club and get back into it.
I did a few 1oks last year but would love to do a half.

KT1983 - a friend of mine is a very keen runner and ran throughout her pregnancy. her baby boy arrived in about 3 pushes, so i'd say being fit probably helped her!

Hello all. I too was on the old thread, running 5k 3x week until 5 or 6 months pregnant. I have been appalling since and find it difficult to find the time between baby, pre-schooler and primary aged DCs.

I shall aim to post something on this thread once a week.

Hi Duchess remeber you from old thread.
You have had baby already? Hwere has the time gone!!
What did you have?

well, I definitely "jog". Am very much new to all this and struggle like another poster with the 1st 10mins. Been doing quite well for a few weeks but number of runs dwindled hugely over half-term. Need to get back into the swing of it. btw, what do people wear for running in the rain? may seem a stupid qu, but i have a tatty old cagoule but the hood doesn't have elastic and ends up falling down so just tend to get soaked. any recommendations?

hi doublebluff, I had a boy (so 2 of each now) - at the end of May!! Gawd, he's nearly 6 months old and I have only been running half a dozen times.

misschief - I tend to just get wet and I don't run when it's very heavy rain. But I do have lots of vouchers for sweatybetty (won right here on MN!) which I haven't yet spent, so I may get something practical with it.

KT1983....hate to rain on your parade, and def wouldn't say stop if you are still enjoying it....but the jury is v much out on whether it helps labour. Anecdotal evidence says perhaps not....Paula Radcliffe had a HORRENDOUS labour (36 + hours), even though she refused an epidural to make sure it did not slow the process.

My friend is an obs and gynae consultant and she says the latest piece of research to be done shows that extensive cardio training and core work actually works against the women concerned because the particularly strong core abs slow the process.

That said, common sense says that being fit helps with your recovery. I ran up to 6 months (think I mentioned on another thread)and then was advised by personal trainer to cut back because of joint strain/stress on pelvic floor...I hadn't put on much weight but all sorts of hormone are flying around! She said that was the standard advice to all but semi-pro athletes. I used the cross trainer right up to my due date, plus light weights, uphill walking on treadmill, pregnancy pilates and swimming. My labour was not easy...although thats probably because I was induced! I didn't run for 2 months afterwards; I had a high forceps delivery and felt like my insides were going to fall out whenever I tried running before that. I did go to the gym however (started when dd was 3 weeks old) and used the cross trainer/rower and weights.

HTH

Oh I definitel jogged this morning saggar

Managed about 3.4 miles - frighteningly unfit! I was quite shocked. The only bit of my lower body that wasn't hurting was the bit I broke

But it's a start.

Howdee all.

I've a horrible feeling I was on the thread before the one before iyswim...

I started running to do a RFL back in 2002, at that point I was very overweight and struggled to get to the next lamp post but I persevered and finished the race in 29:59 or thereabouts - my brother had promised to double my sponsorship if I went under 30 mins

I stuck at it, with a friend I met at the race, and together we did various 10k and half-marathon races. I then ventured into the realms of lunacy and entered for the London marathon, I've now done it twice and got into triathlon and team adventure races as well as muddy off-road running.

Love it, it's the only way of keeping my sanity and sustaining my cheese & red wine habit without needing a new wardrobe

Had a enforced break for a month or so and am now determined to make time to run. I dragged myself round my 5 mile loop yesterday and again today and will use this thread to keep me at it!

Running clubs are great to help motivation and improvement; they let you 'visit' a few times before you commit yourself so you can see if there is a subset of people at your level (almost certain to be). If they're not welcoming, find another one. They're an incredible leveller, I run with other mums, dads, including a senior policeman, a company director, a postman, teenagers etc and we all enjoy being out in the fresh air running, backgrounds aren't important.

Hi Wallace

I am a new runner too, I just started about 6 weeks ago and am running over huge hills and at 5,500 feet altitude in Nairobi, Kenya. I have been doing 6/7 kms three times a week, having to stop to manoeuvre the hills at the beginning but now able to go the distance without stopping! I ran my first 10km race last weekend as part of the Nairobi Marathon.

I am aiming to run the Lewa Half Marathon, in Lewa Wildlife Consevancy, next year which takes place at an altitude higher than here and much hotter with plenty of hills and plenty of wildlife .

I prefer to run alone with the company of my ipod to keep me sane.

hello can I join? been on the other thread which seems to have died
have ambitions to become a serious runner as I hit 40 in a couple of months, what else is a girl to do in middle age?

have been going out 4X a week on average for 3-4 miles am planning on joining a club in January

hope everyone is well

Hi everyone - heading into my second week of running - am quite looking forward to it! Especially after the mountains of food I have eaten today!

Does anyone else run with a pushchair?

Hi all, if you take it steady, - under a month MrsSanta. I took running up again in January after a long break and at the moment run just under 10k a day.

Like wallace I am shaving minutes off my times.

Once you get started it is completely addictive...I am trying to figure if I will get away with a run on Christmas Day!.

I'm so lucky, the scenery around me is fabulous.

Best distance so far is 11 1/2 mile in 1hr 50 min, but don't often get the chance.

Never felt so good in my life so anybody just starting, persevere and enjoy.

Happy running to all.

Oh god it is addictive mou. I was like a cat on hot bricks all the time I couldn't run. Even though it nearly killed me today I still can't wait to get out there again.

How sad is that?

BTW everyone is supposed to have a good time on Xmas day so I say go for it. The slobbing and over-eating will feel so much better a after a good long run in the morning

Good luck to all you lovely runners.

It is such a huge mood lifter. It's not just the raised self esteem that comes from getting slimmer and healthier. There is also a real physical direct effect on mood -- so long as you push yourself hard enough to feel quite stressed at some point in the run, you come back feeling like a queen.

, I'll ask santa for some new running shoes to road test.
Glad to hear you are back out there OrmIrian.
I cycle as well but it is easier to get out in the evenings and run, than take off along isolated country roads on my bike.
Been out today but now I've been on here I can't wait for tomorrows run. I ought to do the ironing though!!

Not dared try a Christmas Day run yet but DH and I have run together every Boxing Day for the last 3 years (only because the gym is closed so he can't get on the treadmill). It's become a 'new' family tradition and I really enjoy it as despite his moaning that he can't keep up, he runs well. Hopefully we'll be able to do it again this year as his current chemo schedule suggests that he might be on a 'good' week over Christmas

Threadworrm, you're so right about it being a mood lifter, I've had days when I'm so low that getting out of the door is really tough but I ALWAYS feel better when I get back.

DH is the same; he's very ill but the psychological boost of getting to the gym and managing 25 mins has a fantastic effect on his physical and mental health.

Doesn't matter how fast/slow you are or how short/long your run is, getting out and having a go is the main thing. The speed and stamina will follow, honest !

Orm - it's a bugger isn't it - seems to me you lose your fitness twice as quickly as it takes to gain it.

Twink - crikey I think you and I started the first ever proper running thread all those years ago . Glad dh is getting to the gym and that it's helping keep both your spirits up.

Agree about the mood lifting effect - it's one of my main motivations at this time of year.