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

anyone got a heart rate monitor? Started runing last jan, did a couple of 10k and a half marathon, however dont feel particularly fit (although i must be fitter than I was!) and am not fast and havent lost any weight. thought a h r monitor might help me get more out of it. Anyone advice/comments welcome?

Hello! First time of posting here, fairly recent addition to MN.

Have been running (plodding!) for about 4 and a half years, 3 marathons, several half maras, 10 miles, 10 ks etc. Have lost my running mojo in the past few months with various injuries, flu etc but have started easing back into it this weekend with two runs. Doing London Mara again this year so need to get the training in!

Theresa, you might not have lost weight because the running is converting fat to muscle, which is heavier. The running will have toned you up - have you noticed a difference in your shape? Gone down a dress size?

i don't do enormous amounts of running but a fair bit, at least 2 hours a week. all that has happened to me is that my lower legs have become almost like bits of wood - but i have never had fat legs.

my tum etc is the same. although arms haven't grown wobblier and i have mainly stopped swimming so would have expected them to.

Hi SweetestThing, three marathons and you think you are 'plodding'! I am inpressed.

and Theresa..hello. Strange you haven't lost any weight, although ST is right. I have settled at a weight but am generally quite 'muscley'. But I did a massive diet overhall as well. There is a great thread for looking at your diet if you are interested. (has 'pak choi' in the title under general health....can't do links at the mo)

Well, I got out on my bike and had forgotten how blood pumpingly, heart poundingly breathtaking it is to cycle the hills of the peak district, so I have drawn up a timetable to combine both. Two 'easy' runs a week to start working on my time, a couple of bike rides and either a good run somewhere challening (or combined cycling and running) at least once a fortnight depending on time available.

Feeling enthusiastic and inspired!

Still struggling to run so when a friend mentioned an organised cycle ride taking place yesterday I jumpedatthechance agreed that it would be a 'good' thing to do.
Beautiful morning, I was getting collected early so the frost glistened, the temperature hovered at around -2 and the wind whistled around the corners... Dressed carefully: woollen leggings, lycra leggings, base layer, mid layer, outer layer, wool socks, ski socks, overshoes, Buff, gloves, glove liners, helmet... After 32 miles it was quite clear which article of clothing I'd missed, yep, the cycle short liner with the padding I'm the one looking like John Wayne this morning..

Awwwwww. Twink, hope it didn't spoil your ride. It does get easier if you want to keep it up and works brilliantly as a companion sport to running, I try and always do both if I can.
It is exhilerating IMO.

How lonh before you thiunk you can run again?

Hi. I've not posted for AGES but been following the thread. Lots of illness here before Christmas (the kids and me!) but managed to get back into things over Christmas break and am following a 10K programme to improve before the Bupa London 10000 in May. One thing that does confuse me abit in the programme which I got from Runners World Smart Coach is this:

Speedwork
Dist: 5mi, inc
Warm; 3x800@4:41
w/400 jogs; Cool

Now I believe that refers to running around a track (which is 400m isn't it!? I am clueless on tracks!) but I don't have a track near me so is it possible to do this type of speedwork out on the roads using my Garmin?

I do have a treadmill but am only using it for short runs as find it borrrrrring!

can i (re)join?

did race for life and cancer reserach 10km in 2007 - from being a non-runner.

have since had a baby and need to get back into it - not least as dh bought me an ipod and a swanky running whatsit for it for xmas
just downloaded a podcast to get from couch to 5km in 9 weeks from itunes......

#planning to start, er, soon!

Futurity, as long as the distance is 400m or 800m, it doesn't matter where you run it, on track, road or treddy.

I was going to go out for a plod this afternoon, as I had a half day off work to go to the dentist, but it's pouring with rain so am going to do some sit ups indoors instead :-) Or I might just do some surfing on the laptop instead.

TinyWhiteFeather, your bike ride sounds lovely - the Peak District is beautiful. We cycled some of the White Peak Trail a few years ago. And is the Tissington Trail there too?

Twink, I feel your pain. Ouch!

Thanks for the kicks, they worked! Ran the 4 mile bike route in Sherwood Pines yesterday. Well, run/walk! Took 1hr 15mins - It was a lot softer underfoot than I planned and suprisingly hilly! When pushing 35k you certainly notice any type of slope. Pleased I did it - the longest I've gone since dc2. Unfortunately the Garmin didn't pick up signal in the forest so I don't know how much I actually ran

Mmm, wish I could get on a bike again- 6 months until dc2 is old enough for a bike seat.

is it possible to learn to ride a bike as an adult? dh has been saying I should learn (keen biker) but whenever I tried just could not get going
sorry slightly off topic

just couldn't get round it in my head as to how i keep track of what distance i am doing.on a track it is pretty obvious having to run once or twice round for example but can't see it being easy on a normal run round the village..knowing when i have run 800 for example without obsessively looking at my garmin i suppose i can get it to beep at me?
Can you tell i haven't used all the features on it yet!

You can set up a lap distance on it and it tells you how long you took to do that lap - standardly set up as 1km or 1 mile. Also you could, as part of your warmup or a prior walk, measure out a set 800m with your Garmin and then just keep re-running that section - that is what a running club would do.

SFXmum, anything's possible!

SweetestThing, I am near the trail that eventually joins up with Tissington trail at one point, but I don't often do it as you have to keep stopping for gates at my end. Not good for momentum.
I have summer hill challenges when I see how many local hills I can get in in a set time.
Like my running, I am not fast but have grit, determination and durability! No hill has beaten me yet.

sfx, we bought my mum her first bike for her 62nd birthday, so it's never too late!

If you Google adult cycle lessons, there are some decent links, alternatively have a look at the CTC site here as they've got a list of instructors, as well as details of mountain bike courses, cycling for women and loads of other stuff too.

Maybe we need a cycling thread too

thanks all for the encouragement and links dh cycles everywhere so maybe I can learn along with dd, do they do stabilisers for grown ups?
dh has bought me a couple of bikes over the years which he then ended up using when his where stolen, a plague of living in that particular part of London, but I digress

Oh god....yes to a cycling thread, I was only thinking about that when I was out the other day Twink.

I was overtaken going uphill by a man in his sixties.., he was on a racing bike compared to my mountain bike but it made me lol.

If you live in london sfx I would recommend a good hybrid with road tyres.

My bike needs lots of TLC, I love it but it was not the best investment in a bike I have ever made and the (disc) brake system is particularly unreliable. but it gets me from a to b (and c,d,e,f,..........) so I don't complain.

thanks for that...I hadn't thought about my lap thing on my watch (duh!). Currently set for 1 miles but I could change that.

I would love a road bike..got a mountain bike but would love to get into road cycling so could contemplate a triathlon in the future

Futurity - the other thing to note about that speedwork from the RW Smart Coach is that I think you should run the 800m in 4 min 41s, not at 4:41 pace. I have a similar schedule from the same place, and when browsing the forums I spotted that little gem. Check for yourself, too, as I might be wrong (I have done that bit of my plan yet) but I personally don't think I could run at a 4:41 pace ever!

LOL...when I originally read it I though 4:41 pace?? For a mile!?!? Are they having a laugh...!!I then realised it meant 4 min 41s for 800m (which is about 1/2 mile isn't it?)

Been doing my initial 2 mile runs on the treadmill but got my first 3 mile tomorrow so will have to go out in the dark at 7.30. Weirdly the pace it is telling me is ok on the treadmill but I would never normally go that slow outside but I will give it ago tomorrow..or at least slow down more than I would normally go. Looking forward to it getting lighter in the morning!

when out this morning with new gadget fully engaged and the pesky thing does its best to keep me honest

hi all

Hmm, Bikes, I have four! And I can't really use any of them atm! Honest, I'm not a gadget person.....It does motivate me though to have nice toys (The double buggy/trailer being my best motivational toy atm, followed by my new pink jacket, and then the Garmin as it speaks the truth too much!)

Ok - if I write it here I have to do it, yes?
I have decided to run a 10k before my birthday which is 4th June, OH is right behind me and will be completely supportive.

So......a) I have to train a bit (a lot) for this. I started from scratch in September and am now regularly running 3-3.5 miles. The longest run I have done is 4.5 miles, just before Christmas, I had to walk some (it was cross country and all a bit muddy, plus much further than I had run before) and I finished in 59mins or so . Any hints or tips or plans to help me out? I guess I just want to finish without resorting to walking and would rather not some last (I know someone has to...)

b) how do I find a run to do? I guess I should ask around at my Tuesday group but it's a bit "arrive, run, leave". I'm living in Lancs at the mo under protest but my heart is really in West Yorkshire!

and c) anybody in a similar boat who fancies being my 10k twin in a non-stalkerish fashion?!

Not aquired a gadget yet, but wouldn't mind something simple to keep an eye on my distances as I tend to combine on and off road running so never completely sure how far I have run.

Did just under 10k in 53 minutes today, but was starting my time work so had planned on keeping it steady so there would be room for improvement (is that cheating?).
But I was doubly pleased because I had a full blown asthma attack on route. I have no idea why I had decided to take my inhaler with me. I usually have a couple of puffs before I set off if I think I need it, but don't like having stuff in pockets, but boy, was I glad I did.

Go for it Robino, will watch your progress with interest. (not in a stalking manner- honest!)

that is great Robino would like a 5K then 10K by the summer just registered interest with Race for life and cancer research for their races. promised would do one for breast cancer last year when I had a scare.

tinyWfeather dh gave me a Polar watch with foot pod which measures distance and pace etc. seems simple

hope everyone is well off running tomorrow this PMT is killing me and running helps