Running Thread - anyone got a place in 2009 London Marathon (or any Marathon!)

[hellion]

For the first time I have got into the 2009 London Marathon. Anyone else out there who is training for this? Hows it going?

Any advice from those who have run it before and managed to fit in family life would be gratefully appreciated.

It is good to know there are other people out there who are running, and looking after children and trying to fit 50 other millions things in.

Can' believe we are on week 4 already. This has been a bit of a killer week. I think the miles are starting to tell. Yesterday I ran 5.5 (the .5 is very important). Before I ran I was all doom and gloom and thinking how I am going to do the Marathon. After the run, I felt fine and thought I can do this after all (need to repeat: I can do this, I can do this....)

I run with my local running club too (when I say 'with' I am normally at the back). But it is good to have a group to go running with.

Enjoy the Meet the expert day xfabba. If you learn any trade secrets that will get us round, let us know.

Just read hatwomans post - and inclined to agree. I can be a bit of a plodder and positive attitude can make me go faster. I can do this, I can do this....

PS XFABBA - have you a branch of Sweatshop near you. They sell shoes specifically for running and will test your gait on the treadmill to see what shoe suits. They are not too expensive in the grand scheme of things either.

Hi Hellion

did you get the book yet from amazon? Although it is a bit american and cheesy it is also proving to be quite good for the motivational side of things - I am reading it week by week so only on week 3 but some of the phrases and tips it suggested are helping, I think. The good thing is that each chapter is short so I can read the next week on the train at the beginning of the week - you will easily catch up to where you are, week 4.

For shoes I have some good ones, I think, that my local sports shop sold me last year, after doing a basic gait analysis. I think I just need some new ones as , apparently, they are worn out after 500m or so and I think I am probably approaching that as I've had them since last summer. There is now a new model out so I just got a pair of the same ons as mine from last year in a different colour for £64 instead of 100 odd so that is not too bad!

They are asics gel kayano by the way - I think they are top range ones so the local sports shop must have seen me coming when I went in there last year as a beginner .

Have to say, have never even had a blister in them and up until recently, no aches or pains, so I think I am going to stick with them.

Helo everyone

Nice to see more of us on here!

Tallbirduk - wow!!! I can only dream of running that fast!!!!

Hope you are all feeling better.

I've had this stinking cold on and off for a couple of weeks but after my 10 mile run last Sunday I have been feeling wrecked and had to skip two runs this week so will try fit a short one in tomorrow and then my long one 11 miles on Sunday.

I just have no energy and I hate missing a run, it makes me feel like I have serious PMT.

So who is going to the Meet the experts day then? Be so nice to meet you all.

I have not met anyone else doing this years marathon.

Xfabba - have you got to the bit about creating chants?

I have made up some funny ones, my hill one is:

Hills and hills are a piece of pi** i can run up them just like this!
Excuse the swear word - but it rhymes.

The chants really help me and I find myself chanting them without realising.

I have also found myself praying for some weird reason, I am Irish and went to catholic schools although I am not practicing, I'm one of those naughty ones who only pray when scared, in labour or now running!!! I'm running along and suddenly become aware i am praying - whatever helps I guess.

My dad does have cancer right now so i guess its the scared feelings inside coming out, the other week I prayed for him for almost a whole 8 miles, the run felt so quick so chanting whatever definitelt helps you lose yourself in your run.

x

hatwoman - I got a garmin forerunner 305 for christmas (I must have been a good girl last year!) and i am enjoying it very much

I did have a different type of speed / distance monitor before, so I am used to that kind of electronic badgering - but it is good. You can get a bit obsessed with times and distances though - if you are that way inclined (I am!).

I think you are right about the phsychology thing. The 2 tempo runs I have done so far I was sure I couldn't maintain the pace for more than 1km - but I just kept thinking "500m more and then I will slow down" until, magically, it was done!

Out of curiosity - how old are all of your children?

someone showed me a garmin forerunner the other day and I am sorely tempted too - so nice to know exactly how far you have run rather than approximate. I am quite motivated by figures - at the gym I always set targets for time or distance and find it helps. I think I might get a bit obsessed with it and also it is probably overkill for a first-timer. Maybe if I do complete the marathon I will treat myself to one.

My boys are 4 and 1

Sounds like a good plan xfabba - everyone deserves a little post-marathon treat I think

Boys of 4 & 1 - blimey - I can't imagine having more than one at the moment

Cross posted with you earlier RUNFORLOVE - sorry to hear about your dad. Will you be raising money for charity when you do the marathon?

Your chants sound brilliant - what a great idea!

Does anyone have a running buggy? I have a Baby Jogger, which is fab - although my hubby is at home at the moment so I don't need to use it so often, it does mean that I can run whenever I want, rather than having to wait till there is someone to look after the boy. It is a whole new and extra dimension to training though - much harder work, especially on the hills!!

Love the chants. Will give it a go on my run tomorrow. Hoping to do 10 miles, and I have a feeling there are lot of hills.

My 2 ds are 5 and 2. Never tried a baby jogger with them. It was always enough to get myself round.

OK I am definitely mad. Otherwise why else would I run 10 miles in gale force wind and driving rain. The chants did help. And I made up a few of my own whilst meandering away the miles:

"I can't run this bloody far, I think I'll go and get the car" - slightly lacking on motivation that one or

"I love the wind and rain, I think I will go round again" - yeah right!

Hope the meet the experts day went well, and that anyone doing longs runs found better weather than I did.

hi hellion, I had quite nice weather today, but my madness came in the form of getting up at 7 on a Sunday...it's the only way I can fit in longer runs whilst being fair to dh. so far I've been going at about 8 or half past - but now I'm into double figures I really feel I have to go earlier. It was actually quite nice but I did notice that, despite my best efforts, by the time I'd recovered, drank a gallon of water, eaten breakfast, showered and got dressed it seemed to be nearly lunchtime...

Well you both put me to shame. I had all good intentions - but after a weekend of birthday fun (including too much alcohol!) and a house full of people who didn't leave till gone 5, I didn't get around to doing my run

I'll have to go tomorrow now.

Good work on your 10 hellion - loving your chants

How far did you run today Hatwoman?

Hi again - I did 12 today. I'm quite pleased at the moment - I've done a total of 28 miles this week, same last week, 24 the week before. I've done 95 miles so far this year. The slight worry is that work has been quite lax (I'm self-employed) but is going to get hectic in feb and march

Hi everyone, lagging behind here but did at least run this weekend. Did a 10K race as my long run. Time to up the pace now! Going to try for 10m at the weekend.

How do you guys work out distance? walkjogrun?

xfabba - I use www.goodrunguide.co.uk - I love it - you can measure and save your routes and you can keep a log. It works out your pace and does graphs for you. much time-wasting potential

Well I went out for my run today, had 20k in mind but didn't quite manage it.

Hubby came too which meant we had to take DS in his Jogger. Hubby isn't really a runner so I had to push the pram - we did a lap of 10k then I ditched the boys and went on to do a second lap.

Once I was free of the pram (it is a good one, but it's still hard work) I thought I would be flying - but actually I realised I was knackered.

Struggled on to 15km, then had a little walk, decided to cut the second lap short and limped home (with a bit more walking) to do a total of 18km in 1hr 45min.

Felt a bit but I know that these things happen sometimes, I had a hard weekend of drinking / not getting much sleep and I did still do 18km - so it's not all bad.

Worst thing was that I was home and just down on the floor saying hello to DS (who was incredibly smiley which was lovely) when I realised my inner thighs were all bloody!! serious thigh chafe!! No idea how I didn't feel that happening and a bit depressed at the idea that my thighs are chubby enough for that to happen!

I am trying nappy rash cream on it........hehe

ouch! poor thing!

someone told me to put vaseline on to stop chafing but that sounds too sticky and gooet to me. I have started to put talc on before I get dressed in my running gear as I was getting a touch of chafing in the under-boob area! would that help?

god i need to get going - still havent done mroe than 8m!

someone on mn once recommended this stuff.

Ah yes, stupid thing is that I own at least 2 different types of anti-chafe lotion, but didn't even think to put any on - I haven't had thigh chafe in ages. It's still pretty hideous, so silly!

Felt totally battered yesterday - think a lot of it was from pushing the buggy though as my right arm (my pushing arm) was really sore. Thought about running again today then decided against it.

Am having serious doubts about whether I am up to this now - it is very disappointing as mentally I certainly am, but my body is a bit weaker than it has been (unsuprisingly).

anyway, enough of my whining - how you all getting on?

hi again. tallbird - I just noticed your q re children - mine are 6 and 8 - so both at school. also - if the q was with the issue of time in your mind - I'm self-employed and work from home - so I can work evenings and have managed to keep my work load quite low for spring - otherwise this marathon thing just wouldn;t be feasible. I do 2 or 3 week day runs when dds are at school and 1 or 2 weekend ones (totalling 4 runs a week) - so it's just about do-able.

Tallbird Don't be too hard on yourself. 18K is a great feat for this time in the programme (and 18K with a buggy is even more amazing). Are you pushing for a PB in the LM or are you just going to run and see how you get on.

I felt really demotivated after I run in terrible conditions on Sun. I also felt really tired and achey all Monday and Tuesday. I didn't think I was going to be able to run again for ages. Anyway I went out last night and ran 6 miles. I had a really good run I didn't walk any hills (which is great for me), and felt really strong all the way round. This training must be paying off.

I need to run for 2 1/2 hours at the weekend - that is the next thing to get my head round. Have a good training week.

PS - meant to say that I was really impressed by hatwomans early morning runs. I haven't yet had to resort to starting at 7am, but it might well happen as the mileage gets higher.

Good work on your strong running Hellion - and thanks for your support!

I ran on thursday - but only did 7km. I should have gone further but I thought I would stay short and go fast instead - try and raise my morale a bit - it worked - yay.

I then did Body Combat that night, and I've been to Spinning this evening! It's the first time in AGES that I've been to a class (and I've never done spinning!) and I really enjoyed both of them, although my shoulders & back are really, really starting to feel last nights activities - am thinking getting out of bed might be hard tomorrow

Was just curious about children's ages hatwoman - nosey if you like

Am hoping to get out and do a long run on Sunday afternoon / evening - am going to try and run more slowly and not with the babyjogger. Am also going to reassess my training programme......