The running thread continues into Spring

[sfxmum]

just to house the runners

oho... i weigh more than you, my friend.

I've lost over a stone since I started running - I go twice a week, about 12 - 15 miles usually in total, plus pilates once a week (a more recent thing). Like Orm, have firmed up all over and dropped a dress size.

Haven't made huge lifestyle changes (still drink wine regularly, takeaways and chocolate etc) but am a bit more conscious of what I eat and walk a bit more.

thanks fran.

that's exactly what i'd like to achieve. we eat fairly well but i'm damned if i'm going to go madly low fat or high carb etc, it's not healthy with two wee kids in the house. so i'd like just to cut out my kit-kat habit (nestle, i know, but they are the best biscuits) and leave the rest to the running...

aitch - when I first started running I was eating normally - no dieting, but I had learnt the art of not eating when I wasn't hungry, stopping when I was full etc. Sounds so simple but we all know it isn't I have got out of that habit which is why I need to cut back again.

So run, eat sensible and the weight will come off.

Aitch , like Mrs Wednesday I walk where possible (that's most of the time) & dropped the enormous chocolate habit I'd acquired to keep me awake through the early weeks!! Everything in moderation is my mantra. If I am concerned that I'm not eating too healthily I pile my plate full of veg. That's it, more or less. Just think of the excellent example --you are now setting- for your kids (as discussed earlier on this thread & so true)

Gagg! Eat sensibly...

Hello ladies, can I ask you all a question?

Do you have good/bad running/days or even weeks?
I mean do you have times when you can run well(ish), think you're going great guns and other times when you can't seem to get a breath in and your legs feel like lead weights?

What about you marathon runners? You MUST be able to run all the time, I can't believe you would have bad runs when you get up to your amazing stage

Is this normal?

I seemed to be doing well, had got up to 8 miles, it was HARD work that day and in crap time ,but 8 miles none the less, that was 2 weeks ago and I've managed nowhere near that since. I feel crap, every run is exhausting

Today I know I can't have run so have done a 7 mile walk

thanks

Totally kitty - Some days I feel like lead when I run and others I feel fine. I think we were talking earlier on this thread about how your period can affect you. Most women are short on iron at some times too and I think this must have a huge effect.

Good for you on still walking when you don't feel like running. I would have stayed on the sofa

I have started new 8 week plan for increasing my speed for a 10k on the 12th July. When it says i should run 2 miles at 70% then 2 miles at 80%, how do I decide what speed my 70% is? So for example, is my normal plodding, 10 min mile running me going at 50%, 60% or what? I guess 100% is flat out, but not sure what my 70% would be? Any ideas???

Uh? What's not sensible about liking veg? Maybe, I'm not translating well

Hi kittywise, not been running long so I should wait to hear from the more established runners. Still, didn't enjoy yesterday much, found it hard going. Think phases probably are quite usual. Progress seems to come in leaps & bounds here too.

Oh that wasn't directed at you fran. It was a correction aimed at my previous post!

Yes there are bad days and good days. As with anything. The only thing you can do is run through it but be gentle - if every step is agony and not improving after the first mile or so, trim your route a little, or accept a slower pace. It will improve again.

I thought you were suffering a violent broccoli aversion, Orm

aitch i weigh 75soddingkilos, have a bmi of 28 and am officially overweight. weight aside i am what you might call 'well covered'. maybe i am broken?

kittywise yes i think we all have bad days. but half of it is in the mind i find (unless you are in bad pain). i try never to stop and walk and arrange the playlist so that something energetic is on at my bad bits.

second what Orm says about stopping when full & only eating when you're hungry (a'la Paul 'look into my eyes' McKenna)!
running increases your muscle mass so weight may not change drastically (that's my excuse anyway!)

Did my interval training last night and it was pure hell (stitch and a nose bleed wtf?!)
even with my techno crazy music on, i was crap.

hello all did another 4miles today things seem to be improving

about weight and weight loss I have PCOS and honestly if I am not exercising regularly I just balloon, it is a combination of hormones depression emotional eating etc.

once I am running regularly it is easier to regulate the mood and be more sensible about food, I actually like vegetables fish etc
but also cake cheese bread and chocolate

I have been going to weight watcher because after 4 years I am still carrying a few extra pounds from when I was pregnant, I have found that since January I barely lost 4lbs but have dropped a dress size am definitely 'tighter' all over

sorry that was a bit long

Thanks to all all those who've answered my question, it helps ti know that i am not alone!

peachsmuggler I can't help you re the times but I too would love to up my speed. I seem to plod on at a rather slow 9.5 mph no matter how fast or slow I think I'm going, it's always actually at the same speed.
I have tried to up it at various points but I just get exhausted very quickly and can't carry on whereas if I plodon I can keep going for an hour or so.

i think as recent beginners kitty we can get a bit hooked on the fact that so many runs are some kind of first - for speed or distance or time you can keep going - and we're used to making constant forward progress, i guess at some point that has to settle into a more sustainable pattern that involves downs as well as ups.

btw i'm assuming that's a typo and either you mean km/h or miles/minute either that or you're bragging cos i'd give anything to be able to run at 9.5mph for even 5 minutes

have you tried doing a fartlek session where you go much faster for just a little bit then slow it right down until you've recovered? i find it a more interesting way to spend some of my shorter runs than just a straight plod (although it turns me an alarming shade of purple ).

Interesting discussions today....

I know I'm very lucky, - I am not overweight apart from when carrying my monster babies! I have never dieted and in general we eat pretty well, mainly because most cooking here is from scratch so there are little processed foods. Since I started running last Sept I have gone down a dress size and firmed up. However my appetite has increased . So I am sure running makes a difference.

Af arrived this morning and I am seriously sluggish. I managed 5k and I did feel better but there are definitely bad days and good ones. So if I lack iron just before my af does that explain why I must have chococlate in the few days before it arrives?

Peachy I meant to add, that I have no earthly idea how you can differentiate your paces, personally I have two paces, the first is uphill, the second downhill.

I'm sure Twink, MrsW or Wallace may be able to provide the solution.

By the way MrsW, a half marathon around Leeds ring road sounds mightily appealing at this moment in time, I have to admit.

I was hoping it was a typo too mvff! I don't need any more excuses to feel inadequate about my pace.

peach - might it be worth getting yourself an hrm? that'll tell you exactly how hard you're working

Hold on, I've just looked at Kitty's post again (I was in a bit of a hurry before, pesky kids) and even assuming a typo and she meant 9.5 k perhour or 9.5 minutes per mile either way both are pretty speedy, don't you think?

I think she means a 9.5 minute mile???

How much would an HRM cost do you think mwff?

i don't have one but this has been getting good reviews on weightlossresources.

peachsmuggler - which 10k on12th july?