keep on running

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new thread

Hello all. DC1 now on Christmas holidays and my running is suffering! I haven't been since last week sadly.

Popsy - a few thoughts on your post:

1. Shall we make teams firstly from us lot on this thread? It would be nice to have teams that relate to each other in some way as I think it will help with giving that sense of achievement, eg teams comprised of our thread (perhaps two or more depending on distances pledged), and teams from Couch to5K etc.
2. If so, does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about it? Teams of similar speed? Mixed speed teams? Random from the hat teams (obviously paying attention to the different pledges)? Each team could then take their tally and we add to the total basket, eg Team A ran a total of 26.2miles, Team B ran a total of 13.1 miles etc. Then the sponsorship could relate to £1 per mile. I always pledge to sponsor marathoners a £1 per mile or part thereof so if they finished they got £27 but if they had to bow out for whatever reason they still got sponsor money for the distance they managed to do.
3. Any suggestions about when/how togo about recruiting other potential runners? My inital thought was either between xmas and new year or immediatlely post-new year to catch those resolutoins - and that gives exactly 12 weeks for novices to do 12 week couch to 5k programmes. I keep running through in my head about how - thread titles to catch people's attention. Would we put newbies in teams together or mix it all up for motivation? I am thinking aboiut asking MNHQW to put it in their roundup.... Sounds marvellous to me. I think you have the makings of a cult leader there . 4)I am in the process of setting up a blog (any helpers to write? My running diary is pretty scant and will, soon, set up a general just giving page - I think all fund going to one place is a good idea. I was also thinking of careful wording of just giving so that those of us who like our anonymity on MN won't have family stalking us. Like the idea of anonymity (helps me write more freely on here!) and also agree we could all be contributing writers which will help promote the sense of team camaraderie - hurray!
4. I was consdiering approaching Macmillan to tell them our plans and await their response.... Go for it. Great idea.
5. was thinking of putting together an opening thread post - ie links to training plans, couch to 5k podcasts, shoe advice etc. Any suggestions? Yes, this will help those who are lingering on the ShouldIShouldn'tIDoIt line. Perhaps we could all find articles we find useful, pool them, eliminate the duplicates then stick them on?

Girl power to us all laydees.

More power, if needed, to you Twink.

Wow Popsy, you can tell you are a teacher, excellent organisational skills.

Comments for me:

I think keep teams linked to threads. One/2/3 for us and same for couch to 5, same for 'new' MN marthon threads that will arise.

I like the overall distance challenge. We can see how much our distances come to in total then increase the total to a suitable amount, it might give some momentum to get people to join us... Eg the Runners have pledged to run 600km help us to reach 1000km with your help!

That way it makes no difference to the speed we can all/can't do.

Love the blog and that we could all do a little every so often.

Encourage potential runners with a thread between Christmas and NY and then repeat immediately post NYE.

Yes approach Macmillan. Yes to justgiving site too.

And I just want to say, a sterling effort from MNHQ peeps to join us.

Welcome Tiany and congrats.

This is going to have to be the Mn ULTRAmarathon now isn't it?

I've just run up Arthur's Seat for the the first time since this goddam tendonitits kicked off, there was the most magnificent stormy sunset over Edinburgh and it felt so GOOD!

Anyone here run with their dog? Mine's too young yet but I'd love to once he's older.

popsy - great organising! Agree with your ideas, and second concentrating on distance, that way everyone can do their bit however small. Yes, I think if we have one Justgiving site it will be good and will give the whole thing a bit of cohesion.

Think this is a great time of year to do it with so many resolutions to start/get back to running. When we put it out to MN in general we can word it this way, i.e. about giving newcomers a goal to aim for e.g. couch to 5K.

I did 13 miles on Saturday so thinking about amending my pledge to a distance I have never run before to give me something to aim for...will have a think and come back.

Thanks for your input everyone!

I emailed Justine last night. There will be a MN team completing the distance of a marathon together and once the recruitment thread is up and running, they will give us a ;call for action' section in the MN latest box in talk and will give peridic updates in newsletters

I also mentioned wristbands/t shirts and Justine said she would help if she could once we decided what we wanted. So - what do we want

I love the collective distance idea but still like the 'team' idea too (me? competitive ????)

Decisions so far:

• one paypal page, cryptically worded so reali life people can sponsor us

• teams of 4 - making up whatever distance????

• popsy to contact Macmillan (with Twink's blessing)

• thread started between xmas and new year to recruit couch to 5k people with plans etc onthere too. Have already posted on the current couch to 5k thread

• have started a thread asking for MNer who make logos and/or have t shirt busineses.....but nothing yet. I personally think we should all buy Mr T t shirts from yje A team

oooh gosh I had my formal hat on there (and MN non-classic view grrrrr)

Blog - as we speak, I am trying to set up a MN one - stories from everyone about why they started running and any trainging updates would be great.

Going to set up a new email too

ooh and maybe we are due a new thread!

....which I think Twink ought to start

www.101tshirts.co.uk/acatalog/A-Team_Logo_t-shirt_-_.html

www.tshirtsville.com/acatalog/Mr_T_T_Shirts.html

ooooh this one

www.truffleshuffle.co.uk/store/first-name-mr-t-tshirt-from-american-classics-p-1268.ht ml

actually was looking at a MrT tshirt for kids and the thought crossed my mind
(was't actually planning on buying for child I hasten to had )

excellent planning am really impressed thanks for all the hard work

have mentioned to a few people on MN who want to take up running

meant to add like the idea of the blog while maintaining anonymity

also I like the idea of teams or putting people in groups of enough mileage to complete a marathon, or a few, but the time thing is a hurdle for me I know am not fast and don't want to let people down

no one will let ANYONE down

The mileage is trhe thing - not the time (says popsy whio hda only run about 10 times since GNR )

Well done popsy! Sounds good.

Not doing much atm. Dad back in hospital. But mainly cos of the horrible cold wet dark nights. I've turned into a wimp this winter.

Just a quickie - popsy, it looks great. I just wanted to say I think it was me and girls talking about times but that's only because she saaid about running together and I thought I'd be miles behind her but as it turns out we're both currently running about the same so should be ok !

On that note girls - there is a 5K circuit from richmond gate. Its the park run course - i think it takes in one of the hills of doom...will see if I can find it.

hi, was just reading through this and watching Robson Green's swimming programme

He was just saying how it was about dealing with self doubt, achievement etc etc - from the point of view of getting other people running, it would be great if someone could put into words (not me because i'm not good at this sort of thing) how running "gets" you right from the start - from it's nice just to be out, to realising you actually can do this a bit, then doing your first race and on and on.... and how (I think) this links to the MN Marathon - the importance of appreciating life, the strength of your own body etc

I don't know, I'm probably not putting this very well. He's about to swim round Holy Island now. I must get back up there, it's so beautiful.

richomnd park 5K

Orm - sorry to hear your dad is back in hospital.

stikcy - i would love to run round holy island - my neck of the woods

I think we should all write a short piece about how we started running and what it means to us (as in The Boob) for me to put on the blog (if iI can ever work out how to add to the damn thing )

ooh how about a playlist - am just on itunes adding sokme nnew stuff o mine
sorry about tyoppuing

wine not keybopard this time

I like this ideas

wheelybug I will probably be at Richmond park Saturday but at Sheen Gate with a friend who just started running

will have to tackle the hills at some point races there seem to include them at the end

Orm sorry to hear

or these ideas even, no wine excuse

popsy I find Queens of the Stone Age - "No one knows" a great "starter" track to get me going -and the Automatic's "what's that coming over the hill" (I am the monster!) and the Black Keys' "strange times" (and almost anything else by them, in fact) - if you were looking for some ideas and didn't already have those loaded...

must go to bed or there will be no exercising tomorrow morning - and work's getting a bit stressful, so I need my morning high!!

night

wheely and sfx - I will be dragging myself around the park so may see you! Not sure where I will start, although probably will be Sheen Gate as the car park there is a handy starting point. Could head off together if we are aiming for the same start time? Anyway, will be identifiable by our harmbands...