Runners Rehomed

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Here we are in Sports, I've been so lax about keeping up with anything outside our little thread that I'd no idea it was here - but have just spotted a cycling thread, so will be later to bed than planned....

Been out today and I have started building up, I am supposed to be doing another 10k, but haven't actually signed up yet!

Went out for a 8 miler last night. Lovely evening, really enjoyed it.
Am trying to get back to 3 times a week at the moment (Tue, Fri and Sun) so that can do the Maidstone half marathon justice.

Pidge - How did you get on last night?

Crunchie - get yourself signed up. In my experience it's the best way to get me out of the door and running!

Well, I think I did break my PB for the 2 mile handicap, though I can't entirely remember what I ran it in last time. I think it was 15 mins, and last night I did 14:35. Pretty pleased with that. The weird thing though is that I felt like I was going to die from running so fast, yet in my 5 mile race in August I managed to average 7min04 miles over 5 miles. I'm beginning to think that either the 5 mile run was a bit shorter than advertised, or maybe our 2 mile handicap is a bit longer than 2 miles!

Anyway, I ran there and back, and did a couple of extra miles, so all told 7-8 miles, including the 2 I did fast, so that was a pretty good evening's work.

Next question - would I be mad to sign up for another 1/2 marathon 1 month after Windsor. I want to aim for another race, and the 10 mile one I was hoping to do is full. Am seriously tempted to go for the 1/2 mara, but a bit worried that doing 2 in 5 weeks is not a good plan.

Pidge, well done on your PB last night! Your 5-mile race time is very good too.

I think two half-marathons five weeks apart will be perfectly fine. How many times per week do you run? Take the week after the first half very easy, then maybe do 8, 12, and 10 mile long runs for the next three weeks (so your long run the week before the race would be 10 miles), then cut right down during race week, just doing a couple of short, easy runs to keep your legs turning over. Go for it! And if you don't set a PB the second time, it doesn't matter - just think of it as a long run with a few other people for company! Which half is the second one you're thinking of doing?

I ran 6 miles on Monday, and had a rest day yesterday in accordance with my new plan. I'll do another 6 miles tonight.

Thanks currantbun - yup, I think I'll go for it. The reason I'm tempted is that it's my club's championship 1/2 marathon. Not that that makes it super competitive - just that hopefully there will be a few people I know running it. It's at Barns Green.

I'm running 3 times a week. I'd hoped to do 4 in the lead up to Windsor, but just haven't managed to fit that extra run in round the kids, and work and summer holidays and actually getting some time with dp!

Did a 40 minute run tonight and got hopelessly lost! Went round and round some back streets near here, thinking any minute now I'll know where I am. It took about 15 minutes to find my way out. What a fool.

Easily done Pidge! I planned a new route a while back (before I got pregnant) that should have been about 9 miles. Part of it went along an off-road track and I worked out carefully on the map beforehand where I needed to go. In reality, I charged off down the path not remembering that on the map it turned left quite soon after it started - ended up running across a golf course and finished virtually back where I'd started. Which meant I was a lot further from home than I should have been and had to practically sprint the last three miles so I'd get back before DH started wondering if I was dead in a ditch somewhere. Felt a right idiot!

Pidge, I have to say that your race times are particularly impressive given that you only run 3 times a week. Just imagine what you could do on 4 or even 5 runs a week! If you do the marathon I'd definitely recommend you increase to 4 runs - IMHO 3 runs a week is not enough to build the endurance you need or get your legs used to the mileage. I did my first on 4 runs a week and it worked really well - only moved up to 5 runs as I thought it would improve my times; found it a real struggle at first and felt very tired, but once I got used to it it was OK. The only downside can be trying to fit it all in - at the peak of marathon training I sometimes feel that all I do is eat, sleep, work and run. DH is very tolerant, but even he gets a bit fed up with it at times! Dreading to think how I'll fit it all in once the bubs arrives, although I'm determined nothing will come between me and my running.

CurrantBun - I did mad sprinting last night too - not because I thought dp would worry, but because I thought I would get a ticking off for not being home in time for the supper he was carefully preparing . I was absolutely pooped by the time I got home, even though I was only out for 45 minutes.

I think the reason I can get away with 3 runs per week is that on the 3 days I work I also cycle half an hour each way to get to the station to commute to the office. I cycle really slow (particularly on the way in, as I bike in my work clothes and don't want to get sweaty and need a shower), but at least I'm doing something, and I think that must help my fitness.

I had got dp to agree to 4 runs per week for the 10 weeks before Windsor, but when it came down to it it just didn't work. I'm already preparing him to be even more tolerant if I get a marathon place!

Still dithering over the second half mara - might be more sensible to look for a 10k ... am off to search for one locally!

Hi, can I join this thread? I did the Glasgow half on Sunday, although I won't be buying the official photo. Very big smile on crossing the finish line, but with big red face and hair plastered to head! I'll probably need your motivation in getting myself out during the wet, winter nights.

Pidge, why not go for the second?

Hey, welcome to the thread mateychops. And many congratulations on the half. I bet you feel so proud of yourself.

Dp pointed out that the second half mara I was thinking about is the last weekend of half term, when we might go away. Plus, I think it might be more fun in a way to go for something shorter. Have spotted a couple of possible 10ks, and am going to see if I can persuade a friend to do one of them with me.

Just dithering really. Also not getting any work done today!

Hmmm, let's think about it. A half-marathon, or a lovely weekend away with no housework, and hopefully the odd long-lie in. No competition, really

Dead chuffed about the half, as last year was my first. It was so hot,I was miserable; I would have given up half way round but it would have meant I'd need to walk as far as I ran.

10K's are a good distance, and you can even manage a glass of wine the night before!

Hello Mateychops, welcome (even though I only joined this thread a few days ago myself!).

Well, i managed to fit in 25 min jog tonight, but still very very slow; I'll never work my way back up.

If anyone is anywhere me and wants someone to enter a run with, i'd be up for that! Could do with an incentive! I really dont think it'd be realistic to do more than a 5km at the moment though

Mateychops, the official photos are nearly always awful! I decided a year or so ago that I would not enter any races held in July or August. The heat affects my running really badly - I slow right down and struggle with breathing - and I just wouldn't enjoy racing under those conditions with negligible likelihood of a PB, so now I just tend to race between September and May.

Pidge, yes, the cycling will definitely help with overall fitness.

It can be harder to motivate yourself to get outside and run when it's dark, cold and wet - that's why it's good to have a target race to train for to help get you out the door. To be honest, getting out there in the cold, driving rain, and dark makes me feel so damned smug and virtuous thinking of everyone else sitting there larding out on their sofas that it's usually motivation enough!

I had a really bad run on Wednesday. I'm pretty sure it was mostly down to the heat, as I was almost 30 seconds per mile slower over the same route than I was on Monday. It was about 27 degrees in London, hot and humid, and I just couldn't get enough air into my lungs. Stopped a couple of times to get my breath, but even on the downhill section (first three miles are all uphill) I couldn't find any extra pace. I'm having a hard time accepting that as my pregnancy progresses I will inevitably get slower - but realise that I should be grateful to still be able to get out and run six miles at 16 weeks of pregnancy. Maybe I should start leaving the watch at home.

Way to go, Currantbun, for even considering peeling yourself away from the couch when you are 16 weeks pregnant. I'm in complete awe! At that stage, I was only just emerging from 10 weeks head down the loo and starting to enjoy the sensation of wearing big pants. No PBs, but this would be a great time for you just to enjoy running for the sake of it, so chuck the watch away.

There is one time in the deep, dark, wet winter when I run my little heart out; when MIL comes to stay between Christmas and New Year! Could do a daily marathon that week

CurrantBun - chuck that watch! You should be just running for the joy of it and making the most of not having to push yourself. Just listening to your body and having a nice time. What a great excuse. And if it gives you heart, I read somewhere recently that some women find they are faster post pregnancy. They even had some pseudo scientific theory about the physical changes in your body after carrying a baby around for 9 months.

Mateychops - I was with you on the bonding with the loo and big pants! LOL.

I did my 30 minute short run this morning - what an effort to get out of bed at 7am rather than having a lie in till 8am whilst dp gave the kids breakfast. But I sneakily got half an hours kip this afternoon whilst dd1 was napping and dd2 glued to CBeebies! Now I need to prepare myself for 12 miles on Sunday. Gulp.

Pidge, wish I was running 12 miles on Sunday [sigh]. I won't chuck away the watch, but I'll stop looking at it. I was lucky really - only 2/3 weeks of "head down the loo" and even then I still insisted on running! Stopped during a couple of runs to hurl behind an unsuspecting tree - probably not that sensible in retrospect, but oddly enough it was the only time I felt anywhere near 'normal' so I did it for my sanity rather than for any other reason.

Am dreading the weather getting hot again over the weekend - it's supposed to be 27 on Monday and Tuesday. I just find this too hot to run in. Will probably re-plan my runs accordingly so that I do shorter ones if it's hot. Personally I'd prefer to run in the cold and wet any day rather than the heat and humidity.

Although I'm not pushing myself on my runs the first mile or so of every run feels as though I am, while my heart rate and breathing adjust themselves. As my blood volume is increasing, I guess my heart has to work that much harder to pump it round my body, which probably explains why running feels so much harder than it did pre-pregnancy, even with 3 years' running fitness behind me and slowing my pace. Will stop moaning now and just be grateful I can still run!!

ooo, Pidge, hope that post preg thing is true
its still demoralising to see people mention a short run of 30 mins, when I've just done a 30 min slow jog and feel its real progress I have no patience; want to be back up there now.

hello again everyone. well you were right about me getting used to running again. the last week or so I've stopped feeling like I need to fall asleep all the time. I had a lovely couple of runs today and yesterday - having built up to 5 miles, incluing a couple of hilly ones I did a couple of 4 mile runs. It was the first time I'd dropped my distance, and it felt so good - rounding a corner near home and suddenly realising I had lots of energy and could really up my pace for the last half mile - really good fun. I have a question for some of you more experienced people. Until last October I was an ocassional runner - probably averaging less then one 25 min run a week. In October I did Kingston 8.2 miles - went 3 times a week for 7 weeks to prepare and really enjoyed it. Then I hardly ran all year. I'm going to do the same 8.2 miles this October - this time I've been running more - going every other day so I'm hoping to improve on last year's rather pathetic time (my only aim last year was to get round without walking). I'm really enjoying it again now. My question is - would I be mad to go for a 10 mile run being held locally one week after the 8.2? The 8.2 would just become part of my 10 mile training schedule, rather than the goal. what do you think? and if I did do it what sort of distance do I need to build up to? The most I did last year before the 8.2 was 7.

Hi thewomanwho... I wouldn't think doing the 10 is madness, but then what do I know!? The biggest danger is that you may find it hard to treat Kingston as a training run. I always find when I'm running with other people it's hard to resist chasing after them and going faster than you'd planned!

Anyway - I bet you smash your previous time, given the extra running you've been doing. Even if you take it nice and easy on the day.

I did my last big run pre-Windsor. 12 miles. And really enjoyed it. I deliberately tried to go a bit faster than usual to give myself a bit of confidence for the day itself. I was aiming for 9 minute miles, but don't have a GPS, so I had measured out mile markers at 1, 3, 6, 8 and 10 miles to pace myself. Unfortunately I took a wrong turn at about 6 miles, so that was my pace-making markers out the window! I went a bit quicker than planned - round in 1hr 45 - I did feel my legs were going very fast! Amazingly given my errant route, I still did exactly 12 miles.

How are peanutbutter and jonesthesteam doing? Haven't heard from you for a while.

And JoPG - can't remember when your half mara is. Late autumn, maybe? Are you enjoying getting back in the swing after the London triumph?!

Glad to hear your last big training run went well Pidge. Bring it on!

The half marathon I've signed up for is on 22nd October. Am now training 3 times a week again, and am loving it - weather much more suited to running than the burning July that we had. 9 miles tomorrow night, and then will add a mile on each week to my long run, so should be absolutely fine for 22/10.

TheWoman - Since Kingston is so flat and very suited to a PB I would be tempted to stick with that as my goal at the moment, but then if you fancy a challenge?......

TWWTSHAH, I don't think it's unrealistic at all to go for a 10-miler the week after your 8-mile race. With distances up to and including the half-marathon, I would always advise trying to build up to a long run that's slightly over distance, so that on the day the race distance feels easier and psychologically you know you've already gone further than that in training. For example, for my last half-marathon (December 2005) I trained up to 16 miles for a long run.

However, it's not always possible to do it this way and if you can comfortably run the 8.2 miles at Kingston, it's not much of a jump up to get to 10. You always get more out of yourself in a race than in a training run anyway, as the adrenaline and supporters/other runners will give you that extra 'oomph'. Go for it!

I'm changing back to 5x a week as I really didn't enjoy my 4x last week. Because I was doing one run less than usual, I made each run a bit longer and felt quite tired after a day at work. In retrospect, I think I'm going to go for three runs during the week, but make these slightly shorter, then two runs over the weekend, one a bit longer. On Sunday I did an 8-mile run averaging 8:41 minute miles on an undulating route - not bad for 16 weeks' pregnant! A minute per mile slower than my marathon pace though

Are you f mad? Sorry well done you.

LVT, was that directed at me? No, I'm not mad, just fit and intending to stay that way

CurrantBun - well you're in good company with ol' Paula bombing about with her bump . Still very impressed though. I reckon I might just keep up with you when you're 8 months pregnant!

Pidge, I think I'll be a heroic woman if I'm still managing to run at 8 months' pregnant! The shift in my centre of gravity will be interesting - rather worried that as I won't be able to see my feet properly I will also be unable to see loose/uneven pavement and may end up falling over ... won't help that it will be deepest, darkest winter by then and will be pitch black outside! But it will at least mean that no-one will see me trying to run when am size of house - or make negative remarks!

i'm still here pidge dh still away so haven't been able to go to the gym for the past 3 weeks but the creche re-opens tomorrow (hooray!).

I'm feeling nervous about being rubbish again . Won't be able to go again til next thursday but then dh will be home that weekend so i should be able to go more often. I have this thread on my watch list and am always full of admiration for you all.