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....

Lalaa, it may be worth keeping an eye on the events section of the Runners World site. www.runnersworld.co.uk/defaultevents.asp?sp=&v=2

In December last year there were a few charity Santa runs around for 5 K.

well I think I must be hooked. Just went out and did 9.3 miles (I know exactly thanks to runlondon.com) and really enjoyed it. I went really slow, kind of sat back and enjoyed the ride, if that makes any sense at all.

Pidge, the weather DID brighten up as you said it would. When I headed out there was a huge black cloud overhead, but I did my 5.6 mile run without getting wet - as soon as I got back indoors the heavens opened again so I timed things well!

The websites I use for measuring my runs are Map 24 or Map My Run - Map My Run is great as it allows you to save your routes with the measurements, and share your routes with other runners if you happen to run with people in the same area.

I had the misfortune to tread in something heinous on last night's run - first time it's happened though in 4 years of running so I suppose I can't really complain. The smell was unbelievable - somewhere between sh*t and tar. I feel sorry for whatever did it as it can't have been well! Took ages to get it off my shoe when I got home, and even after a good scrub the smell still lingers. Should be OK after another run though - it's much harder to see where you're putting your feet in the dark and with fallen leaves on the ground!

Bleuch CurrantBun at the unmentionable gloop on your trainers! Glad you didn't get wet though.

For measuring routes I also use Map24 (I found the RunLondon thing crashed on my machine a few times). I have now converted to Gmaps Pedometer , which also allows you to save routes etc. Though you can't look up location by postcode, but once you've identified where you are you can bookmark it.

Speaking of which, I'm off to measure a 14-15 mile effort for this weekend, as recommended by you CB before my next half mara in 2 weeks.

Lalaa - welcome to the gang. Glad you enjoyed Windsor - I was there the next day for the half, and I believe it was as hot on the Saturday as it was on the Sunday, so well done for getting round. I really struggled in the heat.

hatwoman - fantastic stuff on the 9.3 miles! It's quite hard to get out the door once you've just done a race isn't it? So satisfying when you do though.

peanutbutter - there's nothing like having someone slightly faster than you to chase to make you run faster. Though said bloke was rather too speedy for me to keep up!

thanks for the other sites - I'll try them - for some reason I can't sign up on runlondon (maybe it was just for that north v south event thing) so I can't save anything. It's good for measuring across the likes of Bushey or Richmond Park because you can use a photo and zoom right in on all the small paths that aren't marked on maps. But it does sometimes go on strike. Even though I took it really easy this morning I'm aching loads now! enjoy your 14-15 mile this weekend pidge

Right, am severely p*ed off! injured myself at netball training last night and can barely move my left knee. Don't think it is anything too serious, just severe brusing but it is defintely going to slow me down a bit. Defintely no running tonight and no netball tomorrow, can't imagine it being better for a while. Have been putting ice on it and taking ibuprofen and arnica, but to be honest I look like a wally hobbling along. Good job I can cling onto the buggy for support and hide behind it.

What a pain, JoPG (literally!) You're doing the right thing by icing, using arnica and resting it. No point trying to run on it until any swelling has subsided and you can move it freely again and without pain. Hope it gets better quickly.

After a very uncomfortable run on Wednesday night (uterus pressing on my bladder) I didn't feel particularly motivated to head out last night. I told myself that I could turn my planned 5.5-miler into a 3-miler if things weren't feeling great (the first part of both routes is the same). Got to the turn-off for the 5.5 mile run and decided to go for it - as it turned out I was glad I did as I felt OK. Stopped at a pub about halfway to use the loo but was otherwise quite comfortable. Am really enjoying running in the evening even though it's dark, as the temperatures have been really pleasant - so much better than the heat of July!

Saw my midwife this morning - baby is growing well and fundal height measurement was bang in the middle of the range for 20 weeks, so was pleased with that.

JoPG - what an absolute bore. Get that knee rested and iced. Does that mean your half marathon on the 22nd is off?

CurrantBun - great news on the baby growing. I can't remember - did you find out the gender, or are you going to keep it as a surprise for yourself?

I managed to persuade dp to let me out for my run last night which saved me from having to squeeze it in at 6.45am this morning. What a bonus. I absolutely hate the Friday morning run, as I am hopeless at getting out of bed. I just do 35 minutes, but it feels like the longest run of the week in some ways! And instead I got a lovely lie in this morning till 7.40am (well ignoring being awake from 5.50-6.50 with dd2!!).

Pidge, no - we decided not to find out the gender, although afterwards we both admitted we'd been tempted to peek when we were told to look away at the relevant moment during the scan!

I do all my running in the evening at the moment, too. Not sure how that'll pan out once we have the baby as DH is quite often late home from work, which means I'll probably have to put the baby to bed at around the time I'd normally run, then wait for DH to get home before we eat. While I'm on maternity leave my mum has said she'll pop round if I want to go for a run (she knows how important it is to me!) but once I'm back at work I'm not quite sure what I'll do. I'll probably end up having to run at lunchtimes on the days I'm at work, which I hate as it means having to bring stuff in for a shower etc. But better than being unable to run at all ...

Can't believe I'm only 20 weeks and already trying to work out how I'll fit in my running in about a year's time!!

Please can I join? I haven't been running long (about 18 months ago I was on walk 1 min run 1 min) but in a rush of blood to the head I have entered the London Marathon. I am running for a charity which is really important to me so I am pretty certain of a place (gulp).

I did a 10k on Sunday in just under 63 mins so I am slow. I have never run further than 10 k before and I am getting jittery. Without stating the obvious, a marathon is a really long way and I'm scared!

Any advice (other than to say I am mad??)

Thanks!

no advice steala - but I'm going to get my entry form this weekend. have to break the news to dh though....and persuade him it won't have an impact on him....

steala - good on you! The one thing I would say is start working up towards a half marathon and that will give you confidence. I've got psychologically stuck at various points running - first at the half hour mark, then at 45 minutes, then at about an hour, and finally once I got the hang of adding a mile to my 'long' run every week or so, it really made me realise that running longer should be like going for a long hill-walk or something. You just go slower and keep it going longer. And I always find the last mile or two tough, but that's because I'm thinking about stopping!

CurrantBun - I was kept in suspense with both my pregnancies - for me 20 weeks was just too early to find out, but then by about week 34 I was just busting to know! My own experience of scans is that I can barely work out what's the head and body and limbs, let alone identify the relevant organs to find out gender!

hatwoman - get that form IN!!!!! Deadline is 20th October.

I'm just having a browse now but wondered if anyone knew if any of these run-measuring sites incorporate some sort of diary, so you can not only save routes but keep a record of what you did when?

Yep, half marathon on 22nd Octoner is defintely off. Can hardly walk today and just can't imagine enough improvement to allow me to run on it any time soon, esp not for 2 hours!
Am very cos a good friend that I play netball with is off to Oz next week and tomorrow would have been our last game together. I will go along to cheer my support, but it just won't be the same.

Jo - how frustrating. . Hope it mends really fast. And what a shame about the half. But the worst thing you can do is try to rush back too soon, as I'm sure you know.

hatwoman - the only sites I know of that let you do that charge a subscription fee. It would be nice though wouldn't it - to chart progress etc. Someone else may know of something.

I procured an entry form today - it may have been the last one in Kingston - I had no idea they were difficult to get hold of! I walked into one sports shop and they told me they'd run out of them ages ago and my heart just sank - I thought I wouldn't be able to find one - but this immediate reaction told me what I needed to know - that I definitely did want to do it. Luckily another shop had one left. and it's MINE . DH remains to be convinced, his heart didn't exactly leap when I told him... But I know I can do 4 runs a week with very little impact on him

steala - and anyone who's done the marathon - any advice for securing a place? I've entered the ballot and have registered my interest in running for a number of charities but first off I'm pretty scared about committing to raising £2k which seems to be the standard amount; and second most of the charities seem to be a bit random - very few of them have a deadline for applying, leaving me a bit uncertain what to do. And am I meant to write a mini-essay on how I'm going to raise the money or is setting up a web-page enough? I'm assuming there's quite a scramble for places - especially after the ballot result comes out. How likely am I to get a place?

IME, I would say that a charity place is pretty easy to come by.
I didn't apply in the ballot last year, and so was left to look for a charity place. I didn't really decide to do it until the New Year, and I still got a place. In the end I got a charity place with the Anthony Nolan Trust in January, the telephone interview that they gave me asked me how far I was running already (about 12 miles) and how much I thought I could raise (£1500). It seemed that I got a place from somebody who had been given a Anthony Nolan place and then withdrew, I do not think this is uncommon in the New Year. I had to play a £200 bond which was refunded if I reached my sponsorship target.
I guess what I am saying is, even if you don't get a place in the ballot, and if you don't get a plce in the first wave of charity applications, then you might still get a place in the New Year. I didn't have to try very hard atall to get a place, I only applied to 2 charities. Maybe that was luck, or maybe that is quite normal, I can't really answer that one.
This website gives details of lots of charities who have FLM places. I applied to them via email and it was all quite easy.
Good luck, and you might even get that ballot place!

thanks JoPG - that's useful. I really want to do it this year - I'm only working 3 days a week at the moment, which gives me 2 free days to run whilst girls are at school - as I'm sure you can imagine this makes a massive difference to how much impact it will have on dh. In 12/18 months time I could well be working 4 or 5 days a week - and I just don;t think I could fit teh training in. It feels a bit now or never. out of interest how did you find raising £1500? It seems like so much.

I have been mulling over the charity option too. I have promised myself I WILL do a marathon before we try for our next baby . But at the moment I'm thinking that if I don't get into London I'll pick another marathon instead. I fully expect to get rejected in the ballot - my best chance of getting a place is through my club, who have a couple of places. Anyway, we'll see. Might well change my mind when I don't get a place!!!

I reckon you'd cover the sponsorship money - people are pretty impressed at a marathon attempt. Particularly first time.

I am dead proud of myself - I did my 15 miles as planned this morning. The furthest I've ever run by 2 miles, the longest I've ever run by nearly half an hour. I did it at what seemed my natural pace and it took me 2hrs24, which is about 9.30 pace I think. Anyway, a bit sore around the knees now, but otherwise I have felt bionic all day. And I felt pretty strong all the way round. It was a hilly route, and I did suddenly feel tired when faced with a biggish climb at 12-13 miles, but otherwise a great and confidence boosting experience. (Thanks for the suggestion currantbun!)

well done on your 15 miles Pidge - a good pace too. perhaps, like you, if I can;t get a place I'll have to do another one - like I say this next year or so is my best chance of doing it any time before retirement! I've heard good reports of Abingdon - not sure what time of year it is - one of the mums at dds' school has done it a couple of times. let's just keep fingers crossed for the ballot.

Thanks for your replies. Pidge, that makes sense. Will try to break the 10k psychological barrier.

Hatwoman, I'm afraid I can't add to the advice on getting a place. I have pledged to raise £3,000. The charity is very important to me personally though so I want to raise that amount at least.

By the way Hatwoman, I notice you are in Kingston. I'm in Wimbledon. When are you planning to do your long runs? I was thinking Mondays as I have childcare and no work so it should be as least disruptive to family life as poss. The problem is no one else is around and the thought of just going out on my own to run for 3 hours or whatever is daunting! I also run very slowly which is another obstacle to finding a running partner!

I'm also injured. Already! Moan moan. Just trying to get an appointment to check that I am not going to do any long-term damage. Let's hope they don't advise 6 months' rest!

hatwoman - yes, Abingdon is supposed to be great. It's next weekend actually! Another one I've heard good reports of is Nottingham, which is in September.

I would quite fancy doing one earlier than autumn, there's the Shakespeare marathon in Stratford, which happens one week later than London. Or you could go international and do Paris!

I'm not at all stiff after the 15 miles, which is great. Today I have a day off (other than chasing after the kids), then tomorrow it's a work day, so cycling for an hour plus my running club in the evening.

Hi again,

Steala - I work on Mondays so the most I'll do is 30-40 mins at some obscene hour of the morning. On Thursday and Friday mornings I can just about do 10 miles - as long as I start at the school gate - just enough time to run, shower, leave home at 11.30 to pick up dd2. dd2 might go f-t in Jan, if so I'll do my longest runs on either Thursday or Friday. If she's still p-t I'll have to do them reasonably early on a sat or sun.

Pidge, well done on the 15 miles. I think you'll find that it will give you a huge psychological boost to have run further than your intended race distance. It should make the next half feel a bit easier, and the additional endurance benefits should help make the final few miles a bit easier. You need to run shorter this weekend (I think I suggested 10 miles) then taper next week by cutting back distance on your other runs so that you're fresh for the half on 29th. I'd also suggest a VERY gentle jog of a mile or two the day before the race as a 'leg loosener': find this really works for me.

For those interested in charity places for the London Marathon, you might find the Charity Runners Clearing House website useful.

Running is now becoming slightly frustrating for me. I'm 21 weeks' pregnant and the pressure on my bladder when I run from my expanding uterus is becoming a bit unpleasant. I don't want to stop or have to faff about joining a gym so I can cross-train, but can see my 5-milers reducing to 3 fairly soon as 3 is about the limit of my 'comfort zone' before bladder starts to get painful. The annoying thing is that my bladder is empty: it just feels full!