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....

currantbun - you;ve reminded me that I went for a run less than a week after dd1 was born. it felt like my insides were going to drop out! it's great to get out asap but I do think it's important to take advice seriously...

Hatwoman, that's amazing! Wasn't it really difficult though with engorged boobs and still leaking lochia? I'm not sure I'd be that brave - I might risk it in black running tights that didn't show any 'accidents' but would be quite nervous! Not sure I'll wait as long as the 6-week check-up before starting to run again (but all depends on how chaotic the first few weeks turn out to be once the baby has arrived) but I'm not sure I'd have the confidence to get out as quickly as you did!

Good grief hatwoman you mad person . I quite literally couldn't walk more than 50 yards for the first week after both my babies. And didn't go more than 200yards from home for about the first fortnight. I tore both times, which is probably the main reason I had such problems. And even at 5-6 weeks I was finding walking painful after about half an hour.

I had a lovely night out with my club - did a 6 miler at 9 minute miles, chatting all the way round. Just a couple more very light runs for me before the half mara.

JoPG - how did the knee hold out?

Gizmo - I had one of those magic sleeping babies first time round. Sadly not with number 2 who seemed to think a 2 hour stretch of sleep was ample, and insisted on starting the day at 5.30am for her first year and a half. What a shock!

Do you think if I ask very nicely (and I've been a good girl all year) Santa will make sure I get one of those magic sleeping babies too??

LOL CurrantBun. Get it top of your Christmas wish list! As a first time parent, I put my dd1's sleeping prowess down to my brilliant parenting skills. I thought to myself, I would never put up with one of those waking all night, getting up at the crack of dawn babies. Ho ho ho. Then along came dd2 to shatter my ace-parenting illusions .

My letter to Santa is going to say - more running socks please, and maybe a new sports bra or two. How sad is that. Wouldn't mind a groovy GPS thingummy, but Santa has made it clear we have about a 50p budget this year.

Pidge, I'm glad I got my GPS gadget (Garmin Forerunner 201 - fantastic piece of kit!) pre-baby because there's no way I'd be able to afford anything like that now Most of my running kit is really old and knackered (clothing wise) but I have treated myself to the odd gadget. The only thing I wasted money on was a cheap heart-rate monitor: I found it really uncomfortable to wear as the chest strap dug in, and when you went over an hour the display only showed hours and minutes, not seconds - and as all runners know seconds can be vitally important!

One of my sports bras has come unravelled a bit at one side, so am wearing it as extra support on top of my other one. Probably won't buy any more now until after the baby unless my boobs get significantly bigger. Hopefully they will shrink back down quite quickly post-birth once I start running again as I'm not planning to breastfeed for very long.

you;re making me wonder know if I'm exagerating. I was out of hospital about 12 hours after she was born and up and about and very high on hormones. I can remember going for a run and it felt awful and wasn't repeated for several weeks, and I can remember my NCT group's jaws hitting the floor when I told them. but maybe it wasn't a week. not sure now. I'm planning a trip to that running shop in teddington taht someone recommended -I despertely need new trainers, but have to admit to being a bit scared that it'll be like an aladdin's cave and I'll go and blow a fortune. at the moment my running kit consists of one pair of heavy cotton shorts, some M&S trainer socks and that's it. no "proper" t-shirts or tops and not even a running bra . so I think a bit of a spend is justified

hatwoman - sounds like you and I were opposite ends of the spectrum post birth!! I do remember a friend who'd had a CS commenting that I was in far worse shape 10 days on than she was. I also remember being incredibly indignant first time round that everyone bangs on about a quick recovery from a natural birth. The day before giving birth I'd swum 50 lengths and walked 3 miles and then 10 days later I could still hardly get out of the house.

Anyway ... enough of that!! Just contemplating a nice easy leg stretch tomorrow to keep the muscles moving before the weekend. And have promised myself a 1 mile leg loosener as per currantBun on Saturday.

I just looked up that garmin thing - looks good. but get this - US website - $170. UK website £200!!!

I have just bought some new running tights and a top from mandmdirect.
They seem to sell last season's colours at discount prices and you can pick up a few bargains.
Ran last night and I have to say my knee hurt like hell. There was a long, steady downhill at one point and that was particularly painful. All feels ok again today, so not a serious set back (at least I don't seem to have made it any worse), but not a great run. I'll see how it goes over the next couple of weeks, but will not be signing up for a half marathon at the moment.

JoPG, sorry to hear you're still having problems with your knee. In my experience, downhills are much harder on joints than uphills, so while you're still experiencing a bit of pain it might be advisable to seek out flat routes for your runs (if that's possible where you live).

Meant to say I have the Garmin 205, not 201 (I have the new version which has a much better GPS system and doesn't lose signal all the time like the older version apparently does). I deliberately didn't buy the 201 version because a friend has it and could never get a signal in London. As that's where I live, it would have been fairly pointless!

My 'proper' running kit is quite sparse too. I do have a decent pair of loose running shorts: really lightweight and dry instantly, and a Dri-Fit black t-shirt I bought for FLM. Other than that, most of my kit is courtesy of the Nike RunLondon 10K, which I've done 4 times - you get a proper, fitted t-shirt in your size and these are great! One year the race was in the dark (in November) with everyone in dayglo yellow long-sleeved thermal tops - that top has been invaluable for marathon training over the winter.

Pidge, best of luck with your half marathon on Sunday. I may not get online over the weekend as we have the in-laws coming to stay Friday-Sunday and it's out 2nd wedding anniversary on Monday, so will be a bit busy, but will check back as soon as I can!

Those looking for some cheap but (very) warm running kit should visit a Tchibo shop next week or go to www.tchibo.co.uk (and click on "next week").

Am absolutely gutted because I came down with a cold yesterday and have had to miss out on my half marathon today. So frustrating. Still, have had a lovely lunch with dp and friends and their kids instead. I'm not even that ill - just enough of a temperature and sore throat to rule out 13 miles.

I'm off to see if I can find another half or 10k to make up for my disappointment today.

Oh, Pidge I am very sorry to hear that, esp after all the hard work you have put in.
If it is any consolcation I had to miss out on a lovely 10k today cos my knee is just still not up to it. I did do the 2k fun run with DS1 though, he was spurred on by the bribe of a lolly and a drink when he finished as well as a medal to take to show and tell on Tuesday. We came in in 12min30secs, which is not bad for a 5 year old.

JoPG - thanks! I think the worst thing will be going to my club on Tuesday and hearing about everyone else's run, because loads of them were doing it.

Still, these things happen. Particularly when you have little kids who are germ magnets.

I'm still a bit wiped out today and very sneezy, but should be ok to run by tomorrow. And have my eyes on a possible 10k in Epsom in December that might make up for missing the half marathon. Then I'll plan some longer races for 2007. Still waiting to hear about that FLM place .... !

That's a bummer, Pidge - was looking forward to hearing how you'd got on. Still, you made a wise decision - it's not really a good idea to race when under the weather. It's OK to run with a cold, so long as you feel up to it, but racing is a bit more demanding and probably wouldn't have been sensible.

I think the general advice is that if your cold symptoms are below the neck, don't run (i.e. chest infection, sore throat etc.) but if they're above, you're clear to run provided you feel like it. Interestingly, as someone who used to suffer with really heavy colds (albeit infrequent) I've found that since I started running seriously my colds have been much lighter and last literally two days. Running has obviously given my immune system a real boost.

I think the news about FLM places normally arrives late November/early December. Good luck!

CurrantBun - it was a very easy decision not to run, I had a temperature and was feeling pretty wobbly on Sunday. I would have struggled to walk 13 miles, let alone jog or heaven forbid run it. I'm also asthmatic and the one and only time I've had a very bad attack and been hospitalised was after a cold. So I'm careful these days.

Apparently the FLM cheques have been cashed today so, if you didn't bequeath you can check your bank account to see if you're in. Nothing for me, though there is still the chance of a club place.

Otherwise, I'm beginning to look at other spring marathons I might do instead.

Hatwoman - you were down for London weren't you? Any activity on your bank account!!!?

Yay - made it out for 5.5 miles last night and really enjoyed it. Knee was a bit sore for the last half mile (which is downhill and kinda what I expected) but other than that it was ok. Didn't go too fast, 9.5 minute miles. My knee is not sore today either so all round I am pretty pleased.
Am off out on Friday aswell, though I have netball training on Thursday which I think will be a bigger test (far too much turning, definitely not good for you!).
Def a few degrees colder last night, can really start to fell the change in the weather.

hey well done jopg - good news on the knee.

I was also out last night - a 6 mile undulating run with my club at 9.30 minute miles. Very nice. I felt a bit tired, but cold symptoms generally receding now.

Tried to persuade dp to let me do the Paris marathon since it looks unlikely I'll get a place for London. But he says we can't afford it. Which is probably true. Shame, as one of my clubmates is doing it assuming she doesn't get into London. Back to the drawing board for a cheap, spring uk marathon, in the south east, that's not London!

Pidge, there's the Shakespeare marathon on 29th April - lots of runners who don't make it into London do that. Or there's Taunton on 1st April. Other than that, not much in April in the UK.

Feel quite envious of everyone doing FLM next year. I'm usually starting to build up my training a bit around now, which I find quite motivating once it starts to get colder and darker. This year my mojo seems to be disappearing - it's a struggle getting out to run just three uncomfortable miles with a baby bouncing on my bladder. I really don't want to give up yet though, as I know I'll struggle even more to motivate myself to go to a gym or something which will involve travel. At least I can just open the front door, step outside and run!

JoPG, glad to hear your knee has improved. Downhills are always the killers!

Thanks CB - yup Shakespeare is on my radar! That's the most likely candidate to replace FLM at the moment. Taunton looks like too small a field for me - not sure I could cope with the ignominy of coming last in my very first marathon!

I wonder if I can wait till I hear about a club place for London just before Christmas before entering the Stratford event.

You are doing so well to be running at all you know. Give yourself a big pat on the back. This baby is going to be a running champion! As I got into my running gear last night, my 19 month old said "mama run .... and me run" ... she was so keen to come too, and not impressed to be packed off to bed instead!

Pidge, thanks for that - has given me a boost which I needed today.

I very much doubt you'd come last even if you entered Taunton, but the Shakespeare marathon will probably have a more 'big event' feel to it and be better for a first marathon. I'm sure you can wait until you hear about a club FLM place before you enter the Shakespeare.

My DH keeps joking that our baby is going to born in a pair of Nikes - and judging by the force of some of its kicks he may be right!

hello again everyone - I;ve been very lax and haven't been out for a week - various visitors, appointments etc. last one was a nice run though - 6 miles in teh peak district at my mum's house - very hilly so hard work. I didn;t realise the FLM places came through yet - thought it was December - I bequeathed mine so wouldn;t be able to tell from my bank account. If I don;t get one I have to decide whether to scramble for a charity place - will be a difficult decision cos I have lots of other stuff I want to do - why can't we have more hours in the day...

Thought I would post a photo at the 2k Fun Run that I did with my DS. Here is wearing number 64, and I am just behind him

Cool photo, JoPG! You and DS both look great!

I managed to get out for two 3-milers over the weekend, so am maintaining some semblance of fitness. I also did a hilly 4-miler on Thursday, after walking a mile home from the station too (got fed up with waiting for the bus in the freezing cold, which was late). I got a bump support from the Baby Show at Earl's Court which I've been wearing for running. The woman on the stand at the show looked a bit taken aback when I asked if it could be worn for exercise. I explained I'm a runner and needed something to give my bump some support when running so it didn't bounce around on my bladder as much. She admitted that she had no idea whether it would be any good for exercise as no-one had ever asked before! It's not fantastically supportive but better than nothing.

Getting ready for a run in this cold weather seems to have taken me forever: bump support under long tights, two crop-top sports bras for maximum support, long-sleeved tee, zip-neck lightweight fleece, and lightweight gloves! Hardly worth it for a three-mile run!