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....

sarflondon - very impressed at your running pedigree. And I have just resolved to go out and buy some more gels to see if I can find one that is not too disgusting.

lilliput - do ignore my 18 miler ! But listen up - only 18 months ago I was just starting out running twice a week for about 15-20 minutes very very slowly. And now look what happened!

speedymama - the only answer is not to worry - there will always be people slower than you, and always people faster than you (well, unless you're Paula Radcliffe). Hills have a huge impact on your time. Plus in my experience blokes are depressingly faster!!

I got out this evening for a 5 miler and really enjoyed it. I have found that marathon training has taken the edge off my running a bit. I feel quite a lot of pressure and pschologically I think I go out feeling "this should be a nice easy 'short' 5-6 miler" and then I actually find it quite tough. But tonight was fun. And my legs felt strong. And it was nice not to have to run for 3 hours!

speedy mama - don't worry about your time especially as you have restarted running. I don't think this sounds slow at all. Everyone has their own ideal running pace. I have found through bitter experience that for me running faster than 10 and a half mm leads to achilles pain. I am over 40 now and running slower and finishing further back in races - last in one - hooray - but what matters for me is the ability to run and hopefully keep running for decades to come. Blokes often do run faster but also imho can get more injuries through pushing themselves.

Liiiput - well done. Your stamina will build up quickly. I did my first half marathon a year to the day after my first run of 3 minutes gasping in the park.
Pidge if you are trying gels avoid caffeinated green apple flavour. evil taste.

Hi again everyone. I did my second 14 miler today and I'm just exhausted - not as bad as I was after the first one but really really tired. I took water this time - which was a massive improvement - doing 14 miles without was horrendous. I'm now beginning to really wish, that having put in so much effort I had an FLM place. I know two people who've got places and they haven't done as much training as me. I know it would be knackering but I kind of feel like I could do it.

thats great hatwoman. You have done really well. Would you think about doing an Autumm marathon then? Pidge how is your training going? Off to bed now as longest run is tomorrow. What a way to spend mother's day..

hatwoman - hat's off to you!! And I was about to suggest the same as sarflondon - you are well on course for an autumn marathon, in fact you could easily do an early summer one, but it might be a bit hot then. There seem to be loads in the UK in September/October.

I managed my 19 miler yesterday, but it nearly finished me. I was ok till about 15 miles when I hit the hills around Highgate, and from there on in it was a major battle. I had to stop to walk several times and the whole thing took me 3 hours 30 min, which is 11 minute miles. Way slower than my 10 minute miles over 18 miles, and my 9 minute miles over 17 5 weeks ago. At this rate I will on 15 minute miles for the marathon itself!

Anyway, the good thing is that I'm not too stiff today and delighted that I only have one more biggie (a 20 miler) before the day itself.

sarflondon - hope you had a good run today.

Hatwoman there are lots of great Autumn marathons berlin, Dublin (great crowd support),Amsterdam (meant to be fantastic as you finish in the olympic stadium) and also big UK ones in Cardiff and the Robin Hood in Nottingham.You sound as if you will be in great form for then.

Pidge you did very well to run at that pace over hills. Someone I ran with yesterday said that the London course is 6 miles downhill and then 20 on the flat.On the day, I am sure that you will be able to run much faster and the hills will have really strengthened your legs. Which week are you doing your 20? I havent worked out my last few long runs yet.

I took 3.50 yesterday to do 20 miles over a slightly undulating course and only had one loo stop!It was 4 laps and the course is still replaying through my mind now.

sarflondon - thanks for the encouragement - I must say I'm a bit haunted by miles 15-19 when my body was just crying out "stop this madness right now!"

my plan is next week to drop back down to 12-14 miles, then the week after I'm doing my one and only 20, then it's a 3 week taper.

Well, I ran 4 miles on Saturday which was double what I had ran on Thursday so I am really pleased. The first 2 miles had a really steep hill but after that, it was more or less flat. It took me 50 minutes so I am pleased with that. When I ran a 10k (which contained lots of hills) 2 years ago it took me 73 minutes so I think I would be on track to do a time like that again.

I am looking for a 5k and 10k race to do this summer and I am even contemplating doing a half marathon. How likely is it that someone like me could do enough training to run a half marathon in September/October?

How do you mentally prepare yourself to keep running for 15 miles and how do you overcome the urge not to stop? Pidge, Hatwoman and Sardlondon, I'm really impressed by your runs. Maybe one day I can do the same!

Well done to everyone who did a long run this weekend - I remember really clearly the daunting feeling I used to get when I started a long run - it seemed as if you would be out there forever! this year it's a half marathon for me so that seems a lot easier. Did a 10 miler last week and a 5 miler and am off out for a 12 miler tomorrow night. Then I will just keep ticking over until the half marathon on 1st April.

For me the thought process during a long run (of say 13 miles or more) goes something like this. I've started, I am going to be out here for hours. First 8 miles or so is ok, then I get the 'I'm half way, oh no I've got to do the whole lot again'. Following this I get the 'I really cannot do this, I am going to stop at the next lamppost' - Next lamppost comes and goes and I find I am still running. This torture continues and the only thing that really keeps me running at this point is the fact that I will take longer to get home if I stop, and also (and this is the big one) I know that if I stop it will be soooo much easier to stop next time and then you would feel utterly defeated. What joy!

the thought process thing is interesting. my first 14 miler (without water) went something like "oooh this is quite exciting, I've never done this before....half way now still feel ok....why doesn't this bit look like it did on google earth...am I meant to go right or straight on....blimey this tow path is muddy and stoney....I'm so thirsty... I want to stop now...those puddles are starting to look positively attractive....shall I accost that woman and ask if she's got any water...I wonder if I went into that cafe they'd give me a bottle of water if I promised to come back later to pay....water....waaaa.....teer...waaaaa...teer...." My second was a bit more rational. Half way round I managed to convince myself that I was just setting off for what I now think of as a short-ish run. A bit further on I was delighted to be back on normal territory and know that I hadn;t got lost. I was also chuffed to see some work-men type people in Richmond Park "ooh good, they'll still be there when I come past here a second time - at least someone will know I'm running a Very Long Way"

I so agree with the "it'll take longer if you stop" it's what I tell myself all the time.

Hatwoman - I remember once being desperate for a drink while out on a long run. I saw a boy come out of a newsagents with a bottle of lucozade and I was sooo tempted to ask him for some! Can you imagine his face though? He would've been pretty surprised.

That's interesting. One of the techniques that I am using is something we did in one of our leadership workshops at work. It's called visualisation - you imagine yourself at the finishing line, imagine how you will feel when you attain your goal and you keep replaying this in your head. A lot of top atheletes consult sport psychologists who help them to mentally prepare and this is one of the techniques they use. You can be physically prepared but if you don't believe you will achieve something, chances are you won't.

I just think that 10 miles is such a long way so I need to break it down into segments and focus on completing each segment at a time. One step at a time though - first I must do a couple of 6 milers before I even attempt 10 miles.

I think I might change my name to Plodder for this thread!
This is my second week on traing for first ever 5K and all is going OK. I am not totally sticking to the training sheet but at least I am getting out there.
I have a problem with my feet, they really ache on the outside side IYKWIM, not sure how to descibe it. I've got good trainers so what can it be?

speedymama, i hope that it is realistic because that is what i am doing!
I need some motivation this week as i havent been to well and the weather hasnt been to good, so i havent dont anything serious for about a week and a half, which i know is awful! I have started a funraising page in the hope that people sponsoring me, may make me get off my bottom!! I think i really need to get myself a running partner, that way i will have to run!!
Lilliput, i had this problem, even though i had good trainers, so i went to a specialist running shop (sweatshop) and the guy said it was because i had very little arch in my foot and he made me try on about 10 pairs before he told me which ones made a difference! i dont have the problem any more.

Liiliput, I had that problem too. I have very flat feet and the specialist shop I went to recommended motion control trainers. They alleviated the problem.

hatwoman - LOL at your thought processes on the 14 miler.

Mine on my recent 19 miler went "this is ok, plot, this is quite enjoyable, I could do this all day" then at mile 15 "aaaargh, I want to crawl under a bush and just lie there till someone rescues me!".

I don't at any point visualise finishing, as it makes me feel terrible, I just immediately want to stop running. I sort of switch my brain into neutral and think about keeping plodding for the next 20 minutes.

I did a 5 miler last night and am hoping to fit in 8-9 this evening at my club.

Rather looking forward to getting this craze enterprise over with now!

Your 14 mile thought processes posting really made me laugh hatwoman. I do find the long runs very very hard so I try wherever I can to do them at races to minimise the possibility of my lying down on the road sobbing " I don't want to run any more" or yelling "taxi" at the next yellow light. I sometimes mentally break the distance into segments but only towards the end - oh 5 miles to go like such and such loop then 4 etc. If I got to 5 miles in on the marathon and told myself "only 21 miles left" I would definitly cry.

Still sore after sunday. My legs don't seem to want to work together if that makes any sense. Will postpone run until tomorrow night.

JoPG are you doing the PW half on 1st April?

Hello ladies, just wondered if there's room for another on this thread? I had my 3rd and LAST baby 5 weeks ago, absolutely smitten, but now need to get my life back to normal so I've restarted my running. I did a 1mile and 2 three mile runs last week but nothing so far this week (night feeding is taking it's toll somewhat). I ached a little after the 3milers so am reluctant to increase just yet.
A quick question though, does your lung capacity change during pg? I felt like I needed an oxygen mask after the first run! It is getting easier but still a surprise to be so out of shape. I'm finding it v v hard to shift that last 1/2 stone as well, does anyone have any ideas?
A friend has suggested the race for life run which I may join her for, will this be a realistic goal? What do you reckon?

welcome sorkycake, and congrats on baby number 3!

Race for life is a 5k isn't it. That should be easily manageable - just build up nice and gradually, and listen to your body. If you ache, you did too much too soon.

As for the lungs - don't know, I guess it's just a case of building up your aerobic fitness. My problem after a break is always with my legs!!

Had to ditch my lunchtime run today due to work crisis - boo hoo.

sarflondon- yes it is the Paddock Wood half marathon taht I shall be attempting! Will you be there too, or have you run it before and can offer tips?

Hi JoPG. I did Paddock Wood as my first half 4 years ago. Beautiful scenery once you get out of PW which is mainly a massive car auction site. No hils from memory other than a handful of hump backed railway bridges. The 12 mile marker was in the wrong place so the last mile went on and on and on and on. I did it in about 2.15 and there were lots of runners finishing at the same time. Marshalls were smiley. I am doing it this year and looking forward to it but having to run a bit more at the start to get my long run in.

Hullo all - have had a mad mad week - working too hard, socialising too hard and not getting nearly enough sleep. I did my 'easy' 12 miler this morning on a stinking hangover. Note to self - must behave better in the next 4 weeks or I will be a wreck!!

Hello Pidge hopefully by this time 4 weeks we will have finished the marathon. Otherwise we will be still trudging around with the guy in the diving suit.

I wouldn;t worry about last week. I did 12 and 4 only as very tired after 20 miler. The rest will be good for us.

Bumping for juicychops.