Runners Rehomed

[Twink]

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....

Well I did my 10k this morning and really surprised myself, which just goes to show that Twink is right and I should have more confidence. I did it in 46min30, which is 5 minutes faster than my one and only previous 10k. I had been hoping to break 50 mins, so obviously I was thrilled with that time.

Then had a great day - did a fun relay with the club too. And after that joined some friends for a picnic with my dd1 who is 4 today. In fact rather fittingly I came 4th in the race overall, so I told her I got that number specially for her!!

Now I'm going to need super resolve to keep up the running whilst we disappear to Denmark for 3 weeks. Happy running everyone ...

After feeling like death warmed up for months, I have done no training whatsoever for my Race for Life today!

Feeling quite pleased with myself as I completed it in 40 minutes exactly. Not good compared to a runners time but for my second race I knocked 23 minutes off my last time.

It was rather too hot and hilly for comfort but soo pleased I did it.

Pidge that's fantastic, what an achievement, well done you!
You deserve to be really proud of yourself; hope your dh made a nice fuss of you. Have a great time away.

well done Dingle. I'm going to do Race for Life next year after recently starting running. Congrats on your achievement.

Wow, Pidge well done, you must have such a great sense of achievement!

My DS made us laugh, when I had finished we were all sitting down having a bite to eat and a drink, I said how pleased I was with my time, especailly as I'd done no training. I said I'd do it again and my DS replied "What NOW!"

I too suffer from the glow in the dark syndrome!! In fact I looked a bit like this.

What a fantastic time Pidge, excellent.
Hope you enjoy your hols.

Well done Pidge - am seriously impressed.

Still going out - today was the first time I had to run for 2 mins, walk for 2 mins (total of 28 mins).

I did it and am very proud of myself for sticking at it - but was seriously knackered afterwards and now feeling a bit down about it, as was coping quite well with the run 1 min, walk 2 minutes thing!!!

Do you reach a point where it suddenly starts becoming a little easier, or will it always be a struggle?

Morning JonestheSteam , that's what I've been wondering, but I think a slow steady improvement is the best - and that means that some days will still be better/worse than others. When I first started running a few weeks ago, I couldn't even run half a mile, nowhere near in fact. Now I can fairly comfortably run more than a mile without stopping and am aiming for 2. I'm still knackered at the end of it, but when I think of how much i've improved then I know i'm getting better.

JTS - it does get so much easier. I only started running in September and could do 15 minutes max. I've built up from there. Some days it still feels hard work, especially to start with. Then at some point you reach a stage when you feel really good and your legs feel strong, and it's a bit like flying.

Peanutbutter - it's only recently that you were feeling like you'd never get to a mile, and now you're already thinking about doubling that distance. Isn't that amazing!

I am really stiff after Sunday, which doesn't usually happen after my training runs. So my legs are obviously wondering what hit them!

Club night tonight, then off on holiday tomorrow.

Got my free edition of marathon news through the post the other day with entry form for 2007 FLM. Very tempted to do it again.

Got in through the ballot this year so chances may be slim. Could go for a charity place , I raised nearly £2000 this year.

Oh so very tempted ...... Anyone else thinking about it ? Or is the heat getting to me

I've thought about it mummydear. Thinking goes something like "well the chances are I won't get in, but it'll increase my chances for future years, er..." I think I'll enter the ballot and secretly hope i don't have to actually do the training . A parallel thought process goes "if I register the African school I'm helping as a charity, then I might get a charity place, but do I really want to appoint directors and file annual accounts?". I suspect that I'm starting to do more running in my head than in RL

Never knew this area existed!
I'm a bit of a fraud I think but would love to join to keep me motivated.
I'm overweight (embarrased to say how much I weigh ) and been running for 3-4 months now at best every day, at worst about 3-4 times a week.
I run 1.3 miles (KM?) and it takes me around 16 minutes - that's really slow isn't it!!!
Have been expecting it to get easier but it hasn't although I think I am slowly speeding up.
No real weight loss though.
Are my expectations too high?
Am very jealous of those of you who can run longer distances -I'm really knackered at the end of my run!

Pidge, i am so sorry I didn't manage to post a congratulations on your 10K before you went on holiday! Wow, I am so impressed! You really are a star! I am awaiting with interest your half marathon time now! I hope you manage to keep up with your training!

And Peanutbutter also huge congratulations on meeting your first target of a mile ! Its not so far to 5K now!

Well done Dingle as well! Especially with the heat, no training and not feeling so good!

JTS - don't be so hard on yourself, its quite a big step you've taken. You are doing fantastically well. If you are feeling bad sometime after you run then you are running too hard.

Rowlers - sounds as if you are doing really well too. Its funny that people can't think if themselves as runners when they first start out! The key is to concentrate on increasing distance before you increase speed. The longer you can run for the more you will start to see weight loss. There are people of all levels at at all different stages here. Great to have you join us!

As for me, well, since I got over my cold I've lost my motivation to run. Its still really hot here and I have no energy at all. Not really feeling sick, just that early pregnancy tiredness. If it cools down this evening I may try to go out for a walk-run. Why do we have to feel so bad at the beginning of the preganancy when we are still in a good enough physical shape to do stuff!

Pidge and Leogaela - thank you

Leogaela, you have a combination of a cold, early pregnancy and this extraordinary heat all sapping your energy - no wonder you don't feel like running ATM. But - the weather will cool down and you'll start to feel better and then you can enjoy running again too. It's raining nicely here what a relief!

Back from hols, I managed to get out 3 times, but once with my dd7, and once with dd5. We ran/walked for about 18 mins each time. I did once on my own for 20 mins too. BUT the campsite was sooooo hilly it was a nightmare.

I went out for 20 mins this morning and I am going to make sure I go out at least 3or 4 times before work and get a decent 45+ minute in at tehweekend.

BTW Dannie I still owe you

Think I should just give up, don't seem to be getting any better at this.

Went for a run this morning, and was seriously rubbish. Only managed 20 mins (instead of the 28 on my schedule) and only 10 of that was actually running. Had seriously painful stitch.

Am never going to be able to do this thing - why did I ever think I could!!!

Can't even run for 2 bl**dy mins without feeling crap. And don't say go slower - if I went any slower I'd come to a standstill.

Feeling very upset - sorry!!

JonestheSteam, after running for over 2 years now I still find it hard work, and rarely feel that so called runners high. Yesterday I forced myself out and managed just under 30 minutes. I haven't read all this thread so don't know if you're training for something specific, but don't let the bad days stop you. Even running / walking for 20 minutes is valuable exercise, and more than a large percentage of the population can manage.

I bought a book called Running for Women the other day and found it very useful for motivation and tips - I also have had terrible problems with stitch, which I am finding has improved since trying some new ideas. Nobody has to run, it's not the only way of getting fit, but it has so many advantages that it gets my vote any time.

Thanks merrygoround.

Not training for anything specific - just wanting to get fit and saw running as the best way for me - it's free and as a SAHM I can't afford to join a gym. And it's easy to fit in as I go early in the morning before DD and DS get up.

Just was hoping for some significant improvement by now. I feel like I'm getting worse, not better .

And when you read a post like the one by morningpaper lower down, where she can run for about 35 minutes with only a couple of walking breaks after a couple of months, I feel that I'm obviously not doing something right.

Have been doing this about 3 months - was a bit on and off to start with, but going out more regularly now - about 2-3 times a week.

Jones - don't give up just yet.

Couple of questions - what's your route like (flat, hills), how far do you go if you do the 28 mins and can you get out any more often? You probably are still going a bit fast especially if you have stitch. Do you run by yourself, do you have an MP3 player?

Personally I didn't start with a timed run/walk thing, although that's what is generally recommended. I don't really get on with them.

I measured out a cirular mile route from home and just plugged away until I could jog (note jog not run) all the way. It took ages and I was going out 4 times a week. The pace was barely above a fast walk - just that point where you break into a jog from a walk. I didn't time running/walking just ran until I couldn't go any further, walked a little bit then started jogging again.

Once I could do the whole distance at a steady jog I just increased the distance a little (sometimes a very little, even going 50 metres past the end of the drive and back again) at a time but from that point always ran.

Everyone is different and you need to find what suits you. I believe that some people are born runners and others have to work that bit harder. I have a friend who runs with me very occasionally - even after 3 months off she can still go further and faster than me - it's a bit demoralising I know. My other running partner is slower than me, more of a plodder, but she can keep going when I'm on my knees. You just need to find a pace and distance to suit.

You'll get there (wherever there is....)

Haven't got a clue how long my route is. The estate I live on has a duck pond and I basically run around that - pretty flat apart from slight incline at one point. I reckon it would take me just over 3 minutes to run around it (but I can't at the moment!!!). I walk to it - takes about 3 and a half minutes, so that's my warm up, and walk home after, then do some stretches. Haven't had any aches or pains at all.

Wouldn't want to run around the block where I live though, very steep hills!!!!

Regarding the stitch thing - don't think I'm going too fast though - seriously I would just be walking if I went any slower.

Do have an MP3 player, but don't always take it with me.

Think maybe I'm just expecting too much of myself.

I've also been feeling like that JonesTheSteam. I went running the other day and for the 2nd time in a row it was hard work, harder even than usual, and i couldn't manage very much. I've been thinking "Oh i can't do this - why did i think i could? i've always been totally unsporty and unfit. i'm going to give up". The last few days i've been making up excuses not to go the gym (pretty typical of me), so i haven't been since Tuesday and i won't get to go very much in the next 2 weeks because my husband will be working away again.

The thing is, reading your post changed my mind and i'm going to start again. I know it's mostly in my head. I wish you and I could run together in RL and keep each other bouyed up. Maybe we could just do that on here instead?

Jones and Peanutbutter - you are both doing fantastically well! don't be so hard on yourselves. The fact that you are getting out there and doing it is something to be really proud of! It doesn't matter how far you go or how much of it you run.
You will have bad patches, but then if you get through them it will get better.
And its true what SaggyBK says about diffrent people being different.

Jones - are you generally feeling tired or just feeling bad after a run? What is your diet like? do you take vitamins?

Hi - been away with DH and the kiddies over the weekend.

peanutbutter - agree we should try and support each other as much as possible!!

leogaela - my diet is pretty good - the occasional rubbish (like tonight - think we might be having a takeaway ) but on the whole pretty healthy - eat a lot of salad and veg, but not a huge fruit eater. Don't tend to eat lots of rubbish like crisps, biscuits etc. and don't drink that much alcohol - just the occasional lager or glass of wine!!

I don't take vitamins.

Generally I don't feel that tired, it does very much depend on how late I go to bed as I am usually a very good sleeper, but tend to read quite late some of the time. Did feel very tired after my last run, but have decided to persevere.

It's worth it for the fact that I can get into clothes that haven't fitted for nearly 3 years, even if I can't run that far!!!!! (yet)

Jones, that's great! !

I asked about the food because when you exercise you can use of a lot more minerals and vitamins than normal, I thought maybe you could be low on iron or b-vitamins which would make you tired.

Hi all
Have now increased my run from 1.3 miles to 1.6!!!
I know, it's a very small increase is it?
The good thing is I've not found it that much more difficult so will try to keep that up for a couple of weeks then increase again
Thanks leogaela (I keep wanting to write legoland) for your encouragement and advice - my main trouble now really is ensuring I go often enough. It only takes a weekend away to break the routine with me.
Jones, keep it up - I need to keep checking in here and seeing others persevering will force me not to give up too!
At least you can get into your odl clothes - I'm nowhere near that feat yet.