anyone like to start a runners' support group thread thingie?

[fionagib]

Inspired by Paula Radcliffe's victory at the new york marathon (but HORRIBLY unfit), I wondered if anyone would like to start running, or keep running, or get even better at running, and support each other here by telling each other how we're getting on, or swap tips, ideas etc?

I did quite a bit of running earlier this year, a few 10k races (and loved it, felt so much better, really proud, with more energy etc) but have let it all go to pot and now have jelly belly & bum, and a running bra that's probably covered with cobwebs somewhere...

Am totally un-athletic, was smoking heavily until 2 weeks ago, and just wanna make a positive change, avoid a winter of blobbiness, and feel really good & fit come spring.

so anyone like to join me....?

Ooooh. Just starting back into running after having DD 7 weeks ago. Will be watching this thread and hopefully will be able to join in with something in a couple of months once I am back up to standard!

Well, I did it!! Not a brilliant time - 58 minutes - but I got round without stopping and really enjoyed it. Dh ran with me until 9km and then sprinted off to the finish (he breezed the whole thing with no training - grrrrrr!), but it was lovely to run with him. It was a real family affair in the end as my brother and SIL ran too, and my mum and younger brother fielded ds (who was 'cross' that he couldn't run too - at age 3!) and dd while we ran.

The whole thing has definitely fired my enthusiasm for running (dd is going in the jogger this week, having finally mastered head control) and I'm looking around for another 10k (the next local one is really hilly though). Any of you needing a bit of a boost, do find a race, start with 5k, whatever, you'll feel great once you've done it. Over to you Twink - think you're the next one on the list entering a race.

you girls are all making me very jealous. I had to hang up my running shows thursday before last as I was running one of my normal runs and suddenly I realised I was holding my bump (I was 36 weeks pg at the time). So now it's only gym, swimming and walking for me but I'm really missing the buzz of running.

and very well done Stringbean. That's a great time and especially good that you enjoyed it. Well done you.

36 weeks and still running Mckenzie! I'm not surprised you were holding your bump (just surprised you weren't holding the baby!!). Good for you!

stringbean congrats...you must be so so so fit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am in awe and bow down to your greater fitness...
x

Thanks Sophable, but there are far far fitter people than me in this thread. Having said that though, its an achievement for me, so I do feel kind of chuffed!

stringbean: i bet they are not 36 weeks preg!!!!!!!!!!! like i said, you be the fitness attainment idol!

Mckenzie's the pregnant one - not me!

stringbean, what's a jogger? You mentioned your DD is going in it now she has head control.

Well done getting in in under an hour for your 10k.

that's a great achievement, well done !

It's also a very respectable time too, you must have been well ahead of the slow ones !

Sounds like we could do a Mumsnet meet at a Serpentine last Fri 5k ?!

Sympathies McK, but to get to 36 weeks is awesome - go & enjoy wallowing with the aqua ladies, knowing that within 12 weeks you'll be littler than them

PotPourri, its a 3 wheeler pushchair - a Baby Jogger II - which is really lightweight and perfect for running. They're quite expensive (ours was a gift from my mum!) but I've seen some on e-bay. The only thing is that they don't recline, so you can't use them until the baby is 3-4 months old, but we used ours a lot with ds - it meant that dh and I could get out running together at weekends.

I knew it was a mistake letting my DH pack up our PC on Friday night! Just look what I miss.

Stringbean, 58 minutes for your first 10k is grrrrrrreeaaaaaattttt. Plus next time you should take a good chunk off that, as well, maybe leave your DH behind!

Twink, thanks for the cross trainer schedule - I think . I'll see if I can sneak into the gym sometime in the next two weeks to try it, but I just know it's not going to be a pretty sight, sort of like an octopus in a centrifuge...also, you have to bear in mind, I live in Cambridge, so I get nose bleeds when the ground starts to slope upwards, even artificially.

Although I did make it out this weekend. Encouraged by returning from my little run on Friday night sound in wind and limb I thought I would try a longer one on the weekend. Foolishly I asked DH, who is firmly of the 'no pain, no gain' school of thought about running, and he suggested a nice run (if you like mud!) that he and his buddies had done the week before. Unfortunately, what he thought was 12 miles turned out to be more than 16 so my legs are very sore today, plus I'm getting stick from DH for being 45 minutes slower over the distance than him.

Anyway, maybe time to contemplate a few warm up races before Paris. Does anyone fancy the Flora half marathon at Silverstone on the 13th?

Meanwhile, good luck to McKenzie and if it's any consolation, a very fit friend of mine has just had her second (little girl) and suggested we get out for a run together this weekend. This will be 2 weeks after her daughter was born . So you might find you only get 6 weeks off: personally, I'd put my feet up a bit longer - I got a right ticking off from the health visitor when she found I'd been out for a run when DS was three weeks old the last time.

I think after DS1 I did wait the full 6 weeks before running although i was back doing light gym work sooner.
I guess I'll wait and see how I feel but I must admit, I do think I've got the rest of my life to run and if I wait until my 6 week check to be on the safe side, it's not the end of the world. (Can't believe I'm thinking so rationally when my running shoes are calling out for me from the cupboard under the stairs!!)

Congrats McKenzie, sounds like you've got it sorted. When's your due date?

I suspect it's easier with the second one, too, because you know that the first flurry of chaos is temporary, and it will get easier after a few weeks so there'll be opportunities then. Like you say, there's always plenty of time and let's face it, you're won't be getting many more opportunities to sit down with two littlies in the house!

Wow Gizmo, 16 miles cross-country sounds like HARD WORK. Well done !

well done stringbean, that's a great time, wish i could hope for anything like that in my 5k in may.
Yes I have signed up for the Race for Life, got all my stuff and a T-shirt so feel quite inspired.
Went out saturday and had a good run 20mins, but need to get stamina to run for at least 30 mins to have any chance of getting all the way round in RFL on may 8. No pilates tonight as have gov mtg, but maybe I'll run there and back!!
wow Mckenzie runnign at 36 wks pg, i am in awe!!

Thanks Stringbean: it was!

Do most of my long runs on tracks/cross country -that way marathons on lovely firm road surfaces come as a nice surprise.

What are you doing now? Putting your feet up for a few days or getting straight back out there?

Clary, I'll bump you up the list a bit then:

First up is Stringbean with a 10K Feb 6th (done)
Twink, Bramley 10m, Feb 20th
Twink, Reading Half Marathon, 6th March
Then Beetroot, Bath half marathon, 20th March
Wondermum, Wilmslow half marathon, end March
Me, Paris Marathon, April 10th
Twink, London Marathon, April 17th
Clary, RFL 8th May
Zippy, 10k beginning May
Fionagib, 10k May 15th
Twink, RFL 10th July

well done stringbean, that's a great time, wish i could hope for anything like that in my 5k in may.
Yes I have signed up for the Race for Life, got all my stuff and a T-shirt so feel quite inspired.
Went out saturday and had a good run 20mins, but need to get stamina to run for at least 30 mins to have any chance of getting all the way round in RFL on may 8. No pilates tonight as have gov mtg, but maybe I'll run there and back!!
wow Mckenzie runnign at 36 wks pg, i am in awe!!

durrr, sorry, don't know how i posted that twice!

I'm also planning on doing the Women's 10k in 15 May (I may even meet up with Fionagib )

I'll need to start running again though - the sum total for the last months was 20 minutes/2 miles on 15 January. My excuse is that dh was then away for a week and then I was busy preparing for .....

.... a week's holiday skiing , which I am just back from so am all motivated to get "physical" again..... once all the washing and unpacking is done

I did make myself cycle in to work though - usually dh gives me a lift in on the first day post holiday, so I am feeling vircutous

Gizmo, I'm in awe, 16 miles cross country !! I did 16 on Saturday, mostly off-road and it was soooo tough, I can't imagine being able to do another 10 - but I'll just keep plodding on according to the schedule..

Let us know how you get on with the X-trainer, assuming you don't end up with anemeia ;)

Another update for our list:

First up is Stringbean with a 10K Feb 6th (done)
Twink, Bramley 10m, Feb 20th
Twink, Reading Half Marathon, 6th March
Then Beetroot, Bath half marathon, 20th March
Wondermum, Wilmslow half marathon, end March
Gizmo, Paris Marathon, April 10th
Twink, London Marathon, April 17th
Clary, RFL 8th May
Zippy, 10k beginning May
Fionagib, 10k May 15th
MumToTwink, MiniTwink, Twink RFL 2nd July
Twink, RFL 10th July

It's a bit horrible isn't it? Particularly since I thought it was only 13 miles and couldn't understand why it was taking me soooo long.

I usually run a there and back again route so the return bit seems shorter (not sure why) and I know that if I want my lunch, the fastest way to get to it is to run!

Still, Twink, just wait for a couple more weeks of long runs and then drop back down to 16: you won't believe how fast it feels!