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....?

Yeah I hear voices too - 'this is dull, that's the point' etc but ran with a v eager (but not TOO fit) pal this morning - for 25 mins yey!!! - and we nattered the whole way and of course the voices didn't get a chance to butt in. Kept refusing offers to run with friends as I was so embarrassed by lack of fitness, wheezing etc - how silly eh.

Also, about worry about 'running style' - maybe the way to go is to let the mind drift away to other things, or just 'go' with it, ie not analyse movements too much? I find with driving if I start THINKING about what I'm doing I get a bit antsy and panciky behind the wheel - dykwim?

Yes Gizmo did glasgow last year, bit slothfully in 66 mins I think but it was my first race and the atmosphere was fantastic, really loved it. Did edinburgh one in sept I think in 61, hardly speedy like the supercharged runners on this thread but was pleased anyhow!

How about you? What kind of times have you done?

Lovely to have v accomplished runners on here to spur us on. btw am sure my new nike v neck running top is helping !

have had a blip with ciggie slately and a lot of stress (work/family stuff) so I think running is gonna really help. Excuse lengthly post.... xx

Ahhhh, new kit...lovely. There's some really nice stuff in the shops right now, isn't there? Can't think about it now, though as I am on a budget and ..must...exert...self-control... (fingers twitch over link to sweatshop online).

Only done a few 10k but it's a nice distance so I think I'll do a few more in the summer. Problem with a 10k for me is that I try to chase times to get a sense of accomplishment which makes them really knackering. Must learn to take my time and enjoy the actual event more.

66 mins, BTW, is a very respectable time for a first 10k (at least it was for me ). Is your eager friend going to give it a go, too?

Been lurking here (and posted a couple of times) for a few weeks and felt it was time for an update on my abysmal attempts to get back into running. Only manging to get out 2 or 3 times a week at present and that is more a shuffle than a run. My excuse is too much snow (I live in Austria so it is slightly valid), however it doesn't seem to stop everyone else!
I'd be grateful if Twink could add my two races to the list then I might find a little more commitment . Firstly I'm running in the TA Orienteering Championships in Staffordshire 23 & 24 Apr and then I am planning to enter the Vienna Half Marathon (integral to the Vienna Marathon so has a big race feel) on 22 May. It used to be a 15KM intergral to the Marathon and have only just discovered they have upped it to 21.1KM...ops, oh well here goes!
Keep on walking, shuffling, running everyone, at least you are getting out and moving which is what counts.

Lapsedrunner, I like your style - what's an extra 6.1K between friends? . The TA Orienteering champs sounds a) interesting (I've always fancied the idea of Orienteering but never given it a go) and b) serious: would I be right in thinking you're actually quite speedy?

List now reads
Twink, Gizmo Reading Half Marathon, 6th March - done
Beetroot, Bath half marathon, 20th March
Wondermum, Wilmslow half marathon, end March
Gizmo, Paris Marathon, April 10th
Twink, London Marathon, April 17th
Lapsedrunner, TA Orienteering Championships, 23/24 April
Clary, RFL 8th May
Zippy, Great Caledonian Run/Stroll 10k 8th May
Fionagib, 10k May 15th
Prettybird, 10k May 15th
Lapsedrunner, Vienna half, May 22
MumToTwink, MiniTwink, Twink RFL 2nd July
Twink, RFL 10th July
Beetroot,Potpourri,Twink GNR 18th Sept

Sorry but could never really have called myself speedy and definetly not anymore! More like aging fast, carrying several pounds of excess fat and shuffling well these days. But once upon a time in the dim and distance past I reached a peak of sorts (drifts off trying to remember what fit felt like).
OK I'll admit that 8 or 9 years ago (my god how time flies) when I was single (i.e. had time to run, go to gym etc) I managed 3.45 in the '96 London then 3.35 in '97, its' been downhill all the way since then . Easier to maintain limited sucess in orienteering as it relies as much on acurate navigation as speeed.
Keep on running .

Those are good times LapsedRunner (I like your name - think I should change my name to NonAddictedCurrentlyNotMotivatedRunner ). I did 3:54 in the 92 Lomdon Marathon, which I was realy proud of. That was my peak.

I've only done a couple of 10Ks and one half marathon since then - still trying to get motivated to run this years Glasgow 10k. But I've told everyone here I'm going to do it, so I'll have to!

Oh yes, Prettybird, you have to now, cos otherwise we're going to hunt you down - I'll bet someone on Mumsnet knows where you live

Is that sufficient motivation?

And Lapsedrunner (mostly because I love that emoticon) - I think the only way I would achieve a 3.30 time for a marathon would be if someone dropped me out of a plane!

Although i understand there is one in Switzerland (?maybe even Austria?) which has a completely downhill course, so maybe I could fit some small wheels under my shoes...

Gizmo am also doing the great scottish run (half marathon) and am gonna seriously look into this wheels-on-shoes idea!

But tonight am thinking more along lines of 'wine' and 'gimme'....

c'mon pretty bird do the glasgow one, we could meet up at end, compare red faces!!

btw I love this idea of listing the races we're doing. Very motivating!

On the subject of those pesky voices, went out today for a run and they hardly bothered me - I think just knowing that others get them made me feel better. Also, I told myself that if I was going to suffer for the first 10-20 mins I might as well go for it, so I was more relaxed. Only ran for 25 mins, but at a more confident pace and without worrying about style. So posting on here did make a difference.

Tomorrow I must drive the route I ran as I have no idea at all how far I am running. At first I was content just to get out at all, but now I am intrigued to find out how my speed compares with others. I kind of swore I would not be entering any races, but seeing all the enthusiasm on here, who knows?

Great stuff Merrygoround, well done

Fiona which is the Scottish half you're doing, is it the one in Glasgow on 4th Sept ?

Here's an update to the list, assuming that's the one:

Twink, Gizmo Reading Half Marathon, 6th March - done
Wondermum, Wilmslow half marathon, end March
Gizmo, Paris Marathon, April 10th
Twink, London Marathon, April 17th
Lapsedrunner, TA Orienteering Championships, 23/24 April
Clary, RFL 8th May
Zippy, Great Caledonian Run/Stroll 10k 8th May
Fionagib, 10k May 15th
Prettybird, 10k May 15th
Lapsedrunner, Vienna half, May 22
MumToTwink, MiniTwink, Twink RFL 2nd July
Twink, RFL 10th July
Fionagib, Scottish Half Marathon, 4th Sept
Beetroot,Potpourri,Twink GNR 18th Sept

Gizmo you'd have been proud of me today, I managed my first genuine 20 miler (as oppose to 19). Tough at the end esp as I had to do the last 2k on the treadmill to be sure of getting the distance but I made sure I had a water stop & plenty of wine gums so I didn't lose the plot this time

Am in awe of the past FLM times guys, you were even faster than I dream of !

Just about getting back 'into it' now. I didn't actually realise just how much I was missing it until today, itching to get out again tomorrow if the weather holds.

Twink & Gizmo, well done with the half, brilliant times.

Lapsedrunner - I live in Staffs, i might come along and cheer you on!

merrygoround, I have the voices too - I have to chant to myself 'I can do this, I can do this' to drown them out!!

Well, can't let you lot down.... so finally got off my backside and went for a 30 minute run last night. Didn't feel too bad either - although I wouldn't say I was very fast at all. I was probably only 10 minute miling at best. But that is s till 3 mile

Fionagib - are you following the training programme in the Herald? It looks quite good. I've decided that that would help give me some structure, so a m ging to try to follow it (very appoximately, given work and other constraints).

Prettybird - I only do 9 min miles when I'm at my peak so I thnk you're doing just fine!

I did follow it last year pretty bird but this year think am just gonna run as and when i fancy - having said that have been out this a.m. and was disaster - wind v v strong - 8 mins and had to walk! Will try again tomorrow before work...

MUST TRY HARDER!! (Shower afterwards was lovely tho...)

Yes twink that's the one. Have also been roped into a relay team at the edin marathon (june 12), 5 of us in team I think - am getting one of the shorter legs - 5 miles or something. Jeez, I should have buns of steel, not blancmange.

btw 10 min mile is the best I have ever done ever.

btw pretty bird the herald plan WAS really good, and got me from being able to run zero miles to doing the 10k without death, so I do think it's worth following - maybe I should too instead of just doing my own thing. What does it recommend for this week?

sorry, haven?t posted for ages, will find time to read the thread later.
Had a baddish end to last week as did two late shifts plus a big works night out in Bristol (!I?m in Derby!) so no runnign or anything. But at the start of the week I ran on Monday, swam on Tues pm and did aerobics class Wed so not bad.
Have got a gold card for the city council facilities so I can swim or do classes for free, only £200/year so I only need to do a couple of things a week (and am always going with the kids...)
Hopefully that will spur me on a bit eg to do a veloton class at lunchtime or somethign (!).
Went out last night and it was p**ing down but still stuck with my 20-minute route. Need to extend it a bit to get up to Race for Life distance.
My sister has put me to shame by finishing a 5k in 22 mins! and then a 10 k at the weekend in less than an hour. Pretty impressive.

Fionagib: from memory, it was

Sunday: warm up, 3 minutes pace, 3 minutes easy, repeated three times, warm down
Monday: warm up, 30 minutes steady, warm down
Tuesday: rest
Wesdensday:: warm up, 5 minutes pace, 8 minutes easy, repeated twice, warm down
Can't remember the rest (and even the reps that I've given are approximate)

I'll have a look tonight. BTW - that was the "advanced" programme. (... and BTW - I rarely do woarm ups and warm downs - although I will for reps)

It does help to have a programme to follow: it makes you feel more "obliged" to go out. Even better than following it from a magazine - write it down into a diary, making the necessary adjustments for your own commitments (for example, I can't run on a Wednesday, as I've got a Pilates class)

I've brought in the training schedule from the (Glasgow) Herald. Some of the others might be interested too- this is to help women traing for the Glasgow Women's 10k on 15 May, but it might be useful for other races.

This is Week 2 of the "Advanced" programme:

Sunday: Warm up. Run at target pace ofr 3 mins, then at an easy pace for 3 mins. repeat 3 time. Cool donw and stretch.

Monday: Warm up. Run at comfortable pace for 30 mins. Cool down and strectch.

Tuesday: Rest

Wedensday: Warm up. Run at comfortable pace ofr 5 mins, then at target pace for 8 mins, Run at comfortable pace for 5 misn. Cool down and stretch.

Thursday: Warm up. Run at traget pace for 2 mins, then at an easy pace for 2 mins. repeat 3 times. Cool down etc

Friday: rest

Saturday: Warm up. Run at comfortable pace for 5 mins, then at target pace for 10 minutes. Run at comfortable pace for 5 mins. Cool down and stretch.

Comofrtable pace = still able to talk

Target pace = talking possible but difficult
Warm up = run at slow pace for 10 mins. Run faster than target pace for 10 sec (but don't sprint) then walk same distance slowly. repeat run/walk pattern twice more.

Cool down = run at easy pace for 10 minutes. Strecth hamstrings, quadricpes and calf muscles for 20-30 secs each.

I have to admit that my version of warming up is running slolwy for the first mile. My warm down is about 100m slow running and then a walk up the driveway. I walways do my streches at the end though .

Forgive the typos.

If anyone's interested, I could post the Beginner's Schedule. But for the moment, I'd better get on with my work!

Thanks very much prettybird. Just been out with my new thur morning running pal and managed 35 mins, so so chuffed (isn't it so much nicer when you've got someone to chat to). Have to go to my mum's partner's funeral tomorrow & will be staying over so prob won't get a chance to run till sun.

Isn't it funny how a 'good' run can make you feel so revved up & motivated? (half marathon in sept still seems a heck of a challenge tho!)

Hope everyone's having a good week...

btw what was your time at the women's 10k last year? Mine was a sloth-like 66 mins I think, managed 61 at the edinburgh one later in the year.

Who's our whizziest runner on this thread?! Twink?

Didn't do it last year - last time I ran it 9which was also my last race was 1997. I think I was just over an hour - not a time a chose to remember, as my previous PB was (I think) 52 mins.

I tell a lie, my last race must have been later that year, as I did the Glasgow 1/2 Marathon and I'd started work with my current company by then (joined them end May 97). Ran that in 2:02 (my PB was 1:42 from 9 years before).

This year, I'll be pleased if I break an hour for the 10k, given the diffiuclties I hve in getting out.

I did manage to get out on Tuesday and did 22 minutes (5 minutes at "pace), didn't plan on going out yesterday and now don't think I'm going to manage to get out tonight, as I've been invited out to a Girls' Night (yes I know - priorities! )

But if I can keep dh happy tonight by taking ds with me tonight while I do my quick weekly Lidl shop, that will both buy me time and brownie points to allow me to go out for a run tomorrow night.

Yeah it's so tricky isn't it pb. have been away for a couple of days so no run since thur (managed 35 mins but at shire horse pace) but MUST get out tomorrow.

ps does anyone know of any 10k runs in central scotland this summer, between say june & sept, apart from gt scottish run? Am trying to plan 'ahem - a 'running calender' to get me off my wobble butt...

And anyone fancy being my running buddy at glasgow women's 10k?