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....?

hi to everyone on this thread. I would love to get back into running. DD is 3yo now, she is our only child so no excuse now. I do go for a run occasionally and sometimes circuit training, so I'm not completely unfit.

What I'd like to know is how do you find/make time to run regularly? And how do you combine it with bathtime/bedtime, needing to eat, etc, if running in the evening. Is it all down to having helpful DH's? Sorry for asking something so boring! But I could do with some tips.

welcome snowbell! consider myself v much a novice here but I tend to run in mornings after getting kids off to nursery/school, am self employed & work from home so 'allow' myself to do this once or twice a week.

Or I have a v light tea with kids and go for a run when dh gets home from work and dd (my youngest) is in bed, about 8 ish. It's hard tho. I try to run 3 times a week but so often other stuff gets in the way, plus my dh sometimes works backshift so eve runs are out.

good luck!

Welcome Snowbell: your DD is the same age as my DS - just old enough for the 'why are you going running again mummy?' conversation (not sure if I should be pleased I'm setting him a good example or embarrassed at the level of neglect involved!).

I rely on three tactics: running when DH has his shift of childcare (so Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday), running in lunchtime at work, or (if desparate) getting up insanely early and running before DS wakes up. I do not recommend the last more than once a week! Also DH and I regularly run together on a monday night - so we get a babysitter in and count it as relationship building.

Some other friends I know who are SAHMs pool their childminding resources by letting their kids play together a couple of times a week, so each one gets one outing a week, as well as some help from DHs in evenings or weekends. Three outings a week is all you need to start to see real improvement, and once you've got that improvement, missing a couple of weeks isn't a disaster.

Sounds like everyone else is getting into the swing of things. at your husband, Clary! Although he sounds like mine, who can't see the point of making a fuss of me unless I have managed to break a world record, or something. Feel like kicking him sometimes .

Fionag...can I ask, when you get to the end of your 35 mins, what makes you stop?

Snowbell, welcome. I don't have to juggle kids anymore as mine are a tad older and the eldest will watch the youngest for an hour. It's a damn good job really because I don't need any excuses not to get out there at the moment (struggling with niggling injuries - I think its my age!!) When the children were younger I used to have to go whenever dh was home - he works shifts - and I know that it can be a problem as its hard to get into any sort of timetable, throw a bit a bad weather in and you can find that you've not been out all week.

Personally i find that morning runs suit me better. I find evenings really tough physically and tend to avoid them most of the time.

Fiona...our other halfs must be all the same - I remember mine telling me once that you're only running if you can do a 6 min mile otherwise its jogging . Still, its me whose been out again today (40 mins and so far no pain) and him who's snoring on the sofa!

thanks for your replies everyone. I guess I'll have to be super-organised and very determined to do it. It should be easier with the lighter evenings.

Fionagib, I also work some of the time at home and think I should take advantage of this and run in the morning, but I find it hard to make myself work in the evening to make up the time.

Gizmo, my problem is that DD wants to come running with me! So we've had myself, DD and DP running up the road together, before they turn back!

Beetroot am amazed that you manage to do what you do, iykwim. Is there another runner you could babysit for for an hour and vice versa? Snowbell I did 'involve' my dss (twins aged 8) last year when the nights were lighter - I'd run and they'd pedal along furiously on their bikes - v quiet country roads so was pretty safe, prefer running kid free tho, I have to admit.

When they were younger I did consider plonking them in a clump in the park (also have dd of 4) and running in a great big circle around them! But somehow didn't think that would work....

gizmo think it was just a mental block, that 35 min thing - avoice would start shouting, 'arggh, argghh, the pain, gonna fall over etc etc' but managed 40 mins this morning so feel v (and midly guilty - STILL haven't started work!)

jogging thing made me laff potty, what are they like?

So that's the reason for the 'little voices' - it's our partners whispering in our ears!

Mind you mine is about to reap the whirlwind, as I have finally persuaded him to do a marathon with me.

Mwahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahah!!!!!!!

no doubt he will go like a rocket gizmo

btw last spring when I was training for glasgow 10k I'd come in all excited saying I'd run 55 mins, and my dh would say 'No, you should be doing some sprinting too, you're doing it ALL WRONG.' Then I got the big gun out.

And where is your DH buried now????

Particularly like the 'anything less than 6 minute miles is jogging' theory, but I'm not sharing it with my DH!

I predict my DH will go like a rocket until mile 18 (he is well faster than me) and then have a nasty painful time for the next six miles, as, being a man and possessing a superior physique, obviously he does not need to eat anything/drink energy drinks during a marathon . If I get really lucky I may pass him at mile 25 with a breezy wave.....

Hooray, I have a day off today so have caught up with the thread. Fionag, can identify with the mental block at 35 mins - i have the same, but went out on Sunday and pushed through it to 45 mins. In fact had run out of route so had to circle round the house a few times, pleading with my watch to move a bit faster. I think our bodies are very crafty and adapt quickly to a distance, but tell us that we have reached a limit. I read somewhere once that the only way to run quicker is to run quicker! Ditto for distance. Not sure that I will ever want to get to marathon type distances, but am going to try and increase my time running by at least 5 minutes every month till I'm running for an hour. 5 months ago that seemed inconceivable, now I know it is possible. Only one cloud on the horizon is a strange niggling pain in the top of my foot / big toe area. Will keep running and see if it worsens or not.

Getting v excited about London marathon - it goes right past my house, and we've gone out to cheer every year for ages now. This year will be the first that I've been a runner myself (NOT in the marathon of course). I know it will inspire me to get out more.

Gawd Beety I didn't realise you'd got four!! The running club sounds like a good idea, I can't run alone either - I'm a weak willed, jelly-legged jogger.

merrygoround - I always find that the pavements are packed for a few weeks after the London and the GNR, its a great motivator. As a runner yourself I think you feel a sort of empathy for the ones who are struggling along during the race.

I would absolutely LOVE to do the London marathon but it seems unachievable. Might go in ballot anyhow, when it opens in aug (I think). Could seasoned runners (twink, gizmo etc) say honestly whether the trainings wrecks family life, I mean, just life in general?

know what you mean merry, seeing an improvement in stamina etc is so brilliant. Am not athletic by any means but used to be awash with wine & chain smoking every night.

btw gizmo I missed with the gun and just drove over his foot instead.
My dh bough set of dumb bells (unused).

I agree, FLM (and GNR) is fantastically motivating, but I'm afraid I'm going to be doing the opposite to most of you - I shall watch it from my sofa (in recovery mode post Paris) and probably won't even go out for a run that weekend!

I've only done two marathons so far (and a few halfs) so not most seasoned runner here but I think it's fair to say that preparation is time consuming. A typical 16 week cycle for a beginner is going to involve 4 sessions a week, starting with 8 - 15 miles per week and peaking at over 40. If you multiply that by 10 or 12 minute miles (as a sort of average) it's taking up nearly 7 - 8 hours per week at peak, say. But that 'peak' is not a long period - perhaps a month - 6 weeks.

It does impact on your family life but it can be a positive impact. At the moment, running is quite a big part of my life so for us it's part of family life: my DS comes to races (which he seems to enjoy) and sometimes DH or I will get out the bike and cycle with him alongside whoever is out for a run.

But it's not a permanent commitment - during the summer I'm going to step back a bit and just train lightly with some other local girlfriends. I'll have more time for gossip with them and other things I enjoy.

Even as a once in a lifetime thing, I do think it's worth trying: the atmosphere for these big races is fantastic and you feel proud of yourself for weeks.

I think the FLM magazine (with entry form in) is in the shops in July. Go on...you know you want to.....

I'm a happy smiley Potty this morning Have just done a good forty mins - no pain and not too knackered either!

Good for you Potty! Are you feeling all glowy and virtuous? I love that moment when you step out of the shower, clean and a bit sore but full of mellow smugness

Very glowy Gizmo, especially as I can't get in the shower cos the builders are still here and I've got no water. Just contemplating whether to go to the bank in my smelly state!

Ah yes, the builders...nothing like a sink wash, is there? Just remember: 'horses sweat, men perspire and laydeeezzzz glow'

Hooray: Beety feels Beeter!

Great news Potty, and am pleased that Beety is feeling beeter, just hope she's not purple after her efforts...

I'd agree with Gizmo, although I've not (yet) run a marathon, it is time consuming but if you want to do it, you find the time somehow.
On the other hand if you're pretty ambivalent about the whole idea it's easy to find loads of reasons why you've no time to train.
This comes from someone who would hestitate to invite close friends over her doorstep at the moment In my case running gives me an excuse to not to do domestic stuff but I realise many of you aren't similarly minded.

My training means running Tues & Wed evenings and Thurs mornings for about an hour. While marathon training I've started doing my 'long' run on a Saturday so dd can go to the kids club at our gym, thus minimising the impact on dh. This run has increased from around 75 mins up to a peak of 3.5 hours over the last 16 weeks, but my programme only goes mega long every 2 weeks, unlike some, so it's more family friendly. I try to do a 'recovery' run on a Sunday of around 3 miles, which is usually with dd on her bike and involves swings at some point.

Dh is great, he swims early every morning so I can't use that time as I'm stuffed for childcare so he's happy to reciprocate. Bonus, he's also started doing the ironing while I'm out in the evenings

The main down for me of the long run, is coming back and feeling wrecked - my male training partners all collapse for the rest of the day whereas I immediately pick up childcare as am consumed by guilt !!

Haven't posted for some time but well done to everyone else for getting out there and running, my training (if I can even call it that) is still very intermitent!

To answer Fionagib I would say that marathon training is all consuming. I did it when I was younger, free and single and found it really took over my life for 6 months. I really take my hat off to MNs training now as I really can't see how I would manage it, and I only have 1 ds aged 2.7. However I agree with Twink & Gizmo that if you really want to do it you will make it happen, and yes it is worth it just for the emotion you feel when you cross the finish line, I've done 3 and cried or felt like crying each time I finished. Give it a go, it' a fantasic feeling of achievement.