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....?

Gizmo, all the best, hope the sore throat doesn't develop. We get Eurosport here in Austria (albeit in German) and I suspect it is likley to show the race. We'll be thinking of you

hello runners

Any tips on how to improve and keep it going? I am in SW London so if anyone out there fancies running together, perhaps we can link up.

I have just started myself, about 4-5 weeks ago. I try to do at least 3 times a week sometimes on a treadmill and sometimes outside. I find outside more difficult - much harder on the feet! On the treadmill, on a good day I can do 3km, probably a bit less outside, in just under half an hour. Aiming to do the Hydro active (formerly Floralight) challenge in September. Maybe I'll end up like my SIL who ran in her first marathon last year aged 48 and is now completely hooked.

i'm trying to train for the race for life in june in swindon. anyone around that would like to train with me??? want to run 5k in 30 mins or so. Do you think it's possible or am i just dreaming? Did 2.5 in 20mins at weekend but no way i could have done anymore. I need to do some SERIOUS training.

Welcome to the thread !

Firstly, take it easy, build up gradually to avoid hurting yourselves. Secondly, make sure you've got proper running shoes that suit your feet and style (think local running shop rather than big chain as a very general rule of thumb)

Flick through this thread, yes I know it's huge now but there are loads of links, here are a couple to get you started:

one of my favourites for new runners

and

another

The Runners World website has stacks of advice & forums which can be almost as addictive as Mumsnet

Good luck and keep coming back !

NannyJo - well done girl - just keep adding one or two minutes each week and you'll be fine.

And hello to you too gardengirl, I'm doing the Hydro race in Brum in September. Have you got decent shoes if yo're feeling it on the roads?

Gizmo, hope sore throat is vanishing fast, fingers crossed you've not got a proper lurgy..

Potty1, yes winding down big time, partly out of my control as had a weekend away with a girlfriend plus our kids so only managed 5 miles instead of the scheduled 15 (which I think was too much anyway !) From now on I'm only doing 5 or 6 at a time which will drop even lower by the end of next week. Thanks for the tips, I hope to avoid gardens in fact seriously contemplating Imodium but that's far more info than anyone needs !

A couple of people have suggested that I use meeting point Q or Z to be different, or is that something that everyone thinks of ?

We met at point P but TBH it was just packed. It didn't help that dh finished in about 3.40, a good 20 mins before I was expecting him. Plus I'd spent a (short ) time in the pub sheltering from the rain, by the time I got there I think he'd left as he was sick of waiting.

My advice would be pick a meeting point and don't move!!

How can we spot you on the TV? - we videoed the coverage and spotted dh just after the start, talk about lucky lol!

Gizmo - sorry - good luck in Paris!! Can you say 'Where is the toilet?' in French.

Mais oui, Pottyune, but I can't talk French and run at the same time (not enough spare brainpower!), so I shall have to revert to smiling and speaking ... very.... clearly in English.

Sore throat is remaining but flu type thingy doesn't seem to be arriving so it looks like I'm off to Paris. I need a slightly-scared-but-also-excited emoticon.

Back on Monday so I'll give you a post match report then.

Ta ra.

PS Hello, Nannyjo and Gardengirl, hope your training is going well and we can be helpful!

Hello may I join in this thread?
I went running today with my best friend and we ran for 20 minutes, but able to talk. I feel brilliant! I posted yesterday about being too knackered to go, and thank you ladies for your advice.
I DID IT! I DID IT ! and I'm not looking back now

Binky - well done.......you'll soon be addicted

Is it better to run everyday or every other day? Also where are you all up to in your training?

Well done Binkybetsy ! Running and talking is fab

Take it slowly to start with, it can be frustrating but better than ending up with an injury.

The usual advice is never to increase your distance in any run by more than 10% or your overall total in a week by more than 10% - I guess you could use time in place of distance.

If I were you I'd try to do a couple of runs a week for 2-3 weeks and see how you feel, then try for 3 per week, but not try to up the time/distance of each until you're comfortable with the 3 (assuming that's possible to fit into your domestic life, otherwise slightly extend the length of the 2 per week)

Have you got a goal in mind ? Many of us are doing Race for Life/other races/trying to shift weight/be a better example to our kids/be healthier for ourselves or a combination of these.

Keep at it, and let us know how you're getting on.

I know gizmo's gone to paris but good luck lady!!! We await full report!

My running not been too good lately, struggle to run 40 mins, and edinburgh ten k is only 4 weeks away, eek. Glasgow is following week. double-eek. I agree tho (I think it was twink) - races are brilliant fun.

Off to yorkshire with my ma and kids tomorrow for a week, will get out running as much as poss - have to be able to run at least 45 mins by end of next week.... or have I just not trained enough and screwed up? we've had friends staying, dh off work and too much wine flowing....

Hurrah!
Ran for 30 minutes tonight
Gosh isn't it funny how when you start you find there are others to join you? Tonight my friend and I went out again, but with another woman who runs twice weekly, but whose running partner couldn't go. We all know each other well and have decided to all go together twice a week, but my b.friend and I may do a couple more runs if we feel able.
Groin felt a bit tight on the left side after last night so I really stretched it out and didn't have a problem tonight, phew!
I forgot how important stretching was tbh.
My hands were freezing tonight, does anyone wear gloves? and if so where do you get them?
Actually where do you all buy your running gear from and what do you wear?

Binky - its great to have a couple of people to run with, that way if one isn't able to go (and like me you don't like running alone) there's always someone else to go out the door for.

I wear gloves when its cold - plus a hat sometimes, both just cheap items from Asda as I tend to lose them along the way. Mostly I get my stuff from our local specialist sports/runners shop Bournes . They sell online. You don't need expensive kit though, just wear layers when its cold, although decent shoes are an investment if you are running regularly on the roads, saves on sore legs and injuries.

Fiona

4 weeks is plenty of time to up your running time, just listen to my nagging for once !

No excuses this week as you've got ideal babysitters, so plan what you want to do, tell everyone else about it and get your a&s out there.

Try to get out in the morning, perhaps while the kids are having breakfast, that way you can feel super smug later & crack open the wine when you're feeling stressed, knowing that you've already done your stuff.

You're much more likely to skip if you plan to go out in the evening aren't you - and this is from someone who only 'knows' you in hyperspace

Going out early also helps kick start the metabolism too so get out there !

Do an extra 2 minutes each time you run this week, or try to do a mini-hill session instead: if your route has a hill, run up it at your normal pace then, sorry, turn around and walk or jog back down, then go up it again. If you can face doing this once more, great, but even if not, it's great for exercising your quads (big ones at front of thighs) so helps avoid injuries - running on the flat exercises hamstrings which are the opposing muscles but if you don't do quad stuff you risk knee injuries (been there, got the T shirt)

Have a good break !

I went for another 3 mile run on saturday and felt like my lungs were caving in! My FIL, who is a very seasoned runner shall we say, says it's always the 3rd run that's the worst when you restart running, is this true?
Also I've decided to enter a race, it's sometime in May (don't know the exact date yet) and it's 7.5 miles - eek!
I've got a route for 5 miles, is it too early to try this distance tomorrow and will I be able to increase from 3 to 7.5 miles in about 5 weeks?
All answers appreciated, thanks.

Can I also just ask why am I producing masses of yellow phlegm? I don't think I've had a cold recently. Worse in the morning but still present during the day. Might it be my lungs clearing themselves out from running? It would appear I have lungs like a 30 a day smoker at the minute! I've never smoked!!

Looking forward to Gizmo's Paris update. How are you looking for Edinburgh, Fiona? I've got Balmoral in 3 weeks then Edinburgh - had my first outdoor run at the weekend since last November - felt fabulous to be outside (rain, hills, variable surfaces, traffic lights, people, notwithstanding!). Time is way off (just realised 10k is 6.2miles and not just 6). Not to worry - just glad to be exercising again. Hope all had good weekend runs.

Binky - not sure about your chest, but hope it improves soon.

Did you try for the 5 miler? It sounds a bit of a jump to me - well for me anyway. TBH 4 to 6 miles is what I enjoy so I wouldn't consider doing more but I'm sure you could get up to 7 1/2 in a month if you are keen and have the time to do it slowly. Don't forget to take your rest days though......most important.

Thanks Potty1, not sure what it is. Hope it sorts itself out soon though.
Didn't run today, Ds fell and bumped his head quite severely so I'm staying home to monitor him closely. Not that I don't trust DH, but I'm sure you know what I mean . Will go Wednesday instead. I'm gutted though as it's a beautiful evening, perfect for running by the river.

I've been out this afternoon - down by the canal, loads of boats out today so very pleasant - but an attack of the shin splints made me come back early .

Voila! J'arrive!

Can I just be a very smug member of the smug family from Smugland?

3.41:37.

It's taken until today for me to get excited about it, but this morning I woke up and thought 'Bloody Hell, girl, you're good for age!' and the sun was shining and the birds were tweeting and it really wasn't a dream.

Just to put the icing on the smug cake, I also beat DH by seven minutes.

Paris definitely gives good marathon: if you are contemplating doing one then I would put it on your shortlist, along with London (naturally). It's a nice scenic route, with lots of support all the way along - music, crowds, water, fruit, wine and cheese (after all this is France!) - and no 'dead' zones where you feel you're on your own. Relatively flat, too, although there are a few bits where you come out of road tunnels that are unwelcomely steep.

DH hasn't had the best preparation, so decided at the last minute (ie the start line) that he would run with me and do a nice conservative marathon. Plan being that I would pace him until mile 22 and then he could go on and try for a time. Well, his presence bought out my competitive streak and although I did the first half bang on the right time for a 3:45 marathon I got a bit excited between miles 16 and 22 and basically at mile 22 he disappeared!

I won't dwell on the last 4 miles: they were unpleasant (even though the Bois de Boulogne is very pretty and there were lots of vans offering glasses of wine and slices of sausage) and I am still suffering quite badly today. But it is a bit like childbirth - I'm already planning my next race, even as the memory of the nastiness of the last one fades.

I'm so happy, happy, happy

Gizmo, what a fantstic run you must be so pleased . "Good for age", dare we ask the figure or is it a secret?

You have spurred me into action, I'm just going out for a 30min shuffle with the dog.