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....?

On the PR thing, I think perhaps people should be careful what they accuse her of. We have to remember that these threads are archived and in the public domain and therefore these are not private conversations despite the feelings of anonymity we are afforded.

Having a rest day today, preparing for a longer run tomorrow.
Just out of interest how does your schedule go after a marathon. Do you rest for a while or keep going for the next one?

Can anyone advise whether it's best to run one day, rest the next etc etc (when training for 10k) or whether you should really push yourself harder, and take only, say, one or two rest days a week?

I do find it quite hard to run on 2 consequtive days...

After a brief look at the 'other' thread have decided to keep quiet & not return

I'm just taking a gradual post-marathon approach - I could get up and down stairs ok yesterday, slowly. Today the general badly bruised leg feeling has reduced to a few specific areas so after saying 'hi' at running club, I went swimming. Hopefully I'll be able to jog with the club tomorrow, but I think I'll probably be on my bike instead.

Gizmo & Prettybird will have far better ideas than me, but my gut feeling is to cross-train for a few days then gradually start running. I'm going to reduce my mileage too as I'm sure my body can't sustain what I was doing pre London.

Fiona, go with what is right for you; usually the advice is to never have 2 hard sessions back to back so if you have done a tough run where you've pushed yourself further/harder than normal, either rest, cross-train or jog the next day.

Also remember that ideally you never increase the length of your longest run by more than 10% at once or your overall weekly mileage by 10% either.

Gosh, must shut up & go to bed ! Oh,I now have an official time (apologies to friend, there was a technical hitch apparently) so I did 3:52:34

thanks for advice twink, hope you're looking after yourself post-marathon xx

am really chuffed cos I managed to run my 45 min route and felt I still had a bit of energy left in me - ran it with a friend this a.m, what a difference a running chum makes!

3.52.34. That's really good going Twink: are you pleased?

My habit, Fiona, is to mix hard fast days with longer, easier days or rest days. The basic pattern at the moment is

Monday - hashing (as hard as I want it to be, basically)
Tuesday - rest
Wednesday - speed work
Thursday - easy run
Friday - longer harder run
Saturday - rest/easy run
Sunday - really long run

So yes, no back to back hard days.

hello everyone thanks for the welcome. JKust reporting back on my first run on Monday night which was.......ok but a bit disheartening. I live in a hilly place and thought I was pretty fit from pushing buggy up and down it - I find that I can walk really fast but making the transition from that to a slow jog is a killer! It was mostly brisk walking with a few bits of running thrown in. I am planning to do it every other day - does that sound sensible? And try and stick to a half hour but just try and increase the running and decrease the walking.

Thanks gizmo, sounds like you're v organised with a good routine going. Meant to say congrats on your fantastic time twink, am in awe!!!

I really would love to do london marathon next year, just to run through london basically, where I lived for 18 years and love dearly (and still miss, gulp!)

Puddle, don't be hard on yourself - am sure others will have better & more expert advice, but what you're planning to do sounds ideal. I found running HELLISH to start with, would feel sick, tearful, like my lungs would burst, and totally crap. Like others have said, you'll start to see small improvements amazingly quickly and feel very chuffed with yourself.

Sorry, me again with more questions!
Can anyone tell me how long you need to wait after eating to let food digest before running? I'm sure it's different for everyone but what would be a good average rule of thumb?

I'd love to run, but fear i am too fat to even start and would collapse after a minute. and give myeelf black eyes in the process. Is there anyway i could run??

I do walk alot. i don't drive so.

Puddle, well done for getting out. Sounds like you have been really sensible mixing up running and walking. If you keep it up for a few weeks you'll find the running bits getting longer and the walking bits shorter, I promise.

How about only running on the downhills?

As for eating - I think you probably need to leave at least an hour, depending on how much you've eaten and what it was. (I've learnt the hard way it can take me more than 2.5 hours to digest an enormous greasy fry up )

Hermione1!

Gotta ask you - where did you get that name? Been dying to know for ages...

um, kids are goine harry potter mad , my daughter wants to be hermione. so it was the first thing that came into my head. abit sad really aren't i?? lol

Ohhhh, not as sad as my mother.....

Anyway, to answer your question - there are plenty of people out there running who are on the big side. Go watch any sizeable city race and there are people of all shapes and sizes.

There are also plenty of people who were on the big side and have left it behind. Not sure which category you want to fall into though

You might find this thread on runner's world inspirational and/or useful. If you want to give it a go, there's plenty of people on here setting their own goals who'll help you keep your motivation up!

thanks gizmo, not too worried now because there seems to be people alot bigger than me.

It will be hard finding time to do it because i work part-time, on different days each week, so does hubby, but you make time wouldn't you?

Am seriously thinking of having ago, need to get a sports bra first though, lol.

Hi Hermione, sounds like you've got the right idea already; you do make time if you want to do it enough.
My kitchen floor is living (almost literally !) proof of that. I've finally cut the grass today, I think the neighbours thought we were starting a wildlife meadow. There was no way I was going to miss running FLM due to an accident with a lawnmower

Gizmo () I'm mostly really pleased with my time BUT, know that I'm capable of better if these pace calculators are to be believed. Finishing was always my main goal, sub-4 was my 'hoped for' target, with a good for age time being an outside chance if all went really, really well.

Being 7 mins outside that gives me real hope for next time (yes, there will be another, but not for a while !)

A friend's dh is an athletics coach & says it's a fab time for a first marathon and I AM pleased, it's just... well you know !

Twink I think that's a fab time & I'd be mighty proud of it if I were you, which I'm sure you are!

Fionagib - I ouwld say at your stage, as you are no longer a beginner, running 4 to 5 times a week if you are able to is what you should aim at. But as Twink says, alternatie "hard" sessions - never do two back to back. So, you could do, say a long "pace" session followed by a medium length easy run, followed by a say's rest, or the do the easy run the day beofre the long session, then have a day off. Some people recommend that yuo do go out for an easy run the day after hard sessions, just to relax your muscles again - but usually, it's whatever I can fit in!

Talking about fittiing in - I haven't managed to get out since Sunday, as MOnday I was due to go to Pliates - but had to cancel as I still had work to do on a tender document 9I really could have done with an short easy run, asI was quite stiff from the day before), I was so late home from work on Tuesday it was too late to go out - and last night I was out again with work. So I really must get out tonight.

Twink - that really is an excellent time for a first marathon. I took three marathon's to break 4 hours - my PB was 3 hr 56min. But I was a young, single 31 year old - so it was much easier to train then.

Now I'm a not so fit mairred mother of a 4 year old and really struggle to find the time to train for a 10k, let alone a marathon!

Ah, Twink, wondered if you might be a bit 'under-whelmed'. Do you remember the days when you completed a half marathon and had no idea how you could do another one on top? You know now, cos you've done it. It really is a bloody good time you know, my sources tell me you beat Steve Redgrave, Cath Bishop, The Cheeky Girls (again) all the footballers who ran, Floella Benjamin, Lorraine Kelly and Steve Ryder

If it's any help to you, I knocked 35 minutes off my time between my first and second marathon and I think I'm still improving. This seems to be a common pattern, if the Runner's World forums are to be believed! Of course, for me, there was also 8 years and a child between number 1 and 2 but I'm sure experience is invaluable: knowing what's coming and how to make adjustments for it really helps. Roll on the autumn, eh?

I did second 'run' last night - in quotes because again it was more of a power walk with the odd bit of jogging in between! Took the advice to run on the downhills. It was a beautiful night and I really enjoyed it - what is great is to be unencumbered by pushchairs, bags etc, I felt so lightweight and free!! My hips are hurting today though dammit. Plan to go again on Friday.

Keep it up Puddle, if you run a bit of the same route each time you can see if you are able to run longer stretches. And don't forget your rest days!

You may need to look at some extensive stretching to see if you can reach the sore muscles in your hips. If the problem continues or gets worse then a spot of professional diagnosis might be called for...

Gizmo I am aiming to go every other day with a couple of days off after 3 sessions. If that makes sense. Does that sound ok?

Thanks very much for advice prettybird. Yes 4-5 times a week would feel good I think. I normally do 3 if I'm lucky and do feel that I need to push it on a bit to get my stamina up. Will get out for a run this eve as it's a gorgeous day then maybe a wee shortie tomorrow eve with my boys on their bikes. Sat will be tricky as it's my dd's b'day party!

It is hard to fit it in, guess am lucky as I work from home so can 'steal' the odd bit of time some mornings before I start work, also dh fine about me nipping out for runs.

twink I think it's a female thing, focusing on what we haven't achieved rather than what we have. A friend told me last night she'd got 82% for an OU assignment, was chuffed at first then started thinking, why only 82%???

What you did was amazing. Apart from your brilliant time, think about the huge amounts of training you managed to put in, and how you stuck to it, when most people blether on about wanting to run a marathon and never actualy do it. I think it's a huge achievement espesh with children. I'd be delighted to do a HALF marathon which is my main goal this year.

Did actually amnage to get out last night for a very short run (almost for the principle of it!).

Got home too late (again), so thought I was going to miss it as I wanted to watch Beechgrove (Scottish gardening programme), but when it finished I realised it was another half hour before supper would ready, so decided to do a 15-20 minute run.

The only complication was that ds (4.5) insisted on coming with me .... so he came along on his "flying bike" (as he calls it - a Lyke-a-bike - a bike without peddles). He can go really fast on it, so it wasn't too much of a hassle - a just did a few wee extra sprints backwards and forwards between us or round a tree - so probably did a good "pace" run. Eneded up being out for 18 min 24s - so at least I felt I'd done something.

Sorry to butt in on thread - just wanted to ask about how I go about starting running. Used to be quite fit pre DD (20 mths) and not too bad now with lots walking and the odd swim. Have started running a couple of miles every now and then but what's the best way to build up properly. Should I run every day or every other day? And when to start incresing length? be very grateful of your advice everyone!