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....?

Oh and Enjoy It!!

The first time out is the hardest - I promise

I found the hardest thing being self conscious about people looking at me, but you get over that quite quickly.

Also, landmarks are good. "I'll run to the bus-stop, then walk, then start running again at the 30mph sign until the post box, then walk" etc. After about a month, i was joining up the dots and running the whole way, and it's a great motivator the more dots you join up.

Blimey motherinf, am impressed, ya goddess!

Twink, so glad to see you popping up on here, you're a complete inspiration as to what can be achieved. 4 stone!!! and I remember you saying on fag thread that you'd shaved 10 mins off your 10k time. Could you pop onto this thread when you have a mo, and share tips? Thanks for links too...

Did anyone read Fergie's comment about trying yoga etc, but only taking up running stopped her butt looking like 2 ferrets fighting in a sack?

great to see so many runners & would-be runners!! am gonna get out for 30 mins tonight come hell, hail or high water. merry go round, look forward to a report on tonight's run!

Yeah oneofeach I agree, races are great incentive - was so scared before my first one last spring that I was nearly sick in car, but once it started, it was fine - did like doing a women's race for my first one as there was a lovely supportive atmosphere and, naturally, loads fo chat...

you got a good pair of running shoes sopable? take care of your ankle....

Clary am so impressed!!!

sorry to rant but am just gonna put my intentions down in un-wipe-out-able black and white...

WILL RUN 30 MINS TONIGHT
WILL RUN 35 MINS ON FRI
(am away most of weekend)
WILL RUN 35 MINS ON MON

xxxxx bye

Downloadable running plan here

Really enjoyed the Flora Light Womens 5k in September, walked it really and was dissapointed in my time but I did raised over £1300 for downs Syndrome Association. Would love the challenge of another run but I feel everyone would get fed up of me asking for sponsorship so I'm relectant to do another one.
It's my "running night"tonight, will have a look at some of these sites to try to get a set program in place.Thanks everyone.

me too dingle, am desp to get out (and to be honest get it over & done with so I can have a glass of wine!) but dh not home yet...

I mean me too it's my running night, not me tooo I raised all that money for charity!!

That's brillaint beetroot, I went out for 30 mins tonight, can REALLY feel it in the legs but am chuffed, feel justified in having a v large glass of wine...

I only stuck to my 15 minutes again tonight, did about the same distance (1.2 miles) but manage to keep a steadier pace.
Finished off with 60 sit ups. That's all I could manage tonight, really feeling my muscles aching! Still it is only my first week back, I'd forgotten I had stomach muscles and even my calves are aching!! Never had that before!
Off for a nice hot shower and an early night.

Beetroot, how fast are you doing your mile on the treadmill ? You might find you surprise yourself when you go outside as it's sooo much more interesting that people often run faster than they do indoors.

Fiona, well done, I'm just finishing off my glass after my session tonight.

Dingle, 15 mins is good, next time try 16, if you can do that ok, stick to that for the next 2-3 runs then try 17, then drop back to 15 for a session.
As for sponsorship, I think you might be pleasantly suprised; I was worried about donor fatigue after I'd done a few races so decided to only ask for sponsorship for 2 races per year (my special ones) but when friends hear I'm about to race they often ask if I'm being sponsored and volunteer money for my chosen charity. The other thing I do is to tell friends I've set a particular target and ask them only to pledge money if I achieve it.

Following on from what I've just posted for Dingle, this may help you all:

When I started, I was told never to increase the length of any run by more than 10% (time or distance), never increase my weekly total by more than 10% and every fourth week cut back slightly to reduce the risk of injuries.

I only get hurt when I try too hard !

That's good advice Twink, would like to get up to running 45/50 mins or so by Christmas...

Have you ever run a mararthon? A friend is v keen for us to do the dublin one (oct 2005) toegther - we couldn't train together cos she lives too far away but we could help each other in a geeing up email kinda way. Would aim to do a half marathon first, maybe late spring. Theres one in Exeter which is opp end of the country but a good friend is running it.

dingle, v impressed with your sit ups, can't face doing any at the mo, find them horrendous.

right girls, out again tonight I hope after a late-evening pre-Christmas raid on Ikea (!well, there's nothing on TV...)
everyone keep it up. Will try to extend yesterday's effort by just a minute or two.

I went out last night - lovely clear night but pitch black which was a bit weird...need to get a lightweight torch that I can carry - I couldnt read my watch but ended up doing 20 mins. Felt very virtuous, slept like a log until 3.30 when dd2 woke up and stayed up now feel like a big pile of poo

why didn't i notice this before?? great thread and makes me feel better now i've checked out the absolute beginner's training plan - had just been for a run and horror-struck at how breathless i was. did 20 mins with a LOT of stops, had thought i was fitter as walk alot but guess i'll have ot build up gradually.

Gradual is good, walk/run programmes are perfect for starting on. Ignore anyone who says otherwise & don't let friends or partners try to wind you up with disparaging comments - they need to put up or shut up !

For those of you urbanites, streetlights are useful, run to the first, walk 1, run 1 or jog 1, run 1, walk 1 etc, you get the idea !

John Bingham aka the Penguin has written loads of inspirational stuff about being a beginner/ being slower than others etc and always signs off with 'Waddle on my friends'

There's a load of stuff for beginners & lapsed runners here inlcuding links to some of his stuff.

Fiona, can I CAT you so I don't bore everyone to death ?

poor sleep deprived enid! & welcome zolapola...

yes of course you can cat me twink! I could rant on about running even tho am hardly whippet-like and have had long periods of complete inactivity. Feel really good tho after just 2 runs this week, gonna get out tomorro either v early morning or eve... am away most of w'end so look forward to catching up sunday evening & HOPE you've managed to get running shoes on...

been out tonight post ikea (top tip: go there 8.30pm and it's just empty!)
Did usual 15-min circuit then added another minute up the street and back as per Twink's recommendation. Feeling very good.
working late tomorrow so am glad i did this tonight.
Nothing else to do anyway as washing machine has died (horror!!) but it does mean there is no ironing in the basket!!!
well done zolapola and enid, fiona are you serious re marathon (you've seen how far it is, right?)

Hi thanks for the welcome - you ladies are most encouraging, inspired to try an evening run now, but with a lot more stops this time.

What a great thread!

I started running last March with a goal of running the Great North Run this September. when I started I could just about run 3 miles very slowly. Most of my running was done first thing in the morning, to minimize the impact on family life (and because expecting my DH to come home at anything like an hour reasonable enough for me to run in the evenings was an impossibility!). So all summer I turned out at 05.30, first three and then four times a week - not always easy to get out of bed, mind, but always worth it in the end.

What kept me going out there was having a goal - the Great North - which I'd told everyone about. So I had to keep on training, or look a fool... Once I started really feeling I was fitter, and losing some weight, that really helped keep me motivated. Plus, I found that I actually enjoyed running (OK, not every single run, but most of them, even - or maybe especially - the ones in the rain).

I ran the Great North and had a brilliant time doing it. I'm running my second half marathon this Sunday (wish me luck!).

One lovely thing has been that both my children have wanted to run with me - DS (who is 7) came out with me to do my last taper run this morning, and we had a great time together.

fionagib - I'm looking at doing the Dublin marathon next October, too. I've always said I didn't want to do a marathon, but to have got this fit and not go for it just this once seems a waste. I decided against London because I don't want to do my long runs over the winter in the cold and dark.

Good luck for Sunday Azzie ! Which half are you doing ?

Let us know how you get on

OOOhh...been looking at the Runners world site link...so tempted to do another run,,,need something to work for again.
Don't want to travel too far, the it cost me so much for us to all travel up for The Flora Light in Hyde Park. There are a couple of more local ones though.DH is quite tempted too.
Feeling really low over the last few days, can't really get motivated with anything.
It's a "running night"too-I don't feel as if I have got the energy to stand for long,let alone run.

Sorry Azzie, enough of my moping, Good Luck for Sunday.

Dingle, what side of London are you ?

You can stick your details in here and it will give you something to focus on which might help with motivation.

Good longer distance races for southern-based peeps (not just southerners, northerners live here too !!) are the Bramley 10/20 (10 miles or 20) Feb, Wokingham half Feb, & Reading half, Mar 6th