New Year (almost!) New Mumsnet Runners Thread. Come on in........

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Runner's World

Race for Life

Map my Run

What's your aim for 2008?

Mine is to enjoy running for the whole of 10k rather than just the middle 20 minutes - and it would be great to do the distance in under an hour but I'm not overly hopeful in that respect

Laundrylover, I can only motivate myself to run these sorts of distances if I'm following a training schedule - otherwise I find any excuse under the sun to wimp out!

Weirdly I find planning a route quite motivating - have just been working out a 15-mile route for Sunday and am now quite looking forward to it (in a perverse, masochistic sort of way ...)

Theresa, I think if you have to think about your breathing you're probably doing it wrong! Some people breathe in for (say) three steps then out again for three steps. Couldn't really say what I do as I don't think about it. If you're having difficulties breathing though, you may well be running a bit too fast. Try imagining you're having a conversation (talk out loud if you need to!) If you can't run and sustain the conversation at the same time you probably need to slow down a bit.

Thanks currantbun, i may try that.

OK hatwoman, more advice needed plse! Have been onto good run guide, registered for 1 months free trial (although I think I can manage £10 a year!). I've measured and saved 4 runs, but I cant get into my log book to note what i've done. I'm clicking ont o training log along the top, then trying to click onto log book, the screen 'flickers' as if its going to change but just goes back to the 'overview' page with all of the (blank!) charts and graphs! Any suggestions?
Thx for all of your help

not sure what's going on there theresa - can you see "log a run" on the left-hand side?

I'm not a paid up member yet either - but I reckon I'll stretch to the £10 too!

thank you for your help, logged out and back in agian and its working, have just finished putting all of my little runs in, looks very impressive!

Well done CB - sounds like you are more than on track!

I am chuffed with myself, as I managed a 6 miler today (maybe even a bit longer), the longest run I've done since an 8 miler two weeks before Christmas. Much more like it.

Hi guys, please may I join?

I am really enjoying my running at teh moment. Can do 40 ish mins on treadmill at gym but give in more due to boredem really. Went out with dh today and amazingly I kept up with him and ran for a whole hour, and I felt I had more left

Will sign up for race for life and my target is to do a 10k which I reckon is now acheivable.

Any tips? I find the mental part the hardest, and have to will myself to keep on going.

tips

• bin the treadmill. awful things. get yourself some fresh air instead, find some scenic routes
• music - uplifting and brilliant
• do yourself a schedule and keep a log - measure and time your runs (see various route-measuring sites linked above)so you can monitor progress
• and finally (which you've already done) enter a race - the biggest thrill ever.

god I love running. how on earth I deserted it for 6 months I'll never know.

This may sound really dim but how do I measure a run?

here or here. I like the second one because you can keep a log there too. it costs a tenner a year but you can try it free for a month

Am loving that second site

it's great isn't it? I've just noticed that it calulates how many calories you burn up too!

Hi all ..... looks like I'm going to need some tips on running when pregnant .... .

Well, first run of the new year! Am still recovering from my awful cold but couldn't wait. Found I was ok to run but no exercise for 2 weeks and no running for over 6 has taken its toll. I warmed up in the gym on the bike and then did about 1.5 miles. Amazing how great it felt in one way but how unfit I am. And the pain in my groin which has niggled since summer showed itself after the hill. Has anyone any tips for ways to avoid this like stretches or exercises?
But mood good the rest of the day and much easier not to give in to eating rubbish as well so good all round. Am going to try to get out at work at lunchtime and walk 20 mins the days I'm resting.
Am aiming to do a another half marathon this year, haven't done this since DS. First step to get back to running 4 miles without any pain. Happy running everyone!

Hello, can I join? In dire need of inspiration and encouragement, having signed up for Bath Half marathon on 16 March - my first attempt at anything longer than 10K - at grand old age of 44. Worse still have persuaded 3 others from work to join me, so v difficult to gently forget about the whole thing. Grim lurgy over Christmas has only just gone away, so did first run since mid December yesterday and only managed 3.5 miles before sore muscles and waterlogged fields did for me. How do I get back to running longer distances asap? Too scared to even download Runners World training programme for fear of depressing myself further. Can only run outdoors, and this weather isn't helping. Is anyone else out there running the Bath Half?

hold on a minute

9th Jan "we're contemplating trying for number 3"

15th Jan "rather trying to extend the Pidge family at the moment"

20th Jan "looks like I'm going to need some tips on running when pregnant"

if you're saying what you seem to be saying (and what else could you be saying?) emormous congrats!!!! let's have some details then...

latermater - my fil and step mil are - I didn;t sign up in time so am doing Fleet half the same day.

did 6.3 miles this morning - first of that sort of length for a while. I'm feeling pretty achey for it. takes my total for the month so far to 40 miles. not bad considering that in December I probably did about 6 all month. [i think I'm just talking to myself here...mrs no mates that's me...]

Yay! I have finally reached the 5 mile mark. It's taken months to get there, but I made it. And there were hills DH doesn;t understand why a number matters so much?

Was exhausted when I got home but pleased with myself.

hatwoman - you're spot on!! Got the positive pregnancy test yesterday, though have known in my head since last Tuesday 5 days before period was due because I got the 'pregnancy taste' so recognizable from the last two times. I am unimaginably excited given I've done this twice already!

Anyway, I started running after dd2 was 6 months old, so have never done running in pregnancy, so do bring on those tips. Currently my plan is try to keep up my 2-3 runs per week, and keep them slow and steady. If I'm as sick as I was in the last two pregnancies I may well be incapable of movement in a couple of weeks time!

OrmIrian - big congrats on the 5 mile mark - those barriers you get through are so exciting aren't they. Are you signed up for a 10k yet?

HW, everyone is out running, that's the problem!

Pidge - congrats. No tips for running whilst pregnant from me. Uhhh, the very thought of the nausea is enough to send me wobbly!

Well ladies, I am officially injured. My ankle/top of foot is really painful and am limping around - it even hurts in bed. I am feeling very pessimistic about this half marathon as if a 5 mile run does this it is obviously not ready for training yet. Think I may splash out on a physio appointment - what do you old pro's think???

Just read your news pidge! Congratulations!

Not signed up for anything yet. That would be tempting fate...

great news pidge. how old are your others?

Love the name latermater! I am 42 so I empathise. Until the summer I was doing about 7, then tried to step up and hurt my inner thigh, so it niggles. If it helps I did download the runnersworld training thingies and I think they are too ambitious in terms of amount of running and how quickly you build up the miles. Personally when I'm hurting after 1.5 miles I won't be adding any until it stops hurting! I did a half marathon before and managed on running 2-3 times a week with only one of them a long run. So I plan to have 2 rest days a week and do gym (cycling, weights, and rowing) to build some stamina and muscle strength.
I'd watch out for the waterlogged fields - they are rather hard work due to the ground absorbing your impact , so you will tend to ache more in some ways. Can you do any road or trail running?

Race for Life is open

Sorry for my absence - I have still been power-walking 5k once or twice a week (sometimes with a little jog in the middle!) but pregnancy sciatica is bad this week so haven't been out for a few days. And now I have a bump so I imagine it will start to get rather uncomfortable. 5 months already . Just looked at the Races for Life but they are all within one month of due date so I'll have to pass this year!

Pidge - tips on running when pregnant. Get a general go ahead from GP or midwife, blood pressure etc. Don't get out of breath. Don't get dehydrated. Stop trying to better your times. And reduce the length and speed of your runs accordingly to suit your stage of pregnancy.