Runners Thread Continued

[almost40]

Hi everyone, and congrats to those who did so well over the weekend. I was trying to post a new message on the runners thread, but couldn't because I think there were too many messages (over 800). I have a beginner's question. I ran (walked/ran) everyday for 1 week, then missed 1 week, and then went out this morning, and found that I could not run at all. My ankles are in severe pain when I run, but strangely do not hurt at all when I walk. So I ended up walking the whole way. I just bought new trainers - but I can't imagine that's the problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I might be inspired by this thread to find a half marathon event.....obviously would have to be some time off!!!!

Well done HMC, your 5k time is pretty respectable - I'm another one that finds the treadmill tough going - You'd probably be able to knock a couple of minutes off on the road.

I do a 'markers' type thing when I'm out and about - end of this road, next bridge, the gorgeous bloke with the dog (amazing how that one spurs you on ).

I'm another one who hates treadmills. I find them so much harder than road running. I can run faster outside tha I can on a treadmill: despite the fact that I have a very even pace overall, it doesn't seem even enough for a treadmill and I always feel like I am going to fall off.

Plus I find them sooooo boring - and hot. Too much like hard work for me!

On the positive side, I think I'll be christening my new running shoes tonight as I am finally feeling like I am getting over my cold. Don't think dh will be joining me though, as he is having his last (in a long series) appointment ofr root canal treatment as I type this!

potty1 - lol at gorgeous bloke with the dog...but more likely to inspire me to run and hide behind nearest bush to avoid him seeing my ample behind in too small trackie bottoms.

Well I did manage to get out and chriten my new shows - only a wee run, 19 minutes, and probably just under two miles, but it is a start.

Next run porbably tomorrow night - I've got Pilates tonight.

Oops - should preview: I've christened my new shoes!!

Thank you for the welcomes and thanks for your suggestions Gizmo - sorry it's take a while to respond but our internet connection has been dodgy the last few days.

Good idea about using distance/weight loss as goals, think I'll try that.

what type of diet do you follow?

Tabitha, how did you get on ? Ours was seriously hot, so a real struggle for most people.

I was slightly quicker than last week, but it was a mainly flat course today, the heat certainly slowed me down.

Hi Twink, I got on okay. Thanks for asking.
It was very hot but because we were running through woods there were nice shaded cool bits from time to time. There was also a killer hill at the start .
I managed it in just over 41 mins - not great but I did a lot more walking than I would have liked. I am determined keep at it and do another one and improve on this. I have also managed to find a running partner as my next door neighbour also ran the race (which I didn't know until I saw her there today) and we've arranged to start running together.
Where was your race, Twink. And what time did you do?

That's great. I find it a great help to have someone to go out with as it gets me out of the door on days when I wouldn't bother.

I fell into step with someone at my first RFL (3 years & 4 races ago) and we discovered she lived in the next road. We've since completed 3 half marathons & a number of 10k races together and although she hadn't time to do the marathon with me she still helped me train.

Next time you'll have got another 6 weeks training done and will amaze yourself. Did your back hold up ok ?

My race was at Newbury, on a mixture of grass & tarmac with no shade at all and I finished in just over 22 mins - an enormous improvement from when I started running.

Just started running again too. Am doing Race for Life next Sunday so as with others am a bit late getting fit for that but at least its short enough to walk if necessary.

Went out again on friday - first run for yonks with dh, which was nice. Did 31m 10s - about 3 miles. SLow, but as I am onoly just starting again, that's OK.

Will go out again tonight - need to keep the momentum going so that I can break 2 hours in the Glasgow 1/2 - less than 8 weeks ot og!

Twink - half marathons ? respect [awe emoticon]

I downloaded application forms for the Swindon half marathon in October (did it last week in a post Olympics announcement euphoria), but later realised that I could no more run 13 miles than I could fly to the moon. Might do the 4.3 mile all terrain fun run in Swindon on the same day.

Did a personal best on Thursday for 5km - 31 mins 51 secs, so I am edging closer to my 30 minute target.

On Sunday I ran 7.5km - which is probably the furthest I have ever run. All on the treadmill though so 'pseudo running' (I feel so fake!). Least it was air conditioned though.

Angelp - good luck with race for life.

Twink, 22 minutes! - that's brilliant.
If you don't mind me asking what time did you do your first 5k in and how long ago was that?

I did my first RFL 3 years ago, so this is my fourth year IYSWIM.

A bit of history, apologies to those who've heard it before. After having my daughter, I piled weight on, reaching around 14 stone which is not great at 5'4". I lost a bit on my own then joined the local Rosemary Conley club. They were signing up to do RFL but I felt I couldn't even walk 5k let alone run it so didn't join in but vowed that next year I'd be there.
I started going to the gym & walking on the treadmill, gradually increasing the incline until after about 6 months it was as high as possible. Then I started trying to run a bit but on a 0% incline & found it easier than the walking. 3 months before RFL 2002 I followed their training programme and made it round a flat course on the day in 29mins 58 secs. The time was entirely due to my brother promising to double my sponsorship if I completed in under 30 mins

After that, as I said earlier, I met my neighbour & we decided to enter a 10k race, then a half marathon & we've just carried on. Now we also do speed work & hill training which helps us to get quicker. At the moment we seem to be beating the ageing process and are still improving.
We also keep our weight under control without dieting and I'll never go back to being a 40-a-day smoker, for me RFL has literally been a life-saver.

That's brilliant, Twink
Very inspiring.

That is an inspiring story Twink

I went out again last night with dh - same route as Friday, but did it in a minute less, so very pleased

Still hard work though - I hate how tough it is to get back to feeling fit again. Trying to be sensible and only run shorter distances while I build up again means that my body never has a chance to get beyond the "this is is really hard, I really want to go home, you shouldn't be doing this to me" stage!

Gosh you can tell it's hot, can't you? This thread is so quiet I think we're going to have to declare a unilateral running holiday.

Desparate to jam in an outing without doing an impression of the Wicked Witch of the West (cue squeaky voice: 'I'm melting, I'm melti...n......g.......) I even got up at 6am this morning and found that dozens of other runners had the same idea. The parks of Cambridge were jammed with 'em. However, try as I might, running first thing doesn't agree with me, as old(er) age means early morning creakiness and an arthritic shuffle replaces my normal athletic bounding .

So how is everyone else's running going: arthritic shuffle or athetic bounding?

Big news is that the entry magazine for FLM have been printed and will hit the shops soon. Twink, are you going to have another crack at it? Can I persuade anyone else to have a go? Maybe even a mumsnet meeting?

Mine's definitely an arthritic shuffle!

I've even had to add a stretch into my post run stretching schedule (I don't "do" stretches beforehand - just start off very slowly): an inner thigh stretch, as I really suffered last week after my first run and it made my second run very difficult until I got warmed up.

Definitely old age creeping up

My lovely sports massage mate (whose course has finished - so no more free massages ) always used to get so disappointed in me if I didn't stretch, that I started doing some yoga stretches before runs.

Unfortunately as I discovered this morning, if you try doing 'downward facing dog' on dewy grass with very old worn running shoes on, your feet slip slowly backwards until you become 'nose buried in grass dog'. I'll have to stick to traditional 'can I push this tree over' hamstring stretches in future.

I thought there had been research that suggested stretching beforehand made very littel difference - but stretching afterwards (as long as you hold the stretch for a decent length of time) was beneficial.

Don't disillusion me: that's my excsue and I'm sticking to it!

Agree with you about early morning runs: they're just not normal.

There's probably a law against it in some states. Come to think of it, I thought the other runners looked a little, um, strange .

Not as strange as the chap who was obsessively skateboarding on the big ramp in the first park I went through. Skateboarding - at 6.15 am? I thought it was the preserve of slacker teenagers who can't get out of bed until 12 at the earliest.

Anyway, talking of not normal....Flora London Marathon. Go on, you know you want to

Arthritic shuffle here too, plus hacking cough to boot . I went out on Tuesday for the first time in 3 weeks, went really slowly and made in to 4 miles before collapsing in a heap.

I like morning runs but not early morning runs, preferably after 9am.

Hmmmm, I blame the hot weather, I'm sure it makes me stiffer, although I'm darned if I can work out why.

Do you think we could club together and buy a nice bath chair (and obviously a nice young man to push it!)