Couch potato trainig for "Run for Life" Anyone want to join me?

[bunny2]

I have decided to attempt the Run for Life. It is only 5 km, a trifle for marathon runners such as my brother but a real achievement for a lazy bones like me. Should I conceive beforehand, then I will walk it, but chances are I will still be ttc and refuse to put my life any longer. Does anyone want to start a training programme with me?

Sorry, - I refuse to put my LIFE ON HOLD any longer.

When is it? Sorry for my ignorance - I need a bit of a kick up the proverbial, so am interested (she says rashly!)

Crikey, am I rubbish at this??!! Forgot to add the important bit. The Race for Life is a 5 km race for women only to raise money for cancer research. Events take part all over the country so you should be able to find one near you. The website is here

Ooh, I promised I would stop going on about it but now someone else has started another thread I might get second wind !

Bunny2, I did it for the first time last year, mostly by following the programme on the web site. It worked and I got round within my target time (helped by a promise for double sponsorship money if I did !).

This year I've persuaded (nagged ?) some friends to do it and we've all just started training so if you want any moral support we're here !

Which one are you going to enter ? This year is the 10th anniversary so there are some special events as well as the usual ones. It's a great day, very emotional and the sense of achievement at the end is immense.

I'm afraid that I'm skipping this year - my local race is just 2 days after my scheduled c/s! And even allowing for 6 weeks recovery I'm not sure I'd be ready by July. But good luck to bunny2 and twink - which dates will you be running?

June 22 Bournemouth. I am really looking forward to it now. where ru Twink? MiriamW, you have a pretty good excuse so I'll let you off! Good luck with the c/s. I Assume you have do it before, any tips for success? My previous form is cheering bruv on in the Great North Run (on tv of course, couldnt be bothered to make the effort to travel up there).

This will be the 3rd Year that I will be doing it. I jog at the beginning (till I get round the corner) fast walk mostly round and of course Run round the corner over the finish line. I do run with a family member and every year we decided on doing the programme, which we never end up doing. You have inspired me though, my race is on may 11th and I will start the programme today, as dermined to beat last years time.
Good luck Bunny2 and Twink

I'm doing it too! This'll be my first time..... I'm a virgin. I have some serious training to do or I'll end up collapsing! HELP.

Don't panic ! Can you walk 3 miles ? If not, start by trying to do that. If you can, you can try the training programme on the site which starts off with 1 minute walk/ 1 minute jog *10.
Make sure that when you do your jog bits you are not trying to go too fast, if you're with someone you still should be able to speak (just !). The first week is often seen as the hardest because it's such a shock to the body. We're now up to week 4 which is run 4 mins walk/ 3 mins and all the group are finding it easier than the first week.
We're lucky because we've got 2 'spare' weeks as our race isn't until July 6 so if anyone is really struggling we can repeat a week.

Just take it a step at a time and don't try to run before you can walk... Can't think of any more cringy cliches so back to work !

Wow Twink !!! You sound so organised!! I think I'm just going to walk it though. Summer is a bad time for me as my Hay Fever makes my asthma terrible. I'd quite like to enjoy the scenery coz the place where I'm doing it is beautiful and holds a lot of memories for me. Plus I was thinking of getting ds involved for part of the way.

I am going to jog with ds in a pushchair. Thats mainly how I train (running up the roads to the shops is my training). Thing is I can only run in a funny way so I am a bit self-conscious. Might try running after dark. Also must buy a supportive bra and proper shoes, any excuse for shopping.

Bunny I would check to see if you can run with your buggy. My sister in law has run on several occasions and they wouldn't allow you to run with a buggy. Seems really daft when it's a race just for women.

Bunny, don't worry about your running style, other runners won't care as they're concentrating on what they are doing and IME are always keen to support newbies and spectators/observers opinions are irrelevant as you are DOING it, not just watching. If it helps, remember that the media ridicule Paula Radcliffe's bobbing head style - haven't noticed any of them offering to be her pacemaker.

Good luck to you and have confidence in yourself
Kx

Good point Munchie. The reason I like to train with the buggy is so that I can stop and pretend to check on ds when I am out of puff (embarassingly this happens after runnning for about 2 minutes). I shall check with the powers that be.

Thanks for the encouragement Twink. How is your training going? I did go for a run last night but could only manage 2 quick spurts of about 3 minutes before staggering home. I cant believe I will be able to run 3 miles by June.

Bunny2, forget about 'fast' just do 'jog' at whatever pace you think you can cope with. If you go all out in the first few minutes you'll be wrecked, try to keep at a level you think you could still grunt occasionally if you were with someone else !

My training is different cos I've carried on running since last years race but the mates I'm training with are at the same stage as you so I understand !

Your body will adapt fairly quickly to training but always remember that the first bit seems really, really hard - even now my lungs complain like mad when I first start but after about 10 minutes they settle down, I don't know anything about physiology but I suppose the body is getting used to the increased oxygen demand when you start so the heart is playing catch-up for a few minutes (???)

You've got plenty of time so don't try to push yourself too hard, you'll be amazed how fast your fitness increases. Also, remember when you're running with a buggy you've got a lot of extra resistance so it'll be much harder - spent all day today cycling with dd on the back of my bike and really feel the extra 18kg right now !

Go for it. I am doing it for the third time this year. The first time I ran it I had never run in my life. I used their suggested programme and it was excellent. Dont worry if you dont want to run it all though. There were loads of people walking it last year and the atmosphere was great
helen

How are you all getting on ?

Breeze did hers today, beat her previous time and raised stacks of sponsorship so we've got something to match !

I've got 8 weeks to go and am trying really, really hard to get faster.

twink, where are you doing your run for life or is it on july 13th? if so there's a fellow mumsnetter running/walking that day(unless there are two different locations)

Maybe I mis-counted my weeks Chatee, mine is 6th July in the depths of deepest Berkshire. What about you ?

Carlisle.....got to go sorry dd awake...good luck

I am very ashamed to say, having started this thread, I have given up. I hate running and cant do it. Sorry. Good luck to all of you out there, hope you raise lots of money and finish in a good time. I shall skulk back to my couch now.

Well done Breeze. I am very envious of your commitment. Congratulations.

Very honest Bunny2 ! So don't run it, running is tough for lots of people, don't feel bad, I really, really struggle when my running mate can't get out.

Why not get a group of mates together and wander round while catching up on the gossip, lots of my friends do that and have a lovely time, often followed by a pub lunch with all the dp/dh/dd/ds combos