Share your running tips to win a copy of This Mum Runs PLUS Thule Glide sports stroller worth over £300!

[SorchaMumsnet]

Excited for the Olympics? To celebrate the publication of British athlete Jo Pavey's This Mum Runs, here's a chance to win a copy of the new book PLUS a Thule Glide sports stroller - perfect for any mum who runs.

Jo Pavey was 40 when she won the 10,000m at the European Championships. It was her first gold medal and, astonishingly, it came within months of having her second child. Now 42, Jo will be representing Team GB in the Athletics squad for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Jo has been dubbed ‘Supermum’, but her story is in many ways the same as every mother juggling working life with a family – the sleepless nights, the endless nappy changing and the school-run chaos. The only difference is that Jo is a full-time athlete pushing a buggy on her training runs and clocking up miles on the treadmill while her daughter has her lunchtime nap.

Heartwarming and uplifting, This Mum Runs follows Jo’s roundabout journey to the top and all the lessons she's learned along the way. It is the inspiring yet everyday story of a mum that runs and a runner that mums.

Share your running tips for a chance to win a copy of This Mum Runs plus a Thule Glide award-winning high performance sports stroller worth over £300.

This discussion is sponsored by Penguin Random House and will end on 17 August

Always take a drink and wear comfortable footwear and clothing. I find it best to wear headphones and listen to music to kind of zone out and focus or go with a friend so it becomes fun rather than seeming like a tedious thing to do.

Find a group to run with. No only will you get support and encouragement but you could make new friends.
Join park run and attend your local event. It's a friendly atmosphere and runners with buggies are welcomed.

Don't set goals that are unachievable. If you can only run for 4 minutes, just walk the rest of the way and make it your aim to pull your trainers on and do the same the next day. That way you build up your endurance and won't get discouraged too early. All the stupid sports slogans get it wrong: Be easy on yourself and you'll achieve.

I agree with an earlier poster. I am now someone who 'runs' simply because I decided I would be, and by taking up the NHS 'couch to 5K' programme. I'm not fast, I don't look pretty, but I run. I run 3 miles a couple of times a week. The hardest part is putting your trainers on and going out of the front door. But build up from running for 1 minute, to 2 mins and on and on. And the feeling afterwards, of pushing yourself to achieve something you didn't think you could do (even if it is a very small achievement compared to someone else) is just amazing. Proper high-five amazing. Whatever distance you run, however fast or slow you are, you are beating the person laying on the sofa. And a parent that exercises is a great role model for our children. #thisgirlcan

Mp3 Player

I use Runkeeper and listen to music while I run, but I've stopped using headphones and it feels so much better. I'm more aware of what's going on around me and I don't have to keep taking headphones out of my ears to cross roads or run along country lanes. You just have to make sure you don't have any really embarrassing tracks on your playlist. I get a workout summary every 5 minutes which keeps me motivated.

I learnt to run 2 years ago using the C25k app but I stopped when pregnant with DC2 and am struggling to get started agin (she's 7 months). The last couple of weeks I've discovered a great, albeit embarrassing trick: I now run with Pokemon Go. I have the app up and phone in hand, the app vibrates when there is something to see or do and I glance at it for long enough to decide whether it's worth stopping running for. That way if I'm just starting an interval and don't want to break my stride I don't have to (unless it's a pikachu) but if I'm looking for an excuse to slow down I can find one - even if it's a ratatta. I now plan my routes around poke stops and am slowly improving once more. Sad but true.

Weirdly, the hardest part of running is getting your kit on- in a pyschological rather than physical sense opbviously.

Once you are lycra clad it seems a bit daft not to go out, even if it is just for a quick trot round the block. Each and every run counts, even the short and slow ones.

Vary routes, distances and regimes (i.e make sure that you do at least some intervals/ hill sprints) to keep it intersting and keep on improving.

And if you are training for a long distance event- the best tip is lube and plenty of it. Men will swear by vaseline, but I find that quikly rubs off a sweaty underboob- the only thing that works for me is the well known nipple cream Lanolin- I weirdly use it more now to stop the chafe than I ever did breat feeding!

My top tip for running is don't give up and just keep going. Even trying and failing is better than sitting home on the sofa X

If you've got children you need a good pushchair. I have twin girls so a double pushchair is difficult to run with!
Always start off slow and steady and build yourself. Make sure your babies are entertained and your front wheels are locked forwards!
I have came to sudden stops a lot during a good run due to my pushchair's front wheels going everywhere/locking.
Eat a good snack once you've finished to make up for all that energy lost.

Don't use trainers. Proper running shoes can be far lighter, and save you from chafing and strains which make some give up. Get advice / fitting from a specialist shop.

Once you've got your running shoes on and you're out the front door, that's the biggest hurdle dealt with!

Also, park runs are amazing events. They really are all inclusive and accessible for anyone who wants to have a go (though it can be galling when you're overtaken on a hill by a mum with a buggy!).

When I first started running I had no confidence and I understand a lot of people don't run because they feel they can't or like me they feel that they look silly doing it.

I also was not too good at breathing especially when doing acitivities which meant I could never do anything for too long like Swimming or Running. I started focusing on my breathing and trying to be more aware of it so when I did start to run I focused on my breathing which helped me to run more but it also took my mind of the fact that I might look silly or people were watching me. It really helped and made me feel great about myself.

If you're just starting out, take it slow. Get good trainers, comfortable clothes, a water bottle and good music. Always stretch out before you start and after you finish. But most of all, enjoy yourself. :)

My running tips are - a decent sports bra, supportive trainers, and some good music to run to. I only used to be able to run about 10 minutes maximum before I'd be out of breath. I spoke to a good friend who taught me how to control my breathing properly. Now I can easily run for at least 45 minutes without feeling like my chest is burning.

I just like a fast paced walk, you should not start suddenly putting stress on your heart; it is only going to beat the number of times it has been made to! Cardiovascular fitness will be improved with jogging but how much strain have you put on your heart in the first place to get it to that lower everyday heart rate? Don't get me wrong, I am all for getting fit and I really enjoy getting out and about for a long walk. My advice would be: eat well and enjoy your run (or walk). There is no point running along a street where you are breathing in car fumes! Go somewhere nice, like a park but with a friend and stay safe!

decent sports bra and trainers.
Ask who ever lived with you to be encouraging about going out as once your out that's half the battle!

Choose your running partner carefully!

I don't run with DH - he's much taller than me and has been running for years so I uses to knacker myself out trying to match his pace and tired too quickly. Choose a terrain that suits you and work up the distance.
For me, good shoes are essential. They don't need to be crazy expensive but your knees are too precious to risk on ill fitting shoes.
Don't worry about races or distance goals if they aren't important to you. Some people enjoy and need a target whilst for others, it turns it into a stressful experience. Do what's right for you to keep you enjoying it.

I also had to put off running until my diastasis was sorted after ds. It was frustrating but put me in a really good place. My GP told me it was closed but a physio found a 3finger gap!

Anyone can run and I mean anyone

I used to be very into my running as a child then I stopped (to have my teenage rebellion 😂) this year has been a really tough year and my one escape is my running I do it every night it's my me time and my kids are sleeping so I'm not feeling guilty for missing time with them would love to take the baby during the day but my pram just wouldn't cut it
My advice Enjoy it take your time ease yourself into it in a route that you'll have plenty to see and just breathe make sure you have some half decent running gear some tunes in your ears and a bottle of something to drink and off you go

C25K was the app that got me back into running, I found it great to be able to track how quickly I was making progress, and for some reason 9 weeks feels and sounds much shorter than 2 1/2 months when it comes to getting back to be able to run 5K!

When I had built up my confidence using the app, I entered Race for Life and found the camaraderie so inspiring, and having an event to train for was really motivating. The most important advice thought is....Just Do It!

Start at the beginning.
If you can only run once around the block that's better than not at all.
Doing this regularly you will soon build up to running around the park and beyond

The best way is to gradually increase tempo of your running. Start with fast walking and after change to running. That way you can keep on increasing your stamina and fitness. I am enjoying my running with group of friends. We gather together at lease twice a week and no matter what the weather.
Good trainers, not necessary expensive one are making difference.

Start off slowly. Try walking for 30 mins, than gradually speed up.

Music makes all the difference. My pace is considerably slower without music. I discovered Audiofuel some years ago - they create running tracks based on pace and distance you want. I ran my best half marathon using their Run Free programme. www.audiofuel.co.uk/