Thank you Sam. Now I just have to keep it up. Running in the dark will be the hard part when I get home from work but I will go out and try and ignore the kids comments.

Will let you know how tomorrow night goes.

Remember they are just doing it to make themselves look good in front of their mates - i bet some of them secretely admire runners and may even become one when they grow up

if ignoring them fails tell 'em you'll get Hoose onto 'em - keep on ploddin':O))

Hoose X

Will do. The hardest part is past the skate board park where the kids are older. I tend to walk past there.
I have looked put my photo of me finishing Reading last year and am going to carry it with me. It is so horrible that just looking at should make me stick with the diet and the running remembering how I struggled at the end. I am not even recognisable as me in the photo. Just this huge huge blob. I will keep repeating to myself 'I can do this' all day. It is def a case of mind over matter is it not.

hey

you finished Reading?

you are hardly a sofa spud if you can run a half babe?

Won't say I ran it. Well over 3 hours and if it hadn't been for Evil Pixie it would have been more.

yeah

and how many people in this country of ANY age can even walk 13 miles?

but you still did it and you can again one day

but for now just concentrate on getting out there and make sure you reward yourself when you do

Thanks folks. Off now to enjoy my healthy dinner. Will catch up with you tomorrow after my plod. Thanks for all your encouragement. It means lots believe me. You are all great.

Bye for tonight.

enjoy speeds and have a lie down on the carpet as long as it's got good "underlay underlay!!"

Speedy G, my heart went out to you when I read your first post - I have a couple of pals at the moment who say they have similar feelings about running alone outdoors, and I've had a few low-confidence moments myself over the years (I'm 50 and my running has had more comebacks than Elvis).

You've done a brilliant first step now and we are all proud of you.

Stickless is right about having a retort for hecklers (unless you think they are likely to be violent crack-heads in which case keep running). My usual one for teenagers is to look them in the eye and say in my best grumpy old woman voice "Would you talk to your mother like that?". And for old codgers who say "Get a move on love", "You don't know how far I'm going mister"

Re running partners- don't suppose you have a Women's Running Network group near you? (also Running sisters (?) in Scotland I think)

<passes Hoosie his coat>

ta Sam:O)

Speedy G

You and I ran part of the GNR together 2 years ago and we were talking about what we had done and what we are going to do.

You are much fitter than the vast majority of the population and are actually doing something.

I still need to lose 2 - 2.5 stones in weight and vary between the "I am too fat it's embarrassing to run" and the "I can only lose weight if I exercise". However I know which one will work!

Good luck and looking forward to seeing you at some events.

Fi

Well Done Speedie G !!
I'm looking foreward to hearing of your next plod, it won't be as hard as the one you did today!!

Great Start!!!

Speedy - re the kids.

The best approach I've heard of came from another forumite, Candy Ollier. He is always encountering idiots, of all ages, and takes the "ignore them, they'll go away" approach to a brilliant extreme. He treats them simply as an obstacle that has to be passed. No eye contact, no attempt at humour, no defensive or aggressive behaviour on his part. Even if they're strung out across the pavement (goading him to react) he just runs around them. Just as he would a fallen tree or a patch of roadworks.

They're not people, they're not worthy of your attention. They are inanimate lumps of something unpleasant.

Yyyyyyeeeeeeeeeessssssssss!

Bravo!!!

By the way, I don't say anything back to hecklers, what I say is in my head, and is quite sufficient usually to leave me shaking my head looking at them in a pitying way.

(Can't resist this - the last word on heckling. When the primary schools were desegregated in southern US, the first black kids to go to white school had to run the gauntlet (escorted by police) of white parents behaving like monsters. One girl was seen to mumble every day as she passed these fiends. She was later asked what it was that she was saying. Her answer? "Father forgive them for they know not what they do...")

I am so pleased. I'll be posting tomorrow on training. I'll look for you there. You can do it!!!!

Excellent speedy!



I agree with just ignoring hecklers---have to say ive also then ignored some nice comments cos ive been so focussed on running
FWIW, I met you at reading and you looked fine to me

Hi Speedy.

You WILL get back to running again.

You are still the same person who finished the Highland Cross (20 mile on foot/30 mile cycle for those who don't know it) despite recovering from cellulitis/dvt and having 2 punctures. That kind of determination doesn't grow on trees lady!

As the others say, ignore the hecklers and anyone else who says you can't (I remember our conversation when you were up) and just go out there and prove them wrong.

And punch your doctor on the nose the next time you see him!

(((Speedie)))

HI Speedy - we met at Reading last year as well! You did not finish far behind me - I also have a continuing battle with weight and age. I am fast losing the age battle - just can't hold those years back ;0) But the weight is another matter - just keep on keeping on, remember this is the time of the year when we all need much determination to get out there! If you are having problems geeing yourself up - picture yourself in six months time scooting around your village and the look of respect in the eyes of the yobs as you prove that guts and determination work!!

Sorry for the waffle, but you know what I mean - I'll shut up for now :0)