'Mature' runners.

Morning all,

What a gloomy day it is here, all dark and drizzly.  I'm just off out for my Saturday pootle - 6 miles with the last 2 a bit quicker.

Matsmum, thanks for your kind words.  My mum died in 2005 after a long battle with vascular dementia, during which time I was her carer.  I was so horrified by what happened to her that after she died I started campaigning for better awareness about dementia and raising money for Alzheimer's Research UK by running marathons. You can read mum's story on my blog here if you are interested - http://www.extremeknittingredhead.blogspot.co.uk/ - I won't go on about it on here any more as everyone must be sick to death of hearing about it by now! 

JJ, hope your chest is better now.

Have a lovely weekend everyone 

Very mild here, about 10c, it's not natural! Nemo and I have just come back from a  10km "run", well more of a jog really, but my first one of any distance since June.

JJ, any suggestions for a 1/2 with pb potential for me prior to the Brighton marathon on 14th April please?  I wanted to do Paddock Wood again but it's the week before so not a good idea.  Hastings isn't good for a pb attempt, although one could argue that if I don't expect one there then I might get one!  I doubt I'd beat 2:0059 at TWells and I can't think of any others that might be suitable.

Edited to add that I've just remembered Lydd so off to have a look at that.

Red, I don't kknow how far you are prepared to travel, but there is the Maxifuel Half on 17/3/13 which is a flat road race, in Windsor. There is also the Liverpool Half on the same day which you may be interested in, having lived on Merseyside in the past. This is also a flat road race.

It's been a damp and gloomy day here too, although it hasn't rained. It must have in the night though, as the ground was soaked this morning. I had intended my LSD run today, but wanted to watch the cross country on BBC at one o'clock, so just did a hilly 6 miles. I will do my long run tomorrow now. I decided against racing cross country tomorrow, as my left arm is not quite 100% yet, and I didn't want to risk another fall.

BIW, well done on your 10k. You must be feeling really fit now.

Web sites are www.f3events.co.uk and www.runliverpool.org.uk

Red - you might get a course PB for Hastings.

BIW - bet Nemo's pleased you're running again!

7 miles run early this afternoon. I saw a runner out this morning in shorts and a T-shirt, but by the time I went out there was a very chilly wind so I was glad I was well covered up. Though that being said, I did unzip my jacket and take off my gloves after a couple of miles. 

Red - your mum must have been an amazing lady because she certainly has an amazing daughter. I read your blog and have contributed to your cause. Long may you continue to seek new challenges to raise money, lady.

Columba - he certainly is,and is probably quite tired tonight as we've just got in from dog club - he had two attack work sessions. Charly did obedience on the field and his favourite sit/down/stay exercises on the table. Dinner time now for all of us!

'lo!
Damp dreary day here but managed my first run of the year which was 3 miles off road wearing waterproof hiking shoes with solid mud soles. They were very heavy but not too bad to run through swamps.

Also did some digging for upper body work.

matsmum
Looks like you're now on the right running track.

IW
Up to 10k already? Well done.
JJ

Redhead
Eastbourne on 3/3 but don't know it.
Lydd on 10/3 would be good and should be flat. Isn't it one of Martin Burke's?
Dorney (near Windsor) on Saturday 16/3 should be very flat. I've run 10k there.

Have you thought of a 10 miler?

Sidcup 10 on 10/3 is multi-laps but quite quick.
Folkestone 10 on 29/3 is very fast except for a hill just before the finish.
JJ

Morning all,

It's a horrible damp foggy morning, not the sort for fair weather runners. I will be setting off soon for a LSD run, but don't know yet how far I will go.

JJ, good to hear that you are "back on the running trail" again. Do you intend entering any races? I have entered the Salisbury 10 miles, which is on March 10th, and is a Hampshire Road Race League Race.

30 mins on the ex bike yesterday, which nearly killed me because I am not used to it and I hate exercising indoors.  But beautiful run this morning. 10 miles in lovely countryside in 1 hour 57. I was joined at 5miles by daughter L ( who has had a couple of years off with new baby and now wants to get back into running) and little K. We all sped up for the last mile and had a lovely time. Perfect weather too.

Afternoon all,

Oh my it was foggy this morning.  I did 12.5 hilly and undulating miles and felt quite tried afterwards - must be getting old!

Matsmum, thank you very much for your donation and your kind words.  That was a good 10 miler and how lovely to have your daughter with you for part of it.

JJ, glad to hear you got out for a run.  Lydd's winning at the moment and it is Martin's race.  It's had bad press in the past for all sorts of reasons but I think they've sorted out the problems now.  A 10 miler is a good idea, thank you.  I've only done Dartford and Canterbury and they were several years ago so perhaps I'll have a look at Folkestone which isn't a place I know very well.  I don't know where Sidcup is so will have to look on the map!

TE, thanks for the suggestions.  I probably wouldn't travel that far for a 1/2 though.

Matsmum, well done on your 10 miler, it sounded as if you had bright sunshine?

Red, you did very well doing 12.5 miles in the fog. The fog never lifted here in the forest, and I was chilled to the bone. The forecast had said that the fog would lift and the temperature rise to 7 degrees, so I just wore a Helly and T shirt, shorts and a beanie hat. I was carrying a water bottle and my hands nearly froze to it. I had intended running 12 miles, but I was so cold that my bones ached, and I just did 10 hilly miles on roads, as I am keeping out of the forest whilst running alone. My time was 1.42.44, an average of 10.17, which was better than I had expected, as I never warmed up from start to finish.

Good runs everyone. Puts my run firmly in its place.
Ran 3.1 miles today in just over 31 minutes including a stop for a good cough.

Redhead
You can always race 10 miles and do a long warm up/cool down to make the extra miles.
Sidcup course record is 48 minutes. It's 3 laps.
JJ

JJ - 3 miles off road in solid mud shoes sounds like hard work.

Haven't run today. Did a bit of gardening in the afternoon.

Swimming this morning, 2400m for me, John did 3000m.

JJ - yes,I did 10km but very slowly!

Morning all,

Gloomy day here, not helped by the pile of paperwork I should be working on.  No running but some cross-training later - rower, static bike and core work.  34.5 miles run in the first week of 2013 

JJ, 48 mins for 10 miles is blimming scary.  Could make a change to do loops though although I'd end up being one of the last to finish!  Good idea to use it as part of a long run as I quite enjoyed it when I did that at the Hastings 1/2 with Columba.  Am I going to see you running in any races this year?

TE, it was cold wasn't it.  I too wore shorts and long-sleeved top with a cap and fingerless gloves.  For me it was my hands that suffered most as the fog settled on top of my gloves and chilled me to the bone.  You are wise not to run in the forest alone.

Great running to all and Matsum you are on course now, be careful it could become addictive!!!
Only managed a 6.66 extreme hilly run in preparation for hilly race in March very muddy and messy and had to get back but enjoyed it.........Speedcross 3s purchased at a good price so happy need to break them in the next few weeks. Time was 66 mins bizarrely, need to go longer thinks I will have to switch long run day round.  Happy training and new week all.........

Shorts ????  Are you all mad !  It has to be a lot warmer than 7 degrees for me to start shedding.

Such a stressful morning, trying to book a hotel in London. I chomped my way through 5 custard creams, a bourbon, a packet of stale kettlechips which I found languishing in the back of the cupboard, and two after eight mints before I found a Travelodge in Southwark that had vacancies. The whole world and its aunt are coming to London on that weekend. AND the prices have soared. The whole thing has cost me an arm and a leg ( which will make running even more hazardous ) .

mcs - I am already addicted. If i am not actually running then I am thinking about running. Or talking to you lot! So much so that I nearly forgot to do the wages this am and just remembered in the nick of time. Not good. 

Been swimming; first swim of the year. Pool was almost empty, it was wonderful!

Matsmum - I'm with you on the clothing.