I though it would be good to have a new running post for anyone who is running, run / walking, walk / running or just walking.

I am training for the Race for Life at the moment using a walk / run plan. After watching the London Marathon I am feeling very motivated.

Hello Bookhunter!

I am doing a half marathon in 4 weeks and I have stuck at 4 miles mark - eeekkkk

Using this week to try and work up to 5 miles this week and then 6 next week. I think if I can run 6 miles before the big day then I can run the 6 - walk for 1/2 mile and then run /walk the rest. As long as I get to the finish I am not getting hung up on time or pace.

What is your 'aim' for this week?

I loved watching the London marathon today too but had to go out when the best bit was on - when the 'normal' people start to come through the finish. Going to try and catch it on iplayer or something.

i'm also taking part in the race for life this year and havent really done any training as yet is but i do plan to i do alot of walking anyway but i would like to run some of it

I'm doing RFL too, but just planning on walking it I've always wanted to "do" The London Marathon, said when I was 40 I would do it, that's been and gone then 50, that too, so, maybe, when I'm 60

Jenny, I want to do a half marathon next but I think I'll be sticking with the walk / running as I think the walking breaks really help - better than starting off too fast and having to walk because I can't run (I have asthma so I find it suits me to take the walking breaks to get my breathing back under control. I've read about people running 5 or 9 min and then walking for 1.

I am doing the running plan out of The New Runner. I am on week 6 (I started early but had to miss a few sessions because of my asthma. This week it's running for 2 mins and walking for 3 min X 6 (last week it was 1/3 X 7).

I am going to do my 3 sessions on Monday Wednesday and Saturday and think about doing the cross training as well. This is supposed to be Tuesday and Friday. If I manage it, it will be on Wii Fit or EA Sports Active but Tuesdays are hectic - I get home, get weighed and then ring my coach whilst trying to cook tea for me and my sister.

Tray and Audrey, when are your races? Mine is in 7 weeks.

Mine is 2 weeks

Yours must be one of the first.

Oh I'm in. I'm not entered in any races, but I need to get back out there again. I signed up for a challenge on Nike+ at the start of the year, I think it was to do 200miles in 2010 and I'm only on 40km so need to get cracking!

What is everyone aiming for this week? Xx

I have decided to run home from work on Wednesday - 5.6 miles so that is my 'week aim' and then I want to run 5 miles flat out (no stopping) on Sunday (so my 'weekend aim').

Ooo fab post!! I dont love running, I like it, I am not a runner and I find it so hard, but it soooooo works to get you fit and shed the pounds. I am doing the Stirling Race for Life for the 3rd year in a row this year, I started running it in 2008 when I lost my Gran very quickly to cancer. So I run it for her every year.

The first year I did it, it did about 6 weeks of training for it, and ran it in 37 mins 30 seconds, which I thought was pretty good considering I'd never ran the length of myself before! Last year I did no training what-so-ever and did it in 37 mins 37 secs, when I realised how close I had been to my time last year was well miffed!!

So this year I intend on shaving at least a minute or so off that time! I went out for a proper run for the first time since last year a few weeks ago and did quite well. At the gym I am training for uphill work - the course round Stirling Uni has a few ridiculous hills, and just walking up them was difficult the last 2 years never mind running them.

Hoping that I'll be the lightest I've been for a few years by the time it comes round so that might help my speed too

not yet at the level to do a marathon (of half one for that matter) but i'm training now for the Eden Valley Hospice - Midnight Walk, which is done around the town in the summer, it's a six mile walk and i think if i can make it in 3 hours i'd be very very pleased. as before i joinned scottish slimmers i'd be shattered by the time i got to the local corner shop.

please can i join in, i have a treadmill taht has been neglected and really must start to use it, i have been really lazy the last few weeks and done hardly any exercise. No target to run for just to get fit as at the moment it is taking me to walk up the stairs without puffing and panting

Carly, that sounds a great challenge.

Rosie, Bradford is really bad for hills but our Race for Life course is in a park so it's reasonaby flat. I don't like hills.

I did my run today and it was hard. I think most of that was the heat (the gym doesn't seem to have air conditioning) but maybe running 2 min is too big a step. I worked out my maximum heart rate and the percentages and I'm supposed to stay below 141 but it kept going higher. I think I will try 1 min 30 for a week or two.

Slow and steady wins the race - or so I hope

Bookhunter there is no point in making yourself do too much then possibly setting yourself back. I also think it's really difficult to run in the heat, I know I'll struggle in summer so I should really get on with things. Although I've been to body combat tonight where we had to do a bit of running on the spot and sprints on the spot and that was tough enough!

Good Morning all well i dusted off my treadmill, put new batteries in the display and got on it this morning, but only managed 1 mile in 25 mins thats at a walk & run Not good for me as i used to manage a couple of miles in 16mins . . I think i set it too high so will go for a lower speed setting on an incline tomorrow. feel good this morning though at work and so much more awake

I did run for a wee bit last night but only a mile - I could have gone further but I had to get off my mill to turn over the channel so I didn't miss Easties!!!! I am not sure if I said before but I am going to run home from work tomorrow - this needs some serious planning and organising - where my car will be, train times, clothes, essential items that I need to take home!! I thought running was meant to be an easy sport!?!?! You need to keep on at me ... make sure I do it ... no excuses!!!

I know the feeling. I thought Monday would be a good time to run outside somewhere but I'm struggling to find somewhere that's safe and easy to get to. My eyesight is really bad - I can't judge distances and it gets worse when I'm running so it has to be somewhere I don't have to cross roads. I may end up at the green which is small and usually there's lots of dog walkers. It's good for speed sessions though.

I am not sure about tomorrow as I had really bad cramp last night - it's a side effect of my inhalers. My leg is still a little sore so I will see how I feel.

Do any of you drink sports drinks? I had one on Saturday because I needed a bigger bottle but I don't normally. I was just thinking the potassium might help. I normally just have a few mini jelly beans.

Jelly Beans??????

my race is the 10th July and i havent ran yet i'm still doing my walking i need to step it up

Hello Peeps!

I did my 5.6 run home - it took me 1hr and 10 mins (which is quite slow) but at least I did it. Hips are a bit sore so hopefully I will still be able to walk tomorrow!

How are you all getting on? xx

The jelly beans work out at about 1 check for the number I have. I find that eating them after a run helps me not feel starving until I get home and have tea.

Tonight's run was hard but I did start off on a treadmill which felt like it was on an incline. My running books have arrived which I'm very pleased about. I had a look at the half marathon training plan and on the walk-run one, the running intervals never go above 2 minutes which sounds great.

Was that miles or kilometers? Either way it sounds good.

5.6 miles - my face has finally calmed down. I got a few peeps from cars - I think cause of my purple face - I don't care tho - I achieved what I set out to do!

I,m doing race for life in 2 weeks in inverness but just walking it and been doing walking most nights
Meg xx

Well done Meg - keep it up! xxx

well done Jenny on the run home, doesn't mater how long it took you at least you did it

Bookhunter - well done on the run too and have fun reading your books

I was looking at the site for the half marathon and found a link to the local running club (which isn't much use as they meet miles away for most sessions) but I found that Park Runs have started here in Bradford. These are 5Ks that are run every Saturday. I think I will have a go after the Race for Life - it will be good to do some outside running. And it's a lovely park just not very safe if you're alone. Our school used to do a sponsored walk there every year and it's where the Race for Life is held.

Meg, good luck with your Race for Life.

I would love to join a running club but I am only 'free' every second wednesday night - and even that, sometimes I just want to go to the pictures and eat pick n mix!

Couldnt get to the gym last night - most annoyed

But going tonight, going to do some more up hill training, strengthen my hamstrings and gluts.

I am going to try and do a 3 mile run every Sunday in preparation of the Race for Life in June. Try being the operative word!! Build up my stamina and speed, and hopefull I'll beat my time for last year.

Can I join you guys too please? I'm mostly walking at the moment but would like to start getting into running. I tried couch to 5k but found it quite hard going. Do any of you have any good plans/workouts for a beginner?

http://www.runnersworld.com/images/cma/beginner5k_table.jpg
http://www.raceforlife.org/pdf/R4L-Trainin...n2010-Run5k.pdf

I love the race for life/cancer research plans as they are realistic!

Does anyone live in Edinburgh or Glasgow ... I would love to give this a try but I could not get to the meeting place for 9:30 in the morning.

http://www.parkrun.com/home.aspx

Legs are still sore from running on Wednesday night but going to make an effort tonight to run through the pain - I think that is the right thing to do isn't it???

How are we all getting on?

I am signing up for a Race for Life in 6 weeks so that will keep me running and motivated!

Have a good Friday everyone and look forward to hearing all your news!

well done missy xxx

Jenny just be carefull and I would advise you to not run through the pain. Pain is the bodies way of telling us that something isnt right and if you ignore that sign, something that is probably nothing more than a particular muscle straining after not having been used like that before or for a while, if ignored, could turn into a full blown proper injury that would put you out of running for a few weeks at the least.

I have been a jogger/runner for quite a few years now and when I get pain - I stop. Its annoying I know, but its that and rest, or not run at all - and be in pain! That moto of 'no pain no gain' is so wrong.

Well done though, and stick with it, but train safe

n.b. Remember to have a bloody good stretch - I cant emphasis enough how important stretching out at the end of a run is.

Yeah - I hold my hands up to not being a stretcher!!

Well can I tell you - stretching and how you feel after stretching - its the best feeling, seriously. I am not addicted to exercising - I am addicted to how i feel afterwards!

I've been reading my new books which are great but I got to the chapter on injuries which talked about the 3 most common injuries for runners and I realised I've got one of them! My heel has been hurting. It started on Tuesday morning but wasn't too sore and was fine during the day and it didn't hurt at all with my running shoes on. Apparently it's something that hurts first thing but then gets better throughout the day. The worst thing is that it's probably not the running that's caused it (although increasing mileage too quickly can do it) but shoes - I wore my cheap Tesco trainers for a few days as we had a load of dress down days in a row.

So I am not running tomorrow (although I may go and buy some new trainers if it feels OK) and probably not Monday either. I'm also thinking of cutting back on the running intervals.

gillski, welcome. I am using a plan from The New Runner. Mine has less running which suits my asthma but there is a plan which is more running than walking and the book itself is inspirational.

As well as a few stretches from Zest, I've been using the callanetics stretches - at the end of a run at the gym, it feel great to lie down and do the hamstring stretch.

I found these links to running programmes designed by the authors of The New Runner. They are not exactly the same but I thought they might be useful.

http://www.jennyhadfield.com/runforfun/jenny.html

Hello Peeps!

I love reading lots of stuff about running so keep the links coming everyone!

Well my legs are a bit better so am planning a walk on my treadmill later when wee one is in bed (as she tries to climb on with me) and then I have mapped out a 7 mile run tomorrow. Think there will be a lot of walking involved but I want to know I can cover the distance no matter how I do it!

What is everyone else up too ... all a bit quiet?

I have been looking up things for treating and preventing plantar fasciitis. One of the best tips is to freeze a bottle of water and then roll your foot on it. I found some stretches too. I'm also thinking about getting some supportive 1000 mile socks. Does anyone have them?
I am bored but I know resting is the best thing and it's good to have 3 days where I can rest. Then if it seems OK on Tuesday, I can go to the gym on Wednesday and do some walking and cycling.
Here's another link
http://johnbingham.competitor.com/

been on a 7 mile walk today in the lake district was hard going as it was all up hill killer on the feet step further but still not running

I love the Lake District. Did you see the Coast to Coast programme?

My foot has been really bad and I have been really bored. Yesterday I went on EA Sports Active which was good - the boxing, dancing and tennis are great.
Then I started thinking how good it would be to swim and as my gym membership has just run out I started thinking about changing. I was going to one in the centre of town which was convenient but small noisy and I don't like the changing rooms. I've decided to go back to Greens which has a pool, a cafe, lovely changing rooms, a quiet gym (with headphone sockets) and water fountains. It takes a while to get to especially as the buses have just changed but it will be worth it. I've got a great deal too - 2 months free.
So I can swim this week so I get exercise without hurting my foot.
What are everyone's plans this week?

Good Morning Everyone!

Sorry not been about much ... had a migraine for a couple of days and then I am nervous about doing too much after it incase it comes back

Went on a 10 mile walk with some of the other 'Musketeers' last night (started at 12am and finished at 4am) and surprisingly I don't feel a thing today

This week I am going to run 3 or 4 mile on Monday night and then my big 8 miles home from work on Wednesday After that I have to start slowing down for the half mararthon on Sunday 23rd May. Don't have a clue how I am going to get around it but if I have to walk I know from last nights experience that I can easily walk 10 miles (or 13.1 miles) at 4 miles per hour! Go ME

Hope your foot is feeling a wee bit better Bookhunter. Great decision on the gym - and swimming is GREAT exercise without causing you any further damage.

I will be posting here again regularly so you all keep at it too!

Jenny, you may find this interesting

http://johnbingham.competitor.com/2010/04/...e-from-running/

I get migraines too and I find I often get them when I'm being extra good and end up eating very few checks. Now I'm making an effort to eat 20 by lunch and have 10 for afternoon snacks if I need them and always eating a snack at afternoon break if I'm going to the gym. I also take some no added sugar crusha with skimmed milk to have at break and a banana if I have any. This may sound weird but apple and banana puree makes a great snack (the sort in the baby food aisle) and it doesn't go off. I ate a lot of compote when I was in France - it's lovely. Only 2 checks as well - I have it as EDB.

Well done on your 10 mile walk.

Thanks Bookhunter - these penguin articles are great aren't they!! Great find! x

Evening all,

I went to the gym yesterday and today. Today I did a 3km run on the treadmill, but I seemed so out of puff. So got to get more practice in! x

This looks useful. It's menus for Race for Life training. There are some good ideas.

http://www.tescodiets.com/raceforlife/