The Great South Runner

Work have basically FORCED me into running the Great South Run in October.

They got the fittest, tightest FROCK in the office to lean over my desk and ask me nicely.

I am not a natural runner (what on earth is the point?) but I certainly want to IMPRESS her with how RAPID I can be.

I am running for the Macmillan charidee because I've had enough of cancer's shenanigans. The target to raise is £150 so I can show the BLOUSE how empathetic I can be.

Does anyone here run? It seems ages away, I was gonna start 'training' in abait August prabably. I OFT get compared to Gebreselasse in the way I look so it should be in the bag. I'm expecting the gold but I'd settle fer bronze if offered now.

16 weeks before the run is approx when to start training specifically for the event. Type into google 'marathon training plan' and you will get some ideas

I run approximately 20 miles per week - 2 x approximately six milers on a Sat and Sun (including early this morning) and a couple of around 3.5 mile runs during the week. But I have been regularly doing this for about 5 years and find it easily doable. Could I run a half marathon? Probably reasonably comfortably and in not too bad a time. But a marathon I doubt I'd even consider unless I followed a proper training plan. Knee and ankle injuries are a nightmare when you start training so you need to get kitted out with the right footwear - some specialist running shops advise on the type of shoe you suit your particular running style and foot pronation etc. Early on I suffered both 'runners knee' and achilles tendonitis due to running. So get good advice on things like warming up and stretching too - it will save you a lot of grief if you get that right.

Mock Cuncher wrote:

Work have basically FORCED me into running the Great South Run in October.

They got the fittest, tightest FROCK in the office to lean over my desk and ask me nicely.

I am not a natural runner (what on earth is the point?) but I certainly want to IMPRESS her with how RAPID I can be.

I am running for the Macmillan charidee because I've had enough of cancer's shenanigans. The target to raise is £150 so I can show the BLOUSE how empathetic I can be.

Does anyone here run? It seems ages away, I was gonna start 'training' in abait August prabably. I OFT get compared to Gebreselasse in the way I look so it should be in the bag. I'm expecting the gold but I'd settle fer bronze if offered now.

Why didn't you tell her you'd do it............. if she did too ?

You could train together. Just think of all that lycra

Is it a full marathon ? I'll sponsor you for a quid a mile.

No I think it's 'just' a half marathon, so I don't think I need 16 weeks training or anything like that.

She is! :--)

My suggestion is to treat it in the same way as two friends of mine are treating walking the South-west Coast Path. They have taken over a year so far and still have a long way to go as they are doing it a small bit at a time.

My ex-wife took up 10k & half-marathon running in her mid-40s. From experience of the impact upon her, I would echo Rickler's comments above. It's essential to use good running shoes. She has suffered knee and ankle damage - the latter so bad that she has had to give up running in recent years and may have to have a corrective operation. This was due to poor footwear. Even if the running-shoe was good when you first bought them, they deteriorate through use.

Freathy's. But yeah.

There's a reason why the engine was invented.

I do between 14-20 miles a week dependant on workloads and child commitments. Generally that is 2-3 x 3-4 miles followed by either 1 or 2 5-6 miles on a weekend. I've done a couple of marathons and would endorse what Freathy said above.

What is amazing is how quickly with a few weeks of gentle running that the mind and body become used to distances you thought impossible. The mind is as crucial as the body. You're going to be running for approximately 2 hours and that is an awful lot of time for you and your "inner voice" to be having a row about how tired you are and what a good idea it would be to walk. On long runs such as half-marathons I try and zone out for as long as I can before running "consciously".

1. Endorse Freathy here. Make sure you get the right equipment. It would be a good idea to find a decent running shop who wil film your feet running and fit a shoe around you. Some feet require cushioning and some require more support. Never cut corners with your trainers!

2. Start now, you never know you may enjoy it! Start with a bit of running/walking if you have to. Whatever gets you out there.

3. Follow a plan for beginners. Most are 12 week plans.

4. Have a look around the runners world UK website as there are some good plans and tips. How about entering a 10k in August/early September? This would give you experience of "race day" Some of the articles on there are for subscribers only. If you want a password PM me.

5. On race day try and find a nice bit of skirt in tight lycra that runs about 30 seconds faster than you and follow it.. You'll soon understand what drives a greyhound!

Good luck

I watched the Tavvy half marathon yesterday so I have more than a little experience in this, my observations were as follows;
The person that won was running really fast all the way round and looked really hard to overtake.
All runners were wearing very colourful shoes.
Some fat people entered the race but weren't observed near the front of the pack leading me to believe that fat people are disadvantaged in this sport.
Not many runners were smiling, couldn't work out why running could make you depressed, take care.
The two blokes with a stretcher were very near the back of the pack leading me to believe you will travel faster without one.
Running behind a fit lass in Lycra could inspire you to run faster, it worked for me yesterday and I didn't even enter the race, unfortunately the lass in question realised I was there and simply left me behind.
You get free orange squash if you enter the race, the more races entered = more orange squash, could be a business opening here?
If there is anything I may have left out about running and races please feel free to ask.

Mockers are you setting up a Just Giving page?

If you are embarassed by us 'Freaks and weirdos' (putting comments on the page) you could set one up for your NORMAL friends and family, and a WEIRDO one for us lot.

Just think if you raise lots of money for charity the SKIRT will be UP for IT.

I'll set one up SOON I think Chemo. I was GUNNA do it tonight but went to Slug and Lettuce for food instead.

I wouldn't worry abait you lot being normal/weird if it meant even MODEST donations to a good cause...

Having said that, isn't it sad that I'm uneasy about posting any personal details up here just in case some headcase from Tony Pash tries to hunt me dain an finger me buttocks!

Iggy wrote:

I watched the Tavvy half marathon yesterday so I have more than a little experience in this, my observations were as follows;
The person that won was running really fast all the way round and looked really hard to overtake.
All runners were wearing very colourful shoes.
Some fat people entered the race but weren't observed near the front of the pack leading me to believe that fat people are disadvantaged in this sport.
Not many runners were smiling, couldn't work out why running could make you depressed, take care.
The two blokes with a stretcher were very near the back of the pack leading me to believe you will travel faster without one.
Running behind a fit lass in Lycra could inspire you to run faster, it worked for me yesterday and I didn't even enter the race, unfortunately the lass in question realised I was there and simply left me behind.
You get free orange squash if you enter the race, the more races entered = more orange squash, could be a business opening here?
If there is anything I may have left out about running and races please feel free to ask.

Solid as fook advice Igloo my old bean.

I like Orange Squash.

Careful though Mock, the last marathon I watched, admittedly a few years ago when I was so fooked on illegal substances I was still awake early Sunday morning, they stopping people and questioned them and anyone they expected of being a paedo was wrapped in Bovril tin foil.


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So it's hurricane WINDS (what else ffs?) along the seafront tomorrow apparently, I've done, like, 'a little bit' of training (maybe like 3 runs of about 5 miles each time), and I played football today and got utterly fookcrumpled by some Pompey local whose nickname was genuinely 'Andre the Giant'.

I'm doing it in a 1996 Rotolok shirt, green an white stripes of course. If any of you chumps wish to sponsor me, like even a fiver (fookin STINGEY jerks, mino Tenner I recks), then follow the link:

help me FOOK cancer up the BUM yurrrr

Chars then

so apparently the orange label I've been given for my shirt tomorrow means I get to start at the same time as the "Elite Male Race". My estimation of how much training I might do was slightly out. Watch aaaat mo

Great choice of shirt. Will wear mine on Sunday but can't give you any dosh.
Pretty pointless post really have a good run.