Boghead ranter

Knocked out 11.74km in 62:58 at teatime. By feck it's hot out there, I felt like I struggled the whole distance, but my 10k time was 1:17 better than my run on Wednesday, so I can't really whinge.

No changing facilities at the start - all facilities located at the finish at Glasgow Green. So I suppose you can stash your stuff there, then brisk walk or really gentle jog up to George Sq could act as a loosener before stretching. I'm not nervous just now, as I've never done a mass run like this before. But I probably will be on the day, for the same reason, more about the logistics rather than the run itself though probably. Glad it's ok to wear phones, as it means I can use my Endomondo to regulate my pace. I have a mild heart condition which is ok so long as I'm fairly even-paced and stick to between 4.30 and 5.30 per km, I was worried I'd get all race-adrenalined up, go too fast, take a funny turn and have the pure beamer of being carted away by the first aiders. I'm really looking forward to this actually. ETA not doing any charity on this, I go through the month of embarassment that is Movember to do my bit. Always a joy running round Larbert with the local neds howling "118" at me.

yeah, 10k's the 9.30 start, with all 10k-ers expected to have started by 10am, according to bumf in my pack.

Pack says "The race start will be staggered, with different colour-coded groups starting one after each other" so yeah, I guess. How do you know, is it the colour of your number?

Race pack for Great Scottish Run arrived in the post this morning. Look out for #136 (near the back ). 9.30 start on Sunday morning? Ouch.

thanks for that, appreciate it.

3 weeks till Glasgow run - gulp! Not worried about the run itself, was wondering if anyone better experienced than myself could give me more general tips for the day? - changing/showering facilities, logic tells me there will be some? - storage, if tells me if there's changing, then you have to store your kit somewhere. Or do you just pay some local urchin a couple of quid to 'watch your stuff mister?' - numbers - it's been near 30 years since I was at an Athletic competition - do you still get a number? Do you still have to take safety pins to attach it onto your vest? (God I feel old) - How long before start time is it best to be there? how long does pre-race admin/registration take? - is it etiquette to wear headphones to race? Or is that not allowed/advisable? - any other tips I haven't even thought would be relevant? Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

that was what I was doing for the 10 mins, maybe I need to do it longer. Or maybe I just need to be 25 years younger.

I was afraid that was going to be the recommendation I got back, however, This seems worth a try and is eminently more bearable than dunking your 'nads in cold water. I had to ask as I ran 13k yesterday, could maybe have plodded on some more, yet within 10 mins of getting home and stopping, my calves were like rock and even walking was torture. Thanks to all 3 of you for taking the time to reply.

Question for those of you with more experience than me - what's better for aching muscles post-run - a shower or a soak in a hot bath? I know the best answer is probably an ice bath, as professional sportspeople do that, but I'm too much of a woose for that caper. Plus my nether regions are small enough already, thanks. So I'm only interested in hot shower or hot bath.

just back in after my first run in about a fortnight, mrs ranter insisting I do promised decorating for last two weeks. Managed 12.4km in 68mins. 1st 7k was hard, rest was even harder cos my stoopid phone decided to stop playing music. Feel great now that my lungs and heart are back to normal, basking in my endorphin glow. Green Day's American Idiot is the best running playlist ever - just about every track is a good pace for matching your feet to. It rocks.

the only other ones I know are Garmin and Nike+, but I think you also need to buy the kit to go with them. From what I remember, to get Endomondo you go to their site first, where there's a section where you select what type of phone you have and enter your mobile number. Endomondo then texts you a link, which you open on your phone, which then installs the app. For the dude looking for trainers - Next sale is about to start (may well have started judging by the amount of my wife's slavers on the laptop), that's where I got my last pair - nice Adidas ones at £30.

sheer determination is #1!! #2 is ignore times until you're doing the max distance you want to achieve. I started trying to go out & run 2 days in a row, then rest the 3rd, but I had to change to run/rest/run/rest etc as my mid-forties legs were shit the 2nd day. My tactic has been to run the same route each time out, but if I got home 2 runs in a row feeling that "I could have done more", I upped my distance next time out. And did that until I could have coped with more, so I ran further next time again. So you get the drift. That way, I found I was upping my distance every 3 or 4 runs. Once I was doing 10k plus every time I was out, then I started timing myself, and trying to be faster each time out, even if it's only by seconds. I now aim to average under 5 mins/km, which I've only done twice so far, but I'm getting there. Once you're timing yourself, get yourself an app that talks to you each km or mile, and updates you on your lap times. I found that a brilliant motivator.

Having just spent the last year gradually building up my stamina, I can say well done. What helped me when I got to the stage where my body was suggesting I walk a while, I would set myself a series of mini-targets - "I want to still be running at that lamp-post" then "I want to still be running at that bus stop" etc. Even if that next target is only 100m away, you'll be amazed at how much distance achieving these mini-targets will add.

can't be arsed reading 63 pages after discovering this thread, so making no boasts about relevance of the following random info. I track my runs on my Nokia N8, using Endomondo. Went back to running last summer, after giving it up aged 15 and spending the next 30 years playing basketball. Taking part in the Glasgow 10k (my first competitive ever) on 4th September, my training 10k's come in at 49-51 mins, so I'm hoping that the rush of racing and the company/cameraderie helps me knock a couple of minutes off that time.

'Mon the 600th page!

better and louder than it was in Glasgow apparently, if Baz is to be believed. Still buzzing from last night. Funniest line of the night from JJ - "Ladies and Gentlemen, Jet Black - He's still alive!"

Stranglers were f*cking awesome last night, have to say. The crowd went wild as their septuagenarian drummer stepped cautiously up to his drumkit on the podium Pleasantly surprised by the amount of big old tunes played - I'd never seen Nice'n'Sleazy or No More Heroes live before, and I've seen the band countless times! Best bit was the wrestling match between 2 middle aged men, over Baz's sweaty towel that he threw into the crowd at the end. Comedy gold.

me too!

amen brother (in black)

my wife went Xmas shopping in Livingston yesterday, and some b'stard left a big scrape and dent in my motor while it was parked in the car park. Anyone got any ideas how I can blame it on Livi FC?

no, but the board members maybe? It's not the players' fault they're being offered (and presumably receiving) money that the club doesn't seem to be able to afford to pay.

If giving Sons a disadvantage puts us as high up the league as they are, bring it on!

Diversionary tactics. He should buy into the OF - "yeah, we're bad but theym loat ur worse".

I would, look at the extra publicity/column inches they're getting just now. Far in excess of that normally given to an, ahem, third division club. I'd pay weekly though