Reina

I think I need to enter a race. My mojo has completely gone. Planning a 10k trail run tomorrow, but I need to enter a race to focus on...

That's really helpful, thanks. And the guy's rather easy on the eye, too. Been getting a bit of an ache across my shoulders when out on longer rides, recently - been thinking I should adjust my saddle.

Elgin parkrun only started a few months ago, so a junior parkrun is a while off yet. There's a wee lad aged 8 who runs Elgin parkrun. He got a PB on Saturday - 20:10. Absolutely amazing!

Think my wee lad has caught the bug. He had a forest race last night. He's a speedy little bugger! Only 6. Think I'll have to start taking him to parkrun...

I don't really have the commitment at the moment. My youngest is 3 and husband is currently working away through the week so I don't get the chance to train as much as I'd like. I joined a club and I can get a babysitter for one of the sessions most weeks, so I've been going to that and I've seen a huge improvement already.

UK Athletics rules now - RULE 240 S 5 UKA SUPPLEMENT – HEADPHONES - The wearing of headphones, or similar devices, (other than those medically prescribed), is not permitted in races on any single carriageway road that is not wholly closed to traffic. This restriction does not apply to races held on dual carriageways provided that there are clear, structured separations between the separate carriageways. Competition Providers of races held entirely on roads closed to traffic may apply this condition where appropriate to local circumstances. I stopped listening to music on runs about a year ago and I think I prefer it now.

On the subject of headphones... http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Dozens-runners-disqualified-Beverley-10k-wearing/story-29249388-detail/story.html

Thanks mate, appreciate the thought, but I'll be about 80 before I can qualify for a good for age time

Hmm. I heard about 'heartbreak hill' at our club night last night...

Haha, yeah we have a club place, too, but I wont apply for that. I won't be too upset when I get my rejection.

Who's entered the London Marathon ballot, then? Yearly rejection awaits...

So it looks like I'll be going to my first athletics meet in over 20 years this weekend...! Hahaha, who knew joining a running club would get me back on the track!

It's hard to say. I train my arse off and am struggling to break 2 hours, yet my tempo training runs over shorter distances tend to be 7:50min/mile-ish. Yet I've seen friends break 2 hours without even trying. Pisses me right off!

10 min/mile will take you in around 2hr 10min. I'd imagine you'll go quicker though!

5k - 24:36 10k - 53:05 Half - 2:05:37 I'm pure raging about that half time. I completely fucked up the race I was aiming for a sub-2 hour in and hit a wall at 10 miles. Legs just couldn't carry me anymore. I still PB'd, but it was shit. This year I'm aiming for a sub 52 in 10k and I'm going back to get that sub 2 half. 5k I'd like to get down to 23:xx but the other 2 are more important to me. I'm going to enter the ballot for next year's London marathon, too. No chance of getting in (hopefully!)...

Pedal on parliament today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-36112706

Jog Scotland got me started, ArabGaz. There was a great group here for a while that had loads of members. Lots of us have now moved on to other clubs, but the group is still going strong. Would thoroughly recommend.

Well done morrison, that's awesome!

parkrun in Elgin today and got to run instead of volunteering. Despite 2 very hard club sessions through the week and a game of 5-a-side after work on Friday I went out and ran a PB. Haha! Delighted with myself. Official time was 25:29 but it's a *slightly* long course and my Garmin tracked a sub 25min 5k for the first time since the summer last year. Woohoo!

I cycle a lot, too. I'm keen to do a few more triathlons this summer, so should up that a bit. I'd like to do pilates, but there are no classes here when I can make it. Have done kettlebell and circuit classes that I enjoyed, but parkrun starting up has stopped that now. I play 5-aside-football after work on a Friday, too.

Good for you! It's hard to say what distance you should aim for without knowing how far you can go at the moment. I know you say you'd rather avoid run/walk programmes, but really they are ideal. Even top athletes (like myself *guffaw*) use interval training to improve speed, and that's essentially what these Couch to 5k programmes are. At club the other night, we did 6 mins hard, 3 mins recovery x5 and I almost PB'd over 10k even with the walking recovery in between... Just my tuppenceworth.

Anyone doing Pedal on Parliament on the 23rd? http://pedalonparliament.org/ There's also Pedal on Marischal in Aberdeen for those of us in the north east. There's a few of us meeting in Insch and cycling into Aberdeen from there.

What a fab tribute I was marshalling at parkrun yesterday. Hoping to run it next weekend... holding off on sending an email offering to volunteer! Club session tomorrow night that I could potentially go to. Will get to club session on Wednesday for sure. Could be a better week for me in terms of mileage.

Cross country is awesome. I'll be getting involved with the club during the next season. I love a muddy trail run!

Was run director at parkrun today - really enjoyed it, even if it was pretty scary getting up in front of 170-ish runners for the run briefing etc!