Strides, surprises and scrapes...

[Oldfloss]

Well, I'm still standing, after my exciting, bike flying, episode yesterday afternoon. ( If interested, please see my rambling post on C25K forum). Scraped, and grazed, bumped and bruised but not as battered as feared, except for a really, really, sore left hip... !

I have not posted a lot of my runs on here lately, as I have been reading , researching and experimenting with some aspects of my running. I am fascinated with how different factors affect our runs. Gradient, elevation, terrain, weather, mood etc etc. Obvious, I know, but humour me, I am enjoying the learning journey. I pick up so much excellent advice and so many hints and helpful tips on this forum and being me, I like to read and find out more.

Not a particularly technical gadget minded soul, like our wonderful yatesco ,whom, I have christened, my Gadget Guru, but just looking at simpler aspects , ( for me anyway), of the whole thing. Trouble is, I could spend a great deal of time following up everything I read on here. After reading several of Bazza1234 posts, I think I spent a whole morning, looking at links!

I have continued running, ( barring accidents), three times a week. A longish run on a Tuesday and then shorter runs Friday and Sunday. I find the two days rest in between the long run, suit me. I exercise on rest days, and I cycle too, when not falling off I am trying to build up speed and stamina and distance.

Yesterday I ran for 8K in 63 minutes, which although pretty slow, I was pleased with, and extremely surprised about, as it did not feel anywhere near that sort of distance. But, slow though it may have been I have built up steadily, and as a result am finding it both comfortable and enjoyable. I use C25K+ podcasts Speed and Stamina, (they work for me), and music and I have been experimenting with Strides.

Link here,

strengthrunning.com/2012/10...

The Strides have made a difference to my speed and are helping me with stride length and pace; they are, I think great fun, practised in isolation but when I do find a flat stretch of terrain, I build them into a short run and yesterday I did mess about a bit, on the speed intervals, building up too a maximum speed and pulling back! I have more stamina and my breathing is pretty much under control. All good

So... just an update on my running journey, for anyone who is interested Still here, still finding pure pleasure and sheer joy in the variety of my runs, and emulating boptillyoudrop49 's post of a couple of days ago, I am still loving the euphoria I feel because of running.

[Old_trout]

I like the look of those. I know just the place too! Do you go a measured 100m or do you just run for 30 seconds?

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Old_trout]

Well...I struggled with a flat place to run initially... but found a handy flat piece of field track.. well flattish, and paced approx' 100m to a bush!!! so started with running for the recommended distance.. Now I just do the burst times, per stride; when I am playing around, sometimes at the end of a run, I just decide on a point ahead to stop at, and build up my speed in a final burst.

It is odd, because now, I could actually sprint for a bus! ( if I needed to )

[Hidden]

Interesting post Oldfloss , when I feel better will give strides ago, that looks very Interesting and beneficial

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

Worth a look, when you feel back on form Robx

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

How are you finding it? Are you doing as part of one of your runs?

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

Great fun, and as I said in a reply to Old_trout , I started using them in isolation but now, do them as part of runs...as and when I want to.

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Sounds good to mevthanks again , definitely will give them ago ,

Thinking back I was kind of doing them as a warm up when I was doing park runs but not as scientifically lol

[Slowstart Graduate10]

Ooh this could be exactly what I need. I'm doing slow runs as I'm just returning from injury and this seems the perfect way to end these runs.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Slowstart]

This is a good fun thing to do, definitely!

[Slowstart Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Pictures of John Cleese and the ministry of silly walks come to mind.

[skysue16 Graduate10]

Interesting article.......I might give it a go, just need to work out a 100m flat/softish part of the forest track. I'm on a steep learning a curve too - fascinating discovering new things about how my body works. I find that heat affects me the most - just saps my energy, but uphill is also hard work (improving though and better when I take small, quick steps). Hope your bruises and scrapes improve quickly.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to skysue16]

Yes.. one of my big problems was finding flat bits!!! I used a bit of flat field at home and here in the tin tent.. there are flattish lanes yeay!

It is great finding new things out isn't it...with me, the energy sapper was uphill, not so much now, and still, wind!!! Uphill and wind combined eeek!

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Ahh, wind, hard running into it but nice when it is pushing you along! I loved the cooling breeze yesterday for my run but in the winter gales here it is hard to stand up let alone run!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to skysue16]

Looking forward to finding that out for myself next Spring...

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to skysue16]

Have been for a walk to try out my stiff legs and hip and feeling not too bad, thanks... still look a bit battered! Hey ho, it gives folks something to look at!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Thanks for the link Oldfloss. I really need to start including something like this - am also considering giving Juicyju's 30,20,10 intervals a go. Food for thought (lots of that on this forum!🙂)

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Sandraj39]

You are welcome..,I will check out ju-ju- 's intervals too! Thanks.

Yes, so much to learn so many routes to run Loving it!

[Rainbowsmurf]

Thanks for the link. Had heard strides mentioned before but wasn't sure what they were!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Rainbowsmurf]

Welcome!

[Rainbowsmurf in reply to Oldfloss]

And I tried a few today and they were fun!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Floss you ran 8K!!! That's fab. Only a matter of time before you're posting about the "10" 😊 Can't wait for that one!

I must check out your post about bike and bruises. Sounds as if you had a tumble 😢 but I hope you're ok.

It sounds as if you're really exploring lots of running options. The world is our oyster really and I never understand when someone says they're bored with running as there's just so much choice! It's just so lovely to read about your runs and how much you love them. x

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Could be a little while IP... I may get there..but it will be slowly! But, that won't matter!

Yep.. I posted my adventure on C25K forum.. it was quite unfortunate and I think retrospectively I was lucky...

It is totally fascinating and I, quite literally, learn something either about running or myself every time!

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

Very interesting, might give them a try - they look fun. Also saw ju-ju- 's post on intervals and was thinking about that, but I don't think my current watch is intelligent enough for all that programming. There really is such a lot to learn about this running lark!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

There really is...so much fun too!☺

[Digger74]

I'm glad you're unbowed and not too battered. That's a horrible slow moment when you know you're going over.

I've started a new program that includes intervals and strides. I haven't actually done any of them yet, but this morning I did my run at the prescribed pace which was a lot slower than usual. It was a bit of a lightbulb moment - this is how people manage to chat and run! On Friday I do the same run but with 2 quicker intervals in the middle. I'm looking forwards to it!

There's also a run next week which contains a 12min test, where I'm supposed to run my fastest 12 min in the middle... Haven't decided about that one yet.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Digger74]

The 12 min test sounds exciting!!! Your whole programme sounds really interesting too..☺

I feel more or less okay today..knuckles are sore, but I feel better than I expected after hitting a hard road..especially at my advanced age!

Cycling today..no wind 😏 and short run tomorrow ,slow and steady☺

[sarah469 Graduate10]

Never heard of strides before, thank you for the link I will try them out. Happy running. We're at about the same place in our running journey I think! 8K in an hour or thereabouts. Lovely to read your posts as always, and I hope you are recovered from your tumble soon!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to sarah469]

Happy running too.

Well,the 8 K surprised me, but the longer,slow runs are very enjoyable. Beautiful scenery, a bright morning...lovely! I managed a walk yesterday..not too stiff. Cycle ride today..short run tomorrow, to test everything out ☺

What has surprised me, and I am going to fnd out more about this, is I have not felt, even at 66....too bad..even after hitting the road...has the running and associated exercising contributed to the quicker healing process..?

But..check out the Strides..I think you will enjoy them☺