Building distance slowly

[tony_a]

Not posted in a few weeks but have been slowly building my distance on each weekend run.

I only moved to this area last autumn so I’m using new runs to find my way about. This one was to explore a riverside walk to a pub in the next village. Didn’t quite make it as I took a wrong turn but I have most of the route figured out now.

Since my last post I’ve had a birthday and am now rocking some new running gear, including a FlipBelt and some AfterShokz bone conduction headphones. Highly recommend both, but the headphones are particularly good if running on the road as I did last week around some of the country lanes.

Taken a couple of 3-4 days rests between runs recently and my foot pain seems to have calmed down. Stretching probably helping too.

My only whinge, fellow runners who don’t acknowledge you. Now I’m not looking for a smile or a cheery hello even (though that’s always nice) but if you are coming towards me as a pair and I take to the road rather than force you into single file I think a small raise of the hand would be nice.

[Hidden]

Oh, i want those bone conducting headphones! I've got a birthday this week and have been hinting but I don't know if the enormity of my desire has been communicated.

You know, maybe you look like a super serious, fit athlete on your runs ? (with those speeds it is true). If I meet a male runner striding towards me, I'm too shy to say Hi. If it's someone i know from work (as many run along by the river at lunch time), I do grunt or raise my finger. There is one guy who says 'Well done' or 'Keep going' and I do appreciate that.

Keep enjoying your runs and your gear.

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Keep dropping those hints on the headphones. You hardly know you’re wearing them. So comfy.

There are many things I look like when running but super serious athlete isn’t one of them, super sweaty maybe. But I’ll give the benefit of the doubt.

[Tbae]

You are doing great. Pleased about your foot.Did the orange guy’s stretching help you.

I agree with you on the acknowledgement.Costs nothing.

Interesting about two abreast.

Did you know that two cyclists two abreast are complying with the Highway Code, because it eases passing for motorists, but three have to go single file.

I wonder if it is the same for runners.?

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to Tbae]

I’m not sure what helped the foot in the end but think the stretches and also more rest both contributed. I also got some lock laces and I think they help too by making sure I don’t over tighten my laces.

I didn’t know about the cyclists thing. Never thought about anything related to runners but might need to look it up now 😀

I will carry on give an acknowledgment and a smile whether it’s returned or not.

[DebJogsOn]

Great work on the distance!

I'm definitely a little wave person - think if I tried to raise a smile it might be more of a terrifying grimace at some points in my run! 😂

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to DebJogsOn]

😂 Maybe that’s the problem. What I think is a friendly smile may well be some kind of terrifying grimace. Might stick to the raised hand in future 😀

[Hidden]

That’s an impressive distance.

It seems to be mostly younger runners who don’t acknowledge you. A lot of them appear to be very serious and probably competitive.

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Good point. Generally do seem to get more acknowledgements from older folks. I quite enjoy the look of confusion sometimes when I say “morning” to someone running by. Perhaps they are surprised I can even speak when they look at the sight of me 😀

[Hidden]

That made me chuckle, though I suspect you’re being hard on yourself 😊

[pinkaardvark Graduate10]

I wave, nod or say hello to everyone I pass. I often do it to ensure I have enough puff to actually say hi But I'd say 50% don't respond. Great pace for the distance too, will make a very nippy HM when you get there .

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to pinkaardvark]

I know what you mean. It’s a good gauge of how you’re getting on to try and speak - I’m often pleasantly surprised that I don’t sound as out of breath as I might feel.

I was adamant when I got to 10K that I wasn’t going any further but I have to say I’m getting tempted now. I’ve even been experimenting with carrying a water bottle on runs. I guess when I start taking food too I’m committed 😀

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to tony_a]

I take a small squishy water pouch on 10k plus, but it's only 250ml so not a lot and most runs I just use it to wet my mouth. On the HM run I did I just about got through it, with regards to food I just had a single SiS gel but to be honest I reckon I didn't need it, I had it as a comfort. I guess it's good to carry a snack as most times you won't need it but when you do, you really do. Some people get in a right old state when there sugar or hydration levels drop too far. I also didn't see why I'd need to go further than 10k, I just seemed to want to see what lay beyond. Now i'm planning a full marathon as why not, it's only a couple of hours more and I can always walk a bit if I like Will see how that goes before planning an ultra hehe

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to pinkaardvark]

I have to say, not sure I needed the water but have been taking a 250ml bottle to get used to one. Is nice to have a small sip every so often. I think I’ll start taking food. I virtually always run early morning, small glass of water and straight out, so I do worry that I’ll start to struggle as I extend distance.

Sounds like I might be on the slippery slope towards Marathon too, I guess we’ll see. 😀

[YoureDoingGreatPet Graduate10]

I run the same route all the time since I twisted my knee running on rougher ground at the start of c25k. In the 5 months I’ve been running 2/3 times per week, Saturday was the first time I’ve had any acknowledgement of existence from another runner coming towards me. I wonder if it’s cos I don’t look like one of them. (3 stone overweight and struggling😆) I always give a thumbs up and pant hello if I have the breath.

I would really love some of those headphones 😍 unfortunately I’ve already had my birthday, I got new running shoes though, so can’t complain.

What is the bass like on them? I listen to a lot of dance music when I run, but not sure how lower range transmits through bone?

Only other concern I have about them is that 2 years ago I had a bout of eustation tube dysfunction and I would never want to have that again. Not sure if bone conduction could cause issues there.

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to YoureDoingGreatPet]

Bass is okay, it comes through, but I don’t really listen to much bass heavy stuff to comment further. One thing I have notice is they vibrate uncomfortably if you really crank the volume up. Not a problem on routes with occasional noise but running alongside a very busy road could be an issue.

Not sure how they’d affect eustation tubes (had to look up what they were) 😀

[Sqkr]

I smile at everyone I meet, but it only ever seems to be dog walkers and old folk that smile back.

I am also a huge fan of my trekz and am very protective of them, so my boyfriend has grumpily gone out and bought his own pair

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to Sqkr]

I’m a morning runner so I mainly see dog walkers and the odd older person heading back with papers and milk. Majority say good morning and a lot of the dog walkers hold their dogs until I’m passed. Runners are a definitely a bit more variable - but I have trained some of the regular ones (they know they are getting a smile and a good morning whether they like it or not).

My wife bought the headphone for my birthday and suggested this week we could share them. I’ll let her try them (and she can have some for her birthday if she likes) but they are not for sharing 😀