I don't look like me in this picture, and am very red, but wanted to show the Tikiboo Mermaid racer back vest that I picked up new, unopened and cheap on eBay (they are really expensive normally). They were in the Tikiboo sale for the same price but didn't have any medium left. Honestly, every female runner in the world appears to be medium since you cant get that size online in any running gear for love or money at the moment.
Back to the run. I wish I had a nice long run to wow you with but, despite being more rested, I'm just not feeling very energetic at the moment. I want to do some more 10k plus runs, but I haven't got the push, even after passing toxic 10 (or in my case 20). The other thing is that it was only 13 degrees and I was distinctly chilly when I set off. I hate cold start runs. It's like throwing yourself straight into the swimming pool (which I always do BTW), and reminds me that the cold winter runs are not that far away - give me the heat any day. This run took me out along the Burford Road. Normally i turn off along a single track road that takes me across 'the top of the world', but it's dangerous at the time of day I ran, cars going at breakneck speed using it as a shortcut on the commuter and school runs. So I ran to the turnoff and then back.
Thistles blazing purple by the wayside; ragged robin a swathe of pink; hazel trailing its leaves across the path. The council have cut the verge, so the tarmac footpath that runs beside the road is passable now without the hazard of stinging nettles, though there are still brambles at shoulder height that need negotiating, and the cut grass is slippery under foot, though it smells divine. Nothing massively steep on this route, but it has a long steady climb in both directions, and I really felt it today. Then, on the return leg of my run, I had to detour into the road to pass a beautiful pale roan Anglo-Arab horse on the footpath ahead of me. A lovely sight.
What's so weird about the recent tired runs is that my VO2 Max is edging up again and my fitness age has lowered another two years. i will be in nappies soon at this rate. But I wonder if the fatigue is due to increased pace and speed. I'm not trying to go faster, in fact I'm holding back to what feels a steady chug along, and this run was almost all in zone 4 instead of the usual red zone 5 - as have the last few runs also been. I guess my best bet is to go with it and do what my body dictates and wait for it to extend the running distance again when it's ready - pretty much what i did in childbirth, and that worked a treat.
Flick. Funny I had the same thing happen to me today. From the start I knew it was going to be a struggle with heavy legs etc so I did not even try to run a certain distance. I ended up doing 2.4 miles (3.8K) What I did was instead of trying to plod on to a certain distance I decided to do fartleks instead. It was real fartlek training as I had a gregs sausage & bean pie with beans & spuds for T last night!!!!
Any way instead of coming home disappointed I did not run a certain distance I felt really good as I touched 6.5 mph (10.4kph) in between lampposts. That works out at a 28 min 5k!! Pity I could only manage the short run between posts b4 having to stop!! Anyway came home feeling like I have done some real training. I do now try to do at least one day a week of something like fartleks or similar as for me this really helps me to run faster.
Just trying to increase my pace on a normal run just does not work for me .I know you want to run faster as we all do so why not say for just one month try a 30 min or 3 k of fartleks or interval training one day a week or on a day when you know you are not going to reach 10k & further. I bet you will see an increase in your pace overall.
If you read on the web we should be running in Zone 3 to increase our distance & pace not zone 4 or 5. That for me would be a walking pace!!! I rarely go into the red but seem to
stuck in zone 4.A lot more work to do or perhaps for old farts like me that is something that I have to live with.
I do fartleks sometimes. But you know the pace is gradually increasing anyway, so I’m happy with that. I’m a great one for listening to my body and going by that. I can’t run slower because it strains my weak leg and damages my injured knee, so I guess I’m stuck in red and orange zones for now. Thanks for the info on running in zone 3. I’m hoping that will happen naturally in time. My running fitness and body have come on so much in 9 months and I’m seeing an upsurge in speed and fitness at the moment. It’s all fascinating. Thank for the input and info 😊
Morning Flick and hope your well? Great top by the way! Anyway your still doing great I see! And while I read your posts I feel as if I’m there with you running .Your descriptions are wonderful.
I shall go out tomorrow am. Can’t persuade you ??🤔🏃♀️
Anyway take care Flick and love your new hair colour !😀😀🦄x
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Haha with the hair, that’s what happens if I don’t henna, it’s been like that for ages 😊
Glad you like the run descriptions. What’s going on around me is a huge part of why I run and why I don’t run with music.
What time are you running tomorrow and how far? I might join you xx
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Hi Flick I’m looking at 6am Sunday I ran 8k so hoping to get to 9K. So hope to see you then 🏃♀️🏃♀️🦄xx😀😀
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I should be able to make that. It depends how much sleep I get in the night with.Mr I don’t snore sounding like a bloody tractor beside me!
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Ok Flick will look for you tomorrow!😀😀
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Im confused. You said 6am Sunday. What time tomorrow are you running? X
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Ah, I understand now. 5herevwas a stop after 6am. Sorry ...
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Sorry Flick ! Yes your quite right I forgot the full stop. Time is the same so see you tomorrow 😀😀❤️
Lovely post Flick and descriptive run, I like these posts of yours, very imaginative and encouraging. Lovely top too. Amazed at the bargains on eBay sometimes. Your hair is a gorgeous colour, I can imagine it being a little pain hannaing it on times though.
Fab running results and your getting younger too apparently.... Heehee, fab, sounds good to me xx 🤗☺️
Aw, thank you sweets 😊 my hair colour is a mosh mash now, part me part residue of henna and I put cassia through the roots from time to time to cover up the grey bits that are streaked into it now naturally.
I try to make the posts descriptive so that people can share what I’ve experienced. Running exposes us to such wonders, it brings us face to face with nature xxx
Lovely running report! Great top, I'm just loving it 🤗 You have a brilliant attitude and I did have a little chuckle about you regressing!
You look great I this picture, even if you say this isn't a true reflection - beautiful! 😘
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Wow, thank you! 😊 the jury is out on the top mainly because I’m not used to wearing that shade of blue, but it was too good to pass up as was half price. Xx
Love the mermaid vest - suits you!! You’re right everyone’s a medium! 😩 Running is a nightmare at the mo and has been for too long now. Come on clouds and rain!!
Looking good Flick and very tanned too! It could be the weather, it’s so unusual for England to have prolonged hot weather. We are just not used to it, I think it takes away your energy. It does seem to be cooling down a bit now so you will probably feeling more energised soon, I think all us runners would be happy to see some cooler temperatures.
Oh, thank you! It’s just running in the sun that has tanned me. I actually thrive on the heat and felt cold today when I started my run, but I do think the humidity is hard. Also disturbed sleep because it’s hot at night. But the other thing is that I’ve made some inadvertent breakthroughs with pace etc, and - being soemwhat older than many of you - I find my body needs to catch up with itself. Anyway, I ran, and that’s the main thing 😊
Great top... great photo..great run....and it seems to demonstrate my premise that... the runs do evolve.. we do get faster.. we do go further... we do get fitter and we do end up doing amazing things!
Aw thank you Floss! It's true about the improvement though. I haven't done any specific training other than the very occasional fartlek for fun, but it's all gradually happening.
Gorgeous top on a gorgeous lady. Nice run, too. 👍 If you are worried about energy, would you ever consider a week off? People swear by it! You have been running for a long time now, and a wee break now and then can work wonders...I am planning a break in August, to refresh me leggies. Will swim instead. xxx
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