Being disciplined and mixing up my runs...is this the key?🏃🏽‍♀️😀

[Sandraj39]

I have posted often about not enjoying running so much in the summer 😕 - I have always preferred the colder, wetter months (yes, I am a little strange, I know). So since everything has started to cool down, I have slipped back in to a much better routine with my running and seem to have become much more organised and disciplined about my runs. I am training up for the Great South Run again so a little discipline was called for to hopefully get me ready! After a good 13k last weekend (road and trail), I have followed up with an easy 5k and a fartleking 5k on Friday, which has brought me back under 30 mins for that distance - where I wanted to be.🙂. Today was an 'easy' 10k on the roads. I tend to do my longer runs on a mix of terrain as I love the trails but want to make sure that my legs are happy and ready for 10 miles on the road later next month. All ok, although it is quite warm again here, which resulted in a bit more huffing and puffing than I was expecting!

What I am loving most of all, is making sure I mix up my routes, terrain, pace and...elevation ( yes, hills have to be run sometimes!😮). I think all these factors help keep running interesting and motivating. ..plus I have found a local 10k to run a fortnight before GSR, which is all off- road! Perfect! Happy running this week to everyone.🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏻🙂

[linda9389 Graduate10]

Such a good feeling when it all falls into place. I do tend to be a bit 'samey' with my running - partly for fear of more injury and partly because there isn't much variety outside my front door. I'm still away and have really enjoyed the new routes and very different surroundings, but soon it will be back home and I will need to be a bit more creative I think, especially to keep the longer distances interesting 🙂

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

I think mixing it up makes it more interesting too. I do this and it stops any boredom. Like you I also prefer the weather in the autumn, winter. I love drama in the weather when I’m out running.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to ju-ju-]

..an overcast and blustery autumn day is my favourite, I think!🏃🏽‍♀️💨🍂🙂

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

It all sounds lovely. Enjoy your off-road 10k (I do love me some trails!) and best of luck with your GSR.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you!🙂

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Lovely Sandraj39 , it’s good to mix things up from time to time, I love running on the canal but I’ve done it so much lately that this week I am planning a couple of new routes and I am incorporating a HILL!! I avoid them but am starting to feel guilty that I’m not pushing myself as much as I should & when there’s a hill to be run up it has to be run down too so that’s a bonus! Looking forward to getting back out there this week after my dodgy Achilles pain of last week so it will be steady away for me, happy running to you too 😉

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

I have avoided hills in the past too, so you are not alone! There is one on my favourite trail route that I now make sure I run EVERY time I am on that run (usually once a week) - and I do kind of love it now! (It's a tough and cruel kind of love though!😉) Go steady on your achilles, good luck🙂

[AnnieW55]

I think it’s the Anglosaxon in us 😀 possibly! I’m happier in cooler, and dare I say wetter weather (noticed a huge flood across a road just in time to miss being drenched by the solitary passing car who wouldn’t move over this morning 😮😣). Mixing it up is a key to training - and keeping off boredom when using the same routes. Sounds like you’ve got it sussed.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to AnnieW55]

Oh yes, I am afraid I often splash through puddles when I'm off road - sometimes it's easier!💦🏃🏽‍♀️💦🙂

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Good luck with your preps for the GSR in our part of the world Sandra. If you've done it before you'll know about the cobblestones in the historic dockyard, which come as a shock to some. We'll be cheering you on somewhere along the homeward route.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you🙂. No issues with the cobblestones, they come quite early in the race if I remember? I love the Historic Dockyard and we made great use of the discount voucher in the goody bag a couple of years ago! In fact I spent my post-run afternoon clambering up and down the steps of various vessels, including HMS Victory❤️ - my favourite...(as if I wasn't quite tired enough!😮)

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Did you know Equi-geek on the forum is doing it too?

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

I think there's a few... linda9389 too.🙂

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Yep me too! and thanks for the cobbles heads up Dexy5 ! Postponed my long run tody on account of a. heavy, heavy rain and b. heavy, heavy drinking with late night last night

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

That sounds like a good plan Linda. Hydrate before that long run. I’m way behind you on juju’s plan and cannot imagine doing the GSR myself. But then I didn’t think I’d run 5k at this time last year.

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

Doesn’t sound strange to me at all, Sandra...I’ve found starting to run in the heat of this summer pretty stifling, and am looking forward to more lovely cooler runs! Mixing thing up to add interest sounds a great plan. Good luck for your GSR plans! 😃🏃‍♀️❤️

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Thank you🙂

[Agelesslass Graduate10]

Wow you sound an amazing runner, I am aspiring to be just a fraction of your achievements, so well done by you, fantastic runner that you are.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Agelesslass]

No!!... just like many on here - returned to running at 49 and fell in love with it❤! There have been a couple of injuries along the way but I keep on getting back out there and plodding on!😁

[Agelesslass Graduate10]

You are so humble Sandraj39

[aliboo70 Graduate10]

Glad to see all going well for you Sandra! I'm with you ,much prefer the Autumn weather xxx

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Ali, almost scared to say it sometimes! I don't want to jinx myself and get injured! Are you doing the GSR again this year? 🙂x

[aliboo70 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Yes I think so need to book in asap! 😊xxx

[Fabulous450 Graduate10]

Great experiences Sandra!! Well done you! 🤩 Best wishes for the training and of course for the big GSR day! 😁❤️

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Thank you - training going well at the moment....! 🙂

[skysue16 Graduate10]

I agree, Autumnal runs are great! Although up here on the NW coast of Scotland we can have wet and windy weather all year round 😬. Well done on achieving 30min 5k 😀. I am struggling to improve my pace after injury but happy to be running continuously for 30 mins, even though it is very slow 😉

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

It is so hard sometimes after injury - my pace is still slower than it was before sciatica damaged a nerve in leg but I am getting there! Like you, just building up my running again was the goal! Take care.🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Hi you....I am not sure why I missed this... This is brilliant... and I think quite a few of us feel like this, Just finding the runs and the routes and let things just evolve sometimes, setting out and then allowing it to change, without getting bothered by it

Loving these Autumn runs too...you are right.. the chillier mornings, the crisper starts to come and even the wind!!!

As ever , my friend .. an inspiration for so, so many of us

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

...and your wonderful words are always an inspiration to me, Oldfloss! I am planning a 10k today but as I sit here typing after a very busy and emotionally tiring week, I do not know where the energy is going to come from! I am going to just trust in the run - that whatever the distanceor the pace, it will be the run I need!!xx