What a difference a week makes :D

[linda9389]

Last week I ran along the canal in pouring rain, dodging puddles and slipping on a wet bridge. Today, same canal, beautiful blue skies, sunshine and reflections. It was like a whole different run, head up, taking in the sights. I wasn't going to go after a dodgy tummy last night, but Sadie-runs inspired me with her post this morning and it was just the kick I needed to take the risk.

Swans, moorhens, ducks, gorgeous flowers and leaves, amazing reflections, gravel paths, mud trails, trees (complete with man taking a leak ... ooer!).

I was going to make it a slightly shorter run after not being well last night, but a path closure three quarters of the way round one of the lakes I was running meant I was so far from the car that it made no sense to stop early!. So a beautiful, beautiful 15k made all the nicer as I thought it wouldn't be possible today.

[Deals1 Graduate10]

15k wowsers. Well done. Lovely pic too

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Deals1]

Thanks. I loved ju-ju's 10k plan and the sense of achievement that went with it. I then consolidated at 10k but missed the progress so much that I decided to add a few lines to the chart! Same principle of one long run each week, steadily building by just 1k a week. The excitement came back immediately. I'm now consolidating the 15k ready for the Great South Run which will be 16k (10 miles). I'm very,very nervous about such a big public event so for now I have no need to push further - my goal is just to survive the next three weeks

[Deals1 Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

Excellent!! Yeah it's good to have a goal... I've just started wk2 of 5 to 10k with a park run. Good luck... Keep us posted

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Deals1]

Thanks Is that ju-ju's plan? it's really good! enjoy that.

[Deals1 Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

Yep Ju-Ju's. Plan stuck on my fridge. Never thought I would be able to jog/run 5k .... So I'm hoping 10 is the same.

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Deals1]

It will be! you will surprise yourself all over again. The only question is - what next after 10k?

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

What is is with canal paths/trees that makes men want to wee up them?! 😂

15km - that is amazing! Great run, Linda, so glad you got out (despite tum). What a gorgeous route you have there too; love the pictures. Days like this in autumn/winter are so precious, and we notice them all the more for being out there running.

Now enjoy a relaxing afternoon, you have earned it. 👏👏👏

Sadie-runs xxx

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

What is it about men that makes them think they can hide in a sparsely wooded area just metres from the path? His wife/partner/friend was 'standing guard' on the path, with her back to him - we smiled politely to each other as if nothing was happening - so very British

(apologies that's a rather sweeping statement that I clearly can't back up with scientific evidence!)

[Bry64 Graduate10]

What lovely pictures ! Well done for running so far especially after having a dodgy tum . You’ve inspired me to keep pushing on with my distances 🏃‍♀️

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Bry64]

I've found that as the distance increases, so my need for scenery and a pleasant environment has increased. Today feels like I've had a day out, whereas doing laps of the streets round home for 15k would seem like never ending torture It does mean driving rather than falling out of the front door, but it's only 15 minutes away and was well worth the drive I think

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Such a lovely day, as shown in your pics, and 15 km too. Well done. I have never come across a man having a leak, but I have been known to disappear behind a bush myself. What is it about starting a run that makes you want the loo, even though you went before leaving the house?!

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Haha. I hope you choose bushes that afford more privacy than his skinny tree trunks!

I don't think the whole of the UK is enjoying weather like this today, but we sure are very very lucky with all this blue sky - at this time of year especially.

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

Wow! What beautiful photos! And wow to 15k too! 😊

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to over61andstilltrying]

I couldn't take enough photos today - didn't take a single one last weekend (they would have been just as dramatic but it was just too wet to stop and get the phone out!).

15k? yep, slowly slowly from couch to 15k ..... first c 2 5k, then ju-ju's 10 is the magic number, then an extension of that plan to get to 15k. Only been running since April last year (ignoring a false start last Feb) but I'm most definitely hooked

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

What a lovely run Linda...and a fab distance!😊 Well done and its brilliant how much inspiration we take from each other💪...

Happy running... and good luck getting ready for your GSR!😊xx

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thanks Jan. I was chatting to a friend yesterday who said how she envied my running and how she just couldn't get into it, couldn't get the buzz. I said I was sure I wouldn't have either if I hadn't found this forum. It's such a great community full of inspiration and support. It makes it possible do run by myself (which I actually like very much) yet with a big community of lots of other like-minded people. It truly is the best of both worlds

[MadDave]

Wow - what a day for 15k, especially with to dodgy tummy! Well done 👍

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to MadDave]

It was pretty special ... especially when I began to believe I wasn't going to need to dash to the nearest loo (trees aren't really my thing)!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Another fab run Linda, especially as you hadn't felt 100% - and what a beautiful morning! Well done! I am dropping to a 10k tomorrow and then will do a longer one again next weekend. 🙂

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

I had planned to drop to 12k today and back up again next week, but didn't see the point in walking 4k back to the car!!! I don't really know what I'm doing in terms of increasing/decreasing in the lead up to GSR Today I felt a few sharp twinges in my left shin - having not been troubled by shin splints so far - so I think I will take it all down next week to do what I can to stop that developing into a real problem. My main goal has to be staying injury free for the next 3 weeks

Have a good one tomorrow!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

..I am planning on a 10 tomorrow but would like to do one more 16k before the GSR, (but not the week before because I want to feel as fresh as I can on the day and like you, avoid injury!! ) I am also adding a bit of distance on to my midweek 'shorter' runs. This is a training strategy called 'making it up as you go along' 😉😮. Have to admit I am glad it is just a 10 tomorrow as I have had a full on and busy week both at home and work! We are getting near now😬😬 - those race numbers will be arriving in the post soon!😬😬😬😬! Hope your shins are ok now btw.🙂

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Making it up as you go along, haha! No shin pain right now so hopefully if I'm sensible it won't develop. I wasn't going to go beyond 15k before GSR, was saving that for the day. As I was running today I was thinking I might manage an extra km - but the additional 0.1could be the final straw! So then I wondered if I should walk the first 0.1k and then there would be noone left to overtake me 😀😀😀

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

Nope! You won’t be last! I’m probably walking until I get bored and feel the urge to run on the GSR 🤣

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

Hahaha. That's funny, I'll look out for you fellow walker 😂

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Lovely pictures and a phenomenal distance!

We live on a houseboat in a marina in the summer at the end of the dock closest to the boat launch. I'm amazed how many of the early morning fisherman, after launching their boat, will openly stand up and whizz in the water, right behind my boat, despite driving right past the bathroom to use the boat launch. I'd love to whistle or make some comment but I just continue to sit there drinking my coffee, wondering if they'll notice that they actually aren't alone 😆

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Oh my! A houseboat with a view and a half! Other than the blokes caught short, that sounds idyllic

[Razouski]

Stunning photos and a brilliant distance too. You’re right, the weather today is such a contrast to last week’s deluge. Well done.

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Razouski]

Way better than last week! No raincoat made it a minute or two faster too 😀

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10]

Thanks for sharing your picturesque run - beautiful photos. I did all of the long runs on JuJu's plan along my favourite canal path. I live 600ft above sea level so drive down into the valley for this like you - slight guilt but I know I can conquer distance on flatter terrain & I do use the hillier local estate & countryside for my short runs.

I love the way the wildlife, flora & fauna change with the light, weather & seasons too - haven't encountered a man having an al fresco wee yet though! Good luck with the GSR! 🤞

[linda9389 Graduate10]

There's just so much to look at along a canal isn't there? I did a loop which incorporates the canal, a river and lakes - at some points there was just the narrow mud path and some long grass then water both sides and blue sky above - perfect! I would recommend the area to anyone close enough to run there 🙂