๐ŸŽถ"Keep yourself Upright"๐ŸŽถ (another version... - Bridge to 10K

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๐ŸŽถ"Keep yourself Upright"๐ŸŽถ (another version a Queen track)

Razouski profile image
Razouski
โ€ข33 Replies

Despite it snowing last night, I set my alarm so that I would be out of the door bright and early to run. Iโ€™d even put my kit out ready, so there was no need for faffing and I was soon doing my dynamic warm up stretches before heading off.

Thank goodness for my many layers โ€“ which may not have looked particularly co-ordinated but at least they were keeping me warm. It was chilly out, but worse than that, the pavements were like an ice-rink and I pretty quickly opted to walk along the road, which had been gritted.

Once I got into the park I decided that running on the snowy grass was a far better option than the path, and this kept me safe for a while, and then it was back out onto the road. Th traffic was busy so I had to keep to the pavement. Running down a steep hill was interesting, and although I had my Queen playlist on, I couldnโ€™t help but think of Simon and Garfunkel and the song Slip Sliding Away started playing in my head. But I took it really slow and steady, and did my best to ignore the pace that Mrs Mapmyrun was telling me I was running at. The patches of escaped ice-rink required me to change down the gears to a timorous walking pace so it was going to take a lot longer. But I had the goal of getting 7km under my belt, and I was going to do it, however long it took me.

Eventually I got to the cycle-path, and at least there was some scrub at the edges and the remains of autumn leaves. So where I could, I kept to these and managed to keep plodding onwards gently with Freddie Mercury crooning in my ears. I was nearly half way through my run when the sun came out bathing the snow covered fields in a glorious pool of light. It felt good to be out โ€“ seeing the branches and fence posts glistening with their icy covering. Who cares how cold it is? โ€“ itโ€™s absolutely beautiful and I was pleased to be running and enjoying the sight rather than being wrapped up in bed feeling stuffy and sluggish.

The walk home was proving pretty treacherous and it would be ironic if I managed to run 7km completely unscathed but ended up falling and injuring myself on the cool down walk home. Then one of my favourite Queen tracks came on, Keep Yourself Alive. I briefly thought of the alternative lyrics Iโ€™d composed on a previous run. As I slithered on a patch of ice Freddie and the boys were actually encouraging me not to, โ€œKeep yourself alive,โ€ but to

...

Keep yourself upright, yeah

The ice gives you a fright

The sky is blue and now itโ€™s sunny

Itโ€™s frosty and itโ€™s bright

โ„๏ธ โ˜€๏ธ

Well Iโ€™ve run seven kilometres

In a slow and steady way

And my running style was interesting

Strange footwork โ€“ not ballet!

I need to get home safely

Through the ice and through the snow

Donโ€™t let yourself fall over now

Thereโ€™s not too far to go.

โ„๏ธ

Keep yourself upright

And donโ€™t you get frostbite,

Youโ€™re nearly home, so you donโ€™t need to worry,

Your slip was only slight.

โ„๏ธ

And before I knew it I was finishing off my cool down stretches in the warmth and comfort of my hall. So pleased I managed my run and came back unscathed.

Take care out there everyone. Happy running.

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Razouski profile image
Razouski
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33 Replies
โ€ข
grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirl

You're braver than me, and a lot tougher! I might venture out for a walk later, it does look beautiful out there. Might be humming a queen tune as I go, the cold hasn't harmed your creative talent!

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply togrumpyoldgirl

I just need to get back into my routine after having time off being ill, so I knew I had to run today, but I couldnโ€™t face doing 7km on the treadmill at the gym. I would rather be frozen stiff outside than bored stiff inside! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

Enjoy your walk.

grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirlโ€ข in reply toRazouski

I can relate to that, your photos are beautiful too. Glad you made it back in one piece.

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

Brilliant Razouski! ๐ŸŽถ ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธโ„๏ธ Thatโ€™s determined stuff, running 7k in those conditions. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ Good old Freddie though, always inspirational. โค๏ธ I love your alternative lyrics! ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ‘

We have no snow today but it was bitterly cold first thing and it would have been icy on parts of my route, so I opted for 3.5k at the gym. Oh the heat! ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿฅต ๐Ÿ˜ฉ No way could I have done my long run on the treadmill. Many do, obviously, so extra kudos to them all. ๐Ÿ‘Š

Stay warm and safe! ๐Ÿ˜€

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply tocheekychipmunks

I know, Iโ€™m dead impressed with anyone who can manage to run more than 3km on a treadmill.

Wimborne profile image
Wimborneโ€ข in reply toRazouski

Me too. ๐Ÿ˜Š

Wimborne profile image
Wimborneโ€ข in reply tocheekychipmunks

I am thinking of wearing my bikini ๐Ÿ‘™ next time I use the treadmill at the gym. Maybe then they will get the hint and turn up air con. Or I will get chucked out. I am guessing it would be the latter. But it would be funny ๐Ÿ˜‚.

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply toWimborne

๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

I don't know about you, but the thought of me running in a bikini at the gym is hilarious. The regulars would think I'd got a screw loose.

Wimborne profile image
Wimborneโ€ข in reply toRazouski

There are no words to describe how I would look ๐Ÿ˜‚

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10โ€ข in reply toWimborne

I canโ€™t even go with the visual of me in a bikini on the treadmill! Oh my days! ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿคฃ

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply tocheekychipmunks

๐Ÿ‘™ ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ

Wimborne profile image
Wimborneโ€ข in reply toRazouski

๐Ÿ˜‚.

Wimborne profile image
Wimborneโ€ข in reply tocheekychipmunks

๐Ÿ˜‚. We could start a new craze......

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10โ€ข in reply toWimborne

Ohhhhhh ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜ณ

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate10

Well done Razouski ...what a super trooper you are braving the snow, ice and slippy pavements...I was thinking this morning while I was walking the dog how beautiful I see the world with runners eyes now...the only times I've seen the world differently was when I've had my babies and I saw how exciting the world can be..and how inquisitive we ought to be living in such a beautiful world...every season is beautiful in its own right...and we read about it all the time here and share how wonderful it is with each other...what did we all do before running??!! I think I must've had my head down....

Lovely run Razouski, as ever...stay safe trotting around in the snow xxx

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply toMummycav

What a lovely thought,I remember seeing the world differently when I had my babies (along time ago). And I do think I see some lovely aspects of the world since becoming a runner.

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66Graduate10

Wonderful post....but definitely take care. A spinal fracture was my reward for just walking across a car park 14 months ago...black ice ..splat! On the other hand it is so wonderful to be out there. Colours are emphasised, even the birds look as though they have had a respray! ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿฅถ

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply toBeachcomber66

I was very careful, thanks, which was why I was so slow. It was lovely to be running especially when the sun came out. Everything looked so crisp and clear.

What a lovely outside run, you were very brave and what a result - I agree with you I can't do the treadmill for any length of time either. What fab lyrics as ever and the pics really show what the weather is like, although funnily enough here in London, not one flake, but itโ€™s getting colder and colder, so maybe Iโ€™ll be slip sliding away on Friday which is when I am planning to do my first recovery 2kms... And I hope that little slip didnโ€™t hurt too much and hasnโ€™t put you off going out.

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply to

I only slipped but didn't fall thankfully. It's just that awful feeling when you feel yourself going and all your muscles tense up in anticipation...

Good luck for your first recovery run on Friday, another Irishprincess josette I think. Go carefully.

โ€ข in reply toRazouski

Will do, what could possibly go wrong? ;)

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate10

That looks beautiful ๐Ÿ™‚ You're definitely over the illness Raz ๐Ÿค—

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply toIrishprincess

Easing back into it, though, and gradually building up to 10K. Your link has been really helpful. :-)

Lezlie profile image
Lezlie

Safety first! I had a similiar experience exactly one week ago. During the day it was snowing only a little bit. I thought that I could do the short run anyway. When I was on the track I realised that it was cooling down and the very thin snow layer on the path started freezing. When I turned to another path I was slipping with my outer leg, I could stabilise with the inner leg, so didn't fall down to the ground. But since then (I realised it the day after) I've got a pain in my lumbar spine. Some other runners say that I maybe have hurt my sciatic nerve ... I did my other runs despite the pain, because it's only hurting when I put on my shoes. However, today, it's snowing again ... hopefully it will stop during the day because I should do my short run today!!

Your route looks really great! And thumb up for running in the early morning! You are really tough to finish a long run in those conditions!!

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply toLezlie

Thank you for your encouragement Lezlie , I lost my mojo in November and December and was running really irregularly and hardly ever going to the gym. Decided on Christmas Eve that I was going to get myself back into it regularly and had a good week or so, then had a terrible chest infection for three weeks which stopped me doing anything. So now having had a week of recovery runs there was no way I could let a little thing like sub-zero temperatures stop me from keeping to my resolve.

But, I was very careful...

This afternoon I'll have a workout at the gym, so at least that will be warm and no slip hazards, then hopefully out again tomorrow for a 8km run weather permitting.

Lezlie profile image
Lezlieโ€ข in reply toRazouski

It seems that you are doing everything right! :) Good luck for your run and hopefully the weather is OK, so that you also will have fun with your run! :)

I did my run yesterday after it stopped snowing/raining. But I stayed safely near the roads. Wasn't a good run, I think it was depended on the work-related stress and that I knew I have to got to the fitness training later that evening ... :/ Tomorrow will be my long run ( ;) I'm just starting JuJu's plan and I'm doing every week twice ...) this week, hopefully it will be better!

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply toLezlie

I opted for indoors today as Mr Razouski was very concerned about me running in the snow. I was very sceptical that Iโ€™d be able to persevere through the tedium to get to 8km but I actually did it. Hope the weather thaws for your run tomorrow.

Pete1w profile image
Pete1w

One of my favourite queen tracks will never be the same again.๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐ŸคฃGENIUS ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜€

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply toPete1w

Sorry to have massacred one of your favourite Queen tracks. You may have seen my previous creative version of it (which I think was better) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto......, I should have apologised to Queen fans I guess... ;-)

Pete1w profile image
Pete1w

No need to apologise..... That will keep me going for many a mile. Now if you could change the lyrics to another one bites the dust to cover my various injuries that would be amazing ๐Ÿ˜. Another knee gone and another knee gone another limb bites the dust..... Keep us all posted of your running exploits and any other hilarious queen songs you come up with. Thanks for making my day ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

Razouski profile image
Razouskiโ€ข in reply toPete1w

I'll see what I can do the next time I'm running with my Queen Playlist, as the lyrics come to be when I'm running. Although it sounds like you're on your way with that little riff. Glad to have put a smile on your face. :-)

Anthie profile image
AnthieGraduate10

Wonderful lyrics and all! Well done for your agility on icy snow!

Wimborne profile image
Wimborne

Fabulous running R. ๐Ÿ’—. You are back ๐Ÿ‘

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