Next step on the bridge

[Pianism]

Well folks, I've just had a lovely long run along the Middlewood Way, the route I chose for my graduation run. This was by far my longest run ever (including school) and yet was one of the easiest I've experienced. Learned loads, including...

- Pacing is everything. If you keep at that easy conversational pace you can run, basically, forever. And there's fuel in the tank for a 200m sprint at the end.

- Shoes are like mattresses... ones you like when you get into them aren't the ones you need in the long run (ran 4k in my new Hokas on Tuesday and hated every single second of it. Hated. Hated. Hated. 7k in my Brooks felt like 3 steps in the Hokas).

- There are specialist running socks and they start at £14. £14 for a pair of socks!!!! And they are worth every single penny (got them free with the hateful Hokas, so at least that's something).

- When the forecast for Stockport is 36% rain and BBC North West says a small chance of showers, it means it will rain heavily for the entirety of your 50-minute run.

- There's a big difference between clothing made from technical sports fabric and a bog standard Matalan moisture wicking tee-shirt (which quickly becomes like a sodden bath towel).

- My new running belt allows me to carry 600ml of water on a long run without me noticing it.

- My new running belt doesn't work for the 200m sprint at the end.

- I don't need water on a 7k run.

- Running 7k 4 months after you were a pre-diabetic 17.5 stone couch potato feels gooooooood.

Happy running folks! I couldn't do it without you.

[alisonx Graduate10]

Great post Pianism full of tips and lessons learnt. I have always been dubious about spending £14 on a pair of socks...now i know

So sorry that your Hoka's have not been so enjoyable, hopefully it is a case of needing to get used to them - they look quite a bit more bulky than others. I have never tried a pair so don't know. BUT if you hate them will they let you change them at the shop?

Congrats on the health benefits too, here's to many more and the continued runs 🎉

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to alisonx]

Thank you. I don't actually find them bulky and the are quite light in comparison to my Brooks. It's just that they are spongy and the low heel drop (I think) makes my calves and Achilles hurt!

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

Great run, especially in this rain. I soon learned to like running in the rain

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Brilliant progress and great that you are getting so much out of your running. Every run is a learning experience and learning from mistakes is part of that..we all make them! My running shop would certainly swap shoes after a short period of use, so worth a try.😊😊

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you. I'll cross my fingers and head back to the shop.

[SeeJillRun 60minGraduate]

Thanks for the tip on the sports clothing, it confirms what I was thinking. Sorry to hear you’re not happy with the Hokas, I can imagine it’s not fun running in uncomfortable shoes. The running belt sounds good though

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to SeeJillRun]

I've been putting off buying anything "proper" because I'm dropping in size. But I'm going to have to now, I think. Don't want to be running in a rain jacket when it's warm!

[SeeJillRun 60minGraduate in reply to Pianism]

Me too, it’s hard to justify the expense when you know you won’t wear it for long but with the warmer weather I realised I need some proper gear or I’ll be far too hot. I guess I can always sell it on once it’s too big for me

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to SeeJillRun]

Going shopping this PM - Adidas outlet and Sports Direct and then maybe Decathlon if I can't get anything there.

[SeeJillRun 60minGraduate in reply to Pianism]

Good luck!

[Franglaise Graduate10 in reply to Pianism]

Ooh exciting....love shopping! Take those running shoes back when you are out shopping...most shops would change them, good luck. I need a shopping spree.

[Franglaise Graduate10 in reply to Franglaise]

I keep looking at some Brooks from the uk and they state that you can sweat in them and If you dont get on with them just return them within 30 days for an exchange or refund...hopefully your shop will do the same.

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Franglaise]

Not sure - have written to them. Shopping did not go well... Adidas store was rubbish... Decathlon's sizes are a complete mystery to me... honestly, the XL running top I tried on would have fit my 7yo niece perfectly!! So it'll have to be sports direct when I get a moment or more Matalan tee-shirts and put up with the weight when wet...

[SeeJillRun 60minGraduate in reply to Pianism]

I know what you mean about Decathlon’s sizes, I ended up with an XXL running jacket n I’m a size 14 top half, hardly XXL 😂

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to SeeJillRun]

I've got XXL jackets too from there... but I've lost over a stone since then. The jackets are definitely not sized the same as the running tops!

[SeeJillRun 60minGraduate in reply to Pianism]

That’s not good news, I was planning on getting a running top from there 😕

[Franglaise Graduate10 in reply to SeeJillRun]

I thought it was just decatblon france....im considered a plus size at size 12!

[SeeJillRun 60minGraduate in reply to Franglaise]

It’s crazy isn’t it! A size 12 is what I’m aiming for 😂😂

[Franglaise Graduate10 in reply to SeeJillRun]

And you will do it hun....just before Christmas I was bursting out of my size 14 clothes....one of the reasons i started running. I follow slimming world as best I can in France and the weight dropped off. Size 14 is slim anyway Jill

[SeeJillRun 60minGraduate in reply to Franglaise]

I know but sadly my bottom half is more like a size 16/18 😭 I started using My Fitness Pal a few weeks ago to track my calories n I linked it up to Pacer so it offsets my steps and exercise. Since then I’ve lost 6 pounds so I’m on the right track now. Well done on your weight loss, it must be nice to fit in your jeans more comfortably 😊

[Franglaise Graduate10 in reply to SeeJillRun]

6lbs is great, almost half a stone. It is good, but my boobs have gone too....We always have a price to pay. Well done you, your doing great.

[SeeJillRun 60minGraduate in reply to Franglaise]

Yes, I’ve noticed mine are getting smaller too, but so’s the rest of me n they’re still in proportion so far. Hope they stay that way 🤞

[51mc Graduate10]

Lovely post Pianism! It is great to be able to look back at a run and learn so many things from it. Shame about the Hokas, you just can't tell when you try them on, whether they are going to suit longer times and distances, just as well you have the Brooks!

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to 51mc]

Thank you. They didn't even work for a short run... gave me terrible pain.

[RunRunRun13 Graduate10]

Such a lovely post and well done on the run ! Great achievement....I do worry about getting new runners as I think I may not like them, may go for Brooks 👟🏃‍♀️

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to RunRunRun13]

My advice is don't take anyone's advice (except after they've done a gait analysis and start recommending shoes that would suit you). My local running shop has days where you can go and run in different shoes (outside rather than just on the treadmill). Don't know how I ended up with such different shoes this time than the first time... other than naivety over what works. Defo sticking to my trusted make and model from now on.

[Bridget007]

Brilliant post! So many lessons to be learnt on this running journey aren’t there! And 7k 😃 well done 👍🏻

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Bridget007]

Thank you

[Couchpotato2]

Well done ! That’s great and running somewhere where you remember struggling and having a nice easy run makes you see how much you’ve progressed. Well done on 7km, that’s major. If you can, take an extra day’s rest, I didnt and regretted it a bit. I might be shortly off to try my new rain jacket...

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Couchpotato2]

Sun has come out here now... typical! Actually, my legs feel better after the 7k than they have for ages after a run... a combination of the strengthening exercises and simply a ling easy run.

[Couchpotato2 in reply to Pianism]

What strengthening exercises are you doing? I think i need them!

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Couchpotato2]

Calf lifts, eccentric heel drops and knee squats.

[Couchpotato2 in reply to Pianism]

eccentric heel drops, those sound fun! do you have to do them in a ministry of silly walk way?

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Couchpotato2]

Lol

[Couchpotato2 in reply to Pianism]

No seriously is that a real thing??

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Couchpotato2]

runnersconnect.net/achilles...

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Congratulations on your furthest run Pianism! 👍Yes I think we learn something from every run but you certainly hit the jackpot there! 😀

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Thank you

[Granspeed Graduate10]

What a lot of things to learn from one run! 👏🏼😊 I’m totally with you on the technical fabric front. And have I mentioned my running sock habit? 🤪 Beware, there! Happy running. (And go back to the shop with the hated Hokas. It won’t be the first time they’ve encountered this syndrome.)

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Granspeed]

Yes, I think it was your first purchase of dayglo socks that inspired me to buy mine. Will see what the shop say about the Hokas.

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

I love my new Hokas but we all have different gaits and different feet! Brooks didn’t do it for me but I know lots of people swear by them. Loved your post though!

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Absolutely we are. I have Hoka trail shoes and they are great, which is why I bought these ones. They are just a different shoe and don't suit me - my intention wasn't to trash the brand.

[Jell6 Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

I love my fugly Hokas too😊

The chap in Up And Running did say they are like Marmite though.

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Jell6]

I like they way they look and I like the way they feel when I first put them on. It's just that they cause me such a lot of pain when walking and running, and they feel too spongy for me. Yet I love running in my Hoka trail shoes. Glad you love yours - finding the right shoe is so important.

[Katnap Graduate10]

We run and learn 😁

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

We do indeed.

[DiscoRunner]

Wonderful post and so agree about the pacing and just being able to run & run & run. Love that feeling.

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to DiscoRunner]

I was going to say we are so lucky but, no... we earned that feeling with hard work.

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to Pianism]

👍

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

🌨🌧💦🏃 oh no! Wow it's like you've been in an intensive running course. All good info. Well done on your 7km and well done on your entire running journey. It's really impressive what you're achieving 👍😀

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thank you. It's very addictive, isn't it?

[molly1973]

I love this!! Just what I needed to cheer me up! Well done 👍

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to molly1973]

Thank you

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

It must be addictive. I'm still doing it!

[Wimborne]

Just giggled my way through your ‘what I have learnt this week’ post and will keep a mental note of those socks 👍. Fabulous run though P. I have just bought some new bits from decathalon which I am hoping will be ok. Keep doing what you are doing 👍 it’s certainly working for you.