4 x 5k runs in 🇫🇷 - and real negative splits! 😀

[cheekychipmunks]

Morning VRBs, I hope you’re all well! I’ve been reading about your fantastic runs this last week! 👏👏

I’ve just come back from my last 5k here in Brittany before leaving tomorrow morning. I have been very good (and not so good in equal measure), as I’ve run 4 times and walked on average 10k per day. Let’s gloss over the preposterous amount of food and drink we’ve consumed shall we?! 😈

Hubby ran on alternate mornings too, but now has a niggle above his achilles. I noted he ran straight from the house and stretched after - I said nothing, he’s rowing fit and knows what he’s doing ...... 🤔

Anyway, we found a lovely 5k circular route - pretty hilly, but that’s ok - and each time I ran it a little quicker. Today I was mildly astonished to find that I ran actual real negative splits! I’ve never done that before, apart from a few downhill kilometers during one of my longer runs! I told my husband and he looked pleased for me in a rather underwhelmed way! He runs a fair amount as part of his rowing training, but doesn’t care too much about running stats (rowing ones a whole different story!) although he has been checking them more recently, I’ve noticed! 🏃🏃

Sadly for our dog, she couldn’t run with us as the roads are fairly narrow. 🐕 She’s had so many amazing walks though, and some lovely swims in the sea! 😀

Anyway today’s run smelt delicious - the aroma of fresh baked bread in the air - it was so noticeable today. I think I now need to eat some! 🥖

If you’re running this weekend, parkrun, a race, anything, have a wonderful time! 🏃‍♀️🏃. If you’re on the IC, chin up, you’re doing what your body needs. ❤️

[HeavyFoot Graduate10]

I hope you catch some music up there during the national Music Festival. 🎶

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to HeavyFoot]

We’ve spent the days walking and the evenings eating, so never got a chance to explore extra curricular activities - but we’re planning on coming back. We’ve had an amazing time. 😀

[lexi6 Graduate10]

Well done Cheeky,on holiday, 4 runs as well as negative splits. Brittany looks very pretty and your dog is gorgeous.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

Thanks Lexi! It’s both of our first times in Brittany, but we’re definitely planning on coming back. Our dog had a blast too, and me being able to run every other day was a bonus! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Sounds like you've had a lovely break - well done on keeping up the running (and those negative splits!👍). Gorgeous doggy too!🐶🙂

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra, we’ve had an amazing time. Sad to leave tomorrow morning, but on the plus side it means my dog can come running with me again next week. 😀🏃‍♀️🐕

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

Sounds as though you have had a lovely time. Lucky you finding a beach where dogs are allowed - no dogs here between April and September so Ben didn’t get to paddle 😥

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Don’t tell anyone Sandie, but some of the beaches either had a dogs on lead sign, or no dogs between May and October. We used our noggins and kept the lead to hand in case anyone showed up, but as it’s very early season here, we hardly saw a soul! 👍🐕😀

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Naughty naughty! Mind you, we did the same in Spain last month, especially when we saw others doing the same. Bit too busy at Royan!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

I know, it was naughty, but our little girl is very good, plus we’re sticklers at picking up after her, unlike lots of people it seems. 😳 She’s also a pro at lying under our table in restaurants! 😀❤️

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

She sounds wonderful! Ben likes to be heard whenever there’s food around. A German motorhomer asked us to keep him quiet when we were barbecuing, so we had to shut him in the van 🤦‍♀️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

We’ve found the French to be far more accommodating with dogs than when we took her to Germany last year ........

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Oh well done Munks, negative splits whoop whoop 🏃‍♀️💪👏

And on holiday too! It sounds as if it’s done you the power of good.

But the smell of fresh bread is so irresistible 😋 I once ate a whole loaf on my own with lashings of butter for lunch when I was a poor student and I still dream about it 😍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Oh my word IP - the fresh French bread. Totally irresistible. 😍 Thanks heavens I did fit some runs in, otherwise I’d be the size of a house! 😅

Yes, negative splits! A very exciting occurrence - and one I’d never heard of until a few months ago! 😅😅

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

😂😂 running has given us a whole new vocabulary 🙂

[Flaraflarkin Graduate10]

Yay! Well done Cheeky 👊🏃‍♀️💪 Dedication.com ❤️🦋🙌

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Flaraflarkin]

I know Flara! It says something when the first thing you pack is your running kit doesn’t it?! 😅😅 What have we become? 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️😀

[Hidden]

That’s a nice pic of the pooch enjoying the water Cheeky. Sounds like you’ve had a great time.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks clubberlang, she loves the water and then loves to roll in the sand afterwards! She’s a great holiday companion. ❤️

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Don't running and holidays work well together Cheeky?

Very impressed with your negative splits. Starting off a bit slower on new territory and picking up pace as you go make sense. Presumably you rejected the opportunity to partake of escargots; be like eating an old friend 🐌🐌🐌😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Oh yes they definitely do BC! It’s fun trying out new routes, and it’s probably best I didn’t realise how hilly this one was until I was in the middle of doing it! I might have bailed otherwise. 😅

But yes, each run was quicker than the previous one which was good. I shaved 2.30 off from my first one until today, plus the negative splits were a nice, and totally unexpected, bonus! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

"Looking forward" to the dreaded 12k next week!! Funny thing is that while the hills have slowed me down, VO2 Max has improved by 2 and average heart rate on all runs has slowed off! Weird! Maybe it is the fresh sea air! 😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Ooo well done you! 👍 Yes. I think hills are fantastic fitness training. My snails are shedding ever so slowly without me trying, and I’m sure it’s mostly due to hill work. I’m certainly not great at strength training so it can’t be that - slapped wrist me! 😅

[telford_mike Graduate10]

Fact: negative splits are cool! So well done, and it looks like you've been visiting a lovely place.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to telford_mike]

They are aren’t they Mike? And mine certainly weren’t planned today. I’m hoping they’ll become more frequent at home too - we’ll see! 🤞😀

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

What a great holiday! Lots of food, drink, running, walking, beach time with pooch! Perfect!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Can’t get much better than that can you Sask? 😍🏃‍♀️🐕🏃🥖🍷🇫🇷

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Nope, you really can’t 💕😊

[Crawlhome Graduate10]

Wow cheeky, that sounds rather fabulous and a very impressive amount of running and walking in a gorgeous location. Well done on the negative splits too, we're impressed. 😊👍

I managed a 3 mile on Monday which has aggravated my tendon injury so I'm now properly on the I.C and have seen the physio and doing daily exercises.

I'm really missing it, especially as I'm working night shifts and I've found a pre shift run makes a big difference to tiredness and stress levels.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Crawlhome]

Thanks CH, it has been a wonderful 10 days. We’ve had such a great time. 😀

I’m so sorry you’re on the IC though. What a shame. Hopefully your physio will sort you out and you’ll be back before you know it. Let’s keep everything non painful crossed! 🤞🤞

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Sounds like you’ve had a great holiday cheeky , and very impressed with you running 4 times too. Bon voyage

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

We did, thanks Dexy. Gentle running next week for me, then Race for Life 10k next weekend! Have a great holiday you two too. 😀

[Granspeed Graduate10]

Now having a big jealousy fit about running of a French morning early and then buying a baguette and coffee. Oh dear, oh dear.... But so glad anyway that you’ve had a happy, runny time. And your gorgeous dog looks so happy in the water that I’ve now got over my little fit! 😎

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Granspeed]

Aww sorry about that Granspeed! Even the thought of that smell now is making me hungry again. Something about French bread ........ ahhhhhhhh 😍😍😍

We had an amazing time, thank you! Our dog is a fabulous little girl who’s always happy and just loves to play in the sea. Next week at home she can come back running with me too. ❤️🏃‍♀️🐕

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

You know, I find it hard to believe anyone can be REALLY sorry about anything to do with French bread 🤣 But thanks for trying! 💕

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Granspeed]

You’re welcome GS - it was the thought that counted wasn’t it? 😅😅

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Bonnes vacances!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thanks Baddie! 😀😀🇫🇷🇫🇷

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Well done for negative splits Cheeky - I can still only dream!😀

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

You never know Jonathan, they may sneak up on you like they did with me. Certainly wasn’t planned! 🏃‍♀️👍😀

[Fabulous450 Graduate10]

Fantastic Cheeky!!! What a brilliant run!! The food and drink is just part of enjoying your beautiful surroundings. Well done!! 🤩🤩🤩❤️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Thanks Fab! We’re back at home now, and whereas my poached eggs on a toasted sesame bagel were tasty, they didn’t have the fresh baguette/croissant/pain au chocolat allure! 😩😅 I’ll run tomorrow. Too much unpacking to endure today, plus we’ve had the painter in and the house is a TIP! I want to go back to France! 😅😅😅

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Sign of a great holiday Cheeky!! 😁😁😁! ❤️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

You’re right, Fab! ❤️😀🇫🇷👍🏃‍♀️