Running through the winter: So. Life is... - Bridge to 10K

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Running through the winter

Jay66UK profile image
Jay66UKGraduate10
26 Replies

So. Life is changing, as is the weather.

From later this month I’ll be living without a car. And I’m seeing more and more of a special someone who’s been in my life for the past 5 months.

Last year I managed to keep running well into the winter - it was February/March when it got tricky. But last year I had totally free evenings and weekends to run at will. This year I have things going on and a social life.

So, my plan for this year is to make better use of lunchtimes and make the most of no car.

My intention is to do two 5k runs at lunchtimes each week and to run home from work (around 14k) once a week. I’m not worried about avoiding running on consecutive days any more - the 5 runs a week spell showed it isn’t a problem for me - and I have a lot of flexibility to try to fit in with the weather forecast. Greater Manchester’s rain will no doubt get me, though.

How are you planning to get through the winter?

Enjoy your next run.

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Jay66UK profile image
Jay66UK
Graduate10
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26 Replies
Ripcurlrana71 profile image
Ripcurlrana71Graduate10

Loving your plan and the reason for it! 🥰

Since the HM I’m starting a 10k plan to improve my time. It will keep me focussed and a new target will keep me motivated. 😊

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate10

Great that you are having to plan adjustments because you have met someone special 💖, and 24km a week is plenty isn't it, plus all the extra walking as you will me without a car!.

Happy for you Jay😍

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450Graduate10

Sounds great Jay. Sounds like there’s so many great things have happened for you. As a Manchester girl born and raised, I know it’s wet 😂, but it’s truly an amazing City. I’m back to the basics of going out every other day. Best wishes for all of your plans. ❤️

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate10

Oh great news there! I think having a social life is perfectly acceptable as a no running reason! Hope your winter plans work out and that you are 100% waterproof. My son went to uni in Manchester and said it was nearly Christmas before he had his first dry day!!

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate10

Loving the adjustments and reasons! I’m hopefully just about to come off the IC and start again..... literally sitting in the physio’s now hoping for sign off to run again.

Good luck!

Sadie-runs profile image
Sadie-runsGraduate10 in reply toLoungeLizaard

Good luck Mitch! xxx

Sadie-runs profile image
Sadie-runsGraduate10

That sounds like a great plan, Jay. Especially the run home from work once a week – what a great use of time! I have lived without a car my entire life, but then I am in London, so it's easy. You will definitely get fitter by not having a car@ Great to hear about the wonderful developments in your personal life, too. Woo hoo long may it reign! :-)

I have run through 2 winters now, and again, being in London it is not so bad. It's only ice that stops me; I love the cold and don't mind running in light rain, makes me feel like a super hero LOL! But, on the IC for the foreseeable, so right now focussing on doing strength training and yoga in the comfort of my warm living room. Soon as I am ready, I will be out there, come rain or sub-zero temps. I love it.

Happy running Jay! xxx

ktsok profile image
ktsok

What lovely reasons for not being able to run at will! Snuggling up with someone special on these darker colder evenings sounds much more pleasant than hitting the road. Enjoy 😊

JanB76 profile image
JanB76

Fantastic news on the personal front Jay!! This will be my 2nd winter of running and am currently planning on just making it up as I go along, although I did join a gym recently in anticipation of a few cold spells - the north wales coast can be a bit brutal when it’s driving wind and rain, not much shelter 😕

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

You sound sooooo happy Jay, and you looked it at Lyme Park last week. I’m so happy for you! 😀

Wowsers, kudos for going car free. I couldn’t do that where I live, but I wish I could. My plan is to run 3-4 times per week every week over the winter, possibly resorting to the hideous treadmill if I have to. I’d like to do some more muddy trails - there are plenty round here - and keep my long runs ticking over in preparation for the Bath Half in March. 👍

Good luck tomorrow - can’t wait to hear how you get on! Awesome no doubt! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10

Sounds a good plan Jay 👍 No way could I give up my car! I’m going to drop to running twice a week after the Great South I think, but start to increase the long run by a km a fortnight after Xmas to try to be ready for the Hampton Court HM I seem to have been ‘ persuaded’ to enter in March 😳 I’ve also got my cycling challenge to do (sofa to 50k) ready for a sportive at the end of March with my friend who challenged me, so cycling twice a week. Also going to carry on with 3 weight training workouts a week. Phew! Should keep me moving in the cold weather!

Jay66UK profile image
Jay66UKGraduate10 in reply toSandie1961

Blimey! The “increase by 1k” approach worked well for me, and all that cycling will make you super fit.

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply toJay66UK

Well, my 4 week challenge has kickstarted me (10lbs lost and 5.5% body fat reduced) so, rather than huddle up in the warm, I decided I need to continue. HM, Monsal Trail 10k and Southwell 33k sportive, all in March, will kill me otherwise 😖

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10

I signed up for a 13k trail in December and a 17k trail in January. If that doesn't keep me training I don't know what will

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate10

Looks like a great plan for you this winter. I have ran through a couple Canadian winters building up to a HM last year. This year my plan is to spend a bit more time enjoying our winter activities (snowmobiling and skiing) and just run whatever meets my fancy for fun and really try to focus on strength training, working on a weak glute and doggy ankle. I did my first trial run in my winter gear this year given it was -15C with windchill when I ran yesterday 😢

David_G profile image
David_G

Congratulations Jay, sounds like you’ve got things organised and things are going well.👍

I’m doing the Croydon 10K in a couple of weeks so just keeping things ticking over for now. After that I’m planning to run 3 times a week, of which 2 will be 5K and one a longer run. At least that’s what I’m hoping for!😊👍

I’m aiming to do the Croydon HM in the spring so I’ll be training for that🏃‍♂️ I’ll base my training on the HUHM plan as it worked for Bournemouth last weekend.

Good luck with everything!🙂🤞🍀

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

An excellent idea to run two lunchtimes a week - far better than eating a sandwich at the desk. It also means it will be daylight, which is a big factor when you are working. Do you have a good running route home or do you share it with commuting cyclists 🚴‍♀️?

Winter running is a bit easier when retired, I do my runs in consultation with the weather forecast.

Good news that everything is still going well on the ❤️ front too. I do like a happy ending.

Jay66UK profile image
Jay66UKGraduate10 in reply toDexy5

It’s a reasonable route home - all pavement and all lit. I’ll wear bright and light stuff.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate10

Leaving the car at home is a great idea. I have a a car but hardly use it I get to loads of places and see far more on two legs. You get into the habit of running errands. I got a cheapo rucksack from Lidl and wear it on my planned run. Pick up my shopping and head home - on foot if I’ve overdone it. You don’t buy more than you need, so you’ll save pounds on unplanned purchases, and petrol. I run to the bank, supermarket or post office or whatever It’s a great way of finding new routes and you soon know your area ( and wider) like the back of your hand I can get to outlying places I previously thought a car ride away. Using footpaths! When you’re a car driver you don’t take advantage of them. You’ll be amazed what you’ve missed. Your running will come on no end 😃👍

Good luck 👍

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate10

Winter running is fine. You get used to it. Honestly. You just acclimitise. The thought of it is worse than the actual doing. Once you’re out there it’s fine Get some cold weather gear 😃

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10

I did a similar thread a while back. I’ve started doing one lunchtime run a week, usually the shorter run in the week and I can take a lovely hot shower when I get to the office, I’ve done this last 3 weeks and it’s been great and breaks up my work day! Also no one notices that I’ve slipped out for a run! Haha! I’ve also moved my long run in the week (9-10k) to a morning / lunch slot on the day I WFH as I get most flexibility to fit this in when I am working from home. My 5K run in the week will always be Parkrun. I like that all my runs offer me a different social scene and more importantly there’s no running in the dark, I’m very scared to run in the dark. It gives me less leverage when the weather is rubbish but so far I’ve managed it

Katnap profile image
KatnapGraduate10

Doable. I know someone who does just that on my Strava feed.

We will have to come to you for VRB meets! 😁

NearlyMan profile image
NearlyMan

This is a great thread for thinking of different ways to fit in my runs. Up to now I’ve just been running after work and then whenever I get chance on a weekend. As of December I won’t be able to rely on running after work two or three nights, so will probably drop down to one midweek run and a weekend run and see how I go

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirateGraduate10

Erm, I'm planning on being a fair weather runner and dodging the rain. Can't get away with going to Australia this winter 😐

Getfitok profile image
Getfitok

Sounds like a great plan, lovely to hear that your personal life is going so well. When I’m off the IC I will be glad just to be mobile again, I’m sure climbing the walls isn’t the best exercise 😂

HoagyM profile image
HoagyMGraduate10

Late reply, sorry!

Great plan Jay, and (as others have said) the mere fact of being carless will significantly increase your activity and fitness. It's also something near and dear to my heart - this time last year I was already on the slippery slope, and hardly ran at all between October and January :(

To avoid that this year my plans are...

1. Try to keep my fitness (as measured by Strava's "fitness and freshness" chart) at the same level it is now (the highest it has ever been)

2. Same race schedule as this year... HM in the Spring (not sure which one yet), monthly 10k races throughout the Summer, Cardiff HM in October.

3. Run 3-4 times a week, including one long (circa 15k) run, weekly total of 25k+, making use of the treadmill when the weather is nasty!

4. On the shorter runs, focus on improving speed, using interval sessions.

All of the above being monitored by my Personal Trainer, so that there's no hiding place if I lapse :)

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