Mud, Glorious Mud ....

[CBDB]

Pre-lunchtime, I set out today with hubby to tick several things off my mental running todo list:

1. Do one of the shorter runs of Magic Plan Week 6, so either 4 or 5k

2. Try a new route over fields I’ve been pondering about for a out and back reaching 10k, and I was wondering specifically about the current mud levels

3. Try out running while my husband walks beside me. We hadn’t done this since the start of my C25k journey, about a year ago. He had accompanied me on my first week of runs for moral support (and to alleviate any fears of me getting a heart attack 🤣... funny now, but I remember that I seriously considered that. That’s how far I have come!)

So we were up for it in my lunchtime break.

1. Ticked of (kind of) No 1 with managing 4.7 km, but boy was it a mud-squelchy run. So I have to suggest it was more of a Jeffing kind of run with enforced walking sections when tredding through too deep mud. So not sure if this represents more a 4K or a 5k?

2. The route looks great, but not until our oceans of mud have receded. By far, we didn’t manage the whole way. Mud slowed us down immensely. But this route has potential in high summer. But how dry do our summers have to be, I wonder? So that means I want to carry on looking for a more mud-proof route runnable in all conditions. I just want a few more options in my arsenal of routes.

3. And No 3 was a big success. Husband walks fast, I run slowly, speeds align nicely! And as he is still struggling with some running injuries (yup, it’s been now more than a year) , and is making regular walks part of his recuperation regime, it works out well. We also are planning a walking holiday to walk Hadrian’s Wall, once we get to venture out more in the countryside, and I had been playing with the idea that I might be able to run sections of it somehow! And this proves that we might be able to do it this way.

So a glorious mud run - walk! Happy running and walking everyone!

[David_G]

Well done CBDB that sounds like quite an adventure! There aren’t too many squelchy trails down here on the south coast, but I’m planning to run further west to explore once I’ve done my HM. There seem to be paths along the seashore that might be worth a look anyway. Keep an eye out for a report in a few weeks!My mates and I were toying with the idea of going up to Scotland to do some walking and sightseeing before all this nightmare started, so we might resurrect the idea at some stage.

In the meantime I’ve already got a short break in Derbyshire booked for the end of May, which I hope will go ahead🤞 I’ll be travelling by motorbike so I’ll need to pack all my running gear, bike gear and ‘ordinary’ clothes onto the bike somehow. That’s a puzzle for another day!🤔🤣

Happy running🏃‍♀️ and good luck with Hadrian’s Wall if you manage to get up there!🙂👍

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to David_G]

Derbyshire on motorbike! Nice! Yes, enjoy! I’m also envious of the lack of squelch down south. Up here, it’s ruining my favourite empty routes! 😠

[David_G in reply to CBDB]

Thanks CBDB, the holiday will be all about riding local roads, exploring/running the local trails and hills and (I hope) lots and lots of good food, wine and a beer or two! 🏍🏃‍♂️⛰🥩🍟🍧😋

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

That’s great that you can walk/ run together 👍🏻😄 - I did a similar thing with my son at Christmas ( remember that day when we were allowed to see family?! )I’m about to check mud levels too... all part of Spring... and Winter...and Autumn...and erm after rainy days in Summer. 😂 Maybe I need trail shoes to decrease slithering. 🤔😄

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Elfe5]

Yes, they should advertise shoes as squelch-resilient! 🤣

[Elfe5 60minGraduate in reply to CBDB]

😂😂 I’m pleased to say it was less squelchy than expected today.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Elfe5]

Fab! You escaped the mud invasion. Reading other runners comments, I think there might be a mud invasion going on!

[Week7 Graduate10]

That sounds like a brilliant holiday idea.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Week7]

👍🏽😊

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Oh brilliant! I know when I started C25k, my brisk walking was about the same speed as my very slow jogging...it sounds like it will work for both of you 🤞🏼

Here’s hoping for a dryish summer...and the ability to get out in the countryside 🥰

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to LottieMW]

Yeah! Ban that mud! 🤣🤣

[Over62]

Well Done CBDB for getting out there and planning new routes with husband too! It is pretty muddy round here and having to cross a very muddy and slippery path to the canal definitely cost me a PB for 5k today 😢

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Over62]

Yes, last weekend we walked for the first time our path towards the canal, and there was a rail underpass from the fields that had knee deep mud! My husband and his super wellies couldn’t resist and delved in. And I forgot to take a photo! 🙄 But the farmer must de-mud it at times. The public footpath crosses the tracks at a level crossing 500m before, but I just hate level crossings without barriers!

[Over62 in reply to CBDB]

I know exactly where you mean!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Over62]

Ohhh, is it always ultra muddy or is it kept fairly mud free in the summer? Yes, I wondered if you’d know, as that path will be my path to your canal! 😊

[Over62 in reply to CBDB]

Mud free in the best of the summer! Good walk though

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

A good run then despite the mud and to have a walking partner is great

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

It is! I feel fortunate to be able to walk together and chat all things running at home! Probably slightly annoying to injured runner-husband, but he’s been patient with me so far in our 20 years together! 🥰❤️

[dijep Graduate10]

That's sounds like a lot of things ticked off a list pre lunch 👏😊It's great that you've found the two of you can get your own exercise together.

Mud 😠 I tried a different path while dog walking yesterday and had trouble staying upright despite my walking boots out was SO slippery .

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Yes! Exactly! Slippery sounds like you know where I (tried) to run/walk!

[Lifluf Graduate10]

Well done CBDB. I too found the mud to be worse than anticipated this weekend. I have been doing road runs over the last couple of months and was keen to get back on the footpaths but found it was too soon for non-stop running and very slippy in parts.Won't be long hopefully.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Lifluf]

I have a feeling running does the same thing as my gardening. Every single year I loose the early planting of runner beans, as I can’t wait and think it’s ok to plant out. I always end up with a late emergency batch which then succeeds.

And here I am trying to run summer routes that are just simply to early in the year to run!

Patience!

[Lifluf Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Haha. Me too! I've already sowed a few seeds - every year I tell myself to wait until it warms up, then we get a couple of sunny days and my willpower goes. Same with the summer routes. It's just wishful thinking😊

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Lifluf]

🤣🤣I’m glad to hear it’s not just me! 🤣🤣

[Blackberrypie Graduate10]

I like a good mudlek (varying speed based on the depth of the mud). I have been quite impressed how some paths are becoming nice and smooth though there are still a lot of boggy bits!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Blackberrypie]

🤣🤣🤣 mudlek.. very funny! I do a lot of mudlekking at the moment.