I have always run a bit, mostly to keep up a level of fitness so that I could enjoy skiing and mountain walking. At the beginning of lock-down, all such activities had to stop. I joined Bridge to 10k and my problems began!
Problem 1. Following the magic plan. I needed to be able to check how far (or rather how little) I was running! I installed Strava on my phone and after any number of false starts, eventually managed to establish how you use it!
Problem 2 Monitoring the run. I tucked the phone under my bra strap (as you do) and set off. After my first kilometer and unknown to me, the phone managed to call my son in law. How it did this is a mystery known only to it and my bra. Apparently my son-in-law answered but all he could hear was (very) heavy breathing! Soon after this, my daughter phoned in some alarm so..
Problem 3 How do you answer a phone while running? I did not dare to stop. I might never start again. I slowed from a jog to a plod and tried to glance at the phone controls while keeping my balance - dodgy on country paths. I needed a solution to this so..
Problem 4 Coping with more technology. Following my daughter Blackberrypie’s advice, I bought a Garmin Forerunner 45 with a nice mauve wristband to replace the bra strap. This presented another struggle to establish how the watch functioned. My vocabulary had to expand further to include VO2 Max, Body Battery and Intensity Minutes. It was pleasing that my Fitness Age was 49 (rather than the real 71) and it is surprisingly motivating to try to reduce it further.
Problem 5 Deciding what to wear. In the good old days before Health Unlocked, I would just throw on a pair of loose trouser, a tee shirt and my old trainers. Now it is much more demanding. I have invested in a running jacket (with a pocket for my mobile phone), trail shoes and a beanie. Ready for anything? No not quite! It was the leggings that were the final item. I enjoyed the marketing for these - Sweaty Betty’s Thermodynamic leggings sounded as if they would have to help me run faster. As a bonus they have another pocket for my mobile phone.
Problem 6 Finding a trainer. Following the forum, I soon established that most people like to have someone in their ear encouraging and instructing. Living where I do in the Welsh countryside, I felt that it was risky to wear headphones. I need to hear the approaching tractors and wanted to retain the sounds of nature. I invested in a pair of bone conducting headphones. These really work well but provided even more technology to cope with and the fascination of my Garmin, my phone and the headphones sorting things our between them. (Perhaps they could go for a run on their own!) This is still a difficulty in progress. I quite like the peace and quiet.
Problem 7 Keeping hydrated. I was delighted when my wonderful daughter decided that every septuagenarian needs a Kalenji water vest for their birthday! How could this be a further difficulty? It took me and my partner half and hour to work out how the straps go and that it was not far too small for me (it is not a rucksack). The next half hour was spent trying to figure out how to get the water in, and the next establishing how to get it out. With it now fully functioning I could at last set off. It is wonderful to have water on demand My daughter was right (of course!) . It also has another pocket for my mobile phone.
Having tackled all these ‘problems’, what was the benefit to help me through this awful pandemic? No covid weight gain, positive mental health and a much increased knowledge of my local area! A winter 10k that raised over £500 for cancer research and a very supportive and interesting community on Health Unlocked. Apparently being a glutton for problems, I have even started a 500 mile EndtoEnd run around the North Coast of Scotland. I am content as Blackberrypie disappears off into the distance to just plod on at my usual slow rate and enjoy the virtual scenery having completed my first 60 miles.
Thank you Health Unlocked and Bridge to 10k. You are worth all the problems!
Written by
coggerjogger
Graduate10
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I’m so impressed and loved reading your report, you are so right though, many years ago in my 20’s I ran 6 days a week and I think we must have run in plimsolls in those days, I didn’t have music or even a stop watch and mostly covered 7 miles a night, I didn’t know what a kilometre was in those days but I love running and reading what others experience
This made me laugh. Get yourself some aftershokz headphones to answer the phone whilst running without touching the phone.
It’s the sweat with phones - enables them to have minds of their own! I can recommend buying a soft water flask the same make as your vest so you don’t have to use the bladder all the time. Store the bladder in the freezer so it doesn’t get mouldy too 👌🏽
I now have the Aftershokz - I didn't when I had the phone under my bra strap! I didn't know you could answer the phone without touching it. More technology to cope with!!!ty for the advice about storing the bladder and getting a soft water flask. I had wondered about it getting mouldy and only ever put water in it.
Oh glory coggerjogger! Some serious problems there and I feel your pain! I got round the tech issues - I ignore all but the most basic information and can live with that!
Lucky for me…after Mr. L posted a photo of me warming up at Xmas in my woolly tights, old Bon Marche Capri shorts (pockets for phone!) and fleece…my horrified daughter bought me some “decent” running gear as an early Mother’s Day present! She said if I visited and wanted to run with her…she didn’t want to be seen with a bag lady! 😂😂😂
Great post coggerjogger. Had me in stitches🤣🤣. It has all become so complicated hasn't it (I just have a small waist pouch for my small water bottle, phone and tissue - can't cope with anything else).
Love this post and it looks like all your problems have been solved along the way coggerjogger. Do look at the instructions on your aftershockz - I often make a call to OH whilst running to say where I am so that he can meet me with a warm top or put the kettle on ready for my arrival. Incoming calls show on your watch so you can decide whether to answer or not. More fun in store.
What an inspirational story. Glad you worked out the technology. You’re amazing. I find another benefit of running and getting fitter is far less aches and pains. Wonderful to be out in nature.
😂 oh dear I did laugh, well done for overcoming all those problems. Some of us do run without instructions or music - naked running. Myself, nature, shorts and T-shirt - run. Happy running 🤗
I love your post - we’ve all wrestled with those problems (which is why I have a Spibelt for my phone and an arm holder my son got me but use neither of them preferring to stuff it in the pocket of my leggings!)
Had not heard of spibelt - don't think that I would like it round my waist either - they look pretty though. Sometime marketing gets ahead of need and utility. Yes a pocket in leggings is good.
What a great description! I’m especially impressed you managed to keep your phone in your bra strap 😆. Well done on overcoming said problems - I agree with the technology faffing bit that’s for sure. 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️😊😊😊👍👍👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Absolutely love this post! So funny 😂. Amazing all the things you need once you start running. Since I graduated from C25K, I have a Garmin watch, strap to carry my iPhone, new running shoes and compression sleeves. Who knew running could be so expensive! 😀
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