I’m taking a 2-day rest between runs, with ‘rest’ generally being a decent brisk walk. I’d realised that I needed to add walking to my routine after finding that the occasional long walks were setting off shin splints. This seems to be working and there have been no more shin splints. For the moment, I’m enjoying the habit of taking this daily exercise in exactly the same place. I vary directions, the specific park paths taken and in what order, but there’s something meditative about the repetition. I like observing the changes, whether subtle or dramatic or banal. I’m getting to know all the other regulars, and there’s a camaraderie, especially among a group of us maturer women (from ‘good morning’ to ‘how far are you running today?’, to ‘wow, that’s impressive foot coordination’). A favourite focus for me is counting starlings, the count echoing my cadence. It’s all but impossible as they bob in and out of the grass and flit about with their young. However many are on the ground, you can always hear more chattering in the trees above.
My runs themselves entail short walk intervals, typically 30s every 1.5k, but sometimes simply decided by opportunities to photograph something (fox on railway, first poppy, second poppy, a jay, a cloud formation, light effects). The enjoyment of such serendipitous sights is a key aspect of what running is for me. The 1.5k interval pattern is proving a good mental trick to push the run easily from 3 to 4.5 to 6k... soon maybe back up to 7.5k and 9k etc. I guess I could work with a 2k pattern but somehow that doesn’t ‘click’ in quite the same way as 1.5; 2 is farctoo neat and even.
The past 7 days have seen a 4k and two 6k runs. I’ve got out before 6.30 for all of them. Now, here’s the thing: the first run is the fastest in my 3-5k range; the next, my fastest in the 5-7k; today’s run, the second fastest. I’m not even trying to go fast (in fact I’m always trying to ease off, my starting pace especially). This has happened before, earlier this year when I took up the ‘jeffing’ method. I was surprised then at my pace. But here’s the second thing: this time, my pace is averaging one whole minute per km over my earlier experience. And in the current warm muggy air! Where has that come from?
[Photo shows the first and second poppies. Might not be that remarkable but this is a great thrill in a London park.]
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GailXrunning
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Lovely post GailXrunning and to read about the nature all around you. The running and walking sounds like it’s going really well. I too have been plagued with shin pain. I stopped running for two weeks and at the moment I just stick to the grass as advised by my Osteopath. Look forward to your next post and keep counting those Starlings 😀x
😁 Great to hear from you (and sounds like you were up very early!) You’ve been in the wars a bit this year, but it’s good to know that you’ve a professional osteopath to help guide you (and tell you clearly when and where to put on the breaks). You are back running though, which you must be só pleased about. Most of my runs are on the mud paths carved into the grass; even when bone dry they feel much nicer than tarmac or concrete. Hope things continue to improve. Not sure if it’d be right for you but the jeffing, I’m convinced, is a brilliant way to manage injury susceptibility. Such a small thing has big effects.
My shins were definitely walking related. I’d felt them a bit when I started running on c25k, but I noticed they’d quickly strengthened. It really showed up the different demands on our bodies between walking and running (I’d more or less supplanted the former with the latter in an effort to be ‘more active’... lesson learnt!)
Nightmare! Main thing is to listen to your body (you know this, of course) and go gently and not let the frustration take over (probably the hardest part). Some people run alternate days, some take two days off, and some need more time still. Getting our own balance right can be tricky, but you’re working it out and learning things that’ll be important for you. And sometimes the shins can play up for shorter or longer periods.
Yes just listening to my body is the most important thing I’ve learnt this year. I take a two day break once in a week and then a days break twice within the week. Will have to experiment. Don’t think it’s shin splints but will monitor it.I must admit sometimes it’s tempting to quit but I will stick with it.
Sorry to barge in but just to let you guys know the advice I was given to prevent shin splints is to tap your foot either while sitting down or standing (this one's harder, you really feel it after a while!)
That sounds just lovely! And walking is one of the best things we can do for our running legs.
You notice so much on your travels that each walk must be a bit of an adventure 🙂
I would say that your pace is improving because of the extra miles on your legs and your improved stamina, but in any event, keep counting those starlings!
Haha! You’re spot on: each outing feels like a brand new adventure; it’s never the same. You’re probably right about (not) the starlings too. 😉 Each jump in pace has happened after a period of rest, so I think that might be an additional factor. Leg miles are definitely building up; still can’t quite believe the figures.
Beautiful, aren’t they? I have seen murmurations in the past, but not among these birds. That is a tempting invitation to buck my habit and try out a late run! (I wonder if there’s an optimal time or a website that predicts murmurations by latitude and sunset.)
I jested, but turns out there’s a website starlingsintheuk. With a murmuration map! Murmurations are a winter phenomenon, peaking December and January. Sunset can be good, but sunrise is ‘the’ moment, but even then it’s never guaranteed.
These (my) starlings only arrived in Spring, since when they’ve become key characters. They’re probably in Europe for their winter roosts. The things I learn from running!
That's amazing! Well done 💪🏃♀️🎉 I love the idea of counting starlings, I think I'll start counting seagulls on my regular route, do you think it'll help improve my pace? 😉
Haha! May well do… Especially if your eyes and counting have to be fast (to keep up with the birds) and your set your steps to the same. Guess we could learn about the relative merits (for running purposes) of starlings and gulls.👌🦤[sub; nearest emoji to gull]
Love your description of your park running 😃👍 I love an early morning run around our village and love watching out for the birds and wildlife. We have a noisy resident flock near our garden who visit every day to feed their babies. Love watching all the squabbling 😂 I have only just started using a Garmin so the every statistic is a mystery to me, lol but guaranteed to be snale like 🐌🐢
Really enjoying reading everyone's different experiences with their running journey so thank you for sharing 😊
😊😊You’re ahead of me with the tech. I’ve still not quite taken the dive into Garmin land although I’ve spent considerable time on their site since, I think, December. Staring. (Me thinks I need to consider what’s going on here.)
It didn't take me long to choose one as I picked the most basic model I could. I'll never need all the extra bells and whistles the others have. It tells the time, the distance and records the route. I think the heart rate monitor may be handy for longer distances but I'm a long way off needing this 😃Bit of a technophobe lol. I like my phone 📱 but that's about it.
I enjoy the peace n quiet when it's switched off too though 😌👌
Love the starling count! Last year before I was running, I regularly walked around our local boating lake. I would count the cygnets in the swan family, the various duckling families, and the Canadian geese!I’m currently running once or twice a week…but back to regular walks on my non run days. Even if it’s just a 20 minute 1.5k after work. There’s usually an elevation gain of around 35 to 55 metres, so my thighs get a work out!
Great to hear you’re keeping up your runs and walks. What are your plans now? (Remember, I’ve followed your journey through both versions of JuJu MP.) +Good to know I’m not the only bird counter! Waterfowl must be a counting challenge as they dive and pop up again in unexpected places. Much easier to manage the counting while walking, I find; while running, it’s a whole other level of concentration… and I’d better take care not to trip over my own feet😂
I can’t count while I’m running! We have goosander on the lake…they are the tricky ones with very long under water dives.
I’m metaphorically treading water at the moment…I started running when I retired…but of course I’m vaccinating now, and finding it tiring at times to do longer runs…or even fit in a run at all! The intention is there…but…
It’s probably why I haven’t posted much, it takes me forever to write a run report and sort photos…I’m so fussy 😩
Once I’ve stopped working, I may think about runs beyond 10k…😬🙄
It’s just great that you’re even maintaining a practice. Be proud of that (and your job too!!) It can take a while to adjust to new routines.
Not sure how I’ll cope once commuting and regular working away become the norm again. I’ve realised how much that life pattern has been draining me; it’s positively unhealthy. This is one important insight I’ve gained from the pandemic. Guess I’ll just have to, as you say, find ways to tread water…. until I can retire. Have to say, finding running (and the forums) have made me look forward to that in a whole new way.
Lovely report 😊 I love running the same route and watching the changes too. No two days are ever the same and there's something grounding and reassuring about watching the gradual unfolding of the seasons. Just restarted regular running this spring so I wonder if I'll say the same in November 🤣🥶 Watch this space 😄
😊 Thats really kind of you to say and your word choice ‘grounding’ is so apt. That’s exactly it.
Best wishes for your return to running. I only started with c25k in September, graduating in November. I really enjoyed running through the winter months (to my total surprise… who’d ever have thought it?) I have ventured afield, but the original park remains my top go-to. It takes 6 circuits to reach 10k and I just love following all the little changes on each round.
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