Can't beet a good run

[Yesletsgo]

There was a slight difference of opinion this morning. I fancied intervals while Mr Yes wanted to do 5k. Eventually we decided we'd do NRC Triple 7s (I am not going to put in the apostrophe 😂) and carry on gently to reach 5k.

Since listening to 'Just One Thing' bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0016ppn about eating beetroot being helpful for runners we have both been eating them morning, noon and night though not necessarily on the same day. I have a feeling this is helping..

Sorry, I'm going to mention paces. The reason is because I am quite surprised at what I managed. I know for some of you my pace would be a very gentle and slow amble but I'm well aware that others find numbers discouraging. If that's you please look away now, knowing that I'm usually much slower than this.

The Triple 7 involves doing three 7 minute intervals at 5k pace with a 2.5 minute recovery between. Last time I did this run my pace was pretty similar (pace on 16/03/22: 6'56", 7'01", 7'14, pace today: 7'17", 6'59", 6'57") but there was a world of difference in the way I felt when I finished today.

When I did the run in March I felt quite done in when it ended. My husband carried on to 5k while I wondered how he did it. I walked most of the way home, apart from when I got bored going slowly and ran a little while.

This time I just walked a short way to catch my breath (6'57"is very fast for me) then started running again. Something just sort of clicked into place and I kept up a steady and somehow effortless pace of 7'20" for the additional 1.5km to take me up to 5km. I was running along, everything was working as it should - legs doing their own things, arms going, everything relaxed, a wonderful feeling.

I wonder if there is something to this beetroot business!

[Vespina Graduate10]

That sounds like a great run. Brilliant job. Might be the beetroot, definitely is you and your fitness.

And thanks for not adding the apostrophe. That is much appreciated.

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Vespina]

We grammar police must stick together 😂

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

We are a nation of grocer's. (sic) 😉😈

There are several inappropriate apostrophes on local shop signage which irritate.

[Theziggy in reply to nowster]

Thus is real sign from a local pet shop

apostrophes

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Theziggy]

That's like a fork scraping on a plate or fingernails on a blackboard.

They at least got one right.

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Theziggy]

I was having a good day until you posted that Theziggy

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Crikey, that’s fast or would be for me, I can run that pace but only for a very short time, sound like great fun and you are obviously fitter whether it’s the beets or not

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I surprised myself! If only my 5k pace was the 5k pace I can manage on an interval run!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Would be good 😊

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

I keep thinking that! 😊

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

That run’s still on my list for when my cold has fully gone. It sounds like a fun challenge that you nailed today. It’s so great to repeat things and see such an improvement.

I love beetroot…interesting to hear it’s good for runners. That’s going on next week’s shopping list. How have you been eating it?

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

We've eaten them lots of ways - beetroot and hummus sandwiches (really good), beetroot salad, beetroot and goat's cheese baguette, plain beetroot straight from the vacuum pack, an Indian style recipe (fried onions in sesame oil, added grated ginger and cumin, fried for a few minutes then added the cubed beets)( but I wasn't very impressed with that) and even got a bottle of beetroot juice which was much better than I expected.Apparently for best results you take the beetroot a couple of hours before you run. This gives time for it to be metabolised. Maybe I'll buy another bottle of juice and on Saturday set the alarm for 6.30 and take a swig. This is a much more realistic plan than last week's idea of running 5k before Parkrun so I could say I did a 10k 😂😂😂

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

That’s a lot of beetroot! Super impressive and I’m stealing those ideas. I do a beetroot bourgignon recipe from the green roasting tin when I get it in the veg box. We also like beetroot risotto and beetroot tartlets and it goes well in random veg soup. Really like the stuff. I wonder if it still counts in chutney form! One year I made loads of spiced beetroot and orange chutney when I had a glut of it. That was very nice.

A 10K parkrun sounds ambitious…I’m with you that eating a lot of beetroot will be easier!!!

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Roasted beetroot is best according to the programme but there doesn't seem to be any in the shops round here. It's surprising how versatile it is, you're supposed to eat 2-3 a day which is a lot! Your recipes sound lovely.

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done !I like that NRC run and it's surprising what numbers come out 😁

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Quite a few of us have done Triple Sevens recently- and yes that apostrophe is annoying. It yields quite surprising results doesn't it?I love beetroot. It comes in the veg box quite often. But I didn't know it's meant to be good for runners

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I was surprised about the beetroot too but if you Google it there's lots of evidence.Triple 7s is my go to intervals run, it gives time to really get into the run unlike shorter intervals. Sometimes I wish there was a way to tell the NRC coaches how much I appreciate them.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

You can tell the coaches if you want !I follow CB on twitter 😁

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

That would be very fast for me! Well done 💪🙌👏👏👏 I did a quick search this morning when I first saw your post and I was surprised to see how many papers have been published on the subject of beetroot and running / exercise! The good news for me is that the benefits seem to be there for 'recreational' runners / athletes rather than pros. Time to get me some beets! 😁

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Members of this group will be personally responsible for photos in the mass media of shelves being cleared of beetroot 😂😂😂

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

🤣🤣🤣