Swapping the pistes for the prom.

[Dexy5]

As I was gathering my bits together this morning for a run, I was thinking of the similarities with skiing and running. My socks have got L and R on them, there are different layers to consider for different conditions, wicking is an important feature, the fit of the footwear is crucial, faffing is arbitrary, and the brighter the colours, the better.

Unfortunately I jarred my left knee a little on my penultimate ski day, yes the ligament I strained just before the pandemic! So , although I played a NRC 8k guided run, I was happy to stop at any time. It was grey, and only a gentle breeze as I headed along the promenade towards Old Portsmouth . The coastal path in that area has reopened after a few years work improving the coastal defences, and it is really nice to run there again. There were lots of grandparents out today with children, with the teachers being on strike, and it was lovely seeing them sharing that special time together.

I touched the wall of the square tower and turned back at 3km. Unusually, the cool wind was an easterly today so as I ran past the Royal Navy memorial it was in my face. I was aware of the niggle in my knee but was not in pain, I ran for 6k in the end at an average pace of 8min/km and when I got to Canoe Lake I came across  UpTheStanley running around the lake (500m a circuit) to reach his 10k distance. I headed for coffee at Cafe Fresco where we’d left a rucksack of extra layers and he joined me soon after.

It would be nice to have a hot tub and sauna afterwards, like in our ski hotel, but a hot shower had to suffice. An ice pack on the knee helped, and I will dig out those physio exercises from 2020, and take the running gently.

Happy running everybody. I didn’t take a photo today but here is one from The Lonseome Pine, Obergurgl in our rainbow outfits.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Good photo Dexy5, I think you are 5th from the left??!!, I hope you enjoyed your skiing holiday in Austria 🇦🇹,Good 6K run for you today despite that slight niggle in your knee, from some videos I have seen of Old Portsmouth and your 5K parkrun on a Saturday I am getting to know Portsmouth quite well, so you met UpTheStanley at Canoe Lake, you say it's 500 metres circuit and he ran 10K, so he ran around it 20 times, well done.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

ha ha, I don’t think running around canoe lake for 10k would be much fun, especially when people are feeding the pigeons! No he ran the same route as me and then a bit further and then ended up with 2 laps of the lake.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks for telling me, which reminds me of a 8K (by the way I ran 8K this morning in a time of 59:35) I ran in late December 2020 around a disused 200 metre school football pitch 40 times in a time of just over 64 minutes 1:04:36 when all the other routes I use were ice bound, I do admit that doing it that way does get a bit monotonous

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

You definitely deserved a medal for that run Al,

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Our friend Cheekychipmunks ran 40 times around a common near to where she lived a few years ago, that was a half marathon.

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

I remember that run! How you didn't end up feeling dizzy I will never know 🤣

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Yes Beatlesforever, I ran that 8K on Wednesday 30th December 2020 at around 9am, that was the run I took a photo of the moon setting to the north west and 5 minutes later took a photo of the sun rising to the south east, those photos are still there on my profile page.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Love the photo Dexy5 😃 hot tub and sauna sound perfect, but shower good too, and meeting up with UTS afterwards very good. I think I need to find a prom to run along the paths are a bit uneven and slow me down even more

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I used to live near Hove prom, but I didn’t run in those days. There is now a parkrun there, which I’d love to do one weekend.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5]

Worthing is good but not long enough, our seafront is quite narrow in places, maybe I'll go to Hove, or even Brighton and run back Once I'm retired maybe I'll try parkrun at last

[nowster Graduate10]

♫ In the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, on the trail of the Lonesome Pine...

Skiing is something that seems to have so much more accident potential than running.

Like running, if you're seriously into it, you can spend a lot on kit. Unlike running, that kit is absolutely essential.

Be kind to your knee. 🩹

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Yes we sang that too nowster. 😂 🎼 🎵 🎶

I have volunteered for parkrun on Saturday so that I don’t get carried away, and will rest it now until next week.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

That’s my and Mr Cheeky’s special song nowster . We’ve sung it all over the world, but the best time was when we were on honeymoon in Virginia in 1988 and simply had to sing it under a lonesome pine 🌲❤️

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

💕 ❤️l 🌲

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Well done you... I am glad the knee is okay too...important not to over strain. x

A Beautiful colourful happy photograph too, just what we all need on some of these dark days... and you got a good run in ! Well done to  UpTheStanley also... x

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Not quite a repeat disaster Dx5, but your caution is very wise (it would have to be of course). Hopefully your twinge will disappear on its own, given a little TLC.

I would love to come from a place called Obergurgl; it should be Austrian German for indigestion! It would suit my slightly eccentric character!🤪

I think/hope that we saw the last of the snow yesterday afternoon. It has cleared up now, but the trails are a little claggy. So, hopefully onwards and upwards and all that and into the proper running season. I managed a swim this morning; the chest infection seems to have finally submitted, so hopefully I can start accumulating Ks. Maybe I will try a 10k on Monday. 🤞

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

You have certainly been having a proper winter up there Beachcomber66 . I hope it brightens up soon for you. I’m glad you are kicking that chest infection into touch too.

Yes I’m hoping it won’t affect my running as I have a 10k race in April, but if I have to walk it I will.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

A balmy 9 degrees in the morning up here in the frozen north, with a SSW wind gusting to 35 mph. Ideal training weather! 🙂

My only target for this year was the HM Half. Zero chance of running that distance now; maybe a cobbled together run sandwiched between two walks…or I could just stick to 10k. Main focus is avoiding injury. 👍

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Well done on that run and glad the knee is ok. That skiing trip sounds like so much fun! Great pic ⛷️👍😊

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

It was great fun Beatlesforever. There was an Ibiza DJ at one of our hot chocolate stops and our leader had us all up dancing (not easy in ski boots). A brilliant time.

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Fantastic! 🎶🎿👏👏👏

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Glad you had a great post-ski holiday run and looked after that knee. What an annoyance, but with your diligence I’m sure it’ll be fine again soon. 😀🤞

You’re streets ahead of me at the moment. Back from Rome, but I’m still coughing up a storm. I’m getting pretty cheesed off I must say. 🙄

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

s’not fair cheeky.

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Oh lucky you and your ski pals! It looks fabulous. Hopefully the knee will be just fine, and well done on that run. I know just where you ran, the wind can be windy!!! I have a great ice pack for my knee, even if I don’t think I need it, I strap it on for good luck anyway 😊.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Frenc]

it’s one of those packs that you can freeze and then microwave, so cold and hot . Just the job

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5]

Sounds just like mine, but I haven’t tried it in the microwave yet. I’m even taking it away with me next week! I remember the days when I couldn’t go anywhere without hairdryer, full bag of makeup, 3,000 pairs of shoes. Now it’s my knee pack!

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

So glad you enjoyed your ski trip. I bet it was good to be back. I must admit that it seems weird that I am currently sitting outside the van in 20c in Seville while people are skiing in the Alps 😳 I haven’t actually been for a run since 4 March parkrun, but, on our sightseeing days, we are averaging about 20k steps. Toledo, Madrid, Cordoba and Seville done!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Loved Obergurgl! Enjoy your sunny days Mr & Mrs Sandie. I guess days in Spain get taken off the days allowed in your French home.

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Unfortunately they do count against the summer sojourn in France, but it’s worth it to get away in winter

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Sounds like a most enjoyable run Dexy - we keep meaning to explore the newly completed sea defences at that end of the prom but haven't managed it yet. Hope your ligament settles down - you don't want a repeat of last time!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Thanks JP, not as catastrophic as last time - just a twinge I think. Yes you can park free in Penny street for an hour and have a good wander.