Warming up…☀️but still muddy out on the trails!🏃‍♀️

[Sandraj39]

It was 14 degrees out today, according to my Garmin. My 10k last weekend had felt quite hard (as they do sometimes😮‍💨), so I was hoping for an easier run today…and possibly an 11k.

As usual, I started on the local roads before taking the farm track down to the local bridleways and Downslink. Despite the recent rain, I naively thought it might have dried off a bit over the last couple of days…🫣😏 err…well, no - not really; it was still pretty wet and muddy in places, with the added ‘bonus’ of the mud having been churned up repeatedly by dog walkers, cyclists, horses etc!🐕🐾🚶‍♀️🚴‍♂️🐎💦 This made it tough going in places but what’s that expression about ‘tough runs making tough runners’?😂

My time was slow but a satisfying 11k in the bag👍 and that feeling of a good workout in my legs!🏃‍♀️

Happy running this week everyone.🙂🏃‍♀️🏃🏽

[linda9389 Graduate10]

I'm loving your positivity 🥰 Looking at the photo, you clearly tackled that mud head on (feet first). Well done!!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Oh well done you, look at that mud, what an achievement your 11k

[skysue16 Graduate10]

Phew, I bet that was hard work work! Well done for persevering and not slipping over!! 👍

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

It certainly was - in places!😮🙂

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10]

Well done - for staying upright!! Just out of interest - what do you do with your trainers after a run like this? How do you dry them without them going smelly?!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Cowladyrunning]

I clean them (pretty thoroughly actually) - mostly using my Boot Buddy and additional water from the hose if necessary. Then I stuff them with newspaper to dry.🙂

Link below for Boot Buddy - wouldn’t be without one now, especially as I do like clean shoes!

bootbuddy.com/

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Ok thank you! I'll have a look.

[Dendev75 Graduate10]

Well done you 👏🏻

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Dendev75]

Thank you 🙂

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Just look at those shoes  Sandraj39 ! Are you like me and clean them after every muddy run, or do you just let the mud dry and brush them off? It sounds like you had a great 11k, despite the conditions underfoot. It’s lovely to be a bit warmer for those longer runs isn’t it?

Whoops just seen your answer to cowlady running. I found our boot buddy in a spare bedroom last week and am definitely taking it with us tomorrow!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yay! Love a Boot Buddy!🙂👍

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

I do nearly all of my running on trails, and following a pretty dry spell, it was back to sqelchathon time over the weekend. So I empathise! Those days when you come across mud patches and standing water which spread across the whole trail and are not of jumpable proportions either (at least, not for me) are …..challenging (other words spring to mind!). Add to that the daily spatters from dog walking, these days of intense prolonged showers add an unwelcome dimension, BUT, as you have brilliantly demonstrated, these runs are oddly satisfying following coffee and a hot shower! Sunny dry weather predicted for today 🙂. Well done Sandra; that is a good solid 11k in your legs, and when things dry out again, you will fly.🚀

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you Beachcomber66 ! 🙂

[Rungranny 60minGraduate]

Well done , I love a muddy trail. Not sure what's under the mud, but good trail runners with sturdy lugs will make you feel more secure underfoot . A little treat , if you haven't already.

Enjoy

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Rungranny]

Thanks Rungranny - I do have trail shoes ( although they are hard to see under all the mud!😂). I run in Hoka Speedgoats and would definitely recommend them. What’s under the mud depends on the track - sometimes old railway track, sometimes just more mud, it feels like!😂 and sometimes marshy field! I certainly wouldn’t tackle this route without a trail shoe at this time of year!🙂👍

[Rungranny 60minGraduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Good choice, love Hokas.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Absolutely super! The bath/shower after a run like that feels so sweet! 🏃‍♀️❤️

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

It does - and the bonus is we have a downstairs shower room, so no traipsing mud through the house!🙂