Very late report as it’s 11pm and I took my legs out for a run first thing in the morning, more than15 hours ago!
And what kind of run was that!!!!!! A toxic 10 run!!!! Again! Yesss! I encountered them also on my run 2 days ago (unreported)!
Waitttt whatttttt?
I never experience the toxic 10, before!!! They did not exist for me! And I always thought that it was due to the ultra-slow running that I do not get them.
But here I was, well hydrated, well warmed up, in the middle of the summer and only quarter-way through my 51 min run did I feel strong and bouncy. But the first 10 min felt like I was going to have to stop and turn around. Or faint. Or drop. Or cry!
I know!!! Many runners experience the toxic 10 regularly but not me!!!! 😱
What helped? Keeping running. Stretching dynamically at the halfway point. Thinking about writing a moan to all you lovely and patient running buddies. And asking if they have any tricks up their sleeve when the toxic 10 strike!
These toxic 10 was a new experience for me. Let’s hope they disappear!
Other experiences:
- a new 10min sandy section through fields that I had never run before, and that sand felt great! Despite the toxic 10! (Pic)
- an awful 7 min section on a nettled stretch, where stepping over, under, on, avoiding, slinking besides any looming or drooping nettles turned out to be more tiring than the whole rest of the run!
So, any tips for avoiding the toxic 10 or stinging nettles?
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Graduate10
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I can sympathise but sadly cant help, tracks are great but hazards such as nettles are just there sometimes. Toxic 10? I have been known to have a toxic hour but not iften
🍏🤣The way you wrote this made me smile! Sorry you experienced the toxic 10 but at least you realised it was happening! I usually get a mild version, as in the first 10 mins my legs feel a little heavier, then suddenly the run starts to feel good & it’s nothing to do with my pace, which unless Coach Bennett takes me out to do intervals, is super snail!! However some runs it’s full on strong heavy legs, sluggish body .. there’s no way through it except slow rhythmic running & distraction! It soon disappears except very occasionally the whole run or most of the run feels toxic.. that’s when the gremlins start! However I stick to whatever run I had planned & see it through with mind games.. usually eases up as I get towards the end of the run.
😩stinging nettles are horrid things, but usually there is a bit of Dockweed growing close by, rub that on.. perfect antidote!
Morning... there has been so much written about this over the years.... and Mr OF once spent a very long time explaining it all to me...!
Basically....( and there are many very technical explanations), when we our body is at rest or maybe even walking, our body is in an aerobic stage. But for those first minutes or so when we start to run , our body moves through an anaerobic stage where our muscles are demanding more oxygen. Our heart responds by pumping blood harder but our muscles are still starved of oxygen for some time while the rest of our body catches up.
This is where a sound warm up comes in... acting not only to warm muscles and ligaments up ready for the act of running.. but also, to elevate our heart rate and breathing rate before starting to run . This will help... to lessen that feeling that you got ...
As the original grey snail, I experienced it now and again, and sometimes it lasted a lot longer, but as I learned more and more about the importance of the pre run preperation... it has happened rarely...I think the only time I felt it most was when I ran December Marcothon... 30 minutes every day...and often in the evening, ( when I never normally run). I often just used a five minute walk as a warm up and it wasn't enough,
Not sure if this helps...but the prep should alleviate the issue. The nettles... they really can be an itchy pain... even through leggings.... just run as fast as you can through them if there is no other option... and always carry a folded up dock leaf.... !
I've had a lot of trouble with nettles recently too. I have taken a new tack and just simply ignore them. I concentrate on something else and find that I can forget that I've been stung!!
How long have you been running up to now without ever having a toxic ten before? I think I’d be trying to work out why I was suddenly getting them as an experienced runner. What’s changed? Could you be coming down with something? Was the weather particularly warm? The toxic ten is definitely a thing but it sounds like it’s a a big change for you and your body. It’s worth considering why this is happening now.
I hope it’s rather a small thing. Have been running for more than 3 years now, but I’ve recently come out of Covid. And then I’ve been piling on the miles with my rower, and of course the weather is warmer than usual, and then there is my thyroid …
So could be quite a few variables to do with muscle exhaustion, metabolism, general post illness fitness, or any other things.
I’ve never had the Toxic 10 experience - I thought you either got it or you didn’t - I had no idea it could visit people out of the blue 🤔 would be interested to know thoughts on what causes it … just so I can continue to side step it !
Was the toxic 10 on the sandy bit? A change of surface could be enough, you'll be using different muscles even if it felt good...I suffer too, just keep plodding along and never notice the transition from struggling to running easy, so I can't really say if it's ten minutes or not!
I'll often get toxic 10. It reminds me why I used to think I couldn't run/hated running. I dwell on that for a minute, have a little chuckle to myself and remember it'll pass. Then I concentrate on my feet and my breathing and a little while later I'll realise I'm feeling oki I know it's a physical phenomenon but really it's all in the mind, innit?😬
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week 2 begins! 