Foot transplant, disaster and personal worst (... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Foot transplant, disaster and personal worst (plus best)...

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate
33 Replies

This is soooo exciting - I bought running socks - yes proper running socks - I had no idea that they had left and rights so that I know which way round to put my feet. They are just so comfortable and bouncy and make me run much faster (ish)

So Not long ago and once upon a time I ran for a whole 60 minutes which sort of blew my mind and probably caused my brain to fuse because then a day but one later I set out on a 5K and had to stop half way because of exhaustion and gremlins (indeed a PW or personal worst). Not to worry I thought shrugging off this disaster like a real pro. Two days later and another run. Same again - had to stop for a little break - completed 5 K but with another couple of breaks. Mmmm thought I for now I was worried - perhaps you are pushing it too hard. So - day off and I set out on a slow 5K - wonderful - completed it and got over the gremlins. Next run was just a simple 16 minute c25k+ Speed run - very enjoyable ti was too. And today I thought I would try another long run - so ran for (drum roll) 70 minutes - yes seven zero mins - one hour ten - eat your heart out Einstein and ran an incredible 11.42K (a new PB in fact mu only 11.42K PB) which as most of you will know is the equivelent of 2719 average length cars parked one behind the other in a line or very nearly half way to the moon (maybe it just felt like that)... So now I intend to allow the wee body a chance to recover by having a whole two days off so that we don't have any more failed run syndromes - humph!

Now although it was raining when I started out - the sun came out and reflected off the sea as I ran down the coast and it all looked so beautiful and I thought this is soo fantastic and a car stopped to let me run across the road - I think it was because I looked like a pro runner and the driver was in awe or perhaps he was worried I might collapse in front of him and dent his bumper. All in all this running lark is tremendous and to all newish runners out there, I couldn't run to save my life a few months ago and now I feel like I can go on forever (but will take it easy) - and now I shall see if I can put my feet on the right way around!

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Runon profile image
Runon
Graduate
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33 Replies

dam got to get some of those socks :D if they make you run for longer ;)

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to

Hey Slow Rob - they make you run faster too - you will have to change your name if you get them!

in reply to Runon

Scoping amazon as we speak :D

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

You ran for 70 minutes? How brilliant is that Runon? Love the socks but what would happen if you wore them on the wrong foot? Oh er doesn't bear thinking about.

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to Irishprincess

Thank you Irish Princess - Indeed not bearing thinking about... apocalypse, end of days - that kind of thing - best to keep them on the correct feet - when they were on display in the shop the left sock was at the front and I thought the L stood for 'Large' and had to double check the size!

Tikiczocky profile image
TikiczockyGraduate

Oooo...well done :D. Jealous...loving those new socks...need to bounce more myself...L & R too...next purchase then... (bloomin' running costing a fortune)!!

Yet again I have learnt something from this here lovely community I didn't know before (cars & moon stuff), which means that my pb distance this morning was around a quarter of the way to the moon or 1428 and a bit cars long!! Not bad for a snail.... ;-)

To forever running :D

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to Tikiczocky

Congratulations Tikiczocky - one thousand four hundred and twenty eight cars (it looks even longer written as words) is one heck of a distance - after that it is just plain sailing or driving... erm... bouncing is really good for you - sometimes I do knee lifting and sometimes a little side-stepping just to try and use different muscles for a few moments - I think snails have been known to do the same sometimes :) Happy running :))

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70

Tres bien Ru-non ! :)

When I saw your photo I thought"strange shaped feet!"(sorry) but on 2nd look your toes have been camouflaged by the carpet!! Duh! Silly me again! Welldone, over 11k, my best is 10.5 so far! I love my running socks, nearly worn them out though, need some new ones, at yhe mo they are festering muddy heap in festering muddy trainers, parkrun no 26 completed, very squishy, ! :x

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to aliboo70

Salut Ali Boo (it rhymes) ça va ?

Yes the toes are hidden a little n'est pas? - They are in reality Harry Potter invisibility socks but don't tell anyone. Congratulations on your 26th parkrun - brilliant stuff - I am a little jealous in that I didn't get to play in puddles or mud or be squishy - which is after all part of the fun of running outside :) Have a wonderful day :)

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Now then Mister Runon, look at you in your posh socks ! I had to look twice at that photo , I thought you had put your feet on the wrong way round ha ha :-)

Im still running in my Winnie the Pooh socks, I haven't splashed out on proper grown up running socks yet. If they make you go faster though, I will have to consider it , every little helps and all that :-)

Well you've certainly had a bit of a roller coaster ride haven't you ? 2 PW's but then you excelled yourself with a PB - Fab stuff !

You've done marvellously ! Have a couple of days off , re-charge your batteries ready for the next onslaught .

Well done , my friend :-) xxx

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to poppypug

Hey Poppers - yes two PW's - I'm really working on these now - I was thinking about the 10K's and they are a bit like running 2X5k's back to back (mathematicians will back me up on this one) but without the days rest in-between, indeed without any time in-between (quantum physiscists will back me up on this) and therefore it is bound to tire us less experienced runners out (Doctors will back me on this) and we need to give this respect man. Something else worthy of respect are Winnie the Pooh socks - rock on Poppers - have some honey :) xxx

Vixchile profile image
VixchileGraduate

Wow look at those fresh white socks! What an amazing run, look at you 11.48km now that is something to celebrate!!!

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to Vixchile

Hi Vixchile - thank yo for your support as ever. Yes bouncy socks and an 11.42K - I am happy - if only I could find some 11.42K races :))

hop_along profile image
hop_alongGraduate

Great post Run-on!

Glad that you listened to your body, didn't slip into feeling too down, but came up with a readjusted plan...

Well done and pleased that it is bearing fruit.

Hoppy

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to hop_along

Hi there Hoppers - yes I've come to see the 'personal worsts' as part of the rich tapestry of running and tend to see them as just another blip that can be put down to anything from hydration to a bad episode of Downton Abbey. The intellectual side of my brain says, 'that's fine, next run will be great' whilst the emotional side of the brain says, 'Argh!!! I will never run again at least not more than 2.7432 meters (3 Yards) and if I do the elastic will go in my shorts/tights or I wil get holes in my new socks and vica versa and I will collapse in a sobbing heap in a puddle.' But it's best not to mention these thoughts :)) I'm really enjoying it and it's getting better all the time. Have a wonderful day :)

hop_along profile image
hop_alongGraduate in reply to Runon

Thanks mate!

H.

DownNotUp profile image
DownNotUpGraduate

Great run, nice to know there are kind car drivers out there too. I got the posh socks after about my second run as I got blisters and the socks I got are double skinned to prevent blisters. They seem to have worked although I did get new shoes too.

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to DownNotUp

Thank you DownNotUp - I guess I am really lucky here because I can run a full 7K circle (or shape) and only have to cross the road four times - plus I'm really rubbish at running on the spot so having the occasional kind car driver is a real bonus. I really like these socks with all their extra bits of padding - very bouncy :))

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

There are only very few days when I can't remember which foot is on the end of which leg and I actually feel very patronised by running sock manufacturers, that they believe we runners are so stupid.

I am coming up to 59, Runon and have learned in the past 18 months of running that I do need to respect my body and not push it too hard. I now firmly believe in the 10% rule and will leave exceeding it to the young and the foolish (I am not lumping them necessarily together as one, you note). Hard runs need sensible recovery times, followed by easy runs at an easy pace. Basically, I don't bounce as well as I used to and I have learned that the hard way.

Well done on those new PBs, but it is better to beat your old PB by a small margin on a regular basis (oh, the satisfaction quotient is so remarkably high), than achieve something that stretches your belief in the timing technology to such an extent, as you frustratingly struggle to get anywhere near it for months on end.

Isn't running just great. Keep running, keep smiling.

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Wise words indeed - if only it were just sock manufacturers who patronise these days - corporations, goverments and media all seem to make innacurate assumptions about human intelligence and seem intent on pandering to lowering rather than raising it - if c25k teaches us anything it is about the human desire to improve...

I followed the 10% rule up to 50 mins but then jumped to 60 which proved to be unwise or at least not allowing myself suitable recovery time was unwise - I've since been looking at BUPA & ASICS training plans and look at their recovery weeks after a race (not that I'm racing yet) and see that recovery is just as important as build up. What I find strange about running longer times/distances is that unlike the build up to 30 mins where those last few minutes became (and sometimes still do become) a major effort, once I get over 40 mins or so I find an equilibrium which makes me think that other than my trainers falling apart I could run forever - obviously this is not the case and time and distance and the ole body need respect - all part of the learning curve. But ain't it fun :)

Slookie profile image
SlookieGraduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Sadly, I have always had trouble with left and right. Once caused a 16 horse pile up during a formation ride cos I was lead file of one half and took a wrong-un at a crucial moment. I was sent to the back. So those socks are probably essential for me. Do they do trainers with L and R too? :D

Slookie profile image
SlookieGraduate

70 minutes is amazing Runon. Congratulations!

Just going to check out go-faster socks or 7-league boots with full orientation instructions printed on.

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to Slookie

Yes the old L&R can be a little confusing especially while navigating - a sixteen horse pile up sounds really very impressive and you are to be commended on that - well done. I have never come across socks that had to be left and right before so it has novelty value - indeed just finding matching socks irrespective of their L&R proclivities has been a problem for me in the past - I do draw the line at peole having to have 'this way up' signs printed on their foreheads to prevent them doing handstands though. These socks definitely make you go faster - it is a proven fact - a lady runner who passed me (going the opposite way of course ahem) looked down at my socks and said 'very impressive' so they are obviously causing much stir in the environs of Southport on Sands.

PS if your horses had worn L&R socks perhaps there would not have been a 'pile up' - jus' sayin'!

Slookie profile image
SlookieGraduate in reply to Runon

Runon you have spotted a gap in the market for equine L/R socks. If they really do improve PBs then there will be hot demand from racehorse trainers worldwide. Just going off to purchase sock knitting machine with L/R embroidery facility :D

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to Slookie

They worked well on Red Rum who used to train on my beach - Think you are on a winner there :))

AncientMum profile image
AncientMumGraduate

Fabulous post! Gotta get me some of those socks! :)

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to AncientMum

They come in non-stereotyping girlie colours like pink also :)

AncientMum profile image
AncientMumGraduate in reply to Runon

Barbie has a lot to answer for! :)

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to AncientMum

My Sister pulled her head off once - poor thing - I feel she has answered for her pinkness :(

AncientMum profile image
AncientMumGraduate in reply to Runon

Hehe come to think of it, both my girls decaptiated their Princess Bride Barbies because they wanted the necklace she was wearing. :)

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to AncientMum

Cruel but fair (and businesslike :)) )

the_tea_fairy profile image
the_tea_fairyGraduate

Love the running sock geekery! I bought Bridgedale merino jobbies for a fell race, wincing at the price and feeling moderate-to-severely suspicious, but I blooming love them! Highly recommend.

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to the_tea_fairy

Hello Tea Fairy - they are wonderous things - indeeed there is always a little time for geekery in all sports :)

Sock it to them I say :))

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