First solo run back in the UK

[LeeU]

Mrs LeeU ran on the treadmill due to it being cold and damp and her wanting to graduate next week.

I headed off down the canal again and set off after the obligatory 5 minute walk.

I had planned to do 30 minutes, so around 2-2.3 miles depending on how I went but I think, after the two runs I had in Orlando last week my body wanted to prove something to me, so I went with it, all I did was keep an eye on my speed and kind of went along for the ride.

I passed 2 runners heading the same way, it looked like they were doing C25K or something similar, if you are on the forum good morning again, I passed the bridge at roughly the mile mark, up the slope past the lock and carried on.

The rain started about this time but my body wanted to press on and who was I to argue about it, after all, I was just a passenger at this point.

I got to the next lock, which is just over 1.5 miles from the car park and turned and started heading back, again very much the passenger.

Overall, 3.11 miles, just over the 5k mark in 43.21, I'm happy with that if I'm honest, the sub-40 minute 5k is still a goal but a mid term goal.

I forgot to mention I got a delivery on the first Saturday I was away, my 15th Anniversary ParkRun wrist band turned up, I got one for both Mrs LeeU and myself, I'm not confirming or denying any involvement in ParkRun

Mrs LeeU also complete W8R3 and will be moving onto week 9 on Thursday, once the weather warms up a bit we'll get her running outside again so it limits the chances of her asthma playing up.

Happy running everyone

[misswobble Graduate]

Happy running indeed. Well done 😃👍

[LeeU Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thank you, I enjoyed the run immensely.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Sensible wife you have treadmill in the warm, but....nothing beats an outside run it sounds good and nice time too

[LeeU Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

I promised her a pair of running shoes for her to graduate in, she starts week 9 on Thursday, so we've not long since got back from Run Forest in Matlock, she had her gait analysis done and has come away with a lovely pair of OnCloud CloudAce shoes and, as an early Christmas present, a Garmin 245 Music.

I got a brilliant pair of socks, so I'm happy.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to LeeU]

oh wow what lovely gifts and running socks are the best, i haven’t had any blisters since i invested in some

[LeeU Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

I've been using Puma trainer socks and thought it was about time I invested in some decent running socks, if I like them and they feel ok then I'll put them on the Christmas list.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to LeeU]

Great shop. Did you have cake? 😁.

I can’t afford to shop there though, other than for cake 😋

The guy gets On Running to sponsor local races. He organised runs from the shop,so if you’re local keep an eye out on his Facebook page 🙂

[LeeU Graduate in reply to misswobble]

I didn't I'm afraid, I was very tempted by the flapjack though but decided against it.

Some of the things in there are expensive but I'd promised my wife gait analysis and proper running shoes and we have both always been impressed with Mike and his willingness to help even if you aren't buying anything at the time.

When I first met him I think I was on week 5 or 6, I was looking for an oversize running top and we spent about 30-40 minutes going through catalogues that he had, he then got on his phone and jumped onto eBay and found a cheap technical t-shirt, he then emailed me the link. It's this type of thing that makes me return to a shop, he didn't make a sale that day, he actually lost one but he helped me find what I needed for my running, that's why I went back and bought my Garmin from him and have no issues using him in the future even if he is a little pricey on some things.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to LeeU]

He’s the man! So into his running and spreading the love. He usually pitches up at local races, taking part, usually

The cakes in the shop are legendary 😋

He does runs where you can free trial shoes and gear. The torchlight ones sound fun

I was there a few days after Christmas last year, hanging my nose over Inovs 😃

[LeeU Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Even though I only got my Nimbus Gel 21's in September, I'm going over for gait analysis after Christmas, the last gait analysis I had done was rushed compared to how Mike does it.

He does carry some great looking kit, I've never tried a pair of the On range before, he did offer yesterday but yesterday was all about Mrs LeeU, hence I only bought myself a pair of socks.

I will have to try the cakes next time I go over.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to LeeU]

yeah he’s thorough 👍

[Annieapple Graduate]

Gorgeous pic!!! Congratulations 🥳 on PR both of you and wishing Mrs LeeU all the best with her graduation next week 👏

[LeeU Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks Annie, it is quite nice down there and it is a pretty good place to run with very few runners during the week but quite a few people running down there at the weekend.

Mrs LeeU is really looking forward to graduating and starting the consolidation runs, to this end we have been doing the odd 'free run', just going out and running but making sure we don't go above any of the times she's had for that week, there's no pressure due to the fact that if we go a little fast for her and she doesn't make the time then it's not a problem and she doesn't feel like she's f.. you know that word.

[Debston Graduate]

Well done to both of you, sounds like a great run.

[LeeU Graduate in reply to Debston]

I like running with her but at times, I also like to run on my own. Mrs LeeU also runs on her own when I'm not there, or like today when she jumped on the treadmill.

[RunningMigster Graduate]

Sounds like you thoroughly enjoyed it.

I really dont like being on a treadmill / in a gym, so I'm an outdoor guy myself. But as it gets colder and wetter, I do wonder if I might learn to like a treadmill 😆

[LeeU Graduate in reply to RunningMigster]

I always aim to enjoy the runs I do, I'm not bothered about distance and times, yes I have short, mid and long term goals but enjoying the run is the primary aim.

If I don't enjoy it then there's every chance it will start to become a chore and that's not good for long term running.

I started on the treadmill as I travel a lot for work, some of the places I go are safe to run in but others it is advised not to venture outside alone, the hotels I use normally have a gym, which means a treadmill, which meant I could run.

Having one at home also meant I could get out of bed and run, jump in the shower and be ready for work irrespective of the weather, etc.

Downside was that I couldn't pace myself off of the treadmill, that's no longer a problem, I can pace myself pretty well now, I do have some alerts on my Garmin for and upper and a lower pace to keep me at roughly the pace I want to maintain.

If the weather turns really bad, heavy rain, ice, snow, etc, then I can always opt to run indoors, I did a run on there the week before I went to Orlando, could decide whether to do intervals or a long run, so I did both. Having the treadmill still gives me options.

[RunningMigster Graduate in reply to LeeU]

I like the idea of options. I can see a day coming when I'll look out of my bedroom window at 5.45am and see snow all around and just wish I had a treadmill in the spare bedroom.

Perhaps, once I get past wk5, instead of investing in new running shoes, I'll start to research treadmills!

Never considered a problem with finding the right pace though. Food for thought!

[LeeU Graduate in reply to RunningMigster]

Depending on what shoes you are running in would really dictate which way to go with it, if you are just running in normal trainers then I'd definitely say buy the running shoes after getting gait analysis done, it's important and can help keep you off the injury couch. If you do go for gait analysis then go to a specialist running shop, I took my wife to Run Forest in Matlock yesterday, their gait analysis sessions are 1.5 hours long including shoe fitting/testing and well worth the time.

Depending on your weight you could pick up a second hand treadmill off of eBay, my first one cost me £61.11, the second hand market for them is quite rubbish so they don't sell for very much.

I'm on my 3rd treadmill now, the last one lasted over 8 years (some years with runs, many without), I only bought the current one a few months ago and with running outside I'm not using it that much but feel comfortable that it's always there as an option should I need it plus my wife has been using it when it's been cold outside as her asthma doesn't flair up.

[RunningMigster Graduate in reply to LeeU]

The shoes I've got are surprisingly comfortable. Just a pair of Sketchers Go Run, but they are doing the job. They were new when I got them, so time will tell if they last after the longer runs.

Thanks for the tip on Ebay. Hadn't thought about the second hand market. I bet it's one of those items where there is no shortage of unloved treadmill out there.

[LeeU Graduate in reply to RunningMigster]

I have had a pair of Skechers Go Run 4 for a couple of years and what I run on the treadmill in, I have another pair of Skechers (lite-weight) that I ran in last week because my Asics were wet and I didn't want to pack them in my case wet, lets put it like this, while the Skechers I ran in were comfortable enough when running in Orlando I did have a few aches in tendons, etc, around the top of my ankles, I get no aches, etc, when running in the Asics even if I run for longer/further.

Don't get me wrong, I complete the program twice in the Skechers but this was on a treadmill and not outside. I have run outside in them previously but, due to the pacing issue I had, I was running too fast to maintain it for any length of time.

[RunningMigster Graduate in reply to LeeU]

Yeah, I think they are doing the job perfectly well at the moment.

Having just seen how cheap you can pick up a treadmill for, I think I'm also going to get my feet fully serviced at our local running store. Gait analysis and new posh (maybe even weatherproof) running shoes for the winter! And a treadmill too!

[misswobble Graduate in reply to RunningMigster]

you can run outside all year round. You quickly acclimatise 👍. Amazingly so 😃