Well, my goodness, that week whizzed by didn't it..?
Here we are again, in the second week of January, and it has been hectic! Well for me, it most certainly has.
The weather has been dire. From unseasonably warm, (T shirt one day), to absolutely perishing.( thermals, top to toe).
I am doing Red January, but I am NOT getting many runs in...loads of core strength work,,, yoga every day and walks here and there. But the last run I had was last Tuesday; by the sea, and I very nearly froze. I was really cold, even after my run and although the run was full of joy, it took a long time to thaw the joy out
I intended a run today...but at 7.30 a.m. Black ice upended my plans and very nearly me also !
I ended up doing my day's exercise on my elliptical!
At this time in the running year, we usually have a lot of new runners beginning, and we notice, at this time also, some posts beginning to creep in on the forums, where folk are feeling a tad despondent about their running. January Blues!
The weather is so, so uncertain and it is never a great idea to run when it is icy...especially if it is dark!
In these difficult times it is little wonder that we sometimes feel, uncertain and unsure about our running plans.
Many of us may be feeling less than our best; coping with illness ourselves or within the family. Time spent on the Injury Couch can be a very lonely place, and I know that for me, the support and friendship from the forum family is simply amazing, and is what keeps me going!
We have the cosy Catch-Up Corner here now, so this is a good place to come to share our stories and our woes maybe
The thing is, as I seem to be saying all the time, it is all out there waiting…wet days, dry days, cold or warm, dull or bright… we run, and when we are able to run, the sunshine is inside us…and it is simply amazing
So... it maybe daunting, it may not be easy, but it will be worth it.
You have all started off amazingly this year, with lots of individual targets and plans. Designed for you and geared up for your time constraints, etc.
Some of you I know have succumbed to this blinking new Covid variant, but are patiently waiting it out, until you feel well enough to take a short jogette, to test out the running legs.
A few folk have been missing from the corner lately and I am hoping they are all okay and their families also.
So, as and when you feel the need and you get time.. pop in and let us know how it is all going at the moment.
There are some really inspirational replies coming through and lots of ideas and tips to keep us all going through these first dark days of the year
Do, please read, also, some of the posts on C25K, from new runners and seasoned runners alike. Awesome !
My photo was taken yesterday...torrential rain and mud, mud, mud...
Today ended up with glorious sunshine, despite the early ice... unfortunately life overtook me again and I was unable to run later, but there is always another day, and as Shelley's Ode states...
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind” ?
Safe, happy running everyone
Oldfloss x
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A lovely post from you Oldfloss, nice photo as well, especially that tree, what you call your "majestic tree".Certainly there have been quite a few new runners since the new year began, some of the regular runners of last year seem to have disappeared, I have not seen a post from a very regular contributer on this forum for at least 3 months, RunaroundSue, I hope she is well.
Regards and thanks for all your wonderful posts on those forums, I wish you all the very best for 2022., 🏃🏾👍
All good wishes for you too, my friend. I wonder too, about missing faces .These strange times are putting constraints on us in so many ways. I am always relieved when I spot a post or reply.
This...'It is all out there waiting…wet days, dry days, cold or warm, dull or bright… we run, and when we are able to run, the sunshine is inside us…and it is simply amazing.'
Hello Oldfloss and everyone else, it’s good to catch up here in this corner, not loads of running happening here as the days have been dark and wet and work longer than it should be. However this morning the sun shone in our windows brilliantly beckoning us out! We took ourselves to the river where the tide was very low and the birds munching whatever on the sandy edges. Lots of people out today and a joy to see them all turning their faces to catch the weak warmth of the sun Have a great week all
That is so beautiful and what a glorious place just to 'be'. Running there must be, on that sort of day , pure joy !Wishing you lots more sunshine runs, both
I'm also doing Run Every Day January. I've been successful so far in getting in some sort of run each day.
(NB. Don't do this unless you've been running regularly for at least six to nine months.)
The weather has been the greatest challenge this week. I know I can easily do a 15 minute run any day. Fitting it in between the rain/hail/snow showers has been the hard part.
Fantastic! You are doing better than I right now. Mr. OF will not let me out the door when he thinks the weather is too dire. !Getting a 15 minute in sounds fabulous. I am just hoping my strength and stamina work will pay off, as the weather eases and I find more time
Well done. I am, at least managing exercise every day!
Well I’m sure you have read yesterday was my W4 R2 disaster 🙈 I done my full session going downhill then got a taxi back up the hill 🥺 I’m not loving the 5 min run I have to be honest - might be easier next week when I return home to a flatter cooler environment but I know this is just me making excuses 🙈 Going to start W4 over again tomorrow I will bear down and challenge the hill!! 🙏🏻
I really hope that you felt your run went better, yesterday, and that you are beginning to feel the joy again!Flat and cool will suite you and you may find that your hill work ( even if not your favourite thing) will have paid dividends:)x
Out today and repeated W4R2 A little calima here today so not too bad will do W4R3 on Monday then I will be packing to head home to Northern Ireland 😊 hope to be back at it on my own turf by Thursday 👍🏻😊x
Last run done in Fuerteventura today ☺️ Still repeating W4 but that’s ok flying on Wednesday so hopefully out on Thursday thank you all for your support I never would have kept it up if not for you lot!! 😊🙏🏻
Ah, well! Running? I did well to shovel a couple of tire tracks over the last two days. And ice? Well, after the rest of the drive was properly shoveled by my son, the skies dumped water all over the drive and ice ensued. I did do a little jogette as you called it back UP the driveway on some less icy patches and reminded myself how good I feel when I run. Time is flying. In one more week, we'll be half way through January; it's hard for me to believe it. In any case, weather aside, I am holding to my muscle exercises and have even tried to figure out the possible mechanics of doing some of Adriene's yoga sessions, although that hasn't happened yet--too much going on what with Hubby decidedly better and getting into everything!
Thanks Oldfloss! Happy new year everyone. I’m on a challenge on my watch to gain 1100 exercise minutes in January. I’ve got 487 so far, just need 26 per day now to beat it 🤣
Sorry to hear that your running has been a bit curtailed of late
Oldfloss. I suppose January is always a bit iffy but the weather seems to have been even more unsettled than ever just recently hasn’t it? Warm, wet, freezing and then the same again in the afternoon! But fingers crossed that you can get back into a routine before long. I’m not being very inspirational I’m afraid at the moment but have every confidence that the very nice physio I’ll see this week will give me the ok to start trotting again - at which point you’ll see me heading straight back to C25K again! I can’t wait! In the meantime I wish everyone a great runny year!
It is up and down! Sunshine yesterday p.m... sleet and grey and cold again today! Fingers crossed that the Physio' gives you the all clear!!! I remember a very long 12 week stint when I was just waiting for the green flag! Hold fast... the runs are lurking there, just out of sight! xx
Hi Floss, We went for a walk in the park today and saw a host of daffodils in flower! I was so surprised but also pleased. A sign that spring will be here soon.
No runs for me yet, I'm waiting out for brighter warmer weather, but I know I will get out there again. Meantime yoga and keeping active and enjoying family days are enough.
Stay safe everyone and enjoy your running when the time is right for you.
Daffodils!!!! Mine are only just showing their green finger tips. It sounds perfect to me, sunshine, walks and family time:)You are doing so well on your yoga too ( I am finding sections a tad hard this time) !
Ooooh yes I have some green shoots showing in my containers. I can’t quite remember what I planted, but it will be a nice surprise! Nature’s so clever 💐.
If it helps the weather is grim in Cyprus. It has been all over the place this week and the view from the window is not dissimilar to yours. More upbeat about running than I have been recently, dragging my distance out in the hope for a good ballot result for London. I would go for a charity place but I will do it only once and I would like to run for my local charity. Am not sure if you can get places on World Marathons after the ballot? Or if there are any other routes to secure a place. Failing that Istanbul looks amazing.
Good luck everyone whatever your plans.
PS have we a running podcast data base on the forum?
Well done you... apart from the weather ! Sleet here today and very cold! Glad that you are getting the runs in though...I would pop across to the marathon forum and see if they are able to answer your questions? What type of podcast data base did you mean ?
Lovely post Floss.I hope all well for you and yours and all on the forum.Got essential stuff to sort out for family.I will be ducking and diving for a few months.I will hang onto the forum’s coat tails and keep myself ticking over until we can reach a more sustainable safe haven.The sunshine within I believe is forever.
Just hang on to the thread.. we are always here at the other end of it Life gets hectic, but we just wait for the time when we get the chance to lose ourselves in our runs again!Take care, my friend x
Well RED January had to take a back seat I'm afraid, as I suspected it would. We went down to South Wales last week to say our final goodbyes to Mr B's sister and everything else was put on hold for a few days - only in part due to the atrocious weather.
Back home, and hopefully back on the ball a bit more, yesterday saw my second attempt at the physio's exercises, instead of the suggested 4 times a week.
Week 3, Run 3 was completed in glorious sunshine yesterday morning.
I really needed that run - and I was certainly smiling - inside and outside - by the end. It never fails to amaze me how the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other is able to provide so much headspace and get those endorphins flowing! 😁
I am glad that the run, filled your hear and mind with sunshine again, after a difficult time, x Take it as it comes, enjoy the good days and be sure, that if the clouds gather, the sun is just behind them .Well done you !
I had to abandon Red January after an incident with a Christmas tree (posted about that yesterday) which meant no running until I was sure I haven't done any damage, but I did manage a week 4 run yesterday. The tail end of 2021 was a bit challenging for me and my overall fitness took a hit, as I lost my routine for all the physio I do to keep everything on track. So I'm digging deep for my grit and determination, and accepting that I've got to build up again again!Thankfully things are looking a bit brighter generally, so no excuses now 🤞
I read your post! OUCH! Glad that you got a run in anyway and well done you.Building up can be so, so hard, but we get there ... keep on, keeping on, and being mindful of your rest times too x
Oh bless you Oldfloss, you know just the right things to say - I shall from now on aim to find the sunshine inside myself even though there doesn’t seem to be a ton of it outside!
I had a fantabulous run yesterday, the sun was out and when I got home, I managed to keep a little bit shining inside for the rest of the day which was lovely. Just getting back on the forum and having a great run has really boosted my spirits and I’ve laid my head torch, lit vest, hat, headphones, hair thing, leggings, top, socks and trainers out all ready to get up at mad o’clock tomorrow to run before work. It’s a fair whack of kit when you think about 🤣.
I still don’t really have any new year resolutions, I think my 53 year old female brain sort of crashes every time I try to come up with any sort of plan (brain fog) so as long as I can keep getting out there I’ll take it for now. Oh, apart from being more consistent in the gym. Pleased I managed a good leg session this morning.
One thing that keeps me motivated is a very poorly friend who has championed me ever since I started just over a year ago. She’s on my mind a lot and I just have to think well, what would she tell me to do whenever I don’t feel like it? Get out there, life’s too short, that’s what. So out I go.
I do hope you get your run in tomorrow, laying our gear out is a good thing to do. I'm the same as you and there is so much stuff! You have work after your run though! That takes determination.
I am doing Red January, but there are many days when the run cannot be made...so like you...I just go with the flow..
It is great that you are just taking it as it comes.
Your friend , she runs with you, you carry her in your heart...what an inspiration...she adds power to your body and makes you strong.
I think a lot of people are doing red January aren’t they and I doff my hat to them! That takes some determination, so super well done 😊. Unfortunately best laid plans and all that, after leaving my kit out for an early run I barely slept a wink last night so the run has been deferred 🤣. I watched David Attenborough’s Green Planet the other night (brilliant) but I had some mad dreams about very creepy looking plants 🌱 too 😆.
Love your post as usual, so inspiring! I'm at risk of losing motivation, due to the dark and cold and working from home again, but am just about managing a run every 4 or 5 days.So looking forward to the daffodils and some longer runs when the time is right!
You are still running and that is fantastic. What dark days these can be and I don't just mean the weather currently !So difficult sometimes to make the effort to simply move and working from home impacts too, on the way you feel.
I know I am having to really shake up my routines right now, as the runs are not as easily available due to weather and various issues.
Well done you on getting out there and be sure that the brighter days are on the way.. or so it would seem judging by the blackbirds , nesting in my front hedge would have me believe at 4.a.m. this morning
We've had daffodils in flower in our garden for about 10 days or so. Last year they were in flower before Christmas!I agree it's difficult to get out right now, but you did it! As I'm redoing c25k, I've accepted that I need to go out in less than ideal weather.
Hello well I am post covid now and managed my second run since the dreaded isolation so was quite pleased with myself except that my plantar facilitis has reared its very ugly head. Feeling a little despondent anyone else have this problem? I don’t want to stop running again but also don’t want a long term injury.
Thank you for that link lots of really good information. I have seen a podiatrist and am having some reflexology, hopefully it will do the trick.Going to try some of the suggestions in that link as well x
I had a rough week last week. A really low Indielass that lacked motivation in any forms of exercise (which is not like me at all) and the miserable rain didn’t help either! Once I got over some side effects of the booster I had on Tuesday, I decided on Friday morning to redo R1 from W1. Running has always helped my mental health. The run did give me a boost. Instead of just going out and running & walking for 5 mins as I’ve done previously, getting to run for a minute eight times got the dopamine going!
I went again on Sunday and that was more of a struggle as I felt very tired. However I had already made plans to run with my 8 yo daughter. I didn’t want to let her down, especially as she can only do weekends due to the early dark evenings. So we pushed on together and I enjoyed having her company.
I’m hoping to run tomorrow but only if I feel I have the energy. I’m glad I’m feeling much better this week and despite it being a foggy murky week at times, managing to run for longer has helped x
Oh my goodness... and I thought I was having a struggle at the moment! This weather can be so draining and the dark days are so draining.
I am really glad that you did get out and found a little bit of what you needed.
Time with your daughter is far more important than any run. Those we love and who love us are surely part of the reason that we try to keep fit and healthy?
See how you feel today and if it happens that is wonderful, but if it doesn't then. just take a little time out for some relaxed thinking. Recharge and refresh! xxx
Thanks Oldfloss . I’m just about to write my post about this mornings run 😀.The run on Sunday was with my daughter so that’s why I pushed myself to do it. Once we got into all went ok. Just harder than my run on Friday as more tired on Sunday. Here is a pic from today’s run ❤️ xx
Hi Oldfloss, I am one of those guilty ones 🙋♀️ MIA! Without going in to too many details, it's all been a bit tough. However I plan to do day 1 of the new 30 days of yoga tomorrow.... there we go I've said it out loud. I'll let you know whether it actually goes ahead.....
I hope you are and all in catch up corner are well and enjoying your challenges. Your daily yoga sounds heavenly and I hope you can get out for a run soon (minus the black ice of course!!) Xx
I am SO glad you are here... I've been keeping a place for you but, I know how busy your life is with your boys!No need for feeling guilty, you are just doing your awesome stuff!
Try with the Yoga, but if it does not happen, then just maybe make a short time when you can just simply take a few moments for you .
I am hoping for a little run today, if the ice clears, again!! If not, it will be a walk!
Do keep us posted if you get chance and know we are here for you xx
Yoga done 🧘♀️👏 that was the toughest day 1 of the 30 day challenges I've done... or maybe it just shows how long it is since I've found time to get on the mat 🙈 not sure when day 2 will happen but now I've started I have the motivation to find some time. I will get back to running but just need to take 1 step at a time at the moment.
Signed up to a goal of 10k each week ( think this may be optimistic) 6k so far this week. In my C25k revisit I completed week 5 run 3 today and it wasn’t too bad this time round as I didn’t have the mental barrier, having done it before. I’m finding that if I put my kit on in the morning I’m more likely to run, also trying to put runs in my calendar….
Really pleased that my post-covid joggette turned into a 4km! the sun really does help and not a bad time,. I think I'm like my tortoises and speed up with some sunshine. They are all safely alseep in their boxes until March! Do wish I had fantastic scenery in North London 😒, found a bit of green in Ally Pally park eventually.
Fantastic, and very well done. I am so glad that you are feeling okay now. The sunshine really does make a difference. I enjoyed the same sunshine yesterday too!
That trio of tortoises look mighty good. Sleep well until the Spring!
I am glad you found some green too... I will send you a photo of my green from yesterday!
Thought I'd pop in and say hi now I'm back running again !Had several weeks out (Since late November) with Chronic sinusitis and after two courses of antibiotics I am feeling a lot better and starting to get out there again !
Not running the distances I had previously as I'm building back up gradually and slowly again but I will get there , I'm in no rush as I'm not chasing PB's or interested in pace .
Just interested in enjoying my runs again .
So just done a couple of slow 3k's to start rebuilding my strength and stamina .
Will push on when ready , hopefully when the weather improves 🙂
Sounds terrific to me... 3 K is a good distance. I managed one last week on the High Peak Trail.Having no pressure is a massive benefit , and enjoyment is paramount.
Sinusitis is horrid, I empathise having suffered a lot ...it is why my hat in colder weather comes right down over my forehead and I wear a buff too!
I am so glad you are feeling better and look forward to watching your progress. I too, am planning building back! If the icy conditions abate
Hello all. I'm just returning from Italy (sat in Turin Airport as I type this). Having followed c25k to the letter I got through with no injuries and even got to look forward to my three weekly runs. One week skiing and I've picked up two bad knees and a shoulder injury. Not sure how it will affect running yet, as I'm feeling fitter than ever having walked 'cardiac' hill every day and skied all day (with injuries- first holiday in 2 years - I wasn't going to spend it on the IC). Anyhow here's an inspirational picture of the alps for you all which has also been unseasonally warm - lots of ice on the piste!
Beautiful view... just glorious. Well...you had a good time and now just need to see how things go and check out the way you feel! You deserved that holiday and with a gentle approach I feel you will be back on track soon
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Week 2, Run 1 (some advice needed below too please)
February Monthly Chat: kick off your shoes, pull up a chair, come join us for a natter! 🏃🏻🏃🏽♀️🏃🏻🏃🏼♀️🏃🏻🏃🏽♀️🏃🏻🏃🏼♀️
Katherine's Quest week 2 - Feel free to join
