I delayed this post a tad, to give folk some time to relax into this, ( for some of us, anyway), holiday weekend
I am hoping everyone is having a wonderful Easter weekend, and are able to be doing exactly what they wish too and enjoying every second of it.
I have had a hectic week to say the least. Small runner-in -training was unwell on Monday, Mama had a day off and an unexpected, free day meant I managed to get a lovely short run in!
The weather was sunny, my legs felt strong... and I kissed the ground with every single step! Thank you, snails !
After that.. it was frantic... furniture removing, garden tidying, Mr. OF's birthday and a family lunch on Friday. I did manage to fit in some Strength and Flex work, and some really good ankle sessions. The week's activities meant I did get also, plenty of additional exercise in and I managed another run yesterday morning! Travelled back to Wales today. PHEW
WELL !
I am still finding myself in a bit of an animal-focused mindset, this week... hence my rather clever photograph... my play on words I felt was rather good, although it took Mr. OF a while to get it !
Animals can teach us a heck of a lot, about a heck of a lot of things.
The Geese, surprisingly are no exception.
Not renowned for their speed on the land, indeed, they may appear to cut a slightly comical picture, (unless they are chasing you) ! But when some of the more well known larger varieties of geese take off.... wow...the power, the strength, the determination and the stamina of those geese, is awesome.
I was musing, that it is a tad like we runners, and that led me on to find a bit more out about these creatures; and as I did so, the common features that we , in our running forums here, share with them is really interesting.
So...I'm just going to list a few things that geese are really good at... and leave you to draw your own conclusions about them and us and our running!
* Geese fly further when flying together. Each bird providing , with its wings, uplift for their fellow birds. Team work at all times, ( Supporting each other to reach a common goal).
* Other geese will remain by the side of a goose that is sick or injured. Offering help and protection through those tricky times.( Supporting each other when on the IC).
* Taking turns and giving support to each other, no one bird, leading or out ahead all the time; each bird showing its own individual strengths. ( No comparison between ourselves and any other runner).
* Remaining loyal to their progress, following the same migration route and finishing all together in the same place, ( Following the C25K programme and finishing at that podium).
* Honking to each other through the flight. Encouragement and communication at all times to keep each other going, especially when some of the flock are tiring. ( Posting here, reading the posts, replying to the posts offering advice, tips and support. Literally cheering each other on).
Now, you may at this point that I am completely loopy.... but it is really interesting and it really did make me think about us, running, and about us here on the forum.
We start out, maybe feeling very unsure and lacking in confidence, but coming onto the forum, becoming part of this running family, we are immediately strengthened.
There is always someone in front of us, ( with advice and tips), someone behind us, ( whom we can help with our own tips and advice), and always someone by the side of us, ( sharing our experiences and in turn sharing their own).
How great to be part of this!
There are many new beginners , feeling a tad uncertain and not sure of the way? Well you are, certainly, in the right place here.
There have been some incredible posts too, this last week, with many, many of you reaching that destination of Graduation, ( ready to fly on to new destinations now), but still with support.
Some folk on the Injury Couch, but still receiving support and encouragement from all the posts and replies, on here.
More than a few, who have followed this plan before, have joined us too; they know the way and they know the invaluable support and the wealth of knowledge within the forum.
So wherever we are on C25K, we may in reality, be on our own when we run, but we, because of this forum are never, ever alone !
Okay people... loopy ramble over. We need to know what you have been up to, where you are on the plan and how it is all going,
Maybe with the holidays, children at home from school, family commitments etc., the runs have had to take a back seat. That's fine, we all need the time to relax, refresh and recharge, and we do know, those runs wait
Please, do pop into the Corner when you get a few minutes, we all want to hear what's happening with you.
Happy Geester time everyone !
Oldfloss x
PS
I'll give a shout-out after the weekend if no one appears here Too much chocolate?
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I love waterfowl :). We have had many living in our garden (and sometimes inside) over the years. Geese are amazing guard dogs (and sometimes even nanny dogs!).
Debating if I’m going to get a head-start on week 5 today. Didn’t sleep very well last night :(.
A very happy Birthday to Mr OF and a very Happy Easter to both of you, I hope you didn't eat too many Easter eggs, another great post from you Oldfloss, very inspiring, I like your story about the geese and comparing it to us runners, we are all here on those forums to help each other with their running, that was NOT a "loopy ramble", you want to know what we have been doing?, well yesterday I ran my 41st parkrun at the same parkrun as I ran my first parkrun which is Dunfermline, my times have varied not too much over the last few years that I have ran 5Ks, especially at parkrun, my first 5K Parkrun time in July 2019 was 34.16, yesterday it was 33:17, there are some people with a first time parkrun time of about 40 minutes who within two years are running 25 minute 5K's, certainly not me, anyway the main thing is that you enjoy your running rather than get a PB every time you run, enjoy the rest of the Easter holidays. 😊 🏃🏾 👍
Thank You AlMorr ! Travelling yesterday so a tad behind this morning
We did not over indulge on easter eggs as I don't like chocolate, ( Mr. OF does, but as a diabetic he tends to have some really expensive!!! dark chocolate), but we did have some other treats, despite that!
It was just a lovely time spent with family, although I was playing catch up a tad last week!
The similarity between the migration flight of the geese and their behaviour towards each other and we runners on the forum fascinated me ! Our support of each other and the teamwork within the forums?
I remember that first Park run of yours, so, so well! Running that 41st at the same place too, and you got speedier! This can only be good!
You are doing amazingly and if I am able to maybe shave a second or too off the time of my next run I will be very happy! I need to follow your example.
We all have our goals, we all have our own dreams of where we want to be, we progress a
at different speeds and achieve different things, but we are all runners , and we p
...and Oldfloss, I have just realised that today Monday 18th April is the fourth anniversary of me starting C25K, it was on the 18th of April 2018 I ran/walked run 1 of week 1 of C25K.
Ha-ha! WHAT a great post! The geese painting is beauuuutiful! (Your work mayhap?) You're right! It is great to be a part of this; I don't think I would have had such a grand time without the forum. I love, love, love catch up corner! "It's a beautiful day," as they sing in the opening of Run 3, at least in my part of the world--bright and sunny and gorgeous although a wee bit nippy. I'm moving along at Run 4 now, my third time revving up; every year I have to start over due to the winter "break."
Oldfloss as always a great post full of positivity, wise words and fun.I did my first Parkrun yesterday and can't stop telling anyone who wants to hear it or not 😆
I need to check your post out! Travelling yesterday, so a tad behind!
Well done you... it is quite a thing isn't it... have you read TailChaser 's post on here... she ran her 100th on Saturday, and AlMorr 's reply on here! I remember his very first one!
That is one of the best things about ALL the forums here, the experiences, the sharing and as in your reply here... the joy! Be proud of yourself... we are!
Love the comparisons to geese, and great post to read (especially for the newbies that need to know what this forum is all about).I feel like I’m going to sound like a cracked record because my daughter has been ill again bless her since last Monday. Turned out to be tonsillitis. Really felt sorry for her as it’s her first week of Easter holidays and she has been feeling so rough 😢. She’s even had a nasty outbreak of hives linked to it all over her body. Good news, she felt loads better in time for Easter Sunday and she enjoyed the Easter egg hunt in our garden with her little brother. She can now enjoy her second holiday week too 😀.
Two trips to the Drs as her little brother has conjunctivitis and has given it to her too.
As for me my sore throat appeared again and I had really bad fatigue. So took a break from running. Literally had little in the tank.
Thursday came and I felt better, so thought I would try a run as I hadn’t run since graduating. It was hard work tbh, I soon discovered that I wasn’t back to full energy levels. Could have stopped 15 mins in but l’m determined (or is it stubborn? 🤣) to keep going. I also got a second wind near the end so I did 30 minutes in total.
Then yesterday morning I woke up feeling raring to go for a run (a positive sign) and had a glorious run along the country lanes. Feeling the joys of spring. Threw a few hills in, and got even more energy once I returned to the flat. Such a difference.
Wishing you a lovely rest of the Easter weekend! xx
I can hardly believe this! Goodness me what a time the family are having... and tonsilitis is just awful and the conjunctivitis on top of that too!What a start to the holidays.
You did the right thing and eased back from running. It can sometimes be the hardest thing to do and we can be very good at ignoring the warning signs.
I am so glad that you eventually got out there again and back to full strength?
If you threw in a few hills:), you must be feeling better...you need to share with me your, flat running, tips because I am still finding them tiring! Hills bring out the best in me!
I can just image you... running along those lanes, birds all a'twitter and the sun shining...hopefully the family are all making a recovery now and that you are going to enjoy the rest of the holiday
Good morning Oldfloss and everyone popping in. Hope you’ve all eaten your fill of chocolate and hot cross buns and enjoy this beautiful Easter Monday. We’ve walked a bit but not run this weekend, visited children and grands.
I’ve read many an inspiring post over the weekend even one that ended in a short swim! which got me thinking, if I want to get in the sea in April I’d better hurry up.
Run Happy peeps, cheer each other on, if you are resting, rest and heal well, be like the geese and support each other, there are runs out their with your name on them, as there are with mine. my future runs that I look forward to include splashing along the sand at low tide and scrambling up hills on the South downs, stopping now and again to snap photos to add to memories. For now, short runs and longer walks with lots of rest in between
This has set me up for my morning run, thank you! Talk about motivation and support...I cannot wait to get out there now. I love that bit, "...there are runs out there with your name on them " ! Definitely!
You have, indeed got many runs ahead of you ,and the thoughts of you splashing around, scrambling up the hills and running in your lovely locations is just perfect!
I hope everyone reads this reply!
Yes... I need to get my cossie out... my wetsuit is still on hold... but if the day permits, I may venture in as normal!
So many inspiring post aren't there, right now and folk, like you fighting against the odds to get back to doing what you enjoy ?
Your weekend sounds perfect and your short runs and the longer walks are just the thing for you right now.
We are up earlier than usual and your post has me thinking I need to get out early before the crowds descend, we have a market on bank holidays so later there will be people with bags along all the paths leading to and from the seafront. Enjoy your run 🏃♀️ 😀
That sounds good, my name was on a short 2k run followed by a nearly 2k walk having a look at new pathways, it was lovely out and we’ve spent part of the afternoon discussing where tomorrows walk will take us xx
Such a beautiful analogy! And I love geese! In our garden, we used to have chickens until recently and I was trying to persuade hubby to agree adding two geese, as there is also a geese-friendly small pond. But no luck so far.
So loved reading about runners and geese!
I’ve been doing ok, last week: 2 runs (as planned); 3 rows (2 less than planned); 3 yoga sessions (1 more than planned). And over on S&F we also finished the first week of the James Dunne 30day challenge.
But Easter throws everything off kilter a bit, in a very nice way, so I haven’t done much workouts during the Easter weekend, with lovely family board games, great meals and chocolate eggs 🪺!
The break came also at a good time in my workout plans, as my dull backache has gotten worse. I’m not sure what is responsible for that: too much rowing, too much walking, or too much James Dunne workouts over at S&F, which I have a feeling are all a step too high for me.
So I’ll be monitoring that as I restart after Easter. But I might have to get used to taking full recovery days where I don’t do any rowing (or running), and maybe adapt the James Dunne challenge to the increase-only-by-10% rule.
Anyway, belated Easter Wishes! Thank you for posting!
I'm glad.it has surprised me how many folk do like them! I only see the geese at home when they fly over our house to one of the ponds on the hill.... !
You are doing well and, that JD challenge has attracted many folk too. I did one of his yonks ago, but cannot remember what it was for!
The festivals do throw us off line...I love seeing the family when they have time off and we can all chill out together.
The back ache...not so good, and you do right to ease off... you do what you are able to and take whatever time is needed to recover fully on rest days.
I empathise. I should have gone for the last run Week 7 of Magic Plan. but I felt a tad weary and a tad achy so thought, no, I will just run, take phots as I go and enjoy. 5K was enough and the 9K will wait and be all the sweeter
Just take it steady and enjoy the rest of today and see how you go ? xxx
Happy Easter 🐣 love your analogy with geese. We have two beauties at the village duck pond and neither of my dogs make eye contact with them when we pass 😄 they know who's in charge!! Finished my covid self isolation on Monday so did 2K on Tuesday to see how things were. Hard work to say the least. Couldn't fit in a second run until Sunday so jeffed a 5K. Fared a little better, breathing a bit easier, but I think I need to reduce the ratio a little more.
Got the 10K event next Sunday but hopefully will feel stronger by then. It'll be what it'll be, I guess, and at least I'm able to give it a go! So I'll stop whinging and crack on. Creme eggs count as running fuel, right??? 😁
They sound fierce geese... and the dog knows it... !:)maybe you need to take a bit more time to recover fully. This blessed thing is really taking its toll on folk .
Just pull back a little until everything feels more comfortable? I opted out of the planned 9K this morning, I probably would have made it but it would not have been enjoyable!
Your 10K will be fine I am sure, just take your time and if Jeffing is needed, do it !!
Don't push too hard.x
I think creme eggs could count...the feel-good factor for you will probably be enough to carry you through xxx
This is a tricky one for me. I've learnt my lesson with injury but because I'm not injured, I can't shake the feeling that I'm wussing about and need to just get on with it. I'm inherently lazy too lol so need to be careful I'm not giving myself excuses 😁I was going to break my rule by running every other day but maybe I'll skip today and go tomorrow, so my usual third day. Then I'll sneak one in on Friday.
And I've just spotted that the lovely picture of the geese was painted by you. How wonderful, you're a very talented lady xx
Good plan... and you are aware of your own inclinations and being sensible...It can be a fine line between, not being ready to go running and putting off going running:)Thank you... I think they look quite feisty
Hi Oldfloss,What a fab and true post. I’m a slightly rotund older chap whose just finished a slow but lovely run along the side of Chepstow Racecourse. Two fellow runners passed me along the way, both said hello which was nice too. One added ‘keep going!’ Two things from this run, the first an Owl sitting on top of one of the furlong posts, lovely grey colour and a wide wing span when it took off. Watching it nearly caused me to run into a wall! The other is that there’s a young persons fair at the course by the looks today, and I saw a candy floss machine. That was the second thing....not seen one for a while, I wonder if they’d hand me one over the fence ha, ha!
This is great... although I do now have an image in my head of a small rotund person running along with a candy floss in his hand, being chased by an owl!
I absolutely love Owls.... you were really lucky to see one ! Is the run where you are fairly flat or not? I was amazed whilst watching a feature on a racecourse the other morning and it certainly wasn't flat!
Huge well done you... the best bit of this reply for all of us is... you are still loving the running, which, certainly for many, many of us, is what it is all about
Geese make good guard "dogs". They make a heck of a racket when roused and few can stand up to their aggressiveness.
This weekend just gone has been about building back after a blip due to illness. I did a 10km run on Good Friday morning, then a bit of garden work. Then a drive to Wales in the evening.
On Saturday morning I resisted the temptation to do the local parkrun at Pwllheli. That one's a tough slog on sand which changes firmness from step to step. It nearly wiped me out when I did it three weeks ago. It would probably have set my recovery back if I'd done it. Instead one of my uncles was visiting my parents too, and he suggested a walk. I took him on a leisurely circular route of four miles which took about 90 minutes. The weather was very pleasant and we chatted together for possibly the longest we'd done in a decade or more.
On Sunday morning I decided I needed a run. A 5km circular loop through the lanes. I took it easy (for me). The weather was ideal for a run. In the evening, after a big family meal, we had to drive back to Manchester as Herself was working on Monday.
So, yesterday, with the day off, I had an unplanned lie-in. The choice was between gardening or a run around a local beauty spot (which has free parking on bank holidays). The run won. The place, however, was heaving as I'd left it until lunchtime. On the spur of the moment, I changed the run from three flat laps of the lake to a run up into the Pennines and back down by a different route. I surprised myself by not being particularly fazed by the climbing. I did take a few breaks to admire the views and check the maps. Again, the weather was ideal for running in just tee shirt and shorts.
They are fierce we had some near us and they could really make a loud noise when strangers passed by!Glad that you got a run in and good one at that too... and feeling stronger. You did well to miss that sandy park run. I may head there Saturday....low tide... and now I have reached 10K again today... shhhh! I will be just tootling for a while.
Your walk sounds excellent... and to get another run in too, beautiful.
Time spent with family. Perfect!
Not content with that you got another in... which sounds fabulous!!!
Great stuff all around and you are well on the way back to full good health too!
Hi Oldfloss, great post, loving your geese. I find them a little bit scary in real life, but it sounds as if they are more complex than I had ever contemplated!
Things are going well -W9R1 this morning before work. I have started extending my cool down walk a bit so that I reach 5k in total which has been positive psychologically. Also I now know that I can manage it within a certain time.
I have started looking ahead and after consolidation will start increasing distance so that I can reach 5k running. Would like to be doing this by my big birthday in June which by happy coincidence is the same day as Race For Life 5k so I have rashly signed up. After that who knows? But I have seen a local women's 10k advertised in September so that could be the next goal.....
Hello... yes, they have a lot more to them than I ever imagined!Your runs and your strategies sound just excellent.. that confidence that you are gaining by using them is obviously working well!
Looking forward is good. and if you just carry on, doing what you are doing, the runs and the distances and yes, the speed ultimately, all evolve beautifully!
I bet your BIG birthday isn't as BIG a number as mine was on the 3rd April
But a Race for Life.... Perfect! I love doing them as will you!
10K....? Well it is there.... and no one starting this ever knows where it will take them
I really enjoyed this post, thanks OF. 😄As a keen bird watcher, for years I have loved watching geese flying in their V formations, calling & encouraging each other. What a brilliant analogy for we runners!
My post covid energy continues to be up & down, but in the last 10 days the breathlessness has definitely improved.
I have managed to complete W5 of C25K (again) at a very slow gentle pace and have had one run (W5R2) that felt good & a pleasure- that’s a first after Covid & I was so relieved & delighted to have that happen.
Onwards gently & looking forward to the next run. 😄
PS Have you read ‘The Snow Geese’ by William Fiennes? I read and enjoyed years ago – time to re-read it methinks!
So interesting when I read more about them... just made me think of all of us here:)I am glad that the breathlessness is easing... the weariness seems to be affecting many, many folk for a very long time!
It is really good that you got that week done and that the run felt good too! Just really take it steady, as you progress?
Looking forward... that means you are on the right path to recovery xxx
I haven't I don't think read that book... I read one called The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico many, many years ago. Ill look that one you mention up! x
Yes, I have read that one too - like you, long ago! Going very steadily is a must - I had an extra non run today- because that’s what my body said it needed- hope to feel more sprightly tomorrow. 🤞🏻😄
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Week 7 Run 3 complete, Muddy trail and new Saucony Shoes thanks GoGo_JoJo.
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