Runners brain

[NettieNoo]

Anyone else find themselves composing a post to put on here while they're running? Something that seems hilarious/fascinating/insightful while you're thinking of it, but later on (like those brilliant ideas you have at 3am) turns out to be drivel? No? Just me then.

Anyway, I did my 28 minutes tonight - week 8, run 1. Toxic tens are definitely a thing, but it's 20 minutes in when I think, "oh no, this is so horrible I'm definitely going to have to stop." I didn't stop. I kept going. It gets a bit better after 20 mins, it seems, but by then I'm so knackered I think I might just have lost all critical faculties.

But then I remembered something that happened earlier and it cheered me right up. My best friend in the whole world (a long time runner, much better and more experienced than me) messaged me this morning with a link and the text, "what do you think?" The link was to the Edinburgh half marathon, which then she said, "I'll do it if you will." Once I'd stopped laughing I pointed out that I haven't finished c25k again yet, and am struggling to run for 28 minutes. She then tried to persuade me to do a 10k instead, so I pointed out that she might have over-estimated my ability and that I am, in fact, the slowest runner in the universe. Her reply? "Oh, I don't worry about speed. The last time I did a half marathon I was overtaken by a man carrying a fridge."

As I walked back this evening it made me really chuckle and I thought I will (almost definitely) always be able to tell myself that I may have been incredibly slow, but at least I didn't get overtaken by someone running with white goods under their arm.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

This has made me smile so much... every single run I take, fuels the endless rambling I have done on here since I began in 2015, I have virtually every run I have taken, written up in detail.

I think what you are doing is wonderful, I do not actually compose the post as I run but I soak up every single detail, every sight, sound, smell and sensation. For me the run is wonderful but it is simply part of a much bigger picture.. I tuck it away and write up when I get home!

This post is wonderful! Full of the run and what was going on in your head... Thinking of other things can distract you from any negative thoughts. Making shopping lists in your head, giving names to the trees and bushes, yes, someone on here Mummycav did give a bush, on her runs when she began, my name !! Looking around remembering that lovely story your friend told you, all moving you on without your realising it.

By the way, your friend; just more experienced, not much better, than you... just further on in her running, as you will be as you move forwards

Toxic 10 has so much written about it, and it is a very really issue with lots of reasons why we sometimes experience it, I sometimes feel it, sometimes it can be more like toxic 20 and sometimes not at all. Preparing well for our runs , with our rest day exercise, our warm ups, our healthy eating and hydration all serve to support us, but sometimes, it just seems it seems that is not enough. We have to take stock, ease back, and know that we are going to move through it.

So, well done on that run, you are moving forward beautifully, keep it steady and slow, and do start writing these runs down... it makes great reading for you as you go on. On long winter nights, or foggy , damp days, reading about your Spring or Summer runs is fantastic, also giving you an incredible feeling of satisfaction and joy to see how far you have come. There will be runs where you laughed, runs you maybe cried on, runs that were one in a million, runs that you wish you hadn't done... I am thinking of my Tunnel run... but all part of you and this incredible thing that we are all part of

Well done you, I look forward to your next post and reading your running story!

My Ghost story run!

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto......

[NettieNoo Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I love your ghost post! I have a little tunnel to run through on my regular route and I do it in the dark and it ALWAYS messes with my breathing! When I was running before, I sometimes did a longer, slightly uphill route which had a LONG tunnel, so I would only ever run that in the daylight. There's a bend in the tunnel too, so you can't actually see the light at the other end for a while, but on hot summer days I grew to love that tunnel because it was so deliciously cool 🥵

Anyway, one of the best things about running for me is that total head space. I never think of any of the things that worry me, upset me, keep me awake at night. It's a) staying alive and b) what's the funny side of this, what's the story I can regale people with when I get back? So, I'll write them all down, thank you for the suggestion. I've got a whole books worth of internal monologues ... me vs my brain ... watch this space 😁

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to NettieNoo]

I shall be watching this space... I have a book of runs ready to be published... not a good time to get a publisher though.. the pandemic has released so many inner muses... but you start now and things will ease!!!!

You start writing it all down, you will really enjoy it and the reading of them can be so cathartic!

Your tunnel sounds okay., it sounds friendly... I am still not overly happy about mine... except when Mr OF and I cycle through it!!!

[Bruch1 Graduate]

Loved your post. Really made me smile. I have the same thoughts as I'm running and think 'Oh I'll post that when I get home' by which time I'm too shattered to even type!! My toxic time is 5 mins in when I wonder why I ever set off but after that I get into my stride and try not to think about the time or distance. Good luck and keep posting (and running!).

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Wry smile here, because as I ran this morning I passed a spot I thought would make a great photo for my post. But I didn't dare stop running because I was afraid I'd lose my running groove so I just had to keep going. Ah well... (I took a less satisfactory photo when I'd finished running!)Didn't get passed by anyone carrying a fridge, although I was going slow enough for a warehouse full of them to trundle past me.