As I write, I see that the women's marathon record has been broken by a runner in the new snazzy super-shoes. I also watched yesterday's tri [duathlon, as it became with fog on the lake stopping swimming], and I found both of these interesting. As an erstwhile runner - when my knee allows - I still am - I find it interesting that, as with the 100m, jumping amd throwing, we are obsessed with being the best. I am happy to just get out and do what I can and to enjoy it. The winner of the duathlon is reported as doing Park Runs in a little over 15 minutes - I would be happy to finish. Like most, I gain by being outside and enjoying the freedom to run, without the need to compete against either another runner or my previous best time, not that I know what that is.
I would urge anyone on here to just enjoy their running, and to get out and enjoy their walking too - be it on hills, moors, dales, coast or along farm tracks and pavements. Forget the competitive element and just enjoy it. Only one can win, but that doesn't mean the rest lose, it just means we are having fun regardless.
Much will be written about these new shoes. but do they realkly matter to 99+% of us? I doubt it. For most, a pair of last seasons, or the season's before shoes are more than perfect as they get us out, and they get us running, and that is all that matters.
PS. My knee is getting better, and all being well I shall be out and about again by 2024... in the meantime, I shall be using my touring bike on a turbo trainer to get some gentle exercise. I have also found that a pair of very thick and insulating ladies tights bought from a local shop give just that little bit of support and help keep it warm, both of which seem to help. Oh, matron!!
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newbie-nick
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Great post!!!! As someone who is trying slow hr running I note that my 7.5 km run today was only 50 seconds faster per km than my 5km walk yesterday 🙃. However 7.5 km is the furthest I have gone for a long time, and tbh I could have gone a lot further. I really enjoyed it and think this is the way I will get beyond 10. Plus it felt almost effortless, the hardest part was trying to keep in the zone, hilly bits made it tricky but only 2% of my run sneaked into the next zone. You are spot on though. Hope your knee is ready for running soon 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Thanks. What some see as slow running - or what I call, running, - is all about being out and doing it. It matters not one jot how far or fast I go, just as long as I am out there doing out what I can. Listening to the birds in Spring, watching the new leaves unfurl and the sun warm the ground as snowdrops peek through a blanket of snow, or as I watch the leaves settle down for winter and turn to their russets and browns before falling off to make a crunchy carpet through which to kick my feet. That is what it is all about.
My knee is getting better, and the crutches and worryingly large support I was trussed up in are now consigned to the attic so they can gather dust and cobwebs and I can one day in many, many, many years time be asked by grandchildren what they were for. Many. many, many years time!!
Stay safe and well, and enjoy your running at whatever speed you want to do it at. Enjoy the world and watch what is happening around you at all times. The country we live in is a wonderful place, but it is changing so much and so quickly.
That's a great post Nick, and good news that your knee is getting better and you will get out there I'm sure. I remember when we first started C25K and going round a track that's really a cycle track, almost half a kilometre to go round once saying that one day we will be able to run all the way round without stopping, I think we managed that in week 4, it felt like a huge achievement. I also remember going round and round a dozen times to run 5k and getting bored, then I branched out and now run in loads of different places, by the sea being one of my favourites.
I'm old, I'm slow but as long as I can run I'm happy, it's such a huge thing and a shame we get hung up on speed
Hi Sue, and thank for a lovely post. I'm sure you are not old, but if you are, like me you have the experience of life to call on! At least we are still upright. The 400m of a running track seems like a long way when you first start but, as you say, it soon becomes quite doable, just as long as we take it slowly. Like the slow food movement against fast food, I am all in favour of slow running vs fast. We get there in just the same way, and we still have that immense feeling of satisfaction and achievement, not to mention the same reason to have the occasional cream cake as a well-done treat! Be it a treadmill, a local path or park in town, or a run alongside a local Dartmoor river [as I'm lucky enough to do] it all counts, and it all makes us feel better.
I shall never run fast. I shall never win prizes. I will, however, always have that satisfaction of whether it was a 10 minute trot, or a 5k-done-in-whatever-time-it-takes feeling of self congratulation.
Take care, and remember to run slowly and to enjoy it.
Cripes, a medal! You should never feel down or sad after any run - being able to get out and do it is a pleasure denied to many, so I feel it isa my duty to carry on at whatever speed I can. E gads, I sound old! If you can't run walk... I have hillwalker since I was old enough to, and did my first long distance footpath when I was 13 [with my 16 year old brother and a Scout friend], and my second with a now-late school friend when we were 15. I haven't stopped since. I even spent a decade as a Scout and Cub leader specialising in navigation. My wife was also the Beaver Scout leader.
Run when you can, walk when you can't, and when you can't walk, swim. We are also looking at swimming so we can then start walking/running to wild swimming spots in the better weather - better wearther on Dartmoor being not-raining-quite-as-heavily!
Sounds like you've always been very active, the knee must be frustrating. Well, the granddaughter and I have got back from gym swim and steam room, first time she's been in a gym, had a great time and the prize is pizza for tea 😁
I don't give a monkey's about the shoes, I'm not much fussed about records, and I totally agree that running should be enjoyed for the experience, not just the numbers. However, since you mentioned the new world record for the women's marathon, I really wish you'd named the woman who set it, Tigist Assefa.
I think she deserves more credit than a passing reference to "a runner in the new snazzy super-shoes."
I stand justly rebuked. Indeed I should have mentioned her - whichever way you look at it, it is an incredible achievement. Tigist, my heartiest congratulations.
I did try a PR, but it wasn't for me - I'm far too antisocial - and I too prefer my own company, or that of my wife and/or dog with the birds and the babbling river. I don't run with our son as he dislikes running, but when he did a charity 5K, and without any training, he did it in 23 mins! He used to row, and row a lot, and he reached 3rd in the country for his age group, but he stopped before he went to uni and is now two years graduated. He loves cycling and he is a good swimmer, and I think he could do tris for fun, and do quite well. I shall give some subtle hints - would a subscription to a triathlon magazine be that little bit too obvious!!!
Thanks. Alas, my cycling will be with the 1980s band, Talking Heads - The Road To Nowhere... one day I shall set forth on my trusty steed and pedal on the highways and byways of Devon, but not just yet. Running can, and will wait... it will still be there.
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