CATCH-UP- CORNER... OCTOBER...Week 1... Come on in... and just relax...

[Oldfloss]

Good Morning everyone...

I am so sorry, I bet you thought the Corner would never open!

Belated, Happy White running rabbits!

Another day and a half yesterday and I was exhaustipated, ( great word, eh). by the time I sat down!

Welcome to October and a warm welcome to the Corner.

It really is difficult to believe that we are into a new month, but, the cushions are waiting, the warm drinks are waiting and some rather tasty snacks today too!

So... sit down, rest and simply breathe.

The chat today... well, it is all about, you and I, and it is about running and absolutely , not about running; to use a phrase from a certain coach, who some of us may recognise !

Reading your super posts this week, on this forum and the other running forums too, appearing alongside the wonderful progress that you are all making, is a niggling worry.

What is that worry? Well , it is tension... yes, maybe not a word that you may associate, immediately with running. But, it is associated; tension, ( too much of it), can really impact our runs, and not in a good way.

The main area of worry is focused, in many of the posts, on the shoulders, but not exclusively. I do know I find my shoulders, nearly up to my ears sometimes!

Now, I find this interesting, not least of all, because currently, I have been really trying to make sure that I am running relaxed and more than that, I am taking that relaxed awareness, in to support and strengthen me, for what is a really stressful interlude in my life.

There have been past posts on here about this.. relaxed runs, mindful running, smiling runs, even! The reason for that?

Running relaxed, can help you to run smoother, lighter, lowering your risk of injury and, quite simply, run easier!

Now we know the benefits, what are we able to do to help support this wonderfully relaxed state ?

Okay... let is just take a very simple routine,

Running and doing a body check!

Start at the top... and work down...

Relax your neck.

Soften your eyes.

Relax your jaw.

Smile gently.

Let the shoulders come down.

Breathe deeply.

Shake out your arms.

Hold your hands lightly.

When you run. ..Try to land lightly and kiss the ground with your feet

Now.

It sounds to be so much, to think about doesn't it but, if when you are about ten minutes into the run, you start to begin to practice this, it really does become a habit...then as you move on, during the run you can then, so a quick body check to see how the run is going!

I do this, if the run is beginning to feel tricky, or I do not feel totally on par, when I begin,

Now, you can transfer this to when you are, not running and it really does begin to make a difference. I use this a lot right now, without even thinking about it... when I get a moment... I just stop and breathe and go through this body check! It really does impact!

So... I am not going to ramble any more now.. I need a sup of tea and I, think a fresh, hot croissant this morning... so I am going to sit back on my cushion and see who finds the corner today!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this, and the tips some of you may have for staying relaxed during a run. Are you tense trekker... or are you a laid back loper?

Oldfloss x

Two links I found whilst scrolling around

activa.com/shoulder-pain-ru....

runnersworld.com/runners-st...

PS

Photograph of one of my happy places x

[Annieapple Graduate]

🍏 oh I absolutely love your happy place. That canopy of sky with the fluffy marshmallow clouds envelopes me with a feeling of timelessness and space. A place to breathe and regain perspective. I can imagine myself sitting up on that rock catching the breeze imbibing the beauty & scent of the gorse.. if you don’t mind I will linger here a while & think of you all chatting in the corner! Xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Hello and how lovely to see you here... I hope you enjoyed sitting looking over that view ! Your cushion is alwyas here in the corner for when you are ready... and maybe a little walk down later may be in order x

[skysue16 Graduate]

Beautiful photo, out in the hills is definitely my happy place too 😍 Thank you for the post and interesting links. As I run I try to remember to drop my arms and wiggle my fingers every now and then otherwise I do get tense across the shoulders.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to skysue16]

Hello and welcome to you,.. are you feeling better after sharing the small ones germs yes... Like me , I know you love the hills and the walks... and how much good they do us too!

Well done to you on shaking those shoulders out... dropping the arms and finger wiggling... excellent! Shoulder tension is so tiring.... !

Thank you so much for calling in and sharing with us x

[Cassie_7 Graduate]

A beautiful view there Floss and a great post! Yes running relaxed does really help me. I find my shoulders can get very tense so I roll them before, during and after running, when I remember! .I did my first parkrun last Saturday, sadly it was all on tarmac....ouch! I will stick to grass in future, I have had unusually sore joints and muscles since. I guess runners do get used to it perhaps? X

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Cassie_7]

Thank you... yes, a summer view of a summer place! What a good idea for those shoulders too...I hope folk read this and see how something so simple, can make a real difference!

Grass is good, but the hard surfaces do have to be trodden sometimes... trying to land as lightly as we can, helps... and yes, the right shoes too... my trail runners are quite different than my road runners!

Giving those aching muscles some TLC is essential,. if they are sore, and there are loads of simple exercises, here on the forum which may help? I will take a look for some links

Thank you so much for sharing with us x

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

That photograph is beautiful and I can see why it's one of your happy places.I'm sat quietly munching on bagels and snacks, today was the day of the blood test!

At the beginning of September my daughter got up early, drove me to the hospital, pushed me to the blood test place in a wheelchair then brought me back home again the same way before racing off to work.

Today I drove myself, had some fun trying to find my way into the car park, there's 3 different ways, but only one seemed to work for me, the first one was a bus lane then I dived out and went round a housing estate, the second go round the gate wouldn't open so I backed out but third time lucky and now I know the way 😀.

It's a bit of a trek round the hospital to find the pathology place but I was soon there, sat clutching my ticket and waiting for my number to be called. Soon done and over, back to the car park and the bonus was that I was less than half an hour so no charge 😀.

I'm going to shop later but for now I'll sit here and nibble my snacks 😀, happy catch up.all xx

[Annieapple Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

What a difference from arriving in a wheelchair to driving yourself!! You are going from strength to strength! Xx

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

It's so good to once again be independent 😀 having to rely on others was horrible, and even if I have to take long rests in between at least I can get things done, how are you Annie? 😁 Xx

[Annieapple Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

🍏Ups & downs but some hopefully helpful appointments coming up this month xx

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Let's hope they have some solutions, ups and downs are better than just downs xx

[Annieapple Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

😀💪 Exactly right!! Xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Isn't she though!! x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Hello! I hope you have had a lovely rest and I am glad you enjoyed those snacks too!

Well done you! Progress indeed...going for the blood test alone. Yes, these car parks are a mystery indeed...with plates that stop you getting out or in! I drive around them a lot with Mr OF !!!

I hope all is well!

Did you get to go shopping, it has been sunny here today after a wet start... I bet the sea near you looks beautiful!

Thank you for sharing and very well done you on your real progress ... your cushion is always here xxx

[PeggySusi Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Glad you’re improving Sue.. hope the blood test shows good results..🤞

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to PeggySusi]

Thanks Sue, the blood tests are just to check I'm ok for next week's treatment, last month showed that protein levels were coming back up which means I'm getting some goodness from all the food I eat 😁

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

That is excellent news!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Hi Floss,Lovely pic and a thoughtful post.

I am, as you know restarting the c25k plan again after a month off running with Covid.

This time round I am making an effort to add in some uphill intervals to gain the extra stamina I need.

I am using the checklist you mention, and also find that puffing out my breath completely a few times once I get going, helps my breathing to settle making room for more oxygen on board.

I'm on week 2 now and enjoying the challenge of the slope (so far😊)

Tea and a jammy teacake please!

xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Hello!

Yes indeed... you are on the way again and you are doing wonderfully and yes, those hills will help! In so many ways!

You know I love them... and they do really impact our efforts...often without us realising it!

So good to know that you are doing that body check and adding your own extras ! It really does help! Thank you so much for sharing this with us... !

You deserve another cup of tea, and an extra jammy teacake, too... always a welcome here xxx

[PeggySusi Graduate]

Beautiful photo Floss!

I’m not good at relaxing, definitely not relaxed if I’m trying to run.. a classic week one run (again!) for me yesterday.. I dropped my OH off at the hospital first thing for yet another horrid scan, thinking I could just fit in the half hour run then go back in plenty of time to pick him up after. Pouring with rain so I knew there would be nobody about on the cinder track to see me - not rational maybe, but that was my thinking..🤣

So..I drive to the track, park up, and start the brisk warm up, splashing through the puddles.. it was cold and windy and uncomfortable.. somehow I must have warmed up for 6 minutes so my one minute runs were all out of synch with the instructions.. I had to keep looking at my watch to see the time rather than waiting for Sarah Millican.. and then I lost count and did an extra minute just in case.. and just as I finished, text message from OH to say he was all done and waiting for me.. So, soaked to the skin, very rushed, red in the face and late to pick him up.. nothing relaxed about me.. 🤣🤣

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to PeggySusi]

Hello! Thank you for popping in and it is good to see you! You have not had a very relaxed time at all, have you. That is an understatement!

So, sit a while and relax. I can totally empathise with your hospital visits... I feel as if Mr OF and I live there.. test after test after scan after scan! He is currenlty on a three day low fibre diet before Saturday's two procedures!!!

You certainly chose a great day for your run... rain No wonder you were the only one... same when I ran down to the GP on a medication list pick up for Mr OF...are we mad!!!

It sounds like an interesting run, but, you ran ! You did... HUGE well done to you!

I hope you are feeling a tad calmer and more relaxed now. I think that your words here, just show the resilience and the determination you have... I hope our other forum friends take note!

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