Wk 7 r2

[oldperson47]

What a change in temperature! I kept my gloves on the whole way round! It is getting interesting. On my warm up walk my heart rate is getting lower although going at the same rate as usual. By about 12 mins I was into a good rhythm of running, slow but I just felt I could keep going. It is getting into that rhythm that is the hard part. I keep muttering to myself, keep going , DO NOT WALK, you can do it. Luckily I am out early so hardly see anyone. I passed a dog walker who yelled 'fantastic ,keep going" It really is a boost. I am now on a high afterwards.

[Jancanrunagain Graduate]

the best thing - a casual observer is encouraging you and most of us have felt the worry that they are laughing at our attempts. Most folk are impressed and supportive- just like this place

Nice to read about your progress

[Yesletsgo Administrator]

It's great when you get that acknowledgement that you really are a runner, isn't it?

This morning, as I was finishing my run, a younger woman was running towards me. She definitely had that 'classic runner' look - young, tall, muscular, blonde hair in a bobbing ponytail but when we crossed paths and exchanged a smile we were just two runners doing our thing. I'd like to think she might have looked at me and thought 'hope I'm still running when I'm an old lady like her' 😂😂😂

[T2runner Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

This is going to sound sexist, but when I see a young woman like that I think ' I would never catch her!'

[Yesletsgo Administrator in reply to T2runner]

At risk of being sexist back at you, only a man would say this.

(on a serious note, the idea that random men might be thinking about catching us as we run on our own is kind of disturbing)

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Tbh I think the OP meant to catch up with rather than to catch as to grab or entrap. And if that's the meaning, then in all fairness it's something I, a 64 year old female, might also think.

The difference is that it wouldn't occur to me to try to catch up with that younger female runner because I know that she's very likely wondering who's behind her, are the footsteps getting closer, will she be safe, can she call for help/reach her mobile/use her keys as a weapon if necessary etc etc.

I suspect that many male runners just don't realise this. To the guys on here who do actively try to help women to feel safer while running, thanks.

For anyone who wants to read more: womensrunning.co.uk/news/wh...

[Yesletsgo Administrator in reply to Cmoi]

There's always a risk of missing nuance Cmoi but if a sentence begins 'This is going to sound sexist' it generally means that the man saying it is about to say something sexist. Likewise if there's a 'my wife/girlfriend etc wouldn't want me saying this but...'

If she (or any woman) wouldn't want to hear it don't post it!!!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to T2runner]

This is me replying personally and not with my admin hat on:

As a tall, young (ish?!!) female runner with a bobbing ponytail and some toned muscles (thank you Pilates), I don’t think this is coming across as the light-hearted, funny comment that you’ve intended it to be. I don’t want men to be thinking about me at all when I’m out running. I certainly don’t want any men thinking about “catching” me-this is the stuff of nightmares. I’ve had men run really close behind me in when I’m out alone in secluded locations and it’s absolutely horrible.

It can be hard being a solo female runner and this sort of comment really doesn’t help with feeling confident and safe.

I would gently suggest that any sentence that starts with “This is going to sound sexist, but….” is best left unsaid.

[drl212 Graduate]

Don't you love those unxpected good wishes...they really do keep you going. You'll get better at judging that slow and steady start. Its easy to miss it though on days when you feel perky.

I wore gloves to my early parkrun volunteering last weekend...sigh!!

Now on holiday and it doesn't look like there is any end to the rain...