The slugs were out today...

[Mitts]

...which made it just that wee bit more entertaining, trying to avoid as many as possible without landing in the mud beside them. It was quite a bit colder, too, the coldest I've ever been out in, and I noticed a difference with my breathing at the start. Is there anything in particular we should do when it's cold - ?deeper breaths ?shallow breaths? Should we wear thermal undies?? On the warm-down walk home I was glad of my sweatshirt I'd tied round my middle but proper joggers don't do that - what do they do?? It'll be a lot colder soon too, not sure I fancy jogging outside in winter.

Only five more good runs to go

[Pelephant Graduate]

Those blasted slugs! They've killed my garden this year. Yes I was wondering about the cold weather too. I was reading that you might have to warm up for longer. I don't like running with too many things around my waist though. Maybe we should stuff items of clothing in hedges as we warm up ....

[Mitts Graduate in reply to Pelephant]

Okay... we could work with that... warm-up walk, leave sweatshirt in hedge or tree... jog x minutes in a circular route... collect and don sweatshirt and walk home... could work

Knowing my luck someone would swipe it while I was gone...

Someone blogged the other day that they arranged their warm-up to pass their house and left their sweatshirt at home again, but then you'd need to finish the run back home to collect it for the warm-down walk which in my case would involve a murderous uphill jog for the last half mile and I'm just not quite ready for that yet... one day... maybe.

[swanscot Graduate in reply to Mitts]

That was me who leaves my sweatshirt at home after my warm up walk, but I have a uphill route back to the house and, and so far, have not needed a sweatshirt for that! Mind you, it was pushing it today as I missed a path I had planned to take in the woods and ended up with a 2 km walk home - the last five minutes of which were in a head wind and I felt a little cold.

[Mitts Graduate in reply to swanscot]

Right - I thought at the time it was a clever idea! But there's still the problem in winter when you're all hot and sweating and then have to walk home. Okay in summer when it's warm, but the summery days are almost gone now. Unfortunately. Must have a look in the sports shop - there must be something that would solve the problem. The word 'gloves' even crossed my mind on my warm-up walk today...

[Chewy]

Now that's odd because a couple of weeks ago I noticed the slugs. It was along one of the bridal paths I use and as soon as I noticed one it appeared as though there was a plague of them, they were everywhere.

I'm ignoring the inevitable cold, I'll deal with it when it's unavoidable.

[Fraz73 Graduate]

Yep a plague of slugs in North Wales as well! I've been wearing compression socks which really helpt to keep my legs warm. I wear them with either shorts or running pants. I'm thinking of getting a compression top to wear underneath my t-shirts which might help with upper body warmth. Anyone else got any ideas?

[Mitts Graduate]

Slugs all over... I outed about three today, it's horrible.

I've never heard of compression clothing but if it keeps you warm that's what counts, thanks for the tip!

[nickinocki]

More slugs as there's fewer hedgehogs to eat them......but don't get me started as I love hoggys!

I posted a question about winter a few days back and got some really helpful answers -

couchto5k.healthunlocked.co...

Happy running everyone!

[Mitts Graduate in reply to nickinocki]

Great, thank you!

[swanscot Graduate]

You asked:

> "On the warm-down walk home I was glad of my sweatshirt I'd tied round my middle but

> proper joggers don't do that - what do they do?? "

I'd guess they don't do a warm down walk. When I participated in the Parkrun recently, I ran a steady pace for 5K then stopped. I spent a few minutes afterwards doing a few stretches at the side of the park, then drove home before doing my yoga stretches. This lack of warm down walk did not make a jot of difference to how I felt later that day or to my recovert in general. In fact I ran almost 6K the next day. (I would normally take a rest day, but this was a one-off event).

The only reason I am doing a warm down walk on my usual run at home is because there is a short, steep hill, or a long, gradual hill to reach my house; I can't run up either of these yet!

[swanscot Graduate]

That should say "recovery"

[Mitts Graduate in reply to swanscot]

My house is in exactly the same kind of place... Oh well, one day we'll manage it, won't we?!