Somebody,anybody, please drive me home!

[mrrun]

Jeez, at times this can be hard. A toxic mix of imbalanced sleep pattern, mistimed breakfast, life chores taking me sideways, warmer temperatures during a HM run, all made my today’s mileage a bit of unwanted struggle. Breathing fine, tempo slower but comfortable, route a bit hilly at times but familiar and manageable.

My stubborn, childish, refusal to ever walk never helps. This has been my 4th HM distance (one was 25K) where l simply ran like a battered wildebeest deranged, stopping only when crossing roads but today l thought of misswobble and one of her great points, thinking, Lord, l could walk a few meters at least, my legs are fatigued. Please convince me, Lord!

Except that l didn’t, l never do and that will prolong my attempt at full non walking marathon. I will have to compromise and train by implementing walking parts when going gets rough and then shorten those bits as my engine parts become more agreeable (IF they ever do become fully agreeable).

Oh well. At least l’ve managed to clock in nearly 60K of clean running this week which probably have played part in today’s struggle.

We’ll see how the play develops next week with an easier schedule.

How do you guys cope when legs disagree with brains? (I fear logically composed adult replies)

[misswobble Marathon]

😁💪👍😃🌪💥🥵🍰

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Well, l could see this one coming....

[misswobble Marathon in reply to mrrun]

Glad to be Mrs Consistent.

I'll have you know I'm gunning it at the moment. Doing fast five k's like a woman possessed. Whether it will amount to a hill of beans in my next race is anyone's guess. For sure I won't be running up the vertical slope that starts when the gun goes off. Sigh

Fun though int it !

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

What's this running thing doing to us? lol

Decker once mentioned that we'd all end up running everywhere, corner shops, school runs (ha!), everywhere!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to mrrun]

I combine running with shopping for groceries and collecting parcels, running errands, etc. It’s a very useful skill 🏃‍♀️

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to mrrun]

I have run to get bagels, coffee and socks once 😄

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Decker]

True, this skill can be employed in many a way. l recently negotiated an airport and its crowds getting from a wrong to a correct gate beating the final call in such speed and grace that even my luggage remained unruffled!

[Jay66UK Half Marathon]

I don’t feel qualified to offer advice, never having come close to 60k a week.

I guess that begs a question: are you over-training? Would some more rest days help?

I’m another who never walks and I recognised the deranged wildebeest! That image alone will help me up one particular hill today.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Jay66UK]

I didn’t run a meter more than the marathon training plan for that week. Hours later l was absolutely fine. You simply need to change a lot and commit even more should you want to do this right, especially when running Tue/Wed/Thur with cross-training and then a longer run. Small hiccups and you’ll feel the consequences on the track. Never mind, I’ve got time.

I think there are a few more wildebeests here, we could form a herd.

[Mummycav]

mrrun ....I did my first 10k on Friday and I had to have a word with my legs...they were tired...so you, doing a 60k week are a machine...and yes, stubborn! You have to be kind to your legs, it’s ok to have a little walk you know, just don’t make it a habit...but who the heck am I telling a fantastic runner like you how to go on?!! You’re amazing 😉

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Mummycav]

Ha, thank you but I need to be honest. I had no idea the total would be 60k, l just went with what's on the sheets and if the weather was a bit cooler l probably wouldn't be posting this. I remember when l couldn't do that distance in a month so I am a bit chuffed. Today there are no ill effects whatsoever so the body must be ok after all.

[Mummycav in reply to mrrun]

You have every right to be chuffed x

[Irish-John Marathon]

I'm nowhere near those distances but my carefully selected music tracks keep me going.

I have a good idea these days when the "slumping" distance hits so I have really upbeat tracks timed for that. It really works for me - seems to help getting a second, third, fourth etc "mental wind.

"Music Over Matter" kind of thing

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Irish-John]

A cocktail of Cris Stapleton and Lyle Lovett will entertain my shorter runs nowadays, the same way as Johnny Cash storytelling did in my early stages. But when fatigue employs its dark forces and I will be out there for several hours, l will run naked and focus on getting the job done. A few times even music irritated me when l had to pull all l got.

[Irish-John Marathon in reply to mrrun]

My mind is too bizarre to run naked - I would never last more than a mile without mental distraction. Funny how we humans differ in so many ways

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Irish-John]

You wouldn't need music to be mentally distracted when running around central London, believe me. The stuff l at times come across.......

[Irish-John Marathon in reply to mrrun]

I admire y'all that can run in urban environments. I love the isolation of my runs. The Park is handy because it's flat and measured, but my true Joy is the nearby Compound. No people to manouvre around, no leaping dogs, no "Prammie Mammy's" blocking the path - and usually two prams abreast! - and if I want to run trying a different gait, speed or pattern...who cares?

Oh...and no smelly car exhaust fumes, noise and uneven kerbs etc.

Like I said - I admire you Runners who cope with all that

[mrrun Ultramarathon]

It's called 'urban slalom'. I always hope that if l collapse, a passer-by will, on an off chance, ring somebody to collect me. Although in London they would probably take a selfie with me and stroll away. On the plus side, l always run through massive parks and only get in touch with the humans when running through connecting roads but even then, through local knowledge, l find empty slots.