I went to bed early last night, and found myself watching The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young on Netflix. That's some pretty intense stuff! 100 miles in tough, hilly, brambly terrain, in 60 hours (pictured, one of the few images that doesn't involve squeamish leg and feet damage 😣). No one finished this year! It puts my runs into perspective that's for sure. I'm never allowed to complain about blisters again.
How were all your weekends? And what are you upcoming plans?
Sometimes we don't feel like putting a whole post up but just want to share something small, so this is a great place for doing that during the week. Please join in the discussion!
If you're new or a lurker this is a great place to say a little hi without the pressure of a full post.
Happy running!
Sqkr & roseabi
XXX
Written by
Sqkr
Half Marathon
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
100 miles... heck I could not finish that right now 🤣
I assume they have pretty stringent entry requirements!
My weekend sucked... no running and only 4K on the board last week. Groin strain is healing though and I feel pretty great today so a short run in the morning is in order.
Still no running for me.. next assessment on Saturday...now I know that I am built for distance, not speed... at least for twelve moths... ( Physio advice), I shall be carrying on with my strength and stamina work this week and then seeing where we go after Saturday.
I really enjoyed the documentary, but I'm in no way tempted to the Barkley Marathons!!! Not even if they'd have me 😄
Swimming, biking, hefting, and quite a lot of windsurfing happened in my life over the past week. No running, and none planned this week either. I have been glowering at my right Achilles tendon a fair bit, I wonder if it will do the trick? 🙄😊
Happy running and other stuff, Squeak and all! xxx
I don't think I could even watch that, let alone take part! I'll be runner number three to report no running last week or indeed this month and prossibly not next month either! I did volunteer at Osterley 10k at the weekend to soak up a bit of race atmosphere - enjoyed that. I've had the bike out again several times, and on Sunday I cycled a marathon (well a half twice actually - one I am/was hoping to run in November). It was mostly along the canal, so flat but very bumpy and plagued with midges! More cycling this week for me hopefully. Happy running to those who can 🙂
Oh I know all about bumps and midges after my weekend in the Trossachs 😂 I actually thought the midgies weren't too bad...until yesterday when I came up in all sorts of itchy tiny bumps,which had just been non reactive at first. Now I'm scratching at myself something rotten.
Osterley! I used to work there. I hear they have a nice parkrun, I wish I'd been into running at the time—I'd have given it a go.
E Whatever I rode through didn't seem to bite me - not my face anyway. The 10k and Parkrun are both in Osterley park. It was indeed beautiful. I've signed up for my free place in the winter 10k so hopefully foot will be all healed by then. It wasn't UB you worked for in Osterley was it?
No, Sky telly 😄 I spent many hours staring balefully at the empty departure board at Syon Lane regretting my life choices. But it all worked out OK in the end! 👍
I seem to have become a 3x5k per week jogger! I must sign-up/part with some cash for another HM or mararhon soon to kick my mojo back into gear! I've realised I'm a cold weather runner (minus 5 to plus 10 being the best range) it's been 25 degrees most days recently (Finland) and feels like 35 when running - yuck.
I watched the Barkley Marathons docu last year and was a bit gobsmacked by it. Totally nutty, hilly, off trail lunacy.
I know what you mean about the warm weather. The heat just seems to soak your energy up. Hope your distance comes back soon. Don’t know how these Ultra folks do it.
I'm also a cold weather runner—though I think less cold than your version of cold! I'm finding the weather here really muggy and humid just now. I'm not really a fan of that. I like a breeze and a prickle in the air.
I was reading about that in my running mag It seems it thwarted the fab Nicky Spinks. She’s going back to have another crack at it 💪👍😃🏃♀️ The elevation is equivalent to scaling Everest twice, apparently 😬
Meanwhile back on planet Earth 😁
I’ve got a health niggle at the mo but i’m still running. I downloaded a free coached ten mile run yesterday and just went for it. It was one of the free coached runs on the Nike Run Club app I loved it! It had fartleks in it 😳😁. I can’t wait to do another. There’s loads to play with Hours of free fun.
My trail half marathon is at the end of the month but my long run is done so I can ease back a bit.
Have a good week everyone Take a drink with you on your runs. It’s warming up 😁👍
I’ve seen that doc and other ultra docs on YouTube (theres one on the amazing Courtney Dewalter which is fantastic!)
The temps have warmed up considerably here. I had a nice long run downtown through High Park on Sat and got a warm 10 in yesterday. Trying some less expensive gels out too. (The maple endurance taps I love are triple the cost of some others like the Cliff gels 😳) I’ve also started the mara plan, adapting it to the longer run weekly distances I have been trying to stick to. Last week I eased my weekly distance back as I was feeling a tight right hamstring after pushing harder on the short runs earlier. Rolling had helped too. Also been testing my hydration pack minus the bladder and it is comfy and a nice size. The bladder and tube will take some getting used to tho. Probably test it this Saturday if I can. Happy trails everyone!
"The Barkley Marathons" is one of our family favorites, especially my youngest.
Last week was a mixed bag. I didn't have time to run much before my 10km event on Saturday. It was a beautiful day, but on the hot side, and because I volunteered at parkrun first, I didn't get my hydration or food quite right. So I posted my slowest time ever. On the bright side, my 15-year-old did the 5km, and beat his parkrun PB!
I was so annoyed by my poor result that I went out for a long run the next day to see how I would do in different conditions, and I did 9 km with a much better pace.
My big question is whether I should drop the annual waffle race on Friday (14.5 km). I can't make up my mind. My running form definitely isn't back to where I'd like it, but I'd hate to miss that event.
I just went for a good 8 km run, and have decided that although things are going well, it might be smart to compromise. The race also offers an 8.5 km route - basically the most picturesque part of the route, all on forest trails. So I've written to the organizers and asked to switch to that distance. When I do the full route, I usually finish at 11 pm, but this means I should finish before it gets dark for once. Plus this will get me a chance to test my theory that the faster runners get better waffles. By the time I usually get in, there's a bit of a wait for a fresh batch.
I'm doing parkrun a mere 12 hours later with my 8-year-old, so it'll be a good idea not to wear myself out.
Start my training plan this week. I have given myself a nice generous 10 weeks to prepare for a 10k run in Septmeber. This gives me a chance to work on speed a bit and run shorter distances as I am also a cold weather runner ideally.
There is a classic bet that snares Innocents every now and then
It's to challenge them to cover 100 miles in 100 hours. They can walk, run, crawl whatever over any route of their choosing and needn't even follow a set route. All they have to do is cover 100 miles in 100 hours...
Seems dead simple doesn't it
But - when you actually think about it, you see it's actually a VERY difficult thing to achieve.
As for the Barkley - that's simply psychotically batcrap lunacy....
Nope, I still can’t see the appeal of ultra marathons! Good luck to anyone brave/daft enough to do them though.
I had a pretty horrible 21km run on Monday morning, partly because of the change in the weather I think. I’d gone out wearing my running jacket as I had a card to deliver (I shouldn’t have been so tight and just used a stamp!) and too much to carry. Must get a cap to keep the sun off too... even though I was carrying water and snacks I felt underpowered by half way and struggled.
Plus points to the run were two solid scores on Popmaster. And more relevantly, by this morning I was feeling chipper again and wanting to get back out running. Recovery time was a lot quicker than last weeks long run, despite the run feeling tougher.
Nice to see some of you on Strava. Those ‘segments’ are pretty addictive huh? ‘Yasssss, I’m the 73rd fastest person under 54kg but over 45 years old to run from the dog poo bin to the park gate so far this year’ Where’s my medal? 😊
Holy mackerel ....... 😱😱😱 Never, absolutely never could I even think about entering a race like that! 😅
I’m currently on hols in hilly Brittany and so far I’ve run two 5ks, with one or two more to fit in before we come home on Sunday - then next week my HM training starts in earnest. And this time, unlike with my 10k or 10 mile training, I promise to incorporate more strength training.
I’ve told you all on here - now it means I am accountable and you can roundly tell me off if I don’t! 😅😅
Following another no-black-toenails-or-even-end-of-toe-blisters race I've converted wholeheartedly to the church of Injinji socks. I'm too stingey to buy them full price though so had to scour the internet for bargains. Triumph! I have bought four more pairs, including two longer woolly ones for winter 😄
Well last week was good, tocking up 33 miles across 3 runs so was pretty lax about pushing myself out yesterday in the rain. Wedding prep and drama (last minute change of best man following silly drama) causing grief, train strikes slowing my bridesmaid... lists galore of what not to forget... I probably should shove myself out there. I'm off to the hotel tomorrow and there is a gym so may burn off some pre-wedding jitters. Hopefully I'll get a long trail run in on Sunday... 🤔
Well tired legs and hurty glutes for me already 90k in this month alone with half mara looming several weeks away. Roll on taper week 🤣🤣 oh an I'm fed up with pasta...chicken and poxy lettuce leafs....I need a big fat burger.....with triple cooked chips and full on mayo 😓😓😓😓😓😓.... err grumble over...🤣🤣
Edit...and a beer...I need a case of brewdog desperately 😓😓😓😓😓
Hi everybody, I am back running! In the last 5-6 weeks I really reduced my running due to a very high level of workload in the office and travelling every week (still for work).
10/06/2019 – 16/06/2019: 6.4 mi52:008:08 / mi
03/06/2019 – 09/06/2019: 14.5 mi2:01:538:25 / mi
27/05/2019 – 02/06/2019: 23.9 mi3:14:468:09 / mi
20/05/2019 – 26/05/2019: 20.4 mi2:50:158:20 / mi
13/05/2019 – 19/05/2019: 33.4 mi4:38:188:21 / mi
MARATHON WEEK
Finally this week I am back, I managed to run already a bit more than 25 miles and I am planning to race on the track on Sunday (I haven't done jumps and throws in more than 20 years... it'll be fun
On Tuesday I have tested the legs on the track with a few intervals, and they responded well, but I was feeling tired...
1200 (4'17'') recovery 400mt jog
800 (2'56'') recovery 400mt jog
400 (1'25'') recovery 200 mt jog
200 (40'') recovery 100 mt jog
200 (41'') recovery 100 mt jog
200 (42'') recovery 100 mt jog
200 (41'') recovery 100 mt jog
200 (42'') recovery 100 mt jog
200 (42'') recovery 100 mt jog
when I tried to go back to the 400, 800 and 1200 my body decided that was enough. I am happy I managed the speed, but I am paying the few low weeks I had after the marathon...
Now I plan to race a couple of races on the track to have fun and give my kids a different setting for athletics (I'd love to see them trying ) and then I will start preparing a 10 Km and a half marathon (1st and 22nd of September respectively)
yesterday I ended up trying the long jump in the sand pit on the track... it was fun and I felt a bit like a 5 years old playing with the sand at the end
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
