I just realised that it has been a very very long time since I made a post on this site, so I will try not to ramble on too much!
I started my HM training in June, in prep for a September half. It's a local one, so not particularly illustrious, but will be a good start for me as the course will be mostly familiar, taking in some of my usual routes and a bit beyond. So far, the training is going well; helped hugely I think by adding in some strength training. I used to get a sore hip after long runs, but strengthening them, along with my glutes and core, seems to have fixed that. Phew. Being made redundant from my job of 20 years has also helped (gallows humour, folks!), as I now have so much more time to run, cross train and fit in some strength training! Though sadly I am not getting lots of lovely long lie-ins in the morning, as it has been so darned hot I am getting up super early to run to avoid the heat of the day. Which means I legally get to have afternoon naps, so it's swings and roundabouts, right? π
So, today's planned run was 16k. And of course I was going to make it 16.1k to get my first 10-mile run in! The plan was to get out and run at 6am, but General Faffage got in the way, so I didn't get out until 6:30am. I had planned my route for this on MapMyRun, as I wanted to go further and avoid lots of looping. Plus, a new route would add an interesting new distraction to stop me fixating on the distance. It worked a treat.
Never judge a run by it's first mile they say. Thank god, because the first mile didn't feel fab. I felt a bit sluggish and my hayfever meds had not yet kicked in (sneezing and running really do not go together). However, once warmed up I got into my pace, and felt lighter and more comfortable with every km. As usual, I ended up with negative splits, which is by far my favourite way to run. By the 12th km I was on automatic pilot, running lightly and in the zone. Lovely.
My hamstrings were feeling a bit sore from a rather vigorous Pilates session yesterday, so I was a tad concerned about that; but they held up okay (and I am now wafting the rather lovely aroma of Deep Heat around me as I walk). They are tender now, but later tonight I shall treat myself (treat?!) to a session with my Knobbly Massage Stick of Pain.
10 miles achieved and very happy! 13.1 miles does not seem so insane now. π
Happy running you lovelies.
Sadie-runs xxx
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Sadie-runs
Half Marathon
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Brilliant effort Sadie-runs and a lovely post. I noticed a bit of hip tightness for the first time on my recent 13k; guess it is a feature of pushing up the mileage and strengthening is the answer, at least for an old geezer like me. Good sensible pace too...not your usual gazelle time on shorter runsπ. Hope the job thing is resolved quickly for you....but maybe not too quickly....nice to have a bit of space for a little while. Call it a career break; they are fashionable.
Thanking you kindly, BC! I do heartily recommend strength training for hips, core and bums (maximus and medius). I avoided it for so long, but soon realised that I needed that strength to go longer with less pain! And I am less of a gazelle these days...HM training put pay to that! But my fitness and endurance has gone up in leaps and bounds, and Iβll take that over speed any day. π
I have been enjoying a βcareer breakβ! Maybe a bit too much...! The idea of going back to work fills me with a bit of horror now! But CV is all polished up and I am starting to apply for jobs (even ones I donβt particularly want, just to get some interview practice in).
Thank you for your kind reply. Happy running, buddy! x
Oh Sandie , how brilliant, 10 miles! And it sounds like you had a lovely run. Very wise to get out early today and run under the trees as itβs so warm even though itβs cloudy.
That is my eventual target but I think I will find it more of a struggle. Still Iβve got till October.
How lovely to run in your local parks. We read recently that theyβve done a lot of work to improve Beckenham Place Park.
Thanks Dexy dear! You will get there too...it hasnβt been a breeze for me, but I have just stayed focussed and kept on running! Itβs all in the training (and the resting, and the good nutrition, and the strength training....eeeek!)
Oh yes, lovely Beckenham Place Park is getting a face lift! A wild swimming lake opens this weekend - I cannot wait to try it out. In many ways I am pleased they are renovating the park - but in others, sad. It doesnβt get incredibly busy at the moment, but that will all change now they are tarting it up! Thankfully they are leaving some bits wild, like my beloved woodland that I like to scamper through and scare the squirrels of a morning. ππΏ
There are ring necked parakeets everywhere in Beckenham now! π¦ Gorgeous creatures, I love them. Every evening at dusk a flock swoops around the big tree outside our living room window. We often go and sit on the balcony to watch them - bright flashes of green and noisy as anything! π
Lovely post Sadie, great effort (pretty speedy too, btw!), I think that the 10 mile mark is such a great milestone to reach. Massive congrats. And youβre really on track for that HM now, two months is plenty to bridge that tiny little 5k gap to the HM distance ππββοΈπ₯ππ
Well run. I love that moment when you are in the zone and havenβt realised and it dawns on you. Just tack a park run on the end and you are there. I reckon if this weekend were race day youβd make it now.
Thanks Linda! π Next milestone - first parkrun! xxx
So happy for you dearest Sadie. I now have 10 miler envy! Brilliant post, fab photos. Youβre going to do really well with your HM.
As for work, pfff! Itβs over rated - even for Virgos. I spent my whole working career skiving, eating illicit meals and sneaking off early: probably why Iβm totally broke but happy now ... though that also might have something to do with my wardrobe of Lycra ... hmmm ... xxx
Thank you darling Flick. π We will see you with that 10 mile badge pretty soon, I reckon! Now, my aim is to reach the start line injury free...lorks, that does worry me and is why I have never entered a race before.
I could VERY happily never work again, Flick, but rent doesnβt pay itself unfortunately! I donβt much care for money (which is probably why I am in publishing π) but need money to feed my very serious running addiction. π And pay the bills. Sometimes. π
Oh dear, I hope I was never one of those callous b*stards that paid you so little! π¬
I sold a print run of my first book for a trad publisher, a huge mind/body/spirit publisher in America. We rewired the house and converted the loft with the money. I did the London Book Fair twice as one of their authors, and the book was translated into Russian and Spanish and a German publisher was interested. They were set to do another print run (thousands not hundreds!) Then 9/11 happened, America closed ranks, books on Paganism lost popularity as people clung to Christianity in the face of disaster. I published four more books with them but never repeated the success of the first one.
Then I published novels via Amazon Kindle direct publishing. On the back of a free promotion, I made Β£3000 in three weeks with one of them. For a brief and glorious moment I was outselling Terry Pratchett in the Amazon top 100. Then publishers complained and Amazon bowed to pressure and changed their algorithms so that it became really hard for kindle direct books to be successful.
Since then Iβve had very warm refusals from publishers and agents. The then fiction commissioning editor for Time Warner loved my book but said her fiction lists were full for the foreseeable future. Iβve had other refusals, one frustratingly from a literary agent who demanded exclusive sight of my book.
My next stop is a book on running and we shall see.
I think the main problem for authors now is the disparity between what editors want to publish and what marketing think will sell. We shall see πβ€οΈ
β’ in reply to
But dearest Sadie-runs as we both know, itβs down to a lot more than the publisher. I donβt think many authors make a living from writing xxx
Well done Sadie - great run! I think the odd niggle is quite common when we increase our distance. Hope everything settles down and you recover well from your run. You are well on course for your half marathon too - good luck with the rest of your training.ππ
Thank you Sandra! π And I am laughing, as strength training seems to have sorted out most of my niggling body parts, so frantically googling ways to strengthen my hamstrings now (for when they feel better). Lorks, itβs never ending! But I am grateful to this 47 year old body that it managed this run. π Thank you for your lovely reply. xx
Oh Sadie! Thatβs brilliant! I remember my 10 mile, it was months ago now and I was totally k***kered, my calves were burning for ages but I felt soooooo good having achieved it! And yes, that HM is in touching distance now! If I hadnβt done my 10 mile I donβt think Iβd be doing this HM Group now. The burning calves reminded me I had to take it gradually.
Hereβs hoping all your niggles are short and your runs are long ππππ
Aw, thanks TC! I suppose a niggle is the bodyβs way of talking to us i.e. what the *bleep* are you playing at?! π I will listen and be kind. π Love your closing sentence - so wise and thoughtful! x
Oh thank you, Flossie. π It did feel special, in a similar way to graduating C25K, for me too. Loved it. And yes, I feel much better about the distance now, too.
It has been a funny old few months, but I must say running has really helped me through the ups and downs. Something to focus on and feel proud of. Joy. xxx
What a lovely post! Really enjoyed reading that. Just wondering if you have tried compression socks re the calf tightness. I find them really helpful for recovery. I really should do some strength training for hips etc too!
Aw, thank you so much, Aldlib. π It was a very positive run. Itβs my hamstrings rather than calf muscles that were the problem. But, they are feeling much better this morning - phew! Poor things just needed a rest π. x
Thank you Whatsapp! I have no choice but to run, as I am training for a September half marathonβ¦so got to put the work in regardless of the weather. But, I think I have acclimatised a bit to the heat, and go out early in the mornings, which helps. And drinking plenty of water and taking electrolytes during the runsβ¦organising it like a military campaign! π
What a great post Sadie and massive congratulations on your 10 miles with negative splits too ππ»ππ»ππ»πββοΈπββοΈπββοΈ I have no doubt youβll smash the HM on the day. I keep thinking I should do some strength training, but donβt like pain π«
Thank you Sandy! I was elated to reach a new milestone, it has been a while! And the strength training, you can build it up gradually and it doesn't have to hurt (much!)...but I know what you mean! xxx
Oh, thank you so much, Alison! With regards to smashing it, I will just be happy to finish it to be honest! It will be my first HM, so a PB whatever happens. π xx
Just realised I didn't post congratulations on here Sadieπ. I hope you have recovered well, that was an epic run, 16.1k getting so close to HM distance now!
All your training is paying dividends, you have it within your grasp now and must be so proud of your achievements to date!
Lovely Jan, thank you! Recovered very well thanks. Hamstrings still a tiny bit tender, but much better after a bit of a rest. I must not lose momentum now I guess! Am taking another rest day tomorrow, but will do a little strength work. πͺ xxx
Congratulation Sadie, 10 miles is an awesome distance. Many hm plans only go to 10 miles but you have plenty of time to do some more distance if you feel the need. I found that increasing distance to hm and marathon required some strength training. I am doing a 30 day butt and leg challenge at the moment as I train for a September hm. Before I have done HIIT sessions weekly too. I have some weights to use on squats and lunges currently and am toying with getting an exercise bike for sessions when the kids are home. So much to fit in around work and family!
Thank you Runfasterdoyle! I was surprised at how well I managed it in the end π. Made me realise how much of running is in the head, especially distance running.
Your strength training regime sounds fantastic! And itβs no mean feat fitting that in around work and family, so go you! I do Pilates once a week, and our teacher gives us a pretty solid work out. I also do one strength training session a week at home - weighted squats, clams, bridges, planks - you name it I do it. Definitely need to strengthen up for those long runs, I agree. πͺ When exactly in Sept is your half? I wish you all the very best!
I wish I had time to fit in a class, I am sure it would push me more! My hm is Sept 8th and I am away for two weeks mid august which is probably not great timing, oops!
We are going on the10th for a couple of weeks in France. I assume it will be warmer and I think there may be a gym and possible treadmill. They do aquafit in the pool. I could look at the local area for a safe run route maybe, plan A. Plan B will be the treadmill and see how far I go. Plan C will be resting for two weeks, ouch! I really didn't plan it well at all π€£
Aw, donβt worry about it, dear Cheeky! (I miss peopleβs posts all the time π) And thank you for your kind words. It was speedier than it felt - hope thatβs a good thing! I did stop a couple of times to drink/look at a map, and those little walk breaks really helped. π I am actually looking forward to the HM now, rather than dreading it! ππ± Hope you are doing well. xxx
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Ran my first 10 miles! 
Coming up for air - first 10 miler - race report
Garmin fail !! And my first 10 mile π₯³