How are you all getting on? Please do share below 😊😊😊
Last week I said I'd share some inspirational social media links, and I totally didn't get around to it, ha - sorry!
My favourite person on Instagram at the moment is Candice Burt! She's incredible - two+ businesses, single parent of two kids, race director of some incredible ultramarathons, ultramarathoner who sets records for fastest known times, poet!!! Candice has the most amazing attitude to life, and I think she's fabulous! Also, the picture above is a typical view she shares as she goes about her day 😍
I know mountains aren't for everyone, but I love 'em 😁
ANYWAY!
I think a lot of you are getting close to the peak of your training, and also the (taper) quieter time before your race. What will you be doing for your longest run and taper? How are you feeling about it?
Happy running, cross-training, resting, and peaking, everyone!!!
I won't waffle on about my long run again as I put it on the previous post, but I thought I'd share a couple of things:
1) electrolyte replacement after long runs. I have been experimenting with coconut water, as my research showed that it is the closest naturally occurring food product to what we lose whilst running. I also have been having salty cashews for extra sodium. I had been having calf cramps after longer runs, and this regime seems to have sorted me out
2) cross training-wise, my plan is to swim and walk more as I taper down. I do love cycling, but I have a habit of twingeing my knee if I really go for it, so I don't want to risk that.
3) having read that exercising intensely for more than 1.5 hrs causes some immuno-suppression, and I tend to pick up every sniffle the children bring home, I am also having 3 days of echinacea after each long run.
Hi Roseabi, I’m coming towards the end of my HM training now. I’m going to run for 2 hours tomorrow evening, just to see how I get on🏃♂️ I’m not too bothered about how far I get, but it’ll give me a feel for how things are going😊
I may decide afterwards that’s my last long run, or I may decide to do another long one the following week🙂
Either way, I’ll still be doing some shorter runs towards when I start tapering, but I’m not aiming to set the world alight with blistering pace, just taking things easy to conserve my energy for Bournemouth on 6 October👍🤞
I’m struggling a bit at the moment, went up to 16k reasonably easily, but since then have felt bit tired and my distances have fallen off. Did 8k today and just felt that was enough for me. No idea why, am eating the same, same amount of sleep, hydration the same, just tired ☹️ Now wondering if I will get to HM distance . Don’t see the point of going to the GP as think he would believe I am totally bonkers if I said him I was feeling tired after walking over 10 miles a day and regularly running . Don’t believe it’s my age as I firmly believe age is not a barrier.
Am going away for 3 weeks on Sunday so may be best to have a running break, and then start increasing distance again when I get home. Not sure I fancy running in the Lake District, so break may be best idea.
But I am feeling a bit defeated/ deflated by the way things are going.
Don't be down hearted. I had a bad 10 miler a few weeks ago and real confidence crisis. But it was just a blip and I'm back to normal now. I'm sure you will be too.
Don't be too hard on yourself - we all have bad days! Perhaps concentrate on easy runs and go by feel - it will get better I promise!
The Lake district sounds like the ideal place to just enjoy yourself, and perhaps, if you feel like it jog some downhills/flats - while walking the uphills? Lots of people who run very long distances do exactly that!
Not sure I should say this but I am so pleased someone else is feeling the same, not that I wish anyone ill, but am sure you know what I am saying. Hopefully a wise guru will come along and give us both some hope. Don’t you dare post you’ve done 21k next week 😱😂
Alas, I won’t be doing 21k till my half marathon in October. My HM training is hr zone time based not distance. I came off plan to do the 17k run. Just to make sure I had it in me. With the actual training runs, I haven’t even done 10k yet as most of it is very slow running 🙁
Apart from the obvious possibility of 'just a bad day', don't forget the seasons are changing and we are getting less light each day - I think that has a big effect on energy levels for a lot of people, maybe it's a factor for you too.
The shift on energies is certainly a factor. Summer heat energises me and I run better in summer. It I actually think it’s the training itself, it’s tough and it’s being going on a long time. I think there is a sneaky plan afoot to push you to the limit, then throttle back before the event.
Setters, no you’re most definitely not alone. I’m finding both running and fitting in the longer distances very difficult. I also got to 17km but only just as my ITB started acting up. I now haven’t run longer than 10km in about 4 weeks. End of school holidays also got in the way but now the start of the school term is also getting in the way 😫
I have taken the pressure off myself by rearranging my plan and extending it. You don’t have to make 6th October, if there’s no race target you’re free to flex it about a bit. I’m hoping to start ramping up the mileage again next week and, yes, I feel downhearted too as I’m not going to make the target but you’ve got to be kind to yourself as well. You’ll get there, we’ll get there, it will just take a bit longer, there’s no rush. Enjoy your holiday 😊
Very reassuring to see another runner is feeling the same. Plan is now enjoy holiday, will take running gear just in case I feel the urge, but otherwise just hillwalk and once I come home drop back to 10k and slowly increase.
I totally agree with you about age. You are doing really well, and I believe you can get that half marathon! But walking ten miles a day is an awful lot - do you need to do that?
Anyway, the break and the lovely Lake District views will do you the power of good - enjoy your holiday!! xx
Thank you for encouragement it does help. Yes I do need to walk for that amount a day, my two Irish Setters are only as well behaved as they are because they get plenty of free gallops, both would lie/ sit down if I parked myself on a fallen tree, and let them run around me, they need the pack to be going forward all the time. We dont go quite as far on the afternoon walk after a long run, think we only did an hour after our 10 mile run: my decision not theirs 😂
Oh I see! Gosh!! Well, the break will be good. Maybe you should consider doing fewer runs in future? But as others have said the change in seasons may be a factor, and cooler weather is helpful for running! xxx
Not doing an HM plan at the moment, but discovered your strength circuit roseabi through the plan and love the look of it! Thank you very much for posting!
Well although I’m not aiming for a race this year - but I did enter the Bath Half next March (yikes 😱) - next Wednesday will, all being well, my first official HM distance ever!
I’m running it virtually with UpTheStanley and I think maybe Beachcomber66 (BC, are you in?) as well, so it’ll be fun. At least it will be afterwards! 😅 Just hoping for cool, grey and drizzly, but I’ll take cool. 🤞🤞
Errrr....I accidentally did it today CC ☹️.....just too good an opportunity to miss when I got to 19k and no parts of my anatomy had fallen off. Must have been one of your amazing spells!
Brilliant BC (you sneaky BC you!) I’ve replied to your other posts, so you know I think that was an amazing achievement. I don’t blame you for doing it while the going was good. 👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks CC you are a ⭐️. All down to your magic spells.😊 I Hope next wed goes really well. Had a family crisis this week; under control now, but I just needed to run !!😊👍
I'm having a few blips along the way, but I think I'm sticking to my plan better than I thought I might so overall fairly happy.
Did a 10 mile race last weekend following an 11 mile long run the week before. Looking back at it, I'm really happy with my pace over the 10 mile - it's a little bit quicker than I would be aiming for in the HM and probably fairly similar routes. However, at the time miles 8 and 9 were really hard mentally and in that moment I was thinking there's no way I can do a HM. Given the 11 mile long run left me feeling I could do more, I think it was just trying to keep up the pace I was going for during the race that I struggled with, so that's good to know in advance.
I've still got three long runs left, the last being two weeks before the HM. On my plan they are 18k, 20k and 20k, but we'll see how I feel. This weekend I'm going to do my long run following a little park run tourism, I've got it narrowed down to 2 to chose between, but my length may vary depending on which I pick as one is on a path and the other is quite trailey (sure that's a word).
Apart from that, part of me is thinking it would be good mentally to do the full distance 3 weeks before the race, which I didn't manage last time.
My tapering is going to be forced on me, as I'm on holiday in California for the week before my race. I think I'm planning on two really short (3-5k) runs as I really don't want to push myself in the heat and there will be plenty of walking on holiday to keep me going. I am flying back from America the day before my HM, so that's my excuse if it doesn't go to plan. I've found another HM two weeks later which I'm half tempted to enter, so the original one just becomes part of the training for that and I'm not too hard on my jet-lagged self.
It's a nice dry heat in California I believe! Still, enjoy your holiday and don't worry too much about running - if you can fit it in, lovely, if not, lovely! 😊😊😊
I always find that I don't feel I could manage to go any further after a race - I think it's perfectly normal feeling, and as you have figured out yourself, it has a lot to do with pace. You will be fine for the half marathon xxx
I had been going along very nicely on my HM plan, was just about up to HM distance with my long runs and was getting PB times for just about every other distance... then last week got a tummy bug which laid me low 🤢
As a result today’s run was the first exercise of any type for a whole week 😳 I found it so tough! Did 11.5k in total, but had to stop halfway for a breather (I normally never take breaks) and the last two km were at not much more than walking pace.
Suddenly the HM distance appears a lot more daunting than it did a couple of weeks ago!
Still 3.5 weeks to go, but I need to get those distances back up pretty damn quick, I think.
It's likely not the week off that's the problem, more the effect on your system of being ill like that. I'm sure you'll find you'll bounce right back in fitness once you've fully overcome the bug
Greetings Roseabi, All Good here. Did the Stratford 10k on Sunday a Yellow Streak flashed past me at 2k and i now find out it was katnap. I also know the reason thanks to gogo-jojo it's because of the matching shirt and socks they make you go faster. That's the missing link for me then. LOL I need some Blue Socks. Alcester 10k in 3 weeks and then all set fingers crossed for Rugby HM end of October.
Good Luck for your event at the weekend i'm sure you will smash it and hope you had a great Birthday as well. I managed to raise a glass on Sunday Night in your honour.
Just completed my 11 miles run - last long one before the Barnstaple HM on 29th September. It felt really good overall - I struggled a bit at about 7 miles but slowed down and pushed on and gradually got back into a rhythm and finished quite strong. I’m pleased with the Tailwind I’m using, supplemented by one or two SIS gels - the combo seems to help prevent the ‘jelly legs’ I get if not properly fed & watered!
I’m running my long runs with a buddy who is also running the HM with me - it helps so much having someone’s support & also being accountable to fit turning up for training!
I think I’m looking forward to the race now although I’m sure nerves will attack on the day! Good luck to everyone preparing for races over the next few weeks.
Hello! September HM gal here. Well, it has been a tale of highs and lows, but now mostly lows. I will be starting my HM race on this coming Sunday but it's looking unlikely that I will be able to finish it, as I have developed a niggling IT band. I am under the care of a physio, but it is not looking good in terms of me managing 21k any time soon. Bah. All that training (I got up to 20k comfortably in training) for nothing, I fear. But still, it has been fun, and I have learned some valuable lessons (like I am not built for races or long distances! And, I just love running for fun and fitness.)
Note: I am still thinking of starting the race. ITB friction usually comes on well into a long run; I will stop if it flares up, and pull out. I am running a local race, so it should be relatively easy for me to slink off home if I have to stop. But part of me has to try, at least.
I would be so happy if I could hold out until 20k Linda, would happily walk the last km. 😁 However, I get the feeling I won’t even get that far before it flares up again. Thank you for your kind wishes though. I feel kinda resigned to it now, and ok about it, weirdly. xxx
Well whatever happens Sadie, hope the day goes well.
Couple of things spring to mind... walking/jeffing big chunks of the course seemed to be the norm for the slower runners like me when I did my first HM in March. I did manage a non-stop run, but at my pace (I did 2h 40m) there was a big hill near the end when I must have been one of only half a dozen actually running up it, out of the 50 or so around me at that time.
Other than that you are clearly doing the right thing, listening to your body, and being quite prepared to drop out if it flares up again.
Good luck Sadie, we will all be cheering for you!!! xxx
I’m getting tired too. I think it’s that point in the training. I’m on week 11 now. Back in the summer when I did just short of 17k, I knew I could have done the full HM distance, but decided to be sensible. Now I’m tired after 6 or 7k.
My training is by time rather than distance, and 75% is at very slow pace, so, unlike most others, I’m not getting the super long runs in. This ought to worry me, but I can see the difference the training is making to my fitness.
My race pack from Alzheimer’s Society arrived a few days ago, including a very garish T-shirt. My race number and other stuff from Virgin Sports should be here soon, and I have the route map for the race. They have promised bands playing music all the way round the course, plus stations serving electrolytes and gels, and a car wash type of thing you can run through to cool down. Such shenanigans!
I agree about the font. Don’t like it! It’s a bad choice as it tires the eyes and jars.
Still doing yoga every day, but no swimming now as the outdoor pool has closed. It’s nice to have two rest days with nothing but the yoga and walking the dogs.
Not sure! It's fine for odd bits of walking around, but I haven't done much walking after the disappointment of returned pain after a few days of dog walking. Resting it now while I'm away, in the hope it will be stronger when I'm home 🤞
Muscular Dystrophy people bombarded me with emails AFTER the Oxford Town & Gown 10k I had to withdraw from in May: lots of cheery messages about hooray, you've run 10k for Muscular Dystrophy, and it's ex number of weeks since etc etc. I've even got the t-shirt they sent me before the race
Thank you Abi. Yes, the shirt is purply blue with muddy lime green swirls. I wanted to wear my lonely goat racing back vest or T-shirt so I’m recognisable to other goats, so now I’m debating whether to wear the lonely goat hat instead, but I don’t much like wearing hats unless I have to.
I am booked in for my first half marathon, on 1st March. Exciting times! Seems a long way off, but I know it will come round quickly. I need to work on steadily increasing my distance while staying off the injury couch...
(Probably not the right place to post this, but wanted to put it down somewhere.)
Oh Candice has an awesome podcast too I just discovered called Humans of Ultrarunning. This episode was so good with Terry Abrams: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podca...
Did my final pre HM run yesterday. 5k and it felt "right"
Have my bag packed for departure to Fayetteville/Ft Bragg tomorrow. Will leave there for Lejeune Friday evening, HM starts at 7 next morning, then back to Fayetteville and some party that had been organised.
I am leaving in a few minutes from here to get my "secret weapon" - Fruit Pastilles One pastille each mile not only got me around the Army ten miler last year in fine form, but faster than I ever thought I would. Losing my Pastilles at the start of the St Louis HM earlier this year certainly did not help at all 😒
Anyway, a fifteen mile trip to the only store around here that carries "British Goodies" but so worth it
I got there (UK goodies store) in heavy traffic. Took me for ages. That will teach me to procrastinate lol.
Also - clean forgot it was "Senior Discount Wednesday" so the place crammed with OAPs etc.
Got the Pastilles, two packs. Drooled over the mint Aeros etc but "healthy eating" plus $6 price tag....nope
Checkout lines really really long with Old Dears and Gents.
I'm in the "tennitems or less line.
Not one but the TWO old Gents in front of me have about FORTY items each.
Checker understands, I understand.
First OG literally counts out pennies to settle bill.
Second OG - realised he is in "wrong lane"....and "solves that" by....splitting his purchases into FOUR seperate transactions...and had LOTS of pennies and small change....
Checker understands, I smile painedly but...I understand.
Get to my vehicle. Long line of scary-not good-at-driving-anymore ODs and OGs creeping out of Lot.
FINALLY on road and on way home....
Freight Train coming so barriers down for TWENTY FIVE minutes.
Get home, rush rush rush 'cos now have to pick up friend so we can see "IT Chapter 2" and have prepaid for tickets....
Get to Theatre just in time.
Movie starts, then I hear a small kid "Daddy I'm scared!"
Yes - some absolutely dogcrap "parent" had brought a 7 year old with them.
Yes, I and another guy in the audience would not back down about it when the teenage cinema employee was trying hard not to do anything about it, things settled down after police took over, hopefully kid has someone more suited to care for them. "Dad" charged with causing severe emotional damage to a minor, causing a public disturbance, assault (you don't have to actually physically touch someone to be charged with that - just cause the Usher to nearly wet his pants), failure to obey the lawful order of a Police Officer and a few other things.
By the time he was hauled out of the Lobby, movie well under way. I'm glad I read the book lol.
Home, two am.
Now wide awake an hour before I planned.
This HM I have been so wary of?....compared to last night it'll be a beautifully serene experience after last night's events LOL.
And I still have Airport security to endure....at two seperate airports 😬
Honestly - the run is never going to be as much hassle as all the getting to it 😅😅😅😅
One long run left on my plan (this weekend) and then starting to taper. I’m feeling a bit weary so will be glad to reduce the weekly mileage a bit in the lead up to my HM 🙃
The hills are alive with the sound of ......... Nothing much at all 🤨 My earphones conked on my long run the other day, leaving me listening to nothing but my puffing and panting 🙄
Apart from that my training is going ok. Done some strength stuff at home as well. 🏋️♀️🧘♂️
Got a 5km race at the seaside this weekend I’ve not done a 5k race for Over a year . Looking forward to it as i’m Running with my niece 🏃♀️🏃♀️
I've only run a couple of HM distance runs in the last few months since my last HM race back in May and I have not been following a training plan. However, I've got my mojo back a bit and plan to run a few end of season HM events culminating with a 12th Oct race where I might have a serious stab at getting closer to the 2hr barrier. HM length runs planned each weekend from now on.
I’ve got an 11 miler planned for tomorrow, then just some short runs and club training before my HM on 29th.
My 10 mile run went well, I borrowed a hydration vest and was well equipped with water and gels. I’ve since bought my own, so will give that a try.
I’m seeing improvements in my general running and the positive comments from other run club memebers are really encouraging, especially after Parkrun on Saturday, when I ran a slightly hilly course, faster than a flat seafront one.
I don’t post very often, but I do read many posts on here for ideas, and support - Thank you
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I am under the care of a physio, but it is not looking good in terms of me managing 21k any time soon. Bah. All that training (I got up to 20k comfortably in training) for nothing, I fear. But still, it has been fun, and I have learned some valuable lessons (like I am not built for races or long distances! And, I just love running for fun and fitness.)
