Back after a little break and first HM done!

[Pancakes86]

I haven't posted on here in a good few months after falling a little bit out of love with running. I went from loving it and getting better to suddenly every run being a total mental and physical battle. I wasn't injured but it just wasn't working for me. Not really sure why.

Then I had a bout of migraines that seemed to take over everything

Anyway, fast forward a few months and the break seemed to help... as did the sudden realisation that I signed up to a half marathon and it was just weeks away! Oh... and a very unexpected email from London Marathon saying I had a ballot place..!

Well, I did it and god it was hard! (Congrats to all other Royal Parks Halfers!) wet feet, wind, all those miles.... but I did it! I cried a lot at the end, whoops.

My legs are slowly recovering and my mental block for running seems to have lifted.

Here's to getting back in those trainers (next week!) and getting my mojo back.

Anyone else had a similar thing?

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Wow well done Pancakes! You’re well and truly back! What a fabulous medal from the Royal Parks. I bet it was an amazing experience and you must be so proud of yourself. 🎉👍👊🏃‍♀️🏅

And you got a place in the London ballot too! Awesome - you’ll certainly have a goal to train for over the winter! 👍👏💪

[Pancakes86 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you! Did you get a place too?

Feels good to be back 💪

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Pancakes86]

No I didn’t get a place, but I think it was a blessing in disguise. I don’t think I’d be ready in time, but I’ll definitely enter for 2021 as I’d love to run it. Looking forward to your journey! Keep us posted won’t you? 😀

[Hidden]

Fantastic - and worth the battle for one of the nicest medals I’ve ever seen!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Now that is a great comeback story! Very happy you got through the rough mental run stage and the migraines too. Congratulations on both your challenging HM and ballot place for London! I've also just issued a shiny new forum HM badge to you Please stay in touch with your training too, we'd love to hear how you progress.

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

A lovely medal Pancakes, and it sounds like a great run. Keep on keeping on and happy marathon training.

[Pancakes86 Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

It is a lovely medal isn't it? Nice to have something wood and different looking.

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon]

Fabulous achievement, especially when you've not been finding running easy. I wish I knew why these blips happen. Sometimes I feel as if I have never run before when I step outside. You did something amazing last Sunday. Well done. And I speak as someone who was there too and knows just how muddy, wet and cold it was for 13.1 miles!

What are your thoughts on that marathon place?

[Pancakes86 Half Marathon in reply to AnnaKarenina]

Thank you! I'm pretty apprehensive about the marathon, but I am excited too. I've watched it as long as I can remember and I always find it so amazing and emotional. I can't really miss this opportunity!

[Pancakes86 Half Marathon]

Thanks to everyone for your lovely messages! Funny running blips do seem quite common but I'm glad I've got back into it...I'm actually looking forward to my next run which is a nice feeling.

I'm just researching marathon training plans now, working out what will work best for me in terms of mileage, number of sessions per week etc. I do prefer apps over print outs (if I had a marathon version of C25K that would be the dream!) so any recommendations would be greatly received.

Shall I share my training journey on here? It's just over 6 months until the big day, so don't want to bore you all to death!

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

I am totally in that space right now but had a great hike with my injured running partner through our trails earlier this week. She's working her way off the IC and I'm hoping to find the passion again. It's a blip that seems to be more common than we realize. I'm glad to hear you're finding your way back.

[Equi-geek 10 Miles in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I’m battling with mojo, still, after a 16 week layup for an injury I know is very likely to happen again - especially when carrying too much extra weight - and now because I’ve not been running I’ve gained more weight, am less fit, have more things demanding my time and energy, and finding the motivation to get out running still lacking. I was distressed by the unexpected demise of my iron-man neighbour, who was so inspirational when I’d see him set off running and cycling in all weathers. He was only a year older than me and fit as a fiddle, but was found to have stage 4 stomach cancer in August. Also, when I try to run at what was even a slow pace 6 months ago it seems ridiculously hard. I’m almost back to where I started C25k. So I think I may have to accept reality and remember how much I embraced the snail doing the C25k app - and trust it will lead me to going further and faster once more. It’s getting out the door that’s important. I’m going to drop the stats, ignore Strava and find the mindfulness instead.

[Pancakes86 Half Marathon in reply to Equi-geek]

Sounds like you have a lot going on, so don’t be too hard on yourself. I seriously considered C25k again, and might still do it. To me it feels like a confidence booster and a reminder that you can actually do it. I say go for it, take your time and enjoy what you can. X

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to Equi-geek]

I’m so sorry to hear of your neighbour - it really does remind us of our own mortality. Your plan of restarting C25k sounds like a great one. I’m starting a 5week 5k training plan on Runkeeper today to try and increase my pace a bit. It is all 3-6k runs with a weekly interval or tempo run. Just what I need to find the joy again.