Does every achievement lead to another target ... or is that just me!

[linda9389]

Today I ran my second parkrun since the stress fracture layoff 😥. I was a tourist at Upton Court (with JaoJao); a fun but muddy affair and very different to my home parkrun, so remaining upright to the end was my first major achievement of the morning. I’ve been running without looking at my watch since coming back from injury, so until I’d left the funnel I only knew how I felt, not how I’d done: my legs felt fine, my foot felt fine, I did feel a bit nauseous/breathless but not as red, hot, sweaty and disorientated as I used to in the good old days when I was running my heart out (yes, I do now realise what I just said there 🤔). So I was very pleased to see a decent time when I stopped my watch. According to my results email, it was my second fastest parkrun time and only 21s off my PB back in Jan this year; my age-grading was the highest it’s ever been at parkrun and I was 1st in my age category. What’s more, Garmin put my VO2 max back up to 43 after this run which was only in the red zone for 5% of the run😎. All the cycling and chair cardio really must have helped over the four-month layoff 😍

When I got home my Osterley 10k race bib was waiting for me. I’ve only run one 10k event before and came in in one hour and 6 seconds; at the time I thought sub 1 hour for my next one should be a breeze. However, after all the time off this year I’d resigned myself to a slower time at Osterley. But now. Oh dear. I’m not even back to 10k yet and I know my head has decided my secret goal is going to be sub 1 hour. You can imagine all the talk that’s going to be going round in my head for the next four weeks!

😵🙈🙉🙊

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

It's difficult to NOT have a target time (or at least a range) isn't Linda?(however much we say otherwise!) Cracking Parkrun today - all that cycling has definately served you well! Also, sometimes when we take that pressure off ourselves, I think we relax and this can work wonders for our running form! Go with an open mind and enjoy your 10k - you will know what to do on the day...and if you feel good, well who knows? 🤞We will all be cheering you on, whatever the time.🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

You're so right about taking the pressure off bringing results 🙂 All my gremlins used to shout in unison 'you can't do that' and they're still with me, but nowadays there are also a new breed of gremlins shouting 'you can do this better than ever before'. Result: one constant, noisy gremlin battle! Bloomin' gremlins 😡

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Do you have a mantra to 'fight' them with? I have a few stock phrases I use to kick the gremlins away and spur myself on - they do help. E.g. 'One foot in front of the other', 'I can do this', 'I am strong'. It definately works!👍😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Interesting! I have for the negative gremlins, but I haven't worked out how to cope with the over-positive ones yet. I will give that some thought on my bike today 😍

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That all sounds fab! Congratulations and well done on your placing, you must be really chuffed with that 👍💪

When you think about it, it’s amazing that your body did what it did after your long absence from running. Once a runner always a runner and our bodies never forget 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP. I'm amazed that my pace has returned to almost pre-injury level as quickly as it has. Hope for others currently battling with injury! I'm hugely fearful of another stress fracture, although when the adrenaline kicks in it takes over and I just hope for the best (very little impact in all the mud yesterday 🤣)

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

It’s always scary those first few runs after injury, but it sounds as if you’re well recovered considering how you survived the mud!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Go carefully! You’ve had a recent stress fracture.

It’s about a gentle reintroduction back to running. Wags finger ☝️😃

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks Miss W. You are of course right. I'm generally trying to be careful, and yesterday wasn't aware of the pace (with not looking at my watch until after the run). I am 'checking in' with my foot constantly throughout each run (and between runs), and hope I will pull back at the first sign of pain. The only thing I can offer in my defence is that it was pretty soft underfoot yesterday 😉

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Oh, and I'm over a stone lighter too - that must help reduce impact through the foot too 😂🙄

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

That helps too for sure 👍😃. My physio recommended running up hills, as putting less stress on the tib. Slow hill climbs are so toughening 💪 and mid section shredding 😁

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Looks like all is going well 😊 and you have kept your love 💗 and your fabulous ability. Sounds like you adopted a really beneficial exercise routine while your fracture healed. Impressive! 🏃‍♀️😊🌸

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

The love is definitely still there 😍

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Congrts on a great parkrun! Even though you were off running for quite a while, you were anything but sedentary! You did a great job keeping your fitness up and it has paid off in spades. Enjoy your 10k event next month!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks Sask. I did have one month of sedentary self pity but am very glad I got on top of that! Now to get on top of being sensible 😍

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Well done Linda, you have been through the mill and its good to see you running well again. As for goals, most of my best times seem to come when I don't expect it, and conversely I have been disappointed by runs where I expected to put in a better shift.

I have given up on expectation for events - too many variables. I put in my training as best I can and see how I feel on the day. Enjoy the event.

I don't think it will be long before you get your sub one hour 10k, just because you have that determination - which you have shown over the past few months, but like your park run time, it may come when your not expecting it.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

I think you're right there! I'm glad I posted this because it's what I needed to hear. I was getting way too carried away! misswobble reminding me I still need to be careful and a couple of you reminding me that pressure off/no expectations can make for the best of runs in so many ways. So Osterley can be my no pressure practice run for the Winter 10k in Feb and maybe that will be my sub one hour race. That's an altogether more healthy outlook 🙂

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

It can, and it is hard to rein that in at times. I think it's only really a problem though if its close to pushing you too hard. Striving to improve is always fine, too much pressure though isn't 😘

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I hear you! Right now I need to keep my foot sweet and I know I'll hit that target one day, so long as I look after my foot. I also know how noisy and exhausting the mental battle is when temptation is thrown into the mix, but for now I need to calm down and save the push for another day. Hopefully as easy done as said 😍

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Oh that is fantastic Linda. A great parkrun, but more important, your foot is still going strong. I am sure my running benefited from cycling in 2018 too. A 10k At Osterley sounds lovely. Is it in the NT grounds like parkrun?

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Yes it is Dexy. They run parkrun first, then the 10k is after. Some people do both - not me (I'll only just be up to 10k by then, with no contingency for anything to get in the way of the plan to get there!). I saw the beginning part of the course when I was volunteering in June so it will be lovely to see the rest of it, including some gardens that are normally closed to public access (though they probably looked better in June!)

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

Lovely. I wish you and your body well. It looks like you’ve cracked this.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. I think it will be a long time before I trust my foot again. If I can get to and through the HM I have booked in March, maybe then I will start to believe 😍🤞🤞🤞

[JaoJao]

Well done on making your second parkrun and I’m so pleased we got you here at Upton Court to get some great results and stats, very impressive.. PB, age grading and 1st in your age group! I hadn’t seen the table in detail yet so I am Pleased to have caught this update.

All the best for the Osterley race and maybe this is what just happens, we are automatically thinking about te next race the next target the next performance... so consuming! Would we change anything about it... probably not! 🤣

Can’t wait to catch your next updates now you’re back on your feet again ( get it ) 😁

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to JaoJao]

Thanks JaoJao. I did double check the results after posting (to make sure I wasn't the only runner in that category 🤣). I've calmed down a bit now (🙄) and have my 'be sensible and look after my foot' head back on. I think I've convinced myself that Osterley is for enjoying, not for records 👍