Weekly chat: March 2nd – 8th 😎🏃‍♀‍🏃‍♂‍

[linda9389]

Hmmm, I’ve had a rollercoaster week. From the possibility of another stress fracture to a very unexpected PB at my home parkrun this weekend! Quite a week.

I’m struggling with motivation for my cycling so on Friday I posted a Facebook ‘pity plea’ for my fundraising ride: in return for just one donation I promised to cycle 40k this weekend whatever the weather! My ‘friends’ responded with £100 in donations so it had to be done! Do your friends encourage you when you’re struggling with motivation or do you need to look elsewhere?

Hope your week has been calmer than mine, let us know how you're doing below.

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.

Don't forget, if you have an event coming up in March (or any changes to one you've mentioned before) let us know in the sticky post! 👇👇👇

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

The April event post is also now open: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Happy running everyone!

The Marathon team xx

[Joster Half Marathon]

Hello! well done on the PB, that's brilliant. I've been hit by the lurgy, I did manage 4 miles yesterday but it was supposed to be my last long-ish run before HM next Sunday. Although the 4 miles went ok, and I didn't feel too wiped, I think if I'd pushed it, it might have tipped me over the edge only meaning a slower recovery. Had a shocking night's sleep, feverish and everything so feeling lousy today for sure, not running related for once! Anyway, I suspect I will feel fine in a couple of days and now it's just countdown to approximately 11.45am or soon after on Sunday when I really hope to be over that finish line!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Joster]

Ahh no! That's lousy timing. At least you should be resting anyway a week out from your race, so take that as a positive and take good care of yourself. All the very best for Sunday 👍

[Joster Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks. Yes, enforced rest, with maybe a light jog Weds or Thurs, just to keep focus on the task in hand! Mental as much as physical for me at this point.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Joster]

I took a while week off last week, then ran a PB on Saturday. It might just have been that week's rest that made the PB possible - don't underestimate the power of fresh legs. Remember that if your mind starts making house-room for negative gremlins 😍

[Tbae Metric Marathon]

Love it Linda and go you.

Fortunately we don’t have to look much further than the magic forum.❤️

Out on the road it’s not there.🙈

🏃‍♀️⭐️👏🤔❤️💪💥

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Tbae]

I agree, most of my motivation comes from right here, and there's more than enough to go round 😊

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Your post started me thinking as recent as yesterday.No drama.

On my last k/m home, 3 youths coming towards me line a breast,where is this old guy going to go🤔,unfortunately have experience of this, only answer straight through whoever.

Got passed that, last half k/m,large HGV towing lorry with no trailer, pulled alongside on the other side of the road, Hey I heard, 🙈, just ignored the rude idiot, he stopped the next guy up front, I also nearly ran right through him.🙈🤣.Assume the lorry driver missed his turn to the lorry park.So much for sat nav.

Sorry for the rant,does not really bother me, just the way it is.

🏃‍♀️🤔🤣🤣💪

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Tbae]

There's some strange folk about! Bet they aren't terribly happy tho! Well done for ignoring 🙂

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done on your new Parkrun PB Linda👍 - that week ended up better than expected didn't it?! 💪 😀

My 12k run last weekend seemed to aggravate my ITB/knee. I am thinking that all the slippy, slidy, sticky mud I have been running through probably hasn't helped too much and I also have a pair of boots for work that I plan to ditch for a while🤞

I have also treated myself to a new pair of Hokas!I love the Hoka Challengers 💕and run in them nearly all the time but have now added the Hoka Gaviotas to my collection. This is a more supportive model and I'm hoping they might help. I love the meta-rocker sole of a Hoka so don't really want to change to a different brand at the moment.

Went out for a 5K in them yesterday - my ITB/knee felt ok (although it doesn't bother me all the time anyway). Time will tell if this is a good move!🤞

Other than that, all well here - happy running everyone and I hope that anyone on the injury couch is back out there soon.🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

I certainly couldn't have predicted my week would end that well when I wrote last week's weekly chat post 😍

How annoying to get niggles again (although encouraging as it is feeling OK again for now) - it could so easily be a one-off twist in the mud though couldn't it. Let's hope so. I sent my Gaviotas back (despite loving the orange and purple colourway) because they just didn't feel as comfy as the Cliftons. Not sure if I was too hasty, as I've always had support shoes before - as you say, time will tell.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Well done on your PB Linda! It sounds as if your foot is ok 🙂

I had an up/down week with my aches and pains and went to a physio who at least confirmed that it’s not an injury (whoop whoop) but the aches are probably from wearing my old shoes 🙄 I can’t believe I made such a rookie error 🙄

But she thought I’d be ok for Bath which is great news (I could have hugged her) although I’ve done only 5K since and I still have aches and a sore foot now which I’ve never had before. I’m trying not to think about the time left as atm I doubt I’d be able to run 13 miles without pain. But I’m quietly optimistic because I can at least run and I can only do what I can do on the day.

I went to the gym twice last week and once to Reformer Pilates so all is good with the cross training stuff.

The physio suggested I run 10K before Race Day but I’m not sure yet if I want to do that at this stage. We’ll see.....

Have a good week everyone and healing wishes to those on the IC/sickness couch 🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

That sounds like good news from the physio. I know what you mean about not being sure how far to run - I don't want to blow it at this stage either. Do keep your foot moving though - it's amazing how quickly the little muscles, tendons, etc. in your foot seize up - maybe some foot exercises if you prefer not to run? I know I won't be able to run 13.1 miles without pain - from blisters if nothing else! But, as one of the guys on the finish funnel at our parkrun is frequently heard to shout 'pain is only temporary' 😍. Sending healing vibes your way 🤞

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yes, I have a very tight ankle from a couple of sprains which tightens up the calves most of the time so I do lots of stretching and rolling these areas and am constantly moving my feet although this pain is in a completely different part than usual 🙄 I got a sports massage last week too which worked wonders and I have another one booked next week. Out tomorrow to see how it all feels....🏃‍♀️🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Good luck tomorrow 🤞

This is my favourite all round foot and ankle routine. I did it daily for many weeks after my stress fracture - it works so many little muscles etc. and stretches everything out beautifully. You do need 20 minutes a day though! youtu.be/vz2ZELsr0dQ(Not working as expected?)

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Ooh thanks I’ll take a look 👍

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I did these this morning before going out for my test run, Gosh, amazing really! My foot felt immediately looser so I’m going to do these every day now. Thanks Linda 👍 Great video.

I already do lots of balancing work so I love these exercises with the ball. The only bit I couldn’t do was the last one with the toe separators as I don’t have those but I’m going to get some because although I sit every night with my fingers separating the toes, at least with proper separators I can walk around in them 🙂

I did 5K and all felt great. I still have a few titchy niggles but I can live with those as I think everything is still settling down. I’m not sure what length of runs to do now - maybe just stick to 4/6K’s. I don’t want to push it and am trying to save everything for Race Day 🏃‍♀️🙂

But at least at this stage, all things being equal, I feel I can turn up at the start line and give it my best shot 💪👍🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

I like that routine a lot - you even get some cheeky bum work picking the ball up! I bought cheap toe separators from amazon for about £5 but they take longer to get on than her blinged ones🤣.

Great news that the 5k was ok. Sounds like you'll be able to do more than just turn up 👍💪I'm planning a longish run tomorrow. Somewhere between 10 and 16k cos I missed my long run at the weekend. After that 6k is probably the longest I'll do.

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

I saw my physio this morning too. My foot is much better but she has given me some more intensive exercises to do, has suggested I really need to improve my balance (can’t stand on one leg with my eyes closed for love nor money😂) and has recommended I try a 10k before my HM as I haven’t done more than 5k in the last 2 weeks. She was also telling me about the Dukeries Trail Race she did last Sunday - knee deep water, ankle deep mud, but apparently brilliant fun!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Your physio sounds a hoot! As Caroline Jordan says, the breeze really picks up when you close your eyes 🤣, galeforce wind in my case and it always blows me over 😍. Really glad to hear it's so much better. Not long now 👍

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

That’s good news that your foot is much better. Although not sure that wading through mud would be a good idea yet 😩

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

No, I think I’ll stick to roads for now!

[misswobble Marathon]

I’m not running but keeping moving. I can walk ok 🙂.

Have a good week peeps 👍💪😃🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Calf still troubling you? Does it feel improved at all?

[misswobble Marathon]

Nah, it’s not right yet. I think it will be ok with simply not running I think it was doing too much, trying to catch up with my plan that caused it. Plus, Nike upped the pace last week. I should follow my own advice ☺️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

It's just so much easier to give the advice 🤪. We'll keep everything crossed for you.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I did a 12 minute jog with Coach Bennett this morning. Very slowly. I walked afterwards and all seems ok. I’ve got a schlepp home later too.

I am eating loads at the moment. Seems injuries make me hungry 😁

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Oooh, that's really good news Miss W. You'll be able to keep Oldfloss on her toes after all, and get to the cafe before the cake runs out 😍

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

The cafe is back along the route 😁🍰

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

☹️

[misswobble Marathon]

Thank you Linda 👍

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Still on the IC. Missed the Brighton half and my foot is taking a while to heal. Not surprising really as its downright impossible to properly rest a foot.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Ahh, tell me about that🙄. Really disappointing to have to miss your HM, but of course there will be more and the next one should be all the more enjoyable for the wait. Do you know what you've done to your foot and how long healing might take? Heartfelt sympathy from me.

[Whatsapp Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you Linda, I woke up with a painful foot one morning. I put it down to overuse injury. It's better but still twinge, so not healed enough to run on.

I could see the GPS, but in previous experience I will just be told to rest it and come back if its not better in a few weeks.

I was planning on taking a month off after the HM anyway as I try to do that once a year anyway, to rest my body. I didn't do it last year however, and this may be my payback.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Very frustrating! Sending speedy healing vibes your way - I'd send patience too but it sounds like you've got more of that than I do!!!

[Whatsapp Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you. I had planned a short break from running anyway; so at the moment its not affecting me and, beside missing the HM, actually came at a pretty good time.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Oh eck 🙄☹️ What rotten luck 🤨

Yes it must be difficult 😕. We just have to be patient and let nature takes its course. Proper annoying though

I hope it won’t be much longer 🤞

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles]

A week tomorrow, it'll be the anniversary of me starting Couch to 5k. I'm currently about 22k shy of clocking up 1,000k since I started this. All things being equal, I probably have 4 runs left before my anniversary, so getting through that 1,000k mark before then is my target. Theoretically, I 'could' do it all in one run, but I think I'll spread it out...

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to sTrongFuse]

Wow, what a fantastic achievement! Bet you had no idea this is where you'd be one year on when you first stepped off the couch 😍

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

I'll be honest here and say no. I had no real aim other than to get myself up to the 5k mark. Everything beyond that has been an unexpected bonus.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to sTrongFuse]

Yeah spread it out Let us know when you do it 😃👍

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to misswobble]

Actually, I miscounted. My 12.5k that I did this afternoon took me past the 1,000k landmark.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to sTrongFuse]

🤣🤣🤣

👏👏👏

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

The moral being don't try to do complex arithmetic while running, even when Strava is doing the actual number crunching for you...

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to sTrongFuse]

Funny! My head tries doing all sorts of maths with average pace and time and so on when I'm racing. When I ran this morning I was wondering if I could be brave enough to take all the pace info off my main screen - just have distance and time; I reckon I'd have a much more peaceful run (either that or I'd be totally freaked out!)

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

I only work with distance and time on mine. I kind of work on the basis that my pace is whatever it ends up being and I let it go at that. I've tried sticking to a certain pace and it just throws me off so I've just learned to let my legs drag me around at whatever speed they seem to be in the mood for running at.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to sTrongFuse]

That might just have made the decision for me! I added current and average pace after my first race when my head was doing all sorts of maths! But I now tend to make a pace band for each HM based on target time at each mile marker, so I think overall distance and time on the watch might be enough now. I usually have a starting pace, a main pace and a finishing pace in mind when I make up the pace band - but as you say, they are only a suggested means to an end - all my legs know how to do is speed up or slow down, they don't get numbers at all 🤣

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

I have a "too fast" warning set on my watch, but it generally triggers at the start of an event when I get swept along with the crowd. It does occasionally buzz when I'm on a downhill section recovering from a climb, but I tend to ignore those as I soon fall back into my steady pace. It's really only there to stop me going off too fast at the start which I believe is a common mistake when running in groups if, like me, most of your running is done as a solo activity.

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Not a great week for me😕Had My 1st ever running fall over a pavement 10 days ago, not major but still got scabby knees and elbow 😕 my fault for saying 3 says earlier that id never fallen. Rested up til Saturday then did parkrun followed in afternoon by a charity fundraiser muddy 5km. Started feeling coldy Sunday and have had proper lurgy all week now. I never get colds in general so fed up!

Still other events (losing work colleague sadly last weekend😕) keep reminding me that i am lucky in general to be healthy and should count my blessings 💗 chin up and keep things in perspective is my aim xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Ahh, bless. Sounds like you're having a rotten time at the moment. Hopefully there's some sunshine waiting for you just around the corner.Heal well, feel better soon and take care 🙂