I wonder how many more times I’ll be running my current route? I do it one run in five or so in normal circumstances, but I’ve been going there every other day since lockdown - at first driving to the common (dodgy road), but since being asked by Mr 👮♂️ not to use my car as it wasn’t an essential trip, I’ve been running there. It’s only 1.5k and it’s a nice warmup for the hill up to the top! 🥵
Are you all sticking to one route too, or do you have different lockdown options? I can elongate mine as much as I like - I’m doing 10k once a week, with 5k or 6k the rest of the time. Gosh we’re lucky it’s no longer wet. I’d come back a mud hippo otherwise. 🦛
I did have dog-gate yesterday though. Not mine, she was at home. ☹️ I was attempting my speed challenge km (yes, me) and I was quite pleased with how it was going. With 0.25k to go, a large dog came haring over to me, barking and bouncing around my feet. I’m a dog person, but if I wasn’t, it would have been scary. The owners were calling it in vain, but I had to slow right down, almost jogging on the spot, whilst telling it to b**ger off. It did eventually and I heard my daft self saying “oh it’s ok, don’t worry”. Why? I was cross! 🤷♀️ Their dog shouldn’t have done that. My fast km was ruined (7:11 - just think, it could have been in the 6’s - not my usual territory at all! 😅)
Anyway, that’s the extent of my lockdown running in a nutshell. I ran back to back days as tomorrow is supposed to be 🌬. No thanks! 😅🏃♀️
Stay self and well lovely VRB’s. ❤️
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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Hehe - cheeky goes fast and the world conspires against you. You got out there cheeky, that’s the main thing. You wouldn’t normally be on the common on a Saturday as it’s parkrun day so I guess there are a few more people with dogs about than when you do it during the week In norMall times, when everyone is working. I have had to come to a stop a few times as a result of dogs but I’d rather do that than risk being bitten like my friend was.
When I was cycling on Lady’s Mile this week I had to ask one lady to call her leadless dog so that I could move on, and I called to a mum as her toddler was wandering on the path while she was on her phone. Luckily I was completely aware of what was going on even if they weren’t
Do submit your time on the speed thread and you’ll certainly beat it next week. 😂🏃♀️⚡️👏 👏🌈
Hi Cheeky, Oh dear, big barking dog - that’s annoying!
We are sticking to the same route, other routes would involve running on roads, some without pavement so not ideal. But it is a lovely route which we run regularly, out and back down an old railway line. We set off early to try and avoid others, and because it is nice and cool! It is possible to extend to 10k too 😊
That sounds like a lovely route SS. 👍 It’s nice to be able to extend easily isn’t it?
Mine is very flexible in that I can include hills, keep it flat, take it onto the gnarly trails or stick to the short grass. I’m very lucky, but all that’s missing is my little pal dog. The road part isn’t safe as she always runs on my left, so towards the middle of the road as I’m running - and it’s not wide enough to be safe. She gets plenty of walks though. ❤️
Sounds like over friendly big young dog behaviour CC. Good recall is a must with a big dog if it is to be allowed off lead with others around. Save your 1k Pb for the next run 😊
Yes I’m sure it was BC. I wasn’t overly concerned as I know dogs - but someone else might have been worried. The owner could do with giving it some lessons though. 🙄
😊 we have had Old English for nearly 20 years now; we are still learning! A big problem is that lots of people find the breed so attractive..... they want make a fuss of them...so the dogs learn this and seek people out. 🤷🏻♂️
I’d be one of those people BC! I love Old English sheepdogs! Yesterday’s might have been a Ridgeback - or whatever the breed is like that with no ridge. Extremely bouncy and the bark wasn’t 100% friendly - but I’m sure it’s because it wasn’t sure what I was - high viz and sunglasses must have been quite disconcerting. 😮
I assume they don’t shed hair at all do they BC? It’s the one and only thing I wish Flossie wouldn’t do! Only twice a year - but ohhhhhhh. 😮😮 Labs seem to have never ending supplies of hair! 😅
She doesn’t shed hair. As you probably know they have a double coat...waterproof top and woolly thermal under layer...just like a runner in winter! Hair does come out in the comb and pin brush when grooming, but she doesn’t shed around the house like a lab does. They do need very regular grooming though, and some are more cooperative than others! Have to get them used to it from day one. A lot of work, so not something everyone would want to take on. Deceptively clever ...just because they often don’t obey immediately is nothing to do with lack of understanding! 😊
Exactly, and great comedians too. Had to defer her walk yesterday. A day of knee rest for me. Feels much better today and the swelling has gone. Off for Molly’s walk soon and then we will see.
Looking at a diagram, there is a bursa around the centre of the problem area, so bursitis may be the problem, which is a quicker fix than other issues. Desperate for a run ...but will leave it a bit longer (a whole 8 days without already !!) . Even then it will only be a gentle couple of K max, assuming I get that far! No pbs for me for a while!! First, I will see how the walk goes.
Well done for resisting trying out your knee before it’s ready. 8 days and counting is a long time, but it’s a small price to pay for the wellbeing of your knee and you’ll soon be back out there being speed demon you’ve become! 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️ Hopefully it’ll be a quicker fix than you’d feared. 🤞
In the meantime, enjoy your walks with Molly. 😍 I’m off with Flossie (oh, and Mr Cheeky!) later, even though she’s currently out with my daughter. She’s loving all this. 🐾 🐕
Wow how annoying, cheeky. Badly behaved dogs off leads. Grr.
My favourite out-of-the-door run is much busier than usual because people who would normally drive the couple of miles to the national trust woodlands are having to make do with local walks instead. So ironically, I'm trying to work out routes where I could drive half a mile and park somewhere quiet and run from there. (Still not covering much distance but building up slowly)
I know, right?!!! 😂 What gets me is the look I get from people who reluctantly make way with a surly look (most people are lovely btw). I feel like saying, I was here first, so nyerr! (Not childish at all)
Actual real one. He was a young guy, really nice, and he was talking to someone else as I drove up. He asked where I’d come from and when he heard it was so close, he asked if I could please walk or run over in future. He was apologetic but explained they were trying to deter people driving out from further afield. Fair enough. 🤷♀️
It's generally slaloming up and down the prom for me, but part of the adjacent road is closed off at weekends and bank holidays to discourage people from driving down there, so it's possible to run pretty straight down the middle. Further along where the road is open, there are parking bays with virtually no cars, offering another alternative route free of family groups, dogs and buggies. And that's true along the whole length in midweek too. But I'm a bit short of mojo to make the most of it - only ran twice this week, though also taking walking/cycling exercise alongside Dexy5 as part of her rehab - obvs I shouldn't do that and run on the same day …...
That sounds nice UTS. I love running on roads where cars should be. The road from my house to the Common is usually too busy to even walk on, and there are only a couple of short bits of pavement - but at the moment I can run in it with very little traffic. 👍
Nice you have the cycling option too. Far too hilly round here! 🚲 🥵
I’ve got 2 routes really, both of which start from home and involve running along narrow country roads, but I only saw 2 cars in 10k this morning so not a problem. Happy Easter to you and all the family xx
Ideal Sandie. 😀 All my other routes involve a drive, but at least I do have the common. I complain about it in the winter as it’s exposed to the elements and very muddy. At the moment it’s perfect. 👍
I'm sticking to the same route for now - up and down the prom, and round the Lagoon. I'm increasing distance a little now, and will be looping my route to stay close to home. I'm going to start adding some short runs along the shingle this week, I reckon it'll help a lot with strength and endurance 😊😊😊
Hi there, cheeky. 😄 Shame about the lolloping barker, but I like the idea you could register that time and then see a massive improvement next week. 👍🎉 I’m stuck at home, so have an immaculate excuse (sorry, reason) for not participating in a speed challenge. I feel sorry for you all, though, as I could be counted on to make everyone else feel like Mo F. 🤣 You’ll just have to show me what can be done! Happy running. 👍🌸🌷🌸
Haha, don’t count on you being the only 🐌 in the pack Granspeed! If I didn’t feel like such a numpty I’d personally choose to run even slower than I do at the moment - I love it!
Still, I do have it in me to travel slightly faster when necessary, but only for a short time and only when REALLY necessary! Never out of choice. 😅😅
The dog yesterday obviously thought I should be running slower too. 🙄😅
I'm extremely fortunate in that the woods and parks around me all link up so even sticking to essentially the same path, I can mix my route up and vary the distance without too much trouble just by adding in extra loops of path. Not sure how I'd cope if all I could do were laps of the local football pitch, so I'm grateful for what I have.
Perfect sTrongFuse. I’m hoping against hope we don’t get restricted further. I do have a garden, but running laps around that would be rather dull, although a source of amusement for the family I suppose! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Hello Munks 🖖 don’t get me started on misbehaving owners (not the dogs) 🙄 although since lockdown I’ve not met one doggie on my runs.
I have a few different routes straight from home and a couple of loops around local villages but my roads are busier than normal with cyclists! I’ve met a few other runners but mostly cyclists. I’m a bit miffed actually as I just want the roads to myself like they usually are!
It’s always the owners isn’t it IP? Clueless or careless. 🙄
I know what you mean about wanting the roads to yourself. I’m getting miffed when a car passes me when I’m running on the road (note, no pavement so it’s the driver who should be miffed!) 😅
I’m lucky in that I prefer trail running and I’ve got plenty of options right outside my front door. However I have one segment I do most days as it’s got some elevation in it, and I was training for mountain marathons - all postponed. I was hoping to travel to some mountains for more practice but that’s not possible now, so I’ll have to make do with what I’ve got around here.
Dog walkers can be a nuisance but I tend to run 1st thing to avoid the worst of them.
Sounds perfect MadDave. Shame about your mountain marathons (kudos just for putting those two words together, let alone planning to run them!) Hopefully your training won’t go to waste.
I like to add a bit of elevation to my runs too. I dislike the run up, but the run down more than makes up for it, which is why I do hills. 😀
That's annoying Cheeky - I'm sure you'll crack 6 next time !
As you know from my post last week, I'm on the IC at present , so my lockdown options have been different for an unexpected reason. I've now had the x-ray and the GP texted me Saturday to let me know I have osteoarthritis in one of the joints in my second toe - hence the lump. Stopping running and walking distances for a week has cleared the associated swelling and tenderness so I'm hoping it won't stop me running for long - will follow up with him next week.🤞
To maintain fitness I've unearthed my bike from the shed after years of disuse and did 23k yesterday and 25k today - very enjoyable apart from the need for more padding!😋
Nice to hear from you. Good job you are a dog person. I like most dogs, but am extremely un keen on many of their humans. I'm scared they'll trip me up and I'll break something.
My thought too Baddie. This particular one was overly exuberant at seeing me, and I’m not 100% sure whether its barks were friendly. I’d have been mortified if my dog had done something like that. The owners didn’t exactly come rushing over to grab it either. 🙄
I’ve seen many dogs and owners on the last number of runs. Most are considerate, with only one or two causing issues for walkers and runners. I’ve been slowly moving my runs north as Toronto has been shutting down parks and trails. The upside has been the discovery of a number of new trails I never knew about before. The downside is that the few local paved paths that are left are getting far too busy. I’d much rather run an extra 10 to get to a quiet spot.
Ahhh Decker, so lockdown is starting to affect you guys too. ☹️ It’s a right pain, although I know exactly why they’re doing it, and I wouldn’t dare break the rules, no way! They’re coining a phrase over here - Covidiot or Covirtuous. I’m definitely the latter. 😇
So great that you’re discovering new trails. You just need to avoid those busy paved paths. Stay safe, and enjoy your new trails. 😀
Morning CC. I’m back to my original 5k. Trying to be good trying to stay local only going out once a day! Dogs on leads as I pavement run and at the moment plenty of chance to run in the roads which are much smoother than the pavement.
According to the London Marathon plan I start to build up again in July. But whilst I know I was up to 16 miles before all this the thought of running further seems almost impossible. My head knows but my gremlin keeps saying well you found 3 miles tough not sure how you’ll ever run further. Amazing the impact the mind has on the body!!
I know what you mean about building back up again CC - in theory I have the Bristol HM at the end of September, so at some point in the next couple of months I’m going to need to up my mileage beyond my lockdown long distance of 10k! Otherwise it’s just 5 or 6k I’m doing at the moment.
We’ll get back there won’t we? 👍
Stay safe, and enjoy your 5ks! 😀
Well, I'm spoiled for choice, I live at the highpoint of the Nantes/Brest canal and running either side in its valley type embrace means via the various trails you can cover any distance in splendid isolation at any time lockdown or not. However, the rules on the lockdown here limit the distance from home and the need to have your attestation and ID on you giving the time and purpose for your being outside of your home has made the situation somewhat bizarre. All this space no people and to use it is to break the rules. So since mid-March, it's been indoor machine-based training. The President is having a chat with us all tonight so hope that maybe we see a relaxing of the rules and once again I can take advantage of this rather special place and go for a RUN.
Oh wow windyrider, that sounds like a wonderful place to run - it must be so frustrating knowing that’s it’s all there and you can’t get to enjoy it in its entirety. Hopefully your restrictions will be lifted at least a little. 🤞
I've moved in with my partner for lockdown duration to save us both being on our own, and luckily his landlord allowed my dog here too! So my main exercise per week has been walkies ,it's a lovely area (new to me really) with 15 min walk to the seafront prom. So been exploring and quite a few route options😊
Yesterday I got to run so planned a 5k route (very out of practice!) Including a hill I've never run up before ,a slog from the seafront!) And made it ok! 7pm start so got to see start of sunset, lovely!
Sorry your speed challenge was scuppered , some loose dogs do seem to love to chase runners (mine is unfortunately the same so always get him clipped on quickly!) Xxx
Ahh that sounds perfect aliboo! 😀 You have the added bonus of being able to explore new routes too. Well done on your hill! Always a good feeling to conquer those isn’t it? 🏃♀️ 💪
I adore dogs and love seeing them running free. Just not when I’m doing something so rare as running fast! 😅
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A little update from me.
10 Mile Run in the Rain 🌧🌧🌧
10 miles accountable post - update 
