Welcome to a new week - it's Monday today in case you were wondering 😄
How's everyone been getting on with your running and other training over the past week? Tell us all about it!!! Are you getting your socially-distanced outside runs in? The pic today is of Madeira Drive in Brighton, which has been closed to cars to allow more space for us to exercise 😊😊😊
If you're new here, or just reading currently, welcome! And this post is a great place to introduce yourself if you're ready to do so ❤️
As some of you will know, I've been having some trouble with my left hip recently. It started niggling early on in my preparation for the Brighton Marathon, and became a proper problem after the Brighton Half. I saw a physio just before the lockdown started (she thought I had irritated the joint somehow), and began doing hip strengthening exercises (these trainingpeaks.com/blog/esse... - highly recommended!). I assumed it was an overuse problem. The hip's much better now, and just this morning I ran the first 10K I have done since February 23rd 😁
But the hip niggles still, on and off. And this thought has suddenly occurred to me: I wear arunning belt so I can carry my phone with me, and for the past several months I've taken to wearing it low on my hips. I notice that my phone in the belt can sometimes rub against the tops of my legs, right where I've been feeling the pain... could the cause of my hip problem really be something as silly as this??? I'd love your thoughts!
Anyway. I'm also still having fun doing lots of short sharp workouts at home and building up the YouTube library over on Strength & Flex, check it out!
Running is going well finally! Out for 5 weeks following a knee injury. Had an online physio appointment and she seemed to think it was an overuse problem too! Went out for my second run yesterday and had no pain and also doing my strengthening exercises!
Oh my 5 weeks? I didn't realise it was so long! Time is clearly still flying! Take it easy and enjoy each run for what you achieved, with no expectations 😊
I've bought a Flipbelt and I've been using it over the last couple of days. It's good quality and I can carry everything I need on my run. It doesn't move about and I've found it very comfortable. I hope that's helpful. Good luck when you do manage to get out there!
It'll be a good outcome if it's something as simple as changing phone holder. I've always used an armband holder and don't find it annoying but I do only have a small phone by current standards (Samsung A3). If you have a super mega whopper up to date phone it could be more of an issue.
Last Friday I did a 10k trail route around my locale. Lovely through the woods. Terrain very dry, hard and rutted with multiple ankle twisting opportunities but I was ok. Need some rain to soften it up.
Yesterday a long bike ride. Today maybe just a short walk!
That would be a great cause of your hip issue roseabi - so simple to rectify. Let’s hope it is! 🤞
Nothing has changed with my running at all. I’m still doing the same basic route, utilising the “plateau” at the top if I’m elongating my runs. I’d like to go slightly more off piste onto the smaller trails, but I run the risk of meeting someone head on, and I simply know it would be me who’d move over into the nettles or brambles, or even down a hole! My shirt must say “it’s fine, I’ll get off this nice path shall I?” judging by how no one else does! 😅😅
I’ve discovered I have a Speedy Gonzalez in the family. My 24 year old son has been working out daily with his weights and has also been doing a 3.3k run route from our house. He’s not a “runner” he says, but he’s discovered he’s quick and has gone from consistently running splits in the range of 6 minutes/km through 5 minutes/km and now he’s in the 4’s! He’s even thinking of extending his runs and joining PR when it starts up. 😀 Another convert in the family. Not all lockdown news is bad! ❤️
Worth a try roseabi. My phone just about fits into the zip pocket on the waist band of my shorts. I am back to 4K post knee issue now. Asthma is slowing me down a bit (dog grooming and/or tree pollen) but I know how to control it. Looking forward to trying to up the pace a bit this week. 🚀
A phrase I would never use - “looking forward to upping my pace”! 😅 I’m stealthily flying under the radar regarding speed challenges. Hope no-one has noticed/gives a hoot! I’m sure that doesn’t surprise you BC! 😅😅
Will have a peak at the spreadsheet 😊. What is at the back of my mind is there must be a Beachcomber shaped sweet spot somewhere between pace and time on long runs. It took me about 2:45 to run my HM. I think that running a bit quicker for a shorter period may be less effort overall. I have improved my 10k Pb and my 12k time was looking better pre knee injury. I want to see if I can spread that on to 10 miles next. Stops me vegetating 🌶 🌽 🍅
Me too, but it’s not compulsory cheekychipmunks. I think at the moment you just need to do what works for you, especially as you don’t have access to a straight flat safe route.
Hi roseabi fortunately all is going well with me. I'm running every day and I'm doing the Speed Challenge too. That's also going very well and I'm pleased with my progress so far. I'm going to take it easy for the rest of the week as I've achieved what I want to achieve for the week in terms of the Challenge, and I don't want pick up an injury! Good luck with your recovery and stay safe.
That is interesting Abi. I would think that is entirely possible. Small stressors can become much larger issues through repetition over the months and years. I am no doc or physio so it boils down to my belief only. 😁I’ve used a flipbelt for 2 years now with no issues. Forget I even have it sometimes. It holds my phone, wallet, keys. I keep water for long runs in a small backpack.
As for runs, I’ve been finding some really beautiful spots and yesterday was no exception, running in a nature preserve west of Toronto. I have an idea brewing for a concept long run over the next number of weeks too.
Hi Abi, glad you are running a bit further. I’d be surprised if it was the waist bag. I wear one and do change the position regularly to ensure my skin doesn’t get sore. But it shouldn’t have an impact on your hip!!
I’m running 3 days and 1/2 hr online gym 4 days with a bit of cardio a couple of short sessions. I’ve only been running 5k. Seen to many negative comments so was feeling a bit guilty. But seen lots of folk out running I’ve never seen before!!
Yesterday should have been London so I ran 2.6miles just as a nod to the real thing. It all felt rather sad. You know when you wonder whether that was your chance and realistically you won’t actually get another...so the negative gremlins have got me!!
Think I might do something longer tomorrow just to prove I still can...unless it rains.or I get a better offer...or.......🥰
It does hit me right in the crease in the front of my hip, which is where I feel the irritation - particularly when I wear it on my indoor bike. I am not completely serious about this, but it does make me a bit suspicious 😊 Anyway I have now tightened the belt so it sits around my waist again. Not the most sexy look, but a bit more comfortable anyway!
You are doing amazing work!!! It's fine to feel sad about the marathon for a while, but your positive attitude to training will soon beat those gremlins ❤️❤️❤️
Hi, do hope the hip resolves itself with the change in position of the flip belt. I ordered one of those from Amazon and chose size M but it is too small. i will have to return it and going to the post office is a nuisance I didnt really want!!
I am following a Hal Higdon 12 week half marathon plan and start week 7 tomorrow with a 7.3 km run. Runs are 3 x a week. Doing ok with it despite being on my own. Not sure of my motivation staying with me to doing 21 km in 6 weeks time on my own. lets hope this lockdown is relaxed by then and I can have a running partner to do it with me.
Did anyone watch the very first London Marathon from 1981 on the TV yesterday afternoon? It was interesting and really nice to watch.
Thank you. I do think of the Group often when I am out. And I do have headphones - I just need to organise in advance that they are charged up. Its silly really when I am very organised in planning my runs but not my music or podcasts! I will make sure I do that tonight ready for tomorrow morning. xx
That’s interesting, it could be the issue. I guess only experimenting running without the belt or phone will provide some evidence. I wear a belt but it sits snugly around my waist and doesn’t move and nothing jars. I couldn’t stand anything poking into me on a run, I’d find it very distracting.
I’m still getting out every other day and built up to 10K again last week so I’m happy. I’ll stick to that distance as a long run for a few weeks and then we’ll see....
I live in the countryside so could do longer distances without meeting many others but not sure I should .... 🤔
Anyway, I’m still doing my exercises at home and doing a virtual Pilates class every week so I’m still tickety boo.
On the gardening front, I’m winning the battle of the weeds in a border 💪
I have re-tightened the belt so it sits on my waist again - I was wearing it lower for aesthetic reasons, so if it were to be the cause of the problem that would be really annoying 🤣🤣🤣
I feel the same way about longer runs, I'm making do with shorter and harder for the moment 😊
Great stuff with the indoor workouts and the gardening!!!
I hope whatever it is, it bogs off soon and leaves you free to carry on where you left off, and get your marathon head back on.
Good running and strength work week for me last week. Good weekend of running too. I did an 11k run and a 6.5 k run this morning. Firing on all cylinders. Coach Bennett was speaking this morning about aspirations in our running. What do we aspire to do as runners? Which got me thinking about ULTRA. My ultra plans have been thwarted at every turn but I'm not put off. Him mentioning aspiration re-ignited my desire to nail my first ultra.
Just the little matter of the marathon to sort out yet..
I'm thinking ultra at the moment too - mainly tackling the 'mental' side of things at the moment with running on shingle, running up and down the stairs, and long rides on the indoor bike. No pain no gain 😂
I wear hydration pack on my back and had to stop a few times yesterday to stretch and rotate my shoulder because it was getting stiff. Anything, no matter how light, that we hang on our body can cause upsets over a period of time, especially if we train hard. I ran 16k on Saturday and then 32k yesterday and although l was fine afterwards my shoulder blades feel a bit stiff today and I'll have to think of some sort of hydration strategy if the shoulder misbehaves. Thanks for the hips exercises video, helpful stuff!
Fingers crossed for your hip. I wear a flipbelt fairly low (it's too big round my waist) but I've never noticed anything rubbing.
I'm carrying on carrying on. Sticking to my 3 days run, 3 days ride and 1 day rest plan structure, but the content isn't what was planned. Running was supposed to be lots of PR tourism and just having fun being free. To be fair I am enjoying the freedom. My rides are shorter than they should be, but I am feeling more comfortable over 65k than I was, so I guess that's progress. I did escape to the river yesterday on my bike - I needed to soothe my soul! It meant using cycle paths which are not so wide; everyone kept as much distance as possible, but I won't do that again for a while now. When I got back to our town I passed a group of people on a corner - I counted 13 of them (adults and children), and couldn't have driven a 2m wide car between any two of them without multiple casualties 🤬
It's actually worst on the indoor bike. I wear it on there just so I can listen to podcasts, but now I've tightened it up again so it fits round my waist it won't bother me anymore.
You're my cycling role-model ❤️I'm signed up for an Olympic distance triathlon in August, and although I expect it will be cancelled I'm still going ahead with training, and cycling at least 40k is the aim! 😊😊😊
Gosh, there are some annoying people about, aren't there!!!???
Just looked up the distances for that. Bike and run - OK; swim - no way! I'm really hoping I can try a low key duathlon this year - that had been one of my goals for this part of training, before Oct HM training starts 😍.
I'm still at the ... 'need to learn how to park the bike in the racks' stage, let alone how to run after a ride. I maybtry my own (short) duathlon course from home one weekend instead of a long ride - would have to go early in case the neighbours feel the nees to report me for more than one exercise session! Second thoughts, it's probably best I wait til the rules are relaxed a bit 😍
Oh it's great fun! I really like multi-sport workouts, I did a birthday swim-run last year 😁
Yeah, my conservative estimate for the triathlon is 4 hours, and that's without having to fetch my bike down from our flat, and then carry it back up again (no way am I leaving that bike outside!), so I reckon it will have to wait til later in the year 😊
Hello Roseabi, I’ve tried wearing my flipbelt around The hips but it always rides up to the waist with the running movement. I always put the phone in front or back so it’s not near my hips, can you try that with yours?
I’m on the final week of current exercises and it’s amazing how much easier they are now. When I first started doing the split squat I was wobbling all over the place, but it is now very smooth where my balance and quads have improved. 🤞intervals next week. It’s now 8 weeks since the injury.
I have tightened the belt back up again so it fits round my waist. It's actually a bit loose, but not too annoying! And of course it's away from my hip joint 😊😊😊
That's brilliant!!! Split squats are really hard. Do you plan to keep up with the exercises once you're better?
They are all on an app, so I can dip in whenever I want to do them. I will certainly do them while in lock down roseabi, as I’m not doing my Pilates classes . I probably need to do some for my other leg now to even things up. I haven’t persuaded UpTheStanley to join in yet though. 🤣🤣
Hi roseabi . Good to hear your hip is on the mend. Well done on your 10km too. The photo you posted here of Madeira Drive is where I run my challenge 1km sprints. 😁 Trouble is that since they closed it it’s got quite popular. I’ll have to change the time I usually go out to a less busy time. How was it when you did your 10k today?
It was lovely! There was hardly anyone about and I was mostly running in the middle of the road 😍 I actually had not expected to find the road closed because the media had said the closure was between 8 and 8, and I was there at about 6.30 am, so it was a nice surprise 👍
I do my sprint on Hove Lawns prom - there's always enough room there 😊
An interesting week which saw the removal of all the trees surrounding our home, they were commercial pine and now we have a wonderful view and sunlight in bucket fulls. Taken to running back on the canal, slightly out of the recommendations on distance from home but within the time limit, so an acceptable compromise in my view and the dogs are enjoying the run once more. Started the Skierg challenge which starts at 1000 meters and then adds 1000 per day up to 15 days, its tough but great for the core and upper body. Thoughts on phone carriage I have one of those running waistcoats which have multi-pockets for soft flask water bottles and other stuff works well and also use cycling tops to run in, all those pockets at the back are handy for your essentials. Take Care Out There.
I wonder if someone can give me advice on bridging from 10K to half marathon. I finished couch25k in December and ran my first 10K last week. Although I’m 63 this year, really feel there’s still something left in the tank.
Thanks for all the support this forum provides. Also how do I get my 10K badge?
For your first half marathon in essence all you need do is increase the distance of your long run week on week. Every three weeks or so cut back the total distance a little to allow for some recovery.
For lots of ideas about HM training plans, check out this post from our recent Spring Half Marathon group:
I hope you solve your hip issue. For shorter and/or non-hot weather runs I use a flip belt. I try to keep it round my hips although it’s got a tendency to ride up. It’s not something that can be tightened as it’s a continuous loop of stretchy fabric with slots plus one zipped section. On longer or hot weather runs I use a Lava belt that holds two water bottles. I do have to keep them similarly full to avoid problems.
Last week wasn’t a particularly good week for mileage. One 4K on trail, one 5.5k on road and a shorter, faster road run. Just grateful to get out and also grateful in some ways when the weather isn’t ideal, because it stops Southsea’s overcrowding problem. Our local authority is also closing off two sections of the seafront road on Friday-Sunday to allow more space and it is making a huge difference. I have only previously run these sections on the road during the Great South Run and am enjoying how much better the surface is than the surface on the promenade.
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Read all about it? 📖 🎽 Weekly chat 27th March – 2nd April 2023
