How's it all going? Give us the gossip in the comments 😊😊😊
I am coming to the end of my half marathon plan with Garmin Coach Jeff Galloway, which has given me some crazy 800m speed repeats workouts (I'm getting SIXTEEN INTERVALS this week!!!), and some bizarrely long runs (I got 31.5 KM last week!!!). What is Jeff trying to do to me?
Anyway, I don't really mind. I haven't actually got an official half marathon until Oxford in October, but I do have the hilly Grand Tour of Skiddaw ultramarathon in August, so I have been making the most of my long runs up on the South Downs. There aren't many finer things in life I reckon!
It does occur to me, though, that my South Downs runs, lovely as they are, do not come close to the elevation I'll encounter up in the English Lake District. So I've been considering some big hill repeat sessions, and pushing harder uphill. And a few Freddie Mercury poses at the end will obviously be a great help 😁 (why no Freddie emoji??)
Are you wondering how you're going to tackle a project at the moment? Any other ideas for me? Do you love hills? I do!
As always, if you're new here, or just browsing through the community posts, this is a great place to introduce yourself and let us know how you are doing. You’ll find plenty of support and knowledge from your fellow runners here.
Long, steep hills are a pig for sure but they’re there to be climbed. I try and zone out I can’t run them at any speed now though, so am content just to set my gear and go for the steady ascent. If I can gather speed once at the crest I think it’s a good job done 💪👍🏃♀️
I also select my hill running music, which invariably involves Zep 😃🎶🎵. “Valhalla I am comin-ggggggg”. It always makes me titter 😁
I love them! I would have loved to have seen the live. Robert with his tousled curls blowing and his bare chest and flowery shirt 😃. My house rocked to Zep. My brother was crazy about them. Their music and lyrics are great for long runs. I love when the Levee Breaks 😃. Kashmir makes me laugh 😆
Zep, along with the likes of Black Sabbath, we’re jobbing musicians but crikey they were good
Did your in-laws give him free fish bits? Or scraps as they’re called down south 😃
When the Levee Breaks is one of my favourite tracks but I'd almost stop if I tried to synch to that. I've found the odd Rammstein track that works and a cover of Paranoid by Wheezer also. Some Budgie tracks are great to stomp along to (sorry, tread lightly to) but their time signature tends to change in the middle. Tried a few Motorhead ones, but my feet won't move that fast!
That's Budgie as in the hard rock power trio. I tend to use tracks from the Power Supply album (which I ended up buying on CD because its not available on Deezer). The only track that a lot of people know is Breadfan because it was covered by a US outfit called Metallica.
I have been meaning to get back to the downs Roseabi and now you’ve reminded me, I think I’m going to go again this week if the weather allows it. Not doing wind and rain at the moment 😅😂.There’s a beast of a 10 mile run that I’ve done a couple of times from Ditchling Beacon to Lewes and back that had my chin on my knees at a couple of points. I may punish myself with that one again as I’ve avoided hill runs recently and need to up my strength game.
Good luck with your ongoing training with Jeff. I’m sure it will really help as you prepare for your Lake District Ultra. 👍
Wow, those are tricky questions, I will have a think - feel free to remind me!!
Off the top of my head, though, I'd say that slow-ish hilly runs could be the answer to both, although speaking personally (and I'm not unusual) I find hills tough on the backs of my legs - I have to keep strong awareness of glutes, hamstrings, calves, and Achilles tendons, and rein back if needed.
All the best for your new training plan - isn't it lovely to have a new training plan??!? 😍
Hi roseabi and running friends, hope you’re all out there having fun!🏃♂️🏃♀️Sadly I’ve picked up an injury to my left calf/achilles which has put me out of action running-wise since last week. It’s getting better but I’m not running on it until it’s fully better. It’s so frustrating now the better weather seems to be arriving and lockdown is coming towards an end!😡 I might see if I can find a sports physio if the problem persists 🙂👍
I’ve got a motorbike -riding/running/hiking holiday booked in Derbyshire in a couple of weeks so I want to be fit for that.
In the meantime I’ll be reading posts on here and following my running chums on Strava so I won’t feel too left out!😊🤞
Thanks Cheekychipmunks, I think it was probably running-induced but never mind. I’ll just be very careful when I restart I think. I probably need to stretch more before and after my runs too. Schoolboy error on my part!
Thanks OldGirlRuns, it might well be because I didn’t stretch properly after I ran. I had a bit of a niggle before I started so maybe I should have walked a bit!
Oh no David, so sorry to hear that. Rest is definitely required! Is it the Soleus muscle (lower calf)? If so, I can send you some exercises that my physio gave me when I suffered from an over enthusiastic parkrun in my post graduation days.
Ey up! 👋 If you take your motor bike to Matlock Bath to hang out with the bikers on the main drag (If it’s allowed that is), you’ll not be far from the running shop, Runforest 🙂. It’s above Greggs, in Crown Square in Matlock town centre.
Take great care on the notorious Thirteen Bends near Bakewell !
The Tissington and Monsal trails are fab for running/walking/cycling.
Thanks misswobble, that’s great! Expect to see some posts on here about my adventures. The leg’s feeling a bit better so it should be ready to run again by the time I’m on holiday!🙂🤞
Yes let’s hope so. I hope you get some good weather. Mind you bad weather deters many day trippers The runners and walkers will still be there though 🙂
Just keep a weather eye out if you’re walking in the bleaker parts. Know how to get back to civilisation if the weather closes in or if it drops dark I got caught out by sudden dark descending when on a high ridge heading for the car park No torch 🙈. A Walker coming towards us out of the gathering gloom said he heard our stumbling about and swearing ☺️
I could have done with that tip last month as my running club were doing an elevation challenge. I managed a previously-unheard-of 2800m which was at the lower end of the top 10 so quite chuffed with that. I did sort of enjoy it though had to be careful to watch my knees going down - did a few sessions of running up and walking down the biggest local hill which feels a bit mad! Some amazing views along the way were a lovely reward for the tough climbs. And judging where I ache post-runs at the moment, all these hills really forced me to develop and use my glutes! This month we're doing a monopoly challenge involving lots of selfies outside pubs and other local landmarks - definitely keeps me heading out the door.
Other than that, I have another virtual half marathon in a fortnight's time, and have signed up for my first proper race (local HM in November). After that, I might switch to spending a bit of time focussing on speed rather than distance. We have done some faster sessions at club and I do enjoy a bit of faster running, particularly in a group. They are building up to mile and 5k challenges so hopefully it will all work well together. My heart is more in the long, steady, exploring-new-trails type of run, but obviously I can keep enjoying those too even if I'm not working on increasing distance any further at the moment.
Love Freddie! He was my favourite. I still belt out Queen’s Greatest Hits in the car now. 🎶 I love the added elevation idea! Might need to give it a go. 😂 As for hills, I love them at my pace. I have an awesome first gear which will take me up most. Snails are sprinting past, but I get there. 🐌 💥
All of a sudden I’m in excited upcoming race mode. I’m joining Dexy5 , UpTheStanley and Oldgirlruns at Kempton Park this coming Saturday for the Reunion 5k (hmmm driving over 5 hours round trip for a 5k seems bonkers doesn’t it?) But that’s me! 😂
Then I’m volunteering at Eastville Junior PR on the 23rd, and on June 13th there’s the Runthrough Cheltenham Racecourse 10k to look forward to with Sandie1961 , TailChaser , Katnap and Shake-and-run ! That’s 2 x bling for my collection right there! 🏅🏅🏅
Good luck CC for that Reunion 5K run at Kempton Park, I have just received an e-mail inviting me to take part, however, as it's just over 400 miles or a 7-hour car journey, one way, I am unable to go, I wish you all, the Southsea Crew and of course you a good time at Kempton Park.
Does it work if you do the Freddy pose repeatedly up and down the hill? 😅 I’ve been doing weekly hill repeats for the last 5 or 6 week, now switching to a speed block, but the hill work seems to have helped, so I may try to include both sessions next week. Not sure if they are mutually exclusive trainings. I’m learning to almost enjoy the hill that gave me so much stress in the past. Also trying to strike a balance that does not result in injury. As for plans, I have a plan I sort of like, starting late May, but that could change too. Or I may customize it a bit. Happy running all!
The plan has a 31.5K run for a HM?!!! And 16 intervals!!Blimey, remind me never to do that plan 🙀 Is the idea that the HM will feel easy peasey after that lot? Mind you, I’m sure a HM feels easy to you anyway Roseabi compared to some other runs you do 💪
I saw Freddie at Wembley in 1986 and even then I knew I was watching something historic. His voice was amazing, the atmosphere was electric and when he hit those high notes, my mouth literally fell open 😲 He certainly knew how to put on a show. An absolutely amazing experience.
My running is going well. I got another 11 mile run done in Ireland, I’m back now and will go for 11-12.5 miles this week. I’m just deciding which day 🤔
Most of my runs have hills and no matter how I plan things I usually end up with a ruddy hill at the end 🙄 But I really need to get back to the 1:4 gradient hill we used at running club, it was a 🤬 but great training.
I saw Queen at Wembley in 1986 too. Amazing! What was not so amazing was getting lost on the North Circular before driving all the way back to Cumbria after it. Oh the joy of youth!
Using your skill and judgement, please choose the appropriate answer(s) to complete this well known phrase: "The hills are alive with the sound of ... "
A - Music (I'm attempting to sing while running)
B - Cursing (I've been pushing the hydration pack mouthpiece thingy the wrong way)
C - Cheery greetings to lots of animals and occasional humans (I'm sure all appreciate it)
That was me during my supposedly 12 mile (19.33k) long run yesterday. Thanks to my inability to find the paths back, it ended up 5k longer, and elevation gain came in at 667m.
My plan told me to do a 40-minute hilly run today, but work and curfew made that impossible. Hoping to catch up tomorrow!
Wow! I’m so in awe of your ultra running abilities. Think I could manage a half marathon only presently with all my other life commitments! I’m certainly not tempted to be doing Jeff’s HM plan by the sound of it.
I’m in the process of my first 100 mile month questing over on the bridge with the Kats. I did my longest run week of 40k and can still walk so that’s a bonus 🤣
I think my specific time goal makes for harder workouts, but I know that Jeff tends to include longer runs because of the run-walk-run aspect. Not that I'm really doing that myself 😂
Wowsers, I love those colours! Happy new shoes!!! xxx
Those colours are quite something. Think I had a track suit in a similar shade as a child in the eighties. Don’t know why we can’t have the same colour options as the blokes get. Oh well. I best run fast so I don’t blind anyone passing me 🤣
I confess I usually avoid hills at all costs but we have a close by parkrun route at Queen Elizabeth Country Park , also South Downs. It is one of the steepest in the country and as we are going to have a Parkrun meet up there one day 🤞, I did give it a try with UpTheStanley last month - walk/run definitely needed there. For me anyway.
So I have pledged to do a bit of hill work twice a month. Last week it was a route up and down the inclines around Southsea Castle. Ooh my glutes, ooh my knees the day after. This was probably made worse by the fact I had finally got around to doing some strengthening exercises the day before! I will keep trying though. I am in awe of you hill runners. Skiddaw? Greatest Respect .
I’m anxiously awaiting Portsmouth City Council to grant permission for return of our parkrun. Our next nearest one is approved but would be totally overwhelmed if Southsea runners turned up on the first day.
I’m very excited about the reunion 5k this Saturday. How lovely to be able to run in a normal race, and be a part of helping to bring back mass participation events. Looking forward to meeting up with cheeky too. It’s been too long.
Omg roseabi. That training plan would be too much for me😳my inexperienced legs and brain could only follow the more gentle coach Greg variant on Garmin.
Seem to be picking up niggley injuries atm since my one and only HM.
Sore outer ankle, loss of a toenail 😡etc. So have had an easy couple of weeks with a couple of 5ks.
Need to get back on my A-game tho.
5 weeks till the Sunderland HM.
I am aiming for 3 runs per week with a long Sunday run and taper off the week before.
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