How are you? How was your past week? Tell us in the comments 🤩
A little bit of adminy stuff for you:
★ First up, big love to Irishprincess for hosting the Chat so wonderfully last week - thank you so much IP!! xxx
★ Secondly, I hope all of you who may be interested have seen linda9389 's post about the next Half Marathon Group! If not, go here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
⭐ We invite you to share your half marathon progress each week here in the Chat!
I had a lovely, rainy 29 km trail run last Friday. It included a new-to-me route up onto the South Downs - I'm trying out routes to all the bridges across the otherwise-uncrossable A27 bypass, and this new one turned out to be the most direct and scenic so far! I was also after a path that would save me having to climb over any cows (had to abort the previous week's long run), and it ticked that box too 😂🐮
However, as I progressed along one section of this new route I started to feel a bit paranoid... I had checked that it was a public path before setting out, and there were no signs to say otherwise. But, gentle reader, it felt a bit post-apocalyptic! I did not see a soul along this path, and said path was so overgrown with grass that eventually I was wading not running (my feet got completely soaked, but luckily they were fine afterwards). I was almost convinced that I was really not supposed to be there, and I hurried as much as I could to get through to the next section of the route which WAS familiar to me. It was such a relief to get there!!!
But then, as I continued I realised that ALL the paths were overgrown like that, the reason being that we have had such a lot of rain recently! Some paths that I have run along many times were actually unrecognisable. And of course, it being a rainy day, there weren't so many strange soggy folk like me out and about 😂😁
How are things looking where you are? Share some piccies, please!! 😍
My week good. Getting back to slowly upping my distance. Did the medium club route with my friend Melissa on Tuesday which ended up being longer than I anticipated,as we got lost. Did 6.39 miles. Then on Thursday did a nice canal 5.35 miles route with my best friend Paula. 2 solo runs at the weekend brought my weekly mileage up to 20.2 miles.I have my first 10k race since injury on Sunday, so looking forward to that.
I have had a good running month. Got a park run PB 28:16 on Saturday. Ran my first HM today and completed my longest running month of 121.4 miles. My husband has just ordered some Speedgoats so we’re off trail running this Friday if we’re not in lockdown ❤️🏃♀️🏃🏻♂️
I did my first 10k since my cycling accident on Saturday. It was a fairly flat route but my thighs are still aching now! Amazing how much fitness you lose in a couple of weeks, normally I wouldn't even notice it.Paths are overgrown round here too. Nettles and brambles make it painful so I'm sticking to the lanes for now.
I had trouble not snagging my tee shirt on a bramble that had grown out onto the towpath on Saturday whilst doing 15km.
This week's target is 10 miles. Given how I felt at the end of 15km, I know it's doable. I'm working back up to a HM attempt, possibly in three or four weeks time.
I am entered for the Manchester 10k race which was to have been on July 4th. However it's been put back to October 31st. Grrr!
I had a few days off, but on my last run, the path was very overgrown, I got stung a lot by stinging nettles and the dock leaves were huge, I think it's the biggest I've ever seen them. It was like an episode of Jurassic park, I wouldn't have been surprised to see something weird come out of the bushes
Brambles were everywhere - I think the sun rain sun rain continually has made a lot spring up suddenly (my garden being a case in point...).
I'm not sure the photo really shows how big they really are this year
Hi Roseabi and running friends. I’m coming back from injury slowly, and aiming to rerun W5 of C25K this week. I picked up a calf/Achilles tendon injury a few weeks ago. With the help of a couple of running friends on Strava I had a virtual physio session and I’m religiously following the exercise regime via an app they recommended. I’m feeling much more positive now, so I hope that continues🙂🤞
Thanks for the link to Linda9389’s post - I’ve joined the Autumn HM posse!🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Hi Roseabi. We (Mrs BC and I) have both commented on how lush and green the vegetation is here on Scilly. None of the summer scorched look to be seen, even on the high moorland. Super slow 8k(ish) planned for this afternoon; 🤞 everything behaves. I have been road running here; I think it is kinder on my calves than the trails back home. Famous last words I know. My HM is on the second Saturday in September so I need to make progress before slipping seamlessly into a 12 week plan…..hopefully.
Thanks; my 8k this afternoon was no problem. 5,6,7 then 8k in successive runs isn’t in any plan I have read. Must be the underlying strength and fitness carrying me through!! 😂😂😂. Mustn’t push my luck I know.
Well I could do a Brighton and Hove Council Green Party rant here, but I shall refrain. 🙄One local public footpath near me has totally vanished under nettles and brambles in the space of a fortnight.
Edited to add: I checked your route, that’s one of my regular bridges, I can’t do it with the dogs when the sheep are out on the golf course though.
Have you tried the one a bit farther west beyond Foredown Tower?
Yes that was my favourite bridge until last week - I love the Foredown Tower!!
My least favourite is the one I used on Friday to cross back over - near Patcham village. I am bad with heights and the bridge feels really flimsy to me 😂😂😂
Ooh, that's just like my garden when I got back from Canada! I needed my self isolation time to hack a way through! Nettles and brambles are evil when you're whipping though growth like that.Right now I'm happy to say I can see the light for the cancellations!!!
I have finally 'fessed up to my running partner that the September Ultra is too much for me to take on just now (and she has been absolutely lovely about it).
I was going to defer it until next year, but I don't know the date and already have my deferred 100k cycle ride at the end of April next year ... so back to the race organiser ... If I can't defer because of a date clash then I'll transfer to the HM in Sept instead. That would leave me with two HMs, three weeks apart which sounds a whole lot more doable than an Ultra and a half, three weeks apart!
Feeling relieved and making final plan decisions - I may jump on the bandwagon and try the NRC one that seems so popular just now.
She went so far as to say 'Honestly no need to feel bad, without having run the marathon with you I wouldn't have dreamt I could do an ultra, that massively gave me the confidence in my running that I needed for longer distances, so you've played a part regardless 😊' Aren't runners lovely people!!!
Thank you for the mention Roseabi! I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved being part of this most fabulous community 😍
A 29K trail run! Wow! I know what you mean about over growing hedgerows and lanes. Our little country roads are so narrow atm with loppings of cow parsley and long grass, it’s almost impossible to see much further ahead from the car and I make a point of wearing a bright coloured cap if I’m running. But this little scene brightened up my run the other day, all sorts of poppies and Valerian growing in cracks on the village pavement, so beautiful 🙂
The running is going ok but just ok. I’m still getting various niggles around my knees so I’ve made an appointment to see my podiatrist next week so he can check my orthotics. He had to adjust them early this year without seeing me on the treadmill so I’m off for a little assessment. Fingers crossed, that’ll do the trick because HM training starts tomorrow and I need to be niggle-free!
All very lush and nettlesome here too - there are a few sections that definitely require careful navigation in shorts! Funny you mention trying to find all the road crossings on the A27 - I do the same with the M27. I've found 11 (one not open) which I think is all the crossings close to me though I'd not be surprised if there were others I couldn't find. It does make navigation much easier when you know where to cross big obstacles like roads and railways, reminds me of learning the river crossings when I lived in London.
I'm halfway through my running club 5k plan and enjoying pushing myself a bit more each week. It's definitely easier to do speedwork in a group, nothing like a bit of peer pressure or people to try to chase!
Oh, and today is my first runniversary so I've done a bit of a recap post of an amazing year.
We have a route on our Wednesday 10k that I’ll have to add a photo of on…er…Wednesday 😁 It’s been a challenge for a while now, how we get out of it unscathed by the nettles each week I have no idea.I loved seeing your run on Strava roseabi! I’m in awe of you managing to run that far off road and knowing those hills!
I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m not deferring the Compton Verney HM and I am going to brave the hills in three weeks time no matter how hot it is. I don’t know if this is a good decision but if I have to walk I will. Unfortunately my plan was totally scuppered by taking 2.5 weeks to recover from my 2nd jab, so I’m running on instinct now.
So this week will be the longest training week before I start tapering a little. I’ve a big incentive this week as I’m nearly at the 200km Strava challenge badge and I’ve never got it before! I’ll be taking it to the wire but it will be mine 😁!!!
We’re going to do a reccy of the hills on Sunday and try to incorporate some of the route into our long run. Hopefully running them will remove the fear a little 😱
Here we go roseabi. It wasn’t much worse than last week. Got a few nettle stings on my left leg but not too bad. Katnap goes for full length leggings but it’s way too hot for that, I’d rather get stung!
Oh that trail run of yours looked lovely with lots of elevation! I went off on a few side-trails this weekend and needed a machete in a few spots too (pic attached). It was fun except for the dang mosquitoes! 🦟.
I’ve been doing lots of hills and sort of overcooked it a bit last week. Wound up with a sharp muscle strain behind my outer right knee. Applied RICE on Thurs and it seemed to help. An easy run on Fri went well, then got my Phizer booster on Fri night, so I ran my 20k on Sunday rather than Sat, also at easy pace and it was ok on the knee. A bit strained on my right foot towards the end. This morning’s 10 was ok though. Some friends have a friendly 5k planned for Canada Day on Thurs. Not sure if I will join as I may be tempted and overdo it again 🙄🙂.
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Weekly Chat July 12th – 18th: What have you learnt?