After a year of niggly injuries which have made for a pretty low key year of running, I find myself 4 weeks out from a half marathon with nothing like the level of fitness I’d like!!! I’ve cancelled or deferred several events, but can’t move this one, so am hoping to still give it a go.
With that in mind I set out to do a 13km run on Thursday. We were travelling to the New Forest, so I had to run late in the day (which I dislike), after sitting in the car for a couple of hours (which does nothing for my mobility), with a decidedly unsettled tummy (which made for extremely uncomfortable running), my blisters reappeared (damn, I thought they were gone), I was aware that I was running slowly (frustrating) and jumping from 10k to 13k whilst nursing a recovering injury (not something I’d advise anyone else to do)...let’s say I wasn’t exactly relaxed or positive at the outset of this run!
But the sky was blue, I was in wonderful surroundings and I had a huge chunk of time set aside for myself. What’s more I managed the 13k with relative ease (despite the digestive discomfort) and my leg didn’t complain too much afterwards either!
It would be so easy to focus on the negatives of my run, but it’s the wonderful positive feelings each run generates that has me wanting to get straight back out there again. Every time. There are always positives to be found in a run (maybe not during, or even immediately after … but even after a bad run, very soon, little positives begin to appear).
I find running to be one of the most positive things in my life. How about you? Share your positives! Let’s collectively lift the mood as we head into a new week.
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.
Glad your run worked out, sometimes the worst build up leads to the best runs (and unfortunately vice versa!). Don't want to jinx anything but I've been training pretty consistently and staying injury free - I think working out what's a good weekly max distance is and have been generally sticking to that, reducing a bit if I'm doing intense runs or increasing if I'm doing easier runs. I'm enjoying the Nike Run club HM training plan, seems nicely structured to build up week on week - some quite intense runs this week which will be interesting.
That all sounds very positive! Enjoy those intense runs and feel super good afterwards!!! I did start the NRC plan but am now just dipping into it with a very DIY 4 week HM plan 😀. I look forward to a more rational plan for my next venture.
Just back from my trial run first time using Tailwind. Wow! Ran 17.2k in just under 2hrs with a PB 1:43:59 for 15k and 1:52:04 for 10miles. I’m certainly not going to be running my next HM on half a banana 🤣
Ooh, so lovely! How can you feel anything but positive running there. I'm just ordering a Veloforte mixed box as I can no longer get my 'go to' energy bars. Let's hope we find something we like 👍
You are right to take the positives and the result was very positive! And remember you are cycling as well which takes load off weight bearing but also adds to your physical energy and endurance. So, if you can get away without your leg really upping the anti, I think you are more than ready to take on a half marathon. And you have four more weeks to build on that😍
Fingers crossed! Definitely focusing on the positive helps. I'm hoping cycling or walking after a run will help build some stamina/endurance without the impact issues, as you say 🤞
I had a great run at the Brighton Marathon last weekend, but I did find that I faded a lot in the second half, and a long-time niggle in my right hamstring asserted itself. My legs felt completely fine after a couple of days rest, but when I went for a sea windsurf the other day the hamstring gave me problems.
But these things just make me think about what I can do about them! I have been considering what to do after my last race of the year (Oxford Half, Oct 17th) is over. And I thought: Wow! I have the whole of the winter up ahead of me! I'd like to get into a solid strength routine to work on that hamstring, and I'd love to keep up with my triathlon training. So I looked up triathlon training plans online and hey presto! I found a three month triathlon plan designed specifically to keep the fitness going over over the winter!!! It has just one swim a week, which is perfect because there is a women-only session at the pool every Wednesday which is always lovely and quiet. Great I thought, I can include a couple of strength workouts to the plan each week, that would be perfect.
Also, I've been thinking it would be good to have a late spring Marathon to aim at to work on improving my stamina and speed. I don't want to do Brighton Marathon again for a while, I'd like to try only new stuff next year. I've signed up for the Brighton 10K instead - perfect tune up race!! So I thought, how about the Milton Keynes Marathon on May 1st? Haven't done it before, and I can visit the folks afterwards. I haven't booked it, still thinking about it, but I happened to notice that there's a hotel in the MK Stadium right next to the marathon start, so I've booked a room there 😂
That sounds like a plan! Well done on being so organised 👍😃
My half mara race this weekend is a tune -up race for my late November marathon. I’ve chucked in a tune up 10k race too.
After November marathon I have nothing planned other than running and staying fit. I am looking forward to winter running. We’ve had a good summer of it so cooler weather here we come 🥶😁
Wow that's amazing! At this point in your calendar I'd be eyeing all that freedom post Oct 17th with delight 🤣🤣🤣 But Milton Keynes marathon it is! Go you!!!
If we get out to run - despite nagging doubts and irritations - chances are things will go just fine. I love that you gave yourself a huge chunk of time. It’s great isn’t it. Time to play 😃🏃♀️
I have a race on Sunday and right on cue I get a painful lower back and a very stiff right arm (too much grass raking). So taking it easy. Might jog later.
I remain positive I’m going to race😃💪🏃♀️ Well, I say race. I’ll run 😁
🤣 Unfortunate timing with the raking - get yourself sat on a hot water bottle and relax those knotted back muscles! Good luck at the weekend - racing here you come 👍
The day before Bristol I ended up with painful shins (long boring story about what might have caused this 🙄). They literally throbbed and I was really worried about the next day’s race.
Anyway, even though they were still a bit ouchy in the morning, they didn’t cause me any problems on the day.
I think we become super-sensitive to aches and niggles the closer we get to race day! You’ll be fine MissW!
You’ll ace your HM Linda. Sometimes when the pressure is off, assuming a run isn’t going to go well, we get a nice surprise! 😀
I’m proud as punch with my HM yesterday. It wasn’t fast, but I achieved my goal and ran it all, sometimes slower than a tired snail, but I did it. My legs need more work. Simple. My puff and HR are completely ok, but it’s clear that alone isn’t enough to get a PB on a challenging course. Individually the hills were no great shakes, and I’ve run far hillier routes, but HM distance, coupled with a warmer than expected day, and the sheer number of small and large inclines, did me in, and I was off PB pace by 10k.
So I turned the negatives into positives almost immediately and now I’m champing at the bit for the GSR. 😀
You should be very proud! That sounds like a lot of hard work and you were more than up for the task. Learning from each and every run is another great positive isn't it. You will smash GSR!
I'm still recovering from yesterday's HM exertions, but I fully agree. It's easy to focus on the negatives, but actually the positives almost always outnumber them; starting with just the fact we are able to go out and run. For me, as an after work runner, I'm really just focussing on the fact that, weekends aside, I've only got a few more weeks of running in daylight before I switch back to running under srteetlamps or with my headlamp. It's a different kind of running, but I actually enjoy the peacefulness of those after dark runs in their own way, as much as daytime ones.
In the end, a run is run, whatever time of day, and it always makes me feel so much better in myself regardless.
It's so nice to have that to rely on - that 'I will feel good after a run' feeling.I've never run in the dark or with a head torch. When I've been really pressed for time I've resorted to the treadmill during the short daylight hours; the road and pavement surfaces round us are atrocious, I'm sure it wouldn't end well!!!
My muddy, wet, getting lost in the forest 19.5k trail run today felt a lot better than Friday's 25k horror, so that's a good start. It also means that I've caught up with my backlog of my training plan long runs; in fact I now have fewer runs to do than in the plan.
The absolute best thing today, though, was the fragrance of rain-soaked recently-cut timber, probably pine, in a particular part of the forest. Somehow, as well as the usual clean and woody scent, there were also rich and warm, almost smoky vanilla notes. If only someone could make that into a perfume!
So glad you had a good run today! You're due some positive runs. Mmmmm, rain and flora and fauna are a wonderful combination aren't they - especially when it's still relatively warm as it is now. Here's to more of that!
What a lovely place to run and good on you finding the positives in your run, running always lifts my mood, one day i woke feeling what’s the point and Willow said “well i’m going anyway” knowing that he’s never run on his own and that i’d leap up and go which i did, and came back grinning we had a lovely day. One day after coming late home from work in a foul mood we ran and it was enough to put work away and enjoy the rest of the evening, just 2 positives from us
Well done Linda!sounds like you're on track to enjoy you HM with that attitude! I haven't been on here for ages ! I've not done huge amount of runs this year with annoying plantar fasciitis and tight calves going on. But things are improving. I managed a 11 Mile charity unofficial race thst ends with a dip in the sea and last week braved the "chilled "session of my off Rd run group. The other slower runners that usually go were stuck in traffic so I ended up with mainly a group of speedies eek! But they were good looping back for me so made it round 5.5miles with a setting sun and made it up all the hills so that was my positive experience !!! Xxx
Fabulous. It does feel really good when you finally see some progress after injury doesn't it. PF is a proper pain to clear up isn't it? Thought of you lots the last couple of days as we gazed out at the Needles, clear as day in the sunshine 😊
Sounds like your mind is winning over matter Linda. You have such a great outlook I’m not even surprised👍🏼🙂 There was a podcast I heard once where an elite runner would never speak of problems in a run so as not to give a “voice” to the pain and thereby feed it. Take from that what you will 😀
It’s been very busy and a bit stressful on the personal family front with my elderly parents but things are finally slotting into place (knock on wood) but we still have some big hurdles to get over. My running as always has kept me sane throughout the chaos and I think I am a little better prepared than I was last year for my race. In taper mode now. I’ve learned to almost enjoy hills work in the process too 😁
Elite runners don't whine like me then? 🤣 Running is an absolute godsend when life turns pear shaped, isn't it - I've been sograteful for it's restorative properties on more than one occasion. Enjoy the taper, safe in the knowledge that that hard hill work will stand you in good stead!
Definitely, I used to get so annoyed with hubby when he'd pester me cycling saying "how you doing, you don't look comfortable, what hurts?" I didn't want to say it because then it repeats round the brain and you focus on the pain or fatigue and it feels worse. If you just pretend it's not there you don't have to acknowledge it 🙈🤣
Haha, no he was afraid to even name it! An irrational part of my brain feels the same way sometimes. Yes running in nature has an especially balancing effect. I know this to be true.
Great news on that long run Linda, your HM awaits and you’ll be absolutely tickety boo, I have no doubt.
It’s such a delicious feeling getting back out after a long period of niggles and you’ve had your share ☹️
But you're right about how much running gives us. For me, it’s being outside with all the various sights, sounds, smells and having my own space and thoughts and just being “me”. Every run is different and that’s what makes it exciting. There’s nothing like it 😍
The niggles are still there ... just keeping a little quieter even while I'm extending 🤞. The day I'm niggle free I'll be (carefully) bouncing off the rooftops! I agree with you - nothing beats that time for yourself, filled with the sighs, sounds and smells of nature, different every time! Niggle free is ising on the cake 😊
I missed this, running is almost always an extremely positive experience for me (once I'm out the door!) thankfully!
Did you ever try those anti blister socks? I can't imagine coping with blisters.
I know you'll get through your HM... it's what you do 👍🏻😉 we'll be cheering you on from the sidelines!
I'm in my second week of running every day to reduce my weekly mileage obligations on weekends/ days off... and so far it's working well. The getting up at 4:30 is not always fun but Garmin loves it, it's handing out vo2 points like sweeties and falling over itself to tell me how Productive and Optimal I am. 🤣 My vo2 score is back up to 47 and on its way back to my highest ever of 51. It makes me laugh though 🙄 I really despair of how scientific or realistic it really is 🙈
Reaching my weekly goal last week with only a longest run of 11 miles felt weird though but I'm interested to see how things unfold.
Running itself is always, always a positive injection 💖👍🏻
I'm in awe of your self discipline!!! But nice to see Garmin recognising quality training!Yep, I always run with Rockay socks (and Compeed) but anything over 10k and I still blister in the same spot on both feet. But it's worth it for all that positivity!!!
After my HM distance on Sunday 12th, I eased off a little last week (only 40km instead of 70km in the week).
This week I've gone a bit daft and have done three consecutive days (Mon-Wed) of 10km runs. The really weird thing is that afterwards it didn't feel any different to me to having done 5km or 3km.
I've promised that I'm not going to do another today.
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