Hello my lovely friends, virtual and actual. 🥰 I hope you’re all well and avoiding the obvious. 🙄🤞
I haven’t written my own post for a while, so I thought I’d just check in and make my excuses. Simply put, I’ve had a real running slump recently. My first in 3.5 years of taking up this wonderful sport. The reason? The memory of slogging around in the wind and rain and mud like last winter, and realising I’ll need to do it all again. 😩 Ordinarily I’d drive to a more forgiving route, as there are plenty round here, but I haven’t had the time (it’s full on being a grandma!) nor inclination. Flossie needs walking and my beloved common is perfect for both of us, plus it’s less than a mile away.
But the aforementioned wind and rain and mud! 😩😩 I mustn’t complain (I’m complaining! 😅). I do love it - but cut me some slack!!! I’ve been dipping into NRC for some motivational runs, and there are lots. They do help. 🙏🏻
So, that’s why I’ve been a bit awol. Most of my runs have been little cross 5ks! I do have to start my HM plan in readiness for Bath in March, so I need to get a grip. I might capitulate and go into Bristol for the long runs though …… 😅 Meanwhile PR goes on, and I’ve wangled it so that my 25th volunteer role will be on New Year’s Day. Way to jumpstart 2022! 🥰🎉
Soooo, there you have it. Grumpy chipmunk is pulling herself together and getting stuck in properly after Christmas. There, I’ve said it!
I hope you all have a wonderful time and are able to be with your family and friends. 🎄
Meanwhile here’s a photo of my sweet running buddy carrying a prize tennis ball that she proudly found. 🐕 🎾❤️
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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I did wonder where you'd gone! Don't be too harsh on yourself, you're still getting out there and spending time on your feet. Plus it's ok to take it a bit easier sometimes and this is the right time of year to slow down a bit 😊 Sounds like you're enjoying your time with Flossie too 🥰 great plan for New Year's, I'm sure it'll see you into 2022 with renewed HM energy 💪🤗 Wishing you, the lovely Flossie and all your loved ones a wonderful Christmas full of joy, great running and loads of tennis balls 🎄
Ahh thanks Beatles, I know this time of year is hard, but I still have vivid memories of running in the slop last year! But I’m giving myself a good shake and getting on with it after the festivities. Thanks for your support! 🥰
Hi cheekychipmunks I know what you mean about a running slump. I haven’t been getting out there as much as I should recently, but I’m trying to do at least one run with my running club each week, and one more solo run. I need to give myself a bit of a kick up the whatsit to get out there again!My running club are doing a Christmas run on Tuesday evening, so I’ll go along to that 🏃♀️🏃♂️🥳🎄 I’m also hoping to do Parkrun on Christmas Day🤞
My New Year’s Resolution is to run at least 3 times a week, and do some exercise on the other days. I’ve signed up for Red January, just to give me an extra incentive 🙂 I’ll also look for a HM to train for, I think.
Good luck, enjoy your outings with Flossie and have a great Christmas and New Year!🥂🥳🎉
Thanks cheekychipmunks I’m just over 1,100 miles into Route 66 🇺🇸 so nearly half way🙂 With a bit of luck and following wind (that would nice!) I should finish by the end of 2022🥳🎉🥂
You’ll make it David! I was half tempted to join the Trans Europe challenge, but I have just over 800 miles still to go on Route 66 and I think I should finish that one first! 😂
What a lovely photo of Flossie with that tennis ball in her mouth, we all have our down moments, like you I have been running for 3.5 years since I graduated from C25K, just last Tuesday I had a sore leg and could hardly walk, let alone run but managed a slow 5K once my leg was better the following day. Good luck for your training for your next Half Marathon, well done, you won't be running around that common 40 times like you did earlier this year with Flossie for a HM.
May I wish you, your family and of course Flossie a very happy Christmas and a happy running New Year.
It is fully recovered now thanks, I was amazed how quickly I recovered, hardly could walk on Tuesday and managed a 5K the following day in the evening.Last Christmas (not the song) I ran a 8K 40 times around a old football field, I certainly WON'T be doing that this year, but I am thinking of running a 10K on the 10th day of Christmas which is the 3rd January 2022 around a park near to where I live.
It’s not the best fun running zillions of identical laps is it? I think we both learned the hard way (except I came back for more twice before realising that!)
Good luck with your 10k. I’m sure you’ll smash it. 👊
Hey cheeky! I’m not surprised, it’s a right old slog out there atm and you have much nicer things to be bothering your time. It’s a naff time of year this but Tuesday is the best day of the winter - the shortest day!!! Yay! The days start getting longer, then we can go snowdrop spotting and all those lovely things that spring gives us.Get that plan written and we’ll see you on the start line 😀🤗😍
Happy Christmas to you, Mr C, the lovely Flossie and all the cheeky family 🎄🎄🎄
Hi CC, your post sounds a lot like mine 😕. Lovely photo of Flossie 😀 it does look muddy though! Being a busy Grandma is a nice excuse and it sounds like you have a plan to get going on the HM training 👍. I am toying with the idea of another long event in 2022, maybe a 10 mile trail with Squiggy 🤔. I found training and having a plan really good motivation this year. Let’s keep each other motivated 😀🏃🏻♀️🐾👍
Hi SS, that’s one of the trails I need to avoid in the winter as it gets so slippery. I do have a moderately mud free patch, but even that gets spongy and it’s like running on a mattress! 😅
You’re on. Let’s train at the same time and give each other the occasional kick up the ….. to keep us going! 👊
Merry Christmas to you and your family, including the famous Squiggy! ❤️
Aw what a lovely photo. If this is your first slump in over 3 years then I would say that’s pretty good going cheeky! I just have to think to two weeks ago and whether I can bear doing it again! So do not beat yourself up whatsoever. There’s so much going on at the moment both within our lives and what we can’t control, it’s amazing we get out at all. You are doing brilliantly, nay worry! 🎄🎄😊🎄
Ahh thanks Frenc, I know, I know - I’ve been so fortunate with my natural enthusiasm for running and the (*touch every piece of wood possible*) ability to remain injury free. I really shouldn’t complain should I?!
Thanks so much for your support. This forum is incredible, and it’s THE reason I run! 🥰
Hi CheekyI can totally identify with your comments. You are still getting out, walking and running, and maintaining your fitness while enjoying your lovely family.
I am thankful for NRC and Coach Bennet, who makes me laugh with his comments and repartee with the technicians.
Have a wonderful Christmas with your family. I hope Flossie will get lots of treats (I know she will). I'm hoping to build back up to 10 miles in the New Year, so I'll be training alongside you. See you then! Xx
Thanks for the encouragement CSMN. My forum buddies and Coach B are invaluable in situations like this, and it seems like I’m not the only one who’s having one!
You’ll definitely achieve your 2022 10 mile target again, and having virtual training buddies helps - so you’re on! 👊
Oh Cheeky, it definitely isn’t like you to sound down to this extent. The last thing you need is to hear about anyone else’s woes, but I am fed up with 2021 too. To cap it all, I am having to rest with an ankle/foot which is swelling every time I run; it just feels wrong not to be getting out there. So loads of empathy here. You will wake up one morning and it will feel right, and you will be off again. In the meantime, being a Grandma at Christmas has it compensations I am sure. Molly and I will continue to do our daily walk to the cafe where she gets lots of fuss…..and the odd sausage…..and I get my flat white. Doing 5k after 5k can be boring..and throw in bad weather too; nothing an ARB meet up can’t fix I am sure.🙂
Hi BC, yes 2021 hasn’t been the best has it, and this vile weather is the unwanted icing on the cake! Let’s draw a line under it and move onwards and upwards into 2022. 😀
I do hope your foot woes aren’t long lasting. Your superstar physio needs to come to the rescue again. You’re keeping her busy!
Enjoy Christmas, and Flossie send a virtual Dentastic (is that the singular of Dentastix?) to Molly! 🐕🐕
I still have visions (nightmares?) about you doing a HM on your common - you are a mega runner cheeky.
Don’t you worry about not getting out so often at the moment, many of us are the same, having had colds, vax after effects and wet and windy weather. You are also fitting in your choral concerts and being grandma to two little ones. Christmas is coming so I can guess you are in mega organisation mode. I think you can be forgiven for not getting your running shoes on!
Building up your distance in Bristol sounds a great idea for the new year. I just loved that run with you up the portway and under the suspension bridge (or up it according to Garmin).
Wishing you and Mr Cheeky a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. I’m so excited about getting to see my family, including a 15 month old great nephew. 👶
Haha, well I always vowed never to run more than 10k up there Dexy, and I made a whopping great liar of myself by running several 10 milers and ultimately 3 HMs! It’s official though - never again! 😅 The Portway is a much better option for those long runs. 😀
Christmas is going to bonkers this year. All 3 kids, their respective partners and the 2 little grandsons! I’m somewhat organised, but there’s always something left til the last minute. I hope you and UTS have a wonderful time. How exciting - will it be your first time meeting the little great-nephew? 💙
Just a one day trip to them after he was born and then a weekend at ours. Covid has not been good for family get togethers but we will make the most of what we can do.
Morning Munks 🙂 I know for sure that I’ll see you on the start line in Bath so you’ll get the runs done come what may.
You’re an experienced runner and this little slump won’t hurt at all in the big scheme of things. Just think of it as a wee rest before training begins. Your body will thank you for it 😍
I’m sure there are shorter hours in December than any other month. I’m going out today to plant my bulbs that I should have planted months ago. They are now sprouting in their bags 🙄 I seem to be behind in everything atm and am only getting short runs squeezed in.
It’ll all work out.
A very Happy Christmas to you and yours and Flossie and I hope Santa brings you lots of goodies 🎅🎁🎁
Thanks IP, yes I suppose I’ve run for long enough now for it not to be detrimental to my overall fitness - but I will embark on my HM plan after Christmas, all ready for our meet-up in Bath. Now that’s something to look forward to! 😀😀
Hope you got those sprouting bulbs in! They’ll wonder what the delay was!
Have a fantastic sparkly Christmas, and here’s to a happy bling-filled 2022. 🥰
I think you speak for huge numbers of us right now. I haven’t been out since last week’s parkrun - didn’t go yesterday because it was our granddaughter’s 8th birthday and we went to see her in the morning. Sadly her mum postponed her party as her best friend’s mum has tested positive. Wrinklies probably don’t make up for it though!I have my September half marathon and GSR in the diary, which are a long time off, but will at least give me the motivation to keep going. After Christmas it’s back to 3 runs a week and home workouts.
Wishing you, Mr Cheeky, children, grandchildren and, of course, the lovely Flossie a very happy Christmas. Next year has to be better xxx
I suspect you’re right Sandie. This has been the weirdest year and I think we’ll all be glad to see the back of it.
I bet your granddaughter was disappointed about her party (I know the feeling - we had our smaller choir’s concert cancelled at the 11th hour - it was supposed to have been this afternoon and we’re all gutted). Hope yours were a success? I did get to sing in 2 with my other choir though, and it was amazing! 🎶🎄❤️
You’re on. Back to proper running after Christmas! 👊
Hope you and Mr Sandie have a wonderful time, and see you in 2022! 🥰
So disappointing about your concert. Our concert was great. Coming so soon after Boris tightened the rules, we thought a lot of the audience would stay away, but it was absolutely full. Best audience we’ve had since I joined the choir 😃
It was disappointing as we had it all nailed. Fortunately it’s more of a winter repertoire rather than purely Christmas carols like my other choir, so it means we’ll be able to postpone it and hold the concert in January or February (hopefully).
So glad you were able to hold yours. 🎄🎶 We too were surprised at the number of people who turned up on the door. We were expecting to be singing to ourselves! 😅
Thanks Cheeky. I have started gently building up. I hadn’t intended to start so soon, but am feeling very well recovered. I did a few short sections out on tarmac 10 days or so ago almost by accident because I couldn’t resist the temptation when out walking but wearing running kit. Left it a week. Then did a full C25K R1 set on the treadmill as I reckoned that would be the lowest form of impact. Tomorrow will be 5 days after that, so I will try the same on the flat and even trail route around Milton Common tomorrow morning. If that’s ok I will try the same run on the prom sometime over Christmas.
All being well I will then do C25K in the new year, probably starting at the beginning of February as I don’t want to be doing ‘proper’ running until I have had closer to 6 months for the bone to bond into the uncemented prosthesis and uncemented acetebular cup. 6 months is 7th March, so that would be the earliest time I would want to attempt W5 R3.
Whilst I expect my pace to recover a bit from the depths of the 18 months or so before my operation, it will take me a few weeks beyond C25K to build back to 5k. Hope to be able to run parkrun by late May or early June, which should be around the time when I achieve 200 parkruns. At the moment I am enjoying walking parkrun with Oldgirlruns who is also injured.
Hi Cheeky from another of the class of 2018! I think doing too much of the same thing can easily lead to what you've described and your plan, to mix it up as much as you can, is the right one.
Alternatively we might have a big freeze from Jan to March and your slop would be gone!😜 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!
Hi Jonathan! That’s my problem - getting stuck in (and occasionally nearly falling down a) rut! The NRC HM plan is fun and does a great job of focussing the mind, so that’s sure to help - as well as going into Bristol to run the longer distances. 😀
Another way to mix things up is by having VRB meet-ups. Hopefully will be seeing you in 2022!
You too have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year! 🎄🎉
I think a lot of us are feeling the same!! So don't worry you'll be back on it soon enough. I'm looking forward to January and a fresh start to my running too! I've been really slack this year! Your dog looks rightly proud of her ball prize!
Thanks aliboo! Yes, pressing the reset button will work, as will the structure of a shiny new HM plan. 😀 It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one feeling this way at the moment! Flossie doesn’t grumble - there’s always the likelihood of finding a new ball! 🎾
Have the best Christmas and here’s to a fantastic 2022 full of enthusiastic runs! 🎉🎄🥰
Brilliant RW! Your posts are always super upbeat so your comment doesn’t surprise me! 😅👊
I’m normally a very enthusiastic runner and I will be again, but I acknowledge I need to mix things up. My fresh HM plan will sort that out for me, I know! 😀
Thanks for your support, and have a fantastic Christmas! 🎄
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I just couldn't do it!