Weekly chat 9th to 15th May: on yer bike for a ramble 🫖☕🍰

[linda9389]

Hello lovely running folk! How's your week been - do let us know below

You may need a pot for this ramble, never mind a cup! Maybe some cake too!!! I don't know about you but I've had a busy few weeks, largely on account of deferred events!

Kew Gardens Half marathon was my first spring event - it was wonderful and I would recommend it without reservation (picturesque, good hard surface to run on, surrounded by greenery and water, flat, reasonably small, friendly AND a choice of women or men's fit t-shirts, plus free entry to Kew Gardens for yourself and guests for the entire day!!!).

Beaconsfield 5 (miles) was my next event - right on my doorstep, casual and relaxed, run by a very friendly local run group across private land. This was my second time of running it and it will likely become a regular for me.

Marsworth 10k (or 9.9k if my watch is to be believed!) was a last minute entry - raising money for the church roof, run through fields, along reservoirs and canals in beautiful sunshine with cake at the end. Apart from the hill to the finish line, what's not to like!

These were all running events, and across the varied distances I finally seem to be getting on top of my hydration and nutrition strategy (FWIW, High 5 electrolyte tabs, Veloforte energy bars and Veloforte Amaro soft chews).

In 2019 I picked up a stress fracture meaning I couldn't run for about 5 months😱 ; in desperation I took up cycling to fill the gap. Needing a goal (running has taught me I'm one of those sort of folk!!!), I signed up for a 100k through the night ride raising money for women's cancer charities RTN London 100k. Like everything else it was deferred several times, but I finally got to do it a week ago. It was gruelling! I'd trained for the 100, but not for cycling through the night🙈 . It wasn't sleepiness, cold or depleted batteries that got me, it was fuelling and hydration - I didn't, not properly anyway!!! In part that was because I was so focused on not getting lost in the dark and sticking with other riders, but mostly it was because I had planned to skip the rest stops and eat/drink my own supplies, and whilst I did the first, I forgot the second! By 75k I had to call into the feedstation but by then I felt very, very sick and couldn't easily take anything in. By the end (102k, not 100k!😡) I was so dizzy I had to sit in the car eating and drinking until the world stood still!!! A stupid, stupid mistake, but doing it through the night meant all the usual hunger cues were messed up and I wasn't paying attention. At the end I was like the guys wobbling all over the place to the finish line of a hot marathon (but at least I had my bike to lean on)! Hopefully I will have learned a lesson there. I have signed up for another 100k ride, but this time during the day!!!

So my recommendations - Kew Gardens HM, Veloforte fuelling products and cycling (though not through the night). Cycling is fabulous cross training for running, now is the perfect time of year to enjoy it too - if you have a bike lying around consider dusting it off and going for a spin, you might find you love it too!🚴

Do you have any recommendations for events? or enjoyable cross training activities? I'd love to hear them.

Here's to a glorious week filled with some amazing runs, rides etc. - whatever you are doing, enjoy!

The Marathon Team xxx

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[Katnap Marathon]

And with the extra speed on a bike comes extra cooling 😎👍

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Absolutely - it's perfect 😊

[RunWillie Marathon]

Well done on all your events linda9389

My husband is a cyclist but since rediscovering running & taking up ocean swimming. His beloved Road bike Doris hasn’t been getting much love lately.

I don’t do any cross training 🫢 Just run 6 times a week. I had meant to introduce a weekly Pilates session this year. Matt Fitzgerald wrote in his book 80/20 training that he believes most runners, including those who seldom get injured, should do at least one non impact cardio workout per week when healthy. Need to work on that.

Happy week everyone ❤️🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

Today's run 😎

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Cycling does take up more time, I can see why your husband struggles to fit it in too! It's the lack of impact that makes cycling so good - I haven't taken to any other foem of cross training as much as cycling.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Your cycling heroics always amaze me Linda, and add to that your running and you’re a super hero! 🏃‍♀️🚴💥

I’ve been enjoying my running of late. I’ve taken to going to the gym 2 or 3 times per week and the treadmill is teaching me a thing or two. It won’t let me naturally ease up when I tire, and I’ve had fun doing some NRC interval runs on the treadmill too. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

That, plus the awesome Vitality 10,000 last Monday (VRBs a’plenty), meeting a somewhat lapsed HU member (but active on Strava) for a lovely 5k trot on Wednesday, and some magnificent PR tourism at Fletcher Moss in Manchester on Saturday. Oh, and I entered the Cheddar Gorge 10k in September (last 7.5k is all downhill!) and signed my daughter up to run the Severn Bridge 10k with me in late August.

Happy days. ❤️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

So glad you are enjoying the running again Cheeky. Sounds like you've been busy and will continue to be very busy!!! I'm not even going to ask about the first 2.5k of that Cheddar Gorge event 🙈

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I’m hoping it’s not tooooo bad Linda! They bus you most of the way to the top of the gorge, then apparently it’s a ‘gentle up and down’ to where it drops down. Let’s see! 😂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Ooh, that sounds really nice! Look forward to hearing about that one 😊

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

The first section looks pretty straightforward cheekychipmunks going by this: relishrunningraces.com/ched...

Click on the 2D version. If you view it on a computer you can get more info by putting your mouse on the pretty coloured columns - those figures in metres are for distance, not height btw!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Ooo, that sounds interesting Cmoi .I’ll log on to the desktop today and have an explore! Thanks for the heads up. 🙏🏻😀

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

I am worn out just reading these posts! My every other day run, every day Molly walk and my swimming session are enough for me. On top of my foot rehab stuff, I have got back into the habit of doing band strength exercises and stretches every day for hips knees and every leg muscle I can find. So I suppose I do a bit. A nice steady 7:00 m/k pace 6.5k trot today ….without V02max deduction. 🤸🏻….sorry, got carried away there 😉

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

I hope you weren’t partaking in 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️ BC! You might do yourself a mischief! 😂😂

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

😂 Virtual cartwheels only……I am a bit crazy, but not that far gone…..yet!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

6.5k? Fantastic!!! You've waited so long for it. I wish I could get into strength exercises, but I fail every time! If something is painful I'll stick at it ... but as soon as it feels better I'm done! I know I should, I know I'd benefit ... but it seems I am my own worst enemy.Enjoy those cartwheels BC!!!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Hi Linda. I failed my “stand on one leg steadily” test…. so the hip and knee stuff is needed. I am sure I will find the band stuff hard to keep up once equilibrium is restored! The toe/foot work will have to be daily routines I think.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

The fact that you've run an incident free 6.5k must be great motivation for now at least😊 Keep it up and we all look forward to the triumphant 10k post!

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Our very own Wonder Woman 👍🏻😁💖⚡️💫

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

LOL. Trust me, it was anything but wonderful!!!

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

🤣🤣🤣 it takes a Wonder Woman to do the hard stuff, and you smashed them all 💪🏻👍🏻

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Blimey Linda! I’m a bit gob-smacked at the 100 mile cycle ride 😳 that’s a really, really long way to sit on a saddle 😩 I hope you had a well-padded seat (I was going to say I hope you were well-padded but that didn't sound right 😂)

Really well done to you 👏 and for all the running races too! You are a star ⭐️

I, on the other hand, have done virtually no exercise for nearly two months now. The back was feeling much better and my osteopath said I could start off with a baby run to see how things went. I did a run/walk of about 3K and it felt ok. And so the next time I did a little more and took fewer walk breaks which again felt ok but then I went and ruined it all by doing a bit of gardening on the same day. Nope. Back didn't like that ☹️ So, I’m off to the physio again today 🙄

I wish I could get back to my strength training as I really miss that (it goes without saying that I desperately miss the running) but if I can at least strength train then I’d feel as if I was doing something. When I made a real effort with it for Bristol last year I think it made a big difference to my running body and so I’d like to keep at it when I can.

I can’t cycle either as everything seems to put pressure on the back ☹️ Boo hoo

But it’s great reading about everyone’s races and runs as I just join in and run along with everyone atm 🙂

Have a great week everyone x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Ohh no, you have my sympathy! Hopefully this is just a small tweak that will heal much faster. It's so frustrating isn't it.I have to say my saddle is pretty good normally, but that night I was in significant discomfort. I think I was so focused I barely moved around, and because I was tagging along with others, I never got the chance to just stand and roll while getting circulation back. That pain is a memory I hope will fade 🤣

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Ouch 😫sounds really painful. And you’re doing it again!!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

In daylight it will be easier to 'ride my own ride' - finding myself alone will be jouyous rather than scary - so wriggling, eating and drinking will be the order of my day 😍. I genuinely think it should be a great day out (in my head the sun is going to be shining😎).

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Of course 😎🌞

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Feeling for you IP. My knee problems have flared up and I can't run at all. 😔 Had so hoped to run the local hill race in June. Do you have a regular session with a physio now? I have a face to face appointment on May 20th. I do hope that pain free running can resume soon.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Oh dear ☹️ Sorry to read that. How long have you been “out”?

I’ve seen a few physios in recent weeks but my favourite one wasn’t available until today. I’m going to see her again next week. But she wants me back running asap and she’s given me exercises so I’m happy. I just need to return gradually and hopefully no niggles 🤞

I hope you have a successful visit with your physio on the 20th 🍀

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

This is my second week of not running. So not at all long compared to your 2 months. I am so sorry. Lovely to have a physio who is trying to get you back to running. I did a good few hours of walking at the W/E as I was away with my husband and my knee was really very unhappy. I could hardly bend it at all! It was much better after a night's sleep. When I had my fall and slowly through various scans was informed about what the various problems were as a result of my fall, I completely understood a time for healing. I feel that I reached my peak of post injury running last November and January. I am really perplexed, why has it flared up so now? I did notice that climbing over stiles wasn't so easy at the end of a couple of hilly 12km runs, but I just thought my legs were tired from the run. I had no idea that my knee was losing the ability to bend. I have also swapped from jog run sprint to Nike Running Club speed runs. Various different ones. I realised that something wasn't right if I ran at more than, say 7 out of 10, effort, so I held back. I made the physio appointment months ago) as I wanted help with my Achilles tendon. It has been swollen for a year now I think. I am completing exercises for it and my husband thinks the swelling is less. Happily it doesn't hurt continuously. I hope the physio, not one that I have spoken to before, is happy to help me with my knee.I look forward to hearing some good news from you before too long.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Oh gosh, that sounds really frustrating. And you recovered so well from your last time out too!

A good physio will get to the bottom of it and give you a recovery plan. I’ve got everything crossed for you x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Ohh, that's so frustrating. Great that you have an appointment lined up, although I imagine you are counting the days and they are passing rather slowly! Maybe you'll be allowed to cycle as a non impact strengthening activity 😊 Sending you healing vibes 🥰

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Hi Linda! Thank you for hosting the Chat this week xxx

You are definitely a superhero in my eyes for doing that bike ride!!!! I am inspired to get a few long rides in, and on Sunday I had a go at a short South Downs road ride - and I enjoyed it! I am scared of riding downhill, but I need to conquer my fear if I want to do the Castle to Coast triathlon 😬

Windsurfing is a very good strength workout! I have been out on the sea a couple of times already this year, and it's windy this week... I have also been getting my strength on indoors with the online barre workouts of Suzanne Bowen Fitness. I've been doing this consistently since November last year, and I really feel some good results! I think that barre complements running very well - total body, lots of single-leg stuff, feet and calf strengthening, etc. However I can't really recommend either windsurfing OR SBF, as both are so darn expensive!!! I got a year's subscription to SBF as a Christmas present to myself, on a Black Friday deal, but Suzanne has since put her prices up MASSIVELY!!! So after the year is up I'll have to find an alternative 😥

I recommend the Milton Keynes Marathon Weekend though! It has a big variety of runs and it is so quiet and friendly - scenic too! People who don't know MK never believe me when I say that last bit 😂

My next marathon is on June 26th, and it's a gnarly hilly one, so I'll be seeing a lot of the South Downs over the next few weeks - I've just come back from there actually!

Happy running, everyone xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to roseabi]

I guess paying a lot of money is one way to ensure commitment to strength work! How often/for how long each session have you been doing the barre work? Long rides on a nice day are pure pleasure - although the hills of the South Downs may not always feel pleasurable I guess! I'm a bit cautious downhill too - the state of Bucks roads makes that essential!!!Castle to Coast sounds so romantic ... triathlon less so 🙈

Maybe I should put MK on my to do list, it's not too far away for me ... though I'd be sticking with half not full 😍

Loving the casual ' my next marathon ...' - that's true superhero xxx

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

The barre site has a few 'workout plans' which give you a workout every day, so I have been working my way through those - I do skip a day sometimes, and skipped a few in marathon week! The plans make life really easy, and it's good because I often end up doing sessions I wouldn't necessarily have chosen by myself. A workout is around 30 minutes on average - today I have two short ones which add up to only 15 minutes, quids in 😂

Oof yes, the roads!!! I am thinking about swapping my smooth road tyres for some chunkier ones...

I just realised that during the marathon I didn't see the Concrete Cows! What a fool 😂 I was probably looking at the ground when I passed them, since the paths in MK are not in the best shape either. Still, it's a fab event!

Thank you 😍😍😍 I'm looking forward to it, going to try and get round in under 5 hours 😬😂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Ooh. Good luck, bon courage!!!

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to roseabi]

I thought of you today on my run roseabi

It was a good day for windsurfers & kite surfers not for cyclists or runners here in Western Australia.

Todays run 💨

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to RunWillie]

Must have been a hard run for sure! 😊😊😊

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Wow Linda how amazing are you!? Sorry that you had to learn cycling through the night lessons the hard way. One wonders whether there would be an easy way? What a challenge you set yourself! Many congratulations for all your completed wonderful races.I am rather taken aback that my knee injury (medial meniscus tear, tibia plateau fracture, fibula fracture, very large Baker's cyst, arthritis and cellulitis) has flared up and I can't run at all. 😔 I really didn't expect this as my fall was 1¾years ago, no running for a long time after that. But very, very slow build up and I ran a distance PB of 10 miles last November and a 10km PB on January the first. I am clueless as to what is going on. Face to face physio appointment on May 20th. I had hope to run in our local hilly race on June 20th, but not looking hopeful.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

I read lots that said you didn't need to train for the night element of the ride; whilst true in many regards, it was by far the hardest factor for me. Training in the dark would've been pretty miserable though!!!Gosh, your knee sounds complicated! Not just an average day at the office for the physio next week! I really hope he/she can point you in the right direction and have you running strong and pain-free very, very soon. Let us know how it goes xxx

[Cmoi Marathon]

That's all seriously impressive linda9389 , not least getting through that bike ride, and then signing up for another - amazing stuff!

Since I do nothing by way of cross-training (too lazy, and I don't count dog walks or Renaissance dancing) I guess I really should get my bike out again for the first time in well over a decade, just to see what happens. It'd be nice to get back to a bit of yoga too, but I've been having problems with arthritis in my hands, coupled with tendonitis in my right arm, which complicates matters.

As for my recommending events... wrong country, wrong attitude! 🤣🤣🤣

Happy running, all!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Haha. Yes, I did think of you when I thought of asking for event recommendations 😄 Do have a go on your bike. I hadn't ridden mine for years when I dusted it off in 2019 - it may just prove to be the cross training you weren't looking for!!! Arthritis and tendonitis do sound quite limiting when it comes to yoga - you need some of CBDB's modifications 😊

[Comfortnotspeed Marathon]

You have been so very busy and active! Events sound amazing! Can’t get on with bikes unless the road’s flat and dead straight 😂I’m all admiration for that!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

Lol! I feel much the same about swimming, except I can't get on with it at all 😀

[Frenc Half Marathon]

I love ❤️ the sound of Kew Gardens - I like hard flat surfaces and plants! Sounds perfect 🤩. I took my bike out once in lockdown, once I remembered how to pump the tyres up. I turned round after about 10 mins as I couldn’t hack the first hill I got to! Pathetic really, so anyone who attempts an all nighter long distance on a bike is pretty awesome really. 😊😊😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Ahh, but there were no hills on my night ride 😀. The Kew Gardens team do a 10k as well as the Half Marathon; the 10k being entirely in the grounds of Kew Gardens, and next scheduled for September (I did the 10k a couple of years ago and very much liked it too!)

[Decker Ultramarathon]

I am late to the party as usual, but just wanted to say you are amazing Linda! 100k through the night is such a great accomplishment. Cycling is something I've always enjoyed and keep meaning to take more seriously, but life has had other plans lately. Still want to get a Gravel bike one day and just go.

Like RunWillie I also do no other cross training, though I know I should. With my new work schedule it's getting tricky just to get out on the run days during the week. But the sun is out, the snow is gone and the trails are beckoning, so that is something.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Decker]

Oh for more time! It's tough isn't it. Semi-retirement is definitely making things easier for me - and I can't wait til the end of the year when I finish work completely.Riding takes up more time than running I find, plus it's definitely not a snow activity! I hope you don't have to wait too long for that gravel bike but in the meantime, sunny trails sound great! Enjoy whenever you can 🌞