Crikey, we're almost halfway through the year and the weather has really picked up a notch too it seems! How's your running going, please tell us all about it!!!!!! 😍
At least I'm starting this week better than I ended the last (thank you for all the good wishes they were very much appreciated)! I'm just back in from a short and totally uneventful run (apart from a tech fail!!!), but the achievement came before that - I actually managed to put on my Shock Absorber Ultimate Run bra unaided (trust me, that's an achievement even without one dodgy wrist !!!) 💪🤩
That's the second run of my new training plan ticked off. Are you working hard to follow a training plan just now? Taking it free and easy? Or maybe taking a break for one reason or another? Tell us all about it below.
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.
Have a great week, everyone!!!
BE SAFE, be happy!!!
The Marathon Team xxx
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I was doing well with being consistent with my 50k weekly target & was ready for another HM when the dreaded Covid hit.
It’s 2 weeks today since coming down with it & I’ve only managed three 5ks. I feel like it has knocked out all of my fitness. Maybe, that’s slightly dramatic! I’ll get back to where I was eventually.
I think you're doing very well to have three 5k's under your belt already. It is so frustrating, but being kind to yourself now will pay huge dividends later RW 😘 I want to use your photos for all upcoming weekly chat posts!!!
Great to hear you are back on your training plan Linda!
I am in the early days of a loose plan now. Its been flexible so far 🙂. My mileage was a bit low this week so I got a bit of extra distance in on my long run yesterday. The weather was perfect so it felt good. Cool but sunny. Also stepping up my hydration and salt management which is helping. Have been dealing with some stressful elderly parents issues recently so it was really nice to just run for awhile. Happy running everyone!
That long run will have given you lots of time for much needed headspace I'm sure. Isn't it great when everything comes together after a period of stress. Here's to more of those lovely long runs 😊
First of all, super-extra-kudos to you Linda for carrying on regardless despite your fall - hope your teeth and the rest of you are all sorted out soon!
As for me, it's yet another tale of laziness. Having barely run when I was working very long hours as an examiner for the first couple of weeks in June, I dragged myself out to run five times last week, but only 4-7km each time as I just can't hack the heat.
By heat I mean official amber heatwave warning and temperatures that haven't dropped below 20°C even at night, are in the mid-30s most of the day, and that have hit 43.5° in the afternoon. Thunderstorms are forecast from tomorrow afternoon for most of the rest of the week, so that will provide additional interest.
Roll on being able to enjoy running again rather than feeling it's a slog and a duty.
Tired and hot will always impact our distances cmoi! Be kind to yourself and just enjoy the distance you do cover - pretty sure that's what you would tell anyone else, right? 😊Sounds like you need some therapeutic, gentle meanders rather than beating yourself up!!! Remember Mr Run's post - less distance, same effort!Oh ... my teeth are all fixed in that one visit - quite amazing, I'm over the moon (even if our bank balance is a tad less joyful)
Wow, that's an impressive teeth fix linda9389 , fabulous!
You're right, I'm very much "do as I say, not as I do." Unfortunately Mr Garmin keeps ageing me and this time last year I was training for the trail marathon, so even comparing myself to myself (let alone to others) is pretty depressing right now.
Also, it's recently dawned on me that my shorter runs are not necessarily faster or easier, because the overall average gradient is often steeper than on my longer runs!
Anyway running's off the agenda for tomorrow as I'll be examining all day, emergency replacement for a friend who's unwell. Then my Renaissance group's dancing at the annual Fête de la Musique tomorrow evening and I'm organising our performance too. So much for retirement!
It was described to me as 'composite bonding'; no mention of them needing to be redone regularly, though lots of caution regarding hard or sticky foods 🤣
I doubt I'll run today. 2 hour return drive for 8 hours' examining yesterday, then choir practice followed by 30 minutes of dancing in 33° heat wearing Renaissance peasant costume! See video - NB it's not my group: youtube.com/watch?v=X9za_AM...
Arghhh Linda, I did start typing a reply to your original post, but got sidetracked and then forgot! 🤦♀️ It sounded horrific, but I’m happy your friendly dentist fixed you. 🙏🏻
I’ve had an odd week. Not a great amount of mileage, but some fun intervals, PR and a couple of other short runs - but my mind was preoccupied by my dog this time last week. Many of my VRBs will know of, or even met, Flossie. She was acting out of character late on Sunday evening, possibly we thought down to the fact that she’d been walked by our son and he tends to throw the ball a lot for her. Maybe she’d twisted something? She’s 10 after all, and not as limber as she used to be!
No change Monday morning, but when I walked her it was clear she wasn’t lame, just very lethargic. Her nose was cold and wet, her eyes were bright and her tail was waggy. But everything else was in slow motion. She was eating as normal too. I kept the vet’s number handy and kept observing her, deciding to take her if she was still the same on Tuesday, or sooner if she took a turn for the worse.
Exactly the same Tuesday morning. The vet opened at 9am and I took her in the garden around 8:55am, phone in hand. She then ‘went’ (a normal one) and it was like someone had flicked a switch. She was back to normal and hasn’t looked back nearly a week later. So heaven knows - my guess is that she ate something that made her feel rotten and it passed through. 🤷♀️ The main thing is, she’s fine. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
So sorry, that wasn’t running related at all! But Flossie is an integral part of my running and lots of you will have heard me mention her! ❤️🐕
Glad Flossie's better cheekychipmunks . Jedi did something similar, only his version involved him dragging me down the road at 2.30am on two separate nights. My night vision is terrible and I ended up in the ditch more than once!
Nawh. I followed your posts on strava and was so glad to see she was better. It's really hard when you don't know what's going on isn't it, and as you say they are such an integral part of life. Sounds like your running is both regular and varied, nice work!!! 💪😊
Lots of love from Molly!!❤️ All of our OES have reacted similarly when their systems are not working normally. Suddenly they just bounce back and all is well. 🙂
Aww thanks Molly! 🥰 I suppose it was so unusual for Flossie as she’s the least ‘dustbin’ like Lab ever. She eats like a cat does - goes back to her bowl throughout the day! Our old Labs were in walking stomachs 🤣
This photo came up in my feed yesterday. June 2004.
He was scared to follow me over the canal lock bridge because he could see between the slats. Then he reached the other side and had a serious case of the zoomies with the silly ears and flopping tongue that Labs do (like Flossie above).
And then we had to go back...
In subsequent passes along that part of the canal he made it a point to go across that bridge and come back. Just because!
They're all characters and become a big part of our lives.
The hound I walk reacted to a new running surface by leaping off it, hurting his leg and us having to be rescued. It was a new fishing platform, adjoining the path we were following. He didn’t like the way it felt underfoot so jumped 🙄. He hates squeezer stiles so I just nudge him gently from behind. Great big soft thing 😁.
They have their likes and dislikes and are scared of odd things. He is spooked by the sound of Velcro 🤷♀️ and the scrap man’s tannoy.
My dog hates the beep beep beep at the end of a Mastermind round so much that she runs upstairs the moment the theme tune comes on! She also hates the bleep used to disguise an expletive! Yep, they have their likes and dislikes alright! 😅❤️
Our previous dog used to sing along to the signature tune of The Archers! Never to anything else, and not barking either, definitely a sing-song noise.
Weirdly our present dog used to do exactly the same thing before we gave up on the programme when it went all 'Stenders. He's quite reactive to noise and hates thunder, fireworks, gunshots, clapping, brass bands, amplified music and loudspeaker announcements, which can be a bit of a challenge in summer when there are lots of fêtes and festivals.
Their hearing is so much better than ours so I expect they feel discomfort Fireworks to our ears can sound like bombs going off so it’s no wonder dogs get so upset
Our lab cross was meant to accompany my brother on his country pursuits but she legged it at the first noise test A 2.2 air rifle . Her gun dog career over 😀. She spent the rest of her days in pursuit of leisure 🥰
Definitely misswobble .I react badly to certain types of sound myself so it must be horrible for dogs.
So good that your lab cross ended up pursuing leisure🐕😍. There are lots of hunters round here and while those I know are responsible dog owners, others would abandon any "failed" hunting dog. 😭
Yes I bet! She was put on the Earth to be adored. Kids used to call for her to play out 😁
She used to go ballistic at my mum’s Spanish linguaphone records and jump on the record player 🙄😀. We also were not allowed to dance with our mother. My sis was trying to teach my mum ballroom dancing 😀
I walk a French Bassett hound. He’s with me now. I went straight from physio at the hospital to pick him up 🐕. He’s frightened of most things except huskies 🐕🥰
No big plan for me at the moment. Just keep getting out there and doing something. What I do depends on the time of day, the weather, and how I'm feeling.
I would like to get out really early one day this week and get in a longer run before the day gets warm. The aspiration to do 30km is on hold for the moment.
And then next week, explore around the place we'll be visiting on holiday. (Of course I have planned some running routes. Would you expect otherwise?)
Flexibility is definitely key just now isn't it! I imagine 30k in the warm temps we look to be having would be hard work and maybe not the most enjoyable either. Holiday running is great isn't it? I really enjoy the planning too. Have a wonderful time 😊
Hi Linda, not only is it good news about the teeth but it’s also good news about putting on the bra! Honestly, you really need another pair of hands doing that sometimes 😂
It sounds as if, despite your fall, you’ve started strong on your MM training plan. It’s always so satisfying to tick off the runs. Enjoy it all 🙂
I’m in Ireland at the minute and have had a couple of lovely runs since I’ve been here, including a pain-free 7K! I’m very happy and want to try a 10K later this week. I have an HM at the end of August but I’m not going to follow a plan and instead will work up to 10 miles. I’m pretty confident I can do that and my back will be ok. I’m itching for a lovely long run 🏃♀️
On one of my runs I smelled this delicious fragrance wafting over and when I looked around I saw this wild honeysuckle in the hedge. The roads here are full of it 😍 So lovely.
Ooh, have a lovely time! Looks like you have some fab weather for those runs too. Sounds like it's going really well again - what nicer place to get back to 10k 😊 Lots of time to build up to that half marathon - enjoy!!!
Now I’ve got Covid 🤬 was supposed to fly home today bringing mum over with me so plans are awry. My main priority is to keep my 89 year-old mum safe 🍀🤞
Very pleased to hear you had an uneventful run linda9389 ! Well done. Putting on any sports bra two handed is difficult - I’m impressed you did it with one! Hope the teeth have been seen by now too.
Well, not much to report this end really, just plodding along. I did a half marathon not so long ago, and immediately after I was like yeah! Should do that more often, but then got into a bit of a slump really. It seems to be lifting though which is good, hurrah!
HM distance is pretty hard to keep up on a regular basis - hard on your body but also hard to fit in with the rest of life's demands. I usually drop back to 10ks then build back up again for an autumn HM and a spring one. I usually need that drop back to rest some niggle or another!!! That's not a slump - I tell myself it's good practice 😍 You seem to be great at pushing yourself as far as I can see 😊
Ah yes, good practice - I like the sound of that! And to be honest my legs have been a little bit cross with me lately. I think for the first time in a while they actually seemed to be fairly happy to be along for the ride this morning - I’ll take that. Someone said - maybe it was you - it’s like taking two sulky teenagers on a long car journey sometimes! Or toddlers 🤣.
I think that's what I'm starting doing.. I certainly couldn't do even 10 miles before the cooler autumn weather so ticking along doing a 10k once a week will hopefully keep me fit enough.
That sounds perfect to me. 10k is a great base from which to build to 10 miles or a half, should you choose to. If you don't or n the meantime, keeping those 10k runs varied is probably the key to keeping them fun 😊
I've done two so far this month! (I must admit that it was hard in the heat yesterday morning.) I haven't done anything today. I could have, but my plan was dashed by circumstances.
The first run in week 2 of roseabi’s HM plan tonight. I was quite pleased with 82% of the run in zone 3 or better. It was supposed to be an easy 5k, so 33:38 with average heart rate of 134 was ok given the 41 m ascent. I think that I need to move here! 🙂
Good to hear you’re getting back out there Linda. I feel your pain (literally!) with the Shock Absorber bra. In the winter when my thumbs are flaring up, it is a real battle to hook them up!
Just about to start Week 3 of my marathon plan. So time to start migrating from the Bridge Quest to here methinks… Got 10 minute intervals tomorrow (just over an hour of running), a 7k progression run on Thursday and finally a 10 mile run on Sunday. With a smattering of strength & conditioning in between.
Not going too badly (touch wood!) so far but I promised to run part of a relay (speedy 2 mile sections) on Friday (Run for Beer, can’t really say no 😂) and I’d love to actually run parkrun this week rather than fall over or volunteer. So, it could be a bit of a challenge this week, but I do have a recovery week and a massage next week. Not exactly no running but a bit less and a lot gentler.
Right better go to bed as a decent amount of shut eye has to be on the plan as well!! Nighty night and have fun all 🤗
That's the problem with a plan isn't it - adapting it to fit what you really want to do 😀. But if anyone can thrrow it all in the pot and still hit the finish line ... it's most definitely you 💪. Sleep well and dream big 😊
Thank you Linda 🤗, I think I’m just going to go for it. What’s a little, gentle 5k in between a mad 2 miles and a seriously slow 10 miles on Sunday…. Eyes on the prize…
Thanks Linda. Hope the dentist visit was OK. I've just ordered a book called "More fuel you" which my dietician daughter recommends. It's written by a dietician who is very interested in sport and nutrition.... Ordering is the easy part, making time to read it is the difficulty!
Dentist was amazing. She kept asking if I was OK as she busied away. All I could manage was 'aha' when I really wanted to just shout 'I'm so happy, thankyou!!!'The book sounds realy interesting. I do hope you manage to find the time - do let us know how it goes.
Your teeth look amazing 🤩. Well done that dentist 👏. Tooth extraction for me yesterday due to a broken crown and failed roof canal! Going for an implant instead of another crown! Feeling better this morning, but I did ‘milk it’ yesterday 😂. I’m on week 7 of NRC HM plan but have taken two weeks to do this due to life stuff. Sports bras 🤬. Some of them are designed by the devil so well done you for subduing yours!
Had planned my long run if 16.1k today but will give it another day or two as advised by my dentist.
I do get frustrated when I can’t run but am trying to follow Coach’s advice and view a recovery day as part of my training 🏃♀️. Enjoy your day everyone .
Ouch! That sounds very unpleasant and unlucky. I'm sure taking the extra day or two is really wise ... and Coach Bennett is very, very wise 😀 Heal well and just focus on how great that long run is going to feel on fresh legs 💪
Oh my, what a long wait that has been for physio. I really hope they are worth the wait. Nothing like an impending event to promote super caution ... and I for one recommend super super caution 😄
Pleased to say my diagnosis was right. I pulled my hamstring way back in January which settled into a painful knee. The physio says I have got signs of degenerative change in the knee joint though 😏. I am 64 though so I’m not really surprised.
Not to worry though as the injury has healed sufficiently to start strengthening it in an organised fashion. I can do squats, yoga. Hip bridges with a resistance band around the knees (she’s supplied the band 🤗). Walking and running, and I can build distances as I progress with strengthening. She agreed that trails are going to be better as they work the legs, hips and feet more. Another easy exercise when sitting is to plant both feet on the floor then slide each one in turn back and forth, bending at the knee. She says I must do this constantly if I sit! The knees are therefore constantly moving.
The take away from it is to keep moving! Music to my ears 😃🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
I’ve got to go back at the end of July 🙂
I’m going to go ahead with the September half marathon - the one that includes sand dunes 😀🏃♀️ I’ve already entered a November marathon in anticipation of being fully fit by then (if one can ever be 🙂)
Woohoo. Isn't that exactly what one wants to hear from a physio? Get on with it and here's something that will make it even better! Fantastic news Miss W. And a free band thrown in too 😍
This all sounds very positive. Whoopee for you.I learnt at my physio appointment this week that physios plans can vary a lot. This one thinks my last physios from when I first had my fall gave me hard core exercises, where as this one takes the slow careful approach. At least I had the go ahead to start running again. So W1R1 completed today. For me it is a flare up of my meniscus tear.
Hard to believe that I am nearly 1 ½years back from where I had reached before this meniscus flare up. The completed this run/walk last on January 19th 2021.
Perhaps good is a relative word. After my fall August 2020, unable to walk one step without crutches it took me 5 months to reach W1R1! I had had to have a much slower build up, otherwise my knee swelled up. I remember my first run, I was like a delighted child with favourite Christmas present. I think a fall from a three foot wall causing fractures among other injuries, I expected a slow return - assuming that I could return. This time, I thought that I had built up as I should, 1½ years of more or less pain free running, a distance PB of 10miles in Nov 2021, a 10k PB on Jan 1st this year, so I just was not expecting a flare up of anything to do with my injury. I had hoped to run the local hilly Duffield 5 (miles) which was last week and a first HM for my 66th birthday gift in October. I think that I am still struggling to come to terms with my set back. Sadly if I carry out the wrong movement, a movement that causes twisting in my knee the pain is very bad. Clearly my meniscus tear is not happy.Sorry Linda! Your four words caused much more of a reply than even I was expecting.
So yes good, but ... My sister also began C25k today, so that's good.
Oh, that sounds so tough. I had a meniscus tear fixed with surgery about ten years ago - absolutely the best thing I ever did (running was not in my vocab at that point, but I frequently look back with gratitude to that surgeon!). The memory of that pain on twisting will never leave me I don't think! Sometimes we have to revise our goals, find the 'good', and I do love your description of the first run 😊Wishing you - and your sister - all the best in the coming weeks xxx
I'm sure when I first fell and was recovering it was attempting to bend my knee too deeply and quickly that was the most painful. Always in error, like when lifting my foot to get into the bath. The physio had said don't twist your knee and re-iterated it, what ever you do don't twist. I have not been offered surgery. My tear was described after my MRI as a tear to the medial meniscus, two thirds torn through but unflapped. Can you remember if you were given a description of your tea.
I remember it was flapped!!! Two thirds sounds a lot, I don't remember but I don't thi k mine was that much. Mine was agony if I knelt back on my heels, or tried to tuck.my legs up on the couch or if I twisted. I had my surgery privately through hubbies work health insurance, I was very lucky. I wonder if you could pay for a private consultation and then get NHS treatment? I absolutely don't feel mine any more.
Congrats on your return to running! It’s a huge boost 🏃♀️ Redoing Couch should be good for rehab purposes. It’s measured doses which hopefully is just what the doctor ordered 😀
I really enjoyed the NRC although I feel the intervals were one of the reasons that my meniscus tear problem flared up after 1 ½ years of more or less pain free running. I'll just make my way through C25k for the moment.
Well done Linda sounds like you're improving! 👌I ventured out for 8 miles yesterday with my pal Lucy who is doing 70 miles in 7 days for her 70th birthday this week! He whole coastal path of the Isle of Wight! She's amazing! It was really warm too and even hotter for her today!
Tomorrow eve is my clubs flat 10k race (with medals!) And the winner is whoever nominates their time nearest(no watches allowed!!)
Wish me luck! My calf seems to be behaving at least xxx
Definitely improving, thank you! Sound like your mojo is improving too 💪Lucy does indeed sound absolutely amazing - I hope she hits her target without incident. Excellent that your calf is holding up - go get the bling!!!
Thanks! I did it and tried hard! Weird with no watch! Nominated 1.03.22 which was I thought was a bit ambitious, actually did 1.02.09 so feeling chuffed! 😁
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