How’s your running going, VRBs? Do tell us all about it in the comments. We don’t mind whether you’re entering your most demanding race ever, embarking upon a new plan, or simply pootling about. It’s all good!
Thoughts too for all of you whose running isn’t all that you’d like it to be at the moment, whether that’s due to illness, injury, or life throwing you curveballs. Here's to things getting better for you very soon!
As many of you know, I’m making a slow (in every sense of the word) return to running after a fortnight off due to a slightly messy face-plant during a run two years to the day since completing C25K. Luckily I'd chosen to make it a tech-free run, so not only did my Garmin not get smashed into my wrist, but I also avoided having a favourite running song spoiled by negative memories. Result!
On that happy note, I'll leave you with a little ditty created as part of a safety campaign in Australia: I'm tempted to write a running version... Also, it's a bit of an earworm, so you might just find yourself inadvertently singing along.
Good morning from sunny warm SW France. As always when we come here full of good intentions, I’m not doing as much running or cycling as I should, and this week we have family visiting so likely to do even less. There are 5 under 5 years old so it is quite lively. Thankfully some of them are in the house over the road where there is a pool, so it is possible to grab a quiet coffee some of the time. My daughter in law is a speedy runner so I’m hoping to introduce her to our lovely local social running group tomorrow when we meet for our Tuesday run. I’m sure she will enjoy it, but for me it means just another person for me to chase after. Happy running everyone xx
After my first HM distance run yesterday I wondered how my body would react. Lactate built up an ache in my calves over the final 3 km, so when I got home I put on some calf compression socks. Running fatigue was gone in a couple of hours, and that was that. Colour me surprised!
Slept for 9 hours overnight, and this morning I feel mentally tired, as though I had done long stints of motorway driving yesterday, but physically fine. I guess much of running really is in the mind.
The watch suggested I do a 28 minute recovery run today. Having slept in, it was already hot and sunny, but 4.2 km @ 125 bpm HR was very comfy.
That Youtube song is a classic - not seen it before! And yes, smash yourself up by all means, but whatever you do keep your Garmin safe! ⌚😂
Congratulations on the HM FP! Great achievement 👏 I was amazed at how well calf compression sleeves worked when I was having issues - legs up the wall was also great for alleviating the most immediate post run calf ache 😊
Thank you Linda. It was the first time I'd experienced that sensation on a run, and the first time I tried wearing those socks that I'd bought ages ago thinking they'd come in useful some time. 😀
Thanks for the tip - I'll try that next time it happens! 👍
I’m still not running after my wipe out! It will be two weeks on Wednesday 😭 My new Garmin is arriving this week, I’ve got new runners to try out & 942km to run before the end of year so best get back out there soon.
I was so inspired after watching our Aussies in the Commonwealth games marathon on Saturday. I’m not sure if anyone saw the Race. Here is a great quote from Liam Adams.
One for the weekend warriors and tradies! 🔌⚡
🇦🇺 He was a heartbreaking seven seconds off a medal in the marathon … but Aussie athlete Liam Adams ran a season best 2:13:23 and says he's proud of his effort to finish fourth at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. 💚💛
"It's tough but I'll take that. I'm pretty proud of that run. Those guys are professionals, I'm amateur. I'm working 40 hour weeks, they're not. They're probably running 40 hour weeks … I'm a sparky," Adams said. 🔌⚡
"I've been doing soldering recently. It's pretty labouring on the body. I'm not doing double runs like those guys, I'm getting out there after work. Sometimes I just have to go have a nap and then I'm going for a run after work and still out at 10 o'clock at night, eating dinner late. It's a pretty shocking cycle that I've got."
"Hopefully all the weekend warriors, anyone working 9-5 who's battling with the work-running type of lifestyle, hopefully they can look at that and find some inspiration. If I can do it, then they can do it too."
How awesome is that! Plus the trio of super mum’s running for Australia with a gold medal & time of 2:27:31 for Jess Stenson.
I think that defining what success looks like for ourselves is really important RW. I am fed up of a cycle of build up pace, pick up an injury, stop running to recover then back on the hamster wheel. I am enjoying 6.45/7.00 per k long runs and watching my average heart rate decrease over comparative routes. Trying to stay injury free and keeping on running is good enough for this 70 year old!
I think that my pace will drop off on the longer runs RW! Being retired, so that fitting in three runs per week is easy, helps. Maybe I am a professional runner now 😂😂😂
I so sympathise with post-wipeout frustration RunWillie . It took me two weeks before I could run again at all and it was an extremely slow 3k. Finally got back to 10k yesterday, still very slow.
I fell just over a month ago and suspect it'll be another fortnight or more before my right leg starts working properly. I'm taking at least one rest day between run days in an attempt to make sure I don't strain it any more.
I LOVE that little ditty! It’s so funny but also there’s a serious message. I think “Dumb Ways to Get Injured” might be a possible alternative too ☹️ So many ways 🤣
I’m delighted to read about your return Cmoi. At any time here there are always runners returning from absence and it’s interesting to read how people get on. Keep us updated.
As you know, I’ve been having a slow return myself and realise that my fitness is still not where it was. But, every run counts and we’re getting there 🙂 I did have a lovely run yesterday so I’m posting about it later.
haha, that really made me laugh!!! Can I add to it, 'dumb ways to fall, don't try and run with the fast boys, it'll end in tears or hands and knees full of gravel! 🤣
Thanks Hedgehogs123 ! If only your version were true though - I have never, ever fallen when running attempting a faster pace, only when running fairly slowly on trails I know well.
Bon Jour Cmoi. I hope your recovery proceeds apace!
That tune is quite catchy! Our daughter used to sing the quirky “ Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen”; another entertaining Aussie creation.
I hesitate to say it, but my running is doing OK at the moment. Since I started running with a pal I seem to be doing lots of 8ks, with every third run being longer, and we use different routes with varying elevation gains. So I did two 8ks (one a hill run) and an 11k last week, all with a view to reaching 10 miles again before the GSR. 27k plus per week seems like a lot for a veteran, but I am keeping the pace down and the much maligned VO2 max is behaving itself too. Maybe I have finally balanced age, pace and a bit of common sense! I did clatter a rock with my right foot this morning…I didn’t see it because it was in shadow….it feels ok now but 🤞The joys of trail running!
It was the bottom of my foot rather than toes CC. I will take Molly out for a walk when she comes back from the groomers and try a few stretches after that. Feels fine.
Lovely to hear such positive news from you Beachcomber66 , hope it stays that way. Though please stop beating up rocks, I hear they're vengeful little things!
I’m very risk averse in running, and in life in general really. Plus it’s rare that I go fast enough for anything I do to cause an issue! 😂
At PR this weekend I was as close to being risky as I’ve ever been, and that was sprinting (my version of) hell for leather down the slip road ahead of the finish, stride for stride with another equally as batty lady! We were in hoots and going like the clappers (again, all relative!), but I got a fit of sensible as we rounded the narrow corner of the funnel, complete with chunky cones. ‘What if we tangle legs and face plant?’ 😳 So I eased up a tad to let her finish one second ahead of me! We were in fits of laughter and high fives when we’d finished. 😀
Apart from that crazy bonkers behaviour (steady on Cheeky!) all my runs are totally under my control, and some might say sedate! 🐌 Not dumb in my book, but brilliant fun! ❤️
The most frustrating thing about my wipe out was that I was going really slowly. I totally should have stacked it the week that I did Margaret River park run 🤣
Oh that’s no fun RW! At least you need it to be an all out heroic effort! 😅 When we used to ski in the States, I used to love the term ‘yard sale’ for someone who’d take a tumble and their skis and poles would go flying! 😅
Exactly! I'm still exasperated with myself for my fall. One stupid decision plus a momentary lapse in concentration has messed up my running for weeks, and I'd barely run 1k when I fell! I hope you don't have any long-term consequences from wiping out.
You conjure up such a wonderful picture of that parkrun finish cheekychipmunks !
I've only ever fallen while running at a fairly slow pace on easy routes that I know well. I don't think of them as risky, so I concentrate less than I would on a steep or technical trail, or if I were running faster.
It’s good to see you returning to running again Cmoi. I know you will be fully back in business very soon. I enjoyed that little song! In some ways I can relate as I lean to the dumb decisions often 🙂. As for running I am still plodding along, getting lost in the woods. No real news apart from some nice recent solo runs. I took a few pics here of the local flora. The weather has cooled a little too, but I still find it hot on the long ones. Went through 3 salt tabs and 3 flasks of water on Saturday and still felt exhausted. Gremlins have started buzzing with my race elevation prep feeling a bit sub par at the moment. But there is still some time to make it work if I shorten my taper by a week. Or I could also just leave it to fate. 🙂Still undecided. Enjoy your runweek everyone.
OK! I feel I need to know how you stumbled across that video Cmoi??? I'm still trotting along to my metric marathon plan. Over the moon that I ran 19k yesterday- still with no blisters (for me that is just amazing, the stuff of dreams) and although I feel my thigh niggle could reappear at any moment, for the minute that is clear too. Oh happy days 🥰.
Glad your MM plan is still going well and congratulations on that 19k linda9389 ! Blame my brother for the song - he emigrated to Australia decades ago and told me about Dumb ways to die when it first came out back in 2012.
That make me laugh which I really needed. Having a pretty tough time at the moment, both mentally and physically which of course is affecting my running. Covid is still having an effect on my breathing, and its about 7 weeks now and then last week I had a particularly nasty fall (which sounds like you very much know all about that!) when out with the community running group. Was picking out the gravel from my hands and knees 3 days later! Determined to get back to where I was, but at the moment everything feels so a struggle. Although I picked my self up and continued running (we were 3km into a 10km run) , I think its knocked my confidence a bit. Have to say though at the time I was more concerned about damaging my phone and my garmin, luckily they were completely unharmed unlike me!!
Sorry to hear that things aren't great for you Hedgehogs123 . Do be kind to yourself. It's taking me much longer to get back after falling than I'd hoped, and you've had Covid to cope with as well. Hope your injuries are healing well!
And a bonjour to you too Cmoi ! I’m pleased you are recovering after your horrible fall. Having a song scarred for life would be terribly sad, so I’m happy that didn’t happen. Songs are very important!
Well, just pootling this end really, although I felt a bit like the character who set fire their hair in the clip this morning, it was another very muggy run. And Strava thanked me again by telling me it was harder than my usual effort! As though I hadn’t already worked that out for myself 🤣.
Anyway, I need to up my game a bit, I’ve been stagnating somewhat. Usually this means I need to seek out some different routes, so I guess that’s what I’ll try to do. I have my eye on one but it’s miles away, so would actually need to get to it first!
Merci Frenc ! I really would've been upset to ruin a sublime piece of music, so I went for the scar myself for life optioninstead! Jury's still out as to whether I succeeded or not.
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Weekly Chat May 30th to 6th June