Vineyard grapes never look that appealing. They never beg you to pick them and enjoy their nectar, yet (for most at least) the end product is very appealing.
Running can be a little like that, especially as we move into darker, wetter days. Not very appealing but the end product is always worth it. After all we only regret those runs we don't bother to do.
I'm feeling a little stagnant in my running, and a little tired but then I'm still doing a fair amount so maybe that's to be expected... π€ I'm very conscious that I didn't manage my running goals; sorry, let me rephrase that. I didn't manage my long runs that I wanted to this summer but they are still simmering on the back burner. I did achieve and smash my swimming goals (keep it up and exceed a mile) so all is certainly not lost and I'm still on target for annual mileage and keeping on top of weekly goals.
How are you doing as we head into the last of our UK summer season? What are you managing or hoping for by the year end?
Whatever it is I hope you're smiling in every mile and enjoying the fruits of your labour π
From The Marathon Team xxx
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π₯³ If you have an event in SeptemberΒ then let us know here and weβll send you a pom pom cheer beforehand:
π If youβve run one of these distancesΒ - 10 miles, Half Marathon, Metric Marathon (26.2K), Marathon, Ultra (50K and beyond) then you can claim your well earned badge by heading here:
Week 12 of my HM plan. Did 10miles this morning which I havenβt run since Covid. It was a gorgeous sunny morning & I managed to burn my neck running along the ocean for 2 hours. Should be back up to 30 miles this week. Β Iβm hoping that I can keep running my weekly mileage consistently for the rest of the year so I can make my annual goal. Iβm hoping to run 2022km this year.
I would have headed off to the other beach to see if I could spot the shark, but I wouldnβt put one foot in the water on either beach; if the shark found one beach side restaurant closed why wouldnβt it just swim up to the next one, like we would? π
Theyβre always around. I stay in the shallows. Memories of watching Jaws as a kid has put me off ocean swimming. Our boys donβt seem that worried & I send their Dad in with them. Summer is coming so I try not to think about it too much as we live at the beach π³
I guess you work out the odds and assess the risk if you live by the ocean. Our daughter did some of her research in bear country in Alaska; black and grizzly. She was on the receiving end of numerous bluff charges, but she knew what to do (donβt run!) and they never laid a paw on her. Number of bear fatalities a year out thereβ¦maybe one or so. Number of murders β¦β¦we are the most dangerous animals on the planetβ¦.I still wouldnβt go in that water though!π¬
I was scared to venture out in the sea near Yarmouth last year as a huge seal was watching me. Theyβre big, fast, have huge teeth I just stayed bobbing about in the shallows with my eyes firmly trained on it π.
we had a seal join us one morning on a group swim... I placed another swimmer between it and I and called her my seal bait π€£π€£π€£ I did some reading later and they really are unlikely to be a negative encounter but if you get nervous use your arm like a flipper to slap the water and shout, that's go away in seal apparently!
I thought it might be a sea lion as it was flamin huge Theyβre carnivorous arenβt they π¦π€·ββοΈ Mind you my husband was with me and heβs twice my size, so I felt safer than him π
Hi JoJo. I am still plodding along in my build up to the GSR on16 October. I did a slightly less slow 10k today. When I got back into running in May, after 6 months blighted by injury, I managed a 1:11 10k. Today was 1:07. I have been working on running form. Todayβs extra pace came purely from increased spm; my .95m stride length didnβt move a cm. 158 spm is the best I have ever done. With the higher leg lift and circular motion I probably looked as though I was riding an invisible monocycle β¦..but there was no-one around to seeβ¦and it was effective.
A slow 10 miles next time I run (Thursday) and I should be more or less ready; a month too early of course, but that is better than being behind the programme. Only a light sprinkling of post run rain today! It was so warm that it didnβt matter. I think the novelty of being able to run again hasnβt worn off yet. I am mixing the runs up with hills, distance, different routes, different surfaces and miraculously they all seem to finish at my cafe.
The truth is that, at the moment, I just absolutely need to runβ¦so no complaints from me.π
That's great, yes, being ready early not such a bad thing and so long as you're getting what you need from it, that is absolutely the main thing.
A higher cadence can make such a difference, well done on your faster 10k! ππ» be a little careful if you've changed the way your legs lift as that can impact your hips, it should just be an increase in turnover really but it does have a massive effect!
Good point re hips. Hips, knees and ankles are all one unit really, which you will know. Mess about with one and there are always likely to be knock on effects. I have done a lot of hip and ankle strengthening as part of my rehab, the main tangible output being my ability to stand on one leg (either of them) for much longer than previously. My right leg was ridiculously wobbly, which was part hip and part tendon in my foot (which in turn was causing over pronation). Physio has worked her magic.π
Yes, it's a great opportunity to see how our bodies really work and watch the benefits! Balance is incredibly important as we age so in some ways the rehab has done you some favours! ππ»
Iβm sitting here comtemplating my run in the rain. Itβs miserable, wet and grey. My late lunch is being digested, shall I get the dinner on or go run?π€ I had my hair cut this morning ready for Sundayβs race. If I go out now itβll ruin me βdoβ π§βπ¦³ππ
Iβm headed to the seaside for my race on Sunday. making a weekend of it ππββοΈπ Hopefully the weather will be kind ππ€
Have a great weekend everyone - running or otherwise ππ
I went out ππββοΈπ¦π«π¦πβοΈπ§’. Only 40 min run so no worries. I ran to the park to see the floral tributes on the bandstand for Her Majesty ππππΊπ·πΈπΌπ».
It rained heavily on the return leg. I wore a waterproof but theyβre so flamin hot π₯΅. I couldnβt take the darned thing off as I wore a flashing armband over the sleeve as it was so wet and gloomy I had to put up with cooking like a trussed turkey βΊοΈ I was ravenous by the time I got home to my homemade chilli πΆπ₯
No, I didnβt regret it. A runβs a run. Good or bad itβs getting out, moving, calories burned, limbs flexing, lungs and heart pumping. All good stuff π
Hi JoJo! Your swimming is epic, Iβm useless. Doggie paddle and a lukewarm breast stroke is all I can manage!
I must admit Iβm looking forward to autumn running. Not so much the darkening mornings, theyβre a pain, but I canβt wait for crisp temperatures and rain (within reason!) Iβve been hiding in the gym, but it kept me running when it was hot.
My mileage has been just about ok, but my consistency has been pretty good except this last week when I had a back twinge. Itβs better now and Iβm looking forward to 2 weekends in a row of 10k races. Then the GSR in about 5 weeks. What the heck did I do before I ran? Oh yes, got sodden, frozen and trodden on by horses. Love them but β¦β¦.. π
Lots to look forward to and lots achieved! ππ»π
I'm not even a proper swimmer! I do heads up breaststroke, bit of side and yes, even doggie paddle sometimes! I'm going to try and do proper breaststroke next year but i can't imagine I'll ever get onto a crawl! π€£π
The crisp days to come are nice, if a little shorter. Autumnal colours too.
Good luck for all those races, π€π» for optimal temperatures π
Itβs five weeks until the Bath half and Iβm up to ten miles. Iβve run it twice now. The first time was triumphant, with 5k and 10k PBs as part of the run and everything coming together to form a perfect run. Fridayβs version? Bad. Just bad! The weather as bad. I could have done with another rest day but couldnβt fit one in. The route accidentally ended with a super steep hill between mile 9 and 10. Never warmed up and it was a grind for exactly one hour and forty two minutes. There might have been five minutes where I was thinking βthis is bearableβ but that was as good as it got. Oh my goodness the relief when it was over!
In some ways it was great to have such a bad feeling run and still cover the distance. Itβs reassuring to know that if race day is a bit off, I can get to the end. Thatβs the positive Iβm holding on to anyway!
This week Iβve got a 13.1km βpractice runβ coming up where Iβll try out what to eat and what to wear etc. Iβm experimenting with some gels to see how they could help give me a lift on race day. Totally new territory. Bought a selection from a local running shop and will see how they taste. Exciting and it all seems quite real now!
Not every run can be a good one, but there's something good in every run! Its those grinds that teach us what we can still do regardless of everything else.
Enjoy the excitement, and the fun of testing out new things and good luck for the big day! π€π»ππ»π
the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness seemed still far away last Sunday in Tyneside for the GNR. Twere hot, it twere! A lovely day, a nice crowd, lots of great music (the best Elvis performer - "impersonator" sounds disrespectful to somebody doing it so well) and my first HM (whoop whoop - or should that be oggi oggi oggi?).
As feared I was a bit undercooked on training and the whole day a learning experience but first and foremost a good outcome in getting the distance. The GNR felt quite "fun run" like (which is great) so if one is more seriously inclined then it's maybe necessary to avoid some things another time - e.g. starting at the back of the field meant a lot of overtaking (I overtook over 10,000 runners - that's a lot of finding a gap and dodging through)
I have another HM next month: Munich. Lived some time in Germany so going back feels really nice ... and for refreshments they give out ... beer!!!!) . Time to get some more training in now. looking forward to it!
Hi Jo! Your swimming is amazing! As one who dislikes swimming (and all the associated faff) a great deal, I can only admire you!
For a change, my running has been going pretty well. I am less than 3 weeks out from my Metric Marathon and apart from the odd mild niggle I am currently injury free; my training has gone absolutely to plan, there has been lots of riding and walking as cross training ... I'm beginning to feel positive. But! I am now on holiday for a couple of weeks with my father. Training activities are somewhat curtailed (although I will get the runs in) and - horror of horrors - Garmin tells me I am 'DETRAINING'!!! This is a new one on me! I don't like it one bit, but not sure I can do anything about it either. Ho hum!!! Cornwall has plenty to feed the soul though ... I have NOTHING to complain about π
Hi Jo. I wrote a reply this morn but it seems to have disappeared. Oh well.
Iβm sure you will soon strike your balance between swimming and your long runs. As long as you are enjoying it, things should be good.
I did my first run this morn since the Haliburton 50k on Saturday and it went pretty well. Just took it easy today. The race was really challenging so I am easing back very slowly. I found out yesterday that I was 4th in my age group, which I am happy with though I realize itβs not a large group π . Iβve got a camping trip next weekend and then a final 20-25k trail race the week after which is just for fun with some friends. I am hoping to get around to a race report if time allows later this week with a few more pics in addition to the one attached. Happy running everyone!
Yes it was fun but very rocky and maybe 75% hills so my hips and quads were a bit tight. But recovery is going well. I will try and get that report written soon. A lot of stuff going on with life at the moment.
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Vive la rentrΓ©e (or not!) Weekly chat 4th - 10th September 2023