Some of you will be reading this having just achieved an awesome new running milestone, or smashed a personal best. Huge congratulations to you on your well-deserved success! 🏅 🥳
Others will be happily training or simply getting out there as usual, with nothing in particular to remember. That’s great too – having fun is what it’s about. 🎽 😁
However, others will have just experienced a run that, for whatever reason, didn’t turn out as planned or wasn’t completed. And some – let’s hope it’s a tiny minority – will be unable to run as they’d like, or are on the IC and having to put their running on hold for the time being. 😞🙁
Full disclosure: exactly a year ago I’d just completed my longest distance on the most challenging terrain I’d ever encountered. ⛰️🏃♀️ Feeling I could take on the world, I was looking forward to more challenges in the future... further, steeper, maybe faster… Well, months of crazy weather and injuries mean that I’ve looked at running from both sides now, and I’ve concluded I really don’t know running at all. Thanks Joni: youtube.com/watch?v=aCnf46b...
Whatever your running's looking like at the moment, tell us all about it in the comments - your HU buddies will be there to celebrate, 🥳 sympathise, 🤗 and most of all, encourage! 👍
Happy running, all!
The Marathon Team xxx
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Written by
Cmoi
Marathon
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I’ve been so inspired this weekend watching marathons & reading all the marathon reports. I started my day yesterday watching the Melbourne marathon. An Aussie ran her debut marathon coming in 2nd at 2:28.11.
I’m taking no.2 son to the Perth marathon on Sunday to spectate. This is the marathon that I hope to train for and run next year. I was reflecting on how fear inducing that still is for me, and whilst I think it is good to respect the distance; I don’t want to be fearful.
I love this quote that an ultra runner posted to his instagram this week. He had to stop a 50 day challenge running the Australian West coast to East Coast through injury.
“Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail. Bruce Lee
Or, 80% of success is just turning up (Woody Allen) .
I went through phases from “I will never be able to do this” through “I wonder how far I can push this” to “ Going faster than this causes too many injuries, so keep it steady.” Fear didn’t feature. At 70 I just think that I am lucky to be able to run at all. I am sure that your best effort will see you complete your marathon RW.👍
Thanks for the vote of confidence Beachcomber66 I don’t know when I started being so fearful. I’m super thankful that I’m running at 48. Only took 45 years to discover my love of running. Hope to be still doing it in my 70’s. What an inspiration you all are 😍
You're right to respect the distance RunWillie , but you're already doing the weekly base mileage you'd need for a marathon, and have been for ages. You'd just need to vary the types of runs and your schedule. Obviously the latter is a big challenge in your position!
I know that elite and exceptional runners, their training and achievements inspire you. However I also wonder if they're perhaps contributing to your fear by reinforcing the challenging aspects of running a marathon, building it up into something that looks unachievable? You're already super-disciplined about training, so you absolutely can do it if you want to.
You’re always very kind and super encouraging Cmoi
I think I do tend to over think🤣 & one of my running goals this year was just to run the mile I’m in. I borrowed that from an elite. I don’t have any time goals but do want to finish. I always joke that I’m a “wannabe long distance runner” but I’m going to change that to “a future marathon runner in training” 😍
I hit a bit of a GSR preparation wall on Friday. I managed an 8k run, but my legs felt like lead, and VO2 max took the opportunity to put the boot in by docking me a point!
Looking back, last week was overloaded with activities and I was probably poorly hydrated too. So, I am resting today and have been rehydrating to see whether either or both do the trick. One more decent long run, then it will be taper time. Time to get a grip!!
We will! Setting off at 8:30 am for a run this morning, armed only with a well known fizz free sports drink and an additional shirt. It is cold and blowy out there; ideal training conditions 😂
I trust the lead like legs pass soon. Happy tapering after the last long run. 😊🏃🏻♂️
VO2max is a perplexing topic in my mind. After my 2 months or so gap when I re-started C25k as my knee had been very bad, my VO2 max stayed at 40 or 41 (I have seen 42 a few times) and then as I did more running it went down and down currently at 37. I will take any positive that comes my way so I look forward to an increase, but I am currently not at all confident in my body. Ah well I shall endeavour to do what I can. 😊
Definitely! 😂🤣😂 For me 37 puts me in the top 10% for my age group whereas 38 goes to top 5% so I look forward to 38 appearing again. I clearly don't feel in such an elated fitness category, but it does sound good! 😊
Your VO2Max sounds just like mine over61andstilltrying . Beachcomber66 has the right attitude - if Mr Arrogant Algorithm Garmin's going to be selective and weird about which runs it rewards, we runners should do likewise in the attention we pay to him!
Hi Cmoi, it’s good to look at our running goals from both sides isn’t it? I’ve been forced to do that myself for the past 3 weeks as, whilst I’m not on the IC, I’ve slowed to sloth-like status in terms of training for the upcoming GSR due to my cold (which isn’t covid, but could easily have been). I do declare though, that I survived a fairly hardcore YWA power yoga session this morning, as well as 35 minutes on the cross trainer at the gym, and a short dog walk. Doesn’t sound much, but it’s better than my total of 4km run since my 10k race a couple of weekends ago. I’ll take it as a win!
I’ve also been 100% inspired to keep entering the LM ballot for as long as it takes. I’m not interested in any other marathon, but to run (and walk for sure!) in that atmosphere looks phenomenal, and I’d love to tick that box one day.
First up, to drag my (hopefully not so) weak bod around Portsmouth in 13 days. I’m not proud - I’ll happily take as long as necessary! 😀
I think that I have caught it in time CC. Might have to reduce the number of runs over the next 11 days but I think that I have got plenty in the bank.👍
Power yoga. cross trainer (not sure what that is) and dog walking all help. I do hope that your cold finally takes its leave yesterday would be good. 😊🏃♀️
Thanks over61. The crosstrainer is one of those walking machines on sliders (no idea how else to describe them!) with ski pole type handles to hold onto that work your top half. There, clear as mud! 😅
I am feeling more chipper today, and did another decent yoga session at home along with a treadmill run at the gym. The cold might decide it’s had enough of me. 🤞🙏🏻
I’ve been similar to cheekychipmunks in having a sloth like week due to a nasty cold which I was sure was covid but isn’t. I’m really hoping to see it off well before the Bath HM in 13 days. Last week I managed one 15 minute run, an hour run, a Zumba class and a swim which is well down on normal. Most of that was before Wednesday! I’ve been out for a 15 minute easy run today and that was ok. Felt quite sluggish but not the total exhaustion I’ve had over the weekend. I’m planning on taking it super easy. At least the HM plan is emphasising not pushing it and trusting the taper this week so that’s a bonus.
Your "well down on normal" is still a very decent level of activity MissUnderstanding ! Sending you, too, loads of positive vibes for a speedy and full recovery - Bath HM here you come!
Thank you for hosting Cmoi. Definitely a view from both sides for me. I notice that my bad garden pruning job fall to 4km took 8 months and then lots of good progress up to 10 miles and 13 months pain free, listening to my body running. Hoped to reach HM but then knee problems flared up, not really sure if this is a new injury or the previous one; also hamstring problem, but now 6 months on, with physio help, I am again at 4km. This time I am not at all confident that progress will be possible to HM, but I plan to do the best that I can. Clearly scraping the barrel so felt in need of a reward and laminated myself a medal! Little things please little minds. Photo, I hope, to follow
I have just completed my 10 minute pre run hot water bottle on my knee. A relic of my last knee injury two years ago. Physio says it promotes the flow of synovial fluid in the joint….WD40 on a rusty hinge she calls it……works 🙂
I’ve not been around much, but do pop in occasionally, today I got my race instructions for my next event this Sunday, so was looking for encouragement! 🙏
4 years ago (Sept 18) I started C25k and found HU for support, which I completed in the December. 🥰
Sept 19 I ran my first 1/2 marathon 🏅
Sept 21 I completed my first Marathon, (would have been earlier if it wasn’t for Covid) A tough run as during that time my Mum was dying from Cancer and I wanted to be by her side, support from friends/family/run club got me out there and I went back to Mum with my medal. 🥲
April 22 Amazingly, and I’m still not sure how, but I completed a 50mile Ultra. I think mentally with everything that went on with Mum, and the stresses of organising her funeral, clearing her belongings and then caring for Dad, I needed a focus and time out, I upped my miles and successfully completed the 50! 🎉
Since then I’ve been out running with club and solo but also been happy to give running a miss, I know I should go out and would feel good, but not really felt the love. ❤️
Scarily I have an ultra again this weekend, mentally I know I can complete the 38 miles, I know the route, where the aid stations are etc etc, but not sure if I have it in me physically. 🤷♀️
Thoughts, suggestions and kicks up the bottom would be much appreciated right now.
Well, you'll be getting a pompom shout-out for your ultra this weekend Nikasa777 , if that helps?! 🥳
As you've already done a more demanding ultra 👏 you don't have anything to prove, so maybe just take this weekend's event easy and concentrate on enjoying yourself? Have fun!
It has been a fabulous weekend for running enthusiasts. I’m sure there will be a big increase in the numbers of new people starting C25K!
I’m so with you “on the other side”. This year has been rubbish for my running and I don’t seem to be able to shake off my injury from March! The osteopath I saw last week was promising and I left him niggle-free but, while I’m not in pain, my body is still not right. I can feel there’s something wrong and it’s getting in the way of running ☹️
I have one more course of action before I head down the GP and referral route but while I don’t like this other side I do think it’s invaluable to really understand my body and truly value the good days of running. What’s that saying about “there’s no light without darkness”…..?
Time will heal us and we’ll get out again to do our thing the way we want 🏃♀️😍
Hello Irishprincess, Sigh ... I'm with you with my body not being right. Beginning to wonder if I shall have to go the swimming route to put less stress on my body, but I really don't want to. I confess there are getting to be too many areas of my body that are not right. 😔
Here's to your 'one more course of action' providing a good way forward. 🌸
It’s so frustrating isn’t it? Snakes and ladders but atm too many snakes ☹️
Swimming is great for general fitness. Before running, swimming was my choice of exercise but my best stroke is breaststroke and that’s not good for knees or lower back so I’ve avoided the pool for ages. But if you have a pool nearby then go for it!
No..... I so don't want to get in the car drive, park, take my clothes off, get wet and the rest, but am aware that swimming is kinder to the body? So I thought .... Are you running at all?
You've neatly summed up what puts me off swimming over61andstilltrying - it's so much hassle! I'm also a truly crap swimmer, so can't even plough mindlessly along doing lengths. Splishy splashy holiday dips is about as good as it gets. Though I kinda wish we'd gone mad and had a pool built in the outbuilding when we first moved to France, instead of using it as an extra garage and warehouse to store endless quantities of random stuff.
Yes, I agree it’s all a bit of a faff! I have been running but not far and I haven’t run since Saturday as I dont want to aggravate my hip/back. I’m seeing another osteopath tomorrow so let’s see what happens..
Thanks Irishprincess . I know you've been having a really rough time and I can certainly empathise with the "not being able to shake things off" feeling. The first anniversary of my trail marathon has only rubbed in just how much I've regressed in 2022, particularly since my fall. I actually deleted my last run from Strava as I didn't want to be reminded of how bad it was.
Really hope you'll be properly on the road to recovery soon, and getting out there completely niggle-free to enjoy yourself. 👍🤗😘
Hello again Cmoi, The trail marathon that you completed is a hard act to follow, especially after a fall and injuries. I am not actually sure how much running you are completing at the moment. Are your injuries the type that are likely to heal? Here's to you soon completing the type of running that brings a smile to your face. 😊🏃🏻♀️
Thanks over61andstilltrying , I appreciate your thoughts.
I only ever seem to get injured when I fall, butt hen I tend to do it thoroughly. Wiping out in January meant two weeks out and a couple more to recover. March-April went OK, then from May-September temperatures were rarely below 22° overnight, and above 40° in the daytime, punctuated with the odd thunderstorm. I hate running when it's hot and won't run when there's lightning around! Fell at the end of June, apparently spraining my knee as well as scraping quite a lot of places.
Before that fall I was happily running 10 miles and was just about to do another HM, with a view to longer distances this autumn. However for three months I've not gone past the occasional 10k, though just yesterday evening I ran my most relaxed 10K in ages, with decent elevation gain (240m.) Had to come in because night was falling and I'd no lights with me. So that was a smiley one again - hoping you also get to enjoy many more running smiles, soon!
Good to read; it certainly seems that the worst is behind you. You are clearly a very fit lady! A 10km with smiles and lots of elevation sounds lovely. I should imagine that the scenery was a joy too. Happy injury free running to you with no falls if at all possible. 🏃🏻♀️😊🌄
... the dizzy dancing way that you feel as every fairy tale comes real ...
then stuff happens and runs and things go the wrong way .... ho hum ..... nice post Cmoi and I hope your running is going as you would like sooner rather than later.
watching Strictly Come Dancing this wekend I really like the "never-dancers" who suddenly "get" dancing and what great fun it is. It mirrors so much of my running journey for me. I used to scoff at runners on the street, "they're only damaging their knees and hips!" (the shame I feel at this memory!) but really I was fearful of looking an idiot (the fear has gone - replaced with acceptance that I look like ... 🤣). Now I just want to get out and run whenever possible - although tempered with a fair bit of realism about what the body can do.
Munich HM next weekend. Last Sunday went out for a longer run which was cut a bit short due to niggles (or an over-active worry-brain) so consequently a bit lacking in confidence. I'm sure I'll get round ... just want to do it with style (or sequins!)
Thanks RunSkippyRun . I've been planning new routes recently, so i guess I must want to get out there, but whether or not my leg will agree is another matter!
While I love the dancing parts of Strictly, I have increasingly low tolerance for all the filler stuff and find the early programmes far too long. For now I'm just reading the Guardian Strictly blog then using YouTube to view any dances that sound interesting. I'll maybe start watching later in the season, though I'm not sure anything could top Rose & Giovanni and John & Johannes!
I can't imagine ever wanting to do any more than just get round an event. Though sequins could be fun (says the woman who ran her first metric marathon distance wearing yellow bunny ears...) Enjoy the Munich HM!
I've no idea what's going on people: I've not been getting notifications of all your replies, so I'm now playing catch-up. Also, the Joni Mitchell video link has just gone AWOL, at least for me, and I wasn't able to caption the photo, which was taken during a walk during our recent holiday. And breathe...
Love this Cmoi because running is so special to so many people. I like to think about getting to the start line as success. Whether it's for 1 mile or 20 you never really know what may unfold as you set off. We go for it anyway and it reminds me of a quote about courage, 'Courage is the ability to throw yourself into anything without any guarantee of a successful outcome' and greatness too, ' Nothing was ever great unless at some point you doubted your ability to achieve it.' I've had good runs and challenging runs (the wheels came off in one of my recent long runs) but I remembered that 'You don't have to do this, you get to do this' and to me that is what it's all about 😀
Hi all. Not feeling well still so not much happening running wise. I did a run around the block yesterday just to keep my body moving. I’m dog sitting so I’ve got to turn out or i think I’d just stay in bed 🙄
Enjoying reading about everyone else’s running exploits though 😀
Have a great week of running or recuperating everyone 🙂👍
Many congratulations on your oh-so-casually-dropped-into-the-discussion marathon Comfortnotspeed ! Wish we'd been able to give you a pompom cheer, though as I'm now realising, quite a few people prefer to fly under the pompom radar!
(No idea why that video won't play, sorry, the HU forums are being very weird right now.)
Great post Cmoi! I too have looked at running from both sides! Many times. And each time I have learned something new. Right now I'm on the right side - the niggle free, running side - and am appreciating the heck out of it 😊 Having spent around 2 years bouncing from one injury or niggle to another, I have to say it is a glorious feeling to be back where I once was and once again challenging that level of fitness/enjoyment/achievement. To anyone on the IC I would say try to be patient, it truly is worth it in the long run; there really is light at the end of the tunnel.
Today I ran 3k ... simply because I love running.; in all other regards it was an unremarkable run yet it also meant the world. Yep, I simply love running 🥰
Hi Cmoi. Covid finally hit our family last weekend and I got the worst of it which was not too bad all things considered. Apart from the first couple of rough days I just had “broken glass” throat which stuck around. I ran a solo 5 on Wednesday to test the waters since I was to race on Saturday in a 25k trail and then on Sunday in a charity 5k. I opted not to do the 25 as I was not feeling fully well just yet but I did go out on the Sunday run and it went ok, just quite cool at 4-5 degrees that morn. Just prepping now to get back to my usual schedule this morn. Happy running everyone!
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