Hello you superb bunch of runners. Got a minute to spare to have a coffee and chinwag?
It’s my pleasure to have been asked to host the chat this week. What an honour!
How are you all at the moment? It was unusual to find there were no pompoms to be shaken this weekend, having had the excitement of supporting such a busy flurry of HU racers of late. Maybe races will be back next weekend. Maybe not. Does it really matter?
I had a bit of a slump last week I must admit. My 100th PR celebrations last weekend were such fun, and prior to that I’d had several races. I suddenly found myself with nothing to ‘look forward to’. However I ran at a new (for me) parkrun at the weekend and I took my dog along for the first time in ages. She’s 11 in February, so I took it really easy and literally didn’t break a sweat even though it was a warm morning. You know what? It was one of the loveliest parkrun experiences I’ve ever had. It was probably my slowest, but that didn’t matter one iota. The pure joy of jogging slowly along with my best buddy obliterated everything that I usually find important at parkrun. It was quite emotional actually, taking me back to C25K days when she accompanied me on every single run. ❤️ 🐕
Do you sometimes find enjoyment in something unexpected when you’re out running? A surprising new route, spotting something on a well trodden path or pavement that you’ve never noticed before? Finding out that you actually do like running in the rain, in the evening, before the sun rises, or even on that treadmill that you used to refer to as the dreadmill (that last one is me, by the way!) Maybe you’ve discovered that you appreciate having a running companion even though you’re a dyed in the wool lonely goat.
Let us know what’s surprised you, no matter how mega or insignificant. Oh, I still have the post PR glow even now. It makes me smile. 🥰
Have a wonderful week everyone. 😀
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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Hi cheekychipmunks and friends. As some of you may have seen from my post yesterday, I’m still recovering from injury after the virtual London Marathon, but I managed to walk unaided for over half a mile, which is great!
I can see a chink of light at the end of the tunnel and that’s well worth celebrating 🥳 I’ll keep up with the exercises until I see my physio next week. Hopefully I’ll be able to start some light running after that and I’ll definitely get a proper gait analysis (and some new running shoes if Santa is kind🎅)
Great to hear David; it sounds as though the worst is over 🤞. My comparatively trivial calf issue is still niggling on…back to the physio tomorrow. I guess these things hang on a bit longer as we “mature”….or maybe we just get older 🙂.
Good morning cheeky. Well done for taking up the challenge 🙂.
Your accompanied PR sounds perfect. I only get to walk with Molly, not least because people want to make a fuss of her every 50 yards or so!
Apart from GSR (of course) I think that my favourite run was a night guided run up the Wainstones in North Yorkshire. I say run; it was a walk-run-climb with head torches. It was a crystal clear slightly frosty night, the skies were cloudless, and the stars were amazing. Someone found the song “Vincent”on their phone when we got back to the car park. Just a one off special experience made possible by guides who really knew what they were doing. It is a while since I did a lone night run up in the forest; maybe something to revisit when I finally see off this niggle; one of the few benefits of being an old bloke is that I can do these things with no fear. 🙂
I can well imagine that you’d make very little headway with Molly in tow (or with Molly towing you) BC. A lady commented how wonderfully behaved and polite Flossie was, and it made me feel all fluffy inside. ❤️
I didn't cheeky. My mobile was not up to the job! I am sure that we saw the Milky Way. There was no light pollution up there; a really wonderful memory.
Morning Munks! Thank you for taking this week’s chat 🙂 Those are lovely photos 😍
I can imagine a bit of a slump after all that activity! But there are some races already being advertised for next year. Maybe something will tempt you.
My biggest surprise was during a race in February when I realised that I could talk to another runner and still maintain my race pace. I never knew I could do that but it seemed rude to ignore the runner so I had to chat 😂
And I’m still finding new routes as I like to explore although I haven't done as much of that as I’d like recently for obvious reasons but I’ll get back to it.
Hello cheekychipmunks ! That sounds like a smashing run with your furry best friend. And lovely photos. I can’t think of anything that has surprised me right this second, although I’m sure many things have! I guess all in all I’m surprised that 2 years after starting C25K I’m still getting out there and getting so much joy from running. Unfortunately I have a glute/hamstring niggle at the moment, and although the physio says I can run, it’s been a while since I’ve had a really long satisfying run. I dream of those! I will count my blessings though, after a relatively OK 4k this morning. I think it will take me a while to get back to where I was, but I am being patient. All the best! 😊😊😊
You’re right Frenc, I suspect lots of us are surprised that we a) started and b) are still running! Isn’t it great? 🙏🏻
Arghh no, your niggle is still bothering you? Hope it eases soon so you can get out and enjoy a lovely long run. 4k is a step in the right direction, so 👏👏👏👏
Yes, the niggle is so annoying grrr. It was ok until I got absolutely soaked and really cold the other week. I think wearing sodden leggings just tipped it over the edge! But thank you for your kind words 😊.
A’noon all. Sorry to hear some folks suffering with injuries of one kind or another. Frustrating times for sure. Patience and some self TLC required. Good luck with those having physio. Hopefully you’ll soon be back to full strength 🤞🙂
I was as stiff as a board this morning after spending most of yesterday outdoors, standing about at various remembrance services. I was out this morning doing two recovery runs back to back. Short and sweet. I got chased by a corgi wanting to run with me. I had to sprint to out-run her. Very funny 😁🏃♀️🐶. It was foggy and damp on the trail but warm enough.
Taking it steady this week as it’s marathon weekend. I had a video message from the organiser drop into my inbox yesterday. Everything is ready to go. Hope I am 😁
I’ll have to dig deep for this one. I’ve never run a marathon in constant rain. It was cold and windy last year which drove me mad Still, my finish time improved 😁
Oh well, it is what it is 🤷♀️ I just hope it won’t be heavy 🙏
Thank you so much 🙏😀. I shall think about you all while I’m out there. Although there’s no supporters as such the stewards are wonderful. They blast Music from cars en route 😀. Good job the residents have largely packed up and gone home 😎 🚐 🎶🎵
it was a beauty and was up for it! The owner said it was a heel nipper so that made me determined to lose the little sausage 🙂. They just want to have fun like us!
Funny you should say that! When I was 10 I was badly bitten by a corgi! It took 18 months to finish the course of anti-tetanus jabs. It did get fluid in it so was a bit messy for a bit. I was just walking along the street and it ran over and bit me! The skin still looks like a burn scar but it’s faded since then 😁. It didn’t put me off dogs and I still love them 🥰
Hi cheekychipmunks , thanks for hosting this week's chat, and for those adorable Flossie photos.
I'm definitely in the surprised I can run at all club. As for enjoyment in the unexpected, hmm, not so much, mainly because I so rarely plan my runs in advance. I just go out, maybe with a vague idea of distance and/or route, and see what happens. So there's often not much in the way of expected anyway, and quite often the unexpected turns up in the form of blocked paths and dead ends.
There again, I wasn't expecting my forest trail to be quite as churned up and muddy as it was the other day - impossible to run, I was sliding about even walking - and I had fun on that! Also managed to get back to my favourite forest logging track today, as the hunters weren't up there for once, and drew my Strava cat for the first time in ages - see attached.
Your runs always sound so full of adventure Cmoi! I need to dig out my trail shoes and go for a woodland slip and slide before it gets simply too boggy. Flossie enjoys those, even though the hose has to come out before she can set foot in the house!
I love your Strava cat! 🐱 I’ve never worked out how to do those. Maybe a challenge for me this winter. 😅
The Strava cat was pure serendipity cheekychipmunks ! It first came about when I was starting to increase distance towards HM. It's simply running to and from home via the track up the hill, the forest track and the road through the forest. I added a couple of extras yesterday for a bit more distance and vertical but managed not to trash the shape.
That's the only Strava art I can do. Apart from my lack of artistic ability, the topography makes it difficult - the most basic version of the cat is about 12k.
Hello cheeky, what a nice surprise to see you hosting the chat this week.
It was great to hear about your run with the lovely Flossie at parkrun on Saturday. She is so well trained and loveable.
Since graduating 4.5 years ago (really?) I have had some wonderful runs and wearing those race T-shirts brings back the memories of the occasions and the meet ups involved.
Like many, the biggest surprise is that I actually can run and I enjoy it. How did I get to be 60 before I found that out?
When I ran the New Forest 10k for the first time, we were running along a path and heard a bit of a commotion, and then stopped in amazement as a group of ponies stampeded across our path. I suspect that they had taken fright after coming across a different wave of runners in the forest. They were so beautiful, and no one complained about losing vital minutes on their race times. If I had been a faster runner I would have missed that.
I agree Dexy, and I bet we all wish we’d discovered running decades earlier. Never mind, we have it in our lives now. 🙏🏻
Aww thanks for the kind words about Flossie. She’s pretty special. Today she’ll mostly be trying to play with sticks while I sweep up leaves! She turns into a puppy where sticks and tennis balls are concerned. ❤️
I bet it was wonderful seeing the New Forest ponies. Definitely a good reason to have to stop in your tracks. 🐎 I’d like to do that run at some point - when is it again? 🤔
They were still selling tickets in the month before this year Linda, mainly because there were so many autumn races going on I think. I believe you’ve missed the early bird offer so you may as well hold back entering now anyway.
Thanks for that Dexy! We're hoping to find a house exchange to France in Sept/Oct so our dates are likely to be unknown for a bit yet. But it's the next one on my 'to do list' as soon as I have the date free 😊
Yes it doesn’t seem like long slow runs , but I only pay attention to it when it says good things, like I’ve got the fitness of an excellent 20 year old . 😂😂
That sounds lovely running with your doggo. I'm appreciating my George dog and treasuring the walks together with him not being so well,our beach walk recently was a real highlight 🥰🐕🐶Only 2 runs for me last week, car troubles meant I didn't get to my Wednesday trail run but I have a lift this week 😁and my other club tonight so should be back in the swing of things soon, motivation has taken a real nose dive and been a stressful year😪signed up to Salisbury 10 miles for March next Yr last night and a few local races here before that!
Really pouring down here today but trying to get motivated to get on with the day
Aww George. ❤️ Senior dogs are simply the best aren’t they aliboo? Enjoy him.
I met a lady out ‘walking’ her dog in a buggy the other day. I asked how old, and she a stone deaf 16 year old Staffie. My heart melted when she said she enjoyed snuffling round and having a drink from the lake before going back in her buggy. ❤️
Arghh, car trouble. How dare it impede your running. 🙄 Still, hope you enjoyed your club run. Signing up for races helps motivation too doesn’t it? That’s what I’m looking to do! 😀
That's funny I met a staffie with a buggy a few weeks back too! My George is a good old chap though still very feisty! Tonight's run was good,hitting the trails tomorrow night 🤞xxx
Sending a cheerful wave to you and George from across the Solent aliboo70 . Not that you’ll see it in this rain. Don’t forget to drop in on Southsea parkrun when you just happen to be on the mainland on a Saturday
It's been a funny year, lots going on and some difficulties! 😪and my George to worry about! A few good local trail races coming up so some good times to look forward to xxx
Aaah thanks MW !😘 Been out with 7 others tonight in torrential (at times!) rain and super flooded footpaths up to knee deep! Was quite an experience! 🤣 managed nearly 5 mile then pub and chips afterwards! Xxx
Just back from the physio. Bit of massage and theragun work today and she feels it will be fine. It is just a bit of muscle wastage (gastrocnemius) following on from running 8 miles on an injured calf in the GSR. This is good news, firstly because it is not the peroneal, which takes more fixing, and secondly …I can keep running from Thursday. Calf raises and tip toe squats every other day and it should be fixed pdq. So, much better than I had expected.👍
Oh that is good news BC! 🙏 I’ve never heard that muscle wastage term before, but then again there are quite a few words and phrases I’ve learned from others since taking up running.
So no prolonged IC for you this time. Excellent. 👊
I hadn’t heard the term applied to me before. It guess it just means that the main calf muscle (the gastrocnemius) has lost a bit of tone/strength and needs building up again. One thing about having loads of injuries is that your knowledge of anatomy and rehab exercises increases accordingly! My last two winters have been wrecked, running wise, by persistent injury. This one has to be different. The main thing for now is that I want to be fit by 27 November for the Tim Run.
Well hopefully your body has come to recognise that you’re not one to give in. It sounds like this is a half hearted attempt on its behalf to sideline you this time. 🤞
Yes, the Tim run will be special. You’ll be fine for that with those exercises under your belt. 😀
Muscle wastage seems to be an evolutionary advantage.
Maintaining muscle mass comes with a huge energy cost, so if it's not being used it's a survival trait to reduce the amount of muscle to cut down the resting calorie requirements.
This makes a lot of sense to me that having built up my leg muscles it takes a lot more to get my weight to go up. (Even after pausing my running.)
I think UpTheStanley ’s achilles problems were related to lack of strength in the soleus muscle too BC. Muscle wastage is certainty related to men of a certain age , so he is also meant to do squats and heel raises as well as his usual upper body gym work., to build calves up again. I’m glad your physio is allowing you to continue running.
I think/hope my physio was saying that the muscle problem resulted from the injury rather than the other way around….but either is possible now that I am “getting on a bit.” A young lady in the pharmacy offered me her seat today…..really nice of her, but that is the third time I have been offered a seat since setting off for Portsmouth! Something has changed ….more strength work required!🙂
Hi >61. I was going to go out in the pouring rain this morning, but a boiler in need of service and an appointment for Mrs BC have kept me in! The weather looks better on Saturday, so more time for tip toe squats pre run in the meantime. Hope things are going well with you.🙂
I am trundling along at 38 at present…..just ignore it. I am building up distance again too (thanks calf!) I think that VO2 max will improve as your body adjusts to the extra distance / effort; in the meantime it is best treated with contempt! 🙂
Hi Cheeky, and thanks for hosting! So many things surprise me about running - not least the fact that I just love it! One of my most surprising discoveries was enjoying speed runs once I enlisted the help of the NRC app. The effect of 'race magic' constantly surprises me too. I'm happy to say the number of pleasant surprises far, far, FAR outweighs the number of unpleasant ones; and even the rare unpleasant surprises can usually be turned around into something good. After an amazing injury free period I am now of a couple of niggles in my right leg. I have a sports massage booked for next week so plan to take it very easy until then. It would be nice to start a winter training plan fully fit.
Oh yes, I agree about speed runs 100% Linda! I used to avoid them like the plague, but like you, since recruiting Coach B and pals, I look forward to them. I’ve even been known to do two in one week. How crazy is that? 😅
I noticed you’ve been injury free of late ….. tell those niggles of yours they’re absolutely not welcome. You want to continue into winter fully fit. Hope the sports massage goes well and isn’t too eye-watering! Even Mr Cheeky comes out of his looking shell shocked sometimes. 😅
Gradually getting back into things after a mystery cold-like thing which drained my energy.
Ramping up the activity gradually. My 10km run this morning, apart from the trip, the "lower GI problems", the cowpats and the hills, was actually good. I'm planning a longer run (or two) later in the week.
My long term plan is to try to get beyond 30km at some point in the next few months. I got up to 26.2km in April but let things ease off when the weather got too warm.
Well done getting back to fitness after your cold nowster. If it’s anything like mine, it drained me of all energy and left me with post viral muscle fatigue in my legs for ages. Not covid, but it might as well have been. 🙄
You are a machine. Enjoy your longer runs, and I won’t be at all surprised to see you going beyond 30k eventually. We’ll look forward to hearing about your journey. 🏃♂️
Thank you for hosting. I hadn't taken in that it was currently the exception that you ran with Flossie and so pleased that it went so well. I enjoy playing spot the difference when out running, trees, plants, buildings, livestock, people, skips and then reporting back to my husband. Always enjoy spotting unusual plants and birds for example egret, kingfisher, heron and mandarin ducks. So enjoy lovely scenery too and continue to enjoy listening to Desert Island Discs as well, not forgetting feeling that my body is working well and just perhaps I will be able to run without re-visiting the ic.
I am now up to 7km since my April knee flare up. Hamstring, knee and Achilles not yet sorted, on going physio. At least my problem areas are not preventing running which has happened a number of times , this means that I now seem to enjoy running all the more. Having said that My VO2 max is just going down and down 😔 I am feeling good while running and trying to keep my heart rate down. Partly seems like nonsense! Stopped running and began C25k again and as you see VO2 max went up. Must be fitter now and its going down!!! Reassurance please!
Ahh the dreaded VO2 Max over61! It drives me bats. Mine is currently Superior which is bonkers as I’ve done nothing fast of late, except an NRC fartlek run! Your graph is very impressive and the minute you do a shorter, even slightly quicker, run it’ll more than likely give you back some lost points! Your fitness is definitely good; anyone not fit couldn’t run 7k (think of us all on W1R1 with that loooong minute!! ) You’re coming back beautifully and the IC is hopefully a dim and distant memory. 🤞
Your runs always sound so serene and you seem to always be amongst wildlife and interesting things to see. That’s wonderful. Running on city pavements is of course great too, but a tranquil trot can’t be beaten.
I do still run with Flossie and take her on the common whenever I run there. She can go off lead which she loves. She trots with me, heads off for a roll or sniff, then comes back to me again. Doing her own thing. ❤️ I’ve almost eliminated running with her on the lead, ie at PR, as I don’t think it’s fair on a lady of her age, even though she’s still fit. It was nostalgic at the weekend. 🥰
It was a special one! Sheep as you imagine shouldn't be there! This is an in use railway line, just thought of the name, well my husband did - preserved railway.
If it makes you feel any better over61andstilltrying , Mr Garmin docked me a V02Max point after a 13.8km run on Monday, then restored it after a 5.6km run today. And last year's trail marathon training really upset him, he only cheered up when I did a couple of flat 5k holiday runs. Plonker.
Hi Cheeky, thanks for hosting the chat this week. Your pics with Flossie are just lovely. It sounds like such a special time together. I’m trying to train Otis to run with me but he’s quite strong and tends to take off full blast and change direction on a dime whenever a squirrel comes into view! But he’s slowly getting better.
I just did a presentation at work about my running over the last few years (I get so many questions). We’ve each chosen a “passion project.” I tried to explain the draw of running to my colleagues. The surprises are a big part of it. Firstly the surprise of doing things you never thought possible, but also quieter surprises like coming across a deer on a quiet morning with no-one else around or finding a hidden trail. I was surprised to actually enjoy hills for awhile That enjoyment has since diminished as I’ve stopped doing them weekly and tried to get back to them this week - what a slog!
hi cheekychipmunks and the lovely buddy dog. The great thing about running is the dopamine from it. And the other things are those feelings about the competition and cooperation that runners share with each other along the path. You had it!
I don't have a good trail nearby for running. Hard-surfaced aspault road is the only chioce. My feet were sore when for a total amount of 100 miles + per month. That's partly due to I prefer thin-rubber-sole running shoes, like we used to wear in middle school, not those modern high-tech or thick-cushioned ones. Anyways, no pain no gain. Have to bear with the dark side meanwhile if you like doing something, until you are stronger and can overcome it.
My buddy is an 11-year-old tortoise. Apparently and sadly, he couldn't be a qualified running partner. Plus it's his dormant stage. Winter is always a tough time for him. So guess he has no interest in engaging in outdoor activities. Nor does he like social life or PR activies. He is a loner, like a monk. But Things I can guarantee you all are, I am faster than him, and he can live a peaceful long life among all animals if no accident happens in his life in the future.
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