Hi friends, I haven’t written a post of my own for ages as I’ve done no remarkable runs or races for a while - but I’m active on the forums with replies as ever. 😀
But - I need a swift kick up the rear please. I’ve just come back from hols where I had 3 delightfully warm runs, but I honestly have had NO INCENTIVE to go out since. It’s cold. I don’t fancy the gym.
I do have time for just a quick one this morning, but I’m faffing. Why? Maybe because I haven’t seen any progress in any aspect of my running recently and I don’t relish more of the same. For weeks and weeks I was playing catch up after my autumn lurgy which cheesed me off no end, and I’m still a couple of minutes off where I know I can be.
Time to rectify that I think. Sorry for the whining whinge, but I’m hoping it’ll get me out the door. It’s not raining, I don’t think it’s windy ….
I’ll be starting my HM plan after half term (I have a friend’s dog staying next week, so not the best time!) and that’ll help won’t it? I’m outta here. Thanks for the shove, it’s helped. 🙏🏻
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cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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well done Cheeky! I felt a bit unwilling at 6.30 am this morning but I knew TailChaser would be there and I couldn’t let her down. I bet it takes me all morning to get out the door tomorrow to do my solo 10k run though.
I couldn’t/wouldn’t do it without you Shakes! This time of year is such hard work, but it is getting warmer cheeky, you brought some sun back with you. Once you start your plan you will feel much more committed…and the days will be longer!
A new plan you say? Yep, that will do it - a whole new focus with purpose. Maybe a HU HM too? Perhaps this is a rest you really needed? But now we're watching you and will be helping bundle you out the door. Breath deep and enjoy 😊
Yes, and it can’t come soon enough Linda! I’m not bothered about being speedy as everyone on here probably knows, but I like progress and goals. A HUHM would be ace. 😀
It sounds like an HM plan will work wonders cheekychipmunks . Also, one run that has me laughing is the NRC Funky Fartleks run. A difference in pace is great to stop you plodding without purpose.
Real kicks up the pants are available in Southsea anytime. 🦵🏾 🩲 😂
We’ve also got Queen Elizabeth to be done when it dries up a bit. That will be a target! At the moment trying to sort a ski holiday so will let you know.
Yes Al, it’s north of Portsmouth in the South Downs. It involves hilly trails, and at this time of year, lots of mud. They get lots of parkrun visitors because of the Q in the alphabet challenge.
The Motley crew and cheekychipmunks have planned to do it several times but have had to cancel due to gales and forest closure and the pandemic .
😂 Pleased you got out. I started NRC HM to add a bit of interest and keep me going through this cold spell. The sky has been quite clear, but the wind is freezing. Hopefully your lungs will have recovered whilst you were enjoying some sun and heat and you will soon find your happy pace again. Time I got ready for my tempo run attempt!
Thanks BC, I did get out and of course I enjoyed it! It wasn’t even cold today either. Darned faffage doing its best to prevent me running. 🙄
I love the NRC HM Plan and this will be my 3rd time doing it. Being spoon fed runs is perfect and I do like ticking tasks off. You’re doing well and I’m glad you’re embracing Coach B (not literally! 😅)
Loads of coaches have been let loose on me; polypedagogy ! I think I made that word up….never mind. CB’s style may be catching🙄
I am definitely moving faster than I was, on short runs at least. I think I will do the long recovery run on Saturday so that I am ready for the 12.5k on Monday. Glad you enjoyed your run 👍👍👍
I always think that 12.5k long run is the first foray into the proper distance runs. Hope the weather is decent for you, and I hope you’ll report back. How was your tempo run today? I personally went fartlek for a bit of fun! 😀
You will have done this one before; after a warm up, 12 minutes out and 11 minutes back, trying to cover the same distance on the return leg. Certainly my return leg was quicker than the out run, so a reasonable start. My stride length increased a bit, so I will have to pay more attention to that next time. Monday feels like a bit of a leap, but I am sure they know what they are doing😬. I am still thinking easy 30 minute or 5k run on Saturday rather than the scheduled intervals. Fartleks might be next week. Getting serious now!!
I do know that run BC, and I agree it’s a good one. Remember Captain Sensible with that stride length of yours. What would he do? 😇
Enjoy your next run, whichever you choose, and good luck for Monday! I’ll have to see what I can fit in next week, as I’m dog sitting for a friend, and I’m not comfortable taking him out while I’m running. He’s a good boy, but I’d prefer to keep an eye on him. Maybe I’ll walk them both first, then drop them home and run after - or vice versa. 🐕🐕
Sending sympathy, empathy and encouragement cheekychipmunks . No kick up the rear though, just a gentle hand on your back to support you and help you go forward. You don't need to apologise for expressing your dissatisfaction either - playing catch-up is hard. Hang on in there, you're such a lovely person, and your forum contributions are very much appreciated.
Aww, kind words. Thanks Cmoi. Of course I got out and of course I loved my run this morning. Shows how invaluable this forum is - without the support of you all, there’s no way I’d still be running. ❤️🙏🏻
It's always tough after a spell on the IC or a bout of the lurgy. Winter doesn't help either. But that HM plan sounds exciting! Starting a new plan has always done the trick for me. We're all rooting for you cheeky! 👏👏👏🤗🥰
Thanks Beatles! 😀 Yes, the lurgy followed by Arctic temperatures did nothing to spur me on, but the HM plan is fun (as you know) and having a goal will do the trick, I know. 🙏🏻
I haven’t heard the expression cheesed off for ages! Don’t worry, it has been a whole cheese platter this end too what with one thing and another, the really smelly kind 🤣. Hope you had a good run, and having a plan will jazz things up I bet. 😊😊😊
Ahhh Frenc, a whole cheese platter isn’t what you want is it (unless it’s accompanied by a lovely glass of something and some crackers!) 🧀 🍷 Hope it’s dispersed fully now. 🤞
I did run and of course I enjoyed it this morning! Those gremlins were kicked into touch and needn’t return! 😅
Sometimes we all need a whinge and a whine! I love a bit of a wallow and then a metaphorical kick up the old posterior to get going and on to something new.
Which HM plan are you planning? I like having a goal to keep me motivated and I’m doing the NRC one again for an event in April. Coming back from injury was hard and I really had to work not to compare my times with what I’d been running before. Changing routes and doing more trails helped with that because direct comparisons weren’t possible. There have been a lot of lurgies around this year and they’ve got people hard. Be nice to yourself and if you’re struggling with that, come here and we’ll be nice to you!
Thanks MU, it’s great to have the forum to whinge and whine at isn’t it? We’re all like-minded people and ‘get it’! Posting on here in the first instance helped get me out (I loved it!) and all your subsequent replies are so lovely. ❤️🙏🏻
I’ll be doing the NRC HM Plan for the 3rd time. My HM race isn’t until October, but I want to get going on it now and maybe even do it twice, as I need a purpose to my runs or I go into Forrest Gump mode!
I’m absolutely with you on lurgies heading for the hills. They are not welcome in this place!
I was reading your message as I was doing my warm up walk. I had procrastinated for flipping ages and your post finally gave me the nudge that I needed to get out and have a nice time running. Why is it so hard sometimes?!
I did the “suckcess run” today since I’m not ready to move on from this week but didn’t fancy the 15 minute recovery run just talking about what was coming up. That was really good, talking about how we get ourselves through tough runs when they come up and how we look back on them. A Coach B classic. That HM plan is brilliant. It’s my second time through and I’m enjoying it more this time knowing I can actually make to the end (!!) and choosing some of the runs I missed last time (five runs a week is too many for me and I needed to finish by a specific date). Looking forward to comparing notes! Really good luck to you.
I’m so glad I was able to help you out the door today MU! Sometimes all we need is a little nudge. I’m not sure I’d have gone out myself if I hadn’t posted, so it was a win for both of us. 😀
Oh I know that Suckcess run, and agree it’s great. Good old Coach B with his pearls of wisdom 😅
Good luck with your HM Plan. I’m so excited to get going. 👏
Looking forward to cheering you on your way to the HM cheekychipmunks and the adventure the training will bring. The remarkable part of any success or run is not the moment itself or the finish to a run or race, but all the struggles and runs that built you up and moved you forward. Sending you my 'attitude of gratitude' for all you do. Be great, be you and be brave 😃🎖
Thanks so much GTFC. I love the NRC HM plan and I’m chomping at the bit to getting going. Your support is invaluable, as ever, and without HU I almost certainly wouldn’t still be a runner. 🙏🏻❤️
Ahh thanks for the 🦵 Jonathan. It helped massively and it was just what I needed! 😅 But don’t put it away too soon - I might need another boot if the weather turns nasty! 🙏🏻
I see the great peeps here got you out again Munks so hopefully you’re back in the game!
It sounds as if that lurgy really took it out of you. But you can’t keep a good runner down for long and you’re a great runner 🏃♀️so enjoy all your runs and the HM plan 😍
Thanks IP, yes, the power of HU and the legendary VRBs! ❤️ I felt great after my run and I chose a fartlek one to keep it interesting! I’d have been in a right grump if I hadn’t bothered. 🙄
I definitely had post viral fatigue. I’ve never had it before and it was the weirdest thing. Anyway, I’m over that and creeping my way back to where I was. Still a way to go, but I’m hoping the HM Plan will sort me out once and for all. I’m excited to start the week after next. 👏👏
Well done Cheeky for winning the battle and getting out there today. I think it's amazing that you ran 3 times on holiday too. So it's hardly surprising that your body and mind kicked off at the thought of today's cold weather. You're a true superstar. Well done☀️💪👏👏
Hello cheekychipmunks, Very pleased that you seemed to be so encouraged to go out of the door by sharing your running hitch. It seems that quite a few are doing HM plans or will be soon. At the moment I realise that effort of perhaps even 7 or above are not allowed for me. Boo! So many of the NRC speed runs won't work for me. I'm trying to accept the situation and find high enjoyment factors for my runs in different ways. Have you listened to the Run with Lopez 90 minute run? Or Run with Lopez parts 1,2 and 3? Which I think is the same but divided into three separate 30minute runs. Oh wow! I am shaking my headband can hardly find words to express how it made me feel. I found it so moving. I think that I had tears 4 times, just incredible to listen to.
I trust your dog sitting goes well and you find a way to enjoy some runs too. 😊🐕🐕🏃♀️
I was procrastinating like a good’un yesterday over61 and yes, posting about it gave me a much needed shove! VRBs to the rescue 🙏🏻
Shame you can’t join in with the HM Plan gang at the moment, but I’m sure you’ll find some fun alternative to going fast - not that any of the NRC speed runs involve much speed in my case either! 😅
No, I haven’t heard of the Run with Lopez runs, but now I’m curious and I will definitely look them up. Thanks for the heads up.
I'm already looking forward to how you react to Run with Lopez. It is an interview between Lopez and Coach Bennett. When might you be able to run along to this I wonder. Perhaps have to squeeze it in before your HM plan starts.
If the 30 minute runs are chunks of the 90 minute one, I should be able to do all 3 next week before I start the plan the week after. 🤞 I’m very much looking forward to hearing the conversation. I assume it’s on the NRC app?
Yes it is. I still find it hard to navigate the NRC app. Find 'Short Runs' and scroll along quite a long way and hopefully you'll find 'Run with Lopez part 1'. I can't imagine what it will be like stopping before the interview is finished.
Sorry I’m a bit late, but it sounds as though you’re back in the groove 👏🏻👏🏻 A HM plan will be just the thing to keep you going until we get to the start of summer and sunshine and flowers and all those lovely things. You can’t keep a cheeky chipmunk down for long!
I decided to do RED February to try to start building back up post lurgy and it seems to be working as I managed 6.5k at Trotters last night without having to take a walking break and the inhaler has just about seen off the post run coughing fits🥳🥳🥳🥳 Now I need to work on pace a bit, as I’m way slower than I used to be ☹️ What we need is to plan a VRB meet up around Easter to give us something to look forward to. Maybe a nice 10k somewhere?
Yes, that run yesterday was just what I needed to get the enthusiasm going again Sandie, even though I didn’t believe it at the time! A friendly boot up the posterior from the wonderful HU gang worked wonders. 🙏🏻
I’m so glad your lurgy is now more or less history and you’re back trotting happily again. I agree, a meetup to look forward to would be lovely. We need to start planning something don’t we? 😈❤️
You’re right of course JoJo, and I do love my bimbly runs - but sometimes a bit of progress gives me an extra boost. All I could see was a backwards/static pattern after my lurgy and it got tiresome. 🙄
I’ve just had a look at the Nike Running Club website. It talks about running at various paces. How hilarious!! One day I might understand about paces, as far as I know I just have two, the go pace and the stop pace. 🤣🤣😂
I do too Shakes, unless I’m using one of the speed runs on NRC, and those prove I can change gears when told to. But believe me, I need telling! 😅 My paces are slow and easy, medium and fairly easy and faster and not quite so easy. But no faster than that! 😂
Well done on getting out there cheekychipmunks ,I think I need to do a similar post soon as have to train for 10 miler end of March, definitely need a shove! Xxx
Enjoy you HM plan. Brilliant time of year to start one as the daylight hours increase!I have to admit I move from one plan to the next just to keep me going. I don't always do every run but the fact that a run is sat waiting for me on my Garmin keeps running high up on my to do list where it belongs!
I've just finished a HM plan and started a 10k one combined with RED February sending me out for quick runs on the so called rest days. As the days lengthen it is really starting to get me back in the habit of post work runs.
Thanks W7, yes I agree, it’s the best time to start a plan as by the time you get to the longer runs, there are more daylight hours, but it’s not yet too hot. 🙏🏻
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The Warm Up Run
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Weekly Catch Up, 31st July - 4th Aug
