Just a quick one from me today as I have a race to run and then a family roast to cook (after my shower); a nice day I hope despite the untimely change from sunshine to wall to wall rain!
How's it going runny peoples? Have you been lucky enough to have a lovely long weekend and lots of sunshine, with time to enjoy some perfect runs? Or has life not been quite on your side?
I spent pretty much the whole week coming back to earth after the excitement of last weekend's Monsal Trail HM. My race today is an altogether quieter, local affair; I have promised myself I'm just going to enjoy the scenery (it's run on a lovely private estate which is normally out of bounds) and try not to fall in the mud - falling off my bike last week was quite enough, my knee is still grumbling!
I must get my head back into gear for the HU HM and 10k too! Are you training to take part in that? Let us know how it's going if you are. If you'd like to join in but haven't signed up yet, let us know below (you can find more info on the event here: healthunlocked.com/marathon... and the list of entries to date is here: docs.google.com/spreadsheet... ).
Unfortunately, my plans have had to change and I will now be airbound between Canada and the UK when the starting gun fires at 9:30 on 14th May!!! However, I will be sure to run mine during the following week, and, if you look up while you're running, you can be assured I will be cheering loudly and waving my pompoms high above you!
Do join in the chat below; from hearing about your running (or indeed your lack of running if that's the way things are just now), to reading about how much chocolate you've eaten over the last few days, we love reading all your comments!
Wishing everyone a fabulous week 🥰
The Marathon Team xxx
Edited to add link to HUHM10K start list
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Hello Linda , perhaps you could check your spreadsheet and see if I’m on there yet . I’m hoping to do at least one 10k a month so I will match May’s run with the HU Virtual run. I will also try to extend another long run so that my training up for the Great South Run starts earlier.
Yep, you're there Dexy 😊 I've now added a link in the post to the start list on case anyone else needs to check. Good to have the motivation to keep those 10ks coming. GsR will be round before you know it!.Pouring with rain ... currently faffing on what to wear 🙈
Good morning VRBs, You certainly have an action packed day Linda! Enjoy your race and the chance to run on a private estate. I am trying to convince my body that it was made for running, not eating chocolate. I'm off for a 10k run with friends now. It's chucking it down here! Enjoy the weather while it lasts. 🙂
Our weather broke yesterday evening. It rained all night, all morning, through the race and all the way home. I notice the sun is out just now though 🤷♀️. And oh how quickly the mud and puddles were back!!! Hope you had a lovely 10k and a nice warm soak afterwards!!!
Well done you for getting through it, or is it slipping and sliding through it! We had a good run in the heavy rain, through endless puddles. I was hungry when I got home, so after a quick shower, I wolfed down a plate of scrambled egg and beans on toast 😋. Have a good week x
Morning Linda, you have quite the day ahead of you! Good luck, and I hope you don’t get totally drenched. 🤞 I’m impressed that you’re cooking a roast after racing. Mr Cheeky knows better than to ask me to do that! 😅 I always have a very long appointment in the bath. 🛁
Well I’m happy to report that I’m back running regularly again, and by degrees I’m building back fitness. I’m boot camping myself by vowing to run at Ashton Court at least once a week. If that hill doesn’t help get me fitter, nothing will. 😵💫 I did it 3 times last week; twice running it in its entirety, the middle time Jeffing. Even though Jeffing was quicker than my first effort, it was slower than my third (which itself was 5 minutes quicker than the first one). However you slice it, I don’t like run/walking. I know, I know - but I just don’t get the same running buzz.
That said I am intending to run the HUHM, but Sensible Chipmunk knows she won’t be anywhere fit enough without Jeff to help me.
I have a nice flat route planned so bring it on. No millions of circuits of the wet common this year! 😀
The dawg has put paid to my best laid plans 😫. I’d got plans to catch up on my veg growing timetable and running. Bah, foiled again 😖 Still lots of walkies though 😀. I’m trying to lose some ballast ☺️
You're one step ahead of me Miss W - I still need to make the decision to start losing my extra ballast. If only it didn't creep up on me so easily ...
Correct! Preceded by an all inclusive holiday, preceded by Christmas ... these bad habits have been a while in the making which makes it even harder 🙈 And Easter hardly helps!
Wow IP, that’s quite some feat! Nah, no need to start now though, like you said! 😅 I enjoy a bit of roast therapy on a Sunday, I find it quite therapeutic. - but not after a race. Then it’s Mr Cheeky’s job. 😀
I have to agree CC. Normally I would insist on going out for my roast after a race ... but being Easter Monday and family coming over I couldn't quite swing it today 🙃
He loves cooking and I don’t so it’s a no-brainer really! The only roast I cooked was delicious (if I say so myself) but it was such a faff I swore I’d never do another one.
I'm exhausted now, mostly because I lay awake half the night listening to the rain, imagining the mud and puddles ... and wondering how I would get lunch done in time for my son's newly sprung upon me time schedule 😍. Not only did I not get a soak in the bath, but my shower was cold because same son had used all the water. Yeah, that's the son I beat last weekend .... hmmm, maybe I gloated a tad too much 🙈 To be fair, Mr9389 had the meat in the oven and all the veg prepped by the time I got home.
I am in awe of your Ashton Court hill determination. That's quite something and great that you are feeling the benefits - how lovely to feel that fitness returning as a result of your efforts. Hopefully Jeff will appreciate your new route as much as I'm absolutely sure you will 🥰
Oh the horror Linda! There’s nothing worse than an unintended cold shower or bath. Your son owes you one! 😅 Glad you didn’t have to prepare the entire roast after all. Nice Mr9839! 🥰
Thanks for being in awe of my Ashton Court exploits, but they’re 100% necessary to get me back to where I want to be fitness wise. Definitely helping though, I can feel it! Nooo, I’m the one in awe of you racing in the mud and rain today. That’s heroic!
Jeff has been warned he’ll be out with me for the HUHM. I hope he helps me, even though I frankly don’t like him very much! (Don’t tell him I said that!)
It wasn't prearranged, but Jeff turned up at my race today and persuaded me to walk up the hill! So I can't help but be in awe of you right now 😍.
Having said that, when I did start running again, I noticed I overtook a good number of the people who had just puffed past me on the way up the hill (while I was quietly harumphing to myself 🙈).
There’s nothing like the hint of a roast dinner in a bank holiday to bring the kids back home . 😂. Or maybe he wanted to see the evidence from last week.
You say that, but even with the lure of a roast, pur younger son still preferred to go climbing in Scotland! Then again, he's never been much of a fan of a roast (and I shall remain convinced it was the roast he was avoiding, not me🙈🙉🙊).
Happy Runniversary RW! That's a gorgeous photo. Your minimum is probably still more than my heavy weeks!!! Have a lovely holiday and enjoy your running tourism too 🥰
It’s 10:20 and I’m still in bed 🤫 I really have to get up but not yet…
Do we have a Spotify playlist for the music? I don’t want to suggest things that may already be on there if we do? I keep thinking of things then the moment passes… I can set one up if we haven’t got one?
I’m trying to keep my fitness up from Monsal Trail but I’m having a bit of a cut back week this week as I think my legs need a rest. I’m helping Shake-and-run do her HM on April 21 so I need to keep it up for that, but that will be a Jeff (could you put her down for Pom poms please?). This is to replace the Shakespeare HM that was cancelled. Then I’ll build up again to a full run HM for the 21st as I have a trail 10k on the 14th May.
Apart from anything else, I’m just enjoying feeling stronger - the Monsal Trail training and race have done wonders for my confidence! So I need to keep it up, I want to carry it on to when (Amsterdam) marathon training starts again at the end of June. I’m going to try the London Marathon Improver plan as it’s fairly similar to the 9 week Big Half plan I followed for the Monsal Trail.
Ok, I suppose I’d better get up now…bread to make…washing to do…maybe a gentle run with Katnap. Wish we had 4 day weekends every week 😅
I was going to make bread but I got a surprise delivery at 9,00 am 🐕. He arrived with the 💦💧☔️ 🙄. Only for three days though 🙄. Best laid plans out the window 🤷♀️ We went a walk, got drowned. Hey ho 😁
Of course 😅 Soggy doggy. It was chucking down here a minute ago but now it’s bright sunshine so we’ll have to pick our moment carefully. Longest lie in I’ve had in ages but all muzzy headed so definitely need a run now. Oh for the days when I could lie in until after midday and it didn’t matter 😂.
Bread is currently mixing, 2 loaves and 8 rolls to keep the starving hoards going for the week 👍
Hi TailChaser , oops, setting up the Spotify playlistsfor the HUHM & 10K is my job, but I've not posted about it yet. Life's been getting in the way!
So I shall post very shortly, and it would be absolutely wonderful to have your thoughts, as the playlist will be based as much as possible on forum members' suggestions.
Cmoi if you do a Spotify playlist, can I download it if I don’t pay for Spotify? If I have to rely on Wi-Fi or data roaming I think I will just use my own playlist
As far as I understand it, you won't be able to download it from the Spotify playlist without a subscription. Listening to music doesn't use too much data (video is the real culprit) but you do need a reasonable connection of course. You might want to look at the spotify list and download any tracks you fancied, using whatever you normally use to download music.
Hi Dexy5 , afaik linda9389 's right - the playlist will be public, but Spotify doesn't allow downloads without a subscription. Listening online shouldn't eat that much data.
Of course, you could always ask that nice Mr Google if he knows the answer!
You will keep getting ads if you use free spotify Dexy. Once you download music (from somewhere else) that will be ad free, or of you pay the premium it will be ad free. I listen to spotify all the time so I reckon my premium is worth it (we have a family membership between five of us which makes it very reasonable)
sorry, Im gate crashing the conversation, but last year someone very kindly put together a brilliant playlist on Spotify, which I think was for a HU run. Ive used it a few times and it will accompany me on my HM this weekend. Its called HU GE List!. There's some brilliant tunes on it, so that could be a starting point point?
just had a quick look and it was Abi Rose that put the list together, which I think was one of the administrators on here, and I think I remember her saying she was having a break from the forum last year.
Thanks Hedgehogs123 . Yes, roseabi (hello if you're lurking Abi!) was key to putting together the playlist for previous HU virtual events, as well as so much else on the forum.
As linda9389 mentioned to TailChaser , we're very much hoping to create a new, or at least refreshed playlist this time round. In fact I've just posted about it: healthunlocked.com/marathon... and we'd love to hear your ideas!
What a lovely lie in TC. I was half way through my mudfest by then!!!
I think we will start a whole new playlist this time. Watch out for a post from Cmoi about a playlist for the HUHM10K, which will be coming soon. She may well take you up on the offer to set up the list though, thank you ...
As I won't be able to run on 14th, maybe I'll run mine on 21st instead and know there are at least a couple of others out on the road/trail too 🥰 How wonderful to feel fit and confident - definitely a feeling to hang on to, and the Amsterdam marathon will be a great source motivation. Finding a plan that works for you is awesome too! Enjoy the training.
Aha! That makes sense Cmoi and linda9389 I shall scribble down my ideas as I’ve been collecting a few together in my head whilst I’ve been listening to the radio.
I may have spoken too soon as this afternoon’s run was tough but the weather was shocking! However, I’m still really looking forward to the Amsterdam training as I always feel a bit lost when a plan finishes. Thankfully they always start off lulling you in to a false sense of security by being quite easy…
That’s a good idea, I could try that but I think Shakes will keep me on my toes.
I’ve been looking at events between our summer holiday and Amsterdam but they all coincide with taking sons to university so it may be tricky. After Amsterdam it’s back to the Winter Series (it’s seriously addictive!). Can’t believe we’re getting the years races all sorted already!!
Busy day for you Linda! Hope your race has been great .... and enjoy your dinner! I haven't run after my half because I'm bunged up again with a nasty cough and sinus... 😰 so fed up with these virus things stopping me .... but I'm doing the strength stuff and yoga so not stopped completely! Of course it's a normal working day here on the farm but with added chocolate 😋 I'm hoping to try running tomorrow..... drinking water like there's no tomorrow to flush out this virus 💪💪🌟 Happy running all!
'a normal working day ... but with added chocolate' - love that!
Sorry to hear you're still not well, so frustrating. You did really well to manage the race last weekend. I hope you manage to get out for that run tomorrow - keep it gentle, be nice to yourself and thoroughly enjoy it 🥰
I hope your blisters are ok Linda but I’m sure after a week they will be 🤞Your race sounds lovely.
This weather is so changeable. The last few days were gorgeous and today the wind is howling and it’s wet again 🙄 On Saturday’s run I was overdressed and should have worn shorts but I have at last put away my winter kit and it’s NOT coming out again until the end of the year, if at all! I remember one winter I didn't wear winter gear at all and this year I’ve worn it a lot.
Anyway, despite my little hiccup with the shoes and pause in training I’m still hoping to be fit enough for the HUHM. If I can get to 10 miles beforehand then I’ll be ok if I take it slowly. I got to 14K before my shoes saga so I’m fairly confident it will work out 🙏
The blisters didn't feel too bad thanks IP, although wet shoes, socks and mud certainly didn't help!
What a difference a day makes! Yesterday it would have been a lovely race. Today it was more of a slide in the rain!!! Never mind, all part of the fun ... I'll keep saying that and eventually I might believe it 🙈
It's great that you're niggles are behind you and training moving in the right direction again. We want you on the starting line of the HUHM 😍
No runs here but progress nonetheless. I’ve been carrying on with the physio exercises. Yes, there is a sticker chart. Nobody is too old! Walks are becoming progressively longer and the knee pain has really settled which I’m so relieved about. I’m really missing the runs-I’m literally dreaming about going running! I’ve got another physio appointment on Friday where hopefully I’ll get the go ahead to start some light runs over the weekend. 🤞🤞🤞
Keep at it MissU. I hope you have a nice gold sticker lined up for when you get signed off 😍Patience is so hard to find isn't it? I used to find myself resenting every runner I saw - I was oh so envious! In the meantime I'll keep everything crossed for you 🤞
Thank you! I spent most of the time looking at the ground - it was pretty treacherous. All the marshalls were calling for us to 'take it easy, take care' - not the usual motivational cheers 😍
Hope all goes well on Wednesday and that the weather gods are kinder to you than they were today 🥰
Oh no! Well done for running in that awful weather 👏🏻 I got caught in a heavy downpour this morning practising for Wednesday - yes fingers crossed it’s not as bad 🤞🏻
... don't tell anyone, but I seriously considered ducking out! It's very local (walking distance from home) so there were no awkward plans to cancel. It's low key and cheap, so it wouldn't have been a waste of a massive investment. But in the end, my mind made sure I did the right thing and showed up. Having said that, by the time I reached the 5km mark and 'the hill', my mind had given up resisting and let me walk without putting up any kind of a fight at all 😍
Good afternoon Linda. I hope run and roast go/ went well!
It was long run day today; the first 10 mile run in the plan, and my first since GSR. The timing of the two runs was much the same at 2:02, but today’s run had 139m total ascent just to stop me from getting complacent! Coach Bennett threw in a couple of fartleks towards the end just to keep me on my toes too! I have to say that I found the run hard; I probably started a bit too quickly, and my thighs were really aching by the finish. Shower and flat white later, I am perking up and gearing up to take out Molly; sausage day!
HM distance seems a long way off; maybe I need to find a flatter route!
Oh, but that's fab news BC isn't it? Same time as GSR despite all that elevation and, apart from knowing you've worked hard, no worrisome niggles? I think that sounds like a win! Well done.
I do keep forgetting it's Monday, but I guess it must be if it's Molly's sausage day 🥰
A fly in the ointment is that I ran 9/10 of GSR with one calf locked up! My pre GSR 10 mile pace was 7.00/k….. but we will call that race pace, not suitable for HM training; any excuse will do! Just good to be running freely again.
You weren't supposed to run fast today, it was distance you were testing. That and time on the legs. It's so easy to forget that slower isn't necessary less difficult - it uses different muscles and makes you work for longer. An easy pace run does not equate to an easy run when you are increasing distance.
Now .... I know you didn't reckon much to CB when you first met him, but I'm going to remind myself that you seem to have warmed to him over the weeks. Had you said that a couple of months ago I'd have been worried ... 😍😍😍
Hi linda9389 , thanks for hosting, especiallyas you've got so much else on!
I actually managed four runs again last week. Two were short and workaday, then the third a pure trail, properly hilly (288m elevation gain over 6.83km) forest mudfest/obstacle course. In contrast the fourth was a longer, comparatively flat (303m elevation gain over 16.5km) wander down to the local town, and involved a couple of hundred metres of running on pavements! 😱
Other than running, I've been busy doing Renaissance group stuff (admin, banking, costume lending, publicity, choir and dance practices...) and eating too much cake and chocolate!
The top three photos are from the trail run. The other two taken were during the town wander, the first at 9km looking back towards home (invisible, just below the forest!) and the second at 12k.
Animal tracks and forest paths, donkeys and distant views
Goodness, you've been busy too! But it's great that your running is back on track (ha, literally😍). Your trails always look so, so pretty and wholesome!
I was so grateful for the odd bits of pavement in today's otherwise exceedingly muddy and lumpy run. Having done it twice before I did know the train, but my previous two attempts were in glorious sunshine on firm ground. I do have trail shoes, but they weren't really up to the degree of mud and wet today. I stayed upright more by dint of luck than design!!! I also walked up the main climb - which was entirely unnecessary, but I was having a harumph to myself instead of entering into the spirit of the climb 🙈😍 I need some lessons from the other side 😍
Your run went okay... and you got the roast too... !
I am hoping to started some runs in readiness for that Virtual 10K !
Maybe fitting on a few runs here in Wales although we have a lot of rain here now... I was awake in the night listening to the rain on the roof of the tin tent......but I like it and I had no race to run
I am going to try a few different approaches but mainly just enjoying the build up
And I didn't faceplant or take a lie down in the mud either ... all good 😍 Normally I love listening to the rain (when I'm indoors or under cover that is), but last night all I could think about was what it was doing to the fields and woods paths 😱
Enjoying is the key isn't it? Just enjoy those picturesque Welsh runs and the rest will follow 🥰
Hi Linda! So nice to hear you’re still buzzing from the other weekend, it must have been so special.
This end, a bit down really, as have concluded I need to take a good break from running to sort all sorts of niggles out. I was in a lot of pain yesterday from the run the previous day, so although the run itself was fine, something obvs ain’t right, and I need to just take a step back! So, will give myself 3 months then it’ll be back to square one I guess. This is a longwinded way of saying please can you take me off the HU 10k list? Thanks 😊.
If you see me running before July, please give me a rap across the knuckles 🤣. Hope you have a smashing time in Canada!
Ahh Frenc, that's such a shame. We will miss you, but most of all I know how horrible it is to keep fighting niggles ... think you're getting there ... setback ..try again ... setback ..., it's so disheartening isn't it?
Can you get to see a physio, or maybe a sports massage therapist, just now? Get some help to move in the right direction?
I'll not be rapping you across the knuckles any time soon, but I will send you oodles and oodles of sympathy and best wishes for speedy healing 😘
Aw bless you Linda, you’re always so kind and positive! To be honest, I almost feel relieved that I’ve made this decision, I can just concentrate on other stuff like the gym (I used to be such a gym rat!). Mind you there was a bit of teeth gnashing going past some runners this morning 🤣. I’ve hidden my Strava app on my phone as I think I’d get really miffed seeing my stats disappear into nothingness 🤣.
I have a physio booked for next week but I have a feeling he’ll just tell me what I already know, I think that a massage would probably be more beneficial. Anyway I spied a Pilates website on the side of a building I’ve never seen before so might give that a whirl as well.
I just know how it feels - almost my 'specialist subject' unfortunately!!! The relief in making the decision, I know that too- when all the questions and 'what ifs' finally go quiet. But I also know, that once you're out the other side, then it's better than ever AND the break soon becomes a small blip (even my 5 months of total abstinence seem short in retrospect). There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck with the physio. Let us know how it goes 🥰
Hi Linda (again!). I ran into my physio when I was going for my Wednesday morning swimming session today. I have been mulling over going for a calf /hamstring loosen up; maybe this was a message!
I have just looked at the NRC plan for tomorrow. A 7 miles tempo run! That seems a bit odd in terms of weekly mileage increase following 10 miles last Monday and the same next. I may be making a physio booking after Monday’s run, if not sooner! Go with the flow I guess 🤷🏻♂️
I just had a look at the plan. It does seem to cut back after that. I guess this is the heaviest load period of the entire plan? The 7 miles tempo run is partly at wu and cd pace right, not all tempo? There would be no harm in cutting that shorter if you were concerned about the distance - maybe take 1km off each of the warm up and cool down sections?
Regardless, I do like a sports massage in the final stages of my training so things are loosened up again before the actual event. In fact I am a firm fan of regular sports massages - I honestly believe they cut down my injury risk significantly. It may not work for everyone, but it seems to work for me ... and I don't want to let go of that security blankie if I can help it 😍 Good luck. Make that appointment 🙃
I will do the wu 2k and then see how the middle section feels. The swim has loosened things up, and a bit of roller and massage stick work seems to have smoothed out the lumps. Next week, after Monday’s 10 miler might be a good time for a massage. Will book it in now 👍
Ok; managed the full easy/tempo/easy sandwich, and, surprisingly, neither leg fell off. So much for catastrophising!
The tempo bits were almost negative splits and averaged out about 30 seconds/k less slow than my recent average long run pace. I definitely need the longer recovery run on Saturday and then we will see how this impacts upon my 10 miler on Monday. Finally, on Wednesday, over to the physio to patch the pieces back together.
I guess that the beauty of being coached is that I am being pushed to do stuff I would probably be too cautious to tackle left to my own devices. So score 1 for Coach Bennett.
I barely noticed the freezing wind, plus patches of rain and hail! When I got home, there was the unmistakable aroma of sausage casserole coming from the kitchen. “For tonight?” I asked…..nope, it was for lunch. 10 points for Mrs BC 😋😍
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