Hello VRBs! How are the running gods treating you this week? Are things going smoothly, or have you found yourself on the injury couch, or thwarted by illness? Quite a few forum members seem to have been experiencing unexpected setbacks recently, so we send you all our very best wishes for a full recovery.
I’ve been musing over how time can change things. Confession: I barely ran at all last week. One 5K run, downhill-uphill-downhill-uphill, and that’s been it. I’ve been in my Renaissance choral and dance time warp, organising, rehearsing and performing on consecutive weekends.
Yet, if I roll back just three years, neither the singing and dancing nor the running would have been happening. France was nearing the end of its first Covid lockdown, concerts and rehearsals were banned, and the group’s weekend trip to Conques – yes, the one that finally happened at the start of this month - had been cancelled.
Plus, I hadn’t even started C25K, so the idea of running 6k down to the village and back, as I did this morning, would have appeared utterly impossible. So, yes, it’s surprising what the passage of time can do!
Speaking of which, the HUHM10K is almost upon us. So please, please get any remaining playlist suggestions and motivational quotes to us within the next couple of days so we can get everything finalised. See Linda’s post for details: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
And of course, now it’s over to you - it's time to tell us all about the ups and downs of your running!
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Cmoi
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Good afternoon Cmoi, although the “good” is qualified given that il pleut as they say over there ☔️ I have postponed my Monday morning run until tomorrow. Nothing to do with the weather; it is the last league match of the season today. I couldn’t fit in my long run, and get Mrs BC and me to the ground by kick off time, so something had to give! I know, I am all heart! At least Molly has had her walk and Monday sausage at the cafe.
I have droned on enough about my Covid 19 interrupted HM plan. Tomorrow is supposed to be 20k, but I don’t feel ready for it. So it will be a case of run as far as I can, slowly, and see where that ends up. I don’t know whether I will do 10k, HM or both(or neither)next week. All in the lap of the running fates. One way or another I may surprise myself! I feel a bit like a football manager spouting the “take each match as it comes “ line. In truth there is no alternative. 14 weeks of running, uninterrupted by illness, injury or, heaven forbid, other priorities only happens once in a blue moon (for me anyway). Being creative, knowing how far to push the boundaries when we have to go “off piste” is all part of the game. A good moan to VRBs does help though! 🙂
Good luck and enjoy the day. These moments come around rarely.
We have had a great season. I am probably on my own in this, but I will feel really happy if we reach the premier league, but if we don’t, we have such a good spirit in the club this year that I will just accept the outcome with equanimity whatever happens.
Well if you think you’ve moaned enough BC, I’ll happily join you in that sentiment. Seven weeks off running quashed my HM plan straight after W1R1! Coach B must have thought he’d said something to upset me!
Good luck with your (however far it ends up being) run tomorrow. I did manage my 11k as promised yesterday so that will have to do.
Hopefully see you on the HU starting line. I’m planning on doing both distances (because I’m a stubborn ‘won’t be beaten by lack of training’ sort), but as I’ve said before, I’ll be dragging Jeff along with me on the HM. He and I aren’t friends, but needs must. Would you care to have him with you too if needs be?
Thanks Cheeky. Glad you managed your 11k. Jeff and I are not really acquainted. We had a brief encounter on my 13.1k last week…just to get me over a steep hill. I am not ruling it out in principle…will just see how things go. The class of 2018 will be out in force one way or another next week.🙂👍
I find Jeff throws me off my rhythm somehow. I know people swear by him, but I guess I’m not that well acquainted either. We’ll have time to get to know each other on my HM, that’s for sure. Let’s go HU Class of 2018 🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♂️
This member of the Class of 2018 is sitting this one out and will be waving pom-poms from the van as Mr S and I head off to Suffolk for a few days. The rest of you will represent us wonderfully 😁
I think you're quite right to prioritise the footy (and of course Molly's sausage) Beachcomber66 !
It was drizzling here this morning too, which suits me fine. That's another thing that's changed over the past three years - during C25K I'd probably have decided to run another day!
As for the HUHM or 10K, you're not moaning at all - it's frustrating when the running fates decide to interfere with your training. You're considerably nearer to a HM than I am though, haven't run that in over a year. Plus I'm booked to be leading Renaissance dance practice on Sunday, so definitely won't be doing a HM that day, and almost certainly not 10K either.
If I do decide to go for the HM I have a new route in mind, which involves more off-road and elevation than usual, so undoubtedly lots more walking as well. That's my excuse anyway! 😉
I've never run HM distance with less than 350m elevation Sandie1961 and it's usually closer to 500m. The route I'm pondering is probably 750m, but I've never done it before and it's unlikely to be non-stop, given my lousy navigation skills and lack of fitness!
And yes I'm aware it's bizarre that I'm thinking I have more chance of getting round silly forest hills than a nice sensible road-based route! 🙄🤣
My thoughts too to all who are on the IC, especially my running buddies who are currently waiting for treatment or operations.
My running has been improving week by week and I am sure that being back to running 3 times a week, and doing a longer run again, is improving both my stamina and my pace. I’m not back to where I was in 2019, but definitely on an upward trend.
I’m going on a little break this week so I hope to be running in a lovely location for my long run, probably before a special dinner, rather than after. 🤪
Excellent news that your running's on an upwards curve Dexy5 , very much hope that continues for you! Enjoy your break and special dinner too. Quite fancy a treat like that myself, though I suspect that the best I can hope for is a few days in the motorhome!
🙂 being IC is the worst 🤞🤞🤞🤞 it will be sorted soon. Hospital stuff (they do their best so I am not criticising them) can be like running; a game of snakes and ladders. You think you are home and dry and then a snag appears which sets you back. We should be used to that pattern really…. But it is still really frustrating.
Wash your mouth out JonathanP . Class of 2018 is all for one and one for all. Yep, the Musketeers as Beachcomber66 calls us. We’re here waiting for you. 😀
We’re off on Sunday in the van to Suffolk for a few days - simply because we’ve never been before - so I’m not doing the HU event. I am looking forward to a coastal run again at some point next week though.
Had to look up Alfred Munnings! Think Constable is probably a little better known? 😂 Framlingham Castle is on the list. I can rest easy knowing the Musketeers are on it 😘
Hi Cmoi, we’re doing well with the playlist! Nearly up to the same number as the previous one, and they aren’t all my choices which will be a big sigh of relief to everyone 😂 Isn’t it nice to be almost back to normal? I was thinking about the choirs this morning with ‘The Big Sing’ and the rest of the Coronation stuff, can you imagine that all without massed singing? The soul would be missing.
I found out yesterday that it’s my 5th graduation runniversary! Thank you Facebook for the reminder 😂 Where did all that go? When I think back to the shaky beginnings of it all with my trainers disintegrating and having to strap myself down with two crop tops because I didn’t have the correct bra! 🤣 Now I have loads of running friends, lots of amazing experiences and loads of medals, including my prized London Marathon one. Never, ever, did I expect to see ‘Marathon’ against my name when I joined this forum mid-way into C25k. Oh yes, and lots of different shoes for different types of running and terrain, and lots of the other things too 😅. It’s been quite a ride, long may it continue 👍
I’m currently on day 8 of ‘5k a Day in May’ and so far, so good (🤞). Thought today might be tough after yesterday’s trail race but a lie-in together with a blast of the therapy gun seemed to sort it out. 23 days to go!
Thankfully holding up, achilles was grumbling but has quietened down again (🤞) and a pint of Guinness after each big run is definitely keeping the colds away, I can guarantee - it is essential and highly recommended (that’s what I tell myself anyway).
Have a great runny week everyone and keep those tunes coming 👏👏🎶
Congratulations on your 5th graduation runniversary TC!🥳. Mine is coming up closely behind. Whatever you do, don’t work out how much you’ve spent on shoes, clothes, tech, entry fees, travel and accommodation! Who said running was a cheap sport?
I bet your playlist choices wouldn't freak people as much as mine would TailChaser ! I'm afraid I've no idea what "The Big Sing" is though, and I side-stepped the coronation too.
Congratulations on your fifth runniversary, and on everything that running's brought you, not least on the wardrobe front! Bit scared by the therapy gun though - I wimp out well before I need anything like that.
Here's to a successful 5K a day in May, and many more years of running fun!
Merci Cmoi 🙏 Oh I don’t know we both seem to have quite eclectic tastes that will challenge the listeners a bit I suspect. Only someone not in the UK could side-step the Coronation 😅
I have become friends with both the therapy gun and the lumpy roller. Ever since the ‘Recover’ app told me that there is ‘no wrong or right way to use the roller’ I’ve relaxed and it’s started doing its job, same with the ‘gun’! It’s a complete revelation!
Ohhhh I LOVE Byrd’s Ave Verum Corpus Cmoi . We had an impromptu singalong at the Cathedral with the orchestra last week, who were simply playing a few tunes before our Zadok performance. Amazing. ❤️
That must have been so much fun cheekychipmunks ! I got to sing Ave Verum Corpus as part of a small ensemble in Conques Abbey Church the other weekend. Dressed in Renaissance costume too. Another entry on my "Things I never ever imagined I'd do" list!
Hmm. Is 5km a big enough run to justify a Guinness?
According to my watch, Saturday's Pwllheli parkrun burned 389 Calories, and a web search suggests that a pint of Guinness is 210 Calories. So, the answer is a definite yes.
I've not been injured or ill just a bit lazy! My 4 runs in a week a while back has not been repeated yet !
Managed a 5 mile trail run Weds eve with the groups traditional " church " to finish (steep slope then loads of steps!) and a 3 mile bluebell trail run on St Boniface down on Friday morning. Was foggy when we got up there but was still nice!
I love trail running the most definitely!
It's our annual Hospice fundraiser this weekend I'm doing the 2nd half of 14 miles all being well . Walking not running though .
What an atmospheric photo aliboo70 , I'd love to run there! We don't get many bluebells round here and it's such a delight when I do see them. Need I say that I definitely agree with you re trails rather than roads? 😉 I'm so bad at the latter. ☹️ Happy fundraising walk, hope you raise lots of money!
Hi Cmoi, hope you are doing well. I’ve been quietly checking in from time to time but work has had most of my time lately with many new projects in the last few months.
Yesterday I finished the Toronto marathon, just missing my sub 4 target with a 4:02 time, but making up for it with a 25min pb over my last mara. So the last training block seems to be effective but I’ll be taking some lessons from yesterday into Berlin in Sept. Happy running everyone!
Hi BC, thank you - finishing at all did come into question more than once in that last 5k stretch 🙂. Yes actually this last week has seen steady increases. We had a high of 20. So it was shorts and tshirt weather for most of us. Though it did get cooler along the water’s edge.
Waving frantically to you across the ocean Decker , and congratulations on your amazing marathon PB - that's a huge chunk of time to knock off! Sounds very promising for Berlin, wishingf you all the best for your training.
Seven weeks off due to lurgy, now clawing my way back by degrees. That’s me in a nutshell, and I’m happy to put that episode behind me Cmoi . I shouldn’t grumble as I’ve been exceptionally fortunate with (*touch wood*) zero running injuries in my 5 years, but boy it was tough.
Still, plenty of races and meet-ups to look forward to, my 5th runniversary next month, and my running life is good again. 🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️
Love to all who are still IC, lurgy or otherwise-bound. Running will be there for you when the time is right ❤️
You've had such a rough patch cheekychipmunks - much kudos to you for carrying on and staging a comeback. Here's to lots and lots of future running fun, and your virtual and real-life running meet-ups too!
Thanks Cmoi. It’s lucky I love running because the layoff tested my patience. Normal service is in sight, and I need to thank HU and my running buddies, actual and virtual, for keeping my spirits up! 🙏🏻
I was looking forward to the playlist for my 10k but I just read headphones aren't allowed on the run; yes I signed up for an organised one with my daughter that just happened to be on the 14th. I will still listen to it but when running on my own 😁
It may not be the case in the race you are in OldManRunning , but many races allow bone conduction headphones such as Aftershockz, but not in ear audio. These allow you to listen to music but still be aware of bikes and other people. I love mine.
I often turn my music off in a race though if there are supporters cheering us on and bands along the run. There’s nothing like feeling part of a big party.
Hi Cmoi my experience of early music is limited though for a while I attended a school where I had a Liber Usualis though they decided we didn't have to sing from it - good job as the notation was quite different from what I was used to ...
To protect a sore arch in my right foot I limited last week's runs to no more than 10K at a time. Still, how different to a few years ago when I used to be passed by runners and think I was already too old to be a runner!
Thought I was heading for the IC yesterday when at the last moment some chap, who could see me, stepped directly in front of me. Don't know how I avoided crashing into him, but I was off balance on uneven ground, and thinking "ankle break!" but luck and my shoes which are amazingly cushioned in the forefoot saved me - a combination of a stiff rubber outsole and double air zoom units. Also, I guess, several years running which has stabilised my stride and improved my balance.
Hoping I'll be able to tackle HM distance again this Sunday or in the following week. 🤞
I have high arches which sometimes give me grief. A couple of strips of tape, one starting on the ball of the foot (on the inside) and stretching along the side of the foot and ending up behind the ankle bone, and another from the ball of the foot across the top (from the inside) about half way between ankle and toes seem to hold things together while nature takes its course. Probably a good YouTube video somewhere….apols if you know this already!
Singing from a Liber Usualis would be beyond me I fear ForbiddenPlanet !
Your weekly mileage is very impressive and I can't imagine you'd have much trouble doing HM distance, though it's just as well you didn't crash into that guy.
As for the double air zoom units - Nike? - I think I'd prefer airbags, given that when I face-plant, I do it with a vengeance!
I’ve been at a work conference yesterday & today so happy to be having a cut back week before the HM next week. Covid is doing the rounds again here & I’ve been feeling under the weather since lunchtime so hopefully all will be well for an easy 13.1 miles next week.
I stayed in a hotel last night & didn’t sleep well so was up nice & early for a sunrise run. I’m always sad to see how many people are sleeping on the streets in our city going into Winter 😔
That's definitely a change from your usual photos RunWillie ! Do hope you stay Covid-free, especially when you're all set for the HM.
Re people sleeping on the streets, I once got a bit lost in Lyon and ended up cutting through a large underpass. Was horrified to find it was full of tents, mostly families with little kids. 😭
An away trip and a taper week pre HM? Sounds like the perfect strategy 👌 😍The running gods have been testing my mettle the last couple of weeks and I'm glad to be out the other side again. Looking forward to some stress free running just for the fun of it.
There's always something new to be enjoyed after the running gods are done with us! 😍
Really pleased the Vancouver HM worked out for you in the end, despite less-than-ideal circumstances linda9389 .
My entire running strategy can now be summarised as "Go out, run a bit and see what happens." I keep thinking I should take things more seriously, then decide I have other priorities. 🤭
Hello cmoi and VRBs. I’ve been on holiday in Cyprus this week. I’ve been eating a little too much and even had the odd glass of wine 😅 Weather has been terrific and I even side stepped the coronation too. Win, win,
Had a lovely trip to the Troodos yesterday. Such a contrast to the sunny coastal area and 13 degrees cooler too with clouds and rain. Felt like England. 😂
Sympathy to all those on the IC too. The comeback is always stronger than the setback, according to my Brighton 10k T Shirt, anyway.
I’m still in come back mode after my injuries earlier this year in terms of training. It’s going really well time wise though as I PB’d in my last race. I am very hesitant to say that in case the injury God intervenes and puts paid to any celebrations mind you 😬
I do sing, but the version of Ave Verum Corpus I know is Mozart's, so not particularly ancient. I very occasionally arrange stuff for choir, but (as with PDQ Bach) I tend to compose on tracing paper.
I'm hoping to do the HUHM on Sunday morning, very early, if the showers keep away. It could get quite warm for running (17°C) on Sunday afternoon here.
Hi nowster , good to have you join the runny singalong ! I've sung Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus too, which is beautiful, though in all honesty I prefer the Byrd. Impressed that you can arrange and compose, that's definitely not something I can manage.
You'll very likely be one of the first to do the HUHM, go you! Sunday morning's definitely out for me as I'm leading Renaissance dance practice in the afternoon.
As I said, tracing paper. I've never done any formal music training, so it's mostly cribbing the chord sequences off other sources, then tweaking things around key changes in medleys, making sure that stuff isn't unsingable, etc.
It's nothing complex — our group consists of a large number of sopranos (half of whom are actually altos who can only sing the melody), a handful of altos, two or three basses and a baritone who ends up singing the tenor line by default.
Exactly so! There are a group of them who struggle to reach anything above an E5. Thankfully we do have a couple of loud, true sops who can carry the rest.
My own useful range is F♯2 to F4 (G4 if it's not too often, and I've been singing regularly).
wow that sounds really exiting for you! I'm quite envious!!
Well, as you may recall, myself and a few other brave souls are taking on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge next Sat. It seems to have come round really quickly. This week however, I seem to have picked up what may be a slight groin strain which I'm trying not to get too concerned about as I really can't be getting injured this close to the challenge.
Im thinking maybe its down to the amount of hill training, as it seemed to come on last week when we were out training. Ive not done too much this week, the runs have been quite gentle and I'm going to do a hilly parkrun in the morning as my last hill training, but will take it steady and see how I feel.
Its down to 8 of us now doing the challenge from 15, several people on the injury couch and a couple who are coming are just coming back from injury, so we have said that we will support each other and we don't leave anyone behind, we do it as one team. Nervous but excited!🙏
I do hope that strain doesn't turn into anything worse Hedgehogs123 . Is the ankle recovered too? Really hope so.
I know it's not what you want to hear, but if those issues are hill-related and aren't improving, you might need to consider postponing the Three Peaks. After all, those hills won't go away! It depends on your priorities and how risky you feel it is, both on the day and in the longer-term.
Of course, "mind over matter" can take you a long way. Good luck! 👍
Thank you. Well I did a very hilly Parkrun this morning to see how I feel. Ankle has been well strapped and feels much better. Groin was twinging a bit but not too bad. I felt quite good that I managed to keep running up the incline that seemed to take forever. You're so right about mind over matter, I always try to stay ' in the moment ' rather than get focused on how much further I can to run. It was a tough one, but clearly not as tough as next sat will be. I warmed up and stretched well before I started and again afterwards. Groin seems ok. There's a dull ache there at the moment but I didn't get the really sharp pain Ive been getting when running. Going to do the HU 10km Tomm and not the HM just to be on the safe side, and then a small run on Tuesday. The rest of the week will be yoga and rest.
Thank you so much for your support, you've been brilliant keeping an eye on me and my progress!
Doing the minimum sounds like a plan - though I would say that, "less is more" is always my strategy! Just back in from a devilish pootle (6.66km 😈 182m elevation) and felt much better for having had a couple of days off, plus some reasonable sleep for once. And if I'm honest, the cool and drizzle helped - I'm hopeless once it warms up.
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