HUHM Spring 2023, ma façon

[Cmoi]

No HU virtual events for me yesterday, as I was leading real-life Renaissance dance practice, during which my left knee decided to grumble.

Combined with my usual failure to train and the fact that I've not actually run HM distance for 18 months, owing to injury and general laziness, it obviously made perfect sense for me to decide to head out today on a route I'd never done before, with a chunk more elevation than usual.

So I did. Ran and walked, mostly in my beloved forest, covered just over 22km, and 715m vertical. Didn't record my exact HM time but Strava and Garmin seemed to agree on roughly 3 hours 17 minutes. Probably my slowest-ever HM time, other than during the Trail du Gévaudan, but speed wasn't the point. Having fun was, and I did.

Ideally I shall be out for a 10K later in the week. Happy running, VRBs!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Well done Cmoi. Fun is everything isn’t it? Sounds like you had a whole lot of it! I’m glad you knee behaved 🙏🏻😀🏃‍♀️ 🏔️ 🌳

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks cheekychipmunks . I just seem to do a whole lot better when I let myself do what I want, rather than what I think I should. It was so beautiful up there today!

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Makes perfect sense, 😀 hope your dancing knee isn't still grumbling, so proud of you, it would have been easy to not go

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks SueAppleRun . My logical brain was saying no, be sensible, but I just felt that if I didn't go for it today I didn't know if and when I would. The knee got a bit grumpy on the final downhills but seems OK at the moment.

So proud of you too - look at that 10K of yours! 😍 🙌 👏 xx

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Cmoi]

So many of us have enjoyed this group VRB run, I've enjoyed being part of it and reading all the posts, I think I lost my logical brain when I was 12, so totally understand why you went 🥰xx

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

It just felt right to run there today so I ignored the gremlins!

[Dendev75 Half Marathon]

Well done 👏🏻 that’s some distance. Were you nervous about the new route or are you good with directions? Is the forest like a trail run? So glad you enjoyed it 🤗

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Dendev75]

Thanks Dendev75 . I'm not great with directions, no, but never get nervous about new routes. I love exploring in the forest and work on the principle that it'll be OK. I also carry my mobile, so if all else fails I look at Strava to see where I am in relation to where I started, then work out how to get back!

For a run like today I also take water, energy bars, basic first aid kit, and a survival blanket. While I always assume I'll be fine, if I have an accident I think it's my responsibility to look after myself as best I can until help can get to me.

I'd say the forest counts as trail run, but there isn't always a proper path. Today, as well as a few country roads, I ran on tracks and trails with surfaces including gravel, compacted sand, stones of various sizes, stream beds, long grass, shorter grass, pine cones and twigs, and mud of various depths and consistency. It's rarely flat, and puddle-dodging and branch-jumping comes as standard. Basically it's an excuse to behave like a little kid. I'm not good at taking running seriously!

[Dendev75 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

you’re braver than I am - I think I really have issues with directions as I can get completely lost and I don’t even know where I’ve come from 🙈 I can’t follow Strava or maps (they just don’t make sense to me) good job I’m in a running club and don’t run alone much.

Your forest sounds like great fun, ever changing and so much to see and navigate.

Amazing run 👏🏻👍🏻🤩

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Dendev75]

I wouldn't say I'm brave at all, it's just what I do! Club running sounds much more intimidating to me. I'm completely freaked out by the idea of having to turn up at the right place at the right time, on the same day, week in week out, and then run where other people tell me to, at their pace. And be nice to everybody too? I just can't imagine it. Running really isn't a sociable activity for me; it's very much me-time, and I'm extremely fortunate to be able to run where I do.

[Dendev75 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

I did the whole ct5k alone and continued to run alone until the dark nights set in and I felt nervous running alone so I joined the club. I too felt a bit intimidated but they are such a friendly bunch you can’t help but be nice. I think the set time motivates me to get out there when I maybe don’t feel like so that works in my favour I suppose. They take us on different routes every time which is fun and there are groups for every pace so it’s all comfortable.

But that’s the joy of running; it caters to all runners, some who may never take part in a park run or an event or prefer to run alone, on roads or tracks, but it’s all great running! ☺️

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Dendev75]

You're absolutely right re running's ability to be all sorts of things to different people Dendev75 !

[Birdlady64 in reply to Cmoi]

That normally works but last week I was in the woods with Mr B and Google maps was insistent that we were about 10 miles away from where I knew we were

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Birdlady64]

I find Google maps very hit-and-miss round here too Birdlady64 . With Strava, though, it's more like "Well I started there and now I'm here, this'll probably work to get back" - not actually using it as a map. Does require a bit of knowledge of local topography though. If I'm not near home I pay much more attention to local landmarks and signposts, particularly the names of farms and hamlets.

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Very well done Cmoi , HM and hills, you really are amazing. Congratulations.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy5 . I genuinely find hilly off-road runs much easier than pounding along on roads - I get bored and discouraged so quickly with those.

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

You must know your woods very well. French woodland always seems so vast. When we drive up and down the country I am always struck by how much of it there is in France (you would have no trouble hiding a body, is my usual, if rather weird, thought). I'm also intrigued by your dancing and would like to know more (with pictures please). A long time ago I was a dancer in a Ladies English Morris dancing troop called England's Glory, they are still going strong.

Congratulations on your amazing HM. xx

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

Thanks Shake-and-run . I know some parts of the woods very well, others not so much. Ironically it was the lack of markings on a supposedly waymarked walk that complicated things today - I'd taken a photo of the directions, too, but they weren't great.

I'll pm you re my Renaissance stuff. I have been known to perform a dance that involves a fair bit of thwacking with sticks! xx

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Brilliat Cmoi. You tackle some really tough runs! Wonderful landscape.🙂

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks  Beachcomber66 . As I said to Dexy, I find trail runs, particularly in the forest, much easier than road running. I don't actually enjoy running fast, and find that messing around in a natural environment gives me permission to avoid trying!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

I like trails too; most of my running is off road. It takes a while for muscles and tendons to get used to the lateral movement caused by slipping around on mud or friable surfaces, but once that is sorted out trails are great. You have clearly got used to dealing with steep hills too. That takes a while. Lots of hard work gone into your running.👏👏👏👏

[Birdlady64]

Brilliant 👏 👏 👏 Sounds like enormous fun! That's one stonking run over that terrain and elevation. We'll done

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks Birdlady64 - I so enjoyed it! Of course, having scratched the "Wonder if I could do that route?" itch, I'm now looking at new possibilities for exploring!

[Runnin-g Half Marathon]

We’ll done, sounds like a great run 👏🏽

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Runnin-g]

Thanks Runnin-g - one of the best things, to be honest, was forgetting all about pace and PBs and just having fun.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

What a way to start a week? Flying in the face of all the 'rules' and having fun too! Hope your knee feels better and up to the 10K too. Well done 👏 👏👏😊

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks linda9389 . Curiously enough the knee's been fine, and I generally feel much better than I have any right to. There again, yesterday was just a longer version of what I've been doing over the past few months, so it was really just a question of getting my head round it again. Helped that the weather was a bit cooler too!

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Huge well done you... Your way and what a great way that was...beautiful

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss . I've been struggling to give myself permission to do things my way and I'm so happy I did!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Cmoi]

Perfect! We should all do that...more often!

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

You don’t like to make it easy cmoi 😅 Grumbly knees and little training 🤔 You ran it, walked it, jeffed it, and enjoyed it in classic Cmoi style. 👏👏👏💪 I’d have expected no less. Well done 👏 😀

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thanks RunBrianRun . I should probably say that I was checking how the knee was feeling on the gentler inclines and familiar terrrain of the first few km, as I knew i still had options for going home via shorter routes.

The really weird thing though is that as soon as the terrain gets more demanding - steeper, dodgier surfaces, places I've never run before - I find it it takes the pressure to perform off. I just sort of relax, accept that I'm being daft as a brush, and get on with it!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

That's just fabulous, said CG with envious gnashing of teeth! I miss the crazy running in France...

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Thanks Curlygurly2 . Yes, I'm so fortunate to run where I do. Your UK and French running experiences must be very different. Will you be getting back to C-sur-C sometime?

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

No, we had to sell because of Brexit. 90 days out of 180 just didn't work for us.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Really sorry to hear that, such a shame.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

It's ok, it had to happen some time. We had a twenty year adventure, we're so grateful for that, and Cambridge is jolly nice!

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

That's good. We moved here 17 years ago, and returning to the UK is out of the question for me.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

We always did half and half, summer in France Winter in Cambridge, but Cambridge was always home. Plus, we didn't have a carte vital, and with the end of the E111 the cost of medical care in France was a real game changer. I've had some serious health issues these last 5 or 6 years, and neither of us are spring chickens. It all pointed to time to go really.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

We sold up in the UK and invested everything in buying here. I got work after about four months and started paying into the French system then, which has made things considerably smoother over the years.

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Sounds like a cracking run! I have visions of you scrambling around your forest like a little mountain goat, enjoying the scenery, space, and generally having a great time. You’re still a machine, Liz 😃😃😃.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Thanks Frenc . It was giggle-out-loud fun and I was definitely being a very silly, messy, muddy little creature. Actually jogged backwards at one point to better take in the views. Grown-up is over-rated.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

Sounds a perfect run Cmoi! Glad your knee was OK and that you had fun doing it. It was a great event 😀

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Thanks Cowladyrunning . It was a pretty perfect run from my point of view, though I'm sure many would regard it as a bit of a nightmare!

[Run46 Half Marathon]

Wow Cmoi, time be damned...to run it on a grumbly knee with a 715M elevation! 😳

And you say you enjoyed it 😂...very well done 👏 🎉

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Run46]

Thanks Run46 . The knee behaved itself, fortunately, probably because I didn't care about time or non-stop running. I took it easy on several uphills, but there were some dodgy descents where the gradient and terrrain made safe running impossible.

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon]

I've been waiting for this - I was pretty sure you'd be out puddle jumping and exploring the heights and depths of the forest. It's amazing that you take so much kit with you too. I just about manage to carry my phone! Well done on a brilliant and fun HM and a lovely report. 👏👏

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Thanks Cantstopmenow . Are you suggesting I have a reputation?! 😜

I don't always cart so much about with me - for the HM I used my hydration pack, which can carry much more than you'd think. Today, though, I only took my phone, in the back pocket of my trail shorts.

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Would I? 😇A hydration vest is a good idea, I need to start taking fluid on my longer runs. I guess that today you left behind a pair of big, brown, wistful eyes... 🐶

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

I really like my hydration vest Cantstopmenow . Bought it hugely reduced in the Decathlon sale two years ago , thinking I could always use it for hiking if it didn't work for running. Very pleasantly surprised by it.

The world's most deprived dog had actually gone off with my husband for a round of golf Dogs are not officially allowed but Jedis apparently are!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I love the way you just went out and did that! Especially with a grumbling knee!

Well done 💪 the 10K will be a walk in the park🙂

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks Irishprincess . Once it was clear the knee was going to behave it felt easier just to get on with it rather than stress it, and I picked a route where I wouldn't feel obliged to run non-stop.