It's Monday again. Another new week. How's it going for you? Any exciting plans for the coming week? Any gossip for us?
Yesterday I finally ran my HUHM. And there ended my training plan🥳 I can hardly believe it, but the next one starts today - yep, really, no free time at all!!! I guess that's what happens when your spring HM is late, your autumn HM is early and you only run every third day😃 I have a feeling I'll be ignoring the plan every now and then during the early weeks!
When I wrote my Vancouver race report I forgot to mention the extremely streamlined end process. We were all efficiently funnelled out, picking up a medal and water and then out to the street festival. En route we were directed past all the food giveaways. And it was an impressive collection!!! First bananas (I had to be very insistent to get away with just one), then packets of crisps, fruit bars, cookies, and finally a choice of a turkey bap or a cheese salad one! I could barely carry everything. There may even have been more that I have forgotten 🤔
What's the best thing you've received in a post race bag? and what's your 'go to' treat after a long run? And do please tell all your news, whether you’re currently running or not.
Whatever you're up to, I do hope you have a great week everyone!
The Marathon Team xxx
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Morning Linda and everyone. I loved reading all the reports, and I’m sure there are more to come!
Blimey Linda, no rest for you at all 😕 but that will not be difficult for you with all those miles on the legs 😍
The best thing I’ve received in a race bag is the bling! Surprise surprise. Normally I get the bling separately as soon as I cross the finish line but for the Bristol HM I had to search for it in the bag and it was the first thing I wanted even before the water and the food 😂
My “go to” treat after a long run is always chocolate milk. I make my own and whizz it up and it always, always tastes delicious. And I can feel the benefit working straight away 🙂
Running wise, it’s not going at all AGAIN! I did a stretch one night last week, one that I’ve done for years, and I think I’ve pulled a hip muscle 🙄 I’m off to see my osteopath again because it’s affecting my back and I don’t know what to do now. Honestly, I’m getting to the stage where it’s sort of funny because it’s just one thing after another.
I was wondering the other day why I keep getting niggles and the common detonator seems to be my absence from Reformer Pilates. I never returned after my back injury last year but I think I need to once I get rid of this current setback. It was brilliant for strengthening those smaller muscles that we forget about and perhaps this is why I keep getting injured…..
To be continued…
Regardless, I’m dreaming of having a lovely niggle-free run and enjoying this lovely weather. I have faith. It will come.
Ahh yes the bling! of course 😍 Your chocolate milk sounds yummy - is it a secret recipe?
I'm so sorry to hear of the protracted niggles though. You are doing amazingly well if you can find a funny side, I think I would be struggling with that. Good luck with the osteopath. Reformer pilates sounds very much worth a try again, especially as I get the impression you enjoy it too.
I stupidly threw in a park run (Devon tourism) the day before my HUHM. I then stupidly ran it faster than I had promised myself I would! I knew my hip was niggling after that run, but I then stupidly went ahead with the HUHM yesterday. Anyway, stupid gets what stupid deserves ... and I was hobbling around yesterday afternoon ☹️. My laptop is virtually out of battery so I really will have to get up and test it out in a minute ... add to that the fact my face is blistering again (GP appt this morning) and I think I may be getting more of a rest than I imagined (maybe I'll be starting my plan at week 3!!!) 🙈 Yep, stupid gets what stupid deserves, so I can blame no one but myself this time 🤷♀️
Oh no Linda! Sorry to hear about your face. I really hope it isn’t shingles 🤞
And all the other woes! But we sound similar in our approach to push on sometimes when we maybe know we shouldn't. I’m trying hard to learn to be different but it’s tricky 🙄
I hope all your worries disappear and you can get on track with your next plan 😍
Thank you IP. With this second outbreak I'm convinced it's not shingles. It's more likely I've joined the (un)happy band of folk who suffer from cold sores. Just hoping this first bout is worse than any recurrence will ever be and that this new course of antivirals will fully knock it on the head before we go away next week🤞We will both be back, possibly making the same mistakes ... but back all the same 😍
I sympathise Linda. I suffer from cold sores and they can be really painful and make you feel horrible. Luckily as I get older I don't get them so much but stress and too much sun brings mine on.
My poor mum, in her youth, had a course of injection for hers in the days they thought that would cure them. It didn’t. She used to get clusters all around her face which sounds as if you might have the same, the herpes zoster, not the herpes simplex which most people have.
Shingles is in the same “family” so they're all connected.
Big hug winging its way to you and wishes for a good recovery 🥰
That is just ridiculous IP! Whenever I had a niggle you always seemed to be one of those invincible runners who just kept going and going, whilst I always seemed to have one leg on the IC. Time the niggle bugs left you alone! Hopefully this is just a last desperate rally before they buzz off!
Two heaped teaspoons of good quality cocoa powder (I use Green & Blacks) mixed with milk of your choice. I whizz it up in a Nutribullet. I sometimes add cinnamon and/or nutmeg, both anti-inflammatories. I’ve also tried mixing up half a banana but the texture gets very thick which I don’t like so I sometimes just eat one on its own with the milk.
But chocolate milk is apparently the perfect post-run food as it contains all the nutrients we need. And it tastes yummy too !😋
Nah Irishprincess I don’t agree. I could do without the bling. Don’t want it. 👎
LIES, all LIES! 😅
I wouldn’t bother with a race if there was no bling. All that effort deserves something shiny and heavy and needs to go round the neck immediately; even before swigging water, gasping with thirst or not! 😅
Great collection of post race items there!! At Cambridge HM you get a fab jute bag (I used mine til it collapsed, it was the best thing about the goody bag). Plus they thrust actual beer at us as we stumbled through the finish line - non alcoholic - but all the same, positively the last thing I wanted to see let alone consume at that point in my life!
A decent bag - perfect! I just had to clutch all my individual goodies along with phone and post race bag 😍 The longest queue I saw was for beer samples and vouchers and I had no problem resisting (had it been prosecco the fight may have been on 🤣)
I did a tough hilly HM and the “goodie” bag contained zero edibles ☹️ The free coffee was miles back up the rotten hill I’d just struggled up 😁. What an utter disappointment.
I did get a six pack of those lush Eat Natural bars in one goodie bag though 😋
Good morning Linda. Post run fodder! After last Monday’s effort I was absolutely starving. I stopped at the cafe of course..flat white and chocolate brownie is a given, but that wasn’t enough. A bacon sandwich just didn’t seem right…too much effort to digest I think, so I settled on a double egg (fried!) roll on brown. It was, to my surprise, absolutely delicious and just filling enough. 🤷♂️ who would have thought?
I almost referred to the 'BC flat white and a brownie' in the post 😍 I had a sausage and egg roll after parkrun and a walk on Saturday, so I can imagine your egg roll was tasty. Who knows what else we may discover 😋
Thanks Linda. 🙂 I am a bit lost this morning; not sure what distance to run. A problem of not having a plan to follow. Maybe a 10k today, then use the tail end of the NRC plan in future weeks to try to do a slightly quicker HM. See how it goes.
Decisions, decisions. Choices, choices ... it's a strange feeling after the structure of a plan isn't it. Not a problem for me this time around as my spring plan rolls directly into my autumn one (sore leg willing!) 🙈
I had to look up baklava! I need some ….it sounds amazing. My attempt at speeding up a bit worked to some extent. 10k at 7.15 pace as opposed to the easy long run pace which had drifted out to 7:30/ 45 post Covid. More work required to get back to 10 miles at 7:00 pace, but going in the right direction. I would like an HM pb this year. Always good to have a target.
We love the place…been 30+ times with family and latterly just the two of us. Lovely runs ( a bit hilly but I don’t notice it on holiday), lots of familiar walks and people we know to drop in on. Our chill zone!
Oooo yes I agree about the egg sandwich BC. Absolutely delicious. Jenny and I stopped at the Golden Arches on our way back from PR on Saturday and I chose an egg and cheese McMuffin rather than the sausage version. It was just the ticket. 😋😋
Good morning cheeky. Kinder than bacon on the digestive system post really long run. You have made me realise that I haven’t been in McDonalds for years! I need to get out more 🙂
Hi BC 👋 It’s my and Jenny’s guilty pleasure whenever we go to Severn Bridge. Ok it’s a slightly longer drive home (the smaller motorway services right near the bridge only have a Burger King and they stop serving brekkie items at 10am. Too early I think!) So Magor Services it is. Hash browns and a McMuffin. Highly recommended! 😋😋😋
I’ve not been in one since my trip to casualty. It was gone midnight and we’d had no tea. The limp meat patty (I hesitate to call it a burger) reminded me why I’d not been a frequent visitor. I was amazed just how many folks were in there! The tea was good though 🙂
I used to drop in for a coffee on my 50 mile drive home from work; just to make sure that I stayed awake! I saw it as a message that I needed to retire. People say that the coffee is pretty good now 🤷🏻♂️
I’ve only done one race & I am not really fussed about bling. Think my younger boys were more excited about the medal. I always try & have some protein after a long run. Eggs on toast or Greek yogurt with berries, chia seeds & honey. Sometimes I finish a long run down at the foreshore for a flat white & a yummy raw treat like a homemade snickers bar. I blame Beachcomber66 🤣
I’m slowly getting over the Covid? / Cold? Heart rate is still quite high on my easy pace runs but HRV is now back in balance & resting heart rate is back to normal. I will do my usual 30 miles this week & maybe try a 2hour long run. Still not ready for a HM.
'Not really fussed about bling' 🤔 As something of a bling hoarder, I'm struggling to see those words together in one sentence 😍
So glad your health stats are pointing in the right direction again. There's no hurry really is there, just take it by feel and keep heading that way 😊 Sounds like you're very nearly there though 💪🥰
Hi linda9389 , thanks for hosting, and again for all the HUHM10K organisation. Sorry that your skin is flaring up again, and hope the GP appointment is helpful.
I've never actually received a post-race bag, so can't answer that! Unless my Trail du Gévaudan Finisher t-shirt counts? Nor do I have a "go-to" treat; it depends on time of day and mood. I'll often grab some cheese, or bread, cake or viennoiseries if they're around.
As reported elsewhere, I did the HUHM and 10K in very lazy stop-start fashion, failing to stick to the official distances or to note my times accurately. Then felt guilty that I hadn't run either non-stop, so did an 11K Strava cat yesterday on a comparatively flatter road and tracks route.
So that's three undisciplined runs in a week, slow but with significantly more distance (43.6k) and elevation (1,361m) than in years. Garmin, of course, hates me, but I feel so much better, mentally and physically, than after all the sensible, dutiful, algorithm-pleasing stuff I've been doing.
Wishing all VRBs on the IC a full and speedy recovery, and joyful running to those who can!
Ahh. Now I definitely see the cat!!! I didn't get it when I looked on strava yesterday 😍
That's some mighty mileage this week Cmoi - sounds like you are truly back and having lots of fun in the process 😊
I've got a prescription for another dose of antiviral meds, so hopefully they will be the end of this stupid thing (and hopefully soon enough for it not to get as bad as before too).
All my good intentions seem to have gone out of the window! I was going to slot in a longer run and run 4 times a week in my run up to the 2 Castles 10k next month, but not only have I not got round to it, I didn’t even do parkrun on Saturday, because I woke in the middle of the night feeling ill 🤢 Made up for it with a bit of a forest trail bike ride with the grandkids yesterday though.
My go to treat after a run has to be a bacon sandwich, although I can equally do coffee and cake when in company!
Best goodie bag was definitely Venice 10k. I can’t remember exactly what was in it, but there were products from all the many sponsors as well as fresh fruit.
My exciting news is that Mr S and I have booked a 6 week trip to Australia and New Zealand in autumn and I should be able to do at least 3, possibly 4 parkruns, including North Sydney for a compass point and an n for my parkrun alphabet. Sad I know 😂😂😂
Sometimes good intentions can hide well! Such is life 😍Ooh a bacon sandwich sounds good! All that salt 👍
That sounds like a fabulous trip, how exciting. It won't mess up your Europe day count either 👍 We're considering NZ in Feb - parkrun hadn't occurred to me, but it's now on the checklist 🤣
ha ha your Vancouver give away sounds a bit like Crackerjack! There wasn’t a cabbage and a pencil in there as well was there? As you know, many of our training or parkruns end with a cappuccino and some delightful item in a local cafe which usually serves as brunch. But post race I do love a pizza as a way of replacing carbs.
The most surprising item in a goody bag was an ice cold (non-alcoholic) beer at the New Forest Marathon last year, but my newly discovered favourite was the Jaffa cakes at the Monsal trail in April. I think I will have to take a box along for my next race as they went down so well. I probably ate your share too!
I’m keeping up with 3 runs a week, magic plan style, which fits in with life and a Saturday parkrun fix. So will probably extend that long run this week to 11k as I want to move towards 10 miles again.
Hope you can get those blisters on your face sorted soon linda9389 . I am back to putting factor 50 on mine before running now it’s getting brighter again.
Ooh, I do like pizza before a race - haven't tried after but it sounds like a good idea. I missed the Monsal jaffas, but I'll be looking out for the beer in the New Forest in autumn (not that I like beer really ... but ice cold sounds good post race!
Sounds like a winning formula to get back to 10 miles. Enjoy!
And sausage and bread and cake and chocolate and fruit along the way, plus a free craft beer at the finish (this is almost tempting me to enter another event 😜)
Hi Linda (and VRBs) - you must have boundless energy! All of the travel and running and admin ... ?! 👏👏
(My HU HM time was actually 2:15 - I should have put it in the title of my run report to make it easier to pick up).
I have yet to enter a running event - maybe a reward if I ever manage to get somewhere close to a reasonable weight - so no bling as yet.
As for current fave rewards, I usually run in a fasted state, after an overnight fast, and one nice aspect of this is that whatever I eat after a long run tastes fantastic! 🤣
Last week's HU HM has felt like a good step change for me, still trying to process that, but being part of the virtual community you organised is a big part of it I think. 🙏
Jogged a gentle 12 km this morning, and looking to get in a few more of those in hopes of getting close to my target of 300 km running for May.
Definitely not boundless energy unfortunately ... I'm in need of a refuel 😍
I can't imagine running fasted so my hat is off to you there.
If you fancy bling without the inherent difficulties of a live event, you might like to consider a virtual event. There are many different websites offering totally virtual 'events' , some of which include charity donations. Some examples:
But some 'live' events also offer a virtual option - the London marathon for example, or the Vancouver half that I did, the virtual half I'm doing in the New Forest in September newforestmarathon.co.uk/the... and I'm sure there are more.
300km for the month is an amazing target - good luck!
Thanks Linda - very helpful suggestions - I will investigate them!
I find fasting easy - the problems begin when I start eating ...
Went back and forth on whether I should fast and run, but then I watched a ZOE podcast on the benefits of working out in a fasted state - widens the 'glucose doors' apparently - which reinforced my idea to do it.
If you can run a HM in 2:15, you can enter any race you like! I have only done 2 actual races. The latest was last October’s GSR. My calf gave me grief, slowing me down by 30 seconds/k, but the experience, meeting up with VRBs for the first time, was wonderful. The run is just an excuse for a get together.👍
Thanks BC - I think I can do better, as still quite heavy. In a race I think I might get caught up in the atmosphere, go too fast, and break something. Getting my weight down would mitigate that I think.
Also have a weak ankle so usually run some variation of the same route. After some years running my legs are noticeably stronger and balance much improved, so if I can lose a couple of stone / run a HM in under 2 hours, I would feel more confident in giving it a go.
Afternoon peeps 👋. Not been around as I’ve been busy. OH is not too well post pneumonia, having suffered a set back. I’m grappling with all the gardening duties now as well, trying to get the grass and hedges under control, as well as the veg garden. Managing to run to save my sanity 🙏. OH is very down as he’s had to cancel his footballing holiday.
I’ve picked up a second hand shopping bike but not had time to play on it yet Grrrr 🙄
It’s great that it’s warm out and we’re shedding the layers 😎🌞 Woohoo!🥳 Have a great week everyone 🙂👍🏃♂️🏅🍰
I hope Mr Wobble gets better soon misswobble , and that normal life I able to resume again. I’m glad you are still able to run in addition to all your gardening tasks .
Oh goodness your plate is full. I hope your OH is feeling much better very soon. And that the holiday is soon a distant memory 🙈 Thank goodness you're still able to run. Take care of you too xxx
Hi Linda! I’m so pleased you got to run your Vancouver race, and well done on your HUHM!
As I’ve only ever done one race, I don’t have much to choose from. There was this great lip balm in the goodie bag, a posh French one, which was really useful and nice to use.
I feel bad as I’m only dipping in to HU sporadically at the moment, I’m finding it a bit tough as only half way through my 3 month break. Had a sports massage last night (brutal 🤣), then off to see the physio again this afternoon. Hopefully some new exercises and some positivity. The massage seems to have released my piriformis so that’s good, but it feels very tender today!
Lip balm is unusual I think 😀 but useful is always good 👍 Halfway through is also good. Hang in there. Sports massages can really leave their mark can't they, but I swear by them for myself. Stick with it and start counting down. You will be back 🥰
Sorry to hear this IP - I hope it’s nothing too serious 🧐. In the nicest possible way, I can’t think of anyone better to share the couch with though. I’ll go and put the kettle on 🫖 🍰, and we can share our woes. 😊😊😊🌺🌺🌺.
Oh no! Honestly, danger lurks everywhere. I really hope it gets better quickly. I pulled a muscle in my back a while ago by just taking my jumper off. It was actually really painful! Anyway, I’ll get baking and cake should be ready by about lunchtime.
A browse on the Sweaty Betty website may cheer us up 😊.
Hi Frenc, it went well thanks. Apparently my rolling and massage ball work has been ok, so apart from easing off the outside of my calves and hamstrings it was all pretty good. My just completed intervals will test things a bit!
I didn’t do the HUHM for obvious reasons 😅 I would struggle with 5k these days I think, but it was lovely to read all the reports and to affirm the wonderful community spirit in here.
As for me, I am entering a new intensity in my training program, especially gym work, with an emphasis on plyometric exercises and power. All heading towards the U.K. Champs in September. I’m cutting back in races with just one in June now. There may be another in July but I haven’t decided yet. I need to keep race sharp so I have to pick carefully. I’ve come to the realisation that training comes before racing and that must be the priority. Well at least that’s the plan anyway.
Good luck with your new plan Linda. You’re going great guns at the moment. 👍
Plyometric exercises? You have my utmost respect. I no longer seem to have the ability to jump; not sure if it's physical or mental but my kids think it's hilarious 😀Your training sounds super focused! But at least June isn't too, too far away and the lure of the UK Championship must be a great motivator. You really are a superstar 😊
Thanks Linda. Plyometrics need to be done with a sprinkle of caution especially as we age. They can go horribly wrong if you land incorrectly, especially single leg landings. That’s how I hurt my ankle earlier this year. It’s vital to connect mind and body to get it right. Proprioception? Have I spelt that right?Anyway, I limit those single leg ones now. 😅 Looking forward to those champs! I would love to make the final of the 100m! That’s my goal anyway and I do love a goal 😂
Oh no! Sorry to hear this Brian 😞. I caught it again about 4 weeks ago, all you can do is rest and catch up on some reading or tv, in between snoozing. I hope you don’t feel too awful.
It’s a nuisance more than anything else as I was just about to get stuck into some serious training. I feel a bit achy and my tinnitus is screaming at me but other than that atm it seems fairly mild. Hopefully I’ll be back out there soon.
Oh heavens Linda, your face needs to give you a break. Your running niggles are likely easier to manage and you know how to deal with those. It might well be cold sores. I get them (the more common version) if I’m run down or don’t wear bucket loads of SPF on my lips when it’s sunny, and they’re a real pain - literally. Hope you can find a remedy for yours, it sounds nasty. 🙁
I’m with Irishprincess on the bling. No, I know you can’t eat or drink it so it’s not a treat as such, but the medal my favourite and I’ll dive into the goodie bag for that before quenching my post-race thirst. 😍 Food wise, a good roast always goes down well after a race - not readily available in a goodie bag mind you! Salty crisps always fit the bill (not just after races either!) Hungry now. I talk about food and that always happens! 😅
I finally got results from the Canadian test - not shingles, just ordinary cold sore virus. Am hoping this lot of meds will fix it because in a week's time I'll be in the sun in Greece which is probably not such a good thing!I'm going to skip a couple of runs to try to clear this leg niggle - great start to the new plan 😍🤷♀️
Ahh the bling! It's funny how opinions and desires vary on medals, but yours is clear and I wouldn't want to get between you and your medal any day of the week 😱🤣
I do love a good roast after a hard run too, but if that's not on the cards a bag of Graze protein veggies is my current fave - cashews and crunchy veggies covered in salt and pepper. I tell myself they're healthy 🤣🤣🤣
It’s good the diagnosis wasn’t shingles Linda. Hopefully the meds will kick in and you can enjoy Greece. A wide brimmed hat and a hefty SPF will protect you I’m sure. 🤞
Oh yes I’d fight you for bling! 😅 You’re welcome to my teeshirt though. I also love those Graze protein veggies and cashews. The word veggies is healthy - so they must be. 😅
Having given accommodation to both the shingles virus and the cold sore virus, I guess stress is definitely not my friend - bit of a lottery now 🤣🤣🤣I will order some hefty SPF stuff right now, thank you for the tip. Apart from anything there is a patch about an inch square (yep, it was mahoosive in the end) of new red skin that probably shouldn't be anywhere near the sun yet...
Linda, if you're looking for a spray-on facial sunscreen to avoid touching your skin, I found Garnier Ambre Solaire Over Make Up Super UV spf 50 spray good. Used it when running in last year's crazy heatwave. Think I got mine in Lidl!
I just ordered a ski cream because it also has the lip thing. I seriously hope it won't happen again on this scale - I think an infection made it worse - but prevention sounds like the way to go!!!
The best race goody was a bag of mini cheddars from Relish Running at the end of the Cheddar down hill 10k! Funny but also amazingly welcome salty cheesy wonderfulness after exertion!!!! And my all time favourite bling is the medal I ordered for the HU half we just did from Virtual runner on Irishprincess recommendation! I love it!
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