Another 4K in the right direction

[Beachcomber66]

After a five day rest I hit the trail again today. The dizziness was so bad over the weekend I just did nothing, except watch a bit of TV and sleep a lot! Well I say nothing; I have been doing my share of the preparation for our journey to Alaska via Vancouver…lift off next Monday…..but little else.

Today was a better day altogether. Tonight, complete with YAS Marina Circuit Grand Prix sun hat (it has a long domed peak, which makes me look like a giant duck!) and sun glasses, I tried a slightly quicker 4K in the early evening sunlight. I know that after running for over 5 years I shouldn’t really get excited about a 4K, but it felt great……and I feel so much better for getting out there. My last 4K was at 7:23 pace; tonight was 7:08….and even the usually miserable and miserly VO2 max smiled on me and gave me a point back. My AHR is dropping too, so whatever has been messing about inside my body looks as though it may finally be on the way out. Not uncrossing my fingers yet, but at least I have hope that all of this will go away and I will be back to what passes for normal!

My plan for the Autumn? ….back to the HM plan. There is a PB out there waiting for me! 🙂

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Great news that you think you are getting better and that's a good improvement of pace

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

I am just pleased to be hanging on to a bit of running fitness. I know that I have lost a lot of ground since I was running all of those 10 milers, but I will cope with that if I can get back to a plan, whatever distance I start from. Continuous improvement is the thing which drives me on.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Beachcomber66]

👍😀👍

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

That sounds like the run you needed BC . I hope you will be able to say goodbye to those horrible dizzy spells soon. I think we should see a photo of you wearing that special hat!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Ta Dah!!! 🦆🦆🦆🦆

Strange man in strange hat!

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Beachcomber66]

😂 but I can see it definitely protects your eyes from the sun, 🦆

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Our youngest brought it back from the Grand Prix for me ……I think that he was setting me up….😂😂😂

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

So good to read you are feeling better Beachcomber66 , although that dizziness sounds horrible ( I sometimes get this at the end of a virus). Fingers crossed that you can build from here and also look forward to your trip next week! 🙂

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra. I might sneak another run in later in the week if progress is maintained.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

I’m sorry you weren’t in top form at the weekend BC, but it sounds like you had a corker of a run today! Brilliant news indeed. 🙏

I bet you’re looking forward to your trip to Canada and Alaska. ❤️

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Not really a holiday cheeky…you can guess the context. Just something we need to do.

I will take the duck hat ….might keep the bears at bay. Although I may get shot by a short sighted duck hunter!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Of course BC. ❤️

Ahh yes beware of those hunters. If you see one taking aim it’ll give you the chance to test out some of that sneaky speed of yours. 💥

Hope the trip goes well.

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

‘How fearful and dizzy ’tis to cast one’s eyes so low!’ Hopefully, like Edgar and Gloucester, you are keeping away from cliff tops and those dizzy spells go ‘do one’ . Great to hear you had a good run and that is a very natty hat! Xxx

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

🙂 no cliff tops up in the woods Shakes, thankfully. The hat?…”distinctive” probably covers it…..🦆🦆🦆

[JonathanP 10 Miles]

Fantastic how a good run can really lift our mood, isn't it BC? Hope recovery is maintained 🤞

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to JonathanP]

It is JP ……I am conscious that you are still missing out. Hope you get sorted soon! 👍

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks BC - still no news. However I do feel better since I have been able to try some gentle jogging - 4 mins slow running, 1 min walking seems to work well and helps me regain some 'match fitness' before the enforced pause for the op.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to JonathanP]

Good plan …. Even a little bit helps 👍

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

Glad to hear you are feeling better, not just for the running. Flights and extreme dizziness sound like a less than ideal combination too. Hope the trip goes well. It will be emotional for sure xx

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Thanks Sandie. It has taken us almost 2 years to get to this point. Last summer was just too soon. As it turns out I wouldn’t have been GSR fit anyway. Maybe next year.

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

It is a long way and I’m sure a huge amount of planning, so it has to be right.

I’m nowhere near GSR fit, but get back to the UK on 5 September, so about 6 weeks to try to remedy that 🤞

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

I am sure you will be fighting fit. I won’t be running whilst I am away, so starting with 5k max when I get back I should think. Doesn’t matter, so long as I can run.

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

That's great news Beachcomber66 xxx 😁

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks aliboo. I hope that your are headed towards the comeback trail too…it has been a while.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I'm with you - I'm excited for my upcoming 4k this morning. Nothing like a bump in the road to make us appreciate a smooth run. I really, really hope you shake this before your trip 🤞

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda. I am donning my mallard disguise every time I go out at the moment. Morning is usually the worst time, but so far so good today. It does seem to be on the way out 🤞🤞🤞

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

I hope you’re firing on all cylinders soon 😀

Love the hat! 😍

All the best with your preparations 👍🙂

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks misswobble …it is very effective; who cares what it looks like!

[misswobble Marathon]

Haha that’s the spirit 👍😀.

[Comfortnotspeed Marathon]

Hi Beachcomber. I’m sorry I don’t know the back story here but you sound as if you’re going through it at the moment. I hope things steadily improve for you just as you hope. All the best to you 😊💪

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

Thank you Comfortnotspeed. Things seem to be moving in the right direction (at last!). Frustration is a big part of this. An injured calf can be worked on…..loss of balance/ light sensitivity goes when it is ready!

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

I am so sorry that you have experienced what sounds like really awful dizziness again, I had thought that was in the past. But, of course, I am so pleased about your 4k that felt great. Periods of not being able to run at all have somehow made me appreciate being able to run so much more. Here's to your happy 'normal'. 🏃🏻‍♂️😊

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thanks >61 …the problem is the lack of control over the recovery process. It seems to be improving day by day now, so hopefully the worst has passed.

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

On a different topic, when you worked up to the HM distance, Did you use the NRC plan and if so did you run all 5 runs each week or modify the plan?

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

I used the NRC plan with modifications. I never ran more that three runs in a week.

In the early stages I did one tempo/ interval run, the longer recovery run and then the long run each week. I did often play the next week’s 15 minute short recovery run as I walked home from the long run (always the last run of the week) because it gave information which was relevant to the next 3 runs. As I got fitter, I ditched the longer recovery run and did both speed runs as well as the long run. I hope that makes sense 🙂.

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you. When I began NRC HM before, stopped by time on the ic but without looking it up, I'm not sure which injury, I did the same. I'd printed the plan off so I knew what was coming without needing to listen to the 15 min recovery run. Sounds like you were doing two speed runs per week as the plan pogressed, which I didn't do. I currently feel that all speed runs for me need to be modified so that I do not go above effort 7. Slightly in dream territory really but there is a local HM here on December 2nd. Not at all confident that my various problem areas will allow that. But it's a thought. I had thought that you kept to 3 runs a week, which is what do

Thanks again, I do hope that your dizziness has kept away.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Seems to be improving daily…and going for a run really helps 🙂

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

😊

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Now, there’s a man with a plan!

I’m so pleased that this run went well BC. You’re on a ladder at last!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Maybe the dizziness is running withdrawal symptoms!🙂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Of course!

[GTFC Marathon]

Great stuff Beachcomber66 looking forward to cheering you on pal. Your holiday sounds absolutely wonderful too 😊

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Thanks GTFC…,,more comebacks than…..🙂

[Katnap Marathon]

Looking forward to seeing your reports on the Canada and Alaska trip 😎

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Thanks Katnap. The communication systems are likely to be patchy in Denali, so I suspect that a post event reflection will be the best I can do.🙂

[Katnap Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

👌 perfect!