Have you had a good week? With autumn officially now upon us and September drawing to a close I'm amazed once again how quickly the days are shortening. Time to get the autumn plants in and dig out the longer sleeves and legs, methinks 🍂
My recent hip niggle has been spoiling my running plans for several months now. But let's be honest, I'm no stranger to coming back from persistent niggles (and bigger injuries); I've done it before and I can do it again. The longer I run, the more experience I have and the more my patience and my confidence grow. I'm already very grateful for my running past 😊
Last weekend I managed my best parkrun time since early summer and I'm very happy to be steadily upping my distance, without any noticeable niggles from the hip which has been grumbling for several months. The 'now' is looking good.
I have a long slow 10 miles to look forward to this week (albeit probably in gusting winds and heavy rain again); that will feel like a real milestone run. I'm hoping my hip will keep smiling and I can get to The Great South Run in one working piece🤞
How about you? How was your week and what do you have to look forward to this week? Anything nice? What are your hopes and plans looking forward? Do tell us all about it below.
Non-running life has been a bit hectic for me recently - all nice stuff (mostly travelling), but time consuming all the same - so I'm keeping my bit short and will let you guys do all the talking this week😍
Whatever you’re up to, whatever your hopes for your future runs, have a great week lovely runny people 🥰
The Team xxx
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Great news about your hip and your longer runs. Fingers crossed for your 10 miles and the GSR 🤞
This is my “dangerous” time of year with loads to do in the garden and perfect running weather. I need to be really careful and pace myself otherwise I just get carried away and injury is a big risk. But I just love being outside on these days 😍
As well as my hip issue (another sufferer 🙄) I’m also getting used to brand new orthotics for the first time in seven years! I went to a new podiatrist so this will be interesting for me.
So, I started off with a 1 min run/1 min walk ratio and have been building up exceedingly slowly. It was all going well until yesterday when the hip didn't seem to like the sets of 4 minute runs, maybe a step too far. Today the niggle has completely disappeared which is great, so slowly slowly is the way to go, but it’s fab just to be running at all!
In other news, I’ve started doing yoga at home. After years of doing class Pilates and Reformer Pilates, I thought I’d try yoga again for stretching. I’ve tried it three times in the past and each time I ended up with a painful back so have avoided it like the plague since. But a friend who stayed recently was doing it (with Adriene) and so I thought I’d give it a go. It’s early days but the moves are really stretching my back which has always been an issue for me so I’m hopeful if I stick to a session most days that I’ll feel the benefit.
Sorry, I didn't mean this reply to go on for so long!
Your posts are always interesting IP, so long is good! Sounds as though you are hopeful of making progress but still need to keep the brake on.You are too wise to blow it by pushing too hard too soon; tempting though! 🤞 recovery is just around the corner.
I did a yoga video yesterday. I was more seized up than I realised so I felt better for doing it. I struggled at times but got it done. Some moves are amazing at unkinking us 😀 I did one where you stretch the head and neck but it was killing my hips, which was weird as I was sitting down 😁🤷♀️ Marvellous! 👌
After all that I went out to see how far I’d get in my planned long run and I fell down at about mile 8 😤. Bloodied nose, forehead, knee, elbow and hand 🙄
The track that played once I’d got up and run on was Miss Grace 😁Bob Dylan’s warbled about my strong foundation 🎶🎵
Glad you're feeling not too bruised. I need to do a session this morning as I’ve been sitting for two days watching the Ryder Cup and my body needs to move!
I still have a few cuts and bruising around my knee but my nose looks and feels much better today I’ve been wetting it with Epsom salts water in the bath 🛀🙂
Two hour run with Coach Bennett tomorrow. Please let it be dry? 🙏
So glad you’re making a comeback IP. 🙏 I’m also glad you enjoy Adriene. I started with her before I began running. She’s lovely. I simply can’t find the time to fit in a daily practice at the moment and I really miss it. 🧘♀️
I remembered that you did yoga with Adriene. She’s very popular. I like the pace of her videos and there are a couple of moves I don’t do as they aggravate things but all is good so far 🙂
Oh she does some lovely back stretching routines IP. I have a reallllly tight right hip and her Yoga for lower back and hips is lovely. I’ve got a friend who does Reformer Pilates, it looks really evil!
Slowly, slowly is sometimes the only way isn't it? But I know that disappointment of rediscovering the niggle each time you push a bit further, and it can be so hard to cope with. Worth hanging in there though - every time! Keep counting the forward steps 🥰
I too love the feeling of stretching with yoga, but the temptation to push that stretch a bit further and a bit further can be so alluring . I have very much fallen off the yoga wagon, but I clearly remember how much better I felt when I was doing it regularly - hopefully you will feel the saem benefits.
Hope the 10 miler goes well & the niggles stay away.
I had my longest running week last week & managed 60k (not quite the 39 miles on my plan) Legs are certainly still feeling it even though I took it easy.
We’re north of Perth this week for our eldest to take part in a soccer comp so I’ll run when I can with hubby & take a break from the marathon plan. Will drop back in & add a pic when we run.
I did a double take then RW; I thought you had finished a 60k run! I don’t doubt your ability to get there but it felt a bit out of the blue! A “check in” week seems to be exactly what is needed now. 👏👏👏👏
That would be awesome Beachcomber66 but sadly I’ve still got a couple of badges to earn before I can go to Ultra 🤣 I actually don’t have any desire to run an ultra. Marathon is enough for me.
I think HM is my limit too….although I occasionally flirt with idea of a metric marathon….a bit further with very little extra training. Maybe one day.
I kept going yesterday when I fell like a stone on my long run Gawd it was earth shattering. Oh my teef. Not again 😩. I landed on my nose so it was ok ☺️ Bit battered and bruised this morning but I’ll live. Going to have another yoga session and an Epsom salts soak My husband went out to get me some fresh supplies bless im.
He judges my injuries on a scale of “can she cook tea?” 😁
🙂 I often cook tea and quite enjoy it. Risotto for 4 last night when eldest and partner came over to recover their dog. A lot of calories in that of course, but good long run recovery stuff!😋
Your husband's judge of injuries!🤣🤣Kenny was wanting me to cook some tea when I had my bad leg,I did one but it was killing so I said NO after that!! Hope you heal up quickly MW xxx 😘
When I was young I was all about fast acceleration and high speed over short distances chasing various types of ball. I didn’t run distances. Think Eliud would have had the edge 😂.
I only ran running races in junior school. After that it was swimming races. I was in a team of four and we won everything. Only local inter schools stuff but fun while it lasted.
I didn’t start running til I was 57. I could kick myself but there we are 🤷♀️ I’m making up for it now 🙂
I played netball poorly, and I’m a shortarse, so I was in the team to fill in the gaps. We didn’t play footy unfortunately (girls school) 😏
Hi Linda and such good news that your hip is holding up. Best Parkrun time is awesome. I'm grateful for my running past and that I shared some of it with Willow who vowed he wouldn't run and when MJ said run off he went faster than me 😁 we both went on to run 8k and had such fun, running along the top of the Downs, gazing across the rolling hills, we ran along the seafront watching the sailing boats out at sea, we ran round the park like a couple of hamsters on a wheel round and round. Then I'm grateful that when it was just me I could run and remember.
This week I joined the gym with my granddaughter and ran on the treadmill for the first time for years, played on the rowing machine and cross trainer, we swam a bit and then relaxed in the steam room and lay on hot beds. Bliss.
On Saturday I'm going to Southampton to meet with Mudita11 to run Parkrun so that's what I'm looking forward to in my running future.
Happy running everyone 😄
(Oh and today I cut half my hair off, I got fed up tying it up and going for the bald look 😂sort of running related as I think I can now run with it loose)
It was, thank you, I'm sure running with a high pony tail all the time was pulling it out and making it thinner, and most the grey is underneath so it's nicer down
I was running oh so slowly yesterday. I’d set out to run really slowly in the first half to hopefully speed up in the second. I fell over my own feet and hurt myself, so the speedy second half never happened 😁
I will try that on my next run Linda, I did try before and although I felt like I was going like the clappers I was slower than at the beginning, what I did today was slow first half then sprint intervals back again for second half, ooo there's a NRC run that's slow out fast back, I'll do that one again, thank you
Ooh I look forward to seeing your next picture of the new you SueAppleRun . In March last year I did the big chop and I have no regrets at all. So much easier to look after too. Enjoy Southampton Common, it’s a great parkrun.
Goodness there is no stopping you right now! Nothing will stand in your way - not even your hair!
The wonderful memories of running with Willow will be there for you to treasure forever, and I am sure he would be super proud of all you are achieving right now 💖
Niggles, aches, pains. The bane of our lives. Who doesn’t have them 🤷♀️ It’s not just runners though 😀. I hope your hip sorts itself out pronto so you can crack on unhindered 💪🏃♀️
I did a yoga video yesterday and it stretched my every muscle and sinew. Crikey it was good. I didn’t think I ached that much still I started to do the moves 🙂
I’ve got another long run on the marathon plan today 🙄 So I’m heading out now to see how far I get 🏃♀️
Ooooh, that yoga session sounds good. I'm sure I'd have far fewer niggles if I didn't run - but the cost in other areas would be way too high! Not going there!!!
Hope you had a good long run; mine's tomorrow hopefully 🥰
Good morning Linda. After three months in the doldrums I will finish (hopefully) the “12 weeks to go” NRC HM programme with today’s long run 🤞🤞🤞, except that I am running 2k ahead of programme, so a slow 10k is the plan. Not the best prep; I was up at 5am with our eldest’s young bearded collie! He is a perpetual motion machine and noisy with it! Molly keeps looking at me with “when is he going home?” eyes… answer is tonight…she will be pleased. He is a lovely dog; just a bit full on for an older lady(Molly that is!).
Running plans? I have lost about 6lbs, which has cheered me up, and running 2 lots of “ speed run” intervals this week has shown me that I can move away from keeping the pace of every run really easy. I am not going to go mad …just going to try to pep things up a bit. Thank heaven for running!! Have a wonderful week everyone 🙂
All sounding great BC! It’s odd having a dog to stay who isn’t what you’re used to isn’t it? Flossie has a pal over sometimes; a similar age, but way more full on than she is. We too get ‘those’ eyes!
Your running is clearly doing you good. That’s excellent. 👊💪😀
Thanks CC. In the end I settled for 8k. I upped the pace to 7:04/k from 7:22 last week and felt that 8k was enough for now. In June 2022 I was running 10 miles at around 7m/k…so I have a target….. without going too fast!,
Thanks Dexy5. Too late for the GSR, but I feel as though I am back on track. It’s better not to have the pressure of an impending race. Will miss the fun though🙂
Poor Molly 🥰 Hope she's now enjoying her peace and her space again!
Great news on the weight loss; those interval runs will be a great help on that front too 👊 It's so good to hear you're able to move in the right direction with your running after those prolonged doldrums 😊
Hello Linda, great to hear that your hip niggle is finally subsiding, I bet that is a relief. Running is brilliant in teaching you about your body though isn’t it? When is a niggle a niggle and when is it an injury?
Well Katnap and I have just completed our longest running week and are now in taper time 🥳🥳🥳 I’m going to write a post later about our race but I’m so relieved to be out the other side. Next Sunday we only have to run for 90 minutes, maybe I can get some housework done!! Last night I was a blubbering wreck, ordering Dominoes pizza and trying to find a comfortable position to sit in after our 20 miler!
Last week, going Sunday to Sunday, we ran 86km 😂😱😂 Never done so much running in my life! I can only console myself that this is very normal for regular marathon runners. But how do you fit in your life around that?!! The benefits are that I can eat that Dominoes pizza without any fear of guilt whatsoever 😂
Good luck with the rest of your GSR training Linda, and I hope that niggle continues to quieten down.
Wow! You guys are storming through the marathon plan this time around. Not long to go now right? Enjoy the cutback ... and the guilt-free pizzas (not jealous at all 😍)
Thanks Linda, it’s been so different this time. It’s scary because I’m starting to think about where to do one next year now 🙄. As for the pizza, there’s nothing to be jealous of, I’ve been suffering from it ever since - I forgot that my body really doesn’t get on with Dominoes. I wish there was another reliable food delivery company where I live!
Ooh another one! You are definitely hooked 😍 Today I found myself wondering if I should give a proper marathon a go; I did the virtual London marathon with practically no training, so a better time should be possible. That run broke me for months though and that puts me off. Did it break me because I didn't have time to train properly or did it break me because my body isn't suited to so much running? I don't know the answer, but I do know I'm injury prone. On the one hand I think I should leave well alone ... on the other hand I think I get injured anyway, so what's the difference 😍
I think you would regret it if you didn’t give it a go. If you train properly including all the strength & conditioning, it does make a lot of difference. You also ran it in appalling weather from what I remember, so all in all, it was a bit of a miracle marathon! I know I couldn’t do that, I know I have to go through all these distances to ensure my body slowly prepares for it. Remember how long it took me to train for my first half? 20 weeks 🤣🤣 So if you gave your body more of a chance to recover by preparing it, I bet you’d surprise yourself! You could always get a training plan written for you and tell them your issues?
Hi Linda, it sounds like you’re bouncing back nicely all ready for the GSR! Amazing news. Bet it feels nice to be niggle free again. 😀
I’m looking forward to a couple of things this week. My new running club on Thursday is great fun. I’m sticking to the shorter routes for the moment - around 5k - but there will be opportunities to go longer if I fancy. I’m one of the oldest on Thursdays, and definitely the slowest. The C25Kers and beginners tend to go on Tuesdays which I can’t do. That’s ok though, it’s pushing me a bit, and that’s what I need! I’m basically a comfort at all costs runner and need a shake every now and then! 😅
I’m running the Cardiff HM on Sunday. My most ill-prepared race ever! I’ve done no long distance training; just some 10ks, so my first gear will be engaged, I’ll arm myself with jelly babies a’plenty and have a jolly time. 😀
You are no longer a beginner cheekychipmunks , so you are in the perfect class. I bet the running club will speed up your 5k without you even realising.
You’re right of course Dexy5 , and I know I’d happily slot in with the new runners rather than go off with the slightly quicker ones. Luckily it’s a much smaller group on Thursdays and that option isn’t there. 😀
I love intervals too Beachcomber66 - when I’m being told what to do by Coach B and pals that is! Tomorrow is gym Tuesday and I love doing the NRC Sprintervals run on the treadmill! Have you tried that one? I thoroughly recommend it. 💥
Wow, that’s come round quick Cheeky! I reckon with your super-efficient running style you’ll be fine over HM, you’re always so relaxed and there will be loads of distractions along the way.
It’s funny TailChaser , I’m not concerned about the distance at all! I’m not fooling myself that it’ll be easy, but I love big races and the crowds will definitely give me a boost. I will not be going for a PB! 😅
Cardiff HM? You are a very busy runner just now aren't you? Race after race after race! Amazing stuff. Enjoy Cardiff - running by the sea (I assume you do?) is the best in my book 😊
How wonderful to add the running club into the mix and find you're enjoying it so much; I'm sure it will add a whole new dimension to your running too 🥰
Hello Linda and gang, I too had a better time at parkrun this week with lower temperatures and a light breeze. This morning I did an intervals run with 4 sets of 5k pace, 10k pace and 1mile pace 1 minute intervals. I always find them great fun and it’s really good to ring the changes with one of these runs , and I also believe it helps the metabolism 😉 .
Like you, I’m thinking ahead to GSR in 3 weeks and this week I would like to stretch up to 13 or 14k, depending on how it feels.
Where did September go? I’ve booked a sports massage for 5 October to get my legs and hips in the best condition. Crikey, that’s next week.
The GSR is getting close now, while you are having your sports massage I'll be having my first cataract removed, it'll be great to see, a massage sounds bliss though 😄
Good luck with your cataract op Sue, my appointment has shifted to Monday now but it won’t be bliss. It’s actually quite painful when they get stuck into your calves, but it’s worth it.
Yes, I'd forgotten about the pain of massage, you will feel wonderful after though. Thank you, I'm so excited to think I will be able to see clearly again, although there will be a wait for the second one and then a wait for new glasses but it should all be done by Christmas, oh and there's Christmas Parkrun to look forward to 🤣
I have a sports massage this week too - it will be great to go in and say my hip isn't hurting (so long as it survives 16k tomorrow!). It's also great that you've pushed past the sciatica and are back into the longer runs too. GSR here we come!!!
I agree that interval runs are great fun (or at least the NRC ones I've tried have been); they manage to take me way out of my comfort zone without totally breaking me 😍
Glad to hear that your hip niggle is improving and you are able to steadily prepare for GSR. I have also had a niggly thigh/hip/glute for several weeks and finally decided I needed to see a physio as it wasn’t improving. Result is a piriformis problem combined with under strength glutes. I have got exercises to do each day, which are agonising, but my parkrun time on Saturday was nearly 90 seconds faster than 2 weeks ago. Still slow for me! Tonight I went to the Trotters efforts session which was 400m intervals. I got a PB for my 1st loop, averaging 5.18 min/km but had to give up early because it was just too painful. Starting to feel quite anxious about GSR 😢 Sorry, just feeling sorry for myself!
Maybe it’s better to concentrate on distance rather than speed at the moment Sandie. I know it’s frustrating to not be able to run as fast as you have before, but you will have a weekend of meeting buddies, and you will still get a T-shirt and a medal and enjoy the atmosphere if you can get around the course in whatever time it takes. You know we will be there to support you.
Tbh I am also acutely aware that I am going to be sitting on a plane to Sydney 3 days later and sitting is uncomfortable. I’ll see how it goes over the next couple of weeks, but I’m coming to Portsmouth whatever, even if I end up as a cheerleader!
Oh yes, getting fit for Australia must definitely come first. GSR is here every year.
But glad you will still come to cheer us all on even if you choose not to run in the end. Fingers crossed that the exercises start working. Sending hugs.
You don’t really think I’d miss such a huge meet up do you? My FOMO would be massive 😂 Hope I’ll be able to make it round but I’m not going to be silly. I’ll enjoy it whatever 😃
Hope the niggles iron themselves out Sandie. Some nice gentle runs might be the way to go until then if they aren’t too painful. Otherwise rest up and enjoy the GSR for what it is. You know it’s flat so you’ll be able to take it easy if needs be. Hopefully you won’t have to though 🤞
I do tend to put myself under pressure when I’m out with Trotters and Mondays are “efforts”, so perhaps it wasn’t my best idea 😖 I’ll see how it goes and then decide if I’m a runner or a cheerleader at GSR. I’ll be there whatever!
Just to complete the vote from the Musketeers’ jury……if I were running with an injury and trying to get fit for a 10 mile run in three weeks time I would definitely be going for a long slow recovery run now, just to see how far I could get. I would have an image of my physio in full double tea pot “you did what?” mode etched on my brain if I were to run quickly when I was in recovery mode. But then, I am an old codger and maybe your injury responds better to pace. Swimming any good?
I must admit I still haven’t done even 10k since June, partly because my club runs in both the UK and France are around 8k and my enthusiasm for solo running has waned considerably. To be fair, my physio didn’t say I couldn’t run and I did stop when the pain got worse, so maybe it’s salvageable! I probably do need to do a gentle 10k to see how it feels. Don’t know about swimming, but unless I join David Lloyd or similar, our local pool is attached to a school and only limited hours.
Slow 10k sounds like a plan. I had a dicky calf pre GSR last year…..it went during the run, but I managed to get round in 30 secs per k worse than best pace. At least there are no major hills!
Oh dear, that sounds too frustrating Sandie. Don't apologise for feeling sorry for yourself - I think we all know how it feels and you have a very sypmathetic audience here.
That's an incredibly fast 400m - I'm not surprised it hurt!!! Stick with the exercises .... you know it will be worth it.
My GSR is going to be a good deal slower than last year ... but I reckon I'll get a good look around and hear more of the music!!! Speed isn't everything right? 🥰
Hi linda9389 and all VRBs ! Not much running for me last week after snotty cold struck, did managed to get out on Sunday in the company of the marathon training group from my Tuesday club ,met them part way through the route and just did 6km then cut off again when the route went by my dad's,for a shower and cuppa! 👌been at same club tonight for their "loopy 1mile loops" with a marathon fundraiser cake stall afterwards! 1st weds group dark trail run tomorrow so hopefully on the up. Had a sore back so booked with chiropractor (last time 20+ years ago) for Thursday as a treat (?!)
Matching my birthday twin Dexy5 next week with a sports massage before my 10k race on the 8th as full of niggles, good job it's payday by then!
Not made it to 10k yet,oh well I'm hoping to just go and enjoy it rather than go with a time in mind.
Have a great week everyone,always enjoy hearing what everyone is up to, good luck for your 10miler this week linda9389 hope it goes well xxx
You've had a rotten run of luck recently Ali, but you keep fighting back! Good luck with the chiropractor ... that sounds scarier than a sports massage (and they're scary enough!).
I'm sure the race atmosphere will help you to the finish line; sometimes there is no place for time and recognising that in advance is the key 🥰
Just got back from a few days away in the motorhome. Ran a bit, walked a bit, ate and drank far too much and am now doing a passable impression of a slightly saggy barrage balloon.
I'm avoiding mirrors and scales for the foreseeable, as apart from being Mrs Blobby I've got a delightful selection of insect bites. Mostly on my legs, and it's still shorts weather here. Be afraid, neighbours, be very afraid.
These ones were from mosquitoes or some sort of gnat or midge - they love me! Super-itchy bites so have been necking antihistamines and using cream, otherwise I couldn't sleep!
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