Good morning all VRBs on this almost sunny day here on the Isle of Wight !
It's the day to grab a cuppa, & catch up with what everyone has been up to this past week. I've been a bit slack tbh but did manage a "nearly 10k" dark muddy Trail run on Wednesday night with 12 others followed by very splendid cheesy chips in the pub afterwards! 😀
Thanks to linda9389 for asking me to host this weekly chat, it seemed apt when this date was suggested as it's meaningful - it would have been my Mum's birthday , (sadly she passed away in 2016) . 😪
Mum used to enjoy hearing about our progress after I started C25k in January 2014 (and my brother not long afterwards),our race events, and especially seeing our medals that we both used to show her when we visited her in the nursing home. I used to run there quite often from home and she always used to tell me to be careful on the roads!
Mum passed away suddenly early on the morning of mine and Paul's 1st attempt at the Needles HM race . 😪💔 So later that year and every year since we run the route as a kind of memorial run. Last year we ran on this very day, rather than the June date due to injury, which involved a lot of wading through knee high water at the end in the nature reserve!
Which got me thinking, how do your family and friends feel about your running, and have they influenced or encouraged your journey?? 🤔 My Dad always says "Have a good one !" when I head out if I run from his house and asks where we are going. And he's marshalled a couple of local races over the years.
I know of some spouses/siblings/children (our household included!), parents & friends whose eyes glaze over when talk turns to running! This being the exact opposite to my away day out last week with run club mates who absolutely love to talk about what races they have coming up!!!! And of course the opposite of all you lovely VRBs here!
I'd interested to know how things are in your house!
I'm lucky that my partner and I met at run club so are happy to wax lyrical about it!! Though he doesn't like reminding of when I beat him in Ryde 10miler in 2020!!! 🤣🤬
Have a brilliant week of running🏃♂️🏃♀️, and hope anyone on the IC is back out there soon! 🤞
The Team xxx
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🎽 If you have an event in December then head here:
This isn’t a “Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” story, but my family is runner free! Our youngest used to come for a run with me when he came home, but he injured his achilles a while ago (running too far too fast!), so now stays fit by using his well equipped home gym. It is the same with neighbours; “are you STILL running?”
It isn’t a problem though. I enjoy running in my own bubble, usually with NRC in my ears. It gives me an opportunity to think things through, and I find my rural runs to be endlessly interesting. I could go to the nearest park run(about 30 minutes drive away), and I keep threatening to make the effort, but the siren call of my familiar trails and post run coffee in the walkway cafe always seems to win! I think psychologists would call it a safety zone. The cafe crowd are really supportive “how far have you run today?” and there are some keen runners around, particularly on Mondays.
I have learned nearly everything I know about running from amazing VRBs, having worked my way through the forums from C25k, starting in 2018. I wouldn’t have made it this far without them. I suppose running is a bit of a niche activity for a 71 year old!
Oops….ass in gear time! It’s long run Monday! Have a great day everyone 👍
Hi Beachcomber66 ! Haha the photo is from the "Chilly Hilly" Mid December run so long snowman socks were the outfit of the day!! Me and my brother had a sprint finish battle to the finish!!! Always fun!! My partners son is a good runner and tall and gangly but it was definitely short lived with him, he likes his weightlifting and boxing much better!
I know what you mean,it's nice doing familiar routes and stopping at regular cafes, I really like that routine too! Nice that fellow customers show interest!
The forums on here really are great, we are very lucky with our VRBs, Hope your long run went well ! 😁
To my surprise my run went really well thanks! It was 6/7 degrees, heavy showers on and off, the trail was really muddy, and getting muddier by the minute, but I ran my easy pace 10k in 7:13/k time and VO2 max left me alone! I hope this means that my (almost) daily strength exercises and stretches are starting to pay off. Easy pace is supposed to be 7:30 on my hilly route, but my legs had their own ideas today, and my breathing was really easy. So, despite the weather, it was a really good run. Coffee, flap jack, walk/wade home, shower and beans on toast later( in that order!)…I feel great 🙂
Hello aliboo70 great to see you hosting this week. What a question you've set us 😀, My children and grandchildren are happy to hear about my run, and both daughter and granddaughter have joined me at parkrun which they love.
I feel very lucky to have met some wonderful VRB'S this year too.
Interesting though that after New Forest 10k the people who visited and showed interest in the medal which my daughter hung on the TV. My oldest friend who claims to have done something like C25k back in 2012, and made it up as she went along until she realised how dangerous running is as you get older, glanced at it, said nothing and told me all about her blood pressure .😁
Thankyou SueAppleRun 😁It's great your children and grandchildren are supportive and come along to parkrun, it does have a great feel to it being amongst people of all ages and backgrounds! We're on our out and back course at the moment over here so we get to run past each other on the Riverside track, I try and test my memory by shouting out to as many people that I know by name! And to think I hardly knew any of them back in 2014 when I did my 1st parkrun!
Hhhm I think you are much fitter than your oldest friend and as far as I can see running helps with the aging process , keeping active is great ! Its fantastic you did the New Forest run and met up with VRBs ! 🥰
I just popped into my dad's as he was heading out on his bike, he loves it still at 88!
That's great your dad still cycles, and yes, running does help with the aging process, when anyone asks me why, I always say I'm running away from a Zimmer frame, they laugh but years ago I was a home care assistant and used to help people around the age I am now who had fallen, broken a hip and spent the rest of their lives pushing a Zimmer frame around. I love parkrun, and yes it's great calling out hello to the faster people I know as they sprint for home I love running even though I'm ridiculously slow, and I love being outside .
Dads still pretty good on hills on his bike! His mum was the safe always up to something or other! We cycled to Sandown and back on his 85th birthday I'd I remember rightly! I like your motto! 😊and your attitude x
I have a friend like that too. Mine is a runner and when I did my first HM she was one of the first people (apart from my running friends here!) I wanted to tell. Her reaction was a very flat, “you’re mad”, no “well done” or “congratulations”. So I replied, “I think the word you're looking for is “epic”.
My boys eyes glaze over when I talk about running. My eldest thinks running is so boring. I’m surrounded by runners in our local community so we just bore each other 🤣
It was super hot last week (42C yesterday)so I’m thankful it’s cooled down today & I can hopefully get a longer run in this week.
Thankyou RunWillie , wow beautiful view ! I'm just off up to visit mums grave shortly, have taken a days holiday and had a lovely hike up Tennyson Down, good memories of walking up there with Mum! 😊
Kennys son although good at running had short lived enthusiasm ,though we did drag him to his dad's 10k race yesterday within Southampton football ground and bribed him with lunch! 😁
My parents have both passed away (28 and 29 October but 6 years apart). I often think of them on my runs and I’m sure they help get me through tough ones. ❤️
Mr Cheeky is very sporty. He only runs as part of his rowing training. Married to a rower anyone? Now that IS boring!! Joshing really, as we have our separate interests and it works for us. I’ve known him since I had just turned 17 and I’m now close to 60 … says it all!
Our younger daughter runs, and our older one will when her kids are a bit older. She’s busy with 2 little boys! Our son finds it all a snore. He goes to the gym but refuses to run with us. He proved good during lockdown too, It’s our goal to drag him out to PR one day!
So yes, my family does glaze over but they know how much I love running and listen politely(ish!). I like something and I do it - a lot!
Sorry just realised I didn't reply regarding your1st comment😫 Yes it's hard 💔, I'm sorry you've lost both your parents. My mum had vascular dementia and I hated seeing her go downhill so I kind of wish and hope she's now reunited with her family and watching over me, I get the feeling she is , especially when I see goldfinches on my run which I associate with her (but that's a long story!) Parents influence us in so many ways, I like to think we have similarities which I'm glad of🥰xxx
I’m so sorryaliboo70 . But isn’t it lovely when you see things which remind you of them - goldfinches are beautiful too. 😍
My mum also had vascular dementia. So cruel isn’t it? She made it to the grand age of 94 however. ❤️ My dad was 87, also a good age for someone who had smoked heavily for decades, although he’d given up more than 20 years before he passed (when he found out I was expecting his first grandchild). He’d had COPD - no cancer amazingly - but was sharp as a tack.
They’d both have supported my running I know, and I often dedicate runs to them. ❤️
One person in the amateur dramatics group I'm in runs but she doesn't talk about it at all.
My next door neighbour on one side looks at me with incredulity when I tell him I've just run 10km.
The neighbour on the other side has run for many decades, but has had to cut back in recent years due to health problems (he's in his late eighties).
However, my family are definitely in favour of it. Before lockdown, and before I started C25K, I got poked in my belly by my father saying, "What's this?"
I'd started to put on weight due to the relative inactivity of work, etc. That spare tyre went away fairly quickly once I'd started regular running.
Hi nowster and Happy Monday ! I've put on a bit if weight lately and my dad has commented similarly ! 🤣 but he does show interest and thinks it does me good!
Your neighbour sounds inspiring! One side if not the other!!
But I'm certainly pleased to have kept it up ,would never have believed I would!!
I think of my mum on runs, and I know she would have been a cheerleader, had she not passed away before I started C25K 😔. We carry their memory with us Ali 🙂
My husband supports my running by driving me to races, holding my coat and buying me cake afterwards. He’s not interested in talking about it though 😀. My niece and great nephews have run/raced with me which is fun 🥰
Thanks misswobble I bet your mum was a great lady too! 😀 she would be super proud! I know you always do well with running gear presents from your family! Your husband is supportive which is good 👍, and I remember you saying about your niece!
Lovely to have you host aliboo70 and a great post. My Dad was a bit worried when I started doing longer runs! Nobody got my passion for it really and I always wanted to talk about it but didn't have a lot of friends to share it with. Things have changed for me over the last two years really with my personal life and meeting Tasha. Now it's exciting to run together, plan Parkrun tourism and look at adventures to come 😊
Yes dads do seem to worry GTFC ! Mine says to not overdo it quite often, especially after my dodgy leg earlier in the year! But if I say that to him I'm a fuss pot! Grrr! I guess it's cos they care! 🤪 It's great that you and Tasha met through here! 🥰Have a lovely week both of you x
Great post and lovely replies 😊 My wonderful Mum passed away earlier this year…..🥲 She was always interested in my running and encouraged me, but I reckon she thought I was a bit mad ! 😂 My daughter definitely thinks I am mad!! She tried a charity run once….hurt her ankle and said ‘Never again, running isn’t good for me!’ 🤣Hubby thought I was mad at the beginning, said running wasn’t for him BUT then did C25k! He has driven me to various events and cheered me on 😀. I chat about running and events mostly with my step daughter ( I suggested she try C25k) she is now training for a HM!
Aah skysue16 I'm sorry to hear about your Mum😪, I'm sure she was super proud of you.It's good your family are supportive and you have some fellow runners to enthuse with!
My best friend Tracy was the one who got me started, she likes running so she can eat more choccy! She's had ankle trouble so is just doing parkrun now but is up to over 300! But she doesn't like the run chat as shes not mega keen anymore just likes the social side!
My sister did 1 session of c25k and that was it! I'm determined to get her to parkrun one day! My dad did parkwalk last year just the once but is definitely supportive. My middle older brother came down from London a few yrs back and beat Paul by 10 mins in the abominable snowman race! But doesn't run often as has terrible migraines and had to give it up pretty much 😭. Oldest brother will come and watch but definitely won't run!!!
From taking up running (and starting this programme) in March 2019, right up until I finally admitted defeat to Long Covid in April this year, running for me has largely been a solitary pastime. Although I have 72 Parkrun and numerous 10k and HM events under my belt, largely, whether it be 5k, HM, or anything in between, I've been out there on the paths and trails though the woods around my village, on my own. For me it's kind of meditative; me, nature, the miles clicking by under my feet with just the sounds of my footsteps, my B breathing, the wind through the trees and the sounds of the birds and animals I encounter.
As part of my long covid recovery, I'm now doing C25K again. Today I completed W6. Or rather, I should say, today we completed W6. This time around, my wife is joining me on my journey. She has never been a runner, never wanted to be a runner, but wanted to give me some encouragement as I start back on my road to full fitness (whatever that looks like now). She has been pleasantly surprised by how far she has progressed and, while she has no desire to run great distances, she is tentatively considering the possibility of doing a Parkrun with me at the end of it.
I hope to ultimately progress back to longer distances, and if I do, I appreciate that these will, almost certainly, be the solitary endeavours that I enjoyed pre-covid. I do however, quite enjoy the company on the shorter runs and, maybe, it is something we will continue with after we complete our C25K journey.
Hi sTrongFuse ! Well done on coming back from long covid and your week 6! That's lovely that your wife has joined you! And oarkrun is so socialable, it'd be great to go along together.I know what you mean about solitary runs, especially on the trails can be so meditative being in nature😊
Good luck with the last 3 weeks of C25k and your returning health and stamina, excellent stuff ! 👍 x
Thank you for hosting Ali and such a great post too!
Certain dates connected with our lost loved ones are so poignant and I think running is one of the best ways of remembering them and recalling lovely memories 🥰
I think of my dad often when I run in the arboretum because we used to walk a lot together and he would have loved it, but sadly he died without seeing it.
My family is very supportive of my running. My husband is my number one fan, is always there for my moans about aches and pains and has been there at the finish line for so many races over the years. He use to be a runner so he understands exactly why I’m passionate and can keep up when I drone on about it!
My mum is a brilliant supporter and shows real interest and asks some very pertinent questions. I love her speech before I turn up for every race, “if you get tired just stop” 😂 I love that 🥰
My step-children are supportive and always ask me questions when they come to see us and they have bought me lots of running related stuff over the years. My step-son runs and is always saying we should run together but I’m a bit afraid as I think he’s very fast and very competitive 😮 My step-daughter thinks I’m amazing so I’ll take that! I haven't yet enticed her to run yet…..
All the grand-kids (all four of them) have grown up with me running so they are used to seeing me just going for a run, just coming back, dressed in running kit, seeing my bling. Two of them did run with me through the village a few years ago but that’s as far as they got and they didn't want to go any further. No stamina these youngsters 🙄
I did have a race around the garden with two of them last summer. They were super fast and I really gave it my all and didn't pretend to let them win. I was knackered 😂
The best comment though was from one my brothers shortly after I had graduated from C25K. I told him during a phone conversation that I had started to run. There was silence for several seconds. Then, “when you were young you always ran like Penelope Pitstop”.
Hi Irishprincess , happy Tuesday to you! Aaah I remember you talking about your dad! That Arboretum is so beautiful and tranquil, I'm sure he's with you in spirit 🥰
Your mum sounds much like my mum! Thats the kind of thing she would say! They always worry no matter what our age! 🤣 I enjoyed my Tennyson walk yesterday and took a variety of mums favourite Frys Chocolate Cream bar to have on the bench at the top! 👌the views up there are spectacular! Great you have a lovely supportive husband and family, it makes all the difference!
Penelope Pitstop! just googled to remind myself and she looks glamourous and graceful so that's not bad!!! 😆
Have a lovely week ahead, my off Rd group have chosen the pub tomorrow night for chips, so just the route to sort!!👌😁🍟xxx
It reminds me of a real life scenario a friend encountered. She was supporting another friend at a race and just before the finish line, the running friend spied her and came over to chat! My friend kept telling her “no, you shouldn’t be here! You’ve got to cross the finish line!!!” 😂😂
Priceless! Obviously a failure to issue proper instructions 😂. I have done many daft things in my short running career. For example, I didn’t realise that the mouthpiece on water bottles had two positions; open and closed! I was mystified as to why I kept ending up with a very wet derrière shortly after I started to run……but nobody had told me of course…..🙄
Well, as we’re revealing here….. when I first got my Garmin I couldn't understand why the screen was so hard to read until I realised there was a plastic film protecting it …… 🙄
I love that phtograph!!! It is brilliant.. is that the one that was published in the Running Mag? You and P have had some great together runs... !
Mr OF is very supportive... and my biggest fan... very protective and very caring . He listens to me ramble... and always loves to see my photo shots from runs..
His words when I go for a run.. always the same.. I love you...enjoy! x
Big hug to you Ali... Mum is there with you, always x
Hello Aliboo, I nearly missed this. I can’t believe I’m not following you, as I’m always reading your posts , so I’ll rectify that. Thank you for hosting.
As you know, I’m also lucky to have a running partner, and I’m sure it helps to have someone who understands it all. In fact for many years it was UpTheStanley who played hockey every weekend, and was running to keep fit, We are rather surprised that running has become a big part in both our lives since me starting C25k age 60. The running buddies have played a big part in that too.
Last week i enjoyed a session of Funky Fartleks along the seafront, which always has me laughing. It obviously did me good because I then went on to get my fastest parkrun this year on a chilly but sunny, Saturday. I prefer dry and chilly to that horrible wind and rain we’ve had.
Happy Wednesday Dexy5 ! That's a lovely photo! 😍 well done on your fartleks and speedy parkrun! It's great you and UpTheStanley are both running now, with those fun weekends away and VRB meet ups (myself included at your Southsea parkrun!) 😁
Just need to get you to the island for one of our races!!!
Finally, time to reply! Thanks for this great post Ali - I've loved reading the replies. I hope you had a good day on Monday.
My family relentlessly take the mickey out of me for talking about my running (think of the inbetweeners 'friends' episode, only substitute running for friends!). I like to hope they are secretly a bit proud of me . Mr 9389 doesn't understand at all. One day he came in when I was stretching; I just ran 8km, that's 5 miles I said, so proud of my longest run. He just replied ...'why?' 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
Although the kids still take the mick, I completed C25K with my daughter, ran my first half marathon with my older son and parkrun on Christmas day morning with my younger son. I treasure each of those memories. I also treasure beating my son's (one and only) HM time 5 years later!
My father is possibly my biggest supporter. He has been known to get up in the middle of the night (being eight hours behind UK time), watch my run on Garmin and then be the first to congratulate me over the line. Although he lives in Canada, I think he has been to more events with me than Mr 9389!!! He's also super cautious and sent me out wrapped up like a michelin man this morning: into the very light snow and -8C windchill . He'd much rather I hadn't gone at all and refused to go out until I got back, in case I needed him to come and pick me up in the cold. It is nice to be looked after sometimes 🥰
Aaah you dad sounds very caring! Mine is convinced I'm 15 still a lot of the time, and also if I'm late popping by that my car has broken down!! 🙃 Glad to hear your kids are supportive, like you say great memories! hopefully your hubby secretly so?? 🤔
Hi Aliboo, thank you for hosting the chat this week and what a great topic. I’m dreading the day my mum passes as she is the one I celebrate my running with mostly. She has all my most important medals hanging in her room and we have a little chat about them every now and again. Sadly her dementia is now meaning these conversations aren’t as frequent but her eyes still light up when I point them out. The rest of my family I know are incredibly proud of me and I am super conscious of not boring them to death when I’m there. I started reading one of my European race reports at my son’s house recently to give them an idea of what it was like and I didn’t make it to the end before they moved the conversation on. 😢
Your running is incredibly strong and I’ve always admired your quick times! Keep that up and it’s lovely that you have that memorial run for your mum. You’ve got me thinking about what I might do when the inevitable happens.
I’m in the IC as far as track running is concerned but I’m being super patient this time by my standards 😂 and I do feel it’s improving. Something is not right in the sub talar joint but I saw the doctor yesterday and he’s put me in for an ultra sound and is hopeful. I’m sanguine and even though the indoor season is probably not going to happen for me this year , I’m hopeful about the outdoor season and I’m thinking about my goals for that.
Happy running everyone!
PS BBC are just putting the final touches together for the production but haven’t given us a day yet.
Aah RunBrianRun Mum's are the best cheerleaders! I'm glad your mum still shows and interest and is super proud if her boy as we all are here!
Glad to hear your kids are supportive too of all your achievements , we love your reports and you have an incredible ability to bring the events to life!
Sorry to hear you're injured, hope the ultra sound brings some diagnosis and a way forward!
Oooh was only thinking about that the other day, looking forward to emerging your episode on 📺 😁xxx
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Weekly Chat Sept 27th - Oct 3rd 🍬🤓