Well what a surprise! Linda asked me if I’d like to host the weekly chat a while ago and I got all excited and full of ideas and said yes! and here I am 😊.
Thank you for last weeks thought provoking 5 words chat last week linda9389 . We all had a lot of fun with that one.
Merry Christmas week everyone…..lovely VRB’s and the few I’ve been lucky enough this year to meet in person. What have you been doing? Are you all ready for Christmas?
Me? Um, not a lot as I fend off this dreadful cough and cold, but my energy is returning, and I’m feeling a lot more positive about everything. I haven’t run, I haven’t walked even, but I have shopped and did hope to have some decorations up by now.
I spent some considerable time unraveling 4 sets of lights this morning, one I just cut as it wasn’t separating so that went in the bin, two didn’t work when I plugged it in so into the bin it went, Three came on with a few gaps so in the bin and four blew the fuses so my music and all the lights went out.
Being a really positive person, I then got all excited about buying new lights, that’s a job for today.
I wanted to come up with something interesting for us to chat about this week, but my mind’s gone blank 😊 so here goes…FOOD! What do you all eat to support your running? I read an interesting book about marathons and nutrition, not sure why as I doubt I’ll ever run a marathon, but I like reading.
Do you eat all the Christmas goodies and hope for the best? or do the serious runners amongst us stick rigidly to a highly nutritious diet? I really am interested because I’m eating all the Christmas goodies, and the shops have run out of my favourite cheese footballs, once they are gone, they are gone for another year, but I’ve had plenty 😊
For lack of any other inspiration, the photo is some of my decorations, not yet put up, I am a bit late this year……
Have a great week everyone, enjoy whatever you do and run happy or rest well.
🎽If you have an event in December and would like a pompom shout out on the Friday beforehand then click the link below:
So…..Ho Ho Ho and all the fun that comes with this time of year, I’m going to Southampton on Saturday for parkrun, every time I arrange to go there something happens, but come heck or high water or whatever I’m going this Saturday 😊
Written by
SueAppleRun
10 Miles
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I hope you’re feeling well enough on Saturday to run at Parkrun, Sue.
I’m just about ready for Christmas. I’m a card maker and started making cards in August as they take me so long. I make my own backgrounds as well, so a lot of creativity and time goes into it! Example attached.
Presents are all wrapped and ready for nearest and nearest.
I have a big birthday coming up this week! As an almost Christmas baby my birthday is often swallowed up completely by Christmas and my birthday cards and Christmas cards stand side my side.
Food wise, I’m quite disciplined about the treats! (Mostly) 😊 and try not to overdo it!
On the running front, I do want to run in some events in the spring (including a park run with you) but I haven’t got anything fixed as yet! I’m still working through my training program and enjoying it 😊
Hello Jools, thank you for reading and commenting, your card is lovely, I have a couple of friends who make cards and to receive something hand made is very special. You have lots of plans, yes we will run a parkrun together in spring 😁, good luck with your training. You are quite disciplined with food then, the thing with me is I don't much like chocolate or cake so I'm not too bad....but this time of year eat a huge amount of cheese footballs 😂😂😂
It’s so therapeutic! I wasn’t creative anat all until I started making cards a few years ago 😊. Just love creating little scenes like the one on the card.
A very Merry Christmas to you Sue, nice that you are hosting this week's weekly chat, I am all ready for Christmas, I have been doing a few walks and I did run at parkrun on Saturday, I am sorry about your cough and cold, let's hope it's gone by Christmas Day, it can be very awkward unravelling Christmas lights, that's bad that half your lights don't work, the reason could be that when you were unravelling them some of them crunched into each other and broke.When I unpack Christmas decorations or lights I am very careful not to break any, when putting the lights or decorations away after Christmas I put them in separate boxes marked to where they will go the following Christmas.
I don't eat anything special regarding my running, I don't eat too much junk food either, a little, fish and chips once a week and of course at this time of year alot of special Christmas food, I have already had a special Christmas lunch, that was with my Thursday morning walking group, that meal was last Thursday, enjoy your parkrun this Saturday at Southampton, let's hope you get there wearing something nice like a Santa hat and Christmas jumper, that's what I will be wearing when I go to parkrun this Saturday, enjoy 😊 🎄🤶
Thank you Al, sounds like you are nicely organised. I didn't put the decorations away, in years past I used to wrap them gently round kitchen towel roll middles, but the last few years they were done while I was at work.Sounds like you have your running and eating spot on. Yes I will at least be wearing a Christmas jumper.
My energy levels are returning but of course the beauty of parkrun is that if I can't run it I can walk it 😁.
Ha ha BC66, I don't like to think that the chocolate swirls that I eat 4 times a week after my runs on a Saturday and Wednesday and also my 10K walk on a Sunday are junk food, a treet after those runs and walk, I also have one after my fish n chips on a Monday evening.
We are just 2 for Christmas and neither of us care for turkey so it will be a Sunday roast instead. I’ve a sweet tooth and the cupboard is stacked with chocolate (from our recent french trip) so no fear of running out ! Not planning to run much in January so I can indulge myself and re-set in the new year. Wishing everyone the best for the festive season, whatever you are up to!!
Christmas is the only time that I really miss the UK. I would love to fly our boys in for a week of Christmas lights, cold dark wintery nights and a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
Your marathon nutrition book sounds interesting. I’m conscious that I’m going to have really step up my nutrition once training for my marathon commences. I’ve got some great foodie books since becoming a runner & vegeterian . The plant power way, by Rich Roll, The planted runner, by Claire Bartholoc, and The plant based athlete by Matt Frazier & Robert Cheeke.
I've read the plant ones as well, I do eat meat sometimes but a vegetarian daughter and vegan granddaughter are a strong influence, happy Christmas week
thanks for hosting Sue and your thought provoking question about xmas and thinking about what one eats and drinks.
I'll probably have a bit more than usual of eats and drinks but will keep things under control (don't want to go back to old bad habits of over-indulgence). Because it's holiday time and no work I'm hoping that there will be lots of exercise too. Xmas day parkrun volunteering will be a highlight (absolutely the best atmosphere - really looking forward to that). So maybe not much exercise that day but other days will be used to get my distance up (not done >8k in a bit and there's a 10mile XC coming up in early January - eek!) So some nice days of morning runs followed by coffee and cake and evening meals with games and things .
How lovely, I'm really looking forward to Christmas and parkrun, it'll be my first, morning runs, ahhh, I'm going to try and get out tomorrow and see what happens, happy Christmas week
I was about to write about my usual medium cal diet, when Molly decided that it was cafe time! The cafe has to close for two days because of tree felling work. By way of compensation we were treated to mince pie and cream (me) and sausages (Molly) as pictured! Fortunately I went on an 8k or one hour recovery run this morning (depending on which came first …8k won by 2 minutes and 38 seconds) so I am claiming the newly invented post run calorie deficit restoration discount, which reduces the calorie count to nil. Total calorie loss on the run was 591…so balance is restored. I am lucky, I can lose half a stone quickly if I need to, so I don’t bother getting weighed often. If my belt slips a hole or two,I take action. I have porridge with honey every morning for breakfast, a light lunch (usually something on toast) and stir fry, or risotto or pasta etc in the evening. I think the runs, plus dog walks, plus weekly swim and Friday night dance help to keep me reasonably ok. I don’t eat whilst running; water is enough for me. Well done on being so well prepared for Christmas….I can’t say the same….and we have 5 guests over the holiday 🤔maybe time for me to do something else.👍
That looks and sounds delicious 😋 sounds like you've got your calorie balance about right . Mine is balanced but I'd still like to lose a bit of stop smoking weight, it's nearly all gone, that run sounds good too, happy Christmas week
Sorry to hear that BC! I hope you’re perking up a bit now🙂
I hit the streets and trail today after a few weeks off due to a hacking cough 😏. Felt like crud. I felt ok and managed a full circuit I dunno how far as my watch is still not showing the right things 😊 About 9 - 10k i think, so not bad. Weather was pretty rubbish but I did end up taking my waterproof jacket off. Home to lovely leftovers. Family have gone home, leaving me in peace. They’re returning tomorrow though as we’ve got a family ‘do’ on. More eating and drinking 🙄 No drink for me though 🫖😀
I haven’t had alcohol for 8 years! One flipping tablet I have to take and it has to be one with zero booze allowed!
I managed a steady 4K today; negative splits for two runs in a row!
All of our visitors have gone now, which is as well as MrsBC fell downstairs from top to bottom on Thursday morning. She didn’t want me to call an ambulance so I rang 111 instead and they told her that she needed to get to A&E. So in the car, CT scan etc etc. Very scary.
She has a very black eye and the other one looks to be coming out in sympathy! She is mobile, but pretty withdrawn as you would expect! Just in need of a bit of TLC now. Anyway, I sneaked in my little 4k this morning whilst she was having a lie in. ☹️
Thanks missw. She is ok wandering about the house, but wants the bruising to vanish before she goes out again. It is pretty bad! I am amazed that she didn’t break something given the height she thinks that she fell from (I.e.the top of the stairs). I, and a friend who was staying with us, just heard the mighty crash!
I’m going out tomorrow and I know the venue is up a flight of concrete steps, so it’s on with the sensible flatties for me. I think about these things since becoming a runner
My son stubbed his toe on Christmas Eve and was hobbling about on his two days off. Typical innit 🙄
Oh jeans, I have put my small ones away, and I threw out a pair of wranglers that I realised were over 40 years old and most unlikely to ever do up again, most of my small ones are 11 years old or more now, I'll keep them another year just in case 😁
That's exactly it, and darn, I never thought about flogging the wranglers, they only ever fit when I was below 8st and then it was touch and go, I bought them when I was pregnant so didn't realise how small they were.Ooo a leather mini.....gorgeous.
We have a new year ahead, all our hopes and dreams of lithe, toned, smaller bodies start again......or we can just hope and dream to be able to walk and run and be happy xx
I’m with you! Fully optimistic about the year ahead. Hopefully lots of running fun in the warmer weather to come. It won’t always be dark at six! 🙂🏃♀️👍
Hi @SueAppleRun (tagging not working for me 😪) and all VRB... Nice to see you hosting today 😊👌⭐I'm not ready for Christmas ! (Not many decs up here, we have so little display space and waiting to get the mantlepiece put in in the New Year. The picture is my mini tree, bought for me 4 yrs ago by one of my lovely VRBs here, when I moved into my flat and sent flat packed, it's done so well ! )
But that's me every year, tbh I'm not a big Christmas fan,I'm looking forward to January!!! But I'm a little more organised than usual years as have made my Apple chutney, & most of the fruit cakes and spiced nuts that I've done for years as pressies. And have just booked my Dad on his favourite Steam train ride, for New Years day as we're away on Boxing Day this year !
I love savoury too, my favourite on Christmas day teatime is Cheese and biscuits! My brother is a big fan of cheesy footballs too!
I'm aiming to go on a healthy eating kick in January, and hopefully do Red January in some shape or form 🤞 so a bit of weight off and good food should aid that .
That sounds really lovely lead up to Christmas, yes cheese is my go to snack, and cheese on toast or vegetables, as long as it has cheese I'm happy, I had loads of plans today as some of my energy has returned, then spent hours shopping, bit many shops but all far apart so lots of lovely driving with Christmas tunes on the radio, happy Christmas week xx
Thank you for hosting this week, and giving our regular admins a Christmas break. Sorry to hear you ended your holiday with a cold , that’s not fair. But it sounds like vital Christmas Shopping is taking over instead of running.
I love Christmas time and Christmas treats so there’s a few things tucked away in cupboards away from prying eyes. I never buy mince pies, preferring to make my own, and I never eat Christmas Dinner or Christmas pudding before the big day.
Sweet things, savoury things, love them all.
Last year we had to demolish enough food for 6 between the two of us following UTS testing positive for Covid on 23 December and over the next 10 days. This year we are spending the actual day on our own and joining family on Boxing Day so we’ll be having something smaller than a turkey for a change.
Southsea parkrun in festive dress is of course mandatory on both 23rd and 25th December.
It wasn't very fair but nearly better now with return of some energy today, I'm thinking a short run or walk tomorrow and dog walk this evening. I remember your last year Dexy5, and you'll enjoy all your hidden treats this year. I'm looking forward to Christmas parkrun as it's my first . Happy Christmas week to you both
What a joy to see you hosting Sue and a big thank you too. Well just the two of us as always and just the way we like it. So we are prepared, gifts and cards have been sent to different parts of the country aswell as our personal gifts to each other are wrapped and hidden till the big day when all be revealed !.
The shopping has been done and both of us enjoy lovely savoury treats aswell as sweet treats too. This year hubby couldn’t find the brandy sauce which is just for me by the way as he prefers custard with Xmas pud ,so he came back home with brandy cream ….what a delicious treat that will be also I have Turkish delight which I love and haven’t had that for years so I’m thoroughly spoilt😂😂😂
We have beautiful decoration within especially xmassy foliage I was lucky enough to get from the bluebell wood while out walking…..thank you to Roger the farmer.
New Year’s Day we have been invited to one of neighbours for drinks and nibbles …..looking forward to that.
In the meantime I’m hoping to get out for a run somewhen.🏃♀️🏃♀️🎄🎄
Merry Xmas to you Sue and I hope your day will be filled with lovely memories and won’t be too hard for you.🥰🥰x
That sounds perfect, just the two of you, and the food and treats and presents too....if I get to parkrun in the morning, then an hour tramping round the field with dog, most of the hard should be over by the time I'm cooking and eating thanks. Happy Christmas week to you both xx
I thought Santa might have brought me an unwanted present last night; I felt what I thought was Achilles pain in my left ankle! Achille injuries seem to take ages to heal. Anyway, I had a bit of a prod about this morning and found that the centre of the pain was just under the inside ankle bone. I had the same problem a couple of years ago, and thankfully the fix was easy. I just rubbed my thumb over the tendon which runs under the ankle bone (you can feel it) for a few minutes and hey presto it feels fine. I will keep an eye on it, but hopefully calamity has been avoided. Might be a useful fix to know at some point 🙂
What a cheery Christmasy post Sue! Thank you for hosting and doing such a grand job and giving us lots to ponder 😍
I love Christmas and tend to go a bit overboard with decorations and food. But every decoration is a memory and so I love hanging them on the tree and remembering. My 91 year-old mum is staying with us and of course that brings loads of priceless memories and we are still making them! 🥰
This year our village had a little fun “exhibition” where each house had to put on a Christmas scene in a window and every day another window was revealed. It’s been great fun and needless to say I went a bit overboard with mine! But it’s been great fun.
I still have all the present wrapping to do and last minute shopping so I’m never ready until the big day itself 🙄 but my husband is the cook and so he does all the food shopping and cooking so I don't need to worry about that at least.
As far as eating, I eat what I want over Christmas but rarely go overboard simply because my digestive system can’t cope and I hate the feeling the next day of that overindulgence and bloating. But one of my favourite treats is Christmas cake or mince pies with a big chunk of strong cheddar…. Yum yum. I’ll also drink a wee bit more and have cream with my coffee ( and sometimes with a dash of brandy 😋) But generally I don’t have an appetite for too much rich food which is good for a runner 🙂
I plan to stick to my running routine if I can and it always means a bit of juggling between family coming to stay but usually I can manage it.
I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas Sue and to all my VRBs too xxx
Thank you, it all sounds very festive around your way, lots of houses have lights in windows or outside here and I love going out in the dark and seeing them. I've almost got my energy back but still coughing so not much running here, in January I'm having my other cataract done so it's going to be a bit of a waiting game again.
We were driving through a few villages last night and all you could hear in the car was “oooo look at that! ……. ooooh did you see that?…,,, oooh that is gorgeous…..” 😂
I know the week is almost over ... but I finally made it here and had a good catchup! Thanks so much Sue for hosting the chat this week. I do hope you are well on the road to recovery now.
I'm back in the UK(as of yesterday afternoon) and playing chase my tail at the moment. I always lose a few days when I come back - the last minute stuff in Canada, two days lost to travelling and then the catch up at home.
Today I have been playing Christmas music to try to get me in the mood. Present shopping and wrapping was all done before I went away. For the first time in around 25 years, I am not responsible for hosting Christmas which has taken so much away from my normal Christmas routine. I don't like it! I'm sure I will indulge on Christmas day, but this year my house won't be full of goodies and so I have no excuse for polishing it all off - perhaps this year my nutrition will improve, by default if not by design! No parkrun for me this weekend, but the runs will go on as normal 🥰
Wishing everyone a very happy festive season, however you plan to spend it 🎄
Thank you Linda, I seem to be on a very slow road to recovery but at least I'm on the road. I seem to be getting fat and lazy, maybe in another life I was Mrs. Claus 😯😂😯, Ah, I'm not hosting Christmas but my house is still full of goodies 🤣🤣🤣
Have a wonderful time over the next few days, and hope you find some running related goodies under the tree xx
Thanks Sue. I hope you have a wonderful time too, and that you get well loked after. Plenty of time to focus on weighty challe ges in January ... December is for you to get back to full health 🥰
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Weekly Chat.... 20th to 26th Merry Christmas! 🎄 🎄 🎄 