Chilly Run with Coach Bennett

[Dexy5]

I realised I haven’t run further than 6.5 km in the last 10 weeks so this morning I thought I’d make it a nice long, slow run from Hilsea Wake Park in the north of the city. I found a one hour run on the NRC app which put no pressure on distance, but probably between 7 and 8 km.  UpTheStanley was aiming to run 12 k in the same time. Say no more.

Brrr, it was 8C but with a chilly 20 mph westerly. I had a merino long sleeved top on with a T-shirt over that and my nice new leggings with side leg pockets to carry my phone. A fleece hat and running gloves were definitely required.

It was such a lovely run. Dog walkers, mums and tots, cyclists and runners acknowledged each other and shared the paths with care. The tide was out, but on the turn, so I could see it coming in over the duration of my run. Geese flew over my head in arrow formations, and I spotted 2 little egrets in a small pond as well as ducks and coots. The swan family which we watched grow last year have found their wings and flown away, probably to Canoe Lake in Southsea.

One hour later I had run a nice easy 7.27 km and was ready for a lovely hot cappuccino at the cafe with UTS. I was really pleased to see the natural progression of the run (with negative splits) when I checked the app. Coach Bennett will be pleased too!

Happy running all.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Good run for you today Dexy5, nice seeing all those runners, cyclists and dog walkers as well, I am sure you enjoyed your cappuccino with UpTheStanley, by the way that swan family may have flown further than Canoe Lake in Southsea and ended up in Broadwood Loch near where I run because there is a swan family there as well but I don't think it's the same family, too far away.

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to AlMorr]

I’m not sure our southern swans would fancy your chillier weather AlMorr 🥶 . Canoe Lake has over 90 swans at the moment as it’s a bit of a nursery for this year’s juveniles.

I hope you are keeping warm up there!

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Canoe Lake sounds a great place for swans Dexy, it's not too chilly at the moment, on Sunday the NORTH of Scotland had a temperature of almost 20C due to a warm wind, today it's a more normal 7C, I am keeping warm and certainly not the least bit cold, tomorrow I hope to run 8K, regards to UTS.

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to AlMorr]

👍

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Mission accomplished with aplomb I would say! Excellent runs and apres runs Dexy5. Negative splits are always satisfying. CB is a big help; I was dubious when I downloaded the plan last year, but I soon realised how much I didn’t know!

There was hardly anyone around for my run yesterday; given it poured down all day that wasn’t a surprise. Today when we walked Molly, the trail was still claggy, but there were a few more people about…and everyone was lovely. “Proper” walkers maybe 🙂.

No egrets, little or otherwise, up here yet (we see both occasionally), but there is plenty of bird life up in the woods. The rest of the week looks to be pretty dry, so maybe the hedge to hedge puddles will disappear soon. Paddling has its place, but at the start of a run isn’t ideal. Spring is just around a few corners yet!

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Beachcomber66]

I’m not a great fan of running in the rain in winter so well done you. Hopefully the trees gave you a bit of shelter.

I was amazed at the list of birds UTS reeled off from his different route through foxes forest and lakeside this morning - he rarely sees more than red mist!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

The trees do help; the falling rain just doesn’t register once I am out in it. Puddles and boggy bits are just a nuisance. Roll on Spring!

[JonathanP 10 Miles]

Well done Dexy - especially on those negative splits! It is a lovely place to run - looking forward to getting back to 10k so I can make my way there (and back). I recognise that pond with the egrets - they aren't always there so you were lucky today.

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to JonathanP]

It is lovely JP. Would you believe that once I put my phone away the egrets moved into a far better position. Too much faffing with gloves on to take another shot.

[JonathanP 10 Miles in reply to Dexy5]

😂

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Oh, that does sound like a lovely run Dexy -well done! And look at those splits! 🙂🏃‍♀️👍

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Sandraj39]

Not often I get that right Sandraj39 ! 😂

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Me neither!🙄🤣

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Sounds like a lovely run, good to keep Coach B happy too

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to SueAppleRun]

Oh yes.

[TailChaser Marathon]

Nice splits Dexy 👍😃

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to TailChaser]

The slow start was down to running into the cold wind. It took me a while to get the muscles warm. But I was chuffed overall.

[Week7 Half Marathon]

A lovely run and those splits look perfect - nice steady increase in speed , all neat &tidy. I hope UpTheStanley had a good run too and the cappuccino was a good one!

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Week7]

Yes, UTS covers so much more ground, and he achieved his targets, so was very happy.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That sounds such a lovely run Dexy and well done on the splits too 👍

I bet the cappuccino tasted yum afterwards 😋

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Irishprincess]

Yes but with that cold westerly, we drank the cappuccinos in the car, rather than the outside seating.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Like a picnic! 🙂

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon]

Hi Dexy, I love your report. It sound like you had a satisfying and enjoyable morning. It's so nice to run in sunshine. Well done on your negative splits and the correct amount of clothing. My run on Monday was in the rain, but with others, so that made it bearable. We only met some inquisitive sheep. I took advantage of yesterday's sunshine and tidied the garden. I uncovered some snowdrops poking through leaves and crocus almost ready to flower.

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Cantstopmenow]

No sunshine for us but at least it was dry. Lovely for you to get out in the garden though. I love seeing the first flowers appear.

[misswobble Marathon]

I was dead jealous reading that 😀. Just my kinda run 🏃‍♀️

Cafe and hot drinks at the end too! Lovely 😍

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to misswobble]

An outside cafe but the toasties are good and warming. We finished off with the coffees in the car.

[GTFC Marathon]

Great going Dexy5 Well done on a lovely longer run 👏👏👏👏 I'm hoping our abysmal form improves Saturday 🤣

Match Ticket

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to GTFC]

Ha ha. As you can guess, we will be rooting for the reds but have a great afternoon. I expect it’s too far away to run Hyndburn parkrun too. We did that one when staying there for a weekend.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Nice one Dexy! You've still got it 🥰👏👏👏

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Sounds perfect Dexy5 ,well done!! 😁🏃‍♀️xxx