We have arrived in March. The dark days of winter are receding and spring is fast approaching - I hope! To be fair, I have come home to a garden full of daffs, snowdrops, crocuses and primroses ... and the grass needed a cut, so something must be afoot. The last two days I even saw sunshine and blue sky!
Just a short one from me today - you guys are the stars of this week's chat, so do let us have all your gossip and tell us how your running is (or isn't) going in the comments below.
Sadly, I'm still not out there running. My leg is still not right. But even more alarmingly I realised I'd stopped caring 😨 Since arriving home I haven't really bothered walking, let alone felt miffed at not being able to run. A birthday making me a whole year older? maybe. Jet lag? maybe. The cold I picked up in NZ? maybe. Then I did a Covid test. Oh 😨! That'll probably be why!!! So, not the brightest of starts to the new month for me, but - as they say - surely it can only get better? 😍
In the meantime, while I'm sitting here on the (admittedly comfy) couch, I'd love to hear all about how things are going for you. Are you out there throwing down new PBs, smashing your training runs, setting the trails on fire? having a blast? setting new goals? What are you looking forward to as spring approaches? Or do you find yourself juggling madly while life tries to get in the way? Or are you temporarily resting on the IC too ? Most importantly, is Coach Bennett doing OK without me hanging on his every word?
Do take a break for a moment and let us know how you're doing ☕🍪😊
And have a great week everyone.
Your team - Irishprincess , Beachcomber66 and me 🥰
🎽 For races/events in March head here to give us the details:
Thanks Dexy5 I’m running it with a friend & hubby is staying home with our boys. I keep reading that the training is the marathon & the race is the celebration so I’m going with that mindset. A 5 day holiday with 5+hours of celebration 😍
Sorry RW, spring doesn't apply to you does it, I wasn't thinking. Hopefully you're looking forward to those long runs and get to enjoy them, especially if things are colling down some for you 😊
February has been brutal for heat so I’m certainly looking forward to those cooler runs. I’m in a good head space with what’s to come with the longer runs & I think as you wisely pointed out awhile back that’s the biggest challenge for me. I’m doing it 🤗
Hello RunWillie, Sounds like your low heart training continues to suit you well. How long have you be training this way and are there some particular changes that you have noticed as a result?
I’m not too strict on heart rate these days but do use heart rate, pace & effort in combination to ensure I keep my intensity in check. It has been about 3.5 years now. I think the main thing that I’ve noticed is the volume I’ve been able to build. Here are my yearly stats. 2021 -1717.19km, 2022 - 2022.80km, 2023 - 2230.69km. I wouldn’t have been able to run that much if I was running my 5k pace all the time. Hope that is helpful.
Thank you. Quit an increase and I think that you have kept injury free too. I have always been aware of the 80:20 ratio from our running forums, but perhaps my idea of easy running isn't as low as the MAF formula would encourage. I shall try and keep to 125bpm tomorrow.
The MAF formula is too low for me. I tried to do MAF for 6 months. I got my max heart rate tested in a lab & used the karvonen method which is spot on for me. My max heart rate was what I had hit in park run running flat out so the lab test wasn’t needed. I haven’t had any injuries since adopting the 80/20 principle.
Low heart rate training exclusively can suck the joy out of running for me so I don’t use it now in isolation but it certainly helps to slow me down when I should be running easy.
🍏🤗 No wonder your mojo disappeared down under. Covid!! Enjoy some good sleep, lots of fluids, & gentle S&F on your comfy couch. Get better soon and some fliers and a hug as you recover. 🤗 💐
Thanks AA. Good sleep is particularly hard to come by, despite the prevailing tiredness. but all bad things come to an end and I'm sure things are on the mend already. Some gentle S&F is an excellent idea 😊
Hi Linda, all of that just doesn't feel very fair, I'm so sorry you are going through a tough time.Hopefully your COVID enforced rest will allow your leg to heal so once you are better you will be able to rebuild your awesome running.
No gossip here, I'm running, and hoping to build up again to continuous long runs, using low heartrate training though means lots of walk breaks. Ears still buzzing and my hearing still muffled but better than a couple of weeks ago and at least I no longer feel as if I'm falling everytime I move.
Rest well and you'll make a strong comeback soon xx
Oh poor you too Sue! That balance issue must be particularly unpleasant, but hopefully you are moving in the right direction. Run for me ... as slowly as you like (that way we'll be out longer and really get to take in the view). Here's to strong comebacks all round 😊
Hi Linda, Oh that is just truly rubbish, the Kat family wish you a really speedy recovery. Do you think coming down with something has made your leg feel more sore? When I come down with something all my dodgy bits hurt. Maybe the rest will help as well? I do hope so, you really deserve a break from this.
It’s so nice to be able to add something to the chat. This year has been manic so far, mainly from work but we’ve not really stopped at home either. My work team has recently changed completely so we have loads of people who don’t know what they’re doing and need to be trained up, as well as dealing with all the day to day stuff 😩 So apologies for the radio silence other than the occasional post after a race.
Day off today for Katnap’s birthday. We’re going out to lunch at a posh pub. Katnap needs the calories - he’s fitting in 10k/day in March with his Manchester Marathon training. His reasoning is that he needs to find something different to raise sponsorship money for London Landmarks. I can see his thinking but I’m worried he’ll do some real harm. Not much I can do apart from feed and support him. At least he’ll have a couple of weeks rest in April before the marathon (apart from actually running London Landmarks that is!).
Youngest kitten’s HM training is going well. He came home last weekend just for a few days. He ran the Two Tunnels Hilly 10k without a problem apart from complaining his shoes were feeling a bit tight. So he went back to Manchester and went to the local running shop, and moved up from a 7 to a 9 🤣🤣 Funnily enough his new shoes feel much more comfortable 🤣. I’m starting to get quite excited at the thought of doing the Manchesater Marathon relay with him now. Apart from the logistics of the race, I need to find that out as I don’t know how he’ll know when I’ve stopped my leg and he has to start his.
I had a bit of a cutback week last week as I felt battered after the Two Tunnels Hilly HM. Running through thick mud in totally unsuitable shoes wasn’t great - one of my toes hates me and I have a bramble thorn in my hand that still needs to come out. I only fell over twice though, so I judge that as a success! It was about 7 miles of mud and 6 miles of tarmac. I had no idea what shoes to wear as none of mine suited. So, time for more retail therapy - I now have on order a pair of hybrid shoes, mainly because our parkrun is also mud and tarmac, so I have a good reason (and they were a bargain!).
Excuse the long rambling post, I always end up writing an essay here 😂. Hope everyone has an excellent runny week and that you’re feeling better and more positive very soon Linda xxx😘😍
I’m not surprised RW, they are a lovely luxury. This one is opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre gardens and it’s really difficult to get a table during the evening. It has a lovely ‘Actors Bar’ with signed photos of those who have come in for a tipple over the years.
I got Inov8 Parkclaw G280s. They were more than half price, so a bit of a bargain. Suggested by Katnap as he’s a bit of an Inov8 obsessive. I’ll have to find another pair to chuck out now! No doubt it will stop raining and all the mud will dry out now 😂
New shoes are always fun & it’s quite funny how us runners can justify most of our rotation 🤣. I’m being strict this year & only allowing 2 road & 1 road to trail, I had about 6 pairs in my rotation at one point 🙈
Marathon training is going well thanks. I’m in a good head space currently with it which is probably my biggest challenge. 12 miles tomorrow 💪🏻
Six is probably a similar to what I’ll have once these new ones turn up 😳 It has taken a while to find ones I like or like me though. Some are on their way out and some are just breaking in, so it won’t stay at six for long!
I was very tempted by the 1080’s but in the end went with another pair of Nimbus 25s. I’ve only got a 100 miles left in my 2nd pair so will replace with the 26 I think. My Boston 12s are being replaced by the Superblast. I’m surprised you don’t have an ASICS in there. More shopping? 🤣
I think stopping the naproxen after 5 weeks has made it nore sore 🙈😍I hope work is beginning to settle a little - that's a big challenge for a lady who fits so much into home life ☺️ and talking of big challenges, wow Katnap!!! Take care and a belated happy birthday 🥰
The relay sounds interesting, the two tunnels HM awful, no wonder you felt battered! Retail therapy though ... that's always going to ease the pain, and bargain shoe shopping is the best!!! Hope you love them ☺️
He is a bit bonkers. I actually asked Mr Fordy on his YouTube chat about it last night - he didn’t see the problem but told him to be careful 🤷🏻♀️ He seemed to have a good birthday though - lots of nice food!
Work should settle soon but I’m shattered today! Dozing on the sofa at the moment.
Fingers crossed for you Linda and hope you’re beginning to feel better 🤗
Arghh Covid Linda? Isn’t it time that slung its hook and gave us a break? Hope yours is short lived. 🤞
I’m out bimbling around. Mostly at the gym I must admit, as the deal I made with myself about getting my mojo back was to make every run enjoyable. PR being the exception (and my word it was chilly this weekend!) 🥶 💦 I’m a fair weather runner nowadays!
But I do have lush new headphones. 🥰 I’ve been holding onto my dear little wired Bluetooth Anker SoundBuds. Unfortunately one of the buds had started to come apart a little in one ear so it was time to move on. 🥺
I had a browse around and found they no longer make them. 😩 I personally don’t like the rigidity of Shokz, nor the gigantic headphones popular with the “youngsters” out there! I didn’t want to spend the earth, nor did I want something too cheap and cheerful. I found Anker Soundcore V30i at £60. They’re individual bone conducting headphones but unlike AirPods which I know I’d lose, they have an ear hook, making them secure for running.
Know what? I LOVE them already. I was so amazed at the sound quality and passed them round the room for the family to try. Everyone agreed, and I’d highly recommend them.
No I don’t work for Anker, but they’re great mid range products which never disappoint. I need commission I think! 😅
I’d wholeheartedly recommend these IP. The sound is amazing, yet you can hear all around you too. I walked Flossie in them earlier, and couldn’t even feel I had them on. 🙏
They sound great Cheeky. Mostly I love my mini Shokz, except when I'm walking with a thick hood or scarf which catches on the band. Shokz now do individual, hook over ear headphones too, although about twice the price and I couldn't really justify that just for walking! Maybe I'll sneak a peek at these ones 😍I've been looking at Parkruns to try from Warminster (I'm going to be there for 2 or 3 weeks), although I'll be walking I'm sure, and I think I recognised a few names from your parkrun adventures (although I fear they fell in the category of ones you try to avoid 😍).
Ooo tell me which ones linda9389 , and when you’re likely to be there. We’re away over Easter until mid-April, but I’d love to meet up at a PR if it works out!
Yes I throughly recommend these new headphones. Affordable and incredible sound quality. I wore them walking Flossie earlier. Love them. 😀
Oh no Linda, I’m so sorry to hear of the Covid. I must say it crossed my mind as we were sitting in the plane for 10 hours to the US that this is the riskiest situation we’d been in for 4years. No running for me as the skiing is plenty enough exercise at high altitude. We’ve had 2 snowstorms and about 45 cm of fresh snow during our trip, so have witnessed all sorts of skiing conditions, the blue skies and bashed pistes being my favourite.
Back to UK on the red eye tomorrow and no doubt those running shoes will be wondering why they went to Colorado and back without being worn! UpTheStanley was very chuffed that he managed to run 30 mins on the treadmill at 9,600 feet, when we can’t climb stairs without puffing here. I wonder if running at sea level will be easier as a result.
Thankfully, we aren’t affected that badly, but there are oxygen bars around town for those that are. Drinking lots of water and taking it easy the first few days does help.
I think we caught ours while on land or water rather than flying ... though I'm afraid I was probably a risk on our flight back which is an awfully embarrassing thought (I genuinely thought it was a headcold because it was not at all like last year's bout of covid, also caught on holiday but on land). Apart from being very tired, at least the head cold symptoms are diminishing now. Fresh snow is amazing isn't it, but I don't blame you in the slightest for not running (what was UTS thinking???). Hope you had a good flight back, picked up no germs and are recovering nicely from any jet lag. Here's to easier sea level runs on strong legs 😍
Sorry to hear about the COVID knock back, Linda. Hope it didn't take the edge off the end of your fantastic trip!
19 yo called this morning from Airlie Beach.... he's got to wear a stinger suit if he wants to swim in the sea (!) oh, and, there are a few crocs knocking about in the creeks as well. Just what a mother on the other side of the world wants to hear! He got stung by a "baby" jellyfish (twice) last week on the Gold Coast, no biggie he said, and his girlfriend got bitten by a poisonous spider....
He was moaning about 17 hours on the bus last night, I told him to stop flippin moaning, I did 13.1 miles ON MY FEET, that piped him down! Legs, bum and knees, in fact most of me, quite sore after a "challenging" outing at the Cambridge Half yesterday, not really one for the memory box, but just glad I made it round.
The last few days I was really ready to come home (though with hindsight that probably was the covid having it's way), but it was a truly fantastic trip. Nooe. That is NOT what a mum wants to hear, but just remind yourself young folk are invincible (much faster at dodging danger and much stronger at fighting it off too) and it will be OK ☺️ (but I do absolutely feel your pain!!!).
Congratulations on the Cambridge half ... hopefully a couple of days rest are reframing the memory into a more pleasant one and the body is moaning a little less. Were the challenges personal or were they ones that mean you wouldn't recommend the event?
The challenges were all entirely my personal ones!! It’s a great event, I just wasn’t as well prepared as I could have been. But such it goes. On which note, is there going to be a HUHM 10k/HM this year? I need a target I think to get my backside off the couch again!
Sadly, spending the best part of a day in a pressurised aluminium tube with a few hundred other people is a great way for diseases to spread.
I had the current variant of Covid at the start of the year, probably picked up from visiting Dad when he was in hospital. At the time I thought it was just a bad cold.
I'm gradually getting back into things. Being able to go back home at weekends means I've been able to do parkruns again.
My midnight runs have become less frequent as Dad's now feeling better and staying up later. (Dirty stop out!)
I've been gradually increasing the distances and did a 10 miler last Monday evening. I wanted to get out today but the weather here was foul (rain and strong gusts).
Although neither of us picked it up on a flight, I'm afraid I may well have left it on our flight home. Although I had joked about covid, I didn't for one minute think that's what it was. It was only that I was still so full of it and lethargic after about 10 days that I decided to test, simply out of curiosity. Of course now I feel very guilty.So good that your dad is now improving and that your life - and running - is getting back to normal again. Seems the weather still has some way to go before it improves up North though. Fingers crossed for some dry and sunshine for you too 🤞
Wishing you a speedy and safe recovery Linda. Take things steady and when you get back you'll stay back 🙏. Tasha bought me these stunners 😍 which I'll use to train for a few races we've got lined up over the year. This year, our running is consistent and we're averaging between 20-25 miles a week with a variety of runs. This keeps every week pretty fresh. Hopefully we stay healthy and keep enjoying all the types of runs we do. Parkrun tourism has been wonderful too. Best wishes to everyone out there.
Monday is supposed to be long run day. I was going to rest today anyway, but circumstances made the decision for me. A couple of hours waiting for a contractor to turn up with MrsBC’s new shed; project postponed when the fully loaded lorry was stricken by a broken starter motor ( are they still in use🤔?) . Two trips to the vets for Molly, walk with Molly and Mrs BC, food shopping ….the day just dissolved before my eyes. I did get in some strength and flex stuff, so I won’t get into bother with my physio on Wednesday morning, but that was about it. Still, there were some great runs from HUers this weekend. Truly inspiring. I was left fantasising about a HM pb this year! An old man can dream 😉
Ugh! Some days are just not worth fighting are they!!! Hope everything got sorted in the end and that Mrs BC has many happy years ahead of her in the shed 😍Hope the physio gives you a gold star and the OK to run for the hills.
By the way, old men should dream!!! As should young ones and any inbetween. Not to mention all women too! Dream big!!!
Thanks Linda. That sounds a bit like I am going to play Rochester to Mrs BC’s Bertha Mason. She will be allowed out of her shed sometimes 😂.
I will try to remember to ask my physio about hips and good physios in your neck of the woods; that is if I am not too focussed on not yelling out. My calf is still sore from last week’s encounter with the very able sorceress’s apprentice. I think the business motto should be “We take no prisoners” …which takes us back to sheds I suppose ……I wonder if it will turn up today……🤞
I'm not sure it is my hip, at it's worse it is more on the outer edge of my leg but as it improves or eases it moves more to the front. What I need to do is find out what is causing it. My thinking is to try an osteopath for a change, but any recommendations would be very welcome indeed. As i'm going away again in a week, I'm waiting til I get back before I contact anyone - partly because I don't have the energy right now, but also on the basis that it is likely to take more than one consultation to resolve.
Hope all goes well at the mercy of the sorceress ...
Oh no linda9389 ,I hope you feel better soon! 😪 glad you have a nice comfy sofa! 😊 Not too much running going on here, and life fairly stressful atm😭didn't go to Sunday run club as was feeling a bit solitary, but it was such a lovely morning so I braved it on my own and managed 7.4km down to the seafront and round ,back through the park, and even ran all the way up Solent View Road (by accidentally forgetting my route came out at the bottom of it!) Lots of friendly walkers and runners so it was a nice hr out!
Tuesday night club tonight so a chance to be more sociable!
I've got a week off so hopefully a chance to get out and about! Xxx
Have a great week all VRBs !
Sunset picture from our Saturday walk and nice surprise as the local icecream van was out,yum!
Thanks Ali. I hope you're feeling more sociable today and can really enjoy the club run, although I'm a great fan of the solitary run myself 😍A beautiful sunset and ice cream ... heaven!
Ah I hope you are feeling better soon Linda. Covid really does a number on us sometimes. I’ve had it twice in the last two years, both after visiting my Mum in hospital.
Life has been busy and a little stressful lately but I am still getting out for runs. I am on a new Cholesterol medication which seems to have fatigue effects but it could be in my head. I am at the point in the plan where you start to question things, and life shows up with its own challenges. But it’s all good.
Got some new shoes too. Hoka Bondis on sale. I’ve done a 10k and a 23k in them. So far so good.
Oooh, very nice shoes Decker!!! Still looking rather clean too 😍
Hope you get the meds and fatigue sorted, not to mention the stress. In that situation, getting out for runs can be quite the saviour can't it. Good luck staying on plan 😊
I hope you're continuing to feel a bit better Linda. It took me a good two weeks before I got my appetite back and felt ok again.
I’m still (sort of) sticking to the training plan but have gone a bit off piste now because I’m planning on doing the 10 miles on Thursday instead of on Sunday. That way I’ll have a few extra days in case something goes wrong on the run!
I think I suffer from pre-race-niggle-syndrome because weirdly my knees have been a bit achey but only after shorter runs. When I look back at my notes from previous HMs I see that my knees have been achey for YEARS! One run at a time……but I know I’ll feel a lot better once I do the 10 mile run.
In other news, I’ve bought a new water belt because one of the bottles split on my old belt and kept leaking and I couldn’t find replacement bottles so I did a little research and got this one. I wore it on my 9 mile run last week and it was great, didn't budge, felt comfy, lots of room in the pouch.
Now the big decision is whether to don any St Patrick’s gear for race day ☘️ I’ve seen a snazzy little cap which might be fun……
I hope you're ok on that IC Linda and you won’t be on it for too long.
Nervous niggles! The trials of pre race day prep. You've got this IP. Deep breaths and try to relax 😍
Definitely a yes to the green attire, and a photo with your race report will be mandatory! As I remember, Abi is particularly good at the pre race cap photo genre 😃
My appetite is back and my head is a little less clogged, but I still have no energy and could go to sleep at any time if I let myself. Still, I have no inclination to go out and run which my leg should be thanking me for 😍
The only green coloured gear I have is a vest, which I’ll wear, and the brightest green and purple capris which would be great except they're years old and they keep falling down so probably not the right choice 😮
Hope you feel better soon. I think there must be something about NZ .We came back with covid last March. I remember thinking that the seats were less comfortable on the return flight-I realised later it was the covid not the seat design! Hopefully the enforced covid rest will give your leg a bit more time to recover! 🤞
I'm still out plodding around the streets getting close to the end of my HM plan now. Every type of weather in the space of a couple of days! - Rain(lots) , cold bright sun(a little), snow - I didn't run until it had melted at least on the footpaths but really enjoyed looking at the snowmen en route!, - Also, I "enjoyed" a new running experience weather-wise -I set off in sunshine which turned to rain and then to a rather painful hail shower and back to the sun by the time I got home. My first run in hail. It really made me feel alive but .. ouch!!
Oh no, did you?! It's a long journey at the best of times and certainly not improved by feeling ill!You really have been at the mercy of the weather. I don't think I've ever had the misfortune to run in hail but it doesn't sound very nice!!! Well done for sticking at it. Hoping there is sunshine just around the corner - maybe for the HM at the end of that plan!
I do hope that you are feeling a little better each day. I'm looking forward to you feeling fully well Covid gone and leg better too.
I have entered a HM race! First time! Yikes! It will be my first ever run of the HM distance. Just thought that I can withdraw if my knee or any other part of my body makes it clear that a HM isn't possible. It is called the White Peak Half (marathon and 10km events too) and is due to take place on May 18th matlockac.org.uk/race/white.... Is this one that you misswobble have run or plan to enter this year? I am not confident that my knee will allow me to reach the start line, but at least I am on the start list! I'm excited! 😊🏃🏻♀️
Thank you Linda. I can feel that my injured knee is different to the other one so I am far from confident, but let's hope it can adapt to what I ask of it 😊
Nope, none of this mamby pamby stuff with your knee; tell it straight >61, as we say up here it needs to frame itself! 😂 ….maybe not ……
You are taking care to strengthen as you go along and you are adjusting the programme to suit; in short you are doing everything right. Settling for controlling what we can and not worrying about the things we can’t is all any of us can do. I have faith!
I hope you are up and about and exercising very soon Linda. I'm not running after hurting my back a couple of weeks ago (I fell over running backwards to hit an overhead shot in pickle ball!).
I've been running between 16k - 21k every Monday, with a couple of other runs during the week, plus swimming and yoga since Christmas, so I think my legs are quite glad of the enforced rest.
I've done some long hilly walks this week and I'm hoping to run next week. I don't think I'll have the chance for more than 10k before the Monsal Trail, so I'm hoping my leg muscles have a good memory.
Thanks CSMN. I'm not really even walking right now, just not interested.I hope your back is healing - your legs will kniw what to do, no problem there 💪👍
I didn’t know that I had popliteus muscles ; my physio introduced to me to my left one yesterday. I encountered it on a somewhat painful journey which started with my left glute, meandered slowly down my hamstring muscles, and ended behind my knee. Apparently the popliteus is very important when it comes to staying upright. It is easily upset and not too keen on being on the receiving end of a jab with a rigid thumb, still less a theragun. I managed to control my reaction to pain to an occasional audible sharp exhalation of breath! If it hurts that much, it has to be doing you good; right ? 😬
I have been given two extra exercises (with videos) to do; one is the disarmingly named “Happy Baby” and the other is a Nerve Slide which seems to be aimed at pacifying the sciatic nerve. Yoga fans will be familiar with the Happy Baby. Good news is that I can run and build up distance again. Oh, and I was advised to put some heel cups in my walking shoes. So, we will see. I went to the football match last night. Sitting on a low seat in the freezing cold is not a good move post physio. So Molly got a good walk this morning; I wore my heavy hiking boots in the hope that they would loosen things up! Kill or cure. Next run should be Saturday morning.🤞🤞🤞we will see.
Ouch BC! I feel your pain. Happy Baby is a nice one to add to the repertoire ... a Nerve Slide sounds a little less appealing!!! Great to get the go ahead to build up the distance. Enjoy!!!
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Weekly Chat March 7th-13th 🎽☕ What's your running shirt max? 😃