I’ve been trying to come up with an appropriate chat for April Fools’ Day and I did some online searching to give me ideas. There are various amusing pranks mentioned specifically for runners. Well, I say amusing but probably not that amusing at the time 🤬 But here are a few mixed in with a few of my own.
* During a pre-race announcement the race director just happens to mention that the course distance has changed 😲 Probably longer than you entered …. WHAT????
* “Someone” has added vinegar to your bottled water. Or wine. Or beer.
* Head out to a park with some cowbells/loudspeaker/pompoms and just stand there and shout out “come on, you’re nearly there/keep going/you’re leading….” It’ll confuse anyone there but hopefully it’ll also make them smile 😂
* At parkrun the Run Director announces that the distance is now changed from 5K to 6K 🤔
* Someone” has put a fake spider in your pre-run powder😱 (this one would completely freak me out!)
* You unload the washing machine and when you take out your favourite running top you see that it is now the size of a child’s. (Unbeknown to you, your nearest and dearest has swopped your top with a child’s)
Can you add any of your own? Get your creative juices flowing and give us a giggle.
Don’t forget to also tell us how your running week has been and what you’ve been up to. Have you signed up for our fabulous HU10K/10Miles event yet, details below. Have you started training yet? Tell us all about it here.
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Here are the details for the HU10K/10 Miles event on 19th May (or between 20th-26th) if you can’t make the 19th. Check out Linda’s post with all the details and the opportunity to sign up here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
Have a great week everyone and try not to succumb to any pranks!
From your team linda9389 , Beachcomber66 and me xxx
Good morning IP. I think slipping the undersize top in the washing machine is brilliant! Fortunately I don’t have a favourite, so I am safe from that one. I was stopped by a runner and fellow dog owner yesterday…he unzipped his coat to reveal his shiny new Hardmoors 55 top! That is 55 miles over the North Yorks Moor with 2300 metres ascent and a 16 hour cut off ! Imagine if someone were to put a mini version of his shirt in the wash today 🫢 It won’t happen; I think he will be wearing it all year!
Back on the planet earth; 10k in the rain for me this morning.
The washing machine disaster happened to me once but with a favorite woollen jumper that had somehow sneaked in to a hot wash when I wasn't looking 🙄and when I took it out it was a perfectly proportioned tiny child’s jumper 😱
No wonder the runner was wearing that! I’d never take it off!
🍏 A friend was doing a Trail Run & a few K’s in there was a sign up. Trail ahead closed! Turn left. Do not go back! She duly obeyed running into a squishy field.. a bit further up .. April Fool make a U turn and continue on your current route!
I’ve had a sore achilles for ages. Sometimes it’s low level aggravation but then it’s awful. I’m rotating shoes like mad to see if it helps. Bringing out the lesser used ones. I had no idea I had so many shoes squirrelled about the place 😀👀
10k done. I was absolutely soaked; unavoidable puddles over ankle deep, mud, steamed up rain obstructed specs, hill thrown in as well…..but it feels like a great run now that I am showered, warmed through and fed. It was meant to be a recovery run, so I am not concerned about the slow pace; the last 1k was the quickest, so plenty of gas left in the tank. Miserable VO2 max deducted a point. Only 11% in Zone 5…what more does it want? Maybe it has played an April Fool!🙄
“Invigorating “ gets the euphemism of the month award IP. I am amazed that I am still awake!! Glad you got out into your garden ….but beware, there are bear traps!! Can be dangerous places as you know!!
I got a mud splashed face the other day, and was wiping it off with my hankie when a cyclist came past and sprayed me all over again. He apologised as he daren’t stop for me or he’d have sunk 😁
Soon all this will be but a memory when we’re basking in warm evening runs in few clothes 😀
The Age of Chivalry is dead! A gentleman would have stopped, handed you a pristine large white handkerchief, apologised and waved as he sank out of sight into the mire. 👋 ….maybe 🙂
Sunny days seem to be a long way off. That said,I don’t want another really hot spell like last year either. Nice 23 degrees will do fine thanks. I am happy running in the rain really; but mud, day after day, is a bit much. My own choice not to take to the roads of course; the forest has many more attractions.
the gas folks are outside with loads of vehicles, plant and machinery to connect us up to a new gas main. We got missed out on two previous occasions when they exceeded their time limit. If it gets too noisy I can head out 🏃♀️ Dog walking day tomorrow 🐕. He was very slow last week but still wants to be out. It makes a change from the days he was dragging me all over the place 😁
Which reminds me, I keep seeing a string of railway haulage containers that just remind me of a string of sausages 😁. I thought I was hallucinating 😳 Rubs eyes 😀
Maybe the cyclist saw the look on misswobble ’s face and decided it was better not to stop…. 😂
I carry a large white handkerchief when I run BC. One of those tiny pesky tissues is hopeless.
It’s the wind I don't like and it seems to have been windy since January here! I’m listening to it howling as I type and it sounds like a winter’s day. Bring on calm, mild days and a bit of sun 😎
I get the impression that the usually courteous Missw could have frazzled him with a glance if she was really put out 🙂. Don’t mess about with a Chesterfield supporter mid run or otherwise!
It poured down here this morning too. Stopped now, and as Molly has to go for an operation on her ear flap tomorrow (Haematoma) I am taking her to the cafe in the car now so that she can enjoy a sausage. No food after tea tonight!
Dentist for me this pm 😖. Swimming will have to wait!
There was a post from someone earlier saying that they had graduated. NINE times from C25K, I am just wondering if that was anything to do with today's date.
Hello, oh fun April fools day jokes, the only one that got me was not running related, Willow had used my car the evening before and brought me tea in bed apologising profusely for denting it, he giggled on and off all day at me scrambling into my clothes and dashing out in bare feet to see the non existent damage. I should have guessed as he was a great tease all year round . Happy week everyone. 😄
Afternoon IP and pals! Ahh, the old shrinking things jape! I used to pretend I’d shrunk favourite things all the time, until I actually did shrink something precious of my own and didn’t find it funny at all! 😅
The Curly Wurly (Somerdale Pavilion) is on a flood plain, so no surprise that PR been cancelled for the majority of the winter, and still is. Their FB page posted that the council had granted them permission to run up and down the bus lane on Keynsham High Street until it dries out! I had to read it twice, then remembered the date! 🤪
My HM Plan started today in Brittany, with my goal being the Cardiff HM in October. Plenty of time! I’m going to run every run on the plan (so 5 per week), but make ‘weeks’ longer than seven days and run every other day or so. W1R1 in the bag today. Bring it on! 😀
Our neighbouring parkrun introduced a new volunteer position today: sponge roller driver, to mop up all the puddles. The picture was a big tractor with a sponge on the front. Personally I think our parkrun needs it more than them but we’d need to raise quite a lot in cake sales to get one 😆
I do love the t-shirt joke, I should do the same with some of Katnap’s shorts 😁
Two milestones in our household this weekend: Katnap completed his 31 days of 10k a day. He survived and uninjured too, he’s now enjoying a well earned taper before Manchester. Also, youngest kitten completed his first half marathon today. His running plan said 12 miles, but if you’re going to do 12, you may as well just do the extra bit.
So, now we’re all in taper (apart from youngest kitten who is being star RD) for a very busy April. Youngest kitten has it relatively easy as he’s only doing half a Manchester: I’m doing London Landmarks and half a Manchester, whilst Katnap is the nutcase doing London Landmarks and then a full Manchester… Prepare for loud Pom poms!
This isn’t an April Fool, this is just how we seem to be in the Kat household 😂
🤣 Don’t we just? I went out tonight and after a beautifully sunny day, guess what? It was raining again 🙄 I did get the chance to finally wash the last of the mud off my shoes from our impromptu February trail HM, which was handy (I lost the will to live cleaning the mud off them, there was so much mud!). And don’t get me started on the washing. Lucky tech clothing dries quickly, my socks don’t though. I have actually got to put some non-bio in my shop this week, it’s running a bit low (No……! Even the laundry liquid is running 😱).
As for food, well, I know I am eating too much, Katnap has an extra breakfast in the evening after dinner and youngest kitten is just a beanpole who lives on hot chocolate and marshmallows!
Sorry if we do an April takeover 😳, it’s only for a couple of weeks 😬😂
We agreed an April Fool amnesty at home, but I did spot the Somerville pavilion one cheekychipmunks 🤣🤣.
I did fall for a running magazine post saying that parkrun was stopping the alphabet challenge to stop parkrunners travelling so much, in a bid to help the planet! Our ED had to remind me of the date!
I ran an 8k last week as planned, and it was all the more joyful as I was running in the dry, knowing that it was going to pour down that afternoon. Then on Saturday, 3 of us travelled to Bognor Regis to run our first tourist parkrun for ages. It was great to try a different route and meet David_G on his home turf.
Good morning! I’m replying late as always🤦🏼♀️Loved the running top trick. Although not sure I’d be that amused at first 😬
Marathon training is coming on although my long run was slow at the weekend. Still nursing my toe along. However it was a gorgeous route and a lovely morning. I’m hooked up to a drip in the Cancer centre while I write this. No 6 treatment so over half way done. Hopefully it won’t interfere with training this week; I’ve been able to keep training pretty well as it is mild compared to other treatments. I’m looking forward to HM this weekend. Although there’s a bloomin big hill involved. But oh! that’s why I chose it 😬 Have a great week everyone and happy running. Don’t forget the factor 50!
A long slow run, on a gorgeous route, and on a lovely morning, sounds absolute bliss. I hope your training continues to go well and best of luck for the HM on Sunday. I'm doing an HM too, so I'll be thinking of you.
I missed that you were having cancer treatment Comfortnotspeed . May I wish you well on your journey. It’s great if you can continue running while this going on , whatever your speed may be. Here are some spring tulips for you
Another late reply! I was so intent on being the first person in our what's app group to say "white rabbits" that I totally forgot about April fools.The organiser of the Monday running group put up a post saying the morning route would include Shepherd's lane - the biggest and steepest local hill. Turns out it wasn't an April fool!!
thanks for the giggles! We are at our holiday cottage for ten days so I’ve got boardwalks, hills (horror!) and all sorts of different terrain to cover. Which is actually nice! Running through the flat Fens endlessly is a bit Groundhog Day-esque…..
So still getting the runs in at least Weather has been kind to us, sat in the garden most of the day today! Yey! ☀️☀️☀️
18yo daughter is juggling her A Level revision with training to be a sailing instructor so I am mostly on feeding and kit sorting duty this week…. 19yo son continues his travels and is currently in Vietnam having the time of his life.
Looking forward to the HU10km, thanks for the reminder - will turn to it in earnest once we are home next week and normal routine returns.
I used to dread April Fool's. Less so now, which I take to be a sign that I'm beginning to grow up 😍 Parkrun seems to have been right into it this year though. The one I spotted was from Reading who announced ParkSwim!
Last weekend I thought my leg may finally be up to a bit of running at Parkrun. My plan was to drive to Ashton Court, walk the first half (uphill) and run some of the return (downhill). After Google messed us around royally, I finally parked up (in the wrong place) and was left with a few seconds to get to the startline - almost 1km away! So I began to run. On legs that had been sat in the car for an hour (hence the determination not to miss the start) with no warmup. Off to my left I could hear voices and yapping dogs, and could see a muddy bike track going down and into the trees. On a wing and a prayer I turned and followed the track; hopping and skipping over the stones and mud that made the way downhill, heading for the noise. As the pack set off (late, luckily) I was was left with the choice of a path that took a right angle turn, or a skip through long wet grass across the diagonal. Determined to be no later than necessary I got wet feet and ran on til I passed the tail walker. Really not the best decision, but the only one that seemed acceptable at the time. I did run some of the downhill, especially at the end of course.
Sadly I've been hobbling again this week, although it is beginning to ease. One more tourist parkrun before returning home at the weekend. Maybe I'll be walking the whole thing yet again. Hey ho! My parkrun alphabet is coming on nicely 🤷♀️
New and inclusive, ParkSwim besides the Thames in Reading 😍
Haha 😂 that’s very clever! I wonder how many people were taken in…
Isn’t Ashton Court a hilly parkrun? Sometimes the only decision is the one that has to be made at the time 😏
Once you get home you can focus on your hip and start to manage it.
I’m just back from my podiatrist and spent a large amount on new orthotics. But the good news is that my hip strength has improved from a year ago but I must keep up with the exercises.
I told him I just wanted a full year of not being injured and his reply, “so do I” ☹️
Hello Irishprincess, Just read your reply to Linda, so I know that you have new orthotics. I have been wondering how your recovery has been going since your half marathon. Have you run since the HM and if so how many days after? How is it going?
We have been away celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary in the Lake District. We had a lovely time and were blessed with good weather, even some blue skies. A delight! I didn't spot any April fool 'jokes'.
I have been having a go at running at a heart rate of 118-128bpm, attempted to go with the MAF formula for low heart rate. The idea is to nurse my knee along to allow me to run my first ever HM on May 18th. I have been having to walk to keep my heart rate down. I ran, with walks to keep my heart rate down, 15km on Tuesday. Elevation gain was 276m. Some knee issues, but OK and it gave me confidence for the HM. But sadly the next day walking I had more knee trouble. Short run this morning and more knee trouble. I think for the remaining time I shall leave two days after my long runs. I am like a little excited child anticipating the HM, but not sure that knee will let me reach the starting line. I realise my 15km had quite a bit of elevation gain, but there really isn't a flat route here, unless like Cheeky chipmunks I'm prepared to go round and round. I really enjoyed the 15km and it is good to think that this low HR running is building a good aerobic base, even if I don't really understand what it means 😂is good for me.
All wisdom appreciated and happy injury running to you 😊🏃🏻♀️
15K is brilliant! Well done to you! That is definitely a big chunk in your training and will give you loads of confidence come race day.
I aim to take two days’ rest after a long run and sometimes even three if I feel a bit achey, so it’s definitely worth giving two days’ rest a go. I really hope your knee settles down but it’s normal to have a few aches after running longer distances until our bodies get used to it.
I didn't run at all for 10 days after Bath. But am back to running shortish runs, about 30 minutes as my knee starts to twang a bit at that point. But I have started my strengthening exercises again for my hips and that will help with the knee issue 🤞
I have everything crossed for you that you will make the start line, just take one run at a time which I’m sure you’re doing.
And Happy Anniversary! Forty-five years is an amazing achievement! 💐
The 15km was a run/walk so doesn't feel the achievement that run only would give. Still pleased to have completed it. It was only my injured knee that has problems. The rest of me seems fine.
Also musing on whether I really need to practice starting a run at 11am like my HM starting time. I really like running before breakfast. I don't think a 11am start will be an issue and fine for the 'race' (I plan, if I reach the start line, to be in the complete not compete camp), but generally however much I am enjoying my runs I don't want them to take so much of the day. Somehow running before breakfast still gives me a whole day.
Sadly I don't have confidence in my knee, even though I do have confidence in my fitness to run the distance, if my knee lets me. As I said earlier my run this morning was cut short because my knee said stop due to pain. Plan modification leave two days rest after a long run.
Good plan. My long run is on Monday, next run Thursday; has been like that for years. Wednesday is swimming day which helps too. A recent visit to my magical physio has introduced new exercises which have really helped my hamstring, glute and calf tension and also ankle flexibility. We need a bit of warm weather too….that would go a long way with helping our prep.
My normal has been long run before breakfast on either Saturday or Sunday which ever has the better weather and then runs Tuesday and Thursday. Because we were away over the Easter period, celebrating our 45th Wedding Anniversary my long runs moved to Tuesdays to avoid our away time. Still enjoyed a short run in the Lake District. I think for me up to perhaps 13km or so one day gap has been fine, but clearly a longer run for me needed a longer gap, especially as I had some knee problems during the run and after.. I carry on learning on this running journry! Did think running was going to have to stop as if I can't walk without knee pain I clearly can't run. Happily yesterday was better even though we were moving our son plus all his belongings up to Bradford, move went well and knee seems to have coped.
Just have to nurse it through for a bit longer >61. You have already built a really strong base. I am following in your wake. 8 miles on Monday. We will do this 🙂
It’s a good idea to have a practice session with a same starting time as the race. I’ve done that a few times just to see how my energy levels cope after eating breakfast so early.
Apologies for this reply which has grown to a ridiculous length!
Things have definitely been uncertain with knee pain meaning I cut short my last short run and also experiencing knee pain while walking. I thought that my half marathon plan was at an end, but my knee is feeling OK again. I wrote my plan for building up my long runs on a little wipe clean board, blu tacked to the kitchen door. I have been erasing and re-planning a number of times. If my knee lets me I shall run only one more longer long run only before the HM, on May 18th, with a long recovery period afterwards. My plan for this may be for my husband to drive me 10 miles 'up' from here and then I shall run down. I'm the early riser of the two of us so it would suit my husband if that were after breakfast, rather than my normal before breakfast runs. So this would be like the HM 'race' day with the plan of an 11am start. And guess what? This is like my HM 'race'! The organisers bus all the competitors to their starts M, HM and 10k and we all run down hill!!! The HM has a net descent I think over 200m!!!! It does seem a bit of a cheat HM! I was astounded when I first looked at the route map. I was expecting some sort of loop with lots of elevation gain, it is Derbyshire after all. But the route was a line with start and finish 13 miles apart! We all get bussed to different start points and start at the same time. The route is mainly along a disused railway line, so a gentle decline not steep. Oh what fun this running journey is proving! And to think some years ago I lost the joy and here I am looking forward to my runs, so much. I know my knee may have other plans, but I shall keep trying.
As far as your question about fue, my husband and I are low carbohydrate folk, we changed about 4 years ago. So I am rather odd compared to most on this forum and haven't done any carb loading even before my one and only 10 mile run. I took no food or drink and was fine. There will will three places where water will be available on the HM route and I expect to make use of those. So if my knee allows me, as you can tell I am not confident it will, my practice will help me know if no food will work. Do you carry water? If so, how? I know hydration is important, but perhaps as I run so slowly compared to some it hasn't been a problem at all.
That does sound promising with your knee 🤞 Maybe it needs a few extra rest days as you say.
The route sounds fun and definitely a plus with the start!
I am amazed you can run that distance without breakfast or food on the way. I can’t do anything without my porridge and then I’m eating every few hours 🙄 But we’re all different and thank goodness for that.
I carry water in a couple of flasks on a waist belt. It works well for me.
The downhill isn’t a cheat at all; it just is what it is. You have to be careful running down hill; easy to go too fast or overstride etc etc. It just calls for a different skill set to running through undulating territory. No point in mentally undermining this achievement before you have achieved it. This is an alpha plus plus event….nothing less!!🙂
I wasn't planning on cheating! Let's just call it an easier type of route than my usual. Also as it is a disused railway line quite gentle I think. All the same I think that I shall give my knee another day off tomorrow, so no long run. As Coach Bennett says some times the best run is no run. Boo! But let's hope that it helps my knee recover.
Low heartrate runs are great, if disappointingly slow, well mine are, yours might not be.Knee problems, I'd had knee problems for years, general aches, soreness if I ran. I went to a lovely orthotics guy who made some made for me insoles and a few days later I realised the pain was gone....and never came back 😁 might be worth looking in to
I don't like to keep boring folk with my 2020 pruning task fall from a 3 foot wall. I had numerous injuries and have been told by my physios that I will never have a normal knee as my medial meniscus was 2/3 torn through. This should be cartilage and act as a shock absorber in the knee, but it only heals as scar tissue.
No idea if orthotics could help, certainly a different idea. Thank you for the suggestion 😊
I managed to complete a 45 min recovery run this morning while waiting for the vet to ring with news of Molly’s procedure. It went fine, the procedure that is, except the medication failed to knock Molly out completely. The vet said that some dogs fight the urge to sleep. I should have warned her; determination runs in the family! Typically, now that I have brought her home, she has found a corner to sleep it off! The vet has given me some medicine to add to her food; helps stiff joints apparently….might try a bit myself!
Meanwhile, my run! It was cold and still wet underfoot, and I ran a bit quicker than the intended easy pace. VO2 max deducted a point……but an ok effort everything considered. At least I was allowed food this morning following yesterday’ tooth extraction. The run was more about head space than fitness, although I guess they are not mutually exclusive.
Good to hear Molly's procedure went well and she's resting. V02MAX knows nothing!!! Mine stayed the same after an intervals against the wind run this morning but added a year to my fitness age.....I've aged 5 years this last year 🙄
Thanks Sue. We are just glad to have Molly home. She will be 12 in June, which is a good age for the breed. Procedures are always a worry at this stage…..but she is as tough as they come, and still enjoying life which is the important thing.
VO2 max makes me laugh! I was only one point off being “superior”. Tells you all you need to know really 😂😂.
I am happy just plodding on towards 10 miles in time for the HU runs in May…and now the sun decides to shine! 🙂
Our animal friends become very important to us, hope she heals well.Ha! I was Superior once for a few weeks, now I'm at the bottom of good, hey ho, this time last year I dropped into the Orange fair bit, but Garmin doesn't like long slow runs,
I think what we need is warmth. I have a theory (crazy of course) that I have a Goldilocks zone in terms of temperature. My VO2 max wins all came in the few warm days we have experienced so far this year. When it is cold, the heart has to work harder just to keep up our body temperature…so it is higher on otherwise like for like runs. Neat theory…probably nonsense!🙂
I have just been googling! Apparently my crazy theory is correct! Blood vessels narrow in the cold, hence more effort is required from the heart to pump the blood around the body.
That is right about the heart. Also, when recovering from a cold the heart has to work harder which is why it is advised to take recovery slowly. The things this running business teaches us!
Heat is a problem too; heart rate up to run the cooling system. All really logical. Now I need to find my “Goldilocks “ zone(s) between too cold and too hot! Logically Spring (once it kicks in!) and Autumn.
Aw to tooth extraction and poorly cat. I hope your mouth is becoming comfortable and that Molly is recovering well too. Good that you are running 😊🏃🏻♂️
🙂 Molly is an Old English Sheepdog; I won’t tell her that she has been mistaken for a moggy! She is still sleeping off the anaesthetic bless her.
Tooth ? I feel much better after salt water rinses. No pain, no swelling; good job.
Running? 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞 it has been going well. I am set for 8 miles on Monday, which is a bit of a leap from 10k. If it feels too much when I am running, I will back off and try again the following week. It is not just the distance. I change my route as distance increases, each change bringing in more hills. In the long term this is good for me (I know that you are a hill runner too) but I will have to back off the pace for a while. Late summer/autumn last year was a disaster zone followed by some icy periods in winter. So I am enjoying just being able to get out and run; 45 minutes with Shalane this morning. Great, apart from the temperature drop/icy wind…must be getting soft 🙂
We always had Shetland sheepdogs when we were young and they were such a lovely, gentle breed. Perfect for young children. Mind you, we also went the other way later and had a Doberman but he was a sweetie too. Died very young with a doggie disease 😢
Mrs BC is a lassie fan. They look gentle;I suspect they need a decent amount of grooming. Molly is better with grooming than she used to be; I can get her to sit, lie down and roll over on to her side with the aid of one biscuit; she then has half time biscuits, and the I repeat the exercise with her laying in the other side! It used to be like all in wrestling!
Poor Molly ☹️ Hopefully she is recovering nicely now and is no doubt being spoiled rotten 😻
I’m surprised you were running the day after a tooth extraction BC. I had to wait at least three days when I had one years ago. Maybe the rules have changed since then…or it depends on the dentist.
I’m so fed up with all this rain and winds. It’ll be so lovely to run in heat and sunshine 😎
Molly was a bit huffy/ suspicious of everything first thing morning! (why I was up so early 🙄). She has now consumed her medication laden pig in blanket and her similarly corrupted breakfast. Sleeping it off now ….then cafe for more sausage and lots of fuss from her many fans.
My extraction was at 2pm and all the dentist said was “no running today”. His standard blurb says “for the rest of the day”. NHS stuff on line is rather more conservative. Everything is fresh and clean again (warm salt water 😖), so I don’t think I have done any harm….in fact,I needed the run. Sun is shining, hurray!!🌞
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Read all about it? 📖 🎽 Weekly chat 27th March – 2nd April 2023
