Hey up lovely VRBs. Here we are at the start of a brand new month!
Half way through 2024. Downhill all the way to Christmas now ❄️ .... sorry, just kidding, time to enjoy the summer!!!
So how are you doing? Any news or gossip for us? Are you enjoying your running just now, or could things be better?
For anyone who was wondering, since my last weekly chat post I can update you with the news that my son successfully completed his Random Run Month challenge (albeit a little amended) - he ran 26 consecutive days, running every distance from 1 to 26 kilometres as specified by the random number generator. Quite bonkers, but he seems to have survived the experience and is now gracing Glastonbury with his energies!!!
I tend to have somewhat less grandiose adventures 🤷♀️ Yesterday I ran a small local 10k; organised by a local running club with just 1000 places. It was pretty low key and I was uncharacteristically unfazed as I prepped my stuff last night and then got ready this morning. I have only run one event this year - a HM in January which I treated as a training run for my goal of a May marathon - which left me on the IC 😡. So yesterday was going to be a bit special, no matter how understated.
I rocked up at the start line, none of the characteristic butterflies, just a 'we'll see' attitude and a smile. We all set off slowly and calmly and I just soaked it up. I turned off my music and listened to the sound of feet drumming on the pavement, chatter all around me; I took in some of the beautiful old buildings of Thame (nice and dry IP), the happy smiling running club marshalls, the families lining the street with genuine smiles, claps, cheers and encouragement. And my spirits soared! Coach Bennett (Nike Run Club) wittered in my ear, adding a sense of familiarity and distraction. My legs turned and my feet hit the pavement alongside everyone else. With zero conscious effort, I probably ran my most mindful 10k ever. I even remembered to cover my glasses as I went under the hose that one kind supporter had connected up from his back garden to shower the race route!
In a totally low key, way I totally enjoyed this event and - bonus - have no battle scars to show for it (I find 10k's so much easier on my body that half marathons). The totally underwhelming piece of bling will kept to evoke some very fond memories. I didn't break the 1 hour barrier that I would have liked to, but actually it didn't matter one bit; it was faster than I've run in a while and I enjoyed it and that's plenty good enough.
I know events aren't for everyone, but hopefully you're getting to enjoy your running in a way that suits you. What’s your news? What are you enjoying just now? Do let us know and we can get the chat going for another week 🥰
Whatever you have planned, we hope you have a great week.
Your team, Beachcomber66 , Irishprincess and me xxx
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🎽🥳 For a pompom cheer for your July events, let us have your event details here:
Well done on that mindful 10k! 👏👏👏🏃♀️ It sounds like a very special run 😊 I do love that distance, hope to get back to longer runs at some point this year! 🙈 As for me, I'm starting the Cancer Research run 62 miles in July challenge. The plan was to jeff 2 miles per day as part of my daily walks with our doggo. However, Mr Beatlesforever has come down with covid so I'll try to fit in a bit more running while I'm still feeling ok and see what happens! Will be doing my first jeffing session later this morning. Wish me luck! 🤞🏃♀️🚶♀️
I think I should do more 10k events, they're a lot of fun (less push than 5k and less endurance than HM!!!).That sounds like a great challenge for the month. I do hope Mr BF is better soon and fingers crossed that you don't succumb to the bug.
Ooh RW, at last! Rest as much as you can and work on honing a truly positive mindset. We're all so excited for you and can't wait to hear all about it. Have a lovely week, visualising that finish line 😎
You would be proud of me this week linda9389 The forecast is rain, rain & more rain all week including race day. I’ve been reminding myself to “Control what I can control & not worry about the rest”
Aw.... 6 sleeps! 😂 I am now wondering how I count the run up to something. I certainly haven't thought of sleeps. I do hope the sleeps are all good and your marathon is everything that you would want it to be. When did you book it?
I have counted runs left before an event and days, weeks or months before things, but ' no, counting sleeps is a new idea. We are never too old to learn 😊
I’ve got three runs this week on my plan. 4 miles, rest, 4 miles, rest, 2-4 miles, rest. I find it hard not to run so I’ll be raring to go by Sunday 🏃♀️
So the Gold Coast is 9 hours ahead of us in the UK and about 5 hours flight from Perth? We will have to time Pom Poms to hit before you start your run! Hope the build up goes without a hitch. You have done the work, Covid has done its worst….time to just run 🙂
Just back from my last WA run until after Marathon day. So much to be thankful for in the training block. You’re right. I’ve done all I can. Will report back after the big day. I get confused about all of our different time zones in Australia. Flight time is around 5 hours. 😊
Oh wow I’m so excited for you RunWillie will eagerly keep an eye out on Strava, and then of course your race report. 🥰 You are a superhero, as is your speedy family, so this next challenge will be something else to add to your collection of fab achievements.
How many sleeps for you now? I use it all the time for all sorts of things! Holidays, races, anything fun really! 😅
Those 'just mindful' runs are the best aren't they, I love the thought of the sound of feet slapping the ground. I have to say well done you Linda for not pushing too hard! And looking after your running body, injuries are no fun!I've been very down in the dumps with running lately, not sure why, running in the sun, by the sea, is just the best, and I've moaned non stop. So last week I thought I'd give the NRC HM plan another go, I'm whispering that as we all know I fizzle out.....but today just ran run 2 of week 2 and it's nice to have someone tell me what to do.
No time go time with Becs, the first interval didn't get done because the doctor phoned and as soon as I dismissed it on my watch it started buzzing again so in the end I answered it, pausing the watch and NRC while turning off the headphones and answering the phone was beyond me, so I walked and talked through the first interval. After that it was ok and I enjoyed getting a bit puffed out during the intervals.
I've also started a running journal....it might help to look back to see where I've come from, and coach B keeps telling me in his podcasts it's important to write it down .
Oh well done you for looking for that spark again. I'm sure it's only in temporary hiding, possibly a reaction to all the stress and change you have been through in the last few months. A plan is a great way to get help finding it. Good luck, but above all enjoy and have fun 🥰
Even though I’ve got a Garmin which records every run, I’ve also kept a note on my iPad of every single run I’ve ever done with stats and notes on all my injuries and niggles which has been very useful over the years. I’ve been able to see patterns sometimes.
So, I think keeping a journal will be beneficial in lots of ways Sue. How is your head by the way?
That's amazing iP, but what a lovely thing to have to look back on. I keep my minimal notes in strava and find that useful to look back over, but I never use the garmin history
Neither do I linda9389 . Very occasionally I’ll search Garmin for a specific run because I find it to easier for that than Strava, but I hardly ever use the stats! It’s why I miss out on so many Garmin badges. 🤦♀️
Your spark will return SueAppleRun . Mine took leave for a good while during the winter into the new year, and I put myself through C25K again to give me something to focus on, and I relished the small wins.
Keep doing what you’re doing. And don’t worry about moaning if it helps. It definitely helped me! 😅
Did you really say small local event with 1000 places!!!? Clearly small is relative! My run at 208 must be very small 😊 It all sounded like a really positive and enjoyable experience 😊 What's all this about zero conscious effort! I'm shaking my head! You had better give a tutorial on the subject!
Ahah! You're right, size is all relative. I tend to class anything up to 1000 as small, up to 3000 medium, 3-5000 moderately big, 5-10000 big, and anything over that is humungus!200 is very small to me - half the size if my local parkrun 🥰
The different sizes all have their own pros and cons, and what suits one person won't please another.
OK. I should have been clearer ... I was definitely making lots of conscious effort out there ... only none of that effort was being consciously put into making the run a mindful one 🤣🤣🤣
I’d only be laid back if I’d walked to the start with just me and my Garmin. If I’d had to commute a long way and face vast crowds and queues I’d be frazzled before I got going 😁
Well done on your 10k Linda! It’s lovely when you just soak up every moment isn’t it? Sounds like you are well and truly back following your injury!🙂 Also, well done to your son on completing that slightly crazy challenge!🏅🙂
My running is going well and I have returned to my 3 runs a week pattern - plus my Friday gym session which I absolutely love!💪 I dropped a run initially, just to let my body get used to the extra demands of the gym first! I also do some S+C at home on one day too.
Other than that, no real news but looking forward to the summer break when I get there!
It's great that you're loving that gym day, but with an extra of S&C on top, you are a great role model! For now I am celebrating my 'warm up and stretches before abd after every run' streak; I do pilates twice a week but I know I would benefit from some strength work. But even with my injury history I just can't find the self motivation for it. Must try harder 😍Those holidays are coming up fast now; in the meantime, good luck with the last few crazy days.
Great sounding run. You were in a special mindset by the sounds of it which, I think, comes, not from trying but just everything falling into place at the time. My most pleasurable 10K races have been those with zero expectations so your post has made me think I need to somehow harness this feeling more from now on 🧘♀️
Although I did have a gorgeous run at the weekend. A bit like yours, everything felt right, no pressure and I could have gone on for hours. I did take fuel with me so perhaps there’s a lesson there…
I’ve started back on my “sort of HM plan” plan having gone off-piste for about three weeks but I started early so I’m still on track for my goal. I’ve also restarted the strength training, so all is good here 🤞
Well done to your son for his majestic achievement! What’s next from him?
I think that's a really good point. I tend to look for 'special' races and the expectation starts right there, and keeps building. This was just a last minute choice to make the most of a 10k run on my HM plan - it was a stepping stone to a different goal. It's great to hear that you're getting back on track after your tumble with a gorgeous weekend run 😊Who knows what my son has planned next - I'd bet it won't involve running 😍
Only one day left of our stay on Scilly☹️. Apart from the first couple of days, the weather has been perfect (below 20c), I fitted in four runs( 2x5k, 1x8.35k and 1x 11k), all up and down hill and run without any objective other than enjoyment. Add to that 11 consecutive days of exceeding step targets ( not deliberately; we just enjoy long walks here) this place is a tonic for fitness and spirit.
My knee kept giving me twinges of pain on yesterday (post long run); I remembered feeling a bit of pain in my hip over the last couple of K’s …..so, like IP post her HM, I worked on my hip rather than my knee …hey presto, knee twinge has gone..thanks IP 👍.
Last two world best flat whites today…for another year at least. I wonder how CB is doing Hope he is enjoying his holidays …I may give him a couple of weeks longer 🙂.
How did that go so fast? At least you've made the most of it and had a great time into the bargain.Glad you sorted the hip/knee issue so promptly, phew!
Let's hope CB has coped without you, I'm sure he'll still be there, however long you decide to keep him waiting 🥰
No way you’re already at the end of your holiday Beachcomber66 , that’s flown by.
It does sound like you’ve had a wonderful time with some decent runs thrown in! Coach B has been busy with me recently, so I’m sure he’d like to share his wisdom and come back up north to see you when you’re home. I’m glad you nipped those niggles in the bud too.
Safe travels home. Give us a wave as you pass my neck of the woods! 👋
Hello VRBs 👋 My latest check in to the weekly chat for a good while - it’s been a busy week!
linda9389 , that 10k sounded delightful. I know exactly what you mean about it feeling calm. That’s how I like to run my races too, no pressure or expectations. What fun, I bet you had the best time. 🥰
I’ve had a fun week. I ran my first 10 miler since October on Sunday as W8R5 of my HM Plan. It felt amazing and I think my elongated weeks of around 10 days are working a treat. It means I have a long run every other Sunday on average, with the other four NRC runs sprinkled about in between before starting the next week. HM isn’t until October, so my languid approach continues. 😅
Yesterday was a little 15 minute recovery run which I ran with an ear-to-ear grin, as Jenny had her baby at 23:14 on Monday evening! A little boy, all happy and healthy at 8lbs 3oz. He was SIXTEEN days overdue! Mr Cheeky and I met him yesterday evening. He’s totally lush and we’re very proud grandparents again. He adds to our stable of 3 grandsons! 😅
Here he is (as yet no name - down to two, and likely to be decided upon today). 🩵🩵
A lovely post Linda. Happy to hear of the progress for both you and your son. It’s such a gift that you’ve inspired him to run. Mindful running is something on my mind lately. I have a 27k trail race the day after tomorrow and I feel very chill about it, even though my training has been weak and sporadic to say the least🙂. It’s a beautiful old forest route that I’ve wanted to do for some time, and now there is finally a reason to drive 1.5 hrs to try it!
I’ve been away from the forum for too long, but I still check in from time to time to see how everyone is doing. Hope you are all well. As for myself, running is still keeping me sane 🙂
Thanks BC, hope you are doing well! Going to take it slow and enjoy the scenery on this one. There will be around 90 of us so the wildlife will likely be sparse
so glad to hear that you enjoyed your race linda9389 . It sounds like the perfect race following the bout on the injury couch.
On Saturday, UTS and I took an early hovercraft journey to the one and only parkrun on the Isle of Wight. My first island parkrun and an M (Medina) in my parkrun alphabet. To say it was undulating is an understatement but I ran when I could and was happy to walk up the lips. A gentle 4k on Wednesday is all I’ll achieve this week due to various grinds and family celebrations , county cricket. And then a day at the Hampton Court Flower Festival. How incredible that you spotted me there!
Ooh, that's some cool parkrun tourism right there, how lovely!
You ran 4k before heading to the Hampton Court Flower Festival - now I am seriously impressed! Having no idea that you would be there, I am still shaking my head at bumping into you; when nothing has been previously arranged or communicated, the chances of randomly bumping into anyone on this forum, somewhere other than where either of you are based, has to be beyond miniscule surely? But it was lovely to see you 🥰
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