Hey up lovely VRBs. I hope life is treating you well!
I was musing the other day about how there is definitely something extraordinary about runners and running; I was pondering whether running is an ordinary activity for extraordinary people (runners) or whether runners are ordinary people doing an extraordinary activity (running)? Or perhaps it’s something else?
I'm definitely pretty ordinary, and my running is kind of ordinary too! Yet I still find running to be an extraordinary thing, because I get so much out of it.
Undoubtedly though, there are many extraordinary people running! The recent Olympics showcased many extraordinary athletes, our own RunBrianRun has diligently trained to achieve extraordinary results, so many of our community have gone to extraordinary lengths to come back to running after significant setbacks or just to keep running alongside the many trials and tribulations of a busy life.
The news is full of extraordinary 'ordinary' people too. Did you see this recent article from the BBC bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2... ? Eric (pictured above) is clearly a very extraordinary character! Proving age is no barrier, even at 85, he is still achieving extraordinary things.
Here he is doing so at Parkrun, which in itself is an organised event that manages to be both extraordinary and ordinary at the same time! It's such an ordinary, understated and inclusive organisation (catering for young children and 85 year olds, and everyone in between) available to both the ordinary and extraordinary runners amongst us (there are plenty of reports of elite athletes and celebrities turning up to local parkruns). Yet it's also extraordinary in it's geographical reach, it's inclusivity and it's generosity.
After much idle musing I decided there's a bit of extraordinary in all of us! And it’s not running that is extraordinary, but it’s running that gives us a chance to show ourown extraordinary, in our own way. And that's just amazing! But you probably already knew that 😎
I’m off for a gentle recovery run shortly. 45 glorious minutes. I'm looking forward to it, and to the extraordinary feeling of achievement and well-being it will more than likely bring me 🏃♀️💖
Anyway, enough rambling from me. How are all you extraordinary people doing? Is the running going well or are you languishing in a dip right now? Coming towards the end of a plan, bimbling along or desperately trying to get back on track? Whatever you’re up to, however it’s going, tell us all about it in the chat below.
Wishing you the best of weeks
From your team Beachcomber66 , Irishprincess and me xxx
For me too Annie. Even during the times I haven't been able to run, it has made me look at things differently - I only took up cycling because I couldn't run and I developed a love of regular long walks too. Hopefully, even as you are unable to run, the fact you are already a runner is making a positive contribution while you (patiently🤔) wait for your full recovery xxx
Hello Linda and fellow runners, or should I say extraordinaires? Running has been extraordinary for me in retirement having been desk bound in my career, and only done sporadic exercise. But RunBrianRun has taken it to a new level. 🥳
Having said that, I think I am back on the IC again with (self-diagnosed) piriformis. Not sure if it was one of my strange rotator cuff exercises that sparked it, or running, with not enough post run stretches. Having continued running despite a niggle has certainly not helped. I emailed my physio and he is swapping the exercise that may have set this off, and is giving me more for piriformis. I’ll constantly be on this yoga mat! What should I avoid? Running, sitting, cycling and climbing stairs. 😤 Lying down is helpful and short walks. Not what I need with a race in 3 weeks and training to run 10 miles again for the Great South in October.
But I am where I am and will see how I get on. We all know that we bounce back from the IC, it’s just a matter of when.
Happy running for those who can. I’ll keep you posted and chat to my friends on this extendable couch.
That is miserable news Dexy5! You emerge from hurtling down the piste unscathed and end up with a common or garden unextraordinary probable piriformis niggle! That said, you are doing what we all should do; pausing, getting advice and pushing on with a recovery plan. You are so organised! Extraordinarily so……… Hope this is sorted pdq. 🙂
I have to agree with you - running has been my 'continuum' as I moved into retirement. I now love not having to pinch time for running, but to make it the focus of my day (well, maybe not every day, but more often than not!).
But oh no Dexy, how frustrating is that piriformis niggle? I will have everything crossed that your prompt action means everything will be in good order for the NF 10k. Life can be very unfair! On the positive side, I wish I could find a physio I wanted to return to ... that must be worth it's weight in gold.
Oh no Dexy5 , hope you improve quickly😘but I know you will make the best of it as you have a very positive attitude, and will definitely be back! 💪🤞xxx
Agh! Hope it settles soon for you Dexy. 🙏 I missed my long run at the weekend because I had a niggly foot. I think I may have done it overstretching with calf drops🙄. Slightly ironic when we try to get stronger and then end up injured!😤 Anyway, the rest seems to have worked and I have just got back from a fab 5K run…so we will see. Like you, I am training for a couple of races so fingers crossed for both of us!🤞🤞😀
Thanks Sandra. Yes just when we start building up again! I now have to go and buy a foam roller. My physio corner is growing at home. Glad you enjoyed your 5k.
I know it’s something that everyone here seems to use but my first physiotherapist didn’t rate them so I didn’t bother. But I do need it for a specific exercise now. I do have a torture stick which has spikey balls that spin as you move along your calves.
Hopefully time to gradually increase the mileage so IBS doesn’t return. Maybe I should start those exercises now too. I’ll never be off the yoga mat. 😂
Running has been an extraordinary gift to me. I love it.
I am struggling to get back to my normal weekly miles after my marathon. Hoping that I will be back on track soon so I can hit my annual goal.
I’ve got my gym induction this week & my converse have arrived for my gym sessions. I may have also ordered a new daily trainer that is certainly not suited for lifting.
I like the idea of running as an ordinary activity which gives ordinary people the opportunity to do extraordinary things. Without realising it fully, I think that we start C25k at the centre of a maze, where we have to really search for the signposts, and work our way outwards into the running world as our knowledge, technique and strength increases. We emerge at different places according to the type of running we (or our legs) prefer.
The last few weeks on the NRC marathon plan and the linked NTC (strength) training feel as though they have taken my long runs to a better level. Early days though so I will keep my counsel!
The exercises change every week, but I have also found warm up and cool down exercises on NTC too. The latter are probably a short cut to ridicule when I try them immediately post run (still on the trail) but of course I just get on with it! The CB 10k long run was silent this morning, but I found a 75 minute Go Long With Evan (Jäger) which I really enjoyed. It made the time fly by. Always some fresh to dig out 👍
A chap once stopped me when I was doing some static stretches after a warm up run, pre intervals, and told me always to do dynamic stretches. I mumbled that I was already warmed up and felt stupid doing dynamic stretches in public. He was emphatic that what other folk thought was unimportant, remaining uninjured was vitally important. Guess he had a point ...
Well done Beachcomber66 . I am in awe of your dedication to everything. Whether it’s keeping to a plan AND strength exercises whilst running, or your physio-led exercises if not. You’re a shining example to us all. ⭐️
Too kind cheeky! The truth is that I want to have a better insight into marathon training. The NRC Marathon plan has a link to the relevant NTC plans for each week, and having a video demonstration helps too, so it is all easily accessible. All I have to do is switch on and do as I am told (that only works for running 😈!). It does seem to be paying off though.🤞we will see.
I definitely missed that link when I was following it ... although come to think of it, I'm not sure I ran off the app plan - rather I used the guided runs and followed the PDF plan.
This week’s link is to a couple of yoga sessions. I have done them, but I will keep using the strength ones too. Amazing the difference it has made in a short period.
A nice idea BC - and there's noone closing doors behind us either, we can keep backtracking and trying new routes.
I'm super impressed if you're doing the NTC strength routines too ... I do remember screenshotting them all some time ago ... and they've been gathering virtual dust ever since 🙈
Still, I really am keeping on top of post run stretches now, which is significant progress ... one step at a time!
One focus seems to be strengthening each leg so that they are stable individually as well as together. One benefit they mention is being able to react to falls better…got to be worth something…I know that you will agree.
This was coming out of child’s pose ……probably trying too hard for a beginner! Run today postponed; Molly to vets with a haematoma on her ear…..she hates veterinary treatment, particularly needles…..down side of having a big dog who understands everything that is going on! Still…sausage for her and flat white for me afterwards, toss up as to who will need the sedatives !🙂
Hi Decker; hope things are good with you. 👍🤞🤞I am doing ok at the moment thanks. My litmus test is based on my weekly hill run; it is still speeding up week on week and VO2 max is stable across all runs at 44. Probably as fit as I have been since I started running….but, I am not at all thinking that I have cracked it!!Therein lies danger 🙂
I could go on and on about how running has changed my life for the better. In a nutshell, I used to hate it, now I love it. It really is extraordinary ❤️
Following a plan and aiming for a goal is what I do best. But on my terms! Don’t make me feel uncomfortable, don’t expect me to be gunning for PBs, and don’t assume I ever do strength training or pre/post run stretches (naughty).
I thank C25K for the realisation that the toxic 10 (way less than 10 in reality) doesn’t go on forever. I imagine a flood of oxygen coursing through my body while in the middle of it, and all of a sudden it’s gone and I feel amazing. 🏃♀️
Most of all I thank C25K for “meeting” all of you, lots in person. You are extraordinarily nice people. This forum is the best and soo supportive, despite all our running differences (thank goodness!) 😅
HM Plan W11R4 at the gym tomorrow. My speed run. I did 20k last Thursday but found the 15 minute recovery run yesterday much harder than that! Crazy - although the annual BBQ that we hold for my choir friends might have had something to do with that! 🤪
You and me both for that first observation cheeky! Today I did the NRC 'Just Another Thank You Run'. When he asked me to think of people you have run with who have helped you become the runner you are - people who listened to the moans, ran with you, supported you, encouraged you, inspired you - I immediately thought of this running community; it has most definitely helped me become the runner I am - it too is extraordinary.
I have a spare week or so to play with, so am thinking of reducing my 20k week run a bit, and following it with a 21k run the week after ... but we'll see how that goes!
Hello Linda, Are you able to confirm that an email I have had from someone called Brett at Health Unlocked is genuine? It requires me to click a link and change my password to enable me to continue accessing my Health Unlocked account. Thank you
Yes, Brett is our usual contact. That should be absolutely fine. He usually emails from support@healthunlocked.com Does that match the email you received?
His email was from notifications@email.healthunlocked.com
I've changed my password and will see if all is well tomorrow. Here is what I received:
We’ve had a few messages following our recent email about updating your password, so we thought we would reach out to give you a little further explanation.
Firstly, to put you at ease, we can assure you that this is a genuine email from HealthUnlocked.
Our tech team highlighted that a small subset of members will be required to update their password in order to comply with the new maintenance update that is being released on Tuesday 20th August 2024 - and your account falls into this subset of members.
After tomorrow, Tuesday, 20th August, you will not be able to access your account until your password has been updated. You can do this now by clicking the button below, accessing your account settings, or selecting “Forgot password” on the HealthUnlocked login page.
I posted a query on one of our admin forums, and received the following reassurance from one of the HU Partners, so all is definitely well:
I can confirm that this is a genuine email from Brett at HU Support. I have been in discussion with HU Support on this password update issue, noting that the best security practice is not to provide links in emails for password changes. That prompted the additional email from Brett that you shared.
I'd still recommend your member reset their password from within the site, for their own reassurance. This link works:
healthunlocked.com/reset
( healthunlocked . com/reset) without the spaces or brackets.
Hi Linda and all VRBs I'm in the "languishing in a dip right now" camp atm, I have an odd week which is more productive and then a week of barely anything, I feel very up and down with my running ! No set routine really but is certainly influenced by family dynamics and sadly by health problems in close family which require frequent hospital trips 😢 so running definitely is a bit on the back burner at times. Having said that we had a lovely time yesterday at our Tuesday clubs 12th birthday celebration, the highlight being a rounders match which will be an annual event, in memory of a dear club mate and friend who sadly passed away suddenly a few months back. We all miss him. 💔
I was a fairly hopeless batter but our team came 2nd! We ate cake ,drank tea and did egg and spoon and hula hooping!
I didn't run yesterday morning, but did eventually at 9pm a short 20 min round the block, lovely and cool and got my best pace for a few months so felt glad I got out even for a short time. Amazing how it can perk you up when things are difficult.
They missed their ferry as left hospital late, then 10pm cancelled so eventually got in at 1.45am last night 🌙 long day ! I'm over there tomorrow with them xxx
Hopeless? That photo is surely the picture of strength and focus Ali 😍 What fun, but so sad too.I'm sorry to hear that those medical issues are so prevalent at the moment, that must be hard on all of you. Running is so good in stressful times but we feel it all the more when we can't get out. I do hope things improve and you can all smooth out those dips. Just know the respite of another run will be waiting for you xxx
Hello Linda, Thank you for hosting. 85 and still running and giving. I hadn't seen this so thank you for sharing the link. How many of us will be running at 85? Must be in the extraordinary category. I had a physio appointment at our local GP surgery last Thursday. I felt it was a really good appointment but I can't say that I am happy with how things are. Amazingly for me my poorly injured knee is behaving like a normal knee, but my other knee starting causing problems a month after my HM. The physio is fairly confident that it is arthritis but has referred me for an x-ray to eliminate something I can't remember the name of. Some sort of fracture. She definitely wants me to continue with my knee physio exercises and with running but of course at a low pace. So positives and negatives. A month and a half of keeping my heart rate under 128 usually around 119 and such a low resultant pace, is not what I would prefer but at least I can still run.
So good to see that your running is going well, long may it continue. How is your cheese grater injury?
Any physio appointment that let's you continue to run is a good one!Was it a stress fracture they are checking for? I always caution that my stress fracture did not show on an xray - many don't- but needed an MRI scan for a proper diagnosis.
As you say, positives and negatives, but at least an investigation has begun and knowledge should at the very least help you manage the problem .
My hand is healing thanks and I can use it for most things now that don'tput any pressure on the wound area. It's horribly tender still, so I've gone back to the bandage and pad dressing (tho I'm cutting the pads into 4 now as it's so much smaller). That's five and a half weeks ago!!! Enough already, many but thanks for asking 🙏
I realise that x-rays are limited and discussed that with the physio. My knee fractures were only shown by a MRI scan. I think she said an x-ray has to be the first step.
Completely agree - there’s a little bit of extraordinary in all us runners😀☺️ ..and I think the running brings it out!
Back on track today with my HM training after missing my long run at the weekend due to a niggly foot. Pretty sure this was due to overstretching on my calf drops🙄. All seems to have settled at the moment and have just got back from a good 5k, so fingers crossed…🤞
That sounds like a close shave, but great that the 5k was all good. I'm sure you're very relieved. Hopefully it will be an easy juggle to adapt and get back on track with the plan 🙏
Fabulous post, and one I needed right now... I have to say, extraordinary is not an adjective i would use to describe how I feel.
But, on reflection after reading this post, maybe I need to think again... because, although I really am languishing in the Slough of Despond, I know, categorically, I will get back on track !
Huge issues with Mr OF...battles for appointments and answers, take their toll, but a run, however short, maybe not the one in my running plan, still has the power to lift my spirit and free my mind.
That thought, planted firmly in my head... I am off now for a run, not the run that fits in with my planned week, but just a short , sweet, over the fields run... before the sun gives way to clouds.
OF you are , by definition, extraordinary. Enjoy every short minute of that run. It's all yours to celebrate.
I know the grind of fighting the system for appointments, answers, recognition (in my case when my youngest was struggling with serious mental health issues), the Slough of Despond is a terribly lonely place to be 🙏
Keep running OF. Keep celebrating you. We're all quietly there with you ❤️
I'm glad I caught you before you left. Remember as you run that you're not alone and you are, quite simply, amazing. Mr OF is very lucky to have you at his side xxx
I agree! Running is extraordinary. I'm so pleased that I've found my way back to it and so thankful that the shin splints that kept me from running all those years ago seem to have resolved. (touch wood)
Ooh, shin splints are no fun are they! Ironically I got them after trying out run/walking ... I think I overstrode the walk segments in an attempt to walk fast! They didn't disappear as quickly as I would have liked. Good to hear they aren't troubling you this time around, that way you can keep up the extraordinary 😊
Morning Linda and fellow runners. Sorry I’m late in my reply. We have family staying and it’s been a bit hectic here (four little ones 🫣) so I haven't had much free time.
Gosh, I really hope I’m still running at that age! I guess we just need to keep going until we can’t but until then……. Wooo hooo 🤗 let’s go!
I just think it’s extraordinary that a) I’m still running after all this time and b) that I still love it as much as I do after all this time. It has changed my life in so many positive ways that I would recommend it on prescription! As I’ve said before, it is the best gift I’ve ever given myself.
But you’re right. There are so many extraordinary people around here, it’s always an inspiration to be here.
Well, I got through the high week mileage unscathed and am now on Taper. Last run this morning. My biggest anxiety at the minute is the pre-race bit. Finding my way there and parking up. It’s an early start too as the roads close at 8am so I hope I’ll still have some energy to run come the start 🤣 But hey, as I keep reminding myself. It’ll be an amazing course and I can’t wait 🤗
Four little ones sounds like a workout in itself!I couldn't agree with you more IP - there's an awful lot of extraordinary around here 🥰
Getting to this point unscathed is massive IP, what a great start to your race. Race logistics are a great way to park your pre race nerves. It will all work out, you'll cross the start line and you'll feel totally different. Really enjoy that amazing course 💪🥰
Weather looks reasonably ok for you; not too hot, not too wet and not too windy. About as good as it gets. The butterflies will disappear when you start running. 🦋🦋🦋🦋👉
People like that gentleman are a real inspiration. It’s my goal to still be active later in life like him. I agree with BC, I think we are ordinary people doing extraordinary (for us at least) things. I never dreamed I would do more than a 10k when I first began. My wife gave me 2 weeks at it :). Running has changed me at the core and I can’t think of any other way I would like to live.
We’ve just got back from the cottage (hence the pic) so I am just getting back into the swing of things again.
Ooh, that looks idyllic! What a lovely bolthole. 2 weeks wasn't close and nor was 10k 😍 Extrardinary for sure. Like you, I just couldn't imagine life without running. I do hope to be able to run for a good while yet 🙏
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I have to say, extraordinary is not an adjective i would use to describe how I feel. 
Weekly Chat October 25th-31st, whatever the weather!!! ☔🌞🌈😎