Hello again from Canada! It's Sunday night here and there's a whole new week ahead 🥰
I say that in hope, having pretty much missed the week that just past. My father and I have been halted in our tracks with a horrible lurgy and we've done nothing for over a week now. I've just started going out for short, gentle walks, but running has been (and still is) out of the question 😢
Coinciding with a ramp up in distances on my plan, I'm really not sure how to get myself back on track but I'm hoping to get out on Tuesday and just see what I can do. Based on how that goes, I'll juggle my plan accordingly. The weather is beautiful - dry and sunny - but very chilly, with windchill down to -15C; it's a real shame to be stuck indoors.
I think this is the first time since taking up running that I have ever had to give in to a cold. And I'm getting grumpier with each day that goes by!!!
How's your week been? I do hope you're faring better and are feeling fit and healthy - and would love to hear all about your running 😊
It was great to read so many positive replies last week about our upcoming HU events on 23rd February and 27th April - the full details are below in case you missed it! We hope to put up a proper sign up post later this week.
In the meantime, we wish you all a great week and would love to hear all your news. Remember I'm stuck here looking for something gentle to pass the time and distract me from my abandoned running shoes, so please do chat away! 🥰
From your team, Irishprincess , Beachcomber66 and me x
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For February races: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
For a shiny new badge, let us know here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...
HU virtual event: HU spring 25 📢📢⭐
⭐ Main event: Sunday 27th April at 9:30am (as always, we realise the date/time might not work for everyone; so in order to give greater flexibility we will accept runs at any time on Sunday 27th April, or at any point during the following week of Monday 28th to Sunday 4th May). This time you will give the option of 10k, 10 miles, HM or Metric Marathon (26.2k). By my calculations, that gives us almost fourteen weeks to train for the main event!!!
⭐This year we will also hold an interim event as you train for the main distance. This will be held on Sunday 23rd February (again, to be flexible, we will accept runs at any time on Sunday 23rd February, or at any point during the following week of Monday 24th to Sunday 2nd Mar). This event will give the option of running 10K or 10 miles. By my calculations, that gives us almost five weeks to prepare for the interim event!!!
⭐This year we will also try to focus on strength training alongside your actual run training. There are of course lots of wonderful resources available on our sister Strength & Flex forum which you can find here healthunlocked.com/strength... , but we hope to provide some gentle nudges, encouragement and motivation (for those who think they could benefit from it) over the next few weeks.
⭐ For anyone who hasn't come across one of our events before:
In short we pick a date and invite our VRBs to cover a given distance, running or walking, wherever they choose! We nominate a date for the event, give you a selection of distances to choose from and look forward to reading your race reports. If you can set off at the nominated date and time, you have the added boost of knowing we are all on the virtual HU start line together - running on our own, but definitely not alone; if you can't make that specific date you will have another week in which to complete your distance.
How does it work?
★ If we receive enough suggestions, we will compile an event playlist based on your submissions 🎶
★ You can use any of our existing ‘HU run experiences’ using RunGo (some people liked them, others were less keen! Think pantomime version of Nike guided runs!) 😊😊😊
★ We will even make race bibs available (so long as you have a printer at home!).
★ Finally, we will of course have a winner! In the past, the winner has been the person who completed their run in the time closest to our randomly generated time (after the event closes). Maybe you have a more creative suggestion, but however we choose, we will ensure there is absolutely no requirement to run fast to win this event! 🐌🏆Do let us know if you have a more creative suggestion!
⭐ As always, this event is of course entirely free to enter and yet again, there are no t-shirts, socks, aid stations or toilet queues! No training plans or routes will be supplied! Instead, a unique HU experience, run your way 😍
If you're currently running around 5k, this may encourage you to push to 10k. If you're running at 10k, perhaps it will give you the boost to get to the magic 10 miles. Maybe it will inspire you to push to Half Marathon or even to give the Metric marathon a go in a couple of months time. If you're running beyond, perhaps you can use it as one of your speed runs! If ... well, you can use your imagination 😍
Instructions for how to enter will follow soon, but feel free to start planning your training now! We hope you’ll be eager to join in (and help make this another fun event)
