One of the presents my husband gave me at Christmas was a session at a flower school in Bath. As some of you know, gardening is my other passion, so I was thrilled.
I turned up about a month ago and there were twelve of us, all eager to learn how to create those beautiful centrepieces you sometimes see on tables. Before we started we were all chatting and getting to know each other a bit when I overheard one of the instructors mention that she had got up that morning at 6 to go for a run. Well, surprise surprise, I picked up on this immediately and went over to chat to her about all things running! She’s running the Bathhalf in March and needless to say we could have talked all day 😊
This got me thinking about how we can find other runners in all sorts of places 😊
I recalled the chap who turned up to cut my mum’s grass. He had started the local parkrun and was heading off that evening to take out a running group that he had created.
Then there was the waitress in Croatia who overheard me talk about my anticipated run the following day and then told me she had just come back from a run. She gave me details of her route which I did the next morning and it still stands as one of my most beautiful runs ever 🥰
The lady at our local dry cleaners is “one of us” and we usually have a good old chat about runs, injuries and all the rest, and in fact we passed each other on a run a few weeks ago 👋
Then there is my dentist who is an avid runner (aren’t we all?) and I think we spend more time talking about running than he does looking at my teeth!
Finally, closer to home, in my little village, there are five of us who run. We often see each other out and about on the local roads. Not bad for a little village in the middle of the countryside 🥰 As I said, we are everywhere!
What about your experience? Do you often meet other runners in unexpected places?
Talking about other runners, have you signed up yet to our main Spring HU event on 27th April? If so, how is your training going? If not, what are you waiting for? It’s not too late. You can sign up for a 10K, 10 miles, HM or MM. Full details are here:
For those of you who have participated in the interim event on 23rd February, will you please make sure we have your finished time. The window for the run is now closed. If your time is not on this spreadsheet then send it to us asap as we are going to announce the winner on Wednesday!
Good morning IP. I am just doing my knee hot water bottle treatment, to be followed by warm up exercises and then out of the door for a planned 8 miler with CB, all neatly timed to allow one hour of pre start porridge digestion!
I think it may be an age thing, but I don’t bump into other runners doing their day jobs very often. Recently I did meet a really interesting couple who had been county champions at all sorts of stuff when they were younger, but had succumbed ultimately to wear and tear injury. Sad stuff really; made me glad that I saved some muscle and joint power for older age! I think there is a pattern really; I meet more “used to runs” than active ones. Maybe I need to get out more 🙂.
Oh, I know that I am richly blessed in that department Dexy5. The group which had its beginnings in Bridge to 10k, and the magic plan, and has since expanded has been fundamental to any progress I have made and to the enjoyment I have experienced. Laced with some pithy humour, just to keep me grounded 😂
Hope all fellow HU VRBs have a good week. I struck up a great conversation with my optician once as a fellow runner, to the extent that I think the next appointment may have run late. Apologies.
I'm taking it a bit easier this week, probably a 5k on Thursday and something similar, but with a degree of flexibility if I just want to keep going, at the weekend. Looking forward to what looks like a good week weather wise for it. The Brighton HM yesterday was absolutely fantastic.🌞
I have a 10k in Eastbourne at the end of May (which was originally planned as my first race) and the Great South Run in October but I have my eye out for one in between!
Yes runners get everywhere don’t they? We went to an 80th birthday party in Hertfordshire, and were introduced to a couple who came from Guildford because UTS’s sister used to live there. When asked how long it took us to get there, I mentioned that we ran a parkrun and visited a NT property on the way to the party. Do you know what parkrun is I ask? Yes he was a parkrunner at Guildford and his wife volunteered occasionally. We ended up chatting together much of the evening.
I for one am really pleased to see some sunny weather and managed to get some running in along the promenade, and to meet up with JonathanP at his lakeside parkrun. So a 7.5k on Thursday, 5k Saturday and a trial of our new parkrun route this morning. UTS was pleased I recorded it as just a touch over 5k, which it has always been.
I’m hoping to run at least an 8k in a few days time .
Sadly, Guildford shopping centre , like many is not what it used to be. House of Fraser and Hobbs amongst others have gone . Mind you, it’s still way better than Portsmouth!
Ok, that felt a bit tough, a 3k increase over last week’s long run, but I managed the set 8 miles which I rounded up to 13k and kept the overall pace below 7min/k. I had one or two differences of opinion with my water bottle which caused two complete stops; as a result I probably under-hydrated (still lots left out of 500ml when I finished). No matter,I got there! Laps 8,9 and 10 are a steady uphill (12m, 12m and 22m) which doesn’t help when I am starting to tire, but in the end it helps to build up stamina and fitness. So, to be tolerated at this stage. I was hoping for a cut back week next….but no, the long run is 10 miles! We will see!!I need to keep my eye on the ball; steady build up of distance; this is not about pace! I was ready for my flat white and chat with a lovely family (mum and two daughters) who I sometimes run into at the cafe. So, a nice ending 🙂. Lunch then Molly walk!!🐶
I’m pleased it all went ok. Phew! I love the idea of you and your water bottle having a to-do and wonder which one would come off worse 😂
I thought of you today as I ordered a flat white. Cappuccino or Americano used to be my coffees of choice but I thought I’d try a flat white and I really enjoyed it 👍 You might have converted me…
I had this water bottle problem last year! 🤬. The press stud is just plain awkward. I suppose I could claim victory by throwing it in the bin…….momentarily satisfying, but I would have to buy another! Pyrrhic victory I guess!
Last year I just got used to it; in the end I didn’t put quite as much liquid into the bottle and I think that resolved matters…I will add water bottle release to my cross training!
Coffee? It is nearly always flat white for me these days. More flavour I think. I very rarely flirt with a cappuccino if I feel the need for a little chocolate fix…..really off the menu with this pre diabetic issue 😕
You really do have a knack for bumping into runners! My last chance encounter was at a New Year's Eve dinner party. One of the guests was trying to persuade me to do an ultra - her description of her own wild ultrasound was interesting, amazing, admirable ... and well out of my league 😍I have under a week to go now before Lisbon half. My last 7 miler showed just how tired my legs are after all the hiking we've been doing. I need to give them a good break now: whether a week is enough time for them to rest and recover, I'm not so sure!
I have an easy 3 miles tomorrow and a baby 2 mile pace run on Thursday and then it's on to the big day. I intend to make that an easy and enjoyable run, no heroics of any kind.
The best news though is that, right now, I really don't have any sign of the hip/thigh niggle that has plagued me for the last 12 months. Result!!!
It can be easy to be persuaded by someone else especially if there’s alcohol involved! A lady in our village runs ultras but she has yet to ask me to join her, thank goodness 😳
Such great news about your hip LInda. Do you think the massage ball did the trick?
I’m really excited for your HM and can’t wait! Have a great relaxing week and rest those legs!
I wasn't in the least bit tempted... well, I say that, but I did look the company up on New Year's day because she said there were some easier options. And she was right, there were. As yet I haven't signed up ... but if you'd like to join me I may be persuaded 😍😍😍I honestly do think the squash ball may have helped. It gets right in between the bones and down deep into the tight muscles. Of course time will have played a part as well, but the HH plan is lower mileage than NRC, with less emphasis on speed so maybe that has helped too.
I'm quite excited too ... in a day out sort of way, rather than a race sort of way
But it has an expo, so that may get my juices flowing a little better. We'll see!
I like the idea of lots of stops and food along the way of an ultra but I think I’d have to increase my strength and cross training first….. But doing it with someone would be a huge plus…. 🤔😍
I hope you've got time for some sightseeing in Lisbon 😎
We have four days in Lisbon, so should get a good mooch around.Just think how much nattering we could do? How many bags of crisps we could eat? No. Stop. Enough!
... but there is a part of me that thinks it would be a different beast, possibly all the more relaxed ... maybe one day 😊
The Lisbon half sounds amazing, what a fabulous event. I'm sure those strong legs will carry you round in no time. Try not to stop for too many photos!
Hi fellow runners, We stopped at a quaint pub for Sunday lunch on the way home from the Monsal half last year. I was still in my running gear, plus hoodie, medal on display round my neck.The barmaid's eyes lit up as we entered. It turns out that she is an avid runner and has run Monsal on a number of occasions. She wanted a blow by blow report of the event, much to the dismay and mild irritation of other customers (and my other half whose eyes had glazed over). We could have shared running stories all afternoon, but she needed to keep her job!!
I'm enjoying holiday runs for a couple more days and getting some hill practise! There's plenty of friendly runners out and about. I narrowly avoided a downpour this morning!
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