Where would I be without you? All the pompom shakes and cheers, and all the supportive comments when gremlins got the better of me! Thank you, thank you, thank you π
I thought I'd learned to stamp on my gremlins during my nine week C25K journey, but it seems a super variety of gremlin has been quietly mutating over the last few years! As the attack on Saturday showed, I am clearly not immune to them, despite eight years running, and getting on for seven years of actually thinking of myself as 'a runner' πͺ
I have to say it was a pretty humbling dip in confidence, yet here I am with Lisbon HM successfully behind me (race report to follow).
Did I learn anything? Oh yes!
β I learnt that a dip in confidence is just that. It had no physical source or impact whatsoever. It was self generated mind games and nothing more.
β I learnt it will pass
β I learnt to reframe my thoughts and take control
β I learnt that in doing so, I would gain a feeling of empowerment
β I learnt I should have more faith in myself, regardless of whatever anyone else appears to be doing
β But most of all, I learned that the support of fellow runners is absolutely invaluable and I cannot thank everyone enough for their kind words, for the pompom waving and for the overall support. For over twenty four hours, I was not alone π₯°π
I imagine it's not just me though. Do the gremlins still natter at you too? Have you gotten any better at chasing them away? Do you lean on others for support?
And how's your running going? Are you working towards a spring event or spring goal? We'll soon have more news on our own HU event on 27th April, and, with a variety of distances on offer, we do hope you'll join us. In the meantime,please do let us know what you're up to and how you're faring, in the chat below.
Whatever your week has in store for you, go forth with confidence and don't let the gremlins get inside you headπββοΈπββοΈ
From your team Β Β Β Irishprincess , Β Β Beachcomber66 Β and meπ₯° xxx
Well done linda9389 for your awesome run & beating those gremlins.
I'm putting on my big girl pants & starting my marathon plan this week. I've got my new comfy long run shoes added to garmin & I'm planning to tick the first 8 miler off tomorrow.
It sure looks tempting RW π I'll I can see is cloud, mist and rain out my Lisbon hotel window.My big girl pants kept falling down (and not because I've lost weight!), so take a belt and braces just in case (that's us, we'll come and enjoy the blue sea alongside you). Here's to 8 miles en route to 25k. Have a wonderful run π
Despite years of running, I still struggle sometimes to get out the door. Confidence is a funny thing and also a fickle one. I know my legs can handle any distance I throw at them, after all theyβve done it before, but the hardest part of running is convincing yourself mentally you can do it.
I am in awe at your strength linda9389 - many would have used any excuse and just stayed in bed and watched the race from the sidelines. You didnβt. You faced those gremlins and absolutely obliterated them. Well done. I shall remember that the next time my mind starts telling me I canβt.
Iβm annoyed at myself for letting myself get out of shape having been pretty fit around 2020/2021. My running is going slowly and steadily but Iβm determined to get back into some sort of shape this spring/summer!
Thing is, not only had I paid for it but I'd paid to get to Lisbon too and dragged my 'not interested in running one bit' husband with me. It was Hobsons choice really. It was also much easier than the 24 hours that preceded it.But you're right. That memory is now banked - it may feel awful the day before, that disappears when the time comes, and the day after is full of joy.
You know you can reach that level of fitness you had only a few years ago, its yours for the taking again. Hard work just now, but full of joy once you've got there.
I have the same goal. We just need to find - and hold on to - that determination. Good luck π
Simply awesome Linda! I may have stolen a quick peek at the results on the Lisbon website last night and so went to bed knowing that you would have a lasting smile on your face! I will await your run account patiently. I have experienced that βwhat am I doing here?β feeling when away on my own for a big run, but Pom Pom posts appeared by magic and changed my mood. The sheer scale of some of these events, and being surrounded by much younger and much fitter looking athletes(in my case), certainly made me question why I was there. But the bottom line is; we can do this! And you did! So happy for you ππ₯π
Off for a solo 10 miler now; not sure I am ready for it, but CB says I am so I will give it a whirl! Catch up later.
I wonder if you checked before or after they adjusted the results π€ Not that it really matters, but that's for the race report. Which I plan on doing as we wait on our - undoubtedly delayed - flight home π
Thatβs so kind RiceAndPeas. That is the beauty of this site; we all understand how it feels and know the value of support; you have done your share of the latter post Malaga, so thanks for that π
Thanks BC. I'm so sorry. At one point yesterday I thought I should message you and IP as I know you don't use atrava. But somehow the thought never became action.Once there, standing among everyone, I'm much better, and once over the line habit takes over to a large extent. At one point I did question why I choose torun that distance though π
I hope you and CB had a good 10 miles this morning ... and I hope there's less wind and rain than we have on our last (not) sightseeing trip in Lisbon!
That looks pretty dire Linda. Not holiday weather at all π.
The temperatures dropped off here today to around 6 degrees, with wind chill on top of that, curtesy of a northerly wind. There was mist around too, so it was one underlayer and a thickish top weather. 10 miles at recovery run pace was what the programme said, so I took it pretty easy on the outlap. Coming back, my pace picked up, and the CB threw in some fancy fartleks towards the end, just in case I was feeling comfortable. Net result was a couple of minutes over my PB time, which surprised me (in a good way).10 miles at 6:57 average pace and average heart rate of 134bpm felt good for as a follow up to an injury interrupted winter, and suggests I could aim for HM in our April event π. Now for a sandwich; then Mollyβs cafe walk. Should be good for the legs, hers and mine π!
Sounds like you had a happy ending to your latest adventure. Really looking forward to reading all about it!
My Gremlins have really been active since the HU 10 mile. This post is so perfectly timed . It reminds me that my Gremlins are just that: sneaky little energy sappers who tend to sneak up when real life and running life are forced to share head space!. Basically they are bullies. So as with all bullies -time to get on those big girl pants and face them - or-runaway from them with a comedy podcast and all my VRB's for company- Either way, I win , they lose!!
Just getting the big girl pants ready . Today's run looks like its going to be a wet one so here goes....Happy πββοΈ all!
A happy ending and some valuable lessons too Week7 πGremlins can be brutal if we don't stop them in their tracks. A comedy podcast and a run to enjoy sounds like a perfect way to show them who is boss. But if you can find your big girl pants, even better.
Hope you have/had a great ru, and if not ... well that happens too. In which case I recommend letting off steam here, then trying the NRC Suckcess guided run π
You've got this Week7 ... and you've got 27th April as a goal too π
We all had immense faith in you linda9389 , never a doubt that youβd smash that gremlin-infested HM. But smash it you did, with knobs on! πͺ Iβm so glad it all worked out for you, and I hope youβre glowing today. π₯° Canβt wait for your report, and photo of your bling. π
My turn for gremlins now. Iβm cross that my running miles have been so few this winter. I really wanted to run the Bath Half and feel like I was the best prepared I could be. Far from it. Iβve only been running on average twice per week, and the mileage has been puny. My longest runs for months have been 10k - I did one yesterday, and much as I felt like I could go on and Iβve been doing more strength training, Iβm not convinced itβll be enough to counteract the lack of miles.
Also, and I donβt want to whine, whilst the gym has been my saviour (or I might not have run at all some weeks), it hasnβt helped lose my one pace fits all style! I believe itβs actually made it worse! π
But hey, I was whining and Iβm no quitter. Iβm not worried about my time, but what I really wanted to avoid was the feeling of doom after 13-14k which always hits me! Even the βonly a PR to goβ at 10 miles seems like an eternity when your hips are screaming at you!
So letβs see what happens on Sunday. The weather looks perfect (please stay that way Weather Gods π), and I really want to enjoy the occasion. Thereβs bling to be had when allβs said and done!
Send me a swift boot up the backside please pals. π
You can do it Munks. Last year both my knees hurt right up to the day of Bath and my training was bad so I wasnβt prepared at all. But, as you know, the lure of the bling is strong π
The crowd support in Bath is fab and will urge you on and of course your VRBs here π€
Not least, you are a very determined chipmunk so I have no doubt you will cross the finish line and grab that bling π₯°
You will do it cheeky; you always do. I have just jumped up to 10 miles from 10k over a couple of weeks, and there was plenty of fuel left in the tank (tailwind) today. A fit determined chipmunk will find that extra Park Run no trouble at all. Based on all of the years I have known you, I would say that you are incapable of allowing a run to beat you! πΏοΈ
I have no doubts tgat you will succeed. You are the ultimate in keeping on keeping on -especially with the bling sparkling at that finish line in Bath . The magpie in you will do it if nothing else..
Thanks Week7 , Iβm not prone to gremlins as a rule, but March 16th is coming round very quickly all of a sudden, and the realisation just how little running Iβve done is hitting home! π³
Just think of how good it will feel when you get to the finish line, which you will!!!
Finish lines not finish times will no doubt be the order of the day but conquering a race when we are not at our strongest can be as satisfying as any pb.
Just know we will all be rooting for you and willing you to the end. Hope the weather is perfect for you
No boot from me Cheekie, but instead, a swift and hefty vote of confidence in you! You've been under prepared before and it hasn't stopped you. The doubts at 14k? The feeling of physical strain at 10 miles? They're largely down to expectations and I suspect they still rear their head when you're fully fit and prepared. I can feel like that on a 3k run! Just don't give them head space. Remind them you've done this before and you're doing it again, so they may as well budge over! The extra strength work will make a positive difference.My hip flexors started to burn yesterday around 10 miles. I tried to change my pace and gait for short bursts ... emphasising lifting my knees and 'cycling' my legs. A physio once told me I wasn't bending my hips enough, so they got tight in an almost straight position throughout the run. That's probably still my natural gait, but changing it up briefly seems to give them some respite. May be worth a try... if nothing else it's a distraction π
You'll smash Bath, and we'll all be there cheering you every step, especially loudly at 14k and 10 miles!!!
And anyway ... the bling is waiting at the finish line. Only one way to get your hands on that!
Generally my gremlins only pop up when Iβm injured. Then I ask myself if this is it for my running, am I too old to be doing this? Will I recover ok this time? Blah blah. But I have pretty strong self-belief and get huge inspiration from my pals here with their posts of epic runs and overcoming hurdles and doing amazing things (like you!) that I can turn off the gremlin voices and get on with it.
My running is ticking along nicely atm. Iβm at the airport now having had a few lovely days in Seville and managed two treadmill runs.
When I get home I will get back on the bike and do another session of my strength training each week. Also Iβm going to book a physio session as I keep getting a tightness around my hip flexors and I donβt know why and canβt seem to get rid of it.
But all is good. I need a race to look forward to so must get looking at that too π₯°
I hope you have managed to see something of Lisbon tourist-wise before you fly home.
Ahh yes! The 'am I too old for this' gremlin!!! I am right at the end of my age category ... I'm hoping to still be running next year to make the most of being youngest in category πNormally I can overcome my gremlins alone, but on Saturday morning they came rushing at me and knocked me over before I worked out what was happening. I figured it was time to seek help!!!
My hip flexors started to burn yesterday, a it must be horrible if that happens regularly. I'm a sure a physio will be able to loosen those off and give you exercises to keep them that way. Fingers crossed for you.
We fly today too ... weather permitting ... but not til later in the day. By then I can only imagine what delays have built up π. I hope your journey is trouble free and there are lots of nice 'loose' runs waiting for you at home π
So glad you got through it Linda, you had us or more accurately yourself really worried there! I must confess, I do this to myself all the time. Even before going out for a Sunday long run I have to give myself a pep talk to get out the door. Before my only marathon i was in such a state I nearly didn't turn up to the start line but the support I got from this community really kept me going. I thought about the virtual pom poms when the going got tough and it really was a massive help!
We can be our own worst enemies can't we? So often on a long run I think to myself 'I'm not going to make this'. Yet if I count the number of times I've 'made it' vs the number of times I haven't? Well there is no case to answer!!! Yet still I doubt myself ππ€·ββοΈYou too now have the knowledge that nerves almost got the better of you, yet that's all they were ... head noise ... because you went right out there and crushed your marathon. Never forget that valuable experience π
Big congratulations to you linda9389 ,that was a great result yesterday and glad the pompoms helped ! Yes definitely still gremlinsπͺ, on Thursday I was going to club for 7pm but when I put my light on it failed as I forgot to charge it. So I didn't want to risk falling again , and went home, found another light. Set off, breathing awful, legs awful, a very dismal run so I just did round the long block. Plus stopped to catch breath several times ! Where as yesterday I did a run with 14 others and managed nearly 7 miles, plus a walk up to Tennyson of 3 miles! Was lovely to have a day free of any responsibilities πβοΈ
Dad had his memory test last Tues and they think he has Alzhiemers at moderate level atm . Sad to hear but I guess we know what we're dealing with now. I'm only working afternoons as helping with making lunch etc and some evening shifts, so life is hectic , plus Kenny daughters operation coming up (rescheduled) soon . Which makes days like yesterday extra special π₯°
Tennyson monument after the climb up ! 5k round trip
Thanks Ali.These gremlins are a pain! At least that night you got out and ran. As coach Bennett says in his Suckcess guided run, even that bad runs contain successes - we just need to look for them.
Sounds like yesterday was a real tonic - and you most definitely deserve that π₯°
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