Weekly Chat:7 to 13 April. After the Lord Mayor’s Show

[Beachcomber66]

It was a superb weekend for running buddies who were racing on Sunday and I expect that the ripples will extend well into this week. Quite right too! However, we do have work to do,especially those of us running in the HU April Run on the 27th April. Only three weeks to go 😬. My tree lined trail (pictured today; note the blue sky and the moon!) awaits me.

I am still wondering how I was suckered into, sorry; gently persuaded to volunteer for, the 26.2k Metric Marathon. But, there is my name, on the list; so I will have to give it my best. The truth is I am enjoying the challenge. I don’t see this run as a “pass/fail”,in fact it has given me an incentive to push my boundaries a bit more to see what I can do. I have learned a lot from people here and I know that I am better prepared as a result of that experience. So thanks everyone.

The state of play? With a 23.2k run last Monday, and a HM the Monday before, I was hoping for some respite this week; cue Coach Bennett. Thankfully he has taken pity on me. I am relieved to see that tomorrow’s long run is scheduled to be “only” 10 miles. So that’s ok then 🙂. Seriously, it is amazing what we can do with some expert guidance, determination and the mutual support which we all find throughout these forums. Apart from having messed things up by getting within 3k of target two weeks too early, I feel as though I am in good shape for the big day. I know all of that can change in seconds, a slip, a pulled muscle etc; that is one of the risks we run, but I have really enjoyed getting within touching distance a Metric Marathon. I like to have a target, and I like to feel as though I am making progress.

As a side show I have gone back to Park Run, and I am now inexplicably churning out 5k PBs each week; I am sure that is helping the long runs and vice versa. I have kept up with my cross training too, and I think that I have my nutrition worked out too ( that means I have found stuff I can consume whilst running without throwing up!) So, I think I will be as ready as I will ever be on the 27th, and I am certainly fitter for making the attempt.

But, that is just where I am; how is your preparation going? You may see this challenge in a very different way. Even if you are not joining us on our HU Challenge, could you use some advice, or could you share some knowledge to help the rest of us along? This is your weekly chat, so anything goes really. We thrive on your posts! So take a break, and hit the keyboard. We love to hear from everyone.

Have a great week all; and congratulations again to our amazing weekend racers; keep those reports coming 👍

From your team;  linda9389  Irishprincess and me 🙂

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For events in April, here:

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

[TailChaser Marathon]

You’ll be fine BC, you’re at a really good point at the moment so it makes sense to have a go at it now! All the best with the training, I love saying ‘only 10 miles’ 😂

Monsal report will be coming tomorrow. We need one from the HM perspective. Just got to find the energy as it was HM+7 and I’m a bit…tired! But in answer to your question, yes training is going pretty well and I’m very confident that it’s all very doable now 👍

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

You are an absolute 🌟.

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

🤗

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

You certainly are in a very good place   Beachcomber66 , and best of all, it sounds like you are really enjoying your running at the moment, whether it’s gaining another PB at parkrun or running that extra mile.

We will be grinning ear to ear for a while after a great weekend. And now I’ve got back to 10k again , I hope to keep it going so that I have another good run on the challenge day. I’d like to improve the time, but not sure if it will happen without the race conditions.

At Rosliston parkrun we spied some racing snails!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

🙂 our use of the word “snailathon” seems to have disappeared over the years. Just bask in the happiness of Derbyshire!

I have woken up to clear blue skies, and a temperature of 4C ! Where did that come from? The wind is from the south, and temperatures will reach 8C by 10 am and 12C by 3pm….but I need to get my run is this morning……maybe three layers rather than two is the answer. There is often a surprise dimension on run days isn’t there?

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

🐌🐌

Racing snails

[RunWillie Marathon]

Hi Beachcomber66 & other VRB's

You've got this Beachcomber66 👍

Week 5 of marathon training & feeling under the weather, so I will see whether I'm up for a 12 miler this week. Heart rate was up quite high today on my run, so I called it a day at 7 miles. Glad I'm down for the HM. Something to aim for on my way to my first 25km in 2025.

Happy week everyone!

Today's run

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Hi RunWille; you have clouds? Just fluffy white ones though! My average heart rate on my slow 23.20k last week was down at 134 bpm. Apart from running at a lower pace,I am not having to battle the heat. Talking to our Brisbane friend last week, he reckoned that you get higher temperatures, but he gets higher humidity levels. I think that having to wrap up to beat the cold in winter is a better problem to have than either your heat or his humidity. Maybe we just get used to these things. I hope your 12 miler goes well.

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Queensland is beautiful but I'll take our weather any day. We did have clouds today so I wore a long sleeve top. Big mistake 🥵

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Clear skies, temperature up to 12C now; white frost this morning …..Perth sounds pretty good to me 🙂

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

It's beautiful here. Only managed 10 miles today. Felt really sick at 7 miles so stopped early. There are so many viruses going around. Hopefully will be recovered to tackle the HM ☺️

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Still some time for your body to squash those bugs and bring you back to top form. I am going to treat my knee to a shower and fresh dressing this morning. At least everything is moving freely, so physically a run isn’t out of the question…..see what our medic friend in Brisbane says in our weekly chat this morning. I would rather run without a dressing on and tape it up again afterwards, but maybe I run short with dressing until things have cleared up.

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Beautiful photo as always, hope you feel back at your best soon.

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

Thanks RiceAndPeas I always find marathon training brings some challenges. I'll get there ☺️

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Morning BC and pals. Yes, still grinning. My grandsons were playing in the garden when I got home and they were very impressed with my medal. It’s now on its hanger in my office strategically situated so my colleagues can admire it when I’m on Teams calls today! 😅

Talking of bling, you are going to absolutely smash that MM    Beachcomber66 . It sounds like you’re in the best possible shape. That shiny MM badge will be yours! I wonder if you have a time in mind? 💥

I’ll get a shiny my MM badge too by hook or by crook, and no, I don’t have a time in mind. I was saying to   linda9389 yesterday that no way would I be attempting a MM without the lure of the bling, virtual or otherwise! I can’t wait. My route is planned and I’ll wind up my legs and let them go! It’ll be fun knowing lots of us will be running “together” listening to the same playlist. 😀

Happy training folks. I’ll see what I can fit in, but I’ll be on that start line. 🙌

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Confession time; bling isn’t really a motivator for me 🫢; there, it’s out there. The running shop lady got me to take in my GSR medal from last year’s virtual effort; she took a photograph and plonked it on instagram! I do like the buzz and the meet ups; I really need to get out more! Oh, the temperature has gone up to 7.5C; maybe two layers will do at this rate! Have a great week Cheeky.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

😱 😳 🫣

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

😂

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Good morning Beachcomber you sound well prepared for that metric marathon.I've been doing well too and increased my distance a bit each week and been running 3 times a week until.. ...this past week, I still walked a lot and swam 3 times but had less energy and now I'm full of cold, the first I've had for over a year, being immunosuppressed I've worried about catching something but so far it's acting as any old cold so hopefully be gone soon .

Future plans.....I'm driving to Bristol on Friday, evening meal, sleep, up early, parkrun, breakfast and driving home again.....utterly bonkers.....but will mean I'll only have the parkrun compass north to get and of course I'm so close to Great Yarmouth North beach that I'll get there one day.

Happy running all.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Ahh  SueAppleRun , tell that cold to sling its hook! I hope you feel better before the weekend. 🙏 I’m very much looking forward to seeing you and  Mudita11 🥰

Oh, and I know bonkers all too well …. but it makes it even more fun I think! 😅

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

More 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 in the air! 🙂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

They’re rife this spring BC! 🦋🦋🦋🦋

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Lots of fun Cheeky, I'm all for a bit of fun

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Your return to strength and fitness has been remarkable Sue. You have great determination!Be careful around Bristol; you may bump into a chipmunk 🙂. 🤞 your cold does a runner! You have had more than your share of illness.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Beachcomber66]

I'm hoping very much to bump into a chipmunk 😄 I'm going to feed her too 🤣🤣🤣

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Chipmunks like food! 🐿️😋🙏

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Hope that cold clears up soon, sounds like you have a great weekend planned. Enjoy! 😃

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Ok, that run could have gone much better; all 1.59k of it. I fell over a tree root on the gravel/ash trail. Net result, a very bloody knee (the same one that I crunched in 2023) and the heel of my hand is cut too. 🤯!! It doesn’t feel as bad as last time; I am not going to bother with the urgent treatment centre. I have washed it under the shower, blitzed it with germoline and put on a couple of sizeable plasters. I might go to Boots and get something a bit more high tech later. I don’t think that 27 of April is in danger, but no more running today that is for sure. Bah !!!

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

That's rubbish. Falls are horrible. I can still remember the smell of germoline from my childhood. Hope you heal quickly.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Thanks RW. That smell takes me back too. Going to Boots for something a bit more up to date this afternoon.

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Oh no, I barely finished signing off my post with a caution to pay attention where feet are placed. Hope you don't wake up too bruised and bashed up. Heal quickly and keep up the great work.

[RiceAndPeas Marathon]

Sounds like you are in very fine form BC. Nutrition and hydration all sorted out and your fitness at a very high level. You'll be fine on the day! It's a good point you make about how things can change in an instant with a slip or a pulled muscle. I rolled my ankle on a curb I didn't see while walking around Florence. I was admiring the scenery and not paying enough attention. Nothing broken but it seems to have brought on plantar fasciitis. Hopefully it will clear up with a week or so of gentle stretching.

Stay fit and well everybody and pay attention to where you are placing your feet!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

I lost most of winter 2021 because I walked into a raised fire hydrant sign and followed it with rolling the same ankle on a suitcase! Easy to do. This feels as though it is going to be ok. My pre Alaska fall in 2023 , on the same trail, took weeks to heal. The hospital smothered the wound in New Zealand Matuka honey, which kept running down my leg in the hot sun. Our dog Molly loved it; I think the bugs did too!

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Oh my goodness BC, you certainly have a lot of previous on your record!

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

I was just about to say that your training and preparation seem to be going perfectly for a very successful MM when I got to your follow up 🤕 Isn’t that just the way it goes sometimes 😵‍💫 Hope it’s nothing serious and you can reschedule today’s run.

I’m not doing the HU Spring run, but if anybody out there is doing the London Marathon, look out for me with the Nettleham Trotters handing out Lucozade at Mile 16! 3am start, but all the atmosphere with none of the blood, sweat and tears 😂

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

You did that in 2022 I think Sandie, when I did the Great South Run? Maybe it has become an annual event? As you say , all the buzz without the tears! That’s an early start though 😴

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

I have done it once before. It’s the Trotters’ slot for as long as we want it and is great fun!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

The knee doesn’t look or feel anything like as bad as the 2023 fall just before we headed out to Alaska. One of the pharmacists in Boots took great care in helping me choose an appropriate dressing. I must be looking my age; people seem so much kinder these days 🙂

[aliboo70 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Glad you have got fixed up Beachcomber66 , but sorry you had a fall ,hope you heal quickly 🤞💪your training has been v impressive and I'm sure you'll do great on your challenge!

I was up to London last Tuesday to visit Kenny and his daughter,she's doing well and they've been transferred nearer home already, and I visited again Sunday. 😊

Running wise did parkrun and got a decent 33.25, only 10 secs over my "fastest in a while" one 3 weeks ago. And did my clubs new Cross Country 5k series last night in local forest, a nominated time event and I think I was less than a minute out,that's on the next 3 Mondays! Checked out the stats afterwards and looked from heart rate like I was trying hard,but felt OK! Tuesday club tonight with hills!

My brother arriving Weds for the week so my sister and I will get a nice break from evenings with Dad, though we'll still help out in daytimes and it'll be nice to see him and his little doggo too!

Have a lovely week all VRBs ! Xxx

Tried hard last night,zone 5 all the way!!! Eeek!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

🤞 that sounds as though things are in a better place now Aliboo. Just great the way your family is working together. Those runs are precious; your heart just needs to get the message that it’s time for it to get itself ready for a bit more work; it needs to pitch in like the rest of your team.🙂

[Tessie66 Half Marathon]

Well done 👏 you are more than ready for the marathon 👏 unlike me.My bib has come through for the Manchester marathon I haven't been able to train properly for this so fingers crossed I can do the marathon. I've still got problems with my foot 🙃 so still not running much parkrun at the weekend hoping to do a long run on Tuesday. Good luck everyone

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Tessie66]

Puts my whining about missing a few days running because of a fall in context.All you can do is give it your best. Steady pace and see how it goes I guess. No heroics; just get to the finish….probably good advice to myself too!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I’m late to this chat as my social life has been crazily busy but is settling down a bit now, so I can catch up with the Monsal posts 😊

Just read about your fall BC so I really hope that it is OK and hasn't stopped you running. We never know what is around each corner, especially with running!

My runs were going well but at 14K of an 18K last week my knee started to complain ☹️ It was a similar pain to the one I had before when I did too much gardening so I’ll keep an eye on it and see what happens. I did 5K yesterday and it was fine but I’m not sure how it’ll manage with longer runs so not sure if my HM for the HU event will happen. I just haven't had the time to get the long runs in weekly due to our social commitments and so have been doing them every other week but I don’t think that suits me and I need consistency and a routine to stay on top of things. Hey ho, we’ll see.

In other news, I got new shoes 🤩🥰 Just have to think of a name for them…

Running shoes

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

They're very snazzy Irishprincess What model are they? I think you get more of a colour range than us, Aussie folk.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Very nice pair of Saucony shoes there IP! They should cheer your knee up pdq. It would be a shame if you were not match fit on the 27th.

The trouble with the last two falls I have had was that I went down pretty hard. No stumble then fall, just running normally, then flat on the ground! I have the odd stumble which, usually, I control and avoid hitting the deck. I hope this isn’t my reflexes slowing off with age. That said, I reacted quickly enough to avoid a face plant. My left hand and right knee took the brunt. I have been lucky really, only two falls in 7 years.