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Run-wise it was pretty disastrous - very muddy and my light trail shoes were not up to the job, so I ran my slowest parkrun ever (excluding the one I tail-walked) - 29:55. But it was friendly - the RD gave me a shout-out and despite my crap time I was 6th lady and 1st in age group. Plus, it's done, which frees me up to finish Lon-Done on NYD. Hurrah!
one of the better ways to get away from the mother in law for a couple of hours :D
Right, I'm now going to marinate myself in Epsom Salts.
I was awake early so I went out at just before half past five. It was cold but clear at that point and my early miles were at a normal recovery pace (10:40s). However, as I got on to the less well lit roads, my pace dropped, and then it became foggy and frost started to form so it dropped even more as I became cautious with my footing. I decided at that point that I shouldn't try to push for double figures and would settle for 8, but I hit 8 miles a good half mile from home so I looped around another road to make it 9 and injected some strides to get my legs working properly again. It was still dark when I got back.
Nice early run Cal, great to do that before daylight! What did you think of new Starwars? Bit too busy for me. Awesome to do 20 miles!
Great double run Hazlenut! I need to look at gels if I get fit again. Nice LT run.
Hi Driesie. I went for a long walk boxing day with my OH. Never been good at staying indoors too long.
Good run JD! How long after your marathon (admittedly waaay better executed than mine!) Until you got back to double figure runs? How long until you felt "back to normal".
Hi enrvuk. As stated, hopefully good eventful! Good to get a couple of runs in.
Happy new year all. One more day of regular rum rather than a regular run!
I'd take some time off if I were you. Are you seeing a physio?
Good 4 miles LTT, but as Cal says might be an idea to rest up and see a physio. My partner is having problems with her IT band at the moment and has had to reduce her running, so she's not participating in tomorrow's Hangover 5 (first league race of the season). Did do a rather gentle 3.5 miles with her last night.
As requested Hazelnut the photo from Christmas Day:-
Very early running Cal! I remember Nessie's London mara well as I tried to do one on the same day and failed due to the heat. I still think she did very well to get round as she did - even if it wasn't the result she was looking for. I also understand any disappointment though as she put in a lot of training. I liked the original SW films but didn't really like the new ones.
+1 to visiting the physio LTT. Which shoes did you get for Christmas? Like the rum and run connection.
8 miles done earlier this afternoon to finish the year on 2312 miles - my highest ever. Said it last year already that I would not increase my mileage further and will try to stick to it in 2020. Only one standard distance PB over HM (-4 mins, down to 1:34:32) but several course PBs and a few AG race podiums (mostly thanks to moving up an age group). Two other PB attempts over 10k and 10 miles didn't deliver the goods (both primarily due to the weather - once bloody windy and once bloody hot). Decent sort of year though. Time to return to the maras (Hamburg in April).
Probably won't run tomorrow so Happy New Year everyone!
Fantastic yearly mileage Hazelnut.That's a good chunk of your HM PB as well, a good running year for you.
Nice final run of the year Cal.I still think the very first Stars Wars is the best,a timeless classic.
Nice pic Guarddog,you look very toastie in it.
Linton,that was my first double figure run since Chester mara,physically I felt fine a few days after the mara but because I had such a poor run I felt a lack of motivation for a while,in fact it's still plays on my mind why I had such a poor race.
6 miles today,including 6 x 0.5m @ 10kp.Bit of a mixed bag running wise this year.Hoped to get my HM nearer 1:30 and 10k sub 41,but didn't hit my targets,so they'll be my targets again for 2020.
I was supposed to be racing the Wirral HM Sunday,but my wife's in York this weekend looking after her ill Gran and my parents and brother's family are all in Oz,so have no one to look after the kids,so I'll have to find another race for January.
Happy New Year to all of you.
Canons is a flattish three lapper (a bit of an incline, but nothing too taxing) on mixed surfaces. On a good day it could be a fast-ish course, but it was busy and I found myself hampered quite a bit during the opening stages as they don't seem to start in time order, like at Tooting. The trail part through the woody bit was sandy so not too bad, but then a muddy bit followed. I had my trails on but had to slow a bit there.
Not a great time - 26:53 (I'd hoped for better, honestly) but I am now LonDone - at least until another one starts.
Then it was back on the tube to Gladstone. This is a hilly one - I did it back in 2018 during the summer and ran 26:17 then. Today would be slower. It's mostly paved but with a muddy grass finish and a lovely submerged path which you could either plough through or skirt about on the muddy grass. I chose the ford option.
However, the RD had a surprise for us - as today is a special event, we would run the course in reverse. That meant the steepst hill would be a descent rather than an ascent - something that didn't please me due to my aversion to running downhill. It also meant more gradual ascents, and it definitely seemed tougher this way around.
My right ankle (a bit of achilles, a bit of post tib) did not enjoy this - the combo of low drop trail shoes and going downhill pissed it off a bit and I'm hoping it won't have caused a longer term problem.
Time here was slow - 28:04, but it's another double done.
Happy New Year all.
Good effort with the 6 miler JD1, although shame about missing Wirral. Hopefully you'll find another one soon.
Great double PRs Cal. That is some effort and good times. And great photo.
Hangover Five this morning. 11:30 start so at least a bit of a lie-in and I hadn't overly imbibed the night before. Did have a stiff back from Tuesday's gym session so wasn't expecting much.
Conditions were surprisingly good, softish ground but not too muddy. Tough first half which is uphill and includes a brutal 200m climb. Never
likely to score points so was about who I could pass from the club. Managed to beat two who I don't normally get near, but one of those had got through 3 bottles of red wine the previous night and the other I don't think is at the same stage with their training. Did manage to take 2 minutes off last year's time with conditions being slightly worse than last year.
And on the cake competition front I believe my banana loaf just about beat my partner's lemon sponge with raspberry cream filling. Not that it is a competition.
Happy New Year all.
Nice race Guarddog,two minutes off last year's race is good going.I would have gone for the lemon sponge cake .
I've done a few calm down pats over the years Hazelnut,I'm a bit wary of horses.Good start to the year for you.The fires haven't affected my family,luckily.
Managed to squeeze in a 5.1 miles this morning,before I had to take the decorations down,also got a gym class in this evening.
I'd planned a MLR for yesterday but as I've parkrun tomorrow and a 10K on Sunday, I didn't think it was a good idea to try and do it today so I settled for 8 miles, which went quite well.
It was raining early on so I did wait for that to stop before going out, and I just went out in a long sleeved top and gloves. I felt quite hot after the first mile and regretted the sleeves, then took the gloves off, but then a cold wind started and I regretted taking the gloves off. And then it started to rain again, and I regretted not wearing a jacket. But at the end I was happy to have done the run as, in spite of heavy legs, it felt OK - normal easy pace with the last three miles at MP+1 (because at that point I was being pelted with cold rain and wanted it over with!)
Saw a nice tuxedo kitty and I said hello and he mewed back at me.
5.2 miles, with a couple 8:30 min miles. Knee rubbish, but better than it was. A glimmer of hope it's healing. I iced it with frozen peas and tried one of my Christmas presents, an Epsom salt bath!. Hoping it's heading in the right direction, if I'm patient! Going to try and get off the roads sunday and do a gentle trail run.
More or less exactly a year since I started running, and although it's been really positive, I'm a bit lost what to do. I think that 26.2 attempt gave me PTSD! Do I really want to do that again? Obviously training would help, but still. Definitely wouldn't throw myself into that again without completely comprehensive training. From what I've read I hit the infamous "wall" and was terrible. Must keep those long runs up when my knee is better though. I can't quit really, just must not be an impatient dickhead.
I'd like to get sub 20 in Parkrun from 20:35, sub 45:00 10k from 47:41.
Not sure about 10 mile/halves. 5 minutes of each maybe?
For the mean time though just want to get my knee back to fitness!!. So many events in Kent are seafront all-concrete affairs, I do suffer from them.
Huge yearly mileage Hazlenut, and nice running. Xmas shoes were my 3rd pair of Saucony freedom iso2, (they seem to work for me) in bright orange this time! and a pair of Saucony Kinvara 10 racing shoes (florescent yellow) that feel they would blow away in a light breeze. (Won't be wearing them for a while). Solid running as always, nice to see some ponies. Hike sounds nice too.
Nice training JD, sorry you couldn't do your race. I remember thinking your marathon time was awesome! But, yeah, all down to personal goals. Are you planning another? Perhaps just an off day? Rapid 10k/half goals!, good luck.
Did I read that right Cal? Every Parkrun in London? That's awesome!
Good luck in your race and glad the cold didn't materialise. So much about this year it seems!
Great race Guardog, like the idea of Hangover 5 miler! Did one race this year hungover, won't do that again. Nice baking!
Hope you're feeling better Cal. 8 miles is impressive when you're not feeling too well.
Good run Hazelnut. I tend to take off my gloves once my hands have warmed up. Can't stand having hands being too hot.
Nice run LTT, although take it easy with your knees. Nice targets for the year. I'm going to put mine up shortly.
First grand prix Parkrun today in a series of ten, this one on Hove Prom. Managed 23:28 with a rather packed start making the first 1km a bit tricky. Pleased with the time but worried about tightness in my left glute and my back stiffened up going into the last mile.
On the cake front the clear winner was my partner's cherry and macadamia chocolate brownie over my capuccino cupcakes. But it's not a competition.
Squerryes Winery parkrun today in Kent. I thought Walthamstow was muddy, but it was nothing compared to this. Trail shoes were no help at all. I spent it slipping and sliding and cursing and recorded my slowest ever time - 32:46. I've never done more than 30 minutes before. Despite that I was still 6th lady and first in my age cat, due to the small field.
Shoes were so trashed they went in the bin when I got home.
Possibly the biggest race in Kent, the Canterbury 10, is on the 26th Jan and I really wanted to have a good go at that one. Annoying. No chance of even getting round at the moment.
That's running I guess! Will see what happens. Will have to do some gym visits to keep me sane, urgh...
Nice run Hazlenut, running by effort is much more relaxing, agreed.
That Parkrun seems a handful Cal. My trail run was ankle -deep mud for much of it. Not sure if that was a better idea than road for my knee or not really...
Nice Parkrun Guardog. I'm going to take the opportunity to volunteer at my local one, as it's well overdue. I have piled on the Christmas weight quite incredibly so maybe will have to swerve the cakes!
Very active Saturday for you Hazelnut. Puts me to shame as I've not been in the gym since Tuesday. Do like to bake, or just cooking in general. Partner's the real Baker in the house as she does all the cakes for the running club at events. I think she's just getting me off my arse!
Sound like it's time to listen to your body LTT and rest the knee. I know it's frustrating but it will be better in the long run.
10.3 mile LSR today with running group. Very hilly and muddy on the South Downs. Strangely I was fine on the ups but struggled to keep pace on the downs. And managed to fall, albeit I slipped trying to avoid a puddle and slid gracefully to the ground with shouts of "man down" ringing out. Legs are feeling it, but looking forward to beef stew with dumplings.
Guarddog - no, didn't take money with me in fact, as I ran 2 miles to get my lift there so I just had water and my door keys. But I have lots of wine at home - people give me bottles but I don't drink alone so they just sit there until I decide to open one to cook with.
Well done on your run. I am not good on downhills myself - I am forever getting passed on the downs by people I pass on the ups. Enjoy the stew!
I got some encouraging shouts from the superfast Chasers training around the edge of the park which gave me a boost and I knuckled down for the last mile and a bit. Held it together for 8:11 and then found something from somewhere to get me over the finish.
Official time - 50:12 - a minute and a half PB (and tantilisingly close to a sub-50).
After the disappointing 10K I ran in December, I am very happy with this. It also made me realise that 10K is probably my least favourite distance - all the pain of a 5K but twice as far. But the Runthrough events do have very good flapjacks so it's all been worth it.
Cracking race Cal,well done on your PB,I'm sure you'll sub 50 soon.
Good 10 miler Guarddog,I'm the opposite to you,I'm better going down than up.Hope you enjoyed your dumplings.
I'd have that knee seen to Linton.Seems to be a recurring injury.I'm sure you'll hit your 2020 goals when injury free.
Nice 16 miles Hazelnut,very mild over here as well,been wearing just t shirt and shorts again for my last couple of runs.
Errdig parkrun yesterday,very muddy and a big turnout,so a bit of a nightmare to begin with.Finished with a time of 22.05,nowhere near my course PB,but for the first time in ages my hams were fine,felt great not having any tightness.6 miles this morning,left my watch at home and ran to feel,opened the pace up between 2-5 miles,felt quite good.Noticed loads of new runners on the canal,well 10 to be precise which is more than I see all week.
Just booked my place in the Rhyl 10 miler,I think this is my first 10 race,so it's something to look forward to.
JD, I think we have to forget fast parkruns at the moment, what with the crowds and the mud. I'm going to try and get to some smaller runs if I can. And you'll enjoy the 10 miler, it's a nice distance - like a half but without the three bastard miles on the end.
Normally a rest day today but I felt like running so I did a quick 6. Was meant to be recovery pace but ended up being at the faster end of my easy range - I guess my legs aren't too shagged.
Christmas trees all over the pavements at the moment, though - it's like the bloody Grand National!
Admittedly not run much over the festive period, did 6 miles on the dreadmill on Christmas Eve and that's about it haha.
Did manage to get out for 6 miles tonight with the club though, wasn't too shabby for two weeks off - third fastest time on that particular route. Legs were aching and sapped of energy after mile 3 though, which was a bit disappointing. Ahh well, I blame all the festive chocolate, the sitting on my butt at home and at work for the last two weeks.
Set myself a challenge of running 500 miles this year...reckon I can do it, so set myself a further challenge of 750 miles.
Game on.