New Mature Runners Thread

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  • Good morning all, 

    JB, thanks. I'm very impressed by your crossfit workout. I couldn't do a fraction of those reps. They must contribute to your speediness, by increasing your strength and stamina. I will concentrate my reps on running 😁

    A running rest day today, except for my modest, compared with JB's workout. I am though, working on my walking pace carrying the shopping 🛍 and not putting it down before getting home.🚶‍♂️
  • WtnMelWtnMel ✭✭✭
    Morning everyone,

    HS - even after all these years, my friend Alan and I still greet each other with a "Gid Moaning" when we meet. Sorry about the golf jargon .. I'll try and remember not to use it next time. Glad to hear the club grass track session went well. Glad to hear you were running in the opposite direction to the triathletes as I'm sure otherwise, you'd have not been able to resist racing them :) Well done re the multi-terrain run with the Mon group.

    Aquarius - no problem with not posting for a bit. I thought you were probably just busy but I see Steve still has covid and now you've tested positive too. Hope you both get better soon. 

    JB - sorry to hear your hamstring went at parkrun . please take it easy and recover properly. Well done to that woman who managed a course PB and won. Interesting to hear that despite the hamstring issue, you were able to run on that hill. I bet you did get some dirty looks running past those triathletes ;) Can I just say I've never been tempted to do that cross-fit routine you mentioned? (I struggle to do more than a dozen press-ups).

    I've been out for a 3.5ml pre-breakfast walk yesterday and today. Hopefully I can get back to these regular walks first thing now my left foot seems to be fully recovered (touches wood). I'll try and get along to the Thu morning swim session too. This is all part of a renewed 'get fitter and lose weight' emphasis thanks to Margaret who remarked on how my belly seems to be getting bigger and I really ought to do something about it before it gets any worse! :)

    I've started wearing the new golf trainers around the house - it will take a few days for them to 'wear in' and stretch a bit.

    The swim club AGM seemed to go well but due to the early start (3:30pm) only about 12 members there. We managed to persuade one member who has previously expressed an interest, to join the committee. But he stressed he'd help but didn't want to be Chairman. So I'm still wearing three hats - Treasurer, Safeguarding Officer, Acting Chairman. And as the lady who usually does the minutes is on holiday in Australia, I ended up taking minutes as well as chairing the meeting. One lady did ask why it's all men on the committee - we explained that's because no ladies have come forward to help. Needless to say, she didn't volunteer herself though! I might 'work' on her next time I have a chance to see if I can get her to change her mind. As well as chairing the AGM, I was taking subscriptions for the new swim year when people started arriving for the swim. So I was glad to eventually get into the pool for a swim and to relax having been 'on duty' for the best part of 2 hours.

    Shortly I'll be wandering off to the Lloyds mobile bank with the money we took at the swim on Sunday. I always feel a bit conspicuous with a bunch of cash in my pocket though obviously, no-one knows it's there. But with the usual swim entry fees plus the subscriptions I took as well, let's just say it's a bit more cash than usual in my pocket, so I'll feel even more conspicuous than usual! :)

  • Good afternoon everyone,

    WtnMel, thanks, the running is going quite well at the moment, and the nicer weather does help.

    Good news that your left foot now seems to be ok, and that you have started walking again. Hope the swimming goes well on Thursday, and that it doesn't take too long to break in the golf trainers.

    Well done for multitasking at the swimming AGM. You certainly deserved the swim, after2 hours hard slog.

    I hope you weren't hi- jacked on the way to the Bank😁

    I'm going to watch the snooker now, with a hot lemon and honey drink.
  • Good afternoon everyone, 

    Another nice bright morning, but a rather chilly wind. We did an interval session comprising 5 x 100 metres, 5 x 200 metres with 30 seconds recoveries, and 4 x 400 metres with 60 seconds recoveries. 
  • Mel, without wishing to sound like some sort of creep, I must say that its folk like you that keep communities vibrant. So a big well done for your efforts on behalf of the swimming club. (My running club runs on the same lines: the efforts of the few provides the fun for the many.)
    Keep working on the fitness and Margaret will notice the difference in your girth!


    HS ah! You are a snooker fan. Have you played much? Misspent youth?
    I've never really taken to the game either as a player or on TV, although I did enjoy Pot Black all those years ago. 
    I note your continuing and admirable training consistency 

    Well the hamstring feels better but I've not tested it yet with any speed work.

    But today I did a longish (for me) bike ride of a round trip of 32 miles. On  the way back the wind was a factor and I was a bit spent. So I stopped off at a supermarket and took on board some food and a smoothie. I never (ever) take food on a run, not even a gel. But cycling, which is equally exhausting, makes me crave grub with no negative side effects. Funny eh?

    NB my brother in law rode from Penzance to J'O Groats, averaging 70 plus miles a day, up and down bloody great hills and put on weight!
  • Good afternoon everyone, 

    JB, I did play a bit of snooker in my youth, and actually was a member of a club. I was never any good though. I was much better at pool 🎱, which I played a lot in the Liverpool pubs. Winner stays on saved a lot of money. 
    Good that your hamstring is feeling better. 
    I  consider 32 miles to be a long bike ride. 
    That's amazing your brother in law putting on weight. He must have been eating more calories than burning them off. 

    I decided to take today as a rest day, and have an appointment with the Hygienist later this afternoon. 
  • WtnMelWtnMel ✭✭✭
    Afternoon everyone,

    HS - I'm still 'breaking in' those golf trainers so I think it will be the old shoes again at golf tomorrow. Honey & lemon drink? - thought I had missed something and you were coming down with a cold but I see from a later post you did an interval session. Hope the hygienist visit goes well.

    JB - it's funny but having bought the new trousers and Margaret remarking how they'd look better without the pot-belly I'm developing, it's concentrated the mind somewhat. I have until 24th May to return the trousers to M&S so as well as the brisk walks in the mornings and swimming, I'm re-doubling my efforts to do my exercises and have also introduced a couple of Pilates moves which should also work on the abs. Let's hope we see some change after a few weeks! I was never a snooker player in my youth but I remember a residential 2 week training course I did where the 'common room' had a full size 16' table we used to use in the evenings. Glad to hear the hamstring is feeling better. I used to take gels with me when I was training for the Bath HM but most of the time, I'd just have water handy when out running. Sounds like your BIL was over-compensating with the food intake for the mega bike ride - unless of course the extra weight gain was due to muscle improvements?

    I contacted my doctor's surgery about a mark on my nose - I had to fill out an e-consult form and provided a couple of photos. The resident 'skin' specialist replied to let me know its 'actinic keratosis' aka. sun damage and benign. The first thing to do is apply factor 30 or 50 every day and always wear a hat, even when it's not sunny. If that doesn't fix it, there's a cream I can try which kills off the abnormal cells and new ones grow back. 

    I went to the pool this morning and did 40 lengths (1000m). This time I wore one of the leisure centre's 'swimtag' devices on my wrist. You check out one of them using your membership number and after the swim, you re-attach it to the stand and it uploads the details. When I got home I was able to log on and see the results (1000m in 36:15). It will keep track of any swim sessions I do and notify me of any improvements or pb's.

    Because I have a few spreadsheets I keep updated for my swim club (money in/out; numbers attending, visitor details etc.) and I occasionally forget to update one or the other, I've created myself a 'checklist' to remind me what I have or haven't done ;)
  • Good afternoon everyone,

    WtnMel, I didn't drink honey and lemon because I had a cold, but because I think it is healthy. 
    The visit to the Hygienist went well, but this afternoon, a bottom tooth in the middle, which had been filled a long-time ago, broke in half. Luckily, I have an appointment with the dentist on Wednesday, so he will no doubt, sort it out. 
    Good luck with getting rid of the developing pot belly. You have enough time before the deadline for returning the trousers, if necessary.

    With you mentioning the mark on your nose, I have a small red circle at the side of my right leg just above the back of the knee cap. I'm thinking it might be a tik bite, but I didn't feel anything, it's flat, doesn't itch,
    and no tik sticking out. I think I will wait a day or two to see if it fades, and if not, try to make an appointment with the Doctor. Easier said than done these days.

    Well done for your 40 lengths in the pool yesterday. Those swimtags sound very clever. A great way of keeping track of all the data.

    A good idea to keep a check list to enable you to keep track of what you have and haven't done.


    Today is a rest day, except for the usual "farmers walk" and stretches etc. 
  • Mel,

    Regarding your skin problem I had similar but they had to cut it out and do a biopsy before announcing that it was benign. I've got a rather impressive scar running down my cheek and it makes me look hard! I jokingly told someone I did it in a knife fight and they believed me ....for about 10 seconds!

    HS, 

    My dentist seems to have permanently adopted the role as my hygienist. After the shock of being told how bad my gum disease was a couple of months ago, I've been really trying to do all the right things and he was pleased with my progress.

    Just realised that both of my messages are of the 'if you think you've got problems' variety! Sorry about that.

    Did a tough but thankfully short hilly bike ride today. I thought it was much harder than usual and was sweating cobs - until I realised the bike was in the wrong gear. Good workout though!

    I wrote the above yesterday but didn't press 'post comment'.

    Update: HS, sorry to hear about the tooth.
    Nothing to report from this end. Just a take it easy sort of day.
    Tomorrow I'll check in at Parkrun and either try to run it or jog along with Mrs JB, depending on how I feel.. ...  
  • AquariusAquarius ✭✭✭
    Morning all

    Just popping in to say hi as I haven’t posted for about a week now. Nothing much happening here, we are still a “plague house” although Steve had a negative Covid test result on Friday. He’s still rather croaky and lacking in energy, but presumably is now on the mend. He’ll now be able to ring the dentist on Tuesday to get an appointment to get that troublesome tooth pulled out. I’m still positive (11 days now) and not really feeling much better yet. It’s strange, but feeling like this makes the idea of ever being able to run again seem impossible, but at the same time I know I just need to be patient and wait for my energy levels to improve. So far I’ve had to miss a 10k on Easter Sunday, pull out of another 10k that takes place in a couple of days, and I think I’ll also have to miss a 10k that takes place in a  couple of weeks. April and May are always a busy time for races, and I’d been really looking forward to them this year now that the relaxation of Covid rules meant they were able to take place again. Still, people have a lot worse things to put up with than just missing out on a race or two, so I’ll stop moaning and count my blessings. Reading your posts has cheered me up though.  :)
    I see Mel is as busy as ever, and embarking on a waistline reducing regime - good luck with that, I’m sure you’ll succeed (as long as you keep off the cheese and onion pasties). Good to hear the mark on your nose wasn’t anything serious, I only use sun cream when it’s sunny, but I’ve often heard dermatologists recommending that everyone should use sun cream when out of doors, even on cloudy days.  
    John’s hamstring problems aren’t getting in the way of more extreme exercising - so no change there. (Did you run or marshal at parkrun this week?) 
    The HS running machine is going strong as usual. Nuisance about that broken tooth, but lucky that you have a dentist appointment in a couple of days. I hope that red mark on your leg isn’t a tick bite, they can be very nasty. 
  • hillstriderhillstrider ✭✭✭
    Good afternoon everyone,

    JB, good news that your gum problem is improving.

    Had to laugh at the thought of you struggling uphill on your bike, in the wrong gear. A good work out though. 

    Thanks, I feel a bit awkward with the broken tooth, as it is right in the middle, and looks horrible.

    I hope you managed to do the parkrun and managed a good time.


    Aquarius, good to hear that Steve is on the mend, but sorry that you are still positive. I hope that the dentist removes Steve's tooth without any problems.

    It's very unfortunate that you have had to miss so many races. Hopefully though, your body will thank you for the non running days, and you will return with renewed vigour.

    I don't think that it is a tick bite as it is no longer red, but the colour of a normal cut that is recovering. I will keep an eye on it though.


    Yesterday was an interval session with Mike, comprising 5 x 800 metres with 90 seconds recoveries. 
    Today was an easy pace 4.6 miles forest run with Sarah F and Giuliana, as tomorrow, we will be doing a long off road run.
  • Aqua, you and Steve are fiing through a rough patch but you are doing really well to keep a sense of proportion. All the 10ks you are missing is a real drag but by June you could well be on the way back to the sort of form you were showing pre liturgy. Keep your pocket up in the meantime.

    HS, as Aqua says, you are a machine!

    Not such good news at this end.  Turned up at parkrun and felt great in the warm up . Conditions were perfect and I went off like a train and did the first mile in 6.39. Then....ouch. Walked back along the shingle beach and rejoined the course just in time to escort Mrs JB to the finish where she clocked a season's best. One of us came home as a happy bunny. I'll let you guess which.

    Today we set ourselves thr task of tidying our shed. This is something we rarely do and it is a disgrace: we don't have a garage and everything ends up in the shed. We had a very sensible division of labour: I cleared everything out; Mrs JB decided what she wanted to keep and put the rest back in very neatly. She has slight hoarding tendencies, whereas I simply want get get rid. So we aim for a happy medium.
  • hillstriderhillstrider ✭✭✭
    Good afternoon everyone, 

    JB, I don't know about being a machine, but machines can break down 🤔

    Oh no, it sounds as if you have pulled your hamstring again. A mile in 6.39 is amazing, so not really surprising that it happened. Congratulations to Mrs JB for a seasons PB.

    Sounds like a good system you had for tidying the shed.


    A nice long run in the forest this morning, the furthest so far this year. I ran 13.75 miles with Sarah F and Paul. 

    Sarah has put my mind at rest by looking at the spot on my right leg, and advising that it was just a bruise.
  • HS congrats on your ' half marathon
    plus'!

    We went to the recycling 
    centre (i.e. the tip) today. You now need an appointment and I must say it was a lot more orderly and civilised than the old free for all.
    Then onto the allotment where Mrs JB has dictatorial rights and I do as I'm told. 

    This evening Im babysitting.

    I sound quite domesticated. Definitely getting old!
  • hillstriderhillstrider ✭✭✭
    JB, I think that our recycling centre has now done away with the necessity  to book an appointment. Previously we had to register, and then book an appointment each time.

    I don't have an allotment, it's all I can do to maintain my front and back gardens. It's rather sad that many of the properties around where I live, have had their front gardens tarmacked or concreted over, so they can park their cars.

    I know the feeling of getting old. I'd much rather spend the evenings at home, than going clubbing🤣
  • WtnMelWtnMel ✭✭✭
    Evening everyone,

    Apologies for the delay in posting - the swim club 'stuff' has been keeping me busy lately.

    HS - thanks for explaining about the honey and lemon drink. Sorry to hear about the broken tooth. My mark on my nose is flat and pink, is dry and doesn't itch. I thought yours might be the same thing but read later it's just a bruise. These days I have to contact the doctor online (e-Consult) and this time, I got a text message with a link to a document telling me what to do. Well done re that interval session with Mike, the easy pace run with Sarah and Giuliana and the long run with Sarah and Paul.

    JB - apparently the mark on my nose is benign and will probably go away by wearing sun cream for a few months. But there's some strong cream I can apply if not which will kill off the abnormal skin cells and new skin will grow back in it's place. I chuckled at your joke about telling someone how 'hard' you were and the imaginary knife fight. Oops re struggling on your bike and then finding you were in the wrong gear ;) Sorry to hear you had problems at parkrun - sorry to say it but it does sound like you need to rest completely and let the injury sort itself out. I see the shed tidying went well though. Our garage really needs to be tidied up but the first item on the agenda (still not been done) is to get rid of the broken (and apparently unfixable) treadmill. I was going to dismantle it an take it to the tip - Margaret seems to think I will be able to Freecycle it - I can't see it myself but I'll wheel it out, take a photo and post it on Freecycle to see if there's any response. We have to book a slot at the recycling centre aka. 'tip' these days .. I prefer it this way as you don't have to fight for a parking spot.

    Aquarius - sorry to hear you are still a 'plague house'. I saw my friend Rose at coffee and chat this morning. She had covid three weeks ago and is only now testing negative. She was saying she can't do much, still feels a tightness in her chest and is suffering a bit from 'brain fog'. Sorry to hear you are still positive 11 days in and you're unable to run (and feel you may never be able to). And what a shame you may have to miss those races. We've not been to Croome (NT) for a while so no cheese and onion pasties lately. Did I mention I've begun adding some beginner's pilates exercises into the mix? There's one which feels like it really works the abs which the book calls "The roll-up" - it's really hard work for an unfit oldie like me! The doctor explained the mark on my nose is from UVA-A which affects you even on cloudy days (it's UVA-B as I understand it, which you get on sunny days and which gives you a tan).

    As mentioned above, I've been applying the sun cream and wearing my wide-brimmed hat re the mark on my nose just as the doctor ordered. Early days yet but I'll try and remember to keep you posted about progress.

    The swim club 'stuff' seems never ending - but it is really. I've managed to write up the minutes and have sent them to our secretary to peruse and let me know if I've forgotten/mis-remembered anything. Another thing I realised a couple of days ago was I'm running out of blank membership cards which I'll need now people are renewing their membership. But I managed to chat online to a very friendly customer services guy and I gave him the order number from 2018 when the previous Treasurer ordered some. He found the design within minutes and transferred it over to the new account I'd set up. I've been able to update the design for 2022 and have ordered another batch of 250 cards which should arrive next week.

    I played golf with Alan on Friday - although I had a good day, he had an even better one so I was 8 shots adrift at the end and he beat me by 1 stableford point. Next time .. next time! :)

    I walked 3mls before breakfast this morning. Will try and do the same a couple more times this week. No swimming on Thu though as my sister and BIL are travelling down to Malvern for the RHS Spring Show which they're visiting on Fri. So we're driving to Malvern on Thu to meet up with them and we'll go for a short walk on the Malvern Hills and then they've booked a table at the local Prezzo. 

    We're driving home afterwards and I'm playing golf on Fri then on Sat I'm off to Watford as some of us from my swim club are taking part in a swim gala. I'm hoping as I've recently moved up to the 70-74 age group I'll have less chance of coming last in my heat.
  • hillstriderhillstrider ✭✭✭
    Good morning everyone, 

    WtnMel, my doctors surgery doesn't seem to be as up to date as yours re technology. I googled it when I was worried about the red spot, to see whether they had an email, or web address, as an alternative to hanging on the phone for ever. Imagine my surprise, just the phone number, and hard to believe fax number 😀

    Thanks for your kind comments re my recent running. 

    I believe that much medical advice is to apply sun screen all the year round. 
    At the eye test, before my recent one, the optician advised to wear tinted, or sun glasses when running, to help delay the progress of cataracts. The optician (a different one) at my recent test, didn't mention it. I do wear a cap in the sunshine with a peak, which helps to protect the eyes 👀 

    You are very well organised with the "swim stuff!" It must take up a lot of your time. 

    Better luck with your next golf match with Alan. Keep up the walking and swimming. You might even take up the Geoff Galloway walk/run again!

    Enjoy your walk on the Malvern Hills, and the meal in the local Prezzo.

    Good luck with the swim 🏊‍♂️ gala and hoping you don't come last in your heat.


    I've got nothing of note to report, except I'm getting quicker with the "Farmers Walk!"
  • WtnMelWtnMel ✭✭✭
    Afternoon everyone,

    HS - a fax number for your doctor's surgery! :) I should wear my sunglasses more often when playing golf or out walking. My main problem on golf courses is any breeze or wind makes my eyes water - I have been thinking I should visit a cycle shop and invest in some clear glasses like cyclists wear to avoid that problem. Obviously, following the doctor's advice I've been wearing my baseball cap with a peak to protect my face even when it's been cloudy - but the wide-brimmed hat will be back out once the sunshine returns. The swim club stuff has been taking up too much time lately - but that's mostly been preparation for the AGM. I am under pain of being thrown out of the house if I dare to try returning to running after that six-weeks of the swollen and painful foot and ankle. So I'll only be walking in future - the only jogging I do is when crossing roads and cars approaching unexpectedly.

    I see a club athlete beat Sir Mo at the London 10k yesterday - he was interviewed on BBC Breakfast and said how surreal it all felt but that the £2000 prize was a very good return for his £37 entry fee :)

    I've been re-arranging our conservatory a bit this morning as Margaret has her u3a short story group meeting at our house this afternoon. I'll 'hide' upstairs while they're here ;)
  • WtnMelWtnMel ✭✭✭
    I've just finished 'meeting & greeting' the short story group people and am now 'hiding' upstairs while they get on with it. I was on parking duty too - but they've all walked here. I'd warned our neighbour in case there were a few cars turned up and I didn't want him blocked in on our shared drive - no doubt if it had been raining there would have been. One bonus of having the meeting here is there will (hopefully!) be some biscuits left over. And they're not just biscuits .. they're M&S biscuits ;) Nevertheless, I'll have to pace myself and not snaffle too many, too quickly :)
  • Crikey chaps, you've been busy posting!
    So I can't do full justice in this reply.

    Mel, not sure M&S bikkies are fully consistent with current dietary ambitions. You mention Malvern. I've only been there once but kind of fell in love with the place. A very cultured place with bookshops and theatres, it appeared to me to be just about the perfectly 'scaled' town. Big enough but not too big. And a nice station. As for the scenery, I thought it was stunning. All this and Elgar too!
    Even better it is considerably cheaper property wise than around here.
    This week could be THE week for your golf game.

    HS that's interesting re the advice on cataracts. I've got a couple of small ones developing but the optician didn't mention any measures I could take. My eyes are always a bit problematic with loads of fluid, floaters and for all I know flotsam!

    Not been tempted to run, despite it being club night. Will get on my bike tomorrow......

    Met an old colleague today who I've not seen for about 17 years. Turns out that he's an allotment fanatic and MrsJB and I have been invited to see it: dahlias as big as dinner plates apparently!








  • Quick update. I behaved myself and paced Mrs JB on her 3.3k run this morning. The pave was gentle enough not to worry my hamstring but fast enough to give her a 45 second SB.

    Voted this morning. There's been a lot of national media interest in our council. Labour only won its first seat in 2017 but by tomorrow morning it should be a Labour council. I never thought I'd live to see the day. (As an added factor my incumbent councillor is someone who worked at the workplace as me many years ago. If she loses her seat and the council changes hands, there'll be a reaction in Chez JB, but I won't indicate whether celebratory or otherwise!*)


    *but I think you can guess
  • hillstriderhillstrider ✭✭✭
    Just popped in to say hello. Will catch up tomorrow.
    No elections in The New Forest.
    Ran 8 miles in the forest this morning. Lovely and sunny, with a cool breeze.

  • hillstriderhillstrider ✭✭✭
    Good afternoon everyone,

    I've read back, but haven't got time to reply to your posts, as I'm going out for a meal later with some of my running friends. I haven' really got anything much to report, but will be running tomorrow, so will post again then.
  • hillstriderhillstrider ✭✭✭
    I thought I would post photos from yesterday's run, as I haven't written much. 

  • WtnMelWtnMel ✭✭✭
    Afternoon everyone,

    JB - you're correct of course .. these M&S chocolatey biscuits aren't helping my diet at all ;) Sadly (see below) although it was (almost) my week at golf, it was Alan's week too. Nice to meet an old buddy and hope you enjoy the allotment visit.

    HS - no elections round here either. Well done re that 8ml run. Enjoy your meal with your running friends.

    I had time to swim on Thu morning. The pool was quieter and I managed my 40 lengths quicker than last time. Had a nice meal at Prezzo with my sister and BIL yesterday evening in Malvern. Wow - what a long queue (at least 1.5 miles of stationary traffic) of people trying to leave the RHS Show and getting stuck in roadworks at Upton-on-Severn. I didn't enjoy the drive back - had a guy right behind me with very bright lights .. was glad when he turned off.

    I was better at golf today - however, just my luck that Alan played a blinder. I managed 6 bogies (1 over par) and 5 pars. But Alan managed 12 bogies, 3 pars and a 'fluke' birdie (1 under par) where he went in the hole from off the green (from at least 30 ft away).

    Off to Watford tomorrow for the swimming gala. Looking forward to battling the other 'oldies' in the breaststroke heat for the 70-74 age category. I usually have porridge on a Sunday morning but as I'll be driving home then I'm getting it tomorrow morning instead. And having driven for 2-3 hrs on Sunday to get home, I won't be cooking the usual Sunday roast - Margaret will get that on Monday instead.

  • AquariusAquarius ✭✭✭
    Gosh what a lot of posts since I last popped in. 

    HS Yet more super running from you, including your longest run this year. I don’t know how you mange to keep churning out these great sessions, week after week. Not only that but you keep well and injury free, you must have inherited some excellent running genes! I’m with you on preferring a night in to “clubbing’ but then I was never really a fan of it anyway. These days my idea of hell is a night out at a “do” with people I barely know and music that's too loud to allow any conversation. I much prefer a quiet meal out with a few friends, which reminds me - I hope you enjoyed your meal last night with your friends. Did you go to the Italian restaurant?  I’m pleased to read that the mark on your leg wasn’t anything serious. Your doctor’s surgery sounds like it hasn’t caught up with the times - who uses fax machines these days? 

    WtnMel Good to hear you are avoiding the cheese and onion pasties, but M&S biscuits? I hope they were of the low fat low sugar variety :p . Stick with the Pilates, it really does work. Well done for a speedy 40 lengths on Thursday, and nice to finish the day with a meal with your sister and BiL (did you manage to fit in your walk in the Malvern Hills?), but not great to get stuck in a long queue of traffic, particularly when you were blinded by someone’s headlights behind. Pity about your last two golf matches, especially as you are playing so well just now, but surely that in itself is a positive to take away from it. Well done for keeping up the walking, but I’m sorry to see you aren’t planning to return to running, (Never say never). Good luck at the Swimming Gala today, we’ll all be rooting for you! 

    JB Sorry to see you are still having problems with your hamstrings. It sounds as though you and Mrs JB have been in spring cleaning mode, shed tidying, a trip to the tip, and working on your allotment. Plenty of cross training there. When you say “This evening I’m babysitting” did you mean ‘This evening Mrs JB and I are babysitting”, or was it really a solo effort? ;) On the subject of eyes, I nearly always wear my wrap around sunglasses these days when running. In spring and summer it helps keep the pollen out, and on other occasions it protects my eyes from the wind. Even a slight breeze, or just cool temperatures, makes my eyes water. I’ve just read that you weren’t tempted to run on Tuesday, despite it being a club night, that sensible hat really suits you! You should wear it more often. In fact I’d go so far as to say you deserve one of Mel’s M&S biscuits. 

    I eventually tested negative earlier this week, but wasn’t convinced at first. That was partly due to how I was still feeling, but also because the test I took was one of the purchased ones as opposed to the free ones we had been using. As you probably know the free tests were issued in boxes of 7 and once the result was known you had to enter the details on the NHS site using the test cassette’s code number. As the free ones are no longer available Steve had to buy some from the local chemist. They are identical to the free ones (same manufacturer same box etc) but you only get one test in the box, and depending on where you buy them they cost around £2 each. The first chemist Steve went to only let him have a maximum of 3 tests, even though he explained he was buying for 2 adults, but the next one he tried said there was no limit. Crazy. Anyway when he did his test using the paid kit it was negative, as was mine the following day, but when we tried to enter this information online we were told the test cassette codes were invalid, meaning we couldn’t record the outcome. At first we wondered if we had bought some “dodgy” test kits, but after Googling this it appears that only the results from free tests can be recorded on the NHS site - so no wonder we are being told that the number of people now testing positive for Covid is going down! Our eldest son said he still had some free tests from work, so I used one of those to double check my Covid status yesterday, and I’m pleased to say it was negative again. At the risk of boring everyone with our ongoing Covid saga I’ll just briefly finish by saying we are still rather tired but have managed a couple of walks (Thursday and Friday). 
    Someone at our club posted a link to advice on returning to exercise after Covid, which I’ll summarise below in case you are interested - 
    Stage 1 - once all symptoms have gone wait another 24 hrs before attempting any exercise to be on the safe side
    Stage 2 - Day 1 a 15 minute walk at no more than 70% max HR, and if no ill effects you increase that to 20-30 minutes on Day 2, 
    Stage 3 - walk or gentle run for 45 minutes but at no more than 80% max HR (this stage should last at least a week, then move on to Stages 4 and 5 only when you feel you are ready)
    Stage 4 - exercise is now increased to one hour, but still not at full intensity
    Stage 5 - back to your normal exercise routine and intensity.
    It seems rather a cautious approach, but apparently there is emerging evidence that a return to intense activity too soon after a viral illness increases the risk of developing myocarditis, chronic fatigue and injury.

    Apart from all my Covid news there isn’t much else to report, life trundles on much as usual. We may try another walk later today (we northerners live life on the edge :))
  • HS, as usual, lovely photos. Enjoy your meal.

    Mel, I see that swimming could give you an outlet for your competitive instincts. Great stuff and I hope you clean up in your age category. Look forward to hearing how you get on.

    Aqua, it seems that the worst is behind you. What a mess that Covid testing was!
    On getting back to running I agree that the advice is very cautious. The only way is up!

    So, I transferred my competitive energies to Mrs JB and ran with her at Parkrun with the intention of an SB. I'm pleased to report she did it - by 1 second!!

    I was fine until I ran at my usual pace to catch up with her after needing a comfort stop in the last 400 metres. My hamstring told me to slow down.

    A local VW55 actually recorded a 100.09% age grade today! That is a kind of unofficial world record. What a run! It was a privilege being at the same event.

    I was so fed up after the hamstring niggle that I leapt on my rowing machine and for the first time this year did 5k. Amazingly I did my fastest time for well over 18 months and with virtually no training. It cheered me up no end but with my build I'll never be any real good. (Lightweight rowers can be as heavy as 165lbs, almost 30 lbs more than me.)

    PS in rowing height and weight make a big difference and I've got neither!


  • AquariusAquarius ✭✭✭
    JB Yes, the advice does seem unnecessarily cautious, but to be honest we haven’t felt able to do much more than walking just yet, although, after today's walk I’m hopeful of moving on to a gentle walk/run in a day or so. Well done to Mrs JB for her SB, and well done to you for listening to your hamstring today before any more damage was done. To follow it up with your fastest 5k on the rower for 18 months must have felt pretty good. 
    100.09% is an amazing age grade performance, not many people can hope to achieve that. 

    HS apologies, I seem to have overlooked your photos. I’ve just checked back but can only see one (a view down a long section of path between trees) - did you post others?
  • hillstriderhillstrider ✭✭✭
    Good afternoon everyone,

    WtnMel, thanks, we had a good evening and our table was booked for 7pm. We didn't leave until after 10pm, so it was quite a late night for me, as I usually go to bed early. It took me a while to get to sleep, because I'm not used to eating in the evening, and so I felt quite tired when I got up this morning.
    Well done for your long swim, and good that your golf is improving. A shame that Alan was also on top form.
    I hope you did well in todays swimming gala?

    Aquarius, I probably have inherited some good running genes, as both my parents were very fit. They were both in the Army in the Second World War, and Dad played football for his Regiment. Mum did a bit of cross country in her younger days. 
    Thanks we did enjoy our meals. We didn't go to the Italian Restaurant this time, but a pub/restaurant.
    The mark on my leg has faded now, so that is a relief. 

    Good to hear that you are both negative now, but it is obviously confusing re reporting results of tests, and I'm sure that many don't bother. When I had my final booster, they were giving us each a box of 7 tests, so as they were free, I assume that the results can be recorded on the NHS web. Thanks for the post Covid advice re exercise. Thankfully, I'm still covid free, but with so much more mixing with people, there is still the risk.
    Reference the photos, there were3, but for some unknown reason, I have only been able to upload the one.


    JB, well done to Mrs JB, for her sb in the parkrun. That's an amazing achievement by the WV55 year old!
    Well done for your rowing 5k time, with little training.


    I did my first parkrun this morning since the start of the pandemic, at the Bartley Park parkrun. My time was an average 28.23 a WAVA of 67.97%. I was first MV75 and 84th out of 179 runners, so not too bad.





  • hillstriderhillstrider ✭✭✭
    Good afternoon everyone, 

    What a lovely sunny morning, and I ran a solo 7 miles in the forest. 

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