My Last Run

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  • Good luck for your half Will.  Regarding the 2 halves.. I would say its doable, I would prioritize one of the two if you do look towards getting a good time and make sure you are comfortable with the distance in training in the weeks before the first race. 

    Almost 2 years now swittle  - amazing stuff.  I will try to repeat last year's 12 days of Christmas streak - that is enough for me. 

    14km this evening for me.  Was a bit grumpy all afternoon and nearly didn't go out but I'm glad I did.  Overdressed a bit and had to dump my jacket in a convenient location to be collected later, continuing in a windproof high-viz vest and a thermal long sleeved top.  Almost regretted it when I turned into the wind and it started snowing quite heavily.  Had to turn off the headtorch as the beam bouncing off the horizontal snowflakes totally blinded me. 

    Might do a 10k on Sunday - I think the last more or less local event this year.  Will be cold at max. -2..
  • Just popping by to say hi to MLRers.  Especially the incredible swittle.  Great milestone mate.
    Nice running from Matt too. Hazel, Will, Andrea- Hi. Welcome Choice.  Cal are you lurking??
    Still pretty full on here with some running respite.  A change in family caring responsibilities means I have had to scale down my swimming ATM to once a week :-( But running is easier to fit in.  The highlight was 11 miles this morning in Epping Forest, over half of which was with my friend.  The forest was freezing, mucky and beautiful, and there was some great chatting.
  • JT141JT141 ✭✭✭
    Hello. Been poorly and flat so not run much. 8miles a few days ago which was a minor ordeal. 14.7miles offroad in mud/slush today but at a pedestrian pace which was the right thing to do. Felt okay and was able to switch off. Legs caked in filth.
  • Wow Swittle, that is some streak!

    Good luck for the half Will. I agree with Hazelnut on the halfs. The first I ever did I under performed after lots of training, a week later I comfortably ran a 10 mile race.

    Good luck to you too Hazel if you decided to do the 10k... brrrrr though!

    Nessie that sounds idyllic!

    JT141, glad you're feeling better..

    Well finally my speed work is paying off. For the first time in 3 months I was back under 24 minutes at parkrun today. First female home in 23:51, just under a minute off my pb.. over the moon with that! My garmin also hit a distance of 3.15, so the overall pace was 7:34.


  • Great Parkrun, Andrea :) Thanks for the advice re the close Halfs. Haven't signed up yet but think I will probably do them and see how it goes. I do have ambitions for the future of doing some big, long trail ultra type thing, so I need to know what stamina I have in me. I'm not quick, but I can do distance - I think!

    Glad you're back on it JT. Hope the runs continue well.

    Hazel, thanks for the advice too and hope you had a nice 10K today.

    I had a lovely run this morning, for my Half. A 9am kick off was good and the forest was stunning. It was rather muddy and the sand tracks were like wet cement so I just enjoyed my running, kept my eye off the watch and felt my way round. I was pleased with my uphill bits and even tried a floppy wheeling style downhill technique to shake out the legs and arms. It took me about 4 miles to get going really - a bit of end of year fatigue - but I was quite comfortable on the second half of the run. Buzzards, Egyptian Geese, Woodpeckers and Goldfinches joined in the fun and I finished in 2:18. My boy and Pa were at the finish, which is always nice and I even celebrated with an aeroplane glide over the line :) 400 runners doing 10K, Half and 20 miles, togged out in festive gear and raising a big dollop of cash for a local hospice. Not the entire world has gone mad.

    So that wraps up my first year of proper running. I have 3 toenails MIA but my knees and back are holding up, as is my spirit and mental health. Three 10K events and Four Half Marathons - I'm happy with that. A good rest now before my 2018 campaign.

    Happy running MLRers! :)
    I run, therefore I am.
  • Kudos to Andrea and Will- top running both!
    JT mucky running is usually good
    Me- fartlek session this morning over around 4 miles was my first attempt in several weeks to do anything slightly structured / speedy. Went OK
  • Good running everyone as always! I'm in that awkward no mans land between two marathons so I'm keeping the mileage low but hopefully not too low. Had a great 10k event on Thursday night which was done in 50.10, from the half way turning point I was matching the pace of a fellow runner and we were pretty much running on our own for three miles, we both kept the pace high but without ever trying to break free from the other and although he got the better of me in the last 200 yards we shared a respectful handshake at the end! Another 10k tomorrow for our local Santa Run but I'll add a few miles of my own to make it up to around 13 miles in total as I've still got a fortnight until marathon number three of the year.
  • So kind of you to note the streak milestone, Hazel, Nessie, Andrea & Will earlier.  There's a debate on the 'Marcothon' thread on Fetcheveryone about the perils of running daily but I doubt the arguments will sway me.  After all, I anticipate there being an unknown number of days in the future when I won't be running - so I'll run while I can.  ;)

    Nessie, I'm sold on forest running!  

    Well done on your sub-24 min. @ parkrun, Andrea  :)

    Super report, Will, esp. the floppy wheeling!  An excellent opening year  :D

    Good Mara prep, PP.
  • Great Marathon work, PompeyM. I may try one in 2019...
    Popped out for a recovery jog this morning, just a couple of miles. Knees and legs not too bad at all. In fact, it was my top half that was most sore. Must have been the floppy wheeling, eh Swittle :)
    I run, therefore I am.
  • 6 steady miles this morning in very mild conditions.
  • Will, you could go for wheely flopping next time.....  ;)
  • Well done on your half Will and that is a great race tally for your first year.  Enjoy your break, I assume from race training then not from running as such if you were out again.  Good opportunity to sniff out some new paths if you have them and quite simply enjoy it. 

    Nice 10k Matt.  Three marathons sounds like hard work.

    Well done also to Andrea for your PB.

    Hope you are fully recovered now JT.

    And nice to see you are able to get out despite everything Nessie.

    If streaking feels right for you swittle then do it.  As its your third big streak I guess you will know by experience when enough is enough.

    Did my 10k today in 46:17.  Pleased with that as the 3 loops course wasn't easy with twists and turns and a nasty hill and I haven't done much speed work in the last weeks.  Fought with another woman the whole way round exchanging places regularly but I managed the better sprint and beat her by 1 second.  A glance at the results reveals she is half my age.  We had a nice chat once we could talk again.  I was 15th of 63 women, 1st lady 37:15... First man 31:59 but he didn't lap me.

    Dressed right for the cold, very useful bit of kit are arm sleeves as I could shove these down to my wrists once I was well heated up mid-race. 

    Nice well-organised localish race to finish the year (probably), finisher goody - a bag of runner shaped pasta.  Home to the first mince pies of the season - on top of 2 slices of post race carrot cake - I will have to go out again tomorrow. :)
  • Speedy 10k there, Hazel.  I suspect you are quite competitive  ;)  Sprint finishes are v exciting!
  • Yep I nearly flattened two other people just after the finish line as I couldn't stop quickly enough.

    Today 6 km recovery jog at a much more sedentary pace as I could very much feel the race in my legs.  No real aches and pains just that nice overall fatigue of a good race.  Was out in my beloved trail shoes on tracks around the local fields - carrying quite a bit of mud from A to B by the weight of my shoes.
  • Excellent racing Hazel, I'm very impressed!
    Me- this morning's 5.50 am outing was a tempo-ish run around 5 miles but got distracted by the great chat with friends so forgot about it being tempo in parts
  • Good priority setting Nessie.  It is not always all about speed.. ;)

    Unusually I didn't go out with my group yesterday evening as OH needed the car for a badminton match.  I don't cycle to the meeting point in winter as it is just to dark through the woods (or I need better lights on my mtb).  Took full advantage of it being a nice day and put in a 10 miler over lunch.  Bit quick at 1:26:22 as I could still feel Sunday's race in my legs.

    I do need to keep up my mileage and to some extent my pace as I will be starting in on a P&D plan in 2 weeks time for my April marathon (Zurich again as I don't want to pay for 2 overseas marathons next year).  On the other hand I need to be careful not to overdo it now as bit by bit I will be building up to higher mileage during the plan than I am used to. 
  • Me again. 

    Did this week's long run today rather than at the weekend - I have done so many hours of overtime this year that I felt justified in dropping everything and getting out this afternoon. 

    22,7 km in 1:56:55 along the river enjoying the sun once the fog had lifted.  Saw diverse ducks, swans, gulls and a comorant.  Once the sun was well established I also met quite a few dog and other walkers. 

    Warm up of a bit more than 6km in one direction only to find the planned watering point very dry - probably turned off for winter.  Turned back to do 10km at MP, then again turned back to the car for the remainder a bit slower.  I had placed a small water bottle behind my car's front wheel so I could grab it on passing, take some sips, and then chuck it in a convenient bush - almost forget which when collecting it on the way back. 

    Should have worn my trail shoes - I had forgetten how stony the path is and not so good for thinner soled road shoes - felt every little stone by the end of the run.   
  • MacMac ✭✭✭
    edited December 2017
    Running....running....aaaaaand...
    Sharp knee pain (left knee, inside).
    Rested for several long weeks.
    Started again...slowly....short distances.
    Running....running....aaaaaand...
    Achilles strain, same leg...left.
    limping...limping...aaaaaand...
    Stop.
    Rested for several long weeks.
    Started again...slowly....short distances.
    Increased mileage (slightly) over the weeks...
    Running....running....aaaaaand...gradually increasing distance...
    3m...
    4m...
    5m...
    6m...
    8m...!!!!
    aaaaaand....
    Sharp knee pain (same knee but outside this time)
    Try again after a few days rest..aaaand...
    Knee pain (with a little bit of Achilles tenderness thrown in for a laugh)
    Try again after a few days rest..aaaand...
    Knee pain (with a little bit of Achilles tenderness thrown in for a laugh)
    Try again after a few days rest..aaaand...
    Knee pain (with a little bit of Achilles tenderness thrown in for a laugh)
    Fed up now....is my running life over?
    My knees don't seem to like it any more!
    I hate cycling as well, makes my gusset sore and my shoulders burn!
    Swimming you say? Ah NO....I can swim but am about as buoyant as a pram full of scrap engine blocks, can't breath...sinking....sinking......not for me.
    The gym? well yes if they add another few hours to every day I may get time to go out of my way to the nearest gym, get changed, work out, get showered and changed and then drive home to eat my tea on my own as my wife is in bed because it's a week day and we both get up at stupid O'Clock for work.

    Fed up I tells ya.

    I just want to run for goodness sake 
  • Nessie73Nessie73 ✭✭✭
    edited December 2017
    Hazel- some nice running and impressive mileage. Good forward planning with the water bottle. I'm not sure I'd ever manage to plan ahead that well!
    Mac- sounds like in the first instance, you'll need a more extended period of rest. Have you seen a physio for advice?  Re- swimming- I could always keep my head above water and do what I call "old ladies' breast stroke", but was just rubbish at it. Until 2 years ago when I went to have lessons and learnt how to swim properly. It was like learning to ride a bike from scratch as you have to re-learn muscle memory. It took ages to master the crawl (there is still plenty of work to do) and my first length front crawl was a major victory.  Now I love it as much as I love running, and for rather different reasons. I've done several OW swimming events which are the best fun, and the OW swimming community are a highly eccentric, super friendly bunch. I now swim twice  a week and am a massive convert. Have a look at local lessons? Mine cost around £30 a month and included unlimited use of the pool, which I thought was a bargain, particularly as I live in East London so that meant using the Aquatic centre in the Olympic park.

    Me- the last two days' running. Yesterday was a 4 mile progression run and 5 minutes into it, the rain sheeted down.  Got absolutely soaked which was kind of fun, and even managed a (tiny) amount of progression. Today was a long forest run, part of it with a friend. 11 miles of very thick and slippy mud and good chat. But I got bit by an Alsatian near the end of the run, which turned a very pleasant run into a pretty horrid one. It didn't hurt much, or draw blood but gave me a shock. I'm a dog lover, but what an irresponsible owner! He was off the lead whilst the owner was absorbed on his phone. He came bounding over (pet hate- when dog owners think it's charming that their dog comes and jumps up at you. It's not.) Jumped up and bit my arm! I pushed him off and the owner did nothing so I really had a go at him. Still off the lead, and on the phone, the owner said- "he's just being friendly, he won't bite." Well, he just did! If you can't train a dog, or if you know it's naughty, keep it on the lead all the time. The first time that's happened to me :-/

  • Hazel, you have the key to continuous improvement: planning for and doing active running.  In my earliest days, I used to turn the pages in the RW magazine - paper, with staples: do you recall? - and find a schedule for an event.  I'd feel quite virtuous but I'd drop it after a few days and return to running as I felt & wished.

    Nessie, you are surely our resident mermaid!  Like a training plan for running, swimming lessons enable good form more quickly.  The playful dog gambit simply doesn't wash: if a dog jumps up, it's not under owner's control.  A mobile phone vid can bring the careless owner to order....

    Mac - strengthen your core, then it can do its proper job and not leave lower limbs responsible.  You should find exercises on YouTube and in RW training schedules.

    Me: surprisingly soggy running round the lakes and prom, so the shoes go straight on the radiator when I get in.  I need 'em dry for the next day!  ;)  In annual goal news, 17 miles needed to meet this year's 1500-mile mark.
  • You will be ticking the 1500 box by midweek at the latest I guess  swittle.  I still much prefer paper and staples, I have got an e-reader with plenty of books but convenient and space-saving as it is I like doing real dog-ears.  I'm looking forward to starting a new plan - it is a ticking off the boxes thing. 

    Bloody dog Nessie.  No excuse for it.  I gave my mother a talking to recently when she told me about her own causing issues chasing everything including runners.  It seems she has now got one of those very long leads so it can't rush off entirely it seems.  Your swimming almost motivates me to try some lessons, they generally take place in winter though and that puts me off a bit.

    Mac - good advice above.  Have you also thought about your shoes? Age, mileage, suitability?

    Today: first proper snow run of the season - up to ankle depth in places.  My trail shoes are now a lot cleaner.  The snow was pretty powdery so easy to run in, any cleared tarmac stretches were very icy,  requiring cautious shuffling.  Lovely late afternoon - cold, crispy with the setting sun flaming the windows in the village.  Saw one fox and a deer - both bolting for the nearby woods - and lots of tracks, half of the village must have been out.  8.9km in 51:22.
  • Hello Mac - I would take Swittle's advice. He's now been running consecutive days for six and a half decades.

    Top work as usual Nessie and Hazelnut. The snow runs sound great. What a lovely feeling that must be.

    After a week of rest and naughty food I was chomping to get out today. Only four chilly miles, but a much needed head clearance as have had a crappy throat thing and an crappier week at work. Time to polish up the cv and look for something new.

    Anyway, enjoyed the run and now need to plan my training for a January 10K, March Half and May 18 miler! 
    I run, therefore I am.
  • Howdy. Nipped out for a cheeky 3 miles last night at Parkrun pace and then had a very fun 9 miles of trails this morning. Very wet, muddy and slippy - perfect! No laying snow here in Norfolk, just sleet and ice. Am now on a 3 day streak. Heavens to Betsy! 
    I run, therefore I am.
  • Good luck with looking for your new job Will, that reminds me I could start doing similar myself.  I get pretty stressed about my work on a regular basis but I find the thought of looking for a new job even more stressful and stick to it therefore.  Probably not the right approach. 

    Wimped out of running yesterday due to heavy rain turning about 4 inches of snow into a couple of inches of nasty slush.  So was treated today to rain and fog turning slush into even wetter slush.   Hmm - nice soggy shoes and socks post run.  As often in poor conditions once I was out there it wasn't as bad as I had been fearing. 

    5km warm-up followed by 10x100m strides then 5km cool down kept my mind well occupied.  I don't do strides very often and have to concentrate to do them well.  I tend to shoot off when the watch beep signals another effort instead of accelerating smoothly so I made an effort to do the latter and also use my arms properly.  My legs were quite happy to do the efforts - my lungs were a bit shocked but calmed down sufficiently during each recovery.  (200m steady).  The ten efforts look quite even which is good - the only exception was one following a too fast recovery.   

    The 5 km cool down felt quite hard work.  Total of 13km in 1:10:13.
  • Will: you know what 3 leads to....yes, 4... [and repeat] +1 to new job's good wishes.

    Engaging description of your strides sesh, Hazel.  Long warm up/downs.

    Me: 10-mile darkrun at 8pm last night.  Icy, glassy streets, damp frosty fields and finally,  flat, even beach.  Saw no-one except, incongruously, a couple out dog walking near Crosby Leisure Centre at 9.30pm!  Cold but not Baltic.

    This morning, 7am, decidely Baltic but streets were clearer.  3 miles recovery, mostly in Victoria Park.  Glowing!  :D
  • Hey all. I'm back, sort of. Had my specialist appointment, got a cortisone shot and that seems to have helped. Eased back into running last week. Around the block on Monday, (stress test), then 2m Tuesday, then 3 miles Thursday. Just been away for the weekend so eased back in with 3 miles again today. So far so good. Don't entirely trust my hip yet but I've seen my physio today and he seems to think I'll be OK if I keep the running to three times a week and short distances initially, plus all those exercises I am supposed to do. So fingers crossed!

    Mac - yeah, my year has been like that too. :(
  • No run for me this evening (too icy to get there) just popping in to say welcome back to Cal.  I had been following your progress on the shades thread and hoped you would drop in soon.   Hope your comeback keeps going in the right direction..
  • Hello all and welcome back Cal
    Very little running for me due to a busy (in a nice way for once!) weekend, and lots of snow / ice.  Did a very tentative 4 miles today but it was super icy and treacherous and I was pushed for time, so it was not my best moment.
  • Pleased you're back on the road to recovery, Cal - sound advice from your fizz.

    Hazel, Nessie: wise is the runner who weighs up the risks. *It's certainly not me  ;)*
    Very fresh indeed for a 4-miler to the coastal park - about 2 miles in and I'd made my 1500-mile goal for the year.
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