Running thread number 14

[emummy]

This is a thread to talk about all things running and support each other through the highs and lows. All are welcome, from absolute beginners to experts!
We keep a running total of everyone's miles for the month, so feel free to add yours on. Current total for March is:

204.3

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Fate I find I retain water after particularly long of gruelling runs, I have read somewhere that you hold water round your muscles to repair them (I think?). 1.5lb water is only about 700 ml so it could well be that?

I definitely agree about the time lag for weight loss/ gain/exercise. It's a pain when you're doing really well and gain!

[YorkshireLawyer]

Thank you for the welcomes everyone. I hope your back is better soon daisy. Exciting news about the holiday in the meantime.

Just back from the 10k and I loved it! The perfect conditions probably helped - dry and sunny but not too warm. I ran it in 1:05.37 which I was thrilled with - I wanted to go under 1:15. I also ran the whole thing which was my main aim - there were a few hills, some of them fairly steep (this being Yorkshire) and the course was described by organisers as “challenging”. I haven’t done that much outside running yet and have a fear of hills so I was really pleased to keep going up all of them even if someone with longer legs could probably have walked up them quicker than I ran them. Now in the bath with a cuppa looking for more races to do and looking forward to a steak dinner which may involve some red wine tonight! Happy Sunday to everyone, hope it goes well if you are running today.

[emummy]

Brillian Yorkshire, well done!

[IRun4Me]

Well done Yorkshire and glad you enjoyed it.
That’s lovely Daisyand hopefully cheered you up a bit.
I did a gentle short run this morning whilst the child was at his sports training. I found a new route along the river and it was so nice.

[IRun4Me]

Not sure what the monthly total is and if it’s up to date??
I’ll add mine today from the last total anyway
210.9

[FATEdestiny]

279km is my personal total for March, 173.4 miles.

284.3

[emummy]

Short easy run in the rain this morning, a welcome dose of relaxation in the madness that is the school holidays!

3.2

[Daisydoesnt]

hi everyone and a very well done to you Yorkshire. That is a really good time for a hilly, challenging course! Are you still on cloud nine?

My back is finally easing off, I have a sports massage tomorrow and physio Thursday. I do hope to be able to do a gentle jog maybe Thursday or Friday? We'll see. There is a trail 10k in my village (it literally goes past our front door) a week Sunday and I really, REALLY want to be well enough to do that.

In the meantime I am looking at autumn HMs and plotting work around them!!

[IRun4Me]

Short run this evening. The tank is empty - I need to get to the end of term and hopefully get some r&r. I did end up sprinting at the end as I was trying to beat the rain - didn’t work
Glad the back is easing Daisy I’ve got no races in the pipeline. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing to be honest.
6

[YorkshireLawyer]

Thank you everyone - yes, still amazed and surprised that I did it! Going to try and find another race to enter tonight - DD still cluster feeds quite a lot in the evening so tend to spend 7-10pm with my bum glued to the sofa so plenty of opportunity to search out a race.

Glad your back is starting to feel better Daisy. The trail 10k sounds good. I’m thinking of looking into a bit of trail running to save my knees. There’s a trail 5k near me on 21 June that I’m going to do and then in the autumn a 10k/10 mile/HM event at the same place. Weighing up whether to tackle the 10 miler!

Awarded myself a day off yesterday but have done a slow 10.5k today pushing DD in the pram. Think that takes the new month’s total to

9.7

[YorkshireLawyer]

Oops, cross post!

Total now

15.7

[thenewaveragebear1983]

If you're looking for 'off road' 10kms (I won't say fully trail as such), some of the National trust houses do Trust10 on the last Sunday of each month. My local one is through fields and farmland, i have only done it once but I enjoyed it. It isn't a proper race but it has a nice low key 'racey' vibe about it. Might be worth looking in your local area (I found mine on Facebook)? You don't have to be an NT member to do them either

[YorkshireLawyer]

Thanks bear that sounds like exactly the sort of thing I’d be after, I’ll take a look. Just a quick 5k for me yesterday and won’t be running today as I do a circuits class instead on a Thursday.

18.8

[IRun4Me]

Have managed to get out for 4 short runs this week (my target for April is 4x a week). My energy levels are so low but have definitely felt better for the running.
26.6

[Daisydoesnt]

Still no running for me (apparently I am being unbearable at home, but I promise not to moan on here!) My back was a lot better after physio & sports massage on Weds/ Thursday, but then on Saturday I came down with a chest infection. And coughing seems to have stirred up the back pain again. Excellent!

In the mean time I am planning races (5-10km) for May/ June/ July and looking forward to pulling back on the shoes somewhen in the next week or two!!

[IRun4Me]

Oh Daisy please feel free to moan away. I think most of us have been in similar positions and feel your pain. Hopefully you’ll be back out running soon.

[BusterTheBulldog]

I lost you all!!

So after having pretty much the whole of March off (5 weeks no running in total!) I’m back in a fashion.

Managed 26 miles last week, 15 of which were yesterday. No idea what this means in terms of making London, or if even sensible too. A week ago I’d assumed I wouldn’t be doing it and cancelled hotel, but now I’m a bit more 50/50...

Also got a stinking cough / cold (again ) hoping when that passes I may feel a teeney bit like my old self too...

52.6

[emummy]

Lovely run in the forest in sunshine this morning. Took some more time off running last week as my foot was quite sore. Now doing exercises and stretches for it so we'll see.
Daisy that's so frustrating! Moan away on here, we understand.
Glad you're back running Buster; if you do London where will you stay?!

55.6

[BusterTheBulldog]

The original hotel was not the best anyway to be honest! Have got a premier inn with free cancellation nearer the start, twice the price though! We will see.....

[emummy]

I stayed in the Hilton at Paddington station; perfect for me landing at Heathrow, into the train then across the platform into the hotel. No chance to get lost! Your Premier in sounds good, sorry about the price!

[Daisydoesnt]

Honestly you won't want me, I'm now full of cough & cold and I'm feeling vile!!! Back a little better, just had another treatment this evening but still haven't run.

Buster I'm keeping everything crossed for you that you get to that start line.

[BusterTheBulldog]

Thank you daisydoesnt, I’ve also got that horrid cough and cold, it’s rubbish!

I didn’t realise you’d ran London emummy! How did you find it?

6 slow miles last night

61.6

[beguilingeyes]

Hi all,

I'm fairly new to running, did Couch to 5k last year and am sort of consolidating, three runs a week of about 5k . I'm 57 and very slow, but I have a question.

My calves really ache, during and after running. Is there anything I can do to help this? Any exercise? Am I doing something wrong?

[BusterTheBulldog]

Hi beguilingeyes
Do you stretch? Standard calf stretches are good. Also sat down with feet out in front of you and using a resistance band or towel around ball of foot to pull back towards you.

I also do calf raises, start with both feet, so stood up, and just lifting your heels off the floor for 5-8 seconds repeating 10 times, three times a day. You can then Progress to single leg ones and then eventually, doing off a step or similar and dropping your heels below the step level. It’s fine to lightly hold on to something for balance.

It may also be worth seeing a physio if they are not improving.

[emummy]

Welcome beguilingeyes! I agree about stretches and calf raises. The physio told me I had weak calf muscles and the raises have really helped.
Buster London was my first marathon and I loved it! Great atmosphere, amazing crowds, just a wonderful experience. Had the usual feeling of wanting to stop at 18 miles, but The RunMummyRun cheer squad at mile 19 picked me up and after that was fine. I hope you make it, although I guess you can defer.
Boot camp in the sun for me this morning. We had frost and -1 to start but much warmer now.