If you've lost your exercise/running mojo, come on in for a Christmas countdown .....

[lechatnoir]

I've not done any significant exercise for the past 9 months, have put on 1.5 stone, taken up smoking again after years away and feel like shit as a result plus add peri-menopausal symptoms Working from home , lack of money and general feeling of negativity everywhere hasn't helped and I'm sure I'm not alone.

In a fit of madness I signed up for a HM for next March but need a kick up the arse and a serious overhaul before I can even start to think about following a running plan. Ive got 7 weeks before I start training but think 8 weeks is more realistic and will also tie in nicely with the festive season (right now I just want to hibernate not party).

So aims are:
Get basic fitness levels up and gently resume running
Build some strength and flexibility
Stop smoking (day 3 and counting)
Include some proper self-care - early nights, hair colouring more regularly, just a bit of pampering occasionally.

Get back in the habit of regular exercise with some sort of weekly timetable.

Anyone want to join me and post for support, encouragement, ideas and give each other a proverbial kick up the arse along way?

@illiterato it could well be! I found that even just switching surfaces from one run to another (from running on the pavement to running on grass in the park) had an effect on my legs the next day.

@londonmummy1966 hope the physio goes well. I was with mine today, I’ve developed an issue with my meniscus 😖it’s not uncommon with the kind of fracture I had. We have a plan to treat it so hopefully it’ll be ok, but it’s just frustrating.

@FlySwimmer - that sounds pretty grim. Hopefully mine is just some niggles bu I'd rather be safe than sorry with the marathon coming up

A rest day for me. My week is back to usual. Feeling OK after circuits yesterday which is pleasing after 3 weeks, although yoga has probably helped avoid too much shock. Long run tomorrow so I want to feel fresh. My achilles has made its presence known again so its getting TLC to calm it down. It likes its own special foot cushion at night 😂

@londonmummy1966 I've been using new gear as well to motivate me to get out - my Decathlon top nearly boiled me alive but will come in handy for freezing football sessions. On Saturday I tried out my jacket (also Decathlon) and that was much better, warm but not sweltering with a T-shirt underneath.

Having been chuffed with myself for running two days in a row I've slacked off and didn't go yesterday, and won't get another chance until Thursday Motivation is at a low with the rubbish weather, but I am walking as much as I can....

@SydneyCarton my new jacket nearly boiled me alive as the physio said I can still run so I ran home to celebrate. Having said that I have to keep all my runs on the flat for now so the far eastern reaches of the Thames Path are beckoning which are likely to be pretty chilly so it might be useful then.

I now have a physio programme to do every day (groan) but I am so happy that it isn't my ITB and that I can continue to run and swim. I did miss this mornings swim as it was planned for the outdoor pool and it was absolutely chucking it down - I can do rain and I can do absolutely freezing water but not the two together.

I also found a colouring in page of a running trainer to log my runs on - it goes up to 1000 KM so I've printed it off and filled in the first 20 sections. here were a few coloured in ones from last year on the website which looked quite pretty.

Just checking in to say I have kept up my steps/workout/yoga routine throughout the Christmas holidays (we just went back yesterday) and feel pretty proud of myself!

@londonmummy1966 glad to hear the physio has given you the all clear to run. @FlySwimmer sorry to hear you're injured. Fingers crossed not too bad

@Judystilldreamsofhorses that's amszing to keep going through Christmas- well done! @BogRollBOGOF hope the long run goes well.

@SydneyCarton the weather has been pants, hasn't it? I'm on the coast and it's so windy. The rain isn't that heavy but it's getting blown in horizontally.

Another 6k run today and managed to up my pace a little- trying to get below 5:30/km but my ancient limbs are resisting. Didnt get out yesterday as was about to start running and the plumber called to ask if he could come now. Didnt want to risk losing the slot so said yes. Then builders arrived and then the house clearance people so I felt like I had a mega productive day even though other people basically did the work and I just kept answering the door. I did help carry a wardrobe- does that count??

Tomorrow I'm going to try a longer run at a slower pace as getting a little bored of my lake loop.

@

Not sure what happened with that last post, my train went through a tunnel . Was replying to @illiterato to say the weather is brightening up here but back to grey and gloomy tomorrow when I really do need to get out and run. I have to get going ASAP in the morning, otherwise I procrastinate and faff around and end up not going.

The long run went well. I broke it down into sections of smaller loops in different directions going back to the car so it felt less, and I was never too far away from the car if there were issues. Changing kit and starting the last loop feeling fresh helped a lot!

Did a 5K this morning, first one of the year and got a Strava PB up a hill which pleased me! Slightly too warm in a T-shirt and running jacket, but it still feels too cold to just go out in a T-shirt, even though I know I'll be fine once I get going. Fitted in some self-care (and extra steps!) by getting my brows done and lashes tinted, and have a haircut booked for tomorrow.

Well done everyone. I managed just under 8 miles today - tempo run so quite hard but a decent time at the end of it so I was pleased. I then did my physio exercises and am not suffering (and didn't during the run) so hoping that I will be able to battle through. TOmorrow should be a walk with a friend in the morning follwed by physio and a swim at the gym. I'm planning a longish run at the weekend (probably 12 miles so a bit down on what I want to do) so long as the hip stays OK.

I'm still here.. just. Petered out badly end of last week but got back into the gym today and planning a run tomorrow morning now it's finally stopped raining. Dog walk with friend planned for Wednesday.

Well done @illiterato. I was in the gym this morning. Had a really lovely swim yesterday; the only thing I’m excited about returning to the office this week, is that I get to swim at a nearby lido on the days I’m in

@FlySwimmer - Brrr - I'm skivving the Lido again this week in favour of the indoor pool. Well done @illiterato - I also heaved myself into the gym to day for a short S&C session. I just hate the gym - not sure if its the mirrors or the much fitter (thinner) people all around me....

Last week went quite well to plan with all 3 of my shorter runs done, a swim on Friday and a 12 mile Jeff yesterday. Today was a swim (really just active rest) plus S&C. The niggle in he hip is not as bad as it was - really only noticeable from half way through the long run and afterwards. Felt it a bit today but once I got out of the pool it had disappeared which makes me think that swimming on rest days is a good thing. ALso very happy that I seem a kilo lighter than last week!

Struggled with motivation to run yesterday and ended up not going. We had a busy weekend with the usual kids sports stuff which takes up Saturday morning from 9 to 2, then evening swimming. On Sunday it was DP’s niece’s birthday party so what with all the prep, running around during the party and then the clean up afterwards we were on the go all afternoon until about half six. Should get some walking in today and tomorrow though.

@londonmummy1966 i go in stages in the gym. I find it kind of boring but I listen to podcasts and I like the incremental strength gains. I normally do free weights twice a week and then machines once.

6 k run this morning - mud and ice so a bit ploddy but felt better for getting out there.

Dog walk with a friend today. Not sure how far but we were walking about an hour and a half. Was really nice. The trail we were on would be good for a run so I’m going to go back tomorrow and run it.

hello, checking in to say I am still hitting my three checkpoints of steps, workout and yoga and ticking them off on the kitchen calendar every day like a child! Also had no wine since starting back at work. Well done everyone keeping up running while it is so chilly!

@Judystilldreamsofhorses I think I need a tick list too, am really struggling to get back into a routine! I don't mind running (well, walking slightly quicker!) in the cold but I just can't risk slipping over on the ice, I have no one to take the DC into school if I'm injured. I'd love to get a treadmill or exercise bike for home but we don't have the room

A tick list is a great idea actually. I have one for mornings because I’m in such a fog at 6am I find it easier to just go down the list- kettle on, empty dishwasher, feed birds, washing into tumble drier etc.

6k run this morning. Didn’t get up to my new planned route as accident so the road there was stacked back. Just did normal park lake run instead.

I actually do smiling faces rather than ticks because I really am a child. :-))) with each mouth representing one of my three pillars. Every day since 1 December I have had at least two smiles, November i hit the three every day for my #healthyfor30 challenge.

today I bought new jeans in a size “11”.

I've got a trainer colouring in chart to log my runs - have got a pretty colour scheme going. DD rolls her eyes when she sees me colouring it in. I also have my online tracker at mapmyrun.

I got out for a tempo 5k on Tuesday and got it in at 30 minutes so happy with that. Yesterday and today just not feeling it but did eventually get by butt outside for a run by telling myself I could do 8km instead of 12 tonight and add the rest on to tomorrow's 5K. In fact having done 8 I then added on a little loop of just under 1k so not as bad as it could have been.

Plan is to run and swim tomorrow and then take Saturday as a rest day as I have to go and sing a load of Bach....

Morning! Big day for me today. Parkrun was cancelled due to ice, and kids not interested in a ploddy family 5k so took it as a sign that I should attempt my non-stop 10k that I’ve been putting off as scared I won’t be able to do it. Went along the beach which was absolutely gorgeous albeit a bit crispy, and got it done in just under an hour at what felt like a reasonable pace. Super pleased. Has given me a real boost. I do need to lose a bit of weight though as my left knee got a little niggly towards the end and I find that 66kg is the sweet spot for that stopping and at the moment I’m more like 68kg.

Sub 1hr 10k is great!

I parkrunned/ parkran and just enjoyed a nice steady 5k.

With Jeffing my long runs, I'm particularly enjoying a regular block of running at a controlled pace.