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?

@londonmummy1966 I think it was genuine at first - possibly a minor touch of food poisoning - but two days off school was definitely excessive. We had to take samples from her 😬and she has blood tests next week just in case. Today they are all in school al day - fingers crossed - and I have managed another short Jeff so I'm now at 8.85/35.60

This week I did

M: 15k run
T: gym ( bit half hearted but I did do it at least)
W: rest
T: 5k hilly run
F: flat 6k run and yoga

will aim to get out either tomorrow or Sunday but crazy busy with kids stuff so may not happen.

Please may I join in?
I’ve been reading along and have finally got to the stage where I’m brave enough to post. I need a push!
Some weeks are better than others. Work doesn’t help as I do long shifts but I’m changing jobs soon so hopefully will get a better routine!
I go to a really good gym and try to do three weights sessions a week plus classes but haven’t managed any weights yet this week!

This week I’ve done:
Monday: Core and glute class
Tuesday: Dance class followed by an hour of yoga
Wednesday: 4 mile walk
Thursday: Pilates
Friday: rest

I’m working over the weekend but hoping to fit in some weights depending on how the shifts go.

My diet is probably 70/80% good. I do enjoy a bottle of wine a week and I need to quit smoking!

@Reinventinganna the more the merrier - hello!

Today I woke up with a sore hip again - its fine on stairs but less happy on the flat.I've skipped todays 5k in the hope I'll be able to do 10 miles on Sunday as tomorrow is a rest day.

Fingers crossed for your run tomorrow @londonmummy1966

10k run this afternoon. Unbelievably proud of myself for going out as was the last thing I wanted to do. Afternoons are just not my sweet spot for exercise. Was ok once I got down to the beach as loads of people out. For some reason though I absolutely hate the first 1.5km from my house to where I got the beachfront.

Thanks @illiterato- still a bit tight today but hoping it will be OK tomorrow. I think the first 10 mins of any run are always pretty grim so not surprised that was the bit you don't like (although I wish I had a beach to run along). I much prefer afternoon runs as I'm so not a morning person.

Long run was lovely - perfect weather for it - although my hip was a bit sore/tight throughout. Oddly the soreness moves so started at the front and ended at the back. Rewarded myself with a browse in some of the nicest charity shops in London before walking back a couple of miles to pick the train up. Also marked 175th KM this year which was nice.

Another couple of miles while the children were at football on Saturday morning (three days in a row!) bringing me up to 11.17/35.60. Rest day today and might try for a 5K tomorrow.

Usual 6k around the lake. Was pacing really well for a Strava PB and then had to stop to answer a phone call from the scaffolder- arrgghh! And then hit a pack of school kids where the pavement narrows under a bridge so had to trundle along behind them breathing in their vape fumes 🤣. Ah well, at least I got out.

@londonmummy1966 i also do the run one way and get the bus/ train back thing as don’t really like out and back and a loop isn’t always feasible. Also I must confess I never actually run on the beach itself as we have breakwaters so to run on the wet sand is tricky and the dry sand at the top is too much like hard work 🤣. There is a promenade that goes for 15k though which is handy.

@SydneyCarton well done for taking the opportunities. I always plan to run when my dc are at rugby but have to stay on site so would literally have to run round the pitch.

welcome @Reinventinganna

well done @Judystilldreamsofhorses - great consistency

Nothing yesterday but 14k this morning with a newish friend (dc at school together so known her a while but never run with her). Was super nervous as worried couldn't be able to keep pace but was fine. She did pace me a little faster than usual which tbh was good for me as I have got very "uncomfortable with being uncomfortable" and I could chat until the last km when I started counting down the seconds . She also showed me a much nicer end to my usual route which I hadn't realised "joined up" with the end point. So all in all, a good run.

Spurred on by my pacier longer run today I decided to “add oil” on my usual around the lake trot. Overpaced it a little as the last km was a sluggish struggle but did demonstrate that I can afford to lift the pace a bit on the shorter runs. Hopefully over time that will feed through to the longer ones.

it’s just hard getting used to that higher level of effort again. When I was a bit younger I used to absolutely obliterate myself doing hill training etc. now that all seems a bit too much like hard work!

@illiterato I am slower than you, but I do think Jeffing (helpful as it is) is lulling me into making less effort than I could. I haven't run a 5K without walking intervals for a while and perhaps I should be working towards that, just to reassure myself I can still do it!

Didn't get myself together earlier in the week to run for various reasons, so today was my first one since Saturday and knocked off another couple of miles. 13.25/35.60

I'm Jeffing my long runs, but doing run-all for parkrun which is working well. It took a while to feel comfortable running 5k again post-injury. I've been using the C25k podcast to pace myself and help the mental side of it.

I've been staying busy with classes, runs, long runs and swims.
Half term approaches...

I find jeffing can be helpful if I'm trying to raise my pace as I know I've only got to suffer for a bit before I can have a walking break .

Went to yoga today. It’s not the most challenging class but I quite like it. Contemplating a return to CrossFit after half term- watch this space.

Me too... well done on your 14k - I'm now really jealous that you not only run by the sea but have a buddy to run it with - I've never managed to find one 😥

@SydneyCarton I hope the DC are better but not so much better that they are going to be too full of beans for half term.

Well done @BogRollBOGOF on mixing it up a bit.

An odd sort of week as on Monday the physio tried to tell me to pull out of the marathon - after 14 unsuccessful attempts at the ballot that is just not happening. So he retaliated with a massively increased daily strength and conditioning routine and a torture session today. I managed 5k run on Wednesday, 9k yesterday around the royal parks where I kept on seeing the State Landaus and a couple of smaller closed carriages being driven around by coachmen in their magnificent red and gold liveries but accompanied by cavalry in combats and the coaches were empty... I'm wondering if they are starting practice for the Coronation. Today I switched my 5k out for a session on the elliptical trainer (45 minutes of tedium in the gym) plus S&C and a shorter than usual swim. Rest tomorrow and 18 miles on SUnday. I was planning on running it all on the THames path but the stretches around RIchmond can be quite quiet and I can't get the poor woman from Lancashire out of my head. I may need to rethink my route and be grateful for the tourists on the South Bank for a change.

Struggled as usual with getting out on a Monday and have been a bit lazy over half term. Got out this morning and did a couple of miles taking me to 15.52/35.60

Hi all- still here but skiing this week so not running. Getting a few good hours in in the mornings while DF are at ski school and some more variable stuff in the afternoons depending on dc willingness and amount of rosé at lunch. Weather is amazing. Snow very average but having a fun week. Back to the running next week. Still contemplating a return to CrossFit as well

Half term is going well. My classes have still been on this week and are doable around older children. I've also managed to keep up an appropriate level of running (lower volume week which has also helped).

THis is the first year I've had no one at school so the week plods on as usual. I ended up running 21 miles on the Thames path on Sunday and actually felt there was more in the tank so the physio is working. Swim on Monday, S&C Tuesday, 6k yesterday and 11k plus a short swim today. Sadly no carriages in Hyde Park today. I'll do another elliptical session and a short swim tomorrow and a shorter long run on Sunday.

Two more shortish (3K) runs on Saturday and this morning - 2.34 miles and 2.58 miles, so I'm now at 20.44/35.60. Over halfway to my skincare treats!

@SydneyCarton keep going! 🏃‍♀️

I fit in a couple of gym sessions and a swim last week. I had wanted to swim yesterday but developed something awful on Saturday night/Sunday morning. High temp, headache, some tummy trouble - maybe a touch of stomach flu? Or actual flu? I had the vaccine in the autumn. Feeling a bit better today though wrung out.

I am contemplating whether to go for the Marathon Swim (10K) in November. It’s something I’ve long wanted to try, plus at my workplace we’re looking for ideas to fundraise for the hardship fund… 🤔

I'm going to take it easy this week. I've got a niggly shin that needs a bit of rest, particularly as I have plans for it on Sunday!

Sorry to hear that some of you are under the weather or otherwise suffering. Keep going for the skincare thought @SydneyCarton

@FlySwimmer - if the swim is something you want to do and have the time for the training I'd say go for it - the sense of achievement I'm getting as my runs get longer is really amazing. (TBH I'm in awe of anyone who could cope with the boredom of more than a couple of kms in the pool.)

Friday's elliptical session went OK as I worked out I can wedge my kindle into a holder in front of the screen and read whilst i work out. (I don't like being in the gym....) Yesterday was a 15 mile Jeff which went well and I ended up skipping some walk intervals in the last couple of miles as I felt quite strong. It was quite funny as a lot of the runners out by the river had obviously brand new hydration vests so presumably marathon training.
The physio was reasonably pleased this afternoon and has said I can start running on hillier routes again so I'm not restricted to the Thames path. I celebrated with an S&C session and a swim (and weighed myself and I have lost another kilo in the past week).

@BogRollBOGOF - your plans for Sunday wouldn't include a half marathon at a historic palace would they? (Mine do)