'Mature' runners.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your kind words and for missing me.  Sorry for the delay in posting but we've been away attending Fran's funeral and I'm only just catching up with emails and other stuff!  

Did you like my blog photo?  Very elegant wasn't I!!!!  I haven't seen the horrid man from the village but I have found out that I'm not the only person to have experienced his inappropriate remarks.  My lovely friend, who is 79, has also been subjected to his comments but has never mentioned it to anyone else and just tried to ignore them.  So I'm going to confront him if I see him on his own and tell him in no uncertain way that if he does this again I shall report him to our local PCSO.  I'm being a little cautious in case he's suffering from some sort of neurological disorder, or maybe I'm being a tad generous there!  

(((Mark))), hugs right back at you.  Bad luck with the windscreen. Have you noticed how bad things like to gather together and then hit you all at once!!!  Glad you don't have to work your notice though and I hope you'll get enough severance pay to tide you over.  Good luck with the next interview.  Paws crossed xxx  

TE, I've noticed that manufacturers seem to be lowering the heel height.  I'm a mid-foot striker so I'm not sure how that would affect me.  

(((Matsmum))) sounds as if you need some hugs too.  Sad dreams can be very upsetting can't they.  Glad you're enjoying your treadmill.  If you need any workouts to try just email me as I've got a few good sessions that I do.  Having said that, the treadmills always have a variety of different things to try.  Well done to little K.  

Swimming?  NOOOOooooooooooo.  Even after the coaching sessions I had last year, the twice-weekly training, being told that I'm a very strong swimmer and having great advice from our very own IW. I still couldn't get my breathing right and didn't enjoy it at all!  The only thing I did enjoy was the water aerobics which was  a great workout   

I'm off to do  a treddy interval session now.  Hoping my breathing will be OK as it isn't as cold today as on Sunday (which was an absolute nightmare and my 15 miler took 15 minutes longer than the week before!).  Stupid asthma.  

Oh and in a moment of weakness I've accepted a place in VLM again even though it's the week after the Brighton marathon and I'd intended not to do it this year.  I'm doing an informal talk at the Alzheimer's Show on the friday before so I can use the opportunity to collect my number on the same day.  I shall just treat VLM as a publicity event and do my knitting again so there won't be any pressure on a finishing time         

Congrats on VLM place love one of those........PLEASE anyone.......all the best with the village chap!!!

Red, good news that you are ok, but sad that you had to attend a funeral.

Mark, you seem to be going through a period of bad luck. Hope your second interview produces a better paid post.

I also had some bad luck this morning with the car. I turned the ignition key and the silence was deafening. I belong to the RAC Home Start, so called out an engineer. He arrived within 15 minutes, which was very impressive. He tried charging the battery, but it wouldn't hold the charge, so he replaced with a new one. He was very efficient and was over an hour altogether. It was lucky that I had a lift to the AGM last night, as if I had been intending to use my car, I wouldn't have got there. On the other hand, I might have got there, but been unable to get back.

Club session tonight of figure of eights. We are thinking of incorporating yoga sessions after our running workouts, which should be beneficial.

I let my Golden go today. For nearly 14 years she has been a faithful friend and given us so much joy.  Matthew chose her and named her Chase.  I took her to training classes and she was a star pup and loved learning all her commands and hand signals.  Where has the time gone?  Rest in peace, beautiful lady.

So no running today.

Matsmum
Tough call. Many sympathies.

TE
Would appreciate a review about the new shoes and how they feel.

Redhead
Even if the guy has a problem it shouldn't be ignored.

msc
Keep trying. You make your own luck by making things happen.
JJ

Matsmum - oh dear, that is sad.

Redhead - glad you're back! - should have remembered about your friend, and guessed it was something to do with her funeral.

I also was wondering whether your annoyer may have some sort of neurological problem. Maybe he's been released into the care of the community, ha ha. In which case the local police probably already know about him.

Knitting in the VLM again! What happens to the knitting when you've finished it? (I suspect I've asked you this before).

Snow here today, not deep, kept alternately turning slushy and then being reinforced by another snow shower. Out with the running club in the evening, 4.17 miles in cold, dark, high winds, driving sleety rain.

Mcs, good luck with the interviews. You're certainly not letting the grass grow under your feet!

JJ, I didn't wear the new trainers for this evenings session, because it was speed work, and I didn't think it sensible to attempt to wear them for their first outing. I will wear them tomorrow for an easy pace recovery run, and report back on how they felt. If they felt ok, I may decide to wear them on Thursday for our hill session. I won't, however, wear them for the Bramley 20, a week on Sunday, as I don't think they will be "broken in."

Tonight's session was 5 figures of eight, which were  0.73 mile each. The aim was to run the first loop at 10k pace and the second at 5k pace.

Matsmum - feel for you. Losing a pet is always sad, especially in this case as Matt chose her. A woman at our dog club just lost her German Shepherd, his elbows had not grown properly and the vet said the poor dog would always be in pain no matter how much medication he had so the kindest thing would be to put him to sleep before he bit somebody. Her dog was only 14 months old.

Crazy weather here - we've had thunder and lightning with the snow! Never seen that before. Bad road conditions this morning, lots of trucks stuck on hills.

Afternoon all, having moaned about my asthma, it was warmer today when I did my run and I did a comfortable progression run of 5 miles so am feeling happy again   However, there's a bitter wind whipping up now and we've had some sleet so I might be complaining again tomorrow 

Matsmum, so sorry to hear about your doggy.  They are such a part of the family and the loss is even worse as she was chosen by Matt.

Columba, 2 of the scarves were auctioned off and each time the winning bidder asked that I should keep them which was incredibly generous of them.  Tinker the cat sleeps on the scarf which is the current record holder and the other one comes out with me when I'm doing publicity photos.  The 3rd one I knitted was unravelled and used to crochet granny squares for a blanket for an old peoples home.  The chain I crocheted went into an exhibition at the Knit & Stitch show in London and is now sitting in a bag in my cupboard until I decide what to do with it!

Mcs, hope the interviews went well.

IW, take care in your crazy weather.

A very cold wind today, and I ran a good pace 6 miles in my new Asic 1000's. They felt a bit hard and stiff for the first half mile or so, but then more comfortable. They are definitely lighter than the previous 1170's, with not so much cushioning, and the lower heel certainly helps with forefoot landing. It took a little while to adjust, but soon seemed natural. I ran quicker than normal on a recovery run, and my leg speed was quicker. I had no problems running up and down hills, and believe that they were a good buy.

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts.  Reading back over your posts it struck me how we all have challenges.  And I agree - running does keep you sane when things around you go topsy-turvy. Long may our legs continue to carry us.

Red - you are running London!  I am so happy that somebody else is doing it too. Well, apart from 40,000 other people ofcourse. I can't say I will look out for you because I shall be miles behind, but it will be great knowing that you are somewhere in the melee.

6 miles for me today in pouring rain and sharp wind. Then 2 mile cooldown on the treadmill. Pilates class as well. Looooong day at work tomorrow but dance class in evening when K does her athletics training.

On the subject of yoga, I have just bought the Yoga for Runners book, and it does look really good. Haven't tied myself in knots with it yet.

I don't seem to be improving much when it comes to speed.  My 6 milers are always 61 or 62 minutes, and I still feel that I couldn't go much further at the end of my long runs.  On the other hand I don't seem to have aches and pains - or if I do, they are gone within 24 hours. Should I be making more progress do you think? It will be interesting to see how I feel at the end of 15 miles on Sunday.

BIW - we had a bit of thunder here too, night before last.

Red - how could you bear to unravel it after all that work?

Matsmum - sounds as though you are a bit faster than me. I have done a 10k in a little over an hour, but more than your 61 / 62 minutes. Like you, I don't get aches and pains, other than stiffness for the rest of the day after a run. I used to do a lot of yoga (but that was many years ago - don't do it systematically now, just bits and pieces from time to time). That sounds like an interesting book. 

Didn't run today; was working.

Bitingly cold northerly wind today. Did two doodle outings and a lot of gardening.

Matsmum
If you are recovering well and staying uninjured you can't be doing too badly. If you want to gain a bit more pace you could change the tactics for the 6 mile run when you finish quickly. Run each mile steadily then run fast for the last 400m or 2 mins of each mile.
You will always feel tired at the end of a long run especially if you're adding a bit more each time. Don't worry, things look OK.
JJ

Morning all,

It's brrrrr but bright here and I'm itching to get out for my run but awaiting builders who were supposed to be here an hour ago!  When I finally get out it will be 8 miles @ marathon pace.

Matsmum, you're doing fine.  Don't worry about your speed at all as you are still adjusting to doing longer distances and 61 mins for 6 miles is a good pace anyway.  When we find out which start we are both on at VLM we could probably meet up at the start to say hello and calm some nerves.  I won't be running it quickly as I'll have done the Brighton marathon the week before plus I run slowly when I'm doing my knitting at the same time 

JJ, I wish I could get on with more gardening but the ground is absolutely sodden and in my experience with our claggy clay it's best to stay off the beds when it's so wet.

TE, glad your new shoes passed muster.

Red, thanks. I've got no aches in my legs this morning, so I think they must be ok. I will give them a tougher test this evening during our hill rep session. I may wear them for the Bramley 20, Sunday week, if they give me no problems over the next few days. Do you ever use energy gels in your marathons? I never have, but was thinking about taking a couple with me, in case I feel in need of an energy boost. I have bought High5 citrus burst. It says 3 sachets per hour, but I'm sure that is OTT. Helen who is running with me also has a place in the VLM, so we will use the race as an LSD training run.

Got a job offer though low pay but a lot better than dole so thats a bonus!! Finishing next Friday here so going to have a couple of weeks as a full time athlete!!! Another interview next week also. Keep at it everyone, spring is coming, its getting lighter and things always look better in daylight.
Sympathies Matsum.
All the best for Sunday TE. I have used those bit sticky and thick and need water, prefer SIS ones myself.

Bleurgh, to any form of gel!  Yukkety yuk   I don't even like sports drinks that much as I've felt quite ill when I've drunk too much of them at VLM.  If it's hot on marathon day then I'll usually make up my own using fruit juice or eldlerflower cordial diluted with water and with a pinch of salt.

Mark, glad you've at least had an offer to think about.  Enjoy yourself being an athlete 

Mark, you seem to be good at interviews, so hopefully the next will be for better pay.

Red, I've never drunk anything other than water during my marathons. I've tried gels in the past, during long training runs, with water, but didn't really seem to get any benefit.

Mcs - excellent news about the job offer. And hopefully you'll get another offer, with higher pay.

I've never tried gels, - mind you, I've never run more than a half marathon either.

Really cold here today; I didn't realise quite how cold, until I was already out in it and was surprised to come across ice here and there on the pavements. Also on the lake, when I got to it. Did a "pyramid" for a change: 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 (minutes, that is) with similar breaks between, when I walked or jogged.