This is just a short post to show a photo of mine. My Saucony Peregrine Trail shoes have orange and black laces and I can only think it was those that attracted the butterfly. Nature and trail running combined 🙂 Love it.

Well, I can’t remember the last time I ran on a Monday morning but seeing as the opportunity presented itself, who was I to argue. I ran past Fareham creek (above) and then headed out through the fields in the hope of catching the crops being cut.

Having taken some photos on the Saturday evening I knew some fields had been harvested so the others ought to be soon after. Running up Paradise Lane the temperature was definitely climbing but with the pleasant wind, my cap and sun tan lotion I wasn’t too concerned. The gate by the footpath was open and I could see tractor marks so it certainly looked like I’d struck lucky. The lane had butterfly’s and bees going about their “buzz”ness while the rolled hay bails we visible over the hedge.

My parents house has a field behind it so this run took me back many years to when my brother and I played on the hay bails. As I was in no rush I took a few photos and videos. Heading up Portsdown Hill my garmin ran out of battery but to be honest this only added to the enjoyment with no timings to stress on !! Saying that it was noticeable my cold is still affecting my running but that was a small price to pay in this glorious setting.

The fitness that I’ve lost over the last two months will inevitably return and today wasn’t the day to dwell on how long that would take. The sunshine and my chosen route were perfect for one of those runs that quite simply reminds you why I love being out here.

I joined the road and passed a few curious horses on my way up the hill. Once at the top you can see Fareham, Fawley and even the Isle of White in the distance. Stepping over a style that had an electric fence either side definitely called for some concentration but in no time it was back to taking in the views. I continued along the top of the hill running on a narrow track between the crops (see the video). The breeze meant the wheat was swaying as if I was in the middle of the sea. However, my drink was all gone by now so I popped into HMS Nelson for a refill.

The run home meant I actually passed the tractor and trailer that was rolling the bails and before I knew it I was back to the creek and into the last mile. With no watch it was surprising to see the time when I got in but that’s the mark of a relaxing steady run on a Monday morning !! The photo below was from Saturday evening.

Whether you go out early or late, just make sure you soak up that Summer “Runshine”

Thanks to everyone that joined in with #ukrunchat last Wednesday, it was a great night. I had 2 browsers open, one for my account and one for #ukrunchat. I didn’t have time to look at the #ukrunchat screen until about 8.15pm and it said 165 notifications !!

My favourite “pre” chat tweet was from Claire,

Back to my Q3 : The answers were so good I’ve shared my favourites here. Thanks to the running #community.

Thanks for letting me co host 🙂 …………. #loved it

 

The best part of being injured is the buzz you get when you know you’re on the way back. I have a new pair of trainers after a visit to Absolute Running (thanks Nick & Lawrence) I have entered an event, On The Whistle’s (OTW) Woodland Way Challenge and this week I’ve had two great runs.

Wednesday was a steady 5 miler with Kiernan from OTW and about 15 other runners from various clubs. The run was billed as a “tester” for the loop that will form the 6 hour multi lap event. It certainly wasn’t flat but as Sir Isaac Newton says “what goes up must come down” if I had to describe the route I’d say it was like the uneven road sign.

  

I met 3 twitter runners on Wednesday and that’s always great to put faces to names so hello and good to meet you Jane, Richard and Paul. Ros & Kiernan, who I know, both said Paul Jeffrey was also a blogger so here’s Paul’s Blog for the night . I liked the challenging 3.8 mile loop so I’ve signed up because the choice of running as many laps as you like really fits in well with my return to fitness and takes away any pressure of entering a half or full marathon. The other piece of advice I took on board from Absolute Running was “stretch – stretch – stretch” and that’s what I’ve been doing.

Sunday soon came around and it was time to add a few more miles. Paul Coates, Ros & I were joined by Dean & Lynsey so between the five of us that was Fareham Crusaders, Gosport RR, Stubbington Green and Portsmouth Joggers all represented. The 9am start was again from QECP but this time we were venturing out along the South Downs Way.

A lovely sunny day greeted us and the it just reminded me how much I’d missed running through the countryside. The SDW route has a number of short hills as it winds its way towards Harting Down but with a combination of chatting, a cooling breeze and the trees shading the sun we hardly noticed the miles pass. The path is usually quite narrow but the scenery constantly changes what with fields of wheat, cows grazing and corn on the cob. There are no cars, no junctions and no roads to cross but you do have to concentrate on the tree roots, loose stones and not missing the weathered signs that do tend to blend into the hedge rows. The words peaceful and beautiful just don’t do justice to it. Paul and Dean ran together and looped back while the three of us ran at a steady pace.

The SDW is new to Lynsey and it’s always great to hear peoples reaction of “why haven’t I done this before”. From that point on you know they’ll be hooked 🙂

I knew I ought to turn around before the rest so at 5.5 miles I made the decision to let them carry on. All in all I ran about 7.5 miles and then combined walking and running for 3.5 which as far as my return from injury is concerned was the right thing to do. The guys carried onto Harting Down (pictured at the beginning of the blog, thanks Ros Clarke).

I’m not religious but today felt like I’d returned to my spiritual home, I think we all left feeling physically and emotionally recharged. Thanks to Ros, Lynsey, Dean and Paul for their company and Paul especially for the photos. The South Downs …. #lovethem.

Absolute Running (AR) is the name of a running shop in Gosport. This statement is factually correct but it’s like saying Mark Cavendish can ride a bike. The numerous events that AR host have had a recent addition this Spring/Summer and it’s called the Breakfast Club. Meeting at 8 a.m. on a Sunday and open to all abilities/clubs this #community based run sums up AR’s philosophy in many ways. Relaxed, friendly and all inclusive.

The starting point for our run was the Bayside Cabin, Stokes Bay, with its car park right on waters edge. As I stepped out of the car I was treated to views of the Isle of Wight and the sun starting to break through the clouds. I chatted to Tony Bennett who would be cycling due to an injury and we were soon joined by Terry Arnott, Gill and other AR / Gosport runners as well as Simon Hearnden from Stubbington Green and Simon Hanson a fellow Crusader. With Sunday being race day the turn out will vary each week & it was 12 today.

I spotted Nick, AR’s motivational owner and he assured me that the Breakfast club was a social, steady run as well as an appetiser to the Cabins offerings. Seeing as I’m on the way back from an injury this was exactly what I was looking for. The breakfast side of the run follows a nautical theme and ranges in size from a Dinghy, to the Gosport Ferry and all the way up to “The Titanic”, (forget the iceberg, this may well sink you) !!

The aim of the day was to run for half an hour out and back in our different pace groups. We set off from Stokes Bay and ran along Lee On Solent’s sea front. Today might not have been off road but it was certainly scenic. Nick, Terry, Gill and myself ran together and soon

settled into a steady pace. The conversation flowed and we learnt Nick had been out at a charity evening the previous night were he’d met Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards. As we ran along the coast I was reminded just how lucky we are to live in this part of the world. A pleasant sea breeze cooled us down on the outward leg and we passed Graham (my daughters boyfriends father) running in the opposite direction.

After turning around and retracing our steps we caught up three of the ladies and then left the Lee seafront behind, heading for Browndown. When the two Simons caught us I commented that we didn’t hear them as they were both so light on their feet and in no time they eased away from us with effortless grace. Nick also explained the reason he’d started these Sunday runs was for people on their LSR marathon training later in the year. The car park is free up to 10am so it would just be a case of starting earlier. Back at the car park it was job done and time for a cuppa. We were joined by Kim and Emma on the Bayside Cabins patio area for post run refreshment and all agreed the hours run had been a great success. My hamstring felt fine & …… “I’ll be back” 🙂 Thanks one and all.

   

And finally, Lee on Solent tonight at 9.30pm ….. have a great week !!

Today I ran out towards Titchfield village on a leisurely 5 miler with the sole purpose of testing my recently injured hamstring. It survived !! “Fantastic”. Huge thanks to Jason at Body Fusion for working his magic on Friday. This photo sums up what I’ve been missing.

Now, I’m a runner and not a photographer but I was quite pleased with this ground level photo of the old railway bridge ahead. Anyway, back to the running ….

The outward 2 miles were along the Avenue that leads out of Fareham and I’d settled into a steady pace that could be described more as jogging than running. I’d had no ill effects as I ran down Titchfield Hill and I’d already decidedto take the more scenic route back. A quick photo of the local pub, Titchfield Mill, was then followed by a footpath that runs behind Titchfield Abbey. I took these photos as I was in no hurry and the growing smile on my face was in direct proportion to the distance I’d run, without any twinges 🙂

Passing the Abbey there was a sign that said “closed due to storm damage” but no one was going to mind a quick photo !! The sun was coming out now and I was 3 miles into my run with no issues at all. The next track had a number of puddles from the recent rain, some being as wide as the path its self. I took care not to over stride when tackling the water.

As the railway bridge approached this was a good test with the incline and as I reached the top all that remained were pavements on my way back home. Just to be on the safe side I stopped at 5 miles.

As runners we aren’t very good at being injured but that first run after its been fixed can be quite a nervous time. Thankfully as we approach July and it’s 3 weeks to my Cancer Research Relay all is looking positive. The exercise, enjoyment and enthusiasm are all just around the corner. Rest day tomorrow and a 2nd tester on Tuesday #fingerscrossed 🙂

On a final note I wore my Creative Products “Stretch Pocket belt” for the first time and it was a great success. Two stretchy pockets for your gels, keys, phone etc etc. It worked really well for only £6 !!

The Cancer Research Portsmouth Relay for Life  is a 24 hour event from Saturday noon until Sunday noon 16/17th July 2016. The aim is simply to keep at least one team member moving around the track for the 24 hours. I organised and captained our Fareham Crusaders running club teams between 2009 and 2013 and am now returning in 2016 as a team member. The majority of teams walk but we run because that’s what we do !!

With overnight camping inside the 400m track and the facilities of the Portsmouth Mountbatten Centre, not to mention Pizza deliveries, then the prospect of running in the afternoon, evening, early hours and mid morning is a great challenge. Music and other distractions are organised to keep you involved and a candle lit service with a choir at 10pm is certainly the emotional highlight. Each run is 30 minutes and the number of half hour runs depends on how many are in the team. A marathon distance in total is certainly on the cards

This Link … Cancer Research Sponsorship is if you would be so kind as to sponsor my run. Naturally I will blog the whole weekend, thank you. Together we can make a difference  🙂

Dream catch me ….. summed up my run today, I set out with a rough idea of what I had in mind and an hour and forty minutes later I found myself back home. When you tell people that don’t run how relaxing it can be they find this a difficult concept but that’s exactly how today turned out. After a stressful week I simply wanted to go out and run through some of my favourite local paths. I do hope the video gets across the sense of freedom and enjoyment that can be had from running through nature, whether that’s next to the water or through the fields and crops. The “earthy” smells, the warm breeze on your face, a bird of prey circling overhead … priceless. Paradise Lane lived up to its name too.

Today wasn’t about pace, I stopped to take a photo or video when something interested me and in total did 10.6 miles. The route had an initial climb up Paradise Lane and then Portsdown Hill. I then added 4 short sharp hill reps of Portchester Lane from the farm entrance up to the signpost. Distance wise this is only about a third of a mile but with some 186 feet of elevation !! The steepest section is by the dairy which has been freshly painted and is on the video. If you click on this link Google Maps will transport you there, just click ahead and follow the cyclist.

10.6 miles I hear you say, yes, the 10 was planned the 0.6 was a track on the outskirts of a field I haven’t run through before but it caught my eye and I’ve now got a good head start for my next run as I’m sure it connects with the Allen King Way that heads north west ultimately towards Winchester.

Today’s run was good for my legs after 36 miles two weeks ago but more importantly it was good for my soul 🙂 #happyrunning.

Firstly I’d like to thank Nick for organising and inviting us. There were a number of interesting points which certainly gave you “food for thought” not least of which being, don’t let a niggle become a problem, seek advice.

The Solent Hotel was our venue for the evenings Running Foundation (RF) talk. The RF are a combination of Nick Knight’s four podiatry clinics,  Pinnacle personal training and the Lowford Clinic. So with one group you are covering Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, sports massage and personal training all under one umbrella ( ella, ella !!) The evening’s talk also included Alton Sports from a running shop point of view and a fifth contributor that was Vanessa from England Athletics, giving a runners perspective.

Second Wind running’s Phil and Teresa had joined me for the evening and I recognised fellow Crusader Kate Robinson once we sat down with our drinks.

We started with Sean from Alton Sports who talked through the service that their four shops will offer you, when you buy the correct trainers and socks. “Socks” I hear you say but it does make sense that you get the best combination for your feet. Look after your feet and they will look after you !! I asked about toed socks but this came down to personal choice.

Nick, the podiatrist talked about choosing the right footwear and his number one point was comfort. He advised that the fit was more important than being a slave to shoe size. Running up and down the street will give you a more natural test than a treadmill but clearly being in one spot does help analysis. The power of the lace was an interesting concept. Too tight and you suffer from numbness, a slipping heel can be corrected by using those final shoe holes and to stop the infamous black toe nails thread one lace from the first eye to the last eye diagonally and then lace up from there for a better fit. Nick said Plantar Fascia was the most common issue he came across. The remedy is different for each individual but sandals first thing in the morning as well as self massage and toe curl stretches with ice bottle rolling under your foot in the evening will all help, combined with medical advice.

Kristina the Chiropractor from Norway & the Lowford clinic talked to us about neck, back, shoulder and hip pains. Her demonstrations made me think that I really ought to help myself by including exercises into my week for strength, stability and mobility. I particularly liked the video she showed us about awkward runners to get across her point … Don’t be that guy 🙂 Both Kristina & Andy showed us a number of exercises.

Andy from Pinnacle PT  was both ex army and a sandal runner with endless enthusiasm and energy. The gym he works from concentrates on strength and conditioning. From a runners point of view he made the very good point that exercises done with your right and left legs will point to one side being weaker than the other which can then be addressed so as to give a balanced running motion. He recommended mixing easy paced, threshold, interval and reps running which we may be aware of but don’t actually do enough of.

Finally Vanessa Lowe gave an insight on 10 mile training from an England Athletics viewpoint. Join a club, have a plan and stick to it, warm up and practice what you’ll do in the race, in training. A great tip for uphill running was to concentrate on positive  backward arm drives which I will be using tomorrow. Finally, again, another comment that I could relate to and don’t do enough is that a warm down is preparation for your next run.

All in all an interesting and very useful night.