Tuesday 1st August 2023
I was up early again and ready to write. Woke up thinking about Ageing Runner. It is a website about learning as much as anything. It is about the nature of the world and how we make sense of it. It is Reading, writing, running. – Learning through the process and then helping people do all three. I think that my niche is helping people journal with purpose and make running work for them. Help them find the things that make them fulfilled and happy. Timelines of joy.
· It feels good to have some structure, especially during the holidays. A reading and writing plan, a training plan and running club sessions add some structure to the week.
· Having paper in my pocket and by my side helps me dump ideas and reduces (doesn’t stop) me going down rabbit holes and losing hours. It gets the ideas out and parks them. I am realising that I don’t need to follow up on them all and act on impulse. I just need them out of my head and to stop worrying that I will lose them.
· The top of my left ankle is sore this morning. I have the sense that I am pushing it to the limit. Causing me some anxiety. I need to barefoot.
· Shappi Khorsandi’s book talks about decluttering not being about having a tidy room but about be more able to live in the moment rather than being weighed down by the past. I think I need to devote some time to that rather than just being hostage to my ongoing need to press on. It feels like a compulsion. I need to tidy my life a little…or a lot. And then make time to keep on top of that. It is a discipline.
· I saw someone’s bio on twitter saying that ‘Being kind is a lifestyle choice’. I agree. I am getting a lot from commenting on tweets from people who have done something which they are personally proud of. It takes something to put yourself out there. I can see the pride in their faces. Reminds me of Parkrun (just volunteered again). Runners need prizing. I met a runner this morning who said ‘You’re so fast’. I should have stopped and said ‘You are awesome’ for just being out there.
· 2 mile warmup with Mac, 8 miles tempo (4xJumbles loop) and wonderfully slow barefoot mile to finish). I think that there is something about tempo running that hits a sweet spot. I have no issue with any niggles whilst running. Left me feeling relaxed and that I was capable. Enjoyed sitting on top of the pace and my confidence on the trails increased through each lap.
Wed 2nd Aug 2023
· After listening to a Doug Richardson on Running Tales podacst, I feel inspired to do three things. The first is to run 25000 miles across 25 years, the second is to do a track 10k and the thrird is to become a run leader. All feel important for different reasons. Impetus to keep getting out of the door, scaring myself a bit and meeting new people. I have created a new Excel log to track the mileage.
· I ran a barefoot mile in the rain this morning to stretch things out. Feels important after 3 heavy running days. Rest feels important.
· Wednesday Whizzers session tonight. 1 mile warm up then interval session Lots of groaning at the start. Ran my way into it and ended up running a 2:46 final lap. Right ankle stiff. Two effort seesion on consecutive days is too much.
· Whizzers was fun. I am grinning from ear to ear because I was awarded with a battered old medal and some pink ankle weights for coming first in my age category in the murder mile. Connection more than the medal. It is the banter and the laughs. Nice to feel part of the group. Chatted about joining Horwich RMI Harriers and doing things like road relays. I miss that kind of thing.
Thursday 3rd Aug 2023
· Rest day today. I am glad.
· Had a great chat in Wetherspoons with a chap today. There is a lot of loneliness about. It was good to sit and just give him time to connect and talk. It feels important.
· Knuckles sore – I am wondering about arthritis and inflammation. I went for a follow up hearing test today. It looks like I might need hearing aids in both ears. I can cope without but it was so much clearer with them in. It is more about preventing problems in later life than about hearing clearly now.
Friday 4th Aug 2023
· Ran to Friday Feeling group this morning. 8.8 miles altogether with the last mile barefoot. I could feel it stretching my feet and ankles out.
· There were 8 of us this morning. Good to go steady and chat to start the day.
· I have just registered myself with English Masters and as a qualifier in the Chester and Manchester marathons. I don’t think that I will be selected but the 3hrs 20 min qualifying time is something good to aim for. It set me off looking at a world of masters running that I was not aware of. There is a track 10k that I fancy. Never done one before. What a scary challenge.
· I found out that my Catforth 5k time of 19 mins 51 pouts me 440th nationally in my age group rankings. I didn’t know they existed either. That was higher than I thought.
Saturday 5th Aug
· Woke up with some arch discomfort in right foot. Barefoot mile was lovely in the rain this morning. Running through puddles feels therapeutic.
· Really looking forward to Parkrun volunteering this morning. Very genuinely looking forward to cheering on people. All with personal stories.
Sunday 6th Aug 23
· Riverside Half marathon today. Really looked forward to it. A flat grind of a race which I seem to quite like. Ran well within myself to start with and found that hard. 7:10 pace throughout which was faster than the 7:30 I planned to run. Averaged 7:09 so judged it pretty well. Started to struggle at about 8.5 miles. I feel like my strength is weak in my hips and. Last 2 miles brutal. Ran them at 7:30 pace. Pleased with the 1 hrs 34 mins 16 secs. Blister in last few miles on left foot. I felt my engine was good though. I can tick the miles out, the body was letting it down.
· I made the effort to go and chat to people before the race. That is new for me. Worthwhile to make connections. Also did a bit of that during the race with a chap from new Zealand.
· I listened to Richard Askwith’s interview The way of the runner podcast) on drive up. I was interested in the chat about being a runner and writer. Writing makes you more mindful so that you notice things. That is what this blog is about. They discussed how they recall things. AF said no-one can talk to him until he has written things down. I have piece of paper in pocket. It resonated with Mason and the discipline of noticing. They also talked about it being ‘Are you doing your best’ or just cruising. I think age is a red herring. It has always been about doing your best with what you have available. We are all given different bodies. I have never compared myself to Steve Cram, why would I compare my now self to my younger self. Different body available. Ibrahim – ‘Those days are gone’ and a new mountain to climb’. Ageing runners fit in that category of being in a valley yearning after the old days. We need a new mountain.
· Whilst categorising my first set of papers on ageing and running, I have used the word ‘mortality’. Perhaps ‘longevity’ would be a better word.
Monday 7th Aug 23
· My first literature search has given me a flavour of what is out there. It now about digging into each section. I have 2 things going on: Lifestyle which enables me to run and then does that running impact on my longevity (perhaps and better word than mortality) – I am running a virtuous circle. Run for health, heath for running.
· I listened to a Way of the Runner podcast with Jo Pavey – She talked about nutrition and athletes eating with a purpose. First 20 mins after a run being about a sports drink or bar and then within 60-90 mins a good meal. Body needs to rebuild. I need to know more and plan ahead. This is one of the lifestyle things an ageing runner needs to build in. We can learn from elite athletes in a way that I didn’t realise. I need to care for my body like an elite athlete. What does Jo Pavey eat and what strength training did she do?
· Ran 7.5 miles tonight with Monday Milers. Nice to run and chat. Running alongside someone who said that joining a club has meant that they can meet people and the running gives you something in common. It was something that they struggled with but it has given them confidence in social situations. That resonated greatly with me. I can back and added #RunChatSmile to my twitter handle.
Tuesday 8th Aug 23
· Ran 8.6 miles this morning. Legs better than I thought but I am and tired and running with some anxiety about doing too much. It is a payoff between having a challenge and anxiety.
· Listened to The Way of Runner Podcast with Jae Gruenke (Feldenkrais) – She thinks that weakness doesn’t cause injury. Movement causes injury, it is about moving correctly. Movement then leads to strength. What resonated with me was the fact that we shouldn’t be thinking about our form, that is why most running form coaches don’t work. They can’t be with you all the time. I realised that after some of those types of session. It led to me taking off my shoes. She feels that strength training has its place but most is not beneficial.
· Read a post about HR as a training tool. I have no real knowledge of it and did a quick google. My max HR Is 167 just on age. My max HR in races (according to my Garmin) is about 170 although it does go up from that in finishes and on inclines. The ‘tempo’ runs that I have been enjoying are at about 155 -160 bpm. That seems a useful bit of info for me as I try and find that sweet spot where I feel awesome, lose myself and feel relaxed for hours afterwards.
· I found a track session at Horwich RMI. I stood and watched and chatted to a few runners as they rested. I can see myself fitting into this group. They were all on it and taking it seriously. I felt very relaxed here amongst these runners. I reflected on my increasing confidence as I left.
