Category: Uncategorized

So, running… how’s it going for me? 

Dare I even THINK the thought that running is going OK at the moment. In fact, this year has been really good. Like really good. Without jumping the gun too much, because we are still in November here, 2017 has been one of my best running years. Not necessarily because I hit all my PB’s. In fact, I’ve only achieved one PB this year (finally a decent 10 miler at the Great South Run). No, my running has been good because I have only been injured TWICE.

1:13:23 at the GSR

OK now that might sound a lot to all you hardy lucky runners who rarely get injured but for me this is I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E. The first niggle (not really an injury even) was straight after the Tokyo Marathon when I decided to go and do a crazy tough 7 miler across rough terrain and managed to aggravate my ankle. It kept me out of running for about a week. So pretty good for my standard.The second was indeed an injury and was down to me being stupid and wanting to run ALL THE MILES at the Austria Run Camp. I still don’t regret it as at the time it was amazing. But when I got home my knee was really not happy with me and I had to take off 2-3 weeks of running.

These two injuries are so much better than things that I’ve had in the past; hip niggles, IT band issues, shin pain… which were insidious and seemingly never ending. One thing after another which stop-started my running so much.

I don’t think I’m in the clear or that I’ve become a different person entirely though. I do still believe I’m injury-prone. I’m not so arrogant to believe that I won’t get injured tomorrow, because believe me I’m constantly waiting for the Running God to sniper me down at any point. However, I do believe I’ve helped myself avoid niggles that I might easily have picked up before.

I know I always say this but strength training really is my saviour. I go to the gym four times a week and two of those sessions are focused on my legs and glutes. I also spend 10-15 minutes before EVERY gym session doing some dynamic stretching, foam rolling tight spots and doing resistance band work for my glutes, such as monster walks. Basically what my physio and sports massage therapists have always told me to do…For my ‘legs day’ at the gym I focus on squats (switching every other week between high volume and lower weights to high weights and lower volume), both single, conventional and other variations, lunges, step-ups and things like that. For glutes I do heavy hip thrusts, runner pulls, glute kickbacks, curtsy lunges and deep sumo squats. I also keep my core strength tip-top with planks and leg lifts (as well as compound strength moves which work the entire body).

The proof is in the pudding… injuries being few and far between. I feel more smooth in my running – and stronger. I can stand on one leg with my eyes closed and not fall over (try it). I can feel my glutes helping me out and after a marathon I can feel they’ve been worked, rather than when I finished my first marathon and it was all in my quads.

I’m 100% not saying I’m the strongest runner, or that I’m amazing or anything as absurd as that. I still have a HUGE respect for the marathon – and running in general. And when I’m running strong I do feel the creeping doubt of, “but when will this end?”. I know injury is never that far away from me. But for the moment, I’m reveling in this happy time and am so so grateful for every run I get to do.

And now let’s go to the completely counter-intuitive and Stupid Anna Decision. I’ve signed up to do the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon in December…as a sort of “Stepping stone” marathon before Dubai (they’ve just over a month apart). It was sold out but luckily I got a place from a running friend who can no longer run it.

OK I hear you saying “Anna, whhhhhy! You’re going to get injured”. Yes. Fair point entirely. But! I’m going to run it like I ran the New Forest Marathon. 9 minute miles, ‘easy’ running, nothing stupid. I need to put to bed the final demon of my running past. Bournemouth Marathon – check. The Great South Run – check. Gosport Half Marathon – almost check… (PLEASE HOLD ON). And the Portsmouth Coastal… the first marathon I signed up to. And my first DNS. It’s supposed to be a very low-key, chilled out affair. Yes the weather is likely to be horrendous, your feet risk getting wet in some of the coastal paths… but I want to do it. I might be being incredibly stupid. I give everyone the full right to say “I told you so, you idiot”.

When was your last injury?

How do you stay injury-free?

After running Southsea parkrun twice I thought I’d do a review of it. I feel quite close to Southsea in a weird way at the moment (both physically and, er, spiritually?). I recently ran the Great South Run (which starts in Southsea and runs a good portion around there) and I also work in Portsmouth, where Southsea is located. Not only this but a lot of the people I work with come from that area. So here’s my parkrun review.Location: Located on the Southsea promenade, the course begins at Speakers Corner by Rocksby’s Café. It’s very close to the Pyramids (and, for those who know it well like myself, a mile away from The Tenth Hole café). It’s about three miles from Gunwharf Quays (and the Gosport Ferry).Parking: There’s lots of parking all around Southsea (FYI it does require parallel parking. As someone who isn’t so great at this, it’s handy to know in advance!). Very close to the parkrun start you will need to pay and display. However, if you park further away (closer to The Tenth Hole) it’s free.

Amenities: There are no toilets. I repeat, NO toilets. It’s all very open so getting a wild wee somewhere is also very tricky. There are cafés about the place but I think it’s rude to use their facilities and not buy something… For after parkrun though brunch spots and cake opportunities are vast. Even a cheeky ice cream! It’s very much your traditional British seaside town.Elevation: Flat as a pancake. Not even a slight incline.

Course: The course runs along the prom, past the Southsea Pier, for 1.5 miles, then you do a U-turn and head back exactly the same way 1.5 miles.

The sharp turn will break your stride of course, and because it’s straight along the seafront with very little cover, you will be subject to the elements. When it’s windy, you will know about it. So although the elevation is a PB dream, any quick times could easily be destroyed by a windy day. If you’re familiar with the Great South Run or the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon, the final miles are similar. Despite this, the views are lovely of the sea and you can smell the tasty fodder from the different cafés you run past. It’s all on tarmac.Number of participants: There are regularly 300-400 runners. It can be a bit tricky at the start as everyone is so bunched up and promenade isn’t that wide. However, once you get going within half a mile or so everyone has diffused out and there’s more space to overtake or find your footing a bit easier. But prepare for a few elbows and tricky navigations at the start.

The volunteers, as at most parkruns, are very friendly. Though there weren’t a huge number of volunteers like at some parkruns and I think this is mainly due to the fact that the course is so self-contained and simple it really doesn’t need many. I do enjoy Southsea parkrun when I do it but I couldn’t do it every week as it’s not hugely exciting in terms of the course and though the flatness is great I do like a bit of variation. What I like though is that you can see people running the other direction as it’s an out-and-back. I find that quite good to take your mind off of things.To keep up to date, Southsea parkrun Twitter is @Southseaparkrun  and check-out their Facebook page. And of course, the parkrun website.

If you’d like to write a parkrun review for this parkrun or any other one you’ve been to, please contact me: annatheapple@gmail.com I’d love more input! 

Do you prefer flat, fast but not particularly exciting or more undulating and interesting courses?

Have you ever been to Southsea?

Do you enjoy seaside parkruns?

As you know, I’m a big fan of parkrun. I’ve done 144 (officially… though actually 149 but those five don’t count because they were on a different old account which I can’t transfer over; this will never stop annoying me). I’ve done 28 different ones: 27 from the UK and one from the States (Clermont Waterfront, Orlando). I’ve done most of the ones around me but still there are a few within a 30-40 minute radius I need to get done.

The best time I’ve ever done is 20:06 (my 5k PB – I rarely ever run actual 5k races), but that was from back in 2015. I feel like when I’m in the 21’s I’m in good shape and in the 20s in really good shape (and probably about to get injured…).

But I digress. I’ve got onto the cool parkrun tourism list (you have to have done at least 20 parkruns within the UK to appear on the list) and now I’m ready for another challenge: the parkrun alphabet challenge.The parkrun alphabet challenge is a popular one. But it’s also really tricky. Well, actually I guess it’s tricky for some more than others depending on where you live and how accessible different parkruns are to you.I worked out I have 12 left to do (‘X’ doesn’t count apparently as there are none at the moment). The tricky ones I think for most people (again, depending on where you live) are ”I, ‘J’ and ‘Z’. The only ‘I’ I’m aware of is Ipswich. ‘Z’ is Zary in Poland. And ‘J’ is Jersey. So it’s not going to be easy! I plan to do ‘Q’ (Queen Elizabeth Country Park) next month… but I still have ‘D’ (Didcot?), ‘J’, ‘K’, ‘O’ (Oxford?), ‘T’, ‘U’ (Upton House in Bournemouth?), ‘V’, ‘Y’.

There are some bucket list parkruns I’d like to get done eventually as well, like Bushy Park (the first ever parkrun) which I’ve never done. I’m annoyed I missed the Paris one when I was there for the marathon as it didn’t exist then… and the one in San Francisco. Hopefully I can go and do the one in Berlin though when it’s set up as one of my best friends has family there and I love going to Berlin (think I’ve been six times now).

I’ve just had a look to see what parkruns are available now in America (I think the first one was the Orlando one I’ve done) and I’ve spotted Leakin Park in Baltimore… is that the same one from the Serial Podcast? It would be interesting one I guess!These sorts of parkrun challenges encompass everything I love about running in general: seeing new places, meeting new people, ticking off something from a list and the whole parkrun ethos and “happy vibes”. I don’t particularly care about times – and this is true for most of my running. Yes it’s nice to get a PB or be in the ballpark for “being in good shape” but most of the time I just want to run it and enjoy it. Each parkrun is unique and lovely. The course, the people and the individual quirks.

My next five weekends are doing different parkruns than my usual Netley. Not all will be new ones but will involve meeting up with friends and then going for coffee or whatever after – it’s my perfect Saturday morning. I just love doing this sort of thing.By the end of the year I’ll have gotten ‘Q’ done, which will leave 11 letters left, but then I’ll need to do a bit more organising to get the others done. I definitely foresee some day trips to other parts of the UK, and hopefully a trip to Poland eventually! I feel very excited about things to come 😊

Do you have any running challenges?

How many letters of the parkrun alphabet do you have left to do?

I know so many people who would cringe and run in terror from such a thought. Moving back home after being free and independent for so many years. What am I doing?

After having now lived at home, yes with my parents, for almost four weeks now I feel like I can reflect and give some thoughts on this now. These thoughts might change after months of living there (dare I say after a year? Long-term plans are semi-hazy right now). I haven’t lived at home since I finished university. From there I saved up (with my then partner) to buy a house and we moved out. It has been five or six years since I lived at home. A lot has changed.

Firstly, no my parents don’t make me dinner. I buy my own food and, like being at university, have my own fridge shelf and my own cupboards. I don’t eat their food (unless they’re not going to eat it before it goes-off) and they don’t eat mine (my food never goes off, I’m the queen of no waste ;)).

I have my own bedroom and my own bathroom. Yes, I’m very lucky to have parents who are a) so generous and b) privileged in their life (they both have and continue to work hard to earn this).

They also don’t do my laundry. Or clean my bedroom or bathroom (though they do have a cleaner that does the bathrooms…again, my parents both work and decided a while ago to spend money rather than time on these things). I maintain as much independence as I can. I tidy up after myself, I do jobs around the house, I look after their dogs and they look after Alfie.

It goes without saying that I’m very lucky to have parents that I get along with and who are very generous and accommodating. I will add though that my mum couldn’t be more pleased that I’m home. My dad is as well but my mum… another level.

During the week I don’t really see that much of them. Four days a week I’m out of the house before 6am to go to the gym and I get ready for work there and I eat my breakfast at the office.When I get home I walk Alfie and then make my dinner. If my parents are cooking dinner, I’ll wait until they finish as it’d be far too hectic and chaotic in the kitchen. This just means I wait for a convenient time to slot in. I don’t mind and try always to give my parents priority.

Then they head off and do what they do in an evening and I head off and do what I do in an evening. That might be me going somewhere with friends (far more easy now that Alfie has company) or chilling in the conservatory with YouTube, a TV programme or blogging etc. before I head to bed around 9ish (I get up ridiculously early).

At the weekend I’m usually off somewhere seeing friends, out running or something like that, but on the odd occasion I’m not doing anything it’s actually nice to potter around the house and have company. Or go on a walk with all the dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I loved living alone and I don’t mind my own company but it’s actually really nice to be around my family again…I’d ring my parents probably every day so to speak to them face-to-face, even just about how their day went, is really nice.

So I’m very happy right now. Obviously there will be bumps in the road ahead but so far things are great. The small voice in my head that tells me I’m a loser or that I’ve failed or wonders about what friends I went to school with think has quietened down. It’s still there and I still get embarrassed when I say “I live with my parents” but do you know what? I’m a million times more happy and if someone thinks that’s laughable or silly or pathetic then I don’t have time for them. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff and not be happy.

When did you last live at home?

Could you live with your parents again?

Do you like your own company?