Oh dear, so I knew this would happen if I joined a running blog weekly wrap. Yes, I am going to have to admit I ran ONCE this week and only 7 miles. However, there were extenuating circumstances.
Monday – Because I’d not run long at the weekend, having run last on Saturday, I arranged to go out for a long run with my friend Claire. As well as being one for consuming egg sandwiches during marathons and having introduced me to pea protein crisps (well, the idea of them), she’s also keen on going off-road and doing all those amazing races where you climb up, over and through stuff. Fair play to her – not for me! Anyway, we wanted a shady run as it was HOT so set off to get onto the canals, which I now fear less – hooray (I have a horrible fear of getting tipped into the canal by a bike).
So off we went and it was lovely, so peaceful, just a few cyclist and walkers who said hello. We then came off the canals and started to trace a route through lots of shady and pleasant park and recreation ground bits, very nice. We reached an area that was grassy paths and Claire apologised for taking me off-road. “Oh, no, it’s FINE,” said I, “I’m not training for anything and I need to get used to traily stuff in case I ever do an ultra”.
And with that, I caught the rubber toe bit of my right trainer under some weird mesh/plastic stuff that was on the ground to keep it from getting slippy (oh, the irony). BAM I went down. And swore, a lot, and cried when I’d picked myself up a bit (are you a swearer or cryer when you fall? I swore when my friend Louise fell when she was with me and she didn’t even – oops!). I knew I wasn’t hurt badly but we couldn’t work out if I’d hit my head (I think I did, but on my arm), so Claire very kindly got me up, dusted me down and walked with me to the nearest bus route. We were right in the domain of our sister running club, Bournville Harriers, and I was hoping for a Bournvillian to magically appear and take me home, but we got the number 11.
I got off with a scraped and bruised left elbow and right forearm and a scraped and bruised left knee, and a bit of a twisted left ankle and a bruised left hip. I had a lot of lower back pain later in the week, I think from twisting. But falling on a grassy surface meant no gravel or dirt to clean out. I think Claire felt worse than me – it’s awful when someone falls on a run you’ve planned, isn’t it! But no blame attached: these things happen. Three falls in about 17 years of running isn’t bad …
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do yoga as I just was too sore and there were too many parts I didn’t want to press onto the ground. It’s been really HOT in the UK, so it’s not been a bad week not to run. I did rip my trainers irrevocably – why is it always fairly new trainers???
Saturday – I volunteered at parkrun (I was supposed to be leading Run and Talk afterwards but was still a bit sore. We had a special guest – the amazing Mr Fauja Singh, 107 years old and a record-breaking marathon runner. His marathon time aged 92 beat mine aged 46! He was attending parkrun today along with loads of lovely runners from the Ramgarhia Sikh Temple in central Birmingham who have completed a Couch to 5k programme and were running their first 5k today. What an honour to cheer them (and everyone else, of course) round!
After this I went over to the Alexander Stadium with Matthew to watch the British Athletics Championships over two days. What a marvellous two days this was, even though it was really hot. Here are some photos of the events.
I’m feeling a lot better now and hoping to try a run early Monday morning as I’m tail-running for our running club’s 4-miler on Tuesday night … wish me luck!
Miles this week: 7.6
Progress towards 1,000 miles in the year: 503 miles (yay – more than on track still!)
Jul 01, 2018 @ 22:25:12
That must have been so much fun to watch the event! Hope you have a better week
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 09:36:26
Yes, it was wonderful – we are so lucky to have this stadium in our city where we get lots of athletics action. I’m already having a better running week, thank you, in that I went for a run this morning and managed to stay upright! Hope you have a good one, too!
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Jul 01, 2018 @ 22:47:13
It is very ironic that you tripped over something that was placed on the ground to keep you from slipping. I’m glad you weren’t seriously hurt. And, swearing helps! Ha ha. How fun you were able to meet Mr. Singh (I can’t believe he is 107!) and attend the British Athletic Championship games. You’ve had an exciting weekend. Thanks for linking!
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 09:40:08
It is, really, isn’t it! Not as good as the time they introduced those paving slabs with raised dots to help people with vision impairments know there’s a crossing coming up and I tripped over some and fell into the road! That wasn’t a running incident though. I’m glad I got to SEE some running at the weekend, even if I didn’t do any myself!
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Jul 01, 2018 @ 22:58:00
Oh, Liz. You’ve been in the wars. I think it’s natural to cry with shock when something like that happens. Hope the cuts, bruises, aches and pains soon heal. 🌻
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 09:40:48
Thank you. I still have some grazes and bruises but seem find for running, thank goodness: went out this morning to test myself out as I’m tail running for the running club tomorrow!
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Jul 01, 2018 @ 23:55:28
I’m so awestruck that you got to meet Mr Singh!!! Was he nice? Chill? Or all egotistic? I’m glad you are ok after you wiped out. Do I cry or swear? Let me think back to my bike crash…I cried, but only after a nice man helped me up.
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 09:42:13
He was lovely, very down-to-earth. I didn’t get to speak to him but my friend Suki did and said he was very cool. I did think about your bike smash and how badly you were knocked about and told myself you’d got through that and I would get through this, esp as I wasn’t so badly off.
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 00:14:53
Wow, I just find runners so impressive! I’m run about 2 miles once three times a week, so I’d definitely not describe it as only 7 miles 🙂 And your guest running marathons at over 100 – wow.
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 09:43:28
You know what, that was a bit silly of me to say that. I do this link up with all these amazing runners who do ultras and massive training runs – but none of them would say BAH only 7 miles about my running, so why should I? I’m lucky to be able to do it – and even more lucky coming back from my fall – I felt very grateful on my two mile test run today. Mr Singh was amazing – so sprightly!
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 00:51:58
Sorry to hear about your fall, glad it wasn’t too serious.
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 09:37:12
Thank you! I do seem to have bounced back this time – I went for an early run this morning and felt fine. Phew! Hope you have a good running week.
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 02:56:14
Great photos, and I love the story of Mr. Singh – such a lifelong passion. Puts Amby Burfoot’s idea of having run forever in his 70s to shame 😀
Glad you’re mostly OK. Whether I cry or swear depends on how much my pride is wounded. Knock on wood I’ve not physically hurt myself enough to cry running
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 09:44:16
Ha – you know what? He STARTED running aged 80! What a legend! I’m glad you’ve not had any running falls – I’ve had 3 in 17 years so not so bad.
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 05:53:45
Nice photos! How close were you to the action?
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 09:45:16
Thank you – we were 4 rows back and right by the triple / long jump pit so got a great view of everything except the finish and some of the field stuff. I have a good camera with a great zoom but I tried to only get one good photo of each event and enjoy the rest of the action.
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 11:26:27
Oh, no on your fall! I hope you are recovered. I fractured my foot tripping like that over a tree root a few summers ago. It was so frustrating. I’m usually speechless and then drop an f-bomb or two. 😉
That event looks so fun to see!
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 11:52:18
I was so lucky that my trainer caught the brunt of it, also falling on softer grass and earth (last two falls have been on a pavement and a park path) helped a lot. I’m glad we share that f-bomb. I was more embarrassed by crying!! And yes, it was superb fun, so good.
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 11:42:34
Oh my gosh…ouch to that nasty fall. I’d probably swear (then cry after I hobbled home). Thankfully, I’ve only fallen a couple of times, once was on a woody trail, and it seemed like it took 20 minutes to finally reach the ground when I knew I was going down…
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 11:53:27
Ah yes, I know what you mean. This time, I realised what was happening enough to think ohhhh and Claire saw it happen in slow motion, too, has she just tripped … oh, no. … Last time I just went splat tripping over a dog and had no idea till I was on the ground thinking “What? Oh, I’m broken”. I wasn’t broken this time.
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 13:36:46
Oh goodness – hope the injuries are fading! And yes, I would have been swearing and crying too – neither of which are dignified, but then falling over isn’t dignified. I once fell over a child when accompanying a school trip for my Youngest Child when she was small, and boy did I feel silly….
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 13:53:53
Oh no! So far I’ve run into an elderly gent and got knocked sideways up a drive and cracked a rib falling over a dog, so this one was quite benign! Feeling a lot better now and went out for a run this morning to check nothing’s got out of place – all fine!
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Amazing officials at the British Athletics Championships 30 June-01 July 2018 | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Jul 02, 2018 @ 18:04:27
Jul 02, 2018 @ 19:45:27
Ouchie to that fall 😦 I fell on a run last year. Of course it was on one of the busiest streets in my town. I don’t know what was hurt more – my knee or my ego!
It must have been awesome to watch that event – i love all of the photos!
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Jul 03, 2018 @ 04:29:09
Oh no – that must have been awful! I’ve fallen in more secluded places, thankfully, although both times I was on my own, someone picked me up and helped me. And yes, it was amazing, I tried to get one pic of each event and then just enjoy being able to see it all!
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Jul 02, 2018 @ 23:40:57
I’m so sorry you fell! That really throws a wrench in things. I hope you’re feeling better!
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Jul 03, 2018 @ 04:31:48
Thank you, and it does, but thankfully I seem to have recovered already, which is useful as I’m tail-running at our club run tonight!
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Jul 03, 2018 @ 16:49:22
Hope this week is better for you, and you’re feeling less bruised. Some great photos of the athletics though.
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Jul 04, 2018 @ 07:25:28
Thank you! Bruises and scabs have faded in the main and I’m running again. I did enjoy the athletics, so that was a bonus!
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Jul 04, 2018 @ 14:13:06
I’m glad your fall wasn’t any more serious than it was – you’re lucky! I fell about two feet from my Swiss ball to the floor landing on my bottom on Monday and was surprised at how stiff and sore I was when I woke up on Tuesday. Luckily, I’m feeling better and my race this morning wasn’t really affected by it.
How cool that you got to meet Fauja Singh! He really is amazing, isn’t he?
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Jul 05, 2018 @ 08:46:27
Oh, goodness, that has got to hurt, landing on your tail bone and everything – ouch! Glad your race was still OK – which one was that? and yes, it was very cool, I didn’t get to speak to him but was near him and some of my friends met him and said he was lovely. His programme to get people running has certainly worked!
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Jul 05, 2018 @ 03:41:40
Ouchy! Hope you’re on the mend and back out there soon. (And meeting Mr Singh – so jealous!)
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Jul 05, 2018 @ 08:52:34
Such an honour to see Mr Singh and all his runners – I hope they’re back this weekend (I MIGHT be running parkrun, so should get to see). And I’m fine, thank you – have been running as normal this week.
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Jul 06, 2018 @ 07:12:39
you don’t have to run every day or have tons of mileage to join a weekly fitness wrap 🙂 if that were the case I’d have to drop out occasionally! I’m really sorry you fell – it sucks if you fall just a little or just a lot and sometimes takes more time to recuperate from.
I am definitely a swearer and a cryer when I fall. Well I don’t always cry but I always swear. #sorrynotsorry
how AMAZING that Mr Singh was at your parkrun!! I wish our parkruns here in NL were more like the ones in the UK. Just weekly would be nice – to have special guests would be beyond a bonus!
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Jul 06, 2018 @ 07:20:37
Thank you for the reassurance! I just felt a bit silly joining in with my usual mileage then BAM, gone. I’m back on it this week, anyway, thank goodness, as I wasn’t badly hurt. Hooray for fellow-swearers!
And yes, it was lovely to have Mr Singh there. I’m hoping to run parkrun this week as part of my long run and looking forward to seeing some of his runners return to us. Sorry you don’t have proper parkruns where you are – there’s so much interest in them, too. Maybe it will happen in the future.
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Jul 08, 2018 @ 00:33:10
Oooh, that’s a hard fall! So far, I’ve had one nasty spill. Lots of blood and I still have the scar on my knee, but it was my pride that suffered the most.
I wish we had park runs here. They sound so great for the community.
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Jul 08, 2018 @ 06:23:26
Oh dear, not fun! I have a little lump on a rib where I cracked it in the fall before this one, so I got off pretty lightly this time – no scarring even! And yes, parkrun is great, pulls people together. I had fun running it this weekend (sneak preview!) and knowing most of the volunteers!
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Jul 23, 2018 @ 01:07:45
Sedate lady running 21-27 January 2019 #amrunning #running | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Jan 27, 2019 @ 18:30:55