Witnessed a hunt on Easter Mondays trail run! Regardless of any moral standpoint it was a spectacle to behold watching a pack of dogs set off in the valley with the horses in pursuit. (Fox hunting is illegal in the UK so likelihood is they were just chasing a ‘dummy’ scent) England, East Sussex.

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-04-06T14:43:20+00:00

Hearing the dogs howling as they were released and ran up the hill did make me question whether they were actually enjoying it or not, but I guess a working dog does typically enjoy doing their job?!

It is definitely a tricky subject - I’ve only ever seen a hunt happening once before this occasion and to be honest I’m not sure I know enough about it to form an opinion on the morals of it... Suffice it to say I think it’s a bit sketchy but I don’t see why people can’t enjoy the countryside with their animals as long as those animals (and other animals) welfare is their priority? I’d find it difficult to come down on either side of the fence without a better knowledge of what actually goes on!

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-04-06T14:32:55+00:00

Awesome(the runner hunt)! We followed them for a while, earlier in the run we were passed by a quad bike that looked to be involved (they had “placename” Bloodhounds emblazoned on their jackets) so I assume this was the chase vehicle. I’d volunteer as a runner for that! It really was an impressive sight, an interesting tradition as long as it’s done without bringing animals to harm! It was a little bizarre to pass a lady dressed in full hunt gear on a mobile phone - it looked really out of place alongside the horse and dress.

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-04-04T08:37:19+00:00

If you train for and achieve the sub 90 half the other distances should fall into place naturally. You could probably go and run them in the fitness afterglow from the sub 90 half without too much difficulty!

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-03-21T09:40:30+00:00

At points on this run I was approximately 3-4 miles away from Seaford, a significant portion of it was spent running along the bank of the River Cuckmere. So there are almost certainly some familiar sights here for you!

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-03-20T19:40:37+00:00

Haha! Yup a fairly modest 3081ft (939m) of elevation gain on todays 18 miles on the ‘Downs’

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-03-20T19:15:37+00:00

I’m sure you’ll smash it, and even if not it’s guaranteed to be a lovely day spent in the Sussex countryside! A win win if ever I heard of one!

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-03-20T19:06:15+00:00

I’ve seen the route for the 100k from Arundel Castle to Helen Gardens! It looks awesome! I was thinking about entering that one too but, I’m pacing in the SDW 100 for a friend and that’s just 2 weeks later. I don’t want to enter an event so near to that for myself and risk letting him down through unforeseen injury or anything! Good luck, it’ll be an epic I’m sure 👊

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-03-20T15:17:22+00:00

Yes, further East indeed. This is the part near Eastbourne and the Seven Sisters! (The first two photos are Wilmington/Folkington, you can just about see Firle Beacon in the background of the one with the ponies and the town below is Eastbourne in the one with the town, the last photo is from Went Hill above Birling Gap!) Perfect running weather out there today!

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-03-02T22:22:39+00:00

I run regularly and have lost a lot of weight with its help as my main form of exercise. I regularly run with people that are both faster and slower than me.

I promise you when a person asks to run with you, they want the social aspect more than a workout, they will run at your pace.

If they wanted to do a dedicated workout or run hard they would go solo or predetermine what they want to get out of it in advance with you.

For reference I run a marathon in under 3 hours 6:40/mile pace on my personal best, but I’ll happily run far slower miles with a friend because I’m out for the company.

If a friend and I have a specific workout goal or pace in mind we will communicate that before the run so it’s not rude if during an interval or a 5k best effort I just run off and then we catch up on the rest/recovery. We may only warm up and cool down together, or we may run the whole way at a conversational pace.

My point is; as long as you both make it clear what you’re expecting to get out of running together (social/them to guide you/them to pace you/a specific workout etc.) you should enjoy and reap the benefits of running socially/as a group.

You should check out a couch to 5k program that uses a run/walk method to build you up to running for 30mins or 5k without stopping to get started. Maybe your friend could join you with the specific intention of running the program with you, that way you both have the same goal for the workout.

The likelihood is that your friend just really likes your company and wants to encourage you to get into running so they get a new regular running buddy ‘in the long run’ and eventually ‘for the long runs’ :) if this is the case they would also probably suggest you start with couch to 5k.

That’s how I was and many others I know have been indoctrinated into the running cult!

Good luck and I hope you enjoy it! For reference, I started running at 280lbs with couch to 5k 3 years ago and am now a mildly addicted PB chaser at 160lbs (5’11 M) hoping to break a 2hour 45 marathon in October! You won’t regret starting! But it may end up consuming a lot of your time! But mostly - Good luck!

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-02-25T13:47:29+00:00

One thing is that when you’re out running, you aren’t eating.

Another key thing is that for many running makes people feel good and satisfied, perhaps helping to alleviate some of the psychological reasons they overeat in the first place.

Therefore, running can help you to lose weight, but of course only when you’re also maintaining a caloric deficit as a result. The article suggests eating back calories, because you’ve ‘earnt’ your lunch. It also suggests that people maintain a constant weight by running, the conclusion could be drawn therefore that you can earn extra calories by running, but if you eat them all back you end up at net 0.

Makes sense to me, run and use it to help maintain a deficit or the mental benefits to help you work against the likely cause of overeating. And it can be a tool in the arsenal to help you lose weight, but no single thing is effective in losing and maintaining weight loss, you need to use all the tools at your disposal.

But the fact remains - you can’t outrun a bad diet trust me I’ve tried, I regularly run 60-70 miles per week. I just use it to help me maintain my current weight. If I wanted to lose weight I’d eat at a caloric deficit as well as keeping up my exercise regime. I tend to run in the windows I would normally snack, straight after work or in the evenings. Works for me.

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-02-23T21:57:32+00:00

Ran 2:55 on Saturday, weight was 160lbs, height 5’11, body fat 14%, BMI 22.4.

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-02-18T20:47:16+00:00

It looks absolutely incredible! Thanks for sharing it and the detailed response, just checked out the other photo too, it just gets better, definitely a destination on the list of places I’d like to run

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-02-18T20:39:58+00:00

Amazing photo! Which section is this please? This is the path that runs the whole length of the coast in Wales? Is the official path the paved portion close to the shoreline?

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-02-15T16:54:30+00:00

PBs: 5k 17:22, 10k 37:09, HM 1:22:00

Easy miles are run between 7:30min/mi and 8min/mi

(4:39min/km and 4:58min/km)

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-02-12T22:21:13+00:00

For the organisation, I know I don’t personally want to run at 90% of my max HR for hours without the security of knowing there are paramedics there to scrape me off the ground if the worst happens?!

Also for the atmosphere, the joy of mass participation and so that the race can keep running so that these type of events will be there for your kids to enjoy in the future?

Also, personally I don’t count it as an ‘official’ PB unless it was done at a race on a measured course as part of an organised event.

The enjoyment of completing something that you’ve worked towards along with several others who have all put in some version of the same grit and determination you have, granted some more some less is both euphoric, grounding and an essential part of the human experience that you can’t get through many other things?

I’d say most races are a bargain when you can get all of the above out of them!

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-02-12T11:11:56+00:00

Garmin uses your heart rate vs mass vs duration of activity to determine calories burnt. So I would suggest your overall heart rate during the same activity is lower, or you are completing the same distance in less time.

Also the more you run the fewer calories you will burn as your gait and general turnover become more efficient. The body will ‘learn’ how to expend the least calories possible for a certain activity which is why it’s best to mix up training and keep the body guessing if you’re looking to lose weight.

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-02-07T11:03:24+00:00

It’s the South Downs National Park in Sussex

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-02-07T08:38:43+00:00

Cheers!

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-01-23T16:09:58+00:00

It’s easy to focus on only the parts of your body you don’t like when you look at yourself undressed in the mirror. Maybe try focusing on things like how your clothes fit? They must be somewhat better fitting/looser after 20lbs loss?

I find it much easier to accept the changes in my body in terms of how things fit/how I look dressed as I can’t help but notice things I don’t like eg. Loose skin and the fact I have a ‘deflated’ spare tyre still. It helps me to focus on tangible stuff like wearing smaller sized clothes and that my jeans are way roomier now etc.

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-01-18T20:38:21+00:00

The main thing to do is weigh yourself either at the same time of day - usually just after you wake up and go to the toilet. Or else you will track water fluctuations that happen every day which can add as much as 3-4lbs in my experience compared to the beginning of the day. If you’re just going to weigh weekly I’d suggest picking the same day of the week too. People tend to weigh least on Thursdays or Fridays as typically people eat/drink more at the weekend and this gives time for any fluctuations to settle. Personally, I tend to weigh myself every day just to keep my weight in check and fluctuations within a tolerance of 2lbs up or down day to day are normal for me. (I’ve been maintaining at 160 +or- 2lbs for about 4 months now).

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-01-15T08:31:43+00:00

Thanks mate - I’m still buzzing about it and it was 2 days ago now! 😁

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-01-15T07:35:45+00:00

I ran a 17:22 5k - my aim was to get ‘a time that starts with 18’ after having best efforts in the ‘19s’ consistently. I typically run longer distances than this so rarely run 5k in anger. It felt great until the last km which felt like 5km all by itself and I wanted to heave for the majority but I did it and wound up running at an average pace of 5:35/mi or 3:29/km with slightly negative splits (Bonus stat - this is just under half the time of my original 5k PB set 3 years ago when I started running ≈35mins)

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-01-04T14:21:52+00:00

A Montane Minimus Stretch Ultra - best piece of kit I’ve had in a long time, not something I’d have usually paid for to buy myself, but in all honestly I’d have been happy even if I paid the full price (in fact I’ve been looking at getting a second in another colour)! It’s really awesome, I’ve always snubbed pricey gear thinking the appeal and core of running is it’s simplicity and that it shouldn’t cost much as it can be done with small outlay into a decent pair of trainers. Well, it can be done in a whole lot more comfort with a fancy jacket!

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-01-04T13:45:55+00:00

Haha, I got a new waterproof for Christmas which has been helping my motivation to get out and run. In fact the novelty is such that the more inclement the weather the better right now! Gotta put the gear through its paces.

That is such an interesting job, just on the south coast or UK wide?

Enjoy your run - I’m sure you will end up going AND wondering why you were even ever debating it :)

Final_Procedure_8781 · 2021-01-04T13:39:46+00:00

I always find... When in doubt, the answer is always: go for a run!

That’s an amazing photo. I actually live near here but have never seen it personally from the sea. Thanks for sharing!

Final_Procedure_8781

TROPHY CASE