Tag Archives: Training & Tips

What should you do when you get injured? I’m not talking ice, rest, compress etc. This isn’t going to be a medical advice post – Mum’s the only doctor in Veggie Runners, and she’s a doctor of philosophy, so not much good for a broken ankle or other injuries. This post is talking about things to do in the weeks after your injury, when you don’t hurt too much any more, are prowling around the house like a feral cat, and still have 4 weeks until the doctor says you can run again.

I’m out of commission on doctor’s orders for 6 weeks (nothing serious!), and I’m halfway through. My doctors say I’m allowed to start ‘light jogging’ again in 20 and a half days… Not that I’m counting, or anything. I was feeling pretty down, and lethergic until bedtime when all of a sudden I wouldn’t be able to sleep. A plan of action was needed!

This post looks at the things that I’m doing to stop myself going totally coco bananas in the house. I hope that they will help you too if you’re currently not able to get out and do whatever exercise you normally love.

• Read Chi Running by Danny Dwyer. The book takes the concepts of mindfulness normally associated with yoga or t’ai chi and applies them to running. Not only will you feel more zen about your rest time away from running, the tips on best running form will mean you’ll be less likely to go crazy and injure yourself when you start up running again!
• Know your limitations, but try to keep your strength up within them. I’m lifting light weights, doing the plank and walking as much as I can so I don’t atrophy and fall on my face when I start running again.
• Take the 30 Day Happiness Challenge to counteract the loss of the endorphin boosts that you usually enjoy. I’m only on day 6 of the challenge, but I’m really enjoying the chance to focus on what my brain, and not my body, is capable of. All you need to do is meditate each day, do one kind thing for others, and keep a gratitude journal. These are all things that are recommended by Action for Happiness, an international movement for positive social change.
• Volunteer your time. A) you’ll have a bit more time on your hands and B) doing things for others will make you feel happy. If you want to keep in the running community, you could volunteer your time as a race marshall, as Mum did last summer. I’m helping with my local Rainbows – such a nice way to give back to the community while feeling great too.

Are you injured at the moment? What are you doing to feel less bad about not getting to go out? 

By Sarah Leitch

Do you ever fancy running into the distance, instead of in circles? And what about running alongside mountains and rivers instead of round the park? I’ve been doing just that recently, in the Scottish Highlands where I live. I love the idea of travelling on foot along the old pathways here. I’ve found that with good training and some advance planning long distance runs like this can be hugely rewarding.

Running about 20 miles a day, I’ve recently run the Great Glen Way (Inverness to Fort William, 79 miles) and the West Highland Way (Fort William to Glasgow, 96 miles). There’s plenty of accommodation en route as these are well established walking routes. There’s also plenty of fresh clean water on the way so you don’t have to carry lots of fluid.

Running from one map reference to another has  given me a tremendous sense of achievement. I’ve seen a lot  of wildlife (although too many midges and one scary cow ) but few people, which is just the way I like it. There’s some amazing scenery in Scotland and I’d thoroughly recommend treating yourself to an away-from-it all running adventure like this.

If you’re thinking of doing this, here’s my handy guide –

• Long distance runs like this take a fair bit of planning. You need to ensure you have the right supplies with you when you need them. I post things ahead to the place I’m staying at. (See my 96 Miles of Madness post for a list of what we sent in advance – Janey).
• There are plenty of B&Bs and hotels along established walking routes like these. I opt to stay in youth hostels though – they’re much cheaper and, let’s face it, all you need is a shower, a clean bed and something to eat before you crash out. You can get private rooms if you want them and they also rent towels (so you don’t have to carry one with you). Full details can be found on the Scottish Youth Hostel Association website.
• Carry as little as possible while you’re running. The weight of your rucksack is directly proportional to the amount of enjoyment you will get out of a 20+ mile run. Trust me on this!
• Think about how much food you need and what kind. Protein bars, drinks powders, energy gels and the like are in short supply in the wilderness. There are rare shopping opportunities so you definitely need  to carry some sustenance with you.
• You have to be prepared for all sorts of terrain and weather. Make sure you have a waterproof jacket as well as your lightweight running gear. Remember too that you may have to jog or walk some of it. You may even need to scramble some bits.
• Make sure you have the right shoes and a warm sweater to put on when you stop.
• It’s helpful to do some hill training in advance.
• You have to let go of some things.
• You may not always have dry feet  (or any part of you, for that matter).
• You may have to eat some unhealthy Scottish things.
• It’s best to run outside of Scottish midge season ( i.e. not July to September).
• As it is not an army training exercise, include some time for stops to rest up and to enjoy the scenery.

I’m going to be leading running holidays in Scotland next year. If you can’t wait until the company is up and running, as it were, and you decide to DIY, I hope these tips come in handy. If you have any thoughts about what I should take into account as I plan the runs, let me know via the comments section below. Thanks.

 Sarah Leitch is an ex city dweller and a self-employed consultant specialising in the care of autistic children,  a vegetarian wild food forager (thewesthighlandforager.com) and  a trainee massage therapist. Now living in the Highlands with her family and many other animals, she runs most days in the mountains and forests with Betty the collie dog.