{"id":27831,"date":"2021-01-06T20:16:52","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T19:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/?p=27831"},"modified":"2021-12-21T11:46:01","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T10:46:01","slug":"my-year-jeffing-and-how-it-helped-me-achieve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/06\/my-year-jeffing-and-how-it-helped-me-achieve\/","title":{"rendered":"My Year Jeffing and How it Helped me Achieve!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Well what a year 2020 was.  There is no doubt about it that exercise was a key part of my 2020. I would say that the National Lockdown really gave me the freedom to do more, but honestly we were quite active even before that. I also feel that really my new found love of jeffing really propelled me to run more than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How I started Jeffing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

New Year\u2019s Day meant the double Parkrun<\/a> for myself and my family. It was during the second one that I first seriously spoke to the local jeffing club leader about trying the technique. You see when I was doing a 10 mile race at the end of the year I had ended up signing up for a half marathon<\/a>. Which also happened to be right by a 10 mile race I had already signed up for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"jeffing\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From that first half marathon PB I have developed a love of jeffing ever since. I jeffed the next 10 mile race (with a 10:05 min\/mile pace). Then joined in with the local jeffing sessions. This included doing a charity jeff to raise money for a lady doing the Virgin London Marathon. Before getting my family jeffing. And even trying to convince some friends along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parkrun in 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I even jeffed Parkrun<\/a>. Although the last time at our home Parkrun was 1st<\/sup> February because the course wasn\u2019t suitable due to flooding. Then of course it was sequentially cancelled due to the virus. I did, however, go along to another Parkrun with the local jeffing club. We then had breakfast together afterwards. It was the \u201cLeap Day\u201d so I got an extra Garmin badge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"runner<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 5K Sub 30 Jeffing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I still remember how hard I worked to be able to run 5k under 30 minutes. People strive for it all the time. The PBs I had previously got jeffing I assumed were because they were for longer runs. Assuming it was because I gave up and walked on these when trying to continuously run. Never could I imagine being faster for runs that I was capable of running non-stop. The first time that this started to change was the second of March when I achieved a sub 30 time for 5K whilst jeffing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had been trying to replace my running shoes<\/a>. My trusty Vivobarefoot shoes had finally had to go in the bin. None of their newer models felt right. They told me that they couldn\u2019t help me. I ended up just running in some cheap pink Nike ones I had. Looking for new footwear went on until June. Ended up just using the pink ones and then just replacing them with similar ones. They have also been replaced with similar ones again since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I’d also been playing about with ratios. When I achieved this sub 305K jeffing it was using a 60:30 ratio. Plus listening to music with 180 bpm. In July I achieved a 27:27 5K time running on my own (also 60:30). My fastest non-stop running 5K was with some other fast runners (26:47). This therefore is my fastest on my own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Final Live Race of 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I remember the last time we raced properly in 2020. My friend had her own hand sanitiser and people weren\u2019t allowed to just hand you things. It was in the March and before they locked down schools. When the virus was thought to be just like flu and only really old people were going to die from it. The extra precautions at the time seemed very over the top. Cheltenham Races (horses) were also going ahead – so it really did feel like it couldn\u2019t be that bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Needless to say it was my second 20 mile race. One which I hadn\u2019t prepared for. I thought because I had been running 10 mile races, plus the half, I would be fine. Clearly there\u2019s a reason people train. My fuelling was awful and they didn\u2019t hand out the same stuff as at my previous races. By the end I just didn\u2019t think my legs were going to make it. But somehow I did manage a sprint finish and took around 20 minutes off my previous 20 mile time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Virus and its Effect on Jeffing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Then lockdown happened. My running was then a mix of running continuously and jeffing. Some on my own, some with my family. Always trying to encourage them to keep moving. I am not sure whether it was due to the lockdown or jeffing but one was certainly the motivation to get my miles up. My mileage was increasing each month from the October. Just tiny adjustments really. That was up until May when there was a big jump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to Lockdown we couldn\u2019t run at our local club and so they had set some challenges. A hill challenge made me feel a failure, but the weather was awfully hot. In May I also bought new running clothing and got the boys out running. Even the teen and then tween came with me to do the hill challenge again. Plus there was non-parkrun. The miles just mounted up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mile in June<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So when June came around I just wanted to carry on beating that target. It was the anniversary of a lady from running club\u2019s husband passing and there was a challenge to complete 10 miles. I was doing 10 miles easily at this point and so wanted to push myself more. For it to be supportive not just easy. Aiming to try to do 10 miles every day in some shape or form. But tragedy struck and I received news that my Uncle was hit by a lorry and died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Still I kept pushing the mileage on and this time the youngest two boys came to do some hill training. This was an easier hill I thought. Wow did the youngest surprise me. He just left me and his brother behind!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running Advice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

June was the month when I was convinced that expert help to ensure I was running properly was more important than shoes. A local trainer gave me a price but he didn\u2019t respond to me after I agreed to it. I don\u2019t know what made me think of it, but I asked an old friend if he could help. Now this is not just any old friend but an absolute legend at running in my opinion. An elite runner and coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Joy (@run_withjoy)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>