I was never sure that I would get through every day in January doing some exercise. Some days it was only a dog walk but it is better than not doing anything at all. I knew, as a runner starting from scratch again, that I would not be able to run every day.
It's been great to read other people's blogs and see that they too have sometimes 'only done' something. I'm going to miss that part particularly, the pain, the pleasure and the laughs.
Tonight I was late leaving work and the traffic was absolutely hideous. I had to take Isobel to Guides and I have eaten THREE scones (small ones, honest). It is cold and I didn't want to go running tonight but it is the last day of Janathon so I donned my gear and headed out. I knew it wasn't going to be a long run so I did one circuit of the block which is 1.5 miles and it didn't feel bad at all.
Looking forward to Juneathon now. Should be an ultra marathoner by then (not!).
Monday, 31 January 2011
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Day Thirty. Walkies again
I am such a lazy person.
The plan for today was to go canoeing with the club down the River Calder but my other half got up late and was grumpy so we never went.
A beautiful cold day but I was cold. I was cold last night and couldn't seem to get warm today either. I talked myself out of a run early on and nearly talked myself out of doing anything else.
However the dogs needed a walk so I talked myself out of the door eventually. We went a different way today. Down through the village and turned off through a small footpath that leads into a field. This is the first point where I can let the dogs off to have a run around. Sometimes there are horses in this field and Bear barks at them so I have to make sure they aren't too close before they are allowed loose in there.
We go down the field to where it becomes narrow and is fenced off either side of the path. In Victorian times there were a lot of mines around here and this path was the railway to move the spoil from the mine.
This eventually comes out onto a road and crosses onto another footpath. This goes downhill past the spoil heaps which are now well populated by our furry friends with long ears and cotton tails. This is where the dogs can have a really good run around as they can't do anything any harm down here. There is no farming livestock and neither dog has a hope in hell of actually catching a bunny. I carry on walking down and around the spoil hills while they are running around like lunatics.
Over a stile and I make sure Bear is on the lead until I know if there are any sheep in this and the next field. Nothing about so Bear is free again. He tends to follow Evie who is busy on the sent of the bunnies again.
Two fields on we come to a stream and this is where Evie always gets wet. She loves water and is straight in and nosediving for stones on the bottom. Bear doesn't mind getting his feet wet but is otherwise cautious where water is concerned. When I have had enough of the water we head up the hill, up a footpath which winds round to a little lane where we own a house that is rented out. A quick glance at the house and we are out onto the main road.
We cross the road and go up Station Lane which takes us past a vast array of houses. Small terraced cottages going up to very large detached houses with massive front gardens and electric gates. These must have been merchants houses back in the day. Past a school and we are at the bottom of our moors. Some ball throwing is in order here although they have had a lot of running about already.
We wander up the moors and back home to a nice cup of coffee and a scone, freshly made by Isobel.
Approx four miles done and dusted! One more day of Janathon.
The plan for today was to go canoeing with the club down the River Calder but my other half got up late and was grumpy so we never went.
A beautiful cold day but I was cold. I was cold last night and couldn't seem to get warm today either. I talked myself out of a run early on and nearly talked myself out of doing anything else.
However the dogs needed a walk so I talked myself out of the door eventually. We went a different way today. Down through the village and turned off through a small footpath that leads into a field. This is the first point where I can let the dogs off to have a run around. Sometimes there are horses in this field and Bear barks at them so I have to make sure they aren't too close before they are allowed loose in there.
We go down the field to where it becomes narrow and is fenced off either side of the path. In Victorian times there were a lot of mines around here and this path was the railway to move the spoil from the mine.
This eventually comes out onto a road and crosses onto another footpath. This goes downhill past the spoil heaps which are now well populated by our furry friends with long ears and cotton tails. This is where the dogs can have a really good run around as they can't do anything any harm down here. There is no farming livestock and neither dog has a hope in hell of actually catching a bunny. I carry on walking down and around the spoil hills while they are running around like lunatics.
Over a stile and I make sure Bear is on the lead until I know if there are any sheep in this and the next field. Nothing about so Bear is free again. He tends to follow Evie who is busy on the sent of the bunnies again.
Two fields on we come to a stream and this is where Evie always gets wet. She loves water and is straight in and nosediving for stones on the bottom. Bear doesn't mind getting his feet wet but is otherwise cautious where water is concerned. When I have had enough of the water we head up the hill, up a footpath which winds round to a little lane where we own a house that is rented out. A quick glance at the house and we are out onto the main road.
We cross the road and go up Station Lane which takes us past a vast array of houses. Small terraced cottages going up to very large detached houses with massive front gardens and electric gates. These must have been merchants houses back in the day. Past a school and we are at the bottom of our moors. Some ball throwing is in order here although they have had a lot of running about already.
We wander up the moors and back home to a nice cup of coffee and a scone, freshly made by Isobel.
Approx four miles done and dusted! One more day of Janathon.
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Day Twenty Nine. Run Baby Run
I got up early this morning because I wanted to go for a run before I could talk myself out of it. I'm basically very lazy so I do tend to talk myself out of doing things and then regret it.
Set the Garmin up and off I went. I ran down through the village but after it starts coming back up hill after the bottom of the golf course I turned left along a different road which is a gentle decline going into a steeper decline and back up the other side.
A right turn then takes me up another road back onto the main road where it is flatter. I carry on outwards for another few minutes then turn around and come back along the main road. By the time I get to my house I still wanted to do a few minutes so carried on past my house and headed towards the village again.
A bit of banter with a man on the way out and then I quickly turned around and walked back home.
3.25 miles in 40.02 minutes. Pleased with that!
Set the Garmin up and off I went. I ran down through the village but after it starts coming back up hill after the bottom of the golf course I turned left along a different road which is a gentle decline going into a steeper decline and back up the other side.
A right turn then takes me up another road back onto the main road where it is flatter. I carry on outwards for another few minutes then turn around and come back along the main road. By the time I get to my house I still wanted to do a few minutes so carried on past my house and headed towards the village again.
A bit of banter with a man on the way out and then I quickly turned around and walked back home.
3.25 miles in 40.02 minutes. Pleased with that!
Day Twenty Eight. I really am a water baby.
After a relatively lazy day of just doing domestic chores we went canoeing at the pool. I say 'we' but there was only me actually canoeing.
We were a little bit late as my stepson came home just before we were about to set off. We didn't take my own kayak as it is a bit of a faff strapping it to the roof of the car, unloading it and getting it in the pool is enough but because mine is often left in the top garden it can be muddy and have leaves in it so it takes time to sort it out before it can be put in the pool.
Anyway as I was saying we were a bit late so by the time we got there the kayaks I can get into were all taken so I sat on the poolside until someone said that there was one free. Thereafter I ploughed up and down the pool avoiding other users, practising high brace etc. We had a little game where they put a rope across the pool about four feet above the water. We had to take it in turns to paddle up to it, throw the paddle over it, catch it again, paddle to the end of the pool turn round and do it again. That was fun but they then raised the rope and we had to do this again.
Anyway I had an hour and 10 minutes of exercise so that can only be a good thing!
We were a little bit late as my stepson came home just before we were about to set off. We didn't take my own kayak as it is a bit of a faff strapping it to the roof of the car, unloading it and getting it in the pool is enough but because mine is often left in the top garden it can be muddy and have leaves in it so it takes time to sort it out before it can be put in the pool.
Anyway as I was saying we were a bit late so by the time we got there the kayaks I can get into were all taken so I sat on the poolside until someone said that there was one free. Thereafter I ploughed up and down the pool avoiding other users, practising high brace etc. We had a little game where they put a rope across the pool about four feet above the water. We had to take it in turns to paddle up to it, throw the paddle over it, catch it again, paddle to the end of the pool turn round and do it again. That was fun but they then raised the rope and we had to do this again.
Anyway I had an hour and 10 minutes of exercise so that can only be a good thing!
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Day Twenty Seven. More water
Got to Spenborough Pool today a little earlier than last week but not much. By the time I got in the water I had 41 minutes left so literally plunged straight in to the swimming.
There were two other guys in the fast lane who were front crawlers but we never got in each other's way. Part of the way through my lengths both guys got out and left me to it.
One way of keeping me from getting bored is to play with numbers in my head. I usually decide how many lengths I am going to do based on what time I have got but I tend to go for a realistic figure that I know I can achieve. I then play about in various ways the numbers, fractions, percentages etc depending on whereabouts in the sum of lengths I am.
The other thing I use in my swim is other people! I love it when there is someone in the same lane or the next one who is either slightly slower than I am or slightly faster.
If they are slower than I am then I work out where I will pass them again and try to beat that target. If they are faster then I work out where they will pass me and try to make it a bit further. This all helps to stop me from slacking the pace.
Anyway I managed to do a 48 lengths (a mile) in 41 minutes so I was quite pleased with that.
This evening is usually my circuits night but I got a text yesterday saying that my instructor's mum had died. After a few enquiries I got confirmation that class was off tonight so Peter and I went to see a preview of a new film called 'The Fighter' about boxing. (can that be counted as we were theoretically training with the boxers??).
There were two other guys in the fast lane who were front crawlers but we never got in each other's way. Part of the way through my lengths both guys got out and left me to it.
One way of keeping me from getting bored is to play with numbers in my head. I usually decide how many lengths I am going to do based on what time I have got but I tend to go for a realistic figure that I know I can achieve. I then play about in various ways the numbers, fractions, percentages etc depending on whereabouts in the sum of lengths I am.
The other thing I use in my swim is other people! I love it when there is someone in the same lane or the next one who is either slightly slower than I am or slightly faster.
If they are slower than I am then I work out where I will pass them again and try to beat that target. If they are faster then I work out where they will pass me and try to make it a bit further. This all helps to stop me from slacking the pace.
Anyway I managed to do a 48 lengths (a mile) in 41 minutes so I was quite pleased with that.
This evening is usually my circuits night but I got a text yesterday saying that my instructor's mum had died. After a few enquiries I got confirmation that class was off tonight so Peter and I went to see a preview of a new film called 'The Fighter' about boxing. (can that be counted as we were theoretically training with the boxers??).
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Day Twenty Six, All that water and still thirsty.
I work every other Wednesday so can only get to Aquarobics on the Wednesdays I don't work. Today was one of those days thankfully.
I did the Aquarobics but I am still amused by the people who use the foam 'weights' but wave them about in the air or float them on the surface of the water rather than trying to get them under the water. I'd overheard two women collecting the weights and one said 'the bigger ones make it harder don't they' so they took the big weights and only used to steady themselves in the water!
After the Aqua I was talking to my friend Chris, who is the instructor. We chatted about all kinds of things and it is amazing how fast an hour can pass with me in the water and her on the side of the pool.
Eventually though I went over to the lengths part of the pool and proceeded to do 30 lengths in 21 minutes. I then did another two and then a last one of front crawl. Then I asked the attendant how many lengths in a mile here. The reply was 64 so it is a 25m pool. So I had done just over half a mile. Cool!
I did the Aquarobics but I am still amused by the people who use the foam 'weights' but wave them about in the air or float them on the surface of the water rather than trying to get them under the water. I'd overheard two women collecting the weights and one said 'the bigger ones make it harder don't they' so they took the big weights and only used to steady themselves in the water!
After the Aqua I was talking to my friend Chris, who is the instructor. We chatted about all kinds of things and it is amazing how fast an hour can pass with me in the water and her on the side of the pool.
Eventually though I went over to the lengths part of the pool and proceeded to do 30 lengths in 21 minutes. I then did another two and then a last one of front crawl. Then I asked the attendant how many lengths in a mile here. The reply was 64 so it is a 25m pool. So I had done just over half a mile. Cool!
Day Twenty Five. Just a little bit.
After a fairly normal working day and then going to do the weekly shop the lazy side of me wondered if there was a way of getting out of doing Janathon. My conscience argued that I'd got to day 25 so why spoil it now.
Conscience won!
Having duly donned my running gear I pondered in which direction to take myself and decided to go the same way as the previous night. I had a slight problem with sciatica down the front of my left leg but nothing too bad. However I soon found myself tiring, much sooner than last night. I managed to go round the block once but didn't feel I had anything more in my legs to do a second round. Still that's 1.5 miles and 20 minutes that I wouldn't have done without Janathon.
One thing I do keep suffering with is tight calf muscles. I do try to really think about relaxing these muscles and sometimes it works but not always. I do stretch them afterwards otherwise I would get cramp. One year when I did the Great North Run my muscles tightened up so much that my foot was going numb.
Anyway not much more of January to go so what is going to keep me going in February?
Conscience won!
Having duly donned my running gear I pondered in which direction to take myself and decided to go the same way as the previous night. I had a slight problem with sciatica down the front of my left leg but nothing too bad. However I soon found myself tiring, much sooner than last night. I managed to go round the block once but didn't feel I had anything more in my legs to do a second round. Still that's 1.5 miles and 20 minutes that I wouldn't have done without Janathon.
One thing I do keep suffering with is tight calf muscles. I do try to really think about relaxing these muscles and sometimes it works but not always. I do stretch them afterwards otherwise I would get cramp. One year when I did the Great North Run my muscles tightened up so much that my foot was going numb.
Anyway not much more of January to go so what is going to keep me going in February?
Monday, 24 January 2011
Day Twenty Four. Back to the running.
It was a work day for me but instead of parking where I normally do and walking down I had to use the car park near to my office. Today was the first day that I was actually going out visiting again as part of my job so I needed to get to my car a bit quicker.
Anyway that aside I was feeling more positive again today about exercise. So I donned my running gear and my Garmin and set off with no particular route or time in mind but still doing R2/W1. I ran around my block which takes me into the village, past the village green, the cricket club, golf club and pub and then drops me around the end of the golf course where it is very quiet and a bit lonely. It then climbs back up a hill, past some woods and up the road onto a main road, past the cemetery and rounds back onto my own road again. About a third of a mile brings me back to my house but I had only done about 18 minutes so carried on and did the circuit again.
So I did 3 miles in 39 minutes and then walked an extra minute to get home again. Woo hoo and I didn't feel like I was dying either.
Downside was that once again the Garmin hadn't picked up the satellites so no pretty graphs etc. Simon, my stepson, fiddles with it for a while and had a little walk with it and he got it to download the graphs so I have written out EXACTLY what I need to do to set it up to do what I want.
Anyway that aside I was feeling more positive again today about exercise. So I donned my running gear and my Garmin and set off with no particular route or time in mind but still doing R2/W1. I ran around my block which takes me into the village, past the village green, the cricket club, golf club and pub and then drops me around the end of the golf course where it is very quiet and a bit lonely. It then climbs back up a hill, past some woods and up the road onto a main road, past the cemetery and rounds back onto my own road again. About a third of a mile brings me back to my house but I had only done about 18 minutes so carried on and did the circuit again.
So I did 3 miles in 39 minutes and then walked an extra minute to get home again. Woo hoo and I didn't feel like I was dying either.
Downside was that once again the Garmin hadn't picked up the satellites so no pretty graphs etc. Simon, my stepson, fiddles with it for a while and had a little walk with it and he got it to download the graphs so I have written out EXACTLY what I need to do to set it up to do what I want.
Day 23 - A really sad day.
Today was the day that the dreaded news came through. My sister in law, Alison died this morning.
We'd been to the pictures to see a preview of a new Disney film called Tangled (about Rapunzle) when we came out there were missed calls on Peter's mobile. We guessed what they were about but we waited until we got home to ring back.
After lots of hugging and crying it was hard to know what to do with ourselves. Eventually I decided to take the dogs for a longer walk. The route we took takes us through our village across fields and onto the tops of some hills where it is always cold even in summer. Over various stiles and across a road and it seems you are a million miles from civilisation. Bear has to be kept on a lead at this point as he has started chasing sheep for some reason but Evie runs and runs and forgets that she is getting on a bit until she is snuggled up at home again.
There is a stream in the bottom of the valley that Evie loves pulling stones out of. Some these stones are nearly as big as her head but still she dives in for them. She comes out looking like a wire haired terrier.
Up the valley to a stile and follow a footpath and you are in Birkenshaw village. Cross the road and along a small street and you get onto a footpath at the back of the church and then up a few more streets you eventually come to the bottom of the moors where we frequently walk them. Up over the moors eventually dumps us back on our doorstep again.
We'd been to the pictures to see a preview of a new Disney film called Tangled (about Rapunzle) when we came out there were missed calls on Peter's mobile. We guessed what they were about but we waited until we got home to ring back.
After lots of hugging and crying it was hard to know what to do with ourselves. Eventually I decided to take the dogs for a longer walk. The route we took takes us through our village across fields and onto the tops of some hills where it is always cold even in summer. Over various stiles and across a road and it seems you are a million miles from civilisation. Bear has to be kept on a lead at this point as he has started chasing sheep for some reason but Evie runs and runs and forgets that she is getting on a bit until she is snuggled up at home again.
There is a stream in the bottom of the valley that Evie loves pulling stones out of. Some these stones are nearly as big as her head but still she dives in for them. She comes out looking like a wire haired terrier.
Up the valley to a stile and follow a footpath and you are in Birkenshaw village. Cross the road and along a small street and you get onto a footpath at the back of the church and then up a few more streets you eventually come to the bottom of the moors where we frequently walk them. Up over the moors eventually dumps us back on our doorstep again.
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Day Twenty Two. No news
I know I am currently blogging because of the Janathon. So mentioning things other than exercise might seem a bit odd to anyone who might drop by but I have been writing this blog for a lot longer.
I wasn't feeling brilliant today as I have been struggling with a sore throat all week and with all the emotions of yesterday I really didn't feel like doing anything today. I believe I have had/am having a mild dose of tonsilitis and I have to admit to lying around on the sofa most of the day.
Everytime the phone rang we expected the bad news but so far it hasn't come. What must she be going through inside her own head? They have withdrawn all meds and her feeding tube so is she slowly starving to death in pain? I so hope not. They say the last thing to go is the hearing so is she listening to everyone around her crying and she is crying inside trying not to let go? What a horrible thought that you are trapped inside your own body.
Sorry to be morbid and sorry if it makes for awkward reading.
I did eventually drag my sorry carcass off the sofa and take the dawgies out for a walk. The fresh air felt good after the warmth of the house. After plenty of ball throwing in semi darkness we wandered on down to the end of the first moor and around the little access road that takes us to the second one. Both dogs know the drill and when we near the flat area at the bottom of this moor Bear always starts barking at me to throw the ball again.
Sometimes I just want to walk but I know they enjoy this so indulge them again. After much throwing and retrieving we carry on again and I tread familiar ground around Birkenshaw village and back up my road. However as it is now dark we don't return through the farm we go up through a small private estate on the other side of the main road.
The trouble with this time of night is that it is the time that cats like to patrol and boy do my dogs not like cats. So I spend a good amount of time having my arm dragged out of it's socket while they try to get to the offending creatures (how and why do they know that they don't like cats?). The other problem with my arms is when I am trying to drag them past the cats.
Anyway I arrived home safely with my arms just about intact having done approx 2 miles. Must try to do something different tomorrow even if it is only a different walk!
I wasn't feeling brilliant today as I have been struggling with a sore throat all week and with all the emotions of yesterday I really didn't feel like doing anything today. I believe I have had/am having a mild dose of tonsilitis and I have to admit to lying around on the sofa most of the day.
Everytime the phone rang we expected the bad news but so far it hasn't come. What must she be going through inside her own head? They have withdrawn all meds and her feeding tube so is she slowly starving to death in pain? I so hope not. They say the last thing to go is the hearing so is she listening to everyone around her crying and she is crying inside trying not to let go? What a horrible thought that you are trapped inside your own body.
Sorry to be morbid and sorry if it makes for awkward reading.
I did eventually drag my sorry carcass off the sofa and take the dawgies out for a walk. The fresh air felt good after the warmth of the house. After plenty of ball throwing in semi darkness we wandered on down to the end of the first moor and around the little access road that takes us to the second one. Both dogs know the drill and when we near the flat area at the bottom of this moor Bear always starts barking at me to throw the ball again.
Sometimes I just want to walk but I know they enjoy this so indulge them again. After much throwing and retrieving we carry on again and I tread familiar ground around Birkenshaw village and back up my road. However as it is now dark we don't return through the farm we go up through a small private estate on the other side of the main road.
The trouble with this time of night is that it is the time that cats like to patrol and boy do my dogs not like cats. So I spend a good amount of time having my arm dragged out of it's socket while they try to get to the offending creatures (how and why do they know that they don't like cats?). The other problem with my arms is when I am trying to drag them past the cats.
Anyway I arrived home safely with my arms just about intact having done approx 2 miles. Must try to do something different tomorrow even if it is only a different walk!
Friday, 21 January 2011
Day Twenty one. A sad day but not the end...yet!
I has intended getting up at some unearthly hour to go for a run but had a lousy night with coughing and waiting for a phone call. The phone call never came so after a shower and breakfast we set for the hospital an hour and a half away.
When we got there my sister in law was awake and had various drips and oxygen but the hospital said they were slowly withdrawing her medication of turning the oxygen down and eventually taking it off altogether. They said she might go quite quickly or may keep going for 2-3 days.
To begin with my partner (her brother) and I were the only ones there. We sat and talked to her until the staff said they wanted to clean her up and tidy her hair so we went to the cafe. When we returned her mother and stepfather were in the waiting room. When we went back in they had removed all but the oxygen mask. When her three children and estranged husband turned up they removed the oxygen mask. Alison kept breathing for herself. We were all in tears and strangely silent. I wanted them all to talk and remember good times like when my mum was in hospital but we sat in silence.
Eventually I went outside to ring my stepson to see if he was coming to the hospital or going home to be with my 13 year old daughter after she came from school. He opted to go home. While I was talking to him I walked around the hospital grounds. After I finished talking to him I decided to ring my brother who I hadn't spoken to for a while and I was on the phone to him for nearly an hour still walking around the hospital grounds.
Therefore without thinking about it I walked around for about 1 hour 10 minutes.
We left around 5pm. There had been no change in Alison's breathing and we kissed her goodbye assuming that we won't see her again.
I feel exhausted now.
When we got there my sister in law was awake and had various drips and oxygen but the hospital said they were slowly withdrawing her medication of turning the oxygen down and eventually taking it off altogether. They said she might go quite quickly or may keep going for 2-3 days.
To begin with my partner (her brother) and I were the only ones there. We sat and talked to her until the staff said they wanted to clean her up and tidy her hair so we went to the cafe. When we returned her mother and stepfather were in the waiting room. When we went back in they had removed all but the oxygen mask. When her three children and estranged husband turned up they removed the oxygen mask. Alison kept breathing for herself. We were all in tears and strangely silent. I wanted them all to talk and remember good times like when my mum was in hospital but we sat in silence.
Eventually I went outside to ring my stepson to see if he was coming to the hospital or going home to be with my 13 year old daughter after she came from school. He opted to go home. While I was talking to him I walked around the hospital grounds. After I finished talking to him I decided to ring my brother who I hadn't spoken to for a while and I was on the phone to him for nearly an hour still walking around the hospital grounds.
Therefore without thinking about it I walked around for about 1 hour 10 minutes.
We left around 5pm. There had been no change in Alison's breathing and we kissed her goodbye assuming that we won't see her again.
I feel exhausted now.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Day Twenty, Some Good News, Some Bad News
I have been coughing all night on and off but still don't feel 'ill'. It's not a chesty cough just a sore, tickly throat.
Today was swimming day and I nearly talked myself out of going. Did I feel like going? What if I coughed too much in the water? Did I have a headache coming on? etc. BUT I went, later than I normally do but I went. I did 36 lengths (three quarters of a mile)in 32 minutes. So it wasn't a washout after all.
This evening I also went circuit training. My legs felt heavy while running around the room but not too bad other than that.
The bad news is that my sister in law is being taken off the life support machines and drugs and isn't expected to last through the weekend. In fact the latest telephone call said that she is unlikely to survive tomorrow. Depending on the news in the morning we will be going across to the hospital to say goodbye to a beautiful 46 year old woman, a wife, a mother, a sister and a daughter!
Today was swimming day and I nearly talked myself out of going. Did I feel like going? What if I coughed too much in the water? Did I have a headache coming on? etc. BUT I went, later than I normally do but I went. I did 36 lengths (three quarters of a mile)in 32 minutes. So it wasn't a washout after all.
This evening I also went circuit training. My legs felt heavy while running around the room but not too bad other than that.
The bad news is that my sister in law is being taken off the life support machines and drugs and isn't expected to last through the weekend. In fact the latest telephone call said that she is unlikely to survive tomorrow. Depending on the news in the morning we will be going across to the hospital to say goodbye to a beautiful 46 year old woman, a wife, a mother, a sister and a daughter!
Day Nineteen, Going off the boil
I have been coughing all day with a dry throat. I don't feel particularly unwell just a bit tired and worn down.
When I got home I really didn't feel like doing much at all but Janathon spurred me into doing the minimum really, for me. I took Evie and Bear on more or less the same walk as last night. It was cold and there was a frost and a huge moon in the sky so it was rather a pleasant walk and I'm glad I went.
When I got home I really didn't feel like doing much at all but Janathon spurred me into doing the minimum really, for me. I took Evie and Bear on more or less the same walk as last night. It was cold and there was a frost and a huge moon in the sky so it was rather a pleasant walk and I'm glad I went.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Day Eighteen. Not a lot
Not a very special day today.
Had my usual 10 minute walk from where I parked the car and of course the return journey at the end of the working day.
This evening I felt like my knee was still very niggly and thought it best not to put too much pressure on it. I am heavy so all that pounding isn't going to do it a lot of good so I thought the pooches might appreciate an extra walk.
As it is dark at tea-time I won't go on the moor in the evening at this time of year so it has to be walking the streets. I headed down our road for half a mile, turned left at The George pub headed up Station Road and headed round a small road that is more like a wide footpath. This road can be a bit daunting as there is nothing overlooking it and can feel a bit lonely. Fortunately I have never encountered any problems there but walking a German Shepherd cross and it's noisy cross bred mate would usually put most people off approaching me anyway.
I then head up through a nice private estate and along a suburban road back onto our road and home again.
As I say it was nothing exciting but at least it is exercise and another two miles logged.
Had my usual 10 minute walk from where I parked the car and of course the return journey at the end of the working day.
This evening I felt like my knee was still very niggly and thought it best not to put too much pressure on it. I am heavy so all that pounding isn't going to do it a lot of good so I thought the pooches might appreciate an extra walk.
As it is dark at tea-time I won't go on the moor in the evening at this time of year so it has to be walking the streets. I headed down our road for half a mile, turned left at The George pub headed up Station Road and headed round a small road that is more like a wide footpath. This road can be a bit daunting as there is nothing overlooking it and can feel a bit lonely. Fortunately I have never encountered any problems there but walking a German Shepherd cross and it's noisy cross bred mate would usually put most people off approaching me anyway.
I then head up through a nice private estate and along a suburban road back onto our road and home again.
As I say it was nothing exciting but at least it is exercise and another two miles logged.
Day seventeen, I don't wanna do it!
After a busy weekend and a late night last night I was tired today.
Supposed to be having some training for the new part of my job. This has supposed to start in earnest after the Christmas break but various things have added up to the manager who is leading this not getting things together. Anyway I was sat with him today as he waffled through things on the computer screen all day. I could feel that my upper eyelids wanted to have a meeting with the bottom and it was a struggle to keep them apart.
I had my usual walk of 10 minutes each way to the car and was going to settle for that today. It is exercise after all!
After sitting around a while and taking my daughter to guides I decided to haul my sorry (and very large)backside out on to the roadside.
I can't seem to get the GPS part of my Garmin to work but at least the minute interval work. So I did R2/W1 round the block where I live which is 1.5 miles with some fairly steep (for me anyway) climbs. It's rather nice really as it goes along a main road, heads off towards our village, going round the bottom of a golf course and then heads up back into the village itself. Past a pub, the village green and eventually back on reasonably level ground and home.
Hang on a moment I wasn't completely on my knees so I carried on up our road again. It is about a third of a mile to the end of the road so when I got there I came back again making a total of about 2.33 miles (I think) in 28.07 minutes.
Well that was definitely better than nothing. Thank you Janathon, without you I would have sat on my backside all evening.
Supposed to be having some training for the new part of my job. This has supposed to start in earnest after the Christmas break but various things have added up to the manager who is leading this not getting things together. Anyway I was sat with him today as he waffled through things on the computer screen all day. I could feel that my upper eyelids wanted to have a meeting with the bottom and it was a struggle to keep them apart.
I had my usual walk of 10 minutes each way to the car and was going to settle for that today. It is exercise after all!
After sitting around a while and taking my daughter to guides I decided to haul my sorry (and very large)backside out on to the roadside.
I can't seem to get the GPS part of my Garmin to work but at least the minute interval work. So I did R2/W1 round the block where I live which is 1.5 miles with some fairly steep (for me anyway) climbs. It's rather nice really as it goes along a main road, heads off towards our village, going round the bottom of a golf course and then heads up back into the village itself. Past a pub, the village green and eventually back on reasonably level ground and home.
Hang on a moment I wasn't completely on my knees so I carried on up our road again. It is about a third of a mile to the end of the road so when I got there I came back again making a total of about 2.33 miles (I think) in 28.07 minutes.
Well that was definitely better than nothing. Thank you Janathon, without you I would have sat on my backside all evening.
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Day Sixteen. A Wet Walk
Today was a coach ramble day. Once a month our Ramblers Group go for a walk somewhere further afield so we go by coach.
There is a choice of three walks the main one being approx 10 miles, the next being 6-8 miles and for the ones who like to go faster and further there is one that is usually 14-16 miles. After the walks we all meet up at the coach again and go to a pub for a pre-arranged meal.
Today we went to Kirby Lonsdale in North Yorkshire which is also close to the Lake District. It's been raining all weekend and it was raining this morning too. The planned walk today was supposed to be 11 miles but because of the rain and over- flowing rivers the leader rearranged it so that it was 8 miles.
We set off from Devils Bridge in the rain and soon encountered our first obstacle - water! The bridleway was deep in water and so we turned back a little way and followed the small road instead. Then we came across another problem - water again. The road was flooded and no-one fancied going ankle deep in it so we changed our route again.
We stormed up some hills and down again and then encountered some.....water! (Are you seeing a theme here?) We eventually took shelter under some trees and had our lunch standing up.
Setting off again we followed a track which had large, sometimes deep puddles all along it. After a while Isobel and I gave up trying to keep our feet dry and just walked straight through whatever water came our way. Several times our leader tried to get us across fields but where there should have been just a trickle of water it had turned into torrential rivers (okay slight exaggeration, torrential streams) or water would be gushing from walls.
At one point we did cross a very swollen stream and I put my foot right in the middle of it so I really couldn't get any wetter after that. I think it should be counted as cross training as my boots were so sodden that they must have weighed a kilo each.
The leader eventually conceded defeat and set us back on the return journey early. We got back to the coach having done 6.5 miles of walking, slipping, sliding and paddling. The strange thing was that no-one was miserable and moaning about the weather. Everyone enjoyed themselves and most went to a nearby town to celebrate with a hot drink in a cafe.
The coach took us a few miles to the pub and a superb meal was soon disposed of. There was plenty of banter going on before hopping back on the coach for the return journey.
There is a choice of three walks the main one being approx 10 miles, the next being 6-8 miles and for the ones who like to go faster and further there is one that is usually 14-16 miles. After the walks we all meet up at the coach again and go to a pub for a pre-arranged meal.
Today we went to Kirby Lonsdale in North Yorkshire which is also close to the Lake District. It's been raining all weekend and it was raining this morning too. The planned walk today was supposed to be 11 miles but because of the rain and over- flowing rivers the leader rearranged it so that it was 8 miles.
We set off from Devils Bridge in the rain and soon encountered our first obstacle - water! The bridleway was deep in water and so we turned back a little way and followed the small road instead. Then we came across another problem - water again. The road was flooded and no-one fancied going ankle deep in it so we changed our route again.
We stormed up some hills and down again and then encountered some.....water! (Are you seeing a theme here?) We eventually took shelter under some trees and had our lunch standing up.
Setting off again we followed a track which had large, sometimes deep puddles all along it. After a while Isobel and I gave up trying to keep our feet dry and just walked straight through whatever water came our way. Several times our leader tried to get us across fields but where there should have been just a trickle of water it had turned into torrential rivers (okay slight exaggeration, torrential streams) or water would be gushing from walls.
At one point we did cross a very swollen stream and I put my foot right in the middle of it so I really couldn't get any wetter after that. I think it should be counted as cross training as my boots were so sodden that they must have weighed a kilo each.
The leader eventually conceded defeat and set us back on the return journey early. We got back to the coach having done 6.5 miles of walking, slipping, sliding and paddling. The strange thing was that no-one was miserable and moaning about the weather. Everyone enjoyed themselves and most went to a nearby town to celebrate with a hot drink in a cafe.
The coach took us a few miles to the pub and a superb meal was soon disposed of. There was plenty of banter going on before hopping back on the coach for the return journey.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Day Fifteen, Just a walk
I woke up early this morning and had decided yesterday that I was going for an early run. However the last few days I have noticed a niggle just below my knee and in my ankle. So I thought it wise not exacerbate the problem.
It was windy and raining but I put Evie and Bear on their leads and set off for a walk. The first part of the walk is usually on the moor so that I can throw the ball numerous times and get some of the excess energy out of their legs. Bear likes drinking out of puddles but he always takes the ball with him and drops it in the puddle. That's usually ok as balls float. However the 'ball' we are currently using is like a cube with the corners rounded off and has holes in it. It is also made of solid rubber and does not float.
Bear found the biggest, muddiest puddle to drop it in and it could not be seen. He won't retrieve it and Evie couldn't see it to retrieve it so guess who was stood in the middle of a moor, ankle deep in water at 8am!!! I nearly gave up but eventually located it and had to plunge my hand in to get it out. Great way to start the weekend.
Thought it was then a good time to carry on with the actual walk. I had put my Garmin Forerunner on to try and see if I had got the settings right and to see how far my walk is.
We carried on down the moor, around onto the second moor and emerged onto a road. This road comes out in a neighbouring village and we came round the pub and back up our road.
Our road is a very long road so we weren't near home yet. We take a footpath from the road that leads up to a farm. Now usually Evie (who is now 11 years old) is dragging behind by this time but for some reason she was running ahead of us and I had to keep calling her back again. At the top of the hill there are really good views for miles, right across to the Pennines.
We went through the farm, across another field and came through a snicket and out into our village, next to the pond.
A walk back along the road brings us home again.
The blooming Garmin, yet again, hasn't recorded the route and mileage but I know I was out walking for 53 minutes. Must read that instruction book AGAIN!
After having a shower. I made my special mince pies. Yes you read that right, mince pies. I was going to a Christmas party this afternoon that had been postponed due to the snow.
It was windy and raining but I put Evie and Bear on their leads and set off for a walk. The first part of the walk is usually on the moor so that I can throw the ball numerous times and get some of the excess energy out of their legs. Bear likes drinking out of puddles but he always takes the ball with him and drops it in the puddle. That's usually ok as balls float. However the 'ball' we are currently using is like a cube with the corners rounded off and has holes in it. It is also made of solid rubber and does not float.
Bear found the biggest, muddiest puddle to drop it in and it could not be seen. He won't retrieve it and Evie couldn't see it to retrieve it so guess who was stood in the middle of a moor, ankle deep in water at 8am!!! I nearly gave up but eventually located it and had to plunge my hand in to get it out. Great way to start the weekend.
Thought it was then a good time to carry on with the actual walk. I had put my Garmin Forerunner on to try and see if I had got the settings right and to see how far my walk is.
We carried on down the moor, around onto the second moor and emerged onto a road. This road comes out in a neighbouring village and we came round the pub and back up our road.
Our road is a very long road so we weren't near home yet. We take a footpath from the road that leads up to a farm. Now usually Evie (who is now 11 years old) is dragging behind by this time but for some reason she was running ahead of us and I had to keep calling her back again. At the top of the hill there are really good views for miles, right across to the Pennines.
We went through the farm, across another field and came through a snicket and out into our village, next to the pond.
A walk back along the road brings us home again.
The blooming Garmin, yet again, hasn't recorded the route and mileage but I know I was out walking for 53 minutes. Must read that instruction book AGAIN!
After having a shower. I made my special mince pies. Yes you read that right, mince pies. I was going to a Christmas party this afternoon that had been postponed due to the snow.
Friday, 14 January 2011
Day Fourteen. A bit of a slog.
This morning I was going to get up early and go for a run. Early kind of bypassed me so I eventually got in the car and drove to the Spen Valley Greenway. I usually take Evie dog with me if I go running there but I didn't think she would keep up so didn't take her this time.
I set off on the run at 10.31 and was soon puffing and panting up the Greenway. Thankfully there weren't too many people about to hear me. Those that were out I smiled and said good morning to whilst attempting to carry on breathing.
The weather was quite squally and breezy. I was doing run 2 minutes/walk 1 minute but you would have thought I was doing run 1 hour. Those two minutes seem to go on for ever. I have only been back to running two weeks and I did r1/w1 for the first week which I didn't find too bad. Having said that the outward journey is all up hill. Not steep uphill but uphill nevertheless. The return journey didn't feel quite as arduous.
Why do I have problems with hills in running and cycling but not in swimming. I eventually managed to do just a smidge over 3.5 miles.
I set off on the run at 10.31 and was soon puffing and panting up the Greenway. Thankfully there weren't too many people about to hear me. Those that were out I smiled and said good morning to whilst attempting to carry on breathing.
The weather was quite squally and breezy. I was doing run 2 minutes/walk 1 minute but you would have thought I was doing run 1 hour. Those two minutes seem to go on for ever. I have only been back to running two weeks and I did r1/w1 for the first week which I didn't find too bad. Having said that the outward journey is all up hill. Not steep uphill but uphill nevertheless. The return journey didn't feel quite as arduous.
Why do I have problems with hills in running and cycling but not in swimming. I eventually managed to do just a smidge over 3.5 miles.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Day 13, A bit of variety
Went swimming at lunchtime at Spenborough which is a 33m pool. It was unusually quiet in the pool today and only one person in the fast lane so i got in there. I like it when someone else is either slightly faster than me or slightly slower. If they are faster I try to keep up or to stop them catching me up. If they are slower I try to pass them or not let them catch me. As it happens the bloke that was already in the lane was slightly faster than I was. This always stops me getting bored just counting lengths. I managed 72 (a mile and a half) in 63 minutes. I finished tired but happy.
This evening I went circuit training. My buddy wasn't there tonight as she is ill so as there was an odd number of us I opted to train on my own. This isn't a problem until I come to the boxercise part and you need a partner. Thankfully Chris, the instructor, said she would do that bit with me. It was a warmer night so by the time we were doing cool down stretches I was pouring with sweat. Shows I was working at least.
This evening I went circuit training. My buddy wasn't there tonight as she is ill so as there was an odd number of us I opted to train on my own. This isn't a problem until I come to the boxercise part and you need a partner. Thankfully Chris, the instructor, said she would do that bit with me. It was a warmer night so by the time we were doing cool down stretches I was pouring with sweat. Shows I was working at least.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Day Twelve, A Better Day
After a better night's sleep I got up this morning with more vim and vigour (what the heck is VIM apart from a household cleaner?
I decided to go and find out if Boots were having there now legendary 75% off sale. It soon became apparent it wasn't today. Thank goodness it wasn't really as I discovered I had left my purse at home in my jacket pocket.
Around lunchtime I went to the local leisure centre to do aquafit. The instructor is the same one who does my circuit training and someone whose family I have known since childhood. She is lovely, and so helpful if you need to know anything about exercise she is always willing to help.
It always makes me laugh though going to aquafit on a lunchtime means there are quite a few older ladies and when Chris tells us to use the foam 'weights' they wave them around in the air rather than pushing them under the water. Still at least they are doing some exercise instead of sitting in front of the TV.
After 45 minutes of that I took off to the other side of this very odd shaped pool where there is a straight area where you can do proper lengths. I've never found out how long these lengths are but I did 30 in about 22 minutes. Thankfully it wasn't very busy so there wasn't any weaving in and out of other people.
I decided to go and find out if Boots were having there now legendary 75% off sale. It soon became apparent it wasn't today. Thank goodness it wasn't really as I discovered I had left my purse at home in my jacket pocket.
Around lunchtime I went to the local leisure centre to do aquafit. The instructor is the same one who does my circuit training and someone whose family I have known since childhood. She is lovely, and so helpful if you need to know anything about exercise she is always willing to help.
It always makes me laugh though going to aquafit on a lunchtime means there are quite a few older ladies and when Chris tells us to use the foam 'weights' they wave them around in the air rather than pushing them under the water. Still at least they are doing some exercise instead of sitting in front of the TV.
After 45 minutes of that I took off to the other side of this very odd shaped pool where there is a straight area where you can do proper lengths. I've never found out how long these lengths are but I did 30 in about 22 minutes. Thankfully it wasn't very busy so there wasn't any weaving in and out of other people.
Day Eleven. A weak day
This is no excuse but after all the trauma with my sister in law neither my partner nor myself have slept well. After giving her only a 5% chance of pulling through we are both constantly waiting for the phone to ring.
I was working yesterday so I had a 10 minute walk into work and a 10 minute walk back to the car.
When I got home I had no plan of action so took the dogs out onto the moor for a walk and some ball throwing. So I'm afraid that was my exercise for Janathon yesterday.
I got back in to the house, sat down with my laptop and fell asleep!
I will be back with more for day twelve as I have definitely got aquafit to go to.
I was working yesterday so I had a 10 minute walk into work and a 10 minute walk back to the car.
When I got home I had no plan of action so took the dogs out onto the moor for a walk and some ball throwing. So I'm afraid that was my exercise for Janathon yesterday.
I got back in to the house, sat down with my laptop and fell asleep!
I will be back with more for day twelve as I have definitely got aquafit to go to.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Day ten. Hard Work
Well I wrote day 10 on Day 10 but it seems to have disappeared.
A working day today so the first part of my exercise was a 10 minute walk from my car to work. Then of course at the end of the day 10 minutes walk uphill back to the car (in the pouring rain).
Wasn't feeling too enthusiastic tonight but wanted to keep up with my Janathon so got my running gear on. I took my daughter in the car to Guides and left the car there so I had a different starting point for my run. I had no set route in mind just nknew I wanted to be out for about 35 minutes and I upped the running to run 2 minutes and walk 1 minute.
I set off down Bradford Road and round onto another A road which is fairly flat for a good way but then climbs up to a bypass. A combination of running for a continuous two minutes and uphill meant I could really feel my calf muscles and I was puffing like a steam train. At the top I turned and ran back down to the flat bit. Being a glutton for punishment I then went up another road with a hill in it. Just as I was thinking of slowing the run part to a walk a man appeared walking his dog and I didn't want to appear a wimp so managed to keep my legs turning.
At the top I crossed to a quiet little road and followed it around until it came back to Bradford Road. I noticed 'Bucks Fizz' wasn't bleeping at me from my Garmin(speed it up, slow it down). Anyway back down Bradford Road and a glance at the time showed me I would be back at my car too quickly so I turned up another small road that I knew led to an alleyway. From the alleyway I made a quick dash through the churchyard and the car was the other side of the church.
The watch told me so far I had done 35 minutes 30 seconds so I ran up the road for 30 seconds so that I had done 36 minutes in all. Walked back to the car and did some cool down stretches and jumped in the car.
Blow me, when I got home I loaded the Garmin onto the laptop and it didn't bring up the graphs etc so I had to use mapmyrun to discover my mileage. It was 2.76 miles.
It was quite hard work I've got to say but bit by bit I'm getting there.
A working day today so the first part of my exercise was a 10 minute walk from my car to work. Then of course at the end of the day 10 minutes walk uphill back to the car (in the pouring rain).
Wasn't feeling too enthusiastic tonight but wanted to keep up with my Janathon so got my running gear on. I took my daughter in the car to Guides and left the car there so I had a different starting point for my run. I had no set route in mind just nknew I wanted to be out for about 35 minutes and I upped the running to run 2 minutes and walk 1 minute.
I set off down Bradford Road and round onto another A road which is fairly flat for a good way but then climbs up to a bypass. A combination of running for a continuous two minutes and uphill meant I could really feel my calf muscles and I was puffing like a steam train. At the top I turned and ran back down to the flat bit. Being a glutton for punishment I then went up another road with a hill in it. Just as I was thinking of slowing the run part to a walk a man appeared walking his dog and I didn't want to appear a wimp so managed to keep my legs turning.
At the top I crossed to a quiet little road and followed it around until it came back to Bradford Road. I noticed 'Bucks Fizz' wasn't bleeping at me from my Garmin(speed it up, slow it down). Anyway back down Bradford Road and a glance at the time showed me I would be back at my car too quickly so I turned up another small road that I knew led to an alleyway. From the alleyway I made a quick dash through the churchyard and the car was the other side of the church.
The watch told me so far I had done 35 minutes 30 seconds so I ran up the road for 30 seconds so that I had done 36 minutes in all. Walked back to the car and did some cool down stretches and jumped in the car.
Blow me, when I got home I loaded the Garmin onto the laptop and it didn't bring up the graphs etc so I had to use mapmyrun to discover my mileage. It was 2.76 miles.
It was quite hard work I've got to say but bit by bit I'm getting there.
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Day Nine. Mixed feelings
Got up early to go for a run but the pavements and roads were icy and it was very windy. Decided it wouldn't be wise to get out there and break something.
So I set the Wii up and did 50 minutes of Just Dance. The sweat was pouring down my face by the time I had done so I knew it was doing some good.
Last night we got a phone call to say my partner's sister was very ill in hospital so we decided we had to go and see her today. She's had a lot of problems in recent years mainly caused by her estranged husband who is bi-polar and has tried to strangle her and thrown her out of their house despite her standing by him after several affairs. She was self employed and he managed to lose her a lot of clients. She turned to drink. She still stood by him for various hospital appointments for his heart even though they were no longer together (she is 46 and they had been married nearly 30 years).
She met someone else and eventually moved in with him and was picking up the threads of her life. Her daughter kept in contact with her but her two sons were turned against her by their dad. Her whole life has been her family so this was another blow for her.
Last night we learned that she had hepatitis and jaundice. There was a rumour of renal and liver failure but we didn't know how true this was. This morning we travelled to the hospital and were shocked by what we saw. She looked scrawny and yellow through the jaundice. She looked 20 years older than she is and she could barely breathe. The staff weren't helpful and just told us that she had pneumonia but nothing else.
We went to visit Peter's mum who we haven't seen for about four year(another long story). Had a good chat there and then came home.
Not long after getting home we got a phone call to say she wasn't expected to survive the night. We are now waiting. Waiting for info. Peter didn't want to go back to the hospital but between us we made sure that her sons did their best to get there before it was too late. They have at least a seven hour journey so let's hope they haven't left it too late.
Sorry that was a long blog and little to do with exercise but I needed to write it.
So I set the Wii up and did 50 minutes of Just Dance. The sweat was pouring down my face by the time I had done so I knew it was doing some good.
Last night we got a phone call to say my partner's sister was very ill in hospital so we decided we had to go and see her today. She's had a lot of problems in recent years mainly caused by her estranged husband who is bi-polar and has tried to strangle her and thrown her out of their house despite her standing by him after several affairs. She was self employed and he managed to lose her a lot of clients. She turned to drink. She still stood by him for various hospital appointments for his heart even though they were no longer together (she is 46 and they had been married nearly 30 years).
She met someone else and eventually moved in with him and was picking up the threads of her life. Her daughter kept in contact with her but her two sons were turned against her by their dad. Her whole life has been her family so this was another blow for her.
Last night we learned that she had hepatitis and jaundice. There was a rumour of renal and liver failure but we didn't know how true this was. This morning we travelled to the hospital and were shocked by what we saw. She looked scrawny and yellow through the jaundice. She looked 20 years older than she is and she could barely breathe. The staff weren't helpful and just told us that she had pneumonia but nothing else.
We went to visit Peter's mum who we haven't seen for about four year(another long story). Had a good chat there and then came home.
Not long after getting home we got a phone call to say she wasn't expected to survive the night. We are now waiting. Waiting for info. Peter didn't want to go back to the hospital but between us we made sure that her sons did their best to get there before it was too late. They have at least a seven hour journey so let's hope they haven't left it too late.
Sorry that was a long blog and little to do with exercise but I needed to write it.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Day Eight. Still running.
Slept in a bit this morning. Doesn't happen often or very late but it was late for me going out for a run.
The Janathon though has spurred me on and, even though there are more people about at 9am rather than 7am, I still headed out.
The other down side was that yesterday it snowed a fair bit, then rained, then froze and today it was starting to thaw therefore making the pavements a nightmare. I ran along the road where it was safe to do so and along grass verges where it possible. That left some parts where I had to run through the slush or worse still ice. One particular corner I came around between the two moors and I slid round it. Luckily I didn't fall and there was just one witness to my ungainliness.
Anyway I managed 2.36 miles in 32 minutes so didn't do too badly considering the conditions. I've got the Garmin showing all the details I need again when I downloaded it but also got Bucks Fizz back in the unit (ie it kept telling me to speed it up or slow it down). Never mind i can put up with that.
The Janathon though has spurred me on and, even though there are more people about at 9am rather than 7am, I still headed out.
The other down side was that yesterday it snowed a fair bit, then rained, then froze and today it was starting to thaw therefore making the pavements a nightmare. I ran along the road where it was safe to do so and along grass verges where it possible. That left some parts where I had to run through the slush or worse still ice. One particular corner I came around between the two moors and I slid round it. Luckily I didn't fall and there was just one witness to my ungainliness.
Anyway I managed 2.36 miles in 32 minutes so didn't do too badly considering the conditions. I've got the Garmin showing all the details I need again when I downloaded it but also got Bucks Fizz back in the unit (ie it kept telling me to speed it up or slow it down). Never mind i can put up with that.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Day Seven. A Whole Week of Exercise
Well a whole seven days have passed and I've managed to do at least one activity every day.
This afternoon was spent with my partner Peter getting to and from the hospital for his CT scan on his eyes. It snowed quite heavily today so of course all normal rules of the road seem to go out of the window and consequently traffic came to a virtual standstill. Luckily I knew a few back roads to get to the hospital so I used them. The first one I tried there was a lorry stuck up it so a quick three point turn and another few streets and I tried again. We got there in the end.
Anyway that has nothing to do with my chosen exercise today. This evening was canoeing club night. No I am not some extreme nutter who goes canoeing outside in the dark in winter. It is done at a local pool. We are pretty much left to our own devices usually but often a game of canoe football takes place and a lot of cheating goes on.
Anyway nothing fancy tonight but plenty of paddling up and down the pool at speed and atempting turns and high braces which have again left my upper arms aching.
This afternoon was spent with my partner Peter getting to and from the hospital for his CT scan on his eyes. It snowed quite heavily today so of course all normal rules of the road seem to go out of the window and consequently traffic came to a virtual standstill. Luckily I knew a few back roads to get to the hospital so I used them. The first one I tried there was a lorry stuck up it so a quick three point turn and another few streets and I tried again. We got there in the end.
Anyway that has nothing to do with my chosen exercise today. This evening was canoeing club night. No I am not some extreme nutter who goes canoeing outside in the dark in winter. It is done at a local pool. We are pretty much left to our own devices usually but often a game of canoe football takes place and a lot of cheating goes on.
Anyway nothing fancy tonight but plenty of paddling up and down the pool at speed and atempting turns and high braces which have again left my upper arms aching.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Day Six, Time For A Change
After running 4 out of five days so far I thought it was time to do something different today.
The day started with a dog walk. We went across to our local moor and threw the ball about for a little while. Once the excess energy was out of Bear's system we walked down to the second moor and threw the ball about some more. My right arm should resemble Popeye's after all that ball throwing. We walked about 2 miles in all after this. Very pleasant walk but it was threatening to rain.
I got back home, grabbed my swimming gear and headed back out of the door. Haven't been swimming for about two months so didn't want to do too much so aimed for 50 lengths of a 33m pool. There were already three people in the fast lane and only one in the next lane so I went for the second lane. Managed to do 50 lengths of breaststroke in 46 minutes.
The afternoon was spent with my partner up at the local hospital as he had an appointment there regarding his eyes. After loads of tests he has to go back toorrow to for a CT scan. It's something to do with blood pressure in his eyes.
Anyway to finish the day off I went back to my circuit training class. Five of us there tonight. Put quite a bit of effort into the exercises and felt good but tired by now. Part of the circuit is boxercise exercises and that really makes me puff and pant.
Anyway I feel justified in not running today as I did quite a lot anyway.
The day started with a dog walk. We went across to our local moor and threw the ball about for a little while. Once the excess energy was out of Bear's system we walked down to the second moor and threw the ball about some more. My right arm should resemble Popeye's after all that ball throwing. We walked about 2 miles in all after this. Very pleasant walk but it was threatening to rain.
I got back home, grabbed my swimming gear and headed back out of the door. Haven't been swimming for about two months so didn't want to do too much so aimed for 50 lengths of a 33m pool. There were already three people in the fast lane and only one in the next lane so I went for the second lane. Managed to do 50 lengths of breaststroke in 46 minutes.
The afternoon was spent with my partner up at the local hospital as he had an appointment there regarding his eyes. After loads of tests he has to go back toorrow to for a CT scan. It's something to do with blood pressure in his eyes.
Anyway to finish the day off I went back to my circuit training class. Five of us there tonight. Put quite a bit of effort into the exercises and felt good but tired by now. Part of the circuit is boxercise exercises and that really makes me puff and pant.
Anyway I feel justified in not running today as I did quite a lot anyway.
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Day Five - I'm still here!
Normally I would have my walk from the car to work and back as 20 minutes of exercise but this morning's walk was ruined last night.
After having my car off the road for about 7 weeks I eventually got it back last Wednesday, a week ago. We have spent about £500 on it. Then we bought a new battery for it last Friday and we had a trip out to the coast to test it. Fantastic, everything went like a dream.
Last night some nice people thought they could help themselves to having a ride in my car. They popped the bonnet and started to hotwire it. Because it is parked away from the house and we have double glazing we never heard the alarm going off. Luckily our friends who live across the road heard it all and came across and scared them off. They flagged down a police car but the culprits had disappeared. This morning the car wouldn't start. Bloody Hell!!!!
Anyway my partner Peter took me to work in the van. He was going for further tests on his eyes this afternoon as yesterday they found he had high blood pressure in them. They've also made him a hospital appointment for tomorrow. As he wasn't able to drive home I got my walk back up to the car.
Got home this evening after doing the weekly shop and got changed and went out for a run. Garmin strapped on and I was ready to rock. Did the same route as last night for much of the run but instead of cutting back across the moor I carried on down the road and around another block. Some of the run is near main roads but some of it is quiet almost country roads.
When I got home I found yet again I hadn't set the Garmin properly so all it told me was how long I had been out, bah! So I had a quick trip around Mapmyrun to find out my mileage. 2.36 miles done in 32 minutes of R1/W1.
After having my car off the road for about 7 weeks I eventually got it back last Wednesday, a week ago. We have spent about £500 on it. Then we bought a new battery for it last Friday and we had a trip out to the coast to test it. Fantastic, everything went like a dream.
Last night some nice people thought they could help themselves to having a ride in my car. They popped the bonnet and started to hotwire it. Because it is parked away from the house and we have double glazing we never heard the alarm going off. Luckily our friends who live across the road heard it all and came across and scared them off. They flagged down a police car but the culprits had disappeared. This morning the car wouldn't start. Bloody Hell!!!!
Anyway my partner Peter took me to work in the van. He was going for further tests on his eyes this afternoon as yesterday they found he had high blood pressure in them. They've also made him a hospital appointment for tomorrow. As he wasn't able to drive home I got my walk back up to the car.
Got home this evening after doing the weekly shop and got changed and went out for a run. Garmin strapped on and I was ready to rock. Did the same route as last night for much of the run but instead of cutting back across the moor I carried on down the road and around another block. Some of the run is near main roads but some of it is quiet almost country roads.
When I got home I found yet again I hadn't set the Garmin properly so all it told me was how long I had been out, bah! So I had a quick trip around Mapmyrun to find out my mileage. 2.36 miles done in 32 minutes of R1/W1.
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Day Four. Back To Work
As I set off for work this morning it was trying to snow again. I was dreading that as I haven't ever run in snow and walking can be bad enough especially after it has been down a day or two. Thankfully it didn't hang around.
I deliberately park my car about 10 minutes walk from work for two reasons. One is that I am a Yorkshire lass and resent paying parking fees. Secondly it builds exercise into my working day. On the way in it is downhill so on the return journey it is a good heart pumping walk uphill. So that means that's a total of 20 minutes exercise without even thinking about it.
When I got home from work I decided to go out for a run. First though, a nice cup of coffee. Then after more procrastination I went and got changed, strapped my Garmin on and out I went.
I took a similar route to day two but with an extra block added in. Cold but clear evening and I didn't particularly struggle. I do have a recurring problem with tight calves so I have to consciously try to relax them or they get worse as I go along.
Anyway 1.9 miles done in 24.33 of r1/w1. So total so far is 5.72 miles (of r/w). Not masses in the grand scheme of things but still more than the majority of the public do.
I deliberately park my car about 10 minutes walk from work for two reasons. One is that I am a Yorkshire lass and resent paying parking fees. Secondly it builds exercise into my working day. On the way in it is downhill so on the return journey it is a good heart pumping walk uphill. So that means that's a total of 20 minutes exercise without even thinking about it.
When I got home from work I decided to go out for a run. First though, a nice cup of coffee. Then after more procrastination I went and got changed, strapped my Garmin on and out I went.
I took a similar route to day two but with an extra block added in. Cold but clear evening and I didn't particularly struggle. I do have a recurring problem with tight calves so I have to consciously try to relax them or they get worse as I go along.
Anyway 1.9 miles done in 24.33 of r1/w1. So total so far is 5.72 miles (of r/w). Not masses in the grand scheme of things but still more than the majority of the public do.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Day three, a day at the seaside
As I have only just started running again I don't think it is prudent to run everyday as I could get overuse injuries. As it is Bank Holiday today and we are all at home we decided to load the dogs, Evie and Bear, into the car and get off to the coast.
The car is a Land Rover Discovery and has recently been very poorly. After lots of time and money has been spent on it we finally got it back last Wednesday so this has been the first opportunity for a long trip out in it.
My 13 year old daughter has also been ill in bed for the last two days with tonsilitis so we thought a bout of good fresh sea air would do her good as well.
We were aiming for Bridlington but at the last minute decided to go to Filey which is a few miles up the coast from Brid. It was quite icy on the pavements around the town but the day was cool and clear with a pleasant winter sun.
It was quite busy on the beach. Lots of people must have had the same idea. Evie is great on the beach as she doesn't chase other dogs or misbehave but Bear is another story. He isn't in the least bit aggressive towards people but he is naughty with other dogs. Mostly he charges at them and bowls them over but occasionally he has snapped at them so we are constantly on the watch with him (he is a German Shepherd crossed with a Border Collie).
We walked quite a way along the beach but the sea was coming in so we decided to turn back before we got cut off. We did a lot of ball throwing as well as walking. We were out for about 1 hour 40 minutes and covered about 4 miles in total.
The car is a Land Rover Discovery and has recently been very poorly. After lots of time and money has been spent on it we finally got it back last Wednesday so this has been the first opportunity for a long trip out in it.
My 13 year old daughter has also been ill in bed for the last two days with tonsilitis so we thought a bout of good fresh sea air would do her good as well.
We were aiming for Bridlington but at the last minute decided to go to Filey which is a few miles up the coast from Brid. It was quite icy on the pavements around the town but the day was cool and clear with a pleasant winter sun.
It was quite busy on the beach. Lots of people must have had the same idea. Evie is great on the beach as she doesn't chase other dogs or misbehave but Bear is another story. He isn't in the least bit aggressive towards people but he is naughty with other dogs. Mostly he charges at them and bowls them over but occasionally he has snapped at them so we are constantly on the watch with him (he is a German Shepherd crossed with a Border Collie).
We walked quite a way along the beach but the sea was coming in so we decided to turn back before we got cut off. We did a lot of ball throwing as well as walking. We were out for about 1 hour 40 minutes and covered about 4 miles in total.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
DAY TWO
This morning I didn't get up quite so early. Did nearly talk myself out of going for a run but wanted to make sure my Garmin was doing something right after fiddling with it for quite a while yesterday.
It appeared to be working as it was yesterday as I set off. Then it bleeped and
I thought that the first minute had gone quickly, (I'm doing one minute run, one minute walk at the moment). Then it bleeped again! Hmm what's going here. It seems it has picked up the speed parameters set by the previous owner or Bucks Fizz has invaded the unit as it kept saying 'Speed Up' when I was walking and 'Slow Down' when I was running.
Once I realised what had happened I just listened for a particular bleeping sound and ignored Bucks Fizz. I'm not particularly technically minded so like my running it is small steps forward.
I did 20 minutes of R/W and then had a five minute cool down walk and did some stretches when I got back. The downloaded info tells me I did 1.8 miles. Yesterday I had to use Mapmyrun to tell me that I had done 2.02 miles. So no great mileage but still better than sitting on your backside doing nothing.
When I got back home I changed my shoes to walking boots, put on a fleece and took Evie and Bear for a walk. Followed similar route to the run so another 1.5 miles done and plenty of ball throwing and bending to pick it up (it all adds up you know).
It appeared to be working as it was yesterday as I set off. Then it bleeped and
I thought that the first minute had gone quickly, (I'm doing one minute run, one minute walk at the moment). Then it bleeped again! Hmm what's going here. It seems it has picked up the speed parameters set by the previous owner or Bucks Fizz has invaded the unit as it kept saying 'Speed Up' when I was walking and 'Slow Down' when I was running.
Once I realised what had happened I just listened for a particular bleeping sound and ignored Bucks Fizz. I'm not particularly technically minded so like my running it is small steps forward.
I did 20 minutes of R/W and then had a five minute cool down walk and did some stretches when I got back. The downloaded info tells me I did 1.8 miles. Yesterday I had to use Mapmyrun to tell me that I had done 2.02 miles. So no great mileage but still better than sitting on your backside doing nothing.
When I got back home I changed my shoes to walking boots, put on a fleece and took Evie and Bear for a walk. Followed similar route to the run so another 1.5 miles done and plenty of ball throwing and bending to pick it up (it all adds up you know).
Saturday, 1 January 2011
New Year, New Me?
Well I've joined the Janathon. Must try to to run or do some form of exercise each day for the whole month. Also need to blog each day as well.
Midnight came. The fireworks and Chinese lanterns were going off in abundance so we went out to watch them.
Around 12.30 am we decided to take Evie and Bear for a walk. Why not? Start as you mean to go on. Cool, clear night so it was a short but pleasant walk.
Alarm didn't go off but I woke at 7.15am and was going to get ready to go canoeing but a little voice from my daughter, Isobel's room shouted to me. She was crying as she didn't feel well. Headache, very sore throat and other aches and pains. Looks like she has gone down with the flu. So we couldn't go and leave her alone.
Right change of plan. Find knickers, support bra, running socks and shoes. Oh and a t shirt and leggings would probably be the decent thing as well. Set new Garmin Forerunner 205 up and stepped out of the door for the first run in more than 4 months. It was never going to be pretty or long but I was out there that's the main thing.
I did 2.05 miles of run1/walk1. For some reason the Garmin kept beeping in the appropriate places and was brilliant at that but it didn't save the distance or any other data so that I could download it.
After a shower I crosstrained with taking the Christmas decorations down. Day 1 done only another 30 to go!
Midnight came. The fireworks and Chinese lanterns were going off in abundance so we went out to watch them.
Around 12.30 am we decided to take Evie and Bear for a walk. Why not? Start as you mean to go on. Cool, clear night so it was a short but pleasant walk.
Alarm didn't go off but I woke at 7.15am and was going to get ready to go canoeing but a little voice from my daughter, Isobel's room shouted to me. She was crying as she didn't feel well. Headache, very sore throat and other aches and pains. Looks like she has gone down with the flu. So we couldn't go and leave her alone.
Right change of plan. Find knickers, support bra, running socks and shoes. Oh and a t shirt and leggings would probably be the decent thing as well. Set new Garmin Forerunner 205 up and stepped out of the door for the first run in more than 4 months. It was never going to be pretty or long but I was out there that's the main thing.
I did 2.05 miles of run1/walk1. For some reason the Garmin kept beeping in the appropriate places and was brilliant at that but it didn't save the distance or any other data so that I could download it.
After a shower I crosstrained with taking the Christmas decorations down. Day 1 done only another 30 to go!
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