I had planned to go out for a lone bike ride this morning as I couldn't face meeting up with Mike and co just yet for a proper training ride. However when I got up it was pouring with rain so I changed my mind about that.
After a morning of not doing much in particular I had my munch then promised the dogs a walk. Bear bounced up and down at the door when he realised that he was going to escape for walk. He barked and barked and barked which I find exasperating as he has such a loud voice.
We went out on to the moor and had a throwing of the ball session until Evie wandered off with it. So we carried on down to the bottom moor. On the way I looked in the pool near the bottom of the first moor and for the first time this spring I saw frogspawn. Not loads of it but definitely some there.
On the bottom moor we again had a ball throwing session. These help get the excess energy out of the dogs before we walk properly. The next bit was across the road and down a track past a farm and the dogs can run loose down here for a while so they enjoy that.
A quick chat with a walker who had misplaced his companion and we carried on until we reached the bypass. We then went across there and into Drighlington which is a pleasant village on the outskirts of Leeds. We came back along the main road past a golf course and a busy pub doing a carvery. Would have been nice to eat in there.
Eventually we were back on the home straight and had covered about 3.5 miles. The walk had been pleasant as the sun had been shining.
Monday, 14 March 2011
Lent day 4
Saturday morning dawned reasonably dry but not very warm.
I was due to meet up with the Disabled Cycling Club in the park this morning but on past experience I knew I could be doing a lot of standing around while no-one showed up!
I duly got there around 10 minutes before the start and met up with Jan, Richard and Dean who either work for the charity of help out as volunteers.
Soon the first people arrived. All of them have children who are either physically or mentally disabled or both. We had a few more arrive and then suddenly a minibus belonging to the charity arrived full of people. We were soon running around finding suitable bikes and helmets for them. We have a variety of bikes for different abilities and sizes.
Then Barry, who is the charity's fundraiser and former Lord Mayor left his son Stephen in my care. We soon got him sorted with a bike but we were short of helmets that would fit him so waited until some of the others returned.
Meanwhile I had been re-united with a girl called Rachael who I had first met last year when we had a weekend away with the club. She seemed to have lost her confidence on a bike and at first would only go on a three wheeler. I persuaded her to get on a normal bike but she wasn't too happy. Eventually I persuaded her to get both feet on the pedals while I balanced her on the bike. After some prolonged talking she eventually took off around the area but would only push the bike along with her feet and then suddenly it was like starting to ride all over again as she put both feet on the pedals and was away. She got a huge cheer from me and several others.
Then it was back to Stephen who had been very patient. His dad told me that he hadn't been on a bike since he was 15, around 25 years ago. He'd told me his balance was fine but dad told me it wasn't. I got him a mountain bike with stabilisers on and we set off across the designated area. He was tentative at first but soon got the hang of it. I asked if he could be escorted further out into the park but was told that it wasn't feasible with those type of bikes. So I set up some small cones and got Stephen to do ride in and out of them. He was pleased as punch when he eventually made it without hitting the cones.
To sum up my morning I spent a couple of hours running up and down the cycling area following various people on bikes so I believe that constitutes exercise.
I was due to meet up with the Disabled Cycling Club in the park this morning but on past experience I knew I could be doing a lot of standing around while no-one showed up!
I duly got there around 10 minutes before the start and met up with Jan, Richard and Dean who either work for the charity of help out as volunteers.
Soon the first people arrived. All of them have children who are either physically or mentally disabled or both. We had a few more arrive and then suddenly a minibus belonging to the charity arrived full of people. We were soon running around finding suitable bikes and helmets for them. We have a variety of bikes for different abilities and sizes.
Then Barry, who is the charity's fundraiser and former Lord Mayor left his son Stephen in my care. We soon got him sorted with a bike but we were short of helmets that would fit him so waited until some of the others returned.
Meanwhile I had been re-united with a girl called Rachael who I had first met last year when we had a weekend away with the club. She seemed to have lost her confidence on a bike and at first would only go on a three wheeler. I persuaded her to get on a normal bike but she wasn't too happy. Eventually I persuaded her to get both feet on the pedals while I balanced her on the bike. After some prolonged talking she eventually took off around the area but would only push the bike along with her feet and then suddenly it was like starting to ride all over again as she put both feet on the pedals and was away. She got a huge cheer from me and several others.
Then it was back to Stephen who had been very patient. His dad told me that he hadn't been on a bike since he was 15, around 25 years ago. He'd told me his balance was fine but dad told me it wasn't. I got him a mountain bike with stabilisers on and we set off across the designated area. He was tentative at first but soon got the hang of it. I asked if he could be escorted further out into the park but was told that it wasn't feasible with those type of bikes. So I set up some small cones and got Stephen to do ride in and out of them. He was pleased as punch when he eventually made it without hitting the cones.
To sum up my morning I spent a couple of hours running up and down the cycling area following various people on bikes so I believe that constitutes exercise.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Lent day 3
Well I haven't succumbed to the sweets and chocolate yet so that's good.
Yesterday I did a lot of nothing in particular (domestic stuff) until evening time then I went canoeing. In the pool you understand not outside. It was fairly busy but the instructors put slalom gates up so that we could practice turns and then moved them every so often to give us a different perspective. We paddled quite fast and furiously for quite a lot of the time continually going through the slalom gates and then turning and heading back to the other end of the pool.
I could really feel the tops of my arms aching when I had done (it will help to avoid the bingo wings anyway). Could also feel it in my tummy muscles. So 1.5 hours of fairly strenuous activity done today.
Yesterday I did a lot of nothing in particular (domestic stuff) until evening time then I went canoeing. In the pool you understand not outside. It was fairly busy but the instructors put slalom gates up so that we could practice turns and then moved them every so often to give us a different perspective. We paddled quite fast and furiously for quite a lot of the time continually going through the slalom gates and then turning and heading back to the other end of the pool.
I could really feel the tops of my arms aching when I had done (it will help to avoid the bingo wings anyway). Could also feel it in my tummy muscles. So 1.5 hours of fairly strenuous activity done today.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Lent day 2
Yesterday I got those 'do I want to go swimming' feelings. Why do I feel like that. I always have. I enjoy any of the things I do when I get there but I do so easily talk myself out of it. I've never understood why. Probably my basic laziness.
Anyway I didn't talk myself out of it and went along to Spenborough Pool. Thankfully it wasn't very busy at lunchtime and there were only two other people in the fast lane.
I did 50 lengths in 43 minutes (there are 48 lengths to a mile at this pool) so I was pleased with that. I also included one length of back crawl and one length of front crawl in that. Front crawl is definitely not a strength for me and I do not feel confident doing it but I didn't drown so must be doing something nearly right.
After a pleasant hour or two wondering around the nearby town's charity shops I came home and had something to eat. By that time I was starving.
In the evening I went to my usual circuit training class. This class has always been small but I don't know why as the instructor, who is also a friend, is excellent. She is very knowledgeable and is willing to help you if you have any problems at all. Last week there were 9 of us which is almost unheard of for a long, long time. This week there were only 4 probably due to the heavy winds, rain and hail. Who can blame anyone staying at home in that lot.
Anyway an hour of circuits done and dusted. Roll on Friday.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Lent!
Today is the first day of Lent. Although I am not religious I am giving up eating sweet things for Lent as it is a finite period and I am hoping it will kick start my weight loss again. It also means i will look forward to Easter rather more.
I am also stepping up my exercise again. Janathon was a great opportunity and it pushed me into doing exercise when I would normally use any old excuse not to do it. So I am looking at Lent in the same kind of light. Although I cannot promise to do something everyday I am going to try to.
I have been roped into doing another bike ride this year. Not as exciting as the Hamm rides and certainly not as arduous but it is four days of riding. The first day is 40 miles and then three days of 35 milers. It is all in Yorkshire starting and finishing at Shipley Town Hall and visiting Knaresborough, Osmotherley and Whixley. We are taking two disabled lads with us and the focus is on getting them around the ride.
This means training rides will start again from this weekend.
I have also been asked to help out at another weekend away in Derbyshire with the Disabled Cycling Club. This will be the weekend after next and will probably be staying in a bunkhouse. This won't cost us anything as we get funding from another source and so it doesn't come out of our charity's money.
So I have several things to look forward to and a few reasons to get moving again.
I am also stepping up my exercise again. Janathon was a great opportunity and it pushed me into doing exercise when I would normally use any old excuse not to do it. So I am looking at Lent in the same kind of light. Although I cannot promise to do something everyday I am going to try to.
I have been roped into doing another bike ride this year. Not as exciting as the Hamm rides and certainly not as arduous but it is four days of riding. The first day is 40 miles and then three days of 35 milers. It is all in Yorkshire starting and finishing at Shipley Town Hall and visiting Knaresborough, Osmotherley and Whixley. We are taking two disabled lads with us and the focus is on getting them around the ride.
This means training rides will start again from this weekend.
I have also been asked to help out at another weekend away in Derbyshire with the Disabled Cycling Club. This will be the weekend after next and will probably be staying in a bunkhouse. This won't cost us anything as we get funding from another source and so it doesn't come out of our charity's money.
So I have several things to look forward to and a few reasons to get moving again.
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