Not much to report today. Went aquarunning as usual this morning at 7.30am. Great session as Debs really pushes us but that's the good thing about aquarunning, it's as hard as you want it to be.
She also does a visualisation thing with us. She will put a scene in our heads, for instance the park run. She will tell us what the weather is like and then get us to start running. we usually start off steadily then she will say we are coming to a big hill so we need to push harder with more power. This will be followed by another steady part and then maybe a fast downhill. This makes the effort more enjoyable as you don't know when the different aspects are coming.
The guy who promotes aquarunning in this country came to do a session with us a couple of years ago. He reckons that if you do a session correctly that you would burn around 640 calories in a 45 minute session!
Wednesday 14 January 2015
Sunday 11 January 2015
Wet workouts - Thursday 8th January
Thursdays I look forward to and almost dread too. I go aquarunning at 7pm which is a pretty strenuous workout in itself - 45 minutes of running and various other exercises which stretch, push and get your heart beating like a flipping metronome.
Straight after that I swim. They put up a fast lane which is a great help unless there are a lot of twits who don't understand the concept of a 'fast' lane. I take my float and pullbuoy and goggles and I get stuck in. I have developed a set of reps which stops me from getting bored just ploughing up and down.
I'm a strong breast stroke swimmer but I've had to teach myself front crawl. So I do two lengths just breaststroke legs, two breaststroke arms, two front crawl legs and two front crawl arms. In between each two I do two straight forward lengths of breaststroke. This makes 48 in all which in my pool is 0.75 mile. This I usually complete in around 30 minutes.
Then and only then, I will stop for a chat with whoever wants to chat. Today it was my lane buddy, Helen, Then a posh Indian chap who is very pleasant. Lastly as I was leaving it was Kelly who is duty manager.
By the time I got home it was nearly 10 o'clock and I was famished.
Straight after that I swim. They put up a fast lane which is a great help unless there are a lot of twits who don't understand the concept of a 'fast' lane. I take my float and pullbuoy and goggles and I get stuck in. I have developed a set of reps which stops me from getting bored just ploughing up and down.
I'm a strong breast stroke swimmer but I've had to teach myself front crawl. So I do two lengths just breaststroke legs, two breaststroke arms, two front crawl legs and two front crawl arms. In between each two I do two straight forward lengths of breaststroke. This makes 48 in all which in my pool is 0.75 mile. This I usually complete in around 30 minutes.
Then and only then, I will stop for a chat with whoever wants to chat. Today it was my lane buddy, Helen, Then a posh Indian chap who is very pleasant. Lastly as I was leaving it was Kelly who is duty manager.
By the time I got home it was nearly 10 o'clock and I was famished.
An early walk - Wednesday 7th January
I was determined to get up early and take Barney out for a good walk before I started making excuses about the weather, things I've got to do etc. So 7.15am we set off down through the village.
We are lucky that we live in a rather pretty village with a duck pond and a village green so that's the way we went. The ducks were up early too, doing whatever ducks do.
This isn't a photo I've taken but this is the view I had this morning.
We carried on down and out of the village, into the countryside, over the motorway and down into the next village of Hunsworth. Here we took a turn off the road and down a snicket (a tight little pathway down the side of a house) where Barney spotted a cat. All systems are go! By the time we got to the end of the snicket the cat had disappeared. Barney searched all round but couldn't spot it.
Here it comes out into a very large field and I thought it would be safe to let him off for a run. He was like a bullet out of a gun and headed straight down the field and disappeared. I tried not to panic, followed him down and started whistling and calling his name as I couldn't see him. All of a sudden a whirlwind nearly knocked me over from behind! He must have gone up the other side of the hedge, got back through and then caught me up. Phew! Back on the lead now.
Another field crossed and we were on a main road. A long uphill one! So we started up here and I noticed it was now getting light. We passed the farm with the two Shetland ponies and Barney actually behaved himself. On up until we got to the Fire Station HQ, crossed the road and on a little further.
A left turn saw us going up another snicket and then we did a few twists and turn s and came out onto another road. At the top of this road we turned right and this is like Millionaires' Row. On one side there are very nice, fairly new detached houses with biggish gardens. On the other there are several VERY large houses, almost small mansions. They have such vast driveways that you need sponsorship to walk up them.
After these houses there is a school a few more more modest houses and eventually we come to the bottom moor, up that moor and we join the top moor and it is now fully daylight. All that is left is to cross the road and we are home. Four and a third miles done before breakfast.
We are lucky that we live in a rather pretty village with a duck pond and a village green so that's the way we went. The ducks were up early too, doing whatever ducks do.
This isn't a photo I've taken but this is the view I had this morning.
We carried on down and out of the village, into the countryside, over the motorway and down into the next village of Hunsworth. Here we took a turn off the road and down a snicket (a tight little pathway down the side of a house) where Barney spotted a cat. All systems are go! By the time we got to the end of the snicket the cat had disappeared. Barney searched all round but couldn't spot it.
Here it comes out into a very large field and I thought it would be safe to let him off for a run. He was like a bullet out of a gun and headed straight down the field and disappeared. I tried not to panic, followed him down and started whistling and calling his name as I couldn't see him. All of a sudden a whirlwind nearly knocked me over from behind! He must have gone up the other side of the hedge, got back through and then caught me up. Phew! Back on the lead now.
Another field crossed and we were on a main road. A long uphill one! So we started up here and I noticed it was now getting light. We passed the farm with the two Shetland ponies and Barney actually behaved himself. On up until we got to the Fire Station HQ, crossed the road and on a little further.
A left turn saw us going up another snicket and then we did a few twists and turn s and came out onto another road. At the top of this road we turned right and this is like Millionaires' Row. On one side there are very nice, fairly new detached houses with biggish gardens. On the other there are several VERY large houses, almost small mansions. They have such vast driveways that you need sponsorship to walk up them.
After these houses there is a school a few more more modest houses and eventually we come to the bottom moor, up that moor and we join the top moor and it is now fully daylight. All that is left is to cross the road and we are home. Four and a third miles done before breakfast.
Wednesday 7 January 2015
A walk or two and a run.
Tuesday morning, not as cold this morning as yesterday but still nippy. All things prepped for work I don my gloves, phone in pocket, Garmin set and on, Ipod in lugholes, silly (but warm) hat on.
It is in no way an arduous walk. I use my Garmin as a bit of a mind game really. I know where the mile points are so I check my time on the first mile, I then have to try to beat it on mile two or at least match it. I really don't want to go slower than the first mile. So there is usually a bit of maths going on in my head here. It's not bad if I do it in 15 minutes but if I do it in say 14.47 I am doing a bit more mental arithmetic. The third mile then has to be at least whatever the first mile was. More adding up and taking away to work out what time I need to get to the end of mile 3.
The first mile is mainly up my road and then heading into a more traffic heavy main road, past a shopping area and a pub. I do know a little of the history locally so I know that I am passing a small but old graveyard that a lot of people don't know is there. It's now next to a cheap supermarket and about 10 yards from a bus stop but you can't see it from the road or at least can't identify it as a graveyard. On the other side of the road there is a row of old cottages, nothing exciting to look at but dating back from the 18th century. How many people have walked past here since they were built?
The second mile is initially flat but then downhill but I have to cross the busy road a couple of times.
St John's Church - along my walk
I could use the subway but it is built in such a way that you seem to have to walk twice the distance and I find they can be quite unpleasant so I try to avoid them. The downhill bit is okay but it is paved and shaded so quite often in winter time it is slippery.
The third mile is just down from there. This section has a busy road that it is almost impossible to cross so I do use the subway here. It is a huge roundabout with four areas that feed into it. I can't speak for the other two parts but the parts I use are grubby, graffiti-ed, full of rubbish and there is a blocked drain so I have to paddle across one part. I am always relieved to arrive back at the top of the steps in one piece. Then there is more downhill and then when it flattens out there is another busy road to cross. At this point there is a Seikh Temple that is actually quite an old property but they look after it really well. They have a garden down one side where they grow fruit and vegetables.
So you can see there are pleasant areas on the walk along with less pleasant ones. I'm always wide awake when I get to work that's for sure, windswept, wet or overheating but I am definitely wide awake.
Today was also my run before I get weighed day. I class it as that but it is just a small training run.
I take Barney, my labrador, with me.
My run is, for him, at best a trot but often just a fast walk. He is very good and keeps in line with me. His only fault while running is when I do right hand turns he doesn't. He's getting the idea though. He is only 17 months old and we only got him at 15 months.
So more on these subjects another time.
It is in no way an arduous walk. I use my Garmin as a bit of a mind game really. I know where the mile points are so I check my time on the first mile, I then have to try to beat it on mile two or at least match it. I really don't want to go slower than the first mile. So there is usually a bit of maths going on in my head here. It's not bad if I do it in 15 minutes but if I do it in say 14.47 I am doing a bit more mental arithmetic. The third mile then has to be at least whatever the first mile was. More adding up and taking away to work out what time I need to get to the end of mile 3.
The first mile is mainly up my road and then heading into a more traffic heavy main road, past a shopping area and a pub. I do know a little of the history locally so I know that I am passing a small but old graveyard that a lot of people don't know is there. It's now next to a cheap supermarket and about 10 yards from a bus stop but you can't see it from the road or at least can't identify it as a graveyard. On the other side of the road there is a row of old cottages, nothing exciting to look at but dating back from the 18th century. How many people have walked past here since they were built?
The second mile is initially flat but then downhill but I have to cross the busy road a couple of times.
St John's Church - along my walk
I could use the subway but it is built in such a way that you seem to have to walk twice the distance and I find they can be quite unpleasant so I try to avoid them. The downhill bit is okay but it is paved and shaded so quite often in winter time it is slippery.
The third mile is just down from there. This section has a busy road that it is almost impossible to cross so I do use the subway here. It is a huge roundabout with four areas that feed into it. I can't speak for the other two parts but the parts I use are grubby, graffiti-ed, full of rubbish and there is a blocked drain so I have to paddle across one part. I am always relieved to arrive back at the top of the steps in one piece. Then there is more downhill and then when it flattens out there is another busy road to cross. At this point there is a Seikh Temple that is actually quite an old property but they look after it really well. They have a garden down one side where they grow fruit and vegetables.
So you can see there are pleasant areas on the walk along with less pleasant ones. I'm always wide awake when I get to work that's for sure, windswept, wet or overheating but I am definitely wide awake.
Today was also my run before I get weighed day. I class it as that but it is just a small training run.
I take Barney, my labrador, with me.
My run is, for him, at best a trot but often just a fast walk. He is very good and keeps in line with me. His only fault while running is when I do right hand turns he doesn't. He's getting the idea though. He is only 17 months old and we only got him at 15 months.
So more on these subjects another time.
Back to work today. Well all good things have got to come to an end!
BRADFORD CITY HALL
Having said that I use this as a form of exercise. I could, and did for many years, drive to work, It used to be that I had to because I used my car for my job as a Visiting Officer. When that particular job came to an end I wasn't made redundant but I went to a desk-based job.
BRITANNIA HOUSE - My office is here.
So now I was either struggling to find a cheap or free parking space each day. Even if it is cheap it soon adds up so I thought, one day, that I would walk to work and see what happened from there. I wasn't sure whether I would get the bus home or walk. Even if I walked one way it would mean exercise that I wouldn't otherwise have had.
So that was nearly two years ago. I work 2 or three days per week, both ways, and I walk on Monday and Tuesday each week. Wednesday I usually drive so if I have bought anything that I can't carry home I can get it home on Wednesday.
I carry a rucksack with me so that I have a complete change of clothes and shoes when I get to work. This might seem a bit extreme for a 3.33 mile walk (each way) but I am usually very damp by the time I get there either from perspiration or the weather. It would be unpleasant for my colleagues to sit near me if I didn't change.
Today was the first walk to work of the year and it was cold but reasonable which makes for a pleasant walk. I listen to the radio and see it as a bit of me time before and after work.
I will tell you a bit more about my walks in later blogs.
BRADFORD CITY HALL
Having said that I use this as a form of exercise. I could, and did for many years, drive to work, It used to be that I had to because I used my car for my job as a Visiting Officer. When that particular job came to an end I wasn't made redundant but I went to a desk-based job.
BRITANNIA HOUSE - My office is here.
So now I was either struggling to find a cheap or free parking space each day. Even if it is cheap it soon adds up so I thought, one day, that I would walk to work and see what happened from there. I wasn't sure whether I would get the bus home or walk. Even if I walked one way it would mean exercise that I wouldn't otherwise have had.
So that was nearly two years ago. I work 2 or three days per week, both ways, and I walk on Monday and Tuesday each week. Wednesday I usually drive so if I have bought anything that I can't carry home I can get it home on Wednesday.
I carry a rucksack with me so that I have a complete change of clothes and shoes when I get to work. This might seem a bit extreme for a 3.33 mile walk (each way) but I am usually very damp by the time I get there either from perspiration or the weather. It would be unpleasant for my colleagues to sit near me if I didn't change.
Today was the first walk to work of the year and it was cold but reasonable which makes for a pleasant walk. I listen to the radio and see it as a bit of me time before and after work.
I will tell you a bit more about my walks in later blogs.
Sunday 4 January 2015
No running, just walking
Procrastination should be my middle name. Up early but 'doing' things. Not sure what things I was doing but they kept me busy until lunch time.
After lunch Barney and I set off for a proper walk. Down through the village and turned off across the fields. Now Barney has been a bit naughty on his recall lately but he really needed a good run around to let off some steam. This was the ideal place as there are several fields with boundaries and no lifestock in them at the moment. He was absolutely delighted to be allowed to run around and, to be fair, he kept coming back to me of his own accord.
Coming off the fields we were in the village just down from where we live. We crossed the road and walked through the churchyard so that I could say 'hello' to Grandma and Grandad whose ashes are buried there. Coming out of the back of the churchyard and onto a small back road I realised how icy the road still was when I did a comedy slipping and sliding act until I could get back on the pathway.
A swing round to the left and it was a long walk uphill but not steep thankfully. When I got to the top I had a choice of turning left and heading home or crossing the road and carrying on. I did the latter. This leads into another village where I enjoy a window-shopping stop at a florists. They have some lovely unusual gifts in there as well as some interesting flower arrangements when they are open.
This is where I turn for home, although I know from here it is two miles to my house. We pass a gold course, a pub/restaurant and an Indian restaurant along the way but when we get to the scrapyard Barney always ends up barking at the little Shetland pony that lives alongside it. He's very strange that way. He doesn't bark and run towards them or away from them but sometimes he just jumps upwards! Anyway today he only barked a couple of times and didn't jump at all so perhaps he is getting used to it.
Anyway we trotted on up another slope of a hill and hit the moor opposite where we live. I don't think the place had seen much sun all day as there was still ice on the track down onto the moor.
Up the moor and we arrived home but that wasn't the end of the walk.
This is where we then picked up Evie and carried on up the road, round the cemetery and across another field. The nicest part is then alongside the woods and across the golf course which leads back into our village.
Barney and I had done a shave short of 6 miles in all in glorious sunshine too.
After lunch Barney and I set off for a proper walk. Down through the village and turned off across the fields. Now Barney has been a bit naughty on his recall lately but he really needed a good run around to let off some steam. This was the ideal place as there are several fields with boundaries and no lifestock in them at the moment. He was absolutely delighted to be allowed to run around and, to be fair, he kept coming back to me of his own accord.
Coming off the fields we were in the village just down from where we live. We crossed the road and walked through the churchyard so that I could say 'hello' to Grandma and Grandad whose ashes are buried there. Coming out of the back of the churchyard and onto a small back road I realised how icy the road still was when I did a comedy slipping and sliding act until I could get back on the pathway.
A swing round to the left and it was a long walk uphill but not steep thankfully. When I got to the top I had a choice of turning left and heading home or crossing the road and carrying on. I did the latter. This leads into another village where I enjoy a window-shopping stop at a florists. They have some lovely unusual gifts in there as well as some interesting flower arrangements when they are open.
This is where I turn for home, although I know from here it is two miles to my house. We pass a gold course, a pub/restaurant and an Indian restaurant along the way but when we get to the scrapyard Barney always ends up barking at the little Shetland pony that lives alongside it. He's very strange that way. He doesn't bark and run towards them or away from them but sometimes he just jumps upwards! Anyway today he only barked a couple of times and didn't jump at all so perhaps he is getting used to it.
Anyway we trotted on up another slope of a hill and hit the moor opposite where we live. I don't think the place had seen much sun all day as there was still ice on the track down onto the moor.
Up the moor and we arrived home but that wasn't the end of the walk.
This is where we then picked up Evie and carried on up the road, round the cemetery and across another field. The nicest part is then alongside the woods and across the golf course which leads back into our village.
Barney and I had done a shave short of 6 miles in all in glorious sunshine too.
Saturday 3 January 2015
First park run of the year
I was up very early but still managed to be latish for the park run as my daughter hadn't got her act together and I was dropping her off on the way.
On arrival I found the car park full so pulled out my wild card and parked in a part of the park not normally allowed but I have unofficial, official permission to park there as I help run a disabled cycling club from there.
By the time I got to the gathering area they were already well on their way down to the start so I followed on and managed to make my way into the crowd. When the starter went I was a bit trapped by people adjusting their headphones or running slowly side by side but soon made my way through them.
Our park run is three laps and towards the back end of the lap is 'the teeny, tiny hill'. Not a very long hill but fairly steep. Now this where the power of the mind comes in. I have always been able to get up the hill running (well if you could call it that) but when you turn off the hill there is a dip which confuses your muscles. Your mind tells you that you are now on the flat so you don't have to work as hard but it is still uphill! That's where I used to have to start walking. Eventually I managed to keep going for longer and one day I got all the way round without stopping.
Each week when I get to half way round the second lap I wonder why I put myself through it! Each week when I get to the end I congratulate myself for doing it and then chat to various people who I would never have known otherwise.
No PB by a long chalk today but I got round in dead on 29 minutes.
On arrival I found the car park full so pulled out my wild card and parked in a part of the park not normally allowed but I have unofficial, official permission to park there as I help run a disabled cycling club from there.
By the time I got to the gathering area they were already well on their way down to the start so I followed on and managed to make my way into the crowd. When the starter went I was a bit trapped by people adjusting their headphones or running slowly side by side but soon made my way through them.
Our park run is three laps and towards the back end of the lap is 'the teeny, tiny hill'. Not a very long hill but fairly steep. Now this where the power of the mind comes in. I have always been able to get up the hill running (well if you could call it that) but when you turn off the hill there is a dip which confuses your muscles. Your mind tells you that you are now on the flat so you don't have to work as hard but it is still uphill! That's where I used to have to start walking. Eventually I managed to keep going for longer and one day I got all the way round without stopping.
Each week when I get to half way round the second lap I wonder why I put myself through it! Each week when I get to the end I congratulate myself for doing it and then chat to various people who I would never have known otherwise.
No PB by a long chalk today but I got round in dead on 29 minutes.
Day 2 of Janathon
Blimey, only day 2 and my resolve is weakening on the exercise front. Well not strictly true but it was blowing a hoolie out there and I didn't want to face it. However knowing I was signed up to Janathon gave me the impetus to get out there.
I didn't really have a route or distance in mind. It might just be round the block, I would just wing it and see how I felt.
I set off down into my village, round the bottom of the golf course and up the other side onto the main road. I turned as if coming home but then decided I was going to continue up the hill and I might come back across the bottom of the top moor. When I got to the place where I would enter the moor I carried on. Wasn't feeling too bad so turned off by the bakery and dropped down to the bottom of the bottom moor (lots of bottoms in that paragraph). I then came up both moors and back home.
Not covered a great deal of distance, to some it would barely be a warm up but 2.8 miles in 27.49 keeps me on track.
I didn't really have a route or distance in mind. It might just be round the block, I would just wing it and see how I felt.
I set off down into my village, round the bottom of the golf course and up the other side onto the main road. I turned as if coming home but then decided I was going to continue up the hill and I might come back across the bottom of the top moor. When I got to the place where I would enter the moor I carried on. Wasn't feeling too bad so turned off by the bakery and dropped down to the bottom of the bottom moor (lots of bottoms in that paragraph). I then came up both moors and back home.
Not covered a great deal of distance, to some it would barely be a warm up but 2.8 miles in 27.49 keeps me on track.
Thursday 1 January 2015
2015 is underway!
I got to bed at 3am. There was no way I way going to get up early without an absolute necessity to make me. So I got up at leisure, had my breakfast and then got my running gear on. I had put it ready the night before so that I didn't have any excuses to not go. The morning was mild and windy but I was going to go without a plan of distance or a need to break any records (after all it will be a PB for the year whatever).
I set off up the road and was surprised it was so mild. I came back round the block opposite where I live, but not quite completely and carried on down a very long road. Crossing the road several times I eventually got to a little place called Drighlington. As I turned the corner at the crossroads I realised I was going to be running upwards and into a wind - great! Never mind, that's a challenge. I plodded on.
After getting to the crest of the hill and crossing a major road I then had a traffic free wide expanse of semi-tarmacced (is that a word?) track to run on. However after about a quarter of a mile it becomes mud and puddles! So it then became a case of dodging left and right to find the least wet and slippery places to put my feet.
Up past the farm, cross a road and I am on the bottom moor - mud but not too bad for most of it. Up a short track and I am on the top moor and nearly home. I had a touch of cramp in my right calf but nothing to stop me running.
Home, slighty muddy but not too bad, in 39.15 having done 3.79 miles.
This afternoon, my OH and I decided to go for a nice doggy walk. It was a bit blustery when we set off but by the time we arrived at Ogden Reservoir it was bucketing it down. Oh well we had arrived so we were going to walk despite everyone else scuttling back to their cars.
Evie a 17 year old terrier of unknown origin and Barney, a 17 month old cream-coloured labrador were just happy to be out. Although Barney's colouring rapidly changed especially from the belly downwards as we trekked through the mud and puddles.
We managed a very wet couple of miles around the reservoir before heading home for something nice and healthy to eat.
Good start to the year!
I set off up the road and was surprised it was so mild. I came back round the block opposite where I live, but not quite completely and carried on down a very long road. Crossing the road several times I eventually got to a little place called Drighlington. As I turned the corner at the crossroads I realised I was going to be running upwards and into a wind - great! Never mind, that's a challenge. I plodded on.
After getting to the crest of the hill and crossing a major road I then had a traffic free wide expanse of semi-tarmacced (is that a word?) track to run on. However after about a quarter of a mile it becomes mud and puddles! So it then became a case of dodging left and right to find the least wet and slippery places to put my feet.
Up past the farm, cross a road and I am on the bottom moor - mud but not too bad for most of it. Up a short track and I am on the top moor and nearly home. I had a touch of cramp in my right calf but nothing to stop me running.
Home, slighty muddy but not too bad, in 39.15 having done 3.79 miles.
This afternoon, my OH and I decided to go for a nice doggy walk. It was a bit blustery when we set off but by the time we arrived at Ogden Reservoir it was bucketing it down. Oh well we had arrived so we were going to walk despite everyone else scuttling back to their cars.
Evie a 17 year old terrier of unknown origin and Barney, a 17 month old cream-coloured labrador were just happy to be out. Although Barney's colouring rapidly changed especially from the belly downwards as we trekked through the mud and puddles.We managed a very wet couple of miles around the reservoir before heading home for something nice and healthy to eat.Good start to the year!
Sadly neglected Blog!
I don't know why I have left it so long since I blogged. Laziness mixed with doing lots of other things I suppose.
Since I last posted I have cycled to Germany and back for a fourth time in June this year. However it was the first time that I cycled all the way there and all the way back without having to resort to (or be made to) getting on the van. It was exciting, tiring, hot but mightily fulfilling. I was the only female cyclist along with 19 guys! There were times when I felt like I wished I was anywhere but on the bike. I also felt the fittest I have ever felt.
This year I also did my first ever triathlon. Not a big triathlon but still a triathlon! I had never, ever run after getting off a bike before. It was a 400m swim in a small local pool. I completed that in 7 minutes 37 seconds. Out of the pool I was slowed down by not having a tri suit so had to get my swimming kit off and some cycling/running gear on which isn't easy when you are wet.
The 14.5k bike leg was partly on an old railway line and partly on the road. I thought I would struggle up.the hill on the road but I seemed to steam up the hill at some speed (adrenaline?). After parking my bike up I started on the 5k run which was also up the old railway line and back. As I said I'd never run after a bike session before so had already decided that I would be walking some of the way. However I surprised myself by running it all. Altogether the whole thing took me 1 hour 31 minutes. As it was Easter Sunday I followed it up with a rather large Easter Egg!
Another triumph for me was a local 10k that I have done every year but one since it's inception. I have never managed to run 10k without walking some of it. Guess what? I did it? Started thinking I might manage it when I got to 9k but got a bit of cramp in my calf but told myself that I must keep going. Holy macaroni, 61 minutes and I had done it!
Now 10k is one thing but a half marathon is another. Again I had done the Great North Run on a number of previous occasions. I had nothing to prove to anyone. I wasn't being sponsored or anything so it was only for my own esteem that I was doing it. I now knew I could do 6 miles without stopping so I would just see how far I could get running.
Steady away and feeling good I passed the 3,4, 5 and 6 mile markers (although I needed a wee). A very quick relief stop and on I went. Seven miles done and I was feeling pleased that I had topped my 10k success. Eight and nine miles passed and I was wondering when I would run out of steam. Mile 10, hmmmmm, starting to struggle a little now as we passed through a housing estate and started up a long drag of a hill. I told myself to keep going even if it wasn't much faster than a walk. Then it hit me! At the top of the hill I would be able to see the sea. A downhill stretch and the last mile on the seafront was flat I could do it! With renewed vigour I plodded on past the crowds and finished! OMG! 13.1 miles non stop (apart from a quick loo break).
So 2014 has been a rather successful year for my physical challenges.
Since I last posted I have cycled to Germany and back for a fourth time in June this year. However it was the first time that I cycled all the way there and all the way back without having to resort to (or be made to) getting on the van. It was exciting, tiring, hot but mightily fulfilling. I was the only female cyclist along with 19 guys! There were times when I felt like I wished I was anywhere but on the bike. I also felt the fittest I have ever felt.
This year I also did my first ever triathlon. Not a big triathlon but still a triathlon! I had never, ever run after getting off a bike before. It was a 400m swim in a small local pool. I completed that in 7 minutes 37 seconds. Out of the pool I was slowed down by not having a tri suit so had to get my swimming kit off and some cycling/running gear on which isn't easy when you are wet.
The 14.5k bike leg was partly on an old railway line and partly on the road. I thought I would struggle up.the hill on the road but I seemed to steam up the hill at some speed (adrenaline?). After parking my bike up I started on the 5k run which was also up the old railway line and back. As I said I'd never run after a bike session before so had already decided that I would be walking some of the way. However I surprised myself by running it all. Altogether the whole thing took me 1 hour 31 minutes. As it was Easter Sunday I followed it up with a rather large Easter Egg!
Another triumph for me was a local 10k that I have done every year but one since it's inception. I have never managed to run 10k without walking some of it. Guess what? I did it? Started thinking I might manage it when I got to 9k but got a bit of cramp in my calf but told myself that I must keep going. Holy macaroni, 61 minutes and I had done it!
Now 10k is one thing but a half marathon is another. Again I had done the Great North Run on a number of previous occasions. I had nothing to prove to anyone. I wasn't being sponsored or anything so it was only for my own esteem that I was doing it. I now knew I could do 6 miles without stopping so I would just see how far I could get running.
Steady away and feeling good I passed the 3,4, 5 and 6 mile markers (although I needed a wee). A very quick relief stop and on I went. Seven miles done and I was feeling pleased that I had topped my 10k success. Eight and nine miles passed and I was wondering when I would run out of steam. Mile 10, hmmmmm, starting to struggle a little now as we passed through a housing estate and started up a long drag of a hill. I told myself to keep going even if it wasn't much faster than a walk. Then it hit me! At the top of the hill I would be able to see the sea. A downhill stretch and the last mile on the seafront was flat I could do it! With renewed vigour I plodded on past the crowds and finished! OMG! 13.1 miles non stop (apart from a quick loo break).
So 2014 has been a rather successful year for my physical challenges.
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