Watch Out, Scooby's About!

Hello blog lovers.

It's back to club runs again. It felt great to be back with all my running chums. Hitchy picked me up and we drove to the park.  The weather wasn't too bad, great for running in fact.  I quashed rumours of my graduation to group 2, but I also know that I have to push my self now. The marathon is not that far.

So for the first mile or so, it was good to be sweeper along with another young lady with the same name as me (but not my nick name of course), encouraging the ladies at the back, but then after that it was running with the main pack, while our Illustrious leader (it's good to have you back) took sweeper role.  The first mile is just the warm up, get the muscles used to the jogging, get the breathing sorted out, and then pick up the pace after that.

It was good seeing JJ, Kay, and all the other ladies and gents in group 1. Kitman Mike joined us as well, which is good I can ask tons of advice about my running, (if I can catch him up!) The first mile was done, and then it was just a little bit further into the Kelvin estate. The ones who didn't want to do the extra loop around the green carried straight on, the rest went around the green. Illustrious leader just looked at me and pointed me in the direction of the extra loop! (You know that training really begins hard now)

We all met up again at the end of the green. Now the group splits into two for the jog home. There is no sweeper role duty for me now, as Illustrious leader points me towards Kitman Mike to run along with the rest of group 1, at a slightly faster pace, non stop till we get back to the club.  I can do this. The ladies behind will be well looked after, I need to pick it up now and start to push out.

I kept up well with the pack, I was still at the back, but we were all together, jogging along quite nicely.  Kitman Mike was up at the front, I so want to ask him for more advice, anything that is going to help me get through to the end of the marathon and still enjoying running and no injuries! I start to push past a few of the others, and then as if my prayers were answered, Kitman Mike came back to check up on everyone, and then I stopped him as he made his way back to the beginning. "Hows was your Christmas" I asked. And we chatted for a while. Before I could ask him anything, he was on the ball! "Try to run quietly" he said to me "Think of Scooby Doo, creeping a head" Well, this did make me chuckle, especially as he demonstrated the 'Scooby walk'. But I had a go, I tried, "Quieter" he said and then I tried again "Thats it, its not easier and you won't be able to keep it up, but it will click" Well, I would hope so. And I also noticed why stretching out your calf muscles is important as I really felt those muscles working particularly harder running like 'Scooby'

The Old Boy has always said that I run rather flat footed, and basically about as dainty as an elephant. But I thought I was running a little lighter that I was at the beginning, the first time I ever put on running shoes. I remember when I used to really come down hard on my heels first! Now I have to retrain again.  And I thought running was simply a walk with faster legs and a bounce!

When we got back to the park, talking to Illustrious Leaders Husband,  more 'coaching' encouragement "See you at Pettswood station for the train run Old Girl" It didn't even sound like a question, more like a statement! Seems I am going to have to take it a little bit easier on the Saturday night for my school pals birthday party!  I have a 5.5 mile train run to do!


Geeky stats

Smarty Pants Is Back!

Hello blog lovers.

Now that I have my new bike I am going to be some cross training on Mondays instead of running, but I am running with Smarty Pants, who is chasing her running mojo, (and by Jove, she has it by the scruff of its neck!)

She wants to do 2 miles today. There is no, week of doing a mile, then a week of doing 1.75, etch, no! She says "I think I can make it two miles" So I plotted a little loop, going up to turn around lamppost (it's always good going past somewhere you had to stop first time) and the up to Trinity Church, Magpiehall lane, and then through the park and home! Two miles, and a tiny tad more.

As soon as the little lad I look after was pick up I had a quick change into running gear and then we set off.  The weather wasn't too bad, a little chilly, but I know once we get running we will warm up.  I loaned SP my light weight, bright orange jacket, as she had on a rather nice jacket, but way to thick for running! and besides, as its dark we needed to be seen!

I thought I would do as the last time we ran together! Run for the first mile, have a short walk, and then run home.  Going past TAL was good, my breathing seemed settled from the beginning, and even SP seemed to be going great guns.  Up to Trinity church, I start to look at my Garmin, got to keep an eye on that first mile marker! I don't want SP to overdo it, and do damage to knees, shins, ankles or feet, or indeed her enthusiasm! As we were running up Magpie, thats where the mile mark clicked in.
"Ok, thats a mile" I said to her
"No, lets keep going, I don't want to stop" she replied!
Well I just carried on running by her side.

We started to run up the slight incline, 1.45 miles in our run, and thats when I said "Lets just have a short walk" I wanted to add 'Please!" Smarty Pants is definitely back.  Short walk over then we start jogging again.  Smarty Pants starts to pick up the speed a bit. When we get through the park and onto the road she seems to go right into the zone! I am chasing after her! Welcome back Smarty Pants!

Mojo well and securely under wraps! Now to keep it there!

Geeky stats

Sunday Lunch And Running Don't Mix!

Hello Blog Lovers.

I must focus on running. I must focus on running. I must focus on running. I must focus on running. "Care to join us for shared Sunday Lunch, Old Girl?" I was asked by my pastor last week! "Yes, that will be lovely" I responded all too eagerly

My mantra went straight out of the window, again! But, as it was Sunday lunch time, I thought I would be ok to do maybe two miles with Smarty Pants, later in the evening, or if she couldn't make it, then 3 miles with the Old Boy.

As it happened, I came home from church, after quite a busy lunch time, and sat on my chair and promptly fell to sleep! I didn't realise how tired I was! But eventually, after the Old Boy woke me up with a cuppa, I found out if Smarty Pants could make it, (which she couldn't) and then I got myself ready for a 3 miler.

I really wasn't up for it at all. Most of my running is done on, 1 bowl of ReadyBrek for breakfast, a very light lunch at lunch times, and several cups of tea during the day. The running takes place in the evening time before I have had my dinner! But today, Oh my!, a very tasty lunch, cooked by Hitchy, of shepherds pie and two veg. (I had two portions!) and then there was pudding, I had strawberry gateaux!

It was just too good not to! But I thought after a few hours, it wouldn't be too bad. And if I went with Smarty Pants it would only be two miles anyway! But here we are, with me writing up my blog after running 3.31 miles on (still) a very fully tummy! I was just glad it stayed full on the way round.

I must say, if it wasn't for the Old Boy today, bouncing around in front of me, running up and down the sitting room pretending to run, I probably would have stayed sat in my chair!  It was a hard run. Even the Old Boy found it hard, but then he has been ill recently. It was reminiscence of earlier days when I was deciding which was the best way to handle my body concerning the refueling. The times when I had dinner at 6, then and 5 o'clock. The stitch that I suffered after each run was not good.  That is when I decided that the best time to 're-fuel' is to have a proper breakfast, porridge or weetabix, then a nice lunch. And if I have a long run to do then I make sure I have pasta for a nice lunch. And then just have dinner when I get back after each run! For one reason it makes me want to get around quicker.

 Anyway, I jogged along! It wasn't my finest hour, or should I say 40 minutes! I stopped at silly places, it felt as if I had eaten all 6 of Hitchys shepherd pies! Even the Old Boy said "Lets go across the park" But I said that I was sticking to the route. I feel doing something is better than not doing anything. So I shall finish the route and then go and collapse into my chair again.

Geeky stats, very poor really. But considering I really didn't want to move my carcass of my chair this evening, I feel that its another little notch on the marathon bedpost!

Friday Rest Day!

Hello blog lovers!

I am guessing you will be a little confused with todays title, as you know by now that I only write blogs if I have actually done some exercise.  Well I did. Fridays are still going to be my rest days, (ignoring what my training plan says, I expect my coaches will have something to say about that!) But my friend Smarty Pants is getting her running mojo back, and I am determined that she will keep it this time! Get her back to running way faster than me (well, she is 10 years younger!)

We had arranged to meet up after I had finished work, and then we were going to jog to Turn Around Lamppost and back, but she text saying "Maybe we could do the longer one, 1.75 miles" So that's what we did. I said that we could stop for a rest at any time, but we will definitely stop after a mile, rest up for 2 mins and then jog on again.

The weather was good today. It wasn't raining, and it wasn't cold. This is going to be a good run. We started off with a quick walk around the green, and few crab like manoeuvres and some 'butt' kicks, and then we went straight off up the road to begin.  The first few yards always gets me panting hard until I get my breathing sorted out, why does it do that! You would think I would be less able to control my breathing after I had been running a while! Smarty Pants breathing was just the same, but once we passed that first half mile things settled down quite nicely.

I looked at Smarty Pants and I could see she was doing well, so I didn't even mention if she fancied stopping, I just said that she was looking good.  Jogging up Southborough Lane knowing that the Harvester is the first mile does do your morale good, and knowing that you jogged the whole way, especially after a long break as Smarty Pants had, makes you feel really good about your self. 

Just as we turned into Parkfield, to jog through the park I said "Ok, thats a mile, just take a little pause here, and then we can get going again" "All the way home,"  I was going to add, but I didn't want to put that pressure on to her. It's just less than a mile, three quarters to be almost precise, back to my house. But its all still fresh in my mind how I felt after I had jogged to the Harvesters that first time, and how long it seemed to get home again.

I was even remembering when I broke down and cried as I tried to jog up Whitebeam, when I was remembering why I was out jogging in the first place! It was not that long ago, yet here I am encouraging Smarty Pants to do what I couldn't do after I took just a year off from running!

It was a good run! It does make you feel good, all those chemicals that is released into your body when you exercise making you feel happy and well......good! I love it! And I am just thankful I can jog along!  How comes I didn't do it before, I just don't know, the call of the couch was great in those dark(chocolate biscuit) days!

Geeky stats, just for Smarty Pants, so that she can see her progression through from 12 m/mi to who knows! 8 m/mi

Track Session - PWR Style!

Hello blog lovers!

Today was my first ever time on a track! My running club is doing 16 weeks of track sessions, hmmm, I do believe that is about the time left before the... MARATHON! ARRGGGGHHHH! But I have no worries! This marathon run is all about a challenge for myself. It's a 'I ran the London Marathon" conversation point for me. A little medal to show the grandchildren later on. A 'I did that' when I am by myself watching the London marathon on the telly.

But I have to be realistic too!  I have to train! I can't just rock up there, after only ever running 3 to 4 miles as a 'long run'. I know that! So I am taking my training serious. I will listen to all advice, and will take on board as much as my braincells can cope with! I realise I am not going to cross that finish line in some extraordinary first timer marathon runner miracle time! (I at least know my limitations on that score!) But a nice sensible time, for the nice sensible pace, that I am already running at, will do me just nice!

I was talking to one chap from our running club, he was running along with me, at my pace, because he wanted to break himself in to running again, after a few weeks absence. I was saying to him "Actually, I don't think I could ever go faster, I am just not that way" Well if you could see me then I'm sure you would agree! I'm short, with short legs! Not a runners legs what so ever. All I wanted from my running, in the very beginning was to get around the Race For Life, City route, in a reasonable time, and not to kill myself doing it!

As it happened on our very first Race For Life, 5K, our party of TWENTY actually walked the whole way around, singing our heads off, in a fantastic time of 1:20 hours! But after that my times did actually get quicker, (thankfully!)

But todays track session, three lots of four laps, 1600 m, (ooo I am sounding like a runner again!) but I did it at my pace. I think I was supposed to be doing a speedy lap, then a slower lap. But I think I must have confused that with the warm up in the beginning! That was definitely a slow, fast slow thing that we did!

But for my first introduction to a track session, I enjoyed it immensely! The encouragement I got from Sgt Mr. S, was, as always very vocal, and (dare I say this) made me push a little bit more every time I saw him running towards me! (Mr. S. does his own thing, and also in the opposite direction to everyone else) The advice I got from Paul, (his only piece of advice that he gives out concerning a marathon) is well and truly in situ firmly in my head! 'Don't start off too fast' ..... as if I would! (I think I need to introduce him to my blogs and geeky stats!) Each lap I did I was thinking, each time I got to the 'finish' line 'How many laps have I done?" I really didn't know! I am sure I missed out a lap or two, but hey how, for a first session, I am quite pleased, (not sure about my coaches though!)

Also want to give thanks to CarotCake Karen, doing the warm ups and for her session today, I will try to improve my, oh darn it, what is that word again......oh yes speedy sessions! A very good session this evening, I enjoyed in immensely, and I am looking forward to the next 15 weeks, even running along with LittleBoyLost Mark, as he does his 'warm down lap' as I am still doing my, ahemm, speedy lap! I knew I would be useful in these sessions some where!

I will put my geeky stats. ( and I think I did miss out on one lap! tut tut naughty)



Thanks all, thanks Kitman Mike for 'phone sitting' for me. What a terrific bunch of people I have become friends with!

Oh and to the three little babywipes that try to make me fall of my bike on the way home 'plllrrrrrttthhhhh'

Dive In And Go For It!

Hello blog lovers.

As promised blog no.2. Me and the Old Boy went out for a nice little plod about. He hasn't been too well, man flu' got him the day he finished work for the Christmas break! So he wasn't expecting to go flying around at break neck speed, not that that has ever happened on a jog with me! But again, just like this morning it felt pretty good to be out. At least it had stopped raining, and it felt pretty mild out as well! But I am expecting to jumping over huge puddles!

I had charged my Garmin for this jog, but waiting for the thing to find satellites was taking time. So I just started the timer and hoped that it would find satellites pretty quick, but I wasn't too fused about it, not this time round anyway. My Garmin doesn't like being ignored for days and days, and seems to go into a sulk and refuse to play ball!

Our route was just slightly different to the usual 3 miler, as we were going up the ally to Turn Around Lamppost. It's strange isn't it, I don't see or talk about T.A.L. for ages and then it pops up twice in one day! But we were not going to head back home, we were going up to Trinity Church, and then urn right and right again to go down Magpiehall Lane.

I was jogging the whole way, and down some of Magpie as well, but I did have a little stop, just before the incline. I was quite pleased with my effort. The Old Boy was keen to keep going! Seems his cold hasn't killed off his fitness levels!  I stopped a couple of more times as well, once more by the Harvester and then again just as we got through the little park on Oxhawth crescent.

From Faringdon however, it was non stop jogging. The Old Boy even tried to get me to run a bit quicker, I'm not actually sure if I achieved that. I shall have to look at my geeky stats! Which brings me nicely to the end of my blog! A good stretch of the legs, I'm sure not too much damage done through over indulgence, and I'm looking forward to continuing my marathon training!

Geeky stats for you.

Putting A Toe Into The Water!

Hello blog lovers.

A very apt title for todays blog I feel! After the Christmas celebrations, the New years partying and the Seasons calorific filled gluttony, I was indeed ready to done the running gear again, especially as I have been given new things for Christmas and my birthday (my sister waited almost a month to give me her birthday present to me!) I shall be doing my usual, 'I haven't been running for a while'  type run, no more than three miles.

As usual I made all the swerving manoeuvres to not start straight away, and then I saw a friend of mine on Facebook. Some of you have met her before in previous blogs, way back in 2010 when I was training, again, for the Race For Life, its Smarty Pants herself. She feels about ready to kick start the new year with a new healthy regime. So I encouraged her come out with me today, only up to Turn Around Lamppost and back, unless she felt she could go further!

She thought about it, for about 2 minutes, and the next message was, "I thought about it, and I'm coming" Brilliant, at least now I can't go around looking for more dust that urgently needs to be swept up, or a cup that needs to be rinsed, I have my friend coming out. And it was just as well, as the rain had started to come down again, discouraging me even more!

It seems incredible that yesterday was such a lovely day, and now its raining. God indeed does have a great sense of humour, "Give them a lovely day on the 1st of January, to start the new year" Which would be good if 90% of the country wasn't out till silly o'clock celebrating. Most of the country probably missed the glorious sunshine, or was in fact too delicate to even think about opening the curtains to greet the morning, let alone go out and bounce up and down on pavements, while Mick Fitzpatrick is on the hammer drill in your head!

Still, It felt good to be out just now. Smarty Pants turned up at my house, (looking gorgeous I might add, with her made up face and lippy!) and we set off towards T.A.L. I was going to bring the Garmin along, but a) the lack of usage means I haven't charged it up, and b) I think it's a good idea to just go out with Smarty pants today not have the pressure of timing and pace, just to have a bit of fun!But first off we did a little warm up, just around the green, walking, skipping, crab like skipping and windmill arms. "I feel silly doing this" she says. Well, we shall just have to get her hooked on running again, and soon she will be shopping for spandex and headbands with the rest of us, all ideas of looking silly gone for ever!

The rain was misting up my glasses, but I can still still the fields at the side of us, swamped, flooded! Can there be any more rainfall! I think my next pair of running shoes will come with optional flippers!  I couldn't believe how I was feeling running along this path. I felt so good, ok, my chest was a little tight, (glutony and inactivity does that) but I was chatting away. We got to T.A.L. and had a little stop. Smarty Pants was, well, like I was the last time we ran this particular route together! (although she still looked perfectly made up, my makeup would have been around my feet) "You're not even out of breath" she said.

And do you know, blog lovers, I wasn't! I was quite surprised by that fact! The running and cycling is paying off, I felt very pleased with myself! I am getting fitter, I am getter healthier, and I am still enjoying it. Virtually no injuries, no pressure, and still having fun with it. Now that's my kind of keeping fit!

A very short break and we were back to the running. She felt she couldn't do a longer route, so we headed home. Jogging along back to my house, and the thoughts and memories of those runs back in 2010, when it hurt to run that far, when I had to have several breaks to get back home. Jogging between the lampposts, looking for the next so that I could walk again. It does get easier, it really does.

Of course now I have to go for a longer run, but I shall wait until the rain has stopped now. I shall be do my 3 mile route this evening with a smile on my face! A two blog, two jog day!