Club Run - And So Begins Another Year

Hello blog readers.

It was the first club run of the year, although there have been a few club events happening this week.  But, this is the first club run, Tuesday night, plus it was a move-up week too!  So all the troops were chatting on the facebook about who was going, who couldn't go and plans were made to meet up.

I arrived at the rec and met up all with all my buddies, GetYourLegsUpTracy, Ade, RefMichael, SnapperHannah, LouLou, Paula, Ruth.  Plus maybe 150 others!  There were so many of us there!  Its good to be back to club runs, I know its only bee a couple of weeks since the last one, but this time, this year, I am going to be trying my hardest to get as fit as I can!

So it was group 2 for me this evening.  I am not leading so no need for me to hang on to my comfort blanket group 1 is there!  I didn't know who was leading group 2, as I arrived just after the leaders started giving out their routes.  I was at the back and being as I am short I couldn't see over the heads of everyone, did I tell you there was also well over 150 runners there?

When the crowds started to move to where their leaders were going to be I saw that group 2 leader was Hannah!  I don't think I have been out with Hannah before, it's going to be fun!  I opted to be sweeper too, well, at least I could have a sneaky extra walk if things get tough!   Hannahs route was a slight variation on one of my routes that I do with group 1.  She has added an extra loop in to make it a nice distance for group 2.  Well, I am needing to up my miles and pace, getting fit is not going to happen without me putting in the effort!  She took us up Kingsway, the one and only hill, well apart from the slight incline that is in Shepperton.  But Kingsway is more or less straight out of the rec, run a few feet then turn right into the hill!

I know when I am leading group 1 up this hill, I am in front and I run all the way, I feel as if I should show by example, on the odd occasion that I haven't been able to manage it, I kind of just step into the road and look back to see how the back runners are doing!  Sneaky eh? But this time of course, I am already at the back and watching everyone run at quite a speed up the hill!  Thankfully Hannah had a break at the top of here before we continued on our way!

We ran to the walking bridge and then over there.  We were going to do the extra loop, they bit that my group 1 don't do.  So we still ran down Crest View and then ran down Southborough lane to Oxhawth Crescent (West arm) and ran all the way around to Oxhawth Crescent (East arm).  I took a quick peak at my Garmin, it does this real time pacing, it showed me running at 11.35 m/mi trying to catch up to everyone!  We were going pretty fast!  I was enjoying it though!  It made me work just that bit harder on a club run!  Just what I need!

I used my new gadget too, just the ear plugs, no music, I just want to know how Jabra works out with a club run, and what better way to test it than being sweeper for group 2!  She did her thing, Jabra Lady, kept me up dated with my pace, heart rate, my TE (Training Effort) and all the other geeky stats I have asked for in the app!  I didn't put the music on, I didn't want to miss out on too much banter with my running buddies.  Mind you I still only had one ear, there was a lot of "Say that again".    But after the run, the best bit of having the app going.....she said that this was a top workout!  Praise indeed.  Also looking at my VO2 indicator, it's going up!  It is now on 29!  My fitness level not is 'Good'

I'm pleased with that, and I am pleased with all my gadgets!  I had a brilliant run with some brilliant people!  Loving my club!  Mojo! You are nearly caught!

Geeky stats from Garmin and Jabra!

Friday and parkrun day!

Hello blog readers,

Just in case you think I had missed out a  couple of days of my Janathon, well here is the geeky stats about them.

The first is for Friday!  I was feeling flipping knackered but I knew I wanted to do something.  So my new earphones came into play again with a workout!  That's right, not only does it allow me to Spotify all over the place, not only can it track me running and check out my heart rate while on a bike spinning, it can also give me a workout!  The works, star jumps, burpess, crunches, wall sits!  I did it all......for 5 mins and then for 7 minutes! Fecking ada!  It was tough, but I think if I keep at it I will get better! So here is the two stats from my work out!  It's something, it's something I wouldn't have done if it was Janathon!

 

And so for parkrun day!  It was NaggyNeighbours 50th parkrun!  So the bakers made themselves known and got busy doing their wonderful stuff!  Cake is always a welcome at parkruns, especially for us slow runners!

I had trouble walking and there I was planning on running!  I had already decided that as I am doing this crazy run (exercises) every day in January then the running is not going to be fast, record breaking or even record chasing.  It's all about getting out there and doing!  After all the announcements were done, a big cheer going up after the run director called out Naggy's name we all got ready to run.  Most of the usual crowd were there, GetYourLegsUpTracy, CarolWithAnE, RefMichael, SnapperHannah and Ade!  We were all kind of spread among the hundreds of runners!  It's amazing how the new year brings out all the runners and keep fitters again!  I am sure they can't all be regulars, every week runners!  There just seems to be so many!  In fact the car park was totally full and the marshals were telling every one trying to get into the car park to try and find space out side on the roads. 

The count down began and we all surged forward.  I was fumbling about with my gadgets, I turned on my Garmin then started to get my other gadget working, so I can record everything!  I don't know why I like these geeky stats but I just do!

The first long Straight I caught up with GetYourLegsUpTracy with her daughter, who was doing her first ever parkrun!  And what a day to chose to do it!  So many people, it could be quite daunting for newbies!  I decided to keep pace with them and chat to them, well, I was going to be running the next day too!  We ran at a nice steady pace, trying to keep GYLUT daughter motivated, but she was really struggling!  I think I would struggle too if that was my first run!  It's not as easy as you think, especially with all those people around!  She didn't quite do the whole of the park run!  She managed the first lap and then decided that it was enough.  Me and GYLUT continued without her still keeping a nice steady pace, after all there was that run that we were both doing the next day!

It really was just a nice steady pace all the way round and soon enough we were back ready to start the final lap.  We say her daughter again and encouraged her to just do one more lap with us, as it wasn't even a full lap.  She decided that she would do that and started to run with us again.

So it wasn't the fastest of parkruns but then I wasn't planning on it being that, and the worse thing is I had not taken my barcode!  So not logging on the official parkrun site for me!  Oh well, I still have my geeky stats, and I still enjoyed some wonderful cakes, Lemon Drizzle, chocolate brownies, and some raspberry and chocolate things!  Delicious.

In Two Camps! In Two Minds!

Hello blog readers,

After yesterdays escapades through the fields of Kent, with very sore legs i might add, for my exercise this morning I decided would be......rest! Yup, I rested, I got up late and just did what I had to do.  But this is a Janathon thing this month so of course I did something! 

My title today, 'In Two Camps!' It's because I wasn't quite sure which blog I should be writing it!  So, I am going to do both!  This copy and paste thing comes in quite handy!  My exercises today required me to get my Cycling Gear on!  Yup, I am going on a bike!  The thing is, I am a bit lacking in confidence on my bike, lacking my cycling ass, and also it's bloody dark and cold out!  NaggyNeighbour has this marvellous thing that you can put your bike on and cycle like crazy for well as long as you want!  Pretty cool eh?  Also my new earphones has this workout for a spin session!  So it has to be done!  I went over to Naggy's with my padded cycling pants on, a towel and some water!  Naggy had tried this bike thing the other day and she said its a good work out!

Well, the last time I was on my bike was for a few short minutes some time last year when I rode to parkrun, and before that was.....well months and months ago.  My last cycling blog entry was January 2018!  So my bike has been neglected!  I need to start from the bottom again.......and oh does my bottom need some work done!

Naggy had the bike thing all set up in her sitting room, she has her new cadence thing attached to her bike, she has a story and half to tell you about trying to collect that thing from Halfords! And I was first to go on the new torture equipment!  The second I sat on that saddle I could tell that the nice saddle ass that I built up over the last few years previous to 2018 has now gone!  It was like sitting on a razor blade (she says remembering an old tv ad) Perseverance, that's all it takes. Just start pedalling! 

So her machine is not quite working perfectly, it needs looking at, but for a work out, for getting our legs spinning and for working on a saddle arse, it's perfect!  Naggy did 20 minutes for her first time on the instrument of torture, so I decided that 20 mins is what I will do!  Oh my goodness that first time sitting on that sit!  It brought it all back, the pain in the Old Jack and Danny!  I should have remembered to go commando! Ok, so it was only for twenty minutes, I can do this, just pedal, I don't even have to worry about traffic! Just get those legs spinning!

Well, I started my Jabra earphones, put on some music, appropriate for a spinning class!  I was hoping for motivation, and then I started my exercise!  Naggy, well, she thought it was hilarious, the crying that I was doing about my derriere! She took some pictures of course, and even a short video.  I am glad I amuse her, just wait until she's on there!

Me on the torture equipment

The music was going, Naggy went upstairs to get her gear on and so I just got down to it!  It's harder than I remember....sitting on a bike that is!  If it wasn't for that I am sure I could do more spinning!  I am really going to suffer when I do get my bike out again!  Naggy came down and still laughed and chatted with me "How long have I done?" I said to her, I indicated to my phone.  She got it and I opened up the up, seven minutes!  Seven bloody minutes is all I had done!  It felt like I was on the bike for at least an hour!  So I just concentrated, just 20 minutes, that is all I am doing for my first time back on a bike!  Break myself in slowly....or I will just break myself if I don't!

Twenty minutes, sweat, tears....well no tears, but a sore bum later and it was done!  I checked out my geeky stats on my app and it said 'Training Effect.....Liight'  Fecking ada!  Is that all!  It felt so much harder.  But at least it's another exercise activity done for Janathon!

Geeky stats

Oh and some pictures of Naggy too!  Look at that, she is showing, off taking calls on the bike!

NEWS FLASH - ESCAPED SNOW LEOPARD

+++++++  Breaking News+++++++

I interrupt this blog to bring you breaking news.

A snow leopard was seen early this morning in the Kent area following Petts Wood Runners who were out for their social run.  This Leopard escaped the clutches of her keepers named as RefMichael and CarolWithAnE,

who were left in charge of transferring the snow leopard from Petts Wood station to Knockholt Station.  The Snow leopard named 'Old Girl' had been rescued from a very deep pit of self pity with only a fridge for company.  She has been living this past year on high fat foods, alcohol and cigarettes.

The Snow Leopards keepers had been keeping a firm grip on her while they were at Petts wood station, the other runners were assured that she was totally friendly and wouldn't bite.  They were helping to reintroduce the snow leopard to her long lost Mojo which is somewhere, out there, in the wild.  The leopard some how managed to escape from the keepers while on the train, between Knockholt and Sevenoaks,

and so half of the Petts Wood Runners had to continue on the train to Sevenoaks, to run back through the country side to try and capture the runaway while another group got off at Knockholt.  Apparently the Snow Leopard has been known to find her way back to her home from Knockholt, dropping in on hostelries and cafes to feed her face on a couple of occasions.

The route back from Knockholt is well known by the PWR's, and they were all pretty sure the snow leopard would be heading back to her familiar hunting grounds for more of her usual self pity, alcohol and high fatty foods!  They had to find her quickly before she was shot down or enter the local cafe to feed. They even checked out the local pub and the bus stop to see if the snow leopard would use those.

IllustriousLeader showing the way

They Knockholt group was lead by Illustrious Leader, who has also been known to take care of snow leopard in the past, with regular outings for runs.  She has taken the leopard several times before on one of the longer runs including the run back from Knockholt.  This is a route familiar to Old Girl  and will aid the PWR's to re-capture her before she finds self pity, or worse an open cafe or bar. The Illustrious leader had a good group of 'Old Girls' friends, J.J., GetYourLegsUpTracy, Lou, SnapperHannah, Ruth  and so many more!

The greater spotted
snow leopard!

There were several sightings by locals and the PWR's over the 6 miles between Knockholt and Petts Wood, she was always behind them, in a stalking manner!  Local farms were warned to keep an eye on the 'it's so cute and fluffy' goats and horses.  They mentioned that the snow leopard really only eats cooked meat, and the only danger to the live stock would be that he snow leopard would cuddle them all day long!

Up and down hills and paths they roamed, over roads and fields, no place was left unsearched.  They were so busy planning their route that in one instance Old Girl was hiding in plain view among them.

Of course they did manage to re-capture Snow leopard 'Old Girl' and they managed to get her back to her own hunting grounds, to help her in the hunt for the snow leopards mojo!  They all ended up at a favourite watering hole 'The Cow and Bean', where hot chocolate, coffee and tea were available! 

What a team!

The mojo is now definitely almost in the hands or paws of the snow leopard, I was assured by one of the search party today in an interview.  This will of course mean that cafes, pubs and restaurants will be safe again, but unsuspecting civilians will be seeing a lot more of Old Girl as she happily runs with mojo in her own environment.



This is the known route they took, and they would like to reassure the general public that as of this evening the snow leopard is safely tucked up under a blanket feeling very happy!

Day 3 - It's a Track Sort of Day!

Hello blog readers.

Who'd have thought that just walking around a park 3 times could make your muscles hurt! But hurt they do!  I am pretty sore in places which I don't get sore running!  My shins, for a start and my fat hippy bits!  What is that all about! Across my shoulders are aching, don't let anyone tell you that speed walking does nothing for you!  I walked fast and I earned these aches and pains, they just blimmin better start paying off!  Get rid of the fat that I have been busy making!

It wasn't a total struggle to get out this evening.  I had said in my Whatsapp friends group chat that I was going, just to see if anyone else wanted to come along.  Naggy was already going to be coming, but SnapperHannah said that she might come along.  I the end though she decided to rest up her Achilles, it's a bit sore.

Naggy was ready to go by 7 pm!  She said that if she hadn't changed into her running gear then a blanket would have been wrapped around her instead!  I was ready by about 7:40 pm.  We got into Naggy's car and drove towards Norman Park.....again.....well ....sort of, we went to the track so it was the other end of the park!  There were so many cars in the car park, I couldn't believe that they were all there just for our PhysionMikeTheMod's session!  Of course there is the usual group there, a famous group of runners there, well, Olympian runner Dina Asher Smith and her club was there.  Norman Park is her training ground!  When I looked up towards where we all meet up with PMtM and CoachJane there were crowds of people!  The spring marathons and what not are all coming up!  As for me....I just want to get fit again.  I think I heard PMtM say that he had over 50 runners, us lot in CJ's group numbered about 15!  All of us with our own agendas!

As Naggy pointed out it was blimmin cold, 5 degrees cold!  It said so on her car clock!  Still, we will warm up, we were looking forward to it?!  Brrr. Our warm up was doing drills with Jayne, we were running around the little warm up square thingy and then continued with the some drills.  I still didn't feel quite warmed up but I would certainly warm up when we start the session.  The session, by the way, for us, was  3 laps, with 200 meter walk, then 2 laps, then 3 laps!  I think!  Anyway I was just going to do what I could in the time that everyone else does the session.  Let's see how much I can do compared to them.  Of course the faster ones, the runners with PMtM, will be running more laps!

We started the session I fumbled about with my earphones and app, I wouldn't normally take my earphones to track sessions, but I am still practising with them, and having fun with them, but I was going to leave one ear free, so I can hear my running buddies and the coaches!  Everyone seemed to have just stormed off while I was fumbling around and I tried to play catch up!  I wish I hadn't, I really struggled! I know I should just start out at my own pace and adjust the warmer I get, I know that! 

I did stop running on the first 3 lap section, I told myself off of course and got back to the running.  I was feeling pretty annoyed at myself, but then I thought about the past few days, I've done exercises,  running and walking, and that walking has worked a different group of muscles!  So I won't be hard on myself, not this month anyway, yes, I bet you've guessed now, I am attempting RED January! Only my January will include any exercises, whether its speed walking or a workout to music, courtesy of my new earphones!

So I just did as much running as I could.  I think I missed out about 200 meters of running. I did all the other bits though!  It was good being back at track, a tad cold, and I know that it's only going to get colder, I just have to keep up my enthusiasm.  My geeky stats on my new app thing is suggesting that my fitness level is on the up!  I am so pleased with that!

I had my Garmin with me too, I just forgot to turn it off at the end of my running!  It's a good job I have two apps working now!

Garmin geeky stats



And this is my geeky stats from Jabra!  Look at that fitness level  gone up by 16 percent.  It's still pretty low but its deffo going the right way!

Still At It! And It's only The 2nd Of January!

Hello blog readers.

Ok, todays title is a bit naff I know, but I really am trying to be more active, I spent too much time chillaxing! And really, this is about 4 days in a row so far! So this morning me and Naggy was again at Norman Park.  But this time we didn't run!  'So why are you blogging then Old Girl' I hear you all say!  Well, of course we don't normally just go to Norman park for a shits and giggles, we actually went there to do some exercising.

Naggy's calves were a bit tight this morning so we decided to do 3 laps power walking instead of our usual running!  Well now,  I have never been a very fast walk, I am a 20 min/mi walk type of girl, especially with my short fat little legs! But power walking is what was on the agenda.  I had brought along my earphones to listen to music, I had them before I knew what Naggy had planned, but as we were walking I decided that a chat would be so much nicer.  Naggy hadn't brought hers to the park either. In fact, I am sure Naggy wasn't even ready when I knocked at her door this morning! I was wondering if she even planned to get out this morning!

So like I said, walking usually for me, is as slow as a tortoise walking through treacle!  That's how slow I am, but this is exercise and I am just going to have to keep up with Naggy!  I have been out with walking with Naggy before, you know, when we've walked the dogs, or been on a night out, boy can she walk fast, even in high heels!  So my plan was if I couldn't keep up with her then when I fell behind a bit I would just jog along to catch up.

We started our Garmins, I had remembered to bring it this time, and we started our walking as we pushed the start buttons.  Yup, she still can walk fast!  It took me a while to get my pace up to hers walking, I had to jog a bit to catch up to her, but I managed to stay mostly by her side.  So, is it me, or does everyone else think that walking fast seems so much harder that running along at a nice slow steady pace?  I could feel different muscle groups working in my legs!  Maybe this speed walking will do me some good!  I really tried hard to do as much walking as I could rather than the running!  Now, how weird is that sentence!?

Walking was good, we chatted all the way around our three laps, but we both decided that actually it's bloody boring!  If we didn't have each other for company that is, and we decided that if the speed walking was to take place it needed to be somewhere a bit more interesting than round and round a park!  Mind you, I pointed out that if that was the case then then the scenery could distract you from walking fast and you could end up just ambling around enjoying the country side!  Of course it would have to be the country side, you couldn't possibly walk fast in city centres.

So, we did have our Garmins on and this is my stats for my walk!  I am quite impressed with it really, I have run less distance and taken longer that what I have just here!  Go figure!

<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/3266261846' title='Day 2 Walking Session' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>

I am Looking For You Mojo!

Hello blog readers

It's a new year, the 1st day of 2019!  Is Mojo just around the corner? Is it hiding beneath the pile of food, beer and sweets.  Is it evading capture by determination, spirit, and perseverance!  Not this time! I will do it! I will capture Mojo and hang on to it!  I like being fit, I like being a few pounds lighter and a size or two smaller! I like being in control! I am in control of what happens to me!  It's is my decision to be lazy or to just get on and do it!  No one else!  Of course I have a great team with me to encourage me on my journey back to fitdom, but I have to chose to listen to them!  Determination, get a bad ass attitude, take no prisoners and lets get this shit off the hips and stick some muscle back on!

Fecking ell, I wish it was as easy to do it as to write it! It all sounds good putting it down, but today, for the first time in a while, I felt the stirrings of true belief that I can do it!  I was out with NaggyNeighbour again this morning, we decided not to NYD parkrun but to do our own thing again!  Our own thing just so happened to be running around Normans Park again, but with no pressure, just us doing our thing.  We left around 11;30, so I had plenty of time for a lay in, especially after the previous nights celebrations, I had all my gizmos, my mojo hunting equipment with me.....or so I thought! And we drove to the park.

It was while we we walking to where we start our running start point that I realised that I had forgotten my Garmin which I had put on charge! Tut, oh well, I do have this new app now, connected to my earphones!  I was wandering if it will show a map as well, but I shall see that at the end of my run.  I had decided not to do another VO2 test but to go straight into an activity, just to see how it all works out.  It's great having new gadgets!  I pushed the start button on my app, got my Spotify going, Bat out of Hell was playing giving me much needed Mojo finding energy, and I just ran.  Naggy started to pull away from me more or less as soon as we started.  I think she is on a mission.  I also had a sneaky suspicion that she was going to lap me!  I must stay ahead of her at all times!

My ear phones started to talk to me straight away, telling me at first my speed was going to maintain my fitness level, which is totally not what I want! Then it said I would be getting fitter at a gently pace all the way through and up to my pace is going to get me fitter real quick and I should think about a rest after this!  Well, it said something else rather than real quick but you get the picture!

There were quite a few people out and about in the park, I guess it being a bank holiday, and probably the last days holiday for most people, they all decided to go out with the family, kids on the new scooters, bikes, electric cars!  There was going to be a lot of dodging to do.  My earphones had finished talking to me after it said that I was fitness level 5, which I am guessing is pretty good, and so I tried to maintain my pace, enjoy my music and have some fun.  Maintaining pace was going to be difficult, I almost felt like I was running nude without my Garmin to look at and to tell me how my pace was.  I was just going to have to rely on my new gadget to help me maintain my pace.  I hoped it would speak to me again.

The long straight done, the top of the park done and I was heading back on the second long straight.  Naggy was nowhere to be seen, she is so going to overtake me today!  It was just down here that my earphones spoke to me again, it had told me I had run for .85 miles, it was the 10 minutes reminder,  and then loads of other stats came along with it too, heart rate, cadence, calories, time, pace, mph!  I tell you, it calculated the lot!  I just kind of smiled, I must have looked like a blimmin grinning Cheshire cat!  But soon the pounding of my feet crept back into my thoughts, I was running here!  And I better keep it up! Just a little further on my earphones said it all again as I reached the 1 mile marker!  Then I had remembered I had the settings to do exactly that!

So the first lap done and I was feeling pretty good, I am sure I have done a bit more walking that I did yesterday though, but still, I am out here and I am doing it!  Which at the moment is all I need to do!  No racing, not thinking about anybody else, just out there for me!  But it was good to know that Naggy was out there....somewhere.....with me too!

I was really enjoying my music, it was from Bat out of Hell the musical, me and my middle Daughter went to see it a few weeks back.  Fantastic show! The second lap went by ok, and I really had to call on my wrist thingy that SnapperHannah had bought for me, 'Pain is temporary'!  I looked at that a couple of times as I ran on the third lap!  Temporary, that's all it is, once I had done this lap it was all done till next time!  I tried to push out a little harder, not quite sure if I had done, I miss my Garmin, so I just ran along with the beat of the music trying very hard not to actually dance along with the music.  I may have failed a little bit on that point! Still, runners, we are a crazy bunch of people anyways!

I got to the top of the park and I tried to see if I could see Naggy but I couldn't see her!  Maybe she is going to come the other way to me after all!  I started running down for the last time on the second long straight and was stopped in my tracks by this gorgeous, adorable, so cute puppy dog!  I think he was a boxer, his feet just didn't fit him at all, but he had this cute look on his face!  Well I just had to stop.  I knew that any moment my earphones will be nagging me with the geeky stats, I think that I have sussed it that it takes the stats right at that precises moment, whether you are running or walking!  So it's best to be running your fastest if you want to put a smile on your face!

Back to the running, and I looked ahead of me to see if I could see Naggy, I would have seen her by now if she was coming back in the opposite direction which could only mean one thing!  She would be coming up behind me!  Now I have a race on!  Do I just let it happen, just let her reach me and then try and keep up with her while she nags me as well as the earphones, or, do I just go all hell for leather and try my darnedest to stay in front!  Well, this is a new year, with a new bad ass attitude, so I just went for it!

I was about three quarters of the way down the long straight I felt sure she was going to catch me up but she still wasn't near me.  I got to the bottom and chanced a quick look behind me and I still couldn't see her, or maybe I just couldn't focus too well!  Only a very short way to go now, around the wooded area and then too the little gate where we started!  I pushed out a bit harder, I so wanted to stop, I am not sure if I did or not but I pushed out again right to the gate where we started from!  I stopped my app thingy and turned around to see if Naggy was behind me! Nope!  Hmm, blimey, she wasn't in front of me! Which means she must be behind the woody bit!  I started to walk a bit and then turned around and walked back.  I thought I would wait for her, then changed my mind again and walked back the other way to bring my heart rate down slowly.  Just then Naggy caught up with me! Looking blimmin warm!  "I tried to catch you" she confessed!  I knew it!  I was right to push out! 

So first run of the year, done!  My VO2 thingy now says average! Woo hoo!  I must be because I haven't smoked in a few days and I have done three runs on the trot now!  Now that really put a big smile on my face!  Feck it! I am coming back, Mojo you better get out here quick, cos I am gonna kick ass!

Here's my geeky stats from my new app thing :-)