......Um, Hi, I'm Still Here!

 Hi blog readers.

Me trying out the
AfterShokz
#ItriedAS

I know, I know!  It's been, like forever since you heard from me! What can I say!?  July just kind slipped on by and merged into August! As for August, well, here we are at the end of it!  Have I been running?  I bet that's what your next question will be!  Well yes, I have been running!  But it's the blogging that have have neglected.  I know I am going to miss those weeks where I hadn't written anything.  I will be thinking later on down the line, "Why wasn't I running, why didn't I blog".

I could quite easily blame the pandemic, everyone else does. But, I really do think it has had a profound effect on everyone.  Whether it was to stop their running and exercising, stop their visiting friends and family, for me it was to stop my blogging.  I will make a, quiet, promise to myself that I will try and blog everything again.

Did I mention in one of my blogs about a chap called Ben Mudge.  I am sure I did, I often think about that quote he wrote in one of his Q&A sessions that he does. Someone asked what kept his motivation going, his answer made me smile and nod, and made me feel better about my 'lost mojo', my 'lost' motivation, I will  quote it here

People: "Ben how are you motivated all the time/How do you motivate yourself?"

Ben:  "I am not. I am rarely 'motivated' to do what I need to do.  Motivation is the spark that starts you.  It is not the right fuel source you want to rely on for a long journey though'.

He went on to say that he was asked that question regularly, and that after the motivation, what keeps you going is discipline, routines, regularity.  It just made me realise that mojo is always there, motivation is always there, because what got me motivated to keep on running was my mum!  She is in my thoughts every single day, every single day.  Sometimes it can still bring the tears.  She is why I started running, and she is with me every time I go running.  But getting me out of the door is discipline and the routine of club runs, parkruns, beginners course and of course the odd racing....well in my case participating in racing events.

It's good to have parkrun back, although I was a bit apprehensive about going back and I missed the first one because of it. But Normans Angels had a few Normans runs together which was really good.

Last Sunday I had my first run with a new headphone set.  I was offered a chance to try The AfterShokz  Aeropex headphones #ItriedAS.  I like trialing things and these headphones felt good.  I think using them on some of the races is allowed, rather than my in ear phones.  I do miss music when I am running racing, it helps me keep to a rhythm but having cheering crowds is a huge pick me up when you are feeling tired.  I am sure this headset is a perfect compromise for all.  I had my glasses on and I felt that maybe I was pushing them back on my nose more often.  But I couldn't decide if it was because I was hot and sweaty so my glasses were not perched properly on my ears!  I will try them again, this time while wearing my hat too.  See if that makes a difference.  The sound quality though, I was totally impressed with and it was so easy to connect to my phone. 

Of course the only thing that has been totally continuous, since the last lock down, has been club runs.  There has been the booking system, but that will be ending soon, we hope.  It's good to see all groups together in one park now, although there is still two different times people can choose to run. Not quite back to normal, but we're getting there.

This evening was a club run and yes, I was leading.  That is the routine and the discipline that I need right now to get me out on a Tuesday.  All through August, working from 7 in the morning and getting home sometimes after six in the evening, I was totally shattered.  But I did it! I got off my (expanding) butt and got myself to club runs.  We had some new comers too, all those that been on the beginners course joined us.  Some of them went straight into the higher groups, but others came along to group 1.

It's been light enough to be going through the woods, although for the last three times now I chose the same route as it's through the park with not too much of the route going through woods.  Just nice open pathways.  My group today was reminiscent of days gone by, 12 of us.  I was wondering if Lucy was going to turn up today.  She joined my group a few weeks back, she's been a member of PWR for some time, but right now she is 'growing' another little PWR.  She kept her running up till the last 4 weeks.  So now she is just going to relax ......and enjoy the last of a nice tidy home she will have for years to come!.....I hope she don't see that!  Babies are wonderful little miracles......messy, but wonderful.

Here is some pictures of our group runs that we have been having through this blog drought season.  Fingers crossed I will be disciplined to write more blogs, after every run, like I used to

RefMichael doing
cool downs

Putting them through their paces

Group 1

it was a bit muddy

Another group run

See, we've been consistant

And todays group 1 run! 12 of us ( I am behind the camera)

She's Only Just blimmin Blogged Again!

 Hello readers.

Ok, it's been a while, but it's not been a while since the last run.  There has been club runs, there has been beginners runs and there has been.....? Well, ok that's about it.  No solo running, no just running with me mates, no racing.  But I think just getting out there and doing those two runs each week has kept me sane, and remembering that I am an athlete!

I have just spoken to Naggy, she has just shared with me that fact that Paddock wood is coming up!  It was deferred in 2020 from the April to the September, then it was deferred again to the April, 2021 and now it is in September 2021!  It's not that far away!  I have some serious thinking to do, some serious training to do and to stop blimmin procrastinating!  Usually me and Naggy kind of blag our way around this course, but right now, I know there is going to be no blagging it, now winging it!  I am going to have to train or be a DNS!  We guessed it was about 12 weeks away!  Time for training, me thinks!

The beginners have been going really well!  I am so amazed about how many have finished the course this time!  DiscoRich thinks it must be a PB for finishers!  We have just our 5k run around Norman park graduation to do on Saturday!  I am so looking forward to it!  It's a 'notparkrun' run!  Hopefully parkrun begins again the week after, where hopefully all our beginners will continue to go to and hopefully some will join our club!

Club runs have been going well!  I did my ankle in a few weeks back (again) Thank goodness for the pink gin anaesthetic!  Not that was the reason for my finding a hole to twist my ankle on I hasten to add!  My first run back after the ankle incident I was a bit apprehensive because I was going through the woods!  All those roots and uneven terrain to contend with.  But once I started it I felt a lot better about running through there!  Group 0 will be finishing around the end of July, I am hoping that all of us in group 0 will be up to speed and turning back into group 1.  It's where we need to be, we can do it.

So, I think I have caught up!  The next blog will be about the Spring 2021 Beginners Graduation!  I will take my phone with me to capture some photos, but I am hoping our resident photographer #KevHowarth will be there taking some shots of our Graduates.

So till next time folks, keep on running.

Club Running

Hello blog Readers

Yesterday was club day, I really wasn't feeling up to it!  I've had a really stressful couple of weeks, with one family member quite ill, my son's girlfriend having a  motorcycle accident while they were both on holiday.  Thankfully she is quite alright, her bike not so well!

I've not done any exercises with Tracy this week or last week, spending that time instead calling the hospital.  If J.J. hadn't said to me 'Oh you so need to come running today, just to get out of it for a while' then I felt sure I would just have made my excuses and not gone running!

There were only 4 of us in group 0 yesterday, Wendimoo had moved up to group 1.  I still wasn't really feeling it, but it felt good to be with my pals.  J.J. had said that she had found this pretty path while out walking "It's at the top of that hill with the cows and sheep"  We all knew what hill she meant, it's at the top of Goss hill.  I changed my mind about what route we were going to do so that we could run down along the 'pretty' path.  

So we went straight up the middle path, we were passed by one of the faster groups that were running through the woods. We turned left to run towards Botany Bay Lane.  I love the name of this little lane, it sounds so exotic. It begins at the top road, the name escapes me of what it is called, but I do know that the pub at the end of it is called the Tigers head, it leads to the lovely English Heritage home that is situated in Hawkwood, as well as Tongs farm. It really is just so pretty.  We were not going to go all the way down to there,  we took the right path and ran along to the top of Goss hill.  That is where the pretty path stars.  Usually we run down by the fields, enjoying the steep down hill to the river.  But the path that was on the left is where we turned, into Pond Wood,  I am probably still going to call it the pretty path. 

It's a more gentler downhill section, with the lovely pond to look at.  I took some pictures here, then when we continued further we could see the beautiful bluebells that were covering the woods, like a lush carpet. (see picture at the top)

After getting to the bottom of Goss hill, via the lovely pretty path, we had to run along the path with the river Kydbrook on our left.  At the end of this path is the path that goes up towards the rail way lines.  We saw the faster group coming along from the top, "I told you we would get you back" said someone from our group! It was the same group that passed us on the middle path.  But before them we also saw RefMichaels group!  Everyone loves to run in the woods when it's light out!  This definitely gets rid of all your stresses!

Mind you I was absolutely knackered!  I was tired. Happy, but tired!  The couple of weeks really has taken it's toll on me.  Still, just being out there looking at all the green stuff and the livestock sets your mind straight, if not your body!

I struggled that last half mile back to the rec.

  But nobody was complaining, nobody rushed, I felt we were all just enjoying being out, running some, walking some and just being together, like we used to.

Blimey - Where Has That Time Gone

Hello readers!

Well, how does all that time get in the way of just writing a few words down about the brilliant job we have all been doing to keep fit!.....When I say we, I mean....that lot.....I have been doing my part, but I know I could so do better

There has been fitness via Whatsapp with Tracy, well not last week, and this week seems to be proving a bit difficult too!  But the beginners have been doing so well.  Have I spoken about the beginners yet! Yes, I'm sure I have.  

It was week three on Saturday, Hannah was in charge of leading them through their paces.  It's her first time leading the bigger group, last year, you remember, we had split into smaller groups of 12.  It felt so normal, I am loving every week of the beginners, chatting to everyone, seeing friends, encouraging people, hearing them say "I didn't think I could do that, but I did!" is most rewarding.  I feel such absolute pride in my running club.  

On Saturday it was the running for equal amounts of time for walking, so 3/3 run/walk.  This week is such a psychological week in the course, it kind of feels so daunting, more than running for more minutes than walking...or is that just me?  But these beginners did blimmin marvellous for last week!  

What else have I been doing!  Oh of course....running!  I've been busy running with group 0!  We are getting back to it, it's taking it's time, but when you think about it, we had a year off!  But as Wendimoo keeps on telling us, think positive, we are getting better, we will get better, and we were better today!

We finally got to 5k, the psychological 3 miles done within the hour that we have for our running.  Just doing that, for me, feels like a huge win!  Done it, 3 miles!  Now we need to build on that!  Push it a little faster, a tad harder.  We got this, we can do it!  WE ARE PWR!

Feeling Good

 Hello blog readers.

What can I say about this past week or so.  It's been brilliant!  Busy, but brilliant.  I had a full week work last week, starting at 7 finishing at 6, but I still got up and lead group 0 last week.  I just feel so good knowing that I am encouraging others back to fitness, while also getting myself back to fitness!

As you know, this last year my running has been virtually on hold!  I'm just no good running by myself, I know me and Naggy did some socially distancing runs together, but we did do as much as we should have, or indeed could have!  I think my mojo is in encouraging others, so I shall just have to keep at it.

Of course that leads me nicely to my other leading role, that of leading the beginners!  We started back on  Saturday with our free beginners group. With the other leaders, RefMichael, ZippySherry and Hannah, and a smattering of PWR helpers, we saw over 40 people join up for our own beginners to runners session!  And amazing amount.  I can't tell you how excited we all were to see so many.  With the new booking on line system most of them were already registered.  We still have some who turn up and register, that's fine, we don't want to turn anyone away.  Our Nicola had a table set up, hand santiser, pens and registration forms at the ready!  It all went like clockwork.  Pity about the leader who went first...but I'll shall get to that in a sec.

DiscoRich welcomed all the newbies, introduced us four leaders and all the PWR's that came to help and encourage them.  Did the little bit of 'housekeeping' that needed doing, i.e, making sure no COVID symptoms, explaining about the loo situation etc, and then it was on to the session.

The first leader up.....well that was me!  "Ok, so we warm up first, need to raise heart rate and warm those muscles, so everyone show me a Burpee" Hmm, somehow I don't think they believed me!  Just as well, because that is not how we roll at PWR Beginners, it's all about easing into it, letting things creep on you so that you don't even notice that you're doing it!  

Of course I slightly went off the rails and tried to get them to do the dynamic stretches first rather than do the walking around the green for two laps, but RefMichael soon reminded me of what we needed to do first. After that it was plain sailing.  I was smiling all the way through our session.  I really enjoyed it!

Just the beginning!

This week has been a bit quiet in the old exercises corner, but for real good reasons. Monday it was my long awaited for hairdresser appointment!  Oh my goodness, you can't understand how good I felt when I walked out of Clare's salon!  I felt like a million dollars, 5 months after the last time! Today I had things to do in the morning then I got stuck into some work stuff which seem to take up quite a bit of time.

But this evening it is Running Time!  That is all I have to say about the evenings that used to be Tuesday evenings! It is running time, end of!  Nothing must stop me from getting back out there with me group 0's to do some running.  This evening we took our fist steps into the woods.  Something we haven't done for maybe a year!  We were slow, but so what!  It felt good to be back in the woods.  It just smells so much different than on the streets, (of course it does Old Girl, it's called fresh air!)     The terrain is different (Again Old Girl, it's called earth and roots) with that up hill section (Tut, Old Girl it's called the up hill section....oh well, yes) Well, it feels different running up hill in the woods than it does on the streets.  There is so much more to look out for, roots, dips, holes, bricks, knobbly, bobbly path ways.  So yes we were a little slower.

But it was so good!  I can't wait for next week, we are heading back into to the woods, we are just going to run, we are going to get better, faster, back to the original group one pace!  We are going to do it, because we love it so much!  Hello mojo, I knew you were around!

In the Woods

We finished

Week 2 Toopalarde On The Road Again

 Hello blog readers.

Club night again!  I'm lead Toopalarde!  There were 6 of us this evening, J.J. Snappy, Tracy, Wendimoo and Dee.  All of us have let lockdown boredom get the better of us, instead of us using it to get fitter!  I think it's because we all do like to 'flock together'.  We are no good on our own.  We try as hard as we could but without the support of our crew we just didn't do our running.....well not much of it anyway.

I am sticking to the same route, we are not ready for the woods yet,  we need to concentrate on our stamina first.  I am so looking forward to going through the woods but we need to be able to run for at least 15 minutes straight!  It's all hills and roots and branches in the woods, we can't look out for them while trying to remember how to breathe and run at the same time!

I have 'upped' our running to 2 minutes running and 4 minutes walking.  Yes, I kept to the 4 minutes of walking, next week that goes down!  We got this, we can do it!  It really is tough, the weather has changed, we had our 'false' spring on Saturday and Sunday, with the beautiful sunshine, tee-shirt wearing weather, family enjoying an Easter egg hunt around the estate, then yesterday, snow and freezing winds! Welly boots, hats, scarfs and gloves!  I think this is why it felt tougher for some of our runners in group 0 today, it's harder trying to run in the cold weather!

After the short sharp shock of the little hill we continued with the rest of the flat route, just like last week.  It took longer for us to warm up!  How crazy is our weather, eh!?  But we are all so very pleased to be here.  Tracy was finding it a bit of a struggle.  The thing is, we have all let us selves go, we just need to be kind to our selves, 'saying it's ok to be slower' but then kick our own arses and say 'Now get out there and work it".  I think the fact that we are all there is the 'kicking of own personal bottoms'.  Now that we are there, running, well, you might as well do it and do it well!  We can and we will!  That is our motto at the moment, something that we kept reminding everyone, 'we can and we will'  We will not hear or accept 'I can't!'

It is tough though, of course it's tough, we are all that little bit heavier, we are all that little bit less fit than we used to be a year ago.  We really have to start back at the beginning, only this time we know what the end results can be!  We know what we are capable of, the miles we used to run, the speed we used to do!  We know we can get back there! And who knows, we could even improve on our best performances that we have done in the past!  We should not let anything convince us that we can't do it!  We can and we will!

I forgot to take pictures, again!  I should do it first thing!  SnappyHannah needs to back to her routes I think!  Anyway, this is our route with the geeky stats.  I took them a little further than last week, just a little further, and next week I shall take them to the next road.  With the little extra distance and a cheeky little hill, it will be a bit of a challenge!  

Make Way for the Toopalarde!

Hello blog readers. 

 It's been a while since I last wrote anything, I know but I am here now! I haven't been sitting around doing nothing though! Me and Tracy have been doing our thing while there has been no running with our club!  This blimmin lockdown is really just getting us all down now, but we shall continue to do what our government says, in spite of what some dimwits think, that it's all a conspiracy, ffs! But let's not talk about the numbnuts that refuse to wear masks in shops, decide to meet hundreds and hundreds of people, not wearing a mask, while counting how much bloody toilet rolls they STILL have from the very first hoarding session!

Tracy and I have been doing Team Body Project, YouTube videos together.  If nothing else it has helped to keep us mentally okish!  It hasn't help with the love affair with the fridge and the biscuit barrel, but hey ho!  At least we have been moving, which is all that Daniel says we need to do!  Oh if only!

But last night! Oh my goodness, last night!  It was sheer pleasure!  Just driving to the rec last night I had a huge smile on my face!  There was also a huge knot in my stomach as well (or that could quite easily have been the chocolate digestive that I had eaten 30 mins before hand)  PWR's were meeting up for the first time in what seems like......forever!  It truly feels like we have not run for the past year.  I know we had a few meet ups here and there, but really, it has been lock down for an entire year!  Not a lot of running has happened at all, well not for me!

But last night it happened.  I was leading a new group 0!  It's for all the people who have not run, or not run much in this past year.  And from listening to most of us, we are all toopalardes!  Most of us have a couple of extra pounds or two, those extra inches showing through our very close fitting running clothes, or even hiding under brand new run stuff!  But there was one thing that we all was agreeing on.....it's just great to be back!  

The park had 6 to 8 groups of people all saying "Hi, great to see you" or "My goodness I've missed you".  There was a sense of excitement and frenzied screeching  of  "Hi" from one group to another, of course keeping to our own groups of 6 runners.  In my group, because there are so any of us who have not been running, we had a special dispensation and had 8 of us.    

There were the usual crowd, J.J. Wendimoo and Tracy, but there was also a new person as well.  She has done our beginners course but has not done an awful lot of running since!  It just make sense to start our group from the very beginnings again.  I am thinking, "At least I should be two or three steps in front of the new beginners when we start again in 3 weeks".  This is my theory any way!  I need at least to look like I am not dying after the first minute run!  

I chose a flatish route, it will be shorter than our usual 3 miles, but that will increase over the weeks.  And no going into the woods just yet!  My goodness, I think I will have enough to contend with learning to breath and run again let alone look out for the sneaky tree roots and low hanging branches!  Them trees can be deadly sometimes!  The roads will have to do, I am sure everyone will understand.

Let me tell you, readers, if you could hear the sound of the voices of, not just of group 0, but all the groups that were there in the rec, it would really have lifted you up so much.  It was such a happy sound, seemed such a shame to spoil it with some hard work!  But we are a running, club, not a chatting club, and there are hills everywhere of course!  I had to get our one out of the way as soon as possible, so we headed for Kingsway, towards Petts Wood, its a short sharp shock to the system, but you know that after that its all plain sailing!  Hmmm, well, sort of!

We did the briefest of warm up before hitting the hill, brisk walk and some side stepping, then hit the hill running!  I kept us to the 1 minute of running and 4 minutes walking, (Shhhh, don't tell group 0 we usually do 5 minutes of walking during the first week of beginners!)  Everyone did well for the first run, even up hill.  There were a couple of people that I think are going to do exceptionally well, and will probably be moving up a group very soon, or at least go into the original group 1!  And from then on, it was run 1, walk 4 all the way around a short flatish route.

So, the run done, the noises on route were slightly different from when we were in the rec....but then after our stretches, the sound was as cheerful and happy as when we first arrived only 45-50 minutes before!  Fan-blimmin-tastic!  Loved it,.....hated it.....well maybe not quite as harsh as that.....but loved it all at the same time!  This toopalarde is well happy to be back to having the discipline of belonging toa run club!  

Toopalarde?  Oh, well, that is a name I heard my sister in law use, it's a very posh way of saying......tub of lard!  I will be Supairlite one day!