Hi blog readers.
So, after a couple of days rest and relaxation (and lazyitus, today I just had to go for a run, no matter what! So after church I had every intention of going for an LSR today with naggy. But after I got back, I saw her laden with prezzies on her way to enjoy the company of 46 four year olds! But she did say that she would love to go for a run if I can hang on till 7:30 tonight. Of course I said yes!
So come 7:30 I was ready and looking forward to it. Although, my dinner had been insitu for a couple of hours by then, I was hoping it wouldn't come up to be 'enjoyed' again. Naggy had asked if I had eaten, I told her I had and how long ago, she said "Ahh that will be fine, now I know how far we are going run" I don't know about you, but that scared the jogging pants off me!
Obviously by this time it was very dark, but not cold, and the rain had stopped. I was thinking, the rain wouldn't have stopped naggy from going out running this evening, not after enjoying the company of all those wonderful children 'high' on the 'Golden Arches' finest foods and drink, complete with toys! She would really need to get out and run those stresses off. So really I was helping her!
As we were running along she asked me how long I run before I usually take my first walking break. Oh she knows me so well. I told just past the first mile marker and then a little further. "Oh good!" she says with this weird look about her face (or it could be just the trick of the night light) "So we can go pass that, turn right, and then think about your first stop by the school" I was trying to remember how far the school was, and then it came to me. Bloomin nora, this woman is a hard task master! All I could say was a pathetic "Yes ok"
Now that first mile I can do no problem, it's just that bit after I start thinking, "Whoo ho there old girl, remember you're a sweet old granny!" That first mile come and went, we crossed over the road and headed up towards the school. All the time naggy is talking to me, but by now, I am concentrating on keeping my lungs filled with oxygen and my lambchops spilling out those lovely calories into my body rather than on the road. "Your breathing is spot on" says naggy, "I think we can go further, up to the roundabout" I looked at her again, and there was that look about her again, did she cackle?, did she smile?, No, no, it must be the light this time of night.
On to the roundabout, naggy talking to me, encouraging me, telling me I'm doing well, the breathing is doing well, and we will walk for a few seconds come the roundabout. Now I know, if she wasn't with me, I would have stopped already for a quick walk. Naggy could tell I was thinking this (Can she read my mind, ooo spooky) as she said "I bet you wished you had gone out this afternoon now!" Oh boy was she right, and with the next exhale of breath I said, "The thought had crossed my mind!" And I looked at her again, just as a car drove passed, was those little horns on her head?
She got me as far as the round about, non stop, and a fairly reasonable time (22 minutes I think naggy said) and then my first walk. 1.7 miles it said on naggys gizmo, as soon as she told me, she said "Ok back to running" We didn't even walk for twenty seconds! But I did as she asked. She did say that I could walk again from the next round about AND THEN TURN LEFT TOWARDS THE PUB I think she was forgetting about the roundabout half way through this next section! As we approached it, she told me that I was doing well and to keep going. I was looking forward to walking now!
But I kept going on to the next roundabout. Even to the point of crossing over and heading up towards the pub before stopping, on naggys orders of course! And boy did I need that, And this time it was a real proper walk section, all the way to the pub, which I might add, looked very inviting! "Now, old girl" Says naggy "non stop now, all the way home" I was hoping the red look about her was a reflection from her red jacket! A quick shiver went down my back then. I must be cooling down!
I did try to run non stop all the way home. I didn't want to walk. "It's all in my head" says naggy "I wouldn't push you if I thought you can't do it" Going for a run this afternoon seemed like a good idea now. "Control the breathing again" Says naggy. So I concentrate on that again. I know that when I think about my breathing I can really control it, inhale two three, exhale two three four, inhale two three, exhale two three four. I was really concentrating hard. Three foot falls in and four foot falls out.
Just the last section now, and blow me if I have stopped again, an unofficial walking, but naggy does what naggy does well, and nagged! And I carried on running. Going down the first Oxhawth, nearly home!! Oh wow, nearly home. I really want to run the whole way now, but that darn hill gets to me and I walk! "Come on Old girl" calls out naggy as she runs off into the night, "I'm running, I'm running" I says "No you're not, I can hear you, you know" She has ears like a bat! Oooo very spooky!
But from here on end, its my road, its my running, its my rule, no stopping on this bit of road, no matter how far I have run, no matter how far naggy has pushed me, no matter how my legs hurt (well, actually they don't) this is the bit that I DO NOT WALK ON all the way home now. Running, I just want to finish now.
On the road, save energy rather than go up and down on those driveways, keep it focused. "Finishing in style?" enquires naggy, "Oh yes, always save a bit for finishing in style" and we both pick the pace up, naggy in front of me running straight pass my path and up to hers!! Of course I had to follow her. Done it.
Now walk round the green! Whats the time, how far, how much per mile? Those are the questions that I wanted to say, but it seems that naggy can understand dying grunting noises from her victims er, I mean mates. so here's the details
4.3 miles in 55.41 mins, avg about 12.58 mins per mile.
Not bad after a big dinner, and first night time run in the GMT time!
I am loving running. I can say that with almost true conviction. After all, if I didn't love it, then I wouldn't still be writing this blog, right? So dive in, enjoy the ramblings of my open diary.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Thursday, 28 October 2010
A Newbie Cyclist?!!
Hi blog lovers,
I expect your wondering about the title. Well let me tell you, I felt like it was the first time I was on the bike! My confidence as gone slightly with the traffic around, and the muscles in my legs have gone into hibernation for the winter! How long is it since I was last on my bike? Well whatever it is, its too long! I was thinking of going up to Downe Village but a quick look at the sky made me change my mind. I would just go to Green Street Green. A little further than Farnborough, but not as far as Downe!
Going up the A21 I really did feel like I have never tackled a hill before in my life. My heart rate was pounding, I was sweaty, my legs were hurting, and I was only a quarter of the way up! I had to get off and walk! Only a short way, just so I can see the top of the hill, and then I got back on my bike and carried on. It really is a very busy road, and the last thing you want to be doing is a wibble wobble ride on this road!
But after that initial hill, the rest seemed pretty do-able without too much effort. Soon enough I was cruising along and thinking about lunch, and the road, and anything but that darn hill, and my aching limbs. I will say this though, the running seems to hurt the back of my legs, and the cycling does the top of my legs. So all in all, combining the two my legs are getting a good work out! I wonder if those activities work on the bum too!!
Negotiating the roundabouts and the old confidence is coming back. As long as the drivers behind know what I am planing to do then they should give me plenty of room and take care when passing me. Yeah right, there are still those blooming drivers who for some reason decided to squeeze pass you on the 'pinch' zones!
Oh, now that is a lovely site, the pub for which my lunch will be served. I have become addicted to bacon and brie melts at this pub, and it seems now where ever I go I have to try out each pubs bacon and brie sarnies! I should make a list and points value for each place I visit! Hmmm that's an idea.
I had no idea what time I left my house but I am guess that I have been riding for no more than twenty minutes. When I sat down, waiting for my lunch it was 12:40. the place was very very quiet. Its a huge place, and I noticed only one other couple, tucked away in a little cubby hole when I was looking for members of staff to serve me!. Lunch arrived, eaten and enjoyed, and I was off out the door again for the next part, getting home!
I did make a note of the time, it was 13:22, and I headed off towards Opington, I was planning on attacking that Perry hall lane hill! On the way there my confidence was growing with each set of traffic lights and each roundabout I came to. As well as my frustration at the thoughtless motorists that still want to get close enough to whisper in my ear! Opington High street was soon in front of me, and just beyond that, the monster hill. If anyone knows that hill it really is a monster. There is a slight incline, quite a long one before you get to bottom of the main hill. A stupid, ridiculous tune came in my head which I had made up my own words to it, ok, its only four words 'Keep on peddling, keep on peddling, keep on peddling, peddling now' I couldn't do, I yelled at the stupid tune and got off my bike, and walked in disgust. Telling my legs off, even though they were threatening to collapse under me!
I decided to go down Crofton Lane as I wanted to pop into the local supermarket, and, more like the real reason, I didn't have to carry on walking up the hill. More time in the saddle! was my reasoning for doing so! But from here to the supermarket I stayed in the saddle, even up the very short steepish hills.
I popped into the supermarket, and then made my way home. It must have been about 14:30 ish, by the time I got home. Who cares about how fast I went today, who really is bothered by beating PB............ME But somehow, I don't think this will be a PB! I collapsed in my chair and thought about my ride. How my legs are aching. And then I thought about another friend of mine, who is bonkers about riding. Not only does he commute to work but he goes for extremely long rides during his relaxing times! In fact he is planning on an ultra ride in a couple of years, riding from London to Edinburgh and back to London! Crazy idea, I hear you saying, but here is the totally, 'get the white van and lock this man up' bit, He is planning on doing NON STOP! What on earth would he say to me now, collapsed on my seat, complaining about a measly 10 miles, broken up by a leisurely lunch!
Still, I enjoyed my ride, I enjoyed my lunch! And the rain stayed away, all totally great bonuses!! Where shall I go for my next ride?!
I expect your wondering about the title. Well let me tell you, I felt like it was the first time I was on the bike! My confidence as gone slightly with the traffic around, and the muscles in my legs have gone into hibernation for the winter! How long is it since I was last on my bike? Well whatever it is, its too long! I was thinking of going up to Downe Village but a quick look at the sky made me change my mind. I would just go to Green Street Green. A little further than Farnborough, but not as far as Downe!
Going up the A21 I really did feel like I have never tackled a hill before in my life. My heart rate was pounding, I was sweaty, my legs were hurting, and I was only a quarter of the way up! I had to get off and walk! Only a short way, just so I can see the top of the hill, and then I got back on my bike and carried on. It really is a very busy road, and the last thing you want to be doing is a wibble wobble ride on this road!
But after that initial hill, the rest seemed pretty do-able without too much effort. Soon enough I was cruising along and thinking about lunch, and the road, and anything but that darn hill, and my aching limbs. I will say this though, the running seems to hurt the back of my legs, and the cycling does the top of my legs. So all in all, combining the two my legs are getting a good work out! I wonder if those activities work on the bum too!!
Negotiating the roundabouts and the old confidence is coming back. As long as the drivers behind know what I am planing to do then they should give me plenty of room and take care when passing me. Yeah right, there are still those blooming drivers who for some reason decided to squeeze pass you on the 'pinch' zones!
Oh, now that is a lovely site, the pub for which my lunch will be served. I have become addicted to bacon and brie melts at this pub, and it seems now where ever I go I have to try out each pubs bacon and brie sarnies! I should make a list and points value for each place I visit! Hmmm that's an idea.
I had no idea what time I left my house but I am guess that I have been riding for no more than twenty minutes. When I sat down, waiting for my lunch it was 12:40. the place was very very quiet. Its a huge place, and I noticed only one other couple, tucked away in a little cubby hole when I was looking for members of staff to serve me!. Lunch arrived, eaten and enjoyed, and I was off out the door again for the next part, getting home!
I did make a note of the time, it was 13:22, and I headed off towards Opington, I was planning on attacking that Perry hall lane hill! On the way there my confidence was growing with each set of traffic lights and each roundabout I came to. As well as my frustration at the thoughtless motorists that still want to get close enough to whisper in my ear! Opington High street was soon in front of me, and just beyond that, the monster hill. If anyone knows that hill it really is a monster. There is a slight incline, quite a long one before you get to bottom of the main hill. A stupid, ridiculous tune came in my head which I had made up my own words to it, ok, its only four words 'Keep on peddling, keep on peddling, keep on peddling, peddling now' I couldn't do, I yelled at the stupid tune and got off my bike, and walked in disgust. Telling my legs off, even though they were threatening to collapse under me!
I decided to go down Crofton Lane as I wanted to pop into the local supermarket, and, more like the real reason, I didn't have to carry on walking up the hill. More time in the saddle! was my reasoning for doing so! But from here to the supermarket I stayed in the saddle, even up the very short steepish hills.
I popped into the supermarket, and then made my way home. It must have been about 14:30 ish, by the time I got home. Who cares about how fast I went today, who really is bothered by beating PB............ME But somehow, I don't think this will be a PB! I collapsed in my chair and thought about my ride. How my legs are aching. And then I thought about another friend of mine, who is bonkers about riding. Not only does he commute to work but he goes for extremely long rides during his relaxing times! In fact he is planning on an ultra ride in a couple of years, riding from London to Edinburgh and back to London! Crazy idea, I hear you saying, but here is the totally, 'get the white van and lock this man up' bit, He is planning on doing NON STOP! What on earth would he say to me now, collapsed on my seat, complaining about a measly 10 miles, broken up by a leisurely lunch!
Still, I enjoyed my ride, I enjoyed my lunch! And the rain stayed away, all totally great bonuses!! Where shall I go for my next ride?!
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Running At Last!
Hi Blog lovers.
This autumn running is so very difficult and enthusiasm zapping! But I am determined to beat it, no way can I let those months of hard sweat and tears go to waste. Talking of tears, there were a few of those again today towards the end of today's run, but if you read to the end you will see that.
I left the house after my work had left and I had got changed. Not in my 'skins' because they still in the wash! (lazy mare) but I had on nice warm Dunlap velour jog pants, very Essex Girl! and the old mans fleecy hoody! I did look a sight, but the darkness was coming, I don't think people would notice me. As I was setting my IPOD I noticed naggy coming home, maybe I should have asked her to come along, but thought, she just home from work! she wont want to come, but then again she is a runner! I wasn't sure what to do, but as I was psyched up I just waved and went.
I went quite fast for the first 200 metres, and had to say "Whoo there girlfriend, where's the fire?" and I pulled in the reigns a bit. Then I noticed I was blowing a bit. It was Nagging Sister that had set the fire. She had told me that she went out jogging today, (renewed her interest) and only managed 2 miles but in 24 minutes! Average of 12 minute miles! I'm sure that's faster than me. But I got to remember she is younger than me, by a couple of years, and she is skinnier than me, and she really is more fitter than me, what with her millions of badminton classes! I have to do my own pace, that's my rule for me to get fitter and faster.
I know I have to push myself hard, but I will have to do that at the weekends and on the days that I am not working or cycling. Today I just need to get out there and just keep doing what I'm doing, and keeping myself safe. So no running through parks this time of the day! All the way up to the first mile marker I was deciding which way I would go, I still wasn't certain. Do I run down the hill I hate and then up to the round about, or do I run up the hill and just do the usual route. Well, it was getting pretty dark, and I am again dressed in dark colours, so I decided that I am going to take the shortest route, which means running up the hill.
I really did feel good running today, all the way up to Turpington lane, of course I did stop, if naggy was here she would give me such a telling. This shouldn't be happening now! But I am too soft. Its really dark now, and my glasses are steaming up from the sweat on my face, making it even more difficult to see anything up ahead. So I decided to just focus on one tree or lamppost at a time, get to those then focus on another one.
Soon enough the hill was there, but it didn't matter, I couldn't see it! But I did feel it under foot. Have to lift my legs just a little higher, but I am still feeling very good. In fact I was feeling so good I went straight up and didn't turn right at Holbrook! Ok, I chickened out of going down there, too near the park! But it's a sensible thing to do. So I ran straight up to the main road again and turned right towards home. Got to the first mile (last mile) marker and this is where the old legs and stamina start to go. This is the hardest mile for me, I looked at my IPOD and saw that it was 27 and something, if I did this same mile as the first one then I could be back by 38 and something! Which would be my personal best!
DARN BLOOMING LAZYITUS COUCH POTATO WOMAN!! I just can't run this last mile like I run the first mile. Other people can! Why can't I?
I went down the second Oxhawth, I think, the easy option, but also to say to couch potato me that I need to run non stop now from the top of oxhawth to my door! As I was running down here though, a song came up on my IPOD, it was Madonnas 'Papa Don't Preach' and for some unknown reason, this stirred up some emotions in me, thinking of my kids and their needs, and my own mum and dad, and how much I miss them. I just started crying! Only for a very short while, but the tears ran down my already wet face. I soon pulled myself together and got on with the job in hand.
I had just a little bit left over for the finishing, not quite in style, but shall we say just looking good. I stopped the timer and made a mental note of the time, it was 41:40 minutes. I was ok with that time, of course I wanted it to be faster! but the fact that I got out today after work, was good enough for me today.
I was going to go straight in, and not walk out the 3 miles, but just as I went into the gate, Hearts 'Crazy On You' yelled in my ears. I love this song, so I took the walk around the green, not only that but I was singing along with the girls. Did you read that, let me write that again I was singing along with this song! I wasn't particularly out of breath, I wasn't puffing and blowing out my........whatever, I was singing along fairly in tune I might add, out loud! I am definitely getting fitter!
This autumn running is so very difficult and enthusiasm zapping! But I am determined to beat it, no way can I let those months of hard sweat and tears go to waste. Talking of tears, there were a few of those again today towards the end of today's run, but if you read to the end you will see that.
I left the house after my work had left and I had got changed. Not in my 'skins' because they still in the wash! (lazy mare) but I had on nice warm Dunlap velour jog pants, very Essex Girl! and the old mans fleecy hoody! I did look a sight, but the darkness was coming, I don't think people would notice me. As I was setting my IPOD I noticed naggy coming home, maybe I should have asked her to come along, but thought, she just home from work! she wont want to come, but then again she is a runner! I wasn't sure what to do, but as I was psyched up I just waved and went.
I went quite fast for the first 200 metres, and had to say "Whoo there girlfriend, where's the fire?" and I pulled in the reigns a bit. Then I noticed I was blowing a bit. It was Nagging Sister that had set the fire. She had told me that she went out jogging today, (renewed her interest) and only managed 2 miles but in 24 minutes! Average of 12 minute miles! I'm sure that's faster than me. But I got to remember she is younger than me, by a couple of years, and she is skinnier than me, and she really is more fitter than me, what with her millions of badminton classes! I have to do my own pace, that's my rule for me to get fitter and faster.
I know I have to push myself hard, but I will have to do that at the weekends and on the days that I am not working or cycling. Today I just need to get out there and just keep doing what I'm doing, and keeping myself safe. So no running through parks this time of the day! All the way up to the first mile marker I was deciding which way I would go, I still wasn't certain. Do I run down the hill I hate and then up to the round about, or do I run up the hill and just do the usual route. Well, it was getting pretty dark, and I am again dressed in dark colours, so I decided that I am going to take the shortest route, which means running up the hill.
I really did feel good running today, all the way up to Turpington lane, of course I did stop, if naggy was here she would give me such a telling. This shouldn't be happening now! But I am too soft. Its really dark now, and my glasses are steaming up from the sweat on my face, making it even more difficult to see anything up ahead. So I decided to just focus on one tree or lamppost at a time, get to those then focus on another one.
Soon enough the hill was there, but it didn't matter, I couldn't see it! But I did feel it under foot. Have to lift my legs just a little higher, but I am still feeling very good. In fact I was feeling so good I went straight up and didn't turn right at Holbrook! Ok, I chickened out of going down there, too near the park! But it's a sensible thing to do. So I ran straight up to the main road again and turned right towards home. Got to the first mile (last mile) marker and this is where the old legs and stamina start to go. This is the hardest mile for me, I looked at my IPOD and saw that it was 27 and something, if I did this same mile as the first one then I could be back by 38 and something! Which would be my personal best!
DARN BLOOMING LAZYITUS COUCH POTATO WOMAN!! I just can't run this last mile like I run the first mile. Other people can! Why can't I?
I went down the second Oxhawth, I think, the easy option, but also to say to couch potato me that I need to run non stop now from the top of oxhawth to my door! As I was running down here though, a song came up on my IPOD, it was Madonnas 'Papa Don't Preach' and for some unknown reason, this stirred up some emotions in me, thinking of my kids and their needs, and my own mum and dad, and how much I miss them. I just started crying! Only for a very short while, but the tears ran down my already wet face. I soon pulled myself together and got on with the job in hand.
I had just a little bit left over for the finishing, not quite in style, but shall we say just looking good. I stopped the timer and made a mental note of the time, it was 41:40 minutes. I was ok with that time, of course I wanted it to be faster! but the fact that I got out today after work, was good enough for me today.
I was going to go straight in, and not walk out the 3 miles, but just as I went into the gate, Hearts 'Crazy On You' yelled in my ears. I love this song, so I took the walk around the green, not only that but I was singing along with the girls. Did you read that, let me write that again I was singing along with this song! I wasn't particularly out of breath, I wasn't puffing and blowing out my........whatever, I was singing along fairly in tune I might add, out loud! I am definitely getting fitter!
Sunday, 24 October 2010
A Sharing Day!
Hello blog readers.
What a weekend I have had. Yesterday I had the most laziest day ever for a person who is not even ill! I got up, had a shower and sat on my chair down stairs. The old boy cooked me breakfast, and dinner! I didn't move. The only energetic thing I did was dance around in the loo struggling to get my belt undone. That will teach me to leave it so late!
So today I thought after church I would go for a nice long run! Get back home, do the house work, cook dinner, write up me blog. But that didn't happen. Nope! I got to church and we were having a harvest day! Which included a lovely shared lunch after the service! And boy did I have my fair share. I had completely forgotten about it. And I got out of church at around 2 ish. So no long run for me today. But because I had such a lazy day yesterday I really needed to get out and run. It will be so easy to slip back into couch potato days.
So after I bunged on some washing, filled the dishwasher and got changed into my jog pants I headed for the door. I am only planning on doing the usual 3.34 miles, up to Turpington and down Greenway and home again. I started up the stopwatch and ran.
Oh boy! I could feel the shared lunch inside of me, chili and rice, cakes, tea, apple crumble and custard! I felt like a great pudding pounding the pavements! I was huffing and puffing like an old steam train. Looking up the first long road, all I could think about is I cant wait to start running back down here.
I had no music with me, I forgot to charge up my IPOD, so I think things. Here is a list of some of the things that pop into my mind.
1. What shall I think about?
2. I'm bloated!
3. Why did I tell Brian I was going to do 6 miles today? AS if!
4. I wonder what those people over there are having for the dinner.
5. Mmm that smells nice
6. What do I think about when I'm running
7. I wish I didn't share so much lunch
10. Oh, blimey I hope that wasn't anything nasty I stepped in.
11. Only 2 and half miles left!
12. Why are your walking woman!
My mind must be a psychiatrist dream or challenge to make heads or tails off.
Well as you can guess from my thoughts above, I did stop, but again I did run for the whole of the first mile, just got to push myself further next time. My belly was really complaining, and I was thinking if it had to come up then so be it. Its not as if need to keep those calories anyway. But of course I didn't actually want to chunder up my shared lunch, I want it to stay where it is. I'm sure it slows you down being full, even if there was a good hour and a half after lunch. I check my stopwatch to see how I was doing. I had noticed that it stopped on 19.20 minutes. Darn it. Now I know this watch has a splits thingy, and I was trying to remember which button to press to get it running again without it resetting. You guessed it, I pressed the wrong button and reset the whole thing. ARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!! Well, I'm guess I wasn't going to be breaking any personal records today, not with the weeks worth of shopping I was carrying in my stomach. But I started it again from this point, which was just before the 1st mile marker, ....... or last mile marker, which makes me a little happier.
I was really suffering from the slothful gluttonous weekend that I had had so far, and I was trying so hard not to complain to myself in my head. After all, being a sloth and a glut way back when, is what got me into this state in the first place! And it was a really great weekend, whats a little short run going to harm.
I decided to go down the first Oxhawth Crescent, only because the hill that I have to run up to get to the last long road is quite steep, and I felt I needed to push myself a little harder because of the weekend I have been having. Oh boy! did this hill hurt! I was puffing and huffing and pushing myself up this hill, I wanted to get to the top without stopping. I almost made it! Almost. I was so annoyed that I stopped! But as you know, from this point on I don't, I wont allow myself to walk anymore, not from here. I fixed a point way up ahead and just focused on it. And I ran all the way. When ever I took my eye of the point ahead I felt myself slowing down, so focused again on the spot ahead, watch it, look at it, focus on it. Don't stop, don't stop. Keep going. Turning now down my road, quickly focus on my car parked up ahead, keep looking at that, speeding up, finish in style, turn now up the path, focus on the lamppost. Run, run, ignore the kids, they are not looking at you old girl, just run. Stop the clock, 15.06 minutes, hmm. Plus the 19.20 minutes for the first part, and maybe another 5 or six minutes for the accidentally stopping of the stop watch, is..... I have no idea, I am guessing that my overall time is the same as it usually is, so round about 42 minutes. It definitely wont be any quicker than that!
What a weekend I have had. Yesterday I had the most laziest day ever for a person who is not even ill! I got up, had a shower and sat on my chair down stairs. The old boy cooked me breakfast, and dinner! I didn't move. The only energetic thing I did was dance around in the loo struggling to get my belt undone. That will teach me to leave it so late!
So today I thought after church I would go for a nice long run! Get back home, do the house work, cook dinner, write up me blog. But that didn't happen. Nope! I got to church and we were having a harvest day! Which included a lovely shared lunch after the service! And boy did I have my fair share. I had completely forgotten about it. And I got out of church at around 2 ish. So no long run for me today. But because I had such a lazy day yesterday I really needed to get out and run. It will be so easy to slip back into couch potato days.
So after I bunged on some washing, filled the dishwasher and got changed into my jog pants I headed for the door. I am only planning on doing the usual 3.34 miles, up to Turpington and down Greenway and home again. I started up the stopwatch and ran.
Oh boy! I could feel the shared lunch inside of me, chili and rice, cakes, tea, apple crumble and custard! I felt like a great pudding pounding the pavements! I was huffing and puffing like an old steam train. Looking up the first long road, all I could think about is I cant wait to start running back down here.
I had no music with me, I forgot to charge up my IPOD, so I think things. Here is a list of some of the things that pop into my mind.
1. What shall I think about?
2. I'm bloated!
3. Why did I tell Brian I was going to do 6 miles today? AS if!
4. I wonder what those people over there are having for the dinner.
5. Mmm that smells nice
6. What do I think about when I'm running
7. I wish I didn't share so much lunch
10. Oh, blimey I hope that wasn't anything nasty I stepped in.
11. Only 2 and half miles left!
12. Why are your walking woman!
My mind must be a psychiatrist dream or challenge to make heads or tails off.
Well as you can guess from my thoughts above, I did stop, but again I did run for the whole of the first mile, just got to push myself further next time. My belly was really complaining, and I was thinking if it had to come up then so be it. Its not as if need to keep those calories anyway. But of course I didn't actually want to chunder up my shared lunch, I want it to stay where it is. I'm sure it slows you down being full, even if there was a good hour and a half after lunch. I check my stopwatch to see how I was doing. I had noticed that it stopped on 19.20 minutes. Darn it. Now I know this watch has a splits thingy, and I was trying to remember which button to press to get it running again without it resetting. You guessed it, I pressed the wrong button and reset the whole thing. ARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!! Well, I'm guess I wasn't going to be breaking any personal records today, not with the weeks worth of shopping I was carrying in my stomach. But I started it again from this point, which was just before the 1st mile marker, ....... or last mile marker, which makes me a little happier.
I was really suffering from the slothful gluttonous weekend that I had had so far, and I was trying so hard not to complain to myself in my head. After all, being a sloth and a glut way back when, is what got me into this state in the first place! And it was a really great weekend, whats a little short run going to harm.
I decided to go down the first Oxhawth Crescent, only because the hill that I have to run up to get to the last long road is quite steep, and I felt I needed to push myself a little harder because of the weekend I have been having. Oh boy! did this hill hurt! I was puffing and huffing and pushing myself up this hill, I wanted to get to the top without stopping. I almost made it! Almost. I was so annoyed that I stopped! But as you know, from this point on I don't, I wont allow myself to walk anymore, not from here. I fixed a point way up ahead and just focused on it. And I ran all the way. When ever I took my eye of the point ahead I felt myself slowing down, so focused again on the spot ahead, watch it, look at it, focus on it. Don't stop, don't stop. Keep going. Turning now down my road, quickly focus on my car parked up ahead, keep looking at that, speeding up, finish in style, turn now up the path, focus on the lamppost. Run, run, ignore the kids, they are not looking at you old girl, just run. Stop the clock, 15.06 minutes, hmm. Plus the 19.20 minutes for the first part, and maybe another 5 or six minutes for the accidentally stopping of the stop watch, is..... I have no idea, I am guessing that my overall time is the same as it usually is, so round about 42 minutes. It definitely wont be any quicker than that!
Saturday, 23 October 2010
On Yer Bike!
Hi bloggees,
Can you believe I forgot to write up a quick blog yesterday? How slack am I getting?!
Well, in actual fact there wasn't much exercising going on really. But I did get my bike out for a short ride up to the local supermarket. I did a bit of Internet shopping on Tursday and I was hoping that it would turn up the today, but after i checked emails then I realised probably not going to get here until Monday! I think I am getting quite good at excuses.
After a lovely morning enjoying my bed, and then checking emails, I did tell myself off for not going out for a run. But I had enough time to get the bike out and do the banking before the walk to school, (Which I might add, I don't write about, maybe I should do, what you think?) lol, so that's what I did.
After making sure that I had everything ready, i.e. money, paying in books and cards, then I set off. I wasn't dressed for a long ride, I was in my jeans, and I also forgot my cycle helmet!, having the wind blowing through my hair! Very romantic.
I decided to ride up Crescent Drive hill, as I haven't been on the bike for a while. And remembering the times when struggled getting up this hill, jelly legs, heart pounding, spots before the eyes and sweating like I was in a sauna! I was assuming I would probably have, maybe not so extreme reactions to riding up the hill, but just a little bit of trouble. Imagine my surprise when I rode up hill and hardly noticed the incline. Maybe just a little out of breath, but the legs were fine, no sweating and definitely no spots before the eyes!
I am getting fitter! Its working, the old boy is right! You don't actually 'feel' any different, but you do notice that you can do more, more easily!!
I have no idea of how long I took, due to the whole banking thing, but I'm guessing maybe no more than 15 minutes to get to and from Pettswood and back!
Can you believe I forgot to write up a quick blog yesterday? How slack am I getting?!
Well, in actual fact there wasn't much exercising going on really. But I did get my bike out for a short ride up to the local supermarket. I did a bit of Internet shopping on Tursday and I was hoping that it would turn up the today, but after i checked emails then I realised probably not going to get here until Monday! I think I am getting quite good at excuses.
After a lovely morning enjoying my bed, and then checking emails, I did tell myself off for not going out for a run. But I had enough time to get the bike out and do the banking before the walk to school, (Which I might add, I don't write about, maybe I should do, what you think?) lol, so that's what I did.
After making sure that I had everything ready, i.e. money, paying in books and cards, then I set off. I wasn't dressed for a long ride, I was in my jeans, and I also forgot my cycle helmet!, having the wind blowing through my hair! Very romantic.
I decided to ride up Crescent Drive hill, as I haven't been on the bike for a while. And remembering the times when struggled getting up this hill, jelly legs, heart pounding, spots before the eyes and sweating like I was in a sauna! I was assuming I would probably have, maybe not so extreme reactions to riding up the hill, but just a little bit of trouble. Imagine my surprise when I rode up hill and hardly noticed the incline. Maybe just a little out of breath, but the legs were fine, no sweating and definitely no spots before the eyes!
I am getting fitter! Its working, the old boy is right! You don't actually 'feel' any different, but you do notice that you can do more, more easily!!
I have no idea of how long I took, due to the whole banking thing, but I'm guessing maybe no more than 15 minutes to get to and from Pettswood and back!
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
A Dark Short Jog.
Hi bloggees,
I wanted to go out for a jog yesterday, but shopping was top of the agenda for us instead, so I went out this evening. I have my eldest daughter coming here for the night, and I decided to cook a full scale roast dinner. So it was literally, fling in the fowl, pile in potatoes and scarper out the door.
I was thinking for going out for a 4 mile run, but I decided to just do the old usual route of 3.34 miles. I don't want my spuds to spoil, and I still had veg to prepare anyway. And besides, my eldest daughter was coming home for the night! There, excuses done. Now to get on with the jog.
I set off, the sun was just starting to go down, jogging down the first road guess who I see? Go go guess. That's right, Naggy Neighbour! And I was running this time. Probably just as well really, as I had just started. With naggy in my thoughts now, I just paced myself and made sure that I didn't stop all the way to the first mile marker. I was chasing the sun as I ran down the long road towards it, and by the time I got there the sky was dark behind me but a lovely golden colour just above the houses in front of me. And the thought of running down the quiet roads a little later in the dark, wasn't very appealing to me, so I decided to go in the opposite direction that I normally do, which of course means, running down Magpiehall Lane, Whoo hoo! I expect naggy will have something to say about that.
But I was enjoying it, I wasn't going particularly fast, I just wanted to get out and run! Just because its getting dark, and I'm working, it doesn't mean that I have to give up running, even a shorter 3 mile run is better than none.
So I turned off just pass the pub and headed down towards Holmcroft, but just down here is where I did my first walking stint. Tut, I was so annoyed. But I got back to running very quickly and managed to run all the way to Greenway! It felt good to run down my nemesis hill, but the darkness is coming now. I managed to jog the whole way to Greenway and just a little further up here before I stopped again. When I do stop jogging, it really is only for a very short while, but I still get so annoyed with myself for doing it. Heading up Southborough lane now, on the way home, and now looking into the night sky. The moon is up and the stars and twinkly around it. My first 'night time' jog of the year.
Heading for home now, and I am wondering if my daughter has got home yet, or if the old boy has prepared any veg for dinner. I try and try and try not to stop any more, but I am getting tired. Wednesdays are a very busy day for me, (more excuses) and I really just want to get in, and hopefully its all been done.
On the last long road now. Definitely no stopping from here till I get home. This is my promise to myself, no stopping, no walking on this bit of road! This is home territory, can't possible be seen walking here.
All the way home, just thinking about my dinner now, and hopefully things cooking on the stove, and I can just relax and eat it when its read.
Running now, down the middle of the road, thinking of nothing but running. Running all the way, maybe even speed up a little, just so that I look like a proper runner. Must get some reflective clothing or something if I am going to keep running in the dark!
Up my road, turn down my path, stop the timer, 41.08 mins. Not bad, Not particularly good, I so wanted to be 30 something minutes, but I wasn't doing a speed run (will I ever be that good that I can do a speed run?)
Oh by the way, veg was prepared, (tins opened that is) but he also prepared some leeks and asparagas as well, yum. Thanks old boy!
I wanted to go out for a jog yesterday, but shopping was top of the agenda for us instead, so I went out this evening. I have my eldest daughter coming here for the night, and I decided to cook a full scale roast dinner. So it was literally, fling in the fowl, pile in potatoes and scarper out the door.
I was thinking for going out for a 4 mile run, but I decided to just do the old usual route of 3.34 miles. I don't want my spuds to spoil, and I still had veg to prepare anyway. And besides, my eldest daughter was coming home for the night! There, excuses done. Now to get on with the jog.
I set off, the sun was just starting to go down, jogging down the first road guess who I see? Go go guess. That's right, Naggy Neighbour! And I was running this time. Probably just as well really, as I had just started. With naggy in my thoughts now, I just paced myself and made sure that I didn't stop all the way to the first mile marker. I was chasing the sun as I ran down the long road towards it, and by the time I got there the sky was dark behind me but a lovely golden colour just above the houses in front of me. And the thought of running down the quiet roads a little later in the dark, wasn't very appealing to me, so I decided to go in the opposite direction that I normally do, which of course means, running down Magpiehall Lane, Whoo hoo! I expect naggy will have something to say about that.
But I was enjoying it, I wasn't going particularly fast, I just wanted to get out and run! Just because its getting dark, and I'm working, it doesn't mean that I have to give up running, even a shorter 3 mile run is better than none.
So I turned off just pass the pub and headed down towards Holmcroft, but just down here is where I did my first walking stint. Tut, I was so annoyed. But I got back to running very quickly and managed to run all the way to Greenway! It felt good to run down my nemesis hill, but the darkness is coming now. I managed to jog the whole way to Greenway and just a little further up here before I stopped again. When I do stop jogging, it really is only for a very short while, but I still get so annoyed with myself for doing it. Heading up Southborough lane now, on the way home, and now looking into the night sky. The moon is up and the stars and twinkly around it. My first 'night time' jog of the year.
Heading for home now, and I am wondering if my daughter has got home yet, or if the old boy has prepared any veg for dinner. I try and try and try not to stop any more, but I am getting tired. Wednesdays are a very busy day for me, (more excuses) and I really just want to get in, and hopefully its all been done.
On the last long road now. Definitely no stopping from here till I get home. This is my promise to myself, no stopping, no walking on this bit of road! This is home territory, can't possible be seen walking here.
All the way home, just thinking about my dinner now, and hopefully things cooking on the stove, and I can just relax and eat it when its read.
Running now, down the middle of the road, thinking of nothing but running. Running all the way, maybe even speed up a little, just so that I look like a proper runner. Must get some reflective clothing or something if I am going to keep running in the dark!
Up my road, turn down my path, stop the timer, 41.08 mins. Not bad, Not particularly good, I so wanted to be 30 something minutes, but I wasn't doing a speed run (will I ever be that good that I can do a speed run?)
Oh by the way, veg was prepared, (tins opened that is) but he also prepared some leeks and asparagas as well, yum. Thanks old boy!
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Naggys Route? No Contest!
Hi blog readers.
What a lovely morning and afternoon, of course I had to go for a run in this glorious sunshine. So after church, I bunged on a wash and got me old joggers out and got ready.
He has certainly given us a day today. Middle of October, the sun is warm, with just a very slight cool breeze. Perfect start for a LSR (long slow run)
I did have in mind to go further that me and naggy went last time, but read on and you will find the excuses I mean reasons why I didn't do that. I started off at a gentle pace, not like yesterday, blasting out of the gates like a greyhound, but something that is going to sustain me through the whole route. I tried to get the new timer working, but its just too many buttons, so my old faithful IPOD came into play again, and kept me morale up with some nice tunes to take my mind off my aching limbs. Jogging through the park now, and kids out playing with the bikes, so good to see, unlike my big son, at home no doubt on the computer playing 'Rune Scape' And he tells me he could jog this route faster than me?? I doubt it.
Anyway, through the park on up now to the A21, (you know that I do stop for a walk) I am not going to write each time I do, because........well, I'm not. But just up here I do, just as I turn towards Bromley, take a swig of my drink and back to jogging. That is pretty much how it goes from here on end. I tell myself off for stopping, I try and analyze why I am stopping, is it because I am tired, well, I am but no more that when I left the house, are my legs hurting, well just a tad, but nothing major. My breathing is fine, no chest pains, no knee pains, I did even have any alcohol last night, SO WHY AM I WALKING!! I can only come up with old couchie still has a hold of me somewhere, and is keeping me from continuous jogging.
I really wanted to turn right at the roundabout and just give up, but I perservered on over the roundabout and just kept on running/walking and thinking about the hill on Homesdale road! I am at least going to make naggy happy by running up the whole thing. At least I can tell her, "Yes Naggy, your hill didn't beat me today" All too soon though, the hill was there, a quick swig of my drink and attack the hill. I felt pretty good actually, because coming in the opposite direction was another jogging, and I was thinking (smugly) "Well, I am going run up that hill" I shouldn't be so smug really, that chap could quite easily have done 10 or 15 miles by then! But I managed to get up the hill in one go. Yup naggy will be pleased with that if nothing else.
Now as I was using this as a long slow run, just for endurance and what not, then I wasn't too bothered about the time, but then these thoughts started to pop into my head, "How you going to know if you improving if you don't at least do the same route as before, just to measure the times" well have just over 3 miles jogging/walking this seems a perfectly reasonable question. And one that I need to address. So from there on I was talking myself out of going up to Petts Wood, but instead going through the park again, like naggy lets us do the first time. Of course I was saying, "but this is supposed to be a least 6 miles today," and then old couchie would be saying "You know its good to have a yard stick, just to see"
By now my limbs were beginning to hurt a little more, and did I feel a twinge in my ankle, or is old couchie just grasping at straws to get me to cut my LSR shorter. Well, of course I have to know. I have to know if I have got faster, because I wasn't knocking my socks off, I don't think anyway, to get this far. And if I was going any slower, then I'm sure I would be going backwards! So yes, I am going through the park, just to see, then next time I will go all the way to Petts Wood.
My whole being seemed to changed again then, a little bit competitiveness, and a relief fell on me then as well! I looked at the clock just before I turned into the road that goes to the park. "WOW Yes I can beat the first time" I urged myself not to stop now, I didn't stop for naggy, so I should stop for me ....... darn it, a quick stop, "now move your bloomin ass old girl" as I told myself off.
Down the last road now, running in the middle of the road, saving precious energy rather than go up and down on each driveway, come on, this is it run, run.
All the way home I ran, thinking I can beat this but at least two minutes. I stopped the clock just as I got to the lamppost out side my house and looked. 1 hour and 10 minutes and 14 seconds! Oh my goodness. That's a whole 4 minutes off mine and naggys time. whoo hoo!
What a lovely morning and afternoon, of course I had to go for a run in this glorious sunshine. So after church, I bunged on a wash and got me old joggers out and got ready.
He has certainly given us a day today. Middle of October, the sun is warm, with just a very slight cool breeze. Perfect start for a LSR (long slow run)
I did have in mind to go further that me and naggy went last time, but read on and you will find the excuses I mean reasons why I didn't do that. I started off at a gentle pace, not like yesterday, blasting out of the gates like a greyhound, but something that is going to sustain me through the whole route. I tried to get the new timer working, but its just too many buttons, so my old faithful IPOD came into play again, and kept me morale up with some nice tunes to take my mind off my aching limbs. Jogging through the park now, and kids out playing with the bikes, so good to see, unlike my big son, at home no doubt on the computer playing 'Rune Scape' And he tells me he could jog this route faster than me?? I doubt it.
Anyway, through the park on up now to the A21, (you know that I do stop for a walk) I am not going to write each time I do, because........well, I'm not. But just up here I do, just as I turn towards Bromley, take a swig of my drink and back to jogging. That is pretty much how it goes from here on end. I tell myself off for stopping, I try and analyze why I am stopping, is it because I am tired, well, I am but no more that when I left the house, are my legs hurting, well just a tad, but nothing major. My breathing is fine, no chest pains, no knee pains, I did even have any alcohol last night, SO WHY AM I WALKING!! I can only come up with old couchie still has a hold of me somewhere, and is keeping me from continuous jogging.
I really wanted to turn right at the roundabout and just give up, but I perservered on over the roundabout and just kept on running/walking and thinking about the hill on Homesdale road! I am at least going to make naggy happy by running up the whole thing. At least I can tell her, "Yes Naggy, your hill didn't beat me today" All too soon though, the hill was there, a quick swig of my drink and attack the hill. I felt pretty good actually, because coming in the opposite direction was another jogging, and I was thinking (smugly) "Well, I am going run up that hill" I shouldn't be so smug really, that chap could quite easily have done 10 or 15 miles by then! But I managed to get up the hill in one go. Yup naggy will be pleased with that if nothing else.
Now as I was using this as a long slow run, just for endurance and what not, then I wasn't too bothered about the time, but then these thoughts started to pop into my head, "How you going to know if you improving if you don't at least do the same route as before, just to measure the times" well have just over 3 miles jogging/walking this seems a perfectly reasonable question. And one that I need to address. So from there on I was talking myself out of going up to Petts Wood, but instead going through the park again, like naggy lets us do the first time. Of course I was saying, "but this is supposed to be a least 6 miles today," and then old couchie would be saying "You know its good to have a yard stick, just to see"
By now my limbs were beginning to hurt a little more, and did I feel a twinge in my ankle, or is old couchie just grasping at straws to get me to cut my LSR shorter. Well, of course I have to know. I have to know if I have got faster, because I wasn't knocking my socks off, I don't think anyway, to get this far. And if I was going any slower, then I'm sure I would be going backwards! So yes, I am going through the park, just to see, then next time I will go all the way to Petts Wood.
My whole being seemed to changed again then, a little bit competitiveness, and a relief fell on me then as well! I looked at the clock just before I turned into the road that goes to the park. "WOW Yes I can beat the first time" I urged myself not to stop now, I didn't stop for naggy, so I should stop for me ....... darn it, a quick stop, "now move your bloomin ass old girl" as I told myself off.
Down the last road now, running in the middle of the road, saving precious energy rather than go up and down on each driveway, come on, this is it run, run.
All the way home I ran, thinking I can beat this but at least two minutes. I stopped the clock just as I got to the lamppost out side my house and looked. 1 hour and 10 minutes and 14 seconds! Oh my goodness. That's a whole 4 minutes off mine and naggys time. whoo hoo!
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