Club Night Running!

Hello Blog lovers.

Group 0

I love club nights, the friends and chat and banter, just love it!  So, the heroes group.  Brilliant bunch of peoples, all working hard to get build up fitness, come back from injuries, testing to see if injuries are getting better.  You can only tell by actually going out running, and when you're in a club with people helping you along that is all you need!

There were nine members this evening.  I was a little late turning up as work didn't finish on time this evening, yet when I got there it was good to see that the ones that were there earlier than me were busy doing the warm up drills!  Brilliant!

A fairly easy route this evening, flat mostly with the incline at the beginning of the run.  I was conscious this evening of making sure I had everyone in my sights, no one was behind me.  Mind you trying to keep an eye on the front runners was going to be a challenge now, but I had no need to worry as Nicola took on the role of front Leader.  She encouraged those that wanted to do loop backs to run back and even to loop around the Daylight Inn when we had done 2 miles.

As this is a 'Getting in/back to Group 1' session, I am trying to keep all the distances at about 2.5 miles, and to get around these routes at group 1 pace.  I knew the route I had planned for tonight would only be about 2 miles, so I had to tack on another half mile somewhere.  So I decided that we would run down Woodside to Manor Way and then run up there.  That should do it!  I was thinking on my feet, which is never a good idea, I'm not very good at multi-tasking!

But I surprised myself, it worked out fine, we had about 10 minutes left when we got into the rec to do some warm downs!  Perfect timing, even if I do say so myself.  And Nicola was very good as Group 0 Front Runner, much appreciated!

Geeky stats, and you will probably notice that the beginning of this run on the map says we started in Poverest!  Well, I think my Garmin had a hissy fit, or my Garmin and the Satellites had an argument and refused to talk to each other, but we did actually start our run from the Rec!

Group 1

So now my run with group 1!   I was still feeling achy from yesterdays cross training, which now I can say I absolutely loved! Tough, yes, but wow!  I so want to do better next time! Anyway, I digress.  Illustrious Leader is leading the group today and the route is just perfect!  It is uphill, kind of, but it's disguised well with the twists and turns as we run up to Crofton Road going through Palace estates!  I like this route.  Nice quite roads as you run up to the half way point, and then the long uninterrupted road for the run back.  Something I have come to like on my long runs.  

I was sweeping again,

"Was you?" Old Girl

"Yes, I was, I always do"

"Oh really, I would never have guessed"

I though I would get that out of the way!  Yes, I was sweeping, I like it, I can sneakily get in a little walking break if I need it, after all, I had just done 2.5 miles, that is how I justify it.  I like my excuses list!  Group 1 today seemed to be even bigger than usual!  There must have been about 20 people, snaking our way out of the rec.  We are usually the last group to leave, well, we wouldn't want to get mixed up with any of the faster groups! Especially group 8, Hannah said they were doing something like 8 miles, ish, with some hills and hill reps, up and down Summer Hill a couple of times!  Can you imagine it!  All within an hour!

So, where was I?, My thoughts keep running away with me today! Just wished the legs would run as well!  So the first half of the run is going well, there are those at the front who are going really well, then we have some middlers and then there are some at the back.  DiscoRich was sweeping the middlers, it all worked out perfectly.  This route has a couple of places to do loops for those at the back to catch up but still keep the front runners warm and not stand as wait too long.

When we was at the half way point, I really started feeling it the legs, but I was determined to keep going and only walk if any one else did! There was one young lady, and for the life of me I can't remember her name! You know when you can see the persons face, know the sound of their voice, yet the name is just a blank space in your head, well that's what I am like at the moment!  Even going through the alphabet hasn't helped!

Anyway, (the brain is running away again), this Young lady was suffering with pains in her legs.  She is also doing the marathon and got her place through the ballot, so her miles have been going up in the last few weeks.  Well we ran along at the back just pacing but keeping the group with in calling distance if there was any problems at all.

We chatted and ran back all the way to the off license.  When we got there and had a catchup we could see some runners coming over the bridge.  We made a 'tunnel of people and clapped and cheered as what I think was group 5, came running through.  Illustrious Leader then continued with her chat, explaining where we were to run too, and to run as fast as we want, but not to go any other way other than the planned route.  Just there another group of runners came over the bridge.  Again we made a tunnel and clapped and cheered.....and this time it was our friendly rivals 'The Orpies' coming over the bridge!  There was just one more mile to do before we got back to the rec.  The faster ones went off with DiscoRich and then the middlers went off with Illustrious leader, me and this young lady ran along together chatting until we got to Tudor way.  We then had a walk up to Crossways.  Her legs were really sore.  Illustrious Leader wanted to know if I will be running on ahead doing my sprinting bit, but I just that wasn't going to happen, there was nothing left in my legs today.   A rest day tomorrow, yup, that is what is going to happen tomorrow!

A great run, ok so I did some walking, but we still got in to the rec within the hour, which is perfect timing!  Natalie!.....I think that's her name!

Geeky stats

Cross Training

Hello blog lovers.

My first cross training day!  I can't believe it's taken me this long to get some other form of exercise in, I've not even been on my bike, but then, I have become 'soft' of late, not wanting to go riding in the cold! Anyway, the cross training!

Me and Bims had booked ourselves into a couple of classes.  I suggested spin, and then said ok just book something and I shall go along with it.  So it was totally left to Bims to decide.  She did indeed choose a spin class followed by a body balance class, neither which I have ever done!  It should be interesting!

I drove to Bims house first thing this morning, parked up at hers and then, when she was ready, we jogged along to the pavilion, about half a mile or so from her house.  We found our class, it was a spin class first, and set about getting the bikes ready for us to 'spin' on.  I had no idea what was in store, no idea what the red lever was in front of me (I thought it was to alter the handle bars angle!), that was until Bims told me.  (I think maybe the instructor really should have taken a moment to explain it to any newbies like myself, but hey ho!)

And then the class began.  Forty five minutes of gentle peddling! Yeah.....I don't think so!  At first it was ok, but then it was time to get up off the seat and peddle, and then squat down and peddle! Wow! I don't even do that on my bike!  The legs just burned!  I couldn't, couldn't do it all.  I turned to Bims and I asked her "How long was this class" It was then that she told me it was for 45 mins!  I turned around to look at the clock!  We've only been doing it for ten minutes and already I was ready to go home!!  The sweat was pouring out of me!  Everybody else seemed to be doing just fine, with maybe the one lady of my right, who I found out had been doing this for some time!  And she was still struggling!

It was an experience to say the least, one that maybe I could repeat again some time, even though I struggled big time!! I knew I had done a big work out after the 45 minutes session.  A good session, good music!

After that we walked to our next class, we had about 10 minutes or so to relax, cool down a bit and get the heart put back in place!  I sure mine was half way through my chest!  I again chose a place at the back along with Bims,  I think it must go back to school days, 'get at the back of the class and the teacher can't see you'.  And also I didn't want the other people taking the class to see what I can't do either.  They all looked super skinny and bendy!

I can't get seem to get rid of the feeling that maybe I shouldn't be doing stuff like this now, not at my age, not now, after doing nothing for most of my life!  I mean I could seriously do damage! Even if its damage to my ego!  The instructor here started off by asking if there was anyone with any injuries, I like that, that's important to know!  And at the moment I am suffering with this weird back pain.  I say weird because it isn't there when I am standing, walking running, doing stuff.  It is only there when sit!  I can actually feel it 'crackle' when I am just sitting and not even moving!  And then when I try to get up of my chair, in fact any chair, I have to be really careful, do it slowly and gently.  Weird!

The class began.  She said it is like Ti chi, Pilate's and yoga all in one class.  I was imagining some nice gentle slow movements.  And that's what we did.  We stretched and twisted and bent our bodies to lovely soothing music, we had 'centering' and sun salutations, warrior ones and two, not to mention going to the dogs and alligators!

It just proved to me that my body is in no way supple or bendy in any way, whatsoever.  Even the bits that supposed to bend don't want to bend.  Me and Bims just looked at each other on some of the bendy bits, and just thought "I don't think so"

But it was good, and I am sure that doing that class after the manic spin class certainly helped with muscle soreness because I really expected to be totally paralysed after but, at the moment, I seem to be walking around ok! But then that could be because of what we done after that class had finished.

By this time, after the perfect relaxation that we had done during the Body Balance class (we got to lay flat and almost fall asleep!) I was in no way looking forward to the jog home!  I don't think I could do it!  But Bims did her nagging bit, and we jogged, albeit very very slowly, back to hers.  I even walked a couple of bits too, just half a mile to do and I walked some!

Bims had be dying to get me to use her hot tub.  It's something that I just don't get.  Taking a bath with your family or friends or strangers, if it's in a club.  Not only that it's outside in the garden, and, AND its almost the end of January!  But my resolve had taken a pounding too, I had no fight left in me to give her a good reason why I can't get into her bath!

I did try the "I've got fake tan on, oh sorry, I can't get in" (that's a no-no when it comes to getting in her out door bath) but, as anyone who knows me I barely put on lip salve let alone fake tan, and the fact that at the moment I look like Caspers' mother!  And so there it was, me loaning one of Bims bathing suits (which by the way I was pleased to see that the bikini top was too big for me!)  and then creeping along to the hot tub.

I was surprised at just how hot it was!  It really was like a bath!  I sat in the spot with the jets of bubbles coming out and it massaged my back.  Ok, I here. Now what!  "Um, nice weather!"  Well what else do you talk about while in the bath with your sister!  But I soon started to relax, and even to forget about the builders that were working next door.

It was at that point Bims decided to take a picture of me!  When I looked at it I looked so white!  It was like I was 'haunting' her hot tub!  No, no, don't you post that one.  But of course I think she was getting me back for all those picture nasties of her I put in my blog!  I made her take another, with some filters going on, just to see if it could at least make me look like I wasn't her 'chicken dinner' boiling in a pot!

Here, this is the result! Like a rare white rhino wallowing in a 'kini'  But boy was it ......ok!

The bubbles went off after 15 minutes and then she put it on again for another 15 minutes.  Well, with about 5 minutes left to go I was really looking forward to getting out!  I slid around to where the steps was and I thought I might just be able to slither out, just like the crocodile that I had done in Body Balance, but I just didn't have any energy left!

Eventually I managed to 'haul ass' out of there and just staggered to the sitting room, and then after getting out of the swimsuit I sat, wrapped in the towel to 'recover' from the hot top!

A very good day for activities, me thinks!

Fourth Long Run!

Hello blog lovers,

Second time of trying for the first 10 mile of the year!  Lets see how this goes.  Bims has chickened out of the whole 10k......well, to be fair she has only just started back with her running, and last weeks 8.5 miles was a tough one for her!  So today she was going to meet me at Normans Park, along with WendiMoo.

As for me and Mariana, we are ready to take on the big double number route!  When I saw Mariana outside in her car I went outside ready to do battle with the elements!  Ok, so it was quite a nice afternoon, for a January, considering 3 years ago there was snow on the ground!

The satellites found our watches and we were off.  Down the ally to Turn-around-lamppost!  WendiMoo had text me before we left that she was feeling energetic and would run from hers down the A21 to meet us as we ran up to her.  Then we were continue to run to Normans Park where hopefully Bims would be just arriving.

It all went really well, when I say 'well' I mean, ok ish.  Bims wasn't at the park, we had got there before her.  I stood for just a couple of minutes, but then suggested we run towards Bromley and meet up with her, and then we can run back to the park.

Eventually all together, she was just a couple of minutes behind schedule, we ran through the park, and then up Hayes lane towards Bromley.  I was feeling it this afternoon, the coughing malarkey had started to affect my chest, but only just a little bit, not enough that would keep me from running.  I am beginning to think.......no.....I am confirming the fact that I am totally crazy!  Who, at my age, after only 4 years running experience would again put their name down for the London Marathon! ME! Thanks who!

But after four years being in a fantastic running club then I know that runners, marathon runners, ultra marathon runners and triathletes are really very special people indeed!  To keep just getting up and out, every morning or evening, come rain or shine, or warm or cold, we do it.  We complain about it, but we keep coming back.  We complain about those hills, I tend to turn the air blue when running up hills, but secretly feeling bloody pleased that you got up a particular hill in one go!  Yes, a peculiar breed of humanity, that's what a runner is!

Talking of hills, there is a slight incline going back up to the A21, and I was not liking it!  WendiMoo amazes me, she chats away as she runs along...even up hills "Aaaa, stop moaning and get on with it" she says to me.  It made me smile and help me on the way up that blooming incline!

Just at the top of the road a motor bike came around the corner spewing its exhaust out just as WendiMoo took a deep breath in, I also was breathing pretty heavily coming up the incline and took a lungfull of the shit down too!

I pretty much jogged, nice and easy from this point. I could see that WendiMoo and Mariana had pretty strong legs, and I think if I kept side by side to either one, at this point, then they would be going just a tad faster than I could manage!  We ran along, away from Bromley, and then turned left into Addison Road.  I was looking forward to the next park.  Fresh clean air, no exhaust fumes to suck up.

Once we got through the park we headed up towards Bickley.  Bims will be going her own from here and the rest of us will be going over the road and up Oldfield road.  I was really feeling it now and we still were only half way through.  WendiMoo and Marianna looked as fresh as daisies!  How? I don't get it!

Now is when I start beating myself up! "Why can't I look as fresh as these, why can't I at least have a pretence of looking like I am a 'proper' athlete?"  The answers come back, 'They're younger' Well WendiMoo is my age, that isn't it.  'They're fitter than you' It could be, but again, I don't think so.  So they only answer that made me feel good is 'They're taller than you, they have long legs"  Now that one fits well!  My legs are going ten to the dozen just plodding along keeping up with them while they just 'gazelled' along.  Yup, that did it, that helped me not to beat me up!

We soon got to Jubilee Park, with the run/walk method, because that is how I planned my run again, run for a mile and then walk for 1 minute.  Although by this stage the minute seemed to go on for just a tad further.  Also I seemed to be looking at my Garmin every half mile now, just like last week.  My legs just know when I have ran for half a mile now!

From this point I ran for as much as I can until the 1 mile mark, if I walked within that mile then that was ok, but I still took that walking break when the mile came up!  It's a tough thing to run for 10 miles, It's a tough thing to run for half a marathon, and as for running a marathon well, it's idiotic! But, I am really looking forward to it!  Strange, strange lady that I am!

When we got through Jubilee park I was really tempted to go home via Tent Pent Lane.  But a plan is a plan.  And my plan is to go over the bridge and then onto Willet Rec.  That was tough, it just looked so tempting, so tempting.  But on the marathon, there is no short cuts!  On wards and upwards, well downwards really, as we turned left down Great Thrift.

This is the moment that I think nutrition and hydration needs to come into play.  Next week I will be running with my belt and water, and dextrose.  That is what I shall be running the race!  I may even by jelly babies, I love jelly babies!  Yes, sweeties, that's going to the the answer.

It was good going through the rec because now I can finally visualise getting home.  Just down Southborough Lane, that's all there is left to do, Southborough to the Havester and then back through the park!  Simples.  We seemed to have picked up a bit of 'running zone' as we ran down there, I guess the down helped quite a bit.

Wendimoo left us at the Harvester to continue her run home to Bromley Common.  Me and Mariana turned left to go through the park.  I looked at my Garmin, there is no way we are going to make 10 miles, there was only about half a mile to go.  "Do you want to cut it short and go straight back to mine, or do you want to go the longer way?" I asked Mariana.  Well, as I said she was totally looking relaxed, it seemed to be very easy for her, and I think she will very well be signing up for a half!  Mariana chose the long way!

We turned left when we got onto Whitebeam!  Heading away from my home!  Secretly I was pleased.  I know if I was by myself I would have gone the shorter way, but here I was going away from my home again! Not sticking to the planned route, yet sticking to the planned distance!  I can work with that.  It was tough running away from the end, but I just thought "Every step from now is a step closer to home"

Finally on to Faringdon avenue, just a little further down the 9 mile bleeped.  I took my walk, I don't usually walk on this road, but I wanted to walk now.  The minute had gone and we started running again, all the way now, there is no more stopping.

We got onto my road and there was still another half mile to do to make the 10 miles.  I just couldn't do it, I couldn't go right past my house.  Mariana still had some more in her legs!  She carried on, I went into my house and grabbed a drink and a banana!  I sat down after my stretches and then said "Darn it, I should have done the extra half mile"  Oh well, there is always next week!

Picture with kind permission from the Runningbug!

Geeky stats.

Two Runs Are Better than None!

Hello blog lovers.

I am a tad late writing about my run yesterday morning with the girls, but here it is!

Thursday morning, on a chilly rec, Michelle and Nicola were waiting along with DiscoRich and Marianna to go for a lovely run.  Neither DiscoRich not nor my group was aiming to go through the wood, after last Sunday's experience of Hayes Common I didn't think our woods would be any different.  Even D.R. himself said that was really very wet and horrible in there, and he loves mud more than me!

So my route was the same as last Thursday, but going the other way around, well, it's kind of different.  I know last week I really struggled to keep up with the others, and I didn't expect anything different from this run, mainly because I have silly cold virus again!......By the way, anyone out there know of how to keep cold virus attacking, whether it be more exercise, or wearing double socks or even eating raisins, I would appreciate it!

I was feeling ok, just snotty and that darn cough, but energy levels feel ok, must have been the pasta that I had for lunch!  We ran out of the gate hot on the heels of D.R. and his gang, but of course that didn't last long, their lead stretched out and out.  We were going the same way, but then I think once they got onto Shepperton they went left and we turned right.

I seemed to be keeping up with the other two quite well,  I am not sure if in fact it is easier running in the opposite direction as last Thursday but I seemed to be doing quite well.  I did get behind a couple of times and walked a bit as well.  But then we got to Blackbrook Lane and the girls just flew up to Thornet Wood lane!  I kept up as best as I could.  My excuse, is that they are younger than me!  Its a good excuse and one that comes in very handy on a Thursday morning run.

They waited till I got to them and then we went through Jubilee Park together, and then back out over the bridge and out on to Great Thrift!  It was a good run, and I was fairly pleased, considering the cold virus (can I use that excuse, I think I can!) At least we still got in with the hour and got back before DiscoRich!  I had decided after this run though that track at 8 was a no go!

Geeky Stats

Run 2

This run was today, and it was a nice solo run.  An, almost gadget free run!  I used my Ipod.  I didn't want to be 'weighed down' with getting a good time, a good pace, or anything like that.  I just wanted to go out a run.  But the thing is I was really feeling like crap!  Head aches, sniffles, coughing!  Plus I just got back from shopping and I was feeling like I just want to sit down.

But, I had a word with myself, like I do quite often, to get my fat carcass out there, even if it was just for a short 1 miler!  Turn around lamppost even.  I quite liked that idea and I dragged my ass upstairs to get changed.  

Once I had all my gear on I decided, yes, it will be a short run, but a bit longer than to TAL and back.  I was going to go up to the Harvester, then through the park and back home.  Usually about 1.75 miles in distance!  I still wasn't going to use my Garmin though, I would be to tempted to look at the pace I was going at, and feel I should go faster....or slower!

But, just for 'shits and giggles' I decided to use the Nike thingy on my Ipod. Set up the distance which I think it is and then see what happens.  What I couldn't quite grasp was how my iPod was going to track me?  My Garmin connects to satelites, my phone has the gps thingy, but my iPod, well I just didn't get it.

So you can imagine my surprise when my iPod started talking to me saying that I was halfway.  I was just coming up to the Harvester at the time.  I was running pretty well, and turned left to head towards the park.  I took a little short walk half way down there and then I started to run again.

I was feeling pretty good, strangely, I was feeling pretty strong, strangely.  I must be exercises the cold virus and they are getting stronger instead, because the cough was annoying me, and my nose was just running away with me!  My headache seemed to have gone though.

Just as I got through the park the countdown started, "400 meters to go" says Miss iPod, and so on "300 meters to go, 200 meters to go"  I seemed to have found a little bit of extra with those countdowns and I started to run just a little faster, "!00 meters to go"  I was finding myself getting quite competitive now, even though it's only me running!  And then there it was "You have reached your goal" or what ever it said, but I still had just a little further to go, I had just started to run along on my road, I ran faster as my iPod told me to push pause to stop.  But I didn't I kept it going until I got up to my house.  The actual distance recorded was 1.85 miles but I was quite impressed with the time, it was 20.08, and according to Miss Ipod I was running an average of 10.55 mi/mil!  

Yeah, not too bad for someone who is suffering from a cold!  I was pleased I went out, even though just for that short little jog!

Club Nights - you Gotta Love 'Em

Hello blog lovers.

It's my double groups today!  Love doing this, I love encouraging others along, and it's brilliant when I go on to the next group and see some of the Heroes back into group 1!

Group 0

We have quite a few members today, 8 of us all ready to hit the hill this evening.  Birchwood!  It's has to be done.  After our usual warm ups, some dynamic skips, lunges, jogging and stuff, we were all warm enough to get going.  The hill or the incline as I try to think of them is at the beginning of our run, when we have tons of energy.  Where it may hurt is when we hit Woodside, and Great Thrift, those little undulations can be quite tough little blighters!

Everyone did the hill really well, up and up. We turned the corner and then took a little break just at the top.  Then it was down and down and down.  The best bit of the run, you can relax your legs and arms and just let the momentum of the down hill do all the work!  I could see all the runners up in front as I led from the back. And a pink jacket, who I thought was Tracey, as I didn't see her fall behind me up the hill!  All the down to Crossways we ran and then took another little break before going straight up to the memorial hall. 

 It was then that Tracey came from behind me,  I had been looking at the front of the pack thinking that everyone was there, but Tracey was still behind me. She was keeping up with us but was just a tad behind the rest of us.  She said that it was fine, she was keeping up, and to carry on.  But I don't like to have anyone behind me, I prefer to be able to see all!  I can't wait for the summer days!  It just reminded me of what an important job a sweeper does when you're out running in groups in the dark!  

Now with Tracey by my side we stared up the little incline together!  Right to the top near the hall.  Everybody did well and waited for me and Tracey.  Now it's just this long road back to the Crossways and the rec.

The speedier members of the group got into their groove and started on along the road, then there were the middle runners, chatting away and running along behind them and then us lot at the back, sweeping along making sure no one gets behind us.

back at the rec and we all did our cool down stretches. A good run.  Heres the geeky stats.

Group 1

I waited around for the next run.  I didn't get as cold as I did last week and I thought I would be mixing up with the pack this evening.  Just goes to show though, things don't always go how you think it would go.  

I was feeling really up for group 1 running, and was looking forward to SingstarJo's route, especially when she said that we would be going down Cardiac hill!  But for some reason I just couldn't keep up with the pack!  Of course I said it was because SingstarJo is totally on fire with her running lately, totally annihilating her 10k pb!  But she was totally on pace with the run, (when we eventually caught up with her at the first scheduled stop)  "It's 11:30 mi/m pace" she said!  So, what excuse could I use for not keeping up!  

I think sometimes it's just one of the things.  You think you can do really well because you 'feel' it and then load on tons of minutes to you pace so that it looks like the pace you are doing is like you're  pushing a car up hill with the brakes on!  And the other times you do a run that you thinks is so unbelievable slow that the time keep has given up and gone home, and you come romping home smashing a pb!

Well, that's how I am going to look at it anyway.  SingstarJo did say that she planned another little stop just at the top of the road by the 'Off license'.  I will be needing it by then as this road we are about to run on is another little undulating road.  But when we got over the little bridge and saw the shop the group seemed to disappear down the side of it, there was no little gathering waiting for the back markers.  SingstarJo didn't stop there!  

We carried on down the road towards Petts Wood, we were going to go down Shepperton, which, if she goes the usual way, is another undulating road!  Imagine the relief on my face when she didn't turn left when we got to the cross roads but instead we ran straight on, over the road.  Straight on to finish running along Shepperton and then turn right. It's the shorter way to the little green on Southborough Lane.

After a little break there it was all go, non stop to the rec.  Just as we were running up towards the high street someone noticed a glove on the floor,  I bent down and picked it up.  "That's what sweepers are for" said Illustrious Leader who was sweeping with me at the back!  Two very good reasons to have sweepers I say!

Geeky stats.

So, Things Don't Go To Plan!

Hello blog lovers.

After church I got things ready for later, chopped some salad, tidied up, you know stuff that you are not wanting to do after a a planned long run. So, when all was ready, and Bims was here, we set off for our planned  10 miler!  Lets see how we fair.

So before we even got out of the door, the Old Boy said that the road I was going to take, Barnet Wood Lane, was a bit dangerous, one thing is that is doesn't have any pavements!  Which is true, but even the grass verges are non existent.  That wasn't really any problem, because we can cut across the field, it may be a tad sticky with all the rain that we've had!  But at least it will be a most welcome break from traffic fumes! I had put the map on FaceBook, to show anyone that may want to drop in and out of our run, but I feel sure that Barnet Wood Lane wouldn't be needed anyway!

We were going to get a couple of 'hitch hikers' on route WendiMoo, but unfortunately she couldn't make it, and ZippySherry was going to try and meet us en-route too, but I think that she got bogged down with those things that just need doing!  It's so annoying when 'things and life' get in the way of your running!

My plan, for my long runs, is to do what I will be doing on marathon day.  It was something that quite a few people have said to me, DiscoRich, SingstarJo and NaggyNeighbour, and that is to build in walks, plan the walks.  I've tried the timing walks, where you run for so long the walk for so long. NaggyNeighbour suggested run for a mile and then walk for a minute!  When If you think about it, that works out only 25 minutes of walking over a marathon distance!  And those mile breaks can come along quite quickly!  So today, me and Bims will be doing that.

We set off nice and steady, there is no need to speed along, this is for endurance!  I had already told her not to look at her watch, just go for it.  she didn't even want to know where we were going either!  She will know soon enough though.  The first mile got us to the Havester, and we had our first 1 minute walk.  Even though we could have gone on further (Bims ran for 3.3 miles yesterday non stop!) But a plan is a plan, and it's best to stick to it.

It went really well actually.  All the way up to the Crown, Toby Inn, and then we crossed the road and went through the Park.  Just knowing that there is a planned walk after a certain distance was very good for the psyche!  Our second mile was just as we were entering Normans Park.  It was there that Bims realised where we were going "You're going to take me up Hayes, aren't you?" I smiled!  "There may be a bit more walking than running" she said.

As it happened, we ran up and up and got to The George, where we did take an unscheduled stop just so that she can point out her neighbours Cafe!  Marco's!  I must pop in one day and say hi!  This is where our route went slightly array from the map.  Because I wanted to keep us safe from traffic I was taking the detour through the common!  It will be fine....or so I thought.  I have my new trainers on!  The ones that my Big Son bought me for Christmas!  They were never made to go off road!  I should have changed them before I left the house!

It's too late now, I shall just have to do what some of the other ladies manage to do when we go through woods and that's to hover!  Impossible I know!  I am way to heavy......but let me tell you that I have actually lost weight!  The needle pointing to the stones has now left the starting figure and is now on it's way to saying 'Hi' to the lower number!!! Was I pleased to see that this morning!  Anyway, I digress.  This way was pretty muddy!  Ok very muddy. Ok, Ok, it was a lake! With some raised muddy bits to walk on!

Bims was not pleased at all!  I could feel the daggers coming at me.  I think she would have preferred to to have dodged the cars, if they came down that road (it's not a very busy road, but it is a winding one!).  Here, I took a picture of her face, and just one of the sections we negotiated!

Just look at the Boat race!

Just a little bit sticky!

We ran along Oakly road now, towards the A21.  I was starting to feel it.  We both were.  From here to the end we kept going as best we could. We had only done 5 miles and we still had 5 more to do!  Our feet were covered up to the ankle in mud!  But still, she is doing 'Tough Mudder' it's good for her to experience a tiny bit of mud!

We ran along to the Crown again and turned right to go back down Southborough Lane.  My legs were feeling so heavy!  yet when we stopped running, the rest of me felt like it was floating!  So maybe I have got the magic after all for hovering over the mud!  Maybe we should try it again!  Maybe I was becoming delirious!

When we reached Blackbrook Lane we turned left to run along it as far as Thornet Wood Road. Then some more traffic free running, through Jubilee park.  We decided at the moment from when we turned on to Thornet Wood Road that we would not do the extra couple of miles, through Petts Wood high street, but go instead directly to Southborough Lane via Crest View.

For the last couple of miles I seemed to have walked after just half a mile, but I still took the minute (or more!) when we reached another mile!  It was ok, I was pleased with that.  Both me and Bims were tired but still smiling, and happy to be running, and that's what it's all about!

So geeky stats for you, and as you can see not quite the 10 miler but its not too bad.

Extra Extra! The Old Girl Runs An Extra Day!

Hello blog lovers

Earlier today the Old Girl was seen running along the streets of her home town on what was reported to be her rest day. I caught up with her as she ran through Petts Wood high street.

When asked why she was running she replied "because I like running". She didn't seem to care that people saw her out running. Even when The Old girl took a couple of walking breaks.

It was suggested to her that maybe she should have stayed at home as she is now walking. But in her words " Its an extra run, no matter how fast or slow I go today it doesn't matter, just being out side is a huge bonus"

I then noticed the Garmin on her wrist and asked her how far she intended on running. "Just  to the Harvesters and then I shall go home. Only going to do about 3 miles, its just a little extra run for fun"

I really didn't expect her to have a come back when I pointed out that if it was just for fun then why the need for the Garmin? Her reply "Just to show everybody that This Girl Can!"

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