Hello blog lovers.
You know those mornings when the alarm wakes you up but you feel like your head has only just hit the pillow? Well, that's how felt this morning. The feeling of tiredness just didn't leave me for the whole day. I ambled through the day, doing housework, a bit of shopping and laundry. The pooch was looking at me too, I was going to take him for a little run around the park, but then he just sate on my lap and snuggled down. I knew how he felt. I just wanted to snuggle down too. Anyway, by the time I did all of my chores I didn't have enough time anyway. So a snuggle for the last 15 minutes before the school runs begin was nice.
It doesn't mean that I didn't do anything, as you know, if there is a blog there has been exercise, with just one or two exceptions, like when I've been volunteering! I finished work early this evening, 6 o'clock. or just after, and from that moment I started to think about running. I really, really wasn't feeling it. I decided that I would watch my usual soap and then go after that! The Old Boy has started back to his cycling, so I just have to go out, keep up my regime of getting back to fitness going. But I really, really wasn't feeling it! My programme finished and I got slowly up from my seat, all I kept saying to myself was "That's it, keep moving, get changed and then get out!" My legs felt like led going up the stairs, the tiredness was still with me, I could quite easily just sit back and have a snooze instead! Or even a full on sleep! I really, wasn't feeling it!
I mentioned to PhysioMikeTheMod that he probably needs a crow bar to get himself out of his house on freezing Thursday evenings, to go and STAND on the freezing cold track watching us running around him! Well, I really needed a crow bar to get out of my house today, but there I was, outside, ready! I started running along, all I could think about was going back. I decided to just enjoy the tunes in my ears, see if that can take me away from my tiredness.
I really tried to get to the mile before I even thought about taking a walk, but I didn't even get to about half mile! I tell you what, those rest days are really so necessary! I know I have missed a couple of days in this month, I am beginning to be glad of that too! I guess if I had been used to running longer distances then it would be different, I am going to have to try and keep up a 7 mile once a week at least after the Paddock Wood HM!
I knew from that first walking stop that my planned 3 miles was not going to happen. I am going to struggle to even cover a mile! I had planned to just to a complete out and back for 1.5 miles. Stay on the main road and my road. There has been a nutter wanting to take things from people in the area, although I think they have caught him, it's still best to stick to the bus routes until we know for certain. I still did an out and back, but I made sure I got to a mile before I turned around and came back. Two miles is worth going out for a slow run. I really wasn't feeling. It was tough. But it's the last day of January tomorrow, so at least I won't have to try and run every single day. Although, I have to run tomorrow, it's the last day. And then Wednesday, with Tracy, and of course I will have to do Thursdays double, because that's what I do! But Friday, Friday will be a rest day!
Geeky stats.
Monday, 30 January 2017
Sunday Solo!
Hello blog lovers.
With the Paddock Wood Half Marathon coming up in a couple of months I really need to start to push out the miles. NaggyNeighbough is on a mission, she is doing some crazy ultra marathon around the Isle of White. Wendymoo has upped and left us to go oop north, and all the other marathoners are way to fast for me to tag along with. And besides, they have probably all started first thing this morning! I start my training after church. It's always good to start on long runs with His words in your mind first! I doubt it will make me any quicker, or even easier!
I got myself ready and looked out of the patio window and saw that it was wet, yucky, horrid rain! It was so not motivating. I wanted to do my longest run for this year too. I wanted to run for at least 6 miles today, not speedy, but then of course I wouldn't, would I. I need to start to build up the miles slowly, in readiness for the 13.1 miles I have to do in the beginning of April. Only a month to go! I already feel woefully unprepared!
I set off up Farringdon Avenue, along Oxhawth and Southborough Lane. I felt ok, not perfect, but ok. There will soon be a rest day coming up soon. I didn't complete my challenged of 31 activities for this month, but I think with just a couple more days to do, doing over 70 miles this month is not too bad for me! The run up to the A21 went ok, I had to stop to cross roads but I did it. It wasn't pretty, it was faster bits, and slower bits. I need to just keep it nice and steady! The first two miles though, I was just trying to get as far away from any short cuts home! The rain wasn't too bad, it was just heavy mist really, but I still felt soggy and still not very inspired. Those two miles did not pass all of the short cuts. Now I had to switch my brain off, just look up the road and see how I go! I didn't want to think about the three or four shortcuts that I will be passing. Once I get to the bus garage, pass Mc'D's then there is no turning back!
I ran, walked, jogged and nagged myself to just get pass those roads. Once I started on the ascent to Locksbottom then the thoughts started coming.
Why am I out here running in the rain?
You know who would be so proud of me right now?
How did I get to this point in my life?
You know who I would like to tell right now, all about this!?
How long have I been running for?
This answer to all of this is 'Mum!' My mum, Why am I running, well that's simple, because I have worked so hard since my mum died. My mum would be so proud right now, she'd think I was daft as a brush as well! How did I get to here, because I just wanted to do something to remember my mum, or my sister did, Bims. Blimey, that was a day, all twenty or so of us, dressed in Pink, Tracy was there too! I would so love to have a conversation with her right now, instead of putting it all down in this blog. How long have I been running for, well that's easy, 9 years! It was 9 years ago that we started training for our very first 5k run.....which we all walked by the way. 9 years of missing her. 9 years and 2 months since she left us. Still hurts like fuck!
You can imagine what I was like as I tried to run up hill on the A21! I was just a mess, I mean I lost it, I had a complete meltdown, sobbed like a baby! I couldn't run! I knew that I just had to let it out, so I sobbed, loudly! After a few minutes I managed to pull myself together and got going again. Running and walking, running and walking and that was pretty much the way for the rest of my run! I tried to figure out why I kept walking, was I tired? Well yes, but I can still keep going. Does it hurt? Well, no, not really, a little twinge on my back, but that happens when I walk or sit as well. Lazy? No I refuse to believe that, after all I am out here running in the pissing rain! So that was it, I talked myself out of a beating. My conclusion was that at least I am out here. I am never going to be the fastest running in PWR, I will probably always only ever lead group 1, with maybe an attempt to lead group 2, in an absolute emergency, which I will lead from the middle! But I am still here. Nine years after my mum died, nine years after I had a reason to keep on going. I was still here. I can think about my mum when I am running, I can cry when it's necessary, and I can give thanks that I had the most beautiful mum in the whole world, who gave us all brothers and sisters to support and care for each other! And I can continue running, because I know that I am not going to stop. Slow, or slower, I will always run for as long as I can!
The last bit of the run, I started to 'feel' better, my running didn't get any better though, but at least I was still running. I think 13:30 m/mi is not a bad pace for an old ex-couch potato really. No need to beat myself up. I ran up to the place where I started my Garmin in the first place and switched it off! That split second that I was looking at it I noticed the distance! 6.98 miles! Stuff that, I am not going to stop my run on that! I just had to run pass NaggyNeighbour's house and the next neighbours house and boom! Done it! 7 miles! Considering I only planned to do 6 miles today I was very pleased with that, so definitely no telling off!
Geeky stats
 |
| My mum. |
With the Paddock Wood Half Marathon coming up in a couple of months I really need to start to push out the miles. NaggyNeighbough is on a mission, she is doing some crazy ultra marathon around the Isle of White. Wendymoo has upped and left us to go oop north, and all the other marathoners are way to fast for me to tag along with. And besides, they have probably all started first thing this morning! I start my training after church. It's always good to start on long runs with His words in your mind first! I doubt it will make me any quicker, or even easier!
I got myself ready and looked out of the patio window and saw that it was wet, yucky, horrid rain! It was so not motivating. I wanted to do my longest run for this year too. I wanted to run for at least 6 miles today, not speedy, but then of course I wouldn't, would I. I need to start to build up the miles slowly, in readiness for the 13.1 miles I have to do in the beginning of April. Only a month to go! I already feel woefully unprepared!
I set off up Farringdon Avenue, along Oxhawth and Southborough Lane. I felt ok, not perfect, but ok. There will soon be a rest day coming up soon. I didn't complete my challenged of 31 activities for this month, but I think with just a couple more days to do, doing over 70 miles this month is not too bad for me! The run up to the A21 went ok, I had to stop to cross roads but I did it. It wasn't pretty, it was faster bits, and slower bits. I need to just keep it nice and steady! The first two miles though, I was just trying to get as far away from any short cuts home! The rain wasn't too bad, it was just heavy mist really, but I still felt soggy and still not very inspired. Those two miles did not pass all of the short cuts. Now I had to switch my brain off, just look up the road and see how I go! I didn't want to think about the three or four shortcuts that I will be passing. Once I get to the bus garage, pass Mc'D's then there is no turning back!
I ran, walked, jogged and nagged myself to just get pass those roads. Once I started on the ascent to Locksbottom then the thoughts started coming.
Why am I out here running in the rain?
You know who would be so proud of me right now?
How did I get to this point in my life?
You know who I would like to tell right now, all about this!?
How long have I been running for?
This answer to all of this is 'Mum!' My mum, Why am I running, well that's simple, because I have worked so hard since my mum died. My mum would be so proud right now, she'd think I was daft as a brush as well! How did I get to here, because I just wanted to do something to remember my mum, or my sister did, Bims. Blimey, that was a day, all twenty or so of us, dressed in Pink, Tracy was there too! I would so love to have a conversation with her right now, instead of putting it all down in this blog. How long have I been running for, well that's easy, 9 years! It was 9 years ago that we started training for our very first 5k run.....which we all walked by the way. 9 years of missing her. 9 years and 2 months since she left us. Still hurts like fuck!
 |
| Race For Life 2008 |
You can imagine what I was like as I tried to run up hill on the A21! I was just a mess, I mean I lost it, I had a complete meltdown, sobbed like a baby! I couldn't run! I knew that I just had to let it out, so I sobbed, loudly! After a few minutes I managed to pull myself together and got going again. Running and walking, running and walking and that was pretty much the way for the rest of my run! I tried to figure out why I kept walking, was I tired? Well yes, but I can still keep going. Does it hurt? Well, no, not really, a little twinge on my back, but that happens when I walk or sit as well. Lazy? No I refuse to believe that, after all I am out here running in the pissing rain! So that was it, I talked myself out of a beating. My conclusion was that at least I am out here. I am never going to be the fastest running in PWR, I will probably always only ever lead group 1, with maybe an attempt to lead group 2, in an absolute emergency, which I will lead from the middle! But I am still here. Nine years after my mum died, nine years after I had a reason to keep on going. I was still here. I can think about my mum when I am running, I can cry when it's necessary, and I can give thanks that I had the most beautiful mum in the whole world, who gave us all brothers and sisters to support and care for each other! And I can continue running, because I know that I am not going to stop. Slow, or slower, I will always run for as long as I can!
The last bit of the run, I started to 'feel' better, my running didn't get any better though, but at least I was still running. I think 13:30 m/mi is not a bad pace for an old ex-couch potato really. No need to beat myself up. I ran up to the place where I started my Garmin in the first place and switched it off! That split second that I was looking at it I noticed the distance! 6.98 miles! Stuff that, I am not going to stop my run on that! I just had to run pass NaggyNeighbour's house and the next neighbours house and boom! Done it! 7 miles! Considering I only planned to do 6 miles today I was very pleased with that, so definitely no telling off!
Geeky stats
Saturday, 28 January 2017
Dash and Hash
Hello blog lovers.
Two blogs rolled into one! I bet you all thought I let another day of January go by without an exercise involved in there somewhere. Well I think I have probably failed the 31 lots of exercise in January, but I think I have done more than I usually do! There is still time! But seriously, I don't think I am going to make it! I am, however thinking of keeping the 'dry' going at least until Auntie Evie and Uncle Tonys Wedding Anniversary party! Which is next month, on the 18th, so only a couple more weeks! Dash and Hash? Well the dash is of course my mile dash! The Hash, no, not the weed, nor even been, but I did feel as if I had made a hash of my parkrun! (but read on, I have got over that now)
So the first is all about my quick dash to Turn around Lamppost and back yesterday, Friday. Well, what can I say? It was a run of two halves! First half I really thought I had it! I ran my little heart out, thinking about the way I run on track on Thursdays, thinking about what PhysioMikeTheMod tells us. I didn't have my music with me, I just wanted to run this as fast as I could. Well I did.....the first half, but from that turn around I just lost it! I really struggled to find my pace again, get back into the zone. Every time I slowed down or walked it felt like I was going backwards! I really told myself off! Maybe next time I do this I should put my loony tunes in and just not think about anything! Or maybe sort out another 1 mile route and go with that one, mix it up a bit! Yeah, I deffo got to do something! I will keep at it though, I am almost beginning to like these 1 mile dash mornings! I may even keep them going after this ridiculous, non drinking, non smoking, non eating, full on exercise January!
So the geeky stats for that Friday dash, well, I have been slower and not just with the dog!
Two blogs rolled into one! I bet you all thought I let another day of January go by without an exercise involved in there somewhere. Well I think I have probably failed the 31 lots of exercise in January, but I think I have done more than I usually do! There is still time! But seriously, I don't think I am going to make it! I am, however thinking of keeping the 'dry' going at least until Auntie Evie and Uncle Tonys Wedding Anniversary party! Which is next month, on the 18th, so only a couple more weeks! Dash and Hash? Well the dash is of course my mile dash! The Hash, no, not the weed, nor even been, but I did feel as if I had made a hash of my parkrun! (but read on, I have got over that now)
So the first is all about my quick dash to Turn around Lamppost and back yesterday, Friday. Well, what can I say? It was a run of two halves! First half I really thought I had it! I ran my little heart out, thinking about the way I run on track on Thursdays, thinking about what PhysioMikeTheMod tells us. I didn't have my music with me, I just wanted to run this as fast as I could. Well I did.....the first half, but from that turn around I just lost it! I really struggled to find my pace again, get back into the zone. Every time I slowed down or walked it felt like I was going backwards! I really told myself off! Maybe next time I do this I should put my loony tunes in and just not think about anything! Or maybe sort out another 1 mile route and go with that one, mix it up a bit! Yeah, I deffo got to do something! I will keep at it though, I am almost beginning to like these 1 mile dash mornings! I may even keep them going after this ridiculous, non drinking, non smoking, non eating, full on exercise January!
So the geeky stats for that Friday dash, well, I have been slower and not just with the dog!
 |
| K, PinkLadyJo, Tracy, Michael Carole, Gary (back) Becky, me, Tim and LittleJ (front) |
parkrun
Would you believe I nearly didn't make it to parkrun this morning. I had forgotten to put my alarm on! I woke up at 8:15 this morning! I was to pick up Tracy at 8:30! I kind of fell out of bed, opened my drawer and rummaged through there to find some running clothes! I have loads, I found tee shirts galore, but I wanted a long sleeve one! I eventually found my black one. I pulled out jog pants, three quarter length, I wanted long ones! I eventually found one! I couldn't find my shock absorber! Both of those were in the tumble dryer! (thankful not the washing machine, it would have been cold!)
Well I made it in time, I picked up Tracy and drove to Normans park. The only good thing about the winter route is that it starts from Hook Farm end of the park! Other wise there is nothing.....well apart from all those running, volunteering, watching.....and the water, biscuits.......and even the coffee van.....but apart from that there is nothing to like! Ok, it's the laps, I hate the laps. Three times down the long straight, it really does my head in, that is the only bit I really dislike!
We sat in the car and waited just for a few extra minutes. The weather was, well, mild! After that freezing day on Thursday to this positively spring like morning, it was just perfect running weather! Michale and Carole pulled up next to us and so we got out! We all walked over to the start line and saw LittleJ and Kay, and Ali, and some others as well! I just love parkrun! I must say this, marathon training gets people doing crazy stuff, like today, Ali had already covered 11 miles before she got to us at Normans park! She must have got up blimmin early! And she still had to run home after parkrun too! See, crazy!
Andy was run director today, and he gave out the safety instructions and stuff and then it was time for the off! The crowd started to move slowly at first. The speedsters were all at the front just eager to get the best time. Us mere mortals were at the back, we have our own times, we know what we can do! I was running along thinking about nothing in particular, apart from my how lead like my limbs feel. The one thing I wasn't thinking was how cold it was! That was going through my mind actually. The weather! How can it be that just the day before yesterday it was blimmin freezing, yet this morning it was a very mild 6 degrees! I'm not complaining mind, but it does get me thinking how very changeable our weather is! Just so very British to be talking about the weather, right! Well if it takes my mind of the running then it's fine!
I was talking to another young lady, who's name escapes me (I am just useless at recalling names!) but she was another great distraction from me thinking about my aching limbs! We ran about three thirds of the way around the first lap, but then she was just keeping the pace up, I started to wimp out again. But by that time Becky was by my side, the three of us were running together for a bit. Afterwards it was just me and Becky! We ran the rest of the way around together. Keeping each other motivated was our goal. I couldn't believe that I was the first one to stop running and did a walk. Becky said that she was grateful though, but I still think I should have not done it! It was like that the whole way around.
On the last lap we were both flagging a bit. Running up the long straight Becky spotted the bench between the two buildings, "To the bench" she said, meaning that she would run to the bench and then take a walking break. I had already had it in mind before she said it that I was going to run to the building, the second building, so a bit further than Becky had said. "Come on to the building" It looked a lot further away, and I was wondering if I could get there without wimping out, "Ok!" Becky said. We put our heads down, figuratively speaking, to get to the building. We managed it, and we were pleased that we had too, but oh I was so pleased that I was taking a walk! We walked a little further than I had planned but we were soon back to running. It was the last lap, our cheer leaders of Sian and her crowd had gone now, they had been there for the first two times we got to the top of the park, they had probably gone to meet their friends at the finish!
The finish! Oh so pleased that this is the finish! Just this last short straight now, to the funnel. I really was flagging, Becky seemed to have tons of energy! "You go Becky I shall see you at the end" "No, you keep going, you can do this, come on" she said
"No, I shall just walk a bit"
"No, come on it's just here look" she urged me.
Of course I started running, I really was angry with myself now! Fancy walking on this last bit! "Thank you Becky, of course I can run this last bit" I think I even shook my head, that's how angry I was with myself!
We headed for the funnel, Carole and Michael were there, they had finished by they came back to run this last little bit with us, urging us to finish! It was a good run, not my fastest even though it felt like it was faster! It wasn't. I kicked myself even more that I had walked! But as Becky said when we were out there running, at least we were out there running, doing it, not curled up in bed still! Yeah there is that! No run is a bad run, just slower or faster than the previous!
Geeky stats.
Thursday, 26 January 2017
Double Thursday - I'm On Fire!
Hello blog lovers
My goodness, wasn't it cold this morning! What I couldn't understand is why I wasn't scrapping frost from my car to get to the rec! The temperature was reading -1 degrees in the car! Driving along to the rec I was thinking "Why, why are you out here, in the freezing cold? You are are only going to trip arse over tit again!" It was this time last Thursday that I took m tumble in the woods! I have this beautiful bruise now, but at least it's not hurting anymore! And the aches in my arms where I supported myself from face planting the frozen mud had stopped as well! But I was still thinking 'Why?' There is one thing that gets me to be totally lazy and that's the cold! I just don't like it!
So getting out to run is hard, but not the morning one, the evening run might be a bit tough. As I was leading this morning its always easy to get me out! Rain, wind, snow or shine! Thank goodness that I became a leader! The ladies I was led though are normally in the faster groups on a Tuesday, but Amy is coming back from injury and so is Diane! They would normally run in the middle group on the Thursday! As I have said before, (and I need to start to really take it on board myself!) it's good to run with faster runners as it pushes you to try harder! Well I hoped I did that this morning, even in this blimmin cold! BRRRRR.
There were quite a few people missing from all the groups, the Facebook chat was full of apologies for people not being able to run this morning. You can almost tell from they way they have put it that they really are sorry that they couldn't make it, mind you, there was one who went dog walking first then wimped out of running because it was cold.....I shall name no names!!
The route I had planned was the middle path, straight up, get the hill over and done with! We all set off together, first the middle group, just two of them, Michelle and Emma, then followed us, just the three of us, followed by the fast group behind us, only three of them too. It really was just a smattering of runners this morning! The faster runners, Phil, Ian and another chap whose name I don't recall, soon took over us. All three groups were heading into the woods, and all three groups were running up the middle path! The other two groups soon disappeared from our sight as we ran on up the hill! I really do try and enjoy running up hills, I try to think of pleasant things, of thinner, fitter thighs, but I just can no feel the love! I just glare at the hill, wanting to take a sledge hammer to it, and pound it down to its a flat as the stick thin models chests that we are all supposed to be wanting to be like! (not me though, I like my curves). Up the hill we went! Me puffing and glaring at the path, hating every centimetre of its assent. I was really pleased when we got to the top. The other two ladies were still just chatting away, they didn't even sound out of breath!
I had it mind to take the path that leads out into the housing estate, but I just knew that we would be back too quickly to the rec. We were running and walking, the ground was very uneven in places, a hundred frozen footprints that used to be soggy, squishy mud! We walked over those bits too, all of us still having fresh memories of our individuals falls! We passed the place where I took my fall last week, the offending root or branch still sticking up it, like a trap, for any unsuspecting runners! I made sure I took the other path this time!
Up the hill again, running as much of it as I can, the girls were up there already! I say I am the leader, but actually I am the navigator, Amy had no idea where she was, I think Diane knows these woods so she did. I took them along the path at the back of the school and then up again (more darn blimmin' hills) to the road. I felt sure that Amy would recognise where we were once we started running along to the pub. The school kids were out, don't they do lessons anymore? I don't remember being allowed off the school premises during break time, even in secondary school. These days they seem to wonder in and out when they feel like it!
We continued along the road to the end and turned right, ran along there to the end. Back into the woods after that! Amy and Diane crossed the road first, I held back for the traffic. There I was freezing waiting for any one of the drivers to stop to let me cross the road, do you think they would let that happen? No! I tried looking freezing (which wasn't hard actually) to try the sympathy approach, but still they drove past. A white van eventually stopped to let me go, I feel only because there was build of of traffic and he would have had to have stopped anyway!
Through Scadbury park was lovely though. Not too much frozen footprints to negotiate and the we crossed over Leesons hill, again waiting for traffic to let us go by! We also had to cross back over to the other side of the road to get back into Petts Wood. This is where Diane became mother hen and ushed me safely across the road, (I would have stopped first, looked at how fast the car was travelling, calculated if I had enough time to cross, double checked my calculations as I'm useless at numbers and then crossed) - and then get frozen again! We were nearly at the end of our run, with just the run all the way to the rail lines and then down to Dog Poo ally!
It was a great run, probably a little slower for the other two, but I think enough for me, knowing that I am planning on doing track tonight as well! I will really have to try my hardest tonight! As we ran along Crossways Michelle and Emma came back as well, perfectly timed that we finished the run together!
Geeky stats.
My goodness, wasn't it cold this morning! What I couldn't understand is why I wasn't scrapping frost from my car to get to the rec! The temperature was reading -1 degrees in the car! Driving along to the rec I was thinking "Why, why are you out here, in the freezing cold? You are are only going to trip arse over tit again!" It was this time last Thursday that I took m tumble in the woods! I have this beautiful bruise now, but at least it's not hurting anymore! And the aches in my arms where I supported myself from face planting the frozen mud had stopped as well! But I was still thinking 'Why?' There is one thing that gets me to be totally lazy and that's the cold! I just don't like it!
So getting out to run is hard, but not the morning one, the evening run might be a bit tough. As I was leading this morning its always easy to get me out! Rain, wind, snow or shine! Thank goodness that I became a leader! The ladies I was led though are normally in the faster groups on a Tuesday, but Amy is coming back from injury and so is Diane! They would normally run in the middle group on the Thursday! As I have said before, (and I need to start to really take it on board myself!) it's good to run with faster runners as it pushes you to try harder! Well I hoped I did that this morning, even in this blimmin cold! BRRRRR.
There were quite a few people missing from all the groups, the Facebook chat was full of apologies for people not being able to run this morning. You can almost tell from they way they have put it that they really are sorry that they couldn't make it, mind you, there was one who went dog walking first then wimped out of running because it was cold.....I shall name no names!!
The route I had planned was the middle path, straight up, get the hill over and done with! We all set off together, first the middle group, just two of them, Michelle and Emma, then followed us, just the three of us, followed by the fast group behind us, only three of them too. It really was just a smattering of runners this morning! The faster runners, Phil, Ian and another chap whose name I don't recall, soon took over us. All three groups were heading into the woods, and all three groups were running up the middle path! The other two groups soon disappeared from our sight as we ran on up the hill! I really do try and enjoy running up hills, I try to think of pleasant things, of thinner, fitter thighs, but I just can no feel the love! I just glare at the hill, wanting to take a sledge hammer to it, and pound it down to its a flat as the stick thin models chests that we are all supposed to be wanting to be like! (not me though, I like my curves). Up the hill we went! Me puffing and glaring at the path, hating every centimetre of its assent. I was really pleased when we got to the top. The other two ladies were still just chatting away, they didn't even sound out of breath!
I had it mind to take the path that leads out into the housing estate, but I just knew that we would be back too quickly to the rec. We were running and walking, the ground was very uneven in places, a hundred frozen footprints that used to be soggy, squishy mud! We walked over those bits too, all of us still having fresh memories of our individuals falls! We passed the place where I took my fall last week, the offending root or branch still sticking up it, like a trap, for any unsuspecting runners! I made sure I took the other path this time!
Up the hill again, running as much of it as I can, the girls were up there already! I say I am the leader, but actually I am the navigator, Amy had no idea where she was, I think Diane knows these woods so she did. I took them along the path at the back of the school and then up again (more darn blimmin' hills) to the road. I felt sure that Amy would recognise where we were once we started running along to the pub. The school kids were out, don't they do lessons anymore? I don't remember being allowed off the school premises during break time, even in secondary school. These days they seem to wonder in and out when they feel like it!
We continued along the road to the end and turned right, ran along there to the end. Back into the woods after that! Amy and Diane crossed the road first, I held back for the traffic. There I was freezing waiting for any one of the drivers to stop to let me cross the road, do you think they would let that happen? No! I tried looking freezing (which wasn't hard actually) to try the sympathy approach, but still they drove past. A white van eventually stopped to let me go, I feel only because there was build of of traffic and he would have had to have stopped anyway!
Through Scadbury park was lovely though. Not too much frozen footprints to negotiate and the we crossed over Leesons hill, again waiting for traffic to let us go by! We also had to cross back over to the other side of the road to get back into Petts Wood. This is where Diane became mother hen and ushed me safely across the road, (I would have stopped first, looked at how fast the car was travelling, calculated if I had enough time to cross, double checked my calculations as I'm useless at numbers and then crossed) - and then get frozen again! We were nearly at the end of our run, with just the run all the way to the rail lines and then down to Dog Poo ally!
It was a great run, probably a little slower for the other two, but I think enough for me, knowing that I am planning on doing track tonight as well! I will really have to try my hardest tonight! As we ran along Crossways Michelle and Emma came back as well, perfectly timed that we finished the run together!
Geeky stats.
Track Thursday!
So no pressure to be a track today! Nope, none whatsoever! Well apart from this......
 |
| Moosh On Fire! |
PhysioMikeTheMod did this to motivate all of us to get out there and do it! The thing is, if it was too cold I may have had to try and find an excuse not to go! This evening when the dad came to collect his child he said "Already minus 2 out there!" There, right there was my excuse to stay in......but for that photo! The pressure to go....I don't suppose PhysioMikeTheMod realised that it has caused my GOOD than harm! Yes, he's done it, he has motivated me to get out there and go like hell fire!
I was ready to go, to be honest, I didn't get out of my running clothes from this morning!! Dirty mare, I reasoned with myself that as I am ready, I really need to go out there and do it, create fire! Lets see what I can do! I got in my car and started to defrost my windows! This is not a good start! "You're out here now Old Girl, you've had your running clothes on all day, so make it worthwhile not get out of them!" I said to myself! Eventually I could see out of the windows and started the drive to Norman Park Track. "What are you doing, it's freezing!" I yelled at myself! "Crazy" I really do not like cold! I dislike cold more than I dislike running up hills! I blame my mother, God rest her. Apparently way back in the early 60's it was perfectly normal to wrap your baby up and put them in their pram with that plastic cover over, and leave them in the garden for a 'bit of fresh air'! Really? Summer time maybe, but I was born in November!! It was particularly cold that year too!
When I got to the track there was a young lady there doing track for the first time, Michelle, she was a bit nervous! There really is no reason to be nervous, In fact track is the least intimidating of all the runs that I do! Because track is all about what you put into it! Yes there are the speedsters, but they just run pass you, you can be sure they won't need to wait for you because you are all contained at the track. PhysioMikeTheMod makes sure that he puts the speedsters through their paces, and then gives the slower runners a different goal to get to. It really works well, everyone is challenged to do their best. I am sure Michelle will enjoy it and get the feel of it.
This evenings sessions was a 15 minute tempo run, with a rest for 90 seconds and then 8x800m for the speedsters and 5x800 for the mortals. I will be one of the mortals, in spite of the superpower I posses in the picture above! Oh, wouldn't it be good to be like that! At least I would be warm! So the tempo run went well, a steady group 1 pace for the full 15 minutes! I started to warm up towards the end of it! Four times around the track, that's how many times I managed to get around the track in 15 minutes, I even timed it perfectly (again!) so that the 15 minutes ended when I go to the finish line!
Then it was the session, the 5x800 meters, that's twice around the track. I think PhysioMikeTheMod said that it should be a bit quicker than what we had just done. The first one I ran faster, I only touched on 12:14 m/mi for a second or two, most of it was 11;30 avg I should think. The second time was a bit better, I was pleased with that. The last two... yes I know, I only did 4 reps,....were a bit slower but I still think there were faster than the tempo run! I was done though, if I had tried to do another rep it would have been really slow. I would have been nagging myself too much and then beat myself up because I couldn't keep it up! I was already nagging on the very last lap, talking to myself! It's the first sign you know!
I tell you what, as I said up above there, there is no need to feel nervous when you come and do track! Everyone is just so supportive and encouraging! It is PhysioMikeTheMod, and all the runners out on track that keeps me coming back each week. On freezing -2 degree evenings, to come out running around on a track! The thine is, I don't even like laps, the laps at parkrun get's to me, I don't know why, but the track, it's different somehow! Each lap I try to do my best! Thanks PhysioMikeTheMod, thanks Stephen, John, Ali and just about everyone out there on the track! Some how I come back from these sessions really happy......freezing my ass off....but happy!
Geeky stats, yes of course I do my garmin, it's a must!
Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Club Run
Hello blog lovers.
I am so glad I have a club to go to! It's flipping freezing out there having my club to run with is what gets me out there on these cold evenings! A couple of the usual ladies are not here today, J.J. is off sunning herself and Tracy is not very well! But LittleJ is going to be there so no one will be left behind!
The roads were very slippery out there, I wasn't sure which would be the best route to go! I know some of the ladies were a bit worried about slipping over. I don't know about you, but way back when we were kids a fall would be followed by a quick cry, pat on the head and we were off playing, knowing that in a couple of days time you will have a scab to pick at! These days, being a bit taller, the fall blimmin hurts! My leg has some lovely colours going on after my fall last Thursday! I decided on one of our regularly routes, as it has a couple of short cuts to get back to the rec. I was going to go a bit slower than usual so we don't feel to worried about slipping!
I couldn't wait to start running, that first hill should have us nicely warmed up! We can have a quick walk once at the top and then keep on going. It was difficult to decide if running on the pavement or the road was better. They grit the roads but the pavements don't get even an accidental dusting from the gritters! that go by! And then it's not all the roads! But we did it, some on the road, some on the pavement! It was the very shiny bits that we had to be careful off.
I felt nicely warmed up by the time we got to the top of Birchwood, just as well as I had forgotten my buff and my gloves! But luckily my running top had sleeves that you can pull over your hands and put your thumb though the hole to keep them there! The others all were nicely warmed up as well. I got them all to walk briskly pass the first tree. The roots on there could easily trip us up if we were not concentrating! We ran to the crossing and crossed over. Our next little hill is the one near Tillingbourne Green. We were not going to run around there this time. I think some of the ladies were pleased about that! But we were going to do this little hill twice! Not 'eye-balls' out (quote stolen from Tim the 'Headband King!') like we usually do, but just the same pace that we have been doing! It's much to slippy to put on too much of a sprint!
After we did that we started on the long road all the way to the end, near Petts Wood Memorial Hall! Just one little stop at the bottom of the hill at Crossways we ran all the way to the top. I checked my Garmin when were were at the top, the time, not the distance, and I realised that we had plenty of time to go all the way around, Woodland Way, Great Thrift and Hazelmere! I don't know about the others but that bit of our route I just getting fed up with! I am not sure why! Maybe I am going to have to do it in the opposite direction! Familiarity and all that! You know what's coming, you know what to expect, you can even predict your thoughts as you're running along it! There is no cutting it out though, it's right in the middle of our meeting place! We ran along it, I chatted, I listened then I just ran it. Not thinking about anything, just ran it. We ran passed Little Thrift, I didn't even notice it. If I did then the thought of "There is still three more roads that we have to run pass". But I didn't see it, I didn't even notice the roads that we passed, I was just running along thinking Little Thrift would be coming up soon. So I felt really pleased to see that the first road that I really noticed was Towncourt Crescent, which means that Crossways was the next road, our road, the road that has the park entrance on! It's finished. That bit of road wasn't as bad this time around. Sometimes you can just run!
So geeky stats for our slow, slippy run today
I am so glad I have a club to go to! It's flipping freezing out there having my club to run with is what gets me out there on these cold evenings! A couple of the usual ladies are not here today, J.J. is off sunning herself and Tracy is not very well! But LittleJ is going to be there so no one will be left behind!
The roads were very slippery out there, I wasn't sure which would be the best route to go! I know some of the ladies were a bit worried about slipping over. I don't know about you, but way back when we were kids a fall would be followed by a quick cry, pat on the head and we were off playing, knowing that in a couple of days time you will have a scab to pick at! These days, being a bit taller, the fall blimmin hurts! My leg has some lovely colours going on after my fall last Thursday! I decided on one of our regularly routes, as it has a couple of short cuts to get back to the rec. I was going to go a bit slower than usual so we don't feel to worried about slipping!
I couldn't wait to start running, that first hill should have us nicely warmed up! We can have a quick walk once at the top and then keep on going. It was difficult to decide if running on the pavement or the road was better. They grit the roads but the pavements don't get even an accidental dusting from the gritters! that go by! And then it's not all the roads! But we did it, some on the road, some on the pavement! It was the very shiny bits that we had to be careful off.
I felt nicely warmed up by the time we got to the top of Birchwood, just as well as I had forgotten my buff and my gloves! But luckily my running top had sleeves that you can pull over your hands and put your thumb though the hole to keep them there! The others all were nicely warmed up as well. I got them all to walk briskly pass the first tree. The roots on there could easily trip us up if we were not concentrating! We ran to the crossing and crossed over. Our next little hill is the one near Tillingbourne Green. We were not going to run around there this time. I think some of the ladies were pleased about that! But we were going to do this little hill twice! Not 'eye-balls' out (quote stolen from Tim the 'Headband King!') like we usually do, but just the same pace that we have been doing! It's much to slippy to put on too much of a sprint!
After we did that we started on the long road all the way to the end, near Petts Wood Memorial Hall! Just one little stop at the bottom of the hill at Crossways we ran all the way to the top. I checked my Garmin when were were at the top, the time, not the distance, and I realised that we had plenty of time to go all the way around, Woodland Way, Great Thrift and Hazelmere! I don't know about the others but that bit of our route I just getting fed up with! I am not sure why! Maybe I am going to have to do it in the opposite direction! Familiarity and all that! You know what's coming, you know what to expect, you can even predict your thoughts as you're running along it! There is no cutting it out though, it's right in the middle of our meeting place! We ran along it, I chatted, I listened then I just ran it. Not thinking about anything, just ran it. We ran passed Little Thrift, I didn't even notice it. If I did then the thought of "There is still three more roads that we have to run pass". But I didn't see it, I didn't even notice the roads that we passed, I was just running along thinking Little Thrift would be coming up soon. So I felt really pleased to see that the first road that I really noticed was Towncourt Crescent, which means that Crossways was the next road, our road, the road that has the park entrance on! It's finished. That bit of road wasn't as bad this time around. Sometimes you can just run!
So geeky stats for our slow, slippy run today
Saturday, 21 January 2017
Saturday Park Run - Mile Stone!
Yes, it's finally here, it's taken since 2011 to get to this! Can you believe it's taken this long! But it's finally here! My 50th parkrun! I am quite excited about it! I have told all my friends and all who would listen at Petts Wood Runners that it's my 50th! It's a big thing these miles stones for us in our running club! Steve is doing his 100th! Cake, cake and more cake! That's why we run and keep on running!
I had to defrost the car this morning! I was there, scratching away at the frosty windows, in my run pants, thinking "What am I doing?" It was so cold, I had to make sure I was out early enough so that I could scrape the frost off! The smile was on my face as I scrapped each window, the engine running with the heaters trying to lift the temperature inside the car from Antarctic to fridge temperate! I wasn't sure if in fact the smile was a grimace! Eventually the car was drivable and I started off for the park.
I was there with plenty of time, I thought I was the first to be at the car park! I should have realised that the ladies are way more organised than me! J.J., LittlyJ, and K were there already! Not only that but they had cake with them! Pictures to follow! We made our way over to the pavillion to put the cake down and use the ladies! Then we walked back over to where the start will be, by the log pile.....which is no longer there, but we still know that that is where it was! I met up with some other PWR's and Gary too! SingstarJo was there, Diane, Nicola and just so many others too! Auriol was there too, though not running as she still recovering from injury.
We had the briefing for the new comers, and then the announcements for the parkrun milestones! My name was read out! It surprised me really, because I had forgotten to let the RD know! But as I have said, my friends are super efficient and let him know! Steves name was read out too and we both got a cheer from our fellow PWR's and friends!
And so the run begins. My 50th! It's amazing that it's taken this long to get here. Looking at my parkrun stats I can see that it has only been in 2016 that I have done the most runs! In 2011 and 2012 I can almost count the amount of runs on one hand! It has taken me this long to realise that I actually love parkrun! I mean, really love parkrun! It really is such a wonderful atmosphere, such a wonderful friendly weekly, FREE event! Every week! Unless it's to darn icy, as last week was! Over six hundred people running! Can you imagine if one person at the front slips on the ice, it would be like dominoes! So the parkrun community really look after us all, just like one big family! I did more parkruns last year than all of the previous years! And that was including the time outs for the two beginners group that we did as well! I intend to do just as much, hopefully even more this year!
We were all running together, me, J.J. LittleJ, K, SingstarJo and Tracy. Just plodding out nice a easy along the long straight! It's the winter route, so it's three times down the long straight. to me that is three laps, but it's actually 2 and half more or less. I was a bit cold, even though I was nicely wrapped up. I had three layers on, my long sleeve top, running jacket and also my fleece! I thought I might leave my fleece in the bucket if I get too warm, but that first long straight I was thinking that I wouldn't be taking off any layers!
J.J. and LittleJ were running in front of me, K and Tracy were behind. They will be running at their own pace! SingstarJo was running beside me. I was going to try and stay with the two girls in front, but they have their own pace going on too. I should be able to keep up with them, I should be able to run along beside them chatting, but I am not! I should start listening to what I tell the beginners and to Tracy! But the last thing I want today is to feel like I did in August last year, pushing hard to get a good time for my club G.P. and I was puking and farting as I was heading up the funnel!
I slowed down a bit, I even took out my camera and started filming a little bit. I shall see if I can get it on here!
There that should do it! For the next couple of times up the long straight SingstarJo ran beside me, encouraging me to keep on going, chatting, listening! It was really good. I just knew I wouldn't be getting a PB on this run, not today! But as Ralph said after our run "PB's on milestone runs are an elusive thing to get" I kept thinking about cake at the end, LittleJ's mum had made it and LittleJ had iced it! From what I've heard about her cakes they are extremely popular and most tasty! I don't actually eat fruit cake, but I do eat the icing on top!
With the last little bit of my 50th parkrun to do I ran towards the funnel. Do I have enough for a little sprint finish.....yeah! Of course I do! I sprinted off, SingstarJo let me have 'the field' as I took off with only the funnel being my prime thought. PB or not, I am still going to finish in style! So of the speedy PWR's were there to cheer me on, J.J. LittleJ were there with Diane cheering me in! It was just so good! I want to do it all again!!! I shall have to wait until I do my 100th! I will try and make sure it won't take as long!
My time for my 50th parkrun is 38:31. Not speedy! It's something that I am going to work on.....again...this year!
Geeky stats.
Friday, 20 January 2017
Wednesday With Tracy
Hello blog lovers!
Just forgot, I still hadn't written about Wednesdays little run with Tracy!
I gave Tracy the choice, a quick once around the park, and I do mean quick, or two laps non stop, but with a bit of pace! She chose the two laps!
We had the dog with us (those blooming puppy dog eyes of his) which means I could have potentially been playing catch up to Tracy, like we did last week! It was fairly chilly if I remember, but we soon warmed up! Tracy was running well, I think she was quite pleased that we were not doing the fast lap! I think next week we should do that! Then once a month she can try and beat her time!
Little Dexter was behaving so well, I called to him and he came. Even when there were other dogs about, he came running up to me after a quick play! I remember last time he just refused to come to me, even though I had treats! But this day I didn't even have any treats for him, made me feel guilty!
We finished the two laps though, with the dog behaving very well.....oh and Tracy running both laps non stop, with just a quick walk after the first mile! Not bad!
Just forgot, I still hadn't written about Wednesdays little run with Tracy!
I gave Tracy the choice, a quick once around the park, and I do mean quick, or two laps non stop, but with a bit of pace! She chose the two laps!
We had the dog with us (those blooming puppy dog eyes of his) which means I could have potentially been playing catch up to Tracy, like we did last week! It was fairly chilly if I remember, but we soon warmed up! Tracy was running well, I think she was quite pleased that we were not doing the fast lap! I think next week we should do that! Then once a month she can try and beat her time!
Little Dexter was behaving so well, I called to him and he came. Even when there were other dogs about, he came running up to me after a quick play! I remember last time he just refused to come to me, even though I had treats! But this day I didn't even have any treats for him, made me feel guilty!
We finished the two laps though, with the dog behaving very well.....oh and Tracy running both laps non stop, with just a quick walk after the first mile! Not bad!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)