Hello blog readers.
What can I say about this evening? GET IN THERE YOU RUNNERS! That's what I can say about this evenings run! I can't believe the amount of group 1 runners that turned out for their weekly club run! If I wasn't leading then I would deffo have stayed in the nice and warm! I had been watching the weather news all day, yellow warnings, snow by 8 pm, freezing wet rain and sleet! It was not the stuff that would make you say "Oh wow, I could just do with a nice bracing run with my buddies" Seriously, it was not very welcoming at all. If I hadn't been leader this evening then I wouldn't be writing this, that's for sure.
But leading I was, and of course I nagged SnappyH to come as well. She lives quite a walk away from the club meet up point, she usually gets a bus up. But this weather was making her think that the best option was to stay put! Until I offered to come and get her! GetYourLegsUpTracy already had asked me to pick her, no persuading there, Naggy was off somewhere eating stuff, but deffo in some lovely warm place. Auriol said she was turning up, but most of the others just couldn't face the cold wet sleety stuff. I can't blame them!
I decided to do the Woo Woo route, minus the Woo's of course, and deffo no hip flasks of warming medicinal alcohol! If any day was needed a nice warm tot of something it would be today! So there we were, 12 leaders lined up, looking out at a soggy looking bunch of club runners! We all quickly gave out our routes and pace and then went to our gathering spots to have a count up of people in our groups. There were 11 of us in group 1, I was totally amazed. I really didn't think I would get anyone out on a night like this, but there there all were, Auriol and GetYourLegsUpTracy were coming with me in group 1 too, especially as I said there is a chance of a short circuit if it becomes too wet and too miserable out there. Also KneesManChris was there too, with his knees out again!
Now the things is, It's been a while since the woo woo run, and I hadn't really looked at the route to check that I had it right in my mind. I just presumed I would remember it as we ran along! As soon as the last group started to move out of the rec then we followed on their heels, we didn't need to be hanging around getting colder! I ran out of the rec and down to Petts Wood Road, we crossed over and then ran up towards the round about, well, there has to be a hill involved!
I think right there is where I went wrong! I think I should have ran up Willet Way! But there you go, so now this was going to be a nice mystery tour, with hopefully that short circuit that I spoke of! Every one was keeping up, considering it was really chilly, I didn't want to do too many stops but I also didn't want to put any pressure on the back runners! Oh this blimmin weather! It makes it so hard to try and pitch it right! I know as I was walking to the rec with SnappyH and GetYourLegsUpTracy I was muttering how utterly stupid it was to be running out in this horrid, horrid weather! It's supposed to be fun!
Anyway, there I was, top of the road, turning down Ladywell and suddenly thinking "Oops, I am not where I thought I should be" But I kind of didn't say anything just then, I thought I would wing it as much as a could until I needed to stop and take stock of where I needed to be! It was when we were at approaching Cardiac Hill that I was looking a bit lost, Auriol then realised that I had gone wrong too! Oh well, at least now there is two pair of eyes to look at which way that I needed to run! When I realised where we, that's Cardiac Hill by the way, I knew just where we needed to run. Of course it means running down Cardiac Hill, the best way to tackle this particular bit of our route this evening. It takes us all the way to the OffLicense! Yup, and that there is where we can chose to do the short circuit or the longer one, I was hoping my little detour would be enough to make the shorter route not too short, but still a satisfying run.
When we got to the Off License I looked at my group 1 runners. What a brave, hardcore set of runners they were! I was thinking about how I wouldn't have come along today if I wasn't leading, yet here were these guys just wanting to run no matter what the weather! Amazing PRWs. I think they all proved something to themselves, they got out there and done it, but they were ready to go back to the rec to finish their run using the short route! I was feeling proud of them, of all of us, really! Ok, I still didn't want to be there getting wet and cold, but shit, we did it!
It was one more mile back to the rec, we ran for 2.72 miles. Not bad, not bad for an evening likes this, yellow warnings from the met office, yet we still got out there and ran! Well done group 1, well done all those in PWR who ran this evening!
Geeky stats
Tuesday, 29 January 2019
Sunday, 27 January 2019
Normans Angels - The Training Continues!
Hello blog readers.
"Once upon a time there were three beautiful ladies who tried running by themselves. They were each assigned to look after people, a carer, teacher, NHS worker. Running by themselves was tough but I took them all away from that and now they run for me. My name is Norman"
Weekends are no longer ours, they belong to Norman! Training happens, no matter what! Yesterday again it was running through nearly 800 civilians in the secret training groups. Normans Angles, well, it is not going to be easy! Week in and week out running through the park, avoiding crashing into anyone. It's difficult to get started. Norman allows us to chose our own starting position. Naggy with her speed and stamina starts some where in the middle of the pack, blending into the unsuspecting crowd of 'parkrunners' as Norman loves to call them.
It is tough running with all those people in front of you, I expect that is what Norman wants. He is waiting until we all move up in the crowd, get a focus on what needs to be done and then just go for it! Right, that has to be the plan, maybe next time, for now I will just stay where it's safe, where I feel comfortable! It was a chilly morning yesterday, not as cold as it has been, I still wanted to get the training session done! I always feel so much better after it's all finished. We were giving the off, another RD this time, could he be Norman? I have a feeling he is always there, keeping an eye on all of us. How else does he know, there are not cameras about!
So I finished the run, Naggy was there at the end encouraging me to move faster, she must have been on a mission, she was all wrapped up and looking toastie and warm! Naggy had told me that I had someone coming up from behind me, I just had to push a little bit more, being so close to the finish funnel I just couldn't allow anyone to pass me by, not like last week. I also didn't want to feel sick again either! I pitched it somewhere between 70 and 100% effort to get to the finish! I was pleased that I managed it, I hoped Norman had seen that! I looked behind me to see who was catching me up and it was Kathy! At least I raced against another pal!
And so to todays training session. There is just no let up! The weather really had taken a turn and it was so cold out and wet! Naggy had been given instructions to contact both me and SnappyH to get back to the park today at 13:00 hours! We were a bit late, due to me enjoying birthday celebrations at Church! At least I could say to Norman that the cake I had was fuel for the training session! Naggy was driving again and we collected SnappyH and drove to Normans Park. We did say that if the weather was really horrible then we would just do 2 laps. When I told SnappyH our plan then Naggy said "Only if it pours down!" I wonder if she has had special instructions to keep us out in the wet and cold!
I really wasn't feeling it, my calf was hurting a bit, but I put it down to it being so cold outside! Once I start running I will be fine, at least I hoped that would be the case. After we synchronised all our gadgets we started our running. Straight away again, Naggy with her special talent of speed and stamina, started to pull away. SnappyH ran beside for a short while, saying that she was just going to take it easy this time, but soon she started to pull away too, she had already been busy with her special talent, of taking pictures! Here, take a look, the beginners of our 'uniform'!
There was one good thing about running today, when it's so cold and the threat of rain, there Norman couldn't persuade too many families out with the kids on their bikes! At least we wouldn't have to dodge that particular hazard. Of course there were the dog walkers, dogs need their walkies even if the little people don't! The dogs were all wrapped up though, some with their legs in the coats. I can help but think they are dogs in baby grows! Most peculiar. I don't think I would have been too distracted by the little furry faces of the pooches today, I was just concentrating on staying focused and trying to keep warm. My calf was complaining a bit, I really don't want to run too hard today. I was thinking of still only keeping to two laps, even though the rain is still just a threat.
Running for the first time up the long straight the wind really made me feel so cold, the threat of rain now seemed like a promise of rain the nearer I got to the top of the park. I was not enjoying this. Naggy and SnappyH will both be passing me at this rate! I just listened to my music, thoughts of finishing early going through my head. What would Norman think if I only done one lap? No, that can't happen, two lap minimum otherwise it's just not worth getting in your running gear! At least that is what I was saying to myself as I ran down the long straight to Hook Farm. This session is not going to be pretty! I got to the start of the second lap, I took a look around for the other Angels, there was no sign, They really are going to catch me this time. Will I be kicked out of the team, who else would take up recording, will I need to be 'eliminated' because I know to much? It's all too much. I started the next lap, it seemed to go by in a blur. I just filled my mind with the beat of the music, 155-165 bpm. that's what it said on my play list. Stay with the beat, don't think about the cold and the wet......hang on! It's raining! This is not good. It seemed that it was particularly windy up this end, the raindrops came sideways stinging my face like little needles piecing me! I was not enjoying this at all. By the time I had got to the top of the long straight I decided that only two laps, that's all Norm was getting from me today, if he sacks me then......well, I sure he wont!
The rain stopped again as I was running down the long straight for the last time, it didn't matter that it had stopped, I had made up my mind that this was the last lap, I was going to stop at the start line and wait for Naggy and SnappyH, I wished Naggy had given me her car key to look after, I could sit in her car and wait for them, oh why did she have to have pockets this time! When I was maybe over half way down here Jabra kicked in, saying that I had done 2.5 miles blah, blah blah. I looked towards where the finish like was, just behind the wooded bit. Stuff it, I will do 3 miles, if that takes me pass the start line then so bit it. By the time I got to the bottom of the park the sky was again very dark. I don't think the rain is going to be able to stay in the clouds for much longer. I am not going to change my mind again, 3 miles is my minimum this morning and that's that.
Well that took me around pass the wooded bit, pass the start line and up towards the first pavilion. Sure that that should make me get to 3 miles. I looked at my Garmin, Darn it, if I do a 'U' turn here it will still leave me short. I continued a bit further, checking my Garmin all the time. I got right up pass the 'dog poo' bin and just by the bench before I turned around. That should do it. No doubt I will come accross Naggy now, she will be doing her forth lap for sure. I was running back towards Hook Farm when I spied her trade mark orange flash around her head, she obvioulsy felt the cold too as that didn't come off!
She caught me up and then decided that we can both run back together, well, when I say together, I mean to say that she is doing a U turn too and we all just going to finish once we get back to the start point! I followed Naggy again, and she got further away, again. I was looking forward to this finishing. Nearing the finish now, watching as Naggy and Snappy do some sort of stretching! It was just way to cold for that. I looked at my Garmin, would you believe it said 2.91 miles. I couldn't leave it there and just carried on towards the woody bit, checked again and then spun round to end at the finish! Three miles done, not very pretty, not very memorable, but it was done. We all one pretty bloody well! There you go Norman, we did it, we went out in the cold, was rained on by stinging rain, we were frozen by the freezing winds, plus, plus, there was one family out in force with not just one, not two but three kids on bikes, just as I was approaching the the path that goes around the woody area!
It was a an ok run, but a run none the less! Janathon day 27!
"Once upon a time there were three beautiful ladies who tried running by themselves. They were each assigned to look after people, a carer, teacher, NHS worker. Running by themselves was tough but I took them all away from that and now they run for me. My name is Norman"
Weekends are no longer ours, they belong to Norman! Training happens, no matter what! Yesterday again it was running through nearly 800 civilians in the secret training groups. Normans Angles, well, it is not going to be easy! Week in and week out running through the park, avoiding crashing into anyone. It's difficult to get started. Norman allows us to chose our own starting position. Naggy with her speed and stamina starts some where in the middle of the pack, blending into the unsuspecting crowd of 'parkrunners' as Norman loves to call them.
It is tough running with all those people in front of you, I expect that is what Norman wants. He is waiting until we all move up in the crowd, get a focus on what needs to be done and then just go for it! Right, that has to be the plan, maybe next time, for now I will just stay where it's safe, where I feel comfortable! It was a chilly morning yesterday, not as cold as it has been, I still wanted to get the training session done! I always feel so much better after it's all finished. We were giving the off, another RD this time, could he be Norman? I have a feeling he is always there, keeping an eye on all of us. How else does he know, there are not cameras about!
So I finished the run, Naggy was there at the end encouraging me to move faster, she must have been on a mission, she was all wrapped up and looking toastie and warm! Naggy had told me that I had someone coming up from behind me, I just had to push a little bit more, being so close to the finish funnel I just couldn't allow anyone to pass me by, not like last week. I also didn't want to feel sick again either! I pitched it somewhere between 70 and 100% effort to get to the finish! I was pleased that I managed it, I hoped Norman had seen that! I looked behind me to see who was catching me up and it was Kathy! At least I raced against another pal!
And so to todays training session. There is just no let up! The weather really had taken a turn and it was so cold out and wet! Naggy had been given instructions to contact both me and SnappyH to get back to the park today at 13:00 hours! We were a bit late, due to me enjoying birthday celebrations at Church! At least I could say to Norman that the cake I had was fuel for the training session! Naggy was driving again and we collected SnappyH and drove to Normans Park. We did say that if the weather was really horrible then we would just do 2 laps. When I told SnappyH our plan then Naggy said "Only if it pours down!" I wonder if she has had special instructions to keep us out in the wet and cold!
I really wasn't feeling it, my calf was hurting a bit, but I put it down to it being so cold outside! Once I start running I will be fine, at least I hoped that would be the case. After we synchronised all our gadgets we started our running. Straight away again, Naggy with her special talent of speed and stamina, started to pull away. SnappyH ran beside for a short while, saying that she was just going to take it easy this time, but soon she started to pull away too, she had already been busy with her special talent, of taking pictures! Here, take a look, the beginners of our 'uniform'!
There was one good thing about running today, when it's so cold and the threat of rain, there Norman couldn't persuade too many families out with the kids on their bikes! At least we wouldn't have to dodge that particular hazard. Of course there were the dog walkers, dogs need their walkies even if the little people don't! The dogs were all wrapped up though, some with their legs in the coats. I can help but think they are dogs in baby grows! Most peculiar. I don't think I would have been too distracted by the little furry faces of the pooches today, I was just concentrating on staying focused and trying to keep warm. My calf was complaining a bit, I really don't want to run too hard today. I was thinking of still only keeping to two laps, even though the rain is still just a threat.
Running for the first time up the long straight the wind really made me feel so cold, the threat of rain now seemed like a promise of rain the nearer I got to the top of the park. I was not enjoying this. Naggy and SnappyH will both be passing me at this rate! I just listened to my music, thoughts of finishing early going through my head. What would Norman think if I only done one lap? No, that can't happen, two lap minimum otherwise it's just not worth getting in your running gear! At least that is what I was saying to myself as I ran down the long straight to Hook Farm. This session is not going to be pretty! I got to the start of the second lap, I took a look around for the other Angels, there was no sign, They really are going to catch me this time. Will I be kicked out of the team, who else would take up recording, will I need to be 'eliminated' because I know to much? It's all too much. I started the next lap, it seemed to go by in a blur. I just filled my mind with the beat of the music, 155-165 bpm. that's what it said on my play list. Stay with the beat, don't think about the cold and the wet......hang on! It's raining! This is not good. It seemed that it was particularly windy up this end, the raindrops came sideways stinging my face like little needles piecing me! I was not enjoying this at all. By the time I had got to the top of the long straight I decided that only two laps, that's all Norm was getting from me today, if he sacks me then......well, I sure he wont!
The rain stopped again as I was running down the long straight for the last time, it didn't matter that it had stopped, I had made up my mind that this was the last lap, I was going to stop at the start line and wait for Naggy and SnappyH, I wished Naggy had given me her car key to look after, I could sit in her car and wait for them, oh why did she have to have pockets this time! When I was maybe over half way down here Jabra kicked in, saying that I had done 2.5 miles blah, blah blah. I looked towards where the finish like was, just behind the wooded bit. Stuff it, I will do 3 miles, if that takes me pass the start line then so bit it. By the time I got to the bottom of the park the sky was again very dark. I don't think the rain is going to be able to stay in the clouds for much longer. I am not going to change my mind again, 3 miles is my minimum this morning and that's that.
Well that took me around pass the wooded bit, pass the start line and up towards the first pavilion. Sure that that should make me get to 3 miles. I looked at my Garmin, Darn it, if I do a 'U' turn here it will still leave me short. I continued a bit further, checking my Garmin all the time. I got right up pass the 'dog poo' bin and just by the bench before I turned around. That should do it. No doubt I will come accross Naggy now, she will be doing her forth lap for sure. I was running back towards Hook Farm when I spied her trade mark orange flash around her head, she obvioulsy felt the cold too as that didn't come off!
She caught me up and then decided that we can both run back together, well, when I say together, I mean to say that she is doing a U turn too and we all just going to finish once we get back to the start point! I followed Naggy again, and she got further away, again. I was looking forward to this finishing. Nearing the finish now, watching as Naggy and Snappy do some sort of stretching! It was just way to cold for that. I looked at my Garmin, would you believe it said 2.91 miles. I couldn't leave it there and just carried on towards the woody bit, checked again and then spun round to end at the finish! Three miles done, not very pretty, not very memorable, but it was done. We all one pretty bloody well! There you go Norman, we did it, we went out in the cold, was rained on by stinging rain, we were frozen by the freezing winds, plus, plus, there was one family out in force with not just one, not two but three kids on bikes, just as I was approaching the the path that goes around the woody area!
It was a an ok run, but a run none the less! Janathon day 27!
Thursday, 24 January 2019
Janathon Day 24 Track Session
Hello blog readers
Really had to get my head ready for tonights track session. After the disastrous non attendance of club run I really had to make sure that I went out this evening with my buddies. I rallied the troops together, that's Naggy and SnappyH, make sure there is no excuse not to go. Naggy was deffo up and ready for it, even though she only got in from work about 45 minutes before track was due to start!
We picked up SnappyH on the that and we arrived at track just as PhysioMikeTheMod was telling everyone what the session was today! It was complicated, or it seemed complicated. I was just going to do what I could hopefully it will look something like what PMTM had planned.
We split into the two groups, the faster parkrunners and the over 27 minute parkrunners. We do our warm up just by the nets for the hammer throw. I was just crossing the track as the faster ones were all lining up to do their tempo warm up run when PMTM said ' Ok, go!". There must have been about 30 faster runners, all totally focused on getting warmed up for the session running towards me. I was still crossing the track with three more lanes to go! Which way do I go? Straight over, or just run on the track and try and move to the left to get out of their way with dignity? I knew if I ran with them there would be no getting out, I could be on burn out mission if I tried keeping in the crowd. I decided I will just keep on moving to the inside lane and hopefully not get mowed down, poor Darren's face when he saw this Old Girl crossing his path, hands held out ready for impact as he charged towards me! I think he managed to put the breaks on and I managed to get out of his way. I think about then I just closed my eyes and kept going for the grassy area with Janes group watching me get in with the big boys and girls! Phew. That was so close to being a disaster!
I joined my running buddies in the safety of the, I don't know what this bit of ground is called, but I shall call it the warm up area, we ran around and we did our warm up with Jane. We did all sorts of dynamic muscle warming stuff, skipping, high knees, drum majors etc, until we were warm up ready for the session.
I brought my Jabra along, it so encouraging seeing that little VO2 thing moving upwards! I also had my Garmin too, I think both of them are set up to send to Strava too! Geeky stats overload! I shall tray and delete one from Strava, no need to have double on there! So there I was ready for the session, warmed up, gadgets all set and we get the off! I'm switching on my Jabra, getting some tunes running at my running pace, and then finally switching on my Garmin, 200 meters after I started! But that's fine, the beauty of having two geeky stat makers!
The first lap should be 3 laps for us slower ones, I did two and half laps, then it was two laps, and then maybe a lap and a half! I really had lost it by then, I was just listening to Jane instead. Between each running rep there was a 90 second rest. A tough session, mainly because I had to try and remember what lap I had done. I do like running to a whistle, I don't have to think then! Anyway, Jabra liked my workout! I liked my workout....I think I should have done more though! Next week, next week I will try harder, just a bit more! I can do this! I got this! It's done!
Really had to get my head ready for tonights track session. After the disastrous non attendance of club run I really had to make sure that I went out this evening with my buddies. I rallied the troops together, that's Naggy and SnappyH, make sure there is no excuse not to go. Naggy was deffo up and ready for it, even though she only got in from work about 45 minutes before track was due to start!
We picked up SnappyH on the that and we arrived at track just as PhysioMikeTheMod was telling everyone what the session was today! It was complicated, or it seemed complicated. I was just going to do what I could hopefully it will look something like what PMTM had planned.
We split into the two groups, the faster parkrunners and the over 27 minute parkrunners. We do our warm up just by the nets for the hammer throw. I was just crossing the track as the faster ones were all lining up to do their tempo warm up run when PMTM said ' Ok, go!". There must have been about 30 faster runners, all totally focused on getting warmed up for the session running towards me. I was still crossing the track with three more lanes to go! Which way do I go? Straight over, or just run on the track and try and move to the left to get out of their way with dignity? I knew if I ran with them there would be no getting out, I could be on burn out mission if I tried keeping in the crowd. I decided I will just keep on moving to the inside lane and hopefully not get mowed down, poor Darren's face when he saw this Old Girl crossing his path, hands held out ready for impact as he charged towards me! I think he managed to put the breaks on and I managed to get out of his way. I think about then I just closed my eyes and kept going for the grassy area with Janes group watching me get in with the big boys and girls! Phew. That was so close to being a disaster!
I joined my running buddies in the safety of the, I don't know what this bit of ground is called, but I shall call it the warm up area, we ran around and we did our warm up with Jane. We did all sorts of dynamic muscle warming stuff, skipping, high knees, drum majors etc, until we were warm up ready for the session.
I brought my Jabra along, it so encouraging seeing that little VO2 thing moving upwards! I also had my Garmin too, I think both of them are set up to send to Strava too! Geeky stats overload! I shall tray and delete one from Strava, no need to have double on there! So there I was ready for the session, warmed up, gadgets all set and we get the off! I'm switching on my Jabra, getting some tunes running at my running pace, and then finally switching on my Garmin, 200 meters after I started! But that's fine, the beauty of having two geeky stat makers!
The first lap should be 3 laps for us slower ones, I did two and half laps, then it was two laps, and then maybe a lap and a half! I really had lost it by then, I was just listening to Jane instead. Between each running rep there was a 90 second rest. A tough session, mainly because I had to try and remember what lap I had done. I do like running to a whistle, I don't have to think then! Anyway, Jabra liked my workout! I liked my workout....I think I should have done more though! Next week, next week I will try harder, just a bit more! I can do this! I got this! It's done!
We really do work pretty hard at track on a Thursday, here take a look at us all doing our cool down stretches with Jane! The steam coming off these guys just, I bet we could create our own weather system here in Normans park! Pretty impressive!
Photos from SnappyH
Monday, 21 January 2019
Day 20 Janathon! - Normans Angels
Hello blog readers.
"Once upon a time there were three beautiful ladies who tried running by themselves. They were each assigned to look after people, a carer, teacher, NHS worker. Running by themselves was tough but I took them all away from that and now they run for me. My name is Norman"
Training began in the afternoon for Normans Angels, that's us by the way it's what Norman calls us. Collected by car we made our way to Normans secret training ground. It's so secret that it is hidden in plain sight, even using ordinary citizens to help disguise the secret location as an ordinary park. Me and the other two Angels, our code names, Old Girl (me), Naggy and SnappyH were all set for the next rigorous test.
Norman has plenty of ways get the best out of us, even pitting us against 700 would be 'assassins' on a Saturday morning. That is a particular favourite of the lovable Norman. Today however, inspired by a film he had recently watched while supping on a pina colada, he decided that 'The Hunger Games' style training would really make everybody try harder.
Our task was to 'Stay Alive!' Could we do it, could we reach 'home' before being caught, each one by the other Angels. Naggy had the hardest test, her speciality is the ability to run fast non-stop over miles and miles. Her job was to catch both me and SnappyH. SnappyH, well her speciality is Gadgets, numbers, graphs! My speciality, well, mine is blogging, or is it blagging! I can write up anything and make it sound exciting! If I run a mile I can write up a whole chapter about it! Standing by the car, looking out to the expanse of the park, the secret location we took a deep breath! It was riddled with innocent citizens unaware of what was about to take place. Norman doesn't like to make it easy! There are so many obstacles to get around. It could get messy. There were very young children on bikes, they looked learning to ride them. Have you ever watched a small child learning to ride a bike? When they riding along looking at someone for some inexplicable reason they head straight for them! I made a mental note "Do not making eye contact with any small person on a bike."
All three of us looked around as we got ourselves ready for this special training session. Each of us had our own special earbuds to listen to music, Norman wanted to make sure that each of us relied only on our instinct, our own intuition of where our team members were. We walked to the path, smiled at each other, wished each other the best of luck and then synchronised our watches. The Game had started.
We ran together for only a couple of feet before the competitiveness of Naggy drew her out of the plodding threesome, she started to slowly put some space between me and SnappyH. I was thinking that if I could just stay fairly near SnappyH then I could make a sprint for 'home' at the last minute. I was asking a lot of my worn out little legs, but I felt sure that if I at least kept her in my sight then Naggy would have a bit more of a job to catch me! A good plan. Just as I was getting to the first corner SnappyH started to pull away from me! She is on a mission for sure! My ear bud started to fall out of my left ear, it's the most important one, it is the one that records all the data that we so love. I pushed in back in and accidentally turned it off! Scuppered by technology! I had to slow down, walk even, while I sorted it all out, SnappyH was in the zone, she was pulling away from me. Naggy was way up the long straight! She is so going to be catching me today! Unless I pull something out of the bag!
Once I had my technology all working again I was already about 30 or seconds slower than I had planned. I better get a move on. Norman really had pulled out all of the stops with the amount of citizens using the secret training ground. I was right about the small people on bikes, I watched one of them ride straight into his static sister neither of them asking the other to move out of the way! I watched in wonder at the little girl standing in front of the out of control learner cyclist not budging! he ploughed right into her, she managed to stay on her feet but he fell off the bike and cried to the parent. I had to keep my wits about me, little people are so unpredictable.
I avoided the first pit fall, I felt a bit more confident, I spied my 'mission' up head. Just then the cutest little Jack Russel caught my eye as the little rascal ran with his tongue whipping the side of his mouth, as what can only be described as a smile on the face of the little pooch, as he speedily ran after his ball that his human had thrown! That Norman is a task master! He knows only too well that any cute little puppy dog, with big brown eyes, floppy ears, huge gangly feet, the waggiest of tails, would have me falling on my knees simpering over their soft furry little faces! That is mean! I need to stay focused, their are so many cute little furry faces around today, it's going to be hard to ignore them. Not only that but the darling little furbabies are even more unpredictable than little people on bikes!
The first lap of the secret location was done, so far so good, but there was no time to rest on my laurels. I still have a lot of work to do, SnappyH was quite a way in front of me and as for Naggy I hadn't seen her anywhere. I thought I caught sight of her once, but she was so far away it could have been any one of the ordinary citizens that Norman planted in the park. I later found out that she had taken layers off and her trade mark flash of orange. I wouldn't have spotted her without her orange ear warmers! The second lap I tried as hard as I might to keep the pace going, my Garmin telling me that I was running pretty fast! I was hoping that my new Gadget would pipe in and tell me that I was running to fast, I should stick to the plan I had programmed into it. But then I began to realise, I had programmed in to run 39 minutes for a 5k distance, I was on target for that. I should have put it in for a slightly longer distance! I felt sure that I will still be able to keep away from Naggy, catching SnappyH would probably be a little harder. But if I can keep her in eyesight she may just realise that I am close and somehow, maybe, make a mistake, push too hard and just like me yesterday, have a time out for a few second! I could possible get her then.
The final lap, there was no sign of Naggy, I was feeling exhausted and SnappyH was so hard to catch! At least SnappyH was in my view! Naggy needs to be my motivation, I need to stay focused now, just to stay ahead of her, keep her well behind. Somehow there seemed to be more small people on bikes, a little bit older than the ones on the first lap. This one particular lad on a bike kept riding by my side, then stopping then catching me up again. I managed to pull away from the rider, well actually he had to wait for his mum! I managed to avoid yet another adorable pooch trap who was just longing to be petted, ok, so it was me, I just really wanted to pet the dog but instead I looked towards the corner, the top of the long straight. I had to keep my wits about me as I tried to dodge the unsuspecting citizens, I swerved left and right, dodging each one of them. They really didn't know what was taking place right under their noses! Normans Angles, training, right in front of them, training to be the ones to jump in and help any of them, any time, to become 'RUNNERS'! How I love this job!
The last long straight, I need to finish this now. This is where I need to stay on my toes, I can't slack anymore, Naggy could quite easily catch me up. I remember the last time we did this Naggy told me that she saw me as I started this long straight. She really though she could catch me IF I did my usual walking bits! I couldn't let that happen, totally focused I ran down, hoping that I would just do this non stop. I felt someone running behind me. "No, no, it can't be" I thought to myself. I saw a hand appear in my peripheral vision. Could this Naggy? I pushed out a little harder, but then the whole arm appeared, that's it, I done. The runner got faster and overtook me! It wasn't Naggy! It must have been another super-training-angel.
Norman still hadn't finished with trying to trip me up as yet more people came by on bikes. This time they were older, they were youths, usually seen riding on roads with their buddies, doing wheelies, terrorising commuters, winding up Sunday drivers. They were now here, zig-zagging between all the citizens and me! One was even on his phone, he could easily lose his balance in front of me, scuppering my chances of getting home! The danger passed quite quickly as they headed off, maybe they were going to try and intimidate SnappyH, then maybe I could have a chance of catching her!
I managed to get to the bottom of the last corner, still no sign of Naggy and no chance of catching SnappyH, I just had to make sure there was plenty of space behind me! I took a sneaky peak behind me, no sign of her. It doesn't mean that she isn't that far, I still have around the woods to do. She could do quite a bit of damage control here. I couldn't see her, I just had to keep going! I ducked up the path that goes around the woods, more families! Norman, have you not had your fun yet! Maybe he really did want it to be like the 'Hunger Games' Maybe there can only be one survivor! I managed to run around the woods, I could see the end in sight, and just up ahead in the 'home' section SnappyH was cooling down, doing her stretches. No doubt pleased with her performance. I ran to the start point, unscathed, not caught out, ok so I didn't manage to catch SnappyH, maybe next time! I walked it out, stopped both my gadgets and walked up to SnappyH. We chatted for a bit as Naggy came around the corner and ran up to us, looking like she ran as hard as she could! We congratulated each other on a job well done.
Back in the car we all looked at our stats, comparing numbers, heart rate, pace, VO2. We could see on Naggys stats that the last section she really ran fast as she tried to catch us!
"Well done my angels, you all looked great out there! Old girl, try and keep your head up when running"
Oh my goodness Norman was there! Which one was he!?
"Once upon a time there were three beautiful ladies who tried running by themselves. They were each assigned to look after people, a carer, teacher, NHS worker. Running by themselves was tough but I took them all away from that and now they run for me. My name is Norman"
Training began in the afternoon for Normans Angels, that's us by the way it's what Norman calls us. Collected by car we made our way to Normans secret training ground. It's so secret that it is hidden in plain sight, even using ordinary citizens to help disguise the secret location as an ordinary park. Me and the other two Angels, our code names, Old Girl (me), Naggy and SnappyH were all set for the next rigorous test.
 |
| Normans Angles |
Norman has plenty of ways get the best out of us, even pitting us against 700 would be 'assassins' on a Saturday morning. That is a particular favourite of the lovable Norman. Today however, inspired by a film he had recently watched while supping on a pina colada, he decided that 'The Hunger Games' style training would really make everybody try harder.
Our task was to 'Stay Alive!' Could we do it, could we reach 'home' before being caught, each one by the other Angels. Naggy had the hardest test, her speciality is the ability to run fast non-stop over miles and miles. Her job was to catch both me and SnappyH. SnappyH, well her speciality is Gadgets, numbers, graphs! My speciality, well, mine is blogging, or is it blagging! I can write up anything and make it sound exciting! If I run a mile I can write up a whole chapter about it! Standing by the car, looking out to the expanse of the park, the secret location we took a deep breath! It was riddled with innocent citizens unaware of what was about to take place. Norman doesn't like to make it easy! There are so many obstacles to get around. It could get messy. There were very young children on bikes, they looked learning to ride them. Have you ever watched a small child learning to ride a bike? When they riding along looking at someone for some inexplicable reason they head straight for them! I made a mental note "Do not making eye contact with any small person on a bike."
All three of us looked around as we got ourselves ready for this special training session. Each of us had our own special earbuds to listen to music, Norman wanted to make sure that each of us relied only on our instinct, our own intuition of where our team members were. We walked to the path, smiled at each other, wished each other the best of luck and then synchronised our watches. The Game had started.
We ran together for only a couple of feet before the competitiveness of Naggy drew her out of the plodding threesome, she started to slowly put some space between me and SnappyH. I was thinking that if I could just stay fairly near SnappyH then I could make a sprint for 'home' at the last minute. I was asking a lot of my worn out little legs, but I felt sure that if I at least kept her in my sight then Naggy would have a bit more of a job to catch me! A good plan. Just as I was getting to the first corner SnappyH started to pull away from me! She is on a mission for sure! My ear bud started to fall out of my left ear, it's the most important one, it is the one that records all the data that we so love. I pushed in back in and accidentally turned it off! Scuppered by technology! I had to slow down, walk even, while I sorted it all out, SnappyH was in the zone, she was pulling away from me. Naggy was way up the long straight! She is so going to be catching me today! Unless I pull something out of the bag!
Once I had my technology all working again I was already about 30 or seconds slower than I had planned. I better get a move on. Norman really had pulled out all of the stops with the amount of citizens using the secret training ground. I was right about the small people on bikes, I watched one of them ride straight into his static sister neither of them asking the other to move out of the way! I watched in wonder at the little girl standing in front of the out of control learner cyclist not budging! he ploughed right into her, she managed to stay on her feet but he fell off the bike and cried to the parent. I had to keep my wits about me, little people are so unpredictable.
I avoided the first pit fall, I felt a bit more confident, I spied my 'mission' up head. Just then the cutest little Jack Russel caught my eye as the little rascal ran with his tongue whipping the side of his mouth, as what can only be described as a smile on the face of the little pooch, as he speedily ran after his ball that his human had thrown! That Norman is a task master! He knows only too well that any cute little puppy dog, with big brown eyes, floppy ears, huge gangly feet, the waggiest of tails, would have me falling on my knees simpering over their soft furry little faces! That is mean! I need to stay focused, their are so many cute little furry faces around today, it's going to be hard to ignore them. Not only that but the darling little furbabies are even more unpredictable than little people on bikes!
The first lap of the secret location was done, so far so good, but there was no time to rest on my laurels. I still have a lot of work to do, SnappyH was quite a way in front of me and as for Naggy I hadn't seen her anywhere. I thought I caught sight of her once, but she was so far away it could have been any one of the ordinary citizens that Norman planted in the park. I later found out that she had taken layers off and her trade mark flash of orange. I wouldn't have spotted her without her orange ear warmers! The second lap I tried as hard as I might to keep the pace going, my Garmin telling me that I was running pretty fast! I was hoping that my new Gadget would pipe in and tell me that I was running to fast, I should stick to the plan I had programmed into it. But then I began to realise, I had programmed in to run 39 minutes for a 5k distance, I was on target for that. I should have put it in for a slightly longer distance! I felt sure that I will still be able to keep away from Naggy, catching SnappyH would probably be a little harder. But if I can keep her in eyesight she may just realise that I am close and somehow, maybe, make a mistake, push too hard and just like me yesterday, have a time out for a few second! I could possible get her then.
The final lap, there was no sign of Naggy, I was feeling exhausted and SnappyH was so hard to catch! At least SnappyH was in my view! Naggy needs to be my motivation, I need to stay focused now, just to stay ahead of her, keep her well behind. Somehow there seemed to be more small people on bikes, a little bit older than the ones on the first lap. This one particular lad on a bike kept riding by my side, then stopping then catching me up again. I managed to pull away from the rider, well actually he had to wait for his mum! I managed to avoid yet another adorable pooch trap who was just longing to be petted, ok, so it was me, I just really wanted to pet the dog but instead I looked towards the corner, the top of the long straight. I had to keep my wits about me as I tried to dodge the unsuspecting citizens, I swerved left and right, dodging each one of them. They really didn't know what was taking place right under their noses! Normans Angles, training, right in front of them, training to be the ones to jump in and help any of them, any time, to become 'RUNNERS'! How I love this job!
The last long straight, I need to finish this now. This is where I need to stay on my toes, I can't slack anymore, Naggy could quite easily catch me up. I remember the last time we did this Naggy told me that she saw me as I started this long straight. She really though she could catch me IF I did my usual walking bits! I couldn't let that happen, totally focused I ran down, hoping that I would just do this non stop. I felt someone running behind me. "No, no, it can't be" I thought to myself. I saw a hand appear in my peripheral vision. Could this Naggy? I pushed out a little harder, but then the whole arm appeared, that's it, I done. The runner got faster and overtook me! It wasn't Naggy! It must have been another super-training-angel.
Norman still hadn't finished with trying to trip me up as yet more people came by on bikes. This time they were older, they were youths, usually seen riding on roads with their buddies, doing wheelies, terrorising commuters, winding up Sunday drivers. They were now here, zig-zagging between all the citizens and me! One was even on his phone, he could easily lose his balance in front of me, scuppering my chances of getting home! The danger passed quite quickly as they headed off, maybe they were going to try and intimidate SnappyH, then maybe I could have a chance of catching her!
I managed to get to the bottom of the last corner, still no sign of Naggy and no chance of catching SnappyH, I just had to make sure there was plenty of space behind me! I took a sneaky peak behind me, no sign of her. It doesn't mean that she isn't that far, I still have around the woods to do. She could do quite a bit of damage control here. I couldn't see her, I just had to keep going! I ducked up the path that goes around the woods, more families! Norman, have you not had your fun yet! Maybe he really did want it to be like the 'Hunger Games' Maybe there can only be one survivor! I managed to run around the woods, I could see the end in sight, and just up ahead in the 'home' section SnappyH was cooling down, doing her stretches. No doubt pleased with her performance. I ran to the start point, unscathed, not caught out, ok so I didn't manage to catch SnappyH, maybe next time! I walked it out, stopped both my gadgets and walked up to SnappyH. We chatted for a bit as Naggy came around the corner and ran up to us, looking like she ran as hard as she could! We congratulated each other on a job well done.
Back in the car we all looked at our stats, comparing numbers, heart rate, pace, VO2. We could see on Naggys stats that the last section she really ran fast as she tried to catch us!
"Well done my angels, you all looked great out there! Old girl, try and keep your head up when running"
Oh my goodness Norman was there! Which one was he!?
Saturday, 19 January 2019
ParkRun Day!
Hello blog readers
It's parkrun day and it's still January, so it's a no brainer where I shall be doing todays Janathon activity and it's at Bromley parkrun. I knocked for Naggy and then we collected GetYourLegsUpTracy hereby known as LegsUpTracy, and SnappyH. We don't like to leave anyone behind! We drove to the park but decided to not drive inside. There are so many people that come along to Bromley now, it's just crazy! If you see a parking spot on the road first then best grab it! Or.....run to the park! But we are not quiet up for running to parkrun just yet!
We are still on the winter route, so just under three laps of the park before going into the funnel. It's crazily busy and they have had to move the funnel to the other side so they can make it longer to accommodate the volume of people! And this morning I noticed there was a 'double funnel', I have no idea how that was going to work, but I am sure it all went well. I usually am in the back of the pack so by the time I get to the finish it's usually all clear! All the usual gang were there, with some of us missing, blimmin cold virus! We were all at different parts of the start, Naggy was somewhere I couldn't even see, she went to put her coat into the baskets, Kathy was starting a little further up the field, I found that out after I caught up with her, and J.J. and K were starting with me. I didn't see where GetYourLegsUpTracy was.
There was the usual chat from the RD and then the throng of people surged forward. For us at the back it was a slow moving forward, I started my Garmin and my Jabra, I had both ear buds in, I don't know why I did that, it's so anti social, parkrun is a huge community thing. Maybe I thought subconsciously I would push a little harder to get a faster time! Who knows, but there I was cut off from the world listen to some run music from spotify, a mission to just try and keep a steady pace! I wasn't planning on going fast, put it that way, that will start next month! When I have rest days!
I did the first lap and I saw my club buddies running past and I realised that I had both ear buds in, being anti-social, so I took the right one out and I could hear! I could hear the chatter of the people running, the breathing of the runners as I passed them or as they passed me, I could hear the footsteps as they got closer, which kept me on my toes trying not to let them pass! Yup, this is how I should be running parkrun!
I could still hear my music and it was helping me to keep pace, I chose the right rhythm for myself! the second lap went by with me saying "Well done" to the faster runners and saying "cheers!" as they called after me! Much better! Just the last lap to do now and of course that is not a full lap. I had been running with GYLUT and Deborah by this time, I can't remember if I caught them up or they caught me up, but it was a game of overtaking between all of us. With just half a lap left, Deb started to pull away in front, I was in the middle and Tracy was behind! I tried to keep up with Deborah but she just has these long legs and seemed to be gliding along like a gazelle, so my aim was to keep GYLUT behind me. That was all I had to do, She and Debs had already overtaken me a few times on the last lap and I had taken back the lead. But now it is just so close, the short straight into the new funnelling system and that was it done. Nigel was running back down and passed me and said something which I could quite hear (he said it on the left ear which was bunged up with ear bud) but I just smiled and kept on running. I could hear GYLUT footsteps behind me so I pushed just a little bit harder and then I heard her laughing! I knew she was going to go for it, so I just pushed out and ran faster. I was so near the funnel now but then a wave of nausea came over me! "Oh no, not now!" I thought, so I just slowed down hoping that it will pass but it didn't! I could feel the heat rise and my eyes almost go black. I knew I was going to heave, the finish funnel was just there! Thoughts were going through my mind, do I just run on into it, risk throwing up where all the other people behind will have to step over any chunks that I lay down or do I step aside and throw up just out of the way, where no needs to step! "Shit, I can't" I said as a huge heave came from the bottom of my stomach! I hadn't had breakfast or even a drink, so thankfully nothing was 'ready' to come up, but still, the nausea was there, working on whatever it could to bring up something to embarrass myself with! Luckily it was quite noisy at that point as well because there was no disguising a bottom burp from the other end! Tracy did pass me by and looked back towards me as she entered the 'clicking' point! I had told her to carry on, like the brave soldier I was!
One other person passed me by before I had regained control of my stomach and bottom! I finished parkrun, thankfully without too much embarrassment and collected my token! 38:53 on my Garmin, I can live with that! It was faster than last weeks tourism run! Plus, there was still cake! Marcus had just done his 350th! That seemed to settle my stomach down again!
So my Geeky stats!
Oh by the way, yesterday, I did my Jabra lady! So extra workout, sit ups planks etc! I am still not slacking!
It's parkrun day and it's still January, so it's a no brainer where I shall be doing todays Janathon activity and it's at Bromley parkrun. I knocked for Naggy and then we collected GetYourLegsUpTracy hereby known as LegsUpTracy, and SnappyH. We don't like to leave anyone behind! We drove to the park but decided to not drive inside. There are so many people that come along to Bromley now, it's just crazy! If you see a parking spot on the road first then best grab it! Or.....run to the park! But we are not quiet up for running to parkrun just yet!
We are still on the winter route, so just under three laps of the park before going into the funnel. It's crazily busy and they have had to move the funnel to the other side so they can make it longer to accommodate the volume of people! And this morning I noticed there was a 'double funnel', I have no idea how that was going to work, but I am sure it all went well. I usually am in the back of the pack so by the time I get to the finish it's usually all clear! All the usual gang were there, with some of us missing, blimmin cold virus! We were all at different parts of the start, Naggy was somewhere I couldn't even see, she went to put her coat into the baskets, Kathy was starting a little further up the field, I found that out after I caught up with her, and J.J. and K were starting with me. I didn't see where GetYourLegsUpTracy was.
There was the usual chat from the RD and then the throng of people surged forward. For us at the back it was a slow moving forward, I started my Garmin and my Jabra, I had both ear buds in, I don't know why I did that, it's so anti social, parkrun is a huge community thing. Maybe I thought subconsciously I would push a little harder to get a faster time! Who knows, but there I was cut off from the world listen to some run music from spotify, a mission to just try and keep a steady pace! I wasn't planning on going fast, put it that way, that will start next month! When I have rest days!
I did the first lap and I saw my club buddies running past and I realised that I had both ear buds in, being anti-social, so I took the right one out and I could hear! I could hear the chatter of the people running, the breathing of the runners as I passed them or as they passed me, I could hear the footsteps as they got closer, which kept me on my toes trying not to let them pass! Yup, this is how I should be running parkrun!
I could still hear my music and it was helping me to keep pace, I chose the right rhythm for myself! the second lap went by with me saying "Well done" to the faster runners and saying "cheers!" as they called after me! Much better! Just the last lap to do now and of course that is not a full lap. I had been running with GYLUT and Deborah by this time, I can't remember if I caught them up or they caught me up, but it was a game of overtaking between all of us. With just half a lap left, Deb started to pull away in front, I was in the middle and Tracy was behind! I tried to keep up with Deborah but she just has these long legs and seemed to be gliding along like a gazelle, so my aim was to keep GYLUT behind me. That was all I had to do, She and Debs had already overtaken me a few times on the last lap and I had taken back the lead. But now it is just so close, the short straight into the new funnelling system and that was it done. Nigel was running back down and passed me and said something which I could quite hear (he said it on the left ear which was bunged up with ear bud) but I just smiled and kept on running. I could hear GYLUT footsteps behind me so I pushed just a little bit harder and then I heard her laughing! I knew she was going to go for it, so I just pushed out and ran faster. I was so near the funnel now but then a wave of nausea came over me! "Oh no, not now!" I thought, so I just slowed down hoping that it will pass but it didn't! I could feel the heat rise and my eyes almost go black. I knew I was going to heave, the finish funnel was just there! Thoughts were going through my mind, do I just run on into it, risk throwing up where all the other people behind will have to step over any chunks that I lay down or do I step aside and throw up just out of the way, where no needs to step! "Shit, I can't" I said as a huge heave came from the bottom of my stomach! I hadn't had breakfast or even a drink, so thankfully nothing was 'ready' to come up, but still, the nausea was there, working on whatever it could to bring up something to embarrass myself with! Luckily it was quite noisy at that point as well because there was no disguising a bottom burp from the other end! Tracy did pass me by and looked back towards me as she entered the 'clicking' point! I had told her to carry on, like the brave soldier I was!
One other person passed me by before I had regained control of my stomach and bottom! I finished parkrun, thankfully without too much embarrassment and collected my token! 38:53 on my Garmin, I can live with that! It was faster than last weeks tourism run! Plus, there was still cake! Marcus had just done his 350th! That seemed to settle my stomach down again!
So my Geeky stats!
Oh by the way, yesterday, I did my Jabra lady! So extra workout, sit ups planks etc! I am still not slacking!
Thursday, 17 January 2019
Ducking and Diving.......Cycling.....Ish
Hello blog readers
It is track day, yet somehow me and Naggy kind of talked our way out of going in the cold. And somehow poos SnappyH got the blame. We corrected that though, we blamed OFSTEAD. If SnappyH hadn't had to do OFSTEAD or it could quite have easily have been parents evening, not sure which, then we would have gone to pick her up to go do track! Instead we decided to stay in the nice warm cosy house and ride her bike on the machine instead!
It still gives a a nice work out and of course it burns off some calories. Not only that but all the while we are building up the 'Saddle Arse'. Come the warmer months we will be 'arse' ready to do a few miles on our bikes and the thing that won't be hurting is our arses! So I was first on the torture machine, I brought Jabra out to play as well. I don't have a super douper Garmin that has a static bike setting on it but my new Jabra sports ear phones do!
I found some good music to listen to while I was away there spinning my little fat legs and Jabra Lady giving me the low down every ten minutes! She did have a quick word after about five minutes to tell me that I was in 'Light heart rate zone'! I knew I just had to keep pedalling as much as I can. No stopping this time, no standing up and deffo no doing less than 30 minutes today, not even a warm down for the last five minutes, I just need to pedal!
Naggy was sat on the sofa watching the telly and keeping a beady eye on me! Even though I didn't really stop, I kind of kept having to adjust my sitting position on the saddle, and as soon as I did Naggy was looking at me, telling me to keep on going, no stopping! So now I had a two pronged attack with the nagging! Jabra lady telling me every 10 minutes that I and In Light zone, when I was feeling like I was in maximum zone (thats 4 zones up from light!) I know that the bike thing is not as calorie eating as running but it's still something! That's what I kept saying to myself.
After thirty minutes Jabra lady informed me that I reached the giddying heights of zone 'Fat burn'. That's a whole one step up from light! I will have that, It's all good, that's what I kept saying to myself anyway. And then, just as I am writing this I have remembered. I did a 10 minute work out this morning too! That included, Lunges, Planks, Jumping Burpees, Squats, High Knees, Butt Kickers, Jumping Jacks, Back Lunges, Crunches, Push Ups. Wall Sit and Rear Lunges. Some of them were for 20 seconds, some where for 20 reps and some were for 10 reps! Yup, I think that just about covers it!
So two lots of exercises today, that does make up for missing out yesterday and having a rest day instead! But I am back at it today! A double, but no running! I am just glad it's Janathon I am doing and not RED January! Still, as long as it's all exercises it has to be good for us right?
So this is the summery of the last few days Jabra geeky stats, and I have added my run in to Jabra as well! It looks goods and of course I would only do it if it can be backed up geeky stats.
It is track day, yet somehow me and Naggy kind of talked our way out of going in the cold. And somehow poos SnappyH got the blame. We corrected that though, we blamed OFSTEAD. If SnappyH hadn't had to do OFSTEAD or it could quite have easily have been parents evening, not sure which, then we would have gone to pick her up to go do track! Instead we decided to stay in the nice warm cosy house and ride her bike on the machine instead!
It still gives a a nice work out and of course it burns off some calories. Not only that but all the while we are building up the 'Saddle Arse'. Come the warmer months we will be 'arse' ready to do a few miles on our bikes and the thing that won't be hurting is our arses! So I was first on the torture machine, I brought Jabra out to play as well. I don't have a super douper Garmin that has a static bike setting on it but my new Jabra sports ear phones do!
I found some good music to listen to while I was away there spinning my little fat legs and Jabra Lady giving me the low down every ten minutes! She did have a quick word after about five minutes to tell me that I was in 'Light heart rate zone'! I knew I just had to keep pedalling as much as I can. No stopping this time, no standing up and deffo no doing less than 30 minutes today, not even a warm down for the last five minutes, I just need to pedal!
Naggy was sat on the sofa watching the telly and keeping a beady eye on me! Even though I didn't really stop, I kind of kept having to adjust my sitting position on the saddle, and as soon as I did Naggy was looking at me, telling me to keep on going, no stopping! So now I had a two pronged attack with the nagging! Jabra lady telling me every 10 minutes that I and In Light zone, when I was feeling like I was in maximum zone (thats 4 zones up from light!) I know that the bike thing is not as calorie eating as running but it's still something! That's what I kept saying to myself.
After thirty minutes Jabra lady informed me that I reached the giddying heights of zone 'Fat burn'. That's a whole one step up from light! I will have that, It's all good, that's what I kept saying to myself anyway. And then, just as I am writing this I have remembered. I did a 10 minute work out this morning too! That included, Lunges, Planks, Jumping Burpees, Squats, High Knees, Butt Kickers, Jumping Jacks, Back Lunges, Crunches, Push Ups. Wall Sit and Rear Lunges. Some of them were for 20 seconds, some where for 20 reps and some were for 10 reps! Yup, I think that just about covers it!
So two lots of exercises today, that does make up for missing out yesterday and having a rest day instead! But I am back at it today! A double, but no running! I am just glad it's Janathon I am doing and not RED January! Still, as long as it's all exercises it has to be good for us right?
So this is the summery of the last few days Jabra geeky stats, and I have added my run in to Jabra as well! It looks goods and of course I would only do it if it can be backed up geeky stats.
Tuesday, 15 January 2019
Club Run - Janathon Day15!
Hello Blog readers.
This Janathon malarkey, its half way through! Yee Ha! And then next month it will be concentrating on my half marathon! Yup, I have signed up for Paddock wood again! (Come on Naggy, get your name down!) Love it! Ooo, look at that! I wrote that 'love it' without even thinking about it! Mojo, you are so nearly mine again! So, because I am doing this Janathon thing I am treating every run, every extra walk and every workout as just a mark up on my calendar! Nevertheless I am still stepping it up by going in group 2, as I am not leading. It's great having other leaders to help with my 'baby' group 1 because I can move up to group 2. Me, Naggy and Shalini all went together to the rec. There were a couple of our group not running today, J.J., K, SnappyH had some sort of parents evening or OFSTED, both which I can imagine is pretty tedious and poor LoobyLou isn't very well! LittleJ wasn't doing her walking group. I do miss everyone. But CarolWithAnE was leading group 1 and GetYourLegsUpTracy came along in group 2 with Ade and Auriol. RefMichael was in group 4 it think.
Ruth was leading today, I missed out on where her route was going as I was taking a 'comfort' break, I think the chilly weather made me need one! So it was a nice surprise to find out that.......Cardiac Hill was included in there, not only that, but it's at the end....going up it! Ok, so this is group 2, it's going to be longer than group 1 and it will be more challenging! No turning back Old Girl!
I offered to sweep, of course, only because I knew I would be at the back. I know as soon as I start to be able to stay up with the group and then feel comfortable there, I will stop offering to sweep and then to push on up to the front. And then who knows, I could get to the giddying heights of group 3 in no time! Baby steps though, no need to go crazy. There were 18 of us in Group 2, Selena was in group 2! I remember when she first joined us, it's good to see she is still running! It's quite addictive really!
We ran down to Petts Wood Road and then turned right to run all the way up to the walk over bridge. Of course normally I would have take then short cut up Kings Way, if I were leading, but then this is group 2! We even ran all the way around CrestView Drive and down Crescent Avenue, just like I do with my group 1 if I were leading! But I am not leading, Ruth is and she has managed to get Cardiac Hill added into this route! By the time we got to the off license we were at 2 miles, which means we still had over a mile to do. I knew we were going to be going up Cardiac Hill, that surely has to make it well over the 3 miles, possible 3.5 miles if we go down Willet Way. Yes, that must be where she was going to take us. Me, Selena and Auriol were at the back saying that we are pretty sure she was going down Willet Way. But she didn't! She carried on doing more of Cardiac hill to the big roundabout at the top of Petts Wood Road. "Ok, so she must be running down there to Crossways" Said Auriol, but guess what Ruth had other plans! She was heading for Birchwood, We did try and suggest that Wood Ride which she said "Ok, that's a good compromise". Well, I think she was just keeping us at the back nice and quiet, because Kingsway and Wood Ride came and went as we headed for Birchwood!
I must say, it was a great run, I enjoyed it, tough, but all runs are tough! Thanks Ruth! I am staying in Group 2!.......for now!
Oh, and if you were wondering if I did day 14 Janathon, well I did! Only a 10 minutes workout, sit ups, planks and what not! But I think it counts!
Geeky stats
This Janathon malarkey, its half way through! Yee Ha! And then next month it will be concentrating on my half marathon! Yup, I have signed up for Paddock wood again! (Come on Naggy, get your name down!) Love it! Ooo, look at that! I wrote that 'love it' without even thinking about it! Mojo, you are so nearly mine again! So, because I am doing this Janathon thing I am treating every run, every extra walk and every workout as just a mark up on my calendar! Nevertheless I am still stepping it up by going in group 2, as I am not leading. It's great having other leaders to help with my 'baby' group 1 because I can move up to group 2. Me, Naggy and Shalini all went together to the rec. There were a couple of our group not running today, J.J., K, SnappyH had some sort of parents evening or OFSTED, both which I can imagine is pretty tedious and poor LoobyLou isn't very well! LittleJ wasn't doing her walking group. I do miss everyone. But CarolWithAnE was leading group 1 and GetYourLegsUpTracy came along in group 2 with Ade and Auriol. RefMichael was in group 4 it think.
Ruth was leading today, I missed out on where her route was going as I was taking a 'comfort' break, I think the chilly weather made me need one! So it was a nice surprise to find out that.......Cardiac Hill was included in there, not only that, but it's at the end....going up it! Ok, so this is group 2, it's going to be longer than group 1 and it will be more challenging! No turning back Old Girl!
I offered to sweep, of course, only because I knew I would be at the back. I know as soon as I start to be able to stay up with the group and then feel comfortable there, I will stop offering to sweep and then to push on up to the front. And then who knows, I could get to the giddying heights of group 3 in no time! Baby steps though, no need to go crazy. There were 18 of us in Group 2, Selena was in group 2! I remember when she first joined us, it's good to see she is still running! It's quite addictive really!
We ran down to Petts Wood Road and then turned right to run all the way up to the walk over bridge. Of course normally I would have take then short cut up Kings Way, if I were leading, but then this is group 2! We even ran all the way around CrestView Drive and down Crescent Avenue, just like I do with my group 1 if I were leading! But I am not leading, Ruth is and she has managed to get Cardiac Hill added into this route! By the time we got to the off license we were at 2 miles, which means we still had over a mile to do. I knew we were going to be going up Cardiac Hill, that surely has to make it well over the 3 miles, possible 3.5 miles if we go down Willet Way. Yes, that must be where she was going to take us. Me, Selena and Auriol were at the back saying that we are pretty sure she was going down Willet Way. But she didn't! She carried on doing more of Cardiac hill to the big roundabout at the top of Petts Wood Road. "Ok, so she must be running down there to Crossways" Said Auriol, but guess what Ruth had other plans! She was heading for Birchwood, We did try and suggest that Wood Ride which she said "Ok, that's a good compromise". Well, I think she was just keeping us at the back nice and quiet, because Kingsway and Wood Ride came and went as we headed for Birchwood!
I must say, it was a great run, I enjoyed it, tough, but all runs are tough! Thanks Ruth! I am staying in Group 2!.......for now!
Oh, and if you were wondering if I did day 14 Janathon, well I did! Only a 10 minutes workout, sit ups, planks and what not! But I think it counts!
Geeky stats
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