Three Lazy Days Later! And Still Eating Dust!

Hello blog lovers,

Today I am writing about my two runs I had over the weekend. Both were the same route, but they felt like different runs. The times were different as well, only a little though, but when I was running I thought it would have been a lot slower.

The Old Boy goads me on, he gets me running harder and faster. I must get a tape recording (My goodness, who's showing her age!) I must get a 'pod cast' of the OB nagging me "up hills, telling me to "pick the pace up, catch up to him", and "get up that hill!" But yesterday I had no energy! I could have been the laying about in the back garden trying to catch a few rays!, or it could be just 'one of the things!'

Anyway, the geeky stats at the bottom shows you that I was not on form yesterday, but it was good to be out running!

Today it was a 'recon mission' for my mate 'Hitchy' who you may remember got her nickname because she was waiting for me as I was running on route, just like a hitchhiker. Well she has decided to do our PWR 10k, voted as one of the best in runners world mag (A quick plug there for our 10k, which is next Sunday, I shall be there marshalling and cheering on all the runners) She is doing it for charity, SANDS. She wanted raise money for this cause as her friend had a baby, as Jo says, "who was born sleeping" and she wants to do something for her friend, here is a link to her page http://www.justgiving.com/Jo-Cole/. Just reading what she said had me grabbing my hankie and my purse!

So today I took her out to show her the delights of what our 10k can offer her. Her goal is not of speed, but of getting around it without stopping! Judging by what I saw today I think she will nail it!! And in a pretty good time too!

Me on the other hand, I know I kept her back. If she knew the route she would have took off, and I would be eating dust, again, as per usual.

Todays run was a bit slower than yesterday, but it was a 're-con mission' (I think I should right up another blog of all my excuses!) but again, I was very pleased to be out running, even though it was still so very warm out! (summer excuse no.1)

Geeky stats, and for some reason Garmin have decided not to supply me with the 'embed' button, so I just have to copy and paste the page address,

Run with Alan by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details Yesterdays run

'Re-con' Run with Jo by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details Todays run

Tuesday Club Run - Straight Out And Back

Hello my blog followers, (I know there are still a few out there)

I was so looking forward to a good run out today. After having three small boys at home, all arguing over toys, and who's turn it is, then a good run is just what is on order.

I met up the with the other members and chatted about how there run went last week, those who moved up to group 2. "Hard" was what they both said! I knew I wasn't ready for group 2 just yet.

Mind you, I think all the group leaders have had a secret meeting and decided to 'push' all members of all groups up to the next level! Because last week group 1 ran for 4 and half miles, and tonight we ran for 4 and a half miles! Some even went on to do about another mile before heading back!

But the route today was fairly...., flat! apart from the up hill at the beginning. But it was quite dark, running along side the woods. and difficult to see the end of the pavement! I should remember to take a torch or headlamp with me! There was no deviations from the long straight road, no going round, apart from those who went on to do the extra mile, they were going to loop around the ponds at Chislehurst. The rest of us we just going to run turn left and head on back, up the dark road again.

But it was a good run, I kept up, mostly, the sweeper was Mr. Kit Man, and he did a great job of keeping my mind off how far we had run and how far we had to go by chatting. I was sure I was answering, and not just grunting my answers back at him.

Anyway, we got back to Willet Way rec in about 50 odd mins, we ran for about 4.46 miles. My Garmin felt tired today (The battery was very low) and refused to work! so there are no geeky stats today.

But I was very pleased that I ran when everybody ran, I stopped when every body stop, and only had about 2 or 3 short walking stops. The last walking stop was because my leg was cramping up! Definitely worked hard today! But I came back feeling good, and totally relaxed, ready for another day with these gorgeous little men.

Who's that Old Girl?

Hello Blog lovers!

Well todays blog is all about yesterdays run, and if I can remember a bit about todays bike ride. But I was so excited about yesterdays results I may forget to add what I have been up to today!

Anyway, yesterday, being Friday, I wasn't really expecting to go out for a run. So much so, that I even took little dudie (my grandson) out for a yucky takeaway, for lunch. You know how kids love those 'lunches'. so I couldn't resist going for a big burger myself! So when the Old boy said that he fancied a run before dinner, and getting reedy to go out in the evening, I tried everything to not go! "But I still go the dude here, cos his mummy needed to go to the shops" and "Oh, I need to take them to the station now, as they are going to London"

I tried everything, apart from the actual 'wimping out' and telling him that I didn't actually feel like going! So you can imagine my face after I came back from dropping off my daughter and dudie at the station at 6 o'clock in the evening to find the OB ready to go for a run, waiting for me to go and get changed.

There was no getting away with it. There was no way I was going to wimp out, so I got changed as quick as I could and we drove to Tent Peg Lane, the beginning of our Friday night run. "Right, come on then" the OB said. There was no little warm up walk, or quick stretching (which I don't do anymore, I do my stretching after!) it was out of the car, on to the path and start running!

I started off ok, and I tried to keep the pace the same as the OB, but I knew he is stronger and faster than me, so I just concentrated on doing my best, checking out my breathing, and keeping everything together. "Come on, Old Girl" he kept calling to me, "You're doing well, pick up the pace a bit" I tried to keep it going, thinking about my little drinkies after. I do like my Fridays nights out with the OB!

So you can image my surprise when the first mile 'beeped' up from my Garmin, I looked at it and I saw that it was 9. something! It threw me! ME DOING A SUB 10 MIN/MI I know all the relay races of last week will be saying, "We was that for the relay race?" It's amazing how running with he Old Boy can bring that out of me!

Of course after that, it wa back to my usual running! With the walking parts in it as well! But at Goss Hill, the Old Boy kept his hand on my back and positively pushed me all the way to the top, I was running. Ok, so it wasn't a fast run, and I even walked about 4 steps before he shoved me up the hill again. But I did it! How? I don't know! But I took a full two minutes (maybe a tad more) at the top, to recover before carrying on with our run!

It was a pleasant run, a good run, a surprising run! sub 10 min/mi certainly surprised me! Towards the end of the run, the little path after the railway bridge to the car park, the OB said, "Ok do a sprint from here to the car" I didn't think I had it in me, but I dug deep, it was a very long sprint, but to me it could have been a mile or more, thats how it felt. But I ran fast, I even did the war cry "ARRRGGGHHHHHHH" as I was getting towards the end, and I felt I wanted to stop. But I kept it up, "Keep going you lazy bloomin mare" I said in my head. I was so pleased to to get to the end! Yes! Done it!

I was just doing my stretching at the sign post as I caught my breath, when a woman with he children emerged from the other path she said "It all sounds like too mu torture to me" I couldn't answer her!, but I am sure the OB said something to her.

Oh yes, and todays bit of exercise! Me and the Old boy went out for lovely bike ride via the local establishments again, followed by an exhilarating ride through the woods! Bitch dark, but great fun. Oh, and just one other thing, I found my front light! It has somehow got knocked off my bike and landed at the back of the shed on the floor, where the little bit of rubber to turn it on and off, and been chewed by a field mouse. (I am saying field mouse, because I don't like to think of anything rodent bigger than that, roaming so close to my home!) and besides, it looks like very tiny, tiny little teeth marks!

Anyway, geeky stats, and check out the first mile!!! That was me!

Run with Alan by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details

Usual Club Run.......With Just A Tad Bit Extra!

Hello blog lovers.

Its Tuesday, which means that its club run time. Our usual group 1 leader is still recuperating. Mrs Kipling (our group leader for the last few weeks, and the lovely maker of cakes!) is encouraging some of the group 1 runners into group 2. She feels they are ready for the next group! I know I am not ready for that group yet and decided to stay with group 1 today, and to run with another group 1 leader for todays run. She was one of the ladies in the relay race. She was in fact the 'D' runner in the team that I was on! Standing waiting for me roll on in!

Anyway, I digress! She gave us the route today, I heard her say Darrick Wood school, but in my mind I was thinking Crofton school! I was trying to think of a loop around the back of there and then get back to the main road. I just couldn't think of one.

It was when we got under the bridge that she said about Darrick Wood school again. And I said "But thats miles away" "Yes" she says "2 miles out and 2 miles back" she said with a smile. I was thinking it was more than that! But I have done more with the OB, so I shouldn't complain. And we are running at a slower pace than I normally do with the OB as well. So it should be no problem!

Well the route up to the top of the road is a gradual uphill, and again when we are doing the loop, its a gradual incline! My legs were feeling very tight! I'm not sure if it was because I had not done any running since Saturday, or if could be that I am still not quite recovered from the sickness bug that I had on Sunday! Chucking chunks Sunday evening, for no apparent reason! And no, it wasn't food poisoning, because I did the cooking. Things are always well 'caramelised' when I cook!

You can imagine how I felt on the way back! Its all down hill from here. But It was tough going. From the top of the road we had already ran 3 miles, and we still had the long road to run down before doing the final straight back. We had a newbie with us, and a Group 1 leader did say to her "we don't normally run this far, I think my calculations slight wrong" "Well, it can only be a mile from here now." I was thinking to my self. The newbie was saying that was struggling a bit, but she was doing very, very well. She was keeping up with group, I was at the back, again!, but still not letting the group get to far in front of me.

It felt really good to get onto the last road. Straight up and its done. Our leader said that those who wanted to sprint from here, can, but just to wait at the park to be counted in! I didn't see to much sprinting going on. But most of the group had picked up the pace a bit. I was running with the newbie, encouraging her on, as her pace had slowed down a bit. She said she had felt a blister forming. But she kept on going! If that was me I would be waiting for an ambulance to take me hospital. You can tell that I don't do pain!

Anyway, it turned out that it was a bit more than we usually run for a Tuesday night, but an enjoyable one! And the newbie wasn't put off either, she said she will be back next week! I will have to see how the 'new group 2's' got on with their run, next week when we meet up again.

Geeky stats, Again today there is no 'embed' button to click on, so just copy and past the link if you want to see the stats. Not sure why its all changed!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115907722#

I have noticed that a few people have posted comments, I do try and reply and to add comments after but for some strange reason blogger doesn't recognise me when I try to add a comment on my own page!!! very strange indeed. But I do try to reply via facebook.

Thank you for reading and commenting on my ramblings.

Relay Race - Hanging With My Homies!

Hello blog lovers.

I didn't manage to write my blog yesterday after the race, as me and the Old boy were going out for the evening to celebrate our 27th anniversary! So a nice run was just what I needed to give me plenty of appetite.

When I said on the facebook page, that I was 'thinking' about signing up for the relay race and then, realising, that by just saying that I had actually signed on the dotted line!, I did let people know that I wasn't the fastest runner of all time!, and I am usually languishing at the back of group 1 on our Tuesday night runs. But that didn't stop Little Boy lost from signing me up.

It has been a while since I ran a relay race, last time was when I was at school,....primary school, so some 40 years ago! But never as an adult. Memories (or fears) of those old school days, of going through the whole 'picking team mates' stage, were going through my mind. I was always left to the last, and then had to endure the 'groan' as the team leader had just me to chose! It's ok, though, I'm over that, now days I do try to 'volunteer' and be first in the lime light! (I even get up and do Karaoke!)

Anyway, enough sympathy gathering drivel, back to the race. There was only one thing that I could do, and thats just go there and do my best, (and try to earn the piece of cake that was on offer for after!) Our time for getting there was at 2, to get our numbers pinned on, a group photo, (that I am still waiting to see!) and pep talk, well, I say pep talk, its more like hang out really, with my PWR 'homies'.

Our race was due to start at 2:45 pm. Let me tell you, that soon came around, pretty quickly! Soon all the seniors race 'A' number runners were lined up ready for the off! .....A big cheer as they all set off. PWR had 4 teams, two girls teams and 2 boys teams! We were well represented! All running in our club colours. It felt good to be in a team.

Soon the the 'B' runners would be called up to the line, in readiness for the first lap runners to come back. We saw them all in, my team, and remember we are group 1 runners, were last to get going. It was to be me next, I am a 'C' runner! The pressure was great! Knowing that we were probably going to be the last team finished, I didn't want to leave my team mate standing there by herself for two long. But of course, while I was waiting to run I was getting all the low down of the course from the 'A' runner. About the hill through the woods, which lulls you into a false sense of security, because you get to a point where you can run down or up again. Of course the route was up! I do not like hills! I am afraid, as the OB says of me, I stopped and had 'a picnic' in the wood! To you or me, I walked up the hill, but not all of it! Oh know, I wasn't going to let the hill take it all from me!

There was another nice bit of flat once we got to the top of the hill, running along side the road before turning left again to go back in the woods, and the inevitable down hill section. I must say, that all the runners that......erm........passed me gave me lots of encouragement, and the marshalls through the woods and on the field cheered me along my way.

But coming up the long straight, that was where the pressure was. Knowing that the 'D' runners were already passing me and my team mate was left standing at the start/finish line waiting for the 'touch', oh wow the pressure! I ran as fast as my legs could go, I could see the OB with his camera at the ready, I am not going to try the whole 'pose' thing now, my team mate needs me at the line now! Through the trees and there she was.

A little disappointingly, the organises were beginning to 'tidy' away, and the tape that marked the route to the line had gone and just the poles were left in place, but I ran up to my team mate (and she was the only left on the line) gave her the touch and she ran off.

To save her from running the route by herself, our PWR's made a rota to run along side her, to keep her company! One taking the first field, one taking the route through the woods, (the up hill section) and then another taking the second field. She had a race on her hands. To get back before the rain started........and get back before the organises had packed everything away! Oh yes and to get the last piece of cake before 'The Prince' could get it!

She did brilliantly! She ran her socks off! The Organises were not packed away fully, and the rain just started as she ran up to the line! She beat both!

Of course, my team didn't win, but we won in team spirit! All supporting each other, and encouraging each other, and the fact that we were all smiling and laughing at the end as we ate cake and drank tea! (Thanks to one of our group 1 leaders, an absolutely delicious banana and walnut cake!) A brilliant day out, and I had run up and appetite for a lovely meal in the evening!

Thanks goes to (and here is a first, using proper names) Mark aka little boy lost for getting the teams together, Karen aka one of the Group 1 leaders, for making such a delicious cake and bring along a gas stove, kettle, tea coffee and milk, everything in fact apart from the kitchen sink, and last but not least the OB aka my lovely husband, for taking me to the race and supporting me in my running and cycling.



So geeky stats and photo of me running, team photo to follow shortly, oh the geeky stats have 'failed' again, so its just the web page, but you can still see the route when you click on the link

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115275419

Club Run - And No Garmin!

Hello Blogees!

As the Title suggests, I went running with my club today. A put on my new day-glo glowing top, my running pants, HRM, new shoes, kissed the OB and left. It wasn't until I got to the rec that I realised that I hadn't actually put my Garmin on my wrist! Oh well, the OB has often said to me that I should run sometimes without the Garmin.

It was quite chilly out, I had bought my old faithful, my shrunken hoody, to keep me warm while we were getting the latest low downs on pb's and up and coming races (the relay race that I mentioned in my last blog is this Saturday! ARRGGHHH!) Anyway, soon as all the groups had been sorted I threw my hoody inside the building, and stood, glowing with all the other PWR's. We looked like we were about to hit some rave party, with all the neon coloured tops and reflective stripes on our attire.

Our run leader today (Our usual run leader is still not well, hope you get better soon!) has told us the route. It went something like this, "We are going out here, and down Towncourt, and around and then up, is it St. Johns road?, and then where going along there somewhere, and up there, its about 4 miles, I know where I am going" Well I hope she does, and I hope I keep up with her, as I had no idea where we were heading tonight! Almost worthy of Little Boy Losts runs I should think!

She also has her running watch, and is keen to stay on target for 11 min miles! I feel quite naked with out mine on. In fact I also feel quite lazy! When I look at my watch and see the distance, if I am feeling tired and its still not quite a mile I push myself on to the mile and further, but with out my guidance it seems old potato head is waking up again, and telling me to walk.

I found out today a bit more 'running jargon'. Back to back and top and tail. Its what I have been doing. Back to Back means doing two or three days running in a row, and top and tail means doing a run in the morning and then a run in the evening, for some who couldn't fit in a long run! Which is what I did yesterday! Although I wasn't planning on doing a long run anyway. Mr. S. let me in the the new jargon!

I kept up as best as I could, but I was taking it easy,(thats my excuse today!) as I had only just realised when I got to the rec this evening, that the relay race is actually this Saturday! So I didn't want to push it too hard, I am going to take it easy, maybe do a short run on Thursday if the Old Boy is up for it, or maybe even a ride our bikes somewhere .....local.....

The main group were about a minute or so in front of me, and I was at the back, not quite the last lady this time, there were a couple of newbies behind me! I tracked down the other Garmin wearing buddy (we both have the same Garmin, and both had them for Christmas!) Her time read 39.17, so I'm going to just add about 2 mins to that.

Geeky stats today is 3.50 miles (apprx) in 41.17 mines (apprx)

Chasing The Old Boy!

Hello Bloggess,

Well, I did go out again, I thought I would keep the OB company on his 2 mile course. He is just out here, keeping his legs working, keeping them nice and loose! I on the other hand have kind of suggested that I might be up for doing a relay race. I only kind of said that I was sort of thinking about it, if there were any other group 1 runners going along too, the next minute 'Little Boy Lost' had told me he had put my name down! So I gave a sweet smile to the Old Boy as I asked him if he would be able to drive me to where ever this race will be, (my navigation skills, while driving, is just not a good idea! Dangerous even!)

So here I am, outside my house, holding my arm up, looking for satellites again! That done we were off. We are not going to the woods, as you can probably guess, seeing as I am looking for satellites outside my house, we are heading for my very first half way point, Turn around Lamppost and beyond! I couldn't help but look at my Garmin to see how quickly I had got there. And I was pleased to see it was sub 6 mins!

But (oh blimey, the 'buts' have started up again), but, I did go running this afternoon, and 'I was feeling it'! I checked again after a mile, I still done a sub 11 min mile! (and I had a very short walking stop before the mile was up) Again, another smile on my face, so now I am just going to enjoy the rest of the run. If I walk some of the way, ..... it don't matter, after all, I was only here keeping the OB company. He was way in front of me by now! There was no 'keeping the Old Boy company', to be honest, the said to me on the path way before TAL "Are you running with me then?!" So I knew what was in store for me. He was running along at his own pace, enjoying just being out. Still, it was a nice thought about keeping him company!

He was waiting for me on Magpiehall Lane, about 2 minutes ahead of me, because our route was going through the park. It's getting darker now days, and he didn't want me running through there alone. I tried to keep up with him, but he was just too fast, but he kept his eyes on me, looking back, and by the time we were through the park he carried on his own pace again until our front door.

I tried the whole sprint thing again. Nagging Sister subliminal messages were working well, her words came through my fuzzled head, "Ok now Old Girl, sprint to the door" So I did!, I don't know where I got the energy from, it must have been the banana I had earlier, or the mini cornish pasty I had just an hour ago (and I'm so glad it stayed in my stomach) but I sprinted the last few metres!

So, geeky stats (again today)