Tuesday Club Run

Hello blog lovers.

Feeling good again, I went for my run with the club. It was cold out, but I know from experience that I will warm up. But I decided to wear my brightly coloured cycling jacket. Its good to be seen in the dark. Especially with my reputation of falling off and over things!

So after the notices given and the group routes sorted, we were off. Our illustrious leader is well and truly back in control. We had one newbie today, and she fitted in really well.

Only one probably today, and that was me and my scatter brainess, I didn't start my Garmin off! I thought I had, but it's just so dark I didn't really see to check it was going, I thought I had heard the bleep as I set it. But it could have been someone elses. Oh well. At lease I know exactly how far we had ran before I noticed it hadn't started. We had run exactly a mile. Mr.Kit man had some geeky stats going, and also, I remember running this bit before with one of the other run leaders!

So Garmin eventually started we continued on our way. It was a good run, but we were getting stretched out a bit so we had a pause just after the twiddly as our leader calls it, she also said "If you want to run around or up to the end of this road and back again, then do so, while we wait" A very nice offer I thought, but no one took her up on it. What a lazy bunch we are! Maybe next time I will do the extra bits. Have I said that before?

The route home was pleasant, no little inclines to speak of. And it was just a pleasant run. I had the little bit extra left over for a sprint finish back to the pavilion. Again I'm not sure where it came from, I just must be one of those fast finishers. mind you, I didn't do any 10 min/mil or faster today. Maybe my endurance is slowly building up after all this time.

Back at the Pavilion one of our club members is a newly qualified fitness instructor and she gave us some stretches to do. I did need that! My poor bruises!!

Geek stats, but don't forget to add a mile (and 14 mins, but that was with the catch up and breather stop)

Club Run by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details

A Gorgeous Sunday Morning!

Hello blogees.

This morning me and Hitchy decided on an early run, before I had church. Now, bearing in mind I had had a lovely meal in a great restaurant last night, I wasn't expected anything to great from myself. And that is exactly what I got. (Excuse #201)

But I was up and ready, and Hitchy turned up at my house dead on 8:30 this morning. She was looking fetching in her running gear, but she also brought her car, but we won't mention that!

We wanted to do about 4 miles or so, so I kind of guessed a route that would take us about 4 miles, with a little bit of parks with paths but mainly roads. As soon as the cold weather kicks in we can hit the woods again. My Goodness, can you just believe I wrote that down, running in the cold. Oh yes, a true runner now!

We didn't push it, as my Thai curry was still a delightful clear memory in my tummy. (excuse #7, ? I think)We got to our first mile in just under 11 mins, and after that we (well, I) got slower. Like I said, I wasn't going out to win races, this was a longer route, with as much running involved as my poor bruised little legs could do.

We got to Blackbrook lane, but not at the place I thought. I should have ran up to the next right turn. I could quite easily be tempted to turn right and go through the park, but I stuck to the plan that was in my head and we turned left to go to the road that goes through Jubilee park.

We were not far off now. Not far to go at all. When we ran down Top Oxhawth though, Hitchy was thinking about running back to her house, but then I reminded her that her car was packed outside mine!

A great run though, albeit slow, but sometimes thats exactly what is needed.

Geeky stats for you.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/128461485

Running! On A Sunday!?

Hello Blog lovers.

I know, its Sunday, and no, its not an early morning run, or late afternoon run. Its a middle of the morning run! Guess who did not go to church today! But I know, through reading the bible He, Himself, did some .....un orthodox things, ..... picking food to eat for Him and His mates, and ...... would you believe making people better on days that you were not allowed to do anything!

So today, running through the woods, looking, enjoying, running, smelling and totally emersing one self in His glorious makings, was just fantastic! I decided from the start, because of (reason #121, Old Girls excuse book) I had exercised the day before, i.e. riding up to Downe Village (pint of lager! to recuperate) I wasn't go to go full out. And besides, Hitchy, was coming along, and she said that she hadn't ran for two weeks (reason #12 or whatever in old girls book) then I was going to 'keep her company! If only that were true.

Hitchy has come a long, long way in her running, she is ten years younger than me or more (reason #1, I think) so there was not way that I, in anyway, shape or form, was keeping her company! It was definitely the other way around.

I was looking forward to this run, not only just to get out and run through the woods, which I really love to do now days, but for the fact I can get another gong for my efforts! Ok, so my running club is very much into 'waste not, want not' and we had some 'spare medals' to share. I was also looking forward to the geeky stats, just to see if I had improved or not, since August. And guess what?, go on guess! I had improved. Not only did we start from the park, probably about 270 metres extra, but I was a whole 2 minutes quicker!

I was so pleased when I compared my two times on this route! Even though I moaned and groaned all the way round "This is supposed to be fun!" Hitchy had said to me. And it really is fun, I really do enjoy my running........after I had done the route of course, but I still enjoy my running! I miss it when I am not running, therefore, I enjoy running, just makes sense to me!

But looking at all the woods this time of year, don't it just fill your heart with wonder at what God had made! The colours of the leaves on the trees, the golder carpet that us runners are running on, the freshness of the air through the woods, the smells, the sounds, .....the silence! wow! Loving it, moaning at my slowness of course, but here I am enjoying everything.

Then its the road again! Popping out of the woods and up Barfield road, I know this road, boy do I know this road, its up hill, coming from this way, of course, and I virtually know every stone on this road, through running down here with the OB!

Still, its not far now, and I am feeling.......ok...ish! Hitchy is doing her thing! She could so easily have just took off and left me eating her dust, but here she is 'serpentine' her way through the course, running backwards, looking as if she is out for a Sunday morning stroll! Thankfully she is here because she just wants to get out and run. She loves running with people, in fact, if it wasn't for her job she would be a PWR! Darn the need for cash to live!!!!

Anyway, to top off the whole fantastic day, we had a great social time after in the local, and the I came home and had a fantastic time with my kids and grandson, and a small box of fireworks! A Brilliant fantastic day!

Geeky stats for you and I have put up the comparison page as well, clever init!

Comparison page

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/comparison?activityId=126974133&activityId2=103705083

And todays run

Not a Mob Match! by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details

Club Run - A Great Run!

Hello Blog lovers

It was club run today, and it was great to have our usual group 1 leader back with us. Welcome back! We also had a couple more newbies and even 'Crazy Fool' was back with us. Fantastic. I can only assume Christmas is around the corner and everybody is looking forward to getting into that little black dress, although Crazy Fool best stick to his suit!

I was hoping it was going to be a nice easier run that it has been since our illustrious leader has been recuperating, and I wasn't disappointed! Although when she mentioned 'little twiddly bits' of road just so that we wouldn't notice the 'up hill-ness' (a new word that I have just invented!) of that particular section, then I knew she was definitely back in control and wasn't going to let us off any hard work this evening.

We started off and it was just a nice easy pace, you can see from the geeky stats at the bottom, but it was nice getting to know the newbies and catching up with 'Crazy Fool'. With the other leaders leading I found I could just about string to words together to talk to others when running! Or of course, it could be that I am just getting fitter! Mmmm, what do you reckon?

I wasn't even at the back this time, just kept it going at the front end for a change! It was lovely. We were soon on to the 'Twiddly bits' that our illustrious leader mentioned, quietly under her breath. And yes there was hills, but I even found these, dare I say it, just very nicely paced for me. But I know, I am still not ready to move it up to group 1.5 just yet.

I was talking to one of the newbies at the front for a while, and I decided to talk to the other newbie who was running along with sweeper, to give her some support and encouragement.

Towards the end of the run the last little bit of road me and 'Crazy Fool' decided to sprint the last bit. I don't know where I found the energy from, but I sprinted as fast as I could, I had been hastening my pace for a few metres before anyway, doing a tiny bit of interval running, but now I was going to finish in style! In really fast paced style! I don't think I have ever ran that fast before in my life! But boy did it feel good to have all that energy at the end of a club run.......in fact any run that I have done before! Check the geeky stats to see how fast my last bit was! Even I was amazed at my speed!

So, here are those geeky stats for your perusal

Club Run by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details

A Much Needed Run!

hello blog lovers.

My lovely raspberry coloured running shoes have been sat in cupboard since Tuesday night, feeling very neglected. It was time to take them out again. If it wasn't for taking the little dude out for Pie 'n' Mash on Friday then I may have got a run then. But its asking just too much to run on a belly full of pie mash and lovely liquor, mmmm yum!

Let me just say thank you to all who read my ramblings and for all of you who leave comments either on here or FaceBook, I do appreciate it very much, and the encouragement you all give me as well, (and I am still stunned and amazed that there are people who still read this!) I just wish I could respond to your comments via my blogs, still its good that I can reply to you on facebook.

So today's run. I was planning on doing a bit of pavement pounding by myself with the earphones plugged in to me lug holes. After church I was going to go shopping, then go and get myself ready for a run. But things never go as I planned, and when I got back from shopping there was the Old Boy. He decided that his legs were up for a bit of a run. So there was no pavement pounding for me, it was off road again and through the woods. But I told him, "This is my run, so I am not going to be listening to your nagging, I am putting on my music, now go get your self ready" "OOOO, is that right" he said to me.

We were going to do our usual 3 and half miles through the woods. I though it was going to be muddy, but it was just fine. I am sure there were more puddles yesterday though, as we cycled through. The earphones worked a treat! I couldn't hear a word that the OB said. I just wanted to get lost in my run today, and with the help of the music that is just what I did.

I wasn't pushing myself, I didn't want to, I just wanted to run. And to be truthful, I was glad the Old Boy was here, because the run through the woods is such a lovely run. Very relaxing, and no driveways to look out for. And the air is just so fresher!

There was no PB's, that wasn't what I was after today, it was just a get out and feel good much needed run. The OB didn't push himself either, although he was always in front of me.

Oh yes, I must just mention this, (as an explaination to the pictures at the top) as me and the OB drove to our start point, we were both alread wearing our running caps in the car. We indicated to turn left and duly made our manuever. A chap who wanted to cross the road with his child, both of them on bikes, looked at us and obvisly stopped his child from crossing the road. The OB then noticed he turned to his child and said "Chavs!" It did make me and the OB smile. We caught up with them again as we ran out of Thornet Wood road. I wonder if he recognised us then and still thought of us as 'Chavs'

Geeky stats

Run with Alan by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details

Club Run - And It Rained!

Hello blogees,

I am writing this out again, because for some reason, my silly computer or silly blog land, or both, didn't save the paragraphs I had already written! Grrrr

But as the title suggests (the only words it did save!) it was a club run. I took my Big Son along today. At the weekend he had decided on his career choice. It's something that he has had in mind since year 8. So with a mixture of fear and pride, we set the wheels in motion to get him on track. Watch this space for updates later on.

He needs to be fit, and I want to spend time with my son, so I suggested that he come along and see if he can 'hack it' with group 1, or if running in a club is his thing.

We started off and he kept along side me, my energy levels were way day in my boots again, and he was soon with the pack while me and a newbie kept pace at the back. We jogged up to Pettswood, and I over took Big son. "Come on" I said keep going" and he said "It's raining, you don't jog in the rain?" I just chuckled and so did the newbie, "Yes we do, unless you want to go home" I said. He replied "What and walk home" I hated to tell him that it would be nearer to walk home than it would be to finish tonights jog!

I was glad that I had put on a light weight jacket. The rain did come down some what! Big Son had put up his hoody and was running up to us waiting for him! The run leader said "Is he coming to run with us or rob us!" Well if he could stay off his phone for 5 minutes then he will be running with us!

I tired to keep up with the main group today, and the run leader noticed that I was 'lagging behind' a bit today. Excuse #21 Feeling under the weather, maybe! I think that is what is wrong with me today, and possible excuse #22 Stressful time recently.

From here we were going to head to St Johns road and then Crofton road. But me and the newbie and Big Son, who the run leader made honary sweeper, keeping an eye on us ladies! But we were so far behind, and I was virtually running blindfolded, as the combination of the rain and body heat, and air temperature had my glasses misting up, that we couldn't quite see where the front of the pack went. Big son was behind and he said that they had turned left, but the newbie said that Crofton road was straight up, and that is where the run leader said he was going. Me? I had a clue where I was, and I couldn't see anyway!

We started to run straight up, much the to annoyance of Big Son, but just then, the run lead came from the turning where Big Son and said and called us back. You can image the smug look on Big Sons face can't you!

It wasn't our usual 3 to 3 and half miles today, in fact it was less that this. Young son was staying more and more at the back, even behind me. I was guessing that maybe he was quite ready for club runs yet, and I was glad I didn't tell him to go in the faster paced groups either! Big Son had developed a blister on his foot and was suffering. I know he has run a lot further than that before, he had actually run with me and nagging sister, and crazy fool, and little boy lost, on one of the 'path finder' runs. I expect the whole of August, and September Big Son has been 'on his holidays' where the fitness is concerned.

So I took him home. A couple of the other ladies had decided to go home as well, as we had arrived back at the rec, but there was a couple left that wanted to do the extra run around the block!

So geeky stats

Club run by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details

Club Run - Nice and Easy.....Its True!

Hello bloggees.

Its Tuesday, therefore its club running tonight! And as you can see by todays title, it was rather a pleasant run!

I think the thinking of the 'Kitman' is working well. Although, at the moment I don't run faster between lampposts then slower to the next, its more like, run fast on one run with the OB then a recovery run with the club! But still, I think it is working out. Because I found this evenings run a nice comfortable pace. I kept up, (mostly) with the group, which has now shrunk due to the new Group 1 1/2.

I was tempted to start 'thinking' about going into group 1 1/2, but after tonight I know I still have quite a way to go. There is no need to knock the stuffing out of yourself, it needs to remain fun and enjoyable as well.

It was good to have our usual group 1 leader running with us today, she has been off for a while, but is now getting on the mend. The route today was quite nice as well, not too many hills, but just enough slopes to get the heart working a tad faster.

I couldn't believe how comfortable I felt after the first mile. In fact I think that maybe I was a tad disappointed that we had stopped! ...... I know.....incredible that I even think that let alone write here for all to see! But I do know my body, and I know old 'couchy' is still very much alive and trying to kick! And I know that old 'couchy' will start to affect my mind and try to tell me that I can't do it.

The second mile bleeped on my watch, and by now our usual group leader had left our group to go home, 2 miles was quite enough for her as she has been out of running for so long, so we didn't stop! I was still feeling pretty good. I our 2nd just a tad slower than our first mile, but of course we did have a stop after the first mile, so it could be that we were running the same pace.

The third mile, however, can you believe was fast than the first and second mile! I know there was some lovely down hills there, but my goodness, thats unheard of from me! The only thing was, and I blame Old Couch Potato for this, when I head the bleep go to mark the third mile I stopped running. Just total and sheer mental factor that I stop. I pushed myself on again though.

The our group 1 leader, who was 'Kitman' by the way, said there were now two options. We could stick to his planned route or we could cut it short by about half a mile or so. Well everyone else in the group were quite happy to push on to do the little extra loop, I was not going to be the one to say, lets do the shorter one!

But by now I was at the back of the group, which is how I know I am not ready to move up to group 1 1/2! Running up Birchwood, away from the park entrance, seem like a totally surreal thing to do for me at this late stage in our run, but I tried not to think about it.

Running down the last of the roads, and my watch beeped again, and 'Kitmans' watch beeped "Don't listen to it" he said to me, in fact I believe he could sense the 'old couchy' was waiting to make an appearance, and it was as if he was confronting the Old Couch face to face!

I think I kept up well enough, the geeky stats said I did at least, and it only showed the one complete standstill stop that we had! So I think I am pretty pleased with myself about todays run.

Geeky stats, just check out the the third mile!

Club run by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details