last day of Juneathon :( but what a good way to end it. The morning was spent walking around Aria Force near Ullswater. Such stunning surrounding! That took a few hours but as was early, it was really quiet. Was quite a trek but was it is the last day, I did a run too. I ran to the next village from Gteystoke, which is called Blencow...there were plenty cows around so seemed appropriate. Not much else there tho. Just the pub...not even a wee shop. Always wonder if people who live in the remote country are all alcoholics as there really doesnt seem to be much else to do, but there are always plenty of pubs. The one in Grrystoke is calles the Boot and Shoe and is pretty nice and has live bands on a Sunday. Anyway arrived in Blencow and ran back again. I may go for a pint later...nothing better to do I suppose
Stats!
distance: 4.13
time: 36mins 19secs
cows in Blencow: loads
pubs in Blencow: 1 but not much else
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Saturday, 29 June 2013
day 29: chasing sheep and going off course...slightly
today has been activity filled. Had a great day walking around Ambleside, visiting Castlerigg stone circle just outside Keswick. Also managed a decent run. started off on the road out of Greystoke but noticed a bridle path going out to the next village of Motherby. wanted to get off road so was perfect....until i started going off route, eventually finding myself dodging cow poo and big spikey thistles, and chasing away lots of sheep.
thankfully found my way back on cours, out to the road and back, leaving the sheep to get back to a quiet evening without mad lost runners.
stats!
distance: 4.7miles
time: 43mins
sheep chased by me: about a dozen
thankfully found my way back on cours, out to the road and back, leaving the sheep to get back to a quiet evening without mad lost runners.
stats!
distance: 4.7miles
time: 43mins
sheep chased by me: about a dozen
Friday, 28 June 2013
day 28: lovely walk, short blog
writing this on window sill where i get a tiny bit of receptio. Am in Lake district this weekend so minimal blgging will occur. Went for nice 3 mile walk around country side around the village of Greystoke. there were cows and fields. l also did about 20 push ups and 20 sit ups to make me feel like i made an effort.
Thursday, 27 June 2013
day 27: confessions of a self-diagnosed mess monster
Right, I've got to crisis point. My flat is getting to the point of being so messy that I put something down and that's it lost for the next few days. I spent so much time looking for my Garmin before my run today that I almost cried in frustration before giving up and going on a shortened run as I was getting late for a hair appointment (Had a bit of a deja vu moment from Janathon!)
Housework always takes a very low priority for me and I always do as little as possible but I always regret it a little when I get to the point where I need to spend and entire day/weekend to get it back to respectability! Problem at the moment is I really don't seem to have time. Work, Juneathoning and general social engagement is leaving very little time. And I can't afford a cleaner - and I really would do anything to be able to get someone to do this kind of stuff for me!
So yeah, short (and hard going) run done - think I'm still recovering from my circuits class yesterday. Then quickly off to the hair dresser - hair is all nice and short again, but colour really needs done, am all multi shades of pink/peach/dark roots! And home to blog/eat crisps instead of making dinner.
The tidy-up will have to wait yet another day...weekend...month. Gaaaaa!!
Stats!
distance: 2.5miles
time: 23mins
haircuts: 1
packets of crisps eaten instead of actual dinner: 2
Housework always takes a very low priority for me and I always do as little as possible but I always regret it a little when I get to the point where I need to spend and entire day/weekend to get it back to respectability! Problem at the moment is I really don't seem to have time. Work, Juneathoning and general social engagement is leaving very little time. And I can't afford a cleaner - and I really would do anything to be able to get someone to do this kind of stuff for me!
So yeah, short (and hard going) run done - think I'm still recovering from my circuits class yesterday. Then quickly off to the hair dresser - hair is all nice and short again, but colour really needs done, am all multi shades of pink/peach/dark roots! And home to blog/eat crisps instead of making dinner.
The tidy-up will have to wait yet another day...weekend...month. Gaaaaa!!
Stats!
distance: 2.5miles
time: 23mins
haircuts: 1
packets of crisps eaten instead of actual dinner: 2
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
day 26: exercise and underwear
I apologise in advance for the topic of today's blog. But I want to talk about underwear. Now I like to be comfortable when I exercise. This means decent sports bra (shock absorber run bras are the only ones I will buy) tops that don't ride up and tights/shorts that don't fall down. I also stretch this to underwear. One thing I hate about exercise classes is that I have to look onto a fellow gym-class goer doing squats or deadlifts in cheap leggings to see the outline of a thong cutting through flesh. HOW CAN THAT BE COMFORTABLE!! I don't like thongs at the best of times, they seem like a pointless bit of clothing, designed by men for porn stars, but the idea of doing anything like running/jumping/cycling etc in them worries me. I'm more of a short/French knicker type.
Anyway, today, due to certain sartorial circumstances, I found myself having to partake in my circuits class in a piece of this undergarment. Thankfully the class itself was so hard going that I didn't really have the opportunity to think about the dis-comfort of a thin piece of material riding up my arse (sorry for that mental image!). Don't worry I had good quality tights on and tried not to stand in front of anyone!
Needless to say, I will be avoiding a similar scenario in the future.
Stats!
distance: emmm, none really but lots of calories burned I assure you
time: 50mins
uncomfortable items of underwear worn: 1
Anyway, today, due to certain sartorial circumstances, I found myself having to partake in my circuits class in a piece of this undergarment. Thankfully the class itself was so hard going that I didn't really have the opportunity to think about the dis-comfort of a thin piece of material riding up my arse (sorry for that mental image!). Don't worry I had good quality tights on and tried not to stand in front of anyone!
Needless to say, I will be avoiding a similar scenario in the future.
Stats!
distance: emmm, none really but lots of calories burned I assure you
time: 50mins
uncomfortable items of underwear worn: 1
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
day 25: running and corsets to the rescue
My run was pretty much the best thing about today - apart from the long awaited arrival of my new corset. Had to work at home today so I was in for the delivery of said corset. While the idea of laying in bed with my work-laptop and blackberry sounds like a nice idea, I don't really like working from home. I find it hard to concentrate and miss the banter with fellow colleagues. Still I had plenty to keep me busy...sadly much of this wasn't much fun. Much dealing with complaints etc
So I was actually looking forward to running some tension off. Also managed to turn it into a practical trip to collect my car from my parents house. This meant a pretty hard run with a good chunk of it uphill. Still, running off some stress also helped me get a decent pace up.
Here's my new corset :)
Stats!
distance: 4.7miles
time: 46mins
new corsets: 1
So I was actually looking forward to running some tension off. Also managed to turn it into a practical trip to collect my car from my parents house. This meant a pretty hard run with a good chunk of it uphill. Still, running off some stress also helped me get a decent pace up.
Here's my new corset :)
distance: 4.7miles
time: 46mins
new corsets: 1
Monday, 24 June 2013
day 24: deafened by gym instructor
this is gonna be short as am writing on my phone as i wait for the boy to cook my dinner.
today i cycled home, which is mainly downhill so eadyish. but i also did body blitz, which was hard and not entirely pleasant as the instructor had the shit music too loud and insisted on also shouting in her microphone over it...thanks for that.
anyway, that all for this evening...
Stats!
distance: 4.5 miles, time: 25mins
body blitz class:1, 45 mins
ear drums possibly damaged: 2
today i cycled home, which is mainly downhill so eadyish. but i also did body blitz, which was hard and not entirely pleasant as the instructor had the shit music too loud and insisted on also shouting in her microphone over it...thanks for that.
anyway, that all for this evening...
Stats!
distance: 4.5 miles, time: 25mins
body blitz class:1, 45 mins
ear drums possibly damaged: 2
Sunday, 23 June 2013
day 23 (and 22) first fail and paying penance
So, yes...yesterday was my first ever Juneathon (or Janathon) fail. Am a wee bit disappointed in myself.
Even though I definitely partook in activity that can certainly be considered exercise (and very good exercise at that) I didn't get round to blogging. So technically a fail.
It isn't going to happen again, so today as I looked out at the horizontal rain I put on my running kit anyway and ran round the park. And got wet...very wet. But it soon stopped and I rather enjoyed it.
So, back on track for the last week. Going to make an extra effort to get some proper mileage in.
Stats!
Distance: 3.6miles
time: 31mins
Junathon fails: 1 :(
Even though I definitely partook in activity that can certainly be considered exercise (and very good exercise at that) I didn't get round to blogging. So technically a fail.
It isn't going to happen again, so today as I looked out at the horizontal rain I put on my running kit anyway and ran round the park. And got wet...very wet. But it soon stopped and I rather enjoyed it.
So, back on track for the last week. Going to make an extra effort to get some proper mileage in.
Stats!
Distance: 3.6miles
time: 31mins
Junathon fails: 1 :(
Friday, 21 June 2013
day 21: doing it old school with Cher
Today I did something I haven't done since I was a teenager: a fitness video. Not a DVD, a video (yes I still have a player, not that it gets used much).
Once again, thanks to my work, I had to cancel Body Blitz. I could have gone for a run... it was a rather nice day outside, but I have really been neglecting my strength training so I had a think and then remember I had an old fitness video. I got it when I was about 12. It is a Cher one. And despite what you might be thinking, it is actually pretty good. You don't need much room, which is good as I have a small-ish which is very cluttered with stuff. It even has some decent music on it (if you like 60s stuff, its actually pretty good to exercise to). It is also not the easiest. I was only going to do the resistance/strength training section which uses resistance bands (like big elastic bands, generally pimped and marketed a Pilates bands at a inflated price). However, since I had lost the remote control for my video player I couldn't be bothered to fast forward through the aerobics section. So I ended up doing about 1hour20 mins worth of exercise.
Once again, thanks to my work, I had to cancel Body Blitz. I could have gone for a run... it was a rather nice day outside, but I have really been neglecting my strength training so I had a think and then remember I had an old fitness video. I got it when I was about 12. It is a Cher one. And despite what you might be thinking, it is actually pretty good. You don't need much room, which is good as I have a small-ish which is very cluttered with stuff. It even has some decent music on it (if you like 60s stuff, its actually pretty good to exercise to). It is also not the easiest. I was only going to do the resistance/strength training section which uses resistance bands (like big elastic bands, generally pimped and marketed a Pilates bands at a inflated price). However, since I had lost the remote control for my video player I couldn't be bothered to fast forward through the aerobics section. So I ended up doing about 1hour20 mins worth of exercise.
This is what it looks like - you can probably get it on dvd now, though maybe not new.
Stats!
distance: back and forth in my living room
time: 38mins aerobics, 45mins weight-band workout
Skimpy outfits worn by Cher: at least one
time: 38mins aerobics, 45mins weight-band workout
Skimpy outfits worn by Cher: at least one
Thursday, 20 June 2013
day 20: hot and sweaty
Ok, minds out of the gutter people!! I am of course referring to my short but oh so hard-going run today. You would think it was summer out there. I had wanted to do at least 5km but thanks to projects at work going all a bit pear-shaped I was standing in my bedroom, run kit on talking on the phone to a contractor who was telling me I needed to be in Dumfries tomorrow to get shouted at by the public...It sort of made me late, and I had dinner plans with friends.
Ended up being rather a relief as I was already struggling about 1.5miles in. Hot, sweaty and tired. Got back and forced myself to do my daily press-ups (I'm pretty much managing 3 full, on-the-toes, good technique ones now, which for me is pretty damn good!). By time I was literally dripping.
Even after a shower I was waaay too hot and stayed that way until I sauntered home after a good bowl of pasta and a couple of glasses of wine. Didn't even really care that my eye makeup was totally smudged and looked like I'd been partying as if I was some (very) low-grade version of Kate Moss.
Anyway, looks like the heat/sun isn't going to last and will probably be complaining of being wet cause of the rain instead!
Stats!
distance: 2.3miles
time: 21mins30secs
sweat sweated: a lot (yuck)
Ended up being rather a relief as I was already struggling about 1.5miles in. Hot, sweaty and tired. Got back and forced myself to do my daily press-ups (I'm pretty much managing 3 full, on-the-toes, good technique ones now, which for me is pretty damn good!). By time I was literally dripping.
Even after a shower I was waaay too hot and stayed that way until I sauntered home after a good bowl of pasta and a couple of glasses of wine. Didn't even really care that my eye makeup was totally smudged and looked like I'd been partying as if I was some (very) low-grade version of Kate Moss.
Anyway, looks like the heat/sun isn't going to last and will probably be complaining of being wet cause of the rain instead!
Stats!
distance: 2.3miles
time: 21mins30secs
sweat sweated: a lot (yuck)
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
day 19: OMG a quiet night in!
Wow...for the first time in I don't know how long, I am sat in front of TV in pj's with no plans except a DVD (Magic Mike, if you are wondering) and a VERY early night.
Life has been a bit crazy recently with lots of very good stuff going on and I seem to have been getting by on happiness and adrenaline but it is all rather tiring and am a wee bit relieved I am getting a night off.
That hasn't stopped me getting in a decent run before flaking out. Was gorgeously sunny and warm so done a pretty decent distance, though wish I had taken some water. Did one of my fave routes along the Innocent Railway cycle path and passed a lot of happy looking cyclists (amazing what a sunny day can do!)
Anyway, must get back to my DVD watching :)
Stats!
distance: 6.1 miles
time: 55mins48secs
quiet nights in this week: 1 so far
Life has been a bit crazy recently with lots of very good stuff going on and I seem to have been getting by on happiness and adrenaline but it is all rather tiring and am a wee bit relieved I am getting a night off.
That hasn't stopped me getting in a decent run before flaking out. Was gorgeously sunny and warm so done a pretty decent distance, though wish I had taken some water. Did one of my fave routes along the Innocent Railway cycle path and passed a lot of happy looking cyclists (amazing what a sunny day can do!)
Anyway, must get back to my DVD watching :)
Stats!
distance: 6.1 miles
time: 55mins48secs
quiet nights in this week: 1 so far
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
day 18: white noise twilight zone
Its unusual for me not to have something witter on about but today I think my brain has entered into a twilight zone of white noise...too much going on and too little time to achieve things.
Finally going back to my flat this evening as my folks are back, so at least I won't be rushing back and forth like a flustered bee.
So anyway, yes - I did go for a run today. It was short but was over the braid hills so not an easy ride. Did a few press ups and tricep dips along the way too. Its also Tuesday which means yoga. I do enjoy it when I get there but really wish it started earlier as I always struggle to motivate myself to go. Only 2 weeks left of it so going to be strict with myself.
OK, that's all I can muster...typing is even feeling like a chore today!
Stats!
distance: 2.9miles
time: 28mins12secs
press ups: 20
tricep dips: 16
Finally going back to my flat this evening as my folks are back, so at least I won't be rushing back and forth like a flustered bee.
So anyway, yes - I did go for a run today. It was short but was over the braid hills so not an easy ride. Did a few press ups and tricep dips along the way too. Its also Tuesday which means yoga. I do enjoy it when I get there but really wish it started earlier as I always struggle to motivate myself to go. Only 2 weeks left of it so going to be strict with myself.
OK, that's all I can muster...typing is even feeling like a chore today!
Stats!
distance: 2.9miles
time: 28mins12secs
press ups: 20
tricep dips: 16
Monday, 17 June 2013
day 17: running in new rocks
So, it hasn't been my best effort this month, in fact it has probably been my worst effort yet but hey ho. The reason for the half-arsed-ness is that it was a loooong day. Got into work before 8am, was at an all day roadshow in which I really struggled to stay awake (combination of long presentations, too warm room and general Monday-ness). got back to office and had lots of stuff to deal with before I could escape...here comes my exercise-bit. As I am staying half a mile away from work at the moment I have been walking to and from it.
Today I was running late to get home for my new car getting dropped off. This meant I had to run home. I ran as much as I could but I was wearing my new rock boots. They say its hard running in heals, they should try this. It is pretty much like having 2lb weights attached to each leg, but hotter. As you can see from the photo, they are big with metal bits. So it was more of a run...jog...walk.
Happily I made it back in time for my car arriving. Then I had to sort out my insurance, then rush across town to help a friend transport some art home.
finally home and pretty knackered but still thinking 'that really wasn't good enough for Juneathon', so I did 20 press-ups, 40 sit-ups and some chest-flys and bicep/triceps exercises. Felt a bit better with effort after that.
Stats!
distance: 0.5miles
time: 6minutes
press-ups: 20
sit-ups: 40
misc upper body exercises: not sure
Today I was running late to get home for my new car getting dropped off. This meant I had to run home. I ran as much as I could but I was wearing my new rock boots. They say its hard running in heals, they should try this. It is pretty much like having 2lb weights attached to each leg, but hotter. As you can see from the photo, they are big with metal bits. So it was more of a run...jog...walk.
 |
| my rather lovely, but heavy, boots |
finally home and pretty knackered but still thinking 'that really wasn't good enough for Juneathon', so I did 20 press-ups, 40 sit-ups and some chest-flys and bicep/triceps exercises. Felt a bit better with effort after that.
Stats!
distance: 0.5miles
time: 6minutes
press-ups: 20
sit-ups: 40
misc upper body exercises: not sure
Sunday, 16 June 2013
day 16: survived the weekend, jogged and almost threw up
It felt like had already done a lot of exercise today and I hadn't even put on a pair of trainers. Its been an awesome weekend of catching up with friends, eating, drinking, dressing up steampunk style and dancing.
I got back today to my folks house to a cat who was acting like she had been considerably neglected over the last few days and was very pleased to see me. Although it was getting late and I had just had dinner not that long ago, I still felt the need to do some 'proper' exercise for Juneathon (I will not be called a slacker, ever!). So on went my running kit for a short circuit around the estate. It wasn't pleasant - I got a stitch almost immediately and getting to anything close to a decent speed brought on the horrible feeling that I was going to hurl.
But nevermind. I went and jogged and that's what counts - I even made a half-hearted attempt at some push ups when I got home.
Stats!
distance 2.3miles
time: 20mins
feeling of needing to throw up: a few
I got back today to my folks house to a cat who was acting like she had been considerably neglected over the last few days and was very pleased to see me. Although it was getting late and I had just had dinner not that long ago, I still felt the need to do some 'proper' exercise for Juneathon (I will not be called a slacker, ever!). So on went my running kit for a short circuit around the estate. It wasn't pleasant - I got a stitch almost immediately and getting to anything close to a decent speed brought on the horrible feeling that I was going to hurl.
But nevermind. I went and jogged and that's what counts - I even made a half-hearted attempt at some push ups when I got home.
Stats!
distance 2.3miles
time: 20mins
feeling of needing to throw up: a few
Saturday, 15 June 2013
Day 15: 10k with a hangover, after staying out all night - well, why not??
No slacking here at all today! despite a pretty epic party last night (which was still going at 6am...) I managed to get outside into the windy, drizzly conditions and did just over 10K. Yep, 6.3 miles, on a couple hours sleep and a very present hangover. *smug look*. Lucky it was round one of my favourite circuit of the braid hills and the hermitage so I managed to zone out a bit
Even did it in under and hour, which I totally wasn't expecting. I doubt I will be able to pull this off again tomorrow as I gear up for night out round 2. I am going to try to be sensible but I think we all know that doesn't usually happen :)
Short post today as I have a Steampunk themed outfit/make-over to research and create.
stats:
distance: 6.3miles
time: 57mins11secs
hangovers: 1
hours of sleep: mmm, not enough
Even did it in under and hour, which I totally wasn't expecting. I doubt I will be able to pull this off again tomorrow as I gear up for night out round 2. I am going to try to be sensible but I think we all know that doesn't usually happen :)
Short post today as I have a Steampunk themed outfit/make-over to research and create.
stats:
distance: 6.3miles
time: 57mins11secs
hangovers: 1
hours of sleep: mmm, not enough
Friday, 14 June 2013
day 14: Body Blitz to Bacon Birthday Party in one evening
I did it!!!! I actually managed to NOT cancel a gym class, go to it on time and complete it with 100% effort.
Am now totally knackered and very aware I need to get ready for a party (or 2). The first party is a bacon themed-party...I know weird. But that's my wonderful friends for you. Just to clarify, its not a 'dress up as your favourite pork-product' party, in the spirit of Lady GaGa, but a party where the host has cooked an astounding array of bacon food-stuffs. Desert should be interesting. Maybe not a good evening for vegetarians!
Anyway, I did manage my exercise today. Body Blitz. It can be a kind-of Body Pump substitute. Though the instructor on a Friday is insane and has his own idea of what 'Blitz' means. I sweated....a lot. There was running on the spot, burpees, lots of press-ups, sit-ups and mad interval stuff. I definitely feel I deserve a beer or 2 tonight.
This weekend is going to be a challenge exercise wise, and everything else-wise. On top of tonight's parties, tomorrow I have to return and feed my cat, sort out various car-related paperwork, visit the bank and Junethon, all probably with a hangover. Then I have another big night out, at which I plan to be good, but we all know I'm not that good at following through with that.
Well, I need to go get glammed up now....What does one wear to a bacon party I wonder??
Stats:
gym classes attended: 1
time: 45 mines
hard exercises completed: many
bacon-themed parties attended: 1
Am now totally knackered and very aware I need to get ready for a party (or 2). The first party is a bacon themed-party...I know weird. But that's my wonderful friends for you. Just to clarify, its not a 'dress up as your favourite pork-product' party, in the spirit of Lady GaGa, but a party where the host has cooked an astounding array of bacon food-stuffs. Desert should be interesting. Maybe not a good evening for vegetarians!
Anyway, I did manage my exercise today. Body Blitz. It can be a kind-of Body Pump substitute. Though the instructor on a Friday is insane and has his own idea of what 'Blitz' means. I sweated....a lot. There was running on the spot, burpees, lots of press-ups, sit-ups and mad interval stuff. I definitely feel I deserve a beer or 2 tonight.
This weekend is going to be a challenge exercise wise, and everything else-wise. On top of tonight's parties, tomorrow I have to return and feed my cat, sort out various car-related paperwork, visit the bank and Junethon, all probably with a hangover. Then I have another big night out, at which I plan to be good, but we all know I'm not that good at following through with that.
Well, I need to go get glammed up now....What does one wear to a bacon party I wonder??
Stats:
gym classes attended: 1
time: 45 mines
hard exercises completed: many
bacon-themed parties attended: 1
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Day 13: the dog ate my homework and other not so classic excuses
I know in yesterday's blog I said I was DETERMINED to go to my class today as I have been being bad a missing them....however (here come the excuses)...I looked at the forecast and it was supposed to be sunny so I thought, mmm running day- turned out it wasn't. Then I got a phone call from the guy who has been looking out for a car for me to replace the one I crashed, saying that he had found one and would I like to see it. So I needed to be home for that. So, anyway, long story short, I cancelled my circuits class yet again and opted for a bike trip to Tesco's to buy more hair dye as I'm getting to the point of 2-tone hair as it is still bright on top and horrible and washed out at the ends.
Was actually rather hard as there is a very long, steep hill and my legs really felt the pain. As a concession to missing my class I came home and did some strength exercises with my resistance bands. I have also progressed to managing (just) 3 full press ups. believe me, this is progress.
So anyway, a no-show sunny evening and car-checking-out are my excuses for today's whittled down exercise effort. Really not what a tough-mudder-in-training should be aiming for with a little over 2 months until race day. Also not the most interesting excuses in the world...mmmm idea for 'list-type' future blog: Favourite 'I didn't go running today' excuses :)
stats!
distance: 4.5miles
time: 26mins
steep hills cycled up: 1 very long one
crap excuses for missing gym class: 2
new cars almost acquired: 1 ford fiesta
Was actually rather hard as there is a very long, steep hill and my legs really felt the pain. As a concession to missing my class I came home and did some strength exercises with my resistance bands. I have also progressed to managing (just) 3 full press ups. believe me, this is progress.
So anyway, a no-show sunny evening and car-checking-out are my excuses for today's whittled down exercise effort. Really not what a tough-mudder-in-training should be aiming for with a little over 2 months until race day. Also not the most interesting excuses in the world...mmmm idea for 'list-type' future blog: Favourite 'I didn't go running today' excuses :)
stats!
distance: 4.5miles
time: 26mins
steep hills cycled up: 1 very long one
crap excuses for missing gym class: 2
new cars almost acquired: 1 ford fiesta
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
day 12: Getting distracted
I blame one person in particular. They shall remain nameless but they are responsible for me staying out late, drinking beer when I should be in bed asleep and making me miss circuit training class as I'm too tired from being out dancing till the early hours on a school night.
Having said that, being out last night meant that I did cancel circuit class but also meant I went out cycling in the sunshine instead for my Juneathon effort. I also went for a nice walk to the pub near my parents house which added another mile and a half.
The cycle also included a very steep hill and as was pointed out to me my bike is pretty rubbish and very heavy so extra effort was needed to get up said hill.
All in all, managed 10 miles which I reckon is pretty good for a sleep deprived Wednesday. No upper body strength training yet again, but there is always tomorrow, and I am DETERMINED not to miss that class!!
stats:
distance: 10miles (plus 1.5mile round trip to the pub)
time: 1hour5mins
people distracting me from being good: 1 in particular
Having said that, being out last night meant that I did cancel circuit class but also meant I went out cycling in the sunshine instead for my Juneathon effort. I also went for a nice walk to the pub near my parents house which added another mile and a half.
The cycle also included a very steep hill and as was pointed out to me my bike is pretty rubbish and very heavy so extra effort was needed to get up said hill.
All in all, managed 10 miles which I reckon is pretty good for a sleep deprived Wednesday. No upper body strength training yet again, but there is always tomorrow, and I am DETERMINED not to miss that class!!
stats:
distance: 10miles (plus 1.5mile round trip to the pub)
time: 1hour5mins
people distracting me from being good: 1 in particular
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
day 11: relucant weight training and pre-emptive Yoga
Feeling a bit meh today. Still not over my cold and coughing all the time. Work sucked and I have to go to yoga and really can't be bothered. Also, as I missed my body blitz class yesterday really felt I should do some strength exercises and I'm really not very good at motivating myself to do weights at home which is why I like going to classes as I'm stuck in a room for a set period of time being told what to do. I can't do that at home. Anyway I managed to do about 25 mins worth and tried to do all muscle groups. I had planned to note exactly how many of each I did but was really kidding myself. Rubbish at being that exact!
I managed about 20-ish press ups (only one and a half on my toes), 50-ish abs exercises (crunches etc etc, don't know all the different labels), 20 squats, 20 lunges, 20 chest-flies, 20 pull downs, or whatever you call them, 20 bicep curls, 20 lateral raises. Most of all the upper body exercises were done using resistance bands.
Anyway, I haven't gone to Yoga yet but don't have time to blog after the class, so will tell you now it was probably very hard work and my legs will probably feel like jelly afterwards.
stats:
strength exercises done: no idea but enough considering I still have a cold
Yoga class been to: 1 (in the very near future)
I managed about 20-ish press ups (only one and a half on my toes), 50-ish abs exercises (crunches etc etc, don't know all the different labels), 20 squats, 20 lunges, 20 chest-flies, 20 pull downs, or whatever you call them, 20 bicep curls, 20 lateral raises. Most of all the upper body exercises were done using resistance bands.
Anyway, I haven't gone to Yoga yet but don't have time to blog after the class, so will tell you now it was probably very hard work and my legs will probably feel like jelly afterwards.
stats:
strength exercises done: no idea but enough considering I still have a cold
Yoga class been to: 1 (in the very near future)
Monday, 10 June 2013
Day 10: I fecking HATE Mondays
Monday's are bad enough, but when you have been ill for a week, had a lovely but tiring weekend, ending up being led astray on Sunday evening into drinking beer in the park, resulting in very little sleep, come Monday morning I just wanted to stay in bed all day. Instead I had to drag my carcass into the stuffy office, where all I could do it try to keep from sliding under my desk for a snooze.
I was supposed to be doing a body blitz class this evening but I really couldn't face 45 mins of hard weight training. I opted instead for a short run around the estate where my folks stay (I am once again, cat sitting - feel like I spend just as much time here than I do at my own flat!). Even that was a struggle. The lovely sunny day didn't do anything to make it any easier or more enjoyable. Was just happy to get it over with. Done a few press ups when I got back which pretty much finished me off.
Hopefully an early night will finally get rid of this hideous cold and I'll be back on form.
Apologies for any other Juneathon-ers who may have caught my cold through the cyber-waves of the Internet ;)
stats:
distance: 2.4 miles
time: 21minutes
I was supposed to be doing a body blitz class this evening but I really couldn't face 45 mins of hard weight training. I opted instead for a short run around the estate where my folks stay (I am once again, cat sitting - feel like I spend just as much time here than I do at my own flat!). Even that was a struggle. The lovely sunny day didn't do anything to make it any easier or more enjoyable. Was just happy to get it over with. Done a few press ups when I got back which pretty much finished me off.
Hopefully an early night will finally get rid of this hideous cold and I'll be back on form.
Apologies for any other Juneathon-ers who may have caught my cold through the cyber-waves of the Internet ;)
stats:
distance: 2.4 miles
time: 21minutes
Sunday, 9 June 2013
days 9: trying to cough up a lung
I'm ill. Feel like I've been fighting cold after cold ever since I started my new job back last July/August. I mainly blame the bad ventilation which leaves the place hot and airless and probably a very good incubator of germs, which I seem to pick up like they were going out of style.
I felt ok when doing my walk yesterday though I had to make sure I had a good supply of tissues, however, after a few beers it all went downhill. Ended up in bed at 23:30 feeling like shite, which is basically how I've been feeling since.
Not that I will let that get in the way of #Juneathon. I hate failing at tasks I set myself. So after a short snooze this afternoon (was a little sad at putting my blackout blind on the blue skies outside my window). I dragged myself out for a wee run. Was only going to be short but took my water bottle as was really afraid of having a massive coughing fit in the middle of the park and loose a lung. Funnily enough, once I got out, I actually felt a lot better than I had lying in my bed! I did have a few stop offs for water and coughing but I kept on going and actually managed it up the big steep bit of the park and did a full circuit.
So back rewarding myself with a nice cold beer, of which I have many left over from last night.
stats:
distance: 3.5miles
time: 33mins 44secs
colds caught this year: way too many!
Also, now that I'm back in civilisation, here are a couple of shots of my walk yesterday. The little white dots in the background are the other members of my team, whose boy-asses I kicked :)
Stunning scenery...proud to be Scottish on days like this
I felt ok when doing my walk yesterday though I had to make sure I had a good supply of tissues, however, after a few beers it all went downhill. Ended up in bed at 23:30 feeling like shite, which is basically how I've been feeling since.
Not that I will let that get in the way of #Juneathon. I hate failing at tasks I set myself. So after a short snooze this afternoon (was a little sad at putting my blackout blind on the blue skies outside my window). I dragged myself out for a wee run. Was only going to be short but took my water bottle as was really afraid of having a massive coughing fit in the middle of the park and loose a lung. Funnily enough, once I got out, I actually felt a lot better than I had lying in my bed! I did have a few stop offs for water and coughing but I kept on going and actually managed it up the big steep bit of the park and did a full circuit.
So back rewarding myself with a nice cold beer, of which I have many left over from last night.
stats:
distance: 3.5miles
time: 33mins 44secs
colds caught this year: way too many!
Also, now that I'm back in civilisation, here are a couple of shots of my walk yesterday. The little white dots in the background are the other members of my team, whose boy-asses I kicked :)
 |
| The little white dots aren't that far away....yet |
Stunning scenery...proud to be Scottish on days like this |
| Found a little 8-legged friend at the top of Carn Mairg |
 |
| Obligatory 'top of the mountain' pose! |
Saturday, 8 June 2013
day 8: kicking the asses of boys
As some regulsr readers may know, i sometimes do a running club at work, where i often have difficulty keeping up with the faster male runners...well today i got my revenge. walked 12miles and managed to bag 3 (almost 4) munro mountains. was walking them with 2 male work friends and ileft them flagging well behind me at all points along the way. will come back to this post to add photos as am on my phone, but they are usually little dots in the distance :) was a fantastic walk and the sun was out. on these days i feel lucky to live in such a beautiful country. like i say, i will prob comr back to this blog to add and edit but now a BBQ and a well earned beer are waiting! BTW, sorry for bad punctuation and spelling!!
stats!
distance:12 miles
time: 8 hours
number of asses kicked: 2
stats!
distance:12 miles
time: 8 hours
number of asses kicked: 2
Friday, 7 June 2013
day7: very short run, the pub is waiting
im writing this from my phone in a sketchy internet covered area in Aberfeldy. im doing a munro challenge for Wateraid tomorrow so am up in sunny perthshire with work colleagues for the weekend. arriving at the hostel, i left my fellow walkers to unload everything while i selfishly went for a run. was very short as everyone was waiting to go to the pub so was a quick 1.4 miles along the river. could have ran a lot longer as was beautiful, but i had people waiting. i took photos but wont try to ob my phone.
stats!
distance: 1.4miles
time:12mins
Thursday, 6 June 2013
Day 6: getting 'sort of' challenged
Was supposed to do another circuits class today but due to the fact it was waaay too nice to be inside this evening and a casual tweet by a fellow Juneathoner (paulkdesigner I'm looking at you!) I decided to go for a run instead.
Like I had said in a previous blog, I wasn't really looking to concentrate on mileage this month but getting my strength up, but now having had the 'I'm sure you could easily run 100km in a month' comment made I now feel obliged to rise to the challenge! Obviously I will still have to do my strength building training so will just have to work even harder. Thanks Paul!!
Well it worked. Though I did just want to stay out in the sunshine as long as possible I was also happy to see myself clock up my mileage this evening, keeping my speed up to a reasonable (for me) level. I didn't even get (too) jealous of all the people in the meadows drinking beer and having BBQs (been there, done that!).
Got home and did some press ups, crunches, and other arms stuff (a technical term).
Everyone like a motivational pic. so here you go:
Stats!!
distance: 6.23miles
time: 58mins05secs
likelihood of getting to 100km this month: slim, but I'll try
Like I had said in a previous blog, I wasn't really looking to concentrate on mileage this month but getting my strength up, but now having had the 'I'm sure you could easily run 100km in a month' comment made I now feel obliged to rise to the challenge! Obviously I will still have to do my strength building training so will just have to work even harder. Thanks Paul!!
Well it worked. Though I did just want to stay out in the sunshine as long as possible I was also happy to see myself clock up my mileage this evening, keeping my speed up to a reasonable (for me) level. I didn't even get (too) jealous of all the people in the meadows drinking beer and having BBQs (been there, done that!).
Got home and did some press ups, crunches, and other arms stuff (a technical term).
Everyone like a motivational pic. so here you go:
Stats!!
distance: 6.23miles
time: 58mins05secs
likelihood of getting to 100km this month: slim, but I'll try
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
day 5: where a circuits class attempts to kill me and a woman is rude
So, back to normal service. exercised, logged and blogged all in one evening :) And what a session.
Was back to my first circuit class in about 6 months, and ooh fuck did I feel it! My legs and arms now have about the same strength in them as rolls of jelly. I enjoyed it though. Except for the beginning where I got some stuck up woman who, instead of kindly and helpfully pointing out that I was doing the circuit wrong (it was a different instructor from my last class) and pointing me back in the right direction, scrunched up her face, and effectively inferred that I was a total moron that cannot follow simple instructions and was generally getting up her snooty nose. There is just no need.
Anyway, once I got back on course, I did pretty well I think. Sweated alot and generally managed most of the exercises without collapsing/throwing up. And am doing it all again tomorrow!
And good news - I'm coming to the Juneathonpissup lunch at the end of this madness. Really looking forward to meeting some of my fellow -athoners. Also gives me a chance to have a mini-holiday and do some gallery-seeing and Camden shopping :)
Stats!
circuit classes complete without hurling: 1
rude women in class:1
limbs now resembling jelly: 4
Was back to my first circuit class in about 6 months, and ooh fuck did I feel it! My legs and arms now have about the same strength in them as rolls of jelly. I enjoyed it though. Except for the beginning where I got some stuck up woman who, instead of kindly and helpfully pointing out that I was doing the circuit wrong (it was a different instructor from my last class) and pointing me back in the right direction, scrunched up her face, and effectively inferred that I was a total moron that cannot follow simple instructions and was generally getting up her snooty nose. There is just no need.
Anyway, once I got back on course, I did pretty well I think. Sweated alot and generally managed most of the exercises without collapsing/throwing up. And am doing it all again tomorrow!
And good news - I'm coming to the Juneathon
Stats!
circuit classes complete without hurling: 1
rude women in class:1
limbs now resembling jelly: 4
day 4: this may be late but I haven't broken the rules
OK, so I know this is late...and the excuses will follow. However, the rules do say that you need to blog 'within 24 hours'. I ran at 5pm yesterday and it is now 8:50am so am still good :)
Now for the excuses...it was sunny and I got an invite to a BBQ so I had the option of being good and doing a proper run and being a social sad-case, or do a quick run and get the hell out into the sun and drink beer. Bet you can guess which one I chose??
Did 2 miles which consisted of a mini circuit of holyrood park. In my eagerness to join the BBQ fun I did it pretty quickly too. So back home I only had time for a few press ups, a quick shower and change and out the door, thinking to myself 'I'll be back about 9ish...plenty time for blogging.' Ahhh, how naive I am. A few hours later and I am in the pub with my bad-influencing friends. So here I am blogging when I should be working (just in case this gets read by any colleagues...I will be working through my lunch to make up!).
I have a feeling this may not be the only time this happens...
stats!
distance: 2 miles
time: 17mins28secs
Now for the excuses...it was sunny and I got an invite to a BBQ so I had the option of being good and doing a proper run and being a social sad-case, or do a quick run and get the hell out into the sun and drink beer. Bet you can guess which one I chose??
Did 2 miles which consisted of a mini circuit of holyrood park. In my eagerness to join the BBQ fun I did it pretty quickly too. So back home I only had time for a few press ups, a quick shower and change and out the door, thinking to myself 'I'll be back about 9ish...plenty time for blogging.' Ahhh, how naive I am. A few hours later and I am in the pub with my bad-influencing friends. So here I am blogging when I should be working (just in case this gets read by any colleagues...I will be working through my lunch to make up!).
I have a feeling this may not be the only time this happens...
stats!
distance: 2 miles
time: 17mins28secs
Monday, 3 June 2013
day 3: back to being good
Aaah, Mondays - the most hated day of the week. For me rightly so, especially when I return to the working routine having had a weekend with only a few hours sleep and where exercise consisted of mainly dancing to techno music and meals meant crisps for breakfast and pizza and wine for dinner.
So I am back to eating yogurt for breakfast and veggie stirfry for dinner. and writing blogs at a sensible time and not at 5am! I did manage a run today but it was a short circuit of holyrood park so I was home in time for my body blitz class (my gym's version of body pump). Just before anyone gets competitive - I won't be looking at the Juneathon leaderboard of doom this time as I will not be anywhere remotely high up. Not because I am slacking but because I am not training for a race. What I am doing is training for the Tough Mudder (if you've been under an exercise-world rock and haven't heard of it, google it). This means I have to get my upper body strength improved incredibly quickly. I am pathetic when it comes to upper body strength, I can do about 1 and a half full press ups and I can't even think of doing a proper pull up! So will be concentrating on circuit training and weight classes this month.
Stats!
distance: 3.4miles
time: 28mins 48mins
Body Blitz class: 1 (45mins)
So I am back to eating yogurt for breakfast and veggie stirfry for dinner. and writing blogs at a sensible time and not at 5am! I did manage a run today but it was a short circuit of holyrood park so I was home in time for my body blitz class (my gym's version of body pump). Just before anyone gets competitive - I won't be looking at the Juneathon leaderboard of doom this time as I will not be anywhere remotely high up. Not because I am slacking but because I am not training for a race. What I am doing is training for the Tough Mudder (if you've been under an exercise-world rock and haven't heard of it, google it). This means I have to get my upper body strength improved incredibly quickly. I am pathetic when it comes to upper body strength, I can do about 1 and a half full press ups and I can't even think of doing a proper pull up! So will be concentrating on circuit training and weight classes this month.
Stats!
distance: 3.4miles
time: 28mins 48mins
Body Blitz class: 1 (45mins)
Sunday, 2 June 2013
day 2: end of a hedonistic weekend (exercise was achieved)
Ok, well this weekend turned out very different that I had planned but was worth it. While I did not go out running as I had planned, I spent over an hour dancing to techno music with some of my insane friends so definitely think this qualifies for my Junathon effort today.
I reckon I probably burned a lot more calories dancing like a maniac than I would have if I had gone on a short hungover run :)
Demonstrating my general goal when I started on my twitter/blogging journey, this weekend has very much tested my balancing of my healthy exercise-orientated lifestyle and my love of hedonistic behaviour. I very much expect normal service to resume tomorrow!!
hours spent dancing like a manic: at least over one
days spent being hedonistic so far this Juneathon: 2
I reckon I probably burned a lot more calories dancing like a maniac than I would have if I had gone on a short hungover run :)
Demonstrating my general goal when I started on my twitter/blogging journey, this weekend has very much tested my balancing of my healthy exercise-orientated lifestyle and my love of hedonistic behaviour. I very much expect normal service to resume tomorrow!!
hours spent dancing like a manic: at least over one
days spent being hedonistic so far this Juneathon: 2
Day 1: and I almost miss the deadline
Oh dear, first day and I almost fail...I jogged and logged fairly early today but had to defer blogging until I went shopping. Well....shopping turned into going to the Meadows festival and one cider turned into a few beers and here I am at 5am finallly getting round to blogging. Its within 24 hours so its all good. I blame my friends for leading me astray (though I do admit it is fairly easy to do)
Anyway...way back on Saturday morning I ran 5 miles round the meadows. It was sunny and finally felt like summer. Pretty uneventful run...and the rest of the day, well...the fact I am writing this at 5am on my friends laptop pretty much sums up the rest of the day....Sunday's effort is shaping up to be interesting!
stats:
miles: 5.5
time 52mins28secs
ciders/beers drank on the meadows: many
bloggs writen at 5am: 1
Anyway...way back on Saturday morning I ran 5 miles round the meadows. It was sunny and finally felt like summer. Pretty uneventful run...and the rest of the day, well...the fact I am writing this at 5am on my friends laptop pretty much sums up the rest of the day....Sunday's effort is shaping up to be interesting!
stats:
miles: 5.5
time 52mins28secs
ciders/beers drank on the meadows: many
bloggs writen at 5am: 1
Monday, 11 March 2013
losing and gaining your running mojo
At last. Its been a while since I last blogged and feel I have been slacking. This week seemed a good time to do one. Mainly as its been a funny one, running-wise.
finally last week I did what I have been meaning to do for about a year - go to the physio and get my ankle looked at. Following my last half-marathon in April 2012, I had acute tendonitis which pretty much scuppered my training for the rest of the year. It was only this year's Janathon where I re-entered the running fray. Its been ok but there have been on-going issues with my ankle from a little niggling pain and full-on knife-stabby kind of pain. So, of to the physio I went. Came out thankful I had not been told never to run again (couldn't even think of that) but still not in the most cheery of moods. Turns out I have shin splints and generallly the tendons in my foot don't like all the pavement-plodding I've been doing.
The main piece of advice was: get off road. Now that's fine in principle, I have been wanting to get into trail running for ages. However, I live in Edinburgh - right smack in the centre. There are obviously parks etc. (hell - I live right beside Holyrood park) but they are not that big and the shitty weather that Scotland sufferes from about a good 75% of the time means soggy grass and lots of mud. Also, while shortish runs wouldn't be a problem, anything over about 8 miles and you really can't avoid pavements and concrete.
Without really realising it, this news depressed me and I didn't really do much running this week at all, even the thought of it made me a bit teary. I had lost my mojo. It's happened before, and will probably again. All I could think of was 'damn, my training plan says 6 miles today and I just cannot face it'...and then felt guilty, which in turn led to a glass of wine to cheer me up. Not good.
Thankfully I had a long weekend planned. I was working on Saturday down in the deepest, darkest Dumfriesshire and decided to take myself away to the lake district after. My parents have a wee cottage just south of Penrith, and just on the cusp of the national park The weather was appalling but the forecast was sunny for Sunday.
My plan was to go to Keswick and run along Derwent water, and see how I went. Nothing really set in stone. I figured I could just come back the way I came if things didn't feel good. After a bit of wrong turns and meandering around the town looking for the actual lake. Things were looking very promising - dirt tracks rather than concrete paths, and the views were amazing with the snowy mountains in the distance. As you can see from the photos it was a bit mad weather-wise but still beautiful.
I was actually amazed at myself - I had no ipod an no water - I figured I would probably turn back at 5 miles but finding myself at the opposite end at 6.2 miles, I just decided to do the full circle - as long as I got a drink on my return I would be fine and I was really enjoying my run and the miles were just slipping past. Just as I set off again - I saw a blizzard coming in, and started regretting my decision. But thankfully, there was a section of woodland which was a bit of a buffer and eventually the blizzard passed over. By now I was feeling fully back in the game. I was starting to feel tired and sore by 10 miles and managed to get a bit lost again, adding about another mile onto the total.
So thanks to a change of scenery (and great scenery at that) and some encouragement from my good twitter-friends, I re-found my running mojo...until the next crisis. I also wanted to mention that I've been reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall - I'm sure a huge percentage of running people will have heard of/already read this. It is a brilliant book and one that I'm sure will help me in any future mojo-losing incidents. I plan to do a post specifically on this book as I found it really inspiring.
Stats -
distance: 13 miles
time: 2 hours 19 mins (plus about 25 mins of stopping to look at stuff)
finally last week I did what I have been meaning to do for about a year - go to the physio and get my ankle looked at. Following my last half-marathon in April 2012, I had acute tendonitis which pretty much scuppered my training for the rest of the year. It was only this year's Janathon where I re-entered the running fray. Its been ok but there have been on-going issues with my ankle from a little niggling pain and full-on knife-stabby kind of pain. So, of to the physio I went. Came out thankful I had not been told never to run again (couldn't even think of that) but still not in the most cheery of moods. Turns out I have shin splints and generallly the tendons in my foot don't like all the pavement-plodding I've been doing.
The main piece of advice was: get off road. Now that's fine in principle, I have been wanting to get into trail running for ages. However, I live in Edinburgh - right smack in the centre. There are obviously parks etc. (hell - I live right beside Holyrood park) but they are not that big and the shitty weather that Scotland sufferes from about a good 75% of the time means soggy grass and lots of mud. Also, while shortish runs wouldn't be a problem, anything over about 8 miles and you really can't avoid pavements and concrete.
Without really realising it, this news depressed me and I didn't really do much running this week at all, even the thought of it made me a bit teary. I had lost my mojo. It's happened before, and will probably again. All I could think of was 'damn, my training plan says 6 miles today and I just cannot face it'...and then felt guilty, which in turn led to a glass of wine to cheer me up. Not good.
Thankfully I had a long weekend planned. I was working on Saturday down in the deepest, darkest Dumfriesshire and decided to take myself away to the lake district after. My parents have a wee cottage just south of Penrith, and just on the cusp of the national park The weather was appalling but the forecast was sunny for Sunday.
My plan was to go to Keswick and run along Derwent water, and see how I went. Nothing really set in stone. I figured I could just come back the way I came if things didn't feel good. After a bit of wrong turns and meandering around the town looking for the actual lake. Things were looking very promising - dirt tracks rather than concrete paths, and the views were amazing with the snowy mountains in the distance. As you can see from the photos it was a bit mad weather-wise but still beautiful.
 |
| a sunny spell - about 3 miles in |
 |
| Near the top of the lake, at Keswick |
 |
| A detour to the Lodore falls |
I was actually amazed at myself - I had no ipod an no water - I figured I would probably turn back at 5 miles but finding myself at the opposite end at 6.2 miles, I just decided to do the full circle - as long as I got a drink on my return I would be fine and I was really enjoying my run and the miles were just slipping past. Just as I set off again - I saw a blizzard coming in, and started regretting my decision. But thankfully, there was a section of woodland which was a bit of a buffer and eventually the blizzard passed over. By now I was feeling fully back in the game. I was starting to feel tired and sore by 10 miles and managed to get a bit lost again, adding about another mile onto the total.
 |
| View obliterated by a blizzard! F-ing freezing too! |
So thanks to a change of scenery (and great scenery at that) and some encouragement from my good twitter-friends, I re-found my running mojo...until the next crisis. I also wanted to mention that I've been reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall - I'm sure a huge percentage of running people will have heard of/already read this. It is a brilliant book and one that I'm sure will help me in any future mojo-losing incidents. I plan to do a post specifically on this book as I found it really inspiring.
Stats -
distance: 13 miles
time: 2 hours 19 mins (plus about 25 mins of stopping to look at stuff)
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Day 31!!!! It all depends on...
...how you count the Janathon mileage.
At the beginning of the week I noticed I had an average of 4.6miles to run a day to make that all important 100 Janathon miles...Thought I could probably do that - then I got a cold. So here I was, last day of the challenge with 8.8 miles to run. It was raining, hard, outside and there was no WAY I was running practically 9miles on the treadmill! I would have died of boredom or exhaustion. Thanks @runningman856 for the encouragement - pretty sure I would have only done the absolute minimum.
Was going to just do as much as I could - thinking 5km as it is usually as far I can be bothered on the treadmill but with a little bit of self-mental bullying and a pretty awesome running playlist on my iPod (highlights for speedy intervals - Lust for Life, Iggy Pop and System of a Down's Chop Suey) I found myself going further.
Now back to the issue of counting of mileage - Technically I have actually done a total of 102 miles for Janathon as I did a 1.2mile walk and a 4mile cycle. However I only did 96.8 actual running. So depending on how you look at it I have either just missed my 100 running target or I have achieved my Janathon 100 exercise mile target...For the sake of my ego I am taking the grand total figure :)
Also...a note to the 2 girls on the bikes in the gym - if you are wearing a polo-neck UNDER another top, you are NOT working out - you shouldn't even be allowed into the gym!!! I was wearing a vest and sweating buckets!! Just saying...
Anyway - congratulations to everyone who have undertaken Janathon, no matter what you have done - walked, ran, planked...and even if you have...whisper it...had a Janathon fail...it is a challenge and there is always next year - or indeed Juneathon!!
Thanks to eveyone who has read and commented on my blog and for all the twitter banter - it is what makes Janathon a pleasure to endure :) Now all I have is a half marathon to train for, not to mention the Tough Mudder!!
Final Stats!
distance: 5.6miles
time: 53mins 31 secs
Janathon totals:
Miles run: 96.2
miles cycled: 4
miles walked: 1.2
GRAND TOTAL: 102
At the beginning of the week I noticed I had an average of 4.6miles to run a day to make that all important 100 Janathon miles...Thought I could probably do that - then I got a cold. So here I was, last day of the challenge with 8.8 miles to run. It was raining, hard, outside and there was no WAY I was running practically 9miles on the treadmill! I would have died of boredom or exhaustion. Thanks @runningman856 for the encouragement - pretty sure I would have only done the absolute minimum.
Was going to just do as much as I could - thinking 5km as it is usually as far I can be bothered on the treadmill but with a little bit of self-mental bullying and a pretty awesome running playlist on my iPod (highlights for speedy intervals - Lust for Life, Iggy Pop and System of a Down's Chop Suey) I found myself going further.
Now back to the issue of counting of mileage - Technically I have actually done a total of 102 miles for Janathon as I did a 1.2mile walk and a 4mile cycle. However I only did 96.8 actual running. So depending on how you look at it I have either just missed my 100 running target or I have achieved my Janathon 100 exercise mile target...For the sake of my ego I am taking the grand total figure :)
Also...a note to the 2 girls on the bikes in the gym - if you are wearing a polo-neck UNDER another top, you are NOT working out - you shouldn't even be allowed into the gym!!! I was wearing a vest and sweating buckets!! Just saying...
Anyway - congratulations to everyone who have undertaken Janathon, no matter what you have done - walked, ran, planked...and even if you have...whisper it...had a Janathon fail...it is a challenge and there is always next year - or indeed Juneathon!!
Thanks to eveyone who has read and commented on my blog and for all the twitter banter - it is what makes Janathon a pleasure to endure :) Now all I have is a half marathon to train for, not to mention the Tough Mudder!!
Final Stats!
distance: 5.6miles
time: 53mins 31 secs
Janathon totals:
Miles run: 96.2
miles cycled: 4
miles walked: 1.2
GRAND TOTAL: 102
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Day 30: Ill and grumpy...but still running
Well I'm still ill...and the cold is getting worse. To make matters worse its one of those ones where your tastebuds go funny and you can't taste anything. I HATE IT - I love my food so it is torture not being able to enjoy it.
My colleagues didn't let me miss running club though, and even made me attempt a tempo run. Can't really call it a real one as the 'tempo' bit was rather difficult as there was a massively steep hill to go up so there was no way of keeping a consistent pace. But I managed to sort of keep up and avoided collapsing in a coughing, sneezing, nose-blowing heap! In fact I felt better out running than I did sitting at my desk.
Looking at my totals the likelihood of me hitting my hoped for 100miles has pretty much disappeared. I doubt very much that I'll be doing 8.8 miles tomorrow. Rather pissed off about it but at least I've managed to get out. However I have to say I'm very much looking forward to a rest day on Friday!!
Well...one day to go people - hope everyone has enjoyed thetorture challenge that is Janathon :)
Stats!
distance: 3.2miles
time: 31mins 31secs
tissues used today: a massive pile!
My colleagues didn't let me miss running club though, and even made me attempt a tempo run. Can't really call it a real one as the 'tempo' bit was rather difficult as there was a massively steep hill to go up so there was no way of keeping a consistent pace. But I managed to sort of keep up and avoided collapsing in a coughing, sneezing, nose-blowing heap! In fact I felt better out running than I did sitting at my desk.
Looking at my totals the likelihood of me hitting my hoped for 100miles has pretty much disappeared. I doubt very much that I'll be doing 8.8 miles tomorrow. Rather pissed off about it but at least I've managed to get out. However I have to say I'm very much looking forward to a rest day on Friday!!
Well...one day to go people - hope everyone has enjoyed the
Stats!
distance: 3.2miles
time: 31mins 31secs
tissues used today: a massive pile!
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Day 29: almost...but not quite
I almost managed a Janathon fail...almost. After a very bad night's sleep in a boiling hot hotel room in Stranraer and with the cold lurgy descendinig upon me, my alarm clock went off at 6:40am - I had literally been asleep for the first time in hours for longer than 10 minutes. I felt pretty awful and on looking out the window, it was still pitch black. I went back to bed and internal debating went on in my head over the pros and cons of trying to get up and go running. It went on for a while...
My will-power won, the grey murky day and my fuzzed head lost (with help of some much needed caffine). I actually think my run did me good. It certainly un-blocked my nose! Not a particularly interesting run. I can't say I would recommend Stranraer - it seems more of a place to escape from (its main feature being the ferry port to Ireland). It is rather bleak, especially in the nasty weather that seems to engulf it the majority of the time. I ran along the coastline for a while and then back. I did a surprisingly zippy 3.4miles.
I spent most of the remainder of the day freezing my arse off and getting severely rain on, on a tour of a the town's new waste water treatment work (surprisingly interesting though the least glamorous way I can think of spending a few hours).
I really hope standing in the freezing rain for a few hours doesn't make my cold worse...Still cannot believe I can't get through 1 frigging month without being ill!!!
Stats!
distance: 3.4miles
time: 31mins
colds had by me already this year: 1
My will-power won, the grey murky day and my fuzzed head lost (with help of some much needed caffine). I actually think my run did me good. It certainly un-blocked my nose! Not a particularly interesting run. I can't say I would recommend Stranraer - it seems more of a place to escape from (its main feature being the ferry port to Ireland). It is rather bleak, especially in the nasty weather that seems to engulf it the majority of the time. I ran along the coastline for a while and then back. I did a surprisingly zippy 3.4miles.
I spent most of the remainder of the day freezing my arse off and getting severely rain on, on a tour of a the town's new waste water treatment work (surprisingly interesting though the least glamorous way I can think of spending a few hours).
I really hope standing in the freezing rain for a few hours doesn't make my cold worse...Still cannot believe I can't get through 1 frigging month without being ill!!!
Stats!
distance: 3.4miles
time: 31mins
colds had by me already this year: 1
Monday, 28 January 2013
Day 28: I refuse to be ill!!
I had 4 colds, whooping cough and pleurisy the last 2 months of 2012 and i really though i would get a brrak ftom illness this year...however today i have been sneezing and my nose if feeling weird and i generally feel a bit bleeah (my own medical diagnosis). This did not stop me though! I still managed to get out for my run. Was actually before i started to feel not good and perhaps the freezing wind worstened matters.
Done a 3.1 loop around my work. it was hard and i really didn't enjoy it.
Reaally hoping the cold doesn't develop as I kind of had my heart set on trying to get to 100miles by the end which means an average of 4.6miles a day...fingers crossed!!
Stats!
Distance: 3.1 miles
time: 33mins
Done a 3.1 loop around my work. it was hard and i really didn't enjoy it.
Reaally hoping the cold doesn't develop as I kind of had my heart set on trying to get to 100miles by the end which means an average of 4.6miles a day...fingers crossed!!
Stats!
Distance: 3.1 miles
time: 33mins
Sunday, 27 January 2013
day 27: sporting disappointment and triumph
Ahhh the tennis. Its tough watching it. I could never watch football cause I think its a very boring way to spend an hour and a half...I need more regular goal/point scoring to keep me interested. Yet I will watch 3 hours of good tennis....except when Scotland's Britain's biggest hope in tennis for a long time does sooo well then it all starts going down hill...I made it till Andy lost the 3rd set (and even then I was only watching it intermittently) and I just couldn't take it anymore so I got my stuff together and went for a run.
I should have been following my half-marathon training plan for week in now but due to Janathon and other commitments I have just been doing what I can. But I thought today I could at least try and do something resembling a long run and actually managed my longest run of the whole of Janathon - YAY! so at least one sporting triumph for Scotland today :)
Had no idea what route to do so I just thought I would go out and see where my feet carried me...and they seemed to want to go a for a rather random and wiggly journey through the posh areas of Edinburgh - started off in the Grange, then around Merchiston (where J K Rowling lives/lived...not sure if she's still there) then back along the Union Canal and back to the car.
First few miles were slow and hard-going but managed an overall average pace of 9:36mph so very pleased with that :)
A few fellow Janathon-ers have managed to reach there 100mile mark (well done!!) I had a look at my totals I am 19miles away from that. Would be great to get there but I very much doubt I will manage 4.7 miles every day for the rest of the week, especially as I am away for work :(
Stats!
distance: 5.6miles
time: 53mins 50secs
I should have been following my half-marathon training plan for week in now but due to Janathon and other commitments I have just been doing what I can. But I thought today I could at least try and do something resembling a long run and actually managed my longest run of the whole of Janathon - YAY! so at least one sporting triumph for Scotland today :)
Had no idea what route to do so I just thought I would go out and see where my feet carried me...and they seemed to want to go a for a rather random and wiggly journey through the posh areas of Edinburgh - started off in the Grange, then around Merchiston (where J K Rowling lives/lived...not sure if she's still there) then back along the Union Canal and back to the car.
First few miles were slow and hard-going but managed an overall average pace of 9:36mph so very pleased with that :)
A few fellow Janathon-ers have managed to reach there 100mile mark (well done!!) I had a look at my totals I am 19miles away from that. Would be great to get there but I very much doubt I will manage 4.7 miles every day for the rest of the week, especially as I am away for work :(
Stats!
distance: 5.6miles
time: 53mins 50secs
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Day 26: best laid schemes
In honour of the fact is was Burns night last night (no I didn't eat any haggis) the theme of the post is being brought to you via the well know Rabbie quote:
"The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley."
My schemes for today most definitely 'gang agley'. Once again, social shenanigans meant that I drank too much and got to bed at stupid o'clock so today the last thing I wanted to do was go for my intended decent run (the weather was also mocking me by being lovely and sunny). I had also intended to go shopping. This activity was displaced with more laying around in bed waiting until I felt human enough to do a quick jaunt through Holyrood park (rather than around it which may have killed me)
Felt ok for the first mile then really slowed down as my body went 'ggggaaa what are you doing to me!!'
I promise to be back on the wagon for the last week (wow that actually went fast!) of Janathon
Stats!
distance: 2.5 miles
time 25mins 25secs
best laid schemes gang agley-ing: all of them
"The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley."
My schemes for today most definitely 'gang agley'. Once again, social shenanigans meant that I drank too much and got to bed at stupid o'clock so today the last thing I wanted to do was go for my intended decent run (the weather was also mocking me by being lovely and sunny). I had also intended to go shopping. This activity was displaced with more laying around in bed waiting until I felt human enough to do a quick jaunt through Holyrood park (rather than around it which may have killed me)
Felt ok for the first mile then really slowed down as my body went 'ggggaaa what are you doing to me!!'
I promise to be back on the wagon for the last week (wow that actually went fast!) of Janathon
Stats!
distance: 2.5 miles
time 25mins 25secs
best laid schemes gang agley-ing: all of them
Friday, 25 January 2013
day 25: shortest blog ever!!
Gaaaa, am running late, my internet is slllooow. So VERY short blog post.
Weather SUCKS...
..so I went to the gym
I did 43mins of intervals thanks to Audiofuel
I did them all
I am awesome
that is all :)
stats - 4.3miles in 43mins
time i am running late by: about half and hour and counting...
Weather SUCKS...
..so I went to the gym
I did 43mins of intervals thanks to Audiofuel
I did them all
I am awesome
that is all :)
stats - 4.3miles in 43mins
time i am running late by: about half and hour and counting...
Thursday, 24 January 2013
day 24: short run, short hair
Was a quickie run today as I had to go to the hairdressers. It is STILL freezing cold and I'm convinced it is slowing me down. My legs felt really heavy today and I didn't really enjoy it. At least I'm back in town where there is no icy snow left
So, back from my run and off to the hairdressers - post run, it looked even worse than ever so was very glad to get it sorted. I have to say I don't really like going to the hairdressers. All the forced small-talk (I don't have a regular hairdresser so I always suffer 'first date' syndrome), bad background music and its about the only place that I start to feel old. There is something not right about getting your head massaged by a 16 year old. AND here is a question, why do all hairdressers always have a token OTT camp boy??
Stats!
distance: 2.4miles
time: 23 mins 46secs
So here's a pic of my short hair! Sorry if you have no interest in my hair or its up-keep, I do realise that my blog has been a bit light on the running-related chat, but quite frankly its been a slow week run-wise.
So, back from my run and off to the hairdressers - post run, it looked even worse than ever so was very glad to get it sorted. I have to say I don't really like going to the hairdressers. All the forced small-talk (I don't have a regular hairdresser so I always suffer 'first date' syndrome), bad background music and its about the only place that I start to feel old. There is something not right about getting your head massaged by a 16 year old. AND here is a question, why do all hairdressers always have a token OTT camp boy??
Stats!
distance: 2.4miles
time: 23 mins 46secs
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Day 23: Ummmm....
...nope, can't think of a title for this blog. It's been a boring day running wise. Pissed off that I missed the running club at work today cause, well, actual work got in the way grrr. Even more pissed when I heard they did a 9km route taking in some of the Pentland hills.
So I was stuck doing a run round the houses where there is street lighting and I won't be in danger to careering into, or falling over unseen obstacles. Still, I managed to struggle through over 4 miles of slush/ice patches.
Getting a bit of a niggling pain in my right calf just where it meets the shin bone. No idea what this could be. Not really like previous pains and doesn't feel like any of the usual running related complaints. Don't know why I can't just have common, easily identifiable pains, meh.
Anyway..off to be grumpy elsewhere
Stats!
Distance: 4.6 miles
Time: 46 mins 27 secs
Running club runs missed cause of stupid work: 1
So I was stuck doing a run round the houses where there is street lighting and I won't be in danger to careering into, or falling over unseen obstacles. Still, I managed to struggle through over 4 miles of slush/ice patches.
Getting a bit of a niggling pain in my right calf just where it meets the shin bone. No idea what this could be. Not really like previous pains and doesn't feel like any of the usual running related complaints. Don't know why I can't just have common, easily identifiable pains, meh.
Anyway..off to be grumpy elsewhere
Stats!
Distance: 4.6 miles
Time: 46 mins 27 secs
Running club runs missed cause of stupid work: 1
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Day 22: war of the voices in my head
So it goes like this:
bad-me: I can't be bothered with running and its soooo cold outside and the cat is sitting on me being all cute
good-me: but its Janathon you are doing so well
bad-me: Its been a long day its baltic and snowy and you have yoga later
good-me: Yoga is NOT cardio so doesn't really count
bad-me: Yes it does...and I kinda can't be bothered with that either...what if I do a run and not yoga
good-me: but you have paid for yoga and its good for you
bad-me: but it ends late and I'm (whiny voice) tiiiired
good-me: how about a short run and you'll feel sooo good after yoga
bad-me: OK short run and no yoga...
good-me: Oookaay, see how you go
....after running
bad-me: HA done my run, cat is sitting on me being all cute and purry, can I pleeease miss yoga??
good-me: You've done sooo well, and its too late not to tell the teacher you won't make it
bad-me: GRRrrrr, damn it you win... but only if I get to drink wine and eat cheese later
good-me: ooooh OK then
bad-me: YAY mmmwwwhuuuuahahahahaaaa (it was what I had planned the whole time!)
So I actually ended up doing a slightly longer run than I intended because I was out anyway and I don't do things by halves (both lazyness and exercisy stuff - there is no in-between)
And do not listen to @runningman856 Yoga IS proper exercise....I'd like to see him to the tree pose and not fall over/embarrass himself.
Stats!
distance: 2.5 miles
time: 24mins 57 secs
yoga classes attended: 1
voices in my head: mmm, lets not go there...
bad-me: I can't be bothered with running and its soooo cold outside and the cat is sitting on me being all cute
good-me: but its Janathon you are doing so well
bad-me: Its been a long day its baltic and snowy and you have yoga later
good-me: Yoga is NOT cardio so doesn't really count
bad-me: Yes it does...and I kinda can't be bothered with that either...what if I do a run and not yoga
good-me: but you have paid for yoga and its good for you
bad-me: but it ends late and I'm (whiny voice) tiiiired
good-me: how about a short run and you'll feel sooo good after yoga
bad-me: OK short run and no yoga...
good-me: Oookaay, see how you go
....after running
bad-me: HA done my run, cat is sitting on me being all cute and purry, can I pleeease miss yoga??
good-me: You've done sooo well, and its too late not to tell the teacher you won't make it
bad-me: GRRrrrr, damn it you win... but only if I get to drink wine and eat cheese later
good-me: ooooh OK then
bad-me: YAY mmmwwwhuuuuahahahahaaaa (it was what I had planned the whole time!)
So I actually ended up doing a slightly longer run than I intended because I was out anyway and I don't do things by halves (both lazyness and exercisy stuff - there is no in-between)
And do not listen to @runningman856 Yoga IS proper exercise....I'd like to see him to the tree pose and not fall over/embarrass himself.
Stats!
distance: 2.5 miles
time: 24mins 57 secs
yoga classes attended: 1
voices in my head: mmm, lets not go there...
Monday, 21 January 2013
day 21: "you are quite mad!"
Heard that a few times today. And was sensing it from the people in cars stuck in traffic looking at me jog past. And I may just be, but life is more fun with a little madness. So... unless you have been living under a rock...it has been snowing, ausing all kinds of chaos around the country. I, however, will not let a little bit of the white stuff defeat me. Also, am up at my folks place and couldn't go to the gym. So a snow run it was.
And, it was actually good when I got out. I was just going to do a very short circuit of the estate but got half way round and thought, this isn't too bad so extended my route making it up to just over 2 and a half miles. The snow was the creaky kind so didn't slip n slide too much. Until that is I past a snow-plough going along the pavement. The thin layer of snow it left was way more treacherous than what it cleared away!
Was a bit tougher making it up the hill and had to walk in places but overall a pretty good run.
And, just in case there is anyone wanting photographic evidence of my efforts, here is a pic of me at the end of it. I look awful in this picture but you're never going to look your best after a sweaty run in mid-winter!
Stats!:
distance: 2.6miles
time: 26mins24secs
times I was called mad today: many
And, it was actually good when I got out. I was just going to do a very short circuit of the estate but got half way round and thought, this isn't too bad so extended my route making it up to just over 2 and a half miles. The snow was the creaky kind so didn't slip n slide too much. Until that is I past a snow-plough going along the pavement. The thin layer of snow it left was way more treacherous than what it cleared away!
Was a bit tougher making it up the hill and had to walk in places but overall a pretty good run.
And, just in case there is anyone wanting photographic evidence of my efforts, here is a pic of me at the end of it. I look awful in this picture but you're never going to look your best after a sweaty run in mid-winter!
distance: 2.6miles
time: 26mins24secs
times I was called mad today: many
Sunday, 20 January 2013
day 20: Definitition of being hardcore
Under my own definition of being hardcore would be me, after partying on Saturday night, getting to bed at 8am on Sunday morning, yet still managing to get my running gear on and go out in just-around-zero temperatures to do my Janathon run, before lunchtime!! I even managed to pass the 2mile mark - AND I even over-took a couple of (albeit very slow) fellow joggers.
But boy, am I feeling it now. Having been fed a huge portion of lasagna and force fed red wine...am now feeling very snoozy. In fact I plan to crawl into bed for a cat-nap after writing this.
Actually I am feeling so snoozy in that I can't really be bothered writing much more than this. Am in danger of falling asleep mid-sentence zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Stats!
distance: 2.5miles
time: 22mins28secs
hours of sleep had before run: 2
But boy, am I feeling it now. Having been fed a huge portion of lasagna and force fed red wine...am now feeling very snoozy. In fact I plan to crawl into bed for a cat-nap after writing this.
Actually I am feeling so snoozy in that I can't really be bothered writing much more than this. Am in danger of falling asleep mid-sentence zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Stats!
distance: 2.5miles
time: 22mins28secs
hours of sleep had before run: 2
Saturday, 19 January 2013
Day 19: musical ear muffs and penguin avatars
When I say musical, I don't mean that sing or play and instrument. What they are are headphones-come-earmuff that plug into my iPod. I got them for xmas and haven't really used them as they were not overly comfortable as they don't go over your head like normal earmuffs but kind of round the back so my hair gets in the way and they feel like they are going to slip off. But as I managed to shut my front door on my normal earphones and break them I thought I would try these out. They were ok, the sounds isn't great obviously as there is material over them but they DID keep my ears warm.
Actually did a decent run today. Was a practical run too as I had to go to the post office depot and pick up a package. So that's pretty much a 5miles round trip and I managed to save petrol. My package was a small necklace so it fitted nicely in my pocket so didn't hinder my running. The necklace was actually bought to replace the one I got from my best friend for being her bridesmaid. It broke one day...then I lost it. It was my favourite piece of jewelry so I bought myself another one even though it was rather expensive. But it is sooo cute: a tiny wee skull.
Talking of cute - we Janathoners are planning on a penguin takeover on Twitter - join in if you are on. @jogblog @knittingpenguin @fairweatherrunner and @libeeloo67 have all done it. Change your avatar to a penguin. They are cute and Twitter can alway use more cute animals on it!
Stats!
distance: 5.2miles
time: 51mins47secs
musical earmuff: 1
skull necklaces retreived: 1
 |
| My musical earmuffs! |
Actually did a decent run today. Was a practical run too as I had to go to the post office depot and pick up a package. So that's pretty much a 5miles round trip and I managed to save petrol. My package was a small necklace so it fitted nicely in my pocket so didn't hinder my running. The necklace was actually bought to replace the one I got from my best friend for being her bridesmaid. It broke one day...then I lost it. It was my favourite piece of jewelry so I bought myself another one even though it was rather expensive. But it is sooo cute: a tiny wee skull.
 |
| A tiny skull pendant |
Stats!
distance: 5.2miles
time: 51mins47secs
musical earmuff: 1
skull necklaces retreived: 1
Friday, 18 January 2013
day 18: Ooh the hedonism
Or absense thereof. I had thought this would be a drunken slurry blog done when I stumbled in at an unsociable hour but turns out I had a rather civilised (but very lovely ) evening sipping wine and eating cheese (and other assorted nibbles) with a couple of friend who either were knackered from doing grown-up things like DIY or having to get up early for a responsible job. So here I am only slightly tippsy writing my blog from my bed at 10:30pm.
Due to the, as it turns out, rather early, social engagement, my run was a very quick one, done by stopping off on my way home from work to do a lap around Blackford pond. It wasn't all that easy as I threw in a very steep run up some steps - you know the woodlandy-type ones that are very widely spaced only with bits of randomly spaced bit of wood to actually identify them as actual steps. Anyway it was a cold, icy/slippery slowish, shortish run as I needed to get home, change, do the washing up and get out again. So thus only managed a mile and a half.
Tomorrow I will run further (as long as the snow doesn't carry on falling all night - its very pretty out there) and will also have a proper hedonistic Saturday night - the corset is coming out!! Sunday may hurt!
Stats:
distance: 1.5miles
time: 16mins 23secs
hedonistic behaviour: none (savinng myself for tomorrow!)
Due to the, as it turns out, rather early, social engagement, my run was a very quick one, done by stopping off on my way home from work to do a lap around Blackford pond. It wasn't all that easy as I threw in a very steep run up some steps - you know the woodlandy-type ones that are very widely spaced only with bits of randomly spaced bit of wood to actually identify them as actual steps. Anyway it was a cold, icy/slippery slowish, shortish run as I needed to get home, change, do the washing up and get out again. So thus only managed a mile and a half.
Tomorrow I will run further (as long as the snow doesn't carry on falling all night - its very pretty out there) and will also have a proper hedonistic Saturday night - the corset is coming out!! Sunday may hurt!
Stats:
distance: 1.5miles
time: 16mins 23secs
hedonistic behaviour: none (savinng myself for tomorrow!)
Thursday, 17 January 2013
DAY 17: I can't feel my face!!!!
Or much else of my body. Fuck its cold and the stupid wind has decided to add to the fun of outside evening running.
Going to be a fairly short blog (hurrah I hear you cry!), as my social life has decided to make an appearance, and have stuff on tonight, Friday and Saturday! Has anyone noticed how this Janathon stuff kind of takes over things??
So anyway, a fairly solid plod round the meadows today, froze myself but also managed to get a consistent sub 10min mile- first time this month! It actually averaged at about 9mins30 mph according to my garmin.
So that's it today. need to go make myself half-presentable...
Stats:
distance: 3.8miles
time: 37mins30secs
social life: half a one maybe...
Going to be a fairly short blog (hurrah I hear you cry!), as my social life has decided to make an appearance, and have stuff on tonight, Friday and Saturday! Has anyone noticed how this Janathon stuff kind of takes over things??
So anyway, a fairly solid plod round the meadows today, froze myself but also managed to get a consistent sub 10min mile- first time this month! It actually averaged at about 9mins30 mph according to my garmin.
So that's it today. need to go make myself half-presentable...
Stats:
distance: 3.8miles
time: 37mins30secs
social life: half a one maybe...
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Day 16 - the great trainer christening
Wednesdays are work-running ‘club’ days. I say club, its not really
but a few people that, if they are around go for a run on Wednesday lunchtimes.
It was the usual fast-running blokes but there was another girl today. She said
she hadn’t run in ages, but looking at her athletic built I guessed she was
under-playing it. And I was right – she still managed to get ahead of me
L It was a sub-zero day today
and we went off-road and headed for the Braid hills. Even though a lot of the
ground was frozen I still managed to stick my foot in a very deep puddle of thick mud. My
new-ish trainers are now well and truly christened. I have had them for a while but they were still rather new and sparkly looking...now they are not. This is AFTER I cleaned them!
This
route is pretty tough, made worse with icey tracks to contend with so it was
good to have other people to keep me from giving up. It eemed to take twice the
effort sliding a backwards every step so trail shoes are definitely on the
shopping list – I do actually want to do a trail race this year, thinking about
doing the Karrimor great trail challenge down in the lake district which looks
like a nice one to start with.
Again,
its nice to do a mid-week run in the daylight – makes such a difference,
although I get back to my desk with bright red face that takes a while to get
back to normal, eliciting ‘comedy’ comments from colleagues.
Stats:
Distance:
4miles
Time:
44mins 34secs
Mud-covered trainer: 1
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Day 15 Just don't mention the 'S' word
OK, so it can barely be classed as a run but as I have yoga this evening (which last week left me with very achy muscles the next day so is actually hard work) and because of all the the 'word beginning with s' that everyone just won't stop going on about, I did 1.5mile jog/skid/tiptoe through the estate this evening. I started out going through the woods which I thought would be more sensible as it would be hardened mud and less slushy slipperiness. I was wrong. It was a quagmire, so found myself lurching and tiptoeing through deep muddy gooyness. Finally reached the pavement and stayed on it round the rest of the estate and back to my folks.
My other excuse for the shortened run was I didn't have my iPod. I always read how people don't like listening to music while running as they like to ponder life and philosophy (I assume) or meditate or whatever. I would love to think when I go running I have deep and meaningful thoughts or pondering but without my iPod all I get is the last song I heard on the radio (usually Ollly Murs or something equally as annoying) going round and round in my head slowly driving me crazy, accompanied by traffic noise.
To make up for lack of decent mileage I haven't eaten much today so feel that balances things out.
Stats!:
distance: 1.5miles
time: 16mins (ish)
mentions of the 'S' word: 0 It was snow if you were wondering (DOH!)
My other excuse for the shortened run was I didn't have my iPod. I always read how people don't like listening to music while running as they like to ponder life and philosophy (I assume) or meditate or whatever. I would love to think when I go running I have deep and meaningful thoughts or pondering but without my iPod all I get is the last song I heard on the radio (usually Ollly Murs or something equally as annoying) going round and round in my head slowly driving me crazy, accompanied by traffic noise.
To make up for lack of decent mileage I haven't eaten much today so feel that balances things out.
Stats!:
distance: 1.5miles
time: 16mins (ish)
mentions of the 'S' word: 0 It was snow if you were wondering (DOH!)
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