Birdsong

All of us are touched by war no matter what your take on it. I have long felt the futility of war and wonder at the reasons and the driving force behind it. I'm likely to cause some offence here, but this is not the intent, so please indulge me for a while.

Many of the wars fought in recent history have resulted in huge loss of life, on both (or all) sides of the conflict. So many young men - so many. The first world war may have resulted in the loss of more young men than ever before or since. I don't have the figures, but I have been to the Menin Gate and seen for myself the endless lists of names of those young men who were never identified. You have to go there to see and feel the sheer enormity of it. 

                                         

Every inch of that huge monument is covered rows upon rows of names.

Then there are the cemeteries, rows upon rows of white crosses, a sea of them, each one representing a life, a lost potential of the person and a lost potential of generations that will never be. 

                              

Just before I had the opportunity to visit Ypres I had, quite by coincidence listened to Sebastian Faulkes' Birdsong. The central character is an unhappy young man who finds himself caught up in the first world war. The horror of the conditions and the terrible loss of life and limb are seen through the eyes of Stephen who, in spite of his best efforts to the contrary, survives the conflict.  When I stood in the cemetery overlooking the killing fields of the first world war I was transported back in time. I could almost hear the sound of gunfire and the cries (in battle and in pain) of the men who were fighting a war for who knew what purpose. They fought on both sides with a patriotism that told each side that the other was the enemy and must be eliminated. This happens in all battles, skirmishes and wars. I wonder at the fervor and absolute patriotism of these soldiers. So much so that they rush toward their own death with enthusiasm and even joy so it seems. We don’t know what the last thoughts are of those men and women. I think of the Kamikaze pilots of the Japanese air force and even those who forced the planes into the twin towers. 

While standing in that cemetery  I could also hear the songs of the birds, songs that would have in all likelihood not been heard during the noise of battle. However, when the guns stopped I imagine that the birds would have sung out in relief and celebration that the fear, anger despair and death were - at least temporarily - over.

This year, I was privileged to be able to take part in the remembrance parade at the Cenotaph in London. I suppose most of us have watched it on television at some time in our lives, but to be there is a different experience. The atmosphere cannot be captured by the cameras, and no commentator can possibly describe with adequacy what is happening  down there among the men and women who have experienced and survived the horrors of battle. If you have the chance, look deep into the eyes of one of those veterans and you may glimpse it, but largely they cover it up with banter and friendly jesting.

The day was lovely, unseasonably warm with clear blue sky contrasting beautifully with the deep gold of the autumn leaves. We waited and chatted for what seemed an interminably long time, the atmosphere was almost party like and we spent time watching and identifying the various veterans from different battles long past. 

Then Big Ben took over and informed everyone that it was time - the 11th hour had arrived and the whole company fell silent. It was absolute silence. Then, something that Londoners don't hear in the centre of that noisy busy city, a city that never stops, apart from that 2 minutes once a year ............. Birdsong. 

They sang and chirped with some triumph that they could be heard, an almost prayer like chorus, reminding us that in such silence, such respect for the fallen, lies peace.

Who stole the weekend?

These weekends go so fast it's hard to fit all that needs to be done before Monday morning sneaks up again! Not a lot done here in the way of exersize, I hit a bit of a crisis on Saturday. Dan wanted to go to town, so we went early, the intention was quick in and back. I needed to get on with stuff here and wanted to get out and do a short runwalk.
Of course, we spent longer in town than we intended, no surprize there! I eventually got home and started on completing the dress I'm making for her. I'd more or less done the bodice part I had wanted to make sure it was going to fit her ok so had just tacked it up and fitted it. All well and good, time to cut out the skirt part! Horror of horrors - not enough material! The back and the front were meant to be cut on the fold. I'd checked the pattern when I bought the matierial and bought a small amount extra, so I just couldn't understand it. Back into town I went, it was not my day. The shop had sold the last of the material to a dancing school! I ended up just adapting the pattern so the back of the skirt part now has a seam.
Sunday, I did do a nice brisk hilly walk with the muppets and my mad friend. Gorgeous day, but hot even at 8am. I had to finish this dress and the jewellery she needs it by Thursday, so home and stuck in. at least I didn't have to cook as Dan did, I just turned up with the dress and necklace to do a final fitting. I then spent the evening stitching up the hems and finishing the necklace and earings.

It looks better on her than on the model, and it shimmers beautifully in the light. She is pleased with it.

While I was in the fabric shop, I spotted some "must have" material. This time I'm going to make me a dress ☺

juneathon - the end

Evening, just looking at yesterdays post and I  see that my ipad made it's own mind up about how to spell things!!!

I sort of ran out of time today, so the runwalk was shorter than I intended, but certainly faster than at the beginning of the month! 25 minutes for 1.8 miles. never going to break any records, but proof that intelligent training may well bring positive results. Then body pump to follow, I enjoyed it so much, and looking at my heart rate, I think next week I'm going to have to up the anti and put more weight on the bars.

Part of the reason for my forced retirment a year or so ago was due to continual injury as well as chronic tiredness. I seems, I may have cracked it. I'm getting niggles, but dealing with them.

I'm really sorry to see the back of Juneathon - I want to carry this on through July, I hope I can, but the thought of having to log and blog my activities every day through June has kept me going out there. I'm not going to blog every day now, but will pop in with a weekly summary.

Before I go, I want to share another project that I've been playing with. I've not shown off a creation of mine for a while, and I'm quite pleased with this one.

Juneau on day 29

An early spin class for me today. The instructor is a hard taqsk master trying to get the best of everyone. I kept up with most of it, just needing to ease back on the resistance toward the end of a very hot and humid class. Then a short 22 length swim before work.

I've not got anything more interesting than that to say really. Tomorrow is the finishe of Juneathon and I must say I've enjoyed the challenge aqnd will likely extend it to 2 months, possibly 3. Watch this space as they say.

Juneathon day 28

Two days to go and only one day missed, not bad. Looking at my stats, I seem to have improved fitness wise a huge amount over the past month. I actually felt like I was cruising at times tonight. There is no feeling like it, fit enough to just let the body do the running. For me it reaches something deep inside, like it's something that we are meant to be doing. I suppose it's the primal thing, we were never meant to be sitting in cars, on buses and even on escalators being carried along. At least we've not evolved into that kind of being as yet.

Anyway, enough philosophy.

I've played truant today (worked hard yesterday so I could take some time out today) and had a girly day with my daughter and her daughter. It started of not quite as we meant to as Mia (3yo) needed a trip to the hairdresser to try and remidy her DIY haircut!!!! Lots of kiddies do  that - her mother did, so now she has a fetching short style and the bald bits get covered with a headband! Then some clothes and shoes. I spent loads of money, but came home empty handed - now how did that happen?

No matter, I had a nice parcel from those nice people at Wiggle when I came home. Tired as I was, I had to try the running kit out now didn't I? Just a 2 mile walk run, but faster and feeling better than the last time I did it. It's also very hot and sticky out there and there is a lot of smoke hanging about from a rubber tyre fire that's been burning in the area for a couple of weeks.

Off to babysit now. RPM and  a swim in the morning ☺

Juneathon Day 27

I feel so much better at this stage than I did in January, then I was tired and looking forward to the last day. Now I'm not so tired and actually looking forward to my daily jaunt. I can't run every day, it would be silly to try, but I can do SOMETHING every day. I'm now in  a routine of 2 RPMs, 2 Body Pumps, 2 swims and 3 runs in a week.

With that routine and the help of Weight Watchers, today I moved categories from obese to merely overweight ☺, I was trying to work out just how much weight I've lost in my lifetime, the thought of it makes me shudder with something akin to embarrassment! I must have gained and shed weight at least 4 or 5 times in the last 30 years or so. I usually do it myself, not wanting to get involved with big corporate organisations whose main objective is to make a profit. (and weightwatchers ready meals are foul!). But this time, I've had some trouble losing the weight. I started off ok, then got stuck. I gave in and investigated several online weight loss/management sites. I must say, that weightwatchers seem to have got the balance right. No food group is eliminated (not even alcohol which is nice ☺), but it does encourage the person to aim for a health balance with the diet. I'm hoping that it'll be easier to maintain once I've lost what I need to!. Just about a stone and a half to go, which, looking around the site is hardly anything compared to some poor souls.

I think that my running will improve as I get stronger. I'll never be a racing type, I plod along and enjoy the view, but to get back to a 5(ish) hour marathon would be my dream. Maybe then I could complete the 6 nations challenge I set myself quite some time ago - only 2 left Edinburgh and a Welsh one (save the best till last ☺

juneathon day 26

It's hard to believe that we are in sight of the finish line!

Sunday, always a busy day for me. Lovely because I get to see family and eat lunch with them. There is something comforting about the fanuily sitting at table and eating together, a bit Waltonesque maybe, but nice.

It's been hothothot today, in fact, we ate outside and I now have comedy tan lines on my arms. It was too hot to stay out there for long though, and we spent a pleasant afternoon indoors watching a film and me making some jewellery.

Then off to spin class I went. Not many people were mad/brave enough to turn up. I think there were about 5 of us in the class, a struggle for the instructor, but she managed.

All in all 22 km in 55 minutes, I thought it would be slower, because this instructor goes for heavy resistance, the Wed guy does speed. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was marginally faster than last Wed. My legs did feel it though!

juneathon day 25

I have the whole day to myself, just me and the two muppets. HWMBT has gone to Cardiff to play old soldiers, he won't be home until late this evenng.

After I dropped him off to meet the other old cronies I toddled off to the Gym. I have something of a sore leg. I've always had problems with my ITB, the right one in particular. It is such that I'm almost limping, so I decided to reduce the impact on it and work on the cross trainer first. Half an hour on that, then half an hour runwalk on the dreadmill. My electronic coach is still wanting me to keep my heart rate low, so I kept it in zone 2 for most of the time.

After a good hours work, the leg felt looser, I did do lots of stretching and rolled around on the foam roller (OUCHOUCHOUCH!)

Now what to do with the rest of the day? I have to get the muppets out for their walk, then shower and maybe a trip into town, I really need some running kit.........

juneathon Day 24

Blimey this month is just zipping by! Janathon was much slower than this, but maybe I'm just a little fitter than I was back then. I'm beginning to see/feel as I was about 3 years ago. Fitter AND slimmer it must be said.

Not a bad day all told. A colleague needed some emotional support this morning, a nice chat over a coffee sorts most things out I feel. I had to do some timetabling - tricky but boring as well! and I managed to do some more work on my paper wot I'm riting.
My internet was intermittently going off again as was the interactive telly that HWMBT likes. A bit of shouting at the virgin peeps and they offered to come today between 4 and 7 to fix it. I was praying they would be here by 4 so I could get on with things and planned my day accordingly. I was going to find a problem crowbarring some exercise in, especially if they were late, so fingers crossed. Then I had a txt from HWMBT saying the man was coming early! So I hotfooted (drove) home and got here just before he did. To be fair, he seemed to know what he was doing and had us up and running pretty quickly, which gave me time to get to my scheduled exercise. Friday is swim day. Now slow is not the word for my swimming and I'd let it go for sometime and was building up again. I decided to go for the 1K all in one go, something I've not done for quite sometime. The most challenging thing about this is counting! I usually divide the swim into 100m, this meant 10 x 100m, so I doggedly swam and counted - 1of 1 2 of 1 .........all the way up to 10 of 10. I may have lost concentration at one point because suddenly  I couldn't remember if it was 2 of 8 or 4 of 8, to be sure, I made it 2 of 8. All in all 1K in 33.33 (satisfying in one way cos the numbers are so neat).

Now I'm sneezing and sniffling away, but feeling ok with myself.

I called into M+S and had a cheating tea of chicken curry, I cooked the chicken, Messrs M+S supplied the curry and the rice ☺

Juneathon Day 23

Today is my wedding anniversaries. Plural because we got married twice on the same date. We remarried on our 30th wedding anniversary, saves complications of trying to remember dates!

We don't make a huge fuss of it, in fact HWMBT has not even remembered for years. However, the universe shifted on it's axis this week - not only did he remember, he bought flowers!!!

Wedding anniversaries or not, Juneathon has to be got on with, 20 minutes run walk on the dreadmill followed by body pump for me. I'm still meant to be keeping my heart rate in a certain zone and that is not easy at all.

No matter, job done and I feel good. Not only that, the sun is shining - now the universe is really shifting ☺

Juneathon Day 22

My internet connection keeps dropping! This is so frustrating, especially as I had the man around yesterday having been without it for 3 days! It's going to take them another two days to get here and sort it! Grrrr!!!

Apart from that, not a bad day all round.

Spin class this morning - I was there early so did an extra 10 minutes. I'm still supposed to be keeping my heart rate low (I'm bored with that now), this is so hard in a spin class that is in a small room with a carpet! I did more or less manage it though and did 23k in 55 minutes followed by a nice slow swim to stretch out the muscles - 500 m in around 15 minutes.

I had a bit of a shock when I got home HWMBT (He Who Must Be Tolerated) has actually remembered that it's our wedding anniversary tomorrow and even more, has bought flowers! The Universe has shifted on it's axis ☺

Juneathon 21 the longest day

Funny thing is, it's the longest day, but I just didn't have the time for much at all. I did spend most of the morning waiting for the virgin man to come and fix my Internet which has been down since Sunday. Most frustrating - the lack of Internet rather than the wait, although I had plenty I could have got on with. However, he fixed it and it's now speedy and working well.
I had to get on with some paid work then, I'm meant to be writing a paper for publication, it's nearly ready, but I can't say I have lots of energy for it. I did get tired very easily and gave up and toddled off to the gym for a poodle on the treadmill. I have been trying to run outside on a Tuesday, but the time was getting on and I pictured all the school kids pouring out of the school gates as I would be puffing along red of face. So I took the Gorky option and went to the gym. This gave me less tome than I would have had if I'd gone out from home. The journey to and from the gym takes around 40 minutes. So just 33 minutes (thought I would do a 10% increase this week). The good news is that there is definite improvement. I ran walked, keeping my heart rate in zone 2 as per electronic coach instruction. He\she\it is demanding ANOTHER recovery week cos I cheated a bit last week! Anyway, 2.3 ish miles with heart rate low may not light up any lights, but it's an improvement for me.
It wasn't so long ago thar I would be running at 9.5 minute miling, someway to go, but I can see a return to somewhere in that sprtof region yet.

Juneathon day 20

I had intended escaping from work early and getting in a short run on the treadmill before body pump, but it was not to be. I left work later than I had intended and got caught up in a tailback caused by an accident on the Mway. On the way in to work in the morning the same thing had happened going the other way! There is something about that stretch of Mway that is a bit of a black spot.

In any event, I just did the body pump, slightly increased weights. I found some of the tracks hard, don't know whether it was because they were new tracks or whether I was just a bit tired.

Not a great deal of interest to write about really, a quiet day in work - I was on the urgent referral duty and there were no urgencies, odd for a Monday but I'm not complaining. It was also one of those sneaky days thawt started off pretending it was summer and ended wetter than November!

Run day today - I don't want to risk going out first thing in case I miss the man who is going to mend my modem, but do I go outside or in is the burning question. I'm not usually a fair weather runner, but this rain is just too much!

Juneathon 19

My world has beEn shaken to the core! My modem has broken! The nice man who can mend it can't get here until Tuesday, so here I am on my ipad which is better than nothing but not quite the same. Also I don't know how much I'll clock up on the 3G over the next few days. If I use the Internet on this, it's usually over a wifi somewhere!

So, to the business ofnthe day.

Sundays tend to be awkward to jimmy some exersize in what with family stuff and lunch to cook. But I have managed to eject the family in time for me to get to the gym for q bimble on the treadmill and a spin class.

Bimble indeed it was, remember I'm supposed to be still on ae recovery week. So half hour on the dread mill, run walking just over 2 miles. Then into the spin studio, I was early so got on with it. I tried hard to keep the heart rate down into zone and mostly succeeded only having 5 minutes or so in zone 3. I completed 30 k in just over an hour.

I can feel my fitness levels rising and it's showing when I'm on the dread mill, I can go longer with mud heart rate not climbing so high so quickly as it was. Who knows, perhaps I have another marathon in me yet.

Juneathon Day 17 and 18

Yesterday was a rest day, a real rest day not a 'do something else' day. The reasons were many, but mostly because I was very tired. I worked my work and sorted the family, cooked and flopped. I was in bed and asleep before 9:30. However, it was probably the best thing I could have done for myself if I'm honest. Juneathon notwithstanding, I felt so much better for it today that I was able to go out and enjoy my run.

Today the weather forecast was grim so I thought I would go to the gym and meander along the dreadmill. The downside of that is that the place is teaming with 'little dahlings' on a Saturday. Now, I don't mind children, after all I had three of them and I used to be one myself. But lotsandlots of them in a place that is designed to stimulate people into activity is not my idea of fun. But the fates were kind and the weather was better than forecast, so while on my way to the gym, I changed my mind and went to a local beauty spot. A lake in the middle of a huge retail park that is just over a mile around.

with lots of company

I walked ran it twice, keeping my heart rate low as per instruction. Just about half hour and something of an improvement. Having said that, I am rather slower on the dreadmill and the local run I do is much hillier! I must do that again in a few weeks just to see what (if any improvement there is).

Juneathon Day 16

The weather is blinking awful! We get better weather in the winter. I'm not usually one to complain about the weather, there is nothing can be done about it, so we just have to adapt our lives around it. But this is really stormy and very very wet at the moment It's 8:15 pm and dark! We've not had the longest day yet.

Anyway rant over, 30 minutes run walk on the dreadmill followed by body pump. I can feel I'm getting stronger which will have an impact on my overall fitness, weightloss and (hopefully) running.

Swim day tomorrow, think I'll just step outside with my waterwings ☺

Halfway day - Juneathon

I have a sore throat (mild) and felt tired and unmotivated this morning, but I thought I would go to RPM anyway as a) I'd  booked it and b) it's Juneathon and I didn't want to report "nothing doing today". I thought I would take it easy as my electronic coach is insisting and keep my heart rate low.
I got part way to the club and realised I'd left my heart rate strap behind. Well, I would go with how I feel I thought, I'm not 100% anyway so will likely take it easy.
I'd forgotten about the freedom of working to the tune of the body! I settled into the class, and found myself giving 100% on the hill tracks and going like the "pocket rocket" the instructor always called me on the speed tracks☺.  I came away feeling so much better, not tired (still have a bit of a sore throat, but some paracetamol after brekkie will settle that down I'm sure). I have no temp or cough so I shall carry on as normal.

Juneathon day 14

I can't believe how fast this is all going. It seemed much more of a slog in January. I remember the feeling of 'getting somewhere' when at the halfway point back then. Maybe it's that I have actually regained some modicum of fitness since then, or maybe it's because the warmer days and lighter evenings are more conducive to motivation for activity. Probably a combination of both.

As I said I'm supposed to be on a recovery week, so a 20 minute warm up on treadmill and bike and some challenging weights and abdominal work today. I think the weight training is important especially as one gets older. Strong muscles, especially in the legs and the core, I'm sure will help prevent injury and even help with some weight loss.

So tomorrow we hit the halfway mark!

Juneathon Day 13

My electronic coach has told me I worked too hard last week and still need a recovery week. So a slow run walk of just over 3 miles for me today.
Monday is scheduled for body pump, but I got held up with work and faffing, so didn't get to take my kit with me. As it happens it was for the best, I got home popped a chicken casserole in the oven and trotted out. It's a lovely evening, after the deluge of rain over the weekend, it was nice to have sunshine. I'm glad I was able to take advantage of it now rather than be in a stuffy studio (the aircon is not that efficient).

And I have over 3 miles under my belt in 45 minutes, I know lots of people could walk it in that time (there are some challenging hills in that route to be fair), but I don't care. I've not been right for quite sometime, and it's lovely to get out there and enjoy my training no matter what pace it is.

Tomorrow, I'll do some weights in the gym.

Juneathon Day 11 and 12

I'm combining Saturday and Sundays doings as it was the weekend and had little time to be blogging.

I should have been very tired yesterday, I got home at midnight - that's a good 2 hours past the time I'm usually asleep - and of course, it took a little while to settle. I must say I enjoyed the evening, good wine, good company (girlie friends) and good food, can't fault it. Then I was awake at just after 4. I got loads done around the house though, I kept going all day washing cleaning, cooking running the family around in the car to various places. Just a small toddle after all that.

Today it did catch up with me a bit, nevertheless, family have to be transported and fed as usual. I felt sooo tired this morning. I managed to do a little sewing - what else can you do this awful weather! And the casserole I made for lunch was flavoured with sage and thyme from my little garden. The potatoes are almost ready and the tomatoes won't be long behind them. There is something very satisfying in eating food you've grown yourself.

Up to the gym this evening and 25 minute walk run on the dreadmill followed by an hours spin.  I feel more wide awake now, funny that exersize does that and it may be the last thing you want to do.

Thankyou Juneathon, if it weren't for you I may well have been tempted to forgo it this evening.

Juneathon Day 10

Friday is a swim day. I've factored it as a rest day, so just a swim to stretch out the muscles is enough.

I was in my lecturing job today so I decided to swim in the Wales National Pool. I don't have the confidence to swim in the 50 metre pool so chose to go in the 25 metre pool. Golly, it was incredibly busy!

Now I'm a slow swimmer - and I mean slow, it takes me 15 minutes to do 20 lengths. I just can't get any faster no matter how I try. I looked at the swimmers in the various lanes and though I may be better off going in the medium swimmers lane. I tell you, I thought I was slow, some of these people were slower than slow. I ended up just doing one length at a time (I had intended doing 40 lengths 1K maybe splitting it into 2 lots of 20). I had to queue to swim for goodness sake!

I slipped into the fast lane and even then I found myself over taking people.

What was most irritating though were the people just standing at the ends and gossiping - they were there for ages. One guy didn't even move out of my way - instead he pushed me away! If you are going to stand and chat - get out of the frigging pool and let the swimmers get on with it!!

I did just 30 lengths - one at a time and focussed on technique. I actually don't do that very often and it's probably a good thing. I know that my slowness is purely down to technique and if I want to do another Tri, I really should do more of it.

Another thing, my nose is running like a tap and I've sneezed all afternoon - I know it's the chlorine and the choppiness of the water (and the fact that kiddies may well be piddling in the water). It is so irritating though.

I'm off out tonight with some lovely girlie friends so I hope this runny nose settles soon. Although the curry should see off the sniffles ☺
Run day tomorrow, so I'd better go a bit easy on the vino - or maybe not!

Day 9 done and dusted

Thursday is treadmill day followed by body pump. As I'm in a recovery week and supposed to keep my heart rate low I did just a token warm up on the dreadmill - 11 minutes of run walk covering around 3/4 of a mile. I felt good doing it and my heart rate behaved itself nicely. Then body pump, I increased the weights by 1kg on each track. It was harder work but my heart rate didn't even climb into a working zone for lots of it. I must be actually regaining some fitness. When I started back at body pump around 6 weeks ago, my heart rate would be recordable for most of the session and would climb into zone 3 on the squat track!

Juneathon Day 8

This is a recovery week according to my electronic coach, but I didn't want to miss the spin class. I've recently started back and am enjoying the buzz.
So, I went, but kept the heart rate more or less under control - ie below Zone 3!

21K in 50 minutes and only 2 minutes in Zone 3 is respectable enough. Followed by a slow 20 length swim which gave me a good stretch out.

This was all followed by a tough day in work - it's been a bit quiet for me lately so I was due a tough one.
I'm past official retirement age, but because of life circumstances I can't really afford to retire as yet - besides most of the time I still have energy and enthusiasm for the job. On days like this though I do think longingly of the reduced stress that retirement could bring.

Tomorrow may well be a good day with positive feedback and I'll be back on the 'wait a few more years' trail.

Juneathon Day 7

Whew! Caught up ☺

True to my word, out I went, it's a bit wet out there, but once into it the rain becomes quite  a pleasant coolant.

Just 2 miles today, keeping the heart rate low, so lots more walking than running, but I must say I felt strong and able today.

I've now showered and breakfasted and feel ready for the day. I love this early morning running, but it's actually getting out the door is the challenge.

I have to keep it short - work beckons.

Jueathon - Day 6

Well, I'm getting closer to blogging on the right day at least!

Sometime ago I bought a new gadget (those who know me will now be raising their eyes in a knowing way - new gadgets are a feature of my life). This was a watch, no - a heart rate monitor, no - a distance calculator, no - a calorie counter etc etc. Lots of runners have similar gadgetry we kid ourselves into thinking they will make better runners/cyclists/swimmers whatever. Deep down we know that it is regular, mind focussed training that is the only gadget we really need. It is fun though analysing the training, looking at pretty charts and trying to beat the time on the route we did before. The down side (maybe) of this particular piece of kit is that it uploads the data to a log, then feeds back on how I'm doing. Now, if I've not been well/demotivated/busy/ash cloud, or any other excuse, it cuts no dice with this coach. A lazy week is a lazy week and you can't argue/reason/make excuses to a machine! The same goes the other way if you decide to have a blast on the spin bike - "Train Less in Zone 3" is the response. This week, the "coach" has demanded a recovery week!
I'm actually going to do as I'm told just to see how well it works. I've been in the doldrums training wise for some time now - I've gone from running 2 marathons in a month, to barely being able to run for 3 miles. The reasons for this are complex, but I've been trying to get back to the level I was - or at least somewhere near it for some time. It may well be that I've tried too hard at times  and I do know that there have been times I've not tried hard enough. So a structured "do as I'm told" training is now my goal.
This rather protracted preamble brings me to the "recovery" training that started yesterday. A slow half hour on the gym bike keeping my heart rate in zone 1 followed by an hours body pump, again, keeping the heart rate low.
Today should be a running day, but I'm off out for a very slow trot/walk before work.

Juneathon Day 5

I'm almost a day late again blogging - must try harder!

Yesterday was a spin day. I was doing the spin (or RPM) on a regular basis until health and other life issues got in the way. I've recently started back to it. It is a hard session and can be endless. Yesterday the usual Sunday instructor wasn't there, the guy who took it is a hard taskmaster indeed. The room that the bikes are in are not ideal - it is small with inadequate aircon and no windows that can be opened!
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the session and came away feeling most self satisfied.

When I got back to the car I found a flat tyre!!! I managed to get it to the garage and fill it up with air though, but this morning it's gone down again. I'd better get out and get it sorted!!

I'm off to run and pump today - see you later.

I WILL try to "jogandblog" on the same day - promise ☺

Day 4

Not a great deal of success exersize wise, partly due to a long day and partly due to me getting the times wrong (again).

I went to a bead embroidery workshop in Cardiff (with a little bit of guilt as my daughter was doing a bbq for her birthday). This workshop was going to be so informative and exciting and I rarely take a day to myself. So off I went to be well in time for the 10 am start. I got to the venue at 9:45 only to discover that it was not due to start until 10:30. This meant I had lost the opportunity for a morning run.

A 2 mile walk would have to do.

I did make it back to the bbq in time to eat (after most of the clearing up had been done ☺).

And I brought with me a new creation

The colours are lovely, but it's not perfect by any means. However, I did enjoy the workshop, made new friends and learnt some new skills to practice.

Day 3

Friday is a rest day for me, so I generally just swim. I've not done a lot of swimming for a while, I started back about 3 weeks ago.

Today, I did 1 km split into two halves, the five minute interval was spent in the steam room. For some reason the second half felt easier and was very slightly faster. Overall I did the 40 lengths in 30 min and 37 seconds. Slow, but not too bad I suppose.

I though I would treat myself to lunch in the club bar afterward, Cajun chicken with fresh vegetables - hmmm delicious I thought. It took an age to serve, when it eventually came it was the most unappetising looking meal I've seen in a long time, just peas (undercooked), potatoes (over cooked) and very anaemic looking chicken with a sprinkle of red pepper. A huge disappointment. I was too hungry to leave it - besides, they charged me £7 for it! I didn't complain but will not be eating there again.

Day 2

This is going to be a short blog, just like the run! I had travelled back from Liverpool. It was a lovely day, but the train from Crewe was hot and very crowded. We were both tired not having slept well the night before.
I had gone there with a friend who had developed a cancer in her her eye last year. She had undergone treatment and this was a follow up appointment with the consultant. The very good news was that she has been discharged with a clean bill of health.
I got home at 7:30 and if it weren't for Juneathon, I would have just slumped and done little (or nothing), but off I went on a very short trot, run walk on a 2 mile loop. It actually did me good, all my aches and my niggly hip settled and I got home hot, sweaty, but very self satisfied.

I like travelling though, I love people watching and building up a story about them and where they are coming from/going to. Sitting on the station at Liverpool watching people hurry by intent on their destination, or wandering looking a little lost checking on train times. All sorts of people cross paths at railway stations or airports. Maybe I should take notes at such times because the passage of time and distance blurs everything together and the memory is fuzzy.

And now I've bumped into Day 3, today I shall swim and maybe a short session in the gym.

Juneathon has begun! I did a 3.2 walk/run this morning. I say walk/run because there is far more walking than running these days. I am trying to keep my heart rate within reasonable limits according to the polar training advice. The route I use is rather more up than down, so lots of walking. I am hoping that in 30 days time, I'll be reporting Some improvement at least. Today I took 44 min 09 sec with an average heart rate of 125.
I'm going to try to report something of interest on my daily postings, rather than a simple report of activity. It will also, I think, help to focus my mind on what is around me rather than just doing the activity because it has to be done.
I am not likely to be doing photographs though, unless it is something particularly riveting.
Today in my part of the world is refuse collection day. The local council have issued plastic bags rather than bins. They also have in the cutbacks, designated different weeks for different kinds of rubbish. Today was the "green week". The bags are a see-through green and are meant for only recyclable items like paper and cans etc. Some households had little or nothing outside and others had several bags. Some households obviously have lots of ready meals and others lots of wine bottles pr beer cans. It struck me that although this recycling has become, or has appeared to become the " done thing", we are remain a "throw away" society. When I was a child, bottles, paper, and so many other items would never find their way into the refuse. I think we have a looong way to go before we can claim to be " green"/environmentally aware.

Lent

Today is the first day of Lent. I find it slightly amusing that people who profess no religious affiliation still follow the rituals and tenets of a faith long abandoned. But then it does no harm and people who are 'giving up' things like chocolate and other indulgences have the chance to reflect on the fact that we do indulge ourselves in luxury while some people (many people) are struggling to exist in the world.

I 'grew out' of my Christian faith some time ago and take no part in the rituals that have become just that to many. I do self indulge - a lot- and honestly try to temper that with some sensible ................. I don't want to use the words 'self sacrifice' because not to eat things like cake and chocolate is not really that, let's be honest, the world will not stop because we can't eat such things.......... but my early morning brain won't find an alternative.

All this 'giving up for lent' is meant for us to reflect on our lives and what is really important to us and to have something of a taste of the frugal life that many are forced into through circumstance of birth or life events. Also, I think the Christian view is that by living frugally in the body, the spirit has a chance to grow (I may be putting that rather badly, but I hope you know what I mean) - Islam has a similar approach with Ramadan and other cultures similarly so.

As you are aware I took part in the Janathon challenge, but since then my exercise regime has taken a knock. I do get tired and sometimes (often) after a long day at work, or a busy family day at the weekend I grasp any proffered excuse not to do some form of exercise with eager hands. However, when I was participating in Janathon I ignored the gremlins that tried to persuade me to drive past the gym and come straight home and I went rather than report that I had done nothing - or not report at all. I have a very sedentary lifestyle these days, I spend many hours in front of a desk, in my car, at home knitting and sewing. My body is showing the signs of this and I suspect lots of the sluggish tiredness is as much to do with the lack of exersize as anything else.

This rambling blog has now brought me to the point. As a non Christian - or Muslim - or Jew or any other monotheistic religion that requires self sacrifice and contmeplation on a regular basis, I have decided that I - and probably others around me - will benefit more if I ADD something to my life rather than take anything away.

I hereby announce therefore, that I will do some form of exersize that will benefit my mind and body througout the period of Lent. I can't promise (or threaten) to post here everyday, but I will certainly attempt to log it all and do a summary at least once a week.

Watch this space as they say ☺

Sewing, knitting but notalot of running

Since Janathon, my running/exersize mojo has been in hiding. I've been going to the gym and swimming on a fairly regular basis but it doesn't take much to talk me out of it. I'm doing something most days though which is better than nothing. I'm going to be entering the race for life again this year and intend doing much better than I did last year so at least I have something to aim for. I suspect my marathon days are long behind me. I would have liked to have cleared the six nations, but if it's not to be - well, nobody died!

I have had something of a fruitful month though. Again, I need something to aim for even in my sewing and knitting life. A friend and colleague became a grandmother this month for the first time. As is often the case, she was not best pleased to be made a grandmother in  her early forties by her single youngest daughter, but as the arrival became imminent, she became more excited and is now besotted with her grandson.

I thought a playmat may be in order, I've made one before and it seems to be welcomed and is likely to be used for longer than a knitted garment or even a shawl/blanket.

I thought a nice colourful patchwork with rainbows and golden starlight was just the ticket. It went down well I think.

I'm also coming to grips with my knitting machine. It's been quite a revelation how much knowledge and skill I had lost over the last Twenty something years since I last owned one. I've now completed a jumper for myself and it actually fits! I feels comfortable, light and warm.

I added some cable detail to the front and did the neckband in the same cable type. It's not perfect by any means - I couldn't sell it, but it's not at all bad even if I say so myself/

I am doing a workshop presentation on Tuesday, I was invited to do so due to a project I've been doing at work (Job 1), in Cardiff. There will be some significant people from the Assembley as well as the NHS in Wales, so of course I have to try to look my best. I've bought an outfit, but it needed a nice scarf to set it  off, so this weekend my knitting machine came into it's own.





February - almost Spring.

In spite of the awful weather it IS almost Spring. One of the interesting things about living in this part of the world is that the weather is so unpredictable. We have to wait to see what the weather gods decree for us. Will we have any more snow this winter - it's possible. Will we have a lovely long hot summer like we did as children - it's possible. I'm hoping that these winds and gales are the early March weather and that we will have an early spring, but we have to wait and see.

Janathon was an interesting journey and passed a month by that many people find difficult to cope with. There is lots of depression and worry around in January, possibly a combination of lack of sunlight and anticlimactic after the excesses of Christmas. Also the bills start to come in.

In the end though, I started to find Janathon a bit of a chore and I think one month is quite long enough thankyou. It wasn't so much the exercise, more the logging and blogging. By the time I had done all that, and visited the couple of forums I frequent, the evening was just about gone! So I have resolved to blog just once a week now, at least until Juneathon starts!

I sort of awarded myself a 'step back' week last week and modified my activities somewhat.  I did gym and swim and walk the dogs. We had a good long walk in the wind and rain yesterday, probably just over 2½ miles, we all enjoyed it and it got me thinking. I love running - at least I used to - and I still love the 'high' and the sense of achievement afterward. However, the actual running is feeling like so much hard work at the moment, and although Janathon brought about an improvement for me I'm still finding running hard work and it's turning into a chore. I fail to see why I should make myself do something that gets harder when it becomes a 'must do'.

I will still run, but not as much and not to aim for so far. I have an idea to conquer the six nations - I have three (I got England (London) three times), and maybe it will happen, maybe it won't. I know it won't be happening this year, I'm nowhere near marathon fit. although if I started one I could finish it, but with a price! A price I paid heavily for last year after London.

I have too many activities in my life that I enjoy to put myself out of action doing something that wipes me out and becomes a chore. I'm not exactly hanging up my trainers - not yet anyway - just modifying my running and increasing the activities that give me pleasure, like walking my dogs.

Talking of which, they are hinting heavily right now, better get going.

The finish line!

I've done many a race event and can recall at everyone of them the sounds and sight of the finish line! Sounds are heard first as people are cheered in, the the sight of that line gives heart and new energy to tired legs.

Today, we have reached the finish line of Janathon. Some will have run everyday and completed awesome mileage, some will have done Something everyday and others will have fallen by the wayside to be picked up by the sweeper bus. People get injured, ill or have other life events that may prevent the last sprint past the cheering crowds. It IS starting that is the most important though I think. The resolution to take some responsibility for one's own health an well being and the optimism and hope that we all feel when we set out on a journey. There is some trepidation as well of course. The start of a big race event with the smell of deep heat and nervous energy peppered with some anxiety is unique and unlikely to be understood by those who don't become involved in such things.

I did feel at the start of Janathon that I may not make the finish line and I posted my excuses   reasons early on. I must confess that some days I was on a thin line when it came to what actual exersize I had completed, but, I can say with hand on heart that I did do Something, everyday. The first week was probably the most challenging, when my inner voice was urging me to 'give it a miss today, no one will notice or even care', but I persisted and by the middle of the second week I was chaffing at the bit to get to the gym.

Today I had a bit of a drag day at work, I won't go into details here, but I felt that my energy had been sucked from me. I left work early (naughty me, but I had worked over the weekend and had no work to do as such), and drove toward the gym. It's on my way home and the number of times I almost stayed on the Mway and came straight home, but something else was pushing me to 'just go and do what you can'. So, as it was a running rest day (I do need them at my age), I walked on the treadmill at a brisk pace on a hill setting, then a cheeky 10 minute run walk, cos I felt like it and it's the end of Janathon. I then had a gossip with an ex colleague, he's retired, but likes to keep up with the goings on, before 20 lengths of the pool.

I came away feeling energised and rather self satisfied.

A rather marathon posting for  marathon month. Roll on June I say ☺

One more day!

Just one more day left of Janathon. I've made up for my sluggardness of yesterday and walked the dogs and gymbled!

The dog walk was with my mad friend as I've said. We meet on a Sunday morning for a brisk walk and a gossip. Maybe gossip is not the right word because the dictionary defines it as -Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature. or A person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts. It does then go on to say - Trivial, chatty talk or writing. A close friend or companion. She is a close friend and we tend to chat about trivia lots of the time as well as enjoy each others company.

A brisk walk in the very very cold sunshine then, we went through the woodland because it was more sheltered and took us out of the biting wind.

Then I trotted off to the gym with my new shoooooz, when I say trotted, I drove but you know what I mean. I'm really not sure about these shoes at all, they don't seem to have much cushioning in them, although they are controlling the roll in my foot. When I had finished today, the soles of my feet were quite sore. Now it could be that I'm tying them up too tightly, I've not got a great deal of confidence in them and they seem to need some firmness around the ankle joint.

I did do 30 minute run/walk on the treadmill, I found it tougher than usual, but I've increased the incline just a little to try not to put too much pressure on my shin. I also spent 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer as a warm up, then 20 minutes on the bike.

I now have the house to myself for an hour, so some ironing and sewing for me while I have the chance.

Boy do I know how to live!

Could do better!

It's Saturday (at least it was when I was supposed to be writing this), so a busy family day for me. I like to start the day slowly, it's the only day of the week I'm able to do that. I got up at 8am - a long lie in for me. The intention for the day was good, but other forces got in the way. I had intended the usual dog walk then a trip to the gym for some cross training.
My daughter's cooker is broken, so while she is waiting for the insurance assessor she came to my house to use my kitchen and cooker. That was fine, but we needed to do some shopping first, then there was the children to amuse.
In the end, the dog walk was done, but with two little assistants. Lots of ball throwing and fun in the sun. Then we put the Wii on and played with that for a while. For those of you who don't have small children or grandchildren, you would not have experienced being soundly beaten by a 5 year old child. I have that delight regularly!  I could certainly do better!
I did manage to do a little sewing and lazily picked up a takeaway when taking the family home.
Today, I get a nice long walk with my mad friend and my dogs and will go to the gym and work as per schedule.
Today, I will do better.

I've actually got outside for a run

A very short run/walk actually. I sort of wanted to road test my new trainers, but didn't have time to go to the gym. as I hadn't run for over a week and not outdoors for much longer than that, I went out for a 20 minute trot. More later.

I've had another working from home day, the advantage being that I can start and finish at hours that suit me rather than the office. 6am then I checked emails and did essential work like my expenses sheet.

The dogs had their 2 mile walk this morning, they like the new field we've found, comes complete with it's own dog poo bin (just as well!). Then a trip to Cardiff to buy new shoes. The shop I was going to has had some good reviews so I expected a satisfactory trip. The Mway was not too bad, we left at midday and the journey should take just under an hour. Leaving the Mway and we ground to a slooooow crawl for miles! When I say 'we', I mean HWMBT, he's not been out for a while and was feeling hemmed in, so he came for the ride.

The satnav, took us right to the door and even to a free parking place that gave us 2 hours, plenty of time for lunch and some retailing. The guys at the shop were very nice, and I came away with some sparky new shoes. I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with them to be honest, but they were the only ones in the shop that would fit my feet and suit my running style. They feel a little awkward and heavy on my feet, but I may well get used to them.

Leaving Cardiff was worse than getting there! Traffic lights, accidents and the build up to rush hour made for a very frustrating journey home. By the time I got in there was less than an hour before  I had to go pick my daughter up. I had new shoes and Janathon to think of, so I braved the cold and the public stare and off I went. I've been following a schedule sent to me for someone building/rebuilding their running. Being sensible, (new shoes, recent shin splints, notalot of time), I stepped back to the 20 minute outing of a few weeks ago.

Actually, it wasn't too bad, I've not run outside for a while, so it wasn't easy, but I just need to get out more as I said a few days ago.

Gym tomorrow and maybe a swim.

turn and turn about

Today was a day of turnarounds.

I was working from home today so the dogs got their walk later than usual. I had a little more time, so we did a 2 mile brisk walk. I'm finding some problems getting my heart rate up on the walks though, even on the hills! It was sooo cold though. I like to vary the walk a little partly because it saves my boredom and partly because it puts me in charge when the dogs don't quite know where they are going and have to rely on me to tell them which way to turn. That's what we did, lots of turns along different streets and ending up going down some streets (to them) the wrong way. I could see the relief in their body language when they turned into our street and they knew where they were.

Today was a planned swim day, so I duly set off to the  pool so I could get there when the lane swimming was due to start. I think I may have 'blogged' some time ago about the merits of concentrating on what we are doing when we are doing it. This afternoon was a memorable lesson in that very philosophy! I was thinking about getting to the pool and what Iwould do when I got there when I realised I was in the wrong lane at the traffic lights. Nothing for it but to drive down to the next roundabout and turn around. Back on track and a few minutes later I realised that I had forgotten about some road works that had closed the main road I needed to drive along. Again, drive to the nearest turn point and turn around to follow the diversion.

Eventually I get to the pool and looked in some horror at the sight before me! The M25 is quieter on a Friday rush hour! There had to be 10+ people in each lane and around 20 kiddies in the far lane having a lesson. I was there and ready so I resolved to make the best of it. It meant that many times on each end of the 25 metre pool there was a queue, so I had to wait my turn to turn!!

40 lengths (1Km) in 33 minutes is not bad for me though.

As long as we don't get snow tonight I'm off to Cardiff tomorrow to get some new trainers, who knows, I may well get an actual run in at the weekend ☺

ditto

much the same as yesterday. I was sooooo tempted to try a short small run, but resisted. I'm going to wait until I have new trainers from the new trainer shop after being gait analysed!

The gym was quite busy this evening, the January resolution people are still going, fair play to them, I wonder if it's a) a distraction from the anxiety of the recession (which I understand may be a 'double dip') or b) the money is paid, we are in a recession so I'm going to get my money's worth ??????

Perhaps I'm not being fair, but this happens every year, then attendance falls off by February/March, and increases again in the Autumn as people are trying desperately to 'get some weight off before Christmas'. Then they gain weight over Christmas and the cycle starts again.

At least people are doing 'something' rather than 'nothing' I suppose.

I need to get out more!

Going to the gym is all very well, and very useful when injured or the weather is really too much, but it leaves very little interesting to say. Lots of people focussed and concentrating on sweating it out, some people just pootling along chatting to the neighbouring pootler and a bank of TVs with a choice of what to watch while pootling or sweating!
I broke my iPod last week, which means I don't have my audiobooks to listen to while working away, so I put the news channel on instead. Maybe I shouldn't have.
I don't tend to watch news items, the media have a way of sensationalising news items in a very subjective way. I'll read the news online (the trees thank me for not buyig the paper version) or just pick up on what''s happening in the world from conversations or bloggersworld.
Also, there is merit in concentrating on what you are doing at the time which gives the activity some intent and quality. I don't know, I don't think I could concentrate soley on what is happening to my body for a whole hour, although when I do Tai Chi it's necessary, but a much shorter time duration. Perhaps I should practice, but my mind wanders all over the place if I do try.
And maybe I shouldn't have watched the news because it's all doom a gloom these days.

Back to the gym. My left leg was much improved and I toyed with the idea of a short run, but resisted. I'm going to wait until I'm pain free AND have new shoes. It'll be at least the weekend by the time those two events happen. I did my usual 20 minutes each on 3 different machines - elliptical, bike and hill walk on the treadmill. For some reason, my leg is a little tender this morning. Ice packs will be employed!

More of the same today as it's a scheduled run day, then something different tomorrow.  Only 6 days left to the end of Janathon.

This month is just sliding by!

My shin is still niggly, so no running for me, but an hour cardio at the gym, elliptical, bike and hill walk on the treadmill.

I have a Polar Heart Rate monitor that links with the web and monitors my progress, I forget the model but, it's like a personal trainer. One of the downsides is that you can't make excuses to it! The upside is that I've tried to keep in the heart rate zones it recommends, and I do believe it's paying off. I have to work much harder these days to get up into zone two when I'm out walking the dogs even on the uphills. Also, at the gym, I'm having to up the resistance and speed.

I'm feeling well and fitter and have lost a little weight.

Thanks Janathon, I wouldn't have done it without you.

dog walk and gym

Yesterday's retail therapy did me more good than uplifting the soul. My body has thanked me for it as well.
A 2 mile plus a football field dog walk this morning and 45 minutes cross training in the gym later. Not bad for a Sunday.
 I have a two mile route that I use sometimes for a quick (for me) run, the first half is up, up up, then the reward with a nice coasting downhill to home. I took the dogs on this route and we had a short trot around a nearby field on the way. We have some rough waste ground nearby where they can go off the lead and stretch their legs and play, but someone with a scrambler bike has made it virtually impossible to walk through now, and it's very very muddy. Now the dogs don't complain about this, not one bit, but I certainly do! Heidi loves rolling in anything that's smelly and wet and muddy, it's a bitch thing - they like to disguise their smell from possible predators, so I'm told. Personally I think she just likes to see me groan!!! Anyway, due to this impassable piece of ground and the fact that it's winter time, so daylight hours are limited (non existant in the week due to work), they've not had a chance to stretch out for a while. I let them of the leads today and they were like spring lambs about the place. In fact, it's very much like an early spring day out there, cold, but windless and sunny.
 My left shin is settling, but still grumbling away in the background, so a trip to the gym while my daughter was cooking lunch (it was her turn today). 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer and 20 minutes hill walking was all I had time for. I did do a 5 minute trot on the treadmill afterward and just left it at that.

I wonder if it's too much treadmill running that has caused this flare up on the shin? I tend to leave it on no incline for much of the run while I'm trying to regain some fitness, but I think I'll just slow the pace and up the incline as per advice I've seen when it's settled and see what happens.

This particular problem caused me much grief last year when I was training for London. I was so determined that I was doing VLM come what may that all I did was made a bad problem much much worse. In the end, after much patient treatment from a lovely sport therapist, I made the start line and got to the end in 6½ hours in something of a state! Very much a pw for me and it took so long to recover because I was so very undertrained that I've learnt a valuable lesson. Slowly does it and rest and recover when necessary is now my motto.

Retail Therapy

It's not often I take a day out for retail therapy, but the opportunity was there, so I took it. I HAD intended going to a running shop in Cardiff, I really need new shoes, but a) my left shin is still sore so will not actually run for another few days at least, and b) we ran out of time.

I love spending time with my daughter, she is such easy company and we can talk and talk and not run out of things to say! She is also very supportive in a very non judgmental way and she is probably the one person in the world I can open my heart to, which I tend to do a lot! Her children were spending the day with their other grandparents, HWMBT was doing well so in the car and escape to the shops! One shop in particular. We share a passion for making and creating - she's cards and jewellery and I'm more of the knitting and sewing, but do make some cards. Hobbycraft in Cardiff is one of those shops that is in a timewarp. We entered those hallowed doors and emerged something like 2 hours later, lighter of heart, very much lighter of purse and heads full of exciting ideas for projects. This meant a quick dash around M+S for food for tea and an hours drive along the Mway to collect the children. We also have similar tastes in music, so the iPod gets used well in the car.

All this means no more than a quickie dog walk and lots of walking around the shop (s). I'm fine with that though, and my shin is thanking me for the rest, I'll cross train in the gym today with more quality for the rest day and will be planning the projects I'll be doing with my goodies from yesterday.

I'll be back at Cardiff next week just for trainers ☺

a better day - but not all good!

A much better day today, my cold has almost given up the ghost, and I have more energy and optimism than yesterday. How a small virusy thing can alter our whole perception of the world!

I've had a productive day, in that work has gone well.

HWMBT is having a better day and his bloods are settling.

I also did some sewing (I said there would be some sewing didn't I?) Just a runner for the unit in the lounge

It's not by any stretch of the imaginatioin perfect, but I'm still finding my way around my super duper sewing machine.

I have not run, my left leg is still a little sore, but I did an hour in the gym, 20 minutes elliptical trainer, 20 minutes brisk hill walk and 20 mintues bike. Breaking it up into 20 minute slots makes it less of a bore! So a good hours work.

Then - oh dear - then, I sat on my ipod and cracked the screen!! It works, but I don't think it'll last long like that. Now do I buy a new one? An Iphone or an Android? I don't know whether itunes will convert to android phones. The other option of course is to try to get my ipod repaired. This would be the most sensible option, but do I really want to be sensible?

not a good day

Sorry people, but really not a good day. My left leg is sore, my cold is taking over and I'm soooo tired. So no more than a dog walk here.

HWMBT is not having a good day again, more blood tests, but I'm not sure just what it is they can do.

I also made a student cry today, I was giving her feedback on her last assignment, she actually passed comfortably, but was still not happy with herself. Am I glad she didn't fail!!!

Tomorrow is another day.

Shin splints! Grrr!

I'm cursed with shin splints, I get them periodically and it is a weakness. Probably something to do with the fact that I'm a bit heavy for running and I do have a mildish overpronation problem. My running shoes should also be replaced which I  will now do this weekend.

It's still a nuisance though. I have a running rest day tomorrow, but scheduled to run 30 minutes on Friday. It looks like the elliptical trainer will be in use!

Today, I did my usual dog walk, I did a slightly different route, but even so, I found that I was not getting my heart rate up to the same level as I was some weeks ago. It was the same sort of thing on the treadmill later today. I did the scheduled 3 minute run 2 minute walk, I did speed up just a little and put the incline up sooner so my heart got itself a work out!

I'm going to have to brave the great outdoors soon, it doesn't usually hold great fears for me, but I'm rather self concious these days since I gained so much weight! I do like running in the great out doors though and I'm lucky in that I have access to some great and varied scenery. On my long runs I do a huge loop which takes in woodland, seaside as well as river banks. One day, I promise I'll go and bring some photos here.

Tomorrow I hope to get to the swimming pool and some cross training and weights in the gym.

Another day done and dusted!

I have a slight cold, just the sniffles and a throat that feels as if I'm swallowning razorblades. Nothing like the manflu that disables half the population so badly ☺. However Janathon is no respecter of such things so off to the gym for me after work!
I did take the dogs out this morning, but was a little later than I should have been and the pavements were icy, so we cut it a little shorter than usual.
 I was scheduled to run 3 walk 1 for 20 minutes which I did, and managed to keep my HR in zone 2 mostly. The fitness is certainly improving. I felt sort of unsatisfied, like still feeling hungry after a meal, so 20 minutes on the bike and 20 minutes on the eliptical trainer and I left it at that.

Having this cold I was wondering at the wisdom of this routine, but in my experience, a mild cold will give way to some workout of the body and will improve. This, of course would not be wise with something more serious like a chest infection or even the fullmonty cold that leaves one feeling wiped out.

I read on Twitter that someone had to pull out of Janathon because of pneumonia, that is sad, but sensible not to go on and make things worse. At this stage I would not like to have to retire from this game - my gremlins have given in and I'm beginning to resent anything that may stop me following my training schedule - however, life happens and some of us will naturally fall by the wayside on the way. That is not as important as the fact that people started and carried on as long as they could. So well done to those who have had to sit out on the sidelines and I guess Juneathon will be waiting in just over 5 months time.

Just a walk or two

Today was a running rest day for me. I had intended going to the gymandswim, also then to have my haircut. However, it was not to be. The Mr is unwell again and has slept most of the day. I'm concerned but nothing to be done until more tests, even then I suspect that not a lot will be able to be done. He is due to see the consultant soon so maybe we'll have more answers.
Anyway, I didn't feel able to leave him long enough to go do my planned exercise, I had the dentist and some essential shopping to do as well. So, an extended dog walk and a brisk walk to and from the dentist will have to do for today.

I did manage to get my ironing done as well which is a bonus.

I'm due to go back to work tomorrow after a few days off, so at least I've done most of the tasks I had set myself.

Over halfway

I'm not used to 'blogging' daily. I tend to restart the blog with the resolution to 'blog' once a week. However, this soon slips away as other life gets in the way. Daily blogging though has got me slipping into a rather introspective self examination. I do try to seen interesting things or think of interesting things to talk of. Maybe it's a human condition that we alway have to relate whatever is happening back to ourselves.

Sunday is traditionally a family time in this household where family usually visit, often for lunch. It seems to have altered a little over recent years though and I find I'm not cooking for them all every week any more. This is a two edged sword really, I don't miss the Sunday mornings in the kitchen, but I do miss the family time. Families grow bigger not smaller as grandchildren come along and it can be quite a challenge to feed them all with their different likes and appetites. The upside is though, that I do have some time to myself. Today I decided that a trip to the gym for  a treadmill run could be done earlier than usual, before lunch even. So after the usual dog walk and picking some of the family up from church and depositing them home, off I went.

I was listening to the radio in the car, now this is the 'interesting' bit. There was a discussion on the attitude of ageism. The BBC have lost a case where someone (I don't remember who) was not allowed to appear in a programme because she was a little old. Now older men are encouraged and revered by the BBC (and the public), but apparently not women because it's all about corporate image apparently. It was pointed out that people who are now over 60 are the 'Baby Boomers' who made a great difference in outlook and attitudes in the Western world. The phrase that caught my attention and tickled me though was 'The Bus Pass Generation'. I have my Bus Pass and use it, in fact, as an aside, catching buses can be a people watchers dream, even better than trains in many ways, but that's a subject for another blogging session.

So, have we, the Baby Boomers moved on into the 'Bus Pass Generation?' or can we just hang on to the Baby Boomer title? It seems that we have never, and will never intend to conform to what has previously been known as 'social norms', so Baby Bus Pass Generation Boomers maybe? A bit clumsy I think. I'll have to try to think of a suitable label for us, those of us who will even take the BBC on in order to hang on to our citizen rights to work and play as long as we can. Any suggestion welcome.

Well, I did get to the gym and did my scheduled 50 minutes run/walk, I then popped on the bike to do 10 minutes just to get the numbers nice and even. It's a me thing.

Playtime over, then back home to feed the Mr his lunch.

See you tomorrow

Halfway there

I didn't have a chance to post yesterday, a busy day, and notalot to say really.

I did get the dogs out, one mile, two minutes faster than the day before, but as I've said, it's difficult to compare times especially when two dogs may have different ideas than just to march on! Weather means nothing to them, walks are walks and weather is just something that happens and is of no consequence when there are new smells to be sniffed and new adversaries to look out for. Hiedi has a mission to rid the world of all cats, and Shaddow has decided that all unkown dogs are to be challenged and put in their place (which would be all very well if he wasn't such a wimp when it comes down to it).

I considered running, but it was a running rest day and Saturdays are usually busy with domestic type stuff anyway. Also, today (Sunday) is meant to be a running day and a long one at that (long is relative you understand, and I'm back at the beginning again). So, I spent the afternoon playing on the Wii with my daughter and grandchildren.

Our minds are always making associations even when we don't realise it! The statement that 'I'm back at the begining again' and the playing of games made me think that running is like a game of snakes and ladders! I first started running (as in training for races and events) back in 2003. Over that period, I've done 6 marathons and countless half marathons and 10ks, but spend much of my time climbing the ladder to a level that can get me around a course, punctuated with slip sliding down the snake of injury and illness.  There's something about running - being outdoors, having some time to myself (and my audiobooks), the 'zone', the feeling of fitness - all of those and more, that keep on bringing me back again and again!

For someone who has nothing to say, I can really waffle on!!!

Day 14

That's 2 weeks done and dusted. Problem with plans though! The schedule said 30 minutes run walk. I did the usual dog walk this morning with the full intention of run/walking at the gym followed by a nice rewarding swim.
It was not to be.
The Mr is not well, and hasn't been for some time, he has had several small strokes and has a heart problem. He had a stent inserted earlier this year and now has a heart murmer. There is also a problem with some of his blood results, his sodium levels are low. I did a repeat bloods on him yesterday as suggested by the GP. As I was leaving the house this afternoon the GP surgery rang, his sodium levels are dropping further and they wanted to see him today (they were talking admission). So off we go to the GP surgery, but it was decided that admission was not necessary. I brought him home, settled him and made my way to the gym. At least I was going to get my run in, but I wouldn't bother with the swim.
It was after I changed that I realised that I had two left trainers in my bag! The run was not meant to be. It's as I'm writing this that I'm thinking that I could have had a quick few lengths in the pool - doh!!!!

So, today is almost a write off, but at least the one mile dog walk saves me from complete failure. Tomorrow I hope to get at least a short run in.

Day 13

Tomorrow we will be two weeks into Janathon and two weeks into the New Year! This last week has gone by soo quickly.
Today there were no gremlins, none at all. In fact, I was eager to get to the gym. I did the usual one mile dog walk this morning then paid work. Today was the job that I enjoy so much - teaching. I enjoy my other job, I've been doing it for long enough. I first started nursing 40 years ago so it would be a sad thing if I had stuck it out that long if I didn't enjoy it.

Another upside of the teaching job is that thanks to modern technology I can do much of my work at home. This morning I finished marking some essays then trundled in to Uni to see the students and sort a few things. Although I was busy, it wasn't the kind of stressful racing the clock busy that the nursing job is.

Then off to the gym, I had intended doing 20 minutes or so in the gym then swimming. Unfortunately the pool was offlimits because of kiddie lessons. So I stayed in the gym and did 40 minutes bike and cross trainer then 20 minutes weights and some stretching. I finished feeling that I could have done more, but sense prevailed. I don't want to go burning out at this stage

Day 12

I didn't really think when I signed up to Janathon that I would still be blogging and exersizing now 12 days later. There have been days when the gremlins on my shoulder would be whispering that missing one day out wouldn't matter, that in the long veiw it would make little difference Experience tells me differently though, I know that giving in to one day just leads on to another and life is allowed to get in the way of what really should be a priority. That is looking after one's self. I keep telling people that unless we look after ourselves that we are in no position to look after others, and I believe this to be true. In fact the Government is acknowledging that carers need care also.
As a result, I put my foot down today and went off to the gym to do my scheduled run/walk. It would have been easy to say, ok, I'll get your tea and give you a lift to wherever. Instead, I left with instructions on how to use the microwave and 'can you get a taxi if I'm not back?'. I found this hard to do, and felt soooo guilty, but here I am, blogging my 2 and a bit miles, feeling smug and endorphined up, and the Mr has fed and gone to his meeting so all is well. In my defence, I didn't know about his intention to go to this meeting until the last minute and would have been able to manage my time a little better had I known.
As a foot note, I am finding the running easier and am able to go just a touch faster each time without blowing up! I know - or at least I'm told - that we have such a thing as 'memory muscle', that will quickly 'remember' the previous fitness and adjust and adapt sooner than if we were starting from scratch. I sincererly hope this is the case. For the first time in a very long time, I'm feeling somewhat optimistic about the possibility of me being out there, pounding the pavements up in the double figures of mileage. The fresh air, and the long run zone followed by a nice warm bath is my idea of a good day spent!

day 11

As I write this, I'm feeling very tired. I'm at my daughters babysitting, well perhaps I ought to say childminding as 3 year old Mia would assert in a very loud and determined way that she is 'not a baby'. She's a 'big girl Mia'!
Getting two small children ready for bed and reading bedtime stories is at least as demanding as a long session in the gym I swear!
Today was scheduled a running rest day, so no running as such. The day started with (after the obligatory kick start coffee) the usual mid week 1 mile dog walk. this was 23 minutes but included two wee stops and two poo stops (scooping this stuff in the dark is something of a challenge!). Then tidy up the house, sort and put out the refuse, pack gym bag and off to the pool. Today I did 4, then 3x6, then 4, only marginally slower than earlier in the week.
I then was stuck in an loooooong traffic jam caused by an accident. This meant 45 minutes for a usualy 10 minute journey! The day was all out of sync, but I managed to catch up and get to my daughters ready for her choir practice.
Some rest day eh?
 I'm in job 2 tomorrow, which is teaching at the Uni, apart from the fact that I have nothing prepared for tomorrow mornings lecture, I'm looking forward to it. It's so different from job 1 that it's almost like a day off!
I've managed to book some annual leave days for the weekend, so maybe this blog will live up to it's name of some knitting and sewing as well as Janathon.
I am so grateful to Janathon, I'm sure I would not be in the place I'm at now, if Janathon wasn't sitting on my shoulder encouraging pushing me along. Although I feel a little tired, I do feel that my fitness is returning slowly but surely.

Day 10 - double figures!

My schedule said 16  minutes run 3 walk 1, so I did. I did set the treadmill a *very* little faster to start with rather than rack it up slowly. I then walked the final 14 minutes to make up to the half hour. This adds up to an hours exercise today after walking the two muppets before work this morning.

I had intended swimming after my run, but as I had popped over to the gym in my lunchbreak, I thought I had better just walk and stretch or I would have been taking too much of a lunch break!

I slept well last night and actually, for the first time in a very long time woke up feeling fresh and rested. I'm not exactly sure why last night, but here's hoping for more nights like that one. I have a theory that it is the combination of exercise and healthy eating and no booze.

Long may it last ☺

Day 9 well into week 2

Day 9 completed, I like this return to running schedule I have, today' s "long run" was 40 minutes run 3 walk 2, very doable. I have set the treadmill to very very slow, but up the speed by .1 every cycle and up the incline for the last two cycles. Next week, I'll up the incline for the last 3 cycles and so on.
I'll never be what would be termed a fast runner, no more than a plodding plodder in fact. But I was aiming for a sub 5 hour marathon before life got in the way and in fact, only missed that target by 10 minutes in Paris in 2006. Sub 5 would have been mine the following year in Rome had I not broken my foot! So, some ambition for me then. I have entered Edinburgh marathon for this  year and hope to finish in a rather better shape than I finished London last April. I think following this schedule and committing to Janathon may make it more of a probability. I won't decide definitely until Janathon is finished, but the way I'm feeling today, I'm cautiously optimistic.
After my treadmill run, I went for a short swim - again 4 x 4, but today in 13m12s, I know it's slow, but again an improvement.
Working at it slowly is paying off.
We are into double figures tomorrow, a good psychological milestone.

Day Eight - rest day

Rest day! Running rest day anyway! I've done some cleaning, cooking, shopping, washing, repairing broken net poles, fixing a radiator cover to the wall, and entertaining grandchildren.
No running, but XBX completed, dog walk completed and 30 minutes Wii Fit. That's enough for an old granny!

I've not a lot to say today, the day has slipped by so quickly as weekends usually do. I, like many just pack so much in to the weekend that it's like a timewarp! When I was marooned by the snow, my house was clean, ironing was done and I did things so slowly and thoughtfully. We just rush through life often then say, 'where did that time go?'. I did see somethings in that regard today that was scared and angered me at the same time. I was standing at the pelican crossing with two of my small grandchildren. They are taught that they can cross when the green man says so. No less than three times today, cars were travelling too fast to stop when the green man was alight! That was not the worst of it, later when I was taking them home, I spotted a racer type rushing toward the roundabout I was driving around, I really thought s/he wasn't going to stop, in fact I think s/he was trying to get to the roundabout so s/he wouldn't have to stop.. This dual carriageway has a 40mph limit on it at that spot, but it drops to 30mph not much further up the road. This car roared its way past me, cut in front of me and almost crashed into the car in front that was changing lanes. S/He then impatiently scooted around that car and roared off - with any luck being caught on camera just 100yard further on. The tragedy is, that if and when s/he crashes, and the way s/he was driving it'll be one of those tragic pileups, innocent people will suffer. This person can't possibly appreciate the kind of things that take time to savour, and life for him/her must be poorer (and probaly) shorter for it.

Day Seven - a whole week already!

We have arrived at the end of a whole week of janathon. I've more or less done something every day, but as I said in the beginning it wouldn't be running every day.
I missed my planned swim yesterday, but managed to jimmy it in today after my dreadmill run/walk.
I am feeling quite tired, but I'm not sure that is all to do with the extra training, after all, I'm following a schedule that should be well within my ability. I have spent several weeks not sleeping well at all, waking by 2 or so and that would be more or less it for the night. This past week though I've been sleeping the sleep of the just. So much so that I was asleep before 9 last night.
This morning my radio alarm burst into cheerful chirpy life all to soon! I've always been one to be slow to wake, so I usually lay and listen to the radio for a while before dragging my sorry self out of bed and kick starting my innner engine with strong black coffee. This morning, I fell asleep listening to the radio and got up far later than I should have!
It may be because I have soooooo much work on at the moment that deep down I don't want to face it. I have lots going on in all areas of my life, and with 2 jobs on the go, both being rather busy at the moment sometimes it does seem a bit much. But then I remember being marooned at home for 4 days during the last bout of snow. I was actually able to get to the local shops, but not to work, or anywhere more than a mile or so away. I've never been so glad to escape to work!
Back to today. A slow and sluggish start to what promised to be a busy day. Today I had papers to mark with a tight deadline, I can cope with that, but when it's all electronic and the electronics won't play properly it's so frustrating! Then getting hubby off for his chest xray, picking up some shopping and back home. I was so tired, I wanted to crawl into my bed and sleep, but Janathon was beckoning so off to the gym I went.

In less than 5 minutes I was awake and enjoying the freedom and the movement. I only had 25 minutes to do according to my schedule, so 25 minutes I did. Marginally faster than Wednesday, even small improvements are improvements!
Next a short swim, 4x4 lengths and a 5 minute 'chill' in the steam room.
I now feel self satisfied and so glad I went.
Tomorrow is a runnig rest day, I will do something, but not sure what as yet. Probably a long brisk walk with the muppets (those of you who know me know they are two charming black labradors)

This pic is a few years old now, but they are still energetic and charming - well, to me anyway!
Onward to week 2