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

dog walk, no swim!

Today is a running rest day, but the plan was to swim as well as the routine dog walk. Somehow, time ran away with me this morning and I had to rush off to work with out taking the dogs out. (They only get one long walk a day because they have free access out through the dog flap into the back yard.). No matter, I had lots to do in work but felt sure I could escape early and get  a swim in before coming home and whipping them out while the dinner was cooking.
Best laid plans and all that. I finished work much later than I intended. The pool nearest the University was not open to members and the pool I would normally use is the other side of the city with lots of rush hour traffic to contend with and it was freeeeeeeezing!
So, home I came, quick change into something warm and out with the dogs. We did a briskish 2 miles mostly uphill, so my calves are tingling nicely. It had to be brisk because I'd forgotten the poo bags so I didn't want an embarrasing stop in the middle of a pavement and no means of disposing of the offending matter!
Tomorrow is a run day, and I have to finish work early to take the Mr for a chest xray. Therefore a 25 minute run/walk on the dreadmill and a nice swim to follow.

I do hope Janathon is going ok for you reader.

Take care

Day Five

I'm loving this Janathon (so far)! I had a not so good start to my day when one of my dogs got out of the back gate. They never go out alone and are absolutely never off the lead on the roadside, so they don't really have traffic sense. In fact Shaddow - the one who went exploring - doesn't really have a lot of sense at all! Just when I was in a state of panic and about to go searching the streets for him - he'd not responded to my calls at all - he came sauntering in as if it was the most  normal thing to do!
This made me late, so they had a quick jaunt around the block - not worth logging as exercise for me at all. I did manage my XBX though. It's a strange thing, just 12 minutes every day and after day 8 of that I really feel it's making a difference to my flexibility and maybe even some fitness. May be all in my head though.
I also (against my better judgement) caved in and stepped on the scales this morning. I last weighed New Years Eve. Nothing, Nada, Notanounce have I lost! And I promise I have been good with my food intake and have stuck to my fitness plan like a leech! Yes, I know, "step away from the scales, they mean nothing, it's body shape that is changing". Well, maybe, but when you see a BMI like I have, which is definitely in the obese range, it would be lovely to see those figures come down. Ah well, I've said that I'll carry on till the end of January, I'm bound to see a difference then.
Work was busy, but it was what I expected. One of the things about my job is that it does get very busy and demanding, and I get very tired by the end of the day quite often. But when I think about it, all I do is sit down. Either at my desk, or in my car, or in other people's houses. Today, I was driving back to the office feeling pretty drained and all I wanted to do was to come home and sleep! A little voice inside my head was telling me to go home and tomorrow is another day. I may well have given in to it and rescheduled today's run for tomorrow, but Janathon was sitting on my other shoulder tutting, wagging it's finger and shaking it's head. So to the gym I went. I carried out my schedule of run 3 minutes and walk 2 minutes for 25 minutes. I really felt I could have done more and felt - not smug - self satisfied. I also realise that head tired doesn't always mean body tired, it's learing to tell the difference and acting accordingly that's the trick I think.
Tomorrow is a running rest day. I'm also in job 2 which is lecturing at the university. No teaching tomorrow, but lots of assignments to mark, so more of the sitting. So a swim after work and maybe some weights if I can.

Day four

A day of two halves really. I took the dogs for their usual morning brisk trot this morning, but had to slow down a great deal. When I left the house it was raining, no problem with that, we are used to a drop of the wet stuff and not really a problem with the cold and the dark either. However, I soon started slipping and sliding! There were frequent patches of black ice that could not be distinguished from the wet pavement.
I was thinking as I was picking my way carefully down the road, it's quite difficult to accurately judge improvements, particularly on a small scale. There are so many variables, as today, same route as yesterday, but much slower because of the ice, but I didn't have as many stops to clean up after the dogs for some reason - maybe it was just too cold for them!
 I'm following  run/walk schedule sent to me by a friend. Not a coach, but a very experienced runner/ironman(woman). This is good because the lead up to marathon training is very doable even at my level. If (when) I make it to the end of Janathon, this coincides with the start of the marathon training for Edinburgh. All being well, I'll be well up for it by then.
Hence the 12 minutes this evening run 3 walk 1. It was enough, I finished feeling good (although I had started feeling tired and if it weren't for this Janathon I would have made excuses and come home!). Another run tomorrow this time 25 minutes.

No sights for me to remark on today, this morning was wet dark and cold, little to see apart from the world waking up and people rushing to get on with whatever they were doing today. No sign of the eclipse either due to heavy cloud.

This evening, I was at the gym with the post Christmas rush. Lots of new faces some will stay, some will fade off, once the spring arrives they forget the resolve to 'keep it going' and are not seen again until after next Christmas. Each to his own.

Day three - and still going!

Today is a 'rest' day, so no running for me, my leggies are a little achey so wise I think. However, the dogs still had to be walked, just a 1.1 mile saunter for them, then after domestic type chores (have to be done!) a trip to the gym and 20 minutes ont he crosstrainer, some stretching and a short swim with a reward in the relaxing steam room.
 I must confess I was a little tired getting up this morning, but this Janathon is motivating me to at least do something. I've spent many a day in Injuryville and don't really want to go there again. I think doing too much too soon and getting tired therefore losing form is a sure route down that particular road, so forgive me for being boringly sensible.
I've actually done marathons when injured and one when I was badly undertrained, looking back now maybe it would have been sensible not to do that, but life is not always to be lived sensibly is it? Having said that, I've been in the valley of Lost Motivation for quite sometime now and it's time I climbed out and tried to get my body back. Not the body I am currently occupying which is embarrassingly overweight and lets face it pretty shapeless, but the one I had at my peak of fitness some 3 years ago.
So thank you all for looking in, and many thanks for the words of encouragement from fellow Janathoners.

Tomorrow is a run day, also a first day back to work day. I've not decided yet whether it'll be before or after work that I'll go, but go I will!

By for now
xxx

A day of two's

Well, I've "run" outside for the first time since around August if not before! It wasn't pretty and I struggled somewhat, but the scheduled run/walk for 30 minutes was completed!
I took my Garmin as well as the footpod so that I could check the calibration of the footpod. It's a polar that came with the polar training watch I treated myself to some time ago. The reason I bought the watch was because it was waterproof and I could wear it whilst swimming.
In future runs, I need to remember to start the both gadgets the same time! I started the Polar as I left the  house, however, I walked up the hill before starting the Garmin and the run!
No stats as such today, just that I ran walked just over 2 miles in the 30 minutes, way way off my previous usual, but no matter, I was out there and I actually enjoyed!
I saw nothing remarkable today while out, nothing memorable, I was listening to Stephen Fry's "The Fry Chronicles" which is absorbing and somehow I find his voice comfortable (for the want of a better word) to listen to.
Tomorrow a visit to the gym and a swim for me.

the first of the first!

So, here it starts. I did say however, that I may well cheat in that I would be unlikely to actually run every day. To be honest, it probably is not so much of a cheat as a rather wise thing to do. At my age to run every day, particularly as I've not run properly for quite some time would be folly and most definitely lead to injury.
I have also committed to http://www.fit450.com/index.html which is a short daily workout developed for the more senior person looking for increased fitness. I am assured by a friend that it works and is certainly worth the short daily effort.
So, today it was XBX this morning - my fourth day.
I also have a training schedule sent to me for me to start to rebuild my long lost running fitness (such as it was) ready for the Edinburgh marathon. It is a very sensible one in that it is a run walk basis and starts of very gently building up to the start of the marathon training which starts the end of January. It is just four runs a week, and so for me Janathon is going to be incorportating this plan with something different on the 'rest' days. Funnily enough - today is a scheduled rest day!
I have said that I have two energetic labradors that need walking daily so I'm as likely to count that as my daily contribution to Janathon. Today, we did  a brisk 2 mile walk along the route of my first shy excursion into this world of running.
I'm not sure that I will be repeating statistics every day, that would be tedious, but for today I shall indulge. As I said, two miles brisk walk it took 37 minutes my average heart rate was 112 with a max of 144. I'm not terribly displeased with that as we kept a pretty good pace going and just over half is uphill.
What sights did I see? Well, it's a dark dank and foggy night with very poor visibility. However, I did 'see' some teenagers playing on the swings in the playground. Black giggling silhouettes just being teenagers and having fun. A little later I saw a young man, not a lot older than those teenagers staggering along. He was trying to drink beer out of a can but his coordination was so poor that he failed and just dropped the can and staggered on. We made eye contact for a short while, it was hard to tell what he was thinking, in fact he was probably incapable of coherent thought. I was so sad for this young man that he had the need to be so drunk before 7 in the evening. Because of the job I do, I can see into his future which may well be bleak and probably short. But then, this was just a snapshot of this young man's life, maybe he is just not used to drinking at all and maybe he will never drink again. He did look sad though.
I on the other hand feel satisfied that the first day of the first month of this year has gone well.
More tomorrow.