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.