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.