My run today was possibly the worst run I have ever done
Wearing high wedge sandals to work just because I had a pedicure yesterday = Sore legs right from the beginning.
Deciding to run on the hottest day of the year = Very hard work right from the start, hot weather has to be the worst kind of running weather for me.
Choosing a longish run on a day I'm weary = Even before half way round I was wishing I was at home.
Liking circular and new routes I had to complete a stretch along a busy main road and the verge hadn't been cut = I had to walk as the grass/nettles/weeds were knee deep and difficult to wade through and my legs have been stung to bits.
Diverting my route along a footpath through a field to get away from the road = severe cuts to my ankles trying to navigate my way alongside a shoulder deep crop, no visible path and getting well caught up in very sharp and unforgiving goose grass.
My 8.5 k took far too long and although the sky was the most magnificent blue and the trees a very vibrant green I did not enjoy this outing.
I do have one positive, I saved a slow worm from certain death!
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Dance today - tomorrow might be too late
I had a great night out on Friday, T, D, Fi and Me were joined by Vicky and Michaela for an evening of food and wine and not much dancing!
I was getting in the mood with some good 80s tracks on youtube and decided my dancing around the kitchen would be better enhanced by opening a rather fine bottle of white at around 6 p.m. This could possibly have been my downfall.
At around 7 p.m. D's husband was showing me a good running route on his map, I told him I couldn't really see the map and he refilled my empty glass. This could possibly have been my downfall.
8 p.m. we were all sat having a fine time, company great, food not so great and Michaela and I, apparently are going to do the London marathon. The waiter kept refilling my glass, this could possibly have been my downfall.
I wanted to go dancing, but I had no luck with these friends, not even the usually dependable Fi was up for dancing. Brazz however did have a mighty fine bottle of Prosecco. This could possibly have been my downfall.
The Cosy Club had music, but me the deaf one, couldn't hear it. Oh well the fizz was good. Perhaps this bottle was my downfall.
Back to Brazz, shut, what has happened to Taunton, nowhere open, nobody out, apart from the street pastors. Cafe mamba, ah now we're talking, music, T danced, momentarily, but this really wasn't a good enough effort I have to say. I tell my friends they will be very sorry they didn't dance with me and to imagine how they will feel if I'm dead tomorrow. Don't worry D tells me, we'll all dance at your funeral, cheers mates! A bottle of Blue Nun disguised in a bottle of, well something that shouldn't have been that bad was probably my downfall.
Back to D's to finish the earlier opened bottle and to wait for my lift. I texted him, no reply. I rang him - ah success - and then I rang him again as he had fallen back to sleep.
I think it was about 2.30 a.m. that I made a call on the big white telephone. I think it was about 3.00 p.m. that I eventually managed to dress and face the big scary downstairs and took sanctuary on the sofa! There would be no running, just getting upright was hard enough.
Which brings us to Sunday. I feel great, I met Ali and we did a gentle 7 KM run along the canal. It was flat, easy going and in gentle morning sunshine. I feel great and it's good to be alive.
I shall dance everyday and on my own if I have to but I do recommend that you join in!
I was getting in the mood with some good 80s tracks on youtube and decided my dancing around the kitchen would be better enhanced by opening a rather fine bottle of white at around 6 p.m. This could possibly have been my downfall.
At around 7 p.m. D's husband was showing me a good running route on his map, I told him I couldn't really see the map and he refilled my empty glass. This could possibly have been my downfall.
8 p.m. we were all sat having a fine time, company great, food not so great and Michaela and I, apparently are going to do the London marathon. The waiter kept refilling my glass, this could possibly have been my downfall.
I wanted to go dancing, but I had no luck with these friends, not even the usually dependable Fi was up for dancing. Brazz however did have a mighty fine bottle of Prosecco. This could possibly have been my downfall.
The Cosy Club had music, but me the deaf one, couldn't hear it. Oh well the fizz was good. Perhaps this bottle was my downfall.
Back to Brazz, shut, what has happened to Taunton, nowhere open, nobody out, apart from the street pastors. Cafe mamba, ah now we're talking, music, T danced, momentarily, but this really wasn't a good enough effort I have to say. I tell my friends they will be very sorry they didn't dance with me and to imagine how they will feel if I'm dead tomorrow. Don't worry D tells me, we'll all dance at your funeral, cheers mates! A bottle of Blue Nun disguised in a bottle of, well something that shouldn't have been that bad was probably my downfall.
Back to D's to finish the earlier opened bottle and to wait for my lift. I texted him, no reply. I rang him - ah success - and then I rang him again as he had fallen back to sleep.
I think it was about 2.30 a.m. that I made a call on the big white telephone. I think it was about 3.00 p.m. that I eventually managed to dress and face the big scary downstairs and took sanctuary on the sofa! There would be no running, just getting upright was hard enough.
Which brings us to Sunday. I feel great, I met Ali and we did a gentle 7 KM run along the canal. It was flat, easy going and in gentle morning sunshine. I feel great and it's good to be alive.
I shall dance everyday and on my own if I have to but I do recommend that you join in!
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain, apart from the many large muddy puddles that required careful hopping, skipping and jumping over and around.
Today's run was hot and hard, the glorious sunshine made the temperature gauge in my car register a whopping 18.5 when I left work half an hour before I put my trainers on. No jacket or hat required just me and my ipod.
My legs felt like lead, there didn't feel like there was much fuel in the tank and my left knee was giving me jip. Those short burst hill climbs on Sunday probably explained the heavy feeling. My May challenge to eat more fruit and drink more water may have accounted to the lower energy levels as I have been very careful about what I have eaten today. Yesterday had not been a good day on the food front. I had indulged in chocolate cake and fish and chips both of which contained my enemy gluten. All tasted delicious but I knew they would sap my energy resources and they did. The knee pain was definitely a result of wearing high heels to work, I'll be back to flats tomorrow!
All in all I don't like running in hot sunshine, I'm almost wishing it would rain...
Today's run was hot and hard, the glorious sunshine made the temperature gauge in my car register a whopping 18.5 when I left work half an hour before I put my trainers on. No jacket or hat required just me and my ipod.
My legs felt like lead, there didn't feel like there was much fuel in the tank and my left knee was giving me jip. Those short burst hill climbs on Sunday probably explained the heavy feeling. My May challenge to eat more fruit and drink more water may have accounted to the lower energy levels as I have been very careful about what I have eaten today. Yesterday had not been a good day on the food front. I had indulged in chocolate cake and fish and chips both of which contained my enemy gluten. All tasted delicious but I knew they would sap my energy resources and they did. The knee pain was definitely a result of wearing high heels to work, I'll be back to flats tomorrow!
All in all I don't like running in hot sunshine, I'm almost wishing it would rain...
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Achieving the challenge
My goal for April was to run at least every other day and today I have reached that goal.
You'll forgive my final run not being a proper run, but as the pictures below show our lane is ankle deep in water! I did set out in wellies to see how bad it was but as our lane was once a river bed you'll understand that I couldn't possibly allow my Nike+ chip to get that wet!
Instead I ran up and down our steep drive 20 times in pouring rain and for the third time this week got soaked to the skin. I'm not usually capable of running up the drive as this feat is always at the end of a run and something I usually find physically impossible, but today I had no choice. I started thinking I would try 10 climbs, then decided I could manage another 10 but that was enough, mainly because I was so cold. This did equate to 2.2 km so that would have to do.
My 15 runs in April have amounted to 90.41 km, which is 56.17 miles and has burned 5,929 calories.
Now for a new challenge...
You'll forgive my final run not being a proper run, but as the pictures below show our lane is ankle deep in water! I did set out in wellies to see how bad it was but as our lane was once a river bed you'll understand that I couldn't possibly allow my Nike+ chip to get that wet!
Instead I ran up and down our steep drive 20 times in pouring rain and for the third time this week got soaked to the skin. I'm not usually capable of running up the drive as this feat is always at the end of a run and something I usually find physically impossible, but today I had no choice. I started thinking I would try 10 climbs, then decided I could manage another 10 but that was enough, mainly because I was so cold. This did equate to 2.2 km so that would have to do.
My 15 runs in April have amounted to 90.41 km, which is 56.17 miles and has burned 5,929 calories.
Now for a new challenge...
Friday, 27 April 2012
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Just like Schumacher
I'm better in the rain!
It's official, I knocked almost 4 minutes off my time for one of my 8K circular routes.
Not one to normally set out in rain, let alone pouring rain, I didn't have any choice today. My April goal is to run at least every other day and so far I'm on track. I duly arrived home from work determined to do the run whatever the weather threw at me, I took my time changing hoping the approaching slightly lighter patch of grey sky would be kind to me and between the deluges it was!
About a third of the way around I checked my ipod and was delighted with my time and pace. I was running at a steady pace having decided not to try and speed up as I had to concentrate extra hard on traffic whilst I ran around the puddles. Only one vehicle failed to slow down and they didn't avoid heading through the middle of a puddle either. I felt my shake of the fist was a fair exchange for the shower I received.
During the second third I was soaked through and the wind picked up, I was cold and my jacket was sticking to my arms. The home third was incredibly difficult. There was such a strong headwind which made me wonder if that was why when I was going the other way my time was so good, had it been pushing me along? I hadn't been aware of it if it had. I didn't walk, I kept my head down and willed my feet to keep moving. I was very happy to see home and thought of the lovely long hot shower I would soon be in.
Checking my stats I was delighted at my time and I am now wondering just how much more time I could have taken off had that headwind not been present.
So next time it's pouring with rain and my run is due, will I postpone?
Not on your nelly!
It's official, I knocked almost 4 minutes off my time for one of my 8K circular routes.
Not one to normally set out in rain, let alone pouring rain, I didn't have any choice today. My April goal is to run at least every other day and so far I'm on track. I duly arrived home from work determined to do the run whatever the weather threw at me, I took my time changing hoping the approaching slightly lighter patch of grey sky would be kind to me and between the deluges it was!
About a third of the way around I checked my ipod and was delighted with my time and pace. I was running at a steady pace having decided not to try and speed up as I had to concentrate extra hard on traffic whilst I ran around the puddles. Only one vehicle failed to slow down and they didn't avoid heading through the middle of a puddle either. I felt my shake of the fist was a fair exchange for the shower I received.
During the second third I was soaked through and the wind picked up, I was cold and my jacket was sticking to my arms. The home third was incredibly difficult. There was such a strong headwind which made me wonder if that was why when I was going the other way my time was so good, had it been pushing me along? I hadn't been aware of it if it had. I didn't walk, I kept my head down and willed my feet to keep moving. I was very happy to see home and thought of the lovely long hot shower I would soon be in.
Checking my stats I was delighted at my time and I am now wondering just how much more time I could have taken off had that headwind not been present.
So next time it's pouring with rain and my run is due, will I postpone?
Not on your nelly!
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Inspiration
Today I have been watching the London Marathon. As usual I am full of intention to take part. As usual I am full of reasons why I can't. As usual I fully intend to break down these barriers and perhaps the time has come to actually put my fear s to rest.
So many people overcome their barriers and achieve this dream of mine, hopefully one day soon I will too.
One of my reasons for not taking part is that I really do not think that I could run that far. The furthest I have ever run is 11 km, which is 6.83 miles and I haven't done that for a long time. I do keep trying to go further but Meniere's usually gets in the way of my training, so maybe since Meniere's appears to be in a new phase and has been less intrusive on my life this year maybe this barrier has already been crossed.
I also have a fear of being on my own at the finish line. I actually don't mind how long it would take me to complete, but I would mind if all the crowd had gone home and the traffic had started to join me, that must happen at some point? Of course I would like to do it in a reasonable time. My current running schedule is focussing on trying to improve my times, I am managing to knock some seconds off and indeed this morning's run saw a route completed with a 1 minute and 6 second improvement. If I can just get over the intense nausea that occurs with this extra effort then perhaps this barrier is also being overcome.
A third fear is just how on earth do you get to the right place at the right time and how do you find your partner at the end and what happens if something happens to you along the way, how do you let people know where you are, where are the loos? See problems, problems! I suspect a look on the internet would help with sorting out all of these questions.
I'm going to break this huge conundrum down; I will not be taking part in the London marathon, nor any other marathon next year, but I am aiming to take part in the Taunton Marathon, I wonder if I need to apply yet? I wonder if my dream will come true before I hit 50...
A very big congratulations to each and every competitor in today's Marathon, I take my hat off to you all.
So many people overcome their barriers and achieve this dream of mine, hopefully one day soon I will too.
One of my reasons for not taking part is that I really do not think that I could run that far. The furthest I have ever run is 11 km, which is 6.83 miles and I haven't done that for a long time. I do keep trying to go further but Meniere's usually gets in the way of my training, so maybe since Meniere's appears to be in a new phase and has been less intrusive on my life this year maybe this barrier has already been crossed.
I also have a fear of being on my own at the finish line. I actually don't mind how long it would take me to complete, but I would mind if all the crowd had gone home and the traffic had started to join me, that must happen at some point? Of course I would like to do it in a reasonable time. My current running schedule is focussing on trying to improve my times, I am managing to knock some seconds off and indeed this morning's run saw a route completed with a 1 minute and 6 second improvement. If I can just get over the intense nausea that occurs with this extra effort then perhaps this barrier is also being overcome.
A third fear is just how on earth do you get to the right place at the right time and how do you find your partner at the end and what happens if something happens to you along the way, how do you let people know where you are, where are the loos? See problems, problems! I suspect a look on the internet would help with sorting out all of these questions.
I'm going to break this huge conundrum down; I will not be taking part in the London marathon, nor any other marathon next year, but I am aiming to take part in the Taunton Marathon, I wonder if I need to apply yet? I wonder if my dream will come true before I hit 50...
A very big congratulations to each and every competitor in today's Marathon, I take my hat off to you all.
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