short plod

not even a couple of miles tonight :<(

went out with club partner hamstrings really tight and hadn't loosened much after 23 minute lap,

so called it a day and just did lots of stretches,

after which I felt much better and should have gone out for another lap


but didn't

ah well

a piddling 73 miles this month - not exactly ideal prep for FLM


but it will have to do :<(

still weary

I think our 17.5 miler took more out of us than we realised

I am still weary and have not run today - planned to gym tonight but just cannot face it

plan to run tomorrow evening at the club

recovering

after a cold (but not ice) bath and warm shower I was rather stiff last night

a little trouble sleeping owing to sore knee

however up early for a gentle swim followe dby NOT gentle massage

phyzz found all sorts of points on my ITB that benefitted from her viscious thumbs

now it all feels loads better - better than for a week in fact :>))

will not plod at club this evening - let the massage take effect

A grand day out

Picked up plodding hippo at the station and went back home to dump gear etc

then we were off on our adventure

the plan is to plod the cloud trail to Worthington in Leicstershire and find a pub for grub

after a slight hiccup where we plod up an unexpectedly steep hill, we find the river and plod out of Derby in a generally southerly direction

after a few phone callls from evil pixie on her bike, who unaccountably seems to think we can run much faster than we are doing, we meet up

so now there's three running peeps chatting away about this and that and the miles fly by - garmin prompts us for a one minute walk every mile and they seem to come much more quickly than when I am running alone

we identify a PH on the OS map and aim for there - only to discover it is CLOSED on a BAnk Holiday Monday afternoon!!

at last we find one that is open - only to discover that it stopped servinfg the 'all day' food at 3 pm (Its now 3.20)

but they manage to supply drinks and crisps, and I supply geo bars so we remain moderately happy

mrbeanz has arrived to ferry hippo and me back to Derby [he later tells the teenbeanzes that he sat listenting to three like-minded mad women talking about running 145 mile races - who us??]

a phone conversation with running teenbeanz reveals that he has won an Easter Egg and more importantly, a cup, for first young athlete (and second overall) in club Easter Handicap!!

what a greta end ot a perfect running day

thanks hippo and pix for making it such a great long slow run

and the stats:

where: cloud trail
what: 17.5 miles
time: 4:02:48
pace: 13:51 mm
AHR: 137

tomorrow: swim and massage

good plod with garmin

up and out early - short sleeves and shorts in the sunshine

took the garmin for a longer plod, and decided to not include the 5 minutes walk at start and the warm down up the steep hill at the end

legs still stiff - stopped to stretch a couiple of times on outward half

pace reflects the fact that is mostly downhill on the way out and uphill on the way back - the last 0.6 miles includes some uphill bits in the park I cannot imagine ever being able to run!!

13.08
13.18
13.17
13.38
14.28


where: road and park
what: 4.6 miles
time: 1:02:17
pace: 13.29 mm
AHR: 135

tomorrow : rest day and outlaws here for lunch

club runners

was on local radio Thursday morning - talking about FLM

there were three of us - another chap from the club a V46 hoping to run sub 3 hours and a young chap - not sure of his target time, but pretty quick; both done FLM before, so I guess we made a good mix of peeps

it went ok I guess

went to the club in the evening and ran for 45 minutes - first 20 were hard going - leg aching - but by second lap it was much better as I had warmed up

had not zeroed garmin so it added the laps onto the previous run - seems pretty acurate in mapping since all 3 laps overlapped completely


where: road
what: 3.4 miles
time: 44:43
pace: 13.04 mm
AHR: 142

Today - cross training - gardening!

back to the gym

stiff today after yesterdays bruising phyzz session and then a short plod at the club

been to the gym this evening - 15 minutes cross trainer and 25 minutes incline walking on the tready.

and tretched properly afterwards too!

chatted to a whippet in the changing rooms who is doing FLM too - conversation started over same asics 2090s

garmin worked fine last night - drew a beautiful little map - now need to sort out some mapping software to make more sense of it.

more money!

club run tomorrow - must do 45 minutes minimum

two plusses (sp?)

yesterday I received a garmin 301 from a grateful client!

I have been lusting after one for a while - just so I can compare splits with all the others on here, on training and half marathon!!

I shall take it out tonight at the club and see how it does.

The other good thing today was a visit to the physio, she gave me a fairly thorough going over and was pretty positive about my prospects.

Found lots of tight muscle and knotty bits and dug deep.

However she was impressed by my flexibility - I discovered I can touch my toes - have not been able to do that for years! Also said something about good neural flexibility (?) and has encouraged me to stretch every day between now and THE DAY. And to ICE Bath after long runs - eek!

Going back next week for more torture.

so it's really happening then!

well the mag has arrived

race number 24592 - blue start I'll be near the back

and I have not plodded all week

will try and get out today, but hamstring still stiff so will need to do lots of warm up walking before plodding

the sports masseur that was recommended has not called back, so will try another recommendation, really would like some massage

catching up

still sore from long plod - getting anxious about the last 10 miles now!

at yesterday's meeting I was asked to go to a meeting on 19th April - told them I might not be able to drive to the station, let alone catch a train!

went to the gym last night and did 25 minutes cross trainer and 25 minute walking on a steep incline on the tready - by the end of it i was much looser and did my stretching

today not quite so stiiff - calves ok just hamstring (I think, never did anatomy) tight now - loads of work, so will settle for a bit of gardening and lots of stretching I think

off to Cambridge again tonight, will take kit, butnot sure if i will plod.

need to do short long plod on Friday this week, cos of visitors all weekend

that was hard

ok so today it was to be 3:30 on the feet, which works out as about 16 miles at 13:30 mm

breakfast at 9.30 - porage and toast

at 1.00 off I set with 2 bottles of lucozade (no gels in the house)

first 20 minutes were ok then my calves began to seize up so several pauses to lean against lamposts and stretch

gradually got into it, by an hour in I was fairly happy and notching off the miles at the right sort of pace of run 12 walk 1 and legs ok

NB right sort of pace is BT pace - which I do usually try to do, but just not enough days to really class as BT

sipping the lucozade at each walk a minute

by 6 miles I've finished a bottle of lucozade and ditched the empty, feeling a bit sloshy inside and not wanting to drink anymore!

continue past my last farthest mark of 2 weeks ago and trundle on to 1:45 onthe watch and turn for home

still feeling ok, if a little tired, but managingto maintain run 12 walk 1 up until about 12 miles

now feeling a bit cold and needing some energy but canot bear the thought of any more lucozade

fortunately I pass the coop and i have money!

I go in and look at jelly babies- too much like LZ, and remember someone saying that a mini mrs bar had done it for them in a long race

can't carry a bag of mini mars bars, so buy a normal sized mars bar and eat that as I plod along

it seems to do the trick and I keep going, but now running 5 walk 1 until I get to 1.5 miles out when the hill faces me - I remember someone here suggesting taking this last hill as a walk and warm down - seem sensible and I walk up the hill, jog along the flat bit and then turn into the park for a respite from Sunday afternoon traffic. I walk home finishing in 3:41:33, not counting the time queuing in the coop!

mrbeanz has gone out in the car to see where I am - and of course missed me as I detoured! sorry he got worried

now I am very stiff!

where: road
what: 15.9 miles
time: 3:41:33
pace: 13.93 mm
AHR: 138


tomorrow: swim and find out about massage

back home

another couple of days away but a little running

Thursday night is club night - and this week I aquired a running partner! The Dad of one of the lads in teenbeanz's traingin group wants to do the Derby 10K, but hasn't run apart from teh tready fro 20 years.

So we went out together with a quicker chap who appointed himself as our coach!

Dad is quicker than me but not as quicka s coach. We went out togetehr and they gradually wased away, but looped back wheneve they got to be out of sight - which was really nice. I did inevitably run at a quicker HR than I would have done alone, but hey I am not BT at the moment anyway.

Then we reached the long boring road on the 'back straight' of the run and Coach decided we should do fartlek between the lamposts - Dad sprinted 2 lamposts, and then jogged back to meet me, I sprinted one lampost, then we jogged two and repeated. It certainly made the route less boring and I did enjoy lengthening my stride and going quicker than my usual plod. Warmed down going back tot he clubhouse and opverall it was my second fastest time for the route - but by far the highest AHR!


where: club
what: 3.8 miles
time: 47:47
pace: 12.58 mm
AHR: 147!

After the club night I drove to Peterborough ready for meetings Friday and Saturday. Good place to run - plenty of cycle paths, but never sure how safe in a strange town.

Friday morning and up early for a run - but only a small loop and after 20 minutes I was back at the start and wimped out of a second loop - which was really stupid because after 20 minutes it actually begins to feel better - so was really cross with myself, as I have not done the miles this week.

where: trail
what: 1.75 miles
time: 20:27
pace: 11.7 mm
AHR: 130

Tomorrow - longest run to date 3:30 - eeek

London:<(

No runnign since Sunday

two days in London with no kit - did plenty of walking on the concrete though.

Club tomorrow night and then away again for 2 days - will be able to take kit this time.

Mother's Day

Flowers and cards were the order of the day - then a normal Sunday

step back week this week, so just a 90 minute run, but as I did not go out until 1 o'clock it was rather warm - could have worn shorts!

mrbeanz and running teenbeanz went out for a run together - first time for ages - supposed to be an LSD - and keeping each other in check

they seemed to enjoy it and agreed it would be good to do it most Sundays

both training for Derby 10k - I shall do it too - 5 weeks after FLM so not even thinking about it yet - at least it will be a PB - only done 5ks and half marathons so far!

where: road
what: 7 miles
time: 1:31:46
pace: 13.06 mm
AHR: 138

tomorrow: swim with teenbeanzes

working away

the trouble with working away is that it messes up my runnign no end

ran at the club on Thursday evening, but not as long as I planned

then drove to Peterborough, to avoid driving in the forecast snow and ice on Friday morning

woke up on Friday morning to snow - so did not run, had a lie-in!

This morning everyone wanted to start the meeting early, so they could get away (fair enough) so I just managed a short run before breakfast.

where: trail
what: 2.8 km
time: 21:56
pace: 12.5 mm
AHR: 136

tomorrow: long slow run

flat running again

Did not run on Tuesday at the club - work and family got in the way.

So ran in Cambridge again this morning - cold but not rainign or sleeting, as it was an hour later!

Was out a little later than last week so saw a couple of other runners - and they spoke so more friendly than the folk I saw last week.

I have decided to allow myself to go a couple of bpm higher on the HR as I can run more comfortably at a max of 142 than 140. I know it does not seem much but I found at 140 I have to keep slowing down or even walking whereas at 142 max I can keep chugging along.


where: road
what: 3.4 miles
time: 3:04:34
pace: 12.3
AHR: 138

rest day

thansk for all the encouragment guys - it really helps

now have two teenbeanzes on holiday for 2 weeks - they operate a 5 term year so this holiday is out of step

so a swim this morning with the teenbeanzes, cut short because there was an aquarobics class going on - which was very noisy and made us all short tempered

then walked to WW and back this evening for an extra 20 minutes exercise

club night tomorrow and then back to Cambridge for Wednesday

its hard

it was hard today

aimed to go out for 3 hours - as the get you round schedule - and decided to run 12 minutes walk 1 as I hope to run a mile walk a minutes at FLM;

went out ok, though there was a cold wind into my face on the way out, at least the sun was shining

coming back was not too bad, though there were snow flurries for a few miles, but nothing settled

then cam ehte grind home and I just could not keep going. the last 1½ miles is all uphill and at the end of that run my legs did not want to run, so it was run 1 minute walk 2 by the end!

still I did it - longest time yet on my feet and would have been quicker on the flat, so sub 6 hours is on.


where: road
what: 13.7 miles
time: 3:04:34
pace: 13.5 mm
AHR: 135

tomorrow - swim with the teenbeanzes who are on holiday

24.75 miles this week
70.45 miles in February

home at last

arrived home this evening after a brief visit to my brother, and a rare chance to meet up with our sister who was on a flying visit.

great to see them both

managed my one hour run yesterday and looking forward (??) to a three hour run tomorrow!

Running flat

I cannot believe how much easier running is on the flat.

Out again this morning in Cambridge and it was so good to plod along at 70-75% without having to slow/walk for hills.

Still no proper snow here.

All those of us training in undulating country (or worse, Aim High?) should find London a pleasant change.

Where: on the road
What: 3.6 m
Time: 40:05
Pace: 11.3 mm
AHR 136

tomorrow : an hour on the road.

running in Cambridge

The good thing about running in Cambridge is that it is flat!
The bad thing is that many of the pavements are very hard concrete or stone.

However I have found a route from the hotel that is boringly out and back but is a tarmac footpath.

So out early this morning, after snow last night which did not stick on the paths - a good plod.

Distance approximate, from map, but it did feel good.

Where: on the road on Cambridge
What: 3.4 miles
Time: 43:03
Pace: 12.5 mm
AHR : 136

back on the road

first long run on the road since BM in January and it felt hard in places

bright sunny, with cold wind from the North - in my face on the way out

some back ache on the uphill bits on the return journey - at least hills will not be a problem at FLM

ran it at 70-75% HR - which turned out to be about the projected marathon pace, so that is looking hopeful


where: road
what: 12 miles
time: 2:42:00
pace: 13.4 mm
AHR: 136
tomorrow: swim if time

Nationals!

What a greta day out - very cold at times but a fantastic event.

I am talkling about the National XC Champs at Cofton park.

Runningteenbeanz ran in the first race - and was not last, so mission accomplished.

Then we had lots of other club runners to cheer on.

In addition there was the bonus of forumties running too.

Met up with hippo, deliberately and then also met Tigger's friend Roo and we played hunt the forumite in teh men's race.

Spotted and cheered on Barnsley Runner, Fell Liker and Johnny J and met BR at the end too.

Great day - walked about 5 km and am now worn out!

Off to bed - need to run for 2:40 tomorrow - hope it does not snow.

International athletes

No, not us!

Back from the NIA where we watched some great athletics - including Kelly Holmes of course.

Great Russian pole vaulters - remember them from Athens?

Kluft and Sotherton battling it out in long jump and hurdles - Kluft 2 Sotherton 0

And more.


Oh and me?

decided against threshold on the tready - had run 2 days on the trot and did not want to tempt fate.

So did 30 minutes on the X-trainer and then some resistance work.


where: gym
what: cross trainer + resistance
time: 70:00 total
pace: n/a
AHR: 120

back in the groove

Been working away from home for three days, but seem to be back in the groove of running - thanks to Trailplus.

Ran on Wednesday morning - first run since TP, just ran round and round Parker's Piece until my time as up.

Wednesday evening mrbeanz told me my pic was in the paper, but don't seem to have a way of showing it here.

This evening been to the club - lots of folk had seen the article and pic. managed a run around hte field - not so far as I planned as teenbeanz was waiting - he had a short session because he is running in the National XC on Saturday.


Wednesday
where: Cambridge
what: 2.6 miles
time: 38:00
pace: 14.5 mm
AHR: 134

Thursday
where: club field - very soggy!
what: 2.5 miles
time: 36:57
pace: 14.8 mm

Tomorrow: gym - threshold session
AHR: 134

posing!

So today was a rest day - needed after the weekend.

But the local paper phoned for an interview for their feature on FLM 25. Tried to encourage them to contact the Club and the other members with places -but they wanted "real people"!!

And then they sent round the photographer - lucky my black kit was washed and dried!

He did lots of shots of beanz posing as a runner - we'll see whether he kept far enough away!

Since had a series of governors meetings and am now shattered.

Have to go to Cambridge tomorrow - 5.00 am train, so need to get my act together and get to bed.

Away until Thursday, so need to take kit too and try and fit in a run or two.

Trailplus

Great weekend!
Friday evening was orientation - meeting the 40 peeps who came - including around 15 forumites

and some serious runners - one lady going for a place in the Commonwealth Games.
I also had a sports massage - excellent experience could do with a few more!
Shared a room with CdK, Red Haired Girl and JeckMac. Bunk beds, not much room to swing the cat, but cosy!

Saturday started with a 7.30 recovery run - followed by breakfast.

Then a stretching session and the first talk by Keith Anderson on training for endurance.
(Close your ears base trainers) recommended sessions include tempo runs and Kenyan Hills.
Keith is training some of the group so he used them to talk about where they are in their training.

11.00 Threshold running - running out all togther and then splitting into groups - 3x10 minutes, 2x10 and 3x5 - no prizes for guessing which group I was in!

12.30 lunch - plenty of food - you should see what some of the serious athletes eat!!

13.30 Gear - and a retail opportunity from Adidas!

15.30 Kenyan Hill Training - again all run out together and then decide how much you want to do. I just did the one to get a feel for it! It absolutely pelted down with rain during this session - and stopped as everyone made it back to base!!

17.00 Training plans followed by Nutrition.

19.30 Dinner

10.00 Bed!!

Sunday
8.00 Breakfast, so a lie in!

9.00 Talking about the long run - and snow clearly falling horizontally outside the window!

10.00 Long Run - 45 minutes out into the forest and then decide how far you want to go. Fortunately the snow had stopped.

13.00 lunch followed by talk about tapering and the day.

15.00 leave to come home - weary but with lots to think about.

The best things were the chance to talk running all weekend without boring anyone, the staff and other runners who valued all runners whatever their pace, and the fantastic countryside we had to run in.

As a result of discussions with Keith about my schedule going into FLM, I have decided to

• follow the get you round schedule for time on feet but trying to run the sessions, not run-walk;
• do the long slow runs from home, no more races;
• aim for a finish time of 5:50 (2 x recent half marathon + 20 minutes) - but not do a half marathon to get a more accurate estimate - which means running the marathon at 13:30 pace;
• keep smiling!

Runs done
5 km recovery run 45:06
3.9 km including 3 x 5 minutes @ threshold pace
2.5 km including 1 Kenyan Hills repeat

3.5 miles long run at 75% HR
3.5 miles brisk walk back

strength training

Great session with the PT at the gym.

She's given me a strength programme to do twice a week, plus another one if I can get in three times.

and is really positive about me making it.



Trailplus here we come!



where: gym
what: cross trainer (HR 70%) + strength legs, upper body, core
time: 1:10:00
pace: n/a
AHR: 97 (over whole session)

later the same day ...............
been to the AC and walked the field, slipped down a muddy slope in the dark - not injured, just dirty ......

now getting packed for the weekend ........................

printing materials for presentation and

.......panicking about work not done

but looking forward to lunch with a forum friend

and then meeting some more forum friends and lots of new forum peeps


pity the folk who're coming on the weekend without an alternative name - they'll wonder what has hit them!!

Like going on a coach holiday and discovering that half the bus has been booked by a school party!

cross training

went to the gyn this morning and did 30 minutes on the cross trainer, nothing else just took my music and the time went by pretty quickly, could have done longer

if it worked for Aim High! will it work for me? - patience is the name of the game

also saw trainer and will meet up with her tomorrow to talk through the next 9 weeks.

the big worry is the long runs - have not done one since Brass Monkey, should be up to 16 miles in a couple of weeks but ....

and Ashby 20 - seems impossible at the moment and have not entered yet.

but everyone says the long runs are the most important ....................

hope TrailPlus moves me on, not sets me back



where: gym
what: cross trainer
time: 30:00
pace: n/a
AHR: 131
tomorrow: session with PT at gym

no plodding!

Well I managed to NOT plod ... an acheivement!


stuck to the desk all day, another job completed - just a few more before TrailPlus though .....



this evening runningteenbanz went to athletics, normally I would have plodded too,

but I managed to just walk round the club fields, really wanted to run when proper runners zoomed past, but managed to stick to walking.


where: club field
what: 2.6 miles
time: 37:00
pace: 14.1 m/m

tomorrow: gym - core and CV

silly me

Will I never learn?

Right leg was wobbly oin Saturda- so what did I do yesterday - yes included the tready in my CV session at the gym

Not content with that I decided I fancied a plod this afternoon.

Trouble is I have a choice: tarmac and not too steep gradients OR off orad and softer but muddy, uneven and more undulating.

Decided on off road.

After a mile my right leg was feeling decidedly wobbly - not exactly painful, just like 'I'm not really up to this and might give way at any moment' kind of feeling.

So made my way back and stretched and iced.

Tomorrow I will NOT plod (but am I allowed to walk??)


where: park
what: 1.6 miles
time: 25:00
pace: 15.4 m/m
AHR: 125
tomorrow: no plodding

keeping going

made it to the gym this evening - mainly cos I said I would on the daily training thread!

feeling it more in right leg than left shin when on the treadmill

keep stretching and icing!

where: gym
what: 50 minutes CV including tready
time: 15:00 on tready
pace: 13.3 m/m
AHR: 130

tomorrow: 25 minutes jog off road

white shoes, new shoes, muddy brown new shoes!

feel better for that

a short plod in the park - ok soft but not even ground

so shin feels fine, other leg felt it though!

just a short plod, but hilly and muddy and great to be out

had to walk the last few minutes as ankle was feeling the strain

now stretched, iced, showered and about to get lunch organised


where: park
what: 1.9 miles
time: 25:45
pace: 13.3 m/m
AHR: 130
tomorrow: CV at gym

back to the gym

Gym first thing - a good session of CV and core strength.

I really need to do more core strength at home, but just don't get round to it.

Forecast for tomorrow morning is good so will try and get running minibeanz to come out in the park and try out the new shoes and the legs!


where: gym
what: CV & core
time: 60:00
pace: n/a
AHR: 113
tomorrow: 30minutes run in the park

New shoes!

Collected my new shoes today - they feel great!

Had planned to go to the gym but family stuff got in the way.

But had a 25 minute brisk walk whilst runningteenbeanz was training this evening.

Tomorrow I will go to the gym!

walking on concrete

A long day away today - down to London for a meeting which took place in a basement, so no daylight all day :<(

To worn out this evening for a swim, just some walking and lots of stairs in underground and station.

On a brighter note a message to say my shoes are in and ready for collection!

gym again

Went to the gym first thing and did upper body strength stuff interspersed with bouts of CV PT likes to give variety to the session!

Then to Derby Runner for them to check out my shoes. Although I have 2 pairs, I tended to keep the clean pair fo the gym and the dirty pair for outside - so the older road pair are knackered - probably part of the shin splint problem, together with the increased miles.

So need another pair and to alternate properly and log mileages. They're going to get me some Asics 2100s. They also advised a wear a tubigrip bandage to support the muscle. So I have one in place now.

What: gym upper body and CV 50 minutes
AHR: 103

Tomorrow: London, so walking the concrete, maybe a swim in the evening.

A result!

In spite of a not very good week on the eating front, and no runnig, I managed to lose 2 pounds this week at WW!

Met a forum friend for lunch, which was good.

And been for a swim.

And got another job out of the way!!

What: swim 30 minutes

Tomorrow: gym - CV and upper body

Looking forward

Thanks to the encouragement from friends here I am sticking at it!

Made it to the gym today and just concentrated on CV stuff - too many teenagers posing on the resistance machines to get anything useful done there - that's an early morning thing.


where: gym
what: CV
time: 40:00
pace: n/a
AHR: 116

new schedule

putting on sensible head - and encouraged by RHG, I am going to stay off running until next weekend

I've looked at the RW get you round schedule and reckon I can probably pick that up next weekend, doing all the scheduled runs at 70-75% pace, rather than run-walk and using some of the rest days for CV work, so only running 4 days a week might keep my legs going.

The only worry is that both Harewood 16 and Ashby 20 come a couple of weeks early for the schedule will just have to play it by ear.

resting, resting, resting ....

still not running - keep reading stuff that says take 1-2 weeks of for shin splints - PT says two weeks as well, though she is not a runner she has been good in the past.

pain seems to have moved a bit - trouble is you start to feel little niggles you didn't notice before once you start 'listening to your body'

will go to Derby Runner this week, had a conversation with one of their staff at the club this week - need to take my shoes in for them to have a look at them.

meanwhile trying not to eat too much and get some alternative exercise - but also got loads of work on - and its just not the same :<(

Resting ...

Decided not to go to the gym this morning - just rest and ice

just as well as teenbeanz has a temperature - and sore neck

so I am now fretting about that

is the sore neck from yesterday's very physical rugby match, where he also banged his head?

or something worse?

who'd be a mum eh?

Grey day

Gym again,
Grey and damp morning so less regret about not getting outside.

Acheived one work task that had been hanging over me yesterday.

Must get some more done today. No time for lurking on the foruums.

where: gym
what: CV and core strength
time: 50:00
pace: n/a
AHR: 116 (inc core time)

giving the shin a chance

I've decided to stay off the running at least until the weekend and get in some gym work.

Then try and run on grass in the daylight.

So been to the gym this morning and done 20 minutes CV and 30 minutes upper body strength.


Now sitting here icing my leg!


where: gym
what: CV and upper body
time: 50:00
pace: n/a
AHR: 100 (inc weights time)
tomorrow: gym CV and core

still recovering

been to London today - which meant some walking on concrete pavements - not a good recovery surface

then to the club this evening, decided to plod on teh field and protect my joints, but it was so lumpy and wet that it did not feel too good

plodded for 15 minutes but could feel my shin, so came back to the clubhouse and iced instead

have iced again this evening

will go to the gym tomorrow and do some core stuff I think

stiff legs!

I am stiffer this morning than after previous half marathons - probably due to do no running or stretching in the 5 days prior to the race - another lesson learned.

I felt a lot better after a swim this morning, but have not done anything else today.


where: gym
how far: swim and stretch
time: 30:00
pace: n/a
AHR: n/a

Brass Monkey weather ...

It all began with a train journey – meeting Red Haired Girl on the train started a great forumite weekend in York. Little Miss Happy and mark*w met us at York Station and off to the hotel. Runnybunny joined us for a meal and then it was an early night for all!

Early next morning we woke to find a fine sprinkling of snow and a glorious blue sky. After the best breakfast Travel Inn can offer at that time of the morning we were off to York Race Course for the Brass Monkey Half Marathon.

Thanks to the Green Ribbon Code we were able to make contact with Aim High!(and sister), Torque Steer, Elephant Feet and XB.

And then its time to peel off all those layers of warm clothing and just wear your running gear – some folk wore shorts, some folk went sleeveless, but I was snugly warm in Helly top and concurve tights (plus hat and gloves!!).

RHG and I did a warm up lap of the field before setting off – avoiding the blokes who all seem to have found a reason to peer over the fence in to the scrubland beyond (we did not go close enough to see what was of such interest!).

Then we are off, not having the technology to give you a mile by mile breakdown of the race, I will just describe a few memorable moments. Soon I was fairly near the back, but a few distantly behind me and a lady in a purple top 100 metres ahead. After about half a mile we had our first climb – up over the bridge crossing the A64 to Scarborough. This was followed a little later by a much steeper climb – another bridge – over a railway line I think. Then it was pretty flat from there on. At about two miles there is heavy breathing behind me – and I am overtaken by two race walkers!! Gosh they were going well – no chance of me keeping up with them
Shortly before 4 miles came the point where the route bears off to the left, but will subsequently loop back to the same point – and I made it to there before the fastest runners came back – a great triumph I thought!!

Then its out on a minor road across farm land – rather exposed in places, but fortunately not too windy, although for a while we lost the Sun behind clouds. Trundling through the occasional village, I don’t remember much about the next five miles – I managed to keep a fairly steady pace of just over 12 minute miles by running a mile, walking for 30 seconds, and keeping my HR around 145-150 (75-80%).

All along the route the marshals were incredibly helpful – both at marshalling the traffic and also at encouraging the runners – great stuff. Soon after 11 miles my calf muscles experienced some strange ripples, making running pretty painful, walking eased it but I did not want to walk too much. A kind marshal gave me a quick and painful massage which helped a little, but I was slowing now. At the A64 crossing point it is about 1 mile to the finish – I had 14 minutes to get back before the cut-off of 2:45!

Could I do it? As I turned the corner into the race course I could see a crowd of waving people 100 metres ahead – they turned out to be my much quicker forumite friends – thanks to RB, LMH, mark and RHG for waiting for me (was EF there too? – I think so). So now I had to do it! LMH encouraged me and ran me in for the last 100 metres – thanks for that it really helped.

So I made it – 2:43:27 on my watch and a PB by more than a minute, and under 2:45 on the official clock.

And at least two peeps behind me!

Then after collecting a super sweat shirt, warming up and listening to the prizes being presented, it was off to the pub for lunch!

A great day had by all.

By the way 5 of us got PBs!!

And Aim High beat his sis!

It was especially good to meet so many great forumites.

What difference the forums make - I cannot imagine I would have even entred if I thought I was going to be on my own - and MrBeanz does not feel the need to come and support as there are other friends there.

So thanks friends.


where: Brass Monkey Half
how far: 21 km 13.1 miles
time: 2:43:27
pace: 12.5 minute miles
AHR: 147
core: not as well as all that surely??

upgrading blog

This resting is getting to me - should be working but instead I am "enhancing" my blog!!

Thanks for all the help Leon.

No running to write about so festering instead.



Don't worry will not always go for multicoloured posts, but I just noticed the pallette on the toolbar!!

trains!

Resting again and down to London this afetrnoon.

Train back stopped for an hour in the dark outside Mrket Harborough :<(

Too late and tired to go to the gym

but I have been resting the knee and icing and taking neurofen, in the hope that all this things will get the inflammation down enough to let me run on Sunday

retail therapy :>)

well I have rested and iced today - as instructed

and exercised my purse with a bit of retail therapy - if you can't run buy some kit!

now have some black tights - not flattering but will be better than shorts or tracksters for Sunday,
and there will not be anyone behind me to look at the rear view anyway!

was tempted by off road shoes, but not this week

sore shin :<((

from this going soo well, during last nights plod was a little sore in my left shin - not enough to stop plodding, but definitely there


so tonight was club night - no running partners there now, the other plodding Mums seem to have all given up

however one of the coaches is a sports masseur/therapist, so I had a quick consultation and after a couple of painful prods he prounced the dreaded words "shin splints"

offered various suggestions:

padding in the heels of my shoes to reduce jarring, running on softer surfaces, ricing, resting .... and if I feel it is necessary a painful session of massage with him.....

had thought I might have a little plod on the field , but it was pouring with rain and blowing a hooly so I had second thoughts and decided a day's rest would not do any harm

some reading on the RW site I shall go for some rest, ice and see how it goes - really want to do BM this weekend, so may also take some ibuprofen to help get thorugh that and thensee how it goes.

Must make the effort to do more off road running - but locally off road also means hilly, or a very boring field!

so:
where: nothing

tomorrow: possible short jog or gym

work ....

mrbeanz ok now - but no idea what it was

been to brum today, work of course

managed to squeeze in a plod before WW


which probably helps explain the 2½ pounds OFF!!!



where: road
how far: 5.2 km 3.2 miles
time: 43:06
pace: 13.3 minute miles
AHR: 132
core: no - again

tomorrow: club

safely home

mrbeanz is safely home

runningteenbeanz and I managed a run


so the world looks a whole lot better tonight!


We had a great run in the park - mud and hills made for a slow pace, but it was such a lovely mornign we could not do anything else.
We might make it our regular weekend run together, as it is the sort of run that mrbeanz would rather I did not do alone, a few remote bits. And the hills are good training! Am tempted to think about xc next winter.



where: park - mud and hills
how far: 4.98 km 3.1 miles
time: 44:18
pace: 14.2 minute miles
AHR: 136
core: not yet

trying out colours!

Just thought I'd try out changing the colour of my text - to see if I can do it

so here goes:

This text will be red.

It works!

But it will take me a lot longer to work out how to do this side bar stuff - could ask teenbeanzes, but they don't know I've got a blog!!

.........later

Well he seems better this evening - not in such pain, just a dull ache now, but they are keeping him in overnight for observation.

But still no idea what the problem was - wind???!!!

maybe runningteenbeanz and I will get a run tomorrow morning

don't know what to do with myself ...

At 5.30 this morning mrbeanz woke with severe abdominal pains resulting in a trip to hospital where he still is.

He doesn't cope with pain well, so it has been a fairly traumatic time.


And they still don't know what is wrong with him. He has had intravenous (sp?) morphine and is probably having various undignified invasions of his body as I write this.

Trouble is, if I am sitting by his bed I feel I should be at home with teenbeanzes, if I am at home with them, they don't seem to need me and get on with their computer games and I feel I should be at the hospital. I cannot even think about running, would seem too selfish.

What to do?

back to the gym

needed a gynm session today - so upper body strength stuff followed by a short plod on the tready

I am picking up the car from the garage later so may just run there - will have to get out the map and see how far it is!


where: gym
how far: 1.9 km 1.2 miles
time: 15:00
pace: 12.6 minute miles
AHR: 129
core: 45 minutes upper body

tomorrow: 10 miles on the road

keeping going

Back to the road tonight - fellow plodder seems to have deserted - must contact her to see if they are ok.

Eating just about in control, but need to plan alternatives to bread at lunchtime - a sandwich is so easy to make in a hurry.

Run turned out to be about the same pace and HR as Tuesday, and comfortable - certainly could keep it going for longer if necessary.

where: road
how far: 6.2 km 3.8 miles
time: 41:25
pace: 12.1 minute miles
AHR: 134
core: none :-(

tomorrow: gym

later the same day ............

What a beautiful day (sorry you guys cooped in offices and hospitals)after my earlier gym session I couldn't not go out for a run - blue sky and sunshine with some wind.

Started out up the road, HR all over the place - needing to walk to get it down to 75% - legs obviously still recovering from this morning session. Decided it was too good to just go up the main road, so deviated into the park. Ok for a while - grass to run on - lovely, but then hit the hills - well I reckon I've walked more than I've run this afternoon, and it certainly was not a steady aerobic run, but it was invigorating.



Just worked out pace - must get a garmin - I've had to guess the distance from the map, and as I wasn't running on marked paths its all a bit iffy - but something like 15 minute miles!!!

And crossed at least 6 contour lines on the way up!!

where: park
how far: 4.3 km 2.6 miles
time: 41:25
pace: 15.4 minute miles
AHR: 139
core: gym - legs and upper body

tomorrow: road run

gym session

Wow, have not had a session with the PT for some time. Ia sked her for a programme to support my base trainig - so legs, arms and core strength.

Did she work my legs - sprints on the bike, stairs two at a time, leg press, more bike and then some upper body.......


wonder what it will be like to plod later - currently refuelled and going to sdo some work....


later

steady run

After a day in London, with a little walking, it was off to the club. No partner (again) so I could do my own thing, which was good. Two steady laps felt comfortable and was just what I needed.

I like the new eating programme, though if I were not running I am not sure I could manage with just 3 spare points! Which goes to show that I was eating too much before.

will need to eat loads of fruit to fill the gaps.

where: road
how far: 6.2 km km 3.9 miles
time: 46:51
pace: 12.1 minute miles
AHR: 136
core: not done

tomorrow: session with PT - and park run later?

weightwatching begins!

A good start to the day with 45 minutes on the tready,also made an appointment with the PT for Wednesday - need a realistic programme of strength exercises to complement base training. Based on 2 visits to the gym a week.

Back to WW tonight - first time since 22nd December - have put on 1 pound in that time not too bad for Christmas, but had hoped to stay the same.
New programme for WW - choice of no counting but eating three meals a day from a limited list - as much as you want from a broad range of fruit, veg, cereals -but not bread (seems ot be leaning to low /medium GI carbs in there). Additionally free snacking from the allowed fruit and veg and also 21 points for other stuff - bread, wine, cheese ... Bonus points as before - although based on weight and perceived level of exercise and supposed to eat a max of 12 per week still. That cannot work for anyone running as much as we do though. It does also say 'aim to earn more than you eat' which is better guidance I think.
The alternative programme is points based but the number of allowed points is more focused - based on not just weight, also age, lifestyle etc.

weight 13st 11lbs

where: treadmill
how far: 5.76 km 3.6 miles
time: 45:00
pace: 12.5 minute miles
AHR: 132
core: not done

tomorrow: 45 minutes club or tready if back too late

back running and its great!

Went out for 7 miles that's a nearly long definitely slow run for me, it should have been 9 for the schedule, but did not have time for the last couple of miles.

I really concentrated on keeping below 70% on the way out - and do you know what, the return run (uphill) was the best I've ever done - HR stayed below 75% and I ran the 1½ miles uphill without need of pause for walking - and felt I could have kept going further at the end!!

This is good stuff!

where: road
how far: 13.2 km 7 miles
time: 1:32:26
pace: 13.2 minute miles
AHR: 131
core: crunch & pressups - done

tomorrow: 45 minutes road or tready

lazy ...

well I did not go out at all:(

After being buffeted by the wind at minibeanz's xc I did not feel like running in it, and Derby were playing at home, so no room in the car park at the gym sooo with these pathetic excuses I did not run.....

Wind!

Back from windy Leeds and only managed one 20 minute run on the tready while I was there :( The tready was awful - very rocky and rattly and I could not face going on it again. If I were buying one it would have to be something like the lifefitness thwy have at the gym.

Did plenty of walking and stairs though, so hopefully not too much lost.

Off to take runningminibeanz to his XC race in a bit, then back and I WILL go for a 40 minute run.

no time to run yet

got to get myself organised to post some work before I catch a train - so no time to run this mroning.

Will have to take over the tready in the hotel.

back to the club

More peeps chatting to me at the club, now I have a club place, perhaps they believe I might be a serious plodder, rather than just posing on club nights? And two folk commented they'd seen me out running in the week and thought I was running well!! (Obviously did not see me on a walking bit then.)

Anyway partner texted to say she wasn't coming, which was ok cos I could do my own pace - not sure how BT goes if you don't run alone?

Off to a conference in Leeds tomorrow afternoon - need ot fit in a run before going. There is a tready at the hotel, but they may not let me use it for 40 minutes, often time-limited in hotel gyms, cos they have so few CV machines. Don't fancy Leeds city centre streets in the dark!

Ah well, it's a good walk to the conference from there, so will get time on feet if not running.

where: club
how far: 5.2 km 3.2 miles
time: 38.25
pace: 11.8 minute miles
AHR: 138
core: crunch & pressups - done

tomorrow: try to fit in 40 minutes road

dodging the golf balls :<(

runningminibeanz and I have been for a run in the park - full of bleepy golfers impeding our normal route, discretion was the better part of valour so we took an alternative route - no idea how far but 40 minutes of mud and hills!

where: park
how far: 3.9?km 2.4ish miles
time: 40:00
pace: 16.4? minute miles did not feel that slow but the map cannot lie and there were some steep ups that could not be run down!
AHR: 133
core: crunch & pressups - done

tomorrow: club - 40 minutes with training partner

tready or nothing

Well, decided to make shepherd's pie for lunch rather than go for a run. Then later, having eaten said pie was too stuffed to run!

So ended up with an evening visit to the gym, not something I usually do - but at least it meant I did my 40 minutes - will do that more often, rather than miss the run.

where: treadmill
how far: 5.1 km 3.2 miles
time: 40:00
pace: 12.6 minute miles
AHR: 134
core: done

tomorrow: 40 minutes in the park with minibeanz

23 miles for week - highest ever! and I don't feel knackered - BT rules OK

New Year!

Well have I every intention of making it as good a new year as I can - difficult to say "happy" when there is so much going on in the world.

Runningminibeanz and I have been for our run - 36 minutes in the park - mud, hills, woods, squirrels birds ..... In fact it was listening to the birds singing that got me out of bed early on this Saturday morning! Minibeanz's first run since before Christmas as he has had a stinking cold. Club starts back on Tuesday and races next two Saturdays so he needed to get back into it. I think I am slow enough to make him run gently!

So aims for this year:

Work - not leave work to the last minute - do some proper scheduling and stick to it - this means limiting time on forums of course!!

Health - eat more healthily, aim to lose a pound a week - should be at goal before next Christmas that way.

Running - keep up base training after FLM, 30 miles/week should be reasonable

Fitness - do some core stuff everyday - this will be hard to stick to as I find it a chore

where: in the park
how far: 3.9(ish) km 2.4 miles
time: 36.55 (was supposed to be first day of 40 minutes - but did not go far enough!)
pace: 15.1 minute miles
AHR: 134

tomorrow: 40 minutes on the road

first long run of the campaign

So having done five nice steady 35 minuters this week today was the first long run of the marathon training.

Out along the main road and back, boring, but at least I know how far I have to go and can monitor progress from one run to the next.

It was a comfortable run - managed to plod along, walking only to drink, kept my HR under control reasonably and I managed the steep hill back through the woods better than ever before - walked the bits when HR went over 75% but jogged the rest - aim is to get up it in one go by April.

where: up the road and back
how far: 11.2 km 7.0 miles
time: 1:33:58
pace: 13.4 minute miles
AHR: 136

tomorrow: 40 minutes on the road or through the park?

497 miles this year!!

dready again

Plan A was to go out in the park with runingminibeanz, but he said his cold was not up to it and he'd rather swim. So we all went to the gym/pool.

After 10 minutes on the crosstrainer, over to the dready. and 35 minutes done - managed pace better and went a tad further than last time - its feeling good.

Will do a long one tomorrow - it probably isn't strictly BT, but I must start putting in the long runs, otherwise I'll never do FLM.

where: treadmill
how far: 4.4 km 2.8 miles
time: 35:00
pace: 12.6 minute miles
AHR: 132

tomorrow: 7 miles on the road - strictly plodding

Wednesdays run

After a lie-in until 9.00 am I made it out the door for my plod.

Now tyring to get back to healthy eating and work (not sure which is the harder discipline)

where: up the road and back
how far: 4.2 km 2.6 miles
time: 34:33
pace: 13.3 minute miles
AHR: 138

tomorrow: 35 minutes on the road again

into the groove

A gentle plod on the tready today - to the jigs and reels of Captain Driver's Delight!

where: treadmill
how far: 4.3 km 2.7 miles
time: 35:00
pace: 13 minute miles
AHR: 130

tomorrow: 35 minutes on the road

A good Christmas was had by all!

What a GOOD Christmas!

Clear frosty mornings, no tantrums (are the minibeanzes really growing up at last?) and meeting with various bits of family, but not too many at once!

On Boxing Day plodding brother came up and we ran the Furnace Inn 3 miles(ish), a field of about 180, including lots of serious runners and a few santas and elves. The honour of the forums was upheld by popsider - who hangs out on Training - he came 11th in about 17 minutes! We passed three santas and an elf, but two of the Santas came in ahead of us, owing to cutting out the final loop (grrrr)! But we had a great time coming in in 35:35. It was a glorious frosty morning, with the slightest sprinkling of Christmas day snow still on the ground, almost completely off road and a chance to chat to my brother, so run at an easy, base training pace.
This morning we went out before anyone else was up and ran for 40 minutes, including some VERY steep up bits on the park across the road from home. Wish he lived closer so we could explore off road together more. Another frosty morning.

So:
Sunday
where: Furnace Inn race
how far: 3(ish) miles
time: 35:35
AHR: 152

Total for week:16.14 miles


Monday
where: round the park
how far: 2.5(ish) miles
time: 40:00
AHR: 129

Running total for year 482 miles - will not get to 500 unless I overdo it!

tomorrow: gym for strength and tready

Christmas Day

Rest day today - just as well really, had a lie in and was woken by a cup of tea - great start to a good day.
Outlaws been and gone, too much eaten - but not as much as some years I suspect.

Everyone playing woth their chritmas pressies now.

Early night - then up tomorrow to make soup before the morning Furnace Inn race. Hoping plodding brother will get here in time to run too.

A gentle plod

OK after listening to all the folk on the base training thread, I am going to go with that.

I've been to the gym this morning, done a bit of upper body strength stuff (I wonder, do other BTers do strength stuff?) and then 30 minutes on the tready.

Have not got my head round the HR business yet - well I had but then I looked back at the calculations I did yonks ago and found that my max observed HR is now 186 not 173 - which would make my WHRs higher, but then lp said that I should be using 70% of MHR not WHR for BT, so that takes it lower.

75% would be 140 and 70% would be 130.
On the tready I tried to keep it between 130 and 135 - second half of my 30 minute slot I had to walk some of the time as it kept shooting up above 140 - amazing difference between walking at 7.0 and jogging at 7.0 kph


where: treadmill
how far: 3.68 km 2.3 miles
time: 30:00
pace: 13.04 min miles
AHR: 134
last rest day 6 days ago

Tomorrow - rest day
Then Boxing Day a 3.5 km 'race'

Then do 35 minutes / day for 5 days and see how it goes

couldn't bleed!!

Went to give blood this afternoon, but they dug around for a vein, and when they found one it did not flow very well so they sent me away!

I now have a bruised arm, and don't think upper body at the gym is a good idea tomorrow!

Will just do the treadie I think. Or go outside if it is sunny!

beautiful morning

What a beautiful day - clear blue sky, not too cold just the weather for running. A bit blowy though.
I've done Sainsbury's and been out for a run, so can feel quite pleased with myself so far.

Too nice a day to do my normal main road in the dark plod, so I went in the park. This is much slower runing - steeper hills, and today very muddy.

However I went out for a run, got my HR up and lots of fresh air in my lungs. Probably not far enough or quick enough but still ....

where: two loops in the park
how far: 2.7 miles
time: 38:34
pace: 14.19 min miles!!
AHR: 132 (?not sure this is right - said 79 for ages when it felt more like 130!)

tomorrow: gym - tready plus some strength stuff I think.

first day of FLM training....

OK so I've been out today and done a VERY slow 45 minutes. The trouble with living on a hill is that it is always uphill coming back and today my back was aching on the uphill, so I walked rather more than usual.

However its done.



where: to the fire station and back
how far: 3.25 miles
time: 44:55
AHR: 134

tomorrow: early trip to Sainsbury's followed by the same run again

I'm in!!!

Well to cut a long story short, we had the club draw tonight and I have a place for the FLM.

So no more wussing around, proper eating and proper running.

Only ran a couple of miles tonight - horribly icy. Supposed to be milder tomorrow, so will try and get out on the road.

Am struggling with whether to do base training type stuff - aiming for an hour a day (but not able to do every day) or to stick with Hal Higdon, 4 times a week plus 1 cross train.

Advice??

Well a bit of a wuss, but at least I did something

When mr beanz got up for work it was dark and very frosty, so I thought maybe I'd leave it a bit and go later when the Sun was up.....
......took teenbeanzes to town to do their Christmas shopping, by the time we got back it was sleeting :<(

now I don't mind rain, I don't mind cold but ... cold and wet is just miserable ....

I know, I know, I will not get away with not running in cold wet conditions and be fit for BM and FLM.

But today I just could not do it ...
so I went to the gym and did 30 minutes upper body stuff followed by 5 km hills on the dready - better than nothing.

But another week without a long run - must do one some time soon.

beanz's ramble bar

This is the flapjack(ish) recipe we always make for family rambles, scout camp, High Peak relay .....
Oat & Sultana flapjacks
250g margarine
250 g soft brown sugar (or demerara)
150 g syrup
400 g rolled oats
100 g SR flour
2 tsp baking powder
100 g sultanas
50g sunflower seeds
75 ml orange juice

Melt margarine with sugar and syrup in a pan or in the microwave oven.
Mix in dry ingredients.
Stir in orange juice.

Spread mixture between 2 lined baking tins (10” x 7” x 2”), pressing down slightly.

Bake at 180°C for 20 -30 minutes until lightly golden.
Allow to cool in tin before taking out an cutting into portions.

Each tin makes about 20 pieces.

Great recovery food after a run on a cold morning.

pathetic .......

Yet again I fail to get out on a Sunday - just could not get out of bed in time to run and be back to take minibeanz to her job and then be ready for church.

So - will definitely go tomorrow morning - 9 miles should do it - 5 weeks to Brass monkey - eek.

dark and dingy Saturday

Well I suppose it is nearly the shortest day, but it really is dark and damp outside.

Yesterday was a bit hectic and I didn't post - gym and yassos first thing - 5.7km in 44 minutes. Then on to shopping - managed to get most pressies. Now need to sit down and work out there is left to get.

Then finished writign cards. Evening was spent at the AC - young athletes presentations and disco and buffet. Good to natter to some of the other parents.

This mornign 3 hours in teh garden - doing stuff that's needed doing for months. Still loadds to do, but its raining now. How come I am happy to run in the rain but not garden? Well I do stay out there if iam already out there when it rains, but going out in it - no thank you.

Derby forumites meet tonight - looks like we will be a very select bunch in the end.

Must plan another one for later in the year.

Thursday night must be club night

Back from Cambridge and London - lots of walking but no running.

Had a really nice meal out with an old flame. Then up this morning for a healthy breakfast - not at all tempted by the hotel cooked breakfast this morning.

Been to the club tonight - same run as Tuesday, 3 miles, slightly quicker, very windy and very soggy grass on the field.

Must start Christmas shopping tomorrow - managed to write over half the cards, too sleepy to do more now.

eek only a week to Christams eve!! No parcels contents bought, let alone posted.

Tuesday running

Tuesday is club night - I am the slowest plodder in the club - by a long way apart from one other.

The other plodder is another Mum, who started (like me) because her children are there.

She does not train as consistently as me, but is less overweight and does run a bit faster. However she reckons that plodding a bit slower with me enables her to go further. And for me plodding a bit faster with her, and keeping going when there is a temptation to walk, helps me go a bit quicker.

We don't go very far yet - 3 miles tonight - but that is fine 'cos that's what Hal Higdon says for a Tuesday and Thursday (which are club nights so that's good).

Off to Cambridge and London tomorrow - so no running, but plenty of walking.

So run: 3 miles at 11.6 minute miles
Eating - reasonably restrained, once Pix made me think about it and realise water is a key to not bingeing (sometimes anyway)

panic!

panic is setting in as I realise how much I have not done - will have to do some serious grovelling and not make promises I cannot keep.

have had a nightmare with the email today - keeps refusing to send, so i cannot even send holding messages.



on a brighter side I did get out and run this morning 3.25 miles before breakfast.


on a darker side I did not go to WW - school meeting to go to

so today has been a day of eating the worng stuff - but get back to sensible amounts and stuff tomorrow.

useless Sunday

slept in until 9.15 - so no early run before church.
felt bleurgh most of the day - stuffed up with cold, sore throat, so have nto done much at all

really want to get out and run tomorrow - maybe not the 7 miles on the schedule, but must do something.

also loads of work to do - deadlines looming and passing

no shopping done, apart from Amazon

no cards sent


eeeeek

back from Brum

Back home from a heavy three days in Brum

Did not manage to run this morning - had to get up and finish work for meeting.

Made the fatal mistake of calling at Sainsbury's on the way home, whilst hungry and thirsty and had a choc attack. Should have bought a bottle of water instead.

Never mind tomorrow is another day.

Have decided to move Sunday run to Monday for the next month or so, so I do not have to get up so early on Sunday mornings, will just do an hour run before church.

Friday's gone

out for a run early this morning - 5.5 km - it was cold, but not frosty by then.

Felt good, though pace turned out to be slower than it felt - but kept HR under control.

Hectic working day - recovering someone else's stuff. But worked with a stimulating colleague, so all ok.

Finished in time to rush out for food, then back to type up day's stuff.

Must go to bed - so no run tonorrow - must finish typing up ready for tomorrow's meeting.

Exercise - 6
Food - 22/20

run 5.5 km 44 minutes AHR 141

no run:<(

no chance for a run today - left home early and meeting went on late.

Will go out early tomorrow.


Out for a curry this evening - so no counting points either!!

yasso tonight

It was yassos on the tready again tonight - 4 reps at 8.7 and last one at 8.8. I really enjoyed it.

Off to Brum tomorrow - working in hotel until Saturday pm. Should find time for some runs after meetings and before breakfast - no kids to get off to school!

Today:Food 24/22 (its the bananas!)
Exercise 4.5
Water 9
Fruit & Veg 7

Run 5.55 km in 40 minutes - 11.6 minute miles! 136 AHR

on track today

Well, got some work done - though not enough - but I cannot hit all targets on the same day at the moment.

Been for a run with E this evening, but she was not well, so it was partly a walk. However I did do 4 laps, last lap runing on my own, so that's something.
Eating under control today - in fact saved some points for curry on Thursday!

Exercise - run 4.5
Food 17
fruit & veg 7 - better
water 11 so far!

5.6 km (ish)
41:39
65% AWHR

WW - bad news good news

so +2lbs tonight - no surprise there then - lots of good excuses TOTM, being the only valid reason

Julie has said have a go at 20 points this week (instead of 22) - plus some allowance for exercise, so its going to be tight, given that I have 3 days at a hotel later in the week - including a curry no doubt!

however I did walk to WW and back, so thats a bonus.

Today
exercise : gym 2, walk 3
food: 22
fruit & veg 5; water 10+

starting again again

So I went ot the gym this moring and did half an hour (only) on upper body / CV stuff - 2 teeneagers at home ill so did nto want to be away too long.
Had a chat to PT about my struggle with weight. She has given me some tips to help me renew my determination.

What was I doing differently in May when I was losing well? I was posting on the WW forums - but the site is sooo slow; I was drinking loads of water - and logging it; i was writign down my food and eating half my exercise points. So this is going to become more BJ diaryish as I do a more comprehensive log. I know its not very public - ie no one comes here much, but it is for me to focus myself.

and another thing - no eating at the computer - and since I spend a large part of my day working/surfing/forumming that should cut down consumption!

So I will check in each evening at least.

no run today:<(

Well did a short plod yesterday with runningson, but was planning 7 miles today. Decided not to do it first thing in the dark, but later in the day. By then I really could not face it, so dipped out.

Much prefer early morning running.

No hope of having lost at WW now.

still waiting

Still no raincoat from FLM - its getting a bit tedious - pretty certain I'm out but still want to know if I have to rely on a club place.

No running and too much food today.

Will try harder tomorrow.

club field again

Took advantage of my training partner's absence to run the club field again - 4 laps is about 5.5 km - did this in 38:18 tonight. Used to take us 12 minutes a lap back in the spring, and we certainly couldn't manage 4 laps! It is a bit tricky in the dark, but the floodlights help.
Its good to run on grass, makes a change from road, where I do most of my runnng at this time of year. Most of it is fairly level, but a few inclines and some rutted bits too - hard work on the grass, I am not ready for XC yet!

Food: 27 points
exercise: 5

yasso runs

Been to the gym tonight and done 4 yasso reps, together with warm up and cool down I ran 5 km in 39:50 - pretty slow overall but the pacy bits were good. Will go for 5 reps next week, keeping the slower intervals a bit shorter to fit them n to th etime I have.
Haven't counted foods so far this week - must get back on track tomorrow.