Granada Diary

Thursday 3^rd July

Left Derby in pouring rain. Arrived in Granada to a hot evening, with a breeze which took the edge off the heat. A fascinating view from the plane as we came in over the hills - brown dry fields with a regular network of green spots of varying sizes - there has clearly been a lot of planting recently.

A bus brought us into the city centre and after walking past the hotel entrance I managed to find the door. A plush modern foyer and a modern clean room with a small window which overlooks the courtyard, no view :<( but it is ‘4 star’so I guess at the price I am paying I can’t expect better – and a front facing room would probably be much noisier.

Friday 4th July

The conference did not start until Friday evening so I was able to have a little look around Granada during the day. I visited the cathedral which was built when the Catholics took control of the area after they had conquered the Moors (of whom more later). So the cathedral was intended to be a great statement of dominance. Unfortunately since that time the city has encroached on all sides and it is difficult to get a good perspective on the building from outside, unlike our cathedrals which tend to either be built on a hill, or to have some space around them. I took an audio guide which was very useful, although it did not always tell me the things I wanted to know and in the second half it became rather tedious in the descriptions of all the side chapels.

I then wandered through the streets, including some very narrow lanes with gloriously coloured bedspreads hanging.

By this time it was very hot (35°C and higher) and I made my way back to the air-conditioned hotel. And slept for some time.

After registering we had to find out own evening meal – a little strange we thought, as at this stage nobody really knew anyone to meet up with, so there may have been some folk who didn’t have anyone to go out with.

We then met back at the hotel to take a bus to the Alhambra.

There we wandered round a limited part of the palace as there was a concert on in one of the large spaces. To be honest it was a bit of a disappointment. I expected lots of gardens and water, but we only saw one or two open courtyards with water. And because the lighting was using spot lights you could not see the colours of the tiling – only revealed when I took a photograph and the flash revealed the colours.

Saturday 5th July

The beginning of the summer school and we had talks and workshops all day and then in the evening we went to the Science Park - a hands on science 'museum' which we had to ourselves, where we were fed tapas - which is basically tasty nibbles.

There was a Foucault pendulum, and a nice model to explain how it happens.

We visited an exhibition about the Antarctic that was originally staged in the Natural History Museum in London.

We also had a session in the planetarium, and I am beginning to learn how to identify the stars in the sky. We should have had an observing session but they decided everyone (they?) was too tired.

Sunday 6th July

There were more talks and I now have so many activities to do with the position of the Sun in the sky, there can’t be any more? This evening we had our conference dinner. It was at a place belonging to the University with fantastic views across the valley to the Alhambra. Good food too.

It really is very hot until late into the evening. This is partly because Spain is on Central European Time (the time at 15° E of Greenwich) and its Summer Time but is on about the same longitude as UK (Granada is at 3° E), so is 2 hours ahead of solar time and is hottest mid afternoon. (Can you tell I was at an astronomy conference?) Fortunately we don’t spend too much time out in it. The lecture theatre is air-conditioned, but not the workshop rooms. The hotel is air-conditioned.

Monday 7th July

More workshops and an opportunity to meet the Professor of Applied Physics at the University of Granada (where we have our meeting). I have come across this man before he stages some exciting and spectacular experiments. He is installed a Foucault pendulum, which I have filmed and intend to use in class.

In the evening we were given 10€ to go and find tapas. With every round of drinks you get a tray of free tapas, so you could feed yourself by drinking your way through the money I guess. However the tapas bars seem not to open before 8.30 to 9.00 and a colleague and I decided to eat earlier and then come back to the hotel and share ideas about teaching physics and astronomy – I know, sad.

Tuesday 8th July

The last day of workshops and an early finish. We then took a coach to Calar Alto an observatory in the mountains about 100 km away. We arrived in the early evening and the all of a sudden, we northerner Europeans felt a whole lot more comfortable. The temperature was around 21 °C and there was a gentle breeze.

We looked at the two largest telescopes – with 2.2 m and 3.5 meter apertures. Access to the larger telescope meant climbing up the outside of the building – which to my amazement I did without difficulty. After a look around two of the telescopes we had an observing session out in the open, trying to put into practice the lessons learned in the workshops.

I had the opportunity to learn how to use my camera to take photos of the stars. A very kind young teacher from Greece showed me what to do. With digital it is a case of try it and see if you have the right settings – if nothing shows up then you just try another setting!

We also visited the control room of the 2.2 meter telescope where the technician astronomer showed us how he spends his nights. The observatory is providing a service for astronomers in Germany and Spain. An astronomer will book time on the telescope and then send their request for observations. The technician first calibrates the telescope by taking readings for a known star and then he moves the telescope to the requested part of the sky and records observations, which may be images or data such as the spectrum of the star. It is probably quite tedious most of the time and you have to be very careful that you follow procedures accurately. And you need to be a nocturnal animal!!

Wednesday 9th July

We were allowed a late start as we did not get back from our observations until after 2.00 am. We went to a different venue today – the Institute of Astrophysics who were co-sponsors of the course. There we had an excellent talk on dark matter – which is really wrongly named as it is not dark – that would imply it absorbs the light that falls on it. Rather it is invisible and transparent to radiation. This was followed by a tapas lunch where the plates kept coming. A speciality of the region seems to be gazpacho in small glasses. And so the conference came to an end. Presents for the course leaders and evaluation forms completed. Was it good? Yes overall, though it was rather too heavily focused on sun dials, not enough observation time and no cosmology in the workshops.

No running but I have walked lots and used the stairs almost every time coming up to my 5^th floor room. Not eaten too much I think but drinking litres of water.

Saturday 10th July

Home and time to download the photos and sort the wheat from the chaff. I have some rather cool image processing software image-j which is used to process medical images. I tried it on some of my star photos wow !

Can you see the plough?


And finally a piece of street ironwork that caught my eye!
More pictures will go up on flickr.

Running? I have done a couple of runs since I got back and now have a schedule to take me to Robin Hood, which includes lots of strength stuff at the gym.

I'm off ...

School hasn't quite finished but I am off on a trip. I am going to an astronomy education conference in Granada - and I am quite excited. I've never been to Spain, so that will be interesting and I am really getting into astronomy at the moment.

I don't expect to run while I am there, it is a very full programme, but when I get back I shall have 7 weeks to train properly with no excuses.

Back next week.

With some photos.

A week off

After last week's six miler we went out for a belated birthday lunch. Travelling in MrBeanz's Honda Civic proved to be very painful. The angle of the seat made both my piriformis and knee go into spasm. I confess I had probably not stretched properly after my run, but it has put me off travelling in the car again.
It also resulted in me having a week off running. When I went out on Tuesday for my short run my knee just didn't want to know. It has been sore on and off for most of the week. So I decided the best thing was to rest it.
I went into the garden yesterday evening to discover these beautiful flowers had come out and I hadn't noticed.

I must get out there everyday.
Yesterday I went down to London for a meeting about teaching astronomy. It was a great day. The first time I have arrived at St Pancras since the new refurbished station opened.
What a fantastic building it still is. The original building by Gilbert Scott has survived the developments to accommodate the Eurostar trains. The lower level used to be out of sight - and was used to store beer barrels brought by train from Burton on Trent which is on the line from Derby. I have also heard that there used to be stables down there. The roof was built by Butterley - a Derbyshire engineering firm who still exist in name at least.

My meeting was at the Royal Astronomical Society in Burlington House. At lunch time we were shown some of the archives of the society - which included first editions of Newton's Principia and John Flamsteed's Star Atlas - another Derbyshire connection there. It was kind of mind-blowing to see ( and be able to handle!) these old books that did so much to change the way we think about the world. Newton may have been a bit of a b*stard but he was also a great thinker.

Anyway back to running. I woke this morning, heard people running down the road, thought about getting up and decided to stay in bed, I have been up before 6 every day this week. I will try a little plod tomorrow. I did eventually get up and take RunnerBeanz to his race - where he at last broke the 40 minute barrier with a pb of 39:31. So he was pleased - and so was his proud Mum! He had run round with a V60 from the club (it was the British Masters 10k champs) RB, then pipped him to the post in the last 100 metres.

Another week passes

I managed a run on Tuesday morning, short but trying to run a bit quicker on the R bits.

Now its Sunday morning and its long run day - up to 6 miles, but hard going. Maybe my 'hayfever' is really a cold as my HR was up compared to last week. So I just took it steady and stopped to look at the views.

The flat part of my run (middle couple of miles) are along the Derwent Valley, part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site
On my way back just before the steep climb home I cross the bridge seen on the right in the picture. This is the view if I look back.

This mill was built by Walter Evans in the 18th Century to spin cotton. There were already other mills using the river here - including paper and corn. Evans worked with Richard Arkwright, who was building mills up river of here at Cromford.
He not only built the mill but many cottages for the workers, a church and a school. The original school became structurally unsound (allegedly only the younger children were allowed on the top floor at the end!) it was replaced by a new building, which my children attended. The cottages are now higly valued and fetch good prices when on the market - even though they have no off road parking:

Running on

Another week has passed and I have manged to run almost every other day.
Which is good - including 5 miles last Sunday and another 5 miles this Sunday. The average pace today was the best since I came back to running this year - and I did my best mile as well. If you want to know the gory details they are on my Fetch Training Log.
Yesterday I went to Chatsworth with LFV. It was a lovely day and we had a good walk round the grounds a few of the things we saw:
Revelation - this hydraulically powered water feature opens and closes as it fills with water. All the water features are supplied by water stored in reservoirs at the top of the estate, which in turn are supplied by water off the fells.


The meadows were fantastic, full of the most glorious flowers:


More pics on my Flickr page

Thanks for all the support.

Still here

Two weeks since I blogged - not sure where it went.

I gardened at half term. As usual I suffered the next day or two - knee didn't like squatting so lots of back bending -but it has to be done.
The bog garden is beginning to show some colour now.



My quads are still giving me problems. I think it all stems back from protecting the leg too much. when I injured my knee. I heard this edition of Case Notes on radio 4. The female runner seems to have the same problems as me.
I had a session with the phyzz, A. She gave me some exercises to do to strengthen the quads and bring them back into balance. I MUST do them more regularly otherwise paying A for a session is a waste of time.
A and I tried out a Body Balance class at the gym last week, it was advertised as core strength and a mix of Tai Chi (sp?), yoga and pilates. But it was too advanced for me and although I enjoyed it I don't think it did me much good - I've had the first pain in the piriformis for about a year (although that could have been driving MrBeanz's car) - and my knees have been hurting more at night. I would like to find a beginners pilates class.

I have managed some running but not enough really. I've been reading back in my blog (really must save it somehow it is the nearest thing I have to a diary) and looking at when the training went well. Last summer I was getting out in the mornings before work and taking a route where the inclines are more gradual. I shall go back to that I think.

On a non-running note I had a bit of a rollercoaster ride over the last couple of days. Back in the spring I entered a national competition to win some biggish money to spend on a project to enhance physics teaching in school. A week or so ago I heard that I had won £1000 as a 'good runner up'. I was disappointed not to get through to the final but pleased to have £1000 to spend. On Thursday I had a call to say we had been upgraded to finalist so there would be £5000 to carry out my proposal and the opportunity to win even more money. Great excitement - scared, brain buzzing wondering what I had let myself in for. Then Friday morning another call - sorry we got it wrong, just the £1000. Complete deflation and disappointment. But we do have £1000 to spend on Physics.

made it to half term

I went out on Monday morning and it was fine.
On Tuesday I was stiff from cutting the very long grass with the flymo.
On Wednesday I went out to run, but my knee was not having any of it - so I walked round a very small block and came home.
And today I went out again and ran ok - up to R7W3 this week :>))

I have renamed the zones in the training centre - otherwise I will never get to the stage where it tells me I am running :<(

A good weekend :>)

Maybe risky to post that title on Sunday morning but it is.

On Friday evening I invited some friends over for pasta. Some were running the White Peak Marathon or the half on Saturday. I guess others came for the company and the wine. So we had a good natter, plenty of pasta and a (relatively) early night. One of the runners had a 'spare' Garmin 305 to sell - well it would have been rude to turn it down wouldn't it ;>) I will be even more geeky about the numbers I suspect.

On Saturday morning I was due in school at 9.15 to take some of the small boarders swimming. So an earlyish run was called for. The new garmin was not charged or set up , so off I with the old one for R5:W2 - it went well and I seem to be getting back to it now.

Off to school to collect the little girls. I didn't actually have to go in the water, that was left to someone else, I had a coffee and natter with a colleague. After depositing the girls back at school, I made my way over to Cromford to cheer in the friends.

I drove through some lovely countryside - I don't really know the part of south Derbyshire around Ashbourne. I didn't stop for pics - otherwise I would miss the speedy peeps coming in. The race is all along old railway routes , so on the whole fairly level but a few nasty inclines (down) near the end.
The finish along the canal is lovely Julie managed as mile as she made a charge to the finish.



















I had a good natter with old friends and meeting some new people - including someone I had met at TrailPlus about 4 years ago- we recognised each other but it was she who remembered where we had met.
And so to Sunday - the Sun is shining and I have had a swim. So I am feeling virtuous :>)
Now back to the preparation for the week ahead. If I can do this properly it gives me a chance to get to bed reasonably and so go out for an early run - see the mind is willing even if the flesh is weak.

And I look forwardto seeing joggerblogger and b-z at Robin Hood - and maybe a few more folk too?

an early morning plod

The first early plod before work for ages.
And I enjoyed it and didn't stop to walk coming up the hill at the end.
So pretty pleased.
I might even do it again one day!

Tris and things

It was Stratford Triathlon this weekend and while I have no intention of doing one, I do enjoy supporting. Lots of Pirates and Waisters did this one, so I went along for the company.




















I have had a conversation with my brother and we seem to have agreed to do Robin Hood Half together on 14th September. Which means I HAVE to get back into regular running. I have now recovered my Garmin, so can begin collecting numbers. I went out on Saturday for 30 minutes in the park. Hard work and undulating so slow, but at least I was out there.
The intention is to do two runs in the week - working towards an hour and a lengthening run at the weekend. Hopefully as life settles down a bit, some swimming as well.

I looked back at what I was doing last year when the running was going well - at least I thought it was until the stuffing was knocked out of me at Amsterdam. I managed to improve my pace by the time it got to October. Judging by the Garmin data I seem to have been running at just under 150 bpm once the first mile was out of the way.
So that will be my guide as I get going again.

Losing it ...............

I am a bit confused.
I struggle to find time to run - I guess that means I do not want it enough.
But I have plodded a few times and am losing a little weight.
But I still have achey legs - however that doesn't seem to depend on the plodding.
I am confused.

But runnerbeanz continues to run well.
He did his first track race for several years yesterday, running 5000m for the club. A creditable 18:41 ish. And he might be willing to do it again if required.















You can tell by the trees that there is a prevailing wind at the track!

Mudchute again

I had hoped to run FLM this year, but my cronky knee put paid to that even before training had started.

I know that it is a really bad idea to take a weekend away in term time, but I went anyway.

June and I travelled down at a leisurely pace on Saturday morning. We knew that there were some doubts about whether our Travel Lodge hotel was actually built yet (yes, we're talking London here not the Costa del sol). When June booked the hotel it was due to be open, but when she checked for directions it said 'opening 6th May'. So we went to the one nearest to kings Cross to check - and the website was correct it was NOT open, but nobody had bothered to tell us. A wonderful receptionist at the KX branch sorted us out, so all was well eventually, but I shall not ever book with them again.

Off we went to the expo, where we met up with Tigerrunner, Hippo and RichK. We carboloaded (well I carboloaded, June didn't spot the 'weightwatching?' heading on the menu, and wondered why it was a rather lite meal!). After wishing the runners good luck we collected supplies for Mile 17 and made our way back to our hotel.
Our evening meal was in an Italian restaurant close toe th hotel, and was inevitably full of runners - including a couple of chaps from my club - a small world.

Sunday morning and we let the runners go through breakfast first. Then we went down - to a 'continental' breakfast - ie one that does not need a cook - cold croissants, cereal, juice and coffee from a machine.

We left the hotel at about 9 to make the trek to Mudchute - somewhat concerned to see the odd runner still hanging around at KX having their photos taken! I wonder what time they pull up the start chip timing mat?

Mudchute preparations were well underway when we got there. I was assigned to team 4 with TweetyPie.






























With forumites taking pictures of the preparations.







First came the quick people including our very own Liz Yelling.



Then it was time for the main field and lots of folk to look out for.
RichK came through so fast we almost missed him:



















Soon to be followed by a very Speedy Hippo.















Lots of other forumites followed, including Sue, who had run Rome a few weeks previously





and eventually Mick'n'Phil who were met with the loudest reception of all!




















Then it was time to go home.
Thanks to June for making this a weekend to remember.

prodded into action

So what has been going on?

School holidays are over but they were good while they lasted. I managed to get some exercise and lose a few pounds.

I went to Edinburgh, where I met WAISTer Westie and WestieJunior









and where RunnerBeanz ran a 5k race :



















and then we watched some quicker runners:



















and some EVEN quicker.



















Since then I have been away to Leeds and done a bit more running - including outside yesterday morning in the snow.

Another Run

Over a month since my last outside run but I managed to get myself out this morning for a little R1W2 round the block.
I really miss my Garmin - I lent it to Tigerrunner as I wasn't running for his FLM training but I am such a data geek I need to know the numbers. My HRM has a flat battery and is away being replaced, so I don't even have a watch! So today I borrowed Runnerbeanz's 305 - and I managed to programme it to bleep appropriately, so it kept me going all the way round. Only couple of km but hey, its a start.

What got me out this morning was this community of runners - I decided that I was a fraud if I didn't get out there and do it. I can't claim to be a runner if I don't do it when I have the chance and fitness!

Studentbeanz is home for 2 weeks and we are having a concerted effort to lose some weight, if we can have two weeks of good habits maybe we can maintain it for longer and both get to somewhere more healthy.

well a good start

First day of the hols yesterday and I managed to use it constructively.

• Some gardening- digging is a bit of a strain on the back though.
• Some exam board work.
• Browsing various bits of software for teaching.
• Another gym session, my back did not like th hill setting on the tready.
• And a weigh in - 3 pounds lost this week :>))

So now I have no excuse of the stresses of the job I need to stay focused.

Rest day today - with plenty of non-physical things to do.

Hoping to make progress

Must try and get back to this running business now I am on holiday (again).

It has started well with a RW forum social. Nine of us gathered, the first social without Steady,
but June was there















and birthday boy Muzzy



















And most of the other regulars - RichK, Mark, LMH, MrBeanz, KatieJane and Tigerrunner. Unfortunately most of the photos are rather fuzzy, so they will not be appearing in public!

So all the talk of running made me want to get out and do some!
Saturday was spent at Wollaton Park at the InterCounties XC . I did not run of course, but was Team Manager for the Derbyshire Senior Ladies and U15 girls.

This morning I have gymmed - including 20 minutes RW on the tready. I seem to have survived.

My plan is to really concentrate over the next three weeks on regular exercise and eating properly - I know, I know, I've said it before and always seem to have some excuse for falling off the wagon.

no running

Back at school after half term and the drive is kicking in again with my quads.

So I have wimped out of running, I have tried to do my quad strength and have remembered most mornings.
And I've stretched and taken the rolling pin or fingers to the ITB.

But no running.




However I did go and support at the National XC yesterday. It was at Alton Towers, which has lots of park land as well as scary rides.

This first picture shows part of the course which has gradually run downhill to the valley bottom.





There is then a rather steep climb up again:






Tigerrunner (in green) is attacking the hill!


Rather more scary than an Alton Towers ride.


Unfortunately RunnerBeanz had been missed off the club entry, so had to do without this particular thrill.

The Ladies did it twice, the Men and Junior Men three times, and everyone else just the once.

another day, another run

Runnerbeanz was doing a hill session in the park yesterday, so I went down with him and plodded along in the sunshine - it was a glorious day, although there was a cold wind which made itself felt in the shade.
I did R1W2 again - but 7 reps this time, so progress :>)

This morning I have done all my exercises except the ITB rolling pin - must try to do that.

Now I am running again I shall have to make an effort with the sensible eating too, the pounds have crept on in the last few months.

back to it

I had a session with the sports therapist/torturer today. As I thought it's the ITB that is the problem - turns out that both legs are bad, though only one has been giving me trouble.
And ST has given me a whole new set of exercises to do, that put less pressure on the knee but will strengthen my quads and also my core (groan).

She is ordering me a ITB roller thing - meanwhile suggests I use a rolling pin (not to lie on but to rill up and down - like the stick) and lending me a wobble board - when someone returns one that has been lent!

I am seeing her again in 3 weeks, when she will check up how much progress I have made - so I'd better do them!

Running again!

This morning I went for a swim.

This evening I went for a run! Back to the beginning with run-walk so after a warm up walk I did R1W2 x 4 - just a little to test it out. So far no ill effects. The best bit was that I could do the 1 minute running ok - I had expected to struggle with my breathing but that side of it was fine, just don't want to overdo the legs.

Will try a few more reps on Thursday.


PS
National XC is 23rd February at Alton Towers. Almost a home race, should be good and hilly.

English Schools XC is 8th March in Liverpool.

missing week

Last week I had an appointment at the hospital, to follow up a scan the previous week - all resulting in an unexpected follow-up this week - a girlie investigation involving a general anaesthetic - all went well, now to wait for the results. It has rather overshadowed the past week - both thinking about it and planning for the time off work.

So not much exercise at all - but I HAVE been trying to stretch before driving and that has helped - just the ITB to sort out now.

There was one happy note - last weekend runnerbeanz took part in the county schools XC championship for the last time - and qualified for English Schools - yippee!

what was going on below?

I was a little cruel to you readers - at least I did tell the girls that the pump was removing air from the flask, before I asked them to predict what would happen.
Removing air from the flask reduced the air pressure in the space around the marshmallows, which allowed the air bubbles inside the mms to expand. When I let the air back in they contracted spectacularly and looked rather wizened as their skin 'stretched' during the expansion.

On the running front - there isn't any. My quads and ITB are still giving me grief when I drive. I am managing to do the exercises most days, but I suspect I need to stretch more often, especially before I drive home.

Putting the Phyzz into Physics

I want to try to communicate my excitement about physics to the girls I teach.

I have decided to try and add something each week that makes them think outside the current curriculum - maybe a 'wow' moment, maybe a 'why does it do that' moment, maybe an image ......

So this week I did the marshmallows (thanks to Neal for this)

It drew suitable oohs and has - so that by Friday older sisters were asking when they were going to see it as their younger sisters had already seen it.

I now have to collect many more so that there is a different one every week for 5 years!

Next week the colour change ducks I bought in Sainsbury's in the post-Christmas sale.

Forum friends

Its been a forum friend weekend.
On Friday night a group of us met up to welcome a good friend who was passing through. We had a good evening of curry and chat - I wonder where I would be finding friends if were not for the forums. I don't have many friends locally, having never worked locally I did not build up that network and the children were born before we came, so that all-having-babies-together bonding between mums never happened - though I am still in touch with folk elsewhere from that time.
The few times I have begun to make friends locally with someone in a similar situation with children, they have moved away:<( It must be something I do because now I reflect that has happened at least three or four times over the last 6 years.

This morning I have been to see June, Eddy's widow. We had a good chat, a look at her garden and talked to the cats. As I was leaving we said it was such a shame we had all not got together more while Eddy was alive.

On the not-running front, I have sen the physio again and she has impressed upon me the need to do the strength stuff - my right quads have lost a lot of tone and are giving me grief when I drive. She says my knee is good enough to begin a little running once my quads are not a problem. My ITB is also tight. This makes sleeping on my side difficult. So stretch and strength it is.

Muzzy

It was a good funeral and I made it to the wake and was able to spend a little time with June and her family.
Muzzy was there - he was the first forumite to say he would be at the funeral nad he had a haircut specially! He is a stalwart of the East Midlands RW forum meets and although he is camera-shy I have managed to catch a few pics over the years.
In order: High Peak Relay 2004; High Peak Relay 2005; [Maybe we should make a big effort to do HPR in 2008 for Eddy]
Christmas 2007 (before the haircut) and last Thursday in a sharp suit. (Katie-Jane is behind).

Eddy - RIP

Eddy was a stalwart member of the East Midlands Runners World brigade. Much has been written elsewhere about him and people's memories of him. He was a bone marrow donor and also donated blood platelets. He was a runner, a policeman and most of all a good man.

Eddy was struck down by septicemia. After a nine day battle with liver and kidney failure on intensive care he died on 28/12/07.

It is difficult to believe he is no longer with us, but we will have fond memories of him.

To celebrate his life June (LFV) asked that donations be made to Kidney Research, rather than flowers. Donations can be made through BZ's justgiving page. It is fantastic the amount donated by forumites - a real community - not just a virtual one.

Here are some pictures I have dug out of my hard drive.

MrBeanz, Eddy and teenbeanz before the Sinfin 10k in 2005


















Eddy and LFV at the Christmas social in 2006 - Eddy had organised it





















And he organised it again in 2007, only a couple of weeks before he died.

New Year - targets - pah! Reflections on the year past.

A year on and I have not achieved either of my running targets for the year.

Nor lost weight - in fact I am probably heavier than a year ago.

I have not completed a race this year.

What have I achieved?

• completed a year and a term back in teaching
• .........
• .........

I am not sure what I could put in the blanks. I am still here and have a healthy family - so anything else would be bonus I guess.

We have to go on, so yet again I shall start the year trying to eat healthily. I can't have any running targets until I am fit to run. I see the phyzz tomorrow and will talk to her about what is the most sensible way to get back to running (in addition to the obvious of losing weight).

A decision made

I've made the decision not to attempt to do FLM this year.

Yet again Highway Kind provides the right words to help me come to the decision.

I have not run since 10th November and cannot see me doing so any time soon, so it would be foolish to think I could do myself justice on 13th April.

So when I go to see the phyzz next week, it will be for a long term programme of rehabilitation, rather than rushing back to running.

Meanwhile I shall try to work on the eating side of things - tricky with so much chocolate and cheese in the house , but hey I can only try my best.

Not sure who I am writing this for - maybe it is for me. In which case I must try saving it as it is my only training log really, apart from a spreadsheet and the Garmin log.

Gym at last

Wednesday
Made it to the and quite a good session:
10 min walk on treadmill
7 minutes rower
10 minutes bike
7 minutes cross trainer

then strength work

then I made the mistake going Christmas shopping - too much of a good thing I fear, by the time I made it home my leg really ached, like I'd done a very long run

Thursday
A gentle day resting, until the evening when I had to take Runnerbeanz to his training session - I walked for about 20 minutes round the track while he was running - enough for today.

I'm trying - really

Yesterday I didn't make it to the gym, although I had intended to. I don't feel as though my knee is getting better - lots of aching still, perhaps partly because the house was cold - there is no point in having all the heating on when there is only me at home, and I let myself get cold - and then a kind of slump comes over me, I eat what I don't need .......

But today I've managed to go for a swim - only about 20 lengths, but it is hard work because I would normally do breaststroke, but can't do that because of the twisty knee action.

And then on to do a big shop, by the end of which I was limping somewhat - so now I am off to ice.

This week I have ...........

Seen the phyzz

Been to the gym twice to do CV and strength work

Done some step-ups and walking whilst Runnerbeanz was tearing round the track on Saturday

Eaten rather more mince pies than intended

Feel as though there is no chance of me being fit to do London - I really don't want to do it unless I can acquit myself well. At the moment I can't believe I'll ever do a long run again. The phyzz suggests I might be doing some of the early runs as other CV for the time the schedule says to do the running.
I know that if, at this stage I throw in the towel for FLM, I will not do the exercises she has given me properly or try to eat properly, but I feel a fraud saying I hope to do it when I am not even running and its only 17 weeks away.
I do want to do exactly as she has told me and not risk further injury by getting back too soon. But I just feel so fed up

Back to the phyzz

I saw the phyzz today and she is pleased with progress - I am about in the right place for three weeks from injury.
I now have a gym programme, to increase leg strength and also CV fitness, without running.

I am not sure about this CV work - whether I need to get my HR up to the same value - perceived effort on the static bike does not result in as high a HR as running at the same effort - presumably something to do with mot carrying my weight? Or maybe its just that I don't like the bike?

I also aim to get as much preparation for next term done as possible. If I am going to be training for a marathon I need to make time for the training. And if some of that training is in the gym rather than the road, it takes a bigger chunk of time to do and is logistically more difficult.

I've managed to keep off the sweet stuff - apart from (I confess) checking out the first batch of mince pies I've made this season.

I'm in!

Well I have a place for FLM, assuming I am fit enough to train enough to do it justice.

I asked at the club tonight when they would be doing the draw.

But as there were only 3 names on the list, the Secretary gave me a form there and then!

So I have started training.

That is :

• no more chocolate, biscuits, cake .....
  
• do the exercises from the phyzz
• do what CV work I can in the gym
• hope that on 1st January I am able to run

If all these happen I will send the form off on January 1st - closing date 11th January.

Help!

back from Phyzz

Phyzz is pleased with progress- less swelling, more flexibility, no long term damage

hopefully running in January

so that's my mileage done for the year

She says I can leave my name in the hat for a club FLM place and when I get back from Switzerland she'll put together a gym programme to strengthen the leg and improve CV ahead of beginning training in January

If I get a place, I'll need a marathon in 15 weeks on three runs a week from scratch schedule - ideally with no longer than an hour for the shorter runs.

Any offers?

humph

I am feeling proper fed up.

I have never had a 'proper injury before and in the old days of the old job I'd have just have got on with it at a slower pace but now I feel guilty.
I don't feel ill just not very mobile. I am feeling guilty about my exam classes and need to be back in school.
And part of me thinks I could probably go back, but the rest of me is listening to all the people saying don't go back too soon.

I expect to go back on Monday, really can't take any more time off.

Phyzz agrees with the doctor that it is meniscus damage. She thinks not too bad - 2-4 weeks to heal. I guess that means I will not be running for that length of time. She says I should start back with the bike (yuck) and swimming - not breast stroke.

I have not been out of the house since the phyzz on Tuesday, it didn't matter until today which is glorious.

Ho Hum

whinge over

proper injury :<(

After a bit of muscle strain last week, I've really done it now.

Supporting teenbeanz at his 10k race yesterday, I turned my knee in a pothole (I think) anyway it is now very swollen and sore. Sleeping was difficult.

The doc thinks it might be cartilage - and has said I'll be off work all week - its the stairs and the standing that are the problem.

And I have a physio appointment for tomorrow.

And rice rice rice ....

humph

stopped

No running this week - a very stiff upper leg - probably from all the stairs last weekend :<( For the last couple of weeks I have been meaning to take my camera to school - the low morning sun has been giving the autumn leaves such colour. But now its too late - the recent rain and wind have brought most of the leaves down. But I did take my camera today and took a few pics on the way there










































and on the way home:


















This last one is going in my physics collection as a nice illustration of the fact that the Moon is illuminated by the Sun - and as we are doing the Solar system at the moment it will probably come out for use soon!

keeping at it

Tuesday
Took the sixth form to a lecture at Brum University. It was excellent - the only problem was went to MacD's for something to eat - convenient but not appetising - I hadn't been for years. It doesn't seem any better!
This meant I didn't get home until 10.30. Which was why I didn't do my early mornign on Tuesday.

Wednesday
'Speedwork' with TP - it was good to go to the club and do something constructive without messing up someone else's run. Runnerbeanz has stopped going because they don't really train 'properly' - no warm up - just set off and blast it at whatever pace they can do. So a steady 4 miles run doesn't fit into it - those doing the pace he wants, want to go further. Those only doing 4 miles would not like his pace.

Thursday
Another late night at school - parent's evening. So too late to get an early night and run in the morning.

Friday
A 2 mile brisk walk with a colleague - including a few hills. It was good, the Sun shone, the views were great and it didn't rain until we were coming in the school gate :>)

Saturday
Out with TP for 7 miles - building back up. We have agreed that if one of us get sin to London in the club draw, we will do the long runs together - and if I get in and she doesn't she will do an autumn marathon and I'll do the long runs with her then.
Today we seemed to be getting a bit quicker - she isn't talking as much (less breath) and I am keeping going without having to think about it after the first couple of miles :>)

And then out to help at the XC where RB ran well.

Tomorrow I am off to help studentteacherbeanz move into a new place as she has split with the long term BF. That shoudl be good cross training carrying boxes.

Teaching and running

I am trying to discipline the time I spend surfing - forumming, reading blogs ...... because work is pretty hectic at the moment.

I teach until 5.30 two afternoons (the other days go on until 4.15) one parents evening this last week, two in the coming week, and then there is the admin, preparation and marking to do .......

And I need to keep on top of the (not small) garden.

And I do I need my sleep - even more so if I am going to get out and run early.

OK I know we get the holidays, but that means an uneven spread of 'free time'. Just training in the holidays is not a feasible way to do it, I at least need to tick over three times a week in term time. At the moment I am only managing two runs, so something has to give if I am ever going to get out from being at the back in everything but London.

Having written that down I think that is why I want to do London again and again - because I know I will not be last.

I managed to get out and run on Tuesday morning but only a couple of miles - although I was up early enough to run further I also had some books to mark.

Saturday was the first 'long run' with TP since Amsterdam. She is still recovering from that, so we just went out for 6 miles. It was good, slow but good. We have not really chatted since the Amsterdam debacle, so she talked a lot about that - and seems more indignant than me! She did really well - she reckons she was so cross about me being pulled that it made her work hard to complete her race in good time and show the muppets what we are capable of!

She aid that she is having trouble finding someone to run with a the friendly club - the next slowest group want to run about a minute a mile quicker than she can sustain for 5 miles. On Wednesday she ran on her own, just doing speed reps along the stretch of road near the car park where we meet. So I have committed myself to going on Wednesday - and we will each do our own speed rep session then - it means we are together but not having to run together.

I have plotted out a schedule to take me to Brass Monkey, which happens to be a 12 mile weekend in Shades' 'Marathon on 3-4 runs a week schedule' so should I be running a marathon on 13th April, it will fit!

The long day on Friday finished with a parent's evenign followed by an East Midlands Curry Night - a dozen there, the usual suspects plus Plum, Rich and Trin and Tigerrunner and Mrs TR. So a good old natter. RunningTeenBeanz's coach lives in the village where we met, and was eating there too - so forumites dine alongside an international athlete!