Upping the game.

It was with some trepidation that I met Suzanne at the gym this morning....after her text yesterday, and our discussion on Saturday about upping our game, I did wonder what delights she had in store for me!!

Firstly, it was the treadmill as usual, but 'Sadistic Sue' lay down a few new rules:
1. No talking (hence the MP3 players) - if we can talk then we aren't working hard enough,
2. No touching or feeling the hand rails/bars whatsoever.....hands need to be used to increase cardiac workload,
3. Uphill all the way, on level 15 for the first 20 mins, and then level 20 for the last 10 minutes which is the highest the machine will go,
4. The speed needs to be the fastest you can go at a power-walking pace without turning into a run/jog..or in my case, falling of the machine
.....and off we went!
And to be perfectly honest, it's surprising how much more of an effort you make when you are pounding along listening to Linkin Park rather than having a good gossip....and how much more knackered you are!

Next on to the usual circuit of weights....then 'sadistic Sue' had one little extra challenge before I was allowed my cappuccino......................

Back to the treadmill....."let's see" she said, "if we can do our 15 minute mile any faster".......so we put 15 minutes into the treadmill, set the incline to 0.5, and walked as fast as our little legs could carry us, without breaking into a run, to see how long it would take to do the said mile (1.61km)....and before I passed out, I saw the scores on the doors-
Sadistic Sue = 11mins 35 secs
Jane = 12 mins 39 secs......I aim to  beat her one day....................even if I have to tie her shoe laces together.....

After a recovery time spent rubbing knees (mine) and drinking cappuccino....it was home to pick up Mali and Golda and get them out for their exercise.
 Mali, as usual was enthusiastic, Golda needing a little more persuasion. 
Slightly different route today....I like to go a bit further than the 'loop' on a Wednesday as I have more time...but as the weather has been so wet, the thought of a muddy Greenham Common wasn't too appealing. Instead we walked along Monks Lane, Elizabeth Avenue and Essex Street, and dropped down into the cornfields which, in a roundabout way lead down to Enbourne. A lovely walk, but soooooo muddy!! Home was via Fifth Road, Wendan, Chandos and Newtown, in all about 4 miles.
 Unfortunately poor Mali was so thick with mud and clay she  had to be showered, and everything from the waist downwards had to go straight in the wash!

And now....at half past eight at night...both dogs are snoring in their respective beds.....and I'm so ready for mine.....G'night!