Yay.....I'm here in Africa! Well, I've got as far as Johannesburg, but only an hours flight away from the final destination of Durban, or to be more precise Kwa Zulu Natal!
Unfortunately, my luggage hasn't made it this far...it's still in Madrid!! I met my brother Tim, his girlfriend SarahJane and my sister Kim at Heathrow at 4pm yesterday ready for our flight out, and unfortunately the flight was delayed by an hour and a half....which meant when we arrived at Madrid we had 20 mins to leg it to the next terminal to check in and board the flight to Johannesburg...we made it as the 'last call' was made.....and crossed fingers that the bags did too......
We didn't find out until our names were called out at the airport.....oh well...we have a packet of wetwipes and 2 toothbrushes between the four of us......and maybe a suitcase tomorrow!
On the otherhand, Johannesburg airport does the best coffee and cakes I have ever seen!
My 15 mins of free wi-fi is about to run out...so bye for now!
Sunday 29 May 2011
Saturday 28 May 2011
This is it....
So...in 10 minutes I'm leaving for Heathrow..according to Chris anyway! I've just got to go to the loo and pack my laptop..and then that's it - South Arica here I come!!
Today started off early, 6am alarm, 7am walk meet with SS! Usual spot, and then just one circuit of the common today, a final walk before I headed home to do the necessary packing!
The common was cold and grey with the odd spot of rain, BUT, we actually counted 3 rabbits who had escaped the adders.....
6 miles later and we were in Costas...it might be the last decent coffee and chocolate twist for a few weeks now...
And here I am, knackered, after having done 100 sit ups before my shower as I know my brother will ask me if I've done any....and running on nervous energy - South Africa won't know what's hit it!!
Today started off early, 6am alarm, 7am walk meet with SS! Usual spot, and then just one circuit of the common today, a final walk before I headed home to do the necessary packing!
The common was cold and grey with the odd spot of rain, BUT, we actually counted 3 rabbits who had escaped the adders.....
6 miles later and we were in Costas...it might be the last decent coffee and chocolate twist for a few weeks now...
And here I am, knackered, after having done 100 sit ups before my shower as I know my brother will ask me if I've done any....and running on nervous energy - South Africa won't know what's hit it!!
Thursday 26 May 2011
Rather tired.......!
On Wednesday I met SS for what was to be the last 'gym date' before I head to South Africa.
Even though there were no hills in sight on the treadmill, it was still a struggle to do 30 mins on the flat at a respectable speed, and we spent a good deal of time moaning about how tired we were......which...when we stopped to analyse it...(as one does if you are extremely anal about exercise like us two!!)....is hardly surprising.
On Saturday, we had done more mileage than a marathon..... had one rest day........ then had both been out on the Monday, and there we were, down at the gym on the Wednesday, tired??? Doh!!
So, after the treadmill, a circuit of weights, but we gave the 'ask the nice gym man to show us a press-up' thingy a miss - that can wait!!
We thought a coffee might revitalize us, did it heck! We sat and moaned some more, but made a plan to meet on Saturday, to get a final walk in before I head to Heathrow as it's now only 5 weeks until the Surrey Centurion!!
Once home, the caffeine kicked in and I felt a bit more zippy, so I decided to take Mali and Golda to the common. As Mali's lead had worked so well on Monday, I used it again, and off we went...this time I kept up with Mali, and surprisingly, even Golda had a spring in her step.
We only did the small loop....I'm sure I could have done more but I didn't want to push Golda (!!!)....and who did I see in the distance with his binoculars....only the RSPB man whom Mali had upset before, thank goodness she was on a lead today!
As we ran past him he turned and said "hello Mali" - talk about a reputation!!
Once home I thought I ought to carry on with my sit- up regime....don't tell Tim, I did one, ouch, and then collapsed, might need a little longer recovery time than I thought for these....
Even though there were no hills in sight on the treadmill, it was still a struggle to do 30 mins on the flat at a respectable speed, and we spent a good deal of time moaning about how tired we were......which...when we stopped to analyse it...(as one does if you are extremely anal about exercise like us two!!)....is hardly surprising.
On Saturday, we had done more mileage than a marathon..... had one rest day........ then had both been out on the Monday, and there we were, down at the gym on the Wednesday, tired??? Doh!!
So, after the treadmill, a circuit of weights, but we gave the 'ask the nice gym man to show us a press-up' thingy a miss - that can wait!!
We thought a coffee might revitalize us, did it heck! We sat and moaned some more, but made a plan to meet on Saturday, to get a final walk in before I head to Heathrow as it's now only 5 weeks until the Surrey Centurion!!
Once home, the caffeine kicked in and I felt a bit more zippy, so I decided to take Mali and Golda to the common. As Mali's lead had worked so well on Monday, I used it again, and off we went...this time I kept up with Mali, and surprisingly, even Golda had a spring in her step.
We only did the small loop....I'm sure I could have done more but I didn't want to push Golda (!!!)....and who did I see in the distance with his binoculars....only the RSPB man whom Mali had upset before, thank goodness she was on a lead today!
As we ran past him he turned and said "hello Mali" - talk about a reputation!!
Once home I thought I ought to carry on with my sit- up regime....don't tell Tim, I did one, ouch, and then collapsed, might need a little longer recovery time than I thought for these....
Monday 23 May 2011
Mali and me.
I also figured, as I had seen a dog lead reduced in Tescos, that I could get Mali to run with me too, even though she has been 'banned' from the common! This was one of those leads where we are both attached, but Mali still had 5 metres of relative freedom...but not enough to chase swans, or dig out golden-crested newts, or spotted wotsits, or even adders for that matter.....
So, kids dumped, Mali and me buckled together..and off we went.....
Mali, having four legs, had the slight advantage, plus the fact that she had 5 metres of lead meant she finished the first loop before me, looking less sweaty and slightly smug, in a doggy sort of way.....so, due to my terribly competitive streak, I was having none of that, so we ran around the loop again, finishing fairly equal the second time (okay, okay, she won again....next time....)..and then the rain started...and didn't look like it was going to stop, so it was a mad sprint to the car.
Once home, I thought I ought to see if I could maintain my sit -ups number from Saturday (112)....and failed miserably!! In fact, I tried to see if I could do more yesterday (Sunday) and my stomach muscles said NO!! -I only managed 60....today was a mere 50.....it's agony if I cough or sneeze, but at least I know they are doing something to the muscles!!
The funny thing is....I was talking to SarahJane last night, and their Personal Trainer - Chris PT - is making them do proper sit-ups where they have to sit all the way up, that's why my brother Tim is struggling to do more than 10 at a time - heehee - but, I'm doing what the website says, and if they say 'abdo crunch or curl to 38 degrees, no more', then I'm sticking with it...I just don't think I'll tell Tim just yet........
Sunday 22 May 2011
Challenges........
On Saturday, I met SS, usual time, usual place for a 'last good walk' before I head to Africa this coming Saturday.
We headed for the common, and despite it only being 7am, the sun was up, and it was warm enough for shorts and t-shirts.
By way of a change, and so SS could confuse me (easily done at 7am) we headed round in a clockwise direction, because we nearly always go anticlockwise, and things did look different from this perspective...and seemed longer....for example..normally, when I pass the control tower, I know that I have about a mile left to do before coffee, this time, it was at least 6 miles before coffee!
Nothing really odd to report about the common this week, there is still a distinct lack of rabbits and runners out there, but according to SS, ( her friend, who is a 'warden of the common' has told her this...) they are preserving and conserving Adders...now...I thought that was what they did at the pickle factory but I'm not one to argue....
Talking of pickle factory.....we did see a cow on the wrong side of the perimeter fence, therefore in the pickle factory garden, and the big debate between SS and myself was whether the cow had gone to get salad dressing to go on its greens, or whether the pickle factory workers wanted something to go with their horseradish????
Moving on...after a circuit of the common we headed to Costas for breakfast, a chocolate twist and cappuccino, before heading straight back out to the common, and this time going in an anticlockwise direction!
At Thornford Park end we dropped down into Crookham and made for the canal and walked along as far as Thatcham lakes. We wanted to cut through here to get onto Lower way as we were heading to the Christadelphian church hall.
At 11am there was to be a charity fair at the church hall, and rumour had it, that you could get a cup of tea (including a FREE biscuit) for 25p, AND there was going to be a homemade cake stall.....as SS and I are all for supporting charity (especially if it involves eating) this was where we were going!
Time wise, we were a little early, so we did a circuit of the lake, saw some gorgeous cygnets, met their ferocious mother (more scary than SS!!) and saw a stuffed fox in the shop, which we were both tempted to buy..but it was our cake money.....
And then we headed along Lower Way to the Church Hall, and what a sight greeted us in the car park...a bacon buttie stall! We thought it would be rude not to look at the cakes...so we did...and we had a cup of tea (with a free fig roll), and SS bought a lovely necklace and earring set (or two!) but the bacon butties won hands down!!
After suitable refreshment (spiritual and physical) we than carried on, as at this point we had only actually done 18 miles. We headed to the end of Lower Way, onto Hambridge Road and dropped down onto the tow path in the direction of town. We followed this through town up to Speen church, and then made our way to Donnington Golf course. By this point, the sun was at its highest point and it had really warmed up, so we walked around the course to the clubhouse in order to find some drinks to carry with us. We then left the first tee, and headed up towards the back of Donnington Castle and Snelsmore Common.
Being very hot, we did half expect to see Adders out up here sunning themselves, as the posters on the gate suggested, in fact, we did spend a little longer walking up here than usual as, with a kind of morbid curiosity it was a challenge for the first person to see one!
We saw lots of sticks that COULD have been Adders, and did jump a few times, and almost did the girly scream thing, but saw absolutely nothing, again!!
The way out saw us going down past the back of Donnington Castle and through the village of Donnington, past the pub, which took willpower, and along the road back to Newbury town centre. It was still hot at this point, only one thing for it, an iced coffee, courtesy of Starbucks, before heading home.
Heading home, out of town, we were talking challenges, and we were discussing a challenge that my brother Tim and his girlfriend SarahJane are doing.....a 6 week challenge, building up core muscle, and by the end of it you should be able to do 200 sit ups, straight off in one go..
http://www.twohundredsitups.com/
...what I love about Tim and SarahJane doing this challenge is that SarahJane is whipping Tim's butt - yay, go girl!!
What I love even more, is that when SS thought she would have a go at the assessment, to see how many sit-ups she could do before the 6 week course, she could do 200 straight off - yay, go girl again!!
So when I got home (via Newtown Road), I looked at the website to see what they classed as a sit up, and they mean 'curl or abdo crunch' and I got down on the lounge carpet to do my assessment - 112 straight off, those are the ones I counted when Mali wasn't trying to sit on me anyway!!
Nah, I'm not doing that challenge.....but when I tried to do the press up challenge, I did the grand total of......nothing!! Couldn't do it at all......perhaps Mr nice gym man (!!) will show me on Wednesday....
Once home I was sufficiently sweaty and smelly that fox pooh probably would have been an improvement, so I took Mali and Golda out for the 'Newbury Loop', ending up in City Park so they could have a good run around.
For the first time ever, as there was no said fox pooh, I actually came home smelling worse than the dogs!
Still, hosepipe out and a wash down for them....and a drink in the garden for me whilst I contemplate bath or shower???
Bath time!!
Total miles today = 33miles sit ups = 112!
We headed for the common, and despite it only being 7am, the sun was up, and it was warm enough for shorts and t-shirts.
By way of a change, and so SS could confuse me (easily done at 7am) we headed round in a clockwise direction, because we nearly always go anticlockwise, and things did look different from this perspective...and seemed longer....for example..normally, when I pass the control tower, I know that I have about a mile left to do before coffee, this time, it was at least 6 miles before coffee!
Nothing really odd to report about the common this week, there is still a distinct lack of rabbits and runners out there, but according to SS, ( her friend, who is a 'warden of the common' has told her this...) they are preserving and conserving Adders...now...I thought that was what they did at the pickle factory but I'm not one to argue....
Talking of pickle factory.....we did see a cow on the wrong side of the perimeter fence, therefore in the pickle factory garden, and the big debate between SS and myself was whether the cow had gone to get salad dressing to go on its greens, or whether the pickle factory workers wanted something to go with their horseradish????
Moving on...after a circuit of the common we headed to Costas for breakfast, a chocolate twist and cappuccino, before heading straight back out to the common, and this time going in an anticlockwise direction!
At Thornford Park end we dropped down into Crookham and made for the canal and walked along as far as Thatcham lakes. We wanted to cut through here to get onto Lower way as we were heading to the Christadelphian church hall.
At 11am there was to be a charity fair at the church hall, and rumour had it, that you could get a cup of tea (including a FREE biscuit) for 25p, AND there was going to be a homemade cake stall.....as SS and I are all for supporting charity (especially if it involves eating) this was where we were going!
Time wise, we were a little early, so we did a circuit of the lake, saw some gorgeous cygnets, met their ferocious mother (more scary than SS!!) and saw a stuffed fox in the shop, which we were both tempted to buy..but it was our cake money.....
And then we headed along Lower Way to the Church Hall, and what a sight greeted us in the car park...a bacon buttie stall! We thought it would be rude not to look at the cakes...so we did...and we had a cup of tea (with a free fig roll), and SS bought a lovely necklace and earring set (or two!) but the bacon butties won hands down!!
After suitable refreshment (spiritual and physical) we than carried on, as at this point we had only actually done 18 miles. We headed to the end of Lower Way, onto Hambridge Road and dropped down onto the tow path in the direction of town. We followed this through town up to Speen church, and then made our way to Donnington Golf course. By this point, the sun was at its highest point and it had really warmed up, so we walked around the course to the clubhouse in order to find some drinks to carry with us. We then left the first tee, and headed up towards the back of Donnington Castle and Snelsmore Common.
Being very hot, we did half expect to see Adders out up here sunning themselves, as the posters on the gate suggested, in fact, we did spend a little longer walking up here than usual as, with a kind of morbid curiosity it was a challenge for the first person to see one!
We saw lots of sticks that COULD have been Adders, and did jump a few times, and almost did the girly scream thing, but saw absolutely nothing, again!!
The way out saw us going down past the back of Donnington Castle and through the village of Donnington, past the pub, which took willpower, and along the road back to Newbury town centre. It was still hot at this point, only one thing for it, an iced coffee, courtesy of Starbucks, before heading home.
Heading home, out of town, we were talking challenges, and we were discussing a challenge that my brother Tim and his girlfriend SarahJane are doing.....a 6 week challenge, building up core muscle, and by the end of it you should be able to do 200 sit ups, straight off in one go..
http://www.twohundredsitups.com/
...what I love about Tim and SarahJane doing this challenge is that SarahJane is whipping Tim's butt - yay, go girl!!
What I love even more, is that when SS thought she would have a go at the assessment, to see how many sit-ups she could do before the 6 week course, she could do 200 straight off - yay, go girl again!!
So when I got home (via Newtown Road), I looked at the website to see what they classed as a sit up, and they mean 'curl or abdo crunch' and I got down on the lounge carpet to do my assessment - 112 straight off, those are the ones I counted when Mali wasn't trying to sit on me anyway!!
Nah, I'm not doing that challenge.....but when I tried to do the press up challenge, I did the grand total of......nothing!! Couldn't do it at all......perhaps Mr nice gym man (!!) will show me on Wednesday....
Once home I was sufficiently sweaty and smelly that fox pooh probably would have been an improvement, so I took Mali and Golda out for the 'Newbury Loop', ending up in City Park so they could have a good run around.
For the first time ever, as there was no said fox pooh, I actually came home smelling worse than the dogs!
Still, hosepipe out and a wash down for them....and a drink in the garden for me whilst I contemplate bath or shower???
Bath time!!Thursday 19 May 2011
C'MON!
The day after the Ridgeway 40 I was a little bit pooped, but managed to walk the dogs, and the following Wednesday I got my butt to the gym and did the usual workout...but...that was it....my get up and go just got up and disappeared!!
It has taken a whole week to get motivated into doing something again, even though I still have all ten toenails (and no blisters!) I haven't had any inclination, whatsoever, to do anything but sleep! (and eat!)
It was when I was looking at the calendar that I realised that the Surrey Centurion was only six weeks away this Saturday.....
Six weeks training..that's all....and for two and a half of those weeks I will be working in South Africa and not training at all.....
So...THAT...got me to the gym -sheer panic!
Met SS on Wednesday, still tired, but knowing that we HAD to get motivated and into gear...if we are going to do 100 miles in 24 hours...
We did the usual half hour of treadmill training, and the same as last week we have moved from hills to speed training, following this by weights. I particularly focused on putting the weights up on my upper body as I find over a distance that my legs are fine but my back and shoulders start to ache....Chris says it's because I drag my knuckles along the floor when I walk (love him!!).
Once home, I had the urge (yay, got the mojo back!!) to take the dogs for a run (much to Golda's disgust!!)and walked them along Monks Lane and Elizabeth Avenue, and ran them down the corn fields behind Enbourne. Two problems with this. Firstly, they are no longer corn fields, but rapeseed fields so my eyes streamed and my nose ran, and secondly, Golda, in protest at having to run, found the biggest pile of fox pooh ever.........
At the end of the cornfields I jogged along Fifth Road, my eyes now streaming at the smell of Golda, into City park, along Hampton Road, Derby Road and up Newtown Road to home, where Golda was rubbed down with baby wipes (sad, but true, stops the fox pooh smell!!).
Golda.
Mali.
So....6 weeks and counting..c'mon..bring it on!!
It has taken a whole week to get motivated into doing something again, even though I still have all ten toenails (and no blisters!) I haven't had any inclination, whatsoever, to do anything but sleep! (and eat!)
It was when I was looking at the calendar that I realised that the Surrey Centurion was only six weeks away this Saturday.....
Six weeks training..that's all....and for two and a half of those weeks I will be working in South Africa and not training at all.....
So...THAT...got me to the gym -sheer panic!
Met SS on Wednesday, still tired, but knowing that we HAD to get motivated and into gear...if we are going to do 100 miles in 24 hours...
We did the usual half hour of treadmill training, and the same as last week we have moved from hills to speed training, following this by weights. I particularly focused on putting the weights up on my upper body as I find over a distance that my legs are fine but my back and shoulders start to ache....Chris says it's because I drag my knuckles along the floor when I walk (love him!!).
Once home, I had the urge (yay, got the mojo back!!) to take the dogs for a run (much to Golda's disgust!!)and walked them along Monks Lane and Elizabeth Avenue, and ran them down the corn fields behind Enbourne. Two problems with this. Firstly, they are no longer corn fields, but rapeseed fields so my eyes streamed and my nose ran, and secondly, Golda, in protest at having to run, found the biggest pile of fox pooh ever.........
At the end of the cornfields I jogged along Fifth Road, my eyes now streaming at the smell of Golda, into City park, along Hampton Road, Derby Road and up Newtown Road to home, where Golda was rubbed down with baby wipes (sad, but true, stops the fox pooh smell!!).
Golda.
Mali.Thursday 12 May 2011
Onwards and upwards....
On Sunday I expected to feel very achey and stiff, and to have sore feet...but apart from some serious cramp in the butt muscles (darn hills!) I felt really good - if not starving!
I have 10 toe nails, and no blisters, which considering our feet were soaked for the first 12 miles of Saturday's event is amazing.
Training continues...I walked Golda and Mali, admittedly only to City park and back on Sunday and Monday, but Wednesday SS and I hit the gym again.
We have eight weeks until the 'Surrey Centurion' - 100 miles in 24 hours. This is a flat track where speed is of the essence, so we really need to get our butts moving.
Training for Wednesday was a flat treadmill but at a good pace for 30 mins...did that make the butt muscles cramp again!!
This was followed by the usual weights and coffee..essential.
Again we are doing this challenge to raise money.....
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
The justgiving website is moving slowly....we have raised £300 so far with our efforts....this money is to buy wheelchairs for the disabled children of Happy's school in Durban, South Africa.
It brings it home to you how lucky you are, when you are out on the Ridgeway walking in the rain, wind or sun, that at least you are walking and not dependant on a wheelchair....how lucky we are to be able to have our independence......
In just over two weeks I'll be in Durban seeing these children as I'm going to be doing some volunteer work at the school..so watch this space for photo's!
And..if you can, please donate.
Ta. x
I have 10 toe nails, and no blisters, which considering our feet were soaked for the first 12 miles of Saturday's event is amazing.
Training continues...I walked Golda and Mali, admittedly only to City park and back on Sunday and Monday, but Wednesday SS and I hit the gym again.
We have eight weeks until the 'Surrey Centurion' - 100 miles in 24 hours. This is a flat track where speed is of the essence, so we really need to get our butts moving.
Training for Wednesday was a flat treadmill but at a good pace for 30 mins...did that make the butt muscles cramp again!!
This was followed by the usual weights and coffee..essential.
Again we are doing this challenge to raise money.....
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
The justgiving website is moving slowly....we have raised £300 so far with our efforts....this money is to buy wheelchairs for the disabled children of Happy's school in Durban, South Africa.
It brings it home to you how lucky you are, when you are out on the Ridgeway walking in the rain, wind or sun, that at least you are walking and not dependant on a wheelchair....how lucky we are to be able to have our independence......
In just over two weeks I'll be in Durban seeing these children as I'm going to be doing some volunteer work at the school..so watch this space for photo's!
And..if you can, please donate.
Ta. x
Sunday 8 May 2011
The Ridgeway 40.
There had been a storm during the night, and the odd rumble of thunder was still echoing around Newbury as we left to collect SS at 6.55am.
We headed to Overton Hill in Avebury for our 8am check-in and start, and the rain got heavier, and heavier, the wind got stronger and stronger..for some reason Chris wouldn't even get out of the car to say goodbye.
For the first time in 4 years, our check cards were ready on time and we were able to set straight off, which when it is pouring with rain is the best thing to do, and headed to the first check point, 7 miles away at Barbury Castle. This is mostly uphill the whole way, culminating in a very steep hill right before the check point. This is hill number 1 that I have been training for - did it!. The rain was horrendous for the full 7 miles, seeming to come downwards and sidewards, and somehow upwards too, we were soaked!
The couple manning the check point were surpised to see us, not expecting to see 'anyone so soon in this weather', so feeling sufficiently smug we set off for the next check point which was 2.5 miles later at Whitefield Hill. The rain started to ease a little, but the wind picked up, blowing right at us..grrrrrr.
Whitefield Hill check point worried us a little, as it wasn't were it normally is....for safety they decided to put it the other side of the busy A346 as they couldn't really be doing with the hassle of having any one killed on a busy country road....and as it was so windy, they tucked it away behind a hedge......so now people are walking up and down said busy road trying to find it...grrrr!
Coming out of check point 2 is the the other hill that I have been training for - Whitefield Hill, or Killer Hill. I usually need oxygen, or resuscitaion when I have done this in the past, I have had to stop halfway up to die a little, be sick, cry...you get the picture...but this year I was ready! As SS said, I went up it like a "maniacal whippet" - piece of cake! OK, I couldn't have blown a balloon up, but boy the sense of acheivement when I got to the top....plus the fact that it stopped raining!
Next checkpoint (3) used to be called 'Shepherds Rest', as it was in a pub car park of the same name, but the pub has since gone and it's now an Indian, and calling it the 'Burj' just doesn't have the same ring...we call it check point 3 and it appears after 14.5 miles, with a portaloo, and a lady handing out bags of dates and dried apricots..I like this checkpoint as I love dried fruit..SS doesn't as the dried fruit means she would need the portaloo about 3 miles further along!!
Checkpoint 4 is at 19.5 miles and is where SS and I usually grab a sandwich. We phoned Jim and gave instructions that he HAD to be there with the coolbag, but then we had to ring and give an ammended time as we were really steaming ahead time wise.
After stuffing as much carbohydrate and full-fat coke down as humanely possible, we set off for Eastmanton Down at 23 miles, and Yew Down at 28 miles which was where we met Jim, Cass and Jamie at check point 6, or the 'cake stop' as SS and I know it.
Check point 6 is the best EVER!! They have lovely ladies (I'm sure they are WI) here who have a large teapot constantly on the go, and boxes and boxes of homemade cakes. As you approach the check point, they utter the words, 'help yourself to cakes, have as much as you want' - heaven!
After a slice of lemon drizzle, and a treacle flapjack, and a tuna mayo sandwich for me, and a cheese ploughmans for SS...we did remember we still had 12 miles to go, so, onwards and, unfortunately, upwards...
Checkpoint 7 was at Bury Down (32 miles), here we said goodbye to Jim, Cass and Jamie, we wouldn't now see them until the end..
Checkpoint 8 was at Compton Downs Cross Tracks and two lovely surprises here...first we saw an incredibly beautiful red kite hovering above us, and then we found that the lady manning the check point had made some bread pudding...well, it would be rude not to....
Checkpoint 9, at 36.5 miles, was at Starveall Turn, and we were on the last push now.
We were trying to enjoy the surroundings, but to be honest, the haze from the weather wasn't giving us good visibility up on the Ridgeway, so we couldn't appreciate the views as we had done in previous years. The only thing which really stood out was the deep yellow of the rapeseed fields, and as both SS and I are allergic to the stuff, we weren't too impressed at how much there was about...
6.25pm saw us enter the Youth Hostel at Streatley which was the finish at 40 miles. We were nearly 20 mins quicker than last year, we were also the first women power walkers back so felt incredibly proud of our achievement.
So, steak and chips in the pub to celebrate!!!
Personally I can't believe I did the hills as well as I did, training really does pay off, so does being 3 stone lighter in weight than last year!
I also wouldn't have done this without the support of Jim, Cass, Jamie and Chris at the begining, end and various checkpoints in between, thanks guys!
I definately wouldn't have done it without SS...you have a lot to answer for!! But seriously....thanks mate x
THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE SPONSORED US, IF YOU HAVEN'T, WHY NOT??!!
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
Thursday 5 May 2011
Suggestions please.....
Thanks to my good mates, Wills n Kate, I enjoyed another long weekend of work, but this time in Aberdyfi, Wales.
It was also nice to have a different back drop to training than Greenham common, the canal or Nuffield Gym!
As I spent all day Friday sat in front of the TV from 9am until 5pm -watching me mates get hitched- and then only walked the half mile to the beach for a coffee from the deli, Saturday meant I had to do something as it was really a 'last chance'....before the first of my ultra marathons this Saturday...
So, up at 8am....and with no SS waiting on a corner for me, I pulled on the running shoes and headed to the beach. For those of you who don't know Aberdyfi....it is separated from the next town - Towyn - by a long stretch of 4 mile sandy beach, perfect for running on..apart from the wind. Today this was blowing from the land, across the sand dunes, into the side of my face, and then out to sea, depositing a large amount of sand in my mouth and ears en route!! But, as I said, perfect for running on, so I did...all the way there...and all the way back ....as the coffee shop was shut!!
I was helped along by listening to Bon Jovi on my iPod....to be honest..this is now getting a little tedious, someone out there must have some ideas for some other running music - suggestions please?
The only problem with running to Towyn, is that you can see Towyn town framed by the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park from a long way off (ie Aberdovey) and it doesn't seem to get any closer, however fast you run...so it was also a lesson in endurance!!
Once there, and back..the classic was finding Chris who said..'we've decided to walk to Towyn along the beach this morning....' so 8 miles run, 4 miles walk, found a tea shoppe..and the rest was history!
Back home, and Tuesday and Wednesday saw SS and I in the gym for our 2 final sessions before the first event this Saturday. We met at 8.30 am after school 'drop-offs' and headed straight to the treadmills.
SS remains in a 'fidgety' mood and did a bit of everything..I did my last two hills, and on both days we did a circuit of weights..and now today and tomorrow we eat and eat and eat..this is my favourite bit, the carb loading.....it's a tough job...but someone has to do it!!
Remember, it's not too late to sponsor us...and this is only the warm up, the next event is 2nd July!
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
It was also nice to have a different back drop to training than Greenham common, the canal or Nuffield Gym!
As I spent all day Friday sat in front of the TV from 9am until 5pm -watching me mates get hitched- and then only walked the half mile to the beach for a coffee from the deli, Saturday meant I had to do something as it was really a 'last chance'....before the first of my ultra marathons this Saturday...
So, up at 8am....and with no SS waiting on a corner for me, I pulled on the running shoes and headed to the beach. For those of you who don't know Aberdyfi....it is separated from the next town - Towyn - by a long stretch of 4 mile sandy beach, perfect for running on..apart from the wind. Today this was blowing from the land, across the sand dunes, into the side of my face, and then out to sea, depositing a large amount of sand in my mouth and ears en route!! But, as I said, perfect for running on, so I did...all the way there...and all the way back ....as the coffee shop was shut!!
I was helped along by listening to Bon Jovi on my iPod....to be honest..this is now getting a little tedious, someone out there must have some ideas for some other running music - suggestions please?
The only problem with running to Towyn, is that you can see Towyn town framed by the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park from a long way off (ie Aberdovey) and it doesn't seem to get any closer, however fast you run...so it was also a lesson in endurance!!
Once there, and back..the classic was finding Chris who said..'we've decided to walk to Towyn along the beach this morning....' so 8 miles run, 4 miles walk, found a tea shoppe..and the rest was history!
SS remains in a 'fidgety' mood and did a bit of everything..I did my last two hills, and on both days we did a circuit of weights..and now today and tomorrow we eat and eat and eat..this is my favourite bit, the carb loading.....it's a tough job...but someone has to do it!!
Remember, it's not too late to sponsor us...and this is only the warm up, the next event is 2nd July!
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
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