Met SS at the gym, 8.45am and we were ready for the off. Well, not really..we were there, and that's as good as it gets!
We couldn't really decide what we wanted to do on the treadmill, SS opted for speed on the flat, I opted for a slower pace and an incline (felt like Everest). 30 minutes later I had reached the summit, and SS looked like she had reached boiling point!
Next it was onto a circuit of weights, plus I added in the abdominal machine..... grrrrr!
Then onto my fave weight, lifting a coffee cup!
Over coffee SS filled me in on a chat she had had with her friend, a local warden up on Greenham common. I was waiting for the punchline of..." there was this lady with a really naughty spaniel..." but instead she told me how there are loads of ADDERS breeding up there......hmmm so much for saving the fluffy wotsits, and greater speckled doodahs...they're really worried about breeding (I said breeding!!) adders!!
That's really going to slow SS and I down as we will be watching our every step!
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Monday, 28 March 2011
Pic'n'mix...
Couldn't decide what to do at the gym this afternoon....I didn't really fancy a long run.....a walk seemed a bit boring....cycling is for cissies (see blog entitled "All about me"), so I did a bit of a 'woolworths', or a 'pic'n'mix'!!
10 mins treadmill - running
5 mins rowing (1000 metres in 5 mins 2 seconds, so am improving!!)
5 mins climbing machine
10 mins cross trainer
10 mins treadmill - sprinting
5 mins rowing (1000 metres in...wait for it....4 mins 58 seconds..oh yeah!!)
50 sit ups ( ugh!)
All accompanied by Jon Bon Jovi and Lady Gaga, sad, but very true!
Then home, and a 'Newbury Loop' with Mali and Golda by way of a 'stretch and cooldown'!.
10 mins treadmill - running
5 mins rowing (1000 metres in 5 mins 2 seconds, so am improving!!)
5 mins climbing machine
10 mins cross trainer
10 mins treadmill - sprinting
5 mins rowing (1000 metres in...wait for it....4 mins 58 seconds..oh yeah!!)
50 sit ups ( ugh!)
All accompanied by Jon Bon Jovi and Lady Gaga, sad, but very true!
Then home, and a 'Newbury Loop' with Mali and Golda by way of a 'stretch and cooldown'!.
Sunday, 27 March 2011
A quickie!
Sunday afternoon, and feeling better than I have done in ages...so after a quick walk to the park with the dogs, thought I'd head to the gym and take advantage of my well-being!
35 mins on the treadmill= 30 mins run, and my speed is creeping up,
5 mins walk to warm down
5 mins, 10 seconds row, did 1000 metres but it took me 5 seconds longer than last time, blame the headache!
And then virtuously, I did a set of sit ups, oh how I detest them!!
And by then I had had enough, and not wanting to overdo it, I headed home!
35 mins on the treadmill= 30 mins run, and my speed is creeping up,
5 mins walk to warm down
5 mins, 10 seconds row, did 1000 metres but it took me 5 seconds longer than last time, blame the headache!
And then virtuously, I did a set of sit ups, oh how I detest them!!
And by then I had had enough, and not wanting to overdo it, I headed home!
Sorry....
Sorry.....I haven't got round to posting a.....well.....post...for a week, mainly due to a stinky headache-cum-migraine. The thought of looking into a computer screen was a little nauseating if I'm honest......a week on, the headache is nearly gone, the thought of sitting at a computer catching up on a million emails is still nauseating, but you can't have it all!
Wednesday dawned bright and sunny, and should have been a 'gym' day for SS and myself. The thought of pounding on a treadmill and lifting weights prompted me to text SS and suggest a walk in the fresh air instead, as they don't really like the clients throwing up on said treadmills, so we met at the top of the road and did one circuit (8 miles) of the common in lovely warm sunshine, before I needed to head back home for a lie down. (Anyone reading this is going to think I'm 60, not 30)!
Saturday was another training day, but this started off a little gloomier weather wise, although it was warm. Again we met at the top of the road, just before 7am, and headed to the common. We were not sure why, but it was deserted up there, really spooky, all the Reading marathoners had finished training, the Newbury Race-goers where getting a lie-in perhaps, but it was soooo quiet. We finished a circuit in no time at all and headed to Costas. The disadvantage of a headache-cum-migraine is it leaves me feeling very queasy so I didn't even have the pleasure of eating a chocolate twist in front of SS this week, nor drink a milky coffee.
An earl grey tea and a plain bun please!
We headed out again,onto the common, but at the far end, we dropped down through the farmyard at Crookham and headed for the canal, which led us past Thatcham Lakes (those birds are SO NOISY when your head aches!) and into Newbury..this time for a mug of earl grey with lavender, great for headaches.
The plan was then to retrace our steps back along the canal..but I had really had enough and felt ugh! Plus, I had yet to take the dogs out as both Chris and Cass were away for the weekend!
SS battled on in the face of adversity (not really, it just sounds good) heading back along the canal towards the common and I headed up Newtown Road to collect Mali and Golda.
Mali and Golda where very happy to see their leads in my hand, and we quickly headed back down Newtown Road to City park.
Golda gets very excited visiting City park at the moment, I'm sure a fox must frequent it regularly as she spends most of the time rolling on every inch of grass there...Mali, on the other hand, spends her time running up and down on every inch of grass. I have learnt to take her ball with me on these trips, otherwise she turns into a bit of a playground bully-pinching the other dogs balls and refusing to give them back!
After a run around, it was a walk up Wendan Road, with a cut through Paddock Road, onto Newtown Road, to home, more tea, aspirin and bed!
My mileage for Saturday was 21 miles....SS for all I know, is still going backwards and forwards along the canal and the common......
Wednesday dawned bright and sunny, and should have been a 'gym' day for SS and myself. The thought of pounding on a treadmill and lifting weights prompted me to text SS and suggest a walk in the fresh air instead, as they don't really like the clients throwing up on said treadmills, so we met at the top of the road and did one circuit (8 miles) of the common in lovely warm sunshine, before I needed to head back home for a lie down. (Anyone reading this is going to think I'm 60, not 30)!
Saturday was another training day, but this started off a little gloomier weather wise, although it was warm. Again we met at the top of the road, just before 7am, and headed to the common. We were not sure why, but it was deserted up there, really spooky, all the Reading marathoners had finished training, the Newbury Race-goers where getting a lie-in perhaps, but it was soooo quiet. We finished a circuit in no time at all and headed to Costas. The disadvantage of a headache-cum-migraine is it leaves me feeling very queasy so I didn't even have the pleasure of eating a chocolate twist in front of SS this week, nor drink a milky coffee.
An earl grey tea and a plain bun please!
We headed out again,onto the common, but at the far end, we dropped down through the farmyard at Crookham and headed for the canal, which led us past Thatcham Lakes (those birds are SO NOISY when your head aches!) and into Newbury..this time for a mug of earl grey with lavender, great for headaches.
The plan was then to retrace our steps back along the canal..but I had really had enough and felt ugh! Plus, I had yet to take the dogs out as both Chris and Cass were away for the weekend!
SS battled on in the face of adversity (not really, it just sounds good) heading back along the canal towards the common and I headed up Newtown Road to collect Mali and Golda.
Mali and Golda where very happy to see their leads in my hand, and we quickly headed back down Newtown Road to City park.
Golda gets very excited visiting City park at the moment, I'm sure a fox must frequent it regularly as she spends most of the time rolling on every inch of grass there...Mali, on the other hand, spends her time running up and down on every inch of grass. I have learnt to take her ball with me on these trips, otherwise she turns into a bit of a playground bully-pinching the other dogs balls and refusing to give them back!
After a run around, it was a walk up Wendan Road, with a cut through Paddock Road, onto Newtown Road, to home, more tea, aspirin and bed!
My mileage for Saturday was 21 miles....SS for all I know, is still going backwards and forwards along the canal and the common......
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Money, money, money..
I spent Sunday evening setting up a justgiving fund raising page - SS and I are hoping to raise money with the 2 races we are doing, to buy wheelchairs, and pay for the upkeep of wheelchairs, for a disabled children's school in Durban, South Africa.
The school is called 'Happys' and has to rely entirely on donations for the day to day upkeep of the home, and the care of the 200 children there.
To find out more, log onto
http://www.help4happys.co.uk/
In order to raise money, SS and I are going to,
1. Walk 40 miles in a time limit of 14 hours across the Ridgeway on May 7th, and
2. Walk 100 miles in a time limit of 24 hours around Lingfield Park in Surrey on 2-3rd July.....
Now I'm sure that deserves some of your money, money, money???
To donate (please, please, please) visit our website;
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
Thank you heaps xxxx
Well, because I've begged for your money, thought I'd better get down to business on this blog, and get some training down too!
I felt compelled to get to the gym Monday after work, not only because I had eaten half a packet of digestives (again!!), or had a headache that I wanted to run off, but to show that I deserved your cash!
I spent 35 minutes on the treadmill, 30 running, and 5 mins warm-down walking, followed by 5mins 5 seconds on the rowing machine. I aimed to row 1000 metres in 5 mins, but needed the extra 5 seconds..I aim to do better next time!
This was followed by sit-ups by way of a change. I usually avoid these, as, to be truthful, they hurt! But, as mentioned, I really, really want your money! And I did 55 of them!
And with my headache no better, and stomach to add in from the sit-ups, I decided to call it quits...or today anyway.......but in the words of The Terminator...I'll be back!
The school is called 'Happys' and has to rely entirely on donations for the day to day upkeep of the home, and the care of the 200 children there.
To find out more, log onto
http://www.help4happys.co.uk/
In order to raise money, SS and I are going to,
1. Walk 40 miles in a time limit of 14 hours across the Ridgeway on May 7th, and
2. Walk 100 miles in a time limit of 24 hours around Lingfield Park in Surrey on 2-3rd July.....
Now I'm sure that deserves some of your money, money, money???
To donate (please, please, please) visit our website;
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
Thank you heaps xxxx
Well, because I've begged for your money, thought I'd better get down to business on this blog, and get some training down too!
I felt compelled to get to the gym Monday after work, not only because I had eaten half a packet of digestives (again!!), or had a headache that I wanted to run off, but to show that I deserved your cash!
I spent 35 minutes on the treadmill, 30 running, and 5 mins warm-down walking, followed by 5mins 5 seconds on the rowing machine. I aimed to row 1000 metres in 5 mins, but needed the extra 5 seconds..I aim to do better next time!
This was followed by sit-ups by way of a change. I usually avoid these, as, to be truthful, they hurt! But, as mentioned, I really, really want your money! And I did 55 of them!
And with my headache no better, and stomach to add in from the sit-ups, I decided to call it quits...or today anyway.......but in the words of The Terminator...I'll be back!
Sunday, 20 March 2011
All about me....
This post should have been written yesterday, but life has been busy, and I'm only rushing to post it now as there is a competition to get mine posted before my brothers! He (Tim, or Dim as Cass calls him!!) has been down for the day with his girlfriend SJ (SarahJane), and we were discussing who had the best blog, and who wrote the best posts...not that we are competitive by any means.....
....this then led on to who did the best races...who was the fittest etc, etc.....and I think I won that one.
As you know, from previous posts, I definately think, and have proved, that running is easier than power-walking...well Dim has made it one step easier.....he cycles!! Call that exercise?? For a start, you are sitting down...and you get to free wheel down all the hills, even the titchy ones!!
Ok,Ok, so he has cycled Lands End to John O'Groats, and London to Geneva...but if you read his blog....he cycles (sitting down or free-wheeling) from one breakfast stop to the next, honestly, his blog reads like a menu.....if you don't believe me, have a look;
www.challengemenance.blogspot.com/
This then led on to Chris and SJ asking Dim and myself why we actually wrote blogs..........
Thinking about it, I'm sure I could come up with something that sounded good like.....if I know that I have to write down what I've done, it makes me get up and do it....but basically I like the sound of my own voice, and it's all about me!
(Plus, I can waffle on without Chris interrupting - result!)
Anways, anyways.....onto the actual training diary!
Met SS, usual spot at the top of the road, beautiful, beautiful day, with a lovely frost. We headed to the common, to be honest, we can now do this with our eyes shut!, and did our usual circiut slightly quicker than normal as it was colder than normal! The common was very quiet, we only saw a couple of other runners out there, I guess this was due to the fact that it was the Reading Marathon Sunday and most people were resting and 'carb loading'. We went past Mali's pond, and to further embarassment we saw that it had been further cordoned off with red posts, don't people know their zones??!!
After the first circuit it was time for breakfast at Costas, chocolate twist and a yummy cappuccino for me....but for poor SS it was a skinny muffin and a soya milk cappuccino as she has the dreaded cholesterol...and me being a cardiovascular nurse..well....
We then headed back to the common, but by way of a change we decided to go right, once through the gates, and head into the woods for a change. This was a great walk, much quieter, no cattle and it brought us out at the back of Bunkers farm, which then led us onto the A339 by the Swan Pub. We headed up to St Gabriels school, and crossed the A339 onto the public footpath which leads up behind the rugby club and Park House school, eventually bringing us out onto Andover Road. SS and I got chatting, and although SS has been in Newbury nearly 13 years, she has never been to The Chase...so that was going to be our destination....
We walked along Andover Road, turning into Wash Water, past the Woodpecker Pub, and headed up past Andover Drove, under the A34 flyover, and to The Chase car park, to find that it was all blocked off by metal gates...SS did wonder if word had got out, and whether I was banned from there too, couldn't see any wanted posters....but there was no way we could get in...so we had to retrace our steps and head back to Enbourne Road and home....I guess if SS has been there for 14 years, a bit longer won't hurt!
So....along Enbourne Road, and up to Wash Common, and back to SS's house, where we got Jim to make us a nice cup of tea..well, we had done 16.5 miles!
NB Apparently The Chase was shut due to sewage problems, and is now shut for regeneration and conservation..???reopening dates.
....this then led on to who did the best races...who was the fittest etc, etc.....and I think I won that one.
As you know, from previous posts, I definately think, and have proved, that running is easier than power-walking...well Dim has made it one step easier.....he cycles!! Call that exercise?? For a start, you are sitting down...and you get to free wheel down all the hills, even the titchy ones!!
Ok,Ok, so he has cycled Lands End to John O'Groats, and London to Geneva...but if you read his blog....he cycles (sitting down or free-wheeling) from one breakfast stop to the next, honestly, his blog reads like a menu.....if you don't believe me, have a look;
www.challengemenance.blogspot.com/
This then led on to Chris and SJ asking Dim and myself why we actually wrote blogs..........
Thinking about it, I'm sure I could come up with something that sounded good like.....if I know that I have to write down what I've done, it makes me get up and do it....but basically I like the sound of my own voice, and it's all about me!
(Plus, I can waffle on without Chris interrupting - result!)
Anways, anyways.....onto the actual training diary!
Met SS, usual spot at the top of the road, beautiful, beautiful day, with a lovely frost. We headed to the common, to be honest, we can now do this with our eyes shut!, and did our usual circiut slightly quicker than normal as it was colder than normal! The common was very quiet, we only saw a couple of other runners out there, I guess this was due to the fact that it was the Reading Marathon Sunday and most people were resting and 'carb loading'. We went past Mali's pond, and to further embarassment we saw that it had been further cordoned off with red posts, don't people know their zones??!!
After the first circuit it was time for breakfast at Costas, chocolate twist and a yummy cappuccino for me....but for poor SS it was a skinny muffin and a soya milk cappuccino as she has the dreaded cholesterol...and me being a cardiovascular nurse..well....
We then headed back to the common, but by way of a change we decided to go right, once through the gates, and head into the woods for a change. This was a great walk, much quieter, no cattle and it brought us out at the back of Bunkers farm, which then led us onto the A339 by the Swan Pub. We headed up to St Gabriels school, and crossed the A339 onto the public footpath which leads up behind the rugby club and Park House school, eventually bringing us out onto Andover Road. SS and I got chatting, and although SS has been in Newbury nearly 13 years, she has never been to The Chase...so that was going to be our destination....
We walked along Andover Road, turning into Wash Water, past the Woodpecker Pub, and headed up past Andover Drove, under the A34 flyover, and to The Chase car park, to find that it was all blocked off by metal gates...SS did wonder if word had got out, and whether I was banned from there too, couldn't see any wanted posters....but there was no way we could get in...so we had to retrace our steps and head back to Enbourne Road and home....I guess if SS has been there for 14 years, a bit longer won't hurt!
So....along Enbourne Road, and up to Wash Common, and back to SS's house, where we got Jim to make us a nice cup of tea..well, we had done 16.5 miles!
NB Apparently The Chase was shut due to sewage problems, and is now shut for regeneration and conservation..???reopening dates.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Banned..
Met SS, at the usual spot - treadmill in front of the glass window, overlooking the golf course and Newbury racecourse....not that we could see much, as it was a very foggy morning!
Down to business....after a couple of weeks 'cheating' by running along, we thought we ought to 'toughen up' and get back to the serious stuff of power walking, especially as its less than 2 months before our first race!! (Ridgeway 40).
So, the treadmills were put into 'hill' mode, the levels were put onto 'killer' mode and off we climbed for 30 minutes.....the iPod had been updated with Bon Jovi's greatest hits which was quite inspiring....until old Jon started singing 'have a nice day'..... which, when you are hot, tired and sweaty, is not really appropriate and what you want to hear.....
The legs could tell I hadn't done a hill for a while, and in the words of Shakespeare they 'protesteth too much'....still are!
A circuit of weights finished the session off, increasing by 5kgs seemed a good idea on Monday, but was hard work after a hill, but we did it, before wobbling down the stairs for a coffee and recuperation.
By mid-afternoon, the legs were sufficiently less-wobbly to take Golda and Mali for a run around Greenham Common, a half loop, so only up as far as the pickle factory, across the hard-standing to the control tower, and back to the entrance....and it's probably the last time I will take Mali up there 'off lead' for a while as she has been 'banned' by the RSPB!!
We were running along quite happily, when, coming across the hard standing, Mali had a sniff, and recognized that she was near her favourite smelly/muddy/boggy watering hole.....and off she shot....into the sunset......Golda and I legged it (literally) after her, rounded the bend, came up over the incline....and saw Mali in the pond....in a zoned-off 'red' area, surrounded by RSPB peeps with binoculars! Who proceeded to tell me that 'red' areas were 'no-go areas' for doggies, as they were breeding grounds for lapwings, greater spotted somethings, and fluffy wotsits, and could I get my menace OUT OF THE POND? - well, I did try...really, really hard!
So, I was extremely mortified, Mali was extremely Muddy....and we are now banned!!
Down to business....after a couple of weeks 'cheating' by running along, we thought we ought to 'toughen up' and get back to the serious stuff of power walking, especially as its less than 2 months before our first race!! (Ridgeway 40).
So, the treadmills were put into 'hill' mode, the levels were put onto 'killer' mode and off we climbed for 30 minutes.....the iPod had been updated with Bon Jovi's greatest hits which was quite inspiring....until old Jon started singing 'have a nice day'..... which, when you are hot, tired and sweaty, is not really appropriate and what you want to hear.....
The legs could tell I hadn't done a hill for a while, and in the words of Shakespeare they 'protesteth too much'....still are!
A circuit of weights finished the session off, increasing by 5kgs seemed a good idea on Monday, but was hard work after a hill, but we did it, before wobbling down the stairs for a coffee and recuperation.
By mid-afternoon, the legs were sufficiently less-wobbly to take Golda and Mali for a run around Greenham Common, a half loop, so only up as far as the pickle factory, across the hard-standing to the control tower, and back to the entrance....and it's probably the last time I will take Mali up there 'off lead' for a while as she has been 'banned' by the RSPB!!
We were running along quite happily, when, coming across the hard standing, Mali had a sniff, and recognized that she was near her favourite smelly/muddy/boggy watering hole.....and off she shot....into the sunset......Golda and I legged it (literally) after her, rounded the bend, came up over the incline....and saw Mali in the pond....in a zoned-off 'red' area, surrounded by RSPB peeps with binoculars! Who proceeded to tell me that 'red' areas were 'no-go areas' for doggies, as they were breeding grounds for lapwings, greater spotted somethings, and fluffy wotsits, and could I get my menace OUT OF THE POND? - well, I did try...really, really hard!
So, I was extremely mortified, Mali was extremely Muddy....and we are now banned!!
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