Janathon Day 14 - A Cunning Plan

Ok it was bloody cold out there this morning and I decided that due to asthma I wouldn't run today and save myself for a long run with Sue tomorrow.   


Shaun took Archie for his morning walk mainly to get out of the way of the 3 teenage girls who were ensconced in the lounge and taking it in turns to use the bathroom (nightmare).  Consequently I didn't get to walk this morning because I was 5th in line for the bathroom and needed to do the Sainsbury-Lidl dash for fruit, veg, bread & milk. 


I was trying to work out how I was going to get some exercise - a few days ago Shaun reminded me about the kit in the attic. Our attic was converted before we moved in 25 years ago and up until about 4 years ago had been used to store the camping gear, summer clothes, suitcases & general unwanted tat that we can't bear to throw away!   Shaun then converted it into a mini gym with a bench and weights and also a fabulous piece of kit called an airwalker.        Gazelle Airwalker   


I was keeping this back for emergencies and today was an emergency.   So 30 minutes on this little baby and I would be soaked and puffing like I'd run a 5k.  


First of all Shaun wanted to take me and Archie on a local forest walk.  It's a lovely area and in the winter not very busy.   In the summer it's teaming with tourists trying to get the famous Seven Sisters shot.  This particular photo was taken by Shaun yesterday when he did his mammoth Eastbourne to Newhaven walk, and it was a much clearer day.

So back to the Forest.   After lunch we took the bus to the top of the Forest area and walked back through.  Archie had a wonderful time chasing squirrels, luckily not catching one.   It was a lovely walk, so peaceful.   However, I think these 200 steps should be a Janathon event of their own - absolute killer!  It was either these or walk on the road!

And who would want to walk on the road when you get this view as a reward for a couple of minutes hard work?  Not to mention the pub which is at the top right of the top photo!

And should these really be flowering in January?   I think not!

And this was my reward for walking 6k and up 200 steps!  Yum!

So back home I fired up the Airwalker.   With 30 minutes on the Airwalker and a 6k in 1hr 40 minutes afternoon dog walk Janathon Day 14 is done.   

Friday the 13th of Janathon - It's just a Hobby

I thought I'd share with you a conversation I had with a work colleague yesterday.  It went something like this (and I'm sure many of you will have had something similar!)


Her (on her way to a fag break) : So, how's the running going then?


Me (slightly taken aback at someone being interested) : Yeah great thanks, now I've got my footwear sorted


Her : What' that all about then?


Me : Oh I went to Sweatshop up the road and had my gait checked and then bought a pair of running shoes that sorted it out.


Her : Blimey their trainers are a bit pricey - how much did you spend?


Me : well £90 but they were in the sale, and they fit beautifully and I haven't got any more blisters.


Her : Oh great, but that's a lot of money for a pair of trainers.  Still at least you can just chuck on a pair of Primark trackies & a tshirt!


Me : well I could but by the time I got down the end of the road I'd be ringing wet and cold, I have proper running tights and tops that I buy from Sports Direct.


Her : next you'll be telling me you have special underwear!


Me : of course - but I did got them for Christmas! (now slightly agitated at where the conversation is going)


Her : oh well it's a hobby, hobbies can be expensive (and off she wandered to drag on her fag in the freezing cold)


A hobby? Really?  I know what I'd rather waste my money on!


Anyway back to Janathon - no dog walk today as Shaun is on his long weekend off which means that he goes out at 9am and comes back with the dog at about 4.  The dog at that point was full of beans and still wanted to play ball.  Shaun on the other hand is struggling to get off the sofa!   


So tonight I went for a run on my own and without music (blimey that never happens).   Because of household chores I couldn't get on my Wii Active.   Unfortunately my Garmin had died so it's not a very accurate distance but it was about 4.6k in 34 minutes.   Not very fast but I think that was because I had to keep stopping to cross the road.  I didn't feel like I was running slowly!  It was quite enjoyable not being plugged in - my route took me to the West Beach area of Newhaven through the marina.   It was nice to hear the seagulls crying and the sound of the docks & marina still working for a change.

12th of Janathon - Only a Run!

My god does all this exercise help you sleep.  I've got a sunrise alarm where the light comes on gradually and then the alarm goes off 20 minutes later.  The only problem is this morning I fell back to sleep after the alarm went off!  Oops


Glad to report the stiffness in my calves and quads is lessening and amazingly no new blisters since I've been using the new running shoes. 


Hubby was off today so no dog walking for me.   Instead I had arranged to meet Sue at 4pm to go for a run.  We hadn't really planned where we were going but a few weeks ago Sue had mentioned doing a loop round the industrial estate.   So off we went, I'm glad I had my Garmin on because neither of us had any idea how far it was.   After the first loop the Garmin was only reading 2.5k so I suggested doing two loops and then home.   I don't really like doing loops, find them more tedious than out and back!   In the end we completed 5.9 k in 44 mins.  Quite a lot of road crossing and avoiding traffic! 


I also did 30 minutes on my Wii Active when I got back - fully body workout on the highest level, including cardio boxing and running!  This is my avatar doing lunges!

Will have to find something to do tomorrow - Shaun is on another rest day and is planning to take the dog out for a very long walk.   

On the 11th day of Janathon - lovely sunset

After yesterday's exercise overload my right calf muscle is now a little sore - better keep quiet because the miseries at work will tell me to give up again!

Thankfully an uneventful day.   The usual dog walk this afternoon - except we went a bit further as it's not getting dark so early.    We managed 8k in 2 hours.  Archie wasn't really up for ball games today so it's been mostly straight walking and waiting for the sniffer to stop working!   I was amazed by the long shadows today - wish my legs were that long and thin!

The sunset was way better than it came out - bright orange ball!

Did 40 minutes on the Wii Active (god that thing is becoming addictive!) loads of squat reps including calf raises and a squat and hold for what seemed a life time.   Quite enjoy the cardio boxing but tonight it added in some basket ball and volley ball moves.  I'm not the most co-ordinated person in the world and I just couldn't get the moves right - hopefully I can sort that out with some practice.   Did a couple of minutes running on the spot.   Glad I didn't go for a proper run, the calf muscle is quite sore so it's probably good I've rested it today.

10th Day of Janathon - Boring!

Pretty uneventful day today apart from being told that I couldn't have a biscuit with my 11 o'clock cup of ginger  & lemon tea because I was on a diet and fitness regime - think my work colleagues are now taking this nonsense to the extreme!  

I took Archie out for his afternoon walk and ball games.  We have a new one today, kick the tennis ball as hard as I can and then run after dog & ball!  This was alternated with throwing and running - a great all over workout.  My throwing is coming along nicely and the ball now rarely lands in the middle of a tangle of brambles - my kicking skills are less impressive.  Unfortunately I didn't take my Garmin so I have no idea how far we went, but on past logging I think it was about 4k in 1hr 30 mins.

We got back from our walk and I quickly changed into my running kit as Sue was calling for me at 4.30 for our run.   I was determined we were going to do a fairly long run - it was an evil thing to do as Sue had been away for a week with work stuff, but she had been going to the gym so she should have been ok.   We did the long drag hill out of Newhaven to Peacehaven and then ran along for a bit.  At 20 minutes we picked a street to do our double back on and then headed home.  Coming back is always a joy as it's a lovely long downhill.  It used to kill my knees coming down but I think my joints are getting used to doing it!  Anyway we did 6k in 45 mins, not brilliantly fast but we did have a lot of gossip to catch up on and there seemed to be quite a lot of cyclists on the path who should have been on the road - oh of course they didn't have any lights!

When we got back Shaun was cooking dinner (along the lines of cottage pie made with Quorn mince and topped with swede & carrot mash)!   So whilst he was doing that I set up the Wii Active and did 30 minutes on hard level, more running, squats, lunges, upper body moves and cardio boxing (I don't know how they can call it that 'cos the only bit that raises my heart rate is the punch bag bit at the end).   The attached link is the TV advert for the game - no it's not me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvc_fRa0rSo&feature=endscreen&NR=1

All in all a pretty good day exercise wise.

Day 10 totals

Walk  : 4k in 1hr 30 mins

Run : 6k in 45 mins

Wii : 30 mins of cardio & toning

Unlit cyclists avoided : 5

I Don't Like Mondays

Unless Monday is a Bank Holiday, Monday is rubbish.   It's the one day when organisation goes completely out the window.  Get up late, leave the house late, get to work later than I'd like to, hubby working til late, Danni going to Guides = 3 different dinners!  The Asda shopping is due for delivery between 5 and 7 so any hope of getting out for a run tonight was practically non existent.

The only constant and organised thing was taking little Archie for a lovely long walk.   We did one of our favourite walks today - down to the beach via Tidemills again.

A total of 7k in just under 2 hours.  It would have been quicker had it not been for bumping into two friends (separately).

Waiting for the shopping delivery allowed me to sit and partially write my blog and log, and as soon as Danni  left the house & the shopping arrived I set up the Wii Active and did 30 minutes cross training.   I did a higher level tonight and wow was I puffing and blowing by the end!  Lots of squats and lunges, and running on the spot as well as some upper body moves!

So Day 9 done - tomorrow I have a run planned with my run buddy who was away on a conference last week.  I've quite enjoyed my solo running but it will be good to get out with someone.

Day 8 - Running in Daylight !

I was determined to run this morning, so when I got up and could hardly move I was a little worried.  Once I started moving around though the stiffness started to sort itself out and having eaten some muesli I felt much better.  The Garmin was fully charged and so was my Ipod so off I trotted.  I wasn't sure how far I was going so I aimed to get to 4km and then turnaround if I was feeling uncomfortable.   It took a while for the hips to clunk back into place, but I got to the 4km mark and felt ok so carried on.   I usually run along the beach path when I get to Seaford but the beach seemed to have obliterated the path during the week so I had to change my route which meant running up a nasty hilly bit.  The only advantage to running up a nasty hilly bit is the nice long downhill after!  I managed just over 10k, not very fast but it was more about getting out and doing it! After running in the dark all week it was quite pleasant to meet other runners, dog joggers, dog walkers and cyclists - everybody was very cheerful with lots of "good morning", smiles and nods which is always makes a run more pleasant.

Archie and I have also done a lovely long walk over the hills this afternoon.  Not much ball playing & dog jogging today though because Archie wasn't really up for it - think he's knackered from the last couple of days. He's now curled up on the sofa next to me waiting patiently for dinner!

Day 8 distance : 10.6k plus 7.8k dog walk
Day 8 time : 1 hr 23 mins plus 1hr 54 min dog walk

Weigh in done - yes the scales went in the right direction, not a great loss but it will do for the first week!

I'm now off to tackle that huge pile of ironing that got a mention earlier in the week - wish me luck!