Janathon Day 5 - Drop Out

First things first, if you haven't got your Christmas decs down yet, today is the day.  If they are still up tomorrow you are in store for bad luck, apparently!

Happy birthday to the gorgeous Brad Cooper who was born today in 1975

- famous for the Hangover films, the A Team and my favourite Limitless.  I first spotted him years ago when he played Will in the TV series Alias with Jennifer Garner.

So on to the Janathon business part of the day.  Many of my Twitter followers will know that on Christmas Eve I pulled my back getting a t-shirt out of a drawer.  I spent Christmas Eve walking doubled over, Christmas Day sitting on the floor or on a hard chair trying to get comfortable and by Boxing Day it was starting to feel better.  I didn't run at all but took the dog out for his walks - some days twice!   On New Year's Day I did my first run of Janathon and the back felt good, even on my evening run on Thursday it felt fine, and using the Airwalker wasn't affecting it either.  Unfortunately this morning whilst I was cutting my toenails prior to my planned long run a muscle on the right hand side of my back went into spasm.  I ignored it and got ready for my run - stupid I know. I left the house and walked to the end of the road, started my Garmin and picked up my pace - absolute agony, I couldn't get a proper breath and the pain was unbearable.  Run abandoned.  I must have looked a right plonker, all dressed up for an 8/9 mile run and heading back home without breaking into a sweat, walking like a 90 year old woman.

Mr B has now forced me to drop out of Janathon and rest for a while (he said 2 weeks but we'll see - apparently running ain't the be all and end all!) - no dog walking over the weekend so I can't even use that as my sole exercise until I'm ok to run!   All this is terribly frustrating, my Half Mara is looking less likely unless I can get back running in the next week or so.  Not the best preparation but if I can get to 10 or 11 miles the week before I may be ok!

Good luck to everyone for the rest of January, I'll be here reading blogs and commenting; hopefully my next blog will be the one where I review my first Half Marathon!

See you all in June otherwise!

Janathon Day 4 - Strictly Mr Nasty

Today's birthday wishes go to Australian born Craig Revel-Horwood of Strictly Come Dancing fame.  Born 4th January 1965.

It felt very strange at work today, kept on completely forgetting that it was Friday and the weekend was upon us.  Today's dog walk was very enjoyable and Mr B joined us for the first time in ages.   I'd already decided that if it wasn't raining we were going to do the woods/sheep field walk .  We haven't been that way since the summer because once again it's just been far too muddy and being on a hill was quite dangerous to walk up!   Also during the summer the field is full of sheep (hence the name) which is quite stressful for us to walk across because Archie would love to chase them, unfortunately the farmer  doesn't appreciate us being there, even on the lead, so we tend to steer clear!    The view below looks out towards where we walked yesterday, with the Downs further on.

And this shows how close we are to Beachy Head!   Unfortunately, I forgot to check the battery situation in the camera before we left, otherwise there would be more photos of the Downs and our route up through the woods.   A lovely 5k walk which took us about 1.5 hours.  Archie loves it because he gets to chase the gamekeeper's pheasants (oops!)

My HM Plan says today is a cross train day, so back up to the attic and 40 minutes puffing and blowing and sweating buckets on the Airwalker.   I was going to use the Wii or join Davina but no chance of wrestling the TV screen from Mr B!   

Long run tomorrow - woopeeee.


Day 4 stats :
Running : 0
Walking : 3 miles
Cross Training : 40 minutes Airwalker
Naughty food eaten : 3 maltesers (woohoo)  and a slither each of Brie and Wensleydale with cranberry

Total Janathon Stats 
Running : 9 miles
Walking : 10 miles
Cross training : 50 minutes
Time spent exercising : 8 hours

Janathon Day 3 Meet My New Running Buddy!

Firstly, I must confess to having eaten a Peanut Cookie post-blog last night, oh and a piece of Soreen (without butter).

Contraversial entry in the "fact of the day". Today is the birthday of Mel Gibson, born 3rd January 1956. Mel Gibson is of course famous for films such as Braveheart, Mad Max and Lethal Weapon. He used to be one of my favourite actors but I've kind of gone off him a bit thanks to the bad publicity he has received over the past few years.


Day 2 at work and the dreaded "during Christmas break birthday cakes" have arrived. Unfortunately I did succumb to a 200 calorie doughnut ring but I am hoping that I can now avoid the rest! However, my favourite diet saboteur did tempt me with a Syrup Sponge pudding and custard after dinner tonight. Diet fail on Day 3 - I need to stop giving in.
Today's dog walk Archie and I ventured on to the piece of land locally known as The Dump, it is just that, an old landfill site which up until now has been given over to nature, and lately some huge puddles and mud!


The pathway takes us down on to the banks of the River Ouse (lately subject to a flood warning)



and we have lovely views of the South Downs.



It was good for Archie to be able to play ball today, not something we can do walking the roads, on the lead!



Controversially this land has been sold for £85,000 by our County & District Councils to Kuwaiti Developers Round Table Entertainments who want to build the world's largest indoor waterpark, on the edge of the South Downs in a see through dome akin to the Eden Project, together with 400 bed 4* hotel and car park.   Enough of that, Janathon is supposed to take my mind off it!

I have no idea how far we walked as the settings on my Garmin went a bit haywire, but according to Running Free my total walking is 7, which means we've walked only 1 mile. I'm sure it's further than that but hey, it was a nice walk, and it wasn't raining.

After the dog walk I took my new running buddy for a spin. Hubby bought me this headtorch for Christmas. It's a Silva Jogger.

The Headlamp has 3 Light modes (maximum, minimum (or dip as Shaun likes to call it) and

flashing and emits 45 lumens of light, with a lighting distance of 32 metres. It has a large on/off button that is easy to operate and the battery lasts between 20 and 50 hours and the whole unit weighs in at 82g.   It's easily adjustable and felt quite comfortable on my head, atlhough I did have my headband on, wouldn't want to run with it on my skin, I think I would end up with some horrid marks on my forehead. 

I did a circuit of the industrial estate and then headed out to the "exercise path" to test the 

headtorch. Normally in the pitch black I wouldn't go near the place as it's totally unlit and on the "crapping myself scale of 1 to 10", I would probably be on about 12, but tonight with the 

headtorch and a quickened pace I was only on about 5 or 6. 

My HM Plan said 5 miles so that's what I did, all alone, in the pitch black with my new mate.

Day 3 stats :
Running : 5
Walking : 3
Cross Training : Zero - back tomorrow!
Naughty food eaten : 1 ring doughnut, 1 syrup sponge & custard & 2 maltesers

Total Janathon Stats 
Running : 9 miles
Walking : 7 miles
Cross training : 50 minutes
Time spent exercising : 6 hours

Janathon Day 2 - Back To Work

Today was the first day back to work - let's hope it's not as much of a trial as last year's return!  So far so good, I have a jar of Quality Street on my desk from a contractor but it's still sealed.  None of the Christmas/New Year birthday cakes materalised either!

Anyone who has read my Juneathon blogs will know that I like to provide a fact of the day (useful or useless is for you to decide!)   Today's fact is that on 2nd January 1979 Sid Vicious of Sex Pistols fame was put on trial for murdering his girlfriend Nancy in 1978.

Nancy & Sid

 A month later, at the age of 21, he took a dose of heroine which killed him.

Today's Janathon exercise consisted of a 2 mile very wet walk round the streets with Archie.   We've run out of nice places to walk thanks to the disgusting weather we've had since June last year.   All the places we love to walk (apart from the beach where we went yesterday)  is just a saturated, muddy puddle.

The second part of Janathon saw the return of the Airwalker.   My Half Marathon training plan has 2 cross training sessions a week and other than joining the gym this is the next best thing.  For anyone who does not know this fabulous piece of kit lives in my attic, along with lots of other exercise kit and a hell of a lot of toot!  So, back to the day's exercise.  Plan said 45-50 minutes so I slogged my way through 50 minutes with the assistance of my Ipod!   Shaun took these delightful photos, along with a video which I won't be adding, firstly because he filmed it on the side and I can't turn it around and secondly it doesn't run properly and at some points I look like I'm about to take off!

Update 3/1/2013 - You Tube video added

Janathon Stats  Day 2:
Running : Zero - back on the pavement pounding for Day 3!
Walking : 2 miles
Cross Training : 50 minutes on the Airwalker
Total time spent exercising : 2 hours (according to Running free)
Naughty stuff eaten - None

Total Janathon Stats 
Running : 4 miles
Walking : 6 miles
Cross training : 50 minutes
Time spent exercising : 4 hours

Happy New Year - Janathon Day 1

So the day has arrived - the first of Janathon!   Welcome to all new readers, hopefully the following 30 blogs won't be too boring.

Firstly I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year - I hope that 2013 brings you health & happiness.

Cathy (@jogblog) has arranged for some Janathon goodies via Cafe Press.  

There are some lovely t-shirts with the logo on as well as mugs, bags etc, even a babygro.   I quite like the PJs, would be great to slip into those after a hard days exercise and sit & blog in!

So on to today's Janathon exercise.   I've been unable to run since Christmas Eve as I pulled a muscle(s) in my back getting a tshirt out of a drawer - one of those really stupid injuries that catches you by surprise, so no run Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day which was really frustrating.  This has had a big impact on my confidence in getting to the start line of Brighton Half, but hopefully during January I can salvage something.  Lots of advice on Twitter suggesting rest etc so I've given into it and only walked the dog all week. 

This morning, however, and despite a huge headache caused by a sugar overdose from a whole bag of shrimps consumed at the cinema last night, a bottle of Cobra beer and half a bottle of champagne, I decided enough was enough and set out for a run along the "exercise path" as it's fondly known.   My HM plan said 4  miles but I'd previously re-jiggled the plan to do 5 or 6 today.   When I got to the 2 mile point my back didn't feel too bad but it was at that point I decided perhaps I should play it safe and stick to the HM plan rather than do any damage.   Lots of people out enjoying the winter sunshine, mostly walkers and cyclists and only a couple of runners.   

At 3 o'clock I took Archie down to the beach  where we spent ages playing ball on the helipad!  It was really busy on the beach, lots of dogwalkers!

So that's day 1 done and dusted.

Janathon Stats :

Running : 4 miles
Walking : 4 miles
Cross training :Zero - that's for another day
Time spent exercising : 2 hours
Weigh in at 1st Jan 2013 : 66.1 - that figure will hopefully get less not more ;)

Christmas Came Early - New Shoes!

I have recently been receiving the New Balance News via email - it's a nice read, some interesting information about New Balance products, events for the running community and sometimes the offer to review  kit.   One newsletter offered a pair of stability shoes - New Balance 1260 V2.

First impressions were good - they are a lovely colour (Lilac & Silver) and feel quite light ( the New Balance website tells me they weigh 13oz).  They look quite narrow which was a worry to start with as I have "fat feet" but when I tried them on they felt fine.  I wore them around the house that first evening instead of my slippers and my feet didn't feel hot at all.   I did manage a quick jog around the block as I'd had to park Mum's Taxi in a different street.  They felt quite airy, I think they will be good at keeping my feet cool during longer runs.

This is the third pair of New Balance I've run in - my first pair I bought from a ladies sports shop in Brighton which were properly fitted and I had my gait analysed for the first time.   They were a great shoe and they did a lot of miles, more in the gym than on the road.   My second pair I bought from a well known sports outlet, which doesn't have the benefit of trained staff to fit running shoes, and I had a terrible experience with the shoes, spending an absolute fortune on blister plasters.  Since then, as regular readers will know, I have been running in ASICS and a pair of Sauconys!

So back to the New Balance..............

I decided to wear the new shoes for my run on Friday morning.   I was a bit worried about how they were going to stay on my feet as the back felt very low, but having sorted out the lacing actually they stayed on well.  As you are running you can feel the air flowing through them from the toes which helped to keep my feet nice and cool.  5 miles later and there were no blisters, no soreness on the soles of my feet and more importantly post-run I haven't had any aches in my feet,or further up my legs, which means the stability must be correct.  

I am really pleased with these shoes and New Balance seem to have worked quite hard on getting the feel, look, design and mechanics of the shoe just right.  Definitely a thumbs up from me ...... and my feet!  

Toning & Running (in a Santa Suit)

I recently entered a competition to win some products from a new skincare company Nota Bene Skinkcare,

and am now the proud owner of a lovely bottle of May Chang & Camomile toner for combination skin, which arrived in a lovely gift bag with star confetti.




It feels lovely on my skin, and there is a lovely light scent from the ingredients, Neroli and Bergamot water.   All ingredients are natural, organic and ethically sourced.    It's not at all astringent, which I have found with many toners and prepares my skin for moisturiser without any problems.   I'm sure this product works best with it's partnering ranges but at present I'm using another cleanser and moisturiser without any problems.

I'm looking forward to trying the other products that go with the toner.   Nota Bene are currently offering a free trial sample of moisturisers, all you pay is the postage and packing.

Well done to Nota Bene for a lovely product


I'm now well into Half Marathon training plan, although the weekday runs and cross training have been few and far between.  I have, however, managed to increase my long run distance without too much problem and am now up to just under 8 miles. 

Today was the YMCA Reigate Santa 5k Run.  I ran this "fun run" last year  and so we (brother Steve, his girlfriend Jo & running twitter friend Alma) decided to give it a go this year.   

This year's race had a celebrity starter - Shane Richie off the telly.  My daughter's reward for getting up early on a cold Sunday morning was a pic with the cheeky chappie himself

The fab four head off

Steve comes into the finish

Santa Jo coming into the finish

Santas Alma & Lesley get ready for a sprint to the line & a high five from Mr Richie!

I was really looking forward to setting a "running 5k in a Santa Suit" PB as I'm hoping my running has improved in the last 12 months; I'm pleased to report that whilst it wasn't the fastest 5k (due to running 3 loops - which I absolutely detest - in a "one size fits all" santa suit) I did manage to knock over a minute off last year's time.   

I was also supposed to be doing a long run - training plan required 9 miles so was going to take the opportunity of adding a few miles on to the 5k and run from Reigate to my parents in Horley.   Unfortunately we hadn't reckoned on Mr B going down with a nasty stomach bug in the early hours of the morning so he was left at home and my long run abandoned due to it being a logistical nightmare.

I'm really hoping that I can get the motivation going in the next few weeks to train properly during the week.   I'm struggling with keeping my weight down too and am in the never ending circle of lose & gain, which is really frustrating.   

I've just spotted that Janathon entry is now up and running, not sure whether this will motivate me to get out and train again, or whether I'm running out of time and will be motivated to run anyway!  Will have to think about it for a few days.