Friday, June 11, 2010
Yes- I Am Still Alive... Just!!
I have been quite good at exercising this week- I just haven't been so good at updating my blog... really must get organised...
This week has finally seen a return to the gym and some walking and- gasp- running going on...
I have been concentrating on doing interval type workouts on the treadmill to try to increase speed, and did another longish walk/ run last Saturday- 14 miles from Barrow-On-Soar. I'd done this one before but not for a couple of years, and, being as I was on plant watering duties for mum, I decided to fit in a walk fairly local to where they live and kill two birds with one stone.
I parked up at Barrow and set off along the canal- the path starts off with the canal on your left, but shortly after a field containing a mare and foal, a footbridge is crossed so that the canal remains on your right;
Footbridge Over The Grand Union Canal
Shortly after this, the path crosses under a railway bridge;
It was a lovely hot day, and I soon found myself dripping sweat (I always sweat when I walk or run though even if it's freezing!) I took plenty of water with me, and made myself run as much as I could along the canal. Well, for 'run', read 'slow, shambling jog interspersed with spells of walking and photo taking).
The route passes across the road into Mountsorrel and past the pub (tempting!) before marching on to Sileby Locks;
Sileby Locks
The path runs for around another 1 1/2 miles before reaching Cossington Mill. I managed to jog most of it which I was quite pleased about. The only sticky moment came near to the Mill when I encountered a herd of cows in the field- standing practically on the path! I am not that keen on cows, ever since I read about people getting trampled to death (that kind of thing does make you slightly wary!) but luckily these were the kind that were so used to human traffic that they barely batted a bovine eye brow.
I had a bit of a road march into Rothley and round the church before picking up the path across Rothley Park and into the golf course. I did walk across the golf course, in case I was taken out by a spare golf ball! After going through a railway tunnel and across a couple of fields I was in Thurcaston.
Now, the footpath the guide book instructed me to follow into Cropston is one I have never actually been successfully able to follow as I can never work out where it's supposed to go! Today was no exception, and I gave up when I found myself floundering in a blog. I retraced my steps through a lot of nettles back to the road, and noticed another footpath a little further up. This one gave the option of reaching Cropston Road earlier, but I pressed on, hoping to find the original footpath. Eventually I gave up though- it appears to have completely disappeared so I had to use the other path into the village and walk down the road to my next path- to Swithland.
I ran along the fields and woods, stopping to gather some wild garlic stems- there is loads of wild garlic growing round here and it smelt lovely. There were some good views across to Bradgate Park;
Bradgate Park & Plastic Fields!!
Swithland is a lovely traditional village, characterised by thatched cottages;
Swithland
It was a lot cloudier now, but still very warm. The route followed fields to a railway bridge, and was easily runable as it was downhill! I was feeling the effects of the heat a little; the railway track serves the steam railway running from Loughborough through to Rothley, and I was tempted to stop a while to see if one would come along (I knew they were running as for a few miles I had heard the hoot of their horns) but decided to press on to Quorn. Typically enough, 5 minutes later I heard one go past...
The path to Quorn is one I have followed loads of times, and always seems endless (it comes near to the end of the Charnwood Challenge). I made myself jog until I reached Quorn, and bought a welcome drink from a shop. Whilst I was drinking, I spotted a funny sculpture carved out of a tree trunk;
Quorn
Then it was just a matter of finding the footbridge over the A6 and getting back to the car- I managed it in just under 4 hours, and what with all the to-ing and fro-ing trying to find that footpath, I probably did around 14 1/2 miles- quite a good result for me!
I decided to give mum's plants a real good soak as I wasn't sure when it would next rain- and so we then had torrential rain for the next few days!! We had a couple of storms Saturday night- I attempted to photograph the lightening, but failed miserably...
I have a family do this weekend so will be a bit more limited to what I can do, but am feeling much more confident about my fitness than I did a few weeks ago, and am feeling quite a bit more motivated.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
This week has finally seen a return to the gym and some walking and- gasp- running going on...
I have been concentrating on doing interval type workouts on the treadmill to try to increase speed, and did another longish walk/ run last Saturday- 14 miles from Barrow-On-Soar. I'd done this one before but not for a couple of years, and, being as I was on plant watering duties for mum, I decided to fit in a walk fairly local to where they live and kill two birds with one stone.
I parked up at Barrow and set off along the canal- the path starts off with the canal on your left, but shortly after a field containing a mare and foal, a footbridge is crossed so that the canal remains on your right;
Shortly after this, the path crosses under a railway bridge;
It was a lovely hot day, and I soon found myself dripping sweat (I always sweat when I walk or run though even if it's freezing!) I took plenty of water with me, and made myself run as much as I could along the canal. Well, for 'run', read 'slow, shambling jog interspersed with spells of walking and photo taking).
The route passes across the road into Mountsorrel and past the pub (tempting!) before marching on to Sileby Locks;
The path runs for around another 1 1/2 miles before reaching Cossington Mill. I managed to jog most of it which I was quite pleased about. The only sticky moment came near to the Mill when I encountered a herd of cows in the field- standing practically on the path! I am not that keen on cows, ever since I read about people getting trampled to death (that kind of thing does make you slightly wary!) but luckily these were the kind that were so used to human traffic that they barely batted a bovine eye brow.
I had a bit of a road march into Rothley and round the church before picking up the path across Rothley Park and into the golf course. I did walk across the golf course, in case I was taken out by a spare golf ball! After going through a railway tunnel and across a couple of fields I was in Thurcaston.
Now, the footpath the guide book instructed me to follow into Cropston is one I have never actually been successfully able to follow as I can never work out where it's supposed to go! Today was no exception, and I gave up when I found myself floundering in a blog. I retraced my steps through a lot of nettles back to the road, and noticed another footpath a little further up. This one gave the option of reaching Cropston Road earlier, but I pressed on, hoping to find the original footpath. Eventually I gave up though- it appears to have completely disappeared so I had to use the other path into the village and walk down the road to my next path- to Swithland.
I ran along the fields and woods, stopping to gather some wild garlic stems- there is loads of wild garlic growing round here and it smelt lovely. There were some good views across to Bradgate Park;
Swithland is a lovely traditional village, characterised by thatched cottages;
It was a lot cloudier now, but still very warm. The route followed fields to a railway bridge, and was easily runable as it was downhill! I was feeling the effects of the heat a little; the railway track serves the steam railway running from Loughborough through to Rothley, and I was tempted to stop a while to see if one would come along (I knew they were running as for a few miles I had heard the hoot of their horns) but decided to press on to Quorn. Typically enough, 5 minutes later I heard one go past...
The path to Quorn is one I have followed loads of times, and always seems endless (it comes near to the end of the Charnwood Challenge). I made myself jog until I reached Quorn, and bought a welcome drink from a shop. Whilst I was drinking, I spotted a funny sculpture carved out of a tree trunk;
Then it was just a matter of finding the footbridge over the A6 and getting back to the car- I managed it in just under 4 hours, and what with all the to-ing and fro-ing trying to find that footpath, I probably did around 14 1/2 miles- quite a good result for me!
I decided to give mum's plants a real good soak as I wasn't sure when it would next rain- and so we then had torrential rain for the next few days!! We had a couple of storms Saturday night- I attempted to photograph the lightening, but failed miserably...
I have a family do this weekend so will be a bit more limited to what I can do, but am feeling much more confident about my fitness than I did a few weeks ago, and am feeling quite a bit more motivated.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Labels: barrow-on-soar, Bradgate Park
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Soaked...
It started off as such a lovely day today I decided to go up to Bradgate Park tonight as I though it would be a lovely evening. It wasn't. My hopes were cruelly dashed as it started to rain shortly after I set off and just got heavier.
Bradgate Park is a deer park and site of the childhood home of the ill fated young queen, Lady Jane Grey. The ruins of the house are still there, and peacocks wander amongst the fallen stones.
It is a decent sized area, and there are quite a few steepish rocky climbs to be found. I have a circuit I thought was maybe 6 miles, so took the Garmin up there to check, and took my 5.3 kg pack. There weren't many people up there due to the rain, but I did pass two groups of runners, who, like me, also saw the potential for hill work. I walked mostly but ran the downhills and a few of the uphills.
Towards the end of the walk it was pouring, windy, I was absolutely soaked and kept stumbling into bogs as I couldn't see through my glasses. I didn't know whether to curse the rain or be grateful for the chance to work through a bit of discomfort. I was quite pleased that the Garmin held up, and showed me that the route was actually a whisker under 6.5 miles.
The party went very well Saturday, and I did get some dancing in and didn't drink all that much. Mum's house was full of relatives next day, but I managed a walk across country in the evening. I didn't take a pack, but walked quite fast as it was getting dark rapidly. I'd guestimate it to be about 8 miles, so total mileage for last week was around 30 miles, which is ok.
I had planned a good week for this week but typically enough life gets in the way, and I have two evening meals out with a possible takeaway!! God, it's tough trying to fit in work, training and a social life!! Mind you, it's the Bank Holiday weekend, and I think I feel a 26 miler coming on for the weekend...
Bradgate Park is a deer park and site of the childhood home of the ill fated young queen, Lady Jane Grey. The ruins of the house are still there, and peacocks wander amongst the fallen stones.
It is a decent sized area, and there are quite a few steepish rocky climbs to be found. I have a circuit I thought was maybe 6 miles, so took the Garmin up there to check, and took my 5.3 kg pack. There weren't many people up there due to the rain, but I did pass two groups of runners, who, like me, also saw the potential for hill work. I walked mostly but ran the downhills and a few of the uphills.
Towards the end of the walk it was pouring, windy, I was absolutely soaked and kept stumbling into bogs as I couldn't see through my glasses. I didn't know whether to curse the rain or be grateful for the chance to work through a bit of discomfort. I was quite pleased that the Garmin held up, and showed me that the route was actually a whisker under 6.5 miles.
The party went very well Saturday, and I did get some dancing in and didn't drink all that much. Mum's house was full of relatives next day, but I managed a walk across country in the evening. I didn't take a pack, but walked quite fast as it was getting dark rapidly. I'd guestimate it to be about 8 miles, so total mileage for last week was around 30 miles, which is ok.
I had planned a good week for this week but typically enough life gets in the way, and I have two evening meals out with a possible takeaway!! God, it's tough trying to fit in work, training and a social life!! Mind you, it's the Bank Holiday weekend, and I think I feel a 26 miler coming on for the weekend...
Labels: Bradgate Park, Garmin Forerunner
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Fireworks!
Judging by the racket outside a lot of displays are happening tonight. Poor Lucky is under the bed, and I expect that's where she'll be for the next few nights!
Well, I seem to be on track this week; Monday I ran the gentle 5 1/2 miles, Tuesday I used my cross trainer for an hour whilst watching Property Ladder. Wednesday I decided to go ahead with the run, despite possible harrassment by hordes of kids in scream masks, and was pleasantly surprised to find they'd all obviously gone home!
I did find the run a bit of a chore- not because it was hard, or I was tired, I just didn't really want to do it and all I could think about was all the things I could be doing instead! (nice hot bath surfaced at least once...) But I kept myself out there, and managed to zone out to some extent, so got it done.
I went to the gym Thursday but my legs were still a bit heavy from Wednesday, so I didn't do my full work out. Mind you, I still did 2.7 miles on the treadmill. Oh, yes- and a surprise!! They have bought two shiney new elliptical trainers- making four in total!!! I may never have to moan again...
Today turned out quite nice, so I nipped to Bradgate Park (see photo) it was lovely- not too busy, and the bracken and trees turning various shades of gold. I walked/ ran for the two hours allowed with my parking ticket; basically picking the steepest climbs I could find and running up a lot of them. Gym tomorrow, and I feel well, so should be able to do my usual work out.
All in all, quite a good week. Probably be about 23 miles running with around 7 walking, the Achilles is giving me absolutely no problems at all (touch wood!!) so onwards and upwards to my next event- the Seagrave Wolds Challenge in a fortnight.
Labels: Bradgate Park, Seagrave Wolds Challenge
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Mad Panic!!
Phew, not sure how I'm going to get everything done... I have laid stuff out on the spare bed and am having the usual 'what to take' dilemmas... work is very busy, so have that to deal with too!
This week has been a kind of taper; Tuesday me and my sis went to Bradgate Park for a 2 hour yomp around the hilly parts (and were overtaken by a large running club!) I wanted to get used to my boots, and- touch wood- they were fine... I did have a small pack on with about 2 1/2 litres of water and some shoes (for the weight!!)
Today we are going to take the dogs for a gentle stroll across the fields, think Alex is deteriorating slowly bless him...
Gym tomorrow with a lighter work out, then I think I will just do a gentle walk/ bike ride Saturday as I will probably get quite enough exercise charging around the house, attempting to pack...
This week has been a kind of taper; Tuesday me and my sis went to Bradgate Park for a 2 hour yomp around the hilly parts (and were overtaken by a large running club!) I wanted to get used to my boots, and- touch wood- they were fine... I did have a small pack on with about 2 1/2 litres of water and some shoes (for the weight!!)
Today we are going to take the dogs for a gentle stroll across the fields, think Alex is deteriorating slowly bless him...
Gym tomorrow with a lighter work out, then I think I will just do a gentle walk/ bike ride Saturday as I will probably get quite enough exercise charging around the house, attempting to pack...
Labels: Bradgate Park, gym, walking
