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
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Accurate Mileage!!
The Garmin is going to revolutionise my training! Never again will I have to go with a rough guestimate of my weekly mileage!! I can't get over being able to glance down at the little watch like gadget on my wrist and seeing exactly how far I have ran and how fast I am running at that moment!
Been back up to 30 miles this week, nearly all running. Tuesday, the Forerunner try out night, I covered 7 1/2 miles, after a stop off at mum's and a bit of stop starting trying to get it to work.
Wednesday I ran to the body toning class, did the class and went for a bit of a run after, covering 6 miles, with a pack. Of course, with the Garmin, you have to hang around for a few minutes looking busy whilst it picks up signals from various satellites hovering around in space somewhere... I was feeling particularly energetic when I got home so used my mini stepper whilst watching 'Shameless'.
Thursday was a gym session, with 3 1/2 miles running/ walking on incline on the treadmill along with the usual strength training and elliptical work. I have eased off the stepper a bit due to the dodgy knee but this seems to be a lot better now so I am gradually introducing it back into my work out.
Saturday I had the idea of combining a couple of my cross country routes to make a large circuit of what I imagined might be 10 miles, but I can now reliably inform you all it's exactly 11 1/2 miles! I took my pack, not too heavy as yet, and expected conditions underfoot to be quite dire, but it wasn't too bad at all.
I headed to Rearsby and then out along the river along a permissive path, before crossing a huge field and bridge towards Hoby.
Near Hoby
More running by the river before making a right turn towards the village of Rotherby. You can see the fairly typical scenery for this part of the world in the next photo- gently undulating and the traces of the old 'ridge and furrow' farming system can still be seenin the field just below the line of trees.
Approaching Rotherby
I had to dash over the main A606 Leicester to Melton Road after Rotherby and took a bridleway through a farm, apparently part of the 'Midshires Way'. The route was rather undulating here, with a few climbs, before turning left and meeting the road to Gaddesby. I had a little undulating road running before picking up the footpath back to Rearsby. I had a little walk whilst I ate my hobnobs flapjack, before more field running. I can also inform everybody that my pace officially stayed between 4.5 mph and 6 mph!
Ruined Farmhouse On Footpath
Been back up to 30 miles this week, nearly all running. Tuesday, the Forerunner try out night, I covered 7 1/2 miles, after a stop off at mum's and a bit of stop starting trying to get it to work.
Wednesday I ran to the body toning class, did the class and went for a bit of a run after, covering 6 miles, with a pack. Of course, with the Garmin, you have to hang around for a few minutes looking busy whilst it picks up signals from various satellites hovering around in space somewhere... I was feeling particularly energetic when I got home so used my mini stepper whilst watching 'Shameless'.
Thursday was a gym session, with 3 1/2 miles running/ walking on incline on the treadmill along with the usual strength training and elliptical work. I have eased off the stepper a bit due to the dodgy knee but this seems to be a lot better now so I am gradually introducing it back into my work out.
Saturday I had the idea of combining a couple of my cross country routes to make a large circuit of what I imagined might be 10 miles, but I can now reliably inform you all it's exactly 11 1/2 miles! I took my pack, not too heavy as yet, and expected conditions underfoot to be quite dire, but it wasn't too bad at all.
I headed to Rearsby and then out along the river along a permissive path, before crossing a huge field and bridge towards Hoby.
Near HobyMore running by the river before making a right turn towards the village of Rotherby. You can see the fairly typical scenery for this part of the world in the next photo- gently undulating and the traces of the old 'ridge and furrow' farming system can still be seenin the field just below the line of trees.
Approaching RotherbyI had to dash over the main A606 Leicester to Melton Road after Rotherby and took a bridleway through a farm, apparently part of the 'Midshires Way'. The route was rather undulating here, with a few climbs, before turning left and meeting the road to Gaddesby. I had a little undulating road running before picking up the footpath back to Rearsby. I had a little walk whilst I ate my hobnobs flapjack, before more field running. I can also inform everybody that my pace officially stayed between 4.5 mph and 6 mph!
Ruined Farmhouse On FootpathI am very intrigued by this old ruined farmhouse and would love to find out more about it. According to the map, it is known as 'Spurrs Lodge'. I just find myself wondering again what life was like for the inhabitants back then... it is quite an isolated, exposed spot.
After passing through a rather more modern and inhabited farm a couple of fields further on, warily watched by two elderly border collies, it was a gentle downhill back to Rearsby apart from a sprint back across the A606 bypass.
I went to the gym again this morning, with another 3 1/2 treadmill miles plus the other usual stuff, so total weekly mileage is... 32 miles, nearly all running.
I have also booked my flights to Spain- 16th July to the 23rd July- hopefully it will be seriously hot!
Labels: cross country running, Garmin Forerunner
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Garmin Forerunner Has Landed!!!
I have taken the plunge and ordered a Garmin Forerunner 301, and it arrived yesterday!! It's a bit technical though... you can use it as a personal training partner, programme data into the computer and even use it to find a route... in fact, it's so clever I could probably put it out the door and get it to train for me...
I am going to try it out tonight, it will be very interesting to find out if my distance guestimates are accurate or not! (If I can work out how to switch it on of course!)
A mate has given me loads of books with local walks in as she is moving to Yorkshire so is not ever likely to need them again I guess. They will come in very handy for planning cross country routes.
I have also booked a week in Spain in July! It will be very, very hot and very dry- absolutely ideal, hey!
Training wise, I decided to have an easier week last week as I had a hectic social week... Monday I went to the gym, and covered 3 1/2 miles, running with speedwork and then inclination. Also threw in some elliptical work and went on the stepper for 10 minutes, the knee seemed ok.
Tuesday I meant to go for a long run, but felt really tired so only managed 6 miles. I stopped at mum's and succumbed to a cuppa and a Gillian McKeith programme involving people eating badly. Thursday I managed a long, slow 10 miles, but again felt really tired. My legs felt dead, it was really frustrating... at times like this you question whether you are actually making any progress at all!
I decided to rest the next 3 days apart from a short walk Thursday. For one thing, I had a few hectic social events planned to celebrate (?) turning 38. Went to Lincoln shopping with a mate Saturday. Don't exactly know why we went to Lincoln, I just fancied going somewhere different. I had had vague cultural thoughts about exploring the castle or the cathedral, or looking at some impressive architecture, but the reality was that we hit the shopping centres and found two huge Primarks, so that was about it!
Sunday I didn't go to the gym, as I had lunch with another friend who has moved to Norfolk but was back for the weekend- I don't usually go out so much!! I did do a steady 8 1/2 miles later though, so that made 28 miles in total for the week, which was good as Luke had advised about throwing in an easier week every few weeks.
I had great plans for last night, but ended up doing nothing cos of booking the flights. Mind you, the ladies loos at work have been out of order today, meaning a regular descent and climb of four flights of stairs to the one remaining loo on the ground floor, so that's got to be good! I will go out in a bit and see where the Garmin takes me... just looked, and it's raining- good job it's waterproof!
I am going to try it out tonight, it will be very interesting to find out if my distance guestimates are accurate or not! (If I can work out how to switch it on of course!)
A mate has given me loads of books with local walks in as she is moving to Yorkshire so is not ever likely to need them again I guess. They will come in very handy for planning cross country routes.
I have also booked a week in Spain in July! It will be very, very hot and very dry- absolutely ideal, hey!
Training wise, I decided to have an easier week last week as I had a hectic social week... Monday I went to the gym, and covered 3 1/2 miles, running with speedwork and then inclination. Also threw in some elliptical work and went on the stepper for 10 minutes, the knee seemed ok.
Tuesday I meant to go for a long run, but felt really tired so only managed 6 miles. I stopped at mum's and succumbed to a cuppa and a Gillian McKeith programme involving people eating badly. Thursday I managed a long, slow 10 miles, but again felt really tired. My legs felt dead, it was really frustrating... at times like this you question whether you are actually making any progress at all!
I decided to rest the next 3 days apart from a short walk Thursday. For one thing, I had a few hectic social events planned to celebrate (?) turning 38. Went to Lincoln shopping with a mate Saturday. Don't exactly know why we went to Lincoln, I just fancied going somewhere different. I had had vague cultural thoughts about exploring the castle or the cathedral, or looking at some impressive architecture, but the reality was that we hit the shopping centres and found two huge Primarks, so that was about it!
Sunday I didn't go to the gym, as I had lunch with another friend who has moved to Norfolk but was back for the weekend- I don't usually go out so much!! I did do a steady 8 1/2 miles later though, so that made 28 miles in total for the week, which was good as Luke had advised about throwing in an easier week every few weeks.
I had great plans for last night, but ended up doing nothing cos of booking the flights. Mind you, the ladies loos at work have been out of order today, meaning a regular descent and climb of four flights of stairs to the one remaining loo on the ground floor, so that's got to be good! I will go out in a bit and see where the Garmin takes me... just looked, and it's raining- good job it's waterproof!
Labels: Garmin Forerunner
