Friday, January 23, 2009
Bloody Illness!!
After a good result last week, I've had a much less productive week this week... Sunday I woke up with a sore throat, but as it went off I decided to push ahead with my second back to back 13 miler, so loaded up the pack and made my flask of coffee. The route I planned was a bit of a mish-mash; there was a 5 mile route round the next village in one of my walking books, and I figured I could walk from home to pick this up, and would just add bits on afterwards.
I set the Garmin, and set off along the footpath- it was another lovely day, unexpected after the downpour the night before. Before too long, I came to a path leading off to the left, but looking at the map I wasn't convinced it was the one I was looking for, so decided to press on and take the next path.
Big mistake. The path I took ended at a minor road, which took me to the road I wanted to be on, but much further down- it was the earlier path I needed! I ended up squeezing round a 'private' (oops!) sign and walking back up the road. Once I realised where I should have been, I back tracked across the fields back to my starting point- nearly having my Garmin eaten by an over excited Springer Spaniel!
After retracing my steps back to the road, I crossed it and found a path which followed a dyke in a loop back round to the Ferryboat Inn at Stoke Bardolph. I decided to stop and have my lunch by the river, and ended up sharing it with a load of geese.
The next stretch was easy but muddy walking along the River Trent- just before I needed to turn off, I noticed a nature walk around a couple of raised lakes, so decided a circuit of these would add more mileage. By the time I followed the track back to the starting point I'd done 9 miles, so got out the map, had a coffee and found a footpath past factories (worst bit!) to Colwick Country Park. My legs were aching a little by this point, but nothing major. I mostly walked today with a few short runs. By the time I got home, my Garmin told me I had done 13 miles, so mission accomplished! I then had my training program review at the gym; she got rid of the lunges on the half ball, as I have the balancing skills of a stork with no legs, and I can now do them on the floor... holding 7kg weights... she made me do quite a few of these so she could watch me and it nearly killed me! She has also increased a few of the exercises and added a couple more for balance (called Superwoman!) calves and shoulders. I had been increasing the treadmill and ellipticals anyway so she told me to continue with these.
I rested Monday, and felt rough again when I woke up Tuesday so had a fairly easy session in the gym. Well, when I say fairly easy, I mean 30 minutes on the elliptical at a high resistance and the training program...
Wednesday I woke up feeling even rougher with another sore throat- so did nothing (apart from work obviously- but this blog is about training!!) I went to see a mate who's just had a back operation Thursday so did nothing again apart from scoff a chinese.
I still feel a bit bluerrgh today, but thought I'd better make the effort, so threw on a 2 kg pack and headed out for my hill run. I did the same as last Friday- up to the top of Arnold Lane (hilly) over the other side and back up. Only with a slight twist, as instead of running straight back home I turned round and fast walked back up the steepest climb again.
Tomorrow I am going to try to pretend I'm not turning 39, and will probably need to go out and do something to mark the occasion or help me forget, and will no doubt have to fit some training in there somewhere too...
... roll on the taper!!!
I set the Garmin, and set off along the footpath- it was another lovely day, unexpected after the downpour the night before. Before too long, I came to a path leading off to the left, but looking at the map I wasn't convinced it was the one I was looking for, so decided to press on and take the next path.
Big mistake. The path I took ended at a minor road, which took me to the road I wanted to be on, but much further down- it was the earlier path I needed! I ended up squeezing round a 'private' (oops!) sign and walking back up the road. Once I realised where I should have been, I back tracked across the fields back to my starting point- nearly having my Garmin eaten by an over excited Springer Spaniel!
After retracing my steps back to the road, I crossed it and found a path which followed a dyke in a loop back round to the Ferryboat Inn at Stoke Bardolph. I decided to stop and have my lunch by the river, and ended up sharing it with a load of geese.
The next stretch was easy but muddy walking along the River Trent- just before I needed to turn off, I noticed a nature walk around a couple of raised lakes, so decided a circuit of these would add more mileage. By the time I followed the track back to the starting point I'd done 9 miles, so got out the map, had a coffee and found a footpath past factories (worst bit!) to Colwick Country Park. My legs were aching a little by this point, but nothing major. I mostly walked today with a few short runs. By the time I got home, my Garmin told me I had done 13 miles, so mission accomplished! I then had my training program review at the gym; she got rid of the lunges on the half ball, as I have the balancing skills of a stork with no legs, and I can now do them on the floor... holding 7kg weights... she made me do quite a few of these so she could watch me and it nearly killed me! She has also increased a few of the exercises and added a couple more for balance (called Superwoman!) calves and shoulders. I had been increasing the treadmill and ellipticals anyway so she told me to continue with these.
I rested Monday, and felt rough again when I woke up Tuesday so had a fairly easy session in the gym. Well, when I say fairly easy, I mean 30 minutes on the elliptical at a high resistance and the training program...
Wednesday I woke up feeling even rougher with another sore throat- so did nothing (apart from work obviously- but this blog is about training!!) I went to see a mate who's just had a back operation Thursday so did nothing again apart from scoff a chinese.
I still feel a bit bluerrgh today, but thought I'd better make the effort, so threw on a 2 kg pack and headed out for my hill run. I did the same as last Friday- up to the top of Arnold Lane (hilly) over the other side and back up. Only with a slight twist, as instead of running straight back home I turned round and fast walked back up the steepest climb again.
Tomorrow I am going to try to pretend I'm not turning 39, and will probably need to go out and do something to mark the occasion or help me forget, and will no doubt have to fit some training in there somewhere too...
... roll on the taper!!!
Labels: gym, hill running, Stoke Bardolph
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Another Overdue Update!!
Yep, I am doing really badly updating!! Well, I am settling into Nottingham ok... since my last run I have found another one... a brilliant hill run! I did this one on Thursday, it's one long road, and basically a series of slow gradual climbs, with a few steep ones, culminating in an absolute killer- which I managed to complete without stopping!
Friday was my new posh gym induction! Sadly, it was just a safety briefing and introduction to the equipment ('Have you used a gym before... etc etc) so was very basic. I am apparently entitled to a session working out a personal program tailored to my needs, so I have booked this for Monday 24th November. Be interesting to see if they can meet my needs! I went today and pounded the treadmill for 20 minutes, concentrating on speedwork, then 20 minutes on the ellipticals- these have tellies!! Seriously, I cannot get used to having rows of treadmills and ellipticals! No summit trainer, sadly, but something I think may be a bit similar if I can get the hang of it...
I found substitutes for all the fixed weights I have been used to using, and got very excited over a tricept machine- yippee, a bingo wing blaster!!! Finished off with a 15 minute incline run, then an inaugral shower- note to self, next time remember bloody comb!! I had to get petrol looking like a reject from Glastonbury.
I noticed that on Tuesday they have a free 'fitness' evening, where you can get your fitness questions answered (' How do I do the MdS...') and have a fitness test apparently, so I may wander along to that. Handy when the gym is only 10 minutes walk away!
I haven't done a long walk for a while though... I have one in mind for this weekend that's now fairly local. Just need to obtain a map for this area!
Friday was my new posh gym induction! Sadly, it was just a safety briefing and introduction to the equipment ('Have you used a gym before... etc etc) so was very basic. I am apparently entitled to a session working out a personal program tailored to my needs, so I have booked this for Monday 24th November. Be interesting to see if they can meet my needs! I went today and pounded the treadmill for 20 minutes, concentrating on speedwork, then 20 minutes on the ellipticals- these have tellies!! Seriously, I cannot get used to having rows of treadmills and ellipticals! No summit trainer, sadly, but something I think may be a bit similar if I can get the hang of it...
I found substitutes for all the fixed weights I have been used to using, and got very excited over a tricept machine- yippee, a bingo wing blaster!!! Finished off with a 15 minute incline run, then an inaugral shower- note to self, next time remember bloody comb!! I had to get petrol looking like a reject from Glastonbury.
I noticed that on Tuesday they have a free 'fitness' evening, where you can get your fitness questions answered (' How do I do the MdS...') and have a fitness test apparently, so I may wander along to that. Handy when the gym is only 10 minutes walk away!
I haven't done a long walk for a while though... I have one in mind for this weekend that's now fairly local. Just need to obtain a map for this area!
Labels: gym, hill running
