Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sick...
I'm not at work today, felt off all day yesterday and woke up with a headache and sick/ dizzy feeling. I rang my mum and told her, only to get the "Don't you think you're overdoing it? You are doing a lot of exercise... you are nearly 40 now you know..." Thanks mum, that makes me feel so much better!!
I have had quite an easy week after the long walk though; I went to the gym again Sunday and although I covered the usual 3 miles on the treadmill at 6.1 mph, 6.3 mph and 6.5 mph, plus usual weights and resistance work on the elliptical trainer, I didn't go overboard.
I am stiff still from Saturday though, as I had a riding lesson with my mum, who has recently started as she has always liked horses but never had proper lessons. We were only walking and trotting but she reckons I wore her out as she doesn't usually do that much trotting! It may seem as though the horse is doing most of the work, but doesn't half get the muscles you don't normally use! We are going on a day's hacking (riding out in the countryside) with older sis at the end of the month, probably won't be able to walk for a week afterwards!
I have also walked, plus ran my cross country route of 5 1/2 miles on Saturday. Total weekly mileage, running and walking, was about 16 miles, but the week before, it was around 45! I was going to go for a longer run tonight, but think I may put it off til tomorrow night now. I suppose I should just take it easy today... now I'm old!
I have had quite an easy week after the long walk though; I went to the gym again Sunday and although I covered the usual 3 miles on the treadmill at 6.1 mph, 6.3 mph and 6.5 mph, plus usual weights and resistance work on the elliptical trainer, I didn't go overboard.
I am stiff still from Saturday though, as I had a riding lesson with my mum, who has recently started as she has always liked horses but never had proper lessons. We were only walking and trotting but she reckons I wore her out as she doesn't usually do that much trotting! It may seem as though the horse is doing most of the work, but doesn't half get the muscles you don't normally use! We are going on a day's hacking (riding out in the countryside) with older sis at the end of the month, probably won't be able to walk for a week afterwards!
I have also walked, plus ran my cross country route of 5 1/2 miles on Saturday. Total weekly mileage, running and walking, was about 16 miles, but the week before, it was around 45! I was going to go for a longer run tonight, but think I may put it off til tomorrow night now. I suppose I should just take it easy today... now I'm old!
Labels: gym, horse riding, illness
Monday, July 09, 2007
Feeling Like John Wayne...
The reason I'm feeling like John Wayne is because I had a riding lesson in Blackpool yesterday, and my legs are now aching like b*ggery! I rode Bobby again, and he kept cantering on the wrong leg (it does matter which leg they move first, but I can never tell when they move the wrong one!) We finally got it right, and completed a circuit of the school, rather fast! Katie took the following action pic...
Had a nice, relaxing weekend, and didn't do much apart from a couple of gentle strolls and going to the pub, not exactly strenuous! In fact, I am premenstrual so have had to go to the garage for chocolate and crisps, shameful!
Tomorrow, I am going to get back into training!!! (And write more up about my holiday!)
Meanwhile here are the final results for the Holme Pierrepont Grand Prix...
Race 1, 10k; 59 mins 24 secs
Race 2, 5K; 28 mins 09 secs
Race 3, 4 miles; 36 mins and 52 secs
Race 4, 5 miles; 46 mins and 21 secs
Overall; 2 hours 50 mins and 46 secs. I just beat my colleague by 14 seconds, so good overall effort from us all I think!
Apparently it was one of the wettest race series ever, I can well believe that!
Had a nice, relaxing weekend, and didn't do much apart from a couple of gentle strolls and going to the pub, not exactly strenuous! In fact, I am premenstrual so have had to go to the garage for chocolate and crisps, shameful!Tomorrow, I am going to get back into training!!! (And write more up about my holiday!)
Meanwhile here are the final results for the Holme Pierrepont Grand Prix...
Race 1, 10k; 59 mins 24 secs
Race 2, 5K; 28 mins 09 secs
Race 3, 4 miles; 36 mins and 52 secs
Race 4, 5 miles; 46 mins and 21 secs
Overall; 2 hours 50 mins and 46 secs. I just beat my colleague by 14 seconds, so good overall effort from us all I think!
Apparently it was one of the wettest race series ever, I can well believe that!
Labels: Blackpool, Holme Pierrepont Running Club, horse riding
Monday, May 28, 2007
Busy Weekend!!
Just got back from (not so) sunny Blackpool, good but hectic weekend with my older sis and her family.
Saturday, my sis, brother-in-law and me went for a walk... her two lads are now at the age when it is uncool to join in family activities and elected to stay home and hang out with their mates. We decided to 'do' Helvellyn, in the Lakes, as my sis hasn't been there. Plan was to ascend by Striding Edge, and descend via Swirral Edge, taking in Catstyecam.
We parked in Patterdale, amidst the Bank Holiday throng, and started to ascent the path zig zagging up the hillside. We had lovely retrospective views over Ullswater.
Ullswater
Striding Edge
Striding Egde is a famous scramble, a real sharp ridge (or Arete if I remember my geography lessons). There is a path just below the crest of the ridge, but bro-in-law insisted that we go more hardcore and walk along the very top of the ridge. At one point, there are two large rocks separated by a cleft; my sis managed to jump this, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it! Luckily there was away around. Well, I've only got short legs- that's my excuse!!
Classic view of Striding Edge
The summit of Helvellyn is very broad (and popular!) and so it is a trek to the edge to get the best views; most of the Lakelend peaks can be seen as it occupies a central point. We could even see into Scotland.
Me at the summit of Helvellyn (my hair is not really like that!)
Looking across at Striding Edge, we could see a queue of people across the ridge, particularly behind the bad step; you can just make them out on the photo below. My sis said it looked like a queue for a NHS dentist!!
Queue on Striding Edge
After a steep ascent and descent of Catstyecam (a cone-shaped hill which rises at the end of Swirral Edge) we picked up a lovely path back round the fell side to Patterdale. This was great; nice gentle descent with gorgeous views. I love the Lakes.
Path to Patterdale
Once back at the car, we called in to the cafe in the car park; 'Fellbites', for a coffee and wedge of cheesecake.
Sunday me and my sis had a riding lesson. This is good exercise as we always help out beforehand... this time of year the ponies are out most of the time, so one lovely job we had was 'poo picking'- literally picking up piles of pony poo out of the field using rubber gloves!
A regular was riding the pony I usually ride, so I opted for Bobby, a solid brown pony. I was warned he tends to take off like a rocket when he canters and bends round the corners of the indoor school like a motorbike on the wall of death! So I was actually quite nervous- but he wasn't that bad, he must have been having a lazy day!!
My legs and arms are aching quite a bit now though... not so much the walking, but a combination of the scrambling, plus the riding... good training though, particularly as I'm in Morocco in a fortnight! However, my walking boots are starting to split at the heel and sole, and I'm concerned that they may not last the Atlas trek... I need new ones but my washing machine decided to pack in last week, typically, so will have to sleep on it and decide over the next few days...
Saturday, my sis, brother-in-law and me went for a walk... her two lads are now at the age when it is uncool to join in family activities and elected to stay home and hang out with their mates. We decided to 'do' Helvellyn, in the Lakes, as my sis hasn't been there. Plan was to ascend by Striding Edge, and descend via Swirral Edge, taking in Catstyecam.
We parked in Patterdale, amidst the Bank Holiday throng, and started to ascent the path zig zagging up the hillside. We had lovely retrospective views over Ullswater.
UllswaterMost encouraging for me was the fact that I didn't find it particularly hard work, so the training must be paying off! My bro-in-law is very fit, he does a lot of mountain biking, and sis is also quite fit; they left me standing when we did a similar walk three years ago... but not today!!
There were quite a few walkers around, and it was quite satisfying to see them stop, gasping for breath, whilst we just walked by. We had our lunch stop just before the start of Striding Edge- what a view! We could see the bulk of St Sunday Crag and Fairfield, and make out the sea. I want a view like that every lunch time!
Then it was onto Striding Edge...
Striding EdgeStriding Egde is a famous scramble, a real sharp ridge (or Arete if I remember my geography lessons). There is a path just below the crest of the ridge, but bro-in-law insisted that we go more hardcore and walk along the very top of the ridge. At one point, there are two large rocks separated by a cleft; my sis managed to jump this, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it! Luckily there was away around. Well, I've only got short legs- that's my excuse!!
It was quite hairy, I'm not one of life's natural scramblers and at times it felt like we were clinging to rock with nothing below us. At rhe end is the famous and aptly named 'bad step'; a cleft in the rock, which must be navigated. Both me and my sis had assistance from my bro-in-law, and he then had the job of assisting another couple down; he should have hired himself out!
A fairly steep scramble brought us to a scree path and up onto the summit ridge. There is a large, star shaped shelter just below the summit, and we stopped for a second lunch, chatting with the couple we'd helped down the bad step.
Classic view of Striding Edge
The summit of Helvellyn is very broad (and popular!) and so it is a trek to the edge to get the best views; most of the Lakelend peaks can be seen as it occupies a central point. We could even see into Scotland.
Me at the summit of Helvellyn (my hair is not really like that!)
It was freezing on the summit, in fact it started to sleet, so we quickly descended vie Swirral Edge, which is another sharp ridge but not as pronounced or prolonged as Striding Edge. I am not as my best descending on steep paths with lots of loose rocks or stones! Good practice though...
Looking across at Striding Edge, we could see a queue of people across the ridge, particularly behind the bad step; you can just make them out on the photo below. My sis said it looked like a queue for a NHS dentist!!
Queue on Striding EdgeAfter a steep ascent and descent of Catstyecam (a cone-shaped hill which rises at the end of Swirral Edge) we picked up a lovely path back round the fell side to Patterdale. This was great; nice gentle descent with gorgeous views. I love the Lakes.
Path to Patterdale
Once back at the car, we called in to the cafe in the car park; 'Fellbites', for a coffee and wedge of cheesecake.
Sunday me and my sis had a riding lesson. This is good exercise as we always help out beforehand... this time of year the ponies are out most of the time, so one lovely job we had was 'poo picking'- literally picking up piles of pony poo out of the field using rubber gloves!
A regular was riding the pony I usually ride, so I opted for Bobby, a solid brown pony. I was warned he tends to take off like a rocket when he canters and bends round the corners of the indoor school like a motorbike on the wall of death! So I was actually quite nervous- but he wasn't that bad, he must have been having a lazy day!!
My legs and arms are aching quite a bit now though... not so much the walking, but a combination of the scrambling, plus the riding... good training though, particularly as I'm in Morocco in a fortnight! However, my walking boots are starting to split at the heel and sole, and I'm concerned that they may not last the Atlas trek... I need new ones but my washing machine decided to pack in last week, typically, so will have to sleep on it and decide over the next few days...
Labels: Helvellyn, horse riding, Lake District, scrambling, walking
