Cold lurgy is in full flow today, but cabin fever is also setting in, so today’s Janathon activity was a successful end to the wheelie bin hunt and a walk around the block. Well, I say successful – I’m presuming it was my bin – the two cottages at the end can’t possibly have three wheelie bins between them, can they?!
The walk was an official walk (i.e. I wore my Garmin), it measured 0.6 of a Mile and took me 10 minutes. And three tissues *sniff*.
After Sunday’s excesses and Monday’s recovery plod, today was pathetic by comparison. I think I might have finally succombed to the cold lurgy that’s been doing the rounds for the last couple of months (my own fault for feeling too smug about not catching it).
I also had a house full of people working on the house – two builders, two window men and one tiler. That’s lots of cups of tea and coffee to make and carry up and down stairs, especially for someone who still has “bungalow legs”.
I did manage to drag the very large and heavy Christmas tree round to the front of the house in a final attempt to catch the council recycling van tomorrow morning. I think that counts as strength training (it was a huge tree and put up quite a fight).
After a lovely lie in this morning, we set off for a birthday lunch for my brother in law. A great meal in a lovely cafe was well deserved after a busy few days. Then home and time to get smartened up ready for the Chippenham Wheelers Cycling Club dinner dance. Not such a good meal this time, but I did manage to fit in a couple of dances, so I’m claiming that for today’s Janathon.
A sober evening, all due to getting ready for tomorrow’s Slaughterford 9 race. Gulp!
Plank for one minute,
Pathetic effort today.
Blog even crapper.
Hardly surprising that on the 13th day of Janathon I very nearly failed. I had planned to do something, then put it off, and then (basically) forgot. I forgot right up until the moment I was about to get into bed. Deep sigh – time for another emergency plank on the bedroom floor.
Just at this point, Mr B&T appeared at the bedroom door also wanting to get ready for bed. “It’s just Janathon!” I gasped, arms and abs quivering. He sighed, stepped over me and proclaimed “Janathon? More like Faff-about-athon”.
Hmm.
Sub title “Making up for yesterday”
Before you get too impressed, this was a cycle ride and not a run. However it’s still pretty impressive for me, because I’ve only ever cycled further than this once, back in June last year (see my blog post about the Wrong Way Round And Round Ride) .
An Audax ride is sort of like orienteering on bikes, as you’re given direction to follow, and check points you have to get to, to prove you’ve ridden the route.
Although this was a long ride for me, it is the first (and shortest) of the series our cycling club put on. The only control point is in a village hall where tea and cake is provided.
Today I learnt:-
– it’s flipping hard cycling into a head wind;
– winter cycling involves many more layers of clothing than winter running;
– sporting events that involve a stop for tea and cake get a thumbs up from me
– and that cyclists are a nice bunch of people.
I was also reminded of a couple of things that I already know, but sometimes forget. Mainly that running, and especially marathon training, has taught me that even if I’m cold and tired I have the strength and stamina (and stubbornness?!) to carry on. Also that I’m married to a lovely chap, who cycled the whole way with me at my slow pace instead of zooming off with his mates. He also magically produced a couple of my favourite tea bags when we reached the tea stop. Thank you!
It was bound to happen sooner rather than later – the last minute emergency plank. In my defence my abs were still embarrassingly sore from the DVD I did two days ago, so a minute’s plank was harder work than it sounds. Honestly.
So it had to happen sooner or later, the fitness DVD. Full of chilli after my dinner, I rummaged in the DVD cupboard whilst the cat turned his back in disgust.
10 minutes of Pilates Abs workout – done. Listening to the woman with the annoying voice – done. Giving the cat the living room floor back – done.
It’s the end of the first week of Janathon. We’re all still full of enthusiasm and pep aren’t we? Still loving the New Year and all the new hope and challenges it’s bringing, yes? Hmm? Not at all bogged down by the dark mornings and general back to school-ness of this week, no. Not troubled by the jobs we said we’d get done over the holidays, but somehow didn’t find time for <cough cough>.
That might just be why I decided not to complete any traditional forms of exercise today, but instead painted for over 3 hours. By painting I don’t mean delicate watercolours or exciting Jackson Pollock style abstracts, I mean rollering white emusion onto walls of our loft conversion. I am finally realising how much extra space we have up there – three is still many more hours of rollering to do. My arms are now tired (and my glasses are covered in paint spots), and I’m worried I’ll have arms like Popeye* before I’m finished.
Roll on another running day!
* Without the tattos
Finally, finally, some real exercise that involves putting on lycra and going outside. Sadly, still no running, but today’s adventure was cycling. Even more exciting, cycling wearing cleats. Anyone who’s followed my cycling exploits will know I usually manage to fall off my bike at least once on any ride. Often whilst stationary, always embarrassing. After several months of using the toe clips that came with my bike, Mr B&T bought me some real cycling shoes and cleats.* This was a trip destined to end in disaster.
As an incentive we decided to cycle to one of our favourite cafés, Merkins Farm near Bradford on Avon. After a quick lesson in how to clip in and out, we set off. It was cold, and after twenty minutes my hands and feet were numb. My son (who was also in his new shoes and cleats for the first time) was setting a stirling pace as he had the scent of his favourite veggie burger in his nostrils.
After a cold hour we were there. The blessed relief to walk inside where it was warm from the wood burning stove was indescribable, but the pain from blood returning to my numb finger tips could only be described in naughty four letter words (so I’ll let you use your imagination).
Well worth the cold ride! The cycle back home was much warmer (probably because we all had lovely warm full stomachs). When I uploaded my ride onto Strava I was delighted to see I’d won two QOMs (Queen Of the Mountains). When I looked a little closer, they are actually “2015 QOM”s, so I suspect I won’t hold onto these for very long! I am also delighted to report I didn’t fall off once and I managed to clip in and out with no problems. This was probably aided by the ever lovely Mr B&T shouting “UNCLIP” as we approached every junction.** My son did fall off once, as he got his unclipped foot stuck between the kerb and his bike, but he landed on a soft muddy verge so he didn’t hurt himself.
19.6 miles cycled. Double points because it was so cold. Excellent veggie burger eaten. Janathon Day 4 done.
* Sometimes I think he doesn’t like me very much
**Maybe he does like me, after all
