Category: Juneathon

Juneathon day 20. Cross training

So finally, at the two thirds point of Juneathon, I nearly gave up. It had been a long hot day and a run just hadn’t happened. It was nearly 11pm by the time I gave myself a kick up the backside and opened up the e-mail entitled “Welcome to the Thirty day Challenge”. I’d signed up to a free 30 day regime of stretches and exercises  by Kinetic Revolution that promised to make me a better runner (who could resist!)

I started following the instructions and watching the videos showing how to do the exercises. We have very slow broadband here, and the time for the opening title sequence to load at the start of each new exercise (in a new video) was nearly enough to make me give up. The website promised 10 – 15 minutes a day, but I spent nearly 30 minutes by the time the videos had loaded. I also think the instruction for the very first stretch is wrong. It says to do three lots of twenty stretches, each held for 20 seconds, on each leg. 3 x 20 x 20 x 2 = 2,400 seconds which is 40 minutes. I presumed the ‘three reps’ bit was an error and ignored it.

So, it was quite dull, but I did it and at least it wasn’t a plank!

Juneathon Day 19. Shopping.

Shopping? I hear you cry. How on earth is she going to justify that as a Juneathon activity?

Apart from obvious activities such as running, or a long bike ride, or a yoga session I like to think Juneathon is a chance to exercise when you would usually take an easier option. So cycling up to the allotment rather than going in the car counts in my book. Also (here we get to the point) does dropping the car off at the garage, not having a courtesy car or a lift but walking into town to go shopping.

To make it a more official Juneathon activity I even wore my Garmin, and so can report I walked 3.43 miles. It was good to walk, as it means I spotted this flower bed, in the Railway Village in Swindon.

image
Poppies

Juneathon Day 18. A quick blast

After my epic rant earlier, I thought I’d better write a calmer post about the day’s Juneathon activity.

I’d put my running gear on first thing hoping to sneak out before any of the day’s deliveries, but as I waved the children off to school my son shouted “there’s a big lorry coming up the lane!” I made the newly arrived scaffolder a cup of tea, rang the builders to say he was already here, and went and got changed back out of my running kit. A hectic day followed, with many deliveries (including nearly two tonnes of steel), lots of people, much noise, and a great deal of tea and coffee made.

When they’d all finally left, I felt the need to escape. I put my running kit back on and speed of for a 5K blast. Despite the heat I was delighted to receive a new Course Record on Strava for the route and I believe it was the fastest I’ve ever run it.

Who knew builders could make you run faster?

Juneathon Day 17. Midsummer Bike Ride

Tuesday night is cycling at Castle Combe circuit night. Me and the boy have been going since April, gradually building up our laps and mileage. I’ve enjoyed the traffic free smooth tarmac whilst getting used to my new bike, and he lost any nerves at getting back on his bike after coming off and breaking his arm last year.

Last night was slightly different. It was the annual Midsummer Bike Ride which is open to any cyclist, young and old. The aim of the evening is to beat last year’s total number laps, oh and to raise money for the Wiltshire Search and Rescue

For a change I cycled up to the circuit and was a little embarrassed to find it’s only about 3 1/2 miles (I always thought it was further than that). Husband changed down a few gears and cycled with me. Son was feeling tired so we left him at home which was a shame, but meant I could go a little faster than I usually do.

We signed in and set off for four laps of the track at what was an easy pace (for Mr B&T) or a good pace (for me).

Riding not Falling!
Riding not Falling! Thanks to Mr B&T for the in-flight photography

Then because we could, we stopped for some mid-ride refuelling.

image
That’s what I call “on the bike refuelling”

I did manage another 4 laps after that, then I set off for home and left Mr B&T clocking up some more miles. 21.92 Miles in total which is very annoying – wish I’d gone up the lane and back again to round it up!

Juneathon Day 16. Creating New Running Styles

A proper run was needed today, so I set off through the village, onto a busy lane, turned into a quiet lane and headed down to the main A4.

image

 

image
The A4

The verge alongside the A4 was very overgrown and to stop myself fallling into the path of a lorry I tiptoed along here looking for the start of the bridleway. I failed dismally, reached the roundabout and had to turn around and backtrack.

image
Not surprising I missed it

The start of the bridleway was also overgrown, so I didn’t run as much as battle my way through.

image
Battleway rather than Bridleway

It was whilst fighting through the undergrowth whilst not being able to see your feet I realised I’d discovered a new running style -The Shuffle*. Not so much running, more shuffling your feet ahead of you to make sure you have a stable footing. Not speedy, but effective.

image
Advantages of battling through the undergrowth

A little further I reached a patch of eye level grasses I had to get through. It was here I developed my second new running style “The Rocky”. This one has you running along with your hands held in fists, alternately punching the plants out of the way before they swipe you on the face.

If you try either of these two methods on your runs, please do let me know!

* Whilst doing The Shuffle it is compulsory to hum the 70s hit “The Hustle” changing the words as appropriate.

Juneathon Day 15. A day in the life of my Mouth

A busy weekend for my mouth. A weekend of eating, chatting, kissing hello, kissing goodbye, laughing, much laughing, more eating, stinging from chillis, smiling.

Finally back home again to a fantastic end to the weekend – taking my mouth out for 17 minutes of puffing and panting. A beautiful if short evening run which my whole body (and mind) enjoyed. 1.9 miles in 17:09 minutes – that pace brought another smile to my mouth!

Juneathon Day 14. The Cucumber Dash

Another late night post, a huge family gathering – I bet you think I’m about to start making excuses.

No!  I knew it was going to be a busy day, so when a change in plans meant I unexpectedly had to make sandwiches for 9 people I seized my chance and leapt on my bike to dash up to the allotment. Two baby cucumbers were picked way before their time,  but their sacrifice meant we had tasty sandwiches and I managed a mile and a half’s cycle ride for Juneathon.

Does seven hours talking to a large amount of family also count as exercise?

Juneathon Day 12. Technology beats me

Still no broadband (I admit defeat – technology wins today) so a very quick blog from Caffè Nero. After yesterday’s eating-dinner-rather-than-running mishap I thought I’d better get my run in early – well before dinner. So as soon as the builders arrived I was off.

A planned four miles turned into five because if was feeling so great. The five turned into five and a bit because I thought I’d missed the tree I’d left my water under, turned back and retraced my steps for a little way, then realised I’d not reached ot yet so had to turn around again. I’m blaming the sun for melting my brain.

image
There it is!

So five-and-a-bit miles run in the sun. Don’t know exactly how far or what pace as I can’t upload my data. Grr!

Juneathon Day 11. Technology ganging up on me

Technology ganged up on me today to try and sabotage my Juneathon activity.

The day went well, the builders crashed and banged, I took my Dad (and Mum of course) out for an early Father’s Day treat, and I was looking forward to my evening run. Then the ultimate in multitasking. Cooking dinner, whilst talking to the man who’d come to sort out the satellite dish (which hadn’t worked since the builders moved it yesterday), whilst answering the phone to the man who’s going to come and sort out the woodworm, whilst waiting for a callback about our non-existent broadband (argh!), whilst placating teenager who needed Internet access to complete course work that is due in tomorrow. When the risotto was finally cooked, I sat down with the children and ate. It was delicious and I was half way through before I remembered my planned predinner run. Ooops.

I finished my dinner, checked Sky was working, spoke to Mr Woodworm, got my bike out and cycled up to the allotment to do some watering instead. Technology nil, Black and Tabby 1!