Change of Scenery

Decided to go running this morning - it took forever to get myself motivated enough to go - Sisters & Mum were very encouraging! And I was slow - over 70 mins to run 10K. In my defence, the autopause feature of my Forerunner wasn't working so when I took a call on my mobile part way round, it added to my overall time. Corbridge isn't very big - which becomes apparent when trying to put together a 10K route. I did 2 there-&-backs along both the South and North banks of the Tyne. Great to be out in scenery so different to my usual route -I love the open views of the Tyne Valley.
Short walk this afternoon into the village - motivated primarily by the thought of an expresso at Il Piccolo - Corbridge's excellent Italian resaurant/cafe/deli (featured recently in the Telegraph's shop local column).

Big D is on hold

I'm currently in Nothumberland - had some news today which necessitated driving up to my parents'. So the Big D is on hold for now - obsessive calorie counting isn't really on the cards - just need to ensure I don't start comfort eating over the next few days.
I did get some exercise today - cycled to and from work before heading off. I have thrown some walking & running gear in my case so I'm hoping to get some fresh air soon.

Big D commences

Consumed - 1702 cals
Allowance - 2603 (1643 plus 987 exercise)
Deficit - 929 - not bad for day 1! And I've got through more than 8 portions of fruit/veg.
I've set the calorie allowance based on target loss of 250g per week - so it's more about maintenance and long term control.

Did I mention how dull this is going to make my blog?!

Anyway, cycled to work & went to Body Combat. The cooldown/stretch track is Bohemian Rhapsody atm which I have to sing through - pity the poor souls who are within earshot! I'd be better with B to harmonise.....

Inside every not-as-overweight-as-she-used-to-be-woman....

....there's a fatter one trying to get out. Not so sure about "every" - but it's how I'm feeling atm! Eating is way out of control and my running is awful - just 25mins tonight on the treadmill.

So - time for the Big D. Again. Going to use this blog to track progress so apologies in advance for some unexciting blogs.

Trying to be positive, cycled to work again today & managed 2 weights machines and x trainer at gym.

Eastleigh 10K

I was very pleased to discover that C and M are doing the Eastleigh 10K on 16th March - so that's 4 of us now - and 3 potential training partners for me! My company are doing a Match It scheme - so any sponsorship I raise for Great Ormond Street willl be doubled - sponsoring me is a bargain!

Slightly more unexpected was the news that my truly fabulous mum-ish plans to do a 10K race this year as she's keen to raise money to fight cancer. I'm sending her my fave running book and I'm hoping that I'll be able to join whichever 10K it is that she's chosen (she was evasive with Husband on the phone - but he was trying to convince her that a 5K might be more sensible...). Also hoping that Husband & I can persuade her that decent running shoes are an essential component of her plan - I'd really hate her to get injured! Selfishly, I'm kind of hoping that I may have company for future Torbay beach hut runs.....

Skating with G today (still no 3 turns) and bike behaved its self commuting- slightly further as I had to get to GP's after work.

Chain Reaction

I only got as far as the railway bridge on Monday for this week's commuting - my chain snapped. Husband did offer to fix it for me on Monday but I concluded it was a sign I should rest my back a bit more!

Sunday - very enjoyable walk in the Forest from the badly named Rufus Stone (it's now a metal memorial to the shootign of William Rufus) - muddy & lots of jumping over streams & puddles.

I skipped skating in deference to back problem. Back to exercise on Wednesday - Body Combat. Back to the gym on Thursday for 25mins on x trainer & 30 mins interval work on treadmill. Skittles on Friday night (not sure if that counts - but maybe picking up the pins qualifies as pseudo abs work). We shovelled mushroom compost into bags yesterday to take to allotment - I was only allowed to shovel, not to lift anyhting - Husband is very bossy re. my back. I only got away with Body Combat by ensuring he didn't know until afterwards!

He was very supportive yesterday, riding alongside me as I did a 5k run from house. I really appreciated his presence when a labrador bit me en route (slobbery play bite, not a full attack - but not impressive).

Today's ride should have been 19K but came in at 24.7K due to a nav problem. Just Husband, me & C. We did what I tend to call M's route - starting from the picturesque Dennys Wood carpark on std New Forest tracks. The best bit is just outside the national park at Roydon Woods - I cycled all the way up the only nasty steep bit for the first time! Cute pigs looking very pregnant just before cutting back into the forest. Had a very civilised cup of tea afterwards but I'm now after a bigger thermos as portions were a little small...

Carrots hurt my back

Kind of! Went to the allotment yesterday with Husband to sow carrot seeds. Sifting the soil is compulsory if we are to end up with good looking carrots - something Husband has appreciated in the past (but this time, I was wearing many layers and a sports bra - less fun for him!). Despite recent dry weather, the soil was quite claggy, making sieving hard work.

My back was kind of hurting as I was leaning over awkwardly & moving around from side to side. Worked 3 metres then tried to stand up - painful, but got there. Then tried to move a mini polytunnel (over the prepared bed and was hit with lots of pain - the bit of muscle that's where my hip joins with my spine. The polytunnel's really light - it was more the bending. I must have looked like a pained flamingo for a bit as I couldn't put my left foot down on the ground. Very painful journey home. Spent the afternoon flat on my back. It eased off enough in the evening to be able to cook (B&J came over for dinner) and later, to be able to sit down to eat.

This morning, it's OK but still feels delicate so we have scrapped bike ride plans. Might go for a gentle wander later on - depending on Husband's ankles (we are such invalids!).

Still, it's motivation to actually try out the pilates DVD I bought last week - my core muscles are obviously in a shabby condition atm. Might leave it for a couple of days to recover!

Gym Lite

I've had a bit of a cold this week - not very extreme, just lots of sneezing & snot production - but enough to scupper my plans to visit Princess A this weekend - will go up next weekend instead for Baby Sister's birthday. Enough of a cold to mean that I've needed a bit of a sit down after cycling to/from work. But cycle I did on Thurs & Fri - grand total now stands at 333.77km. And according to the yoofs hanging out at Fleming Park, I have a nice arse.

Gym tonight but Husband banned me from the treadmill in deference to my current affliction. So 30 mins on the x trainer, lots of weights and a rare stint on the stepper machine.

I've booked a 2 day mtb course in Wales for Easter. I was asked about my objectives - it's simply to be able to keep up with the boys down vaguely technical hills.

At work, S was talking about the Body Attack class she's taking tonight - it looks like it's a class/circuits sesh hybrid - it will be interesting to hear how it went on Monday. But Monday seems a long way away atm - weekend! It's been a long old week.

Buffy Aerobics Twice This Week

My colleague S kindly booked me into the Body Combat class she's started going to at the Rapids on Monday - insane rush to get there for 5:30 and I missed the first 2 tracks. Exactly the same routine as we're doing at Hampshire atm so I should have been perfect.... S seems to have got the hang of tricky bits like flying kicks that took me ages to master in the space of 2 weeks.

Also went skating on Monday with G - still no 3 turns!

No exercise on Tuesday as I had an off site meeting to drive to and I accompanied Husband in the evening whilst he checked out how quiet a patch of countryside was. His job seems odd at times...

Cycled to work today taking my cumulative total to 309.77km. It's now light both ways - provided I leave on the dot of 5pm!

Body Combat at the gym tonight - with a sub for our normal instructor who's in New Zealand on hols (v.jealous). Good to let off some steam.

Sunshine in QE Country Park

My legs felt the 17.5K ride we did today in QE Country Park near Petersfield. The area's known as "mini Switzerland" which gives a clue as the amount of up & down - contrasting with the almost flat stuff we've been doing in the Forest recently. It's a beautiful area - steep but still rolling chalk hills, mixture of woodland, bright green valleys - and the freakishly good sunshine helped to make it even more so. Looking at my older blog postings, it was weirldy good weather the last time I went in April '07 - I think that was one of the last rides I did on my old bike.


MA* & CA* put together a route which Husband then messed about with as he was desperate to do one particular downhill (and he was the only one to ride all of it). MR* and AS* came along too.


Not too bad on the mud front - one very icy, mushy bit at one point. 17.47km, total ascent 587m. Also enjoyed having lunch at the cafe afterwards - sitting outside in sunshine. I haven't been feeling too good the last couple of days - bit stressed, not enough sleep/relaxation - but I think the ride today did me some good in that I feel less wired now. So pleased that the A's sorted it all out - nice not to once in a while!

Short walk yesterday with Mum, Dad & nephew J. They were babysitting as my niece A has been in hospital (now out, all went well - thank goodness!). We went to Hughenden Park where J charged around & played pooh sticks & Dad talked about growing up in a house just over the road from the park.

Just one bicycle commute since Tuesday - better than nothing! Cycling total for '08 now stands at 297.77km.

* = too many buddies have the same initials - so I'm using 2 initials pending decent nicknames developing. AS already has Captain Chaos. MR was the Sultan of Faff today (unfairly as it happens!). MA was either Whippet or Mountain Goat given his ability to scoot up hills.

Marmalade is nicer if it's very thickly spread

Body Combat on Wednesday, Gym on Friday (so up to 23.5km running so far), 3 cycles to work, Skating last night and a mini Body Combat class with a colleague tonight (mini coz I missed the first 10 minutes stuck in traffic - did a v.classy change into gym kit in the car!).

Bike Ride in the Forest on Saturday, on a rather good route selected by A going from Milkham Woods. 25.68K , ascent 438m. Particularly enjoyed a track near Burley I've only ever glimpsed from the road - fast & entertaining through pretty deciduous woodland. So my cumulative total for cycling in 2008 now stands at 268.3K.

Pseudo exercise on Saturday night as I bounced around the Dungeon for a bit - hampered a little by heavy boots - will switch to trainers next time.

We toyed with the idea of going out on Sunday but opted to dig instead, working compost into the allotment. And I worked by arm muscles stirring marmalade in a rare domestic goddess session.