Dimpsy at the end

Bike ride in West Sussex today. I had an email flyer from Paramo advertising a clearance thing in a church hall in Emsworth - so we shopped for outdoor clothing then drove north a bit to make the most of a beautiful Autumn day.

The notice on the carpark gate stating that it would be locked at 5pm prompted us to review our planned route - still adjusting to the clock change - and we cut back our plans. We should have been concerned anyway - I didn't have any lights & Husband's are very much of the "get me home just about legally" light level.

It still took longer than anticipated - proper hills and some lethally slidy downhills with wet leaves over wet tree roots with that special chalk/chalk mud combo that makes for no grip whatsoever! And a stick nearly brought our ride to a premature end - bending Husband's gear hanger quite impressively. Brute force brought back all bar 2 gears - but it will be going to the bike shop this week.

Stunning scenery though - enhanced by the light and golds/reds/browns of the leaves. We saw a stag run across the path & you could hear them rutting from the track. Husband bumped into a collague he hadn't seen since her maternity leave started in August - and met her baby for the first time. no time to chat though as the light was going.

28.3km in total - but we both feel like we had a proper work out, probably due to the mad dash to get back in time at the end and the proper hills! As you can see from the lower pic, it was definitely dimpsy (fabulous Devon word) with fading light and the moon was out. Mist hugging the lawns around the big house definitely gave an appropriate look for Halloween. Turned into the car park at 4:55pm!

It's been quite a sedate week though - just 3/4 runs on Mon & Tue, pedalling to work & a little wii.

Great South Run

10 miles, 1 hour 41 - I'm quite happy with that! Helped by fab supporters, good company (thanks L!) great weather & a text from Z this morning reminding me to watch my pace at the beginning! It was a great event. Transport was the only bit I'd tweak if doing it again - parking looke too tricky, but it's a long walk from the station to the start for Husband's delicate arthritic ankles - so we'd probably take bikes next year!

I was very excited to meet WRN members from Canterbury and Weston Super Mare at the start - and to actually bump into L. We ran the first few miles together which was great. I also bumped into L from Garmin on the run too, looking very steady.

Not much other exercise to report this week bar lots of walking on a business trip. I was grateful to WRN members for allowing me gentler runs!

Quick pick sloe

One of my Top 40 is to do something with foraged food. We've made sloe gin lots of times - very good it is too - but I have a hunch that something else can be done with these little plum relatives.
Only got around to picking them on Sunday - right at the very end of their season here in the deep south - on a pedal from the house. And as the ride took all afternoon, the fruit is now sat in the freezer awaiting inspiration... sloe cheese could be on the cards.

Anyway, the bike ride! Just me & Husband on the parched tracks of central Hampshire. Up to Owslebury, over to Cheesefoot head, bit of South Downs Way, back around to the normally mushy Park Wood track then home. 44.3km& a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Husband sustained a really good puncture - big metal staple, part one of which was visible on the ouside of the tyre. Part 2 had completely separated & was in the inner tube. First, tried to change inner tube but it was one with an extra long & delicate valve (schraeders are so much more robust...) & had to be discarded. Super patched the holey tube successfully.
Very confused to see some poppies & cornflowers close to Cheesefoot Head. Crimson spindle berries, dark red hawthorn berries and leaves on the turn to golden, red and brown.


Running tonight & I tried to take it easy as I have the Great South on Sunday.

Chocolate & subs for

I have strong feelings about chocolate - it's up there with ice cream and beer as something I feel my life would be much poorer without. The good stuff is always preferable - dark chocolate with reasonably high cocoa solids and a depth of flavour - well demonstrated by Montezuma's dark chocolate.
However, there are a few substitutes that form part of my chocolate intake.

Not shown here is my recent discovery of FairBreak wafers now merchandised perillously close to the coffee shop till at work. Something a bit kitkat like about them and not too bad on calories (110ish) and these have now replaced Freddos as main threat to my diet.

I share a liking for the Special K Bliss bars with Mum & Dad. Has to be the orange version - the raspberry one is too sweet, but I think my fondness for marmalade also plays a part. The dark chocolate base is just about sufficient for a cocoa hit.

I've included a recent discovery here - Waitrose gave me a voucher for a free pack of macaroons - smart marketing as I've failed to avoid them since. As with the Bliss bars, just enough dark chocolate to matter.

Combining 2 of my loves has potential. Beer flavoured icecream may not be a wonderful thing, but I love chocolate icecream. Skinny Cow bars are fabulous - fewer calories than many yoghurts & infinitely more dessert like in my warped opinion. Only hitch is that my local Waitrose has switched from Triple Chocolate to a toothpaste flavoured abomination - and the stock of the revolting green version doesn't seem to be declining. So my fix can only be achieved on our occaisional ventures to a big Sainsburys.

Finally, I thought I was the only person in the world who liked nakd bars*. Bought a multipack on impulse, tried 1 and wasn't convinced at all. They claim to be uncooked and fruit packed (lots of dates) but there is cocoa there together with a unique earthy taste. 4 or 5 bars later, I was hooked! Very filling for a little calorie count, chocolatey enough to work and pretends to be virtuous. Again, the cocoa one is the only one I like. I have witnessed many (OK, Husband and Goldfish) be suckered in by the brand name only to be hugely disappointed & not sure that they are really food. So I was surprised to hear somebody not me extol their tastiness and chocolateyness - HC from running. I am no longer alone....

* = this logic is clearly flawed as Waitrose continue to stock them & I'm sure that my purchasing alone wouldn't justify their shelf space.

A little more conversation please

My last long run tonight before the Great South - 16K in 103mins so a tad quicker than last time - but it was more important to me to prove that I could do the distance. I missed the WRN runners though - chunks seemed abnormally long without a quality conversation to occupy my head.
Bumped into Kitty doing her WRN homework - her halo was shining brightly!
4km - 6km, I was accompanied by a bloke on an invalid scooter with 2 incredibly fit looking red setters. He was updating me on my speed - very sweet if not necessary for a Forerunner wearer.
Later, a fox shot out ahead of me, disappearing into a hedge. A cyclist coming the other way convinced the fox he was cornered & he shot past me again.
High fived a yoof who was giving encouragement (kind of!) at 11km.
So quite an eventful run!

Gherkin

New beginners started at WRN on Tuesday - although at least a couple are returners rather than true novices. I am getting more confident but have much room for improvement as a coach. Very excited that the group should have a second coach soon - not impressed with the booking system 4 her course though. J's perseverence will be a useful quality as a coach!

Last night was first ride home with lights - summer is over. And it will be pavement runs only with WRN now until March April. Sigh.

London trip today and as I am not sure I will be up for a gym visit later have been walking as much as possible - hence gherkin pic.

PW for me at Beaulieu 10K

To be fair, I didn't set myself a time goal for the Cancer Research 10K yesterday at Beaulieu. It was still a shock though to achieve my Personal Worst for this run - 61mins.
Not the case for the other 5 Eastleigh WRN runners - 4 of whom were doing their first ever 10K race (and for 3 of them, I think it was their first ever 10K). All acquitted themselves brilliantly. LH was ahead of me all the way through. I did the first 4km with N before she moved on. Spotted K later on looking extremely comfortable. Spotted C & LW making their way over the finish line looking great.

Panniers were christened today - full load including laptop. The bike feels heavier but I think I'll adjust OK. Braking is really different with the weight so far over the back wheel and I can't do my dreadful powering up hills using my weight to push the pedals down - no bad thing I guess. All my stuff stuffed in very easily with plenty of room to spare and the transition to office was fine.

Running tonight was the first time I've kept a second long sleeved layer on - quite chilly. I was really chuffed that X came out with the Advanced group - and she ran very well. 4 runners in the 8pm standard group. Neither group was very speedy tonight - we all seemed to find it hard work. I think I need to rework & structure the warm up a bit more for colder weather when it's even more crucial.

De-Slugging

I think I made up a little for my sluggish week today. Husband decided we should make the most of the sunshine in the New Forest - and opted to start close to the Portuguese fireplace.

28ish km in 1 hour 41 - predictably fast going on the forest tracks. We did pause to gather some chestnuts - although the pig shown here was more interested in acorns. Lots of deer too.

Followed up with a swim. Husband was pleased with his time, I was just pleased to do 40 lengths - must start upping this if I'm to get to my Top 40 target.

Speaking of which, I have done a couple this week. I completed a crochet pattern - but I'm not showing the output for a couple of weeks as it's for a gift (so 2 goals ticked).

I also completed my first George Elliot novel - Mill on the Floss. Liked it but felt the ending was a cop out. Loved the way the characters developed and the descriptions of the landscapes. My problem is that when I get into a book, I treat it like a rollercoaster ride, and like to roll on to the end caught up in the plot. Which results in reading way too quickly which means that I miss depth/detail/subtle stuff. Pretty much a fault that I exhibit in other areas too!

Bike Pimped but Languishing in Shed

Husband did lots of great work to my bike last weekend - a much needed service, new brake pads (I did wonder why the back ones weren't working very well) and he's fitted a rack for 2 very yellow very waterproof new panniers. My back has been complaining about the Crumper messenger bag when fully packed - esp when my laptop is in it. The new panniers will move the weight stress to my quads and remove my dependence on plastic bags in wet weather. And are yellow.
So it's a shame that I haven't tried it out this week. Work's required some very late nights, logistics of hire car petrol filling, an awayday & a presentaion in London.
Work's also meant much less exercise than normal - even the wii has been under used.
But in the spirit of talking about what I have done, I ran 15km on Monday (albeit with a break at 10K) and did a day's much needed gardening on Sunday. A couple of walks - to paper shop, station and an eco house in Woking.
Not really any great surprise though that I've gained 4lb this week.