Big Run

I did number 34 - Half marathon - on Sunday of my top 40 list. 2 hours 16 minutes & felt OK afterwards. Couldn't walk very well on Monday, but hey, the WRN-ers didn't seem to mind me leading from a bicycle!

A general catch up on the top 40 list - 15 complete:

1. Not Yet - Get into size 12 jeans (defined as Uniqlo - brand makes a difference!)

Making things:
2. Yup - Follow a crochet pattern
3. Yup - Crochet something wearable that isn't a scarf

4. Not Yet - Make vanilla ice cream

5. Yup - Make some home made Christmas presents

6. Not Yet - Make something from foraged food

7. Not Yet - Bake soda bread

8. Not Yet - Make a curry paste from scratch

Culture stuff:
9. Not Yet - Discover a piece of classical music that I don't already know

10. Yup - Finish a George Elliot novel

11. Not Yet - Watch Citizen Kane

Fitness:
12. Not Yet - Go to a circuits class

13. Not Yet - Do a press up (not boxed!)

14. Yup - Swim a mile of proper head in water breast stroke

15. Not Yet - Try pilates

16. Not Yet - Try a dance class

17. Yup - Use my wii fit

18. Not Yet - Use our canoe

Home & Green stuff:
19. WIP - Grow something new to eat
20. Not Yet - Plant a tree in the garden

21. WIP - Fit a water butt
22. Yup - Get a thermal mug to wean myself off disposables at work

23. Not Yet - Improve our loft insulation

24. WIP - Redecorate hall & landing
25. Yup - Redecorate living room

Bike stuff:
26. Yup - Fix a bike puncture all by myself

27. May not happen - Get the hang of berms - Might replace this with swimming in the sea at New Year.
28. Not Yet - Get the hang of my GPS
29. WIP - Do the South Downs Way

30. WIP - Try somewhere new for mountain biking

Running stuff:
31. No - parked to Sept & replaced by Land yachting - Do level 2 coaching training
32. Yup - Eastleigh 10K in sub 57 mins

33. Yup - Great South Run

34. Yup - Half Marathon

35. Yup - Organise a WRN non-running event

Travel stuff:
36. Not Yet - Go somewhere new

37. Not Yet - Go to the Isle of Wight

38. Yup - Try a new spa or gym
39. Yup - Sleep in our tent

40. Not Yet - Organise a work social event

UKIP don't love cyclists

If I was even entertaining the idea of wasting a vote on UKIP, I'd be persuaded otherwise by their attitude to cyclists! Walk at roundabouts, don't ride on roads, pay for bike parking. Barking.

Persuaded myself to jog in the woods tonight - I've been checking out paths & tracks to see which would be suitable for the fabulous WRN runners. 6km, not fast, thoroughly enjoyable. I now have a bigger portfolio of runs which will take advantage of sunny evenings and the beautiful Hampshire countryside. I really didn't miss repeatedly fiddling with my ipod's headphones - the new ones stay put & sound good.

Pedalled to work today - love the sunshine.

Less than boundless energy

Note to self - do not expect to be able to keep up with the speedier running group on Monday after pushing yourself on a Sunday. I was pathetic - didn't even manage to do the same distance, opting to have a brief chat with my neighbour at the top of the hill in the woods. I've got a couple of Mondays coming up when this might be repeated, so I will need to experiment with coaching from a bicycle - megaphone would give a great image!

Anyway, running took in more scenery - love the sunnier evenings & for very selfish reasons, I urge all to sign up to 10:10's Lighter Later campaign. Woods on Mon, river on Tue. Deer, sunsets, daffodils - what's not to love (excepting midges!)?

Brief swim tonight as Husband & CC Captain Chaos were installing gutter to the shed early evening and we only had 20mins or so before Aquafit took over the pool.

Pedalled to work today & yesterday. And a little wii.

Practise ride done

Next month, I'm doing one of my top 40 - the South Downs Way on my bike. A dodgy tummy meant that I failed to do this in 2008 over 3 days - so this time I'm aiming to do this in 2.... However, this time, it's with vehicle support - including a meat wagon! Goldfish is doing it too and although it's a bit late for serious training, we did a practise route today: 69.13km as a figure of 8 route from Cheesefoot Head, completed in about 5 1/2 hours including stopping time. M joined us for the first and larger loop. We were moaning about it being chilly to start, but all divested layers after we'd been riding for an hour or two.

Very impressed that Goldfish managed to fix a broken chain on the hoof - and relieved that this was the only bike problem on the way. The tracks were very dry, making this a comparatively easy ride.

Today's picture reflects my C&G exam that I'm doing tomorrow - the tutor asked me to send him a photo of traditional Hampshire brick & flint construction as he's not sure about its thermal efficiency!

I was tired at the end, but felt that I could have carried on - good as the SDW days will be a bit longer. Not so good was a cramped thigh later when crouching to plant out beetroot seedlings - I may have to go down the electrolyte drink on the trip for the first time.

Skating yesterday with G, SE and the F clan who were en route between sailing and the Forest of Dean. Enjoyed both that & going on with G & SE to meet Z for an average lunch in a beautiful location in Lee on Solent.

Not much else to report this week apart from running on Tuesday with WRN, Body Combat on Wed and about 90mins walking on Thursday - actually, that's not so shoddy!

Big D was sent on holiday for Friday & Saturday (cooking for guests is not compatible) but is back today. But as I burned at least 2,700 calories on the pedal, I'm eating buckets!

Easter Sunshine

So grateful for the weather deciding to be a little less typical for a British bank holiday weekend on Sunday & Monday. We'd hibernated during the rain on Good Friday & Saturday decorating the hall & landing (another Top 40 is close to completion), but escaped outside on Easter Sunday, spending the morning with Kitty & Goldfish at the allotment, then going for a 26km ride in the New Forest.

We did what I think of Kitty's route - Husband's favourite as it has some more interesting descents than most of the bike trails in the Forest. For the second time ever, I managed to cycle up the steep gravelly slope that's just after a horsey underpass. Completed it in 2 hours with no punctures - although Husband's chain & associated gubbins were demonstrating signs of wear.

I noticed the mosses more than usual - probably because all the usual spring plant happenings are so behind this year.

More sunshine today. Baby Sister came over with the children & we spent the afternoon admiring lambs, piglets and so many chickens at Manor Farm Country Park. J was very taken with a big black stag turkey, murmuring "magnificent" - not expected vocab for him! R still doesn't scream when being held by me - weird. A kept on calling me Grandma - bad enough - but she was aided and abetted by my naughty baby Sister!

Running tonight - I got very muddy checking out suitability of the path next to the Itchen, taking advantage of a no-show 7pm group. 5 for the 8pm group and we did the Bishopstoke hill route.

The Big D - again

Apparently, 21% of UK adults smoke and that number is declining. 40% of UK adults are overweight - 20% are obese - and this number is increasing. So is it easier to give up nicotine or chocolate??

I'm embarking on the Big D - yet again - and I am trying to remember how I succeeded in 2006. Hence a photo of me in beautiful NZ in Jan 2005 as my stick - and prove to myself that I can lose fat - after all, I have done it! Carrot is the sailing holiday in May - I'd like to be more toned & look cool in the photos (yes, I am that shallow!). I do need to drink more liquid - I often eat when I'm probably thirsty. I've also re-done my WLR account - clean start!

New beginners on Tuesday - not many so I need to work on getting a few more & retaining all. Very pleased to have a few more in the 7pm Tuesday group now that it's relaunched as the "easier" regular run.

Gym last night - deliberately didn't run & did 35mins spinning and 20 x trainer. I've been walking a little more than usual as I've been on a course in Ealing this week & getting there on the train. But only 1 day of cycling to work.