Leading from the sidelines

The only bit of me that was running tonight was my nose! I have a most unwelcome summer cold that's added extra challenges to the packing we need to do prior to moving out of our home on Thursday - and meant that I pedaled alongside the runners tonight.

One of the runners once told me that she liked it when I cycled with the running group as it implies to onlookers that she's too speedy for me to run alongside!

I have to admit that there are some advantages - the panniers are handy for unwanted layers, water bottles & car keys. It also means that I look at others' running techniques more than when I run with the group.

It's also meant that my road bike remains with me rather than in storage & I'm hoping that I will be able to use it at least a few times over our nomadic period.

Biggest downside tonight was that as it wasn't my mountain bike, we were constrained to the pavement on a beautiful evening. And it really doesn't feel as good to be on the sidelines - I prefer to be in the group.

Priorities?

It looks as if we'll have a gap between completing on our house sale & purchase - which will mean a couple of weeks relying on our fabulous friends' spare rooms. We are so lucky to have friends who are stepping in to help!

We're in the process of sorting out about 20 years worth of stuff and I think we've got the trickiest bits nailed - tropical fish tank, umpteen containers of plants (including mega spiky agaves), food and bikes. This means that I can now stress about how to stay fit whilst homeless!

I think we'll be more regular visitors to the gym, not least because the food is OK value. However, I'm struggling to work out how I can continue to cycle to work as this will mean more complex bike and car storage! There's also the laundry issue - smelly sports kit will have to wait for weekends to be washed as I don't really want to take advantage of friends' washing machines. More eating out will definitely challenge my waistline.

And the move was my feeble excuse for failing to do a long run this weekend. Probably the biggest risk to my fitness is my motivation (as ever). If I want there to be obstacles, there will always be obstacles. Trick is to keep my Pollyanna head on, look for the positive and focus on staying off the sofa.

Walking to Run

Blog I've just added to the running club site on walking as cross training...

Weird Wound Prevention

We did a bit of loft sorting on Saturday. Given that we are moving house in a couple of weeks (COUPLE OF WEEKS??!!), this was getting to be urgent and it's a job we are great at putting off. No I'm not going to claim this as exercise, but in the sorting, my ipod armband appeared for the first time in years. And it fits my iphone. So this means I no longer have to risk chafing my waist due to bum bag or arms due to gilet rubbing on solo runs.

Found about €140 in euros too - but this was so much less exciting than the armband.

To reward ourselves, we went to Hurst Castle in the evening where Husband caught pollocks whilst I messed about with my camera. It's a 1.5 mile walk to get there from the road, all along shingle which makes it much tougher than the distance would indicate. I shouldn't have been surprised that Husband's rubbish ankles rebelled on Sunday, refusing to do much at all. They loosened up enough by late afternoon for a swim - and I joined him in the pool for a change.

Hurst is a bit of a conundrum - Husband can't really walk well enough to get there but he loved the fishing spot. I guess we stick to times when the ferry is running - or perhaps dig out the inflatable canoe!

Weird Wound

15.5km ran last night. I have a half marathon to train for in September - and I've been procrastinating about getting my training underway. Club runs do help big time - but I need to do more mileage & add in more sessions at my pace. And I've struggled to get motivated!

There's a loop from my house that's a bit over 5km so I figure that 4 times that will be close to the race distance of 21km. 3 loops last night, but I stopped at 15.5km. Next week, need to take that to 17km (following the 10% rule) - and if I keep that increment going (big if!) should be up to race distance by early August.

Far more interesting to report is that I enjoyed it! Bunnies, puffballs and a buzzard swooping right in front of me, confused horse riders (I passed them twice) and avoided a drunk bloke in the woods.

My legs are OK - ITB was a little bit achey afterwards, but nothing major. However, I must find a better way of transporting my iphone as my left arm chafed on the arm hole of my gilet (has pockets) & I'm in need of sudocrem!

Decent Threshold Session

I made it to the gym tonight - I am determined to try & get my cost per visit down, but it seems tricky to fit in any more than 1 visit per week in summer.

And I actually managed a decent threshold session on the treadmill - a rarity as I really don't love speedwork. Threshold is all about pushing my body's aerobic/anaerobic border so I ran at a gentle pace for a few minutes before switching to an uncomfortable pace for 4 mins, 1 min recovery pace, back up to the faster pace for another 4 minutes. The idea is that by not letting myself fully recover and then going up to the faster pace again, my body develops the aerobic threshold.

Anyway, I did this for 30 minutes - and almost enjoyed it. I need to learn not to beat myself up about being slower than I was a couple of years ago - it doesn't help! A Pollyanna attitude works much better for my motivation.

Bit of spinning, bit of stepping, rower weights machine & lats pulldown.

A Day With Dirt Divas

Long time, no blog. And I miss it so I’m returning to the random ramblings of the Fat Bird world.

I’m such a chicken on my mountain bike – so much so that I needed to be chased up to book the course that Husband gave me last August for my birthday with Dirt Divas. Back to Basics, women only in Crowthorne Woods in Berkshire on Sunday. And I wasn’t alone in having my course gifted to me by a partner keen to get girlfriend/wife more confident on a bike.

Loved that we started off by learning how to get our bikes through a v gate – or into a bike shop – with dignity! Then it really was back to basics – some of which I knew, some of which was new to me. We were in small groups of 5 or 6 which felt about right. I hadn’t really twigged how much keeping the pedals flat affects balance – and how to move my weight over the bars when pedalling up hills. I did know – and already use - the thumbs trick for keeping the bars straight when pushing hard uphill. Probably the best bit was emphasising where we should be looking, which strangely isn’t at the ground just in front of the bike...

After lunch, we got to put skills into practice on single track, taking turns to tag immediately behind our coach Jacqueline and getting feedback. She claimed to have eyes in the back of her helmet! My crimes are staring at the ground and locking my knees.

The terrain was mostly twisty forest stuff that flowed very nicely without many hills. We also got to play in a bit called the Quarry with some steep descents – not my favourite kind of thing, but actually got to enjoy them. The trick is focusing, looking for and look at the exit point.

Only down point for me was forgetting any sunscreen and the very dull drive home.

So, the test will be whether my riding improves! I need to get on some single track soon or I’m worried I’ll forget it all.

Online charity sponsorship sites

I've been using a well known charity sponsorship website for a couple of years now - it's made fundraising so much easier and painless for me and my generous sponsors. But there are more available so I've been doing a little digging into the alternatives, comparing Everyclick, Virgin Money Giving, Bmycharity and Just Giving.

I'm not a fan of Everyclick's fundraiser web pages - very basic and I find it tricky to navigate - but it it is unique in not charging any setup or monthly fees to charities for being able to receive funds through their site. £10 donated with a visa debit card & with standard rate gift aid gives your chosen charity £12.23. There's also the USP of additional funds that can be raised by using Yahoo via the site.Probably a good choice for fund raising for a small charity.

Bmycharity is new to me - the fund raiser web pages look fine and it gives the highest sum to your chosen charity of the four I've looked at: £12.63 on the same basis as I've shown above. However, it charges £150 plus VAT setup to charities for being able to receive funds through their site. If you are raising money for a big charity where this may be a comparatively trivial expense, this site could be a good option.

Virgin Money Giving's USP is that they are set up as a not for profit company. £12.47 is the sum your charity will get for £10 donated as specified above. They charge £100 plus VAT setup to charities for being able to receive funds through their site. I like the idea that fund raisers have a "permanent" web page where they simply add campaigns - if you regularly raise money (e.g. I do one run for charity every year), this could appeal.

Just Giving charges charities £15 per month for being able to receive funds through their site. £10 results in £11.92 being given to the charity - the lowest of the 4. So apart from being very used to using the site and finding setting up fund raising pages quite easy, I think I now have compelling reasons to go elsewhere!

Top 40 final report

Now I am 41, it's time to look at what I have & haven't managed to do this year! All failures are to be rolled over....

26 straight successes.

5 adapted successes.

Leaving 9 failures.

1. Get into size 12 jeans (defined as Uniqlo - brand makes a difference!) - miserable failure, so rolled over

Making things:
2. Follow a crochet pattern - done
3. Crochet something wearable that isn't a scarf - done
4. Make vanilla ice cream - nope, rolled over
5. Make some home made Christmas presents - done
6. Make something from foraged food - done
7. Bake soda bread - nope & changing to make some bread
8. Make a curry paste from scratch - nope, rolled over

Culture stuff:
9. Discover a piece of classical music that I don't already know - nope, rolled over - it was weirdly tricky to get started on. The Proms might help me this year.
10. Finish a George Elliot novel - done
11. Watch Citizen Kane - done

Fitness:
12. Go to a circuits class - swapping for swim in sea at New Year - done!
13. Do a press up (not boxed!) - done
14. Swim a mile of proper head in water breast stroke - done and will do more
15. Try pilates - done & liked it
16. Try a dance class - done
17. Use my wii fit - done
18. Use our canoe - no, but used my sister's!

Home & Green stuff:
19. Grow something new to eat - done
20. Plant a tree in the garden - done
21. Fit a water butt - done
22. Get a thermal mug to wean myself off disposables at work - done
23. Improve our loft insulation - nope, rolled over
24. Redecorate hall & landing - done
25. Redecorate living room - done

Bike stuff:
26. Fix a bike puncture all by myself - done
27. Get the hang of berms - done, just about (1 at Dalbeattie!)
28. Get the hang of my GPS - nope, rolled over
29. Do the South Downs Way - nope, rolled over
30. Try somewhere new for mountain biking - done (7 Stanes Dalbeattie)

Running stuff:
31. Do level 2 coaching training - not possible, but did do some more running training
32. Eastleigh 10K in sub 55 mins - changed to sub 58 & done!
33. Great South Run - done
34. Half Marathon - done
35. Organise a WRN non-running event - done

Travel stuff:
36. Go somewhere new - done
37. Go to the Isle of Wight - nope, rolled over
38. Try a new spa or gym - done
39. Sleep in our tent - done
40. Organise a work social event - nope, but swapped for Try sailing

So resolutions to complete by my 42nd birthday are:

1. Get into size 12 jeans (defined as Uniqlo - brand makes a difference!)

2. Make vanilla ice cream

3. Bake bread not using a bread maker or IKEA cheat premix
4. Make a curry paste from scratch

5. Discover a piece of classical music that I don't already know

6. Improve our loft insulation

7. Do the South Downs Way (3rd time lucky...)

8. Get the hang of my GPS

9. Use our canoe

10. Go to the Isle of Wight

There will be a few more added when I feel more inspired.

Kirkcudbright & Skye

More holiday blogging as I've got internet access again after a few days camping.
Tuesday in Cumbria was spent walking around Arnside Knott - one of Husband & I's favourite spots from way back when we were at Lancaster Uni. Clear blue skies meant that the Cumbrian hills were really visible (for once) from across the Kent estuary. We then drove over Hardknott Pass, stopping for a wander at the Roman fort.
Wednesday was spent with Middle Sister, C and MBIL along the easy going cycle path that now connects Caton with Glasson Dock through Lancaster - more old stomping grounds for us! C looked very contented on th back of MBIL's bike - managing to fall asleep on the way back.
Drove up to Borgue nr Kirkcudbright to glamp in a wigwam for 3 nights. This is a wooden hut type thing with electricity, mini fridge, microwave, kettle and sleeing platform with foam mattresses that can in theory sleep 4-5. Or me & Husband very comfortably! Loved the campsite too - and plan to return.
Rain meant we did sightseeing in Kirkcudbright on Thursday, with a gentle riverside amble.
Friday - we finally got the bikes to one of the 7stanes. Dalbeattie was one of the first to be built & its signature challenge is "The Slab" in the picture. Much too scary for me - it's a kind of vertical drop. As for Husband - well, cameras don't lie do they??
My technique was abysmal as per usual - although I did improve a little towards the end with my very own (patio) slab type drop off. And I've done my first berms! Very little - but hey, that's 2 Top 40s covered in one afternoon (other was mtb-ing somewhere new).
Very excited to see a red squirrel - and Husband saw a pine martin.
Dalbeattie doesn't exactly flow in many places, but it's certainly challenging and the views were fabulous. Again, a return is planned.
Saturday was spent mostly in the car, driving to Skye. We're in a cottage with the Fabulous In Laws for a week.
Weather today was abysmal - apart from a blue sky 40 minutes which we were able to take full flukey advantage of with a 3km walk to Talisker Bay in the picture before a tour of the Talisker Distillery.

UK Holiday - Why paddle our own canoe?

Off on holiday at the moment - heading northwards. We had a sunny weekend in Llanymynech with Brother in Law's family with some gentle walking. Powis Castle Gardens on Saturday and from the house on Sunday. Husband adapted a hoop running game that we saw on Last Woman Standing to keep the boys interested in the Sunday walk - throw a ball ahead, then try to find it. They were also really keen to show us the old quarry's rails, connected to the huge Hoffman kiln and tower in the village.

Then further up to Cumbria to Middle Sister's home near Kendal.

We went paddling today on Windermere with Middle Brother In Law (MBIL??) and toddler nephew C. The plan was to use our inflatable, with MBIL using his lovely big "proper" canoe. but we worked out it would be quicker to set up and easier to keep C entertained on the water if we all went in the proper canoe. Husband in the back providing power, MBIL in teh middle proving local knowledge and skills advice and me in the front doing what I was told (for once!). C was extremely well behaved - he got excited about seeing a steam train. I was more excited by a red breasted merganser swimming along with her brood of ducklings. Getting canoe envy now - I think we may be getting a proper one if we ever get a garage for it to live in!

Dorset weekends

Our first attempt to go to Dorset for some mountain biking 2 weekends ago was thwarted whilst packing. Husband tried to adjust my brakes and accidentally bled them dry of hydraulic fluid! Luckily, we'd already planned to spend Sunday pedalling along Bournemouth seafront with G - and my commuter bike was fine for this. Lovely afternoon with chocolate ice cream and great company.

My mountain bike spent a couple of days at the bike shop and last weekend, we tried again. Loaded the camping stuff and bikes and headed for Dorchester. Our route was based on one in a

Dorset mountain bike book we've had for a while but hadn't used. It started on the ridge trail from Maiden Castle to Hardys Monument that we did last year. We then went downhill at Hells Bottom to Portesham (cute sculpture was in Portesham quarry) and along a disused railway to Abbotsbury. Pasty to refuel and we decided that rather than follow the book's suggestion of a road route back, we'd simply double back. Big views of the coast and countryside. The path had actually been destroyed by badger excavating at one point! 30km in total.

Camped at Osmington Mills again and attempted camp cooking for the first time in years - successful chorizo pasta storecupboard carb fest! We walked to the beach in time for sunset, then to the pub that does Badger ales on draught. I slept well, but Husband wasn't convinced that his airbed was working for him and being in a grassy field wasn't helping his hayfever.

Slow breakfast. What I love about being away is that I don't have guilty thoughts about what I should be doing and can just enjoy coffee, eggs, papers.

Sunday's ride was from Puddletown Forest, using a Rough Ride Guide route. We lost a turning early on so opted to change the route - the track was a little overgrown as you can see here. Later, we got to do more vegetation ploughing as rape had almost obliterated the bridleway. Quiet countryside with chalk hills. I had to keep pushing my brake levers outwards as the rape kept on catching them, pushing my brakes on! We went past Thomas Hardy's cottage towards the end - a lovely quiet spot on the edge of the forest. Got lost again in the woods, but weirdly emerged right by the car. My legs are covered in scratches, I'm a bit burned (despite sunscreen) and it was a great weekend.

Number 15 - Pilates

I have a pristine Darcy Bussel pilates DVD still in its cellophane wrap despite having been purchased about 2 years ago. It's lurking presence plus my occasional lower back & shoulder problems have created a nagging sense that pilates should be something I give a try. My only reasons not to are that I'm not big on exercise that doesn't involve charging around getting sweaty and that I didn't get on at all well with a previous attempt many years ago where there were about 30 people in one class.

I finally booked myself onto a class at the gym (so covered by gym membership) and was pleasantly surprised. The instructor was no nonsense & I could see what she was doing. There were only about 8 of us. And I realised that I had tried some of the exercises before without realising that they were pilates moves, thanks to a neat little "hotel room workout" in a Joanna Hall book that I used when spending most of my life in hotel rooms.

My tummy really knew that it had been worked for about 3 days afterwards!

So number 15 can be ticked off the list.

I have been to the class again - timing isn't great as it requires scarpering home on a Thursday very promptly - but I will go again when my calendar allows. Still haven't opened the DVD though!

Number 21

Number 21 complete - we finally fitted the water butt. I say "we" but
it was more Husband - although I did instigate it with the old trick
of starting to dig out tools, claiming I was going to fit it all by
myself. Especially as tools included the drill that I am not allowed
to use since destroying several bits on plastic plant pots.....
Great bike ride with G & Husband today along Bournemouth sea front,
admiring kite surfers. She is so much faster - despite not having
pedalled since September!

So much catching up to do

So much that I haven't written about recently! So much has happened - good stuff, bad stuff and I'm sure I can squeeze in ugly somehow.

In no particular order, I'll start with Top 40 progress - and with a picture taken yesterday of my first home grown strawberry (#19 - grow something new to eat). I shared it with Husband & fortunately (as many more are developing), liked it!

Next is #16 - do a dance class. I enjoyed a fabulous weekend with my sisters near Stratford which included lots of opportunities to try classes. All 3 of us did Street Dance - out done by many older ladies! Middle Sister & I also giggled our way through a Bravo Broadway class - jazz hands and a fantastically camp instructor. Yoga was also been revisited and I didn't hate it. Middle sister revisited body Combat for the first time in years with me. V.grateful to Baby Sister for inviting us - memorable and so much fun.

We haven't been cycling much recently - not since South Downs Way. My bike is now sporting new wheels as it was the hubs that had bust, not the bottom bracket - and that takes it's repair bill for 2010 to around £500 - maybe I should have bought a new bike instead at the start of the year. We we did a 20K route from the house on dry tracks yesterday, enjoying a long sunny evening.

I did my first parkrun last Saturday. This is a weekly times 5K that now takes place in parks around the country - and Eastleigh started just a few weeks ago. It's free to register, free to do & is very well organised. It's also a great time of day - 9am means that I still get most of Saturday for other stuff. My time was not my best (29:43), but plenty of room for improvement.

One of my original runners L tripped whilst running with me on Tuesday and was unlucky enough to break her leg - so I spent Tuesday evening in A&E with her. This meant cancelling the 8pm beginners group - but everyone was more focussed on L's injury.

So it's been a mix these last few weeks. Hoping that L recovers soon.

Not in the Algarve

Pesky volcanic ash cloud stopped us from flying to Portugal on Tuesday
4 sailing - we ended up rescheduling to July. I say "we" but I mean X
and S!
So we've come to Cornwall for a short break instead. The fabulous In
Laws have joined us & we are in a flat at Watergate Bay.
Fabulous lunch at Fifteen (photo location) - loved that they
automatically brought huge jug of tap water with ice & lemon and yummy
bread with olive oil. We all had gurnard to start - deep fried served
with aioli. I had pollock next with lentils followed by tiramisiu.
Pleased to have a wine with Sexy Rose on the label! Service was
gently done - a fabulous meal!
Went surfing once digestion was underway. That implies a higher level
of competence though than I achieved....
Blue sky, sunshine, beach - not bad at all.

South Downs Way - final post

Beachy Head - achieved by minibus!

South downs way - game over

Part way before checkpoint 1, bike started making a funny cronky
noise. Mechanic checked it and the bottom bracket was going. He
thought I would be able to get to next checkpoint, but it got worse
and I couldn't get 1st gear. So had to retire at 110km, 60km short. So
it remains a challenge to try again.

South downs way - end day 1

Got to the campsite at 5pm - 9 hours of pedalling but that includes
breaks. And wasn't quite last. And got the tent up. And bike is
receiving expert tlc. Now off to pub with a lovely group of 9 middle
aged blokes who have been keeping me company today. I think I will b
ok for tomorrow but it is going to be tough!

South Downs Way Day 1

At 2nd checkpoint & disappointed no cheese & pickle rolls! A bit
drizzly but not too wet.