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.

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!

More energy required

It's been a tiring week. Running went fine apart from having to decide whether an idiot bloke was being menacing - or just an idiot - and having to revise our route. On both days, I had to do a manic sprint back to the Hub to greet the 8pm group vaguely on time - very grateful to both 7pm groups for tolerating this!

On Wednesday, I experimented taking my bike to Cosham on the train as I am fed up of having to drive to work in order to go to a merchandising lab. Going was fine - I used the lifts to get over the bridge at Eastleigh station, direct train and I was directed to where the guard wanted my bike to go. Not so great coming back as I got the time wrong & had to change at Southampton. Complete lottery as no information about what train went from where, lots of lugging bike up/down stairs, no idea where the bike should go - but hey, I got home!

Body combat that evening after which I retrieved Husband from a country lane - he had destroyed a tyre in a pothole and like most modern cars, his doesn't have a spare - or even a jack!

Thursday was really tiring but more of a mental endurance exercise. I was representing my work area at a press event - try and engage journalists and spend hours on feet attempting not to let the boredom between journalists show on face/body language! Amazing venue and the whole thing was extremely well organised. Walked home from the station at about 8 & was asleep by half 10.

Just cycling today - a bit more coming home as I wanted to get Husband a birthday cake. Very proud of getting it home in my panniers with the frosting intact!

I bet Danny MacAskill isn't scared of cycling on snow

This is fantastic - well worth a view!

I pedalled today - just as the snow/ice subsides, I've finally found a decent main road route to work that doesn't involve teetering past static traffic & waiting for a hundred traffic lights. The problem at the moment is that although roads are increasingly clear, the pavements and cycle paths are still lethal - although much better today. And with the ice's departure, my mood is so much improved.

And I swam today. My breathing is so much more natural - but my technique is still in need of the tutorial Husband gave me at the end.

No pedalling yesterday due to trip to Portsmouth for work - but I enjoyed Body Combat that evening. It's Juliana again & the new routine is refreshingly different with more of a Muay Thai empahsis (apparently). Not so sold on the music this time - bring back Foo Fighters...

Uber Burley Loop

I had the chance to try out Husband's new Forest route today - which takes in some of our favourite sections from 3 different routes. Starting at Burley, old railway line to Brockenhurst, up to Emery Down & over to the Portuguese Fireplace via the hibernating Reptile Centre. Husband fixed puncture and I admired cute pigs. Up to Highland Water towards Milkham, then parallelling the dual carriage way before cutting underneath it, going back to Burley via a pretty bit with a pond. 39.15km and we got back to the car just as it started raining.

We were still drenched though thanks to loads of surface water - and I got cold - esp at the end. My top half was well insulated with a wool base layer and windproof top - but my bum and legs weren't warm after first soaking.

I also managed to burn 140 calories on the wii - not quickly - in between jewellery construction.
My knee and backside have been a bit achey this week so all I did after Body Combat on Wed was pedal to work & back.

Running went well on Monday - and I think I have the sessions scheduled OK for the Christmas break. I do need to do some research and thinking on training plans though - so the group can approach the Eastleigh 10K next year with a measure of confidence.

A good week

It's been quite a good week for exercise. I pedalled every day except Wed. Got myself to Body Combat on Wed and to the gym tonight. And running on Tuesday was fine.

Feeling a bit achey in the legs and feet tonight - weirdly, foot ache went away when running. I did better on running intervals than any session over the last few months, keeping it up from 12 mins to finishing at 30. I'm going to have to do more though - way off my Eastleigh 10K target pace.

Wii fit plus is here. The new calorie count feature satisfies my inner anorak - and confirms my hunch that it's nowhere up to "proper" cv work in terms of energy burned. It's not a huge deal for me as I tend to use the wii for yoga and muscle stuff. Some very odd new games - the cycling is especially odd.

I have invested in new goggles ready for a spa visit on Sunday - really looking forward to going away esp as some work pressure has just been eased. I'm almost feeling human already - much earlier than last weekend.

Curiouser & Curiouser

Getting very confused about the relationship between Run in England & Women's Running Network. I'm hoping that the new RIE county activator will help to un-confuse me! I met her on Tuesday - she has a remit to develop new RIE groups across Hampshire - and I was hoping that this would mean more groups that Eastleigh WRN members would be able to run with - but I've been reading up on t'internet & am now more mystified. Anyway, she was lovely and is keen to support me which is fabulous. And she ran with us - very much appreciated!
Useful chat about development - I think I may need to review my top 40 objective to become a level 2 coach - might investigate alternative ways to improve my running coach skills.

No pedalling today as I was due to attend an off site meeting - which was moved to on site. And my Panda is being serviced tomorrow - so another petrol fuelled day.

I definitely spent a few calories on Saturday night bouncing around a dancefloor if the level of sweatiness I achieved was anything to go by! Nice gentle relaxing Sunday followed.

Body Combat tonight - haven't been for so long that the routine had changed. I'm plesaed that the new tracklist includes Metallica!

Top 40 list progress

1. Get into size 12 jeans - hmm, gained 2lbs this week, so not so good so far!
2. Follow & execute a crochet pattern - will probably be baby bootees - thanks for the patterns K!
6. Inflict something homemade on all female relatives for Christmas - I have a commission from Mum for a green based necklace - and I feel inspired to attempt baby proof stuff for my sisters.
10. Finish a George Elliot novel - ordered Mill on the Floss today
13. Do a press up - vaguely tried tonight at Body Combat but reverted to boxed after just one failed half hearted attempt!
14. Swim a mile with proper breaststroke - getting better at swimming so may attempt this soon.
16. Use my wii fit - success, enjoying it!
29. South Downs Way - have signed up for this on a mountain bike in May
30. Try somewhere new for mountain biking - looks like this will be Portugal in May
31. Do level 2 coaching training - have attempted to sign up for a course at the end of Oct, but have bee thwarted by Run in England's web site!
33. Great South Run - feeling really confident about this now that I know I can do the distance.
34. Half marathon - this will probably be the WRN women only one at Castle Combe in April
36. Go somewhere new - Portugal planned for May - learning to sail
38. Try out a different spa or gym - plan is hatching to try the Bath one in November...
39. Sleep in our tent -yup, done!

So, two completed so far. Not amazing progress, but I'm not panicking yet. The goals I'm most concerned about are 1 (getting thinner), 13 (press up), 27 (berms) and given my lack of speediness, 32 (10k in under 55 mins).

Juliana was back as Body Combat instructor - good reminder of how good she is. Her control is so sharp and she motivated us really well. Had a spot of walking too as I had another London meeting.

Soggy Wednesday

Yesterday was the first time in ages that I got thoroughly drenched whilst pedalling home. I was in a better position than my colleague B who'd forgotten his waterproof trousers - however, my smugness was repaid by karma as I got even wetter at the gym entrance later on (canopy suddenly off loaded big amount of water onto me - so I got to do Body Combat wearing very wet cotton leggings - nice!).

I haven't rambled about kit for a while - so here goes - essential cycling wet weather gear:

• Waterproof socks.
• Waterproof overtrousers. I dont bother for showers or drizzle, but these make a big difference when it's pouring.
• Bicycle clip to prevent overtrouser/chain interaction. I never have one and have been using a reflective snap on band instead which performs quite well. None with me yesterday so I tucked overtrousers into socks - not a good move as water then trickled down the top of the sock....
• Waterproof bag. My Crumpler is pretty good at keeping my office clothes dry, but it struggles a little with very heavy rain and puddle spray, hence:
• Carrier bag(s). Anything I don't want to get damp gets an extra barrier.
• Wateproof jacket - ideally with zip pockets so I'm not scrabbling in my bag for keys etc, getting contents of bag unecessarily soggy.

Shoes were still wet this morning as were my gloves (my waterproof ones are winter only) so have switched to drier alternatives for the day.

Big D collapses

I'm hoping that this is a temporary blip on the food front!

Tuesday:
Big D: Went out & had a lamb dhansak, peshwari naan, 2 poppadoms and a pint of cobra.
Exercise: Cycle commute and the first Intermediate WRN run

Wednesday:
Big D: Fish & chips, so v.poor.
Exercise: Cycle commute and body combat

My feeble excuse on Tuesday was having a house stinking of insecticide as Husband was battling the clothes moths whilst I was running. Today, we went to B&Q straight after Body Combat to get garden furniture - I hadn't eaten much & was tired/smelly/hungry and getting increasingly grumpy - and I think Husband was worried that I would be psychotic if I wasn't fed soon!

I'm hoping that damage may have been mitigated by having 2 good exercise days. And the peshwari naan was particularly fine!

Hoping for speedy spoke replacement

Drove to work today as I had some training off site and wanted to get my bike wheel to the shop to have the spoke replaced before the weekend. I did manage the latter - got there just as the door was being closed at 17:59 - my wheel was accepted.

The course must have utilised plenty of nervous energy - media with lots of filmed interviews. I'm getting more tolerant of seeing/hearing myself these days and managed not to stutter. I don't think anybody who knew me as a teenager would believe that I could get through it - I even enjoyed it!

Body Combat last night had the novelty of 3 blokes being in the class. Really can't get my head - or body - sorted for press ups. I'm trying to work up the courage to talk to the instructor about technique.

Numbers were a bit poor for running on Monday which I'm hoping was down to high risk of rain.

The joy of sofa

Finally - the photographic evidence that I did the Eastleigh 10K!

Monday's running intermediates (formerly beginners!) chose off road rather than hills - they may have regretted it as they discovered how sapping grass can be on the legs going around the playing field. I also came perilously close to losing people literally as we got very split up at one point - so I got to sprint!

Cycled every day except today. Body combat last night. We should have gone to the gym tonight but were both feeling a bit dead - Husband's work is tiring him atm and I was a bit wound up so didn't sleep well last night. So we are at one with the sofa playing stupid facebook games and watching back-to-back My Name is Earl.

Stressed out fishies

We were going to go for a swim this evening, but instead we are playing "move the fishtank" - an arduous and stressful experience for us, but downright terrifying for the poor little fishies - hoping that they all survive the experience. Been tidying/sorting & moving stuff around all day in prep for dining room floor being installed next week.

I took yesterday off as I haven't had any leave since New Year. Cycled to allotment in the morning & did an hour or so's digging. Rest of the day was spent at salons & at M&S, finishing up with a few pints - Big D is still mia.

Body Combat on Wed - no Sassy, but the relief instructor did some of my fave routines including the danced up version of Zombie.

Does pumping up balloons count?

My arms don't love me anymore. I went to Body Combat last night (great to see Sassy back on form) & then to help with a work thing which required 4 hours of balloon pumping! It took 30 pumps per balloon to achieve perfect inflation - my job is so glam! So arm aching & general tiredness shouldn't be a surprise today!
Cycled every day so far this week - it's definitely getting lighter in the evenings now and it's now "dimpsy" when I leave for home.
I enjoyed running group on Monday - I'm getting a bit more confident at introducing proper coach stuff to the standard group and numbers seem to settling down. And the amazing beginners can now run 5 minutes!

Stress Relief needed

I was feeling very aggravated today - and my pedal home wasn't enough of a stretch to restore my mood. I'd booked a new class - and was hoping that it would help me to de-stress - Body Pump which is part of the same franchise/development family as Body Combat. Certainly different - it took the class about 5 minute to get fully kitted up with:

• Step with 6 risers to act as a bench
• Mat
• Hand Weights
• Barbell with multitudes of weights. Most participants had 3 sizes!

I confessed to the instructor that I was a novice & she sorted me out with my barbell - setting it with 2 of the smallest weights. The routines were all weight/strength based - I didn't actually break into a sweat! And I was saved the weights shuffling that seemed to occupy everyone between tracks as i only had the one size. More importantly, lack of bouncing around seemed to mean zero endorphins - so I remained very out of sorts! Body Combat last night was much more my thing. Still, if I can persuade myself that I like the class, I should repeat the experience as I'm sure that an hour of free weights would help my fitness along.

Today was my first cycle to work this week as it was the first snow/ice free day. Rainy, but not completely unpleasant.

Anyway, I hope to cheer up ready for the weekend.....

Husband's back on 2 wheels - with nearly 2 lungs

Our first off road bike ride for a while on Saturday. Husband's cold & accompanying chest infection had prevented us from getting out much at all - we've been shut up inside with paint brushes.
C came with us & we did the route I call the Portuguese Fireplace loop - easy going 22K with very little road. It was the slightly shorter version of the route that excludes a ford at Rhinefield - it's been raining alot.
No punctures, no tumbles and Husband's lungs were kind of OK - although most uphills were accompanied by the sound of his coughing as his 1.5 lungs struggled a bit! Enjoyable ride - and it was great to catch up with C.
I really fancied a cuppa when we got back the carpark - but I need to invest in a new thermos as ours has stopped keeping water hot. Incentive to take out my credit card!

The bikes are now back in our shed - they had a holiday in Goldfish & Kitty's garage for a few weeks whilst our shed was full of builders & associated stuff. It's good that next time we fancy a bike ride we won't have to disturb GF & K. Very much appreciate them housing our bikes for us.

Monday's running club session went well. Beginners can now run for 3 minutes at a time - brilliant achievement, but I think I need to slow progress a little on Monday as I think 4 mins may be a little too soon. We focused on posture - used crisps held between thumb & forefinger to ensure that we weren't clenching fists - loose hands = relaxed arms = relaxed shoulders = better posture!

Body Combat tonight - no Sassy as she was ill, but her sub gave a different kind of class - it felt less choreographed - but very engaging.

80s power ballads and lots of cold cold weather

It's been a tad chilly pedalling this week - 2 pairs of gloves required and lots of cautious rolls over pavements and roads glistening with black ice. I even had a little snow to contend with on Monday! It's become a matter of pride - those of us who consider ourselves "proper" everyday cyclists discussing with unjustified smugness who's weakened & been rumbled driving in!

Walked on Tuesday as I had a meeting in London - not an unattractive wander ona crisp freezing day to & from the station.

Body Combat tonight and a new routine for the new year. This release starts with dancified abomination covers of 80s power ballads - St Elmo's Fire and Because the Night - which kind of work - worryingly well! I really did not enjoy the toning track and not only because it's the Pussycat Dolls' When I Grow Up (Husband appreciates the video though) - I still can't do push ups whether tricep or classic versions. Lots of legwork in this release - no bad thing given the flabbiness of my thighs atm!

Catching up

I've been remiss on the blogging front recently - and remiss on the food front. Having a house full of builders and dust and only 1.5 usable rooms seems to inspire more trips to the chip shop and comforting chocolate/biscuits/rubbish! Never mind - we've got until the 5th as a holiday from the builders - and until the 28th as a break from our dust hole of a house.

Been to Body Combat every Wed this month apart from today (Christmas eve) and have been running with X - S joined us too! No more gym or swimming adventures to report. Lots of pedalling to work and a v.pleasant ride in the forest 2 weeks ago with Goldfish. Little bit of walking last weekend and some football with my nephews - we were in Northumberland doing my family. We're now in Torquay with my fabulous in-laws for Christmas.

Christmas and building work have definitely impacted on my desire to exercise (negatively) and on my desire to eat (positively bad). I've also been running around sorting out stuff for the Running Group - 5th Jan is looming which is when I launch!

Hangovers are not compatible with building work

Woke up this morning with a pounding noise - took a few minutes to realise that it wasn't my hangover from office Christmas party, but the builders doing their thing... so I gave up on my scheduled lie in & headed off for retail therapy - so all I have to report for today is a fair bit of walking!

Achieved quite a bit - Christmas shopping commenced & I found a wickable cycling/walking/running top that looked as if it might help Kitty to avoid dying of hypothermia whilst pedalling to work - it's her birthday coming up very soon. I am confused though as to why outdoor clothing mfrs seem to think that women like to wear nowt but baby blue and powder pink - they should employ Kitty to zap up their colour pallettes!

Lots of dancing last night - very impressed with my new very shiny shoes which remained comfy despite not being flat. Mary Jane straps, wedge heel - and they look good too. Impressed with my colleagues' willingness to bounce around. Only party related injury was from my sequinned dress which scratched my arms enough to leave a faint rash!

Body Combat on Wed was exhausting. Instructor had gone through the archives & dug out some of the most manic tracks from previous releases.

Mechanical stuff

My bike isn't very well. Goldfish has kindly checked it over, and concluded that the cones and bearings (which are probably important) are dying. Husband is sorting parts for me & Goldfish has offered to to the mending bit.

Anyway, cycled to work today & will do so tomorrow. Hopefully cones & bearings will survive 7 miles of flat-ish tarmac - and hopefully we can get replacements this weekend.

I've also been asked to lubricate the chain more often. Sounds a bit mechanical to me. I think it's best to leave these kind of skilled jobs to skilled experts and I should stick to stuff I'm good at. Like shopping, eating chocolate and drinking beer.

We had a day of luverly DIY yesterday - clearing spare room of furniture & stuff and then stripping wallpaper. I'm sure that must have burnt some cals because it definitely tired me out.

Body Combat tonight - Sassy sneaked in a Body Attack track at the end. I shouldn't have gone though - completely forgot about an appointment for a facial - so I will have to phone salon & grovel tomorrow.....