Parkrun Saturday

Hi!!

Yet again I got up early to do the parkrun...quite surprised at myself for actually getting up early to do this on a Saturday!

So - got there as usual and hung around on my own waiting for the announcements and then the start - me and another woman realised we were both on our own so we started chatting - her name was Gemma.  She seemed younger than me - and looked fit - like a runner! It was her first parkrun however...she had to hang back after the annoucements as it was her first one - and I went ahead.  Off I went - struggling as usual!  After a while Gemma appeared beside me and we started running together - but I couldn't keep up with her, so I stopped briefly.  gemma however, didn't continue - she stayed with me - urging me to carry on!  I did - and the rest of the run was with her - pushing me to keep going and speed up!  God, it was hard!!  The attempt at a a sprint at the end nearly killed me!!!

I had definitely beat my time - so I rang the bell and Gemma took a pic (which she sent to me later!):

I was soooo pleased...not only did I really like Gemma - but she really pushed me, and it felt great (afterwards that is!)

She said that we had ran an average of 6:15 per km....she also said - you need to bring that down!  I was thinking - you're joking! my last best pace was 6:25 per km!  Based on the average pace I thought that we must have ran it in about 31.15 - but unfortunately the official time was 31.54.  However - still my best time EVER!

My big worry now - is that Gemma will be there again in 2 weeks - and we will meet up and run together - and I'm so scared!!!  Her pace is much quicker than mine - and I don't want to slow her down!!

I even saw somebody from taunton running club afterwards and we had a nice chat walking back to the car - and I was so happy that I finally feel that I am getting to know some people!

Gemma texted afterwards too which was nice.  So - now I need to train like crazy for the next 2 weeks to increase my pace!!

ANYWAY....after all this - I got a shower and me and Andy headed to the food festival in Taunton - which was really good!  Watched a cookery display from the chef of the amazing Indian restaurant we've been to - apparently they do cookery lessons later in teh year - so I REALLY want to do that!

We bought, pork pie, scotch egg, cider, cheese, beer, cake - and had it later for tea!  Was very good!

Played pool - watched the Eurovision song contest! lol...whilst messaging helen and paul who were watching too...there was a stage invasion during the UK song - which was rubbish anyway - and we came 3rd from the bottom as usual!!  Israel won - it was a good one!

Friday already!!

Hi!

well....if you read yesterday, you'd know that I was very nervous about joining a running club and was meeting for my first run with them last night.  Well....I went and I did it!  We met up in a car park and I introduced myself - there were 2 other Sam's....the people were really nice - but as always everybody already knows somebody.  So I introduced myself and started chatting about how nervous I was - and I was reassured...then a woman came up and stood right in front of me effectively cutting me off from everybody!  I know she didn't mean to do it...but I though ahh that makes it easy for me...not!

So we split into 2 groups (apparently Tuesday night is the main night - where there is about 10 different groups)...off we went.  There were about 10 ppl in our group.  Was quite good at first because we needed to cross roads so had to stop for traffic! Phew...bit of a rest!  Then we headed away from the main town and into the greenery...and up a hill.  I struggled with this hill and had to stop a few times (as did a few of the others).  At the top there was a bench and we all stood and chatted for a little bit.  I really liked this as I got to chat to people and we got a proper rest.  A woman took a pic.....and I managed to pic it up from the Strava app....

So....I am on the bench with Michael (only male) and he is the organiser of it all I think, and next to him is another of the run leaders...she was really nice and reassured me a lot and ran with me for quite a while.  I liked everybody I met...  One brilliant thing - is that we ran in some gorgeous places with amazing views - through fields with cows (Lissa you would have loved that) and alongside water, over bridges...it was just gorgeous.  We ended up doing 8.23km - although at a very slow pace...well, the pace probably wasn't that slow - but stopping and chatting meant it took longer.

I wish I could duplicate this run - and it looks really simple in the above pic - but it wasn't!

So anyway....very pleased that I did it - and was able to add it to my YVSTY challenge - back at 30km ahead after a couple of easy days.

I was STARVING when I got back - and I had prepared most of the food - we were having the Asian pork meatballs from the Hello Fresh thingy....it was amazing! So yummy!!!

So.....today....I plan on finishing getting the curtains up in the four-poster guest room...and weeding in the front garden!! Exciting time eh? lol.  Love it!

Thursday 10th May 2018

Hi,

I've just got in from a bit of a shopping spree. I bought....curtains, curtain pole, and timber to mount it on (for the guest-four-poster-bed room) I got four big planters, soil and plants to go in the front drive/carpark no.1....cat biscuits and a cat scratcher with catnip in it.  Hence the cats are going bonkers right now!!

I am now eating a large sized pot noodle - because that's how I roll! Last time I had a pot noodle I went into Screwfix afterwards without realising I had pot noodle all over my chin!  I've embarrassed myself in worse ways....like the time I had a whole piece of spaghetti covered in tomato sauce on my chin - the two ppl I was with didn't have the heart to tell me - so sat there all evening and they must have watched it dry and set solid to my chin.  When I went to the loo and discovered it there I was horrified!!  (this wasn't long after an operation on my jaw which left me with no feeling in my chin).

Guess I'm going to have to sort out the garden stuff rather than the curtains this afternoon - and I wont have time for both.  At about 5pm, I have an appointment with my panic about the running club tonight!

Oh...last night Hello Fresh meal was awesome! Hope tonights is as nice. 

This was last nights burger (pic from recipe)

This is tonights:

Hope I have the energy to cook it...after the dreaded run of an unknown distance at an unknown speed with unknown people!

Wednesday 9th May 2018

Morning!

Started the day getting a mouse off Murcky and setting it free. Then - getting a mouse off Bitsy, and feeling awful because it was alive but injured.  Took it away from danger and left it to recover...it was breathing heavy and looked like it had a hurt leg.  I came back to it and it had died.  It is just so sad!! These poor little mice are minding their own business and get plucked out of their world by a cat - brought into the house - and then tortured by cats who see it only as a play thing!

Anyway....last night, online, I joined Taunton running club! So, tomorrow night I am going out running with them.  No pressure!! Just have to not be shit!  They split into groups and so this is the group that runs at my speed - but there is mention of not stopping at that pace.  I might struggle.....

I also entered another 10km race...Helen sent me the link - it is in Totnes which I believe is near Helens - this one is 5th August.  So I have one in about 3-4 weeks, 10th June, then one in August - and then there is one in Taunton on 30th September.  Hope I get t-shirts! lol. 

So - I went out for a run.  I went down Netherclay - which is at the bottom of my road - there are public footpaths and its pretty cool.  However, I would follow a path and come out at a field or somewhere I didn't know.  So - ran 5.5km but there was a lot of stopping trying to figure out where I was! Looks simple on the map....

Okay - maybe it doesn't look that simple...but when you are there you don't know which way is which!  I ended up running around the field that looks brown in the pic at the bottom left.  Not where I thought I was! But I think I can figure it out!  It is also a lot smaller than it seems - so I had to keep going around and about trying to get to 5km.  The ground is a bit rough too....and I think I may have swallowed a fly or two....

Good news - my blister didn't hurt or get any worse - bad news - my hips is still bothering me!

So - got showered and ready and went off for an eye test.  Basically he seemed to think I was fine to continue with off the shelf reading glasses and contact lenses...but said eventually I wont cope with these - and that's when I need to go back.  Cool - no expensive prescription specs (for now).

Trying my first Hello Fresh recipe tonight - burgers again!  Its not rocket science - just the ingredients and a recipe.  But its convenient and means I don't have to try and think of what to do and go out shopping!

Tuesday 8th May 2018

Good morning!

Well that was a fun bank holiday weekend!!

Ended up having such a good day yesterday!  Me and Andy just chatted and drank!  Didn't get wasted or anything - but had enough to be quite happy! Stayed in the garden for ages - didn't even get around to putting the BBQ on - too busy having a laugh!

Eventually we came back in at about 8pm  and ended up getting take out!  We need to sort that out!  Should have a delivery today - its Hello Fresh - so we get all the ingredients and recipes for 3 meals.  Got it at half price which was £17ish.  So at full price a bit too expensive I think! Unless it is totally awesome...but I'm not expecting much.  But - we would spend that on one take-out and if it stops us getting take-outs and it gives us variety...we'll see!

Took me quite a while today to clear us the weekends mess - loads of stuff in the garden - around the bar - in the living room after the take-out.  But its all done now!  I have a choice today - could go to the tip and get rid of the asbestos and the rest of the crap in the car.  Or - I could strip wall paper - or - I could have an easy day!

I NEED TO START STICKING TO MY DIET I am fed up of going up and down and up and down....today my weight loss since january - which is quite a long time ago now - is 8lb.  It has been 11lb - then back down again.  With all the running I am doing, I could be quite successful if I could behave myself as far as food and alcohol is concerned!

Oh - I have entered a 10km race...10th June 2018.  I got nervous pangs just typing that!  It's silly because I know I can run 10km.  But I need to get some more training in for it.  At the moment I'm struggling with a bad blister on my foot and need to let it heal a bit.  I didn't run over the last few days - but still did loads of steps in the garden - so not exactly resting it!  I've gone from being 30km ahead on my YVSTY challenge to 20km ahead.  I've seen a training program on my running application - I can choose to improve my distance or improve my speed and I am undecided which one to go for.  I think I am leaning towards the - improve my speed....

I got lots of advice from the YVSTY group on facebook when I said I had entered my first 10km.  Here are some comments:

• Find a hill about 100yds long and once a week run up it and walk back down 6-8 times. Do a halfish mile warm up and at least halfish mile cool down
• Proper sneakers & socks are IMPORTANT!! Be sure to stop by your local run shop to ask about the best socks: often blisters are nixed when the right socks AND right sneaks are worn 
• You will be fine. Maybe run a 5k as fast as you can to build up speed a bit, but you got the endurance. The adrenaline of a race gets you going too. Have fun!
• U have 1 month... try 7, 8 miles for endurance training and 4,5 miles for speed... hill workouts if possible...
• If you're already doing it once a week, you're going to do great!
• Are you close enough to the course to run it at least once?
• Try to get longer runs in. I found the more miles I put in a week, the faster/easier my shorter runs/races get. I’m changing my thinking on how I want to get ready for my half in November

So - some good advice I think - from others runners. 

Gorgeous day...

Hi

Well....decided to start my day in the garden cutting the grass on the other side of the garden....3 hours later....was not happy! Shouldn't be so much work but grass had got long....had to empty it after one length....again....mansion problems! Now have Malibu and coke but it's nearly 3pm!  Feel like I've wasted the day! Plus was supposed to be relaxing and according to my fitbit I've walked nearly 10km and burnt 800 calories!

We did manage to save this from Bitsy big cat....

Blue skies!