Category: Running

So, when is the summer coming? Or, was that it over the bank holiday weekend? I was feeling optimistic and prepared a breakfast of lovely overnight muesli (soak muesli, chia seeds, almonds, cinnamon and strawberries in soya milk overnight in the fridge and serve with a little drizzle of peanut butter and some puffins in the morning).

Very tasty, but cold! I was back to porridge after that!

This week we have even had the heating on in the evenings- only for an hour to take the chill off, but still. Right, where have I been?

On Monday after work I decided to go out on a short run and test the waters. My shoulder is loads better, and by then it was all properly dry so I thought it would be OK. I wore a t-shirt to give it some extra protection. During the first half a mile I was wishing I had worn a long sleeved top or a jumper, as it was so cold! The wind was very strong, but once I had warmed up I was fine. I felt like I was taking extra care to look very carefully at where I was treading. What I actually need is a sort of zimmer frame with wheels that I can run with, and will catch me if I fall. No?

Anyway, I only did a short route, just under 3 miles, as I wanted to check I was OK before going out with other people on Wednesday. I was really nervous! Silly me.

My little belt arrived  (thanks to Lara for the recommendation  I got right on Wiggle to order one) and my phone fits, so I shall be trying it out tomorrow. On Tuesday after work I went to see my parents, and then on Wednesday it was time for my sweatshop run (again I was really nervous). I wore my new 30 runs t-shirt (partly to cover up my shoulder) and made sure I got there nice and early. We had a new (to me) route along some country lanes and an old railway line, which was lovely, although there were little flies everywhere! I have been trying to breathe through my nose when I run, but once I speed up I find that hard.

Anyway, the run was good, and we all spent time after chatting about forthcoming events, and general training/ running chat. I could have stayed for hours, but I had to rush back as we were going out for dinner after. I have too much hair to be able to dry it all in a short space of time! At least I could wear comfy clothes (well jeans and a nice cardi- who sees the jeans when I am sat down anyway?) to the dinner as we went to Prezzo (I love that they sell peach iced tea, and also the most amazing salad with goats cheese and all sorts of veggies). It was lovely- although it was a rush to get there it was nice going out in the week, although it has meant I have been more tired today.

Today I didn’t go to pump (I know I keep going on about my shoulder!!) because I didn’t want to be resting the bar on it, or lifting my arm above my head. Turned out that they have suddenly limited the class to 10, and I couldn’t have booked on even if I had wanted to, plus I had a long staff meeting so I came home and did some work, and later we went out for a walk.

Usually as soon as I get home from work I change into comfy clothes, which for me means jeans and a hoody of some sort. I have a drawer full of them, but I always get tempted with different colours, some with zips, some without.

I am loving this style at the moment (which I suppose is not technically a hoody seeing as it does not have a hood..). I have a similar one and it has been fab with my bad shoulder, as the neck opening is wide so I could have it sort of off the shoulder( blah blah blah- sorry!) -I tried sitting around in a vest but I was too chilly. Honestly I don’t even want to count how many I have- I bought a nice blue one on holiday, and a stripy one from Fat Face in the sale just before then. But they are so comfy! And warm! Plus (my favourite reason) they don’t have to match the top you have on underneath because it is all covered up.

I am trying to have a policy of one in, one out with clothes which turns into more like, when the drawer can’t shut any more/ when I run out of hangers, sort some out for the charity pile (more on that another day)! Anyone else like that? What do you get easily tempted with?  I am worse with tea though!

*Post contains a sponsored link, but of course all rambles are of my own making

Hey peeps,

I hope you are all doing well. Last night was time for the weekly Sweatshop run, I was most excited to be given my “30 runs” t-shirt. When I saw them on the wall I thought they were thick cotton, but it is actually really light polyester, so I think it will be good for running it. (On the little yellow tab at the bottom it says “30”)

We were doing the route across the fields again (I did that on my own on Monday evening too) which I was looking forward to. All was going well until about a mile and a half in. There is a short downhill section, not that steep, but the ground is very rutted where tractors have driven over and then the ground had hardened. Suddenly I was falling.

This has happened to me once before when running (I think 5 years ago- luckily that time I was only half a km from home, although people waiting at the bus stop didn’t even stop to see if I was OK when blood was pouring from my wrists and I ended up having to have them cleaned and bandaged at the hospital because so much grit got in the wounds from the pavements- I still have a scar on one wrist).

Anyway, it is surprising when you are not running that fast that you skid along the ground at an awfully fast speed. I think I mis-stepped and tried to catch my balance (to stop myself twisting my ankle) and fell sort of sideways and forwards. I hit my head on the floor, and immediately sat up and checked my glasses were not broken (weird that they were my first concern). My knee and hands hurt, but it was only when someone else pointed out my shoulder that I saw the worst wound. Ouchy. A couple of girls were right behind me so they stopped for a few minutes (so nice of them) and then the guy from the shop caught up with me and checked me (so embarrassing asking me what was the date/ what did I have for breakfast…). We walked for a little bit, but I felt OK so we jogged the last mile and a bit back to the shop. They were so good about it- honestly I felt like such an idiot. I knew the ground was uneven and thought I was concentrating on it, but I must have misjudged it. They gave me a wipe to clean my shoulder, but it was so sore so I decided to leave it until I got home, someone also noticed that my head was bleeding a little bit- dearie me. Luckily my brother was there so he gave me a lift home as I normally run home but wanted to get home as quick as possible (although another runner offered me a lift too, how kind).

I managed to clean it in the shower, although today it is still rather weepy, I think it is deeper than I first thought. So no body pump this evening 🙁

Apologies in advance for the gross photo!

It has also made me think about what would happen if I was on my own or further from home. I have my ID on my shoe, but I don’t routinely carry a phone, especially in the summer as I have no pockets. I think I need to get a pouch that it will fit in to make sure I take it with me.

Look at the bruise/ cuts on my head. It has been sore today and I think there is a little lump too. I took some painkillers when I got home and that has helped.  I am still not sure how I managed to scrape there and not get my glasses damaged at all as I kept them on and they didn’t fall off.

Anyway, by the end of the day my arm was so sore as I think I have been holding it in a very tense way as every movement is sore, so when I got home I took time out from work to sit with it resting on a cushion.

Night!

Or it could be called Run by numbers (did anyone else used to love painting by numbers?)

So now I have the Embrace song in my head.

Anyway, I love numbers. I love it when a digital clock is symmetrical (e.g. 21.15), or when the odometer on my car makes a good pattern, so I was very excited when I got back from my run this evening to see basically all 4’s and 3’s. 4.43 miles in 43.34. Not bad. I went around the fields (the same as the Sweatshop run) although it ends up being slightly shorter due to no tiny detour to and from the shop. It was lovely going through the fields again, and I was worried about getting lost, (but decided that worst case I could just turn around and re-trace my steps), but I found the way and just loved it- being away from traffic is super. Plus the 10K I am doing in 2 weeks time is all on country lanes and fields so I think it is good practise.

It was sooo hot out there though- I didn’t go out until about 5pm I think, but the sun was still going strong. Again, all good practise for the race as last time I did the race it was on a very very hot day indeed. Last year it was overcast (and actually pretty cold)-Andy and his brother did the race, but I was just getting back into running again after my op, so I was a spectator instead. So who knows what it will be like- I am ready for anything!

This weekend we went to Dorset, but I have not sorted any photos yet, so you can look forward to those on another day! We had a run together along the seafront in Bournemouth on Saturday morning- we set off and almost immediately there was a steep uphill section, which wore me out right at the start. We ran along the top for just over 2 miles, then came down some steps and back along the seafront. That was super tough as suddenly we were running into a strong headwind, and sand from the beach was blowing right at us (I was feeling smug earlier when I saw a lady running in full length tights- there I was in my capris thinking I would nice and cool- but no, I think I had harsh exfoliation on my legs and sand micro-dermabrasion (is that a word?) on my face from the stinging sand)- I really struggled although I think in the end we averaged 10 minute miles so not too bad.

Earlier in the week I was sent some food from the Boots Shapers range (Shapers for Later)- they are launching evening meals to go alongside their lunch meal deals. This links with numbers as the Shapers meal are all calorie counted- the main meals are under 500 calories, and the side dishes/ desserts are under 100 calories.

Unfortunately the main meal they sent me was a chicken meal (I did ask for vegetarian things, but there was a little mix up somewhere)- Andy had it but it reminded me of an Innocent Veg pot- lots of veggies in there, and you just microwaved it so it was ready quickly. I think it would be a good option for a lunch if I knew I was working late (well the veggie ones). They also sent me some fresh fruit with a passion fruit dip. I did try the dip but the fruit was so sweet I didn’t want to cover up the fresh taste. Finally I was sent some jelly and fruit- (the jelly was veggie)- that was a nice snack- I especially loved the pomegranate in there- I hardly ever have it but it was delicious.

Very summery.

They also have side dishes, although I am not sure if they are going to be priced like the lunchtime Meal Deals (where you get main, side and drink for  £3.50 I think?).

Do you ever get ready meals? Most of the meals I cook (or should I say Andy, as he does most of our cooking at home) are pretty much from scratch, but on occasion I do like the Innocent Veg pots- if I have Parents Evening or something then it is great to just put something in the microwave instead of having to wait for another half an hour for an even later dinner. Or if we are out we might pop to Boots or M&S for a nice sandwich or salad for lunch. And we do sometimes treat ourselves to a nice Waitrose pizza for dinner.

Are you a fan of seeing number patterns?