parkrunning and touring since 2013!
Hey peeps!
A while ago I was lucky enough to sample some Naked Coconut water.
Now one of you lovely readers can win a case of 12 cartons of coconut water! Exciting stuff!
All you need to do is leave a comment on this post saying why you like coconut water.
UK-based people only.
On Saturday 18th October I will draw one name at random.
Good luck!
Hey peeps
Over the last few weeks I have been running pretty consistently, which I am pleased about. Although weekends have been busier which has meant my favourite thing of parkrun on a Saturday and a long run on the Sunday has not been possible.
A few weeks ago Andy suggested a day out on the Sunday, if I got all my work done on Saturday. I headed out early for an 8 mile run, before ploughing through. I am really glad I did, because we had a great day on the Sunday.
We walked all around London. Through Greenwich Park along the Thames to the 02 (that part of the Jubliee Greenway is not as scenic as the more central part through!).
We got the cable cars across (I am not a huge fan of cable cars), then got the train to the Tower Of London.
Where we saw the poppies.
It was really stunning and really though-provoking too.
We walked along the river some more, and ended up in Covent Garden. We looked at going to the BB Bakery for tea and cake, but it was busy so in the end we bought a brownie to take away with us, and headed home.
I have still been managing to run on two evenings when I get home, although the fields are pretty much out of action now as it is so dark. One evening I had gone there in the light, but could hear motorbikes being driven around the fields and didn’t fancy that, so tried to make a short cut. I ended up in the field with the big cows and big horns, the path (that had a proper sign post) went down a ditch, around a corner and the finished, so I was there in the half-light trying to find my way out. I got to the edge of the field but the fence was covered in two layers of barbed wire so I had no chance of jumping over it. It was dark by the time I got out and home- not good.
Last Saturday I was planning on going to parkrun, as it was the 10th anniversary. But I was out on Sunday (I went to the Cake and Bake show) and knew I had to have a long run. I did think about driving to my brother’s, then getting him to drive us there, then running parkrun and back to his, but it seemed a big faff, and I don’t really like big breaks in runs (eg the queue for the scanning) so in the end I did 10.5 miles (I mis-calculated the new part I added on) before the rain.
Last week at Sweatshop was my 25th run since getting the new card, so I got a free nutrition pack:
Although I don’t think I will use the gels- if anyone wants them I will post them to you- let me know.
Body Pump was back too (the instructor has been off)- we had one last week of the one we were used to, and then last week started the new one. I liked the music for the squats (The Killers) and there was a funny one for biceps (I think?)- something like “rave, eat, sleep, repeat”- reminded me of my run t-shirt, although I suspect the song came first….
But, the Kinetic Revolution has fallen by the wayside. I have had days where I am working until 10pm and at that point the last thing I feel like doing is jumping around the living room. So, I will finish those 30 days, but slowly! And I think once I have finished, I will probably go back to the first two weeks as I felt those would benefit me the most.
This Saturday a new parkrun starts near me, so I am planning on going to that to check it out, but take it fairly easily as I have the 10 mile race on Sunday.
How has your activity been lately?
Hi peeps, I have a post for you today from Cameron Richardson.
Recent discoveries by scientists have alleged that the season of autumn could be well on its way out if current climate trends continue.
Environmentalists have suggested that colours of leaves are changing days later than they were two decades ago thanks to rising temperatures across the globe. If the current trend continues, we could soon be saying goodbye to the golden hues of autumn that make this the prettiest season of all.
If you want to make the most of autumn while you still can, here are a few activities to try that will truly make you appreciate the broad spectrum of colours during this gorgeous season.
Watch the sunrise…from your bed!
On a typical October day in Britain, the sun will rise around 7am. As most of us are usually getting up this time for work, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy the autumn sunrise from the comfort of your own bed. If you’re not brave enough to go walking the dog at this hour, why not invest in a nice sturdy bed frame and mountains of duvets to keep you warm? There’s nothing quite like the sight of a rising sun over dew-covered autumn leaves, so snuggle up and admire from afar.
Enjoy a Sunday walk
Early mornings might be restricted to weekdays, but after a lazy lie in on a Sunday, there’s no better family activity than taking a stroll through the great British countryside. Wherever you are on this tiny isle, you’re never too far from a walking route. The National Trails organisation can point you in the right direction of the best nature spots out there to get a glimpse of the changing colours, so don your wellies and jackets and head outdoors.
Warm your cockles with an autumn meal
The autumn is a great time for outdoor night time celebrations from Halloween to Bonfire Night, and these can also provide a great opportunity for you to cook up a storm for guests. Have a brew of pumpkin soup on the stove while you’re watching the autumn day turn into night – the sunsets are just as beautiful as the sunrises! This is a great time of year to experiment with warming recipes such as traditional British stews, so brush up on your knowledge of seasonal ingredients and get cooking. Your guests will be queuing out the door!
*Collaborative Post
What do you love most about Autumn? I love seeing the leaves change colour. On my drive home from work there is a long row of trees and it seems that every day they look more stunning, especially in the late evening sunlight. I also love having a walk outside in the cooler air, and coming home to warm up with some tea, or soup. Or making jam, or making Christmas cakes (my half term tradition)… I could keep on going!
So a while ago Sainsbury’s sent me some flour, and for a while I was thinking about what I fancied making with it.
It is ages since I have made bread. I did have a spate of making sourdough a while back, but then I ran out of time at the weekends, and we discovered M&S’s San-Fran style which is just amazing.
While perusing the internet I came across a few recipes for sourdough cinnamon rolls, and once the idea was in my head that was it, I wanted to make them. This was the recipe I went for in the end.
First up I had to make the sourdough starter, which although can take as little as a week, I ended up feeding it for two weeks. There are all sorts of weird recipes for sourdough starter out there, some involving yoghurt, or even apple cores, but actually all you need is flour and water. That is it. You want it to capture the natural yeast (bacteria? Something) that is in the air. I used half wholewheat and half white bread flour, mixed in a jar with warm water. Then each day add a tablespoon of flour, a tablespoon of water, and stir. I think you are meant to throw some away each day too, but I only do this every now and then. I have read I could keep it in the fridge, as then it does not need feeding, so I might do that now I have used some of it.
The recipe I found told you to put it all in the machine, so I kneaded it for probably 10 minutes. At first it was sticky, but it soon turned, as if by magic, into a lovely ball of smooth dough.
Here is where it went a big wrong. The recipe was massive- I printed off two pages, but missed off the filling. Never mind, I can make one with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Which was fine, but not quite right I don’t think!
I didn’t manage to roll them too tight either. I think next time I would roll it thinner to have a proper swirl in there. Half I have put in the freezer (as the recipe said you could) and half went in the fridge overnight.
In the morning I as heading off on a long run (I did 10.5 miles at a steady pace- felt strong even though my legs were sore after Body Pump)- then when I got home I put on the oven and baked them while I had a shower.
They didn’t rise a huge amount, but I left out the yeast in the recipe, as my opinion is that the sourdough should make them rise enough. They smelled amazing while baking, but the filling leaked all over the pan!
I did have a starter of fruit and soya yoghurt as I was too hungry to wait for them to cook.
Then they were enjoyed with a cup of tea. Such a good treat. Since going back and checking the recipe I saw that I could have made icing for them too, with icing sugar and vanilla, and I suppose that would make them more like a dessert, but I quite liked them with just the filling for breakfast.
The verdict? Not as good as Starbucks cinnamon rolls (but what is really?) but I love using sourdough for the gentle overnight rise- this was great to be baking (and smelling amazing) when I got out of the shower. I think using the sourdough means they have a denser feel, a bit chewier and perhaps more filling than a normal one too.
Favourite cinnamon roll recipe? I have made these ones before (often on Christmas Eve) as that recipe is really simple. I have also seen some amazing ones like apple caramel ones, or pumpkin ones. Not enough time in the week for all these goodies!
*Sainsbury’s sent me a voucher to cover the cost of additional ingredients, but all opinions are my own.
So, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, I have rather a lot of apples from my apple tree. They are quite nice to eat on their own, but I prefer them baked.
On Sunday evening I had some time to myself so I decided to do some baking, although up first was something else:
After seeing Laura post this recipe I knew I had to have a go. Salted Almond Butter Fudge- so many good words in one recipe!
It was quick to make- I used the microwave to melt the coconut oil, and then left it to harden in the fridge while I had a run. When I got home I had a nibble, but it was not quite hard enough to properly slice. It is so good though.
A few pieces with some earl grey tea for a pre-evening-work boost.
Next up, Caramel Apple bars. I had made these before, but copied the recipe down wrong so had to have a google before I could get started. The original is here– these are a bit of a sugar bomb, but the smell when they bake is gorgeous with the apples and cinnamon. I did use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar to make a token effort!
Instead of making the caramel sauce for the top, I used some from a jar as I bought some in the Lake District last Easter and have not used it yet!
These are so good. The oats make it a sort of gooey flapjack texture, and the cooked apple and spices are just delicious with the caramel.
Next up, I fancy something with blackberries. I saw a lovely cake in a tearoom which had blackberries smushed into the buttercream, and although I am not a huge fan of buttercream, it did look very pretty.
What’s next on your baking list?