Maria Runs

Hey peeps.

I hope everyone has been having a lovely week. I was back to work this week, and boy am I feeling it! I didn’t think it would be this hard. The occupational health team recommended that I start back at 50%, and gradually increase over four weeks. Well I was feeling a bit optimistic when I agreed to Monday Inset day, then Tues-Fri mornings (as mornings are longer and busier than the afternoons)- quite a bit more than 50%! By the time I’ve arrived home each day I have been totally shattered (and I have had to save some brain powder for marking!). It is no surprise I suppose because the nature of being a teacher is that you can’t have a break when you feel you need it, so the mornings are non-stop (especially with all the rain= wet play so not even a morning breather for a few minutes). But because last week I was feeling more normal I really thought I would cope better with going back to work than I have.

Anyway, I have tried to keep up with a bit of walking as I think it is important to keep trying to get my strength back. Typically I have come home, zonked out for a bit, had some lunch and then had a walk a bit later on when I begin to feel more human.

Yesterday I put my running gear on (oh how I have missed you comfy Thoosa clothes), and decided that if I was feeling OK I would have a few jogging sections in my normal walk. My route is about 2 miles, and I know that I can walk it so I knew that if I could not manage the jogging then I would just walk it as normal. Anyway, I walked for 3 mins to warm up, and then did a tentative minute of slow jogging. It felt OK, so I did a few sections of approx. 3 minute jogging, 2 minute walking, and finished with a bit more walking. I was really conscious of my stomach area as I was jogging because the area around the cuts still feels stiff and sort of strange. But it felt OK, and I was pleased that I managed the full three minutes at a time. Coming from running a marathon last summer, and even running 10 miles non-stop in November it seems like a big set back, but seeing as I have not run, or done any exercise since the start of December (so nearly five months) then I am going to be pleased with it.

My back has been sore too (I think it is all the driving, and probably all the bending down at work too) so I spent some time doing some yoga stretches when I got home.

Anyway, I am going to ease back in very gently- perhaps do two runs per week at the moment, and walks on other days, until I feel that I can go our more frequently.

I also had a good suggestion to make a plan (thanks Lara) for how to get back to normal (with chores, walks etc on there too) so I am going to do that once I know my hours for next week.

Also, I have been asked to do a sponsored post about getting started with running (which fits perfectly with my rambles) so I hope you guys don’t mind- I will probably post that tomorrow.

Bye for now 🙂

Hey all. First of all please excuse me if this post does not make much sense- I was back to work this week, and it seems to have sucked all the energy out of my body and my brain.

I bought a few bits back from Bath:

Some Munchy seeds, Zest pesto (hurrah), Lime curd, chocolate covered marzipan, mini and normal foil cupcake cases, toffee drops (for in cookies) and some little loaf pans.

I put the loaf pans to good use last week:

I made up some sourdough bread, but then I divided the mixture in half, and to half I added some soaked raisins and cinnamon. To the other half I added some hemp seeds.

They came out pretty well, although I used half rye flour and they didn’t rise very much (but I have found that before with rye flour). Plus the silicone moulds means no sticking at all 🙂

I split one loaf in half while it was still warm and had it for breakfast with some cinnamon and raisin pb. Yum.

I had the other one another day with cinnamon raisin pb on one half, and apricot jam on the other half (I toasted it first).

I also decided (a bit late) to make some hot cross buns at the weekend. I had bought some dried apple (the lovely Urban Fruit stuff) as I wanted to have apple and cinnamon ones. I used the same recipe as last time from The Great British Bake-Off book, and just soaked the apples and some raisins in warm water first, so they plumped up a bit.

I even piped on the crosses (last time I left them as “hot buns” as I could not be bothered to do it).

All packaged up and ready to take over to Andy’s parents. We did keep a few for ourselves.

I tried one warm from the oven spread with some coconut butter and apricot jam.

Today I had one for lunch with some maple almond butter, and a pear. I toasted it under the grill for a bit first- yum.

The thing about fruity breads is that they are the perfect vehicle for nut butter 🙂

Rather optimistically I also charged my Garmin and Nike+ today. It is 6 weeks since my op, and the consultant did say I had to wait until then to start running again. So I was hoping to try a run/walk at some point this week. But going back to work has really put me back- I got home this afternoon and just sat and stared into space, needed a lie down and almost nodded off. I have not had an afternoon nap for weeks, yet I really felt like I needed on today. I really didn’t think going back to work would be that hard, and I was starting to feel more like my old self, and I think I have to realise that in fact I am not my old self and still need to build my strength up. No matter how active I tried to be whilst at home, it is not possible to replicate a day at work, so I would not know how tiring I would find it until I actually went back. Oh well, things can only get better as I get stronger I suppose.

Anyone had a hard time going back to work after having time off?

Be warned, there are quite a few photos!

On our way to Bath we stopped at a place called Avebury. We decided to join The National Trust (not just for the tearooms), and this was included and looked interesting. It is made up of lots of stone circles which were excavated and re-erected in the 1930’s.

There are loads of these massive stones everywhere, so we spent quite a bit of time wandering around different fields and taking photos.

Having some fun with them:

And having a rest in them:

That stone had a perfect “seat” in one side, so of course I had to have a go.

There is also a manor house which you could look around. They have made it interactive, and on entry to the house were told we could touch anything except the wallpaper in one room, but if we were to jump on the bed please remove our shoes first.

They had made an effort to make it interesting, with each room being set out for a different time period, and even dressing up clothes and hats, and a little hunt/quiz thing for children. I don’t normally like going in houses that much, but it was more interesting than most.

We had a stop in the tea room, and I bought a few bits in the shop (including some lime curd), had a banana at the car and then drove to Devizes. It is a pretty little market town, so we had a little wander (I found a shop selling that lovely Zest pesto), and then went for a walk along the canal, as there is a famous section of loads of locks as the canal has to go up and down a hill. I was getting quite tired as it was about 4.30pm, but luckily we found a tearoom so shared a teacake with cinnamon butter (did not want to spoil our dinner)- the nice sit down and tea recharged the batteries.

Then we walked back along the canal, had a little wander around the shops, and then decided to go to Pizza Express for dinner (and shock, I had a “new” salad with roasted veggies, lentils and goats cheese, instead of the usual goats cheese pizza).

The next day we headed into Bath (on the train as we stayed a little way out)- first up was Prior Park gardens, a mile uphill behind the station. It started off not too steep, but soon it was hard work! This was another National Trust place, and was worth the hard walk.

It was full of pretty gardens and water, and had amazing views of Bath.

Lots of woodlands:

They even did an Easter Egg hunt for the children.

But the views of Bath could not be beaten.

 

At least we had walked up to the entrance, so we got to walk downhill through the fields and gardens.

There is also a very impressive bridge (which you can see in the first photo- shows how high up it is).

Now, although I was tempted by the tearooms, Lucy had recommended to me Sally Lunn’s, so we headed straight there as I was in need of a sit down.

When we got there we only had to wait a few minutes for a table, but by the time we left (when we took photos) the queue was out of the door.

I could not resist trying one of the buns, which was like a brioche- I had mine with lemon curd, plus an Earl Grey tea (which I love but have not had for ages- then I kept seeing Phil have them and now I remember why it is the Queen of Teas). Now I am not sure if the photo does it justice, but the bun was huge- that is a dinner plate not a side plate. You can see my cup next to it to give it some scale. Anyway, it was delicious. The tearooms were very touristy, and sort of twee- the staff were all in old fashioned costumes, and we were in the Jane Austen room, but I liked it. Tea and cakes: what’s not to like? Plus it was proper loose leaf tea 🙂

After we left we went downstairs to the cellar, where they have a tiny museum which tells you the history of the bun (based on brioche, but with butter instead of lard- although I am sure now brioche is made with butter)- the lady who worked there told us some interesting facts, including that the pavement height was raised so suddenly all the ground-floor rooms were turned into cellars. You could also buy the buns to take home, but we resisted!

Pretend prize for spotting me in any photos stood around waiting for Andy to take loads of pictures. 

After that we had a nice walk around Bath, to the park. We sat by the river for a bit, and I did a spot of shopping (while Andy checked the football news on his phone!) and then had dinner at Giraffe.

The next day we drove to Southampton to watch the football, before heading home for Saturday evening. Even the journey was great as the fields were full of lambs gambolling about. It was a lovely couple of days- Bath is one of my favourite places to visit in the UK. It has a great mix of touristy things (on previous visits we have been to the Roman Baths, or up to the Royal Crescent, and we have yet to visit the spa), pretty buildings, little cafes, shops and restaurants. We were also lucky with the weather- it was cold and windy the first day, but the second day was lovely and sunny, and we had no rain at all.

Where do you like to go for a weekend away?