Week 7 - Poorly Ruby

Tuesday, 13 February

On Tuesday this week I went straight to the gym from work. I haven't been since last Friday when I hurt my knee and I was a bit worried about hurting it again but I bought some knee supports which seem to work pretty well as I didn't get any pain at all despite doing some deep squatting.

I also tried out the new Fitbit Charge which Duncan had won at work and it recorded an average heart rate of 118bpm for the hour long session.

When I got home after the gym, the kitchen floor was full of chunder. Poor Ruby had been sick everywhere. It wasn't just in the kitchen, it was in the hall and landing and in one of the spare bedrooms that she'd managed to get into. She isn't often sick and if she does ever throw up it's just once and then she's fine afterwards but she just kept throwing up this evening. She also didn't come to greet me at the door and just lay in her basket feeling sorry for herself.

After Duncan arrived home we decided to keep check on her and see whether she got any better but she just chundered again and then she started to pant a lot so we decided to take her to the out of hours vets over in Swinton. The vet there was lovely and he thinks that she may have pancreatitiis.


He gave her an injection of painkillers and anti sickness drugs and gave us some other drugs to give her and then told us that we need to feed her on boiled chicken and courgette for a couple of days and look after her. When we got her home and put her down on the kitchen floor, her legs seem to buckle under her. I was a bit worried about this but Duncan said 'don't worry, she's just smacked off her tits' so we just took her to bed and let her sleep it off. Hopefully she will get better soon. Fingers crossed for Ruby.

Thursday, 15 February

I stayed at home with Ruby all day yesterday and she seemed to feel better as the day went on.  No sick at all and I managed to get her eating.  She was still out of sorts but that was to be expected when she had thrown up so much the day before.



However, this morning, she had been sick again and continued to be sick.  I therefore stayed off work again and booked her into our own vets.



I took her in and they wanted to keep her in to monitor her and take blood samples so I had to take her over to their Westhoughton branch, where they kept her on a drip all day to rehydrate her.

As I sat in my office room, working from home, I kept looking down into her basket expecting her to be there.  It felt like part of me was missing.



The one silver lining is that I got to go for a decent run, which I haven't done in a good while.  Only a short one though as I was pushed for time.



I ran up the 'rocky road behind the school' up onto George's Lane then along to the ex dog kennels and, for the first time in ages, ran down through my favourite field. 



I was wearing my new Saucony Koa ST fell shoes and I have mixed views on them.  On soft ground, like my favourite field, they were great and the grip made me feel confident, however, on the harder ground I felt a bit like I was running on bricks.  I don't know whether a change of insole would help or whether they'll just soften up a bit after use but, at £105 I hope they start to feel a bit better. 



Later on, I picked Ruby back up and they still didn't know what was wrong with her, despite blood tests and x-rays and a whopping great big bill.  They just said to try to get her to drink and keep hydrated and bring her back in the morning.  She was sporting a very pretty yellow bandage with pictures of chicken on it!

Total distance - 3 miles


Saturday, 17 February

I had another day of staying at home looking after Ruby yesterday.  She seemed much better in the morning however still wasn't eating anything. 

I took her back to the vets at 9am and they took off her lovely chicken bandage and checked her over again.  They were pleased with her progress and gave me some medication and food to give her and sent us on our way. 

As the day went on she got better and better and I managed to gradually get her to start eating. 


This morning, she seemed back to her normal self.  Still only eating small amounts but was much more waggy tailed than she had been over the last few days.


I went to the UTUP this morning, something I haven't done for a very long time, and met up with EtU there. 


We firstly ran up to the Pike via the race route and then down the steps side and along the lane to the stile over to Noon Hill.  We climbed Noon Hill then went back down onto the lane, running along to the bridge to start our climb up Winter Hill Scar.  As we started ascending, we bumped into EYJ coming the other way.  After a brief chat, EYJ decided to go back up with us rather than continuing on down so we had a good natter as I haven't seen EYJ for absolutely ages.  It was lovely to have a catch up. 


Once at the top we went to the trig point and then ran down the mast road, towards Two Lads.  Before the turn off to Two Lads, EYJ said he was leaving and carried on down the mast road, however when we got up to the cairn, there he was again.  He said he'd had a change of mind but this time he really was leaving so he ran down back in the direction of the mast road and EtU and I ran down to Pike Cottage. 


From there, we had a second run up the Pike.  We were also going to have a second run up Noon Hill but got a bit strapped for time so decided to call it a day and ran back down to the cars. 


It was great catching up with EtU as, other than brief encounters out and about, it's been a long while since we had a good old natter.


Total distance - 8.3 miles


Once back at the car I was wondering whether or not I had enough time or energy to get my strength and conditioning session in as I hadn't managed to get there yesterday but the gym closes at 1pm on a Saturday and isn't open on a Sunday.  It was 11.45 so I decided I'd have enough time, even if I had to shorten the session a little so I drove over, arriving just before 12. 


I managed to get a decent session in, although missed out the deadlifting as I was a little wary after hurting my knee last week and seeing as I was already tired from having run further than I have run in a long time. 


Stats:


Week's total running distance:        11.3 miles (wow, double figures!)
Week's total walking distance:        0 (save for standard Ruby walks - although not many of those this week)
Week's total cycling distance:         0
Week's total swimming distance:    0
Total number of S&C sessions:      2

Week 6 - Gym Bunny / Anglezarke Amble

After not getting any strength and conditioning sessions in for the past two weeks I was determined to get there at least three times this week to make up for it. 

Monday, 5 February

I finished work an hour early today so that I could go straight to the gym and still be home at around the same time as I would normally, so as not to leave Ruby on her own for too long.  I thought that I’d be useless given my two weeks off, but I was feeling surprisingly strong.  I upped the weight on the sled pull by 10kgs and still felt I could do more.  Unfortunately, the 20m track in the gym where I do my tyre flip sprints was being used by somebody else so I was very limited on space and didn’t really have much distance to get a decent sprint in.  

When I go to the gym, or do other exercise, I always feel really invigorated afterwards and I spent my drive home thinking about stopping off and going for a run, however I had to get back to Ruby so as soon as I walked through the front door, I got her on her running harness and just had a jog round the block with her. 

Distance – 1.3 miles

Wednesday, 7 February

I was working from home today so went to the gym first thing, arriving at just after 7am. 

IT WAS FREEZING!!!!

There is no heating in the gym and the thermometer was reading -3 degrees!  I did my entire workout whilst still wearing gloves and a beanie hat.  I only took my hoody off after 45 minutes but still had a long sleeved top and a t-shirt on.  It makes you work harder when it’s so cold though because I spent my rest periods between sets running up and down the track, although that’s probably not what is defined by the term rest period.

This evening I went for a walk up to Two Lads with Ruby.  We went up along the edge of Wilderswood onto George’s Lane then walked along to the kennels and up from there.  There was a thin layer of snow on the ground but it wasn’t slippery.  We came back down the water tanks side and went through the middle of Wilderswood to get home.

Distance – 3 miles

Friday, 9 February

Back to the gym again straight from work today, really pleased with myself for managing to get here three times this week without talking myself out of it.  I again worked through my lunch and finished an hour early so that I could get back to Ruby in good time, it’s a good job I have an understanding boss who lets me work flexible hours to get my training in.  I’m really lucky in that respect. 

The session didn’t go as well as hoped though.  On my third of four sets of deadlifting, I got a sharp pain in my left knee.  I don’t know what I did wrong but it was really sore.  I decided not to carry on with the deadlifts and instead move on to the sled pull but as soon as I started to pull it, which involves a slight bend in the knees, the sharp pain was there again.  I’m hopeful it’s nothing serious and just a twinge but, as I’m booked to do the Anglezarke Amble tomorrow, I decided to take it easy and move on to some arm and abs work instead.  The arms bit was fine but when I tried to do plate abs that also hurt my knee.  I did a few crunches (even though I know they’re not great for the back) and called it a day.  Driving home hurt my knee too though whenever I pressed the clutch pedal. 

Do you think if I gave up exercise and just lazed around on the couch every day I’d still get injured?

Saturday, 10 February – Anglezarke Amble

This is my third time doing the Anglezarke Amble (missed it last year due to a holiday), but my first walking it.  Due to a number of errands I had to run today,  I decided to just do the 16 mile Amble route, which I’ve never done before. 

It turned out that I didn't even manage the short route though, pulling out 1.5 miles in when I reached the Pike.

As mentioned yesterday, I hurt my knee at the gym.  Last night I iced it and kept it elevated.  It felt fine walking, just had the odd twinge going up stairs.  I decided to start the Amble today anyway and see how I got on.

All the way up to the Pike I was having an internal battle about carrying on because whenever I got to a steep part or a step, there was a bit of pain.  The thing is, it wasn't a lot of pain, more of a dull ache, meaning it wasn't an easy decision to make.  The steps up to the Pike were pretty slippery with a very fine layer of ice on them.  When I got to the top, I knew it was decision time.  Speaking to other walkers, they all had conflicting opinions, some saying 'you've done the worst bit now so just carry on' and others saying 'it's not worth it, it's really slippery underfoot so you'll only end up jarring it and making it worse'. 

I knew that to pull out would upset me but I decided it was the right thing to do.  I still don't think it is a serious injury and will probably wear off after a day or so but is it worth carrying on for a walk that a) I've done before a few times, b) I could do at any time because it's on my doorstep c) there were absolutely zero views because of thick fog d) the weather was rubbish (although I like being out in the rain so that's no reason) and e) was really slippery underfoot so ran the risk of making a minor injury into a major injury resulting in yet more time off running/walking.

Decision made, I headed back down the same way as I had come up.

As I got past the barn and started heading down to the road, the runners started coming towards me, as they set off an hour later than the walkers.  There were many familiar faces there which made my walk of shame even worse.

After a natter with EtU about buffs and underpants (?!), I carried on back to base where I found that I wasn't even the first drop out... I was the third!

I hung around for a while chatting to the good folk from the West Lancs LDWA until Duncan came to pick me up and drive me home for a warming brew and a cuddle with Ruby.

Still hopeful that the knee thing is nothing bad but I've put myself a couple of supports to wear next time I'm deadlifting.

Distance - a pathetic 3 miles

Lazy pyjama day on Sunday.

Stats:

Week’s total running distance:                            1.3 miles 

Week’s total walking distance:                           6 (plus daily standard Ruby walks)

Week’s total cycling  distance:                           0

Week’s total swimming distance:                       0

Total number of S&C sessions:                          3


Not a productive week distance-wise.  Must try harder! 

Week 5 - VERY Lazy Week

I barely did any exercise this week, save for walking Ruby and walking home from the train station.  Without having my van (which is still having its gearbox sorted) I couldn’t get to the gym.  That’s no excuse for not running though.  I don’t have an excuse for that.

Friday, 2 February

I managed to get out for a short run with Ruby today as I was climbing the walls without doing any exercise.  We only ran out towards Rivington Barn though but as I had forgotten a torch and it was getting dark, I had to cut the run short and head through the Pinetum and back home.

Distance – 2.5 miles

Sunday, 4 February

Duncan, Ruby and I stayed at the Langdale NT campsite last night in the van as Duncan was meeting some friends today in Torver for an MTB ride.  As we’re not Camping and Caravanning Club members, we were turned away from the campsite at the Church House Inn in Torver.  I didn’t mind as the campsite at Langdale is much more scenic anyway and we had some good grub in the Old Dungeon Ghyll last night. 

Whilst Duncan went riding, I hitched Ruby up to her harness and waist lead, got out my OS map and headed up Walna Scar.  I’ve never been up that way before it and was a lovely walk, especially higher up where there was quite a lot of snow underfoot.  When we got to the path junction, I decided against turning right to go up Brown Pike as Ruby seemed to be struggling a little, possibly due to the fact that she hadn’t eaten since Friday night.  She doesn’t like to eat whilst camping, possibly because she’s out of her routine.  I had some food in my pocket for her though and kept feeding her bits of this throughout the walk but she still didn’t have much of it.  Instead, we turned left and walked up to a summit called White Maiden.  After enjoying the view, we headed back down again but returned to Torver via a different route.  When walking downhill through a farm field, I slipped in some mud and ended up on my backside, jarring my left wrist slightly.  At first, I thought I’d broken it but the numbness soon wore off and it felt OK, if a little stiff. 

I arrived back at the van before Duncan so I put Ruby’s little jacket on as by now she was feeling the cold and made myself a cup of tea.  I sat reading my book until a van pulled up at the side of me and a couple got out with mountain bikes, one of which had a wicker basket attached to the front.  I thought the basket seemed a bit odd on a mountain bike but I then  saw that the reason for this is that there was a little puppy nestled in it!  Obviously I had to get out of the van to go and make a fuss of said puppy which it turned out was a baby Patterdale Terrier.  As my own Patterdale Terrier is a complete and utter menace, I left her in the van because her dislike of other dogs isn’t discriminatory and she would still go for a puppy.

Distance – 7 miles

Stats:

Week’s total running distance:               2.5 miles

Week’s total walking distance:               7 (plus daily standard Ruby walks)

Week’s total cycling  distance:               0

Week’s total swimming distance:           0

Total number of S&C sessions:              0

Week 4 - That's Lyth

Monday, 22 January

Strength and conditioning session today followed straight away by a tough altitude spin session . Really did feel those squats!

Tuesday, 23 January

I have no van at the minute as it’s in having a new gearbox (yikes, expensive!) so I’m having to find alternative ways of getting home from the train station.  Today I decided to run home.  I wasn’t looking forward to this as I really dislike road running nowadays.  I ran around the back of the shops on the Middlebrook and up the hill into the new estate where Chortex used to be.  I then got onto Chorley New Road and headed towards Horwich centre.  As I was passing the RMI club, a couple of teenage lads started running alongside me saying the usually phrases such as ‘get those knees up love’ and ‘you’re not very fast are you’.  Is it frowned up to swear at kids?  When I arrived a the traffic lights by Aldi, I decided to turn right so I didn’t have to stop and them and then turned in at the side of Co-op, along the back roads, coming out by the V&A.  As I wanted to get the run up to at least three miles, I headed towards Lever Park Avenue and then onto Fernhead. 

My newfound favourite band, Massive Wagons, helped me through the run.  Great running tunes and helped with the tedium.  I never listen to music whilst running off road but it’s definitely necessary on the roads as they’re just too boring otherwise.

Distance – 3 miles

Thursday, 25 January

Yet another run up ‘the rocky road behind the school’ today but without Ruby for a change.  It seems to be becoming quite a staple run, even though I don’t like the terrain.  Just a short one up onto George’s Lane then back down through Wilderswood and home.  I felt really strong on the climb and have definitely noticed a difference when I’m running uphill since starting my strength and conditioning sessions. 

Distance – 3 miles

I took Ruby out for a walk this afternoon, pretty much going the opposite way to which I had run this morning. 

Distance – 3.2 miles

Weekend – Friday, 27 January to Sunday, 29 January

This weekend I have booked myself a couple of nights in a B&B in Kendal (Lyndhurst Guest House) as I’m doing the That’s Lyth LDWA Challenge Event on Sunday.  I went up on the train and on Friday and Saturday I just lazed around really, did a bit of shopping, went to the cinema (first time I have ever been to the cinema on my own) to kill a couple of hours when it was pouring with rain, ate a lot of cake and generally had a lovely weekend. 

Whilst sitting in my room on the Friday night, I made the executive decision that I didn’t want to do the Red Rose 50 this year.  In all honesty, I’m getting a bit bored of the local routes as I do them too many times, what with the Anglezarke Amble and Two Crosses, plus being on them all the time running/walking on my own. 

On Sunday morning my lovely landlady, Yvonne, got up early to make me breakfast at 7am before I went to the start of the event.  After breakfast I headed over to Abbot Hall Social Club to register.  I was chatting to Lawrence P whilst there and he told me about a new event called ‘A Foot in Two Dales’ which was another 50 miler and was taking place in July.  I decided that I was going to enter that instead of the Red Rose 50 as it is a completely new area to me so it would be nice to have a change of scenery.

I did That’s Lyth a couple of years ago with YJ and really enjoyed it but today I would be walking and not running.  Like the Hebden, it was incredibly muddy underfoot and the aim of the day was to stay upright which, again, I just about managed. 

I have discovered that I’m a much better walker than I am a runner.  In fact, I often finish these events BEFORE runners do and today was no exception.  It took me 6 hours 17 minutes to walk the 24 miles which I’m pretty pleased with as I didn’t feel like I was rushing at all. 

I can’t believe this event only costs £5 for LDWA members.  The amount of food you get for that is unbelievable, including hotdogs (which are actually hot) at the second checkpoint and a hot meal at the finish.  Definitely great value for money!

Distance – 24 miles

Stats:

Week’s total running distance:               6 miles

Week’s total walking distance:               27.2 miles (plus daily standard Ruby walks)

Week’s total cycling  distance:               0

Week’s total swimming distance:                       0

Total number of S&C sessions:               1

Week 3 - The Hebden

Monday, 15 January

Strength and conditioning workout today.

Tuesday, 16 January

Another slow plod with Ruby after work today.  We went up the ‘rocky road behind the school’ again then just ran along George’s Lane and down through Wilderswood.  Nothing exciting to report. 

Distance – 3.1 miles

Wednesday, 17 January

Altitude spin session tonight.  Really tough session although a bit of decent rock music saw me through. 

Friday, 19 January

I was on a half day at work today so I went straight to the gym on my way home for my strength and conditioning workout.

Afterwards, I took Ruby for a nice afternoon walk up to Two Lads. 

Distance – 3 miles

Saturday, 20 January – The Hebden

Today I took part in The Hebden, an LDWA challenge event in, you guessed it, Hebden Bridge.  Last year I did the full 21 mile route but this year I had to do the shorter, 15 miles route due to logistical issues.  I got a lift there with Mark S and we discussed the Red Rose 50 we had both done in September last year.  At the time of hobbling to the finish together, we had made a pact that we would definitely not enter this year’s event due to the fact that we were very unhappy at the end of it.  However, we have both already forgotten the pain and both said that we were going to enter again this year.  Perhaps this is a bit like how women say you forget the pain of childbirth?

Due to icy roads and an accident on the M60, we only just arrived in Mytholmroyd in time for the start.  Seconds after I got out of the car, I slipped on some black ice and let out a girly yelp, threw my water bottle into the air and it narrowly missed a car coming along the road.  Not a good start!  

The route itself turned out not to be that slippery though.  Well, not in an icy way, however it was a complete mud bath so it was slippery in that respect and the main goal of the day was to remain upright which I’m glad to say I achieved.  About seven or eight miles in a lady started walking with me as she had been deserted by her partner who was doing the long route and was running.  She was only walking the short route and had no directions so was relying on me to get her around.  We kept coming across other people who were hanging back waiting for me because I was the ‘lady with the directions’ and it got me thinking about how bizarre it is that so many people take part in these events without having a clue where they’re actually going and not taking any directions or maps with them.  One of them even seemed really surprised as to where I had got the directions from, even though it’s standard for all LDWA challenge events to have a directions sheet and that they’re not marshalled. 

The checkpoint where you decided whether to do the long route or the short route is about 14 miles in on the Hebden so if you choose to do the short route you only have about 1.5 miles to go to the finish which is quite nice as, quite often on these events, the decision has to be made only six or seven miles in, by which point you may not know which route you want to take as you’re still feeling really fresh.  Unfortunately, I was still feeling fresh and wanted to continue on the long route but as I was being picked up by Duncan and my brother, who had to get across to south Manchester before 4pm to pick up a new bike for my brother, I had to stay on the short route and head back.  Annoyingly though, I arrived back at around 1pm and didn’t get picked up until around 3pm, meaning I could have done the long route after all!

Distance – 15.2 miles

Sunday, 21 January

I had a very cold walk this morning with Ruby.  We again went up ‘the rocky road behind the school’ then headed up to the Pike.  It was bitterly cold up there and Ruby was not a happy bunny.  I decided that I’d have a bit of a run back down to try to keep her warm but because I had rubbish un-grippy shoes on, we ran down the ‘curly’ route instead of going straight down. 

Distance – 4 miles

Stats:

Week’s total running distance:               3.1 miles

Week’s total walking distance:               22.2 (plus daily standard Ruby walks)

Week’s total cycling  distance:               21km on spin bike  

Week’s total swimming distance:           0

Total number of S&C sessions:              2

Week 2 – New Strength and Conditioning Programme

Monday, 8 January

Another altitude spin session today before attending the Horwich RMI committee meeting. 

Wednesday, 10 January

On the way to this morning’s coached strength and conditioning session, I decided to have a short run stating from Horrobin Lane.  I just ran along The Street, out onto Knowsley Lane then up Parson’s Bullough Road, turning onto the footpath along the side of Yarrow Reservoir, back into Rivington.  To say I felt sluggish is an understatement.  My average pace for the run was 10.18 minute mile but it felt really hard work.  I can’t even say it was that hilly, other than the bit on Parsons Bullough Road.  Hopefully I’m just having an off day!

Distance – 3 miles

As a bit of background to my strength and conditioning training, every six weeks I have a new programme set by way of two coached sessions.  I then do those two sessions each week for six weeks before the programme completely changes again.  This is a) to keep it fresh and interesting and b) so you don’t get stale keep working the same muscles.  Every six weeks my workouts get harder and harder.  They also seem to be getting more energetic. 

Today, Barry took me through my programme.  There are only two staff members at my gym: Dave, the owner, and Barry, Dave’s right hand man.  My first new session consists of:

•         Kettlebell single leg deadlifts, followed by kettle bell swings.
•         Single leg step backs/drive through on the ‘landmine’, followed by bar rotations with swinger weights.
•         Military press (with bands hanging from barbell and dumbbells hanging from the bands to create an imbalance) followed by prone band pulls (in plank position).
•         Bench squats followed by box jumps.
•         Reebok step medley – steps ups/shoulder step ups/cross-overs/alternative leg bounds.

The bit at the end with the Reebok step was really tiring and it is timed so I have to try to be quicker each time. 

Friday, 12 January

Altitude spin class tonight.  I love the Friday class, it really sets me up for the weekend and makes me feel like I deserve that pizza and wine for tea all the more. 

Saturday, 13 January

My second coached strength and conditioning workout. Dave took the session this time and my personalised plan for my second session consists of:

•        Single leg squats on the hoops, followed by hurdle jumps.
•         Trap bar dead lifts, followed by bunny hops along track.
•         Standing sled pull.
•         Standing cable flyes, followed by lateral pull downs.
•         Tyre flip / sprints.
•         Plate abs followed by ‘dead bugs’.

I’m currently dead lifting 60kgs which I’m pretty pleased with.  When I first started these sessions I could only deadlift the trap bar itself without any weights on it (40kg) and even that felt incredibly heavy so I’m quite pleased with my progress. 

Stats:

Week’s total running distance:               3 miles

Week’s total walking distance:               0 (save for daily standard Ruby walks)

Week’s total cycling  distance:               21km on spin bike  

Week’s total swimming distance:           0

Total number of S&C sessions:              2

Week 1 - Revival

After taking a year off, I’ve decided to revive my blog but it’s going to be a bit different to how it was before.  I was finding it difficult to blog every time I went out so I have decided to just do one blog each week, on a Sunday. 

I’ll keep the title of the blog as it is for now although, due to injury, I’m not really doing much running at the minute and haven’t been for the past 20 months!  I do the odd three or four miles now and then but that’s about it.  Ruby comes with me some of the time but she’s even slower than me and constantly stops to sniff EVERYTHING so it takes around forty minutes just to run three miles! 

As it was before, this blog is really just my own personal training diary however I know that some people did enjoy reading it and probably got a good insight into just how crazy I actually am. 

Hopefully, it will show some progression back to some decent running!

Monday, 1 January – Starting the year as I hope to go on!

I was determined to get out today to start the year with a run.  There was no fear of a hangover as I spent last night curled up on the couch with Ruby watching TV (Duncan was out in Hebden Bridge) and was in bed before midnight.  Such a party girl!

I just had a leisurely jog up the hill with Ruby.  We skirted the side of Wilderswood then went up towards Two Lads but turned right at the water tanks, crossing the mast road into Smithills Estate.  We then did a bit of a loop crossing the stream and back out further up the mast road, then ran up to Two Lads ‘the back way’.  We then ran down to the kennels and went back home zigzagging through Wilderswood. 

Distance – 4 miles

Tuesday, 2 January

First strength and conditioning session of the year!

Friday, 5 January

First altitude spin class of the year! 

I’ve been going to altitude spin sessions for around three years now.  To say it’s hard work is an understatement!  No workout I have ever done comes close to the exhaustion I feel in this class.  I really do push myself and end up covered in sweat by the end.  It’s literally dripping off my nose!

I do this class at Sportesse-PT in Chorley.  It’s the only place I know of that has an altitude chamber which is basically a small room with the oxygen sucked out of it.  Even the hardiest of cyclists are knackered by the time they come out.

Saturday, 6 January

Today is my last strength and conditioning workout for this six week programme.  It all changes next week when I have my two booked sessions with Dave.  I wonder how he’ll try to kill me this time?

Sunday, 7 January

I had a lovely slow plod with Ruby this morning.  That’s all I ever seem to do running-wise these days – slow plodding!  I never was quick, but I was much quicker than I am now. 

I hadn’t actually set out to run this morning, just to walk but I was feeling strong so decided to have a bit of a jog.  I wasn’t really dressed for running though as, whilst I had running leggings on, I was wearing my Horwich RMI hoodie and had no bag to offload it into.  I was running that slowly though that I didn’t actually get too hot. 

We ran up what I call, ‘the rocky road behind the school’.  It’s the path which starts behind Rivington and Blackrod School and heads up towards Rivington Terraced Gardens.  It’s horrible underfoot as it’s really rocky but I do quite enjoy going that way up to George’s Lane.  Once on George’s Lane, we ran along towards the kennels where, embarrassingly, I was passed at speed by a fellow Horwich runner.  We then turned off and headed up to Two Lads before heading back home through Wilderswood. 

Distance – 4 miles

Stats:

Week’s total running distance:               8 miles

Week’s total walking distance:               0 (save for daily standard Ruby walks)

Week’s total cycling  distance:               20km on spin bike

Week’s total swimming distance:           0

Total number of S&C sessions:              2