Today Ruby's new lead arrived. It's a hands free lead which goes around the waist and has a bungee on it to act as a kind of shock absorber.
We set off along to the barn and all was great, it felt amazing not to have my arm pulled around left right and centre. Even when there was another dog up front and Ruby started pulling, it still wasn't as much of a problem as when I run with the lead in my hand.
The problem started when we went up the narrow path to the side of Sheephouse Lane. Ruby just trotted along in front and wouldn't move any faster but it meant that the lead between me and her was dragging on the floor so I had to hold it further along. Usually I have her on an extension lead so when she is running close to me, the lead automatically reels in but this obviously isn't the case with this lead so I found I had to either keep holding it, or trip over it!
This went on for a great deal of our run and I found myself getting more and more annoyed and taking this out on Ruby by shouting at her to go faster. If I ran past her to encourage her to go faster, she would then just go round the back of me and along the other side so I had to keep spinning around to avoid the lead getting wrapped around my legs.
I'll persevere with it, as it was pretty expensive, but I must say I was a bit disappointed. I really did enjoy the lack of arm ache though so I hope I can master some kind of technique with it as I really don't want to go back to the hand held lead.
Mileage has been incredibly low this week (only about 10.5 miles so far) but I now feel really rested and ready for my two races this weekend. I've also eaten really well lately and have replaced all my unhealthy snacks with healthier (but not necessarily low cal) alternatives so hopefully that will pay off in the races.
Total distance - 5.35 miles
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Speed
On account of the huge pea and paneer curry with rice and naan I had for lunch today, I thought I'd better really make an effort on today's run.
Stomach still pretty full and complete with a strange burning sensation, off Ruby and I set along to the barn. Usually when I do any kind of speedwork, I choose a route which is reasonably flat and with with even terrain. Today, however, I decided to do my speed session on the kind of terrain I like to race on, i.e. hills and trails.
We did a mile warm up and then did 5 x 1 minute bursts of speed with 1 minute recovery x 3 sets (15 minutes of speed altogether). The first four were the best as it was reasonably flat for these. The fifth one, however, was the worst of the lot but this wasn't so much to do with the fact that it was slightly uphill but more due to it taking place on a very narrow path where Ruby trotted along in front and wouldn't go any faster. I couldn't get past her so had to write that one off really.
The rest were all reasonably similar and all in all I was really pleased with our performance as it was pretty rocky underfoot and practically all uphill. It was really hard work and I feel like we had a great session which left us both pretty worn out.
We then warmed down for the mile and a half back home and, once home, I did some core, glute and arm work.
Total distance - 5.55 miles
Stomach still pretty full and complete with a strange burning sensation, off Ruby and I set along to the barn. Usually when I do any kind of speedwork, I choose a route which is reasonably flat and with with even terrain. Today, however, I decided to do my speed session on the kind of terrain I like to race on, i.e. hills and trails.
We did a mile warm up and then did 5 x 1 minute bursts of speed with 1 minute recovery x 3 sets (15 minutes of speed altogether). The first four were the best as it was reasonably flat for these. The fifth one, however, was the worst of the lot but this wasn't so much to do with the fact that it was slightly uphill but more due to it taking place on a very narrow path where Ruby trotted along in front and wouldn't go any faster. I couldn't get past her so had to write that one off really.
The rest were all reasonably similar and all in all I was really pleased with our performance as it was pretty rocky underfoot and practically all uphill. It was really hard work and I feel like we had a great session which left us both pretty worn out.
We then warmed down for the mile and a half back home and, once home, I did some core, glute and arm work.
Total distance - 5.55 miles
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Happy Birthday Ruby!
Yes, today is Ruby's 8th Birthday! We took her to Rivington this morning to celebrate with a bout of tennis ball throwing, which is Ruby's most favouite activity.
I left Duncan and Ruby to it and decided to go for a run on my own for a change, so I set off from Rivington towards Lead Mines Clough. Sluggish is not the word for how I felt this morning. I just had no climb in my legs at all. I wouldn't mind but I was only going up a very slight incline but I was really struggling. This may have something to do with the amount of wine I consumed last night, who knows. As I was feeling OK on the flat and downhill bits I decided to make the most of my run and have something of a farlek session. I ran all the flat and donwhill bits at speed and any uphill bits I just jogged. It turned out to be quite a good session actually.
I got to Lead Mines Clough, ran though it then turned round and retraced by steps back to Rivington. Duncan and Ruby had by now already left to I carried on and ran home, still doing my farlek.
I must say, I was positively knackered by the time I got home and felt like what could have been a terrible session, actually turned into a useful one.
Total distance - 6 miles
Week's total distance - 32.1 miles
Ruby has been pampered all day and has had a good few meaty treats and she's now curled up next to me on the couch, exhausted from her tennis ball activities. Here's a pic of her scoffing some kind of log shaped treat...
I left Duncan and Ruby to it and decided to go for a run on my own for a change, so I set off from Rivington towards Lead Mines Clough. Sluggish is not the word for how I felt this morning. I just had no climb in my legs at all. I wouldn't mind but I was only going up a very slight incline but I was really struggling. This may have something to do with the amount of wine I consumed last night, who knows. As I was feeling OK on the flat and downhill bits I decided to make the most of my run and have something of a farlek session. I ran all the flat and donwhill bits at speed and any uphill bits I just jogged. It turned out to be quite a good session actually.
I got to Lead Mines Clough, ran though it then turned round and retraced by steps back to Rivington. Duncan and Ruby had by now already left to I carried on and ran home, still doing my farlek.
I must say, I was positively knackered by the time I got home and felt like what could have been a terrible session, actually turned into a useful one.
Total distance - 6 miles
Week's total distance - 32.1 miles
Ruby has been pampered all day and has had a good few meaty treats and she's now curled up next to me on the couch, exhausted from her tennis ball activities. Here's a pic of her scoffing some kind of log shaped treat...
Saturday, 22 February 2014
'Fell' Running
We set off nice and early this morning for our long run and I had no idea where the run would take us. Usually I plan my route in advance but today I just went with the flow.
We set off and started to climb up to George's Lane through Wilderswood. I must admit I was feeling really sluggish right from the off and was wondering whether this long run would actually turn into a not so long run. Once up on George's Lane though I started to feel a bit better and we headed off up the path to Two Lads but turned right once we got to the water thingy (not sure what it's called but there's a metal grate over it). We then crossed the mast road and headed off along the top of Montcliffe Stone Quarries, then turned left through the kissing gate. We then got to a T junction and I couldn't decide which way to go. Do we go left, a way we have been many times before...
Obviously right won so I got my map out of my bum bag and off we went.
I must admit I lost my bearings at one point and have just been looking at my map now to work out how I went wrong, which is actually really obvious and I'm not sure how I managed it. I came out onto a road and for some reason, I was looking at the wrong road on the map. We didn't get lost or anything because I could always see the mast so knew which way I would need to head but, after going through Walker Fold Woods, out onto Colliers Row Road for 50 or so metres, then up to Sheep Cote Green Farm and along to Smithills Dean, we eventually came out on a road which we went left along and arrived at the Trespass Stone so I then knew exactly where we were.
We then headed past the Shooting Hut and up to Scotsman's Stump. From there, we headed up to the trig point and then towards Hordern Stoops. Here, we bumped into John Parker, who kindly took a picture of us with Belmont Reservoir in the background.
We left John and headed off down Hordern Stoops.
Not long after this picture was taken, I slipped on some mud and fell right onto my backside. This has never happened to me before. I've had a few near misses but have always managed to right myself and have never gone completely down. It's funny because I had been running along with my camera in my hand and about a minute before my fall, I was thinking to myself that if I fell I might break my camera. I didn't break the camera.
After landing in a muddy bog, the first thing I did, obviously, was look around to see if anybody had witnessed this incident. Luckily there wasn't a soul in sight so I picked myself up and carried on.
My left bum cheek was now pretty cold but it soon warmed back up and we got to the bottom of Hordern Stoops and ran along Rivington Road to the end of Belmont Road. We continued along Belmont Road and I stopped to take a picture of where we had been...
...and another one of where we were going...
Not long after this picture was taken, I took another tumble! This time it was a trip not a slip and I went flying, ending up in a very big muddy puddle not far from the Pigeon Tower. Again, I did a quick scan round to see if anybody saw but again I got lucky.
Left bum cheek again very cold, we continued along to the Pigeon Tower, then along George's Lane and up to the Pike.
On the way up to the Pike a lady was walking her Chocolate Lab and it came bounding over to Ruby. I warned the lady that Ruby could be quite snappy but she just gave me a dirty look and carried on. She didn't make any attempt to stop her dog though, which wasn't on a lead (Ruby was) and it ran up to Ruby and then Ruby, as I said she would, snapped at it and a bit of a scuffle ensued, meaning I had to stop running and unwrap the lead from round my legs Again, the woman did nothing and just carried on walking, not even calling to her dog or anything. Some people are just so rude!
After reaching the top of the Pike we then ran the curly route back down (I avoid the steep route when with Ruby as it's just a recipe for disaster) and back onto George's Lane. We then ran home, skirting the edge of Wilderswood.
I felt fine after my two falls but as I'm sat here typing this, my left hip is starting to get quite stiff as I think I might have twisted funny on the first fall. Ah well, at least it takes the emphasis off my right hip which is the one I have a longstanding problem with!
Total distance - 11.2 miles.
We set off and started to climb up to George's Lane through Wilderswood. I must admit I was feeling really sluggish right from the off and was wondering whether this long run would actually turn into a not so long run. Once up on George's Lane though I started to feel a bit better and we headed off up the path to Two Lads but turned right once we got to the water thingy (not sure what it's called but there's a metal grate over it). We then crossed the mast road and headed off along the top of Montcliffe Stone Quarries, then turned left through the kissing gate. We then got to a T junction and I couldn't decide which way to go. Do we go left, a way we have been many times before...
Or do we go right, somewhere we have never been...
I must admit I lost my bearings at one point and have just been looking at my map now to work out how I went wrong, which is actually really obvious and I'm not sure how I managed it. I came out onto a road and for some reason, I was looking at the wrong road on the map. We didn't get lost or anything because I could always see the mast so knew which way I would need to head but, after going through Walker Fold Woods, out onto Colliers Row Road for 50 or so metres, then up to Sheep Cote Green Farm and along to Smithills Dean, we eventually came out on a road which we went left along and arrived at the Trespass Stone so I then knew exactly where we were.
We then headed past the Shooting Hut and up to Scotsman's Stump. From there, we headed up to the trig point and then towards Hordern Stoops. Here, we bumped into John Parker, who kindly took a picture of us with Belmont Reservoir in the background.
We left John and headed off down Hordern Stoops.
Not long after this picture was taken, I slipped on some mud and fell right onto my backside. This has never happened to me before. I've had a few near misses but have always managed to right myself and have never gone completely down. It's funny because I had been running along with my camera in my hand and about a minute before my fall, I was thinking to myself that if I fell I might break my camera. I didn't break the camera.
After landing in a muddy bog, the first thing I did, obviously, was look around to see if anybody had witnessed this incident. Luckily there wasn't a soul in sight so I picked myself up and carried on.
My left bum cheek was now pretty cold but it soon warmed back up and we got to the bottom of Hordern Stoops and ran along Rivington Road to the end of Belmont Road. We continued along Belmont Road and I stopped to take a picture of where we had been...
...and another one of where we were going...
Not long after this picture was taken, I took another tumble! This time it was a trip not a slip and I went flying, ending up in a very big muddy puddle not far from the Pigeon Tower. Again, I did a quick scan round to see if anybody saw but again I got lucky.
Left bum cheek again very cold, we continued along to the Pigeon Tower, then along George's Lane and up to the Pike.
On the way up to the Pike a lady was walking her Chocolate Lab and it came bounding over to Ruby. I warned the lady that Ruby could be quite snappy but she just gave me a dirty look and carried on. She didn't make any attempt to stop her dog though, which wasn't on a lead (Ruby was) and it ran up to Ruby and then Ruby, as I said she would, snapped at it and a bit of a scuffle ensued, meaning I had to stop running and unwrap the lead from round my legs Again, the woman did nothing and just carried on walking, not even calling to her dog or anything. Some people are just so rude!
After reaching the top of the Pike we then ran the curly route back down (I avoid the steep route when with Ruby as it's just a recipe for disaster) and back onto George's Lane. We then ran home, skirting the edge of Wilderswood.
I felt fine after my two falls but as I'm sat here typing this, my left hip is starting to get quite stiff as I think I might have twisted funny on the first fall. Ah well, at least it takes the emphasis off my right hip which is the one I have a longstanding problem with!
Total distance - 11.2 miles.
Friday, 21 February 2014
I'm My Own Worst Enemy
As I write this, my head is filled with the Pink song…
It’s so true to me though. I really am my own worst enemy. During the day, my head is filled with all these great intentions and ideas of how I can improve my running and incorporate drills and strength training, etc, but when I get home from work, all my motivation is gone and I just want to flop onto the couch, eat my tea and chill out. Then I wonder why I never get any faster. I need to win the lottery or have a really flexible job where I can work from home so that I can do my training in my own time as and when I please. For example, at around 10.00am every day, I’ll be sat at my desk itching to go for a run but, by the time I get home, I really have to force myself to go out because by then I’m just too tired. I wish I could just run/train when the feeling takes me. Work really does get in the way. I worked from home on Wednesday and, as mentioned in my blog, this enabled me to get in two runs and I also did a bit of yoga too, but I still managed to get in a full seven hours of work. If only I could work from home every day. Not sure the bosses would go for that though.
I also have thoughts of joining a gym in Manchester so that I can do a workout during the day and not encroach onto my evenings but 1) I hate gyms and don’t want to spend money going to one and 2) I feel like by the time I have got there, got changed, showered, got changed again and walked back to work, there is very little time left for the actual workout. Again, I’m making excuses – I'm a hazard to myself!
If I annoy myself this much, I feel really sorry for the rest of you who have to listen to this. Just tell me to shut up in future and do us all a favour. (Seriously Andy, stop laughing!)
Plan: Concerted effort – no sitting on the couch before 8.00pm in future:
4.30 - get home from work
4.45 – run
6.00 - warm down
6.15 - strength exercises/drills/yoga
7.00 – shower
7.15 - cook tea
7.45 - eat tea at the kitchen breakfast bar
8.00 – go into the living room and chill!
I actually wrote this part of my blog whilst I was on lunch at work so by the time I get home later I’m sure it will be more like:
4.30 - get home from work
4.45 – force myself to go for a run
6.00 - warm down in a hurried fashion as I'm starving
6.15 - shower
7.00 – throw tea in microwave/order take away delivery
7.15 – sit on backside on couch
7.30 – eat tea whilst sitting on backside on couch
8.00 – fall asleep on couch
Turning to tonight’s run, surprisingly it wasn't a case of having to force myself out the door. I did get a little delayed getting out as I was nattering with a neighbour but, once out, all was well. We just had a steady run along to the top barn then up onto George's Lane. I got chatting to a bloke with a couple of dogs half way up 'The Driveway' so it was getting later and later and I decided that I'd better cut my run slightly shorter as I wanted to try to get home before it got pitch black because I wasn't sure Duncan had charged my head torch. He keeps using it and 1) not charging it and 2) stretching the head band with his giant head. I have repeatedly banned him from using it but this ban appears to be falling on deaf ears.
Whilst running along to the barn we stopped to take a picture of a really beautiful but rainy sunset, although, as with most of my pictures, it didn't turn out too well.
Total distance – 4.55 miles
As you are of course dying to know, here's what actually happened this evening:
4.40 - get home from work
4.45 – natter to neighbour
5.00 - go for run
6.00 - warm down
6.15 - glute strengthening session
6.45 – shower
7.00 - cook tea
7.30 - eat tea in the living room whilst typing this blog
7.45 – finish blog and then chill out
So basically it was a bit of a mixture of the two scenarios but I'm happy to say it was more in line with scenario 1 than scenario 2 although it isn't 8.00 yet so there's still time for me to fall asleep on the couch. Night night!
'I’m a hazard to myself(Andy, I can just picture you all gathered round laughing at this right now)
Don’t let me get me
I’m my own worst enemy
It’s bad when you annoy yourself
So irritating
Don’t wanna be my friend no more
I wanna be somebody else’
It’s so true to me though. I really am my own worst enemy. During the day, my head is filled with all these great intentions and ideas of how I can improve my running and incorporate drills and strength training, etc, but when I get home from work, all my motivation is gone and I just want to flop onto the couch, eat my tea and chill out. Then I wonder why I never get any faster. I need to win the lottery or have a really flexible job where I can work from home so that I can do my training in my own time as and when I please. For example, at around 10.00am every day, I’ll be sat at my desk itching to go for a run but, by the time I get home, I really have to force myself to go out because by then I’m just too tired. I wish I could just run/train when the feeling takes me. Work really does get in the way. I worked from home on Wednesday and, as mentioned in my blog, this enabled me to get in two runs and I also did a bit of yoga too, but I still managed to get in a full seven hours of work. If only I could work from home every day. Not sure the bosses would go for that though.
I also have thoughts of joining a gym in Manchester so that I can do a workout during the day and not encroach onto my evenings but 1) I hate gyms and don’t want to spend money going to one and 2) I feel like by the time I have got there, got changed, showered, got changed again and walked back to work, there is very little time left for the actual workout. Again, I’m making excuses – I'm a hazard to myself!
If I annoy myself this much, I feel really sorry for the rest of you who have to listen to this. Just tell me to shut up in future and do us all a favour. (Seriously Andy, stop laughing!)
Plan: Concerted effort – no sitting on the couch before 8.00pm in future:
4.30 - get home from work
4.45 – run
6.00 - warm down
6.15 - strength exercises/drills/yoga
7.00 – shower
7.15 - cook tea
7.45 - eat tea at the kitchen breakfast bar
8.00 – go into the living room and chill!
I actually wrote this part of my blog whilst I was on lunch at work so by the time I get home later I’m sure it will be more like:
4.30 - get home from work
4.45 – force myself to go for a run
6.00 - warm down in a hurried fashion as I'm starving
6.15 - shower
7.00 – throw tea in microwave/order take away delivery
7.15 – sit on backside on couch
7.30 – eat tea whilst sitting on backside on couch
8.00 – fall asleep on couch
Turning to tonight’s run, surprisingly it wasn't a case of having to force myself out the door. I did get a little delayed getting out as I was nattering with a neighbour but, once out, all was well. We just had a steady run along to the top barn then up onto George's Lane. I got chatting to a bloke with a couple of dogs half way up 'The Driveway' so it was getting later and later and I decided that I'd better cut my run slightly shorter as I wanted to try to get home before it got pitch black because I wasn't sure Duncan had charged my head torch. He keeps using it and 1) not charging it and 2) stretching the head band with his giant head. I have repeatedly banned him from using it but this ban appears to be falling on deaf ears.
Whilst running along to the barn we stopped to take a picture of a really beautiful but rainy sunset, although, as with most of my pictures, it didn't turn out too well.
Total distance – 4.55 miles
As you are of course dying to know, here's what actually happened this evening:
4.40 - get home from work
4.45 – natter to neighbour
5.00 - go for run
6.00 - warm down
6.15 - glute strengthening session
6.45 – shower
7.00 - cook tea
7.30 - eat tea in the living room whilst typing this blog
7.45 – finish blog and then chill out
So basically it was a bit of a mixture of the two scenarios but I'm happy to say it was more in line with scenario 1 than scenario 2 although it isn't 8.00 yet so there's still time for me to fall asleep on the couch. Night night!
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Feeling Energetic
I was working from home today so decided to get my run out of the way first thing. Duncan dropped me and Ruby off on Rivington Road and we set off through the farmland 'Old Rachel's' towards Lead Mines Clough. I'm not going to lie, Ruby drove me mad whilst running through the farmland as there were sheep everywhere and no mater how much I yelled and yanked her back, she still tried to go after them. Will she ever learn? We then arrived at Lead Mines Clough and did a little loop around before heading out towards the road and Yarrow Reservoir.
From there we ran down into Rivington and then up Sheephouse Lane, to the top barn then home. As it was still really early at this point, there was wildlife everywhere so again Ruby insisted on trying to chase squirrels, rabbits and birds.
My foot pain from Monday had practically vanished completely today. I'm pretty sure it was just a knot and have spent the last couple of evenings using a heated wheat bag and a massage ball to iron it out, which appears to have done the trick as there was only a little bit of pain at the beginning of my run which soon eased off.
Total distance - 6.6 miles
After spending all day sitting on my backside working from home, by 4.30 I was itching to get back out there so I put my Inov8s back on and went for another run. Just a short but sweet one this time - a three miler up to Two Lads and back. Why is it that the second run of the day always feels easier than the first one?
Total distance - 3.05 miles
Day's total distance 9.65 miles.
Just before I sign off, here's a picture of how difficult a dog and cat's life must be...
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Apparently North Manchester is a Dump!
Anyway, as I was only walking with Ruby tonight, I decided to take a few pictures. The walk I went on was only very short, up to George's Lane and back but, personally, I think the scenery is lovely throughout the walk and all this is on my doorstep.
Firstly though, I'll start with some pictures of the fallen trees I mentioned the other night now that I managed to see them in the daylight.
This is the one which you have to go under to get past (Rachael, did I spell past right?) ;)
This one may add a fun obstacle to the Two Lads race if it isn't removed beforehand...
Next is a picture of the view from George's Lane over Rivington Reservoir and beyond. It's a shame the picture hasn't come out as well as I had hoped as, believe it or not, it was a pretty clear evening and you could clearly see all the hills - Parbold, Ashurst, Billinge, etc and even as far as Wales (at least I think it's Wales that way) - in the background.
Finally, a view of the Pike taken from the scene of Duncan's accident...
In conclusion, I absolutely love where I live and wouldn't swap it for anywhere in South Manchester which would cost triple the price anyway! I just wish I could do the beauty of the West Pennine Moors a bit of justice but unfortunately my photography skills are pretty poor. All of these photos were taken only a few minutes walk away from my house. I wonder if the guy at work has countryside like this on his doorstep. I think not.
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