Week 8/17

Day 50/119

2014: 

This is the reality of getting old - 2 days after drinking on Saturday I still feel rubbish

At no point throughout the 40 minute jog, the sit-ups, the stretching and even the shower was the possibility of me being sick completely gone

I'm such an idiot - how can I hope to keep this training lark up with such poor decision making

To be fair the constant threat of erupting did completely take my mind off any aches and pains and it was a comfortable run

Hoping to be feeling better tomorrow and get back on track

Start Weight - 84.4 kg
Last week Weight - 79.1 kg
Current Weight - 78.8 kg
Weekly Loss - 0.3 kg (totally undeserved)
Overall Loss - 5.6 kg

2011:
Re day 49 - it WASN'T the bean bag!!! Another night of only a few hours sleep and I'm seriously doubting today's 40 minute jog. That was confirmed in the first 60 seconds of the jog when it all hurt again. This will definitely teach me to not do a long run when injured. So, I did some weights and came home for the stretch part of the work-out (too many strangers). It's the first time I've deviated from the plan but figure as long as I am fit for the Wednesday and Saturday runs - no lasting harm will be done. Besides, Joss DID manage to run for 45 minutes which I think counts for something, right? Tonight I will be mostly downing a cocktail of painkillers and praying it will all go away otherwise it's going to cost me a fortune in booze.....

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Day 51/119

2014:

Woke up still feeling rubbish - surely this must be more than just a reaction to the weekend ?

Today was going to be a 30 minute x-trainer and I was so out of sorts I didn't even nick the far x-trainer from the annoying old man

I just plumped for a middle machine behind 2 women on the treadmills trying to out skinny each other

Truly I struggled to see how they had the strength to stand let alone walk / run

My music managed to perk me up quite a bit and by the end of an uneventful 30 minutes I'd worked up a good sweat and felt pretty damn good

At the end of the stretches I noticed something about myself - when I bend down to pick up stuff (bottle / towel etc) I do it in such a was so as to pick up as many things I can with a single bend, just so I don't have to do it again

Pathetic isn't it ? Imagine what I'd be like WITHOUT the pilates.......

2011:

I managed to stay in bed all night last night so was feeling a little more rested. Saw the doctor this morning and have got some stronger painkillers and something to help me sleep. I've also been put forward for some treatment with a sports physiotherapist - first appointment next Monday so hopefully can get to the bottom of what's going on. I decided to take the day off exercise and instead went to watch Bournemouth win against Swindon. It certainly made me laugh to hear 7000 Bournemouth fans chant "Cheerio, Cheerio, Cheerio" to the 2 Swindon fans being escorted out of the stadium after only 9 minutes - hope it was worth the trip guys

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Day 52 / 119

2014:

It was another early start but I felt by far the best I've felt all week so was pretty confident for today's gruelling 16 x 400m "sprints"

I need to remind myself sometimes just how lucky I am

Yes compared to 3 years ago I feel like I've actually aged 20 years with my various ailments but NONE of the issues are down to my over-training like last time

I'm not going to go as far as saying it was easy but as the music filled my ears I clocked off 400m after 400m until, just over an hour later it was all over

Looking at the schedule, it was the last of the sprints as next week I start running midweek without breaks at faster than marathon pace

I think I'll stick to the gym on the wednesdays to protect my knees rather than go outside and although it doesn't offer me the isolation I enjoy on road runs, if it means I line up in October injury free it will all be worth it

2011:

The pills worked a treat last night so feeling much more confident about today. Tried a quick run on the way to the loo at work and my back held firm although my legs hurt. Note to self - make sure no-one is around next time before trying that!! So today was 16 x 400m sprints - the second hardest session of the week. I couldn't believe it - I thought that all this exercising was meant to make me fitter and it would all get easier. Instead I felt shattered after run 3. By the time I'd got to run 6 my legs were hurting and by run 10 I was feeling sick. Fortunately for me one of the poser gym instructors had started running next to me and the male ego kicked in - there was no way I was going to collapse and have to be rescued by him!! Made it to 16 and felt fantastically happy and relieved to have made it. Then went to the stretching mats and the only one that was free had someone on the rowing machine next to it. Inspiration hit me at this point. There's a room in the gym where they do classes but there was no class at the moment. I took the fact that the doors being unlocked meant "Come in here if you want", so I did. It was brilliant!! No rubbish music to get on my wick and being miles away from everyone else. It was like a grumpy's paradise and one that I shall be visiting again and often!!

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Day 53 / 119

2014:

An episode of "Long Lost Families" meant it was an early night last night so I woke up feeling good enough to get back on the Pilates horse before my 30 minute jog

I had the pleasure of Joss' company on the treadmill next to me and as she ran for longer, and at a faster pace, I can't help but feeling I'm cheating my way to the marathon starting line

Again absolutely no training pains - just my back and right leg hurting from just being old

I had the bonus of my favourite, isolated stretching mat being free for afterwards and the icing on the cake was that the light right above it which normally has the strength of the sun had completely blown - bliss

I have to admit, though, I had an absolute howler getting changed

I've taken to wearing flip-flops/sandals in the shower as I was fed up of hearing idiots bringing up phlegm whilst showering and there is an after shower routine I've got into of drying the insides so I'm not bringing loads of water to the benches

As I finished drying the first, I dropped it to the floor and it bounced and flew into the next cubicle

I was horrified - had I just committed the worst "come on" in gym history?

Thankfully, the cubicle had just been vacated but I moved quicker to retrieve it than I've moved at any point during these training weeks.....

2011:

I was meant to do some jogging today but the only time I had for exercise was first thing in the morning and jogging and early starts just don't go together. So, I went on the bike and did a 30 minute hill climb. Whilst there, I recognised a guy that used to go to my previous gym. He's in his 50's and trains old school. Slicked back hair, white vest top tucked into army style tight jogging trousers. He walks around with a swagger and at the old gym he used to be part of a gang of similar minded / kitted guys. When they got together they always tried to outdo each other with tales of extreme training until it got to the point where they would just grunt at each other and say things like "Run ....Ice ....Fire...Mountains..Grrrrr!!!"  I did consider engaging him in my tales of exercising but feared I'd end up using too many conjunctions for him and I'd hate to see the look of disappointment on his face as I described my niggly back. Instead I went into "what I call" (something for Miranda fans) my room and did some stretching. Not quite back to fitness yet - but getting there

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Day 54 / 119

2014:

It was x-trainer day today and I decided to go for weights again - it was another poor choice but I really can't think of anything that isn't too tiring for the legs except swimming - maybe I'm going to have to get over my "old people swimming" phobia

I was just rubbish - I went through the motions but no real sweat was earned or deserved

Chest, back and shoulders exercises done and off to sit-ups and stretching

Did I mention sharing a bottle of red last night? I'm sure that had nothing to do with my lethargy, probably

Oh well, the day is done now - just need to make sure I'm back on track tomorrow

2011:

Rest day - hooorrraaayyy!! I have a knotted feeling in my left calf and my right thigh hurts so just as well. Tried to jog over to Mammy's Baps at lunchtime (not as exciting as it sounds) and that was a mistake. Still - managed to get through the day so far without any painkillers so a definite step forward. Joss ran for a whole hour at the gym today - it's still not too late to enter.....

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Day 55 / 119

An early start, for a change, brought great cheer to my heart

I looked out the window and IT WAS DRIZZLING AND COOL

I honestly couldn't have asked for better running weather and hoped that the elements would be this kind when I came to do the runs longer than today's 10 miles

I enjoyed the energy bar last week so had that again with a banana as my pre-match snack

At 6:05 precisely (me? OCD ? never) I was on the road pounding my slow way around Poole

Mum came good hanging water out for me at 3 miles and the 2 energy gels I took did the job perfectly

Without doubt the best and easiest run so far

I even enjoyed the one guy that robotically run past me one way then do the same back past me

I don't think I've ever seen someone look less like a runner but as he flew past me I just had to think - fair play to you - you look rubbish,  but you're still better than me

It felt so good walking around Poole later in the morning without the need of a zimmer frame but I'm keeping my enthusiasm in check - next week is 19 miles so will be a very different prospect

2011:

Woke early this morning happy to see that the wind had died down....no hold on...it's blowing a gale - Brilliant!!! We set off at around 9:15 for today's 10 miles and within the first few yards my left calf and right thigh was already hurting  - this was never going to be pleasant even though it is 7 miles less than last week and 9 miles less than next!! It started with the wind in our faces, having to get up the hill by Upton House on the way up to Upton. As we approached it I could hear Joss chanting "Hurry up dear, Hurry up dear" Cheeky s*d I thought. It was only when she'd fully caught me up that I realised she was actually saying "Curry and beer, Curry and beer" - that was to be our mantra for the whole way round. To be fair the Gods were with us and the wind  not too bad - except for the first half of the holes bay part of the run. Oh my goodness. I was running like the clappers but seemed to be going nowhere. I fared better than Joss though as at one point I swear she was going backwards. As we rounded the corner though the wind started to help and after we'd gone past that we passed a woman on a bike coming the other way. Joss loudly cackled in a pantomime witch way thinking of what this poor woman had to face. We made it to the end and although Joss happily remarked that it wasn't too bad, that was undoubtedly the hardest most painful run I have done. How have I lost the 7 miles I did last week? and how am I going to find another 9 for next week? As the mantra goes, it's beer and curry tonight, I'll worry about next week's run later

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Day 56 / 119

2014:

A rest day is a very precious thing and for once it's a day without a hangover - this weekend really couldn't get any better :-)

2011:

End of week 8 and today's a rest day. My legs are hurting and so is my head - although that's nothing to do with exercise and more to do with yesterday's curry and beer. Today is mostly about lounging.....