Double Zumba and then run home

Day off work today, as it's the lads' school sports day. So had some free time, and went to Sarah's Zumba classes this morning. Zumba Toning followed by Zumba. It's not often I get to do her classes, but it's great fun. Very, very sweaty too.

So sweaty, in fact, that I didn't want to get the car seats covered in it, and decided to run home. Not a long way, but uphill virtually every step of the way (see profile below!).

Another good one

Had to drag myself out this morning. I woke up earlier, about half five, and there were dig drops of rain exploding on the skylight. Aha, thought I, you just keep doing that... but it didn't and when I woke up again half an hour later I could hear the birds tweeting* and the sound of rain was conspicuous by its absence. So I struggled out of bed, and a few short moments later I was pounding my way around Whitwick again.

Forgot my stopwatch, so for the first time this year I didn't worry about what I was running and when, and just let it roll. Round my road route of South Whitwick for the first time this year. Not quick, but not too tough either, and a pleasing trundle. All good fun, and felt a lot better for it!

*do birds still twitter and tweet? Or is that now so deeply ingrained as a "web thing" that it just conjures up images of birds on smartphones posting 140 character updates on the state of their nests.



Music: Deep Purple

Enjoyed it today!

Okay, so I can honestly say I enjoyed running this morning. Wasn't a struggle getting up, I slept really well, and it wasn't raining (unlike yesterday morning!). Rubbed eyes, kitted up and off I went. Didn't look at my watch until about eight minutes in, so decided not to bother with the walking sections and just man up and run for a goodly amount of time. So I did. Not the longest, but two and a half miles isn't bad at this stage, I reckon. It's only going to get easier as I get fitter, and start upping miles and pace (maybe).

Went anti-clockwise around Whitwick, and then remembered why I normally do it clockwise. The first mile is a slog uphill. The rest is pretty much flat and down, but that first bit...

A quick note on yesterday: alarm went off, I lay in bed and listened for rain (there having been heavy rain in the night). No rain. Up, kit on, out the door. Got as far as the side of our house before the heavens opened and it proper lashed it down hard. I sheltered for a few under the Oak tree, then gave it up as a bad job and retired back into the house for half an hours of stretching and kata. Had it rained ten minuted earlier I could have stayed in bed. Ten minutes later I'd already have been running and wouldn't have been able to do anything about it. Bah, just bad timing!

Anyway - enjoyed today!



Music: random (including Rob Zombie, Skid Row, and Serj Tankian!)

CYC02: wasn't really in the mood!

Well, toughie getting out of bed this morning. Didn't really fancy it, and when I got out on the bike not a lot changed, to be honest. Went for a meander through Swannington, and then down a nice big hill (topped 32mph this time) back towards Whitwick. Of course, that means going up a nice big hill into Whitwick. So be it. Short ride, in terms of time and distance, but pleased I got out and did something.

Another glorious morning

Up before my alarm went off, and out and running. Top morning, really. Flat(ish) route, meandering around Whitwick. Through the park, down to Hermitage Park, around the lake, back up the old railway line, then up by the church, North Street and home. Five minutes running, followed by thirty seconds of walking. That's this week, then I'll be happy enough to go the full distance running without worrying about my knee not being ready for it. Then just start building distance and speed!





Music: The Gaslight Anthem

Beautiful morning. Running though?

What a gorgeous, sunny morning. Up early, enjoying the Summer morning. Not enjoying the running - well, while doing it anyway. Went up and over Red Hill, which seems to have grown since I last ran it. Either that or I'm more out of shape, but it can't be that. Can it?

So it was tiring from the moment I set foot outdoors, but mental fortitude is a wonderful thing, and I pressed on, again on the three on, one off method, building it up. Thought I might skip on a little prior to going out this morning - glad I didn't! Small steps, and so on.





Music: Audioslave

CYC:01 - out on my bike

Yup, a change this morning. Dusted off the old bicycle, and went for an early morning roll around North Coalville and Whitwick. Roll, I say! Hah, my chosen route (based on a previous conversation with Sarah in which she said it was a "flat" route) was uphill for pretty much the first three quarters, or four miles or so. Man, I felt that! The small sections of flat road were bliss!

Of course, what goes up must come down, and according to my phone / gps I topped out at 31.3 mph coming down Leicester road, which was quite exhilarating. So good fun!

I'm going to try to keep getting out on the bike - maybe not as often as running, but it's a nice change.

Here we go again...

Well, this is the time of year I normally stop running and relax! This year, however, I've only just got off my backside and started.

Glorious sunshine, lovely morning. Mindful of my knee pain from last year, so 3 mins running interspersed with a minute recovery walking, repeated for 24 mins.

Good to be back running? The jury's out.




Music: Hardcore Superstar