It was bound to happen sooner rather than later – the last minute emergency plank. In my defence my abs were still embarrassingly sore from the DVD I did two days ago, so a minute’s plank was harder work than it sounds. Honestly.
Month: January 2015
Janathon Day 9. It was either very windy today …
… or there was a wheelie bin killer on the loose.
Nevertheless, 8 miles were run today. By me. In the wind. It felt hard, but the last time I ran this far was early November, so that was hardly surprising.
Another big tick was that I managed to avoid the wheelie bin killers as well.
Janathon Day 8. Cue the DVD
So it had to happen sooner or later, the fitness DVD. Full of chilli after my dinner, I rummaged in the DVD cupboard whilst the cat turned his back in disgust.
10 minutes of Pilates Abs workout – done. Listening to the woman with the annoying voice – done. Giving the cat the living room floor back – done.
Janathon Day 7. Arms like Popeye
It’s the end of the first week of Janathon. We’re all still full of enthusiasm and pep aren’t we? Still loving the New Year and all the new hope and challenges it’s bringing, yes? Hmm? Not at all bogged down by the dark mornings and general back to school-ness of this week, no. Not troubled by the jobs we said we’d get done over the holidays, but somehow didn’t find time for <cough cough>.
That might just be why I decided not to complete any traditional forms of exercise today, but instead painted for over 3 hours. By painting I don’t mean delicate watercolours or exciting Jackson Pollock style abstracts, I mean rollering white emusion onto walls of our loft conversion. I am finally realising how much extra space we have up there – three is still many more hours of rollering to do. My arms are now tired (and my glasses are covered in paint spots), and I’m worried I’ll have arms like Popeye* before I’m finished.
Roll on another running day!
* Without the tattos
Janathon day 6. Hill Repeats.
After yesterday’s 5 miles, I started to panic about the upcoming “Slaughterford 9” and set off for some hill repeats this morning.
3 runs up a short but steep hill. I’m delighted if I can manage the first 2 of the repeats without walking, usually I can manage just the first one. Today I had to walk on all 3. The second repeat was marginally faster than the first because I had to overtake a dog walker. (It’s an unspoken runner’s rule – you *have* to overtake walkers, with or without dogs, when going up a hill).
Thought process on the hills went like this:-
Hill 1 “I’m a bit cold, wish I’d worn my gloves”
Hill 2 “Warming up nicely – probably didn’t need my long tights on”
Hill 3 “Wish I’d just worn vest and shorts!”
Janathon Day 5. Does this count?
So does taking down most of the Christmas decorations count as a Janathon activity?
No. Hmmmm.
Does dashing around Sainsburys to buy the ingredients to make ‘trench cake’ for forgotten homework count? No. Oh dear.
How about painting inside another new under the eaves ‘loft’ cupboard? I was so contorted I’m sure I invented several new yoga positions? Still no.
Well, good job I pulled a 5 mile run out of the bag then. Ha!
Janathon Day 4. Some real exercise at last!
Finally, finally, some real exercise that involves putting on lycra and going outside. Sadly, still no running, but today’s adventure was cycling. Even more exciting, cycling wearing cleats. Anyone who’s followed my cycling exploits will know I usually manage to fall off my bike at least once on any ride. Often whilst stationary, always embarrassing. After several months of using the toe clips that came with my bike, Mr B&T bought me some real cycling shoes and cleats.* This was a trip destined to end in disaster.
As an incentive we decided to cycle to one of our favourite cafés, Merkins Farm near Bradford on Avon. After a quick lesson in how to clip in and out, we set off. It was cold, and after twenty minutes my hands and feet were numb. My son (who was also in his new shoes and cleats for the first time) was setting a stirling pace as he had the scent of his favourite veggie burger in his nostrils.
After a cold hour we were there. The blessed relief to walk inside where it was warm from the wood burning stove was indescribable, but the pain from blood returning to my numb finger tips could only be described in naughty four letter words (so I’ll let you use your imagination).
Well worth the cold ride! The cycle back home was much warmer (probably because we all had lovely warm full stomachs). When I uploaded my ride onto Strava I was delighted to see I’d won two QOMs (Queen Of the Mountains). When I looked a little closer, they are actually “2015 QOM”s, so I suspect I won’t hold onto these for very long! I am also delighted to report I didn’t fall off once and I managed to clip in and out with no problems. This was probably aided by the ever lovely Mr B&T shouting “UNCLIP” as we approached every junction.** My son did fall off once, as he got his unclipped foot stuck between the kerb and his bike, but he landed on a soft muddy verge so he didn’t hurt himself.
19.6 miles cycled. Double points because it was so cold. Excellent veggie burger eaten. Janathon Day 4 done.
* Sometimes I think he doesn’t like me very much
**Maybe he does like me, after all
Janathon Day 3. The best laid plans
Yesterday I made great plans for Janathon Day 3. Up for a parkrun, then out for a bike ride. That would make up for a slack fist two days!
Then husband and I saw the weather forecast. Plans for early starts were quickly cancelled and a bottle of Prosecco opened instead.
To skip over the embarrassing non-events of the day I finally managed some calf strengthening exercises just before bedtime. Better luck tomorrow, eh?
Janathon Day 2. Another new one
Day Two of Janathon. Still no running, but at now I’m home again so it was time for another new activity.
Stairs.
Stairs are a real novelty in this house. We are in the midst of a loft conversion, so for the first time ever our bungalow has stairs. So, as a first ever exercise I ran up and down the stairs 10 times. It was surprising hard work. When we moved in 11 years ago a friend warned us we’d end up with “bungalow legs” and sadly I think he was right.
Anyway -Janathon Day Two – Done!
* Yes of course it counts for Janathon.
January 1st is JANATHON TIME!
No review of 2014 from me – I think I’m just glad to have got that particular December over and done with.
So a new year, a new month, it can only mean one thing – JANATHON is back again! The month long annual festival of exercising and blogging every day is once again upon us. For more details have a look (and get signed up quickly) here.
For something completely different, my exercise today was 40 minutes of ice skating. Amazingly I didn’t fall over once, not even when my young nephew fell whilst holding my hand, right in front of me.
It felt likea good start to the month -roll on the rest of it!