'Mature' runners.

Red, well done on your sub 8 minute miling. Hopefully, your fitness is coming back!

A so called rest day today, but as it has been bright and sunny, I just couldn't stay indoors. I have, therefore, been busy in the garden, digging, edging and spiking the lawn. I will probably ache all over in the morning, and have an 8 mile forest run scheduled with some other club runners. The Solent Half is next Sunday, so I must keep out of the garden, and channel all my energy into the race.

Looking forward to Strictly Come Dancing again this evening. Last night, Victoria Pendleton came last, but I'm sure she will do well as the weeks go by. She has said that her thighs, which she spent years building up, have nearly disappeared since she quit cycling. That is probably why she is having problems with keeping in step, and her posture. She was very nervous, and is obviously under a lot of pressure. I think poor old Brucie is well and truly past it now, and should make this his last series.

Redhead, you are looking as though you are well prepared for Beachy Head Mara.

I've a bit of work to do to catch up for Brighton, however, today in the lovely sunshine put in my longest run since i ran London in April 2011, which probably explains why i'm so lardy these days. 

I struggled to complete  9 miles in 1-54-57, from mile 5, i was running on empty, the stamina levels have long since gone, but i'm working on it, the only positive thing i could conclude from the effort i put in was that i did'nt give in. It was an out and back run so once i was out there i had to get back.  

OT, well done on your 9 miler! You've got the right attitude and if you keep up the good work, will do well at Brighton.

A nice bright morning but very cold, just 2 deg. Will be off soon for an 8 miler in the forest with some club mates. Hope there aren't too many fog patches, as they tend to lay low in the forest.

Have just been watching the London 2012 Triathlon, and it has put me in the right frame of mind to run

Afternoon all,

I am officially cream-crackered!  Apparently I can't do a 10 mile xc run and then heavy digging in the garden all afternoon any more.  I cam getting old! 

My run this morning was a struggle, largely because I chose to go across the fields and along the riverbank.  On reflection this was ill-advised given the amount of rain we've had recently.  I squelched through fields of grass, struggled across ploughed fields with mud caked to my shoes and weighing a ton, waded through the water where the river had burst its banks and tried to circumnavigate the deep mud on the few footpaths that were passable!  There was a lot of walking and it took me 2 1/4 hours.

OT, I feel your pain but at least you kept going and finished your run.  Plenty of time to get your stamina levels up again.

TE, hope your run was pleasant.  We had some frost on the shady areas of grass this morning and it was jolly cold when I went out to the horses first thing.

OT - were you really running on empty? - had you had breakfast?

Red - not surprised you were cream-crackered, trying to do heavy digging after you'd already done 10k heavy mud-carrying at foot level.

I had a lovely run this morning, though it was indeed cold and I was glad I'd worn gloves. 4.18 miles. Just misty enough to be magical, with the sun half-breaking through, a pale disc up there somewhere.

Red, there is no way that I would attempt heavy digging after a tough muddy run. There were 3 of us on this mornings forest run, and we ran 10 miles, instead of the planned 8. It was bright and sunny, and after a very cold start, warmed up. The terrain was equally tough with deep mud, deep pools, squelchy grass etc. We also had to walk in many places.

Columba, I also wore gloves this morning, although after a while, didn't need them.

Difficult weekend. Daughter went into labour Saturday morning. Finally had a daughter (8lbs 6oz) by caesarian section at 5:00pm today. Fortunately, according to son-in-law, all now seems well other than exhaustion. So we now have a new grandaughter, Emilia Grace.

Didn't run XC on Saturday in view of events and a cold. Time for another celebratory glass.
JJ

JJ, congratulations, the cost of your Christmasses has just gone up !

Columba, i did in fact have breakfast, but the only regular running i have done is 4 and 5 miles, so to step up and push on further, particularly when i'm carrying a least a stone more than i would ideally like to, the stamina ain't there, yet !

Congratulations to JJ and extended family!

Red - yesterday I discovered what "wild knitting" is. It seems to be randomly knitting all sorts of things together, in all sorts of styles, shapes, colours, to create something large and colourful. What was being created yesterday was a large banner, to be displayed at next year's Victorian Festival (this town has an annual Victorian festival). Somebody showed me how to do "finger knitting", and I produced a long, narrow piece of pink knitting which will be used as part of the edging for the banner.

What particularly pleased me was that I'd taken along the knitted squares that my mother produced in the last year or so of her life, when she could only handle really large needles and thick wool. I hoped they might be useful; and they were immediately picked up by the "wild knitters" and incorporated into the banner.

(Sorry about the above, which won't be of much interest to non-knitters)

Afternoon all,

Dreary, wet day here.  I'm going to have to get up really early tomorrow to do a treddy run as I'm off into London town for what could be an exciting meeting with DeNDRoN who are trying to set up a database of people with Dementia and their carers with a view to them being part of clinical trials and research studies.

OT, I rarely eat before running as I believe that it encourages your body to utilise fat as its fuel source sooner.  I always used to eat beforehand but it didn't suit me and I often felt lardy and lethargic.  We're all different though.

JJ many congratulations and welcome to Emilia Grace.  With such a beautiful name she will have a wonderful life 

Columba, 10 miles, not 10k, thank you very much!!!  Aha, so they've tried to create a new genre - it's been around for donkey's years in the guise of 'freeform' needle art and was usually applied to freeform crochet (Google 'Prudence Mapstone' for some fab examples).  Lovely that some of your mum's knitting could be utilised.  I often combine things made by mum with my own creations, especially in homewares - I've just made a peg bag using some old embroidered tea-tray mats.

JJ, congratulatons on your new Grand Daughter!

A cold, miserable day today, with no sign of yesterdays sun. Did an easy pace 5 miles this morning in steady rain.

Beautiful day here in Derbyshire...........as it was yesterday, though went Blackberry picking with family after running nine miles and got accused of being grumpy and getting old!!! Not sure what I did!!!! Not many blackberries, not enough sun this year, we usually get loads on the Edge but not many this year, they were like bullets or over soft and small. Cycled to work today. Back to running tomorrow doing about 25 miles a week and wondering what to do next. Any suggestions for a northerner not wanting to travel too far??

Congrats JJ on your new bundle of joy Emilia Grace - what a lovely name!

Mark, OT should be able to help as he's not a million miles away from you.  Never pick blackberries after Michelmas as they have Devil's spit on them!    We've had a really good crop this year but the apples and pears have been a disaster.

On that note, my crabapple tree is flowering again.  Silly tree!

Hello Mark, Worksop half marathon in Notts on 28th october won't be too far away for you perhaps.

No running today work got in the way, again.

Redhead, i did have a light breakfast 2 hours before i ran as usual.

Red - 10 miles rather than 10k? - that makes you even cream-crackereder!

I'm a bit cautious about running any appreciable distance, or doing anything ultra-energetic like lots of hill reps, on an empty stomach, as I have been known to come over faint and dizzy towards the end of the session.

I hadn't heard that about blackberries. When is Michaelmas, and why does the devil wait until after it to spit on them? And had you heard the Old Wives' Tale about sowing parsley seed on Good Friday?

Been swimming.

I always eat before training or racing. I leave 3 hours if racing, and 2 hours for training. I have never attempted any session on an empty stomach.

Nice day oop ere in Yorkshire, although in York, some of the roads are still affected with flood water, the ground is that saturated its just not soaking away.

Spending the day doing some paperwork for my 27 year old son who is at last leaving home and buying is own house, Mrs OT feels sad after all he's her little boy ! I say Yipeeeee..............

After which its tuesday and its footie night.

It's been pouring with rain all day and no sign of it abating. We have a pyramid session this evening, which probably means another soaking.

Nice day here, just run a 10k up the Monsal Trail and back to the office. 46.45 mins avoiding dogs and walkers, cyclists but the hammies are sore now sat at the desk trying to work...............One down and two to go in my house as far as getting them to leave home................