It seems I have a problem.
I'd forgotten all about it but between sitting at a desk and sitting on a bike I struggle to be upright.
When I used to run, I got good at tilting my pelvis correctly. Unfortunately, given all the time I've spent on my feet pushing a bike, I'm still fit enough to run but I'm running extremely badly.
A stupid facebook ad reminded me of this last week so today when I walked, I made a conscious effort to walk well. I walked faster and was in much better shape for It, in fact I spent much time wishing I'd run instead of walking.
So along with all the other good intentions I'm adding posture and yoga back into the mix. It's a long list but hopefully will help everything else improve the way it should.
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Tuesday, October 04, 2016
New day. New season. New sessions. New normal.
Enough of the peaks and troughs, it's time to start making training a part of the new normal.
One day offline to recover from my first cyclo cross of the season and now it's back to yoga followed by a run session with STC tonight.
I am struggling to contain my excitement... which is not really how yoga should be.
Old fashioned PS. too much of an exciting day and completely unable to sleep. Perhaps I will get used to it.
One day offline to recover from my first cyclo cross of the season and now it's back to yoga followed by a run session with STC tonight.
I am struggling to contain my excitement... which is not really how yoga should be.
Old fashioned PS. too much of an exciting day and completely unable to sleep. Perhaps I will get used to it.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Week 19 - "I'm gonna swim as much as possible between now and Keilder"
Taper is here.
It should have started last week but I spent last Sunday convincing myself I have actually done enough training to finish a long distance race - ie. completing an 18 mile run in order to see off a marathon in two weeks time.
After that I talked to my mother on the phone.
"but have you *actually* *done* your swim distance yet?" she asked.
She had a point.
... it hung there like bad news, a bad omen... if you can't make it out of the water properly, there's really no finisher's medal. I vowed to myself to swim as much as possible between now and race day in order to nail that distance. I owed it to myself. I owed it to the last 20 weeks.
First step - no swimming last weekend to put my cold to bed once and for all. Laying off on Monday too in order to properly rest after that very hot run with some minor sunburn.
Tuesday started with a yoga session where I specifically gentrified any exercises that would tire my swimming muscles. I also had a long chat with Fiona Kesteven who got silver in Lisbon and manages the gym where I swim. Our chat only resolved my swim till you drop campaign.
There was the small matter of a run at lunchtime. An easy 5 miles to persuade my legs I was OK from our 18 miler at the weekend. It passed with only a minor calf-twinge and I had a good stretch on the lawn afterwards in a newly-discovered shady spot away from prying eyes.
On Tuesday evening the weather was definitely obliging. I know I can't guarantee weather on race day but race day is a different kettle of fish from trying to churn out 4 kms after a 7 hour day at work. The water temperature was 21 degrees and the air temperature when I arrived at 5:30pm was 29 degrees. I did everything I could to ensure success - wrist bands to tie my fingers together when they started to splay and sickness pills to stop me feeling like puking. I drank a protein shake (slightly counter-productive to the last statement) to make sure I didn't feel hungry. I stopped short of wearing an extra insulation layer because at those barmy temperatures I'd be more likely to expire from the heat in my wetsuit than get cold.
There was much talk in the changing rooms from people attempting their first skins swim (without wetsuits) and a lot of reluctance from those of us who felt we still needed a wetsuit - whether that was to survive the swim at all or to get around a long distance course. I would have loved to swim skins but it wasn't to be. There was no way I could do the distance in skins so I struggled my way into my wetsuit, over the sweaty skin from my lunchtime run.
The first lap went well in 17 minutes. For once the cool patches were welcome relief from the warm water. I even passed a few people and as more people arrived I was passed back.
A dry sensation in my mouth made me realise I had two choices from the evening - quit because of dehydration or risk a stomach bug from drinking water out of the lake. I chose the latter. I was NOT quitting... but I did chose the cleanest parts of the lake with the least weed.
The second lap was nothing special and I forgot to time it so rocked onto the third lap without a glance (it was just under 18 minutes and the third lap 18:21). I knew I could do another and five would be absolutely awesome, taking me up to my distance.
Lap 4 went into 19:17. I was starting to chill. My armpits were feeling cool, there was cold water where before there had been none and my little fingers went off on their own. I started to be grateful for the warm patches of water. On the back straight, I tied my fingers together and did some breast stroke to fire the leg muscles for a while and burped out the air I had inadvertently swallowed whilst swimming and drinking.
With one lap to go I knew it was in the bag. I wasn't nearly cold enough to have to stop so pushed through any discomfort to finish. Feet twinged but I just kicked slower and worked it through. I headed for shore after 1 hour 25 minutes. Projected swim time 1hr 30 - though on race day I might manage more through presence of others, there aren't so many others at Kielder.
I was, to put it mildly, elated by my swim. I was tired but I was on cloud 9. I tweetered and fafbooked all over the place and ate fish and chips in celebration.
On Wednesday I rode to work. So nice to get away from the traffic and ride in the sunshine but I was too tired for a long ride home and so I went straight back and relaxed.
It didn't feel like taper was going well. Taper is normally fraught with anxiety and itchy feet but I was finding it liberating, exciting and relaxing at the same time. I felt more prepared for this Long Distance race than any I have ever done and I was looking forwards to it. It feels like the stress of Lisbon has more than displaced any anxiety about Kielder although I am slightly concerned about what happens when I'm half way through the bike and realise that this is actually quite hard and quite a long way.
Back to Thursday yoga and this time eating instead of running at lunchtime, then in the evening it was back into the water at Hatfield with Doncaster swimmers. Work kept me in till 5:30 which meant I had a fraught fight through the traffic to arrive at 6:15. I struggled into kit asap and had no sickness pills but still got my elastic bands on and remembered to change in the cool changing rooms before heading out in to the sunshine to be zippered in by Leon.
This time I thought I'd use the ear plugs since there were no anti-sickness pills. An interesting experiment since the last time I swam with both anti-sickness and ear plugs I'd had to call it a day at 1 mile anyway. The weather was playing again as I entered the 20 degrees water, I didn't even make any whimpering noises that usually come when the water reaches my zip and pours into my lower back.
It should have started last week but I spent last Sunday convincing myself I have actually done enough training to finish a long distance race - ie. completing an 18 mile run in order to see off a marathon in two weeks time.
After that I talked to my mother on the phone.
"but have you *actually* *done* your swim distance yet?" she asked.
She had a point.
... it hung there like bad news, a bad omen... if you can't make it out of the water properly, there's really no finisher's medal. I vowed to myself to swim as much as possible between now and race day in order to nail that distance. I owed it to myself. I owed it to the last 20 weeks.
First step - no swimming last weekend to put my cold to bed once and for all. Laying off on Monday too in order to properly rest after that very hot run with some minor sunburn.
Tuesday started with a yoga session where I specifically gentrified any exercises that would tire my swimming muscles. I also had a long chat with Fiona Kesteven who got silver in Lisbon and manages the gym where I swim. Our chat only resolved my swim till you drop campaign.
There was the small matter of a run at lunchtime. An easy 5 miles to persuade my legs I was OK from our 18 miler at the weekend. It passed with only a minor calf-twinge and I had a good stretch on the lawn afterwards in a newly-discovered shady spot away from prying eyes.
On Tuesday evening the weather was definitely obliging. I know I can't guarantee weather on race day but race day is a different kettle of fish from trying to churn out 4 kms after a 7 hour day at work. The water temperature was 21 degrees and the air temperature when I arrived at 5:30pm was 29 degrees. I did everything I could to ensure success - wrist bands to tie my fingers together when they started to splay and sickness pills to stop me feeling like puking. I drank a protein shake (slightly counter-productive to the last statement) to make sure I didn't feel hungry. I stopped short of wearing an extra insulation layer because at those barmy temperatures I'd be more likely to expire from the heat in my wetsuit than get cold.
There was much talk in the changing rooms from people attempting their first skins swim (without wetsuits) and a lot of reluctance from those of us who felt we still needed a wetsuit - whether that was to survive the swim at all or to get around a long distance course. I would have loved to swim skins but it wasn't to be. There was no way I could do the distance in skins so I struggled my way into my wetsuit, over the sweaty skin from my lunchtime run.
The first lap went well in 17 minutes. For once the cool patches were welcome relief from the warm water. I even passed a few people and as more people arrived I was passed back.
A dry sensation in my mouth made me realise I had two choices from the evening - quit because of dehydration or risk a stomach bug from drinking water out of the lake. I chose the latter. I was NOT quitting... but I did chose the cleanest parts of the lake with the least weed.
The second lap was nothing special and I forgot to time it so rocked onto the third lap without a glance (it was just under 18 minutes and the third lap 18:21). I knew I could do another and five would be absolutely awesome, taking me up to my distance.
Lap 4 went into 19:17. I was starting to chill. My armpits were feeling cool, there was cold water where before there had been none and my little fingers went off on their own. I started to be grateful for the warm patches of water. On the back straight, I tied my fingers together and did some breast stroke to fire the leg muscles for a while and burped out the air I had inadvertently swallowed whilst swimming and drinking.
With one lap to go I knew it was in the bag. I wasn't nearly cold enough to have to stop so pushed through any discomfort to finish. Feet twinged but I just kicked slower and worked it through. I headed for shore after 1 hour 25 minutes. Projected swim time 1hr 30 - though on race day I might manage more through presence of others, there aren't so many others at Kielder.
I was, to put it mildly, elated by my swim. I was tired but I was on cloud 9. I tweetered and fafbooked all over the place and ate fish and chips in celebration.
On Wednesday I rode to work. So nice to get away from the traffic and ride in the sunshine but I was too tired for a long ride home and so I went straight back and relaxed.
It didn't feel like taper was going well. Taper is normally fraught with anxiety and itchy feet but I was finding it liberating, exciting and relaxing at the same time. I felt more prepared for this Long Distance race than any I have ever done and I was looking forwards to it. It feels like the stress of Lisbon has more than displaced any anxiety about Kielder although I am slightly concerned about what happens when I'm half way through the bike and realise that this is actually quite hard and quite a long way.
Back to Thursday yoga and this time eating instead of running at lunchtime, then in the evening it was back into the water at Hatfield with Doncaster swimmers. Work kept me in till 5:30 which meant I had a fraught fight through the traffic to arrive at 6:15. I struggled into kit asap and had no sickness pills but still got my elastic bands on and remembered to change in the cool changing rooms before heading out in to the sunshine to be zippered in by Leon.
This time I thought I'd use the ear plugs since there were no anti-sickness pills. An interesting experiment since the last time I swam with both anti-sickness and ear plugs I'd had to call it a day at 1 mile anyway. The weather was playing again as I entered the 20 degrees water, I didn't even make any whimpering noises that usually come when the water reaches my zip and pours into my lower back.
"Like Swimming in the Ocean"
Some of the weeds at Hatfield had separated and drifted this week so clumps of flocs hung, suspended in the water before my face - occasionally bouncing off my nose or hanging onto my face like a moist, fluffy moustache. The water at Hatfield is deep and clear though and weed shapes look something like jelly fish, sea slugs or deformed starfish that had lost a few limbs to a crab. In this respect it really was like swimming in the ocean but without the waves, salty taste or cold.
 |
| Hatfield Swim Your Swim (c) Alistair Beatie |
The first lap seemed oh-so-long. The out, back straight, the third side. The thing is, with Hatfield though, when you pass the third side, the finish is so close - it's so easy to keep going. 18 minutes for lap 1 (50 metres longer than Harthill).
On the back straight of lap 2 I suddenly started to feel bad. More ill than cold but shaky. I removed my earplugs so I could hear and instantly felt better although a little stiff in the legs. I had a bit of a back stroke which didn't really help so I tried hitching up the legs on my suit, thinking that might be the reason I was feeling lethargic. I instantly felt more flexible. I mustn't have put the suit on properly in my rush to get out. The back stroke also seemed to have raised my pulse but I taped my fingers for a while and I got going again. With all the faffing, lap 2 took nearly 21 minutes.
I set off on lap 3 with a renewed sense of vigour. It was 7:18pm. If I did lap three in 20 minutes, I would have enough time to complete 4 laps, still over the magic 3km boundary where one more lap seems like a physical possibility. I even took my hand bands off because I was feeling so good and it felt like they were slowing me down and interfering with my stroke.
I have been experimenting with holding my breath during swimming. All the experts say, "don't do it! Would you hold your breath whilst cycling? Or running?" and I understand the scientific reasoning of CO2 build-up and heavy legs but then yoga has so frequently taken me beyond scientific reasons and there's more strength to be gained from peace and serenity and that is what I experience when I fly through the water, silent and breathless and then the bubbles come and they thunder through your ears until the next bright, blinking above-the-water-intake of breath and then there is silence again and flight for two strokes. It works most of the time and I might just stick to it.
So the end of lap 3. I thought about checking my watch but then I saw a hat swimming off for another lap ahead of me and decided to try and catch it to at least get through my last lap as quickly as possible. I didn't want to make anyone late but then I could hear Vicky Stott saying, "don't ask permission, beg forgiveness" so I started following the orange hat and no-one was shouting so I kept going.
Along the back straight the sickness returned but again, I flipped over, watched the horizon for a bit then powered on to the third buoy. That seemed to wake up my body just nicely and I flipped back on to my belly and swam for all I was worth to get in to the jetty. I got out at 8:05pm.
"I should say 'Sorry' but what I actually mean is 'Thank You'". Leon shrugged his shoulders. Of all the people who know how important it is to me to get this swim in, Leon and Jane have to listen to my ramblings almost as much as Andrew. It was too nice an evening to have to complain about standing by a lake. I discovered that the man I had set out trying to catch was the manager of the pool at ponds forge. Hardly surprising that I didn't catch him then.
After swimming, about 12 of us went for chips. It was nice to socialise vertically with a bunch of people I'm more used to splashing about with.
I ate a second meal when I got home then on Friday took Phoenix out for a ride to make sure all of my waterproof clothes still fit me properly. Unfortunately that resulted in a boil on my bum flaring up and a rather uncomfortable ride home. As it turns out, not everything is perfect in taper week.
Lessons learned:
Vicky Stott is right.
I need anti-sickness pills to swim long distances.
I can adjust my wetsuit in the water without drowning.
Backstroke and breast stroke work well to get my Heart rate back up and let me burp.
I swim pretty well with a yogic breath.
Temperature is not everything but it helps - a lot.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Running Commentary
11:00am
I have been struggling to start my Ironman training. Struggling to do everything - run, swim, get out on the bike.I'm supposed to be doing a fell race today - right now even.
Last night I was at my cousin's wedding celebration. It was a great day. She was so clever. She got married in New York in December but had her party last night. As such she got to wear her dress again and share her honeymoon with all her guests. We had lego to play with and props to wear and a polaroid camera to take selfies with and I got to dance with the most beautiful woman in the room. I danced with my dad and a twenty-something hipster complimented my dad on his moves. He beamed with pride.
We got home at midnight. I don't have a hangover which is a surprise for the quantity of proseco and G&T I drank but I was tired.
So I decided not to knacker myself on a 10 mile fell race that I haven't trained for and instead, stick to a 6 mile run to persuade my legs that it's Ironman training. It's a day early but Vicki has me motivated. My primary goal will be to walk out of today with a sense of do it again tomorrow... or perhaps the day after.
7:40pm
What a day.
I looked at my fell shoes then my nice comfortable road shoes and opted for the latter. I don't often run on roads so it was to be something different and I just felt like wearing something pretty and new... yeah, bite me.
I ran about 10 steps down the hill then back up, deciding to grab a wind proof to go some way to keeping the 4 degrees rain shower from freezing every hair on my body. I was glad I did. The "light rain" wasn't exactly heavy but sure was persistent.
There were few cars about and I wiggled my way up to the A57 steadily, then began the long descent down to the bottom of Rivelin Valley. I was aiming for 6 miles and didn't look at my watch till I got to the bottom, where I decided to check my distance before deciding whether to run along the top of the valley on the other side (roadie-route through Stannington) or take my usual and much beloved muddy trail along the bottom of the valley. At 2.57miles, the bottom of the valley still tempted me in as I didn't want to massively over-distance myself with more training to be done later.
The valley was as muddy as promised and I gently resigned myself (with the odd swear word) to getting my new trainers dirty. I enjoyed every step of the valley-path. Especially bumping into the Rivelin Valley Volunteer Group who I waved to and thanked as I ran past.
Dog walkers chatted about muddy hounds and teenagers said hello. I was so happy that everyone was happy - even given the shitty weather.
At the bottom of my precipice climb to the house I was still 0.7mile short of my distance so I continued along the valley trail to the fire station then turned up the hill and ran a slightly elongated route home up the hillside, through a couple of footpaths I haven't run up for ages. I forgot where they come out - at the top of our road nonetheless - and consequently dropped down to my front door after 6.01miles of running.
 |
| My muddy shoes and both rivers running in the valley |
After a good dose of sitting down and a lunch of salad and cheese and coffee, I dug the rollers out. Phoenix was devoid of a Garmin device for tracking distance so I set off for the loft to dig out Rosie Dragon. She had a Garmin device fitted but no block on the rear wheel so I changed that out for my turbo wheel and had to go in search of a magnet and then change the saddle for one that doesn't give me tendinitis in very uncomfortable places.
Finally, by 3:30pm we were ready to go.
For some time I have wondered what my new found yoga strength will do for my triathlon season this year. The gains we made last year were pleasant but having seen where cyclo-cross went this year, I am excited for this tri season. Particularly as the additional strength should protect me from Ironman abuse so much more. I've seen the benefits in mountain biking already and in the endurance I have for getting back to running but haven't tested the form on the time trial bike yet.
On a parallel stream, I have been thinking that I need to get my position on the bike so dialled that I am able to ride the TT bike on the aero bars on the rollers. Once I can do that I will know I am niggle-free. No nasty, distracting wobbles in direction or power.
I am happy to say that tonight, I nailed it. First day of Ironman training and I pretty much rolled out 60 minutes of roller riding in aero (along with a few more choice words). I may have damaged parts of my anatomy but they'll fix. There's a little bit of saddle adjustment to be done but I'll get there.
I am happy to say that tonight, I nailed it. First day of Ironman training and I pretty much rolled out 60 minutes of roller riding in aero (along with a few more choice words). I may have damaged parts of my anatomy but they'll fix. There's a little bit of saddle adjustment to be done but I'll get there.
So, that's me, all motivated and doing good again. Happy that I might be able to last a ski holiday when it comes, confident that I'll enjoy myself in the pool, happy I can run again and with a cyclist core to dream of and now newly focused on delivering an Ironman training schedule performance to rival anything I've dreamt of before. I will not be letting anything get in the way again.
The fog appears to have very much lifted.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Remembering to be kind to myself - week minus 23
Monday
Given that I raced the national champs on Saturday and spent all day Sunday recovering, I figured it would do me no harm to start my training on a Monday. If you have a good day in front of you, you might as well make use of it... and that I did.I used the opportunity to swim in the morning, come out of the pool into sunrise, ride in the sunshine and home under clear, dark skies. That went down very well and I got a good speed on, regardless of being on Lovely with a bag of still-soggy swim kit in my bag.
The swim was rough and tumble. My first morning swim of the training season. It was busy and choppy and I even resorted to the middle lane to avoid the washing machine status of the fast lane. I didn't fancy resting because it was too much confrontation so I did 16 lengths then 14 before bailing out for the day. It was slow but it was done. Another tick in the box.
Tuesday
Like Monday, Tuesday dawned fine but I had promised myself a run and also yoga. The yoga was blissful in the morning. I feel well and very flexible and after the rush of Christmas, my brain is finally starting to calm down.My promised run happened at lunchtime.
On account of my lack of running motivation I have been running with my heaphones and tunes on. I rarely do this in the hills but, making my way through magna in Rotherham, headphones really help. This time I ran the whole time - stopping only for one photo and not stretching when I got to the mid point. I also didn't overshoot the turn of for my run back to the office. It's no wonder I took 10 minutes off my last time for this run but I'm still not very fast with a 10:41 mile. It's a bit shit when wearing headphones usually makes me run faster.
 |
... although I managed a yoga set and some very satisfying rides to work, it wasn't until today that my brain woke up again. I can look at this swan and remember back to the serenity of Tuesday. |
It turns out we have a very important presentation to deliver and I have been allocated a section of it. Over time, the work was handed over. Descriptions, file locations. I got up to leave as a message came through from B. "Have you decided who to allocate that project in Cheshire to?" My boss looked at me and said my name. The phone on my desk rang and I picked it up remotely. It was B. Someone has to be in Cheshire before 12 tomorrow. The first thing I did was finish booking my ski holiday before some bastard stole it from me then I gathered my things and headed over to Cheshire.
I booked into a nice hotel and enjoyed my evening immensely. Catching up on this rush project then wiling the night away, restless, frustrated and excited. It stopped being fun about 1am then I didn't sleep until about 3am when I ate some food. I resolved a few things in my head... then followed up with porridge at 5am. Running low on phone battery isn't good for sleep patterns. Nor is a half-arsed curtain in some ex-travelodge. I snoozed until I was woken for real breakfast.
Wednesday
Wednesday's site visit flew past in a flash of brainstorming and productivity. Most enjoyable. It would have made the drive home dreamy except I was stuck in traffic for way too long. I hadn't even packed running gear to enjoy myself on the way home. Although, by the time I got to Rushup Edge it was not only dark but also sleeting.The day came to an abrupt end back outside the offices. I felt like I'd been in a bubble all day. Time to face the old life, the real world - although cuddles from my husband helped... immensely. That's real world stuff.
Thursday
Thursday felt like a hangover day. I rode to work extremely quickly to get up for an 8:30 meeting this time.
At lunchtime I disappeared from the office into the space under the stairs. It's a secret hidey hole where I go to find myself - or more specifically my yoga mat. Talk about flexible. I am reaching parts of my body I haven't wrapped my fingers around for years and holding some good poses. I stopped short of attempting another hand stand and instead attempted the wheel. Successfully executed although one side of my body is more adept than the other so I need to work on that. I find it weird that through my twisted mind, right now, the yoga is gradually unravelling my body.
Back to work with a takeaway salad box.
It's a good job I'm enjoying this project... but by the time 4pm came around I was ready to go... specifically go for a haircut that I am desperately in need of and has been booked for some time. I asked people to help me with things. People made me late As Mel ran her skillful hands through my hair I fell asleep right there and then in the bloody sink.
One last hill climb. One last bloody hill climb to the house. I was knackered. With a busy day to follow.
Friday
Despite packing everything I needed for the day's exercise - swim kit and run kit - I did none of it. I was feeling ill so I drove to work - early, discovered things that I'd asked to be done hadn't been done. A shitty start to the day. It got worse with the dissolution of the project and effort. My team of one and I ended on a low note. We tried our best to start planning for next week but it disintegrated into him leaving early and me doing half the work before next week, just to get ahead of the game.
I decided the game wasn't fair and left it at work.
I tried to find the motivation to swim on the way home but it just wasn't there.
Saturday
Saturday started slowwwwly. One of those days where you can't feel your arms because they were over your face keeping the sunrise out.
We had planned to walk into town. It's amazing how booking an expensive ski holiday suddenly makes you relish the idea of walking into town to obtain refunds on un-given and poorly chosen Christmas gifts. When you get a credit card refund for an item you only bought to bolster the order so you didn't pay delivery and you used a voucher, so really, you're like, £18 better off from a £20 voucher when you only bought a £12 pair of knickers - that. Paid for lunch anyway.
On the way home we noticed the snow on the hills.
There's no way I couldn't go out for a run - was there? Back at the house I couldn't feel it. I couldn't feel the will. I am still feeling ill. I knew my lungs would hurt when I tried to use them but, after a brief sit down to recover from the walk in town I felt able to go out. I had to at least try to make this week pass without me missing out on (not just one but) two of my training days. I vowed to try one exercise and I will give the other two a go tomorrow.
I went for my run. I slothed down to the valley bottom then trundled along the river bank. I tried alternate paths which were interesting. Places I've not been before... places which looked like trespass but didn't seem to bother anyone.
At the top of the valley I turned around and headed home on the flat - as much as possible. The rivers were still flowing strong and I love this little overflow on my way home. I listened to the river, the birds, the trees. I wasn't missing the music, the bustle of work, the banter, my bed, I felt alive.
Then I stopped. In fact I stopped for every hill climb on the way home. The lungs just weren't playing and there was a lot of coughing. I resigned myself to a trip to the docs on Monday and slothed my way back to the house. 12:20 minute miles now.
Still, not to worry, the easy day of the week comes tomorrow - Swimming and cycling - and I felt good that I'd done today's run.
I can't be hard on myself for missing Wednesday's sessions. It was, after all, a day of walking around all day wearing heavy boots. I can't be hard on myself all of the time - especially not with 22 weeks to go.
So tomorrow I will cycle and swim in the comfort of the indoors because I am a soft shite. My lungs have no patience for the cold right now but I am happier today in the knowledge that this week has helped me to find some balance in life. As things got tougher at work, things were figured out. I am ready to start next week anew. Perhaps my new year has come late. Business left over from last year was slow to finish.
Maybe there is a new year for me under this scab... if I just pick it a little.
Saturday, January 02, 2016
New Years Honeymoon Period Over
At least yoga class is back and the pool is open. It is the slow return to normal.
Mercifully, Helena went easy on us so I was able to sneak in a speedy 850m swim too.
3 x 8 lap sets were tiring though my last set was the fastest so could have done more but that's the point now.
My walk back up to the car was slow. We drank coffee, walked to Gertie's for lunch then I went home to bed for a bit. I have decided to seek doc's advice since the afternoon naps will need to stop next week and rest didn't get me anywhere either.
The rest of the day passed without comment between books, clicking needles and a little cooking.
I just hope I can sleep (not cough) tonight.
Mercifully, Helena went easy on us so I was able to sneak in a speedy 850m swim too.
3 x 8 lap sets were tiring though my last set was the fastest so could have done more but that's the point now.
My walk back up to the car was slow. We drank coffee, walked to Gertie's for lunch then I went home to bed for a bit. I have decided to seek doc's advice since the afternoon naps will need to stop next week and rest didn't get me anywhere either.
The rest of the day passed without comment between books, clicking needles and a little cooking.
I just hope I can sleep (not cough) tonight.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Christmas yoga and swimming recovery
I have spent 2 days feeling like an old person. After swimming I drowned my green lungs in a small, Italian beer before being annihilated at Scrabble. On Monday TSK drove us home then I wilted under the duvet whilst he went out for a ride. On Tuesday I wilted under the duvet whilst TSK went out for another ride. Like an old person, though, I did have a trip to the dentist and the doctor, just for some company... and fillings.
And I started a new knitting project.
After a prolonged day of knitting and sleeping we retreated to the Chinese takeaway for Christmas indulgence of a different kind. As I stood in the queue my legs started itching to move and I actually had to go out and pace up and down the street to feel better. Perhaps the illness is turning around. Sadly, after big food and TV the coughing was back. Not productive cough because you feel like it but annoying, tickly cough because you need to coughing.
I took it to bed and floundered. Literally until i finally suppressed it enough to sleep and woke at 8:30 with a bad back. Clearly been lying in the same position for 8 hours to avoid stirring the lungs.
I couldn't face another day lay on the sofa / bed / chair / floor so packed my swim stuff after breakfast and headed for the one place I have been comfortable doing any exercise this holiday - a nice chlorinated pool.
I didn't feel like it but I felt like doing nothing even less. Once in I started to wait for my body temperature to adapt but then concluded that the best approach was to let rip.
I had planned to do 12 lap sets, increasing on Sundays 300m sets by 33/25 times. I didn't know how much that was but it felt like it might be doable. First time around it was enjoyable. I hit 12 laps before I knew it and had to make myself rest. The next set I focused on pointing my toes since I noticed I wasn't doing it. Also if there's a time to use my legs in swimming it really has to be the time when I am unable to get out on the bike.
It made a difference - mainly that my breathing went to pot - but I was looking at my watch after 6 laps which (phew) turned out to be 8 as the next lap slid over to 10 and the 12 was done.
On the last set I kept count. I was tiring towards the end of the set but hey, I felt like I had more left in me. It was fine though. It's about consistency now and I want to be able to go again tomorrow - whether it's a swim or my beloved turbo.
I swam one more length to the end of the pool for my swan dive - pushing the boat out and flying in the face of fear that my sinuses would explode (they didn't).
With all that excess energy I decided to do my yoga at the gym instead of facing the prospect of my chilly loft when I got home.
Much to my dismay (ahem) the Sheffield Eagles rugby club were doing a spin session and I had to use all of my yogic strength to ignore their whoops and grunts as their coach led them through a gruelling spin set. However no amount of concentration could prevent me breaking out into a wide grin when they all started singing along with Justin Beiber's "Love Yourself". I was pretty impressed with the harmonies on 18 guys with legs the size of your average tree-trunk.
I mused over the yogic precept to 'speak no cruel words' and how difficult that is when the gymnasium offers such prime fodder.
The rugby team went home and I finished my set in peace, taking an indulgent moment to walk out without having touched a single machine. I also gave inner kudos to the man twice the size of me who joined me on the mat for a brief time to demonstrate his far superior flexibility.
The workout fired me up and felt much more beneficial than yesterday's slob-fest. I did shopping, household stuff I have been putting off forever and I felt like I earned this time, sitting on the sofa feeling fine.
Trepid Explorer, off to enjoy doing the dishes.
And I started a new knitting project.
After a prolonged day of knitting and sleeping we retreated to the Chinese takeaway for Christmas indulgence of a different kind. As I stood in the queue my legs started itching to move and I actually had to go out and pace up and down the street to feel better. Perhaps the illness is turning around. Sadly, after big food and TV the coughing was back. Not productive cough because you feel like it but annoying, tickly cough because you need to coughing.
I took it to bed and floundered. Literally until i finally suppressed it enough to sleep and woke at 8:30 with a bad back. Clearly been lying in the same position for 8 hours to avoid stirring the lungs.
I couldn't face another day lay on the sofa / bed / chair / floor so packed my swim stuff after breakfast and headed for the one place I have been comfortable doing any exercise this holiday - a nice chlorinated pool.
I didn't feel like it but I felt like doing nothing even less. Once in I started to wait for my body temperature to adapt but then concluded that the best approach was to let rip.
I had planned to do 12 lap sets, increasing on Sundays 300m sets by 33/25 times. I didn't know how much that was but it felt like it might be doable. First time around it was enjoyable. I hit 12 laps before I knew it and had to make myself rest. The next set I focused on pointing my toes since I noticed I wasn't doing it. Also if there's a time to use my legs in swimming it really has to be the time when I am unable to get out on the bike.
It made a difference - mainly that my breathing went to pot - but I was looking at my watch after 6 laps which (phew) turned out to be 8 as the next lap slid over to 10 and the 12 was done.
On the last set I kept count. I was tiring towards the end of the set but hey, I felt like I had more left in me. It was fine though. It's about consistency now and I want to be able to go again tomorrow - whether it's a swim or my beloved turbo.
I swam one more length to the end of the pool for my swan dive - pushing the boat out and flying in the face of fear that my sinuses would explode (they didn't).
With all that excess energy I decided to do my yoga at the gym instead of facing the prospect of my chilly loft when I got home.
Much to my dismay (ahem) the Sheffield Eagles rugby club were doing a spin session and I had to use all of my yogic strength to ignore their whoops and grunts as their coach led them through a gruelling spin set. However no amount of concentration could prevent me breaking out into a wide grin when they all started singing along with Justin Beiber's "Love Yourself". I was pretty impressed with the harmonies on 18 guys with legs the size of your average tree-trunk.
I mused over the yogic precept to 'speak no cruel words' and how difficult that is when the gymnasium offers such prime fodder.
The rugby team went home and I finished my set in peace, taking an indulgent moment to walk out without having touched a single machine. I also gave inner kudos to the man twice the size of me who joined me on the mat for a brief time to demonstrate his far superior flexibility.
The workout fired me up and felt much more beneficial than yesterday's slob-fest. I did shopping, household stuff I have been putting off forever and I felt like I earned this time, sitting on the sofa feeling fine.
Trepid Explorer, off to enjoy doing the dishes.
Thursday, December 03, 2015
Physyoga
Refreshing to go for a sports massage with a new person today. Gave me a few insights into my weird physiquie. A hip joint which is too open is thought to be caused by a hip socket which is too small for the ball joint allowing my left leg to flop lithely all over the place whilst the right one is stiff and awkward most of the time.
It doesn't help that this is the one I sit over on. It explains why I can't stretch my left hamstring very well. I have to really work to stretch it straight above my head. I do have to carry on with the exercises my AXA physio has given me though.
I have some hip and pelvis strengthening exercises to do to help me stabilise the lot.
There's a theory on my knee pain that is either slightly damaged cartilledge hooking up on ligaments as they pass and causing the wretching pain or ligament damage. Not treatable unless it's severe but who wants surgery anyway? The evil man (he was nice really) poked and manipulated my knee about trying to make it go ow so he could identify the point but to no avail. This gave me great hope that I have at last worked through it.
I feel very tough for riding out a physio session after going out for my first ever Dark Peak road run last night. Debbie thought I was insane and I thought I missed Roy who I understand is usually the source of much waiting. So my muscles ached tonight. Questions I asked about how I stretch this muscle were answered with a jabbing finger in the wrong bits of fleshy stuff and a yelp from me. Perhaps my sports massages are well out of date again.
Finally, a sound bit of advice. I was hesitant about listening to warning advice about my yoga practice, though this was qualified with, "having done it for the past 3 years" and I was reminded that yoga is a stationary form of exercise and very different to running, cycling etc. the things that I love lots. I have no plans to give up yoga, especially given all of the success and joy it has added to my life over the last 12 months but it is definitely time to let some more of the active sports back into my life... and by that I mean keeping up my running and getting around to that swimming thing... because there will always be room for the bike.
It doesn't help that this is the one I sit over on. It explains why I can't stretch my left hamstring very well. I have to really work to stretch it straight above my head. I do have to carry on with the exercises my AXA physio has given me though.
I have some hip and pelvis strengthening exercises to do to help me stabilise the lot.
There's a theory on my knee pain that is either slightly damaged cartilledge hooking up on ligaments as they pass and causing the wretching pain or ligament damage. Not treatable unless it's severe but who wants surgery anyway? The evil man (he was nice really) poked and manipulated my knee about trying to make it go ow so he could identify the point but to no avail. This gave me great hope that I have at last worked through it.
I feel very tough for riding out a physio session after going out for my first ever Dark Peak road run last night. Debbie thought I was insane and I thought I missed Roy who I understand is usually the source of much waiting. So my muscles ached tonight. Questions I asked about how I stretch this muscle were answered with a jabbing finger in the wrong bits of fleshy stuff and a yelp from me. Perhaps my sports massages are well out of date again.
Finally, a sound bit of advice. I was hesitant about listening to warning advice about my yoga practice, though this was qualified with, "having done it for the past 3 years" and I was reminded that yoga is a stationary form of exercise and very different to running, cycling etc. the things that I love lots. I have no plans to give up yoga, especially given all of the success and joy it has added to my life over the last 12 months but it is definitely time to let some more of the active sports back into my life... and by that I mean keeping up my running and getting around to that swimming thing... because there will always be room for the bike.
Saturday, November 14, 2015
This week in training
I won't beat about the bush. This week has been a bugger for work. Not particularly unpleasant because I now have a small team of two (me and AN Other) but just busy, wanting to do the best we can. It's been... long.
After a tough trophy race in Durham I took the day off on Monday and took the car to work. I needed it. The legs were definitely on go-slow. When people hold the door for me and I make them wait...
Tuesday I felt like I needed to make up for it and because it's Polo night for TSK, I don't have to rush home - or feel like I have to rush home. It is effectively home alone night.
I took the bike in to work via the gym and a yoga session with Chris who was incredibly apologetic for missing his class last week. After yoga I was still riding slowly to let the legs loosen up but made it in time for the working day to start well.
We worked until 7, getting costs into a spreadsheet and calculating pipeline losses. Transferring knowledge to the next generation of engineers is way more interesting than doing the same old same old on repeat. Still, by 7pm I was feeling invigorated and had been snacking on pistachios and goji berries all afternoon so I set out for a ride. Typing this whilst gales and rain rage outside is weird but on Tuesday night the weather was sublime. Within 20 minutes of riding I had to take my waterproof jacket off and unzip my fleece to the waist to cool off.
I was still loosening off really so the pace was steady along the bridlepath. As I negotiated my way around the Penistone Road, the pistachios started to wear off so I decided to cut my usual route ever so slightly shorter and tackle the route to the (minor) Woodhead Road slightly differently. I took one of those lanes that you always look at and think, "I wonder where that goes" and came out at the other end at a junction that I looked at last time and thought, "I wonder where that goes". So result all round.
Less looking at the map this time, more clean riding so the route passed much quicker, which meant the climbs passed much quicker. I was getting pushed up the hill by the early stages of Abigail's arrival so I can't claim all the benefit.
Before I could really feel the hill I was over the top, ripping down the dark woodland road and into Grenoside and the long climb over to Oughtibridge. The pistachios were well and truly spent.
I whipped down Jawbone hill, carefully negotiating gaps in hedgerows where the wind swept me sideways. I was trying to hold my line but it was increasingly difficult with an ambulance sweeping past me. Clearly the wind was affecting my ability to descend this hill faster than the vehicles usually do.
At the bottom I was out of patience and sneaked up the footpath to avoid the one way section and put myself on the last climb out of Oughtibridge and down to Wortley and Stannington where my journey ends. I walked in the door 5 minutes ahead of TSK.
On Wednesday I had definitely got into it. I packed my running kit, full of the intention to get away on time and go out with Dark Peak this time - something I have been intending to do for weeks and still not quite made it.
Wednesday was our review meeting and we were all beevering away to get the proposal into some kind of shape whilst all the concerned people were in the room together. Conversations were ongoing till late in the afternoon and the reviewer was phoning his wife at 4pm to let her know he was going to be late. Bollocks. The group was on a roll and I wasn't going to be the one to spoil the party.
We didn't finish particularly late for a working day - the normal 5:30 - but it's just late enough to know that you're not going to make it to running... but just early enough to think that you might.
I tried to be clever, to take a different route into the city and a different route out to catch the traffic just right. It had the opposite effect and by the time I had to call it on running, I was already out of the way of the house. After my elongated drive home, I wasn't in the mood for discovering I'd left my keys in my other jacket in the office.
At least I still had my running kit with me and could, therefore, get changed and go for a run. In an attempt to stem hunger pangs I had already consumed every half-eaten energy bar that was kicking about in my car and the bottom of my rucsac. I proceeded to get changed in between every passing commuter walking down the street (not that many by 6:45) and set off for my run.
I saw no-one out there except a large crocodile of (school / scouts) children clothed in hi vis and equipped with head torches which they kept shining in my face. I almost hip-checked one into the river but otherwise we passed without incident.
After 28 minutes I was spent. Not incapable of running but starving hungry and starting to get wobbly. There was no point in me going straight home, I'd still be locked out. I sat on the bench, turned my headtorch off and thought for a while about the coming weeks. The passage of the 'cross season, weather, impending snows, christmas celebrations, projects, running, swimming, travel.
When I started to get cool, I made the decision to keep going. Then I still felt wobbly so I made the decision to turn around again. Then I realised I was almost at the end of the trail so I might as well run back on a different path.
Up to Rails Road and along the A57 for a short jog where I actually thought of running back the easiest way - along the road - instead of up the bridlepath it was so quiet. Fortunately before the path began, 8 or more cars passed and persuaded me it wasn't so quiet after all and I set off up the rocky slope. Running was by now out of the question so I continued walking, still thinking, musing, dreaming and generally enjoying my own company. In spirit, I sometimes still walk with my dog.
It always impresses me that sometimes students make it out here. I know runners and cyclists pass this way in the dark quite frequently but it's always nice to see the occasional group of drunken students in "civvy" clothing - just out for a walk. They sit on the crag and drink beer. It gives me hope for the future.
I dropped off the quarry path and set off down the trails which lead around the edge of Crookes, travelling slowly on my feet allowed me to carefully figure out the best way to Bolehills BMX track without getting too hung up on roads filled with angry and stupid motorists. Although I had a headtorch with red and white flashy lights, I had no hi vis. I managed the whole return journey with no more than 50m on an un-footpathed road. Managing a run down hill but walking all of the rest.
In a timely manner, I jogged down our hill, just as TSK was texting me to say he was in. It's a long time since I have been so close to chewing off my own arm to stay alive. We ate dinner very late for the second night in a row and my brain chewed through both food and the complexities of my bid at work.
Everyone knew Thursday was going to be a long day so I at least made it to Yoga in the morning to give my brain a bit of time off. I gave my grad the project to deliver himself and he decided to be out of the office on Friday so we had to get his bid ready on Thursday. There were no excuses to be had. I was prepared to work late Thursday, my body had nothing left to give so I might as well use my brain. After a difficult night's sleep my spine was twisted and contorted and I wondered if I'd actually be able to lie on a mat on a hard floor, never mind sit cross-legged and upright. I managed it though and there was just the right level of twisting in the yoga practice to gradually tease out the stress and frustrations of the previous day.
I arrived at the office with a scrawled list of things that were left to do, all written between midnight and 4am. We progressed slowly through the day then sat down to review and tick off the last items into the evening. We printed, formatted, reprinted, picked through, calculated, almost cried, then fixed things again. We ended the day with a quality document and all the boxes ticked.
That's it for Thursday really. My brain was ready for reset button overnight. I finally slept well, knowing that the proposal was in someone else's hands on Friday but Friday, as far as training is concerned was a write-off.
I headed to the loft with my laptop to do my timesheet. Another 42 hours done by Thursday evening. I kept the day to minimal input and broke off at 11 for a yoga session in the loft. After lunch some minor details were taken care of but I was too tired to think and I packed my stuff away at 3pm.
Monday will be welcome as the first day in months without a fixed deadline at work. The weekend will be even more welcome.
After a tough trophy race in Durham I took the day off on Monday and took the car to work. I needed it. The legs were definitely on go-slow. When people hold the door for me and I make them wait...
Tuesday I felt like I needed to make up for it and because it's Polo night for TSK, I don't have to rush home - or feel like I have to rush home. It is effectively home alone night.
I took the bike in to work via the gym and a yoga session with Chris who was incredibly apologetic for missing his class last week. After yoga I was still riding slowly to let the legs loosen up but made it in time for the working day to start well.
We worked until 7, getting costs into a spreadsheet and calculating pipeline losses. Transferring knowledge to the next generation of engineers is way more interesting than doing the same old same old on repeat. Still, by 7pm I was feeling invigorated and had been snacking on pistachios and goji berries all afternoon so I set out for a ride. Typing this whilst gales and rain rage outside is weird but on Tuesday night the weather was sublime. Within 20 minutes of riding I had to take my waterproof jacket off and unzip my fleece to the waist to cool off.
I was still loosening off really so the pace was steady along the bridlepath. As I negotiated my way around the Penistone Road, the pistachios started to wear off so I decided to cut my usual route ever so slightly shorter and tackle the route to the (minor) Woodhead Road slightly differently. I took one of those lanes that you always look at and think, "I wonder where that goes" and came out at the other end at a junction that I looked at last time and thought, "I wonder where that goes". So result all round.
Less looking at the map this time, more clean riding so the route passed much quicker, which meant the climbs passed much quicker. I was getting pushed up the hill by the early stages of Abigail's arrival so I can't claim all the benefit.
Before I could really feel the hill I was over the top, ripping down the dark woodland road and into Grenoside and the long climb over to Oughtibridge. The pistachios were well and truly spent.
I whipped down Jawbone hill, carefully negotiating gaps in hedgerows where the wind swept me sideways. I was trying to hold my line but it was increasingly difficult with an ambulance sweeping past me. Clearly the wind was affecting my ability to descend this hill faster than the vehicles usually do.
At the bottom I was out of patience and sneaked up the footpath to avoid the one way section and put myself on the last climb out of Oughtibridge and down to Wortley and Stannington where my journey ends. I walked in the door 5 minutes ahead of TSK.
On Wednesday I had definitely got into it. I packed my running kit, full of the intention to get away on time and go out with Dark Peak this time - something I have been intending to do for weeks and still not quite made it.
Wednesday was our review meeting and we were all beevering away to get the proposal into some kind of shape whilst all the concerned people were in the room together. Conversations were ongoing till late in the afternoon and the reviewer was phoning his wife at 4pm to let her know he was going to be late. Bollocks. The group was on a roll and I wasn't going to be the one to spoil the party.
We didn't finish particularly late for a working day - the normal 5:30 - but it's just late enough to know that you're not going to make it to running... but just early enough to think that you might.
I tried to be clever, to take a different route into the city and a different route out to catch the traffic just right. It had the opposite effect and by the time I had to call it on running, I was already out of the way of the house. After my elongated drive home, I wasn't in the mood for discovering I'd left my keys in my other jacket in the office.
At least I still had my running kit with me and could, therefore, get changed and go for a run. In an attempt to stem hunger pangs I had already consumed every half-eaten energy bar that was kicking about in my car and the bottom of my rucsac. I proceeded to get changed in between every passing commuter walking down the street (not that many by 6:45) and set off for my run.
I saw no-one out there except a large crocodile of (school / scouts) children clothed in hi vis and equipped with head torches which they kept shining in my face. I almost hip-checked one into the river but otherwise we passed without incident.
After 28 minutes I was spent. Not incapable of running but starving hungry and starting to get wobbly. There was no point in me going straight home, I'd still be locked out. I sat on the bench, turned my headtorch off and thought for a while about the coming weeks. The passage of the 'cross season, weather, impending snows, christmas celebrations, projects, running, swimming, travel.
When I started to get cool, I made the decision to keep going. Then I still felt wobbly so I made the decision to turn around again. Then I realised I was almost at the end of the trail so I might as well run back on a different path.
Up to Rails Road and along the A57 for a short jog where I actually thought of running back the easiest way - along the road - instead of up the bridlepath it was so quiet. Fortunately before the path began, 8 or more cars passed and persuaded me it wasn't so quiet after all and I set off up the rocky slope. Running was by now out of the question so I continued walking, still thinking, musing, dreaming and generally enjoying my own company. In spirit, I sometimes still walk with my dog.
It always impresses me that sometimes students make it out here. I know runners and cyclists pass this way in the dark quite frequently but it's always nice to see the occasional group of drunken students in "civvy" clothing - just out for a walk. They sit on the crag and drink beer. It gives me hope for the future.
I dropped off the quarry path and set off down the trails which lead around the edge of Crookes, travelling slowly on my feet allowed me to carefully figure out the best way to Bolehills BMX track without getting too hung up on roads filled with angry and stupid motorists. Although I had a headtorch with red and white flashy lights, I had no hi vis. I managed the whole return journey with no more than 50m on an un-footpathed road. Managing a run down hill but walking all of the rest.
In a timely manner, I jogged down our hill, just as TSK was texting me to say he was in. It's a long time since I have been so close to chewing off my own arm to stay alive. We ate dinner very late for the second night in a row and my brain chewed through both food and the complexities of my bid at work.
Everyone knew Thursday was going to be a long day so I at least made it to Yoga in the morning to give my brain a bit of time off. I gave my grad the project to deliver himself and he decided to be out of the office on Friday so we had to get his bid ready on Thursday. There were no excuses to be had. I was prepared to work late Thursday, my body had nothing left to give so I might as well use my brain. After a difficult night's sleep my spine was twisted and contorted and I wondered if I'd actually be able to lie on a mat on a hard floor, never mind sit cross-legged and upright. I managed it though and there was just the right level of twisting in the yoga practice to gradually tease out the stress and frustrations of the previous day.
I arrived at the office with a scrawled list of things that were left to do, all written between midnight and 4am. We progressed slowly through the day then sat down to review and tick off the last items into the evening. We printed, formatted, reprinted, picked through, calculated, almost cried, then fixed things again. We ended the day with a quality document and all the boxes ticked.
That's it for Thursday really. My brain was ready for reset button overnight. I finally slept well, knowing that the proposal was in someone else's hands on Friday but Friday, as far as training is concerned was a write-off.
I headed to the loft with my laptop to do my timesheet. Another 42 hours done by Thursday evening. I kept the day to minimal input and broke off at 11 for a yoga session in the loft. After lunch some minor details were taken care of but I was too tired to think and I packed my stuff away at 3pm.
Monday will be welcome as the first day in months without a fixed deadline at work. The weekend will be even more welcome.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Thoughts on Tonight's Run
It felt like the first one back since forever. It's only been 8 days but it's enough to feel a bit ropey.
My new socks were amazing. Kept my calfs warm, plenty of room in the feet and had some curious looks. Especially from motorists who managed to notice me in the fading light. The socks also made me feel taller which probably means they made me run taller.
I am motivated to run every day now... but I shouldn't because 3 Peaks resting.
I gave myself a hard time for being slow and tiredbut then remembered I have been doing some serious strength training at yoga and that more than counts.
Yoga doesn't do much to keep you accustomed to the constant pounding of running (my feet are sore again) but my new found strength does make most of my steps feel easier except the last ones which are always hard.
This was the first after-work run I have done in a while and it is already time to warrant a head torch for the end of the run.
Speed running on the road does nothing to improve your off-road handling skills on the fly but the confidence I have gained from being able to run at good speed has given me a lot of encouragement.
It is still impossible to know how ready I am for the Peaks - or not. My head is quite excited but a little tired. This has worked well for me in recent weeks.
I should have thrown out that protein shake years ago. No wonder I gagged when I drank it... but then it is protein shake (2010 if you must know).
Things I noticed:
The river is low
The leaves are falling but still mostly green
Lost £1. Almost hit by 4 falling acorns
A man running like his dog (whippet)
My toes are even closer when I am warm.
The drizzle.
5.6 miles of joy.
My new socks were amazing. Kept my calfs warm, plenty of room in the feet and had some curious looks. Especially from motorists who managed to notice me in the fading light. The socks also made me feel taller which probably means they made me run taller.
I am motivated to run every day now... but I shouldn't because 3 Peaks resting.
I gave myself a hard time for being slow and tiredbut then remembered I have been doing some serious strength training at yoga and that more than counts.
Yoga doesn't do much to keep you accustomed to the constant pounding of running (my feet are sore again) but my new found strength does make most of my steps feel easier except the last ones which are always hard.
This was the first after-work run I have done in a while and it is already time to warrant a head torch for the end of the run.
Speed running on the road does nothing to improve your off-road handling skills on the fly but the confidence I have gained from being able to run at good speed has given me a lot of encouragement.
It is still impossible to know how ready I am for the Peaks - or not. My head is quite excited but a little tired. This has worked well for me in recent weeks.
I should have thrown out that protein shake years ago. No wonder I gagged when I drank it... but then it is protein shake (2010 if you must know).
Things I noticed:
The river is low
The leaves are falling but still mostly green
Lost £1. Almost hit by 4 falling acorns
A man running like his dog (whippet)
My toes are even closer when I am warm.
The drizzle.
5.6 miles of joy.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Yoga Bragging. It's all wrong.
Bragging about yoga isn't right really is it? The principles of yoga is practice and enjoyment. "Improvements" are just a progression, whether appreciated, shared or not. They are there a side effect of the journey but not a necessary result of the journey. That doesn't stop me appreciating them though.
I have been reading Yoga Girl by and about Rachel Brethen and yoga, strangely enough. Not money for old rope as such since many of her early posts online are so far in the mists of time I won't ever find them and it's good to know the history of a person and it's good to have a beautiful book to look at.
Furthermore her book brings forward many of the philosophies of yoga previously undisclosed to me by stuffy old man books and inaccessible classes. I only started practising again this year because my gym gave me the opportunity of classes without commitment. It's typical that this has been my quiet period at work and I have been consistently attending. Classes are ok but don't teach philosophies, just movement. Rachel's book brings out the yogic practice as it applies to modern life not in the eyes of Mr Iyengar and his water-snorting freaky achievements which seem so freakishly unachievable.
Somehow it seems much more achievable when I see them done by a beautiful blonde woman on a paddle board in the Caribean.
I have been over enthusiastic and rushed my yoga. I haven't hurt myself but I was uncomfortable so I reined myself in and now take great joy from small improvement and work hard until I wobble on areas where I am weak like my core, hips and hamstring flexibility.
So my achievement, quietly tucked away on my blog is that I reached my shoulder stand right back over my head today and held it for some time. I did a forward bend that finally reached my toes for the first time in years. The soles of my feet seem so much closer tonight. Finally, I spent my morning helping someone out at work. Just doing something so they didn't have to while they were away. It was great.
I am remembering a me from many years ago. I am slowly coaxing out someone who didn't judge and despair and rant and finding the helpful positive person who smiled at a day that was average and said, 'You know what? That was alright'.
I have been reading Yoga Girl by and about Rachel Brethen and yoga, strangely enough. Not money for old rope as such since many of her early posts online are so far in the mists of time I won't ever find them and it's good to know the history of a person and it's good to have a beautiful book to look at.
Furthermore her book brings forward many of the philosophies of yoga previously undisclosed to me by stuffy old man books and inaccessible classes. I only started practising again this year because my gym gave me the opportunity of classes without commitment. It's typical that this has been my quiet period at work and I have been consistently attending. Classes are ok but don't teach philosophies, just movement. Rachel's book brings out the yogic practice as it applies to modern life not in the eyes of Mr Iyengar and his water-snorting freaky achievements which seem so freakishly unachievable.
Somehow it seems much more achievable when I see them done by a beautiful blonde woman on a paddle board in the Caribean.
I have been over enthusiastic and rushed my yoga. I haven't hurt myself but I was uncomfortable so I reined myself in and now take great joy from small improvement and work hard until I wobble on areas where I am weak like my core, hips and hamstring flexibility.
So my achievement, quietly tucked away on my blog is that I reached my shoulder stand right back over my head today and held it for some time. I did a forward bend that finally reached my toes for the first time in years. The soles of my feet seem so much closer tonight. Finally, I spent my morning helping someone out at work. Just doing something so they didn't have to while they were away. It was great.
I am remembering a me from many years ago. I am slowly coaxing out someone who didn't judge and despair and rant and finding the helpful positive person who smiled at a day that was average and said, 'You know what? That was alright'.
Thursday, September 03, 2015
Ready to Race
I have been at the physio twice in 2 weeks. First to see if she could determine anything wrong with my hips which causes me to irritate a tendon in my groin and then for ongoing treatment. Neither has brought me any real joy and all this from a particular nasty yoga session 2 weeks ago where the instructor complained about getting out of bed so early, tortured us all then told us we were soft and me in particular that I would have trouble later in life if I didn't get my hips more mobile. Knowing that I have this problem with my groin already I booked the physio appointment.
The first physio I saw suggested I leave off the yoga till my problem is sorted. Since I can control my own actions and know my own body of course I decided that was tosh although I haven't been back yet.
The second physio assessed my solas muscle to be adequate to such an extent that she used the words 'nothing lacking there'. She even countered by saying that the yoga was clearly doing me good and I should keep going.
So I went this morning and much to my surprise discovered that the class had been cancelled because they had so many complaints about the stand-in instructor that they had failed to find a replacement. I was astonished at their incompetence to appoint another instructor but also listening to customers yielding direct action and mostly that someone else got in there and complained before me.
I feel vindicated, a renewed sense of confidence in my body before this weekend and hope that soon the old yoga will be restored. In the meantime though, me and a complete stranger went to the gym together and did synchronized sun salutations and, residual fatigue aside, I feel ready for racing again.
The first physio I saw suggested I leave off the yoga till my problem is sorted. Since I can control my own actions and know my own body of course I decided that was tosh although I haven't been back yet.
The second physio assessed my solas muscle to be adequate to such an extent that she used the words 'nothing lacking there'. She even countered by saying that the yoga was clearly doing me good and I should keep going.
So I went this morning and much to my surprise discovered that the class had been cancelled because they had so many complaints about the stand-in instructor that they had failed to find a replacement. I was astonished at their incompetence to appoint another instructor but also listening to customers yielding direct action and mostly that someone else got in there and complained before me.
I feel vindicated, a renewed sense of confidence in my body before this weekend and hope that soon the old yoga will be restored. In the meantime though, me and a complete stranger went to the gym together and did synchronized sun salutations and, residual fatigue aside, I feel ready for racing again.
Monday, August 03, 2015
Sirsasana
Headstand success and all kind of controlled and elegant except for the bit where I "dismounted" (?) onto the cat who had made herself comfortable on the mat.
Wednesday, March 04, 2015
Sun Salutations in the setting Sun
A run in the Malverns on Monday on my way home from site.
Since then I have been working until 9:30 pm every night and waking up around midnight in a panic. Oh well. Zen can't be every day.
Since then I have been working until 9:30 pm every night and waking up around midnight in a panic. Oh well. Zen can't be every day.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Sun Salutations in the Rain
Yoga today followed by a 4km run with a workmates who made me run faster cos I didn't want to slow him down too much.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
One step closer
Today I rode to yoga on my way to work. What a great way to start the day.
Yoga was tough and my afternoon was mostly lost daydreaming of what lies ahead. I am finding an exciting project pretty unexciting at the moment because it's difficult for simple reasons. It won't fit. I don't know whether to mess with it and make it fit or give in and say, it won't go here, give me another place.
I have come home to simple chores. Some pleasant ones.
I am trying to be calmly happy with my lot.
Yoga was tough and my afternoon was mostly lost daydreaming of what lies ahead. I am finding an exciting project pretty unexciting at the moment because it's difficult for simple reasons. It won't fit. I don't know whether to mess with it and make it fit or give in and say, it won't go here, give me another place.
I have come home to simple chores. Some pleasant ones.
I am trying to be calmly happy with my lot.
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