Walking took the run out of my legs

Saturday 31^st March

Distance: 5.01 mile
Time: 1:04:25 min
Avg Speed: 4:75 mph                            
Avg Pace: 12:49min/mile
Calories Burned: 681

Yesterday the temporary contract I had at one school ended and when I started there I set my self the small target of running home on my last day. With all good intent I went to school in sports kit. I was aided by the fact that it was also a PE day so I did not look out of place in tracksuit and trainers. It was my said intent to run home I had even emptied my school bag and took only essentials in a small back pack. However my good intentions were scuppered by a kind gesture. The Head and Deputy Head appeared at the class room door towards the end of day with a big bunch of flowers, for which I was very grateful but it just meant that unless I adopted the Olympic torch mode of carrying I could barely run with them. So I decided that the best option was a brisk walk home. This I did. I walked the 4.2 miles home in about 45 minutes burning off approximately 250 calories. I use the words ‘about’ and ‘approximately’ as I somehow managed to switch the tracker app off halfway home!!! Nevertheless I walked home in a goodly time. However I was wearing my ‘other’ trainers and not my good running shoes as I did not want to wear them all day at school, and for this I paid a price. I found that by the time I got home they had rubbed on my wee tootsies.  

Now a very important factor that you my dear reader must bear in mind is that I am most DEFINITELY NOT the kind of girl who wears flat shoes!! My feet have been squeezed, forced and jammed into some of the most ridiculous but beautiful high heeled shoes imaginable. I am a shoe whore. I admit it. My shoe collection is extensive and believe you me if Manolo Blahnik made running shoes I would have them. As a consequence of 41+ years in 3 and 4 inch heels my tendons, muscles and feet have made adaptations. Although, surprisingly, I have not had any difficulty with my running schedule thus far, I did suffer today because of yesterday’s walk. My little legs and stumpy feet do not like walking in flat shoes and as a result when I started running today I found it hard as my legs ached before I started and as a consequence I did not go as far as I had intended. I ran to the cemetery and back, in fact if I could have taken my legs off I would have left them in the cemetery! I would never have believed that walking could affect my running so, but affect it, it did.

I made the decision half way up the road this morning, that instead of going for distance today, I would attempt to develop the duration. I am convinced now that I have the distance in me for the half marathon, I am even thinking further about a full marathon, just a wild thought at the moment (watch this space!). However what I need to build on now is not so much the distance but the length of run versus walk time, also the recovery after paused time. I am aware that since I started the training schedule, each time out I have taken fewer rests and I also walk less. Now though, I do need to build this to a more constant running mode and work to eliminate the walk time, or at least to get it down to smaller manageable slots. With this in mind I tried very hard today not to stop as often and to keep running when I wanted to walk.  Even though my legs ached I still managed my longest nonstop run of 1.8 miles so my new target now is to get to 2 miles without stopping.

My achy legs serve only to remind me that even though, at times, this is proving hard my legs do have a half marathon in them, which is about 13.5 running miles more than my beloved Raison d’etre has in his. He waits for me at the door on a Saturday morning when I get home and his beautiful face and wonderful smile are all the encouragement I need. My good man would love to be able to run out with me but he cannot. I watch my neighbours (who are also running for MD in the GNR) go out running together and would love for me and mine to do the same but we never will. We can still go out for walks together which I hope will always be, we will just have to see how his dystrophy progresses as to how long he will still be in an upright position for those walks. I live with hope that a cure or a treatment will be found for this debilitating of conditions, but at the moment there is neither. So for this end I keep going and thank you to all who have sponsored me so far I am eternally grateful be assured that you are helping an extremely worthwhile charity. I have pledged to raise a minimum of £300 in sponsorship. With your help I will. I would love to double that…… can you help?

If you want to read about the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign its work, outreach, campaigns and research just log on to www.muscular-dystophy.org  and see why I am doing this. If you feel you want to support me then please log onto my just giving account and make a donation www.justgiving.com/Team-LewisMDC. A huge thanks you to all of you who have donated already.

Thank you for your support.

Acts of selfless giving

Saturday 24^th March



Distance: 8.10 mile
Time: 1:49:17 min
Avg Speed: 4.45 mph                            
Avg Pace: 13:29 min/mile
Calories Burned: 1098

Why I love my country. Every year my country, in spite of a recession and very hard financial times, finds it in its heart to think of others worse off than itself. I am talking of course of events like ‘Children in Need’ ‘Comic Relief’ and last night ‘Sports Relief’. The nation raised a total on the night of £50,447,197 for this telethon, but this will more than double by the time the final totals are counted. We saw huge endeavours especially Helen Skelton’s arctic marathon, David Walliams’ swim of the river Thames and John Bishop's Sport Relief Hell, of a five day endurance test involving cycling, rowing and running from Paris to London. These celebrities got up and went on each day pushing their bodies and minds to the extremes of human perseverance and why? They did these selfless tasks so that those less fortunate can be helped. Over the years this worthwhile charity has helped people in many of the world’s poorest communities. It also works here in the UK with homelessness, bereaved children and people with mental health issues to name but a few. So on the day and in the days leading up to the big day people do silly, daft, challenging, weird, quirky and sometimes dangerous things all to raise money for this charity. We saw underwater ballroom dancing, England footballers cooking, comedy sketches, musicians performing, celebrities putting their egos aside for others, all for the greater good. Well done to all the fundraisers. Beyond the big day events, there are leading up to it, many other small events. Most schools in the UK will also take part, the school where I was working on Friday had the children dressed in sports clothes, selling cakes and running round the school field all lunch time. They raised over £400.  All this from a school in one of the poorer areas of Yorkshire, and people critisise our youth, let me tell you the kids of this country are pretty dammed FAB it is just a few who give the rest a bad name. For more information on Sport Relief log onto www.bbc.co.uk/sportrelief . Do you know what?  No parent should ever have to bury their child, yet every 20 seconds a child dies from a preventable illness………

My country responded again last night and I am proud of the nation’s efforts my greatest wish is that one day we will not have to, because one day no parent will bury a child, one day all will have access to clean water and education.

For me my own personal challenge continues for a different charity.  I do my bit -  I get up each Saturday and run, I try to fit a few more in through the week and little by little I am slowly getting there. Each run gets a little easier and each time I come home and I think ‘I can do this’. Today I ran further than before but I will admit it was hard because I had not had much sleep. I did not get to bed till after 2am and slept fractiously, but even so I woke up and the inner runner hidden deep within me said ‘get up and get out’ so I did. My Raison d’etre had commented on my running style last week saying that I did lots of little steps and didn’t stride. So today I thought I would do a quick experiment and put my neutral gait and mid foot strike to the test. So for a few steps only I tried to elongate the stride but it was very soon apparent that I am not a strider as I lost all rhythm and my step pattern became uncomfortable, in short I am short! As a short person with short legs I cannot run with a stride I am comfortable in and effective with my little short stride which I reckon is about 0.5m long and that is how I today completed 8.10miles. For those of you who know my route I ran to Golden Acre Park and then back. It was very foggy today and visibility was poor so I was glad of my orange fluorescent  www.upandrunning.co.uk jacket, at points visibility was only about 30m. However the early fog was a precursor for a beautiful sunny day and I spent the rest of it in the garden, strange how running 8 miles this morning did not make me ache at all but 4 hours in the garden tidying up the front lawn and borders left me an aching wreck!

The clocks go forward tonight and British Summertime begins  so there will be a lot more opportunities for evening runs and LOTS more opportunity for backbreaking garden work. I guess my aim to be fit might just happen! I will keep you informed.

Please remember dear reader why I am doing this my attempt at improving my fitness is for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and if you want to read about the MDC its work, outreach, campaigns and research just log on to www.muscular-dystophy.org  and see why I am doing this. If you feel you want to support me then please log onto my just giving account and make a donation www.justgiving.com/Team-LewisMDC. A huge thanks you to all of you who have donated already.

Thank you for your support.

The Olympic tortch route in reverse

Wednesday 21^st March

Distance: 1.52mile
Time: 19:12min
Avg Speed: 4.75mph                             
Avg Pace: approx. 13.37min/mile
Calories Burned: 206

Well here I am on my second run of the week. This one was brought about because of a motor vehicle. Long story short – I recently purchased a car this became a need when I realised I was losing money because of my inability to get to work placements, since being made redundant I have been doing casual teaching supply work (substitute teaching) and the busses are not the most reliable. So I purchased a little run around. I bought it last Tuesday and on Thursday the starter motor started showing signs of reluctance to work hence this morning I left it at the mechanics shop. I then ran home to wait for the inevitable call telling me of the wallet busting expense. My run home from the mechanics served to prove one thing, Headingley is definitely up on a hill and coming up to it from Meanwood on unworked legs proved a challenge. I actually ran (in a reverse direction) part of the Olympic Torch Route due on 24^th June this year.

The history of Headingley is that most of the big houses (and there are a lot of them) were built by Victorian business men, mill owners and the like. They tended to choose Headingley for its elevated position, high on the hill top they could look down the valleys to where they could see the houses of their mill and factory employees in Meanwood, Burley, Kirkstall etc. There are in fact some stunning houses in Headingley mainly built along the A660 corridor. Sadly now though, as the houses are too big to be viable for families plus the demographic of the area most of them have been converted into flats or bed sits. Nevertheless if you ever come through Headingley and have the chance to ponder a while take a look at some of the beautiful properties that can be seen there. A particular favourite of mine is 57 Headingley Lane, not a particularly beautiful house but an interesting story behind it. Built by Robert Arthington known as the Headingley Miser he died in 1900 and left over a million pounds at a time when millionaires were very rare. His money was made through the family brewery (sold when the family became Quakers) and very wise investments coupled with an extremely frugal lifestyle. He built the house for love but was thwarted in his pursuit and as a result he settled into the life of a recluse living in just one cold, sunless room of the house, sleeping wrapped in his overcoat, a lonely sad character but one who gave vast amounts of money to charity both in his life and death.

Another favourite property of mine is Springbank House, the former home of Charles F Tetley, the grandson of local legend Joshua Tetley the brewer. It was also lived in by Sir James Kitson a prominent local business man and member of the Liberal Party indeed it even hosted a visit to Leeds by Gladstone in 1881. In short Headingley is a wonderful mix of history and modernism; the history of its wonderful houses and former residents, the modernism of a vibrant youth and hopeful future. It will also, as I mentioned previously, be host to the Olympic torch relay on Sunday 24^th June when the torch will be carried aloft along part of my route today, to Meanwood via Kirkstall Lane, up North Lane along the, Otley Road and down Grove Lane along. And I intend to be there as this is my Headingley, my Leeds, my Yorkshire, my England, my UK, my Olympics and I am proud to be part of this community, county and country.

As usual I post here my reason for doing all this training. If you want to read about the MDC its work, outreach, campaigns and research just log on to www.muscular-dystophy.org  and see why I am doing this. If you feel you want to support me then please log onto my just giving account and make a donation www.justgiving.com/Team-LewisMDC. A huge thanks you to all of you who have donated already.



Thank you for your support.

A prayer for Fabrice Muamba

Monday 19^th March

Distance: 1.32mile
Time: 15:04min
Avg Speed: 5.28mph                             
Avg Pace: approx. 11:22min/mile
Calories Burned: 179

Monday morning and not working till this afternoon, so I went for a quick jaunt ‘around the block’ so to speak. I repeated last Monday’s route and manage to do a mile in 10.25min. My mile target is now to break 10 minutes. It took me ages to get below 11 minutes but I can feel the seconds dropping off 10, so hopefully I will be below 10 in the next couple of runs.

It was a lovely crisp morning with blinding sunshine so I was glad that I had taken my sunglasses with me. Behind my glasses and with my ipod on I felt quite detached from the world and found my brain focussed on just the running. My neutral gait and mid-foot strike served me well and I quickly and efficiently padded round my route. I was home before the cup of tea I had left on the unit had even got cold!

This weekend saw two sporting events that have nudged my conscious. Saturday I watched the 6 Nations Rugby final and cheered Wales on to a Grand Slam victory (my Raison D’etre is Welsh and I am 1/8 Welsh so one has to support them). England also powered home to victory over Ireland in their game so my 6/8 English was proud too. My other 1/8 is Peruvian and as they do not play in the 6 Nations I could not cheer for them! I was struck by what a well organised and well-mannered game (for the most part) rugby is. With its radio microphones on the referee and video referee it is not open to the same disrespect that the average football game involves. In rugby one does not see players arguing or challenging the ref or indeed abusing the referee, unlike football where angry faced louts shout, sware and generally sound off at the referee. Time for microphones and video refs in the beautiful game me thinks.

The second prick to my conscious was the sad events involving the 23 year old football player Fabrice Muamba. Here was a man in the peak of physical fitness struck down by a heart attack whilst playing football for Bolton. I find myself thinking how important it is to keep fit and not to let this ‘once and once only body’ we have get out of condition but even when the body is a prime example of physical fitness it can still fail. I suppose the fact that he is so young and strong should aid his recovery but he remains in a critical condition today. His family have asked people to pray for him and that I do hoping that he finds the strength to pull through and returns to fitness. God bless Fabrice Muamba and his family, may he have a speedy recovery and be again with his family.

My attempt at improving my fitness is for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and if you want to read about the MDC its work, outreach, campaigns and research just log on to www.muscular-dystophy.org  and see why I am doing this. If you feel you want to support me then please log onto my just giving account and make a donation www.justgiving.com/Team-LewisMDC. A huge thanks you to all of you who have donated already.



Thank you for your support.

Following a fat, unfit 50 year old to fitness!: A mother's job

Following a fat, unfit 50 year old to fitness!: A mother's job: Saturday 17 th March Distance: 7.16mile Time: 1:31:54min Avg Speed: 4.68mph                             Avg Pace: approx. 12:49min...

A mother's job

Saturday 17^th March

Distance: 7.16mile
Time: 1:31:54min

Avg Speed: 4.68mph                         

Avg Pace: approx. 12:49min/mile
Calories Burned: 970

Well a top o’ the morning to you and a Happy St Patricks Day to you all, the true Irish and all the Irish wannabes who use St Pats Day as an excuse for a party.

I was a little late up today as I did not sleep well last night; it was after 2.30am before I saw any shut eye. So I did not actually wake naturally and was woken by the dulcet tones of Kirsty M^cColl singing ‘A new England’ Now there was a great singer sadly lost to the world too soon. Yet wake me she did even though the radio was barely audible I heard enough to summon me from my slumber.

I was out on the road by 7am, I would have preferred to have started at 6.45am but that was not to be today. It was a dull but not cold morning with intermittent sun and the ever present threat of rain. I had decided that I would push on along my usual Saturday path but aim to go another half mile further thus adding a mile overall to my jaunt. Trotting along now with my ipod set to my inspirational, encouragement tracks I was sorted.

I very comfortably reached my mile marker although not quite under the 11 minutes yet! I found that I got to all my usual reference points with relative ease, I must be getting better? I ran out beyond the Lawnswood Arms and past the third national speed limit sign until the tracker app clocked 3.5 miles. I took a short rest and then set off on my way home. At this point the rain started and to quote Peter Kay (for my non British readers he is a well-known British comedian) ‘it’s that fine rain that soaks you’ and although at this point the rain was not too heavy 10 minutes later it was and I was given the opportunity to test the waterproof ability of my www.upandrunning.co.uk hi-viz jacket- it was.

My route home takes me via the cemetery and as, as has now become my routine I popped along to visit my family plot. As tomorrow in the UK is Mothering Sunday I was glad of the opportunity to call and say hello to mum. I lost my mum 11 years ago and I know, was she still here she would be leading the charge to support me. Being proud of your offspring is a trait mothers exceed at and my mum was no different. She was annoyingly proud of me and sometimes and I would get embarrassed by her but I would gladly trade an ounce of that embarrassment to see her once more and be able to tell her ‘I love you’. As a mum myself, I also ensure my ‘son and heir’ feels the full weight of my motherly pride, it is in the job description for all mothers…. brim with pride at anything your offspring does, no matter how trivial. It goes along with love unconditionally and embarrass at each and every given opportunity as the three mainstay rules of the ‘Good Mothers Guide.’ My ‘son and heir’ played his trump card today as I answered the door bell to a delivery of a beautiful bouquet of flowers; he knows how to please his old mum. He also knows not to send me pink flowers as they are just so twee. I much prefer bright vibrant colours and knowing my liking he has chosen lilies with bright yellows, reds, orange and purples.

I am enclosing a few photos for your perusal today of the flowers from my ‘son and heir’ and a couple of shots of the spring blossom I saw this morning, which is now springing up everywhere on the trees in Headingley. Don’t you just love it when spring gets its act in gear and suddenly all of nature remembers how to show off and wake up?

 

If you want to read about the MDC its work, outreach, campaigns and research just log on to www.muscular-dystophy.org  and see why I am doing this. If you feel you want to support me then please log onto my just giving account and make a donation www.justgiving.com/Team-LewisMDC. A huge thanks you to all of you who have donated already.



Thank you for your support.

My first 'BOGOF' Blog

Saturday 10^th March

Distance: 6.14mile
Time: 1:25:57min
Avg Speed: 4.29mph                             
Avg Pace: approx. 13:59min/mile
Calories Burned: 833

Hey folks and a top of the morning to you all. I was up at 6.30 and out on the road by 6.45am, how keen am I? I did have a false start though as I forgot my water bottle and figured I would need it as I intended to go a fair jaunt today. So I had to scoot back down the street and get it. A few minutes later and the usual delayed reaction from my tracker app, I was on my way. First I had to divert to the church hall to open up for a booking later this morning but soon enough I was happily trotting along my usual Saturday morning route.

This week in one of our catch up chats my lifelong friend, told me that I should take my ipod with me as music helps one to run better. My running so far has been sans music so today I tried an experiment and took my ipod along to keep me company to see if this distracted me at all or helped me keep my pace. Well dear reader I do believe it did help as I was able to run to the beat also because I was listening to music I don’t think I stopped as frequently thus making my ‘walky-runny’ phases seem fewer and I clocked my longest continuous distance ever by managing to run nonstop for about 1.4mile

I selected my play list from some of my all-time favourite classic songs which include: The Water Boys The Whole of the Moon, Elbow One day like this, The Jam A Town Called Malice and Squeeze Up The Junction to name but a few and listening to the music got me thinking of you guys again. As I jogged on singing along with the artists ringing in my ears I pondered the questions of what makes for a good running track and how many of you who are reading this blog also run? If so what do you listen to? So if you would like to add a comment recommending tracks for me to listen to I would be interested to hear from you please leave a comment.

One little incident on my run this morning amused me which I think is worth sharing. Whilst jogging along in my new shoes and comfy running clothes at my 12minute mile pace, I saw, coming in the opposite direction, an African student, wearing ordinary clothes including a heavy anorak (with the hood up!) and carrying a large back pack (probably full of books) but he was running at a pace and with an ease I could only dream about. We exchanged a cheery ‘good morning’ and both ran off in opposite directions to our different destinations. I was struck not so much with envy but with total admiration for his ability to make what I am struggling to achieve look so natural. So I share this story as an homage to the African distance runner who God has blessed with a skill and ability that is hard to surpass but so enamoured am I by it that I take inspiration from this boy and hope that one day my plodding little jog may inspire another.

Monday 12^th March

Distance: 1.25mile
Time: 14:30min
Avg Speed: 5.16mph                             
Avg Pace: approx. 11:37min/mile
Calories Burned: 169

A new week and I start it with a run. I am posting two blogs today as the weekend was so busy that I did not have time to finish my Saturday post. So today good reader in true supermarket fashion you are getting ‘two for the price of one’ my first BOGOF* blog! (*Buy One Get One Free – BOGOF is a supermarket acronym widely used here in the UK)

I am not working today as later on I will be going to the funeral of my neighbour a lovely man who has been taken too soon but someone who, if he was still here, would take an interest in my endeavours as we frequently chatted (nay flirted!) over the garden gate. I would shout ‘ey up sexy’ and wolf whistle at him when he passed and he would reciprocate with an equally roguish comment. He was a great walker and walked much of the British countryside doing it with ease and a celebratory read of the Racing Times, a cigarette and a few pints in the nearest pub. Sadly this charming man succumbed to a series of strokes which saw him depart this earth on 27^th March so later today I and most of the neighbourhood plus family, friends and the regulars at the local taverns, The Original Oak, The Skyrack and the Headingley Taps, will celebrate the life of this much missed man by doing what he liked to do best … having a pint- and in honour of the man I too will drink a pint of beer from a manly pint pot and not a girly half! Rest in peace George I loved you and I will miss you, you were a great character and gardening just won’t be the same without your passing comments on my work or inappropriate gardening clothes!!!

My run today was a short one but a very good one emotionally. I ran with music again and I am convinced now that it does help as I repeated a run of a few weeks ago and did 90% of it without stopping. Whereas previously I stopped at least 3 times, today I did not stop at all AND I clocked my fastest mile yet AND I ran up ¾ of a hill I would normally walk up AND I am very close to breaking my 11minute mile barrier, managing a mile today in 11.07. So all in all I feel encouraged by my efforts. I must be getting better!

I am reminded of why I am doing this as the latest magazine from the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (MDC) arrived at the weekend with news of people doing all they can to support this crippling condition and I am spurred on in my efforts to use what ability I do have to help those who cannot do what I am able to do. If you want to read about the MDC its work, outreach, campaigns and research  you can just log on to their site
www.muscular-dystophy.org  and see why I am doing this. If you feel you want to support me then you can log onto my just giving account and make a donation www.justgiving.com/Team-LewisMDC. I think I will paste this link at the end of all my blogs from now on but doing so this comes with the caveat; huge thanks to all of you who have donated already.

Thank you for your support.

A neutral gait and a midfoot striker

Tuesday 6^th  March

Distance: 1.67mile
Time: 21:04min
Avg Speed: 4.76mph                             
Avg Pace: approx. 12.35min/mile
Calories Burned: 227

Oh my! Well blog fans I have them! I have purchased a super-dooper pair of running shoes.

These are my new ‘Mizuno Wave Rider 15’
running shoes. On Saturday whilst waiting for a friend’s quilt to be washed at the laundrette (that is another story!!) I went to the specialist shop ‘Up & Running’ www.upandrunning.co.uk where I was able to partake in the Video and Treadmill Gait Analysis. At this juncture blog friend you should be made aware of the information that I have never been on a treadmill in my life (not unless you count the moving walkways at Manchester airport). Having only popped into the shop to see what was available I soon found myself with my jeans rolled up wearing a pair of borrowed socks and trainers clinging on for grim life. There is an episode of the Cleveland Show with our eponymous hero collapsing on a treadmill and looping round and round….cue my Raison d’etre sitting across the shop on a pouffete giggling at the thought of his wife flying backwards off the treadmill. However my overwhelming sense of self-preservation prevailed and I managed to stay upright even when the lovely assistants in the shop told me to let go! Let go! Oh my! Yet let go I did and I managed to stay upright. Thus my Video Treadmill Gait Analysis ensued. I trotted along on the machine and was instantly recorded. Then came the revelation, which according to the two assistants viewing the little screen, which I was now able to watch myself upon, I have a “neutral gait” and I am a “mid-foot striker” I should add here at this point that I had no idea what they were talking about and told them so. I was then informed that this is the most effective running style, thus making me a normal pronator. In other words, my foot lands on the outer side of my heel and then rolls slightly inwards, before pushing off on the ball of my foot and my toes. This means that my foot is a good shock absorber and I am at low risk of injury. Yay go me!

Ten minutes later I had purchased my super styled and fitted shoes and three pairs of shock absorber socks. I had wanted pink shoes and duly tried a pair on but on the advice of the sales assistant I tried a different (blue) pair and I had to concede that although, not pink, they were tangibly more comfortable and barely weighed anything on my feet. So the purchase was made. I also came away with a free gift as I bemoaned the fact that I could not find a pink hi-viz running jacket that covered my bum and tum without fitting too close, I was presented with a freebie of a long, loose fitting bright orange Up and Running jacket. Now again not pink but it is the bright orange which is the colour of the tea shirts of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, so that seemed most appropriate. A huge thank you to the staff at Up and Running for all your help and advice, it was much appreciated.

Three days passed before I had the opportunity to deck myself out in my new attire and hit the streets of Headingley. So, on Tuesday evening I decided that I would jog to the friends whom I am currently flat sitting for. This I did and although dressed gloriously and experimenting in my new shoes I did not enjoy the run I actually prefer the early morning ones, but my lack of enjoyment was due to the time of day and not my new shoes, in fact I was probably mostly unaware of my feet. So that is a success. 

At 1.67miles I did not really get into my usual thought patterns so I have very little to report back to you about the run. Please keep reading folks as I am sure I will drift off into my jogger’s reverie and keep you informed of my adventures in my next blog.

Lets make Friday Saturday

Friday 2^nd March

Distance: 3.36mile
Time: 47:51min

Avg Speed: 4.22mph                        

Avg Pace: approx. 14.13min/mile
Calories Burned: 456

After a busy week where I had work for 4 days and have had evening commitments too I have had difficulty finding time to go for a run so I made the decision that today would be a ‘me’ day where I would do what I wanted. Starting with my run followed by a shower, doing my hair and then catching up on things around the house that I wanted to do. This may or may not involve daytime TV!

Once I had waved my Raison d’etre off to work I donned my running shoes and set off. Now my dilemma was that as it was not yet Saturday, although very nearly Saturday, should I go on my Saturday route or should I take a different midweek route? In the end I opted to go up the street and left as I would on a Saturday but to divert after a mile. I was struck by how thick the petrol fumes seemed to be this morning, so getting off the main road and heading up the Weetwood Lane and towards Meanwood Park seemed the more pleasant option. I trotted along towards the park passing the beautiful houses and stunning trees of Weetwood. In the park I stopped for a while on the ‘Pooh Sticks’ bridge and remembered many a happy hour with my ‘son and heir’ spent in the park either pushing his pram there or shouting support from the side-lines for his football team. I paused to take a photo of the beck (that flows through the park) and listen to the bird song- not mocking today! The picture is included in this blog for your perusal.

 I continued through the park and through Meanwood, then up Grove Lane where I paused a while at St Urbans Church. I must remember not to sit down on cold stone seats! I Was grateful for the rest though as my calves were aching. I then opted to take the short cut up by Weatfields Hospice rather than up Grove Lane to the junction, then passed my old middle school (photo enclosed) and home.

Today my thoughts wandered whilst running, as they so often do, I found myself thinking about you… you the people who take time out of your lives to read my ramblings. I know that most of my readers are friends who know me well and for your support I am eternally grateful. However, when I read the blog statistics I see that my readers are from all over the world and that fascinates me incredibly. I have a lot of questions I would like to ask you but I think I will save that for another day for now it is sufficient to say that you are in my thoughts.