Fruit salad for 60! You really do (almost always ) feel better after a run...

Well this was (as Winnie the pooh would describe) a honey pot run . A bit sticky at first, legs feeling like they are stuck in honey but at the end you feel good. Only 3 miles but surprise , surprise, I have a photo of where I run-if I can only work out how to do that . I will because it is lovely, big river, quiet, not quite as nice as the wee house in the woods one but still pretty good as runs go. Running round the edge of the golf club looking at vaguely disapproving golfers. Bet my Dad who was a keen golfer woud have approved of people keeping active.. and even waved , maybe. Anyway, returned home to make fruit salad for 60 - village hall do. Bloody hate grapes now. Halving the buggers is a pain in the arse (sorry my learned European friends but there you are). Also did this on the chopping board I chop garlic on ... Wonder if any super tasters will notice ? Kept thinking will anyone elderly choke on my nectarines - they are quite hard and I did cut them rather generously. Keeping an ear out for any signs of an ambulance as I type. Not doing the park run this week but MUST do week after next as not that long to my first 10k !!!@

2 flies swallowed and burnt the dinner...

No running today but did manage to squeeze and evening bike of around 5k (I think -will go with that as it is roughly the big circuit of KIrk and a couple of laps around the playing fields). Would have been the perfect opportunity to use the GPS but forgot about it as not running. Even though it was perfect BBQ weather and there were sausages, burgers and steak /salad in the fridge, a trip to aunty V's threw out the schedule and the steaks I had popped in the slow oven were burnt and totally inedible. Good job I had swallowed 2flies during the bike ride. Bit of protein. At least there will be no fear of that happening when I run as the speed is slightly different. Still doing the knee stretches but very, very dull. Is there any way of making them more high octane? Views from Russia welcome - by that I mean comments welcome, not photos of the view from your house unless it is very pretty. TA.

5k smashed by the long legged Lee.

I knew it wouldn't be long but nowt gets Mr. Lee running like a time someone else (usually me) has set. So of course he went out today and smashed it. 24 min 5k with no preparation. Damn those long legs. He is 6 ft2 and 5 ft of that is legs so I will never match that ( about 2 ft of my 5ft 3 inches are legs). Anyway, went for a short 2miler with a bit of speed work and felt better after the run. Always feeling better after a run unless the knees are playing up...which they are not! Need to really buckle down to get in shape for my first 10k which will involve hills so need to work out where to find hills in the very, very flat vale of York. The boss will sort that out and lent me a gps while he is sunning himself abroad so I can keep training. Apparently lots to think about for the Great North.... Liberal application of Vaseline, weeing public, nipple rub... The joys! Good job I am doing it only the once.

FIrst 5k race done!

Set everything out last night like I was preparing for a polar expedition when in reality it was a friendly local park run. Up at 6.30am to make sure my porridge is digested in time. Major fog meant I arrived at the venue with only 10mins to wait, nervously eyeing up all the fit people and keen runners until I saw some people arriving in velour leisure wear and some others who clearly enjoy a bun or two which made me feel a lot better (by the way, i am with you on that as i cannot resist a muffin myself ). Set off in the middle/front of the pack and watched what seemed like a million runners pass me as I tried to pace myself and fix on a couple of runers close by. A fit looking , all the gear type was my pace setter plus an amazing bloke who was getting on in years and shuffled but was doing the shuffling at a faster pace than me... Ended up on second and third lap passing some which was fab and telling myself knees ok, legs ok breathing a bit ropy but ok... So ok keep going and when you see the finish keep pushing. Anyway ended up chasing a nice lady and not quite sprinting as can't really do that but there you go. P robably could have pushd harder if the boss was shouting in my ear but never mind. Finished in 28.50 so not the 27 I would have liked but ok and in one piece. Big grin at end of race. Sorry no photos but just imagine the forth bridge with lots of teeth on it and bobs your uncle. The clan were at the finish and the boss was informed of the pace. Got in the car, bought some petrol, went homed, showered, had a cup of tea and not yet 10. 15 am. Lovely!

Post massage run this evening - bloody marvellous really ...to be running again and down my favourite route , the one with the tree lined lane and house in the woods. Ran it backwards today (as in the route, not physically backwards in case you are thinking... Odd) and the lane leading to the farm seemed loads longer this way. Funny how that happens sometimes when you run a route backwards bits of it take on new proportions. Still as lovely though and passed the free range kids who live in the little paradise cottage with a wood store, chickens, fruit trees and a little pond all reached by a tree canopied grassy lane. Just lovely. Anyway, my sense of direction was clearly screwed up by the back to front route as I was adamant that I had not run the last bit of lane before.... Of course this was the start of the normal route but less muddy and from a different angle. Wildlife score - one stoat although to be honest I missed it and 2 curlews. Really have to (a) bring a camera next time and (b) learn how to put some photos on this damn blog. Finished off the 4.6 k/miles (I never listen to what I am being told about distances ..ok then, shall we go with miles!) with a bit of boxing. Champion. Please feel free to comment - unless you have found me in rather a random manner whilst searching for porn.

Kneetastic Today I had my knees looked at . Tracking issues , good deep tissue massage, tight glutes and they might need building up rather than my.. Inner muscles don't know what they are called. It was suggested I go to the gym and do some weight training and gym work... I do more gym stuff than ever in my life but I clearly don'look like I do! Anyway it is not about the body, it is about the real joy of running and when I step up for my first 5k race or my first cross (?) multi terrain race at the end of April in the glorious YOrkshire countryside i will have a mile wide smile!

Hello my Russian friends! Just looked at some other blogs and mine is very boring. Need more photos. And runs considering this is a running blog... But I am seeing the physio tomorrow ans expect a miraculous cure of the knees (.) well if not lots of deep freeze followed by frozen chips and a magnum might do the trick!

HA. HA ... today , at last I ran . It was short and slow but really, really good. 2.4 k... Or miles, will have to check with the boss but at least it is a start. Have you heard of deep icy freeze? It really helped my knees and they still feel fine. Ran down by the river, along the bank for a bit, up over the wooden toll bridge and back to the gym through the golf course. All with a bit of sun and fresh breeze. Gotta love the running..!

Goggle swimming not my thing. Goggles didn't fit so just did normal swimming as fast a I could. 20k on the bike as part of a charity lands end to John o groats cycles ride. Encouraged (some would say egged on) a big lad on the bike next to me and told him to go for it and to his credit he kept going for longer than I did although he had to take lots of brakes, sweated buckets and at one poimt thought he was going to have a coronary but the bloke did well. Took home an ankle weight and will concentrate on the knees and hope to run Monday ....! BIG fingers crossed as miss it.

Still not running

Still not running -but little opportunity to today . Edinburgh and back by train and that simply beautiful train journey can't help lift your spirits especially when the sun is out and a mist hangs over DUrham so only the cathedral is lit by sun. Then the run up to lindenfarne . A delight. Swimming tomorrow to give the knees a rest one more day but to keep my fitness levels up I will have to do proper goggle swimming ... And that means buying goggles and remembering to breathe!

A bad run ... Sunday morning was a beauty , proper spring warmth and a very clear sunny day but was the first of some rather than many I hope Bad Runs. Legs felt like lead, sore knees meant the circuit of kirk (long one) of just under 5k was changed to the short circuit ( 3.k) and even that I had to walk ... A lot. I think this was a reaction to the increased miles from last week but whatever the reasoning was left downhearted and frustrated- for a bit anyway. ON top of that, I burnt a big iron mark on my new running top. Looks good!

No running today or tomorrow but did do nasty but necessary cardio cone session in the gym with the boss. Giving the knees a rest .

Beautiful run  4 k probably very slow - some off road and part of it down the most lovely wooded lane leading to a cottage in a shady nook with  a stream and chickens ( well I think there was a stream and chickens but that might be a flight of fancy cos this is really a lovely spot.) Anyway tough to begin with and was my first 'water run' carrying water (how exciting...  but you know anything new is,  well .... new for me). Bit of walking  in between but slowly , slowly, I will get there.  Have to start looking into trail shoes for my first 10k. Looked at the terrain map and nearly passed out. News flash... there are hills - looks like lots of them.

nova runs ... Well in reality she does not run or hasn't until last summer. The last thing she thought she cloud do. And now she has started or at least started "jogging" a word she is not keen on but realises she has not really graduated to "running" yet even though she has some of the gear. What qualifies for "running"? If you finish on a beautiful day, having seen some of the beautiful earth around us and finish withan almighty grin thinking what will my next run be like.? Is that running? Then Nova runs ... And loves it. And at nearly 43 , from zilch running experience and zero confidence in her ability not to mention the dodgy skiiing knees and hyper mobiles, has entered the GNR ,,!

Ok had a stab at first post but can't work out how to do spell check so that is a total bummer as I am the worst touch typist ever. Anyway, forgive the spellings and get the jist of the thing I hope... And by the way you will hear more about the knees I'll be bound. If it gets too much then tell me to shut it. And get on with it which is what I reckon most of you proper runners will say. Last comment on the knees for a while ( I promise) ... The knee supports make my legs look fat , they are like a couple of girdles which give me muffin top of the knee. How can that be possible.? Anyway, they are vital if I am going to get to the start of the Holy Grail which is the GNR so I will shut the f.u. Running tomorrow so will let you know how that goes.

Ok had a stab at first post but can't work out how to do spell check so that is a total bummer as I am the worst touch typist ever. Anyway, forgive the spellings and get the jist of the thing I hope... and by the way you will hear more about the knees I'll be bound. If it gets too much then tell me to shut it. and get on with it which is what I reckon most of you proper runners will say. Last comment on the knees for a while ( I promise) ... The knee supports make my legs look fat , they are like a couple of girdles which give me muffin top of the knee. How can that be possible.? Anyway, they are vital if I am going to get to the start of the Holy Grail which is the GNR so I will shut the f.u. Running tomorrow so will let you know how that goes.