Beautiful bamburgh run and it was a run :)

What a pristine, sparkling, dream of a morning, crisp but mild , 1st Dec, big blue skies, sun rising behind the castle, had not reached the hidden beach leading to the rosses links by the golf course but as I trotted up the lane towards this beautiful and peaceful place, the sunrise followed me and the wide,  untouched by feat beach , with tide out  leaving acres of freshly washed golden sand which slowly saw the sun , all sparkled, I ran in total peace, in heaven. Waxing lyrical here but was rather beautiful..... About 6k maybe....  Had a quick word with the massive black bull on the way back to the village. He had been around for a while but only seen his impressive frame from a distance. Today, he was right by the wall, with one of his ladies.... Big, brooding and  gorgeous so I said good morning, he looked at me , I kept running...... Felt totally energised and happy . That is a gooood run. Not had one in a while so really , really happy with that.  No nonsense, no one else but me , all ok. 

Did you think I had stopped ? Not far off

Did a park run, a terrible 5k from home and  a sort of mini trot (really mini) over the sand dunes in bamburgh. That's it, the sum total of 2 months....... Nova does not run at the min......:( . Hope your running is going better.  Just tried to find a running photo but by mistake put this random one on , no idea where it came from or how to get rid so sorry about that. 

Precious little running

Some swimming, spin class and breasting. But no running..........

Okey done , quick update

So not much of getting on with it happening. Sorry about that. Has been a bit quiet but can't make up the exercise..... Did do shouty man again.... Much against my better judgement and others advice. Felt great doing it and I think it was a reaction to the terrible ballet mums experience. Did ok in the end but sore and I mean sore.... After. Still sore when I went  swimming mid week and then now't over weekend (not my choice) then up a welsh mountain for charity, felt my fitness levels fine but legs wee sore and really stiff today. Tried to enter the inaugural brownlees tri but too late and a bit of a pathetic follow up. Best of luck to mates doing it !! Will really have to dig in coax just spent a couple of days hearing from work colleagues who have just completed iron men and lands end to johns groats by bike..... Ramp it up novee!! 

Break over - time to graft and get another goal.

Feel a bit out of shape, fitness will definately have dropped off but I realise the hard wor
K needs to start with a run tomorrow , sybe a bike too. Swim on thurs. book a race. That's the autumn plan.... What's yours?

Nova runs Santa Cruz.....

Nice running here, was totally oblivious to the drop outa and occasional weirdos ,  went for a lovely run from the hotel to the boardwalk back into town again. Later was told we were in a dodgy part of town and someone was shot in the car park of the hotel last year. Um....... Anyway, joggin is done and unfortunately we are indulging in too many breakfasts and drinks . Having to work it off somehow.

Quick un planned run

Due to dodgy man now in job in gym... Not impressed but at least pushes me outside in the air. Lovely trot by the river. Glorious evening. Tarrrra.

Glorious Northumberland , mostly biking, short hilly runs, one jellyfish swim

Swam in the pool last night as had not really swam for a week. Was initially inspired by watching the fabulous bamburgh tri ( sprint only as half iron man was cancelled the next day due to bad weather) . Sprint was glorious but it involved a 500k sea swim where quite a few swimmers were just not moving forward at all due to sea currents - scary and must have been totally exhausting, then running up the sand dune whilst taking off the wet suits and getting on the bike.  I was there at the end this time sipping pumps whilst cheering on the last few in ... Gand help them, taking more than 2hours to complete and I am not flipping surprised but then again, what a fantastic setting for a tri, finishing on the glorious green in front of the majestic castle. Sorry about the number of  superlatives but then that s bamburgh for you. Was inspired to get a wet suit and on the last day dipped in the cold North Sea, swam a few metres, saw a jelly fish and ran out on to the sand...  Now't tough sbout me... Sea swimming... Could  i manage it at the a burgh sprint tri next year??? Now there is a goal....

Nova bikes really ... Whilst on holiday anyway

Nova would love to swim in the sea as well  but need a wet suit. Here I come!!!

Boom! Smashed the tri! Well, completed it. Thanks for helping me reach the 800!

Wonderful of bloody hard morning. My friend did the 400m swim in a fantastic 16 mins 35 and emerged out of e swampy lake to run up the hill to greet me and hand me the time tag. I hopped  on the bike and then hit the hills and Lordy me, hill after hill after hill....? Finally after 23k of hills, racked the bike again and wobbled off for the 4k run.... Again 3 more bloody hills. Run time 24mins  so total time. 1hour 47. Happy enough with that! Thanks for keeping the faith.

The night before the second tri.... All prepared, reflexology, Indian head massage, no booze.... But have I done enough training?

That's the only thing missing. Not a huge amount of time on the bike and having to use the piece of crap mark 2 also, precious little running time. Ate for England at the festival yesterday and today... As usual ..... But hope a bit of carbo loading might help....? Probably not worth it for the distance I am doing but there you go. Anyway wishe me luck and keep the faith! P.s. willy mason total cutie.

Last swim before the tri. That's it, no excrecise until be big day

Am I ready? Am I heck....! Oh well. Just got to enjoy the day . Looking forward to tomorrow and sat at music festival, looking forward to seeing willy mason. On the sherbets tomorrow night, then water only the night before the race.... But a few carbs allowed  ! :).

Can we make it to 800 views by Sunday -my next triathalon?? Can we?

Buns for all if we can !

A biggie on the bike (and nice bike too) but noooo run

Borrowed a bike, nice one too. Bit too big for me and wobbled a bit on the 1st 10k circular route but ultimately , it is a beaut. Love the roll down handles, felt smooth although not as smooth as I though a proper road racer would be but still loved riding it. Felt like a proper biker. Did another 10k route, got the former boss and shouty man to look at it and they thought it was too but a nice bike. Shame. Would buy it.... But it won't happen. The second 10k was much faster and no wobbles. Loved it. Then had a 2k back to reckon a 24k ish bike today. No time or legs for a run after. Have to keep my fingers crossed that I can do it on SUnday and in a respectable-ish time!

Hello my friends.. All is well.....? With you?

Is it hot as  your hat where you are....? Mini heat wave here but did a good, if spaced-out brick today. Run this morning , short, but medium pace.. Well, maybe slowish but ok and about 3.5k, then this evening, an 18k bike ...   or there abouts. Good enough for a Saturday but not long to go for the race which i ckecjed last night. i have a 23k bike and 4k run so abit longer. Had a cold bath though to help the legs. Not exactly an ice bath but cold enough. Legs still hot so should I cycle tomorrow .. or not..That is the question .  By he way, I


am not in control of my capitals after the dots..... And  cannot be bothered to go back and correct t them,or any other grammar  so sorry if it offends anyone. I like good grammar when known... Honest!

Bricks bricks bricks building a bloody house!

Well you would be forgiven for thinking so by the number of times I use this phrase in the blog at the minute but they are all little iddle piddle ones . Today was a bit of  an improvement with a 10k bike (on my newly serviced road bike ... By serviced, I mean tyres pumped up and gears/chains rattled a bit by a bloke in a bike shop and then charged me £20 so I am not expecting anything great here) immediately followed by a 3miler run, very very steady but done. Then a quick 10laps  in the pool and out. Need to ramp this up quite a bit for the weekend when I will aim for a 20k bike and 5k run to prove I can do it ok. Then I will do , say tues next week with a focus on running, speed and hills and then taper off. Maybe just some swimming and weights.  Do now't until the race. Ideally I would like and extra week to go at a medium to hard pace with hills and fast short runs but maybe the brick thing is the best route. What do you reckon? Anyhow, keep the faith my friends.

Good swim tonight .. Shame I won't be swimming at the next tri

It's a duathalon really as someone else is squeezing into a wetsuit and stepping into a murky pike filled lake... Good for them. I will take over for the bike and then the run. That's the bit I am worried about although it is only 4k so need to get strapped up and run a few 4ks  - actually that is the big circuit around the villages so can practice from the door. Good swim though. Starting to feel more natural with the breathing. Got a bit competitive with a bloke in the next lane doing an average  breast stroke. Wanted to see if I could out crawl him ... And I did.... Small victories are just as sweet...... Speaking of which, one medium pavlova baked this afternoon and the second huge one, def on steroids, is in the oven as I blog. MASSIVE pavlova :). Let me know if you fancy a slice and I will see wat I can do.

Brick tactic.... Well......

Ok so sort of another brick today 10 k bike, at lunch which was medium effort, to be honest a bit of a leisure ride for the start of the return journey and then, was passed , in an embarrassing whirl  of wind, by a rather large neighbour , absolutely zooming past, then followed by his wife, a slight lady, does tris, but older than me.  I ther fore had no option, since we were on the same route back to the village where we all live, but to  put some back in to it  and try to keep up with the lady at least..  Possibly could have taken her but thought that would be bad form so sat back , still going like the clappers, and cruised home behind them. Still, mad for a good bike session. Ten this afternoon, did a 20min swim as the bairn had a lesson. So a sort of brick, but I believe they need to be consecutive....... Why doi get hugry after 9 pm... Bloody ravenous.....

Hello Japan, do you do peanut butter over there?

Welcome Japan. Do you  run?

Mini brick, crisp bread, apple with peanut butter , spots...

And teeth.  That has been my day more or less.
It tried  really hard to rain today but it didn't quite make it. Spitting I think.  Anyway, spin bike for 20mins, moderate I would say, then, a run for 20mins, no knee supports, hurt a bit, was a bit lazy , didn't really push myself but did the time,  time on the fet that is required given I will be doing a 4k after a 20k bike in a coupe, of Meeks. Later dropped in to see how my bike was gettin on. Still not done but should be tomorrow. Will be able to get on soon and get some miles under my belt.  P.S. there is a programme on at the min about Texas and itmsems foreign except, I went to San Antonio and loved it. Thought the hats and cowboy boots were bizarre but enjoyed the trip. Didn't run though. Pre running days just about...  How has your day been? Can you sum it up in 11 words or less...?

A brick done... Mind you, it was over 2 days...

Part one of the brick, 16k bike , then the next day, 4k trot. Rough estimates for distances but more or less on the money. Bit sore after the run but didn't use any knee straps and knees are fine today. Swam for 20 mins to day so just need to combine them all in one day..... Will be rolling for YOrkshire on the foam master in a bit. The debate is, now that I am on the mend with the knees, should I take my bike on TUesday to save them one more week or should I do shouty mans session without the jumping??
No sleep last night as loads of friends over and to soak up the booze, it was a big fry followed by pizza and then strawberries and cream..... Maybe shouty man is required....

On yer bike...but the bleeding buns seem to have followed me from Ireland

Did a quick 45min bike route today, most of it feels like a Sunday jaunt and not that much effort or breathlessness. Did do the big hill which  did get me breathless but I am just not that fast nor do I feel I have exercised with a 45 minute ride.  Maybe a 15k route but not much more. Maybe slightly less and need to do 20followed by a run so will try to find a route next week that is about 18k and then do the short KH loop. Only a 3k but need to start bricking again(!) before I actually do brick it on the day of the tri. Why are there more bloody buns in this house ? Not fair. Must resist.

Finally an Irish trot and lots of buns...........

Little hop and a skip into the village in the auld country ( might be referring to Scotland but meaning Ireland)  and was slow as your hat at the start, after a quick shop and a hill ahead with traffic which I had to make the effort to hop and skip up the hill like a proper runner , one experiencing  no knee pain at all........ Total pretence , but there you go, a bit of traffic can work miracles!   Bit of stretching later nd knees not doing too badly. On the downside, went to a lovely garden party in the beautiful rambling, wild but beautiful garden and was faced with a wall if delicious home made buns. S just had to indulge, and then indulge a bit more .... So feeling a bit role poly considering my gentle little village run is all the exercise I have managed for several days now. Need to pick things up.... Ad work off the buns....! Damn those buns and the  good  40 summat lady bakers of my home town behind them! All for a good cancer research charity though.  The next tri is looming so water this space. Ps what is your favourite bun...? And ... Do you like eggy bread?

600 views... Smashed! Danke! N

Big swim today.. Well big as in 25m pool instead of 15m pool. Did a few good laps and a few where I nearly spluttered...ran out of breath... And one when're I actually did. Um.... Never mind ...  Possibly getting stronger with the swim. I think. Not so keen on public pools though. Fussy mare. And lucky one . So i will shut up and be happy you have the choice.  Still no running though.

Rice crispie buns and bike ride

Everyone has gone bike bonkers over here . Buying beautiful entry level £600 quid jobs and planning cross country charity cycle rides so I reckoned I would get on my ... Or rather LLL 's bike and go for a much needed spin in prep for the 20k in July. Nice little spin but ran out of time and tight ham strings again... But will go on the hell which is the foam roller in a bit to loosen them up. In the
mean time, flipping crispie buns making my life hell as  a bit tasty  and a bit handy. Little belly seems to be creeping back (had dissolved quite nicely going to shouty many  but can't keep that up as will end up not moving at all... ) so will have to hold off the buns and get back with the  programme...

Hello peeps ....have been a bit quite but that's down to pain....

General pain in the legs and specifically the flipping knees due to shouty mans excellent but disabling sessions...... The plan following a mega sports massage is to swim and then bike and slowly introduce running. Cardio will have to be swimming and spin. Not what I want but have to be pragmatic as have entered a tri, 20k bike and 4k run in less than a month so........ Best get cracking.

Hello everyone. Shouty man session was under par today ? The bleeding knees......

Odd session today. Knees were sore all weekend, week so ibuprofen and paracetamol and supports for the knees and they still hurt. Shouty man shouted cos I was not doing the jumps he was demanding but was trying to save the bleeding knees.  I think he thinks i am notmreally trying but i am just trying to save the knees. Think I had a bit of a stand off  with him - but in th end, fittness is the goal and I will bloody well protect my knees if I need to and keep going to the sessions once per week. No more than that. Need to do the bike a bit more and so far, absolutely no running has been banked. Good job this is no longer... Nova runs but Nova tris.   Heard the old age comment again. Nice. Doing ok for a 40summat I reckon so will record it here and then move flipping on. Better day in Thurs. plan to bike during the day and then swim in the evening.  Hopemyounare getting some sun :).

Embraced it... Open water swimming that is!

The beautiful weather and higher water temp helped. Friend I'd it recently for the first time @15degrees water temp. Tonight it was a balmy 20 degrees and the sun was shining. Really lovely fresh water (brown though ) and very calming experience. Managed to keep my berating and panic under control and enjoyed the 500k swim. Felt like a proper tri sort!

Have to embrace open water swimming - it is now ...Nova tris after all

Have you ever done this. Swam in the pool today and my goggle swimming (front crawl) is getting better and I did quite a few decent consecutive lenghts but that means diddly squat in an open water setting apparently. I know I will revert to breast stroke to keep above the water and not disappear under. Mind you, I am still quite looking forward to it. Almost a cleansing, baptism type thingy.... Or maybe not! Too much booze with friends yesterday as was a bank holiday so keen to clean my act up a bit and knuckle down to training this week despite it ring half term and so looking after the bairn so limited training options and weather is a bit grim so cycling is not so appealing. Gave shouty man a miss as still sore in the legs and knees from the last session and that was over a week ago..... Will try to do one of his later this week. Off to look at wetsuits.. How glam.

Tri hard ...well trying at least

Got up 'early' for a Saturday for me anyway and went to the gym and did  some spinning, cross trainer work, boxing(only a little vs the bag unfortunately) then swam for a bit, felt a bit better on the front crawl. Then home and out for a busking festival and unfortunately lots of booze. Woke today with a hangover but eventually went for a bike ride about 15k I think . Need to get more time on the bike as have the 24k plus the 4k run at the next event . Legs and knees in particular are in bits at the min so might give shouty man a rest and swim every morning next week depending in the time LLLneeds  to get out.  Are there occasional tri goals (sprint ones lets face it ) enough to stretch myself, or should I leave it at that considering my body complains a lot... I am sore almost every other day and my fitness, although good,is not dramatically improving? Do we all plateau or should we just do the right thing for our bodies (which in my case is eat less and do yoga every day for a fiery gal like me). Any tips, let me know. Mind you, although I might  find an inner calm, would I miss the high octane bit which comes with pushing your physical limits to do something you have not tried before.  Or is this an itty bitty mid lifer for me?

Shouty man session - usually means I can't walk the next day

And yes, I am struggling with the walk today so went for a swim instead. 2 potential tris coming up. Both open water but I won't have to do the swim at one, just a heck f a long bike 23k and 4k run. The other is open water and that means a wet suit. Sneaked into my favourite sports shop today but resisted buying yet another top, just got a running cap instead but was sorely tempted. Good job it is quite far from home. These tris are expensive in terms of time and money but I guess at least it is something to  aim for and I would like
 To get a couple more under my belt before I visit the sacred iron man course on Hawaii in the summer!

Hello all ! Has been Nova Cleans but did get a run in so Nova Runs again!

Nice little trot around the golf course with one tempo and 2sprints. Then 2short hills. Then weights. Was a lovely evening. Peaceful . The river was so close to me. Wierd to think of the other beginners , running the same course, chatty chatting, being lulled into a sense of achievement beside the  big, slow river. I could see the path their various sized thighs and feet had made. Didn't want to be part of that. Prefer solo.  I can run. I can run faster. Hills required so might go there on Sunday if the weather is good ? Hope. You all are well. What is the next goal......? More of that tat later!

Some stats for you

Really bad stats but I am happy with them;
320th out of 372.
44out of 58 in my age group......
1hour37mins no idea about splits.
Exercise today......none! Hung over really.
Will swim in the morning.
Thank you for keeping the faith. :)

My first tri.... Bloody fantastic

Photos and times to follow. Ok so just under 1hr36 which is bloody crap for a proprer tri fit sort but bloody marvellous  for me and, .....the most important thing..... I bloody loved it. Especially the bike. Bit of  a Sunday leisure bike ride as I did not want to tire my legs out for the run so probably took it a bit easy but grinned ear to ear, chatted to every Stewart and every person I passed, the only tough bit which still felt totally alien to me was the swim. Could only do a few front crawl and then still only just abut matched the swimmers in the next row doing breast stroke......  Stil loved it.  Felt on top of the world at the end,  milling aroud with terribly fit sorts (iron men and all that... although my arse, which is considerably smaller than other was still not quite iron man level..) So the next challenge will be.......HA.  hA?...

All prepared, bag packed just got to sleep and then do it.

Please send positive vibes this way for tomorrow. Want to finish it, want to be not quite last. Want to enjoy it. Thank you faith keepers :).

One day to go to the tri......not nervous but less confident than the GNR

Suppose cos I will be doing it on my own this time, will be totally new to me and a stretch given the limited training I have done. Mind you, complete rest (or as near s damn it  ) over the last couple of days ip might just mean I get a bit of a rush on the day and can find extra energy I seem to be lacking recently. Bike news though, traded in my piece of crap for another dodgy but significantly lighter piece of crap with road tyres. Following the hills on Thursday (might not have posted about this but went to an old haunt where I did some good training with the boss in the past and spent an hour and a half getting lost, mainly walking but maybe 3k if running with that steep hill to climb totally out of Brest for all of it and then fast walking in between - good way to clear the head but getting lost in a dark forest was a little scary) did a swim this morning and a quick cycle on he new bike. Tomorrow will do a short circuit of kirk and then now't , no booze nd low ads of carbs:).
I guess it helps when you have additional support but not this time, lets just bloody well go for it. Try to finish, try to not come totally last and try to smile......... And not need a wee half way through...... Keep The Faith for me my friends and
 your fingers and toes crossed ! By the way I bought a cheap tri suit - and. Mean cheap...so cheap that I
went for the blue and pink one , and I would never go for pink..... Only cos it was the cheapest. Bit tight, not quite the figure of Chrissey Wellington  with a whole heap if curves but so bloody what. This is clearly not a fashion show
with mirrors and hp hair dryers.. This is he world of the TRI...... a world in which I intend to dip my big toe in to, give an almighty grin to all taking part, and make a quick exit.

Jonny B Goode

Bad moon rising

Blockbuster

Proud mary

Rock and Roll is king

I love to boogie

Hi ho silver lining

Eight days a week

Keep on running

Can’t buy me love

 no loos let alone mirrors and hair dryers. This is the hardcore world of TRI!

Great brick.... Plus a bit of a swim. Never going to complain about the pool I use again though....

Epic windy day here on Sunday. Did a 15k with a friend. One friend had done it in 36mins but he has more muscles. We aimed for 45 'mins and just scraped 42 only excuse for that was the really bad wind yet some skinny cycle blokes flew past an didn't seem to be peddling at all. Then a 4k run wobbly and slow, later swimming in the pool where the tri is. It was
 I saw her standing there

Jonny B Goode

Doo wah diddy

Bad moon rising

Shang a lang

Blockbuster

Ob la di

Proud mary

Rock and Roll is king

I love to boogie

Hi ho silver lining

Eight days a week

Keep on running

Can’t buy me love

 I. Cold grubby and long. Um...... Did a sessh today a e home pool and all I can say is I will never on plain again, warm, clean, and you don't have to pay to dry your hair. Lucky :x)

Yeah... Over the 500!

Dinke danke for getting me over the 500..... A good omen I reckon. Training going better this weekend. Did my 3or4k (not sure) run this morning with ballet mums and despite a bit of  wine (a lot really) I did ok and felt good. Starving after as always (not getting skinny with this training as troughing after as usual) but keen to go swimming later and did my 30 laps but in sets of 10 mainly front crawl this time with rest in between. Noticed I could do sets of 6 front crawl and then 2 breast crawl then 2 bubble swims. Knackering but great. Felt fab after it but then didn't have to get out and cycle when dripping...... and then run......... Later cycled to the park with the bairn and LLL and did 3 laps of the playing fields , not sure how far but probably 1 to 2k at a push in total . So I summary, a bit of a tri but broken up and still short but heading in the right direction and tomorrow will be even better.
Ok so tomorrow,  doing a 15k cycle so will time my 14k and then  a 3or 4k run straight after , believe this is a brick session ... then later a swim in the pool I will be racing in I hope. Good. Happy with that. Keep The Faith! :)

Ok....lets get to 500 views before my tri ...what do you think?

Then I will swim, bike and run for each and every one of you who took a peek at this blog! By total mistake or otherwise (the latter unlikely I hope as the anonymity of this I love....)
So how Are things with you...good I hope?
I had an ok day today, not great but at least fitted in some stuff  . About an 8k bike, with a jog after, not long at all interms of run but just to get the feel of running after a bike ride. Then did my 500m swim at breast stroke to time it and did it in 15mins. Feels like my front crawl, though feels slower when I am doing it, is faster. Spoke to the organiser of the tri and bless him, he did stop me feeling quite so nervous . I had made the mistake of looking at times and trying to work out how I compared and I didn't reckon it looked good for me. 1hour 50 looks like the last person in so I HAVE to beat that so ther you go... That's what I am aiming for. Anyway, back to food.... Made some really bad jam tarts tonight. My pastry skills are sadly lacking and that is even though I have cold hands (good for pastry apparently..) have decided the last year or so , what with work and other stresses had made me forget how to enjoy the free stuff which I used to enjoy so much so, in addition to this fitness lark and the dodgy baking, I am determined to get back to that before the big summer holiday. Sending happy thoughts to you all!!  Some friends are supporting me , and bless them... You know when the support is real. Looking forward to Sunday bike ride :).

Shopping for a flattering tri suit

Don't know why I am even concerned about flattering when I am jumping in a pool, straight out wet onto a bike and then a gruelling run. No time to dry ones hair or re-apply ones lippy........ It's just not that kind of gig. Slow but steady progress so far this week. Sunday  a 5k bike (ned to double that and then add some... followed by a 1k round the park and then later at the gym another 1k followed by some weights. nothing much but  good to run after the hard but short bike ride. advice from a tritraining  programme say these kind of brick sessions are good (might need to be a tad longer though........) then a good swim session today, the 500m in 15mins with 3sets of 4laps of front crawls, 3sets of underwater  bubble swims to expand the lung capacity (those really do knacker me ) and then made up the rest of the laps doing breast stroke.  Might make the pool tomorrow but really need to start this brick business, swim cycle and cycle run. Feeling quite alright about it now...... I think ! Keep the faith!

Trying to ramp up training but getting blocked

Starting my swim sessions in the morning and doing ok. Running hasn't happened since the weekend and nly one short bike ride , some spinning but it just leaves me low and subject to flack for too much training. But I have only 3weeks to go..... Less actually as work is ramping up big time so wont get much training in next week ? LLL complaining about training time so how does one carry off the balancing act on the run up to the event ? Any suggestions welcome.

5k race .. Fun but slower than previous

Really enjoyed the 5pk run today and if you are part of this then good for you ! Do a park run, not hard except that you are challenging yourself so you kinda have to go for it but to see such a variety of runners, all shapes and sizes , all ages and fitness levels, emerging from the fog on a spring morning. Still hurt like hell, and, when I checked my last race, I was within the minute slower but not as slow as my first time.  Shows the difference in my training this year.  Something has changed there but it is not always possible to continue as you planned. C'est la vie.

Swim spoiled by annoying squirt of a bloke

What can I say. This bloke has really annoyed in the gym me from day one.  Always around the equipment i want to use ( not that i have any special claim but the punch bag.... Please....nobody uses that .... I seem to be the only one ... And when I do, he appears from nowhere which is precisely where I would like him to return to! ) Doesn't know me,  i will not give contact and keep out of his way but he is always bloody there.  Now I realise I have not actually stated anything he is doing which is wrong but he has this really off putting presence and then I heard other members have put in official complaints about him about specific incidents so now my guard is up and he got both barrels (body language that is , not actual words ...) after he managed to put me off my swim session tonight.  I  stormed out  past him with a face of stone when he came into the sauna 2 mins after I  as i had just setteled down in there for a quick 5 mins relaxing break half way through my swim session. Again, no actual crime but didnt like it and left the pool, session only  half complete. Mind you, lets put this in perspective. Will resolve to be less affected by this squirt in the future as this is not worth my energy. So (1) nothing will disrupt my training from now on and   (2) I resolve not to come home and stuff myself with the ridiculous amounts of chocolate left over from Easter.

Mighty duo and on the new bike! Much needed boost

Well I went for a spin on the new bike, planning to do a road session and then immediately a run, a bit longer than the first circuit of the village earlier in the week (and let's face it, you couldn't get any shorter) and glory be.... Didn't I end up doing around 20k and immediately followed by a 2.5miles run! Legs a total wobble own the run and did it at a snails pace but at least I got round. This provided a much needed boost for me during what has been a crap ..the only word to use here... Run up training plan for this tri. I don't feel like I have achieved anything but of course , I have achieved a bit. Can now do 2 consecutive front crawl lengths ,,might have to revert back to breast stroke but at least I am able to do that. The road session yesterday makes me realise I am ok with this bit and training on a heavy old bike should help me fly a bit faster in the day. Dinky danke as I usually say.  The run is surprisingly, the scary bit for me. Will I have anything left in the tank to finish the race and get me round the 7k? Not so sure now but still feeling better about the whole thing. At last.

A duathalon but no swim and a bike!!!!

I have a bike, a bloody bike at last. Not the best, not a looker, heavy, £70 so I ain't going to win the Tour de France on that but at least it has 2 wheels and some gears which occasionally rasp and shudder but it is a bike. Went out on sat , did a short duathalon on fri but no proper biking so will try next week if I get a chance . Time is , as always, at a premium. Thought I would be pretty fit after the full on activity including après ski swimming every day but the duathalon still hurt (only a 3k followed by 30 mins spin and the 2k or even 1k run ) still was tough and I hadn't done the full bike or a full swim. Gotta get them together some time.............. Reckon I ate enought cheese and ham in the alpes to bung me up for a while (not literally but definately a different diet than usual) so no weight lost despite the constant activity over there. Have a tri but also a dress to fit into in a couple of weeks so only choice it so do the getting up early thing and go running/swimming before work.... Um .... Well let you know how that goes.

Happy birthday to me!

In he alpen, beautiful snow, sun, après ski, good food.... 2things would have made it perfect but then perfection is over rated. Mind you a card you bought yourself is not the bomb......

Who knows where the time goes.....

Well this weekend it went on cleaning and recovering from a big night out and no time /energy for training. Did turn up in hope of a session  on sat morning but the rest of the ballet mums and shouty man thought better of the rotten wet slushy weather. Just about managed a swim drill this evening. Not long but had been advised by swim madam on bubble swimming (breath control??) and breathing left and ringtone between 4strokes. Just can't do the right hand breath through. Look a bit of twit trying and having to stop every  few meters to splutter and catch a breath again.  At least I did get some practice in and this next week will be important to catch up on the running and maybe a spin class. We will see.  Hope y'all have good things planned for Easter. Quite looking forward to it as lots on including some fun in the alps. :)

Little fishes.... How come they arn't knackered half the time ?

I sneaked in a quick 20 mins swim today as needed a break from work. Good session but blow moi, as I tried to alternate strokes from breast and front crawl, I was totally puffed after the front crawl so how on earth do I get over that ? The swimming coach was there and we had a chat after. She gave me some tips to do with breathing exercises so keen to try that next week. In the end, got a ski trip coming up so need to get a bit of practice at  the local slope on Sunday and still no bloody bike. I guess  that's my  April focus ! Bring on that birthday....... And he bike as my present.....

Running as part of a hard but good sessh village hall hell.......

Reckon these village hall circuits are doing me some good - I certainly have to work hard, loads of running yesterday and steps and lunges so legs are a bit tight tonight. Should be doing it tomorrow but might be tricky so will prob do my full swim and drill tomorrow instead. Trying not to eat too much as ave a bit of a night out on sat and a slip of a dress to squeeze into. Bit of a shocker actually , this dress, very jazzy as the bairn likes to say. LLL was unsure, says its not really my style. Bizarrely, it was my mother who loved it, fashion forward as it is and bought it for my up and coming birthday.  Best run on Sat as any form of exercise will be out on Sunday following my big night out.......

A run that felt like the end of it all.........

Having done a tri over 2 days I foolishly opted to do a 7k the following day and found it hard going on quite a few levels. :(. Out of breath on most steps and it didn't ease up really. Mind you, needed to get it under my belt and worked through some stuff in the mind so should have slept easy but cos it was a late run and I was tired, I made the mistake of trying some red bull for the first time ever and not being able to sleep later that night. Won't be doing that again. The plan is to try a 10k early morning later this week to boost my confidence but we will see if it actually happens.  I think I a, realising that a tri, even a mini one is a long time to be on your own, pushing yourself on your own.

A snowy Hockney run and half tri

Lovely little run but a necessary one as the tri is looming... Did a short bike session on spin (still not in the roads yet .. And then tried a 7k but reckon it was only 5 . Easy, as have to keep the knees for tomorrow circuits. Just lovely country side , beautiful colours like a Hockney ...... Purples and vibrevt yellows and oranges and a sprinkling of snow .....lovely ....

Disrupted swim training but at least I got wet

So not the training session I had hoped -had wanted to do 45mins in the pool before I was met by LLL and the bairn but they turned up early so I trained a bit with them there so a little disjointed . Mainly breast stroke about 10 laps only (150m) and maybe 6 or 7laps at front crawl  and 4with the kick float so say 300m in total and I need to do 500  m in the race...and then bike....and then run.... So all in all, I didn't even scratch the surface and still no bike. I was hoping to get an early birthday present but it didn't work out. Never mind. I have time...... Ish. KTF please.........

A great little supermarket run .. Or nearly

It was the ballet mums run today and we split up according to ability and I ran in one group where it was slow and steady and it really suited me today. I think cos I ran early, did not drink the night before and felt good, I did ok, then broke off and picked up the pace , made a run for home and floated n air every step.... How? ...why? What was happening... . No idea! Might have been an early , alcohol free run but then I don't always have a night on the booze before I run. Maybe a morning run is the thing? Maybe it was the slow warm up.... Anyway, it really suited me and I could have run a bit further at full pace but really happy with today. Only 4.6-sh k but a beautiful morning and lovely run. Later went to look at a bike but didn't get one, will swim tomorrow....  I will need you to keep the faith and wish me well......... I think I will need it :). P.s. supermarket run cos we ran close to the house of a big supermarket magnet... The  pink  palace.

Down by the riverside and frickin sore knees...

Lordy they hurt today and I don't know why as I have only done one spin this week and bugger all else. Mind you, I did wear heels this week so that might be it. The most beautiful day, th river like a lake, like glass, and everything so sunny and beautiful, but I was dragging my legs like a draggy thing (can't think of a smilie or is at a metaphor?...... )  but  it was not pretty or fast. Looked like I am not really a runner. No idea why.         Where  is my running ability? Where is that bugger hiding...... Not coming out. Tried to speed up when I came into view with a couple of  golfers, though Lord knows why,  but not much of an improvement. I guess, unless I run with others, I will just not improve. How on earth did I do the great north....
Did I
really do it...? And other questions........

A swimming post for you :)

As it is all about the TRI and that means the bike and the swimming. I don't have a bike at the min ( waiting for my birthday present and the borrowed one has gone back to the original owner so apart from the occasional run, I am now going to concentrate on the swimming and did so for an hour on Sunday  .  I did breast stroke, one arm crawl with a float, crawl kicks with the float and then managed 3, I think....front crawl laps. This was in a 15m pool.... So not exactly Olympic level here but a start as I could not swim front crawl at all a year or two ago and I am determined to learn. Will breast stroke at the tri if necessary but crawl, if I can manage it, is faster. Mind you , it is totally knackering . I was like  a prune  when I emerged but reckon it was a really good workout so will do it again sometime this week.

Tri terrify tri ....

I have to confess, iam a bit scared about this tri I have entered.... Discussed drills this week and went to see a Bike (cheap one at that ) but a hybrid that I might get for my birthday and then can properly ride and enter a tri. Swim drills scaring me as well  but as some bight start said, unless you are scaring yourself a little , you are not growing . Mind you, I will be 44 soon and would quite like to leave some of the growing in the past. Suppose for those with a bit of a spark,  it is a constant, just like change .  Ok , so lets go then............

Bit of a training low this week but made the barjkalifa!

The training doldrums were interspersed with good shopping and quality family time and of course my baking masterpiece.... The barj...........I will explain. The bairn continues to request  increasingly complicated birthday cakes and this year , at school, the bairns are studying mega structures and the barj kalifa features heavily , so.......I was asked to bake that as her cake. HAVE YOU SEEN IT ?? The tallest building in the world....! Also I am a rubbish baker so after a couple of hours of toil I produced this effort and then had to lie down for a bit.....i think you will agree that i have no intension of branching out into cake baking as a business any time soon....any way, as for  the running/training, feeling like very little achieved in the past week, eaten too much, only just recovered from the vicious workout with the latest village hall shouty boss which was soooo hard it took me a week to walk properly before I could do any sort of run and then did a crappy one on sat and an ok but too short one yesterday. No real enthusiasm at the min but since I have actually entered the tri, I need to get my act together and sharp ish. Think the first step is to try the tri on fri afternoon - 14k spin, 7k tun and then a 500 m swim, in the wrong order but i am damned if i am going to do the swim first and cycle in wet underwear until the actual race . next step after that, book a swimming lesson . Might mix spin and circuits as spin alone is not doing it for me at the min and despite the pain from the new shouty boss, I certainly responded to his army 'work your lazy ass people 'manner !

The barj.......

Ouch...!

No running to report but a vicious circuits class whilst the bairn was in another room doing dainty kiddies gymnastics. I, on the other hand was at the mercy of a beast of a man, ex-army I am willing to bet my house on that and still in evil drill mode. Did not let up for an hour and ended up pushing myself , using muscles which I thought had an airing recently but didn't know what had hit them at the end of the  session. Today I cannot walk.  I am in agony. This is two days after the session. I have only ever once been in this much pain. Have used frozen peas straight after but really needed one of those ice baths. Well I do it again... Very probably and hope it won't hurt as much... Need to run this weekend if legs will let me.

The BIrds.......

Just spent ages writing an epic blog about how I had a rubbish run today cos I was  put off by the birds around me cos I had recently watched The BIrds movie 3times in a row in an effort to get to the end of it. Love birds but after that I swear those ducks were giving me the evils and it seemed that the great flock of seagulls (ok about 3) were hovering menacingly over head........ Well all in all, rubbish run but got out and fresh air and some time on the feet.... Happy shrove Tuesday and enjoy your pancakes!!

Fancy do with posh dress, lots of food, lots of booze but nooooooo running or exercise ? Not good. Oh we'll start of a new week. Lets see what I can do diddle dooooooo

Four seasons in one run.....

Wind, rain, hail, sun all in the space of my 4miler today. Resistance from the wind, feet up to ankles in mud  but sure I know I'm alive after that. The only shelter was the arch of the trees in the lane. Cobwebs well and truly blown away. Long hot shower, feet up.....lovely!

The snow run photos

How could I resist running here....?

Just had to get out ... The sun was a shinnin....

And one just cannot stay in when the sun is a shining...   The floods had drained away leaving loads of stick debris on the edge of the bank, nice little manoeuvring situation for me. The floods had obviously reached quite far from  the river bank on to the golf course as there were strange little rings of sticks around the hills above the bunkers, like little halos or crowns of thorns . . So having spent a week looking , more or less , at four walls of a hotel in Prague, I had had enough. So , having done some domestic duties, I headed off to the gym and spinned or span.... To loosen up (sorry Neil for crashing your spin only room but I did move to my own space and not chat so....) and then off for a run with a few intervals, now't great but did try hard , then back for another 5mins spin.  Great. Like I said... Always feel better after a spin.
I was not well in Prague and quite a few others from the 500strong conference were too and  currently, there is a debate as to was it the oysters or the damn dumplings. I can eat almost anything but the meat or dumplings smelt rank.... I still ate them though, (now't will defeat me....) but they did in the end.  So I had cabin fever and crashed out of the conference for one day, missed a gala dinner (cracking dress but th  ere you go...) and then had so much sleep was able to go to party night e next evening and hit a couple of tequilas... I know , disgusting but had a laugh and a dance and that is good for the soul so there....! But, this did leave me gasping for air and exercise ... So today, I ran. It was not long, not the best but it was was A RUN :)! Happy  belated Yorkshire pudding day to you all....

Running in Praha?

The Prague run did not happen -been in Dublin but no running there, not even a step outside the hotel. Then PRague, again no running. Bummer . Next time maybe. Brought all my stuff but illness and lack of time meant they just made my case 3k s over ....

Diamonds again solitary treat

Hello all, snow gone one but great  if not fast  run on sat in the deep, fresh snow and peace, quiet and sun.  Ran in some local woods too where there are several places to sit and reflect so I did :) snow is just great to run in. Not a very exciting post but there you go.....

Running on diamonds and new training plan - thank you smiley runner :)

I ventured out today when at last, the sun began to shine on the snow . Each day it has been misty and overcast and I was hoping for a fall of snow to be followed  by one of those glorious, high, clear-sky days where the sun hits the white ground and bounces back like someone spilt tiny little diamonds everywhere.( bit poetic but so true) and at last , there was at break in the weather and the sun shine. I legged it over to the totally silent golf course and ran by the river on diamonds.... Actually, to be fair glistening snow is even more beautiful than diamonds. The snow was just the right consistent envy to be soft but not slushy nor slippery. Used my trail shoes and they need a bit of an outing as the muddy boots will be coming up soon. I also need to up my miles somehow. Thanks to smiley for the nudge

No run but skiing hol booked and new regime planned!

Well I was soooo tempted today to do a snow run but it was really a summat and nuthin  day in the end with drizzly snow if you can imagine that?  Well the snow consolidated my reserve and a skiing hol was booked, late in the season but fingers crossed for snow. Nothing excites me more than a skiing holiday. I hope I can keep up with the girl  who I am gong with as she is definately in the advanced camp but as a comfortable intermediate, she can lead the way. New regime planned to the out as need to mix it up about. Did you run n the snow?.

Not a run but Photo in the snow

And not even this years snow but gives you a flavour of today. Only running was up and down a hill with a sledge .....a lot..... Great exercise, the off to the pub for comfort food lunch and a nice little beer. Given that this is the UK and not the alpes does it get any better ?

Comment on one but last post

Apologies for last but one post ? I sound very drunk and, as I have not read all the others, I realise I might sound a bit  hammered in them too but I can assure you , it is partially this bonkers spell check, or at least my lack of techno knowledge which means I do not really know how to correct auto spell check which changes everything. Mind you, I did have a couple of glasses of wine and that samnoella chasing whiskey on the last but one post  so .....

Run the snow .... A treat

Hello all.
SNOW !, not much here but enough to crunch below your feet and I ran yesterday for the first time in ages and loved it ! ... past the little hansel and Gret yl cottage and every step was heaven. It was not fast, it was not pretty, nor was it one of those beautiful high days with sun and glistening snow  beneath your feat but still a beaut and one to bank so danke for the run and more  snow forcast, at what level can you run in snoe i.e. , how deep is too deep ? Have you any snow ? :)

Can blogger tell when one has had a quick snifter as deleting from thin air my latest posts

As apparently deleting my latest posts due to potential drunken rubbish content  from draft posts but only had 2glasses of wine and a whiskey cos my sis told me to do so in case I got salmonella from a dodgy food situation. Both deleted posts basically said, no running , might tomorrow and  trying to explain the word ' n o w t 'as a Yorkshire phrase . I'd a funny but surprisingly good circuit this morning with a lot of fab golden oldies (not all in that category but good for them whatever the age I say ) . One of Hess free sessions in aid of the council trying o sake people less fat. Music made me smile - my Sherman and did the plank for one min 15 r so to brown eyed girl ha ha !

No runs and rubbish workout tonight

Not sure what happened but think over stretching might have played a part . Not talking about me though. Ended up doing a rubbish workout with weights when I think I am addicted to adrenalin and at least cardio sweats but did not even break a minor one.  Sure it is important to mix it up occasionally but dull weights just doesn't give me a buzz and life is too short  - so what for tomorrow ? Reckon a tempo run . Not doing a ballet mum run so I could always look at a goggle swim of the 400m tri distance and time myself just to see ..... All this bearing in mind the good news about LLL today and half a bottle of bubbles consumed tonight !;)
Buenos nochas todos ! (Apologies for Spanish )

Down loaded 2 race entry forms... Well that's a start anyway

And googled lots of ski breaks which is my look forward to thing for early 2013 and I have found a willing partner to go with me, she is a better skier but all I want is a willing companion and I m on that plane! Can you see my smile  over tinter net ??

Salop trot treat

Up and down hills and emotions about the end of the Christmas period but one has to carry on (one!) great little trot with friend who has very long gait but lovely countryside , few hills , great views and all on the doorstep  , 5k and lordy i would be out there every other day if i lived there but this was followed by  lots of playground stuff with kids, I have to say, not my cup of tea but they loved it and are tortured by a normal walk but I know which I prefer and hope they will too when older. Anyhoooo how are you all doing into the new year? Having to get to grips with though stuff or swimming along nicely? The latter i hope . Skiing trip on the horizon and will book /enter my next race tomorrow so I have a definate goal. That's the ticket.

Go nova! Started 2013 with a sprint triathalon !

Well. The use of the word "sprint" might be in question as this was a lovely ambling way to start the year but it was a mini tri and I loved it.despite a late night last night and lots of bubbles (after midnight and it is not advisable for me to drink after midnight as I seem to get hungover??? ......  A bit although,  I work having had only 4or 5hours sleep, with a bit of a sore head, an early afternoon nap and some tablets I was in a great mood and keen to get to the gym. Once there the day was just too glorious to stay indoors so (and without my knee supports) I headed out to survey the views of the sunshine on the flooded river which had totally burst it's banks and flooded the majority of e golf course so I ran on the lane, dodging puddles and saying happy new year to cheery walkers. I reckon I did about 3k and then hoped on the spin bike for a 35min slight resistance cycle (which I reckon woul due about right for a 10or12k bike ride and then showered, popped in the pool and did the 26 lengths which is about 450m ... Tah dah!! A mini tri! And I fell bloody brilliant. If I can do this on the 1st of jan on my own,, no other help and encouragement then I can do a mini tri , even a standard one... Maybe, . Find the race, enter and then keep the faith! Tad tri is in May -sounds possible