During these times of lockdown and excessive online shopping, I need to rein in my spending on any unnecessary things.
New shoes are necessary. I will just get the same again. But what if they're not right - the design changes all the time... And it's so nice to get fitted properly. hmmm
Moti
5.15 km
6m 42s
No faster then, but I am getting into it a little bit more. Too much weight to carry of course. I dread to think what I might look like while I'm running. I guess I shouldn't worry about that, the important thing is getting out there.
This was in the Guardian this morning: it touches on a lot of the current existential discomfort we're all feeling.
I once ran the Bristol half marathon. The ramifications are still being felt...
22 Apr 2020
19 Apr 2020
The Missing Cryptoqueen
I've been obsessed with The Missing Cryptoqueen - a BBC podcast about a cryptocurrency which isn't what it seems, the woman who set it up and the consequences for everyone involved. It's just so engaging, perfect for a run. Recommended.
Advert over.
I definitely need new shoes. I thought it was the way I was running which made my feet thud so heavily - but there is almost no padding left on the soles of my trusty old Asics. I bought them on 10th June 2016 so they've done OK. POssibly not done all that many miles and the mapmyrun doesn't do a running total. (see what I did there...)
On the upside, it's made me even more aware of how I'm running and I've been consciously using more spring from my arches and engaging my hamstrings more. I sound like an elite athlete. I don't look like one.
I reckon I've found a pretty good 5km route which is largely off-road/pavement and which I can extend if the mood takes me.
5.27km
34m 56s
6m 37 per km
Advert over.
I definitely need new shoes. I thought it was the way I was running which made my feet thud so heavily - but there is almost no padding left on the soles of my trusty old Asics. I bought them on 10th June 2016 so they've done OK. POssibly not done all that many miles and the mapmyrun doesn't do a running total. (see what I did there...)
On the upside, it's made me even more aware of how I'm running and I've been consciously using more spring from my arches and engaging my hamstrings more. I sound like an elite athlete. I don't look like one.
I reckon I've found a pretty good 5km route which is largely off-road/pavement and which I can extend if the mood takes me.
5.27km
34m 56s
6m 37 per km
15 Apr 2020
There be dragons
Well, mainly fox poo tbh.
I ran down some of the new paths I've discovered while on my lockdown walks. Turns out there's quite a few of them round these parts. Far more interesting than house-lined roads. But a lot of fox poo to dodge.
5.51km - forgot to turn the sound on so I wasn't getting km markers but that's ok - I'd walked most of it anyway.
11.2 mins/km walking
6.36 km/m running
At least I'm faster at running
Also I felt a lot better than I have done recently - perhaps not drinking anything for a couple of days has helped. It's too easy to open a bottle at lunchtime (no kidding) and then finish it by bedtime. No one around to judge.
I've decided one of my lockdown pastimes will be to map all these little paths and cut-throughs. It's a thought. And I will mark where all the dragons live...
I ran down some of the new paths I've discovered while on my lockdown walks. Turns out there's quite a few of them round these parts. Far more interesting than house-lined roads. But a lot of fox poo to dodge.
5.51km - forgot to turn the sound on so I wasn't getting km markers but that's ok - I'd walked most of it anyway.
11.2 mins/km walking
6.36 km/m running
At least I'm faster at running
Also I felt a lot better than I have done recently - perhaps not drinking anything for a couple of days has helped. It's too easy to open a bottle at lunchtime (no kidding) and then finish it by bedtime. No one around to judge.
I've decided one of my lockdown pastimes will be to map all these little paths and cut-throughs. It's a thought. And I will mark where all the dragons live...
7 Apr 2020
Well, that just happened
So I hauled myself out for a run with a new insight: as well as putting my kit out ready I should prepare my playlist the night before. I take an age to put it together even though it's usually only a podcast or play. (With a backup music playlist in case it all goes horribly wrong)
This morning was Detective Trapp which was interesting enough to listen all the way through the first part.
Perhaps a little too interesting...
I decided to go the other direction once I got to Horfield Common and pick up an old route through Henleaze (one of the dullest areas of Bristol) But I made the mistake of heading down an unfamiliar road and ended up god knows where. All the roads look the same round there. I have little sense of direction at the best of times and I really didn't know which way I should be going. Thank heavens for google maps. Turns out the road I was thinking of taking was basically totally the wrong direction.
6.52 km
6m 42s / km so very slow
Thoughts: I think I could have got to 10k if there weren't any hills (too many killer hills round here but at least I didn't walk up them...) And my left Achilles is aching. Is there something I can do to stop that happening? I think I need to land more centrally on my forefoot and bounce off my arches - something I've always been bad at. Current body part I'd like to exchange: feet.
This morning was Detective Trapp which was interesting enough to listen all the way through the first part.
Perhaps a little too interesting...
I decided to go the other direction once I got to Horfield Common and pick up an old route through Henleaze (one of the dullest areas of Bristol) But I made the mistake of heading down an unfamiliar road and ended up god knows where. All the roads look the same round there. I have little sense of direction at the best of times and I really didn't know which way I should be going. Thank heavens for google maps. Turns out the road I was thinking of taking was basically totally the wrong direction.
6.52 km
6m 42s / km so very slow
Thoughts: I think I could have got to 10k if there weren't any hills (too many killer hills round here but at least I didn't walk up them...) And my left Achilles is aching. Is there something I can do to stop that happening? I think I need to land more centrally on my forefoot and bounce off my arches - something I've always been bad at. Current body part I'd like to exchange: feet.
5 Apr 2020
Another 5k
Well, get me very much. Although I haven’t quite achieved the 3x5k a week I thought I was going to aim for. But I indeed ran further than 5km (not much over but there you go)
33m27s
5.18km, 6m27s per km - so ever so slightly faster than the last one - and faster than the park run at Eastville park - which shows how bad I am on hills
I listened to a BBC podcast about Thomas Middleton who was a playwright contemporary of Shakespeare but wrote far darker plays and better parts for women - good on him. And then I listened to a Radio 1 workout playlist which was OK - listening to music is a different experience, more contemplative than speech. Not sure how I liked it - perhaps getting the perfect track is hard to find.
Rugly: a portmanteau of running + ugly. About 1/2 way round I realised my hoodie had come unzipped and I know that meant my belly was being framed and not in a flattering way. I know these kinds of things shouldn't concern me - but they do. As does how my face looks: I have to accept the redness (in a way it is OK as it just means I'm exerting myself) but it's the rest of my face which is troubling. I'm getting old and my jowls are becoming increasingly prominent and ageing. And I'm thick around the middle - a symptom of middle-age spread as well as being overweight again. And just everything really. I see other people out running and they are young and slim and tall and fast; I'm not one of them, I'm a slowcoach. Philosophically I have to accept the body I have and be grateful I can still run even if it's a bit crap.
It’s the Queen’s speech this evening. It’s an odd feeling - nice to know she’s there but she’s hardly in the same situation as the rest of us, but I guess she’s quite good at saying the right thing in the circumstances.
I’m writing this on my iPad with the fancy keyboard cover which I splashed out on for my travels. That’s not going to happen now. I 'm even thinking about taking some unpaid leave next year and try again. I think even if travel is allowed this June/July there will be nothing to travel to. Or perhaps they will all be so desperate for people to spend money I'd be welcomed with open arms.
But no that’s not how this is going to pan out is it.
33m27s
5.18km, 6m27s per km - so ever so slightly faster than the last one - and faster than the park run at Eastville park - which shows how bad I am on hills
I listened to a BBC podcast about Thomas Middleton who was a playwright contemporary of Shakespeare but wrote far darker plays and better parts for women - good on him. And then I listened to a Radio 1 workout playlist which was OK - listening to music is a different experience, more contemplative than speech. Not sure how I liked it - perhaps getting the perfect track is hard to find.
Rugly: a portmanteau of running + ugly. About 1/2 way round I realised my hoodie had come unzipped and I know that meant my belly was being framed and not in a flattering way. I know these kinds of things shouldn't concern me - but they do. As does how my face looks: I have to accept the redness (in a way it is OK as it just means I'm exerting myself) but it's the rest of my face which is troubling. I'm getting old and my jowls are becoming increasingly prominent and ageing. And I'm thick around the middle - a symptom of middle-age spread as well as being overweight again. And just everything really. I see other people out running and they are young and slim and tall and fast; I'm not one of them, I'm a slowcoach. Philosophically I have to accept the body I have and be grateful I can still run even if it's a bit crap.
It’s the Queen’s speech this evening. It’s an odd feeling - nice to know she’s there but she’s hardly in the same situation as the rest of us, but I guess she’s quite good at saying the right thing in the circumstances.
I’m writing this on my iPad with the fancy keyboard cover which I splashed out on for my travels. That’s not going to happen now. I 'm even thinking about taking some unpaid leave next year and try again. I think even if travel is allowed this June/July there will be nothing to travel to. Or perhaps they will all be so desperate for people to spend money I'd be welcomed with open arms.
But no that’s not how this is going to pan out is it.
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