Not many photos this week but a daily update as I have decided to try to get in 10,000 steps a day (and yes, I know there’s recent evidence that 3 x 10 minute bursts of very active walking is better for you – I do try to get as many of my steps as possible that aren’t running in the form of brisk walking!).
Monday – A lovely run and catch-up with Claire which ended with her trying to negotiate whether to go under or over a replacement fibreoptic cable for the old copper pair telephone wires that was being fixed up. Oh, the laughs! I went a bit further than planned and was quite tired from running 9.6 miles the day before. Got home to a bulky parcel – I’d failed to get into the London Marathon, both in the first ballot and in the ballot you get into if you donate your fee to their charity. Another London Marathon fail top!
5.5 miles, 12:48 mins per mile. Steps: 11,708
Tuesday – Normally a very sedentary day in front of the computer working, so I made myself walk to the park the long way, march around it and do some complicated looking for drinking glasses shopping up and down the high street. Then walked to meet Matthew off the bus.
Steps: 11,048
Wednesday – Went into town to meet a lovely client, handily right across town at a gallery, so a good walk there and back. Then I went charity shop book shopping with my friend Sian in the afternoon (results here) and went out for dinner locally with Matthew in the evening, so got my steps in naturally (and a bit of work done!).
Steps: 12,508
Thursday – Took in an early evening run with Caroline – really nice to, again, catch up, though I must get the battery in my head torch replaced as it was a bit feeble. I wore my London Marathon Fail Top and it was nice but I got a bit warm as it’s brushed cotton inside!
5.1 miles, 12:34 mins per mile. Steps: 12,608
Friday – Went to yoga then did some walking including up to the park to meet Tara and pass her some books. Ended up walking VERY fast to meet Matthew off the bus to get my steps in. But this was the other day when I did steps I wouldn’t have done otherwise.
Steps: 10,597
Saturday – Moved my long run to today. I went up to the post box to send some cards and carried on running around as it was quite cold and I was early. This then saved rather than restarted, hence the two-part run. Started off with Jenny and Mary Ellen and did the 4-mile canal route by the boatyard. Said goodbye to Jenny then Mary Ellen and I continued in a big loop that took in much of my old 5-mile route. We ran into Cannon Hill Park to use the toilets, then Mary Ellen suggested we run through the more traily part of Holders Woods. There was a big Alzheimer’s Charity walk going on and, hoping we wouldn’t suddenly encounter millions of walkers coming towards us, we nipped through the forest. So pretty!
Although we were both a bit tired it was a nice run.
0.75 miles, 12:18 mins per mile / 10.2 miles, 13:25 mins per mile. Steps: 27,390
Sunday – It was the Birmingham Half-Marathon today and running club had a cheering station as usual. Mary Ellen, Trudie and I walked down and we ended up with everyone on the Pershore Road, which meant we got to see all the runners going both out and back. Sadly, a suspicious van parked near the park and cricket ground meant the race had to be diverted and shortened, which was terribly upsetting, but had to be done.
Mary Ellen captured a great pic of me handing out jelly babies (I wore my waterproof over trousers so that it didn’t rain hard – that never fails!):
and I was delighted to see loads of people I know, including Barinderjit Singh Cheema – aka Usingh Bolt – just back from doing a trip to Malawi to see the charities he’s been raising money for and looking fit and healthy after suffering badly during a John O’Groats to Land’s End attempt.
I then walked home with Mary Ellen and went out for coffee with Gill then went to my friend Clare’s birthday celebration – she’s a Bournville Harrier so I saw a lot of BVH friends there and had a nice chat. Walked home (Gill had given me a lift there) as there were no buses for ages. A good running day with no running!
Steps: 17,429
Weekly total 21.5 miles. Total this year 801 (I need 833.33 at the end of this month to be on track for my 1,000 miles in a year total, and I’m now down just 14 miles on this time last year).
Edited to add: Mary Ellen has started blogging about running, too! See her first post here.
The Weekly Run Down is run by two wonderful running women and joined by lots of other inspirational women. Kim’s weekly wrap is here and Deborah’s is here.
Deborah Brooks
Oct 13, 2019 @ 21:54:58
wow you sure did get lots of steps in this week! I also like walking on my non running days. It just feels good to be outside especially when it’s not so hot! Love how you do so much volunteer work for the running community. Thanks for linking up!
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Liz Dexter
Oct 14, 2019 @ 05:11:56
It was interesting tracking it – I only did more on purpose than I normally would on Tuesday and Friday, although I might have got a bus at least part-way towards the cheering station. I’ll see how it goes on a quieter week but I’m determined to do it.
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Chocolaterunsjudy
Oct 13, 2019 @ 22:00:43
You did a great job on your steps this week.Walking the dogs usually help me meet my step goal (not that I have a true goal, but I do shoot for 10,000 most days — and am also cool being under occasionally).
That’s so sad that the race had to be diverted. 😦
I guess it was a big weekend for big races in general all over this weekend!
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Liz Dexter
Oct 14, 2019 @ 05:13:09
Yes, having a dog would certainly help me get my steps in! It is a big weekend, with Chicago and a whole lot of “great runs” (Bham was in that brand, too) as my friend did the Great West Run (and the Great East Run was cancelled entirely because of a security incident apparently).
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Kim at Running on the Fly
Oct 13, 2019 @ 23:35:30
You probably know I’m a bid advocate for walking, it does a body good! I don’t have a fitness tracker, so my only “record” of my steps is my phone (which I don’t have on me 24/7). I’m on my feet so much at my “desk job,” I know I’m usually well over the 10,000 mark. Great job getting all that walking done!
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Liz Dexter
Oct 14, 2019 @ 05:14:30
Yes, I was inspired by all your walking (although I’m not starting to ride a bicycle any time soon!!!). My job involves sitting at my desk unless I go and make a cup of tea or something; however, with the doorbell going and the house having two flights of stairs, I get about 2,000 in just in a day working, so that’s useful!
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Wendy
Oct 14, 2019 @ 00:03:04
I’m so sorry about the London Marathon (again!). I thought they gave preference to Brits. It’s crazy how hard it is to get in. Why don’t you give a hand at Chicago? Just saying….it’s MY favorite marathon, lol.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 14, 2019 @ 05:16:02
The second ballot if you donate is only for British people, I think. I will try to get one of the running club’s two places, as it is a nice one to do (and I can stay at my best friend’s house for it). I would love to come and do Chicago but while there’s a travel ban that means not everyone can get to the US, I refuse to travel there (sorry to get political). Otherwise I’d be doing NY with Cari!
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kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 14, 2019 @ 10:15:04
That’s a lot of steps! I do four ten minute bursts a day to and from work, so that’s good at least! 😀
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Liz Dexter
Oct 14, 2019 @ 10:16:56
Yes, I was quite surprised how easy some days were and how hard others. And yes, four ten minute bursts is meant to be vg for one, isn’t it?
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Cathy746books
Oct 14, 2019 @ 10:59:15
Sounds like a great, productive week Liz!
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Liz Dexter
Oct 14, 2019 @ 14:50:50
Thank you – got a good amount of reading done, too!
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BookerTalk
Oct 14, 2019 @ 15:53:50
I haven’t tracked my steps for months now – got out of the habit when we went on holiday and I forgot to take the monitor’s charger with me. I should dig it out again though now that I’ve started Nordic Walking – you should give that a go, very kind on the knees but boy can you build up the heart rate…..
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Liz Dexter
Oct 14, 2019 @ 15:58:11
Ah, yes, I’ve seen people doing that at parkrun and in our local park. Unfortunately I don’t have time to fit in a new fitness hobby that involves doing something in groups or at particular times or using particular equipment – well, I think I can build in the extra steps taking a turn around the park or meeting a friend a bit further away than usual. We shall see!
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Black Knight
Oct 14, 2019 @ 16:41:38
Sorry for the London Marathon. What about the Rome marathon?
Walking now is part of my routine: running, walking, running, rest. It works (but I am old!).
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Liz Dexter
Oct 14, 2019 @ 16:45:42
I don’t really like racing when I have to go somewhere and remember all my stuff and find the place and all that. Which puts Rome out for the moment. London is OK as my best friend lives there so I can go and stay with her and borrow stuff if I need it. However, there is the small matter of Reykjavik, which was my first marathon when I didn’t know how to do them, of if I could run that far! So I have a plan. The first part is entering the ballot for one of the running club’s two places in London …
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kookyrunner
Oct 14, 2019 @ 21:10:05
Sorry about the London Marathon 😦 I too got my annual rejection letter, LoL.
Awesome job on your steps this week. I’m going back to hitting my daily step goal next week after I recover from the marathon.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 14, 2019 @ 21:23:20
Ha yes, recovery is very important! How are you feeling? I usually go for a fairly long walk the day after a marathon, and find it helps! I have a chance to get in London via the club ballot, we have two places, so let’s see …
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Marcia
Oct 15, 2019 @ 12:52:56
Way to get in all those steps! I don’t think there was a Birmingham half when I lived there. Too bad about the suspicious van but better safe than sorry I guess. How nice of you to give out jelly beans!
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Liz Dexter
Oct 15, 2019 @ 17:23:43
It started in about 2007 as far as I know – I did the first five and that works out right I think. I did give over my bowl to the kids as it’s quite tricky not dropping it!
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Michelle @ Running with Attitude
Oct 16, 2019 @ 01:40:42
Great job on getting in so many steps! Sorry about London – I got dinged too. I knowso many people who applied and didn’t get in 😦
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Liz Dexter
Oct 16, 2019 @ 06:15:59
Ah, thank you! I know two people from my immediate circles who got in through the ballot and a couple of good for age entries.
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theshornrunner
Oct 16, 2019 @ 05:18:58
Shame about London Marathon, you deserve a place after years of spectating and supporting!
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Liz Dexter
Oct 16, 2019 @ 06:16:25
Ah, thank you! This was my third attempt so I have three nice training tops now …
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Lisa @ TechChick Adventures
Oct 16, 2019 @ 17:08:29
Great job getting all of those steps in (what a busy social week!) That is really nice top to be rejected with! Scary about the van causing the diversion but true, you just never know about stuff these days 😦
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Liz Dexter
Oct 16, 2019 @ 17:33:03
Thank you – I’m doing well so far this week too and haven’t needed to march grimly round a wet park yet!! And yes, it was scary, esp having to walk right past it!
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Cari
Oct 20, 2019 @ 00:48:00
Nicely done on the steps. As you know, I’m quite Fitbit obsessed at times. I’m impressed when you get it in on heavy work days as I find without my commute I’m SOL on steps.
So sad how things like the Half shortening have become reality 😦
Your jelly babies pic just gave me an idea – friend who knows asked what I’d like her to have. That may be it.
Off to follow Mary Ellen!
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Liz Dexter
Oct 20, 2019 @ 07:02:22
I am finding it a challenge to make up the steps on a just-working day but fortunately at least having the time at the moment. I now know that “round the block” is just under 1,000 steps, which is useful! Just try some jelly babies on the run before you choose those – and if your friend is holding out a bowl for all runners, make sure she has some separate ones just for you that no one has touched!
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Cari
Oct 20, 2019 @ 13:42:04
Same as I know 600 steps is fully vacuuming and or swiffering my apartment. Funny how we learn that math
Jelly babies here come in small packs, especially this time of year for Halloween so I think she”ll just have one for me. The first time I tried them was because I forgot my chews and popped in at 7/11 knowing they’d have something. I wouldn’t do them as full fuel but pivk me up late
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