A week of variable weather and a decent amount of running, plus all my steps. I wasn’t very good at taking photos so a short and boring post, sorry!
Monday – I ran the long way round to meet up with Tara and the dogs she was walking in the park.
4.1 miles, 11:52 mins per mile / 1 mile, 11:58 mins per mile. 13,036 steps.
Tuesday – I went for a walk in the day but ran into a friend, chatted too long and couldn’t walk as long a way round to the supermarket as I’d hoped. I then went for a walk in the evening, Matthew was going to the cinema so I walked him to where he was meeting his friend then carried on in the dark. Really should have walked where club were running, but didn’t – I ended up walking fast in the dark, having scared myself by being alone in the dark. Won’t do that in a hurry. As my best friend Emma said, go early to get the steps in!
10,101 steps
Wednesday – An evening run meeting Ruth for a couple of miles in the middle. Weirdly, I was only an hour earlier than on Tuesday and still in the dark, but I didn’t mind so much! Weird. I walked-ran with Ruth and ran continuously the rest of it, which was all fine. I don’t mind what I do as long as I’m moving. I hadn’t got as many steps in as I do walking so marched around the house a bit.
5 miles, 12:26 mins per mile. 12,003 steps
Thursday – Had a day out and went to meet my friend Laura in Alderley Edge. We had a super walk in the woods on the Edge and I did actually take some photos. The trees were beautiful and the views very misty.
We went to my friend Kerry’s for a lovely lunch and then popped into one charity shop (where I got one book, see my post from Thursday) before I got the train home. A good way to get my steps in!
11,040 steps
Friday – Got my first walk of the day in early, between breakfast and starting work. This worked well as I had my phone with me and was close enough to pop home if I got an urgent job in. I saw parakeets in Highbury Park (no photo as I only had my phone camera with me). I had another walk later to run some errands and had a fuss with Kaci the dog on the high street.
10,726 steps
Saturday – I was down to lead the running club’s beginners’ session but it was pelting down with rain so I did wonder if anyone would turn up. I left a bit late because I was waiting for the rain to ease off (it didn’t) and had to belt up there – I hit 9 and under 9 minute mile pace for a minute or two! Two people turned up for the 4 mile run we offer, and Ruth came to shadow me as she’s joining the volunteer rota. No beginners so Ruth and I did a couple of soggy laps of the park while I shared my knowledge of what to do, then she went off home and I continued home the long way round to get the value out of having to wash my clothes and because I couldn’t have got any wetter! I did get some sprinting done on the home straight as I just wanted to get home.
0.6 miles, 10:34 mins per mile / 3.4 miles, 12:33 mins per mile. 11,279 steps
Sunday – In a huge contrast to Saturday’s weather, it was so bright and clear, although cold – my first run with gloves on of the autumn and they only came off at mile 8. Started with Mary Ellen and Trudie, picked up Ruth on the way and met Jenny in Moseley, then ran her round a circuit to get her back to her yoga session in time. We dropped Ruth off on the way back down towards her house. Unfortunately I could not make my phone camera work (so Ruth had to take the group photo) and then wasn’t able to understand what route we were taking (a side-effect of the medication I’m taking is enough of a loss of cognitive sharpness for me to notice it) so I got a bit distressed and felt a bit rubbish.
Pushed on with encouragement (I keep taking, taking, taking recently and am aware I need to redress this, though I have been having some tough times) and said goodbye to Jenny by the park where she does her yoga (in a studio in the park) then parted from Mary Ellen as she needed to go and buy a sofa, then Trudie and I pressed on, surprised ourselves slightly by coming out on the greenway going the other way and knowing where we were and then pushed up the hill, round the park via the supermarket for Trudie to buy limited-edition orange Cadbury’s Twirls (as you do) and then to our respective homes. The sun stayed out the whole way round.
I got home to news my delivery was on its way. I’d better keep up with this endurance running lark as that is a LOT of Tailwind powdered fuel!
10 miles, 13:24 mins per mile. 23,203 steps (as of 7.20 pm)
Weekly total 24.1 miles. Total this year 848.2 (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 13 miles on this time last year).
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.
Oct 27, 2019 @ 19:37:12
It’s been a variable week weather wise, that’s for sure. Lovely views of the autumn scenery!
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 06:17:21
Thank you! Yes, pouring rain to bright sunshine in 24 hours!
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Oct 27, 2019 @ 20:00:42
I’m so sorry to hear that you’re having tough times but that’s what friends are for. It sounds like you have a lot of people who care about you. Just keep running. It keeps us sane.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 06:18:00
Thank you – it does indeed. When our lovely cat died, I went out for almost robotic runs, and didn’t enjoy them much or take much in, but I’m sure it helped to be outside.
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Oct 27, 2019 @ 21:15:29
Speaking of Twirl, did you see this? https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/04/people-highly-distressed-cant-find-cadburys-orange-twirl-shops-10863387/
Glad you found some. Funny how chocolate can be a must find.
You give back plenty with your volunteering and working with beginners. PLenty in the bank when you need to take.
I have 200 steps today. Whoops
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 06:34:34
Ha – that’s so funny! I do give with those things, thank you, but I don’t want to be a drain on my running group. I’ll see how I go this week. I have to be very organised and efficient on Tuesday running the evening run, but have a tall friend with a loud voice to assist.
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Oct 27, 2019 @ 21:54:05
You are doing so well on your yearly mileage! I had the mitts on for the first time this morning- it was just cold!
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 06:35:09
Thank you! I should make it now as I’m that bit ahead (still two runs to do this month!). Funny we both put our gloves on on either side of the ocean!
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 15:06:45
You’re already over so this will just help with next month:)
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Oct 27, 2019 @ 22:34:40
Glad you have your running friends to lift you up! That’s the best part of running buddies. I have some great rainy runs myself sometimes that just happens. Have a great week out there
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 06:35:59
I had some beginner runners in the summer who said they didn’t go if it was raining. I pointed out that they wouldn’t get much running done if they had that policy! I don’t normally mind a bit of rain but this was bucketing down and there were massive puddles, too.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 15:08:56
Yes, you can’t really run here without rain. I got muddy toes yesterday and that was actually worse!
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 00:06:11
Awww not a boring post at all, appreciate your dedication to running as well as how you intertwine running with social connection so well! Also, on a related but different tangent, have you heard of the film Brittany Runs a Marathon? Your post reminded me of it – I saw it with a friend lately and it has nice themes related to running and relationships. Hope you’re well, Liz.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 06:36:35
Thank you! I have seen about that film and a few of the ladies in these comments from the round-up I join on a Sunday have seen it; not sure it’s made it over here yet!
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 00:27:34
That photo “A misty view off Alderley Edge” has me pining for the English countryside. It’s only an hour drive from where I used to live. Very nice photo.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 06:37:01
Oh, how lovely – I’m glad you liked seeing that. It’s a stunning place, even in the mists!
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 01:19:39
You have a great running community for support! Awesome to see.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 06:37:21
I do, but I need to be careful not to be a drain as there always seems to be something these days.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 01:59:48
Running friends are the best and it looks like you’ve got a wonderful group to support you. I well remember visiting the Cadbury factory. Milk chocolate with Fruit and Nuts is my fave!
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 06:38:14
Ah yes, we’ve all been to the Cadbury factory – I run past it quite a lot, too! Did you go on the ride with all the weird chocolate beans jumping to their doom? The group is very supportive but I need to stand a bit firmer myself.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 12:18:21
So happy that you have great friends to help keep up your spirits while you’re going through a hard time!
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 15:09:19
Thank you, I do need to be wary of drawing on them too much, though.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 13:59:58
LOL at all the Tailwind! Running in the dark is hard alone, definitely easier with a friend. Knowing you, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.
Sorry you got so wet on your long run! I was lucky to have a beautiful day for mine (the next day rained pretty much all day).
I have yet to wear gloves, but looking ahead at the weather, I don’t think that day is far off.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 15:10:19
Fortunately the Tailwind has a long use-by date!
I don’t think I can have explained properly, sorry – my rainy run was just a short one, thankfully. My long run on Sunday was bright and dry, although some mud underfoot gave me muddy socks and toes!
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 21:31:07
Nope, I probably read it wrong, no doubt! It’s been a really tiring week.
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Oct 28, 2019 @ 19:59:28
You are such an inspiration to get out and do things. Lovely photo and I enjoy your posts so much.🤠🐧
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Oct 29, 2019 @ 08:41:33
Thank you so much! It’s always nice to hear from my book-orientated readers on my running posts, and, indeed, my running-orientated readers on my book posts!
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Oct 29, 2019 @ 00:32:17
So glad you have such a good network of running friends for support! Tailwind is my fuel of choice too – good thing those bags keep for a while!
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Oct 29, 2019 @ 08:42:02
Yes, and they seal nicely too. At least buying massive bags I won’t end up with too many of the little scoops!
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Oct 29, 2019 @ 01:38:58
I love the pic and how you mention that you couldn’t possibly get any wetter 😉 That was me yesterday, in all my saturated glory, at my race. I didn’t even realize I’d lost a hair tie (from one of my wet braids) until AFTER all my finish line pics had been taken and I caught the shadow of the “loose” braid as we were walking from the finish line LOL Glad your running friends are so thoughtful and caring ❤
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Oct 29, 2019 @ 08:42:56
Oh dear! I heard from a friend in my photo groups whose daughter ran it that it was a wet one. Did your plait/braid unravel? Hope it all went well, damp notwithstanding!
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Oct 31, 2019 @ 17:36:49
I’m sorry to see you are still having tough times like me. It’s hard but we’ll get through it! and let your friends carry you – I’m sure you have given more than enough encouragement to others in the past!
you know I walk all the time day or night but I too sometimes freak myself out in the dark and have to walk much faster!!
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Nov 01, 2019 @ 09:58:14
Thank you! It is a balance but I feel I’ve tipped it a little. That’s good to know you get worried, too, I felt a bit pathetic, esp as I seem OK running in the dark!!
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