A good week though I did too many days of cardio on the trot (oops)
First of all I need to share my thoughts on Corinna Korrubel’s Wellness Journal. She very kindly provided a review copy in return for an honest review. You get a page at the front for your main goals, and then a weekly planner for your fitness, followed by a page each day for a week where you can record whatever you want to record. I chose to note down my sleep, fruit and veg portions, exercise and steps, and sometimes made a note of my positives and challenges. I found it really useful and non-judgemental – it didn’t feel “wrong” to be not noting everything down and I felt I could use it as I wanted to. Also, importantly for me, the quality of the paper was good so I could write in the journal in fountain pen!
There’s a weekly journal recap page and pages to record stats at the end, so it would be useful for all kinds of wellness challenges. I recommend it, my only additions would be having a place for a weekly goal and having space to write down the name of the day at the top of the page, as well as the date. Find out more with more sample pages on Corinna’s blog here and that page also has a link where you can go through to Amazon to order.
Monday – A lovely run with Claire as I’d run on Saturday so was up for a longer one. We worked out a 5.5 mile canal route we hadn’t done before, however there was an obstacle on the way back up from the canal in the form of a very large fallen tree!
Of course I made Claire stand in the middle of the tree while I took my photo of the day! She’s just to the side of the actual path, and it was very muddy having got under the branch behind her.
5.5 miles, 12:54 mins per mile. 13,015 steps
Tuesday – I had to go to club run as I had two hi-viz volunteer tabards from the week before. I ran them up then ran around club run with a whole massive pack of sedate ladies – lovely fun. Jenny gave me a lift home as it was cold and dark. Tara had some lovely laces on her trainers!
0.7 miles, 11:30 mins per mile / 4.00 miles, 12:52 mins per mile. 11,535 steps
Wednesday – I didn’t go to yoga as was waiting for a delivery. Managed to overlap with Matthew for 5 mins before I headed out to Spin for the first time in months. Spin was great, with OK music (soul and some pop with some Brazilian zumba-style music and arm movements. There was plenty of upper body work thrown in and it was a buzz like I don’t get from running. I will be back to this class.
5,499 steps (plus 45 mins of spin is apparently equivalent to around 9,000 steps – I think my watch counted some during the class)
Thursday – An early morning run with Jenny running through the dawn. I wore my new chest light which is lovely and bright, however I don’t seem to have taken a photo of it. But this was my fourth consecutive day of cardio and that was too much, so I peeled off and ran home the slightly long way to round things up. I had to wait in all day for a delivery that came at 6.30 (this was the one I waited in for yesterday, too, grr) so it was nice to have got out first thing.
4.3 miles, 12:14 mins per mile. 10,541 steps
Friday – I walked up to the post office to post some presents, then went on the treadmill in the gym for 15 minutes gathering steps, but my Kindle went wrong (seems OK now) so had to watch awful videos on the rubbish TVs. Made it to Claire yoga which was a lovely although quite hard class (deep squats and standing up slowly from them, yay. Goddess pose, not so yay). I had a lovely mail delivery when I got home – a couple of books (see my next book post for pics) and my kit for RED January. This is a month in aid of Mind, the mental health charity, RED stands for Run Every Day but I don’t like to do that or to encourage others to do so recklessly (readers with a streak: I know you know what you’re doing!) so I will aim again to do some activity every day, and days I don’t do something else, walk 10,000 steps. I was pleased with the buff which I ordered as well as the tshirt this year.
5,293 steps
Saturday – I had a trip out to be a Contributed Official for running club at the men’s cross country league in the Warwickshire country park of Burton Dassett Hills. This is a very high area, with great potential for cross country – but it was FREEZING. It was about 2 degrees (35 F) with a biting wind and heavy rain and even though I wore my hi-viz coat, I was so cold on my hands and feet. My job, which saved club from being docked 200 league points, was to give out round metal tokens with the finish position on to the runners at the end of the funnel. A colleague got batches off a spike and handed them to me but they were so cold and all stuck together. The poor runners were freezing, too. I normally have a jolly word for everyone at these events but I lost my sense of humour a bit (I was also annoyed as I have cold weather gear but wasn’t wearing enough of it!). Got back in the club tent after and someone had to open my flask and pour out my cup of tea for me!!

Some of the men’s cross-country team plus me in the middle in hi-viz. Photo by Tim Livesley, shared with permission.
It took me ages to thaw out when I got home!
3,013 steps (a million shivers)
Sunday – Long run Sunday and it was so sunny, although very chilly again. I met Caroline, Trudie and Mary Ellen at the end of my road and we headed up to Stirchley to get on the canal at the Cadbury Factory. We were pleased to see the Gorilla of Stirchley looking suitably festive.
Once on the canals we did the usual route heading back to the boatyard. Trudie’s husband Dave appeared running in the opposite direction (and less cold and wet than yesterday) so we got him to take a photo of us on this lovely part of the canal network.
Caroline peeled off but had managed her first 10k for ages, we carried on through the woods and the fallen tree was still fallen (sorry to Trudie’s lovely new trainers, not so white after all that mud) then when we got back near home, Mary Ellen went off home. Trudie and I decided to go and visit a local war memorial, but disaster struck when she tripped on a loose paving stone and fell. Oh no! Sore hands and a bashed and scraped knee and hip so once she’d gathered herself I walked her home and then continued my run, rounding it up to 10 miles, and even with the walking, on 6-hour marathon pace so I left it as a run rather than trying to muck around with my Strava stats. Recover well, Trudie! (please wish her well in the comments if you get a moment and have read this far!).
10 miles, 13:43 mins per mile. 22,940 steps as of 17.30.
Weekly total 24.5 miles. Total this year 868.2 892.7 (I need 916.66 at the end of this month to be on track for my 1,000 miles in a year total; I am still 19 miles down on last year). Total weekly steps 71,836 (I have decided that I’m OK if my weekly total is over 70,000 though will make an effort each day: I just don’t have time to march around every day!).
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.
Nov 10, 2019 @ 18:26:45
Ouch, poor Trudie! I hope she’s healing well. I’ve fallen many times–mostly I hurt my pride but other times I’ve been pretty scraped up!
You had a good week of training! Surprising that it is so cold there. I guess you’re on the same jet stream as us…
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 18:28:44
Aw, thank you! I told her if I mentioned it on my blog kind people would wish her well! The weather took us totally by surprise, dropped about 10 C in a day! We have it set for all this remaining and possibly snow on Thursday. But at least we’ve missed the terrible floods elsewhere in the country.
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 18:36:25
i keep a wellness journal of sorts but not that detailed. I am sure it would be helpful to include a bit more in mine as well. It always feels so much colder when you are not running but helping out doesn’t it!?
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 19:33:23
Yes, someone said to me, “The only thing worse than having to run in this is having to stand still and officiate,” and they were very right (I also left the shelter of our gazebo while the race was ongoing to cheer on our lads on one of their laps). I have enjoyed doing the journal and recommend that one as a good resource.
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 19:13:39
I do hope Trudie is ok. I almost tripped & fell walking back to my car today . . . I have had to climb over downed trees at times, too. Always make you pause, right?
Seems like it’s super cold everywhere! Our first really cold snap of the season, making figuring out what to wear a challenge.
Definitely not int he RED camp Every body’s different & you just have to get to know your own!
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 19:35:13
Yes, and somehow I couldn’t find any of my fuzzy inside leggings, only the neopreney ones that wrinkle and drag themselves down, so I had cold backs of knees wearing my long but autumn/spring ones!
Trudie’s doing OK, not too bashed up but she was upset, as was I. And yes, I don’t want to model anything extreme, but it’s great for raising awareness.
I showed the pic of Claire in the tree to my husband and I think he thought it had fallen right then! I wonder when they’re going to be able to clear it!
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 20:45:38
We’re lucky, they usually remove downed trees fairly quickly. Very glad Trudie isn’t too sore!
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Nov 11, 2019 @ 06:25:53
I think because it’s on a path in the woods, it’s not in the way of any traffic, just runners, walkers and dog walkers, and there is an alternative walk through these woods as well.
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Nov 11, 2019 @ 11:58:57
Oh, I was talking about our bike paths — downed trees are usually removed fairly quickly. Thankfully!
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 20:11:09
Wow! You really are an all weather runner, aren’t you? Great stuff! I would have to be dragged out screaming into the cold and the rain I think!
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Nov 11, 2019 @ 06:22:06
All weathers except ice, really! I’ll run in snow if it’s not icy underfoot. You have to be an all-weather runner if you want to run seriously in the UK! I have taken to walking on the treadmill rather than marching around in the rain getting my steps, however!
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 20:23:40
Ugh what dreadful weather for that cross country meet. I well remember how cold and damp it gets there and the wind just cuts. I hope poor Trudie is ok!
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Nov 11, 2019 @ 06:22:45
Ha – yes, I went to New Mexico in the 90s and although I’d been on holiday, obviously, it was always in France or the UK – I had NO IDEA a place could be that dry!
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 21:18:10
All the best to Trudie. You are amazing how you do all of this, as I lie in my warm bed reading about it.😍😍😍
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Nov 11, 2019 @ 06:23:29
Well, I enjoy it and it’s pretty well never a hardship to go out – if I don’t want to, which is rare, I don’t go and then I usually find I was coming down with a cold or something!
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 21:28:11
Just to be contrary, I have a running streak but have no idea what I’m doing! To Trudie, get well soon!
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Nov 11, 2019 @ 15:11:02
Oh well you’re a very practised runner and you look after yourself (most of the time!) and work well with your streak. I just don’t want to model it as something that everyone should do. I certainly can’t and I see people trying and hurting themselves. But each to their own and you’re a great runner and role model!
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Nov 10, 2019 @ 22:46:16
SO it sounds like you’ve had a taste of our bitterly cold weather, too. YUCK! It’s far too soon for these extreme temps. Hugs to Trudie! I’ve been pretty lucky, considering how klutzy I am. I had had a couple of good falls (go big or go home LOL) that resulted in cracked/bruised ribs. Not fun, but they do make for good warrior stories 😉
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Nov 11, 2019 @ 06:25:02
Yes, I think so. It’s the suddenness that’s done me in. And now they’re talking about snow later in the week. There was no way Trudie was running on but she seems OK if a bit battered and bruised. I have had that one fall over a dog that cracked a rib or two, and a couple of others with big grazes. We did see a guy nearly fall over a dog into the canal on our run so walked past those boisterous dogs ourselves when we reached them!
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Nov 11, 2019 @ 16:40:53
I love Tara’s laces. Those are awesome
That last group shot is gorgeous
When I’m next in Albany, need to get the photo of the RCA dog, which, based on the comments on your FB about whether gorilla was original is a similar point of local pride.
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Nov 12, 2019 @ 06:10:26
Funnily enough, the laces have triggered a wave of copycat buys! And I’d love to see the RCA dog!
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Nov 12, 2019 @ 19:38:22
Fun back story in the mean time
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-worlds-largest-terrier-mascot-menands-new-york
I’m going to keep an eye out for similar laces. especially on my boring black sneakers
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Nov 11, 2019 @ 22:07:52
The canal looks lovely! Your race sounds cold… and just look at all of those runners! brrrrrr! I had to Google what “snood” meant. 🙂 Looks a lot like the “buff” I have?
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Nov 12, 2019 @ 06:11:32
Yes, I suspect they have to call it a snood as Buff is a trademark, but I always call them buffs, too. It’s a nice one! I have, um, yes, a lot of buffs.
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Nov 15, 2019 @ 10:57:15
every time I read your weekly recap I wish I lived closer to you and could be a model with Claire or Trudie for your running photos. I’m going to come visit when I can run again so I can join a few other sedate ladies. what do you think?
Poor Trudie. I hate when you are just running along and then suddenly start kissing the ground.
I’m in the market for a new journal/ planner – I’m going to have a look further at your link!
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Nov 18, 2019 @ 16:22:26
Oh, do come and visit, that would be lovely, and I will organise some sedate ladies for sure!
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Sedate lady running 11-17 Nov 2019 #amrunning #running | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Nov 17, 2019 @ 18:01:10