Month: February 2021

Weekly Workouts

Weekly Workouts

by TartanJogger ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

What a difference a week makes- we’ve gone from dry, bright but icy and bitterly cold to the more seasonal wet, mild and stormy weather. The wind and rain has made for some interesting running this week, and some less impressive photos than of late!

Here’s how my week turned out:

Monday-

It was really mild on Monday, and I definitely wore too many layers on this run. It came as a bit of a shock to have to remove gloves and headband mid run!

Distance: 3 miles

Time: 31m 55s

Elevation: 49ft

Pace: 10.36/m

As I had managed to fit in my run at lunchtime I was able to join Jacqui’s Fitness Pilates class again, and I’m loving them. This week we were using the prickle balls, and I definitely felt the benefit during and afterwards.

Tuesday-

I had time today for a midday walk, so I headed to the West Loch again, with the aim of beating my time from the last walk out that way. I got back with less than an hour on my watch so had to go past the house and back again!🤣

Distance: 3.68m

Time: 1h 0m

Wednesday-

I timed my run incredibly well, managing to dodge the showers and even capturing one of the very few bright spells we had this week. I also managed to get a slightly longer distance in for a lunch run which was ace.

Distance: 4m

Time: 42m 50s

Elevation: 151ft

Pace: 10.42/m

Friday:

Another day, and another stormy run! I’m desperately missing my trail runs but I only had a short gap to get any outdoor exercise in, so I opted for a 30 minute relaxed run to the West Loch. I was absolutely soaked by the time I got home!

Distance: 2.75m

Time: 30m 3s

Elevation: 144ft

Pace: 10.56/m

Sunday-

It has been quite some time since I last run on a Sunday, but Saturday was an absolute howler! I also had a busy day with clarsach classes and some online support work for those, which took longer than expected. It was a good excuse to postpone my run until Sunday, and that turned out to be a good call. The morning was dry, sunny and mild, with just a hint of spring in the air. I didn’t have enough time for a longish run but I was determined to get onto a trail, so that’s what I did, for five lovely miles.

Distance: 5.25m

Time: 1h 4m 6s

Elevation: 528ft

Pace: 12.13/m

That’s now 12/14 runs for my February Accumulator, so I’m hoping to exceed the 14 runs by one or two. Let’s see how this week goes 😉

Weekly Workouts

Weekly Workouts

by TartanJogger ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

This week’s theme has been consistency. Consistency in many areas, and one of those areas was with my running plans. So there was no huge uptick in progress or in plans, but consistency is the key to many things, so I’m quite happy now that I reflect back on the past seven days.

Monday-

A double header! It was a lovely bright and crisp day so I ran at lunchtime to make the most of the beautiful winter light. The weather this week has by far been dry, bitterly cold and windy, that is for sure!

Distance: 4 miles

Time: 42m 45s

Elevation: 89ft

Pace: 10.41/m

I also managed to step away from my desk in time to fit in Jacqui’s Fitness Pilates class, which I’m really enjoying, so that was another hour of exercise.

Oh, and it was also ‘Medal Monday’, with my Great Run Solo January Accumulator medal arriving:

Tuesday-

A busy day at work meant I didn’t have time to stop at lunchtime, but as it’s getting slightly lighter in the evenings we are no longer heading out for a walk or run in darkness! These photos were taken from about the same spot- one was taken on my way out around the harbour and the other on my way back.

Distance: 3.54m

Wednesday-

I fancied a change of scenery on Wednesday but didn’t have time to drive to a trail. Instead I decided to do my lunch run along the Kilberry Road. It was nice to change it up a little, but I’d forgotten how much you have to stop and hop off the road to let traffic past!

Distance: 3.1m

Time: 34m 2s

Elevation: 102ft

Pace: 10.57/m

Friday-

This run was bitterly cold, and I saw for myself how the harbour itself had iced up! It’s the first time since 2010 that has happened, I think. It looks more amazing in person than it does in the photos!

Distance: 3m

Time: 32m 14s

Elevation: 85ft

Pace: 10.44/m

Saturday-

I really wanted to get onto a trail for a slightly longer run, but the threat of snow in the sky meant I didn’t want to risk getting myself stuck solo on a trail. I also had some commitments today so didn’t quite have enough time for a trail either. So a run around the harbour was called for, though it was so windy I was running to stand still at times! It reminded me of mile 9 of my first Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Edinburgh when I didn’t the I’d finish because of the wind as I ran up part of Arthur’s Seat. But knowing I’d managed that, I could keep going.

Distance: 4m

Time: 44m 6s

Elevation: 249ft

Pace: 11.00/m

That makes eight runs so far for my February Accumulator, so I’m getting there!

Weekly Workouts

Weekly Workouts

by TartanJogger ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I write these weekly reviews largely for my own benefit- I find that it helps me to stop and review how my week has been and when it can sometimes feel like all I have done is work, the blog reminds me that I do manage to do more than just that (sometimes!). This past week is a good example- it’s been a full on, busy week work-wise, and though I’d managed to do some Clarsach practice earlier in the week and I’ve managed to squeeze in some reading every night, I did feel that my fitness had suffered a little.

But pausing to review what I’ve done shows a different perspective: I managed one of Jacqui’s live classes (still only one live, though, getting away from my desk on time remains a challenge), and I also got my February Accumulator Challenge underway with four runs.

Monday-

The first day of a new month and I was determined to kick start that with a run. The day was unusually dry but bitterly cold when I headed for my lunchtime run around the harbour.

Distance: 3.1m

Time: 32m 49s

Elevation: 112ft

Pace: 10.35/m

Tuesday-

I managed to step away from my desk on time for Fitness Pilates. This is such a good workout- low intensity but strong moves, and I definitely feel the burn!

Wednesday-

It was a stormy day, and I knew that the harbour would be incredibly windy so I squeezed in a short run to the West Loch and back.

Distance: 2.7m

Time: 30m

Elevation: 177ft

Pace: 11.06/m

Thursday-

At lunchtime we had time for a walk, and despite the driving, icy rain and strong winds we walked to West Loch and added to the distance and elevation by adding in Carrick hill.

Distance: 3.37m

Friday-

I ended the working week with another 5k around the harbour. Still raining, still bitterly cold and still very windy!

Distance: 3.1m

Time: 33m 7s

Elevation: 148ft

Pace:

10.40/m

Saturday-

I woke up today to a dry and sunny morning, and so I pulled on my trainers and headed to a trail- the timber route- with an aim of 10k or so. I listened to Hamish Napier’s ‘The Woods’ instead of a podcast or audiobook and mixing it up was a great idea- the music perfectly matched the run!

There was even some snow at higher altitude, which added some fun to my run and it was the first run in some time that was gratifying and soul restoring, even with the stormy winds trying to blow me over!

Distance: 7 miles

Time: 1h 24m 16s

Elevation: 810ft

Pace: 12.01/m

I’m grateful for having space to reflect on this week- and to notice that, actually, it’s been a good week fitness wise! Here’s to next week!

Weekly Workouts

Weekly Workouts

by TartanJogger ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Let’s start with the positives: I managed more running this week. Woo hoo! But, I didn’t manage to join any of Jacqui’s classes live this week. Boo! I just couldn’t get away from my desk on time. Hopefully this coming week might be a little easier to fit in at least on live class: we’ll see!

I also completed my Great Run Solo January Accumulator, with 24 activities. I’m pretty pleased with that result.

Monday-

I had time for a short lunchtime run, and as we’d had some rainfall that morning I mistakenly thought that the underfoot conditions would be fine. Nope! There was hard packed ice en route to the astroturf, and to say I had to take my time and run very gingerly would be an understatement! It was just beautiful, though.

Distance: 3m

Time: 36m 17s

Elevation: 52ft

Pace: 12.06/m

Wednesday-

I had to venture into the office, but I packed my running gear in the hopes that I’d find time to squeeze in a run. And I did! I headed up Kilmory hill yet again, finding that there were icy patches along the way. It was tough, but worth the effort. And I was glad to be off road.

Distance: 2.73m

Time: 32m 42s

Elevation: 292ft

Pace: 11.57/m

Thursday-

The Welsh Wookie and I were both working from home, and after a morning filled with online meetings, I needed to stretch my legs and take my eyes off of the screen for a while. We went for a damp walk to the West Loch, also doing Carrick Hill while we were down that way. It was very refreshing, if very wet!

Distance: 3.4m

Time: 1h 2m 30s

Elevation: 164ft

Friday-

I was determined to make sure that January didn’t end without another slightly longer run under my belt. I had no scheduled meetings for the afternoon, which gave me some leeway to make the most of Friday to do just that. As the ice had gone, I thought I’d see how the castle loop was faring, which gave me just enough momentum to do 10k, with a mix of trail and road to keep it interesting. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast so was low on fuel, and I think that’s probably why I could it reasonably tough. That and negative splits!

Distance: 6.2m

Time: 1h 13m 12s

Elevation: 377ft

Pace: 11.48/m

Saturday-

We woke up to a gloriously sunny day, and decided that a short trail run to shake out my legs after yesterday’s tired run. It was a little windier than I had expected, but I enjoyed a short trail while listening to my audiobook.

Distance: 3.45m

Time: 40m 49s

Elevation: 472ft

Pace: 11.49/s

So, that was just short of 16 miles of running and well over 1,000 feet of elevation this week. I was glad to be back on some trails, with less roads- I love the harbour, but it gets a little monotonous (and flat) when running and walking it multiple times each week in winter. It feels great to get exploring again!