Today, we’ve headed out, on a:
😀 We’re on our way to Coventry, for a long weekend:
Which is 406 miles away. Woo hoo!
And, of course, I’m planning to keep my running and stretching on track, so…..
Does anyone else have this problem?
If you see us, give us a wave!
As I say, in today’s post title, it’s nice to have some time off (so much so, I’m saying it twice!). I finished work at lunchtime today, and I’m off until Monday. I guess that makes today my Friday, then?
Today’s stats:
Run: No running for me today, as it’s taper time, I’m working on stretching, so I’ll do some yoga and some NTC stretching later.
Time: 30 mins walk, 30 mins yoga, 15 mins stretching
One yoga track I plan to listen to today: Â Wonderful Life, Black. Very chill.
So, like the rest of the UK, we’ve had a thunder shower this morning, but only one, fortunately!
This was the view from my office window today, as the rain started to pour down! 😦 It’s still very warm outside, and by the time I arrived home at around 12.30, the rain had stopped 🙂
@TheWelshWookie and I have been for a walk this afternoon, along the harbour and down to the ferry terminal. Of course, we had to pop into the cafe for coffee and cake!
I’ve had a lovely, lazy afternoon, reading this month’s copy of Women’s Running magazine, which arrived yesterday:
There’s an interesting article in it about stretching, particularly in warm ups, and whether they are beneficial, or potentially problematic:
For me, it depends on the length of the run. If it’s a shortie, I’ll really just do a warm-up jog. If it’s a longer run, I’ll start with a set of dynamic stretches: knee highs, butt kicks, and a short warm-up jog. I’ll usually finish my run with a walk home, followed by Kara Goucher’s running stretches from NTC. This seems to work well for me, and I’ve been fortunate in staying injury free (here’s hoping this continues!).
Today’s life lesson: It’s usually sensible to wear a jacket when rain showers are forecast…..
What’s your view of stretching, before or after a run?
Well, I’ve started off the week with every good intention, with a 5k run, which @TheWelshWookie did with me.
Today’s stats:
Run: 5k run
Time: 32:02:57 so much for my planned tempo run!
Trainers: LunarRacers
Weather: Warm, and sunny, but cooler than last week
Newest running track of the day: Avicii, Levels
I left my run until later, heading out at around 7pm. I’m really glad I did that, as the sun was still shining, it was warm, but much cooler that it has been all week. I just ran my usual harbour route, which I love. As I walked back along the harbour, there were a few clouds, which was lovely to see. I took a couple of snaps (you’ll be used to this view by now!)
I had two new purchases, which I tried out tonight. First were my new socks from the Color Run. No, they aren’t compression socks, but I wanted to give them a try anyway:
My second newbie was a new album I had downloaded from iTunes over the weekend, #HolidayAnthems, which I love. I listened to it driving home from my meeting in Dunoon today, and again while out running! 😀
It definitely kept me going tonight!
Today’s life lesson: sometimes, the male of the species can be reasonably domesticated…. which is a pleasant surprise (and means no excuses for the future)!
Have you tried out anything new on a recent run?
Good afternoon: has everyone had as lazy a day as I’ve had, or is it just me?
Just chillin’
So, for the first day in a long time, I have no exercise planned. None. Whatsoever. Am I doomed?
I promise, it tastes better than it looks!
I’ve been catching up on some TV that I’ve missed, including Revolution (which is fab!)
I also tried out Quark Pancakes today, from www.nicsnutrition.com . They were really easy and quick to make, and were really delicious! The recipe suggests using wholewheat flour and backing soda: I’ll need to buy the flour, so substituted for self raising, just to give them a go. I also added some cinnamon, for flavour and sweetness, and they were great!
They were amazing! Thanks, @nicsnutrition ! 😀
What has everyone else been up to today?
Is it time to lounge in the hot tub yet? 🙂
I had planned to head out for an early run to beat the heat, but I’m afraid that the sun and the heat beat me to it!
Today’s stats:
Run: 7 mile ‘long’ run: definitely tapering now!
Time: 1:10:57 Given the heat, that’s Ok with me.
Trainers: LunarGlides
Weather: Sunny, hot, humid
First running track of the day: Jimmy Somerville- this reminds me of a teacher I had at school, who loved him!
As it is the Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival, I thought that the village would be busy, but it was much busier than I expected, for 9.30am! As I ran along the harbour, past the pontoons, there were lots of walkers, people heading for breakfast, walking dogs, enjoying the early morning sun. There were also lots of people setting up their stalls for the festival later today: the whole area was a hive of activity!
As I headed off of the path, and up onto Garvel Road, I managed to take this picture, and when you see it you wouldn’t know that the village was busy:
Gorgeous!
As I headed back toward the harbour for the second time, I saw that the pontoons had filled up with lots more traditional boats than there were on Thursday night when I was last down by the harbour.
Last week I asked, is there always something going on in Tarbert? Definitely yes! 😀
There are loads of activities planned for the day, including climbing the greasy pole. The prize for the highest climber is a bottle of whisky: I’m not even sure I could do it with it still laying flat!
By the time I reached home I understood for the first time ever what is meant by the phrase ‘sweat pouring off you’. It was! But I’ve showered, rehydrated, and refuelled on some Thai red curry:
I hope you all have a good run today, and a fab weekend!
Today’s life lesson: jogging in and out of walkers, saunterers and cyclists is not a good look, when you have no co-ordination 😉
What’s your favourite food to refuel with?
It’s a balmy 29 degrees in Tarbert, and according to the forecast, the West coast of Scotland is set to be the hottest place in the UK this weekend!
Today’s stats:
Run: Fortunately not, it’s too hot for me to run today! It’s a yoga and stretch day for me.
Time: 30 mins yoga, 15 mins NTC Shawn Johnson Stretch Guide
Most relaxing yoga track: Â Teardrop by Massive Attack. Love.
Well, to round off another week, I thought I’d let you have a sneak peek into some of my good (and bad) eating habits this week.
In London, I had a few naughty treats:
We had dinner on Sunday night in a place in Campden called Ay Caramba!
We had:
We also came across a wee shop selling mahoosive watermelons- I wish I could have taken some back home with me!
On Monday, we had a spot of lunch at Union Jack’s in Covent Garden:
While, back at home, I’ve tried to be good:
But I haven’t always succeeded……
Today’s Life Lesson: double-check your text before you accidentally send it to the wrong person….
Which yummy treats have you had this week?
Evening, all!
Well, I made a bit of a silly mistake tonight: Usually I go for a wee run as soon as I finish work, mainly because if I didn’t go then I wouldn’t bother that suits me best. Tonight, it was overcast, and about 22 degrees when I got home. I thought I‘d be smart, and wait a couple of hours before running, in the hope that the temperature dropped a little. Big mistake. The sun actually came out, and was beating down on me for all of my ‘speed’ session, and the temperature had actually increased! 😮
Oh, well.
Today’s stats:
Run: 5K slow speed session.Â
I did: 1K warm up jog; followed by 6x 300 metre sprints/200 metre recovery walk. I finished up with a 1K so-called ‘cool’ down
Time: 32:56
Trainers: Lunar Racers
Weather: bright and very sunshiny! Again! Woop Woop!
Best running track of the day: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey. It kicked in just when I needed it!
So, as we head towards another weekend, there’s another event on in the fantastic village where I live. It’s the Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival, which kicks off tomorrow night 😀
There are quite a few boats in already, and while I ran along by the pontoons, I could hear fiddle music filling the air, which was lovely!
The village was pretty busy for a Thursday evening, with people eating at tables outside the cafes, and strolling along the harbour, enjoying the view and the weather. It looks like we’re in for another cracking weekend!
Today’s life lesson: Sometimes I say things to try to make things better, and end up doing the opposite. Mental note- think through what I say before I say it!
What have you said, and instantly regretted?
Hope you’ve all had a Happy Hump Day today- here’s some Wednesday Wit in case you haven’t… it sums up how I feel after a weekend of excess! 😀
Today’s stats:
Run: Nope, not today. It was a strength day, so I did NTC’s 45 minute Intermediate Get Strong. It was tough! I’ll do a 15 minute stretch later, too.
Time: 45 mins
Best track while doing high-knees: Â Soak Up The Sun, Sheryl Crow. Very appropriate today!
As the warm, sunny weather is continuing, I headed out for a walk after dinner. Tonight, I took a stroll around Tarbert Castle, which overlooks the village. Would you like to see it?
It has recently undergone quite a bit of restoration work: it dates back to Robert the Bruce’s time.
Here’s a picture of the harbour through one of the windows:
Here’s the views across the village and out towards Loch Fyne from the Castle:
Beautiful, huh?
If you’d like to know more, visit http://www.tarbertcastle.info/
Today’s life lesson: Move the coffee table before you do planks and press ups; you’re less likely to bang your head 😉
What’s the best viewpoint in your town or village?
‘Running is like Salmon.’ So my sister said when she managed to get her breath back at the finish of the inaugural The Color Run UK event in London on Sunday. ‘I really, really want to love it, and I keep on trying it, but I just don’t like it that much!’
Huh! Don’t hold back on your views, there! 😉
I arrived home in the ‘wee small hours’ of this morning, and I was then up early to get ready for work, caught up at work today, and planned to go for a run tonight. I did run tonight- but it was only a wee shortie!
Today’s stats:
Run: 1 mile. I had lead-legs the whole way!
Time: 9:48
Trainers: LunarGlides
Weather: Warm, muggy and cloudy
My running track of the day: God is a DJ- Faithless
The Color Run UK event was fantastic. It was roasting hot, but fortunately our hotel was very close to the start line so we didn’t have to travel too far before the run, or stand around before the race for too long. I’ll post a full race report later this week- but the headline is, it’s brilliant! As a sneak preview, I thought you might like to see a ‘before’ and ‘after’ pic:
Can you tell which is which??
I’ve had a fantastic couple of days with my sis in London. We did plenty of this:
And we did plenty of this:
We also did loads of sight seeing:
And yesterday, to stretch our legs and make the most of the weather, we hired a couple of Boris’ Bikes, and cycled around Hyde Park:
We even squeezed in some shopping in Harvey Nichols and Harrods- including visiting their Christmas shop, of course! 😀
I’m now working my way through the humungous small mountain of laundry that is covered in powdered paint!
Today’s life lesson: Trying to run after 3.5 hours sleep is not such a good plan 😮
Have you travelled to a run somewhere recently?
So, it’s Saturday, and today @TheWelshWookie is away for a fortnight. We started this morning with a Strawberry and Pineapple protein smoothie, and while he headed out to meet his cadets, I headed out for my run.
Today’s stats:
Run: 9 mile long run: with three weeks until the RnR Dublin half, the taper starts now!
Time: 1:28:39 I’m pretty happy with this 😉
Trainers: LunarRacers
Weather: Warm, but cloudy- the sun burned through the cloud, and broke through just as I finished
First running track of the day: Kanye West – Stronger
The village was quite busy this morning, with lots of visitors around. The harbour itself had loads of boats coming in and heading out:
It’s the Tarbert Raft Race today, and it looks like they’ll have perfect weather for it. There was quite a bit of hustle and bustle, with people preparing for the event:
Is there always something going on in Tarbert I hear you ask? Well, yes- quite often there is! 😀
When I reached the mid-point of my run this morning, a sea plane flew overhead:
It circled right around the village, then headed back out over Loch Fyne. Sorry for the grainy pic, I was trying to run and take a pic at the same time!
Now, I’m going to finish packing, and start the first leg of my journey to London for the Color Run UK tomorrow- squee! I’m so excited!
Today’s life lesson: when you put your lunch in the oven, don’t forget about it. Burnt tortilla pizza is not good.
Has anything surprising stopped you in your tracks during a run before?
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