Bodybalance is a class made up of a mix of yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates. It's supposed to build flexibility and strength, and leave one centred and calm.
Sounds soothing, fluffy, gentle and not very stressful, eh?
Phwah! No one has told them that, obviously. 10 minutes into today's class and I was gasping for breath and desperate for it all to end. And it doesn't involve any jumping around - it is all stretches and floor exercises... Just very, very hard ones! Ignoring the impossibility of Bird Pose (seriously, never going to happen!), today was the introduction of the new class (they change every 6 weeks or so) and it's just nasty. I fully expect not to be able to move my abs tomorrow morning - so, particularly good class today the day before a run... *sigh*
It's a bit like massages - they sound like nice relaxing things to do... And then you get there and the pain is quite indescribably unexpected.... Even though I have now had 3 massages (yes, I am counting, and yes, they were that memorable. The pain, the pain...!) and should really know better. I mean, OK, you do feel better afterwards, but there's a good few minutes when you're suppressing the urge to deck the person giving you the massage... And you wonder why on earth you're doing this to yourself...
Still, maybe in 6 weeks' time I'll be incredibly flexible and, erm, strong and it will all seem worthwhile...!
:o)
Today's stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour
Walking - 59 mins, 3.16 miles
Saturday, 29 September 2012
44. Catching up
Ooof...
Busy, busy, busy... Then off to gym... Now trying to pamper my feet (although they aren't particularly cooperating at the moment)...
Was a woman in the gym today - there when I arrived, and when I left - trying out for the Terminator 3 role (not sure that there really needs to be a new Terminator, but...). She was running away on Darth Treadmill when I arrived; after 15 mins she suddenly starts answering her 'phone and chatting away to people... While still running! Unfair! Unnecessary!! And quite possibly evil....
I'm not sure that she deserves the title of Terminator 3, though - after 20 minutes she started walking (quickly) on Darth T rather than continuing to run... Hey, I could do that!
Although, The Terminator himself was in the gym last night with a very poor effort. He turned up 15 minutes before the gym closed - when I'd already been there for a good 30 or so... What was the point of that?! His scariness is reducing.... He'll be wandering around muttering "Hasta la vista, baby" any day now...
:o)
Today's stats:
Cross-trainer (in gym) - 59 mins, 8 miles
Busy, busy, busy... Then off to gym... Now trying to pamper my feet (although they aren't particularly cooperating at the moment)...
Was a woman in the gym today - there when I arrived, and when I left - trying out for the Terminator 3 role (not sure that there really needs to be a new Terminator, but...). She was running away on Darth Treadmill when I arrived; after 15 mins she suddenly starts answering her 'phone and chatting away to people... While still running! Unfair! Unnecessary!! And quite possibly evil....
I'm not sure that she deserves the title of Terminator 3, though - after 20 minutes she started walking (quickly) on Darth T rather than continuing to run... Hey, I could do that!
Although, The Terminator himself was in the gym last night with a very poor effort. He turned up 15 minutes before the gym closed - when I'd already been there for a good 30 or so... What was the point of that?! His scariness is reducing.... He'll be wandering around muttering "Hasta la vista, baby" any day now...
:o)
Today's stats:
Cross-trainer (in gym) - 59 mins, 8 miles
Friday, 28 September 2012
43. Slight thaw
Mini update:
Central heating fixed (not the world's cheapest repair - farewell £400 - and that was for fixing a problem which had yet to cause the central heating to stop working!).
All rooms in house now warmed by a short spell of the radiators being turned on.
Apart from the one I'm sitting in. Because the one radiator in the whole house which is not working is the one in the living room. Of course...
Tomorrow, I shall be attempting to remove the head of the radiator's TRV and free the pin within to see if that gets the radiator working again... Not that I understand what all of that means, but that's what the experts online say will work, and who am I to argue?
Too cold to type more at present... Off to my nice cosy bed (radiator works in bedroom)...
:o)
Today's stats:
Cycling (in gym) - 39 mins, 7 miles
Central heating fixed (not the world's cheapest repair - farewell £400 - and that was for fixing a problem which had yet to cause the central heating to stop working!).
All rooms in house now warmed by a short spell of the radiators being turned on.
Apart from the one I'm sitting in. Because the one radiator in the whole house which is not working is the one in the living room. Of course...
Tomorrow, I shall be attempting to remove the head of the radiator's TRV and free the pin within to see if that gets the radiator working again... Not that I understand what all of that means, but that's what the experts online say will work, and who am I to argue?
Too cold to type more at present... Off to my nice cosy bed (radiator works in bedroom)...
:o)
Today's stats:
Cycling (in gym) - 39 mins, 7 miles
Sunday, 23 September 2012
42. The big chill
In my previous home, I had a very nice Worcester condensing combi boiler. It wasn't brand new, but it worked very nicely, and no trouble did I have for the 3 years that I lived there.
Now I live in a new build house. The Boiler is new. It's a condensing boiler - not a combi. And in the 2 and a half years that I have lived here it has done nothing but cause trouble. We would appear to be engaged in something of a cold (ha!) war, in fact. The stupid central heating/ hot water system has already had to be repaired twice. And now that the temperatures have dropped...
I caved last night - having promised myself that I would be strong and not turn on the central heating until the end of October - and tried to turn the heating on. Just for a bit. An hour or so. The hot water worked; the central heating not so much. So I wandered around bleeding radiators (3 were full of air. 3!) and tightening others (note - when fitting systems to new build houses, it would appear that everyone assumes that someone else will finish off the job properly. Which means that no one does...).
Nothing. Nada. Zip. I sit here, swaddled in more layers than any one person should be wearing indoors (and, I'll admit, if I move even a bit I break out in a sweat... But I'm trying to lounge on my sofa here!). Eating ice cream (damn you, G&T, for introducing me to mint leaves and choc chip ice cream!!) in the Russian style of keeping oneself warm when it's cold by eating even colder things...
Tomorrow, I 'phone someone to come and fix the stupid thing. And woe betide it if it's an expensive repair, as I lack the patience to do this annually and it could very well find itself becoming a former boiler/ central heating system/ whatever. So there!
:o(
Today's stats:
Went for a "run": see http://reluctantrunnerdiary.blogspot.co.uk/
Now I live in a new build house. The Boiler is new. It's a condensing boiler - not a combi. And in the 2 and a half years that I have lived here it has done nothing but cause trouble. We would appear to be engaged in something of a cold (ha!) war, in fact. The stupid central heating/ hot water system has already had to be repaired twice. And now that the temperatures have dropped...
I caved last night - having promised myself that I would be strong and not turn on the central heating until the end of October - and tried to turn the heating on. Just for a bit. An hour or so. The hot water worked; the central heating not so much. So I wandered around bleeding radiators (3 were full of air. 3!) and tightening others (note - when fitting systems to new build houses, it would appear that everyone assumes that someone else will finish off the job properly. Which means that no one does...).
Nothing. Nada. Zip. I sit here, swaddled in more layers than any one person should be wearing indoors (and, I'll admit, if I move even a bit I break out in a sweat... But I'm trying to lounge on my sofa here!). Eating ice cream (damn you, G&T, for introducing me to mint leaves and choc chip ice cream!!) in the Russian style of keeping oneself warm when it's cold by eating even colder things...
Tomorrow, I 'phone someone to come and fix the stupid thing. And woe betide it if it's an expensive repair, as I lack the patience to do this annually and it could very well find itself becoming a former boiler/ central heating system/ whatever. So there!
:o(
Today's stats:
Went for a "run": see http://reluctantrunnerdiary.blogspot.co.uk/
Saturday, 22 September 2012
41. Efficiency, they name is...
Well, that's Saturday done. So early, I hear you cry? Am knackered - completely and utterly puggled...
Had to catch up the rest of my km on the 5x50 challenge... And get my hair cut... And go to the library... And take stuff to the dry cleaners/repairers...
So obviously the first thing that I did today was sleep in. I didn't exactly jump out of bed and run to Bodybalance, but I did have to drag myself there at a fast clip.
And because I got up late I didn't do my run this morning (oh dear... Deary, deary me,,,). So straight after Bodybalance I went to the gym and punished myself through 30 mins on the cross-trainer.
Scoot then directly to the shower, throw some things in a bag, leave the house again to walk to the hairdresser's via the library (librarian very nice, but wanted a big chat about my books as I'd bought guides for my holiday destination and she appeared very interested... On a clock here, woman!) and the dry cleaner's (again, chatting going on about when would be best to pick the clothes back up again - I can only do this next Saturday and so there's NOTHING TO DISCUSS!)... It's pretty much all uphill, you know...
Arrived at hairdresser's out of breath and really quite tired, but bang on time. They were very amused by the fact that I arrived and just stood there gasping at them... I am an endless source of amusement to all around me. Yay! @_@
Came home the long way (had miles to make up). Then, to treat myself, I went to the supermarket and bought enough calorie-rich food to undo all the benefits of that hard work.
Genius!
;oD
Saturday's stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour
Walking - 2.27 miles, 35 mins
Walking - 3.39 miles, 57 mins
Cross-trainer (in gym) - 30 mins, 4.3 miles
Had to catch up the rest of my km on the 5x50 challenge... And get my hair cut... And go to the library... And take stuff to the dry cleaners/repairers...
So obviously the first thing that I did today was sleep in. I didn't exactly jump out of bed and run to Bodybalance, but I did have to drag myself there at a fast clip.
And because I got up late I didn't do my run this morning (oh dear... Deary, deary me,,,). So straight after Bodybalance I went to the gym and punished myself through 30 mins on the cross-trainer.
Scoot then directly to the shower, throw some things in a bag, leave the house again to walk to the hairdresser's via the library (librarian very nice, but wanted a big chat about my books as I'd bought guides for my holiday destination and she appeared very interested... On a clock here, woman!) and the dry cleaner's (again, chatting going on about when would be best to pick the clothes back up again - I can only do this next Saturday and so there's NOTHING TO DISCUSS!)... It's pretty much all uphill, you know...
Arrived at hairdresser's out of breath and really quite tired, but bang on time. They were very amused by the fact that I arrived and just stood there gasping at them... I am an endless source of amusement to all around me. Yay! @_@
Came home the long way (had miles to make up). Then, to treat myself, I went to the supermarket and bought enough calorie-rich food to undo all the benefits of that hard work.
Genius!
;oD
Saturday's stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour
Walking - 2.27 miles, 35 mins
Walking - 3.39 miles, 57 mins
Cross-trainer (in gym) - 30 mins, 4.3 miles
Friday, 21 September 2012
40. Running to catch up...
.... Or, rather, cycling to catch up... In a static location...
This week has gone remarkably well (clue: this statement meets all the requirements of what is known as "sarcasm"). Even after I actually went out jogging (in the actual outside world) - see http://reluctantrunnerdiary.blogspot.co.uk/.
Here we are at Friday already, only 1 day to go, and have 25+ km to go in order to reach this week's 35km target (note shift away from 5km per day concept - yes, well, I hurt my leg, and so forth). Bit of a challenge there... Which is a good thing, of course... But then so is sleep...
Yet another Friday evening spent in the gym - not even The Terminator to keep me company this week - desperately trying to get some decent miles in...
Slogged my way through a very quick bike ride (maybe went to the gym a bit late... maybe didn't quite have enough time to do all the miles that I wanted to).... Must remember to be careful sitting down tomorrow!
Unfortunately, I still have another 15km to get through before the end of Saturday... Must remember to not fall so far behind again.
In other news, I am overjoyed to be home after getting on for 5 days away from home... I'm sure that such things would be pleasant if they involved sunshine and Long Island Iced Teas... But it was work, work, work, and then a return to the deep chill. I feel a cold coming on now, though - all these changes in environment are very bad for one's health... Next week's excuse coming along nicely!
;oD
Today's stats:
Cycling - 6.6 miles, 38 mins
This week has gone remarkably well (clue: this statement meets all the requirements of what is known as "sarcasm"). Even after I actually went out jogging (in the actual outside world) - see http://reluctantrunnerdiary.blogspot.co.uk/.
Here we are at Friday already, only 1 day to go, and have 25+ km to go in order to reach this week's 35km target (note shift away from 5km per day concept - yes, well, I hurt my leg, and so forth). Bit of a challenge there... Which is a good thing, of course... But then so is sleep...
Yet another Friday evening spent in the gym - not even The Terminator to keep me company this week - desperately trying to get some decent miles in...
Slogged my way through a very quick bike ride (maybe went to the gym a bit late... maybe didn't quite have enough time to do all the miles that I wanted to).... Must remember to be careful sitting down tomorrow!
Unfortunately, I still have another 15km to get through before the end of Saturday... Must remember to not fall so far behind again.
In other news, I am overjoyed to be home after getting on for 5 days away from home... I'm sure that such things would be pleasant if they involved sunshine and Long Island Iced Teas... But it was work, work, work, and then a return to the deep chill. I feel a cold coming on now, though - all these changes in environment are very bad for one's health... Next week's excuse coming along nicely!
;oD
Today's stats:
Cycling - 6.6 miles, 38 mins
39. The blind leading the blind
Well, it's official, the nights are drawing in... And, ooh, it's getting chilly in the evening, isn't it?
All this means that getting out for a jog (let's be honest, there's no real running going on) is becoming trickier. Particularly when I find myself stranded in the country.
Oh, yes, I'm sure the scenic views are lovely, and the wide-open spaces are enjoyable, but really, what is it that the countryside residents have against streetlights?! Hmmm??
You try jogging along a rather uneven pavement (which ends somewhere ahead of you although you're not sure where) - believe me, the fear of the black unknown ahead of you slows your pace down to a crawl. Not to mention the danger inherent in being blinded every couple of minutes as a car zooms past you (admittedly also lighting up the road ahead: if only you could see past the glare).
Fun it's not. Even walking quickly is a test of one's nerves.
Note to self: remember that night falls by around 8pm once you hit September - stay in hotels in civilised locations from then on!
Oh, and 5x50 Challenge? Yes, well, got a lot of catching up to do ("daily" apparently no longer includes Sundays, Wednesdays or Thursdays...). Hey, ho...
:o)
Monday's stats:
Walking - 1.71 miles, 29 mins
All this means that getting out for a jog (let's be honest, there's no real running going on) is becoming trickier. Particularly when I find myself stranded in the country.
Oh, yes, I'm sure the scenic views are lovely, and the wide-open spaces are enjoyable, but really, what is it that the countryside residents have against streetlights?! Hmmm??
You try jogging along a rather uneven pavement (which ends somewhere ahead of you although you're not sure where) - believe me, the fear of the black unknown ahead of you slows your pace down to a crawl. Not to mention the danger inherent in being blinded every couple of minutes as a car zooms past you (admittedly also lighting up the road ahead: if only you could see past the glare).
Fun it's not. Even walking quickly is a test of one's nerves.
Note to self: remember that night falls by around 8pm once you hit September - stay in hotels in civilised locations from then on!
Oh, and 5x50 Challenge? Yes, well, got a lot of catching up to do ("daily" apparently no longer includes Sundays, Wednesdays or Thursdays...). Hey, ho...
:o)
Monday's stats:
Walking - 1.71 miles, 29 mins
Sunday, 16 September 2012
38. Balance and bimble and burn
Oof!
Made up my 5x50 kms today - hit 36kms for the week. Yay!
I have to report that the gym is heavily under-utilised from around 9pm of a Friday and Saturday evening... Can't think why - but works for me!
Rest of the day was lost to the trauma of trying to decide where to go on holiday on my own... Cycling in Cuba? Island-hopping in the French Antilles? Journeying through Belize? Circling Sri Lanka, including by train? Decisions, decisions... Or rather general lack there of.
I want to do all of them - but apparently I can't. And I don't want to do any of them on my own - but apparently I have to.
Boo!
Still - I guess that it's a good problem to have.... Although it probably would have been more productive to do the washing up...
Dull!
;oD
Saturday's stats:
Bodubalance - 1 hour
Walking - 1.73 miles, 29 mins
Cross-trainer (on gym) - 23 mins, 3.2 miles
Made up my 5x50 kms today - hit 36kms for the week. Yay!
I have to report that the gym is heavily under-utilised from around 9pm of a Friday and Saturday evening... Can't think why - but works for me!
Rest of the day was lost to the trauma of trying to decide where to go on holiday on my own... Cycling in Cuba? Island-hopping in the French Antilles? Journeying through Belize? Circling Sri Lanka, including by train? Decisions, decisions... Or rather general lack there of.
I want to do all of them - but apparently I can't. And I don't want to do any of them on my own - but apparently I have to.
Boo!
Still - I guess that it's a good problem to have.... Although it probably would have been more productive to do the washing up...
Dull!
;oD
Saturday's stats:
Bodubalance - 1 hour
Walking - 1.73 miles, 29 mins
Cross-trainer (on gym) - 23 mins, 3.2 miles
37. The challenges associated with sitting down
Ah, yes... I'd forgotten about that....
I like cycling. I also like sitting down without pain. Sadly, there are somewhat mutually exclusive likes.... Might lay of the cycling for a bit - I know that one can build up tolerance/immunity (how? why? Never quite understood that...) but not in the space of a single week, I think...
And I am rather fond of sitting down in comfort...
Still, very nearly back on track - 28-ish kilometres completed in-week. Just need to do the final 7 and then try not to get myself in this position again next week...
Oh, and I haven't forgotten that I was going to write something about the Paralympics - just haven't got around to it yet... Will be next weekend at this rate - but, worth waiting for, surely...?!
:o)
Friday's stats:
Cycling (on gym) - 30 minutes, 5 miles
I like cycling. I also like sitting down without pain. Sadly, there are somewhat mutually exclusive likes.... Might lay of the cycling for a bit - I know that one can build up tolerance/immunity (how? why? Never quite understood that...) but not in the space of a single week, I think...
And I am rather fond of sitting down in comfort...
Still, very nearly back on track - 28-ish kilometres completed in-week. Just need to do the final 7 and then try not to get myself in this position again next week...
Oh, and I haven't forgotten that I was going to write something about the Paralympics - just haven't got around to it yet... Will be next weekend at this rate - but, worth waiting for, surely...?!
:o)
Friday's stats:
Cycling (on gym) - 30 minutes, 5 miles
Thursday, 13 September 2012
36. Spreadsheet analysis
I usually love "Location, Location, Location". And Kirsty and Phil. But tonight.... Really aggravating!
Why?
Point 1: it is not actually de facto a sign of maturity ("growing up") that you decide to have children and thus move to a village in the country - it is quite possible to raise children in a town environment or even *gasp* a city. Some people don't like villages. There is not intrinsic link there with adulthood, Kirsty, thank you very much!!
Point 2: just because people are accountants, it does not actually follow that they love spreadsheets - they may hold a deep affection for abacuses, I don't know. But, either way, commenting once that the couple being assisted are "spreadsheet-loving accountants" is one thing: to do so in every, every single link is quite another. Did they think we'd forgotten? Could they genuinely not come up with something else that accountants might like (off the top of my head, numbers and balance sheets, just for an example)?! Lazy and infuriating television: Kirsty, don't do this again - you have been warned!!
Apart from that, catching up on my "5 km a day" target (more of a "35 km a week" target now) with a swift cycle in the gym (cold, wet and blustery outside - no). Which I enjoyed - easier than running, legs hurt no worse at the end than the start (although they were slightly befuddled) - all good. Yay for cycling! Although, doubtless I would have enjoyed it less if I was trying to drag myself (and the bike) uphill - but that's a challenge for another day...
Sadly, had to miss TBT today as it wouldn't all fit in... And my next opportunity to test out the new instructor will be October! But these things happen... Don't want to over-train (*tee-hee*)...
:o)
Latest stats:
Cycling (on gym) - 38 minutes, 6 miles
Why?
Point 1: it is not actually de facto a sign of maturity ("growing up") that you decide to have children and thus move to a village in the country - it is quite possible to raise children in a town environment or even *gasp* a city. Some people don't like villages. There is not intrinsic link there with adulthood, Kirsty, thank you very much!!
Point 2: just because people are accountants, it does not actually follow that they love spreadsheets - they may hold a deep affection for abacuses, I don't know. But, either way, commenting once that the couple being assisted are "spreadsheet-loving accountants" is one thing: to do so in every, every single link is quite another. Did they think we'd forgotten? Could they genuinely not come up with something else that accountants might like (off the top of my head, numbers and balance sheets, just for an example)?! Lazy and infuriating television: Kirsty, don't do this again - you have been warned!!
Apart from that, catching up on my "5 km a day" target (more of a "35 km a week" target now) with a swift cycle in the gym (cold, wet and blustery outside - no). Which I enjoyed - easier than running, legs hurt no worse at the end than the start (although they were slightly befuddled) - all good. Yay for cycling! Although, doubtless I would have enjoyed it less if I was trying to drag myself (and the bike) uphill - but that's a challenge for another day...
Sadly, had to miss TBT today as it wouldn't all fit in... And my next opportunity to test out the new instructor will be October! But these things happen... Don't want to over-train (*tee-hee*)...
:o)
Latest stats:
Cycling (on gym) - 38 minutes, 6 miles
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
35. 5x50 Challenge
Aaaannnnnnd, we're back!
Yes indeedy, rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated (honest!).
After a quick trip to the Paralympics (more on that later), from 9th September I have been taking part in the "5x50" Challenge. Sort of...
Day 1 was 5km on the treadmill (see other blog). Which was OK, except my leg hurt at the end of it. And the next day (= nothing achieved on Day 2), and the next (= nothing achieved on Day 3).... Well, this is going well...!
Luckily, this isn't a running challenge per se, as I can run, walk, jog or cycle my daily 5km.... So today I went off on an extended wander (as quickly as possible) to try to fall no further behind... Not sure how I'm going to make up my missing 10km, but I'm sure that it'll be possible. As long as the leg cooperates...
Hmph.
:o)
Latest stats:
Walking - 55 minutes, 3.31 miles
Yes indeedy, rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated (honest!).
After a quick trip to the Paralympics (more on that later), from 9th September I have been taking part in the "5x50" Challenge. Sort of...
Day 1 was 5km on the treadmill (see other blog). Which was OK, except my leg hurt at the end of it. And the next day (= nothing achieved on Day 2), and the next (= nothing achieved on Day 3).... Well, this is going well...!
Luckily, this isn't a running challenge per se, as I can run, walk, jog or cycle my daily 5km.... So today I went off on an extended wander (as quickly as possible) to try to fall no further behind... Not sure how I'm going to make up my missing 10km, but I'm sure that it'll be possible. As long as the leg cooperates...
Hmph.
:o)
Latest stats:
Walking - 55 minutes, 3.31 miles
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