163. Night of the triffids

In between desperate attempts to continue exercising (and cut down on the eating which requires the exercising) I have been attempting to improve the house situation. Specifically tidy, clean, tidy, clean and then some more tidying. Because my house needs it and the previous strategy of doing all the tidying and clean in one big session has proved to be flawed (I'd rather watch TV). And because house elves remain disappointingly imaginary.

So in other exciting news I have to report that outside the house is also in need of this tidy/clean strategy. Because the triffids are back. And they're bigger... In fact, my back garden (which is a slight exaggeration, as even the estate agents referred to it as an "outside space") currently looks like a set from Jurassic Park. The triffids are not only sprouting like, erm, weeds, but their leaves are HUGE. Frankly, they're intimidating. The gardening gloves have been found, and if it ever stops raining, the triffids will have to go! Assuming that they don't eat me...

Finally, in positive news, I have now WD40-ed the hinges on all the doors downstairs and it suddenly no longer sounds like I'm living in the haunted house on the hill. You know, the one with the resident Igor. Anyway, thanks to the powers of WD40 I have moved out of said house and am now in a nice modern abode. Magic!

:o)

Today's stats
Zumba - 1 hour [wiggle, wiggle]

162. Days of future past

Well, I managed another round of Bodypump and Bodybalance today, with a bit less (to date) trauma to the muscles being forced to work themselves out. Largely due to the fact that I reduced the weights on the bar for Bodypump - although, realistically doing the class with just the bar is probably what my arms would prefer.

Thereafter I took my puny T-Rex arms out to the cinema (yes, there were an awful lot more hours in the day, but I spent them mostly snoozing) to enjoy the latest X-Men film. Which I duly did, and this is a good thing, as the trauma of X-Men: The Last Stand still resonates...

Otherwise I've done very little on the exercise front. Plenty of work, a bit of sleeping, devouring whole families of donoughts (oops!)... And then there's the peanut-butter ice cream... I rather fear that I'm busy undoing all the good work achieved during the 5x50. Plus, Boris looks slightly bored...

I have a vague plan to get back doing some regular exercise. I quite like plans of the vague variety - commitment is a big and scary thing. So I think I'll leave it there for the moment - I probably should be doing more exercise, and, hey, I've sort of got a plan for that. If it ever stops raining.

:o)

Today's stats
Bodypump - 1 hour [never mind my arms, listen to the mighty roar!]
Bodybalance - 1 hour [a lot more sitting down this week - much better than the falling down of last week!]

161. Freedom!

Boris is back in the house! And out of the box! And all put back together!! Hopefully this will make the "Free Boris" campaign members happy and allow them to move on with other, uh, productive activities...

It does appear that Boris did not fare so well being shipped back home from London last year. Apparently his mud guards were badly bent (and had to be re-shaped), his front big chain ring was badly damaged with 4 damaged and folded-over teeth (which had to be filed down so that the chain would run again), and he had lost all sorts of washers and bolts. Since any or all of this would have confused me utterly, I stand by my decision to take Boris back to the shop and have a professional reassemble him.

Boris is now battle-scarred and battle-hardened. He is new and improved, too: new orange reflectors (we sneer in the face of the old white ones); a new working bell, which I didn't even pay for!! He may look similar to the shiny new Boris who joined the household last year (original tyres re-fitted), but he's a whole new animal... In a way...

Any day now, he may even venture outside the house to try out all this restored functionality. Maybe. No promises.

The puny T-Rex arms are still complaining about Saturday's exercise-fest and so I'm applying much chocolate to assist in the healing process. This is unlikely to end well....

(^_^)


Today's stats
Absolutely nothing - arms not working is quite debilitating, it appears...

160. Balancing act

A nice 2-week break must eventually come to an end. Or it's not a break but a life of sloth and inactivity. Apparently there's a law against such things, or something.

Anyway, I decided to leap back into the exercise fray with a return to exercise classes (long overdue). Starting with back-to-back Bodypump and Bodybalance. Which, on reflection, was perhaps not the easiest way either to re-start exercising or do either of the classes. Still, if you're going to do something, do it the hard way - this is not my motto, but realistically it perhaps should be...

Bodypump - my weak and feeble T-Rex arms made it about half-way through the class before they wilted, with one of them pretty much giving up altogether. It's somewhat embarrassing in what is essentially a weight-lifting class to be incapable of lifting anything let alone weights - however, hand-held weights can hide this fact, I've discovered.

Bodybalance - having tightened up all my muscles (and rendered some of them inoperative) I then spent an hour trying to show off my non-existent flexibility and flow like the wind on one foot while twisting myself into the shape of a tree. It went about as well as it sounds: I've been away too long; I have no balance; knackering my muscles with weights just meant that I livened up the class by falling over stuck mid-pretzel. Luckily I bounced, but still.

So, obviously, I have to go to both classes more often. Starting next week. Although this does have a downside: based on today's results I can only go to Bodypump at least when I will not actually have to use my arms for the rest of the day, and in particular will not have to raise my arms above shoulder height. Because that's not currently an option on this model.

Note to self - move all critical items below shoulder-height before next Saturday.

(^_^)

Today's stats
Bodypump - 1 hour [ye Gods]
Bodybalance - 1 hour [flail, flail, oof]
Walking - 41 mins, 2.34 miles [out...]
Walking - 39 mins, 2.04 miles [and back again. By some magically shorter route...]

159. Broken news

After nearly a week of babying my knees, they seem to have nearly decided to return to normal. Still a little stiff, but no return to agony of Sunday night and so a return to exercise must be at least planned...

Not least as I have been applying the little-known "junk food" recovery method. Which pretty much involves lolling around on the sofa and eating any cakes or high-fat food (mmm, pizza!) that appears before me (as if by magic!). I am convinced that this method was a crucial element in assisting my knees to return to normal (or at least it can't have hurt), but it does rather mean that I've spent one week carefully undoing the work of the previous 7. Meh.

I was supposed to be doing a half-marathon today... But my knees, you know, wouldn't have been a good idea. And then there is the weather aspect - torrential rain all day. Nice running weather, I'm sure, but not for me. And then there's the whole "I didn't do any running training" issue... I mean, really, it just wasn't a good idea. Although, of course, I'm simply devastated not to be taking part. Devastated...

In other news (brace yourselves) - Boris is in the bicycle shop! Yes, that's right, he's no longer cowering in his box in the hall, he is now, um, cowering in his box elsewhere! Even better, he's there to be freed, freed from his soulless prison, and unleashed on the world once more. And all for the terribly reasonable price of about £100. (@_@) Well, it was that or risk a breakdown, and one can't really put a price on one's (mental) health, can one..? (OK, yes, £100, but apart from that...). Anyway, within the next week Boris will be back in one piece and ready to roll!

That's all the news at the moment - off to do some more housework (because I'm supposed to be doing some paid work) - onward!

:o)

Today's stats
Nothing. Not a darn thing. Bliss...

158. And now, the end is here

And on Sunday 18th May 2014 it came to pass that the 2014 5x50 Challenge did end.

Going out with a bang, I walked 5 miles, flush with success (actually did something every day of the Challenge this year!) and chock-full of fitness and vigour. Which heady sense of triumph lasted for about an hour, and then my knees started hurting...

I write this seated, but I shan't be seated for long as it's rather painful. Yes, on my first day of rest in 50 days I have knees that aren't fond of standing and are positively against sitting (the bending, you know, not a core function of knees, apparently). And so my day of rest has been spent whimpering in pain and shuffling around like a geriatric.

Exercise, it's bad for you -but then, we knew that already, eh?

Still, I've had the chance to break out the Biofreeze again and so now smell both of mint and menthol (which isn't that unpleasant), and it does appear that the pain has now reduced sufficiently that I might actually get some sleep tonight.

Repeat after me - virtue is its own reward...

(@_*)

Sunday's stats
Walking - 1 hour 14 mins, 5 miles [all good until...]

157. Bridges and doughnuts

This week has been something of a trial. Of a particularly tasty kind. Because, dear reader, it has been National Doughnut Week. Now, I have never before heard of such a thing (do doughnuts really care if they get their own week? And, isn't it a bit wrong to have a celebratory week which mostly involves destroying the very thing that you're celebrating??). But this did not stop everyone I work with embracing the week with gusto.

Now, I love doughnuts. But even I can see that an entire week of daily doughnuts might have the odd downside. Not that this stopped me from joining the celebrations: well, one does occasionally have to be sociable...

So the 5x50 exercising this week has had a somewhat desperate anti-doughnut feel to it. And on Friday it turned into a team event as we gathered together at lunchtime (daylight!) for a walk across the bridge and back. Which was actually quite good fun (I can recommend) and blessed with good weather (sunshine!). A bit slow (the pace had to accommodate walking AND talking - and challenge indeed!), but speed as ever is not my goal (just as well really).

However, the downside to all this exercise in the sunshine (and there has to be one) is that I now resemble a rather pink panda. It appears that I can spend a week in Dubai and now create silly tan lines, but one hour in the exceedingly rare sunshine at home and I have tanned myself some goggles.

Lovely!

:o)

Today's stats
Walking - 1 hour 1 min, 4.01 miles [better than nothing]

Friday's stats
Walking - 1 hours 7 mins, 3.46 miles [team walk over the bridge and back again!]

156. Boxes and windows

For those paying attention to the last blog, I can confirm with some authority that a complimentary glass of Cava offered on arrival can very nearly cure all ills. I was exceedingly annoyed by the whole check-in process (people requesting and then wandering off with my passport - why??) but that all... Went away when the free Cava came out. Take note hotels - free fizzy wine is the true answer to your customer service problems, and not a load of sincere people apologising.

Fewer apologies, more fizzy wine - this is my new policy. *hic*

In other news, as the weather turns to the summer (at least in terms of hours of daylight) I am conscious that the "ideal conditions for cycling" window is opening. And yet, poor Boris is still in his box... Really should do something about that. You know, soon. Ish.

Before you get too excited, I should point out that the Council has once again proved its deep and abiding hatred of me and once again put long-term roadworks on my cycle route to work (what is the point in having a dedicated cycle path if it's shut whenever I might want to use it?!). This means that, should Boris ever escape his box, my 15-mile route to work will once again be 17 miles (including diversion for roadworks). Pretty much the definition of motivational, that.

Still, there is little point in having a bike in bits. Plus it's cluttering up the hall... Should anyone wish to support the "Free Boris" campaign - you should note that bribery is always an acceptable option.

;oD

Today's stats

Cycling (in gym) - 47 mins, 10 miles [(proper) Level 5, oof!]

Wednesday's stats

Walking - 59 mins, 3.99 miles [so close! But no 4 mile cigar...]

Tuesday's stats

Walking - 52 mins, 3.41 miles [tired, very tired]

Monday's stats
Zumba - 1 hour [wiggling it]

155. Strange hotel trends

Right, well, this might be completely off-topic, but...

Having spent a week in a hotel room recently (ah, the heat! The sunshine! The lack of housework!!), and, in deed, regularly being stuck in hotel rooms for work... There is a worrying trend appearing. The posher the hotel, the stranger the things that they provide in your room as standard.

I mean, I can get by in a hotel without a towelling robe: it's nice when one is provided, but I don't go looking for it. Towels are fairly fundamental; a bed really gives the whole thing a purpose; and soap and shampoo are really expected. The towelling slippers that you always get with said robe, though - totally useless. Anyway, hotel provides a towelling robe (and stupid slippers), this is a nice treat: however, such hotels now seem to think that if you're going to like a robe then you're going to LOVE a set of scales.

I don't know about you, but nothing says "luxury visit to a quality hotel" like a set of scales in the bathroom. No, really. Home from home indeed. And that takes us to our next point: you find a set of scales in a bathroom - why, why, why do you always have to try them out? It's not like they're toys - they are instruments of torture and doom (or, carefully calibrated measuring devices - depends on your point of view)!

So, there you go, then - thinks to think on when next you find yourself in a hotel bathroom...

:o)

Today's stats

Walking - 56 mins, 3.3 miles [in the sunshine! The shock, the shock...]

Wednesday's stats

Walking - 50 mins, 3.32 miles [couldn't be bothered]

Tuesday's stats

Walking - 56 mins, 3.69 miles [vaguely trying to walk further - very vaguely...]

154. Acclimatising

Am getting quite tired of this 5x50 nonsense. I want a day off! I'm sure that this constant exercise is doing me some good (well, I certainly hope it is otherwise why? Why??!) but I am starting to dream desperately of a day without the the constant nagging sense that I have 5k yet to do and time is running out.

Obviously getting up and doing some exercise before work would get rid of this problem, but really, there are limits to what is possible. I am not a morning person. Getting out of bed early to go and do some exercise before going to work is always trumped by staying in bed a bit longer and snoozing. Always. On holiday, I did try to get up early (when it was cooler) but this was foiled daily by the thought of just another 10 minutes snoozing...

In other news, I am slowly regaining hearing in my right ear (which is good as otherwise work tomorrow would be rather embarrassing). And I am no longer shivering with cold. This may be because the local weather has ceased dropping to winter temperatures, but it could also be because I am re-acclimatising to the chill. This is probably a good thing (there's no need to be used to living in Dubai-style temperatures when you, erm, don't). Still, a little more warmth and sunshine generally wouldn't hurt.

Except when I'm training, of course. I have discovered that I need the cooler temperatures to do any exercise at anything resembling speed. Always finding new limitations to this "getting off the sofa" lark...

:o)

Today's stats

Cycling (in gym) - 40 mins, 8 miles [Level 5, trying to step up a gear. Without there actually being gears...]

Sunday's stats

Walking - 50 mins, 3.4 miles [seem to have finally picked up some speed...]

153. A sudden chill

I took myself off last week for a week-long break in Dubai. Which was lovely. Relaxing. Sunny. And very, very hot. Over 30 degrees C every day all day. Actually a bit too hot for my fragile self, but I managed to cope just the same and conduct much sun-worship.

Then I came home. To a land 20 degrees colder. OK, some of this might have been jet-lag, but I have been cold for the past three days. Deep-down, turn-the-heating-on, where-did-spring-go cold. To the point that I haven't been to the gym (house to cold to get changed into gym clothes) and have had to wear gloves to venture outside for my walk. I never wear gloves. This is quite unexpectedly irritating. It was nice and warmly spring-like when I left - I have no idea what happened in the intervening week, but I want it to stop now!

On top of that I have been lumbered with the now-traditional ear problems that occur post sunshine holiday. Always, right at the end of the holiday, one ear suddenly decides that it doesn't like being submerged in water on a daily basis and ceases to function. Which makes travelling home awkward (can't hear what all the officials at the airport are saying to me, making me look either awkward or just plain dim), and is not helped by the flying. Situation has yet to resolve itself, which means I'm saying "eh?" a lot and looking confused when people talk to me.

So, all in all, not only is exercise bad for you (give me enough time and I'll make my continuing adherence to the 5x50 challenge responsible for all these ills), but so are holidays. Particularly sunny ones...

*sigh*

:o}

Today's stats

Walking - 49 mins, 3.29 miles [glove-free! Acclimatising slowly to the arctic blast.]

Friday's stats

Walking - 52 mins, 3.3 miles [still walking with gloves on...]

Thursday's stats

Walking - 52 mins, 3.34 miles [stumbling through the cold in gloves and ski jacket]

152. Flattering to deceive

Trying out a new gym currently - variety being the spice of life and generally making things more, em, variable. It's quite nice, and staffed by some lovely people (staff! In a gym! The luxury!!). But...

Was cycling today (variety, etc, etc) and for a few moments thought that I had broken new ground in terms of my fitness. The distance I "travelled" in 30 mins? 11.31. Crikey. That's not too shabby, thought I. OK, the bike didn't seem like hard work (I've come to the conclusion that all of the equipment in my usual gym is either old or hard-core as it's always more taxing than "reality"), but that was pretty good going nonetheless. Go me!

Then I took the prudent step of asking the staff whether the distance shown on the bike was in miles or kilometres. After some 'phone calls (!) it turns out that it's in kilometres. Alrighty, then. Not quite so impressive... Although that's still around 7 miles in the time it normally takes me to do 5.5. Yay! Tempered by my previous comment re the fact that the resistance seemed quite puny for he stated level. Hey, ho...

Oh, and in case anyone thinks that Herbert has been forgotten - not so! I have already spotted a vertical Herbert on my travels (with a curious split between his lower and upper body - that had to have hurt) and am keeping my eagle eye out for more variations... I could write a book on this, all going well...

;o)

Today's stats

Cycling (in gym) - 30 mins, ~7 miles ["Level 7" apparently...]

Friday's stats

Walking - 1 hour 2 mins, 3.29 miles [yes, well, hmmm... I was tired?]

151. The hapless Herbert

Today, for reasons I shan't dwell on, I had to walk around various car parks. Repeatedly. In a very limited window of opportunity. It's nto that this was dull, per se, but I do find it eastier to walk out and back in a big circle rather than round and round until I've made enough miles. It's a bit more... Absolute. Once you're halfway out you might as well follow the route back; whereas whilst doing circles you are ever tempted with the end point passing before you over and over again. Annyway, not the most fun i've ever had, but still a tick on a tricky day.

Interesting things were noted, however.I mean it wasn;t all rotating cars. For example, if you've noted the sudden trend to identify pavements by painting a, well, representation of a walking person on them? In white? Mostly resembling a two-year-old's drawing of a stick man rather than an actual walking person? Anyway, the car parks were littered with such poor stepped-upon people. I believe that we shall name them "Herbert" (and why not?) and quietly pity them without doing anything to relieve their pain... Anyway, my point is, based on extensive study made today, I have ground-breaking news for you.

Herbert comes in more than one form! There is the classic - 2 straight arms, 2 straight legs, resembles a crime scene chalk outline more than a walking person. And, AND... There is the "action" variant - one straight leg, one leg bent at the knee, 2 bent arms, definite forward motion happening. Herbert comes in both classic and action variants!! The excitement nearly killed me this morning, I can tell you! 

Well, yes, OK, I was a little bored this morning. But still - am now intrigued by the Herbert variants and shall be keeping an eye out for more (rather than just stomping him into the ground at pace as I usually do... Oh, the shame!).

(^_-)

Today's stats

Walking - 57 mins, 3.18 miles [not at all assisted by lugging around a hefty backpack]

150. Habit-forming

I am now in the "zone". All this relentless (daily!) exercise is supposed to be a habit now. At some point between 19 and 21 days (precisely) I am to have turned an occasional pursuit into a consistent habit and thus CHANGED MY LIFE!

Uh-huh.

Sadly, I must report that I spend much of my time longing for a rest day. Admittedly, I suspect that rest days are not supposed to be "do nothing" days, but that is how I've always viewed them and they were good. So very, very good...

However, I continue to lead from the front, put my body on the line, break new trails, etc, etc, etc, yawn. I am on track with the whole "daily" element of the 5x50 to date. Although there are a few tricky days ahead, I remain committed to the cause.

But I fully expect to spend May 19th ensconced on my sofa sobbing with delight that the trauma is over. Which, frankly, is more likely to be a habit I form than daily exercise...

:o)

Today's stats
Cycling (in gym) - 37 mins, 7 miles [Level 5, pushing on]

Sunday's stats
Walking - 48 mins, 3.17 miles [mysteriously shorter walk...]

149. Goooood Friday!

Well, yes, OK, it's Saturday, but I did mean to write something on Friday and the title was too good to pass up... Such re-interpretation of reality is the prerogative of a writer, dontcha know?

So what have I been up to? Well...

On Thursday I woke up tired after baking late into the night, and the first thing that I did was rustle up some butter icing for said cakes... Then put in a full day of work (which included the selling of said cakes - for charity). Returned home even more tired than when I woke up, discovered the downside of making butter icing in a hurry before one has to go to work (i.e. a kitchen in desperate need of house elves, lightly dusted in a film of icing sugar) and promptly left home again to do a 5km walk. Which was more of a zombie shuffle than an actual walk, but I mustn't grumble as it kept me on track with the 5x50 lark.

Friday involved much sleeping, and then (after a lovely day of sunshine which I saw little of) I managed to not get to the gym (bit of a feat that - I had all day) and went for another walk once the sun had set. Over the same route as Thursday. Which had mysteriously shrunk by 0.11 miles overnight - fascinating fact!

Today has been very like Friday (although I've been a bit more awake). Sleep, read, think about doing some housework, go for another sleep instead, read... Although I did manage to drag myself to the gym today which I think shows progress. In some way. Not having to drag myself (which is an interesting feat, involving much flexibility - must start doing Pilates again) would probably be a bigger sign of progress... I'm fairly sure that I've now done enough days that I should have "changed my habits for a lifetime" and now have regular exercise feature in my life as something I enjoy doing. Ah-ha.

I rather sense that, as usual, I shall prove to be a statistical outlier and be the exception that proves that little rule. But, let's not be hasty - there are a whole 30 days to go before the Challenge can be deemed a success or failure... First thing I'm doing it having a day off (probably not really the right attitude, but there you go).

:o)

Today's stats
Cycling (in gym) - 37 mins, 7 miles [Level 5, returning to form]

Friday's stats
Walking - 51 mins, 3.33 miles [mysteriously shorter walk...]

Thursday's stats
Walking - 54 mins, 3.44 miles [Must. Eat. Brains!]

148. Spring madness

Well, today has taught us that training should involve more Zumba, frankly. Toddled to the gym, absolutely shattered: suddenly discovered an increased speediness once actually on the bike and the rest is history (if only history aged by about 2 hours). Quite strange, really...

Other strangeness today: the gym was jumping! It's been a lovely sunny and relatively warm day today, and so you'd think that people would have gone outside for their exercise... But no! They gym's the place to be on a  lovely spring evening, apparently. And not just people who need to be in the gym (ah, that would be me), desperately trying to reach a variety of ridiculous goals. No, fit people. People who, frankly, did not look like they needed to be there! Quite, quite strange...

Today was also the day that I passed through 100km logged against the 5x50 Challenge. Which is nice. 2.5 weeks in, not bad going. Only 4.5 weeks to go... *sigh*

:o)

Today's stats
Cycling (in gym) - 30 mins, 5.8 miles [Level 5, sudden burst of speed!]

147. Ho, hum, rambling on

Ah, yes, where was I? Which is a ridiculous question, really, as I obviously know fine well where I was, and what I really mean is "oops, I'm a bit behind in this blogging lark". Which you, dear reader (hello?) will already know without me pointing it out.

Anyway, moving things on - well, it's been fun and games in the past week. Much wine of a fizzy nature has been consumed (the rest safely stored in my fridge which means the fridge is having to work for its living for the first time in a good while). Much gallivanting about has been undertaken. And every day I've still managed to force myself to undertake my required 5km (or equivalent minimum 30 mins of exercise). Result!

Not only that, but the young woman serving me in the shop on Sunday night attempted to verify my age before serving me. I say "attempted to" because the man standing next to her tried everything (including arm-waving) to stop her from asking. Admittedly, she was obviously new to the job, and not the brightest penny, but still... I thanked her kindly for the (attempted) question.

Other than that... KT gifted me with a multi-tool for the purposes of extracting one bike (Boris) from his box/prison. It will be obvious to you that KT is a staunch member (the only member?) of the "Free Boris" campaign. Bikes, apparently, don't belong in boxes. Personally I think my good chum Boris is quite comfy in his box, but what would I know? I shall have to address this soon, obviously, or KT shall become cross...

:o)

Monday's stats
Class - Zumba - 60 mins [salsa to the beat!]

Saturday's stats
Walking - 53 mins, 3.38 miles [stomp, stomp, stomp]


Friday's stats
Cycling (in gym) - 30 mins, 5.5 miles [Level 5 - pushing...]

146. Stepping up a gear

Well, after a week of fun, frolics, and sightings of the lesser-spotted tram... Now it's time for things to step up a gear.

For the easily concerned, I have still been keeping up with my 5k-a-day, although it has been tricky at times... I flew out and back in a day on Wednesday, and then had to go out to fit my 5km walk in - nothing like pounding the city streets at gone 11pm having been up since 6am. Quite the tonic. In a way.

And I am easily talked out of attempting any outside activities except walking... Too easily! From now on, it's time to get hard core about this training lark! Grr!!!

Or something. I'm not sure how long this "motivated" streak will last... Quite possibly right until the next time I have to do a 5km whatever... Still, enjoy it while you can, that's my motto. No, really, it is - anyone who suggests that it's "I'd rather be reading than doing any of this exercise nonsense" is misleading you...

Although, I do now have a rather impressive collection of Amazon vouchers to my name, and the world of book-buying stretches before me with much temptation... Must. Be. Strong...

:o)


Wednesday's stats
Walking - 51 mins, 3.39 miles [this was tricky]


Tuesday's stats
Cycling (in gym) - 30 mins, 5.5 miles [Level 5 - pushing on to get back to where I was...]

145. Walking to victory

Well, now, that was a weekend and a half!

Had a bit of a party on Saturday night, which made fitting in the requisite 5km per day trickier than usual... And, frankly, Saturday's party destroyed me for Sunday: quite how I got up the energy to leave the house let alone stumble through 5km is beyond me. I think that I should get extra points for that rather slow, desperate ramble. Feeling a bit perkier today, but still... It's true enough - everything good comes at a high price!

Must get back in the gym, though, and start ramping up the miles. I am still signed up to run (ha!) a half-marathon in May, and training to date has been quite insufficient to that need... Not least the distinct lack of running!

In other news, it was sunny when I left work today, which was something of a shock. Not only still light when I left work, but actually sunny! A brave new dawn is upon us, my people...

;o)

Monday's stats
Walking - 53 mins, 3.23 miles [Day 9 - bit bored of this now, need to get back in the gym!]

Sunday's stats
Walking - 55 mins, 3.2 miles [Day 8 - not entirely sure how I managed this.]

Saturday's stats
Walking - 43 mins, 2.74 miles [Day 7 - tick-ish. It was the best I could do in the time available!]
Walking - 18 mins, 1.13 miles [Day 7 - tick-ish. It was the best I could do in the time available!]

Friday's stats
Walking - 51 mins, 3.29 miles [Day 6 - tick.]

144. Back in the saddle

Once more unto the breach, dear friends!

Determined to keep the 5x50 stuff interesting I've been in the gym again: and back on a bike! For those invested in the "Free Boris" campaign, I sadly have to announce that this was a static bike and Boris' fate remains currently unchanged. For at least another week...

So after a solid 7 months away, what's the gym like? Well... Unchanged. All the machines are the same as they were and where they used to be. And the gym features an additional Terminator option (he's been there every night this week at the same time I have). In fact the realities of the gym are me, The Terminator, 2 iPods and some exercise machines. It's very nearly comforting to be back...

Although tonight The Terminator showed signs of weakness - he came off the cross-trainer (which he STILL doesn't use properly) and had to take a few minutes to catch his breath! Perhaps.... Perhaps his batteries have run down a bit with the general lack of recent sunshine?

Apart from that, little to report. 5x50 still on track (but it is only day 5 today) and I am looking forward to a day off... In 45 days time... *sigh*

:o)

Wednesday's stats
Cycling (in gym) - 30 mins, 5.5 miles [Level 4 - slowly ramping up...]

143. Finnegan begin again

*ahem* Ah, yes, where was I...?

Well, that was a full 7 (count 'em, 7!) months of exercise-free joy. The loafing! The eating! The time well spent lounging on the sofa! And, sadly, the steady increase in body weight...

All come to an end. *sob*

As of Sunday, I'm back on the treadmill (not yet literally) of the 5x50 Challenge. 50 days, 5km (or equivalent) per day - how hard can it be? Well, I guess it's all relative, particularly after 7 months off...

Not wanting to rush into things the first 2 days were spent walking (at pace) around and about. Sadly, the weather has launched into spring with plenty of haar and a sudden drop in temperature, and so I really would be best to confine myself to the gym for the next few days if I'm not to come down with a nice Victorian lung chill type thingy. Given the walking was at night in relatively poor weather, I have little to report beyond bemoaning once more the over-abundance of hills around where I live.

Oh, yes, and for those concerned about such things - I can confirm that Boris is still, sadly, in his box.

:o)

Sunday's stats
Walking - 54 mins, 3.37 miles [Day 1 - back in the, uh, saddle. Ish.]

Monday's stats
Walking - 51 mins, 3.29 miles [Day 2 - tick.]

142. And we're back...

Kind of...

Quick update:

1) Boris is still in his box. Bit worried that he's caught Aggie's problem, but as it's semi-permanently wet, windy and dark at the moment it's not as much of an issue as it would be if this were summer. Still, I can see someone starting up a "Free Boris the Bike" campaign if I don't release him soon...

2) I have (as I'm sure you suspected) done virtually no exercise since August (last year!). Oops. I have done 2 weddings and Christmas, read many books and consumed quite possibly my own body-weight in bad-for-you food. But, sadly, all good things really do come to an end. Particularly when the scales start sending you written warnings...

3) I liked the cycling stuff. I lack (currently) the engineering degree required to be entirely comfortable with it as yet, though. And so, while it is largely grim and gloomy I have returned to an activity appropriate to the conditions: that's right, we're back to running (and the other blog: here). Or, at least, that's the plan.

4) I have discovered a new core skill - making holes in plasterboard walls! On purpose! Technically, this was supposed to be me doing DIY, but in the end the main thing that I achieved was a lot of drilling holes in walls. And then filling them. And then sanding them. And then painting them. And then moving to a new place and starting all over again. It did, briefly, make exercise appear to be an attractive option... But I had some chocolate and the feeling passed.

:o)

Sunday's stats
Walking - 36 mins, 2 miles [off to lunch. Not at home. With other people!]
Walking -  36 mins, 2 miles [more rolling home than walking. Pasta-tastic!]