Running gadgets

Posted on July 17, 2013 by lindaharley

One of my best buds when I was training for the half-marathon was my iPod shuffle. Tiny little silver matchbox, with a huge capacity for storing music, able to skip, pause, and control volume from the control on the lead. I’d had it for years – only replaced the headphones for the first time about 4 weeks ago.  And they no longer make this model – the newer shuffle is a small square shape which has all its controls actually on eh device, not the leads.

I would carry it with me in a little black velvet bag.  I usually took it when travelling, or even on daily commutes if going by train.  So I took it with me to Paris last month.  And now I can’t find it.  It may well turn up in some forgotten corner of a suitcase, but meanwhile I’m using the music on my iPhone.  To do this more comfortably, I bought some new bits and bobs.

Flexible Arm-holder/ reflective armband

glossyboxjuly 012Unless you want to run carrying your phone in your hand, some sort of holder is essential.  I was previously using a pocket that clipped around my waist, but it was awkward to get the phone in and out, and consequently not great for making any adjustment en route.  I chose the black stretchy version as it would be easier to keep clean than the white leather one.  It was £7.99 in TKMaxx.  It’s hard to get the fit just right – my arm muscles aren’t very bulky, and the holder is inclined to slide down the arm and under my triceps after a while.  I also had to make an additional hole for the headphone socket on my iPhone 4.   But it’s pretty simple to operate through the plastic screen, which will speed up the time it takes me to get my music running, find MapMyRun and press Start, which usually costs me a few seconds at the start of Park Runs. And feeding the wires out the side of my top rather than down my front seems to prevent some tugging and pulling.   It also has a reflective strip, which isn’t so important in this sunshine, but will be a bonus on gloomy winter mornings.  I’d give it 3/5 for looks, and the same for performance.

Sharper Image Ear-clip Headphones

I loved the look of these, with the very sleek green/gold and black.  I was seduced by the word “sport” on the packaging, and intrigued by the shape, promising a better fit in my darned odd-shaped ears. At £5.99 from TKMaxx, they were worth a trial.

glossyboxjuly 010 I found it surprisingly easy to get these to fit snugly into my ears, and I admired them in the mirror before setting out on a run.  Sadly, about 2 miles in, they were slipping out of place, and I spent the rest of my run fiddling and adjusting them.  So, 5/5 for looks, but only 2/5 for performance.

Gummy Plus headphones, in white

As my husband pointed out, these were the only items on the rail in the shop with security tags, and indication that they must be attractive to shoplifters.  I’d also seen them recommended on MyFitnessPal and other running forums.  At £9.99 they weren’t the cheapest headphones by any means, but I liked the fact that they came with different sizes of ear-bud covers.  On a hot morning run, they stayed in place brilliantly with the smallest covers on, and they have the same pause/ next track functionality that I find essential. 3/5 for looks – boring white headphones – but 4.5/5 for performance.

Wristband

Running in warm weather, this is one  bit of kit I wont leave home without.  It’s very easy to wipe sweaty brows and upper lips while moving, and it also has a handy hidden inner for keys/poo bags/ emergency jelly beans.


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Coconut Water

This claims to be a great rehydrator, as well as containing essential electrolytes.  It’s quite pricey, but tastes good, not too sweet, and only 25 calories for a 330 ml carton.  I would buy this again, especially if the hot weather looks set to continue.

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Sun-block

Sadly, I managed to get badly sunburned at the weekend sitting in a friend’s garden.  I HAD put sun cream on the back of my neck, but obviously couldn’t reach down far enough (obvious now….).  So I now take no chances, and make sure I have  factor 50 slathered over my bare shoulders.

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What are your best tips for running in the heat?  And what are your favourite gadgets?

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Glossybox July 2013

Posted on July 16, 2013 by lindaharley

I was starting to get a bit concerned that my July box had gone astray, but apparently it’s always the middle of the month before they’re despatched. And an email confirming despatch is sent, which I like.

This month’s box is a bright turquoise, decorated with coral and starfish, and promised to contain some holiday must-haves.

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What was inside:

  • Alterna Haircare Bamboo Style Boho Waves Mist
  • Essie nails
  • Pout Paint lip gloss
  • Coola organic SPF 20 moisturiser.
  • Anatomicals Spray Misty For Me facial spritz.

So what did I think?

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The hair mist smells rather lovely, and gives a gentle tousled appearance without being too sticky or stiff.  I’m rather glad this was in my box, as I’ve mislaid the John Freida one I liked from the June box, and this is a handy handbag size.

Coola tinted moisturiser.  Always handy to have a face cream with an SPF, especially in the lovely sunshine we’ve been having lately! This smells a little like fake tanning lotion, but the coverage is good, and it is absorbed well into my skin.

Essie nails – not sure I’d ever use these, might be passed to daughter straight away.  My nails are very short and tend to split easily, and my fingers are rather short and stubby, so I try not to attract attention to them.

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Pout Paint in Peachy Keen and Minx.  I’m a lip balm queen.  I have countless tins and tubes on my desk at work, at home, in my handbag, in my travel bag, beside my bed.  So I was looking forward to trying these fun bright colours.  A little goes a very long way – seriously a pin-head sized blob is sufficient.  The colours were very odd – extremely bright, almost cartoon-ish.  Which is handy as I’m going to a fancy dress party as Daphne from Scooby Doo – the Minx shade is a lilac colour which will match the outfit.  The Peachy Keen was VERY orange, and made my teeth look yellow.  The texture was really sticky and unpleasant, and when on the lips, it took on a chalky dull appearance.  Disappointing.

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Facial spritz.  Possibly my favourite item in this month’s box, for the corny name if nothing else!  The blurb in the leaflet suggests that it would be good on flights: I dare say it would but I’m not sure how you’d get a liquid into your hand luggage!

So a bit of a wacky selection, but a couple have made their way into my handbag already.

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DLP – non park days

Posted on July 10, 2013 by lindaharley

Tickets for Disneyland Paris (DLP) are expensive, and it’s possible you may have one or two days when you want something else to do. If you’re lucky, your hotel might have a pool, but if you fancy going a bit further afield, the 2 best options are a trip into Paris itself, and a visit to the Val d’Europe shopping centre.

A Day in Paris

Travelling into the capital is fairly easy – the train station beside the park is on the RER A4 (red)  line which goes straight there.  Queues for the manned ticket desks can be quite long, but the automatic ticket machines are pretty straightforward and can be used in English.  You’ll need an RER ticket (about 9 euros each way), and it can be worth getting a carnet of 10 metro tickets to use when you’re in town (13.30 for 10).

64QXlNhTlD2HyfwmNQtqs4Ai8oft6DvsgFa66rOjC6M,xaFx7USxzhlGr-HEnypugAzTWU84QqhDBNN1G3-ltag,zq9P1neIF8UuYI3o8stBPXCzmqfNbxm-Y8j8KTPB3ss,bp3fqyPrWgKaYOMjs_dtDr1wIxcjLSicfAlXcimHHUk  Prepare yourself as you would for any big city notorious for pickpockets – keep your bags and valuables close to you, and watch out for strangers approaching you. Get off at Charles de Gaulle l’Etoile, and follow the brown signs to surface right in front of the Arc de Triomphe.

nPdTKfT7ZwQ3X4bofJSobmPt_5GzQ5ZEes5iSosi12M,Xz2e6BIqaQGvB0Rabn6_qsFvHemvrc6t_NeJaGh7wA4,aHygXRfJLiwfwNmC-JrNDbpHZclrFx2AGGpkuP_47MI,RkZlOT9L8a1GIeVbm7qyjrkUzXDFTJmqbjncsq-g0HQMarvel at the traffic whizzing about the world’s most famous roundabout, with some animal-like herding instincts telling them when to stop and go.  From there, take the metro line 6 down to Bir-Hakeim, for a great view of the Eiffel Tower as you cross the river.  Find a street side table for an al fresco  sit down over a beer or coffee, and admire the passing Parisians.

PRwEB-v39xBNnAPiTaky6KDYyXCl_naD01wJvJroBic,PG-GkF9PXvZErwvIvLKcrw4R1L8E9yZea4w_ODndgjc  Stroll along the river bank, unless you want to actually go up the tower.  I normally like hop-on-hop-off buses in new cities, but they’re very expensive in Paris (31 for one day).  A nicer alternative is the http://www.batobus.com, which for 15 euros allows you to hop on and off at 8 of the most popular stopping points, while giving you the classic views from the Seine. (Insert in-seine joke here).  Lm1YwaY9dxHmXo_17D8OIYJXW2BP51kCDddl1vUVaTU,_lmTTejFfO36GigAa_gX47y_50oxFv91p8E99HRbE0k

Get off at Notre-Dame, and walk around the detailed gothic magnificence.  At the back of the cathedral, cross the bridge to the Ile St Louis, and seek out Berthillon, one of the finest ice cream vendors on the planet.  Enjoy your glace while strolling the quieter streets in this district.QXXeNjsgCRf5GtW0bzRGdxN54x4H7nRr39OysO0cI3Y

crez6_3jc1DyVw5LmjZXusv4XU1woi5LPpfesGlLgr8,8OZPAmNUmHw35fzZNprAEz5qmYx6n9BG9pgWjEh1Ams  Free toilets are available beside the Hotel de Ville.  Warning: the Metro isn’t great for people with mobility issues, and the train doors don’t give you much time to get on and off.

Val d’Europe

This enormous shopping centre http://www.valdeurope.fr/ was constructed at the same time as DLP, in order to cater for the people who’d be working in and around the parks and hotels.  It is HUGE.  Nicely done out with glass coverings and a spacious feel to it.  There are all the usual shops you’d expect, including a massive Auchan supermarket, and Apple store, Sephora, and Gap.VztaIb_E75bNRjJ-Len5Y5_JplNba8O_1WGxn1P7gzQ,CHwLx0WB6pfE6TNLtVHAAYsKdGDXlR8Vne9rh_O7Pfs

There is also a designer village next door, with many high end shops like Jimmy Choo and Armani.  Your hotel might give you a discount card for 10% off, as will a Disney Shareholder card, but the shops might not accept these if the goods are already reduced.  But on our trip we managed to get a free coffee and bun from Starbucks.  My favourite shop here was the Parisian fragrance experts Annick Goutal, which has some intriguing and unusual scents , many of which are gender-neutral.

dlp wardrobe 001A bottle costs about 60.  The shopping centre also has a terasse of eateries, ranging from McDonalds (with an automatic computer ordering system), to a Lebanese place.  The Pasta Pizza restaurant does a good Menu Presto for 10 euro, comprising a plate of pasta and a drink.  They’ll also serve olives and bread at no extra charge.  And on top of all that, or rather underneath, there’s an aquarium in below the ground.

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Most hotels offer a shuttle service to the centre (5 euros return each), or you could go by train (one stop from the DLP station).

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DisneylandParis – what to wear

Posted on July 7, 2013 by lindaharley

It’s the same problem every year – I need a capsule wardrobe to take on holiday that will allow for a number of eventualities, unpredictable weather, be comfortable enough and also smart enough, and that will fit in my suitcase without pushing the weight over allowed limits.

For holidays involving theme parks, I always start with footwear.  Fashionistas will recoil in horror, but experience has taught me that Crocs are the best option.  They are comfortable enough to be on your feet all day without causing blisters, they will survive splashy log flume rides, they are light and squishy enough to fit in your suitcase – I’ve even swum at Discovery Cove with mine hooked over my wrists.

Blue crocs, checked short-sleevd shirt (Craghoppers), denim cropped trousers, lightweight green jumper (Warehouse)

Blue crocs, checked short-sleeved shirt (Craghoppers), denim cropped trousers, lightweight green jumper (Warehouse)

A good alternative are FitFlops.  I’m not convinced that wearing these will give me legs like Cameron Diaz, but they are certainly a practical comfortable option.  They come in a wide variety of styles and colours, and the chunkier sole gives more support than the standard flip-flop.  I always wear Craghoppers trousers to travel in – their zippy security pockets are very well designed, the lightweight ones are easy to wash and dry quickly, and the ones with zip-off bottoms convert to shorts or crops.

Blue crocs, checked short-sleevd shirt (Craghoppers), black cotton cropped trousers, lightweight green jumper (Warehouse)

Black FitFlops with coral toe-post, black cotton vest, stone lightweight trousers with security pockets and zip-off bottoms (Craghoppers), Mickey sweatshirt, floppy sun-hat.

A pair of wedge sliders in a metallic shade is a good choice for smarter evening wear, and works well with more casual outfits as well.

Bronze wedges, cream top with beaded neckline, black sleeveless shirt, grey crops.

Bronze wedges, cream top with beaded neckline, black sleeveless shirt, grey crops.

I love my Timberland thongs – the dark brown leather is lovely and soft, but there’s not much protection against inclement weather.  I wasn’t sure about a white linen jacket, but it was very useful indeed – light and summery, didn’t crease too badly, and smartened up any outfit.

Brown leather thongs (Timberland), cream linen crops, green striped short sleeved shirt, white linen jacket

Brown leather thongs (Timberland), cream linen crops, green striped short sleeved shirt, white linen jacket

The weather in Paris is unpredictable – it’s best to prepare for all conditions, so that’s a light waterproof jacket, sun cream, and a floppy sunhat to protect against the rays when stuck in a long queue.  I loved my lightweight cardigan in truffle, with shimmery apricot inserts.  A basic colour scheme is useful if outfits are going to mix-and-match, and a light scarf containing the main colours in the capsule wardrobe pulls everything together.

Flat black sandals, tribal print tank, watermelon vest, truffle/ apricot cardi, scarf in apricot with blue/ brown/ cream pattern.

Flat black sandals, tribal print tank, watermelon vest, truffle/ apricot cardi, scarf in apricot with blue/ brown/ cream pattern.

 

And finally, remember to pack any medication you will need.  Pharmacies are few and far between, and won’t sell many of the items you can buy in a UK chemist, so pack plenty of painkillers, Diocalm and rehydration salts, plasters and tea-bags (well, they’re a medical necessity for me!)

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Glossy Box June 2013

Posted on June 23, 2013 by lindaharley

Despite my misgivings about ordering things online, I somehow managed to persuade myself that signing up for a monthly GlossyBox was a good idea.

Since losing a bit of weight, I’m taking a bit more care over my appearance, and this seems like a good way to shake up my usual cosmetics routine, and try some premium products.  Plus, I always like little handbag sized versions of items. I opted for a 3 month contract, which was £30 up front, and I’ll have 3 lovely boxes to review.

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And what lovely boxes they are!  The packaging is exceptionally high quality, a very sturdy pink box, with the goodies inside wrapped in black tissue paper.  My only concern comes from an environmental point of view – thats a lot of packaging to dispose of.  I kept the pink ribbon and the box, which I’m sure I’ll find a use for.

So what was inside:

  • Figs and Rouge Lip Gloss in Cherry Blossom
  • Monu Hydrating Moisturiser
  • MeMeMe eye shadow in Dusk
  • Helen E Lip crayon in Red Carpet
  • John Frieda Frizz Ease serum

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The chubby lip crayon was quite a strong geranium red colour.  Despite this being one of my “autumn” shades, it’s a colour I have in clothes, but not one I’d usually put on my lips.  Maybe with a gloss over the top, for evening.

The grey eye shadow looked quite dark in its pot, but is a softer smokey shade when on.  I wore it to a Scottish dancing class, and my husband commented “You’re wearing make-up!” without specifically mentioning the eyes.

The John Frieda Frizz Ease is a handy sized serum – I have very short hair and never blow dry it, but I do use serums to give it a sort of spikey glossiness, and this one goes on easily and is non-sticky.

The moisturiser looked quite thick when I splodged it out of the bottle, but it absorbs well into the skin.

My favourite item is undoubtedly the Figs and Rouge lip gloss – it looks a deep cherry colour in the tube, but goes on slightly paler, and has a staying power that most other lip glosses don’t have.  The colour is great on me too, definitely a keeper!

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12 Down: The Race is One!

Posted on June 22, 2013 by lindaharley

Race week had come around at last! I did a short run on Monday, bringing in the last tricky (ie hilly) section of the course.

On Tuesday, I started to worry – I hadn’t received my pack with my number and time chip, nor an email telling me where to collect it. My husband worried me even more by asking if I was sure I’d actually registered.  I flicked back through my emails, back to January, where this had been a New Year’s resolution.  The sign-up email said that pack collection details were on the website.  The website gave me the collecting times from the leisure centre.  A quick check of my watch confirmed that I could go and get it right now, so off I sped.  Notices on the way into the pack collecting room advised you to have your registration number handy.  I tried to bring up my emails again on my phone, but to no avail.  I asked the assistant if my name would be sufficient, as I couldn’t remember my registration number.  She easily found me on the list, and announced:

“You’re number one!”

I laughed, and joked that it would probably be the only time you’d see that number next to my name, but it did feel special pinning it onto my running vest.  I made sure I had everything ready for the race on Wednesday evening, fixed the time chip to my shoe-lace, and went to bed content that I had done all I could.

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Wednesday dawned sunny, and just got warmer and warmer as the day wore on.  I took my dogs to the agility-fun park in the afternoon, mainly to take my mind off the race, and I ate fairly carby things during the day – overnight oats with berries for breakfast, cheese and crackers for lunch, some nuts a couple of hours before the race.  And lots of water.

At about 6, we drove as close to the leisure centre as we could – there was also a 10k and a fun run being held, so parking was scarce.  I went inside to join the queues of final-pee-ers, and didn’t have too long to wait before lining up with the other 975 half-marathoners.  I positioned myself near the “2 hrs 15” corral, though having done a mere 12 miles in 2 hrs 18 last week, that was an ambitious placing.

A cheer went up, and off we went, all the time chips clicking as the runners’ feet crossed the mat.  I pressed START on Mapmyrun, screwed my earphones in place, adjusted my Oakleys against the sun, now lower in the sky, and told myself “Let’s run this mother”.  I’m so glad I’d run about 80% of the route during training runs – there’s nothing quite so reassuring as turning a corner and going – Oh I know this road, I know where the hills are, I know what’s round the corner….I can do this.  Running is mental, and the more confidence boosts you can add the better.

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By contrast, we got to the one bit of the route I was unfamiliar with, as it’s on a dual carriageway.  It doesn’t seem that steep when you’re driving it in the car, but it was a killer to run.  The “Mile 6” marker was half-way up it, and I slowed to a walk and fished out my energy-jelly, nibbling it as I marched to the top of the hill.

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It was really warm, but I was struggling to take on water at the stations.  I tried once, and then felt very uncomfortable, almost nauseous afterwards.  I’d never used water during training runs, and it’s maybe something I’m going to have to look into further.  By the time I got to about Mile 12, I was feeling a bit light-headed, due to the heat and the dehydration.  But I knew this last part well, onlookers were great at clapping and cheering, and the iron-on letters of my name which Clic Sargent had provided meant I was getting personalized shouts of support!  I was feeling a surge of emotion building up through me, and I consciously had to tell myself not to cry until I was over the line.

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As I turned into the finishing stretch, I could see the elapsed time just passing the 2 hours and 30 minutes mark, and for a moment I was disappointed that I hadn’t broken it.  Then I remembered my chip time would be a good 20 seconds off this – and indeed it was: 2 hours 29 minutes and 21 seconds!

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My legs were in agony, and the first bottle of water barely touched the sides.

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But I did it.  I run this mother.  Or rather, One runs this mother.  And I got a medal to prove it.

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11 down – here we go!

Posted on June 17, 2013 by lindaharley

11 weeks of training over – this week it’s the big race!

Running in Rain

It’s taper week, so no big long runs this week.  On Wednesday, exactly a week before the race, I chose to run late in the afternoon, as the race is in the evening.  I picked the final section of the race route – a not terribly attractive section through an industrial estate.  And it was raining – but then, it might well be raining during tehr ace, so its best to train in all sorts of conditions.  Actually, I don’t mind running in a fine mizzle – it’s almost nicer than running in blazing sunshine.

Running in Rings

I was heading to France for the weekend, but manage to sneak a quick run in on Friday morning before I left for the airport.  I took Max with me – he’s pretty good MOST of the time, but if he sees a bicycle he’s inclined to get over-excited, and start running behind my legs, then in front of me, and as soon as I switch the lead over to my other hand, he’ll run behind my legs again.  Daft mutt!

Running in Reims

After a lovely weekend with friends in Reims, I kept to my training schedule and found a wonderful space to do my Sunday morning run.

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La Coulee Verte is a streims 021retch of pathway beside the canal, and it was full of runners, rollerbladers, dog walkers, cyclists.  The canal itself had many ducks, houseboats, fishermen, kayaks,as well as some locks to run past.  The path was pretty flat, no hills to contend with, and absolutely beautiful, with fields of poppies, cherry gardens and ranks of tall trees to admire.

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Running to Raise…

I’m doing this to raise money for Clic Sargent – thank you to those who’ve given so generously, still time to make a donation!

http://www.justgiving.com/Linda-HarleyGillespie

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5and2: egg quarko, and steamed sea bass

Posted on June 13, 2013 by lindaharley

Had a pretty good fast on Monday, after an indulgent weekend.  Enjoyed my miso soup at lunchtime, and had a little carton of mandarin segments in juice mid-afternoon.

Mussels are fab – even my normally seafood-hating husband loves them.  And there’s plenty of packs in sauce available in supermarkets these days, so they make a quick dish that I can share with him.  We had the Tesco ones in a white wine and garlic sauce (126 calories per pack), and I even had enough calories for a small hunk of baguette to dunk into the sauce. Lovely!

I was experimenting with healthifying snack recipes, and I came up with this version of egg mayo, using quark instead.  Take one hard boiled egg, and smash it with a blob (30-50g) of plain quark.  Add celery salt and black pepper to taste.  Around 100 cals for that.  I had it piled onto a couple of ryvitas – the black pepper are my favourite flavour. Yum!

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Thursday’s fast was tricky – I had a blinding headache, which I fought off with Bovril, Marigold, and Miso, and went for an express head and neck massage during my lunch hour.  I regretted that, as she seemed to spend a lot of time trying to get the knots out of my shoulders with her elbows.  Ouch!

Lovely evening meal – fillets of sea bass, steamed with 2 thinly sliced chestnut mushrooms and 3 sliced spring onions, a few slivers of sushi ginger, and a splash of low-soy-sauce.  250-300 calories of  gourmet deliciousness – this is good enough even for non-fast days. Wow!

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I might take a break from 5and2ing for a while – it’s my half-marathon next week and I want to make sure I’ve fuelled my body properly for that.  And the following week we’re off on holiday.  I MAY try the occasional 24hr fast, but to be honest, it’s unlikely.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and keeeeeeeeeep fasting!

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10 down, 2 to go

Posted on June 9, 2013 by lindaharley

This was the week of The Big One – the longest run in my training Plan. After this we’re into a taper period to ensure legs and feet are in tip top condition.

For my Tuesday run, I did my consecutive-dog trick again.  This means I can exercise both dogs, one after the other, and still get my requisite half an hour in.  The weather was glorious – almost too hot – and I think the dogs enjoyed it as much as I did.

I was planning another run on Thursday evening, but my stomach had reacted badly to something I’d eaten, and I spent the evening just curled on the sofa.  I felt very guilty about missing a run, but it’s better to err on the side of caution.

Saturday’s ParkRun was bathed in that elusive sunshine, but sadly I discovered as I was leaving the house that my iPod was flat.  So I had to run without music.  This would be a good test – does music help me run faster or not?  I found the sounds interesting as I ran – Mini’s wheezing as she galloped along beside me, my own odd 2 in-3 out breathing rhythm, the slap-slap of my trainers. But what I discovered was that the real benefit of music is that it drowns out the negative voice in your head – I was still battling with the urge to stop, give up, just quit.  I tried giving my brain something else to do, so I started composing rhymes for my fellow runners;

Girl in purple, girl in blue, How to catch them, what to do?

Two young lads all dressed in white, Look like they could run all night

Passed by bloke all clad in yellow, He’s a very speedy fellow!

And the result?  28:44.  So I didn’t beat last week’s PB of 28:16, but I wasn’t far off!  To me, a sub-30 run is still a good result.

 

http://www.parkrun.org.uk/wallace/news/

So Sunday dawned, still sunny.  I wanted to get out early in the day before the heat built up, and I was aiming to run 12 miles.  This was the longest of the training runs, and it would be my lifetime longest run.  I’d carb-loaded with spelt pasta the night before, spelt toast for breakfast, and ensured I’d been to the bathroom before leaving.  No dogs, and in the clothes I was intending to run in.  I started off running to the leisure centre, where the race will begin.  I followed the 10k course, keeping the Sprucefield ariel in my sights.  I’ve loved the way my runs have always been in the shadow of this iconic landmark – when I lived abroad, and was flying home via Dublin, passing the Sprucefield mast was always a sign that I was nearly home.  My charged-up shuffle was in good form, and gave me the beautiful 100 years by Five For Fighting, which reminded me of my old room-mate Anne-Marie, and made me smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR-qQcNT_fY

Running along Blaris Rd, I felt the need for a bathroom, so I took a small detour off my planned route to McDonalds to use the facilities.  Better that than trying to carry on for the rest of the run in discomfort.  A short sharp uphill section on Ravernet Road, to omit the race section on the dual carriageway, and I was back at Waterloo Road.  This is a bit of a slog, but I’ve run it 4 or 5 times now, and I know where the tricky hills are.  Some fabulous views, though!   From there, it’s a lovely long downhill stretch of Ballynahinch Road, and other small hill at Altona Industrial Estate, and from there I just ran home.  Just under 12 miles, in 2 hrs 18 mins.

My new KSwiss trainers are pretty good – I’ve had no shin splints since I changed to them.  But they have a velcro-like attraction to bits of gravel, so I had to stop now and then to hoke these out of my soles.  And I was glad I was dog-less – there were lots of bikes about, Max’s nemesis, and more than a few runners, no doubt like me doing their long run before the race.

When I got home, I found that my lovely husband had posted a link on Facebook to my Fundraising page.  I want to publicly say how much his support has meant to me – he’s never complained about the time I spend running, or how the dairy changes to accommodate my runs, and he’s always keen to hear about my pace, and concerned about my safety when I run.  Had a great week fundraising, and a huge thank-you to my Scottish Dancing class who donated over £100.  The grand total is now around £300.

http://www.justgiving.com/Linda-HarleyGillespie

Filed under: half-marathon, Lisburn, running | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

5and2 the perils of online shopping

Posted on June 8, 2013 by lindaharley

I decided to treat myself to a colour in my hair this time. At husband’s suggestion, I was keen to go blonde, but my hairdresser felt that it would be too harsh for my colouring, so I’m a fiery redhead instead.

hair 001

I’m finding more and more of my clothes are just too baggy on me, so I thought I’d replace the sackfuls I’d given away with some key pieces for a stylish new wardrobe.  I consulted the wise style counsellors of Mumsnet, and ordered a lightweight jumper from Warehouse.  I placed the order from the comfort of my sofa last Saturday night.  They tried to deliver on Tuesday, but no-one was in, so they left a card.  I rang the number and asked them to redeliver on Wednesday.  This meant asking my husband to stay near the house, despite the glorious weather that he was dying to get out on a motorbike in. On Wednesday at 10 to 6, I got a call on my mobile to say that they couldn’t find my house.  (I don’t believe this).  I asked them to redeliver the next day.  On Thursday I rang to see what time they’d be delivering, but a guy in the depot said no, it would be Friday afternoon.  Friday came and went with neither communication nor delivery.  I rang on Saturday morning, only to be told that the package hadn’t left there since it was returned on Tuesday – none of the 3 people I’d spoken to during the week had written the message down!  I find all of this very hard to believe.  But seriously, how does a courier company like this (DPD) keep going?  That is customer service at its very worst.  Still no parcel, by the way.

Tuesday’s fast food was unremarkable – miso soup for lunch, homemade vegetable soup for dinner, and a ginger beer after dog-training.

Thursday’s fast lunch was broccoli and chilli soup.  I’d made this a while ago, but husband wasn’t too keen on it, so I froze what was leftover.  I had it with half a bag of alfresco salad from Tesco (25 cals for the half bag – very good crunchy snack food!).  The weather was so warm I just ate it cold.  It wasn’t too bad, tasted just a little oily, but later in the afternoon my stomach started to really complain.  I was due to go out for a run, but didn’t think it wise to be too far away from a loo, so I came home from work and just dozed on the sofa.  Not ideal, but at least it stopped me snacking.

hair 002

Friday weigh-in, still at 133 pounds.  I’m Ok with that, I know those last 3 pounds will come off slowly, and I have a half-marathon coming up so I want to make sure I’m properly fuelled for that, and then Disneyland Paris at the end of June!  If I can ever get my holiday wardrobe delivered….

Filed under: clothes, Food | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

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