fairweatherrunner

running blog

Category Archives: fitness


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Jan-don

Another Janathon is over. Rather too quickly as usual making me feel I’m still in catch up mode. I haven’t run or exercised as much as other years but have hopefully re-started some good habits which I can build on and continue rather than going for broke and spending February recovering.

This week I’ve run a bit less due to some mild niggles in my hamstrings and piriformis which feel worse when it’s very cold  so I stuck to alternate days exercising.

Today, the last day of Janathon and being Saturday it was parkrun time. I’ve been using parkrun for the past few months as my way back into running so for the last day of Janathon, I gave back and volunteered and did finish token duty. My exercise was therefore just cycling there, a bit earlier than usual, (and in a snow/sleet shower) and back. Unless walking round and round in circles while looking after all the bags and trying to keep warm waiting for runners to finish counts. I do have a 10K race tomorrow to make up!

Day 30. 1 hour BMF class 2.7 miles run, 5.5 miles cycled.

Day 31. 2.4 miles cycled (part in snow) 1 parkrun volunteered at with a few circles paced, in the freezing cold!

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Shuttle sprints.

At parents evening tonight I “ran” shuttle sprints between my sons school library, the hall and main corridor. This was because my thoughtful younger son had booked us back to back 5 minute slots so we could see all 11 teachers in as short as time as possible but without taking into account differences in location.

Fortunately his school is on a fairly compact location and he’s a good pupil so he and I were spared protracted discussions and made it out the school gates in just over the hour with GCSE predicated grades and A level choices signed off.

Job done, one worn out mother who’d earned her glass of wine.

I did also go to BMF today, and cycled home against strong winds in the rain. No wonder I’m tired tonight!

Janathon day 28.

1 hour BMF class, 3.1 miles run. 5.4 miles cycled.


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Extreme weather?

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Sandwiched between Kensington and Shepherds Bush is the pocket sized microclimate of Holland Park! I walked through it today, taking my chances, after seeing this sign at the entrance, thinking I’d have an adventure.

Blizzard? Ice trekking? Biblical flood to cross? A hurricane to sprint away from? But all was calm and quiet and reassuringly urban. The only adaptation I had to make for the weather conditions was to remove my scarf because it was rather mild.

I was going to run today but didn’t fancy it much. Then walking home from dropping my bike off for its service I noticed how bad the traffic was and hatched a plan. Rather than squeezing in a short run before getting changed and driving to meet people at lunch time I would bin the run, leave early for my meet up and walk there.

Janathon day 26.

5.9 miles walked.
2.4 miles cycled.

1 Bike serviced.
Squeaky brakes (which they told me was quite normal) now cured.


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Leg blast

Today I had good intentions of writing my blog early and catching up with reading Janathon blogs, my emails and the rest of my life generally. But then I cycled off to BMF on the coldest morning yet.

I got there fine, apart from my missing finger tips which joined me 5 minutes later. (Wind proof thermal cycle gloves only ok to -1, apparently).

I did notice at the start if the class that there were an awful lot of greens (advanced). All BMF classes follow much the same format with the variety from the instructor. The make up of the group also makes a big difference. Today there were 12 of us and with half greens it meant one thing. A hard fast class. Eek! Then the mention of ‘leg blast’ class turned my legs to jelly before we even started. My small portion of porridge for breakfast suddenly felt a bit inadequate.

Fortunately I survived the running, gun drills, squat jumps, tuck jumps until our legs screamed. Plus a bit more running to make it to arms and abs and we were into the sprints to finish. A good class where I knew I had worked hard.

I cycled home before I cooled down too much and discovered that it is possible to change gear and brake on a road bike wearing sheepskin mittens and they are far better at maintaining feeling in my fingers than fancy cycle gloves.

After all that hard work and fresh air, a hot shower, food and coffee I sat on the sofa and my ability to do much else left me.

I’ll have to catch up tomorrow.

Janathon day 23.

Cold 5.3 miles cycled
1 hour tough BMF class, 3.2 miles run.


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Old friends

The result of me being friends again with running and my mileage slowly creeping up and running more days per week, is it’s time for me to reacquaint myself with a couple of old friends. My foam rollers.

I realised it was time at BMF today when my knees moaned during jump squats, my calfs felt like rock running backwards and my hamstrings winged during the 100 burpee challenge.

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Well my legs did ask for it. Think I’ll start with with the nicer friend first.

Janathon day 19.

1 hour BMF class with 2.8 miles running. 5.8 miles cycling.


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Imagination

Or lack of it.

Well we are getting towards that middle bit of the month where Janathon is no longer a novelty but the end is not in sight so imagination for new and exciting exercise or blog posts is waning.

Today, in auto-pilot, I cycled off to Hyde Park, as I do most Mondays year-in-year out, for BMF where the imagination and motivation is provided in the form of squats and burpees!

After back to back intense classes last week and then being ill at the end of the week, I sensibly took it steady today so I can be back for more tomorrow and the next day…

Janathon day 12.

1 hour BMF class with 2.5 miles running.
5.3 miles cycled.