Irchester Run again

Last day at home before school reopens - I could do with longer! Ran around Irchester Country Park for 31 minutes. Kept seeing 3 young men (around early twenties) running or walking around the park too. How come they need to keep stopping when someone twice their age (me!!!) can keep going. I feel like the tortoise racing the hare and winning!!!

Sunday at Stanwick

Ran for 1 hour 30 minutes today around Stanwick Lakes and sprinted at the end! I've had a slight cold about me for a few days, but the stiff muscles are much better and I was really pleased with my run today, especially as it was windy. Lots of swans about and loads of coots battling against the waves on the lake - they'll be fit too!! Several annoying things (am I turning into a grumpy old woman?) lads riding fast motorbikes up the track, two carrier bags of fast food containers dumped on the track and a fierce dog growling at another dog.

Stiff legs!

After all my gym work yesterday my legs are stiff today!  I did have a very good workout. Went for a walk this afternoon collecting blackberries with Julie, which has helped loosen the legs up a bit. Blackberry & apple crumble was a tasty treat too.
I'm raising money for CRY (cardiac risk in the young) by running the marathon. I've also been potting up some plants today, hoping I can sell some for the cause. I'm going to do a photographic quiz to raise money too, and have spent some time this week taking pictures of parts of buildings for entrants to identify. It's quite interesting walking around the town and finding items to photograph.

Spa Day

I have been to Whittlebury Hall today with my friend, Julie - an annual trip which we look forward too. We spent 3 hours in the gym this morning. I did stints on the treadmill, cross trainer, rowing machine and bike. I am sure I did much more at a much faster pace than this time last year, so I must be getting fitter! We then had a buffet lunch and 'chilled' in the sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool - those massage jets on my back and shoulders are lovely! Finished up in the swimming pool and jacuzzi. A very enjoyable day, I now feel all relaxed. Only problem was excess of granny smith apples in all the fruit bowls - does anyone like these sharp fruit? Has rained all day today (and most of yesterday) so it was a good day to spend at the spa.

GCSEs, Irchester & lots of Dragonflies

Helped to give out GCSE results to the students at the school where I work (Wollaston) this morning. Most seemed pretty happy - well done! Then off to Irchester Country Park for a run. Weather still warm, but also windy. Irchester is quite hilly so I tend to do shorter runs there. Today's was ok - 32 minutes along the side of the quarry, through the woodland, loop around the jungle parc and back. Not many birds about but lots of dragonflies.

I'm in the London Marathon!

When I've watched the London Marathon on the television I've been amazed by the whole event. All those people running all that way - how/why do they do that? But after a while I wondered if I could do it too? I run several times a week, and I've built that up from nothing, from walking and then alternating a few paces of running until I completed my first 5k in 2006, and have now run 3 half-marathons. In April next year I will reach my 50th birthday and running the London Marathon seemed to be an ideal way to celebrate!
I am the librarian at Wollaston School and I am running for the school's chosen charity for this year - CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). Running the London Marathon has now turned from a personal challenge into so much more - the chance to help raise funds for such a worthwhile cause.

Yesterday I ran around one of my favourite places - Stanwick Lakes. It's a great place to run or walk, play, cycle, canoe, birdwatch, walk the dog etc. The lakes are old gravel pits by the river Nene and a disused railway line runs through the middle with other paths leading off around the various lakes. The terrain is very flat and it's brilliant for a long run at weekends. I ran for 1 hour 22 minutes yesterday, despite it being pretty hot, so I was pleased with that. There was one slightly scary moment when I thought I could see a person lying across the path ahead, and wondered if I could remember how to do resucitation, but she was actually sunbathing, lying on a bench next to the path - phew!