January | 2013 | High-Fiving Palm Trees

Janathon Day 28 – Yeah right!

by kimivory

Janathon Day 28, or shall we just call it what it is and stop trying to get out of it. FAILUREATHON!

Yes, a MASSIVE GREAT FAIL from Me!

I’m sorry, I was rubbish! I did nothing from day 17 to today. I did run today in the rain and miserable weather because I was so utterly consumed by guilt.

I’ve been using the snow as an excuse and now the snow is gone! No more excuses!

I really really want to go to the Post-Janathon Lunch on Saturday, but I don’t know if failures are allowed.

I’ll go to London anyway, and if I’m not allowed to play with the others, I’ll just stand outside the restaurant and look in through the glass, gazing in awe at the athletic Gods and Goddesses who completed Janathon and did it all properly.

This is the miserable rain-sodden trail I jogged along today. Oh, no it isn’t, failed at that too, picture won’t upload. Doom & Gloom!

Running & Fitness

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Janathon Day 17 already.

by kimivory

Today I did Core exercises with the Wii. Again v. impressive and I worked hard.

Then I thought I’d have a go at the yoga as I’ve never done that before and I thought it would be nice and relaxing.

It wasn’t relaxing as I didn’t bother to watch the tutorial and so I had no idea what I was doing when she was telling me to do Monkey, Foal, Downward Dog, Plank, Crocodile and Cobra in fairly swift succession and it’s a bit difficult when you’ve got your face in the carpet to watch what she’s doing on the screen.

Had anyone been watching I feel that they would have more than likely thought that I was just falling over in slow motion.

Buster thought it was fun though and “helped” a lot.

I will watch the tutorial and find out what I’m supposed to be doing before I have another go at Yoga.

Off to my Dad’s this afternoon, Yippee. Dad is living in squalor in a mouse-infested house and refuses to be moved. Got to make sure that he and the mice have enough supplies as the snow is forecast and I won’t be able to get over there for a few days. They all like biscuits best.

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Day 16 – Wot no Day 15??

by kimivory

Yes there was! I did Day 15, I just completely forgot to blog it. It’s me age you know luv!

So, I moved the Wii from the “bar” outside – too cold, to the lounge, where I have previously been forbidden to keep it. However, Lord Ivory is out far more these days playing with his factory, so I can use the Wii indoors without offending his sensibilities!!!!

The Programme/App/Game?? not sure what the correct term is, is called My Fitness Coach, and it is REALLY good.

When you first set it up it gives you a thorough fitness test so that it can devise a programme to suit you, and as you work your way along it retests you from time to time so it can recalibrate to keep you working at optimum levels.

I haven’t used it for ages, so I got a mild telling off from my “personal trainer” and some encouragement to do more.

I actually really enjoyed the 30 mins cardio workout and I did work hard. Had to stop after 5 mins to go and put a sports bra on!!! I was v. Hot and sweaty at the end so I think I did well. I knew it was going to hurt the next day, especially round my neck and shoulders but……OOOWWWWWWW!

This morning I was really sore, but I didn’t let it put me off. If I’ve got to do something for Janathon, I’d rather be doing it in the lounge than out in the snow.

Buster LOVES My Fitness Coach, for about the first 20 mins he joins in with Squeaky, and gives it a good thrashing while I’m doing my stuff, after that he gets bored, and tries to help me as clearly I’m suffering and he tries to stop me. Not actually helpful, but its the thought that counts.

I do want to go out for a run some time this week, but I don’t do early mornings I’m afraid and I don’t do running in the dark, and so it takes quite a chunk out of the daylight hours to get ready, drive somewhere to run, do the run, come home, shower/hair/make-up and then it’s almost dark again!

It’s a tough life.

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Days 9-14 – Sort of fail really.

by kimivory

Well I said it was going to be difficult to keep to Janathon due to the travelling, and it was. I started off really well. When we arrived at our first stop on the 9th, I took the dog for a long walk, this was not something I’d normally do as it’s husband’s job, so that counted.

ON the 10th I got up early and had a lovely run along the promenade round the the port then I found a park as well. I didn’t go far but it was over 2k so that was day 10 sorted.

Day 11, not so good. Arrived in the middle of France in the dark on day 10, it was raining, freezing cold and horrible. It was the same next morning. I only had capris, short sleeved t-shirt, no fleece, jacket, long sleeved top, gloves, hat, or ANYTHING warm, so I opted for the 250 sit-ups in the bedroom. Not so easy when a small white dog thinks that you are doing it purely for his amusement and that he should jump on your tummy and lick your face throughout.

Day 12 Similar to Day 11

Day 13 back at home, really tired from all the driving. Sorry – FAIL

Day 14 – Walked in snow maybe 2km, forgot to wear Garmin.

No blogging until today as limited internet access,

So I think generally I have to say that I’ve failed in the general spirit of Janathon for the past few days.

I ordered some new gear while I was away and have a nice longsleeved high-neck top from RunBreeze to try out. I’m not too sure about running in the snow though, and unless it’s thawed a bit tomorrow I can’t actually get my car out, so if that is the case in the morning, I’m going to set the Wii up and do My Fitness Trainer, which is an excellent thing, like having a personal trainer in your house and it measures your fitness and really makes you work hard.

I feel a bit of a wet drip for being so namby pamby especially reading so many other people’s blogs of going out running or doing Brit Mil Fit etc. in the snow. Sorry x

This is where I ran on the morning of Day 10 – Llafranch on the Costa Brava – Spain.

This is Buster looking surprised at my Janathon attempt Day 11

Buster’s general attitude to Janathon!

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Day 8 – Runners Feet!

by kimivory

Did just over 6k today, Lovely run, beautiful weather.

Today’s playlist shuffle was as follows

If I Had Words – Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley

Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

Under the Boardwalk – The Drifters

Ever Fallen in Love – Fine Young Cannibals

Fantastic Day – Haircut 100

Amarillo – Tony Christie

Let it Flow – Audiofuel

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

U can’t touch this – MC Hammer

I want you back – Bananarama

Free Brazilia – Audiofuel

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Later on I went to the chiropodist. I don’t do this often and I only went this time because my husband went yesterday and decided to make me an appointment because she was so good.

It was only at the beginning of December that I finally had a full complement of toenails since losing many of them during the training and running of the London Marathon last year.

About a month after the marathon I did go to see a chiropodist in England as the condition of my feet was worsening to the point where I began to believe that I had in fact contracted leprosy.

He wasn’t a very nice young man, he did not really approve of runners, and particularly disliked runner’s feet. I chattily mentioned that I had thought about going for one of those “Fish Pedicures” where you put your feet into a bowl of little fishes that nibble the hard skin off. “Huh,” he snorted “No Fish could do anything for these feet.” then added, rather unneccesarily “Except Pirhannas maybe!”

Throughout the flip-flop months I kept using stick-on nails from the pound shop, which I have to say served me well, and now I have 10 slightly wonky real nails, nearly full length.

Today’s chiropodist was LOVELY!

She is Norwegian, and is the spitting image of Agnetha out of Abba, (maybe it is her who knows what Agnetha is doing these days??) She was v. impressed with my running exploits. She herself lost both her big toenails at her own wedding last September, due to too much dancing in tight-fitting shoes, and was therefore v. sympathetic.

Apart from the stunted nails my feet are in v. good condition. She’s filed and polished my nails and they all look pink and shiny now and she says they’ll finish growing nicely and be back to normal within a few weeks!!! YaaaaYYYYY!

Leaving Spain tomorrow morning, 3 days drive up the coast then through France. I will try to do the bare minimum for Janathon although it will be a bit tricky, and I may have to do the blogs then post them when I get home depending on internet access.

I could post a picture of my post marathon feet today , but I don’t think you’d like it!

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Janathon Day 7 – Wot no iPhone?????

by kimivory

When I go running I

1)decide where to go

2) park and get out of the car

3) hang my headphones round my neck

4) strap on a little waist pouch

5) start Nike+ on the iPhone

6) while it gets a satellite signal, plug in the headphones

7) and we’re off.

I did all of this today as usual until I got to number 5. No iPhone!!!!!! I actually left it at home! I hate running without music, I nearly went home again, but couldn’t be bothered.

Did what I know is a 5k route and I’d love to say that I had a Damascene moment and realised the error of my ways and will never run with music again, BUT I DIDN’T !!!!

One week down HOOORAH!!

Here is a picture of a man giving our Palm Tree a haircut this morning!

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Day 6 – Artichokes and Janathon do not mix!

by kimivory

Casting our minds back to day 1 of Janathon we will recall that the lock on our front door broke and I was nearly stopped from participating as I couldn’t get out of the house. My husband effected a temporary repair though so I was out of excuses.

Since then the proper locksmith has been round to fix it and with him he brought a crate of Oranges, Lemons and Baby Artichokes. (Don’t all locksmiths arrive bearing fruit and veg?)

All these things were most welcome. Mike always makes fresh orange juice in the mornings , lemons will never go to waste in this house with all the G&T we get through, and I love artichokes, although I usually only have them on pizza not as a dish in their own right.

With 15 baby artichokes to deal with though, I decided to make a meal out of them, and concocted a dish that used all the artichokes, plus, garlic, olive oil, sherry, white wine, lemon, anchovies, parsley salt, pepper and breadcrumbs.

Pretty nifty if I do say so myself.

I loved it, Mike wasn’t quite so keen, but it’s not really his type of food, however he still ate it all up.

Artichokes are very good for you, especially if you’re doing a detox (which I am not). They support an overworked liver, and I suppose at this time of year most people’s livers have been a little overworked. (Health Benefits of Artichokes).

These Artichokes took their job seriously. They got inside me, took one look around, and decided they were going to detox me whether I liked it or not!

Without going into any gory detail, I spent more of the night in the bathroom than in the bedroom.

Janathon Day 6 dawned and I realised that it was not going to be a good idea to run anywhere in the opposite direction to the bathroom for some time.

So my effort for today has been 200 assorted ab crunches which were in themselves not such a great idea, but I did them and I’m afraid that’s going to have to do for today.

This is a picture of some artichokes and walnuts I painted a few years ago.

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Janathon Day 5 – Comfy Pants.

by kimivory

Did it. 5.88 km. I’m trying to add on about .25km a day, although next week things are going to be difficult as we’re driving back to the UK and I’ll be in the car for three days, and when we stop I won’t know anywhere to run, so it’ll probably be a quick mile each day for Weds, Thurs, Fri and Sat.

It was not exactly HARD work today, but I did find myself doing a few walk breaks where I normally wouldn’t have. Funnily it didn’t really affect my overall time so I think my legs are just a bit tired.

I’m about to have a kit DISAAAAASTER! My running pants are nearly finished. I have 5 pairs of knickers which I have owned for over 17 years and before I started running were used on “Comfy Pant Days” which were generally Recovery Days. Not, in those days, recovering from a long run, but more likely recovering from a horrible hangover!!

When I started running nearly 4 years ago, I needed knickers that were not going to chafe and so the Comfy Pants found a new career as Running Knickers. I have not run a single step without wearing one of these 5 pairs of trusty undies. I think they were originally, white, pink, pale blue, navy blue and black. These days they are 3 pairs of white and 2 pairs of navy but still they carry on! However, today I noticed that the waistband has started to come away from one pair, and when I examined a couple of the others I found similar damage!

I cannot run without my lucky comfy pants!!!!!!

Clearly I’m going to have to buy new ones sooner rather than later, but I need some help on recommendations.

Requisites for Comfy Pants/Running Knickers

1) They don’t ride up

2) They don’t ride down

3) They don’t rub round the legs

4) They do not chafe anywhere!

5) They don’t show a knicker line under running capris or tights!

Suggestions please.

___________________

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JANATHON DAY 4 —- I’M BACK!!!!

by kimivory

Hoorah!!! Got up this morning and just decided to get it over with, so I put on my running gear before anything else. Then I pottered about for a while until I really felt like doing something else which I wasn’t allowed to do until I’d been running and off I set!

5.51k along the riverbank. Lovely weather sun shining excellent tunes being shuffled on my Running Playlist. It was a breeze!

Tunes that I listened to

Mr. Blue Sky – ELO

Wake up Boo – Boo Radleys

Come on Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Shang-a-Lang – Bay City Rollers

Bat out of Hell – Meatloaf

I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

I Knew the Bride – Dave Edmunds

Hey Baby – Bruce Channel (just the right time for something a little slower)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen.

Finished off with a quick burst of AudioFuel to get me back to the car!

Arrived home, husband and dog out, so decided to go in the hot tub to ease any aches and pains. Lovely and relaxing. (Well we are on holiday)

Then decided to be be healthy and take plunge in freezing swimming pool. Walked down the steps to mid thigh. Told myself to imagine that I was in a Spa. I was talking out loud to myself at this point as I felt my legs begin to turn blue. “You’re at Champneys, you wouldn’t scream if you were at Champneys, you’d be a grown-up and brave and sophisticated. Aaaaaand PLUNGE!! SWEAR WORDS SWEAR WORDS SWEAR WORDS, MANY MANY SWEAR WORDS. Aaaaannndddd OUT!

Bring on Day 5!

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Uh Oh!

by kimivory

Chocolate & Churros!

Only Day 3???? Surely it must be practically the end of January by now.

Well, I can’t say that I’ve failed today because I have walked over a mile, but it wasn’t really in the spirit of the thing.

We had to go early into town to see the accountant, so I parked in the carpark the furthest away from his offices and power walked there. Mike not so happy as power walking is not really his thing and he had Buster on the lead who was more interested in stopping and sniffing at every lamppost.

Then we had to Power Walk to a Notary to sign something, Mike needed to sign while I looked after Buster who wasn’t allowed in the Notary’s office, so I went to look at the ‘Belen” which is a traditional nativity scene that is usually displayed in most Spanish towns. The one in Torrevieja is especially large and is absolutely beautiful, it tells the whole Christmas story. I go to look at it every year, but this was the first time in daylight. I usually like to see it lit up at night.

Unfortunately, on the way back to the car, we decided to stop for Chocolate and Churros, a traditional Spanish breakfast which consists of Spanish Hot Chocolate, which is nothing like English, it’s dark and thick and coats the back of a spoon, together with Churros to dip into it. Churros are long deep fried lengths of batter which are extruded from a machine directly into the hot fat, then sprinkled with sugar. There’s not much more they can actually do to add further calories to this dish, and I only ever have it once on each trip to Spain, but the best place for it, “Valor” was right in our way as we headed back to the car.

There is no way that the power-walking remotely compensated for the Chocolate & Churros and I was going to do a bit more when I got home, but after I’d changed into my kit, I realised that my iPhone needed charging and that I was rather sleepy, so I put the phone on charge, and decided to have a little rest, or Power Nap as I’d prefer to call it as I was in running gear, for half an hour. 2 hours later when I woke up, I felt that I’d done enough for today and had fulfilled the bare minimum to qualify for Janathon.

I can’t get worse than this so tomorrow is bound to be better! Isn’t it??

P.S., Mike found out about me wearing my kit 2 days in a row, and said “That is disgusting. Well at least we’re in Spain, people will probably think its the drains!”