Mutterings for the Minority

Keeping up

Finally got to catch up with coach today for a lunchtime run and was soon being put through my paces - as per usual! It was more a case of keeping up than catching up I can assure you.

The wind blowing in off Swansea Bay was strong to say the least and it made harder work of the 5 mile run than I’d experienced over the last couple of weeks. Couple that with what felt like an increased pace and I was certainly feeling leg weary over the last half mile or so.

My time of 44 minutes 22 seconds was a wee bit quicker than my last effort which considering the conditions I was more than pleased with, even if I did feel ’shot’ at the end of it.

I did joke this afternoon that my legs felt like jelly - which in all honesty they did - but at the same time I couldn’t help but feel satisfied by how taut they felt due to the recent mileage I’ve been putting in.

Who knows, one day I might even fulfil one of my lifetime ambitions and run a marathon!

45 minutes!

45 minutes 32 seconds - that’s how long I was out running for today.  I still can’t believe it and I MUST make a point of finding out when last ran for that amount of time or distance (5 miles).

Perhaps most bizarrely of all was the fact that I actually phsically felt like going for longer which is rare to say the least - especially of late.  No doubt if I had carried out I’d have paid for it, so I took the sensible option (probably!).

Mrs DDWT even commented on how I wasn’t as red in the face as usual!  It has to be noted that I’ve ALWAYS been like a beetroot after running even in my primary school days, as opposed to being naturally unfit

I’d now like to try and sustain this time and distance over a few training sessions over the next couple of weeks and see how things go from there.

But to say I’m chuffed with my progress to date would be a massive understatement.

How long?

Despite it being a bitterly cold day - due primarily to the strong easterly wind - I ventured out of the house for a long walk and then a long run.

The walk was an great opportunity for me to push baby DDWT in the pram for the best part of three miles, whilst Mrs DDWT and DDWT Junior maked some cakes for Halloween at home.  It was lovely to be out and about on such a chilly winter morning, with the wind swirling the multi-coloured autumnal leaves around us as we made our way along the Swansea Valley canal.

After returning from the walk - which took us around an hour and twenty minutes - my inner conscience gave me the urge to go out for a run, especially as I hadn’t been since Monday!  So within the space of half an hour I was back out and about again - safe in the knowledge of knowing how cold it was though.  No running vest this time I can tell you!

I battled my way along a 4.6 mile course in 41 minutes 23 seconds - which from what I can recall is both the furthest and longest I’ve been out running for what must be the best part of 10 or 12 months!!!  How time has flown and oh how my standards have dropped.

Having said that I’m pleased just to be putting the effort in at the moment and am going some way to achieving the mini-goals which I have set myself pre-Christmas.  All things considered, I think I’m doing pretty well to date

Focus the mind

In light of my Dad’s news yesterday, I felt it was imperative that I try and focus my mind and continue to go about my/our business in order to remain both positive and strong.

With this in mind, I decided to go for an early morning run. I opted to cover the same route as my run last Sunday - albeit it a slightly slower pace. Still the 32 minute 25 second had a semi-positive effect, even if I did feel ’shot’ after it.

In the afternoon Mrs DDWT thought it would be a good idea to get out and about, so we headed off to the Swansea Sea Festival.

Unfortunately by the time we got there - gone 3pm - most of the displays had finished. We were fortunate enough to catch the Newfoundland dogs lifesaving display, which was very impressive.

DDWT Junior enjoyed the mini-pirate ship and the shanty music was quite entertaining as well. Baby DDWT spent the whole time sleeping!! So if you wanted to see pirates of all ages (and sizes) - some on stilts - then it was the place to be

We also made yet another visit to the National Waterfront Museum, which in all fairness never ceases to amaze us with the amount of information and quality displays on offer. Here’s a tip for you, it’s a great place to take the kids especially during the summer holidays.

Whilst inevitably casting our eyes towards the sea, it was impossible to ignore the sheer height and size of the Meridian Quay development.

Looking back to a previous post I made about the development (back in April), you can see how much its come on. Quite amazing!

Projected race time

With my Swansea Bay 5k entry now posted in readiness for August 5th, curiousity got the better of me today as I wondered what my projected finish time would be - in relation to my running times of late.

Step in the Runner’s World race time predictor a useful online tool for calculating just that - your race time!

Anyway, it gave me an ‘estimated’ time of 28 minutes 8 seconds for a 5k run. I was relatively pleased with the projected time, given that I’ve not really done at awful lot of running of late, apart from the last couple of weeks.

So with this in mind, I decided to push the boat out a wee bit further this lunchtime and change both the route I took and the distance I covered. The result was 3.4 miles covered in 31 minutes 5 seconds. Whilst I haven’t bothered checking (yet) if that is up/down on my projected time, I was more than happy to have at least covered a 5k distance. Something which as this stage is really what I’m concerned with, my times will come later.

Water pistol fight

After our busy day yesterday we were determined to make the most of the rest of the weekend and in particular the dry weather that greeted us once again.

The sunshine and showers of the past few days had given our lawns a new lease of life and with the recycling collection due on Wednesday, it was an ideal time to give them a quick once over with the mower.

With the jobs out of the way, it was then time for a water pistol fight with DDWT Junior and the new water pistols we’d bought in Toys ‘R’ Us yesterday. A word on which you should now that you can get a double pack for just £9.99 - a saving of £6. They were great fun and could spray water a good 10 feet plus - even without the pump action!

As you can imagine we both got absolutely drenched - but had so much fun it didn’t matter one bit. The fun continued into the afternoon with a visit to Coed Gwilym park for some football, frisbee throwing and of course the obligatory go on the swings.

I’m also chuffed to say that I rounded off the day with a run! So on top of all the walking of the past two days, I added a 34 minute and 6 second (approx 3.7 miles) run to the tally. Let’s hope I can keep this momentum going through the week and it’ll make next Sunday’s weigh in an interesting event I’m sure

End of an era

Today was the end of an era for DDWT Junior as he went to nursery for the very last time. Come September and he’ll be school full time. He didn’t seem to mind one bit - probably because of his little trip to Funsters with his friends and the promise of a Pizza Hut for tea. I think it was us who felt it more!

I know it sounds weird but it was kind of sad really. It doesn’t seem that long ago that he was going to mother & toddler classes and we were preparing him for nursery. Yet before we know it here we are at the start of the school summer holidays and our little boy is fast growing up.

It really is true what people say - enjoy them whilst they are small and young, for the time really does fly by without a shadow of a doubt.

With the weekend almost upon us, I decided to go for a run with coach at lunchtime as invariably I switch to lazy mode over the weekend and don’t do any training!

I didn’t feel comfortable at all during the 21 minute 35 seconds run, mainly because I had an extremely irritating dry cough and I was a bit leg weary after yesterday’s outing.

Still it’s another run under my belt in preparation for the next Swansea Bay 5k on August 5th.

Cold on the way?

Despite developing what appears to be a cold, I opted to go for a run lunchtime after a rest day yesterday. Let’s hope I don’t regret it tomorrow!

The overcast skies and blustery wind made it look cold and like a berk I’d forgotten my running shirt - having only a vest in my bag. Thankfully it wasn’t cold and the risk of ‘getting a chill’ given my under the weather status evaporated.

The 30 minute 4 second run ensured I worked up a sweat and kept me surprisingly warm - not that the air was cold thankfully!

I’m hoping that another few doses of day/night nurse will do the trick and avert a full blown cold, which is the last thing I want having got back into the swing of training.

Another day another run

WOW, running two days on the trot - that’s almost unheard of for me and a throwback to many moons ago when it was the norm.

It was good to get back out running with coach again too as that is always a bonus and ultimately a huge incentive - especially as we’re both VERY competitive. We decided to take it easy and clocked up 19 minutes 37 seconds in the process.

Still it was a pleasant run and at a pace which got me at least out of the ‘comfort zone’ - if only due to the humidity! Oh how I wish we’d have a thunderstorm to clear the air.

There was no school for DDWT Junior today as his class (albeit very few of them) were off to Bristol Zoo for the day. Somewhat bizarrely they’re back in school tomorrow despite a national two day strike by Unison - which affects the non-teaching and catering aspect of schools in particular.

Charlton ticket

With the football season just weeks away, I gleefully took possession today of my ticket for the Swans opening game in the Championship - Charlton away. The £30 price tag is certainly a rip-off, but I wasn’t going to miss the Swans first game at this level for over 24 years.

With over 2,500 of our 3,300 allocation sold already it’s looking increasingly likely that a small part of the London borough of Greenwich will be turned into a sea of black and white come August 9th. The excitement is now starting to build and no doubt come the day the pit of my stomach will be churning with excitement, nerves and a touch of emotion.

After setting my sights on another goal yesterday (i.e. my weight) it was back to pounding the pavements again this lunchtime. My time of 29 minutes 5 seconds was longer that I’d anticipated doing, but I must say I felt quite refreshed and comfortable afterwards - unlike last week. Now that’s got to be a good sign.