Hello all. We’re moved, I’ve Juneathoned (sort of), but we’re without internet access at home, so updating is going to be sporadic. Being a secret Luddite, I have never been interested in getting a smartphone, so if there’s no internet at home, it’s the library for me.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday we moved and I have no qualms about claiming that as my Juneathon exercise. I wish I’d worn a pedometer to see how far I walked on those few days, but I also did lots of squats (picking up boxes), lots of hill work (climbing up and down the stairs), lots of upper body strength work (carrying boxes and cleaning).
This morning I went to training in the park. The shortest day of the year and the weather was cold, even at 7am, but it was good to be out in the open air and doing something different from moving.
Yesterday I walked. Big, long walk in the sunshine, which was utter bliss.
Then I got home to find out our house application has been accepted, so we have a house.
So today we’re lurching into the chaos of moving, as we have a very quick turnaround - into the new place by Tuesday.
I still found enough time to go and buy some new shoes. Excellent shop, where they checked my gait, feet and old shoes. Found I have an almost neutral running gait, really mild pronation only.
So day 17 of Juneathon my exercise was an 8k walk. And day 18 is going to be 3 minutes walking and running on a treadmill, followed by some extreme packing.
Does that count?
Well it cleared enough for me to go for a bike ride this afternoon. Went round to a friend’s house to work, the sky was clearing, so though I’d get on my bike. Cycled the slightly long way round, through the park, because it’s both prettier and means I mostly avoid the grumpy Sydney drivers. 8km in total, all rugged up, with my scarf trailing behind me.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is SUNNY. We shall see.
Oh yes and I’ve decided to buy new sneakers this weekend. I think mine are on their way out, having served me well since the beginning of the year, but they’re just not as comfortable anymore. Plus I’ve been getting sore knees on my recent runs. I’m going to try Running Science, where they have one of those gait analysis thingys. Am quite excited.
Impossible to get up for early morning training today. Well impossible for me anyway. Especially given it was still raining cats and dogs. But decided to get my act together and so I went to evening training-in-the-park instead. We worked under cover, sheltered by the light rail bridge. Our trainer had organised a circuit, one minute of various strength exercises interspersed with cardio. The evening class is much more social than the morning sessions, which tend to be smaller and much more focussed on getting it done. But fun nevertheless.
I’ve been thinking today about how much admiration I have for all the Northern hemisphere Janathon-ers. I thought that Janathon-ing in high temperatures and Sydney humidity was hard enough, but staying motivated when it’s cold and dark outside, blowing a gale and teeming with rain is much, much harder.
It’s raining outside, again and I’ve made the decision I’m not Juneathon-ing today. To be honest I’m tired and am not feeling 100%. Given my job involves lots of face-to-face with clients, talking about health, I thoroughly believe in paying heed to those early signs of possible illness and taking it easy. And today feels like one of those days.
So instead I’m going to leave you with one of my recipes which I found on the ABC website, I’d totally forgotten about - Pear and Ginger Muesli Crumbles.
I forgot to blog yesterday. Whoops. I did go for a walk. I’d planned to get on my bike and do some fun chores around the inner west - coffee and a visit to the shops in Annandale, followed by the cinema in Newtown. Would have been about 10k in total and a lovely day out. But was raining cats and dogs, so no biking as I’m just not brave enough on wet Sydney roads with crazy Sydney drivers and traffic.
A break in the rain mid afternoon did mean I set out on a walk, strode around the suburb, looking at some of my favourite houses, streets and trees. A total of 5.5km.
Today I went to fitness in the park. We were undercover because of the rain, so no actual running, but lots of skipping, star jumps, step ups, squats, lunges, etc, etc. Then got saturated walking home.
Not sure what I’m going to do tomorrow, as all my exercise clothes are wet at the moment …
Today has been one of those days that reminds me of why I’m doing Juneathon. It’s been a long day of house-hunting. Which while busy and a bit rushed, basically involves me driving in a car, parking, waiting for the real estate agent to turn up, walking through a house, asking questions and then going back to my car, ie a lot of activity, but not much of it physical.
Home at 4.30pm, normally I would have collapsed, had a glass of wine and barely moved. Especially as it’s raining. But today I had a cup of tea and then decided to walk up to the bookshop, to see if they have my next book club book. They didn’t, so then I walked up to the shopping centre, where there is another bookshop.
Then I thought I’d go to Rebel and do a running clothes reccie, after getting some excellent and useful advice earlier in the week. But they were closed, so I walked home again.
So an unexpected total of 3km walked today.
At training in the park this morning it was a boxing session. I never thought I’d like boxing in the park, didn’t feel like my kind of thing, but I was wrong. I’m not a great puncher, don’t hit that hard, but still enjoy the action, the chat while we’re doing it and the feeling that your arms are going to fall off at the end. In between sets we did sprints and short running sections. All in all a good Juneathon workout.
I’ve been trying to concentrate on relaxing my hands, as I punch. It feels counter-intuitive, but when I manage it the punch is cleaner, my hands don’t get sore, I’m focussed and I can work harder.
On Fridays I also go to Pilates, which feels positively wonderful after all the running. It’s difficult in a different kind of way, but there’s always lots of stretching and I really like the people in my class.
Friday night means pasta, a glass of wine and tonight I’m having pudding - trying out this intriguing tofu brulee recipe. If I’d seen the recipe on any other site I would have dismissed, I mean tofu in a dessert sounds just too peace love and mungbeans-esque. But Lucy knows her food, so I’m giving it a go.
An actual run today. 12km around Pyrmont foreshore, to Darling Harbour and back. Still didn’t feel great, so took it easy, enjoyed the patches of sunshine and tried to stay out of the wind.
But it was cold. And it took me two hours to get out the door because of the cold and I had nothing to wear. This time last year I’d only been running for about two months. My longest run was probably 3km and I was doing it in long sleeve t-shirts and hoodies, no dramas.
But now I’m running further, those clothes feel heavy and they chafe. My summer stuff isn’t going to last me much longer. So I really need some advice on winter running gear.
It doesn’t get seriously cold here. We’re not talking snow and minus temperatures. But at 6am it’s about 10C. Which is cold enough for me. But I also hate getting too hot, so heavy fabrics and loads of layers doesn’t appeal either.
Plus I don’t want to spend loads of money.
Any advice from all you experienced runners out there?
Early morning fitness in the park today, which included some sprints, along with other bits and pieces. Juneathon done by 8.00am. Perfect.
I then looked after my friend’s 18 month old little boy for two hours, while she had an appointment. So that included some muesli eating, toast making, truck playing and ball kicking. Plus a whole lot of walking up and down the road looking at the trucks, plants, flowers and people. At one point we even walked up and down the road carrying a broom. Well I wasn’t carrying the broom you understand, the toddler had decided it was a necessary accessory for walking.
A grand morning.
