Handicap

As well as Janathon, my second new years resolution for 2011 is to get my work / life in balance. Being a bit of a workaholic I've got 2 things giving me that extra bit of motivation this year.

1. my Robbie is stuck at home all day (when he's not sneakily popping out on crutchathon training) with a broken leg, so I want to be getting home to spend a decent evening with him

2. running club is on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I've been missing this as I never get home in time, so must leave work on time to get in the runs

1st Tuesday of each month means Handicap.

Race: DPR January Handicap
Location: Dulwich
Distance: 2.1 miles
Time: not entirely sure so will update tomorrow once I find out times from Ian (our Handicapper!)

Already got a few more runs planned for the rest of the month, and looking forward to them:

• Ladies X country (Surrey League) in Ham - 15 January
• Bank of England X country - 22 January (cake!)
• Dartford 10 - 23 January

See you tomorrow!

Daft not stupid...

I got up, showered and got dressed. I saw that Stacy had text me and then the next thing she's on the phone to Kim. Apparently none of the buses were running. I did think it was a bit quiet when I woke this morning. I finally opened the door and what a sight! Snow snow snow! No chance of getting to the office then.

Well, that goes my run out the window and potentially most of the week...

Norman Court

No joy working remotely either. I spent an hour trying to get onto Citrix and on the phone to tech support, not sure they knew what was going on here in England...

We had the News on pretty much most of the morning, it's quite mad really that London basically came to a stand still. The whole commune was 'working from home' and Vicky offered to to make a hearty soup for lunch. 1pm and Kim, Neill, Paul, Seamus and Nigel headed to the Sheard's. Delicious!

Dulwich Park, Rosebery Gate

The only thing left was to make a snowman...

Nigel and Paul start rolling the body...

Team work - Tim, Paul and Nigel get down to it while Seamus and Vix look on

On goes the head...

Humungous

...and then I made spaghetti bolognaise for dinner...

What next: Tuesday with the club... or not...

Falling in love with London again...

Woke: 07:48 AM
Snooze: nil, I woke up before the alarm went off!
Up: 08:07 AM
Fuel: mummy portion of porridge
Out: 08:50 AM

My first long run with the running club today, was quite excited! As I closed my front door and crossed the roadworks onto Court Lane, I wondered how many people would turn up... Quite a few so it would seem, after some debating and discussion on how long and where, we broke off into 2 groups with Dianne leading the 7 milers and Gillian leading the 11 milers which included Lacruta, Lorraine, Penny and I!

Running by: 09:05 AM
Weather: cold and windy to start, the sun came out to welcome us along the South Bank... ahhh - although the North still beckons it doesn't stop me from falling in love with London again
Thoughts / Notes:

• What a jolly soul Lacruta is!
• I'd never run to Camberwell by myself...
• Ah, how we look out after each other... Gillian pointing out 'dog poo'
  
• According to Penny and Lorraine's GPS gadets we'd only been running 4 miles when we got to Lambeth North! I always had this thought that central London was miles and miles away since it takes so long on the bus and well, seems kinda long when I drive in the car too...
  
• How long have I lived in London?! I can't believe I've never run along the South Bank before?!
• What nice toilets County Hall has...
• Big Ben!
  
• Hope Penny gets her hip sorted, she had to get the bus back from Victoria
• I should've brought my camera - the sights we saw! London Eye, South Bank, Big Ben, Chelsea Bridge, QVC...
  
• Anyway still feeling a little bit self conscious about flinging my iPhone around whilst running with a group I'm not overly familiar with (yet) and I guess it'd be asking for trouble really... not sure I like the iPhone camera function that much either since I have to take my gloves off to use it which is a bit of a faff... maybe when I know the running peeps a bit better I'll start flashing my iPhone and be able to take some blurry photo's for you...
  
• Next week I'll feel less shy about joining Lacruta singing her heart out as we crossed Vauxhall Bridge... 'I'm singing in the rain!'... no your not it's very sunny!
  
• I did however feel comfortable enough with the group towards the end of the run and alerted the ladies to the 'shit!' on the pavement too.

Mornings!: this isn't too appropriate now that I've got my running club buddies to chat too (well... they chat to me, I just breathe heavily...)
Back: walked through the door at 11:45 AM - hahaha, and all before midday - the whole day still ahead of me!
Refuel: during the run I had 500ml Lucozade Sport (orange flavour), when I got back I treated myself to some nice warm rolls with yummy cheese (that stinks out the flat), and some tasty chorizo, cup of earl grey to wash it all down ahhh!
Route:

Distance: 12.48 miles and feeling good... ok a teeny weeny bit stiff...
What next: 3 miles on Monday morning weather permitting, apparently it's supposed to be snowing!

Had an afternoon nap (yes I did!) and pottered about for the whole afternoon. Got ready and called for Paul who wasn't even up yet! Seamus and I headed to Adventure Bar for a few pre-dinner drinks which included 241 cocktails - yummy! Rob turned up limping - it seems he's puled his medial collateral ligament, well that's our Sunday runs out the window for a good few weeks - hope he gets it sorted, he's only been active for a few weeks after 9 months of rest. The rest of the gang started pouring into the bar and taking advantage for the 241 cocktails too - how happy I am :-)

So 09:00 PM arrives and I hurry everyone to down their cocktails. While some of us headed to the off licence (it's BYO) and cash points (it's cash only) I headed straight to the Thai Corner Cafe, one of my favourite restaurants. It's a popular little place that gets very busy and you have to book, even during the week. They have 2 sittings, one at 07:00 PM and and the other at 09:00 PM... we got there and had to amuse ourselves in the cold while the 07:00PM sitting got told off.

Andy and Mary think they're at my 5th birthday party

Alcoholic beverage treats: 1 x mojito, 2 x champagne (naughty Andy) - hey I turn 25 (again) on Wednesday so I'm allowed!
Alcoholic beverages not consumed: 2nd mojito, a 3rd glass of champagne and potentially a couple of glasses of red... I know my limits and like Jose I'm a cheap date ;-)

Rob couldn't sleep...

... that was his excuse for standing me up for our Sunday morning run

Woke: 08:57 AM
Up: 09:20 AM
Fuel: daddy bowl of porridge
Out: 10:00 AM

Well, it was clear to me after about 7 miles that I really do need to join a running club... I was lucky that when I was training for Stockholm back in 2007 I had the lovely Clas to keep me company and I very much looked forward to and enjoyed our Saturday morning gossips and lunch at his afterwards!

So since my marathon running buddy is still recovering from his hip operations (yeah - that's what 26.2 miles can do to you - yikes!) I've downloaded and completed an application form to join the Dulwich Park Running Club which is literally 3 minutes run away... will do that on Tuesday.

Oak lined avenue Cox's Walk. Did you know it supports nuthatch and green woodpecker birds

Footbridge... does this look like central London to you?!

Almost home... actually only just started...

Back: 11:01 AM
Refuel: 500ml Lucozade Sport, warm rolls, cheese and Spanish meats... delightful
What next: 1st run with the Dulwich Park Running Club on Tuesday evening!