Lamb skewers

Run with the club this evening, I was feeling pretty tired after work so had a powernap when I got home, they are the way to go!

Woke: 07:11 PM
Snooze: nil
Up: 07:20 PM
Fuel: a big portion of shepherds pie and sweetcorn followed at a creme caramel type dessert with summer fruits at lunchtime
Out: 07:35 PM
Weather: very mild! Amazing it was snowing and icy just 2 weeks ago
Will have to start wearing my summer running kit soon!
Thoughts:

• got my membership!
  
• oh my gosh, I really need not have donned my fleece, headwarmer or gloves - it's not even been 30 seconds and I'm sweating like there's no tomnorrow!

Mornings!: er nil - I went running with the club in the evening time, did manage to say 'hello' to a couple walking their dog though!
Distance: 6 miles
Route: Gipsy Hill
Back: 09:05 PM
Refuel: Ginger Ale, orange juice and my favourite kebab - seriously good - I never used to eat or like lamb before Hisars!

Kuzu shish at Hisars - my favourite kebab restaurant!

Alcoholic beverage treats: again, didn't really fancy any, had a mint tea to help with digestion
Alcoholic beverages not consumed: a glass of red
What next: a teeny bit of me had let the though of a morning run tomorrow but I'm going to give it a miss and just do yoga in the evening, so next running is going to be on Thursday with the club - I think we're doing hill training...
Notes: Ade called just before I left the house, I'm staying at his on Saturday so we can drive down to Brighton together to do the Sussex Beacon Half Marathon. He's going to cook pasta so we can carbo load the evening before and we'll probably chill out watching DVD's or something- can't wait!

Spring

Woke: 4:38 AM and went back to sleep...
Snooze: nil, full of beans this morning! I could hear the birds singing outside which is a first - must be springtime!
Up: 06:08 AM
Fuel: water
Out: 06:27 AM, I was pottering - should I make my bed now or when I get back?
Weather: mild, probably would've managed without my gloves. Sky was a dark light blue purple-y shade of pink...
Thoughts:

• Wonder if the pavement on Croxted Road will sparkle today... it did!
• Gee, I could feel and smell the car fumes during the last leg. Dulwich Common was busy this morning - thought it'd be quiet with it being half term, then again it should't have had any bearing since it was a little before the school run
• I once read that Maggie Thatcher lives in a gated estate in Dulwich, I wonder if it's Hambledon Place?
  
• Yes! I knew why I'd brought my iPhone with me this morning...
  
  
  To take advantage call Dulwich Riding School

Mornings!: Was feeling a bit shy today... I had 2 opportunities:

• the silverfox getting into his Merc on Croxted Road
• the senior runner in a bright florescent yellow mac crossing Dulwich Common at College Road

Distance: 3 miles
Route: Court Lane, Turney Lane, Croxted Road, Dulwich Common... I'll map it later
Back: 07:02 AM
Refuel: daddy portion of porridge and decaf earl grey
Alcoholic beverage treats: didn't fancy anything, green tea for me
Alcoholic beverages not consumed: saki - went for Japanese with Geoff this evening
What next: 6 miles with the club on Tuesday evening
Notes:

• Had to tell Sarah that I wasn't running with her this lunchtime, was feeling pretty stiff and a little tight from Saturday so probably not a good idea to do speedwork
• The salesman who sold me my car sponsored me today, am touched. I love my Mazda and if you want one just like mine, get in touch with Phil Hodgson at Peoples in Bootle - he's the man!

Race crazy

I had a really nice lie in this morning, just what I needed after a restless week. Pottered about doing chores and then decided to be very organised and enter a load of races in an attempt to keep me motivated and on track after a pitiful fortnight of basically slacking off, not necessarily all my fault of course, blame the snow...

Anyway, if you're at a loose end why not come and support me, here's what I've now got in the diary for all my Sundays in March...

1st - Cloud Nine Hill Race
8th - Banbury 15
15th - well, I'll be in Austria visiting Silke with Jen, so somewhere around Gotzis or maybe Bregenz (interesting fact: Quantum of Solace was filmed here!)

Pic from my 2006 visit... Seebuhne (Lake Stage), Bregenz

22nd - A20 Pathway 17.3
29th - Cranleigh 21

I really wanted to enter the Haweswater Half Marathon but it was fully booked :( Definitely on the cards for next year, scenery looks absolutely amazing!

What next: back on track and starting with a nice 3 mile Monday morning run

Wouldn't it be great if you could store fitness...

As you know I've been pretty slack over the past fortnight and I really need to build up my mileage... Luckily this is what the club is for, and after a struggle with the snooze button I made it to the meeting point and connected with 2 chaps who were up for doing 11 miles. Ian and Steve took me under their wings, they'd already done 5 miles before the running club had even started...

I always look forward to seeing familiar faces (as well as the new), and especially Lacruta who is a positive soul with a heart of gold. She's looked after me from the very first run I did with the club. This morning, she's particularly concerned since I'm not able to keep up with her as I have the previous times... and I know I'm not feeling particularly 'speedy' today - hmmm.

Woke: 08:04 AM
Snooze: 2
Up: 08:19 AM
Fuel: mummy sized portion of porridge and Lucozade Sports (orange flavour)
Out: 08:55 AM
Weather: cold with a breeze
Thoughts:

• Feeling so stiff today
• Gee I can't seem to build up a decent pace, that's what I get for not doing the mileage this week... and last...
• I'm sure this must be quicker than 10 minute miles though?!
  
• should I listen to Lacruta and not do the mileage?!
• I really wanna do 11 miles!
• maybe I should take Lacruta's advice and just listen to my body...
• well, my head is saying "you need to do the mileage Susan"... my body is saying "you can do it, you just need to take your time"
• sod it - I feel fine and comfortable doing 11 miles, I just can't keep up with the group in front!
• So glad Ian and Steve break off for the last 4 miles... now I can just focus on doing the miles instead of getting distracted and worrying about keeping up with the group in front
  
• How lucky am I that they're running 10 minute miles... perfect pace
  
• Ian is pretty focused... whereas Steve and I had a good old natter
• I hope I get my beginners pack in the post soon, I can't wait to log on to the forum they keep talking about. That's how Ian and Steve arranged to meet up earlier to do 5 miles before the club session started... oh and get my Cram Tag...
• Yes! 11 miles in my legs - get in! And... s-t-r-e-t-c-h.
• Shit, why do I get the feeling I'm going to be feeling stiff for the rest of the day...
  

Mornings!: just the one, he'd stopped on Rosendale Road to tell us to hurry up and catch the group up front!
Back: 11:20 AM
Refuel: Sausage and egg baguette washed down with Lucozade Sports (orange flavour) and a nice cup of tea
Alcoholic beverage treats: nil
Alcoholic beverages not consumed: a glass of white wine with delicious homemade haddock chowder...

Homemade Haddock Chowder - mmm!

Distance: 11 miles
Route: Brockwell Park, West Dulwich and Dulwich Park
Notes: Must enter some races to keep me motivated
What next: Monday morning 3 miles

Early night

What can I say? I need a kick up the arse, I've only done a fraction of the mileage I should be doing this week according to Chris's plan. I think I just need a good night's sleep - have been waking at 05:48 AM most mornings... yes a bit random I know!

I'm missing a run with the club tonight, although there's a physio who was coming to talk to us about stuff...

My body and mind are telling me to rest, had a big lunch so not really hungry, so a cereal drink and then it's bed for me (before 09:00 PM)! Big breakfast in the morning though...

I promise to start in earnest on Saturday morning on a long run with the club. Sussex Beacon Half Marathon in Brighton the following weekend to look forward to!

p.s. there are 4 drafts I need to finish off from the past couple of weeks, so sorry my blog is a bit all over the place! I need to get into the habit of writing it all up at the end of the day...

Gatecrasher

I couldn't wait to get out of bed and head out of London for the day. Before I knew it I was ordering a soy chai tea latte (wet!) and almond croissant from Starbucks at Waterloo, before meeting Katia, Jeannette and the rest of the gang.

Gillian had good intentions for a walk in Kent this weekend but it never happened, so I basically completely gatecrashed Katia's birthday walk, having only met her at the running club yesterday! If it means a walk in the countryside I have no shame.

The walkers gather in Wanborough...

How tasty!
Breathtaking (and now my iPhone background!)

Get told...

Just can't get enough of it!

Shortly after we headed back up the hill, it just wouldn't be as much fun without getting lost really

Lunchtime at the Cyder House Inn in the quaint Surrey village of Shackleford

Henrik gives Jeannette a piggy back

Alcoholic beverages treats: half a cider with lunch
Alcoholic beverages not drunk: half a bitter shandy before the start of the walk at The Good Intent, and then half a Guinness at the end

I'm not particularly wordy today... let the pictures speak for themselves. If you want to know more please comment.

What next: Tuesday handicap run with the club

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...

Getting into it...

It's as addictive as running... seriously... sign up and tweet me, you know you want to!