Went for a nice long walk in Pollok Country Park yesterday, and Frances and I took a few pictures of the autumn as we went around. Some good ones there, but not sure if the autumnal scene that Frances has in mind for a picture in our front room is in it.
It reminds me of course that I have a few nasty specs of dust on my Nikon D70’s CCD, so need to get that cleaned. If you look carefully you can see the specs on a few of the photos (I certainly notice them).
I’ve been seeing a lot of Pollok park the last few weeks, as I’m still doing my running. It’s now the sixth week of running, and I’ve managed to get four runs in each week (bar a missed day here and there where I rested for a bit longer as my bones have been feeling the strain a bit), and I’m now comfortably managing three miles each morning I run, and a bit further on Saturday - 4.5 miles just this Saturday passed. It’s certainly a good feeling when I’m in my stride, and rewarding when you go that little bit further between breathers. I do have to keep reminding myself that I’m supposed to be building endurance, not distance or speed, at this point.
So my next goal is, of course, to keep doing it over the next month, and by the end of the year, to comfortably manage a 30-40 minute run without taking a walking break. I also want to have perhaps done a few longer runs, which will probably mean a couple of laps of Pollok Park, or heading up to Queens park or Bellahouston park…
One thing I really need to work on is ‘warm ups’. It’s notable how much more comfortable it is once warmed up, and here I’m missing some instruction (despite the books I’ve read) on good and effective warm up practice. I’ve taken to doing a slow jog/fast walk around the clay tennis courts nearby, followed by some stretching, which is going well.
I also need to get some winter running gear - the temperature has been quite mild the last coupe of weeks, but that’s not going to last, and a few mornings I’ve wondered what I’m doing as I head out with shorts and a t-shirt. Gloves too, by all accounts, come in handy.
Only wish I could take my camera with me on my runs to catch some of the scenes I’ve seen, with morning mist, a low sun, and some autumnal scenes and backdrops. Must dig out my old small, but somewhat old, Ixus camera!
October 24th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Good to see that you are still keeping the fitness regime up, and even better that you walked with Frances in the Park.
Make sure you get clothing which keeps you dry on the inside as well as the outside.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
[...] I do apologise about the notable “running theme” the last wee while. But then, I’m rather enjoying it and, well, this is my website after all. Plus I have to have one of the best running routes I think I could ask for (have a look at my recent pictures if you don’t believe me!). [...]
October 25th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Mr Tibbs & Mr Roberts would like to say how impressed we are; its always good to know that our well practised games lesson discipline has a long lasting impact on all our pupils.
November 9th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Get yourself some running legging things - Ron Hill Tracksters are good.
As for the warm up, here’s what we do with Jog Scotland.
A brisk walk for a couple of minutes, then a light jog. During the light jog, rotate you right arm back for 5, then forward, repeat with the left. Then walk on your heels for 10 strides or so, then jog lightly on your tiptoes for 10 strides or so. A few high knee lifts for a few strides, then ‘kick yer bum’ for a few more strides.
Then a brief brisk walk (30 secs or so) and start yer run.
There are variations but that’s generally what we do - warmup should take anywhere between 2-4 mins.
I’ve got a 5K early December that I’m hoping to complete without stopping, should take about 35-40 mins I reckon… ohh and Nike+ is working well so far! (snowgoon2206 if yer looking for me)