How very-weirdy-weird-spooky-strange does it feel to have a Sunday and NOT be going out for a run!! I am content that this is the right decision (resting the leg, and actually giving my body the chance for some respite) but my body is a bit jittery; it's like my brain has changed the routine and forgot to let the rest of my body know!
Still; despite the lack of the scheduled fifteen-miler, it has nevertheless been a productive day. It was a quick trip into Manchester to visit 'Upandrunning'; a rather cool sports shop aimed primarily at joggers. The mission was to seek advice on what caused the blistering and calf injury, and further advice on how to avoid it happening again.
I am not afraid to admit that it was with more than a little sense of pride when I walked into the store feeling like I really 'belonged'. A proper runner in a running shop. Yes, I may even have swaggered a little; sorry, couldn't help myself!
Well, sorry - and sheepish - I certainly was when I told the tale of what I am trying to do, and that I am currently out of action with a banjaxed calf and blistered foot. He confirmed that the former was as a result of the latter, and then instantly asked how old my running shoes were........hmmmmm........and there the 'proper running' bubble burst. Don't pretend I haven't told you, it was a fourteen mile run on a brand, spanking, NEW pair.
He didn't look at me, just stared into the distance with a smug smile on his face that I would have loved to slap off if he hadn't been so right, and I hadn't been such a numtee! I'm sure I wasn't the first to make the mistake, and just as sure I won't be the last. For me however, the repercussions make it like running out of petrol; one of those things you only do once!
He was brilliant though; lots of good advice, and I left with some Compeed blister plasters (say that really fast five times) and three pairs of 'twin layer' socks (rather than sock rubbing on skin, inside sock runs on outside sock, simples!! they are padded in the right places too, which make them the first pair of socks I have ever owned that have an 'L' and an 'R' on them!
Here's hoping that they do the track and get me back on trick. On a positive note, I didn't realise that I had incorporated a resting Sunday scheduled for 10th March. By swapping the two weekends what originally felt like a major setback in training won't be so much as a blip. Unless I am mighty unlucky I should be ready to rock in a week!
Seven weeks, 49 days.......not going to give you the hours, it's scary enough already!!
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Saturday, 2 March 2013
Thank You For The Music........The Best (Part 1)
It's been a quiet one today, so the fifty day to go mark is almost going to slip by unnoticed.....see?!!....there it goes......tip-toeing out the back door. Still feeling pretty crappy and footsore, but I have a plan for tomorrow which has involved a bit of googling, and will involve a bit of Manchester Metrolinking.
But more of that tomorrow, as it is now time to reveal the 'best of the rest'. We have done the running elite music, we've done James Taylor and Kate Rusby; we've even covered one of - in my humble onion - the greatest musical lyrics in music. But what else? There are still so many tracks we haven't covered; tracks that are so close to my heart an soul, and whilst I can't take you through every one of the four thousand plus songs which grace the ITunes folder, I have decided to give you my top 100 best of the rest. Four rules......
25 Or 624 (Chicago)
(Fantastic intro; play it loud!!)
A Whole New World (Disney - Aladdin)
"A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view. Noone to tell us no, or where to go; or say we're only dreaming'
Affirmation (Savage Garden)
"I believe the struggle for financial freedom isn't fair. I believe the only one to disagree's a millionaire"
All I Have (Beth Nielsen Chapman)
"How far away, this world becomes. In the harbour of each other's arms"
Angel (Sarah McLachlan)
"You are pulled from the wreckage. Of your silent reverie"
Bapa (Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu)
(It is such a soothing song. No idea what he is singing - it could be a shopping list for all I know - but it just sounds lovely.....I've ruined it for you now haven't I? You are forever going to be thinking 'two pints of semi-skimmed' when he starts to sing; sorry!)
Bell (Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells)
"Two slightly sampled electric guitars"
(Yes, this is a lyric; and although there is no credit on the album, it can only be Alan Rickman's voice)
Broken Things (Julie Miller)
"You can have my heart, though it isn't new. It's been used and broken, and only comes in blue"
Burning Bridges (Status Quo)
(My best friend (Martin Stoddart) and I used to have a fantastic air guitar intro to this one; happy days!)
By Your Side (Sade)
"You think I'd leave your side baby? You know me better than that"
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
"It's enough, to make kings and vagabonds, believe the very best"
I Can't Fight This Feeling Any More (REO Speedwagon)
"You Take Me To The Places That Alone I'd Never Find"
(this song also has strong connections to Susanne; remember her?)
Can't Help Falling In Love With You (Lick The Tins)
(everyone knows the words, but this version brings a huge smile to my face)
Chocolate Girl (Deacon Blue)
"He calls her the chocolate girl; cos he thinks she melts when he touches her"
Classical Gas (Mason Williams)
(classic guitar)
Concerto De Aranjuez (Rodrigo)
(sooths even the roughest of moods)
Concerto In D Minor For 2 Violins (J S Bach)
(just in case the Rodrigo doesn't work completely!)
Dear Jessie (Madonna)
"Ride the rainbow to the other side. Catch a falling star and then take a ride"
Don't Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin)
"Give you my phone number; when you worry, call me, I make you happy"
(and he really sounds like Mr. Azzopardi; my a-level physics teacher. A lovely fella!)
Don't Write Me Off Just Yet (Hugh Grant)....I know.....I know
"It's never been easy for me. To find words to go along, with a melody. But this time there's actually something on my mind. So please forgive these few brief awkward lines"
Dreamer (Supertramp)
(the song of my very earliest years, oh and the album which I tried to 'play' by scraping the needle up and down the vinyl.....to my brother's horror)
Elysium/Honour Him/Now We Are Free (Hans Zimmer)
(from Gladiator; slightly cheating as there are three names but they are played consecutively.....so powerful; and joyful)
Every Little Thing He Does Is Magic (Shaun Colvin)
(sacrilege that I prefer this to the original, and yet......I do!)
Eye Level (Simon Park Orchestra)
(number one song when I was born; got to be enough for the top 100)
Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard/Marketa Irglova)
"Take this sinking boat, and point it home, we've still got time"
Part 2 coming soon, and we will be both freeing Nelson Mandela and letting our love open the door; if that's not going to make you come back.......you might well be a smarter person than me.....!!
But more of that tomorrow, as it is now time to reveal the 'best of the rest'. We have done the running elite music, we've done James Taylor and Kate Rusby; we've even covered one of - in my humble onion - the greatest musical lyrics in music. But what else? There are still so many tracks we haven't covered; tracks that are so close to my heart an soul, and whilst I can't take you through every one of the four thousand plus songs which grace the ITunes folder, I have decided to give you my top 100 best of the rest. Four rules......
- No tracks already mentioned
- Only one track per singer/group (not easy that one!)
- Christmas tracks not included (same as the top five movies; consistent eh?)
- Classical music allowed
25 Or 624 (Chicago)
(Fantastic intro; play it loud!!)
A Whole New World (Disney - Aladdin)
"A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view. Noone to tell us no, or where to go; or say we're only dreaming'
Affirmation (Savage Garden)
"I believe the struggle for financial freedom isn't fair. I believe the only one to disagree's a millionaire"
All I Have (Beth Nielsen Chapman)
"How far away, this world becomes. In the harbour of each other's arms"
Angel (Sarah McLachlan)
"You are pulled from the wreckage. Of your silent reverie"
Bapa (Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu)
(It is such a soothing song. No idea what he is singing - it could be a shopping list for all I know - but it just sounds lovely.....I've ruined it for you now haven't I? You are forever going to be thinking 'two pints of semi-skimmed' when he starts to sing; sorry!)
Bell (Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells)
"Two slightly sampled electric guitars"
(Yes, this is a lyric; and although there is no credit on the album, it can only be Alan Rickman's voice)
Broken Things (Julie Miller)
"You can have my heart, though it isn't new. It's been used and broken, and only comes in blue"
Burning Bridges (Status Quo)
(My best friend (Martin Stoddart) and I used to have a fantastic air guitar intro to this one; happy days!)
By Your Side (Sade)
"You think I'd leave your side baby? You know me better than that"
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
"It's enough, to make kings and vagabonds, believe the very best"
I Can't Fight This Feeling Any More (REO Speedwagon)
"You Take Me To The Places That Alone I'd Never Find"
(this song also has strong connections to Susanne; remember her?)
Can't Help Falling In Love With You (Lick The Tins)
(everyone knows the words, but this version brings a huge smile to my face)
Chocolate Girl (Deacon Blue)
"He calls her the chocolate girl; cos he thinks she melts when he touches her"
Classical Gas (Mason Williams)
(classic guitar)
Concerto De Aranjuez (Rodrigo)
(sooths even the roughest of moods)
Concerto In D Minor For 2 Violins (J S Bach)
(just in case the Rodrigo doesn't work completely!)
Dear Jessie (Madonna)
"Ride the rainbow to the other side. Catch a falling star and then take a ride"
Don't Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin)
"Give you my phone number; when you worry, call me, I make you happy"
(and he really sounds like Mr. Azzopardi; my a-level physics teacher. A lovely fella!)
Don't Write Me Off Just Yet (Hugh Grant)....I know.....I know
"It's never been easy for me. To find words to go along, with a melody. But this time there's actually something on my mind. So please forgive these few brief awkward lines"
Dreamer (Supertramp)
(the song of my very earliest years, oh and the album which I tried to 'play' by scraping the needle up and down the vinyl.....to my brother's horror)
Elysium/Honour Him/Now We Are Free (Hans Zimmer)
(from Gladiator; slightly cheating as there are three names but they are played consecutively.....so powerful; and joyful)
Every Little Thing He Does Is Magic (Shaun Colvin)
(sacrilege that I prefer this to the original, and yet......I do!)
Eye Level (Simon Park Orchestra)
(number one song when I was born; got to be enough for the top 100)
Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard/Marketa Irglova)
"Take this sinking boat, and point it home, we've still got time"
Part 2 coming soon, and we will be both freeing Nelson Mandela and letting our love open the door; if that's not going to make you come back.......you might well be a smarter person than me.....!!
Friday, 1 March 2013
Weigh in (86)
I could kind of see this coming. One pound on, weighing in at 15 stone 9 pounds; damn it.
Slipped again I'm afraid. Fallen off the wagon - again!! - succumbing to cheese on and cookies with my Subways. Add to this missing an exercise session and that was enough to do the trick. The trick being making a pound of flesh magically reappear! TA-DAAAAAAAAAA!!
As usual, no excuses, but the sniffles have knocked my willpower, not to mention my control. As if the usual challenges associated with running a long way aren't enough, I am now having to deal with a rebellious body. It's letting me down big time at the moment, and it's getting to me. Can't deny it, I am feeling decidedly sorry for myself tonight. Got that 'WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE TO DO GOD?????!!' sort of feeling.
Other than that; life is peachy with a side of keen.......
Sorry if this turns non-fans of the sport off, but these weigh-ins feel a lot like supporting a football team. You get on the scales/go to the match on a Friday evening/Saturday afternoon so full of hope for a good result; if you get it, great! if not....misery. The trauma however is short lived, as after the initial shock you are already looking forward, towards the next game/weigh-in; and hope grows again. I just hope that my weigh-ins prove a better bet than Stockport County!
I suppose I should be grateful for the small mercy that it is only one pound on and nothing worse. All in all, not a good day........
Re-grouping tomorrow......I hope.......!
......51 days until the you know where, you know what......
Slipped again I'm afraid. Fallen off the wagon - again!! - succumbing to cheese on and cookies with my Subways. Add to this missing an exercise session and that was enough to do the trick. The trick being making a pound of flesh magically reappear! TA-DAAAAAAAAAA!!
As usual, no excuses, but the sniffles have knocked my willpower, not to mention my control. As if the usual challenges associated with running a long way aren't enough, I am now having to deal with a rebellious body. It's letting me down big time at the moment, and it's getting to me. Can't deny it, I am feeling decidedly sorry for myself tonight. Got that 'WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE TO DO GOD?????!!' sort of feeling.
Other than that; life is peachy with a side of keen.......
Sorry if this turns non-fans of the sport off, but these weigh-ins feel a lot like supporting a football team. You get on the scales/go to the match on a Friday evening/Saturday afternoon so full of hope for a good result; if you get it, great! if not....misery. The trauma however is short lived, as after the initial shock you are already looking forward, towards the next game/weigh-in; and hope grows again. I just hope that my weigh-ins prove a better bet than Stockport County!
I suppose I should be grateful for the small mercy that it is only one pound on and nothing worse. All in all, not a good day........
Re-grouping tomorrow......I hope.......!
......51 days until the you know where, you know what......