Crossgates

On what is another warm but overcast day, I start off what is a busy day with a visit to Pro Am Sports for a sports massage with Jenna Wheatman, which goes well as I have no real injury problems that require any attention. My progress towards my big physical challenges of the Paras 10 and Snowdon Marathon this autumn can proceed as planned.

The next part of the day is the walk with Gemma the Labrador at Ayton. I take the opportunity of using the 45 minute walk for some extra training for the Paras 10, by wearing a pack with 28 pounds in weight. I cope well with the weight, but I probably need to adjust the set up of the pack’s contents, as the pack is pulling my shoulders back a lot and this is slightly uncomfortable. Perhaps I will just get used to it. I am ahead of suggested training schedule, but I have some way to go before I can progress to 35 pounds and some fast marching/jogging for 10 miles, but if it was easy then it would not be a ‘challenge’.

After returning Gemma back home, I drive into town and sort out two problems. The first is my defective mobile phone, which the T mobile shop sends back for repair and supply me with a replacement phone, which I did not expect. When I enquired about when I would know when my phone had been returned, I was told that I would receive a Text. I did not tell them that smoke signals would be about as effective for me. Happily Joan understands Text so I will be able to get the message in due course. The second problem is partly resolved when I collect the new lawn mower.

After lunch I do the food shopping at Morrisons and then go for a 5 mile run on the Seamer Tracks. It felt slightly hard going to start with, but I forgot that I had had the tough walk with a pack this morning. I rallied again as I have been doing, and in the end achieved a reasonable time for the run.

After the usual visit to the Filey Road Sports Centre to meet up with members of Scarborough Athletic Club, and after catching up on all the latest news etc, I get back home to watch Andy Murray at Wimbledon. This turns out to be a 5 set match with the lead constantly changing. As it was also the first time the new roof on the Centre Court was used it was especially noteworthy, and particularly when they continued up to about 10 p.m. using lights for the first time. Murray was always ahead in the final set which he won to progress to the quarter finals.

My new found enthusiasm and possibly energy meant that whilst watching Andy Murray, I assembled the new lawn mower, and also did some more sitting on the ball!

Crossgates

It is fine and warm this morning and looks likely to stay that way all day, even though it is quite cloudy. Hot weather is forecast for later in the week, so that will make a pleasant change. I expect that the prevailing northerly sea breezes will prevent an outbreak of sun stroke at Scarborough.

After some dithering as to whether it might be best to go for a longish run in the morning, or wait until the afternoon and spend the morning in the garden working on the front lawn, I eventually opt for the latter. Before I start to mow, I spend a large amount of time getting rid of even more weeds that have sprouted up during the recent rainy season. I also have to cut some new grass with shears, and also trim a border that is greatly overgrown with flowers covering quite a lot of the lawn. Eventually after about an hour and a half, I am ready to start mowing. Alas after just a couple of rows of mowing, the mower stops dead. I check the fuse in the plug, all the leads and connections and cannot find any reason for the problem. Mowing is therefore suspended for the day, or until I can get the mower repaired. After some thought, it occurs to me that this is the 2^nd electric mower that has caused problems in recent years. I therefore decide that it would be a lot simpler if I bought a ‘mechanical’ push yourself mower, and with the cost of servicing and repairs being what they are, a new machine would also be less expensive. I find a suitable machine for £33, which according to reviews on a web site, is just what I want. I place an order for one, and will be able to collect it tomorrow, and not have to wait for a repair. Perhaps this is not initially environmentally friendly, but then I will no longer be using electricity to mow the lawn!

After lunch, I have to really find some resolve to get out for a run. By now it is very warm and I am concerned about hydration. I opt for a 10 mile run, returning back home at the end of each 5 mile segment. This is an additional mental thing, as there is a temptation to settle for the first run only, and then make some excuse as to why. However I manage to get out for lap two after refuelling with Lucozade, and go on to complete the planned 10 miles in a decent time, adding some short sprints in the final mile.

There is more joy in the evening as we both watch more of Glastonbury on television. We both enjoy Tom Jones, Status Quo, and Madness, whilst I enjoy the performance of Bruce Springstein, even though I am not a big fan of his. The BBC has been criticised recently for the amount of people they thought necessary to cover the festival. Perhaps the corporation was extravagant, but other than some famous sports events that have been covered extremely well, such as Wimbledon at the present time, this was well worth the money. I can think of many other areas to save money on.

Fitness wise, I commence using a large exercise ball to strengthen my core. I simply sit on top of it rather than lounging in an armchair, and it will improve my posture etc.

Crossgates

The weather is even worse today, with lots of rain and cloud, and whilst not exactly cold, it is a bit chilly for the end of June. Today is Armed forces day, and there are plenty of celebratory events taking place in the town around the South Bay area, and the weather may put a bit of a dampener on proceeding.

My day starts as usual for a Saturday with Brian Matthews’s ‘Sounds of the 60s’ whilst I read the morning newspapers which we have delivered at the weekend. Brian plays many somewhat obscure records, whilst the newspapers have very little good or interesting news. Even the magazine supplements are somewhat boring this Saturday, not that they are that riveting normally. So this was not a good start to the day. I was due to man a stall on the West Pier to promote Scarborough Athletic Club, but due to the incessant rain, there has had to be a rearrangement of stalls, and ours has had the chop so I am told later in the morning.

After lunch I attended the Armed Forces events in the town, suitably attired in my former RAF Regiment Squadron’s T shirt and Veterans badge. Happily as I arrived in the town, the rain had stopped at last. I had a look round at all the stalls and exhibits, particularly the Parachute Regiment stand. As I walked round I spotted some ex servicemen dressed in blazers with regimental badges, who were wearing what were unofficial medals alongside their official service ones. The latter can of course be worn, but if so, should be worn on the right side only. Many are of dubious value, such as the Cold War Medal which can be worn by anybody who served in the forces from World War 2 to the break up of the Soviet Union. There is also a similar NATO medal, and I have a National Service medal which I might very occasionally wear at official parades such as the main Cenotaph Parade.

Late in the afternoon, I rounded off a good week’s training with a 6 mile run on the Seamer Tracks. It was not my best run of the week, but it was really good to do it as I was tempted to have another day off running.

In the evening I watched a little of Glastonbury on television. I enjoyed The Specials but must agree with Joan that their music is a bit samey. They are good fun, as opposed to Neil Young the headline act who was depressing both musically and in appearance.

Crossgates

A quick glance out of the bedroom window this morning, results in me reaching for my lightweight summer trousers, and hanging up my shorts for the time being anyway. It is not very cold as it is June, but it is chilly and in addition it is overcast and raining. Whilst there is not a lot of rain, it remains overcast for the rest of the day, with some occasional drizzle later in the day. The weather is due to improve soon and will probably be very warm again next week.

With the Friday walk with Gemma now arranged for the afternoon, I am happy to stay home out of the rain, until late in the morning when I visit Morrisons mainly to top up our food supplies, but also to buy some flowers and a ‘Get Well’ card for a friend of Joan’s who is unwell. The shop is crowded and whilst it does not take a lot longer to get through the checkout, the whole shopping process takes a bit longer than I envisaged, and therefore a planned 4 mile run before lunch is cancelled. It is not just time constraints, as it is raining again!

As we have planned to go on a cruise at Scarborough tonight, we have a cooked meal at lunchtime instead of in the evening. As it is Friday, then we opt for a fish and chip lunch from the shop at Crossgates. I note that the television which is permanently tuned to Sky Sports News to entertain the queue has been retuned to Sky News. There is only one item, which is the death of Michael Jackson!

Whilst Joan visits her friend who is not well, I drive over to Ayton to take Gemma for a walk. The rain has now stopped and it is fairly warm, so that is good. After returning Gemma back to her owner and me back home, I decide to go for a walk with a heavy pack. Heavy at present is 28 pounds, which seems very heavy, but I consider that I can cope with this weight, at least for a few miles anyway. I am aware of the obvious need to build up to my target, which is 10 miles carrying 35 pounds over an undulating off road course. I decide to walk into town which is 3 miles, but forget to time myself. However I know that I passed 2 miles in around 32 minutes, and whilst I was not straining at all that was a good start to my build up. I felt a strain on my shoulders as the weight of the pack pulled them back. I grasped the main straps and pulled them down to balance this out a bit. This seemed to help and I arrived in town with just a slight ache in the shoulder region. When in the town centre, I called in to Holland and Barretts to buy a food supplement called Olive Leaf complex. I will see if this helps me with my training for the Paras Challenge and marathon.

Whilst the tennis at Wimbledon continues today, I only watch it just a little as of course there is not only no British interest in the main competition, but nobody else I am particularly interested in watching. The reigning champion was on court early in the afternoon, and did not stay too long before winning as expected, although he did drop a set.

The weather continues to be not only damp, but mist has rolled in reducing visibility so much that we decide that a cruise would not be a good idea, so we decide to stay home instead. Early in the evening, the BBC broadcast a special programme about Michael Jackson. Significantly perhaps, it only lasted 30minutes, was a bit repetitive about the albums ‘Off The Wall’ and ‘Thriller’ and replaced yet another a programme about para medics! Towards the end of the evening, I enjoyed my first taste of this year’s Glastonbury, and an hour of The Specials. Joan observed that they are somewhat repetitive, and indeed they are, but good fun nonetheless.

Crossgates

The fine warm weather is staying at Scarborough, and seemingly a little longer than other parts of the country that are forecast to have some showers. For the second time this week, I go into town for some errands such as another visit to the library, this time to collect some reserved books, and enquire about a repair to my mobile phone. The town centre seems quite busy, so I think that there is probably an increase in the number of holidaymakers this year, as for once this is not a school holiday week! There is a Norwegian Brass Band playing in the shopping precinct which is very pleasant. As I pass by the young musicians are playing a tune from the 70s musical ‘Grease’.

As I have a road race tonight at Silpho Tops which is near Hackness, I will not have any other exercise at all until then. In the afternoon I relax whilst watching more tennis from Wimbledon. Andy Murray is playing somebody who was a very promising newcomer on the tennis circuit but who has not been playing so well of late. He looks dangerous due to some fast serves, but is subsequently beaten in straight sets, and thus continues to be in the tournament to the third round on Saturday, and then hopefully into the second week, which will therefore retain British interest in the tournament for a good while longer.

After a slightly early evening meal, I drive to Silpho Tops for the Scarborough Athletic Club’s Summer Handicap race. I collect Ted Kraft from his home in Seamer on the way and we arrive in good time at the race headquarters to book in and have warm up runs. As usual I get distracted and only have a perfunctory warm up of some easy running and some short sprints. After all the usual notices and results have been read out, the latter by myself, the race starts with the slowest of the runners starting first, and the rest starting behind them at varying intervals dependant upon their handicap, which is based partly on the results of previous races in the series. I am expecting a very good handicap, and I do start either with or in front of runners I have finished ahead of earlier this year. However this is not enough to make up for my loss of fitness. I manage to stay with the group I started with for only a short stretch of the first part of the course, before one and then another 3 gradually pull away from me. I try hard to catch up, and have a promising stretch around the one mile mark, but then I start to be overtaken in dribs and drabs for the rest of the race which is over 4.4 miles. After the half way point, I start to overtake a few of the slower runners, and have a comparatively good finish, but will not score many handicap points. The race organiser promises to give me a better handicap for future race, and as I will be fitter then, I should be much more competitive. Of course I was due to have an easy non running day today after the circuit training, so tonight’s race was a good effort really.

After returning home, I watch another episode of the documentary about the homeless. In tonight’s programme, the ‘homeless’ celebrity pair up with some regular rough sleepers. I think that the idea is that the viewer can then emphasise with those who are homeless for whatever reason, but I am afraid that I failed to have much if any sympathy at all, with either the full time homeless or the celebrity homeless.

Late in the evening, the BBC breaks into the scheduled programme for a special news bulletin. It is almost a relief to learn that the reason for this is not some great catastrophe that has just occurred but the death of Michael Jackson. I liked some of his records, but by no means all of them, and he was undoubtedly a great entertainer, but an ‘Elvis’ he was not in my opinion. It was very sad that he died not only at the age of 50 but before he made his ‘comeback’ tour in London this year. As Jimmy Saville was to observe later, there can be a good group up in heaven, with Elvis, Buddy Holly and John Lennon !

Crossgates

The warm sunny weather continues to add a pleasant feel to life. I doubt that many will yearn for any change save for the odd rain shower to water the plants! Wimbledon continues today without any rain delays, and Andy Murray becomes not only the ‘last man standing’ but the only remaining British player in the tournament as far as the main singles event is concerned anyway. Several British players remain in the Mixed doubles event, including Jamie Murray, Andy Murray’s brother.

As usual for a Wednesday, I take Gemma the labrador, for a walk round Ayton, and in case she is feeling too warm, I walk past the a shallow part of the River Derwent in case she fancies a cool off paddle. She does not seem to want one, and may well have forgotten when she last did this as it has been about 2 years since she almost dragged me into the river for a splash round. When we have taken her down to the beach at Cayton Bay, she has always had a good paddle round in the sea, but her last trip there has also been about a year ago now.

I get back home in good time for a 6 mile run before lunch. As I start out on the road towards Seamer, I am feeling just a little tired, but I keep going and achieve a decent speed by the time I have crossed the railway line and the A64 and am on my favourite Seamer tracks. After lunch I spend some time watching tennis and not very much else this afternoon. I do not have any more dog walking today as Bindy remains in kennels.

In the evening I run down to the Pindar College sports centre for a session of circuit training with Jenna’s group. The session was held indoors and was as usual very tough, but I am coping well with it nowadays. It was quite hot inside the gym as it is not air conditioned. I suppose that it does not really need to be for almost all the year. I round off a good day’s exercise with a run home. It is only just over a mile in distance so it provides a good warm down run!

I am back home in time to watch a documentary on BBC television about life on the streets for the homeless. It features some well known personalities who are filmed experiencing living rough. This has been done before on a smaller scale. I am not certain indeed very dubious as to what this might achieve and why. It is not something that I am interested in, and those taking part are people that I have no rapport with at all, to put it mildly. One of them who is particularly obnoxious drops out of the experiment after only a couple of days, during which he cheated and spent his nights in a hotel!

Crossgates

The warm weather continues as forecast, and it seems like I can start wearing shorts for most of the time, for normal wear and not just running. Around mid morning I make a fairly quick visit into town for a couple of errands such as returning a couple of library books, and on return, I get out for the first of two runs today. I am feeling even better than I was over the last two days, and even though it is quite warm in the midday sun, I run quite a lot faster than of late, particularly over the first mile of my usual route over the Seamer tracks.

Bindy has been put into kennels as her owners are going on holiday for a few days, so I have the whole afternoon free. I have time to watch some of the tennis from Wimbledon, which late in the afternoon will include Andy Murray in the first round. After winning the first set, Andy manages to lose the second set. This is not totally surprising, as some of the lower ranked players raise their game when playing the top seeds and take an early lead, before eventually losing, and very occasionally even winning! With the match at an apparent level stage, I went out for a second run on the Seamer tracks in what seems to be even warmer weather. I planned to run the 6 mile route, but on the way round, I meet someone who I know is also going to take part in the Paras 10 Challenge in September, and stop to chat to him about this and other training matters. I find out that whilst he is likely to do very well at the event, his friend who is hoping to be the oldest participant at 63, is starting to find the training for this very hard. I was asked why I did not tell the local newspaper about my entry, to which I replied that he and his friend are using the ‘Challenge’ as a means of raising money for charity and I do not want to steal their thunder. Of course if I achieve my aim to be the oldest, I will then make this known! The chat makes me slightly behind in my planned time to get back home for the evening meal, so I amend the distance to just 4 miles, which I achieve at a much faster than average pace.

By the time I get back home, Andy Murray has won the necessary sets 3 and 4 and therefore won the match. As all the other British men have now been eliminated, Andy is now labelled ‘the last man standing’! Two British women remain in the competition, at least for the time being!

Crossgates

It is another dry warm and sunny day, and another of the great British sporting events of the year, which is the Wimbledon tennis championships commences today. I suppose that after a retractable roof had been installed over the Centre Court, the weather was likely to be such that for once it would not be needed!

As always on a Monday, the first bit of exercise is the first walk of the week with Gemma. This is of course all the better for the warm sunny weather. After the walk I go on to Morrisons for the food shopping whilst Joan gets on with some other tasks at home.

After lunch I first of all watch the opening match at Wimbledon in which the reigning champion Roger Federer wins in straight sets as expected. However, his opponent is not overawed and only loses the first set 5-, and deserved the tag of ‘worthy opponent’. The British number one player Andy Murray does not play today, and will most likely soon be the only Great Britain player left in the tournament. Two of the Great Britain women manage to win through to the second round, but alas no men although some are not playing their opening games until tomorrow.

Late in the afternoon, and after my second spell of dog walking for the day, this time with Bindy, I go out for a 5 mile run on the Seamer tracks course. After a longer run yesterday afternoon, I am not expecting too much, and my legs seem a bit tired as I start out on what turns out to be a 5 mile run, due to my starting out a little later than planned. However, I remain in a determined frame of mind, and each mile of the Seamer Tracks use, is faster than the opening mile. It is warm as I run, but not unduly so, and judging by my pace is not slowing me down much.

In the evening, I drive over to Ravenscar on what is one of those lovely sunny summer’s evening, to meet up with members of Scarborough Athletic Club. They are going to join a group of Hash House Harriers on what is a part social run whereby the participants follow a trail. This is not for me even though an easy social run might not have done me any harm.