Day 352

1.  We got there! Dougal returned to his bed after breakfast, Al got to stay in his and have a lie in, I got some time to potter.

2.  Unfortunately I then inadvertently disrupted the peace in the most upsetting of ways... uploading some photos on to the computer I spotted some video clips of Dougal as a puppy which I thought might be nice to watch, one bark from Sid however and poor Dougal was out of his bed like a shot, tail wagging and yipping in excitement at his return.  Flew out into the garden to greet him and then started looking everywhere for him when, of course, he was no where to be seen. It was awful.  In an attempt to try to divert his attention, I let him go upstairs to find Al instead, at which point there was no settling back down and everyone was up.  A day later and I still feel bad about the Sid bark, but strangely less so about getting Al up.

3.  There has been a slight downward shift on the scales! I think it was this that made me change my mind about running today sis, and put my trainers on.

4.  Dougal and I did a rather slow five miles in the sunshine.  My legs didn't want to get moving at all, but once we'd started I did at least manage to keep them going, and if nothing else we've ticked another run off the training plan.

5.  My boys are home :)

M - 399

Liverpool Half - 68

Glasgow Half - 180
Distance covered              5 miles
Total Distance covered   533 miles

Day 351

1.  Another beautiful morning, another early start! But;

2.  We had company on our morning walk... Al's home :)

3.  Not sure if it's relief that I'm not having to deal with everything on my own, exhaustion at having done so for the past few days, exploitation of the fact that for the first time in a long time I had the opportunity, or a mixture of all three, but I slept from one till two and three till five this afternoon!

4.  Having written Sunday's blog on Sunday I then forgot to publish it, today I forgot to write at all. For someone who finds it so hard to switch off and relax I am taking this absent mindedness as a positive sign, even if I think we all know it is a bi product of mental and physical fatigue and not indicative of any new found ability to be a bit more laid back.

5. Looking at the parkrun results I clicked on my age category by mistake and discovered a new list! I am the eighth fastest veteran woman aged 40-44 to ever run Dewsbury Parkrun out of a possible one hundred and twenty three of us! (Fellow parkrunner you're thirteenth to save to you looking!).  Whilst on the one hand being chuffed to bits I am however slightly disappointed that this is the highest I shall ever be on this list as I change age categories in three weeks. More disappointing still is that my current PB would have me in twelfth on the 45-49 list.... just as well I decided yesterday that there was more to life than my 5K time!

M - 400

Liverpool Half - 69

Glasgow Half - 181
Total Distance covered   528 miles

Ten Weeks till we Rock n Roll!

Help!

Asked if I minded being on my own on Easter Sunday, the answer was no.  Just as long as the only requirement on my time was walking Dougal.  What I didn't quite envisage was that being at nine o'clock this morning!

I thought we had our Sunday morning routine sorted.  I get up, give him his breakfast, he goes back to bed, I get to potter (or go to the gym?) - not so this morning! He was up and showing no signs of settling back down again, arriving at my feet with everything he could find to play with including some items he knew would get my attention as they were most definitely not for chewing! I do hope he hadn't been taking his going back to bed lead from Sid and in his absence this is what he thinks mornings are for!

And so, in what is becoming a bit of a weekly recap, where am I today compared to this time last week? Thankfully in a slightly better place.

Yesterday's run was altogether different from last Saturday's and despite my time at parkrun being almost a minute slower it doesn't matter, the important part is that I did it.  I can't say I enjoyed the actual running, there was no adrenaline rush or post run euphoria, but I enjoyed the fact that I was out running again, if that makes any sense?  It was our favourite route to parkrun, it was good to see HMG and have a proper catch up (I think it may have been this that I enjoyed most) and it was refreshing to get to parkrun and just run it without any consideration to time.  I don't think this was a conscious decision on my part, I just don't think there's space in my head at the moment to think about it, and it made for a nice change to not really care.  Perhaps if the week has shown me anything it's that there are more important things in life than how quickly I can run three miles. I may need reminding of this if I start to get anywhere near my PB ever again!

Ten weeks to Liverpool! A little bit early to be planning our trip but fuelled by a picture of a rather delicious looking breakfast posted by fellow parkrunner who is there this morning, I did waste a while researching possible places to eat whilst we're there, and with cake on arrival, pasta for dinner, and post run brunch to consider it may take some time to narrow down our options!

M - 401

Liverpool Half - 70

Glasgow Half - 182
Total Distance covered   527.9 miles

Day 349

1.  Dougal, HMG and I ran seven miles - three miles at parkrun and four to get there!

2.  Not sure if it was this, this disappearance of all other family members bar me, or a combination of both but HMG has definitely been given pack status! Dougal was bereft when she disappeared to go to the loo pre parkrun, beside himself when he saw again post parkrun, and selected her for the role of providing some sort of hand pillow for his head in the cafe afterwards. Not entirely sure how she'll feel about this, but I think it's meant as a compliment of the highest order!

3.  So wishing I had been able to accompany H on the train to Glasgow this afternoon as he goes to spend a few days being spoiled by his Auntie and that was before I heard there was a girls shopping trip planned for tomorrow whilst the boys do boy things!

4.  Clearly it is not only Dougal who has a penchant for rabbits.... I have this evening decapitated one of my own.  Mine was, however of the Lindt bunny variety and consequently I now feel a little sick, yet strangely I am tempted to eat the rest.

5.  Been a long day at the end of a long week but I've made it! Am hoping for a period of calm to follow, which I fear may be wishful thinking so I'll settle for slightly less traumatic... keep your fingers crossed.

M - 402

Liverpool Half - 71

Glasgow Half - 183
Distance covered             7.1 miles
Total Distance covered   528 miles

Day 348

1.  Made the decision today to take Dougal on a long walk round the woods to hopefully buy us a little snooze time later in the day.  It was really hard going back just the two of us, but we're slowly getting used to it.

2.  Somebody somewhere doesn't want me to rest! My day did not go as planned and just kept getting busier.

3.  Consequently I now don't know how I'm going to fit everything in tomorrow and am seriously considering taking Dougal to parkrun with me in the morning, this in itself isn't a problem but making him run four miles to get there seems a little cruel, although lets face it what is a run to me is more of a fast walk for him!

4.  H manfully stepped up and took my place this afternoon....

5.  My friends called in to see me after hearing the news of Sid, and came bearing Easter Simnel Buns. Al and C are away, H doesn't like them, his friends don't know there here...  all I've got to do now is keep them out of Dougal's reach and they're all mine! Think it's time to go put the kettle on!

M - 403

Liverpool Half - 72

Glasgow Half - 184
Total Distance covered   520.9 miles

Day 347

1. The wind and rain have finally abated and for whilst I am enjoying the calm and the sunshine I can't help feeling like I've suffered a bit of storm damage and am trying hard not to compare myself to the rather sad looking greenhouse all empty and with several missing panes.

2.  I got a text this morning to say a parcel was due for delivery today.  After waiting in all morning I went on the internet at lunchtime to track its progress only to find that I had signed for it yesterday... took me a while to realise that it wasn't a computer error!

3.  Said it before, will say it again. I have the best sister.

4.  Nice sunny afternoon walk with Dougal, not a dead animal in sight, and my first cup of tea in the garden on our return.

5.  House full for tea this evening, H and his friend, C and Etsy Favouriter, followed by a fun evening trying on items from the aforementioned parcel with a much appreciated female opinion.  Thank you, it was just what I needed.

M - 404

Liverpool Half - 73

Glasgow Half - 185
Total Distance covered   520.9 miles

Day 346

1.  Hoping that the first day on my own with Dougal will be the worst day, and it is now thankfully behind us.

2.  I have a sneaking suspicion that thoughts of a linear progression are somewhat optimistic and that, like my parkrun times, it may be a little more sporadic.

3.  Dougal does great cuddles and he very conveniently seemed to need one just as I'd picked up the iron, or at least I'm sure that's what that look meant.

4.  C and I made it to the gym this evening.

5.  Thankfully the testosterone fuelled beefy bloke who (mistakenly) thought he was really something and felt it necessary to be rude to us last week wasn't there - I may not have managed to hold my tongue or my temper this evening.

M - 405

Liverpool Half - 74

Glasgow Half - 186
Total Distance covered   520.9 miles