Week 12 - A complaint in The Glen & The Lions Roar
Sunday 25 June 2017. I had the third rest day in a row as my lower back was still aching. It was a good day for the County Armagh Gaelic Football Team as they beat Fermanagh by 20 points to 11 at The Athletic Ground in Armagh City.
Monday 26 June 2017. I decided it was time to get back out again. I was still worried about my back so come 1 pm I decided to go for a walk. I walked to the glen and then walked around 3 laps on different footpaths taking photos & videos.
I felt really good after the walk and by 8.15 pm I was on my way again to the glen. I jogged the 180 steps down to the footbridge over the river, then set off on my laps. I was really pleased to have completed 5 laps. First was on the upper footpaths and included 470 & 330 steps jogging. At the start of the second lap the frisky bullock was right up against the fence so I turned around and started the last 4 laps on the river path. They included 4 x 510, 3 x 350 and 460 steps jogging all the way to the waterfall. I finished with a 250 steps run past the entrance bridge and back. It had been a really great workout on a cool night in a very quite glen.
Tuesday 27 June 2107. After a good walk and great workout the day before, I decided to do a bit less tonight. I set off at 8.30 pm. As usual I jogged the 180 steps down to the river. I completed 3 laps top, river and top. 490 (top) & 340, 510 (river) & 340, 440 (top) & 450 to waterfall. I finished with a 220 step run along the flat footpath. It had rained all morning and the river was in good flow. As you can probably guess, the second lap along the river path was thanks to my friend the frisky bullock taking too much attention in me. Apart from that it was a pleasant evening and the only people I passed tonight were two men and a dog, plus a young couple jogging. I was very tired at the end and was glad I had only done three laps tonight.
Wednesday 28 June 2017 7.15 pm. 180 jog down to footbridge over the river, then 5 laps. First 4 included 4 x 500 & 4 x 350 on top footpaths. Last lap on lower path 530 & 450 to waterfall. Then finished with 300 back past & then back to exit footbridge. No bullocks, one guy running laps, a few dog walkers with dogs and two young girls walking laps & talking. Probably 5 miles in total and out for just over an hour.
Thursday 29 June 2017. It was raining all day. At 3 pm I went for a walk. I was just wearing shorts, a T-shirt and a light rain jacket. I was also armed with my camera, camcorder and a black bin sack, all carried in a shopping bag to protect them from the rain. The bin sack was to collect rubbish as I walked through the glen. The amount of cans, bottles, crisp packets, etc. being discarded was starting to annoy me. By the time I had walked down into the glen and along the river path, I had already filled in the black bin sack. I did however walk about for almost an hour and collected some extra rubbish. The river was in good flow but it stank of sewage. It wasn't pleasant, and I wasn't happy as you can see from my short video below. When I left the glen I decided to follow the narrow road upstream which ran parallel to the river. I wanted to see if I could find the source of the sewage. I did have an idea as 200 m along the road was the town sewage works. With the sewage works on one side of the road and an inaccessible field, between the road and the river, on the other side, I could see iron bars protection what I presumed to be an outlet pipe. The pipe must have ran from the sewage works, under the road and field. This looked likely to be the culprit, but I couldn't be 100%. So I continued upstream along the road for an extra 300 m until I got to the entrance to a farm, accessible by a stone bridge over the river. I could see the river from the bridge and it looked to be clean, so it appears that the sewage could have only come from the sewage works. I suppose, because it had been raining all day, that Northern Ireland Water assumed nobody would be out and they could get away with dumping sewage in the small river. This should never be allowed. Anyway I continued along the narrow road into the town where I walked through a children's playground, over a footbridge over the river and to a larger waterfall. The water here was definitely clean. By the time I arrived home I had been out for 2 hours in total and I was soaked.
After getting out of my wet clothes and having a wash I rested until 7 pm. The off I went again. It was still raining and to warm up I jogged the first 250 steps along the pavement on my way to the glen. On reaching the entrance I jogged 200 steps down into the glen and over the river. I completed 3 laps on top footpaths which included 3 x 500, 2 x 350 and 450 steps jogging to the waterfall. I finished by running 400 steps back well past the entrance bridge and then back past again. It rained, but only gently, all the time I was out and I didn't see a person. If you are wondering why my jogging intervals are getting longer, it's because I'm walking less and my lap around the car park is now the full way around it and a bit extra. I got home in time to change, walk to the shop and get some wine. I also had time to get the glasses and crisps out and prepare some cheese and biscuits before my mother's friends arrived. I joined them for a short while as it meant sitting on a comfortable seat and resting my back. Just after I sat down I could see the young girl (I often pass in the glen) on her way to the glen. It was raining and windy and she was having problems with her umbrella in the wind. I'm thinking to myself, that after a bad start to the week, I have done really well to catch up and if I can get out and even do a few laps in the next few days I'll have had a great week.
Friday 30 June 2017. I cooked fish & chips for three. Left home at 8 pm and walked to the glen. Started jogging about 20 m before the entrance then down to footbridge over the river - 200 steps in all. As usual I set off on the laps, not sure how many I would do. I completed 5 laps on upper footpaths.These included 2 x 500 & 2 x 370, 510 & 370, 520 & 370, 530 & 450 steps jogging to waterfall. I finished with 400 back well past the entrance footbridge and back to it. I passed a young couple walking, one van in car park, man and a dog, two young girls and other young girl. Out for just over 1 hour in total. It was a pleasant night, slightly overcast and not too warm. I admit I felt tired on the laps, but just kept going.
Saturday 1 July 2017. After a week without a shower, the new floor was eventually completed by one of my younger brothers. Both him and my older brother had being taking turns to lay it over the last week. To my surprise, The Lions managed to beat The All Blacks this morning 24 - 21, partly thanks to Sonny Bill Williams being red-carded after 25 minutes. I went to shop early to get some fresh veg to cook a chicken curry. My youngest brother came and ate a huge plate full. I had a hot shower and by 8.10 pm I was on my way walking to the glen. I jogged 220 steps down and over the river then completed 4 laps on the upper footpaths. I was wary of the cattle as they were just a short distance away, but they stayed their distance. It was a beautiful evening with the sun low in the sky and splitting the trees. The temperature was 12 C but it did feel humid. The 4 laps included 4 x 530, 3 x 370 and 450 steps jogging all the way to the waterfall. I finished with 400 steps running along the straight flat path and a bit extra back to the footbridge over the river. I was amazed not to see one person on such a pleasant night. Overall it was a satisfying workout, and even though I felt tired afterwards, it was a great way to finish what had been my best week yet. In total, between walking and jogging, I estimate that I have covered 30 miles in total. This is a huge improvement on my previous best for a week.
I know I did say I would weigh myself after 10 weeks to see how much weight I have lost, then put that back to 12 weeks after I had almost two weeks out due to injury. Well I still haven't yet, and I'm thinking I'll do it soon enough as I'm enjoying the exercise and happy to continue just as I have been.
A 360 degrees video of the area around the small waterfall.
Tuesday 27 June 2107. After a good walk and great workout the day before, I decided to do a bit less tonight. I set off at 8.30 pm. As usual I jogged the 180 steps down to the river. I completed 3 laps top, river and top. 490 (top) & 340, 510 (river) & 340, 440 (top) & 450 to waterfall. I finished with a 220 step run along the flat footpath. It had rained all morning and the river was in good flow. As you can probably guess, the second lap along the river path was thanks to my friend the frisky bullock taking too much attention in me. Apart from that it was a pleasant evening and the only people I passed tonight were two men and a dog, plus a young couple jogging. I was very tired at the end and was glad I had only done three laps tonight.
The climb up top path to right, plus river & river path to left and middle.
Wednesday 28 June 2017 7.15 pm. 180 jog down to footbridge over the river, then 5 laps. First 4 included 4 x 500 & 4 x 350 on top footpaths. Last lap on lower path 530 & 450 to waterfall. Then finished with 300 back past & then back to exit footbridge. No bullocks, one guy running laps, a few dog walkers with dogs and two young girls walking laps & talking. Probably 5 miles in total and out for just over an hour.
Thursday 29 June 2017. It was raining all day. At 3 pm I went for a walk. I was just wearing shorts, a T-shirt and a light rain jacket. I was also armed with my camera, camcorder and a black bin sack, all carried in a shopping bag to protect them from the rain. The bin sack was to collect rubbish as I walked through the glen. The amount of cans, bottles, crisp packets, etc. being discarded was starting to annoy me. By the time I had walked down into the glen and along the river path, I had already filled in the black bin sack. I did however walk about for almost an hour and collected some extra rubbish. The river was in good flow but it stank of sewage. It wasn't pleasant, and I wasn't happy as you can see from my short video below. When I left the glen I decided to follow the narrow road upstream which ran parallel to the river. I wanted to see if I could find the source of the sewage. I did have an idea as 200 m along the road was the town sewage works. With the sewage works on one side of the road and an inaccessible field, between the road and the river, on the other side, I could see iron bars protection what I presumed to be an outlet pipe. The pipe must have ran from the sewage works, under the road and field. This looked likely to be the culprit, but I couldn't be 100%. So I continued upstream along the road for an extra 300 m until I got to the entrance to a farm, accessible by a stone bridge over the river. I could see the river from the bridge and it looked to be clean, so it appears that the sewage could have only come from the sewage works. I suppose, because it had been raining all day, that Northern Ireland Water assumed nobody would be out and they could get away with dumping sewage in the small river. This should never be allowed. Anyway I continued along the narrow road into the town where I walked through a children's playground, over a footbridge over the river and to a larger waterfall. The water here was definitely clean. By the time I arrived home I had been out for 2 hours in total and I was soaked.
A short video of me complaining about sewage being discharged into the river.
After getting out of my wet clothes and having a wash I rested until 7 pm. The off I went again. It was still raining and to warm up I jogged the first 250 steps along the pavement on my way to the glen. On reaching the entrance I jogged 200 steps down into the glen and over the river. I completed 3 laps on top footpaths which included 3 x 500, 2 x 350 and 450 steps jogging to the waterfall. I finished by running 400 steps back well past the entrance bridge and then back past again. It rained, but only gently, all the time I was out and I didn't see a person. If you are wondering why my jogging intervals are getting longer, it's because I'm walking less and my lap around the car park is now the full way around it and a bit extra. I got home in time to change, walk to the shop and get some wine. I also had time to get the glasses and crisps out and prepare some cheese and biscuits before my mother's friends arrived. I joined them for a short while as it meant sitting on a comfortable seat and resting my back. Just after I sat down I could see the young girl (I often pass in the glen) on her way to the glen. It was raining and windy and she was having problems with her umbrella in the wind. I'm thinking to myself, that after a bad start to the week, I have done really well to catch up and if I can get out and even do a few laps in the next few days I'll have had a great week.
The footbridge from the cap park over the river.
Friday 30 June 2017. I cooked fish & chips for three. Left home at 8 pm and walked to the glen. Started jogging about 20 m before the entrance then down to footbridge over the river - 200 steps in all. As usual I set off on the laps, not sure how many I would do. I completed 5 laps on upper footpaths.These included 2 x 500 & 2 x 370, 510 & 370, 520 & 370, 530 & 450 steps jogging to waterfall. I finished with 400 back well past the entrance footbridge and back to it. I passed a young couple walking, one van in car park, man and a dog, two young girls and other young girl. Out for just over 1 hour in total. It was a pleasant night, slightly overcast and not too warm. I admit I felt tired on the laps, but just kept going.
Saturday 1 July 2017. After a week without a shower, the new floor was eventually completed by one of my younger brothers. Both him and my older brother had being taking turns to lay it over the last week. To my surprise, The Lions managed to beat The All Blacks this morning 24 - 21, partly thanks to Sonny Bill Williams being red-carded after 25 minutes. I went to shop early to get some fresh veg to cook a chicken curry. My youngest brother came and ate a huge plate full. I had a hot shower and by 8.10 pm I was on my way walking to the glen. I jogged 220 steps down and over the river then completed 4 laps on the upper footpaths. I was wary of the cattle as they were just a short distance away, but they stayed their distance. It was a beautiful evening with the sun low in the sky and splitting the trees. The temperature was 12 C but it did feel humid. The 4 laps included 4 x 530, 3 x 370 and 450 steps jogging all the way to the waterfall. I finished with 400 steps running along the straight flat path and a bit extra back to the footbridge over the river. I was amazed not to see one person on such a pleasant night. Overall it was a satisfying workout, and even though I felt tired afterwards, it was a great way to finish what had been my best week yet. In total, between walking and jogging, I estimate that I have covered 30 miles in total. This is a huge improvement on my previous best for a week.
I know I did say I would weigh myself after 10 weeks to see how much weight I have lost, then put that back to 12 weeks after I had almost two weeks out due to injury. Well I still haven't yet, and I'm thinking I'll do it soon enough as I'm enjoying the exercise and happy to continue just as I have been.
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