Week 17 - Too much Walking not Enough Jogging
Sunday 30 July 2017. Last night was a late night in the pub celebrating Armagh's win over Kildare in front of 40,000 at Croke Park. So I knew there wouldn't be a lot of jogging today. It was a lazy day, but I did go for walk later.
It had been raining most of the day. I went out around 8.20 pm. It was still raining on and off. I was armed with my cameras in a carrier bag, with another bag over them to protect them. I took quite a few videos and a few photos. The first video was of the horse happily feeding on the old railway embankment.
It had been raining most of the day. I went out around 8.20 pm. It was still raining on and off. I was armed with my cameras in a carrier bag, with another bag over them to protect them. I took quite a few videos and a few photos. The first video was of the horse happily feeding on the old railway embankment.
Horse feeding on embankment.
Because of the rain, the river was flowing well and my next video was of the small waterfall at the upstream end of The Glen.
Waterfall.
In total I spent about 90 minutes walking about taking videos and enjoying the rain in the trees. Towards the end it was raining heavily, but when you are under the trees, deep down in The Glen, you can hear the rain but not really be affected by it. In my last walk, upstream along the river path, and on the climb out of The Glen, I took a number of videos as I went. I put them all together in the one below. It was almost dark, but that doesn't really feature in the video as my camcorder is very sensitive. You can also hear the rain on the trees - I hope you enjoy it.
Late Evening Rainy Walk in The Glen.
As I walked along I did collect some rubbish, but overall the work I had put in over the last few weeks meant there was not a lot to collect. In total I probably walked 2 miles.
Monday 31 July 2017. Rain, rain and more rain. I really wanted a good workout tonight. The rain stopped around 8.20 pm. Off I went wearing my favourite Green Belt Relay T-shirt. I walked to The Glen. In front of me were two girls out power-walking. I tried to catch up with them, but they were pulling away. I thought I was a fast walker. Anyway, as I turned the corner into the narrow road to the entrance to The Glen, I started jogging. As I entered The Glen I got close enough to see the two girls disappearing, along the road, into the distance. I jogged into The Glen and down to the footbridge over river. The air was so fresh and the river was the highest I had seen all year. I just wished I had my camcorder to record it. I set off on my laps using the upper footpaths. I felt OK on the first lap. I was also intent on getting a few miles under my belt. As the laps went on I got more comfortable. It was raining on and off, with the sun breaking through the clouds from time to time. Because of the contrast between bright and dark, I had to really concentrate at times to see my footing along the paths. I completed 5 full laps and all the way to the waterfall without stopping. This was my longest jog yet - 5.3 km in total. The cattle were close by, in the field across the river, so on stopping I let a huge roar out to get their attention. It worked and soon the angry one was heading in my direction. When he reached the barb-wire on his side of the waterfall he stopped and let out a few angry roars at me - he was only 10 yards away. It was scary and again I wished I had my camcorder. I did take a video of him the day before, but he only gave me a dirty look and then walked away following his mates. My timing is always awful.
My friend the bucking bronco bullock giving me a dirty look.
After my rest and talk with the cattle, I decided to set off on another lap. I jogged along to the footbridge over the river and started to climb up along the upper path. The cattle had also walked in this direction, but I was a bit ahead of them. I completed the lap and all the way to the waterfall again, adding another 1.2 km jog. After a short rest I jogged to the entrance footbridge, all the way uphill out of The Glen and a bit extra - 400 m.
Because of the rain I didn't expect to see anyone in The Glen tonight. However, I did pass a pleasant young woman four times and a man jogging once. The woman even said to me on my 5th lap "I don't know how you keep going" - I suppose these were my thoughts also.
It took a while to cool down before going indoors, and when I did go indoors I had to go back out for a few minutes as my mother had the heating on and it was a bit too hot for me. I walked to and back from the local shop. Strangely, I didn't feel that tired tonight, which I hope is a good sign. So almost 8 km (5 miles) tonight and 6 km of that was jogging - it could be my best workout to date.
Tuesday 1 August 2017. I just went for a late walk this evening. I set off at 8.20 pm and again it had been raining today. As I passed the meadow with the horse, he was standing on the top of the old railway embankment, happily eating. I tried to talk to him, but he didn't look that interested.
I took quite a few videos and photos tonight. I walked to the waterfall and the river was flowing well. The cattle were in the field opposite as I noticed one didn't look happy with me being there. You can see from the video below that he's a young bull.
The cloud coverage was breaking up and the moon was in the sky. I thought it would be good to get a video of the waterfall and the moon.
I walked around The Glen for over another hour taking videos. As it was late it was also mostly empty. However, as I walked towards the car park I could see my old friend, the Golden Retriever who loved to bark loudly at my bare legs, was approaching. I went down onto a beech next to the river, but it was too late. He was after me. His owner was just behind and apologised, saying he was just a bit enthusiastic. Anyway, he was well-behaved and let me pat him. I also saw the shy girl, who walks away from people, enter The Glen. She turned around and headed off in the opposite direction when she noticed me.
There were also lots of noises from birds in the trees and animals in the undergrowth. By the time I decided to leave it was almost dark under the tree-cover. As I climbed uphill out of The Glen, I noticed the girl in front of me. I said hello as she passed on the path above me and again as I passed her on reaching the entrance. She replied, but as I turned around to acknowledge, she walked off along the narrow road - I hope I didn't scare her.
On the way home, the sky in front of me was one of the reddest I had ever seen. There were many birds flying overhead and I could see they were all congregating on nearby telephone lines and atop of the poles carrying them. It was a great video and photo opportunity.
Before going home I walked to the local shop. I got home after 10 pm and it was almost dark. It had been a satisfying walk, and I suppose it keeps my legs working. In total I walked about 2.5 miles.
Wednesday 2 August 2017. It's my mother's bingo night and I accompany her. To get a workout in I need to go early. Again it rained most of the day and I cooked a chicken curry in the afternoon. However, by the time I had showered, stretched and set off walking towards The Glen, the clouds had started to break up and the sun was in the sky. It was 6.30 pm and the air felt fresh. I jogged down into The Glen, over the footbridge and set off on my laps. Because of the time, there were lots of dog walkers about and even a stray Labrador. I set off on the upper paths on my laps. I must admit I was a bit weary about the stray, but each time I passed him he was OK. The man with the enthusiastic Golden Retriever was sitting in his car as I passed twice. It doesn't look as if he went for a walk, and I can only think he wasn't enthusiastic about the stray.
There was also a tall, athletic young woman running laps and I passed her twice - both running in opposite directions. On my first lap, I done two smaller, extra laps around the reservoir to avoid the stray dog - I wasn't sure about him by that point. I continued to complete another two laps and all the way to the waterfall before stopping, stretching and resting. In total my first jog was 3.5 km.
I set off from the waterfall and then on another lap. I completed two laps and all the way back to the waterfall. So another 2.2 km jog. I stretched and rested again for a short time and then ran back to the exit footbridge and climbed all the way out of The Glen and to the top of the hill along the road. Another 390 steps jogging - I know I'm counting steps again, but I did want to get to a total of 6 km jogging in. The climb out of The Glen is tough and a good way to build up stamina on tired legs. So my total jogging for tonight was about 6.1 km and with the walk to The Glen and back home I probably was just short of 8 km in total - so just over 4.5 miles. I was very tired at the end and droplets of sweat were falling from my forehead and face. Later at the bingo, my sister, my aunt nor I won anything, but my mother got £10.
Tomorrow, I'll be in Armagh in the morning, and I intend to get a good workout in afterwards, and before my mother's friends visit.
Thursday 3 August 2017. I spent the afternoon in Armagh City. I didn't sleep all night so wasn't feeling great. I walked over 1.5 miles, but was in no mood for going for a workout when I got home. My mother's friends came around later and I had to look after them. It was a good night.
Friday 4 August 2017. I still didn't feel like going for a run. I did decide to go out for a walk. It was very late. I got to The Glen after 9.10 pm. I walked around for over an hour. It was almost dark when I got there and it was really dark by the time I left. I was the only one there and took lots of videos.
On the way home I also walked to and back from the local shop. I got home by 10.30 pm. I walked just over 2 miles.
Saturday 5 August 2017. Got up early and by lunchtime I looked at today's sport. I thought, shit! Armagh are playing in the quarter-final of the All Ireland against Tyrone. My first reaction was to have a shower and get a workout in before going to the pub. I cut it fine, but it meant I was going out in the sun and the heat of the day. I set off at 2.50 pm walking towards The Glen. Armagh were kicking off at 4 pm. I walked very fast towards The Glen. I jogged down to the footbridge over the river and set off on laps.
A hour earlier I had some wheaten bread and it was sitting heavily in my stomach. I could feel it on my first lap and I was worried. With the heat and the sun coming through the trees I was sweating on the first lap. I wasn't feeling great, yet I wanted to keep going. I managed 3 laps and all the way to the waterfall. So that's a 3.3 km interval. It's about 20 minutes, and to me 20 minutes, bursting a gut, is a proper workout. I was very tired after the 3 laps, but not in my legs. I should not have eaten the wheaten bread, but thank God I got 3 laps in.
After a minute shouting at the waterfall and stretching, I decided to jog back to the exit footbridge and all the way up the hill, out of The Glen, then up along the road and made up to 400 steps. I walked home fast. I was dripping like a small river for 10 minutes after I stopped. I changed and walked to my brother's pub to watch Armagh v Tyrone. I got there at 4 pm and just as they kicked off. I'll put it down as 3.5 miles as a workout.
Armagh got stuffed by Tyrone. Biggest defeat ever. Dublin also gave Monaghan a hiding, but not as big as Armagh got. I was offered a lift home by my brother, but I like walking, so I walked home. It's only half a mile and the town was empty as most were in Dublin to watch Armagh.
To me it was not a great week. Just over 20 miles. My thoughts are as the nights are long I need to get the miles in - 20 is not good enough. It's not a step backwards, but I need to make a step forward.
Tuesday 1 August 2017. I just went for a late walk this evening. I set off at 8.20 pm and again it had been raining today. As I passed the meadow with the horse, he was standing on the top of the old railway embankment, happily eating. I tried to talk to him, but he didn't look that interested.
Talking to Horse.
I took quite a few videos and photos tonight. I walked to the waterfall and the river was flowing well. The cattle were in the field opposite as I noticed one didn't look happy with me being there. You can see from the video below that he's a young bull.
Me talking to the Black Bull.
The cloud coverage was breaking up and the moon was in the sky. I thought it would be good to get a video of the waterfall and the moon.
I walked around The Glen for over another hour taking videos. As it was late it was also mostly empty. However, as I walked towards the car park I could see my old friend, the Golden Retriever who loved to bark loudly at my bare legs, was approaching. I went down onto a beech next to the river, but it was too late. He was after me. His owner was just behind and apologised, saying he was just a bit enthusiastic. Anyway, he was well-behaved and let me pat him. I also saw the shy girl, who walks away from people, enter The Glen. She turned around and headed off in the opposite direction when she noticed me.
There were also lots of noises from birds in the trees and animals in the undergrowth. By the time I decided to leave it was almost dark under the tree-cover. As I climbed uphill out of The Glen, I noticed the girl in front of me. I said hello as she passed on the path above me and again as I passed her on reaching the entrance. She replied, but as I turned around to acknowledge, she walked off along the narrow road - I hope I didn't scare her.
Angry Birds in The Glen.
On the way home, the sky in front of me was one of the reddest I had ever seen. There were many birds flying overhead and I could see they were all congregating on nearby telephone lines and atop of the poles carrying them. It was a great video and photo opportunity.
Lots of Birds and a Red Sky.
Before going home I walked to the local shop. I got home after 10 pm and it was almost dark. It had been a satisfying walk, and I suppose it keeps my legs working. In total I walked about 2.5 miles.
Wednesday 2 August 2017. It's my mother's bingo night and I accompany her. To get a workout in I need to go early. Again it rained most of the day and I cooked a chicken curry in the afternoon. However, by the time I had showered, stretched and set off walking towards The Glen, the clouds had started to break up and the sun was in the sky. It was 6.30 pm and the air felt fresh. I jogged down into The Glen, over the footbridge and set off on my laps. Because of the time, there were lots of dog walkers about and even a stray Labrador. I set off on the upper paths on my laps. I must admit I was a bit weary about the stray, but each time I passed him he was OK. The man with the enthusiastic Golden Retriever was sitting in his car as I passed twice. It doesn't look as if he went for a walk, and I can only think he wasn't enthusiastic about the stray.
There was also a tall, athletic young woman running laps and I passed her twice - both running in opposite directions. On my first lap, I done two smaller, extra laps around the reservoir to avoid the stray dog - I wasn't sure about him by that point. I continued to complete another two laps and all the way to the waterfall before stopping, stretching and resting. In total my first jog was 3.5 km.
I set off from the waterfall and then on another lap. I completed two laps and all the way back to the waterfall. So another 2.2 km jog. I stretched and rested again for a short time and then ran back to the exit footbridge and climbed all the way out of The Glen and to the top of the hill along the road. Another 390 steps jogging - I know I'm counting steps again, but I did want to get to a total of 6 km jogging in. The climb out of The Glen is tough and a good way to build up stamina on tired legs. So my total jogging for tonight was about 6.1 km and with the walk to The Glen and back home I probably was just short of 8 km in total - so just over 4.5 miles. I was very tired at the end and droplets of sweat were falling from my forehead and face. Later at the bingo, my sister, my aunt nor I won anything, but my mother got £10.
Tomorrow, I'll be in Armagh in the morning, and I intend to get a good workout in afterwards, and before my mother's friends visit.
Thursday 3 August 2017. I spent the afternoon in Armagh City. I didn't sleep all night so wasn't feeling great. I walked over 1.5 miles, but was in no mood for going for a workout when I got home. My mother's friends came around later and I had to look after them. It was a good night.
Friday 4 August 2017. I still didn't feel like going for a run. I did decide to go out for a walk. It was very late. I got to The Glen after 9.10 pm. I walked around for over an hour. It was almost dark when I got there and it was really dark by the time I left. I was the only one there and took lots of videos.
Dark Walk to the Light of The Moon.
On the way home I also walked to and back from the local shop. I got home by 10.30 pm. I walked just over 2 miles.
Saturday 5 August 2017. Got up early and by lunchtime I looked at today's sport. I thought, shit! Armagh are playing in the quarter-final of the All Ireland against Tyrone. My first reaction was to have a shower and get a workout in before going to the pub. I cut it fine, but it meant I was going out in the sun and the heat of the day. I set off at 2.50 pm walking towards The Glen. Armagh were kicking off at 4 pm. I walked very fast towards The Glen. I jogged down to the footbridge over the river and set off on laps.
The Footbridge over the River.
A hour earlier I had some wheaten bread and it was sitting heavily in my stomach. I could feel it on my first lap and I was worried. With the heat and the sun coming through the trees I was sweating on the first lap. I wasn't feeling great, yet I wanted to keep going. I managed 3 laps and all the way to the waterfall. So that's a 3.3 km interval. It's about 20 minutes, and to me 20 minutes, bursting a gut, is a proper workout. I was very tired after the 3 laps, but not in my legs. I should not have eaten the wheaten bread, but thank God I got 3 laps in.
After a minute shouting at the waterfall and stretching, I decided to jog back to the exit footbridge and all the way up the hill, out of The Glen, then up along the road and made up to 400 steps. I walked home fast. I was dripping like a small river for 10 minutes after I stopped. I changed and walked to my brother's pub to watch Armagh v Tyrone. I got there at 4 pm and just as they kicked off. I'll put it down as 3.5 miles as a workout.
Armagh got stuffed by Tyrone. Biggest defeat ever. Dublin also gave Monaghan a hiding, but not as big as Armagh got. I was offered a lift home by my brother, but I like walking, so I walked home. It's only half a mile and the town was empty as most were in Dublin to watch Armagh.
To me it was not a great week. Just over 20 miles. My thoughts are as the nights are long I need to get the miles in - 20 is not good enough. It's not a step backwards, but I need to make a step forward.
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