Week 21 - A Good Week supporting a weak ankle
Sunday 27 August 2017. It was All-Ireland semi-final day between Dublin and Tyrone. I cooked a large Beef and Guinness Pie for dinner - it took over 3 hours. I watched the football whilst cooking. Dublin won easily and will play Mayo in the final. I didn't have any Guinness for the pie so, at half-time, I walked to the local shop to get some.
After serving dinner (apart from my own), I stretched and headed off towards The Glen. I jogged down to the footbridge over the river and set off along the upper paths. I completed three laps and then all the way to the waterfall. I was tired and sweat was running off my face. The cattle had been moved across the river into a field, still adjacent to the waterfall and next to the narrow road into town.
I stretched for 2 minutes and started jogging along the flat path, past the exit bridge and on for another 100 m. I turned back and climbed to exit The Glen and jogged all the way back to where I cross the road - about 200 m from home.
Overall, I had jogged 3.3 km & 0.9 km. I also walked about a mile. So 4.2 km jog (2.6 miles) and 1 mile walk - a total of 3.6 miles. Not a bad start as I need to watch every step because my ankle has still not fully recovered.
Monday 28 August 2017. My ankle felt a bit strange today so I decided to rest. I did walk to my brother's pub and had three pints of The Black Stuff. It was relatively quiet and I walked home. It's over a mile to the pub and back, so I did get to stretch my legs. Before bed I applied some Ibuleve Gel to my ankle.
Tuesday 29 August 2017. I had showered and stretched and was on my walking to The Glen by 7.30 pm. It had been raining for most of the day, but just as I left home it had stopped, the clouds were starting to break up and I could see the half-moon between them and against the blue sky. The horse was at the hedge next to the road, but ignored me when I said hello.
I jogged down into The Glen and over the river, then set off on my first lap on the upper path. I was so weary about my ankle that I just kept my eyes on the path ahead of me. As well as my favourite t-shirt and shorts, I was also wearing an ankle support.
I felt really good on the first lap and was hoping to complete at least three. The second lap was also good, as was the third. By now I was beginning to believe I would manage five laps. As I crossed over the river to start the fourth I was greeted by a huge Irish Wolfhound, it was very timid and just walked past me. It was as if it was in slow-motion. Its owner was standing the far side of the bridge holding a Golden Labrador by the collar. As I passed, he said the big fellow is timid but this one can get scared of people.
As I climbed up to the old reservoir, on the fourth lap, I decided to run around it an extra time, in that way if I managed a fifth lap and all the way to the waterfall, this would be my longest interval yet. On the fifth lap I was still feeling good - I couldn't believe it. I passed the man with the Irish Wolfhound and the Golden Labrador again, this time on the highest path and just before the car park. The Wolfhound was so well-behaved, the Labrador got exited and started running about in the woods, next to the path, barking madly. He did stay well away from me and the man apologised. I didn't mind as I just felt so relaxed and happy with the fact I had ran much further than I had expected.
As I climbed up towards the reservoir again I still felt good, but decided to not do an extra loop as five laps, the previous extra loop and all the way to the waterfall would still be my best interval to date in my Long Run Back to Fitness. I continued along the long flat path towards the waterfall and even though I was still watching the ground, in front of me, with every step, I realised I was probably going slightly faster than usual. As I reached the junction of paths, I thought "why not, I feel good" so I turned left, over the river and set off on a sixth lap. I still couldn't believe how good I still felt, but by now it was starting to get dark and I had to concentrate really hard to see the path in front of me. I was so worried about the weakness in my left ankle, but I've never ran for this long in almost 17 years and just felt I wanted to complete a sixth lap. When I reached the car park, I was happy as there was less tree-coverage overhead and it was easier to see the ground.
I passed a woman and child, with a small dog on a lead, as I ran through the car park. The small dog was very noisy, the woman and child said hello. I crossed over the river, out of the car park, and along the footpath towards the steep climb up to the reservoir. I passed a young couple and it was the second time I'd said hello to them tonight. I felt like I could keep going for another lap, but I knew it would be too dark to attempt it. As I followed the path 180 degrees right and up the steep climb the tree coverage made it darker again. Although it's a steep climb, it's only about 70 yards and I enjoy it. For the second time tonight I decided to do an extra lap of the reservoir - it adds 130 m. I knew I was still comfortable and would make it all the way to the waterfall, baring a fall. I felt so good about tonight's run at this point. As I ran along the long flat path I was really starting to think about a seventh lap. I just felt I wanted to keep going and that's a feeling I haven't had in a long time.
As I reached the junction of paths, where I have a choice to go straight on towards the waterfall, or turn left and over the river to start another lap, I couldn't make my mind up. In my mind I came to a compromise. I turned left over the river and along the top path to the top and along to where the tree coverage becomes too dense to see and then turned around to run back and back over the footbridge and then left to the waterfall. As I finished at the waterfall, I looked down at the river and then into the field for the cattle. I turned around and there were two right next to me in the field on my side of the river. At least a barb wired fence was between them and me. I thought, why only two, then a few others appeared from behind the trees, across the waterfall. They were all very timid, only giving me the odd glance and I was just too pleased with my workout tonight.
To put this in perspective. Up to now I have only managed up to 5.3 km in one interval jogging. The last time I ran a 10 km race was in 2000 and since that I have not even ran 5 km. Tonight I ran 6 laps, 200 m to start the laps, 260 m on the extra two loops of the reservoir, 500 m extra on starting and turning around on the 7th lap and 100 m to the waterfall. Overall, it adds up to 7.06 km in one interval jogging. That's almost 4.4 miles and the longest I have ran in 17 years.
As I stretched by the waterfall, I thought "brilliant, let's leave it here and walk home". I just thought I'd jog to the exit bridge, up out of The Glen and a bit extra to take my jogging up to 8 km. I still felt great so I jogged past the exit bridge and for an extra 250 m to over the sluice bridge and just before the old reservoir. I turned around and ran back to climb and exit The Glen.
I kept going along the pavement towards home, thinking I would stop by the horse, but I kept going to the black path. I turned right, up the black path and all the way to the top. I then turned around and back to the bottom and 50 yards back down the road, then back to the bottom of the black path. It was another 1.7 km jog. I felt good at the end, a little tired, but not as tired as I had before on good workouts. I rested and stretched for a while. I put my arms on the wall and sweat was pouring from my brow. My thoughts "I went to hope to do 4 km jogging", yet I felt like I was running tonight, it may not have been quick, but it was great. It reminded me of trying to get fit again in the late 1990s, when I would go to Bushy Park and run five miles and enjoy it. Yet I lost that feeling
To add it all up tonight, I ran 7.06 km then 1.7 km (almost 5.5 miles). I also walked over half a mile, so a total of 6 miles tonight. I also walked to the shop and back, but let's not count that. I'm really pleased with that. Let's hope my ankle is OK and there are no adverse affects.
As I sat down, in the dark, having a beer on the bench at the front of the house, there was a beautiful half-moon in the sky. It was cooling down and the air felt so fresh. Great photo opportunity, so I got my camcorder out and took a video of the moon - enjoy.
Wednesday 30 August 2017. It's bingo night again for my mother, so to get a workout in today I need to get out early. I cooked sweet n sour chicken my parents dinner later. By 5.15 pm I had showered and stretched and was on my walking to The Glen. Once again the horse ignored me when I said hello. If I'd had an apple he would have taken attention.
I jogged down to the footbridge over the river and set off along the top path on my first lap. It was warm and dry and I was tired from my long run the previous day. I managed to complete four laps and finish at the waterfall. I have to admit it was a lot tougher than yesterday. I stretched and rested for a couple of minutes. As I called out to the cows another jogger appeared next to me. He ran around the tree and didn't stop. It was the 4th time I'd seen him. I also seen a few others out walking their dogs. There was a man with a walking stick accompanied by a small girl, a man in a fluorescent vest and a small dog, plus a woman with a small dog.
So my first interval for the day was 4.3 km. I wanted to get up to at least 5 km, so I started jogging again. I followed the long flat path as far as the sluice footbridge, then doubled back on myself and climbed to exit The Glen. I continued up to the road junction and then along the road towards home - I was counting my steps. I finished by going half way up the black path and in that way I made it up to 1,500 steps. So my total distance jogging for the day was 5.8 km (3.6 miles). I also walked half a mile, so overall total tonight of 4.1 miles.
The bingo was good, it's my mother's only constant night out each week. My sister also turns up to support her, but she's always late. I pick the books and dish them out. My mother won £10 and my sister £30 - I always seem to get the short straw, but I don't mind.
Thursday 31 August 2017. I spent the afternoon in Armagh City. I love the place and it's beautiful. It has two cathedrals and so much history. St Patrick founded his church and a centre of learning in Armagh in 445 AD. It was the first learning centre in Ireland. A university, before we had universities and you were not allowed to preach the Gospel unless you were taught in Armagh. The city is still the "See" of both the Catholic and Church of Ireland in all of Ireland. It was the capital of Ulster for many centuries and the last High King of Ireland (Brian Boru) is buried there - he died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
As I walked around Armagh, I walked swiftly and walked well over a mile, probably more like 1.5 miles. There were buskers all over the place and for such a small city it is a very diverse place. There were Europeans, Chinese, Indians, but mostly Irish. All saying hello to each other and all enjoying themselves. On the last census Armagh City had 14,500 people and that makes it the smallest in Ireland. and is know as the "City of Saints & Scholars". Northern Ireland does not have the capacity to cater for all who go on to university from here. Almost all university places are in Belfast and south of Belfast there are none at all. With thousands of the young having to go over the water to mainland UK to obtain a place at university, Armagh with all its empty buildings, history and resources is an ideal place to create a university.
I went home on the bus. Is it me or do all Northern Ireland bus drivers think they are Michael Schumacher. If Translink drivers didn't drive like maniacs then the company would save huge amounts of money over a year. Also, I wouldn't get thrown around in the seats and would enjoy the view, rather than holding on for grim death.
Anyway, I got home safely. I cooked a lovely meal tonight, Chicken with fresh chillies, lots of veg, white wine and Greek yogurt.
At 6.50 pm I was on my way walking towards The Glen. I jogged down into The Glen and over the river. I set off on my laps by climbing up along the top path and I felt quite good. It was a beautiful evening and the sun was low in the sky. I completed four laps and finished at the waterfall. It was a 4.3 km interval and I was tired when I stopped. I stretched a bit then sat down on the bench, next to the waterfall, for over a minute.
I wanted to make my jogging up to 5 km, so I set off again. I jogged past the exit footbridge to within view of sluice bridge, then back to exit bridge. I climbed out of The Glen and almost all the way back home. I ran all the way up the black path and back down, taking my second interval of the night up to 1.7 km. So running tonight was 6 km (just over 3.7 miles).
I wiped myself down and changed. As it was Thursday night I then prepared for my mother's sister and their friend arriving. This means clean wine glassed, Tayto crisps and cheese and biscuits. When they arrived, they could smell the food I had cooked earlier and both had a small portion. It was a successful evening.
Friday 1 September 2017. After such a good week so far, and still supporting a slightly weak ankle, I decided to have a break from jogging today. Instead I packed my camera, camcorder and a black bin bag and went for a walk. It was 6 pm and I wanted to get back by 7.35 pm to watch some Pro14 Rugby. There was also some litter in The Glen I had been passing for the last week and I wanted to clear it.
I started collecting litter just before entering The Glen. I could have started earlier as there was litter everywhere on the walk there. It such a shame local councils don't have the respect the have had in the past on cleanliness, but I suppose that due to Government cuts they may not have the finances to pay for it. I also started to take a video of the walk down into The Glen and over the river. There are some breaks where I stopped to pick up litter, but you can see below the edited video of my usual first 200 m on my jogs.
I collected a huge amount of litter this evening. I headed towards the waterfall first. I jumped in and out of the old disused relief channel many times on my way there to collect bottles, crisp packets, cans and sweet wrappers. I stopped by the waterfall and took a video of the area. I was looking for the cattle and they were along the river trying to hide from me.
As I walked back into The Glen and over the river I often went off the footpath to pick up a plastic bottle, but every time I went into the undergrowth I would see much more and end up picking up 2, 4, 6 or more pieces of litter. A woman walked past me with a little dog. It kept coming after me, barking and then retreating every time I turned to face it. A few minutes later as they walked along the upper path, above me, the dog would come scrambling down the hill, in my direction, and bark like mad. The woman eventually scolded the dog and put it on a lead.
By the time I had walked the whole way along the river path, and reached the car park, I had acquired a long stick and had filled the bin bag - much of its contents came from under the black bench, where it looks like some kids were getting drunk the previous evening.
I emptied most of the contents of my bin bag in the bin there. The stick helped me to retrieve lots of litter from the river. I climbed up to and walked around the disused reservoir then along the long flat path. I passed a man with a very scared dark brown dog. When the dog eventually plucked up the courage to pass me, I realised it was the stick I was holding that scared it. I also passed two women out enjoying a walk and passed them again later - they were really friendly and chatty. I kept going into the undergrowth to collect a piece of litter visible from the path, but every time I did I found lots more. The strange thing is, as I walked along the highest path, I did not see one piece of litter. When I reached the car park again the bin bag was really heavy. I tied it up and put it next to the bin.
I walked back via the river path. I could hear a car arriving in the car park behind me. On the way out of The Glen I found a coke bottle and a wine bottle that I had missed previously. As there are no bins on the way back, I walked all the way to the shop before I could get rid of them.
By the time I arrived home I had been out for 2 hours. The sky was orange and looked like it was on fire. There was a three-quarter moon in the sky and it was a beautiful evening. I must have walked at least 3 miles tonight and I really enjoyed. I missed the first 30 minutes of the rugby, but watched the rest. Both Irish teams won tonight with a bonus point, so good result. Tomorrow is the last day of the week and I'm hoping to get a run in.
Saturday 2 September 2017. It was a beautiful day, not too hot and not cold. The gardener was her to cut the grass and trim the hedges. I watched Leinster beat Dragons at Newport in the Pro14 Rugby. By 6pm I had showered and stretched and was on my way walking towards The Glen. As I passed the field with the horse I put my hand out and called him over. He was really keen as he knew I had something for him. I had half an apple cored and cut into two. It didn't take him long to eat the first and come back for the second. He wanted more, but I didn't have any more.
Just before reaching The Glen, I started jogging, then down the path and over the river. I was feeling good and wanted to get a decent workout in tonight. I set off on my first lap on the upper path. The Glen looked clean tonight and there was a slight breeze keeping me cool. I completed five laps and felt tired. I started a 6th, but it was only to get a bit extra in, so I just kept going up the hill for 100 m after the footbridge, then doubled back on myself, over the river and left towards the waterfall. By the time I stopped at the waterfall I had jogged 5.5 km and was feeling very tired, but I was happy to have got a 5 km + interval under my belt.
The Glen was quiet tonight. Just a young couple out for a walk and a man with his young son walking a dog. I finished off by jogging back to the exit footbridge and up the hill out of The Glen, I continued along the pavement as far as the edge of the town. This added another 1 km, taking my jogging for the evening up to 6.5 km (or 4 miles). As soon as I got home, I walked to the local shop and back and am now watching Connacht play Glasgow in the Pro14 at the Sportsground in Galway.
It was a good way to finish the week, 4 miles jog and a mile walk. taking my totals for the week to 19.4 miles jogging and 8.5 miles walking. An overall total of almost 28 miles - I'm very happy with that and feel well and truly back on track on My Long Run Back to Fitness.
After serving dinner (apart from my own), I stretched and headed off towards The Glen. I jogged down to the footbridge over the river and set off along the upper paths. I completed three laps and then all the way to the waterfall. I was tired and sweat was running off my face. The cattle had been moved across the river into a field, still adjacent to the waterfall and next to the narrow road into town.
I stretched for 2 minutes and started jogging along the flat path, past the exit bridge and on for another 100 m. I turned back and climbed to exit The Glen and jogged all the way back to where I cross the road - about 200 m from home.
The area around the exit footbridge on a rainy day.
Monday 28 August 2017. My ankle felt a bit strange today so I decided to rest. I did walk to my brother's pub and had three pints of The Black Stuff. It was relatively quiet and I walked home. It's over a mile to the pub and back, so I did get to stretch my legs. Before bed I applied some Ibuleve Gel to my ankle.
Tuesday 29 August 2017. I had showered and stretched and was on my walking to The Glen by 7.30 pm. It had been raining for most of the day, but just as I left home it had stopped, the clouds were starting to break up and I could see the half-moon between them and against the blue sky. The horse was at the hedge next to the road, but ignored me when I said hello.
I jogged down into The Glen and over the river, then set off on my first lap on the upper path. I was so weary about my ankle that I just kept my eyes on the path ahead of me. As well as my favourite t-shirt and shorts, I was also wearing an ankle support.
I felt really good on the first lap and was hoping to complete at least three. The second lap was also good, as was the third. By now I was beginning to believe I would manage five laps. As I crossed over the river to start the fourth I was greeted by a huge Irish Wolfhound, it was very timid and just walked past me. It was as if it was in slow-motion. Its owner was standing the far side of the bridge holding a Golden Labrador by the collar. As I passed, he said the big fellow is timid but this one can get scared of people.
As I climbed up to the old reservoir, on the fourth lap, I decided to run around it an extra time, in that way if I managed a fifth lap and all the way to the waterfall, this would be my longest interval yet. On the fifth lap I was still feeling good - I couldn't believe it. I passed the man with the Irish Wolfhound and the Golden Labrador again, this time on the highest path and just before the car park. The Wolfhound was so well-behaved, the Labrador got exited and started running about in the woods, next to the path, barking madly. He did stay well away from me and the man apologised. I didn't mind as I just felt so relaxed and happy with the fact I had ran much further than I had expected.
The steep climb up to the disused reservoir.
As I climbed up towards the reservoir again I still felt good, but decided to not do an extra loop as five laps, the previous extra loop and all the way to the waterfall would still be my best interval to date in my Long Run Back to Fitness. I continued along the long flat path towards the waterfall and even though I was still watching the ground, in front of me, with every step, I realised I was probably going slightly faster than usual. As I reached the junction of paths, I thought "why not, I feel good" so I turned left, over the river and set off on a sixth lap. I still couldn't believe how good I still felt, but by now it was starting to get dark and I had to concentrate really hard to see the path in front of me. I was so worried about the weakness in my left ankle, but I've never ran for this long in almost 17 years and just felt I wanted to complete a sixth lap. When I reached the car park, I was happy as there was less tree-coverage overhead and it was easier to see the ground.
From the top path, out towards the car park.
I passed a woman and child, with a small dog on a lead, as I ran through the car park. The small dog was very noisy, the woman and child said hello. I crossed over the river, out of the car park, and along the footpath towards the steep climb up to the reservoir. I passed a young couple and it was the second time I'd said hello to them tonight. I felt like I could keep going for another lap, but I knew it would be too dark to attempt it. As I followed the path 180 degrees right and up the steep climb the tree coverage made it darker again. Although it's a steep climb, it's only about 70 yards and I enjoy it. For the second time tonight I decided to do an extra lap of the reservoir - it adds 130 m. I knew I was still comfortable and would make it all the way to the waterfall, baring a fall. I felt so good about tonight's run at this point. As I ran along the long flat path I was really starting to think about a seventh lap. I just felt I wanted to keep going and that's a feeling I haven't had in a long time.
As I reached the junction of paths, where I have a choice to go straight on towards the waterfall, or turn left and over the river to start another lap, I couldn't make my mind up. In my mind I came to a compromise. I turned left over the river and along the top path to the top and along to where the tree coverage becomes too dense to see and then turned around to run back and back over the footbridge and then left to the waterfall. As I finished at the waterfall, I looked down at the river and then into the field for the cattle. I turned around and there were two right next to me in the field on my side of the river. At least a barb wired fence was between them and me. I thought, why only two, then a few others appeared from behind the trees, across the waterfall. They were all very timid, only giving me the odd glance and I was just too pleased with my workout tonight.
To put this in perspective. Up to now I have only managed up to 5.3 km in one interval jogging. The last time I ran a 10 km race was in 2000 and since that I have not even ran 5 km. Tonight I ran 6 laps, 200 m to start the laps, 260 m on the extra two loops of the reservoir, 500 m extra on starting and turning around on the 7th lap and 100 m to the waterfall. Overall, it adds up to 7.06 km in one interval jogging. That's almost 4.4 miles and the longest I have ran in 17 years.
As I stretched by the waterfall, I thought "brilliant, let's leave it here and walk home". I just thought I'd jog to the exit bridge, up out of The Glen and a bit extra to take my jogging up to 8 km. I still felt great so I jogged past the exit bridge and for an extra 250 m to over the sluice bridge and just before the old reservoir. I turned around and ran back to climb and exit The Glen.
I kept going along the pavement towards home, thinking I would stop by the horse, but I kept going to the black path. I turned right, up the black path and all the way to the top. I then turned around and back to the bottom and 50 yards back down the road, then back to the bottom of the black path. It was another 1.7 km jog. I felt good at the end, a little tired, but not as tired as I had before on good workouts. I rested and stretched for a while. I put my arms on the wall and sweat was pouring from my brow. My thoughts "I went to hope to do 4 km jogging", yet I felt like I was running tonight, it may not have been quick, but it was great. It reminded me of trying to get fit again in the late 1990s, when I would go to Bushy Park and run five miles and enjoy it. Yet I lost that feeling
To add it all up tonight, I ran 7.06 km then 1.7 km (almost 5.5 miles). I also walked over half a mile, so a total of 6 miles tonight. I also walked to the shop and back, but let's not count that. I'm really pleased with that. Let's hope my ankle is OK and there are no adverse affects.
As I sat down, in the dark, having a beer on the bench at the front of the house, there was a beautiful half-moon in the sky. It was cooling down and the air felt so fresh. Great photo opportunity, so I got my camcorder out and took a video of the moon - enjoy.
Half-Moon over Ireland 29 August 2017.
Wednesday 30 August 2017. It's bingo night again for my mother, so to get a workout in today I need to get out early. I cooked sweet n sour chicken my parents dinner later. By 5.15 pm I had showered and stretched and was on my walking to The Glen. Once again the horse ignored me when I said hello. If I'd had an apple he would have taken attention.
I jogged down to the footbridge over the river and set off along the top path on my first lap. It was warm and dry and I was tired from my long run the previous day. I managed to complete four laps and finish at the waterfall. I have to admit it was a lot tougher than yesterday. I stretched and rested for a couple of minutes. As I called out to the cows another jogger appeared next to me. He ran around the tree and didn't stop. It was the 4th time I'd seen him. I also seen a few others out walking their dogs. There was a man with a walking stick accompanied by a small girl, a man in a fluorescent vest and a small dog, plus a woman with a small dog.
The area around the waterfall.
So my first interval for the day was 4.3 km. I wanted to get up to at least 5 km, so I started jogging again. I followed the long flat path as far as the sluice footbridge, then doubled back on myself and climbed to exit The Glen. I continued up to the road junction and then along the road towards home - I was counting my steps. I finished by going half way up the black path and in that way I made it up to 1,500 steps. So my total distance jogging for the day was 5.8 km (3.6 miles). I also walked half a mile, so overall total tonight of 4.1 miles.
The bingo was good, it's my mother's only constant night out each week. My sister also turns up to support her, but she's always late. I pick the books and dish them out. My mother won £10 and my sister £30 - I always seem to get the short straw, but I don't mind.
Thursday 31 August 2017. I spent the afternoon in Armagh City. I love the place and it's beautiful. It has two cathedrals and so much history. St Patrick founded his church and a centre of learning in Armagh in 445 AD. It was the first learning centre in Ireland. A university, before we had universities and you were not allowed to preach the Gospel unless you were taught in Armagh. The city is still the "See" of both the Catholic and Church of Ireland in all of Ireland. It was the capital of Ulster for many centuries and the last High King of Ireland (Brian Boru) is buried there - he died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
As I walked around Armagh, I walked swiftly and walked well over a mile, probably more like 1.5 miles. There were buskers all over the place and for such a small city it is a very diverse place. There were Europeans, Chinese, Indians, but mostly Irish. All saying hello to each other and all enjoying themselves. On the last census Armagh City had 14,500 people and that makes it the smallest in Ireland. and is know as the "City of Saints & Scholars". Northern Ireland does not have the capacity to cater for all who go on to university from here. Almost all university places are in Belfast and south of Belfast there are none at all. With thousands of the young having to go over the water to mainland UK to obtain a place at university, Armagh with all its empty buildings, history and resources is an ideal place to create a university.
I went home on the bus. Is it me or do all Northern Ireland bus drivers think they are Michael Schumacher. If Translink drivers didn't drive like maniacs then the company would save huge amounts of money over a year. Also, I wouldn't get thrown around in the seats and would enjoy the view, rather than holding on for grim death.
Anyway, I got home safely. I cooked a lovely meal tonight, Chicken with fresh chillies, lots of veg, white wine and Greek yogurt.
At 6.50 pm I was on my way walking towards The Glen. I jogged down into The Glen and over the river. I set off on my laps by climbing up along the top path and I felt quite good. It was a beautiful evening and the sun was low in the sky. I completed four laps and finished at the waterfall. It was a 4.3 km interval and I was tired when I stopped. I stretched a bit then sat down on the bench, next to the waterfall, for over a minute.
I wanted to make my jogging up to 5 km, so I set off again. I jogged past the exit footbridge to within view of sluice bridge, then back to exit bridge. I climbed out of The Glen and almost all the way back home. I ran all the way up the black path and back down, taking my second interval of the night up to 1.7 km. So running tonight was 6 km (just over 3.7 miles).
A walk up the Black Path at dusk.
I wiped myself down and changed. As it was Thursday night I then prepared for my mother's sister and their friend arriving. This means clean wine glassed, Tayto crisps and cheese and biscuits. When they arrived, they could smell the food I had cooked earlier and both had a small portion. It was a successful evening.
Friday 1 September 2017. After such a good week so far, and still supporting a slightly weak ankle, I decided to have a break from jogging today. Instead I packed my camera, camcorder and a black bin bag and went for a walk. It was 6 pm and I wanted to get back by 7.35 pm to watch some Pro14 Rugby. There was also some litter in The Glen I had been passing for the last week and I wanted to clear it.
I started collecting litter just before entering The Glen. I could have started earlier as there was litter everywhere on the walk there. It such a shame local councils don't have the respect the have had in the past on cleanliness, but I suppose that due to Government cuts they may not have the finances to pay for it. I also started to take a video of the walk down into The Glen and over the river. There are some breaks where I stopped to pick up litter, but you can see below the edited video of my usual first 200 m on my jogs.
Into The Glen and down to the footbridge over the river.
I collected a huge amount of litter this evening. I headed towards the waterfall first. I jumped in and out of the old disused relief channel many times on my way there to collect bottles, crisp packets, cans and sweet wrappers. I stopped by the waterfall and took a video of the area. I was looking for the cattle and they were along the river trying to hide from me.
Area by the waterfall and cattle hiding.
As I walked back into The Glen and over the river I often went off the footpath to pick up a plastic bottle, but every time I went into the undergrowth I would see much more and end up picking up 2, 4, 6 or more pieces of litter. A woman walked past me with a little dog. It kept coming after me, barking and then retreating every time I turned to face it. A few minutes later as they walked along the upper path, above me, the dog would come scrambling down the hill, in my direction, and bark like mad. The woman eventually scolded the dog and put it on a lead.
By the time I had walked the whole way along the river path, and reached the car park, I had acquired a long stick and had filled the bin bag - much of its contents came from under the black bench, where it looks like some kids were getting drunk the previous evening.
The Black Bench in The Glen - I Don't like the graffiti on it.
I emptied most of the contents of my bin bag in the bin there. The stick helped me to retrieve lots of litter from the river. I climbed up to and walked around the disused reservoir then along the long flat path. I passed a man with a very scared dark brown dog. When the dog eventually plucked up the courage to pass me, I realised it was the stick I was holding that scared it. I also passed two women out enjoying a walk and passed them again later - they were really friendly and chatty. I kept going into the undergrowth to collect a piece of litter visible from the path, but every time I did I found lots more. The strange thing is, as I walked along the highest path, I did not see one piece of litter. When I reached the car park again the bin bag was really heavy. I tied it up and put it next to the bin.
My full bin bag next to the bin in The Glen.
I walked back via the river path. I could hear a car arriving in the car park behind me. On the way out of The Glen I found a coke bottle and a wine bottle that I had missed previously. As there are no bins on the way back, I walked all the way to the shop before I could get rid of them.
By the time I arrived home I had been out for 2 hours. The sky was orange and looked like it was on fire. There was a three-quarter moon in the sky and it was a beautiful evening. I must have walked at least 3 miles tonight and I really enjoyed. I missed the first 30 minutes of the rugby, but watched the rest. Both Irish teams won tonight with a bonus point, so good result. Tomorrow is the last day of the week and I'm hoping to get a run in.
Saturday 2 September 2017. It was a beautiful day, not too hot and not cold. The gardener was her to cut the grass and trim the hedges. I watched Leinster beat Dragons at Newport in the Pro14 Rugby. By 6pm I had showered and stretched and was on my way walking towards The Glen. As I passed the field with the horse I put my hand out and called him over. He was really keen as he knew I had something for him. I had half an apple cored and cut into two. It didn't take him long to eat the first and come back for the second. He wanted more, but I didn't have any more.
An earlier video of me talking to the horse.
Just before reaching The Glen, I started jogging, then down the path and over the river. I was feeling good and wanted to get a decent workout in tonight. I set off on my first lap on the upper path. The Glen looked clean tonight and there was a slight breeze keeping me cool. I completed five laps and felt tired. I started a 6th, but it was only to get a bit extra in, so I just kept going up the hill for 100 m after the footbridge, then doubled back on myself, over the river and left towards the waterfall. By the time I stopped at the waterfall I had jogged 5.5 km and was feeling very tired, but I was happy to have got a 5 km + interval under my belt.
The Glen was quiet tonight. Just a young couple out for a walk and a man with his young son walking a dog. I finished off by jogging back to the exit footbridge and up the hill out of The Glen, I continued along the pavement as far as the edge of the town. This added another 1 km, taking my jogging for the evening up to 6.5 km (or 4 miles). As soon as I got home, I walked to the local shop and back and am now watching Connacht play Glasgow in the Pro14 at the Sportsground in Galway.
It was a good way to finish the week, 4 miles jog and a mile walk. taking my totals for the week to 19.4 miles jogging and 8.5 miles walking. An overall total of almost 28 miles - I'm very happy with that and feel well and truly back on track on My Long Run Back to Fitness.
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