Week 33 - A slight injury and mainly just walking.
Sunday 19 November 2017. The start of another week, so let's see how I get on. I still have no laid out plan on when or what distance I am going to run or walk. I'll just play it by ear and do as much as my body tells me, or how I feel on each day. I did have a long run yesterday and presume my body will feel tired today. My legs ached after the long run, but I did a lots of stretching and applied some Ibuleve to the offending parts. However, it's always good to get a few miles in at the start of a week.
I had sweet and sour chicken for breakfast. I had cooked it on Wednesday and it needed eaten. I though it would be good to walk it off and see how my legs felt.
Just before lunchtime, I had a shower and went for a walk. As usual I was armed with my camcorder and an apple for the horse. However, when I got to the horse's field, he didn't want to come. He was only about 30 yards away, so I threw half the apple to him. He ate it and immediately came walking towards me for the other half.
In The Glen, I walked to the waterfall and just one lap, along the river path and back via the old reservoir and the flat path. On the way home I diverted to the local shop to collect a few provisions to cook lamb casserole and dumplings.
In The Glen, I walked to the waterfall and just one lap, along the river path and back via the old reservoir and the flat path. On the way home I diverted to the local shop to collect a few provisions to cook lamb casserole and dumplings.
Back home and I was cooking for over two hours. I then changed and set off for a run at 3.30 pm. It was due to get dark at 4.30 pm so I ran from home. I was surprised how good I felt after my long run the day before. On my first lap I added an extra lap of the old reservoir, two on my second, and intended three on my third. However, I felt something strange at the back of my left knee and cut this to two of the reservoir. I still kept running, completed five laps of The Glen and finished at the waterfall. As I stretched my left leg, at the bench, I knew something was not right with the back of my knee. I walked home and then stretched some more.
After changing again, I finished cooking the meal for later. I am worried I may have acquired an injury, but I'll keep stretching and rest it.
In The Glen today, there were many people walking their dogs and a few just walking. At one point there were four cars in the car park. Although, it was still relatively quiet, this was one of the busiest days I have yet seen here. It's surprising as it was such a cold crisp day.
As long as my left leg is OK, it hasn't been a bad day. I ran 6.7 km (or 4.1 miles) and walked about 2.5 miles.
Monday 20 November 2017. My left leg, at the back and on the outside of my knee, was not feeling right. I had the same thing many years ago and it kept me out of action for weeks. It only got better after I went to see a physio in Epsom. She told me to do buttock stretches and that would exercise the offending part. Amazingly, this worked within days and I was running again. I was a lot fitter then and it wasn't long before I attempted a half-marathon. However, I didn't want it to be on roads, so I found one which went up and down Holmbury Hill four times on grass and sand. I even won by almost four minutes. This time, I'm hoping my injury is not as bad, but I will be doing a lot of buttock stretches.
Sore leg, or not, I still decided to go for a walk today As I passed the horse's field, he was on top of the old railway embankment. He was watching me. I stopped at the gate and called him, but he wouldn't come. However, as soon as I showed him the apple, he was soon on his way.
In The Glen, I walked to the waterfall and then twice around. It had been raining most of the day and the ground was very wet underfoot. I was passed a few times by a young woman jogger. I've seen her here a few times before.
I walked around all the paths, completing two full laps of The Glen. It was very quiet, apart from the jogger and one person walking a dog. Probably, because of all the rain there had been. There is a second disused reservoir here. It's near the car park, below the larger one I run around and it smaller. It is overgrown and usually devoid of water, but it's now starting to fill with rain water.
As I walked along the top path, the jogger and dog-walker had already left and it was obvious I was now the only person in here. It was just starting to get dark, the birds were singing, and I decided it was worthwhile sharing it with you.
When I got back to the car park, it was still void of vehicles. As I set off home, along the river path, the light was starting to disappear, but the autumn colours were still plain to be seen. I was about to take a video, but then the bright lights of a car appeared in the car park behind me. I often wonder why cars come here after dark, but from some of the litter I find, but don't pick up, in the car park, I probably know why. I walked on further into The Glen, to get away from the bright lights of the car, before taking a video of a short walk by the river.
On the way home, I diverted to the local shop and back. Although, I was unable to run, I did manage to walk about 3 miles. My left leg is not right, but hopefully it'll be better soon.
Tuesday 21 November 2017. Again, my left leg still does not feel 100%, so I just decided to go for a walk again. It had been raining most of the morning and it was still overcast when I set off at 1.30 pm. Today, I had a carrot for the horse, but he didn't want to come down from the railway embankment.
When I reached the car park, it was empty. My walk around today was very slow and I was looking for little things I have never seen before. I wasn't interested in covering ground quickly, as it was early and my leg was a worry.
As I walked along the top path, I was looking for the squirrels, but they were nowhere to be seen today. I was also keeping an eye out for fungi, as I saw a bit about this on Countryfile on Sunday. I saw a few small, but uninteresting ones. Then I found a large gathering of them by a tree stump. They are still not that exiting, but I took a video for any fungi fans watching.
The shame about looking for fungi, is I always find lots, but some day I'm really hoping to find a fairy sitting on top of one of them - anyway, we live and hope.
Another thing I found, by walking very slowly, was a view of The Glen I had never seen before. It's a bit busy looking, and even though it was overcast, it still shows some of the wonderful colours of autumn.
For all the time I was here today, it was only my shadow which I passed. I sometimes don't understand why local people don't use this beautiful place more often. I also find it a shame the days are getting so short, but I love the colours in woods at this time of year.
I walked back into The Glen, along the river path with the intention of going home. As I walked back over the river again, one leaf caught my attention. There were leaves falling everywhere around me, but this leaf at first made me think it was fighting to survive, but then I started to think, it maybe trying to escape. Like people, trees do get tired in the autumn, they loose the youth they had through spring and summer and no longer have the strength to hold leaves. However, unlike people, trees regenerate come the following spring.
On exiting The Glen, I started to head home, but after a few steps, I decided to walk along the narrow road which follows the river back into the centre of the village. Shortly after passing the sewage works I spotted a gap in the hedge and looked through to see if I could get a good view of the river. Usually, when I walk along here it's almost dark and I've never been able to see this view.
On looking through the hedge, I saw the river meander around the field, but I also saw something I wasn't expecting. I could see lots of discharge coming from the sewage outlet and going into the river. It explained why I got a musty smell when I earlier walked over the footbridge in The Glen. It also explains why there are no fish in the river. I only think, do Northern Ireland Water really need to do this?
I continued to walk along the narrow road into the village - I do say village, but it is really a small town as over 3.000 people live here according to the last census. However, I get the feeling that many households did not fill out the form and probably a lot more live here.
Apart from the field, just upstream from The Glen, a glen does continue all the way into the village. It goes under a large, disused railway viaduct, past a children's play area and on to the centre of the village. This glen is accessible through the play area and a path extends from there to the centre of the village, to just past the old town mill. The mill was restored a few decades ago, but has been closed for the last few years. The path from the play area was cleaned up last year and re-opened, but soon closed off. A few years ago a new arts and community centre was opened by the Irish President. It's named after a local man - Tommy Makem - who along with The Clancy Brothers, introduced America to Irish Folk Music.
Two years ago it was reported all would be open as a continuous walk, paid for by EU money. It would mean making a great walk along the river and opening parts that never have been. Thanks to uncertainty over Brexit, it no longer seems to be happening.
As I walked into the village, I diverted through the play area to the river. There is a large waterfall there. I remember it as a child, when I used to climb it. However, the river was a bit too busy to do that today.
By the time I got home, I was out for almost three hours. It was an enjoyable and educational walk, but it was a slow walk. However, I really enjoyed it. I did miss not going for a run. I still continue to do buttock stretches, and my left leg is feeling a bit better. Overall, I walked about 4 miles.
My blog maybe getting a bit long this week. I hope I can start running again soon as, at present I am not loosing a lot of weight. When I started this "Long Run Back to Fitness" I weighed 17.5 stone. I lost weight quickly, but in the last five weeks I have only lost 4 pounds. I now weigh 14.5 stone, but would love to get back near to, or under 10 stone.
Wednesday 22 November 2017. It rained all day, and when I went for a walk it was still drizzling. I had another carrot for the horse. He was by his gate and loved the carrot. I remembered I had another carrot yesterday, which he didn't come for, so he had that too.
I walked to the waterfall and then around The Glen twice. I took a few videos. The river was even fuller than it was yesterday and the river path was very slippery in places.
The young woman was there jogging and was still there when I left. There was also the woman walking her three dogs and a man walking his dog. I saw the jogger so many times and at points, where I was taking a video, she would suddenly jog into the shot. I haven't uploaded any of those, but here's one of me walking back into The Glen, on my way home, I did take one of the short walk.
On the way home, I diverted to the local shop. My feelings were that I wasn't that happy with just getting one short run in so far this week. However, it's better to be safe than to take a chance with an injury. I walked 3 miles today.
Thursday 23 November 2017. Spent some of the day in Armagh City. I walked around a lot and collected a few provisions. When I got home it was too late to go for a walk. The shame was it was a lovely crisp day.
I prepared everything for my mother's friends arriving and soon after they arrived and were settled, I went to the quiz in my youngest brother's pub. I walked there and back. It was really clod on the way home and the paths were so slippy that I had to walk on the road.
I may not have got a walk in today, but I did walk just over 2 miles, between Armagh and going to the quiz. In the quiz, we were doing really well right up to near the end, but finished joint third.
Friday 24 November 2017. Quiet day with just a walk to the local shop to collect a few beer to watch the rugby later. It's a shame all three Irish province games were on at the same time. I was watching all three using my laptop and the TV. Ulster and Leinster won and Connacht narrowly lost, but did get two bonus points out of the game.
Overall, it was not a great week. I ran 4.1 miles and walked 14.5 miles.
Monday 20 November 2017. My left leg, at the back and on the outside of my knee, was not feeling right. I had the same thing many years ago and it kept me out of action for weeks. It only got better after I went to see a physio in Epsom. She told me to do buttock stretches and that would exercise the offending part. Amazingly, this worked within days and I was running again. I was a lot fitter then and it wasn't long before I attempted a half-marathon. However, I didn't want it to be on roads, so I found one which went up and down Holmbury Hill four times on grass and sand. I even won by almost four minutes. This time, I'm hoping my injury is not as bad, but I will be doing a lot of buttock stretches.
Sore leg, or not, I still decided to go for a walk today As I passed the horse's field, he was on top of the old railway embankment. He was watching me. I stopped at the gate and called him, but he wouldn't come. However, as soon as I showed him the apple, he was soon on his way.
Horse won't come for apple, until he sees it.
In The Glen, I walked to the waterfall and then twice around. It had been raining most of the day and the ground was very wet underfoot. I was passed a few times by a young woman jogger. I've seen her here a few times before.
Jogger disappears along the river path into The Glen.
I walked around all the paths, completing two full laps of The Glen. It was very quiet, apart from the jogger and one person walking a dog. Probably, because of all the rain there had been. There is a second disused reservoir here. It's near the car park, below the larger one I run around and it smaller. It is overgrown and usually devoid of water, but it's now starting to fill with rain water.
The smaller disused reservoir filling up with rain water.
As I walked along the top path, the jogger and dog-walker had already left and it was obvious I was now the only person in here. It was just starting to get dark, the birds were singing, and I decided it was worthwhile sharing it with you.
Me and the river and the leaves and the birds and the trees.
When I got back to the car park, it was still void of vehicles. As I set off home, along the river path, the light was starting to disappear, but the autumn colours were still plain to be seen. I was about to take a video, but then the bright lights of a car appeared in the car park behind me. I often wonder why cars come here after dark, but from some of the litter I find, but don't pick up, in the car park, I probably know why. I walked on further into The Glen, to get away from the bright lights of the car, before taking a video of a short walk by the river.
A short walk along the river path at dusk.
On the way home, I diverted to the local shop and back. Although, I was unable to run, I did manage to walk about 3 miles. My left leg is not right, but hopefully it'll be better soon.
Tuesday 21 November 2017. Again, my left leg still does not feel 100%, so I just decided to go for a walk again. It had been raining most of the morning and it was still overcast when I set off at 1.30 pm. Today, I had a carrot for the horse, but he didn't want to come down from the railway embankment.
The rain stayed off, but it remained overcast the whole time I was out. I had an extra carrier bag with me today. It was to collect any litter I came across in The Glen.
On my walk down, into The Glen, there were a couple of pieces of litter. I walked to the waterfall area, then back and over the river.
The footbridge over the river in the middle of The Glen.
As usual, once over the footbridge, I turned left along the river path. The river was higher than usual today and the ground was slippery in places. There was also a strange musty smell as I crossed over the footbridge. I think I found out why a little later.
From the river path, just after footbridge, in The Glen.
As I walked along the top path, I was looking for the squirrels, but they were nowhere to be seen today. I was also keeping an eye out for fungi, as I saw a bit about this on Countryfile on Sunday. I saw a few small, but uninteresting ones. Then I found a large gathering of them by a tree stump. They are still not that exiting, but I took a video for any fungi fans watching.
Lots of fungi around and old tree stump.
The shame about looking for fungi, is I always find lots, but some day I'm really hoping to find a fairy sitting on top of one of them - anyway, we live and hope.
Another thing I found, by walking very slowly, was a view of The Glen I had never seen before. It's a bit busy looking, and even though it was overcast, it still shows some of the wonderful colours of autumn.
A new view, looking back into The Glen from near the car park.
For all the time I was here today, it was only my shadow which I passed. I sometimes don't understand why local people don't use this beautiful place more often. I also find it a shame the days are getting so short, but I love the colours in woods at this time of year.
I walked back into The Glen, along the river path with the intention of going home. As I walked back over the river again, one leaf caught my attention. There were leaves falling everywhere around me, but this leaf at first made me think it was fighting to survive, but then I started to think, it maybe trying to escape. Like people, trees do get tired in the autumn, they loose the youth they had through spring and summer and no longer have the strength to hold leaves. However, unlike people, trees regenerate come the following spring.
A leaf trying to survive, or escape, over a river in autumn.
On exiting The Glen, I started to head home, but after a few steps, I decided to walk along the narrow road which follows the river back into the centre of the village. Shortly after passing the sewage works I spotted a gap in the hedge and looked through to see if I could get a good view of the river. Usually, when I walk along here it's almost dark and I've never been able to see this view.
On looking through the hedge, I saw the river meander around the field, but I also saw something I wasn't expecting. I could see lots of discharge coming from the sewage outlet and going into the river. It explained why I got a musty smell when I earlier walked over the footbridge in The Glen. It also explains why there are no fish in the river. I only think, do Northern Ireland Water really need to do this?
Sewage discharge into the river, just upstream from The Glen.
I continued to walk along the narrow road into the village - I do say village, but it is really a small town as over 3.000 people live here according to the last census. However, I get the feeling that many households did not fill out the form and probably a lot more live here.
Apart from the field, just upstream from The Glen, a glen does continue all the way into the village. It goes under a large, disused railway viaduct, past a children's play area and on to the centre of the village. This glen is accessible through the play area and a path extends from there to the centre of the village, to just past the old town mill. The mill was restored a few decades ago, but has been closed for the last few years. The path from the play area was cleaned up last year and re-opened, but soon closed off. A few years ago a new arts and community centre was opened by the Irish President. It's named after a local man - Tommy Makem - who along with The Clancy Brothers, introduced America to Irish Folk Music.
Irish President arrives to open Tommy Makem Arts & Community Centre.
Two years ago it was reported all would be open as a continuous walk, paid for by EU money. It would mean making a great walk along the river and opening parts that never have been. Thanks to uncertainty over Brexit, it no longer seems to be happening.
As I walked into the village, I diverted through the play area to the river. There is a large waterfall there. I remember it as a child, when I used to climb it. However, the river was a bit too busy to do that today.
Waterfall next to children's play area.
By the time I got home, I was out for almost three hours. It was an enjoyable and educational walk, but it was a slow walk. However, I really enjoyed it. I did miss not going for a run. I still continue to do buttock stretches, and my left leg is feeling a bit better. Overall, I walked about 4 miles.
My blog maybe getting a bit long this week. I hope I can start running again soon as, at present I am not loosing a lot of weight. When I started this "Long Run Back to Fitness" I weighed 17.5 stone. I lost weight quickly, but in the last five weeks I have only lost 4 pounds. I now weigh 14.5 stone, but would love to get back near to, or under 10 stone.
Wednesday 22 November 2017. It rained all day, and when I went for a walk it was still drizzling. I had another carrot for the horse. He was by his gate and loved the carrot. I remembered I had another carrot yesterday, which he didn't come for, so he had that too.
Horse gets two carrots.
I walked to the waterfall and then around The Glen twice. I took a few videos. The river was even fuller than it was yesterday and the river path was very slippery in places.
Waterfall has lots of water going over it.
The young woman was there jogging and was still there when I left. There was also the woman walking her three dogs and a man walking his dog. I saw the jogger so many times and at points, where I was taking a video, she would suddenly jog into the shot. I haven't uploaded any of those, but here's one of me walking back into The Glen, on my way home, I did take one of the short walk.
Walking into The Glen on a rainy day.
On the way home, I diverted to the local shop. My feelings were that I wasn't that happy with just getting one short run in so far this week. However, it's better to be safe than to take a chance with an injury. I walked 3 miles today.
Thursday 23 November 2017. Spent some of the day in Armagh City. I walked around a lot and collected a few provisions. When I got home it was too late to go for a walk. The shame was it was a lovely crisp day.
I prepared everything for my mother's friends arriving and soon after they arrived and were settled, I went to the quiz in my youngest brother's pub. I walked there and back. It was really clod on the way home and the paths were so slippy that I had to walk on the road.
I may not have got a walk in today, but I did walk just over 2 miles, between Armagh and going to the quiz. In the quiz, we were doing really well right up to near the end, but finished joint third.
Friday 24 November 2017. Quiet day with just a walk to the local shop to collect a few beer to watch the rugby later. It's a shame all three Irish province games were on at the same time. I was watching all three using my laptop and the TV. Ulster and Leinster won and Connacht narrowly lost, but did get two bonus points out of the game.
Overall, it was not a great week. I ran 4.1 miles and walked 14.5 miles.
Comments
Post a Comment