Tour de West Bromwich #Juneathon day 24

"Are you going to cycle to work on Friday?" Sarah asked me this morning. Actually, this didn't seem like a bad idea as I'd switched days at work so I had a long day on a Thursday and a short day on Friday. This meant that for the first time I attempted the ride to work, I had a little more time to play with both in the morning and in the afternoon. However, although I'd ridden home from Decathlon on Saturday, I didn't think it was sensible to try and just ride to work on Friday without having tested some of the distance first. (I also confirmed with reception at work that there was shower available to rinse my stinky body when I got to work).

When I have used the exercise bike at both home and at the gym, I have been able to cover 10 miles in half an hour if I'm pushing it or a little longer if I'm not so I picked a route about 10 miles long and allowed myself about an hour to complete the distance. The route was a combination of road, towpath and the cycle route that runs alongside the Midland Metro.

About a minute into my ride, I realised that runkeeper decided I had covered no distance. In my attempt to preserve my phone's battery, I'd flicked it into airplane mode and so hadn't picked anything up. A quick change of the settings solved the problem and I set off again.

Tonight, my attire involved my padded cycling shorts, underneath my jogging pants. I also borrowed Sarah's gel seat and I must say that the ride was a lot more comfortable as a result. I was quite pleased with the way things went in the first half of the ride, with the only times I had to get off the bike was either to go up some steps or to let another cyclist past (the surprise was from the guy behind who absolutely caned it past me!). There were several sections that I wasn't keen on - particularly under bridges where the surface is either designed to shake every bone in your body, or to get you right next to the edge of the canal.

Although I was enjoying my ride, I left the towpath around the 5-mile mark (If I'd carried on, I'd have reached the office around 2-3 miles later), however my next challenge was a road section, starting with a hill. After I'd succesfully climbed it without getting off, I must admit to having my doubts as to whether I was capable of riding both to and from Birmingham the same day. (Sarah's managed it a couple of times and there's always the safety net of being able to ride to the station at the end of the day and get the train back again).

One of the benefits you get being outdoors as opposed to on an exercise bike is downhill. Gym equipment doesn't give you the credit for the distance if you freewheel it! and so started my route back alongside the tramline. This both was and wasn't a route I was familiar with as when we lived in Wolverhampton, we used to commute by tram to Birmingham every day. However, the path alongside the tramway does cross the tracks on several occasions with kissing gates either side of the track to prevent stupid people from trying to cross in front of a tram. This meant dismounting again, although by the end of the path, I had just about perfected the 'postman's dismount' - something I'd never got the hang of when I was a kid!

At various points during the ride, I felt a sharp pain in my back around my right shoulder from where I'd been hunched over, so Sarah kindly ran me a bath to soak in when I got back. I know I'm still shaky at slow speeds, but all in all it was a very good workout and bodes well for later in the week!

Cycling: 9.43 miles in 1h 03m 36

Splattered!

Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 25.11 miles
Time - 3h 35m51

Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 50m 38

Cycling:
Distance - 98.88 miles
Time - 6h 02m 53

Walking:
Distance - 17.98 miles
Time - 4h 37m 18

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 8.77 miles
Time - 1h 16mm 47

Rowing Machine:
Distance - 1.24 miles
Time - 09m 07

Total Distance - 158.49 miles
Total Time - 19h 32m 34  

Pedal and Pool Power #Juneathon day 23

Ok, let's try and get the TMI bit out the way first... my bum hurts. I didn't notice so much yesterday evening, but then I was on a comfy sofa followed by an even more comfy bed.

The other thing on going downstairs was that something stank. After a brief inspection of the house, I concluded it wasn't inside and after briefly opening the front door, was satisfied it was nothing I needed to worry about.

My usual Sunday morning routine was to go swimming. However, they were resurfacing the car park so the obvious alternative was to cycle.

It's amazing how many roads that you think are flat when you're in a car turn out not to be when you're under your own steam. Fortunately, I seem to have solved the wonky seat issue I had yesterday.

It felt strange being sweaty before getting into the pool. I could have spent a lot longer in the shower before getting into the pool!

As I had already warmed up on the bike, I went straight into front crawl and of the 2km I covered, only about 60m was done on breast stroke. It wasn't a particularly fast time, but then at the back of my mind there was the thought that I had to ride home again. It was a really good workout, although just the sight of my cycling shorts reminded me that I ache!

On my way home, I found the reason for the odd smell - a local warehouse had been set alight and the fire brigade were in attendance. 

On getting home, I parked next to Sarah and then went for a well deserved shower as in comparison to other Sundays, I'd covered three times the distance.

Cycling: 2.29 miles in 14m 49 (2 rides)
Swimming: 1.24miles (2km) in 44m 33

My early birthday present courtesy of Sarah and Mr Decathlon

Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 25.11 miles
Time - 3h 35m51

Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 50m 38

Cycling:
Distance - 89.45 miles
Time - 4h 59m 17

Walking:
Distance - 17.98 miles
Time - 4h 37m 18

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 8.77 miles
Time - 1h 16mm 47

Rowing Machine:
Distance - 1.24 miles
Time - 09m 07

Total Distance - 149.06 miles
Total Time - 18h 28m 58  

Running and cycling in the rain #Juneathon Day 22

It was always going to be a busy day today, however it would start as usual with a trip to Walsall Arboretum and Park Run.

Somehow I managed to reset my wristwatch to factory settings minutes before the race, so for me the race started just after midnight! It was threatening to rain as we set off, and I quickly got into a comfortable stride. Usually, the audio cues in my ear are quite helpful, but my brain wasn't engaged so I never really worked out whether I was ahead or behind my target pace (given I ran 25m 40 last week, I set my target at 25m 30).

Halfway round the third lap, it started to rain, not too heavily, but enough for me to notice, however I also realised that a PB was still possible. After being a bit miffed that I hadn't achieved a personal best in a while before last week, all of a sudden, just like buses, it appeared that a second one was following right behind. Stopping my watch as I crossed the line, it looked good and the text message later in day confirmed that was fifteen seconds faster than I'd run 5km before so today's Park run was bought to you by the number 17 and the letters P and B!

Park Run #17: 3.11miles (5km) in 25m 25 (56th finisher)

On my way to a second PB in two weeks - photo by Rocket Ron, linked from Flickr.

This evening, we went to buy my birthday present. Admittedly, it is two weeks early, however as we'd just been paid, it seemed like the best idea. I'd worked out my route home in advance, as if you're going to get a new bike, you might as well go somewhere you've never been before!

I had chosen to wear my running tights instead of my padded cycling shorts and I had dismissed Sarah's suggestion of getting a padded seat, however some of the canal towpaths that seem flat when you run on them can be anything but when you're on a bike. Still, everything was going well until about the 4-mile mark when my seat developed a mind of its own, reclining to an uncomfortable angle which made riding difficult and to cap it all, it started to rain again! Even so, I made it home without having to make too many stops and promptly tightened the seat to make future rides easier! The first ride of many.

Cycling: 6.25miles in 38m 09 

The way home

Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 25.11 miles
Time - 3h 35m51

Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 05m 55

Cycling:
Distance - 87.16 miles
Time - 4h 44m 28

Walking:
Distance - 17.98 miles
Time - 4h 37m 18

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 8.77 miles
Time - 1h 16mm 47

Rowing Machine:
Distance - 1.24 miles
Time - 09m 07

Total Distance - 145.53 miles
Total Time - 17h 29m 26  

Walking the West Midlands Waterways #Juneathon Day 21

Yesterday, the following was posted to the facebook page and twitter stream of Distinctly Black Country. It's a map of the canal network in the West Midlands, done in the style of the London Underground map. We live in Great Bridge, which is very close to the Birmingham Main Line (Red), Wednesbury Old (Brown) and Walsall (Yellow) canals. (In true London Underground style, the distance between 'stations'/'junctions' is not to scale!)

Image and key lined to the author's website at http://www.ultraviolence.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/canalmap/

I got the train in today, which starts my exercise for the day off with about a half mile walk up to Dudley Port train station and then a mile from Birmingham New Street to the office, which I always do by going through The Mailbox and then along the canalside at Gas Street Basin. I always find this is a quieter and calmer way than the hustle and bustle fighting your way through Victoria Square and down Broad Street. Anyone who is familiar with Birmingham in rush hour will know what I mean.

As it's my long day at work on a Friday, I get a lunch hour. Usually, I just have a walk down once side of the Birmingham Main Line canal from Old Turn to Rotton Park junction, cross over and come back down the other side. But I felt like a change today.

Instead, I headed down the Birmingham & Fazeley canal. I'd only really been down here once before and that was when we had the snow back in February. It was certainly nice to have some security under foot as I was going past the locks, unlike last time where it was quite icy in places.

Between Old Turn and Snow Hill, the space is quite enclosed, almost to the extent where it feels like people have decided they want to build something and if it happens to go over the canal so be it. I can imagine that it would be quite an intimidating place to be either at night or in nasty weather. After Snow Hill, however it widens into a much more open space again.

Birmingham & Fazeley Canal nr Livery St.

About 1/3 of a mile farther along

Using Google Maps as my guide, I left the towpath at this stage as I was going to have to go back to work at some point. I decided to head towards Bull Ring and back up New Street so I could grab my lunch. This enabled me to get a nice shot of the town hall with the floozy in the jacuzzi in front!

Enjoying the sun in Central Birmingham

A 'quick' walk at lunchtime!

I was actually out of work on time today, although it's slightly more important when I have a train to catch. Fortunately, there was a train running late today so I was able to catch that, but because I was earlier than expected, I also got off a stop early at Sandwell and Dudley. I just couldn't resist the opportunity to have another walk by the side of the canal on such a lovely day.

This walk took my a short way down the Birmingham Main Line, before I crossed over onto the Wednesbury Old Canal, continuing where it meets the Walsall Canal down 8 locks. Another three and a bit miles to go with a similar amount at lunchtime brings my walking time to just over two hours with a distance close to nine miles. I'm now going to sit down for a long time!

Walking: 8.79 miles in 2h 08m 45 (4 separate walks)


Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 22.00 miles
Time - 3h 10m 26

Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 05m 55

Cycling:
Distance - 80.91 miles
Time - 4h 06m 18

Walking:
Distance - 17.98 miles
Time - 4h 37m 18

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 8.77 miles
Time - 1h 16mm 47

Rowing Machine:
Distance - 1.24 miles
Time - 09m 07

Total Distance - 136.17 miles
Total Time - 16h 25m 51 

Pointless workout - #Juneathon Day 20

Actually, the workout wasn't that bad. I went to the gym, starting on the cross trainer before moving onto the exercise bike. The reason it was pointless was (1) that was what I was watching whilst I was cycling and (2) it's weigh in day and I haven't lost anything this week. Granted, I haven't gained anything either so it's not all bad, but even half a pound would have been nice.

My pointless friend - the exercise bike.

Cross Trainer: 2.77 miles in 25m 00
Cycling: 10.97 miles in 34m 45

Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 22.00 miles
Time - 3h 10m 26

Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 05m 55

Cycling:
Distance - 80.91 miles
Time - 4h 06m 18

Walking:
Distance - 9.19 miles
Time - 2h 28m 33

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 8.77 miles
Time - 1h 16mm 47

Rowing Machine:
Distance - 1.24 miles
Time - 09m 07

Total Distance - 127.38 miles
Total Time - 14h 17m 06 

34 - #Juneathon Day 19

When I looked at the swimming timetable yesterday, I decided that the plan for today should be to go swmming. The only problem with this was that I was looking at the timetable for Tuesday and not Wednesday.

One of the reasons I decided I needed to lose weight was that my 40 inch jeans were starting to feel uncomfortably tight and in a time of defiance refused to move up to a size 42. Without a decent idea as to what exercise I was going to do today, I donned some clothes vaguely sensible for running and legged it to Asda, which, it turns out is only half a mile away.

I had been wearing 36 inch jeans for the last couple of months, but last night I took some measurements that suggested I'd lost 5cm off my waistline. In a way it's nice to know that even if I don't appear to be losing weight, my body shape is changing. At Asda, I grabbed a pair of 34 inch jeans and a pair of 32 inches as well for a laugh.

The 34 inch jeans fitted surprisingly well, the 32 inch were far too tight, although as a positive, I could do the button up (I couldn't comfortably breathe in them, but that was besides the point), so I left with a pair and a couple of pairs of shorts! By the time I got home, I'd only covered just over a mile. Although this is OK for Juneathon, it's not that helpful to keep my 2013/2013 on track.

Remembering that the pool I did Swimathon at was in a different borough, I checked the timetable to find they had later public swimming available and so I was able to get a bit more exercise done.

Somewhere between my youth and the present day, I've lost the ability to swim backstroke in a straight line. When I was training for Swimathon, I didn't bother doing backstroke as it wasn't going to be permitted on the day. The only time I did try backstroke was when I was at Crosby Leisure Centre and I put that down to the design of the roof (which was curved in above pool). In the short time I had the lane to myself tonight, I tried some back stroke and at one minute I was hitting the rope on the right and a shortly afterwards hit the rope on my left.

There were swimming lessons going on in the other three lanes and after a couple of lengths, I noticed that all the kids were waiting at the deep end and imagined that the teacher was saying "Pay attention to what I'm telling you or you'll end up all over the shop like that muppet!"

Better planning required for tomorrow!

Running: 1.04 miles in 8m 36
Swimming:  1.24 miles in 42m 43


Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 22.00 miles
Time - 3h 10m 26

Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 05m 55

Cycling:
Distance - 69.94 miles
Time - 3h 31m 33

Walking:
Distance - 9.19 miles
Time - 2h 28m 33

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 6.59 miles
Time - 56m 34

Rowing Machine:
Distance - 1.24 miles
Time - 09m 07

Total Distance - 113.64 miles
Total Time - 13h 17m 21  

Fighting Frustration with Workout - #Juneathon Day 18

Everything was going fine until lunchtime, then something happened at work that got my goat. The obvious answer was to take it out on something at the gym.

Using the regular hour and a bit whilst G was at Brownies, I took myself off to Tipton Sports Academy. My run last night meant that I didn't feel the need to use the treadmill, so I used the time I might have spent on the treadmill to compensate for the lack of exercise bike at home instead. (I should be able to pick up a replacement power cable through eBay fairly cheaply, but if that doesn't do the trick, I don't know what will).

My workout today takes me to 1,006.72 exercised this year, so I'm half way towards my target of 2,013 miles in 2013 (just) with more than half the time remaining.

Here's to a better day tomorrow.

Cross Trainer: 2.86 miles in 24m 48
Exercise Bike: 11 miles in 32m 51


Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 20.96 miles
Time - 3h 01m 50

Swimming:
Distance - 4.03 miles
Time - 2h 23m 12

Cycling:
Distance - 69.94 miles
Time - 3h 31m 33

Walking:
Distance - 9.19 miles
Time - 2h 28m 33

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 6.59 miles
Time - 56m 34

Rowing Machine:
Distance - 1.24 miles
Time - 09m 07



Total Distance - 111.36 miles
Total Time - 12h 26m 02