A Royal Baby (but not that one)

Image: Dramamusicals.com

Sarah's birthday present was tickets for the family to go and see The Lion King at Birmingham Hippodrome. On taking our seats, we found we were in row F, quite near the front and looking around we could see that a couple of the boxes were filled with percussion.

As the lights dimmed, Rafiki came on stage and the familiar strains of Circle of Life started with the African chants alternating between the stage and performers who had taken up position in two of the other boxes. All of a sudden, the curtain was raised, the sun rose and the animals started to appear on stage. Then, a moment of confusion as the house lights were raised again. I looked around to see what was happening, as did other members of the audience. What we found was that elephants were coming down one aisle with rhinos and birds coming down the other and succesfully navigated the stairs to join the rest of the animal kingdom on stage. Pride Rock entered slowly and subtely from stage right and curled to form a familiar setting, which Mufasa, Sarabi and Rafiki climbed to present the baby Simba to the rest of the animals. By the time the song was over, I already had a tear in my eye!

Image: Londontheatrebookings.com

The staging of the show is brilliant and effectively brings to life some of the trickier parts of the 1994 Disney film, in particular the wildebeest stampede, the death of Mufasa and Simba's 'chat' with the ghost of Mufasa. At one point, it also felt like Scar was pointing his cane straight at me whilst telling the hyena's to be prepared!

Zazu - Image: http://campmartintravels.blogspot.com

Pumbaa and Timon - Image: janephob.blogspot.com

The storyline is not solely limited to the film, scenes have been added as have new musical numbers, which complement the existing story without you feeling that it has been padded out for theatrical effect. The costume design really added to the performance as well, especially when the hyenas were in silhouette!

Although when you go to see a professional musical you expect it to be slick, however I couldn't help but think that it was flawless and to my mind the cast and crew were well deserving of the standing ovation they received. In fact, as Craig Revel-Horwood might say: "A-MA-ZING"

Additional show review from The Express And Star

Sarah enjoying an interval drink.

A selfie, with S showing off where his tooth fell out in Act 2.

Crossing the finishing line - #Juneathon Day 30

I started the last day of Juneathon having clocked up a little over 192 miles - so the question was could I make it over 200. A difference of 8 miles was more exercise than I would usually do on a Sunday, even with the newly introduced cycle to and back from the swimming pool.

S came into our room around 7 this morning and woke Sarah and I up slowly by being extremely cute. This meant that I was all sorted and ready to head out to the pool in plenty of time. The only available option for extra exercise today was going to be to/from my aunt's house, where we were due to have lunch as I have too much to carry not to go to/from church in the car and Sarah was going to be zauberflöting with her band this afternoon.

So, on me bike and off to the pool. I was actually early today and was first into the pool. I got into the fast lane and set off. It felt really good today and I completed 100 lengths in just under an hour. 98 were on front crawl and 2 were on breast stroke (they would all have been on front crawl, but the lifeguards started swapping the lane designations around and I wanted to see what they were playing at). In the end, I had the lane to myself for the whole hour as the pool was quieter than usual.

After church, it was a quick change into some cycling gear and headed off to lunch with the family. All was going well until I hit the three mile mark, at which point, I had to contend with some serious elevation change and even changing down the gears, I wasn't able to pedal all the way up the path from the Birmingham Main Line towpath to the road and had to get off and push the final bit. Even then, there was still more climbing to be done, however just about managed to cope with that.

On the bright side, this meant that the return journey would be downhill, although to compensate, I did choose a longer route that took me back to the Walsall canal.

And so that's my Juneathon done - to finish, I'll leave you with Rocket Ron's photo of me crossing the finishing line at yesterday's Walsall Arboretum Park Run. 


Cycling: 11.58 miles in 1h 09m 54 (4 rides)
Swimming: 1.55 miles (2.5km)  in 57m

Stop the clock!

Juneathon totals:
 

Running:
Distance - 29.99 miles
Time - 4h 19m 05
 
Swimming:
Distance - 8.06 miles
Time - 4h 47m 38

Cycling:
Distance - 138.23 miles
Time - 9h 55m 57

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

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 10.32 miles
Time - 1h 31m 51

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

Total Distance - 205.82 miles
Total Time - 25h 20m 56
Total Weight loss during June - 2lb

Total Distance this year - 1101.21 miles (94.71 miles ahead of target).

The no15, no22 and no29 buses. #Juneathon day 29

Another Saturday, another parkrun, but to be honest, I wasn't expecting anything from my run this morning.

I didn't get in until nearly midnight and I was right out of puff after playing my trumpet (although hopefully lots of money was raised for Shelter). This made getting out of bed difficult and I just about managed to get myself out if the house in time.

In comparison to the last couple of days, the weather was quite nice - the sun was actually out! There was a bit of a breeze, but it wasn't cold and I actually felt quite good as I walked from the car down to the start line.

Just before we started, I spotted the woman who finished immediately in front of me when I set my PB last week, so I thought it might not be a bad idea to try following her round, reasoning that I should be on for an OK time if I did. However, this didn't last long as I actually felt like I had a bit of pace in me and I ended up overtaking quite a few people as we approached the end of the first lap. With an opening mile of around 8 minutes, anything was still possible.

In fact, as I headed into lap 2, I passed some people that I usually associate with finishing way in front of me. I'm not daft enough to think that I was going that well and just concentrated on running my own race. Heading up Beacon Way for the second time, I could feel my pace slowing, but passing the 2 mile mark, I was still under 17 minutes.

The final lap continued to feel good, but the tank was starting to empty. As such, I was passed by a couple of people who still had the energy for a sprint finish. It it possible for a stopwatch to show both a great and a gutting time simultaneously? My wristwatch was saying 25m 01 (later officially confirmed at 25m 03) so although that was another PB, my third in three weeks! I was disappointed not to break the 25 minute barrier - perhaps that could be a birthday present for me next Saturday!

Park Run #18: 3.11miles (5km) in 25m 03 (63rd finisher)

Juneathon Parkrun Summary:
PB prior to Juneathon: 26m 04
Current PB 25m 03 (-1m 01) set 29 June 2013.

I got home to find the house empty, which is not unusual as the kids are at swimming lessons, but after she joined the People's Orchestra (see my blog post here for further details) Sarah was heading into Halesowen to get some cleaning stuff for her flute. This left me with time on my hands (as well as Q3 for the British Grand Prix) during which I started to wonder whether I needed another challenge for running.

So, the plan is to start a Bridge to 10k programme as on a whim I have entered the Walsall Fun Run on 22 September.

Juneathon totals:


Running:
Distance - 29.99 miles
Time - 4h 19m 05
 
Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 50m 38

Cycling:
Distance - 126.65 miles
Time - 8h 46m 03

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

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 10.32 miles
Time - 1h 31m 51

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

Total Distance - 192.69 miles
Total Time - 23h 14m 02

Once around the block - #Juneathon Day 28

After working all day yesterday and then virtually heading straight out yesterday evening for a rehearsal, I wasn't getting up early to cycle into work again today. This then posed a dilemma as tonight, I'm due to play in a backing band at a charity concert in Wheaton Aston. 

Having not seen Sarah or the kids really in the last 24 hours, I didn't think it was fair for me to arrive home and ask for permission to go down the to gym just so I could do something for Juneathon. However, when I arrived home, Sarah hadn't got back from the school run with the kids. A quick check of my watch and I reckoned I had about 10 minutes before they got back.

Due to an unexpected cock-up, the cycling stuff I'd put in the washing machine this morning was still unwashed. I'd obviously knocked the 'cancel' button after trying to turn it on. Legging it upstairs, I changed into a dirty t-shirt and sweatshirt (well I wasn't going to be long enough for anyone to notice and it was only going to get sweaty anyway) and grabbed Sarah's cycling clips for my jeans, intending to do a quick circuit on my bike before Sarah got back.

Just after the roundabout, I saw Sarah coming back with the kids, she didn't notice me but G did and attracted her attention with just enough time for us to have a quick "Where are you going?" / "Once round the block" before I whizzed past (or should that be wheezed - it was up hill). It was a short ride and as I turned the corner back into our road, Sarah and the kids were just arriving home, so I raced G&S to the door.

Not the greatest exercise of the month, but enough to make me feel like I've done something.
 
Cycling: 1.41 miles in 8m 00

Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 26.88 miles
Time - 3h 54m 02
 
Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 50m 38

Cycling:
Distance - 126.65 miles
Time - 8h 46m 03

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

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 10.32 miles
Time - 1h 31m 51

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

Total Distance - 189.61 miles
Total Time - 22h 48m 59

The calm before the storm (twice) #Juneathon Day 27

And so the question became "Would I be able to get up in time to cycle to work?"

As it happened, I needn't have worried. Often when I have to get up early, I end up having a really bad night's sleep as I'm paranoid I'm going to oversleep. And so it turned out, looking at the clock at 3, 4.30, 5.10 and 5.35 before finally deciding to get out of bed just after 6. It's not often I'm out of bed before both of the children. S is still in his early bird phase and will often be out of bed when the sun comes up on his alarm clock (6am). Fortunately, G can be relied upon to sleep a little longer, which avoids the whole street being woken up by World War III when they can't agree on what they want to watch on TV.

This morning, I was able to be downstairs enjoying the peace and quiet, slowly getting myself ready to go out. (This was the quiet before the storm part 1!)

When Sarah has ridden into Birmingham before, she's joined the canal by Dudley Port railway station, but there is a significant elevation change here (the canal goes on an aquaduct over the road). I also felt that I would be going slightly away from Brum before heading towards it. Having chosen my route and still not entirely awake, I set off. As I joined the canal towpath by Ryder's Green, I allowed a little speed to pick up before realising I needed to turn sharper than I had thought. If I was driving a formula one car, it might have been said that I let the back end slide out a little, but less than a mile into my journey and almost having a close encounter with the canal wasn't the start I had in mind.

It was a lovely morning and I was happy with the way I way riding, not pushing too hard since I had a full day ahead of me. The journey in took me the best part of 44 minutes and a quick shower and change later I was ready for the day.

I'm not sure what time it happened, but sometime this afternoon, the heavens opened (the second storm). This left me with two choices - admit defeat, cycle to New Street and get on a train, or head back. I decided that the exercise was good for me, but the puddles don't half form quickly on the towpath. I'd barely gone a mile and my shoes and socks were already sopping wet. I did push a bit harder on the way back, although there wasn't a huge benefit in doing so. I'm not sure I could have got any wetter! Did anyone order a drowned rat?

On the brightside, on standing on the scales when I got back in, I lost 1.5lbs this week. 

Cycling: 14.50 miles in 1h 24m 21 (2 rides)

Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 26.88 miles
Time - 3h 54m 02
 
Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 50m 38

Cycling:
Distance - 125.24 miles
Time - 8h 38m 03

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

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 10.32 miles
Time - 1h 31m 51

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

Total Distance - 188.17 miles
Total Time - 22h 40m 59

The warm up - #Juneathon day 26

I um'd and ah'd about what to do exercise-wise today. I didn't want to go to the gym as I did that yesterday and I wasn't in the mood for running. Tomorrow, I'm planning on cycling to and from work, so I decided I'd have a relatively light session on the bike.

I picked up the Old Main Line canal near Dudley Port and headed towards Oldbury. This went right past the estate we used to live on, which brought back some happy memories of our first house together. The towpath along the Old Main Line was slightly more overgrown than the Main Line and there was a couple of occasions I needed to dismount as I wasn't convinced I would have stayed on if I'd have tried to ride straight through. (As a West Wing fan, this springs to mind...)

I was interested to see what happened to the Main Line and Old Main Line when they flowed around Oldbury as it's not something I'd got my head around previously. The Old Main Line goes under the M5 motorway for some of its stretch at which point the towpath surface is horrible. Whilst I was there, I was surprised to find the canal junction for the Titford canal. It just seems strange to have a two canals and the slow pace of life that suggests meeting under a motorway with thr thunder of HGVs and other traffic overhead.

Continuing along the towpath, I was relieved to find a grassy section of towpath. I was less happy to run into another cluster of tetchy geese - To be fair they did seem to have young with them, but even when they don't I hate having to go past them. It's a bit better on a bike though - when I'm running, I'm always concerned at the geese that not only hiss at you but run towards you to chase you off.

Warning geese - the original angry birds!

After crossing over the canal, the towpath surface went bad again, at which point my amazing reclining seat problem started to reoccur. Although I did have a spanner with me, I didn't want to break my rhythm. It then became time for a little over under. Under the West Coast Rail Main Line. Over the Canal Main Line. Under another main road.

It was time to turn around and come back again, so I cycled a short way down the Spon Lane as I knew both canals had access points off it. Transferring to the Main Line, I was comfortable in my cycling style and I came back via the Wednesbury Old Canal down Eight Locks (that's quite fun to do when you're on a bike) before arriving back at home.

So, I've packed my rucksack for the morning - change of clothes, towel, toiletries and work ID. The rest of my gear is ready to be worn. My only challenge now is to be up and out the house by 7am so I can be at work on time!

Cycling: 8.12 miles in 58m 09

Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 26.88 miles
Time - 3h 54m 02
 
Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 50m 38

Cycling:
Distance - 110.80 miles
Time - 7h 13m 42

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

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 10.32 miles
Time - 1h 31m 51

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

Total Distance - 173.67 miles
Total Time - 21h 16m 38

Exercise unplanned - #Juneathon Day 25

It was time for the usual Tuesday-night trip to the gym. The only problem is that I had felt lethargic since... the time I got up this morning. In fact, if I hadn't have been doing Juneathon, I may have taken tonight as a night off. As such, I had absolutely no plan as to what I was going to do down the gym this evening.

I didn't want too intensive a session, but I did want to push myself a little. I warmed up on the treadmill, then I ramped up the speed to 12kph. It's faster than I had been running on the treadmill recently. I completed 2k quite comfortably and then slowed the pace so I could try something else.

Moving onto the cross trainer, I selected a lower intensity than usual with a view to doing half a kilometer forwards then backwards for about 2.5km. The only problem came when my 'power track' came on. I've never really been a fan of dance music, however, for exercise, I find that the beat can motivate me. The track that seems to do the most is "Sandstorm" by Darude. The way the music builds then dies then builds again somehow manages to push me on so even if I had no interest in doing exercise at the start of the track I've caught the bug by the end. And so it was that by a couple of minutes in, I had pushed up the intensity from the light workout I had planned to somewhere close to my normal setting.

After I finished on the cross trainer, I did about 6k on the exercise bike. This time it definitely was at a slower pace regardless of the music playing. After riding my bike yesterday and the still five days of Juneathon to do, some of which may or may not involve a cycling to Birmingham and back, I wasn't sure it was wise to push it. I therefore worked out roughly what distance I would need to do on the exercise bike to hit 7 miles and called it a day there.

Running: 1.77 miles in 18m 44
Cross-Trainer: 1.55 miles in 15m 04
Cycling: 3.74 miles in 12m 40

Juneathon totals:

Running:
Distance - 26.88 miles
Time - 3h 54m 02
 
Swimming:
Distance - 5.27 miles
Time - 3h 50m 38

Cycling:
Distance - 102.62 miles
Time - 6h 15m 33

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

Cross Trainer:
Distance - 10.32 miles
Time - 1h 31m 51

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

Total Distance - 165.55 miles
Total Time - 20h 18m 29