Running – Day 4

Posted on by Duncan Toms

Today was different: Run 2 mins/Walk 1 min five times, then Run 1 min/Walk 1 min five times, with the usual 5-10 min warm up and warm down walks.

No rain this time, bright sunshine and gorgeous solitary clouds hovering above me as I ran along the evening lanes. Some discomfort in my right thigh, like a slight cramp, was there form the start, along with the stiff front ankles.

Two minutes of running was fine but I slowed down in the second minute, with heavier legs and feet. The minute was fine for recovery. A good sweat by the end of it, then it was back to the old 1 min/1 min combos.

It got a bit tricky to judge when to turn back, so I chose after the 4th run, which was as far down the lane as I got on Day 1. This turned out to be perfect, arriving back at Brockwood Bottom at the end of the last running section, for the five min walk home.

Felt great this evening, very energetic. Generally I am feeling the benefits of clearer thinking and more enthusiasm. My body is tired though. That’s a good feeling too – so few times am I physically tired, just mentally. The situation seems to have switched.

I suspect it will be the same schedule tomorrow.

Running – Day 3

Posted on by Duncan Toms

The answer is: yes! Today is a ‘rest day’. I am kinda disappointed but it is probably for the best, long term. It’s easy to push it, so I intend to follow the programme to the word.

My legs are a little tired, with the muscles on the outside of each shin very tender. Stiff in front of ankles.

So instead of the post-work run/walk I wandered in the woods and took some pics.

Until Day 4, ciao.

Running – Day 2

Posted on by Duncan Toms

Achy of shin and ankle, I didn’t much feel like going out today. It was quite a stressful day and all I wanted to do was veg out after work. But that’s what I always do! So I went out into the misty rain, squalling about across the fields in the big winds, pretty wild for July. My feet were wet right away from the grass outside the house. Running shoes ain’t waterproof. I did just the five mins walk to start then went back and forth along the lane nearby, under the relative shelter of the trees. This time the running minutes flew by so quick. I wanted to extend it a bit, but stuck to the programme. By the end I was out of breath again, which felt good – really using the lungs.

My thoughts were unusual on going to bed, end of Day 1. How so, I can’t really say, but I felt different, like something had shifted. I felt more tired today than usual, with heavier limbs. After the stretching and after supper today I felt so very tired, and got angry very easily. One of the reasons to jog is to see if some of the ground-in anger can move at all. Move where I don’t know. Hell, I don’t know what I’m doing, but let’s give this a go! At the very least it is good to move the body in a quicker way…

I wonder how day three will be different, schedule-wise. Also: do we get a day off?

Running – Day 1

Posted on by Duncan Toms

I decided I’d like to do a bit more exercise than the odd surf trip, and gentle yoga every other day. The surf trips are intense exercise but then they are over and so the workouts stop. I bought a pair of running shoes a couple of weeks back and they waited for me to stop making excuses to start running: it’s too wet, I’d like to do other stuff (like not write the blog), etc. Today during work I really felt I needed it, so that was it: today.

I’d read up a bit about starting gently and doing a walk/run combo, and settled on the about.com 3 weeks to a 30 minute running habit daily email. That advises 10 min walk warm-up then 20 mins running 1 min, walking 1 min alternately. http://running.about.com/c/ec/1.htm

I set off quite excited, then disappointed that the Asics seemed to have a lump in the right insole, pressing into the ball of my right foot. I thought it might be my sock but it wasn’t. I think it had gone by the end of the session as it didn’t trouble me later. The 10 min walk at the beginning felt too long, walking along the nearby lanes under the trees – I was itching to run. At the 10 min mark off I went, easily, for a minute. It was fun to fly the lanes I usually walk, feet pounding on the tarmac, avoiding the odd pothole or stinger that stretched out from the hedge. The shoes rolled along nicely.

After a few repetitions of the running then walking minutes, a few aches came, but nothing too achatious – tops of feet, shins a bit, and then my gum, back lower, where my teeth still haven’t fully made it out. Some stiffness in the shoulders after a day at the desk. It got progressively harder as the minutes walking became not quite enough for the breathing to get back to normal. I settled into a nice rhythm of minutes.

I travelled far in the 20 minutes out, past the cottages on the Hinton Ampner lane, then turned back for the next 5 combos. Again, the walk was too long for the warm down (cool down?) at the end. Tomorrow I’ll do 5 mins walking start and finish.

I found a video on youtube http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bNxClAlcaNg for warm down stretches and followed those, then a good shower.

I’ll write about my experiences each day. Feel pretty energised now.

Riversdown House

Posted on by Duncan Toms

It feels like summer, March 11. We went for a walk along the lanes and tracks nearby, for a couple of hours or more. The trees are ready to get their leaves out and the grasses are rising quickly.

Just along from the furthest I normally go on a short walk, we checked out a place called Riversdown House, hoping to find a river or at least a stream. From the lane you enter along a track with Victorian looking lamp posts, ending with the old old house from 1328. A really old feel to the place, with not many houses that age left standing. Here is the link to the place; you can stay there to learn English, or B&B: http://www.crossculture.com/stay/.

Here is a brief history: http://www.crossculture.com/riversdown/history.html

riversdown_house

On the opposite side to the photo, the roof starts low and has many windows in it. I wanted to go in and explore the corridors, imagining secret rooms and cult activities going on in there. The place had fine lawns and a relaxed feel.

It is odd that this place is nearby yet we have never been there. That kind of experience makes you feel like you have been a long long way from home.

Crazy Decorating – 1997

Posted on by Duncan Toms

High as you like today whilst painting the walls orange. No one around. I guess more people = more thoughts = lack of awareness = sucked under by them all. Have finished the lounge and am really unsure of it. Red wood and skirting boards and bright orangey/gold walls!!! Man! I think it’ll be OK if I take down those Bertie Bassett, Hansel and Gretel wood things over the windows. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. Man! What will the owner think of his new-style house? We wanted it bright and I think we achieved that. Trouble is, the carpet is blue. Just drew two house shapes on my knee. Can hear the couple with their newborn upstairs. They are not living a happy life. I intend to.

29 August 1990 – Home

Posted on by Duncan Toms

And there it is. I am back in Melksham. I forgot Stephen & David were there to stay. Played computer games and wound down. Later, we drove them to the Little Chef to meet Andrew & Carolyn. Good to be back, although it hasn’t really sunk in that I am back. It was a good time and I’m glad we did it. Now need to get a job to pay for it!

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28 Aug 1990 – To Portsmouth

Posted on by Duncan Toms

The trains only go to Biarritz two times a week. Major change – decided to head home. But the train is couchette only and we can’t afford that. No seats left so the guards told us to get off at Djon at 0230. We’ll catch a later train to Paris, then it’s easy to get to the Portsmouth ferry. Glad to be going back – saw little point in going anywhere else. May as well save the money for CDs – BDP, MC Tunes, Stetsasonic. Don’t mind if there’s not much sleep tonight – it doesn’t matter anymore. Bought some new cokes you can’t get in the UK. It’s sweeter and smoother.

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I fell asleep and we stayed on the train to Amiens! We are now on a local train to Rouen and then Le Harve. We’ll stay in Portsmouth overnight.

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Now on the ferry for England. Rouen was nice, an old place. I walked around while Barry sulked at the station. He does a lot of that. He’s been OK but you can never tell what he’s thinking. Might have met more people if I’d gone with someone sociable. We are nearly back. It’s been quite an experience.

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In Portsmouth, finishing three weeks of travel. Went to the usual chippy – lovely cod in Portsmouth. Ferry across was monotonous, but a good shower. It was really good to see the funfair, pier and Southsea as we sailed by.

27 Aug 1990 – The best country in Europe

Posted on by Duncan Toms

The Yugoslavs got off near the border and we had a good night’s sleep. Needed it. Zurich was very clean. Bought apples, huge bar of chocolate, bread, cheese, crisps, buscuits. Also had 2 cheeseburgers, fries, coke in McDonalds. Hunger over. We are now going through Switzerland to Geneva. I like Switzerland a lot  – best country in Europe. Went to a pub in Geneva. Cans of McEwans!

26 August 1990 – Corridor sleeping

Posted on by Duncan Toms

Help! I want to get off this train, it’s yucky. No room in the compartments. I went to the front of the train to go to sleep. Woke up at 3 and panicked that I was sepearated from the luggage. I was, but Barry was on the platform and we both got back onto the right part of the train. At 0500 I woke to find about 10 people stood around me, commuting to some factory. A horrible way to wake up, but I was sleeping on the floor of their commute. Now there’s no room at all. Sitting on our bags by the toilets with three others. Already 3 hours late. Have decided not to go to Romania as the trains are probably just the same. Instead we are getting off at Belgrade, then express to Zurich. No desire to sleep in a corridor again.

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Eventually got to Belgrade. Couldn’t cash any cheques so got on the train to Zurich. Very hungry. Plan to go to the French west coast to swim. Hassels with the conductor trying to charge us because the stamp part of our tickets were full. Barry had the cash stolen from his bag last night so couldn’t pay anyway. Long arguments via translators and eventually he made us get off. Got back on with extra page of tickets, just in time. Carriage is full of drunk Yugoslavs. Looks like a corridor again tonight.

25 Aug 1990 – To Belgrade

Posted on by Duncan Toms

Some decision making today. We have 11 days left. Romania will take 3 days or more if we stop in Transylvania, which we’d like to. I need to stop. Last shower on way to Greece and last still sleep in Finland! We have decided to miss Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Probably go to Luxemburg, Belgium, maybe Legoland, then home. Spent all day travelling to Thessaloniki. Now on the train to Belgrade. Started to miss home. Well, to miss something but not exactly sure what.

24 Aug 1990 – Istanbul

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In the night we stopped at the Turkish frontier and had our passports collected. Down the line we had to pay £5 for a visa – a new retaliation against the UK for saying the Turkish need visas. Didn’t have enough money so a guy, after a lot of arguing with a dodgy policeman, lent us the money. We met him at the station and waited for banks to open to pay him back. Walked around some mosques and got hassled by a Turkish youth. It was my fault really. I’d sat down to look at the map and he started putting whitener on my boots. He said no money, so reluctantly I let him. Then he demanded money and I didn’t want to give him my large note, so in the end after threats and stares I gave him about 80p in Greek money! Loads of people wanting to sell us things, and one bloke just wanted to practice his English. The Grand Bazaar was really fascinating with all the passages and identical shops. We are now in Asia. Had some Turkish coffee. It’s the same as European Istanbul.

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Stocked up on food, waiting on the train. Lots of Americans and Germans. Makes me want to go home when there’s nowhere to sleep. I’m not fussed about Morocco but Barry is keen on Romania so we’ll go.

23 Aug 1990 – Through Greece

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Got back to the station via the British-designed tube in time for the 0630 train. A lovely blonde girl spoke to us in the carriage but some of the seats were reserved so we had to move. 22 hours left to Istanbul. It’s raining for the first time on the trip. Athens was all we saw of Greece. I’ll come back in the future, and to some of the Islands. May go into Asian Turkey but not sure if they are letting anyone in due to Iraq/Kuwait etc.

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A strange day, sleeping most of it. The sun hardly came out and lots of the countryside looked like Salisbury plain, but mountains again now.

22 August 1990 – Athens

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Had a really good night’s sleep on the deck. A strong cool breeze but not at all cold. Slept till 0880 and felt a lot better and ready to go again. As soon as we got to Patras we bought crisps, biscuits, water, Smarties, then got straight on the Athens train. It’s narrow guage and dirty. Briefly spoke to some English girls. At midday it was so hot. Get to Athens at 1845 for evening sightseeing then plan an early morning train to Istanbul.

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I like Athens a lot. Loads of pushers for hotels on the train but we just used our map and left our packs in one. Walked up to the Acropolis and it looks brilliant lit up. Loads of other ancient buildings dotted around, including an amphitheatre with an orchestra. We looked down from the hill above it. Now sitting at a taverna with wine.

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Have now had most of the wine and am quite merry. Lots of grapes overhead, I tasted one but the waiter gave us a bunch of the nice ones. I gave some to a girl walking past. The waiter has been talking to us about AIDS, drugs, girls, Turkish gold, all sorts.

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We collected our bags and Barry went to sleep at the station. I spent the rest of the night walking around most of the impressive buildings of Athens. I enjoyed myself a lot and the exercise did me good. It was quite a scare walking alone at 0400. I took a small bread knife! The walking did something to my digestion and I had to have a crap in the trees below the Acropolis.

21 Aug 1990 – To Brindisi

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The closing the curtains and lying down only works when the train isn’t full. This one is packed. Some German girls came in, then some young Italians who smoked a joint. Can’t sleep sitting up, so left at 2. Slept for a couple of hours in the corridor but woke and panicked I was in the wrong section of the train. Now sitting outside the crowded compartment. Only a few hours sleep in the last few nights.

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We are sitting at the port of Brindisi waiting to get on the boat to Greece. Our ticket is free for the deck only. I don’t mind – it’s warm enough. Bought bread, cheese, chocolate, crackers and have eaten most of it. Feel warn down and tired. Wouldn’t really mind going back to the UK now, but in the long term I’d be disappointed.

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On the ferry. Just had a shower and could feel a week’s grime just wash away. Feel really refreshed and have no desire to go back early anymore.

20 Aug 1990 – Naples, Rome

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I am pretty pissed off. Got to sleep and an Italian woman & son came into the compartment and kept us awake till 2. Then slept too deeply. When I awoke we’d gone through Rome and my bag I’d left above my head was near the door. I thought nothing would be left but the only things gone are my cashpoint cards and about £5 cash. Camera, personal stereo, travellers cheques, passport still there! I should have put it all in my sleeping bag. So we went on to Naples. Cancelled the cards. I hate Naples – so dirty and hot and busy. We’ll just see Rome and then I’ll be glad to get out of Italy. Hope rest of the day is better.

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Rome was far too hot and busy. Colleseum didn’t look impressive. Saw St Peters, looking really good in the dusk. Walked to the Spanish Steps where we are now sitting. Lots of people here but mostly boys.

19 August 1990 – Venice

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We are now in Venice. Didn’t sleep much on the train – people kept knocking me. That’s what happens when you stretch out in the corridor. Venice is nice and not too busy. Seen all the main sights. Went up the clock tower in St Marks Square for a brilliant view over the city. I like the quiet back streets and canals the best.

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2 weeks into our trip. Sitting at a pizza restaurant in a town in NE Italy. Wine. We’d tried to go to Florence but didn’t realise you had to change train so ended up in this small town. Lovely waitress. Waiting for the train to Rome.

18 Aug 1990 – Innsbruck

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On our way to Innsbruck after spending only half an hour in Munich – Burger King at the station. I want to go through the Alps in the daytime this time, hence leaving Germany so soon. Sat next to a German baby. For the last 2 nights we’ve had a compartment to ourselves which means a free bed. We just got on and shut all the curtains.

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In Innsbruck, sitting in a street cafe with white wines, largers. A tempting cable car. Excellent journey into the Alps, the best thing we’ve done yet.

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Shit. Our train to Venice is 3 hours late. Don’t really want to go to sleep because we’ll probably miss it. Barry is asleep.

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At last. It’s 0520 and the 0142 is about to leave!