Running Outside

Went for a run but I took the camera with me to snap a couple of the golf course. Only about a month to go now so there’s loads of work going on at the course. This shot is of what I’m presuming is the last hole.

This photo shows the current Hoylake Lifeboat Station - take a look at the photos of this years spring high tides. I say “current” because as I’ve mentioned previously, a brand new station is to be built on the site of the old Hoylake outdoor swimming baths. I’ve no idea whats going to happen to these buildings though.

Just out of shot to the left is Hoylake Sailing Club HQ where an extension is being built on what were a couple of parking bays. There is some local disapproval (must read the local paper to find out what all the fuss is about).

Spotted this decent bit of rope lying in the sand. Oh, yes, an empty packet of Jelly Tots too - doesn’t look like Hoylake or West Kirby have been awarded a blue flag this year!

Anyways, todays stats for what they’re worth ‘cos there’s a bit of walking and photo shooting in amongst the time ‘cos I forget to always pause the watch:

Start:13:11
Duration:23:23
Distance: erm? about 4.3KM

312Kcal

HRmax=168/ave=148

Went for a go-faster hair cut first at MC2 then met up with Mike this lunchtime for a steady run around our Park Loop circuit. Quite a warm day, even without a blazing sun beating down on my cropped head. Didn’t go any faster, but it wasn’t really that type of run.

Start:12:46
Duration:20:44
Distance:4.45 KM

324 Kcal

HRmax=181/ave=167

Ran a shorter course today (Beach Road I’ll call it). It’s part of my Red Rocks route but cuts it short ‘cos I turn left at Beach Road and run up to the start of Stanley Road rather than turning right and running down to the end of Stanley Road.

It’s an old favourite of mine as I used to run route this route many times a few years ago. Immediately before I ran it today I rode around it on my bike to measure it - 4.24KM - a sort of mini biathlon.

Start:13:29
Duration:18:08
Distance:4.24KM

Ave Speed: 14.03 kmh

304Kcal

HRmax=182/ave=173

I’m sure that’s a PB for me on this route by a long way. Not too bad that averaging 14 kmh when I wasn’t absolutely going for it - slowly getting back to a certain fitness level. Maybe the performance enhancing drugs I’m taking….otherwise called multi-vitamins as prescribed by Sarah ‘cos I’ve been a bit below par.

I think I’ll run this route more often - I’ve still got to beat 20 for the seaside yet so a bit of speedwork around this route might help. I’ll be reasonably happy with a “middle 20″ next week.

I haven’t been keen on my previous blog template (rounders3) for some time. The colour scheme on rounders3 is a bit harsh.

So tonight I’ve swapped over to rounders which I think is a nicer format, an altogether softer tone. I’ve already chosen this template for my business blog.

Template swapping is a bit of pain really once you’ve set up a few links here and there - but I minimised the effort by copying the link bits to a text file.

My throat is better but still not right.

Red Rocks and back today.

Start:13:00
Duration:25:15
Distance: 5.66KM

397Kcal

HRmax=179/ave=167

One of the many advantages of working from home is that in the afternoon you can treat yourself (’cos you’ve been working ever so hard) to a nice cup of tea and a couple of biscuits from the tin whilst you sit back in your office chair, look out of the window and listen to Richard Ashcroft. Well today, Sarah bought a packet of fig rolls….now there’s a biscuit that you can happily eat at least four or five of! And then after eating them I remembered that I’d not visited this site in absolutely ages.

And what is it exactly that I do when I’m actually working at home? Well, visit our site to read about UK affiliate marketing and visit my other blog here.

Awoke with a sore throat again this morning….took a couple of paracetemol and that did help. Don’t normally get sore throats but maybe this virus thing I’ve had recently is still lingering.

Went for a bit of longer run today, though not going great. A bit cooler today, though it was still warm.

Ran to Red Rocks halfway point then along the beach to West Kirby, up Riversdale Rd, then straight back to Hoylake and along Market Street to home.

Start:13:08
Duration:37:51
Distance:8.0KM (approx)

614Kcal
HRmax=179/ave=170

Now that’s what I call hot. According to my Firefox weather plugin (which is ace) it was 26c just before I went for my run this afternoon…well I can’t confirm that but it was hot, a bit too hot really. Managed to plod my way down to Red Rocks and back.

Start:16:17
Distance:5.66KM
Duration:26:01

451Kcal

HRmax=188/ave=177

Purely out of interest, and having had the intention to do it for sometime, I monitored my heart rate today whilst I cut the grass in my garden.

Now it’s a bit of work out because I use this to cut the grass:

(oops, need a better photo)

It’s a Ransomes Ajax 4 series push lawn mower with a heavy, steel, split roller at the back and wooden guide rollers at the front. I’d wanted one ever since my old electric mower showed signs of imminent failure and after some weeks of searching I found this one in the local Loot. I bought off a bloke from somewhere in Lancashire who was really passionate about Ransomes. When it came to agreeing a price he opened the boot of his car where he had hid another one - a series 5 in top-notch condition. So we struck a deal and I came away with 2 Ransomes and 1 grassbox (an ebay job hopefully when I get around to it).

Now my gardens aren’t big at all but here are the stats:

Start:12:47
Duration:38:10

329 Kcal
HRmax=143/ave=119

So there you go, that’s the advantage of an eco-friendly, second-hand, push lawnmower….I used no electricity, I had a half decent work out and the grass cuttings went in to the council provided white bag for recycling too.

Well I’ve had my Polar F11 (grey) for about 2 months now and I’d thought I’d do my very first consumer mini review. I’m presuming you know what a heart rate monitor does by-the-way.

So what do I like about it?

1. Average heart rate recording - this was the feature I wanted more than any other as it allows for same session comparisons.
2. Kcals burned - it’s only for interest at the moment as I’m not measuring my calorie intake.
3. The diary feature - it’s useful to scroll back through previous sessions to see the details: start time, duration, kcals, HRmax, HRave
4. The coded, adjustable chest strap stays in place around my chest and is not noticeable when out running or cycling.
5. The watch is quite light and unobtrusive.

So where could it be improved?

1. The watch strap is stiff and I struggle to undo it after a session - a softer strap would be nice.
2. It doesn’t record a HRmin, only average and max and I’d really, really like to record my resting, minimum heart rate.
3. Sometimes, not often, it records a strange HRmax (either that or my heart is sometimes quite erratic!).
4. A USB connection would be great to enable an upload of the diary - now that’d be quite useful.
5. A different font for the watch display digits would be nice.