Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

The Autumn Richmond Riverside Run

Not quite sure how this arose, but some misunderstandings have arisen - I never said I would be doing it. That would be frankly, quite ridiculous, & if attempted, might have serious consequences, considering my current state of wobblesome sloth.

It's Gill that plans to do it, & I'm just looking for ideas as to how to help her, as she is a complete novice at that sort of thing.

She's a middle aged young lady, normal build, but, until the last few  months, has never done any exercise or "keep fit" of any description.

6 months ago, she started attending "kettlercise" twice a week. I believe that involves exercise with light weights.

Then she started jogging, just a mile or two, once or twice a week.

Like me, she is a bit obsessive with stuff, & she has got the bug now.

Recently, she ran to Kingston Bridge & back from here - that's 4.9 miles, that, at the time was her longest ever jog.  

Today, she is attempting an 8 mile jog, from here to Kempton Park & back.

She has purchased all the running books - 7 of them at the last count.

Proper running plimsolls - £90, ffs - & running shorts.

She uses a GPS based App thing on her phone to time her run, & it gives altitude, how many hills, average speed, all that stuff.

I just want to encourage her with tips & hints, help her succeed, & to do so safely.

Someone mentioned "water stations", I've no idea if these will exist.

The ParkRun thing was interesting, & I suggested them to her last night, but she poo poo'd them - "too short, too easy". OK Dear, fair enough.  

There is no chance she will fail, she's proper stubborn, but any tips, or helpful hints would be appreciated.

Thanks.

She is unbelievably excited by it. She's never entered anything competitive before, but she Registered, saw her name on the entry list, & was nearly in tears of joy.

Now it's all "what if I finish last?" sort of stuff.

I don't give a toss if she finishes last, it does not matter - I just want her to finish, & not become too physically distressed in doing so.

Poker players may find all this a bit peculiar, as we are all competitive by nature, but it's real life, & it means the world to her. 

[Kev B]

Well done Gill. I love how she has gone for this full throttle, IMO it's the only way to approach anything you do. No way she's finishing last with her attitude. Best of luck.

[tikay]

Well done Gill. I love how she has gone for this full throttle, IMO it's the only way to approach anything you do. No way she's finishing last with her attitude. Best of luck.

Thanks Kev - she's totally obsessive.

When she returns from her jog, it's quite a sight - gasping for breath, bathed in sweat, fingers all puffed up from the extreme effort. But it's a pride thing.

Diet is on the agenda now - "I have to eat lots of carbs" etc. I don't even know what carbs are.

I did briefly toy with the idea of doing the run/jog with her, but a) I'd likely kill myself, & b) I don't want to take away her sense of achievement. It is a BIG deal to her.

Strange, isn't it? Nice strange, but strange.

[RED-DOG]

Gill. Stop thinking about where you will finish, just go out and enjoy yourself. Your making the attempt so you're already a winner.

Congratulations in advance, whatever happens.

Love,
Tom.

PS- I hope 'love' is not too forward. After all, this is the first time I've addressed you directly. I'm sure it will be fine but Tony says you're a bit frumpy.

[tikay]

^^^^

Creep.

As far as I am aware, she does not read blonde. She might, though. It's one of those things I have never asked.

Some things are best not asked or done, I always think. Looking in a ladies handbag, or at their text messages on their phone are great examples. Never do that. Ever. It can only end badly.  

[tikay]

Not sure if I am easy to please, there are just a lot of really great books around, or I select them well, but almost every book I reads fills me with pleasure. The one really bad one recently was that dreadful thing by Cummines, the chap who got away with murder & ended up with an OBE.       

This is my current read, It is is unputdownable.

     



Quite how a tale about two middle-aged old farts, completely opposite in lifestyle & personality, embarking upon a 2,500 mile walk along the Appalachian Trail, could be even remotely gripping is a mystery, but Bryson is a genius with his pen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Trail




It's side-splittingly funny, & the sort of book where you keep re-reading paragraphs to savour their sheer beauty.

The Appalachian Trail runs along the eastern seaboard of the USA, from Georgia to Maine, through several mountain ranges, & is 100% maintained by volunteers. The longest such trail in the world, apparently.

Read it, & you'll not regret it.
 

[tikay]

Thanks for the replies guys. Food for thought. Staying downtown does appeal for a change to the norm.

There you go Mr Rotund, Simon Galloway has replied on the Vegas thread.   


http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=56335.msg2086383;boardseen#new

[booder]

Re Gill,

Drop Claire a pm.  Her and Gatters are /were keen runners.  Also Kinboshi.

[tikay]

Re Gill,

Drop Claire a pm.  Her and Gatters are /were keen runners.  Also Kinboshi.

That's a good idea, thanks.

Today's run was successfully, if breathlessly completed. Data analysis off the GPS tracker thing is currently in progress.

[celtic]

Re Gill,

Drop Claire a pm.  Her and Gatters are /were keen runners.  Also Kinboshi.

Believe or not, longy too.

And Amatay.

[bobAlike]

Not sure if I am easy to please, there are just a lot of really great books around, or I select them well, but almost every book I reads fills me with pleasure. The one really bad one recently was that dreadful thing by Cummines, the chap who got away with murder & ended up with an OBE.       

This is my current read, It is is unputdownable.

     



Quite how a tale about two middle-aged old farts, completely opposite in lifestyle & personality, embarking upon a 2,500 mile walk along the Appalachian Trail, could be even remotely gripping is a mystery, but Bryson is a genius with his pen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Trail




It's side-splittingly funny, & the sort of book where you keep re-reading paragraphs to savour their sheer beauty.

The Appalachian Trail runs along the eastern seaboard of the USA, from Georgia to Maine, through several mountain ranges, & is 100% maintained by volunteers. The longest such trail in the world, apparently.

Read it, & you'll not regret it.
 

This has been recently released as a film with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178665/?ref_=nv_sr_1

[KarmaDope]

Re Gill,

Drop Claire a pm.  Her and Gatters are /were keen runners.  Also Kinboshi.

Believe or not, longy too.

And Amatay.

And Joobs.

Hence my forays into Parkrun.

[hhyftrftdr]

Thanks for the replies guys. Food for thought. Staying downtown does appeal for a change to the norm.

There you go Mr Rotund, Simon Galloway has replied on the Vegas thread.   


http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=56335.msg2086383;boardseen#new

You're too kind to me Tikay

Been a busy weekend watching City getting mullered then sampling the delights of live poker in Leeds. I cashed AND made the last train home, skills.

[vegaslover]

Well done Gill. I love how she has gone for this full throttle, IMO it's the only way to approach anything you do. No way she's finishing last with her attitude. Best of luck.

Thanks Kev - she's totally obsessive.

When she returns from her jog, it's quite a sight - gasping for breath, bathed in sweat, fingers all puffed up from the extreme effort. But it's a pride thing.

Diet is on the agenda now - "I have to eat lots of carbs" etc. I don't even know what carbs are.

I did briefly toy with the idea of doing the run/jog with her, but a) I'd likely kill myself, & b) I don't want to take away her sense of achievement. It is a BIG deal to her.

Strange, isn't it? Nice strange, but strange.

Tikay

I think parkrun is a great idea, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it wont be too short, runners need to run a variety of distances, no matter what the end goal is.
The 2nd and main reason, is how much easier running is when you participate with others.
Parkrun has a very wide range of running abilities, always someone to run the same pace with, but you are amongst plenty of runners, who will always offer friendly advice around training etc.

For you to assist, why don't you cycle alongside Gill, if the running part will be too much for you.

[tikay]

Well done Gill. I love how she has gone for this full throttle, IMO it's the only way to approach anything you do. No way she's finishing last with her attitude. Best of luck.

Thanks Kev - she's totally obsessive.

When she returns from her jog, it's quite a sight - gasping for breath, bathed in sweat, fingers all puffed up from the extreme effort. But it's a pride thing.

Diet is on the agenda now - "I have to eat lots of carbs" etc. I don't even know what carbs are.

I did briefly toy with the idea of doing the run/jog with her, but a) I'd likely kill myself, & b) I don't want to take away her sense of achievement. It is a BIG deal to her.

Strange, isn't it? Nice strange, but strange.

Tikay

I think parkrun is a great idea, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it wont be too short, runners need to run a variety of distances, no matter what the end goal is.
The 2nd and main reason, is how much easier running is when you participate with others.
Parkrun has a very wide range of running abilities, always someone to run the same pace with, but you are amongst plenty of runners, who will always offer friendly advice around training etc.

For you to assist, why don't you cycle alongside Gill, if the running part will be too much for you.

Now that's a great idea, but I think I'd feel a touch ignoble to be sat there peddling & poodling on a bike whilst she was puffing & blowing & exerting max energy. 

Nice idea though, & thank you to all others who made suggestions.

Plans have advanced a little over the weekend, when she comes down for the Richmond Run, which is a Saturday, she is coming down on the Thursday, so she can sort of prepare herself properly.

I did suggest she could have a little warm up run on the Friday, but ooh no, that was insta poo-poo'd. Paula Radcliffe's book says she has to rest completely on the previous day. So there.

Incidentally, I analysed her GPS tracking thing from her run yesterday, & it was 10.6 kilometres, which is slightly longer than the Richmond Run. I went out to meet her on the home stretch yesterday (I stood there, complete with my wobblesome belly & a cigarette in hand) & she seemed to be well within herself, but out of breath, but not distressed at all. Marathon next year at this rate.