Well that had to be the shortest holiday in the history of holiday’s. Has anyone ever driven all the way down to Cornwall with a car packed full of camping gear and three kids for two nights and then driven all the way back? I’ve put off posting about it because I have been too upset to write something that wasn’t all doom and gloom. I’ve been looking forward to it so much that to have our holiday end so quickly really tore a hole out of me.
It all started off so well. It was breezy but clear, we had some fun down on the beach, had a meal at the camp resturant and the Bailey, Bela and Riley enjoyed the kids club in the evening. Bailey and I played some football until 9:30 and then we hit the sack. The second day was a bit wet, but still ok, we just got on with it. This was a great place and we were going to have a fantastic time.
All going well, until the second night when we were hit by a massive storm. I woke at 1am to see the tent bowing inwards onto Jenny and the kids. Obviously something was wrong so I sent outside in the darkness, wind and rain to check. the wind was so strong it had pulled the guide ropes out and blown the tent porch in on itself – oh shit. I scrambled about in the freezing cold wind and driving rain to secure the ropes but with no luck, every time I thought I got somewhere the bastard wind undid my hard work. At one point I was dragged a couple of feet (which would have been fun in different circumstances) but the inflated tent porch. The second time I went out the kids were terrified and screaming (understandably), it was obvious that we were in trouble and by the time I got back in the tent, the pegs were loose again and we made the decision to head for the safety of the car. We grabbed the kids and as much gear as we could and jumped into the car, wet and tired at 2:30am. That’s where we spent the night, cold and wet and crammed into a Citroen Xsara Picasso. When we went back at dawn we found the tent completely flattened and toys floating about in 3 inches of water inside.
It was obvious we had no choice but to salvage what we could, pack up, get dry and head home and here we are. The tent is a complete right-off, 3 out of 5 poles have snapped, some in two places and where they have snapped we have gapping holes in the tent.
Completely gutted.
It pains me to write this, but I have pulled out of my 10km run for charity! I’ve been getting bad pains in my knee recently to the point where it’s not enjoyable to run any more. All the stretches and careful prepping have worked a little, but I’s be kidding myself to think I could run 10km in this state. I would also probably do some permanent damage to my leg, so for now, the run is off. I have contacted the Cancer Research UK with the request to refund any sponsorship I have so far received!
I feel totally gutted and more so I feel like a quitter!
Went for a run this morning with my new trainers. They don’t make me run any faster.
I think after my attempt at another 7km on Friday after the kids had gone to bed it’s clear that I need a knee support for my right knee. I set off up the A41 towards the top end of Hoole (which is part of the route I have planned) and by the time I’d done just 3k on the uneven/broken and sloping Chester pavements my right knee was screaming – running in the road eased the jolting -but that’s just not safe. So instead of going all the way into town and past Sainsbury’s, I cut the run short.
I’m really gutted – but determined to not give up. I’m gonna get myself a knee support
and ensure I stretch correctly (and thoroughly) before each run. In the meantime I’m going to run shorter distances quicker to build on some fitness/stamina. Up until now my running has been about weight control, not fitness, so all this long distance (yeah, 10km is a fair way for me) stuff is a shock to my lazy bones.
I was ill the first couple of days last week, probably some sort of virus, which meant that I wasn’t able to do my three weekly runs at lunch. I could start to feel the pounds pile back on, the jeans were getting tight, even my trainers started to feel tighter.
So this morning I went on my first run for over a week. The route I chose was different from the usual loop round the block, chosen using mapmyrun.co.uk. I’ve been keen to venture further afield and push myself, the normal three to five km run has become quite comfortable and I’m getting more comfortable in my own ability. The route itself was slightly longer, about 4.5 miles starting with 1/3 up hill, 1/3 down hill (same sort of gradient) and the the final 1/3 up a steady incline.
I barely got past the first third when I got a ‘twinge’ in my right knee. I tried to adjust my running speed, slowing down slightly and loosening up a bit (I tense up too much) but after about 500m I had to stop before my knee exploded. I kept pressing on down hill but decided to abandon the running and walked back home along the canal. Think I’ll need to book myself in with the physio at work this week.
I’m hoping that it’s nothing too serious, I probably just need a new pair of running shoes (after all I’ve had them for yonks).One the positive side I started my one hundred push ups workout again last week after a miserable failure the first attempt brought on partly by drinking beer in the evenings. This time I’m determined to see it trough to the end… already I’m seeing an improvement.
