It's Friday; it's five oclock and it's....

[TJFlute]

'Crackerjack'!!

Not really, (just showing my age!) it's 'Gym time'.

I did 60 minutes whilst my daughter was in drama club. It fitted in really well because the gym is close to the community centre where she is, so I expect this will become a regular Friday night event! I have noticed an improvement in what I can achieve already, I really can.

It was busy in there tonight, much more so than when I go in the morning. It was full of very fit young men lifting weights, so not a bad environment to be in

How are you all doing? The weather is still pretty drab in these regions, so I'm hoping it's not putting you off.

4 days to go. I seriously can't believe that.

I hope you all got to see Greenlegs photos of us! It's fab!

[Malcy Graduate]

Malcy checking in

3.5k walk + 7.7k run

Currently eating a wonderful "end of academic year Shindig" dinner. Picked up my new trail shoes, ran in my new Sweatshop Parkrun Voucher road shoes too. A day of ends and new beginnings!

[TJFlute in reply to Malcy]

Ooooh! new trail shoes, and new road shoes: all very exciting! Enjoy your dinner; you can have extra after all that running and walking today

[sfb350 Graduate]

My week hasn't been a great success. I missed Monday and Wednesday as things just didn't go to plan

I did go the gym on Tuesday morning for intervals on the treadmill and some strength training and then a speed session at running club in the evening.

Yesterday was a "handicap" session at running club. I'd felt really unwell all day and nearly stayed at home but I'm glad I went. It was a strange sensation as I was at the front most of the time (staggered starts based on a recent 5k time) and had to keep stopping to check with the people behind me which way I should go ! I finished in 6th place- my pace equated to a 31:20 5k which is close to my PB so that cheered me up

Today, I did 3 miles on the cross trainer at the gym (fleeing from zombies) and half an hour of strength training.

Tomorrow, I'm planning to cycle to parkrun and back - I'm a volunteer this week, not running. Then I hope to run 8 miles on Sunday (trying to build on my 7 miler last Sunday) in the hope I can be ready to do a half-marathon in July.

First, I need to find a balaclava to hide my scabby face

Greenlegs' photo is indeed fab !

[TJFlute in reply to sfb350]

Well it all sounds full-on to me. I am really sorry to hear about your face; hope the lotion sorts it out.

Where are you doing the half marathon in July? That's something to look forward to!

I haven't even thought about what I'm going to do next, in the way of a goal. I'll give that some thought in the next few days.

[sfb350 Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

The half is only a few miles away in Shifnal - I overheard someone mention it at running club on Tuesday and started to wonder if I could do it....I think I've just about got long enough to train if there aren't any drastic hiccups ! I'll probably try to cycle the route soon to check there aren't any hills that will completely ruin my sore achilles tendons.

I'm a bit of a wreck really !

[TJFlute in reply to sfb350]

Hardly a wreck! Just understandably aching in places

I think you probably do have long enough to train, and the 5x50 would have given you plenty of strength training. I hope it's not a challenging course though! Let us know after you've cycled the route.

[greenlegs Graduate]

Aha - that has reminded me that I haven't done anything yet... Too busy playing with photographs and reading blogs! So off to the yoga mat I go.

[TJFlute in reply to greenlegs]

Enjoy the yoga Thanks for supporting me! Also, thank you so much for the photo! It is a lovely momento of this years challenge x

[jenniej Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

the photo is great. I love the way you put it together & that cake looks to die for!.

[greenlegs Graduate in reply to jenniej]

The cake was Rob's photo - as were the countdown pics - I thought they were great! It was fun fiddling about with different layouts.

Yoga done now, and shoulders loosened up a bit. Managed to hold the plank for a bit longer today too.

[jenniej Graduate]

I did a short intervals run yesterday before work plus a bit of walking. Then today I had loads of plans as I wasnt working but the weather was so horrible that I ended up not doing much at all. So feeling very guilty I went out this evening and did a 5k walk in the rain.

[TJFlute in reply to jenniej]

Thank you for your perseverance despite the awful weather. It's got to get better some time, hasn't it?! The weather forecast is good for my run tomorrow, but showing rain for my final day on Tuesday, so I hope that improves. Thanks again

[swanscot Graduate]

The weather is wonderful here. I went out for a run about 6pm. Went from my doorstep and 500m later was in our local forest. It's lovely having this entrance to the forest so close, but this track in is the wettest and muddiest of the four ways in and is a steep incline (120m/390ft of ascent). Total = 5.8km round trip run.

I don't mind the wet and the mud, except the mud was so deep at places that my trail shoes got stuck! Another hazard of the standing water on the track is the midges! I really struggled to run uphill with my mouth sealed shut, otherwise I was taking in mouthfuls of the nasty beasties!

[TJFlute in reply to swanscot]

It is fantastic to have a local forest nearby. I do too, about 500k from me, but as you say, it is often wet and very muddy and I don't have any trail shoes. Perhaps I deserve to get some after this!!

I was told I need to take in plenty of protein, so I guess the midges just add to our daily intake

[Greg_M Graduate]

Hi T.

Long time no see

Good to see a familiar face still around these parts. I think there are a few more people around here than when we started out! Where are they all now?

Any events coming up? You didn't join up with the National Lottery 5 miler into the Olympic Stadium did you?

[AliB1 Graduate in reply to Greg_M]

I have entered the batlot!

[TJFlute in reply to Greg_M]

Hi Greg, It's good to hear from you! Not many from our days left! I was just thinking the other day how it's six months since our Top Gear track get-together, and wondered what you're running at the moment. I'm only doing one run a week, just so that I can get through the 100 days in one piece, but also to get me doing other stuff on the 'rest' days.

Apart from race for Life on my birthday, I haven't got anything planned (yet) and decided not to enter the ballot. Have you? Any more half marathons on the cards?

[Greg_M Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

I am still out three times a week and building up to an autumn half marathon. There is a cool looking one round the Nurburgring in Germany in September if you follow motor sports at all

I am in the lottery for the London Marathon next year (gulp) who would have thought two years ago, doing week one in the dark so no one would see me huh?

Running is such therapy!

Best of luck with the 100 days.

They are hoping to do the Jigsaw School run in December again I hear.

[TJFlute in reply to Greg_M]

Good luck with the training for your half marathon Keep us posted about the London marathon! I was going for it, but was too late: the lottery places went pretty quickly that morning! although I know I could apply for a charity place..

Thanks for the cheer..only four days left now!

I might be up for another run around the Top Gear race track, so keep us posted on that one too!

[Malcy Graduate in reply to Greg_M]

Nurburgring? Now that would be something else!

[Greg_M Graduate in reply to Malcy]

Looks like they do a 5k, 10k and 24k on the same day. I guess the 5k is the F1 circuit and 24k is the whole way round

There is a 10k at Silverstone once a year as well which is nice. Two laps of the F1circuit. I did that a few weeks ago. I don't think I can explain to the missus that I need to go to Melbourne but Germany might be a goer.

[Malcy Graduate in reply to Greg_M]

A few years ago, I took my family to Italy and came back via the south of France. We spent a day in Monaco and we all took turns driving round the circuit in the Espace which I had at the time. There's only a little bit near the Casino where the F1 cars go the 'wrong way' round a roundabout. I think our best time was about 18 minutes But each time we came to the tunnel, we put our heads out of the window and screamed "NEOWW". Ah - memories. I wouldn't have thought about running round the circuits though - maybe next time. My son lives only about a km from the old Adelaide circuit, so I might do that next time I'm over.

[Malcy Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

Hi. What's all this about the Top Gear track? I'm intrigued. Mainly because Mrs Malcy often calls me a bit of a hammerhead ...

[TJFlute in reply to Malcy]

Last year Greg, Ali and I ran a 5k race which was around the Top gear track! It was great fun and I can now tease and bore my husband and sons every time they watch Top Gear!

[Malcy Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

Excellent! If the chance comes up to do it again, I'd come down for it.

[TJFlute in reply to Malcy]

It's a great place for a get-together! Although a long way for you! It's weird running around the track that you know so well from TV. I'm sure Greg will let us know when the next 5k race for Jigsaw is.

[Malcy Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

For a chance to see the track, distance is no object. If current plans work out, In a couple of months, I'll be going back to self employment. So my time will be more flexible by not being constrained by timetables or pointless meetings.

[ju-ju- Graduate]

That made me giggle, I remember crackerjack well!! I can see why you like the gym

Keeping fit has to have some perks eh! Have a great weekend, Julia

[TJFlute in reply to ju-ju-]

And you Julia x

[danzargo Graduate]

I managed to complete WEEK 4 today and ended up doing 4K IN 29 mins. Being a new runner is this a respectable time?

[Greg_M Graduate in reply to danzargo]

Yes!

[dottiemay Graduate]

Well, I was in Wales last weekend so did a lot of walking, alongside the river, up a steep hill to Patrishow Church and then on Monday, we walked up Sugar Loaf.

Thought I'd be too tired to do much running on Tuesday but surprised myself with a steady 7k, then yesterday, blow me if I didn't knock 36 seconds off my previous 5k best! 30.37 - well chuffed!

In the afternoon I walked into Gloucester to see the Tall Ships arriving, which was lovely, so about another 5k I guess.Today, I've just done 45minutes on the 'machine' which included a bit of cycling but mostly running and now I'm about to go out and cut the grass!!

[TJFlute in reply to dottiemay]

That is a great 5k time!! Thank you for keeping me company and for your support