Today's comedy of errors includes...

[Anniemurph]

... the Mistress of Pain, my new mobile, the weather and a rabbit. Please bear with me while I complain bitterly. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.

I went to my swiss ball class and the MoP, who was pleased to see me. Ha! I missed last week, and there wasn't a class the week before so I have missed two measly weeks, that's all. I couldn't even sit on the damn ball, let alone do sit ups with my feet on the wall or balance like a starfish. Lesson learned is not to miss weeks! I'm sure it was good for me

I had planned to go for a short run after this, with ma noo mobile. I put Mapmyrun on there and went up to the heights. I know people have said on here that their phones take a while to pick up the satellite signal, so that was my five-minute warm-up walk. I'd decided just to do a 10-minute run to test out my ankle, but got to 5 minutes and decided to do intervals of 5s! I was knackered. But hey, walk for 5, run for 5, walk for 5 etc is okay, isn't it? And the bloke on Mapmyrun talked to me He was nothing like as encouraging as Laura, mind you, and I thought I had asked him to talk to me in kms, not miles, but on the whole he was fairly good company.

The run itself was rubbish. I had the wrong bra on - because I thought I was only going to Swiss Ball I'd put the old one on, which, let's face it, has worked very hard throughout its life and is no longer up to running. My legs were tired and I ran out of puff very early on. The wind was blowing a gale and there were times when I think I was possibly running backwards.

I nearly fell over a rabbit (it didn't look too healthy, poor thing) when I mistook it for a rock in the path and was preparing to jump over it when it moved. The trail is an old railway line so varies between wide-open high-up countryside and deep cuttings through the limestone rocks, and I wondered if Mr. Mapmyrun would be able to stick with me through these. He did, bless him, so I was pleased about that.

Then the heavens opened, but because it was so windy the rain was hitting horizontally from one side. I panicked because that was the side my phone was on so turned round and ran/walked back again! I thought I had taken photos of the scenery and the trail, but although I could see the photo and my lovely new phone made a shutter-type-noise, I need to go back and read the manual because there are no photos stored on my phone

On my return, I looked at Mapmyrun. I have stats It's very exciting I don't understand them However, I'm sure I'll get the hang of them and my next plan is to re-run that run so that I can compare.

I'm glad I wasn't really taking this run as a serious run but saw it very much as a chance to see how I might use technology to help me improve. The biggest lesson I learned is that I need to learn how to use the technology first Ah well, onwards and upwards. It can only get better

[loulou51 Graduate]

You may not be very happy but it certainly made me smile. I can empathise with needing to learn the technology before setting off because I have an MP3 that I found in the road (luckily it has pretty good music on it). I have just about worked out how to put the podcasts on it and how to run through all the songs in order but anything else is beyond me. I have occasionally squeezed it too tightly when trying to run through brambles without tripping up and have lost the podcast which leaves me wondering whether to just carry on, to stop and sort it out or what to do. So here's to things getting better!

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to loulou51]

My teenage daughter refers to me as a Luddite I'm sure in the future we will all have implants and will only have to blink to call someone, or nod sideways to start an app, but meanwhile I will resist the easy option of going back to my old MP3 player, my very old mobile (in case I need to call a taxi to get me home) and my erratically-functioning stopwatch

Glad it made you smile. I don't like the sound of running through brambles - eek!

[Khrissy Graduate]

Haha! Very funny blog, Annie! I'd laugh out loud if my abs would let me!

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Khrissy]

I know - ouch, right? What have you been up to, or shouldn't I ask?

[SBG356 Graduate in reply to Khrissy]

Still aching then?! Sorry!!!! Just remember, abs of steel, abs of steel!!

x

[Khrissy Graduate in reply to SBG356]

It's getting worse! I can't cough or laugh and I'm praying I don't need to sneeze or I may die .....

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Khrissy]

As soon as it feels better you need to do it all again...

[greenlegs Graduate]

Thank you for being so kind as to share your eventful exercising! It really made me laugh - especially the image of you about to hop over a rabbit, thinking it was a stone. Also loved the starfish balancing - I shall have to try that one out now. We had a burst of heavy rain too, so I actually ran for about a minute, to get back to my car from the shops, and then saw a wonderful double rainbow on the way home.

We were talking about smart phones at work today - everyone else (ie other than me) round the table at lunch has one, and someone else has just bought one, but had deliberately left it at home today, because the technology was doing her head in and she wanted a rest from it!

I'm sure I'll give in soon, but for now, I'll play with my garmin.

I bought myself a proper yoga mat today (oo!), so I'll have to do some yoga now.

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

Yay for proper yoga mats, and proper yoga If I could have afforded a Garmin as well, I would have loved one and will still save up for one, but until then I need to get to grips with my new technology. I'll persevere. It will be good. It will.

At least it gave you a laugh. And honestly, the rabbit scared me!

[TJFlute]

This made me smile...I've been there and done that!! When it all comes together it makes one heck of a day

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

Glad it made you smile! I think the universe is laughing at me too

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Haha LOL Annie your a star, keep running and blogging girl. Hope your ankle is holding up OK.

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Thank you As long as it made you smile! Yes, the ankle was absolutely fine today thanks - it's a shame I can't say the same for my legs, lungs and back!

[gdeann Graduate]

A..Annie! You did it! you ran faster then a rabbit!!! cute, cute story, so sorry it was such a challenge for you. As oldgirl said, you are a star! Thank you for continuing to cheer all of us 5x50'ers on even when some of your experiences are rubbish. Gayle

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to gdeann]

At least I knew anyway that not every run is a good one! And yay, I can run faster than a very, very poorly rabbit And rubbish runs can be okay if they make someone smile

[SBG356 Graduate]

Oh Annie, I just love your blog!! I think the MoP needs to give you a break; you are a runner after all not a swiss-baller!!

There is so much here to comment on but I will leave it at saying you are great and dont let blasted technology get the better of you; you beat running and you will beat this! Have fun trying!!

Sue x

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to SBG356]

She was so pleased to see me! Although even she was surprised when I fell off and landed on the floor with a thump

I will get there with the technology, Sue. My teenage daughter arrives tomorrow so no doubt she'll set me straight. After all, it's only a phone... right?

[Tish1970 Graduate]

Brilliant lolol!! that has really cheered me up! You are a star.

Hope that ankle is getting better. Tx

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Tish1970]

Believe me, the last thing I was thinking about was my ankle! Glad it made you chuckle x