44 years...continued...

Been out for little run this morning...a very pleasant place this:)

 Oh...and found this of me, back garden at Beechcroft Road, 44 years ago:))

#getfitordie...part three!!

When I was young, okay 55 ish, I decided to go on a #getfitordie splurge and started to attempt to run ...didn't last , gained an inflamed nerve in my shoulder and I basically gave up!!

Over next couple of years I bloomed, or should that be 'boomed' into a chip eating well over 15 stone fatty..saw a pic Claire took of me as a whale in Wales, and started #getfitordie part 2 - a regime of walking and an intense diet AND it worked- 9 months later and I was both fitter and lighter.

Now, I'm heading rapidly towards my 60th year and want to both stay fit and enjoy food and wine and ale...so, we enter #getfitordie version 3!!

I have set me a target of running in the Isle of Coll 10km race in August next year...which had the added bonus of allowing me an Island hopping holiday

...today was my first 'run'...!  So, 4.29 miles, 6.9 km in under 54 minutes is my target to beat, then on to the 10km!!

Regime will be (when possible) run Sat or Sun..walk sat or sun and run on a Tuesday evening ( plus badders on a Thursday)...quite an active lifestyle !!

Sunday walking...

Keeping on a theme...

A collage of my route last Sunday...

Walking...

For the past 18 months I have been walking...because when we went to Wales for Suzie's 50th, I

looked like this... A big, overwieght bloke heading for a coronary!!

So, I decided to change it all!!  No chips ...booo..and having tried all the exercise in the world, gym, running, decided power walking was the answer.  Its worked, I am NOT a lean mean fighting machine, but I am at least healthier and decidedly slimmer and fittter!!  Since Sept 13 I reckon to have walked ( in bursts of around an hour - my aim is to get under 15 min per mile) over 500 miles, mainly around our place, but with some adventures elsewhere...

One task I have taken upon myself this year ( well since August 14) is to keep a simple photo record of a bench by The River Bean at Stapleford.

Here's The bench...

This was the first pic, August 2014...

My record is on my Facebook page at

The Bench...A Year

Walking....and resumption of #getfitordie lifestyle choice :))

Having been totally embarrassed in the summer by having to buy new clothes for Suzie's 50th & seeing my whale like features in pics...it was obviously time to take charge of my health!!

Running was out of the question (toooo fat !!), so power walking was the option...and I have taken to it like a duck to water !! 

Started off round our local (very local) footpaths - 3 miles or so)..Developed a bit more knowledge of the local bridleways and footpaths and now regularly 'do' 5-6 miles Saturday and Sunday mornings; ritual being go one direction on Saturday, reverse it on Sunday...:)  

Found some aliens at Waterford ...

strange statues on The New River Path...

Lots of strange mushrooms....

I've started to walk further afield...from The New River Path down to Cheshunt,,,

 Along the Fleet with this young lady...

Around London...

with a lush bier...or two :)

Along the Aberdeen coast...

Dad (!) had been there before me...(not...)

until the bridge disappeared!!

Around Sleights////

with my newest, bestest friend :)

Well, it's nearly Christmas..again!!

It's been a couple of weeks off a year since I made any meaningful post on here...and here I am again, same place, same post :)

It's Rainworth time again, here to see this wonderful lady....

 Mnnt

So, what has happened in the year since our last visit? We're a year older, Suzie hit 50 in August and we had a wonderful holiday in Wales...ALL of Wales :)

Family are growing up...Alisha appears to be a teenager before her time...I got fat, and now am thinner, due mainly to changing diet and lots of walking, of which more later...

Suzie's sister Ann is not a well bunny, and that will shape our life for the coming months...:((

Walking...I've done loads since September! Round us at Bengeo, along the coast at Aberdeen, Sleights ( being towed by a dog), round an old pit in Rainworth...surprising how how often it ends at a pub :))

Posted with Blogsy

#getfitordie cont...

Siobhan at work is running the London Marathon today - best of luck, it hurts me doing my little bit around Bengeo :((

Talked to me about joining a club for motivation - or looking for a local 5k run to aim for - tried that last year and was bitterly disappointed when it didn't come to fruition. So, just going to continue to take small steps..get below 30 mins for my little routeb - then extend the run to follow another path around a quarry...

Today's was good - once I manage to go more than 50 steps without stopping to breath it'll be better !!






The field looks lush ....just my colour :))








Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Temple Ct,Hertford,United Kingdom

Still running ...well it has been a week :)

Determined to keep this up this year ....Here's this evenings time around my little course...



Down from 33 mins :))

Saturday morning...

So, what to do on a Saturday morning...? Suzie is catching up on Frost whilst having a lie in...

Me - up to watch F1 qualifying & then out for another run (walk - breathe)run...

It's a lovely spring day out there - nice enough to hopefully take Suzie's mind off the fact the only job she's been offered has been offered at the wage of an office junior straight from school with no training AND just for three months...firm appears to be wanting the experience but trying to get away with not paying for it...Suzie not the first one they've offered it to!!

Rape seed growing rapidly...



Must get hay fever tablets today...

Oh & speed wise - slowly getting towards last years pace!

Location:Temple Ct,Hertford,United Kingdom

#Getfitordie update....

Well - it doesn't get any easier!!

Today couldn't breath for the first part & then when I could breath without gasping like a fish on the river bank my legs said 'Whoo boy that's enough' !! Felt like I was going backwards....

Then I checked my gizmo that tells me how I've done and...



It was THE fastest yet :). Feel better now.

Some pics of 'route A '








Target is to get below 28min :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Temple Ct,Hertford,United Kingdom

Good Morning :)

Up and out for a run... According to my wonderful high tech gizmo I have been running for yonks...


And just look at the calories I've burnt !!

Lovely route though











Now for brekkies - need to refuel some lost cals :)


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Temple Ct,Hertford,United Kingdom

Cholesterol Et al

Well - high cholesterol....been there before, another tenant of my overindulgent & depressive winter:(.

So it becomes part of my #getfitordie campaign - bye bye chippies; bye bye pasties; bye bye pork pies and all that nice fatty savioury stuff I like...and bye bye to ( a bit ) of that wine stuff !

Anyway - still below 30 minutes and still knackered :)





Oh ....and pinch punch no returns :)

Location:Bengeo

#getfitordie cont....

Phew - two days on the trot !! Feeling completely knackered right now...in a good way.

Mind you, yesterday's fish'n chips and lovely bottle of Italian red wasn't exactly part of the new regime :)


Nearly made it under 30 min :)


Lovely morning though.



Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Bengeo