The end of Juneathon, but not the end of the road!

The last day of Juneathon! I've really enjoyed it, despite a slight wobble last week. But even in the wobbly times, there are things to be learnt. Setting goals, achieving them, then moving on to new ones. Realising that I can do it, that I am strong. Thank you legs! Joining the Chorlton Runners was the best decision, it has really helped me to run further than I've run before - 14 kilometres this morning to be precise! Juneathon may be over, but my training is not, I hope to keep up the motivation and positivity over the next few months until the big day arrives.

I just need to remember that when doubts and excuses rise up, the best thing to do is put your trainers on. And go for a run.

Penultimate Post Provides a parkrun PB!

Hello! This morning I dithered around before pulling myself together and cycling down to Platt Fields Park for my second South Manchester parkrun. The weather was perfect, overcast and quite cool. I shed my waterproof jacket (lesson learned) and joined the crowd. There were pacers this week, ranging from 20 minutes to 30. I decided to stick with the 27 minute pacer as my last 5k was 27:54 and I felt I should have improved in the last couple of weeks. It was a pretty good run, I felt better for knowing the route, not being too hot and being able to focus on keeping up with someone, rather than thinking about my legs. I picked up the pace a bit at the end and started to feel sick, so a bit of a mixed run! The results came in and I managed a PB of 27:05, hooray! It's the last day of Juneathon tomorrow, so I'll write a bit more about how I've found it then. The Tour de France started today, so I'm off to see how that's going. Bye!

Quack. These guys thought I had some bread for them in my bag. Sorry dudes.

Not jogging or blogging

Ok, so I have neither jogged nor blogged all weekend. And I feel baaaaad for it! My excuses are as follows: I was working, the weather was crap, I was tired. I slept in yesterday then felt really bummed out and beat myself up for not going to running club. Bad times! But, it's the start of a new week and I promise I will do better for the last leg of Juneathon. I cycled to and from work today and printed some bear posters.

Instead of running have been drinking fun beers and seeing my friends.

Bear screen

Printing

Grumpy/sleepy bear posters

Summer Solstice Slacker

image from LavanderMoonWitch on etsy. Mystic!

No exercise for me today, slept crap so running 8k before work did not happen. I'm going out tonight after work for my good friend Kathryn Edward's leaving drinks as she is moving to London :(
Here ends the lamest post of Juneathon so far!

Soggy Cycling

Easy exercise day today, cycled to the studio in the rain. Felt quite refreshing! I'm working on a few commissions and quite a large wholesale order, so I'll be busy printing over the next few days. Ordered some materials and a new screen, which is always exciting, but not so nice for my bank balance! Eek! Damn you cash flow.

Some jolly badges.

I am no longer a woman, I am a machine...

Donned my short shorts for a 'speedy' 5k this morning. Felt good and really tried to pick up the pace, but wasn't actually much quicker than usual. C'mon legs! Ah well, enjoyed it anyway, it's a beautiful day. Did some squats and super-light weights when I got in. Gotta get tough. Tough like a...robot!

Printing in progress.

Nellbots drying

Robo-bibs

How's that for a tenuous link?? Today I am doing more editing and updating, you can now buy little robot bibs on my Not on the High Street store. Other nice new things are on their way!

Busting out some speed and witnessing some bumcheeks.

Had a great run at run club tonight. Did a slightly unexpected 10k, including last-man sprints, which I only agreed to do because of the rest of the group said they were doing them! It’s a conditioning exercise, where a group of runners jog single file at a steady pace, and then the last runner in line sprints to the front of the line, taking the place of the first runner, and so on. I surprised myself by actually really enjoying them and getting a pretty good pace on. I finished feeling strong and came home to so some yoga stretches for my hips and legs. Hopefully won't be in pain tomorrow.
Earlier I went out on my bike to do a reccy of the canal to see if I would be able to do a nice run to work down there. I was disturbed to see a man with his shorts down past his bumcheeks, so I'm putting that plan on ice! 

Lovely shiny, but ultimately disappointing, avocado.

Longford Park in bloom.