Getting my mojo back

[oldbanger]

I haven't been my usual bouncy self for a while. Various reasons, and I posted earlier but decided I'd gone into too much detail.

Suffice to say I am stagnating at work but am sole earner so have to play safe for now, especially with everything else going on, I have big family commitments, with two special needs kids, my OH is long term sick and I am trying to finish a big distance learning course, having run out of extensions. No family live nearby and friends tend to melt away when I reach out.

I seem to be crawling through my days right now. Efforts to recharge take me away from the kids, which doesn't help the home situation.

I am not sure I am really asking for advice, as much as needing to vent really.

[oldbanger]

I am a bit of a pudding. I have taken up walking with a view to doing the three peaks in summer. It's a solitary activity mostly though. Could I cope with running? It's worth a try I guess.

I am planning on an mx5 but it will have to wait as I have no budget .. and no garage either. I do motor sport marshaling but it has to wait until I get the course finished.

[oldbanger]

J4CKO said:

Walking is fantastic, get everyone settled for the night if possible, and then, late on, march the streets, I do a couple of miles most nights, clears my head and I pick litter up as I go, stick some tunes on the phone and go.

I do my best thinking when walking, work, home life, future whatever, gets the brain and endorphins going.

Ha, so I am not the only litter picker. I generally take the dog (though at 20kg and nearly 15 years old he's a bugger to lift over any stiles) so have loads of little bin bags with me... one inevitably gets used for any cans and wrappers I pick up on the way.

I try and do it in the morning as there's few street lights round here. I only have time for decent mileage at the weekend

Edited by oldbanger on Tuesday 28th March 22:16

[oldbanger]

Right, I've just gone to spend a bit more time on a college assignment to discover that the server it's saved on seems to have wound back 24 hours. Fingers crossed I can find something autosaved in the temp folders on the workstation tomorrow. Grr

I think I might try running - the couch to 5k website makes it sound easy - I'll dig out my trainers from the back of the wardrobe. I tried jogging in my teens, but was a heavy smoker back then so it didn't work out very well.

[oldbanger]

I have had a chesty cold all week, just starting to clear up. Today is the first team practice for Y3P and I've had to cry off after a mile or so. I just can't breathe my chest is on fire, but this is partly down to just not being fit enough yet. I could do the planned 15 miles on the flat but not the climb or the pace. I am so cross but hey ho, better to know now that I have to up my game. So, couch to 5k in 9 weeks eh?

I have 3 months left to the event itself. Is that enough time?

Edited by oldbanger on Sunday 2nd April 10:49

[oldbanger]

fat80b said:

Sounds to me like you need a bit of "you" time - Responsibilities can be wearing.

You say in your profile that you like driving &/ maps - How about finding a local motorsport club and getting into a bit of road rally navigating.

It won't take up much time as it is mostly evenings / nights and doesn't have to cost very much / anything at all - plenty of people out there looking for a keen map reader.

Could be a bit of fun to do something totally different.

Bob

Funnily enough my cousin has been a rally navigator since his uni days. I'd briefly considered years ago it but not seriously. I might ask him about it.

I've got myself into marshalling which has been loads of fun so far, and would love to drive myself at some point. In the meantime I've been collecting promises of rides in interesting vehicles, like a Holden and a Westfield (actually I think I've been offered a test drive in the Westfield, but we'll see).

[oldbanger]

Thank You For Calling said:

I know the feeling all too well. Went from on top of the world to completely demotivated in the space of a few days around 12 months ago and struggled to recover. Walking has been great for me - I don't find I have much time during the week but I've dedicated Sundays purely to just throwing some old trainers on and walking for miles to explore what's around. Gym has also been a good one, although finding the motivation to get there hasn't been the easiest!

Tempted to try couch to 5k - let us know how you get on!

I did loads of hill walking in my younger days - South Downs, Dartmoor, Lake District, Malverns, Snowdon. I could do 20-30 miles no problem (apart from sore feet). I also worked outdoors carrying kit with me (e.g. animal traps and 15l water). Smoking 40 a day.

I stopped walking seriously when I met my OH (who doesn't like walking) and at the same time got my first office job. Even with a dog, it's been short strolls through the country for more than a decade, 10 miles would be a biggie, until I decided I wanted to go for Y3P this year. I would also like to do Hadrians Wall in the next couple of years, and that was never going to happen unless I got back in the saddle.

I've been upping my game and increasing my walks in frequency and length since December. The kids stopped coming with me regularly when they were too old to go in he backpack (they're 10 and 12 now) and my 15 year old dog can't really do more than 4 or 5 miles. The area round here is pretty flat, so I've been doing the 12 floors at work every day as a substitute. It has reminded me how much I loved walking though. I find it so relaxing.

[oldbanger]

williamp said:

Good advice and good luck. Last April I was the same so tried the Couch to 5k. It took me untilo August before I could do the whole 5k, but since then I have ran 5k at least twice a week. last month I really pushed myself nd ran 100km in 1 month. Cant believe. Lost 2 stone too..

Brilliant! You're marshalling as well too as I recall?

[oldbanger]

Piginapoke said:

Good luck with the C5K. Last year, I managed to give up smoking, start running and ended up doing a marathon, so be careful where it leads you!

I know a few serious walkers, and it is a very solitary and lengthy pass-time. Running, cycling swimming are all a bit more impactful, in every sense.

Thanks, the plan is to start tomorrow. I anticipate a whole world of pain to begin with. If you're comfortable, you're not growing, right?

Edited by oldbanger on Sunday 2nd April 23:28

[oldbanger]

Day one done. I even had one of the kids come with me.

[oldbanger]

So I have completed week one of couch to 5k and today went back to tackle the hill I didn't manage last weekend with the kids. Just that first hill. Sure we did it in 3 hours not 1.5 but the dog's nearly 15 and one of the girls usually doesn't leave her bedroom at all. Now I can go back with the guys from work knowing I have done it.

[oldbanger]

I am now into week 7 of couch 2 5k and really quite enjoying it (it's taken me 8 weeks to get there as I missed a couple of sessions due to an ankle injury done by walking 15 miles in boots which hadn't been properly broken in).

What I've found quite interesting was that for quite a while, running actually boosted my energy rather than knocking me out. Swimming and walking both make me sleepy. So I have managed to do quite a bit of study.

I'm flagging a bit at the moment, but that's hopefully a temporary blip. Who'd have thought running would have been such a motivator?

[oldbanger]

FlyingMeeces said:

Nice one. Did you get your coursework done? (OU student here, you too?)

Thanks. I am still way behind my walking training buddies, but I will keep at it.

I am on my last assignment now, which needs to be complete within 4 weeks. It's a level 5 diploma with the Chartered Management Institute.

What are you studying?

[oldbanger]

mondeoman said:

Hang in there

Thanks. I have signed up for pits at the Silverstone Classic as a bit of a treat after this is all done.

[oldbanger]

FlyingMeeces said:

Natural sciences - biology mostly, bits of other stuff because the university has a laudable in theory, infuriating in practice policy that you don't get a degree in any one Natural Science without a reasonable grounding in the whole lot.

I'm basically doing what I should have done at 18 and was far too much of a cocky idiot to even consider at the time. 13 years later post health stuff, bereavement, it feels like I'm finally putting some shape into my life.

It's never too late to study. Welcome to the party. Sometimes life gets in the way and I know you've had a whole ton of stuff to deal with over the years.

I'd actually agree with needing a bit of everything when it comes to the sciences to be honest. I am a "natural sciences" graduate too (ecology), and it all makes much more sense with a good grounding in chemistry and physics. Actually my uni insisted that all first year bio students had to pass maths (mainly calculus) in the first year, and all science undergrads had to take a humanities module in the 2nd year, though I sorta cheated by picking sociology of science.

[oldbanger]

Somehow home, work and study have all got manic (poor planning on my part), just when I have 2 weeks before I do Y3P. I am still running - I got to week 9 and plan to keep at it 2 or 3 times a week.

I have no idea if I'll complete Y3P, but I am going to start it at least. Just a couple of weeks and hopefully then I'll be able to drop a gear. Argh.

[oldbanger]

I had to take a week's break from running due to an ankle injury. Just started back today.

I am due to do Y3P in less than a week. I have an Achilles tendon injury which I have been nursing for a quite a few weeks - it seems to flare up after every long walk.

I can reliably walk 10-15 miles, with 1000m ascent, but I have no idea if I'll be able to complete 25 miles with 1500m ascent. I am not sure my ankle will last, to be honest. I am experimenting with an ankle brace in case that assists.

My plan for the moment is to attempt it anyway, knowing that the first good drop-out point occurs about 12 miles in. Wish me luck!

[oldbanger]

Piginapoke said:

Good luck!

What is Y3P; walking not running I guess for 25m?

Glad you are keeping at it- good job

Thanks, I've been quite shocked that I've kept it up to be honest

And it's the Yorkshire three peaks challenge - https://www.threepeakschallenge.uk/yorkshire-three...
There's a team of 50 of us doing it from work - mostly gym bunnies and crossfit fanatics ... then there's me lol

[oldbanger]

bobski1 said:

Thinking of becoming a marshal & won't be too far from Silverstone, any times on getting in?

This is my first time for Silverstone, but sign up will be closing soon for the Classic if you want camping. Sign on is at 7:15 am each morning. I can post up details for the Marshall coordinator if you need them

[oldbanger]

I went to The Yorkshire Dales with the gang from work to complete the 3 peaks this weekend. Unfortunately yesterday, my ankle went again, a mile up Pen-y-Ghent. I got as far as the Ribbledon Viaduct, about 10 miles later, and slightly less than half way, but realised I ought to stop at the checkpoint instead of carrying on up Whernside.

I am hobbling around today, wondering if I ought to have pushed on but I think I probably did the best thing really. I will have other opportunities I am sure. So after 4 hours on the road, I was back home, getting everyone's lunch and doing the family laundry - nothing like coming back to earth with a bump lol

I will need to take myself along to docs/physio just to be on the safe side, let the ankle heal and then I plan to get back to running etc.

I have nearly finished my final college assignment - I need to get it submitted this week. I may also be up for promotion at work, though it's all a bit vague at the moment - the plan is for me to set up a new team, if it gets the go-ahead.

Edited to add, whilst I don't regret making an attempt at this challenge, there's been a fair bit of fall out. My youngest has been really challenging today, and was in the run up to the trip - screaming fits, breaking stuff etc. Partly it's hormones (she's 10, hitting puberty and is somewhere on the autistic spectrum, though we're waiting for a full diagnosis) but also I do know it's because I don't give 100% of my time over to the kids. I can't - firstly I work full time but also because I want to get involved in all this kind of extra stuff - to be frank my hair brained schemes are the only things which keep me sane.

Edited by oldbanger on Sunday 25th June 20:52