Run, Fat Bitch Run - and reap the reward(s)...

Blisters!

Yes - nobody warned me about those silly little socks that barely cover the ankle and kept slipping down. Plasters and thick socks tomorrow! Yes, again tomorrow, because I am on a mission/ New Year's resolution, to drop some weight and be fit enough for walking around Bondi and Sydney in the summer heat on our visit. Only three weeks until we fly, but I am hoping to make a difference after a sluggish UK winter. I've tried healthy eating and cutting back on alcohol etc, and even tried three months at the gym before our last visit two years ago and none really worked that well for me. 

So now I'm going for the simple answer. Running. Well, walking actually. No faffing about with ipods irritating my ears or pedometers that kept falling off and erasing the info. Not even a shower. Just got my kit on - M&S joggers, old but barely used trainers, old longsleeved T-shirt, light fleece ( it was a bit cold this morning) and those stupid socks. I'd worked out a circular route in my head and reckoned that as long as it took me about 30 mins it should have some effect, and I would manage to keep it up. I also realise that as I improve, my time will too, so I shall probably have to find a longer route by week three. But the main thing is for me to keep it up. 

And that's where "Run Fat Bitch Run" comes in. It's the title of a book by Ruth Field and the subject of an article in The Times on Tuesday. See the link here to her blog and see also her facebook page. No I haven't bought her book either - but I like the way she talks. This, my first morning,  I had to wait in for a parcel delivery . I sat there in my gear raring to go, until the parcel was delivered, when suddenly I felt tired from getting up so early - though it was 11am by now. Also it looked like rain outside and was chilly when I'd opened the door to take the parcel in. Then I heard that voice in my head: " Run, Fat Bitch, Run", and was out of that front door like a shot before I could boil a kettle for coffee and a nice sit down on the bum shaped dent in my sofa ( read Ruth's blog side-panel).

Boy did it feel good - along the way as well as when I got back. It rained twice but I hardly noticed. I tried a bit of 'interval' training ( 20 paces walking, 20 paces jogging) as I crossed the close by Salisbury Cathedral on the first section of my run. Thankfully no tourists to hear me gasping for breath like a chronic smoker ( I don't by the way). Just the occasional dog-walker and shoppers taking a short-cut. Anyway I soon gave up that idea and went instead for long strides, as that apparently works your bum muscles almost as well as squats and other unsightly and boring gym stuff. By that time I was out the other side of the close and onto a quiet-ish back road with a slight rise to a main road. Funnily I hardly noticed the traffic as I was intent on keeping my stride and looking anxiously for the turn off past an old riverside pub, and onto a scenic walk which would take me back to the town centre. I had a brief moment of panic thinking I'd set myself too long a distance as it seemed much closer when I'd passed it in the car (!) Thankfully, just after a very smartly dressed middle-aged country gentleman had stepped out of my path as he raised his hat, I spied the turning. Phew. Shortly after that as I made my way past some 'executive' housing ( never noticed them before), and being greeted by another elderly gent (perhaps I'm not as fat as I think I am??), I heard a woman's voice over my left shoulder. Without slowing my stride I turned and saw that I had collected a companion. She was a similar age, enviably slim, though not dressed in jogging kit, and kept up a conversation while also keeping up with my pace all the way back into town. Apparently she does this walk every day also just to keep fit. Well she looked good on it though I didn't mention that I would be earlier tomorrow as I felt that I'd heard enough about her divorces today. 

So back to the rewards of running/walking. Yes I felt great. Yes I'll do it again tomorrow. It wasn't hard and I didn't feel silly (well I did a bit at first). And as I'd just had a piece of fruit before I set off, I had been looking forward to a late breakfast on my return. The porridge was already simmering in the pan when I remembered that we had no milk. I always add raisins for sweetness, but that's still a bit dry. Lawks a mercy, what to do?

Delicious and healthy organic probiotic yohurt

Oh - but look at that use by date. Never mind, let's see what else is lurking at the back of the fridge:

See that date - perfect!

Ladies and Gentlemen, " Porridge Royale!"

I wonder how your New Year Resolutions are coming along?