Long Run - 24km (doing some errands on the way)
dannewton just finished a 24.39km run, that lasted for 189 minutes.
This run helped dannewton burn 1977.0 calories.
Description from Strava: Well its the weekend again, and time for the 'long run' of the week.
But that wasn't my only task today, I also needed to head to the post office to post some important items, and I also needed to pop into town to pick up the fruit spread that I had ordered and was told they couldn't get it.
I then got a phone call last week saying it was ready to collect, so don't quite know what happened there.
Could I include both of those errands as part of my run?
That sounded a good idea to me, although due to the times the shops were opening, it meant I was going to have to miss parkrun this weekend.
First job - post those letters.
I knew the Post Office would be open at 9:00 and that it is always busy on a Saturdays morning, so I left the house at 8:55 so that I could get there as sharp as possible.
The first item was some homemade cards that my partner @dawnsart had sold on ebay, and needed posting as soon as possible (and if I didn't send it today then it would have to wait until I was available next week). The second item was a really important letter that was addressed to my partner, but had been sent to our home address in error and not to where she is staying at Carlisle University.
The letter was super important, so I've ended up forking out £6.00 on special delivery which guarantee's that the letter would be delivered on Monday, so an unexpected but necessary expense!
The next job was to head into town. As I wasn't doing parkrun this morning, I needed to change my route so I could still do the required mileage for my long run. I was aiming for 21km again (which is the Half Marathon distance) and I decided to pick a route that I did several times at the start of this year. This involves a bit of meandering through Lincoln City Centre, before heading out on to the bypass at the top of town and then heading home.
While meandering through the city I would change the route slightly so I could run past the shop to pick up the fruit spread
Turning of the high street and heading down Dixon street
It was quite quite down here for once, usually this is a busy through road connecting the High Street to Tritton Road, and there are usually queues of traffic!
The weather was lovely out there today: warm with out being uncomfortable, bright, sunny, and a slight breeze too.
At the end of Tritton Road, I crossed over a roundabout to head up over the bridge near Lincoln University. On the left hand side you can see a monument/sculpture thing...
...celebrating the fact that the first Tank was designed and built here in Lincoln (one of Lincolns many claims to fame).
there is an information board explaining this, but the text is too hard to read in the photo
More info can be found on Wikipedia
Brief History lesson over, I continued past the Brayford Pool, which doesn't usually look this green to be honest! It was by this point I realised I had made a slight error.
The shop that sold the fruit spread didn't open until 10am, and with the time being 9:45, I resorted to having to run small loops past the shops while I waited.
I did randomly bump into my parents who were in town shopping, so that was nice to spend a few minutes catching up. They did spend the whole conversation asking how Dawn was getting on at university...
Brief catchup over, I left them to carry on shopping, and I headed over to the Greens Health Food shop to finally pick up the items I'd ordered.
Regular readers will know the ongoing saga of trying to order the Fruit Spread for my partner... with the shop out of stock, and trying to order it in for me. They then told me they couldn't as they could only find it in packs of 12, so I resorted to spending a fortune on amazon for 2 tubs.
And then I received a call stating they were ready to be picked, so I now have a total of 5 tubs of fruit spread... could thing they've got a long shelf life of over 2 years! Its gonna take Dawn that long to work through them haha!
With items packed securely into my backpack, I was free to finally carry on and complete the run.
I headed out towards Monks Road, which takes me on to Greetwell road, I saw this lovely Red Admiral butterfly enjoying the sunshine:
Red Admiral
At this point I decide I was rather peckish, so helped myself to a random protein flapjack bar I'd picked up alongside my fruit spread...
It was meant to give me a little energy boost, but I didn't really notice anything. It was super tasty though, so I guess that is the main thing!
I then headed along Wragby Road, which took me out of town to eventually join on to the path that runs alongside the bypass
It was starting to get warm by this point, and I had nearly drunk all the water I was carrying. I only had 500ml, perhaps I could do with more on the next long run...
Then it was just a few easy kilometers before I made it home. The total time was over 3 hours, but at least 25 minutes of that was stood around in the post office and the shop and while talking to parents, so the time wasn't too bad.
I do feel the benefits of taking it easier last week though, and I'm no ready to increase the mileage again
Oh and here is the Fruit Spread I've taken so much time in trying to sort:
Although I've only just realized that it's a different brand. The Sunwheel band is what I've bought before, the Suma ones are todays. I assume they will taste the same... its the same ingredients resulting in the same thick black gunk inside. They even have the same colour lids!
I'm sure it'll be fine!
Anyway, time to rest up this afternoon and take it easy. Tomorrow will be a short recovery run, along with some boring chores that need sorting, and then that's my weekend over again... just goes so quickly!
If you would like to check out this activity on strava you can see it here:
https://www.strava.com/activities/9903810812
About the Athlete: Living in the UK, I am an intermittent Runner, but always striving for more consistency. When I'm not training I can be found photographing insects or listening to really loud angry music (which is the best type of music obviously!)
This is an automated post by @strava2hive and is currently in BETA.
Keep going, you're smashing your training at the moment and getting stronger every day.
To see the full Weekly Leader Board, click here.
This Weeks Leader Board(Top 5):
A day out with Dan.
Looks idyllic over there :)
Hope Dawn is happy with the fruit spread (of which I have never heard - for what?)
p.s good partner 👏
A little bit of everything in this post and it was heartwarming to read.
Hope you're well just a Dan 💐😊
The blue skies help! Its pretty pleasant considering we are heading into Autumn... with the wind and rain that it brings
Dawn uses the fruit spread for as a sandwich filling (and apparently it can also be used for toast or cakes)... kinda like a jam or conserve I guess, although it isn't jam. Its thick and gunky and apparently very tasty although I've never tried it.
I dunno if you have marmite (or vegemite) down there, but its the same consistency as that
Damn right, I think I've earnt some brownie points for my efforts today! 😅
Yep. I'm trying to get these long runs to be less about "running hard" and more about adventuring and exploring. So i've got food and water (and a map, and coat etc), and I'm just taking my time. And it is my time, my space to spend as I wish. Bit of running, bit of walking, some snacks and lots of pictures... it's all good :-)
Its a question that will get a different answer each day, but yeah I'm in a reasonably good place at the moment. The house is quiet now that Dawn has returned to University, and I need to remember to check in with other people as it can get a little bit lonely here if I'm not careful. I'm ok for now.
How are you getting on?
Yep. You're headed into Autumn. And us into Summer. Supposedly. I think your winter may have gotten lost down South.
Massive storm here in the Cape. All roads closed. Electricity down and more. It's summink. Always interesting to see the faces in queues at the store. People get stressed out. I am, as usual, ambivalent and enjoy the brief apocalypse and it's intensity. 🙃 But no electricity means hassle as well. Feel like we are camping today. Without the fire, sadly.
Yes. Super double whammy kudos best partner of the month and thanks for the explanation. At first I thought it was a running snack. Sounds like a quick energy boost. Marmite we will avoid until we can sit and discuss at length in person one day, perhaps. But I like the stuff. Reminds me of my dad :)
I hear you on the adventuring and exploring instead of running hard. Busy trying to do the same with life, really :D
Your answer on how you're doing...
Brilliant. You're so present. And always beautifully honest.
Me? Different things at different times, sometimes at the same time and all together at once :D
I'm still tired out physically though. Which is frustrating now. But I knew when I left Noordhoek back in 2022 that the adventure would be taxing physically so here we are, I guess.
All in all I'm glad we did it. The time I had with my son and how it grew him. 👍
But looking for steady and stable for the next bit to get fully back up and running less hard now :) Yes. Work smart and all that.
One day at a time, right?
So good to "see" you. 💯
Only love from the South!
Amazing how quickly people panic over short term things like this. Shops being closed 2 days and potentially missing a delivery, and chaos unfolds. ANd those same people don't seem to realise that their behaviour while panicking actually makes the whole thing worse.
Although the electricity issues you guys have are pretty rubbish to be fair. I didn't even have a clue until a couple of other Hive accounts mentioned it. To have rolling blackouts and intermittent service for so long has got to be demoralizing and damaging in equal measure and there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel (pun not intended!!)
I don't have anything to hide I guess, but I've always been a wear my 'heart on my sleeve' kind of person... sometimes thats a good thing, and sometimes it isn't. But I can't change that, and I don't think I want to either.
And it's also weird how it is easier to open up to a 'stranger' on the internet than it is to talk about this stuff in person.
Yep, I get that one :-)
I'm glad you managed to make the most of the time with your son, and that it was worth the effort, even if that effort was physically draining. The memories you made, and the lessons you passed on will be worth it I'm sure, but you've got to look after yourself too. Adventuring is good fun of course, but steady and stable has its perks too you know 😉
Yep. Always.
Much love from the North
Pretty much sums up why we connected :D
Yes, Sir! Busy working on steady and stable as we text. Always having to make a plan takes a lot of energy and time, you know.
Yes the infrastructure here is rubbish.
North seems more together. It always has, really.
But on we go until we get there ;)
Stay you always. <3
You can include those errands with your run if you will have the time
I am glad that you enjoyed the run and the pictures are lovely
It was a good use of time to be honest.... a change to get some fresh air, get a training session completed, and tick some chores off at the same time :-)
https://twitter.com/lee19389/status/1706330467434131910
#hive #posh