Track and field

I think I may have been inadvertently training for a new sport this week, combining cycling, running and archery. I’ve also been continuing my woodworking classes and just about keeping up with my new habits. 

It started with a bike ride on the Monday, which I’ll admit I did just to get a world cycling badge from my Garmin app, but we can say was part of my training plan for bike touring. It was just a quick trip along part of the Grand River here in Waterloo. It’s one I’ve done many times before but whether it was pumping up the tires or my current fitness programme, it felt like I was flying compared to earlier this year. It was probably the tires, but that’s OK, because we can call that basic bike maintenance. I’ve also recently oiled the chain, which definitely counts. More to come on that though. 

The next much crazier exercise was a 5K run. As it happens, that was also prompted by a digital badge (I know...) because Wednesday was world running day, although it also included some encouragement from Oliver. And I wanted to know how far I could run now and what it would take for me to be able to run a 10K (which is on the list). So, on the hottest day for a while, in the heat of the early afternoon, I grabbed my water bottle and started running. I’d mapped a 2.5K route that went past my house so that I could bail out if things were going badly. 

The last time I ran any distance was over a decade ago. And on that last occasion my old running shoes fell apart, which tells you how long it was since I’d run before then. So I had no idea how it was going to go. The first 1K was me trying to work out whether I was doing irreparable harm to parts or all of my body. At various points my side hurt, my thighs hurt and my kneecaps felt like they were floating independently from the rest of me. But gradually my body got accustomed to the idea and I settled into the run. After the first lap I ditched my sunglasses and water bottle, which made it very slightly easier. 

I completed the 5K in just over 30mins and didn’t have to stop running, which was encouraging. As was the fact that my last 1K was over a minute faster than my first 1K - although that may have just been the result of a desperate desire to finish. I was a bit of a hot sweaty mess by the time I finished, and it was a little difficult to go up and down the stairs for the next couple of days. But 10K feels achievable. Also, I earned a ridiculous number of badges for one run. 

Much less strenuous but more technically challenging and competitive was the archery on Thursday evening. This had been suggested and arranged by one of our neighbours, Janet. Four of us took part - Janet, her daughter Megan, Sophie and me. Chrissy came along to document the event and keep the peace. 

I’ve always liked the idea of archery - from childhood tales of Robin Hood to reading about the remarkable power of the English longbow (also, stealth weapons in computer games are way cooler) - so I was keen to see if I was any good at it.

The shooting range was in an innocuous looking building on the outskirts of Waterloo. The training was carried out by Lily from Arrow Academy Archery.  Someone made the mistake of putting Sophie and I beside each other on the range (as Amy commented: “Who put them next to each other with weapons?”), so it quickly became very competitive. Unfortunately I was at a slight disadvantage in that Sophie was naturally very good at it. However, I did manage to hang in and beat her with at least one set of arrows. I took a photograph of it. 

Lily did a great job of teaching us the basics quickly and we mostly managed to hit the targets, even when they were moved further back... 

Incidentally, the bow I was using had a draw weight of 20lbs. The English longbow was at least 80lbs, and apparently often resulted in an asymmetrical hunched back for those who used them. I’m not aiming for that, but we do all want to go back, so there might be more archery soon. 

When we got back home, Sophie suggested putting a target up in our yard and buying a bow and some arrows, so that we can shoot whenever we want. I haven’t researched this, but if it isn’t illegal it probably should be. 

In other news, the first woodworking project was completed this weekend, with the new boardwalk in place. I got to try out new tools, including the chop saw.

We also put in most of a new fake wooden floor for Jackson’s room. Again, I was under Roger's tutelage. I still have some complicated bits to finish off, but I’ve been left with the necessary tools so it looks like I’m now considered competent enough to carry out this work. 

I continue to only just finish my weekly habits by the end of the week. This weekend I had to combine a walk with my French listening, which made it a bit more challenging; and Ulysses was slow going after the long weekend working when I sat down to read it on Sunday evening. Also, I’m getting used to walking in the rain. 

Still on track though.