With Endure 24 fast approaching, actual running was always going to be declining. It should be, otherwise there will not be a lot in the legs for the event. Although today was also a very long day teaching; my fabulous Y11s have their exam in the morning, so today was always about immersing them in a world of English. 

So today’s activities:

• An hour at the allotment. Not sure it it counts, but I’m entering it all the same. Digging, weeding and watering is definitely exercise. 
• 100 push-ups (10 x 10 reps) – because I felt guilty for not doing any ‘real’ exercise.

Day 6 done. Will try and get out for a nice gentle run tomorrow. 

A lovely morning run in the sun. Yes, you heard that correctly, it was indeed a sunny start to the day. Proof needed?

5 miles done.

Now that Juneathon is done nice and early, it has paved the way for the following:

• Sit and relax in the garden
• Barbecue
• Allotment needs tidying
• Garage needs sorting 
• Sort out camping stuff for next weekend
• Marking
• Planning for Monday 

It’s Saturday; Juneathon’s exercise was therefore a Parkrun. We headed over to Rutland Water Parkrun on a grey and miserable morning. We had a Parkrun tourist in tow and everyone, except me, were looking for a PB. I was a pacer.

Job done, PBs achieved. I took the photo.

Next up was Pretty Muddy, a Race for Life with ‘edge’. This particular event is a ‘women only’ event. Who says that sexism is a thing of the past? This would never happen if we left the EU. Or perhaps remaining in the EU would prevent this blatant man bashing. Who knows? But I’m sure this will soon be top of the agenda for both campaigns. 

That aside, it was completed, even if it wasn’t particularly muddy. I held the bags and took the photo (along with every other man there).

Juneathon totals:

• Running = 10.6 miles
• Cycling = 9.2 miles
• Cross-trainer = 6.2 km
• Rower = 6000m

A hat-trick of gym appearances opens Juneathon 2016.

Took it nice and easy tonight: 2.5 miles on treadmill and 2km on the rower. 

Done.

Juneathon totals:

• Running = 7.5 miles
• Cycling = 9.2 miles
• Cross-trainer = 6.2km
• Rower = 6000m

Interesting day today. I was gifted the job of going to the doctors to pick up Helen’s prescription of drugs for her ‘old lady’ hip. 

In the spirit of Juneathon I incorporated this job into a bike ride. Juneathon part 1.

No real route planned, just headed for the woods. I was tracking my ride using Strava (apparently cyclists choose Strava everytime) and thought it would be fun to ride very fast downhill to see how quick I could go. 

As it turns out my max speed was 31.8 mph. Also slightly scary heading at that speed into a blind corner. 

I carried on for a bit, and ended up doing a sort of big circuit of the town before getting to the doctors. 
Picked up prescription; all good. Took said prescription to the chemist. Now I can vaguely remember picking up a prescription for my mum 30 odd years ago. The price? I’m pretty sure it was less than £2, something tells me it was £1.75.

The price I paid today: £8.40. £8.40 for a box of tablets. The service I received today: poor. 

When I handed my prescription to the sour-faced woman behind the counter I was unaware that I had to fill out something on the back of the prescription (can I remind you it has been 30 odd years since I last did this). After rolling her eyes and doing lots of pointing and gesticulating I managed to work out what she wanted me to do. I didn’t have a pen with me, cue more eye-rolling, followed by huffing and arm folding. With prescription signed and filled in I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

I asked sour-face if there was any danger of my tablets being ready yet. She seemed surprised by my request, clearly I was new to the process, so I waited some more. 

And waited some more.

During the process, sour-face had refilled some shelves, chatted to a customer about her daughter’s recent wedding, dropped a pile of products that were destined for the shelves, chatted to a customer about her daughter’s recent wedding, shouted to ‘Dee’ for her to make her a cuppa, stood staring into thin air, chatted with a customer about her daughter’s recent wedding, moved stuff from its original position on the counter to a new position before moving it back to its original position, all whilst looking sour-faced.

Then it happened. 

My order was ready. They had made a fantastic job of putting box of tablets into bag and sealing with sticker. A first class job. 

Cycled home. 9.2 miles in total. Despite the prescription palaver I enjoyed the outing.

Also, saw this on the way back home on the back of a van… 

Now if that isn’t enough to convince you I don’t know what is. Idiots.

Helen is partaking in Juneathon this year, so when she got in from work I kept her company at the gym. Juneathon part 2.

No treadmill tonight; I’m going for a variety of exercise for Juneathon this year. So tonight it was 30 minutes on that strange contraption: the cross-trainer. What is this thing? How unnatural does it feel? Why does it leave me with a numb big toe? 

6.2km done.

This was followed by 2000m on the rower. I like the rower. For me I’m always rowing down The Thames, I start at the Thames Barrier and row into the city. Water was a bit choppy tonight. 

Day 2 done.

Juneathon totals:

• Running = 5 miles
• Cycling 9.2 miles
• Cross-trainer = 6.2km
• Rower = 4000m

It’s June. Which means only on thing: Juneathon.

Day 1 was a visit to the gym. With Endure 24 just around the corner it seems that everything is about the 5 miles. 

Therefore, tonight was a steady 5 miles on the treadmill followed by 10 minutes on the rower. 

This is us looking particularly pleased with ourselves…

Day one. Done.