Hi, I'm back

[anef]

Sorry that I haven't posted for a while.  I've been ill - nothing serious, but the flu followed by a cold which meant that when I was feeling up to doing anything, that thing had to be work, so no time for LJ.  Getting fit again is slow - I was just starting to come round from the flu, and had been out running very slowly a couple of times when this bloody woman who sat next to me on the train gave me her cold.  So, not impressed. 

The good news is that due to all the coughing I had a chest X-ray (just in case), and I don't have lung cancer, heart disease or TB.  Hurrah!  (Also a couple of other things that I didn't think I had, but I've forgotten what they are.)

The worst thing is that I'm rowing in the bumps next week, and have had no time to get fit.  So, I'll just have to take it as it comes and not worry too much.  Have been out rowing this morning and though I feel like something very floppy otherwise I feel more or less OK.  So, progress of sorts.

Comments

[desperance.livejournal.com]

You have bumps in Cambridge too? I didn't know. *is an Oxonian*

[anef.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeedy. We had the college bumps in May week (ie, in June, according to the idiosyncratic Cambridge calendar) and next week is the town bumps. I guess the reason why we have bumps as well is that the Cam is quite narrow and winding, so side-by-side races don't work so well. And obviously if the Other Place has them, we must have them too.

I haven't heard of *other* other places having them (checks Wikipedia - OK, here is more information than you actually wanted: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumps_race)

Oh, and I hadn't realised that Oxford town bumps were raced in fours rather than eights. Well, you learn something new every day.

[bluehairsue.livejournal.com]

Chest X-ray: I am pleased your chest is clear. It's good to have a good chest.

Running slowly: I am with you all the way on this one! I'm trying *really hard* to hang on to running three times a week, or at least twice a week -- did 10km yesterday, half on the beach, and it basically felt like running through wet cement all the way... Just, if you feel like a bit of virtual support while you're out there doing it, think of me -- and I will think of you when I'm ditto ditto...

Bumps: for sheer unparalleled viciousness and mayhem, you really need to get into not the Official Bumps, but the various unofficial punt races that get held... I can give you important tips on how to sink other peoples' punts, how to push an entire line of spectators off the bank with a punt-pole, how to hijack a punt, how to walk down the middle of the river towing the several punts you've hijacked (bits of the Backs are actually quite shallow), punt-pole wrestling and how momentum can work in your favour to swing your opponent off the edge of the bank, etc. etc. etc. (For rowers, combining punts with oars is... Interesting...

[anef.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the support re running. I went out today for our usual 2 1/2 mile circuit and it wasn't too bad, so I feel encouraged. I might not have gone out without your email, and the thought that "any running is better than no running". Please feel free any time to think about me puffing along, if you think it would help!

Hm - punt races sound very scary. The bumps are, frankly, scary enough for me. It's the minute or so before the gun, when you sit there thinking "I'm sure I swore I would never do this again"....

[bluehairsue.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I am supposed to be going to the gym today, and a bit of virtual encouragement is sorely needed to get me there! (I'll let you know if I make it.) I managed a run of some sort 3 times last week (which is my aim). Which is good, although some of the running itself didn't feel good. Life in general at the moment feels rather like wading through treacle. I do have a tendency to find "summer" difficult (Rory too busy to be communicative, and Everyone Else In The World on holiday and Having Fun). Exercise helps, and I really want to keep up with doinf *something* if I can...

Thank you again. I feel supported.
xxx Sue