Storm's second outing

It was a mixed bag today for Storm. After yesterday's good 5 k run, a long leisurely cycle was in order! I knew it was going to rain, but didn't care. I went out and followed the river for a while, past the new Riverside Museum, back and forth over pedestrian and road bridges. The Clyde at Glasgow Green was certainly busy with those long rowing boats! I popped in to Billy Bilsland (Storm's old home) to ask about the mud guards, but there were busy so I just headed off.

From the Green, I then went through the city centre... Up Buchanan Street. Who'd thought it was a financial crisis with hunnerts of shoppers out there!

Up through the city and then back down to the cycle path. I followed that out to Yoker and then started a wide loop back toward the house. When I got to Duntreath, I felt a funny rumble at the back. Stopped and looked, and saw the back tyre flatter than a pancake! How it got so flat so quick is hard to say as there is no obvious damage.

I walked the mile and a half home and have just put the bike back in the shed. I'll need to replace the tube and see if that is all there is to it. Hopefully east job, but as it is the back tyre, it is a little harder than the front to replace!

Updates later....




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Location:Glasgow and environs

Battlefield 3 for Xbox 360

Ok, I know the Xbox is not an outdoor adventure, but I have to cross train, don't I?

I got the game yesterday after a lot of build-up in the media. I've had Battlefield: Bad Company for some time and only played B:2 once or twice. Before the Guinness and wee halfs started to affect my romance too much, it was quite a game! I absolutely love the HD graphics... The maps are HUGE - large enough for layers to fly freakin jets around FFS!

I also have to admit that it took me 10 or 15 minutes to find the enemy! Before that, I kept shooting at anyone I could see. Fortunately for me, unlike B:BC you don't seem to incur team damage and team kills in B:3!

As I never really played B:2, I'm not really sure how to sort my guy's load out, and I haven't as yet found a gun I really like. It is a she, for me that there isn't one with automatic aim!

I tried a jet (crashed). I tried a helicopter (crashed). Ut man oh man, those tanks and jeeps don't half sprint! There is a warning that you lose manoeuvrability when you sprint, and the likely result for me? Yes, you guessed it.... (crashed).

Looking forward to many many more hours of enjoying this game!

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Location:T'Internet

5 k run on a nice autumn evening

My running mate decided to bugger off to the hills without me, so it was up to me to decide my own fate toady. I decided time wise and weather-wise to run today and cycle at the weekend. As Rab wasnae here, I went back to one of my old set routes for 5 K. I'll post a link to the route and stats via my Garmin 310XT below.

My first mile I was blowing hard trying to get my rhythm and breath going, but Garmin showed 8:40 mile. My best this year. Second mile slightly slower at 9:06 ? but then my fitness was showing as the third mile I really struggled.

In the end, my time was 28:30 which is a full 2 minutes better than last week, and my best 5 k this year. Now if I can build on that and better pace and even distance in the next few weeks I'll really be pleased!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/124803145

1 8:40.9 1.00 8:40.9
2 9:07.3 1.00 9:07.3
3 9:42.0 1.00 9:42.0
4 :59.5 0.11 9:04.8

Avg Pace: 9:10 min/mi
Avg Speed: 6.5 mph
Elevation Gain: 72 ft
Calories: 451 C

Avg Pace: 9:10 min/mi
Avg Speed: 6.5 mph
Elevation Gain: 72 ft
Calories: 451 C



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Location:Knightswood, Glasqgow

Storm!

http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/storm my first real test of the Ridgeback Storm that I purchased this morning.... Garmin feed here:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/123735189
Just under 13 miles in about an hour and halfway it started to piss rain. Got back elated, happy as Larry and soaked to the skin!



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Location:Forth and Clyde cycle path

First step: get fit (again)

After a few years of slowly improving times and distances on the running front, 2011 has turned out to be a very poor year. In order to get fitter and get back to my running ways, I've started to mix up the training a bit with some hill walking, fell running / trail running and even cycling. Today I've picked my new bike and hope that I can get some good cycling done during the autumn and winter. Hopefully 2012 will bring solid improvements!