This morning’s delightfully sunny saunter was hampered somewhat by the presence of three idiot kids on a scooter - they were careering around the park - including the children’s playground and the duck pond - at great speed, no helmets, no sense and three of them piled on the seat. Fools. I felt quite intimidated by them and a bit concerned that they seemed to have little control over the bike. Thankfully we managed to keep out of each other’s way.

So, this is day three of my 5k schedule and my legs are feeling a bit achey, nothing painful, just a nice ‘ooh, I have muscles!’ kind of ache. This was the first time that Hector has objected to being in the buggy and I felt a bit bad calling out ‘not long, nearly there!’ whilst trying to get to my three mile goal. We did spend lots of time afterwards in the sandpit (once the pikey scooter yobs had moved on) and have just come back from the swimming pool, so not an entirely selfish outing! I had intended on giving the lido a go on this hot, hot day, but the queue was out of the door and you could hear the noise as you walked up the street, so we chickened out and went inside, where it was still rammed but slightly less so. School holidays, tsk.

Time: 32.44

Distance: 3.06 miles

Average Pace: 10.41

Best Pace: 8.51

Calories: 378

Today’s run was billed as a ‘5 x 400 mile pace’. There is a handy little running track painted onto the grass in the park at the moment, I guess for school sports day, but I can’t see myself legging it round there with the running buggy in tow! I decided to just run for about half an hour and pick the pace up a bit here and there; I suppose more of a fartlek session. We did stroll over to the ‘track’ at the end and I took Hector out of his buggy so he could also stretch his legs…in the direction of the kids doing stunts on their bikes, he is totally obsessed with wheels right now!

Edward said this morning ‘why do you keep saying it’s going to be hot today?’ and I suppose he was right to wonder when the sky was overcast and grey with little sign of sunshine but, by the time we headed back home after our run, the sun was beating down and it was scorching.

Time: 32.04

Distance: 3 miles

Average Pace: 10.41

Best Pace: 4.35

Calories: 394

(I imagined a faster average pace after all the bursts of energy, but I guess the best pace gives a hint of how fast I was going at times!).

We were out and about at around eight o’clock this morning and already the sun was blazing down in the twenties…so why were two young chaps running around the park wearing woolly hats?! Some of the outfits I see on my runs are really rather daft: big coats, heavy sweat pants, jeans, plastic bags, yes plastic bags. While we’re on the subject of appropriate attire, I must say it’s a challenge finding the right sports bra when you are breastfeeding - just when you think you’ve found the one, you change/grow/shrink again. Oh well.

My first run in a few weeks and my first run since having a chesty cough. Oh, it was hard work! I felt like I had a blockage in my chest and needed a plunger to shift it - cough - cough - cough all the way round. But I battled on and did my three miles as planned. It’s a beautiful day and there were a few people plodding around and plenty of dogs to keep Hector amused.

After our run we popped over to the paddling pool to take a refreshing dip and it certainly was ‘refreshing’! Poor Hector gasped for air as I dipped his little legs in the bluey water. We were joined by Flick and Aruna and we all sat around coughing - there’s a lot of it about.

Time: 31.39

Distance: 3.00 miles

Average Pace: 10.33

Best Pace: 9.12

Calories: 375

I am still here…honest! I simply haven’t been running for various reasons: rain (no rain cover for running buggy), too busy, too tired, poorly baby (nasty, nasty teething symptoms AND a chesty cough), chesty cough.

I really want to get out and run at the moment, but my chest hurts when I cough (my asthma seems a bit challenged by it all too) and H has been pretty poorly with the teething in the past week-he can’t eat, it hurts to put anything near his mouth I have signed myself up to the Womens’ Challenge 5K in September, so have a 5k training plan printed off and I’m raring to go. I decided I should build up slowly to my marathon next year, regaining my lost fitness, and thought it might be a good idea to enter races to motivate myself (and to get used to the feel of that mass participation thing that I love so much :/ ).

Juneathon. Well, I did a great deal of walking, absolutely loads in fact, but very little running and I couldn’t keep up the blogging. Sorry. Sometimes I think I set myself up to fail when I commit to doing something every day or attempting to achieve an unrealistic goal.

So, I will ride out this cough and will be back on track again soon.

(I know, I know, I have been useless at keeping up on my blogging this week. We’ve had and influx of visitors and will be inundated this weekend and next because we are celebrating one wonderful year with Hector on Sunday).

How incredible the changes are in one year, the physical development, the skills that are learned and the big personality that emerges over time?

I was just over a week away from giving birth. It’s just flown by in a flash and I feel all emotional when I look back at this time last year, remembering just how exciting it was and the feelings of anticipation, wonder, impatience and nerves…of course, we had no need to be nervous, it was an amazing experience! At that time, we thought we were just days away, with Hector (or ‘eric’ as the bump was known!) being due on the Monday, but he held on for an extra four days, enjoying end luxuriating in the warmth and safety of my big swollen belly.

And here we are now with our growing boy! What a little superstar he has turned out to be, I couldn’t have imagined just how much fun you could have with a baby, but he’s such a great companion, so alert, enthusiastic and chilled out and a delight to be with. Every day is a new experience for him, a constant series of ‘firsts’. This morning we have been swimming: I pop him in his rubber ring and off he goes, his strong little legs kicking away and his hands splashing him towards whatever he has his eye on. On our return we ate lunch and chomped away happily on some spicy risotto, a chunk of butternut squash and a fistful of bagel and cream cheese (all this and he still finds room for a good helping of my milk!). Right now he is napping after exhausting himself by strumming the ukulele, reading various books and doing some more walking. He really is a big boy now.

Or maybe not roundabouts because they don’t seem to be cool any more, maybe they are too dangerous in these times of spongy flooring in playgrounds.

We went out fairly early to try and avoid the hotter weather, but it was already pretty roasty. We saw some friends on our way round and they commented on how hot I must be, but actually, I really like running in hot weather, rather that than slogging around in the rain with water dripping off my nose! We braved the park and found it pretty busy, with diggers noisily chugging up and down (not sure what they’re up to), children enthusiastically doing some cycle safety training and having their photos taken with what looked like our local MP and crows squawking raspily in the middle of it all. We had to pause at all of these spots so Hector could take it all in

It hadn’t occurred to me just how odd we must look to a lot of people: how often do you see a woman running around pushing a weird-looking buggy with a shouting baby on board? We got a comment from an elderly lady with a dog: ‘I’ve seen it all now! Keep it up!’. I think the sideways glances are mostly admiring ones.

Time: 36.58

Distance: 3.43 miles

Average Pace: 10.47

Best Pace: 8.44

Calories: 423

Number of Juneathons: 17/17

Total miles: 67.77

I managed to go a whole week without a run; how did that happen? And during Juneathon as well! I didn’t get out for a run on Thursday after Hector’s group (which was awful, by the way, there were two-year-olds there and they are scary creatures. They bite and everything!). So, I will count up the walking we did, which turns out to be about three miles. I’ve realised that we do an awful lot of walking on a day-to-day basis (and this doesn’t include the walking I do around the house with Hector as he practices!), maybe I should don a pedometer and see how many steps I take. I didn’t run on Friday either, but did the pool squat and pool squat lengths at H’s swimming lesson and, again, about three miles walking. Saturday was more like four miles as we went a bit further afield and Sunday was spent strolling around the Hayward Gallery looking at the Psycho Building exhibition as a Father’s Day treat; it’s dead good but get there very early as you need to queue for some of the installations - and make sure you have a go in the boats…I reckon we walked about 2 miles around town but these probably don’t count for anything with the amount of cake we ate

Today is different, today is the start of a new week, a fresh start. I have to be honest and say that I have been disinclined to go to the park since our nasty encounter, I know I shouldn’t but, I just feel like I am looking over my shoulder all the time and it doesn’t have the same draw it used to have. Today the sun is shining and I felt like going somewhere different so we headed down to the canal. As I have mentioned before, the bit between home and the canal is horrible, but once we are there it’s like another world, well almost. Looking at my Garmin stats I’m mightily disappointed by the average pace and I know it’s down to the pavement bits and these cobbly bridge obstructions that really slow us down; they’re not terribly buggy-friendly.

At one point, where the path was clear and slightly crunchy-sounding (between Markfield Park and the rowing club for those that know it) I was hitting 8.5 and 9 minute miles and really loving the stretched legs and slightly puffed out feeling…I had imagined that my times would be a bit more impressive.

We paused at Springfield Park and tried out these wooden structures and Hector did some ‘proper’ walking ie. not holding onto my finger - he’s really walking now, doing little turns and everything!

When we went along here the other week there were some workmen doing something on the opposite bank and it seems they were putting up this fence. Urgh.

The return journey coincided with the school ‘run’. I get a bit depressed if I’m out at this time: those kids are filling themselves with utter crap. One group were being handed out fried chicken boxes by their mum and all happily tucking in If you are around at lunch time, they are doing the same thing then. Their poor little hearts!

Time: 55.47

Distance: 5.13 miles

Average Pace: 10.52

Best Pace: 7.48

Calories: 584

Number of Juneathons: 16/16

Total miles: 64.34

Off we went on the Eurostar on Friday. First stop - briefly - was Brussells, where we ran to catch our next train to Maastricht…where we ran to catch our next train to Rourmond…where we were picked up by Bas and taken through beautiful countryside to our campsite. Phew! All this travelling and Hector was a delight; he’s a good little traveller.

We were in the Netherlands for the wedding of Mirjam and Bas in the tiny village of Lirop. I had, for a moment, thought I would take my running gear (and I wish I had), but I’m afraid Hector’s washable nappies took precedence over my running shoes. Oh, for the days when we travelled with just one little rucksack! So, this weekend was to be one of just walking, but lots of it. On our first night, we realised that we were poorly prepared and ended up eating our left-over lunch for dinner then went to explore the area around the campsite. Hector was in his element as there were tiny horses, goats and dogs to meet, what joy!

The next day Edward borrowed a bike and headed off to the next village to find food for our breakfast, super star! Later, Ellie and Jon pootled along, also on borrowed bikes (I wonder just how many bikes there really are in the Netherlands!), and we walked through the fields to the wedding. It was gorgeous! There were all sorts of crops growing neatly alongside the path and the grasses swayed gently from side to side, making a lovely swishy sound.

The wedding was wonderful, so unique and personal. Mirjam had decorated her parents’ garden with handmade bunting and the tables were draped with gingham and all around were the incredible plants that her parents very obviously tend to with great care. What a garden! We sat quietly as Mirjam and Bas declared their love for each other (this included Bas kneeling down to sing ‘Love me Tender’!) then waited with watering mouths as the food started to make an appearance. All the food was locally picked/sourced and organic…and was truly scrumptious! After much chatting, pop-quizzing, eating and laughing we enjoyed the first band, made up an accordianist, a violinist and a double bassist - brilliant. Then I did a mega-Juneathon knees-up-stylee-jump-around. Oh, how I pogoed my pants off! I was a bit concerned after a bit because my ankle was killing me - that’s what you get for leaping around in sequined pumps. Eventually, we were all partied out, and headed, oil lantern in hand, back to our campsite. A beautiful, romantic and extra special day.

Next day we headed off on the train to Maastricht, where we explored, ate, watched some football and caught up with Ellie and Jon. Lots of walking was done as we searched for the right place to eat…and enjoyed ice creams on our return to the hostel On Monday we had intended visiting the contemporary art gallery but had failed to imagine that it might be shut, it being Monday. And all of us being artists too! Tsk. So, we decided to go back to Brussells early and spend some time exploring. The sun was hot and Ellie and Jon decided to go out to the Atomium, but we had been there not long ago and decided to just chill out in the park and eat sand with Hector and the Brussells kids (I think a sandpit has been decided as his first birthday present - don’t tell him!).

Edward, Hector and I covered quite some distance in Brussells and to add it up - very roughly - with all the other weekend walking, let’s say I have covered around 20 miles…hmmm, how to translate upwards pogoing into miles…

Since getting back I haven’t managed a run, but have done lots of walking with Hector in his sling, pointing at stuff. I will take a guess at around 9 miles in total, oh and I did some pool squatting yesterday (and I almost had to engage my old boxing skills in the foyer as the teacher announced that they were limited to 16 places, it’s quite scary when eager mums get angry…and on Tuesday I mowed the lawn after far too long. Blimey it was hard work - it was at least 20cm long.

Let’s add it all up:

20 weekend walking miles

9 weekday strolling miles

that makes 29 more miles to add to my total!

Number of Juneathons: 11/11

Total miles: 47.21

(I am aiming to get out and run later, after Hector’s Thursday toddling group, so will write that up later or tomorrow).

I am still here, but we were away over the weekend and I always take a while to get back on top of things after a little break. I will write more when I have a minute. In the meantime, I am supposed to send £32 to the London Marathon by Friday and I don’t have £32, arrghghg!

Back to trying to locate the bottom of the washing basket again; it’s a dark, scary place.