I woke up on Monday morning feeling every minute of the Tough Mudder I did on Sunday.
A mixture of sunburn, scratches all over my legs, bruises everywhere and the general ache of my muscles made me switch my usual gym alarm (4:57am – yes it’s so exact, I value those three minutes) to a more leisurely time of 7am. I didn’t even have to walk Alfie as he’s currently at my parent’s so it was a very gentle and lazy morning for me. I normally always at least have to walk Alfie so it was odd getting to work having walked only about 1,000 steps.
To be honest though, my body needed the rest! Coming into work on Monday, I was somewhat relieved to find George in a similar state of achy sunburnt tiredness. It was quite nice having someone at work who “got it” as normally I come in after a long run or race and no one cares or remotely understands really (not to their fault, I know I’m the minority here).
My run on Tuesday night was like running through thick mud. I felt so heavy and my legs were status “No Beuno”. I managed to slog through four miles though and felt the better for it despite the grind.
It is nice though starting a run and thinking “if I feel good I’ll run six miles…” and then downgrading to four just because I can.
Because I’m not training for anything or following any sort of plan. It’s just so nice. I have a couple of races in the plan and plans for the autumn but right of this minute I’m just happily winging whatever I fancy. And it feels gooood. Well, for now it does. I can already feel myself getting excited about getting back into more goal-focused training in a month or so.
In general life, things are pretty calm. I’m currently house-sitting for my parents. It’s a bit weird being back at home without my parents. I took a suitcase of clothes and some food with me to keep me going for the week (staples like apples, supplies to make work lunches, hot chocolate, etc.).
Handily though they have a second freezer in the garage and it’s well stocked with some recent MuscleFood items. I tend to buy from Muscle Food when they have a good deal going on but I don’t have the space in my freezer so my parents graciously allow me space in theirs. So I’ll be enjoying lots of meatballs, steak and chicken burgers!
The reason I’m house sitting is because my parents have three dogs and they’ve been looking after another dog too, also called Alfie (though I refer to him as Fake Alfie). And obviously the real Alfie is there too… so five dogs.
I already failed at the first hurdle by giving Fake Alfie a bowl of his treats rather than actual food. I personally blame my parents because the instructions they left were not clear. That’s my story anyway. Five dogs is fairly manic.
I walk the two Aflies in the morning and evening but the other three are quite…well, I don’t want to say lazy, but they kind of are. They prefer to lie about sleeping or eating. Two Alfies on a walk though, ay ay ay. And the real Alfie is very much a lone wolf and doesn’t like being bothered by other dogs. He’s not aggressive or anything like that but he is very much Cold Shouldering the Fake Alfie and refuses to play (Fake Alfie is a puppy and loves ALL THE THINGS).
I don’t mind staying at my parent’s house as I have my own bedroom (which they did up after I left and has a lovely soft double bed) but it’s an extra 20-30 minutes to work for me which is a ball ache, I won’t lie. It also means I can’t go to the gym in the morning. That said, it is nice not getting up at 4:57am at the moment and having a leisurely morning. Though I take my breakfast to work with me as I have to leave earlier. This means cold overnight oats which honestly does not rock my world.
Even though it’s exactly the same amount of oats, milk and the protein powder I add to it (with some grated courgette for bulk and extra nutrients), it doesn’t taste as satisfying or feel as filling. Is this psychological? Or is it something about hot and cold food? Either way it’s pretty lame but only for a few days so I won’t moan.
My parents will be back Tuesday so my stint will be over soon and things will be back to normal again. I hate change 😉
Have you ever house sat before?
Have you ever looked after someone’s pet(s) for them when they’re away?
Overnight oats: yes or no?
5 dogs!! Oh my god the dream haha. Love giving one the bowl of treats though hahahhaha-lucky day for him! I really like overnight oats- but I think porridge feels more substantial too- something about that warm comforting feeling.
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Hehe yes it was rather lovely. But hard work!
5 dogs! That sounds manic!
I used to look after my friend’s hamster when we were children, although one of them died and my mum didn’t want my little brother to get upset so we had to keep putting food in the cage and pretending it was asleep…
I am not surprised you were aching the next day- it sounded super tough.
I like overnight oats but I use muesli (I love the Dorset one in the blue box)- so it’s more like bircher muesli – a bit more variety with raisins and nuts in there too. Plus chia seeds and some berries of cherries.
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Awww bless your brother.
I think it comes back tot he fact that I don’t really enjoy cereal or find it that filling so it probably reminds me of that and psychologically I don’t feel it to be as satisfying and filling.
Once I was 14 and was supposedly sensible enough to look after the house, I would stay at home while my mum, step-dad and sister went away.
This meant I had to look after two horses, dozens of chickens (stressful because if they were left out too late in the evening foxes would kill them), two dogs and three cats. Combine this with the fact the house I grew up in was haunted and I’d sleep with the lights on when I was home alone, I’d be the one needing a holiday when they returned!
Overnight oats don’t sound that tempting.
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Oh wow yes you take the biscuit for house sitting then!!
I’ve never house sat, but I have picked up my Mum and Dad’s dog from the kennels on the day they are due home. He’s mad enough as it is, I couldn’t imagine 5 of him!
I do like overnight oats to take with me for after swimming, but agree I prefer them as warm porridge.
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Luckily two of my parent’s dogs are very docile (they’re Cavaliers) and just sleep all the time, whereas the other one is similar to Alfie so can have a some mad five minutes from time to time.
Sounds like a nice change to just be “going with the flow” instead of training for something specific. House sitting for your parents is probably nicer than doing it for someone else because I’ll be it feels more like home and more comfortable. Cute dogs!
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And I don’t feel guilty eating some of their storecupboard foods 😉
Haha loved reading about Real and Fake Alfies! Also, overnight oats I love but they definitely aren’t as filling if you use the same amount that you would cook! I think they mustn’t grow in size as much when soaked as when cooked?! So I always find myself adding extra if I have to make them
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Well, I gotta admit that. You really know how to write to keep the reader entertained! It’s like I’m coming to read your blog to motivate myself and it definitely works. By the way I love dogs and I used to walk them out for some spare pennies when I was a kid. Great times!
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