Help! My body has forgotten how to run...

Another busy weekend goes by in a blur; where did the time go? On Saturday morning we went to Stapely water gardens, a hothouse with a bunch of tropical plants and animals including cheeky tamarind monkeys and the ever inquisitive meerkats. Abby seemed to enjoy it and Oscar enjoyed Abby enjoying it, Abby has grown into her role as big sister entertainer and loves pulling faces and making gurning noises at Oscar to make him laugh...who needs monkeys when you've got a big sister? ;-) After some shopping and visiting R's parents and my dad we were all pretty knackered so in the evening after putting the kids to bed we got a Chinese takeaway and finally got round to seeing The Bourne Ultimatum (we got the box set at Christmas.) Directed by Paul Greengrass, it was a good, frenetic paced spy thriller but I had heard so much hype about it being the greatest thing since sliced bread that I couldn't help feeling a little bit disappointed afterwards, it's nowhere near as good as Casino Royale, I just didn't think Matt Damon was that convincing. Maybe I should watch it again when I'm less tired.

On the Sunday the weather was glorious so after taking Abby for an early-ish morning swim we spent most of the day in the back garden; we got the trampoline the swing and the picnic blanket out and put Oscar on it while Abby did her "entertainer" act with the Osc. R took it upon herself to paint the fence (surely a bloke's job?) while I supervised the children and took them both to the shops all the while worrying about not fulfilling my stereotypical gender role ;-). In the afternoon me and R took it in turns to do our first practise run for the Manchester 10K (it's now just two months away!) R did well and ran quite far, but when it came to my turn, I've got to say I struggled. Before Abby arrived (2004) I used to go to the gym twice a week and that would include 15-20 minutes on the treadmill. Since then I've not really done much exercise apart from the occasional press-up and splashing around in the swimming pool with Abby. For starters I couldn't even find my old trainers; they seem to have been lost in the move 3 years ago! I had to use my heavier walking trainers, and after about 3 jogging steps I felt the left arch of my foot go,
and altogether I could only manage to about 200 meters at a time before stopping to walk. Running wise my chest actually felt alright, it was just the rest of my body that was protesting at the grueling regime I was attempting to put it through, bad stomach (painful gas meant I had to stop and burp every so often, not attractive ;-)), bad back, aching legs; in fact, at the end of the 20 minute run everything ached...I now have to buy some new trainers and a new pair of legs while I'm at it...

Anyway, we finished off the day by walking (hobbling in my case ;-)) to the park, we stayed until the sun had almost set, and by the time we got back home Abby was really tired so threw a few strops, e.g.
"You're being very rude, you're not my best friend any more daddy!"
"I'm not going to bed I'm going to stay up and watch TV by myself, daddy!"
"I'm not wearing my pyjamas I'm wearing my princess dress! You're making me very sad!"
before falling fast asleep (before I'd finished the first story) Just as well, I could have easily put myself to bed at the same time...