Day 10

Beginning to think I was too harsh on Dad yesterday, either that or he is really committed to getting out of training! We incorporated a warm up loop at the start of the walk today for him to ease himself into the pace, which he was fine with, but almost as soon as we increased speed and started the clock the limping began. After a couple of minutes of this slow progress we decided he should just go home and google shin shingles or whatever was wrong and find out how to fix them so that he could start doing things properly. As he hobbled home I realised that my first thoughts were not concern for my dear aged father (have you heard he is 51 years old you know) but ones of relief that he dropped out today early enough to not greatly affect the time in which I could still complete todays session. Maybe I'm taking this all too seriously, I pondered, ready to launch into some serious soul searching (whilst making sure that philosophical thought did not affect the speed which my legs were moving of course) or maybe Dad just needs to man up. So loving daughter to the end that I am I took off without him. On seeing that Dad was turning round Newbie tucked his tail between his legs and attempted to run after him, probably because last time he was left alone with me I dragged him through sleet and snow, maybe he needs to man up too.
On a more positive note, I have figured out how to cover more ground per step with these useless midget legs of mine (surely it's not politically incorrect for me to use midget and useless together in a sentence when I am the useless midget in question, I'm short so I can say what I like about the short right?) anyway, my method involves dramatic hip swinging, thus shooting my leg further out in front of me than I would on the average step. In the childrens TV show based on walking (it could be called Rosie's Round Routes) which will doubtless be the follow up to the movie starring Scarlett Johansson/Jo Brand as me, the presenter could demonstrate the exaggerated movement then there'd be a "Go on kids, you try now, how big can you make YOUR steps?" then there'd be a pause for the kids to try followed by a "Wow, amazing!" So redaers using you as my pilot audience laets give this a go:
Go on readers, you try it now, how big can you make YOUR steps?"
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          ...
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                    Wow, amazing!

However, I'm not entirely certain that the content would make a good kids TV show, as complete with my shiny red face I'm now mincing and shimmying along like some sort of madam tomato of the fruit and veg brothel, so perhaps of fitness DVD? Or "specailist adult website", the possibilities are endless...

In this fashion then I hit the first 2 mile markers in exactly the right time! Then I got a bit too cocky though and lost 1 minute during mile 3, which then lead to a superhuman effort in making up that minute and finishing mile 4 exactly on time, yes I've hit the hour mark on the dot! I was so happy that I even managed a good boy to the dog, although there was no energy left in my reserves for a pat on the head. The fact that I have done this today should mean that I can now do it every day, but I can't promise anything, except that the madam tomato technique will remain.