Inspiration x a million

So my promise of keeping up with blogging is going well...for now. How long it will last I don't know!!

This weekend was boring. In fact when I say the highlight of my weekend was baking a cake and going for a run that shows just how boring it was.

Like many people this weekend I was up pretty early on Sunday morning to watch the coverage of the London Marathon. This event is something which has never really interested me before, why anyone would want to run 26.2 miles was beyond me and generally I thought being hungover in bed was a less horrific option then pounding the streets of the capital. This year however I thought very different.

I was excited to watch the marathon. I was keen to see the elite athletes in action and be totally amazed at how they breeze round in astounding times but most of all I couldn't wait to see the "normal" people taking on the challenge of a lifetime and witnessing the sense of pride amongst the runners and spectators for this immense event. I have put the word normal in quotation marks because I feel these people are so much more than normal. Running is not easy, whether you have a natural talent for it or not, it is not an easy thing to do so anyone that does not run as their profession is a hero in my book for signing up to such an incredible physical challenge. Everyone running yesterday had their own reasons for doing so and ultimately it's that purpose which got them to the finish line. Charities are the big winners of events like the London Marathon but I believe that everyone that took part yesterday is a winner. Whether they did it in 3hours or 7hours. Those people have done something that is seemingly impossible to so many others.

I would love to one day be able to do a marathon. Who knows if I ever could do it but after watching the coverage yesterday I found myself wanting to do it and believing that if I put the work in I could do it! Maybe I should just take a risk and enter the ballot when it opens next Monday? What do you think?

Ultimately I found yesterdays events inspiring and it made me proud to be a runner. My run yesterday was nothing in comparison to the marathon runners we saw yesterday but I was motivated to go out and that motivation definitely came from watching BBC1 for the majority of yesterday.

To everyone that ran yesterday...you're a hero! xxx

The Blog is Back!

Blogging has certainly taken a back seat with me recently. I have about 1 reader so to you Jenni, I am very sorry about this. You pretty much know everything I've been up to anyway!

So, for anyone that might read this blog and have a vague interest in my running adventure I will endeavour to update you now.

I last blogged at around the start of March and two key events have taken place since then...

1. I did the 10K :)
2. I turned a year older :(

I won't go in to detail about turning a year older. I am a huge embarrassment to all that know me and I will forever regret getting "that drunk" on my 25th birthday. What I will go into detail about is the 10k and how things have followed since that point.

I briefly mentioned in my last blog post that I was really struggling with my confidence at running and my belief in being able to do the 10K. Well this didn't really improve ahead of the 10K itself. I carried on running and kept my weekly workout schedules largely the same even in the week of the 10K itself. Some people told me to take the week of the 10K off but I thought different. My logic being that I would be doing as much as I usually do if I wasn't running the 10K and I was never doing the 10K as a race anyway, to me it was another run. Anyway...

The morning of the 10K arrived and I had actually slept pretty well. I was up early to take on some breakfast and get kitted up (new pink t-shirt was a necessity). The weather looked a bit dodgy but the main thing was it was dry so I wasn't worried. So at 9am my running buddy arrived to pick me up and off we went to Don Valley.

Registration was easy and organised. We picked up and rocked (if I do say so myself) our bright yellow University of Sheffield race t-shirts, pinned our numbers on and attached the all important chip to the shoe! All going well except for one thing...a big yellow ball in the sky!!!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a bit of sun and nice weather but I prefer this when I am positioned in a beer garden with a pitcher of Pimms for company, not when I am about to run my first 10K!!! By the time the run started temperatures had soared. I know it sounds silly but I have only been running since January so anything warmer than 10c was going to be a shock as I just haven't been able to prepare for this and I don't cope with heat well if I have to do more than sit in previously mentioned beer garden.

Anyway, there wasn't time to dwell on the arrival of summer I had 10k to take on. Off I went. I had a strong start and first lap round Don Valley was good and the hills (gentle inclines?!?!?! Hmmmm I don't think so!) were OK. The course was 3 laps in total and I did start to waiver. I kept going though and eventually crossed that finish line. In my joy of crossing that finish line I forgot to look at the giant clock to see what time I had completed so thought I would check when results went online from the chips. After all, I was more pleased I had got round regardless of time! Only one problem with checking my time...my chip didn't register so I have no recorded time! As far as the race organisers are concerned I am still running the damn thing! Oh well, as I say I am proud of the fact I did it and from my own estimates and others who were waiting for me I reckon 1hour 10 is a good estimate.

After the run I decided to not rest and relax but to partake in a sport I truly excel at...shopping and once I was showered and changed I hit Meadowhall...on the hottest day of the year so far. Oh well!

So since the 10k I have continued to run. I haven't done more than 5k but I have run around 3 times a week to keep me ticking over and running on my mind. Sadly my running buddy has had to take a break due to injury so I have done more on the treadmill than the roads.

Although I have been continuing to exercise regularly my eating habits have not been as good as I would usually like to have them. It's no excuse but I certainly blame my birthday, Easter and a little trip away for sending me well and truly off the rails. I am getting back to normal gradually now but there is still a bit too much chocolate passing my lips than there should be...tastes yummy though!

Last week I decided to give something new a go and went along to a Run England running group. To say I was nervous was an understatement!!! All day I couldn't think of anything else! Off I went last Wednesday with my friend from work who is a regular at the group and once I got into it and got the hang of interval training I had a great time and will certainly go back! Sadly I couldn't go this week as I was supposed to be working late. Annoyingly that was cancelled at the last minute but all was not lost as I took on the role of budget personal trainer (and a very bad one at that) and took my housemate into the park for some interval training. She's still walking and talking to me so hopefully my attempt at being a PT wasn't too bad. It was also throwing it down with rain so we deserve extra brownie points!!

www.weheartit.com

Now I am well aware this post has been way too long so Jenni if you are still reading you deserve a medal! I will just round off with a few thoughts  and plans for the future of me and running.

I will continue to run, even if sometimes I just manage 5k on the treadmill or the running group. I will still go. I love the feeling of feeling proud of myself that I can run...this time last year this was impossible in my mind.

I love exercise. If I can't go spinning I get moody...who'd have thought it! Certainly not me or my family as they regularly tell me.

I feel motivated. I have been reading some books about running and talking to the leader of the running group about how to progress. I feel that I can do this. Next year I would like to run a half marathon. I did secure a place on one this year to see if I would be ready but I won't be and that's just fine because in the meantime I plan on getting a couple more 10ks under my belt.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and it has been a challenge. Nothing about it has been easy but that's part of the fun I suppose!

Hopefully I can also keep this little bit of the Internet up to date as well...as boring as it may be!

xxxx

How did March get here???

So not only have I managed to already fail on this blogging lark by not blogging but March seems to have crept up on me without any warning at all!

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled by the prospect of spring and drooling over pastel colours and the thought of light evenings but March is the month of the 10K and I am not feeling ready at all.
I always waver in positivity but after a terrible run last week which saw me have a minor panic attack and tears my self belief is zero at the moment. The run itself had nothing to do with why I was so upset, I cried every day last week for some bizarre reason and running just tipped me over the edge. I am ready to go at it again this week but I constantly compare myself to others (in all aspects of my life, not just running) and this is not healthy; I know that but I can't stop myself.

So, tomorrow is all about going back to basics. I need to tell myself I can do it and I will do it. I can run 7K so really I can run 10K. The though of doing so is just very scary at the moment.

Update to follow!

In the meantime, lets look toward spring :) x

This one's for you Whitney...

Hello!

What a long long week it has been! Roll on 5pm tomorrow! The stress of this week really helped me on my regular Tuesday run this week though so every cloud and all that...

Tuesday morning rolled around and my running buddy had told me that she wouldn't be running with me. Strangely the feeling of panic I would have expected when told I will be running solo didn't arrive. Surely this was a good sign...and it was.

I felt motivated and ready to run. Tuesday had been a glorious day in Sheffield and that led to a lovely evening for running. I even created a playlist for the occasion. Highlights of this included Backstreet Boys, Whitney (as the title suggests) and the Vaccines (actually it's probably not fair to lump the Vaccines together with the Boys and Whits) Off I set. I walked down to my starting point and had Nike + all ready to go. Off I went. My pace and breathing felt good, even my stride felt longer than usual. This was good, better than usual and dare I say it...possibly the best I've ever felt as I've set off for a run.

One lap completed and I knew I had one more lap of my route to complete to hit my target of this week. I thought the mental issue of going past my starting point without actually stopping would really be a challenge but amazingly I didn't give it a second thought. By the time I reached the hill of my 2nd lap I had started to flag a little but then Whitney Houston, Step by Step started on the playlist and that was it, cheesy as it sounds I listened to the words and thought that's all I have to do "taking it step by step" and that's what I did and that's what got me through and helped me achieve 6.39k.

As I approached my end point my spirits were high and I was eager to check Nike+ to see if my suspicions that it felt like a good run would be confirmed with my total time and calories burnt. Imagine my disappointment then when I realised I actually forgot to press go on the Nike+!!!!

ANNOYING!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so mad with myself but it still felt good. The next day at work I was a loser and looked up all the songs on my playlist (my run took as long as my playlist) and added up the total time. THank you amazon! I was chuffed, I did it in 41 mins 41 secs! Not bad for a girl that's been running 6 weeks.

Just as a treat and a tribute to the lady herself here she is...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWa5vE4MUpU&ob=av2n

Take that treadmill!

Hello!

Post run day so time to share my thoughts on last nights run.

Tuesday is my regular night to run with my colleague from work and last night was no different other than there being some white stuff on the ground. Now, when it snows in the U.K we panic. I'm no different. If I didn't have a full time job I would simply take to hibernation when the white stuff falls and ice becomes ever present. Sadly, work is a necessity and until I live the lifestyle of Ms Carrie Bradshaw I must venture out in the blizzards. The other thing about snow and ice is my ridiculous fear of the stuff. I am yet to meet someone who becomes more paralysed with fear at their front door than myself. I can't explain this fear but it really takes over me. Anyway...given the ice and my fears, myself and my colleague needed to come up with an alternative to running on the roads.

I'm a member of a gym and sorted it out for my running buddy to come along for the night. This was actually a real treat for her as she got to go in the pool and steam room and generally have some time to herself away from husband and 4 boys! The woman needs a medal!

So there we were, kitted up ready to go on the treadmill when disaster...my colleague has forgotten her shoes! I offered my spare pair of trainers (seriously what kind of person has trainers just for spinning?!?! I really do think I'm a pro-athlete!!) But I'm a size 7 and she is a teeny tiny 5 so it wasn't working out. Fast forward half an hour later and her husband has come to the rescue with trainers in hand. Off we go to locate 2 treadmills next to each other. I start giving my best gym instructor speech about how to use the machines when comedy descends. Whilst I am fiddling around on the screen of my buddies treadmill she has figured out how to use the controls on the rail of the treadmill. Anyway, neither of us realised at first the speed just kept going up and then all of a sudden it was a cartoon moment. I was hurting from laughing so much and neither of us could hit emergency stop! Once all the fun and frolics was over and done with we managed to actually get on with some running. That is after all what we went to the gym for.

I clocked up 5K in 35.47 mins. pretty pleased with that. I enjoyed it (I usually hate the treadmill) and I could have done another K I think. I then went on the bike and did 4 miles on that while my friend went to chill in the pool. All in all it was a good session and I'm looking forward to the next one. I burnt 520 calories in total and then un-did all that hard work with 2 scoops of Ben and Jerry's at the cinema. I enjoyed it anyway!

Spinning class tonight, I might do 15 mins on the treadmill pre or post spin depending on time, hunger and tiredness (swear I need to actually hibernate!). Next run likely to be Saturday. Fingers crossed for the ice to melt!

xxx

A slight blip...

So I am sat at my desk feeling very sorry for myself. I won't go into detail but I will just say I don't really like being a girl for one week of every month. Every other week throw all the girly-ness you want at me and I will lap it up.

It's no excuse I know. I know full well that my double spin class will make me feel better but the sickness I have at the moment and the over whelming desire I have to sleep means that the most that's going to happen tonight is putting my pj's on and climbing into my bed.

I promise tomorrow will be better...it flippin well better be anyway!

xx

Sorry for the moan. Not sure who I am saying sorry to but I feel I should say it all the same.

Feels like I'm 15 again...

After a couple of days in London and lots of tasty food a run was much needed this morning! I also figured that going for a run would mean my leftover Hummingbird Bakery cupcake would barely touch the hips.

As I was at my mum and dads I needed to devise a route the would give me the distance but also be ok under foot. Luckily I know these parts pretty well, after all I've lived there since I was born and left for uni. My little old hometown also has the benefit of being in the land of flat terrain, Lincolnshire! Made a nice change to the mountains (ok I exaggerate!) of Sheffield.

Given that I left planning a route till the last minute I needed to come up with something pretty quick as I was already talking myself out of going as I munched on my cereal and looked out the kitchen window at all the frost. Somehow I managed to drag myself upstairs and get in my running gear, it would have been stupid to take all my gear home and then not use it so by this point I was determined to go. I set out the door and decided I was going to do my old schools cross country course.

Off I went and man was it cold! Without trying to sound lame I think the cold affected my breathing and I wasnt sure how to get around this. I carried on and the K's started clocking up. Well, so my fancy new Nike +app was telling me. I got to 3.5k and my chest was hurting so I slowed down and walked. I felt bad for this but I would have probably felt worse had I not taken the rest. I set off again and reached home after completing 4.68k (that's running as I paused Nike + for the bit I walked)

So all in all it was cold, my chest hurt but I did it. I feel angry that I had to walk because I'd have got another 5k under my belt again had I not walked but if I'd have carried on I would have hated it and not classed it as a run I enjoyed. Guess that's the thing with running, you have to make some tough calls sometimes and you'll always think 'what if'.

The thing I am pleased about today is that I did that school cross country course. Finally the girl that got picked last, has no sporting prowess and generally went cold at the thought of P.E lessons cracked the school cross country course. I could never do it at 15 years old but today, at almost 10 years older I've done what I thought was once impossible.

Next run scheduled for Tuesday. Rest day tomorrow with double spinning Monday. Snow.... You better melt! Xx