Monday 2 September 2013

Blogging Is Reeeally Hard

I have been a bit lax recently.

Since have a dental/sinus unpleasantness to deal with, running has been very hard.
I should have let everything heal, but I went back to running too quickly, and ended up with a bleeding mouth and nose whenever I went out the door, and came home looking like I had snacked on some roadkill en route.

So, I am taking a couple of weeks off from running to let everything really settle down.
In the meantime, I am doing lots of walking, no swimming (as if it bleeds in the pool, that would be too awful) and I'm still doing at least an hour a day of yoga.

I am keeping this blog going, especially as the lovely chilly marathon and triathlon training season will soon be here, but am also doing a Badass Blog. With two other Badasses.
The cool thing being, with three of us doing it, there will be regular posts.

Tales Of Unexpected Badassery

Shut up, that is totally a real word. And we are real badasses.

Sunday 25 August 2013

Sunday

I had planned to do the yoga 'Detox' disc again today, but woke up with very sore legs. It did feel hard work when I did it yesterday, lots of chair pose (like a wall sit, without the wall) standing splits and other things that involve standing on one leg. So, I went for  my run this morning, and will do the 'Hardcore' and 'Gentle' discs tonight.

And I'm juicing.
It feels good to juice.

I've been reading about gall bladders. I know so many women how had had their out. I know it's more common for women to have issues due to the all the hormones, but eating fresh fruit and veg and nuts in particular, have been shown to lower the risks.

I don't want my body to be crap and give up on me. So juicing. Rawness. Fitness. Yeah.

Saturday 24 August 2013

Weekend Of Awesome

Too much work recently.
This is my weekend of being super, super healthy. I will be going back to running everyday, and although I've been doing yoga everyday, this weekend will be extra yoga, mountains of fruit and veg.

Also, I am the Citrus Queen!
I am knocking back lemon and lime water by the gallon.  




This morning I ran just over three miles, taking it easy to see if everything was OK with my sinuses, and it was. No spitting blood  or nosebleeds.
Good to go.

I then did the yoga 'Detox' disc. Travis talks about how it's all about twists, lots and lots of twists and core work. And I did the 'hardcore' disc before it, so my abs were pretty much shot before I started it.

Dinner will be rice based, then I will body brush and have a bath with sea salt.

Tomorrow will be along the same lines, I need to be sane and healthy again before I go back to work on Monday.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Health!

Up until 10:30 this morning I was feeling DAMN healthy. I have been so very, very sensible with food.
SO much green stuff. Juices and smoothies in almost insane proportions.
Green-ness!
I am the Green Ness Monster! Nothing more junkie than a square of organic dark chocolate has passed my lips in over a fortnight. If I'm having orange juice, I'll just whizz some spinach in there too.








But then today I had to have a root and the assorted metal bits that were attached to it removed from my jaw. But even then, I'm a bit sore, and have taken some painkillers, but it could be worse.
I have been running 5 k at least every days this August, and doing a minimum of 1 hour of yoga a day. The one hour of yoga is what's really making the difference, that and all the veg. My skin is looking good.
I am sleeping a lot, but I think I'm de-toxing a bit, too. The other good thing is my daughter has taken an interest in healthy recipes, and so when I presented her with a brown rice and broccoli bake for her dinner last night, she didn't sulk.

I should now have far less problems with my sinuses, what with the root being taken out, as it was intruding on them, and my glans on that side were often swollen, so I think I've had an underlying infection for possible, erm, months? Years?
Now I will be will bloody well glow!



Sunday 11 August 2013

Kick-Ass Improvement

Lat night was the first time I did the yoga 'Cross training' disc and kept up, all the way through. No stopping and slipping into child's pose while skinny Californians on my television keep going like it aint no thang. It was hard work, but I felt good.

Today I ran for 4 miles, and also went on a 3 mile walk with the kid. And tonight I will do the strength training disc. That IS hard. I WILL NOT be able to complete that. Yet.

I want to become a hippy type person and live in a bubble of healthy food and yoga and hemp underwear.
As such, I am going to add a slightly tree-hugger element to my posts, and so-

Today I am : Healthy, slightly lazy, wishing I had a Moomin keyring, drinking herbal tea and generally optimistic.

If today was my last, would it feel wasted?: No. But, after thinking about that, I've decided to not bother doing any more work today, and will crochet an owl, instead.


Wednesday 7 August 2013

Two Solid Hours

Of yoga last night.
That, it turns out, is a long time. Really feeling it today. My core is not my friend.
I did the 'Vitality' disc, the basis of which is backbends, and then I did half of the 'Yin' (holding stretches for a super-long time) disc. That comes to two hours. That also made my run this morning very hard work. My legs are a bit fried, and my wrists are tender too from all the downward dogging (oo-er). I will do 'mountain pose series' tonight, which is half an hour, with half an hour meditation on it as well. Or the 'cop out' disc as I call it.

I'll have to get up very early for my runs for the next few days as I'm working, on the upside, it will be cooler, and I'm absolutely not cut out for running in the heat. The thought of doing a summer marathon or triathlon utterly horrifies me, to my aching core. It will take some serious getting used to.

Monday 5 August 2013

More Baked Porridge

My life is currently revolving around backed porridge, running and yoga.
I haven't cycled for a couple of weeks or swam, but I am still just about managing 5k each morning. Today was less uncomfortable, so I'll try a little further tomorrow.

And this is mainly what I'm eating. It's more fruit than porridge.

I put fruit in a bowl.




I pour on rice milk, with cinnamon, oats and a spoon of Stevia mixed in.
I put it in the oven.




The gentle cooking in the oven, as opposed to getting mashed about on the hob means the fruit is lovely.




Tonight I'm doing yoga 'Cardio'. I don't want to. I've only done it once, so it has to be done again this week or else, but I am not looking forward to it.
Just have to focus on how amazing I'll feel afterwards.

Sunday 4 August 2013

More Muscle

I did the strength dvd tonight. Last time I had to stop before the end, as missing out some of the repetitive cycles was not enough, I had to stop. This time I stayed with it to the end, just collapsing occasionally and slipping into child's pose when the shaking got too much.

I also ran 5k this morning, as I did yesterday morning. It was stupidly hard. It's the heat, I'm sure, as the one I did on the 1st of the month was great. It was pouring with rain. It was great.

There is a definite physical change going on. I suppose I have now done 15 hours of very regular and challenging yoga. When I made up my own practise, it wasn't hard.
I honestly do think there will be a massive change by the end of the first month, and can't quite comprehend how much stronger I will be by the end of the 108 days.


Thursday 1 August 2013

Back Fat

I have less of it.
My back feels different, as do my shoulders.
Firmer.

Tomorrow I will have done 14 hours of yoga in 14 days. The vitality one was indeed sweaty, and there were lots of breathing exercises too. I did the mountain pose and meditation series yesterday, which was quite easy physically, and the cross training one today.
The cross training disc was the first one, and it was nice to see the improvement between now and the first time I did it a couple of weeks ago. Some of the flows I had to sit out, I could do one or two sets of sequences but was then done. Tonight I was able to complete all of them, and just struggled a bit with the amount of time I have to hold chair pose (like a wall sit without the wall).

I also managed to run on my ankle. Just 5k, but it didn't hurt at the end, just mild discomfort. And it was pouring with rain, which was just wonderful.

And I'm really into baked porridge.
I put some oats, rice milk, strawberries cinnamon and little agarve nectar in the fridge to soak overnight, and in the morning add some chopped banana and bake it for 20 mins. It's like a really soft, moist, not-too-sweet milky flapjack. Just lovely.

Tuesday 30 July 2013

'Cleansing'

Oh lordy.
The 108 day program requires three days of 'cleansing' for the end of each 36 day cycle.

It starts off as a vegan no-crap type thing for the first one (I can do vegan rather well, it's the no crap part) and by the last cycle, it's 3 days of juice fasting.(Gah!)

Anyway, I'm not there yet, but as my calorie-burning powers are scuppered at the moment with the ankle, I am going to do a mini cleanse thing now. I have decided to base it on brown rice, fruit and veg.
Especially brown rice banana and cinnamon porridge, as it's damn lovely, and like eating a brick.
A lot of the no-crap things seem to leave me hungry for stodge.
This is healthy stodge.
If the rice is cooked the night before, and just needs to be warmed through with the mashed banana and cinnamon (and some raisins are nice too) in some almond milk, it's quick stodge, as well.

Tonight I will be trying the 'Vitality' yoga disc in the set.
Sounds sweaty.

Monday 29 July 2013

Elephant Ankle

I put my foot down a hole on Saturday, and went over on my ankle.
It's now a fat ankle, with weird red bruising streaks climbing up my leg, that are becoming a bit more purple today. It seemed a bit better this morning, but walking around on it all day has made it hurt again.

Seems so ridiculous to be injured when just crossing a road and not doing anything sporty.
I wasn't even wearing girly shoes, it was just a really deceptive hole.

Anyway, so I'm modifying my yoga a bit. Last night I did the 'Hardcore' disc. The idea being, it gives you, a 'hard core.' I couldn't finish it. It was so damn difficult. Most of it was on the floor, so I thought it would be a wise choice for the ankle. About a third of the way in I was a red shaking mess on the floor.
I then did some seated stuff from the strength disc, and today I did some other modified stretching and things. I've discovered my left side is very, very weak, but more flexible than the right.

In general this program is making me feel very weak and pathetic, and I damn well need not be. And I need to stop falling over, as well, both in the street and on the mat.

Friday 26 July 2013

Ha! Nope.

Well, I won't be out-growing this yoga program any time soon.
 I tried the strength DVD last night, and nope. Not a chance. But that's good, as I know by the time I reach 108 days, I will be able to do it. I was reading another woman's experience on the blog, and she was saying how she laughed at the TV to start with as it was just too impossible, but of course, by the end, could do it. Consistency is the key.
I managed the first few sequences, then I was shaking, and falling over. And unable to breathe.
Arm balances are something I've never been able to really do, but I want to. And this will do it.

So today is day 8, then just 100 more to go!


Wednesday 24 July 2013

Foundations

Life is so much harder with car problems.
Buses and crap. Listening to frightening noises. It's draining me.
And I've been feeling ill. And fighting it. And I could really use some time off work.
And a good moan, obviously.

Yoga is still awesome. I did the 'Yin' disc today, which is all about holding poses for a very, very long time, on average 3 to 5 minutes. It amazing how much lower and deeper I could get into the pose after a couple of minutes, and able to pop my forehead on my shins and such.
And I swear he's hypnotising me. He lets me get into a deeply relaxed state and talks about getting rid of things I don't need, tells me how great I am, how I am making my body so much better. I bought some Hula Hoops at lunchtime today, ate a few, and then thought 'I don't need these' and binned them.
I swear he made me buy a pineapple the other day as well.

Anyway, I need to stop thinking about competing.
I'm shattered. My speedy swimming efforts have resulted in a hurty shoulder. I thought I needed to enter things to keep on track, but I think I can do that by myself. I hope I get into London. I will do some winter duathlons, and I have signed up for Edinburgh marathon next spring already, so that will happen.
In the mean time, I need to get a decent plan. A long term set of goals to get done over the winter.

So far I have -

*Run everyday for the month of August. A minimum of 5k.
* Ten miles. Before next year's marathon training starts, I want to get my ten mile time down to 1:40.
*Do an hour of yoga everyday. Just everyday, man, no matter what. I am hurty. And I need not to me. And I need to be thinner. I'm expecting a lot from a very crap to average body.

I think I need to start again.
Build a better body. Start a year long program. Base training for next year's half iron distance starts now.  



Monday 22 July 2013

Day 4 Of Yoga

The fire alarm went off when I was in the pool.
I had found a good time to go, and hour after opening, so the early birds are gone, but still a little early for the kids. I did 30 lengths, then the noise started. There was about 8 of us in, and they made us stand by some open fire doors. It was about 15 mins before we could get back in, and then loads of kids started to file in. I then concentrated on swimming super fast, in 100m bursts, and then 100m burst of breathing every 5 strokes. Then I got out of there, and went and bought loads and loads and loads of fruit. Cutting up a pineapple is hard work!

I then made the kid go for a run with me (she did more walking) and I did another couple of miles while she came back to lay on her bed and moan about how evil I am, and tonight I will do Day 4 of the Ultimate Yogi.
It's apparently a day where I have to do the hardcore and the strength disc too, but after swimming and running, I'm going to do the gentle one, and do more kick-ass yoga tomorrow.
I also plan to get in the sea again, which isn't too trying, so should be fine.

This is Travis. He wanders about in his baggy shorts, saying 'Downward daaa-aaa-aawg'.



Saturday 20 July 2013

Oh Crap

But it's just a cold, that's all. And just the beginnings of one, plus some dehydration and also being run down, as I have been working a lot.
I'll be fine, and it's made me look at what really needs to be done.
I have done these triathlon distances all separately before, and then some, there is nothing new and scary. I will have the energy on the day to do all three together, and the adrenaline.
However, I am slow, and I am bad a swimming. When I went yesterday I felt shattered after 10 lengths, and caught a few breaths and then felt fine and could have swam more than the 32 I did it's just a warming up thing, but my cardio is crap right now.

So, I have 2 weeks.
Last night I started the yoga program, it was pretty intense. It's power yoga, and it was nice to see some of the people wobbling and they were all sweating by the end. I am looking forward to the flexibility and strength days. I have a feeling he will make me ache.
I will do this hour of yoga a day.

I will also concentrate on speed.
I will run fast, and cycle fast, and it will be all about increasing my lung capacity, and swimming, lots. Things like intervals that I don't really understand.

I was going to run this morning but I woke up feeling cruddy, and after a day of work where I was a bit useless and forgot stuff, I came home intending to run then, but nope. I was getting into my running gear and thought I'd just lay on the bed for a few minutes and woke up an hour later.

I'll try again tomorrow before work.

Friday 19 July 2013

No! I CAN'T Be ILL!

Today was going to be my AWESOME DAY OF SPORTING!

I went to bed at a reasonable time, and woke up at 7am feeling ill.
Bollocks.
Sore throat and sneezing.
I have been very busy, and the most I've managed to fit in this week is a little running.

Swimming is the most important thing at the moment, so I went to pool and fought my way through a hideous amount of kids and managed half a mile before feeling really rather ill, and so sick of being hit by kids and their parents.

The plan was to then come home and cycle 20 miles and run 4.5.
But as it was I came home, felt woozy, and watched DVDs.
I intend to make myself better today. I have eaten very well, and am going to start a new yoga program Taff sent me. It's an 108 day DVD program. I am going to do it start to finish in 108 days. This is highly do-able as I do yoga every day anyway, and it's OK to do it after running and such

So tomorrow I hope to wake up feeling a whole lot better, and want to run 5 miles before work.
Yeah.

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Distractions

There's a 3 year old in my house, and a 5 year old, and this has made today impossible for sporting, an ditto tomorrow. I have decided to just have a couple of days rest, and then Friday will be a SUPER sporting brick session.
I re-did the half distance again on Sunday, and in spite of the heat, managed 16.7 mph for 13 miles, and my 3 miles were at 9:45 min miles. This Friday I will add 50% again to the distance, meaning the next week I'll be doing a brick of the standard distance. It's a bit late to be doing all this tri training as it's just around the corner, but it's the last event, I'll do my best, and then over the autumn and winter, proper stuff will happen.
I will run 10 miles each week and my goal is to get to nice 10 min miles for that.

There's just so much going on right now. Work is crazy. And people here. I need a good few days off soon in which to just please myself. And sport. Lots of sport. Cool early morning runs and fresh juices and generally behaving myself. I have been eating better these past few days. So yay, go me.

Saturday 13 July 2013

6 minutes

See, now, when I was trying my wetsuit out in the sea, I noticed my legs were really high up, right on the surface of the water, so did feel rather like swimming with a pull buoy. Today I went to the pool when I knew there would be adult lanes available, but as it was there were only three people in the entire pool. I'm not sure what that was about, probably as there was a giant inflatables session at 2pm, so all the horrid children were planning on attending that. I did 60 lengths in 44 minutes (well, 43:50) with the pull buoy, which would give me 6 minutes before the cut off. I really hope that happens!

Yesterday I did the first brick session in an age. It was only a short one as the heat was utterly, utterly miserable. The air I was breathing in was hot and dusty, but there was only a tiny breeze, so did 13 miles on the bike at an average of 16.4 mph, then a short 2 mile run just for the purpose of upsetting my legs. I will do a  longer one tomorrow.

My 'no added sugar' thing is going okay. I have found I need to have access to salted popcorn and banana flapjacks to survive, and I got some fruity lip balm from the Body Shop that helps also.

And I'm thinking we should call it the 'Lone Wolf  Training Pack' as opposed to club (see what I did there?)

Tuesday 9 July 2013

Piss Off, Sugar

So I christened my wetsuit today. I went to Cruden Bay with my daughter, leaving her to paddle and keep an eye on me in case I disappeared out to sea.

The suit is weird. With most wetsuits I have felt the water soak through as I have walked in, but this one is so slow, the only place I could feel it seep in from was the back zip. My hands and feet were frozen, but my body was great. I could have stayed in all day. However, swimming with my face in the water was really hard. The water was like ice, and I found it hard to breathe out properly. I could do maybe eight strokes before my face hurt like hell.
I think I'll need to cover it with Vaseline before the next beach trip.
And I keep thinking about how much warmer the loch is compared to the sea.

But the wetsuit is not a good fit. it's a bit too tight, so I need to be smaller.
My vice always has and probably always will be refined sugar.
I need to cut it out (again).
For the next four weeks the nearest thing to a treat I will have will be dried fruit and frozen bananas.
And everyday I will read scary articles on how deadly sugar is to keep me on track.

Today is a day two of Operation No Sugar.
Twitching like a crack addict.
Thinking healthy thoughts.

Sunday 7 July 2013

Scattered Wolves

On the morning of the Edinburgh Marathon I got a text from Sarah, not just wishing me luck, but pointing out how much harder 'lone wolf' training is.
People who belong to clubs have programs, support, access to coaches.
People who don't belong to organisations just have access to internet advice, books and in my experience, generally just cobble this crap together and hope for the best. Clubs don't guarantee success, plenty of lone wolves do exceptionally well. However, as I would benefit from coaching and support, but don't have the time, money, and especially inclination to mix with other sporty people, it's not going to happen.
They have really expensive kit and they speak in numbers.
They know what they're doing, and the fact I'm rather rubbish becomes glaringly, blindingly obvious.

So I thought lone wolves should band together. Scattered lone wolves. People whose location, jobs, childcare issues or even the lack of urge to mix with sporty others means training is a solitary affair.
I told Cat and she said we should get T-shirts.
I'm pretty sure if we do they should have this kind of design.




We could get together and have wolfie conventions. Everyone have to wear the shirt.
I don't care how embarrassing they are.
I thought wristbands might be cool, too. We could wear them all the time.

It's 4 weeks today until Knockburn.
Now it's the only even in my calendar, the next 4 weeks are all about triathlon training, getting my swim quicker. My bike quicker. My run a damn sight quicker.
I did manage a slightly faster bike the day before yesterday. 15 miles in an hour, and it was hot and hilly but without my work back pack, a lot more fun than usual.

Thursday 4 July 2013

Change Of Plan (Again)

So I swam 1500m in 47:31. The cut off is 50:00.
Very worrying. I know I'll be a bit quicker on the day, so add another minute to the two and half minutes, and I have 4 weeks to concentrate on swimming, and maybe knock another minute off. That still has me not far enough from the cut off. Must swim. Lots.

This got me thinking, to get damn good at swimming at the same time as training for a marathon seems like a recipe for exhaustion. My constant race entering and medal lust may be going too far. If I were fit for these things then it would be fine, but I have to reach for every damn one of them.

So, I am going all out for the standard triathlon, and the next 4 weeks are about speed, getting my running faster, not longer, and the same with my cycling.

Then I will be about training, not racing. The winter will be weight loss and gaining speed, and especially strength and injury protection. My sciatica hurt after yesterday's ten mile run, my hip is sore today. My imbalance needs dealing with. I need to religiously complete exercises every day to combat this.

My next running race will be the Garioch half next spring, and hopefully I will get into London (I met a bloke the other night at this dinner thing, and he has got in on the ballot the last two out of three years trying) and if not, I am booked for Edinburgh. I want to be under 5 hours. I will train better. I will be wise.

This year was about entering lots of stuff and trying out duathlon and triathlon. Next year will be more about selective entries but aiming to improve substantially on this year. Next year I will have a decent marathon and a decent half iron.

In other news, so many flies, man. The sun has brought them all out. It's mainly when I pass fields full of animals, but it feels like there's a cloud of them following me. Like Pig Pen.



Tuesday 2 July 2013

Praying For Rain

I did a super hot run on Sunday. Nine miles of agonising heat. It was slow. However, I have needed to up the miles, and feel I've started to get my head around long runs again.

Yesterday I did 2.5 quick miles before work, and today (also before work, so pressed for time) I swam half a mile. I feel I was swimming faster, as I overtook people, and was exhausted.
Swimming harder is, well, harder. I need to do it. Harder.
And I need to get into the sea soon. 4 weeks till D-Day.

This standard length triathlon is do-able for me. I have done all those distances many times, sure, they were slow and crap and there is a real risk of coming last with this one, but I'm sure I'll finish it in one piece, and may actually enjoy it.

This week I will get a decent size brick session in, a timed proper swim, and also a long run of 11-12 miles.
I just hope it's a cold, wet, dismal day for that bit.

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Better Running

Although it's hot and dismal, I have felt better running these past couple of days. I have drawn up a 10 week marathon plan, and feel quite confident.
I was 20 seconds a mile faster today than I was yesterday, although that could well be due to some vintage Bon Jovi.

I will run 6 days a week. Even if it's just 5k. I will swim twice a week, and I will bike at least twice a week. And unlike with the marathon, due to the triathlon I will do some speed sessions, too, in all three things.

It's a lot to do, but feeling quite buoyant the moment, so sure it will all be fine.

Monday 24 June 2013

Better Swimming

I did a mile today. I didn't really time it, but I know I was swimming faster as I got more tired, and found myself stopping for a 30 second rest after every ten lengths. And tomorrow I am going to put my head in a sink of cold water and practise breathing out, and go for a longish run.

I now need to adjust my plan, to make it a standard triathlon training plan, as well as a marathon one. It's 6 weeks until the triathlon, and 10 until the marathon.

I am also going to knit a big moth.
That's rather exciting. It will be bigger and happier looking than this one.



Saturday 22 June 2013

Rubbish Biking

So yesterday I just did a little 4 mile run, but the day before I cycled my work commute. I had forgotten how hard it is. The weather was dry, but the hills on the way home, with a nice 20mph headwind, were just dismal. I arrived drained and desperate for my dinner. On the very few flat sections, I felt I could really pick up some speed, so I think that's where the turbo has helped, but apart from that, I am rubbish at cycling, and I have a triathlon in just 6 short weeks.
Some serious training has to happen.
I can fit into my wetsuit, but it's unpleasantly tight.

Tomorrow I will get a decent length run in before work. I hope it rains. Big, massive raindrops. And a cold wind.

And I need to get down the beach on my wetsuit. I'm thinking of going to Cruden Bay. I'll take my daughter and make her sit on the sand and guard my stuff, although it's quite a shallow beach, I just need to get cold and swim with my face in freezing water more than anything.




Wednesday 19 June 2013

Bummer

I have decided not to do the half iron this year. I will do it next year.

The reasons for this are mainly financial, but also, I always knew I was going to be chasing cut off times, and would most probably come last. I didn't mind this too much when I could afford it, but now, the thought of putting myself into debt to come last and most likely have a crap day, is a very unpleasant one.

So, I will spend the next year getting better, much, much better, and will hope to be in the middle somewhere, and enjoy the thing. I may even do one somewhere else in the UK, as Aberfeldy don't give out medals! I need a medal. It seems mad to go through all that and not have something to hand round my neck.

So, next up is the Knockburn triathlon, a standard distance, the swim of which is still scaring me, so the next 6 weeks will be all about getting better at swimming.
I ran 5 miles today and the heat was horrible, I think I'll have to take a drink with me for shorter distances, then did half a mile at the pool, trying to maintain a decent stroke the entire time. I felt like I was moving faster, and my arms really ached afterwards, so I think my pull must be stronger.

And I'm definitely going to do Moray Marathon in September as well. I know I can improve my marathon time.  Just having music would really help.

So I'm still doing stuff, but cheaper stuff. I'm really not very good at this sport business, it takes me ages to get better, but that's ok, as I'm very good at other things.
But I still want to be properly fit, lose weight, and improve, and to reach the highest level of fitness I can.
  

Monday 17 June 2013

Bring Me Tea!

Because my arms are barely working.
My arms and my butt are where I'm feeling it, my legs are in overall good shape today.

I thought I'd go for a swim, loosen up the muscles. I went too early. There was a school, as well as a group of learning disabilities in, and doing lengths was doing zig-zags, and I felt kind of shattered at half a mile, and went home. However, felt better for going, and did some quality stretching/yoga in the deep end.
I am awesome at yoga when there is water to hold me up.

 I have to embalm first thing tomorrow, so will either go for a little run or do some turbo before that. I need to cycle to work on Thursday, so need to get my bike muscles moving again.

I have also begun to work on a plan for the next nine weeks. I have to make sure I steadily increase my distances, and properly fitting into my wetsuit is becoming an urgent matter.
So far I have found a big pink A4 pad and some Spongebob stickers I forgot I bought. Tomorrow, with these fine tools, I will chisel a plan that will make sure I don't line up as unprepared for the half iron as I was yesterday.




Sunday 16 June 2013

Ythan Challenge

Ow, man. Just ow.

It was warm today. I don't do warm.
I am now shattered and stuff hurts. That was proper exercise.

It was all fine to start with, normal trails, and I was going quite fast, and the first few obstacles, like going under nets, were quite good. I know to keep my head down. I then went though a really muddy bog, and lost my trainer. The water was about thigh height, so no chance of getting it back, especially with people coming up behind. A marshal gave me a spare but tiny shoe, and that is the root of the ouch. I still had about 8k to go, so that's a long time to run in a tiny, wet shoe.

The hay bales were fine once I got the hang of them, many had a dent where others had put a foot in to help get up, as they were as high as my neck. However, then there was one at the top of a very went and slidey, muddy hill, so the bale was covered in mud, and had no foot hole. I pretty much pulled it onto myself, and others had to push the thing back up again. Then two men helped me over it in the most ungainly fashion possible.

The crossing of the river was proper fun. The water was beautiful and cold, I washed some of the mud off my face, and we had to stand for quite a while waiting for people to climb out. People were moaning, but I could have stood in there all day. We had to cross it one more time later on. A lifeguard was splashing people and these girls were making silly noises, when I passed him I help my arms up and said 'Bring it on!' and he splashed me good!

Not long after that, a marshal told me all the bales were done, but they lied! There were two to climb at the finish! And they have no footholds and the hay was so short on the top, I couldn't get a grip. Then I saw Chevy coming up behind me (oh no, you're not beating me), so somehow managed to drag and roll myself over them, and being right by the finish, I had a big audience for my lack of grace and skill. 'Come on, nearly there!' they shouted.
'Shut the fuck up!' I wanted to reply, but didn't. 

Anyway, I can't find my camera, so only have a rubbish phone picture, but these are the trainers I finished in, and the rather nice medal.

I will absolutely do it again, but will be a damn site fitter and stronger overall.



Friday 14 June 2013

Feeling Wussy

I have genuine half iron fear.
I considered not doing it today. My calendar is scaring me. My lack of open water experience. My lack of anything. However, it cost so much I have to, and better I realise now, rather than 4 weeks away, just how much work needs to be done.

Yesterday morning I went out to do 3 miles before work and ended up feeling like I was going to puke after 2. This morning I was so tired getting out of bed an hour early wasn't going to happen, and I had planned 4 miles.
I haven't been eating that great and been finding it hard to sleep, so must stop being an idiot and sort that out.

However, tomorrow was going to be a rest day ahead of the Ythan Challenge, but now I will do the 4 miles then, so it won't effect the week much, and will just have to work harder next week. I need a plan. A proper progression of miles and brick sessions.

I have to bike to work more as my car is being an idiot, and has it's MOT next week.

I have to do a lot of things.

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Double Sporting

First up I ran this morning. It was warm, in spite of dullness of the sky. I did 6 miles at 10:28 min miles. It wasn't particularly pleasant.

 I then went swimming, it was really busy and I lost count, but I felt quite strong in the water, and did a good 45 mins.

I then ate pretty much a whole and very lovely watermelon whilst doing my tax return. I'm glad the return is out of the way, but fear there may be consequences to eating that much fruit.



Tuesday 11 June 2013

How Crap Is My Left Leg?

Bloody crap, that's what.

Today I tried single leg drills on the turbo. I have read a lot about them, and as I have a whopping great imbalance I wasn't surprised it was a lot harder with just my left leg, but wasn't prepared for the severe and utter shitess.

I put it into a lower gear, and had been cycling away happily for half an hour, then I tried the right leg, yes it was hard, and there was a little dead spot when coming up to the top, but I soon eliminated that, and did 30 seconds. I then tried 30 seconds on the left leg, and had to put it into a much lower gear, and really, really struggled. Just like I don't seem to swim as well on the left, seems I don't ride, either.

So, I will do single leg squats, pedalling, and all kinds of stuff to sort out my useless left leg. I had kind of assumed it was stronger as it's a good inch and half wider at the calf and thigh than the other leg, but now I'm thinking it's just fatter.

Yesterday I ran 5 miles, today I cycled 15 on the turbo with the resistance whacked right up, and tomorrow I will both run and swim. Tonight I am watching Spartacus and doing weights and core work.
Yeah.

Sunday 9 June 2013

On It! *punches air*

Yeah!
I feel my first week back has been ok, and I am rested, so this week is going to be BRUTAL, MOFOS!

It's kind of tricky as I have a crapload of extra shifts, so will be doing the hardcore 5:30am stuff.
I have very little time to swim, but will MAKE IT HAPPEN as well as get a long-ish bike in somewhere. Probably to work.

Tomorrow I will run 5 miles before work, and do lots of core and weights.
This morning I did 4 miles before work, and was totally shattered, my eyes bleary, felt a bit sick, but managed 10:15 min miles, and by the end was far more alive than at the beginning.

This week, man. Gonna be ALL ABOUT THE TRAINING AND THE CAPS LOCK!


Saturday 8 June 2013

Nearly Normal

My swimming on Friday felt a lot better. It's amazing how quickly the fitness can come back. It was super busy, and I was sharing a lane with an idiot woman with no sense of direction, but felt I achieved something, as my goal was to work on the pull I make whilst breathing, and I felt a bit faster and stronger doing that.

Today I did nothing, bar a walk. I had intended to get back on the 35k a week again this week, but will be slightly short. However, as a first week back after a poorly ankle, I feel it was wise to not push it. I will go for a reasonable size run before work tomorrow.

It's a week now until the next race, so will up things a little bit, but not too much. And someone has just pointed out the Peterhead Half Marathon is on 20th June, and I'm off work, and it's only £14 and there is a medal and a t-shirt!
I am very tempted.
Very.

Thursday 6 June 2013

A Bit Quicker

Since Edinburgh, and the foot, I kind of lost the ability to run normally, there was nothing for a week, then it was slooow. However, speed is coming back to me. So damn glad I didn't have to rest all the way up to Ythan. The 11 min miles have become 10 min miles, and today's 5k was 9:30. It was warm, but I felt faster, it felt easier than the last few days. I'm hoping by the time next weekend comes I shall have my running groove back.

Tomorrow I shall swim. I want a good mile done, and to run 5k in the morning before I go.
Only 70 days of half iron training left. So not ready!

Wednesday 5 June 2013

I Need A Battle Cry

What I lacked in distance today I made up for in intensity.

I did 10k on the turbo, the first 5k were a steady 18mph (which probably equates to 14 mph in the real world) and then I blasted it for the next 5k, and got it up to an average of 22 mph. My legs were shaking when I got off, and I changed my shoes and went for a 5k run, at steady-ish 10:02 min miles. The run felt good, it's quite cool today, and after getting so hot in the turbo, fresh air was super nice.

I'm watching a lot of Spartacus. There needs to be exercise class that involves swords and sand and lots of yelling. I'm going to start saying 'apologies' instead of 'sorry', and 'gratitude' instead of 'thank you'.





Tuesday 4 June 2013

Blah

4 very sunny miles this morning.
Too sunny. I should have got up earlier, me and heat really don't mix. *moan, blah*

My legs were quite achey, and probably some DOMS from my day of climbing, and I started off quite slowly, just over 11 min miles on the bumpier of the paths, but ended up averaging 10:30 min miles.  My aim was to try and keep it steady, so it was OK.

Tomorrow, I will turbo then run, as I am sewing form home most of the day. I will also run on the road, and try and move faster.

And rollering hurts like hell at the moment. Like HELL!

Monday 3 June 2013

I Ran!

For two miles. I kind of ache now, but not in an injury way, more in a 'I have run' way. I started off too fast, my legs were feeling quite energetic, I looked down to see I was averaging 8:25, and I don't do miles that start with 8 minutes (not yet) so slowed for the next one, keeping the foot in mind, and did that just over a ten minute mile.

I then went swimming. For some reason there were a load of kids there, must be an in-service day or something. The pool was full of floats and kids being idiots. I managed an uninterrupted half a mile, and then did 200m really concentrating on my stroke. I need to turn my head with my body more, and not just turn my neck, and keep my legs closer together. After a breath I feel like I have a habit of kicking out to get going, but if the turn is smoother, there doesn't seem to be the same dead-spot I need to kick out of.
I think.
Maybe.
But I need to get better at swimming (and biking, and running) and will do my best to get in the pool twice a week. My swimming fitness felt really in the toilet today, after not being there as much.

Sunday 2 June 2013

Hills

No pain at all today. Lots of walking up and down big hills.
We went to Bennachie and did the 3 peaks.
I didn't take this picture, I forgot to take any pictures. I ate flapjacks.




Just a two mile run planned for tomorrow, and then a swim. I need to get some distance done with the swim, so will not use the pull buoy, and do a normal, steady mile. And it will be a juice and smoothie kind of week, and I need a bit more room on my wetsuit.
Being able to do it is up is one thing, I'd like to also be able to swim in it.

Saturday 1 June 2013

BACK!

Starting tomorrow, I am back on it.
My foot feels a lot better, although I've not really used it today to test that out. I have a day of walking up and down big hills planned tomorrow, and have made some of my banana-raisin flapjacks to take. No junk will be consumed.
If the foot survives a day of walking, the following day I shall run two miles, and then go swimming, and build up the running from here. I have found a sore, tight spot on the side of my calf, which I think it the root of the tendon problem, so shall make sure I massage and roller that, and along with sciatica stretches, I will keep on top of this.

It's 11 weeks until my first half iron.
It's 13 weeks until my next marathon.

I just want to survive both the standard triathlon I have just before the half iron, as well as the half iron, but the next marathon is going to be an improvement.

The juicer is back out on the kitchen side. I have a shopping list full of stuff for juices and smoothies, which will be the bulk of my diet next week.

Feeling all enthusiastic again. My next events will be good!
(Also worth noting that Chevy will be at Ythan. He can't beat me. Nope.)

Friday 31 May 2013

Parallel Bars

I'd say my foot is about 25% better. It starts off great in the morning, but goes wrong after a day of walking about at work. The cross trainer made it a bit worse, as it makes me lift up my heel, so I will be just doing the turbo.

I found some good banisters at work to lift myself up on, in a parallel bars style way. I see how long I can hold myself before my shaking arms give out. It's about 14 seconds at the moment.
And  I have got the Swiss ball and weights out again. In general I feel quite recovered and energetic, it's just the pain.

I really want to run!
Really hope I'm running again by next week.
I need to run.
Want to run.
Dammit.

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Ow!

Dammit, my foot really hurts.
It's maybe 5% less painful than yesterday. I will have to train for the Ythan Challenge by not actually running.
It doesn't hurt at all to cycle, the stiffness of the bike shoe sole completely splints the foot, so I will do lots of that.

I've also been looking at exercises and stretches for sciatica, and in general, I am all about the getting fixed and properly strong.

I also think a pattern is at play here. My first half marathon was an utter nightmare. Woefully under prepared, and ended up injured. 5 months later I was a stone lighter, and better trained, and knocked half an hour off, and didn't get hurt.

I think that's what will happen this time. I now respect the distance, and the next one I do will be great. And I hope to do at least two more next year, and end up at the four hour mark.

This has also made me think I will not do the full-iron next year. I can't afford to do more than one, so when I do go for the full distance, I need it to be good, not an experiment. So I will do half distances both this and next year, this year as an experiment, next year to get better, then move up to full the following year.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

How fast??

Not me, time.

Looking at my wall chart, over 20 days have passed.




There are two and a half weeks until Ythan Challenge. I have tendonitis in my foot, it is taped up and being rested. It needs to sort itself out, though. I want an Ythan medal, they are usually nice.

I went to the pool today, a gentle 40 lengths, 30 of which were with the pool buoy. It was quiet and I wished I had time for more.

And in aid of Ythan and all the climbing over stuff, have done some weights, and core work. my legs feel fine today, I wanted to run, and if it wasn't for the foot, I would have. Dammit.

Monday 27 May 2013

Edinburgh

Hello folks.

I am super-unhappy with my marathon time. It was hot. My sciatica hurt from the beginning, and ended up kind of hobbling. Even had a little lay down on the grass at one point to do some stretching to try and shift it. Didn't work. Left leg still has pins and needles. Kinda weird.

I had wanted under 5 hours for my first marathon, I got 5:52.
So, onward and upwards., NO MORE EXCUSES.
Can't dwell on a defeat, I have just this minute entered Moray marathon in September. I will take some time off. And I will keep entering marathons until I'm happy with my time.
Not that I enjoy them. It was most unpleasant. Nothing like running for an hour and feeling hideous, and knowing you still have so many more to go. I saw so many people in awful, awful pain. Faces torn apart in agony, grunting and groaning noises coming from all around.

However, the medal is HUGE and awesome. And the support from my friends in person and in message form was wonderful.





I'm going to have a little go on the turbo today and hot bath.
It was weird driving home, I felt ok, was kind of full of caffeine as I bought two giant cokes at a Burger King as they were easy to drink as I was going along, but getting out of the car was a slow and elderly affair.

Other pics stolen from Taff - including a man running in a full suit of armour.






Friday 24 May 2013

Cows Like Me

Today has been quite busy, and I didn't feel like running as my knee is pinging. I finished about an hour before I was due to meet the kid from school and help her carry home her bass, so I decided as it was such nice weather to just go walking for that hour, take some pictures, get some sun.






 I am popular with cows






Flowers in the park, not my garden.


Wild garlic growing on the old railway platform.


And I'll have a hot bath and good rollering session tonight, and a gentle jog tomorrow, not using my Garmin, as it's all charged up and ready for the big day.

Thursday 23 May 2013

Fast!

Oof!!

So, it was cold and wet and windy, and as I'm pretending I don't have a cold coming, I decided to do a run tomorrow instead, as that would be only one day away, and I don't like the idea of not running for two days in a row just before a race.

I thought I'd do some turbo-ing with a cycling video on. Taff sent me a couple, and the one I did today was from Germany. It really nice, going through the villages, looking at pretty window boxes, then I realised my legs were about to fall off as not only had I whacked up the resistance, but I was trying to copy the cadence of the cyclist in front of me in the video. And he was going some. And I began to think if I didn't pedal fast, they'd leave me behind.

According to my Garmin I was doing 21 mph. Although even with the resistance on it's not like outdoors, and there are no hills/wind. 18mph was the fastest I had managed before indoors. I decided to get off after half an hour, and then my legs were like jelly.
Totally going to go for a longer session next week, when there is no risk of injury or exhaustion ruining things.

This is the type of thing, although this one has no other cyclists in front.



Wednesday 22 May 2013

Tapering Boredom

In accordance with tapering, I did nothing today, after my 8 yesterday. The thing was I did fancy a run this morning, but will just do some rollering before bed.
I will run 3 miles before work tomorrow, and do some turbo-ing on Friday, and maybe just a little mile of so on Saturday, but not sure where I'll get the time. I have to work till one, and I want to get down to Edinburgh   before a reasonable hour.

I having major bottom half dilemmas.
I had bought some funky black and green cropped running tights especially for the day. They were a bit small when I got them, but now they fit, and are reasonably comfortable apart from a slight camel-toe situation, but have been fine on long runs.
My old and cheap tights are a bit crappy, but more comfortable. But not half a funky.
I'm tempted to wear the old ones.
And not look half as good. That was possibly the most boring paragraph I've ever written.

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Major Rollering

I have some twinges.

I've had some twinges for a few days now, very mild sciatica.
I did 8 slow miles this morning, and it didn't really trouble me while I was running, but afterwards when I was  sitting down I felt a bit odd. The good thing was though, the 10k at the weekend was most unpleasant, it felt like hard work and was miserable. Trotting out 11 min miles today with lots of hills felt quite nice, really.

So, as I was off today I spent most of the afternoon stretching and rollering. And consuming vitamin C, as my daughter has a cold that I really don't want.

Tomorrow I have to go on the course. It's so utterly thrilling I can't actually remember what it's about. Something to do with people? Vulnerability? Confidentiality? Dunno.

Girl Crush!

The newest book by my girl-crush Selene Yeager has arrived.

It is, as the title suggests, all about getting fast.





I had to go out tonight so only read the introduction, but her enthusiasm is  infectious, as well as the way she really makes me think I can do this. Her confidence in me, the reader, is so solid I don't want to let her down. After next week, I will be doing everything she says. She has great triathlon as well as cycling skills.
I trust her. I'm excited!

Today I rested, had a lot of work today and pushed my legs quite hard yesterday, so they feel better for a hot bath and a bit of a walk. Tomorrow I will run. Slowly. Some marathon pace stuff. And I'll wear my number belt, daft as it may look, as I want to see how the gels fit (and hopefully not fall out)

Sunday 19 May 2013

How Much Do I Hate Baker Hughes?

Let me count the ways.

*It's always busy and hard to park and big queues for portaloos

*The route is a total snoozefest.

*It's always warmer than I want it to be.

*Most of all, I didn't get the time I wanted.

*Stupid people stopping all over the place. So much weaving in and out. My chip time will be quite long, I stopped by watch at 6.22 miles and had a little way to go.

*Couldn't find my buddy John. So many people. Although, did manage to bump into someone I didn't want to see (Chevy) how unfair is that!?


What really annoys me is I've always said if I get under the hour, I won't do it again. This was gonna be the year, but I was 15 seconds out, so I'll have to do ti again next year.
It was weird and muggy and humid, and I saw two people in bad shape being seen to by paramedics, one was sitting and trying to talk, the other was out cold. Not good.

So, I have a new challenge to get something positive out of this crapness.

This time next year, my 10k pace of today (9:41) will be my marathon pace.
And I'm reminding myself that the first year I did Baker Hughes I was a stone lighter than I am now, and was only 14 seconds faster. Soon the rest of this weight will be gone, and I'll be a helluva lot faster than 14 seconds.

At least the medal was sufficiently different from last year. It has corners.






Friday 17 May 2013

Yes!

My marathon number has arrived, hurrah! I was getting worried.



And secondly, I was shown this picture today, and it pretty much sums up this blog (the second frame, that is)


Thursday 16 May 2013

3:11 am

That's the time I woke up at this morning.
I lay there worrying about everything I possibly could think to worry about until my alarm went off at 5:30 to go and run, but I felt dizzy and crap, so laid there till the last possible moment.
I had way too much to do at work today and no possible means of getting cover, so had to go in.

However, I am feeling better now. I have been drinking mucho amounts of fluids.
I will do some stretching and core tonight, and get back to running tomorrow, I'm pretty sure I'll sleep well.

And a Sports Direct order came, which is awesome, as some stuff was very cheap (crappy bra top for £2, and these amazing boxers for £4) so I'm happy. There is also a running head/hairband that ties at the back, making me look all kung-fu.

I shall wear these to work tomorrow. That's bound to help my mood.


Wednesday 15 May 2013

Lurgy

Felt rather sick this morning. I had a day off work anyway, so walked the kid part of the way to school. Legs were a bit stiff, but mainly, I felt cold and weird. Decided to maybe run later, and swim first. Then my hoover broke, so I had to go and buy another one, which felt like a hideous waste of money. Then all other kinds of crap happened (including roofers on a farm building accidentally seeing me doing some dancing outside for the benefit of my cat), was kept waiting FOREVER in the bank, and then went to see a friend, which was nice, but the day kind of got away from me, and I still felt odd and it dizzy.

So, I have had a hot bath, and been doing some interesting versions of strength exercises on the living room floor, and accepting that this is a rest day. My swim would have been rubbish, anyway, so I'll make sure I do a very productive session on Saturday, and run a couple of extra miles tomorrow and the next day to make up for today. It'll be fine.

As Martin has said, I can't make any real fitness gains this close ot the big day, but I can mess things up.


Tuesday 14 May 2013

Not Prepared!

This is another one of those posts that starts with 'I'm an idiot.'

So, I'm an idiot.
As it was only 14 miles, I didn't do any of my usual long run prep, totally forgetting that a couple of months ago that was my long run, and a very big deal. I didn't have a proper breakfast after a bad night's sleep, have been working a lot and not taking iron as much, and the other things that I try and keep up with diet wise. I also didn't take any gels or anything with me, and was in a hurry as I had to get to work.
I ran off-road as I didn't feel lucid enough to be constantly looking out for traffic.

It started well. the first 10 miles were great. I think 10 miles is my ideal distance as a human being.
After that, it all went a bit wrong. It had been very hot. Then windy and rainy. And I had run out of drink. I walked for a little bit, and felt more human. I kept getting stones in my shoes, and even with the walking I still averaged faster than I have been known to run the distance.

On the upside, I had a super fast shower, gulped down a smoothie, and spent 4 hours standing up at work, and my legs don't feel that bad. Once upon a time I remember being unable to get out the bath after 10 miles without moaning and howling liek a 90 year old trapped on a boucy castle.

I didn't get to swim as I had to get to work, but I should be off tomorrow for sure, so will run a few miles in the morning and then head to the pool. Yeah. Sensible sporting.

Monday 13 May 2013

Core Me! Core Me Up Good!

I am all about the core today.
I fully expect pain tomorrow on breathing, moving and god help anyone who makes me laugh.
I have been doing these exercises, and whoever invented the crab toe touch is a proper nutter. I did some turboing this morning before work, but only an hour, due to other stuff getting in the way. I whacked the resistance up and it didn't smell. Maybe it was just the newness that made it burn. I did the same speed as before, but it was harder, and again my legs were a bit wobbly.

And less than two weeks until Edinburgh.
I am rather scared.

Sunday 12 May 2013

Plan For The Week

I need to plan things a bit more right now. I have to be sensible. Grown up.

I did 4 miles before work this morning. I was planning 5 but ran out of time, and I had my 35k for the week minimum sorted anyway, and will get my long run done early next week. I was faster than yesterday, and feel like my legs are getting used to early activity.

So this week I will -

Monday - Turbo tomorrow before work. At least 1.5 hours.

Tuesday - 14 miles run and a swim

Wednesday - 6 mile run

Thursday - 3 mile run

Friday - 3 mile run

Saturday - Swim

Sunday - Baker Hughes 10k

As soon as this marathon is over I will be long bike obsessed. I will still get 35kms worth of running done a week, but big proper rides. Miles out in the wind. Up and down hills. Hours on the turbo. Gonna be great.

Saturday 11 May 2013

Up The Wall

A bit cooler today, and my legs felt good this morning, and did 5 miles at 9:50 min miles before work. I will do the same tomorrow, and do my longer run for this weekend on Tuesday, when I have a day off work.

I've been looking for different core exercises, mainly as the old ones I've been doing are getting boring. To get on the floor and plank for a bit while watching TV is the easiest thing to do, and would only take a couple of minutes out of my day, but I can't be bothered. It's boring.

So, core exercise for today is the half handstand, or 'L' handstand. It's as simple as starting in downward dog and walking up the wall, and holding for 5 breaths.



Friday 10 May 2013

Seems I'm A Masochist



The cheapo turbo thing arrived. It's connections are a bit plastic-y, so may not last long. To start off with I could smell burning rubber, and feared for my tyre, but it felt cool. However, the little resistance unit was pretty hot, so I think the smell was coming from there.

The whole thing is very interesting.

* I go faster, probably because it's easier, but then the constant non-stop action and higher cadence is a killer in a different way. After an hour and ten mins of speedy pedalling to fast music I was very wobbly. The constant action also makes it miserable saddle-wise.

* My feet still went numb. And I sure as hell wasn't cold. I've now read it could be a nerve in my feet being compressed, and so I need to move the cleats slightly more forward on my shoes.

* Hot doesn't cover it. People have said before how a fan is needed, but I've decided not to.
It was kind of hellish. I don't do heat. It was like being in a sauna. I'm sure it contributed to my higher heart rate. And I kind of liked the suffering. It was awesome, tough, hideous suffering. And I loved being able to listen to music.

I have eaten very well today.
Spinach smoothie, strawberry, banana and protein smoothie, porridge made with almond milk, and tonight will be wheat-free pasta and veg and a huge chunk of watermelon. I am eating ALL the fruit and veg!

Thursday 9 May 2013

Clean Energy

I have eaten too much sugar today. Not all of it was junk, some were the new Nak'd bar varieties, but I feel a bit bleugh, and it's made me think about the next two weeks of food.

I want to feel energised. I'm liking drinking more fluid each day (even if it did mean I had to run and pee during the new Star Trek film. I missed a bit with the old Spock!) but the two weeks before a marathon are not a good time to detox, so I'm not doing anything drastic. More an improvement, adding healthy things that make me feel good.

Clean energy. Like a wind turbine. (But hopefully without wind)




Today is a rest day. I have some smaller stickers to put on my chart for rest days. I think it will be handy to be able to see at a glance when i last had a proper day off.

Tomorrow I will run early in the morning, and will get my bike cleaned and oiled up. I have ordered a very cheap turbo from eBay. It may be rubbish, but it's being delivered tomorrow, so will be setting up camp excitedly by the front door, ready to greet the van man.

Wednesday 8 May 2013

100 Day To Go

To totally steal a blog post idea from Kevin, it is 100 days until Aberfeldy.

I have put the first sticker on my countdown, which is living on the pin board in my kitchen.




It really doesn't seem long enough to be able to do a half-iron, but nevermind, sure I'll be fine.
I was going to run 8 miles this morning, but got my routes mixed up, and found myself on the 10 mile route instead, but it was OK.
Hot, and I ran out of drink (only took 500ml, and big hills) but was quite happy with my pace of 10:35 min miles all things considered. I managed to run the last mile quite fast.

Then I went to the pool, and had planned to just do an easy mile, but I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, although I did drink plenty, but felt kind of crap, so did some drills and some super fast lengths with my pull buoy, and got out after half an hour. My legs felt a whole lot better afterwards. Cross training really does seem to help, and fingers crossed, I'm dodging injury, and so must not neglect swimming over the next couple of weeks.

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Sticky Willies

Another hot day. Did a quick 5k before starting work at lunch time, and properly cooked. Although, my legs felt fine, and I even ended up going over on the same ankle I did with the rabbit hole, when a lorry had to get past me so I went up on the bank, but after a few minutes it was, and still feels, fine.

So the other Lucy reminded me about sticky willies, and how you can just blend them into a smoothie, so I have been out in my garden hunting, but all my willies are tiny, and only a couple of inches (fnar) and so will give it a few more days, as no doubt with this weather, there will soon be much bigger willies in my garden (guffaw).

You may be able to see in this picture, a small Willy just poking up.
(I'll stop now, I promise)




Monday 6 May 2013

I Want A Turbo!

My legs feel a bit stiff today, but nothing major. I'm going to do lots of core work, and an hour on the cross trainer, just to get things going again. I'll run again tomorrow before work. Today would have been my swimming day, but it's sunny and the place would be heaving with kids, so I'm gonna do a good 2k in the pool on Wednesday.

I really want a turbo trainer.
There's a few on eBay I'm watching.
I would love to not always have to think about weather. Especially the wind. I'm sure they are interminably boring, but it would give me a chance to get used to the aero position, and I'd still be doing lots of outdoor biking. I would still get blown about and face hideous hills, but at least I could get miles in on a regular basis, no matter what.

And this pose here, lizard, is my current fave pose.




And this is my current fave core hold.




If it's effectiveness can be measured by noise I make while doing it, it's very effective.

Sunday 5 May 2013

Lovely Sunny Morning!

Which roughly translates to hellish hot run.
Hellish.




It was actually quite pleasant to start with. Kind of nice to be in the warm for once. I did what my friend Jelly says to do, just focused on the route, not the time or the miles. I knew exactly where I was going, to the exact tree that marks 10 miles along the railway. It is where I once saw an eagle, and I've cycled there lots.
All I thought about was that tree, and how once that was done, it was all homeward bound.

At mile 14, an obnoxious family were taking over the path, I called excuse me, they looked but didn't really move, so I ran around them, leaving the path and going into the long grass, and putting my foot down a rabbit hole and doing an amazing kind of trip-but-not-falling thing.

My ankle wasn't happy, but I don't think I've done anything serious to it.
The gravel path was slippy under my feet. There were cows out everywhere, so lots of flies for me to swallow.

I had two water bottles on my pack, and I assumed I had been drinking mainly out of one, but it was quite even, meaning at miles 15, on a bloody hot day, I was almost out of water.

After that things are a bit of a haze of walking and jogging. I got so thirsty I eventually stopped sweating, and was ridiculously hot and fantasising about cool water on my face when I arrived home. In a heap. With various bits of flies in my mouth I'd not been able to wash down.
I sat on the cool kitchen floor drinking, trying not to puke it back up again.

After a bath and some stretching I felt ok. My knee support is really doing it's job. I've only ever once walked on a long run and my knee was agony after, but today it was fine.

Saturday 4 May 2013

Awesome Day!

It's only mid-afternoon, but today has been fabulous.

I have been reasonably productive, done some tidying and ironing, but all at a ridiculously slow space. Sorted out my DVD cupboard, put everything in order of genre. Had a long bath, and then a really, really good stretch. And wearing PJs again.

Also, a bag I ordered arrived. It should have been quite expensive, but I fought tooth and nail for a barely used on eBay.






I have the black one.
That's exactly how Chewbacca would carry his stuff, is he were in the market for a bag.

To cover over the kangaroo logo, I have ordered this patch -





It's going to be the coolest bag, ever. Particularly handy for the bike, I'm thinking. My phone and stuff will be easy to reach. I always stop to answer it, but getting out of my backpack is time and aggro.

Tomorrow is the long run. It will be all trail. I need to go ten miles then turn around and come home again to guarantee I do the miles. If I run on the road the circuit will go past my house a few times, and I can't trust myself. And on the plus side, although it will be slow and in places, gritty, muddy and such, the road will seem easier afterwards.

Friday 3 May 2013

I Never Knew I Was Dehydrated Until I Started Drinking Loads

I generally have cold feet.
When I get home from a run, they are warm for about five minutes, but then shortly like ice.
I have to be very careful with my hands, as I have Reynaud's and my fingers become white, and look like corpse hands, except for the fact they are painful.

However, after drinking loads more yesterday (about 3 litres with the pee tea stuff), I was woken in the night needing the loo, but also, my feet were really hot. I sleep in thermal socks, I never have have warm feet a night. But last night I had to take my socks off.


So,  the other cool thing is, I actually enjoyed my run this morning.
I have had good runs, fast runs, bad runs, but never actually found myself thinking 'Hmm, this is pleasant' but this morning I did. It was just a gentle 10:13 min mile 5 k before work, but it was lightly raining, and I found myself singing along to my music.

Running almost every day this week has gone well. My legs are not stiff or sore at all. I will do lots of yoga and stuff ahead of my long run on Sunday. Yoga is OK to do on my glorious day of doing nothing, as it's gentle, and fun. And I can do it while watching films.

Thursday 2 May 2013

Any Excuse...

....For stationery!

So it has been pointed out ot me that it's just over 100 days to go until my first half-Iron.

So I felt (as I am obviously a child) that some kind of sticker chart was called for.
And so may I present , '100 Days of Half Iron Training'. It'll be like an advent calendar. But without chocolate or pictures, just sweat and effort. A little gold star for myself at the end of every iron-training day.

And the bottle is the remains of my tea stuff. I added waaay more lemon and cranberry, so it's actually quite nice.


Wednesday 1 May 2013

Pee Tea


Not to be confused with a tee-pee.


 



My car wasn't ready when I went to pick it up last night, so had to go this morning, which dented my time, so only managed 5 miles, but I'm still planning a heavy mileage week.

But anyway!

I'm excited for three reasons -

1) Selene Yeager has a new book out this month and I've pre-ordered it. She's an awesome biker chick and she will make me a fast cyclist. I know this, as the book is called 'Get Fast'




2) I have found a fluid flushing water recipe, publicised by another tough fitness chick, Jillian Michaels. It's pretty basic and obvious stuff, as well as the general principle that drinking loads make you pee loads. And dandelion is the supremo pee maker.

3) I'm planning my super long run for Sunday, so thinking of having a proper day of doing nothing on Saturday. Literally, spending hours in the bath and on the sofa. And drinking LOADS of fluid and stretching. I have a sewing order to get done, but that would be the extent of my activity. Unless I get called into work. The money's nice, but a proper day off would totally rock, too.

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Balancing

I'm trying to work out the balance between getting the training done, and not making my sinuses any worse.
So today I went out to see how far I could go without feeling rough, and at about 8 miles I felt a little odd, and so did 10 by the time I got home, still feeling ok-ish.

As much as finishing a marathon is about being able and used to running long distances, being generally fit is also hugely important, and so I think my cross-training is going to help me. As well as regular running, getting my legs into the running 'zone', and leaving less days between runs, even if it is just short ones.

This week is ALL about the running. I will do 8 miles tomorrow before work, and then 5 each morning the next two days, rest on Saturday and a long run on Sunday. It WILL be 20 miles at least. I will run along the railway for ten miles then turn back, so even if I have to walk a bit at the end, 20 miles will be covered by my legs. Or else.


Monday 29 April 2013

Yay, And What??

The yay is a surprise package!
My truly lovely friend Anneke is just back from Sea Otter (a big bike festival type thing in California) and she sent me this!!!






Firstly, Tough Chik, yes! Secondly, Loki brand sticker, yes indeedy!! Thirdly, awesome t-shirt, and the bike is made out of phrases like 'I'm faster than your daddy.'

I'm going to put the stickers on my transition box, I already have a Timmy monkey from ThinkGeek and my Batman sticker. Mine will be the coolest box in transition.

The 'what?' is that when I got up I had no intention of entering the ballot for the London marathon next year, but found myself getting caught up with the excitement of all my friends entering, and so I did too. Now I really hope I get in!

Still feeling a bit weird, did half a mile in the pool with the pull buoy in, and then some sets of 50m trying to keep up that same pace. The a school came in, and I've been pushed for time all day so got out then.
I'm hoping to feel a lot better tomorrow and get a long run in. 

Sunday 28 April 2013

Bootcamp - Day 7

Urgh.

Bollocks.

I'm ill.

My sinuses are being evil, this week's has been stupid, I've not had enough sleep, and I'm so ready for a day off!

I had hoped to be home in time for a long run today, but the hire car the council gives us broke down, taking up 3 hours of my afternoon, waiting to be rescued. I went out and did 5k when I got home, but my face was throbbing and I felt awful.

So I came home, and swallowed vit Bs and C, echinacea and garlic capsules.




I doubt if I've lost much weight this week, but I'm sure I've put on more muscle, I feel stronger, and can hold positions like plank for longer than I could a week ago.

Next week will be about keeping up with the bootcamp exercises, but will clean my eating up.