1) Save up for a turbo.
It's not so important this year, but the prospect of no all-weather bike training facility when there's a full-iron on the calendar isn't going to happen. I am still saving for a wetsuit right now, and that has to come first, but after that, turbo trainer ahoy.
2) Turn my mountain bike into a commuter.
I only ever use it on mild trails, anyway, so I'm going to put smoother tyres on, and a pannier rack, and get the gears sorted, which will make biking to work far less horrible
3) Vary my calories.
I will have 2 days a week which a very low in calories, three which are medium, and two where I don't worry, I just eat whatever I feel like.
The medium days will be all healthy food, but still enough of a deficit to lose weight, the 'whatever' days will not be excessive, but not restrictive, either.
4) Do a monster amount of core and strength work.
By that, I mean at least 30 mins a day, 6 days a week. Since upping my protein I can see and feel a real change in my muscle mass, and that needs to continue. And so yoga and press up and Pilates ALL THE WAY!
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Detoxing Like A Mofo
I have got all kinds of dizziness and other assorted de-tox symptoms going on.
I felt quite horrendous when I got up this morning.
I made a smoothie with almond and rice milk, some almond butter and a banana to get me through swimming. After swimming I had half of a very disgusting protein bar (peanut, dry, awful) and two cups of tea to feel slightly human. I'm also drinking loads, and hitting all the usual de-tox helping foods.
It looks like Sunday will go ahead. The website says the council are going to make sure the route is clear and gritted, and usually the main roads are fine, although it does kind of mean the post-run picnic will be in a car with a flask of hot chocolate, as opposed to soaking up sun on top of a hill :(
The day before my swimming is going to be assessed.
I'm rather concerned I'll get in the water, swim a length, and he'll say
'Oh I'm sorry, have you started? You mean that was your swimming? I was about to get a lifeguard as you looked like you were in trouble.'
I went swimming today and tried to really think about where I'm putting my body. The answer to that seems to be, all over the place.
I felt quite horrendous when I got up this morning.
I made a smoothie with almond and rice milk, some almond butter and a banana to get me through swimming. After swimming I had half of a very disgusting protein bar (peanut, dry, awful) and two cups of tea to feel slightly human. I'm also drinking loads, and hitting all the usual de-tox helping foods.
It looks like Sunday will go ahead. The website says the council are going to make sure the route is clear and gritted, and usually the main roads are fine, although it does kind of mean the post-run picnic will be in a car with a flask of hot chocolate, as opposed to soaking up sun on top of a hill :(
The day before my swimming is going to be assessed.
I'm rather concerned I'll get in the water, swim a length, and he'll say
'Oh I'm sorry, have you started? You mean that was your swimming? I was about to get a lifeguard as you looked like you were in trouble.'
I went swimming today and tried to really think about where I'm putting my body. The answer to that seems to be, all over the place.
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Stupid Bloody Weather
I woke up at 5am, it was strangely light outside. That was the snow.
It continued to snow all day.
Looking at the forecast, it says it's going to hang about a while.
The Garioch Half Marathon Facebook page says they will keep us updated regarding the race. I presume that means if it's too bad, they'll cancel it. If they then re-arrange it for when I'm working, I'll cry.
I went out in a full-on blizzard and did 9 miles, in 10:44 min miles. About 50% of that was on snowy roads, the other 50% on bigger, gritted roads. I changed my route due to the fact I got halfway up a huge hill and so much snow was going in my mouth, I had pins and needles in my lips and tongue, and couldn't see where I was going. A man in van pulled over to make sure I was alright, and had a phone on me.
One good thing, it was a very hard going 9 miles, but my legs feel fine. Not that long ago, 9 miles would have had me slightly hobbling all day. I came home and stretched, and then a couple of hours later, put my daughter's wellies in a bag and walked to meet her from school, save her soaking her trainers, and again, legs felt fine. I can't wait for the day I can do proper long runs and not be crippled by them.
Tomorrow I will go for a small run in the morning, and then off to the pool, as back at work on Thursday. I have also put some amaranth in to soak to reduce the cooking time in the morning. I think I'll mix it with oats for the porridge. It looks too much like millet for me to be happy about just tucking into a whole bowl of it, at this stage.
It continued to snow all day.
Looking at the forecast, it says it's going to hang about a while.
The Garioch Half Marathon Facebook page says they will keep us updated regarding the race. I presume that means if it's too bad, they'll cancel it. If they then re-arrange it for when I'm working, I'll cry.
I went out in a full-on blizzard and did 9 miles, in 10:44 min miles. About 50% of that was on snowy roads, the other 50% on bigger, gritted roads. I changed my route due to the fact I got halfway up a huge hill and so much snow was going in my mouth, I had pins and needles in my lips and tongue, and couldn't see where I was going. A man in van pulled over to make sure I was alright, and had a phone on me.
One good thing, it was a very hard going 9 miles, but my legs feel fine. Not that long ago, 9 miles would have had me slightly hobbling all day. I came home and stretched, and then a couple of hours later, put my daughter's wellies in a bag and walked to meet her from school, save her soaking her trainers, and again, legs felt fine. I can't wait for the day I can do proper long runs and not be crippled by them.
Tomorrow I will go for a small run in the morning, and then off to the pool, as back at work on Thursday. I have also put some amaranth in to soak to reduce the cooking time in the morning. I think I'll mix it with oats for the porridge. It looks too much like millet for me to be happy about just tucking into a whole bowl of it, at this stage.
Monday, 18 March 2013
Press Up Challenge
Today was my very lo-cal day. And also a rest day.
I did some roller and stretching first thing, and I'm also starting another press-up and sit-up challenge (3x1 press-ups and 3x1 sit ups on day one, 3x2 of each on day two, until you reach 3x100) which I did as I'm only on 3x4, so not a big deal. Last time I did this I got up to 3x40-odd. Am determined to make it all the way till the hundred this time. My press-ups are pretty dire, I'm hoping as time goes on I'll get lower.
Food wise, I have had porridge, a protein bar, soup and oatcakes, and a ton of watermelon.
It's my fave fruit.
Last summer I went to stay with my brother in Provence, and on the last night, his in-laws had everyone over for dinner. Bless them, they did try hard. I arrived to a massive spread of veggies and salad in various concoctions, although most were drowned in various oils and vinegars, but they had gone so out of their way for me I ate a whole plate of food that I hated. And a ton of bread. They may have lived in France for years, but my brother's in-laws are Sicilians, feeding is how you show love, I couldn't offend them.
After dinner they brought out a huge cheeseboard, which everyone fell on except me.
There were many bottles of wine, but I don't drink.
'Non, merci' I said, continuously.
I could tell they were sad I wasn't eating and drinking more, but then my brother's brother in law went to his car and came back with armfuls of watermelons, grown locally and sold in lay-bys.
'Pastèque?' he asked.
'Oui, merci!' and he was so happy and I ploughed into them.
He kept bringing me slices the size of my head. I was so happy.
I did some roller and stretching first thing, and I'm also starting another press-up and sit-up challenge (3x1 press-ups and 3x1 sit ups on day one, 3x2 of each on day two, until you reach 3x100) which I did as I'm only on 3x4, so not a big deal. Last time I did this I got up to 3x40-odd. Am determined to make it all the way till the hundred this time. My press-ups are pretty dire, I'm hoping as time goes on I'll get lower.
Food wise, I have had porridge, a protein bar, soup and oatcakes, and a ton of watermelon.
It's my fave fruit.
Last summer I went to stay with my brother in Provence, and on the last night, his in-laws had everyone over for dinner. Bless them, they did try hard. I arrived to a massive spread of veggies and salad in various concoctions, although most were drowned in various oils and vinegars, but they had gone so out of their way for me I ate a whole plate of food that I hated. And a ton of bread. They may have lived in France for years, but my brother's in-laws are Sicilians, feeding is how you show love, I couldn't offend them.
After dinner they brought out a huge cheeseboard, which everyone fell on except me.
There were many bottles of wine, but I don't drink.
'Non, merci' I said, continuously.
I could tell they were sad I wasn't eating and drinking more, but then my brother's brother in law went to his car and came back with armfuls of watermelons, grown locally and sold in lay-bys.
'Pastèque?' he asked.
'Oui, merci!' and he was so happy and I ploughed into them.
He kept bringing me slices the size of my head. I was so happy.
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Muddy Sock!
Oh, the horrors of a muddy sock!
The mud sucked my trainer off, and I planted my clean-socked foot down into the freezing squishy mud. The worst part was then putting my shoe back on, and the gritty, slidy feeling that followed.
But to go back to the beginning, it has been raining, sleeting and windy all day. I had a small angry donkey in my uterus kicking the sides with every step I took. He kept that up throughout the whole race.
Guinness boy picked me up at lunchtime, and we went down to the park to register, and much to my joy, it stopped raining for all of about 2 minutes. There was a white tent in the courtyard of the farming museum where they were taking money and forms, and also where the majority of runners were sheltering.
There were some kids 1k and 3k races first, which we didn't watch as we sat in the car as it was really pouring. Just before the start joined all the people and stood there for five minutes getting drenched.
Oh man, so much mud. A girl in front of me tried to go up a bank to clear a particularly deep looking puddle and lost her footing, sliding straight down the bank and head first into the evil puddle itself. We all slammed the brakes on, except some people trying to go around us, which didn't help her friends who were trying to help her up and onto the side.
It's 2 loops of a 5k, kind of in sections of woodland, arboretum and open park, and just like last year, the majority (even those who had signed up for the 10k) stopped at 5. It's hard going, especially the boggy bits that hide tree roots.
On my second loop I was flagging, my soggy sock was making me miserable, and then a marshall shouted to me that I was the fourth woman through on the 10k. Hurrah! That gave me the kick I needed to keep going. At one point where the course crosses itself I saw some 10k-ers behind me, they had a whole section of woodland to do and I was nearly at the end.
I knew I was over reaching hoping to break the hour, Guinness Boy has a 50 min 10k and he did it in 53 something.
Last year I was 1:08 something, it was a dryer course, and I was the last person in.
Today I was 1:03:48, and absolutely not last. Hurrah! Another medal on the board.
The mud sucked my trainer off, and I planted my clean-socked foot down into the freezing squishy mud. The worst part was then putting my shoe back on, and the gritty, slidy feeling that followed.
But to go back to the beginning, it has been raining, sleeting and windy all day. I had a small angry donkey in my uterus kicking the sides with every step I took. He kept that up throughout the whole race.
Guinness boy picked me up at lunchtime, and we went down to the park to register, and much to my joy, it stopped raining for all of about 2 minutes. There was a white tent in the courtyard of the farming museum where they were taking money and forms, and also where the majority of runners were sheltering.
There were some kids 1k and 3k races first, which we didn't watch as we sat in the car as it was really pouring. Just before the start joined all the people and stood there for five minutes getting drenched.
Oh man, so much mud. A girl in front of me tried to go up a bank to clear a particularly deep looking puddle and lost her footing, sliding straight down the bank and head first into the evil puddle itself. We all slammed the brakes on, except some people trying to go around us, which didn't help her friends who were trying to help her up and onto the side.
It's 2 loops of a 5k, kind of in sections of woodland, arboretum and open park, and just like last year, the majority (even those who had signed up for the 10k) stopped at 5. It's hard going, especially the boggy bits that hide tree roots.
On my second loop I was flagging, my soggy sock was making me miserable, and then a marshall shouted to me that I was the fourth woman through on the 10k. Hurrah! That gave me the kick I needed to keep going. At one point where the course crosses itself I saw some 10k-ers behind me, they had a whole section of woodland to do and I was nearly at the end.
I knew I was over reaching hoping to break the hour, Guinness Boy has a 50 min 10k and he did it in 53 something.
Last year I was 1:08 something, it was a dryer course, and I was the last person in.
Today I was 1:03:48, and absolutely not last. Hurrah! Another medal on the board.
Saturday, 16 March 2013
Aiming High
Went for a medium intensity 5k today when I got home from work. It's the pace I hope to do tomorrow at the 10k (9:40ish! Ha!). Guinness Boy initially was going to come, then he had a darts tournament, and now today he says it's been cancelled to he will be there after all.
I'm a bit horrified as I find it hard to run as fast as I did a month ago. I did 13.1 miles at 10:57 with 700ft of elevation a month ago. Last time I did 14 miles it was 11:18.
I'm kind of glad the bloke is coming, as last year everyone seemed to know each other apart from me, it was like a Jog Scotland outing. Me and a boy I recognised a 5th year from the school were the only ones not chatting away in a group. Although I had taken my child, so she was duty bound to keep me company.
I really want to get under the hour, although it is off road and will be very muddy, and some parts of it are bark path, which is horrible and slips underfoot. The fastest 10k I have done this year is 1:02, on road. Plus (trotting out all the excuses now) Mother Nature has struck early this month. My run earlier was painful to say the least. However, this is good in a way as it means it'll be out of the way by next week's half marathon.
On this exact race last year I got 1:08, and had to walk a bit. It was my first race back after injury.
As long as I get much better than that, I'll be happy.
But I'm still aiming for the sub-1 hour. As I'm ALL ABOUT aiming high.
I'm a bit horrified as I find it hard to run as fast as I did a month ago. I did 13.1 miles at 10:57 with 700ft of elevation a month ago. Last time I did 14 miles it was 11:18.
I'm kind of glad the bloke is coming, as last year everyone seemed to know each other apart from me, it was like a Jog Scotland outing. Me and a boy I recognised a 5th year from the school were the only ones not chatting away in a group. Although I had taken my child, so she was duty bound to keep me company.
I really want to get under the hour, although it is off road and will be very muddy, and some parts of it are bark path, which is horrible and slips underfoot. The fastest 10k I have done this year is 1:02, on road. Plus (trotting out all the excuses now) Mother Nature has struck early this month. My run earlier was painful to say the least. However, this is good in a way as it means it'll be out of the way by next week's half marathon.
On this exact race last year I got 1:08, and had to walk a bit. It was my first race back after injury.
As long as I get much better than that, I'll be happy.
But I'm still aiming for the sub-1 hour. As I'm ALL ABOUT aiming high.
Friday, 15 March 2013
I Hate Hills
Today on the bike I hit some hills. Mainly, my most hated hill, which on my mountain bike (which won't go into the small ring) I have to get off and walk. On my road bike there was no walking, but it was slow. The whole 23 miles averaged out at 13 mph. I was frozen when I got home. I hate hills.
My top tube bag arrived. At first I wondered why there was an extra length of velcro in there, but it became apparent when it didn't fit, the tubes are too wide. But with the extra bit I was able to secure it. I bought some glucose tablets in the supermarket, which I intend to use on my next long ride, the open design of the bag/box makes it easy to get things out.
Tomorrow after work I'll go for a little run, just to get things moving before the 10k on Sunday. I have a feeling it's going to be cold and wet.
My hemp powder arrived today. I checked the ingredients and it also has beetroot, spirulina, chlorella, and dandelion powder in it. Therefore, it tastes similar to what I imagine licking the floor of a health food shop would. I then made it even worse by blending it with my spinach smoothie, but at least it does blend well, no evil lumps. Overall my diet has been very good for the past couple of days, not a bourbon in sight.
I'm waking up early feeling rather more alive than I have recently.
My top tube bag arrived. At first I wondered why there was an extra length of velcro in there, but it became apparent when it didn't fit, the tubes are too wide. But with the extra bit I was able to secure it. I bought some glucose tablets in the supermarket, which I intend to use on my next long ride, the open design of the bag/box makes it easy to get things out.
Tomorrow after work I'll go for a little run, just to get things moving before the 10k on Sunday. I have a feeling it's going to be cold and wet.
My hemp powder arrived today. I checked the ingredients and it also has beetroot, spirulina, chlorella, and dandelion powder in it. Therefore, it tastes similar to what I imagine licking the floor of a health food shop would. I then made it even worse by blending it with my spinach smoothie, but at least it does blend well, no evil lumps. Overall my diet has been very good for the past couple of days, not a bourbon in sight.
I'm waking up early feeling rather more alive than I have recently.
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