Running for fun

I did it. I went out. I didn't want to. I had a stressy day and a lonnnnnger than usual drive home from work (never take a new route thinking it would be quicker. Stick to the plan!) and when I got home I was 99.1% tempted to put my jamas on and 0.9% tempted to go for a run. But I knew that the one thing I needed to do to get rid of my negative thoughts and feelings was to get out on the pavement. 

6.0km later, I finished strong and happy. I was supposed to stop at 5.5k but I felt so good that I thought another 0.5km wouldn't do any harm. It was a slow run, no way near my fastest but I needed to make the decision whether to concentrate on pace or distance, and my shins were saying long and slow. I muted my Runkeeper and just ran based on feeling. 

I said before how both the trail and running up to the next village are now off limits because neither have street lighting and DC (and me) is not comfortable with me running in places where I'm not 100% safe. So I had a mental challenge too knowing that I would be running laps around the village, which is not the most interesting running route and definitely proved hard when I started lap 2. But as soon as I was up our main village hill for the second time, the positivity returned knowing that it was all downhill and flat until the end. 

I love running in the chilly weather. Running in the heat makes me feel really overwhelmed, so a dry Autumn night is perfect for me and tonight's run reminded me exactly why I got into running in the first place. 

Advantages of running in the wind:

1. It cools you down

Disadvantages of running in the wind:

1. Must remember to Vaseline the lips thoroughly before I leave the house

2. The smell of the chippy drafts all the way up the village and it is torture running through it

So tonight was a fun run and I came home feeling on top of the world. This mix of running and swimming is really helping. I had a mega strong swim yesterday and came away feeling great. I know that I'm never going to be the best or fastest runner but I'm going to try my hardest to get fitter and enjoy it at the same time. 

Tuesday: 30 lengths swim

Wednesday: 6.0km / 39:09 / 6:31min per km av pace

DC got the call today to say Ofsted are in tomorrow so he didn't get home from school until 8pm, where of course his favourite meal was waiting for him. 

It's my turn for bake off tomorrow night so I'm going to get some recipes out and see what I can come up with to feed the girls tomorrow. 

I also found this year's Christmas crackers that I am going to buy for my annual Christmas bake off night, although it might be too early to tell you all that ;)

Dans x

Trouble with Topshop sizes & happy birthday Dad!!

Yesterday after work I drove straight to the swimming baths and threw a few shapes in the form of 30 lengths. It set me up well for a meal out for DC's sister's birthday. I was designated driver and we had a lovely Italian and a few (soft for me) drinks in a bar where you can pull your own pints on your table. 

I love this beautiful lady. This is DC's brother's girlfriend and she is one of the most lovely people up you will ever meet in your whole entire life. I have never met anyone who has as much kindness in their heart as this girl. She is studying for a fashion degree plus she works at Topshop so it's a no brainier really that we're friends. 

Oh and BTW I had just got this jacket back from the dry cleaners and then put it down on the side in the loo and covered it in water less than 12 hours later, so I think I will be off to the dry cleaners again on Monday morning. 

Sometimes you can really tell they are brothers but maybe not last night, what do you think???

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Everyone knows that Topshop makes me happy. Topshop makes my bank manager nervous. Topshop makes my wardrobe sparkle. Yes I'm a materialistic girl, shoot me. 

But the one thing that annoys me about Topshop (apart from their prices sometimes) is their awful sizing. I've seen it time and time again - DC will try on some jeans in the store, think about it for a day or two, order the same item online, only for it to be delivered and not fit. As in, completely too small. 

It's never happened to me before until today. I tried on these jeans in store a few weeks ago. 

I loved them but bought some Miss Selfridge ones instead because I really wanted grey jeans and they had sold out in Leigh grey. But I bought them in the week with 20% off and couldn't wait to collect them today to wear to lunch. 

I couldn't even get them past my thighs. 

I was so disappointed, now I have to take them back in the week and probably take a few pairs into the changing room to try on. I don't understand how Topshop can get their sizing so wrong and it's really annoying that you buy exactly the same item twice, for one to fit and another to be more than a few inches out. So no new lunch jeans for me. 

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This morning my sis & I took a trip into town for breakfast and shopping. 

Beautiful sis. 

I bought a few presents for DC's birthday next week - I can't tell you what they are as I have no idea whether he reads my blog or not, a present for my dad's birthday tomorrow and treated myself to a new Clinique eyebrow pencil as I had ran out. A trip to the Clinique counter always makes me happy especially when I have a gift card and my purchase only actually costs me £1.

My sis fell in love with this Henry Holland jumper and it looks so cute on her. My sis has lost 4.5stone with weightwatchers and I know she feels amazing shopping in any store she wants to now. She looks amazing. 

I got home just in time to change and leave for my Dad's birthday lunch. They have fallen In love with our local pub and we try and go there every few weeks so it was only down the road for us. He is 46 tomorrow!!!!! And he's the best dad ever. 

This is my favourite meal here. Cajun cod with tartare mash and veg. 

My sis got this cake made for him. Good job he supports Liverpool then!

He was only pretending to blow the candles out here because he tricked us all and blew them quickly before the cameras were ready. I think he was wishing for Liverpool to keep up their 3-0. 

I had a nap when we got home but I don't think it was a great idea to eat a big meal plus icing (mum eats the cake, I eat the icing - our tradition because out of all the cake choices in the world why would you waste calories on a simple sponge?) and then nap and then run. My stomach was abit full and it was a really tough run, my legs just didn't want to move. 

BUT I completed my mission to exercise every day this week, and it feels GREAT. The mix of swimming and running really works for me. 

Monday: 30 min / 30 length swim

Tuesday: 30 min / 30 length swim

Wednesday: 30 min run

Thursday: 5km run

Friday:  30 min / 30 length swim

Saturday: 5km run

Rest day tomorrow and although I know I should rest, I'm raring to go to get my 5kms completed. 

Thursday: 5.00km / 31:06 / 6:13min per km av pace

Saturday: 5.00km / 31:12 / 6:14min per km av pace

Hopefully I'll hit a 30min 5km by the end of these runs!

Dans x

A week of workouts

This week I am tackling my workouts. Next week it is the diet (I just can't stop eating). So I've made a promise with myself to do one 30 minute workout every day this week, up to a rest day on Sunday. I'm not car sharing this week and next so I've been able to swim after work. Swim = happy Dani even with all the kids in the pool. The only time I don't enjoy swim is lengths 27-30 when I seem to lose strength and knock a contact out at the same time as swallowing 2 litres of water. 

Monday: 30 min / 30 length swim

Tuesday: 30 min / 30 length swim

Wednesday: 30 min run

It has only taken me a zillion weeks to complete 8x 30min runs. 

30 minutes 

1/8 Monday: 4.66km, 6:27min/km av pace

2/8 Wednesday: 4.67km, 6:26min/km av pace

3/8 Friday: 5.09km, 5:54min/km av pace

4/8 Monday: 4.73km, 6:21min/km av pace

5/8 Saturday: 4.74km, 6:20min/km av pace

6/8 Tuesday: 4.64km, 6:28min/km av pace

7/8 Friday: 5.06km, 5:57min/km av pace

8/8 Wednesday: 4.61km, 6:31min/km av pace

Today's run was the slowest out of the bunch but at least I got out there for the first time in nearly a fortnight and completed it. My breathing and energy is definitely not back up to 100% but I feel so much better than I did at the weekend. 

I am going to try my hardest to wake up early tomorrow and run. I really really want to test how I feel throughout the day after a morning run and I need to remember to ignore the warm comfy feeling of my bed at 6am and drag myself out to the wind and rain. I have the girls round tomorrow night more or less straight after work so the morning is my only chance to keep to my target of a workout a day for a week. 

I will succeed!!!

Dans x

Run like there's someone chasing you, the best lunch hour & the big weekend

Today so far has been a mixed bag:

Woke up late (expected)

Still felt absolutely terrible (expected)

Great day at work (unexpected)

Fabulous lunch break (unexpected)

Didn't feel like running (expected)

Best run of my life (unexpected)

Let's start with the run. I love surprising myself by having an absolutely fantastic run. Today I was running like someone was chasing me, and I even tried to slow myself down after worrying that my chances of a heart attack were rapidly increasing but my legs had their own game plan that was different to my head. 

There's no better feeling for me than a <30 min 5km run. I wish I could pinpoint the exact time that I hit 5km but I was concentrating on finishing the last 20 seconds or so without either being sick or fainting and falling into the road. 

30 minutes 

1/8 Monday: 4.66km, 6:27min/km av pace

2/8 Wednesday: 4.67km, 6:26min/km av pace

3/8 Friday: 5.09km, 5:54min/km av pace

4/8 Monday: 4.73km, 6:21min/km av pace

5/8 Saturday: 4.74km, 6:20min/km av pace

6/8 Tuesday: 4.64km, 6:28min/km av pace

7/7 Friday: 5.06km, 5:57min/km av pace

Not bad at all for a run I could have easily slacked off until tomorrow morning. 

I went out into town at lunch with my friend and we had such a great lunch break. There is a strict criteria for a lunch break to officially be classed as great in my opinion:

1. It doesn't rain

2. It involves retail therapy

3. It involves food

4. It involves freebies

5. It involves friends (this should come first) 

Today's lunch hour hit the spot. 

1. It didn't rain. 

2. I bought this gorgeous dress from Henry Holland to get me through my Autumn nights out and it had 25% off. The cost per wear on this £26 frock is going to be excellent. And I feel GOOD in it. 

Apologies for the worst outfit photo ever but I don't have a great mirror or any friends to take my photo right now. 

3. This mysterious bag and cup contain the best things you can ever buy from Costa coffee - a tiffin cake and a Terry's chocolate orange mocca latte. 

No this did not help me on my run but it was an amazing idea at 1pm. 

4. For the next couple of weeks you can get a free hand cream from the Body Shop with a Voucher Codes code. No purchase necessary. 

Yes my work desk does need a good scrub. 

5. My friend C is actually the best. 

SO. TOMORROW. THE BIG DAY. 

it's our friend's wedding that we have been waiting for only since the beginning of time. I can't wait to see the bride and groom, can't wait to spend the day with my wedding date - the other best man's girlfriend, and I CAN'T WAIT to hear DC's speech. I know he is going to be fantastic. He has practised and practised and it's so funny so fingers crossed I'm not the only one that's laughing. I will secretly try and get a recording in so I can show everyone how fantastically great he is. 

I think this will be my outfit:

A second apology there for the rubbish photo. 

So DC is with the groom and best man tonight and I am home alone but do not fear, I have my favourite m&s dinner:

I also have this to tuck in to:

I promise the spoon was only put there for the photo opp and there's only a 99% chance that I may devour the whole lot. 

NOT TO MENTION I'm not even lonely tonight because I am spending the evening with my second boyfriend:

Watching Joaquin Phoenix in The Master. 

So I am sorted. After I do two loads of washing, the washing up, and a bit of a kitchen clean. There is a 110% chance I won't get round to this. 

Dans x

Lacing up the trainers

Well I finally did it! Only a 20 minute run but at least I did it. I would say it was an easy run but that would be lying, it was way hard. But it also really hot. 

It took some tough love from DC. I've been feeling a bit emotional lately and was feeling sorry for myself, and he told me to stop wallowing and do something that I know would make me feel better such as go running. He told me that I was undoing all the hard work and effort I put into getting my fitness up to a great level, and I know he was right but I didn't want to hear it (and I hate it when he's right).

I went without music, down the trail and there were lots of families picking berries from the bushes, maybe I need to get down and do that!

Even though it was tough, DC was right (dammit) because I felt great afterwards. 

So my goal for this week is to complete 3 more 20 min runs before the end of Saturday. I'm determined to do it, e cause I know I can do it. 

However I may need some luck so if you could wish me that, that'd be great!

Dans x

Minute by minute: the first run after a month off

So I've been putting off running for a while, using the excuse that I was 'having a rest'. I knew that I just had to get the first run out of the way, but I also knew how hard it was going to be after a month off, so I've been chickening out. And I've definitely not been getting up to my 5.30am alarm to try and run in the mornings.

So today after work I bit the bullet and went for it. I was aiming for 20 mins, and I managed 25 mins down the trail near to my house. Here's how it went.

Minute 1: Wow, I forgot how good it feels to run
Minute 2: Ok, I forgot how hard it is to get into a good rhythm
Minute 4: Boy, running in the heat is really lame compared to running in the winter
Minute 5: Must remember to buy some running shorts, these leggings are no good in the sun
Minute 6: I wish I had bought some music on my run
Minute 7: Was I struggling this much by minute 7 before?
Minute 9: Almost half way there, but jesus am I going slow!
Minute 10: Maybe it's easier if I remember to breathe
Minute 11 (going across an industrial estate zebra crossing): "Lift your knees up!" said the car letting me cross
Minute 11.20: Who the hell is that trying to tell me how to run?
Minute 11.40: Ok maybe I'm doing a Phoebe run and everyone's watching me thinking how bad my form is
Minute 12: Why do I care how my running form is and what other people think of me? I'm running for fun now, remember
Minute 13: OK maybe I should just lift my knees up a bit and see what happens...
Minute 13:30: Wow, this really makes you go faster!
Minute 14: Forget this, it's far too much hard work, I'll just run how I want to run
Minute 15: I need to thank that man for these last 4 minutes passing so quickly
Minute 16: Here comes the sweat
Minute 18: OK, I can do this, it's not so bad
Minute 19: I'm sure my legs just.won't.move.any.faster
Minute 20: 6 minute 45 average km? Wow I've really lost all of my fitness in the last month and all that hard work has gone down the drain
Minute 21: Maybe I should have drank more water
Minute 22: I am so close to the end now but I just.can't.run.any.more
Minute 23: How the hell did I used to run for an hour?
Minute 24: Ouch, ouch, pain in my chest, but can't stop, can't stop, so close to the end...
Minute 25: THANK GOD FOR THAT

Dans x

How to get back into running when you've been a lazy slob for 10 days

OK well I suppose this title is not completely true. It's not that I've been a COMPLETE lazy slob for 10 days, just a little one. I had such a stinking cold starting on Bank Holiday Monday that would just not budge, and I'm still coughing and sneezing almost two weeks later. This lead to a break in training, and from the moment I started feeling a tiny bit better I have been trying to get back into running but it's just not been on my side.

I've never given up a run before but on Thursday I had a scheduled 5km and had to give up after 2.7km because there was just no chance I could carry on. I know every run is usually a challenge for me, but I always push through and come out feeling proud of myself at the end. Well on Thursday I would have had time to feel disappointed with myself if I wasn't too busy having a post-run 20 minute coughing fit, but after I had calmed down I did feel a bit bummed out, especially after managing 4km on Wednesday and coming home feeling completely GREAT that I had overcome the obstacle. So I thought I had made some progress only to realise on Thursday that not only was the obstacle still there but it felt bigger than ever.

I read on my favourite blog The Hungry Runner Girl that after 7-10 days of not training, your fitness levels do decrease quite dramatically and it takes a while to get back into it. I suppose that along with my deflated confidence and motivation has definitely made me feel as though I'm starting all over again from scratch.

This week I've only managed just over 9km and that's really disappointing as my average is at least 20km a week. I suppose I need to be positive and realise that if I keep going then I'm sure I'm going to start to love running again and start racking up those miles. Also it was probably my body's way of telling me I needed a break, as I was pretty full on with my training before and going full throttle was perhaps not doing me any good. (Plus the mega amount of chocolate bars I've been eating has definitely not been doing me any good, but we'll sssh about those.)

My training week starts afresh on Sundays so it'll be a new start today and I'm determined to get out there and complete an easy 5km at an easy pace, to kick off a good week and to KEEP GOING because race day is only SIX WEEKS away and I want to do myself proud.

Inspiration:

Dans x

Week 12 training roundup...

Week 12

Activities: 2

Distance covered: 13.0 km

Average pace: 6.23 min/km

Calories burned: 825

Time spent 1:23:10

Eeeek.
 

Sunday: rest day

Monday: rest day

Tuesday: 5.00km run

Wednesday: rest day

Thursday: rest day

Friday: 8.00km run

Saturday: rest day

 

Oops. Not a good week this week with running. I have been soooo busy, I had planned runs but just didn't get the chance. I was feeling pretty low on energy all week, and had a really bad run on Tuesday where I don't think I ate the right food at work beforehand, and I changed my route which was really flat, so I completely burned out on the very first km and had to try really hard to not be sick, and ended up jog / walking the last 4km out and home. It was the first bad run I've had for my whole training period and I felt ill for the whole night so it really shook me up.

Wednesday I collected my new car and Thursday is my usual day off for weightwatchers. Friday I knocked out an 8km run, my longest so far, and it was tough but I'm really pleased I achieved it. Saturday morning I was supposed to run 5km but we had our friend's wedding that day and DC's new shirt didn't fit so we had to run into town that morning to go and get it changed.

These are my excuses this week... I need to try harder! My laziest training week so far since I started running.

Dans x