The one in which I get fitter

I went for a run this evening. The only time I stopped to walk was crossing a couple of roads where there was traffic to avoid. I then walked another 5 paces after the last road I crossed while I had a few sips of water. Prior to today and despite having done 2 half marathons before the most I had ever run without walking a bit was 2 miles. This evening I made myself keep running and keep running and kept giving myself a you can do it you are strong each step you take is one less left kind of pep talk and I ran 3.05 miles. Which is more than a MILE more than the most I have ever ran without stopping to walk. Previously I have been more of a run/walk person. Today I finally feel like maybe I actually might be able to be a runner (not professionally but you know actually get half decent at this running thing). The training plan I was going to use for the London Marathon this year (before I realised I wasn't going to be well enough and deferred to 2011) required you to have been running for 30mins 3 times per week for 3 months I think it was. The training plan I believe needs to be started either the last week of December of 1st week of January. Being as I managed to run for just over 30 today (yes I am slow paced!) I think I am going to be on target if not just ahead for that training programme. This makes me happy as I am actually improving and hopefully I will manage to keep up training regularly.

I do have a half marathon in October and I do think I am unlikely to do as well as I had hoped when I signed up but at least it is having it's purpose of getting me doing some training. The half marathon is very hilly which is what concerns me. I will be happy to finish and am hoping for a similar time to my last half marathon which was on flat ground. I still have time to get fitter before this half marathon and I think now I know I can actually run a reasonable distance without stopping I will be more motivated and self believing.

I also enjoyed my run this evening as I had time to myself just to think about whatever happened to pop into my head. By the end of it I was singing a song in my head although I can't remember now what song but it had the word step in the bit that was going round my head. (Probably to do with the aforementioned pep talk!)

A fun weekend

This weekend I have been to a friends housewarming party. She moved 5 months ago, but has only been in her new flat for 2 months. I had a great time but I am pretty tired right now!

I have managed to stick to my homebaked bread challenge so far. It is interesting as it does involve a bit more planning and thinking ahead to make sure I have some bread.

I have a couple of social events coming up this week that involve some not so healthy eating but I am not going to worry about it and am going to just make sure I eat as healthily as possible the other days. I am on all earlies this week so am going to cycle to work every day unless it is raining very hard. I have got some cycle gloves to protect my hands from the rubber on the handlebars. My eczema on my hands has been pretty bad the last week or so despite not having touched anything that I know is rubber for well over a month. I'm hoping they are starting to heal right now. It did get me a bit down on Thursday as they were just so sore and itchy and kept bleeding.

So anyway my plan for this week is exercise and eat healthily as much as possible. I have decided today that my aim to get back into my target size of clothes is the end of the year. Which gives me four months which means I only have to lose a tiny bit each week. I could probably do it sooner and I would like to be skinnier sooner but this aim is realistic and leaves room for those days when you just can't motivate yourself.

Simple things that make me smile

I wrote this list a while ago with the intention of posting it but have only just got around to posting it now. It is of simple things in life that make me feel content/happy.

• Shade on a hot day
• Freshly brushed teeth (so smooth!)
• Finishing a good exercise session
• Cuddles with my dog and my rabbit
• Feeling good in an outfit
• Singing along to the radio at the top of my voice even though I'm rubbish at singing
• Singing in the shower
• Sunshine
• Sitting doing nothing whatsoever for a few minutes (time to think but about nothing in particular)
• Finishing everything on my to do list
• Dancing like nobody's watching
• Improving at something
• Making somebody smile
• Doing a good deed
• Knowing exactly what your friend is thinking just by exchanging a look

There are many other things that make me smile but these are just the simple, small, momentary things that enrich life.

New stuff

I went to a big sports shop today and got some cool new running gear. I got a top, a sports bra, a water bottle and some trainers just to wear to work. They are all pink to some extent!

At the moment I am starting my only eat homebaked bread for a month challenge tomorrow. I did start on Tuesday and then forgot today when I was out and ate some bought bread oopsie. I put less salt in than the recipe says in order to make it healthier. The challenge is on my 101 in 1001 list and the idea is it is a way to cut down on salt and surely has to be healthier as it only contains the natural ingredients.

I went for a hill run on Tuesday and it was wicked hard but also immensely satisfying. I also downloaded the runkeeper app for my phone earlier this week which is pretty cool.

When I weighed earlier in the week I had put on weight but had a lower body fat percentage which surely means I have put on muscle so :).

This post is really jumpy all over the place type but I am tired so you will just have to accept it.