Monday 29 March 2010

Various

I have felt like I am coming down with a cold for a whole week now. I am very tired most days and feeling like I want to go to bed at like 7pm! The spots in my throat have started to go down a little bit which is good.

Today I was on a course for work which means I am not working this evening. It is nice to have it off. I am having a very chilled out evening and then I'm going to get an early night.

I have broken my routine of exercising 3 times a week this week as I had last Wednesday off of the gym and then today could not go to spin due to the course.

I kind of feel very apathetic about healthy eating at the moment, I have been so tired that I couldn't be bothered. Although I did make a couple of kick ass smoothies over the weekend to try and boost my immune system. (and my eating hasn't been that bad)

I have my blood test tomorrow and then work, Wednesday I'll probably go to the gym before work, Thursday the 2nd day of my course, Friday work, Saturday work, Sunday I have the day off and we are having a family roast dinner as it is Easter.

I think this week will be a case of trying to get my energy levels up and also get lots of my to do list done.

I am going out on Friday night which is good as my life seems to have been lacking in fun lately.
I feel I don't have the energy to blog properly at the moment. Hopefully I will feel better soon and get back into blogging properly.

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Another loss

I was down another 1.25lbs when I weighed this morning. I had stayed the same weight the last 2 weeks so I am pleased. I did actually do a cheer gesture with my hand and say yes!

I went to spinning again Monday morning and I worked hard and I loved it. Bonus points for cycling there and back!

Eating has been a bit strange this week. I haven't had much fruit and veg but I also haven't had loads of rubbish. I think I seriously need some more ideas for things to eat because I am so BORED with what I eat at the moment. I need to think of some new things to take with me for my meal at work. That is where I am struggling.

I am doing one days overtime this week, which will lead to a bit of extra money in Aprils pay (not much after tax though). I am trying to save up as much money as possible though ready for when I move out and I figured that as I didn't have any plans for that night I would say yes and make some use of the time rather than sitting at home bored.

At the moment I have a couple of spots in my throat which are sore. I seemed to be doing better the last few weeks having less of a rash but have had some spots under my tongue for 2 weeks that weren't much bother but these ones are making my throat really sore. I have my next blood test on Tuesday and then it is usually a week for results (they are often back sooner but they say to allow a week) somaybe that might give me some answers and then again maybe not.

I am not up to much this week, just ticking over, it is my weekend to work both days so I will be busy busy and hopefully will get a lot done at work.

My room at home is a serious mess so I am going to tidy it and also sort through and see if there is anything I can get rid of.

A quiet couple of weeks ahead in terms of social life I think, but on the bright side a good opportunity to save money.

Saturday 20 March 2010

A short post

I am feeling super tired. I went for an indoor picnic at my friend's today as it was too rainy to go where we had planned to go. It was fun. But seriously I was nearly asleep at 3pm. I am feeling a bit under the weather.

Early night for me I think. Tomorrow I am marshalling a charity run, I really hope the weather is ok.

I will update properly another day.

Monday 15 March 2010

Silverstone half marathon 2010

This is me stretching after the race
This is me just before the ten mile marker (the one in the pink hat)


Today I ache and I mean ACHE! ouch. My hips are especially sore. That half marathon was hard. It has confirmed to me that it is sensible for me to defer my full marathon place to next year.

A summary of the day yesterday:

I got up and showered, dried my hair, dressed. Had a small bowl of porridge for breakfast as I wasn't that hungry. Went to get my socks and could only find one running sock, realise I should have been more organised but also thought they were both together. Find running sock. Finish getting ready. Leave house at 9.05am.

Arrive at Silverstone at 10am, get out of car, realise there is a really strong and bitterly cold wind.

Walk the half mile to the start area, grab some free lucozade and a pace band. Sit sipping lucozade and waiting to meet my friend. Friend arrives, we eat some jaffa cakes and a mars bar, go to the loo, drop bags off and then go to the start line.

And then we were off, it took us 5 minutes to get over the start line.

The first 2 miles seemed easier than last year. I did then stop to walk for a bit and found it a struggle to even walk at a normal pace. I got an agonising pain in my right shoulder and just below which left me unable to run for a bit. Eventually I ran a bit more. Soon I saw the first water station which I was so pleased to see. The first few miles I was on target if not a bit ahead for a finish time of 2 hours 30.

However I became very tired, usually when I run I struggle with my breathing but this time it was my legs aching a lot that set me back. I used the tactic of counting my steps to make myself run. e.g run 100 then walk a bit. Between miles 5 and 6 the wind was at it's worse, it was blowing directly towards me and at one point I was going barely faster than walking as it was so strong. It was the sort of wind that makes you feel as if you are going to get blown away.

I carried on with my walk/running and came to the only hilly part of the course, 2 very steep bridges. I jogged (yes jogged) up the slope and powered it down the downhill bit (that bit was fun) then I found the toilets and I have to say I really needed to use them, I had been needing to go since mile 4!!

I kept telling myself to dig deep and push myself but I have to say I had nothing left in there to dig deep for. I was exhausted. Just after my toilet stop I began to limp. I had a sore foot that had begun to niggle on Friday evening but I thought nothing of it and assumed it would be fine.

It only seemed to bother me for a mile or 2 and then I forgot about it. There was a lucozade station just before mile 10 which I was so grateful for (there was also an earlier one and 3 water stations). Then I began running again when I looked and saw my mum and dad up ahead so despite getting really out of breath I carried on running and they took a couple of photos.

The next mile or 2 are a blur, I remember wondering where on earth the 12 mile marker had got to I swear I had been running forever before I got there. Then it was there, 1.1miles to go. I don't remember much of mile 12 other than a brief conversation with another runner, and going look that's the 13 mile marker. The crowds around the finish were cheering and I heard my parents cheering for me. At exactly the 13mile marker I didn't think I could go on, I felt faint, I wanted to stop to walk but everyone around me was running and I was too embarrassed to walk so I ran and somehow made it over the finish line. I stopped and for a brief moment thought I was going to faint. I took a deep breath and walked over the the ramps to get my timing tag removed from my trainers. I don't remember what the person said to me but whatever he said it was what I wanted to hear.

Along the course the marshalls all clapped and shouted words of encouragement. The ones that I actually found the most useful were the ones at the very last water station.

After crossing the finish line I felt myself well up and I very nearly cried, this years half marathon was much much harder than last and I felt more proud of myself this year.

I walked down the track and picked up my finishers bag, I put my medal on and got my photo taken. I exited the track and picked up my bag, then saw my friend who had also taken part and my family. We had a hug and I drank some of the milkshake in the finishers bag, I put warm clothes on, we said goodbye to my friend, I went to the loo and then we walked the half mile to the car park.

I ate half a sandwich in the car and text a couple of people, when we got home we had dinner (although I didn't have much of an appetite) then I had a bath and quiet evening before a very early night.

Overall I am pleased with myself for doing the half marathon but I am definitely going to do more training before the next one!

The elite athletes were interviewed afterwards so my mother tells me (I was still running) and they all said the weather made it particularly hard.

I didn't finish in 2hours 30 as I had hoped but I definitely beat last years time. I haven't had my official time yet but I think I shed about 3-4 minutes off. Not what I had hoped in advance but when I was actually taking part I realised just how hard it was and was happy to let that aim go. That aim is for the future.
EDIT: my official finish time is 2 hours 49 minutes 2 seconds which is 3 minutes 54 seconds faster than last year. Also the wind was 24mph! No wonder it was hard

Saturday 13 March 2010

Thoughts the day before the half marathon

This time tomorrow I will be running the Adidas Silverstone half marathon! It is due to start at 12noon.

I am currently experiencing mixed feelings. Excited and determined and nervous. I am hoping it won't rain, nor be too hot.

I have got a hat to wear this year which will be good if it rains as should shield the lenses on my glasses from it and also be good to protect my scalp etc if it is sunny. I am going to wear suncream this year after getting sunburnt last year.

I am going to be wearing a lot of pink so it seems, I have without planning to ended up with a matching outfit. I feel good in it so fingers crossed I will stay comfy.

I really, really want to get a better time this year. I would like to shed 10-20minutes but I don't know that that is very realistic with everything that has been going on in my life lately and distracting me from training. My time last year was 2 hours 52 minutes 56 seconds. I am definitely aiming for under 3 hours again. I just have no idea. I think I will be disappointed if I don't do better than last year.

I don't know whether having done one before and knowing I can do it will help. I hit the wall around mile 2 last year and was completely freaking out, wondered who I was kidding etc etc wanted to quit but somehow I got through it and ran/walked the 11ish more miles and completed it. I am expecting I may hit the wall this year and be thinking yes I've done one before but I haven't done enough training this year cos I was ill and have I done more or less training I don't know etc etc etc. Hopefully if I expect it when it happens I will be able to deal with it ok. Although it'll still be a bad moment I'm sure.

If I can put the determination and sheer ROAR I am feeling inside of me right now into my running then I will hopefully beat last years time. I think there is no way to know how it will go until the day and the moment. I will feel so pleased with myself if I beat last years time. Truth be told I would love to get 20minutes off my time but I know that may not be realistic. However anything is possible and I am going to give it my all, self motivation YOU CAN DO IT.

If nothing else running a half marathon burns a good few calories and I get a Tshirt and medal when I finish :-) See you guys on the other side.

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Bye bye inches!

On the first of January this year I wrote a post and explained about my waist size and how healthy for a woman is deemed to be 32inches or less. I remember thinking I have no idea how I will ever get that small etc. Well I have just measured my waist and it is 32 inches!!! Yippee.

From my heighest weight I have now lost 17lbs, I don't know exactly when my heighest weight was but progress is progress thanks very much.

1st Jan my weight was 12st 13.5lbs, however for quite a while between then and now I weighed 13st 1 -13st2.

Today I was 12st 7lb.

So it has been a slow journey, but I have got into the healthy zone in terms of waist yay! I am going to keep going, I want my tummy to be toned rather than doughy.

I have just been food shopping and got some mainly healthy foods. My meal tonight at work will be sandwich, carrot, apple and yoghurt. Lunch is pasta and breakfast was muesli.

Not much else to report, had some more news from the docs yesterday am low on iron again and am getting tested for coeliac too, when/if I ever find out exactly what is going on with me I will let you guys know. There's been many a theory so far. Touchwood my throat is not too bad today :-) and my energy levels have been ok.

Plans for this week are gym with friend in morning tomorrow, then work, Thursday day off, help someone with something for a bit, go shopping with friend, Friday work then think I am doing something with my friend who's birthday it is on Thursday. Saturday eat lots of carbs! Sunday run half marathon. Monday spinning if my legs are up to it (probably not!) followed by work.

Have a fab week all, one of these days I will get around to commenting on other peoples blogs a bit more x

Sunday 7 March 2010

Fun times

I have had a good week this week, I went on a mini holiday and then on Friday went out partying.

Tues-Thurs I was staying with a friend in Cardiff, we ate out, we shopped, we ate out again, we gossiped, fun times. Unfortunately my energy levels were a bit low so we didn't manage clubbing or anything but I had a great time anyway :-)

Friday night was a friend from works leaving do. We went out for a meal and then to some pubs. I did say I wasn't going to drink much. However I ended up roaring drunk (oops). I got in at 3.30am and after 3.5 hours sleep managed to get up and get through my 10 hour work shift and get everything I needed to done (go me!) I had a really good time and don't drink often so am not going to feel bad. Have to say I have no idea how I had the energy to stay out that late.

I am running a half marathon next Sunday so am going to be getting plenty of quiet time and after going to spinning tomorrow morning will only exercise lightly until the big day. I have absolutely no idea what sort of time I will get what with getting ill having affected my training. I am not worried as long as I'm not last! I kind of wish I had done loads of training so I could get a better time, but regrets are pointless and I wasn't well enough to train fully. Getting a better time is for another half marathon, if I do get a better time than last year this time then that's a bonus.

Thursday 4 March 2010

Zzzzzzzz

So I have just got back from a couple of days away (which was muchos fun) and am pretty tired.
Have eaten out a lot and am off out for dinner again tomorrow night. I am going to enjoy myself and worry about the calories on the 12th of never!
Its ok to eat what you like some days as long as it's not every day. I have enjoyed myself on my little holiday and I intend to enjoy myself tomorrow night. Eating healthily again can start on Saturday.

I have a super hot new dress to wear tomorrow night. I can't wait.

Sorry for the shortness of the post but I have been a busy bee today and am too tired to blog in detail about things x