Photo a day day 69

9th March 2012.
We went to see Dara O'Briain which was brilliant. I took a picture of the tickets before we left.

It's nearly Christmas

Wow only 2 more sleeps until Christmas. Is it just me or did 2011 go REALLY fast?

I still have presents to wrap and one missing present that I may need to replace but other than that I am pretty much ready.

I am looking forward to a nice rest over Christmas and spending time with my family. I love the family time over Christmas. Eating, drinking, playing games etc. It's brill.

Tomorrow I intend to take the dog for a nice long walk and then get on with my wrapping and whatever jobs my mother leaves for me to do whilst she is at work.

Exciting times!

Also it is my big sister's 30th birthday on Christmas day so happy birthday!

I have been pondering what to have as my new years resolutions/aims and goals for 2012. I'm still not decided so you shall have to wait and see.

Four weeks until my first marathon!

Oh my goodness. My marathon is only four weeks away. Last year when I had to defer my place to this year due to illness I was very upset as it seemed so long away. That time sure has flown by. It doesn't seem real that this big event that I have been talking about for so long will soon actually happen. Do I feel ready? Yes and no. I feel like I can do it but it will be hard and I wish I was fitter. I do think that however fit I was I would feel that so I am not going to worry.

I have got a 13 miler to do tomorrow then the next long run I will be doing next Saturday is 18 miles. The weekend after I run 10 miles, then weekend after a 50minute run at marathon pace and finally the weekend after is the real thing. I have followed a beginners/just get round training plan. I am aiming for between 6 hours and 6 hours 30minutes. At the moment life is about eating plenty of nutritious foods and looking after my body. I can't afford to be getting a cold or anything and my body needs the right foods to keep it going on runs and to heal itself afterwards. My mind boggles at the thought of running 26.2 miles and I am sure I will be emotional before the start, during and definitely after but I know myself, I know I will keep going no matter what because that determination burns inside of me. I can do this and I will. And it will feel great to show those doubters out there that I was right!

I can't wait to be able to say I've run a marathon. I have a lot of supportive friends and family and am so lucky to have them. I expect they will be looking forward to the time when I don't talk about the marathon practically every day!

I am running for the special care baby charity Bliss who are a great cause. If you would like to sponsor please comment and I will send you the link. Thanks.

Run run run

Hello folks,

Yet again I have neglected my blog. I have just felt so busy all the time. I am training 5 days a week for my marathon which is in 5 weeks and 3 days time (wow that has come around fast) I am both nervous and excited. I am aiming for any time under 7 hours which will seem ridiculously long to most people but I will definitely be needing a few walking breaks and will be very proud of myself just for finishing. I ran a half marathon on Sunday and managed to run the furthest ever in my whole life without a walking break. Very proud of myself. It was nice as I ran with two friends who definitely motivated me and encouraged me. I think it will be tough not to have a friend to run with in the marathon.

Tonight I made a risotto for dinner, it was the first time I had ever made or in fact eaten risotto and it was delicious. Enough leftovers for 2 more meals which I am freezing for when I am on late shifts and need something quick.

I'm on the late shift tomorrow and it is then my weekend off. I am going out for a meal Saturday night and so far no plans for Sunday other than the 10mile run that my training plan informs me of.

I'm then working Monday and Tuesday before some annual leave I am taking to use up before the end of our holiday year (which is end of March). I have some plans with friends which I am looking forward to. I am also starting a beginners jog group next week as I am a qualified jog group leader. It will be the first course I have lead so shall be challenging but I think I am well prepared.

I hope everyone is well and that I update again soon.

Maisy, food, exercise...

I got my baby rabbit on Monday evening, she is called Maisy until such a time that I find out she is actually a he! Lol. She is such a sweetie and has now got a favourite spot to sleep in in her run which is v cute. I'm looking forward to many years with her companionship.

My eating has been a bit unregulated the last couple of days, I wouldn't say I have gone mad but just not been particularly watchful. I reined it back in today. I did go to spin class yesterday morning but didn't feel particularly satisfied with myself afterwards as I found it really hard and didn't feel like I had done as well as I could have. Better than staying in bed I suppose. Plan is spin again tomorrow night and then I'm not sure when I'll get time to exercise over the weekend. Then Mon and Tues spin and not sure any further than that. Tuesday is my birthday and due to my working some extra shifts I have it off. I figure I will still go to spin as I probably wouldn't have got up to much in the morning anyway. Then home and shower followed by lunch with my mum and sit in the garden if it is nice (please be nice) then in the eve I imagine we will have a family meal at home. I am going out for a meal and to the pub on the Friday evening. This is the first time in 3 years that I have not either had an exam on my birthday or a few days after which has meant the last few were quiet ones. (I did have a party a couple of weeks after my birthday last year as it was my 21st birthday).
With all the birthday eating I can see next week may be a not losing weight week. However I am going to carry on doing plenty of exercise and try to eat as healthily as possible when it is not my birthday or meals out etc. My mum's birthday is the day after mine so there will be lots of goodies about but I shall just have to limit the amount I have.

So the rest of this week: tomorrow work and then probs spin, friday doctors appointment and friend over for lunch, Saturday and Sunday work and probs quiet evenings to save my energy.

Christmas and the which training plan to use dilemma

I have had a lovely Christmas, I really enjoyed myself. We had a lovely couple of family days with nice food and lovely presents.

I got some cool running related stuff, a 'my little lunch bag' which I have to say I love! Such a child at heart. My sister got me The Paramedic's Diary book by Stuart Gray which is cool because I have been reading his blog for a while now.

I got a running book too, which has a marathon training plan in it, which leads me to my dilemma, I also have another training plan and then when looking online to see which type is more beneficial found a third plan! So I'm wondering which is better to use, one which goes by distance e.g 6k run or one which goes by timing e.g 1 hour steady run. Can I mix and match? Or does it really matter as long as I am doing some kind of training?

Less than 4 months to go until the marathon. This week is the week I have to start 2 of the training plans if I was using those and the third one is slightly shorter so could be implemented in a couple of weeks with general training beforehand.

This afternoon I am going to a friends house to watch movies, I am really in the mood for something scary, although knowing me I will end up having nightmares.

Tomorrow I am going to pop to the shops to try and find something to wear to my Dad's party which is on Tuesday. Wednesday is my day off and I'm thinking exercise then tidy my room and sort through stuff. Thursday I have work and it is New Years Eve, I have no idea what I am doing to celebrate this year. Friday is a bank holiday and work is closed on this one. No plans so far but I imagine I will have a quiet one at home and probably go for a run. I never really drink that much alcohol these days but over the last week or so have been drinking more often, after New years I am really going to cut back on drinking as it cannot be good for my running due to the effect alcohol has on glycogen stores etc. That said I have a party to go to on the 8th January. I can just have a couple of drinks though. I know when it gets really close to the marathon I will stop drinking alcohol completely.

Now I'm wondering whether I mentioned that I signed up for the Adidas Silverstone Half marathon again in 2010. It is the 'warm up race' for the London Marathon. I'm looking forward to hopefully shaving my time down.

I have to be off and tidy up the house a little bit before heading off to my friend's house.

Remember, Remember the 5th of November gunpowder, treason and plot, I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot!

Wow that was a long title for a blog post huh?

Thursday was bonfire/Guy Fawkes night. Every year in my town the local rotary club hosts a fireworks display and bonfire the Saturday night closest to bonfire night. Which was last night. We went to the display as a family. I wasn't going to go and then changed my mind at the last minute. I'm so glad I did. It was foot stompingly cold, the weather seemed to really change yesterday and it has become more wintry. It has been unusally warm so far this autumn. It was kinda nice to feel the chill last night. Once the bonfire was lit we could feel the warmth. The 'Guy' on top didn't have a head or feet or anything but was a general body shape. From my childhood I never remember there being a Guy on top but I'm sure there must have been.

The fireworks were delayed slightly but once they began they were definitely worth the wait wow! Once they finished we walked home and I was so glad to be inside, my toes were painfully cold so I put an extra pair of socks on. We then had chilli and jacket potatoes for dinner as well as hot dogs. It was yummy and just what we needed after 2 hoursish out in the cold.

I will definitely be going again next year!

I also went to the cinema with some friends yesterday and watched 9 I really enjoyed it although I thought it was a touch scary and pretty dark to be rated a 12a.

In terms of the healthy you challenge I currently have an ankle injury so exercise is pretty much non-existant which is annoying! I'm starting to get a little nervous about marathon training so could really do with a few good runs this week to reassure me. I think I will try to go for a run tomorrow and see how my ankle does.

I have work later on so am not up to much before then. This week I am working 6 days so will probably not get up to much outside of work.

Finally today is Remembrance Sunday a day when we remember those lost at war, I have thought about them today and hope that many others do to.