Half Marathon Heartache

It was the Hastings Half Marathon yesterday, but I came to the difficult decision a couple of weeks ago that I wasn't ready, and in fact would probably end up doing myself some serious damage, if I tried. I can't say I wasn't disappointed, but at the same time as soon as I decided not to do it I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted. I hadn't realised how stressed I was getting about it, I know a lot of that was probably nerves, but deep down I also know that I had done nowhere near enough training. The final straw came when after a 3 mile, I was in so much pain with my hip that I couldn't sleep properly, (it's still not right now).

I think maybe I should stick to 5k-10k runs and keep that as my limit, I don't want to stop running but I really do need to work out what I was doing to make my hip hurt like that. 

Any ideas? Maybe some new sneaks are in order...

Congratulations to all those who did take part, I hope you all had a great day :o)

Food Diary Despair

This is getting desperate, wedding just over 6 months away and I am finding it nigh on impossible to shift these unwanted lbs. For the past month or so I have been exercising for about 1 hour 5 days a week, either running, yoga or a workout with my personal trainer, and nothing is happening. To say I'm disheartened is an understatement!!

So after a particularly gruelling session with my personal trainer and only 1 lb shifted, since last months weigh in, she suggested I keep a food diary. I'm not very good at this sort of thing, I have tried in the past and always manage to miss off snacks, meals, then whole days. So I am really going to have to make the effort to make this work this time. 

I don't think I've been eating terribly, well not during the week anyway. There has been the odd relapse of a weekend but you can't live like a saint all the time right?? Well maybe that's where I've been going wrong, I just don't want everything I do to be affected by what I can or cannot eat. I also don't want to sacrifice even more of my free time to exercise. I admire those who enjoy, and look forward to their hours of exercise each week, but apart from yoga, I am not one of them.

 But one step at a time, I shall keep my evil all seeing food diary for one week, then next Tuesday, it will be picked to pieces by my personal trainer. Who will then make suggestions, and hopefully guide me to that ever distant light at the end of the tunnel.

My Numbers Up

The Hastings Half is creeping up, and it wasn't until my race number was popped through the letter box that how close was really hammered home. Freaking out now!!! I have been going on a few more runs and extending my distance little by little, but I am nowhere near the 13.5 mile mark.

The 5 mile runs are becoming a bit more comfortable, and hills are less of a struggle but I am still really worried. I am just hoping that I manage to keep my pace and don't get carried away with all the other people there. I'm not good at judging my own pace all that well and find it very easy to get caught up in a crowd, so I must practice zoning out into my own little world.

Thankfully all the major hills are in the first 5 miles so if I can manage to get over them I should be ok (eek, fingers crossed). At least going up hills means that you must come down, hopefully gravity will get me some of the way round.

Have you ever signed up for something on a whim only to think that maybe you had been a little hasty. I mean breezing through a 5k run is not a good reference for a 13.5 mile run, especially as I made the mistake of driving the route the other day, it is a very long way.

Oh well, I guess if you don't challenge yourself how do you expect to move forward in life, who know I might actually enjoy it. Just hope I'll still be able to walk afterwards.

Right, best lace up my trainers and get out there. Need to stay focused, just need to be able to get to the finish line.

Intermediate Yoga

I love YOGA!! There I said it, I can't seem to get enough at the moment.

I started about 8 months ago with one class on a Monday, I then took on an extra class on a Wednesday about five months ago. Both were beginner classes but still tough enough to keep me interested. I have loved seeing how far I can push myself, week by week inching myself a little further into the bends and twists. Filling with joy and calm as my focus and balance poses improve. I have gone from fingertips brushing the floor in a forward bend, to standing on my palms!

I had always been aware of the intermediate class but never imagined I would ever feel confident enough to take the plunge. Until it was suggested to me by my instructor. When the person you look to for guidance gives you the thumbs up, it makes you wonder why you have been so apprehensive all this time. So I went for it, I gave up my Wednesday and joined in with the big kids on a Thursday.

I think I was expecting the class to be full of young bendy types, able to stand on their heads and hold a plank for hours on end, but I was wrong. At least I was pleasantly surprised, there were a variety of people, old and young, bendy and stiff all looking to improve and develop their practice. I know you shouldn't gauge yourself by others, but being the newbie I was pleased not to be the worst in the class, I know that sounds shallow but I only mean it in the respect that I felt I was where I needed to be, and wouldn't be struggling to keep up.

It has also inspired me to practice more at home, maybe not the mediation I find that nigh on impossible with the distractions of home. But definitely a few Sun Salutations and other poses I didn't quite nail in class.

Have you ever held yourself back, and then wondered why when you finally let go?

Running to Work

I have decided that seeing as I have already signed up for the half marathon I need to get a few more runs in. Unfortunately I wasn't finding it all that easy, so I have decided to run to and from work a few days a week. So far I have only done it twice, but so far so good, I just have to make sure I leave all my stuff at work the day before, oh and baby wipes.

As you can see from todays run to work I am really not that quick, which is fine I'm ok with that, plenty of time for improvement during the rest of my life. I am just starting to really freak out about the half marathon. I really think I have made a bit of a mistake signing up, as I am sooo not ready. I have less than 2 months left ahhhh.

Think I am going to have to just try my best, run as much as I possibly can so I can get a time, any time. Then put all my efforts into smashing that awful time next time around.

Have you ever got a bit ahead of yourself with what you think you can achieve.   

Yoga Detox Day

Saturday I attended my first full day of yoga. It was a specific Detox Yoga Day run by my usual yoga teacher. It was run in a local village hall, which was not a bad venue as it goes, nice and warm with under floor heating and these lovely big windows.

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive, as the day was due to run from 10am to 5pm, which seems like a lot of yoga considering my normal class is only an hour. But once we got into the swing of things it was surprising how quickly the time ticked away. There was a good couple of hours of poses in the morning and afternoon with meditation at the start and end of each session. 

I couldn't tell you exactly what we did but there were a lot of twists and poses which target the kidneys and liver. The afternoon meditation was amazing, I don't think anyone managed to stay completely awake for the full session, it was so relaxing.

We were also given 90 mins for lunch which was also provided, a bright yellow homemade ghee with a tasty salad, and sugar free poached pears and yoghurt for after which was flavoured with grape juice and star anise, yum. She even gave us the recipe for the ghee, it was very tasty but due to it being a detox day was vegetarian, so if I was to give it a go at home I would probably serve it with some lamb.

Afterwards I was left feeling calm and relaxed but not sleepy, my body did ache a little on Sunday but it was  so worth it. I would definitely attend another one of these days.

Have you ever been to a yoga day retreat? 

2014 Already?

I can't believe we are1 week into 2014 already! Time is just whizzing by.

I've got my new diary, and as always I am going to attempt to be more organised this year. I always have the best of intentions. I don't tend to make resolutions just little deals with myself and targets. This year I am more determined than ever when it come to fitness goals. I do not want to be a fat bride, and I am getting married this year!!

Last year I gave up smoking, I stopped in February and haven't touched one since, which is pretty cool I don't usually have that much resolve so I'm quite proud of myself. Especially as my other half is was a smoker. (He is attempting to give up)

This year I would like to give up take aways. We have been quite bad in the past and anytime we can't be bothered to cook we turn to Just Eat, which shamefully wasn't all that rare. So we have made a pact to resit and for each month we manage it we will treat ourselves to a fancy dinner out. 

I also need to focus on my fitness, start taking my half marathon training seriously and keep signing up to organised runs so I can stay focused. Hopefully combined with eating better this will have the desired results when it comes to slimming down.

I would like to set small yoga targets too like nailing a specific pose, working my way up to a headstand by the end of the year. I know that doesn't sound particularly spectacular but I am no where near at the moment so it would be quite an achievement for me.

Sewing is also on my list, it's something I've had an interest in for a couple of years but never really done anything about, so inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee I am going to give it a go this year, first project to be some pyjama bottoms for Adam. I'll let you know how I get on.

Do you make targets and fresh starts at the start of a new year?

December Fitness Goals

Quick recap on my November goals:

• One session of yoga a week

• 2 - 3 runs a week, pushing my distance/speed on one of the runs
  
• At least one other random workout per week, magazine, TRX or lucky dip challenge

I managed to do 2 yoga sessions a week, and my 2 PT sessions that was it. November was pretty much a write off when it came to exercise. There was nothing wrong with me, apart from a complete lack of motivation. So the only exercise I managed to do was the sessions I was paying for. That really says something doesn't it. I only have a valid excuse for a couple of days when we didn't have a bath, shower, or sink in the bathroom because of a re-vamp. The prospect of washing with a bucket of water after a sweat fest didn't really appeal.

So goals are going to be a the same as for November, got a feeling I might struggle past the 20th seeing as I won't have much time in between stuffing my face with festive treats. I do have a reason to stick to my goals up to then though as I have entered myself in to a 5 mile Christmas Pudding Dash on the 21st December.... Only 2 and half weeks to go and I don't think I've ever run more than 5k so it really will be a challenge. Wish me luck.

November Fitness Goals

Ok so first off I should probably do a quick round up of how I got on last month.

October Goals:

• To do at least 3 runs a week

• One session of yoga a week

• One/two body weight sessions per week

Well I started with the best of intentions as always, I was pumped and raring to go the first couple of weeks, I managed everything plus an Insanity workout each day, intense but I was on a roll. Then I started to flag, the runs dropped of and by the end of week 3 I had completely lost focus, I was still going to my yoga class but that was it apart from the Zombie Run. Thankfully I still think I managed to shift a few pounds so all was not lost.

I have decided to scrap Insanity again it is just not my thing 2 - 3 weeks seems to be my limit then I get bored, so the thought of doing it for 2 months, 6 days a week really does not inspire. I will get back into the swing of running seeing as I have now committed to the half marathon eek!

Which brings me to....

November Goals:

• One session of yoga a week

• 2 - 3 runs a week, pushing my distance/speed on one of the runs

• At least one other random workout per week, magazine, TRX or lucky dip challenge*

So lets see how I go.

*Lucky dip challenge is something that has just come to me in a flash of inspiration, I will write down a number of challenges i.e 100 push ups, 10 handstands etc to be completed during that particular day. I will put them all in a box/bag and pick one whenever I feel the need. What do you think? Good idea, bad idea?

Zombie Weekend

Not really for Halloween, just incidental but this weekend has been a bit of a zombie fest for Adam and me.
Saturday we had a Walking Dead Season 4 catch up, soo good love Walking Dead. Then we watched World War Z, I'm in the process of reading the book but it's taking a while because I'm a wuss and can't handle reading it at bedtime. I know the movie had mixed reviews but we both thought it was great.

Then on Sunday we did the Zombie Evacuation run with my bezzie mate Sarah. It's a 5k obstacle run with a few zombies thrown in the mix, but due to the bad weather I think some of the obstacles had to be adapted. (I left me phone at home so Sarah took the pictures, hence why she is in the middle.)

Luckily you can't see in the picture but I had to write my bib number on my forehead with a sharpie, thankfully it didn't take too much scrubbing to come off.

We were given these belts with 3 velcro tags on, they represented our lives, bit like in a video game I guess, if all 3 were taken by the zombies we were classed as "Infected", which happened to us all, I was the last of us to lose all 3, right near the end as well, typical.

Because of all the rain over the past couple of days the course was pretty much just mud, and we were in the last group so it really was quite churned up, but on the plus side the rain held off until we finished, and a lot of the zombies were quite weary by that point. They still did a great job, I think I am right in saying that they were all volunteers too. All were superbly made up, there was a ballerina, police, and a clown to name a few, some were fast and would chase you, others were slow and moany. One in particular made me scream, she was dressed as a police woman and hiding in a ditch, so as I jumped over the ditch she jumped out, freaked me right out and many others behind me.

At the finish we all got a dog tag and a t-shirt, it was great fun and we were discussing maybe volunteering to be zombies next year.

If you fancy having a go next year these are the guys we used Zombie Evacuation I'm pretty sure there are a few others around, so give it a go, great fun and a bit of exercise too.

Hastings Half

Right well I did it.

I thought since I had written my big list of things I wanted to do I should make a start, so I signed up for the Hastings Half Marathon in March 2014!! Scary stuff. I'm not going to expect a great time just to complete it, I think that's all I should aim for really. Seeing as I have never run more than 5k before this really will be a challenge.

So I need to pull up my big girl pants, and tap my personal trainer for some half marathon training tips.

Have you ever done a half marathon? Any advice?

Insanity!

Need I say more? I bought this a while ago and on my first attempt I managed about 2 weeks before calling it quits. This time I am determined to keep it going for a bit longer, hopefully the full 60 days, but I know what I'm like so I'll just have to see how I go.

I started it yesterday, and crapbags I had forgotten how tough it actually is, but I'm going for the slow and steady approach, so long as I don't try and keep up with the guy's on the DVD I can keep going a little bit longer and that's better than having more rest breaks, right?

I am also trying to fit it in around my other fitness gaols for this month, i.e.running and yoga so wish me luck. I'm thinking I might have to adapt my schedule slightly at some point or I might not get a rest day, but I will see how this week pans out first and how I feel at the end of it.

Have you tried Insanity, did you finish?

October Fitness Goals

Right here we go, it's October already, time to knuckle down. I am running a Zombie Evacuation obstacle run at the end of the month, as part of a team with 3 others. It's only 5k but it involves running away from Zombies and tackling a number of obstacles. Which means I need to improve my running/fitness and fast, I don't want to let my team down do I.

I am not great at sticking to goals but hopefully if I just plan for October, it will help me stay focused.

So here they are my fitness goals for October. 

• To do at least 3 runs a week

• One session of yoga a week

• One/two body weight sessions per week

I'll let you know how I got on at the end of the month.

Have you got any fitness goals for October?