Trying new things

I mentioned in a previous post that I was starting yoga last week. I was cautious as it's not fast paced like my usual exercise and I really didn't know what to expect. I'm not at all flexible but I'd been told by friends to just go at my own pace and see how it went. 

I was a little apprehensive about turning up as I'm not usually one for trying new things and meeting new people. I got there in plenty of time to get my mat and pick a spot, there's always that feeling when attending a course for the first time that you're taking someone else's place. Luckily the ladies who were already there were lovely and told me the best place to go.

Our instructor, Fiona, is a really wonderful lady, so chilled out, exactly as I expected. She put on some quiet background music and began with some gentle movements. With each move she gave us ways to make it harder or easier depending on our flexibility and experience. I was actually really proud of myself for being able to get into a lot more of the positions than I thought I would. 
After an hour Fiona finished with some meditation work which was just amazing, completely zoned me out and made me so relaxed. 

That night I had such a good nights sleep and I've signed up for another class this week.

My next 'first' in recent weeks was a spin class. Simon is a massive fan of spin classes and as I'm constantly complaining that his legs are better than mine I thought I'd give this a go. 

I went along and really just thought it would be pedalling fast on a bike. The instructor Chelsea was great, she made she we were all safely on our bikes before switching on the party lights and turning off the real likes, an odd sort of disco but lots of fun. Also great when you start sweating as no one can see how awful you look.

She started us off slowly and increased and decreased the intensity along with some great music to really motivate and push us. Within 5 minutes I was sweating buckets and looking at the clock wondering when it would end - this was a beginners class!
The whole session was done out of the saddle so needless to say my legs were killing by the end of the 40 minutes. She then finished with a warm down and stretching session which I was really grateful for when I woke up the following morning! 

I loved every moment of the class and felt great after. Again I've signed up to another class next week. 

With all these new experiences, it just goes to show that running really isn't my be all and end all! 

The clock is ticking

With only 7 weeks (and 4 days) until the London Marathon, it's starting to really creep up on me & with all the plans for my supporters in place (more of that soon), it's now just a case of getting myself 'match ready'! Sounds so simple. 

The injury to my foot is now, fingers crossed, firmly in the past so for the past week it's been a case of upping my times & distances. This has been going well and I've been trying to really make the most of my rest days. 

Since I started full on marathon training, I've been seeing an osteopath every fortnight, he has been doing an amazing job of getting my limbs ready for the 26.2 miles & giving me some great advise especially when I had the injuries, this has left me feeling much more positive.

I was back to 2 hours+ last Sunday which really gave me the confidence to get another hour at least on the clock within the next 5 weeks before the tapering begins.

This is definitely not my marathon pace band,
more like Mo Farahs!!

The next area to look at is my pace for marathon day, because I run varying distances & times at the moment, it's really difficult to work out my current pace. I've been playing around with different times and I really do go from anything around 5:58km p/h to 6:20 dependant on the distance. 

It's been recommended I have a pace calculator around my wrist with my ideal pace times so I've looked at some templates and printed a few off to try out over the coming weeks.

To be honest, I think I'll just end up running my own race but it's good to try these things out beforehand just in case.

There really is so much to think about that I never even realised. 

My tip of the week came from my osteopath who suggested taking a black bin bag to the marathon start with me just in case it rains then I can stay dry at the start & dispose of it before I begin. This is something I wouldn't even consider!  



  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I took a bit of a break over Christmas & New Year from posting, instead focusing on spending time with my family and friends. It was a really lovely time & reminded me once again how lucky I am to have such great people around me. 

One thing I didn't take a break from though was training! 

I've been hard at it and upping my times and distances each week, I even ran on Christmas Day!! It was actually really refreshing to be out nice and early on Christmas morning and meant I was feeling really good (if a little achy) even after stuffing my face with all the usual festive treats. This Christmas was a first for me too, I actually lost weight instead of putting it on. It's all the training, it just seems to fall off, I suppose it's my metabolism.

I've decided to do a different training plan now which fits better for me, it was suggested by Cancer Research UK. I'm now running 4/5 times a week and giving myself a few rest days. This is really working for me as I now feel like I'm actually getting somewhere and giving my body a well deserved rest. 

I'm up to 90 minutes of running on my longest day now which feels so rewarding, I never thought I'd be able to comfortably run for 30 minutes let alone 90 so this is really giving me the boost I need to keep it going. 

With only 96 days until the London Marathon the challenge I've taken on is starting to really kick but I'm still as motivated as ever & am definitely already in better shape than I've ever been. 

So although it's a new year, the training continues, the commitment continues & thanks to some great support, the donations have continued to roll in for my chosen charities! 

2014 - The year I run the London Marathon! 

Run The Right Way

My colleague, Ian, emailed this link to me this morning. Two really interesting videos that could make you run more effectively and the right way! 

It's only 3 minutes long & could make a whole heap of difference to your running. I'll certainly be trying out the different stance on my next run. 

http://sanjayguptamd.blogs.cnn.com/category/cnn-lifestream-video/page/2/#lifestream

What a difference a year makes

A year ago today I went along for my routine smear test with the nurse. Thinking nothing of it at the time, it was about to be the day that set me off on a different course.
Thinking about it today with my stronger, wiser & much more focused hat on, I'm wondering what I'd say to 'me' a year ago. I'd have laughed if you'd told me in a year I would have a place in a marathon & be 4 weeks into training for it. 
I would absolutely tell myself to do what feels right. Something I have learnt over the past year is to have the emotion you feel like having when you feel like it, don't put on a brave face, especially around friends & family, and know that keeping positive & healthy is the best thing you can do. 

A year on and although I am still having to go to the hospital for check-ups & it is always in the back of my mind, I have new things to focus on & I've certainly never been stronger both mentally & physically.
It just goes to show you don't know what's around the corner. 

I recently came across this quote which fits just perfectly...

Long v's Short?

Now that winter has arrived I have a big dilemma!...

Do I go for the long running trousers or the 3/4 ones? 

It might be too soon for the long one's as it's not actually that cold yet but I was very chilly on my run last night. I don't want to peak too early and I have no other layers to call in when it gets really cold. 

Any thoughts from readers on this would be appreciated! 

So Long or Short? 

Saw this...

Saw this photo this morning & just love it, it's exactly how I'm feeling at the moment especially whilst I'm trying to build my stamina for my marathon training but this photo says it all...

Happy Weekend Running!! 

All Systems GO!!

I got home last night to an amazing letter from Cancer Research UK congratulating me on being accepted for a Charity Bond London Marathon 2014 place through then!! 



After being really emotional and excited for the whole evening, I'm still beaming from ear-to-ear! I just can't believe that after all these months of waiting, I've got my place. I'm also counting myself very lucky as I know hundreds of people apply for these places every year and to be accepted on my first try is really quite something. 

My intention is that unless I receive an offer of a place from Jo's Trust or the public ballot, I will accept this place & raise as much money as I can for CRUK whilst also giving a percentage of the total amount to Jo's. Should I be selected for Jo's, I'll probably be delirious and to honour CRUK's commitment to me I'll reverse this and give a percentage of the Jo's money raised to them. Sound fair?

Thank you for all the messages of congratulations that I've received so far. It's going to be a long road ahead but I'm mentally ready to take on the challenge & I just can't wait to get going. 

Any tips or advise that you can share on your marathon experiences would be very much welcomed. I've already received a lot of great advise from previous runners which I am sure will stand me in good stead of the coming months of training. With plenty of hard work and determination, I'm ready to take on this challenge & cross that finish line having raised a lot of money for great causes. 

Santa Run!

Today I've signed up to take part in a 10KM Santa Run on 8th December in London. I will be running this for Jo's Trust which makes me feel very proud indeed. I was delighted to get Judith, from the charities, email this morning and signed up straight-away. 

Fingers crossed some friends & family will also be joining me as it'd be great to run along-side them but even doing it on my own I'll be really satified knowing I'm raising more money and awareness for my chosen charity. 

If you'd like to run with me, please sign up here, places are limited so the sooner the better, then let me know when you're done & I'll sort out regular catch-ups leading up to the run. 

I was hoping by now to be on my first half marathon but with the knee problems, my progress has slowed down. All being well, I can now start to really pick it up and especially with runs like this in the pipeline it'll really spur me on. And it's only another month until the ballot places for the London Marathon are announced so let's hope that is good news for me. 

If you would like to sponsor me for any of the run's and challenges I'm doing over the coming year, please use the link on my blog to donate as much as you can. 

Insanity!

After what feels like months on a diet, I really let myself go over my birthday celebrations, although thankfully I only managed to put on 1lb and a little bit of body fat so overall I was quite pleased. 

With only 5 weeks to go until my friend, Grace's wedding I'm now back on the healthy eating, albeit giving the shakes a miss & just sticking to Special K & less carbs. The running is now in full swing too and with my weekly Tuesday runs with Alex to look forward too it's all keeping me active. 

I was also looking for something else to do to get my body looking toned and I'd heard a lot of people talk about 'Insanity'. It's a 60-day workout developed by Shaun T who says he will 

"...help you find out what happens when you get your mind out of the way and push your body to an intensity level you thought was reserved for elite athletes." 

I've since found out a few friends have tried some of his workouts and not necessarily done the whole 60-days. Well not one to do things by halves I checked it out this morning to see how this might work for me (my mum is also keen to try something new and it's always great to have a fitness buddy so I've also roped her in!). Shaun T acts as your personal trainers throughout the 60-days and according to their website - Beachbody - will push you past your limits with 10 workout discs packed with plyometric drills on top of nonstop intervals of strength, power, resistance, and ab and core training moves. There is no equipment or weights needed & you can do this in the comfort of your own home. Along with your 10 DVDs you also receive a 60 day wall calendar which shows you which workout to do each day, a quick start guide, a nutrition plan and you are able to go online for support along the way. 

The cost is a bit more than I'd normally pay for a fitness regime but it's certainly cheaper than the gym and if you're really keen you can do the workout over and over! 

I'm really excited to get started, although not sure I'll be saying that after a few days. The before shots will be taken tonight & hopefully I'll survive to let you know how I get on & who know's in 60 days time, I might have those long awaited abs! 

No more diet...

...well not for this week anyway. 

I'm sure I've mentioned it once or twice but it's my birthday this weekend. It was always my intention to diet until my birthday then stop. I know that I've lost a lot of the weight I set out too and overall I'm feeling happy with how I am now looking but should I go back to how I was eating 8 weeks ago? It just doesn't seem right for some reason & I certainly don't want to put the weight all back on. 

From this Friday I can eat whatever I feel like over the weekend, it is my 30th after all. Then I have a big night out with friends next Saturday so plenty of bad food & lots of alcohol then but then what? 

It feels wrong to go back to what I used to eat. I'm thinking that this diet has almost become second nature, more of a way of eating & less a diet. 
Now that I'm at the weight I set out, I'll probably not take it as seriously but whilst I'm enjoying the Slim Fast diet now, I think it'll continue.

The 2 litres of water is absolutely something I'd like to carry on, maybe not being as strict with myself over it but I already can tell my body is feeling healthier for it. 
My general feeling is that I'll see how I go, if I fancy cereal I'll have it, if not it'll be the shakes. If I want to treat myself to a nicer dinner, I can but won't go crazy. As my running is also increasing in distance and intensity I don't think the odd cake will kill me either. 

I actually don't fancy too much of what I used to have, a lot of this diet is about moderation. I have the Lindt Lindor chocolates, one or two of those a day won't make me obese so why not treat myself to them, just no need to eat a whole family bag of revels in one sitting (I actually could but I won't!)! 

 

I'd be interested to hear if any of you have also been on a diet and how you incorporated it into your life after the actual diet ended. Or do people just stay on one lifelong diet? That seems a little dull. 

I'm sure I'll be writing more about how I get on but for now I'm going to enjoy the weekend ahead and especially my trip to Prezzo with the girls from work on Friday! Pizza & Rose here we come!  

Running Apps

Even since I started running I've using the Nike+ app for iPhone. I've talked a number of friends into using it too. 

It's said to be the 'most popular running app on iTunes'. You can add friends and see how you compare, even setting challenges with friends to run the further, quickest that week/month. It does get a little competitive when you're keeping tabs on who's logging the most runs and miles, but not having a running partner, it's probably the best thing to keep me motivated.  

You can record runs on the treadmill or when you're out and about via your iPhone's GPS and accelerometer which record your distance, pace, and time, these have always been extremely accurate for me. 

My favourite feature on the app is the audio feedback which lets you know a breakdown of your pace, distance, at every mile or half a mile depending on your preferences. It really helps me to stay focused & sets myself little targets. 
What I've really loved on some runs when I'm feeling particularly sluggish is the in-ear cheers you can get from your friends on Facebook when you broadcast that you've started a run. 

This app also connects to your music so this will be playing whilst you're running. Also if you have a song that gets you more motivated you can set up PowerSongs to give yourself a boost.

When your run is finished you can sync your run to the Nikeplus.com website which allows you to view your maps on a larger screen, set a new goal, and find Nike+ Top Routes in your area. 

Another app that has been recommended to me recently is Strava, I used this for the first time yesterday. I didn't find it as user friendly as Nike+ but it's certainly more in-depth and one for the serious runners. 

 

As with the Nike+ you can use Strava to track your runs with GPS, analyze your performance, join Challenges and see how you stack up against friends. 

The most accurate part of this app was viewing the map of your run, this was really clear & showed a breakdown of my pace per KM. I've not explored it fully so I'm sure it does a lot more than I've currently worked out. According to my friend you can collect heart rate data from ANT+ and Bluetooth LE sensors which would be really interesting to use. 

With both of these apps you can set personal targets and earn virtual trophies & honours. With Strava they have monthly challenges that are designed to push you further and show how you stack up against friends, locals and pros. 

The one thing I would say about the Strava app is that you have to pay for some of the features by going premium.  

I'm sure there are many more running apps on the market. Do you have your favourite? 

Preventing Running Injuries

Yesterday I posted 'Common Running Injuries' so today I thought I'd share some tips on treating those injuries and most importantly preventing them in the first place. 

Here are my top tips!
Warm up and cool down

It’s essential to warm up properly before you start running. Five to ten minutes of brisk walking or gentle jogging before you start will warm your muscles up and help prevent injury. To cool down, carry on running at an easier pace or walk for five to ten minutes. This will help your body recover after your run. 

When I first started running I never done this and soon learnt that was a bad idea. I was getting really sore muscles and everything felt very tight. 
Wear the right shoes

As I mentioned in a previous post this really is my key to a pleasant running experience. It’s so important to buy the correct running shoes, and it’s best to go to a running shop to get fitted. 
Build up slowly

Don’t be tempted to increase the intensity or distance of your running too quickly. Do a similar run at least three or four times before you increase your pace or distance.

It took be such a long time to build up to 10K but now I'm adding a few KM each week and feeling much better for it.
Stay motivated

As I know very well, being injured can be very frustrating. When I first started running and got minor injuries I was tempted to just give up. But by giving myself goals, 5k charity run, this really boosted me to get back out there. In general I find that if you have something to work towards, it really helps. 

Always remember at the first sign of any running related injury...

Common Running Injuries

Having recently suffered a running injury in the form of a metatarsal fracture, I felt it was a good idea to familiarise myself with other injuries that runners can suffer from and identify the best ways to avoid these stopping me from running. 

Below I've listed some common running injuries. 

• Heal Pain - Similar to my injury, this will rear itself with pain or swelling in the heel or bottom of the foot, normally occurring if you suddenly start doing a lot more running, if you run uphill or if your shoes aren't supportive enough or are worn out. You won’t be able to run with heel pain. If you treat the pain early enough, it will normally go away in two to three weeks, after which you should be able to start running again.
  Top Tip - Freeze a small bottle of water, then place it on the floor and roll it back and forth under your foot for about 20 minutes. 
• Muscle Strains - The most common strains due to running are in the hamstring muscles or calf muscles. Strains often affect new runners, whose muscles are not used to running. You won’t be able to run with a muscle strain. Most strains can be treated at home. Stop running immediately and apply ice to the painful area for around 20 minutes a few times a day. Keeping your leg elevated and supported with a pillow will help reduce swelling. 
• Shin Pain - This occurs on the front of the leg, below the knee. It’s often referred to as shin splints. Runners are often aware of a dull pain in the shin but carry on running. Pain can be relieved by applying ice to the area regularly for the first few days. Shin pain is likely to stop you running altogether. 
• Knee Pain (Runner's Knee) - This can have many causes, such as swelling under the kneecap. The pain may be dull or it could be sharp and severe. To help knee pain at home, apply ice to the knee and stretch. Hold ice (try a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a damp tea towel) on the painful area for around 20 minutes a few times a day. If the pain is severe or the knee is swollen, see your GP straight away. Don’t run if you have pain in your knee.
• Achilles Pain - The Achilles tendon is the tough, rubbery cord at the back of the ankle that links the muscle to the bone. Regular running can cause wear and tear to the tendon over time. To treat Achilles pain at home, apply ice to the area if you can feel a lump there. You can also gently massage the area with your fingers. You could also try using heel wedges in your shoes. A sharp pain will stop you running altogether. Even if the pain is not severe, it’s a good idea to rest until the pain goes, and get it checked if it doesn't go away.

Remember with all of these treatments - 

*Never place ice directly on your skin.*

As I found out being injured can dent your motivation, whatever your injury, it’s important to listen to your body. Don’t run if you’re in pain and only start running again when you've recovered sufficiently. I learnt this the hard way! 

The Perfect Body

I've been on a diet for the past 5 weeks. Myself & my friend Gemma decided to do the Juice Plus Complete diet, this consists of 2 diet shakes per day to replace two meals, a 600 calorie meal & fruit or veg for snacks. Oh and the small matter of 2 litres of water per day! 

Both of us have naturally had our good & bad days but I think we're looking really good on it. I know we've both lost weight & with the exercise we're doing as well have really toned up. 

The water element, although sometimes a hard task to consume, has really made me feel good, its helped my digestion, my skin & I'm sure so much more. It's also aided my running, I have far less stitches which I was really suffering with previously so that's a massive bonus. Even after the diet has finished this is something I'll continue. 

So in the quest to get that longed for 'Perfect Body', my latest problem is I'm losing a lot of weight from my upper body and actually starting to look a little scrawny. I'm a runner so all of my exercise has been on my lower body - which is where I wanted to lose the weight & is coming along slowly - but it seems to be falling off the top. 

I really didn't need to make my chest any smaller but they've practically vanished! I know every girls worst nightmare! 

The only upper body exercises I do are press ups & sit ups & not even many of those. Gemma & I were talking yesterday & we wondered why this is the case? Does anyone else have a similar situation? How to I get some arm definition back without piling on the pounds? 

This really is baffling! 

For those people starting a diet like this I would absolutely suggest starting with a friend. Both Gemma & I had our individual goals in sight, she is heading off to Ibiza & I have my 30th birthday coming up. Looking back now there is no way I could have kept to it & achieved my goals without her support & reassurance throughout. It's been hard work but with only another 2 weeks to go for my, I'm feeling happier with my figure, confident & excited to wear some different clothes!