Yume No Chikara

>bounces in as happy as a Pixie can be< So training yes well err um ... THE PIXIE IS BACK IN TRAINING! Oh and I'm loving it! Last week I did 3 runs outside each one a smidge further in the same time so faster! Friday I was feeling all happy in the sun and did my 1st mile in 11:21! OK so I slowed after that but I was very happy! Today I was very aware of not doing a storming 1st mile .... and instead of doing 2.48m I did 2.62m thereby averaging 11:27! I really focused on not giving up and dropping the pace - my phrase of choice was "the treadmill won't slow down or stop until you press the button at 30mins" and it worked! OK so my splits weren't supper even but they were 12:00 11:22 and 6:39 (10:40 pace!) so I didn't slow down! In fact today for the first time I actually started to believe that I would get a PB at the RFL in July and that the 5k in September may just may be near the golden 30mins! I'm really enjoying being back out there, in fact yest

Yes I think I must be a bit strange! Ok so as princess said PTs do seem to push you when everything says no (I'm sure it was the smile and muscles mind!) but today I still had a slight hint of soreness. Schedule said 30mins in the gym so off I went. Another 10mins on the tready, bike and rower. All were OK for the 1st 5mins then required focus for the last 5mins. Craig was in the corner with another client and somehow this made me carry on! It was as if him just being there meant I HAD to do it otherwise I would be insulting him! Then again in a strange way when I finished and strolled back to the office (tee off flashing flesh (sorry!) due to being a tad over warm!) I felt rather smug and happy! Yes I was suffering from lack of recent exercise but I hadn't given up! This week I have done 2 outside runs of 2.45m or 30mins. Last week I also did 2 runs. This week I am now thinking .... 72 days until RFL .... I could get a PB ... wonder if I could get to under 11mm pace? See stran

Yesterday I had my first proper PT session. Having been wished luck the day before and having struggled to get out of bed Monday morning I was sure I would over sleep. This meant a restless night of "what time is it? Have I over slept?" which was hardly ideal but did mean I was up, dressed and able to have some tea and bread before I headed to the gym and I got there early! Having got there early I sat on the recumbent bike for a few minutes gently peddling to wake up my legs which were sure they shouldn't be working at this time! Then it was time! The clock turned to 7:30AM and Craig turned with a huge smile and lured me onto the treadmill! Ok so normally I do 10-12 mins at 11mm pace. So we start at 11mm pace, then after 5mins he ups it to 10:30 pace then again after another 5mins to 10mm pace! By this time I was awake and struggling so I was pleased at only having to hold the 10mm pace for 3mins following it by a 2mins walk. So 15mins on the treadmill doing 1.31m and al

13th April 2008 Yes that's next year's Flora London Marathon! As I write there are probably still people out there on the course (Lloyd Scott for one!) and here I am thinking of 2008. I'm not wishing my life away honest I'm focusing! OK so there is naturally the little issue of actually getting in to FLM first but it's something to aim for! Today I watched the TV and felt all the emotions of 2005. The tears were in my eyes and to be honest I was sorry I wasn't there, even as a jealous supporter. Unlike previous years I wasn't totally glued to the sofa. I wanted to move about, I actually wanted to be out running if I'm honest. I don't think this is a sign of FLM losing it's shine for me I think it's a sign that I want it more. If I enter FLM whilst I focus of weight and basic fitness then in 6 months when the "You're In!/Not In" magazines come out I will be in good shape. I'm not going to even suggest I can get into FLM then

Today I was down the gym following the plan devised by the PT. On paper it looked fine but given all the gardening of yesterday (and one stiff back) and it was harder than I expected! Warm up of 5mins on the bike (about 75RPM) followed by 5mins @90RPM. Rower for 15mins at between 2:20 and 2:40 pace. Managed 3008m. Now this was hard work as I normally only do say 5-7mins so 15 was mentally hard as the time just went so slow! Ended up saying 1000m per 5mins achieving the 1st in 5:01 then the second by 9:59 which gave me a tiny negative split. I really wanted to do the 3km and thought I wouldn't so worked hard in the last minute. I finished breathing deeply and realised that rowing isn't all upper body strength, the old legs work too! Finally 20mins steady run on the treadmill. The aim was 11:30-12mm pace but I averaged 12:44 pace. My legs were tired (CV fitness was fine!) and my back started to ache and 20mins felt like forever. In fact I tried to think of all the things I saw at

Firstly I would like to say I have not been near scales for 2-3 weeks and I am not desperate to get back on them! With Easter, my birthday (meal), Gran's birthday (meal) and a 3 day course in London (meals at lunch, hotel in evening) it may not be too great! On the bright side I ran (twice) and walked (lots cos I kept on getting lost!). I did 2 runs of over 2miles and walked 3-5m on all three days. Given the heat and the stupid people giving out free papers and all the pedestrians it was hard work! Today I saw Mr Fit PT guy. I told him my 2007 goal was lose 2st and take at least 5mins off my 5k time. Said what I was doing/had done and that my overall goal was a GFA. I should get a plan tomorrow but I think I will suffer! As an example: On the tready today he made me do 6mins at 10:30 pace (after a 2min warm up and the 11min pace I normally try to maintain) at an incline because it was good for me! Then there was the bike on a higher cadence than I normally do (90 RPM instead of 75)

Tomorrow I am off traveling again! Yes back to Berkshire to the in-laws then mum's on Sunday. Then London on Monday (to Wednesday) and back home Thursday! So don't worry if you don't hear from me for a few days! Thursday I have a meeting with the PT so I will update you on that Thursday night! I've discovered that the PT is a former GB triathlete. You know that gym tri I did? 24:43 for me and he did the best time in about 14mins!! Yes 1000m row, 2mile bike 1mile run in 14mins! Gulp! I think I may suffer!!

Well they are supposed to have bad memories aren't they?!?! OK so diet was going great then there was last week off, birthday cakes at work yesterday and stress/panic eating today due to a presentation to do at work. I hate presentations. So I must get my head back in line tomorrow as next week I have 3 days in London which won't be a lettuce leaf lunch (pub meals instead) and little exercise (no hotel gym this time) apart from the 1/2m walk to the course. Anyway there is also another reason for being a goldfish. Today I went to the gym at lunch. As my presentation was after this I did a warm up then weights, toning and abs work to exercise but not get too hot and or flustered as I didn't think the red glow would look too professional! Yesterday I also did some CV work so it was cool to have an easier session today. I drive home (no visit to the garden centre as I was dropping a colleague) and the weather was gawjus and the house was empty and >hangs head< I went for

OK OK I'm sorry I have neglected things but those who can read (unlike Bear) will have realised I was away and hence the silence! A quick run down for Bear. Last week: Sunday : drive to mum's Monday : walk down the Thames and crazy golf at Maidenhead Tuesday : course in London. Parked at Fraggle's (thanks!) so got 1.5m walking in just getting to/from Reading station, plus I did some speed work round Paddington Station (thanks to train times) and a gentle jog down Fleet Street. All carrying a ruck sack. Had planned a 1-1.5m walk as I had to take my car to be serviced but dad meet me at the garage. Wednesday : meet the lovely Fraggle for a day out with the little people at Lego Land. Thursday : collected car (expensive) and then had to get tyres (more expense) Friday : M&S shopping + garden centre Saturday : tree climbing thanks to model plane landing in tree (failed to retrieve plane so dad cut the tree down!) Sunday : birthday meal + wine! Monday: in-laws then home So b