Yume No Chikara

Well OK so Monday I slipped but Tuesday I did 2 full sessions and today I did 2 half sessions. One thing I have really noticed is that my body is having to adjust a lot more than I expected it too. It's not the level of exercise or the impact it's simply my posture. For what must be the 1st time in ages I am concentrating 100% on walking upright and using muscles that aren't used to it. The front of my quads and hips are stretching (especially my right side - the weaker side) and my butt is having to work. So surprisingly I have a few niggles but I know that it is use not injury so I am carrying on. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit so ... :-D Work weigh-in saw 1lb off or 3lb in 3weeks which is good, slow but steady and that's what I need. I hope to, over time, increase my low impact sessions so that I exercise more too. On the whole my eating has improved with me being aware of hunger vs emotional eating. Today however I was tired very tired and head said SUGA...

Just thought I would share that quote with you! I won't, however, tell you that it was said by Mr Motivator in his latest exercise DVD 'cos then you might think that I was a sad person and had said DVD which >blushes starts to burn up Another good one is: “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal;nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” Thomas Jefferson Now that is a quality quote and SOOOooo true isn't it! Anyway last week. Thank you for the kind comments! Now as a follow up I can update you on my week (well 6days): Walked : 12.5m Stepper : 2118 steps Exercise bike : 6.4m Not bad if I say so myself! This is a lot more exercise than I have been doing and I am working at a low level so hopefully this is not only burning calories but building base fitness too. So as a follow on to this I have some targets for me! By the end of April I want to have: " Walked " the Grand Union Canal - 175m " Ste...

Well actually it's good! I did 2.6m walking yesterday and 3.2m today. I've also not suffered my normal "have run must eat" post run munches. This I think will be very helpful and hopefully will help break that habit! Yesterday I decided to work out my rest heart rate, as I am useless at finding my pulse I put on my HRM and was delighted to get a reading of 48. Then for some kind or warped laugh I decided to wear it for the day! Now I only had it reading not recording so can't give you lots of stats but I did discover a few things. Walking round the office I am nice and chilled with a HR around 100. Climbing the stairs (all 72) sees my HR shot up to 165 (and lots of heavy breathing). Driving is about 80-90. Now if I sit "normally" my HRM bleeps at me! It can't get a reading as I lean forward and slouch so much! So a HRM can also be a useful tool to help you watch your posture! At lunch I went for my walk, the 1st part was a continual slight incline an...

It's no good I can't take any more. The feelings of failure, being demoralised and just feeling constantly useless. Never feeling good enough, never managing to get it right ....So that's it, I've had enough. I can't take any more. It's with great regret and heartache that I have to say yes to a trail separation. The affair started in July 2002. I was approaching 30 and fat and frumpy and unfit. So on 4th July and I pulled on my trainers for the 1st time. Since then the lure of being hot and sweaty and out of breath has kept the affair strong. Through the years I've suffered heartache and pain, injury, joy and frustration. The love is there and it's strong but I can't take any more upset. So ... me and running are having a trial separation. I don't want to split but it's no good. I can't take the mirror laughing at me anymore. I can't take the "impact ripple" of my thunder thighs, the chaffing from my bra or HRM and the nigg...

Well been a bit of a mixed time since I last blogged! The weekend was good! OK so I didn't run but I did have another great day at the Cavern and swimming with the Buzzy ones and Raptorites and Gnome! Saturday I did a "lets empty the kitchen so I don't have to worry about time tomorrow" thing. Monday I had a sore quad. This I decided was a slight touch of DOMS (after I had cancelled my run!) from the kitchen clearing (think climbing on stool and going on tip toe of one leg (same one) to check cupboards are empty). Tuesday (Kitchen day!) and I decided I would try a run alone so no pressure. Leg better but not 100%. This is my Fetch report: "Really awful run, didn't run yesterday due to sore right quad (believed to be DOMS (el-Bee) due to kitchen work!) but wasn't bad today so thought it would be good to run it out. Solo run and horrid. Calves a little tight but not too bad, form awful (had to keep on relaxing shoulders) and was aware of quad. In the last 1...

Yep it's been raining lots and lots and I was out for a run today!! LA and I almost forewent today's run as the rain was fantastic this morning but come 11:55 it seemed to slow and by the time we had changed it had stopped. It was still windy mind! We decided to do our normal route in reverse. The golf course we cross was deserted and water logged! Then we discovered the side gate out of the golf course was locked (no golfers so closed I guess!) meaning we had to double back and "jog" through the actual leisure centre!! I then realised that the road through the village was actually all downhill for most of the last mile meaning that there was a huge chunk of uphill to do! Pixies are very bad at going uphill's (I'm not allowed to say Pixies don't do hills since TW or buzzy people shout at me!). I have no hill stamina what so ever (yes I know I need to do some hill work!) so I struggled. Once I was up the hill I made up the 20-30ft gap between LA and I and m...

Yep twice already and another planned Thursday and maybe even a short trot on Sunday with a buzzy one following a splashing session! >beams enthusiastically Ok so Monday. Got up and again massaged legs. Was conscious of last week's bad runs and running with LA. She had a meeting at 1 so I knew she would want to get on and run. As it turned out she was late getting to the changing (so I stretched and warmed up! >listens for applause Today LA decided we would do the slightly longer route. Down hill for the 1st 1-1.5m then uphill all the way home. Today was also VERY windy. Dry but very very strong winds. I just couldn't cope, I was running but felt like I was going nowhere. We've only done this route once and my 1st checkpoint (!! end of downhill section) was 2mins slower. After that I was just too shot to take advantage of any time we were sheltered. The other checkpoints were only 30secs out which I was pleased with! Again I kept running like yesterday but my legs wer...

Well it seems to have passed fairly quickly doesn't it, but yes we are now at the end of week one of 2007! Surprisingly I am not reporting failure left right and center! So far I have eaten more fruit and veg, run 3 times, stretched and done some abs work! I've also swum once and I will be doing a double today (morning run, afternoon swim) as Gnome wants to swim today! This morning I have been out and done my 3rd run of the week. Three short runs see just 8.42m clocked up so this month looks like it will be short on the 40m, but consistency is the key and the last 2 years have seen a good week 1 and 2 then nothing! Today's run was better than Friday's in that I didn't walk and the legs were less tight but was still slower than I had been running. I got up, made some tea then massaged my lower legs for 30mins. Drank my tea, changed and headed out the door. The 201 wasn't playing ball today saying I had done 1m within 3mins! So I just ran. After Friday's effor...

OK so I'm a tad late on this post, I'll blame my course as I was away in Manchester for 2 nights with no Internet access! Right then resolutions? Hmmm Ok here goes. Stop eating diet food - was sent a free sample of slimfast soup which was so foul I didn't eat it and when I looked at it the slimfast was worse nutritionally than Heinz Big Soup! Run 500m in 2007 , did 400m in 2006 and if I can do 40m per month this is 480m, just add a couple of races and a couple of good weeks and Bob's your uncle! Aim to do the 5K swimathon (did my fastest 1m swim Christmas week - 43mins) This means I need to do some swimming! Gnome wants to do the Green Park Challenge at the Reading half marathon so I may see if I can swim this at Reading. Drink more eat less lose weight eat more fruit (the normal!) Well you expected that didn't you! The ladies in the team attached to mine are doing a team "diet" as of Monday so I am joining in. This also means I will/have stopped WW. I ...

That was the year that was as they say. I won't miss 2006. It hasn't been a brilliant year really has it! OK so TrailWalker was a definite high! Getting a new job was too but there was the car crash, the PF, the tendon strain and a huge dose of "CBA 'cos it's too hot". On top of that was was a half PB that was beaten by another PB, a 5k race which was my 1st 5K race without walking and then my best run of the year averaging 10:44 pace a few weeks ago. That left me with an annual mileage of 397 that was just too close to the 400 to leave. So today I got up, dragged Gnome out of bed and headed towards the Cavern. After much discussion my car was loaded with Mr Speedy, Gnome, el Bee and Haggis and we were off to Lichfield for the Last Chance 5k and 2k fun run. Gnome and I were going to do the 2k but we got there too late so had no choice (coughs loudly and forgets the organisers offer of waiting for us) but to do the 5k! Gnome has only run one race before (the 3k...

Ok so it hardly sounds a lot and if I had put more effort into exercise rather than being a dutiful daughter and eating too much last week then there would be no talk of needing 3m! So this is what I have been up to lately ... Tuesday I finished work at 4 and headed home. Car was filled, literally!, and Gnome and I set off. As I had finished early I was able to plan food at mum's rather than a maccy d which was good! Soon I realised that the journey would be slower than normal due to fog. Through Oxford I was almost navigating by the cats eyes in the road. It wasn't nice. Journey time just over 3hrs and 1 shattered Pixie. Wednesday saw my 1st supermarket visit of the week oh and computer shop as Gnome broke dad's monitor! I mean found it broken!! hehe. Thursday was a day at Nirvana! Nothing all day apart from chill and chat with mum oh and a 1m swim in my best ever time of 43mins!! >beams Friday, more shopping. Farm shop and Morrisons + 4.2m foggy walk run stagger (tired...

Yes I know there is technically one week to go but I won't be around much (if at all) between now and then! So: HAPPY CHRISTMAS!! May Santa bring you all you wish for! Anyway, now for a quick update. Friday I didn't run not only because I needed the rest but because I need Calpol! Yes Gnome has decided now is an excellent time to get a cough/cold! Bless! So instead of a relaxing mug of soup over a good book (yes still reading the Competitive Runner's Handbook) it was a dash down the road to the very busy Fosse Park and play spot the parking space. Then dash to Boots (interval training slalom style), M&S, JJB and W H Smith (well thought I would grab a few last minute bits whilst I was there!). Followed by a dash back to the office. Yesterday I was thinking of running and almost went out but stuff had to be done and Gnome was poorly so I stayed in. So today I was up and ready to run when I looked out and saw white icy roads. Typical! Anyway I was only planning a short o...

It's been a long time since I was off work - August in fact. The new job is great but I have been using my brain and concentrating so much I am now one tired Pixie. Fatigue is hitting home and affecting things. Tuesday I was off and my brain said "take advantage of this time!" so I went swimming for 1hour. Yesterday I did, maybe somewhat foolishly, go for a run. The wind was very strong and my legs were tired so I recorded my slowest run in ages - beginning of October in fact. When I finished I was struggling to run (it was up hill into the wind mind!) and my heel was a little niggly. I had 8hrs solid sleep last night and still tired. I'm drinking more tea at work than I have for literally years (this I proving expensive so I will investigate the use of a thermos!) and I am in need of a break! I'm supposed to be running with L tomorrow. I've said I am not 100% sure although I will have my kit, as my heel is niggly. Feel guilty about saying that and guilty at c...

The choice was getting wet or getting wet. I opted for the wet but warm option rather than the wet, cold and wind swept option! So 1m done at the pool including 2 goals being achieved and some board work. I said a while ago I wanted to be able to do 20 lengths non stop DONE and 10 lengths of front crawl non stop DONE!! So happy pixie. Used a different pool today as I wanted to see about lessons for Gnome. It was a nightmare to locate the car park and once I found it, it was full to the brim with cars circling for spaces so I drove the 200m down the road to the free parking and nabbed the last space there instead! The pool is old so not pretty or ponced up but it is clean and in good repair and they do Saturday lessons and Gnome can start this week! OK so he then has 2 weeks off but how good is that! My other option was the pool near work and a possible start mid February! So just need to get the OK from Gnome and a commitment to get out of bed for a 9:30 lesson every week until March (...

Today I woke up (having finally got to sleep) to lashings of wet stuff outside. I packed my kit and wondered if it would get used. I had hardly slept so was tired meaning a missed run wouldn't leave me depressed! But at 11:30 boss pops her head round .... "12 OK for our run???" and I say yes! We chose a different route today, down the 1/2m long drive, along the road then up onto the trail and to the back gate. The first 1m or more was predominantly down so legs took me along happily. Then there was a short steep up to the trail where I deliberately pushed ahead to enable me to walk as it was only 1 person wide! I had already decided this was gonna be hard! I was tired and the lack of rest was showing! Along the trail I battled to stay with boss and ignored the demons screaming walk. I was working hard my legs were not happy but again at about the 2/3 mark I pushed ahead to allow a short walk! Down a steep wet slimy muddy slope to a road - I was being sensible of course!! ...

Today we finally got round to putting up the Christmas decs. I wrote some cards, made the lantern and started to glitter the snowman's hat! The carpet (already hoovered twice this weekend) is not covered in glitter! To maintain the pretty coloured theme I have two kiddie plasters (1 red 1 yellow!) on my left hand (Sunday roasts are dangerous I tell you!) and the wrapping paper is ready for use. Shortly I will settle down with the last of last nights wine and attach the wrapping! I did think about running today but the weather was awful and my legs don't approve of the excessive board work I did in the pool yesterday! Tomorrow I will be talking my kit to work however and Tuesday as I am off I may do a longer run - or a short run and a swim at a potential swimming lesson pool! Whilst reading RW magazine last night I did seriously consider a NYD 5m in Derbyshire and then thought NO I'm not up to race pace and I won't even look at races until I am consistently running 10m...

Oh now where to start! OK easy one 1st ... I now have a size small but actually quiet large FLM top! Matches me rather large FLM finishers tee! This is good news as it doesn't mean I have to torment myself with deferring!! Also today Gnome and I swam. He's not going to be up to the swimathon as the shortest individual distance is 100 lengths! The team event is 200 lengths! So next year then! In the mean time I will try and find him some lessons. Now for the best-est news! Friday I was tired, didn't really want to run but took my kit anyway. I was worried about being tired and running with L as I am so much slower than her. Work was busy so I tried to use that as an excuse to get out of running then to run a shorter route, but L being my boss as such said we were fine! When walking up the stairs in the morning my legs had felt tired. This was not going to be pretty! I had ended up walking on Thursday and this was my 1st proper week of 3 runs in months and this was back to ba...

J may have only left Thursday but by Friday I had a new partner sorted. We ran on Monday and again today and will be out tomorrow too probably (my 1st 3 run week for months). L is my boss (well the boss of my boss to be accurate!) and hasn't run for a few months. Before our 1st run I found out some gossip about her and this is what I now know about my new running partner. L used to be a county cross country runner! Her best pace is 5:15mm pace! We did the normal 3m loop - no walking (1st run in months?) and she didn't break a sweat! HELP!! Looks like I'm going to have to start working hard on my runs! Diet is not brilliant but the ladies at work have decided to do a team "diet club" in January and I'm joining, because of this and the cost I may drop the WW classes and just weigh with them and follow the ww plan. One of the ladies is about my weight and wants to lose the same as me. She doesn't exercise. In January she is also off on holiday for 3wks after ...

I'm actually starting to think that maybe just maybe I will start to see my dreams happening soon! My last few runs have all been under 12mm pace in fact the last 2 have been closer to 11mm pace. So my short term goals are now .... 10mm pace by the end of Jan 2007. My current 11mm pace is verging on proper runner rather than plodder and when I get to 10mm pace I think I can then be a proper runner verging on competitive. I'm not in the least bit bothered about distance - I'm happy with my 3m runs at work and I want to get the time right down before I increase the distance. I have no races to enter so distance isn't an issue. Still no FLM magazine but I am expecting my FLM jacket this week! Oh and a HUGE well done to Spans who has just reported in as winning lady at The Grim!!

Kitchen update! Sainsbury have been very slow and I've had to chase them but today they were very helpful! In fact they are concerned we may end up out of pocket so have even suggested a work around for us to get kitchen fitted without us then having to pay out extra for missing bits etc. Very helpful! So it's now down to us to make up our minds on fitters etc and take it from there! Looks like I may get my kitchen fitted after all but not until the new year now anyway! Still there is light and soon I will be able to use my garage and therefore treadmill! Today I will be having my last run with J. He has just changed phones for the new Nokia 5500 (as seen on the Fetch site) and it looks cool! It comes with sports software that enables you to log runs, walks etc and calculates the distance covered by using a pedometer style measurement system. OK so this isn't hugely accurate (compared to a garmin) but it will be interesting to see how accurate it is. If it's good then w...