Windy & Nasty

OK, so the marathon schedule thingy says Friday is my rest day (i teach spinning but that doesnt count does it??) However, managed not to get up pre-hairdressers yesterday. Lazy arse. And post hairdressers wasn't running anywhere. Plus had other stuff to do, like, errr, shop again. Hit Bicester Village on way home from Mum's, and then hit Kingston very hard. If anyone was thinking of going to Karen Millen or Jane Norman in Kingston, don't bother, there's nothing left. Panicking a bit about how the hell I might pay the credit card bill, but i NEEDED these things. All of them. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. They are allllll nice items. But yes, I bought far too much. Was also pleasantly surprised to try on a few pairs of size 10 trousers in Jane Norman that were too big. Surely not??

But anyway, it meant yesterday was my rest day as saw couple friends in the evening, including Bear who became even older if thats possible yesterday.

Went back to work today, yawn, always find it hard to run after a day at the gym, on feet all day bla bla bla nasty dark windy wet and cold outside. Would rather stay in with a nice copy of this weeks Heat magazine. But anyway, was indeed the same bear that got my arse out the dorr tonight with a selection of routes for meeeeee. Wanted to do 6 or 7 really, at about 8.30ish pace, will be running tomorrow morning as well.

Went into Kingston, Hampton Wick, Teddington, and then an indirect route back thru North Kingston. Wet wasn't so bad, wind was really nasty boohoo.

Anyway
7.08m 59.24 8.24mm

1. 8.26
2. 8.05 (bit wind assisted!)
3. 8.33
4. 8.17
5. 8.32
6. 8.27
7. 8.26
.08 7.58

That will do.....done what was needed

Cross training and a run.....

Went to Cadbury's World this morning with my Dad. Was nice. Lots of chocolate brought home- managed to keep the consumption down to a shared packet of buttons so far.... The did a few hours cross training at Merry Hill, known locally as Merry Hell and the size of the queue in Jane Norman today completely emphasised why that might be. Bought many items including a couple of really nice jumper/dress things, pair of new knee length boots, patterned tights and black hotpants (still can't believe I own hotpants) but hey, have lost a bit of weight enough to get away with it, and everyone is damn well wearing them in Kingston these days.... such a fashion victim. V nice beige coloured leather jacket, cream handbag.... oh I'd better stop listing shopping and start listing training.

Took me till nearly 9pm to drag self out door as had fallen asleep after dinner, and have had real trouble generally getting out to run staying here, there's not really anywhere good to go. Had left it too late to do anything decent, and had been on feet/walking allllll day (oh, so lame) so thought would go out for another slowish one and see what happened. Warmed up after the 1st mile tho and so just thought I wouldn't look at the watch and just keep it on to make sure I logged 5 miles. Then in fact just ran same route as yesterday- yawn.

So, the figures. 5.01 miles, 38.17, 7.39mm

1. 8.27
2. 7.52
3. 7.44
4. 7.25
5. 6.47 (not sure where that came from but is reasonably downhill...)

So was OK as was late in day, I was tired. Gonna have to run all nastily before breakfast tomorrow as gettin hair cut in the morning (and for any men reading this- a girl whose been to the hairdressers is not going to go running the same day.....) so will be a nice slow plod before breakfast. Must try and do 6 or 7, but there really isn't anywhere to go boo hoo.

Nice and easy one.....

Well the plan for todays run was just to do a really easy one, as last few days have been relatively hard. I know yesterdays run was sub 8, felt about 7.40 pace and it was x country, but was feeling good. Now a lot of these runs on this schedule are 'easy' pace, which is 8.45 and 9mm for the long runs. Been a bit naughty and not run at this pace for a while so thought would go and do an 'easy' one.

Plus, I'd spent the previous 2 hours asleep, since I had some time off work I've been completely and utterly knackered. Now how does that make sense as I've had more rest??? I really am struggling to stay awake at the mo, body just keeps dragging itself upstairs. It was a real drag to get out but felt ok when actually got butt out the door. And the well trained mother had got me some nice new trainers for xmas which are feeling all nice and supportive again.

Its really cold and dark out there, so just decided to be fairly sensible and stick to the roads. The garmin pace thingy doesnt really work here in respect that it doesnt tell u what pace u are running at the whole time, gets it right with its mile beep but otherwise really erratic so its hard to judge. Anyway the run felt really really easy, and was v hard to hold it back, felt like I was running really slow, but still wasn't slow enough so am gonna have to work at keeping it back, and steady. Hard here though coz its not flat (at all)- parents live right out in the sticks between Birmingham and Warwick/Stratford.

Anyhoo, 5 veryyyyy slow miles- this is really gonna bore me running at this pace but has to be done....

5 miles, 42.51, 8.34mm

1. 8.24
2. 8.40
3. 8.35
4. 8.34
5. 8.38

Maybe I should try and find 8.45 and 9mm on a tready for a bit- I knowwwwww they are not the same, but once have got a pace in legs can stick to it quite well- hey look at tonights last 3 miles- not bad......

Anyhoo, yes have refuelled properly with some nice fishy/veg and nice protein shake. Tiny tiny bit of xmas pud might have also sneaked in........

And so it begins.......

So, apparently there's this big race in London on 22nd April that a lot of people are talking about. Well I seem to be involved in that one and so thought rather than the crazy manic 15 times a day exercising, I might try and keep it under control this time, and that this here blog might be a pretty good way of being able to do that. No excuse for not training properly, workin at a gym now means there is a permanent treadmill available and livin 90 seconds away from Rchmond Park is hardly an excuse not to run is it??

So, it begins, the proper 16 week training programme begins as of 1st Jan- that is when it gets serious. And as does the whole proper nutrition thing. I do want to lose weight for this one, but sensibly. I will not starve myself to ridiculous proportions and I will not throw up my food for a change. Instead, only nice yummy nutritious food will go in, I fully intend to really cut back on sugar, alcohol and caffeine.

Until then, the training will still be posted, and will also bore u with events going on this end as well, running really seems to be affected by other general crap so might bore u a bit with the usual work and social rubbish as well. Will post later with todays training, going to take it a bit nice and relaxed until Jan 1st as I have been running a bit like a mad thing in order to get speed up and body probably needs a bit of a rest. Went out yesterday for a nice Christmas morning run, down the canal where my parents live, for an hour, with no garmin beeping at me every mile- technology free, and you know what, it was really lovely, it reminded me of why I run.

But I guess I have to make the most of doing that for the next couple of weeks because then it becomes not fun any more!! Have looked at the schedule (3.30 one) and a lot of the speed stuff looks a lot quicker than I can run at the mo. Plus, I dont believe for a minute I can run a 3.30 marathon, but hey, we'll see what happens, have to aim for somethin eh?

Am staying at the parents at the mo, apparently all the sales have started today, so looks like I'm off there this morning.......will return with training later, tho only intend it to be a reasonably short one today. Am really missing the weights and classes I have to say- whens this Xmas lark over????