50 days to BHM and less than 11 hours till 2012

i've got a gym book!

i've copied gary at work and have got myself an exercise journal so i can jot down what i've done at the gym, weights used etc...

todays entry reads:-

• 15 mins variety of stretches
• Treadmill - 3kms, 27mins, 190calories
• 5mins walking @ pace 5
• 8mins running @ pace 8.4
• 5mins walking @ pace 5
• 4 mins running @ pace 8.5
• 5mins walking @ pace 6
• cool down
• 10mins - stretches, abs work and the big ball

& i feel great!

i also worked out that on the above pace, i'll do the BHM in just over 3 hours. i now feel alot more positive about my upcoming race.
with regular trips to the gym, cycling, eating well etc... i'll easily do it in two and a half hours.

that feels okay.

Liz "elite athlete" Carter enters 2012 with a smile, happy in the knowledge that the BHM is very doable.

http://www.everyclick.com/brightonhalfmarathon

51 days to the BHM = 7 weeks and 2 days

ummmmmmmm...
more clearing out of my flat.
and i did abit of cycling

need to run tomorrow

53 days to the BHM

i've managed to put on 2lbs over xmas - not bad.
i'm now back in southampton and have been to the gym.

59 days till BHM

ooops...

ate my secret santa chocolate champagne  bottle and drank far too much red wine round at friends this evening.

on a more positive OF&H note - i went to the gym this morning and did 8mins on the treadmill. well i did 14mins walking chatting to K, then ran for 8 mins with 2 mins cool down. was fine and loved the fact i felt out of breath and was all sweaty.

hoorah!

60 days till the BHM

• today was a lot of walking - christmas pressie buying - it felt like miles but was proably only about 3.
• then this eve up to bassett for tea - yum -  approx 5mile cycle round trip.

hmmmmm... not much OF&H.
but i am going to the gym tomorrow.

61 days till i'm running the Brighton Half Marathon (BHM)

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

61 days till i'm running 13 miles / 21kms.
yikes.

today:-

1. went to the gym - ran for 8mins, knee okay - then lots of stretches etc...
2. last day at work till the 3rd jan
3. cycled to totton & back = 8.86m x2 = 17.72miles
4. demolished a selection box - well, 10 celebrations!

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm - so a good solid start for the BHM...

plans

8 weeks till the brighton half marathon and i'm only being allowed to run 2km's max.

• fyi - a half marathon = 21km

oh crap.

1. i need to go to the gym every day
2. i need to actually start to lose weight and not just talk about losing weight
3. i need to keep doing my knee exercises
4. and i need to blog every day to keep my focus

nice one. plans made. will start tomorrow morning.

next phase of rehab...

just back from the gym & got a bag of frozen mixed vegetables resting on my knee as i type.
ran for 5 then walked then ran for 3 - grand total with warm up walk & cool down = 17mins and about 1.8km and the knee feels fine.

i'll run again on monday

the key seems to be as soon as i wake up to get dressed and head out. this morning i was at the gym by 7.30ish - worked out for 40mins then home via lidls. it's now 8.40am, i'll have bfast, shower & head off to work and i have loads more energy which has got to be a good thing! (especially after a long & busy week at work and play)

in need of a run!

my instructions are now:-

1. 5min run/1min walk, 3min run/1min walk
2. 5mins run/1min walk, 5min run/1min walk
3. 8min run

build up to this and sustain until next apt 4th Jan
but keep doing knee strengthening exercises and now on both knees so equally strong.

really missing the running now!
also i do need to get back into the habit of going to the gym pretty much every day. will go this evening and then tomorrow morning and take it from there.

a succesful 2nd clinical trial

oh thank god.

• 2.4km
• 21mins
• 160calories
• knee = fine

just the usual tight muscles after a short work out. and i can definately feel and see my new muscle emerging on the inside right knee just below the thigh.

weigh-in week 4

it's taken me 4weeks to lose 1.18% of me. i keep saying this but i really do have to look at my diet. however... liz "bright side" carter... i've actually lost 4.2% of me since starting OF&H.

• ummmm, that's not really that much.
• i'm eating too much.
• bugger.

but on another bright note - my knee is def getting stronger so i should be doing more aerobic exercises soon.

hmmmmmmm

just done a mini run. very happy

went to the gym this morning for my 1st clinical trial of my knee...

did my usual stretches, exercises and weights then headed off to the treadmill for the 1st time in 4 weeks.

before i started i did a few more stretches then i clipped myself on and pressed "go"

• 6mins of walking/warm up - pace of about 5/5.5
• then i did 8.5mins of running for a minute - pace of about 8/8.5 then walking for 30secs - pace about 5.5
• at about 14mins felt a wierd twinge on my right knee but not where it usually is. this one was the other side of the knee cap, inner side.
• decided not to risk any further injury so pressed "cool down"
• total time = 16.5mins
• total distance = 1.7km

stretched and did more knee exercises then came home.
about to have a shower and then it's off to work.

my love of selection boxes will undo all of my of&h good work...

i may need half a dozen "phone a friend" numbers on my mobile to talk me back from selection boxes this christmas.

let me explain why...

after work mrs.r organized tree decorating and brought in mulled wine, mince pies and we also had 4 selection boxes - celebrations and mini heros. omg. both selection boxes contain chocs to die for so as you can imagine i was very happy and must have munched my way through 10 maybe 12 little chocs. i was though boasting about how yesterday i hadn't had one choc so didn't feel too bad about having a couple (12) today.

well...
mrs.e did point out that the reason i hadn't eat any chocs yesterday was because i'd eaten most of the box the day before.
hmmmmm.
i couldnt really argue with her as i had consumed a fair few... 5 maybe 6...

i need help!
(but of course i will be all grumpy and bad tempered with anyone who does try to talk me back from the chocs).

sigh...one of these days i'll start acting like the grown up i am...

food diary

okay...

its mid week, i'm tired so should probs have an early night & as i've just eaten i wont be going to the gym later. so instead i thought i'd look at what i've eaten today.

years ago when "you are what you eat" was on, me and caryl at work used to do food diaries and then compare while saying hmmmm - "what would gillian do?" or "what would gillian say?".

lizzie lou's food diary for wednesday 7th dec 2011

• glass of water
• tea x3
• luxury fruit museli (from lidls - OMG it's brilliant) with oats (it's also quite pricey and totally full to the brim with mixed dried fruit so needs some diluting) and a chopped up banana.
• 2 slices of grannary bread - toasted with marmite.

what a fab start to the day

cycled to shirley - x2 cups of tea and a banana - eaten while cycling back to city.

lunchtime.

• marmite and crunchy peanut butter sandwich with loads of salad leaves squidged between the bread slices
• x5 cherry toms on the side.
• water and tea.

trying to conciously drink loads more water - got a great glass from vik from the usa - its thermal so it keeps your water/squash cold. 

NB - didnt snack on any chocolates this afternoon & there are lots in the office at the moment.

supper

• smoked haddock and potatoe wedges with steamed cabbage - the cabbage was amazing - really fresh and crispy and crunchy.
• then a few more glasses of squash
• and i think i'll finish off the peach yoghurt in the fridge for pudding.

now i dont know about you but this all sounds pretty good and healthy. the key though will be to see if i can hold off from going to the garage later for any evening snacks...

i'll keep you posted.

(8/12 update... i had a round of toast and marmite at about 10.30pm)

Tuesday morning - w/e update.

suddenly realised that i haven't posted for a few days...
of&h is going okay -  i stayed in southampton this w/e i went to the gym saturday and sunday - lots of stretches, weights and i spent quite abit of time on my knee exercises.

to replicate lauren's fist doing deep tissue massage on my right thigh i rolled up and down on one the green foam rolls

(nb - this is not me)



and fyi - it hurts.
although not as much as lauren's fist...

oh and sunday's weigh in results?
i managed to put on 1.2lbs.
sigh.

i may try weight watchers seeing as i'm failing miserably to do slimmers world.

more like running by next weekend!

so not quite a clean bill of health from lauren but she can see loads of improvement. got to do my exercises this week and then on friday i can do a teeny tiny run of 10mins - 1min run 30secs walk, 1min run 30secs walk - for 15mins (10mins of running/5mins of walking). i've got to stop if any twinges. then 2 days rest and monday 12th do another 1min run/30secs walk for 15mins. seeing lauren again on tues 13th dec and if those 2 teeny tiny runs were okay we'll move onto doing more and more.

hopefully 2months will give me enough time to train for a half marathon...

bernie - quick heads up - i maybe walking quite a bit of it.

also today i've:-

1. worked
2. put up my christmas tree
3. listened to alot of christmas music on spotify
4. gone to the pub.

lovely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tNbsQ8eDbA

i may be able to start running tomorrow...

this is when i'm wondering if i've done done enough exercises... lauren was pretty explicit about i must do them and do them alot...

well i guess we'll find out tomorrow if my knee is nice and stable or if its wobbling about all over the place.

bit squiffy

always lovely seeing good friends especially on a school night for a proper catch up!
needless to say i had a couple of small white wines in pint glassess with ice and soda and i am now a tad squiffy.

but what of of&h i hear you all cry??

• today i've been to the gym
• have done my knee exercises
• then cycled to the crown - so probably a 5mile round trip.

and i may go to the gym after work tomorrow as well...
then it's physio lauren friday morning who'll hopefully be saying... "liz you can run again"

• please everyone = FINGERS CROSSED!

nothing to report

• 1st aid at work training
• pizza for tea
• ironing done
• having a spotify moment
• now i'm going to bed.

weigh-in 27/11/11

after the excitement of the weekend i totally forgot to update you all with my weigh-in results from sunday evening.

weigh-in update:
i've lost 0.8lbs = 0.428% of my original body weight.
so in 2 weeks there is now 1.285% less of me!

my trip to go ape in cannock has exposed my lack of upper body strength...

what a fab w/e.
go ape was amazing - great fun but also quite terrifying seeing as i really really dont like heights!

just look how high up we are.

and of course we had to get up into the trees... which meant alot of rope ladders. rope ladders are not that easy to use.

things i now know about myself:- 

1. i really have to build up my upper body strength.
2. i now really ache
3. i need a hot bath.

knee update
it's okay.
i did have a slight panic when i thought eeeeeek what's that? and thought i felt a twinge but (fingers crossed) it went away and it feels fine.
i do though have to remember to do my exercises every morning and evening otherwise it'll just break down again when i get to the 3 mile marker on a run...and that would make me very sad.

physio says i could be running by next weekend!

oh thank god. lauren reckons if i do my exercises and have one more session with her - deep tissue massage, alot of pain, then i will be ready to try running again. my muscles that control my right knee are loads stronger and i'm hardly twitching at all when doing my exercises.

i'm feeling loads happier.
it's like i've nearly been given permission to do games again! needless to say 30odd years ago i wouldnt be this excited about that...

fed up

bloody hell. i can't believe it but i've turned into a sports woman. i'm just so fed up with not running. i miss it soooooo much. havn't got all sweaty and knackered since the GSR and that was 23 days ago. rehabilitation, recovery - what ever you want to call it is BORING sooooooooo BOOOOOOORING!

been doing my exercises, still need to get a tennis ball so i can roll on it where physio has been kneading to replicate her deep tissue pummelling. then on friday i fork out more money to be hurt. think i may actually cry as my thigh where she pummelled last thursday is still sore.

oh the joys of the elite athlete.
prob just as well not many peeps are reading my blog as this posting isn't the best advert for taking up running!

i am though, still aiming for the brighton half marathon on the 19th feb...

weigh-in 20/11/11

it's official. in the last 7 days i've managed to lose 0.857% of me! which isn't bad going seeing as how i've also managed to drink rather alot of red wine and seem to have rediscovered my passion for mars bars.

Friday 18th Nov

the day started at the gym all "operation fit and healthy" but has ended in the warm fuzzy glow of red wine.

lovely.

physio hurt!

well... went to physio and she pretty much pummelled around my knee and into my thigh for about 20mins. kept saying ooh hot spot and pressing down hard while counting down from 7. then did some strengthening exercises which made my muscles wobble - which made her say "well there's no way you'll be doing 13 miles on this leg yet seeing as you can't even do this without your muscles twitching", and then she kneedled me abit more.

wierd pain - at 1st it was a hurtie tickle but then it just became an OMG that really hurts as i had my eyes shut tight, gripping sides of the treatment table and doing alot of whimpering and face contortions. but... leg def felt looser, muscles not so tight etc...

and i really mustn't do any leg work. so no big cycling, no running - nothing that makes my knee twinge. the lovely carbis bay walk in cornwall on sunday may have been abit too much. sigh.

gym tomorrow - will do sit ups and upper body work.

had pancakes and duck for tea tonight - special offer at lidls. needed cheering up. will have some red wine now too.

oh the trials and tribulations of a side-lined elite athlete cut off in her prime.

physio tomorrow

very very tired. wondering if my lack of running is contributing to my overall feeling of being totally and utterly cream crackered...
physio tomorrow - lauren reckons 2-3 intensive sessions then lots of strengthening exersizes and i should be back on track.
can't wait. this eleite athlete is getting well ticked off with phsyio enforced rest. herumph.

day 8 of physio forced rest so signed up for the brighton half marathon 2012!

• physio on thursday. she's going to make me cry. bit nervous.
• went to the gym tonight.
• signed up for the brighton half marathon 19/2/12
• and have worked out that i want to lose 18.8% of my body weight.

eeeeeek. i'm going to be a busy girl over the next few months...

9/11/11 - day 2 of physio forced rest

ummmmm... i really really need my new fridge freezer to be delivered - this evening i had roast chicken and chips from the chippy below me. was delicious and very good value for money but absolutly no good for my waiste line...

off to cornwall for a few days to see some lovely old friends who i haven't seen in ages. in fact the last time i visited was autumn half term 2005. oooooooooooooops.

of&h will get back on track next week.

oh and fyi - packers are now eight and oh.

8/11/11 - day 1 of physio forced rest

its official. i totally over did the training and have knackered my knee. fact i over pronate and have a wierd gait hasn't helped my cause either. so no running, no big walks, no treadmill, no xtrainer - basically no leg work for me for at least 2 weeks - orders from my physio lauren. bummer. who'd of thought that lizzie "always picked last at games" carter is bummed out with a sports injury and is gutted that she can't do p.e.? totally hilarious.

okay... bright side carter/must be a silver lining carter...
ummmmmm

i will use this enforced sabbatical from running to focus on stretches, upper body strength and strengthening my core at the gym. and outside of the gym i'll focus on what i'm eating. so its back to fat club (once my new fridge freezer arrives).
perfect timing. i'll lose mabes one to one and a half stone (thats approx 21lbs for my chums over the pond) by the new year so that when i do start running again i'm lugging alot less of me around - gotta be good news for the knees.

this does mean that i wont be doing the brighton half marathon on the 19th feb 2012 with my running buddy bernie. just dont think i'll be match fit in time. will focus instead back on the 10mile race in surrey on the 18th march.

sigh.

4th November - last recovery day - back to the gym tomorrow

i've cycled nearly 5 miles today and did about 7.5 miles yesterday. my knee is still abit sore but my foot is alot better. i'm itching to get back to the gym. gonna go tomorrow. will take it gently. promise!

oh and check out my hobbling over the finish line...

http://www.greatrun.org/photos/photos.aspx?ref=greatrun&event=Sports/GRUK/2011/Bupa%20Great%20South%20Run&bib

my bib number was 18486

2nd November 2011 - recovery going well...

• recovery going well.
• knee is fine.
• foot still abit tender.

cycled to thornhill and back via sholing no limits today so approx 8.5miles - felt fine. in fact i  cycled the 4miles from city centre no limits to our thornhill health&wellbeing drop-in in under half an hour. loving the fact that i'm getting places quicker than anticiapted due to my elite athlete like fitness levels now. its just fab!!

still not running yet.
got my split times - 5k in 36mins!
cant give you any more yet as error on the website.

still feeling very chuffed with myself while basking in my sporting prowess.

the day after the GSR

• bit sore
• bit achey
• bit tired

good job i took the day off.
have booked an appointment with a physio to get knee/foot checked out - see if they just need rest or if they need specific exercises or what...

been slapping on the arnica gel and icing the knee/foot/ankle/calf/thigh. oh and i've bought a new fridge freezer from john lewis.

will have another lovely hot bath and then veg in front of the telly for a few hours. loving my recovery day!

The Great South Run!!

Well... it's been six months but the day has finally arrived. today dear readers i ran the GSR in 2hours 10mins and 38secs. my knee went at 8.5miles so wasnt able to crack the 2hour mark but hey... i will next time!

so... i hear you all say... how was the day?
OMG - TOTALLY BRILLIANT (except the hour and a half it took to leave the city after the run - herumph)

this morning was an early start - THANK GAWD for the end of british summer time and an extra hour in bed. both bernie and i had a good breakfast then we all piled into the van to head off along the M27 to portsmouth.

we had given ourselves plenty of time so arrived at southsea common by 9.45am - so we had a good 90mins to soak up the atmosphere, go to the little girls room a couple of times (thinking i may have over done the whole keeping hydrated - apparently you sip not glug from your water bottle... who knew?) and just stroll about.

with time on our hands we headed to the start to see who we could see... the atmosphere is fab.

here are the elite women - the winner ran the GSR in 52mins and 55seconds. thats pretty darn fast!

and here's me and bernie in the green wave enclosure about to start. well... walk to the starting line which we crossed at 11.16am. can't really describe how i was feeling - but if i had to try... i'd say bordering on hysteria!

running for No Limits whre i work - already raised over £400 and there's still a month to go... brilliant!

and here we are at i think mile 3...

what an athlete!
only got seven more miles to run...
thank goodness for our support team of Rosie, Jackie & Sarah. and hoorah for Pam, Karen & Karyn who i spotted just after mile 3 - really picked up my spirits. what fab friends xx

DID IT!!!!!
the last 1.5miles i was hobbling, walking, running. in quite abit of pain as my knee just gave up the ghost. sigh... it did mean that i had plenty of time to really take in the whole atmosphere of the GSR - everyone was super encouraging "you can do it liz" " keep going liz" " nearly finished liz". soooo lovely.
and then i turn the corner at 200meters and i'm in the home straight, running down the centre of the finishing funnel towards the finishing line with the HUGEST smile on my face.
i hobbled over the finish line and all i could think was "I'VE DONE IT!"

bernie was there to cheer (she did the 10miles in 2hours, 5mins and 55secs) and of course our support team of Rosie, Jackie and Sarah were there cheering at the fence. yes i was in abit of pain. but boy oh boy - i felt fantastic!

so what's next for lizzie???

1. i've decided to continue with OF&H
2. i'm going to sign up for a 5 or 10k in jan 12 (bernie's up for it too)
3. i've signed up for a 10mile in march 12
4. and i will be signing up for another 10m - @ denbies wine, dorking, surrey in may 12

and of course there is still plenty of time to donate to No Limits...

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

The GSR is TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!

okay, it's 9.15pm the night before the race. i've had my supper of salmon and pasta (carb loading) and am drinking a pint or two of water - suddenly panicking that i havn't drunk enough...

am now just chilling with chums, eating chocolates and reading up about the route and meeting points etc...

oh and fyi - i am going with my running tights - i am afterall an athlete now so who cares about how i look... decided to go with my fav top - the red/black one.
outfit sorted.

not much else to do now. maybe a few stretches, an early night and keep drinking plenty of water.

basically dear readers i just can't quite believe that i'm running 10miles tomorrow!!!!
hoorah for me x


http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

2 days to the GSR

oh boy... no turning back now... getting really quite excited.
got my lift sorted, got my number, got my timing chip, knee doesnt hurt, have started to carb load, been to the gym and have done lots of gentle stretching.

in fact i'm feeling pretty darn tip-toppertie...

will check the weather tomorrow and decide my outfit. i'm not thinking of the running tights... have chosen my socks, pants and which sports bra i'll be wearing. i'm leaning towards my fav black/red top although mabes i should wear my bright orange top that i wore when cycling in mpls?

this is me in mpls down by the missisippi (oh ffs - how is this river spelt?)
anyways - check out the top - its bright, my lovely chums can spot me in the crowd (24,000 of us), but what if its cold?
oh i can't decide.
will take both with me to hamble, plus my long sleeve one and choose a winner sunday morning.

this is all sooooooo exciting!
oh and fyi - i'm up to £383.76 in sponsorship. how fab is that.
but more would be wonderful... xx

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

3 days to the GSR

ok...
i had planned on popping in to pete jarvis's private view at solent uni then john lewis to buy a new fridge freezer then the gym.

what i did though was pop into solent for the private view and drank a glass of white wine. then went to the cricketers and i had a glass of red then panda's on bedford place for chinease to celebrate margaret's bday.

has been a lovely evening but i'm thinking probs not the best 3 days before the GSR prep... sigh...

4 days to the GSR

last session with dan this morning - we took it gently.

• cycled for 15mins
• walked on treadmill for 10
• jogged for 20
• cool down walk for 5
• stretches for 10
• yoga breathing for 2

then off to work.

got home this evening to dan's email detailing what to do for the next few days with regards to exercise and carb loading... ending with these words of encouragement:

Other than that Liz, good luck for Sunday! Have confidence in your ability, and just think about how far you've come in the last 12 weeks. The hard works been done, and now you've just got to go out there and enjoy the whole experience! You've done fantastically well throughout your sessions, and it's been such great fun training you. I have the up-most confidence your going to do great on Sunday, and I hope you have a wicked day!

Cheers,

 

Dan

 

http://www.facebook.com/greatsouthrun

 

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

 

 

5 days to the GSR

rest day today.
cycled to shirley this eve to k&s's for food and red wine
lovely.

dan tomorrow 8am

need to sort out:-

• training plan to take me to sunday
• food intake so i'm at peak condition for race
• plus need to decide what to wear.
• and finally - how i'm getting to southsea and meeting up with my running buddy bernie.

6 days to the GSR

my day off has been spent shopping so lots of walking round town and k made me take the stairs not lifts or escalators if at all possible.

watched a great afternoon made for tv movie on five usa then got into all my running gear - wore my running tights - sooo comfortable but leave absolutly NOTHING to the imagination. ran round the parks then ocean village. took it gently, had a slight twinge so thought better safe than sorry so headed home. 3.8miles, 45mins (at least 5mins walking) and i felt fine. not at all tired.

stretches, lovely hot shower, now waiting for a mate to finish work to go for a drink. what a great day.

will rest tomorrow, dan wed 8am then i'm on race build up of gentle runs and the gym.
so exciting!

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

7 days to the GSR

quite alot of walking today culminating with a lovely evening 3mile stroll round the parks with kaz. intending to go for a run tomorrow, early evening, then rest on tuesday with maybe something wednesday... will need to discuss with dan.

8 days till the GSR

decided to have a day of rest today - don't want to jepodise (sp?) my recovery by over doing it 8 days before THE BIG RACE. went into the running shop in ashtead - should have taken my trainers with me too...
anyways - i ran on their treadmill and alan (owner) filmed my running. he reckons i need to increase my core strength as well as specifically srengthen my knee as when i run my knee does wiggle out abit. so that's good to know.

i stocked up on energy bars and bought another sports bra - reduced from £35.99 to £10

9 days till the GSR

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

well... i had a session with dan this morning - it went okay. i managed 30mins on the treadmill - knee didnt twinge at all - the key seems to be to NOT get over excited and try to do too much. did some stregthening of the knee weights and lots of stretches. then off to work

think the red wine last night was abit of an error as VERY tired today but i also think that as i'm an athlete now, i'm also tired from all my training... i'm just sayin.

i've got my PE kit with me so am hopeful about a little run tomorrow with my big sis and i also want to check out ashtead's running shop to see what they say about knee supports (just in case)

http://www.runtolive.co.uk/how-to-find-us

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

10 days to the GSR

my GSR info pack arrived today. got my timing chip and number. i'm 18486. soooo excited.

seeing dan tomorrow 8am, then spending the day at city and up to surrey fri eve. will take my running gear with me for a sat run.

rest is good. still very tired. the half a bottle of red that i've drunk this eve may prove to be an error.

hmmmm... i guess we'll find out tomorrow at work x

12 days till the GSR

slept right through to my alarm at 7.30am today. obviously those couple of glasses of red wine last night really helped!

full day at work today but all at city centre no limits so as soon as i got home this evening i headed off to the gym. stretches, treadmill (incline at 6) for 15mins, weights then back onto the treadmill for a 20min run. kanckered. so then cycled for 10mins. warm down stretches and then home.

have been reading about eating for endurance and what to eat just before a 10mile race - sat eve i will NOT be going out celebrating k's bday - instead i will be having some lean chicken and pasta and an early night.

also looking up what to do training wise these last few weeks - seems to be alot of rest. will do a 40min run thurs and out for 90mins saturday. then rest for a couple of days. then out for 5miles on wed then rest rest rest.

now i need to figure out how i'm getting to southsea and who'll be looking after my stuff.

13 days to the GSR

not too achey after gym yesterday.

i've done a fair amount of cycling today for work and to get to fun things - just over 9 miles. also was out running/walking on the common for 30mins. omg. i'd managed about 15mins and then nothing. nada. my legs felt like they were made of concrete and i was running on fumes. talk about grinding to a shuddering halt.

i suppose on the plus side my knee wasn't too bad.

yikes.
i'm running 10miles/17kms in less than 2 weeks and i could barely muster the energy or have the endurance to manage mabes one paltry mile or so.

aaah well, i'm sure i'll be fine on the 30th...

*hyperventilating, breathing into paper bag, nervous laughter*

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

14 days to the GSR

gosh busy day...

watched nz beat the aussies - great game (want nz now to win, gutted for wales).
off to the gym for over an hour

• treadmill walking 20mins
• stretches, weights
• knee strengthening machines
• then treadmill - all fine and dandy for 20 or so mins and nearly 3kms and then ouch - twinge. so stopped and did walking and more stretches.
• bit worried... but dan reckons it'll be fine - said to keep icing my knee and he'll talk through different knee supports at our next session.

home & tidied my front balcony
iced knee
ate lunch.

then cycled up to katherine's for tea (6mile round trip), helped tidy their spare room and had chicken for supper. yum.

i'm now listening to radio5live sports extra - packers have already played and won (SIX and O), saints/bucs playing at the moment. lovely end to a fabulous w/e.

will go for a run tomorrow.

15 days till the GSR

this time in just 2 weeks...
still taking it gently & will be at the gym tomorrow.

knee is okay but need to increase my endurance. also prob need to stop drinking quite so much red wine.

17 days till the GSR

gym this morning - knee okay - didnt do anything majorlie strenuous - walking, bit of jogging, stretches, some weights to strengthen knee etc... worked out for just under an hour then work.
was going to cycle to thornhill but

1. too much to do and
2. lets not rush my recovery - 8 mile round trip... mabes abit too far right now.

chilled day tomorrow - some of which will be spent in winchester at an anti bullying conference. i'll be there to chit chat about breakout. fab dvd i whole heartedly recommend:-
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_school/education_for_all/quick_links/education_resources/fit/default.asp - it's brilliant!

18 days till the GSR

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek
18 days isnt long at all...

bit of cycling today - sholing and back so mabes 5.5/6miles...
then stitch n'bitch - http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/71052307628/ at the art house, above bar

meeting dan at the gym just after 8am tomorrow morning - will see how the knee is and then i'm hoping to ease back into my training.

19 days till the GSR

still nursing my sports injury! (sorry, can't help myself - me with a sports injury - how hilarious is that?!)
am doing ice and elevation while watching telly, drinking tea and snacking - to be honest i'm rather liking this phase of my training...

i've decided to ease back into OF&H tomorrow evening after work:- will go to the gym and do treadmill walking, stretches and some weights. then i'm thinking probs gym thursday morning with muts, mabes friday and sometime over the w/e.
i do need to decide when to try running - i'm thinking not till sunday at the very earliest and even then maybe only round the parks. i have def learnt my lesson.

• will NOT be over doing it again.
• plus its just too close to the GSR to pick up another injury.

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

21 days to the GSR

in fact, this time in 3 weeks i'll have done it!

dan this morning.
20mins walking on the treadmill then i had 40mins of stretches, conditioning exercises, endurance and weight training.

plus ice packs twice a day and no running for a few more days.
just got carried away. need to gently build back up to running.

22 days to the GSR

http://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_1553230.html - my route today. 8.27miles which i ran/walked/walked in 2hours 10mins (was out for two and a half hours but had a 20min comfort break up at p&k's after an hour and 4.4miles)

dodgy right knee.
doesnt feel right at all.

OMG - i have a sports injury! i'm an athlete. how cool is that?

anyways - bit tired now, have had a nice hot bath, will go and spend some money in west quays and then seeing tinker tailor soldier spy with the girls this eve. lovely.

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

GSR countdown...23 days

yikes.
went to the gym this morning - weights, stretches.
then work
then home and watched tv

hmmmmm... i may have to relook at my training plan!

Month 6, day 6

can't believe its only been 4 days since my last run - feels like an eternity ago...
done some cycling though.

• 7mile round trip tuesday for work
• 6mile round trip yesterday for work
• 6mile round trip for work & a 14mile round trip for pleasure today

today i checked out the running shop in eastleigh after nipping into work to do itchen college.

http://www.just-run.com/

i got abit carried away... spent £150 - eeeeek.

then drank tea round alison's.
lovely day.

my break though is now over... gym tomorrow morning and have a dan session 11am sunday.

Month 6, day 4

i'm having a rest/break.
i've over done it a bit and am absolutly (sp?) and utterly knackered.
*oooops*
also getting a bit grumpy - which is NO fun for anyone!

so i've taken thursday off work, will go and get some new running shoes and then gently wear them in thurs/fri/sat with mabes a bit of a longer run on sunday.

will keep you all posted.

i hadn't really realised that my recovery and rest time is actually just as important as all the physical exercise i've been doing. my poor little body has started whimpering. i really do need to listen.
*****sigh*****

Month 6, day 3

ummm... not much happening on the of&h front today - cycled 3 miles and sorted out a day off on thursday so i can go and buy some new running shoes.

Month 6, day 2 - 28 days to the GSR

OMG - GSR is 28 days away...
had a fabulous w/e in london, didn't really do anything of note for of&h (saw ragtime at the landor theatre and the new grayson perry exhibition at the british museum) so decided i needed to go for a run when i got home this evening.

was out for just under 80mins, had a 3-4min break chatting to the lovely ally k by harbour lights and because it'd got dark i didnt do my usual run that pops me out by swac under the itchen bridge (bit dark and scary), instead i ran over the itchen bridge and back.

5.4miles

nice one!

Month 5 day 30

was at the gym this morning - i'm now in for the night so wont be doing anything more on of&h today.
will def go for a run tomorrow morning (but not too early) before heading up to the big smoke to spend the weekend with my boys.

Month 5 day 29

ummmm...

in 31 days i'm running 10miles.
OH-MY-GOD
and am i ready??? can i do it???
"lizzie tilts her head to one side and ponders the question for a good couple of minutes before answering..."

I HAVE NO IDEA!!

but hey, check out jeremy lion, wearing my new running bum bag - really comfy to wear, fits phone, keys, money... it's reflective (be safe be seen) and it has a built in red light.
how cool is that??

oh and today i cycled 2 miles. that's it for of&h...
i will go to the gym tomorrow and i'll also have a run before heading up to town to see the boys on saturday.

Month 5 day 28

training in winchester - walked approx 3.5miles, saw alan at winchester uni (was my youth work lecturer from soton uni) but also saw alasdair from way back in my kac days 87-90 & he's still there and now director of internationalism!
oh and then went shopping - lovely day out of the office.

evening - was always going to go for a run - ended up doing 2.5miles in less than 35mins - uphill to the top of the common and emergency babysitting. nearly killed me. then pub. very nice.

i'm now just drinking tea and have had some toast & marmite.
bath has been run, listening to mlb on radio 5 live sports extra.

Month 5 day 27

oh dear...

ran for 2.7miles with dan this morning, went to work - cycled to shirley and back, home. laundry, shopping, washing up. now watching time to kill while snacking on a bag of milk chocolate money. eeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

winchester tomorrow.
will go to the gym when i get back to southampton.

Month 5 day 26

oh dear... forgot to post yesterday... and i went to the gym!
fyi: hangover + the gym/go for a run = fine. and i've proved this 2 days running now - sat and sunday...

today though - no alcohol although i did have a sea food pizza from my favourite pizza place:
http://www.bitzandpizzaz.co.uk/ LOVE THEM!

cycled to sholing and back - mabes 5 miles.
not much else - watched dr who (OMG brilliant), spooks - bottled it - managed 18minutes, then QI - love.
now its bedtime.
dan in the morning

less than 6 weeks now to the GSR - need to up my distance - figure i'll add the itchen bridge and go from there...

Month 5 day 24

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek, very tired and mabes a tad hungover this morning...
leisurly morning then got into P.E. kit and off i went on a run.

70mins, 5miles - didnt stop!!!
at end of the run, went into the gym for water, 10mins on bile to cool down then lots of stretches.

am now eating pasta while deciding what to this afternoon.
i'm thinking of clearing my front balcony.

oh and fyi... hangover gone.

Month 5 day 22

well...
busy day at work - based at sholing again today so that's a 5 maybe 5.5mile round trip.

absolutly cream crackered - nothing on the box, had supper then ended up going to the gym for about 40 odd mins then i cycled up to the crown (2.36miles in 16mins), drank a couple of spritzers then home just before midnight. ended up being a lovely evening with quite abit of of&h and a teeny tiny bit of booze.

just drinking a cup of tea then it's bedtime.

i won't be going to the gym tomorrow morning which means i should get at least seven and a half hours sleep. wahooooooooooooooooooooo.

Month 5 day 21

busy day today kids...

in to work for 8.45am - training our new students then managing the drop-in, off by 6ish.
met dan 8.15pm at the gym

yikes - we really pushed it today. upped my pace, ran for an hour - knackered - very wobbly legs. but still feeling like the gsr is very doable. which is quite a relief really seeing as i'm running it in LESS THAN 6 WEEKS!!!!

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

Month 5 day 20

wonderful start to the day - working out in the gym!

in fact check out my gym usage for this month - pretty darn impressive even if i do say so myself.

<>

20/09/2011 08:21:51	20/09/2011 09:16:46	55 mins
18/09/2011 16:36:29	18/09/2011 18:17:47	101 mins
15/09/2011 19:49:07	15/09/2011 21:06:37	77 mins
13/09/2011 18:59:34	13/09/2011 20:17:35	78 mins
11/09/2011 15:20:15	11/09/2011 15:45:38	25 mins
08/09/2011 08:17:53	08/09/2011 09:20:30	63 mins
07/09/2011 07:51:45	07/09/2011 08:55:30	64 mins
06/09/2011 18:31:43	06/09/2011 19:10:20	39 mins
02/09/2011 08:16:02	02/09/2011 09:29:08	73 mins
01/09/2011 08:03:13	01/09/2011 09:26:16	83 mins

didnt make slimmers world this eve, got sucked into a work thing instead. will go next week.
got dan tomorrow at 8.15pm

will be interesting to see on sunday just how long i can stay out running for.

oh and disaster... have managed to break my mp3 play. no idea how. bloody thing isnt recognised by my laptop any more. herumph.
sigh...

Month 5 day 19

yeah... nothing today

although i did cycle to sholing on my "new" bike - love the fact i've got a few more gears and a bike computer. over the itchen bridge going UP i was managing barely 6mph but flying DOWN the other side - was doing 20odd mph!
cycled 5.6miles today.

but that was it.
managed to catch up on dr.who & spooks.

off to the gym tomorrow morning then dan wed eve 8.15pm

Month 5 day 18

didnt bother posting last night - nothing really to say - went to work in the morning, cooking/shopping/cleaning in the afternoon then dinner party in the eve with mabes abit too much red wine. top day but not much of&h

today however i've done loads on of&h

1. got over my hangover
2. healthy luncheon with muts
3. went to the gym

• ran 8km
• took me 70minutes
• i burnt 650odd calories
• then did lots of stretches
4. signed up for my next run!

http://www.eventstolive.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=29

and to top the day off - the bike guy brought back my bike - rides like a dream. i can't wait to see how long it'll take me to cycle to sholing no limits tomorrow morning

and i'm now listening to the nfl on radio 5live sports extra and with one minute to go in the packers/panthers game - we're up 30-16. what a fab weekend.

Month 5 day 16

nothing to report today.

didnt go to the gym 1st thing as had a 9am mtg which ended up being rescheduled.
then work till just gone 5pm
home - yikes - in desperate need of a clean... so blitzed the kitchen, hoovered and tidied. its now nearly 8.30pm - think its going to be an evening of vegging in front of the box.

work, cooking/shopping for dinner party then dinner party is on the cards for tomorrow but i will definately do my 5mile run circuit on sunday.
will let you all know how it goes!

(i may snick in a trip to the gym tomorrow - just depends how quickly i get out of work tomorrow morning...)

Month 5 day 15

Gosh... good day today.
bike guy has my bike - http://www.bikeguy.co.uk/index.htm - excited because by the end of this weekend i'll have all 24 gears again on my bike. blimey - i'm going to be getting everywhere sooooo quickly!

day 2 of a good piece of training - enharnced multi agency safeguarding and child protection then back to work for a couple of hours.

8pm - met dan at the gym.

5k in 40 odd mins then used a 10kg powerbag:-

 

okay, was hilarious - felt like an east german weight lifter - in fact i think dan was very impressed with my clean and jerk capabilities!

lots of sniggering to myself as i left the gym imagining myself in my boy leg swimming costume, wearing my trainers with socks pulled half way up my legs. yeah, great image.

anyways... watching torchwood, will grab a shower and then bedtime.

Month 5 day 14

oh dear...
lets just say i now have zero penguins in my flat...

not much to report on for of&h - cycled a couple of miles but that's about it.
good job i've got a dan session tomorrow eve at 8pm!

Month 5 day 13 = 47 days till the GSR

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek
FORTY SEVEN DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok... total freak out over... lets look at todays OF&H

cycled to sholing & back:-

• 2.5miles there & back = 5miles

gym:-

• stationary bike = 3miles in 11.5mins
• treadmill = 5k in just under 40mins
• stretches

lidls:-

• fancied steak - yum

penguins:-

• oh dear... as of 9.42pm i'm up to 3

american milky ways:-

• one. (omg - love em. they're mars bars but with milky way chocolate. i like them best when slightly melted. i did mean to make myself a cup of tea to have with the milky way so i could dip it in the tea so making it slightly melted. however. i just inhaled it. YUM).

just chilling now. think i'll have a nice long soak in the tub (sooo american!)

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

Month 5 day 12

hmmm... cycled up to bassett and back = maybe 6miles

will def go to the gym tomorrow.

Month 5 day 11

what a great day!

woke up at stupid o'clock even though i was desperate for a lie in after spending 10 hours at work on saturday training 36 potential new no limits vols (was great fun, got some fab new vols and loved training with jayne and holly)

so... woke at 6.15am - did mean i was able to wave off the gang  (from my balcony in my pj's) heading up to london in alison's van only to then hop on their bikes and cycle back 82miles. amazing!

http://www.everyclick.com/nolimitsbikeride2011

the gang all back, in hoglands park 6pm this evening.

totally inspired so i went for a run.

after 1.36miles i bumped into james and ally so had some squash in their flat (sweated rather alot on their chair). then i ran all the way round ocean village, over to city college, through all the parks and then ended up at the gym (desperate for water so popped in as knew there was a water fountain)

milage = 5miles!!!!!

time?

15mins to james and ally, then must have been at least an hour running outside then 10mins on the treadmill at the gym. finished with lots of stretches.

lidls then home - chicken in oven then off to hoglands park to clap home the cyclists. so impressed. EIGHTY TWO MILES!!!!

celebratory drinks in the pub then i headed home for roast chicken and an evening of mlb & nfl.

what a great day!!