Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!

Heading up to sister's - have packed my running gear. 

I intend to retrace the Ashtead 10K route round the common - can't wait. Remember - back in Sept I fell off my bike 48 hours before the Ashtead 10K race so ran the 10K on a badly bruised leg? 

Will probably have a run Christmas Day before eating so much my stomach lining starts to loose its structural identity - FUN.

Cheers x

She's back!

My big sis has asked me to restart OF&H...

• I've signed up for the Eastleigh Triathlon 7th July 2013.
• I'm doing the Brighton half marathon on 17th Feb 2013
• I will be signing up for the Winchester duathlon 17th March 2013

I go swimming at least once but usually twice a week as part of Southampton tri-club. We have a coach. My swimming is now amazing. When I started I could barely manage a length maybe 2 without having to have a little rest. I'm now doing 60-72 lengths in an hour. 

Running - I'm now going 3-4 times a week - got to, my half marathon training schedule tells me to! I seem to do approx 4miles in about 45mins but I need to up my mileage and time out running.

Cycling - still mainly cycle to work, to friends - to go somewhere/do something as opposed to going for a cycle ride for the sheer pleasure of it. Mabes when I get my new bike - still to order but I'll def have by the new year, I'll go out for a cycle every week just for the sheer fun of it.

So there you have it - a quick update as to where I am with OF&H.

ooooh forgot fat club...

Since the end of April 2012 there is 20lbs less of me. My new swimming costume for tri club is a TWELVE!!!!!

I'll try and update this regularly - not sure if I'll manage every day like last year but I'll certainly give it a go.

Cheers

Liz "elite athlete" Carter xx

Seriously considering the 26th August Triathlon...

Tri club was great - Coach Peter said that "people" have noticed that I'm improving loads.

I did 12 lengths = 300m in 14minutes. Which for me is amazing. It has made me think i could do the triathlon on 26th August...

• 400m swim
• 11.5mile cycle
• 5k run

I'll decide this w/e but heck, I should just give it a go. 
I've got 6 weeks to get be able to do a 400m swim in less than 16minutes. And... seeing as 5weeks ago i couldn't even manage 50m without dying, I reckon I could do it!!!

Great weekend & saw the Olympic Torch

Tri club Saturday morning - my new swimming cap really did help. I must have done over 40 lengths - i think i need to time myself doing 16 lengths just to see if :-

1. i can physically do it yet
2. if i can my ball park time so i know what to write on entry forms

The rest of the day was spent reading my kindle, shopping and partying - my balcony Olympic torch viewing party then up to Rob & Neil's for chilli, wine, quiz & gossip. a great Saturday.

Sunday - very gentle morning. Afternoon of sorting, washing and reading. 

The weather was lovely - and the evening... it really was a lovely summers evening. Couldn't waste it so got into my running gear... 55minutes, 4.8miles - fab.

 

knackered...

okay...

• lost 0.5lbs this week
• cycled 10.8miles today
• yesterday cycled about 12.5miles

the weather isn't helping - just feel lethargic

OF&H - will keep a daily log of all exercise and see if I'm doing too much, not eating enough, maybe look at getting some multivitamins...

Next race is the Ashtead 10k on Sunday 23rd Sept - need to get back into running, continue with swimming and keep cycling.

Sunday 8th July - 5k Southampton Race for Life

What a fantastically busy weekend of exercise and fun. 

Friday

1. I actually can't remember what i did apart from work till 6pm. i think i may have had a gentle evening in but i really can't remember.

Saturday

1. Tri Club at the Quays - swimming session 5 - what a huge difference since my 1st session just under 3weeks ago - i can now do nearly 3 lengths - 75m without stopping. plus Katherine and i both got Southampton Tri Club swimming hats. very excited.
2. Pot of tea at Tudor House Museum.
3. Mela cancelled
4. Had XX for the afternoon
5. Angel Share at Harbour Lights.

Sunday

1. Race for Life with XX - brilliant fun. 53 minutes. we did walk quite a bit!
2. Lunch at A's
3. Cycled home via Red Hot Press for their annual Wayzgoose festival what on earth is a Wayzgoose??? 
4. Hamble for supper
5. Now just chilling at home.

Run/Walked = 5k race for life

Swimming = approx 30 lengths = 750m

Cycling = Saturday mabes 6miles & Sunday = 18.5miles

Brilliant!

Very sore and stiff

oh boy... i am in desperate need of an oil. stiff and creaky. sigh.

the swim yesterday was great fun but hard work. i guess i'll stop aching soon as my body gets used to being an elite athlete.

this week is going to be long...

working till gone 10pm tonight, tomorrow is the away day at Victoria Country park (will be cycling) then I've got a mtg afterwards before out to dinner at the coriander lounge. Thursday is fat club, Friday - gym in the morning. Saturday - more swimming and Sunday is the sky-ride.

Monday 25th June - the day after my 10k

gosh... i did it!

1 hour 21mins. lots of running and lots of walking. was really quite hilly and very muddy - lots of slipping all over the place. and boy - running down hill is really scary. was convinced my knee / tendons were going to go snippy snap. convinced i'd hear something go ping or pop or snap. luckily nothing did but i did alot of careful walking down hill.

really enjoyed it.

debs and the girls were my support crew - although nessie did see me about 10mins into the run - was so fab to hear "lizzie" and to look up and see a good mate grinning and waving. so of course i had to stop for a hug and a kiss and a quick catch up.

got a rather snazzy medal for this race. it's heavy. love it.

I've got the 5k race for life on Sunday 8th July then the Ashtead 10k on Sunday 23rd Sept.

snaps to follow. 
link to my fundraising page below.

"running alot for No Limits"

It's the 10K tomorrow!

I'm excited. 

the weather forecast is for a wet and muddy run - must remember to take plenty of dry clothes and another pair of shoes to change into otherwise deb's car is gonna be abit of a mess.

knees... not sure how they'll be. I'm certainly stronger than i was for the denbies 10mile and my knees went at 6.5miles. I'll just have to wait and see. I'll take the run gently and walk if they hurt. it's the same organizers as the 10mile run and I'll be in my bright orange top so they'll know that I'm that slow finisher!!! 

My new running nickname should be "The Tortoise"

"running alot for no limits"  

Running 10K in 6 days time

some OF&H updates...

1. I have lost 15lbs since mid April 2012
2. I cycled 17.5miles today - mostly for work
3. I'm running 10k this Sunday
4. I went for a run Wednesday 13/6 = 2.25miles in 32mins
5. I went for a run Saturday 16/6 = 3.3miles in 45mins
6. I did 3 hours of gardening Sunday
7. I swam 20+ lengths @ the Quays (25m per length) - Muts has signed us up for the Southampton triathlon club

I'm still not convinced how my knee will manage the 10k on Sunday... it was fine when i did the Denbie's 10mile run till around the 6mile mark... 
I'll be monitoring it carefully and will walk if necessary.  

15 days to the Polsden Lacey 10k

i'd like to make it clear to all 11 of you lovely followers (and anyone else who happens to stumble across OF&H) that even though i haven't been as regular with my postings of late, i am still an elite athlete so am training hard and have been a member of Upper Shirley's Thursday 7.30pm fat club now for the last 8weeks.

i've just been an utter EPIC FAIL on sharing it all with you all. eeeeeeeeeeeep.

"MUST.GET.BETTER"

so...

1. i have now lost 11.5lbs in 8 weeks
2. i now don't have bread in the flat - hasn't been as hard as i thought not having easy access to toast and marmite.
3. i have got back into going to the gym
4. i need to get a nice cobbler to punch another hole in my favourite belt
5. i need to buy new knickers - they've stopped looking like knickers and have started to resemble baggy nappies (NOT a great look in the changing rooms)
6. i have stopped eating so many crisps and have stopped my emergency garage chocolate runs.

however...

i'm not going to get all cocky and think i've now changed my eating/lifestyle habits so can now rest on my laurels. i think any and all of you who have ever smoked know that this is a dangerous mind set. the old "yeah i can have the odd fag if i want to malarkey" and then you blink and you're back up to 20 a-day. yeah... 
not gonna fall for that one again! 
just sayin...

i've also signed me and XiuXiu up for the Southampton Race for Life on Sunday 8th July. Anabel's just let me know that XX thinks running is boring so intends to sprint the entire 5k. oh hoorah.

ran non stop 2k in 14.5mins.

will just keep adding a couple of km's to each treadmill run for the next couple of weeks. also Monday 18th will do the 5k with the Sweatshop the running shop in Southampton opposite Laura Ashley's (where dillons used to be). Plus i should map out an 8 maybe 9k route and run that, i'm thinking after work 20th or 21st June...

and now?

i think a cup of tea would be nice and a read of my kindle for a little bit.

Monday 28th May 2012

hi all... I've been rather crap at updating you all on OF&H although i have actually been doing stuff...

1. Walked/Ran 10miles last Sunday 20th May in 2hours and 40mins
2. Have lost 8lbs in total at fat club (slimming world) in 5weeks
3. Have signed up for my next run - a 10k on 24th June @ Polsden Lacey
4. Was at the gym this evening - went straight after work
5. Have done major cycling - last Wednesday i did nearly 20miles for work and for pleasure
6. I now don't buy bread and my chocolate of choice now is a curly wurly

so i think I've made some major lifestyle changes!!!

Running 10miles this Sunday!

have had my final lesson at running school - brilliant. knees are fine, calfs/shins abit sore but i need to keep stretching them out. knees good because the stress of the run is now going all the way up my legs instead of slamming stop at my knees. how fab is that.

fat club - no weigh in tomorrow as its the relaunch of breakout but feel as if doing okay. also it looks like I'm half a stone lighter butt naked compared to fully clothed. good to know.

end of a lovely day.

10 days till i run 10miles...

the "slimmer of the week" from last week had to hand over her crown this week... i also managed to gain a whole one pound. 

sigh...

probs the wine, the cakes & the few days up in surrey also didn't help my cause.

but I'm back on track - need to be really, as every pound i lose in the next 10days is one less pound to lug up and down box hill!

one key change for this week... 

• less tea with milk at work and back to taking in my Jasmin tea and tea pot.

12 days till i run 10miles!!

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

no going back now - look what Sam at work sent out to all my No Limits colleagues!!!

As you may be aware Liz Carter has entered Denbies 10 Mile race and will be running in aid of No Limits. The run is due to take place on Sunday 20^th May and will be a ten mile circular route following trails around the Mole Valley in the heart of the Surrey Hills. As you can see from the pictures below the route is best described as………..hilly! 

All the money raised will go directly to the charity and for anybody who would like to support Liz then please follow the link.

Thanks for all your support!   

        

Samantha Gregory

I'm feeling positive though... ran 4.5miles in 75mins this eve so reckon 10miles is very doable...fun!

Slimmer of the Week runs 10miles in 17 days time - eeeek!

well... I've failed to update my blog since last week and I've also failed to write up my food diary but you know what - not a problem because you're now reading the blog of the Upper Shirley Southampton 7.30pm Thursday night's slimming world's SLIMMER OF THE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. There is now 4.5lbs less of me than there was 7 days ago. Not bad!

what's my secret?

well...

spending the w/e with a slimming world guru certainly helped and not drinking any alcohol plus i went to the gym and i've cycled abit too.

• so hoorah and congratulations to me - SOTW.

got running school tomorrow - only been to the gym once since my last lesson and I haven't had a chance to run outside - this week has been quite busy... back to work after "the best A/L week ever" has been rather OH MY GOOD GOD. I'm really rather tired. but I'm feeling jolly chuffed with myself and I'm hoping that even though I'm at the pub tomorrow, a tea party Sat and up to sister's Sun/Mon, that I'll still lose a lb.

oh and i really must go for a few runs before Sunday 20th May.

21 days and i'm running 10miles!

the end of "the best a/l week ever" - wonderful w/e in Hove & Brighton.

OF&H doing okay...

Bernie looked through my food diary and pointed out where i could have lost some lbs if i hadn't of blah blah blah... fair enough. I'll go back to a pint of diet coke with a shot of vodka as my tipple of choice.

food wise this w/e has been okay with lots of top tips from Bernie - so feeling quite positive for Thursday weigh in this week - It'll be interesting to see how i do.

we went to the gym Saturday afternoon - great workout - wasn't sick but was absolutely knackered.

and now it's Sunday and it's back to work tomorrow. 
I've cooked extra tea so i have left overs for lunch and after my evening mtg tomorrow I'll cook up a big tune/pasta bake so I've got lunches for a few more days. 

I'm going to give fat club a solid 6 months.

24 days to the debies 10mile (and lost 1lb @ fat club)

what a day!

• Running school this morning -and guess what... I'm getting fitter!
• M&S for a bra fitting - OMG - Rita is a goddess - my new bra is sooooooooooooo comfy
• John Lewis - bought a kindle touch & case for it with integrated light
• full body massage - lovely
• home & played on my kindle
• fat club - lost a 1lb
• home - done all my ironing

and now??
yet more wall to wall NFL - the draft is nearly here and I'm very excited!

today's food diary...

breakfast - usual cereal, chopped fruit, yogurt and skimmed milk plus cup of tea.

loads of water

lunch - grilled chicken and salad - rocket, mange touts, cucumber, peppers, spring onions then yogurt

didn't have an afternoon snack

supper - lemon chicken stir fry - with spring onions, mange touts and mushrooms with rice

second supper - ate rest of the lemon chicken.

25 days to the denbies 10mile

OMG - i am having the best A/L EVER!
today:-

• hair cut
• nfl network/podcasts - so excited for the upcoming draft
• @ the gym 2.30pm, muts joined at 3pm.
• shopping 4pm - M&S then cup of tea.
• john  lewis - bought fab new door stop, muts bought scales & new shoes (in dune)
• cycled up to p&k's - supper & checked out k's kindle.
• home by 9.45pm - yet more nfl.

FAB!!!

food diary:-
breakfast - usual cereal, chopped banana, apple & plum but then had x2 rashes bacon, tomatoe & mushrooms with a cup of tea.

mid morning snack - slice of ham

lunch - finished the quorn mince and rice with a huge handful of curly kale and x2 rahes bacon. fat free activo snackpot - raspberry flavour (yummy)

eeek still peckish - x2 slices wholemeal toast & marmite

cycled (3miles) up to p&k's for supper - approx 20 pastachio nuts, glass of quash. 1.5 jacket potatoes, quorn bacon/onions/mushrooms & handful cheese, cucumber & tomatoes. plain choc-ice ice cream. x3 glasses of white wine

squash & water.

26 days to the denbies 10mile

day 2 of A/L - lovely.
have laid most of my new turf on my balcony, had a cup of tea over at red hot press, food shopping, loads of nfl draft stuff and the ntea with k&s. what a fab day.

cycled 5miles

food diary:-

breakfast
usual fat club bfast - 35g luxury fruit museli, chopped fruit, milk & yoghurt plus cup of tea

lunch
left overs from last night - quorn mince/rice & yoghurt

afternoon tea
cup of tea @ RHP

snack
x2 wholemeal bread - toast & marmite
slice of ham & cottage cheese

supper @ k&s's
delicious salad
fresh pasta & pesto
fancy co-op garlic round flat bread
x3 glasses white wine spritzer

snack
ham & cottage cheese

lots of water & squash.

27 days to the denbies 10mile. Day 3 of fat club - food diary

ok...

23/4/12 food diary:-

breakfast

• 35g luxury fruit museli
• chopped up - x1 banana, x1 apple, x1 plum
• lots of natural yoghurt
• skimmed milk - part of allowance.

this is alot of breakfast.
i'm now not so worried about not having enough to eat 1st thing in the morning.

met Rose at pret for elevensies - tea with milk
then finished the rice & quorn for lunch

afternoon tea... eeeeeeeeeek.
it's Timmie's bday today and i popped over to say hi. everything was going so well, just drinking diet coke - but then Timmie offered me some of his freshley made luxury choclate cake made by Rosario. it was death by chocolate. totally and utterly delicious. my slice was quite large. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

supper

• quorn mince with taco seasoning, passante, mushrooms, onion, carrots, corgette, wild rice & creme fresh.
• banana & 200g custard

my monday's slight fat club errors=

1. creme fresh
2. custard
3. luxury chocolate chocolate cake

exercise?

• cycling up to portswood and back.
• i'm now way too full to go to the gym.

i'll be running the denbies 10mile in 28 days!

i had a clear out of my cupboards, getting rid of all non fat club items. i'm waiting for goergie to come round for breakfast as she's taking all the tins/packets away.

i had a quick run yesterday - quite knackered... the 10miles is going to be interesting.

food diary for saturday 21/4/12

• 113g lidls luxury fruit mueseli & oats
• 150ml skimmed milk
• x2 slices american volkorn sandwich bread (all they had in the garage last week)
• 18g lurpak spreadable
• marmite
• tea with 50ml skimmed milk

drank alot of water through the day

• quorn mince with peas/corgettes & mashed potatoes - i think all fat club but made last w/e before i'd joined.

this is where i had a slight "error". saw hunger games but when i got back i was v.hungrey so had x5 oat cakes with cottage cheese & sliced tomoatoes. if you know fat club - 1 oat cake = 3syns (you can have up to 15 syns in a day) needless to say i've put the box of oat cakes into goergie's food bag!

supper - was yummy but again not hugely fat club. rice/quorn and sliced corgettes - but i used my jar of korma sauce (500g - i must have eaten half)  so cooked the quorn chunks in the korma sauce with slices of corgette on top. was very lovely but probs not brilliant for fat club...

but feeling positive.
i'm off work this week so will be able to bed in my change of diet...

i think breakfast will be the hardest to change as i've been having cereal/toast and copious cups of tea for years...


Sunday 22/4 - food so far...

• banana x1
• apple x1
• green tea and jasmin tea
• 2 quorn sausages, 1 tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, x2 slices toast & marmite
• half of the left over korma quorn, corgettes & rice
• bowl of luxury fruit museli/milk & natural yoghurt
• 72g bag of salted popcorn
• a curly wurly
• x2 slices of ham with cottage cheese and rocket leaves
• lots of squash & water

maybe i need to pop to the gym...
***which i did!***

31 days to the denbies 10mile

FYI - i will be walking quite alot of the denbie's 10mile. luckily it's all over the beautiful surrey hills so i'm rather looking forward to my 3hour walk/jog.

running school lesson #3 was on monday and i've got lesson #3 next thursday at 10am. loving it. wasn't so absolutely and utterly knackered and wanting to throw up as i was last time which is great cos it means i'm getting some of my fitness back.

and i signed up to slimmers world this evening.
we're now on lbs watch...

NB - i'd like to lose forty two of them!

i've got a busy month of OF&H ahead.

day 36 of 75 - running school lesson #2

2nd running school lesson.
omg.
thought i was going to throw up. felt like i was in boot camp, or training to be a navy seal or that scene in band of brothers when ross lets the new recruits eat spagetti then makes them run up the hill - they're all puking. i felt like that. really did think i was going to die! should have probs done some h/w last week and mabes gone for a few runs...
will def be doing some running this week.

so i'm kicking my heels up better so i'm not falling so far forward i'm slowing myself down. instead i'm now propelling myself forward cos i'm running - ok i'm not going to be able to explain this right. instead of falling over while i run i'm now using gravity to propell me forward. paul (teacher) made it sound obvious, i however just sound like a blathering idiot.

and then he started working on my arms. right angles and pumping. feel really wierd. but def helped my running.

lesson #3 is next monday.
am on 1st name terms with the running shop (sweatshop) staff. looking more +ve for the denbies 10mile in 39 days. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

day 29 of 75 - 1st running school session

okay...
i'm definately back.

• i've had my 1st lesson at the running school - got 5 more to go and i feel fabulous. did lots of running - in bursts of 20-30seconds.
• apparently i use my calves loads so need to start using pretty much every other muscle in my body. this 1st lesson concentrated on making sure i kicked my heels up more. quite knackering. but by the end i was def kicking up heels more. you could tell i was lighter on my feet by the end of the session, couldnt hear my feet slapping / thumping down on the treadmill so much.
• dripping with sweat.
• great workout.

lesson #2 is next wednesday. i've got some h/w to do - a couple of outside runs for 15mins and to focus on making sure i kick up my heals.

and my knee is fine.

hoorah!!!

http://www.runningschool.co.uk/locations/southampton/about-us/

day 15 of 75

60 days till i run 10miles up and down boxhill...

i've been to the gym three times since my last post

17/3

• vista bike - 16mins - 8.5km
• stretches/exercises - 15mins
• treadmill - 2min walk / 2min run / 1min walk / 1min run = 0.77km
• top of my right knee cap had a dull throb so i stopped.
• some weights

19/3

• cycled 11mins - 3.07miles
• treadmill 20mins - 1.88km
• exercises

21/3

• 10mins vista bike (cocked up the bike computer so have no idea how far i cycled)
• 5mins rowing machine - 1000m
• treadmill - walk 5min, run 2min, walk 1min, run 3min, walk 1min, run 2min, walk = 15mins 1.69km
• exercises & stretches.

i wonder if i'll be match fit within 60days or if i'll be jogging, walking, smiling and sight seeing my way round the course. the views are going to be fantastic.

day 10 of 75

went to the gym last night. OMG it was HEAVING! much prefer going in the morning or over the weekend.

cycled (kinda ironic seeing as my bike went walk about from work yesterday)
*sigh*

then rowing machine - managed 1000m in 5mins & then 0.3m on the xtrainer in 5mins.
felt abit floppy.
tired.
but prob quite alot of that was feeling sad because of push bike.

knee update - a dull throb on the knee cap.

day 9 of 75

hmmmmmm...

gym this evening!
cycled approx 7.5miles in total yesterday - x2 trips to Shirley

day 8 of 75

just over 10 miles of cycling yesterday for work but not much else...

i seem to be waking in the middle of the night - perhaps i need to think of an early morning exercise schedule...

will be doing more cycling today but no time for the gym - working potentially till gone 8pm and then off to K&S's. i will look at tomorrow morning, friday evening and then both sat & sun.

day 6 of 75

my right knee has a dull ache just where it was asolute agony when i did my knee in last year. i'm thinking that the doing of the twist at james & ally's wedding saturday evening may have been a slight error...
i do love a good dance.
i danced alot on saturday evening...

i need to keep going to the gym and keep doing my excersizes as i've got boxhill to run on the 20th May!

day 3 of 75

at the gym again this morning - took it gently though.
10 mins cycling then stretches & excersizes. Only did about 30mins... but felt great.

out for lunch.
ummmm...
bacon bap and fries & then pudding back at work - finished the chocolate cake that one of the students brought in yesterday. was deliciuous. that really rich chocolatie one from i think m&s. yum.

catherine brought over my outfit this evening  for J&A's wedding tomorrow. i'd had the trousers taken up. they look great. but i really should have tried to lose a couple of lbs... bit tight. the mega chocolatie cake probs hasnt helped...

http://hepwrights.com/

day 2 of 75

• again - up before the sunrise.
• again - off to the gym by 7.30am

only managed 5mins on the xtrainer today - absolutly shattered. told myself that as time was ticking on, and i still wanted to do plenty of stretches and knee excersizes, that actually i should prob just do 5mins on the xtrainer!

so that's 2 days in a row that i've been at the gym and i'm hopefully meeting K there tomorrow morning.
feel great. so glad i'm getting back into my gym habit.

knee was abit numb. abit achey... i'm going to try out my physio approved run tomorrow on the treadmill.
eeeeep.
fingers crossed!

Denbies 10mile - day 1 of 75

and she's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

fantastic work out at the gym this morning - awoke at stupid o'clock - 5.30am so was at the gym by 7.15am.
bike, x-trainer, rowing machine, more cycling, weights/stretches & knee excersizes.
i was BRIGHT pink, lots of sweat = great work out. feel fab.

ooh, BRB - must get some ice on the knee...

so, Denbies 10mile
http://www.eventstolive.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=30

Sunday 20th May - This is a lovely, scenic mostly traffic free trail run exploring the North Downs Way and Ranmore Common with stunning views of Box Hill, Ranmore and the North Downs. We would describe it as undulating which probably means you need to prepare for something rather hilly!

my rehab of the knee is going well. physio lauren is making me practically cry each time - apparently, quote/unquote "treatment hurts". lovely. what a great fyi.

75 days till i finally get to do another run - i'm very excited.

NB - note to self -
i must NOT get over excited with my training... that would be a huge error.

Denbies 10mile - Route information:- The route is best described as multi-terrain and hilly. Following trails around the stunning Mole Valley you'll have the opportunity to enjoy the views over Box Hill from the North Downs Way and Dorking and Westcott from Ranmore Common. Of course what goes up must come down and so you'll find a route peppered with interesting trails, testing hills and wonderful descents which will leave you feeling invigorated (and slightly tired). 

LOVE IT!

The end of a busy week

hmmmmm... OF&H seems to be grinding to a halt.

20th May is my next run but my knee isnt great so wondering if my running career is over before its barely begun. i havn't been to the gym for a week but then i did have the rumblings of a cold so probs just as well i've had a rest...

Long time NO post

11 days since my last post.
i cheered on the brighton half marathon runners and was kinda sad that i wasn't running - especially as it was such a beautiful day yesterday.

so... OF&H / injury update.

lauren - physio - thinks we've found the root cause of my knee injury. i should have written it down. something about deep in my muscle just above my knee cap i have a twitching something or other that pulls my knee cap.

i've had lots of very painful deep tissue massage today. i hurt. alot. and now my muscles around my right knee are really sore.
sad sad face.

so no running for a week.
i can x-train/row/cycle/weights but nothing impact.
my next run will be the denbies 10mile on 20th May. bloody better be better by then.

also the physio isnt cheap - its like i'm back smoking a packet day again with what physio is costing! £35 a pop. but to be fair, i'm sooooo glad i'm doing it.

think i would have totally fcked my knee if i hadn't of done physio. i would have ignored it, maybe rested it abit but then would have run again. re-aggrivated it again. would have done that a few times, maybe cried abit and then i would have given up running.
would have then done lots of comfort eating.
would have ballooned.
and would now be wearing a smock to work - my ankles would be cankles. no cycling as too vast. in fact probs by now i'd be confined to my bed and would need a carer to feed me and attend to other "stuff". 
so bloody hell - thank goodness i'm having physio!

what a week!

what an amazingly all over the place week...
it's only friday 10th feb yet it feels as if i've packed more into this week than i sometimes do in a fortnight!
work = very busy
of&h = busy
i'll grab my gym book and share what i've been up to with you all...

sunday - gym, brunch then superbowl - amazing
monday - 5miles cycling - work busy
tuesday - bonkers busy at work - exhausted.
wednesday - gym 1st thing, work then off to brighton
thursday - gym, then journey home - cable fire at ford so had an impromptu sleep over in west worthing
friday - missed gym as on a train
tomorrow -will go to the gym and then party in evening
sunday - would like to do an long run - not eating lunch till 2pm so should manage one late morning.

it's now half term.
nearly 7 weeks gone of 2012.

knee is just nigglie and abit sore.
i have been upping my intensity and amount of gym/running. ideally i'd like to do approx 5miles on sunday in an hour.

where has the week gone??????

Superbowl Sunday

What a great day so far...
i had a very early night last night - in bed by 9.30pm and slept through till 7.30am this morning.

nfl podcasts while eating breakfast.
gym for just over an hour

• 10min warm up power walk on a 4% incline = 0.8km
• 10min stretches
• 10min on rowing machine @3 = 1808m
• 5min xtrainer @10 = 0.31miles
• 10min interval training on ytreadmill = 1.25km
• 5min cool down walk on a 4% incline then stretches.

felt fabulous.

nipped home, grabbed my bike and cycled to santo lounge in shirley to meet the gang for luncheon. k's for cup of tea and a couple of moo's cookies (yum) home and now settled in for the night.

it's american football now all the way through to 4am tomorrow morning.

happy to be looking after my knee

well... after yesterdays maudlin poetry i got a huge boost from v - i got my bday pressie from her - and it's brilliant!

i'm now busily putting in my january runs & gym sessions using my blog and gym book for reference. i LOVE my hobby!

6 mile cycle round trip this evening for take away indian with my fabulous friends. i'm now watching the nfl network, thinking it's probably time for bed.

will go to the gym tomorrow or maybe a run...

definately not doing BHM

i just think running 13miles would be foolish :(

but i'm not going to get all sad and depressed and eat loads of chocolate and write maudlin poetry...

• oh my knee
• can't you see
• you're not right
• you get all tight
• when i try to run.
• bhm you're just too far
• for this old gal to do.

instead i'm going to concentrate on getting ready for my next run. the cranleigh 10mile - although i'm not actually sure how i'm going to get there... luckily i've got a couple of months to try and figure that out.

i will of course keep you all posted.

i don't think my knee will manage 13miles...

sad day.

i went for a longer walk/run today - 5.5miles, 80mins. knee didnt give way or anything like that but it's sore. my left knee is fine but my right knee just feels too dodgy to risk on the brighton half marathon.

bummer.

this time in 4 weeks - it'll be the night before the BHM

i still havn't decided if i'm running/walking or not.
i def won't be running it but i'm still thinking i can do a combination of some running and some walking and mabes a bit of jogging. i will go for an extended run/walk tomorrow, thinking of maybe being out for a couple of hours. i'll of course be monitoring how i'm doing while out and will stop and walk if i feel any weird twinges.

was at the gym this morning - cycling for 16mins = 7km plus wieghts and stretches.

spent this afternoon reading then pictures this eve - the descendants.
george clooney was fab.
great film - some bits were very funny but also some bits were really sad, dramatic & traumatic.

got an odd ache on my right shin. it's just me doing more exercise.

The day after my birthday

i'm still accepting gifts, cards and bday wishes. and probs will be until sunday night.

gym this morning - as i went for a run yesterday, i took it gently.
walking on the treadmill, some stretches, weights and rolling on the roll tube (meant to imitate deep tissue massage - it hurt so kinda worked)

then work
meeting went on slightly longer than anticpated so it meant i cycled really really fast up to the d-l's for bday tea, laughter and pressents.

now i'm home, drinking squash and thinking i'll be in bed by 11pm.

Happy Birthday to the Elite Athlete!

it's my birthday - the big FOUR THREE. and what a fabulous bday it's been...

1. woke up at stupid o'clock hungry & excited so had some cereal and a cup of tea, opened my cards i'd saved and facebook chatted with chums in usa.
2. back to bed for another 4 hours!
3. up 10ish - 2nd bfast
4. out for a run - brilliant - 3.45 miles - about 35mins of run and abit of walking but out for an hour - stretches etc...
5. met vik for lunch - gorgeous bacon, tomatoe and mozerella pannini at the high street cafe
6. hair cut
7. checked out the new running shop in southampton - hanover bldgs - sale on till sunday so will be taking my credit card to it over the w/e
8. lidls
9. cycled very fast to mates new house (wanted to get there before the sun set so could check out their garden - arrived the colour of my cerise jumper!) - 6mile cycle there and back = 12miles
10. while there i saw lots of other lovely chums, drank many cups of tea, ate chips and a cream egg but also grapes and clementines.
11. home via g&l's - barely a 3min detour - so i could get my bday card and drink more tea.
12. am now home - caught up with all my wonderful bday messages on facebook, drinking some orange squash, updated blog - probs time for bed

what a wonderful birthday!!

p.s - meeting katherine at the gym tomorrow morning.

http://www.everyclick.com/brightonhalfmarathon

2 days before my birthday

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nfl championship weekend. 16 hours of solid football sunday through to monday morning. brilliant!

did mean that i didnt get to do much on OF&H yesterday except wear some ankle weights and do stretches periodically.

Today however... I am OF&H personified...

1. out running by 7am - 2.3miles - included interval training over the itchen bridge running/sprinting/jogging/walking between lamp posts
2. met katherine in the gym - stretches, weights and cycled - 12mins = 6.3km
3. work - cycled to sholing = 2.5miles
4. work cycled to & from shirley = 1.8miles x2 = 3.6miles

plus lots of healthy eating and plenty of squash.

oh and it's my bday on wednesday 25th jan

http://www.everyclick.com/brightonhalfmarathon

Saturday 21st January - the start of my birthday week!

after doing my ironing and putting on clean bedding it was like... what's next for this morning?
what else could it be but a run!

10minutes of stretches before leaving the flat
power walk/stretches for 5mins then off on my run/walk.

http://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_1717617.html

i was out for just under an hour - the route = 3.1miles but that did include some running up and down the steps for the itchen bridge. plus i mustn't over do it. get all over excited and get another injury.

stretches outside my flat then 10mins or so of streches inside.
iced knee with my bag of frozen lidls mixed veg.
shower & feta cheese salad then delicious rhubarb yoghurt.

great start to the day!

30 days to the BHM

saw lauren - phsio this morning. OMG - bottom left calf - really really really painful kneading into my calf muscles. but overall my aches and throbs are what you'd expect someone who's increasing their exercise to be experiencing.  i have been given a training plan:-

• interval training ie.
• 1 min walk
• 1 min sprint
• 1 min walk
• 2 min jog etc..
• stretches
• calves
• quads - both types
• knee exercises
• tennis ball
• outside quads
• calves
• ice after

1. i need to stretch more.
2. at work EVERY time i have a cup of tea i need to do some stretches.
3. also i need to start increasing my distance but NOT too fast. i can do 3miles, lets go to 4.5 but running/walking. but the key is that i really dont want to get silly and over do it.

31 days to the BHM - my number has arrived - i'm #9013 (yellow)

i meant to go for a run today but didnt - i think thats okay... today is a rest day.

i mapped out on mapometer.com what 13miles looks like. quite fancy doing some of it this weekend. it's very doable. but also a really long way.. in the post today was the BHM route - it looks like a really lovely run, but it's also a really really long way!
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

32 days to the BHM

early morning gym session - was working out by 8.05am

• warm up stretches - 5mins
• treadmill
• 10mins @ 5-5.5
• 10mins @ 7.5
• =2.13km
• stretches 10mins
• diverging lat pull down 40lbs x2 sets of 10
• pec fly 40lbs x2 sets of 10
• rear delt 40lbs x2 sets of 10
• then cyling. this time we checked out:-
• the hollywood hills
• sunset crater, arizona
• 8mins = 4.3km

meant to go shopping this evening but instead crashed out on the sofa listening to podcasts on the nfl. i'm knackered.

time for bed.

injury update...
it's wierd. my knee is just a dull ache, my shins are abit sore and my shoulders/upper back are also quite sore. i must book myself a massage.

http://www.everyclick.com/brightonhalfmarathon

33 days to the BHM

what a beautiful sunrise this morning. in fact it looked so beautiful that i felt like i had to be in it. so i went for an early morning run.

just under 2.5miles in 25mins of walking but mainly running. it would have been quicker but i had to wait for a goods train to cross the road to the docks.

busy day at work, havnt done much this evening except surfing the internet and drinking orange squash. will go to the gym tomorrow morning and i really need to clean the flat and do some food shopping for the weekend.

the exciting life of an elite athlete!!

34 days to the Brighton Half Marathon - a red cabbage moment.

not much today.
cycled 5 miles but stayed later than anticipated at work so was absolutly starving by the time i got home. so instead of going to the gym i had supper - left overs from yesterday - OMG - gorgeous...

• slow cooker on high.
• in it at the bottom i placed x1 peeled onion & x2 lemons (scored)
• on top i placed x10 chicken drumsticks which i'd seasoned with "gates" - kansas city's own seasoning and marinate (thanks miss p) plus some garlic, salt & pepper with a splash of water
• left if for nearly 4 hours - absolutley divine.

had with roast potatoes (alot), steamed carrots and red cabbage
(how many of you suddenly had victoria wood in your head... "red cabbage how much?" "red cabbage no idea" - CLASSIC)

and then watched sherlock on iplayer - ooh wasn't last nights episode good! but i could have sworn i watched him jump off the roof... how can he still be alive?

i'm now really quite tired.
i have way too much in my head.

it may even be bedtime.

Sunday 15th January 2012 - walking in the new forest

again - what a beautiful day!

out in the new forest for just under 2hours - quite quite beautiful.

Saturday 14th Jan 2012

what a beautiful morning - cold but bright, sunny and very fresh.
i wrapped up warm for my run - i even wore my packers hat and running gloves - it really was quite chilly. well chilly for a namby pamby southerner from surrey - chums in the mid west would probs think spring has arrived early... in fact the temperature now in southampton is 1 degrees, it's -5 in mpls. for american chums who use fahrenheiht :- southampton is at 45, mpls is at 23. which is pretty cold. i don't think i'd be running outside if visiting now. actually i dont think i'd ever be visiting now. (big hugs and much love to all of you in mpls/st paul - missing you loads xx)

anyways... back to the blog & my saturday morning.
just bedore 9am i let andy in at work so he could fix the loo and then i headed off for my run.

http://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_1699496.html

• stretches and brisk walk as a warm up - approx 10min
• then set my phone's timer for 30mins and headed off into the parks to run/walk for 30mins.
• where i finished is a bridge over the railway tracks to the docks - i ran up, over and down the bridge twice then walked back to work
• the walk back and then stretches in the car park = 10mins
• cup of squash with sharon then home to finish breakfast, shower and listen to the nfl divisional round w/e build up on internet radio (www.espn.go.com)
• GO PACK GO

what a start to a saturday!

http://www.everyclick.com/brightonhalfmarathon