Last day in January 31/1 :)

Well... 

I didn't quite make it to strength and conditioning this eve as I was just too tired to go and it was just too wet outside. But I did make it to hurtbox. Great session :)

Day 30 - RL LRR then tri club swimming

Back to work :(
I wasn't looking forward to it. I've decided I'd like to stop work and just run. I'll be doing the lottery this week.

Run leader for group A - Josh did hills at the sports centre. I love run leading.

Then cycled home to grab my swim bag. I was a couple of minutes late.

So many new members. It's brilliant. Coach Steve mixed it up abit with core work on the side of the pool while the others raced four lengths side by side. Was great fun.

100m - 2.13.49
100m - 2.14.26
100m - 2.14.08
100m - 2.15.47

That would be a sub nine min 400m. I'm def getting better, stronger, faster.

29th Jan - day two marathon weekend.

Ended up.setting alarm for 6am so I'd be able to eat and be fine to run at 8am.i went back to bed.

7k loop which we all ran together then most of us did another 7k loop. Was magnificent. Uneven, undulating, amazing views. Brilliant fun.

I did 14k 1:54.52
Happy with that.

Back to lodge, showered.

Then rest of weekend was seminars and workshops. Pacing, negative thinking - the chimp. Another amazing luncheon then had a calf massage, talk on nutrition, kit. The time just flew.

Long run - anything over two hours.

Kelly dropped me home.
Pizza.
TV.

28th Jan - day 1 marathon weekend

What a packed day!!
Breakfast with the lodge gang then Jon, Elinore and Kelly arrived.

Started with getting to know each other one truth one lie then moved onto goal.settibg and why we run. Outside for an intervals.sessio.

4mins out then 4mins back at marathon pace (2mins rest)
3mins out then 3mins back at half marathon pace (2mins rest)
2mins out then 2mins back at 10k pace twice
1min out then 1mim back at 5k pace three times.
Still two.mins rest between each interval.

Back to lodge, S&C routine that we can do at home then stretches.

Shower then.lunch - Gary and Lisa cooking. Delicious.

Afternoon was mainly marathon planning and cake. Then some downtime before out to dinner to the Crown.

I did open the prosecco but really we were all shattered!

Friday 27/1 - Hurtbox then the Runcamp marathon weekend

Loved the hurtbox session but I did have to.lower my ftp to 145 as quite tired. My goal now is to cycle an entire session without stopping.

Luncheon at Tamsyn's then home to pack for the weekend.

Omg, I packed enough clothes for a month. I panic packed leg warmers for goodness sake!!!!

Vik took me out. So happy.

Ant and Lindsey then Stave, James, Sarah also staying at the lodge with Jon and Elinore doing day passes.

Queens Head in Burley. All quite tired so when got back had a cup.of tea then retired to room to unpack and chill.

Day 26 - mabes abit of plantar fasciitis :(

Right foot, instep. Sore. Like I've walked over a shingle beach and now the sole of my foot is bruised. 

Blast.

Have rested it today as I've got the marathon weekend this weekend. Hopefully it'll sort itself out but I maybe should take my little wooden balls to roll under my foot. 

Lovely day.

Lie in. Rose for afternoon tea and library then Sharon and Karyns' for supper and wine.

25th Jan - Happy birthday to meeeeeeeeeeee :)

What a fantastic 48th birthday.
Train to Winchester then ran back to Southampton along the Itchen navigation canal with Jenny and Loraine. 20k three hours 10mins - but that did include stopping to look at the map and walking carefully over very slippy thick mud. Oh and of course taking selfies and enjoying the views.

Was tired by the end. Feet hurt too. Need to get much stronger for Brighton and the half IMs.

Then chilled, chatted to Kaz and neice Katie and Skype'd with the Carters up north.

Harbour Lights to watch LaLa Land. Enjoyed but can't quite see what all the fuss is about.

Then spent an hour catching up.with Facebook :)

Top top day x

Day 24 - and the day before my bday :)

Love today as it's the day before my bday plus this year it's my last day at work till 30/1 :)

Strength and conditioning at Tauntons - pyramid of pain.
Steam engines
Press ups
Scissor kicks
Wall squats
Lunges

Then Hurtbox - roller-coaster with Suzanne and Carl. Such an amazing feeling of achievement when you finish a session. Love it so much.
I don't however hugely love the actual session!!!!

Chilling.
I'm 48 in just over 30mins.
Wasn't I just 28 the other day? Living with the boys, working at ockie books, partying pretty much every night??? I can't quite believe that was twenty years ago back in 1997!

So excited for 2017.
Things are a changing for lizzie lou. Just not quite sure what yet xx

Day 23 - no running

Does attending a run leaders meeting count? Probably not but it was wonderful to be discussing all things running with a lovely bunch of like minded men and women.

I do love my running club - Lordshill Road Runners :)

Runuary day 22 - NFC championship game.

Marshalled the cc6 in the new forest - the sunrise, the frost, the sunshine. It was really quite magical. Also so pleased not to be running!!

Had second bfast with Jenny and Suzanne at Jenny's when we got back.

Had afternoon tea with the girls - starting my bday celebartions.

Then we lost to the falcons 44-21.

Great day. Bugger about the ending though x

Runuary day 21 - Parkrun.

What s great day. Training at work today so arrived at 35 the Ave by 8:15am so I could set up then go do Parkrun.

33.11
Very pleased with that as I paused for just under a minute at 4k to hug Claire and have a mini catch up. Meant I was then able to finish the run with marathon buddy Sam :)

A bit of chit chat then back to work for tea, toast and a complete change of clothes.

I also spent 90mins this afternoon at Awaaz fm on the Danny and Sunny show talking all things No Limits. Had a lovely time. Maybe I should do more radio. Perhaps a podcast? If I do I'll start out small as talking for just five minutes non stop is exhausting.

Early night as marshaling the cc6 tomorrow morning - being picked us at Jenny's by Suzanne at 7:30am!

Runuary day 20 - HB, quick run and a chocolate epiphany

The Hurtbox race night session was the London 2012 TT course. Mike won, then Richard, Suzanne and me at the back.

I managed about 11miles of the 27mile course in 45mins. Sir Bradley Wiggins who won the gold did it in about 54mins. So alot quicker than me.

Plus I did struggle to keep to at least 80% of my ftp for the whole 45mins. Siiiiiigh. However I've got loads of time till the Swashbuckler middle distance triathlon middle of May. I'd like to get my average mph to at least 15mph so I can do the 56miles in under 4 hours. Ideally in under three and a half hours.

Then I channelled Marcus and thought just pop your bike in the shed, take off your coat and run round the block - just do a mile.
I ran for 13.45.16
Happy with that.

Five days till my bday.

Missed sending cards to Sally, Yukiko and now Emma :(
I hope my friends and family aren't as flaky as I am!!!

Oh, and my chocolate epiphany? To not buy any until after the Brighton marathon. I'm not saying I won't have any, I just won't buy any. I can't just get a freddo when I've got a chocolate craving. I buy instead a pack of four Mars bars for a pound and then eat them all one after another with a cup of tea.

And this starts from now xx

No running, saw the Vince Lombardi trophy instead

No Runuary today. I reckon I need to consider running in the morning before work.

Today I mostly went to the NFLUK fan forum at St Mary's Stadium with Stuart and Jez. Such brilliant fun :)

Day 18 Runcamp at the track with LRR

Really enjoyed today. Didn't need to rush into work afterall so was able to enjoy my usual 90minute breakfast :)

Work - fine. Managed to get quite abit of reading done which is such a luxury.

Up to the track for 7pm.
Speed intervals with Coach Ant from Runcamp.

x4 2mins then 2mins rest.
x6 90secs then 90secs rest
x8 30secs then 60seca rest.

A's to hang out with XX then home.  OMG it's cold!!!

And now rewatching Mason Crosby's game winning 51 yard field goal with three seconds left. I will never tire of seeing that :)

Day 17 - awesome Hurtbox session :)

Check out my HB report - hardly any stoppages during the actual set tonight. The stoppages were during the recovery. Absolutely delighted.
Was so tough.

But I kept going. Even when my legs were screaming at me to stop. As Suzanne so eloquently put it we were all in our own private hell during the effort sets, especially the last two of 130% for a minute each.

Plus I was at Tauntons 7-8pm for James' LRR strength and conditioning session. The session was the burpee in all its individual bits - squat, double leg mountain climbers, arm straight plank, press up, squat jump then either burpees or steam engines. Great session. Tough. I'm going to be sore tomorrow xx

Day 16 - 1st time helping to RL a session :)

Sooooo excited - finally getting the chance to run lead!!!

Day 15 - Stubbington 10k in the rain.

What a fabulous morning. Saw so many running chums and did a sub 70minute 10k for the first time in years :)

My watch 67.02
Chip time 66.59

I did 5k in about 33.20. I'd be happy with both my 5k times if I'd got either of them at Parkrun!

I'm still not a natural runner and yes I love it but also I'd much prefer to be having a lie in as opposed to running in the cold and wet.

Relieved to have brought a complete set of dry clothes to change into. Tea, biscuits and a cheese roll. Just what I needed while talking about the race with running buddies.

The rest of the day though, didn't really do much. As I get stronger, fitter, I'm rather hoping my recovery from an event won't take the entire day!!!

I'm now watching the NFC Divisional Round - Packers at Cowboys. Soooooooooooooooooo stressful xx

Runuary day 14 - no running!

Well...

Didn't actually run today. I'd hoped to but it just didn't happen in the end.

Instead - a tough swim.set via coach Huw then tea and toasted tea cakes at Tudor House museum with Suzanne then decathlon to get a new bike lock.

Home for lunch then off to Fareham for the afternoon.

Home for supper then out to The Brew House to meet the girls for drinks and new years resolutions.

And now?
Watching a bit of the Falcons / Seahawks while updating blog and sorting out Stubbington 10k bits and bobs for tomorrow

Great day.
Quite a lot of it though experienced while a bit hungover x

Day 13 in the bag :)

21.38mins run on the common at lunchtime :)

Cocktails and shed loads of white wine spritzers for Michael's birthday - also check x

Day thirteen = awesome fun.

Day 12 - 4.2miles in 54 gentle minutes :)

What god awful weather! Rain, cold. I so very nearly blew out LRR's club run from Oasis Lordshill school. Soooooooooooooooooo glad I didn't!!

4.2mile cycle.
4.2mile run.
4.2mile cycle home (via K&S's for a cuppa tea and a glass of red wine)

Such a lovely route. Can't wait to do it in the summer / during the day when I can see everything around me. I love Southampton - so.many gorgeous places to run that take you into the countryside even though we're a major city.

Even more excited to run.lead now :)

And guess who I met for lunch? Only Geoff over from Bloomington, Minnesota. How wonderful is that!

Day 11 - Hurtbox and a run :)

Today was a long day. 10am - 8pm at work with two meal breaks. Didn't want to bonk on the bike now did I?!

So glad I went and did the hurtbox session. As you can see from the picture I did flag by the end but didn't ask Ant to lower my ftp even though I was knackered by the end.

Then because it's Runuary I decided to run home. 15mins.
I would have cycled abit but my chain was stuck. Wouldn't go round. God only k own what the heck I've done. Will need to investigate tomorrow morning before work. Siiiiiigh.

I'm loving Runuary x

Day 10 S&C but no HB

Oh boy what a day :)
Busy busy busy x

But also feeling a bit hot, headachey and tired :(

Strength and conditioning at Tauntons college with Lordshill Road Runners was brilliant as per usual. But there was absolutely no way I'd then be able.to do a Hurtbox session.

I went home and ate alot of pasta and chocolate instead.

Day nine's Runuary run didn't quite go according to plan...

Today was supposed to be my first proper I'm a Run Leader for Lordshill session. Was nervous but excited. Plus I wasn't going to be the actual main leader but would be introduced as a run leader to the group but Josh would be doing the actual run leading.

Was steaming up Hill lane.
Wasn't late but was cutting it a bit fine. I'd needed to drop car passes for tri club at the Quays and our train from Andover after visiting The Junction didn't get back into Southampton until 5:34pm so was having to do everything very fast.

So was steaming up Hill lane when bam, hit a pot hole. Got a flat tire :(

Blast.
Stopped. Turned around. Popped pannier on the other side of the bike rack. Grabbed the saddle and jogged back home.

2.2miles
25mins.
Was quite tired as not only was I running but I was also doing some upper body strength work too!

Home.
Took me about twenty mins to fix. Def getting quicker :)

Tri club meeting, home, TV, bed.
I've now been for a run every day for nine days. Loving it.

Day 8 - CC6 at Badgers Farm - 5 miles of mud and hills in the fog.

Of course it would have been better if it wasn't so foggy as the views I'm sure would have been awesome!

I felt great but o couldn't go any faster. I wasn't tired. I wasn't injured. I just didn't have any higher gears. I wonder when I'll get my higher gears?  I reckon the issue is my running fitness and carrying to much weight.

13 weeks to Brighton.
Let's see if I can get rid of at least a stone.

Solent Running Sisters helping to.marshal so lovely to see various chums on route. Ended up running with Sally from Hardley. She was 78th, I was 79th.

Quite tired though. I should have done some stretches / had a nap.
Such a fantastic way to spend a Sunday morning :)

Collected XX from stables / stayed for supper.

Now watching / listening to the Giants / Packers, wildcard round game at Lambeau. 6-7 just before the end of the first half. This could end up being a very stressful game!

Day 7 - intervals, parkrun and champagne

7:30am at Southampton sports centre. That's early!

Coached intervals session with James LRR
400m fast then 400m jog back to start - repeat.

2.14.99
2.14.34
2.16.92
2.13.89
2.13.13
Approx 4k of running then some s&c

Cycled home via common to say hi to anyone parkrunning.
Ended up parkrunning with Sam and Jo!
33.05.19
Was tired but still felt strong at the end but def putting in more effort.

Train to London to Matt and Luc's

I don't like Bloody Marys - I'd of much preferred the mix in a bowl with a spoon and some crunchy bread.

But I do like champagne :)

Day six of running is in the bag :)

I couldn't see how I was going to get a run in before work - too much watching TV and eating breakfast to be done. Then after work - Simon and Louise's private show, buying of prosecco and being in for the night.

So I took my PE kit to work and went for a 20.48 run at lunchtime round the common. Returned back to work a bit sweaty and feeling fabulous. Changed back into work clothes as my pizza cooked in the oven.

I'll def be doing this again :)

Day five of Runuary :)

Runcamp is doing Runuary - as in you try and run every day on January - at least one mile or fifteen mins.

Day five - got back from a cuppa at B's after work and Asda.
9:20pm.
Was pretty cold.

There's no way I'd of gone out if I wasn't a part of Runuary. Instead of thinking ooh home, hoorah, pj's on snuggle in blankie in front of the TV. I thought I've got to go out for at least fifteen minutes. I can't bottle the challenge after just four days!!!!!

So I put away my shopping, pulled on my PE kit and nipped out for a cold, steady 19minute run.

Needless to say I now feel fabulous :)

Runcamp coached LRR session

A massive turnout at the track for coach Ant :)

8 mins at 10k pace, 2 mins recovery walk back to start.
3 mins at 5k pace, 2 mins recovery walk back to start.
30 secs FAST 60 secs recovery jog then another 30 secs FAST
Think it was 2 mins recovery walk back to start

Then repeat.

I misheard so was doing the 2nd set thinking it was the 30secs fast instead of the 8min run at 10k pace so of course I'm dying wondering why I can't hear Ant's whistle to say recovery jog. New chum Wendy's like 'we've still got another just over seven minutes to run'. I pretty much slammed on the brakes!! Hilarious. Just shows you how important it is to listen to instructions xx

Great session, then cycled home via a cuppa with R&Z :)

1st day back at work!

Omg, I'm shattered!
Woke up at 3am, couldn't get back to sleep so read my new Jack Reacher novel from a charity shop for a few hours. Consequently I'm now rather tired as I've been up about 20 hours.

Also I went to strength and conditioning at Tauntons college with Lordshill Road Runners and then did a Hurtbox session afterwards. These have obviously contributed to my I'm so tired I can barely function state I am currently in. Bedtime.

The S&C session was as per usual brilliant fun and the Hurtbox session was tough. The session was called legs of steel or mabes feel the burn. Basically my legs are very sore now. By the end of the session I was stopping alot :(

Aaah well.
Reckon I'm getting stronger.

A gentle 22mins round the block

I nearly didn't go out this morning. It was 10ish, I wanted my bfast and told myself I could easily run after I'd eaten. Then I read a post in the Runcamp 365 Facebook page and realised I just needed to put my PE kit on and go run.

I'm doing Runuary where I hope to run every day - at least a mile or 15mins. I easily managed 22.04mins but then decided I really was hungry so best head home for breakfast.

I also started a training plan for January but still not sure if I'm run leading the LRR A group beginners on a Thursday eve. Can't fill out my plan until I know what I'm doing :)

Paid my LRR annual subs.
Need to join SRS
Paid my January Hurtbox subs
Need to finish my tri club welcome letter.
Watched alot of TV - Wisconsin Badgers won their bowl game.
I ate alot off food.

A great 'day before its time to go back to work day' x

Parkrun 1/1/17 :)

And now we're finally into 2017!!!!

Pam's first ever Parkrun :)
Anabel and I ran it with her. Such a lovely way to meander into 2017. 39minutes exactly.

I felt great, could have easily of done it again and probably easily of done it again again. This bodes well for the upcoming year.

Right knee was a tad tingie right on the front of the knee as if someone had hit my funny bone. Will need to keep an eye on that

New Years Eve 31/12/16

Hurtbox 29/12/16 - hardly any stops!

27/12/16 - fish course of luncheon :)

26/12/16 Boxing day run 43.50.39

25/12/16 Christmas day run - 1:01.03

Mountain biking 24/12/16 Ranmore common

HB 23/12/16

Final week of 2016 :)

I'm going to do a quick recap as didn't manage to actually post anything. Obviously my operation fit and healthy new years resolution for 2017 is to keep my blog up to date!!

23/12 nine of us at hurtbox! Then off to Dorking.
24/12 7k mountain bike ride with Nic. Bit scarred about the slippiness of the bike on the mud and utterly knackered by the ride. Road cycling so much easier.
25/12 out for an hour of running via Beccie's and the rabbits.
26/12 approx 43 mins of running - rabbits first then onto the common.
27/12 approx 25 mins of running - Gladstone Road and back :) Plus Rogue One.
28/12 cycled to Eastleigh for 4.5miles in 51.48.17 with Jo and Sian.
29/12 hurtbox session 5:30-6:30pn - alot less stopping! Then Ocean Village Mangos.
30/12 rest :) Rogue One 3D
31/12 tri club then saw in the New year with the girls.

Awesome fun.
Pics will now follow x