Sneaky pics in Body Pump

Last week my sister tried to take photos of me for this blog but they didn't work (I think she was being kind and there were awful). So she surprised me with some photographs today in Body Pump! So sneaky and lucky she didn't get caught by the wonderful Vicki.

Photographs are not flattering but this is me. It will be nice to see more sneaky ones in a few months time, which will hopefully show a little less of me!  At least I can see my arm position which I can never do in the mirror 🤣

Thankfully no pictures of Body Balance!! 

No ill effects from giving blood so far

Gave blood today for the first time in a few years. We started off on my left arm and then switched to my right arm as the young lady was trying to find a straight vein. Apparently mine are bendy so it ended up at an angle!  Very professional by all staff.  Instead of a bed, they have chairs that go backwards like a pushchair instead. I had to practically jump on and off it though 🤣

No side effects so Body Pump and Body Balance are looking good for tomorrow morning.

Already booked in so I don't need to wake up early and keep refreshing the page.

Booked the next Give Blood session for jist after the marathon! 

Mantra

It was a hard run this morning. It was wet and windy, set out later than planned and my lower back hurt as soon as I started. It was 10 minutes run, 3 minutes walk and 10 minutes run this morning through the puddles. 

Yesterday, looking at the course, my best friend asked me what my mantra was. I replied that when I struggled cycling from Glasgow and Birmingham for Cycling for Harry 2014, it was 'Harry - Jack - Shells'. I had great support from the team (especially 'Dad Simon') but when I was really hurting, I was just saying their names over and over. Thinking about it this morning also reminded me of the support of Sue Wilson and reminded me of Billy (Peter) and Frank, who we have also sadly lost since then.  

During the last 5 minutes of today's run, my mantra extended to other special people who we have lost to Cancer. It reminded why I was running and it was just 5 minutes more running....  

I saw my cousin's childhood friend who lives down the road as I was on my cool down walk and she said I was doing well. I've run past her twice now and seen her on my way to Body Pump so that gave me a little lift! 

I am looking forward to the next run which will be 25 minutes, I seem to do better at the non-stop ones, I hope! 

It took 20 minutes for my red face to go! 

116 days...

Another wet run

The run today was spilt between running and walking again:

Walk - 5 mins

Run - 5 mins

Walk - 3 mins

Run - 8 mins

Walk - 3 mins

Run - 5 mins

Cool down walk - 5 mins

It was a wet and windy run but not as wet on the ground as the previous wet run. 

Body Balance - Yesterday

Earlier class as Jules's 7pm cancelled as it was a bank holiday. The class was with Vicki.  Managed all the routinue but at my level, abs was hard after body pump abs. 

Body Pump - Yesterday 

Additional session for me as morning class with Vicki (but no pump this evening).  It was biceps instead of triceps 😀 and dynamic as well as static lunges so I was able to complete that section. Vicki said Saturday's would be static (so I'll be lunging some!). 

The new release will start on 7th January, I only managed to book Balance last night as Pump kept coming up with errors as the places were being booked up. 

20 mins run and signed up for Races

Completed my first 20 minutes run in years! Week 5 of Couch to 5K finished with 5 mins walk, 20 minutes run and 5 mins walk. 

Green section must have been the downhill part! I kept a steady pace all the way around so I wasn't out of breathe. My legs were aching for the Toxic 15 but I felt okay. It really is mind over matter at around 15-17 minutes I was overthinking it but if it had been 25 run, then I think I would have been okay for longer. 

When I was running 10 miles, I just kept running a steady pace and it didn't bother me until I was nearly home. I think it was physiological on the way home, however at events it is different because you want to get ahead of the person you have been following for a while and I was usually able to have a little sprint at the end.

I was trying to remember my fastest times, I think it is:

5K - 28 minutes

10k - 58 minutes

Half marathon- 2 hours and 12 minutes

I cannot remember any of the seconds mind! It was a few years ago now. 

I have been looking at various races that I could enter based on my Beginners Marathon Schedule.

Signed up to parkrun for 5K 

Howletts

After the run, we went to Howletts to take photographs of the Big Cats. Had to be patient with a few of them as they have lots of hiding spaces as well as access to their inside enclosures and it isn’t the warmest of weather today. It will be probably be the last time we see the elephants as they are all being rewilded to Kenya. 

Merry Christmas

Had a day off from exercise today, mainly because it is Christmas Day but also because my run tomorrow is 20 minutes - my longest non-stop run. 

I've been reading my new running magazines. One has a feature on first time marathon runners and the other has a feature on How to be a runner.  

When I was running 10 miles regularly the first 2 or 3 miles were always uncomfortable. One of the articles is saying that cardio activity requires your body to warm up and adapt to exercise and the first 15 mins is called the Toxic 15.  Once you get to 30 minutes, running becomes easier, which I have found to be true in the past. 

Both magazines also write about the warm up and stretches, which I have just started to do now the running section is longer. One magazine suggests 4 exercises; high knee lift, squat jump, moutain climber and kneeling glute lift for 30-60 secs each. 

In terms of stretches, it says there are a good way to prepare your muscles and joints for running but avoid static stretches (15 seconds of each stretches). Instead, it suggests dynamic stretches (controlled movement stretches) like high knees, heel kicks, walking lunges so I will stick to Vicki's type of warm up which incorporates both. I just need to have a proper plan instead of trying to memorise what she does and doing a poor job of it, which is what I have been doing.  

Also the magazine mentions setting up different goals and time periods. Either with the old SMART goal setting from OU.

Specific 

Measurable

Achievable

Relevant

Timely

Or 1-2-3 and setting up short, medium and long term goals:

Short term 

Run more regularly

3 times a week

4 weeks

Strava

Completed 

Medium term

Finishing couch to 5K

3 times a week

9 weeks

Following BBC Couch to 5K and Strava

On Week 5

Long Term Goal

London Marathon 

Following Couch to 5K which ties in with the London Marathon's beginner plan from 1st January

23rd April!!

I'm looking forward to the run tomorrow although slightly apprehensive. It is the mind that is the issue. Every time I think I'm doing okay, then I am not! It is annoying so I need to work on that. Although my tablets have really improved my overthinking anxiety, I need to still manage the negative thoughts. 

Christmas Classes

I didn't get places for today's classes until 7.30 this morning for Body Pump and yesterday for Body Balance.

Body Pump

We joined the Aerobics group for the photo! You can just about see me hidden!

Me, Tonks and Sarah set up and ready to go...  

                  Has flashing lights too!! 

It was so hot in Body Balance - same weights as before.  It was static weights for the lunges. Vicki said we could do squats if we couldn't carry on with the lunges. My hamstrings are so tight so I again I couldn't do all the lunges. 

Body Balance

Hard work as usual. Hamstrings still hurt at the end. 

Help Harry Help Others

Help Harry Help Others' Christmas Message

Please click above to see why I'm running for HHHO. 

Puddles

Wet run this morning. The rain was quite refreshing but puddles everywhere. Got home and my cap, jacket and trainers were soaked. Good run though. 8 mins run, 5 mins walk, 8 mins run. 

myzone is still not stopping properly. It carries on recording after I have named a new session and taken the belt off. 

Not sure how she does it?

So today was going to be a rest day until my sister messaged me to say that there was a space in Total Body Conditioning at 9:30am and don't forget to book Circuits on New Year's Day!

Total Body Conditioning is:

Non stop with weights and dumbbells. I can't use a step due to my ankles so I do the exercises on the floor. Totally shattered after running and Body Pump yesterday.

Me: I'll see you Saturday 

Tanya: what no circuits tomorrow?

Me: I'm running in the morning

Tanya: Probably not then

Me: No probably not

Tanya: No body pump tonight then?

Me: No! 

I don't know how she does it?!  It is not like she uses little weights either.....  

Why the blog?

I have a physical diary, the same style that I have used for the past two years. I get them from The Inspired Stories on Etsy.

It allows me to put in my goals, reviews etc and then I deface it all with stickers; what I am reading, watching, exercise, vitamins, theatre trips, days out etc. It keeps me grounded, having anxiety I need to know what is happening. It can also cloud my short term memory, especially things I do regularly. So journalling is my space for me to be me! 

So why the blog? It is instant and I can add on images from Strava, Couch to 5K etc. It will show my improvements. When I start my fundraising mid-January, it will show people that I am training and working hard towards completing it. 

Body Balance - last night

My left knee and hamstring were hurting before but I still managed to participate. Got two feet off the ground for The Crow but only for an instance.

Another Windy Run - this morning

Today's run was 3 x 5 minutes of running. The last 5 minutes was hard as I was running into the wind and on a slight incline. Onwards and upwards.

Body Pump - this evening

Killer lunges tonight, had to squat a few instead. They have replaced some of the weights with new ones.

Windy Run this morning

It was a windy run this morning but felt good. However the wind was in my face and I lost my breathing technique for a minute so had to work harder to get it back. 

Then I walked 3 miles.

Next week's plan changes with each run for the first time. 

Week 5, Run 1

Warm up - 5 mins walk

Run - 5 mins

Walk - 3 mins

Run - 5 mins

Walk - 3 mins

Run - 5 mins

Cool down - 5 mins walk

31 mins

Week 5, Run 2

Warm up - 5 mins walk

Run - 8 mins

Walk - 5 mins

Run - 8 mins

Cool down - 5 mins walk

31 mins

Week 5, Run 3

Warm up - 5 mins walk

Run - 20 mins

Cool down - 5 mins walk

30 mins

Plans for the rest of December

Monday 19th December 

Couch to 5K Week 4, Run 3

Tuesday 20th December

Body Balance (booked)

Wednesday 21st December 

Couch to 5K Week 5, Run 1

Body Pump (booked)

Thursday 22nd December

Rest

Friday 23th December

Couch to 5K Week 5, Run 2

Possibly circuits (booked)

Out to the theatre

Saturday 24th December - Christmas Eve

Body Pump (place needed)

BodY Balance (place needed)

Sunday 25th December - Christmas Day

No classes 

Monday 26th December - Boxing Day

No classes 

Couch to 5K Week 5, Run 3

Tuesday 27th December 

Normal body balance cancelled

Body Pump and Body Balance - morning - would need to book

Wednesday 28th December

Couch to 5K Week 6, Run 1

Normal Body Pump cancelled

Possibly Aerotone - booked

Thursday 29th December 

Not clear what classs are on yet

Friday 30th December 

Couch to 5K Week 6, Run 2

Not clear what classs are on yet

Saturday 31st December - New Year's Eve

Not clear what classs are on yet

Love the weekends

Originally planned to watch the school play football so I cancelled Saturday's classes. So when the match was cancelled on Friday morning, I spent yesterday morning waiting for cancellations which I managed to get. Both classes were fully booked as usual.

Body Pump

Nearly got through the whole routine but it is those lunges again. I miss out a couple to shake my legs out. Usual weights so no improvements.

Using 2 x 2.5kg (purple) for warm up and chest and back exercises; 2 x 1.25kg (pink) for triceps and biceps; if I use any weights for squats it is 1 x 2.5kg and nothing for the lunges. 

Body Balance

Worst part: Tai Chi introduction 

Best part: Swan 

Improvement: managed to do Sun Salutation better at the end, plank not on knees and extended arms in the Cobra

Managed to be a little quicker getting into the Dancer position. 

Circuits

Same routine as last week, which is a nice class.

The weights put out are too heavy for me so I get smaller ones and carry them around 🤣. I use 2 x 1.5kg (third smallest).

1st station

Side lunge, reach up

Curtsey, bicep curl

Front cross lunge; shoulder press

2nd station

Side raise

Front raise

Rear deltoids

3rd station

Plank - weight reach through 

Plank - arm row

Plank to bear 

(On knees)

4th station

Press ups

Chest press

Tricep press up with side plank (knees)

5th station

Wide squats (no weight) 

Clean & press

Triple deadrow

Tried slow burpees, my one to my sister's two! 

That was cold..

The days are ticking down...

Managed to get out early this morning. Slippery in places so was careful. Fingers would not warm up even with gloves on. Pleased to be back out there and felt okay. 

Snow = an interruption

MONDAY

Was not expecting to wake up to this view on Monday morning. I couldn't go running as the paths obviously not gritted. I was tempted but was told not too in case I fell and have to take longer time off for running. I brought my gym stuff to work with the intention of using the dreaded treadmill at the gym. However, when I went to find my headphones as people were too loud on the train for me to study, I realised that I had brought my laptop mouse instead of my headphone case! So I didn't go as I need music and also Jo Whiley talking me through couch to 5K.

TUESDAY

Brought my gym stuff to work again along with my Yoga mat so my left knee and lower back was aching a little. Decided to go on the treadmill before Body Balance however due to the train strike, I only had 19 mins instead of the time needed so I did:

5 mins warm up

3 mins run

90 secs walk

5 mins run

2 mins walk

1 min run

1.5 mins cool down

Then went to Body Balance where my body ached but my pilates socks stayed on.  Favourite part is the recovery stretch: Modified Pigeon.  The more than advanced move onto King Pigeon and Mermaid. However I cannot bend my back leg without getting cramp in my hamstrings and I do not have the flexibility to grab hold of my foot behind my head.  So I do the 

Likewise it takes me ages to do the Dancer pose. It takes me so long to grab the inside of my foot whilst my leg has kick back into a bend that the move is nearly finished. I also have trouble with the standing quad/hip flexor stretch for the same reason. 

WEDNESDAY

Snuck in a an extra Body Pump at 7.00pm, with the lovely Vicki, and my sister Tanya of course. Kept to my usual weights but couldn't manage with the lunges with 4 pulses (no weights) and the press up and side plank rotation.

May try and keep that up so Body Pump, Wednesdays and Saturdays (or Sundays); Body Balance, Tuesdays and Saturdays and Running, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (until I have to do great distances on Sundays). 

THURSDAY

The pavements are still bad at home. I'm hoping it is a little better tomorrow as I really want to go running outside.

Circuits Sunday

It was so cold this morning, foggy and frosty. People started the warm up with gloves and jackets still on.  My sister tried to get me to do Body Pump again this morning but I didn't want to risk not being able to run tomorrow. I am already worried about snow and ice affecting my running routine. 

Next week my plan is:

Monday - Couch to 5K Week 4, Run 2

Tuesday - Body Balance

Wednesday - Couch to 5K Week 4, Run 3

Body Pump

Thursday - Rest

Friday - Couch to 5K Week 4, Run 3 

Break for the Christmas Holidays

Saturday - Rest as watching the school football team

Sunday - Body Pump and Circuits

The classes depend on me being able to get there with the various strikes being held at the moment. 

Brought a book on sale yesterday at the Works, when I was looking for aa book on running. Really interesting. Although Vicki is good ensuring out technique is good, as a visual leaner (cannot always see myseld in the mirror at the gym) it might help me understand it better.

I have just ordered the running and yoga versions as well.