Always Hurdles

I thought I would quickly write something as I have not blogged for nearly 2 weeks...again! I think this is what I am up against as far as trying to keep up some sort of fitness regime and continue with a busy working mum life! I read other blogs such as "lil runner" and think WOW how does she do it?  It certainly gives me inspiration to read their blogs but still doesn't help with actually getting out there!

I have an excuse this time. I have been trying to get over a viral bug which has been causing a dry, irritating cough. Together with the fact that we have just got ourselves a new puppy (see below) and I think I may have a mild allergy to her fluffy fur! I have had a bit of a wheeze and itchy eyes. So the combination has not been good and has been keeping me up at night coughing to my hearts content. Very annoying. It dawned on me today that I don't need to go out for a run,  which I don't feel will help my symptoms at the moment. So watch this space. I have a day off on Friday so hope to do something. xx

"Misty"  a border collie at 9 weeks old

Just Run!

I had hoped to run yesterday morning before work and as usual I was so tired that it wasn't so appealing at 6.45am in the morning and then the day whizzed by. By the time I got home from work at 5.30 I really didn't feel like running. It's a constant battle in my head. Paul suggested I chilled last night with a glass of wine ( not a bad suggestion after all) and run today. I am lucky this week as my mother in law is here to visit and help out with the kids so I took advantage of that today. After I announced to Paul that I was going for a run and could I borrow his stopwatch he just said don't bother with that, just run. Mmm what a good idea. I'll push myself and see how far I can run for. I took my running gear and went straight from work. I decided this might be a better idea....no excuses really.
I decided to go to my old favourite, the seafront, as it really can't be compared to running along the roadside. Dusk was just beginning and the seaviews were spectacular. Here is the view I started off with before I started my run.

It was a beautiful sunny day today and I was looking forward to my run and then when I stepped outside at 5.30pm rain looked imminent. Another battle in my head....NO you are going to do this! Anyway, I was already changed and needed to do it. Luckily it stayed dry for the duration.

As I started off, I decided I would follow Pauls advice and just run. I ran for 15 minutes! Yeehah. It felt good. After all that 2 mins, 3 mins stopping and starting, and now I'm able to run 15 mins! Yes, I had to get over that initial bit of Oh my god, I'm not going to be able to do this but it was worth it.  At least now I know I can do it and it's upto me to go further. I will. xx

Brrrr..

I am writing this again in retropsect! I am working the weekend and knew that there was no way I would do any exercise today after going to a friends house last night for curry & beer! At least I have some reality in my thoughts. Rewind 29 hours.......

I had my running gear ready for Saturday morning and I did it!! I was up and out running yesterday morning at 7.30am! Wayhey! It was bloomin cold and I did think more than once "are you mad??" It's mid October, very early morning, before work and I'm running.  I'm just so pleased with myself that I actually crawled out of bed and did it! Pat on the back for me.

It was a struggle having not run for 2 weeks. However I tried to step it up a bit and am now running for 3 mins a time and walk for a min or so. I say or so because after my 4th set I really was struggling and had to walk for just a wee bit longer. I ran along the thanet way rather than jumping in my car to the seafront. For those of you that don't know it, it is a straight busy road from my house which goes all the way to Herne Bay. Rather boring compared to the sea views but also quite handy for a quick run. It was quite windy as well so had "windy ears" again which isn't pleasant. I must get a headband or similar. The cold is here to stay now I think.

Today I am feeling the beginnings of muscle ache in my thighs. Strange as this is the first time I have ached post run? I stretched afterwards like usual. I imagine it will be worse tomorrow as it usually is 2 days later. As Paul will tell me it is called DOMS "Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness". xx

I'm Back........

Yippeee...I finally did some exercise today! Wow that was a long 2 weeks in terms of not doing any exercise! Due to Pauls work pattern it has been impossible to get out there and exercise plus a little lack of motivation!

I had planned to go to a boxercise class on Tuesday, held at my work at 6pm, after Paul had finished nights and then he announced to me on Tuesday morning ..' oh I forgot I have an outpatients appointment at the hospital at 515pm'. Bang went that plan.

Anyway, today I had a day off from work. Yay! No excuses really which is why I was determined to do something. I was all geared up to go for a run and had planned to step it up so I was running for a bit longer before walking. I got myself ready, ipod on, stopwatch ready and where are my trainers? I started searching frantically and knew I had not seen them since we went to Basingstoke when I took my running gear with me. As soon as I realised that, I knew where they were. You see, my dear husband has a habit of unloading the car when we come back from a weekend away but leaving a few things still lying around such as kids toys, books, TRAINERS!  In other words he never empties the car fully! Typically he had the car parked in Canterbury Ambulance Station today! So he got an earfull on his answerphone today whilst at work. I was so geared up to go out that I nearly cried with frustration. So while I was still fuelled up I ran upstairs changed into my swimming costume and left for the pool.

It was lunchtime lanes and as I mentioned in my last swimming entry...slow swimmers in the fast lane wind me up!  However, lucky for me it was 3 lanes wide so I had plenty of room to overtake. I really enjoyed my swimming session and I am going to go more often. I think I have been running more because I feel I need more improvement in that area since I really can't run for more than 3-4 minutes yet!

Swimming Distance  - 1600 mtrs (64 lengths)

I am working this weekend but hope to either swim or run before work on Saturday x

Feeling bad

It's been a week tomorrow and I haven't done any exercise!! Arghh! I'm not enjoying this feeling at all. I felt the need to share this as I am desperate to go out there but genuinely have not had the time (other than sunday when I had planned to get up and go but was nursing a hangover instead!)

Yes we went away at the weekend and I took my swimming and running gear with me. I had all intentions of going out on the Sunday but got carried away on Saturday night and woke up with a self inflicted hangover! Serves me right!

So here I am feeling very unhappy with myself for not getting out there. Paul will be working all this week so realistically I am not going to get out for a run until Saturday. Maybe I could go for a swim one evening when he gets in from work? That's a challenge. Swimming late at night. Haven't done that in a while. I think I need to step up my committment to exercising if I am going to get anywhere with this! I hope next time you blog in, I will have achieved something! xx

When it rains it pours!

Well I had all intentions of getting up this morning. My clothes were all ready on the landing from the night before, my alarm went off at 6.45am and I turned it off and rolled over! I'm just not a morning person, as anyone who knows me will agree! I was managing to get up early a few weeks ago but that novelty has worn off already! I was battling in my head but again the thought of an extra half an hour in bed got the better of me.
So for the rest of the day I was really annoyed with myself as I thought that was really my only opportunity this week to do a run until Saturday. You see Paul is back on nights, so early mornings or after work runs really aren't in the question.
I returned home from work just after 5 and Paul presented me with a very bright pink running jacket that he bought me today. Reduced from 45 pounds to 15..bargain. The kids were eating their dinner and he said go now if you want to get a run in before I go. So I ran upstairs to change before he changed his mind!
Rather than drive to the seafront as I have been doing, I decided to run from the house which would make the time I was out shorter. As I left it started to rain!
Anyway, I ran and walked for 16 mins tonight. Not quite as long I have been doing but I changed it slightly by walking for 1.5 mins and increasing my run to 2.5 mins, 3 mins, 2 mins and then 2.5 mins with the walking in between. It was harder tonight as it wasn't flat like it is at the beach. I am chuffed that I have managed to run 3 minutes, wow I must be improving.  The rain really came down while I was out, but it was actually really nice running in the rain, almost liberating!
Now having had my dinner and scoffed a kitkat this evening, reading various running blogs, I have decided I really need to start concentrating on eating the right foods to give me energy on my runs if I am going to get any better! xx

Running companion

I'm writing this in retrospect as I actually did my run yesterday! After a busy day with the kids shopping for carpet and looking at puppies (!)  I knew that if I didn't do it then, it would be typical that it would rain all day today...which it did!

Typical again, the weather was cold but very sunny in the morning yet when I decided to go out for my run it was grey cloud, cold and very windy. Daisy wanted to come with me so I agreed as long as she took her scooter and kept up with me. We parked at the far end of Tankerton slopes and walked down against the bitter wind. I really did think I was going mad but still had a strange sense of determination. A gale was blowing and the sea was full of windsurfers and kitesurfers. That is dediaction for you. I found a new feeling of admiration for these watersport enthusiasts. To go out in the choppy waters to get their 'fix' and freeze their butts off is pretty cool, I think. Not for me.

I started off doing my 2min run/ 2min walk again and Daisy kept up on her scooter. It wasn't long before the path ran out and either I turned left away from the beach or carried on which was gravel. I turned left so Daisy could carry on on her scooter, which took us through a park, residential area and finally a main road quite a way from the car. Half way round Daisy was tiring so I did have to stop a few times so she could catch up. Also running against the wind was a killer! Strangely I didn't find it as hard as I did on Wednesday. The only constraints were Daisy and the wind!

When we got back to the car after 22 mins I was red faced as usual but so was Daisy! Bless her I think she had a little work out. I think she enjoyed just coming with me and feeling 'grown up' going out with Mummy for a run/scoot! xx

Variation is the key...I think?

I had set my alarm for 6.40 this morning, aware that I HAD to get out there and run as it was now a week since I ran last. Not good. I had planned to go yesterday after work when I took Daisy to piano lessons but I was sooo tired, my lazy devil on my left shoulder got the better of me! Guilt then set in and I promised myself I would get up and run before work.I got out all my running gear and put it on the landing before I went to bed so not to wake anyone.

So this morning the alarm went off with Franki by my side ( yes he had got me up at 5am crying because he couldn't sniff! ie he has a cold coming!) and I groaned and thought oh no I can't do it. Isn't it funny how some days you can be so determined and then other days it's so easy just to say no. So I didn't get up and felt bad for the rest of the day. What has been going on my mind is...I can't give up so easily after 3 weeks  and where has my motivation gone? I've been thinking about it a lot and I'm wondering whether running around a field which is where I ran last wedneday has put me off? I've got to admit that it is a bit monotonous and the view is dull. I have run mostly along the seafront and there have been varying degrees of weather so it makes it interesting viewing as well as the multitude of runners and dog walkers.

I got home from work at 5.15pm and Paul was doing DIY and the kids were quietly watching a film in the bedroom so I got changed and crept out telling myself I have to do this. I wondered whether to go back to the seafront or take a different route and run from home along the thanet way. I favoured the view rather than along a busy road and the risk of someone seeing me red faced and panting! So I continued with my 2 mins walk/2 mins run programme for 22 mins which I found incredibly hard today. Serves me right for leaving it a week from my last run!

 I was glad I chose the seafront as it was beautiful running along there and 'The Street' was so far out that someone who had walked out looked tiny standing in the shallow waters at the end. Here is an image of 'The Street'. For those of you who know Whitstable you will know what I mean.



Ok I have done what I had planned to do today even if it took some mental torture. A minor blip shall we say. Until next time ...xx

Lazy Weekend

I'm feeling so guilty that I haven't really kept up with my exercise regime since my last session on Wednesday. I had planned to do my 3rd running session on Friday but it didn't happen for one reason or another. I was on a study day Friday and then went to Margate hospital to do another twighlight shift in A&E. I was pretty tired Sat and before I know it, it's Sunday and I'm thinking s**t I'm slacking, I haven't kept up.

Today we took the kids swimming in the morning, so I took the opportunity to do some lengths. Not as many as I would like to have done but I did 20 lengths in 15mins so had  a small workout. It's weird what exercising can do you to you. I missed out on one run that I had planned to do and I feel like I have let myself down. Oh well, I will try better this next week. I've been spoilt so far as Paul has been off work so I have got into a bit of a routine. Thats all going to change very soon! It will be fit it in when I can.

We've had my brother and family around for lunch today and indulged in good food and wine so definately need to run it off this week! No harm in a lazy weekend now and again, don't get them that often! It's been 3 weeks now and I have exercised 3 times a week, more than I have done in a long time, so I'm not going to be too hard on myself xx

Windy Blues

 I worked a twighlight shift last night in A&E as an extra and felt unsuprisingly cream crackered today. It was only when I hit 3pm sitting in a information & governance training session that I started to yawn continuously! A mandatory training hour that really is yawn material but something we all have to know about withn the NHS. I'll spare you the details! I planned to get home soon after 5pm, get into my running gear, take Daisy to piano then do my running schedule during her half an hour piano lesson.
I got as far as my running gear then said to Paul,"I'm so tired I really don't feel like it". Paul being Paul said, "don't do it then babe". Well that was the deciding factor for me...I Have to do it. I can't just not to do it! The other deciding factor was when will I get to do it next as my planned Friday session is out the window as I am doing another A&E twighlight after another yawn study day!
So I dropped Daisy off to piano and I went to the local field to run around it several times! I followed the 2min walk/ 2 min run again. Had it not been so bl**dy windy I think I would have coped with it quite well. However running against the wind is a double workout for me! I did do it but struggled when I got to the point in the oval field when I was running against the wind. I admit I had to stop a couple of times during my run. Never mind, at the 4th set of 2 mins I nearly stopped but thought NO I have to finish this. I can be quite determined when I want to be! It also helped that my ipod was recharged and working!
Although I'm pleased I completed my arduous session today I'm also flaked.  Bedtime for me after my nice glass of wine xx

Time to get up!!

Alarm went off at 6.45 this morning...tug of war in my head. Shall I or shan't I ? This went on for a good 10 minutes before I thought clearly and  thought of my blog! This is the whole point of doing my blog to keep me motivated..and it's working!
I crept out quietly and left Paul & kids fast asleep putting my faith in Paul to get the kids organised for school/nursery. I hadn't been for a run yet before work and knew it was going to be a tight squeeze. Anyway I was at the seafront by 7.10am and started on my 2nd week of my training programme! This consists of 2 mins walk / 2 mins run, 5 times. It doesn't sound like a huge difference but I certainly noticed it. It 's weird I knew exactly everytime I had run a minute and then the next minute was a real effort. What makes it worse is that my ipod died half way through so I could hear myself breathing which put me off a bit. Heavy breathing makes you realise how unfit you are!  Anyway, I did it, stretched and home I went very red faced. I got home at 7.40 to silence and thought oh no! they are still asleep! I found the 3 of them in bed watching tv and daddy still dozing. "Time to get up!!" Luckily with a bit of barking orders we were out the door in time. Phew!

Dog Walkers!!

I am working this weekend and decided to get up and go for a run/walk before work!! I have never done this before! I know I got up last week to go swimming but to get up and run...well. In my head I had to to do my 3rd run/walk for the week in order for it to make a difference. I last did this on Wed after work, even though I didn't write about it.
I drove down to the harbour and was on my 2 min walk/ 1 min run by 7.15am. Not bad eh? I'm pretty pleased with myself. It was sooo windy and I was running against the wind to start with.  Luckily with the earphones on, my ears weren't affected as I am a great sufferer to windy "ears". It's only when you are running at this time of the morning that you realise how many dog walkers there are! I must have passed about 10 different dog owners walking at this time of the morning along the beach. Luckily I didn't have any encounters with any dogs but at one time had to run be a little heavy footed to let one of the dog walkers know that I was very close behind them and need to pass. Oooh get me.
Anyway, I have completed 2 weeks. Yay. 1 week swimming, 1 week running/walking.
Feeling good.

Cloudy with chance of Rain!

Having had a busy day at work I actually wanted to go out for a run...in the rain! Ha Ha..what is happening to me? That would have usually been my excuse not to go! I ached just a little bit after my run on Saturday and enjoyed it so much I wanted to do it again. I must be going crazy!

After half an hour home from work, I left Paul doing tea for the kids whilst I drove down to the sea front. I did think on the way down there, maybe one day I will be able to cycle down to the sea front, do my run then cycle home. A LONG way off me thinks!!

It was very grey, windy and spitting with rain which was a contrast to Saturday when it was sunny and blue skies. It was also deserted! Today it was S club 7 that got me into a running rythym on my ipod! Yes, forgot that was on there after downloading it for Daisy. Did the trick though. I did my beginners programme again but actually felt that I was walking for too long. I decided to stick with the programme rather than change it as I didn't want to over do it.

So Monday is the start of a new week and I have started as I mean to go on. I am only going to blog now when I have made progress or I have done something worth writing about! My husband thinks I have become addicted to the world of blogging. He might be right. x

The Fresh Sea Air

This morning was a dilema...shall I or shan't I?I had planned to do the British mIlitary Fitness but knew it wasn't going to happen as I hadn't mentally prepared for it. Franki was in our room at 6.30 again"I want my breakfast"". It was my turn to get up so breakfast it was and then I made my decision.... a run.
I told the kids not to wake Daddy up, got into my running gear and locked the door behind me. It was a beautful suuny morning....why I hadn't I done this before?
At 8am I was down at the seafront warming up and psyching myself up. I decided to start my running programme that I had picked up about a year or so ago, which was still pinned to the corkboard in the kitchen. 2 minutes walking and 1 minute running ( 6 times ) with my ipod on. Thank goodness for ipods! Ok so you can hardly call it a run but I have to start somewhere. I did it and it felt good. I was a bit red in the face when I finished!
Today has been a bit manic with Daisy and Jaycee's birthday party and I am whacked. So until next time...

Wading through crowds.

Well...I got up for another early morning swim today! Alarm went off at 6.35am, franki joined us in bed and I crept out. "Mum where are you going?' he said in a very awake voice. "Just popping out to the shops, wont be long". I grabbed my already rolled towel from the night before and exited quickly before I changed my mind. It felt good driving down to the pool, blue sky, very little traffic and wondering what to expect.
Paul had said to me the night before,"you won't like it, it's full of old people at 7 in the morning" How right he was. There was probably about 10 "old" people waiting to go into the changing rooms. It was obviously the regulars as they were all chatting amongst themselves.
Once changed and in the poolside I headed for the fast lane. The slow lane had what looked like your post heart attack people, bless 'em, walking up and down the lanes. I'm not knocking them, I think it's fantastic they are there making the effort and thank goodness they realise they are supposed to be in the slow lane. Ha ha. So the fast lane....there was probably about 6 of us. I would say 3 of them were not fast and were kidding themselves that they should be in that lane. I might sound patronising but having swum for most of my childhood/teenage years in competitions it's a bit frustrating when I am constantly grabbing at people's feet or trying to overtake them, but struggle as they don't move over and allow enough room. It's like wading through the crowds and trying to avoid the odd kick here and there! Rant over.
Anyway I allowed myself half an hour as I was aware that I had to get home, throw my uniform on and cart the kids off to their childminder. So in that half an hour I did 40 lengths again. I varied it this time to make it more interesting and did 300m warm up, 200m, 100m, 100m legs, 100m arms, 200m to finish. Yes I was knackered afterwards and my arms ached like hell. Not used to it!
Anyway it's 8pm and I feel proud of myself that I got out of bed and did what I planned to do! I did enjoy it even though it is frustrating at times and I was spoilt when I went swimming in Basingstoke on Sunday morning with only 1 other person in the lane. Oh by the way, it's been 3 nights now that we have not had our usual de stresser glass of wine in the eve. In fact I have actually slept better without it. It is actually calling me now that I have remembered, so I will resist. Long may it continue. We'll see. xx

I Did it!!

So far so good. This morning was the first in a very long time that I got up and was out the door by 7.30am to go swimming! After my 3rd glass of wine last night ( yes not good ) I thought, maybe I'll get up on Monday morning instead. However, my kind 3 yr old this morning was wide awake at 6.30 am so by 7, I thought sod it I might as well go swimming. Luckily for me, we are at my Mums this weekend, so I left my mum to it and I quietly slipped out and drove to the local swimming pool. I couldn't quite believe that I had made myself go  but was also very smug with myself!
Having arrived on the poolside I almost talked myself into not getting in! What's that all about? I had to do it, what was I going to write about? More to the point I have told family now that I am going to write a blog so don't want to let myself down.
I joined a lane with one other swimmer and started on my swim. I hate with a passion, swimming in lanes that are full of swimmers doing breaststroke or an attempted version of frontcrawl, even though they are in the fast lane! This morning was an exception. It wasn't very busy and I shared a lane with a breaststroker but who was fairly fast and was accomadating when I overtook her every so often.. Anyway, I started off doing 2 sets of 8 lengths then thought |I've got to do more! I ended up doing 5 sets of 8 lengths, so that,  in my calculation is 40 lengths. Ok, so it's not a major workout but for the first morning I don't think it was that bad. I felt brilliant driving home and already thinking about the next morning I might go swimming.
It's sunday afternoon now and I'm pretty whacked now. Have been to the park with my kids, niece, nephew and mum and then we've been swimming with them! Busy old day. Now I just want to put my feet up with a glass of wine! Might have to start thinking about reducing the wine intake if I am going to get up early some mornings to exercise.......

Mid Life crisis?

I thought men were the only ones to have mid life crisis's? I turned 39 this week and the build up to my birthday was constant thoughts on...I must get fit...I must get fit. Having read other blogs on fitness and running I decided that the only way to get myself motivated was to write about it.
Pre children I used to regularly exercise, in fact it was a bit of an obsession! I grew up as a swimmer, reaching county level and then continued through teenage and early adulthood doing exercise classes. Any fitness fanatic will understand the drive to do more and keep the momentum going.I started again when my daughter was 2yrs old, by putting her in the gym creche 3 times a week. Of course it all stopped again once my second child came along. I started back for a while but my 'baby' wasn't so happy to be left this time around so I 'happily' gave it up as I was finding it a bit of a chore. Nearly 3 years on I am desperate to get fit and start achieving some of my goals. Those I will disclose later once I have started! I am hoping that by blogging I might keep the inspiration going. More importantly I want to prove to my husband that I CAN do it! I'm not always all talk and no action!
Next it is finding the time. Yes, everyone says there is always time if you make it. I agree but it is breaking the habit of sitting in front of the sofa every night when my husband is home ( he works shifts!) or less enthusiastically getting up early and doing something before work! All very well but anything I do has to be done around my husbands shifts which is a pain in the derriere! So, welcome to my blog and I hope to prove to myself and to my nearest & dearest that I can do it. I hope you enjoy reading!