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