Running? Gym? Swimming? Nothing... not once.. this week... Rubbish!

Bad week.  But not really my fault.. I guess!

A hectic work schedule, a trip to the O2 with school midweek (which.. by the way was AMAZING!) and then to end the week a really heavy cold has taken over my head and meant that today all I have managed to do is sit on the sofa, watch Prison Break, take Beechams.. and then.. the biggest sin of all - eat a Macdonalds.

So epic fail.  Not much more to say.. Apart from - another week ahead, and I am aiming for a clearer head and a most determined way back in.  Please do not give up on me - lovely blog followers. Things will get better again I am sure!

A little progress.. makes you feel great!!!

Monday - after work - time to run home. It is about 6k and after a long day it takes all my energy to even get out of my school clothes and into my running gear.  And this week I was going it alone... so it just had to be done!   Off I set.. in the dark.. heavy legs.  HOWEVER.. it actually felt ok! it really did.. I know! I feel a bit apprehensive even saying the words.. "it felt ok!"  Not very fast, just at my own pace, but I made it home and was not dying - and that surely must be progress!!!

And then on Wednesday the terror of the Gym, in January, with MANY people there!  I dropped Dylan off for his tennis lesson and walked into the most crowded space I have ever seen.  This did have a big downside. I had to wait for everything. Every machine, treadmill, even floor space.. but what was worse, that while I was on the machines, people were waiting for me! So I was being watched... horrid.. just horrid.  I could not do my normal moaning and groaning as I lifted the weights or went up and down while doing the plank. I had to look serene and fit - and as most of you know, I do not carry that off very well!!!
The only positive was that I did do 5 mins on the treadmill on a really steep incline in preparation for the hills at Park Run on Saturday - and it felt ok!

I have also signed up for a 5 mile trail run on Mothering Sunday - with Sarah by my side. A ladies only run, through Fynn Valley -  http://farmhousefive.co.uk  - have a look if you fancy joining me!

No spinning this week. Yep.. I gave in to the feeling of YUCK.. the weather was foul, I was tired, so I cancelled.  I do not really know what is happening to me though as at about 7.30pm I felt really guilty, and then cross with myself that I had not gone.  Me, cross, about exercise! Something really must be happening to my 46 year old brain and all this training!

After the disappointment of Thursday, I woke up ready for Park Run this morning - ready to tackle those hills. However more disappointment to hit. Cancelled in Christchurch Park due to icy conditions.  And yes.. that crazy 'I am sort of quite liking this exercise' brain kicked in again, and rather then stay in my warm cozy bed, I took a short hop to Kesgrave and really enjoyed the flat, bright and sunny (albeit cold) course there.. bringing home the fastest 5k run I have done for 18 months - 34.06 mins.  So I came home delighted!

So into another week I go.  It is so true that if you make it part of your normal routine, it becomes easier to manage.  If you take each session as it comes, no matter how you are feeling, at the end you can still say you have done it. And even if the weather is foul - you really should still do it - as my good friend Sarah said a few weeks ago "What are you going to do Sam if it is pouring with rain on the day of the Triathlon?!"  Wise words.. and so true!!!

1st week back at work and I do not feel I have done too badly!

Started on Monday with a 6k run home from work with Kay.. it felt fine and steady and we were both very pleased with ourselves!

I then went to my first ever spin class on Thursday evening - that was the most daunting thing ever!  I turned up 10 mins before the class started but it was already full of far too many 'fit' looking people who were already cycling to warm up... I hovered outside the door and had really decided to just go to the gym by myself.. when a voice behind me said brightly (!) " Are you coming in?"  - My fate was sealed!  It was the lady who ran the class and who immediately sensed my anxiousness - took me in - sorted out the bike and explained what was going to happen.  As I sat on the bike before it started I felt a little calmer - firstly it was dark - very dark! so in my head no-one could see me anyway!  Secondly the music was so loud no one would ever hear my moaning (and you know how I moan!).  So with feet strapped (yes strapped!)in, water bottle in front of me.. off we went!

Well... Mmmm... what can I say!  Proudly I managed to stay for the whole 45 mins (she said I may feel like leaving after 20 which would be fine for a beginner!).. however.. I could not do the hill climbs in the last 10 mins.. OH MY LORD!!!!! my legs felt like jelly,, I was sweating like a pig, and gasping for air.. not to mention my backside felt like it was on fire!  We got to the end.. (even had a shout out of "well done Sam for staying in for the whole session!") and I tentatively got off the bike. My legs felt like jelly... I ached all over.. and rather than go for a shower.. I got in the car, came home, and lay in a hot bath for a long time!

But I did it! and I have already booked into next weeks class - so hoping that it is a little easier.

Surprisingly I could walk on Friday - but certain parts of my body (which really shouldn't hurt) did hurt.. a lot.

But Saturday morning came - as it does. and Park Run loomed ahead.  A change of park, 2 big hills and it was a bit chilly.  First good thing is that Sarah said she would run with me - and Kay started with me too (but I have to remember she is 10 years younger than me and is just getting better quicker - Go Kay!).  This course has 2 big hills the first one being immediately after starting.. it is long and slow and horrid for the start of the 5k.. But once past that it is a nice course with a gently downhill at the end of the lap... HOWEVER.. there is then another shorter but much steeper hill to get up - but I was pleased that I managed to run half way up today.  Off we went on the 2nd lap with Sarah jogging (yes.. jogging.. she is a very good runner and is very gracious to run with me!) and I gave it my all at the end.  Time - 35.30... 15 seconds away from a PB!!!!!

In my head it has been a good week. I have maintained my planned sessions and eaten relatively well. But I am an impatient soul and I want to progress!  It would be nice for something to feel a little easier.. so I can see that I am getting better..  but as Matt said this morning - this is the end of the first proper week - give it some time!

Photo is myself and Sarah in the middle of the 1st lap - matching tops today!

The pain has started.. big time!  On Thursday morning I completed my first full session at the gym.  To say it was fun... would be a great big fat lie.. it bloomin' hurt!!!! However, I have been reliably informed that I need to work on my core strength and also my endurance. So I lifted some weights.. used a leg press and various other machines that look like torture contraptions.  I bravely used one machine in the 'scary' area of the gym - where all the very strong people go and lift very heavy weights!  I did manage to complete the programme though and came home feeling very pleased with myself.

I also have had my first 'swimming lesson'.  Half an hour 1-1 and I really enjoyed it. It was hard though as the young man (he was young!!) has encouraged me to learn how to do the proper breast stroke kick, rather than the made up one that I have always done. He assures me, that once I am doing it better, it will be more efficient and I will move quicker through the water.  My 46 year old brain found it really tricky to think every single movement - my legs just wanted to do what they had always done!  We decided, together, that it would be better for me to work on improving my breast stroke rather than completely start from scratch and learn how to do front crawl. Thank the Lord!

On New Years Eve, however... I woke up and could barely move!  I hurt in places you really do not want to know about.. really hurt. I apologise now to all of those who were with me on that day.. boy did I moan - every time I got up.. walked.. sat.. did anything!!!  I just had to keep telling myself that the pain meant I had done something worth while!!!

We are fortunate enough to have access to a very lovely cottage in North Norfolk. On New Years Eve we arrive there with our good pals, ready for a couple of days of rest, good food, good chat, board games and some good walks!  Just what was needed x  I am pleased to say as part of my training we did two 5 mile walks while away.. and even better... a 7k run!!!!  Being away with other runners means that the minute you hint that maybe a run would be a good idea... then they will all agree and the next thing you know, a time is planned and there is no going back!  My good pal Sarah is a keen runner and she knows not to accept the word no from me.. so at 9.30am on New Years day, myself, Sarah and Matt (long suffering husband!) set off for a short run to the beach and back.

The short run was actually 7k.. and I am so pleased that I managed to run it all! Only a few minutes stop half way for a quick stretch. Bless them.. they had to run slowly to keep with me - but they talked and distracted me and kept me going. And I did feel stronger.. I felt that the work I have only done in the last week, already was having a small impact on how I felt.   So today - I feel greatly encouraged!

Now to prepare for the return to school, and on the advice of Adam at the gym, I am going to plan my training sessions in advance to makes sure that I can fit everything in.. watch this space!