WEEK TWO DONE

Week two feels like it has been a very long week with more snow and ice and lots and lots of mud! It has to be said I feel tired!

Highlights – a week full of them, Wednesday had a brilliant workout, Satyrday a solid run outside with Trevor’s playlist for entertainment and the Peco Cross Country Sunday!

Lowlights – None!

Next week – still got to get that nutrition sorted though have lost a few pounds in last few weeks!

below is week two day by day for those of you that need something to help you fall asleep!

Day 8 - Monday 11th Jan 2010

I wanted to do a recovery swim today and thought about getting up early to go. Set my alarm but couldn’t motivate myself to get to gym first thing. I went to the gym at lunchtime and although my body, particularly my arms, felt tired I swam 35 lengths in 30 mins and was happy with this. My legs felt a little tired when I got back to work but in a relaxed way so to speak.
Feel really tired tonight, should just go to bed and sleep

Day 9 Tuesday 12th Jan 2010

I felt I slept well last night but still felt tired and could easily have stayed in bed. But got up and did a few chores before work, not motivated for work at moment would rather be looking at training plans and nutrition and stretching and well all things related to 25th April 2010. But work has to be done and need to refocus some of my energy here!
I felt tired this afternoon at work but not physically so and was looking forward to run club! We ran with 3 groups and Helen took the middle group, I did debate briefly about going with Toms. We did Spen Lane and Queens Wood Drive 5ish miles in 60 mins. Was hard going in places as snow turning to slush! My calf were very sore and tight and walked up a little of Spen lane. Settled after this and found my pace.
Haven’t stretched yet and my legs feel tired and achy!
My programme says an 8 mile run and body pump for tomorrow but I can’t work out how to fit that in with work, kids and weather – see work just gets in the way –
So I think ill set alarm early go to gym and either do an hour on tread or an interval session then can still do Body pump after work. But key is to get some sleep!

Day 10 Wednesday 13th Jan 2010

What a day! I was determined to get up early and go to the gym to run on the tread as didn’t feel comfy going out on my own on the roads first thing. Although I was worried because my legs had felt really tired yesterday after club! Anyway alarm went off 5.30ish took a couple of snooze before I managed to get up, had a banana and a cup of hot water, peeked outside roads looked same as last night, got dressed braved it in just shorts and a fleece cos didn’t want to mess about with changing. Put my still sparkly white new road runners on, said bye to Dan and opened door at 6 am. Put one then two feet out the door and thought OMG, went back in changed to trail shoes. Had to walk up the snow to get to car as drive way that was cleared was sheer ice! Cleared my car of thick ice, slipped all over on road and reluctantly but sensibly came back in. No way was I going to be the first one down the street especially when I didn’t know what was beyond! Anyway long story short stayed at home till 10.30 them managed to get to Kirkstall.
It was ok after work so went to gym and did intervals on tread, had to warm up on a cross trainer while I waited for a tread to come free! Then went into Body pump charged up and feeling like I wanted to dance, had a brilliant class felt got my strength back, put my squat weight back up, and added on to back track and biceps part way through track. Left shoulder hurt on chest – watch this!
All in all felt in the Zone tonight excellent work out, quite tired now!

Day 11 Thursday 14th Jan 2010

Rest day today even had a bit of a lie in as schools opening late and I was working from home in the morning. Had a bad night again, not sure if this was because I had over trained or things going round my head or something else. Either way was a little tired but still felt I wanted to train, almost felt guilty I wasn’t doing anything but know I need the rest. Had planned to do some stretching but didn’t. Need to start this and core work .

Day 12 Friday 15th Jan 2010

Was awake from about 3 AGAIN but still managed to get up for spin at 6.15. Was a different instructor who was very thorough in her instruction but I struggled to put effort in, sweated buckets so still had a work out but I was glad had rested yesterday. Dan wants me to show him how to do abs exercises properly tonight!
Spent nearly all day sat in meeting room at work had fruit with me but once it had gone went on to the chocolate biscuits, need to make sure I have lunch with me!

Day 13 Saturday 16th Jan 2010

Park run was cancelled due to the bad weather so decided to have a rare Saturday lie in and thought I would probably go do a session on tread before body pump, but lying in was a mistake. It threw me out for the day. When I did get up I saw that most of the snow had gone from roads and was melting on paths so debated if to run outside. Then as I was getting ready to go to run a few chores and go to gym my brother turned up and I missed Body pump. I’m glad though because in the end (after a chat to Vikki who persuaded me - thanks Vikki) I decided to go out for a run in the afternoon and actually wore my new road running trainers that I bought in December for the first proper run! I told myself I only had to do about 4 or 5 miles to make up for park run, but I knew really I wanted to do the 8 miles I had missed on Wednesday!
I’d like to say thanks to Trevor for giving me his old ipod shuffle (to replace the one I lost) complete with his playlist still in tack. And so I plugged in and set off on one of my favourite routes from my house, up Tong Road towards Tong Village and then across Back Lane, this is a reasonably quiet country road surrounded my fields and with views across to Pudsey and back down to Leeds, I find this route peaceful and relaxing, but today all though I enjoyed the views I have to apologise for anyone living around here for shattering the peace. As there wasn’t anyone else on this road I couldn’t resist singing along to Trevor’s playlist as I ran. It was full of hits from the past that I remember my brothers playing when I was a young girl and even nearly broke into a “foot bop” (if anyone else remembers that!)
As for the run it I had to watch my step as was quite icy in parts and I didn’t seem to have the strength to get up Tong Road without a little walk. But by about mile 3 I’d found my speed and kept going and before I knew it I had done 8.5 miles.
It was a good run and I enjoyed my own company and more importantly, I’m not filled with dread at the thought of doing runs on my own like I used to be.

Day 14 Sunday 17th Jan 2010

Well what can I say. Cross Country time again! I had promised myself I would not do this if I was at all worried about the course and possible injury! But who am I kidding I know I can’t resist a race! The snow and ice had thawed but the consequences were the field was one big bog! And by the time 300 people had run round it 3 times those of us at the back were wondering if there had ever been any grass in that field, ankle deep in mud and other things we would rather not mention! We also had to cross what they called a stream but what I would describe as a great big hole filled with water, if I didn’t know better I would think someone had filled it up with a hosepipe on purpose! 2ft deep we had to cross it 6 times! I unexpectedly had Adele and she came along to watch, she was a little star, she held my water and had it ready for me each time I passed cheering me on and clapping everyone else. She took some ace photos and despite the cold seemed to really enjoy herself. The last time I crossed the stream she was waiting for me so I had to just jump in and make a big splash, caught on camera by Paul forever! The run itself was very hard going and I did walk a few times particularly in the last lap and half! I have no idea how long it took me and I don’t really care, it was blooming good fun! Everyone says it will make me stronger but I’m not sure that they mean physically, think it is more the mental battle of just getting in there, staying on your feet and doing it! As Debra said “It’s good for the soul, if you can do that and still smile you can do anything!” And have to say on all the photos I am smiling!

The other quote of the day comes from Adele “Mum I know why all your team mates are faster than you . . . . . . . It’s because you are SO SO SLOW!” Still I think she was proud of me!

It was brilliant to be part of our club everyone waited till the end to cheer everyone back home and then we waited to cheer in Arthur who was last home but I’m told he is in his 70’s he is amazing!

And so I am finishing week two on a high but with my legs aching as if it was week 10!