2013 review and 2014 begins!

My goals for 2013 included:

• Running a marathon
• Completing the Coast to Coast
• Doing 2 half marathons in under 2hrs 15mins
• Getting a degree
• Find a weight I am happy with

Well I am proud to say I did them all apart from the half marathons in under 2hrs 15 but I DID do TWO half marathons, one without much training, awful weather and obscene hills, and I still managed a decent time! Oh and finding a happy weight didn't happen, in-fact I have gained 1.5stone since my smallest weight. But don't fear, that is changing this year! Aside from my goals I even tried pole dancing something I defiantly want to continue!

My marathon went well getting a less than decent time but one I am proud of considering again my lack of training. 

I am now a fully qualified mental health nurse with a 2:1. I am graduating this month! I can't wait!

2014

I started Insanity on Monday 30th December (who needs a new year to start something good?)

Holy WOW. It is tough but defiantly do-able! I am almost a week in and enjoying it! I am also following the meal plan although over the last 3 days that has been on and off with dipping into the Christmas chocolate stash. Damn cravings.

I also have plenty of races planned for this year! So onto my goals for 2014..

• Brighton Half in under 2hrs 20 (it was under 2 hours but I'm unsure)
• Finish The Nutty Challenge! 14k of obstacles!
• Complete the 2nd Yorkshire Marathon in under 5 hours (previous 5hrs 40)
• Finish the Beachy Head 10k
• Start my first nursing job!
• Begin pole fitness again
• Get to my goal weight of 53kg
• Do a pull up!
• Plan a wedding!!

So just a few things to keep me occupied! 

Holiday motivation!

First of all the Coast to Coast walk, all of 192mile was amazing! Getting Sherpa van to move our stuff around was soo helpful and really added to the enjoyment, I would have hated to carry all out stuff around but now we have done it once I would like to do it being totally self-reliant. Something for the future.

Marathon Training
Not going well. There are times when I wonder if I should give up running the marathon all together, but there is still hope and I may be able to still run it without feeling like death (HA...yeahhhh..). So far my longest training run has been 10miles. Given its further then I have ever ran during training but that's not even half a marathon. I have attempted to go out for longer runs only to be held back by a really sharp pain in my ankle. I have now (eventually) been to the doctors about this and they have put me on a weeks course of strong anti inflammatory. He also recommend new shoes which is a given. Anyway I'm going out tomorrow with the attitude to run as far as I can above 13miles without causing damage, followed by a lovely ice bath.

Nurse Training.
I qualify in 2 weeks. Holy poo.

Holidays.
My friend and I have decided to go on a holiday :D. Not one of those 'Oh yeah we should really go on holiday together' but a get booked at the end of the month holiday!
This is just the PERFECT motivation I need to lose the extra weight I have gained!!
My goal weight 8st 5lb, 117lb, 53kg.
I have 6months
That's an average of 1.5-2lb or 0.5-1kg each week. Seems like a lot but I am determined to do it and I am doing all I can to keep my eyes focused on that goal. We are going to look amazing in out bikinis!
Time for some new weight loss goals which will be changed over there ----->

Marathon update and Bootcamp

Hello again!

Marathon training is going well, tomorrow I begin week 4! So far I have only missed one run which is pretty good going for me! I have changed some shifts around at my nursing placement so I do more days but finish two hours early so I can get home get my workout in, have tea with the fiance and play with the two chinchillas Pika and Pig(let).

Today was supposed to be a 4 mile run but I swapped it with tomorrows x-train day. So I am looking forward to getting out in the morning for a nice bank holiday run! Also heading to Scarborough tomorrow! YEY Seaside! And the Sealife centre. Happy me.

This week I ended up gaining ANOTHER lb. I blamed this on finally getting in my dissertation on Monday so for a while food wasn't something I thought about. Now I'm thinking healthy... I have even bought a watermelon! I LOVE watermelon, just they are fairly expensive!

The running journal is working really well, being able to have all the extra detail really helps to create the perfect running situation and discover at what times and with what foods my body works best with. Turns out so far I am good with running after a good night sleep (so not up a 5am on placement days!) and before breakfast, everything seems to run smoother that way. I am also finding that I am getting faster! my 3mile runs are down to under 31 mins. Good for me! Mind you, I can't wait until they are down to below 30! Eeek!

Bootcamp!
I have been looking for CrossFit classes in my area for a while now but the closest ones are a train ride away and I don't have the money for that AND CrossFit which isn't exactly cheap!
Anyway, I found Bootcamp. It looks fairly similar maybe a little less intense from the online vids but some of the exercises look the same and they have a same variable workouts, which I like.
It is still pricey around £77-£100 for the upper membership levels but they also offer a range of classes such as kickboxing, Bootcamp elite and Yoga. Once you have joined they even supply you with a nutritional plan for best results.
You get a weeks  free trial which includes 3 classes so I have booked mine for a few weeks time, can't wait to try it out!
This one is in the York area so if you want to check it out click here

The Offical Marathon Training Has Begun!

Today was a x-train workout so I opted for the Ballet Conditioning DVD I bought last week. Low impact but it really makes you work!

The vegan challenge is going well, I am realising that I can eat well without dairy. I'll admit it is really hard at times, for example finding a vegan burger in the supermarket that wasn't bean and breadcrumb based was a challenge so I stuck with Linda McCartneys sausages. YUM.

Today I'm having a little break by having a takeaway (sssh..), beancurd and satay sauce. NOM. This will be the last some some time so I am going to make a meal out of it (see what I did there?!). After a heavy bank holiday worth for food and booze I'm ready to lose the stone I have gained over the past 6 months and hopefully when the marathon comes round on the 20th Oct I'll be 1st 7lb lighter!

Something new...
 Today I tried coconut water! Zico coconut water from Waitrose!

It was £1.99 which is quite good compared to some of the Vita Water coconut water I have seen in health shops.
The first taste is almost salty (but it does contain a fair amount of potassium, good for post run recovery!) but that doesn't last long and you cant a nice faint coconut taste which is nice and refreshing.

I bought 3 of another brand, though I can't remember the name I have 3 flavours, plain, cherry and pineapple. They are in the fridge waiting for me to do a long run!






Another newbie today was my new running journal!

 I'd upload pics of the inside but my laptop won't let me!
Anyway this one is from Watersotnes and is around £8.70 if bought online and £9.99 in store. Inside it has lots of useful info for beginners such as what shoes to wear etc. There are also two training plans one for more advanced and the other for those just starting out.

In each page of the journal there is space for two different runs and a speedwork run, asking you to fill in details such as nutrition before during and after your run, the weather and how you slept etc.

After each week there is a review page, and a separate one after every month so you can keep a close eye on your progress!

Overall very please with it and can't wait to get into using it!

Let the training begin!

May Goals!

So today started the 7 Day Vegan Challenge. It is going really well, or shall I say it was going well till the other half (bless) thought it would be a good idea to bring home 5 doughnuts from Sainsburys along with the hummus and peanut butter I asked him to get. So 2 and 1/2 yummy round diet destroying balls I am craving everything under the sun!

...its nice to know I can binge eat and still be vegan... ¬_¬ LEARN SOME SELF CONTROL WOMAN!

Anyway...

In other news I ordered some resistance bands and they arrived today YEY. They were really fun to have a play with and I am looking forward to doing a proper workout with them soon.

My Ballet Conditioning DVD arrived today too!

Only £5 from amazon, it is like a beginners guide to the basics of ballet training. On the surface it looks fairly simple but one I got into it my arms/legs/abs were in PAIN. I'm hoping I will be able to feel it tomorrow that way I know its done some good!

So May goals:

Lets start off with that it is going to be a pretty scary month as my dissertation is due in on the 20th. O_O.

• Finish and hand in dissertation
• Complete ballet conditioning DVD at least once per week
• Keep up with marathon training plan which begins on the 6th May (I am still planning on following the No Meat Athlete plan)
• Lose 5lb
• TRY and control my mad eating when home alone!

They will do I think!