Month: March 2011

Brucie Bonus!

Hey!

So today I was supposed to have an extra long additional staff meeting (= rest day), but it was cancelled today. So, what did I do with my time? Why, run of course! I had already moved (in my head) my runs this week, and so I moved them around again (which actually works out better as I was going to have to do 6 miles on Wednesday after another meeting, and now I can have a rest day then- score!).

The small problem was that I only had some small snacks with me for the meeting (apple, honey stick bar) and remembering that apple did not agree with me before had that at lunch to give it time. So once home I had half of one of the energy bars (from the box my Dad gave us for Christmas);

This was quite nice- very sweet and chewy, a bit like a mule bar. Not sure if I would buy one (I do have rather a lot of bars) but it did give me energy for my run which is always a bonus. The plan was 6 miles which I love now at this time of year as there is a nice loop near me. I warmed up for a few miles, and then decided to up my pace a bit (I have not done intervals since being ill and have basically been back to my old plodding ways) so I put the Nike+ on the pace setting and did 3 miles on 10.06 (although this may be faster as the callibration needs doing). Anyway, that was good for me, and I was pleased to maintain it for that distance. Then I slowed down for the long slow hill and then the last mile. I felt weird running in just a long sleeved top- after all the months of wrapping up with 2 or 3 layers for my midweek runs. The sun was still shining and everything- another bonus!

Then it was dinner time- I added some quinoa to the lentil and cannelini bean chilli (felt in need of a few carbs!);

Steamy! And also very spicy- we use lazy chilli and I am rubbish at getting the amount right!

Thanks for all the comments about the running in general- I am trying not to panic about the 16 mile run- like Alison says, its only 14 +2.  I will take it slow and see what happens. I am worrying more about doing 10 miles tomorrow, as normally a run of that length is at the weekend when I have time to spare. So I will be taking plenty of snacks to work tomorrow to fuel me- I promise I am learning lessons!

This is my snack for in a minute;

A cooked nectarine with some alpro custard (tastes like normal ready made custard) with some cherry coconut cereal sprinkles. 🙂 Gotta get me some carbs for tomorrow.

Night

PS- Rob I have tried the chickpea/ gram flour in a sweet pancake bake thing, and I think it had a stronger taste than normal flour which I was not so keen on, but actually in the pancakes with the vanilla and cinnamon I could not taste the flour so I would say it is worth trying it in sweet dishes.

PPS (is that how you do it?)- I finished my cosy tea review which you can see here if you are interested – I appreciate not everyone loves tea quite as much as I do haha!

Another successful week

Hi guys

I can’t believe another sunday is here yet again- the weeks are going by so fast!

Today I was tired from yesterday! I also forgot to get my porridge ready last night (shock) but then I remembered I had a couple of porridge pots- I am thinking these are good for weekends away etc.

I made it with coconut milk- porridge rescued 🙂 Although it did make it so thick- I kept on adding more milk as I like my porridge more runny than this!

We walked up to the shops to stock up on nuts in Julian Graves (and I also found some dark chocolate coated cranberries which I don’t think will last long when I open them!), I was tired on the way home- not too stiff but a little.

Then I made chickpea pancakes 🙂 I don’t like making the thin pancakes (I don’t like them as much, plus they are hard to flip over) so I made little ones with (I guessed the amounts) chickpea flour, baking powder, egg, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. While they were cooking I added some chocolate chips, and also topped mine with a little choc pb.

They were tasty and I was pleased they actually looked like real pancakes 🙂

Onto the week;

Monday- 6 mile steady run- completed but I was still tired from the 14 miles on Saturday.

Tuesday- Aerobics- fuel fail meant I was tired again. But I still did it.

Wednesday- 7 miles- done- mind over matter made me complete this one.

Thursday- Body pump- kept the same weights and matched last week on the abs track front.

Friday- Much needed rest day!

Saturday- 10 miles accidently turned into 11.7 miles- lesson about route planning learnt!

Sunday- Another rest day and again well needed! Managed a gentle walk but I was very tired by the end.

Weekly total; 24.7 miles. Lesson learnt- fuelling and route planning are important. I am calling it a successful week as I managed to complete my runs, and I recovered ok from the longest run I have ever done. I was doing well with my snacks etc in the previous weeks, but this week for some reason I have not done so well.

I am going to really concentrate on eating properly during the next week, as next Saturday I am supposed to go 16 miles. I don’t want to think about that too much, but if I get there tired then I will do no good. I am also having another messed up week, due to an extra and longer staff meeting, so I am going to miss aerobics and do my runs on different days. Anyway, I won’t ramble!

I need to do some more foam rolling now. So, what have you done this week that you can call a success? Let’s all be positive and celebrate our achievements 🙂

On a completely random note, I got an email from wiggle saying that until Tuesday (I think) they are having 20% off “nutrition”. So any guesses on what I have ordered? (Clif bars and nuun). But someone might find that useful? They also do Mule bars on there, but I like the apple ones and Andy doesn’t and it made sense to order ones that we both like.

Talking to the geese

Hello!

I have had such a lovely saturday- some running, some gardening and some baking. These pretty much equal a perfect saturday.

First up is the run! The plan was for 10 miles- having a cut back week after the last few weeks of higher mileage. I thought I had run 10 miles a couple of weeks back, and so I went out on that route. I also thought the weather would be colder- I had on a craft long sleeved top and a jacket over that (luckily left the gloves and ear warmer at home)- well after a mile I had to stop and take the jacket off but I was still too hot. The run was ok- I had some clif blok things during the run. But it turned out that I miscalculated/ misremembered the route and ended up doing 11.7 miles- whoopsie. Then when I looked at my plan, due to me being ill and missing a few runs I actually have not run 10 miles for 7 weeks. Silly me again. Half a mile from home I had to stop and cross a busy road and when I started running again my muscles had practically seized up- the last half mile was a painful stiff hobble. I am alright now though. So another lesson learned- actually plan my route.

I got a friendly wave from one runner, and a “hello” from another one which I always like. Also when running around the park there was a big white hissing goose on the path- they are nearly as tall as me. I said out loud “I don’t like the look of you” and then a man (who was also right in front of me) turned around and said “were you talking to me?”- I had to admit that no, I was talking to the scary goose. Whoopsie again.

Refuelling time-

Kara coconut milk with nesquick, and a Hazelnut honey stick. This was so amazing (my first time trying it) that I took a pic once it was opened too- how unlike me;

Yum– a gooey carob (tastes like chocolate) centre coated in hazelnuts.

I also put all my nakd bars in a box today (remember a while back I got the deal off the website?)- well I think it will keep us going for a long time;

They are all about 4 deep I think!

After some soup it was time for gardening. I didn’t take any pictures but I saw so many ladybirds 🙂 It was such a perfect day for it too.

Then I got down to baking- I made some raspberry and white chocolate brownies for tomorrow. Basically I made a normal brownie, and then sprinkled it with some chopped white chocolate and the last of my frozen raspberries.

Before baking and then after slicing.

It is so good- the raspberries turn into a sort of sharp jam. Yum.

Then it was time to lay on the sofa (compression socks on) with some tea and snacks.

Lovely Whitards Christmas tea 🙂

So – your perfect Saturday?

Spread the love

Hello lovelies!

I am having my usual post body pump high this evening!

The usual instructor was away, and normally this means it is cancelled, but she mentioned last week that she knew someone who might be able to cover. On Tuesday (aerobics) I asked at reception and they were “pretty sure” it was on. So I was keeping my fingers crossed and very happy when I got there to find it was on. The usual crowd were there; when I arrived one regular was already getting the bars ready for us. The instructor was so impressed with how helpful we were, how well we put away the stuff between tracks once we no longer need it and how well trained we were in general with the routine. She was really good, and near the end told us she only qualified to teach it 2 weeks ago! We were all very impressed- during the chest track she walked around to check we were holding the bars in the right position, and she was very encouraging. Loved it! (And we are a class of such swots too haha!)

Boy I am tired now though!

I shared a stoats porridge bar with Andy;

This one was raspberry and honey, with sunflower and pumpkin seeds and sultanas. Yum.

I also tried chamomile tea;

This smelled like sweeties 🙂 Again I have never tried this before, but I actually quite liked it. It also has liquorice in it, which I think adds to the sweetness. I am gradually being converted to more and more to herbal teas. (Do not panic I still love chai).

I also got an email from Martin Yelling (a bit star struck haha) saying my prize it on its’ way! How exciting 🙂 So I am now spreading some marathon talk love-go check out marathon talk– it’s the rest of the interview with Andrew Lemoncello this week- go on see why I keep on about it! 🙂 Anyone else ever listen to it? Or anyone going to give it a go this weekend?

Runners Envy

This is what I have when I drive to work. I typically leave home just after 7.30am, and now it is nice and light at that time I see loads of people out running. As I drive a lot of the roads I run on, they are often doing similar routes or roads I know well, and I just feel envious of them being out there running.  This will only increase as the weather gets better! They probably wonder why I stare at them as I drive past- I am really looking at how fast they are going and what clothes they are wearing, how springy their feet go and whether they are listening to earphones. Anyone else join me in this?

OK, yesterday I did not do well with fuelling for aerobics. Last week I had some fruit and a flapjack and some tea, all of which helped. This week I had fruit with me at work, but nothing else, and I got home later (forgot to make tea until it was too late) and only had time for a small snack- a few oatcakes with nut butter. This and maybe the longer weekend run meant that it was harder work than usual. I am learning my lessons I promise!

I did have a nice post aerobics snack (I have to have at least one picture you know, otherwise I get bored of looking at my typing)

The museli has little bits of puffed corn (I think) so it is like mini bits of popcorn- fun!

Today I included a big afternoon snack to help with the run- some clementines, a seed stacked flapjack and some almonds. Anyway, my run turned into mind over matter. I was tired; by the time I got home I did not really fancy a run (despite having a big case of runners envy this morning), my legs were tired. I told myself I was imagining it and went out. After 4 miles I got caught in a very heavy downpour- luckily I was near some trees so did not get too drenched. Anyway, I think the rain actually refreshed me and I made myself pick up the speed a bit, and in the end did a bit under 7 miles in 69 minutes- I think 7.7 miles or something like that so in fact I was fast for me.

I feel tired now though and am looking forward to my king of snacks later!

Anyone else suffer runners envy?