Category: Stuff I love!

Hey peeps!

I am sure you are all glued to your TV’s right now, enjoying all the sports on offer. I have been loving it! I have never watched an opening ceremony before, and just put it on for a bit to see what it was like, and ended up watching the entire show. One channel was showing it without the commentary which was so much better- we did turn it over for a bit, but the chatter was so inane we quickly went back to the other feed. I did wonder if it would be a bit too arty, but I just enjoyed it all- the fireworks, the dancing, the music, the little cultural references sneaked in (like the most famous weather forecast ever!)- it just showed how fab Britain is. I was so pleased to see Beckham involved, as I think he has turned into a fantastic role model for younger athletes, and actually is proud to play and work for his country (and not just rake in the money like most footballers), plus he was involved with the bid, and I loved that they nominated up and coming athletes to finish the final part of the torch. I also though that London looked amazing, especially at night all lit up. It is a city with so many brilliant landmarks, impressive buildings (historic and modern), lovely parks, and the fireworks helped to showcase that I thought.

After a 5 mile run, a walk to the shops and some work on Friday, I chilled out in the afternoon by painting my nails (Primrose Hill Picnic– what a pretty name) whilst watching The Spirit of the Marathon- it got me into the mood for the opening ceremony I suppose.

I also made some rosemary foccacia from my Lorraine Pascale book.

I was a bit worried that it was too brown, but it was soft on the inside still.

(Mine was so much darker than the photograph)

As well as picking rosemary, I picked some fresh mint, and had it in mint tea, and also with pineapple and watermelon.

So refreshing 🙂

On Saturday morning, I had my longest run this year (since the Great South Run in October I think)- just over 10 miles. It was not quite as hot as it had been, which I was grateful for. I also turned my Garmin around so that I could not see the screen any more- that seemed to help a lot because I have been getting into the habit of thinking about how far I have to go, which makes me feel more tired. I want to run on feel really, especially on those longer runs. It took me about 1 hour 55 I think, which is not bad seeing as the GSR took me 1hr 50, and in March I could not even walk half a mile! I am sure I have said this before but I am not going to worry about a time, I just want to enjoy the experience, but going these longer distances does give me some confidence.

I had a delicious breakfast waiting for me- raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackcurrants all from the garden and allotment, alongside muesli, hazelnut milk, chia seeds, and a little drippy pb on top.

I have also been loving coconut water to rehydrate- it is just so refreshing, although I cannot find the mango stuff at the moment, which is my fave flavour.

Earlier in the week, I finally received one of these:

I think I had to use my Starbucks card 15 times to earn one, but now Andy has a card too, that counts towards the total too (basically the reward scheme is on visits and not per item, so you are better to have separate cards linked to the same account if that makes sense). I used to buy both our drinks on my card, which would earn one star, but now if we buy them on our own cards, we get 2 stars.

We had opticians appointments, so as a post-run treat, and a pre-opticians treat (I hate things like that) we went to Starbucks. As it was warm I got a soya chai tea latte, only iced. It was delicious (Andy had one too and liked it, but decided that it is not as good value because they fill it up with ice haha!). We shared a cinnamon roll- reading my GSR recap it seems that I need a cinnamon roll after running 10 miles!

Then this morning started with more garden produce:

I really fancied pancakes, so made up a quick batch with wholegrain spelt flour, hazelnut milk, apple sauce and coconut (random, but it worked). While they were cooking I made a sauce with blueberries and blackcurrants (from the garden), in a little water, with a tsp coconut sugar. The mix was only small (I think 40g flour or something) but it made a pancake mountain! I also had some hotel chocolat chocolate peanut smudge sauce (but it is not as nice as Dark Chocolate Dreams)- the fruity sauce was the best bit though- delicious.

After that I have been mainly relaxing- I thought my legs would be more tired, but they have been OK. We watched the Grand Prix, and a lot of the women’s road race (such an exciting finish!)- then we had a walk, and got back seconds before it poured with rain.

I am off for another fix of the Olympics- what sports have you enjoyed watching? 

Hello!

Just a quick post for me to announce the winner of the £20 Groupon voucher giveaway from last week.

Names on paper, folded up, and Andy picked…

Eleanor!

How exciting! If you can email me with your email, then I can email you the voucher. That is a lot of the word email in one sentence.

In other news, I have been eating a lot of watermelon. Yum. I bought one because it has been so hot and I find them so refreshing- like eating sorbet.

I also went on a run on Monday when I got home from work – that was not a good idea. I was baking when I got home from work, so decided to take it slow. I did manage 15 min run, 1 min walk, but the next 15 min run was so hard and I felt quite sick. Yuck. For the last few minutes I was basically thinking about how I didn’t want to have to admit to not managing it on my blog! Plus I knew I did it last week at the Sweatshop club, so I knew I was capable. But when I got home I was so hot- dripping in sweat- it was even coming out of between my fingers. I should have gone later in the evening, but because we are having stuff done to the bathroom it was then or never (and I think I should have chosen a walk instead). And after I thought I had sorted out my shoes, my foot went numb again right at the end. I am sure I am still tying the laces up too tightly, as I used to get it occasionally in my old shoes, but it is getting annoying now. I think I might have to undo the laces and start all over again.

Well after the boring-ness of Saturday, it was good to have a lovely Sunday.

I woke up bright and early, and went out for a run before it got too hot. I was in two minds over what to do (whether to follow my plan or to run it all, seeing as I managed to run on Wednesday without walking at all) but in the end I kept the walk breaks in. I need to be increasing the distance of these weekend runs especially, as I am doing the GNR (a half marathon) in September and I am sure it will come around quickly! So I went for a longer route- 3.5 miles, and had a few minute breaks after each ten min run. I think from now on I am going to add a little more to the weekend run, and if I need them keep the walk breaks in for the next few weeks at least, so that I am used to covering longer distances before I get rid of them. My midweek runs I will keep a bit shorter, and the Wednesday one especially will be a little faster which I think will be good for me. That is the plan for now anyway.

I had put some nuun in the fridge before I left, and boy did I need it when I got home! Despite drinking a glass of water before I went out I was super thirsty when I got home.

Although not quite as red as I thought I would be! (this was no-where near my colour on Wednesday evening!). Loving my Thoosa vest and my Bondi band.

After a cold bath (although hopefully later this week I will be able to use our new shower) I had a very summery breakfast.

Fresh mango, blueberries and some tropical alpro yoghurt. So delicious.

I had some housework to do (I don’t mind doing that) but no actual work! And also made some cookies for Andy’s parents- I used the trusted recipe but added in 50g chopped dried mango, 50g chopped brazil nuts and 20g dessicated coconut. I then sprinkled them with coconut before they went in the oven. I also used coconut sugar in place of regular sugar and that seemed to work well.

Totally tropical 🙂

We were planning on watching the Grand Prix a bit later, but Andy was busy painting the bathroom, so I went to sit in the garden. It was bliss.

I had made myself a jug of iced mint tea, so I took some out there with me. It was so easy to make- boil the kettle, pour over a teabag in a small cup, let it sit for ages (the longer it steeps, the stronger the tea), then remove the teabag, pour into a jug and top with water. You could add lemon/fresh mint leaves etc. I made it on Saturday night and so by Sunday it was lovely and cool, and really refreshing too.

I sat out there in the shade, reading magazines, drinking the tea, and eating a gourmet raw brownie (a coconut/banana one).

Everything was just coming to life in the garden- there are loads of tiny apples on the tree, and the blackcurrant bush is leaving with green berries 🙂

It was such a wonderful way to totally relax and chill out.

The rest of the day was spent watching the race, and then sitting in Andy’s parents garden- so relaxing to be outside 🙂

How are you all planning on spending the 4 day weekend later this week? Fingers crossed for the weather staying this good!

And don’t forget to enter my Groupon voucher giveaway. 🙂

Hello all! I hope everyone had a lovely week- I have been very busy but doing lots of fab things.

On Wednesday I went to the Sweatshop running club! The lady in the shop mentioned it to me on Saturday when I bought my new shoes. I had to register on the website and check when my local shop did them. It said on the website that it was a 5k run/walk for beginners, so it seemed perfect for me (this week I did 10 min run, 1 min walk). By the time I got there I was a little flustered (I had a course in the afternoon and then had to do some work when I got home, so left it a little late) because I ended up half running half walking up. Anyway, I needn’t have worried because everyone took a while to congregate. There were about 15 people doing it. The guy did ask me my pace (slow) and he said not to worry as he stays with the back person. We set off at about 11 min miles, which is fast for me at the moment (not that I get much faster than that although I could get under 10 min miles for 5K’s), and we were right at the back! The route was good- although it was so hot. I could really feel myself speeding up once I got into the shade. The guy at the front (who is a member but does not work for them or anything) kept running back to check we were OK and that we knew the route. Anyway, the only time we stopped was to cross roads- which was not very often! By the end we even caught someone else up, and I ended up a little ahead of her (although when we got right to the shop she did a sprint finish to overtake me which I found a little odd!), and was so pleased to finish. The route was 3.5 miles, so the furthest I have run this year!

They even gave out cold water (or squash) which was very welcome after a run in the heat of the evening. The walk home was good as it gave me a chance to cool down, although my face was still bright red when I got home! Anyway, I will be going back again. I think running with the faster people will be really good for me, and will hopefully make me speed up a bit.    When I went on my run on Friday after work (and admittidly my muscles were sore) I did the 10 min run, 1 min walk again. I think I will carry on with my plan, and have the Sweatshop run as a bit of a tempo session almost. I was worried about aching on Thursday, but I felt like I had had a good workout, but not sore like after a race or anything, so I think it was just right for me really.

I got to re-fuel with my fave dinner- some roasted sweet potato, squash, peppers, courgettes, with some lentils, spinach, hummus, balsamic and some red peppers from a jar (you know those sort of deli ones?). Yum.

On Thursday it was on to more good things! I went to body pump!

I have not been for 6 months! Crazy! I was recommended to keep the weights low, and I am glad I did. I think I went for 7.5kg as a warm up, back and lunges, 10kg for the squats, 5kg for chest/triceps/biceps/shoulders, and not sure what else is left! I had to modify the abs track too, but I did manage to finish it and I was feeling so happy- it really feels like I can put these last few months behind me now and get back to normal.

Then on Thursday night I realised that I needed to make bread for our dinner on Friday, so with my aching arms I kneaded the bread!

It was worth it though! I had a slice toasted today with some sunflower seed butter-mmm.

On Friday I was feeling fairly stiff, and half way through the day my stomach (I would say abs but I don’t have any haha- just where they would be) started aching (which worried me for a bit, before I remembered that there are muscles there), and today I have felt more stiff too. I had a run after work on Friday to shake out the muscles, and that helped my legs, but my arms were still sore. Ah well, I know the first week back is always the hardest.

Iced mint tea, and boring work!

Today I was up early because our bathroom is finally being started on- it was meant to be right after the Easter holidays but for one reason and another has been put back. They were coming this morning at 8.30am to rip out the bathroom, and I had an enormous pile of work to do, so the plan was to do the work in the morning while they did the bathroom things. Well they only left at 5pm! I had made some iced tea to have while I worked, which was lucky because it has been so hot!

Anyway, I am off on a walk now, to enjoy some of the sunshine, and to rest my eyes and brain, and I will be doing no work tomorrow!

(By the way, this is not really a moan, because I normally have work to do at the weekends and that is fine, but I have spent 8 hours today doing work which seems like a lot, especially when the weather is so lovely).

What did you all get up to during the beautiful weather?

Do you prefer exercising alone or in groups? I like exercise classes as I feel they push me, but then I love running alone as I find it more de-stressing, so I suppose I like a mixture really.