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?

Pink porridge!

Evening all!

I enjoyed reading the comments from yesterday about things you have achieved that you never thought was possible. It seems I am not alone in my brain taking time to adjust my mindset.

Today started with pink porridge!

Ok, it looks weird. It was porridge with raspberries and a little bit of crunchy pb (that is all the funny coloured brown bits). I took inspiration from the dorset raspberries and cranberries porridge packets when I found seom frozen raspberries in the freezer. And I remembered they have a bit of iron in them, so bonus there too 🙂

After work I headed out for a run, again in the wonderful sunshine. Love it! I was due for either 6 or 7 miles, so I went for a 6 mile loop with a view that if I was feeling ok I would add the extra mile today, and if not I would do it on wednesday. Well, buy the 5 mile mark I was finding it tough, I was thirsty (despite lots of water at work and some right before I left) and my shins started hurting a bit. So I was sensible and came home. I think my legs can still remember the 14 miles from saturday. In fact I was pretty good- the 10k took me 64 minutes, and this included time to cross roads etc. I tried to pick up the speed once my legs were warmed up, and I think I managed it (have not uploaded my run yet) but I was pleased with the time anyway.

Dinner was some of the lentil and cannelini bean chilli that I made yesterday (it was tasty but so spicy) with some cheese oatcakes. I was too hungry to stop and take a picture-oops.

So, who was out enjoying the sunshine today? It was light ’til so late here today- the daffodils are all out and spring is on it’s way (even though I did have to defrost my car this morning, hmm).