Monday

Squats x 155

Sit ups x 155

I missed 2 days off the squat challenge whilst I was away so had to make up for them today.

Bike - 35 mins - Level 6 (Interval) - Just over 7 miles

Legs press - 20 sets of 25kg x 4

Leg curl - 20 sets of 25kg x 2

Abductors - 20 sets of 25kg x 3

Adductors - 20 sets of 25kg x 3

Chest press - 20 sets of 4kg x 4

Tricep curl - 20 sets of 4kg x 4

Bicep curl - 20 sets of 4kg x 2

Squats - 20 sets with 10kg barbell x 2

Tuesday

5.23 mile run

Squats x 100

Sit ups x 100

Wednesday

Squats x 105

Sit ups x 105

Thursday

Squats x 110

Sit ups x 110

3.22 mile run

Friday

Rest day

Saturday

Squats x 130

Sit ups x 130

Sunday

My first 10k race (more on that in another post)

Squats x 135

Sit ups x 135

With my race coming up on Sunday and my legs being ever so tight, I decided to take things easy last night. I went out with Aunty and stuck to a realitively easy 3 mile route (minus the hill right at the end). I managed to keep a fairly quick pace for me which has made me happy (splits show below).

 

I am starting to get really nervous for Sunday, there is so much going through my mind. What if I set off to fast? What if I need to walk? What if I'm like 30 minutes behind everyone?

 

Why can't I just relax?

 

Tuesday rolled around again. It's funny how fast the weeks are rolling round this year. I can't believe we are in May already.

I headed down to Bushfield and ran with Shell. We are of a similar pace but I haven't had the chance to run with her in a while so it was really nice to catch up and have a bit of a natter. I found this run really difficult, I kept going but my it took alot of strentgh. My quads have been practically crying recently from all the running, gymming and general walking around at the weekend and running really wasn't what they wanted to do. Bur I made them with a few walking breaks obviously.

Distance: 5.23 miles

Time: 1 hour 10 minutes 02 seconds

As it was bank holiday weekend I jetted off to Copenhagen for a little weekend away. The city was lovely and there was so much to do and see, the weather was beautiful as well, there wasn't a cloud in sight. It was so nice to not have to wear a coat.

 

I have been feeling a little down on my running after Thursdays disasterous run, it's so annoying how one run can make you doubt everything. But on Sunday morning I got up early and decided to run before breakfast. This just shows how crazy the running bug has hit me, I would never of dreamed of getting up early on holiday to go out and run.

 

 

It felt so nice to not know where I was going, I didn't track this run so have no idea how far I went. I was out for 45 minutes so that normally translates to around 3.5 miles, but I had to cross alot of busy roads, with traffic going the opposite way. This is alot for my brain to process at 7:30am in the morning.

It felt so good to be out there, the run felt easy and I didn't need to stop which made me really happy. Until....I literally went flying. I must of tripped on an uneven paving slab. So say hello to my new eye. I'm surprised I managed nearly 5 months without falling over or getting an injury to be honest, so I can't really complain. I quickly checked for blood and/or missing teeth/broken nose, jumped up and ran as fast as I could back to the hotel. The reception gave me some ice and I retreated to my room to have a sulk in the shower and check out my war wounds.

Monday morning:

Bike - Level 6 - Over 7 miles - 35 minutes

20 reps x 2 sets - 10kg squats (I never thought I would say it but I'm loving squats)

20 reps x 2 sets - 4kg forward lunges

20 reps x 2 sets - 4kg chest press

20 reps x 2 sets - 4kg tricep curl

20 reps - 4kg bicep curl

And a good stretch on the foam roller (must invest in one of these pronto).

I also went swimming. I managed 40 lengths in 35 minutes. 30 breast stroke & 10 front crawl. 

Seeing as I go on holiday in 31 days (not that I'm counting) I've decided to start the 30 day squat challenge. I have decided to up this and include sit ups. 

50 x squats

50 x sit ups

 



Tuesday

55 x squats

55 x sit ups

5.89 run - Hill reps (see previous post)

Wednesday

5. 64 mile bike ride.

I bought myself this bike back in September when I knew I was moving closer to work. I hate to admit it but it's been used once since then and takes pride of place in my parents dining room. Last night seeing as it was sunny and I couldn't really be bothered to go to the gym I decided to head out for a bike ride. After a bit of a faff with a flat tyre I was on my way. I just headed up to the boating lake and back round but it was really lovely. Note I am really unstable on a bike and really need some more practice.

60 x squats

60 x sit ups

Thursday

2.06 mile run (A disaster)

Friday morning

Bike - Interval setting - Over 7 miles - 35 minutes

20 reps x 3 sets - 10kg squats

10 reps x 1 set - 10kg squats

70 sit ups - 3kg medicine ball

20 reps x 3 sets - 4kg forward lunges

20 reps - 4kg bicep curl

And a good stretch on the foam roller.

Saturday

40 minute swim in Copenhagen

Sunday Morning

3 mile run in Copenhagen

My stupid chest still isn't getting any better, I wouldn't mind but it's now stopping me from running, well at least running well. Last night I went out with Mandy & Sarah, who are way faster then me, but normally I can just about keep up if they take it slow. I managed 1 mile before I had to leave them and turn back around. My chest was so tight and I just couldn't breath properly, I think if I was going at my own pace I would of managed to keep going, but pushing myself to go faster with a tight chest for 5 miles just really wasn't a good idea.

Silver lining though, I managed my fastest 2 miles ever so maybe I am getting slightly quicker.

I feel so annoyed and guilty and I know I shouldn't, but I feel like I've been making really great progress recently and I really don't want this to stop. I'm away in Copenhagen this weekend, the hotel has a gym so if I don't manage to get out running at least I can use the treadmill. I really want to run outside though, it will be the first time I have ran in a different country and I would like to make the most of it.

As I'm sure your aware I've been feeling really under the weather this week, resulting in me missing my long run on Saturday. This is really thrown me, I'm a creature of habit and I like to stick to routine. I was unsure whether it was a good idea to go running on Tuesday but decided it would either kill me or cure me, so off I went.

 

Tuesday was a manic day for me & I only just made it back to Peterborough in time for running, in such a panic I turned into one of those girls I hate. Baring a full face of make up (not the end of the world as I knew this would be sweated off in no time) and forgetting a hair bobble, I had to run with hair down for the first time ever (never ever again).

 

Anyway, I decided I would stick with Aunty and do a gentle 3 miles, if my chest started to hurt I always knew I could stop and walk, but at least I was getting out there and trying. Oh how I was wrong. Val decided to stick with me as we are of a similar pace and distance & she was more then happy with 3 miles but Mandy & Grumps had other ideas. We were taken to Chesterton hill, about 2.5 miles away from Bushfield for hill reps (yes thats plural). The run down really hurt and I knew this wasn't going to be easy, it was hot, my hair was in my face and I really didn't enjoy it. Once we made it to the bottom of the hill my stomach dropped, this was really steep. I set off strong and pushed ahead of Val & Mandy, thankfully Wendy was on hand to keep me going and I really wouldn't of made it up without her. I managed to run all the way to the top, power walked down and repeated this again. As told the second time wasn't as bad as the first. When we were all down we set off home.

 

I stuck with Grumps and plodded along at a good pace, I was feeling good so we picked this up a little. I eventually ran back with Wendy as the others had slowed down a little. Thanks to Wendy for pushing me.

 

Splits are as follows:

 

1 miles - 12:02

2 miles - 12:22

3 miles - 13:55 (Can you tell this is where the hill was)

4 miles - 12:16

5 miles - 12:04

6 miles - 13:52 (we slowed to a fast walk to cool down here to let our legs recover)

 

 

I am pretty happy with these times. We covered 6 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. That is my target for my upcoming 10k, considering this was with a tight chest and 2 reps of a hill I'm hoping I can get my target next weekend. Fingers crossed.