My week in running- 27 days to go!

My trusty trainers and I haven't always gotten along well. At first they gave me the most awful blisters on the arches of my feet, and I hardly used them for about 2 years. These are actually pretty old trainers but it's only since starting training for this run that I've given them a chance and have actually worn them in. We're getting on pretty well at the moment but still have our off days, I think it's too late to change them before the run now though so we're in it together for the long haul. My i-Phone arm band is about the second best bit of running kit I have bought, and it was pretty cheap too I think. I love being able to run with my favourite songs on and the Runkeeper app is brilliant! I got this magazine for free the other day and it's been pretty interesting reading. Although mostly I just feel inferior to the super woman who ran 120km in one day, that is just insane.

Anyway, this week got off to a pretty shaky start while I was recovering from the after effects of freefit. I know that it is good for me in the long run but oh does it hurt for the first few days after. Anyway my first outing went pretty terribly! I managed just under 20 minutes and really couldn't keep going any longer. Pretty pathetic. I decided my body was telling me to just rest a little so I took the next day off. By Thursday I was feeling much more energetic so even though it is the busiest day of the week for me at work, I committed to having a go at running home for the first time.

Tuesday's poor effort

Run home on Thursday

Friday was just too nice an evening to go out running, so me and Ed headed to the park to play some beach bat and ball. We've been trying to get a rally over 30 for ages now and haven't really come close, but on Friday we managed a glorious rally of 38. There was celebratory ice cream. After this we went to me some friends for pie at Battersea Pie Station in Covent Garden, which was frankly delicious and pretty good value too. I have to admit though that there were a few drinks involved here, and that I have fallen off the waggon. Sorry!

Left to right: Heron on the lake, Ed in action, first conkers of the season, mad bat and ball skills

To make up for my indiscretion though I pulled myself out of bed on Saturday morning and got out and went running. This run felt like turn around for me, I almost did 10km but was running out of time as I had a train to catch afterwards and hadn't packed so decided to go home. However, I felt like I could have kept running for quite some time still, which is honestly the first time that has happened! Fingers crossed this keeps happening and that maybe I will be able to complete my half.

Saturday morning's run

The rest of my Saturday was spent up in Leicester visiting my friends, spending more than I should have in Primark, eating Mexican food and playing with Woody the wonder dog, best dog ever! Then back to London on Sunday for a cheeky little picnic with Ed, then band practise and home to watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, classic! Weekend well spent I think.

Left to right: Lovely Sunday picnic, Woody the wonder dog, beautiful blue skies

Hope you all had a lovely time too!

Nicci
xoxo

Long overdue- 41 days to go

Normal service has been resumed. I am back from all of my gallivanting and will be trying to catch you up with my adventures over the next few days and also keeping you up to date with my training efforts, or lack of really...

Yesterday I took my first tentative steps back into the world of running after what can only be described as an extremely indulgent week off. And I can tell you it was seriously hard work! I'd completely let myself get out of the running mind set so even getting out the door was traumatic enough.

I started off a bit too fast and as it was quite early in the day still I hadn't had breakfast and I think this really showed by the end when I was pretty much walking around. I gave up once I'd done 5km even though I was nowhere near home yet, I walked the rest of the way back looking completely beaten.

However I am glad I got back out there and in a way glad it went badly as it's given me a bit of a kick. I've decided that from now until I complete the run that alcohol has to be completely off the cards. After a week of over indulging in that arena I can definitely feel a difference, especially in my lungs. So you heard it here first, I am on the waggon. I'm planning a bit of a diet overhaul as well to get myself in the best shape I can manage with the time I have left. But you will have to wait for news of that as Ed is making me bacon and eggs and it's bank holiday Monday so really that seems only fair...

Nicci
xoxo

Double Whammy- 53 days to go

Ed gave me these beautiful sunflowers on Monday, I've been trying unsuccessfully to grow some on the windowsill but they just look a little weedy and sickly. These really do put mine to shame! I read about a study on the emotional impact of flowers recently though, apparently the participants in the study were significantly less depressed, and less anxious after receiving flowers. They also noticed a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction. I'm hoping some of that will rub off me from these flowers as I'm currently finding this week a bit of a slog. It's crazy as we're off on a little holiday next week, but the week before a break is always hard right?

Anyway Monday was rest day and on the agenda for Tuesday was an "easy" 40 minutes run, at least that's what my training plan said. I was happily not too achy from Sundays efforts and set off feeling pretty good. I decided to follow the same route as Sunday. I kept it steady but there are a few really tough hill sections in the route which I decided to try and power up as quickly as I could, I was so tired at the top of each hill but it felt good! We'd been swimming after work on Tuesday and I'd cycled to work and back (Which is a lot more like hard work on Evelyn!) so I really was feeling it by the end of the run and so cut it short by 2 minutes. I'm sure the cycling and swimming will compensate though! Here's the map...

Today I was really low on motivation, especially as the training plan cheerfully announced it's intention of having me run 50 minutes tempo. Not a plan I relished I have to say, especially after a long day and sticky toffee pudding at lunch! I decided to head to Clissold park hoping that the change of scenery would get me through. It was a lovely evening and there were so many people out running. One thing that really does help me keep going is trying to overtake other people, usually unsuccesfully, or just trying to keep up with the person in front of me. I find it so much easier than motivating myself to keep a pace. This probably wasn't much of a tempo run but it was the best I could manage. Here's the map...

It's hard to tell, but I did three laps of the park. The old me would have managed one then given up. I don't think I'm necessarily much fitter yet, but there has definitely been a shift in my mind set. The fear has set in, and I don't want to let down all the people who have so generously sponsored me. I'm finding that thought alone really helps get me round the final lap of a run when I feel like just giving up and going home.

Speaking of sponsorship thank you so much to my mum and sister who sponsored me last night! I'm now up to £275 so almost there!! Please if you're reading this consider sponsoring me, I'm so close to the target now and it really is for such a worthwhile cause. Here's a lovely picture of the park from my run tonight to finish on, So pretty.

Nicci
xoxo

Weekend round up- 56 days to go

It's been another busy, but thoroughly enjoyable weekend for me. It always feels like the weekend flies by far too quickly though.

Friday's plans to go for another run didn't pan out, but I did take me new bike for a spin around the park which was fun followed by band practise then drinks in the Faltering Fullback, one of my favourite pubs in our area which has an amazing labyrinth of a beer garden.

On Saturday I headed up to Leicestershire with the band to play at Strawberry Fields Festival. This was our first gig of the summer as we've been having a bit of time off to write, so we were all a bit nervous. It went well though for the most, a few minor technical hitches but nothing major.. It was so nice to catch up with some of our friends from Leicester as well who we don't see nearly enough of any more. Thanks so much to everyone who came to watch us!

 

In the evening back in London it was off out to Borough High Street to wave goodbye to one of my best friends from school. She's off to New Zealand for a year or so and I am so incredibly proud and jealous! It was a lovely night and having so many of my friends in one place was just so much fun. I rocked a sequined parrot t-shirt which I found in one of the vintage shops at Strawberry field. LOVE it!

And I suppose now it's time to get down to the real purpose of this blog, Running. So today I dusted off the trainers and dragged myself out of the house as soon as it looked like it had cooled down a little. Today has been scorching! According to my training plan today's goal was 7 miles, which works out at around 11.2km. I decided to run with a bit more of a structured route plan today than usual, to help me get through the distance so I followed the route used for the 5km free park runs which take place every week in Finsbury park. Here's my map so you can see how I got on....

I did it! It took me a long time but I got there. It feels like I've got through a bit of a psychological barrier now as well, 10km always seems like quite a landmark distance. Although I've only gone a little bit further than that, it has given me some more confidence. I really found that having a route planned out before helped me keep going as I could visual how far I had left. I'll definitely be trying this more often. My knees and blisters have both held out ok as well, but I suppose only tomorrow will tell for sure!

At least I had this to come home to thanks to the lovely and talented chef Mr Edmund Grunill.

Oh yeah! I tried to make mine a bit healthier by adding salad and only having a quarter (!), but Ed managed to eat a whole half! It was really quite impressive. I'm going to sit and watch the Olympics closing ceremony now and wish I was there. If only I had a spare thousand pounds or so...

Nicci
xoxo

Rookie- 59 days to go

I did it! I went running again, and it wasn't actually that bad. I did commit a fair few rookie errors though.

 

 

1) Eating a whole bag of Metcalfe's skinny popcorn, sea salted variety (so tasty) followed by half a bag of gummy bears washed down with a cup of tea shortly before setting off. Turns out that's not an ideal pre-run snack. Who'd have guessed it?! It was delicious though...
2) Forgot to take my inhaler, classic error. Fortunately my lungs actually held out pretty well, which I think might be a sign that perhaps I am getting fitter after all? I even attempted some sprint sections and survived...

3) Forgot my water bottle. Not really sure where my head was before I set off but I pretty much forgot everything!! This was especially bad as the sea salted popcorn was definitely having an effect...


But still I kept going and I did a few sprint sections which was so much fun! I was listening to Not in Love, by Crystal Castles and Robert Smith, and sprinting to the chorus sections. I was definitely walking the verses though.


I think this sort of tempo training is something I need to incorporate more into my training. I am definitely prone to just setting out and plodding along at the same pace for 30 mins then heading home. This workout definitely got my heart rate up and I felt like I was pushing myself but not too much.


I also tried out foam rolling for the first time when I got home, as part of my cool down. I'm a little sceptical about this and I look ridiculous in our tiny little studio flat trying to roll around on a piece of foam, but it does seem to have helped. I'm certainly not any more achy today than I was yesterday so I'll keep it up. I got my foam roller from Argos for the bargain price of £9.99 and it seems to be doing the job pretty well so far.

Tonight the plan is swimming then a 40 minutes easy run so I'll update you later on how I get on. I'm tired just thinking about it!

Nicci
xoxo

So many activities- 63 days to go

It's been a busy weekend for me, lots of activities and lots of watching the Olympics. Can't believe how incredibly well team GB are doing, big respect! I am in so much pain today after my Freefit session that I am in total awe of all the olympics competitors! But it's the good ache I'm sure...I think I was too confident going for that run yesterday though so I am taking it easy today. Might attempt some yoga later on to stretch out the ache but even that could be beyond me!

The plan for today was to go watch the women's marathon but half way there on the bus the heavens opened and it looked like it would never stop. We just about managed the jubilee in the rain, thanks to copious amounts of champagne, but without any champagne today and only leftover pasta to keep us going we decided a change of game plan was needed. Being somewhat poor at the moment we decided that the Natural History Museum was the obvious choice, free, indoors and dinosaurs? Sold!

The photo in the top left is Edmund meeting an Edmontosaurus. I think it's actually uncanny how much they look alike! He was pretty pleased that his dinosaur namesake was in the natural history museum, personally I preferred the Tuojiangosaurus (pronounced two-wang-oh-sore-us, lol!)

We had so much fun, the natural history museum always makes me feel a bit like a kid again, especially the fairground mirrors!! It was crazy busy though so we escaped to the V&A for a bit more refinement and to eat our packed lunch in a quiet corner! I do love the V&A and the ballgown exhibition looked amazing, but we decided to save it for another weekend as I was struggling to hobble around by then!

On the way home, as we were passing Harrods anyway, it would have been a crime not to pop in and pick up some Lola's cupcakes! These are absolute heaven and I could have eaten every single one in the shop, but we restrained ourselves and got a mini cupcake each. I chose Red Velvet and Ed got Rocky Road. They. Were. Divine. I'm actually slightly in mourning for them now that we've eaten them.

My teapot is a sofa! It's ridiculously cute but I couldn't quite get the whole thing in here. There's a little cat sat on the top of it though, I'll try and get a better shot another time.

It's been such a fun weekend and last night, thanks to lovely Laura and Ben, I made it past the £200 donations mark which is amazing!! Only £150 to go until I make my target. Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me so far, and if your thinking about it then just do it! Every single donation is hugely appreciated and goes to a great cause. Hope you've had a wonderful weekend too!

Nicci
xoxo

P.s After writing this post we decided to head to Hyde Park to watch Usain Bolt in the 100m final. I was pretty much all ready for bed by this point but I'm glad Ed dragged me out because the atmosphere was amazing. First we watched Christine Ohuruogu get silver in the 400m final and the noise from the crowd was amazing. But it really kicked off when Bolt raced. He really is incredible! Here's a little photo of us waiting for the final, so excited!

Freefit- 64 days to go

Today I decided to try out something new, so I headed off to the park at 2:30pm to have a go at freefit. I was pretty apprehensive at first, it seemed like no one else was going to turn up, but one by one people appeared and everyone was so friendly that I immediately felt at ease. I decided to go for the beginners session to start off with and I'm glad I did! The intermediate session looked gruelling. We did some warm ups and then a lot of strength and conditioning work. The level was challenging but not unachievable and the session was so varied that the hour flew by. I'm really bad at doing strength work by myself as I completely lack the will power to keep going, so this was really useful for me and a great compliment to my running sessions.

Luckily we got lovely weather and as I was lying on the grass doing crunches and gazing up at the clouds I was thinking how lovely it is to be able to exercise outdoors. Then a KFC bag gracefully floated past my head which slightly killed the mood, but I still rate it over being stuck in a gym on a summers day. I'd definitely recommend Freefit to anyone, they really do cater to all abilities/fitness levels, and there's no scary military style shouting either. The team do the sessions for free to encourage the local community to get exercising which I think is a great idea. I'll definitely be going back!

 I decided that I felt so good after the freefit session that I would finish it off with a little run around the park. As soon as I started though I realised quite how tired my muscles were, I was pretty shaky! I decided to modify my plan a little and just take it really easy and treat it like a cool down run. It was so pretty in the park today, you can really feel autumn coming on. The blackberries are ripening, the conkers are growing and the leaves are turning. I always find this time of year a little bittersweet. I'm sad that summer is nearly over, but autumn is absolutely my favourite season. I love the smell of the air, the crispy crunchy leaves, the colours, getting new hats and gloves, everything. It does also feel a little like summer never really had a chance this year, but c'est la vie. Here's the map of my little sight seeing run home...

Feeling a little smug now so going to spend the rest of the day watching the olympics and feeling like a champion myself!

Nicci
xoxo

Le petit triathalon- 67 days to go

I'm not sure why this post is titled in French, it's just everything sounds that bit better in French doesn't it? Well I think so anyway.

I must really be coming down with Olympics fever as today I have been super busy! I started off with cycling to work as usual, this takes me about 30 minutes and is a great way to start the day. After work Ed came to meet me and we went swimming in the Lido again, it was a little cold for outdoor swimming though really, we were risking brain freeze! Then I finished things off with a 30 minute cycle ride home then a 45 minute run round the park. A mini triathalon- hence the post title.

Here's my map anyway, I went round and round in circles quite a bit so it's hard to make out. The time is a little out because I forgot to stop Runkeeper when I got home, it was really more like 45 mins but you get the idea still.

Also I think it was more like 7km, I can't take the credit for the last one, my pace was 1047:53 km/h! I'm not quite there yet!

Nicci

xoxo

Not a morning person- 69 days to go!

I had to pull myself out of bed this morning using Jedi mind power to go for a run. I am definitely not a morning person. I admit that once I was out there it was quite nice, beautiful weather, lovely and quiet and not too warm yet. But it's so traumatic getting to that point!!

I powered myself up with some chia seeds in apple juice, which look and taste fairly disguting, but provide a little shot of energy first thing without giving me a stitch. I can't face eating anything much more substantial that early.

Here's my little map of my run, it's a lovely squiggly route today. I find my morning runs are always slower than my evening ones. I did try a little tempo running this morning which was quite good, but my tempos seemed to be more slow ones than fast. Something to work on...

Nicci
xoxo

Back on it- 73 days to go

This is a little round up of the last two days, we've just been doing so many activites I haven't had time to post! The weather in London has been gorgeous lately so we decided to make the most of it while it lasts.

On Wednesday after work Ed came to meet me and we went to check out the Lido near my work. It was so nice after a day in the office to be swimming in the open air. The centre also had a little sun deck on the roof so it felt a little bit like being back on holiday. I forgot to take a photo but it looked like this, only busier and less blury!

Afterwards I cycled home and made it back just a few minutes after Ed, proof that cycling is just as quick as the tube and much nicer! I was planning on making a mini triathalon of it by going out for a run but was so tired that I settled on a glass of wine instead. A wise choice I think!

On Thursday it was another scorcher so we decided to head back down to Clissold park and try to bag that ping pong table. We had better luck this time and got straight on, but it soon became apparent we are both pretty terrible at ping pong (Ammendment- Ed wanted me to put that he has far more prowess at ping pong than me. He did beat me 2 games to 1 but I think I had more panache)!! It was so much fun though and surprisingly good exercise (mostly running after the ball when we missed it and dodging the people playing basketball next to us!). Afterwards we ate salted caramel ice cream in the sunshine it was so good!!

When I got home I psyched myself up and went out for a run, it had cooled down a bit by then so it was actually quite a nice running temperature. I managed half an hour and my knees held up this time, I kept the pace pretty steady and only stopped when I got a ridiculous stitch half way round- that would be the ice cream then! It felt good to get round without any knee issues and in fairly decent time as well I think. Still lots of room for improvement though!

I need to start getting my distance up pretty soon, but find it hard to motivate myself to keep running when I'm out on my own. I've persuaded my friend Ulli (who's training for an actual full marathon) to go running on Monday before work with me. Sweaty Betty, the shop, are organising free guided runs around London and we're going to get involved. It means a 6am start for me, but there's a free goody bag at the end!! We're going to be brave and attempt the 10km circuit around the royal parks, I figure it's perfect training for my Royal Parks half! I'll let you know how I get on.

Nicci
xoxo

Just chillin- 75 days to go

So today I had a bit of a rest day, don't want to overdo it after all! I did attempt to get up early for a run, but after watching Batman last night I think I must have been having nightmares or something because I was so tired this morning!! It was an absolutely epic film, but I did spend most of it hiding behind Ed or covering my ears from the explosions, lame! I'm just not cut out for all the excitement.

It's been absolutely amazing weather here in London and I was practically melting in my office all day so as soon as I recovered from my bike ride home I wanted to head out to the park. The plan was to play some ping pong on the free table in Clissold park, but it took us so long to find it that by the time we got there some other people had just started playing. There was a brief flirtation with the idea of playing real tennis but the heat got the better of us! So we just had a lovely walk round the park and saw the ducklings bobbing around on the lake, so cute!

When we got home we decided to make pasta for dinner which was delicious!! Anything with bacon, wine and garlic in it is bound to be good though. I'm telling myself I'm carb loading for training, really I'm just greedy, I finished this whole plate!!

Now I'm relaxing with a glass of wine watching New Girl, I'm a little obsessed! Perfect evening! I'm heading off for an early night now, back on the training bright and early tomorrow, hoping to get a run in before work and maybe a cheeky swim in the Lido at lunch, lovely!

xoxo

Day 1, or 76 days to go

This is going to be a sort of training diary to prove to all of you who may sponsor me (please do!!) that I am actually doing some training! I am running the Royal Parks Half marathon in October on behalf of MIND, who are a great chairty who provide advice and support for people with mental health problems. Well worth supporting I think.

This is the longest running event I've ever entered, I managed the 5km race for life last year and actually thought I was about to die when I crossed the finish line! So I'm trying to make sure I properly train for this one (Not just making it round the park once and thinking that will do!) My boyfriend Ed has already told me won't carry me to A&E afterwards so how's that for motivation?

Anyway today I actually woke up early and dragged myself out of bed for a run before work, this is utterly unheard of for me! I think the combination of sunshine and the fear that I haven't really done any training for the last fortnight is what spurred me on! I was doing quite well with training averaging a few runs a week until about a fortnight ago when for no real reason I just stopped. I have definitely undone all good I did by drinking far too much beer and eating so much while on holiday so I am back at square one really.

This morning was seriously painful, I had to walk a good part of it because my knee was playing up. Still I managed a 30 minute run/walk and covered 4km so not too bad. Here's a little picture of where I went and how long it took me.

I'm off for Japanese food tonight and then going to see The Dark Knight Rises, beyond excited about this!! Hope it's as good as everyone is saying. Planning on having sweet and salty popcorn to go along with this so glad I got in a run this morning at least, it sort of balances out the un-healthyness!

Nicci x