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

Quick catch up- 45 days to go

It's been an absolutely crazy few days for me, but so much fun. I've been jetsetting and festival-ing and generally having an amazing time, which does mean that my running training has suffered somewhat! I went to Summer Sundae festival at the weekend and saw the legendary Adam Ant- amazing! Then flew to Barcelona with Ed to celebrate our 2 year anniversary and to visit my sister and her boyfriend as well. As you can see from the photo the weather was ridiculously amazing and we had such a good time!

I'm going to try and do seperate posts about all my adventures as soon as I get time but I just wanted to check in for the meantime. I'm off to Cardiff for work this afternoon so I'm going to attempt to blog on my phone while on the train which may go horribly wrong we'll see.

So goodbye for now but I'll be back with a proper post very soon.

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

Let me introduce to you...

Evelyn Martha May! Haha yes I did give my bike a rather long and elaborate name. But she just looks like a bike that deserves a fancy name.

I have admit though, after having cycled a new bike with lots of gears and everything working it's taking some getting used to having a vintage bike again. But it's just got so adorable and was a lot cheaper than a new bike.

Anyway just a quick check in. We're on our way to play Strawberry Fields festival this afternoon, first gig in ages so excited but a little nervous. At least the weather is beautiful for us.

Nicci
Xoxo

Bad things really do happen in threes- 58 days to go

The day started out ok really, morning coffee, bowl of Weetabix minis while watching Scooby Doo, the usual stuff. But I really should have never left the house yesterday...

My first taste of disaster was when, after at least 2 hours of being at work already, I realised my dress was on back to front. Small fry really though compared to the next horrible occurrence. I started to feel a bit peckish so went to get my packed lunch out of my bag and, duh duh duhhhhhhh, I'd forgotten it. Anyone who knows me will understand how much this upset me, I love food a bit too much. But all of this pales in comparison to the next bad thing that happened to me. I'd had a bit of a  premonition about this in the morning as well; while locking up my bike I almost left the keys in the lock but just realised in time. It had me a bit uneasy all day though and I even checked my bike at lunch time, no problems. But sadly at the end of the day when I went out to fetch my bike to cycle to the pool, it was gone. The lock was cut clean in half and lying on the floor, a hollow reminder of what used to be.




RIP you lovely lovely bike

It makes me so sad that some horrible person has now got my lovely bike and I have to get the tube to work instead. I hate the tube! I'm not used to it anymore and it stresses me out so much and gets my day off to a terrible start. I'm hoping to get a new bike tonight, a cheap-o second hand one this time that looks to rubbish to steal (I hope). Stupidly I didn't get my last bike insured as it was on my to do list, but I never got round to it. Let that be a lesson to me.

I am wearing my bicycle necklace today as an homage to my stolen friend. Dramatic, me? I know someone who once wore one white glove to school for a week to mourn the break up of her relationship. I think I'm ok....

I'm going to post again later tonight about my latest fitness attempts so make sure to check back later. And also if you have a bike, buy four padlocks at least. 

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