Day 15/31 Janathon – Big thanks Janathon folks

Posted on January 15, 2011 by pucegreen

So here we are Day 15 and I’m still doing Janathon! I’ve had two off days so far but the rest seems to have helped take me to that next level in my running.

I really feel like I’m starting to find my stride again.

So thanks to all you Janathon folks for your encouraging words on my blog and twitter and for sharing your inspiring and funny stories. Not sure I’d still be going if it wasn’t for your help.

Today I decided to have an easy day and work on my abs and shoulder workout and also try out the short cross-trainer workout that my instructor had set up for me. Well the cross-trainer workout was short but hard enough to work me up into a sweat and out of breath. I managed to cover 1.6km and burn 165 calories – definitely going to do that more if I’m pressed for time.

Cross-trainer

Time: 15 minutes

Distance: 1.6km

Calories burned: 165

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Day 14/31 Janathon – Gym craziness

Posted on January 14, 2011 by pucegreen

I’m the first to admit that I’m a fair weather runner which is why I signed up to the gym to start training again and take part in Janathon.

The gym does drive me a bit crazy as I prefer running outside and watching the world go by. In the gym, there’s not much to look at so I’ve been trying to maintain my focus on breathing and my stride which to be honest does need some work after such a long break.

Tonight however did drive me a little crazier than usual!! Don’t get me wrong, I generally don’t mind the January newbies but during my 5km I ended up with 2 different people on the treadmill next to me who just constantly ramped the speed up and down manually until they looked like they were either going to spin off the treadmill or collapse in a heap. Not surprisingly this drove me to distraction and the temptation to suggest that maybe they should have their button pushing rights revoked!

The thing that really baffles me is I chose this particular gym because the instructors are exceptionally friendly and helpful so the treadmill would have been set up for these people to get the best workout.

I may head back to the dark room on Sunday for some peace and quiet.

Treadmill

Distance: 5km

Time: 40 mins

Average: 8 mins/km

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Day 13/31 Janathon – Yoga day

Posted on January 13, 2011 by pucegreen

Completing a 5km run yesterday didn’t result in my legs going on strike today as I thought they might do.

But still decided to take it a little easier today and completed a 30 minute yoga work out.

It seems in my euphoria, I also may have just volunteered myself to take part in a half-marathon in June! Nothing has been signed yet so there is still time for someone to declare me completely mad!

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Day 12/31 Janathon – 5km done

Posted on January 12, 2011 by pucegreen

Well I did it.

I completed a 5km run this evening.

It wasn’t the fastest in the world but I’m certainly not complaining.

Next on the list is to start improving my time. I had hoped that I would achieve 5km in 35 minutes by the end of January. Not sure it is entirely doable but going to keep it as my main goal for Janathon.

So here’s to more sensible eating and yoga to try and improve my time.

Treadmill

Distance: 5km

Time: 39.45 minutes

Average: 7.57 mins/km

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Day 10/31 Janathon – Pushing the Senses

Posted on January 10, 2011 by pucegreen

Can’t quite believe that it is day 10 of Janathon already – it’s really flying by.

It’s also Day 2 of my better eating promise. I don’t believe I’m dieting because my aim is too improve my fitness not lose weight (although I’m not going to argue with the scales if I do!!).

Anyway, I headed to the gym straight after work and managed 3km in 22.34 minutes and felt great.

I think that tonight’s soundtrack Pushing the Senses by Feeder may have helped. It’s a great album and fab for running to. The 3km was over before I’d realised!

So as a result of my improved eating and re-establishing that Feeder produces some great running music, I’ve asked my PT to up my run  to 5km at a steady pace and I’ll see how I go with that tomorrow night.

Treadmill

Distance: 3km

Time: 22.34

Average: 7.31 mins/km

I still have 21 days to find my running mo-jo and I think I may be finally heading in the right direction!

Posted in Fitness, Food, Running | 2 Comments

Day 9/31 Janathon – Food for fuel

Posted on January 9, 2011 by pucegreen

I knew that completing Janathon was potentially going to be a tough one for when I signed up. I tried to get some training in over the course of December so that it wouldn’t be a complete shock to my system.

I am really pleased with my efforts so far in addition to juggling work and a rather active son.

I’m injury free but I have to admit to being pretty tired.

So in addition to heading out to the park, playing Guitar Hero and Just Dance 2 with Deaghlan today, I’ve been reviewing what I eat and how that is impacting on this increase in my level of activity.

According to Gary, I eat like a sparrow and I’m a self confessed chocoholic. I think it’s fair to say that I have still been eating a fair amount of junk and I can’t use Christmas as an excuse any longer.

So I’ve spent some time looking though cookbooks and Zest magazines today so I can work out a decent menu plan to keep my energy levels up.

Today’s meal effort was a veggie curry with plenty of sweet potato, spinach and brown rice:

Veggie Curry

I also made some breakfast bars courtesy of Nigella Express which are full of oats and seeds but I did substitute nuts (none left in the cupboard!!) for some good old Green&Black’s dark chocolate. They taste delicious and are really easy to make.

So Week 2 of Janathon for me is about increasing my mileage and making more of an effort to ensure the food I eat is fuelling this increase in activity rather than hindering it.

Yoga

Time: 30 mins

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Day 8/31 Janathon – Got no rhythm

Posted on January 8, 2011 by pucegreen

I hit the treadmill today after a couple of run free days and just could not find my rhythm. After the first km, I gave up trying as it was just tiring me out and carried on the last 2 kms at a slower pace.

Still feeling pretty worn out, so thinking that may have something to do with the fact that I’ve done more exercise this week than I did in the whole month of December. November 2010 was even less and previously I had given up on running all together.

Janathon for me is getting out exercising every day and finding my running mo-jo. So I think I’m going to slow my running pace for week 2 and just get the mileage in.

Treadmill

Distance: 3.35km

Time: 29.05

Average: 8.40 mins/km

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Day 7/31 Janathon – Swimming with my 7 year old

Posted on January 7, 2011 by pucegreen

Definitely counting my hour in the pool with Deaghlan as my contribution to Janathon today even though I only managed to record a swim distance of 150 metres.

Swimming any significant lengths with my 7 year old with you is practically impossible. He did however ensure that I had a pretty good workout, swimming for weights at the bottom of the pool and a fair amount of walking in the water whilst I helped Deaghlan improve his swimming.

So we have rewarded ourselves with cheese and crackers (plus wine for Mummy) and Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Well done to everyone finishing week 1 of Janathon :-)

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Day 6/31 Janathon – Sooo tired

Posted on January 7, 2011 by pucegreen

Yesterday was definitely a tough day – early start followed by a hectic day at work. Plus my legs were starting realise that I was working them harder than usual.

So I decided that a short swim would give me an all over workout without too much impact.

I  swam 450 metres in 18 minutes before my shoulder started protesting and reminded me that I need to book a physio appointment.

I honestly felt much better afterwards and slept so well that I didn’t wake up until 7.50am this morning following a complete alarm fail on my part.

Swimming

Distance: 450 metres

Time: 18 minutes

Going to take my little man swimming soon so may make that my Janathon contribution for day 7 but will see how I feel later.

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Day 5/31 Janathon – Fox’s Biscuits addiction

Posted on January 5, 2011 by pucegreen

I had decided that today would be a no-running Janathon day and concentrate on a bit of core work with some yoga added for good measure.

However, today was first day back at work after the Christmas break and someone had brought in an unopened tin of Fox’s biscuits. A big tin bursting with chocolate cream and jam filled biscuits and my favourites, you know the ones covered in thick dark chocolate.

Well I couldn’t and didn’t resist!!

So back to the gym I went this evening, 2.5km on the treadmill plus my core workout. Then home for 20 minutes of yoga.

Feeling much more virtuous although quite tired but I know that I will dive head first into the biscuit tin tomorrow unless someone else beats me too it :-)

Treadmill

Distance: 2.5km

Time: 19.02 mins

Average: 7.36 mins/km

plus 10 mins core workout and 20 mins of yoga

Posted in Running | 3 Comments