London Marathon: My first marathon experience

It's done.  I did it.  My marathon training is over.  I finally ran the London Marathon on Sunday 24th April and I am proud to say that I completed it in 5 hours and 10 minutes.

My friend and I got the train down to London on the Saturday.  I had a small bag with some belongings.  We were going into the unknown.  I was putting pressure on myself to perform well.  As we sat on that train I said to my friend: I feel like I'm going into the hunger games.

Marathon Training - The Long Runs

After consuming our body weight in chocolate yesterday, let's think about exercise.  Everyone who knows me must know by now that I am running the London Marathon on the 24th April which is now JUST UNDER FOUR WEEKS!! Help.  You can check out previous updates of my marathon training here.

Today I am going to talk about the long runs.  Those dreaded grueling long runs.  They're not that bad.  Really.

7 reasons why I am glad I applied for a marathon

Almost a year ago when I applied for the London Marathon, I didn't actually think I would have any chance of even getting in.  Then there's the first run I did back in October.  I only just completed 2 miles, my lungs hurt, my legs didn't know what was happening and I thought there was no chance of me being able to run a marathon.  Then there was my knee trouble.  Iliotibial band syndrome is a bitch.

But nonetheless I am still glad that I applied for the London Marathon and this is why:

1. Motivation
Before training for the marathon I did exercise.  I have a gym membership and I attended classes and sometimes went into the gym.  There were weeks when I went three times a week, which I thoought was a lot, there were weeks when I didn't go.  Now, I exercise almost everyday.  Because I have to, but because I also want to.  I feel motivated.  I don't just feel motivated to exercise, I feel motivated to do other stuff too now.  If I wake up early to go for a morning run or gym session, I then feel motivated to achieve loads in my day.

2. Fitness
Like I have said, it's not like I was a lazy slob before but my fitness levels have increased SO MUCH!! I can really tell the difference and I am loving it.  I am able to go faster and for longer on my runs and I am able to work at a much harder level in the gym.  I think I might be the fittest I have ever been in my whole 25 years of existence. I am super proud of this.

3. Looking good
I can officially say, this is the first time in my life I have been able to see my abs.  I knew they were in there somewhere!! My stomach is far flatter than it's ever been and my legs feel far more defined.  Even if no one else could tell the difference, and just I could notice it, I would be happy, but other people have commented on it as well.  I feel great!!  Which brings me nicely onto the next section.

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4. Diet
My diet has always been good (for the last 2 years) but it has increased dramatically and is so much better.  I'm not on a diet, I just have a good diet, and I enjoy my food.  This includes alcohol.  A year ago I used to drink every weekend, now I drink about once a month and my body loves me for it!!

5. Confidence
This ties in with looking good and fitness. I was never terribly un confident about my body, but since I have seen improvements I feel so much more confident about my body.  Before, I would be self conscious about wearing a bikini, now I cannot wait to go on holiday and strut about in a bikini with my new found confidence.

6. Achievement
I love a challenge and I love feeling success.  Every time I run a longer distance, or beat my previous fastest time I feel success.  When I did the half marathon, crossing that finish line was such a great feeling.  I had done it!!  I love each step of achieving and it leaves me wanting to achieve more.

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7. Challenging yourself
As I have said, I like being challenged.  I like setting targets and getting to those goals step by step.  It not only gives me a sense of achievement but motivates me and keeps me going.  These days I never think, oh I can't do it.  I think I will do it and will work out a way to get there.

Are there any goals you have set out to achieve this year?

Marathon Training: My first half marathon experience

For me, running a half marathon is a big thing.  A couple of months ago I could barely run two miles.  So to reach the target of running 13.1 miles, in a race.  I saw this as an unachievable target.  But I believe that if you really want to do something, you can achieve it, no matter what it takes.  After all, in April I will be running a full marathon.

Me on the right after completing the race

Marathon Training: Gale force winds and running playlists

I cannot run without music.  At first I would listen to music to drown out the sound of my breathing, and I also get ear pain from the cold without ear protection.  But most of all, music spurs me on.  It's what keeps me going throughout those long runs.  Over the weeks I have put together a running playlist that helps me through each mile.

Here are my top ten running tracks:

Metallica - Enter Sandman

Madness - Baggy Trousers

Bowling For Soup - Stacy's Mom

Armin van Buuren feat. Mr. Probz - Another You

Hadouken! - M.A.D

Martin Garrix & Tiësto - The Only Way Is Up

Hardwell & Armin van Buuren - Off The Hook

Calvin Harris - Outside ft. Ellie Goulding

Panic! At The Disco - Time To Dance

Sub Focus - Tidal Wave ft. Alpines

This week has been pretty good for running.  I am feeling motivated, I feel like my body is changing for the better and the cold weather doesn't phase me so much.

Monday 25th January
Monday was a rest day.  I booked my first half marathon for 2 weeks time.  Eeeeekkkkk!!!!

Tuesday 26th January
I was so pleased with my achievements on Tuesday.  I went for an early afternoon run.  I had to battle through gale force winds, rain, hills and my painful knee but I got through it and managed 8 miles.  The furthest I had ever ran.  I completed this a little slower than I would have liked, I ran the 8 miles in 1 hour 23 minutes.  But the main thing is, I did it.  I even had a one hour pole dancing session in the evening.  My knee was ok until it started playing up between the 6th to 8th mile, it is so annoying but it is so much better!!

Wednesday 27th January
Today was rest day, I was in between night shifts and I needed that rest!

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Thursday 28th January
On Thursday morning I finished my night shift at 8.30am, had some breakfast, went home.  By 9am I was dressed and ready to go for a run. Six months ago if you had asked me to go for a run after a twelve hour night shift I would have laughed in your face.  But I actually did it! I just did 3.35 miles in 31 minutes and 53 seconds.  I'll admit, it was difficult.  I was knackered and in the first mile I totally regretted going for that run.  After the third mile I felt great and was glad I did it!

Friday 29th - Sunday 31st January
I was supposed to go for a 10 mile run on Saturday, but I didn't get time in between my pay day shopping and having friends over in the evening.  On Sunday I was working all day and told myself I would go for a run in the evening.  But Saturday night ended up being a very late one, I got three hours sleep before work, and work was super busy.  I was exhausted when I got home so went straight to bed.  Oops.  It is difficult to balance all this training in between working and life.

I use the Nike Running app.

My feelings on running this week
I hate running.
Running in the rain isn't as bad as it looks.
Running in the ice isn't as bad as you think it will be.
Running in the wind is far worse than you can imagine.
I hate running.
I feel smug when I run past people huddled up in their warm coats waiting for the bus.
Running can be exhilarating.
I quite like running, sometimes.
Does running make your waist smaller?  I haven't lost any weight since I started this marathon training, however my waist has definitely shrunk.  It's flatter.  I am not complaining though... LIFE GOALS!

Marathon Training: Gloves, sore knees and frozen lungs

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not run.  Take me to a dance studio or give me a set of weights any day.  But running?  No, I don't do that.  Alas, I am running the London marathon in April so I have no choice but to run.

Now the marathon is drawing closer, it's on my mind more and more.  So I have decided to do a weekly blog post to keep you all updated on my marathon training.

I have been having problems with my knee since October due to a leg injury from ten years ago.  I only started seeing someone about my knee in January, it is now getting better and I am starting to up the training.

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Monday 18th January
I'd had an appointment on Saturday and the osteopath had told me that my knee was getting better, however when I went for a run later on that day my knee was not feeling much better.  However on the Monday afternoon I went for a 4 mile run, it took me 40 minutes and was in fact the longest I had run in months (I had previously been unable to run more than 3 miles due to knee pain).  I experienced barely any pain until the end of my run.  Could it be that my knee was finally getting better?!

Tuesday 19th January
This day was a rest day.  I was used to my knee aching on the day after a run, but this day, no pain and no ache.

Wednesday 20th January
I decided to go for a run after work.  I hate running in the dark, and this evening was cold and icy.  I hated the first two miles. But then got really into it and managed to achieve 5 miles in 49 minutes.  I did not realise how icy and cold it was getting until I stopped at a traffic light and noticed how the pavement was sparkling with ice and I could see my warm breath in the cold air.  I got home and saw that the temperature was actually minus one.  This was my favourite run of the whole week.

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Thursday 21st January
Thursday was my pole dancing class.  Again no aches or pains in my knee.  Brilliant!!

Friday 22nd January
Another day, another run.  I went for my run late afternoon and managed a great 6.4 miles in 1 hour 7 minutes.  I was so proud of myself.  This was the furthest I had ran since October! I had a couple of knee aches and slight twinges but nothing too major.

Saturday 23rd January
Another osteopath appointment, I couldn't wait to discuss the great news of my knee getting better!! She said it was coming along well and to go back in 2 weeks time.

Sunday 24th January
When I set out running today I wasn't sure how far I was going to run.  I got really into it after the first 3 miles and decided that I was going to go for 7 miles.  I can do it!! Or so I thought.  Into the fifth mile I could really feel the knee pain but I willed myself to go on but the pain got more intense and my running got slower and slower and I finally had to stop.  I managed 5.9 miles in 1 hour.

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Tomorrow is a rest day and I will go for another run on Tuesday, I hope the pain will not be as intense on Tuesday!  However 6 miles is a great achievement, I could barely run 3 miles 2 weeks ago!

Things I have learnt this week

• Running in the cold hurts.  Not only does it hurt your fingers, your nose and your face.  It hurts your lungs.  Your lungs physically turn to ice, or so it feels.
• Wearing gloves helps, it really really helps.  Especially for someone who always has cold hands.  Apart from when your hands get too hot, you take off the gloves and have no where to put them, and then stuff them down your bra.
• I have more energy in the evening.  Running in the day time is great, it's a good feeling knowing that I have accomplished a run before an evening shift at work.  But I always tire too quickly in the day time, I can run faster in the evening and for longer.
• People are rude.  I swear people step in front of me on purpose when I'm out of breath and unable to stop.  Especially bratty little school kids.
• But then my faith in people is restored when they stop to let me past, or they stop their car so I can cross the road without having to stop running.  I like these people.
• Metallica is great running music.

All in all, a great week for my marathon training.  I cannot wait to see what next week brings!

I am running for the amazing charity Whizz Kidz, if you would like to sponsor me, you can do so here.

Eating Healthy Is Boring

A work colleague said to me "eating healthy is boring, you can't do it every day".  I would like to say the complete opposite.  Eating healthy does not have to be boring and you can do it every day if you really want to!!  I am going to prove my colleague wrong and show that you can have an interesting diet which isn't bad for you, and that you can do it every day!  Sure, I like to have the odd chocolate bar or cake now and then, but this is on the very rare occasion!  So every Sunday I am going to document my diet and exercise from the week.

It is my goal to lose a bit of weight, although I'm not interested in weight that much, I just want to look good!

I do sometimes work ridiculous shifts for example I finish work at 2am or start work at 1pm sometimes so my eating pattern may look a little strange

Monday 7th December
Weight: 11 stone
Breakfast: Cup of tea, muesli with almond milk, cup of coffee.
Snack: Belvita breakfast biscuits, milk and cereal flavour.
Lunch: Spinach, carrot, chic peas and tuna.  2 satsumas. Nakd banana crunch bar.
Snack: Banana. Cup of tea.
Exercise: 4 mile run in 43 minutes.
Dinner: Potatoes, carrots and cauliflower.
Snack: Hot chocolate.

Tuesday 8th December
Breakfast: Two cups of tea, pancakes (made from 1 banana & 2 eggs) and nutella.
Snack: Nakd banana crunch bar.
Lunch: Watercress, edamame soya beans, chic peas, red pepper, carrot and tuna.  2 satsumas.
Snack: Nakd banana crunch bar. Cup of tea.
Dinner: Potatoes, mushrooms, avocado.
Exercise: 1 hour pole fitness session.
Snack: Ginger, orange and vanilla tea.

Wednesday 9th December
Breakfast: One cup of tea, pancakes (made from 1 banana & 2 eggs) and peanut butter, cup of coffee.
Exercise: 3 mile run in 30 minutes.
Snack: Redbush tea.
Lunch: Sweet potato, edamame soya beans and mushrooms.  3 satsumas.
Snack: Nakd banana crunch bar.
Dinner: Greek style ginger yogurt with blackberries, pomegranate, linseed and pumpkin seeds. Chai tea.

Thursday 10th December
Breakfast: One cup of tea. Smoothie with blackberries, blueberries, pomegranate, banana, linseed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, goji berries, chia seeds, ginger yogurt and almond milk.
Snack: Vanilla coffee.
Lunch: Salmon, avocado, watercress, red pepper, tomatoes.
Snack: Green tea.
Dinner: Raw carrot sticks, red pepper, cherry tomatoes.

Friday 11th December
Breakfast: One cup of tea.  Smoothie with blueberries, banana, satsumas, strawberry yogurt, pumpkin seeds and almond milk.
Snack: 2 satsumas.
Lunch: Tuna, watercress, red pepper, cherry tomatoes.
Snack: Banana.  Green tea with mint.
Dinner: Salmon and bread, Christmas dinner, and cheesecake.  Copious amounts of wine. I'm sorry body.  It was my work Christmas party.

Let's not include the weekend.  It consisted of one hungover Saturday, an evening shift, and Christmas drinks Sunday evening.

Weekly progress picture.

Marathon Training - Week 3

Some time ago a friend asked me if I would like to apply for the London Marathon with her.  Willingly I agreed, doubtful that we would get in, but very intrigued to see if I could handle running a marathon.

It turns out that we both got in... HELP!!

I don't run.  It's not like I don't exercise, I have just never done any sort of running before.

I started my training on Tuesday 21st October.  I did 3 and a half miles in 30 minutes.  I decided that I couldn't run.  The next day, determined that I needed to continue the training, I went for another run.  3.4 miles in 34 minutes.  The following day, Friday, I decided to have a rest from running on the road and went to the gym... to run on the treadmill.  Saturday was a rest day, then on Sunday I went for another run achieving 6 miles in 1 hour 2 minutes.

Week two.  Not such a good week for running.  I had a nasty cough meaning I wasn't sleeping at night, and I was choking to death during the day so decided to put a hold on the running.  I finally went for a run on the Saturday completing 7 miles in 1 hour 16 minutes.  I was so proud that I did a 7 mile run.  The time was a little lower than I was hoping, but it was a very hilly run, which is my excuse for the slower time.

I am now into my third week and have not managed to squeeze in any running yet.  This marathon training is proving to be a lot harder than I expected! In between work and life I am finding it hard to make time for running but I am going to keep at it! I am determined!

I am running for the charity Whizz Kidz and intend to raise £2000 for the charity.  I have two aims, one event.  I can do this!!

Review of New Years Aims. One Stone Down.

On 14th January I set some goals for the year. Some of them were based around exercise and healthy eating, and that is what I am going to review today.

The whole point of trying to get into better shape is because I want to love the way I look.  I don't hate the way my body looks at the moment, I think it's OK.  But I want to think it looks more than OK, I want to love it. I would also love to increase my fitness levels.

For the last month I have been very careful with my diet and have been going to the gym a few times a week (or at least trying to) and...

I have lost a stone!! ONE WHOLE STONE!!

Cue celebratory dance.

I don't feel like I have been trying particularly hard either. By cleaning up my diet and ensuring I go to the gym I have managed to lose weight.  I feel like these are all lifestyle changes, and it has motivated me to go on.  I know I will have to try and bit harder now if I want to see further progress, but I want that awesome looking summer body!!

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What changes have I made so far?

Breakfast
The first thing I did was look at what I eat in the morning,  In the past I had some sort of breakfast cereal, with a mug of tea, and usually a mug of coffee too.  Sometimes I swapped it around for Nutella or peanut butter on toast.  Maybe I would have some orange juice too.
I have started to look at food packaging more and breakfast cereal tends to contain lots of sugar. Even the cereal that you think will be more healthy for you, really isn't.  Breakfast cereal doesn't tend to keep my hungry stomach satisfied for long either, and by 10 or 11 AM my stomach is grumbling away.

I have swapped the cereal for smoothies.  They are much yummier and fill me up until lunch time.  My smoothies tend to consist of a banana, some sort of berry (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry etc), spinach, some sort of milk  (dairy milk, almond, coconut etc), and nuts or seeds.
Occasionally I will have peanut butter on toast, and make my own fruit juice.  Or now and then I will have an oatmeal breakfast.  I have given up the coffee saving this for weekends, but haven't been able to give up the tea.

Lunch
I have always eaten fairly healthily at lunch time, however packing your own lunch for work is time consuming and sometimes I can't be bothered, meaning a trip to the shop during my lunch break.  I would pick up a salad, but then a packet or crisps or chocolate bar as well.

So now I always make the time to make my own lunch.  I usually make a salad with plenty of spinach and other veg such as carrot, pepper, cucumber, celery.  Then I add cous cous, chicken or tuna.
On days when I am fed up of salad, some warm soup does the trick.

If I am still hungry then I usually have some sort of fruit in my bag whether it's a banana, orange, blueberries or apple.

Dinner
I'm not always hungry at dinner time as I try to make lunch my main meal of the day, so I would often reach for a bowl of cereals or toast but I am trying to get out of that habit.  My dinner will often consist of a smoothie, small portion of soup or some veggies. However if I am making a proper dinner it will usually involve vegetables with some sort of meat or meat substitute.  I am constantly trying out different recipes and will be sharing them with you here!

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Exercise
In the past I would go to the gym once a week, twice if my body was lucky.  But I have been determined to go more.  So now in a usual week I will do exercise four times a week, this usually include a circuit class and a pole fitness class, as well as other fitness classes depending on what my shift pattern is like at work.

Alcohol
One of my aims was to stop drinking as much alcohol, and I have done just that! I don't drink every week and when I do drink I am careful what I drink.  I haven't given up on trips to the pub or nights out but I certainly have stopped drinking as much.  This will have contributed to the weight loss too.


Further Aims
Now I have my diet pretty much sorted I would like to clean up my gym attitude.  Whenever I go into the gym I tend to use the tread mill and the exercise bike, perhaps one or two weight machines if I am feeling brave and that is about it.  I feel like I would look silly trying to use anything else, as other people would be lifting much heavier weights than me, or I may do it wrong and look like an amateur.  But everyone has to start from somewhere and I am sure no one would be paying me any attention anyway.  So my next step is to get over this silly fear.  I need to branch out in the gym and make the most of it!!


Have you stuck with your New Year Resolutions?

Pole Fitness

Every week I put on my dancing feet and go off to my dancing class... My pole dancing class that is.  Everyone needs some sort of hobby and my thing is pole dancing.


How did I get into it?
One of the first things that that people usually ask me when I tell them my hobby is how I got into this.  Back in September 2012 I was a student at university in my third year feeling like I needed a new hobby, so I looked at the different activities the university offered.  Then something caught my eye.  Pole fitness classes.  That sounds like fun I thought, so I went along and it was so much fun!  Boy did I ache the next day like you cannot imagine! But the fun kept me going and that soon turned into determination!

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My Pole Journey
From September to April I went to my pole classes once or twice a week enjoying each session more than the last as I learnt the different moves, improved on my techniques and developed my confidence.  In my class were a range of completely different people studying varying courses, all who had different experiences of pole from just a few weeks to many years.  I felt completely comfortable in the class, like no one was judging my ability, and the instructor was brilliant, catering for each individuals capability.  But by April the stresses of third year university crept up on me and with exams to revise for, essays and dissertations to write and work experience to attend, my attendance to the pole classes petered out.
By September 2013 I had finished university, moved to a new town and started a new job and decided to get back into pole, but after trying classes with two different companies I just couldn't find a class that I liked.  A year later I decided to try the search for a good  pole class again and fortunately, I found an awesome one!  I stuck with it and am still loving it as much as the day I started!


Why Pole?
So many reasons! Firstly, it's the most fun hobby I have ever had! There's nothing else that is quite like spinning round a shiny pole to the music, accomplishing the technique of a new move.  This also helps to develop confidence.   If you are used to getting into all sorts of moves in front of a group of people, sometimes in short shorts, then there are a lot of other things you can feel comfortable doing!   Fitness is also a large part of it.  I go to gym classes a lot, but doing pole works out the whole body, using muscles you didn't even know you had!  Pole fitness combines resistance training as well as cardiovascular exercise to develop endurance, muscle tone and flexibility.  You also meet new people along the way and make new pole friends, the social side of it is nice.  The motivation of improving each week and learning new moves keeps me coming back!

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What do you wear?
I honestly wear what I am comfortable in.  My usual pole outfit is exercise trousers or leggings, with a comfortable t-shirt and trainers.  Shorts and bare feet can be helpful with some moves as skin contact with the pole can help with grip.  There's no skimpy leotards with thongs and high heels.  If we are learning a dance routine we can wear heels if we want, but it's our choice how high the heel is and if we want to wear them or not.  A lot of the time I opt out because I am dangerous enough walking in heels, let alone learning a dance routine in them!


So do you do this as a job or....?
I'm not afraid to tell people what I do but people often think they are funny by asking if pole dancing is my evening job.  I normally go along with it.


Who can do pole?
In my pole class there are a wide range of people, from a 19 year old, to people in their late 40s.  From a teacher, to a nurse, a university student and a farmer.  In most pole groups, both men and women are welcome.  You usually have to be over the age of 18.

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I love my hobby and I will strive to keep on improving... perhaps I will document it here.
Do you have a different hobby that you are passionate about?