What I've learnt in my 28th year!

Today is my 29th birthday so I thought I would do a post about the knowledge I've gained over the last year. 

1. You only attract what you put out.

This was the year I found myself and became confidence in my own ability and skills. This was important in two areas of my life, my work life and my love life. I have looking at changing jobs for years but wasn't having much luck until people highlighted that I wasn't putting my achievements in my applications mainly as I didn't always feel I was qualified. I changed my attitude and started getting interviews and walking in feeling that I was perfect for the job and eventually the right job came along for me and it's perfect for me. I also 

2. Being respected is the most important feeling.

In any part of my life, respect is important and I have stopped being involved with people who don't respect me or my opinions. If someone doesn't take time to see you or reply to your messages, they aren't respecting you enough to share their time with you. Spend time with people who respect you, want to spend time with you and put a smile on your face as anything else is a disservice to yourself. 

3. Stress reacts in the body in many different ways. 

My IBS is a major part of my life, it effects all that I eat and when I get a flair up everything falls apart. Before Christmas stress was effecting my body and I had the worst stomach flair up I've every had. I had stomach cramps for weeks making it impossible to eat any food, the feeling of nausea and acid reflex that had me convinced that I was pregnant (but wasn't!) The thing that confused me was I couldn't understand why my body could feel so bad from something like stress, that it would have such a major effect on my life that I had to take time off and didn't feel myself. What I learnt is to listen to my body and when it starts to show signs of not being right, do sometjinh! Mainly, I need to take it easier and find ways to manage it myself before it gets unbearable.

4. I need to see more of the UK (and running is a great way to do it)

I have explored very little of the UK in my life so far, I grew up south of London went to uni in Brighton and apart from visiting Grandparents on the south coast the rest of the UK have been left unexplored. In the last year I have visited parts of Norfolk, Cambridge and about to visit York. Thats a big step outside my comfort zone and I've been to beautiful places and had fun. I have plans to visit Edinburgh (for my marathon) and an event in suffolk to get me exploring. If anyone has any 'must complete' events for me please let me know.

5. I need to be better with money. 

For a while now I have been saving for the future and saving a bit here and there. I have been lucky living with my parents for the last couple of years and not had to worry about money too much. If I want a new dress or spent too much on a night out then I could and it had no effect on my daily life. But now I live with my partner, I have rent and bills and although I know I can budget its not automatic yet. This sounds like something that I have in place before turning 29 but I think most females in their late 20s would admit that they could be better with money as well.

Do you reflect as you get older? Do you feel that you've learnt a lot in the last year?

Marathon Training- Take two

Oh the joys of training for your first marathon- feet pounding as your building more and more miles. Running distances you've never run before-it's invigorating and exciting. When I lined up at the start line I knew I had done the miles and all I had to do was finish. I ran it and although I enjoyed it, I was never going to run again (I really told multiple people this) and here I am four and a half weeks into my training for my second marathon feeling like a prize plum.

First time round I just set myself the target of hitting the distances at a pace I was comfortable with, I walked a lot in my long runs and was comfortable with that. I have set myself a goal of beating my Brighton time of 5:30-which means I need to run under 12 min miles. That may not be much to most people but 26 miles at any guaranteed pace is hard work for my tired legs. Also the miles aren't as new as they first were, I'm not reaching new distances every week and therefore I'm not getting the satisfaction that I once had, but I guess that was due to come eventually.

This is clearly a worried face in a very patchy training run.

I am at the moment reaching most of my targets but my body is always tired and I worry that every little niggle is an injury. This spring season I have two friends who have been injured and unable to run their marathons, I am now starting to worry this will happen to me as I haven't been able to train as much as I wanted before I started my plan.

Tempo runs are hard! Forcing myself to pick up the pace when I'm tired and wanting to go home and shower. Having paces are even harder and making myself check pace and run to set times is harder then I thought. I love running and I am enjoying the plan but I don't know if my body will cope enough to make it.

The biggest difficulty I have been having is not being a grumpy girlfriend. I forgot how hangry I get after running, especially the long run. My poor boyfriend has also had to put up with pre-run tears and post run grumpiness. He has handled it perfectly but for the sake of my relationship I want to sort out my fuelling so I'm less grumpy. I'm also hoping that as I grow in strength that I will stop doubting my inability to do the miles and the speeds that my plan is asking.

I'm hoping that as it goes on I will get stronger, I will stop being sore and I will grow in confidence. I just hope that when I line up for the Edinburgh Marathon in May that I am proud of what I've done and I can go ahead knowing the training paid off.

Currently running with...

I thought I would let you know what I've been enjoying while I've been running as I am one of those very anti-social runners who likes to put my headphones in and ignore the world:

Long run:

I've started downloading audio books for my long runs (and keeping it only for the long runs) I'm loving following the story & having the miles pass by. I'm currently listening to the girl on the train by Paula Hawkins, this story is griping, full of suspense and nicely cut up to chapter ideal to stop at the end of the run.
You can buy the book here if your a traditional reader or download the audiobook from the itunes store such as I did.

Training runs

Ive loved this podcast from Ben Coomber's podcast. It's a conversation with Mike Mahler and although I love his enthusiasm for kettlebells. What really stuck with me was his talk about how a lack of estrogen or testosterone can effect training. I recently found out that my contraception may have damaged my estrogen levels so listening to this made me think that it may be stopping me from reaching my goals or full potential. It's something that definitely got me thinking and I will be fully investigating. Please let me know if you would like me to update you on how I got on. If you intrigued then please watch it here: youtube link

Overdue Winter Run Review

So well over 2 weeks ago I ran a race and because I'm super fast with this blogging marlarky I'm going to summarise in picture...

Me and my lovely boyfriend (him having his first race ever) taking a selfie before we dropped off bags-me lovely and warm in my ski jacket. Signs and volunteers very helpful and everything very easy to find.

Another cold selfie! Hanging out in the waiting area before heading to the pens-my beautiful friend was on her way but waiting wasn't a problem with music. 

My runner crew together-my camera angles have not done the height difference justice. I also appear a selfie fiend. We were in the waiting pen, doing the warm up for the 3rd time. I was at this time cold & grumpy after the cold and long wait to start I was a DELIGHT!

Another starting pen photo-everyone is as excited as me!

Yey! I finished! It was a good race, well organised if not for massively disappointing snow zone and ice tunnels. I got calf problems through the race, I walked I ran I got a crap time and was disappointed so let's move swiftly on....

I actually did speed work!

I know I said I'd get better at updating but I'm a big fat liar-I've been distracted by flat hunting and furniture dreaming but that's besides the point!

Week 3 of #janathon and my mileage is up and I actually completed some speed work which is a miracle for me. 

Day 12- lazy day! I'm having more of these then I should! I know slapped wrists for me. 

Day 13-I went to the Asics Run club at the Marble Arch store. We did a speed session which killed my thighs but made me realise that I can run faster then I think I can, I can also push myself and run with the crowd when needed. 

Day 14- sore thighs (damn you running faster) so I took it easy. But I don't consider commutting round london easy-every staircase & escalator killed my thighs. 

Day 15- I attempted some stretching and foam rolling but even I can admit it was a lame effort. 

Day 16- 2.6 miles run before heading off for a weekend away. I didn't feel too strong but I ran and I'm noticing more and more that I need to congratulate myself when I get out of the warm bed and run. 

Day 17-this was my long run for the week. I did 7 miles along the Portland coast. Aren't the views beautiful? It made me feel better running somewhere new & to look at the scenery around me. In hindsight I should have left my headphones behind and enjoyed nature but you live and learn!

Day 18- people may not count walking along Chisel Beach a workout but which steep hills to climb it gave my sore thighs a workout. 

And that was my week! How was everyone's workouts? More disciplined then me I hope!

#janathon update!

Right apologies for the lack of updates (Janathon & runs haven't been fantastic either) but I will do an day 5-11 update and I will try to be more on the ball with weekly updates in the following weeks!

Day 5- I hit the gym for a lower body weight session. Kettle bell swings (exhausted me) sumo squats, jump squats, deadlifts, lunges & regular squats! I love squats. I also did some of the weight machines. I really enjoyed this work out and felt strong for the day but I have lost some strength & stamina from a couple of months ago. 

Day 6-I struggled through a slow 2 mile run at 5am! I was still sore from my Monday gym session (leg day before a run is silly Susie) but I got up and did it and felt proud

Day 7- still feeling sore so just walked and had a quick stretch. 

Day 8- I had a different work schedule and because I didn't have a 2 hour commute home I had time in the evening to do a 2.5mile run and took 30 seconds off my average run. Felt very proud of this but now it means I have to beat it...

Day 9 & Day 10 I wasn't able to work out as I got an infection (it was below the neck so although I felt I needed to run I couldn't struggle through the pain) 

Day 11- took a 3 mile walk (and included a cafe for cake) to stretch my legs and get out the house. 

Although I'm not doing what I want everyday I am exercising more. How do people manage running for loads of days in a row? How are other people finding Janathon?

Day 1-5 #janathon challenge

So I'm taking part in Janathon this year to kick start my fitness and force me to go out and run more often...and so far it seems to be working 5th January & I have stretched or exercised everyday!

Day 1-gentle hungover 2.6miles around my local park. It's was windy, I was dehydrated-But I did it!

Day 2- 25minute kettlebell, core and upper body session. Using my home gym equipment I tried to build up my upper body & core to help my body & balance-it's was enjoyable and showed me that I do enjoy home workouts. 

Day 3- 6.5miles long run. It was slow & I had to stop for walking but this was the longest distance I've done since October-I'm still proud. 

Day 4- after the previous day's long run I decided to have a stretch and use my long neglected foam roller-there seems to be a theme here with things I should but don't seem to consistently maintain. 

Day 5-early alarm and a weight session down the gym. I squatted, lunged and gave my legs hell. I have lost strength but I finished my workout and that was successful. 

How's everyone's #Janathon going? Are you finding motivation or struggling to kick it up?