Day 31 - WOOHOO

Well, its been done. 31 days of running/gyming/cycling and I am still standing!! I am a little bit amazed that I made it through. The will power has been challenged big time and there have definitly been evenings where the last thing I wanted to do was put my trainers on and run in the cold darkness. But I overcame and went forth.

I am having a day off tomorrow and going to the pub with friends like a normal person...but this break will be a short one as I have realised that I have a marathon training programme to start. It will be a 16 week one as I have a 2 week break inbetween it to go and do the Inca Trail in Peru. I will be doing a bit of trekking but no running. I think this will affect my performance so am starting the training early to get myself a wee bit ahead.

Janathon has been a great motivator and really think it has kick started my training and has given me a good mindset with which to go forward.

Today's run was 3.16 miles in 29mins and (drum-roll please...)here are my grand totals:

◦Total - 114.7 mi - 20.1 hrs

and this breaks down into

◦Run  - 83.5 mi - 14.7 hrs
◦Bike - 8.7 mi - 1.2 hrs
◦Walk  - 2.0 mi - 0.8 hrs
◦Cross Trainer - 20.5 mi - 3.4 hrs

Day 30 - the penultimate run

Can't believe this is the 2nd last day of Janathon. Very pleased to have made it through without injury! It was a very grey and very cold day so I went to the gym instead.

It was nice and quiet so I thought I would aim for a 10k today, which I managed while looking sadly at Andy Murray lose the Aussie Open final, although there was some amazing tennis by Djokovic. It is alway inspiring watching proper athletes while struggling at the treadmill!!

Have passed the 100mile mark so am rather pleased and any extra over that is a bonus. I do have I much scarier challenge with the marathon in May but I feel that I have made a good start to my training.

distance: 6.2miles
time: 1hour 5mins
cals: 710

day29- hangover jog

You really shouldn't do exercise with a hangover, just as it is janathon, I had no choice...a lay in and a couple of painkillers and I managed to get out by lunchtime.

At first I thought....mmm seem to be managing ok, maybe I can do a longer run after all. Then, about 3 mins in I started to think again. It was slow and a bit of an effort. Not even my music could get my legs moving any faster - it felt like my trainers were made of heavy stuff.

Still, managed to go for 2 miles which isn't bad for a hungover 31 year old who would much rather be in bed.

Time: 20mins 17 secs
Cals: 264

Day28 - magical blogging

Now, when I am out running I usually use the time to think what I am going to write. However, by the time I've got back and done all the after-run stuff and I get round to logging and blogging, I find that I have forgotten what I was going to write.

I was actually thinking about this as I ran my route round Holyrood and thought, wouldn't it be good if you could write it with your mind...like sending my thoughts so some computer which would magically record them (although not all of them as my thoughts do tend to wander in weird ways). It would mean saving a lot of typing time...sigh...

Well, that's all I have time for as am off out in a while and I haven't even had lunch and its 16:22 already!!

distance: 3.36miles
time: 32mins 34secs
highest elevation: 409 feet (some lovely views but a tough hill!)

Day 27 - indoor skiing

A gym evening...although I felt like I had already done a workout trying on my shiny new shockabsorber running sports bra. I got the size that the rest of my bras (sports and otherwise) are but this one was particularly 'snug'. Also, because of the two fasener thing I almost dislocated my shoulder trying to do it up. Anyway after much struggling I was all done and feeling very strapped up - these babies will not be doing much bouncing now!

Not really much to report gym-wise, just a solo bout on the cross-trainer so instead will write a little about my musical choices of last night which I forgot to mention.

Now I am pretty particular about my music and am a bit of a rock chick (with a bit of goth/hippy thrown in) so I don't really go in much for the pumping dance tracks that you get with the running compilations you get....however, I heard about audiofuel and saw you could download a sample which I did...a while ago. I have never got round to listening to it - until last night. And I have to say I was rather happily surprised and I would also say that it did make me run a little bit harder. I am actually thinking about buying a proper compilation...although it will have to be on rotation with my hard-rock running playlist :)

distance: 7.5kms
time: 1 hour
cals: about a curry's worth! (560cals)

Day 26 - where everyone else is too fucking fast!!

Outside again! looking like rain but decided to chance it. Done a route I haven't done in a while as quite frankly it always seemed to far to get to the meadows where you can do laps and it ends up being a long run...and there are proper runners there. One of the reasons I haven't joined a running club or indeed partake in any kind of group running or sporting (at least since tennis as a kid) is that it reminds me how much better others are at it than me.

Now I'm not really built for running (I'm what you would call curvy with a need to spend alot on sports bras) so I really should just be glad a get by. However when I'm happily jogging along at my own pace thinking I'm actually doing ok some athletic sleek looking girl shoots past me with such ease it shouldn't be allowed! Now usually I don't really take much notice but today there were so damn many of them I was starting to feel the creeping feeling of inadequacy. I really did think I was making progress. This thought was quickly squashed by a short skinny girl (she looked about 14!) shot by me, looking like she was taking a leisurely stroll...I did try to speed up but it nearly killed me so I slowed to a slow jog.

Anyway...moral to this story is ignore the running-wizard bastards and enjoy your own pace whatever it may be.

Distance: 4.6 miles
Time: 44mins 48secs
people who shot past me: ooohh about 8 (grrrr)

Day 25 - treadmill intervals

Oh...its going to be a long week...it feels like it should be Friday.  Needless to say am not in the best frame of mind today for various reasons.  After a long day at work all I felt like was alcohol or failing that making a beeline for my bed. So once again I had to enforce my willpower and remind myself that I'm only a week away from finishing my goal.

For comfort I went to the gym as really couldn't face running in the dark and cold evening. I also decided to have a good session today but the treadmill is so boring I took the opportunity to do some interval training. so after a 10min warm-up I did 30mins of 2mins at speed 11 (getting to 12 for the last couple) and fast walking at a incline of 5 and finished off with a 5min cool down.

Amazed I made it through 48mins as there was a VERY annoying squeeky bike machine behind me and had to stop myself having an incredible-hulk style episode...I wonder if there are many cases of gym-rage?

Day 24

After my 6 miles effort yesterday I felt justified in a shorter run today. There are just too many bloody hills, I should be getting better but I think the toll of doing this every day is starting to show.
A pretty uneventful run it has to be said though I did see a fox....ok that's really not very interesting but there you go, you don't get much action at 8am on a monday morning around the estate.

Anyway, knowing I have got my exercise done for the day I am planning a cinema trip this evening when I would normally be contemplating the gym.

Totals:
distance - 2.3 miles
time: 23 mins 20secs
cals: 279

Day 23 - Run to the hills

For a change of scenery and to get out of the city, today I used my visit to the folks to go for a nice run in the Pentand hills. Not a particularly nice day but not raining so a bonus!

I like the fact that I live in the city centre but I can just jump in the car and be in the country side in about half and hour.

Starting off, my ankles were playing up with nasty shooting pains (I have had bad ankles since doing ballet as a child) but found they eased off after the first mile or so. Flotterstone is a very popular spot for walkers, runner and cyclists...which is why I was out early to avoid the crowds..there is something nice about having a wide expanse of water, hills and sky to yourself.

There are a few steep, long hills on this route so that slowed me down. But what goes up...and enjoyed a lovely childish-arms-flailing-in-the-air-style descent until the appearace of the afore mentioned crowds where I went back to normal-person mode.

Managed a nice round 6miles in 1hour 2mins (I have managed a 10k in 48mins with a bit more training) but I feel I'm on my way in the fitness stakes.
Rewarding myself with a nice glass of wine and making the folks Sunday luch :)

Day 22 - the trapeize workshop that wasn't to be

Well today I only went on a shortish run as I was wanting to save my energy for a trapeize and circus skills workshop I was supposed to be going to in Glasgow today. So at 9am I wandered bleery eyed into the cold and grey day. I would normally go round holyrood park which is a nice 3miles but instead went inbetween in. There are various paths you can do in the park and this one is almost half way between Arthur Seat (pretty much the top of the volcano) and Salisbury crags, which you can also run along the top of to give you good view of Edinburgh and further afield.

I took the opportunity of this route to do some hill work in a sort of fartlek style, running to fixed points where there was a shrub or a rock then a wee recovery walk then a full on effort to the top of the hill.

As it turned out I could have done a longer run as my friend who was coming with me to the circus skills workshop got her date mixed up and thinking the workshop was next week had taken herself off to London for the weekend...oh well. Hoping to rebook it for later.

Now I know I could still go to the workshop on my own but the inner child in me doesn't want to be in class with no friends as it is a 'divide into groups' situation. And it is always fun to do these types of things with a fellow friend to laugh at you as you fall on your face.

So now I have a free day to chill out a bit and prepare myself for a nice long run in the pentlands tomorrow :)

Totals:
distance: 2.2miles
time: 21 mins 03secs
cals: 291

Day21

Running at work is a bit of a pain but I didn't have much choice today. One early morning run in a week is more than enough. So I stuffed my kit in my rucksack along with my painfully healthy lunch and lugged it on the bus ride into work.

It was actually nice to do a different route and there is a handy path away from the main road behind the office - it is not surprising that quite a few fellow collegues go running regularly at lunchtime. Thankfully didn't bump into anyone I knew - there is something not right about seeing work collegues exercising.

Due to my efforts yesterday I did find it a bit of a struggle and various bits of my body are starting to complain...and I just tell them to shut up.

Due to this mid-work session I had a lunch hour instead of a 30min one sitting at my desk so that must be good for me!

Totals for today:

Distance: 2.67 miles
Time: 25mins 29secs
Cals: 286

Day20

Willpower wins out.  Another day of fighting the urge to take the easy route and I won...getting good.

It is freezing once again but I had to visit the Post Office depot to pick up a pressie for myself. I could have taken my bike but madness won out and went on foot. Another motivation for a long run is that I have noticed that I've not actually lost any weight doing all this exercise (will never learn that exercising doen't give me carte blanche to eat whatever I want!) . As of tomorrow the booze consumption (along with the cheese and crisps) is getting curbed

I discovered that having a reward halfway through a run is rather nice despite having to run back with extra to carry.   Also can't wait for the days to get longer so I don't have to run in the dark as have had a few near misses of running into people and objects.

So anyway: totals are as follows:
distance: 5 miles
time 50mins 51 secs
cals: 634

Day 19

Today has been the hardest so far to find the will power to do my session...After a couple of days with not very much sleep and a busy day with a 220 round trip in the car for work so got home and lay down for a cat nap...I literally had to fight to get my gym gear on and out the house.  But I managed it but stuck to the cross trainer for 30mins...am goinng to have a very early nigtht and hoping to feel more human tomorrow.

Total distance 4.69 km
Total time: 30mins56secs
Cals:358

Day18 - All a bit of a rush!

Traffic and dinner date with a friend = a short jog, log and blog!

Total distance 2.22
Total time: 21mins 33secs
287 cals, top speed 9mph

some random observations/facts...

• The 'controvertial' Scottish Parliament building looks rather nice at night with the lights on
• There's a brill shop selling witchcrafty stuff called the wyrd shop which has some nice jewelry
• Marilyn Manson has some very good tunes to run to

Now have to go as am going to be late

Day17-Hardcore Training

After a low-key Sunday, thought I should try a little harder today. I had the day off work as was coming  back from Aberdeen and as it was a good, sunny day I took the advantage and went for an interval training session down the innocent railway path which is nice and flat so good for fast running (Though 'fast' for me at the moment is a relative term) Its the first interval session I've had since I've done since training for the haf-marathon last September so it was a bit of a challenge.

I decided on 8 reps of 2mins hard running with 30 seconds recovery. This turned out to be rather tough and my speed declined towards the end though I managed to average about 7mph which isn't too bad considering I'm out of practice.

I'm aslo happy that my strict stretching routine I've enforced seems to be working and my old injuries seem to be keeping quiet.

Total distance: 4.37 miles
Total time: 42mins 47secs

Day 16 - Beach Walk

Twas a beautiful day in Aberdeen today but was feeling a little hungover from going out last night...wine, cider, and a few shots and in after 1am. So, thought we would go for a gentle-ish walk instead.  Aberdeen has a lovely long beach so we walked along the sand then as the sun was starting to go down we turned back and walked back along the promenade.

Don't feel too guilty for taking it easy for once will be back to the harder graft tomorrow.

Total distance 2miles
Total time: 50 mins

Day15-Running up north

I'm writing this on my friend's loovvvely MacBook (oh how I wish I could afford one) in Aberdeen. Thankfully she has been very accommodating and did not mind me buggering off for a run on my weekend visit. Luckily there is a nice pathway to go 2 mins away from the flat. Very similar in fact to the old Innocent railway path in Edinburgh. Nice and flat too so it wasn't too much of a slog, even managed to go a 9 minute mile :)

It was grey and wet but at least not raining. Now that my running duty has been fulfilled I am planning to go explore the rest of this city that I have never really had the chance to look at properly

Total distance: 3.16 miles
Total time: 31 mins 56 secs
Cal: 406 (translating into a few glasses of vino later!!)

Day14-Its so very early!

It is very wrong to have the alarm clock go off at 5:45am. Feeling headachey (from only a glass and a half of wine last night!?!) and peeking outside to see it was raining with gusto. But on my running shoes went and waterproof jacket. As I finished my run last night at 8pm my body was still feeling the effects and this morning's jog was pretty hard going and had to keep it short as still had to organise myself for a weekend in Aberdeen and still get myself into the office for 8am.

It always amazes me how many people are up and doing stuff so early in the morning...sane people are still warm and cosy in their beds. But the roads were pretty quiet which reduced the chances of me getting knocked over considerably - all my running gear is black or some other dark colour, should really get some high vis things as my road crossing technique is not up to much either.

Stats:
Total distance: 1.5miles
Total time: 12min38secs
Cals: 192

1st of a few shortened blogs as life is getting in the way of normal computer activity. 
Was planning on a very short run but before I realised I way on my way to running over 2 miles. Totally not what I had planned. Knee is still complaining but choosing to ignore it.

Up to Aberdeen this weekend so will be nice to see new surroundings, just hope I don't get lost...unless I can persuade my friend to come out for a run too.

Total distance: 2.5 miles
Total time: 26.36 mins

Total distance: 4.58miles
Total time: 48mins
Managed to combine my running session with 'running' an errand (bad pun I know!). Needing to drop a contract off to a designer I thought I would leave the car and run there and back instead.
Running through Holyrood Park after dark is a bit of a challenge as you only have lights of oncoming cars to stop you tripping over yourself or the odd swan.

Think I've done pretty well so far although my knee is now totally buggered and may have to take it very easy tomorrow.

Day11 Of ice, the return of the student hordes and ridiculous diets

Total distance: 7.4km
Total time: 45 mins

OK, bored of the ice that is preventing outdoor running without risk or serious incident. And now the gym is humming with the return of all the uni students. I have found that one of the drawbacks of being a member of a University gym is that every year I get older but most of my fellow gym-goers stay the same age!

Thankfully I managed to nab one of the few cross trainers left and managed a good 45 mins. Decided to give the treadmill a miss due to the fact that my knee is sore even walking. Ice pack will be out tonight.

As often goes with the new year's new exercise routine, I usually attempt to adopt a similarly healthy approach to diet (though nothing will make me give up my wine and cheese!). These diet-related thoughts are usually helped along with all the magazines which are stuffed full of new diets claiming to be the next 'revolutionary' way to lose the weitgh and keep it off. I have, in my time come across some mad diets but the one that I came across in the weekend's Sunday Times Style suppliament is probably the maddest I have come across so far. It calls itself the 'Evolutionary' diet and goes on the premise that we should be eating the way our ancestors from the stone age ate...I.e. fruit, nuts and the occational bit of meat/fish, pressumabley caught by your own bare hands. Now some of this made a bit of sense but it also says we can happily skip meals now and again (now I always thought this was generally considered a bad thing to do) and says that pasta, potatoes, chickpeas (??) and various other foods I thought were considered very healthy are very bad. However, the maddest claim was that seeds were to be avoided as they contain 'antinutrients'. Now I thought seeds were very healthy with omega oils etc, and I would really love to know what the hell an antinutrient is.

Anyway, that is my rant over with and no doubt this diet will eventually disappear into the vault of faddy unrealistic diets dreamed up by sadists.

Day10

distance: 1.89miles
Time: 20min07secs
calories: 242
Have spent the last 45 mins fighting with my internet connection, thus a very short blog before it crashes again and I throw the laptop out my window.

Not near my gym today so running in the slushy streets in the rain it is.

Knee is still sore so only managed 20mins. Also managed to step in some gigantic puddles so arrive back a little bedraggled, wet and craving wine...still, at least I made it out!

Day 9

Total distance: 3.16 miles
Total time: 34.18 mins

Having done 3 days in a row at the gym, really didn't feel like doing it again - I do get bored watching the same music videos and find it almost impossible to do the treadmill without music. Although the snow is not gone and there are now some nasty patches of ice everywhere. Walking back from the cinema there were however quite a few runners out and it was a beautiful sunny day so after a lot of humming and hawing I decided on braving the icy paths and do an outdoors session.
I really wish I had a small portable camera or a fancy iPhone or similar so I could take photos of the gorgeous views I get but I don't (I do have a camera phone but am not able to connect and upload stuff to my laptop).
I did a fav route of mine round holyrood park which amounts to a decent just-over-3 mile run. Also got to use my Garmin forerunner again meaning I don't have to measure out my run on the internet which is tiresome.
One thing I did learn was that running in slushy/icy snow is really not good for my knees and I also managed to forget to put my knee support on so finished the run with a bit of a hobble but hopefully it will have recovered by tomorrow.

Day8

More snow...arrrghhh

Total: 7km, 44mins
Treadmill: 5kms, 32mins, 397 cals
Cross Trainer: 2kms, 12.48

Another gym day due to the snow. I know other hardy people run in the snow but even walking the short distance to the gym I nearly fell twice so running in it is definitly out!
Usual routine of treadmill and a short cross trainer session.
Was feeling pretty knackered after completeing the lengthy and hard-going stretches the physio gave me after my injuries sustained training for my last half marathon. The injury has since healed but I keep up the exercises to stop it reoccuring.
Unfortunately my plan to collapse in a heap had to be postponed until after tackling tiding my flat and hoovering (I have been given a dyson on very short term loan so it needed doing now). I know why I don't do my housework - one because I don't like it and 2 I was more tired after doing that than after a 3 mile run. Anyway, that it done a least for a couple of weeks :)

Now the rest of the day is going to be spent reading then going out for movie and dinner - much better than housework!

Day7

Well, one week done and so far I'm still intact

Almost didn't make it to the gym today as I had the sad news that my cat had to be put down. She had been suffering the effects of  brain damage for a couple of years and ran away and was lost just before xmas. Was glad that she was found but it has been an upsetting day overall and the last thing I really wanted to do was get my gym kit out. But I'm glad I did.

One of the reasons I love running so much is that even when I feel low and the thought of exerise is the last on my mind, I find that it is very much worth the extra effort to get myself out. The best is getting out in the fresh air but unfortunately January in Edinburgh at the moment is freezing with frequent snow flurries and I really haven't managed to get the will power to brave it so my gym membership is being made use of instead.

Done similar schedule as yesterday with a treadmill and cross trainer session.

With a full week now done and dusted I decided I deserved a nice cold beer to go with my homemade curry. Readying myself for week 2.
Stats:
Total distance: 9.38km (5.38 on cross trainer and 4km on treadmill)
Total time: 59mins

Day6-Gym

My internet connection is trying its very best to thwart my attempts to log and blog so having to keep it short (my brain is also starting to shut down)  I almost didn't manage exercise today as after a long and difficult day at work and a rather unsuccessful trip to the supermarket (the one thing I go for and reeally needed and they didn't have it) all I really wanted to do was curl up in bed but good sense prevailed and I dragged my carcass out of the door
Due to the baltic weather I decided the gym was the best bet and happily, against my expectations the gym was surprisingly quiet.

Managed 30 mins on the treadmill and 24mins on the Cross Trainer. 4.6km and 4.0km respectively

Now before I lose all details I am signing off and going to bed with a good book.

Day5-Biking it

Total distance: 14km in 1hour 10mins ( that's a outward and return journey)

Mainly due to the fact that it's my first day back at work and I have friends to visit this evening (I can see Janathon reaaally screwing with my social life!) I thought I would sneakily squeeze my exercise for today by combining it with getting to work. Just as I am a fair weather outdoor runner, prefering the comfort of the gym in the winter (its cold, raining and windy in Scotland!), I am not partial to cycling on dark cold days. However, needs must.

So I dusted of my bike which has been generally getting in the way in my very narrow hallway since the summer,, when I brought it out of very long term storage in my parents garage, to do a charity ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh via the canal ways. Anyway, it did give me a chance to use some of the expensive stuff I bought for my return to cycling and saved me a couple of quid bus fare!

The journey to work wasn't too bad though I really don't like travelling in traffic and felt rather good for getting exercise in before 8am. On the down side my return journey was cold and rainy and I now have a rather sore behind - the first ride is always the worst.

I should be back to the running tomorrow but if the promise of sunshine holds out I may cycle it to work aswell! Though I my feel differently in the morning!

Day4

Another very windy run, but this time wore long trousers to save my lower legs from turning blue! Managed to build on yesterday's run and managed 3.85miles in 43 mins.

Was up and out pretty early so not much sign of life except some squirrels, birds and some hardy golfers. Had hoped to see the partial eclipse on my run but sadly it was far too cloudy.

In the past I've suffered alot of problems with my feet/knees etc. but so far I've been ok...however, today I could feel the familiar sensation of a blister forming (always in the same place on my right foot, inside arch in the middle) I wear proper running socks and got my trainers fitted for me at Run 4 It so not sure what else I can do Hopefully it is mainly from my lack of running in december and my feet should harden up soon.

Anyway back to work tomorrow so will be back to the warmth and comfort of the gym for a couple of days :)

Day3

2.5 miles, 29minutes.

It was supposed to be an easy run today but it was made a whole lot more difficult with a excruciatingly chilly head-wind pushing against me and with a rather steep hill making up the last half mile I ended up being rather tired at the end of it.

I have to say running in and around Edinburgh, you can't really avoid a hill or two and considering I live nearby Holyrood Park and Arthur Seat my usual run starts with a rather steep one! I try to look on it as a way of providing a good way of preparing myself for any running challenges I inflict on myself though sometimes a nice outing to the gym and its treadmill make for a nice respite :)

Day number 2: it was a cold one!

2miles, 30 mins.
Normally, if my gym is closed and it is 0degrees outside and I'm not feeling well I would generally use this as aa perfect excuse to stay in, stay cosy and lounge about. However, today I donned my gloves hat and tissues and went into the Pentland Hills - there is still ice and snow about so my jog/run turned into a bit of a a slip and slide walk in places!

Still the views over Edinburgh and the rest of the Pentland Hills was worth braving the cold and ice for - I do feel lucky in having some lovely places to chose from to go running. Must think about taking a camera with me on some occasions.

Anyway, day 2 down, 29 to go!

well, at least I made it out!

Just a jog - managed about 5km in 25 mins

Generally on a cold January 1st a little after 10am I'm usually still in bed nursing a hangover...however this year I am out on a rather cold and grey promenade in Musselburgh taking my first jog for Janathon.

As I still am a bit stuffed with the cold my pockets were full of tissues to see me through. Other than a few dog walkers and one fellow mad jogger, there are not many people out and about this early on new years day.

I am hoping that as I finally shake this cold I will manage a bit more than a short gentle jog but considering I'm happy I even made it out :)