Got out on the bike today for just under two hours, about 15 miles ... and was glad I went out. I woke up this morning and it was raining outside ... so duvet monster didn't let me out for a while. Yet, I knew that if I didn't get out first thing in the morning, I probably wouldn't make it at all today.
I couldn't let another day go without doing any 'exercise' ... yes, yoga (which I did yesterday) is exercise even if I don't do pretzel poses but I want to get all hot and sweaty. I'm weird like that ... plus if I'm out on the bike, the dirtier I get, the better the ride!
Brief posting today as I'm running late for drinks and dinner with a friend ... who is on a detox. Yet she called me up saying she'd had a rough week and knows that I'm her partner in crime ... so it'll be interesting to see how the evening / night pans out!! Restrained or 'letting off steam'! Mind you, with the parkrun tomorrow morning, I might just stay on the relative straight and narrow!
Friday, 7 January 2011
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Busy day ... does yoga count?!?
Well I've just literally stopped and now have my feet up. Had a crazy busy day ... not intense, just busy and non-stop, and I've only got home now at 10pm! Needless to say that the idea of going for a run at 10pm really doesn't interest me! Remember, I'm a morning person and I do prefer exercising early in the morning as it sets me up for a fine day ahead. Mind you, the few evenings runs I've done has been a great way to unwind at the end of the day.
So for my exercise today, I've done 30 minutes yoga / stretching! Although not miles on the feet or in the saddle, or even minutes in the sea ... it was still some form of moving the body! Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!
I know all about 'scheduling time in the diary' and making exercise a priority, however, today just wasn't one of those days! I guess I could have gotten up earlier than my 6:30 alarm and gone out for a short run. However the duvet monster kept me warmly tucked in bed!
Tomorrow is Friday, and I'm off ... yeah!! So plan to go for a bike ride, plus my first personal training session at Riptide gym. Back at the gym after a very long absence ... should be interesting!
So for my exercise today, I've done 30 minutes yoga / stretching! Although not miles on the feet or in the saddle, or even minutes in the sea ... it was still some form of moving the body! Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!
I know all about 'scheduling time in the diary' and making exercise a priority, however, today just wasn't one of those days! I guess I could have gotten up earlier than my 6:30 alarm and gone out for a short run. However the duvet monster kept me warmly tucked in bed!
Tomorrow is Friday, and I'm off ... yeah!! So plan to go for a bike ride, plus my first personal training session at Riptide gym. Back at the gym after a very long absence ... should be interesting!
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Easy run ... not!
I was feeling kinda tired at the end of my day (I'm so much more a morning person!!) and thought I'd drag myself out for an easy run. I did struggle with thinking up excuses not to run ... but none that were really any good when I actually thought about them!
So out the door I went for a slow gentle run. Didn't even take my music as I wanted to keep the pace slow (hmm ... might need to take a look at AudioFuel's music for easier paced runs!). Planed to do about 30 minutes of easy slow running. Well ... best made plans and all ... didn't do it.
Did I tell you I was going out for an easy run at a slow gentle pace?!?
Well, got to the seafront (10 minute warm up) and decided I'd do a few intervals to let off some steam from something that happened on the way home from work. Used the lamp posts as my measured distances and did two lamp posts fast for every one slow. Just did over 10 minutes and then a gentle jog home. So ... there was SOME easy, slow, gentle running in there! And, I did do the 30-minute run!
Now ... will put my feet up as I brush up on my Spanish for my class tomorrow!
So out the door I went for a slow gentle run. Didn't even take my music as I wanted to keep the pace slow (hmm ... might need to take a look at AudioFuel's music for easier paced runs!). Planed to do about 30 minutes of easy slow running. Well ... best made plans and all ... didn't do it.
Did I tell you I was going out for an easy run at a slow gentle pace?!?
Well, got to the seafront (10 minute warm up) and decided I'd do a few intervals to let off some steam from something that happened on the way home from work. Used the lamp posts as my measured distances and did two lamp posts fast for every one slow. Just did over 10 minutes and then a gentle jog home. So ... there was SOME easy, slow, gentle running in there! And, I did do the 30-minute run!
Now ... will put my feet up as I brush up on my Spanish for my class tomorrow!
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
First run on first day back at work ...
I have to admit that I've enjoyed these past few days where I can go out and exercise any time I've wanted to. Even though I have some flexibility with my work, on the first day back from Christmas holiday ... attendance was 'mandatory'! This meant that any exercise would be done late in the day, and in the dark!
Even though I got home mid-afternoon in daylight, I ended up going for a run in the dark! WHY I ask myself?!? Don't have a good answer for that one ... so let's move swiftly along!!
Did an hour's run ... so about 6-plus miles. Again, it was at a good steady pace thanks to AudioFuel's music! I do have to admit though ... rather sheepishly ... that I stopped at the 40-minute mark to sign up for that gym membership at Riptide gym that I've been generously offered! Thanks Matt! I'm determined to use the gym regularly and defy all those 'New Year's Resolutioners' who generally last less than a month before giving up. My 'problem' is fitting the gym sessions in with the swims, the bike rides and the runs!! Yet, now with the janathon competition, I've got more incentive to get exercising each and every day ... for at least January!
I do think it's time to 'get a schedule' and get more focused with what I do and when I do it, rather than the rather 'laissez-faire' approach I've been doing lately! Doing the Blenheim Tri in June will provide a good focus to get focused!
I can give myself a pat on the back for the exercise today ... but what do I do about the bottle of wine and pizza I had at dinner with a friend!?!
Even though I got home mid-afternoon in daylight, I ended up going for a run in the dark! WHY I ask myself?!? Don't have a good answer for that one ... so let's move swiftly along!!
Did an hour's run ... so about 6-plus miles. Again, it was at a good steady pace thanks to AudioFuel's music! I do have to admit though ... rather sheepishly ... that I stopped at the 40-minute mark to sign up for that gym membership at Riptide gym that I've been generously offered! Thanks Matt! I'm determined to use the gym regularly and defy all those 'New Year's Resolutioners' who generally last less than a month before giving up. My 'problem' is fitting the gym sessions in with the swims, the bike rides and the runs!! Yet, now with the janathon competition, I've got more incentive to get exercising each and every day ... for at least January!
I do think it's time to 'get a schedule' and get more focused with what I do and when I do it, rather than the rather 'laissez-faire' approach I've been doing lately! Doing the Blenheim Tri in June will provide a good focus to get focused!
I can give myself a pat on the back for the exercise today ... but what do I do about the bottle of wine and pizza I had at dinner with a friend!?!
Monday, 3 January 2011
Country lanes and hills, big hills!!
Went out with the Brighton Explorers Club today for what turned out to be a 27-mile on-road bike ride.
Biking from Brighton has essentially two choices ... you can go either along the coastal road and there are gentle rolling hills ... or, you can go up and over the South Downs to country lanes. Country lanes it was!!
Just to get to the meeting point was a 15-minute uphill jaunt before heading out with the group which was yet another 15-minute plus uphill ride to get to the highest elevation point, before coming down the other side of the Downs and onto the country lanes.
Now, having not cycled in a large group for several years, it was a bit daunting ... wondering if I could keep up or whether I'd wimp out so badly on the hills that I'd be dropped off! I also wondered whether I could keep up the pace! I'm used to being out biking on my own, doing my own thing at my own pace. So ... if I slow down, so what?!? However, with others around, slowing down to much is not really an option if you want to keep together! Funny how I teach others about building confidence and managing nerves, yet I had moments where I struggled!!
In the end, the ride was gorgeous and an executive decision was made en-route for a pub break to warm up, have a bite to eat and then afterwards make our way back rather than continue on the longer route as planned.
Imagine this ... warm cozy pub with a log fire going, a fine lunch in us all and then we have to get out in the cold to head home ... up to the top of the Downs. Hmm ... not a prospect I particularly looked forward to!! Can you imagine that!?!
Well, much to my surprise, I did make it up all the hills to the top of the Downs. There was a point where I thought I might take a short walk break (I know, I know ... wimp!!) however carried on. I kept repeating to myself 'slow and steady, slow and steady ...' and got there in the end!
I'm home now, wrapped up nice and warmly, waiting for my hearty soup to cook ... hmmm!
Biking from Brighton has essentially two choices ... you can go either along the coastal road and there are gentle rolling hills ... or, you can go up and over the South Downs to country lanes. Country lanes it was!!
Just to get to the meeting point was a 15-minute uphill jaunt before heading out with the group which was yet another 15-minute plus uphill ride to get to the highest elevation point, before coming down the other side of the Downs and onto the country lanes.
Now, having not cycled in a large group for several years, it was a bit daunting ... wondering if I could keep up or whether I'd wimp out so badly on the hills that I'd be dropped off! I also wondered whether I could keep up the pace! I'm used to being out biking on my own, doing my own thing at my own pace. So ... if I slow down, so what?!? However, with others around, slowing down to much is not really an option if you want to keep together! Funny how I teach others about building confidence and managing nerves, yet I had moments where I struggled!!
In the end, the ride was gorgeous and an executive decision was made en-route for a pub break to warm up, have a bite to eat and then afterwards make our way back rather than continue on the longer route as planned.
Imagine this ... warm cozy pub with a log fire going, a fine lunch in us all and then we have to get out in the cold to head home ... up to the top of the Downs. Hmm ... not a prospect I particularly looked forward to!! Can you imagine that!?!
Well, much to my surprise, I did make it up all the hills to the top of the Downs. There was a point where I thought I might take a short walk break (I know, I know ... wimp!!) however carried on. I kept repeating to myself 'slow and steady, slow and steady ...' and got there in the end!
I'm home now, wrapped up nice and warmly, waiting for my hearty soup to cook ... hmmm!
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Bike fixed now!
I intended to go out for a long run today however when my biking buddy said that he was free to fix my bike ... my plans changed! So, with the much appreciated help from my biking buddy, the broken cable from new year's eve is now sorted. Thank you Nick.
Went out for a 17 mile off-road ride to check it out and make sure all ok, before I go on a 30-ish mile ride tomorrow with the Brighton Explorers Club (www.brightonexplorers.org).
I've been meaning to join the club for years yet kept myself so busy I never had (or is that ... made!!) the time. Now I'm making the time and the first ride I'm joining them on is tomorrow on road. Looking forward to it!
Went out for a 17 mile off-road ride to check it out and make sure all ok, before I go on a 30-ish mile ride tomorrow with the Brighton Explorers Club (www.brightonexplorers.org).
I've been meaning to join the club for years yet kept myself so busy I never had (or is that ... made!!) the time. Now I'm making the time and the first ride I'm joining them on is tomorrow on road. Looking forward to it!
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Did my first parkrun in ages!
I started today as I mean to continue throughout the year ... that is waking up feeling refreshed and doing some exercise ... no hangover or feeling tired from to much partying!
Plus, being part of the janathon is just what I need to kick start my exercise and healthier living!
So, what did I do? I did a parkrun for the first time in probably two years! Having a timed 5K run was going to be a good benchmark for my running level at the moment and a great way to see how I progress with regular exercise.
Needless to say, I was very surprised at my time ... 25m45s according to my watch! Shocked is not the word to describe my reaction!! Stunned is more like it!! WOO HOO!!
Plus, being part of the janathon is just what I need to kick start my exercise and healthier living!
So, what did I do? I did a parkrun for the first time in probably two years! Having a timed 5K run was going to be a good benchmark for my running level at the moment and a great way to see how I progress with regular exercise.
Needless to say, I was very surprised at my time ... 25m45s according to my watch! Shocked is not the word to describe my reaction!! Stunned is more like it!! WOO HOO!!
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