Christmas

I am currently in a training black hole & vat of Quality Streets (choccies in tins for y'all that don't kno) I expect to stay in said place until at least 8pm of January 1st. Where I will reign victorious & slay the Christmas-over-indulgent Dragon.

Until then dear friends, I suggest you do the same. Enjoy the rest, your family & the lack of pressure to do anything else. Merry Christmas


Ps have managed 3 runs of no decent length tho but they've all been with my 15yr old sis who is slowly catching the running bug / getting influenced (manipulated) by big sis teehehe

Uh oh

It has to be said that half the way to recovery is admitting you have a problem. One of my flaws - yes, there are many, how kind of you to think otherwise! ;) is that I am ‘gung ho’:

I rush into things, I often respond immediately saying, ‘yes that’s a brilliant idea, I’d love to!’ before thinking and then have that 'WTF have I done?!' moment roughly 10mins after. Or I sign up to things thinking it’s a great idea and then revert to foetal position when I realise the magnitude of the challenge at hand.

To make said flaw worse, I quite like it, I often think of it as a charming enthusiasm to life *idiot*. I’m so cautious otherwise & if I wasn’t a little hasty in parts then I am convinced I wouldn’t have done the following in the past month:

1. Signed up to the Team12in12

2. Swam 3.9km before work with some Adonis-esq triathletes

3. Changed career & landed a dream job

4. Agreed to purchase this & perform a 12in12 race in it <- SERIOUSLY NOW LUCINDA, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS.

Which brings me on to my favourite number ‘5’…I’ve just blinking well signed up to Janathon haven’t I?!





If you are unfamiliar with Janathon / Juneathon, you are about to get more intimately acquainted to it. The idea behind it is…run every day in January & blog…every day in January.

So dear Little Blog reader…yes you with your afternoon coffee trying to stay awake, expect typed drivel, (stream of consciousness style) as I try desperately, in vain to keep buggering on (Winston Churchill’s words not mine) throughout January, in an equally desperate attempt to break the back kick start my training for 12in12. You have been warned!

So now I’ve acknowledged my problem the next stage is to amend the behaviour- pah!

Drowned Rat

So on Monday (yup dates changed) I dived in to this...

I went to a Tri club and had a bash at their swimming training.

Everyone had completed an Ironman or a Half Ironman, I completed one sprint triathlon and broke my arm doing so (thanks GOAM, that blog post always makes me feel better). Anyway...you get the idea, I was Robin to their Batman, Watson to their Holmes and what proved it was this:

1. 800 m warm up
2. 3 x 300m (ie 900m) with float between my legs
3. 3 x 300m with hand paddles
4. 3 x 300m with fins
5. 200 m cool down

That right there is a loooooooooong distance! and within the first minute I resembled a coin in a fountain but it got easier! actually, no wait it really didn't. I felt useless and completely deflated all day, I thought I was quite sporty and would be able to cope with the swimming and at least 'wing it' but not even in the slightest. Eugh...enthusiasm does not make up for skill! ha. Well, I am now resolute, I will improve. Me vs. Swimming training I will be victorious come end of 2012! and the same with Me v Life.

In the meantime, I saw this & felt it really captured how I felt!

Mondays

So you know they're gonna be tough when they start like this

x5 cups of tea and 18 1/2 hours later (UK time) I am ready for bed...must remember to reset alarm, must remember to reset alarm, must remember to reset alarm, must remember to reset alarm, must remember to reset alarm, must remember to reset alarm, must remember to reset alarm, must remember to reset alarm. Zzzzzzzzz

Cardio Kettling

So, I was set the challenge to do something a lil’ bit different to my normal run / bootcamp routine and this came in the shape of Cardio Kettlebells, a new class at Frame Studios. I worried about resembling a shot-putter (Kelly Sotherton; is the aim not ur standard shotputters) but Frame put my fears aside – the class is a low weight, high repetition session that gets your heart rate high, so no bulk just toned muscles.

Kelly's Guns...if only!

I entered the rather fabulous exposed-brick, über trendy and so very Shoreditch, studios with my fellow Cardio Kettlebellers. We each grabbed a cute pink, baby blue or black kettlebell, depending on how brave we were feeling. Then Clare B, our instructor, walked in and turned the tunes up loud – think a night out in your fav Soho bar, Kylie, Scissor Sisters, Mika – and we cracked on with the class!

It felt like a modern update on the much loved Body Pump class, but the way you move with a kettlebell worked my core and hamstrings a lot more. There was a set for the arms which involved lifts plus a rework of the push up (ouch!). On the legs set we mainly did squats and lunges with twists which worked the back too. Abs rounded off the class, with waist-defining-twists and sit ups. The much needed cool down and stretching completed the class, and with Clare B egging us on the whole time, it meant the class flew by!

24 hours later my abs were utterly cursing the day I picked up the cute pink kettlebell. The class was so deceptive, because of the low weights you end up doing more reps than you ordinarily would. It wasn’t until each set had finished that I realised I was breathless (I blame the great soundtrack) and it wasn’t until the next day that I’d realised how hard I’d been pushed! It was so motivating to do something different and in my view the change was as good as a rest – especially if it is in the shape of a cute pink kettlebell!

Dear Father Christmas / Mawi / Fairy Godmother...

I have been very good this week doing my training even though I've had a cold (shhh you, I know it's only Wednesday) anyway...I know we are supposed to reward ourselves to work harder see here and so I wondered if I could these babies...Mawi Cobra Coil Earrings with Crystal Gems ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh oooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Just in case you need a visual reference of beauty http://bit.ly/uZ1KGC

Or failing those babies how about; world peace; my £12,000 target; find a cure for cancer or an eco friendly alternative to oil or how about getting Rihanna a nice boy?

Thank you
Lucinda

Tri-ing new things

Just signed up for a taster session at a potential triathlon club. I know that sounds uber sporty and serious which is why I am actually very nervous because really I don't feel that fit at the moment & I don't take my training seriously.

I will be leaving the comfort of the Superchicks, which I have loved and enjoyed so much, for more specific and focused training. If left to my own devices this happens. I admire people who follow a training plan and actually do it so much because it's so dedicated of them, unfortunately, I have little to no discipline, unless training becomes non negotiable, I wont do it.

So I'm 'tri'ing out <-like what I did there? TriLondon  mainly because their sessions are bike & swim heavy (the two bits I 100% need help on for my 12in12 challenges) but the real reason is because they call themselves, 'London's friendliest triathlon club'. 

After a few emails with the club's coordinator I'm meeting the new crew at 5.50 am (yes A-M) next Friday for my first swim session. I think Homer Simpson can provide a pretty good visual representation to how I'm feeling right now:

ARHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

How real/soon/scary is that?! What if I'm rubbish? What if I don't get on with anyone/they don't get on with me? What if I sleep in? What if I'm so rubbish they hope that I don't sign up to the club? 

I know I'll only find out by going and I'll never manage to do all my events if I don't train for them but I wish I could fast forward this bit! Wow it's like first-day-at-school nerves.

Totally necessary to improve stats like this:

Cycled - 25.76 km

Ran - 16.53 km 

Every meter counts!!

New Kit = Happy Days

Oh yeah guess who got their super hero outfit today 11 years after requesting one for their birthday?! Well technically, not me. This is my brand spanking new Xterra wetsuit that arrived in the post last week but have been a little busy to try it on. Well tonight, I tried it on and BOOM! love it feel like it should have a red cape rather than a yukky swim cap + goggles, yeah I know, I'm missing the point! Unfortunately, the wetsuit is a bit big on me so I'm going to get the smaller size (woohoo!)

The main reason I've got this is for next year's epic challenges - look here for a recap. I need it for open water swim training, mainly in the Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park and also for the triathlon in London. I'm not a very good front crawl swimmer (I last possibly 5 breaths before I feel Poseidon dragging me to the depths) so got this nifty wetsuit to convince me it would make a difference <-we shall see.

I'm so very very excited about testing it out in the rather lovely  duck / goose filled Serpentine that I've been youtube ing a load of the Peter Pan Christmas Day races, though as you can see on the video, wetsuits aren't allowed on the day - WHY OH WHY?! PLEASE CHANGE THIS RULE BY 2012!!!!

Whilst I momentarily forget about the horrific training challenges that await me, I'd just like to give an update on the ol' fundraising - your amazing generosity has got me to 2% of my target ALREADY! Thank you so much. The donations go to some amazing projects

Please help me reach £12,000 or on today's exchange rate €1165.54 or $18829.43 Think of me Christmas Day next year, doing this... *brrr*

Look both ways!

As seen on a running route near you! (that is, if you live in London)bit.ly/vA2nO6

Don't let the Sign Painter thwart you - keep running (and looking as you cross the road!)
Last night:
Ran 8km
Cycled 17km - odd number I know, took the looong way home route

How to be Mowgli

I am a huge fan of Ted Talks. If you take public transport or travel a lot & you don't already get the podcast-do so talks on a variety of brill & boring topics.

Caroline Casey got me in to Ted Talks. She is completely inspiring because... well I won't give the story away! You need to watch it here ;)

I think about this story a lot esp when I'm having a bit of a down time. 'who do you want to be?' is a question that is asked throughout her talk & I think it's an important one to because it makes you really really realise that you are in charge of the plot of your life and its you are the author.

Like I said last Sunday, I always feel like the start of the week is a fresh start & keeping Caroline's message fresh in my mind pushes me forward hopefully in the right direction. Although not always!! But isn't that the same with everything? Ups and downs; it's the nature of every plot of every story, what makes it a happy ending is the character cracks on after each down (after a bit of a wobbly moment!).

I'm just trying to remember; onwards & upwards after every bump-including little training! I've just handed my notice in on a job I've had for 4 years. There's a bit (ok MASSIVE) career change & it's a fork in the road for me. I'm nervous no doubt, excited completely and keeping Caroline's inspirational, challenging story as I go forward makes me smile that maybe this is me becoming Mowgli.... <-seriously click that and enjoy a 10min talk on a snippet of her life

Training this coming week:
20k running
72km cycling
0k swimming
63hrs sleep <- unlikely
49 hrs sleep <- more likely!

Birthday surprise

So some friends are just rubbish at remembering birthdays which is a-ok because ur not mates with them for that. But some, some are just fantastic at treating you on your special day. I'm out celebrating tonight at an undisclosed secret location with one such friend.

And by all accounts starting in Somerset House is the best way.

Carrot & Stick Approach...

If I:
a.) run tomorrow at lunch (40% likely)
b.) finish the numbers on Big Report (fair chance)
c.) Find Dad a birthday present by Thursday (that has to happen)

Then I will treat myself to new hair on Friday! Swishy swishy, pre-Raphaelite, Florence+The Machine, Middletons would be jealous hair! <- yeah ok the last one ain't gonna happen, but dum spiro spero!

Thank you Violent Veg Store for your hilarious pics

New Day, New Week

One thing I love about Mondays (ok, possibly the only thing...) is that its almost like the start of a New Year - all those resolutions you make, 'This week I'm gonna eat well / This week I'm going to train efficiently and hard / This week I'm going to do all my jobs / see friend x and call relation y'

Well Blog readers... This week / TODAY I'm going to run in this beautiful park and then after I've finished work I'm going to do my favourite bootcamp with fabulous trainer Mel and the other girls.
Hope you managed to kick Monday's a$$ too.

I heart London in Autumn xx

Puppies love...

My trainers!

My Mum breeds Gold Retrievers there were 8 born 7-weeks ago. When I went home at the weekend they had g-r-o-w-n in to little terrors! Adorable, (no I haven't packed one in the case to sneak it to London, honest Mum!) cute.

Puppies 1 - Trainers 0

Ran when I got back in The Smoke...how can you leave these things

Survival of the Most Determined aka Training Run Take 1

All smiles at the start!
Saturday morning and I’m crawling on my belly through ice cubes. You know those big ones that haven’t even started to melt yet, so they’re really really solid? Yeah those ones #ouch. Guess what I crawl through after that? Mud. Well technically woodchips the sort u get in a children’s playground mushed up in water. Then I clamber in, no room for ladylikeness here, to a skip filled to my chest with something you imagine a pig would ‘swill’ in.

Bessie is there cheering me on at the edge of the cargo net, at this point I know she’s injured (hence her lack of belly crawling and clambering) but we don’t know how bad. She slipped and fell on obstacle 7 of 16 but continued to run with me, yup like my crash & continue on the triathlon we’re 100% cut from the same cloth.

She’s cheering anyways, all dry and mud free and I just know what I’m gonna do about that….yup I throw mud at her, she squeals laughing at me. I chase her (sod my time this is more fun) & give her an almighty bear hug & kiss. Mud successfully shared.

Only 3 more obstacles to go and less than 1km left. We can do this!! Three more hellish obstacles and minus my wingman I have no idea how I’m going get over the final ‘Wall of Fame’ challenge. That thing is like erm 100 feet high easily <- honest.

See - At least 100feet high (they are giant men climbing it btw)

Before I realise it I’m giving a leg up to a random and pushing her over, another lady clocks me and does the same for me. At the top I grab her hand whilst another women pushes her up. Honestly, thank you!

We’re at the top and I see the bottom. I. Don’t. Like. Heights. No crash mat. Shit. Palms sweaty. Shit. ‘You alright love?’ the race marshal shouts to me. Bollocks, I’ve been spotted; the finish line is 20 meters away so everyone can see me wavering. Shit. He’s watching me now moving over to see if I’m going to do it. Even the scaredy cat next to me jumped. No excuse, don’t think on it. Jump. Wobbly bottom lip but grabbed Bessie who was waiting at the bottom and we crossed the finish line.

10km; 16 obstacles; 1broken arm (Bessie); 1hour 10min; 100% chuffed with time (included 10 min pit stop with St. John’s Ambulance)

Back on terra firma

Ok I am too tired to tell you all my adventures think it is a beautiful LOOOOng Bank Holiday, Easter weekend to be blogging. It is hot, I want to be with my family / eating too much so please enjoy the slide show...

The bag is packed, for actually a 6week travelling adventure (rather than the long weekend) get over it, Ima girl, it's how we roll.

I arrived a lil too early at the airport
ok, I'll come clean I got a bit paranoid bout catching my flight & so got there a bit (5hours) early.
So, I had to eat breakfast 3 times (home, airport & plane for good measure), exhibit 2 is the menu for my second breakfast. Yes, I do sound like a Hobbit.

The lady who took me there

It is a rule of physics that the more food present, the wider my smile.

Always room for a lie down on a sun lounger

The one where I blame my waddle walk on more 'normal' things like a heavy bag rather than sore legs from training

Yeah so running to the airport today, gave the ol' Quasimodo impression my best shot. Luckily my suitcase acted like it was the cause of the ridiculous plod-come-waddle rather than a Monday-Wednesday trio of muscle agony from Mel & Cat. Sprints + interval training = tight hamstrings x 6 sore ab muscles

Oh & I never had to run I got to the airport almost 6hours before the flight. Wow. I mean wow. Have I really become one of those pple? I ordinarily would let my uber organised anal planning slide but not at 4 am I won't.

This post (like those gone before it) is gibberish. Luckily I can blame sleep deprivation...this time!

Things I do...

I know it's early on a Saturday, I know I could be tucked under my duvet, but no instead I'm doing my best shovelling rye bread and peanut butter down me (food of champs don't you know).

Another reason for the shovelling is the micey is still omnipresent and I don't fancy having an illict encounter with it this morning causing me to squeal like a pig prior to being a tough soldier today. Munch munch munch

It's all about...

Carb loading baby!
My fav thing about races.

Lemons

I've been thrown a few of these recently...
Don't seem to be making lemonade with them either. In fact, I've been turning into a sour puss instead.

My prescription?! Perspective and a large dose of endorphins in the shape of army boys. Tomorrow is the Soldier Challenge http://www.soldierchallenge.co.uk - 30 odd checkpoints throughout London which include abseiling, kayakking and lord-knows-what-else all in aid of perving on men in uniform. Er...don't think so, I hear you cry! Ok ok, its not, it's in aid of ABF; rehibilitation, helping soldiers and ex soliders readjust to life in general (which potentially involves 20-somethings perving on them in uniform perhaps??? Oh c'mon!!!)

Jade and PT are my team members and that, spells, disaster. These girls are machines. I have to step up to the table and work HARD. No coasting for me tomorrow. It's supposed to take about 4.5hrs but murmerings in the ranks say that we can do it in less time...If I collapse tomorrow and fall into a DOMS (delayed onset of muscle soreness )enduced coma. Tell my family I love them and Bessie that I still have her top.

LT. LM will be reporting for duty at 1030 hours....Sod the lemons, I've got a call of duty.

WANTED.....

...a killer cat that will slowly mame, play with and ultimately destroy the cocky mouse living in my house. Oh and some more supportive mates that don't tell me that said mouse will be accompanied by a larger family.

Yes, that's how my day is going.

Mouse 1 - Me 0

Care Package....

I was given a care package in the 'drop zone' of parents house in the shape of my 12 yr old Bro - Lt Ginger, the C.O.D obsessive (that's Call of Duty to all girls or those that don't interact with gamers).

I didn't want to run / workout today but I'm doing the Soldier Challenge next Saturday and really worried bout it so needed to do something cue Lt Ginge. He promised to cycle whilst I ran & then beat me at some sprints afterwards. I won't lie, I was nervous, at what age would Lt Ginge beat me?! Answer: not at age 12!

He was an utter wonder, I asked him to talk at me to distract me whilst I ran & Lordy he delivered 30mins of non-stop COD I reckon I might even be able to tell u the difference between...ok I'm lying, it was white noise to me at one point I went "its like a foreign language, what is andernet turret?!'" Ginge said "'no I said 'I manned a turret'"
Either way, it worked. 30min run x5 100m sprints then 15min abs. Oh yeah boy-o gotta grow up a bit before he kicks me ;)

Perfect Tuesdays...take 1

Oh God...the stars have aligned...not only is it the ever-blessed-payday, the one day one month where work seems (whisper it) 'alright' but LIZ EARLE is on QVC, ok stop that judging, I know it's technically not, high brow but it's my fav and I love it.

'Frape'

verb: to hijack another's Facebook account & write a funny on their status.

After an education off my two younger sisters I found out this was 'cool' nowadays, to 'Frape' & change their birthday to the following day & watch all the Bon Anniversaire messages flood in-oh the larks the kids have these days.

Word of caution, if u want to use the 201¹terminology make sure you get it right. Otherwise you shall experience the tumbleweed moment as I had the pleasure to experience after asking my parents if they'd ever 'rapebooked' anyone, much to the enjoyment & shock of the siblings. Realising my faux pax, I tried to rectify it by apologising, 'sorry, meant have u ever 'faceraped' anyone? apparently all the cool kids are'.

Time to hop on that Virgin train to London me thinks...

Idiocy ¹- Lucinda 0

Phone convo

Bessie: (panting) Eugh man I am knackered, I'm dying!!

Me: What have u done?

Bessie: Just ran 10km in...(checking time) oh wow! in 46 minutes!!!

Me: Is that because I beat ur PB last week?

Bessie: er...nooo

moral of this story awaken the competitive nature in Bessie then woe betide ur PB!

Junkie Jungle

I am, surprisingly, worryingly perky since actually making it to training last night and (might I add) being super speedy on the runs. So it got me thinking that my grump all-laaaaast-week coulda been due to the serious depletion of endorphins in my blood. Oh lordy - am I addicted to exercise?? like Trainspotting / Kate Moss / Charlie Sheen / Kerry Katona addicted?

Well, whilst you ponder that, I'm going to look for my next hit in the shape of sprint runs....

Praying for sun...

It'll b a small wonder if I get to training tonight I am sleeping with my eyes open - not a good look necessarily but I have turned it to a fashion statement - luckily my fringe is a little long at the mo so its covering the evidence that I am asleep at my desk.

(background break: Yes, I am off for the dirtiest of long weekends on Thursday with Bessie - ok she's not Hugh Jackman or Kanye, and there'll b no Egyption Cotton action, but well...she'll do perfectly for me and there will be food n booze n ciggies - our perfect combo!)You know when u get that telltale feeling in ur tummy, that there is no way in hell ur gonna get everything done (work wise) before going to Brussels? well I got that feeling now!

Still, the fact that its a 3 day week is uh-may-zing and the promise of Moulles & Frites, an infinite quantity of non Cadburys/nestle choccy as well as a strong beer & even stronger wine is enough to push me thru Tuesday & Wednesday, oh the things I do for the team ;) haha

Surprisingly enough the weather in Brussels is utterly glorious - that is, until we arrive, as v kindly illustrated by the BBC in a series of multiple dashes representing how rained upon we will be.

However, all is not lost on today - I have received my holiday dress & top in the post this afternoon which I obviously intend to wear...at work tomorrow! It is too cute not to wear ASAP, and I haven't quite managed to develop any self restraint. Shrove Tuesday tomorrow - or commonly known by heathens as Pancake day. Last day of smoking too....until Brussels.

Lord, Brussels is going to be our equivalent of the film Hangover! lets just stay away from any tigers...oh God and babies for that matter!

Lazy Little Mushroom

What could of happened today...

Got up, ran 10km, after my week break I hit a personal best. Came back home, helped Flaty Spring Clean the house. Then I applied for a job and got offered an interview for tomorrow.

What actually happened today....

I got up, but only in body. I proceeded to eat, smoke, mope, Skype, had an afternoon sleep.

It could have been oh so productive, but instead I perfected my impression of a lazy little mushroom.

The New Plan...

So I have a wonderful friend, I hope we all have one like this, one that has your back, Bad Boys stylee. This friend always believes in me, and my potential it always comes in handy at times...erm like these actually. Those times when u got the blues, the Mood Indigos. We're gonna call him Jordan-after the B-ball player, said friend loves Basketball.

So Jordan, nah his guns aren't that big, but his grin defo is, gave me a book, as a 'sorry-u-got-ur-bike-knicked-(twice)-broke-ur-arm-on-one-&-ran-a-midget-over-with-the-unlucky-said-bike' pressie. Now checkout the front page he did
How can this be anything but a positive, giggling book??!! only to put those 'get in there' lists or good things that happen

Well, I am a list lover, oh yes, I am proud enough to stand up & be counted with fellow other listers. So amidst my moping around the house day, I decided to stop with the moping. Nobody likes an Eeyore...I am prob a bit deflated at the mo because I feel I have a little lack of focus (I know the Feb challenge ended 6 days ago, but I'm not good at doing nothin!!). So... check out the get Lucinda back on her game plan....yes it did take over two pages.




POW!
Time to shift this mind frame. Get to bed & do a better day tomorrow. As Jordan always tells me, 'You are a trooper, you can do anything'. So I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do getting on with my Life.

KAPOW!

200km in a month? That's nothing baby (see that list is already perking me right up)Eeyore is a-packing

finished, fin, finito, përfunduar, نهاية

The power of the mind is crazy – at the weekend my legs were like anvils, I was bottom-shuffling down the stairs (couldn’t manage walking properly) when my little bro laughed at me & I had nothing back, no banter, nothing. I just snivelled in response. Today however, with no running predicted in my Horoscopes I am all high heals and Aero-feeling legs. In the words of Randy Crawford ‘what a difference a day makes.

The hardest bit as I thought was battling my lack of commitment – you know how it is – remember your GCSEs/ A-levels and probably every other exam you’ve done? Do no revision for months and then cram like hell? Well, that is moi to a ‘T’- I crammed 90km into the final week after doing only 10km the previous week, I will never learn?!answer: never

GOAM (www.g-o-a-m.blogspot.com) asked me what I’d learnt doing it & did I have any nuggets for inspiration. Well you’ve got to know you & what makes you tick – unfortunately there isn’t a one-fits-all motivational pill. For me it was good ol’ fashioned Catholic Guilt. The thought that I would let Justine down if I didn’t do my allotted run was a no no, and that pretty much kicked my a$$ every time, people kept telling me that no one would know if I didn’t run that day & I shouldn’t bother, but if I’m honest, I thought that was a pretty weak way out & if I thought that, then why bother in the first place. If I’m honest, I did too much in Februlous, I didn’t tone my partying down, I continued my passionate love affair with Barolo and Camel Blues & didn’t go to bed early. Obviously, this was the biggest killer of the month and to be polite, don’t look great. But, there was no way I would have survived if I was just running & going to work with no social life. But sometimes - maybe I had too much of one! Feb was the month of Friends visiting London & London Fashion Week...


Your body can get used to anything, but your mind cannot. Bodies are durable and health permitting will adapt & get on with things, mine found the 10km easy to complete just after 2 runs, the mind however, is still tells me I am not a runner. The treadmill at the weekend pointed out I’d run my 10km in 51 mins, whilst my mind tells me I am a clumsy runner rivalling Phoebe in Friends. There honestly comes a point where you have to ignore yourself and my ‘point’ has been February. ‘Myself’ if you give it a free reign is one moany bizatch, it whined continually for me to stop running. To drown said self I found Hip Hop (in particular my boy Kanye West) was the perfect prescription. Although this did induce a few ‘oopsie’ moments when much to the disgust of the St. James’ park’s resident Pelicans I realised I was rapping, telling them something about Chi-Town, Lights and being a Monster. Looks like Roc-a-fella records wont be signing up this Surveyor yet.

Last week near Big Ben, a guy tapped me on the shoulder, said ‘tig’ and then pegged it over Westminster Bridge, the innate 6 year old in me knew what to do – dodging around tourists & playing tig chase across Embankment was hilarious and ultimately pushed me to do a few 4minute kilometres. In the first week I noticed at Hyde Park traffic lights that I was standing with 3 other girls running to work, you know how females are; we had a chat. Congratulated each other, berated our own distances/times/efforts and then non-competitively ran for about 2km together. If I’m honest, those sort of times were sporadic.

Much to many people’s surprise I have no desire to run a marathon or half, although that will probably happen because I like to do a challenge with the girls. Also, I don’t like what running has done to my body, it has turned me scrawny, ok that’s ‘myself’ whining again!, but I am thinner & I don’t like it, even though I am now eating around 2,500-3,000 calories a day. More than that though, it honestly doesn’t have a patch on doing group training, after each session I felt really pumped up, the ‘yeah…what else you got?!’ feeling kicks in and I’m a sucker for that.

Thanks Justine for letting me jump on the band wagon again!

Glad it’s over, but glad I did it...my final pic running over Westminster Bridge

Eve & online shopping

just put the nicest pieces into my ASOS basket - which is already reaching the 'free next day delivery' limit...ouch

Now I know logic is saying "u don't get paid for 2wks, u have a dirty wknd with Bessie Mate next week, u haven't saved a pound since 1986 and that was for a Starbrite doll (u loser)"

Now logic may be chatting all that to me, nagging like my conscience does to eat less/more healthy/be more patient, but there is a louder voice from the LBD and it knows me well, "I can be yours, oh yes I can be"

Sweet Jesu I know I'm gonna crack by 5.30....

Bells & Whistles = Gym running

So at the old rentals this weekend- Mummy's birthday celebration. Anyways, I had a slight Monica panic attack moment last night when I realised I don't know the area where they live *background* (they've just moved). So last night whilst I was doing my tossing n turning, worried about how I am going to manage to run 40km in 3 days whilst entertaining the family & looking after Mummy & doing a day at work. I was panicking thinking unless I drop breadcrumbs Hanzel & Grettle stylee I will be lost in the depths of Warwickshire on my run. Then it hit me-go to a gym & run on a treadmill! no way u can get lost there.

So that's what I did.

And I ran. Not 10k but 15k. The first 10 I managed in...wait for it 5¹minutes OH YEAH. All i'm saying is watch ur back Paula Radcliffe....

My fastest time EVER