Hello people who don't read my blog.
I've been "away" for a long while now. The last few months have been really difficult; not just exercise-wise, but life in general. I ended up being signed off work with Depression for a month, and have been a bit mental for a while. I went back to work, and requested voluntary redundancy. They accepted my application and I left on Friday.
So now I'm trying to sort my shit out and get on with my life. It's harder than it sounds; there's an immense amount of apathy to fight against just to get out of bed most mornings, and I've not had a proper night's sleep for nearly 4 months now.
On Friday morning I woke up shit early again, and decided that, since I was up and had no chance of going back to sleep, I may as well go for a run. So I did. And I got on better than I expected to. I only went along Town Path, around Elizabeth Gardens and back again - only 3.8km. But I managed to run further than I ever used to without stopping for a rest.
On Sunday morning I went for another run. Didn't do so well, probably only about 2.8km - but at least I managed it.
Monday I went back to the gym. Having not stepped foot in the building for 2 months I was dreading it, but it wasn't too bad - and my locker actually smelled quite nice! I did a Body Balance class, which made me feel all floaty and smiley, which was something of a novelty.
Yesterday morning I went for a run - same route as Friday.
Today I went to the gym again...
Treadmill - 1 minute sprint, 30 seconds rest x 8 (up to 13.5km/h)
Stepper - 10 minutes at level 6
Stability ball plank/step-down x 15
Stability ball roll-out x 15
2 sets
I'm quite pleased with my effort to be honest, I think the cardio was better than I was managing before.
Weirdly enough, having been so ill and miserable for so long, I think it's done a lot for my mental strength when it comes to exercise. I'm less likely to give up on my workouts now, less likely to half-ass my way through it. It's a good feeling.
The hope is that I can continue to run every other day, and do more classes at the gym. I'm off work on gardening leave now until October, so it's the perfect opportunity to get back into my fitness and exercise routine. Also I'm hoping I can manage to beat my body into submission so that it will actually allow me a decent night's sleep some time very soon! Oh yeah, and if I could get rid of the headache I've had since Sunday, that would also be rather marvellous.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Saturday 2010-04-03
I went for a run this morning, only a little one. Am fairly down in the dumps at the moment, what with one thing and another. Thought a run might make me feel better but it just made me realise how unfit I've become! I ran up the steps, but only once, and then carried on round and back down to the main road. My left ankle hurts, and I've done something very wrong to my right foot which I'm hoping will magically fix itself but is actually getting more painful. Am determined not to end up in casualty on a bank holiday weekend though, so I'll keep on ignoring it!
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Tuesday 27th
I was meant to go to LBT tonight, but haven't made it. I spent a large chunk of today visiting the local Air Force base, and knew that if I went to the gym I wouldn't have time to make lunches and dinners for the rest of the week. So I went for a run and did some stuff at home instead...
Short run - to the Steps of Doom and back. 3 times up the steps, as I've not done them in a while, and wanted to be able to move for tomorrow's sessions. Did run most of the way back though, which is unusual for me - I usually give up and walk back!
I did some pull-up work on my door gym thing, a set of 12 full press-ups and some abs...
Elbow-knee twist x 12
Crunches x 12
Reverse crunch x 12
3 sets
To get into the RAF the fitness test requires full sit-ups and full press-ups. I'm monumentally rubbish at both, so I need to practise this. Am going to try and do press-ups every day, and work my way up. Although you only need to do 12 in about 2 minutes or something to pass the fitness test, if I turned up to Officer training only able to do the bare minimum I'd be in for "a real beasting" apparently.
Once I'm getting somewhere with the push-ups, I'll start on the sit-ups. I need to find somewhere in the house to anchor my feet though!
Short run - to the Steps of Doom and back. 3 times up the steps, as I've not done them in a while, and wanted to be able to move for tomorrow's sessions. Did run most of the way back though, which is unusual for me - I usually give up and walk back!
I did some pull-up work on my door gym thing, a set of 12 full press-ups and some abs...
Elbow-knee twist x 12
Crunches x 12
Reverse crunch x 12
3 sets
To get into the RAF the fitness test requires full sit-ups and full press-ups. I'm monumentally rubbish at both, so I need to practise this. Am going to try and do press-ups every day, and work my way up. Although you only need to do 12 in about 2 minutes or something to pass the fitness test, if I turned up to Officer training only able to do the bare minimum I'd be in for "a real beasting" apparently.
Once I'm getting somewhere with the push-ups, I'll start on the sit-ups. I need to find somewhere in the house to anchor my feet though!
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Tuesday 15th
I had a later start at work this morning so I decided to go for a run - but from the gym, so that I could walk there first and warm my legs up a bit.
Having looked at the route on Map My Run, I only did 4.26km, but it bloody hurt after Pump last night! I really don't think I'm cut out for running at all. It took me about half an hour.
When I got back to the gym I still had some time over, so I did some cardio on the machines...
Stepper - interval program, 10 minutes level 6
Cross trainer - 1-minute sprint intervals, 6 minutes level 5
Then this evening I went back to the gym to do Legs Bums and Tums, which actually hurt so much I was almost sick! Seriously. There was way more leg work than abs, though the abs stuff at the end was pretty hardcore.
I have a PT session tomorrow, I've a nasty feeling it's been 6 weeks since my last weigh-in, and she's going to measure me and find that I've made no progress at all. Fingers crossed for some sort of major weight loss over night!
Having looked at the route on Map My Run, I only did 4.26km, but it bloody hurt after Pump last night! I really don't think I'm cut out for running at all. It took me about half an hour.
When I got back to the gym I still had some time over, so I did some cardio on the machines...
Stepper - interval program, 10 minutes level 6
Cross trainer - 1-minute sprint intervals, 6 minutes level 5
Then this evening I went back to the gym to do Legs Bums and Tums, which actually hurt so much I was almost sick! Seriously. There was way more leg work than abs, though the abs stuff at the end was pretty hardcore.
I have a PT session tomorrow, I've a nasty feeling it's been 6 weeks since my last weigh-in, and she's going to measure me and find that I've made no progress at all. Fingers crossed for some sort of major weight loss over night!
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Thursday 10th
What a day!
Got up this morning and went for a run. My ankle is a little sore from running the other day - I think I may have damaged it a bit running on uneven ground. So I chickened out of doing a proper run, and instead opted for the "easier option" of interval training on the Steps Of Doom! I managed to run up them 4 times, all the while being watched by a gaggle of mothers who seemed to have congregated at the bottom to have a gossip about god-knows-what. I got a few funny looks on my last trip down the steps when I had to go past them to get home!
In the evening I thought I'd try a pilates class at the gym. It runs directly before the Body Balance class, so I always end up waiting outside the Studio for it to finish, wondering what it's like. So today I did Pilates for an hour, and then Body Balance too. Woop Woop.
Pilates was actually really good, I was so busy concentrating on my postures and breathing and everything else I didn't notice that the hour was nearly up, or that I was working my muscles quite hard. It complemented Body Balance quite nicely as well, and the result was a happy and bouncy bubbles all the way home! I'm going to see if I can fit Pilates into my schedule on a regular basis from now on, I love it!
Got up this morning and went for a run. My ankle is a little sore from running the other day - I think I may have damaged it a bit running on uneven ground. So I chickened out of doing a proper run, and instead opted for the "easier option" of interval training on the Steps Of Doom! I managed to run up them 4 times, all the while being watched by a gaggle of mothers who seemed to have congregated at the bottom to have a gossip about god-knows-what. I got a few funny looks on my last trip down the steps when I had to go past them to get home!
In the evening I thought I'd try a pilates class at the gym. It runs directly before the Body Balance class, so I always end up waiting outside the Studio for it to finish, wondering what it's like. So today I did Pilates for an hour, and then Body Balance too. Woop Woop.
Pilates was actually really good, I was so busy concentrating on my postures and breathing and everything else I didn't notice that the hour was nearly up, or that I was working my muscles quite hard. It complemented Body Balance quite nicely as well, and the result was a happy and bouncy bubbles all the way home! I'm going to see if I can fit Pilates into my schedule on a regular basis from now on, I love it!
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Tuesday 8th
Had real issues motivating myself this morning, in the end I didn't get out of the house until 1pm. I went for a run, about 5k. It took me about 35-40 minutes because it was really hot and... well I'm just lazy and out of practise with the running! That was the first proper run I'd been on since probably about June.
In the evening I went to the gym to do Legs Bums and Tums. I was early, so before heading down to the studio I did:
Stepper, interval program 10 minutes level 6
The usual instructor was off last week, and I was disappointed in the class - it was more like aerobics and not very challenging. When this week's class began I thought the same... for the first 2 minutes! Then my legs started to wail in pain! The usual instructor was back and it bloody hurt! She teaches Body Balance too, and seems to have incorporated some of those moves into this class. Such as standing on one leg, on a step, with your arms in the air, bending over forwards, bending the standing leg... and then doing a series of one-legged squats to tap the lifted toe onto the floor. The whole class hurt, I've a feeling I'll know about it in the morning!
Believe it or not, that's a good thing!
In the evening I went to the gym to do Legs Bums and Tums. I was early, so before heading down to the studio I did:
Stepper, interval program 10 minutes level 6
The usual instructor was off last week, and I was disappointed in the class - it was more like aerobics and not very challenging. When this week's class began I thought the same... for the first 2 minutes! Then my legs started to wail in pain! The usual instructor was back and it bloody hurt! She teaches Body Balance too, and seems to have incorporated some of those moves into this class. Such as standing on one leg, on a step, with your arms in the air, bending over forwards, bending the standing leg... and then doing a series of one-legged squats to tap the lifted toe onto the floor. The whole class hurt, I've a feeling I'll know about it in the morning!
Believe it or not, that's a good thing!
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Wednesday 19th
Since there was still question over whether the showers at the gym would be working, I decided not to take my chances, and went for a run from home instead.
I did the Steps Of DOOOOOOOOM up the road. I only ran up them 3 times though, as I thought I as going to die. I think I need to get back into practise with the running really, or I stand no chance with the Great South in October!
I think I was out for about half an hour, I ran to the steps but on the way back my legs were a little jellified, so I walked! Man alive, I really am out of practise!
My food has been a little better today... though I did have crisps and a cinnamon danish. Curse those danish pastries, they get me every day!
I've just watched this video on You Tube that I found quite inspiring though. This woman lost shedloads of weight, and tracked her progress through You Tube videos, now she does updates about maintaining her weight, what exercise she does and stuff. Any way so yeah, I figured if she can do it then there's no reason I can't. I just need to be more strict with myself about what I eat. So this evening the plan is to cook a healthy dinner, then sort out something healthy to have as a snack tomorrow so that I don't end up buying crisps or other goodies!
Am not particularly optimistic about the weigh-in on Sunday, as I know I've been pretty bad with my food and have ended up skipping some exercise sessions - some through my own fault and others through situations beyond my control! Still, fingers crossed! I've a PT session in the morning so she's bound to put me through my paces. Then overtime tomorrow evening, and then Body Balance afterwards. I do love Body Balance!
I did the Steps Of DOOOOOOOOM up the road. I only ran up them 3 times though, as I thought I as going to die. I think I need to get back into practise with the running really, or I stand no chance with the Great South in October!
I think I was out for about half an hour, I ran to the steps but on the way back my legs were a little jellified, so I walked! Man alive, I really am out of practise!
My food has been a little better today... though I did have crisps and a cinnamon danish. Curse those danish pastries, they get me every day!
I've just watched this video on You Tube that I found quite inspiring though. This woman lost shedloads of weight, and tracked her progress through You Tube videos, now she does updates about maintaining her weight, what exercise she does and stuff. Any way so yeah, I figured if she can do it then there's no reason I can't. I just need to be more strict with myself about what I eat. So this evening the plan is to cook a healthy dinner, then sort out something healthy to have as a snack tomorrow so that I don't end up buying crisps or other goodies!
Am not particularly optimistic about the weigh-in on Sunday, as I know I've been pretty bad with my food and have ended up skipping some exercise sessions - some through my own fault and others through situations beyond my control! Still, fingers crossed! I've a PT session in the morning so she's bound to put me through my paces. Then overtime tomorrow evening, and then Body Balance afterwards. I do love Body Balance!
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Wednesday 12th
I was so offensively tired this morning I was unable to open my eyes. I skipped my morning gym session in favour of catching up on some zeds. Not sure how wise that was, since it doesn't seem to have alleviated the tiredness at all!
Met up with a friend at lunch and went for a little run. According to her Garmin we did 2.3 miles in about 20 minutes. No great achievement, but better than nothing at all.
I've been absolutely shattered recently, despite my getting a lot of sleep. I think perhaps it's down to the diet and the extra hours at work - I've not been able to get into a proper routine, and my diet has been suffering because when I get in from a long day the last thing I feel like doing is planning my meals for the next day, or even cooking something decent to eat before bed!
This needs to change or Sunday's weigh-in could be a disaster!
Met up with a friend at lunch and went for a little run. According to her Garmin we did 2.3 miles in about 20 minutes. No great achievement, but better than nothing at all.
I've been absolutely shattered recently, despite my getting a lot of sleep. I think perhaps it's down to the diet and the extra hours at work - I've not been able to get into a proper routine, and my diet has been suffering because when I get in from a long day the last thing I feel like doing is planning my meals for the next day, or even cooking something decent to eat before bed!
This needs to change or Sunday's weigh-in could be a disaster!
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Sunday 12th
Was going to do a long run this morning... but I'm lazy and so not into the whole hour-long workout thing. So I did the Steps of Doom instead. See how in the photo they seem to be never-ending? When you're running up them, they feel that way too.
Last time I did the Steps I think I managed 4 times. So in order to push myself, I ran up them 5 times today. So that's get to the top, lean over the railing until the sicky feeling fades a little, walk down, and start again. On the last rep I nearly didn't make it to the top, my legs just wouldn't move. And walking back down that last time wasn't much fun either. And then my legs were shaking so much, the shor tip back home was fairly interesting too.
But man alive, I did the Steps of Doom 5 times in a row, without being sick or passing out!
The I came home and did some abs:
Reverse crunch x 12
straight-leg heel taps x 12
no rest between exercises, but a short rest between sets.
2 sets
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Sunday 28th
Race For Life - 5k "run."
not sure whether I should count this as exercise or not. These days 5k is not far for me, plus I walked a lot of it because I did it with my sister, and it was hot, and the people who do race for life don't really do race manners (getting out the way if you stop running to walk).
Did it in 41 minutes any way.
not sure whether I should count this as exercise or not. These days 5k is not far for me, plus I walked a lot of it because I did it with my sister, and it was hot, and the people who do race for life don't really do race manners (getting out the way if you stop running to walk).
Did it in 41 minutes any way.
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