New New Start.

Well if you read last week’s post you will by now have realized that I did not go running three times last week. I did not go running three times and I did not make any enormous breakthroughs in my dissertation. What was I doing? I don’t know, quite clearly procrastinating and most likely sleeping for a large portion of the week, and I was most definitely breaking Lent after about two days. Unfortunately when I was out I forgot I was giving up caffeine and I had me a bit of red bull in a jager bomb and after that it was all downhill!! However this week I have been running once, today (which is really yesterday) and this week once again I shall attempt to do THREE runs, and if not then it will hopefully be because of some great dissertating. I’ll let you know!

New Week, New Month, New Route, New system, New… you get the point!!

So it is now March 2011 and at last, after over two months of almost nothing, I have begun again to run. I have maybe gone on two runs this term, and just over a week ago I also braved Boris’ Bikes for the first time since they arrived last summer. Two of my school friends were visiting me in London and so after dinner, and cocktails, we decided to go on a night ride through Trafalgar square and up to London Bridge, so it was then I decided that maybe it was time to run again. I did half an hour on the bikes and thought, “shit, I am no longer in anyway fit” so just after a week later, and with three months left to go before the BUPA run, I decided I should do something about it!

Bikes at Night

Bike Receipts

So today I went running again. As I was out of practice and could not run for as long as I could before Christmas I thought would run twice as far, my logic here was that if I was only going to run for half the distance then I may as well run twice as far. Meaning overall I would still be running about a mile, I would just get some time to walk in between. I also decided that I I would run a new route so I went up to Seven Sisters and then back on another road, to keep things a little interesting. Needless to say it was hard and so I came up with a new system, keep running till it gets painful, run a bit more, then walk until you are once again able to breath. What I learned is that the more you push through the pain and death barrier, the further you can subsequently run.

I don’t have much else to say on the run as it was largely uneventful except for a race along the pavement with a low flying pigeon, however I will fill you in on this years lent plans. As of Wednesday there will be no more junk food, no more caffeine and no more fast food. Except for perhaps the last week in lent as that is dissertation week and caffeine at least will be essential in those final days, but other than that I intend to stick to the Lent diet. But don’t worry, I don’t intend to update you with my daily food intake, boring you with tails of my running is enough.

Well that is enough for today, now I just have to hope that as well as doing all my dissertation and composition work for Uni I will also remember to go running three times a week! Wish me luck!!!

Really Quick Update.

I thought I would finally update this today because I went running again. Actually I have been twice, once a couple of weeks ago and once today, and in between I twisted my ankle so that was fun. I am keeping this entry very short and to the point because I have two essays and a dissertation to write and I am pretending to do research at this very moment and blogging is really getting in the way of that. Anyways needless to say that the long break I took between my Aberdeen run and my run the other means the progress I had made has somewhat diminished. However I remain positive that in the coming weeks – if I can get back to regular running – I shall once again be making running progress and then I will be brilliant once more!

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside

Well I did not, as yesterday said I would, go on my ambitious two mile run. Mainly because I had planned to run to the beach but this morning when we went out walking and I looked at the pavements I discovered that some parts of my journey would have ended up really as me running on an ice-rink. So logically I decided instead of that I would do an even more ambitious run up to path along the beach and back. a total of 3.27 miles.

Those of you who have followed previous progress will perhaps know that so far my total distance has been 1.2 miles, in one go, and it took me around 15 minutes. So 3.27 miles was pretty ridiculous as a next step, especially when running hadn’t happened for two weeks.

However undaunted, and feeling a little naively invincible, I set off. So eager was I to complete my first ever beach run I completely forgot to warm up, and I also forgot about my slightly weird shoes and did them up too tightly and ended up with cramp in my feet. Anyone else ever get that? However determined to not give up early I carried on, a little in pain, and a little shocked by just how cold the Aberdonian sea air is! However I lasted just over two songs, and as it turned out just over 3/4 of a mile. Which in hindsight I was pleased with as I was out of practise and feeling stiff, and suffering the ill effects of wearing fake ugg boots for two weeks. (Well don’t I make a lot of excuses!)

Anyway I didn’t give up there, I kept going all the way to the very end. I paused for a minute to re-tie my shoelaces and took a few snaps and then I ran back. Of course I was flagging after that first stop so I went back to the old on/off technique. I ran to the first life ring, then walked to the next one, then ran to the next one, and so on and so forth. Although on the way back I did instead run two and walk one.

Everything was going at a quite nice pace, sun was going but it wasn’t dark yet, and then that Cheryl Cole song came on the iPod and for some reason I felt that meant I had to run twice as fast. So I did that for a while until it got to a bit with a slight incline, and I decided that running up a hill (well ramp) at that speed was not something I wanted to do, so I didn’t and walked a bit and then ran some more. I think you get the idea.

So I eventually made it to the end in about 46 minutes. Feeling both refreshed, energetic, and smug at my incredible running talents. Well at least smug at my effort! Then I saw a guy surfing, in the freezing freezing sea and realised he was perhaps making more of an effort than me, but I think I will forget about him and instead remember that what I did today is about half of what I have to do in May, so that’s good progress I think.

Well that about sums up the days happenings, I hope to do the run again maybe Wednesday and I will see how it goes then. I may pace myself better this time, make a mile perhaps! And my as my parting gift I leave you with these few snaps of my run by the sea.

Just before I embarked on my mission.

The beach at the midpoint.

The Beach Again.

I discovered that there is no point just setting you sights on the end and aiming at that, because it always looked a shorter distance than it was!

Goodbye London.

Well I haven’t actually been running today but I thought that I would perhaps give a little update as to why I haven’t been running in about two weeks. [prepare yourselves now for my catalogue of excuses].

• Reason number one: the day after my last run I woke up and there was indeed snow. Or something, it’s hard to remember the exact dates as this is all ancient history now.
• Reason number two: The snow in various amounts stuck around for a while.
• Reason number three: When the snow went there was some ice.
• Reason number four: When the ice went there was a dissertation tutorial to prepare for.
• Reason number five: just before that there was a concert that I momentarily forgot about, hence being out of chronological order.
• Reason number six: After the meeting there was a presentation to write.
• Reason number seven: After the presentation there was an exam.
• Reason number eight: After the exam there some serious xbox catch-up to be done. Ok not that serious as I am rubbish, but I also hadn’t done that in a while and slobbing around being a student must always be my top priority!
• Reason number nine: After the xbox there was a lie in or two to be reclaimed.
• Reason number ten: After the xbox there was busking in Wood Green, there was Christmas dinner with the house mates, tidying my room and packing to come to Aberdeen.

Now I realise reason ten was more than one reason, but ten is a nice round number so that’s the way it has to be! Anyway as you can see things have been entirely hectic, so so hectic there was just not a moment spare for my big run. However what I did do was eat far too much, especially at early Christmas, I was suffering from that Christmas syndrome where however full you feel, you just think you must keep eating. Need to get that under control for real Christmas, once is quite enough.

So this is why I never did run again this term, however I am currently in Aberdeen staying with my older sister, and I have plotted an ambitious 1.7 mile run to the beach from her halls at the University. I think that it will burn off all the excess calories consumed during this stressful end of term period and I am of course convinced that I will have suffered no ill effect from not doing any exercise for a while.

Oh and whilst we are on the subject of leaving London, well sort of, does anyone know what I am describing as I found it on my wall this morning and I was not impressed: So it has a longish black body, four legs and the two back ones are longer, really really long antenna and possibly little pincers? This evil beast, although it wasn’t actually doing anything to hurt me, almost stopped me making it to the airport on time. Well maybe not to the airport as I was really early, but it almost stopped me leaving at the planned hour and I had to wake the entire house to get rid of it. For once living with scary men folk has paid off!

Anyway that’s all for today, I will let you know if I get out of bed and actually do this run tomorrow or not!!

First Sub Zero Run.

Today was a day of firsts, it was my first sub zero run, it was my first night run, it was my first run when it could potentially snow at any minute, it was the first time I wore my train robber scarf but more importantly it was the first time I wore my fluorescent yellow running jacket out on a run. Oh and I must not forget that today was the first time I ran with Housemate William for a bus, but it was NOT the first time Housemate William said “Oh why don’t you go and blog about it” in a mocking tone.

Now some of these things already were in beyond my control. For example I could not control the fact that the temperatures of the day were sub-zero. I could also not control the fact that snow is coming and could have arrived. I could have avoided running at night though, originally I planned to run a couple of hours (or more) earlier and therefore it would have been light and maybe even a little warmer. However I wasted time trying to buy shoes that would be good for wearing should the snow arrive, and buying slippers. Anyway when I realised it was dark I realised that I did not want to die so I purchased said fluorescent yellow jacket so that cars could see me and after briefly stopping in at home to change and check that my abandoned house guest was still alive. Then I went on the run.

I did have a few concerns when I left, but fortunately none of them came to fruition. However even so I will share them with you.

• I would get hit by a car as it was dark and die.
• I would get hypothermia from the cold temperatures and die.
• I would slip on some ice and die.
• The snow would come, something bad would happen, I would die.

Now I think there were a few more but as you can see my thoughts had a common theme running through them so I don’t need to share every single one with you!!

Now I know I already covered the topic of first times, but what I didn’t mention up there was that the real achievement and first of the day was I ran the entire 1.2 circuit in one go with absolutely no walking and I did it in 15 minutes, so not the best of times, but considering not long ago less than a mile was taking 15 minutes this is ok I think. So I think perhaps next week I will try and run a further distance, or maybe the end of this week, although I think if it snows as heavily as predicted I will not be running at all as I am one of the world’s clumsiest people and to give you an idea of how dangerous this could be for me I will tell you this; the last time I tried sport in the snow in London (extreme snowball fighting) I broke a rib. So I think it’s safer for all of us if I stay off the streets when the snow finally arrives!!

Finally I hope you enjoyed the update from Lazy Chris, I shall badger more fund-raising team-mates into updating you as well. On that note I shall leave as I have a presentation to write an exam to revise for and a dissertation tutorial to prepare for.

A Manly Update From Lazy Chris.

“Okay, Lucy has shamed me into writing for her blog. My name’s Chris, I’m quite lazy when it comes to running. So lazy in fact that I’ve only done seven runs in six months, since I was ‘inspired’ to run by watching the amazing Eddie Izzard run round the country on TV. And that’s why she calls me Lazy Chris.

I’m aiming to run at least once a week with a Not-So Lazy guy called Not-So Lazy Andy, who is faster than me and only runs from the knees downwards. It’s quite an impressive technique to behold!
Anyway, introductions over.
We went running together for the first time last weekend and it made me realise that Andy is much faster than me. As a bloke I could not admit I was slower than Andy, or, heaven forbid, ask him to slow down, so I had to try my best to keep up with him as we sped round Victoria Park.
It was kind of like being dragged along behind a car, if that car only went at about 7mph, which they probably have to in Victoria Park come to think of it…
Victoria Park is big. Really big. It’s about 2½ miles to do a lap and that’s what we managed on Sunday in just under 25 mins. I thought that was quite a big achievement, but what is quite daunting is that that’s less than half of what we’ll have to run in May, so I think we’ll have to become a lot less lazy over the next six months if we’re to complete the 10k in under an hour, which is our target.
The positive I did take from it is that running with someone who is slightly more athletic than you is a really helpful way to push yourself and make you try that extra bit harder just to keep up.
Alright, I think I’ll leave it there, as Lucy’s ramblings are much more interesting, but I hope this has given you all a fun glimpse into some of the supporting characters in Lucy’s running odyssey. If it hasn’t, then you can have a picture of Victoria Park instead.”

Wednesday Was Yesterday…

… And I went running.

I ran one mile, but due to calf cramps, a painful hip and a massive MASSIVE stitch I ran the slightly shorter – exactly one mile – route.

I figured perhaps it was a combination of things like, dehydration, not having eaten much, the freezing cold and the hip thing was definitely from sitting really really really weirdly in my lecture.

Anyway all that moaning aside I DID go running and I DID run a whole entire mile. So it’s still a win.

So that was my day, and in the evening I had orchestra. What has that got to do with running and exorcise I hear you ask, well let me tell you that right now. Absolutely NOTHING at all!! But after orchestra I had to unwind as it had been a LONG three hours. So after Orchestra I headed to the SU bar and that was when I did my next work out for the day. So here were the ‘keep fit’ steps I took to ensure that the night at the Union was a complete workout FEST.

1. Walking from the college building to the Union
2. Walking to the bar
3. Lifting a pint (x4 or 5)
4. Wearing not just one but Eight hats, I imagine that this somehow helps your… neck? muscles.
5. Both singing and yelling very loudly. Probably helps some kind of stomach muscles.
6. And obviously, and most importantly, dancing the night away.

And what I am now thinking is that perhaps instead of running every week, I should just party at the Union, I have a feeling it is just as good for me… Thoughts on that?

With nothing much else to say I will leave you with a photo that I stole from my good friend and orchestra section leader, ‘The Welsh Viola Player’ of myself, the timp player and Toboe Oboe mid work out session last night. And also I have an update from Lazy Chris which I shall be uploading soon.

Hats at the Union - Taken and Owned by Jess

Hello Again

Good Evening. First off I disappeared fr the past week because the internet was BROKEN, and I am not convinced it is back for good, but it is temporarily here so I am taking advantage of that until it goes again.

Last Wednesday I did go running, and with my new and improved running playlist of terrible contemporary songs, I ran 0.6 miles before taking a walking break. And because that was ages ago I don’t remember the entire run so I won’t bore you with details of that.

On Friday I did not go running because my little sister came to London to stay for the weekend, but this afternoon I got back to it and went running again. I tried to put it off at first by watching The Time Travellers Wife, and then by eating Sandwiches, then by washing up, anyway eventually there was nothing more I could do so I whacked on the playlist and went running.

Today’s run was the best run since probably the big Sport Relief Run in… whenever that was. I did one ENTIRE mile before I stopped, and walked for a short distance before finishing the last 0.15 miles. I was pretty pleased with it, and even more pleased when I got the internet back and discovered how far it was.

Today I ran with the tuneful accompaniments of Cheryl Cole, Travie  McCoy,Little Boots,  Eliza Doolittle and Beyonce. And together we made it all the way to one mile!!!

Anyway I am sure there is much more I could say, but just in case the internet fails again I will not say any more. Except that with one mile completed successfully I hope to run two sometime soon!!

Oh and I have no update as of yet from LAZY CHRIS, except that he felt guilty last Monday. I will get on him, and Not-so-active Andy, to see what they have been up to.

Back To Work…

Well as you may or may not have noticed I have in fact been rather absent for about two weeks. There is no real reason for this, other than I just didn’t go running for two weeks. Because I didn’t want to. Because it was cold, and wet, and dark, and dreary, and blah. You know what I’m talking about I am sure. ANYWAY even though it was still most of those things today I decided that it was high time I got back to it and with that in my mind I finally got active again and went running.

My initial plan had been to go running this morning, but instead I went to see the Royal Gun Salute with my Dad over in Hyde park. That was pretty cool, and also quite deafening. Now I know that that is nothing to do with running, and this blog is everything to do with running, but I will share it with you anyway.

We met over at Marble Arch at quarter to twelve and then walked over to Hyde Park, after some deliberation on the best position to be we chose left and found the rest of the small crowd who were already gathered for the occasion. Today’s specific gun firing was due to Prince Charles’ birthday so as you can imagine the place was heaving with people. There were literally tens of people standing around and waiting for things to get started. Tens of people and a chilly looking marching band playing away.

It wasn’t all that long before the horses and the guns appeared to a chorus of bugle calls and muddy spray. They set the guns up and only one of the soldier people fell off their horse. So that’s got to be good right? And then they fired 41 – I think – rounds towards Buckingham Palace. And also towards the Winter Wonderland and the, perhaps by this point scared, people who were setting up there. If they weren’t scared I am very impressed because the closest guns to us made me jump every single time they were fired, even though I knew exactly when they were going to go BANG. That is how loud they were, I mean you could literally feel every single one go right through you. Although the geese circling overhead weren’t scared at all so perhaps the Winter Wonderland folk are also made of sterner stuff!

When they finished with their noisy guns the horses came back, picked up the guns, and they disappeared once more. Then the marching band finally got marching and went off towards the Palace, although that is a guess, they could have been going anywhere. I thought that for the millions of you reading this who weren’t there I would share some pictures with you so you too could enjoy the Royal Gun Salute.

Anyway I did this, and then I came home and then I finally went running. Perhaps I was spurred on by my meeting on Saturday with Supportive Helen and Lazy Chris. Spurred on by Helen as she was in fact supportive, and spurred on by Lazy Chris as he has not done so much running so as long as I got back to running then I would at least beat his training record, and then it won’t matter when he and Not So Active Andy beat us on the big day!!

So I set of at about 3:55, and then I had forgotten a crucial piece of running attire so I went back home, put it on, and then left again at 4:10. I decided by the second time I set off that I would mix things up a little and run the route… BACKWARDS… and I did. The run was actually pretty good. As well can all pretty much guess I didn’t do it all one go, but that’s fine. I did the 1.2 mile run in 15 minutes, which I feel is acceptable, pretty much in line with other runs so contrary to popular belief I am in fact NOT going backwards, I am at the very least just staying still!

Today I finally ran with music again as I brought some new headphones!! Today’s music choice was not good, I just let iPod go wild and do whatever it wanted, but it’s a start, and for next time I will make a playlist full of banging running tunes so that I can feel uplifted and invincible for my entire run. Which will OF COURSE be later this week.

That is all I have to share with you today, oh other than my very important piece of news, which is that I am currently persuading Lazy Chris to write an update on his training for me so you can see how the rest of the team is getting along.