My Training Journal
The Start of My Marathon Training... Although I Didn't Know It Yet!
Friday 4th July 14Gentle strolling around Lixouri and Argostoli. The marathon plans had not been cooked up yet at this stage, but it was going to be the last day that I weighed over 17 stones.
---------------------------------------------------
Saturday 5th July 14
Visited Antisamos - a stunning beach. Love it here. Did some swimming, hired a pedalo which is a great way to exercise on holiday!
---------------------------------------------------
Sunday 6th July 14
First visit to Sissia Beach. It took me 25 minutes to walk down the Cliffside, and almost 55 minutes to walk back up. I thought I was going to die. I had to stop every few yards, I was hot and very unfit. I thought my head was going to explode when I eventually got back to the car. I was very upset that he had seen me like this. I think something clicked in my head at that point.
---------------------------------------------------
Monday 7th July 14
We did Ainos today - it was pretty amazing. We parked by the masts and climbed all the way to the top of the summit and signed the visitor book there. I felt so happy at the top and the views are to die for. Its easier to be healthy here in Greece. I never reach for the butter and although I eat some chocolate, its not in the quantity I do in England.
----------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 8th July 14
Walked to Mounda Beach, not by road but along the dirt tracks, no mean feat I tell you.
We even saw a couple of slithering snakes! It was hot, humid and hard going. I did it
without any complaint. We never discussed my fitness out loud as such, it was like he
could read my mind. He knew I wanted help to get fit, I didn't have to ask, and he didn't have to tell me he would help. I just knew that is what he was doing after my embarrassment on Sunday.
----------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 9th July 14
Sissia Beach again today - he even had the bright idea of parking further up the hill so we had further to walk back. It was a quick descent but another slow ascent.
----------------------------------------------------
Thursday 10th July 14
Rest day today - my poor legs!
----------------------------------------------------
Friday 11th July 14
Another ascent up to Mount Ainos but this time from a different view. We didn't spot the
wild horses but we made it up into the forest. Its a really beautiful place and I feel lucky
to have discovered all this with a truly wonderful and inspiring man.
----------------------------------------------------
Saturday 12th July 14
Walked to Mounda today, but it felt like walking to the moon. He took me the even more scenic route a coastal path full of brambles and we got lost on the way back - or was that part of his cunning plan to make me walk farther!?
----------------------------------------------------
Sunday 13th July 14
Atros Monastery - this was the big turning point at the beginning of my journey. I was told it was a 4.5km walk up a gentle hill to the monastery. Well the Greek and English version of the word 'gentle' appear to differ somewhat! We made it to the masts around a half of the way up said gentle hill, and I had a total tantrum. I couldn't do it. I threw my water
bottle, kicked the ground, like a spoilt little child. I am surprised he stood for it. He
offered to walk back down and we could do it another time. As the words 'No! I want to
carry on to the top' left my mouth, they even surprised myself, but me being me, there was no way it was going to beat me. Well up we climbed, and wow. What a view. I hugged him tightly for giving me the encouragement and support all the way up there. The rest was all downhill!!
----------------------------------------------------
Rest day today - my poor legs!
----------------------------------------------------
Friday 11th July 14
Another ascent up to Mount Ainos but this time from a different view. We didn't spot the
wild horses but we made it up into the forest. Its a really beautiful place and I feel lucky
to have discovered all this with a truly wonderful and inspiring man.
----------------------------------------------------
Saturday 12th July 14
Walked to Mounda today, but it felt like walking to the moon. He took me the even more scenic route a coastal path full of brambles and we got lost on the way back - or was that part of his cunning plan to make me walk farther!?
----------------------------------------------------
Sunday 13th July 14
Atros Monastery - this was the big turning point at the beginning of my journey. I was told it was a 4.5km walk up a gentle hill to the monastery. Well the Greek and English version of the word 'gentle' appear to differ somewhat! We made it to the masts around a half of the way up said gentle hill, and I had a total tantrum. I couldn't do it. I threw my water
bottle, kicked the ground, like a spoilt little child. I am surprised he stood for it. He
offered to walk back down and we could do it another time. As the words 'No! I want to
carry on to the top' left my mouth, they even surprised myself, but me being me, there was no way it was going to beat me. Well up we climbed, and wow. What a view. I hugged him tightly for giving me the encouragement and support all the way up there. The rest was all downhill!!
----------------------------------------------------
Monday 14th July 14
Sissia Beach again - I first noticed my performance change here. We did the up hill in 30 minutes!! A massive improvement on the 55 minutes it took on the first ascent!
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 15th July 14
Picking onions in the mid day heat!!
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 16th July 14
Only a small walk today. We visited Koroni Beach. On the scooter, a hair raising experience in itself to get the heart pumping! But plenty of swimming and a sand fit to keep up the exercise. The waves in the sea were awesome.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Thursday 17th July 14
Flew back from Kefalonia today, only to be greeted by my lovely mum as a surprise. She knew how upset I would be and was lovely to see a familiar face at the airport
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Friday 18th July 14
30 minutes on treadmill at a pace of between 5.0 and 5.5 kmph
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Saturday 19th July 14
10 minute walk on treadmill, 15 minutes on cross trainer, 10 minutes on bike
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Sunday 20th July 14
30 minutes of swimming
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Monday 21st July 14
15 minutes on treadmill walking at around 5.5kmph, 30 minutes on cross trainer
-----------------------------------------------
Tuesday 22nd July 14
Rest day
-----------------------------------------------
Wednesday 23rd July 14
15 minutes walking on the treadmill and 15 minutes on the bike at the gym
-----------------------------------------------
Thursday 24th July 14
Managed an hour at the gym today. I started a programme called Couch 2 5 K. I will put a link for it in my Blog. It's a programme you download to your Ipod that teaches you to run 5km in just 9 weeks. So, this couch potato is putting it to the test. What to expect? Well Week 1 you do a 5 minute fast pace warm up to get your heart rate pumping. Then ensues a session of 60 seconds of light jogging, 90 seconds of walking. This is repeated over and over for the duration of the half hour workout. Its free, but its certainly not easy, well not for someone like me that is out of breath climbing a flight of stairs! Lets see how I get on.15 minutes on treadmill walking at around 5.5kmph, 30 minutes on cross trainer
-----------------------------------------------
Tuesday 22nd July 14
Rest day
-----------------------------------------------
Wednesday 23rd July 14
15 minutes walking on the treadmill and 15 minutes on the bike at the gym
-----------------------------------------------
Thursday 24th July 14
-----------------------------------------------
Friday 25th July 14
Started the 30 day shred DVD today. Gillian Michaels of America's biggest loser fame promises great results in just 20 minutes a day, however, it is 20 minutes of pure hard sweaty work. No such thing as a free lunch hey? Day of rest from the Couch to 5k. You have to have a day rest in between.
-----------------------------------------------
Saturday 26th July 14
Double whammy today. A session of the 30 day shred, well I'm off to see my hot greek
boyfriend in 4 weeks, and also an hour at the gym. I increased my running speed from 6kmph to 7kmph. Small steps on the road to success! So 20 minutes of Cardio, Strength
and Abs. Followed by 30 minutes of couch 2 5k week 1, 15 minutes on bike and 15 minutes on the cross trainer!
-----------------------------------------------
Sunday 27th July 14
Rest day today! After yesterday's killer session my muscles are sore and achy! But no pain,
no gain!! I have dramatically changed my diet and regularly eat brown rice, chicken, fish and vegetables and have cut back on the fizzy pop, bread and butter.
-----------------------------------------------
Monday 28th July 14
Dare I say I missed exercising yesterday, but today I totally lack motivation. That is until I received a special email from a very special person in my life. I am now dressed and ready to spend an hour at the gym burning calories and increasing my endurance, well marathons won't run themselves... will they? Its also the last day of my week 1 couch to 5k! I am moving on to Week 2 on Wednesday.
------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 29th July 14
Today was my nephew Robbies birthday and we held an ad-hoc BBQ to celebrate hugs 10th birthday. Needless to say I did not make the gym this evening. I was careful of my food, and limited my intake on the bread and carbs, but I did have a slice of birthday cake!!
------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 30th July 14
Started Week 2 of the couch 2 5k running programme/podcast and am almost a stone lighter. I have started this podcast around 8 times over the past two years and have always given up after the first or second run. You know that feeling when your lungs feel like they will burst? Well I felt like that after only 30 seconds of running! I'm proud that I have made it to Week 2. This week, after another 5 minute brisk warm up, you alternate the running between 90 seconds of running and 120 seconds of fast walking. The podcast tells you when to switch so it tajes the pressure off you. I would be lying if I said I found this one easy and being honest, I wanted to stop after 10 minutes, but no, I thought of all the reasons I was doing this and worked through the sweat and the burning sensation in my calves and got to the end. I felt elated. I cannot remember the last time I was able to run like this.
-------------------------------------------------
Thursday 31st July 14
They say you are more likely to succeed when you train with a friend or partner. Well, I definitely wouldn't have made today's session without the thought of my aunts angry face at letting her down at the gym. So I resisted the urge to hit snooze at my 6.15am alarm, awoke, tamed my bed head and met her at the gym for an early morning Bodypump session. By varying my workout, I've been told I will constantly challenge my body. Bodypump is a high intensity workout using weights and cardio. The joy of group exercise is you feel such a loser if you walk out halfway, it makes you stay in class. Believe me, after 15 minutes though, the door was looking a pretty good option. I stayed though and was on a natural high for the rest of the day. I will be making this a regular session.
-------------------------------------------------
Friday 1st August 14
I went for another early morning gym session today to carry on with the week 2 podcast. I am visiting my friend this weekend, so I imagine tomorrow will be a day of rest!
-------------------------------------------------
Saturday 2nd August 14
I had a day off today, but did a lot of walking around Gloucestershire and Hereforsdhire, including the lovely Symonds Yat! Beautiful.
--------------------------------------------------
Sunday 3rd August 14
I carried on and finished the last run of week 2. I wonder what the next week's session will bring!
--------------------------------------------------
Monday 4th August 14
I swam 100km today in about 25 minutes. This included a pause for breath and a few swimmers getting in my way! There is always room for improvement though.
--------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 5th August 14
Today I started Week 3 of the Podcast. Three minutes of solid running! Ouch! But, I didn't give up! I did it and feeling very very pleased with myself.
--------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 6th August 14
Rest day
--------------------------------------------------
Thursday 7th August 14
Week 3, Run 2 of Podcast and 30 minutes of fast peddling on the excercise bikes!
--------------------------------------------------------
Friday 8th August 14
Rest day - my nephew Alex's birthday!
-------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 09th August 14
Purchased my new Saucony Omni 13 trainers today from Sutton Runner, a really helpful and friendly triathlon shop in Birmingham, so I had to take them out for a test ride. I completed Run 3 of Week 3 podcast in style!
---------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 10th August 14
1 hour of Body Attack at the gym!
----------------------------------------------------
Monday 11th August 14
Mammoth exercise day today. I started with Week 4 of the podcast. For the first time, you do more walking than running! No mean feat for a beginner I assure you. Then in the evening, I went to the gym and did a bone hour body pump class followed 50 minutes of Pilates. I am going to definitely know about this tomorrow.
----------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 12th August 14
Typing is an effort today - resting! See you all tomorrow
-----------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 13th August 14
Well after yesterday resting, my arms are still in spasm! I think I overdid it on Monday. I managed Run 2 of Week 4 of the Couch 2 5k though, so I am still on track. Its hard as the
running duration has increased and the walking has decreased. I dread to think what Week 5 holds. Stay posted guys!!
--------------------------------------------
Thursday 14th August 14
Got to my gym and body attack was cancelled. I was on massive adrenalin rush for it too. I ended up doing a yoga class instead which I found really interesting. It also helps core strength. Although my breathing is much better when running, my calves are still feeling the burn. I'm still trying to lose weight too, so an all round exercise programme will definitely help.
------------------------------------------
Friday 15 August 14
Run 3 of week 4 and all is well! My mum came with me for moral support and took pictures for my blog. I really enjoyed tonight's run.
-----------------------------------------
Saturday 16 August 14
I'm in holiday mode now, so I spent the day shopping, I'm sure I burned some calories!
--------------------------------------
Sunday 17 August 14
Back at the gym to do week 5. Was disappointed as the gym closed early due to refurbishment and as this week involves a lot of running, I was hoping to do it on the treadmill. I ended up venturing to the local park, and did 3 sessions of 5 minute runs with 3 minute rest periods in between. I couldn't believe I did it!
---------------------------------------
Monday 18 August 14
Rest day and packing today - did I tell you I was going back to Kefalonia? :)
---------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 19 August 14
Wow, today's challenge was the biggest yet. Week 5, run 2 meant 2 x 8 minute runs with a 5 minute rest in between. I did not think I had the strength to do this at all. Once again I proved myself wrong and stepped up to the challenge. Yes I felt like I was going to die, but the most important thing was that I kept pushing and didn't give up. I always feel quite emotional when I do things like this.
----------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 20 August
Had some last minute bits to do before my holiday! So no training.
-----------------------------------------------------
Thursday 21 August
Rest day
-----------------------------------------------------
Friday 22 August
Rest day
------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 23 August
It's 35 degrees at 7pm here in Kefalonia, but I managed a run. I went back to run 1 of week 5 because of the heat. I managed it, but it was really tough. I'm not used to exercising in this heat. To top it off I'm on antibiotics for a chest infection, so need to be careful.
----------------------------------------------------
Sunday 24 August 14
Struggled to do 5k in 49 minutes :( Not feeling great at all.
------------------------------------------
Monday 25 August - 17 September 14
The weather is really humid at this time in Kefalonia. I attempted a couple of runs again after my course of antibiotics and found it a real struggle. The Doctor advised me to stop running for the meantime as it would do more harm than good. This has been a real set back for me as stopping running for almost four weeks really set me back in my goals.
-----------------------------------------
20 September 14
Tried to go running now I am back home in the UK. It feels like its the first time I have ran. I am very nervous as I have my first 5k run next week, people have sponsored me for charity and I do not want to let anyone down.
---------------------------------------
21 September 14
I woke up to a nice sun shiney day, but I felt sick with nerves. Today was my first ever race and all of my training had lead up to this point. I did not feel that I could do it though as I had a big set back in my training regime in Kefalonia. I thought to myself that as long as I finish the race I will be okay. I have done a post in my main blog to let you know how I got on!
---------------------------------------
22 - 27 September 14
Took it easy during this period. I was busy with my new job and was not getting the time to myself in order to train.
--------------------------------------
29 September 14
Still no training due to really early starts and late finishes in my new job. Missing all of the starts of the gym classes too due to the commute time
------------------------------------
October - November 14
With an upcoming visit to Kefalonia, Athens and Ilias moving to the UK for winter, my training really took a back seat, which goes to prove that no ones journey is smooth. Sometimes we need to focus on our other goals. It was easy in the summer as the time training helped ease the time I was apart from Ilias, but at the moment I cannot seem to balance everything going on in my life :(
-------------------------------------
December 14
I can write this month off training too. Ilias came over and although we go for long walks in the countryside, the cold weather is not conducive to my training regime. Its December to so I am on Xmas meltdown. The New Year will be time to kick start my schedule.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WELCOME TO 2015 - THE YEAR OF CHANGE & CHALLENGE
W/C 5th January 15
No more excuses, this year is the real make or break for me. I am happy to say I am 3 stone lighter than this time last year, so I feel I have made a massive change to my life and I would encourage any of you reading this and thinking that you would love to do something to change your weight or fitness. You can do and your dream is out there, but only you can change it. I am moving to Greece in 5 days, so have been frantically running around, carting furniture putting my life into boxes and being an emotional wreck and although is not healthy, it is great for weight loss!
W/C 12 January 15
I am now in Athens and can start to relax a bit and think about my goals for the year ahead. There are a few running events I would like to take part in this year in Kefalonia but I need to put the effort in if I am to do these. In Athens, we have been doing a lot of walking which you can read about in the main blog - in preparation for the training to kick in again when we get to the island on 17 January.
W/C 19 January 15
We arrived in Kefalonia on 17 January and I started my training plan on the 18th January. This week will see me complete Week 1 of the Couch to 5k app again - and on the days inbetween I have done some strenous walking for a minimum of 90 minutes. I am trying to be careful with what I eat - although I can always be better. Its Muesli with skimmed milk for breakfast and a banana after my excercise. I gained only around 5 pounds over the period I did not exercise last year, which is not bad taking into consideration the Xmas and New Year period!
W/C 26 January 15
This week I started a dance aerobic class to add some more cross training into the mix. The 10k is looming closer and I still cannot run the full distance without stopping. I have carried on with my couch 2 5k app, but I think I am better than I realise and the app is holding me back. I love the app and its encouragement, but I think that I use it as a comfort zone - Ilias agrees. I complete the weeks training anyway and take a think about my training plan. My eating has not been overly healthy with cakes sneaking their way in to my daily diet! But life is about fun also.
W/C 2 February 15
This week, I continued with Week 3 of the couch to 5k. Again I am doubting that I should have gone this far back in my running schedule. I have done some serious walking this week, ranging from 15km to 17km to gain stamina and strengthen my calf muscles. I attended aerobics again and enjoyed the socializing aspect of it also, running can get lonely!
W/C 9 February 15
I have decided to ditch the training app and go freestyle. I think that I can run longer and am advanced on the weeks, but I am using it as an excuse not to run so far. I am almost sabotaging my own training! Sounds crazy, but it can happen. I am working on 5k, 10k and 12k distance and trying to increase my running every day. Lets see how this works!
W/C 16 February 15
I am more confident in my running ability this week. It feels like I can push myself further, although I had a complete wobble yesterday and I nearly gave up all together. We can look over that, I am sure even the elitist have bad days. I am concentrating more on technique at the moment too to ensure that I do not get injuries.
W/C 26 January 15
This week I started a dance aerobic class to add some more cross training into the mix. The 10k is looming closer and I still cannot run the full distance without stopping. I have carried on with my couch 2 5k app, but I think I am better than I realise and the app is holding me back. I love the app and its encouragement, but I think that I use it as a comfort zone - Ilias agrees. I complete the weeks training anyway and take a think about my training plan. My eating has not been overly healthy with cakes sneaking their way in to my daily diet! But life is about fun also.
W/C 2 February 15
This week, I continued with Week 3 of the couch to 5k. Again I am doubting that I should have gone this far back in my running schedule. I have done some serious walking this week, ranging from 15km to 17km to gain stamina and strengthen my calf muscles. I attended aerobics again and enjoyed the socializing aspect of it also, running can get lonely!
W/C 9 February 15
I have decided to ditch the training app and go freestyle. I think that I can run longer and am advanced on the weeks, but I am using it as an excuse not to run so far. I am almost sabotaging my own training! Sounds crazy, but it can happen. I am working on 5k, 10k and 12k distance and trying to increase my running every day. Lets see how this works!
W/C 16 February 15
I am more confident in my running ability this week. It feels like I can push myself further, although I had a complete wobble yesterday and I nearly gave up all together. We can look over that, I am sure even the elitist have bad days. I am concentrating more on technique at the moment too to ensure that I do not get injuries.
Comments
Post a Comment