Phew! What a weekend!

Busy, busy, busy!

Well, Friday, I went into work (as I was working all day it meant I couldn't go to the gym, which cos its a small independent gym only opens 8.30am to 4pm on a Friday. Yeah, I know. Madness.) to find that Big Boss Man had visited the store, just his own Big Boss Man did not accompany him. Thank Goodness we stayed behind to make the store Magritte-esque! We got 96% in our store evaluation, hurrah!

Actually had a lot of fun at work on Friday... not only was there a lotta work to be done (makes the day pass more quickly) but also the customers were fun for a change too... not one of them was rude or in a bad mood...in fact some of the blokes were quite flirty... must be something to do with the sunshine, and the area where the shop is has a lot of passing trade from the lucky people who finish at 3pm on a Friday, oh, and it was pay-day!

Walked to work on Saturday (about 35mins, at 4.0ish mph) , because again, the gym isn't open on weekends. pah! So also walked home. Hate not doing exercise of some kind everyday. Even walking makes me feel better. Stopped off at the supermarket on the way home, and saw the guy *GG* that I've kinda had a crush on for a decade. He waved at me. I waved back. it was all very nerdy. made me smile tho. Then I talked to *GFS* a guy that everyone in my town knows, because he is unique (hmm, that sounds better than it is!).

But all the excitement was saved for today when I found out my friend *L* is pregnant! Yay! so excited for her! She's done everything the "right" way too..... went to uni.... got a career.... got married.... and is now having a baby. Fab! Well done *L*!

So, *E* comes back from Reading Festival tomorrow... hopefully with some fab photos that I can post. Think Tuesday will be spent shopping and at the gym... yay! We can finally get some running done! Oh yeah, and Starbucks, hehe!

TaTa
*H*

Technology sucks!

Ok... I have an admission to make... I didn't run yesterday.... and I feel bad!

was planning to.... but.....

got kept back at work to prepare for "Big Boss Man's" visit..... only for him to phone late to say he wouldn't be making it to check out the store.

My main job yesterday was to scale death-defying heights to obtain "donkey cards" and to cover blocks with patchwork newspaper. Yes, I know.... very technical. Gawd, work turns my brain to jelly, can't wait for university to start again! Actually, the newspaper thing was quite fun.

By the end of the day, with everyone doing random jobs like that (my deputy painted the white fitting rooms....white.....again. Madness, no?) the store looked good, and dare I say it: quite artistic! businessy-man, very much in the style of Magritte, but obviously, less magical! (and no bowler hats). Its nice to go into work and feel good about the presentation of it!

Anywho, all that kneeling on the floor in funny angles yesterday did something to my ankle (or so I thought last night) but when I woke this morning my ankle was fine but I'd pulled a muscle in my thigh. Boo hiss! But I was naughty in a good way and went to the gym today anyway....

planned just on 10 minutes running cos I thought my leg would hurt... but I had no pain so kept on going.... for 35minutes (hurrah) . Not looking at the counter until 23minutes meant that I had no idea that my mileage and calories weren't being counted. hmm, nevermind, wait till I finish and it'll say.

erm.

nope.

god knows what button needs to be pressed (there are only 6) but none of them told me. then I pressed a couple in sequence and the screen went blank. grr! Technology hates me!

anywho, all was not lost cos I knew I was running at 5.8mph (sooper-slow, I know) so I covered 3.3miles.... yay! Small victories! Thought I'd take it easy on the elliptical, and do work on muscles other than quads, and I made sure I stretched well, so hopefully my leg will be no worse, or maybe even sorted out! Feels good now.

It's oh so quiet here at the mo too..... *E* has whisked herself off to Reading Festival and won't be back till late Monday. Fine. Leave me here then. Tsk!

Now, how to keep myself occupied and outta trouble for four days..... hmmm?

*I will get better*
TaTa *H*

Much weirdness with the moisturiser

Hmm, I tested a new moisturiser on my face last night.

woke up this morning.....

much weirdness!

like I'd painted a fine layer of PVC school glue over my face, I have a strange peely mask thing.

that's NOT supposed to happen

Don't like it. Well... peeling it off is quite fun..... but can't be doing with this every morning! Jeez!

back to Olay. tsk!


Anyhow, on the running front! Oh my word, I love!

so, Thursday I ran 3.15miles, yeah? yeah! and was so excited! Friday, I ran.... got to 0.5 miles and needed the loo, but kept goin till 2.0 miles, when, y'know, really needed the loo (damn the squash I drank!) and thought it was a sensible place to pause. Then ran the extra 1.1miles to make the 5K. There is dispute in the house about whether this counts or not..... I say not... *E* says it counts cos it's not like I stopped for a cup of tea and a magazine, I stopped cos I needed to stop for a good reason! I see her point, but I don't think on such a short run it counts.

Monday: *E* came to the gym with me. I soooooo wasn't in the mood for running, but went anyway. Even when I stood on the treadmill I thought, "nope, don't wanna" but I did. Ran for 2.85 miles (forgot my time) cos *E* wanted to up it from 2.7 but didn't want to stress her knee out.... think she's gonna need to get a support brace..... so we going for a slow increase each time she runs with me.

*Timewarp*: back to Thursday. Went out Thursday night with my brother *J* and my Dad for my Dad's belated birthday celebration. Went to an all-you-can-eat Indian restaurant. Normally I don't like this type of restaurant cos it puts a weird psychological pressure on me to eat too much (the more you eat, the more economical it is!), and with Indian food its a nightmare, cos its sooooo nice but sooooo bad for me! The only genius thing about it is its self-serve, and laid out in a canteen style, so you get to have a lil bit of several different dishes. Magic. So, managed to control myself relatively.... and dessert there is good.... fruit, jelly, and suspicious rice-pudding, which looks like tuna-mayo, but tastes yummy.

Saturday was also party day.... this time my niece's 4th birthday party... within 2 minutes of arriving I had jam on my jeans from sticky hugs from her. I managed to arrive after most of the kids had gone home (I had work, I swear!) so it was fairly quiet, thank goodness! I cannot believe my niece is four already. Makes me feel old! My sister-in-law is looking fab cos she's been on the Lighter Life programme, which combines (in my view) a seriously low low-cal diet, with therapy sessions so that you learn about your relationship with food. Part of me thinks its a bit quackery, but the results she has achieved are amazing, and I guess if it works.....

Sunday: went to a different town to the one that we normally venture out to on a Sunday. The one we normally visit means *E* and I can get in 45 minutes of walking to and from it, plus walking around it, which means we get exercise as well as having fun shopping (genius!). This other town is 6 miles away in the other direction, which would take 1.5 hours in each direction, and considering the shops only open 10am(or 11am)-4pm it seemed like too far to walk, so we caught the bus (£3.25 return each, Holy Cow! Maybe we should have walked....)

Therefore after watching Dirty Dancing on DVD when we came home, we did an exercise video (Rosemary Conley: Shape up and salsacise!). *I really must point out that Rosemary is a star when it comes to weightloss... her really easy plan of low-fat food, calorie limits and recommended exercise have helped me lose and maintain my weight for ages now* BUT.... think *E* and I have got to a fitness level past her DVD range... when she said happily "now you're in the real fat burning zone" *E* and I glanced at each other and said "don't think so".... and this was after doing the first two sessions back to back, and literally jumping the moves. Pants. So we're going to try a Nell McAndrew DVD.... she's a fitness demon!

Anywho, back to real-time.... Its Tuesday, and I have tons of jobs to do today....I really want to fit in the gym too (who am I trying to kid?!... in reality it's my priority!). *E* has gone to Chichester shopping with her mum, so i'll be on my lonesome, probably distracting myself with the "in my pants" game.

*I will get better*
TaTa *H*

Running up that hill... In my pants.

It's a game (before you ask!).

You pick a song title.... then add "in my pants" after. Yes, it's juvenile... but hey! it keeps me distracted while running! Obviously if you're British its more childish, cos "pants" are undies here (in a cheeky kinda way!).... whereas i guess its less fun for Americans or Aussies. Tsk!

anyway, i just got back from the gym... literally grabbed a drink and had to blog cos.....

i ran 3.15 miles (32:35).... I'm so excited! That's a 5K run! In one go! hurrah!

I owe this small victory to the "in my pants game", "Voodoo Child" by The Rogue Traders, and "Promiscuous" by Nelly Fertado (which reminds me of Bolder ,who just doesn't quit, anything! and played the video on his site a few weeks ago)

Plus, added bonus... i got my bike fixed, so now i am no longer riding with the brakes on. Its so much easier. Suprisingly. D'oh!

*i will get better*
TaTa *H*

So the weekend didn't hurt too much, yay!

On Monday, i ran 2.7miles, with *E*'s help! we planned to do 2.6 (slowly, slowly, catchy monkey!) but did 2.7 for some reason... not sure why, because we're trying to follow a plan, but hey-ho! *E* was like "ok, so lets do 2.7" (yep i was in shock! but figured, while she is in the mood to run, run!)

Tuesday... *E* went to the gym in the morning due to a sorta date in the afternoon (alright for some!), while i decided to clear out some junk from the living-room before gymming it in the afternoon. The amount of "stuff" that i aquire is obscene... need to de-junk!

My running machine felt kinda weird, the belt felt like it was snagging or something so my run was a bit odd...

2.0miles at 6.0mph, walked for 0.15miles (3.8mph) ran to 2.50 (6.3mph) walked for 0.03 (got scared the belt was stopping!)... then ran to 3.1o miles (33.22ish i think)....

....cos i had to check the belt was moving properly... which it seemed to be at the end, but i told the gym guy anyway.

So, not sure how/if that is an improvement... so I'm gonna count it as 2.7miles like yesterday, just to keep me sane!

I'm aiming for 2.7 miles again tomorrow night, even though i said last week I'd keep this week the same.

I have a meeting with my project manager tomorrow morning.... I'm hoping he's gonna tell me everything i need to know to prepared fairly quickly so that i can start at least by the beginning of September. Think its gonna take a fair bit of work, and the more i can do before the new semester, the better! gives me lots of faffing time!

*I will get better*
TaTa *H*

The weekend blunder...

Thinking this weekend might lead to a bit of a set-back!

Friday: Out for uni-friend's brother's birthday.... mucho fun.... mucho drinks..... oh dear! does two hours of dancing equal out so many alco-calories?! i hope so.....

Anyway, during the night *E* and i were talking to one of the guys there (an army-guy), and i mentioned the possibility of triathalons in the future (obviously I'm not quite ready yet!!!!) and they both laughed(!) and said only crazy fit people (like pro-fit) do them (which, y'know, i get you have to be fit... but i read blogs of people who have families, hold down full-time jobs and what-not and still find time to train and compete.... its not like its not possible) and it got me thinking.... how many people would do this kind of thing if only they hadn't convinced themselves its not possible?! Its not like I'd win or anything, but i think it'd be fun! What's wrong with ambition?!

Saturday: well, didn't get home till 3am... So slept till 9am..... threw my whole day out. I'm a slave to routine apparently! Who knew?! Got not much done (and there was a whole list of to-do's, bother!) didn't get my bike sorted either.... Guess that's today's job! Did go for a longish walk tho, just to get my body moving! Was meant to go to the cinema in the evening, but was too tired to stay awake for a whole film!

Sunday: up at 5.30am discussing with my friend *P* whether we should do a car-boot sale in the rain or not.... decided not.... people don't tend to buy when its raining, and our stuff would get wet! Went back to sleep till 9am (dammit- routine out again!) *E* and I met up with *P* for lunch and shopping (so far so good) then we visited our old regular pub which has been re-furbed.... (this is where it goes downhill). Had a coupla drinks.... then went for a pub-meal (oh, pants... pasta in white wine sauce, and garlic bread... no, no, no, no, no! And pudding ...nooooo!)

so, this week: focusing on trying to burn off the ridiculous amount of calories consumed over the weekend. Grr! So bad!

TaTa *H*

Can't quite believe it

Hey! I've run 12.5 miles this week (5 sessions of 2.5 each) which I know to most of you runner types is like... one... or two normal runs? Well, go on, snigger away, I don't mind...

but for me....

its great!

I love... the fact I've done 12.5 miles..... L...O...V...E it!

gonna stick with that distance next week too....... then I'm gonna up it to 15 miles.... I've bet myself I can do it!

Today's run was good, got to 2.32miles without looking at the counter and it was all feeling pretty comfortable.... small pain in my left ankle made itself known at the start, but was gone within 90 seconds, so couldn't have been serious eh? pretty certain I could have gone to 3.0 miles today, but I will not overdo it! might try it next week tho..... *I will get better*

can't wait for the day when its normal to go out for my 8 mile daily run.......

TaTa *H*

I've been soooo good!

Wednesday: went to the gym with *E* and yet again ran 2.5 miles. hurrah! *E* ran 2 cos she's having trouble with her knee.... Maybe needs one of those tube support things.....

Thursday: went to the gym on my own (*E* wanted to rest her knee, wise girl!) was worried that I wouldn't have the motivation to run on my own for that long.... much easier when there is some one to gasp-chit-chat to. But I ran 2.5miles (25.54minutes) although at 2.30miles I thought my legs were made of lead.

Think I'll try for 2.5miles tomorrow, and all next week and see if I can increase it the week after that. Half the battle is not looking at the counter..... madness!

maybe *E* and I will be ready for a 5K sometime in October. I think we could safely do it now, but we really don't want to be last, even though just finishing would be a triumph. Last would bring us down!

on a university note: My project supervisor is back from his jolly holidays and has deigned to e-mail me suggesting a meeting next Wednesday morning. I emailed back saying "I'm there!". Playing it cool, as ever! I know! but I can't help it, I wanna know what's going on, and I've waited 9 whole weeks now! how patient am I?! Well, very actually!

hmm, I should really grab *E*'s camera so I can show you my sports bra injuries..... On my shoulder and back, you wierdos!

Anyway, TaTa *H*

Stock take.... the Trilogy

Yesterday morning at this time the store was half way through stock take... why oh why can't we have an evening stocktake like other stores? why 7am start? grr! hehe!

anyway, it was a good result.... leading to a lil bonus in everyone's pay-packet! hurrah!

worked till 2pm, then set off for the gym.... got to gym... realised i'd left my shorts at work.... rode back to work to get them and got back to the gym 35 minutes after i wanted to be there originally... boo hiss! *E*, needless to say, had done her 2.5 miles in that time... which meant i was *obliged* to do 2.5 again too. Motivation!

i did it... i tried not to look at the counter (which i find helps) but looked at 1.59 minutes.... 1.10 miles, 1.23, 1.43, 1.71, 1.93, 2.0, 2.25, 2.30 (legs started really aching at this point!) and 2.45-2.50 miles. so the not looking worked well. not.

hmm, wonder what i'll manage tonight?! *I will get good*

woke up with the same killer headache i had last night.... probably dehydration from the warm overnight weather, so i'm drinking some squash to make it go away.

TaTa *H*

so sleepy!

Alright.... just thought I'd check in quick before bed-time comes a-calling (no, i haven't turned into some weird hibernating old person.... Its stock take..the trilogy tomorrow!)

the weekend was annoying!

Saturday: after looking forward to an Indian meal with family (looking forward... as in all week looking forward too, grr!) for my dad's birthday, my brother phoned to cancel.... due to illness.... 1 hour before. So dad and i decided to go for a Chinese meal instead, which was gooooood! Then we walked home... well, i walked him home... then he insisted on walking me back... then he walked home again! crazy!

Sunday: crikey, i know the gym isn't open on a sunday, but i think more calories get burned on this day than any given weekday... i walk and walk and walk...

went for the usual starbuckage.... coffee and skinny carrot cake (mmm!) with *E* and my recently dumped friend *P*... Then they strutted of to a fun day on the common, while i strutted back home to meet dad for his (proper) birthday.... i took him for coffee and cake (yes more cake!) in a nearby town. Trying to pay was an uphill struggle as my dad for some reason feels obliged to pay for everything (bless him!) but i explained that he shouldn't pay on his birthday!

Today: The gym was amazing..... i went with *E* and we tried my new ploy of trying to watch at least six music videos before looking at the stupid timer.... 2.09 miles had passed!! without even feeling it! hurrah! so we decided to carry on to 2.25miles... then onto 25 minutes.... and then i forced her to carry on until 2.50 miles (at 25 minutes it was 2.42, so i thought we might as well!) Think *E* dislikes me strongly now! hehe!

so the big achievement for monday is..... 2.50 miles in 25.51 minutes.... yay! i'm soooo pleased!

so.

pleased!

TaTa *H*

is *H* too informal?!

Friday at gym: 2 miles in 20.50minutes, pah! down a bit from yesterday, but figure its end of week, so i'll be all charged for Monday..... i expect big things! Worked on my quadraceps tho, so that should help.

so the guy who works at the gym (*S*) decided to ask me a question.... and called me *H*.... which i thought was odd, cos he didn't know my name (he musta guessed it from the log-book)... and..... he called me *H* .... can't figure out if i was suprised cos he knew my name, or cos he used my name.... seemed informal considering i don't speak to him, but Miss *H* is too formal! but anywho, guess i'm weird like that!

Plus... Iron tablet update! the problem with my low iron has been sorted ..... (i think)...I haven't had my second blood test yet, but running is far easier as my legs haven't felt weighted down, which i'm thinking is a direct result (?) of lack of iron (i had the same sensation last time my levels were low too). Maybe is just psychological as i only made the link after being told my levels were low, or maybe i just need to pay more attention to my body!

Emailed my project supervisor.... no reply.... big surprise!

I'm off to bed now,
TaTa *H*

Yay! i figured out the linky bit! (Other Blogs part I)

wow, computer stuff is simultaneously very confusing, and very simple... not sure how that works, but hey!

now i can send you off to random sites so that you can see the blogs that inspired me to start blogging! They are mostly sporty-type ones, but some are completely non-sport related! such as today's.....

i'm gonna try to post these in the order that i started reading them, so if you wanna see if yours is one of them, you'd better keep checking back!

Ok, so the first blog (http://www.shewhoeats.blogspot.com/) is written by a gal called Chika, who is based in Japan, but seems to travel for most of the year (lucky, lucky, lucky!) This year i think she has been to Hawaii, Australia and good old England. I found this post while looking for a recipe... you can guess by the title that she blogs mostly about food.... and i was impressed by her photos. Wow! the things she makes not only sound yummy, but they look yummy too! Her photos are amazing!

Chika is a busy woman.... so blogs tend to be sporadic, but defo worth the wait... plus if you read Japanese, she writes more regularly at http://moichizen.exblog.jp/ .

well, i'm off for now, things to do before the gym!

TaTa *H*

hmm, does 0.1 miles count as an improvement?!

Hey! so.... I ran 2.10miles, no stopping..... in 21.54 minutes.......

slowly, slowly, catchy monkey.... or something like that

so, is this an improvement.... 0.1 miles extra?

given my rough days running that I've had recently I'm counting it as a definite improvement.... Tomorrow i'm gonna aim for a MASSIVE 2.2miles (crikey! (yes i know!) Steady!)

but, y'know, I want results... and sadly only i can provide results.... so I guess it down to me. Hurrah!

now if I can just stop checking the counter every 2 minutes.......

TaTa *H*

pat on the back and a cookie for me!

well, no cookie actually.... kinda defeats the point of the exercise... but it woulda been nice!

well, 5.8mph.... for...... not 1.75miles, oh no! .......but............ 2miles,............. 2 whole miles, ..............

in one go!

hurrah!

for me!

i'm so excited, now i'm thinking about tomorrow..... can i go further?! i hope so!

TaTa *H*

speeding thru time!

Eek! where did July go? why is it time is moving by soooo quickly?! what is going on?!!

August is gonna be a busy busy month..... first up i should find out a bit more about my third year project.... my project supervisor gets back from his (very long) holiday on the 3rd.... so i've only waited a good two months now..... Jeez! Hoping to be able to actually start the project mid-august.

next up, a few days later is my Dad's birthday.... think me and *J* (my bro) are taking him out for an Indian meal... hurrah, so looking foward to that! yum!

then it will be my niece's birthday.... cannot believe she will be four already...... crikey! she starts infant school in September.... bless!

cannot wait for the gym tonight.... i'm listening to The Crystal Method "Drive: Nike + Original Run" album which is apparently designed for runners.... a 45 minute run anyway.... has a good beat to the songs. I find songs have to have the same pace as me runnning to be of any use. (a guilty secret.... Girls Aloud have the best workout music!.... i'm sorry!)

And its cooler today..... high of 21C, but it should be 19C when i hit the gym, yay! makes moving so much nicer! Gonna aim for 1.75miles tonight (still at 5.8mph) little by little i will get better!

so.... just the fun of work first, guess i should go get ready.....

TaTa *H*