tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2009-11-09:/My step into the world of running and fitness! Bring on the 10k runs.MokoFeed2009-11-09T02:06:55+01:00tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-08-13:/2007/08/13/week_4_session_1_running_buddy~2803697/BettyBlog2007-08-13T22:38:22+02:002007-08-13T22:40:39+02:00 <p>My friend Lorraine is also doing the 10k run with me, so we decided we'd better start training together!</p> <p>I made sure I emailed her today to emphasise exactly how SLOW I am, and that I JOG not RUN! Lorraine is one of those nicely compact fit people who even if she says she's gained weight, she looks wonderful to me! And she also does lots of energetic dog walking and hiking with her other half, more than I used to do.</p> <p>So, we set off at the source of my enthusiasm for the 10k race, Stanmer Park in Brighton where I did my Race for Life. </p> <p>It was too quick a pace for me to begin with, what with my large arse and the gradual hill/incline so we did about 3 minutes before we stopped. After that we pretty much kept going for most of the time and did 15 minutes in total - falling into a pace together, admittedly on a flat road though. As a push we walked up the steep hill by the entrance at the end, then back to the cars. All in most successful, Lorraine looked fab in her outfit whilst I'm sure I resembled a seal in my lycra trouser thingys! Add to that my sexy baseball cap and I'm surprised I didn't have a stampede of after me...hmm...there was a field of cows nearby.......</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/08/13/week_4_session_1_running_buddy~2803697/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-08-13:/2007/08/13/week_3_session_4_it_s_just_not_cricket~2803673/BettyBlog2007-08-13T22:30:51+02:002007-08-13T22:40:09+02:00 <p>I do say - it's frightfully bad play for the local cricket teams to take up the WHOLE of the recreation ground, what with their fielders and the gaggle of supportive friends, relatives and cucumber sandwich addicts. One could not jog in the field due to such a sea of humanity - I do say, what is the world coming to? <img src="/img/smilies/icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>As such, one retired to the gym. </p> <p>I wasn't too keen on using the treadmill, but I wanted to do my run so hey-ho. Also did my 30 min hard cycle, though the artic blast on the back of my neck from the aircon meant I moved after 10 minutes from fear of catching a chill.</p> <p>Then - to ensure that all of my hard work had been put to good use, I promptly went out for dinner at an Italian restaurant then on for a night out - well, what's the use of exercise if you can't indulge once in a while huh?! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/08/13/week_3_session_4_it_s_just_not_cricket~2803673/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-08-13:/2007/08/13/week_3_session_3_friday_night_down_the_p~2803656/BettyBlog2007-08-13T22:26:12+02:002007-08-13T22:44:15+02:00 <p>Friday is the night to do exercise as no one is in the parks or in the gym - I had it all to myself.</p> <p>Don't get me wrong, I do go out and I'm not a complete hermit, but even at 6.30pm everywhere was quiet. I had the field all to myself apart from the odd inquisitive dog, but I soon shook it off.</p> <p>Did 22 minutes of my 25, gave blood the day before and I felt a bit light headed so decided not to push it. What with my 20 minute cycle afterwards, I was right chuffed with myself.</p> <p>I then retired to the gym and did my weights and various torture induced exercises such as lunges, squats and crunches. As I only did one repetition I felt the burn but not the pain as I had previously. I'll give it another go next week and if it's not enough then we'll try 2 reps...ooh, it sounds SO much fun!</p> <p>Pat on the back old girl for the hard work.</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/graybigrazz.gif" alt=":P" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/08/13/week_3_session_3_friday_night_down_the_p~2803656/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-08-08:/2007/08/08/week_3_session_2_flashdance~2778067/BettyBlog2007-08-08T23:29:38+02:002007-08-08T23:37:30+02:00 <p>Have any of you seen the classic 1980's film Flashdance? If so, you'll recognise one of the tracks "Maniac"<br> from the film. 118 118 currently use it in one of their adverts.</p> <p>Anywho, it's a really fast beat and a toe-tapping song, so I decided this would be a great addition to my mp3 player for one of the nastiest sessions of the week - my interval session. 1 minute of faster running to Maniac and the next minute to Nelly Furtado Play it Right and I can do the 10 minutes of hell, no problem.</p> <p>Perhaps wishful thinking on my part, but it definately helped me run faster and drop back slower. It was amusing too as I kept thinking of the 118 118 version and their dodgey running outfits similar to mine! There was another runner at the recreation groud, I felt like a big unhealthy lump of lard to begin with as he was running sprints, but then I decided that I probably had more stamina and it can't be compared. Plus he was getting distracted by the cricket match also being played, whereas I'm now getting pretty good at ignoring them and vice versa.</p> <p>At the gym afterwards they were doing a spin class. I found this ironic as I had to cycle for 20 minutes, but I was mightly glad to go at my own pace - you should have seen the state of them when they finished. It was a cross between a boiled-lobster and drowned-rats. I think it might be some time before I EVER attempt anything so energetic.</p> <p>Not bad this week so far, 2 sessions down and 2 more to go. Next one is the weights after my 15 min run - it'll be interesting to see how I do cutting the reps down....</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/08/08/week_3_session_2_flashdance~2778067/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-08-08:/2007/08/08/week_3_session_1_here_we_go_again~2778029/BettyBlog2007-08-08T23:20:02+02:002007-08-08T23:42:54+02:00 <p>I'm back on the fitness-wagon and went for my 25 minute run. </p> <p>A friend of mine recommended the gallops where I live, ironically used to gallop horses! Now I'm sure if you are a horse, this is a lovely straight expanse of grass ideal for a good run - however, I am no horse.</p> <p>My legs are pretty long (I'm 5'9") but despite this the grass was up to the top of my shins and filled with grass seed-heads. Doesn't sound too bad huh? Imagine then, I'm trying to run slightly uphill in a kinda gallop-style (clears the grass, I can see why horses do it) but each time I step forward the grass seed-heads whack into my bear ankles like lots of whips! Suffice to say I didn't do this for too long before I gave up from pain and exhaustion.</p> <p>alongside the gallops is a farmers field, it's the one with all the poop and the pooping sheep. The grass is shorter due to the sheep (glad to see they know their job) and I figured that the poop is at least bio-degradable rather than the dog type, as after all sheep are vegitarians. What I didn't factor on was - the ACTUAL sheep.</p> <p>The path for hikers, dog-walkers and the such is IN the field, there are no fences between you and the sheep. So I merrily start my jog again paying no attention to four-legged fluffy white critters when I see a blur out of the corner of my eye. Looking up I realise that a gaggle of sheep have picked the area just before the gate (and freedom) to munch their dinner across the pathway. </p> <p>Now sheep freak me out. They have huge eyes with vertical pupils like cats have, which is freaky as they are nothing LIKE cats. They look shifty to me, and I always feel like they're getting ready to ram me or bite my ankles. </p> <p>I'm puffing by this point as again I'm jogging uphill, but as I slow down the sheep start to take an interest and begin to converge on me - I feel like I'm in some horror movie where I'm going to end up mummified in a huge woolie-jumper, with sheep all around me bleating. </p> <p>AHHH! </p> <p>Fortunately this attack of pure terror was enough to get my legs moving, so I ran to freedom, which scared the sheep so they skedaddled back to THEIR part of the field.</p> <p>Phew!</p> <p>My ankles are in tact, I wasn't rammed, I've biodegradable poop all over my trainers and decided I'm no horse - but I've done my run. Not all 25 minutes, and not continual running (well, jogging) but I'm back into the swing of things.</p> <p>Who knew running could be so eventful?</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/graybigeek.gif" alt="88|" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/08/08/week_3_session_1_here_we_go_again~2778029/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-08-08:/2007/08/08/week_2_wipeout~2777955/BettyBlog2007-08-08T23:04:21+02:002007-08-08T23:04:21+02:00 <p>Well, lets just say that I'm only human. </p> <p>The rest of week 2 was a complete wipeout! Between my social life and really hot weather, I didn't do any more runs. </p> <p>It seems silly to bemoan the sunshine, especially after all of the floods - but I'm paler than pale and I burnt in the garden this week, wearing factor 40 suncream in just 10 minutes! So you can see how the sun doesn't work for me trying to run for 20 minutes at all - I'd end up resembling a lobster. I'll need to come up with an alternative to this though - early morning runs before the sun's too hot, the only problem is I LOVE MY BED!</p> <p>Anywho - week 2 will be repeated next week, it'll make me slightly behind but lets face it, I'm not mega-fit and I won't be in time for the race either - so I'll carry on, and I'll be a darn sight healthier than I've ever been with no real effects of a week off.</p> <p>See you next week.<br> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/08/08/week_2_wipeout~2777955/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-31:/2007/07/31/week_2_session_1_madonna_look_a_like~2734646/BettyBlog2007-07-31T20:36:36+02:002007-07-31T20:50:18+02:00 <p><img src="http://data4.blog.de/media/915/1845915_f4b92fc14e_s.jpeg" alt="Madonna Running" vspace="5" hspace="5"><em>I have an uncanny resemblence to Madonna when I put on sunglasses and a black baseball cap! </em>(necessary today due to the <strong>gorgeous</strong> weather!) Again cricket was the order of the day on the recreation ground - I did ponder the idea of running on the downs - but all that poop just put me off! </p> <p>25 minutes jog today - I was covered in factor 40 suncream (I've white skin that burns in 5 minutes!) and my Madonna outfit - off I went. Last week was only 20 minutes, and the training plan increases alternate sessions on alternate weeks so I can build up to my 50 minute run.</p> <p>I started too fast and had to drop back to a slower jog, I was listening to Nelly Furtado's album Loose<br> which was pretty cool to listen too whilst jogging at a 4/10 effort. All was going well (as well as being out of puff can be) until I swallowed a bug.</p> <p>Piture the scene - here I am jogging stylishly around this field which I can't do a complete circuit off due to the cricket match - I'm puffing from the jog and trying to swig water as I go without bashing my teeth or choking. Just as I think I've got this down, I breath in through my mouth and catch a bug! Now follows an earatic running path resembling a bumble-bee as I cough and splutter yet try to keep moving so I don't muck-up my 25 minutes. I must say that I was a picture of althletic glory at this time - Madonna would have been so proud!</p> <p>I almost managed the 25 minutes - actually ran for 22.35 and had to stop as my right calf muscle was getting tighter and tighter and I don't want any injuries.</p> <p>My quest for fitness continues....<img src="/img/smilies/icon_wave.gif" alt=":wave:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/31/week_2_session_1_madonna_look_a_like~2734646/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-31:/2007/07/31/race_10k~2731138/BettyBlog2007-07-31T09:58:44+02:002007-07-31T09:58:44+02:00 <p>Please sponsor me! <a href="http://www.10ksponsorme.org/lizclarke">http://www.10ksponsorme.org/lizclarke</a></p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":DD" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/31/race_10k~2731138/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-31:/2007/07/31/facebook~2731121/BettyBlog2007-07-31T09:55:24+02:002007-07-31T09:55:24+02:00 <p>Come and have a look at me on Facebook <img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/31/facebook~2731121/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-30:/2007/07/30/title~2728973/BettyBlog2007-07-30T20:39:53+02:002007-07-30T20:40:55+02:00 <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/30/title~2728973/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-30:/2007/07/30/week_1_session_4_over_indulgence~2728881/BettyBlog2007-07-30T20:25:40+02:002007-07-30T20:26:52+02:00 <p>I did mention that I don't believe in diets anymore, and obviously this includes liquid diets.</p> <p>I went away for the weekend with the girls from work to stay at one of our friends places - this consequently involved copious amounts of wine, with games of croquet (how very British) in the back garden, snooker & pool. </p> <p>Ok, ok, so it isn't the same as my ridiculous exercise the night before, but I needed the break - my gluteus maximus was killing me!</p> <p>Back to it from next week though - hopefully my aches would have gone by then.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/30/week_1_session_4_over_indulgence~2728881/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-30:/2007/07/30/week_1_session_3_never_again~2728826/BettyBlog2007-07-30T20:15:08+02:002007-07-30T20:15:08+02:00 <p><strong>Steady run day </strong><em>- this time to an accompanying cricket team and spectators! </em> I'm to run this at a 6/10 effort, whereas the long run is 4/10. I set off and though I have to vary my speed (we're talking <u>tortoise</u> time here) I manage to jog/fast-jog for the whole 15 minutes. Blimey I'm tired!</p> <p>So, today is the weights day. Now the chap at the gym must have thought I'm fitter than I am, as he said to do the following:</p> <p>25 - 30 repetitions x 2/3 sets, at a 7/10 effort;</p> <p>Chest press<br> Lateral pulldown<br> Lunges<br> Squats<br> Calf raises<br> Double crunches</p> <p>I decided to try 30 x 3 sets of each (more fool me) and I managed to do the chest presses and lateral pulldowns without much troble, and even the calf raises though my calves tightened up like steel in between each set - but the squats and lunges did me in.</p> <p>The squats I've done in my step class, so I knew what to expect, but I was already tired. I managed to finish them, then came the lunges. Boy that hurt, really hurt. I did 30 on my left leg and had to stop for 3-4 minutes to get my breath back and stop my muscles from burning. I did the same number on the other side, then took another breather and decided to try one more set, but of 25 each side this time. I did it, but had to keep stopping and when I finished the second set I had no energy left for the double crunches, I was shaking and starving. It was also going on for 8pm by this time,I'd not eaten and still had a 30 minute walk in front of me, so I left! </p> <p>I can only think of a couple of times I have ever felt so exhausted in my life! I'm not doing that again - I'm not fit enough. So to tackle this session my plan is:</p> <p>1) Do only 1 set per exercise<br> 2) Do only 25 repetitions (maybe 20 - I'm seeing how I do)<br> 3) Eat a larger lunch so counteract the longer session, with a light pm snack<br> 4) Drive the car in (I walk to work) and pay for parking, or walk home first then drive to the recreation ground & leisure centre</p> <p>If I follow the above I can still get the benefit from the session, but I won't be so exhausted and I can then increase the number of sets / repetitions as I get fitter.</p> <p>I won't let myself feel that bad again.<br> <img src="/img/smilies/graycry.gif" alt=":`(" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/30/week_1_session_3_never_again~2728826/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-30:/2007/07/30/week_1_session_2_stoolball_anyone~2728713/BettyBlog2007-07-30T19:59:30+02:002007-07-30T20:20:33+02:00 <p>Stoolball (for the uninitiated) is a random Sussex game, which is a cross between cricket & rounders. <a href="http://www.stoolball.co.uk">www.stoolball.co.uk</a> is a great site for those who're interested.</p> <p>The reason I mention this is that I've now found a better location for my running. Still on grass but this time a maintained recreation groud, which also doubles as a stoolball & cricket pitch. After work I changed into my kit, and walked to the rec ground to see 3 games of stoolball lined up - oh perfect - I'll have a crowd to cheer me on!</p> <p>Today's session was interval training - meaning I jog at a ranking of 4/10 for 60 seconds, then the next 60 seconds I do at 8/10 and keep switching till I've done 10 minutes. The ranking is based on how I feel - 1/10 being a couch-potato style on the sofa and 10/10 being I'm dizzy, throwing-up and have done too much.</p> <p>Ooh I think as I do some stretches, this should be ok, only 10 minutes and varying effort/speed. Piece of cake. Now I know why the saying "famous last words" came about. I started on the slower/less effort minute, this is ok I'm thinking, I can cope with this, then came the time to knock it up a gear - OH MY GOD! I felt like I'd fall over, my heart was pounding, I was stuggling for breath, then back to the slower 60 seconds - time to catch my breath but before I knew it, it was the fast 60 seconds again. I managed to survive till about 6 minutes then I had to stop as I was too out of breath and my legs felt like lead. </p> <p>During this, the stoolball players had happily hit a couple of 6's (like cricket) and 4's, whilst I plodded on around the field and tried not to get inside their boundaries. One teenage girl had given me such as look of pure dislike it's a wonder I didn't vaporise on the spot!</p> <p>I got my breath back and did the next 4 minutes - feeling toward a 8/10 when I finished. I walked along to the leisure centre to do my cycle for 20 minutes at "easy" 5/10 and came away with legs that felt even heavier than before. I had to walk home as well so that was another 30 minutes - all in I was shattered when I got in though quite smug-worthy at my super-energetic evening <img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/30/week_1_session_2_stoolball_anyone~2728713/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-30:/2007/07/30/week_1_session_1_the_hills_are_alive~2728620/BettyBlog2007-07-30T19:45:46+02:002007-07-30T19:45:46+02:00 <p>In order to build up my ankles from running on the uneven ground and also not develop something called shin splits that you get from running on pavement, I decided to do my first 20 jog on a dog-walkers path on the South Downs, just 5 mins walk from my place. The weather wasn't too bad as I started my jog, however many a dog-walker obviously had forgotten those handy plastic bags.</p> <p>The hills are alive with doggy-do-do!</p> <p>I'm pretty sure the sheep contribute quite a bit too, as no doubt the rabbits do - regardless of the culprit, the do-do made my jog very interesting. Imaging me in my fetching shorts and t-shirt, hands clenching my mp3 player in one hand, and water bottle & keys in the other, trying to run on this field, keep to the path (which is on a slant) and dodge the poop at the same time... It must have been like watching some strange dance routine...and one two three, to the left - jump! to the right, quick grapevine, and back again - ooh, just missed it! </p> <p>My antics ended up with my running faster than I'd planned and getting winded quickly, plus a lovely stitch in my side. Then to get out of the downs I ran to a gate only to find the little track to the road overgrown with nettles and me with bare ankles. I stood there, pondering if I could do a long-jump style hurdle to the road, or brave the overgrown path next to it - I decided that my long-jump skills weren't much better than my hockey skills were, so I took the path. </p> <p>At first, this seemed like a good idea..then slowly the plants started to narrow the path, my route began to weave back and forth, leaping brambles, side-stepping nettles and hurdling more poop! Finally I cleared the path with only a couple of scratches, finished my 20 minutes and did the walk home. Week 1, session 1 over relatively succesfully though I'm now on a quest for an easier route.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/30/week_1_session_1_the_hills_are_alive~2728620/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-30:/2007/07/30/preparation_is_the_key~2728287/BettyBlog2007-07-30T18:48:36+02:002007-07-30T19:00:35+02:00 <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_surprised.gif" alt=":o" class="middle" border="0">I'm a Virgo, and a good friend of mine Kate often points out my Virgoan tendancies. One of these is the need to PLAN! Going with this in-built control-freak nature, I decided to purchase some running magazines before I started my 12 week training plan for the big day.</p> <p>This experience scared yet excited me - all those healthy people - maybe I'd end up looking like Julia Roberts?! Anywho, loads of the articles kept mentioning exercise other than running , so I booked an appointment with the instructor at the leisure centre I belong to and he helped me work out a plan to get fit enough that I can run - yes run - for 50 minutes and the race should take me about an hour, so basically the last 10 minutes is sheet bloody-mindedness!</p> <p>His plan has 4 sessions a week:</p> <p><strong>Session 1:</strong> Long Run (jog in my case) = 15 min<br> <strong>Session 2:</strong> Interval Run (60 sec slower / 60 sec faster - alternate) = 10 min. Cycle easy 20 min<br> <strong>Session 3:</strong> Steady Run = 15 min (slightly more effort than the Long Run). Weights<br> <strong>Session 4: </strong>Steady RUn = 15 min. Hard cycle for 30 min</p> <p>If I can manage all this, then I will be a super-fit human being who can tackle anything! My main problem is doing week 1..... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/30/preparation_is_the_key~2728287/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:bettyblog.blog.co.uk,2007-07-30:/2007/07/30/the_beginning~2728212/BettyBlog2007-07-30T18:35:48+02:002007-07-30T18:35:48+02:00 <p>Now the world of the blog is new to me. I've never been great with keeping up my own diary, let alone one which is posted for all to see - but - it's time to give it a go. My motivation is my new-found love for running!</p> <p>Those of you who know me of old will realise that sport has never been at the top of my agenda. At school I did ok with discus and the like, but running and hockey (which brings back memories of my ankles being hacked!) were not my forte. My inspiration to start to run was signing up for Race for Life in Brighton on 1st July - which I ran for a loved one close to me who fought and survived breast cancer (you know who you are). </p> <p>The race was a great motivation - I raised £250 for Cancer Research and - I got the bug! I actually <strong>enjoy</strong> running, I like the buzz and I've decided that diets are a waste of time - so exercise is the way forward. </p> <p>Still on this high, I've signed up for a 10k race for Cancer Research on 14th October at Leeds Castle in Kent - this Blog is my way of keeping my motivation, and hopefully providing you with some amusment at my experiences on the way!</p> <p>Thank you for visiting my Blog and I hope you'll enjoy following my progress and musings.<br> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://BettyBlog.blog.co.uk/2007/07/30/the_beginning~2728212/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>