Week 2 day 2 - Hill runs

okay, need to start getting faster on my 5k & 10k times before I start adding mileage so aiming to do some hard hill running tonight.

I hate hills but has to be done.

My wife wants to come with me so just doing time based hills so I'm not too far ahead.

Bootcamp at the gym 6pm to warm up... (man, and Mike really warmed us up, sweat dripping off me)..
Then jogged, and onto 2.5 miles of hills with bits after.

60 seconds (approx 200m for me) 5, 30 seconds rest, then jogged along to a steeper hill to do similar timing but more intervals.

There is approx 1 mile uphill in the marathon through the Mersey Tunnel so will be bringing this upto 400m, then 800 then 1600.

Finished with nice jog through the woods (no particular pace) to cool down, then a well earned meal.

Week 2 day 1 horses & running

Okay, needed to be in early hungry on way into work so grabbed a bacon & egg sandwich for breakfast.

Sue me ! The diet marathon guy said it was a good mix. Honest.

Ate healthy the rest of the day ... Rice salad chicken, fruit.  Even chose cottage cheese and oat cakes as my late afternoon snack instead of half a really tempting looking flap jack.

Not run a lot today but still had some cross training of sorts planned

Jogged down to stables off the train with back pack of clothes & boots.
Horse riding for an hour and enjoyed the lovely sea front & weather. Really good for stretching those leg muscles.

Ran back to the gym with my bag most of way... So approx 5 miles in total . This was a bit harder than I thought, maybe a little tired.

Then Cath's total body workout class for 45 mins which is always varied , step , free weights different exercises  - great for overall fitness.

Definitely helped with my half marathon time , all those squats ...general core & strength so try not to miss this.

Had a bit of headache all afternoon but managed it all apart from getting out of sync on some of the step bits in the class ... I have 2 very big left feet.

Well deserved early night.

Week 1 day 7 personal training session

Missed one of my favourite classes of the week circuit class yesterday with the Marathon workshop on.

So Monday morning, booked a personal training session with the lovely Cath, personal trainer & instructor at my gym.

Seriously hard to the point I couldn't do any more crunches at the end.

Dynamic stretches, Kettle bells, planks from hell, mountain running and various other forms of torture.

Kettle bell workouts have a look here, or just have a scan through youtube.

When you think you can cope, there is always something more to catch you out.

On the other hand, got up early for breakfast before the PT session with yesterday's advice, felt much better and refreshed.

For lunch, made a nice health brown rice salad with chicken, butter beans, tomato etc and eat that through the day. Load of apples and water, herbal teas. Scarily healthy.

Felt great right through the day.

Hmmm.

Week 1 day 6 Marathon Workshop

Rest Day - thank the Lord!

Run Liverpool have a Marathon workshop on once a month about getting started, diet, exercise etc

Really interesting, explained why I was tired this week and what I'd done wrong for starters.

Not eating at right times, especially breakfast... also needing some sort of recovery drink between classes with carbohydrate and protein in sometimes.

Lots of choice here, even a diet chocolate milk would do... yazoo mentioned even. Cool.

If only this applied to the custard creams too, I'd be laughing.

That 1st hour after is important... getting food or a drink in as soon as finished.

Good information,

Super healthy afterwards the event with porridge for lunch plus toast, Egg cafe for meal and then fruit during the evening.

Up early for PT session so getting up even earlier for breakfast.

week 1 day 5

Okay, rest day Friday and pasta meal before, longer run of 12 miles Saturday.

had to stop and stretch a few times with the injury, and not as fast as first run, varied between 8m-10m 30" miles. hmmm.

Still tired and not 100% but managed it.

Didn't stop for water which probably a mistake with the warmer weather

Reward of a cooked breakfast, but needed a snooze in the afternoon.

Having a few beers and relaxing tonight, rest day tomorrow.

Week 1 day 3

okay, third run of the week went out with my wife.

She runs a little slower so more like a recovery run. thankfully!

Seriously nice out on the wirral in the evening, sunny, but coolish, blue skies... lovely.
[Must take photo next time]

Even a horse on the beach galloping along... full pelt..looked awesome.

8.5 miles, bit of walking, 9-11 min miles but don't really care...

just nice to run along the beach, chat and stretch my hamstrings a bit after the week and my recent injury.

Fingers crossed nearly recovered.

Week 1 day 2

Still tired after first long run. and seriously hungry.

Usually do a 30 minute boot camp and a weight pump fx class in the evening.

Managed them but tired on some exercises in the weights class.

Ended up getting some fried rice (and chips I admit it), I was feeling so hungry.