Last Wednesday I did a leg and cardio workout at home but didn’t go to yoga as planned because I had a uni assignment to finish and was so deep into studying I forgot.
On Thursday I needed to run 4 miles but I had running anxiety. It is something I get a lot; a real sense of dread and anxiety about running. Perhaps because when my training is inconsistent every run feels like I am starting over again. Along the same lines of my yoga anxiety when I haven’t been to class for 4 days, because it’ll be hard and unenjoyable.
It’s obvious that the resolution to this is to keep going running and to yoga every few days so I don’t lose the momentum. Easy right? 😩
Eventually, after much avoidance, I went for the run in the evening and totally smashed it! 4 miles in 38:50! I ran hard and pretty fast at times, and it felt like a bit of a breakthrough.
Then on Friday I had lots of exercise planned but got busy and ended up taking an impromptu rest day, and on Saturday Giles and I went on a t-shirt printing course. One of our New Years resolutions is to be more creative, so we booked a day at a studio where we learnt how to make screen prints and designed and printed t-shirts.
This is what I created (#veganAF)….
On Sunday I was due to run 10 miles. I found 8 miles hard enough last weekend so I wasn’t feeling that positive about it in all honesty. We had brunch planned with friends first and I then went home after that with the intention of resting a little while and then heading out before it got dark.
When I got home I faffed around and it was getting later and later, but I just told myself I had to go. I planned a new route and got myself ready. It was cold out so I wrapped up warm and took a water pack because on the 8 mile run I could have really done with it.
I took a route along the Thames but travelling towards Richmond rather than towards the city as I would normally, and I really loved it and it felt so easy. Maybe that was the rest days beforehand, or the decent breakfast; who knows!? I completed it in 1:43:50 and it felt fine, good in fact. I actually enjoyed it!
The sun was setting and it was very beautiful. I felt like a runner and I feel like this run was a total breakthrough for me.
At home afterwards, out of interest, I looked up the 10 mile races I have done over the last few years and my times were:
- April 2017: 1:54:33
- May 2017: 1:49:28
- October 2018: 1:44:43
So this one was a solid 10 minutes faster than the first! Whoop.
Interestingly I haven’t lost a single pound in weight this last 6 months. The last time I lost anything was with a stint of intermittent fasting, but I’ve gravitated away from that as I’ve read it isn’t very good for you when you are trying to conceive.
Yup, we’ve been trying for a while and want to make sure I am doing everything possible to increase our chances, so trying to be fit, healthy, lose this last bit of weight and not fasting as it’s apparently not so good for it.
It has been really motivating for me to be considering making a baby, so over the last 4 – 6 weeks my exercise and diet has been really good. It’s just a surprise that the scales won’t budge! I think I’m going to get the tape measure out as I do feel like my body shape is changing, and it is nice to see how the effort is paying off.
On Monday I did an hour of yoga in the morning, a gentle practice before work, and then went to Bikram in the evening. Then on Tuesday I did an arm and abs workout at home.
I woke up on Wednesday full of cold so I spent most of the day horizontal, feeling sorry for myself and totally unable to exercise. I managed to get to the shop on Thursday to buy more cough medicine, but other than that I was a write-off.
I decided not to give myself a hard time about it, I was ill, and it’s important to take rest when you need it.
my happy life project 