A lot has been happening in my personal life the last month or so, so please excuse the silence. I will share all in good time, but let’s just say it’s been a transformational time for me, a time of growth and self-actualisation.
These last few months I have tried to keep exercise a priority while life has been changing around me. It keeps my mind focussed and makes it so much easier to cope with the hectic nature of Christmas and New Year, but also being in the yoga studio in early January and knowing I’m not experiencing that ‘back to exercise’ feeling because I have kept my practice consistent feels great.
After the half marathon on 17th November I took a trip to Ireland for a few days with my boss, and we went to circuits class at the local gym each night. It was just a 40mins class but felt so good to get some exercise in after days otherwise spent sitting around.
That weekend when I returned I did a 60min Bikram class followed by Yin on the Saturday and a 90 minute Bikram on Sunday.
Then for the last week of November I was frantically typing a Uni assignment so the workouts tailed off a little so that week I just did 2 Bikram classes, one cross training session and one 20 minute home practice of yoga.
In December I managed to complete 7 Bikram yoga classes, one hot flow class, 6 XT sessions and 6 runs. I felt my running started to turn a corner as I have been consistently running sub-30 5Kms.
I was in Copenhagen from 9th – 12th and I love running round the lakes when I am there. The first evening I did the 6.26Km run in 36:52, then the last morning I ran 7Km in 39:15 which was not only my fastest 7Km but also included my fastest 5Km at 27:53!
Well chuffed with that.
I do feel like my overall health and fitness is improving and I feel really good about that.
Then on Christmas Day I ran 10Km in 59:17 which was my fastest 10Km of 2019.
I’m pleased with the efforts I made over 2019. In previous years I would be consistent in my training for a few months but then have a month or two where I barely exercised at all, and then I would have to try and get back to it. I can honestly say it is sobriety that has got me here. Not drinking gives me no hangovers and no excuses.
All over the Christmas period I would, in previous years, prioritise drinking and partying over nearly everything. This year I went for runs the days I had social gatherings because I wanted to feel good and accomplished, and it really helped.
As I enter 2020 I feel like I am on the right path with my life and my intentions. I’ve never felt so sure of my path and feel like I’m manifesting things into my life that are right for me right now.
I started the New Year with a 7Km run and went to Bikram for a 60min class on the 2nd. I had an assignment due on 3rd so I didn’t have much chance to workout that day so I rested and then did 40 mins cross-training on Saturday and then on Sunday I was due to run 10 miles!
I booked a half marathon for 19th Jan as I have made it my intention to do a half-marathon every month in 2020! So on Sunday I had to do a long run and it honestly was the hardest thing to motivate myself to go! I made teas and ate snacks and went to the shops, everything but get my trainers on to go. By the time I was leaving the sky was dark so I had to rethink my route, as I didn’t want to run anywhere that didn’t have street lights, and finally at gone 4pm I was ready to hit the road.
The last 2Km sucked, but honestly overall it wasn’t that bad considering I hadn’t done a long run in 7 weeks. And I got a decent time of 1:39:57. My fastest 10 mile run in a year.
I feel like I’m suddenly having breakthroughs with yoga and running. It’s all down to consistency. I’m showing up for myself consistently, not making excuses, being present and making my exercise a priority and I honestly think I am beginning to enjoy it. My mindset is shifting from feeling like I ‘have to’ exercise to thinking how lucky I am that ‘I get to exercise’. I feel blessed to be able to workout, to be able to run, to have found yoga and to be able to practice that frequently. I feel like a better person for it and I am excited as to what I will achieve in 2020.
my happy life project 