10 kilometres, 3 courses and 7 muffins

Today was my first 10k race for about 4 months. I have been running regularly but nowhere near as often as I was training last year. This year I changed my training schedule to focus more heavily on weights and strength training and slightly less on running. So, since January I have been training in the gym 6 days a week but running just 3 times a week. This is a stark contrast to the 5-6 times I was running last year. But since I want to focus on form, I can't over-do the running/CV. Simple fact.

So, in accordance with my race diary (see link at top of page!) today was the Cardiff Love Run (now known as the Action Duchenne 10k). It takes place in Bute Park and the route winds its way through the park and along the Taff. I thought the event was very well organised, the Duchenne representatives were friendly and enthusiastic and the route was very well sign-posted and marshalled. Here I am pre-race in the middle of Pontcanna Fields (very nervous, I always am before I run):

The race started at a little after 11am and I finished in 51 mins. Nowhere near my normal 'race-fit' standards of 47 mins, but in accordance with my new schedule, I'm right about on target. (Although I am running the Liverpool Half in March with my older brother and he ran his training 10k today in 46 mins - this time last year I would have kicked his sorry ass, but I think this year *might* be a bit of an 'Element Senior' victory. Humph!). All in all, though, I was very pleased - I was the 16th girl to cross the line and was 86th overall in a field of 219. I then had a little pootle around Cardiff, had some lunch and picked up a few goodies on the way home. A thoroughly enjoyable morning.

Now then - lunch! It was absolutely delish. I went to Zushi, my favourite sushi place in Cardiff to celebrate my 10k. I had squid salad and pickled salmon from the little conveyor-belt-thingy and a huge bowl of chicken ramen. All washed down with Jasmine tea -  I enjoyed every mouthful. I took a picture of the squid salad and jasmine tea, but I wolfed the ramen down well before I even considered taking a picture.

When I got back home I made some mini-muffins for the very first time. I am not in the least bit interested in cooking and find it more often than not a means to an end. However, I just really felt like baking. No idea why. Can't explain it. Anyway, I adapted a recipe initially designed and created by the lovely Gina from Fitnessista (www.fitnessista.com). I swapped her quinoa flakes and quinoa flour for buckwheat flakes and buckwheat flour. The recipe is as follows:

> 1 egg;
> 2T almond nut butter;
> 1/4 C agave nectar;
> 1/2 C buckwheat flakes;
> 1/2 C buckwheat flour;
> 1/2 t baking powder;
> 1/2 t cinnamon

This makes 7 mini muffins at 190 cals each. They were absolutely stunning!! I cooked them for 10 mins at 350 and they came out better than anything I have ever baked before. As you can see from the picture I did make each muffin quite big - I reckon you could probably get 10 smaller ones out of the mixture, which would reduce the cals per serving to 133. Not bad, eh? And they genuinely taste delicious. In fact, like someone else with more cooking experience has made them (that's the first thing I thought when I ate one!). The method is really simple too. Mix the wet stuff in a bowl. Mix the dry stuff in a bowl. Mix both sets of stuff together. Dollop onto baking tray. Cook for 10 mins @ 350. Et voila!

And then I chilled out, watched a bit of Glee, mooched around t'internet and now I may have to get ready for a night out on the town! See y'all soon!

An epiphany?

Hiya blogland!

Just a brief post today. On the exercise front it was a rest day and I had to attend a work-related course in Gwent. Great course and I'm really pleased I went - I don't very often say that about the courses I attend so I'm v chuffed and feel motivated to start back at work. Tomorrow. Eeeeeeek!

On a different note, I realised today that despite my aspirations to constantly progress massively quickly, to keep my eyes open for other opportunities, to constantly try to progress is any way I can, I may actually be holding myself back by trying to do so much. Something happened today, which I have to keep on the down low for various reasons, which made me realise that if I knuckle down to the "here and now", if I make every effort to do everything to the best of my abilities right now, taking each day as it comes, then things might slot into place. I *may* not have to force things quite so much. If I enjoy every day and do what I have to do as best I can, I can accomplish more (and quite possibly do fewer things better) than if I am trying to achieve a million different things all at the same time. An mini-epiphany? Possibly!

As a sort of tag on to that, I know that we all wish this were true:

But it ain't quite that easy, is it? So, since my overall life goal is to (a) work in an environment and in a career that I truly love and (b) be perfectly financially comfortable, I've come to accept that satisfaction and cash don't always go hand in hand. And (in spite of the ubiquitous work-related-red-tape-type complaints) I do love my job. Which I will try not to lose sight of.

Even when I feel like tearing my hair out of my head strand by strand.

And putting my knuckle-dusted fist through a computer. :-)

Fat-burning, fruit & frugal ambitions

Bonsoir bloggettes!

Another lovely day of annual leave (and another day closer to re-starting work). For one reason or another  I have a training course tomorrow and I have to go into the office on Friday. Ah well *sigh*. I did have a great day today though. Another fab circuits class with the massively enthusiastic instructor Rhys, who today put me in mind of an over-excited school boy begging his Mum for attention. For me, the funniest part was when he grinned like a lunatic, grabbed some dumbells and started doing box jumps shouting "look! Weighted box jumps, guys!" I couldn't resist a giggle. At least he leads by example!

Another lush brekkie at Starbys was swiftly followed by a trip to my favourite fruit and veg shop. I know its really geeky but I love that its such a simple place, with bright colours and really fresh produce. The staff are always uber-friendly and helpful and they kindly allowed me to take a sneaky pic:

I bought 4 courgettes, a big bag of mushrooms and some beetroot. And because it was so lovely, I had the same lunch as yesterday - courgette spaghetti putanesca. Yuuummmmmm! I'm trying to be more frugal when I buy my food (and in my life in general). Its so easy to spend a fortune, so I'm trying to stick to the healthy basics - which is surprisingly easy to do. Fresh fruit and veg, milk, porridge oats, Greek yoghurt, cottage cheese, tuna and turkey are pretty much my staples at the moment. So I'm sticking to that for now, its seems to be doing the trick - (1) plenty of protein to keep me full and my muscles repaired and (2) plenty of veg to keep up my vitamins and nutrient intake.

Just a quick note about training. Yesterday I tried barbell squats for the first time. I normally do walking weighted split squats and superset them with weighted stability ball wall squats. I found my first attempt at the barbell squat awkward, my form was horrific and i couldn't really feel any effect on my quads or glutes because I had started with such a low weight (20kg!) I realise that as a novice my technique will be horrible initially, but after 3 sets of 10 reps, I *just* wasn't getting it. At all. I'll stick with it for now though and see if I feel any different after another couple of sessions. I'll still do the walking split squats though, as I absolutely love those. I think all of that combined with stability ball ham curls are the reason I have been feeling rather heavy-of-the-leg for the last 2 days! Circuits today really helped loosen them up a little.

Any thoughts, hints or tips about the barbell squat gratefully received!

Back in the saddle (and the fruit & veg shop)

Great news today, thus:

1. My fab friends Matt and Imo are running the MSM (Midnight Sun Marathon) with me in June. Hurrah!
2. I hit the gym this morning for circuits and weights for the first time since my insides were hit with the virus last week. I felt heavy on my feet in class, but soon got into the swing, then followed it up with a solid leg workout.
3. I have located my most-sought-and-drooled-after/over running trainers! Yay! They are magnificent - Asics Gel Kayano 16 - last season's colour, but fab nonetheless.

I'm now on the last few days of my 2-week 'staycation' and it's really great being able to just take some time out. After gym and a little window shopping this morning I breakfasted decadently at Starbys (still there now!) and savoured every mouthful of my soya podge and yoghurt.

Afterwards, I jumped on the train home and grabbed some goodies from the local fruit and veg shop (which I just luuuuuuuurve) which included 3 courgettes, a bag of mushrooms and 2 red onions. I'm making veggie spaghetti putanesca for lunch with courgette "pasta" which I'll make on the spiralizer.

When I was at the fruit and veg shop, the place was quite busy with older people doing their daily shopping. I am always quite touched by how friendly people can be and many of them smiled and chatted to me as I bagged my mushies. When I joined the queue there was one small, elderly lay in front of me who was paying for her veg and chatting to the cashier. I looked at what she had purchased and for some reason it tugged at my heart strings. She had bought one carrot, a small piece of broccoli and 2 bananas. I suppose it made me assume that she was living on her own and I just didn't like the thought of it. In reality I am sure she has a wonderful family who she sees all the time! I'm such a soppy idiot sometimes.

Anyway, here was lunch. I cooked the courgette a little too long so it turned out a little watery, but was still delish. Nom nom nom nom nom nom.....

Now I have to go watch old SATC episodes whilst doing something constructive at the same time to legitimise it i.e. checking out possible accommodation for the MSM. Seeya laters!

Background to my Blog

Hello blogland. So, I've just set up my blog and am really excited to see how it evolves and changes throughout its [hopefully successful and long-lived] existence. I set up this blog to record all those things that I often think about, ponder over and discuss with others, but nobody seems to care as much about as me. Like what? I hear you ask. Well, like working hard, training hard, treating yourself well and with respect, trying to make the best of yourself and enjoying each day and taking it all as it comes. And importantly, like taking charge of your own life - because nobody else will do it for you.

I am lucky in many ways - I have no kids, no husband and no real desire to settle down anywhere in particular, or spring any roots just yet. I'm fairly selfish and make no apologies for that, but by the same token all of my successes and all of my mistakes are my own. So I try and accept and learn from them all. Of course, there are pros and cons to this sort of existence, but it suits me very nicely right now. I focus on improving my career and improving my body - both of which can safely occupy 90% of my time for a whole week! If I could I would immediately metamorphosise into Linn Hansen and/or Nicole Wilkins. To me, they are simply fabulous.

Enough of a ramble for now? Yeah, I reckon so.  Well, having got this far it is now time for dinner. Left-over chicken stir fry and mash. A solid mix of protein and carbs, clearly very necessary to support my massively exhausting day. (I've done nothing but cook lunch for my friend Jo, so pretty much Jack Sh*t!) I'm now approx 78% recovered from my stomach virus which has plagued me all week. Which means I kick back into my beloved training routine from tomorrow - starting with a long run. Watch this space! Oh, and here's dinner: