Mizuno Wave Inspire 7

After Thursdays disastrous run I was determined to get back in the groove on Fridays run. Leanne and I decided to head out without Wayne just to prove that we were capable of a decent run by ourselves and that it wasn't just Waynes presence that was making us run without stopping.
Seems it actually IS Waynes presence that keeps us going.
We started off well (as usual), we ran the forest track anti clockwise to reduce the hills and we were going great guns for the first 3 k, then I made an excuse to stop. Yes, I admit it, it was an excuse. I did have tight running shoes and I did need to loosen them a tad but to be honest I could have continued with them as they were. Once I had stopped I struggled to get going again and stopped within another 10 minutes - we pretty much walked from that point on and felt like crap because we knew we were going to have to explain ourselves to Wayne who's put all this effort in to help us get to this point.
I considered not telling him but I've never ever lied to Wayne and I don't intend to start over something so trivial, instead I threw myself on his mercy and claimed I just cannot run without him lol. Hey, don't judge - it worked!
Following our pathetic run Wayne suggested that maybe I should enter him for both the 10k's we're doing this month just to ensure we get round, he's now officially running the Baillie windfarm 10k on the 15th and the Baxters Loch Ness 10k on 29th.

I think we should maybe take a break from running the forest tracks because I think we're over doing the hills, the problem is it's such a nice place to run

That ground is pretty tough to run on as it's so slippy, hence why Leanne is walking lol.

The start! Fabulous scenery.

This is where the hills get hard.

Remember those new trainers I said I bought - the Mizuno Wave Inspire 7? They arrived!
They looked fabulous in the box and I really didn't want to disturb them from their packaging. This is the first pair of Mizuno trainers I've ever owned so I'm looking forward to trying them tonight but first impressions walking around in them is that they're very comfortable. They feel bigger than the Asics and the Saucony and I think I would have got away with a 6 or a 6.5 and not actually needed to size up as you do with the other two.
Due to them being stability shoes they feel slightly off centre when I walk in them so I'm intrigued to see how comfortable they're going to be to run in.
The only thing I don't particularly like is the Mizuno badge - for some reason it reminds me of Flash Gordons badge which then gives them a tacky kind of feel - just me I know.

Flash a .. ahhh! Still just me?

Weird heels, see how long before they start coming apart.

The mesh holes are bigger than Asics and Saucony but hopefully they won't be weaker.

Personal trainer

Remember in my last post when I said that Mr SG was going to go running with us - well last night he followed through with that threat promise.
I was happily ensconced on the sofa in PJ's watching RHOC while Leanne was happy in her PJ's too. Mr SG told us it was time to get changed for running which kind of had me in a panic and reeling off excuse after excuse as to why I couldn't run that night - Leanne was slightly more resigned to the idea of having to do it.
Maybe I should just clarify at this point that Mr SG is 11 years older than me, he is a heavy smoker, has COPD and scarring to the sole of his foot that hurts when he walks. He was athletic as a youngster and is a builder now but running for any length of time is something completely different and it was that knowledge that actually made me agree to his plan - basically I wanted to shut him up.
Leanne and I usually pick our runs with care, it's all hills here so most of the time we avoid the steepest longest ones unless we're wanting the extra work.
Mr SG on the other hand drove us to Loch Shebster at the foot of the steepest longest bloody hill possible and I realised I'd mis judged him when our complaints of the steepness of it were met with "Quit complaining, it'll be all downhill on the way back".
Within 1/2k of this hill I was reaching for the inhaler, I kid you not it was ridiculously hard. I trundled along waiting for Mr SG to give up - nothing! waited for him to struggle to breathe - nothing!
By the time we finally got to the top of the hill I was ready for turning round but nope Mr SG wanted us to go further. He bolstered me along explaining my defeatest attitude, he kept me motivated and he didn't let me give in to the many crappy excuses I was reeling off. I can run while I'm sick, it won't kill me - apparantly!
Finally he let us turn round and the notion of heading back to the car and the downhill run was severely shattered by the knowledge that we'd just run downhill so we had another hill to conquer first.
I hate hills!
By the time we made if back to the car - 7k later - Mr SG had hardly broken a sweat and his breathing was perfectly normal - in fact he happily chattered away while running.
Leanne and I were bloody gobsmacked, seems he really can put his money where his mouth is.
Mr TG is now our trainer and has even agreed to enter the 10k with us - this means that a) he'll keep me going when my head wants me to stop and b) Leanne will be able to run off at her own pace which is much faster than mine.

So I learned that I should never under estimate Mr SG - he's awesome!

Det

You can see the spikes drop where I kept sneaking in a stop, once Mr SG cottoned on to what I was doing though he eventually managed to get me to stop.

56 minutes - not a great time but I know it'll improve.

Exercise Distance 6.99 km 

Uphill Distance 3.42 km

Downhill Distance 3.57 km

Calories 269 Kcal

Weight Loss 10.1 g

Carbohydrate 135 Kcal (50%)
Fat 135 Kcal (50%)

Reasons to run

Running with dogs has its downsides as well as its upsides. There's the obvious upsides such as company and safety when running lonely lanes or forest tracks but there's also the added bonus of effectively having a large dog pull you at times when you would otherwise have given in and walked - this also has the added bonus of improving running speed when not running with the dogs.
However the real downside as we've found out the last few times running is that we have to pull over for every single car on the lanes, all the stopping makes it harder and harder to get going again. If we run without the dogs then we don't need to stop as we can run far to the side but it's impossible when with the dogs, I think I'm going to have come up with some different running areas but it's going to mean driving to them first.
Todays GPS results show just how erratic our runs are

I can't believe how unfit I felt during this run, 5 weeks off has left me right back at square one which is a bit of a worry as we only have a few weeks left before our next 10k run.
At times when I'm worrying about being fit enough or am feeling despondent about not being able to run as well as I want to I try to remind myself of all the other awesome reasons for running.

Running with a GPS

Today was my first attempt at running since I slipped a disc in my back 4 weeks ago, when I say 'running' I use the term loosely because it was more of a dog walk spattered with bouts of jogging / running but at least I was back out there.
I don't really know why I bothered taking my GPS watch with me because it wasn't really needed but I'm finally trying to get used to how to use the thing to help me train efficiently and that means understanding the info it records.
Seriously though, even though I'm a visual person and prefer graphs and charts to text this information is all double dutch to me

I didn't realise while I was out that the GPS had either stopped receiving a signal or I accidentally turned it off (don't think I did though) so it only recorded 2/3rds of the run.
Guess it's going to take a while to understand what it all means.

'Dietbet' is up and running and is still open for newbies if you fancy joining in. There's a $25 (£16) stake but if you manage to lose 4% of your total weight in the 28days the challenge runs for then you'll make that back and more as you'll share a stake in the total pot - which currently stands at $8425.00.

Last night I needed to use up a cabbage that I'd cut from the veggie plot and my initial thought was Cabbage and Leek as I love it but I realised I didn't have Leeks so I had to improvise (which means make it up as I went along). I diced a whole Onion (also grown on the plot) and cooked that along with diced red pepper, garlic and Black peppercorns, then added the parboiled shredded cabbage, covered it and left it to cook away. I should have taken a photo but forget but let me tell you it was bloomin gorgeous!

Dietbet

2 weeks into my second Dietbet challenge and I have another loss on the scales. I really wasn't expecting it this week as I ate some rubbish during the week that I really shouldn't have. I can only assume that as the actual meals I eat are healthy it off set the cakes and chocolate, I'm not repeating that style of eating this week though as the last few days and the thought of having to weigh myself have been blinkin awful.
The first week of this Dietbet I lost 5.6lbs and then this week I lost 2.8lbs so that's a total of 8.4lbs in 2 weeks - 99% of my total loss needed for Dietbet with 2 weeks still left to go.

Running is pretty hit and miss at the moment. Leanne and I seem to gravitate to the 4 mile trail run in the forest but we need to get back out onto the road and see if we have improved - I'm hoping that the intense hills of the trail run will have helped our strength for the flat.

The forestry commission seem to have added a few new paths so that we get to run in the actual forest but they're quite up and down, narrow and very loose underfoot so we tried it once and decided to avoid them in future

Our first 10k of the year is on 21st July - mine and Waynes 23rd wedding anniversary - so we're looking forward to using that one as a practice for the Loch Ness 10k in September and to give ourselves a time to improve on. There's another local 10k on 23rd July if we feel up to it after the first one but we'll have to wait and see.

Dietbet and running

Day 1 of the new Dietbet challenge I have joined. I was a bit miffed to find that I'd put 4lb on in a week but when I was realistic and looked at what I'd eaten this past week I'm quite surprised it wasn't more.
Anyway there's still time for new players to join in on Sunshines Dietbet game, the stake is $25 (approx £16) and the fund pot currently stands at $20,850.00, so it's worth a go - I won about $48 on the last game.

Having not run at all last week despite my being adamant that I would I knew I needed to start this challenge as I mean to go on so Leanne and I headed out for a 4 mile trail run today. Unfortunately Leanne suffered from stitch almost immediately so we had to run in between the bouts of stitch but we think it's probably because she ran on empty, it seems Leanne doesn't get stitch if she eats before running whereas I have to run on empty - different strokes for different folks though right.

On the upside my cheap 'Pulse sonic' heart rate monitor actually seemed to manage to keep some kind of track for the first time ever - my heart seemed to range from 130 when fast walking to 186 when running. I was quite relieved to see that my heart rate returns to normal very quickly too.
On the downside though I don't know how to use all the other functions such as calories burned or stopwatch etc - I must dig the instructions out.

Here's some of the trails we ran

Food intake today has been minimal to say the least, I've just been too busy. I had a Nature valley bar at lunch time followed by one after we ran and then dinner consisted of a Pasta n sauce with added ham - that's it. I'm about to tuck into grapes but I haven't eaten enough today or drank enough for that matter.
Must do better.

Those weightloss bonuses

I'm currently at a loss of 10lb in this weight loss journey and I've noticed a couple of weird things

1. I now know what it feels like to have an empty belly. That may sound strange but as an ex comfort eater I never really allowed myself to be truly hungry. Don't get me wrong there were so many times when I thought I was Hank Marvin (starving) but I can see now that on a scale of one to 10 I probably wasn't even at a 5. It's kinda pretty cool to have an empty stomach and not feel the need to fill it.
2. The coolest thing - Us 'not so slim' girls have probably all been there, you're in the bath and reach forward for the soap or whatever and you reach and reach and reach and nope, you can't quite make it cos the jelly roll gets in the way so you have to scooch forward until your face is literally touching the end so you can get what you need. Well I can now reach without scooching and it's a fabulous feeling.
3. The healthiest thing - I have suffered with acid reflux for as long as I can remember. I get it every single day and it can be so dibilitating. I've always assumed it was caused by my medication as it's listed as a side effect so I just accept it. Not any more - in the 28 days of Dietbet I did not suffer with acid reflux once and I cannot even begin to explain how nice that is.
4.  The ickiest thing - IBS - how many of us suffer from it? After being diagnosed with this about 20 years ago I was told to basically figure out what causes it and stop eating it - simple as that. I would love it if it had been that easy because whereas some sufferers go to the loo alot with it I hardly went at all - once a week on a good week - so not a comfortable feeling. Anyway I haven't been bloated for the entire 28 days and thanks to the Shreddies for breakfast and cutting out wheat in bread I am now regular as clock work.

I'm just looking forward to all the other benefits of weightloss as they show themselves.

Here's my Dietbet weigh in and weigh out photos - just 10lb down and I already see an improvement on the bulldog arms

According to this useless information poster I have lost the amount of chemical additives that an American consumes in a year.

Managed a 4 mile trail run with Leanne today. The weather was quite warm though and caught me unawares so I didn't have water to hand - have to make sure that doesn't happen again it wasn't a pleasant experience.
I'm still getting either numb feet or cramped feet halfway into the run and I really can't figure out what is causing it. I thought maybe my trainers but I tried 2 other pairs and I get the same thing, I really need to figure this out because running with no feeling or running in excruciating pain is beginning to wear a little.
I'm really working on my breathing as I run too. If I breathe through the chest it's a sure fire way to suffer with side stitch so I'm attempting to perfect the art (and it is a flippin art) of breathing through my diaphragm. The difference is amazing, since breathing this way I have not suffered from stitch and even if I forget to breathe properly and a stitch begins to show itself diaphragm breathing settles it right back down.
I once read in a running magazine that diaphragm breathing is our natural way to breathe and that we learn the habit of chest breathing as we get older. As an example the article suggested watching a baby breathe when it's lying on its back - it's the stomach you will see move not the chest. My husband is the only person I know that still naturally breathes through the diaphragm and not the chest.

Barefoot running

So I was out of bed by 5.45am today so that I could get some housework done before heading out for a run at 7am. Leanne surfaced from her pit at about 6.45am, came down (not in running gear I noticed) and enquired
"we're not running this morning are we?"
"Erm yes Leanne" says I.
"Damn" is basically her response "but there's a dark cloud, we're not running in that are we?"
"Yes Leanne it'll be fine"
So she goes back upstairs to get changed while moaning "but I'm tiiirrrred".

I guess there are days when each one of us just doesn't fancy the run so I let her off this time. She did feel guilty about 10 minutes later and make an offer to come with me "If I need her" but I'd already decided that I'd run on the treadmill instead.
I set the treadmill distance to 4 and basically just kept increasing the speed little by little then decreasing for a bit before increasing again - I had to do something to counteract the completely mind blowing boredom of treadmill running.
On the last leg though I decided to cast off the shoes and socks and have a go at this barefoot running - ouch! I don't know what all the fuss is about this barefoot fad but all it did for me was make the usual aches I have 10 times worse. My calf muscles were burning (probably due to the forefoot strike), I had severe cramp in all my toes and friction burns on the soft padding underfoot.
I know it takes a while to get used to this running style and probably the treadmill isn't the best place to start but dang, I wanted those trainers back on so bad.

Once the 4 miles were up I checked my timing and that's when 5 seconds of confusion set in - there is no way I did 4 miles in 37 minutes. I mean I'd love to be doing 9 minute miles but there's no chance of that right now. That's when I remembered that this treadmill works with km's and I'd infact taken 9 minutes to do 1 measly km. By my reckoning that means I'm looking at 90 minutes to complete a 10k and that aint happening, no way no how!
I guess it's time to get serious so I'm going to dig out some of my old Womens Running magazines and use some of their treadmill plans to get some improvement.

Our first 10k was supposed to be in September but we've just found 2 others in July that we'd like to take part in on July 21st and the 23rd (we live in the Highlands where these things are extremely few and far between).

Anyway this is what I looked like after todays run - shame you can't see the limping from the barefoot running

And according to this I have currently lost the weight of a human skin - interesting but Ewwwww!

What's a couple of pounds........

Todays weigh in saw a gain of 2lbs. I kind of expected it because I've had a few days where I've had "the odd treat" and we all know where those odd treats lead.
I'm not worried though, I'm straight back on track and I now have 8 days to lose 2.2lbs to win my 'Dietbet' challenge - I can so do that!

I was back out running at 7am this morning with my daughter Leanne and her boyfriend Owen. Both Leanne and Owen have a naturally faster pace than me, probably due to their Penelope Pitstop type strides compared to my short choppy strides and usually we run in 2 groups (them and me basically lol), today though we all ran together because Owen has had a few issues with his calf muscles and I think it's because they go off too quick (we're only a few weeks into this 10k training) and don't stretch properly.
Despite running my granny pants off today we don't appear to making progress on times, though maybe Owens gimpy calf and my asthma making my breathing "sound like a Walrus" (according to Leanne) could have something to do with it.

Anyway I've just been scouring the net for inspiration and I found this old page from 3 years ago. It's the local running group page where I was a featured runner for the Castle of Mey 10k and I, along with a few others, had to give weekly progress reports. That was the first time I'd ever run as an adult and by week 5 this is what I had to say;

Report 5 - Week beginning 08/02/10

Have you stuck to the training programme? If not any reasons why?

So chuffed! I did the whole 6 miles in one day!!! Then hubby made me get out the car and run!
Excuse the wit but this weeks training has been pathetic from start to finish and humour is all I have left!

Have you done more or less than expected? Explain.

As much as what the training programme expected of me (just) but less than what I expected of me.

How did you feel during training this week? What were the highs and lows?

Lethargic & breathing difficulties.
Highs : - What are those!!!
Lows :- Every single training session this week.

Are you seeing improvements; in speed, distance, breathing?

I wish!

Where are you walking/running; gym, beach, roads, forests?

Twice on the treadmill, once on the road and once in the forest. Pathetic attempts all of them but the treadmill fared a tad better.

Are you training alone/with someone else/mixture? How does this affect your training?

A mix. Alone on the treadmill but have also been out with hubby and with my daughter Leanne. As much as I enjoy hubby coming with me it doesn't do my ego any good that he is so much more fitter than me, despite his dodgy foot and being a heavy smoker. Yep, I'm slower than a limping chimney!

Any injuries?

Mentally, heaps of them!

Are you feeling any benefits away from training as a result of the training; health, toning up, more energetic?

I still sleep better.....
I'm trying to think of more but I've got nothing.

Are you doing any other forms of exercise; swimming, cycling, yoga, pilates?

Cycling and strength training.

Any other observations?

My mental attitude this week has been appalling. I've concentrated more on what I haven't managed than what I have. My first attack of EIA has left me unable to push myself for fear of another attack!
Next week I will be getting a grip completely. No more negative thoughts and telling myself 'I can't' when I know I can.


Gave me a giggle, I remember it so well!

Craving

So far today has been a bit of a struggle.
This mornings run turned into a walk with no running at all but it was my fault, I tried to rope an uninterested daughter in to stand in for my other daughter while she's at work (and who actually enjoys running). I needed the extra hand because I haven't yet got the hang of running with the Great Dane (he can't run in a straight line and is very easily distracted) let alone adding a GSD (who needs to lose weight as much as myself) into the mix. I tried to convince my daughter that she'd enjoy a 6.30am run but it was falling on deaf ears and by the time we'd made it out the door with both the dogs (7am) I had to accept that running was not this daughters forte.

With scenery like this to run along though I don't understand how you couldn't be enthused and motivated

Little Miss SG (who actually is slim) was happy to take a photo of myself and Huntly running though

That looks like a mighty uncomfortable running style doesn't it? It is! Even though it doesn't look like I'm going any faster than a walk there, I was, honest!

Here's my daughter with Atlas - future training buddy (the dog, certainly not the daughter).

The main struggle came today at lunch time. I made sure I had a suitable breakfast as soon as we got back from the fake run this morning but by lunch time I was literally craving chocolate, this is the first time since I started Dietbet that I've had this issue and I think it was triggered last night when Mr SG took me to the flix to watch 'Ironman 3' and I hadn't really prepared myself for coming face to face with the sweet stands.
Initially I just used tunnel vision, got our tickets, a small popcorn and a bottle of water but Mr SG forgot the 3d glasses from the car and by the time he got back I was glued to the chocolate.
It took everything I had but I walked away form it last night but I think it was still on my mind today and I confused hunger pangs with a need or craving for chocolate.
For a split second I was up for giving in on Dietbet, having Pizza with Mr SG and then stuffing chocolate down my gullet, thankfully though the urge for that passed and I quickly cooked this up instead

Salmon and mushroom grilled on the George Foreman, salad and Banana. Mr SG thought the Banana idea was yucky with a dinner but let me tell you. Salmon and Banana is my new favourite combination.
The chocolate craving has disappeared now and I am so relieved that I didn't tuck into that Pizza.

Tomorrow isn't a running day because today was supposed to be and I'll be doing a run on Sunday (possibly a trail run) but I think I'll have to either run alone or use the treadmill to make up for todays stroll.

Slow wins the race.

Day 3 of my 'dietbet' challenge and everything is going smoothly - at least I think it is but we'll have to see what the scales say on Monday morning.

I was out running again this morning at 7am with my daughter and her boyfriend, plus the dogs of course. My problem today was that I forgot my ipod and I hate, hate, hate hearing myself breathing while I'm running - it's kinda off putting because I breathe veeeery loudly.
We managed 3 miles walk/run again and I have to say that I'm suprised by how much I'm enjoying it despite not being anywhere near as good as I used to be. My pace is pretty slow at the moment but I know that will pick up soon enough so I'm not worried about it.
 It's this 'dietbet' challenge, it has me looking at food and exercise completely different. For example Mr SG just took me up to Tesco to get a few bits (healthy stuff of course) and I was not even tempted by the goodies I would normally get - you know, the 'bad' stuff.
I'm feeling pretty good as I sit here writing this post snacking on grapes. Grapes! Who'da thought it!

I've been tracking my daily calories on My Fitness Pal and I'm finding it difficult to use up all the calories that I'm allocated each day. Never in a million years would I have thought that I'd struggle to eat all those calories.
Fingers crossed I will see at least 2.2lb weightloss on Monday.

Day 1 - I can do this!

 “I would rather attempt something great and fail than attempt to do nothing and succeed.” ~Robert Schuller



Yesterday was the first day of healthy eating and I have to say it was much easier than I thought it was going to be, I had a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacked only on grapes. I find that if I drink water constantly throughout the day then it helps curb hunger pangs plus if I begin to waver I just have to remind myself that I bet money on this weight loss - it may only be 16 quid but I am determined not to lose that money.
I got up at 6am and was out running by 7am with my daughter, her boyfriend and 3 dogs - 3 miles walk/running, I am so glad we decided to take running back up and the three of us have even decided to enter the Baxters 10k at Inverness in September. My daughter and I signed up for it last year but we got lazy and ended up not even going, I don't want a repeat of that so we won't actually enter for another few weeks.

Dietbet is definitely motivating me to lose this weight. I have to lose 8.8lb in 4 weeks - completely doable and the pot in the dietbet challenge that I am part of is now standing at £28,950 - wowsa, I certainly want to win me a share of that!