Resistance Training (aka intervals in the wind...)

Hope everyone's having a good week! Mine has started off well, been training at work so hours are a bit odd - 9.30-4.30. Not bad hours at all but not as good as the early or late shifts.. I don't like something that cuts right accross the middle of the day... I'm working less hours but I'm getting less done... how does that work?

I did something I very rarely do today. That was get up early to go running, before breakfast, and before coffee! A very rare occurence! I'd planned intervals today, Mike very reluctantly came along. He was trying to pursuade me to skip them but I wasn't going to budge. I feel like I lost so much fitness when I struggled to fit everything in when I was working at H&B. I'm determined not to let that happen again, even if it does mean occaisonally going without my morning coffee!

It was not a pleasant run today. I probably should have warmed up more, my legs felt like dead weights. We also had loads of out and backs to do which slowed me down more than I thought it would. The worst thing was the wind though. We're apparently going to have gale force winds by the weekend. Well that throws a spanner in my running works! Here's to hoping the weather man got it wrong!

Here's my times, the time I was supposed to run it in is in brackets so you can see how much I struggled this morning! Still, I was putting in the effort so even though it wasn't quite right it will have done me some good.. I have to remind myself to think of the positives when I don't hit a time goal!

1600m - 7.46 (7.44)
1200m - 6.12 (5.42)
800m - 4.00 (3.44)
400m - 1.52 (1.50)

I'm going to have to keep this short 'n' sweet. I hope to be able to catch up on all my blogs asap but tomorrow I'm going to be going non stop too as I have a trustee meeting til about 8

Friday Intervals

I don't normally run two days in a row, but I want a rest day tomorrow so I can hopefully get my long run done on Sunday. I found out I can finally start work and go in to get my shifts on Monday, I might even start on Monday I'm not sure. So I want my long run done and dusted before then! I wouldn't have run today if my legs felt bad but they felt surprisingly fresh.

My planned workout for today was intervals. 4 x 1200m (5.42) with 400m recovery. As we're trying to save money we have cut out the track from our weekly budget.. This makes me sad, I love running at the track but we're saving money for something important and it will be worth it... All will be revealed soon!

Warm up 1 mile 10.12
1200m - 5.34
1200m - 5.44
1200m - 5.36
1200m - 5.43
Cool down 0.6 miles at about 11min/mile pace.. so tired!!!
Total milage 5.6

Intervals on the road instead of the track.
Pros
*Cheaper - it costs almost a tenner for Mike and I to use the local track, it's cheaper to go swimming!!
*For part of the time you get to look like a super speedy road runner...
*Can go to areas where you will be racing - i.e. hills/bridge
*Following on from that, it gives slight changes which would not be present on a track, in this case I was running my intervals up a street and the next down a street. There is a slight hill which isn't really noticeable but it slowed down intervals 2 and 4 even though all intervals had the same perceived effort. I've put this as a pro as it's more realistic for racing.

Cons
*No visual cues to know when to speed up
*Garmin not 100% accurate on short distances
*Worse on the joints
*I like the fact that the track is the one place Mike and I can run together since our paces are so different.

Luke at The Super Fatlete tagged me in a fun question post! Here they are!

1. What is your favorite song quote?
It's not your birthday anymore, there's no need to be kind to you.. By Morrissey full lyrics can be found here, I remember laughing out loud the first time I heard it. I love Morrissey, we saw him live a few years ago and it was by far the best live show I've ever been to, he has some amazing stage presence.

2. What is your favorite exercise or workout?
I love sparring, it tires you out like nothing else I've ever done and it keeps you thinking all the time. I always get out of the ring feeling exhilerated and since it's such a hard work exercise you feel really good afterwards that you've got a great workout. And when you make improvements or land good shots or slip/block your opponents shots you feel really good too.

3. Favorite place to go on vacation and activity to do?
I have very fond memories of Florida as we used to go there on holiday every year when I was growing up but it will take some pursuading to get Mike there! I like going on holiday where there are plenty of places to go walking and exploring, I like rural areas best.

4. Do you collect anything, if so what and how did it start?
I used to collect thimbles and dolls in national dress when I was a child, I don't collect them anymore but they're all still at my parent's house. The dolls started as my grandparents travelled a lot and they used to bring me a doll from every country and I think that's how the thimbles started too. My brother and I used to get so excited for them coming home hehe. I also used to collect magnets, I had a radiator full of mainly Disney magnets, can't forget the masses of Disney teddies too haha!

5. Hardest obstacle you have had to overcome in your weight loss/fitness/training goals?
It took me ages to be able to do a chin-up. Ages! I did end up acheiving it after a few weeks total rest after some minor surgery though, proving that rest can be really useful sometimes.

6. What do you do now and if you could choose any career what would it be?
I work in a care home at the moment. The career I always wanted was to play in a big orchestra but as I got older I realised this wasn't an option. My career goals now are more focussed on a caring proffession

7. If you could choose an exotic animal to have as a pet what would it be?
I would love a pet monkey!

8. Do you use a reward system for your goals, (formally set or not) and if so what is your favorite reward?
No I don't, I've never really considered this idea before, maybe it would be good! The closest I come to this I guess is when I'm doing a long run I run a fast mile and then let myself have a kind of recovery mile..

Now, I tag everyone who reads my blog who ran today (or anyone else who wants to answer them)! Here's my questions - running/fitness theme!

1. What do you feel is your biggest fitness acheivment?
   
2. What is your favourite type of music to listen to when you run?
   
3. What is your favourite distance?
   
4. What's the most impulsive thing you've ever done fitness wise?
   
5. What's your favourite post race/run meal?
   
6. What's your favourite pre-run fuel?
   
7. Do you use gels or anything similar to fuel during long runs?
   
8. Why did you start running?
   

Let me know if you answer the questions!

Sunny Intervals

Did everyone have a great weekend? I have been outside most of the time enjoying the sun! We had a little heatwave, I just hope it stays hot but that's probably a bit too much to ask of England!

On Friday I had a day off so we decided to head to the track for our intervals, it's been too long since I did intervals, I forget how much I love/hate them. We went early morning and it was still sooo hot, Mike poured water over me when I was done, that's about the only time that wouldn't elicit a mad response from me haha

I did (times I was supposed to be getting are in brackets);

1 mile warm up 9.20
1200m 5.28 (5.46)
1200m 5.23 (5.46)
800m 3.43 (3.47)
800m 3.45 (3.47)
800m 3.46 (3.47)
800m 3.43(3.47)

total 4.5 miles


I got a versatile blogger award from Anne @ Asthma and the Gift of Running, thanks Anne!
Now I get to share seven things about me and pass this on to a few more bloggers!

1. I never know what to write on these things..!
   
2. I met Mike on myspace!!
   
3. My mum and dad think we met at a nightclub
   
4. Even though I love Lost I have not watched the last episodes yet... I have them recorded but I haven't watched them...
   
5. In winter I get so cold I sleep in thermals, fleece pjs, a hooded dressing gown, thick socks, slipper boots and a thick quilt and in my old flat it was two quilts and a blanket cause it was colder!
   
6. I used to HATE running, absolutely hate it, I'd do anything to get out of cross country at school
   
7. I took figure skating lessons when I was a teenager, I wish I didn't quit!
   

I'd like to give the award to everyone who comments on this post because you're all wonderful!

I also have some work news! Remember when I mentioned about them hiring me as assistant manager on one wage then lowering my position to supervisor which also came with a lower wage... Well I sent a letter to the regional manager asking her to sort it out and reimburse me otherwise I would leave and seek legal advice. Well she is coming to see me on Thursday. I hope she sorts it out, I don't really want to leave, there are quite a few parts of the job that I don't like but they aren't big enough issues that I would leave over them. The wage thing is though, I will do if they don't sort my wages out. Cross your fingers and toes for me please ;-)

I'll be back soon with my 10 mile recap from yesterday ooof it was a hot one!!