Trying Friday Fill in's

Ok I have nicked this idea for a post from Kat's blog as it seems quite interesting and as its my first go I'll try both. For more info on Friday Fill-in's try here

*This week, I'm going to give you a choice of fill-ins OR a different kind of fill-in (or both). A friend emailed me a list where you have to identify Christmas songs by the initials of the first words of the first line of each song. Each Friday until Christmas Eve I'll post 9 more of these songs and if you'd like to play along, great! So...here we go! *

1. The best thing about a birthday celebration is my mum singing happy birthday on my ansaphone.
2. I cant believe the speed of the passage of time.
3. I went shopping recently and the most interesting thing I bought was spices, sad but true :)
4. Doublers was a child's game played with tennis balls.
5. The reason is because!
6. Getting fed up of snow and cold.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Sleeping, tomorrow my plans include taking photos at Santa's Grotto and Sunday, I want to run!


AND/OR
1. HYAMLC:
2. TFNTADS: The First Noel The Angels Did Sing
3. GRYMGLNYD: God Rest You Merry Gentlemen Let Nothing You Dismay
4. ICUAMC:
5. SNHNAICAIB: Silent Night, Holy Night all is calm all is bright
6. OTFDOCMTLGTM: On the first day of christmas my true love gave to me
7. DTHWBOHFLLLLLLLL: Deck the halls with boughs of holly falalalala lala la la
8. YBWOYBNC:
9. JTTWTLHC: Joy to the world the lord has come

Journal Your Christmas 2010

It's that time of year again, Journal your Christmas with Shimelle.

I started JYC in 2007 did some more in 2008 and read the prompts in 2009 this year 2010 I'm going to at least keep notes (every day if I can).

Dec 1st - Manifesto - why am i doing this? much the same reasons as I did in 2007.01Dec07

November

Still running and now I have winter running kit to keep me warm and dry while I do it thanks to Mum and Peter {THANKS}.

Normal sports shops still don't have running kit for the larger lady (me!) so we had to think a bit laterally while looking for the base layers and the jacket and, thanks to a suggestion from Peter, ended up in Mountain Warehouse. They have a great range of clothes designed for walkers and cyclists that also work well for runners and they go up to size 20 in most things.

So I got a couple of base layer long-sleeved tops, the Hi-Vis waterproof jacket that is really great and properly waterproof not just shower proof, a couple of pairs of thermal long pants (coloured long johns to you and me) and a head tube that is helping to keep my ears warm when I'm running but can also be a head band, scrunchie, hat, scarf or hood.

We did find something that fitted in a normal sports shop, new running socks! and amazingly they do make a difference.

Not wanting to have cold legs, and having found the thermal pants to be more like long johns, I searched online for running pants/leggings/trousers and another runner suggested Next Sports wear.

Now I admit, I had always thought of Next as being for 'Tall, Long Legged, Skinny people' but I stand corrected. They do have a petite clothing range as well as large sizes and their sports gear (sadly not petite) goes up to size 22! So I got my black technical running leggings to complete my winter kit.

I have tested the kit by going out (accidentally) in a force 9 gale and it held up well, the jacket kept me (and my inhaler) dry, the base layer stopped me over-heating under the jacket, the leggings kept my ankles warm and the head tube converted nicely from ear protecting head band to full head and face balaclava. And my test run was another 4km so getting closer to my goal all the time.

So the running will continue outdoors during the winter.

October!

So its October and I've not been out running in over a week due to shifts and a rotten cold that wont go away. My diet got put on hold for most of last month but trying to get back on track with a new month.

Some other New happenings this month

• Stampin' Up! launch their new catalogue (i may have to hide my credit card)
• The Running Bug have launched their new look site (still trying to find my way around)
• Me the Abridged Version reaches week 3. still working on weeks 1&2 need to catch up :)

5 things to do in October

Run at least twice a week every week.

Lose at least 4 lbs

Finish at least 4 pages in my MeTAV album.

Get caught up on paperwork in the house

Start Christmas cards!

4km!!!

Been feeling a bit rough this week had a cough that just kept getting worse and the weather has taken a definate winter feel so have had to force my self back into running mode.

Eventually made it out today after church and was aiming to do my normal 30 min run. I had to take a couple of walking breaks around 10 and 20 mins but that meant when I reached my normal finishing point I felt I could go longer so managed around 38 mins and when I mapped my route worked out at 4km!!

I can now imagine the 5km and think another couple of weeks and I'll have it :)

Update

I haven't blogged for a while as a few things happened very quickly.

Firstly my Aunt who had moved into the hospice got much worse very quickly and sadly died on the 12th of August. It came as a huge shock as we'd been hearing it can take years for this illness to run its course.

With hindsight I'm sure its better for her not to be trapped in a body that wont respond or do what you want it to. But I miss her and the memories, books and films she was still to share with us.

It was a very emotional funeral and lots of our family came together to say goodbye.

One silver lining (and you have to always look for these) is her doctor was able to confirm she did not have an inherited form of MND so I am no more likely than anyone else to have it, that does put my mind at rest and stop me dwelling on it.

Secondly my brother came home from sea to find his wife of 17months has left him, they had been together for years before getting married and this came as a bolt from the blue to us.

Lastly but not too traumatically my 10year old sky box died a slow and irritating death. It would cut out during programs and not come back on, or stick on one channel and not let you change it. Eventually needing to be switched off overnight just to get 1hrs worth of viewing the next day. The Sky website, rather unhelpfully, advised me I could get a replacement box for £159!!!! and would have to wait at least a week for delivery and installation.

Thankfully a lovely lady at work decided she had an old box she didnt need and gave it to me for nothing, free, gratis. I didnt realise how addicted to sfyfy, Sky One, FX and Living I had become until I couldn't access it.

Naturally I was going to make a card to say thanks but decided to make a whole box of assorted cards for her to use through the year instead :)

So new month - new focus!

Back to the running, and the diet. My cousin has suggested we enter the 10k road race at next years highland games and I think I may just do it. I put on two pounds but thats ok, I know I can shift them. I'm going to use my scrapbooking supplies not just hoard and stroke them and if I don't need or want something I will sell it or give it away to someone who will. I will try to learn new things and take in a class or experience or two.

This past month has taught me not to wait, to grab chances while there here, to tell people how you feel, not to put off that visit or that call or that experience. Life can be short and quick, remember to take time to enjoy it, do it and not just plan it.

I can do this. So can you ;)

Update and reminder to myself - Little and Often

This summer I can make positive changes in my life. I took up running earlier this year and can now run 30 minutes non stop.I joined the gym & pool for the summer and have started taking the aqua aerobics class most weeks. I registered for weight watchers online to try and make my weight loss and healthier eating a permanent thing and since I started running have lost 1 stone.

I took up running in May using the Couch to 5k program also known as C25K and the main thing it stressed was to take things one step at a time. So we started with just one minute of running at a time followed by a break where you were allowed to walk and repeated that several times then had a day off and did it again twice more in the week. This allowed me to get used to running slowly and be happy at that level before moving on to longer running and shorter walking intervals. Now 9 weeks later I'm running 30 minutes at a time. I'm not up to 5km yet but I know I can get there.

As I am asthmatic, was over 4 stone over weight and the top side of 40 I appreciated this style of running a little bit at a time but doing it often enough to become a habit.

I also realised that Weight Watchers has the same kind of process. I'm not trying to lose all my 4+ Stone overnight, just as I couldn't go out and run 5km with no training. I'm just trying to lose 1 or 2 lbs a week and when I've done that do it again the next week.

I'm also slowly trying to introduce healthier options into my diet and reduce the unhealthy options. ie more fruit & veg, less burgers and chips :) Just like the running and walking intervals it took a while for my body to change from wanting a bag of chips and burger every other night to being happy with fresh veg stirfry most nights and burger and chips once a month. But I know if I keep at it, like the running, I can change my eating and develop those new habits.

I can do this!

Competed Week 9!

At last, a week later I've managed out for my last 30 min run of week 9 and have now completed the c25k program!

Although I'm not at the 5km distance yet I'm classing myself as graduated and will keep increasing to get to the 5km in the next month or so.

Week9

W9D2 of C25k, running now for 30 mins equals 2 laps of my local park and playing fields which equals 3.26km!

I've already worked out that three laps are going to be the 5k so I can see the target in sight.

Stopped using the podcasts now and ran tonight using the soundtrack from We Will Rock You. Some great songs to run to in there. Just not got enough breath to sing along while I'm running :)

Rain!

I didnt manage my run yesterday as stuck late at work and the Scottish monsoon hit again today so went to Aqua Aerobics instead. Didnt realise it was an hour class shattered now :) but fun.

Catch Up Again

I am a bad blogger! I think I overdid it at my Gym induction on Monday evening.

As my main focus is weight loss the fitness instructer suggested I start with the cardio-vascular machines.

So to get used to the equipment I did 5 min warm up on the bike, 5 mins on the rowing machine, 5 on the cross trainer and then hit the tread mill. Once I got up to speed and used to the fact of running with out going anywhere I kind of liked it so did a 20 min run. Obviously forgetting at that point I'd already run 28 minutes in the morning.

My thigh and calf muscles were complaining all day Tuesday. Must make sure to go to the gym on a rest day not a running day.

Wednesday

Managed the last 28min run of Week 8 on Wednesday, did it at the gym on the treadmill as winter had descended on Scotland

Felt easier on the treadmill but really boring just looking at the machine or myself sweating in the mirror I found myself daydreaming about my normal route round the park.

Thursday

I had a rest day but felt the need to do something so went for a swim, its been a couple of years since I was last swimming but managed 26 lengths in 30 mins.

Sunday

Managed the first run of week 9 a full 30 min run with no stops using mapmyrun my route was 3.17km so quite pleased with that.

Catch Up!

THURSDAY

I managed out for the first run of week 8: 28 min run.

It was 8:20pm when I headed out and being cloudy it seemed quite dark under the trees in the park. I decided to do a shorter circuit so I didn't have to run through the wooded part but it meant two and half short circuits rather than one and half long ones which mentally seemed harder but I did it.

FRIDAY

Traveled over to see my Aunt in Ayr. My Uncle picked me up from the boat and took me to lunch first. I was good had jacket potato with beans cheese and salad :) Visited my Aunt at the hospital, she is on a mask all the time to help with her breathing but not on oxygen and is able to chat and is still very much herself under there. Got to meet one of her care team who is coordinating her move to the hospice and all her equipment. Was really please he seems confident and professional and knows exactly what she needs.

The hospital only allows visiting for an hour at a time so we headed back to the house for a sandwich tea with cream cakes, and then back out in the evening for another visit. The out for a drink with my cousins and chips and cheese on the way home.

SATURDAY

Lie in and then watched free practice and qualifying for F1 at my cousins with all his gadgets. Big screen telly, timing info on laptop and driver tracking on the iphone :)

Another visit to my Aunt at the hospital. She was feeling brighter and giving instructions to my Uncle and cousin for the move on monday. Then time to leave and my cousin ran me back to the boat in his Honda sports car. very nice shame it was too wet to put the roof down :)

SUNDAY

Long lie again to recover from weekend and got up to watch the F1, managed some housework and had a lazy day.

MONDAY

Day off as I expected to be at end of C25k Week 9 and had put in for the holiday 2 months ago. With having days off however I'm only on Week 8 so went out today for my 2nd run of the week, 28 mins done and dusted! I felt really good and when the podcast said 1 min to go I really thought I had longer left. Came home and did my weightwatchers weigh-in and I've lost 3lbs this week so thats 7lbs since starting running. Really pleased.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes :)

I had to give it my run a miss this weekend as it seemed to become monsoon weather and gale force winds at the same time! Not a good combination. Managed out between the showers tonight so W7D3 last 25 min run of the week done and dusted.

Passed another female runner several times this evening doing my same route but in reverse. Think she's training for the 10km road race at our Highland games in August as in my lap and half of the park area she passed me 5 times. Although as we were going in opposite directions I passed her 5 times as well :)

While I'm on a roll I've decided I can make positive changes in my life this Summer. I am joining the gym & pool for the summer and have registered for weight watchers online to try and make my weight loss and healthier eating a permanent thing.

Since starting running in May I've lost 4lbs if I can get my food issues and portion sizes sorted I may actually be able to fit into some of the clothes in my wardrobe :) Will keep you posted!

Missed a couple of days and 'Why'

** WARNING LONG POST **

I've had to miss a couple of days since my last run as had some pain in my left hip but seems more connected to not my sleeping well rather than my running. Used the time to try out some yoga for runners. Wasn't too bad and no really weird positions :) may try to do some of these every week.

I manged out for my 2nd 25 min run of week7 tonight. On the way passed the pool noticed a large sign outside offering a 6 week gym and pool taster membership for £30 so will pop in tomorrow for more information.

I've been following a few blogs of other C25k runners and recently one of them has been reflecting on why she started running. I posted back in May a few of my reasons and thinking behind starting to run and in the last couple of weeks have come to face maybe the main the reason I started to run.

My Aunt Ann (my mums sister) was diagnosed a couple of months ago with Motor Neuron Disease.

My Gran (my mums mum) also died from MND as did my one of my mums cousins.

Motor Neurone Disease stops the nerve cells that control the body’s movement from sending messages to muscles. MND is often rapid and always fatal. There is no known cure. Most kinds of MND don't appear until at least 50 or 60 years of age.

The most common kind of MND has two forms 'sporadic' ie random and 'familial' ie affects relatives over several generations. There is a chance that this form is what has affected three members of my family and therefore I may also be at risk of developing it, there is also an equal chance that its the random form and I may never develop it.

As there are only two main genes so far identified to account for some cases of MND the current tests are likely to be inconclusive and as there is no cure I think I would rather not know.

Anyway this having to contemplate the chance of possibly having a fatal condition that may or may not present in the next 20 or 30 years filled my head with lots of unknowns and things I had/have no control over.

So I decided to take control while I still have it. I can control what I do now and I can choose to be fitter and healthier so I'm running and I'm dieting. I'm keeping the MND thoughts in a little locked box in my head but as I set this blog up as a place where I can put all the thoughts, ideas and lists that keep cluttering up my head I thought I should put these thoughts here as well. Hopefully by writing it out here I can exercise my mind and worries and get on with enjoying living.

No More Intervals

On the running now moved onto Week 7 of C25K so no more intervals just running, 3x 25 min runs this week and then increasing the time over the next two weeks, I may have to keep increasing for several more weeks as still running slowly so not hitting the distances the plan predicts, but thats ok.

So another 25 min run under my belt tonight. Was still quite hot when I finished my cool down so took at tip from active.com to just pour the water bottle over my head. It felt quite good :)

What a difference a day makes!

W6D3

Thanks to all the encouragement from my friends and family on Facebook and the girls on UKScrappers I managed back out to night after eating properly during the day and taking on plenty of water and I managed my full 25 minute run with no stops!

I may not be the fastest runner out there but the teenagers hanging round the park that sniggered when I ran past on my first lap didn't look quite so smug when I ran past them the second time :) Very satisfying!

Roll on Week 7!

Bad Run :(

I didnt make it on Tuesday as my legs were still sore from Sundays run so went out tonight aiming to do my 25 min run.

I was feeling very out of puff before I even finished my warm up walk and although I managed to start my run I was really struggling by the time the podcast announced the end of the first 5 min section so slowed to a walk and thought I would go back to W6D1 (5/8/5 min runs) but couldn't manage the second run so called it quits and came home early will try again tomorrow.

I know everyone has bad runs from time to time and I've been really lucky to get to week 6 before crashing but feel quite bad at failing the run tonight.

Just have to pick myself up and keep going and remember I can do this, I've done the 20min I can do it again!

Fathers Day!

Decided to walked out to my dads this afternoon to give him his fathers day pressie (just over a mile) didn't think he'd appreciate me turning up after my run out of puff and sweatty :) I got him sweeties in a hand made box and handmade card. my brother and his wife got him the DVD of Up

as he does look just like the main character. I also got him setup on Facebook so he can keep in touch with all the cousins.

I then did my Week6Day2, two ten minute runs to get home. Running along the esplanade in the town from one side to the other and then through the back roads of the town to get home. Legs a bit shakey now, running on pavements is harder than the dirt tracks in the park. Also negotiating traffic, holidaymakers and drunks not much fun. Think I'll stick to the park from now on.

Time to shower and veg on the couch me thinks.

Week 6 Still Running

Still not keen on morning running but as on back shift this week didn't have much choice. Managed W6 Day1 today, 5 min run, 3 min walk, 8 min run, 5 min walk, 5 min run. with my 5 min warm up and cool down at either end I did two laps of my route :) I worked out on Mapmyrun.com that three laps of my route will be 5k so I know what I'm aiming for :)

20 Minute Run!!

Ok not a morning person but got up and did my week5day3 run today before going to work. Suppose to be 20 min non stop run but had to stop at 13mins to walk for a bit as going uphill but then managed remaining 6 min run. So close and much longer than I've ever run before.

Oh my poor legs :)

I managed my W5D2 run today - two 8 minute runs with a 5 min walk between and oh boy, do my legs hurt tonight but I did it!
Now if I could only find the deep heat cream I might be able to walk tomorrow

Three Five Minute Runs!!

Whew! Just completed Week 5 Day 1. Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then Run for 5 minutes Walk for 3 minutes Run for 5 minutes Walk for 3 minutes Run for 5 minutes 5 min cool down walk.

The first 5 min run wasn't too bad, the second I thought I'd had it and the third I actually enjoyed.

Think this running is affecting my brain :D

Week 4 runs 2&3

Was very warm on Thursday but I managed out in the evening and completed my W4D2 run. Still found the 5 min runs very hard but didn't kill me and I didn't have jelly legs but was really tired after my shower so had an early night and forgot to update the blog. Sorry :)

Saturday should have been run 3 of the week but between the heat and my asthma flaring up I was quite short of breath all day so didn't manage out.

I made it out this evening for my final run of Week 4. I decided to run my route the other way round to avoid a couple with a dog and found it seemed easier that way. Think I'm now running up the long sloping incline and down the steeper side. Or possibly just being distracted by scenery going by in a different direction :) What ever the reason I'm going to try and alternate the route just for variety from now on. I manged both the 5 minute runs and was even able to add an extra 100 meters to the end of the last run just cos I felt I could.

I may not be so brave next week. Roll on Week 5!

Oh now that was hard!

Whooop!! I ran 5 minutes none stop!!!!, True it nearly killed me, my legs were burning and I thought my lungs were trying to escape but I did it. Although my legs still feel like jelly even half and hour later.

W4D1 5 minute warm up walk, run 3 mins, walk 1.5 mins, run 5 mins, walk 2.5 mins, run 3 mins, walk 1.5 mins, run 5 mins (faster tempo!) 5 minute cool down walk.

Thankfully the podcast i'm using does the first 5 minute run on at a slower tempo so was already moving quite slowly when I came across the man with 3 out of control dogs! He's busy giving it 'It's ok, they wont bite love' while the little yappy jack russell is trying to claw my ankles to bits and his other two are trying to run me into the stream. I used to like dogs!

Saturdays Run

Whew! Completed W3D3 Run on Saturday still amazed I can run 3mins, but felt really hard then I remembered I hadn't had any lunch. oops! Must remember to eat properly before running in future.

On the plus side got new trainers and did a layout for my Book of Me

Sunny Evening

Week 3 Run 2 done and dusted.

Nice sunny evening with cool breeze to help me forget I'm running!

Came home to a nice hot shower and big bowl of stir-fry vegetables and pasta.

Running 3 minutes still a bit of a shock to my system but not as bad as Monday, roll on Friday :)

I RAN NON STOP FOR 3 MINUTES!!!!!!!

Thankfully a bit cooler today so managed my W3D1 run this evening. Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then two repetitions of the following: run for 90 seconds and walk for 90 seconds to recover, run 3 minutes and walk for three minutes to recover. Then five-minute cool-down walk.

I cant believe I managed to run for 3 minutes non stop - TWICE!

Must admit the second time was easier as I didn't have the fear I'd had for the first time :)

Press-ups!?!

Thinking I should do some other type of exercise on my rest days and came across the 100 Pressups site similar idea as c25k but with pressups not running. Don't think I can do any at the moment :)

Facebook | Joanne Cowie

Facebook | Joanne Cowie: "Back on track W2D3 run just completed, its quite warm this evening so a bit more out of puff than normal. Quick shower and relax on the sofa I think :)"

Duh!

Ok Change of plan was meant to be on my second run of the week tonight but forgot to turn on the dryer on the way to work so running kit was still wet when I got home. Not keen on running my current route in fading light as its through the park so will do W2D3 tomorrow instead and W3D1 on Sunday afternoon. Then I can get back to normal on Tuesday.

May be I better restart Flylady as well and remember to reboot my laundry :)

C25K

Ok this is not some weird techno jargon but my latest exercise attempt. The Couch to 5km program on Cool Running.

Now those of you that know me know that exercise and I have never been very close. I admit I toyed with aerobics and swimming a couple of years ago but could always find excuses not to do it or a reason to visit the chip shop afterwards and I never really got the 'feel good' factor that you hear people who love exercise talk about.

So, why take up running? Well I started thinking about it last year while driving back from our visit to Silverstone. We stopped for a snack and magazine refill and not having a Weightwatchers magazine I bought a Womens Fitness magazine that had exercises to help me trim down a bit before the cruise in August. The magazine included a section on starting running by doing intervals of walking and running. As I was already doing some walking after work by taking a long route home I thought that could be doable.

I did the exercises for a while, enjoyed my cruise until my hip and legs got sore with all the walking and when I came home went back to couch potato mode during Autumn and Winter. The freezing ice and snow this Winter was a great excuse to cut back my walking even further.

Then fast forward to this Spring and Eddie Izzard on comic relief running all those marathons and to the other celebs cycling through Scotland in the freezing weather that had kept me tucked up in bed. I started to feel guilty. Then to Spring Harvest this year and on week 3 my two chalet mates were both runners and got up early to run before hitting the rest of the day and they did enjoy it!

I was getting the message :) I started checking out running forums for good ways to start and found a lot referred to this c25K program. Once I found there were podcasts to help with the timing and that I didn't have to break any speed or distance records I decided to give it a go.

So here I am on Week 2 Day 2 having just done my fifth session of walking and running. I do feel better, I am enjoying it, I even ran in the cold and rain last week and felt great after.

I'm updating my status on facebook after each run and will start to log how I'm doing here and hopefully in a couple of months I can say I'm a runner, rather than just runner in training :)

Panto!!

I had a great fun yestarday attending the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow to see their Panotmine of Pinocchio with the kids and parents of Ballochgoy Playgroup. The cast were fantastic, the songs and dance routines highly enjoyable, the magic amazing and the sets, costumes and sound and light effects truly stunning.

Its running till 30th Jan and next Wednesday (27th) they are doing a special £10 show to raise funds for the Haiti Earthquake appeal. If you havent yet seen it I'd highly recommend going along.

ITS COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok the Snow was nice before Christmas and helped lend a seasonly feel to the holidays and looked pretty.

But its now been two weeks, its not snowed again, we still have below zero temperatures and now ice skating rinks instead of pavements.

I'm officially over the fun of snow and want the sunshine to come back!

Unlikely I know :(

I'm actually starting to wish we could get the heavy snow that Englands getting as then I might get the day off work.

Apologies to those who are getting the heavy snow and hate it or to those without snow and ice who want some.