I have recently taken up running again. Nothing too crazy just a few kilometers after work with the girls in the office. We run twice a week and as well as laps of the beautiful russell square we do drills. Lunges, high knees bum flicks its way more fun looking like a ninny with friends than on your own. As well as my new office habit I also have my eye on a couple of beauties. A mix of flat fast roads, rolling hills fresh water and men in lycra...
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Changing Focus
Today is the end of June, hello sweet July with your holidays, tans and general awesomeness. I have some time to stop and think about what this month has entailed.
I still have the same ambitions as previously mentioned but I may have lost some focus. In the beginning of June I was deep into exams. My body didn't like the abuse I was putting it through regarding diet and that manifested with crappy skin and possible anaemia. I was still exercising, squeezing in anything from a 15 minute stretching video to a 45 minute HIIT workout in my tiny student digs. Finishing exams was bad a long weekend of drinking and exercise only in the form of dancing and lounging on the Hoe meant I knew my fitness dropped off.
Never fear returning to London I knew I could get fit again; a new job and over 10 miles on the bike everyday would whip me into shape right?
I still have the same ambitions as previously mentioned but I may have lost some focus. In the beginning of June I was deep into exams. My body didn't like the abuse I was putting it through regarding diet and that manifested with crappy skin and possible anaemia. I was still exercising, squeezing in anything from a 15 minute stretching video to a 45 minute HIIT workout in my tiny student digs. Finishing exams was bad a long weekend of drinking and exercise only in the form of dancing and lounging on the Hoe meant I knew my fitness dropped off.
Never fear returning to London I knew I could get fit again; a new job and over 10 miles on the bike everyday would whip me into shape right?
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| Can you feel the shape being whipped? |
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
Looking past the dark skin
I think dreads are beautiful, I was so excited to get them and when I finally got the hang of palm rolling I was so proud. Yet I spent several hours and many episodes re-watching scrubs this weekend taking out my dreads.
One reason I decided against a chop and instead spent hours combing out the knots was because I wanted to keep the length. Why did I decide to take them out. Well the negative comments I received from immediate family was a little annoying but actually it was my own dissatisfaction with them, they were not the soft, even thin dreads I had envisioned for myself. If I was going to put myself out on a limb with these they had to be perfect and they weren't.
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| But what about your angry feminism, and desire to form progressive attitudes to non-Western models of beauty? |
One reason I decided against a chop and instead spent hours combing out the knots was because I wanted to keep the length. Why did I decide to take them out. Well the negative comments I received from immediate family was a little annoying but actually it was my own dissatisfaction with them, they were not the soft, even thin dreads I had envisioned for myself. If I was going to put myself out on a limb with these they had to be perfect and they weren't.
Monday, 9 June 2014
No One Cares
I have been away from the blog for over a month. A combination of exams, moving
No one cares.
I realised no one cares what my excuses are, no one cares what my dreams are, no one cares about your history. That is a crystal clear truth and it didn't make me sad or upset. Ultimately all that matters is what you deliver.
I realised this out walking with some friends when one turned and asked me, outside of medicine what is my greatest ambition. I told him. Something I had kept almost secret for years, just one question and there it was spoken. Would you like to know what it is?
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Cartilage Carnage
Last Sunday at 5am I woke up scared. 13.1 miles. Hills. Spectators. Rain There was really no need for me to be awake at that ridiculous hour the race started at 9am and I lived less than a 20 minute walk away. There was a good reason for me to be scared, well not scared apprehensive. Sunday April 27th was the Plymouth half Marathon, 13.1 miles of rolling hills and beautiful sea views.
I had my eye on this race for a few months and had some good training under my belt. I had bullied/talked a super fast friend into racing with me and fancied I could hang on to his coat tails for at least half way to get me round the course in less than 2 hours. That may have been the case if I had continued the good work I started. Instead a tiny error, namely not packing my running kit and then ordering a sports bra to my term address meant I got a measly 4 runs out of the last 2 and a half weeks. This may have been fine if I hadn't gone home, set up camp in the kitchen then ate and drank everything within a 3 foot radius of me. Two days before the race I weighed myself. I had gained over a kilo, felt full but fat and knew my aeorobic fitness had taken a battering. I still felt good towards the race. I can do it. Just push through the pain and hope the rain holds off.
Before I tell you about the race I have to tell you about Brighton. Last year I ran the London2Brighton 100Km. It was a brilliant experience. I met some awesome people and had a great time. The memory of the pain of blowing out my right knee barely 30km in and deciding to continue running on a diet of NSAIDS, gels and wanton abandon was a fuzzy and remote.
Plymouth Hoe 8.40am I am ready in a loose t-shirt and running shorts. There are a lot of people around over 5000 runners and a decent load of spectators. I am nervous but given the situation I put myself in that's not expected. I squeeze into the sub 2:15 pen and wait for the bull horns. I had warmed up, hydrated and stretched. We crossed the line at a cool jog as the crowd was still fairly thick. the first couple of miles was spent weaving up through the herd. It was a fast pace, for me, but I felt okay.
Trouble started at mile 5 when I started to really feel the pace my friend was setting down. Talking was a bit more disjointed and I waved him on the just get on with it on my own. I expected to be 15 to 20 minutes behind, just under 2 minutes a mile slower. That was my first mistake. 3 days later I can't remember the exact location but somewhere in Saltram my knee went pop. I do remember catching my breath at the sudden pain and being embarrassed by the tears that sprang up. I was just shy of half way. I had a decision to make. I could protect my knee turning around to go home, or, I could plough on and finish it.
If you know me and you are reading this, you know what decision I made.
I stretched, slowed and kept on going. It was bad enough dropping off my friendly pacer earlier than I'd hoped. Many of the people I had overtaken earlier were now reeling me back in and while I yoyo-ed with some eventually they all got away. My knee was this chubby gremlin reminding me of all the sessions I missed, all the booze and food over Easter and the hard work I did put in being wasted.
I finished. I got my shiny medal. and I got my time 2:30:50 I would be lying if I said I was happy but I have a time to beat for next year. The upside of my knee is that it will take 3 to 4 weeks to be better. I happen to have 4 weeks of studying left this academic year. Now just got to put my head down for last few weeks of study and then I can pick another race...
I had my eye on this race for a few months and had some good training under my belt. I had bullied/talked a super fast friend into racing with me and fancied I could hang on to his coat tails for at least half way to get me round the course in less than 2 hours. That may have been the case if I had continued the good work I started. Instead a tiny error, namely not packing my running kit and then ordering a sports bra to my term address meant I got a measly 4 runs out of the last 2 and a half weeks. This may have been fine if I hadn't gone home, set up camp in the kitchen then ate and drank everything within a 3 foot radius of me. Two days before the race I weighed myself. I had gained over a kilo, felt full but fat and knew my aeorobic fitness had taken a battering. I still felt good towards the race. I can do it. Just push through the pain and hope the rain holds off.
Before I tell you about the race I have to tell you about Brighton. Last year I ran the London2Brighton 100Km. It was a brilliant experience. I met some awesome people and had a great time. The memory of the pain of blowing out my right knee barely 30km in and deciding to continue running on a diet of NSAIDS, gels and wanton abandon was a fuzzy and remote.
 |
| Race Number from the Plymouth Half... Note pyjamas in the background |
Trouble started at mile 5 when I started to really feel the pace my friend was setting down. Talking was a bit more disjointed and I waved him on the just get on with it on my own. I expected to be 15 to 20 minutes behind, just under 2 minutes a mile slower. That was my first mistake. 3 days later I can't remember the exact location but somewhere in Saltram my knee went pop. I do remember catching my breath at the sudden pain and being embarrassed by the tears that sprang up. I was just shy of half way. I had a decision to make. I could protect my knee turning around to go home, or, I could plough on and finish it.
If you know me and you are reading this, you know what decision I made.
I stretched, slowed and kept on going. It was bad enough dropping off my friendly pacer earlier than I'd hoped. Many of the people I had overtaken earlier were now reeling me back in and while I yoyo-ed with some eventually they all got away. My knee was this chubby gremlin reminding me of all the sessions I missed, all the booze and food over Easter and the hard work I did put in being wasted.
I finished. I got my shiny medal. and I got my time 2:30:50 I would be lying if I said I was happy but I have a time to beat for next year. The upside of my knee is that it will take 3 to 4 weeks to be better. I happen to have 4 weeks of studying left this academic year. Now just got to put my head down for last few weeks of study and then I can pick another race...
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| Hungry for more... |
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