Taper Torture - Installment III

Hello Fudgey Friends,

How are you all? Yippee it's Friday - hope everyone is getting to enjoy some sunshine.

Week 12 Run 3
Today was the last run before the half marathon, though to call it a run is really a joke - it was only 10 minutes.
Again I cheated a little & opted to do it in the gym which meant I could do a little bit more non running activity. So after my 10 minute run, I had 15 minutes on the bike & then a lovely superset for my abs 15 ab extensions with 6kg medicine ball & 12 reverse curls - I did this twice & then the 3rd set I managed the ab extensions but the reverse curls I could really feel so opted for paddles & scissors 10 of each.

More activity
I was at home this afternoon so decided to cut some of the communal grass at the back of the flat. This has been a sore point for several years - only myself & another flat ever cut the grass - though there are 6 flats. There's a fair amount of grass too. I cut about 2/3 of it - not out of laziness or spitefulness but simply because my extension cable only reached so far. It was pretty hard work as the grass was quite long & I was out for about an hour. It looks better though, and I got an additional workout.

I also managed to get 2 loads of washing done and hung outside and the freezer defrosted - so very productive.

FUNDRAISING - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
My just giving target of £1000 has been exceeded. My page currently sits at £1016
(£1,197.92 with the gift aid added)
A massive massive Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me - I am incredibly touched by people's generosity and I know that CCLASP will be over the moon too.
I promise to go out and be my best on Sunday to make everyone proud.

Take Care everyone
I'll be back soon
love
Fudgey
x x x

Food Fabulous Food

Hello again Fudgey Friends,

After publishing yesterday's post I realised that I hadn't given you the week 10 stats so here you are:

Stats for Week 10
Distance run this week 32.95km / 20.47 miles
Time running 3 hours 32 minutes 18 seconds

Now onto the food as promised:

Sweet Potato, Carrot, Chilli & Rosemary soup
2 small onions chopped
3 cloves of garlic chopped
1 large sweet potato peeled & chopped into small pieces
4 large carrots, peeled & chopped
1/2 tsp lazy red chillies
generous pinch of rosemary
vegetable oxo cube

I put the onions & garlic in a pan with a little water and cooked a couple of minutes till soft, I then added the red chilli & cooked for another minute, I then added the sweet potato, carrots, a vegetable oxo cube & topped up with water. I then added the rosemary and simmered for about 20 minutes. I then left to cool & blended.
We had this for dinner this evening & it was gorgeous. I just made it up myself inspired by a friend's facebook post about sweet potato mash with chilli & rosemary...so Thanks Alex. Mr Fudgey might have liked a little less chilli but he still enjoyed this. I'll be making this one again.

I also made another batch of banana & blueberry muffins for work.

We had invited Mum & Dad Smith for Sunday dinner so I made Haggis Filo Parcels & Plum sauce. We just love these so simple to make & so tasty.

Then for main course I made garlic chicken again so easy, simply stir fry chicken pieces & then once cooked add plenty of chopped garlic & stir fry a couple of minutes more. I also made 5 spice pork, pork strips marinated in sherry, soy sauce & chinese 5 spice powder. I use a tablesppon each of sherry & soy sauce & 1/2 teaspoon of chinese 5 spice powder per 100g of pork. I marinade the pork for at least 30 minutes & the stir fy with whatever veg take my fancy. Yesterday mange tout, baby corn, re & green peppers and red onion.
I served the main course with cous cous to which I added lemon juice, chopped cherry tomatoes and chopped spring onions.

We had a little cous cous left over so I added some chicken breast and some mint and Mr Fudgey and I both had this for lunch today.

And back to the running

Week 11 Run 1
Just a short 20 minute run today and did 3.24km. Nothing exciting to report....though legs feel very good after the ice bath

Blog Title
It occurred to me today that in 13 days time the Fudgey EHM Countdown will be over...I'll need a new blog title. I'll need some new challenges. I haven't booked anything yet, though I do fancy The Scottish Kilomathon, but I'm not signing up for anything till after the half marathon... we'll all just need to wait and see!

And that my dear friends is it for another day.

Take care everyone
love
Fudgey
xxx

Week 10 - Just plodding along

hHello Fudgey Friends,

It's been another busy old week, I can't believe it's Saturday tea time already... I feel like I'm on a perpetual treadmill!

After my PT session on Tuesday & the running Sunday & Monday my legs and core were definitely feeling it, so on Wednesday I decided I'd go to the gym for a quick session at lunchtime and work mainly upper body.

Wednesday Gym Session

12 minute run including 1km fast (5:15)
3 x superset swissball chest press 6kg dumbbells 15 reps, 12 pressups,
3 sets of bicep curls 12 reps 6kg dumbbells,
3 sets tricep extension 12 reps 8kg dumbbell,
3 sets bosu squats 15 reps 5kg dumbbells,
3 x superset 15 sit ups with 8kg medicine ball & 16 russian twists with 8kg medicine ball

I went back to the office all invigorated and had a really productive afternoon, but by 10pm I could hardly keep my eyes open.

Thursday
I woke up on Thursday morning after a good night's sleep and knew instantly that it had to be a rest day. Every part of my body from the neck down was telling me that it had been worked. I should have been running today as I'd only run once so far this week, but the way my body felt I knew it would be a really bad idea & the quickest way to pick up an injury....which is the last thing I want in the final 2 weeks before my first half marathon...so I decided to do the sensible thing & take a complete rest day.
On Thursday night I had a work night out at The Sheeps Heid . The evening consisted of a few games of old fashioned skittles, food & good company. There were 13 of us & I think everyone enjoyed it. Thanks to Ross & Sam for organising. It wasn't a late night - I was home for just after 9.30 and obviously sober as I'm still on the training wagon....but very much looking forward to an Amaretto over ice on 23rd May...and maybe a glass or 2 of champagne if I think I deserve it.

Friday
I had planned my usual Friday morning treadmill running session, but woke up to discover I still had more muscle soreness than I've had in a long time, so I snuggled back up to my lovely hubby for another hour instead of heading to the gym.
I did take my kit to work with me & managed a 6km run at lunchtime. The running felt really good. I also tested out my new mueller knee strap - the jury is still out on the knee strap as I have actually trained a couple of times recently with no knee support at all and have felt fine. The real test will be how it feels on Sunday's long run so I'll let you know.
Back to work feeling much better but this was not to last the muscles started to feel a little tender again after a couple of hours, though not as bad as they had and I am really glad I had gone and ran.
On Friday evening Mr Fudgey and I had a really great chillaxed night.

Saturday
It was great to have no alarm this morning, I love it when you can wake up naturally. Since I got up I've hardly stopped....laundry, tidying, hoovering, washing floors, cleaning bathroom and I've been very busy in the Fudgey kitchen.
I've made 2 batches of cereal bars, cranberry & sunflower seed & apricot with sunflower, pumpkin & sesame seeds. You can get the recipe by following this link I also made a batch of blueberry & banana muffins, I only had 2 bananas so just threw in some fresh blueberries as well & they've come out great.

Other Running related stuff
Self Myofascial Release - I have a tennis ball & am going to give this a try.
The Ice Bath - considering giving this a go after tomorrow's long run but still not 100% sold on the idea
If anyone has any words of wisdom or advice on either of these I'd love to hear about it.

Well I had better go and think about dinner for Mr Fudgey & I.

Will be back tomorrow after my long run.

Take Care

Fudgey xxx

Wonder Woman

Hello Fudgey Friends,

Don't you just love it when you get a little unexpected gift? Mr Fudgey got me this fabby wonder woman mug which I love. He also made personalised wrapping paper. He's so talented. He's really kind, generous & thoughtful too & I love him to bits

Well after my longest run to date on Sunday, yesterday simply had to be a rest day, much as I like to think I am, I'm not really Wonder Woman! Though I do try to be :-)

Week 9 Run 1
Today was my first run of the week & it was hill intervals on the treadmill, I ran 5 minutes & then 1 minute each at gradients of 6%, 8%, 10%, 8%, 6%, then ran for 2 minutes & repeated 1 minute each at gradients of 6%, 8%, 10%, 8%, 6%, finishing with an 8 minute run. It was hard work but a necessary evil as Sunday's Great Edinburgh Run is quite hilly & as I mentioned the first part of the half marathon course is round that b of a hill Arthur's Seat. Yes almost a bad word from Mrs Fudgey.
After my run I kicked off my latest mad challenge....

One Hundred push ups
I found this online - I can't remember but I was looking for at the time - this wasn't it but it did make me wonder if I could do 100 press ups. This is a 6 week training programme that you follow to be able to complete 100 press ups. Why? I hear you ask. Why Not! I reply.
Follow this link & check it out for yourself. If press ups aren't for you there are other challenges like squats and sit ups.
I did the initial test today & managed 25 full 'man' press ups. I think I could have squeezed out maybe 1 or 2 more but was happy with 25 as a starting point - so I'll let you know how the 6 week plan goes and if I actually can achieve 100 in a row.....you know me I'll give it a really good go.


Well I'm going to go off & treat myself to a nice bubble bath before a cup of tea in my new Wonder Woman mug.

Take Care everyone

love
Fudgey
xxx

Running Out of Steam?

Hello Fudgey Friends,

I'm Back! It's been a busy busy old week & at times I thought my head would spin off or implode - not sure which would be worse?

Anyway I'm NOT running out of steam, I've just been uber busy with work and one thing or another.

Those who know me well will tell you that I often get very personally involved and take on too much, but that's just me I don't see the point in doing something if you aren't going to put the effort in and do it right.....or at the very least give it a damn good shot. I'm just passionate, focused and sometimes a bit mad!

Thankfully I have a fabby hubby, great family, amazing friends, the best personal trainer in the world and some very wise colleagues who help keep me grounded.


So what's been happening this week.

THE NEW SHOES
They are AWESOME. In fact I think they have wings. On Monday lunchtime I went for my regular lunchtime run - the distance I can fit in is now 5km as my average pace is so much faster than it used to be. 2 months ago when I started my running training I could manage about 3km.
Anyway fudgey was wearing animal print tights so could not tape my feet pre gym. My lovely colleagues are now used to me taking off my shoes & socks & taping up my feet, not to mention all the weird & wonderful things I eat & drink or the nonsense I babble on a daily basis - however removing my tights may have been a step too far. Dopey fudge did not think to use the ladies toilets to do this DOH!
So I put my roll of zinc oxide tape in my bag & headed to the gym. Only to realise when I got there and got changed that I didn't have scissors to cut it.
I decided I'd run with untaped feet but as soon as I felt the slightest rubbing I would stop.
5km and 29 mins 3 secs later not a single blister in sight. Oh & my fastest 5km to date. I was walking on air!!!
Loving the Progrid Hurricane 10s.


MY FACIAL
My beautiful friend Caroline asked me to be a client for her facial course at college on Monday night.
OMG. I felt so relaxed afterwards and it was just what I needed. It was the best facial ever.
Hope you passed Caroline?

TOUGH SESSION
After yet another demanding & challenging day at the office I headed down to the gym where I experienced one of my toughest sessions yet. Thanks Colin!
The idea was that I should run each km faster or equal to the previous but with some added extra in between to fatigue the legs etc. This is what I did....
Run 1km (5.56)
15 clean & press
15 jack knifes
Run 1km (5.44)
20 jumps onto / between 2 steps
12 lunges each leg with front foot on step & with weighted bar....I don't even want to know what weight it was
Run 1km (5.42)
8 x 2 squat thrust followed by press up
Run 1km (5.38)
15 swiss ball squats
1 min ski sit
Run 1km (5.34)

Phew I'm exhausted again just remembering it....but it was a fantastic session. Having the challenge to try and better my time each km really motivated me. What motivates you? Use that motivation to achieve your goals it is so worth it.

WEDNESDAY - WELL EARNED REST DAY
My body told me today I had to rest and I am becoming very good at listening to it. Another busy busy day at work though did play a small part in me not getting to the gym....though for once I am thankful.


DINNER DATE
Thursday morning it was a major effort to haul myself out of bed and into the office for 7am. I managed to forget my staff id and our ever so efficient security wouldn't let me in! I was practically in tears till one of our equity dealers arrived having also forgotten his id so we were able to vouch for each other.
The effervescent KMac managed to cheer me up with our regular coffee trip & her run down of her morning gym visit.
Thanks for buying my coffee honey and putting up with my moany face x
For those who don't know we load cash onto our id badge to buy breakfast, lunch, coffees etc in the staff canteen or shop....no pass effectively = no money
Thursday did turn into a better day and I manged to make quite a bit of progress with work issues and then realised goodness it's Thursday already wow that means it Friday tomorrow. See at least I know the order the days come in!
I managed to get away from work on time so headed for a run. 7km today in 41 mins 41 secs, again wearing the Progrid Hurricane 10s
I then went and met the lovely Mr Smith and took him out for dinner. We both really enjoyed it. So Thursday ended on a high with good running and dinner date with my hubby ;-D

Thank Fudgey it's Friday
and before I knew it, it was Friday. Yippee! Had a great nights sleep and feeling much better and also excited by the anticipation of no alarm clock for Sat morning.
I'm not the only person who felt its been a really torrid week so many people I've spoken to also seem to have been insanely busy or stressed out.
I never managed to get to spin class as I had hoped but my legs are telling me they are needing a proper rest so I am saving them for another long Sunday run. It's taken a while but I now accept that the rest days are just as important as the training ones. 4 months now to the half marathon and I want to get there a lean mean fudgey running machine not a burnt out old wreck!


Wow this has turned into a long blog today - hope I haven't put you to sleep.

I'm away off now to make a butternut squash chilli but I'll be back tomorrow to fill you in on my long weekend run.

Hope you all have a great weekend
Fudgey xxx

Happy 2010

Dear Fudgey friends,

A little belated, but HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I have a feeling that 2010 is going to be great

So what is on the fudgey agenda for 2010....other than hoping to spend more time with my loved ones....you may have heard that I'm running the Edinburgh half marathon (EHM) in May.
Yes that's right I'm planning on running a whole 13.1 miles or 21km if you're of a younger generation.
What on earth inspired this crazy idea I hear you ask....well as many people know 2009 was a pretty great year for me....getting married & getting to my target weight finally. I have to admit to feeling fantastic & I just don't want that feeling to end. My health & fitness have become one of the most important parts of my life....so I thought what new challenge can I set myself to make sure I keep up the good work? One of my amazing friends is climbing Mt Kilimanjaro this year to raise funds for Children with Cancer & Leukaemia http://www.cclasp.net/
I would have loved to join her but sadly I'm unable to, but then I received an email offering me a place in the half marathon & thought why not.
Running is not something I've ever particularly enjoyed and to me has always been a bit of a challenge & something to be avoided at all costs if possible......but oh that has all changed....I'm hooked....I love it, and as my poor hubby will testify I am a nightmare if I can't get out & run or exercise in some way!

so I'm signed up for the EHM & will also be raising funds for CCLASP. JustGiving link to follow!

I hope to update this blog at least weekly to:
a) keep you updated on my training
b) keep you updated on my fundraising
c) encourage you to sponsor me or the Kili team
d) Inspire you to get out there & get fit.....& get fudgey!

love fudgey x