Oh fine, I'll run then

This post was going to be entitled "Reasons why I should run" but then I looked at the fitness folder on my blogs reader and one of my favourite bloggers had pretty much stolen my thunder...and then gone for a run. Why must you be so wise and all knowing internet gods?! Because obviously I can't skip a run if someone else who was going to skip a run didn't, that would mess up the positive vibes on the interwebs and then everything everywhere would FAIL.

Probably.

Oh by the way, I say I have a fitness blogs folder but I only really follow blogs of fatties/former fatties (I use fattie as a term of endearment here) who, like me, try to run and lose weight and stuff, because together we are strong (even though they are all stronger at the blogging, running and losing weight thing, shhhh we'll ignore that bit).

So much for last post's positive running. Thankfully there's only 3.5 miles on my plan.

Update: I ran.

Half of a marathon

And so I return to blogging, with a shiny new computer to enable it.

The biggest development in my running life is that I have *drum roll* signed up for a HALF MARATHON.

Yes, come the 28th October 2012 I will be running 13.1 miles in the Run to the Beat half marathon around Greenwich, and hopefully not dying at the end. I've knuckled down to training and am feeling fairly optimistic, mainly from learning two important lessons:

Run slowly

Run positively 

Yep, it's taken me two and a half years of running to figure that one out, I'm a genius-goat.

These top tips paid off in full yesterday when I did my longest run-ever-in-my-life of 5.6 miles non-stop, and felt like I could have kept going afterwards! A victory made even sweeter by a friend texting me to say she had progressed to running for 90 seconds. Which is amazing firstly because she is super-skinny and I am stuck at 194lbs (as of this morning), and secondly because she has been talking to *me* about running as if *I* am knowledgeable (I guess five 10ks later I can gets the respectz).

So I have given her the above advice. The "positively" thing took some work yesterday as the boy I've been seeing for the past few months left the country for good (visa ran out) on Saturday. We weren't some love-struck, doe-eyed couple but it does feel a bit like I have one friend less in the world this weekend. Anyway, yesterday I got myself out of bed (eventually), got myself to John Lewis to spend all my monies on a laptop (after spending a month researching/deciding) and finally realised the sun was shining and I could run and think about all the things that made me happy about the boy and why I was/am lucky to know him. So that is what I did. I also had a great evening out with friends which made everything in the world seem right again (apart from the bit where I ate and drank loads, thus destroying the remaining pretense of this weekend's diet attempt). 

Today - spent the bank holiday Monday setting up new computer, seeing The Bourne Legacy (anything with Edward Norton in is good by me), and planning my week's meals, because I am a good dieter innit. Also this is the best chicken you ever tasted in your life:

drooooool

Tomorrow - work and do the 3.5 mile run on my plan, a run I'm already desperate for, I'm hooked, can't wait to run 13 miles (not even joking).

New bed

This week I've definitely had a case of sleeping woes = weight loss woes. When I'm tired my body just screams "SUGAR! CAFFEINE!" all day. And because I'm tired my willpower is minus zero.
So what is the prefect way to improve sleep? Get a new bed!

Ta da!

 So I spent saturday building a bed, which thankfully hasn't collapsed after five sleeps now! It's definitely more comfy than the old bed (firmer and no broken bits hanging off) and also makes me feel like a big strong grown up barbecue I built it all myself (even the instructions said you need two people, ha I laugh in the face of instructions - totally bad arse).

Very heavy pieces of wood and metal.

So although my eating has been rubbish this weekend I did manage to spend about three hours building the bed (hard work lifting and screwing) and then did a 5k run on Sunday. Today I got my eating back on track (the pork and chorizo burger last night after softball was totally worth it)and ran my last run before...10k on Sunday!! (eek) Feeling strong though. Wish me luck!

Yay for legs (and polka dots)

Dear legs,

I was very harsh on you earlier when we were trying on those red jeggings in M&S (they've got some sweet coloured jeggings at the moment). You were so nearly there but just a tad too tight on the thighs and knees (too be honest it didn't help that the jeggings were, as usual, a bit too short).

Then I saw you in the all-encapsulating mirrors in the changing room. I saw your cellulite. I saw your saddlebags. And I said, "Why legs? Why must you be like this?!" I was sad. I was angry.

But most of all I was unfair. You've given me so much legs: a large part of the height that lets me see at gigs and reach high things, the strength to run four 10ks and soon two more and hopefully a half marathon, the coordination to dance (even if it is only in my room), and the length to wear short skirts (with tights) and just about pull them off. Also you end in my gorgeous feet.

So cheers, legs. We've come a long way and I know we'll get to where we want to be eventually (metaphorically and literally, haha). You've stopped aching so much after running, your knee problems and shin splints have disappeared, and damn those calves are starting to shape up (calves please have a word with thighs). We're doing good, let's keep it up legs.

Love, Katie.

P.s. Yay for polka dot rugs too.

P.p.s. I need to work out how to take non-weird pictures of my legs!

P.p.p.s Think I'll paint my toenails this weekend.

A good Wednesday

Free enchiladas for lunch.

Free lemon torte in the afternoon.

Winning softball.

Pint with a friend.

Running home.

It all makes,for a good Wednesday!

Off scale victories

I must admit I've been getting a bit down on myself lately, although I've hit a really amazing low of 195.6, but rather than pleased I feel impatient if I'm honest!

I've also felt a bit "run out" from following my running plan but not sleeping well.

So out of all this unappreciation it was nice to have some non-scale related victorious recently:

1. Walking up a hill with a friend, he was out of breath, I wasn't, but I had been previously when climbing that hill.

2. Wore a dress I hadn't worn for ages and it was definitely looser, as in there used to be right round my midriff before and now it's slightly baggy.

3. Someone at work mentioned I looked like I'd lost weight and asked what diet I was following!

All good stuff, and I'm less than a stone (14lbs) from being in my healthy weight range!

Numbers going down

Weighed myself this morning and saw the magical number of 196lbs!!

Where has this magic come from I asked? Then my body groaned, it's from the bloody street dance class you did, followed by the couch to 5k week 6 day 2 run. Oh yes, that'll be it, I thought, as I slowly dragged myself out of the house.

Zero pains = Zero gains.