look away now

This train wreck of a post was supposed to be about the most incredible set of Yassos ever done by man or beast. Yesterday we managed to drag our lazy arses to the gym and I finally did a proper work out. I'm still no closer to even attempting marathon training but this did at least feel like progress was made. (TheO out did me by running, swimming and walking in one workout...)

10 Yassos took 42.23 - of running. (Fastest yassos ever - but seriously, if I star counting this I could become stat obsessed... well, you know, more obsessed.) There was less than 1min rest between each Yasso - a quick stretch, a few gulps of water and I was done. It was all on the treadmill at 1%. it really rocked. Now I just have to get my long run sorted and we'll be somewhere near the track; not back on it, but at least in sight.

Seriously - I'm just venting now - back away, look at something else... nothing to see here:

What has really bugged me today is my father: He is a git.
1.He's getting remarried in 2 weeks time (and lets be clear about this I DO have issues with it - read on).
2. I am happy for him, she's perfectly nice, I just don't want to have to share in the enforced cheeriness. As far as I'm concerned I got the shit, angry, argumentative years; and being a little immature on this issue, I am not yet ready to head full force into the 'happy years'.
3. He's very good at wanting me to play the daughterly role, when it suits him. Put it this way: I moved house 6 months ago. We've had the keys to the house for 10 months. He's never visited. He's not always in the country, but when he is - which has been about 5 months of the past 10, he's 40min away. We made it clear he was welcome any time. I find this odd. Very odd. If any one of my friends moves house - a pretty major thing to do - I'd be at least a little interested.
4. During the conversation today it was made clear that his wedding is a 2 day affair. This is despite our only communication on the issue being one small white card with the time, date, location and a note about taxis. This card was the date of the ceremony, so obviously that's what I've diaried.
I only found this out as I asked if we were getting any extra wedding info before the big day. I was told we were not. He then ran throught the plan.... I sat open mouthed. He then irritably said - "didn't you see the website?". The website wasn't mentioned on our card, nor did he write/email or phone to mention the web address before.

How he expected me to know all this is beyond me. Now I've got plans for the weekend, and I didn't even want to be at his fecking wedding to begin with. Fuck.

Not a week off...

Did go to the doctor to see about my hip. Let me recount:

Me: I was doing this race at the week end and after about 7 miles my hip started to hurt.
Doc: So you stopped?
Me: No, it wasn't that sore, it was a race!
Doc: So you didn't stop? *shakes head disparagingly*
Me: No, it was a race. I'd have stopped during a training run. *presents winning smile*
Doc: Right. Shoes and jeans off - on the table, please.
Doc examines "hip" and tell me, with a big grin: You'll be delighted to know there is nothing wrong with your hip. It's just some inflammation in this muscle here *pokes "hip" v hard*
Me, left whimpering - so glad there's nothing 'wrong'.

So, he said keep it moving and don't do anything that hurts. Genius - not off the running.
Downside is that my allergy to ibruprofen is not an allergy to that drug - it's an allergy to all anti-inflammatories. Seriously. I just have to ice stuff and see what happens. Nice.

So, taking his advice on board I went to the gym on Wednesday (19th) and did 4 lovely miles. I stopped and stretched my hip out after 1.3 and the dull ache disappeared after that. 4 miles @ 9.45 pace. Then tricep pull on 4 (3 x 12), lateral pull on 6 (3 x 12 - this was HARD). Tummy machine on level 14 for 20 reps; then level 15 for 17 reps, then 13 reps. Again, this was the highest weight so far and it was brilliant fun. Weird.

Thursday (20th) met two old friends from school and reminisced for 4 hours (oh, and ate cake too). It was bloody hilarious. Nothing like being reminded of quite how nuts you were at 16. (It was a girls school if this helps to explain in any way.) Also, I felt less wrinkled than others present. (evil but true)

Today (21st) I managed to get yet more work done (a habit I really have to keep up) and go to the gym. I decided to do a fast session. 5 miles in 44 min, all at 2 %. It was like doing 10 yassos with no stops at 4.24 per yasso - I'm quite pleased with that. 8.48 average pace for the whole thing. It was tough and sweaty but made me feel much better. The cake later made me feel much worse. :(

Looking forward to a great Easter w/end. Friends coming to visit - should be fun.

ps/ Thank you for all the kind comments. They made me : )

A good day.

I've had a day so productive it only seems fair to take some time out and blog. Lots of work was done today - lots of bits and pieces sorted out. A lovely order from Canada - god bless tinternet.

Had a good week exercise wise. 10th Did a nice 5.25 miles on the treadmill. All at 2.5%- good to make a workout subtly harder. All 9.40 or faster. Properly hard work, even if I meant to do 10K and was driven away from the machine by two young guys who smelt so bad I thought I would vomit.

The 11th and 12th we gave the pooches some lovely walks and had a great lunch with Farmer's Wife(tobe). It's been great to take advantage of the nice(er) weather. SUNSHINE makes me happy - even when it's a bit blustery.

13th Headed to the gym again for a speed session. Did yassos. 6 sessions at 4.03-4.10 pace (much faster than last time) then an extra 0.1 of a mile just to get to 5K. All at 1.5% incline. Then the tummy machine - I managed to do it on my highest ever setting - 14! I can't wait till I can lift the whole lot (maybe someday in a galaxy far far away). Did the lateral pull and the tricep pull too. However, the BIG news of the day was definitely TheO managing her fastest ever 5K and getting it in under 30min. It's such a great psychological barrier to be broken, I'm horribly proud.

Today was a gentle dog walk and oodles of work. Need to do a slow 30min on the elliptical and then I'll be all prepared for the Half on Sunday. Quite nervous as I have personal goals in mind, but the point is to enjoy it and get round safely without swearing too much or kicking small children out the way.

Yasssoooooooooooooo

27th - took advantage of the beautiful day!

3.4 miles in 37.58 - a nice recovery pace after ... not much that week ;-)
Ran with TheO and the pooches in the woods despite me pissing her off (without my knowledge at the time!) it was a really nice run; the fresh air and actual sunshine really helps as well as the exercise.

Monday (28th) we drove for 3hours to see a house. We parked, politely told the agent we knew it was a 'no' and drove home. (Only stopping for a fried breakfast ..... noooooooooooooo.) It was a classic case of the brochure promising sooo much more than the house could ever deliver. It was not 'private' as discussed at length on the 'phone with (another) agent. This was the main bug bear, but the experience was akin to having the most sumptuous and incredible food put in front of you and then discovering it tastes like ashes. It wasn't even a 'bargin' or suspiciously priced. Pah. Damn house hunting.

Today I should have been working and instead was a bit glum - think the stress of N'edding, House hunting and raging hormones might have been a bit much for me. Apart from a Tesco's run (finally we have fruit, veg, and light-bulbs - the situation was getting a bit desperate) a trip to the gym was necessary to work me out of my slump.

So, I tried some Yasso's. As explained simply the idea is that you run 800m in the min:seconds that you ideally want to run a marathon in - in hours:min. So I was aiming for 800m in 4:50ish. I set the machine to LAPS - a delightful setting where it gives you 400m set distances and counts them in laps. Genius - as it also still counts up the milage you're running overall. It really spurred me on to know that each section was so short - what kind of wuss would I have been to wimp out, that's what I kept telling myself as I sweated away like a fat 50yr old running their first race - in Florida!

Gradient was set to 1.5% - for novelty value. Then I did my first Yasso - came in at 4.37 - was quite happy. Proceeded with a total of 10 Yasso's all in the 4:27 to 4:37 bracket - I took a maximum of 60 seconds between Yasso's to stretch and catch my breath. Doing this speed work it became clear that I don't work hard enough normally. I was fit to be wrung out by the end of it. And the time reflected that, I covered 5 miles in 44.50 which is quite quick for me. ... Doesn't count as a fastest ever though due to the rests. ;-( Begin to wonder what is possible. Could I run 20 Yasso's at this pace? Should I review my speed expectations - probably not, I should get a bit more distance under my belt and then consider how I feel about speeding up.