Race for Life 5K recap

The morning dawned far too early and chilly for my liking.  I still wasn't feeling (and still am not) better, but I downed cold meds and vitamins with a cup of coffee and rushed around getting ready.  I don't like to be late for things, especially when I am not 100% sure of where I am going, and I didn't double check the time the bus was leaving, so we ended up taking a later one, which ended up being fine.  One thing we learned today, don't get off the bus when everyone else does- they might not have a clue where they are going either!

After a bit of wandering through Buchanan and St. Enoch, and a stop at Costa for Steph, we followed the sea of pink to Glasgow Green.  We dropped off 2 bags of clothing donations, and headed for the start.  Steph planned to run most of it, and I planned to do a mix, depending on whether or not I could breathe (not very well).

We were separated quickly, so I cranked up the tunes and read people's messages of hope on their bibs as they passed me (gasping for air mostly LOL).  This hit a little close to home, as I would see young women and kids with bibs that said "for my mummy."  I hadn't realized (and IDK why) messages of hope and remembrance could be for anyone, not just people who had passed away from breast cancer.  (The large amount of remembrances for dads and grandpa's showed this.) I definitely would have done my bib differently had I known.

I had a hard time keeping my heart rate down due to being ill and the cold meds I am sure.  I ended up walking more than I hoped b/c my heart rate was in the 150-160 range even while walking, and when running would boot up to over 180 very quickly.  I also wish I had reset my Nike+ at the start, as opposed to when I started it up walking TO the race.  There were no mile markers or water stops (??? why ???) so I had no idea of my time or how far I had gone.  My "official" finish was 43 minutes and change give or take, which is pretty good for an out of shape, and way too overweight for her height 35 year old! (ok, it isn't, and I was humbled by many people I would consider not in the best shape passing me, including the elderly and those with canes.  Yes, I kid you not.)

Once I finally saw a mile marker for 4K, I was so relieved and I picked up my pace.  Finally I saw where the finish line was and pretty much sprinted (as much as I can sprint) to it!  I was greeted by volunteers and received a medal, a carry bag with random items, and a bottle of water (thank goodness).

Steph finished in 34 minutes and I am very proud of her- I never did a 34 minute 5K when I was in the best of shape and FAR skinnier.  (is also jealous)

I did try to take some pics along the way..... Some of my pics are dark, and I do apologize.

running past the statues at George Square

Idk LOL

interesting 

architecture

Bridge and the River Clyde

Greenhouse/Cafe on Glasgow Green

Fountain at People's Palace

People's Palace

more info on the fountain

I love this fountain!

View across the way

Look it's the fountain again!

I do wish I had gotten pics of us before or after the race but that didn't happen.  Oops.  I was very glad when it was over and I could sit down for a few and use my inhaler.  We had a bit of a hard time meeting up, but we did find each other in the sea of pink, and headed off to find food.  I was STARVING.  This is probably the first race I've ever done where I was so hungry after.

We made our way away from the Green and back through Merchant City and St. Enoch where we got the subway back to Hillhead and headed to Little Italy for pizza (to make up for all the calories I lost!).  The pizza was great and so was the cappuccino.  We stopped at a few shops on the way back, and then headed home, where I hit the showers.

We must have walked (and run) at least 5.5-6 miles in all today. (I turned off the timers/trackers after leaving the Green)  Not bad!

My legs are a little sore, and I am tired.  I hope for my next 5K I am not sick, and I weigh considerably less.

How was your weekend?  Did you run in any races?

Catch up Friday

I've been feeling so miserable the past few days I haven't done much of anything.  I feel a tiny bit better today and finally feel hungry, so hopefully whatever this is is finally leaving my system.  It also may explain why the practice 5K I did on Sunday was so miserable and I had no energy.  It did help me to lose 3 pounds!  


1.  I did manage to go to Pilates on Tuesday which kicked my ass.  That is the only formal workout I've had this week and may be the only one until Sunday.  It sucks, but when I'm sick and feeling achy and miserable the last thing I want to do is exercise.  


2.  #Fitblog chat.  Since I am in Glasgow, this means the chats are at 3am for me.  I sometimes am awake, but this week, being under the weather, I was asleep.  Here are my responses.

Q1) 75% give up on New Year's Resolutions within weeks. Let's discuss our goals for the second half of the year and how we plan to stick to them.


-keep going to the gym as much as I can while writing my dissertation 
-don't give into temptation for take out b/c it is easier and means I don't have to do the dishes
-eat more whole grains
I plan to do this, by just DOING it, and not saying I am going to do it.


Q2) What are your goals for the rest of the year?
-lose a minimum of 20 lbs
-go to the gym/workout a minimum of 3 times/ week
-finish dissertation without losing my mind


Q3) How do you set goals?
I set goals by looking at my current habits and finding ways that I can change them positively.


Q4) What resources do you use to help you stick to your goals
Other blogs, health and fitness magazines, tracking my weight and activity and looking for trends.


3.  Goals for this weekend?
-feel better, do as best as I can do on the 5K, and read for my dissertation


What are your weekend plans?

Sunday's workout

Today was supposed to be a practice dry run for my upcoming 5K.   It was not very promising.  I had got 5 minutes in my walk to the park and my hip was killing.  I tried stretching and all sorts of movement to get it to feel right, and I could just not get it aligned.

View of University of Glasgow from within Kelvingrove Park

Once I got to the park and began the running portion, it was not good.  I managed 1.5/4 out of the running portions of week 3 day 1 of C25K.  Granted I have not run outside in about a year and all the running I have been doing over the past 2-3 weeks has been on the treadmill, but I know I will be walking most of Sunday's 5K.

It will be so much easier if I can lose weight (quickly) and keep it off to run, and to do anything.

Tomorrow's workout is a pilates class and either walking or biking.  I also need to start to figure out a way to get to the gym once this bus pass runs out.  The bus pass costs more than the gym membership!

-------------------------------------------
Total mileage today: 5.79 miles

Not myself

I'm not feeling like myself today.  I haven't really felt like myself since we came back from London.  Even though my feet hurt, I had a lot of energy and felt good.  Recently, I just feel tired and sluggish and blah and whatnot.  I think it may have to do with the fact I'm out of my vitamin D supplement.

I think I am going to have to find a new and better GP if I am planning on staying here longer.  The last time I went and had my ankle looked at, about 30 seconds was spent on examination.  It just made me feel dismissed, like my issue wasn't real.

Anyways, I just feel blah.  Not depressed (well not anymore than usual), not anxious, just blah.  Maybe it is the weather, since it has been raining for what seems like forever now.  It rains, we get a bit of sun, it rains.  Repeat.

So I have no idea.  I'm excited to work out, but can't get the motivation to do it.  I have things I need to do and people to call etc, and can't "find the time."  I just wish I was at the point where everything came easy; healthy living and eating and working out and working on my dissertation.  Someday, some day soon I hope.

Today I had some me time and got my nails done and then I met Steph for lunch.  We walked around a bit after and then we came back and I ran a load of laundry and took a nap.  I meant to only sleep for a bit but it ended up being way longer than I wanted and missed spinning.  :(  Bad Cindy.

I also took a few photos of some of the damage that occurred in our neighborhood from the ridic winds here yesterday.  Not that it even makes any comparison to what has happened in the US, but it was crazy what some wind can do.

Tomorrow is a new day- hopefully with better choices.

Yesterday/today catchup

1. Workout- I had no desire to do anything yesterday but I needed to pick up my prescription at uni, so I had to go out.  I walked to uni and then got the bus to the gym.

I did about 25 mins of upper body and then C25K.  I was VERY sweaty at the end.  I wanted to spin some but both bikes were being used and the class was full so I walked to the bus and then headed home.  Not bad.  :)

I ordered a new Polar HRM that is more up to date and will help me better train.  I can't wait to get my Polar FT7 HRM!


2. Grad school-I did meet with my professor on Thursday and he was totally fine that I hadn't gotten very far.  We discussed some changes and I will be making for the paper and what else needs to be done.  I also ran into some of my classmates and they hadn't done anything really either, so I don't feel bad or behind anymore.  So I have 20,000 words to write for it.  Good times.  I have a TON of research done already.  Just need to read it all.

3. Stephanie finished a big paper yesterday so we went out for dinner.  I had grilled chicken and it came with a grilled veggie tart.  It was delish.  I also had some chips- b/c the chips at the Curler's Rest are so delish.  And as a treat we had ice cream at the only Coldstone in Glasgow.  I had tiramisu.  Yum.   :)

4.  Today it's raining.  It's miserable out and I have no desire to go out in it.  I did walk a quick 2 miles to Boots and back to get my prescription and some coffee.  My ankle is really tender today so staying off it seems like a good idea.  Tomorrow I booked into a Body Pump class and that should be a good workout.

As for the rest of today- Doctor Who at 6:45 and some reading.  A nice, quiet, lazy day.

Update

I've merged my 2 blogs here to this location. It was getting silly trying to have 2 blogs and keep them separate, when it is my life and my life isn't divided into 2 pages.

Yesterday we walked a lot and picked up a few things and saw a rainbow.



I also got a paper back with a VERY bad grade. Very bad to the point it could put my graduating in jeopardy. I am not sure what the passing grade level is for the overall class and I can't seem to find that information on line. I may have to resubmit it, but even then, even if I got bumped up a letter I am not sure that would change the over all grade enough. I know it is my own fault. I totally blew through that paper and I was upset and worried about my mum. I also found that class a complete waste of time and that didn't really help my attitude toward the paper. I need to contact the professor and ask what the next step should be. (it also doesn't help that there isn't exactly a shit ton of research on what I wrote on either) I also gave my very frank opinion on the class and how I found it kind of a waste of time. I am not going to be all nice, if I feel that it doesn't serve its purpose.

Today I have my massage w/ R, and then I need to get a fair amount done on my Columbine paper. That is due in less than a week and I am about half way done.

Also Dice-K? WTF. :(

Catch up

The Red Sox won the home opener against the MFY! I do not think my neighbors appreciated my singing "Tessie" at the top of my lungs when it was over, however.

I am working on a 4k word paper. It's on Columbine, so I have been voraciously reading books and articles on the subject. So much to absorb.

It is going to be 66 here in Glasgow tomorrow! I can't wait! We are hitting the farmer's market! There will be pics! Nails will be done hopefully and then a lovely walk before I get back to working on this paper.

Have a great weekend!

Edinburgh

Yesterday, despite a late start, kyrina and I went to Edinburgh.  Considering what has gone on lately and my professors told me to relax this week and I have wanted to see more of Scotland, we decided that we'd start off in Edinburgh.  (in a week or 2 we are going to St. Andrews)

We took the train in and I wanted to take a bus tour of the city.  I like the views and it was a nice day.  We decided to get off at the first stop for tea and to go to the weaving museum (where we got to see a LOT of tartans including MacDonald (and Fraser) LOL) and kilts and all things Scottish.

When we went back to get the bus we found that we were too late for the last bus :(  (maybe next time, even though Steph doesn't like bus tours - I think they are fun and are a nice way to see the city and then decide where to go.)

We walked around, popped in lots of little shops and then went to the World's End.  I was excited b/c I had read about this pub in the Outlander series, and I tried to imagine Jamie, Claire, Ian, and Rollo sitting by the fire, enjoying a drink.

We walked around some more and took a haunted tour given by Burke of Burke and Hare.  It was fascinating, if a bit cheesy, but delightful all the same.  I was exhausted after that so we headed back home.  (I couldn't believe it cost 30p to have a pee at the train station!)  LMAO!

Pictures are here!  :)

Sunday walk

Steph and I took an almost 5 mile walk today, down Byres Rd, through the Botanic Gardens, up Great Western Road, and back around campus.  We stopped at little shops, for lunch, and then the library, before the final stop at M&S Food for dinner noms (cod and Greek salad).

Pictures from today's walk....you can even see flowers starting to poke up from the ground!

 

[gallery]

Fluctuation

My weight has been a roller coaster the past few days.  Up and down.  I am very late for TOM this month which is exacerbating it.  Ugh.  I'm crampy and my 5.5 month old boobs are swollen like mad.  Shoot me now.

A lot of walking over the past 2 days.  Class started up again yesterday, and I also got my loan money which means a haircut and shopping!  More tankini bras and a new sports bra, tights, and foundation.  Good times.

I spent the entire time out today sweating.  It was gross.  Ick.  I have no idea what it was from, but then I realized we had been out for 4 hours + and all I had that morning was a weight loss shake.  So idk if it was low blood sugar or the fact that I get so sweaty so easily now.

Tomorrow I need to do some school work, make an appointment with my advisor, and see about the spinning classes at Glasgow club.

Oh, and I am going to see David Tennant and Catherine Tate in MAAN!

Starting over: Day 1

7/1/11

Had a nice lay in and finally got up and went to a place that does half priced lunches.  I had a veggie/chic pea sandwich which was delish.  It came with fries, and I didn't eat them all.

After we checked out charity shops, finding lots of goodies, got groceries and came home.



I made some grilled veggies and then I was tired so I ended up napping for a bit, and got up and made us some boring pizza, for dinner.  Steph is working on her paper and I watched the Tom Petty documentary on BBC4.  I had some crumpets and then some crisps b/c I am so hungry right now.  My eating/sleeping schedule needs to get back on track!