I've been feeling tired for a very, very long time. And for a very, very long time when people have asked me how I am, my stock answers we "tired", "ok" or "fine, thanks". I'm not sure what it is about the changes I've made recently, but I feel an awful lot better (sounds like a juxtaposition when I put it like that)! My new reply is "pretty good actually, thanks". What are the changes I've made? 1. Healthier eating (less meat, less dairy, more fruit and veg). 2. Intermittent fasting (I.F.) following the 16:8 strategy. 3. Focussing on quality of training over quantity, and adding more variety (really pushing myself in shorter interval sessions, shorter "long runs", adding in cycling and swimming, yoga 5-7 times per week). This morning I woke up to a text message that we had suspected fraudulent activity on our credit card. I had ordered a "click and collect" delivery from a supermarket for this morning (between 8-9 a.m.), and whilst on the school run, they phoned to say they couldn't take payment and I needed to contact them urgently. Meanwhile the traffic chose today to be horrendous. And normally right now I would also be suffering from horrendous PMT and this whole situation would have sent me into meltdown. Not so today. I just dealt with it, step by step. Without crying or reaching for chocolate! I feel so much better, inside and out. I managed a quick run this afternoon, and wasn't sure whether my body would be impressed with me, but I managed a pretty good pace for me post-marathon and my "cardio fitness score" went back up on my FitBit.
0 Comments
If you know me, or have read my blog before, you may know that I suffer from insomnia. Luckily it hasn't been too bad lately, but I did wake up at 3am the other day and spectacularly fail to get back to sleep. After half an hour or so of concerted effort, I gave up trying to get back to sleep and (naughty naughty) picked up my phone. I scrolled through my FaceBook feed and a sponsored post popped up from one of the recipe websites (probably with the word "tasty" in the title). The recipes were all vegan. And looked delicious! I adapted this recipe from one that my daughter made at school (apricot and oat cookies). It's very "coconutty", so if you're not a fan, remove the desiccated coconut and swap the coconut oil for an alternative fat (e.g. margarine). This made 18 walnut-sized cookies. They make a tasty (and relatively healthy) snack.
So now I'm onto "pastures new" as it were.
I have 2 events booked in to my diary for next year. The first is Reading Half Marathon (18th March) and the second is Endure 24 in June, which coincides with my birthday (almost). I am teaming up with my lovely husband, Dave. A non-runner, but willing to take part and spend the weekend in a tent with me and try at least one lap (as per the rules). We have completed the Shine Walk together twice now, so I know he's good to his word. Other than that, I am looking into some local sprint duo- and tri- events and upping my speed work and cross training. It's been great to get back into some stuff other than running and not to feel pressured by a "big event" on the horizon. I've also be addressing my general wellness and eating habits - more on that in my next blog :) |
AuthorSophie Archives
May 2018
Categories
All
|