Tag: training

World Gin Day: Earned

World Gin Day: Earned

by TartanJogger ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Happy World Gin Day! 

I hope you are celebrating along with me?

Well, I reckon I’ve earned a gin tonight. I’ve had another fantastic week of training, and I’m now a the half way point of my 10K training plan for the Carradale Canter. Here’s my training for the week:

As you can see, I’ve stepped up my cross training this week, while maintaining my running in between. Sadly, last Monday was our last Clubbercise class until after the summer holiday. So, Monday will now mean that I’ll be focussing again on my running form at the start of the week.

Thursday I doubled up on the cross training, with my Pound class, and some yoga. Boy, oh, boy – that was tough! I set out to do the NTC Advanced Yoga programme, which is 45 minutes long. Somehow, I had forgotten that I’m stiff and inflexible: most of my moves were ‘aspirational’ at best 😉 But I gave it a go, for the first 20 minutes and then called it quits. I’ll try again this week though, as I’m really keen to reap the benefits of stretching and elongating. Honest!

Today, I’ve done a ‘double bubble’: we had our regular SUPercise session this morning. I think that my basic strokes are improving: I finally mastered the rudder, and could feel that I was moving faster in the water. I managed this by focussing more on my core, and using my legs to really stretch into the stroke- in other words, I spent virtually the whole lesson working on my squats, which I’m hoping will do my running the world of good!

After a quick cuppa, we headed out for a 5.5 mile walk/run and we ended up doing 6.4 miles. Score!

Tomorrow calls for a 3 mile walk, which I’ll get done in the morning, if all goes to plan.

And now, I’m going to pour myself a lovely glass of strawberry gin, which we infused ourselves. It’s a perfect occasion to break it out, I reckon 😉

Monday Motivation

Monday Motivation

by TartanJogger ♥ 8 Comments

Hi, guys! How was your weekend? If you saw my post yesterday, you’ll know that my weekend was one of two distinct halves: a stormy Saturday and a glorious Sunday. We had a rare quiet weekend at home with no plans, and it was bliss.

I rounded up week three of my training plan nicely with a gorgeous walk, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m pleased to say that my training is firmly back on track, with three solid and consistent weeks of sticking to the plan 😀 Happy, happy!

Here’s how last week went, with the scheduled sessions on the left compared to my actual training on the right: 

 This week is the midway point of my ‘get back to it’ plan, and the mileage ramps up a little this week. We’ll see how it goes 😉

To get me started, here’s something I”ll be focussing on this week:

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Have a brilliant week, lovelies!

A Woodland Walk

A Woodland Walk

by TartanJogger ♥ 3 Comments

After a stormy Saturday which resulted in the cancellation of our paddle boarding session – for fear that we’d be blown out to sea – we woke up this morning to glorious sunshine, and had to make the most of it with a wee walk on the woodland trails just above Tarbert Castle. We loved it!

The training plan called for a ‘3 mile brisk walk’ which became a 4.35 mile trail walk instead. It was windy, which blew away the cobwebs. but was largely warm, sunny with just a couple of spots of rain courtesy of some rain showers.

Here’s the elevation – you can see where we kept stopping to take photos!  

 And, here are some of the gorgeous views:  

        



  
   Hope you’re enjoying your weekend! 😀

Monday Motivation 

Monday Motivation 

by TartanJogger ♥ 4 Comments

Hello, and despite the rain, hail and gale force winds, welcome to summer!


How has the past week been? Mine has been ace. My training has gone really well, and my 10k/half marathon training is on track: 

  16 miles and cross training done: ye-haaa! 😀

I had another fab paddle boarding session on Saturday, followed by a book signing by local author Denzil Meyrick. I read his first book on Saturday and I’m well into book two. If you like crime fiction, I’m sure you’ll love his books.  

I’m ready for this coming week: my cold is almost gone, so I’m off to Clubbercise and will then have a three mile walk afterwards. It’s not walking friendly weather out there, so the dreadmill will have to do.

Here’s my motivation for the week, as my focus begins to look forward to the Great North Run:  

 Have a brilliant week! 

Monday Motivation 

Monday Motivation 

by TartanJogger ♥ 5 Comments

Hello, is it a bank holiday where you are? It isn’t here in Argyll, but I’ve taken a sneaky Monday off 😉 It’s just as well, really, as I’ve been floored with a doozer of a cold. 😦

It’s been working on me since Thursday evening, but I’ve powered on over a busy weekend. I didn’t go paddle boarding as planned, but other than that I’ve had a busy time. But today it’s caught up with me and I’ve had to admit to being sick. Bleugh. 

I could feel sorry for myself all day: instead I managed a slow two mile shuffle on the ‘mill followed by a 45 mile walk while I watched an episode of Suits 🙂 I stuck to the treadmill because I might genuinely scare folks today if they saw me! Lol! Back to work tomorrow, here’s hoping make up can work miracles!  

 In other news, I’d like to share a huge well done to Kyla at Early Bird Fitness for running her first marathon yesterday in Ottowa in the a-ma-zing time of 3:28! Wowee! 

My week one of back- on- track 10k training has gone really well. The plan was:  

That was a 10 mile target. What I did was:

Monday: 1 mile walk, Clubbercise class

Tuesday: 3 mile run

Wednesday: 1 mile walk

Thursday: Pound! taster session 

Friday: 4 mile run, Pound! taster session

Saturday: 1.5 mile run

Sunday: 1 mile walk + walking supporting MOK run

I reckon I got it about right and – apart from this cold- I’m feeling great and firmly back on track 😀

So, to keep my motivation up, here’s my mantra for this week:  

 Have a fabulous week! 😀 

Marshalling the MOK Half Marathon

Marshalling the MOK Half Marathon

by TartanJogger ♥ 5 Comments

2015 marked the 10th Anniversary of the fantastic Mull of Kintyre half marathon and 10k. Two years ago, I PBd at the 10k, and that PB still stands :). The lasting memory I have is of the fantastic support from the crowds and the marshals. @TheWelshWookie and I were signed up and training to run the half marathon this year, but due to a few issues we ended up withdrawing. Instead of being negative about it, though, we turned it into a positive and volunteered to marshal instead 😀 
So, at 9.30 this morning, we found ourselves in Campbeltown, at the Victoria Hall, being allocated our spot. As we walked to the hall, we enjoyed watching people set up:  

 Knowing that we might not get the chance to see the finish line later, I took a quick snap:  

 The actual finish was just past the war memorial, tucked just out of sight from the finishing straight. The organisation was great, the briefing was very professional and covered most issues:  

   The route begins and ends in the town centre, while the main race takes runners out of town, along West Port beach, past the world class Machrihanish golf course, Campbeltown Airport (one of the short listed sites for the UKs space port due to its massive runway) and back into town. Our point was just before mile 9, not long after the tough-on-the-legs beach section.

We stocked up on jelly babies before we set off, knowing that , with 1/3 to go, a sugar rush might just be what runners need 😉

Our spot was  great: we could watch the runners come along the main road just before mile 4, on their way out to the beach, long before they got to us. Here’s our view of the road: 

We were parked in a lay by, so I enjoyed taking some pics of the cows in the left hand field and the sheep in the right hand field:   

   Oops- the cows seem to have been a lil camera shy- sorry! 

Before we knew it, the leading runner was in sight, running the straight which was gently climbing up towards us:  

  the next couple of hours flew by, as we clapped, cheered, supported and offered jelly babies to the intrepid runners. The thanks, chats and support we received was incredible, and really humbling. All of the runners did so well.

All too soon, we were stood down and all marshals were invited back for complimentary coffee and Danish pastries. Never ones to turn down free food 😉  we made our way back to the finish line. The tent was busy, and everyone was in good spirits;   

  

 The pastries were soooo worth it!

We stayed for a short while, supporting runners as they crossed the finish line, while jealously eyeing up the medals and goody bags that could have been ours. Oh, well, there’s always next year 😉

We had a brilliant time, and can’t wait to run it again in 2016.

Monday Motivation 

Monday Motivation 

by TartanJogger ♥ 2 Comments

Ha ha happy Monday!

How has the start of your week been? Mine has been great. I’ve still been buzzing after the weekend! After a great day today, I’ve crushed 5k on the treadmill, done some cleaning and I’m ready for dinner. Pasta and meatballs: yum yum! 😀

Here’s my thought for the coming week:  What’s your goal this week? Bring on the awesome! 😉

Catching up with 5×50

Catching up with 5×50

by TartanJogger ♥ 2 Comments

Betcha didn’t expect to hear from me tonight? 😉

Just a quick post to say that, already, we’re on day 31 of the 5×50 challenge. Oooft, that’s come in quickly!

While I’ve been getting in my average of 5k or 30 minutes each day (I know because my Up band told me so), I hadn’t been logging it. My bad.

Tonight, I ran 2 miles then walked another 2 miles- go me! Not outside, but on the ‘mill. Watching Suits. I then logged my 5×50 and was surprised how the kilometres add up quickly:  Not too shabby! I’ve also got my training schedule tightened a little, after working out the basics of it last night. 

All in all, it’s been a productive Tuesday 😀 
  

A 5×50 Hat Trick

A 5×50 Hat Trick

by TartanJogger ♥ 4 Comments

Well, better late than never- for the third year in a row, I’ve signed up for the 5×50 Challenge. 

This challenge encourages all participants to carry out 5k of walking, running or cycling each day or 30 minutes of activity- an exercise class, fitness DVD or strength training.

    

It kick off tomorrow, so if you fancy signing up, you’d best get your skates on! Sign up here.

I’m off for a wet and windy run- wish me luck! ☺️

Monday Motivation 

Monday Motivation 

by TartanJogger ♥ 2 Comments

Hello. Sorry for my lack of posts this week, but it’s been a tough week. Unfortunately, it hasn’t left me much time for blogging, nor for much else.

Having said that, here’s another new week which I’ve started with a stressful day at work followed by a great endorphin-releasing Clubbercise class.

Boy, did I need that!

I seem to be really out of step (pardon the pun) with my running. I think it’s a mental barrier, but it’s holding me back more than I’d like. Do you ever get weeks where you just can’t get past the Toxic 20? And it’s really draining? Well, yeah, that’s been me.

And now it’s crunch time: get back on track this week or jeopardise my next half marathon- the Mull of Kintyre. 

I’m going for it- and getting back on that horse! 

I hope you’ve got your training on track 🙂