NEVER GIVING UP...........

Here we go again.  I didn't commit enough, things have come up where I could have reacted to my liking better, I've been very in-consistent with action and more time has passed.  Anyways..........

I turned 36 last week.  Had a nice little gathering, appreciated catching up with friends and family, was shouted a lovely facial and massage from bf and got lots of social media messages, texts etc to which I am very gratefu.

Now just over 10 weeks till this Mt Cook half marathon.  Still wanting to make improvements to diet, start the process of getting fitter and shedding fat.  And carry it through.  Also start making forward progress with my debts so the goals of SOME long term savings and the ideas of the awesome holidays/travel I want to take start feeling more real.

WEEK 1 GOALS, - starting tomorrow.

* 1 vegetarian day where I make one vegetarian meal from scratch, (eggs allowed this week).
* At least 5 alcohol free days.
* Record expenditure
* 10 coffees max in a week
* 2 litres water per day minimum
* 15km running, (over at least 3 runs, outside or treadmill)
* 2 times 20 min sessions on turbo trainer
* Not buying of confectionary/refined sugar stuff and otherwise be mindful of appropriate food choices and portions.
A mini power tower workout at least 4 days this week.

Here goes!
Catch up soon, Pip

REPORT 11 MAY 2016, and SOME IDEAS

These reports won't be daily, however today

* 5k run TICK, (actually 7.4k, 47 mins 18, flat terrain but some gravel), couldn't help but push it.
* Push ups till failure TICK, - only managed 11 on toes when I could once do 28
* Chin ups till failure  TICK, - only 3 with blue band, then 9 blue/red band combined after rest
* 20 ab swings,  TICK, - (did 21)
* 20 air squats, TICK, - (did 21)
* AF day,  TICK, - (2/2)
* Car clean, - TICK  As a bonus gave fridges a thorough clean.

I did bum around till I started the resistance work as I was dreading to find how much form I had lost.  But here we go.  Good to achieve what was set out to do.

TOMORROW'S TARGETS:
* Either 20 min workout on turbo trainer/bike, (doing intervals but enough to push/get out of breath) OR a 15k outdoor bike ride with cleats etc on road bike.  Follow that with a jog to end of street and back, (1.4k)
* Some basic stretching
* 20 ab swings
* 1 set chin ups with both resistance bands, (many as poss)
* 1 set push ups till failure
* Organise/clean bedroom till I'm happy with the standard of it when I walk in, (don't OVERLY stress if not everything in drawers is not overly neat though).

Yesterday I talked about briefly outlining some longer term targets I'm *considering*.
One is the Mt Cook Half Marathon on 8 Oct this year, (never been quite to that area and boyfriends birthday is the following day).  Another is Queenstown Half Marathon mid Nov.  At some point I'd still love to achieve a sub 2 hour half, (3 mins, 6 secs off a few years back).  But more importantly I want to be happy with my conduct and commitment on the lead up to anything I fully commit to.

Challenge Wanaka Half Ironman is still at the back of my mind.  I pulled out this year.  Right now I'd be in slightly worse shape than this time last year.  No need to make a decision right now, but either way over the coming 2016/2017 season I will do a triathlon at least of a sprint distance.  And working toward overseas travel or holidays to new locations is always on the horizon.

Pip :-)

*THINKING NEEDING TO TURN INTO ACTION*........

I am back.

It has been tough deciding whether I keep a written diary, or whether I do my *diarising* all here!

The pros of me keeping it here are:

*I am much more time efficient on a keyboard than to pen/paper.

*Less books/paper to worry about

*Someone may one day be interested to read

Cons:

*Being online I need to keep content relatively general.  A little bit personal, all good but I need to know where to draw the line.

*I need to be careful not to be too *guna guna* or repetitive with unresolved issues or whingy without solutions, (but potentially a good thing).

SO.....it's here.  Really time to live in line with my values for once and all, (at least 80%ish) and it WILL stay that way.

Today's small victory = no alcohol.  Succeeding after a few days with wine each day.  Too tired for some today, too late now, have no urge so totally safe.

Tomorrow's plan:  Make to 2 from 2 AF.  Attempt a 5k run, outdoors or treadmill, (no pressure on performance but I know once I start I will try hard).  As I'm just re-entering running zone need to make sure I warm up, then stretch a little before hand.

1 set of as many push ups I can do before failure.  1 set of 20 squats.  A set of chin ups on my power tower with my blue resistance band till I can't do any more.  Also 20 ab swings on power tower.

Also outside of my work and normal routine I will clean car inside and out, it's been shitting me for too long. :-)  For the last few weeks until this week I had been working 12ish hour days occupying all daylight hours but that is finished for the year so no excuses.

For anyone reading, I am aware of not rushing totally full trottle into a training regime when I've done next to nothing the last few months.  Have accepted that and am currently after consistency for the next couple of weeks and to find out where I'm at.

I'm not even going there with diet just yet.  I do know the quality always does improve when I train more and drink less and am more organised so am actually going with that for now.

As for body composition/weight/aesthetics etc I want to keep away from regularly ranting on too much with figures etc like I did on my old blogs.  And the same with countless before and after pics.  But for reference, height is 1.71m.  While I currently don't want to get on the scales in the morning I suspect I'm high 70's, (kilos) could tip 80 if unlucky.  One day will have a look.  Of course I want to get that down, (and improve body composition and fit other clothes along with the rest)  but it's the overall picture, (living in line with values, consistency, lifestyle, well being, relationships, financial goals etc) that I'm looking at.  Fitness and personal challenges sit high on the 'values' thing for me.

Enough for today.  Will let you know how I go tomorrow with my objectives, and outline Thursdays goals as well as maybe mention a few longer term targets I'm considering, (haven't committed to).

Pip :-)

MAY 8 2016.........

LONG TIME NO BLOG.........

Welcome back.  Time to get this blog on the way again.  I am leaving up a few posts from last years as I put in a few sort of better stints as illustrated, but am here now to achieve more.

I didn't compete in Challenge Wanaka half ironman this Feb.  Infact I pulled out late December where I could get a 50% refund.

This year, particularly the last 2 months training has been very limited, like an average of a 5k run every 2-3 weeks, more in Jan/Feb and in particular less the last few weeks, (I went a whole month without one run).  I took the road bike round the 15kish block once or twice a week in Jan/Feb, and did about 3 decent mountain bike rides in March of 40k plus.  But that is basically it.  

Long work hours at mundane type work, (12 plus a day 5-6 days a week), wrong priorities, too much wine, followed by junk food at times equalling too little sleep meaning coffee is a priority in morning, over training.  Also not managing home life as well as I could.

This all shows me that I'm not living in line with my life values and it is mandatory I change some things to feel more content.  For now I have decided I'm ok with working in a mundane job, (I realise attitude can change this too) if I am meeting targets outside of work.

SO WHERE TO FROM HERE...........

*  I am to make a training program for the week ahead and record my doings on this blog, - not too much too fast but!  Then do this week by week.

*  I will change my relationship with alcohol, (most probmatic wine) for good.  I gave up all forms of alcohol for 2 solid months Jan and Feb last year.  This year I did a 6 week consecutive period where I drank no more often than 2 days a week tops.  For now I want to get back to the 2 days a week tops thing, and also be really mindful of how much/what I drink/the situation if I choose to do so.

*  I am in the process of Reading '20 Golden Rules' from Jason Shon Bennett.  He gives his view with lots of statistics and on how to structure your diet and lifestyle to give one the best shot of healthy longevity.  In a nutshell with lots of stats he recommends an organic plant based diet with fermented foods, and periods of fasting along with activity, enough sleep etc.  I haven't got to the fasting bit yet, but for now want to incorporate one vegetarian day per week where I make at least a vegetarian meal from scratch.  Things will ideally progress a bit from there as I love vegetarian food.  As for animal protein the hardest for me to give up would be fish and seafood so I could easily become a pescatarion.  

* 10 coffees tops per week and never more than 2 a day.

* At least 7 hours dark shut eye in bed per night.

Things will improve from here but we have a starting point!

Haven't confirmed it yet but am *thinking* my next big event will be the Mt Cook Half Marathon on 8 October!  I've never been to Mt Cook base so this would mean visiting new territory to take part in an exciting event.  My boyfriends birthday is the 9th October so this could be a cool memorable weekend/experience for us both!

Talk soon!

Pip

LATEST REALITIES & SOME RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME.....

I will be pulling out of the Challenge Wanaka Ironman in Feb next year.  Unfortunately I haven't been anywhere near consistent enough with my training, diet or any form of prep.

I have put in little good training bursts here and there, a highlight being stoked to get my best 5k outdoor run time in years in an event this October been which was part of 'The Southland Festival Of Running'.  I crossed 5k in 26.41 and completed the event which my garmin says was 5.51k in 29.29.

I put in a couple of good months of pull up training, squats, push ups, ab curls, some tricep dips on the power tower, then sort of just stopped when progress was starting to happen.  I even sort of managed to do a couple of half by unassisted chin ups after jumping up for my first one!

Just need to prioritise things better if I am to achieve what I want and live in line with my values.

I do have a good vision for 2016 and beyond, but want to get a head start and get underway with a new training block as of tomorrow.  Details to come..............

RANDOM FACTS:
* Full name is Philippa, I only put that on really formal documents and get called that by older family members/relatives and older friends of my family whom have known me since little.
* My all time favourite colour is bright turquoise blue, although I love my current cherry/lipstick red car!
* I love the heat and a tropical type of climate and am not a fan of cold weather at all, (I know, I am crazy living right at the South of the South Island of NZ where the climate is cool/temperate)!
* I don't really get into any movies at all, - I much prefer documentaries or sport or news or even reality TV if I watch anything!  The same goes with fictional books, I just can't stay interested!
* I like lively upbeat music, but have a very limited sense of artists, names or songs or who sings what!  I listen to the beat/tune/rhythm rather than the words of a song!
* Favourite food is any seafood, fish or shellfish, either raw or steamed, fresh veg, fruit and tasty cheeses.  Favourite dessert other than fruit is icecream, most namely Patagonia Argentinian Caramel but luckily I can't have to too often as the closest store is over 2 hours drive away in Queenstown!  Anything caramel is infact pretty good!
* Love travel and holidays!
* I always feel better about myself if on track with my fitness goals, I need to do better at that at the moment, I like running, cycling, swimming, resistance training, infact basically anything to do with the great outdoors.
* Love trying to take photos and document experiences by my knowledge of technology is pretty basic although I keep trying!
* I always think of all the exciting things I could and would love to study, but never can make a full out decision/commitment.

Will talk more soon. :-)

29 June - 5 July Training Report

MONDAY: 5.75k completed on treadmill at home, 32 minutes, mostly incline 1, but pushed it up to 2 and 3 for last few minutes followed by a 5 min incline powerwalk.

TUESDAY: Gym. 5k run on treadmill there, level one setting where only 2.5 mins are on incline of 2, a bit over 28 mins to puff out!  Then 5 min cooldown, leg press 3 sets of 12-15 at 73kg,  Shoulder press, 3 sets 12 at 23kg, had to take a break after 8 on final set before could complete it.

WEDNESDAY: 1k freestyle time trial at Gore Pool, (40 laps of 25 metres).  26.14 was the time.  Then did 4 back stroke laps, 4 with the pull buoy between legs focussing on stroking, then 4 with the kickboard, focussing on kicking!

THURSDAY: Day off, buggered after work, (quite active some days!)

FRIDAY: Gymmed it again, did same 5k workout run as Tuesday but was able to go a bit faster, - yay, but went as hard as poss again! Managed to bring the (treadmill) 5k level 1 program home in a tad under 27 minutes!  More leg press, shoulders and abs!  Busy gym that evening!

SATURDAY: Outdoor 6.25k run in morning.  A bit buggered.  Had wine night before.  First 5k in just under 30 mins but slowed down for the remaining 1.25k home.

SUNDAY: Day off, had big night at a ball on Saturday night!

OK, not exactly half ironman training at all, but still not a bad effort at all from recent efforts!

On Sunday I visited my sister and young nephew, he is only 2 and has a cold/cough!  My sister made a nice platter of crackers, salmon, cut tomatoes, dips, cheese and young nephew likes to cough on them and make up crackers for me and I participated but felt a bit anxious!  Slightly tickly, dry sort of throat the last 2 days, I luckily haven't succumbed at all till now this year so hopefully this doesn't come to anything much at all!

Really cold here at the moment, infact snow lying about today!  Icy at nights!  Indoor training it is for sure!  No training to report this week but need to train 5 days straight, Wed-Sun unless throat thing comes to something more major!  Loving reading the inspirational training blogs, or listening to great podcasts from super athletes!

'BEGINNER' LEVEL TRAINING IS NOW IN PLACE

To be honest, 'properly' getting started again was a challenge last week.  I felt a bit fitter and more consistent a few months ago so after my performances dropped a bit, it has been hard to gather motivation to get started again.

Winter time, cold weather and short days don't help either!  Anyone who knows me, knows I love tropical type weather ideally, not something that often happens here lol!  We are past the shortest day so things are on the up daylight wise at least!

My job at the moment is relatively active, but also involves getting cold, wet, muddy and sometimes sweaty underneath so that would help a bit with base fitness.

I feel I need to work hard on all disciplines, but cycling ironman style in a group is the one which scares me the most!

When I lived in Perth I had a road bike for many years there and took weekend and occasional recreational rides of anything up to about 108km a time, often solo!  But always on cycle trails or quiet roads!  I always used sneakers or thongs or the like and flat pedals!  I put my foot down and stopped at intersections and if I felt like it or if too many people walking dogs were around!  I liked the sensation of braking, but not putting my feet down till the absolute last necessary second!  I put on little sprints and made sure I put in enough effort for it to feel like a workout! But I loved stopping off for coffees along the way, and also dunks in the beaches in summer!  Infact in Perth on a weekend about 40 degree day one of my all time favourite things was to fill a camel-bak with ice and water, go for a long ride along the beach with a few stops for a swim in the ocean! Coffees, beers, icecreams, juices or smoothies may have featured too! I did a few super short triathlons in Perth.

Enter clipless pedals and cleats for the Wanaka Half Ironman, - and new bike!!!

The new bike thing started when I realised I could ride my boyfriend's new Avanti Montari trail/mountain bike around the 15.6k block 3 mins 20 secs than my absolute best on my road bike.  I then did a sprint on each bike down to the end of the road and back, (1.5k) and was still 20 secs faster on his!  My boyfriend told me it was because of the 29 inch rims, and told me I could do the half ironman on his bike!  I then decided it was time for a new road bike and purchased a sexy Merida Scultura 5000 March this year!  Pictures to come later!  And to get further discounts I added in a turbo trainer, cleats, pedals, bike shoes, spare tube at purchase tiem.  Luckily I managed to shave another 3 minutes off my time with new bike and clipless system, managing the 15.6k block in 32:20 best attempt so far!

I am still not comfortable with feeling clipped in and have to constantly concentrate not to come to a stop without unclipping!  I have come close to stacking it, but haven't yet!  I do keep wondering whether I should persist with the clipless system or go back to sneakers and flats!  At the Busselton Half Ironman WA I noticed some of the competitors had flats and sneakers, (were happy to do their best with that), but at Wanaka, everyone seemed to be clipless!  I have the gear so better keep persisting! :-)

I enjoyed some bike rides more in the warmer months of March and April.  But then got slack.  Thursday I remedied it, about 5 mins of clipping/unclipping/short intervals on turbo, then a 3k ride up and down road practicing clipping and unclipping, then doing a 5k timed best effort run, (28.39) before a 1.2k powerwalk home.

Yesterday morning I decided if it wasn't icy, windy, or raining I was doing 15.6k block on bike no matter what.  Weather co-operated, however it was only 5 degrees!  I hated it, the whole ride, was so uncomfortably cold, need better wind proof gloves and to gain confidence in cold on clipless so will sort that!  But did it untimed.  And followed it up with a 3.4k run with jelly legs.  Was stoked with 10.47 for first 2k, but pace dropped a bit thereafter but I sucked it in and put on a sort of sprint for last 200m home.

So we are underway, lots more to be done obviously, but consistency with 5 days training a week is what I'm after this next week, and to get in at least a swim in.

Till next time :-)

Pip