Challenge Felicity

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

The life list

Inspired by one of my favourites blogs Naturally Leah, I thought I would write my life list...

Leah explains the Life List as a "list of health, fitness and wellness related things I would LOVE to achieve at some point in my life. What’s on your Life List?"

10k race a month for a year (April 2013 – March 2014)

06 April 2013 – Bolt Round the Holt, Farnham (1:10:04)

06 May 2013 – She Runs Windsor, Windsor (1:04:40)

15 June 2013 – Zest Challenge, Henley on Thames (1:30:24)

20 July 2013 – Dorney Dash, Eton (1:02:56)

17 August 2013 – BHF Greenwich Royal Park Run, London (1:02:45)

15 September 2013 – ZSL London Zoo Stampede, London (1:05:54)

13 October 2013 – Guildford Riverside Run, Guildford (1:03:39)

17 November 2013 – Old Deer Park 10k, Richmond

14 December 2013 – Nativity Run, Clapham Common

25 January 2014 – Glow in the Park, Polesdon Lacey

09 February 2014 – Longleat 10k, Warminster

22 March 2014 – New Forest Running Festival

Cycle Race

Run the Lululemon Seawheeze 1/2 marathon in Vancouver

Run the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Yoga Teacher Training

30 day yoga challenge

30 day hot yoga challenge

Wanderlust Festival

Walk all Three Peaks

Ben Nevis (05 August 2013)

Snowdon

Scaffel Pike

City holidays:

UK - Dublin, Edinburgh, Scotland

Europe - Florence, Rome, Berlin, Barcelona, Athens

Scandinavia - Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo

US - San Francisco, LA, Hawaii

Canada - Vancouver, Toronto

Friday, 8 November 2013

Yo-vember - Can't let the boys have all the fun

November has now become a time for moustaches, something for which those of us of the fairer sex is not an option.

Instead of attempting to try and grow a moustache I have dedicated my November to daily yoga practice, using a little time every day to reflect on myself and appreciate everything I am able to do

I have signed up to the 30 day yoga challenge with DoYouYoga.com who send a free 10-20 minute daily yoga sequence via e-mail.

So far I have enjoyed practices for core, upper and lower body and a fun class for flying to crow. It might not be my Ashtanga Primary Series but I have found that a little variation has inspired a lot more practice.

Why not join me and start your 30 day challenge now...

Sunday, 13 October 2013

Guildford Riverside Park Run - Muddy puddles

I cannot thank the marshals for this weekend Guildford Riverside Park Run enough, especially for not laughing too hysterically when I slipped and managed to land in a lovely muddy puddle.
The run was well organised and the volunteers and marshals were helpful and upbeat despite the constant downpour, the Kellystore Kangaroo was bouncing around in the mud.

We started a little earlier than planned but no complaints to that, all I wanted was to get moving as without a waterproof I was drenched through well before the warm-up had started. Looping round through tracks surrounding the Guildford Riverside Park and the Guildford Spectrum the single track widened out and I made a quick start to try and find my pace in a smaller group.

The 5k loop featured some short sharp inclines and slippery declines, a clear stretch alongside the river and back up through the woods, I made good time and crossed the 5k at 30:23. I have definitely decided to try and avoid races which have multiple loops in the future, in some ways I like to know what is coming up but when the first loop is difficult or has a particularly steep incline I have found my motivation drop as I approach for the second, third or fourth loop.

My moment of shame came shortly after the second loop started, a sharp corner with not one but two marshals who were pre-warning runners that the ground was slippery and to watch our footing. Even after hearing the advice multiple times on the approach and then seeing runners ahead slip and re-gain balance I still managed to run too fast, and after an interesting twist to try and re-gain momentum land in the middle of the mud. The marshals quickly came to the rescue but after a quick dust off (scrape off of mud!) I was deemed ok bar some bruises (mainly my ego) and set off again. I lost a little time but tried to catch up with the group I had been pacing against, but a twinge in my right hip told me to slow it down and run steady.

The final 3k passed in a blur and before I knew it the finish line was in sight and I attempted a sprint but between the slippery grass and my bruised hip I am sure the speed increase was minimal.

After collecting my medal, water and a banana I made my way back to the car, although there were a few supporter stands the rain was still coming down and I didn’t want to risk my not so practical car getting stuck in the field.

Guildford Riverside Park Run 13/10/2013 (1:03:39)

Rainy runs

I love running in the rain
It's so satisfying when the weather is poor to get out for a quick run and then after a nice warm shower snuggle up in pjs for the evening.

I love that a rainy run is usually a quiet run, less people out and about walking and the nods and smiles to other runners, that recognition that you, like them, are not a fair weather runner.

This morning it's raining, proper pouring, and I am sat in my car trying to keep warm.

This morning I am running my 7th 10k run, it will push me over the half way mark for my challenge. It's my first rainy race and also the first I am running on my own, so really excited for the finish line.

I am telling myself I will love this run, like I love my rainy evening runs but it's harder because it's cold and I have at least 45 minutes of waiting now before running.

Here is hoping this run will be fast!

Friday, 11 October 2013

ZSL London Zoo Stampede - A little bit sick

Sometimes the best prepared runs end up the hardest.

We set off with plenty of time, found a good spot to park and made our way through Regents Park to the main entrance to London Zoo. A quick toilet stop and my current favourite pre-race snack, yoghurt eat natural bar.

I realised I hadn't remembered all the paperwork but thankfully Tim and I have weird surnames so we were easy to check on the list.

After a quick toilet stop and dropping our bags we made our way to the start line. The zoo was buzzing, everyone was so excited and chatting. The ZSL asked runners not to wear costumes as it may startle the animals but a few had opted for animal print leggings or tops, my usual leggings for once looked rather tame!

I found a good spot in the starting pen around the 1 hour marker and wished Tim good luck as he made his way forward aiming for sub 50 minutes.

The run started in the central courtyard, twisted round past the monkeys and the wild boars, through past the lions and then out into Regents Park. The course was undulating and scenic and the first lap I kept a good steady pace. As we looped round the New Albert Memorial statue to head onto the second lap I recognised the marshal from the finish line of the BHF Greenwich run, hearing his banter with the runners ahead lifted my mood.

Around the middle of the second lap my pace was slowing and I was feeling tired, I paused to walk a few strides and tried to catch my breath but struggled to get back to a comfortable pace. After a short walk at the water station I was feeling bad, and felt the water rising back a little too quickly, thankfully the area surrounding Regents Park is wooded and I was able to spit up without causing too much fuss. I stopped to tell a nearby warden and he assured me to keep running.

As I approached the statue for the third final time I started to push forwards, picking out those I wanted to pass, counting them down as we got closer to the Zoo entrance. We came through the tunnel and as I sprinted past the penguins I spotted Tim cheering near the finish line, I tired to catch his eye but was worried if I slowed my pace I would trip and fall or that my legs just might stop running.

This race was full of doubts, I started feeling that I hadn't prepared, then the imagined niggles started, a cramp in my hamstrings, a click in my ankles, my breath too short and a nauseous feeling in my stomach, but I finished.

ZSL London Zoo Stampede 15/09/13 (1:05:54)

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

Remembering to Rest

Sometimes I am really good and practice comes easy, I want to run or get to the gym but sometimes I don't. Sometimes I need to remind myself that it's ok to have a rest day, to recover and come back again

It's too easy to beat myself up about not running the full distance I planned, for not running at all, for missing those yoga poses I am struggling with. Instead of seeing a little run or no run as a failure it is just what it is, a day off.. .rest for my body or my mind, or a mix of both. So il be back to it tomorrow.

Saturday, 17 August 2013

BHF Greenwich Park Run - I love Lucy

I do love London but the crowds overwhelm me, I get frustrated when I can’t get to where I want and I have on more than one occasion found myself on the wrong branch of the northern line. These are just a couple of the reasons why I was relieved that Tim was going to cheer me on for August’s 10k.
The British Heart Foundation Greenwich Park Run appealed not only because of the promised medal (the 10k challenge I have set myself is not only twelve 10ks but twelve medals!) but because it seemed like an easy location to navigate to via public transport!
We arrived early and I suddenly realised I should of worn plain leggings rather than my rather snazzy pink and coral stripes as most runners were changing into the BHF t-shirt, however after a mini panic I decided that I would change into the t-shirt post run. I have a real hatred of tight neck t-shirts when I run, preferring either vests or my beloved Lululemon swiftly run tee.

Lucy and her lovely boyfriend Chris met me at the bandstand; this was Lucy’s first race after completing the Copenhagen Marathon in May – so proud! After a zumba-ish warm-up which I reluctantly jumped around to (I am not a dancer!) we made our way to the starting pen, there was only the one pen and Lucy used the time to snap a few pictures.

Starting from the bandstand we headed on a twisty path down Maze Hill, past the boating lake and around the mid-section of the park, at this point I was struggling, I had realised there was no km or mile markers and was unsure of my pace and got myself into a little of a panic, what if I was going to slowly, too fast? As I approached the observatory I felt wiped and the climb was tough. The hill plateaued and then continued to climb and I slowed to a jog/walk to the top. The course then twisted through the trees and round back to the bandstand, the cheers from the crowd and seeing Tim pushed me through with the clock reading 34 minutes for my 5k lap.
I felt stronger entering the second lap, having chosen my own distance markers, the park, the boat lake, the observatory and the hill. As I was climbing the hill for the second time I was really struggling, but then I saw Lucy making her way down the hill and felt my breathing settle, we cheered each other on and I ran the rest of the hill strong. The final section was mostly flat and I pushed with all the energy I had left, slowly over taking a couple of runners, the final straight was crowded with supporters and I could see Tim and Chris cheering! Encouraged by a lovely man on a megaphone I took off for a sprint and narrowly beat another girl across the line!
Feeling a little nauseous but happy I collected my medal and water and made my way to Tim and Chris ready to cheer Lucy through. Lucy had found a friend, a lovely lady whose ex-partner had recently died of a heart illness was running with her daughter but was struggling with the run and wanted to drop out at the 5k loop, Lucy encouraged her to keep running and promised she would finish with her, they came across the line together and again I was proud of my lovely friend!

This run was tough, I realised how I really rely on feedback be it pacers or km/mile markers or timing apps like Nike+, going to up the training to include more hill runs and speed-work sessions. Feeling determined for the next challenge!
BHF Greenwich Park Run 10k 17/08/2013 (1:02:45)