4 WEEKS TO GO!!!!

Getting back on track.... literally.


I'm sorry. I've neglected the blog for a few weeks now!! Trying to get the time to update it the last few weeks has just been hard, but here I am, back again and I'll be here to finish it out as promised!! Now I may have neglected the blog, but I can assure you its the only thing I have neglected. My training is right on target, but I'll get to that in a bit!
So how is everyone! I have been overwhelmed (as usual!) - this time with so many people telling me how they have taken up Zumba/Walking/Joined a gym/Joined a weigh loss club because I have inspired them to do so. Its an absolutely amazing feeling for someone to tell you you've inspired them, as I have said before I started writing this blog for a way to pressure myself into training for this marathon, and I thought it was just going to be a few lines/diary type thing, but because of all the feedback it quickly took a new format! I am really please that so many of you are getting out and doing something, its way beyond anything I could have hoped! You should all be very proud of the changes you have made... Its a great achievement!! I know it can be hard to get out of bad habbits/ruts but take it a small steps, I did, I know it might seem like I do a lot now, which I guess I do, but I started out a year ago walking for 20mins once or twice a week... I built that up along with going to the gym the odd time during the week. I tell a lot of people this, one of the best things I ever did was quit the gym. Now I know gyms are handy, and has everything in once place, and I'm not suggesting everyone runs out n quits their gym, its just what worked for me! When I stopped going the gym I got out walking more, and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. With the gym I used to force myself to go, because I had payed for it. I dont think I ever enjoyed it, but once I left I started walking more. I liked the 'freedom' of walking and started doing it more and more, and really enjoyed it. I still do! The results I got where way faster and better than I had every got at the gym.. I dunno maybe I never put enough effort in at the gym, whatever it was it worked. I honestly cant ever see myself joining a gym again. I go to gyms if I am in hotels etc, but I really don't see myself signing up to one again! If you go the gym and can see results, and enjoy it, then good for you, keep at it! But if not, and you find yourself coming up with excuses to not go the gym, then maybe give something else a go and save your money, walking is free!!! So once I got reasonably fit, in that I could walk comfortably etc, I joined a Bootcamp!! Hard work, but rather enjoyable & rewarding!! It was my summer exercise last year & took my fitness to new and higher levels! I was rather sad when it finished for the winter (it was ourdoor) but then I discovered Zumba and I think you all know how much I enjoy that!! Zumba has been one of the best things to happen to me Its really helped my transformation.. I know its prob madness to say that an exercise class can change you so much, but it has done, its given me confidence, happiness, speed up my weight loss & given me a whole who bunch of amazing friends.. whats not to love about it? I just cant get enough of it at the mo! Unlike the gym, I never try to think of an excuse to not go, and other than my very first class at Spin, I have never dreaded the thought of going!! (although the first class was more fear of not knowing than anything else!!!) I norm am not a fan of motivational quotes etc, but someone sent me this the other day, and I cant think of anything better to add to this space!!

So think about it this week, are you 100% behind what you are doing, because if you're not then maybe you should try something else. Exercise is important and hard work, but it can be and should be at least a little fun and enjoyable, if it feels you with dread and excuses to do it, you are never gonna give it your all!! Let me know how you are all getting on, and as I have said before, if anyone wants help/tips etc feel free to drop me a mail, lots of you do already and I am happy to help, but remember I am not an expert on anything, just a girl who's found something she really loves doing, and if I can pass some of that on to you then I am happy :) Zumba is the one thing i'll recommend to everyone to try, I have never heard anyone say they didnt enjoy Zumba!!

me and my fabulous Zumba teacher and some of my new wonderful pals :) xx


So training!! Well the marathon is getting so so close. Its getting a little nerve racking, but I am sure it will all be fine on the day!! this time four weeks I will hopefully be sitting here writing a blog recounting the event! About 3 weeks ago, I was finding it hard to find the time to get out and keep up with it, I never lost motivation but in only two days of not training I could feel a difference, a bad one!! So I went out and go myself  back on track... literally!! You know where I went? School!! Ah my old arch enemy the school track. God I used to hate it. I'm pretty sure it was the setting of a lot of mine ( and maybe some of your) nightmares! I was never what you could call sporty in school... dont think I ever once in 5years made it round that track without stopping walking, never mind running it! Used to fill me with absolute dread on PE days... talk about coming up with excuses!! Anyway, a few weeks ago I was thinking about how far I'd come and i got to thinking how bad I used to be a sport at school, so I decided to see if that track was as bad as I was remembering. Walking through school grounds to get to that track was pretty scary in itself, so many memories came charging back!! So anyway, for those of you who I went to school with, if you havent been over to it in years (which I hadnt), its not changed all the much from the outside anyway!! The track isnt really there anymore, its just a big field, but you can make out the outline of the track a little!! My initial plan was just to prove to myself I could make it all the way around! But I've gone back a few times now, today most recently. It's liberating to go say I can do it after all these years! (yeah I know you all must think I am crazy by now!!) If you've ever wondered, the complete track is about half a KM. I swear when we were students it was at least 3miles round!!! It took me around 2&half mins to run my first lap around it! Ah if only Miss Lalor or Miss Petit had been there to see... sure I was proud of myself & thats all that matters!!
Apologies if the image below gives any of you nightmares tonight!! :)

In the last weeks in the lack of blogging I have been training really hard. I can run just over 8K now.. 10 weeks ago that seemed like such a long long way off, but here I am now fitter than ever and literally running rings around myself (ok, ring around the school track!!) I have been taking in a lot of hilly grounds and I really feel I am ready for the 10k, I just have another 1.5k to cover off in the next 4weeks. To be honest, I am a little worried about the time goal I set, I couldnt register as a runner, and I have remembered from last year with the crowds it can be a little hard to run in places.. but my commitment to this will never falter!! As long as I complete the 10k running I will be happy, obviously to do it in the 60 mins is my dream goal... but I wont ever beat myself up over if I do!! I've also signed up to do an 8k later this month, and a few more 10ks over the summer, so my training will be kept it!!


And thats me over for this week. I promise to keep the blog fresh and alive for the next for weeks, and I might even post some bonus ones, I have lots of topics I want to talk with you guys!!




Night all, and as always, thanks for all your support, comments, messages etc.. the really do keep me going, its getting closer :) 


Adios :) Av xxxx


10) Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation (just has a great beat to run to!!) 


9) David Guetta - Titanium (ah have to have something 'current' and I find the lyrics of this motivating!) 


8) Groove Armada - I see you baby (shaking that ass! gotta love this one!!)



7) Delerium - Silence ( the full 10minute version - absolute cracker for an early morn run!!) 




6) - Stereophonics - Dakota! (this came on my playlist randomly the other day,surprisingly good to train to!!) 


5) - Nalin and Kane - On the beach (couldn't think of a more appropriate running tune this week - really good to run to!!0 


4) – Flo Rida … Good Feeling (this is my feel good song, you may have noticed my cheeky use of some of the lyrics in my blog today... it’s also my favourite song to dance to! (Quick Emma, play my song for me!!) haha)


3) - Rui da Silva... Touch me - (yep, Spawell days anyone!!??)

2) - Boney M - Gotta Go Home (you may feel the urge to do a little dance whilst running to this one!)


1) - Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar 

8 WEEKS TO GO!!!

To Paula.....




OK, so I know this blog is really late!! But I kinda have a reason... see I wanted to dedicate this weeks blog to a very special friend of mine, Paula. ( I am sure you got that from the title!!) Paula is getting married on Saturday (14/04/12) & seeing as her Wedding is about 15 hours away as I sit hear typing, I thought now would be the perfect  time to post! (That, and the fact she is unlikely to be anywhere near the Internet for the next few days, so cant give out to me!!) I've known Paula for a long time! Somewhere around 27years I believe!! (possibly a little more,but that makes us sound old, remember though ,we were practically babies when we met!!) Anyway, Paula has always been a great friend to me, she's beautiful, kind, thoughtful, a wonderful Mam to Little Miss Tia, she makes me laugh, gives me good advice (sometimes, depends on the wine levels!! (joking pal!!) listens & cares! But above all that, Paula is a great inspiration to me. Now Paula will contradict that I inspire her these days, but to me its always been the other way around. She was always fit, competing in triathlons, half iron-mans, you name it!! Admiring all her trophies & plaques one day about a year or so ago that help spur me onto my get fit buzz. If she could do it - why couldn't I one day!! Paula has been a rock for me from the time I started this journey about a year ago, and has been right there beside me, encouraging and pushing. Really, on the eve of her Wedding to Pete, I just wanted to say thank you. So thank you Paula, for everything, for being such an amazing friend, for just being you. I cant wait to see you in around 15 hours time as you walk into the church!! I'm sitting here in your Mams now writing this, your little baba upstairs sleeping, in the good hands of her favourite babysitter Aunty Av! Its funny sitting here listening out for Tia, when all them years ago we used to sit by the fire place here playing Barbies, then it was onto music and dancing and talking about how we could sneak out. Now we sit around that fire drinking wine after a night out, trying not to wake your Mam,which we inevitably do because, less face it, we both like to talk, a lot, loudly!! We've shared so much over the years, the last few months have been crazy with Hens, and Wedding prep, but I wouldn't have changed a minute of it for the world!! I love you loads pal, thanks again for everything, best of luck on your big day,.here's to a long and happy life for you Pete & Tia, and here's to many many more nights of drinking wine and chatting :) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx




Photo isnt the best, but a great memory of a very funny night me and Paula had about 6months ago, while on the hunt for a band for her Wedding!!





I am feeling a little emotional tonight, hugging your pal and wishing her well before her big day takes it outta you, as does sitting remembering all the fun you have shared!! And for that reason (well one of them, as you are about to find out) my blog is going to be a little short this week. See, I have been hectic with work and other things this week, (not making excuse, honest!!), so my Running programme got a little away from me!! Now I am not worried, its not like I have done nothing this week for training!! On Monday & Tuesday I ran 3k and Friday 4k, its just not my usual training standard!! I didn't get around to my big weekly run ( it was me and and friend Emma's birthday, and we celebrated. A lot!!) But as I said, I'm now worried about it, and I don't feel guilty, Well being honest, maybe I do a little, because I've not got much to report in my blog!! But sometimes, like not only will, but should get in the way. It needs to be fun, otherwise the training will seem a little bit too much like hard work!! I did promise a proper programme for this week, and to go and run lots of hills, so I really hope I haven't disappointed anyone reading this. I've still trained, the fitness and everything is up where it needs to be, thanks to all the dancing and the bit of running I did manage to squeeze in!! Promise I wont let anyone, and by that I mostly mean me!, on this training, and normal service shall resume next week!! My trainers are even packed in my case for the wedding, so I hope to report my weekly run from a fabulous location in Wexford!! And I 100% promise to focus on the hills!!


And thats it for this week folks, short and sweet I am afraid, but I had to be honest about the lack of training this week, I could easily lie on the blog, but sure what would that do? Nothing but make me feel really guilty!!


Although this weeks blog was dedicated to Paula, I just want to point out that every single one of you,my amazing family and friend, my old friends, new friends, work colleagues  and even some strangers via the blog have been absolutely amazing to me. There are far too many people to call out right now but I love you all and I am entirely thankful for the ongoing support and love & encouragement.You know how much I appreciate it, please keep the support coming, I need it now more than ever!!


Right, better get me off to bed, I have a Wedding to get to in the morning!! 




Av xxx




7) Delerium - Silence ( the full 10minute version - absolute cracker for an early morn run!!) 



6) - Stereophonics - Dakota! (this came on my playlist randomly the other day,surprisingly good to train to!!) 


5) - Nalin and Kane - On the beach (couldn't think of a more appropriate running tune this week - really good to run to!!0 


4) – Flo Rida … Good Feeling (this is my feel good song, you may have noticed my cheeky use of some of the lyrics in my blog today... it’s also my favourite song to dance to! (Quick Emma, play my song for me!!) haha)


3) - Rui da Silva... Touch me - (yep, Spawell days anyone!!??)

2) - Boney M - Gotta Go Home (you may feel the urge to do a little dance whilst running to this one!)


1) - Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar 

9 WEEKS TO GO!!!!

I won, I won, I won!!

This blog has become as important to me as getting fit has! As you all know by now, I started writing this because I wanted a little pressure on myself to keep a promise I made to myself. But the interest I've gotten in this has given me a greater pressure than I ever could have imagined. I start thinking somewhere around Thursday what the following weeks blog will be about. When I started out writing the first one, it never dawned on me I was gonna need to think of at least 14 different topics to keep the attention of you all! I find myself keeping mental notes of random things as the week goes on....'Oh that could go in my blog' is a frequent thing I hear myself say! I do find it difficult to start off sometimes, this weeks edition has, in the past hour, had 5 different titles, and even as I write this I am not too sure what its gonna be, guess I will have to wait until the end to find out!! I really am enjoying writing it though, its become my new little side-line hobby! I enjoy watching a blank page fill with words, and then all of a sudden this I have 2 pages of a blog wrote and I am ready to post! Its funny how I can be nervous about starting it, and then all of a sudden find I'm done.
Saying that makes me think about all the things we are all nervous about starting, but once we do, we get into it and end up really loving. Take my Zumba classes. I'd wanted to try them for so so long, I thought it looked like a really fun exercise. Only I didn't have the nerve/time/energy/you name it, I had every excuse under the sun. For about 6 months!! So one cold December evening last year, I decided to give it a go finally. So what if no one would come with me, or the fact that I was only starting to get fit, I'd danced for years as a teen, it couldn't be that hard to pick up right? You know what, it wasn't, from that first class I was hooked. I started of hiding down the back of the class, doing one class a week. 3 months later, I am a regular 3 nights a weeker, front row centre is where you'll find me Monday Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm!! I'd do 4 or 5 nights a week if it was on! This week I gave 2 back to back classes a go, thinking I'd die, but I just got such a buzz from it! Its great finding something you love to do,even better when its an exercise that you come away from feeling great and don't dread going to! Its become a social thing now too, after me trying it I convinced my friend Emma to give it a go to, and now she is hooked! I've a network of new dancing pals, and that makes it even more enjoyable! Never felt anywhere near as good coming out of the gym as I do after Zumba... if you are trying to find an exercise to suit you, give Zumba a go, everyone I know doing it loves it, and the weight is falling off all my little Zumba pals!! We've all got our own little goals/reasons for being in the class and its paying off! Exercise fun?You bet!! Just asking any of my Zumba buddies!
Running?Fun?Eek.. you know what, i really am enjoying it. As I've said loads of times, this blog started out as a way to pressure myself into training for the 10k run, and to ensure I didn't back out or just walk it. Because i dreaded starting to run so much, I knew (me being me!!) there was a decent chance of me giving up. But 5 weeks into training, I have to say, i really am loving it. Yeah its a pain in the ass sometimes, both literally and figuratively,  its hard some mornings or evenings to get moving, and I end up with aches that have aches of their own, but I am getting such joy from seeing how fit I am getting! I am toning up like nobodys business! I am sure the toning is from a combination of the dancing and the running, but I ain't gonna give up one to see which it is :). I'm also enjoying seeing how far I can run on each new training session.I surprise myself all of the time, I'm in a race all by myself, and I have to win every time! My other new favourite habit when out training is trying to beat randomers. So I pick a walker or slow jogger in the distance, and set my targets on over taking them. I'm like a lurker seeking out someone to beat or catch up with! I've lost a few such 'races' but won more, so I'm happy! Love passing someone by knowing how much  I pushed to catch up with them. OK so they have no idea they were part of my race, and i do fear that one of these days I am gonna pass someone and stick out my tongue and say 'nah-nah-nah-nahnahna - I won I  won I won' hahaha, now I know this may make me sound a little crazy, but those of you who know me well know I am all about the crazy. And the fun! Crazy Fun! And sure training on your own can be a little boring, gotta keep entertained somehow!! In all seriousness though, I really am loving running, and the toned legs its giving me! Your mission this month is to find an exercise and give it 4 weeks, you'll be surprised how quick you get into it, and before you know it, it'll May and you'll be winning your own race :)



So back to the training - how did I get on this week! All's good, as I am sure you have gathered from the above! With such amazing weather last week, I made myself go training loads, morning and evening too... with sunshine like this,how could you not want to be out in it!!


Yeah, i upped my game a little last week, and it paid off - on Friday i ran a full 5k,non stop. That was to be my half way mark, I was hoping to do it this week or next, so I guess I beat myself!! ( i also beat 2 girls walking waaayyyyyyy ahead of me, and a couple strolling around the lakes, but they were an easy target!!) Now the only thing I am falling down on is the hills. Those I really do hate, but I cant bank on the 10K being on perfectly flat ground!! I've done some hill work, just no where near enough. So my mission for next week is it get a hill run in on every training session! If you happen to see me out and about this week, feel free to shout HILLS HILLS HILLS at me, its just the kind of pressure I need!! (in fact, I think Hills Hills Hills will be next weeks title, see how ahead I am!!, haha)

And i am done for another week.. (wasnt too bad was it!!). I promised a few blogs back that once I was running 5K I would start a serious training programme that  I would post weekly on here, so from next week I will honour that promise!! And if you see someone lurking behind you this week tryna catch you, dont worry, its probably just me. Either that or I have started a new crazy :) Lurk-running? hmm i'll get back to you on that name!!

Thanks as always for your support on this, its keeping me going. Do feel free to share the link so your own friends can have a read, thanks so much to those of you who have been doing so, I am getting great feedback, and a good bit from randomers!
Thanks to Caroline for my running is a pain pic, it made it smile, so had to be part of my blog!!

And finally, while chatting to someone this week about training, they gave me this little motivation quote, which I love so much I just have to share and end on....

'To win and be number one, you have to train from the start like you are already number 2'

See you next week...
Av xxx


Running Track of the Week;


6) - Queen - Stereophonics - Dakota! (this came on my playlist randomly the other day,surprisingly good to train to!!) 


5) - Nalin and Kane - On the beach (couldn't think of a more appropriate running tune this week - really good to run to!!0 


4) – Flo Rida … Good Feeling (this is my feel good song, you may have noticed my cheeky use of some of the lyrics in my blog today... it’s also my favourite song to dance to! (Quick Emma, play my song for me!!) haha)


3) - Rui da Silva... Touch me - (yep, Spawell days anyone!!??)

2) - Boney M - Gotta Go Home (you may feel the urge to do a little dance whilst running to this one!)


1) - Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar 

10 WEEKS TO GO!!

A sunny day in Dublin....


Hark! What is that I see before me? That thing, the bright yellow ball shinning in the corner of a clear blue sky! Can you see it? Am pretty sure I have seen it somewhere before... perhaps in a dream or a foreign country!! Seriously though, how amazing is this weather we have been having!! Un-seasonally warm for March -  'can you believe its only March' I have heard so many people say! Doesn't the sun just put you in such a good mood. I swear everywhere I have been  the last few days, people seem happier and just so smiley! What a way to instantly lift the mood of 1.2million Dubliners! Throw into the mix the clocks going forward and and an evening that now stretches to after 8pm... Dublin is on a Sun high! Its so lovely seeing so many people out walking, running, kiddies out playing, outdoor cafes full, seaside areas heaving with a happy mood. Perhaps I'm the one one the Sun-high?! I actually think I am! I kept craving seeing the sun this weekend, it was like a magnet that wouldn't let me stay inside and just pulled me out! Sunday alone, I done a 5k run,  walked 6k around the local park, and ran the pier out at DunLaoighre! Am I crazy? Over-doing it? I don't think so.I really cant describe the buzz I get from exercising. Hard to believe a little over a year ago I was the girl who wouldn't get up off the couch no matter how much the sun-shone, now I am trying to heard everyone out doors with me! Honestly though, I enjoyed so much seeing all the people out in DunLaoighre, there were people of all ages, shapes and sizes out, people walking , running, jogging, skating,biking...you name it! I remember, maybe 6 years ago I went out to the pier with my family on a similar sunny day.I was loathe then to walk a slow pace up that pier, it was so long and never ending, I don't think I made it all the way to the end even without at least sitting down. Jump forward and here I am running the thing! I may have looked like a slightly crazy person running along that pier, with a  dopey smile on my face, but I don't care,when this is your view/path, how can you not smile?

I hope you have all been enjoying the sunshine in whatever way you can. Even if its just sitting out in it, the good mood you get into can give you so much motivation! Summers on its way folks, lets get out and enjoy the weather while it lasts!!Who knows how long that yellow ball will be shinning out there for! (just watch our for birds that like to masquerade as giant bee's- isn't that right Georgina?!!)
 And that bring me onto the other thing I want to talk on the blog this week... taking things for granted. Something else  we are all guilty of! Today I learnt a girl (who'll remain nameless because I'm not sure its appropriate)  I know is doing a charity event for the Irish Cancer Society  later this week, & she will be doing something amazingly self-less for a worthy cause, and it got me to thinking. How much do we take things for granted? We take our health , for one, for granted, we're all healthy right now, so things are good right? Now I don't want to start bumming out anyone reading my blog, or for me to turn into some sort of preacher, just the more I embark on this journey, the more it concerns me. Now is the time to take care of our health and fitness, putting it off all the time is just not, well its just not healthy. No time like the present, and with such a sunny day in Dublin in front of us, there really is no better time to get out for a 20minute walk and take control of our own health, fitness and general well- being, no one else can make that decision for us. And certainly no one else is going to do it for us. Who knows what might be around the corner... so lets make sure we're fit and healthy enough to tackle whatever is lurking.! My whole reason, as you will all know, for starting this blog was to keep myself motivated and give myself a little pressure... in the last 4 weeks that's flipped, I'm helping to motivate others, and the pressure I feel is keeping that going. Its a nice pressure, don't get me wrong! I really am thrilled with the amount of emails I get after posting a blog, from people telling me they got up and went walking. I've had mails from strangers. Its an credible feeling, something I wont ever take for granted, as long as you all promise to take a teeny-tiny leaf and not take your health for granted, get out there now and do something small to improve or keep up your fitness... you'll thank yourself for it one day!


And on that cheery note.... back to training! I mentioned earlier that I done quite a lot of exercise this week, and I did pose the question  Am I maybe doing too much? - because I have asked that a few times. The honest answer is I don't think I am.. I do 3 dance classes a week on top of the running/walking. But I have taken it really slow to get to this level. I stretch before and after every exercise. I get such a buzz from exercising now, I just want to do more and more. But I know my limits! I'm slowly pushing harder and harder at the things I am doing now... I am fit, happy and healthy!
So this weeks training was great!!  The only thing was, the lunch time running just wasn't working out for me, as much as I want it to,  my work tends to be too busy for me to keep it up constantly .. so I switched, to early morning! Yup I am now the girl out running at sunrise. And I couldn't enjoy it now more than I do! This is what a training programme is all about folks,you need to make it work for you, not stick strictly to someone Else's! You've gotta be happy doing it! (well as happy as you can running up a hill, ha ha) So I've found my running hour, but how about my running time! Woo I am up to 4.11K.That's the one big run I push myself to do once a week. The rest of the week I spend training myself in all different ways....I run and  walk on my training days.I push myself (sometimes quite literally!!) up hills and around steep bends. Every run I finish gets me one step closer to that starting line! My favourite training day, as you probably already got, was Sunday this week! I pushed myself so hard that day, OK the sunshine made it a lot more enjoyable, but I swear  i felt better than I have done before! So 4.11K down, less than 2 weeks to go to my first goal, the small one, 5K in 35mins, will I be able to do it? I most certainly intend to! 2 weeks left of the training programme I am following at the moment, and then it gets really seriously... I am scaring myself!


And that's it for this week. Please guys, think about your health and fitness, and get out once or twice this week for 20mins, the sun shinning should give you some motivation!


Thanks, as always to all of you for your continued support, this blog is as much for you as it is for me! Thanks for reposting the link, and please keep doing so, I really want as many people as possible reading!


Hope to see you out walking or running, if I bump into you on DunLaoighre pier, ignore the dopey smile I'll quite possibly have plastered to my face !! :)


Big thanks this week to my wonderful pals, Emma and Bernie who came on walks/runs with me!! I always want company - so give me a shout! 

See ya next week, 

Av xx

Running Track of the Week;


5) - Nalin and Kane - On the beach (couldn't think of a more appropriate running tune this week - really good to run to!!0 


4) – Flo Rida … Good Feeling (this is my feel good song, you may have noticed my cheeky use of some of the lyrics in my blog today... it’s also my favourite song to dance to! (Quick Emma, play my song for me!!) haha)


3) - Rui da Silva... Touch me - (yep, Spawell days anyone!!??)

2) - Boney M - Gotta Go Home (you may feel the urge to do a little dance whilst running to this one!)


1) - Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar 

11 WEEKS TO GO!!

Sometimes I get a good Feeling…

That time of the week already? Fly’s around doesn’t it! Seems like only 20mins ago I was posting the last one, and here I am again typing away. Time does zip by so quickly though. I got asked a question this week, which I couldn’t initially answer, I had to go away and think about it, and I promised to reply via the blog. The question was, ‘do you ever regret not doing this sooner’. Now clearly the question wasn’t targeted at writing just me writing this blog! Do I regret not losing weight and getting fit sooner in my life? As I said, I had to go away and think about this, because it’s seemed far too simple to just say yes or no. So I’ve thought about it, and although I spent far too many years being overweight and unfit, I’m not sure I would have succeeded a few years ago like I am now. Now, I know I can’t say that for sure, because quite frankly, I didn’t try before. It’s hard to explain, but you have to want to do something like this for yourself, doing it because you think will make other people happy and proud of you won’t work. You need to have a passion for doing it for yourself, finding that passion was the hardest part. Which is why for the first 6/8 months I kept what I was doing as quiet as possible, I needed to know I was doing it for me and me only. And I was. I am.  So no, I don’t regret not doing this any sooner, 5 years ago, it would have been  formed out of a passion to make someone else happy, and I think the regret would have been that I wasn’t doing  for myself and  ultimately I don’t think I would have gotten to where I am now as quick and happily. Now its 100% driven by a passion to make myself happy. The other thing is the network of support, everyone I know has been a fantastic support to me and amazing at keeping me pushed and focused, but again, 5years ago I’d lost all confidence, and I don’t think I would have embraced the compliments etc, nor do I think I would have been willing to share any of the story, because I hated it. But now I get to share my journey with all you amazing people. And not only have I got a fantastic support network in my lovely family & friends, I’ve got a network of new friends and strangers who’ve I’ve only met because of this journey of mine! I can’t imagine  life as it was just over an year ago anymore, this past year has been the best, and literally everyday it gets better and better……Oh Sometimes I get a good feeling, I get a feeling that I never never never never had before! Yeah, I get a good feeling!

Regrets? Never!

The other thing about time zipping by so quickly is it can make you feel guilty, in any sort of situation. It can be something as big as loosing contact with someone and suddenly realising it’s been years since you spoke, or something as easy as having great intentions on Friday, and suddenly realising the weekends almost over and you’ve not doing any sort of training!!!! Yup the latter is  what happened to me this weekend, I skipped out of the office at 4pm on Friday,  happy as could be, with my weekends programme jotted out on my iphone (ah where would we be without them?!)  & all the good intentions the world has to offer, and before I knew where I was it was Sunday morning and I’d missed Friday and Saturday’s training, good intentions lost somewhere within the funniest weekend ever.  So with my body broken from the Champagne Mojito’s that were consumed Saturday, off I went Sunday for my run. Feeling guilty about missing the 2days training seemed to give me some sort of amazing push. Either that, or the Champagne Mojito’s gave me some sort of superhuman adrenaline!! Because I ran my best time so far, 4.9K nonstop - notching up to 9.24min/KM. This means, with only 11 weeks to go I just need to shave at least 20/30mins off my time, and double the distance.  Sure that’ll be easy peasey wont it? Like hell it will! This challenge is not easy, far from it! The hills need to get steeper, my pace needs to go faster and the distance needs to get further. But am I still confidant I can do it?  I sure am! A'int no stopping me now as they say! If it wasn’t challenging it’s be pretty stupid to refer to it as a challenge now wouldn’t it!

So my week over all, you mean other than pondering the past and drinking Champagne Mojito’s? Ah the training!! Yup it was good, I’m learning to push away the aches and pains the inevitably come with starting at the bottom of a training programme. I’m stretching out properly before and after, this is a must do! But I’ve told you all that before, so I know I don’t need to nag, because I know you’re listening, right?! J My training programme takes me all over the place, literally! One day I’m running for 15mins up a hill and that’s enough, the next can be 35mins on a flat track.

Although I am running at the moment, I am more concentrating on getting the fitness levels up and up. And they are, I can feel it, and I can see it! For the next 3 weeks I will be doing everything I can to be as fit as I can, and then on week 7 that’s when the running will take a serious U –turn, I am hoping to be running just over 5k in 35 mins by then, so I will be completely on track to take the 10k in around 60.

For those of you who have been asking, no my training doesn’t just involve the running; I do 3 dance classes a week at Spin Dance & Fitness (which I just love, & would recommend to everyone!!) – And I try to do as much of the class as possible with weights for toning. I also try to get in at least one 10k walk a week, to keep the weight going down, and the legs moving so they get a little  less of a shock everytime I run!

I went out for a run every day last week, till I hit the weekend, as I mentioned above! We all get times like that, so if you’re only getting out once or twice a week to exercise, don’t feel guilty, once you’re giving it your hardest push! And even though my blog last week was about making time for exercise, every now and then life will get in the way, and it should be fun, so as long as its only every and then you let it slip (and you’re straight back on!!) don’t feel bad! Those drinks were totally worth it, I am sticking by that…. see, who could resist these?? :) :) - Thanks Alfie!

And do remember folks, with the exercise, try to get the diet healthy too, the two do really do go hand in hand, they like each other, love each other infact, so keep them together. Eating out doesn’t have to be bold either, you can enjoy eating out healthily – you deserve a treat every now and then after all the hard work!  Just don’t spend too long deciding between the Calamari and the Squid ;) (Sorry Shaz!)

And that’s me pretty much done for this week. To the guys in the white van who beeped & whistled at me today, thanks a mil, I really appreciated you bringing me to the attention of the other truck drivers who joined in! And to the woman  coming out of the garage who decided to stop and fix her hair, thanks for parking so awkwardly I had to stop running and wait for you to move… did you not notice me glaring?? Haha J

Just to say thanks to you all once again for the support, keep with me guys, only 11 more blogs to go! Please keep sharing the blog… I’m hoping to get to a 1000 reads this week, so any help will be appreciated! Post it on any sporting-type sites you might think are relevant J

See ya next week, (if  I don’t see you out on the Greenhills!!)

Av xx

Running Track of the Week;

4) – Flo Rida … Good Feeling (this is my feel good song, you may have noticed my cheeky use of some of the lyrics in my blog today... it’s also my favourite song to dance to! (Quick Emma, play my song for me!!) haha)

3) - Rui da Silva... Touch me - (yep, Spawell days anyone!!??)

2) - Boney M - Gotta Go Home (you may feel the urge to do a little dance whilst running to this one!)


1) - Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar 

12 WEEKS TO GO!!

The Girl in the Pink Jacket...


One of the hardest things about training or doing any sort of exercise is finding the time to do it. We're all busy, we've got jobs, college,school,kids to take care of, hangovers to nurse.. and we've all always got a million things to do, right? Last thing any of us want on a chilly March evening is to go out and walk. Even just making to the  the gym is a strenuous task!!(how often have we all made it as far as the car park and thought that was enough for one night!! hands up who's turned around and gone home without even setting foot inside the gym!!)
 We all know exercise is really important, and yet we tend to put it on the long finger a lot of the time, because basically we want to try avoid it! I'm writing this blog on training, but I'm no saint, I try to avoid it as much as anyone else. Its late when I get in from the office, all I want is food & TV. But there's this little nagging voice (which sounds remarkably like me!!) So I've gotta go do it... not just cause I have a weekly blog & 10k run I've committed to, but because i made a commitment to myself to get fit. 
Lots of people have said to me this week, 'Av i just cant find the time to get out'. I used to be the same...and you know what I've realised, its not the time we don't have, its mostly a lack of motivation. We're all guilty. So we look for motivation, and don't find it and sit infront of the TV instead. So here's your motivation, GET UP, GET OUT & DO IT!!!! Seriously though, we can all find the time to exercise, 20mins is enough. I know myself, training for this run is hard, I ache after it, I'm using muscles my body never knew existed. I dread the thoughts of going out some evenings/mornings - whenever I choose. But I do 3 one-hour dance classes a week, which I love, the classes are great fun, and if I they ran the class 5 times a week I bet you I would 'find' the extra hour in my busy schedule to fit it in, because I love it. Think about the things you wouldn't let yourself miss.. start thinking about exercise in the same light! In terms of priority, its gotta be right up there with brushing your teeth - important as hell, and you'd never just skip it because you couldn't be bothered!!


I mentioned how much I can dread sometimes just leaving the house for a run. We've all been there right? Another place we've all been is post exercise. How good do you feel after a work out/walk/exercise DVD/whatever ? OK so you might ache a little, have a face as red as a tomato, but I bet you all feel good. You feel proud of yourself for doing the workout, if you've been outdoors you'll have taken in so much fresh air you're practically high on it. Corny as it sounds, hold onto that feeling, because it can be your motivation to keep pushing and getting out, knowing that once you get your work out out of the way, you're gonna feel great, and almost like you've completed a duty to yourself , which I guess it is really. Think of the rewards when those jeans fit you better, or your new shirt is a smaller size!! 


So now we've all got it, we've got our motivation and 20mins, trainers on and we're off and running :) (doesn't literally have to be running!) If 5 people come and tell me this week they got up and worked out for 20mins, ill be thrilled!! Come on guys, make Av happy!! :) 


Back to me now, how the week go? Good! Last week I ordered myself a new jacket for running, you know the sort, lightweight, rainproof, handy pockets for keys etc. Well, you've got to look the part don't you!! Only problem was, its pink, and not just any shade of pink, but fluorescent pink. So bright it could hurt your eyes if you look at it too long. On the upside,as Georgina pointed out, there's no chance of me being knocked down!! Downside? You are very easy to spot whilst running up the Greenhills road in a fluorescent pink jacket, as I found out several times this week - with texts such as 'did I just pass by you running in a pink jacket??' Yes,yes you did! I ran my ass off this week, Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday, then I hit Thursday and every muscle and bone in my body refused to move & the nagging voice seemed to be on mute! Luckily on Friday the nagging voice was back in full volume, and I was back on track. I am literally improving with every step - I know this because everyday I make sure there is an extra step!! The running buzz has definitely filtered its way through every part of me!!


Saturday I took a little track up the mountains with the girls Lyn & Char, something I'd not done in years. We  weren't silly enough to attempt to run something as steep as that on our first attempt (remember, little steps and all that!) but we certainly walked our asses off. Up and up we went, concentrating on trying to breathe took over conversation on the really steep hills. But how worth it was it? So much.. when you're rewarded with a view like this!! 




 






Day after I ached in more new places,seriously, how many more new muscles can there be!! But Sunday is the start of my training week, so after plenty of stretching, in went the ear phones and off I went. 8K covered in just over an hour... trilled with myself... with 12 weeks to go, I think I am surely on track to get to that 10k /60min goal. This week I am going to concentrate on stepping up the actual fitness levels, so that I'm ready in a few weeks to tackle running up hills. The ground cant stay flat forever!!


And that's me for this week...happy as Larry, and getting closer and closer to that starting line. 
Remember, GET UP, GET OUT & DO IT!! Oh and if you do happen to see the girl in the pink jacket,  give me a wave, or better still, come join me! Just don't knock me down, that would defeat the purpose of the fluorescent jacket :) 


Thanks once again to everyone for your support, and to those of you posting the link on  your own pages, please keep doing so :) Enjoy your exercise &  speak in a week :)


Av xx


oh and thanks to Graham who made me a cup of tea this week..shame it ended at one cup, but hey who am I to complain, a cup of tea handed to you is just whats needed after a run :) 


Running Track of the Week;


3) - Rui da Silva.. Touch me - (yep, spawell days anyone!!??)

2) - Boney M - Gotta Go Home (you may feel the urge to do a little dance whilst running to this one!)


1) - Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar  

13 WEEKS TO GO!!!

13 WEEKS TO GO -  I've found my nemesis!


Wowsers! Totally blown away from all the support this week, was not expecting it at all! My blog was read over a hundred times in 48 hours, I was astounded! Thanks so much to everyone for reading & all the nice comments and messages that followed! Keep them coming, and I love that so many of you have you have been inspired to even get out walking! As much as I have always said I a doing this for myself, I realise now, through this blog, I am doing it for all of you too! I'm really going to need your support as the weeks tick on, so please stay with me!!


Now I have to come back to earth and remember the reason I'm writing this, and the reason you're all reading! The 10K!! Only its not just 10K anymore, its 10K - EEK - WHAT HAVE I SIGNED MYSELF UP FOR!!


The stark reality of taking on this 10K challenge, is the fact it willl just never get any easier, beacuse the easier I find it, the harder I have to push! Thats not to say I am not enjoying it, I'm just saying its a challenge!Anyone I work with can probably testify that I do enjoy a challenge - but this one is so personal, I am becoming my own nemesis! I need to constantly beat myself, and you know what they say, no one is harder on yourself than yourself!! This week was tough, not only because I had to push that little harder, but once I had sent out this blog there was no turning back.. people want me to do well, and I have to do well for them, I mean ultimately its all for me, but I've got to give 100 people something to read every week now!


So how did I do? I'm almost afraid to say, Monday & Tuesday I found too easy! Each of those days I did a 25min run, on the same route, It got easier each day, and by Wednesday felt too much like a walk in the park! It was after Wednesday's run I reaslied that changing the route/times once a week (as I had initally planned) was not going to be enough, so now I have devised myself a weekly tracker.. every day has an extra 2mins either on or off. When its 'on', my route has to change to inculde an extra incline , when its 'off', my time time for yesterday has to be beaten!! Simple & self challenging, but actaully quite rewarding! I'm lucky enough to live and work in areas that have a million different routes into and around them that are easy to navigate!!


Wednesday and Thursday I really pushed hard... I've now got an extra 0.6K on my start time.. not much I know at this stage, but its really going to add up in no time!! Small steps and all that!


Friday and Saturday were my rest days..well as restful as they can be at your friends hen party!! When Sunday morning came around, I knew I had to get  my training week off to a flying start! On went the trainers, and off myself and Lyn went to the park bright and early Sun morning. I knew in my head I wanted to really push it, but didnt quite share that plan with Lyn incase she dashed off in the opposite direction before we'd even set off! Easing in with some fast walking and stretching, we started our run. I was so proud of both of us, we really worked hard... we made it round the 4.1K track from last week in 33ins 06seconds.. knocking 3mins off our time from last week! So next week we'll be adding 0.5KM to the track ...(Just dont tell the girls that yet, i will let it be a nice surprise for Sunday morning!!) :) 


I'm feeling great from the training, my legs ache a little everyday, but the stretching is combating that!! I feel like I am getting a bit fitter every day, I wish I could mark it on a chart somehow, like a child measuring their height on a wall chart! 


And thats me done for this week.... already into my second week, the starting line is getting closer. If you are getting out and about, weather its walking, running , whatever, remember to stretch and take it easy enough, you've gotta walk before running that marathon!
 Lots of people have been asking me for tips this week, and I am happy to help, but do remember i'm not a professional, I just want to get people moving, so no one ends up like Avril from just over a year ago :) - mail me any questions! (facebook or avriljmoore@hotmail.com) - I might start posting some of the questions / tips on here,  helping each other is what it is all about!


Next week i'll have a proper 2 week training tracker/plan done, which i'll post for anyone who wants some ideas for setting their own plan! 


Av xx


P.s feel free to share the blog link around... the more people who read, the more pressure I have ! 


Running Track of the Week;


2) - Boney M - Gotta Go Home (you may feel the urge to do a little dance whilst running to this one!)


1) - Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar 

14 WEEKS TO GO!!

So this is it, my first blog and my commitment (to myself) to train for and run 10K on 4th June 2012. 

Who am I & why am I writing ? Well, I'm Avril and  a year ago I was a very different me! I was dangerously overweight and found it difficult just to walk up the stairs. Fed up of this amongst other things, such as not being able to wear nice clothes etc, I finally realised that help was never going to come to me, I needed to go do something about my weight myself. So I did just that, I joined a weight loss group, and slowly got off my ass and started walking! A year on, I have lost over a hundred pound, and not only can I walk, I can walk very fast, I can dance and I can skip up the stairs two and three steps at a time! My weight  loss is still ongoing, but this blog isnt going to be about that, its going to be about the things that keep me motivated to keep up with the weight loss! I do promise when I have reached my target weight loss, I will share that story and some before and after photos! 

Once I started loosing weight, I started to enjoy walking. Oh how I used to hate it, I used to avoid walking any sort of long distance , long distance to me back then was more than 10 or 15 mins!! For a good 8/9 months walking was the perfect exercise for me, the weight really came off with it. The more weight I lost, the  more I wanted to walk, and the faster I done it! These days, a 2hour fast walk is about average for me. But I started to crave more exercise around 3  months ago, and I took up Zumba classes, which I absolutley love! In January this year, I decided it might be time to try turn the fast walk into a jog.. wow, after 2mins I realised walking fast had become too easy, I was SO out of breath after that first jogging attempt! But wanting to persist, I downloaded the Couch to 10K app for my iphone, and off I went. Needing to set myself a little challenge, I signed myself and 3 friends, and my parents up for a 5k Fun Run on Feburary 18th 2012. Gave myself just 6weeks to train for it. When the day came around, I surprised myself at jogging most of it in just over 38mins! The buzz i felt crossing that finish line was incredible and I decided there and then I was going to run the Dublin Womens Mini Marathon. Last year, when i started on my weight loss journey, i set myself a goal of walking the Dublin Womens Mini Marathon in around 2hours... I walked it in 1hour 50mins. This year the goal is to run it in around 60mins! Eek theres the commitment in writing, so I have to do it!!

Well, thats my backgroung, and the gist of why I am here writing this blog.. Once or Twice a week I am going to update my training progess ... maybe you'll get some inspiration yourself to get walking / running :) 

So here goes.... 

14 WEEKS TO GO!! 

Eek! 14 weeks from today to the race! Seems ages away right now, but I just know time will fly by and I will be crossing that starting line before I know it! My official marathon training started yesterday. Went out to the local park with my pals Lyn & Char! After some stretching and fast walking to warm up (very important!!) - we started off with a slowish jog. Picking a landmark ahead of us, we pushed ourselves to go a little farther each time,alternating Walking and jogging and speeding up. For our first training session we covered 4.1K in around 35mins, not too bad for our first day. We set ourselves a goal to run (with no breaks!!) at least 5k around the park in 7weeks time, on Easter Weekend. I know we can do it!! Even though my fitness levels are up, my legs were a little sore today! So at lunchtime in work, I put on my tracksuit and went for jog.. I do go for a lunch time walk at work maybe 2/3 times a week , but I havent really jogged it before! I really worked up such a hunger for my lunch!! I did feel much better though after stretching out again! I've not got much else to report today, but when I check in again in a few days, I will have done a full weeks training!!

Remmeber, if you are going to take up walking or jogging or running, its really important to go at your own pace and stretch out before and after!! I am not qualified trainer, just a girl wanting to push herself and share her journey, and If i can inspire just one person to get up and get moving themselves, well thats me happy :) (of course, crossing that finish line on June 4th in around 60mins will make for a very very happy Avril!!)

So come on, get your tracksuit and trainers on, stick to a healthy eating plan and come join my journey from 0 - 10K!! 

Oh and if like me you like to listening to your ipod when exercising, everytime I update my blog I'm going to post my 'running track of the week' :) 

First on the list...

1) Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar ! Great tune to run to!! 

Av xx