Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Sunday, 29 June 2014
New HR peak, not to be repeated
This weekend I was in Cambridge for my mum's boyfriend's 70th birthday. If it seems odd to be calling a 70 year old man, a 'boyfriend', then hold that thought, cause I'm coming back to it.
The Cambridge Park Run wasn't on, so I went to the Wimpole Estate one. The loveliest location for a run, through fields, beside a lake and up some fairly steep hills. I felt pretty good, although my time was one of my worst, nearly 3 minutes. But about halfway I suddenly realised my Garmin was registering a heart rate of 212 BPM. This didn't feel like a very good idea, although I also didn't feel like I was working that hard. I tried to slow it down without walking, unsuccessfully, and at one point it went up to 217.
After the run - which as I say didn't feel too hard, certainly no harder than last week, I kept an eye on my heart rate. I went to the University Library to get some books out and then went back to my mum's house to change for the party, and it hovered around 90-100, which is high for me. I was also feeling nervous and agitated, although how far this was feedback from the fact that my heart was feeling odd and I was worrying about it, I don't know. I was also nervous about the party, as I was on my own (W was away for his grandmother's 93rd birthday) and knew I would have to be making a lot of small talk, which I don't really like doing.
The party was quite fun, although as there were about 60 people there, it felt quite full-on and as ever there was very little opportunity to talk to the people I really care about, i.e. my mother and my siblings and their families. I was sitting next to some quite interesting people however, and the food was absolutely delicious (this was at Hotel Felix, which I would recommend). Anyway, the highlight of the evening, which unfortunately happened while I was out of the room, was that mu mother and her partner announced that the previous Thursday they had got married! Cue a combination of disbelief and congratulations. I am still in a sort of shock, although obviously very happy for them.
Sunday morning, I went for a 4 mile run, which went without wierd heartbeats and was very enjoyable. So I managed 9 miles this week, which wasn't too bad, although not at all according to plan.
The Cambridge Park Run wasn't on, so I went to the Wimpole Estate one. The loveliest location for a run, through fields, beside a lake and up some fairly steep hills. I felt pretty good, although my time was one of my worst, nearly 3 minutes. But about halfway I suddenly realised my Garmin was registering a heart rate of 212 BPM. This didn't feel like a very good idea, although I also didn't feel like I was working that hard. I tried to slow it down without walking, unsuccessfully, and at one point it went up to 217.
After the run - which as I say didn't feel too hard, certainly no harder than last week, I kept an eye on my heart rate. I went to the University Library to get some books out and then went back to my mum's house to change for the party, and it hovered around 90-100, which is high for me. I was also feeling nervous and agitated, although how far this was feedback from the fact that my heart was feeling odd and I was worrying about it, I don't know. I was also nervous about the party, as I was on my own (W was away for his grandmother's 93rd birthday) and knew I would have to be making a lot of small talk, which I don't really like doing.
The party was quite fun, although as there were about 60 people there, it felt quite full-on and as ever there was very little opportunity to talk to the people I really care about, i.e. my mother and my siblings and their families. I was sitting next to some quite interesting people however, and the food was absolutely delicious (this was at Hotel Felix, which I would recommend). Anyway, the highlight of the evening, which unfortunately happened while I was out of the room, was that mu mother and her partner announced that the previous Thursday they had got married! Cue a combination of disbelief and congratulations. I am still in a sort of shock, although obviously very happy for them.
Sunday morning, I went for a 4 mile run, which went without wierd heartbeats and was very enjoyable. So I managed 9 miles this week, which wasn't too bad, although not at all according to plan.
A weekend of running, construction and canoeing
This week I hit 40. Two days in and it feels ok, although weird when I think about it. In my head I age much slower than this, so I'm probably just exiting my twenties mentally.
I celebrated by spending some time with a friend who was co-incidentally over from Australia, whom I haven't seen in about 3 years. We went to the British Museum exhibition on Vikings together and then went for pizza with W at Rosso Pomodoro, which is my new favourite pizza place. I decided to throw dietary caution to the winds and had the Quattro formaggi, which was heavenly. So much smokey mozzarella...
On Saturday, W and I went to do the local parkrun. This was a deal made a long time ago as he is surprisingly non-competitive and doesn't really like things like races. However, I asked him to come to it as part of my birthday present, and he agreed. I'm not sure he was too grateful first thing in the morning - I am a much more morning person than he is... And he tried to sabotage us arriving on time by eating breakfast! Eating is cheating!
We arrived in the nick of time, and he decided to coach me through the run. I did nearly run a PR, and hit an all time high heartbeat of 196, which I'm not sure was too smart. As ever, afterwards, the sense of 'why on earth do I do this?' left quite fast and I felt like doing the whole thing again.
Then we went home, had a proper breakfast, and packed up our new inflatable canoe. This was our present to ourselves for going on holiday later in the year to Sweden to go canoeing. I think I might publish a full-on review, so I'll save the description for another time, but for now, I'll share with you that this took us 3 hours to put up for one hour of canoeing...
I celebrated by spending some time with a friend who was co-incidentally over from Australia, whom I haven't seen in about 3 years. We went to the British Museum exhibition on Vikings together and then went for pizza with W at Rosso Pomodoro, which is my new favourite pizza place. I decided to throw dietary caution to the winds and had the Quattro formaggi, which was heavenly. So much smokey mozzarella...
On Saturday, W and I went to do the local parkrun. This was a deal made a long time ago as he is surprisingly non-competitive and doesn't really like things like races. However, I asked him to come to it as part of my birthday present, and he agreed. I'm not sure he was too grateful first thing in the morning - I am a much more morning person than he is... And he tried to sabotage us arriving on time by eating breakfast! Eating is cheating!
We arrived in the nick of time, and he decided to coach me through the run. I did nearly run a PR, and hit an all time high heartbeat of 196, which I'm not sure was too smart. As ever, afterwards, the sense of 'why on earth do I do this?' left quite fast and I felt like doing the whole thing again.
Then we went home, had a proper breakfast, and packed up our new inflatable canoe. This was our present to ourselves for going on holiday later in the year to Sweden to go canoeing. I think I might publish a full-on review, so I'll save the description for another time, but for now, I'll share with you that this took us 3 hours to put up for one hour of canoeing...
Saturday, 7 June 2014
London coffee update, plus crabs!
I've been quiet for a while because life got in the way. Last week I'm not sure why, but this week it was because I was taking a training course that took over my life. W went off on a diving trip from Wednesday and honestly, thank goodness he did because I had my usual 2 hour commute there and back, plus course 9 to 5, plus 2-3 hours homework and revision in the evening. I don't mean to whine, cause I know that other people may have to work longer hours than this in more difficult jobs, but this was a bit of a shock for me!
The course was Prince 2 project management, something that I had been meaning to do for ages. I passed the Foundation exam on Wednesday and I took the Practitioner exam yesterday. I'm feeling reasonably confident, although not 100% confident, that I passed. I should hear in a few weeks.
The unexpected highlight of the week was the coffee and food. We were based in a building in Moorgate and walking from Moorgate tube station to the course, I had to pass the Harris + Hoole coffee shop on London Wall. I've written before about finding good coffee, and honestly words cannot praise too highly how good these guys are! I loved the little shop, I loved the staff (so friendly and welcoming, without being fake), I loved the chalk menu and drawings, I loved the cookies, I loved the lemonade, and above all I loved the soya flat white.
The other highlight was the small food fair that we found under the Gherkin building on Thursday. Deciding what to have was really difficult.
The course was Prince 2 project management, something that I had been meaning to do for ages. I passed the Foundation exam on Wednesday and I took the Practitioner exam yesterday. I'm feeling reasonably confident, although not 100% confident, that I passed. I should hear in a few weeks.
The unexpected highlight of the week was the coffee and food. We were based in a building in Moorgate and walking from Moorgate tube station to the course, I had to pass the Harris + Hoole coffee shop on London Wall. I've written before about finding good coffee, and honestly words cannot praise too highly how good these guys are! I loved the little shop, I loved the staff (so friendly and welcoming, without being fake), I loved the chalk menu and drawings, I loved the cookies, I loved the lemonade, and above all I loved the soya flat white.
 |
| The menu: who wouldn't feel better about their day looking at this? |
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| This was basically one third of the choice. And indicates how many people were getting lunch there. |
I finally made my choice.
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| I never had a soft shell crab before. I had the one with fennel, and it was excellent! |
This is going to sound Pollyanna-ish of me, but I love finding the things that make an otherwise not particularly interesting week great. Prince 2 is pretty dry, so although I wanted to learn it and I'm glad I have, it was never going to be an exciting week. But the new location, the coffee, the food and some of the people on the course made it a really fun and interesting week, surprising even me!
Thursday, 22 May 2014
The agony and the ecstasy
This is my reward. Yesterday I decided I definitely needed a sports massage. Nothing was in pain, but my hips, knees and IT band felt tight and achy. So I went to see Annabelle at Ambition Fitness. She went to work on my calves and quads and I am officially tight. It hurt more than acupuncture or the dentist, and I laughed throughout, mainly because I was paying for someone to torture me.
Afterwards, I went swimming, which may have been a very good idea. At least I felt loosened up, and was able to walk properly to the station. The burrito is my reward and honestly was amazing. Hunger is the best spice and there's something about swimming that makes me very hungry.
I am booked for more torture massage next week and I'm curious what difference it will make. In keeping with the 'look to long term goals, rather than short term', I'm willing to have a massage regularly if it helps keep me moving. We shall see...
Sunday, 11 May 2014
End of the week running review: 11 May 2014
It's been a pretty good week, and I'm pleased with my progress.
Monday: Ran 30 minutes trying to keep my heart rate at around 141 BPM. This was pretty hard, and I had to walk around 4 times to let my heart rate come down. Ran 2.54 miles at a pace of 11:47 minutes per mile. I'm not fast, but this is slow for me. Still, have decided to commit to this for 4 weeks to see what happens.
Wednesday: Another 30 minutes at 141 BPM, this time around St James's Park and Green Park. This was harder because the plane trees are chucking pollen and fuzz about and I had to stop to cough several times, which also brings the old heart rate up. On my way out from work, I saw that our security guys are wearing clear goggles to keep this stuff out of their eyes. Smart people. Ran 2.47 miles at a pace of 12:13 minutes per mile.
Thursday: Swam 30 minutes, ~30 lengths. I'm trying to do a few legs only, which is meant to be good for hips and ankle flexibility. I'm even slower at swimming than running, so this is very tedious. However, I do enjoy the feeling of whole body tiredness afterwards. Last week I had the best night's sleep I can remember after swimming, and my fitbit flex confirms it.
Friday: Another 30 minutes in St James's Park and Green Park. The pollen was, if anything, worse, and at one point I thought I was actually going to have an asthma attack. However, I plugged on. Ran 2.32 miles at a pace of 12:55 minutes per mile.
Saturday: Did some body weights and stretching. After swimming and Friday's run, my knees are feeling a little sore. Nothing to worry about too much, I think, but I'm glad today is a rest day. Need to work on my IT band and glutes, I think.
Sunday: Another 30 minute run close to home. The first ten minutes were a little difficult in terms of pace and I had to walk a few times. However, the middle 15 minutes or so were my best yet. Ran 2.58 miles at a pace of 11:38 minutes per mile. It may be early to tell, but I think that might be the start of an improvement. Stretching afterwards.
So, finding this hard - in terms of actually doing what I'm trying to do - but feeling positive about how this week has gone.
 |
Not relevant to this blog post, but these ducks have been
courting round our way. I think she prefers the guy on the
left.
|
Monday: Ran 30 minutes trying to keep my heart rate at around 141 BPM. This was pretty hard, and I had to walk around 4 times to let my heart rate come down. Ran 2.54 miles at a pace of 11:47 minutes per mile. I'm not fast, but this is slow for me. Still, have decided to commit to this for 4 weeks to see what happens.
Wednesday: Another 30 minutes at 141 BPM, this time around St James's Park and Green Park. This was harder because the plane trees are chucking pollen and fuzz about and I had to stop to cough several times, which also brings the old heart rate up. On my way out from work, I saw that our security guys are wearing clear goggles to keep this stuff out of their eyes. Smart people. Ran 2.47 miles at a pace of 12:13 minutes per mile.
Thursday: Swam 30 minutes, ~30 lengths. I'm trying to do a few legs only, which is meant to be good for hips and ankle flexibility. I'm even slower at swimming than running, so this is very tedious. However, I do enjoy the feeling of whole body tiredness afterwards. Last week I had the best night's sleep I can remember after swimming, and my fitbit flex confirms it.
Friday: Another 30 minutes in St James's Park and Green Park. The pollen was, if anything, worse, and at one point I thought I was actually going to have an asthma attack. However, I plugged on. Ran 2.32 miles at a pace of 12:55 minutes per mile.
Saturday: Did some body weights and stretching. After swimming and Friday's run, my knees are feeling a little sore. Nothing to worry about too much, I think, but I'm glad today is a rest day. Need to work on my IT band and glutes, I think.
Sunday: Another 30 minute run close to home. The first ten minutes were a little difficult in terms of pace and I had to walk a few times. However, the middle 15 minutes or so were my best yet. Ran 2.58 miles at a pace of 11:38 minutes per mile. It may be early to tell, but I think that might be the start of an improvement. Stretching afterwards.
So, finding this hard - in terms of actually doing what I'm trying to do - but feeling positive about how this week has gone.
Saturday, 10 May 2014
The perfect hair
In a change from recent settings, I want to write today about hair. And more specifically shampoo. Not just shampoo, oh no, but also <intake of breath> conditioner. Yes, we are looking to write about things that really matter here on this blog.
I have struggled with my hair for years. I quite liked being a bit red-haired as a child because so many heroines in children's books are red-headed. Obviously there's Anne of Green Gables, and Pippi Longstocking, but there's also the wonderful Alanna from the books by Tamora Pierce. There's some good movie and TV redheads like Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer as well. I was less keen on it being wavy on average, although this means curly underneath and straight on top.
Growing older, I longed to have long, straight, dramatic dark hair. I think I wanted to look like a girl with a secret or maybe it was just the fact that I was a bit of a teen goth. I never dyed my hair, but I do remember thinking that if there was a heaven, that I would have brunette hair there and (bonus) would be able to to the splits.
Move onto the working world, and for years I felt my hair should project the idea that I was reliable, responsible and capable. I don't think it ever really has. I have used straighteners and had a Brazilian keratin treatment (my hair broke off in chunks). I have tried so many hundreds of times to blow dry it myself. Typically it looks good once every 6 months, when I get it cut. I have tried hundreds of shampoos from supermarket to high end, all of which promise to de-frizz and tame hair. Weirdly they often work once, but rarely twice.
And then last summer, aged 38, I heard of the 'curly girl' method. I spent a weekend while W was away playing around with it and I've not looked back since. I've tried to convert my sister and mother, but unsuccessfully to date... This sounds daft, but I had never thought of my hair as curly, but rather as straight with a problem attitude.
I'm currently using Pureology shampoo and conditioner, the shampoo being no-sulphate. Previously, I've used Inecto coconut conditioner and a cheap Superdrug conditioner as a co-wash, and I've also splashed out on Devacurl products via Amazon. I loved Devacurl, but it's a bit pricey for constant use.
I've also found that the two best things to keep the curl in my hair (which is still on the wavy rather than curly side) are a creamy leave-in conditioner and hair gel. Again, I never figured out gel before (apart from the one-off buzzcut I had in the eighties and regretted within 2 days. That used gel as I grew it out). I'm using Shea Moisture and Curl Junkie at present and it smells divine.
Looking forward, I want to try Wen products as a treat when the Pureology runs out, and I'd also like to try Jessicurl products, more Shea Moisture and Curl Junkie (although sadly Curl Junkie is no longer being sold in the UK).
Having written this blog, I feel I sound really shallow. But moving from feeling as though I have no control over my hair to knowing how to handle it has made the most enormous difference to my life. It makes me more confident, I feel prettier, and I feel proud of my curls.
 |
| A pretty good hair day for me. |
I have struggled with my hair for years. I quite liked being a bit red-haired as a child because so many heroines in children's books are red-headed. Obviously there's Anne of Green Gables, and Pippi Longstocking, but there's also the wonderful Alanna from the books by Tamora Pierce. There's some good movie and TV redheads like Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer as well. I was less keen on it being wavy on average, although this means curly underneath and straight on top.
Growing older, I longed to have long, straight, dramatic dark hair. I think I wanted to look like a girl with a secret or maybe it was just the fact that I was a bit of a teen goth. I never dyed my hair, but I do remember thinking that if there was a heaven, that I would have brunette hair there and (bonus) would be able to to the splits.
Move onto the working world, and for years I felt my hair should project the idea that I was reliable, responsible and capable. I don't think it ever really has. I have used straighteners and had a Brazilian keratin treatment (my hair broke off in chunks). I have tried so many hundreds of times to blow dry it myself. Typically it looks good once every 6 months, when I get it cut. I have tried hundreds of shampoos from supermarket to high end, all of which promise to de-frizz and tame hair. Weirdly they often work once, but rarely twice.
And then last summer, aged 38, I heard of the 'curly girl' method. I spent a weekend while W was away playing around with it and I've not looked back since. I've tried to convert my sister and mother, but unsuccessfully to date... This sounds daft, but I had never thought of my hair as curly, but rather as straight with a problem attitude.
I'm currently using Pureology shampoo and conditioner, the shampoo being no-sulphate. Previously, I've used Inecto coconut conditioner and a cheap Superdrug conditioner as a co-wash, and I've also splashed out on Devacurl products via Amazon. I loved Devacurl, but it's a bit pricey for constant use.
I've also found that the two best things to keep the curl in my hair (which is still on the wavy rather than curly side) are a creamy leave-in conditioner and hair gel. Again, I never figured out gel before (apart from the one-off buzzcut I had in the eighties and regretted within 2 days. That used gel as I grew it out). I'm using Shea Moisture and Curl Junkie at present and it smells divine.
Looking forward, I want to try Wen products as a treat when the Pureology runs out, and I'd also like to try Jessicurl products, more Shea Moisture and Curl Junkie (although sadly Curl Junkie is no longer being sold in the UK).
Having written this blog, I feel I sound really shallow. But moving from feeling as though I have no control over my hair to knowing how to handle it has made the most enormous difference to my life. It makes me more confident, I feel prettier, and I feel proud of my curls.
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