No dairy makes you nuts!

Now I’ve had time to digest what I heard on Saturday I thought it would be helpful to share some of the key info and recipes I really liked. The fundamentals of raw food workshop advertised that you could ‘Learn about the benefits of raw living food & how to include more in your life with quick, easy and nutritious recipes.  Find out which raw and cooked foods are the most nutritious foods to eat plus essential tips for eating raw food in the UK.’ I think this description is spot on. I now have a much clearer idea of the benefits of raw food and learnt so many new tips, techniques and information about new ingredients.  Anna covered a wide range of topics including the theories and benefits of raw food, juices and smoothies, introduction to superfoods, essential fatty acids, savoury snacks, salads and dressing and even sweet treats. I had a brilliant day and learnt so much!

The term "raw" can refer to any food which has not been processed or cooked over temperatures of approximately 104°F (40°C) as this is the point at which enzymes start to break down,  although the exact temperature at which enzymes are destroyed varies for each food. Following a living food lifestyle tends to means that anything between 70-100% of diet comes from uncooked vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. The most important thing I took away from the workshop was to take things slowly and listen to your body. As I have mentioned previously, I was keen to explore incorporating more raw food in to my diet to see if it would help with my hayfever symptoms. I believe that dairy affects how I react and my allergy symptoms are much worse when consuming dairy.

Since altering my diet just over two weeks ago I have been eating mostly fresh food and no dairy at all. My hayfever has been amazing. I know that other people have really been suffering the last couple of days whilst we have been having such glorious weather. I can’t quite believe it but I have been absolutely fine! I have still been taking an antihistamine tables but no nasal spray or eye drops. I would normally be really suffering.

I had restricted my dairy intake the last few years but had gradually started to consumer some dairy produce. Until now I have been mostly using soya milk as an alternative to dairy. Although it is marketed as a healthy alternative, I have read mixed reviews about soya. Many people I know had mentioned that it is not healthy but I guess I turned a blind eye as it meant I could still have everyday things such as coffee at high street coffee shops if I stuck to soya.  However,  following conversations at the workshop, and further research since I will not be consuming soya milk any longer.

Unfermented soy (used in soya milk, tofu, soya yoghurts) contains naturally occurring compounds called isoflavones.  They can have a mild hormonal effect on women's hormones as they are similar in chemical structure and can bind to estrogen receptors and turn them on. This may be great if you are menopausal and need an estrogen top up. However, a  high intake of isoflavones is linked to early puberty, heavy periods, endometriosis, fibroids and infertility. I’m way past puberty but no thank you to any of the others!

Isoflavones can also have a detrimental effect on the thyroid. They are known as goitrogens (they cause a swelling of the thyroid) as they block the enzyme thyroid peroxidise that adds iodine to thyroid hormones. The end result is that your thyroid can't produce adequate amounts of active hormones and becomes sluggish.  I feel uncomfortable putting something that is potentially harmful into my body just so that I can grab a cappuccino every now and then, especially when other perfectly good alternatives exist.

You can buy pasteurised nut milks fairly easily but the great news is you can also make your own and Anna demonstrated this at the workshop. I’ve always been a bit wary of trying nut milks. I actually bought some from Whole Foods last week but it is still sat in the bag in my hallway.  When you buy nut milk it has been pasteurised so it’s not as nutritious as the milk you can make. I tried it for the first time and it is absolutely delicious! You don’t need any expensive equipment, just a blender and a nut bag like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Milk-LM001-Universal-Nut/dp/B007OVEIHE

Almond Milk ( serves 2-3)

What you need:

·         A blender

·         A nut bag

·         1 cup of soaked almonds

·         3 cups refrigerated filtered/bottled water

·         2tbsp coconut oil

·         1 tsp vanilla essence

·         2-3 dates

·         1 tsp nutmeg

·         1 pinch of mineral salt

You first need to soak the almonds in water overnight for up to two days. Soaking the almonds makes them more nutritious as it releases the enzyme inhibitors and also makes them easier to digest. The longer you soak the almonds, the creamier the milk will be. Drain and rinse the nuts from their soaking water and then blend them with fresh water.

Strain the liquid through a nut bag squeezing to release the juice. Once you have squeezed as much as you can into a jug or bowl add all other ingredients to taste and blend.

The result is a delicious creamy milk that will last for a couple of days in the fridge. You can drink alone or use as a base to smoothies. We got the opportunity to sample almond milk with superfood powders added for more nutritional value. We tasted almond milk with maca and algaroba. Maca is the powdered root of the Lepidium Meyenii plant. Known for its ability to support healthy energy levels, maca has been used by the Incas as a kind of "Incan superfood" for thousands of years. Maca tastes a little like roasted chicory root, which tastes a little bit like coffee. But it's not a caffeine stimulant like coffee. Rather, it's considered an "adaptogenic" herb that supports healthy energy without blasting your nervous system with chemical stimulants. I really liked the taste but preferred algarroba which is a powder made from ground white carob powder and it has a caramel flavour. It was delicious!

When cutting dairy the other thing I miss is chocolate and lucky for me Anna shared some amazing sweet recipes. One of my favourites was the Avocado Chocolate Mousse. It is extremely easy to make and tastes fab too. I have let a few friends and family be guinea pigs and they all loved it. I know I will be using this one again. I think it would work well with other ingredients such as berries and Anna also suggested exchanging the chocolate for lime juice for a zingy fresh alternative, great for hot summer days!

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

What you need:

·         1 large avocado

·         2 tbsp yacon/maple syrup or alternative sweetener ( I used agave syrup)

·         2tbsp cacao powder

·         1 tsp lecithin powder*

·         1tsp vanilla extract or powder

·         Pinch of himalayan pink salt

·         Drop of water

·         Superfood of choice

Blend the avocado and agave nectar until you have a smooth, creamy consistency. You can add water until it is completely smooth.

Add the cacao powder, lecithin powder, vanilla and salt and blend until fully mixed

Taste and add more cacao powder to your taste. The more you add, the more intense the chocolate flavour. You can also add more sweetener if you have a sweeter tooth. Vanilla enhances the sweetness so again alter to your taste.The mousse will last in the fridge for a couple of days. Serve with berries of your choice. I chose rapberries when I made it at home and it worked really well. I served them in mini shot glasses with a raspberry on top. Yum! 

*The lecithin is not essential but it makes the mousse even creamier and is great for helping the liver to process fats which this recipe is rich in. They are of course fats of the healthy variety.

The raw benefits two weeks on...

I’m not really sure where to start because I have so much whizzing through my head and I am really excited. This time two weeks ago my hayfever was about to peak and I felt absolutely shocking. Today I feel amazing! I am full of energy, my hayfever symptoms are nowhere to be seen and I am in an amazing mood.

I think the 5 day course of steroids have had a part to play in dampening down the allergy symptoms  but I can’t ignore that I have consumed more fresh fruit and veg in the last two weeks than I probably did during the whole month of June. I am now firmly in a breakfast routine which is a big deal for me. I am now waking up hungry in the morning and I am making sure I eat at least three healthy meals per day.  The majority of my meals in the last 2 weeks have consisted of fresh, raw food. I have been keeping a food diary to send to my personal trainer. Knowing that I have to write down what I’m eating and sending to a third party has made me look closer at my diet.

This is a snapshot of the food I’ve eaten in the last few weeks. It is far from perfect and there are definitely changes to be made but seeing some it together shows how much colour there is in natural foods.  I have to say I feel more energetic than I have done in a long time. I’m waking up every morning before 5:00 most days and I am bouncing out of bed and full of energy.I haven’t been a saint and haven’t given up booze. In fact at a second glance I realise I have  completely forgotten to put a couple of G&T’s and several glasses of prosecco from Tuesday night. Ed, if you’re reading this, I am not being a secret squirrel, just completely forgot to put it down.

If you’ve been following me on Twitter or Instagram, you will have seen me getting over excited about a raw food workshop that I attended today in Bristol. I feel so excited and inspired. The workshop was run by Anna Middleton and she was assisted by Fliss who runs http://www.insideouthealing.co.uk/. It was a fantastic workshop and I learnt so much from Anna and Fliss who were extremely passionate about what they do. It was a world I knew very little about before today, but I got the chance to learn about new ingredients and techniques, and tasted lots of new foods. There were six other people in the group and it was great as I picked up lots of new information from other group members too.

I absolutely love learning, especially about topics that I have little knowledge of. Although I like to think of myself as a bit of a foodie, today was very humbling as so much was like a foreign language to me. This was in no way negative but instead a very positive and exciting experience. 

I am going to do some detailed separate posts about the workshop and the new foods and ingredients I was introduced to. I am no expert but I think my beginner’s perspective may be useful to some people. From the little research I have done so far, most raw foodies seems to be pretty hardcore and experienced and it can be overwhelming for people like me. As Anna said today, you don’t have to go 100% raw; it’s about introducing some beneficial raw foods into your diet in ways that suit you. I can honestly say that I have benefited greatly after only two weeks.  I will be sure to update you regularly on my progress. 

Here is a selection of the foods I was lucky enough to try today. Anna prepared a huge amount of recipes from Thai curry, to chocolate brownies, green smoothies, chocolate sauce, nut milks, salads and salad dressings. Believe it or not, all of the foods below were made using fresh, natural ingredients that are good for you and there was no cooking at all. I was astounded by just how delicious everything was that I tasted today including the almond milk which I have always been reluctant to use. The avocado chocolate mousse was outstanding, as were the chocolate brownies, and the raw Thai curry was so tasty and filling and it wasn't strange that it was cold. I will be sure to share some of the recipes as I start trying experimenting. I had so many ideas when watching Anna at work today. 

Taking control of my hayfever once and for all!

From the age of six I have suffered from severe hayfever.  I went out in the field behind my house a normal, happy, healthy girl and came back with bulging red eyes that resulted in a trip to A&E. I am now 31 and there have been many more trips to the doctor and hospital. I have tried absolutely everything, from conventional methods to the more alternative, including acupuncture and homeopathy.   Nothing has ever really worked for me. Some medication has taken the edge off symptoms momentarily but essentially summer has always been a real struggle.

Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen. Common hay fever symptoms are a runny, itchy and/or blocked nose, sneezing and itchy eyes. I suffer from all of these and more. My eyes aren’t just itchy but they swell and develop a film so that I find it difficult to see. Hayfever makes me feel really unwell most of the time throughout summer. A constant sore scratchy throat, a headache and I often feel nauseous due to the constant congestion. Not to mention the sore red nose, disappearing make up and my skin even seems to flare up when it’s really bad. Everything itches and it makes you feel agitated. You itch from the inside out, your ears, your eyes, your throat and your mouth.  Sleeping with a blocked nose means you tend to keep your mouth open and I find I get a sore mouth too. I like to think that I am usually on the ball but during hayfever season everything seems such a struggle and I’m just not as sharp as I usually am. It makes me feel absolutely exhausted too and I am woken up by sniffling and sneezing by about 4:30-5:00 every morning.

Throughout school and college it made exam season extremely hard and affected my social life too. Summer is a time when you want to be outside but it just makes the symptoms worse so I often have to sit in with the windows closed, even though I am a real outdoors kind of girl. It just makes you feel miserable and no matter how positive you try and remain, it wears you down both physically and mentally.

 I moved in with my boyfriend 5 years ago and I remember how shocked he was the first summer we lived together. I used to come home from work at 6:00, take another antihistamine to help me sleep and would head straight to bed because I just couldn’t handle being awake because of my hayfever symptoms. I'm normally quite fun to be around but hayfever makes me miserable It got to the point where I just couldn’t take it anymore. I spoke to my GP about desensitisation injections but I would have to wait until after the hayfever season to start and I was desperate to try something that would help sooner.

On the recommendation of my best friend I went to visit Natasha Lindeman.  Natasha is a homeopathic practitioner and she uses a bio magnetic diagnosis technique. She advised me to stop consuming dairy in my diet and also recommended a selection of homeopathic remedies. I decided to try eliminating dairy before trying the homeopathic remedies. I was sceptical before the appointment but it absolutely changed my life. After cutting dairy my symptoms were still there but they were drastically reduced and antihistamines really worked for me for the first time. I was absolutely astounded and couldn’t believe my luck.  I felt like I had hayfever like a normal person. I would wake up every day feeling absolutely fine . The few times I did have some dairy my symptoms would get worse so it was a no brainer, I had to leave it out. Not only did my hayfever improve but it also seemed to help calm my rosacea too and I felt generally more healthy. However, I’m not a fussy kind of girl and if I went to a dinner party I would try not to be difficult and would occasionally eat dairy, normally cheese or sometimes ice cream. It would always cause my symptoms to get worse and on a couple of occasions of consuming a larger amount of cows milk, I got quite sick with painful stomach cramps.

 

Fast forward three years and I have to admit that although I still restrict dairy, it has slowly crept back into my diet. I don't have a huge amount but I have been eating some cheese and perhaps some cream with strawberries every now and again.  I enjoy it and it can be tricky to avoid. So many convenience foods contain dairy. Until now it hasn’t seemed to make a huge difference to my allergy symptoms. This year has seen the worst pollen counts for a long time. I started the season really well and while other people were sneezing, I was absolutely fine. I even had a naive thought that I may have grown out of it. How wrong could I be! All of a sudden it has hit me really hard and I have spent the last two days in bed. I take daily prescription antihistamines, a nasal spray, eye drops and I have also had to take decongestants to help me breathe. I know every little trick in the book; turning the pillow over before going to bed, Vaseline up the nose, washing hair frequently, changing clothes twice per day, wearing glasses even when it's not sunny so that you look like a poser but nothing is easing it. Today I have started a short course of steroids to ease the symptoms because it has got so bad.  

I feel exhausted and pathetic that I have had to take time off work for something as trivial as hayfever but I feel absolutely terrible. We all have to take responsibility for our health and if conventional methods aren’t working then I feel strongly that we should look elsewhere. I have done some reading about the benefits of a raw food diet and going natural makes sense to me even though it is very daunting.  I do have my reservations as I’m more a champagne and sushi kind of girl than mung bean and super juices. I like the finer things in life and like to think I’m a bit of a foodie. I may not be the tie dye ‘save the earth’ vegan type type but if the modern methods aren’t working I’m willing to give it a go.  If you haven't got your health then nothing else really matters! I have ordered a juicer that I will pick up after work tomorrow and I have signed up to a fundamentals of raw food workshop later this month. My place is paid for and the train tickets to Bristol are booked so the social life this month will have to go out of the window.

 

I also can’t ignore that I haven’t been as active in the last 6 months as I have in the last couple of years and I can’t help but think this may also be affecting my body so I have booked a PT session on Sunday to kick start me again. I don’t think going raw is going to be an easy transition but I am willing to make sacrifices. I apologise now if I’m a bit of a green juice drinking bore for the next couple of months. I am going to document my progress on my blog and my experience will hopefully help some other people. This goes without saying but I am not a medical professional. Everything that I share will be my own experience. We are all different and what may be successful for me may not work for you. I would be interested to hear about your hayfever remedies and also any experience you may have of a raw food diet.

My Running Journey

I still struggle with calling myself a runner but I think I have earned myself the title now. I may not be super slim or speedy but I do have a healthy little medal stash under my belt now which I’m pretty pleased about. I hate the word journey but I think it's the best way to describe this long post.

Back on 16^th October 2010 I signed up to run the Paris Half Marathon which was my first proper run. When I started training I remember being totally overwhelmed at the prospect of running for more than two hours. I’d tried to run before but never very seriously and all that really meant was a bit of a jog around the block with a lot of stopping and heavy breathing. I like to aim high and work better if I have a goal, so after volunteering at the London marathon as a sports massage therapist, I entered the ballot but didn’t get a place. I took up the invite from Bangs and a Bun to run the Paris Half Marathon instead.

It was tough but I rigorously stuck to the training no matter what the weather. Looking back I was a little naïve and very unknowledgeable about some of the technical aspects of running people talk about. But I kept my goal insight and trained hard finishing without stopping in 2 hours and 11 minutes. Although it was 1 minute slower than my original target I was absolutely thrilled.  Looking back, I didn’t complicate things, I just ran. You can read more about Paris here.

I learnt a lot about myself when I finished that run. It is amazing what you can achieve if you work hard and keep your goals in sight. I have now run a total of 5 half marathons since March last year and last month I ran my first full marathon in Amsterdam. I still can’t quite believe I did it!

Charlie Dark from Run Dem Crew has said that you learn a lot about yourself throughout training and on race day and I can honestly say that with every race, I most definitely have found out something new about myself. Running gives me time and space to think and although it is hard work it also allows me to switch off and have some time of my own. Running is more than physical activity- it is a metaphor for life. So much of what you achieve is down to what is going on in your head. I am absolutely convinced that positivity and determination were what got me across the finish line in Amsterdam with a smile.

If I’m being honest, my training didn’t really go to plan but I did stick to my long runs. It was the midweek runs that I found more difficult. I started out with great intentions but sometimes life gets in the way and certain things have to take priority. However, there was no way I was backing down. I signed up to a couple of half marathons to take part in during my training.

Firstly, the Burnham Beeches Half. We had a rubbish summer this year but I seem to have history that whenever I sign up to a run we get a momentary one day heat wave. The run took place on one of the hottest days we have had this year.  It was a tough run with tough hills and even tougher because it was a loop that you had to run twice which is pretty hard going. No PBs were set on 21^st August but I did manage a sprint finish at the end and I ran up every single one of those hills. It was a very organised race and I would definitely do it again even though it was quite a challenging course. The race starts and finishes at Caldicott School in Burnham Beeches. There is a great family atmosphere and an outdoor swimming pool within the grounds that you are able to use after the run which was particularly popular this year.

I then ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon on 7^th October. I went along and cheered some friends last year. London is my home and I love running in my city. I have to say I absolutely loved Royal Parks. It was a perfect cold and sunny running day. It’s a beautiful course and I loved it even more because my family, boyfriend and the Run Dem Crew Cheer Dem Crew were all there cheering. Getting a cheer en route makes such a difference.  No PBs were set but it more was more about keeping it steady and staying injury free until my marathon at the end of October.

I absolutely loved it. The course was a little windy and repetitive in the parks at times but it didn’t bother me. I really enjoy running in the London Parks and the atmosphere was electric.  The scenic route runs through four Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park and Green Park) and takes you past some key London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and the Royal Albert Hall.  It was brilliant to run a great course with so much support and I finished in pretty good shape. Don’t get me wrong though, although I was trying to ignore it there was a little voice in my head asking me how I was going to run double the route in Amsterdam. This voice continued to pop up uninvited but I just ignored the question afraid of my answer.

I set myself some goals last year and originally thought about trying to get a pace in the New York marathon but decided Amsterdam was a more realistic option. Soon after I had signed up it was then announced that it was going to be the next Bridge the Gap run so more than 100 friends from Run Dem Crew were going to there as well as the other running crews from around the world such as the New York Bridge Runners, Paris Run Club and of course Patta, the Amsterdam hosts who were amazing hosts indeed.

As the marathon got closer I got more and more terrified even though I tried to keep my fear hidden. In training the furthest I ran was 25k (a marathon is more than 42k). I am normally the type of person that trains more than I need to so that I am confident I will be able to do the distance on the day. However, I was having a few ITB issues and didn’t want to aggravate it. I took the decision to scale the training back so that I was in the best shape possible for the day.

We went to collect our race numbers the day before and then had a very chilled day where we hydrated and fuelled to give ourselves the best chance. My boyfriend is usually the resident photographer, cheer squad and bag holder but this time he was going to be running his first half marathon. He admitted that in the past he had always felt a little bit jealous when I collected my race number but I have to say he did look a little green as he walked towards me race bag in hand. Before going to bed I glanced at the course map and I had to look away quickly. Doubt was trying to rear its ugly head when I saw just how far I was going to be running.



Amsterdam Marathon Course



Walking to the race start I felt sick with nerves. All the others that were going to be running the full are hardcore and had trained very hard.  We arrived at the meeting point and I felt out of place and like I didn’t deserve to be there. I hadn’t trained as much as I wanted to and rather than a high tech Garmin on my arm I had a rubbish basic digital watch so that I could keep track of my start time. There was talk of race pace and tactics but my goal was just to finish and to enjoy it. I didn’t want to be consumed by clock watching and disappointment. I wanted to go out there and prove that I was strong enough to do it. I had trained on my own and I was going to be out there on my own on race day. I went a bit mutey as we walked towards the stadium.



"What am I doing here?"- Looking totally out of my depth



The race started and finished in the Olympic stadium which was incredible. It gave me just a little glimpse of how an athlete feels on a big day. I got a little bit emotional at the start, overwhelmed at what I was about to do. My tactic was to keep positive, enjoy it and smile a lot and it all went to plan. I absolutely loved it! The wall that people talk of never appeared and I felt great the whole way round. Seeing my friends Guy and Kaye at 2k was great and I shouted “I’m running a marathon!” as I ran past, still trying to convince myself I think. I knew that I wasn’t going to see anybody until about 26.5k so I turned my music up and just got on with it.

The marathon route has an additional 13 miles along the River Amstel on top of the half marathon route. Personally, I loved the run along the river as I train along the Thames in London and it was a smoother surface with Windmills dotted along the route which pleased me. Families were lining the route cheering and handing out water so I tried to engage with as many people as possible and said thank you for their support. It was cold and windy too but I was actually grateful for the cold weather.  Some of the Run Dem Crew guys had planned to be at 26.5k to cheer the marathon runners before the start of the half marathon but my pace was a little slow and they had to leave before I got there. I was on track for my time I’m just not a 3:45 marathon kind of girl. Despite having a race of his own my boyfriend stayed to support me and I was thrilled to see him. I remember shouting “It’s brilliant, I love it!” as I ran past and I really was loving every minute.

I had aimed to try and run to 25k without stopping but I got there and I was fine. I reached 30k and I was fine. I reached 35k and I was still fine. I couldn’t quite believe it. I looked forward to seeing Bangs and a Bun who had told me she was going to be cheering between 37k and 38k. I saw her from afar cheering loud and running up and down. It meant a lot to me having her there as I ran my first half marathon with her and she has always been so supportive.  I have to say I got a little emotional as I ran past but I still had a smile on my face.

My ipod and me had our own little running party the whole way round and I sang as I run. I listened to everything from dancey stuff to the Madonna Immaculate Collection. Like a Virgin felt very fitting as it was my first marathon. I also listened to some slower, more relaxing music which I never, ever do when I run but it really helped me to stay relaxed, calm and steady. I got to 39k and Kaye and Guy were still there cheering loud. I screamed as I ran past saying “I’m still running!” I couldn’t quite believe it. A race picture at 40k sums up how I was feeling.

The last 2k was tough but knowing the end was so near kept me going and as I was about to enter the stadium I saw a Run Dem Crew logo in the distance. I screamed at Terry as she cheered and I shouted “I’m actually going to do it!” I ran into the stadium and around the track to the finish line where I said the same thing again to a woman running just in front of me. I crossed the line and after a massive smile I just cried. I couldn’t believe I had done it.

The last 18 months has been really hard for several reasons but crossing that line meant so much more to me than just finishing a run. It was about achieving something even when things hadn’t quite gone to plan. It proved to me that staying positive can be so powerful and even when things go wrong you can pick yourself up and achieve things you never thought possible. That may sound dramatic but it’s truly how I feel and I believe that this sentiment can be transferred to other things outside of running. Don't let doubt creep in, take each step one at a time and never take your eye off the goal, whatever that goal may be. I have been really lucky to have great support from people around me. Charlie from Run Dem Crew has always been supportive. He has helped me to feel more confident and the email from him before we left for Amsterdam meant a lot. I'm sure he won't mind me sharing a couple of the lines that really got me (and made me cry!) but I thought about what he wrote as I ran on the day. Thank you for your kind words Charlie!

 "I know that life hasn't always been easy but Sunday is a chance to leave it on the road. Know you are going to totally rock your way through it. Run your own race and celebrate how far you have come with every step. We'll be cheering you along to the finish line."

I finished in 4:49. My original goal was just to finish by secretly I wanted it to be under 5 hours. I am confident that with training I could definitely finish more quickly. It seems I may well have the bug. However, before I even think about another marathon I’m going back to Paris where it all started to run at another Bridge the Gap event and this time my boyfriend is going to train and run with me. Happy days!

Happy 30s Progress Update

Back at the end of October I set myself some challenges for the year and I thought that now we are a quarter of the way through the year I would check in on my progress. I set myself a mission statement and five goals. You can see the original post here.

Mission Statement

I want to live life to the full every day and appreciate everything and everyone around me. I am determined to have more fun and success in my thirties than I had in my teens and twenties combined and to do this I need to continually challenge myself, even though it may be uncomfortable at times. Whilst I will learn from the past I will not dwell on it and will concentrate on moving forward and listen to advice that others are kind enough to give me. Rather than focusing on what I haven’t achieved, I will acknowledge what I have and will be proud but not cocky. I will learn how to build on and improve my achievements so that I can be the very best I can possibly be while being supportive and encouraging to those around me. Helping my friends and family to be happy will make me happy too.

Goal 1- Shape Up

I have been taking pictures of my body as it has changed over the last few months. I’m not quite brave enough to share them yet. However, what I have realised is that since I’ve shifted the focus from weight loss on the scales to increasing fitness I have seen more dramatic results. My clothes are most definitely looser and I feel fantastic! I’m no angel and I still have treats but I am doing more exercise than I have done before. I run with @rundemcrew, I train with @Chakabars #SpartanFamily and do my homework, I’ve been trying out the Sexy In The City Bootcamp Classes and I’ve even tried a pole dancing class. Variety is most definitely the spice of life! I think I can safely say that progress so far in goal number 1 is positive and I am hoping I continue to see some more changes. When I get a little braver I may even share some pictures.  I will be doing some separate posts on the other exercise I have tried in the last few months.



Spartan Family at work



Goal 2- Run Faster

Last weekend I had the most amazing time and completed my third half marathon with my @rundemcrew family in Berlin. I had set my sights on a sub-2 time and I had every intention of going for it. I even headed way out of my comfort zone and took part in a track session. However a month ago I was massively knocked off course with some news in my personal life. To say I was shocked was an understatement. I carried on with my training but my confidence took a bit of a knock and my healthy diet went out of the window. I didn’t start eating junk food but balance was not a word that could be used to describe the fuel I was providing my body with (or lack of).

In the lead up to Berlin I did move up a group into greyhounds. I’d been threatening to do it for a while and was glad I finally plucked up the courage. It wasn’t scary at all, I managed to keep up and I really enjoyed it. In fact, I always enjoy running on a Tuesday night. I put my target time to the back of my mind and when people asked if I had a time in mind I lied and said “not really”. In all honesty, it was still there hiding away but I wanted Berlin to be a positive experience and I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself.

The whole weekend was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed spending some time alone and I loved being with friends too, both old and new. The atmosphere before the run was electric. Nike had been kind enough to provide a pre and post-race location for us to meet. Alongside  70 @rundemcrew were running crews from all around the world, including the New York Bridge Runners.  Amongst the excitement it was easy to forget we had 13 miles to run but I just knew it was going to be a good day. Throughout my training there seemed to be a trend. On the days I saw a pug on my run I had a good run. Walking up the race start, I saw this little beauty.

The lucky pug

Race day

Me and Kaye

Me and Alski

The weather was perfect long run Sunday weather; crisp, blue skies and bright sunshine. I was going to go out there and do my absolute best for myself. Not to make anybody else proud but to make myself proud. I set off and I felt great. I started my stop watch and decided I wouldn’t look until I got to 10K.The crowds were fantastic and the long flat, straight roads were just what I needed to focus. I kept my head down and concentrated on the goal, looking up occasionally to admire the amazing landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the remains of the wall or a glimpse of a fellow RDC runner which was a guaranteed boost. As I crossed the 10k marker I reached into my belt and grabbed my phone. I glanced down and I was over 57 minutes. If I had any chance at all I needed to seriously pick up my pace so I stuffed my mouth with some Haribo teddy bears and set off determined to not let anything get in my way.

 I’m not going to lie. It hurt, there were times I wanted to stop and give up but I stayed positive and thought about how hard I had worked. As I passed clocks I was continually trying to work out how I was doing and I could see the 2 hour mark slipping away. At times I wanted to slow down but even if there was only a small chance I wanted to give it to myself. I normally run with water but decided not to on this occasion because I thought it would be best to leave my hands free. As the sun beamed down I felt myself getting thirsty. Drinking out of the plastic cups was tricky and I didn’t take in enough fluid but I was conscious I didn’t want to waste time at the water stops. Most of the cups of water ended up over my head and my mouth got more gloopy with the sugary sweetness of teddy bears.

By 16k my whole body hurt. My neck and back were aching and the blisters on my feet were burning but I knew that my friend Gemma, who I ran my first half marathon with, was going to be at 17k. She is one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and she flew to Berlin for one day just to cheer us on. Amazing girl!  The thought of her at 17k kept me going and it gave me a real boost as I heard her calling out my name and smiling at me.

The gorgeous Gemma...look at that smile!

I kept going and as I glanced at the next clock I knew there was still a teeny tiny chance that I could beat my Paris time. I’m not really sure how I did it but I managed to cut 10 minutes off my Paris PB coming in at 2:01. Ok, I know it was 1 minute over my ultimate goal but I am still extremely proud. It seems to be a bit of a trend. The first time I ran a half marathon I was aiming for 2:10 and achieved 2:11. At the end of the day, it was one minute and I am still absolutely thrilled that I ran the race 10 minutes faster than my last. I have also managed to improve my Parkrun time by a total of seven minutes.  I consider Goal 2 to also be progressing well. I’m not done with this goal yet and will be frequenting the track this summer.

It feels right to mention @rundemcrew here too. Without the support of @daddydark the @rundemcrew founder and my amazing @rundemcrew friends there is no way I would have been able to achieve what I did so thank you for all of the kind words and encouragement. Just look how happy I was to cross the line.

Happy!

Look what we 'spotted' at the Brandenburg Gate

Goal 3- Swim better and faster

The less said about this the better at the moment but it is the next thing on the agenda. For those that are wondering, yes, I am terrified at the prospect of a traiathlon!

Goal 4- Run longer

I decided that 2012 would be the year I run a marathon and I now have a place in the Amsterdam marathon. This scares me but I am willing to rise to the challenge. I researched a number of races and Amsterdam felt right. It is also flat which is a definite attractive feature for me. Even more excitingly, it seems that Amsterdam is going to be the next @rundemcrew destination. The rest if the crew will be doing the half that takes place on the same day but I know there are a couple taking part in the full. When I applied Amsterdam wasn’t even a thing but the thought of an RDC cheers squad is exciting me a lot!

Goal 5- Speak even more than I do already

The German practice didn’t start until late but I did get a chance to speak quite a bit when I was there last weekend and I loved it. I love Germany  but I have to say, when I arrived late Friday night on my own, I did feel a little like a woman out of a German text book as I asked for directions at the huge Hauptbahnhof train station. Being on my own all day on Saturday forced me to speak German and I loved it. I even indulged in German TV and watched Superstar, Undercover boss and some strange breakfast TV all without subtitles and generally understood what was going on. I guess being greeted in German wherever I went (because I do look quite Deutsch) was a good thing and encouraged me to respond in German. I’m going to try and keep it up and I’m also keen to visit more places in Germany. I’m also really keen to pick up my Spanish again. I love the freedom it gives you when you learn a foreign language and it’s also great to show that you are making an effort when talking to the locals. Goal 5 is also going well but there is definite room for improvement.

I can honestly say that I have stayed true to my words in my mission statement above. I have had some serious obstacles come my way in the last few months but I have learned a lot about myself and I am a stronger woman as a result. The biggest lesson I have learnt is that in life we have a choice.  Bad things happen but it is essential to stay positive and take control to turn things around. Sometimes it is scary to stray out of your comfort zone but it will always be worth it and doing scary things opens up so many opportunities. Life is there to be lived and I know I don’t want to look back with regrets because I have been afraid.

I’m pretty pleased with my progress so far and despite a number of obstacles that have come my way, I am actually in a really good place and feel content.  I think it is a really good idea to jot down your goals as it makes it harder to back out but is also a benchmark to demonstrate just how much you have achieved. People don’t always remember to tell you when you are doing something well but if other people aren’t going to, it is especially important to stop and take a moment to acknowledge you are doing a good job. And if you’re not then there is always time to make things right. My Happy 30s challenge is well on track!

You are not welcome!

Last Tuesday I completed Janathon and I was on a huge high. This Tuesday I was ill in bed and miserable. After a three day rest from running, which I felt my body deserved, I came down with a stinker of a cold and I have still got it. As the snow began to arrive so did my high temperature, blocked sinuses, conjunctivitis and  cough. Yum!

I made it very clear that illness was not welcome in January but it is also not welcome in February, March or April. I am going to have to sit this out and wait for my body to recover and then I am going to get back out there and work twice as hard. I’m ready to hit the track and to give the hills a go too because I mean business in Berlin. I just need to listen to my body, eat healthily and wait until I’m well enough to go hard again.  

Janathon day 31: Crossing the finish line and the 100 mile mark

I made it! Last night I completed Janathon with no breaks but I just couldn’t muster enough energy to blog. I set out to exercise every day and if possible, I wanted to run every day. I managed to run 28 days out of a possible 31 and even though there were days I really didn’t want to exercise, I am really pleased that I did it.

I haven’t really experienced any negative comments on my blog before but on Monday night this comment was left.

Janathon has most definitely not been about torturing my body or being virtuous about it. For me it was about setting myself a challenge. I knew it would be tough but I wanted to prove to myself that even when things get tough, you can succeed and surprise yourself. I was so determined to succeed because I wasn’t able to complete Janathon last year.

It was also about kick starting my training for the Berlin Half Marathon on 1^st April. I want to complete the course in under 2 hours and I am prepared to work hard to achieve my goal. There are going to be days that I don’t want to train but if I’m serious I need to learn to get over that feeling and get out there no matter what.

Throughout January I ran over 100 miles and I was ecstatic that the last day of January fell on a Tuesday so that I could run my final Janathon run with my Run Dem Crew friends. I was grinning the whole way to Nike Town and back and when we arrived back to the arches at 1948, I was greeted by this. What an inspiration! I'm done with just dreaming and this year I'm willing to work hard and train for what I want to achieve.

Janathon has been great. I have had the chance to follow some really inspirational and determined people as they ran and blogged their way through the month and I have really enjoyed the group training mentality. Thank you to every single person that tweeted or posted a message of support. It may be the end of Janathon but it is only the beginning of a long road of training. I am determined to work hard and be the absolute best I can be but I am definitely looking fowarrd to a sports massage and some rest days.