Get Fit, Feel Epic - Week 5 PART TWO

Last night I went Turbo training with Rachel, in her garage!  This was my version of last weeks GFFE challenge - work out to a TV progamme.  We cycled to an episode of 'Supernatural'.  In laymans terms a 'turbo' is a treadmill for a bike, allowing you to mount your bike in such a way that you can ride it without going anywhere. Perfect for dark winter evenings, when you want the best of both worlds - a bike ride AND the TV!

You can see here that the bike is mounted on a roller and spins as you pedal.  You can increase the resistance by squeesing the cable seen here on the floor attached to turbo on the right -once the bike is in position, the cable sits on the handle bar for ease of use.

 It gets quite hot work!  Two fans make for a cooling breeze, and the TV was a great distraction.

And my turbo partner in crime, Rach, known to the Kidlets as Rae Rae.

I really enjoyed to the session and look forward to many more over the winter!
GFFE is hosted by by Rebecca over at Weight Wars.

Get Fit, Feel Epic - Week 5 PART ONE

We are into week 6 of the 8 week challenge, being hosted by by Rebecca over at Weigh Wars.

Its been another quiet week here in the land of Christie, but I am totally back in the game and have a week of steady exercise planned this week. 

My goals:
1) Cycle 300 miles during the 8 weeks - After 5 weeks I have cycled 142.6miles
I took part in a challenging 66 miles sportive last Saturday and I wrote about it here.  I have an exciting session set for tonight and two rides planned next weekend.  I am in the cycling zone!


2) Run 60km (37 miles) in the next 8 weeks - After 5 weeks I have run 31km (19.4mi)
This was my second week with no running, but I have taken postive action and have a day time run set for tomorrow with Lucy - if she can't motivate me to run, no one can!

3) Swim at least 12 times during the challenge - After 4 weeks I swam twice
3) A 45 mile sportive on the 21st October and associated training. Definitive training starts tonight but I can't say too much until tomorrow!
 
4) Yoga - I have eased myself gently back into my stretches this week and feel good about it.
 
5) Eat right - I have had a mixed week. I am definitely not eating normally, but I'm getting there!

The challenge: Think about your favourite TV show, think about things that regularly happen during it, workout an exercise routine based on those things. For example if you were watching the Big Bang Theory I would say everytime Sheldon knocks for Penny do 3 push ups, if Rajesh can't talk do 10 jumping jacks etc etc. Once you've worked out your routine post it and do it! If you can record your calorie burn do it and post it. Kind of like a drinking game but way better for you.

Well!  Due to diary and commitment clashes with my fellow tv workout routine-er, I am about to complete this challenge tonight and I will post tomorrow in 'Get Fit, Feel Epic - Week 5 PART TWO'. Lets just say I am very excited about the plan and can't wait to share it with you!!

This weeks challenge!  This week it's push ups. They are a great functional movement and you can improve your strength really quickly.
Day 1 - Do as many push ups as you can. 
Day 2 - 6 - Try and add more each day
Write down all your results and your progress all through the week!

Eeeek! I hate push ups!!  BRING IT ON!!!

New Forest Sportive

Thank you to everyone who offered me support in facing my fears for the the sportive yesterday.  Your support via this blog, and in 'real life' means the world to me and I really appreciate you taking the time to contact me.

I suppose the best way to start is to say I DID IT!!  I DID IT!! YAY ME!! Yesterday I cycled 66 miles (106KM!) through the New Forest, at an average speed of 14.2 (the .2 is important!) miles per hour.

The day really started the night before, when I picked the kidlets up from school and we drove to where Paul works in Basingstoke (half way between our house and my parents house) and met my parents for a kidlet drop off. Once my parents had taken them back to their house for the night, I waited for Paul to finish work and then we drove home together.  So very weird to be in a car without children.  Even more weird to be in a house without children.  Everything was so very quiet, almost as though the house was missing its heart beat - an unconscious noise needed for daily life!

Anyway, Paul takes cycling prep very seriously, and since I didn't feel 100% certain about my ability we decided that food was going to be key to fuelling me round.  So we spent a nice evening pottering around, sorting food into transportable quantities and making sure we were ready for an early start on Saturday morning.  The rain poured down over night, the wind was so loud it woke me up several times and each time I wondered if the weather was going to be hideous for the ride.

However, the morning dawned dry, if cloudy, and very cold.  Totally managable - a big relief if I'm honest!

 

Since we didn't have any child seats to worry about, we decided to transport the bikes in the car, rather than with the rack and Paul just had to re-attach the front wheels once we were there.

I started the ride in my waterproof jacket and long gloves to keep the wind chill off - it was pretty cold, but the cloud soon cleared and the sun came out. One of the many good things about riding with Paul is his ability to take photos whilst on the move!

Another of the many good things about riding with Paul is his ability to sort punctures!  I had two (yes 2!) within the first three (yes 3!) miles.  Soul destroying!!  The 2nd puncture broke our tyre irons and had there been a 3rd puncture we weren't sure if we'd have been able to change it on our own.  Paul is such an avid tyre changer that when we pass cyclists who look like they are having bike issues, he always slows down and asks if they need any help.  Two seperate groups needed help whilst we were out so that by the time we had finished, Paul had been involved in resolving 4 punctures. You cycle the length of Britain without issue, but have 4 stops through the New Forest!

The route was beautiful.  Stunning. Through old woodland and open gorse land.  Just spectacular. Plenty of horses, donkeys and cows roaming around and we crossed two fords.

Yesterday was pretty epic for me.  The last 10 miles were tough. We really picked up the speed for the last 4 miles and I attempted a sprint finish.  I also sobbed my way through those last 4 miles.  Nothing new for me, I know!! By that time I was totally done and I would have happily walked to the finish.  Paul kept feeding me jelly babies and encouraging me on but 6 hours 10 mins in the saddle is a long time and I really felt it.

This is the route as logged by my Motoactv watch. You can see the flat lines where we stopped and so skewed our average speed. You can also see I got over 25 mph for my sprint finish. 

I so completely exhausted last night, I was in bed half an hour after the kidlets! But I was (and am!) so so pleased with myself. 66 miles! Such a milestone for me.  I was trying to explain to my Dad that I love being on my bike, and once I'm out I don't really notice the time or the miles done, so I didn't really notice the 66 miles slip by.. Does that make sense? When I run I clock every half KM and wish myself to the end, but cycling isn't like that.  Yes I was dead at the end, yes I was pushed to my absolute limit and I so so pleased to reach the finish, but its only served to make me think I can absolutely train for 80 miles in the spring and 100 miles next autumn.. Yesterday would have been so much easier for me a few weeks ago.  Yet more proof of the ease with which training slips away.

I was really excited to wake up this morning and find we were featured in one of the publicity shots from yesterday!

Many thanks to my amazing parents for having the children and giving them such an exciting sleep over. Missed you yesterday Daddy, I hope we can do more events next year.

Huge and massive congratulations to Emma and Kay for completing their chosen ride yesterday.  Absolutely gutted to have missed you at either end, but that doesn't detract from my pride!  Well done.  Seriously Emma, new bike, new goal.. I need you with me!

Paul. What can I say. I loved cycling with you yesterday, and I loved all the time for talking. As ever, you 'manage' me like a pro and always know what I need - even when I'm not entirely sure what I need.  Love you x x

So, now then Rach.. 2 weeks til the next one! Which looks to be a little tougher..  Less miles, more hills..! Clanettes, have a look at the South Downs route here! I am on it like a car bonnet...!

The Fear

So. This Saturday sees my last challenge of the year (well actually its not now (more on that later) but it's the last of my original planned challenges this year!). A 66 mile cycling sportive through the New Forest.

http://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/wiggle-new-forest-100-saturday-sportive-2012/

I am terrified. Excited. But mostly terrified.

This will be my 4th cycling sportive this year, my 5th event including the Tri, and my longest cycling distance ever. Full stop. 

I am particularly terrified because I haven't done any real distance on my bike for several weeks. The last two weeks have seen me do absolutely no exercise whatsoever, bar the 20 mile ride with the puncture last weekend. And then to round it off, my stomach, whilst healing nicely, is still bruised and not happy with the invention known as a 'waist band'.

Paul is cycling with me, he has stepped in to take the place of my Dad, who has an ongoing back injury. Emma, my original sportive partner, has decided to take on the 43 mile challenge instead and I totally understand and support her decision. Yet I am still determined to complete 66 miles.

Why on earth do I NEED to do 66 miles on Saturday?! Maybe I am slightly crazy (that's a given, right!) and maybe its a secret knowledge that I CAN do it (can I?!), but more than that, I think its probably that I need to keep upping my goals and keep proving to myself that I am capable of going the distance.  If I don't have a goal, whats the point?  The last couple of weeks have been frightening from a sitting on the sofa getting used to evenings in again perspective.  I have thought about how easy it would be to just not do any exercise again.  Its a routine, I know that.  Once you're doing it, you're in the routine and I enjoy it. I love how I feel after exercise.  But once I'm on the sofa enjoying a routine of sitting..  It gets easy to say 'tomorrow'..  And that only leads me backwards 10 months. I don't want to be her - I am NOT her anymore.

With that in mind, to keep my momentum (once I find it again - I am determined!), we have been looking at our goals for next year, and I am tentatively thinking about finding an 80 mile sportive in the spring, a couple of Triathlons during the summer and then going for 100 mile sportive next autumn..  I am still thinking about a half marathon, the thought of a warm winter on a treadmill really does appeal, but I just love my bike and running really isn't the same!

Anyway.  The Kidlets are going to my parents house over night tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday is do or die.  Paul will be with me, loaded with encouragement and food and even if it takes all day, I will complete.  As he says, we'll go and have a cycle, enjoy the time together, follow the route round and it'll be done before we know it.  True.

 Wish me luck Clanettes x x

WIAW #9

Its been a week since my mammoth post on the food we prepped and ate last weekend - the freezer is still full and I am enjoying not having to think about food for tea during the week.. There is probably a lesson there..!


Breakfast!
Lochie is obviously having a growth spurt or similar, because I can not keep the boy full.  He is having seconds and asking for thirds of everything.  Yesterday he had to 2 bowls of ready brek and 2 slices of toast.. I have taken action!  I like ready brek because its basically just oats and oat flour, but has added vitamins and those vitamins tick all my parenting boxes, but its quite expensive for second helpings and clearly isn't that filling.

Today we went Old Skool.  Proper porridge with proper oats and Lochie took charge of the prep.

Mornings are busy and time slips away if I'm not on the ball, so we prepped the oats last night by leaving them to soak in milk over night (one scoop of oats, two scoops of milk per person). This would hopefully make a smoother porridge, and cut down on the cooking time.

Top left is the bowl last night as it went in the fridge, top right is the bowl this morning.  You can clearly see the oats are swollen.  I popped it in the microwave and Bobs your uncle.  Or Julies your aunt.

These cereal toppers are fab at the mo, they are on offer in Tesco, so they are a bargain and I am loving putting them in different things - or just eating them out of the bag.  With the porridge this morning, the Biglets opted for jam, Niamh had honey and a share of my topper separate to her bowl. I had honey plus the other share a top my porridge.  Delightful.
And more to the point - Lochie only managed one massive bowl.  There was no request for seconds or for toast.  Winner.  We are making this again tonight for tomorrow.

Lunch!
For lunch I had a teeny portion of leftover Chickpea and Cashew Korma from the freezer, with rice and the dredges of a jar of mango chutney.  I am sure I have mentioned this curry before, its so so good (first cooked for me by the amazing Holly - Hello Holls!).  Have a look at the recipe here. YOU MUST TRY IT!

Snackage!
Chai tea in a glass tankard with an apple.  Then later a Go Ahead apple and raisin biscuit trio..  Kind of like a Garibaldi biscuit but not.. I know how to live!

Dinner!
We had Fishcakes, sweetcorn, guacamole and smashed potatoes for tea - I prepped these last week and all I had to do this evening was prep the guac.

Its a Jamie recipe.  Blitz spring onions, fresh coriander, garlic, lime juice and chilli in a blender.  Add avocado and tomatoes.  Season.  Presto.  So so gooood!

A very tasty tea it was too!

And remember - ALL herbal tea should be served specifically in a glass cup/tankard, thus making the drink 'special'.  Herbal tea is 'special' because it makes you feel virtuous.  I like to drink out of a glass half pint tankard, so I get to feel like a warrior in a tavern - virtuously obv.!


 

Foodie Penpals #1 - September reveal!

Clanettes! Finally its reveal day! I have been soooooo excited to share this post with you!  Through my trails across the land of blog and my devotion to the idea of 'What I Ate Wednesday', I came across 'Foodie Penpals' and just had to have a go. 

The original idea was by Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean, but she is in the US and the idea has gone global, so us English types can have a go by joining in at This is Rock Salt.  Anyway. You sign up, you get assigned a partner, you email them to see what kind of food they do or don't like and can or can't eat and then you send them a parcel full of their faves.  Simples.

I have been treat like a queen this month by the lovely Anna Weatherhead.  Once I have a blog link for her, I will insert it here so I can send you over to have a look at her.  I can still gush about her in the mean time! When asked about my faves, I pretty much told Anna that I am nuts about nuts!  She went nuts.. ha ha..  She got it so spot on!

This is what greeted me upon opening my box.

Anna had taken the time to hand write me a note, bake me some AMAZING peanut and cranberry cookies, prepare me some chilli nuts and some salt and vingegar chickpeas. She had also thought to include some fruit snacks for cycling, vanilla pods for baking and some kitchen labels.  I can't tell you how delighted I was with my parcel.

The cookies were just perfect on every level.  The balance of sweet, salt and nut.  I have since emailed Anna for the recipe and these will appear in my house again - I might have to pay them forward to my next Foodie Penpal.

I loved that Anna had taken the time to send me food ideas I hadn't tried before.  I had never thought of trying chickpeas like that, and I really enjoyed them!

 These chilli nuts were super hot!

These lables ticked all of my home-maker boxes. I will stuggle to use them because then I won't have any left!

This is the box I sent to my Foodie Penpal, Christine.

If you're interested in seeing what she thought about my food box, go and take a peek at what Christine has to say about the parcel I sent her, over at Diary of a Dashing Fashionista.

If you're even vaguely intrigued - go and sign up!!  Getting a food parcel through the post is the most exciting thing EVER!

 

Get Fit, Feel Epic - Week 5

We are over half way through the 'Get fit, Feel epic' challenge and I have had a difficult week! I went in for keyhole surgery last Tuesday, details of which can be found here. This has meant that I have been on rest and re-couperation this week - definitely not getting fit or feeling epic!

My goals:
1) Cycle 300 miles during the 8 weeks - After 4 weeks I have cycled 76.6miles

After a week away from any form of exercise I went out on my bike yesterday with four other ladies, and did a 20 mile loop.  It was my first proper go with my new motoactv watch, so I didn't get the first bit of the trip logged and you can see from the flat line in the middle - I had a flat tyre and didn't pause my timer! Took us quite a while to sort, so we were out a very long time for such a short distance.. Also messed up my MPH average.. Need work on my moto working skills!  Anyway, I was pleased to get out and do something 'normal'. I am on track for my 66 mile sportive this week - a hefty wedge to add to my current goal.

2) Run 60km (37 miles) in the next 8 weeks - After 4 weeks I have run 31km (19.4mi)
Whilst I haven't managed to do any running this week, I am still confident that I am on track for smasing my running goals! I am eager to get back in my trainers this week!

3) Swim at least 12 times during the challenge - After 4 weeks I swam twice
I haven't done any swimming this week, and I'm advised not to swim until my surgery is all healed - so potentially another 2 weeks on dry land.  I am not going to dwell on this, I am simply going to modify my goal.  I have taken on a second 45 mile cycling sportive for mid October.  I figure I can't swim, I might be able to get back to running this week, but I CAN cycle. So out with the swimming, in with the additional cycling.
 
4) Yoga - I haven't managed any yoga this week

5) Eat right - I have had a mixed week. Lots more chocolate and cake than normal! However I'm not worried, normal eating service shall resume.

This week was do something new week. Do something you've never done before. Totally ticked that box with hospital!  I have been totally out of my comfort zone this week - I don't enjoy being idle on the sofa anymore (well, sometimes it has its place!!).














Your challenge next week: Think about your favourite TV show, think about things that regularly happen during it, workout an exercise routine based on those things. For example if you were watching the Big Bang Theory I would say everytime Sheldon knocks for Penny do 3 push ups, if Rajesh can't talk do 10 jumping jacks etc etc. Once you've worked out your routine post it and do it! If you can record your calorie burn do it and post it. Kind of like a drinking game but way better for you.


LOVE THIS!  I have watched a lot of tv this last week! I am thinking 'Great British Bake Off' or 'Trollied'.. Watch this space Clanettes x x