The first four...

If  you follow me on Twitter you would have known that from Monday 14^th July 2014 things got serious – serious in the sense that it’s just over 12 weeks to the half marathon. 12 weeks seems like ages right? That’s a whole 3 months, a quarter of the year, plenty of time to build up to 13.1 miles. But a big lesson I've learnt about turning a year older, is that time flies by…like literally you blink and it’s the next month (what happened to June?).

So it's time to step up the training, form a routine training plan and give up alcohol (except for my four scheduled alcohol-allowed events; this weekend, Machofest, Kyle’s birthday and Carnival), the rest of the time I shall be T-Total (and probably quiet grumpy and boring on weekends now).

The Training Plan:

I’m using a mix of training plans I've found online and fitting them in between my body pump classes (as we've got to keep the muscles strong and lean right?). As it’s just over 12 weeks, and I’m away this weekend (it’s a surprise trip, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to go for a run whilst I’m away, hence the '?' in my plan) I shall be repeating week 1 twice – it will also help build  the plan into my routine that I have to stick to for 12 weeks. I’m notoriously bad at sticking to things, so hopefully shouting out about this on my blog means that it’s making me accountable for it, and I have to do it, plus its for charity and I’m running with a team, and I've told loads of people, and spent a lot of money on running shoes etc, etc.

Monday's are the toughest day, and I originally had the 30 minute easy run on a Tuesday, but trying to move the day after a Body Pump session can be tough (I barely make it up the stairs at work), so I've put my two rest days the days after body pump. It's also an easy run on the Monday (as legs are still recovering from Sunday's long run), so I can do it just before my body pump class on the treadmill, in the comfort of an air conditioned gym.

As I have created the plan, and I’m not a fitness expert I shall be changing and adapting it as I see fit (with the 13.1 mile goal in mind). I should probably run this past someone who knows what they are doing; so if you are an experienced runner/athlete/personal trainer who is reading this and can see massive flaws in the plan – give me  a shout.

I’m not going to bore you with the full 12 week plan so far (partly because it scares me a little to look at the full 12 weeks at once), so I’m just going to post the first four weeks on here.

Want to join me? I mainly run just after work around 6:30 / 7pm in East Oxford - so drop me an email / comment / tweet and we can meet up :).

Surround yourself with people you love

Being healthy is not just about eating well and exercising, don’t get me wrong, that plays a big part of it – but it’s not all. You have to be healthy and happy with yourself as a person too.

Life is a journey, along the way you will find people who have a positive effect in your life and people who have a negative effect. Try and focus, spend time with and love the people who have the positive effect in your life, they are the ones who help in the make you feel happy.

So as a little dedication to some of the people I love in my life I’m going to write about the people who have a really positive effect in my life, and use this as an excuse to show off how AWESOME my friends are.

Amanda

All great people are named Amanda – it’s a fact that my best friend Amanda will agree with me. This girl is AMAZING, a pillar of strength, a heart of gold, amazing baker and awesome dancer. For me spending time with her is complete therapy for me, as she has such a fresh outlook on life. 

*she also has an awesome blog which you should follow here

Beth

Summing up most people in three words is hard – but with Beth it’s the easiest thing ever. Crazy. Happy. Lovable. Everyone needs a Beth in their life, just for the positivity she exceeds out 24/7. I’m pretty sure ‘because I’m Happy’ was written just for her. Your never sad when Beth is around as her happiness is infectious. She’s also great at giving advice and has always got your back.

Zoe

Inspirational, motivated, determined and amazing taste in music – who wouldn't want to be her friend? If this girl wants something, she doesn't let anything stand in her way and goes and gets it. She’s also not afraid of telling everyone and everything as it is, what you see is what you get with her and I love that (especially when you’re trying on clothes). A great workout buddy, drinking partner and makes an awesome cup of tea – everyone needs a Zoe in their life.

Mat

Who would have thought the boy who use to scribble all over my homework diary turned out to be like a brother (even my Mother worries about him). He’s my go-to bloke when I need a rant, moan, artistic advice and a bitch. Before twitter he was the one I would text my general moans about throughout the day. He’s the boy I tell everything too, and even if we haven’t spoken for a while when we’re together it’s like we’ve never been apart. He’s always finding strange new bands before they make it main stream – keeping me one step ahead of the charts.

Kyle
My boy, my love, my pillar of love, hope and strength - more on him soon.

These five people are literally some of the best people I have in my life. There are lots of others who contribute to my life – especially my family, but more to follow on them soon. Love you all X