The Big Smoothie Experiment Pt 2

A week or so ago I started experimenting with smoothies. The first try was pretty much a failure, since I managed to produce the worst tasting smoothie ever. I think I described it as rank, but in hindsight I think that was understatement of the year.

Today I decided to try again, determined not to fail this time (I don't really do failure, you see). On my way home from the gym I stopped by Holland & Barrett and even though I'd planned to pick up some vanilla flavour protein powder I stopped myself, determined to make that pea protein powder work for me. After all, I have 1.5kg or so of it...but I did buy, on a whim, some milled flaxseed with probiotic & Vitamin D from Linwood. This moning I had put a chopped up banana in the freezer and earlier this week I had bought some frozen blue- and strawberries. I was all set for success.

After mixing my banana with some skimmed milk, the frozen berries, half a scoop of pea protein powder (as opposed to a full scoop last week) and a table spoon of my milled flaxseeds I anticipated a delicious smoothie. The smoothie was a lot better than last week, but the taste of the pea protein was still pretty intense. I might have to admit defeat and go and get myself another protein powder....

But let's not talk about my slightly failed smoothie anymore (it depresses me to think of yet another failure), let's instead talk about my trip to the gym! On Saturdays I frequently go all the way to the West End just to go to my fav instructor Roo's Body Pump class. All of you who've ever gone to a group exercise class know that an instructor can make or break your class. I want the instructors to inspire me to challenge my limits, and that's what Roo does. Today she'd put together a class with old favourites and it was god d*mn hard...muscles were shaking, sweat was dripping, people were gasping for air. After that effort I got on the treadmill and did 6 or so kilometres with some hills, just a bit quicker than race pace. It was in no way memorable, as I'd put most of my energy into the previous class, but it was nice just to get the legs moving a bit.

I had also brought my swimming costume (and swim cap, goggles and nose clip, obviously) with me but getting off the treadmill I felt tired and was gonna skip the swim. Then my inner control freak, that I talked about yesterday, surfaced and made me change into my swimming gear. The pool was busy with both swimming lessons for younger generation and super swimmers but I got in and got going...and I'll damned, but today I was a half-decent swimmer! I managed to improve my timing slightly and could glide without pulling prematurely, not to mention my kick! I have pretty strong legs and when I utilized them properly today my simming improved, and I got more time to breathe. If only coach Martin could have seen me....

My motto on my favourite hoodie

Happiness Is a Run In The Rain!

You know how I was talking yesterday about how it's alright to fail sometimes? This morning I had that as a mantra, after I'd ditched a planned interval (or tempo) run this morning before work. I didn't get home from work until 9.45pm last night, and didn't get into bed until 11pm, so I prioritized sleep this morning and re-scheduled my interval run to a distance run home from work. As a slave under planning I did feel a bit, well, guilty about it....the voices in my head were saying things like 'a tempo run substituted by a distance run?! Will that help you to run a sub 4h marathon again, Josefine?!'. What with the pouring rain, my rubbish lunch, a sleep deprived induced headache and proper stiff glutes from yesterday's Body Pump session and you have a recipe for a rubbish run. Or so I thought...

It turned out to be a great run! The legs were proper bouncy, I breathed easy despite keeping a high-ish pace and when I was almost home I decided to swing by Victoria Park, hence adding on 5k to my run. The park was pretty empty and I found myself enjoying every step of the rainy run, loving how little effort it took to keep the pace and marvelling over how amazing running is. After a rubbish week at work I felt all the stress leave me and despite tiring myself out with running I felt more energized than I'd done for days.

Today, in the middle of wallowing in self-pity over my missed morningrun, I ran 15.2 kilometres at 5.16min/k pace. Longer than a morning interval run would have been. Possibly quicker than a morning tempo run would have been. All in all just a bit better than anything I would've done at 6am this morning, and you know what - no one can keep wallowing when you do a great run and the endorphines are flowing through your veins!

No Friday run is complete without some top tunes, and the theme song to tonight's run was this classic. Happy Friday, people!

No Drinking Till Marathon Day

You heard me. In preparation for this year's marathon I've deicded to swear off alcohol the last two months before the big day. Will it help? Well, in all honesty I do not drink that much - it's not easy getting up for a 20 mile run if you feel like someone's kicked your head repeatedly and then gotten the norovirus five times over - but who knows?! To be honest, I'll try (almost) anything just as long as I get under 4 hours again *

I also think it's good to test yourself every now and then, and I tell you I would be very worried if I couldn't stay off alcohol for two months. Ask me to stay off coffee though and I'll reply with a firm 'no'. Alcohol might not be essential for my existence, but I'm pretty sure caffeine is....

(*everyone's welcome to wait at the finish line with a pint though)

You're Too Good to Give Up.

This week is a bit of a failure.....I've not been eating as well as I should, nor have I eaten enough. I've worked too much (36 hours over 3 days is just not on). Sleep deprivation is my middle name. My training has been far from ideal. My room is a mess and I have a massive pile of clothes that need to be washed - and so on!

But I'm not gonna stress myself out over any of the above mentioned failures. I'm staying in the realm of fail for just a little while longer then I'll brush myself off and get back on track again. You could say I'm resting at the bottom before I climb all the way back up again. Because you know what - it's alright to fail every now and then, just make sure you can get back up again.

Thursday Truth

Don't we just know it.

Exercise of the Day

Coach Karl had us jumping like tennis balls the other week at Sunday Boot Camp, doing box jumps. This exercise strengthens and tones your legs, improves explosiveness and power and can help improve your running.

To perform a box jump you need a sturdy platform. If you got height adjustable one that's grand, otherwise find one that's at a (for you) good height. The height of the step/platform depends on your ability to jump as well as your height, but most people find their sweet spot somewhere between 12-24 inches.

Squat down in front of the step, as you do when preparing to jump for height. Jump onto the step and squat down when landing on the step. Jump back down again. You might find it beneficial to swing your arms when jumping, and some people advocate single leg box jumps.


Look at this video, and be in awe!

How Were You Born?