Huffing and puffing towards the goal.

So here I am at the end of week 3 on my Citylauf training plan. Although I’m a little behind, I’m still amazed at my own progress. Just 2 weeks ago on the first Run Day I absolutely hated it! I only had to do a 10 min rotation of 1min jog, 1min walk and, if Matt hadn’t been with me, I definitely would have given up. My legs felt like lead during and afterwards. It was horrible with a capital H.

Today I have just completed 3 rotations of 1½ min jog, 1 min walk followed by 12 rotations of 2min jog, 1 min walk. Including the walk to and from home to the river path, that’s 4.5km with a total of 28½mins actual jogging!!!

As yet, I’m still not enjoying the actual jogging, but I am enjoying the feeling of accomplishment afterwards, the increase in energy and the better sleep.  I must also say a big thank you to Mr H for being my motivator. He comes training whenever he can and even though I’m so slow all he actually need do (atm) is a striding walk to keep pace, he jogs alongside, helping me keep focused on rhythmic breathing and pushing me on when I want to give up before the timer beeps.

There’s still a way to go before I reach that 7.9km finish line on 11^th May but with 9 weeks to go I’m feeling more confident that I will reach it J

Just a little inspiration for me.

Fibromyalgia and walking. 

http://www.realage.com/walking/fibromyalgia-exercise?src=edit&chan=chronic-pain-management&con=rr-tout&click=et2

Your excuse is invalid!

My trainings plan and motivational photo.

I love Chocolate!

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, a time in the Christian calendar for fasting. As I was thinking about this on Monday and deciding whether to take part in this symbolic fast this year I got in a bit of a panic. Only 40 days til Easter and after Easter, May is only a couple of weeks away so I really, really, SERIOUSLY have to start training for the Aschaffenburg Citylauf on 11^th May.

I registered Matt and myself back in January for our city’s yearly fun run thinking it was a 5k run (goal N° 3), yeah yeah I know, I should have read it properly as it is actually a 7.9K run!!!!!!  Call me crazy but I didn’t cancel, however I did put off starting to train. Minus temperatures and 16 weeks stretching out in front of me gave me a couple of good excuses, but the time for excuses is no more. It’s do or die, sink or swim time.

As for a training plan, I’ve found a few online but have put together my own starting with a 5k and adding on some of a 10k plan to reach the 8k mark. Couch to 5k is a good one to start with, especially if, like us, you’re a couch potato. This week it’s brisk walking every day and next week I start on 1 min walk 1 min jog rotation. With just 11.5 weeks to Race Day I’m sure there’ll be a tantrum or two before the finish line is reached.  

So if you’re anywhere near Aschaffenburg on 11^th May come and watch, better yet join me! I’m trying to get a team together to run as an advertisement for our Church’s youth “Extreme Day” on 16^th June. Get in touch if you’re interested.

Anyhow, back to Lent. What am I going to give up? Well, chocolate, yes really! For those who know me well, you’ll know this will be a tough one. I don’t just like chocolate, I love chocolate, LOVE LOVE LOVE chocolate. In fact, given the choice between chocolate and oxygen, I’d have to think about it.

I have actually done this before, gone 40 days without chocolate, so it’s not totally unprecedented, but it’s still going to be a test of my willpower and that’s the point. Fasting for Lent isn’t a biblical mandate, it’s a Catholic and High Anglican tradition linked with the 40 days and nights that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting. Also (unfortunately) quite a lot of mythical and manipulative traditions have got mixed in over the centuries. In the western world it’s too easy to lose sight of what is luxury and what is necessity so it’s time for me to face the ugly true, chocolate ISN’T essential for sustaining life.

PS: If you see me looking like this, I'd recommend giving me a wide berth. LOL

If only it was that easy!

"I just decided that I wasn't going to get any older! Aging wasn't for me" - you've got to love Miss Piggy.

Families work together.

I’m sitting here with my feet up after a long, busy day. Today was Linda’s moving day and, although I couldn’t do any heavy lifting I spend my day organizing, directing the carrying (what/where/which room etc), “taxi” driving and making coffee, lots and lots of coffee! All in all there were 18 people involved today getting Linda and all her worldly processions out of a 3^rd floor apartment and into a lovely ground floor apartment. And that’s not counting the people who help pack boxes and paint beforehand.

As one man commented when he arrived “Wow, it feels like the whole family’s here!”. He was meaning the BGAB Church family, and it was wonderful. It reminded me of something I’d watched recently in the TV series “Living with the Amish”. 

Six teenagers from London spent 5 weeks living with 5 different Amish families and joining in their day-to-day lives, including a barn-raising. On this particular day what seemed to astound the teens most was the teamwork within the Amish community and the fact that people came from miles around, worked the whole day and gave their time for free! A type of family-community they had never experienced before and the feeling of accomplishment and being part of something bigger than themselves, they couldn’t really articulate.

As for myself, I’m blessed to have been part of many such days. Sure, it would have been easier to stay in bed this morning, I would have saved myself some stress and been able to spend the whole day with my husband BUT I would have missed out on soo much. We’re not related my blood but today I spent time working with some of my family and I love that!

A New Year - A New Start.

I don’t know about you, but New Year’s Eve is often a time of reflections and goal setting. What have I / we achieved in the last year, what was good, what was bad, what can I change and where would I like to be this time next year?

My “Thought for the Day” email of the 29^th take it one step further and encourages us to examine the motives behind our goals.

VERSE

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.     -- James 3:16

THOUGHT:

 So, what are your goals and plans for the New Year? Do you have great dreams and laudable goals? I hope so. But, please join me as I seriously look at why I set the goals I do and make the plans I make. In the afterglow of Christmas, that great season of giving, let's make sure our plans for the future are not selfish or based on envy, lust, or greed. Instead, let's set our hearts to reach great heights for God's glory and to do great things to be a blessing to others. Otherwise, all our attempts to reach great things ultimately will end in chaos, heartbreak, and destruction.

As we’re currently visiting friends in Bristol, I’ll write more in a few days’ time. I’m still working on my 10 goals, rather too slowly, but better slow than not at all.