I've borrowed some "awesome-inspirational-manifestos"

Need some motivation?  Want some guidance?

I saw this tweet from @Predawn_Runner in my twitter feed today, followed the link, and found some awesome inspiration...scroll down, read, be motivated and have a great day! :)

Predawn_Runner Greg Strosaker 

10 Insanely Awesome Inspirational Manifestos - bookmark it for when you need some motivation t.co/pDe8B8Zx

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Retweeted by naominf

1. The Holstee Manifesto

2. Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Baz Luhrman, best known as the director of films like “Strictly Ballroom” and “Moulin Rouge!”, released this song back in 1999. The lyrics are straight from an essay by Mary Schmich from 1997 called “Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young” and the song climbed music charts across the globe. Some wise words set to a catchy tune.

3. the lululemon manifesto

The corporate manifesto for thsi athletic wear company may very well be a bellwether for a shift in the culture of the new enterprising set. While the lululemon manifesto does tie in what their employees should to do in order to be able balance both work and life (which are for many, essentially one in the same), it is worth aspiring to for those who don’t work for the company as well.

Predawn_Runner Greg Strosaker 

10 Insanely Awesome Inspirational Manifestos - bookmark it for when you need some motivation t.co/pDe8B8Zx

3 hours ago Unfavorite Undo Retweet Reply

Retweeted by naominf

I'm a happy running reindeer

It's been an awesome week! I've managed to regain control of my eating (and have lost 4lbs!) my dodgy ankle seems to be holding up well, and I got a PB at my 10km race yesterday! Couldn't be more pleased :)

The race yesterday was the RNLI's Reindeer Run 10km, around Lee Valley Park in Waltham Abbey and I finished in 53 minutes, 59 seconds.

It was an excellent race, really well organised, with a great marshal team who seemed to be on every bend on the course, cheering us all on!  It was primarily a fundraising fun run, and the RNLI gave everyone reindeer antlers to wear, and flashing red noses - and surprisingly there were loads of people who ran in them too!

There was an awesome atmosphere, with lots of children and families who were involved in the other events (a 5km or the 2km Santa Saunter) and everyone seemed to be having a great time, despite the fact that it was unbelievably freezing cold and foggy. 

Although I have a bit of an odd expression
on my face (I'm not very good with photos!)
 here I am with my antlers!

The course was over mixed terrain around the park, and followed some paths around the lakes and the River Lee and it really couldn't have been more beautiful with the fog rolling over the water - all very atmospheric and it made up for my numb fingers and toes!

I think my mood was also helped by the fact that I felt really strong after the first couple of km and so enjoyed the run itself (and overtaking quite a lot of people was very satisfying too!). In fact, I was a bit sad that it was over so quickly, and think I could have had a good performance over a half marathon distance - maybe that'll be an option next year...

Will I never learn?!

Despite the fact that this happens every time I return to running after a break, I think i've increased my mileage too quickly over the last couple of weeks and all day I've had some niggling pains in both of my ankles, which have always been my "weak points", and prone to injury.  This is not good!! Just as I get back on track and feel positive and motivated, about both my training and my diet, something else goes wrong...and it's entirely my own fault.

I decided not to run this evening, and will wear supports on my ankles tomorrow - I'll probably still go out in the evening but may not do the 6 miles I'm planning.  I think I might also have to re-evaluate my expectation of reaching 1000 miles this year.  If I achieve it, but at the expense of causing myself an injury (rather than a bit of niggly pain that with a bit of rest I'm sure will resolve), I will jeopardise my 2012 marathon and ultra targets, and to be honest, they are more important than the 1000 miles.

I mustn't let myself get too annoyed...or too worried.  I am sure that if I take the next couple of days carefully, and reduce my total weekly percentage increases (yes, I know, should stick to 10%...but that just seems so low, maybe 15% will be ok!) I'll be absolutely fine.

But it amazes me that I've let this happen again!

Taking control

Well, after my post on Friday, unfortunately my eating is still a bit out of control....but I'm very glad I'm not the only runner who continues to struggle with my weight.

This morning I read the blog post below from Ben Davis over at bendoeslife.com (and in the photo) about him refocusing on his weight loss and facing up to the scales again after starting to regain some weight.  It's come at just the right time for me!  I've blogged about Ben before, but if you haven't seen his blog before, it charts his extraordinary journey over the last three years - he's lost 120lbs, run marathons and completed Ironmen events, and even created his own movement that has inspired people across the world to lose weight, get moving, and most importantly...to Do Life!  It's been fantastic following his blog, and while I'm struggling to get my eating under control again, it's good to know that someone like him can get a bit out of shape too...and hopefully I'm going to be able to join him in regaining control, one weigh-in at a time - starting tomorrow!

---
November 13, 2011

I bought some new batteries for my scale. It died a couple months ago and I haven’t put any effort into getting new ones because I haven’t wanted to face the scale. All that changes today.

The fact is that I won’t be able to get through 52 marathons next year if I don’t drop some weight and get back into the shape I was in this summer leading up to Vineman Ironman.

And so begins 47 days of weighing myself.

A weigh a day.

Every morning I will roll out of bed and onto the scale.

But, Ben, isn’t weighing yourself daily a bad thing?

 Yeah, there are probably some dieticians and Women’s Health writers that have some psychological list of reasons you shouldn’t, but right now I need to wake up, every day, and face the results of the previous day’s actions—good or bad.

I will take my scale with me wherever I go.

I will put the effort in and I will see it reflected on the scale. Because that’s all it takes and I know it.

So join me tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. (pacific) and every morning for the next 47 days as I get ready for the new year

A weigh a day.

Party on, party people. 

--

Thanks Ben...you're awesome! :)

1000 miles in a year

Francis and I went for a bike ride today (which was lovely) but on adding it to my dailymile.com log I noticed that the mileage had taken me over the "1000 miles covered in 2011" mark and it really started me thinking about my running mileage for the year.  That total on my dailymile log includes the cycling I've done, but I don't really think that counts, so I do keep a separate record on my training schedule spreadsheet (yes, I have one of those) and my running mileage, as of today, is 770 miles in 2011.

Back in May, I wrote a blog post about the number of miles my training schedule showed me completing by the end of 2011...it was 1,316!! I was realistic enough to know that I may not achieve quite that distance, but I remember thinking at the time, that I was definitely going to get to over 1000 and being really pleased with that as an idea.

Now though, with the various issues that have reduced my mileage (long recovery after races, injury, extended holiday, and too often laziness!), I still have 230 miles to run to get to 1000 miles in 2011, and in 7 weeks that's going to be a big challenge.  However, I'm going to try and do it.  Having spent quite a lot of time tweaking my training schedule I will just be able to get there by the 31st December, but only if I really focus and stick rigidly to the plan, even over Christmas.  Obviously, it's not quite the achievement of running 1,316 miles (that's London to Rome you know?!) but still, running 1000 miles in a year for me for be an achievement I could be very proud of! 

So, that's what I'm going to try and do.  I have a couple of races coming up too, a 10km in Ley Valley Park this Sunday and the Bedford Harriers half marathon at the beginning of December, so with those, and my 1000 mile target to complete over the next seven weeks, I will certainly be spending a lot of time pounding the pavements!