April writing challenge written mostly in May : p

I said I’d do this to write more often for the April writing challenge but only did a couple so here’s them all, written on one day in May!

1) Five ways to win my heart?! Well if you won my heart I would be dead. What sort of a competition is it??

2) I feel strongly about…having a heart that cannot be won in some sort of sick competition.

3) A book I love… Time Traveller’s Wife

4 ) Bullet my whole day…

Sunday (so far)

• Woke up man with a cup of tea
• Spoke to my cousin on the phone
• Popped to Tesco with man
• Ate pancakes made by man
• Made bread
• Spoke to my Mom on the phone
• Watched man cutting wood and banging making our new wardrobes
• Ate aforementioned bread with naughty cheese
• Sat in bed revamping blog whilst watching man work hard as above
• Wrote this post

5) Things I want to say to an ex... I quite like you because you score me 8 but Zs and Qs are better.

6) My views on mainstream music. I wrote this a few weeks ago but it’s still in my drafts. If I have published it it will be here. If not I haven’t yet.

7) Five pet peeves… Dogs that poo, dog owners that let their dogs poo, dogs that jump up on me, dogs that bark too loudly, dogs that slobber. I don’t mind other pets ; )

8) What I ate today… See here, I actually did that one.

9) How important is education?  Srsly lyk sooooo important. Lol. Lmfao.

10) Put your music player on shuffle and write the first songs that play I did this too! Look here.

11) My family… consist of people who are related to one another and they are all ACE.

12) Five guys I find attractive Guys? What a funny word G U Y S. You know when you look at a word and it looks weird? Guys. Anyway. I don’t know many Guys. Guy Pearce used to be Mike in Neighbours although I preferred Brad.

13) My opinion on my body and how comfortable I am with it … My body is a temple. I am very comfortable with it as I am in bed and bed is comfortable.

14) What I wore today… Jeans, Stone Sour hoodie, knickers, socks. No bra because it is against my religion to wear one on a Sunday.

15) My zodiac/horoscope and whether it fits my personality… I am Leo. Apparently this means I am a lion. I have hair like a lion. So it must be true.

16) Something that I always think ‘what if’ about …What if i win the lottery?! I could go on this Mayhem festival cruise, that’s what! It WILL happen.

17) Something that I am proud of … I stopped being a lazy bum, did Couch to 5K and ran my first 5K Park Run yesterday.

18) A problem I have had… Once I couldn’t decide whether to have a Mint Aero or a Crunchie. Tough times.

19) Five items that I lust after… Design your own Converse, RIP tickets to Download festival, tickets to Mayhem festival cruise, a new projector, a new laptop.

20) My fears…The usual, anyone I love going to heaven.

21) How I hope my future will be… happy and healthy.

22) My academics… How boring. I did GCSEs and A Levels. I didn’t go to Uni because I liked home and I worked hard in my chosen field instead of writing essays about it.

23) Something that I miss…School

24) Five words/phrases that make me laugh…Pamplemousse, Blants, Floccinaucinihilipilification, I’ll have the cream of sum yung gai. I’m a poet and I don’t knorange.

25) Something I’m currently worrying about… getting this post finished before Silent Witness.

26) Things I like and dislike about myself I like my general loveliness and I dislike my teeth.

27) A quote I try to live by… A simple quote I’ve recently heard. Never give up, there’s always a way.

28) Somewhere I’d like to visit… Hampton Court Palace

29) Five weird things that I like… Scabs, peely sunburn, smooth surfaces, pygmy goats, the DALEK man on last night’s Britain’s Got Talent.

30) One thing that I am excited for… getting our new living room carpet next week.

That was a big ‘un!

Thanks for reading.

Stace x

Follow me on Twitter @StaceInspire

 

My first official 5K Park Run

This morning, one week after graduating Couch to 5K I ran my first Park Run in Brueton Park. Park runs are officially timed runs which go on all over the country for people at all levels (thankfully!). You can find your nearest one here.

It was a bit early for me on a Saturday morning. We usually just sit in bed and watch cookery programmes! I got up early enough to have a cup of tea and a Digestive biscuit. My Uncle who runs marathons said he would come with me and so I picked him up and we made our way to Brueton Park. I’m not used to running with anyone at all so when I saw so many other people it was a bit scary! My brother popped up out of nowhere to support me which was a nice surprise. Once we’d started it was fine although it took me until about three quarters of the way through to fully believe I was going to finish, despite it being my 4th 5K! Must keep the faith. I was very pleased when I had done it.

Just finished! (Photo courtesy of race photographer Kevin Baldry)

My shady ankle behaved until afterwards when it was very stiff but I’m going to just keep it elevated after each run and hope it strengthens. At lunch time the results were put on the website and I was pleased I had actually beat my personal best by 3 mins 26 seconds.

Click to see the route on Endomondo

I’m glad I did it. Next step is to start the Bridge to 10K on Monday and start training for my 10K Race for Life!

Stace x

Follow me @StaceInspire

Week 9 – Finished, done, graduated Couch to 5K!

So yesterday I graduated the NHS Couch to 5K programme!

3.2 miles non stop running. ME! WTF!! I am CHUFFED!! Wooooo hoooooo!

It’s seems like ages ago when I first ventured out for that first run up and down my garden because I was too self conscious to go out in the real world! Now I can run anywhere, in any weather and I can’t believe it!

I’m going to do the 5K park run at Brueton park  next Saturday so I get an official time. I’ve signed up for a 10k Race for Life on the 24th June too!! I didn’t share it until I finished yesterday because I wanted to wait to make sure I could do the 5K first but now I can I’m just going to go for it. It doesn’t give me a lot of time but those in the know assure me if I should be fine and I have a 5 week Bridge to 10K podcast programme to follow. So click the link  below and sponsor me pretty please! It’s for cancer research and even a quid will do. It’s so clever you can even donate by text by sending  STAC79 £1 to 70070.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! : ) : ) : )

Thanks to everyone on the Health Unlocked community for their support, my Endomondo and Twitter peeps and my man and family for putting up with me turning into a running bore! Oh and my Uncle Steven for his advice too, he ran the Stratford half marathon today in the torrential rain we’ve had.

I’ll be blogging my Bridge to 10K experiences up to Race for Life too so do stop by for a visit now and again. : )

Stace

Follow me on Twitter @StaceInspire

Week 8 – One week to go!

For the three runs of week 8 I ran the same route just so I could compare my times and distances. At the end of week 7 I was doing 2 miles in 25 mins. Here at the end of week 8 I can now do 2.5 miles in 31 minutes. I think this week has been the best so far. I’ve actually felt more like a grown up runner. Run 2 in the rain was great and I actually felt disappointed today when it didn’t rain on me. I’m feeling more confident now that I have exceeded the 30 minute target and so fingers crossed I can make up that half a mile or so this week to get to the 5K mark. As soon as I do I have my next goal in mind which I’m planning to share as soon as I have graduated and run my first park run on the 5th May.

Stace
Follow me on Twitter @StaceInspire

Week 7 – The end is in sight

Wooo! Week 7 done. Three 25 min runs. Went quite well. I’m not starting my Endomondo until I run now rather than counting the warm up/warm down walks. Each time I ran 2 miles in 25 mins pretty consistently. My best mile was 12.03. I believe grown up runners call it a personal best. ; ) Not sure whether that is OK or not? Seems a tall order to get to over 3 miles in the next two weeks but I shall do my best!

Thinking about the next stage. I have downloaded Bridge to 10K tentatively but I’m going to stay focussed on that 5K goal first. My Uncle has said he will do the 5k Park run with me so I’m aiming to do that on 5th May. He is running the marathon so a 5k will be a walk in the park for him!

Here’s to week 8 and 28 minute runs. Hope to up that distance and get another PB mile in.

Stace

Follow me on Twitter @StaceInspire

Week Four done! – Oh yeah!!!

Just back from run 3 so that’s week 4 done. Can’t believe I’ve done four weeks and kept it up. My fastest mile so far has been 12.14. I don’t know whether that’s good or bad. I was pleased today that the first half of my run and second half time were more consistent, only a second in it. This week was easier than I thought it was going to be. Amazing how your body can just perform better with a gradual progression and a bit of motivation. I’m excited for week 5 which I’ll start on Sunday. Bring it ooooooon!

Stacey
Follow me on Twitter @StaceInspire

Week Three done – First fly in the eye ; )

Week three done! That’s a third of the way through. Cool!

I had my first experience of a fly in my eye on run one which was a bit annoying but I refused to stop while I tried to get rid of it. I’m finding that I’m not hurting very much although I can feel my muscles more. The main thing that I find difficult is how hot I get, I’m not necessarilly too out of breath, just very hot and then I feel very cold when I get home. I did OK adjusting to the three minutes at a time although the last three mins of run 3 were a little harder against the wind. Hope to start week four tomorrow or Sunday but feel a bit nervous about getting through 5 min runs at a time! The walks in between will be very welcome.

Stacey
@StaceInspire

Couch to 5K – Week Two

Saturday 3rd March 2012 pm

Just did my first run of week 2. Man bought me some new gear to run in today so I got out there before it got dark. I am going on a different route each time so I don’t get bored and I managed to exceed my two mile goal and did 2.23 miles. Despite being tired after a late night last night and feeling a bit shoddy it weirdly felt easier than run 3 of week one. Wooo! Oh and my Uncle Steven who runs has suggested this great website to me www.parkrun.org.uk which you may find interesting. I am hoping to do the one in Brueton Park Solihull WHEN I reach that 5K goal.

Friday 9th March 2012 pm

I did my week two runs on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. On Saturday I did a good distance and was chuffed with my new gear. Monday and Wednesday were a bit more difficult because the wind seemed to be conspiring against me although I managed my longest distance of 2.5 miles. I was very tired on Wednesday but I made myself go for a run before I settled down for the night and despite it being my shortest distance (and Endomondo posting it to my bloody Facebook) I was pleased I made myself do it. Too easy to use excuses not to. So, it’s now Friday, I am going to start week three this weekend and just hope it’s not impossible.

Stace
@StaceInspire

Couch to 5K – Week One

Couch to 5K – Week One

Monday 27th February am

I bought some lovely running shoes about 18 months ago (ish). Proper ones from a running shop and I had my tread measured and everything!  I was motivated to start running and went out about three times walk/jogging to my family home about a mile from my house. You can see my posts from that time here.

Then I went to the doctors and she told me I had to get confirmation from the hospital before I could run as I have Long QT syndrome. Boo. Unfortunately getting a letter to confirm it was OK took months. Then last year I was all set again. We were going on a weekend camping trip so I packed my trainers with good intentions of running around the lake and by the river where we would be camping. Just as we were about to go I walked out of the back door to get something from the garage and promptly fell off the back step and sprained my ankle! Doh! Cue three days spent camping wth my foot in the air.

Well that was then. After stumbling on Couch to 5K a couple of weeks ago I’ve been building myself up to start. I downloaded the first four podcasts last week and my Mom treated me to some shiny new headphones for my iPod. I didn’t feel too confident to go straight out on the street so after a lie in on Saturday I decided to do it in the garden! I must have looked really strange to the neighbours but hey ho! I completed all runs despite interruptions first from my partner coming outside for a fag (hmph) who didn’t know what I was doing and then my brother and his girlfriend popping round and peering at me from the back door. Half way through I thought I wouldn’t be able to do the full workout but I pushed on and managed all the runs and felt quite pleased with myself. As I sit here on my laptop it’s Monday morning and I’m trying to decide what time will be best to do run two. Hope I can keep my motivation!

Monday pm

Run two done! I feel great. I used the Endomondo app on my Blackberry and I did 1.81 miles. It said average 14 mins to do a mile. Not quite a 4 minute mile but it’s a start : ).

Thurday 1st March 2012

Very pleased with myself. Today I did the third run of my first week. It was a lovely sunny day and I ran on the street and through the park. Grass seems to be a little harder going. Again I did just under two miles which I guess is OK. Hoping to hit two miles or more in week two. I was tired this afternoon but I feel like I will sleep well and my muscles don’t feel too shot.

Bring on Week Two!

Stace

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Christmas 2011 and New Year

A round up of Christmas and New Year, mainly just to get me back in the blogging zone….

Christmas Food

I made cupcakes, peppermint creams and ginger biscuits. This year it was my family’s turn to have us but we cooked Christmas din dins this year to give my Mom and Stepdad a break. It was great. I prepared a lot of the veg the day before. We made turkey with lemon and sage butter with streaky bacon and Topside of Beef. I made Delia Smith’s bread sauce which turned out well. For pud we bought a Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Christmas pud and Ban made a chocolate and raspberry ganache tart inspired by the one Michel Roux Jr did on Masterchef.

Presents

We had some very helpful monetary donations from various family members which we have put towards a new fridge freezer and wallpaper for our living room. Not usually one for branded products I seem to have developed a longing for all things Joseph Joseph. We now have the indexed chopping boards , Preparation  bowls set and Fold flat grater. I love the bright colours.

My River Cottage Everyday cookbook will keep us in new recipes for a while and there’s enough Thornton’s Continental left in the house to delay Slimming World for another week. Still on a kitchen theme my brother bought us a pestle and mortar which we’ve been after for a while and I’ve had an addition to my collection of Letraset Promarkers.

People

Ban’s brother Richard lives in Chicago and he came over for a week over the Christmas period. We spent Christmas Day and evening with my family (see Games below) and Boxing Day with his Mom and Dad, brothers and two nephews Sam and Tom who had a crazy amount of presents as always. My favourite was the Harry Potter night bus. I REALLY want some Harry Potter LEGO.

Games

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without games. On Christmas Day we played Rapidough and had a good singalong to traditional songs like Tenacious D  Tribute, haha! On Boxing Day we played Top Gear board game with our nephews and then the more grown up Cranium which is quite hard. On New Year’s Eve my little cousin Becky bought her new games Pass The Bomb and LOGO’s to play. At our friends new year party we played Dance Central. I’m more of a head banger than a dancer but it was a laugh. Just imagine me trying to dance to MC Hammer and Britney Spears. Thankfully it’s not on YouTube yet.

Oh and before I forget….Skyrim! I bought it for Ban hoping he’d like it but I’ve been sucked into it too. Awesome.

TV

Doctor Who

A nice heartwarming episode and for a change I didn’t have to hide behind a cushion.

Eastenders

Pat’s dead! David Wicks came back though. Bonus.

Sherlock

Clever and brilliant. Best thing on TV.

Erm.. anyway that’s about it for now. I’ve written something at least.

Happy New Year everybody!

Stace x