Day 5

Yeaaaaaaah! 5 days in a row complete! It's a nice feeling. I don't think I'll be doing this every week, in fact, I probably shouldn't? I am feeling quite sore. but I would like to come 5 times a week, just broken up by days off.

I was probably going to meet my mate there, but I fell asleep for a bit and was a bit later than I meant to be. Pretty gym lady was at reception when I got there. She's very pretty... pretty. First off I went on a run at 8.30 minute miles for 5.7 miles. I could feel that I'd been 4 days in a row previously as I felt generally sore, but nothing was too painful so I carried on and was able to pull out a 1 minute 'sprint' finish thing at the end. After that I did the usual run through all of the leg weights.

I went to get a drink at one point and one of the staff members was in there so I asked what I could do to increase the workout for my thighs because I can do the highest weights on one of the machines. He suggested doing something called 'crazy 8s', which involves starting at the lowest weight, doing 8 reps, and then moving up through every weight and back down again. The only break you're meant to have is when you stop to change the weight. Sounds horrible, but a challenge :)

I've been pestered about going out tonight, but I really don't fancy working with a hangover tomorrow and I'm going out Saturday night, but either way, the next 2-3 days aren't going to be great for my health  because I'm going to a gig in Cardiff on Sunday with me Mum and we're going to Pizza Express beforehand! Cashhback!

I bought some strawberries and bananas after work earlier so I might make a smoothie now! Nom nom nom!

Day 4

Today has been a day of soreness. I got woken up at about 8 by a phone call from work saying they'd like me to come in at 9/10 cause someone called in sick. Obviously I opted to go in at 10 and I was there until 10. About halfway through the day I noticed that I was very sore. But rather than my legs, like you'd assume, as I did them the day befre, it was my arms and chest that was causing problems. I was slightly concerned because my plan was to do upper body work tonight, but it wasn't too bad so I did it anyway.

I just got back from the gym and, after a 10 minute fast run thing I went through the upper body equipment in the gym. I am now tired, but feeling good. Also, a girl I knew was at the gym and she said that I looked different. She thought I looked a bit taller, which I guess means I look like I've lost weight?

Tonight is going to be an early night for work at 6 and then I plan on getting home, eating, and going off to the gym again! Let's see how that goes!

Day 3

Look at that, it's Wednesday. Last night was a reet laff, though, we turned up at my mate's house at 6 cause he said come round any time after 6, and he wasn't even there... His Mum let us in and said we could hang around, but we opted to go to the Pub for a few cheeky pints and to keep my mate company who works there. 6 hours later and I've had many-a-drink and we ended up driving to McDonalds for a healthy treat... My calorie count for yesterday is not a nice site.
Today is the day that I must make up for this. I'm already half way there, having been to the gym. I started off with a bit of a hill run. The random hill setting on the treadmill is strange. I'm not sure I like the machine dictating the pace for you...
That was pretty knackering, so I had a nice little chat about people's knees, as you do, and then did my favourite leg weights, followed by every other leg weight in the gym. A mate in there set me the challenge of upping one of my weights on a machine by a couple of notches and I was surprised to find I could do it. I think I've said it already, but I love my legs :D
I had to wait a while to use one of the machines because there was a girl sat on it who I'm pretty sure wasn't doing anything at all. I also chucked in some press-ups and leg raise crossover thingies for a bit of core workout and then wandered on home. I say wandered, but I was actually given a lift. Lucky I did some stretches, eh?
Just had an omelette and am very surprised at how low in calories they can be! I was going to cook my own tea at 5/6ish, but the Step Dad assures me that the curry he's planning on making won't be too late and tat I shouldn't do that. I won't be surprised if it is ready after 7.30 though.

Day 2

So yesterday I said that I want to start going to the gym 5 times a week, and I've decided that I'm going to go every weekday(who knows, maybe I'll go on the weekend too?).
Second day in and all is going well, as I just got back. I got up at 10 to have some breakfast and then went to the gym at just gone 12. I was thinking about doing a long run, but when I got there I decided I'd do a shorter run at a faster pace, so I ended up doing 5.25 miles at 8.30 m/m and then 'sprinted' the last 30 seconds or so. Then I went on to do a load of upper body stuff and ended up feeling quite sick. I'm not sure if it's because I hadn't left long enough since eating(though an hour and a half must be enough?) or because I wasn't used to doing all the upper body stuff/I worked too hard. I feel really good though and I feel like I'm doing more complete workouts now and that if I keep this up I'll be working towards a more toned body all over, which is what I would like!
Also, I'm quite proud of myself because I went to the pub last night and managed to avoid drinking alcohol completely! I did have three pints of diet coke, which I know is still bad, but I'd prefer to be drinking that than 5 pints of Ashton Press. I am, however, going to my mate's pre-Glastonbury barbecue and will definitely be drinking at that. I'll see as a reward for avoiding it yesterday though :)
Hopefully I won't be too hungover for the gym tomorrow!

Time to get serious!

I've been too casual up to now. I'm pleased with how the running itself is going, but I don't go to the gym consistently enough and often end up not going for 3 days. I'm going to start going on days to do stuff that doesn't include running, like upper body work and mix things up with a long cycle or some more rowing. I reckon this way it will keep things fresher and I will be more likely to keep it up. I also want to go more often, 5 days a week, say, so I can't get out of doing stuff like press-ups/planks/leg raises etc.
Today I did a relatively high intensive run, going for a minute at 7mph and then 30 seconds at 9.5mph. I did that for 15 minutes with a 30 sec 10mph finish and I ended up running about 2.2 miles. I was pretty knackered at the end, but felt like I hadn't done much and I ended up sing all the leg weights in the gym and doing some leg raises as well.
i feel quite good about it and I don't want to go and ruin it now by having a cheese and tomato sandwich, which is what I really want! I had some ravioli as my pre-gym meal and don't want loads more carbs, ideally, but I don't want to have to wait until tea time! I want to avoid this especially today though because I'm going to the pub later and the chances are I'll have a couple of pints, even though I know I shouldn't. No idea what I'm having for tea as well. probably something relatively fattening as Mum seems to be in that kind of mood at the moment. We also eat really late, and although I'm happy to cook for myself earlier(my Step Dad doesn't get back from work until 7 or later most of the time), Mum often doesn't want me to do that for some reason. I definitely fancy chicken tonight.

Failure

I had good intentions today. I wanted to go for a run, it just didn't happen. I had a little nap after work and then went off to the gym, only to find the entrance and exit closed. I'm guessing that it is closed for Father's Day, but I don't really know why. I could have gone for a run somewhere else, but I didn't really feel like it and will just go tomorrow. I want to make some sort of plan now so it's easier to have an idea of what I'm supposed to be doing each day and also to help motivate myself.

Rough...

Having worked the past three days, I've let that be an excuse to not really exercise properly. As I've said before, I'm not the biggest fan of going to the gym in the evening and that's the only time I've been able to go. I did go on Thursday though. That was not a pleasant run. It was only short, 15 minutes or so, and was only 1.5 miles, but I did it on a constant uphill slope. I didn't use the random hill setting cause I find the varying speeds annoying, so I just moved the slope randomly myself. I didn't have it flat very often and I tired very quickly. I had already done some leg weights as well because the treadmills were full when I got in, so my legs were quite tired already. It wasn't the most intense session on the whole though because a few of my mates were there so it turned in to more of a social event.
Today's plan was going to involve going to the gym, but after going out last night and having a bit too much to drink I'm not sure it's a good idea. I am not feeling great. I think I might just rest up today, partly because I don't want this hangover to carry over to my 6am start at work tomorrow.
Mum has had the cricket on all morning, and while I'm not the biggest fan of cricket, I now have quite a temptation to play some Brian Lara Cricket... Going old school.