Dani's 2013 Challenges.....
Sunday 31st March 2013
Spring Forward.....
Clocks have gone forward, the sun is shining, skies are blue and the birds are chirping, its a good, good day!
Yesterday we had a poorly Pickle, so a PJ and movie day was in order, we even managed a snooze in the day! Total laziness at its best... so worth it! (she is back on form today)!
Next Virtual 10km was scheduled for today... Mag's Easter Eggstravaganza.. it's just so nice just to get out in the daytime.. the joys of not being at work :)
It was a beautiful morning, boosted by some random stranger congratulating me on all my walking.. think he had spied me earlier on the route.. the words 'you're doing loads of walking, good on ya girl' was really nice to hear first thing this morning :)
Well, we are at the end of another month... a total of 81.58 March miles completed, looking forward to April and many miles more to come..
I'm behind target for my 2013 but you know what... I don't mind! I'm doing more than I ever have done before, I'm losing weight (16lbs since New Year) and I feel good! Plus, I'm lapping all those still sat on the couch :)
Determination will get me where I need to be... and I am so looking forward to getting there :)
p.s. just want to wish my beloved a happy 13 years of togetherness! think we both deserve a medal, love ya lots xx
Dani xx
Dani's 2013 Challenges.....
Friday 29th March 2013
Its a Good Friday.....
Firstly, sorry for being quiet the last week or so; joys of a busy work schedule and family life took priority....
Managed a few lunchtime miles during the week; the weather has been seriously non-Spring like, snow, freezing winds, not what you expect at this time of the year. I'm not going to complain though, friends I know further North have had it alot worse!
Slight miracle occurred this morning though, there was this strange yellow ball in the sky, giving off heat and hurting my eyes to look at it, at first I thought maybe it was a meteor or aliens had invaded but realised it was actually the SUN!! Long time, no see!!
Trainers were defo going on now! I have 2 x 10km walks to do, Jen & Noah's Comic Relief 10km (this one is seriously overdue) and the Easter Eggstravaganza which I should get done during the long weekend off work. Easter egg hunt planned round at Nanny and Grandad's, so Daddy took the kids over whilst I walked...
Even managed to find a lucky £pound coin! :-)
Combined this walk with my 1st 10km.....
Clock's change this weekend so roll on lighter nights, feels a lot better walking in the sunlight rather than darkness (although peeps can now see me singing along to my ipod)!
Happy Easter peeps; enjoy all the choccy goodness :)
Dani xx
Dani's 2013 Challenges.....
Tuesday 19th March 2013
Happy.....
Today has been a rather dull day at work, so out for some miles this eve.. I have 'finally' broke through the 200 mile barrier... YAY!!!!!
Now at 202.11 miles... only 1810.89 miles to go... beginning to see a light at the end of this long year tunnel :)
Treated to a new heated back massage when I got home... lucky me :)
Well, I'm off to bed but had to share my happy news with you!
Sleep tight peeps!
Dani xx
Dani's 2013 Challenges.....
Sunday 17th March 2013
Challenge No. 6.....
The past week has been one of emotion and realisation.. cancer really does effect people is so many ways, a dear friend of mine is dealing with the waiting game following the discovery of a tumour and another friend received the worst news anyone would want to hear.. both have already faced and conquered the battle before..
Challenge No. 6 took me on a road trip down to the delightful countryside of Suffolk; well, I'm sure it would be delightful had the weather been good, however the rain continues to fall and cold temperatures doesn't seem to be disappearing anytime soon.
Didn't have the greatest nights sleep but wide awake a 6am to get ready and head over to Barrow. Donned in my purple attire, supporting Pancreatic Cancer Action - this event was in honour of a fab couple I have the pleasure of knowing - Mr & Mrs Wilde! xx
Got slightly lost in Barrow village, finally rocking up at the Academy about 7.45am. Free egg and bacon butties were on the itinerary however due to my poor navigational skills I missed them :(
Glen the founder of the Barrow Challenge took a couple of photos, then boom, 8am.. we were off!! I had the pleasure of meeting Rebekah and Heidi - a couple of fellow Team Moonwalkers (I am part of a facebook group of inspirational ladies, plus 1 gent who all take part in various charity events throughout the country).
The course took us over muddy (yes, more mud) fields, down farm tracks, up hilly roads and through boggy woodland.. me and my navigational skills were again not working well together, so we did manage to get lost a few times, some roads we got fed up of seeing the sight of; worst part of the route had to be Lady Katharine's wood - she was no lady is all I will say - a mile and half stretch of deep, dank mud with nowhere to go but through the middle of it!
Ickworth Park was lovely, the gardens and house was very picturesque (expect the muddy bits), one of the highlights of the day was seeing a baby lamb being born! It was one of those moments when you think 'did I just see that drop out'?!?! Finally after 8 long cold hours, we arrived back at the Academy - greeted by a nice hot brew and a bowl of pasta.
I'm so pleased to have done this event, laughed with Rebekah all the way round, slipping and sliding in the mud.
So this week's total makes it 34.98 miles with only 1809.67 miles left in the kitty.
Bring It On!
Dani xx
Dani's 2013 Challenges.....
Monday 11th March 2013
Did someone forget it's meant to be Spring???.....
OMG!! How frickin cold has it been over the weekend and today!! Had planned to head over to Clumber Park on Sunday for a Mother's Day walk with the family but snow (yes, snow) scuppered those plans :(
Did have a relaxing day with the kids and hubby at home though; they made me cards, a classic penne pasta 'gold' necklace and a cuddly toy! I really love my little mugrats soo much! Me and Pickle did some baking and made the best chocolate ever...
Believe it or not, I have been making a concious effort to keep tabs of my calorie intake (I know looking at that cake your probably thinking who is she trying to kid)! I would like to lose a couple of stone, I'm happy with my body shape, but need to lose a bit of the belly full of jelly... found a wonderful app called My Fitness Pal, which lets me enter in everything I put in me mouth and tells me when to stop!
I have changed up my training regime slightly, to include a bit more core work.. plus to fit in with the family and hubby's fitness too.. so we are now both doing alternate evenings consisting of a core/resistance workout then either a run or walk (him mostly running, me walking).. I am still getting in my lunch walk along with weekend walks or bike rides..... today was Day 1.....
Feel good but cold after Day 1, still can't believe its snowing... AGAIN!!!
5.22 miles completed today, means only 1844.65 miles to go... seems so far away but I am determined to get there!!
Keep warm!
Dani xxx
Dani's 2013 Challenges.....
Thursday 7th March 2013
Where's me mojo??.....
God, the aftermath of Legends has been unbelievable; felt like I had taken on the whole of the English rugby team and lost! Every muscle (even the ones I didn't know about) ached, bruises appeared thick and fast... but I have to say, it was all worth it!!
Got out with the family for a 'stretch my legs' walk around the woods; Pickle was in an inquisitive mood and had to investigate every bunker there was; our local woods are situated on the old RAF Thorpe Camp site, so there's alot of old derelict buildings half buried throughout the woods. Spring was definitely in the air..
Week has been a bit of a fraught one with the stresses of juggling work and home; its a fine balancing act, but if one side weighs you down a bit then it throws everything! However, whatever life throws at me, I am sure I can take it on..
Been getting out during my lunch break to get some miles in, good way to break up the day and clear me head a bit. So looking forward to the lighter nights and warmer weather!
Got out this evening for a decent 5.02 miles, this added with the lunchtime miles walked means I now only have 1846 miles left to do.... still a long way to go, need to up the anti really but I sure I will get there, it might just take a little bit longer than expected!
Loved the little quote in this pic... 'Its a long road but it's worth it'... it certainly will be!
Dani xx
Dani's 2013 Challenges.....
Saturday 2nd March 2013
To the trees, to the trees.....
Today is the day for event no. 4 - The Legends of Sherwood... and 10km (and the rest) night run through Sherwood Forest with an assault course added in for good measure...
Claire, one of my bestest friends for the last 20 years, joined me for this crazy challenge; we arrived at dusk ready for the event to commence... alot of peeps took the 'fancy dress' option as mandatory... lots of Robin Hoods, Friar Tucks, a Nun, so many different style onsies and even Batman and Robin.
We were in Wave 2 of the event, watching the first wave kick off 20 mins prior was probably not the best idea.. seeing hundreds of peeps hurtling themselves over hay bales, falling here, there and everywhere kinda made us feel a bit sick with nerves!!
We all joined together at the start ready for take off in Wave 2, event organiser up at the front read out the rules and regs, told us what to expect.. this didn't make us feel any better...
With tunes blaring out and everyone getting ready for it, the siren went and we were off.. first obstacles were the dreaded hay bales, bit of a clamber and we got over.. hundreds of peeps all running together as darkness began to fall was really a surreal experience.. the route took us up steep hills and back down them, through dark narrow woodland paths where you had to dodge branches and tree stumps, the next obstacle was a mud tunnel, had to crawl so knees got a bit dirty.. I was a bit naive to think that this was the most muddy we were going to get.. how wrong was I!!
Further we went into Sherwood, we were met with spaghetti spider tunnels, trying to clamber through them was entertaining.. running up the steepest hills ever, over log hurdles which is where I obtained my first injury.. a kind chap offered to give me a leg up to help me get over, he was a bit to eager which resulted in me landing scissor legged onto the log (yes I'm still hurting)... onwards through water tunnels, knee deep in the stinkiest mud ever.. into 'spooky wood' which was like remake of Blair Witch!! The marshall advised that we needed to stick to the path as one group that had come through a bit earlier had spent an hour trying to get through only to end up back at the start!! Crawling through what the lads described as a 'health spa', it actual fact it was an horrific mud pit with logs over the top and rules stated you had to go under... lost headtorch in the process of crawling...
As we got towards the finish line, I'm positive hypothermia was setting in... thinking that was it for the obstacles.. we were again sadly mistaken... a seriously slippery uphill climb, with only a knotted rope to assist.. worst thing ever!! Hands were frozen, covered in mud and we were so tired but... slow and steady we got to the top... then faced the last challenge of jumping down a 7ft drop... after my stairgate incident, I was really worried I wasn't going to be able to get down... but the finish was literally a stones throw away.. so we both just went for it!!
This has to be one of the worst and yet best events I have ever done, and that medal will be displayed with much pride and love!!
However, not sure if the trainers or clothes will live to tell the tale...
Rest and recuperation for the rest of the weekend... think I deserve it!
Dani xx
