Week 8

This week the weather has been lovely in Edinburgh- despite promises of snow. On Monday I happily skipped out of work for a run in the sunshine. We headed to the grassy hill below Arthur's Seat

I also did a good swim sesh after running. We did about a thousand metres of drills and then we did a timed 20 minute swim. I started near the back and overtook everyone by about 800m! I managed a respectable 1250m in 20 minutes. Leading the swim was stressful though because I felt like I was being chased! But it was good.

Wednesday was a really tiring day- I got up at 6 to go to a pre-work spin sesh. After work I went running and swimming and didn't get home until 10.30pm- so I was pretty tired! I had two scrambled eggs on toast and went to bed. The run had been quite intense- we did a warm up and a few sprints and then we did 6x1k intervals with a 90 second rest invetween and every kilometre was under 4 mins.... The first few were significantly under 4 mins- about 3.45 for me. I slowed down a lot towards the end but still kept to just under 4 minutes! 

Friday morning I went for swim- look how light Edinburgh is at 5.45am!!!!

It was so nice being in the pool and looking out of the windows to blue sky and sunlight rather than pitch black! We did lots of sets of timed 100m, with the time allowed for each set decreasing as the session went on. We then did a timed 400m and I took 10 seconds off my time set in February! I did it in 6 minutes 16 seconds- I'm now aiming to get below 6 minutes. If I swam it all as fast as I did the first 100m I would be at about 5 minutes 54 seconds- so it's achievable! 

Lovely weather! The view from the office

I treated myself to a yummy pistachio icecream to celebrate my good swim!

On Saturday the weather was very windy so I didn't go out and cycle but I decided to try and learn how to tumble turn... 

I went to David Lloyd and after relaxing in the spa.... I went to the pool.

After an hour of tumble turning into the wall I felt light headed, dizzy and a bit sick! I can do tumbles better than before but I'm quite slow..... I'll keep practising!! 

Week 7

Running
Total: 25.7 kilometres

So this week I have done 3 lunch time runs.  The weather has been quite dreary in Edinburgh... 

However for the third run, when I was joined by the other members of my work's running club the sun came out!

A few fellow runners was exactly what I needed to boost morale (and leg speed!) 

My final run of the week was around Linlithgow canal and loch. It was a beautiful Saturday morning! 

Cycling

I have been to spin several times this week.  The weather hasn't been fab so I haven't done much cycling outdoors after work.  Spin is always so intense.  Wednesday morning spin is my favourite one of the week.  It is a really good way to start the day although it is a killer for my poor legs.  In the room full of spin bikes there is a projector which shows routes and videos of the Tour de France which are a good way of feeling like you're getting outside and cycling round the mountains.  I also went to one on Thursday night and took my flatmate with me - he loved it too!

Swimming
Total: 4,900 metres

On Monday we did an intense session at the Commonwealth Pool.  We warmed up and then did 8x50m of fist drills (swimming with your hands in a fist... It's quite hard!).  We then did 6x100 at race pace, which was exhausting.  Then we did 3x200 increasing pace every 25 - again super tiring! We finished with a 100m at threshold pace.  

On Friday morning we did 3,200 metres! We did 800m then a 600m then a 400 m all at race pace - we did some smaller drills in between. I always leave the pool on Friday with nothing left in my shoulders or legs but I really feel like I've achieved a lot.  It almost makes the 5.30am wake up worthwhile......... Also it is starting to get light at 5.30am! When I leave the pool at 7.45 ish it is proper daylight - yay for longer days!

Other Sports

I have played a really fun game of tennis with Craig, Gordon and Robin! Safe to say that I was rubbish! I was allowed 3 serves.... But it was really fun. 

Week 6 brief update

This week I haven't taken photos- but this week has been very exercise heavy! In 6 days I have done 3 runs, 3 cycles, 3 swims and played a netball match! Here are my totals:

Running

A total of 20.4km 

Cycling

I have been to two spin sessions and one bike ride- totalling 70km...! Oooooph my poor legs! 

Swimming

I have done three swimming sessions and I have swim a total of 8000m.... That is the equivalent of 320 lengths! Safe to say that a lot of pasta has been consumed this week! 

Fundraising

I have raised £260 so far which is so fab! Thank you! 

I'm now totally exhausted and I'm having a well deserved glass of wine while watching England v Scotland rugby 

Week 5

On Monday Edinburgh looked like this....

A horrid mixture of rain and sleet... I went for a triathlon run 

However on Tuesday Edinburgh had transformed into this....

Much better! 

By Wednesday the snow and ice had cleared and I went for a spinning session at 6.45 am and then a triple loop around Arthur's seat after work. The weather was brill 

I'm loving my new bike so much and can't wait for the weather to get better and for the days to get longer so I can cycle in the evenings! 

On Thursday I went for a nice relaxing lunch time 5k. And I did a stressful beasting spin session in the evening. My legs were so weak I could hardly make it up the stairs to my flat. 

Friday- 6am swim!!! We did lots of arm drills which was a relief because my legs were so sore! We finished with pyramid swims which were exhausting but good.

But I got to have porridge and a kale, grape and kiwi smoothie at work afterwards! I love my nutribullet 

Saturday morning I went for a quick morning cycle along the coast along to Musselburgh. It was pretty windy but very beautiful! 

No more exercise for me now until Monday! Off to Glasgow to watch andy Murray play Isner in the Davis cup! Woooooo