Piloxing Packs a Punch!

It's been a beautiful, but breezy, week here in sunny Kintyre which has been great for my marathon training - lighter nights and no rain/hail to contend with during the dreaded peak long run.  23 miles done and dusted - phew!  I did struggle a bit but Jocelyn kept me going with her normal positivity and encouragement, blethering the whole way down to Southend and back.  A little dehydrated afterwards but nothing a few litres of water and pints of green tea couldn't fix.

Myself and Mazza buzzing after Sport Relief Combat/Piloxing!



I was worried my legs would be sore and I'd be tired for Sport Relief on Sunday but I felt great - the sun was shining so I couldn't resist a wee cycle before the 6 mile run.  Great to see families joining in, having fun in the fresh air and raising money for charity.  Afterwards, Mairi and I got the tunes pumping in the Aqualibrium and packed out the creche (aka the fitness studio for the time being) and everyone got stuck into some high energy Combat and Piloxing - awesome!  Piloxing has some similar moves to combat at times - jabs, hooks and uppercuts but faster!  Add in some pilates, dance moves, core work and great catchy music thrown in - it's a fantastic fun workout.  I can't wait to attend Mairi's classes on a Friday night.  It was such a nice day and we were still buzzing from the class so we walked up Bengullion afterwards and before the MOKTri meeting (only 20 places left btw - enter now at www.entrycentral.com/moktri)

Tried out a few quick and easy healthy recipes this week.  One of my new favourites are my Oat and Raisin 'Cakes'.  A perfect energy snack before a run or workout.

 Ingredients                                  Method

Cup of oats                                    Mix all ingredients in a bowl

1/2 cup of dried fruit                      Spoon mixture onto lined baking tray

1/2 mashed banana                        Mixture should make 6 big 'cakes'

Handful of hazelnuts                       Bake for 20-30 mins on 180C

Teaspoon of apple sauce                Enjoy!

1/2 cup of low fat greek yoghurt

The co-op on a late Sunday afternoon also is perfect to pick up some bargains - blueberries 50p, salad 30p, rocket leaves 40p and this mediterranean chicken for £2.50.  A super quick and easy dinner served with some Ainsley Harriot chilli cous cous which we devoured after our training run on Thursday.

Easy quick and 'healthy' dessert - - layer of oats, handful of blueberries, lemon low fat greek yoghurt topped with crushed hazelnuts :-)

Despite my promises I still ate like a horse at the weekend.  Must.  Be Better.  Next Week.
Have a good weekend folks!

22/03/2014	Breakfast	Snack	Lunch	Snack	Dinner
Sat	Pre- small bowl porridge, 1/4 banana.  Beetroot juice.  During - 2 chia gels + water	Post - protein rasberry shake, toast + pbutter + jam.  1.5L water.	Carrot & coriander soup + tuna sandwich.  Water.	Scone with jam + jasmine tea.	Thai red chicken curry with sticky rice + wmeal pitta.  Small glass of pinot grigio.  Magnum icecream.  Tea and chcolate!
Exercise	23 miles in 3.5 hours.    My peak distance for mara training finally done, phew!		It was a bit of a slow struggle, especially with the wind in our faces for 11 miles to Southend but we did it.  No rain just sunshine so can't complain too much.  What a relief to finish.  Great to catch up with my girlies at teatime in Burnside for Ibby's bday.  Still too dehydrated to take alcohol.  Also treated myself to an amazing massage at Serenity.  Bliss.
Sun	Small bowl porridge + slice toast.  Green tea.	Small banana & cereal bar.	Toast & scrambled eggs.	Jasmine tea + gingerbread slice.  Capuccino.	Roast chicken, potatoes, brocolli + carrots with gravy.  Malteser cheesecake with magnum ice cream.  Tea and LOTS of chocolate.  Damn, can't resist!  Must.  Be.  Better.
Exercise	9 mile cycle, 6 mile easy run for sport relief.  Combat/piloxing class.  Walk.		Was a beautiful sunny day for Sport Relief.  Legs felt surprisingly OK and got a fab sleep - was shattered last night!  JS organised a superb Sport Relief run with lots turning out to support event and raise funds for charity.  Combat/Piloxing went fab - super fun and great workout.  Too good a day not to go a wee walk up Bengullion with Maz.  MOKTri meeting too - all going good so far, only 20 places left!
Mon	LF greek yoghurt & raspberries.  Toast.  Vit Water.	Green tea & oatcakes.	Wmeal wraps with thai spiced chickpeas & rocket.  Apple.  Tangerine.	Banana.  Handful brazil nuts & dried fruit.	Baked 1/2 chicken breast with basil & garlic.  Mushroom risotto & salad.  Tea & special k bar.
Exercise	8.2 miles easy (don't forget the .2!) Spin		EXTREMELY windy but no rain.  Hard going and legs a bit tired.  Felt great after spin though.  Good catch up with Jen.  Hip/knees a bit achy - think it's from combat/piloxing in creche.
Tue	LF greek yoghurt & raspberries.  Toast.  Vit Water.	Green tea & oatcakes.	Thai spiced chickpeas and salad.  Banana.  Tangerine.	Oat raisin cakes.  Ricecake pbutter + jam.  Jasmine tea.	King prawn thai stir fry with onion, red pepper, rocket & egg noodles.  SF jelly.  Tea & special k bar.
Exercise	8 miles inc 1,2,3,4,4,3,2,1 intervals @ 10k pace.		Beautiful sunny weather - great to get in fresh air.  Had a great run and opted for what the club were doing instead of the tempo… will do that Thursday!
Wed	LF greek yoghurt & raspberries.  Toast.  Vit Water.	Green tea & oatcakes.	Ryvita & LF houmous.  Banana.  Apple.	Oat raisin cake*.  Slice SF banana loaf.	Spaghetti bolognese.  Sweet popcorn, handful maltesers and minstrels.
Exercise	1 mile swim.  7 mile easy.  Combat (& 1 fab track of piloxing!)		Horrible weather in am but turned out a beautiful day - sunshine!  Legs very tired and calf sore - compression socks now on!  Cinema tonight to see Dallas Buyers Club which was fantastic but couldn't resist popcorn and chocolate - best part of going to pics ;-)
Thu	LF greek yoghurt & Blueberries.  Toast.  Vit Water.	Green tea & oatcakes.	Ryvita & LF houmous.  Banana.  Apple.	SF banana loaf and jasmine tea.	Mediterrenean chicken with salad & couscous*.  NS jelly.  Tea and special k bar.
Exercise	1 mile with xcountry.  8 miles with club inc 4 miles tempo (sheepfanks).  10 mins core/kb circuits at gym.		Niggles galore.  Right knee and calf sore but fine during run - actually loved the tempo run, nice night again.  Putting ice on knee and taking ibuprofen.       Remind me never to go to Tesco whilst hungry again - bought half the shop - argh!!!
Fri	Porridge & banana.	Tea & alpen bar.	Ryvita & LF houmous.  Tangerine.  Apple.	Chai tea & cereal bar	Plan - Spicy tomato pasta with lf smoked sausage.  Homemade garlic bread.  Dessert pot*  Dark chocolate and tea.
Exercise	Spin.  50 lengths swim.  Table tennis!		It's the weekend!  16 miler planned this time and it's the CRC juniors XCountry race at Meadows.  And mother's day!
Mileage	61