A lot of catching up to do!

Where have the months gone? What have I been up to? What have the few readers of this blog been up to? I’m sure I don’t have many or even any! Let’s face it, my blog is not all that interesting but I’m a bit of a geek so I plod on – or not so much this winter – now ‘summer’….

I think the last thing I was attempting was the Belfast City Half Marathon. I was doing it for MPD Voice (now MPN Voice). ET has been reclassified as a Neoplasm but I’m still only taking aspirin. Long may that last! I did the Half Marathon and I didn’t come last, I came third from last… I was in agony the whole time and struggling with severe breathlessness, racing heart and excruciating leg cramps. Fast forward a couple of weeks and I get a letter saying I need my iron levels checked and I learn that they are in my boots. Bring on the iron tablets, sick leave, hospital procedures and appointments while someone tries to figure out how I ended up with an iron level of 3.5! Eek!

I’m glad to say that little episode is behind me and I am gratefully pressing on. I am training again. I am slow, I have put on weight but I don’t mind. I can now stay awake past 9:00, I can undertake more than one activity in the day and I am slowly getting there. I am back at the gym and I will be doing the British 10K in July. This time I will be raising funds for Lupus UK. After being ill and diagnosed with an overlap of Scleroderma and Lupus, it was important for me to set myself a challenge like this.

I really appreciate having some of my strength and energy back and love the fresh air and exhilaration of plodding along beside the sea – even when a squall blows up and whips the salty air up around your face and bites into your skin. Some of these days I might get a warm, dry run… Who knows? I’m looking forward to crossing the finishing line on the 12th July knowing that my illnesses have not defeated me (yet!) and hopefully raising a healthy donation to Lupus UK.

Flossy continues her training

So far this week I have been fortunate enough to have the time to go to the gym and put into my training. I am doing my best to stick to the programme my lovely personal trainer gave me and have been going to some of the classes on offer at the gym. Some of the things that have been frustrating my efforts at the gym have been lack of equipment or broken equipment but I won’t let that stop me!

This week, I have indulged in Pilates and Zumba as well as my weights programme and runs. The Pilates class was amazing. It brought it home to me how tight I have become in certain parts of my body. While I could not do everything the rest of the class was doing, I took the opportunity to have a good stretch where I needed it. I’ve booked into another Pilates class this week.

I don’t need to say much about the Zumba. I defy anyone to not to smile during a Zumba class. I find I forget how hard I am working as I get into the music and am challenged by the new routines. I am no dancer and left and right are often foreign concepts to me but I’m not alone in that! It just adds to the entertainment value.

Tonight I headed out to do intervals. I started with a 10 minute warm up walk followed by 10 sets of intervals of 5 minutes high intensity followed by 2:30 minutes walking recovery and then a 10 minute cool down walk. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this and also suspect that my pace wasn’t much slower that when I am just out for a normal run.

Having a good soundtrack helps the efforts. Again I was inspired by Beethoven and that old chestnut, the 9th Symphony. I broke into a bit of a sprint (my standards!) at the end. I felt pretty jubilant and energised because of the music, the exercise and the weather. I just need to add another couple of tracks to my compact and bijoux playlist as it was just a few tracks too short to see me to the end of my run.

Right now I am feeling accomplished and am rewarding my efforts with fresh strawberries and Greek style yoghurt, very tasty! This week, apart from the exercise, I have been trying to concentrate on increasing the amount of fruit I eat. Filling in My Fitness Pal has made me painfully and shamefully aware that I do not eat enough fruit and veg. As the adage goes, ‘You cannot out train a bad diet!’

So that’s tricks for now. If you want to sponsor me, you can visit my Just Giving Page here:

I’m running the second Belfast City Half Marathon on 14th September for MPD Voice. You can read more about the charity here:
http://www.mpdvoice.org.uk

In an ideal world…and what the gym lacks…

I was sitting feeling a bit sorry for myself yesterday evening. ‘In an ideal world, I would have done my run and feel refreshed and energised by it but I feel too rough today to do anything.’ I had a bit of a conflict going on between knowing I have to train to do a half marathon but feeling a little knocked about by the side effects of Plaquenil (mild) and using that as nothing but an excuse to do nothing.

A combination of realising I have made my intentions public to run a half marathon, have committed myself to raising money for MPD Voice, the sponsorship I have already raised and the thought that sitting around was not going to make me feel any better motivated me out of the very comfy armchair to get moving. ( sponsor me here! )
That and the thought that I have paid for a programme to help me with my training!

I am so glad I did go. What a perfect evening for a jog beside the sea which was like a mill pond! It was raining gently but still quite mild. I didn’t need sleeves or gloves. I decided I would set myself a target of one hour but ended up staying out a bit longer. After feeling so groggy all day I was surprised at what I was able to do. I know I was very slow and I had to walk a little but it was a much more enjoyable evening that the one I had planned for myself!

As I ran along the beach I was accompanied by Beethoven’s 9th. Ok, I know it sounds a little contrived and pretentious but it was the perfect accompaniment. It’s a pity it’s not as lovely or invigorating to sing as it is to listen to! I really did feel uplifted by the whole experience. To answer the title of this little entry, here are some pictures of what you do not get at the gym!

The irony of it and some very good news

I have MCTD (Mixed Connective Tissue Disease). Basically my body thinks of itself as one big virus and makes various autoantibodies to fight off the bits of me that I would rather stayed intact and functional. That said, I’m relieved that I really am quite healthy despite this and my biggest issues are fatigue, Raynaud’s and reflux all of which I manage through medication and lifestyle changes.

All winter I have suffered the ill effects of our cold, damp climate. I have persevered with my running because I believe exercise gives me a real boost both physically and emotionally. Sometimes though, all my layers have not been enough to protect the outer extremities from Raynaud’s and at one point I was starting to wonder if I would ever feel warm again!

I’m relieved to say, yes, I have started to experience that odd sensation commonly referred to as heat quite recently. I have been removing sleeves, gloves, hats, scarves etc on my runs. I have even had my toes out and am thrilled that they stay relatively pink when exposed to the elements. Of course, I do get caught out every so often, such as the time I skipped down the refrigerated aisles in the supermarket whilst clad in a lovely summer dress and flip flops… Doh! That became quite a painful shopping trip and a learning experience for me…

So, where is the irony? The irony is that part of my diagnosis is that, as well as the Limited Scleroderma, I also have a ‘touch’ of lupus. Guess what sets the Lupus off! Yip, UV light! I’m not sure how severe a reaction I will have. I just know that last year I ended up with quite severe mouth ulcers, a mild rash on my face which sent me to the beauty counter for some expensive makeup to coverup with and migraines. Of course this was all pre-diagnosis and no one has ever confirmed if the two were connected.

I intend, however, to fully enjoy the summer weather and cover up as necessary. I have my sun hat and sunscreen at the ready and a whole summer to prepare myself for the Belfast city Half Marathon in September. I am making progress though I was totally floored this weekend and slept a lot of it! On one hand I’m mad at myself for sleeping so much, on the other I’m hoping the rest will have done me good and I’ll see the benefits when I hit the gym tomorrow!

The piece of very good news is that my CA125 levels are normal and I have been discharged from the gynae clinic! Hurrah! One less department to grace with my presence! I’m very grateful for the care and follow up I received from this department and grateful that it was all covered by the NHS!

Summer rain is warmer than winter rain

I relearnt this tonight as I headed out for an hour of jogging/walking/running. Unlike the winter where the rain spelt death for my fingers, toes, ears and anything else that was exposed to the freezing cold rain I was quite comfortable in my short sleeved t-shirt and running tights. No need for gloves, hats, neck gaiters etc. I even felt quite refreshed by the rain today. That said, I headed straight into a warm shower and dry clothes as soon as I got back from my outing!

My priority tonight was just to do some exercise for an hour. I wasn’t thinking about distances or speed, I was just thinking about moving and breaking a cycle of fatigue that I am in danger of giving in to. I had a reasonably good week last week but this week has been a bit of a challenge so far and today was particularly difficult with fatigue and nausea that threatened to write off my whole day this morning. Still, I pulled through. I’m made of sterner stuff than that!

An anxious start to the week saw me losing an entire night’s sleep on Sunday night/Monday morning as I played out every possible scenario and played Dr.Google with my blood test results and various maladies. I was getting the results of an MRI scan taken just before Easter after a CA125 blood test came back raised (again). This can be used as a marker for ovarian cancer but is not terribly accurate, plus it is raised in people with rheumatic diseases. I was relieved to hear that the news I was getting was good and there was nothing really to worry about. Once I get the rheumatological issues sorted out, I should see a reduction in the inflammation in my body.

I had more hassle chasing up different blood test results from my GP’s surgery. They were taken in April by a rheumatologist to give her a better picture of my disease activity (MCTD). I spoke to a very helpful GP. Who told me the rheumatologist has recommended I go onto Plaquenil once I have had a base eye test. Plaquenil is an anti-malarial but acts as a very mild immunosuppressant and is commonly used in rheumatic conditions. I have been told it will take a while to act but I should see an improvement once it gets into my system.

I am not a hypochondriac! This entry was meant to be all about my training for the Belfast City Marathon, not an episode of House! I feel better for the jog/walk/run, if a little more tired and achey in places. I’m glad I persevered. Running and exercise in general is great for giving me energy and making me feel quite empowered. I had a lovely moment tonight where I got into my stride and felt quite at ease and like I could have kept going for ever. Unfortunately the road got in my way and that moment was curtailed rather abruptly as I stood and waited for traffic to clear so I could continue.

My new ‘compact and bijoux playlist’ is working out well though it could do with a couple of extra tracks to keep me motivated. Something cheesy and with a bit of a disco vibe. Will keep thinking!

Flossy’s weekly round up

This has been an interesting week that has presented unusual challenges as well as some breakthroughs. I have been trying to keep at my training despite lack of sleep and the heat. Bear in mind, the term ‘heat’ is all rather relative. I come from a part of the world where as soon as it hits 16 degrees centigrade people get excited about heat waves, don shorts and T-shirts, light BBQs and head to the beach!

Yes, it is summer in Northern Ireland! I love it! I have looked forward to it all winter. At one point I depressingly thought I was never going to feel warm again, that it would be hats, scarves, gloves, coats, boots all year round. But no! The sun is out, it is warming up and I have even been overheating on some of my runs! I sent a particularly flattering selfie to one of my friends post run. It’s lovely. Taken from a flattering angle and I look like I have just stepped out of a shower. Of course the hair adds to the whole look! If you want to see it, you can find it on my Just Giving page! Just follow this link!

After months of suffering a complete lack of sunshine, we are getting the full benefits of midsummer. Yesterday was summer solstice. Sunset was at about 10:40 but it never really gets pitch black at this time of the year. I love it and am grateful that we can enjoy it this year – some years the weather is so miserable it does get dark! The flipside is that I keep wakening at 2:30am! It does take its toll! I like my sleep between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am! This week it’s more like 10:00pm-2:30am then 5:00-6:00… Those 2 1/2 hours seem to last forever!

So my progress this week has been slow! I was so shocked by how hard it is to run in the heat that I asked about it on an online forum. Basically everyone says the same, lower your expectations, go with it and you will eventually acclimatise! (And remember how easy it will become in the autumn!) Even by my standards, my pace has been really slow, I have needed more walking breaks and to carry water on short runs.

What I am trying to glean from this experience is that I am still better than when I started running, I am sticking at it, even if it means taking walking breaks and that I have been longing for the heat all winter! It was lovely today at the beach to feel the air around my arms but not have my hands and feet go numb! I’m making the most of the fresh air as I know the winter does me no favours!

Another positive is that my fund raising is going well! A slow and steady stream of donations from very generous donors has put me at 13% of my fundraising target! It kept me motivated this afternoon as I put in my final kilometre on my 5K run at the beach. So, no slacking for me! You can sponsor me here!

Flossy updates her playing list and gets a garmin…

I decided my ‘Songs that kept me moving’ playlist on Spotify was getting a little ungainly. With 70+ tracks at one point, I have no idea how far or how long I thought I would be running! It was becoming a little like ‘the drawer all that rubbish you will look at later’ gets shoved into and then you wonder why you can’t find the one thing you actually need!

So here is my new ‘Compact and Bijoux’ playlist. It’s a little eclectic, though not as eclectic as my ‘Songs that kept me running’ list!

The songs are all upbeat and a little cheesy but I like a little bit of cheese! The Burt Kaempfert track is a little bit left of field but it works for me. It trundles along at quite a nice pace and rescued me as I was about to charge down a hill on a half marathon! Down hill can be deceptively easy!

The other thing I have acquired is a Garmin 305. I got it of eBay for less than half the price of a new one. I am looking forward with trepidation to learning how to programme this. I may have to do a quick 5K today just to try it out. It’s just a shame it doesn’t seem to connect to my iPad or iPhone. Looks like I’m back to using my dodgy PC again…

Flossy awaits the onset of DOMS!

DOMS, I almost enjoy them. That almost satisfying ache that settles into your limbs a couple of days post strenuous workout. In my case it was a Saturday morning of haring around between the local Parkrun and the gym for a personal training session with Jim at the gym. I loved it. Such a lovely day and such a great feeling having the energy, fitness and health to be able to do these things and challenge myself.

I was a little disappointed with my time at the Parkrun. According to my statistics, it’s been my worst so far (at Bangor Parkrun anyway!). Within a couple of hours I had my official time through on my mobile phone – 33:39. If only I could be as quick at completing my 5K as the Parkrun volunteers are at getting our times out! Hats off to them, they do a great job and I fully intend to volunteer at some point myself!

I met with my personal trainer for the first time in months. It was great to get a new programme with is geared towards improving my running and helping me get ready for the Belfast half marathon in September. I need to be able to finish it in under 3 hours which I know I can do at the minute but it would be nice to get in under 2:30 this time.

I’m really feeling very positive about my goals and am looking forward to a summer of training and getting to the gym. There is nothing like a good Zumba class to make you giggle, a good run to help you contemplate and 100 Turkish get ups to make you swear quietly under you breath and collapse in a sweaty, stinky mess! It will all be worth it in the end… (Keep repeating!)

So, what do you do when you are very very very tired?

Simple! Go for a run/jog!

I unintentionally fell asleep for an hour after work this afternoon so I possibly needed it. I was then left with the dilemma of just vegging and wasting an evening or trying to salvage something of it. I’m so glad I went. Even if it was half an hour and a slow half hour at that. Half an hour is much better than zero minutes, zero hours!

Now I am watching the opening ceremony of the World Cup. I’m not sure how long I’ll put up with it but all this coverage from Brazil is inspiring me to update my running playlist. Any suggestions are welcome!

Long time no post round up!

It has been a while since I last posted. A combination of end of school year madness and being knocked off my feet by some sort of virus has thwarted my efforts somewhat to blog and, sadly, has forced me to cut back on my exercise a little bit anyway. That’s not to say the last few weeks have not had their highlights!

I completed a very scenic 10K on 23rd May along the coastal path between Holywood and Crawfordsburn. One of my favourite paths for walking along. It is narrow and surprisingly rugged in places, with some lovely overhanging rocks, steep steps and a beach to run along. It certainly kept me challenged – as if running 6.2 miles was not already a big enough challenge! The weather was a bit ominous at the beginning but soon improved, as did all our spirits with a bit of a Zumba session to get us all warmed up. I managed a time of 1hr07. I was initially disappointed with this but then I had a challenging path, as well as the occasional group of walkers in my way.

A couple of weeks later I ran the Race for Life with a friend. It was her first 5K and I was so pleased to be able to do it with her. It was a very friendly, laid back event and also very moving. My friend knocked a wapping seven minutes of her finishing time! We were both pretty stoked and looking forward to doing a 10K in October, her next challenge!

I am finally getting myself organised for the Belfast Half Marathon in September. I have set up my ‘Just Giving’ page and hope to raise funds for MPD Voice. I will go more into this another time! For now I am concentrating on getting my training back underway and looking after my diet. The diet bit is not going so well. I have rediscovered my love of chocolate and it’s starting to show! Oh no!

My RunHer T-Shirt

My friend and I post Race for Life

My current attitude to chocolate. (Taken from Candide!)