2016 - a year of change

LondonGirl252

Well done on the running, you are doing so well! Good luck for this weekend, you will do it and then you can start to taper down for the big one! I imagine the atomsphere will help you a lot of the way! Are you running for a charity?

Enjoy those 7 weeks! They will go quickly! I'm please you made the right decision and even better you get to have these weeks off knowing you have a job secured to go to and not have to stress about job searching!

LG x

lulabelle

Thanks LG! Didn't do my run Tues but did one this morning. Feel like going out again now tbh! But mustn't as will then be too tired for 20 miler sunday. Yep, am running for Clic Sargent LG - just hoping I can get round!

Gosh, I really do wish I had some more time off. The security of having a job is great but I feel like I have literally only just started to relax after 2 months! That job was just so so stressful it has taken me this long to unwind. Surely that is not right?! How did I stick it for so long?!

I am literally DEVOURING books. I read the girl on the train in a day. I've not been able to do this in so so long. Did some work on my own book yesterday though it's not going great - I am not the most motivated, preferring to read instead. But I do wonder if that's because my body is just crying out for relaxation.

Stayed in all week - had online bookclub last night which was fab. We are in all weekend due to 20 miler. Supermarket shop tomorrow night. Will prob be expensive as next week I want to cook properly again as we are only 3 weeks from marathon so am upping our healthiness! Came in around £10 under budget this month (first time in ages) so will squirrel that away into my "escape fund" (the money I still have left for my time off).

Hoping this will be a frugal month though we do still have to pay for our marathon hotel and we are out for a posh dinner at end of month post-marathon as a treat!

AspiringButAnxious

What's your book about? I'm redrafting my novel, which is a psychological thriller, at a glacial pace... I'm jealous of your running — I got plantar fasciitis when I was training for a half marathon in August 2014 and am still struggling to get back to running without aggravating it. Sounds like you're doing really well — keep it up!

lulabelle

it's a children's book - kind of david walliams style but obv not copying him. A lot of it is being written from my memories of school! I went to a fairly rough school so we had lots of "incidents" there which are great material!

Actually did a bit more work on it today

oh poor you, I know how frustrating it is not to be able to run when you want to. Is there anything you can do for that?

Yeah, I've missed a fair few sessions so not the best but am hoping that the crowd and my sheer grit and determination get me round! Bl**dy great for weight loss though - burnt 509 kcals this am doing that and on to burn over 2000 on sun!

lulabelle

So, it's a brand new month which means a brand new spending budget! In some ways it's obviously good as a new influx of cash, but in some ways bad as I need compeed (think have enough points to pay with those) and we need shampoo, so then eats immediately into new budget on day 1!

We also have to do our big shop tonight - it probably won't be as expensive as I first thought as the boy has said he's running 2 nights a week with his sister until the marathon. As she has kids, she can't really go until 7/730 so he won't be home until late. As a result I'm not cooking from scratch as I don't want to wait that late to eat and there won't be much point as it will be a wolfed down rather than savoured meal. I'm welcome to join them and may well do for 1 run but I would rather get it out the way in the morning! That said, i may run faster if I do my shorter runs with them. So anyway, we have some stuff in the freezer anyway which can be reheated and I will cook from scratch one night next week and the rest we will have re-heated stuff, or filled pasta or jacket pots which can be put in the oven to suit without hassle. A bit annoying as wanted us to be more healthy in the run up to the marathon but the boy is so busy at work he's finding he can't get out at lunch so isn't doing his runs and needs to get them in.

Other than that, should be a relatively low spend day.

Worked a bit on my book yesterday and came up with some ideas in the middle of the night and jotted those down so will do a bit this afternoon. I'm not sure I could be a full time writer - don't think I'm motivated enough plus I prefer to be in an office with people! But hopefully this new job will allow me to do both.

Happy friday peeps!

lulabelle

Happy Monday peeps!

Been a fairly spendy weekend which is a bit annoying!

Had to go to b**ts friday to get us some supplies - that came to £23. Big shop was £97!! And petrol of £20. Had a chinese out friday night which was £42.50 even without booze then we ordered box set of prison break as it has been removed from sky! All divided by 2 so not too bad.

However, my garmin sat nav watch appears to have decided to pack up! Someone in my london marathon running group has given me a tip to re-set it (as same happened to his) but if that doesn't work I'll need to get a new one and could be around the £170 mark!!!

Have also had to book my hotel in london for my shopping spree for my new job which was £123! Not too bad considering but still!!!!

So, as ever, frugality may need to reign for this month but it is hard as everything is just so expensive all the time.

I think I worry too much. In all honesty I have plenty, having saved enough for 10 months off but only having 3.5 though shopping spree (and I really do need new work suits/shirts/shoes as it's been over 5 years since I bought any and mine are literally in tatters) and drain-gate need to come out of there (thankfully the boy is wanting to split drain works with me).

Ran my last "long" run of 20 miles yesterday - such a relief! After 16 I didn't think I could do any more but the boy pushed me on and the last 2 miles were lovely! Sore now but only have to do 8-10 on sunday and 2 shorter runs this week before LM!

Off to docs this pm as think have a swollen lymph node in armpit which has gone into like a long line! I reckon it's from running but just want to make sure don't need antibiotics or anything.

This week: working on book a bit, have lunch with a friend Weds and need to get a sports massage - eek, those 2 together could easily be another £65! So much for frugality!!!

lulabelle

so doc says I do have an infected lymph node - probably from running - see exercise IS bad for you - you don't get infected lymph nodes from sitting on the sofa! So I have some antibiotics to take which should hopefully sort it out. That and some co-codamol (only thing which works for women's pains!) set me back £5.78.

We are having butternut squash risotto from scratch tonight and the boy is going to help - thank god as my thigh is also hurting from running so not sure I can face standing up for 30 mins stirring!!!

Other than that, today has mostly been a lot of personal admin - had lots of emails and things to get done and also done a bit of cleaning and tidying.

Have to run 40 mins in the morning which will be a killer I'm sure after 20 miles yesterday then try and work on my book some more.

Keep driving self mad looking at houses! Presuming I like my new job (which I start in 6 weeks - eek - where has that time gone?!) and pass probation then the boy and I are going to put my place on the market start of october and buy somewhere together! I do love my little house but the downsides are: (1) no parking, (2) overlooked all the way round, (3) in town (which is a positive as means no taxis after nights out but can be noisy at times and also just feel like you're not away from things, (4) have someone above us in a flat - he's not too bad but you can hear him come in and stomp up the stairs and sometimes that is at 3 in the morning which wakes you!, (5) it's relatively small - I love food and entertaining and we just can't really have people round properly unless in summer when it's warm and can use garden, (6) on that note, only 1 bathroom which, if my parents are staying, is highly inconvenient and claustrophobic!!!!

lulabelle

so, these antibiotics make me feel really sick!!!! NOT good.

I also literally have no energy today - slept for 12 hours last night.

Legs still shot so with that, and no energy, will do run tomorrow instead.

Should hopefully be a NSD however. Don't think much will be achieved today due to not feeling very well - think it will be a sofa day for me.

Tea tonight from stores - prob just jacket pots with beans and chilli cheese - lovely combo!

Having to cut down the eating this week though as now taper time ahead of marathon so don't need as many calories - hard when been able to stuff self for weeks as burning so much!

LondonGirl252

Oh no I hope you feel better soon, not good they make you feel ill!

Huge well done for running 20 miles that is incredible, you should be proud of yourself, good plans to taper down the running so I am totally rooting for you come LM day! I know we shouldn't ask for just giving pages etc but I will go onto your charitys website tomorrow and make a donation I know how much training and time goes into these things and I think you're doing a fabulous thing. I wish I'd been able to do it.

Aspiringbut Axious - I have PF like you which came on when training for the London Marathon and I didn't manage to run it and haven't gotten over 5k since. It sucks!

Back to you Lullabelle! That is so exicting about looking for a new place! It will give you something to concentrate on once the running is out the way! I really hope the new job works out and you find an awesome home for you and the boy!

LG x

lulabelle

thanks LG and so kind of you - have pm'd you.

Must've been v frustrating for you not to be able to run the LM after your training - that totally sucks!!

So, today. Got to get out for 40 min run. Going to be horrid as it is p**sing with rain! But i have to do it. Think will go around 10 as just had a light brekkie and cup of coffee so got to get the coffee out my system or i will need a wee!

Then will get ready for lunch with friend - meeting her at 1 at a new tapas place so looking forward to that.

This pm think I will do some work on my book and maybe make some bread.

Lamb madras shepherds pie out the freezer for tea tonight so no work involved!

Feel a little bit like I have wasted my time off but that said, it has literally taken me 2 months to relax after all that stress and my mum said yesterday it would have been silly to be off doing stuff all the time given how stressed and exhausted I was.

Think am going to have to bite the bullet and order a new Garmin. It seems to be working again but battery going and don't want it to go on the marathon as need it for my splits!