But if you close your eyes.....

Does it almost feel like, nothing changed at all?

And if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like,

You've been here before....

Well yes it does doesn't it.

This year I'm going to be...

Thinner,

Faster,

Nicer,

Kinder,

A better wife,

A better sister,

A healthier eater,

Drink less,

Give more to charity,

Be better at my job,

Blah, blah, blah.

No I'm not! I'm going to be the same. 

I'm just being realistic :)

2013 was ok. PBd at most distances. I can't be sorry about my sporting achievements last year. I enjoyed the tris that I did and did some obstacle races too. Saw my husband do his first park run which was cool.

Work was in turns really good and a bit frustrating. I did intend to do some reading work this holiday but I will be honest I haven't felt up to it. Never mind.

Spent some great times with friends, as always....that's why they are your friends innit!

Next year I have already got a number of races booked. I won't bore you with what, I am sure some of them will be bloggable, having been blaggable, hopefully :)

I also will go to my sisters graduation, brilliant! I am sure Mr Buck didn't think 2 of this set would be graduates, though of course it is despite, rather than because of. I'm quite proud of that :-D I might even buy some new shoes that really hurt to wear on the day ........ What dyou reckon Sar? ;-D

Anyway parkrun today nearly didn't happen at all having intended to do 2. The cold this holiday has knocked me sideways (cos I'm an old bird apparently, thank you mate!) so I went to Valentines and once there realising I was so cold I couldn't take any warm layers off I decided to pace 30 minutes. Luckily Cristina decided to do it with me cos she had pace on her watch. I think we did a pretty good job (29.44) and spent the last k really encouraging people which was great fun, really rewarding. I think I would quite like to pace some more, I prefer it to tail running. Next I will do a sub 25, and when I'm confident on that go for a sub 23. It's a plan isn't it that would stop me going for it every time.

So, holiday over, back to work tomorrow. Good, I need some routine back I'm struggling to sleep at the right times :)

Oh, and 2014 will be a good year I know because 14 is a good number because it has a 4 in it.

Goodness!

Nearly a month since I blogged.

December is always busy and this one has been no exception.

The first weekend we travelled up to see the Courteeners at the Birmingham Academy. We stayed at the Radisson Blu because I got a deal and I love the building. It's big and shiny, why wouldn't I?

Anyway I don't think it was worth what I paid, but the view was great and now I've stayed there. Tick! The band and the venue were great. Not too far from the action but with enough space that I don't go all 'get me out of here!' Bonkers. Some woman decided that me and Mr H were great cos we were 'obviously having such a great time' erm.......wasn't sure what she was saying really......was she was suggesting it was nice to see at our age or something? Anyway, we did have a great time.

I had the next Monday off for birthday drinks with my lecturer friends. I think I had a good time. I'm sure someone else can tell me :-D so Tuesday, my actual birthday was very quiet :)

The next weekend was up to Derbyshire for a bootcamp fitness weekend. I'd seen an offer and Mr had paid for it for my birthday. I'd started with a sore throat on the weds so was a bit meh about it, but, once I got there there wasn't time to worry about that. I'm not really sure where I fitted in to the group in that most people were there to kick start a fitness regime and learn about nutrition. (Comments overheard include, 'you can eat as much sweet potato as you like cos there's no carbs in it' and 'but I thought you had to eat within 15 minutes of waking up or your metabolism won't work')

Yeah. I enjoyed all the classes we did, made myself happy by moving out of my shared room I the middle of the night and was quite happy when they cancelled the nutrition seminar :-D bonus came when I was able to get a lift off Mr H from Tamworth all the way home.

I limped through the next few days at work still struggling with sore throat really not training trying to fend it off before Xmas. I even took Friday off. Partly cos my Xmas work do had been on Thursday (red wine fest) and I was out seeing another band on Saturday night....which was ace but I was very tired.

Did park run Saturday in fancy dress, did ok 22.09 considering how I felt, got a bottle of fizz for my efforts. Flopped. Announced my intention to run on Sunday. Was strongly advised against it. Gave up. Flopped.

Monday was shopping for last minute pressies before heading up north on Xmas eve. We got off early and arrived by 11. Then off into Selby with Sarah and Ella to see Adam and Aaron. We went to a wether spoons for a good catchup and exchange of presents.

Then we headed off to a hotel for the night. This one was a third of the price of Birmingham but 3 times as nice! We sat down for a while and then went to meet the family at Frankie and Benny's for Xmas eve meal. Which was lovely. Bit of a to do with the bill but we got it sorted. Back to the hotel for a nightcap, and to feel myself filling up with snot. Nice!

Got up early Xmas day for brekkie before parkrun. We were first to the dining room! Then off to the racecourse. I will admit now that I was regretting my decision to run. I felt awful and the fact that there were no toilets made me cry.....I was advised I didn't have to run, but I did have to, the whole reason for this hotel was so I could! So I went for a warm up leavin Mr at what I thought was the start. No it wasn't it was the finish, which resulted in a mad dash across the grass to give home my warm stuff before racin to the start just in time.

Start was congested and slow, but just as well cos it was bit icy, but I started to gain places fairly early. However I felt I didn't want any ladies to pass me, and they didn't. I couldn't actually see any in front of me after a k either, and I wanted to ask Mr when I passed him at the finish at 2k but I was struggling to breathe and couldn't. Anyway there was one and she finished in 19 something. I finished in 22.03 42nd and second lady, 141 runners in all. I wasn't unhappy with that.

Then back to family for presents and dinner which was nice. I also got to see a 1d film. Lucky me! Mr H left about 3 to go to his mums for the night and I watched Tangled, about Rapunzel ...... I thought rumplestiltskin was in that but no I'm confusing my fairy tales, and then despicable me 2 with 3d specs on.

Go on, tell me I don't know how to live.

Then it was Dr Who, no, not a clue really. A 15 minute attention span doesn't work for that. Then drinking and chatting til midnight :)

I helpfully coughed my way through the night so everyone knew I was there :-/

Boxing Day was walk the dog with Ella day. Pug is a chi wa wa, which is exactly how it should be spelt and blimey for a little thing he can't half run! As soon as he feels you start to speed up, he looks back at you, grins, and then takes off. I was Knackered when I got back and my chest was sore so I went to bad for a while :) in the early evening mr got back and I was really pleased to see him. Early to bed though cos I was full of cold and grumpy. Mr had top bunk cos I needed my water and cough medicine next to me.dunno why though they didn't help I kept the poor sod awake for ages. Eventually I took the duvet downstairs so I could sit up a bit, but after an hour of listening to the storm wondering what was going to smash through the bay window I went back to bed.

Friday was coming home day. For everyone judging by the traffic. Less said about that journey the better.  

I have been either in bed or on the sofa since.

So much for 2 weeks of good training eh? 

It doesn't really matter, I've seen my family, that's what counts. I hope I can do NYD park run, but if I can't , I can't.

We get old all at once,

And it comes like a punch,

In the gut, in the back, in the face.

When it seems someone's lied,

And our parents have died,

So we hold on to each other in their place,

And I feel the water rising around us..... But maybe that's ok.

More lyrics. I like them. You do turn around and think, fuck! How did I get this old, and so quick? I have now lived for 14 years longer than my mum, and 4 years longer than my dad. Scary huh.

Still, I won't be visiting them in their care homes will I. Glass half full and all that :-D

I have decided recently to concentrate on training and worry about races less. I have learned something you see from nearly being 44. If it's making you unhappy, stop it! A simple thing but actually pretty hard to do.....

So I'm doing the sessions that Russ gives me, and now feeding back. Because I know me, I can make you think I'm doing perfectly fine whilst actually floundering. The numbers though, can't lie.

 

That said, I'm enjoying striving to get them and seem to be doing better for that. I did do the Serpie 5k on Friday. I booked in months ago as a mates girlfriend wanted to do a 5k near work. As it turns out she seems to have lost interest and then I had a meeting plonked right in the middle of it so I forgot about it. Then the meeting was cancelled on weds and I thought, well why not!

I last did this race (the only other occasion) in 2004 and got 23 something which was my 5k PB for years. So I hopped on the tube to Hyde park corner and then walked into a Hyde park that was very different from usual as the Winter Wonderland had started. Was actually really nice walking through that but a real juxtaposition when you come out the other side and see loads of skinny racing snakes warming up!

I would say if I was a nervous newbie I might not want to do this race. Looking around at the people there are loads of club vests and skinny frames. I was struck by the amount of über fit older women. I mean older than me but racing in their pants! Blimey!

Still, I had nothing to prove and I have stood at more start lines than I care to remember so I wasn't phased. What did I want? Well sub 22 I guess.

We started, and well, there were 275 runners, it was not easy to get position, and as I like to start quick but couldn't get to the front I realise I lost time here. But no matter, this was a bit of fun and at about a k in I found I was in enough space for me and was enjoying myself. It was 2 laps and at around halfway one of them old guys that is a fixture at established races told me 'you're doing well lass, you're in the top 20 girls' which made me smile and yeah gave me a boost.

I think I was most pleased with my finish as I know I pushed hard here and my final time was 22.02. Not sub 22 but I wasn't too disappointed, and the beauty is I know I will go back. This was a different course from normal because of the winter wonderland thing and they usually have 2 starts, one for sub 22 and then everyone else 2 minutes later. I need to decide which one to put myself in.......will I do better chasing the front group, or being a front runner in the second,,....not sure. I will give it some thought.

Anyway, did parkrun yesterday and did 21.51. An ok outing I think.

Today I did a set training session and exceeded targets, so I'm happy with that. Mr came and walked round the park as I ran, which was nice :) I'm hoping he will do York parkrun on Christmas Day so trying to get him out there.

Work, hmmmm, we all know I do love my job but it has been a bit trying lately. Not the research, but the rest of it. Trying to prevent people from trying to define our jobs (we are a team of 2) in terms of what they want rather than what they actually are. Anyway it will get sorted but there will be some stress on the way I'm guessing :-/

I think that's it for now. I need a cup of tea :-D