Back to the gym today, and a little bit of gym rage. I’m used to going to the gym in the afternoon, but I got help up yesteday doing stuff so I didn’t get to the gym until just after 6pm and it was full of people. I was not impressed. There were girls on all the threadmills, 3 friends who were working out together, which was sweet and nice and lovely except they had all just started when I arrived. Grrrr..

I spent 15 minutes on the Cross Trainer to warm up and keep busy, and to keep an eye on the threadmills so I could jump on as soon as one of them got off. Eventually one did, and I popped on. According to the training schedule (which putting up on the site is on my “to do” list) I was to do a 3 mile “hard” run today. Again, I had hoped to run a course outside, but also want to be able to track my distance and speed at tihs early stage, when I have no idea of my pace or what I’m doing., so that’s how I ended up waiting for the threadmill to start with.

I decided to try and minimise the risk with my ankle so I put on an ankle support on my left ankle and did my 3 miles at a faster pace than the last two runs. The threamills are in kiometres, so the pace I ran on Sunday was 10km/ph, then on Tuesday it was 11km/ph, so today I went up to 12km/ph – Running at 12km/ph gets you round the marathon course in 3.5 hours, which is my target.

The ankle help up fine, which I was delighted with. I’ll keep wearing the brace until I build up the strength in it with my exercises and wobble board. In terms of fitness, I also coped fairly well with the distance and speed. Was pretty tired at the end mind you!!

Feeling really good at the moment, this is starting to feel like progress…said he tempting fate!

She wasn't one of the offending girls...

So today I decided to hit the squash court. I’ve just taken up squash, and played for the first time ever about 4 weeks ago. One of the things I like about it, is that it’s basically just you hitting a ball against a wall! I spent most of my childhood hitting or kicking balls against walls. Then it was Tennis (I was Pete Samprass most of the time) and football, and myself and my friend used to go to the handball courts in Salthill and just bash away, so playing squash takes me back a bit, particularly when you play on your own, as I did today.

I had no partner to play with (awwwww), but decided to get some practice and and some exercise at the same time. Because you’re returning every shot, I think you actually get more exercise to be honest, and look at the state of me at the end of it! I ran myself ragged for an hour, and got some really good exercise in. I also really badly bruised my ankle when I tried a showboating shot and it went horribly wrong!

Here I am looking sweaty and blotchy, proving my worth against myself on the squash court at Trinity College Dublin

You would, wouldn't you?

Being honest, I’m struggling with the second step to glory namely, eating less junk food! It’s been my vice for as long as I can remember. Anyone who knows me will tell you that. But in recent months I’ve cut down hugely, probably about 70% I would say. Unfortunately, me eating junk food at 30% capacity is still more than most giddy 10 year olds with a sweet tooth and soft parents would consume. Today, so far (at 6pm) I’ve eaten 1 bag of very low fat crisps, 1 bag of pop corn and 3 teeny tiny little choclate bars…. But it’s a bit frustrating because in terms of physique I’ve undone all the hard work from earlier, but in tems of general overall fitness, I still think today was a good day? Anybody?

Don’t worry, I will actually start running soon, but not until I’ve got some proper runners from those amphibian king chaps down in bray, where I’ll be visiting next week!