Princess Pineapple

When I was running on my holiday I took loads of photos. It's such a great thing to do if you run somewhere scenic. Had you thought about a blog instead? Good luck.

Day 1 and I've been out for two sessions with my running club. The first session completes my goal 3 for the week. It was a two mile hill run. Our coach took it easy on us because we were all moaning about the trail race we'd competed in yesterday. I made an effort to push up the hills. Average pace 6.54km/minute (I work in kilometres but the boss set a two mile route!) Then I ran with the beginners group who are running a modified c25k. They are on week 9 now which is 25 minutes continuous running. Both sessions together totalled 6km. In the Beginners group I ran the back of the group supporting the slower runners. I really enjoying helping the Beginners. It does help me see how far I have progressed and I like to give something back to running and my coach! My coach has signed me up for two courses so that I can help to lead warm ups, and eventually run the Beginners Groups. How amazing is that!? So excited. Rest day tomorrow. Daily summary: Ran 6km, one hill run session

You are buzzing! I love being a sneaky parent cook. My 10 year old eats quiche but doesn't like egg, I told him the filling is cheese. Well, there is some cheese in there.

Good luck! Your goals are very similar to mine although I'm not looking at half marathons just yet.

Ok. Plan formulated. Basically I'm going to improve my running. Yesterday was my five month anniversary since I started running. My achievements so far are 5km PB: 33:22 - I have come really close on a number of occasions but not improved on this time set in September. Fastest kilometre - 5:48/km Longest runs: 8km - I am consistent and run each kilometre at the same pace ( give or take 10 seconds). Total distance run - 320.74km in 5 months (that's nerdy isn't it? To add all the distances. Average of 14.58km per week.) Worst running experience - 3.5 mile trail run yesterday. I woke up this morning and decided I am a road runner for life. I'm a 42 year old woman with scoliosis. My spine curves into my lungs which restricts my lung capacity. When I first started running I didn't think it was a problem but I now realise that this is because I was going slowly. I really struggle to get any kind of consistent breathing pattern if I run anything faster than a 6:40min/km. which is slow! I can't do anything faster than this for any distance. My fastest kilometre was a complete fluke and I couldn't run any further! Anyway, that's the backstory. Goal 1: Run at least 20km per week. I'm running with my club and we do a 5km once a week and a longer run (6/7/12 km) once a week. I have been running the 7km for a few months without difficulty. Next week I'm going to do the 12km route and I will run as far as I can! Hopefully all of it. I'll make the remaining kilometres up on another run. Goal 2: Strength train twice a week to improve my overall fitness. I've saved money for some personal training sessions so I have enough for two sessions a week until at least the end of the 6WC. The PT knows that I want to get stronger for running so he's developing a plan for that. I've already had five sessions with him but those were not focussed on specific goals as we were getting to know each other and see if we could train together. I think he sees me as a bit of a challenge as I'm not his usual type of client. Goal 3: Beat my 5km PB by the end of the 6WC. I'll aim to do this by doing one session a week of intervals / hill runs etc to improve my speed and technique with my running club runs and fit in some more intervals later in the week when I have time. Side quest: Improve the families fitness either by bribery, force or stealth. Hubby has started running, just three 5km runs. Typically he's much faster than me. He went straight in with 5km runs and beat my PB on his second run, then beat that PB on his third run. Even my youngest (10 years old) did a 5km Park Run two weeks ago. I think I have banged on about running so much they're doing it to shut me up. Points wise I'm going for Goal 1 & 2: Stamina 3 Strength 3 Wisdom 2 Constitution 1 Charisma 1 I'll work it out on a percentage at the end based on 20km distance and number of times I've visited the gym. So 120km plus 12 strength training sessions would be 100% of points, 60 km and 6 strength training sessions would be 50% of points. Goal 3 is an all or nothing of 5 dexterity points. Hopefully I'll post than on the last 6WC. Good luck everyone.

...hopefully! Just checking in to reserve my slot. My main goals for the 6wc are to run a little bit faster and increase my maximum distance from 8km to 10km. I will update my goals tomorrow when I've formulated a plan. I'm a little bit behind.

Can you rinse your clothes in the shower at the gym as you're showering? They'll be damp when you get home but the damp smell will wash out when you launder them properly.

I wear a high vid top with a hi vis vest on the top. Both have reflective panels, as do my black running tights. I also use a headlamp and led light flashing armbands.

I love my flipbelt. Their sizes are very small though.

Go and read mine. I've kept it short especially for you. Honest Guv. Well done. Love your photo. I'm not sure if I like BG or if he's an annoying cocky shit.

Hello! Remember me? So I got completely sidetracked and basically never posted. But, in my defence, that is the only thing I got sidetracked doing! I have been a really good royal fruit and have achieved lol my goals. Goal 1: I'm still running at least 3 times a week but it's usually 4 times. I'm now running between 7 & 8 km at least once a week and my other sessions are all 5km. I've also been helping with the beginners groups so run a 2-3 kilometres with them a couple of times a week. I'm not really getting any faster but I am being consistent and im finding it easier. The thought of slowing down or walking for on a 5km seems ridiculous for me to do now. I've signed up for a 10km in three weeks, I haven't done 10km yet but I will do it this week as planned. I've got my first trail run planned on Sunday, it's a timed relay, 4 x 3.5 miles. Should be fun. Goal 2. I'm still working with my PT. I have saved my money to pay for more sessions. I haven't bought anything other than essentials for all the six weeks! (Side quest win!). I've been doing some great lifting and work on strength. I really feel that it's improving my running as I'm so much stronger. Ive had to rework my weekly schedule though as I was doing my the long runs and strength at over a three day period so that took some negotiating. Goal 3. Well I had my birthday and a few other events so I have eaten badly slightly more than I should but on the whole I have managed to keep to goal. I've not lost any significant weight, maybe a pound or two? I'm not weighing anymore. I'm in a UK size 10 bottom and a 12 top (big boobs) and that's good enough for me. I have stopped drinking diet coke on a daily basis, which is a massive achievement. I used to drink over a litre a day. Side quest: I've not been spending which is great. I had some money for my birthday which I spent on new clothes to accommodate my smaller figure. As well as regular clothes I bought some new trail shoes and running tights, my others had started to slip down! I was given lots of running equipment (head torch, lights, gloves etc) as presents. This meant that I could keep all my pocket money for PT sessions so I'm very happy. Can't believe it's been over a month. I will do better on the next challenge. Maybe I need different goals to keep me posting?

Weekly round up! How did we get here so quickly? So Goal 1: I ran four times this week. I've increased my distance and my longest run was 6.26 km, not fast but I did run it all. I've entered another 10km race, this one is in Mid November. I'm increasing my distance by 10% each week so I should get there by the end of October. Goal 2: I only went to the gym once. Fail. I did get in some strength training at home doing the BBWW. I must try harder. There was no reason for me not going. I did have extra meetings at work but I should've dropped one of my four runs and gone to the gym instead. Goal 3: all my tracking and water drinking done. My weight's stayed the same but my clothes are all loose. Totally enjoyed my blow out days (2 per week). Fancy burgers on Friday and an amazing curry yesterday. Side quest: only spends this week were a haircut, running club subs and race entry. Roll on week 2!

Quick update to finalise Goal 2. Having had a chat with my PT ( I love saying that) he has recommended a series of strength exercises to do at the gym. I will do them with him on a Monday and ideally twice a week more. However I know I can't commit to that every week so I will go for definite TWICE A WEEK and if I get a third in then that's a bonus. I'm enjoying doing proper squats and deadlifts but it's not as much fun as running. I'll do a proper round up over the weekend.

So it's my third 6WC. I managed to complete both far better than I expected but this does mean that I've set the bar high! My biggest failure was that I didn't check in here enough. Goal 1: "I see. For one moment, I thought you were running to help her. But no... not after my warnings, that WOULD be stupid!" as with previous 6WCs, my first goal is running based. Having got a 5km PB of 33:22 on the final day of the last 6WC, I have decided to enter a 10km. It's until the end of November but I need to train for it. I will run three times a week. Once with my running group, one 5km and one 5km+. I will gradually increase this run length. Goal 2: "THEN I SHALL FIGHT ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE, ANYTIME!!!" This goal is strength training based. In the previous challenge I got really bored with my strength training so I have treated myself to some personal training sessions which start next week. I've found a trainer that I am comfortable with and we have had an initial session where we discussed goals and went through some moves with a barbell. Our next session is on Monday so I will set my goal properly then, but the goal will be whatever he says it is. Goal 3: "Good times, bad food!" This is my dietary focused goal. This is going to be a combination of my last two challenges third goals. I will track my calories and aim to stick to it 5 days per week. 2 days per week can be anything I like but chosen mindfully! I will also drink 2 litres of water a day. Side quest "I've just noticed that your lovely jewels are missing" If I want a personal trainer more regularly I need to save some cash to pay for one. I allocate myself monthly pocket money so I will track what I spend and only buy essentials. Points Goal 1: I will be increasing my agility, speed and endurance so I will attribute 2 points to dexterity and 3 points to stamina. Goal 2: I will gain knowledge, new skills and hopefully physical strength so I will attribute 3 points to strength and 3 points to wisdom. Goal 3: I will improve my health by eating no drinking sensibly and hopefully look better so I attribute 2 points to constitution and 2 points to charisma. I am sorry that this is very similar to my previous 6WC but it's working, just needs tweaking!

LOVE THE SHARK THEME! good luck ASM!

Nice to see you still here! Will keep a close eye. Good luck.

I remember when I saw BTTF2 at the cinema it was all so futuristic. Look at us now, it's still the same as the 80's but with the Internet. Good luck on your challenge.

So I win Scout of the week and immediately become the worst poster ever. I thought I should do a final day round up of this 6WC. I completed all goals. It wasn't easy. I managed the running ok, apart from a blip in week four. I still managed to get three sessions a week in. Today I went on my first official 5km race. It was a flat track around some local lakes. I took off too quickly but managed a 6:04 first km and 10:03 first mile which were both records. I had to slow right down to keep running. For most of the race myself and another girl from my running club kept over taking each other, but we both pushed it for the last couple of hundred metres and I ended up with a PB of 33:22. I was really pleased. I'd made a 34 minute playlist to listen too so, when the final track came on, I knew I had to push hard. Weight training, I haven't enjoyed this much. I have done it, but reluctantly. Body pump classes were good but otherwise it's just a bit repetitive. I don't feel like I've improved either. I'm going to have to rethink this for my next 6WC. Tracking my food has gone well. I'm happy with this. I'm still just over 140lbs but figure has changed so much, and for the better. I think I'll keep this up next challenge but perhaps look at my macros a bit. I'm sticking with the scouts though! I've got a trail run relay planned!

I can't believe we are at the end of week five! Goal 1 - still running but yesterday was a mixed day. I went to Parkrun and gained my fastest km and mile, 6:11 and 10:12 respectively. This was my first kilometre, second was a bit slower but that has an uphill. My breathing was going great. I was aiming for an average of 6:45/km so I could knock two minutes off my PB. I felt this was achievable based on my current running stats. Then my right calf started to play up and I had to slow it right down, I walked a bit, then ran again, but couldn't get back into the rhythm. I managed 35:52 in the end. Leg feels ok now. I had a really good stretch and kept walking all day so it didn't seize up. Next Sunday is my first race proper so I'm planning on just Monday and Thursday runs to let my leg rest. Goal 2 - I've been doing some BBWW at home. No time for the gym this week. I have been looking at converting my garage into a home gym. I'm not sure if it would be too cold in the winter though. I will have to do a recce for equipment and a floor plan. Got to be cheap though! Goal 3 - has been fine. Even though I went away for with a friend overnight this week, I didn't overdo the calories. Mainly because the food wasn't great. Lunch was meats and salads at a buffet so was easy to eat well and not overdo it. We had afternoon tea which was very small. The evening meal and breakfast were not up to much at all. I just left most of it. The spa was really nice and I had a lovely massage. Final push for the last week and start thinking about next 6WC.

Tattoos scare me so much. What if you change your mind?

Can we see some of your paintings?

Wahoo! Thank you!

Thanks for the love. I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth. Still sticking with my goals until mid week when it went pear shaped. I went running on Monday night with my running group. I'm now in Improvers. We just did a 5km run, I was slower than the weekend but we we up and down hills so it was different. Tuesday was a rest day but I woke up on Wednesday feeling rubbish, nothing specific but very tired and achey. I did a body pump class (first time, totally awesome) but felt rough. I didn't get any better, or worse. I'm ok today but still a bit lethargic. I haven't exercised much, just gone for some walks. I'll go running with group tomorrow and to the gym after that if I feel ok. Food wise I've kept tracking and stayed within calories. I weighed today and I've lost a stone since early May. Woohoo. The bonus side to being ill meant that I could do my side quest of crafting. I've just crocheted a Daenerys for my son. I'm off to a spa on Tuesday with my bestie. Can't wait. In the meantime I'll catch up with you all.

They are all run by volunteers, maybe you could organise one?

I cannot draw. I'm impressed. Congratulations on your third year too.