Istanbul Barbecue & Bistro

Went to Istanbul in Woolton Village for dinner tonight with Sarah, Jo and Rich. Sarah's leaving us to go to Barbados for 11 days and I'm not jealous at all..! She really couldn't have picked a better time to go cos the weather is meant to be horrible all week! It's been horrible all this week so I need a beach holiday asap.

They gave us bread as a starter thing. Jo got olives and Rich got garlic mushrooms

Rich got Tavuk Sis (Chicken Skewer) - Marinated chunks of chicken breast char-grilled on a skewer

They said they didn't have any skewers but could do just slices of chicken.. The chicken had holes in them so they'd been on a skewer but just couldn't afford to leave them on them!

Sarah got the same as Rich but with bulgar rice

Jo got the Acili Tavuk (Spicy Chicken) - Boneless chicken thighs, marinated with chilli and spices 

I got Bbq chicken - Grilled chicken breast topped with bbq sauce

The food came out really quick but it wasn't great. My portion was tiny and I was still hungry after it - basically a kids portion really. Didn't help the fact I didn't eat my chips. The chicken I got was just normal bbq sauce from a bottle. Rich said he was still hungry after his food too. Sadly don't think I'll be going back.

Did 8.5 miles this morning - the same run as last week as the plan for this week was to run 8 miles and we did over last week. 

Didn't have a good morning I'd smashed my phone screen just before we went out to run. My phone was on the bench in the changing room and it just fell on the floor. Looks like a bullet shot on the side. I feel like I've been shot by a bullet I'm wounded and having a breakdown can't believe it's happened. I've only had my phone for a month and the first time I've properly dropped it and it's cracked!! The first phone I've actually cracked the screen and it wasn't even a big drop!

I started the run fast as I was annoyed at what happened and was hoping when I got back that didn't actually happen and my phone would be fine but nope it definitely happened! I got a bit of a stitch at the start as per usual I didn't leave enough time for my breakfast and my legs were feeling tired but it was a faster run than last week. 

Only done 2 runs this week. I ran on Thursday but it was a super short one under 3 miles as it started to rain as I was running so I cut it short to get back as soon as I could. Was suppose to be doing the Speke Hall 10k tomorrow but it's been cancelled due to the forecast of high winds. It's forecasting 50 mph winds! They do a free 10 km run on the last Sunday of every month but the one next month has been cancelled as they're doing a night run instead but it's back in March which we're going to definitely do!

Not sure when I'm running in the week next week as it's forecasting rain all week but I'm hoping it's not going to when I do run but we'll see! I think this marathon training is starting to properly get to me as my legs on these long runs are feeling tired but I've got to keep going to get them miles in! My shoulder is still sore so still can't fully train upper body which means I've been training more legs. Just gotta keep pushing!

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Tired legs

Run 43 - 8.5 miles this morning.

This morning's run was hard - legs were heavy and tired. Earphones broke so had to run with no music. Lucky it stopped running as we left as it was pouring down on our way to the gym!

I've pulled a muscle in my left shoulder on Monday night and that was hurting. You'd think pulling a muscle in my shoulder means I can run just can't train upper body.. Nope when you run you use your arms and shoulders to move. I kind of tense my shoulders as well when I run. I was given a tip to not have my arms so high up as it'll conserve energy so with an injured shoulder this is the perfect time to learn my new technique!

It was a complete contrast to last week's run when I felt amazing and was really happy with it. This week was the opposite but you get weeks like this, just have to push a little harder. I've still managed to clock them miles - 15.2 miles this week. Slowly building them up. At the moment no run is a bad run. Every run and mile counts. It's days like today when you just need to push a little harder and just keep at it and rest more.

I haven't ran since Thursday night and did take Friday off which was the first rest day since New Year's day. Maybe that Pizza Hut I had last Saturday did help - maybe pizza is the answer to doing long runs? 

Not going to run till probably Wednesday night now so that's 3 days so hopefully have a good run in me by then and my shoulder is better. Just annoying when things go well and I get injured but that's part of training you will get injured just have to be careful and push through it!

Went to Cheshire Oaks again but with my mum and dad yesterday. Bought 2 tops from Nike in the sale and some kids pjs from M&S for £5!

Finally got myself a pair of Adidas NMD's. They were £41.95 and I managed to get myself student discount so paid £37.75 for them which is a bargain as they were £160 I think originally. These are more fashion rather than the gym and training. Still got another 2 pairs I want on my list.. Nike Air Max 270 and Nike React Element 87. But the list goes on as new pairs come out all the time. I don't really have the space for them all but I can't help it!

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Run 40

Run like the wind

Run 40 - week 2 of the marathon plan. Ran 7.7 miles this morning with Jo, Sarah and Angie. The plan was to run 6 miles but yet again we went over. It's quite hard to plan routes and to get it exactly to that distance. 

It was a good run this morning felt really good even though we were fighting gale force winds. We started running against the wind which is what we wanted as we run in a circle we wanted the wind to be behind us on the way back to push us through. I've got way too much hair for this - even though I had my hair in a pony tail it didn't even feel like I had my hair tied up as it just kept blowing in my face and being really annoying. I badly need a hair cut it's weighing me down as well!

I usually struggle going up Beaconsfield Road and drove up it the other day and was thinking how do I even run up this road as it's so steep my car isn't even flat but got up it pretty easily today. I think I'm getting my fitness back up to before I had my injury! 

I ran on my own on Friday night and did 3.4 miles which takes this week to 14.6 miles. Which I'm happy with as we're on track. Going to be doing the exact same runs next week and do the same route next Sunday morning as we're ahead of plan with us only suppose to be doing 6 miles this morning. 

This mornings run was fueld on a cereal bar, handful of Shreddies and Cheerios and a banana. I wanted to have porridge but we had no milk and I can't have it with water. Also last night's pizza. Me and Sarah went to Pizza Hut last night - had half a Hawaiian and Half BBQ Americano. We wanted to go to Wagamamas but the queue was out the door we forgot it was Saturday night and didn't think to book it but did book the cinema to see The Upside with Kevin Hart which was really funny. Hopefully I've fully burnt that pizza from last night now and had porridge when I got back with a banana, frozen berries, walnuts and sunflower seeds.

So glad we ran this morning as it's pouring down as I'm writing this post right now. Dreading having to run in the rain. I've finally got rid of my cold but I am definition of run down and my face shows it all. I've got a cold sore and spotty. I've not had a cold sore in years but I guess the stress of this marathon is real and showing. Things are going well and I'm sticking to plan so I'm definitely not feeling as stressed as I was and I'm hoping it stays that way!

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Productive Morning

Had the day off work and had a super productive morning all before 10am!

I got up at 5:30am like I would for work to go to a 6:30am circuits with Sarah at NG-Up Fitness. Sarah goes pretty much every morning and says how good it is so I thought I've got the day off and don't want to mess up my sleeping pattern I'd finally give it a try!

There was 12 different weight and body weight stations for 1 minute and we went round 3x non stop for 45 minutes. It was good got a real sweat on not done a circuit like this in a while. Usually it's a lot more intense though as they have treadmill sprints and burpees - managed to dodge them today which I was fine with as I did crossfit last night and hill intervals on the treadmill.

I'm going to look like one of them new year new me people as I'm not gonna be able to go back as I can't get in before work sadly!

It was £2.50 for my first one and it's £5 after that, weekdays 6:30am - 7:15am. They do one in the evenings too.

I got back sorted myself out and went for a 5 km / 3 mile run that turned into a 5.5 km / 3.5 mile run. Started off running into the wind then it died down a bit as I carried on so it wasn't too bad. It was a good run. Made it back, showered, washed and dried my hair then had some porridge all before 10am and no one else in my family was up yet. I'd say that was super productive a full day pretty much done before 10am. Tried to have an hour power nap before I went out but that failed.

Went to Cheshire Oaks at 12pm with Danielle. Went wild again on new gym stuff.. Nike - 2 sports bras, a hoodie and shorts. Under Armour - running top, tee and leggings and a pair of leggings from New Balance. The most expensive thing was the New Balance leggings which were £20, everything else was under that. So I think I did pretty well there. Every where had a sale on so if you're after some gym stuff it's worth having a look!

So marathon training is going well I'm sticking to my plan and being super productive working on my fitness and going for runs on my own to make sure I'm getting them miles in. Back in the gym tomorrow night and the next 5 km / 3 miler will be Friday and then a 10 km / 6 mile run on Sunday morning!

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Marathon Plan

Run 3 of the year - 5.6 mile run this morning. Questioning a bit how I'm going to manage to run 26.2 miles 20 weeks today. It's going to be so hard and I can't wait to get it done and be able to have that medal to say I've finally ran a marathon!

I was stressing yesterday and decided I need to get this plan done so I know where I'm at and where I need to be. Got it printed in my room to tick off each run as I do them.

So we're going to do 2 short 5 km / 3 mile runs on Tuesday and Friday night. Then a long run every Sunday morning and add 1 mile each week. Hopefully building up to 22 miles 3 weeks before the race. I'm pushing this training hard though as you're not really suppose to do more than 20 miles before the race as on the day the adrenaline should get you through it and I should be easing off the miles at least 3 weeks before but I'm dropping only 2 weeks before. 

I don't think this plan is going to be set in stone really as I don't think I will end up doing more than 20 miles. When I trained with Jo to try and do it last year we really struggled doing 17 miles I was injured but it was still hard even if I wasn't. So that extra 3 miles will be hard to get through.

I'm feeling a bit better after doing this plan as I can see I do have time but then still in a way feel like I don't. As long as I stick to the plan as close as I can and keep up the training injury free it will be fine! (So I keep telling myself). Going to be covering a lot of miles 388 miles training then with the race 414.2 miles! I will be ready to retire from running after this race for sure.

It's not the just the running and training - the diet and what I eat will be super important to keep me going.

For breakfast I had porridge with milk, a banana, handful of blueberries and raspberries - slow releasing carb breakfast with some sugar to burn on the run.

 After the run today I had a Nature Valley Nut Putter Peanut butter bar before my shower then after I made scrambled eggs with 4 eggs and some smoked salmon.

Plenty of protein packed lunch and plenty of water. An apple as a snack before my dinner. Then for dinner I'll be having rice with plenty of veg and meat maybe some steamed fish.

Got to make sure I'm eating the right amount of carbs and protein to keep my energy up especially with the long runs. It is both scary and exciting training for this marathon and it will be all worth it in the end as not everyone can say they ran a marathon in 4 hours!(hopefully)

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Cocktails

Went to East River last night for cocktails with Sarah. Obviously we went to the gym before and went home to have some food then got ready to go out. We got there for 8pm. Downstairs was quite full when we got there.

We ordered our drinks and the bar and sat upstairs, there was only 2 people up there. As the night went on it got really busy and full both up and downstairs.

Sarah got the Soho Spritz - Tanqueray / Cocci Rosa / Watermelon / Lime / Coconut Water / Mint / Spritz

I wanted the Coney Island Cooler - Ketel One / Lemon Sherbert / Vanilla / Raspberry / Whites / Soda.

Didn't have any raspberry so made

Catalina Wine Mixer - Lillet Blanc / Zinfadel / Elderflower / Rose Syrup / Lemonade. Instead of wine it had prosecco. I ended up swapping with Sarah as I preferred hers.

Sarah then got the Electric Kool Aid - Tanqueray / Cherry and Pomegranate Soda / Citric Acid / Blue Pineapple Foam

I got a Sex on the Beach with orange and pineapple juice as he didn't have cranberry juice but it was fine I think I preferred it!

The manager recognised me from when I went the other week with Holly and blogged about their Bagel Brunch. It's always nice when I get recognised and knowing people actually read my blog but I don't tend to go back to places for people to recognise me.

Thanks for reading my blog!

He was really nice and came over to check we were having a good night and suggested we try the Mile High Clover. We were thinking of getting it but they didn't have raspberry so we didn't order it but he said he can make it with strawberry instead so we said we'd try it.

Mile High Clover Club - Pink Gin / Cocchi Rosa/ Violette / Strawberry (Meant to be Raspberry) / Lemon Juice / White's

It looked really cool and fancy but it was so strong! I only managed a couple of sips then it just hit me so I gave it to Sarah to finish and even she thought it was strong. Then she had a double rum and coke as well. I managed half of each of my cocktails. I really can't hack drinking at all. I think I'll stick to smoothies that's definitely more my kind of drink!

We had a really nice night, it's nice to have a proper sit down catch up and not just seeing each other in the gym but then I've not really seen Sarah that much over Christmas as she's been working nights in Camp and Furnace.

Went to the gym this morning sweating that alcohol out ready for a 8 km run tomorrow morning to get marathon training properly started!

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New Years Eve 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's officially 2019! I spent New Years Eve in Jo and Rich's after work. Went round we watched Crazy Rich Asians which I've been dying to watch since it come out in the summer but didn't get round to seeing it then we tried to watch it on Christmas Day in Nanny Wing's but it stopped once we got to 40 minutes in. It's a good film I really like it! Could have so been an extra in it!

We had some food, Rich taught me a card game then we watched Deadpool 2. Don't really know why as I didn't even like the first one. We were like half watching it me and Jo could barely stay awake watching it then missed the last half an hour of the film as it was the new year countdown. Once it turned midnight I came home and went straight to bed. So that's how wild my start to 2019 was! But my 2019 will definitely be wild it will get better...

Jo and Rich made these fancy mini fish pies in a shell! We also had rice, chicken and veg but I forgot to take a photo.

New Years Day

New Years Day night went to Nanny Wing's for dinner but it was a smaller than usual gathering as my mum and dad didn't go as they're ill from when they went on their cruise. Laura was in Manchester and Gary, Kirsty and the boys didn't come either.

Me, Tracy, Gavin, Brandon and Uncle Ray played Monopoly - Pokemon version.

Tracy left as she was going home, Gavin went bankrupt, then Uncle Ray so it was left between me and Brandon. He had more money than me but I had more hotels so I thought he was going to win but then he landed on my version of Mayfair and had to pay me £2000 in rent but couldn't afford it so I won! The first time I've even won Monopoly so that must be a sign to a good start of 2019? 

Did my first run on the year today with Jo and Sarah. It was only a 5.5 km but the plan is to do 2 short 5 km runs through the week then Sunday morning we're going to do a long run. Starting this Sunday with a 8 km then each Sunday we're going to build up and add another 2 km which will hopefully get up to the 22 miles I want to do before the race come Sunday 26th May 2019. I'll post a proper plan in my next post as I'm still working on it.

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