Run Florence! Run!

Ok so my nickname isn't really short for Florence but I thought it fitted in better than "Karen" or "Floradorable"....

Anyway, for the first few months of this year I had been seriously thinking about doing something to improve my health and fitness, basically I was fed up with going on walks and getting outpuffed and tired not to mention worrying about all those ruddy hills....

I dont have a lot of spare cash so I needed it to be something that didnt cost a lot but I could easily have acces too. I started to consider running...I downloaded the NHS C25K app and it sat on my phone for weeks, then in mid May I watched a friend complete a 10k run, watching made me realise that people of all shapes, sizes and levels of fitness were able and willing to run in these events, I had no excuse! And so this truely inspired me to go for it. I decided to stop browsing sportsdirect.com and actually purchase some running shoes and other bits and bobs.

Before I knew it I found myself on the late May bank holiday, finally starting up the running app. 

Week one seemed so daunting with its 5 minute brisk warm up walk, followed by repititions of 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes..PAH!!! that all seems so long ago now as I have progressed so much and surprisingly so quickly, I'm now running for atleast 30 minutes straight, covering just over 2 miles on each run. My fitness levels have already improved and Im getting comments abot the weight I have lost!

I really can not believe the progress I have made in such a short space of time. The other month I completed the C25K app (yay!) and Im now running without the support of Laura. I absolutely love it, so much so I have signed up for my first 5k run in October..although I actually did that before I graduated AND I still need to crack running a full 5k.....GO FLO!!!!

I am Sailing - First race down!!

Apologies for the lateness of this update oh and lack of nautical terms (Im still learning)....but we did it, it was full on, hard work and Im covered in bruises but we completed our first race as a crew!!!

Saturday morning got off to a bit of a shaky start as the cafe we were meeting in for brekkie was closed, luckily this was not the only cafe in Gosport, instead of a pulled pork burger I had a full hearty english breakfast in Ashton's which was so so good....

Yum Yum!!

Breakfast was also an opportunity for me to meet my fellow crewmen for the first time....

A bit later than scheduled we headed out around 10.15ish for a practice run but alas there was no wind, we managed to run through a few points but decided to stop for a quick pint and some lunch on the Island around 12.30ish. Slightly disheartened we debriefed over a pint and discussed what the next plan of action would be.

Time for Beer and a debrief

lovely day for fishing

Determined not to be beaten by the lack of weather (which bee tee dubs would have been perfect for fishing), we headed back out after lunch and ran through some tacking, we even managed to get the spinnaker up for a little while (and felt awesome).

I was completely pooped by the time I got home on Saturday night, I had spent most of the day feeling a bit like a spare part, not knowing what to do and where to be at certain points. However Sunday was a whole different ball game....








Sunday morning began with a Costa Coffee and bacon and egg sarnie (yum) followed by an hour wait for the race to start as once again the wind was being shy. However this wait meant we had time for a quick crew photo:

my selfies were rubbish so here's one taken by a professional...

and some snacks....monster munch and honeycombe Club biscuits!!

Finally the race was underway, we were doing it we were actually in our first race. It was so exciting and although there wasn't much weather from mine point of view this meant I could be eased into the whole thing.

Several "Ready about!"s, some fab tactical maneuvers and 1hr 38 minutes later we had finished our first race and come first in our class (iirc). To celebrate we decided we would attempt to put up the spinaker again and proudly show off Jemmana's colours, now this was an experience and a half and so interesting to watch:

Finally the "Competent Crew" book given to me, all those months ago, is starting to make some kind of sense. I've still a lot to learn but Im very much looking forward to our next race on Saturday...sorry what was that? 2 RACES?!? Why dont mind if I do :-)

Oh and Ive emailed TK Snax to make sure they are open this week, you'll be relieved to know they are!!

I am Sailing - Tomorrow's the big day.....

This time last year I was psyching myself up ready for a Zombie Encounter...I was terrified, the experience scared the crap out of me and now I just look back and laugh at the whole bloody thing and think "what an idiot!", it was a brilliant night out.

This year however I'm psyching myself up ready for my first day of sailing...I am seriously bricking it, this is so completely out of my comfort zone. What is it about this time of year??....

So 8am, Saturday morning, we are meeting up for brekkie, will be out on the water by 9.30ish for a spot of training. Lunchtime we will head over to the island for a pint, some lunch and a debrief, then get back to it brushing up on any skills we are not happy about. Hopefully by the afternoon things will be starting to sink in (err not literally though!) and begin to click :-)

Yes, Im nervous, Yes this is all new and out of my comfort zone but you know what? I am genuinely looking forward to it and just really want to get out there now and do it! BRING IT ON!!....*gulp*

WISH ME LUCK!!!