My Awesome 2015, The Story So Far...

Recently I was told by 2 people that my story has inspired them to start working out and get fit again. I was gobsmacked and so damn happy. I started this blog hoping that someone might read it and it would help them in some way, so for 2 people to say this to me within a few months of me starting the blog is just amazing!

We've just passed the middle of February so I thought it was time to do an update on my awesome start to 2015:

1) Have more fun

I'm still climbing each week at Boulders and recently I passed my belay test so can climb without supervision and don't need to be signed it. I'm a proper climber now and loving it! It challenges me mentally and physically plus I get to see my climbing partners a lot more often.

I have been introduced to the awesomeness of red wine and am enjoying receiving my education, plus it's a good excuse to have a cheeky glass or 2 at the weekend.

Now that's my kind of relationship

2) Eat a bit healthier

Well the healthy eating isn't going exactly to plan. I have only just finished working my way through the Christmas goodies and all the cake I've been baking but I've bought more fruit to snack on so my intentions are good.

Pretty much

This definitely counts!

3) Spend more time with the people I care about and dump the time wasters

A few weekends ago I went to visit my good friends Andria and Ian. Winston was very excited about this as he got to see his pal Scrappy and meet his little brother Duncan. It was a great weekend and I need to make more effort to visit friends this year as I always have an amazing time.

The 3 musketeers

I've also been catching up with my friends more often, we've promised each other that this year we'll make more effort to hang out as we enjoy it so much.

I started my new job and have been on some training courses which have been great. I also swapped numbers and emails with 3 of the other attendees so I'm hoping we'll stay in contact and meet up again. Usually I would avoid exchanging numbers etc as my ex didn't like me having friends but I actually suggested we keep in contact and they seemed really pleased. 2 of them are also runners!

Dating has gone a bit quiet because I've come off online dating, I want to give meeting someone in the real world a chance plus I found it to be a tad frustrating and a bit too much pressure. I met some great guys and have made a couple of friends along the way so it definitely had it's good points.

I ditched 2 of my non-negotiables as I realised that they were aimed at the situation I was in with my ex and that I would do things completely differently next time around. I had to keep my rule of 6 foot and above though, I like my high heels too much!

I'm really looking forward to seeing what the future holds for my love life but want to take things slowly and just have a lot of fun with 'him'. I've worked really hard to build a new life for myself and sometimes I get a bit scared that I'll lose it all again.

4) Exercise harder

I have started doing the Cardiff Parkrun 5K on a Saturday morning and they're really good. I've beaten my personal best (PB) a couple of times and met a few new running friends. I've been chatting to some runners who belong to running clubs and will definitely join one in a couple of months. I think the training will help me become a stronger runner plus I'll enjoy the social side of the club too.

The running community is massive and so welcoming, I feel connect to another runner straight away. It's like we have a common bond and automatically feel supportive of each other.

Smiling even though it was freezing!

I'm also doing the Runkeeper sub 60 10K goal training plan which is quite challenging but I can't wait for the weather to warm up and the nights to get lighter so I can hit the road again. The treadmill is not fun anymore!

5) Take part in more races

I found a brilliant 5K race to do with my Besty Lynn and we'll hopefully rope some other fabulous ladies in too. It's the Race for Life Pretty Muddy 5K Obstacle Course and it's going to be amazing!

Mud... pink... obstacles... YAY!

Lynn and I are also going to do the 5K colour run. You basically run 5K while people throw colour powder at you. It's going to be epic!!

Hit me with as much colour as possible!

I also signed up for the Cardiff 10K in September, I love Cardiff so running around it will be great.

6) New job

I started my new job at the beginning of February and I had the best first day ever, they cheered and hugged me when I arrived!

I am very nearly this happy at work!

So far I am rocking 2015 and loving every day of it! My life seems to be on the right path (finally!) and I feel so happy and content. When I first started this journey in October 2014, I never imagined how quickly I would pick myself up, dust myself off and kick life's ass. I am so proud of myself and all that I have achieved so far.

#PushingBackHarder

2015 Is Going To Be Awesome!

Happy New Year everyone!

2014 is finally done and I'm going to have an awesome 2015. This year is my year and I am going to rock it!

I know this is easy to say and not actually put a plan in place to help myself then whinge about it

And I know I can achieve pretty much anything that I put my mind to

So here's the plan...

1) Have more fun and take life less seriously (not that I take it very seriously now but there is always room for improvement and more giggles)

2) Eat a bit healthier - try to eat little and often instead of a big meal and then snacking until I explode

3) Spend more time with the people I care about and dump the time wasters

4) Exercise harder and push myself beyond my limits

5) Take part in more races to challenge and motivate myself

And hopefully do some races with friends (yes Lynn, I mean you!)

6) Start my new job with the confidence and knowledge that I can do my job extremely well and I will be awesome!

Basically I need to

And remember...

#PushingBackHarder

Bring on 2015!

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas so far and that Santa has been good to you!

Merry Christmas from Winston-Claws

I drove to Bournemouth on Christmas Eve with Winston to spend 4 days with my parents. On Christmas Day I started a new tradition, I went out for a run. There were 2 main reasons for this. The first was so that I could eat my body weight in food and not feel guilty for it and the second was to get those happy hormones pumping around my body so that I didn't end up like this...

The run was my first one outdoors in about 3 months, it felt great and was only 1 min and 4 seconds slower than my personal best on a treadmill!

This year I decided that Christmas could suck it! As you will know, this is not like me at all but it's been a year of ups and downs and I haven't been feeling very festive.

I have tried to get into the Christmas mood but I wouldn't exactly call it a success.

Yep... not happening!

My besty and I went to see The Nutcracker the day before Christmas Eve and it was amazing. I have never sat so still or been so quiet before! My new career choice is to be a ballerina... I'm sure I haven't left it too late. 

Wow!

Even that didn't get me into the Christmas mood though. I know it could've been worse, for example this weirdo could've turned up at my window with a candle, present and creepy ass look on his face.

*gags*

I've decided to write this year off. 

2015 is going to be my year. I'm starting a new job, I've got a few races to take part in, new hobbies to enjoy and lots of dating to do!

Planning to avoid him!

So goodbye 2014...

#PushingBackHarder