Archive - Page 5 of 17 - Put the Kettle On

From Zero to Ironman – and so it begins

Written by amanda on 26th June 2014. Posted in The Road to Ironman. 2 Comments on From Zero to Ironman – and so it begins

And it begins with an unmitigated disaster that was my first sprint tri with the friendliest most wonderful group of triathletes who, I am assured, will be there to see me through my journey from start to finish. I’m already confident that I have found the perfect motivational group – thank you BTRS http://brightontriathlonraceseries.co.uk/. That, however, is where my confidence starts and ends for now. Registration for Cairns Ironman was confirmed last week. After last night’s...

COACH v. GENERALISED TRAINING PLAN (GTP)

Written by amanda on 25th June 2014. Posted in My Ultra Ego and Me. No Comments on COACH v. GENERALISED TRAINING PLAN (GTP)

Questions I used to ask/worry about before, during and after every run: I’ve found three plans which will prepare me for my next race. They all have different work loads. Should I do the easier-looking one (will that prepare me enough?)? Should I go for the harder-looking one? Why is that so different from the other one? It’s a 16-week plan, I’ve got 14 weeks before my next race. Do I start from Week 1 of the plan and make up the time somewhere – or should I start on Week 3? These intervals...

Jump off the weight loss plateau

Written by amanda on 1st May 2014. Posted in Weight to go. No Comments on Jump off the weight loss plateau

I cannot count the number of times I come across men and women who are thoroughly committed to their weight loss journey, have been doing brilliantly and suddenly they are upset and demotivated as they hit the infamous ‘weight loss plateau’! I agree that it can be very demoralising to find that the numbers on those scales have suddenly ground to a halt for seemingly no reason – but time and again, when we get down to the nitty gritty there is ALWAYS a reason! Here are three common explanations...

New Forest HM – My Race My Way

Written by amanda on 24th March 2014. Posted in My Ultra Ego and Me. 2 Comments on New Forest HM – My Race My Way

I’d love to know what it feels like to run fast. I really would. But meanwhile (like that’s going to change??), I’m destined to work with what I’ve got. At 51 and late to running there are quite a few compromises going on – but I refuse to be accused of not giving my 100% – even if it doesn’t look it from the outside and I can tell you what … as slow as I am racing is no less exciting from my end of the field. Yesterday – 22 March 2014 – I competed in my first off-road...

Do better. Try harder. Go further.

Written by amanda on 27th October 2013. Posted in My Ultra Ego and Me. 2 Comments on Do better. Try harder. Go further.

My 2013 running year has been plagued with injuries; minor injuries (phew!) that coach Ian Corless (thank you!) assures me have been ‘sent to test me’. Well, I’ve been tested a-plenty. Time for the Injury Gods to go pick on someone else. Meanwhile, as I’ve spent the year taking two steps forward one back, lots of people have asked me how and why I’m still motivated, why I don’t stop running instead of waiting for my ‘next’ injury, how I can remain positive (mostly) when I’m constantly (it seems)...

To cleat or, in my case, not to UNcleat

Written by amanda on 3rd October 2013. Posted in The Road to Ironman. 2 Comments on To cleat or, in my case, not to UNcleat

All new shiny bike is staring at me from the hallway. This is it! The last of my Ironman excuses unfortunately disappeared with the arrival of that all-important Ironman accessory – the bike! It’s very pretty  And all clean and gorgeous. I’ve been for a proper professional bike fit, too – and tried my best to look like I knew what I was doing but I don’t think he was fooled haha I think it was the two-minutes of failed effort before I managed to engage the cleats that gave me away!! Never mind....

Inside my marathon head …

Written by amanda on 19th April 2013. Posted in My Ultra Ego and Me. No Comments on Inside my marathon head …

Welcome to the weird (and scary) world that is INSIDE MY HEAD!! If you want to know how to train for an ultra – or how to run a marathon – then may I direct you swiftly AWAY from this blog?? If, however, you’d like a list of ‘what not to do’, then … put the kettle on!! So here we are again – Brighton Marathon time. I really REALLY want a PB. I want a particular number that will excuse from marathons guilt-free for the rest of my life! That’s not to say that I won’t run longer or shorter – but...

The Stairly Bears (by Amanda Hyatt)

Written by amanda on 23rd March 2013. Posted in That's write!. No Comments on The Stairly Bears (by Amanda Hyatt)

THE STAIRLY BEARS In every multi-storeyed home Across the globe, Beware! Under the stairs there surely lives A family of bears. ‘Cause bears live under the stairs, you know, Yes, under the stairs are bears, Behind the umbrella, beside the broom, They rummaged around and made some room, Yes, under the stairs are bears. And Aunty Fi, she laughs at me, And says ‘What nonsense! Bears, indeed!’ And Uncle Stu, he hasn’t a clue, But I don’t care, I know it’s true That under the stairs are bears. And...

An Irish Coffee’s Plea for Help

Written by amanda on 17th March 2013. Posted in Anything goes. 2 Comments on An Irish Coffee’s Plea for Help

It’s St Patrick’s Day. Please help me. I’m … well, I’m not too tall, but I’m dark and handsome, I wear a very fetching cream-coloured hat and, let’s face it, I’m really quite delectable. But I’m constantly abused. People treat me like a birthday cake – something to be played with and decorated. At other times I feel like a fairground attraction. I’m not! I’m quite wonderful just the way I am and I’m begging you to help inform the public that I don’t like being mucked around with. I give far more...

New Forest Running Festival – 50 km race

Written by amanda on 12th March 2013. Posted in My Ultra Ego and Me. 6 Comments on New Forest Running Festival – 50 km race

10 March 2013 A 9 a.m. start gun for the New Forest Running Festival 50 km trail race (http://nakedstrength.co.uk/events/the-new-forest-running-festival-2014/) meant a 4.30 a.m. start from Brighton but spirits were pretty high in the car. I was thrilled that my art of persuasion had resulted in Amanda Jackson joining me, intent on racing the half-marathon later in the day. It was the first time I’d ever had a friend with me on the way to an ultra start line – usually I’m just one among strangers....