Top 5 Running Tunes

Today, I'm comign at you with a little bit of motivation for running, with my Top 5 Running Tunes (right now)! I've a big love for what I refer to as "stompers", so I've included my favorite stompers! I hope you enjoy, read on!

Madonna - Hung Up

An undeniable beat, calls to mind many a 5k race day. I've great memories of this song, and when it comes on while I'm pounding the pavement, it makes me work that little bit harder. Definitely recommend this for hill training, that's for sure!

Robbie Williams - Party Like A Russian

Another absolute stomper, perfect for getting through a tough kilometer or so. A deliberate beat will drive you, that much is for sure, and this couldn't be any more deliberate if it tried. I'm obsessed with this song, and because of it, I've been rediscovering Robbie's oldies lately. What a great artist, am I right?

The Bloody Beetroots - Warp 1.9 (Feat. Steve Aoki)

One, two, whoop whoop! This will absolutely motivate you to finish strong, I swear! You will plough through a run with this backing you up, and if you ever get the chance to see them live, do it!! They're unbelievable live, one of the best shows of my life!

Hozier - Jackie And Wilson

One of my favorite songs of all time, and a beauty to run to, too! Can we all just agree that Hozier is an incredible artist whose music can be applied to any situation? Thinking, running, cooking, I can listen to his music anywhere. This track, in particular is very good for running!

The Darkness - Last Of Our Kind

One of my favorite songs, by one of my favorite bands, this song will get you through the shittiest of runs, Children, we are the last of our kind. So deep is my love for this song, that I would love to have a tattoo to commemorate it. I've always got The Darkness in my running playlist, because everything this band do is immense!

So there you have it, my Top 5 Running Tunes right now. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you want to leave some links to your favorite running/workout songs, pop them in the comments, I'll wrap my ears around them! 

Amy 

xx

Twitter // Facebook 

February Wishlist

With January finally over, it's time to look to Spring... I'm compiling a wishlist of the things I would love to have for the beginning of the spring season!

Top of the list are Toms. I'm utterly in love with Toms, what an amazing shoe, with a brilliant ethical ethos. I used to be all about Crocs. They were my Number 1 all time ffavouriteshoe. For years, I never wore anything else. Toms have now filled that void for me!! Toms shoes are not only wonderful for their fashionable prints, colour range and ability to always be bang on trend, but also because of their #OneForOne giving programme. Toms use their profits not only from Shoes, but also from Sunglasses, and Coffee to supply the people of Third World Countries with new shoes, sight treatments and clean water respectively. I think I speak for everyone when I say there is no such thing as Buyers Remorse when you treat yourself to a pair of these amazing shoes.

In February, I don't intend on buying four pairs, but I would like to have another 2 maybe?? The black wedges would be wonderful for work, and the cream crochet ones would be nice for adding a casual girly element to any outfit.

Then I want to get some new Running gear. If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know I'm working up to doing a half marathon this year, and for that I'm going to need some serious running gear. I will be investing in some more Under Armour Sports Bras, because they are absolutely wonderful for keeping your knockers in check while you run. Then some Nike Running Tights for training would be nice! Nothing says serious runner like compression gear. I need a new running watch desperately, something with GPS to track my mileage, instead of my phone! Finally, the Asics Gel Noosa. I've been lusting after these for a long time and soon they will be mine... Oh yes!!

Finally, I have a fashion inspiration wishlist. I want to invest in some oversize sweaters for the early spring season, like the white "Ballin" and black "Normal People Scare Me" ones in the vision-board above. I want to get some good quality jeans, like the River Island ones included above. I need new glasses too, so I'm going to save up and get some Ray Ban Wayfarers. As for accessories, I'm all about representing the things I love, as you all know, so some nice new Arrow rings would be much enjoyed!! 

What are your wishlist items for February?

Let me know!! 

Amy

xx

Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest

Fitness Update #2

Another week, another post. This week is a proper calendar week, 7 days, rather than 5 like the last post, which you n read HERE. I've been tracking my mileage with Map My Run, and trying where I can at least, to run loops that mean I don't get bored of my surroundings.

Image: Pinterest

Asics Gel Galaxy 7
Image: Pinterest

On Saturday: I broke in my new Asics Galaxy 7's and broke 5k!! What a good day to be alive, eh? Chris joined me and we ran a 4.4km loop to the park behind his estate, and I wanted to break 5k so much that I made him go through the park, which has loads of up and down hill terrain. Talk about finishing strong. I was dying when we got in for breakfast.

Distance: 5.18km in 42.5 minutes

I also registered for a 4km fun run on Sunday June 1st to keep me motivated and focused on a goal.

Sunday wasnot very nice but we still trundled along. After almost 4k, Chris went home and I powered around the last km just because I'm a stubborn you-know-what and then I followed Chris  home. 

Distance: 5.2km. 

Monday, I went out on my own at around 8.30am, headphones pumping out some upbeat tunes and just let it be me and the pavement. Of course, Murphy's law being what it is, meant that my original plan of doing some hills at the start, and then a nice flat route home was totally scuppered when my hills still had the gate locked on them. Boo to you Dundalk, open at dawn, ha, right!! 

Image: runnersworld.com

When the little voice on my app told me I had 5k done, I was about .5k from home. So I did it and it sucked but I still did it, mainly because I had to get home. 

Distance: 5.4km 

Tuesday: REST DAY

Wednesday I did just over 5km in the glorious sunshine! I even remembered sun cream, though not sunglasses. I over took my uncle who was out walking but somehow he beat me home... A 5k jaunt at 8.30 in the morning is one way to get rid of a hangover, that's for sure!

Distance:  5.28km

Thursday I wasn't feeling it so I took it easy with a 3.5km run with one stop halfway through! No rest day til Monday now!! I made up for missed kilometers with a 1.5km cycle which I felt really benefited the muscles in my upper legs.

Distance: 3.63

Image: sparkpeople.com

Friday: I slept in til 10am and carb-loaded, as well as indulged in protein and salad, and then after the whole day passed I threw on my running stuff and braved the awful weather in thermals and a light waterproof jacket. Apparently my perception of distances is muck because after what I thought was maybe 5.5km, I was over 7km. Whoops.

Distance: 8.10km

Total: 32.59km

So that's my running update for the past 7 days, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and check back next week for another update, in the "run up to" my 4k Fun Run, if you'll pardon me the pun! 

Happy Saturday, 

Amy

xxx

Fitness Update #1

Image: Pinterst

Image: Pinterest

I've been going on about it for days now, but if you haven't fallen victim to my incessant tweets, I took up running this week. I started on Monday, with a brisk walk, though, broken up with short jogs of about 1min a piece. It was torture, but I did it. 

Tuesday was better though it rained while I was out. I did the same distance but tried to go longer with running segments, even if it was only "just get past that big tree up ahead!". I ran, had a shower and then went off to college to sit an exam. At one point during my outing, I had to keep telling myself that I was "not going to fall/puke/die, and that I was able to get to the top of my road, now stop being a whiny bitch!" It worked though I must admit that I had to really berate myself! 

On Wednesday I went out before breakfast because I was still full from my pre-bed snack of porridge and a banana the night before and I got caught in the rain once again! I met my neighbor on the way back and we stopped for the chats but I was done in under an hour even so. I did some planks and ceiling kicks for my core when I got in before my shower.

Image: Pinterest

Thursday wasn't intended to be a rest day but a rest day it ended up being! I was in so much pain. Honestly, I've never felt pain like it... I did stretch and gently got my heart rate up before I did some planks and crunches because there was so excuse not to... Then I downloaded the Map My Run app to take my running a bit more serious and give me some structure as well as motivation. I went to bed feeling much less stiff and sore as I had woken up.



Today, Friday, I got my app all calibrated, togged out and was on the road at 8.45am. It was cool enough when I started out but by the time I capped the first kilometer, I had to take off a layer and stick it on a tree branch to get on the way back. I was delighted to have done almost 5km in 37 minutes when I checked the app after coming home. Not bad for a newb, eh?! 






Notes: 

Map My Run. Image: Pinterest

Map My Run is a great, free app that you can use to design routes, track an open route, count calories, keep time and a few other things too, if you upgrade. My favorite things about it are the GPS mapping of my run, the fact that is plays your music through the app and also lets you know when you've complete each KM, giving you your total time so far, split times, and plots them on a graph for you to look at later. 

Also, over the course of this week, I've listened to some awesome music and I'm here to tell you that Paolo Nutini's new album is amazing, and The Darkness and Fall Out Boy's new albums are very upbeat for running to. 

Even after 4 days running, I've noticed my mood is so much better which is good news for my anxiety and depression. I've also been eating healthily and have cut down drastically on salty, sweet, processed and greasy foods. 

Honestly, I have never felt better and and actually raring to go out tomorrow for another sweaty jaunt down the royal canal. I have a running (and complaining about other exercise moves) buddy in Kayliegh, who is also on a fitness kick so I might even drag her out on Sunday for a few km around Dundalk so we won't be as inclined to quit as if we were to go it entirely alone. Solidarity, yes? Yes. 

What do you think of this new journey in my life?

Have you any tips for me or motivational quotes??

Do share them down below and lets have the chats!

Amy

xxx

Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest