Sun, Sea & Exercise

 Jambo! 
(Hello in Swahili) 

My position in the safari van.

Have you missed me? It honestly feels so long ago since I posted a little blog - I've been on my honeymoon!

I must admit, when I was restless on the plane I did regret not bringing anything to type up a blog on, but, the break really did do me good!

I will do a little bit on the honeymoon - because, well, of course I didn't keep still! But, before I went on my great adventure there are 2 runs that I have not yet blogged about. I'll be honest, they feel forever ago so I shall try to remind myself.

Naturally there was; Lions Wednesday 🦁
This run was really lovely. We did some new parts of Brinscall / Wheelton that I was yet to explore (Yes, of course it was hilly) It was quite warm, but we were still able to run. I ran with Ginny and it was on this run that Wednesday Run Book Club was born! I was after some good reads to delve into whilst away and Ginny recommended some [Where the Crawdad Sings & Daisy Jones & The Six]  (what turned out to be) great books. Talking about the books helped the running pass by easily! I was sad that I wasn't going to be with the pride for 2 whole weeks, so there was a lot of chatting before we parted ways! (Honestly, what have I turned into! 😂)

Wednesday Short run crew

Then, there was #ParkrunSaturdays🌳. Now, this one was the morning that I was jet setting off! The whole plan was basically to run and tire myself out ready for the flight. People were shocked to see me there - What are you doing, you're going on your honeymoon today!? - I was flying out at 9pm - Plenty of Parkrun time. I floated around that course, I was so excited and took great delight in telling my Saturday friends.

I've never thought of myself as a comedian,
Shelby clearly does though!

"See you in a few weeks I'm off on honeymoon today!" And that was it. Running done for 2 weeks.

I will be honest - I was really anxious about the thought. Great North Run is impending (not sure if I've mentioned it) But I thought that this 2 week break would really put me out and the thought of then doing 13 miles 4 weeks after I was back was pretty unnerving. I need to keep my mileage up so that I can get around comfortably and enjoy the experience.

The Honeymoon! 🍯

I will not bore you too much, but I have titled it, soo, if you're sick of hearing about it - you can scroll past. 
For our honeymoon we spent a week in Kenya on Safari (We visited The Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli) followed by a week in Mauritius (Grand Bay).

I spy with my little eye...

Week One was incredible, and, of course - The Lions T-shirt made an appearance. 

Yes, we did get to see the big 5. Yes, it was as breathtaking as it sounds. No, I did not go with any expectation but my goodness it was incredible.

Week two was a week of tranquillity. I had taken my running kit "Oh yeah, I'll run in Mauritius" Did I? No. However, I did not sit still. (well, I did) - I managed to blast #Ginnysbookclub books but also did little bits of exercise. 

Monday - Yoga - Gosh it was nice to stretch listening to the waves lapping up the beach, and a swim in the Secret Spa pool. 

Triathlon training has begun.

Tuesday - We cycled to a public beach (4.7k there, 4.7k back) Beautiful ride, did get a bit stressed on the roads but managed it! 
Wednesday - AquaGym - No one else joined in with this, so it was effectively Mr Coxy and I flailing our legs around trying to lunge in water and making a serene "secret spa" pool very noisy. 😂
Thursday - Kayaking around Grand Bay. It was more like a modern day Chucklevision (Coxyvision) of
"to me, to you - why are you not telling me to double dip! Communicate man!" - I don't think we'll be in the Olympics for this one anytime soon. 

Friday - Snorkelling with Sea Turtles - Life long dream, and fear conquered! (I've always been a nightmare when going snorkelling. I nailed it this Friday morning, and got to swim with the kings of the sea 🐢)

Saturday -
Saturday needs its own little paragraph. I finally nailed the paddle board! The paddle board has been my nemisis since I attempted it in Fiji 9 years ago. I had no core strength and I just could not do it. (There is that negative mindset again) Throughout the week I had been watching people on the paddle boards, observing how to do it. I made excuse after excuse "It's too choppy, I'll do it tomorrow." "I've left it too late, I'll do it tomorrow." Well, time was running out. Saturday, I had a Phoenix (beer) for dutch courage, let it sink in and finally went to find our favourite Skipper, David.
(yes, genuinely nearly cried when he made the effort to come and said goodbye to "The Boss" [Mr.Coxy] ) 

I don't actually think he had faith in me "Don't go too far out in case you get into trouble" "You've done this before, you know what you're doing?" 
I absolutely bluffed the answer. Mr. Coxy was my official photographer / coach from his sunbed. And, well.. I'll let the photo do the talking... 

We still giggle at how happy I was standing up on my own!

After a mild panic, I managed to stand up on the paddle board. It absolutely ruined my thighs from how much I was tensing, but I was so so happy with myself!

This week in Mauritius gave me a bit of reflection time. I had plenty of time to reflect, well, on my life. I was am happy.

If you read back on my blog, you will see the absolute roller coaster I've been on this year. Upping my mileage. Having a breakdown, and reassessing my life. 
For once in my life, I was am happy with me. I've always been the one to cover up, not believe in myself, and squirrel away. Well, I am going to do something that I've never done before and post an image on here, that I never thought I would do. I even showed my mum and she said "Well, you wouldn't have taken that a few years ago." 

And, I haven't got to here through excessive dieting, starving myself, no. I've found the key (I've found the secret - If you know, you know). I've found exercise I enjoy doing. I love running. I love the buzz, I love the mental health benefits, I love my friends I've made through this crazy adventure. 

And, I actually love lifting! None of this excessive cardio at the gym, but actually lifting, and I've come full circle. I missed training. Yes, the break was the best thing ever, I had just been rolling through constantly but sometimes, the break is the best thing for you - and I completely agree. 

Back to life (Back to reality)

So, here we are back in sunny England! - And I do mean that. Some of the temperatures I've run in this week is just scary! I haven't gone back hell for leather, I've introduced exercise back in slowly. 
(No gym basically 😂)

I came back to Lion's Wednesdays 🦁and my goodness it was great to see everyone! It was a warm one, but I just could not wait to see my Jess and catch up on everything. "We'll take it slow, its the first week back" (Hence, no great Hill, even though they tried to persuade us 👀)

10.24 minute miles is not slow.

But I felt good, and it didn't feel like hard work. Of course, the pace did not stay here, but I was alarmed that this was our first mile! 7k completed. Catch up nailed. My thighs definitely knew I was back running. 

Back with my Jess by my side! 💕

Parkrun Saturdays are back! 🌳

Gosh I'd missed Parkrun Saturdays. This one was a special one! Unfortunately it was not back to Preston as it was cancelled this week. It was finally Sophie's 50th Milestone run, so we have gathered the troops together and we had planned a nice tour over to Haigh Woodland. I'd emailed ahead, unfortunately they do not do milestone bibs so after a frantic message to James, we managed to sort out some secret weapons. Convoy sorted, we were ready to roll. Until, Saturday morning and... 8am... Haigh Hall cancelled! 
Fastest fingers going "abort abort!" Where could we get to in such short notice. 
The one place I have avoided for 7 months. The one place I kept telling Aimie I was nervous to try. The one week Aimie was not there.

Still fuming -
I'd already ticked off 'W' for my alphabet challenge!

Witton.

Yes, in 30 degree heat, we had our hands forced, we had to take on The Beast.
I will admit, apart from the weather being too hot - though we were very grateful of all the shaded areas in the woodland of Witton, I really enjoyed the course. Yes, it was hilly and yes the beast is grim, but - it was beautiful. 34 minutes on a hilly course in 30 degree heat... and, 2nd in my age category! Which must have been some sort of fluke! I was really happy with that. I shall certainly be back to take on The Beast. 

We're smiling because we're glad to have finished!

Long run Sundays are back!

The girls covered 8 miles, the boys 16!

I had serious FOMO from long run Sundays. It was billed to me as a 'sociable' 10k. Oh yes, 10k with my ladies catching up would be wonderful. I never learn do I? It was not 10k, it was 8 miles. But they flew by with lots of chatter, lots of laughs and lots more planning! 

I fully enjoyed these 8 miles, it was so wonderful to be back, we ran a very shaded route which was much needed and there was no pressure. 
Covering 8 miles instead of 10k has filled me with confidence that the Great North Run will be okay. I am ready. (Providing there is not a spike in heat) I know I can do the distance, and the crowd will get me round. I am getting so giddy about this run. It has been my bucket list run. I hope and pray that it lives up to all expectation and I am able to do my little Rae proud. 

If I can get 5 minutes off my Southport time. (but I will not put too much pressure on myself!) It will be a goal achieved.

As I've said. This is coming so so close, and I will be starting to run more in my Macmillan top to raise awareness. If you have not yet donated yet, I would be so grateful, as will the Macmillan team. 13.1 miles. 2 hours to endure, compared to the pain that cancer patients endure day in day out. Please think about donating. 

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sammiecox

If you read to the end of this, I think that you yourself deserve a medal.
Sorry for the extra long catch up! 

Until next week! 💕☕