Run, Run Away.

With less than 20 days to go until I run the Electric Run 5k for Breast Cancer Care, it suddenly feels like it's started to get real!

Although I've managed to half run / stagger my way to over 6k, I'm nowhere near to running 5k in one go like I'd wanted, and am hoping that the next three weeks will make all the difference.

There's been one thing which has changed - I discovered that both my Iron and Vitamin D levels were dangerously low, and it made a lot of sense with the particular issues I'd encountered when running. Since taking huge prescribed doses of folic acid and Iron, I've found that my calves have seized up less and going up steep inclines have taken less out of me. I'm sure this is because the blood is being pumped around my body in a much more efficient way (yay, oxygen!) so I'm hoping to be able to push myself harder over the next few weeks.

I can't be the only person who thought my medication looked like a mini solar system, right?

Although I've not enjoyed the training, I've enjoyed the views and cute places I've discovered whilst running across Hampstead Heath. Each trip out there can be completely different from the last, and I feel so lucky that I live right next to somewhere so vast and where I can easily get distracted and lost.

Once thing I haven't mastered is looking stylish when running - I am in awe of the people who glide past me looking like they've just stepped out of an ironic photoshootd! Still, I'm now looking for a London based 10K to do around September, so who knows, miracles might happen to me and my awful sun visor!

If you fancy throwing some spare change towards a good cause, I'm running for Breast Cancer Care and you can do so here.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Better Find Out Where They Want You To Go.

I'm at that stage where I feel like I've hit a wall. A wall which I've thrown myself against repeatedly to try to break it. One which I've tried to climb over. One which I've tried to walk around and one which I've just tried to flat out ignore. But it's there - and it's annoying me. And I'm still trying to break it down.

Everything feels a little bit more difficult that it should do at the moment - I feel like my running progress has plateaued which fills me with fear with the 5k fast approaching. I feel tired all the time, and have been sent off for another round of blood tests to see what mischief my hormones are creating now and whether I might also be iron deficient. And I feel frustrated with my work - I feel like all my current projects are on the more "work work work" side, with some sort of creative undertaking needed to pick me up. However I don't want to commit myself to anything big until I can guarantee that my body isn't going to pack up on me and send me to Zzzz-town.

Health vs Health.

It feels a little health vs health at the moment. Run, get fitter, fight against the stomach pain, PCOS and hormones, feel drained, feel sick, feel sleepy, get run down, get a cold, don't run, feel useless, feel like a failure, run, start process all over again. Over the last eight weeks I've been running almost every other day, normally a minimum of 4k, sometimes closer to 6. Often it was partly walked or slow ran, especially as I push myself to do routes with huge hills  and steep inclines but this week, I managed Monday. Just Monday. I've made myself go for a few walks, but this is the first week since I committed to running the 5K where my training schedule has completely fallen by the wayside, and it's really got under my skin.

Feels like the story of my life right now!

I'm trying to not beat myself up about it. It's been a rough week with a huge workload and I've not been feeling 100% so have decided to pick up where I left off next week. I'm currently sat in the countryside, and am trying to clear my mind with a view to starting over on Monday morning.

In terms of creativity, I've dusted off a few old project ideas and shelved something else I'd been working on with a view to coming back to it another time. It's nice to be making plans and writing outlines, even if that's all they are right now. I'm not going to lie, I feel a bit miserable and sorry for myself, but I need to weigh out the rubbish stuff with everything which is also good.

Next week is a new start, eh?

Also if anyone feels like donating a few pennies, I'm training to run the 5k Electric Run for Breast Cancer Care. You can sponsor me here.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Runaway.

It's all been a little quiet around here for the last week, but that's mostly because I've either been in my running kit or pyjamas - not a glamorous moment or outfit in sight! That said, it's also been a week of getting stuff done, and I'm winning the war against my editing pile AND have eased myself into my 5K training.

I'm not a sporty person by nature, but in a bid to fight against my PCOS, I decided to attempt to run 5K at the end of the month. To me, exercise does not equate to a good time but I'm trying to do it in as a fun a manner as possible. Firstly, I'm running it with some of my best friends and The Electric Run is effectively a giant rave with a 5k thrown into the middle of it. With lots of DJs, UV lights and glow stick fun dotted around the course, I'm hoping it isn't going to feel as arduous as my current sunrise runs are! Still, they are keeping me focused and it's nice to have a goal which is to do with fitness, and nothing else.

One of my annoying traits is that I have a habit of throwing myself head-first into things, so a plan of two days on and one day off has run into five days straight and my calves giving out earlier today around the 20 minute mark. The trudge back home was pretty horrific, but a long soak in the bath with a cup of tea has seemed to appease it. I'm debating whether to re-attempt tomorrow as I know I can't run on Tuesday - I guess I'm still trying to push myself and work out what is too much or too little. I'm sure a few more weeks and I'll be working with a better routine!

However I am getting quite bored of pyjamas and running clothes, and desperately need to inject some fun and glamour back into my life! Hopefully next week will see a few outfit and beauty posts as I'm shooting quite a lot and therefore will need to attempt to look human!

I'm also in desperate need of a good sports bra any recommendations. If anyone has any advice, all will all be welcomed!

Until next time,

Diana xx

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www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos (unless stated otherwise). Please do not reproduce without written permission.)