BACK FROM ITALY & 21 MILE WALK

I'm back from Italia and back on the grind. I have a few posts to catch up on!

On the 22 of June I walked, along with 8 other people, 21 miles from Carmarthen to a town called Pwll just outside of Llanelli in West Wales. It was all in the name of the National Eisteddfod that is arriving in Llanelli in August.

We set off just after 8am with everyone, especially me, still wearing their rather puffy and confused morning faces. The first three miles flew by as we walked through the centre of town and after a short bus ride across the dual carriage way (it was too unsafe to walk) we joined the Welsh coastal path which follows the whole cost of the country from its most northern point to its most southernly, its most West to its most East and everywhere in between. With great views entertaining us from Ferryside to Kidwely we quickly stopped so more walkers could join us. By now we were at around mile 10/11 and everything was going to plan. My legs felt fine and mentally I wasn't bored - I felt good. 

The 6 miles from Kildwely to Pembrey that were to follow were the hardest few miles of the day. Not only was the sun beaming down on us making us feel as though we were being roasted in preparation for Sunday lunch the next day but it was 6 miles of monotonous trees, long roads and uneven gravelled country tracks. We passed fields of cows and bulls with no fence to protect us and a horse fly decided to sting me on my wrist which almost immediately blew up to twice its size. 

Eventually we arrived at Pembrey where we sat on the grass to eat our lunch and having refuelled, rubbed antihistamine cream into my sting and placed blister plasters under my food I was ready to hit the road once more. The last few miles from Pembrey to Pwll were beautiful with the sun soaked sea keeping us company the whole way. With a mile or so to go my legs began to get very heavy and tiredness kicked in. I'm not sure if this tiredness was a result of walking for eight hours or if it was a result of walking 8 hours under the incredibly hot sun. Either way we were all getting very tired. 

The next day (Sunday) I was off to Italy for 2 weeks and I really wasn't that sore. The only things that were bothering me were my swollen and rather painful ankles. I really need some properly fitted trainers because running is becoming quite painful now. That is on the top of my to-do list - get properly fitted trainers to prevent injury!

LIVE WITHOUT WALLS

// A few random photos from a week of outdoor exploring 

Over the past months at university I have made it my routine to go to the gym 6 days out of 7 as it gives me time to relax, but since coming home for Easter holidays I find that outside is where I want to be. Over the winter months its hard to exercise outside due to all the rain and the snow and more rain and the wind, oh the wind! Although, alas, the sun has started to shine as spring has made itself comfortable on these shores. As a result, every lunch time I take a break from revision and go for a cycle. I usually do a 14 mile sprint because I don't want to be out too long as I'll just have to revise later into the evening and I prefer to have everything done by the latest half 6. 

Over the last week myself and my mam have been going on long walks as she is training for the London Moonwalk that takes place later next month. Last Saturday we walked around 12 miles and this Good Friday I walked 15. There are so, so, so many steep hills around our area that it feels that you are doing 15 miles of constant lunges and squats. Ouchie! But it is really awesome to be outside and as we were discussing today, we really do live in a stunning part of the world that not many places on this planet can rival. Once I head back to Southern England I shall start to take my cardio sessions outside as I have something coming up later this year that will require me to train pretty hard - Exciting stuff!! 

If change one thing in your life over the next few weeks/months/years go outside more, leave the computer and your phone and get exploring. 

MY WEEKEND IN PICTURES

Friday //

Saturday //

Sunday //

Friday // As I had finished all of my essays ahead of time and had done all my reading for the following week's seminars I had nothing to do so I found myself reading blogs for most of the day but  not before I reorganised by cork board (as you can see behind the laptop). I ended the day with a Spinning session in the gym, some food and TV :)

Saturday // Waking up at 6am every morning (except for Friday) in the week meant that I was wide awake by half seven Saturday morning. So, as I was up I thought I might as well do something useful and I headed to the gym for 9am (when it opens) to do some weights - it was leg day (which is my favourite day). Feeling pumped after the gym I went home, had a lovely breakfast, showered changed and headed down in to town (on my own) for a coffee and to read the papers. It was great. Upon arriving home I had the best text from Ellie - I think Miranda is really influencing her! So I spent my Saturday night watching back to back Gavin & Stacey - the best.

Sunday // After battling with the hale and the rain myself and Ellie made it down in to town to have some brunch. I had chicken liver pate & Onion chutney - scrumptious :) Oh, and a latte of course - it was one great latte as well. I also added to my book collection after buying these three new books for £5 (bargain of the century!) from the local charity book shop. Once I arrived home I was cream crackered and had a lie down listening to my favourite, Radio 6 Music.

All in all a successful weekend :)

5 Things

Since it's pouring down with rain outside I thought I might cheer myself up with a list of five things that I'm really liking right now. So here we go . . .

This is a necklace my mam bough for me over the weekend and it is so cool! The lady in the shop took the label off before putting it in the bag so I have no idea what make it is but I love it. 

I have a never ending reading list for university to get through over summer and I have no idea how I'm going to finish them all but this one that I have almost finished is superb. A real insight in to the lives and mentality of the elite in early 19th century Britain.

Records seem to be so expensive to buy so instead of forking out £20 for a single album I've just been listening to my Mam's collection. Urban Outfitters however, currently have an awesome collection of old records for £6 each or two for £10 which is amazing. 

Exercising at home is great although not all the time. Most of the time I go swimming, to the gym or out on the bike but sometimes working out at home is harder. If you have the equipment then you're sorted. Here I use 2km weights to put on my feet, 3km weights in my hands that I do a lot of reps with and finally we have the 10km weight which is great when doing deep lunges etc. 

I know, you're probably sick of me going on about Bruce but I can not help it. He is The Man, The Boss, The Rock 'n' Roll God. He is more than just a musician to many people including myself. His music is incredible but so is his relationship with his fans. His concerts are out-of-this-world with him playing for up to four hours - and yes he is in his 60's. Since the end of his Wrecking Ball tour in Europe I've just been youtubing him all day which might not be the best cure for the Bruce Blues but hey :)