The Only Way Is Lockdown

Day 41 of lockdown and I'm reminiscing, again!

Whilst we remain indoors, I thought I would keep you updated with what I have been up to over the past couple of weeks, training wise and just day to day life, whilst I also look back on my second year in Edinburgh (albeit a shorter one).

My end of year exams should have started last week and continued over a four week period until the end of May. My final exam would have been on Wednesday 20th May, then my Dad and I were due to run Edinburgh Half Marathon, on the Sunday. Of course, this event has been postponed and hopefully it will go ahead in early September. The new date is definitely proving to be a good source of motivation, at a time when there are no immediate races to aim for. I have a training plan set out which I will start soon, in the hope of running a 'peanut butter' (Personal Best), when the race comes around.

Last week I finally dusted off my helmet and took to the roads again with my Dad, we cycled 30 miles, picking up the beginning of the Staffs Ironman course and 'stumbling' across some of the hardest hills close to home. Chapel Lane in Gentleshaw, I'll say no more! In my usual diva style, I complained the majority of the way up, before I decided to push the bike to the top. I can confirm it was a lot faster than cycling all the way, for me anyway.  Although I have completed triathlons before I have previously completed sprint distance races, hence my longest training ride was 18 miles. I've always loved a spin class, but now I need to focus on the roads. The 30 mile ride was tougher than I expected, mainly because I was so nervous, but I did it. I have been out again and completed another 30 mile ride, taking on more of the Ironman course and familiarising myself with the hills, turns and road conditions. There's a long way to go, but it's a start. Another 26 miles to add on and of course more hills to battle. This week I plan to focus on some hill training, a shorter route, but with loops of certain hills that are part of the course. I promise to stay on the bike this time! I'm adamant that Dollymakers Hill will become my friend, in time...

This week, I took the first three days off running after feeling rather lethargic and nauseous whilst running last weekend, however my last four runs of the week have been a lot better, although I'm still behind my normal pace. I managed to complete my weekly running distance, despite taking the rest days, so that was a bonus. For the past few weeks I have been clocking up a higher mileage than normal, hence a lighter week of training was just what I needed! Hopefully I'll be able to find some speed again next week, as I mix in an interval session as well as some longer runs.

Aside from training I have been reading a lot more than normal, I probably should be reading academic papers on Generative Grammar or the Morphology of Germanic languages but I will get back to that. I am currently reading 'Airhead - The Imperfect Art of Making News' by Emily Maitlis, the BBC Journalist and presenter of Newsnight. It offers an inside view to the reality of the news, highlighting from the very beginning the downfall of the media, for it is not all encompassing, it can't be. In the words of James Reston Jr: "You know the first and greatest sin of the deception of television is that it simplifies; it diminishes, great complex ideas, stretches of time; whole careers become reduced to a single snapshot". This definitely made me pause for thought.
Maitlis uncovers the detail, that is not hidden, merely redundant in the making of news. With an insight into the Clinton Affair, the immediate hours after the Grenfell Fire and an hour in a hot air balloon with David Attenborough, it is safe to say I am keen to read on.

Of course, my abundance of free time has led me to scroll through my camera roll, (an activity that I usually reserve for long haul flights or any other wifi-free zone) looking back on another year in Edinburgh and my second year of uni. In first year I met the greatest friends and despite our mouse-ridden flat and its freezing temperatures, (the flat, not the mouse), we continue to have a ball every, single day. Although our End of Year Formal was cancelled in March, it's now rescheduled for the night before my 21st so it is sure to be a night to remember - I can't wait! We all love a night out, but most of all I miss the conversations that carry on until 3am and the crazy situations that we find ourselves in! With 4000 miles between us, Zoom is keeping us sane, whilst we still cling to the hope of our girls holiday at the end of summer!! Whenever, wherever we're reunited it will be worth the wait.

I hope this little update, finds everyone safe and well. Let me know what you have been getting up to. For the time being: The Only Way Is Lockdown :)

Stay home, stay safe.

Speak soon,
Lot x