Week 10 of Training!

Only 2 weeks left! Week 10 was the last biggest running week before the half marathon. This week ended with a race also which was fun! That meant having to jig around my training so I was in top form(ish) for the race. No injuries to report this week thank god! Had to hit 12miles this week which was managed so very very happy! :) Here we go anyway!

Session 1: Monday (Rest day). Was now a 4.5 mile day which ended up being 5.23 miles coz I thought it was supposed to be 5 miles. Whoops! Made up for that during the week. Was such a good run. Felt fantastic. Love that my new 5km is the 5miles!

Session 2: Run (4.5miles). Had a rest day as the rain that poured never stopped all day. Didn't bring my gym gear so just took the day off which was prob deserved.

Session 3: CT. I ran this session instead as I was taking the 5km race at the end as my cardio for the week. This was another 5mile run which felt great. Got all the hills without stopping!

Session 4: Run (6miles). Rest day

Session 5: (Rest Day) Long run (12miles). So this was the longest run of the whole training schedule. Char asked to do this with me so I couldn't deny her again. Off we set off at 8am with the stop watch Holly gave me for Sunday and a route mapped and memorized (badly) in my head. So we went along the canal and down to Hyde Park around Hyde Park back up to NottingHill Gate and got lost. Managed to find the canal and then got our route back and ended with 12.5miles in 2 hours! :) We felt fantastic the whole run. There were hills and parts that our legs hurt but we kept each other going which was great. We may team up for the half. Was a really great run and did crash in the evening but no cramps or pains or injuries! Woohoo go us!

Session 6: (Long Run) Recovery Run (3miles). This run was a little sore and tight to start with but then loosened out and was nice to stretch myself after yesterday. Wasn't injury sore, just heavy legs. Did 3.24miles.

Session 7: (Recovery) 5km Womens Adidas Race! Race day!! Oh my gosh I was so nervous you wouldn't believe. First ever official race! Was really warm which was kinda nice. Sean came with me so that was nice. Set myself in the 25min-30min group which was small enough. People shot off all around me but I kept my pace didn't try to out run anyone really. There were women stopping and slowing left right and centre within the first kilometre so I was happy I didn't have to stop (obvs) once! There were people stopping for loo breaks! People push past you and bump into you which isn't nice but I felt great the whole run! Felt like a normal jog really. I think if I'd rest and actually slept better last night I would have felt even better but ran like the clappers for the last like 500metres and got a time of 28:16. So happy!! It's  PB on what I've done before and got a medal too (>.<) . Now I know what an official race is like it'll make 2 weeks a little easier! I hope!

Me pre race! Go MND!! 

Women's 5km race medal! 

Total miles: 29.08miles
Total time: 272minutes 48seconds

Week 7, 8 & 9 of training!

Hey so I know I haven't put anything on this for the last 3 weeks but I have good excuses (as always ;) ). I have finally hit injuries and set backs! Aaaah soo annoying and I know it was going to be inevitable but really not cool at all. So the first of my injuries came in week 7 after my 10 mile; a groin strain. Then week 8 left my trying to rest it while also finishing my thesis. Which is kinda more important than running. Then during week 9 I injured my knee while running. And last but not least, chaffing. I have been introduced to the horrible world of chaffing. Ah well. None of this stopped me doing my 2 super long 10 miles though which I wall talk you through but apologies on not updating soon enough! Only 3 weeks until the Run to the Beat!!! Soooo excited now!! I may die running it but at least I tried!

Week 7


Session 1: Tuesday (4 miles). Love fetcheveryone.com right now which is helping me remember these runs! I leave my comments after every run which is handy to see how I did! So anyway this run ended up being 4.18 miles with a hint of shin splins after about 2 miles. I kicked it off though so was good. Went along the little scrubs to make this slightly longer which was nice. I like that park...sometimes.

Session 2 : Didn't do my CT but this was prob due to long lab times. But soon to be no more. I hope!

Session 3:  Tempo (4.5miles). So with these tempo runs you're supposed to warm up slowly for the first mile then run at what you want your race pace to be for 2.5 miles. I already run this during my runs so I just treat this as a regular run now. I don't want to run any faster during the half marathon then what I'm already doing. So this run ended up being 5.23miles. There was some ankle pain but it loosened up as I kept going.

Session 4: Long run (10miles!). Well the first 10 miles I did. This was great except things did hurt. My left arch of my foot, right ball of my foot and left groin hurt while running. I may have started out too quickly on this run. The groin pain continued after the run and got worse as the day continued. I stretched loads but I think sitting at the computer doing thesis didn't help. Decided to not do the recovery run if it still hurt the next day.

Session 5: Recovery Run (3.5miles). This didn't happen as it still really ached/hurt to walk. Decided it would be better not to injure myself more.

This week overall was good except the last recovery run which annoyed me. Ah well next week right?

Week 8


What a fail of a week. So the groin injury lasted a couple of days. I decided to go to the gym on the Wednesday to ease my leg back in but ended up doing thesis until ~3am that morning so that went out the window. Thesis took over my week and I did this all week instead of running. Got drunk celebrating on the Friday which resulted in no 8mile run. I know I shouldn't have compromised my training but I think after 6 months of hard work one weekend off was okay. Injury and thesis are a good enough excuse I think. Now that that's in. Back to training!

Week 9


So I switched the start of this week up a bit as I knew I hadn't run in a while so went for gym first to get me back into it rather then a 5mile first.

Session 1: CT (40mins). So this gym session was great! Had no water which was annoying but got lots done which left me confident. 30minutes eliptical with increasing levels again. Started on level 15 which meant intense levels by the end. Wanted to do 40 minutes but reckoned I needed water. So then went for a run on the treadmill to see how my legs were going. So I think my temp was 6.5miles/hr which meant 1.1 miles in 10 minutes. Which was quick but felt great. Not tired at all. Think maybe I need to increase the speed while I run on the treadmill so I don't get shin splints. I then tried the stepper... :) this was fun! 7 minutes on the stepper passed with no problem but I don't really know how to use it so will use it properly the next time.

Session 2: Run (5miles). So this run started off fine. No problem normal run with goof pace. Cue problem. So at about mile 4 I noticed a pain in my right knee. Okay ignore and keep going. Nope still sore. Massage. Gone for about half a mile. This run was 5.23miles. So at about 5miles my knee decided it had had enough. I couldn't run anymore. I tried so hard as I hate walking when I'm supposed to be jogging/running. It hurt too bad. Searing pain in my knee meant walking the last part of the route. So disappointed. Oh well it happens and iced it all evening.

Session 3: Run (5miles). Didn't happen. My knee still flipping hurt. I was seriously wondering about the future of my half marathon!!

Session 4: Long run (10miles). Would this happen? Yep!! Yay!! 10miles done! This was fantastic! Started slow I think but had a great tempo as far as mile 8. Come mile 8 I tried to drink out of my crappy bottle and lost my breathe. Lost it completely and thought I was going to die or collapse. Kept running and caught my breathe again at mile 9 thank god. Other then that the run was good with no injuries and a great time! Did 10.14miles.

Session 5: Recovery Run (3miles). So this run overall was so great. Started a little tight from yesterday but loosened out pretty quickly. Did 3.24miles in the end and was a nice cool down after yesterday.

Overall a great week!! Nearly there!! Roll on the half marathon. Oh and fundraising-wise I am getting some money in now which is great! So happy to be getting money for MND!

Week 7:
Total miles: 19.52 miles
Total time: 181 minutes 40 seconds

Week 8:
Total miles: 0 miles
Total time: 0 minutes

Week9:
Total miles: 19.71
Total time: 219 minutes and 1second

Week 5 & 6 of Training!

So...I was lazy and didn't put up a blog last week. I felt so bad for not doing my recovery run again and having a bad overall week that I thought I'd kick ass in this week and then put up a good blog. Was slightly better but didn't kick ass that well. So here's the low down on the 2 weeks of training!

Week 5:
This week was supposed to be the same as every other week but I had a lot on (bad excuse) in lab. My Tuesday running day was set back with thesis writing and not getting out of the lab until 9pm. Thought it was too late to run by then. Session 1: Not completed :( So I thought I'd get going on Wednesday for my CT but I forgot my gym gear. I could have gone back for it but didn't. Session2: Fail. Thursday I had a PhD interview so that meant I defo couldn't do my morning tempo run. I thought I'd do it after but I was so buzzing and tired that it was the last thing on my mind. I did however make up this terrible terrible week with....

Session 3: Elliptical for 38minutes! Got my 40minutes (nearly) CT done on Friday! And then while I was still buzzing, I had a lot of energy to burn. I ran for 25 minutes on the treadmill to get 2.3miles in. Wasn't the distance I wanted to get done but I find it difficult to run on the treadmill. I get bored and controlling my tempo is really hard. Got two sessions in in one day though. Phew only missed one run so far this week now!

Session 4: Long run (8miles). I went the route I had planned the week before when I got lost. This ended up being just 7.88miles but felt fantastic after it! I then never did my recovery run....we had a BBQ in the nice weather which lead to one to many drinks and a night out on the town. Aine was tired and hungover which meant I still should have run but lazy Aine was back.....hence the no blog.

Week 6! Come on week 6, run better, faster! No run Tuesday again...bad start. So I did leave the lab on time. Even left really early, 5:30 but this was due to the London riots. Now there were a couple people running but I thought if things did kick off I did not want to be out running around, out of breath and not being able to get home. So this was not my fault...

Session 1:  4miles (Tuesday) Made up for it Wed morning instead! Did a nice 3.96miles with a tight start but nice tempo after a while. Don't really like running around the scrubs these days. Finding it difficult with the inclines and holes in the ground.

Session 2: CT (Wednesday). 32minute cardio session. I did start this at about 9:30pm so didn't want to stay in the gym that late and hadn't had dinner yet but knew I needed to get my CT in. If I bring my gym gear in I actually do the session coz I feel bad. So felt good after this. Got up to level 20 (I think). Was tough on my legs but felt good!

Session3: 4mile tempo (Thurs). Fail. Friday was my birthday and I decided to have a fat food night in with my house mate as she was off to France the next day and it'd be a nice hang out instead. Got home kinda late too (excuses I know....).

Session 4: 9mile (Saturday). I did do this fantastic run however! New route, over by Asda, but was great! Love the canal routes and road sections much better then the scrubs. I got my tempo right early on (did have to adjust it sometimes) so was nice going. Even managed to run up two of the three steep hills along the canal! I did however get some funny incidences happening. Some crazy man was walking towards me and then turned around to walk away from me and then pushed himself back into a bush while scrunching his eyes up tightly, waving his hands like he was shooing something away while chanting at me. He then spat at me when I ran past but I didn't say/do anything as I really really thought he was going to push me into the water. I thought he was drunk first, then mentally disadvantaged and then just realised he was just religiously challenged. I then had a woman tell me what she thought of running and a guy in a cafe told me to not run. Loved all this motivational advice. Managed a 9.5 miles with an overall pace of 9.22 which was awesome! So happy with this!

Session 5: 3.5mile recovery run (Sunday). Now this run wasn't as good....my muscles hurt and there was a strong wind. All I wanted to do was get home, not a happy scrub run at all! Really stretched out though and will massage throughout the day. RR are sore these days need to slow them down. Did 3.4 in just under 33 minutes.

Overall good week! Bring on next week with the 10mile run! It is also now 6 weeks til the actual run. Halfway there! :)

Week 5:
Total miles: 13.97 miles
Total time: 137minutes

Week 6:
Total miles: 19.97 miles
Total time: 190 minutes 52 seconds

Week 4 of Training!

One month done! Can't believe I'm 4 weeks in. It feels like I've been running forever but only 8 weeks left and that means this day 8 weeks I will be still running/finished/dead. If my training continues to go as well as this week though I should be okay. Well as you know I didn't end last week with my recovery run which was bad but I was very tired and head did hurt in the morning. This lead me to just recover in my bed instead :) Nice to go out and enjoy a night out during training though! I decided not to make up this run but to continue my week away. And that lead to missing my first session on Tuesday which was supposed to be a 3.5mile run. This was due to lab commitments and it was too dark when I finally got home. No choice in missing this run (I know I should have done it in the morning, lazy). But the rest of the week went well! Roll on week 5....I could regret saying this!

Session 1: 3.5 miles (Tuesday), Wednesday. This run was nice and easy. Ended up doing 3.86miles (felt bad about missing the day before). After 2 days rest I can't complain about this run at all! Felt great afterwards and ready for the day!

Session 2: CT, Wednesday. So at 4pm I went to the gym and did a half hour interval increase session on the cross trainer and then another 15minutes on the treadmill. I know I prob shouldn't have run the same day I was CT'ing but didn't feel tired at all. Running on the treadmill was great too! Would have gone for another run in the evening but knew I should prob calm down! :)

Session 3: 3miles, Thursday. This was a 3.1mile tempo run. First mile was to be slow warm up, then race pace for a mile and then slow final warm down mile. It was hard to try and slow down at the start and the fast part of the run was really fun. Was able to keep that up for about 2.5miles. Felt really good and was hard to slow down at the end. I think I just went at normal pace nearly. Was a quick run in the end with a 9.16mile/min pace.

Session 4: 7 miles, Saturday. Long run day! So this run was really great! I started off a bit later, just before 9am after some porridge for fuel. Knew it was going to be a hot day so thought it best to start early. As usual the start was a little tight and hard. The hills really don't help! But I had new running gear (>.<) so that was really fun! Lots of runners and cyclists out again and was going really well up until I got off the canal route. I got a little lost after that, thinking I was going the right route from my planning online but I wasn't. I ended up going down by Portebello market and finding my way about thanks to the number 7 bus route! It wasn't a bad route just different to what I thought I'd do. I ended up running around the little wormwood scrubs as well to make up mileage and ended up with an 8.42mile run! Kept my pace up and all which was great! I was wrecked coming to the end of the run but felt fantastic!

Session 5: 3mile, Sunday. This was a recovery run from yesterday which started sore. My shoulders and calves were sore which only lasted a mile but reminds me I need to stretch all through the day. I don't think I rehydrated very well after yesterday either. I was very thirsty during yesterdays run. But ran along the canal with Char to get a 3.62mile done!

Overall a great week for running even with the poor start! Got all my mileage in, and more. And feel only a little tired from it now. Great to see improvements along my runs though! Who would have thought I could run over 8miles! :)

Total miles: 23.17miles
Total time: 224mins 43 seconds

Week 3 of Training!

So writing this blog isn't going to be great as I took today as a rest day and feel really really bad about it. Too tired today to run. Had my first night out in about a month so it really hit my hard today. I think a run may have given me energy but actually getting out of the house to do it, was not happening! And it was really really warm today (best excuse!). So back to my week! This week felt really easy for some reason. I feel like I haven't run at all even though I did every day but today. I will make up for today tomorrow which means tough week ahead but have to make up for it!

Session 1: 3.5miles, Tuesday. This was a really bad run. I felt crap and crampy but Holly said better a bad run then no run. Ah well, ran 3.22miles. That's all I could muster and it was tough but sure! I think I thought it was supposed to be 3.5miles but there was no way I could do that! Tuesday runs seem to be the hardest. Maybe starting off slow tomorrow will be a nice break into it? We'll see.

Session 2: CT, Tuesday. So I did my CT that evening instead of Wednesday. I did a 45minute (I think or maybe an hour) of aqua aerobics. This wasn't as intense as a running session but my arms were very tired after it and it's good to mix up some sports really. Felt fine after this and even did a couple lengths of the pool.

Session 3:  5miles, Thursday. This run was really good. Felt great during and after it! Was another early morning run so woke up 20mins early to eat a slice of toast, rest and then was on my way! Did it with a good pace too so that was good. Didn't really feel tired at all during the day! Only went over the mileage slightly 5.07. Was looking forward to the long run then!

Session 4: 6mile Saturday. Woke up early and ate some toast again. Made sure I got plenty of stretching in and found my route. Was a really sunny morning and seemed really warm. My legs felt really tight the first mile or two and then loosened out and the run was great! The initial change to the route was slightly off putting as I really didn't know where I was going and I ended up adding a lot more then I thought to the run. Got a couple "good mornings" which was nice! Overall was a great run. Didn't need to slow down (only at the top of the extremely steep climb along the canal but it is sooo steep and sudden!). Thought a lot during the run which made it go by really quickly. Ended up doing 6.52miles with a really good pace! I did crash though at about 3pm. Had a nap but great run!

Rest day today oooops, should really have done the recovery run. Ah well.

Total mileage: 14.81miles
Total time:  184minutes and 55seconds

Week 2 of Training!

Week 2?! Yes, unfortunately I have to keep up this training schedule if I want to complete this half marathon in 10 weeks (eek)! So this training schedule I'm on is a nice easy add-a-mile-a-week program so that I should be half marathon fit in 10more weeks! So an overall update, I feel fantastic! I know the body is amazing and can get used to things but never thought I'd get used to running 4 times a week already. I seem to have more energy and am no longer tired the whole day after a run. I can now judge when I'm running at my "normal" pace which means no heavy panting and can actually keep going.

Again in case you missed it. I'm running to raise money and awareness for Motor Neuron Disease (MND). I'm collecting money for my sponsered run through:

  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AineHenley

Please give what you can! Every little cent/pence helps research for this degenerative disease. Here is some more information about the disease http://www.mndassociation.org/life_with_mnd/what_is_mnd/index.html , as there is no known cure we can only help sufferers through relieving the symptoms. Your help can mean a lot for someone who has MND.


 So back to the running and breaking down the week:

Session 1: 3 miles, Tuesday. This was done after a nice break from the weekend running. I ran 3.37miles which started a little tough with my calves a little tight. As usual though they loosened out and it went okay. Though I didn't really know how the rest of the week would go...

Session 2: CT on Wednesday at 10am. Came in early to work so I could fit this in while an experiment ran. This was a 31min elliptical session which took me 2.92 miles. I increased the levels (starting at 11) every 5mins and at the last 5 minutes spent 2 minutes with a +3 increase. Felt great to do this in the morning! Could have ran again in the evening!

Session 3: 4mile, Thursday. Because my session yesterday was so early I felt like I hadn't run in days! This made the run even more enjoyable. Canal run again but wasn't sure about my length. Actually got the 4mile in so that was handy! May change the route next week. Felt great, was very windy though which made the run a little more tough in the scrubs but uncontrolled resistance welcome!

Session 4: 5mile, Saturday. So this was the biggest run I was going to do this training session, all the others I had done recently so this was going to be a challenge I thought, even though it was only 1 mile more. 7:30am run to get out before the heavy rain! Felt great. The initial hill I climb is really annoying but felt fine all along the route up until the last half mile. I started to get pains in my tummy which I would guess were hunger pains. Noting to self after this that I should prob start eating something small before I run these long ones. But I didn't pause on this 5miler unlike the last time I did it (once before!). Actually ran 5.07 miles too ;) Stretched a lot after the run which meant I felt fine all day!

Session 5: 2.5mile easy run, Sunday. What a nice run after yesterday. Took it really nice and slow as I read that you should really take the recovery runs slow no matter how fast you wanna go. Ran 3.09 with a 10:12min/mile pace. Had to keep slowing myself down during the run but looking back I don't even remember some of it as it was so easy! Great feeling!

End of week 2 on a high it seems! Week 3 may be more challenging as I have dinner plans the same day as my 5mile run but we can sort that later on! Absolutely loving the destress of a run, the great energy feeling you have after and the fact that I can actually run 8kms now! Bring on week 3......I hope I don't regret it now!

Total miles: 18.45miles
Total time: 183mins 46 seconds

Week 1 of Training!

So running! 


Welcome to my training blog for the half marathon! I am following a training program online http://running.about.com/od/racetraining/a/advbeghalf.htm that my running friend Holly recommended and is following too. 


So I completed this whole week of running. Yeah I know, Aine wait you did 4 running sessions this week? But you don't run at all! Yep you're right! I don't run but I have been running irregularly for the last 5months or so. This would vary from 3 runs a week (I think once) to 2 runs in a month. So this is the first intense training I've started. This is all for the Run to the Beat Half Marathon that I will run on Sept 26th for MND research. I am collecting money for this run with:   http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AineHenley so anything that could be given money/advice would be fantastic! So back to the training!


Session 1: 3miles, Tuesday. This was great I did a little more (3.2km) and was a nice easy run but it did start raining halfway through. Was nice start though to the training program.


CT session: Holly said that she wouldn't be doing this and to take a rest day so I thought for week 1 I may do this as well. Will get to the gym/swim this day next week instead though.  


Session 2: 4miles, Thursday. This run was fine but I did shoot the distance wrong. I only did 3.52miles so had to make up for it during the rest of the week. Thought I was feeling great for a 4mile run lol! 


Session 3: 4miles, Saturday. This was a nice long run along the canal. There was a Race for Life in the scrubs so this did bugger up where I wanted to run but got the distance in (3.99miles). Had to run more road routes to get it on but again was nice. Ii did speed up a little when I saw the runners but this didn't make me that tired. As usual my legs were a little tight at the beginning but this could also be due to the hill I climb initially. Loosened up nicely and felt great.


Session 4: 2.5miles, Sunday. So this was going to be the distance that I extended to make up for the Tuesday run (3.31miles). I still made in an easy run and got pace at 9:49. Though the timing was a little out as I met a friend along the route! Char was also running but she was going for the 10km (crazeee :) ). But was nice to run along with someone and we could actually chat along the run which I was told was a great way to show you are running the right pace. I did feel that my legs were much tighter and the start of this run but again loosened up, took a little longer then usual but was great!


So end of week 1! Not a bad start to the 12 week training program. Slow and steady is this training schedule. I didn't know if I would manage the 4 runs, having the time and energy but feel fantastic after them all so will hopefully keep them up now! Stretching is my best friend. I do take a good 10minutes at the end stretching and doing some muscle work but this means that I won't get injured and can train more. So all in all GREAT WEEK!


Total miles: 14miles (a half marathon!)
Total time:  132minutes 32 seconds

Ooops!

So it turns out I haven't written in this blog since the 1st of May. Ooops! Did not realise that I hadn't, time really does fly here! So what has happened in the last 2 months? This will be a short blog as I really want to start one on running and that will take up more of my time. So let's be basic!

May: So one of my housemates (Kate) was still on holidays in south east Asia and didn't return until the 15th May. We had another party the first week of May for Rosie's birthday. We had a nice day lunch with her Uni friends and home friends which was really nice. Nice little spot in Notting Hill area http://www.thehillgate.com/ was quite for a Saturday and off the track so you had no tourists coming in and taking all the seats. The food was good too and the staff were really friendly! We then had a party that night with a couple of my friends which didn't end so well as we discovered that when QPR win a match that all the pubs in Sheppy B close at 12. So we got there at 11:30 with people being kicked out already! That wasn't fun!
The week after was quite with lab, lab, lab and some work on the side. Worked an amazing private house party for a hedge fund head hunter who had a house in Hampstead and Geneva. Wow! I need to find a man like this, moola!
The week after was a little more exciting with me and Kate going to Clapham for speed dating! Yes I know we're too young blah blah but hey it was loads of fun! There were 12 guys and girls which meant 12 4 minute dates! There were some really nice guys and some not so nice but the girls were great craic too! We ended up staying until closing and playing in the pond in Clapham. I did however wake up with a pounding headache and a cut on my foot. Dr Wai-mun told me I was best to get a tetanus so Aine got her 1st (I think) tetanus, not in the bum thank god! So that was a pretty wreckless night and I was hungover beyond belief. You wouldn't think after that that we'd go to Redbacks.....we did. http://www.redbacktavern.com/ this is our new haunt. Can get a bus right there, cheap booze, great live music. What more could you ask for! I would have preferred a night in but sure was good fun! Oh and PS during that week I gave blood for a friends Science project. Wasn't that fun but got paid, whoop whoop!


The next week (yes I know I said it'd be short) anyway Friday was Paola's birthday party! We headed down to the southbank to the udderbelly http://www.underbelly.co.uk/webpages/southbank/index.php which was lovely! There were loads of larger then life games which we all kicked ass in! Of course the best part of the week came next with my Mum visiting! And as usual there is a funny story with Mum. First she had the flight off by an hour, phew fixed, next what no answer from her phone the morning of! No text to say she got to the airport/London? Oh that's okay she left her phone in Limerick. Got her safe though, just wandered to the station hoping she'd be there and she was hoping I'd find her! So off we set for a nice long bank holiday of fun! The highlight was Kew Gardens. What a beautiful place! We got amazing sunshine and just sat on the grass for a long time watching the planes fly in to Heathrow. Was nice just hanging out in London with Mum!
My next week was my free London week! Tuesday Mum left in the wee hours and me and Rosie headed to Lewis Schaffer of Picadilly Circus http://www.lewisschaffer.co.uk/Lewis_Schaffer/home.html for free! Now he asks for donations at the end but you can give whatever you want. He is a different humour but something fun to do! However don't do the same mistake me and Rosie did which was get food from the upstairs cafe. Wasn't great and a bit expensive. It did seem a bit dodgy actually. Ah well! So on the Thursday then me and Rosie rambled off to The Barbican to watch the London Symphony Orchestra! Wowser, that was amazing and again was free! We saw some amazing pieces by an amazing pianist Mitsuko Uchida. http://lso.co.uk/page/144/UBS-Soundscapes-Beethoven/108  Rosie's first Orchestra experience and she loved it too!
So now we're into June!

The first major event of June was.....Thorpe Park! How amazing is this place! So I was a little scared about some rides. I had only gone on one upside down ride and I did love it but you never know what might happen!! So we started with Saw. I think I nearly cried getting off, it was sooo scary but another 5mins later and I would have tried again. We then went for Colossus which had a 10 ring corkscrew. Loved this one! However I spent most of the ride out of my seat! But kept my eyes open for a lot of the upside down parts! Then we ran around on loads other rides which were amazing! The best though had to be Stealth! This ride goes to 80mph in 1.9seconds. It is intense! Though loads of fun and the whole 205feet thing isn't that bad. Nice view at the top! This was such a great day! I would recommend this place to everyone! Then went down to the local pub to watch Limerick play Waterford the next day. We lost but oh well! Great match and was stolen from us!
Neeext was home for Audrey's wedding! That was so much fun except it did rain a lot. I got to meet Steve, Shane, Kerry, Louise, the Bruff boys and got to hang out with Roisin a lot which was really nice! The wedding itself was nice but the Henley's did kick ass on the floor! Had such a nice relaxing trip home. Which was nice before the presentation I had to tackle when I got back! On the Saturday I got back I did my first ever timed run, 5km. Was tough but I think I was just overwhelmed about the whole idea. Got it done in less then 30mins so that was great!

The next week meant hitting the powerpoint and getting my presentation down. It went well anyway. It really helped to get my head around my project. Though the big disaster of the week involved Aine closing her laptop on her USB cap, SMASH! Screen was buggered. Though now I have a fantastic new laptop which was well overdue! On the Sunday after the presentations, Rosie, Jacob, Molly and I headed to the BBC studios in Hammersmith to watch the screening of The Apprentice; You're Fired with Dara O'Briain. It was really good and great to watch the episode with a crowd! Great atmosphere but doubt we got on the telly!
That brings us to this week! Week 1 of training! Lab, lab, lab again and on Friday went to a new pilot show screening in Wood Lane BBC. Wasn't that great and we were there for 5 hours before we left coz it was getting ridiculous, the amount of retakes. Hopefully it will get on air coz we were fo shizzle on the camera! We'll see and I'll keep you posted on it! So that's you up to date on what has happened in the last 2 months. Boring I know but sure, not much really happening other then lab and then a couple things on the side! Over and out for now!

Royal Wedding Fever!

So chocolate has arrived! And in between the Easter Bunnies (Wallaby) arrival and now not much has happened really...EXCEPT! I ran a lot after my nice long run and the girls (Ruth and Lel) came over from Ireland for The Graham Norton Show!

TGNS was amazing! So we had Jennifer Hudson (who we now call J Hudd), kdlang (or however she wants ot to be spelt these days) and the lovely Bill Bailey! We got really close seats too which was cool and so got on the telly like 4 times! Granted they are only like 3secs shots but still our 15 seconds of fame!! Whoop whoop! The show was great and it was interesting to see how they edited the show afterwards too.
After this then we headed for some celebratory drinks at Roadhouse in Covent Garden where yours truly proceeded to fall down 3 steps at the bottom of two flights of stairs relatively sober and then continues to drink and dance as it wasn't that sore at the time. Oh how wrong I was on the extent of the injury! Woke up and my foot was about the size of a bus! Okay I lie it wasn't that big but it was swollen bad and I couldn't walk. Spent the next two days on the couch with my foot elevated with a bag of frozen veg on me foot!

This did mean that I could work on Sat night though hobbling around wasn't very good and I have taken a lot of painkillers but mooola!!!

 This photo isn't great but you see the extent of it. The ice brought the bruising up which made it look worse, ewwww.

Had my BIG Easter event then on Sunday at 'Billionaire's Row' which was amazing!! Not supposed to say who you saw or anything but no one famous was there but Bryan Adams who played for the families party. The food was divine (Harrods), the table arrangements even better (trees full of flowers, all kinds but pink and red with tea lights hanging down) and the floor to ceiling stars shining out of the deep blue sheets was gorgeous. Long shift with my foot really hurting but will be worth it when I can go shopping! Or pay my rent....booo....

Waking up early the next morning to collect my visitor Darren from N'ham who cam to visit was fun! Two of us were wrecked from our early mornings but managed to find the Black Books store, Science Museum, St. Paul's Cathedral and walked along the beach, Southend-by-the-Sea. Then met Paola and Carlos for a couple of drinks at Waxy O'Connors in Chinatown. We were slightly drunk after that as we had had no dinner whoops! Then came the first lie in in a long while. Then down to Spittalfields Markets, Brick Lane and to finish off £10 meal at Pizza Express YUM! Darren was then sent on his merry way full to the brim.

Had to go to the lab for the next couple of days which meant more disappointment. Nothing working again blah blah blah buuuut I did get a fantastic Easter package from Mumsie and Roisin!

Chocolate wonderful chocolate!! As you see there are chocolates hidden in chocolates it was amazing! Love you guys!!






Oh and it lasted a full week! I swear it did AND I shared too! I shared chocolate!



Now that all that chocolate has been delivered and Darren has visited comes the party of the Easter holidays. Rosie's friends from Birmingham came down for the Royal Wedding and it was Dick's birthday on Thurs so we decided why not have a party! And cocktail party we had with people dressed in red, blue and white or suiting up! Though obvs not everyone did but at least some tried! Was an overall great success with everyone seeming to get on! Though Strawberry Moons off Reagent's Street was a little sleazy with the whole 200 men for eveyone woman in there and there were only 500 people in the club! Yes there was a very short girl there, Rosie! Only  joking there was like 10girls there.

<- Me and Karen in the club


Jacob, Hwyel, Cath, me, Elly and Luke outside Strawberry Moons  ->

Rosie jumping for joy on the way to the club! 

Rosie, Hwyel and Jen!

 <- How strong is she! 

And how creepy is our new friend!


Oh and just in case coz I'm sure I forgot to mention but Rosie Stokoe is our new housemate at 30 Long Drive! She's great craic and a PA to a PA to a Russian Billionaire that works on Billionaire's Row!! Ooooh laddeee daaaah! So back on track! Got home from this at about 4am if not later, maybe 5am and then planned on getting up to go watch the Royal Wedding!

That didn't happen....we watched it online instead. ITV had the best commentary with all the juicy gossip and celeb spotting. Kate (Catherine now or Duchess of Cambridge or HRH Princess William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor) looked gorgeous in her Sarah Burton by Alexander McQueen dress! Wills was sooo nervous was hilarious! After the ceremony, Jacob, Rosie, Luke and I rushed to get into the city so we could see the kiss or at least something! Hwyel and Dick were going to meet us later. They didn't. But we did meet Nas at N'hill Gate which was random so she came running around London frantically with us! We were turned away by loads of bobbies but eventually there was a parting in the crowd over by Victoria and we literally ran to B'ham Palace and got to see the Royal Family on the balcony with the planes flying over head too! Such a great atmosphere was great craic! Smelly but good fun! Had to go back to the lab then to save my cells (who hate me it seems anyway) and then just relaxed for the evening as 4 hours sleep does not keep you going all day! The next day was a really nice hang over day followed by some drinks with Charlotte, Nas, Carlos and Char's German friends at The Churchill Arms http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=43 a must on anyones visit to London! Irish guy owns it so the atmosphere in there is just like home!


Today then was my nice solo time of a Science nerd nerding it up in the Science Museum and finishing it up with a IMAX Wild Ocean experience! Getting tired now and think that's enough bore for one blog! Ooooh and I am writing a top 100 books to read at the moment. On 61 so will post as soon as I've done for anyone who's interested! Laters! 


  

Apple cider vinegar

Oh my gosh, has it been 2months!! Whoops!! Totally not keeping this blog up to date at all! Sorry! So what has happened since the 15th Feb? I can't even remember what happened last week let alone a couple months back but I'll try my hardest....okay here goes!
First big thing in Feb was exams! MSc exams!! Hopefully the last ones I'll do...hopefully! Studying for the exams was as hard as ever but was more difficult in Imperial as students there decide that talking on the phone or to each other loudly is okay in a library....wasn't a happy bunny but got them over and done with. With Paddy's before the exams as well meant I had to take a couple days off to celebrate that. And the Heineken Cup matches didn't help either. But Ireland you totally rocked that English game!! Waxy O'Connors for the win! Best craic ever in London if you are looking for matches! Bring on the GAA this summer! Exams though went okay. 3 3hour exams...the last one was really really tough but sure we'll find out in July what happened over all with them.
After exams it was a long wait to see what lab project we were all getting. Dick was around to take my mind off it and go boozing instead. Mick however forgot to email me....so found out about 4 hours after everyone else. I got Dr. Jimmy Bell's lab, my 3rd choice with Ana (The Mexican girl in the class). That was to start the week of the 7th March.
After a week off visiting the V&A, Mum coming to visit, buying new running shoes, IMAX, a 3run week and general relaxation labs started. Straight away we were into the wet lab with a histone isolation and western blot! Starting straight away was great as it meant no messing around reading for a week and we could learn straight away how to do things. There were two projects as well on offer and acetate one and a cannabinoids project. Ana took the acetate and I the cannabinoids. Though it took 5 more weeks until we both started doing our own project independently of each other. The end of lab week 1 saw the visit of Ruth, Lel, Kate, Aoife, Aoife (American) and Jamie! Jamie was a surprise to us all! That was great craic!! Though we spent the weekend east side it was good fun!
The next couple of weeks left me to keep my head down and get some lab work done. Finishing at 7pm most days meant I had to really use my weekends wisely!! The hot weather allowed BBQs to be had and picnics in the sunshine!
First weekend of April was my Granddad's birthday. Henley Granddad. This was the most dramatic flight ever! April 1st was Claire's birthday so we celebrated in style! Which meant Aine turning off her alarm to get up for her flight. An hour later I woke slowly wondering what time it was, did I have longer to sleep? Shit no! Thank god I had packed Thursday night and always leave retardly early for flights! Ran to get the bus, it had just gone, would be 10more minutes. Central line down so got to Wood Lane. Train came in 3mins or so. Got to L'pool street. Train to Stansted leaving in 5mins, no student rail card, £20 for a single ticket, shit. On the trian. Hungover (maybe still drunk), smell like crap and really really unsure of what I have packed. P.S. wearing yest clothes....Made it to the airport with 10mins til boarding. Rush through security with them laughing at me. Run to the gate with the Ryanair guy yelling at me that I have to weigh my bag even if my flight is about to leave! Get to the gate and board within 5mins. Only Dad knew at this stage what was happening. Was too terrified to tell Mum but was I the happiest passenger on the plane? YES! Even happier and started laughing out loud when I realised what reading material I had brought with me. Scientific papers and protocols...ha ha oh well! The birthday party was great fun and got to relax at home with Mum and Roisin. Visit Aisling and Stella and hang out with Dad too. Overall a great weekend. Didn't wanna come back to London at all!

Coming back to London though meant hot hot sunshine!! Got a tan and all! Lunch out in the park. More BBQ's and then off to Holland Park last weekend! Me and Claire have decided we want to live in that area and find us rich men!! The flowers and everything at this park were amazing! Never heading to Hyde Park again! Oh and a P.S. that I forgot. Back, back in the cold of April me and Sean went feeding ducks at Reagent's Park  one weekend morning. Great fun but the ducks here in London are slightly kamakaze. If you look at Sean's photos on Facebook you will see a duck literally flying at his face. Best photo of the day but a nice day in London again! Trying to make the most of my weekends and things to do around London. And yes I know I am sitting in on a Sunday afternoon with the sun shining outside to write this blog but I will be leaving here as soon as I finish....to do some food shopping but it is essential!! :) 

Anyway so the last two weeks or so me and Ana have been working separately on our own projects which is great and has made me happy that I am responsible now for my own project. I have too many cells that I am going to have to throw out this week! They just grow to quickly I can't keep up with the passaging and seeding for incubations god dammit!! Last week some of my cells died in the incubation stage which is annoying but all part of the game right? I feel slightly guilty as well sometimes when I am in the lab as I am having so much fun and I think...work isn't supposed to be this fun right? I love Science though, very glad I am in this career now to find me a PhD or paying job....anyone? So went to a quiz to break the week up. Again the Imperial postgrad quizes are not that much fun. We got zero in two rounds it was impossible! A whole round on swearing in sport and no Rooney wasn't one of the answers! In 1984 what Australian cricket player told an umpire to go feck off...huh? But we did come 3rd! Got lots of chocolate easter eggs! I'm saving mine until Easter sunday though coz Holly can't eat hers until then too so I said I'd be good too.

The Bystanders! Holly, Wai-Mun, Flo and me. Ana is taking the photo.

This weekend started with a boozey night out with Claire, Brash, Przemek and his girlfriend Hyunji. O'Neills pub in Chinatown was the venue and it was really fun with live music and all! Hungover yest and had to work a 50th party but got through it. Went for my longest run to date today. 3.92miles/6.31km in 40mins. Not too bad and it started with nearly a mile of hill! I  was very unfit for it and it was roasting but will try it again and not stop as much. On my way to this half marathon! Maybe....Okay enough for one day. Got to get to Iceland before it shuts! I will try and update this again soon, no promises though! Laters!!

Please do not bring food or drink into the library.

One month! Uh oh didn't realise it had been so long. Suppose at least I will have lots mor to bore you with now! Topics will include; celeb spotting, free Nando's chicken, Uni, Tube stop party, N'ham aaand think that's about it. Oh and I have no facebook anymore (since yest and will prob be back on tonight/tomorrow) so no photos unfortunately! Or I could pull some from somewhere....I know I can edit this after I think and insert some. Sorry brain vomit there.
Sooo....Nando's. If I haven't said this before GO THERE! I know there are some in Ireland now and Cork (as it is a different state!) so you must most defo get down there! They have a loyalty card that gives you a free 1/4, 1/2 and then full chicken at certain times which is fantastic! I got my full free chicken nearly a month ago now and by god was it nommy! Free btw in case you missed that! Oh and had to share couldn't eat it on my own but the man behind the counter said lots of people do eat it on their own. They walk around in between the halves. I thought it was well funny! http://www.nandos.co.uk/index.cfm check it out! Also that weekend I got to a place called the Trocadero at Picidilly circus for some bowling with class mates (I didn't lose!).  It's like a huge fun land with loads of arcade games, a laser centre and cinema. http://www.funland.co.uk/ Kinda cool if you're looking for something fun to do in London central. You also get tickets for all the games you play (like Timezone at home Rois!) and you can get a prize. Simple things....
 My month also involved a tube stop party! My house mate turned 23 and wanted to celebrate as Bank so there you go! I went as Bow Road/Church and so had a big bow on my back, head and tights. There was Waterloo, Black Friars, Grange Hill, High Barnet, Hanger Lane, Baker Street, a tube map (Dick) and others.

Me and Molly (left Hanger Lane) and the birthday girl Kate (Bank). 

Nick as Baker Street

Waterloo

Turnham Green was great craic.  The girl had paint on her hands so she would turn-you-green when she introduced herself. I thought it was hilarious! That started at the house, then onto B@1, Soho (obvs) and to Club du Fromage which was really cool but far away. They had great cheesy (^^,) music that kept us dancing(or falling) all night! Fairly hungover the next day but managed a run without vomitting.

No idea where Niall is for this....

 Nottingham then the next weekend which lived up to expectations! Went up with a hangover though which wasn't good. Thanks Flo for the red wine! Thought I was going to die but managed to buy my wine in Lidl and start all over again. Walked around the Uni campus up there which is huge and lovely! Shane, Janis and Niall made it over. Andrea's got too expensive and Dids had a stupid viva presentation on the Monday but it went well so delighted for her! Hit Vodka Revolution the first night and the girls went on to Rock City. Me and Janis managed it home were we finished the night with a bit of Sin City. The next day was spent hungover in the lads house while Kar went to work. Watched the poor Italy game and then the madness started again! This time we headed straight for Rock City (I think) and stayed there all night. Shane had his own music on in the club which was hilarious! Air guitar to his own music up in the balcony, random! Darren insisted on KFC then which was great for the first few bites but I am a bit biased on chicken these days! Wasn't too badly hungover the next day but got my 1st class train back which was Amazing! Lovin the cheap 1st class train tickets. Don't get to see Janis and Niall for a year though at least which is a sickner. South Korea better treat them well. Oh and we got Shane up on facebook too, finally! Think he may be addicted already!

 My month has also involved seeing potential supervisors for projects which was.....fun and studying which is even better. Imperial library floor 4, never go there! EVER! It is the loudest study area in the world. Q+2 multiplied by a gazillion during lunch time...but getting stuff done (I swear). Not the same length of time as UCC but sure we're getting through it. Sickened it's RAG week at home. Would do anything to be there now and making it as epic with Lel! Though they are coming over soon, whoop whoop!
So celeb spotting! Have been working a bit lately which generally doesn't involve celebs but last night was Elle Style Awards so was bound to see someone! Right?! Right? Yeah if the darn Central line didn't suspend just as I needed it, feckit! So I got paid for standing out the front rather then serving indoors so still got to see some people. Cheryl Cole, Emma Watson, Sophie Ellis Bexter, Blake Lively, Stephen Dwarf, Coco Rocha, Lisa Snowdon, Geri Halliwell, Helena Christensen, Thandi Newton, Eliza Doolittle, Matthew Williamson, Roisin Murphy, Karen Mille, Minni (?), ummm....can't remember any more now but there were a ton! Soem that I didn't recognise either, suppose they were TV people or something. So yeah finally I saw some famous people who were gorgeous but just like normal people on a night out really. Cheryl is tiny though so short! But really nice, same with Blake and Karen.
Other news...we are getting a new housemate soon. Next weekend or something...I have exams next week, FAIL! Work, study, sleep is my current pattern...booring! Though once exams are over then it's drink, sleep patterns, yahoo! Oh and the girls are coming mid March too and then there's Paddy's. Fair looking forward to them! Think that's enough boring news for one blog...I will try and add photos when I get home, if I can look at a computer screen (from all this study.....). Ta ta for now!

Better late then never!

Sooo....it has been a while I realise and I prob should have refreshed my memory of the last thing I put up. Oh well! So what to update on! Christmas, New Years, London and back to the grind?

First stop Christmas. As you prob know there were terrible problems here with the 1cm of snow that London got the Saturday before I left (18th) but thankfully it only left me delayed by 3 hours. And yeaaah it wasn't that small an amount. More like 6 feet but still if Stansted could get going to next day why couldn't the other airports?! Sean couldn't get home by plane at all aerlingus kept cancelling everything so it was the ferry for him with about 2000 people on the same boat! Woweee but maaan got to Ireland, after we skidded on the runway, and the cold. It hit you! Minus 12 during the what the hell?! Cork was sooo icy but I managed to get the bus down and go out with Lel the first night! Laura came out too and obvs Caitlin was there lol. Preachers hadn't changed much except for the creepy men at the bar trying to hook us up with his friends! Me and Lel continued the party back in Farranlea with grumpy old man Shane getting very annoyed but we rocked those Disney songs! Lel had to go back home the next day but she was really nice and let me crash at her place for the night. Oh aaand I got my hot deli food nom nomsss...oh how I missed you! The next night was our Bar 51 Genetics party which was great craic! Ended up in the Crane Lane with Shane nearly falling asleep he had so much clothing on! Gen2010 then walked home via UCC where we made snow angels on the quad coz Niall never got to walk across on Grad day! That was fun until we couldn't find a way out and had to hop the wall. Not cool when the security guard was just watching us wander around the place. Had to head back up to Limerick then on the bus again where I froze my ass off waiting for my Mum in C'ville but she made me several roast chicken dinners so we'll have to forgive her!
Christmas was fun and we spent most of the holidays playing mario kart which is an epic game! I was very upset without Freddie for the holidays but he has a new home now and Ashy is going to look after him until I get back from London (my car if any one is lost!). So nothing much else happened over the Christmas holiday. Spent a lot of time in front of the fire!
Had a wedding in the middle of the holidays, my cousin from Cork, Ken HenleyWillis (dunno how they like to spell that) to a girl from Dublin. Was a great night and through 6 degrees of seperation I now know Simon Cowell and all those :p   Mary Byrne was friends with the brides Mum or something so....I now know famous people!
Headed back to London the 29th in time for New Years but of course there was a 4 hour delay from Shannon but at least I found the fantastic wifi so that kept me happy! Met Sean for Cocktails the next day so was delighted, I do heart B@1 a lot! New Years was fun! Caitlin, Erin, Sean and I met under Big Ben at 7:30pm to make sure we had good seats and then waited for midnight! We were well stocked with food and drink but the girls found it a little cold so they went to a friends house party up in Angel. Me and Sean rang in the New Year under Big Ben which was amazing with the fireworks! There was a great atmosphere with random people coming up and wishing you a happy new year and taking photos. Was good fun!

London countdown with Big Ben in the background!

So getting home was a nightmare from that but wont' even begin to start! Went to London Zoo with a friend a couple days after. Was really nice but it's a difficult place to get too and it was bloody freezing!! But was good fun. 

Back to the grind of things now though. Had an assignment due on Friday (yest) so we went out afterwards. Loving our new old man student pub hidden in the basement of the main building on campus. A couple of us then headed to some private party in Fulham which was an experience! There was a lot of money in this place! People weren't buying vodka drinks but bottles of vodka and bottles of champagne! Was fun to see it all but couldn't afford to stay there all night! Need to do something today now! Get out and attack the day! Not much news but I will keep updated on this again...ta ta for now!