8 weeks to go. My heart leaps to my throat every time I remember that.
Thankfully after last week’s disaster, I hit 30km this weekend (18 miles or so in old money), so I’m back on track. The weather was glorious!This was as far as I managed ahead of Preston – but this time, I’m running the whole thing, rather than run walk. So, although I’m a good stone or so heavier, I’m much stronger too.
Of course I’m suffering for it a bit.
Despite a roller and a sleep, my back is aching, my knees are feeling it, so that foam roller needs to come out again. Ouch. Time to hit the weights again this week.
Away from the running, I’ve been experimenting a bit with been green tea. I’ve drunk it for a long time – it was recommended to me by my trainer to help with weight loss as it boosts your metabolism.
Recently Teapigs sent me a little bundle so that I could try their matcha green tea. Used in Japan for centuries, dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), this method of powdering tea was idea for preserving and transport.
Now it’s less necessary to preserve it, but it’s still in use – particularly since it’s health benefits have been discovered and documented. The geek in me is only ever going to believe something once a paper has been published!
So, for two weeks (over to be honest, I’ve used it all!) I’ve been trying a hit of matcha a day. As a drink, it’s pretty… er…. interesting. Sludgy in colour, powdery in texture and with a bitter taste. So not brilliant.
It’s a bit better in a smoothie, just needs a kick of honey to defeat the bitterness. But what has been really rather interesting is the effect.
It gives your metabolism a swift kick in the backside. I found my body temperature much higher, and found the best time to take it was before a workout. I felt like I could do more, I felt warmer too, so as I gave more, did more, I sweated more.
I’m pretty addicted now. I think of it as a fuel more than a drink. A shot in water just before I hit my weights or spin class.
I’ve also discovered that one of these in an afternoon boosts me in the office too. I can power through my inbox. I know that it has a very strong theanine content (similar to caffeine), so this may be why.
Either way, I’m off to order another tub – my inbox is overflowing…