Ok, so the study may have used mice rather than humans, but lovely researchers at the University of Cambridge have found that running increased performance on a recognition memory task and also neurogenesis (generation of neurons). I was impressed by their ability to train mice to use touchscreens but got distracted by the thought of tiny iPhones for mice!
However, my recent memory problems did have me concerned that I may be developing ... what's that word again ... aphasia! Hopefully, it's nothing more than a healthy dose of health anxiety since this would be much less detrimental to thesis writing :-)
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/01/11/0911725107.full.pdf
Strength in numbers or folie a plusieurs?
Sunday 24 January 2010
Lots of group running this week: there was a training night at GSTT on Tuesday - a lovely 6ish mile scenic run along the Thames and back - and then a club run of 7 miles on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I was knackered after running the day before, had stomach cramps for the last six miles and then pulled a muscle during the last mile!
I then got talked into doing hill repeats on Saturday morning. It wasn't as horrendous as I'd feared although JT did go easy on me, letting me start further up the hill and have a head start. I came home feeling rather pleased with myself but expecting to feel the pain on Sunday. What I didn't expect was for both my shins to have swollen up before I went to bed. I had "cankles" that could give the grannies in the Post Office a run for their money!
I had debated missing the GSTT training afternoon but was lured by the temptation of a free leg massage. After going out on a slow 8 mile run, we were then told that the person doing the massage had back out - what a disappointment!
My plan to be brave and start going to the track sessions may have to be delayed for a week. Fingers crossed the trusty frozen peas will work their magic soon :-)
90 days until the marathon!
I then got talked into doing hill repeats on Saturday morning. It wasn't as horrendous as I'd feared although JT did go easy on me, letting me start further up the hill and have a head start. I came home feeling rather pleased with myself but expecting to feel the pain on Sunday. What I didn't expect was for both my shins to have swollen up before I went to bed. I had "cankles" that could give the grannies in the Post Office a run for their money!
I had debated missing the GSTT training afternoon but was lured by the temptation of a free leg massage. After going out on a slow 8 mile run, we were then told that the person doing the massage had back out - what a disappointment!
My plan to be brave and start going to the track sessions may have to be delayed for a week. Fingers crossed the trusty frozen peas will work their magic soon :-)
90 days until the marathon!
To spin or not to spin?
Monday 11 January 2010
So, thanks to the massive mirror in the disabled toilet at work (still no idea why it needs to be so big), I have to accept the fact that marathon training alone is not going to give me a super toned physique. Sure, it burns hundreds of calories and has given me toned calves and quads but it doesn't do much for the rest of me. Possibly my current thinking of "Oh, I've been for a long/hard run so I can have a takeaway/extra bar of choc etc" is not helping either! I love Wii Fit as well but I'm not going to kid myself too much about that (although I do think rhythm boxing is doing something for my arms ...)
I've heard that spinning does great things for your thighs and butt but I've always been put off by the roar of the instructor that can be heard from the changing room at the gym - terrifying! Has anyone else tried spinning? And liked it?! Let me know ...
On a more positive note, my long run is now 12 miles and - big and - I haven't smoked a single cigarette for a month now. Very pleased with myself about that!
I've heard that spinning does great things for your thighs and butt but I've always been put off by the roar of the instructor that can be heard from the changing room at the gym - terrifying! Has anyone else tried spinning? And liked it?! Let me know ...
On a more positive note, my long run is now 12 miles and - big and - I haven't smoked a single cigarette for a month now. Very pleased with myself about that!
New Year, new ... ?
Tuesday 5 January 2010
... training plan! Many thanks are due to the very helpful JT at my running club for providing me with a training plan for the marathon. After easing off training for a couple of weeks to allow my irritating calf problem time to calm down, the plan is just what I needed. Plus GSTT charity are holding a training afternoon this Sunday, including a leg massage amongst other things - probably what I need more than the plan, actually!
I was cheered on during my long run at the weekend by a few smiles from passers by and a double thumbs up and words of encouragement from a shabby looking man in Peckham! Unfortunately, there's a rumour of more snow in London this week - fingers cross it misses us.
It's also time to start putting my back into fundraising. The karaoke night was tentatively planned for the 15th Jan but as the venue hasn't confirmed the booking with only ten days to go, it might well be postponed for a few weeks. Planning my fundraising strategies has also led to some interesting discoveries of well-known current and former local residents: Kenneth Brannagh, Emma Thompson, Jeremy Bowen, the lovely Joanna Lumley, Michael Caine, Will Self, Rio Ferdinand, Basement Jaxx, and my favourite - Florence from Florence & The Machine - to name just a few!
16 weeks to go!
I was cheered on during my long run at the weekend by a few smiles from passers by and a double thumbs up and words of encouragement from a shabby looking man in Peckham! Unfortunately, there's a rumour of more snow in London this week - fingers cross it misses us.
It's also time to start putting my back into fundraising. The karaoke night was tentatively planned for the 15th Jan but as the venue hasn't confirmed the booking with only ten days to go, it might well be postponed for a few weeks. Planning my fundraising strategies has also led to some interesting discoveries of well-known current and former local residents: Kenneth Brannagh, Emma Thompson, Jeremy Bowen, the lovely Joanna Lumley, Michael Caine, Will Self, Rio Ferdinand, Basement Jaxx, and my favourite - Florence from Florence & The Machine - to name just a few!
16 weeks to go!
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