Octopush Wednesday session - Edinbugh 29/9

Time: ~45min
Attacking: not much :(
New skill: no
Goals: 0 


I enjoyed tonight's session, but I've fallen back into the habit of doing very little swimming with the puck.  I have been mostly playing centre back/2 at the back where it's not a focus of the position to push forward.  My legs weren't too tired, not like last week, which I was surprised by; I expected them to be very tired after the spin class - I suppose cycling isn't 'new' exercise for my legs so it wasn't a complete shock to the system.  My ankle twinged a bit during the game, so I think I should take it easy tomorrow, maybe just nip into the gym

Gym visit - Wednesday 29/9

Obliques -      17.5kg - 3 x 15
Abdominals - 20kg - 3 x 15
Back Extension -  20kg - 3 x 15

*will find out what it's actually called

I went to the gym after the spin class to do some weights; unfortunately I couldn't find my exercise programme, but hopefully that'll get sorted.  So I did the above; I was quite conservative with the weight, I want to make sure I've got the technique right before adding more weight; but I did add a little bit of weight and actually found that much easier to do.  The oblique was the most difficult of the 3.

Spin class - Wednesday 29/9

I haven't sweat so much in my life (presumably I sweat during uwh, but thankfully I can't see it); I was dripping on the floor (kinda embarrassing)
I realised, after about 2 minutes, that I'm quite good at pedaling whilst sitting on my arse, but the standing up was horrendous, I didn't even complete it during the warm-up.  The 'tracks' involving standing were abysmal, I didn't manage to stay standing for even half of any of them.  The sprint sections were fairly easy, so I probably should have increased the tension but I didn't want to push it the first time.
My arms are quite tired after the class; next time I'll put the handlebars higher, see if that help.  We were told not to lean on the handlebars whilst standing, but I struggled so much at it, that I couldn't help it.
My right foot, and left to a lesser extent, got pretty sore, though I spoke to the class leader at the end and I might have been pedalling slightly wrong.  More worryingly, my right ankle got very achy about half way through the class,  I'm hoping that it was just fatigue - I haven't felt any discomfort in it since the end of the class.
I'm going to leave it a few days before doing another spin class, though I'm thinking about the Sunday class.....

Muscle definition/tone

Not strictly worth a blog post, but just want to note that I'm noticing that the quad muscle near my knee has become more defined.  I actually thought at the weekend that it was inflammation from doing so much more exercise last week than I'm used to, but now my quads don't hurt anymore so I reckon it's muscle.  No one else would notice it, but when I put my hands on my knees, I think "wow, there's muscle!"

I suspect that after the spin class tomorrow, they'll be hurting again, but it'll pay off (I just have to keep repeating that to myself)

Weight Loss Progress 27/9

Weight - 17st 3
Bust - 48
Waist - 49
Hips - 51.5

Have been in a bit of a funk with eating the past few weeks and I can't be arsed cooking.  I had thought that I'd lost weight at the end of last week because one of my shirts fit better around my midriff, but I ate really badly over the weekend and seem to have undone the good work I did in the beginning of the week.

Anyhoo, new week :)

Pilates class - Monday 27/9

Went to the uni's pilates class for the first time and was kinda surprised.  Was very different from the pilates class that I did before; it seems like you're doing less, but you realise after a while that you're working hard.  I struggled to do the exercises - especially the plank - even though I was doing the easy versions.
I thought about going to the gym after, but decided not to because I didn't want to overdo it and not be able to move comfortably for a couple of days.  I feel fine now (10 hours later) so I think I'll be fine going to the gym after classes.  I'm definitely planning to go again, and have hopefully booked into the class again tomorrow (also booked into the spin class on Wednesday....suspect I've bitten off more than I can chew)

Cycling mileage - Week 20-26/9

53.99 Miles

5 trips to and from uni
1 trip to octopush

My legs were totally knackered by this week's cycling which is kinda disappointing because it's not really that high a mileage, but I think the tiredness is mainly due to having to sprint to uni because I was running late.  This was also why I only went to octopush once this week and didn't cycle anywhere at the weekend to give my legs a chance to rest.

Core class - Friday 24/9

First time I've been to a core class and I took it easy since it's been a tiring week, I didn't know what to expect and I didn't want to overdo it.  Was a bit shocked when we had to do squats, though they were too bad - the floor work with the ball was much worse.  At the time it didn't seem too intense, but I was very tired afterwards (probably not helped by the fact I only arrived at uni 10 minutes before the class).  I can feel that my lower hack muscles are tired, and that'll probably get worse, but I plan to go to the class again

Octopush Wednesday session - Edinburgh 22/9

Time: ~45min
Attacking: not at all :(
New skill: no
Goals: 0

Legs were quite sore as cycling to uni every day (and usually at full pelt because of running late) has been a shock to the system.  I didn't really feel tired as such, but there was no power in my legs at all.  I'm chuffed that even though my legs were tired, I still chased runaway goals - but it was pitifully noticable how much slower than usual I was.

Gym Induction 21/9

Just had an induction for the fitness suite at QMU and enjoyed it.  For cardio, I'll be concentrating on the cross-trainer and a stepper thing (not the step machine, but similar).  Will also be doing some work on the step machine for my calf.  For resistance, I'm concentrating on my core muscles for now, so there's only 3 machines I'll be using plus the leg press for my calf (can use it instead of the step drop that I've never gotten into the habit of doing.
Also booked into the pilates class on Monday; nearly booked into the one on Friday morning but since I only have a late class that day, I decided against it.

Octopush - Sunday night session, Edinburgh 12/9

Time: ~45min
Attacking: not much
New skill: no
Goals: 0

Ok session, but felt kinda tired so didn't push forward much.

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Octopush - Friday Night session, Edinburgh 10/9

Time played: 75 minutes
attacking?: quite good
New skill used in game: several attempted v's off the left wall, worked a few times :)
Goals scored: 0 :-(


Was quite a good session, found it difficult to push forward as I didn't trust the offside back to cover when we played 1-3-2, but after switching to 3-3, I pushed forward on the left wall quite a lot.  I started to flag after ~45 minutes, but still tried to push forward.

Octopush - Wednesday night session, Edinburgh 8/9

Time played: 45 minutes
attacking?: poor
New skill used in game: none :-(
Goals scored: 0 :-(


I don't know why, but my legs were dead during this session, maybe because I'd cycled there and after a month in Orkney I'm not used to it, but that shouldn't be the reason.  Overall, an extremely disappointing session.


As a side note, I mucked about with my old dorsal bats for a while and I can't believe I used to play with them; really clumsy and it felt more difficult to flick with them than the carve (probably only because I'm not used to it anymore).

Octopush - Sunday night session, Orkney 5/9

Time played: 40 minutes
attacking?: occasionally
New skill used in game: none :-(Goals scored: 0 :-(

Session was quite choppy as the training was more specific.  Still played a good 40 minutes with instructions to attack.  As the training was more specific than usual, I didn't have any personal focus, which is why I wasn't trying new things (emphasis was on helping the U19s).

Octopush - Friday Night session, Orkney

Time played: 50 minutes
attacking?: occasionally
New skill used in game: some dummies attempted, 1 successful
Goals scored: 0 :-(

Had two games at hockey tonight, so played ~50 minutes in total.  Didn't manage to push forward very much, but that was more to do with the style of the games, than laziness.  Right Achilles heel has been a bit sore today, so that may have subconsciously stopped me from swimming hard.  Right hand is quite achy, especially the big thumb joint; not sure why, but it might be something to do with the bike handlebars as I noticed my hand were sore after a while.

Spent time between games practising puck handling, particularly whilst moving and overall it wasn't bad; just need to figure out why I don't do the skills I can do whilst in a game.  Perhaps playing forward for a while when I get back to Edinburgh will help, because that way I'll know there will be someone behind me should I lose the puck.

'Twas my last night at a proper Orkney session (ladies session on Sunday) and I'm kinda glad because I was getting annoyed at the lack of tactics tonight; I think the tournament raised my expectations a bit.  On the other hand, I think it's good for me to play in Orkney; it encourages me to do things on my own more, such as tonight when I tried several dummies.  Apart from the dummies, it was a pretty poor session for me.

Cycled round Deerness Road Loop

miles: 9.82
time: 61 minutes
average speed: 9.6 mph

Feel like I started off faster than yesterday, and therefore decided to go a longer route.  I did a faster average speed, so I'm happy; the weather was better this evening, making it easier going.
Right knee was a bit sore to begin with but seemed to be fine once it had warmed up.

Cycled round Tankerness Loop

miles: 5.78
time: 39 minutes
Average speed: 8.8mph

Cycled round the loop at a fairly leisurely pace; was slowed down by fairly heavy rain after ~10 minutes.  I found it more difficult cycling up the brae o' Fea than I did on Monday, not sure why since I was tired on Monday after the tournament on Saturday and I feel fine today.