natjtan Happy Thursday!
This past weekend saw my birthday, tea with friends, the usual training, running, of course the zoo and the beach. Yes, beach season has begun and that makes me one happy girl! 
Last Friday I celebrated my birthday with my usual birthday wish, sunny skies, the beach and all day in shorts. The morning started off with opening presents and cards (always more cards than presents as you get older!) before a beach run with a light breeze that got me excited to be heading there later on. Except the weather had other ideas for the afternoon. The sun stayed, the wind picked up to almost sandstorm (okay slight exaggeration) speeds whipping sand like needles. I stuck it out as it was my birthday and I wanted to spend time at the beach. In reality we should have just said no, but hey. The amount of sand that ended up in my bag, shorts hem, plastered on my ears, face, arms, legs was unbelievable!
And of course I made the zoo! That was also a birthday wish! 
Saturdays morning, the usual, chores, Tone It Up workouts. I’ve completed nearly all their workouts from their Beach Babe 5. I like their new fitness direction and all but 2 I found little slow will be repeated for sure! I do my own workouts during the week and theirs on a Saturday incorporating quite a few of their moves into my own. In the afternoon I met up with a friend for tea/coffee. We’ve been meaning to for weeks, but one of us has always ended up cancelling. It was great catching up to speed and having a girlie chat. I don’t have many friends so I value my girlie chats when we meet up!
The best mint tea in the city from La Esquina
Sunday took me ages to get out to run. Thursday evening I got hit with allergies that came out of nowhere and didn’t disappear until about Tuesday. Sneezes, blocked nose that intermitted with a runny one, sore throat with Sunday being one of the worse days. What finally got me out for an afternoon run was the feeling of being unproductive, lazy and I wasted the morning in self pity! I knew it wouldn’t be the greatest run, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I reduced the distance by 2km, walked when I needed to and my allergies were okay until I got back albeit in a better headspace. Monkey bars, I only did 2 sets instead of 4 and through Badalona port I’m pretty sure these were baby sharks swimming in all the rubbish (I’ve never seen the water so logged with litter). 
Plans to get out the city were abandoned as P wasn’t feeling too great either. Earlier in the week he rode his motorbike back to the UK for it’s MOT and his neck was playing up so there was only one place to go, la playa! We got there late afternoon to perfect beach weather, no wind and clear blue skies. The rest of the evening was spend trying to keep awake blogging with heavy eyes winning. I’m slowly winning the fight against night naps were I get in and crash. I’m trying additional vitamin B12 supplements in addition to what’s in my multi vitamin to see how I go! 
How do you celebrate birthdays? All out big parties or low key celebrations? Have a great rest of the week!
Happy belated birthday, Natalie!
🙂 Thank you!
Happy birthday Natalie. Birthdays have become very low key for me. I guess it has to do with getting older. Another year it will be 60, which is a little scary.
So sorry to hear about your allergies. They really sound like they take a lot out of you. But glad you got your wishes for your birthday.
I don’t know my marine life very well, but they certainly do look like sharks in the water in that one picture.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
🙂 Thank you!
Wow nearly 60! I’m in a few years 20 years younger and that scares me no end! On the flip side you’re in better shape than many your age! Plus I think having a young mentality helps keep age away. Give it an inch it takes a mile. I can see why people especially woman don’t like or treat younger woman bad (looks, comments etc), perhaps it’s a hint of jealously, but that’s another discussion!
Allergies are a pain. They’ve calmed down but hit every now and then. I’ve no idea what causes them. I can go for weeks fine, then bam!
I’m pretty sure they were sharks too. I didn’t see them this weekend, but there was a lot less rubbish floating around.
Have a great rest of the week and thank you for dropping by to say Hi! 🙂
Thank you for your kind words Natalie. Age really is something that is really interesting. Sometimes with long distance runs, I really feel my age. But then again I have nothing to compare it to, because I was not a runner in my 20’s and 30’s. I am very fortunate with my health. Many people I know that I have grown up with have had serious health issues, and a few have actually passed away.
I get you! I can’t compare pre being a vegan or the feeling of what say eating clean or plants only as though I’ve only been a vegan for about 4 years, I’ve been a vegetarian for about 19. I did notice a difference when I stopped eating yoghurt that said.
Sorry to hear a few of your acquaintances have passed away. It makes you realise how important being active and healthy is.
Do you have any up and coming races? I admire you running ultras 🙂
Happy Birthday, Nat! Glad all your birthday wishes came true. So true about getting cards more than presents as we get older.
🙂 Thank you!
happy belated birthday ( and love the new profile pic!)
🙂 Thank you and thank you!