Untitled by sonialiddell at Garmin Connect - Detail
No land speed records but happy with average pace.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Ouch. Very large amounts of Ouch.
Did my 3 hour road run today. Managed 27.8km which was exactly what I expected. But by god I am hurting now. And I have no idea where in my arse I am going to pull another 15 km from come marathon day. I am starting to think this was not a Very Good Idea. Not at all.
Would you like me to catalogue my various sore bits? I thought not, but I am going to anyway. Just in case I decide ANOTHER day to do something stupid like this. Well currently my sorest bits are both my little toes. Right at the tips of my little toes. I did take precautions today and clip the toenails, but clearly that wasn't adequate. Sore tips of little toes make it hard to walk. Especially in heels.
Hips. I knew this would happen, it is manageable. With alcohol.
Legs. Shins. Calves. Thighs. Backs of thighs. Insides of thighs. The very fecking CORE of my thighs. Again, alcohol is doing a stellar job of assisting with this.
When I finished my run my skins were all white on the shin bit from salty sweat. I looked a bit like a homeless person.
All throughout my three hour run I alternatively craved avocadoes and Sauvignon Blanc. But more Sauvignon Blanc. In fact I think the prospect of a guilt free chilled glass was what got me through the last 6km.
I don't think I was built for running. I looked at other, slimmer and more fit looking people breezing around the river with jumpers cockily thrown over their shoulders and walking small dogs and looking WAY more relaxed and at ease than small little curvy me just ooozing effot with every step. I reminded myself many times today this is not about weight loss but is about a goal. A fecking stupid goal, now that I re-assess it, but there you go.
Anyway I now have a nice chilled Sauv Blanc in my hand, which is helping to anaesthetise my aches and pains and help me forget what a damn fool I am. Tomorrow is another day. Another day with 13.4km planned. Fark!
Would you like me to catalogue my various sore bits? I thought not, but I am going to anyway. Just in case I decide ANOTHER day to do something stupid like this. Well currently my sorest bits are both my little toes. Right at the tips of my little toes. I did take precautions today and clip the toenails, but clearly that wasn't adequate. Sore tips of little toes make it hard to walk. Especially in heels.
Hips. I knew this would happen, it is manageable. With alcohol.
Legs. Shins. Calves. Thighs. Backs of thighs. Insides of thighs. The very fecking CORE of my thighs. Again, alcohol is doing a stellar job of assisting with this.
When I finished my run my skins were all white on the shin bit from salty sweat. I looked a bit like a homeless person.
All throughout my three hour run I alternatively craved avocadoes and Sauvignon Blanc. But more Sauvignon Blanc. In fact I think the prospect of a guilt free chilled glass was what got me through the last 6km.
I don't think I was built for running. I looked at other, slimmer and more fit looking people breezing around the river with jumpers cockily thrown over their shoulders and walking small dogs and looking WAY more relaxed and at ease than small little curvy me just ooozing effot with every step. I reminded myself many times today this is not about weight loss but is about a goal. A fecking stupid goal, now that I re-assess it, but there you go.
Anyway I now have a nice chilled Sauv Blanc in my hand, which is helping to anaesthetise my aches and pains and help me forget what a damn fool I am. Tomorrow is another day. Another day with 13.4km planned. Fark!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Untitled by sonialiddell at Garmin Connect - Details
Untitled by sonialiddell at Garmin Connect - Details
Probably the closest to even pacing I have ever managed!! Happy with this, even if the speed is something that needs work!
Probably the closest to even pacing I have ever managed!! Happy with this, even if the speed is something that needs work!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Piss off Winter Cold
Woke in the middle of the night with a headache that had nothing to do with vodka. A dry throat, stingy eyes and aches and pains everywhere. The Winter Cold has paid a visit. Well, Winter Cold, you can just piss off because I am very busy being busy at stuff. So there.
I also woke from the weekend to find I was entered in a) a marathon and b) a triathlon. Super! This is BOUND to keep me out of mischief for a while. I was almost tempted to do DRY AUGUST until I came home, felt miserable with achy coldy sniffly heady pooey Winter Cold and proceeded to have a medicinal vodka. Phew! That was close!! Last time I attempted Dry Anything was a wee bit of a disaster and the 15 days of dryness were followed by 15 absolutely saturated days but I suppose it was a wee bit ambitious trying to do a dry month when on a tropical island on a work conference with free Mai Tais being bandied around here, there and everywhere.....
But that was summer. Summer is a frivolous time where nothing gets done and people are silly and don't make any plans. This is winter when everyone is very focused on shit and gets stuff done and people enter races, or enrol in Uni or remember to insure the car, pay the gas bill or become a Wizard.
Anyway - everyone has PISSED THEMSELVES LAUGHING when I disclosed the entering of the marathon. Everyone! Even Monica. Especially Monica. Which actually is good because they all think I am mad and cannot do it, so now I have to prove to them that I can.
(Disclaimer: I LURRRVE Monica and know she is right, but still want to prove her wrong!!!!!)
I also woke from the weekend to find I was entered in a) a marathon and b) a triathlon. Super! This is BOUND to keep me out of mischief for a while. I was almost tempted to do DRY AUGUST until I came home, felt miserable with achy coldy sniffly heady pooey Winter Cold and proceeded to have a medicinal vodka. Phew! That was close!! Last time I attempted Dry Anything was a wee bit of a disaster and the 15 days of dryness were followed by 15 absolutely saturated days but I suppose it was a wee bit ambitious trying to do a dry month when on a tropical island on a work conference with free Mai Tais being bandied around here, there and everywhere.....
But that was summer. Summer is a frivolous time where nothing gets done and people are silly and don't make any plans. This is winter when everyone is very focused on shit and gets stuff done and people enter races, or enrol in Uni or remember to insure the car, pay the gas bill or become a Wizard.
Anyway - everyone has PISSED THEMSELVES LAUGHING when I disclosed the entering of the marathon. Everyone! Even Monica. Especially Monica. Which actually is good because they all think I am mad and cannot do it, so now I have to prove to them that I can.
(Disclaimer: I LURRRVE Monica and know she is right, but still want to prove her wrong!!!!!)
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Marathons and stuff
So it's been about two weeks now that I have been really happy with the achilles. So last week I tested it out on a "longer" run. And mentioned I thought I could do a half marathon. And some eejit commented that I could do a full marathon. Which got me thinking. And then Kendra and Blake sent an email to say they had entered and had accommodation and did we want to stay with them, and so it all came to pass without too much grief. So I am now entered in a marathon in just over two months and can I just say, the very IDEA of a marathon scares the absolute bejesus out of me. But I have hummmmed and hawwwwed over life decisions for the past six months, maybe physical strength will lead to mental strength? Every time I complete another training session I feel good and at the moment, I need all the feel good moments I can get. So - 42.2km here I come.
This week was interesting. According to my new fangled Garmin, I did 63km, which isn't a bad start. Although 27km of that was a hike with no running at all. The summary of this week:
Monday 4km which was all I could fit in before work
Wednesday 8.5km with hills.
Thursday 10km at a faster than normal training pace
Saturday 13.5km "long" (and flat) run
Sunday 27km hike in the national park, not many hills.
Which is not exactly brilliant marathon training, but hey it is week one.
So next week I will do a 25km flat run and then a long hike on Sunday (planning to see Jerusalem Bay, sounds like a really nice hike). The following week will keep it lower key as the week after we are doing a training run on Six Foot Track. We did this last year and I wouldn't say it was easy, but I was running more then. I don't know if I would say I was fitter, I have been doing a lot of longer, slower stuff of late, so I can hold my own over distance - I think!!!
In the meantime, I need to get out on that bike - it is finding the time or rather making the time for all this. In between sitting on a train for three hours a day four days a week. It CAN be done!!! It WILL be done!!!
This week was interesting. According to my new fangled Garmin, I did 63km, which isn't a bad start. Although 27km of that was a hike with no running at all. The summary of this week:
Monday 4km which was all I could fit in before work
Wednesday 8.5km with hills.
Thursday 10km at a faster than normal training pace
Saturday 13.5km "long" (and flat) run
Sunday 27km hike in the national park, not many hills.
Which is not exactly brilliant marathon training, but hey it is week one.
So next week I will do a 25km flat run and then a long hike on Sunday (planning to see Jerusalem Bay, sounds like a really nice hike). The following week will keep it lower key as the week after we are doing a training run on Six Foot Track. We did this last year and I wouldn't say it was easy, but I was running more then. I don't know if I would say I was fitter, I have been doing a lot of longer, slower stuff of late, so I can hold my own over distance - I think!!!
In the meantime, I need to get out on that bike - it is finding the time or rather making the time for all this. In between sitting on a train for three hours a day four days a week. It CAN be done!!! It WILL be done!!!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Freaky
Freaky day. Half an interview, a tyre blow out , a free dress, nice hair, half a nanna nap and a goodbye. Lunch with old friends, run tonight, PT after, half a free Garmin, that old feeling of HELP!!! And HOPE!!! And a little bit of excitement.....
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Happy
Work from home day = another mid week run, which is just as well, because I have an invitation to an exciting event which will be a HUGE big massive stretch and is very soon and I AM SOOOOO EXCITED I AM HOPPING FROM FOOT TO FOOT!!! I basically have three weeks. Fark!!! Lots of training between then and now required. 46kms of FUN (and pain and funny breathing and stomping uphill) coming up!!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Reality
Conversation with someone in work today....
Him: So - it's great we've got XXXXX to do this for us
Me: Is it?
Him: Why?
Me: She just told us she couldnt do what we wanted because it was too expensive, too hard and would take too long - so she wasn't going to try and fit it into our project.
Him: Hmmmm
Welcome to Government.
Him: So - it's great we've got XXXXX to do this for us
Me: Is it?
Him: Why?
Me: She just told us she couldnt do what we wanted because it was too expensive, too hard and would take too long - so she wasn't going to try and fit it into our project.
Him: Hmmmm
Welcome to Government.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Long run and the benefits of pineapple juice.
So - Ferris Mewler is the Fabio of Cats. Now that we have that sorted out....TRAINING!!!
Felt ho hum most of the week - I now know why and I AM NOT AMUSED!!! I AM TOO FREAKING YOUNG FOR THIS SHIT!!!
Anyway - had a good early night and an even better lie in (all up about 13 hours of blissful dreaming and involuntary leg movement) but woke up feeling like a human being again.
Which is good, because it kinda helps fit in with the rest of the human beings mulling around our house. You never know who you are going to walk into in your jammies. Yesterday it was the carpet measuring up man and this morning it as Curts girlfriend. So much for the mystique of "before I put my face on"....
Anyway - loaded up on berries and porridge and a whole VAT of coffee, I set off in search of a flat run. The idea was to test out a long road run. All my long runs for the last seven hundred years have been on the trails, so I wanted to see how a road run would make my body feel, both whilst it was happening, and afterwards. Surprisingly good, is how I would answer. I actually really enjoyed it. I did have plenty of guff to occupy my mind and I left the Control Freak in me behind and allowed the iPod to shuffle, which was good. I did three laps of the river run, which gave me just a smidgen under 20km and whilst the time was not earth shattering, a wee bit of focussed training should help that. Of note though, the achilles behaved. I took the time to stretch out afterwards and included a recovery lap of Woolworths afterwards to get the weekly shopping, rather than going home to sit with my foot in a bucket. I think it worked well, feeling really good right now. I got Monicas roller thing out and rolled any surface that felt in any way dodgy - including the fronts of my thighs, back of my calves, inside thighs - much like a mini massage. So there is no reason I cannot start entering races again - been a long time and maybe I am getting ahead of myself but I am EXCITED!!!
And it is nice to have something to train for!
In further adventures of juicing - I experimented today with carrots, celery and pineapple. TO DIE FOR!! Yum yum yum. And juiced pineapple goes all frothy. If it wasn't the middle of the day I would have been tempted to add a bit of Malibu. Then I was making a Korma and so added all the spat out bits of carrot and celery and pineapple to the Korma. It tastes - different. Curtis commented that it would taste better tomorrow. I just don't like wasting stuff. Especially good healthy stuff. I suppose it has a sweetness that is unusual but once all the spices infuse, it will be yummy and much much healthier than bog standard Korma. I am tellling myself this. My drive to get more veggies into my gob than ever before has been going really well and I am wondering if the almost fake tan effect is actually from excess beetroot and carrot and tomatoes......
And here is a very interesting article. I think, if I understood it all.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14258601
Felt ho hum most of the week - I now know why and I AM NOT AMUSED!!! I AM TOO FREAKING YOUNG FOR THIS SHIT!!!
Anyway - had a good early night and an even better lie in (all up about 13 hours of blissful dreaming and involuntary leg movement) but woke up feeling like a human being again.
Which is good, because it kinda helps fit in with the rest of the human beings mulling around our house. You never know who you are going to walk into in your jammies. Yesterday it was the carpet measuring up man and this morning it as Curts girlfriend. So much for the mystique of "before I put my face on"....
Anyway - loaded up on berries and porridge and a whole VAT of coffee, I set off in search of a flat run. The idea was to test out a long road run. All my long runs for the last seven hundred years have been on the trails, so I wanted to see how a road run would make my body feel, both whilst it was happening, and afterwards. Surprisingly good, is how I would answer. I actually really enjoyed it. I did have plenty of guff to occupy my mind and I left the Control Freak in me behind and allowed the iPod to shuffle, which was good. I did three laps of the river run, which gave me just a smidgen under 20km and whilst the time was not earth shattering, a wee bit of focussed training should help that. Of note though, the achilles behaved. I took the time to stretch out afterwards and included a recovery lap of Woolworths afterwards to get the weekly shopping, rather than going home to sit with my foot in a bucket. I think it worked well, feeling really good right now. I got Monicas roller thing out and rolled any surface that felt in any way dodgy - including the fronts of my thighs, back of my calves, inside thighs - much like a mini massage. So there is no reason I cannot start entering races again - been a long time and maybe I am getting ahead of myself but I am EXCITED!!!
And it is nice to have something to train for!
In further adventures of juicing - I experimented today with carrots, celery and pineapple. TO DIE FOR!! Yum yum yum. And juiced pineapple goes all frothy. If it wasn't the middle of the day I would have been tempted to add a bit of Malibu. Then I was making a Korma and so added all the spat out bits of carrot and celery and pineapple to the Korma. It tastes - different. Curtis commented that it would taste better tomorrow. I just don't like wasting stuff. Especially good healthy stuff. I suppose it has a sweetness that is unusual but once all the spices infuse, it will be yummy and much much healthier than bog standard Korma. I am tellling myself this. My drive to get more veggies into my gob than ever before has been going really well and I am wondering if the almost fake tan effect is actually from excess beetroot and carrot and tomatoes......
And here is a very interesting article. I think, if I understood it all.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14258601
Monday, July 11, 2011
200g nightie
So, developments this week. Where do I start? There have been so many.....
Firstly - my nightie weighs 200g. I know this because I hopped on the scales this morning, didn't like the result, and whipped off the nightie to get a better reading. Result.
Choices - feast or famine! This week I have choices coming out of my ears. Last week I only had prospects. It is a funny old world. And of course, what do I do when faced with a choice? I shudder and retreat into a corner and hope life sorts it out for me. I go after the change and the challenge and then I totally shit myself and have no idea what to do when presented with the opportunities.
Anyway, I am onto that.
Training. Oh boy. I thought at one stage I might enter Nepean Triathlon. So I took myself out on the bike on Saturday, ostensibly to do 30km to "see" how long it took me. The plan was to then compare with average race results and see how the lie of the land was.
I am very very crap on the bike. Actually, I am very very SLOW on the bike. I took myself around the Regatta Centre and rode as fast as I could (whilst dodging a lot of children, dogs and scooters). I stopped at 25km after a five year old on a pink bike with streamers coming out of the handles appeared to be coming from the other direction in a straight line and then turned and rode into my thigh. I wish I had my heart rate monitor on to see the spike, because it scared the absolute crap out of me. Little girl was fine, I was fine, but it could have been very very ugly.
Anyway, I had put the bike in the big gears and pushed as hard as I could....only to average 20km an hour. I need at least 25 km per hour to be anywhere near "normal" in the Nepean Tri. So I have to find some way to add 5km per hour to my speed between now and November -so if anyone knows how to do this (if in fact, anyone actually reads this blog) could you please let me know.
However, the running is going ok, and this week I did the Cool Running 5km challenge - ran it with friends, chatting and giggling and did it within 20 secs of my pb. Happy days. I think it was because it was so cold I couldnt feel my legs. Then Sunday did a walk / run thing for 25km in the National Park which was beautiful and we sat out at the Nepean Lookout and chatted and laughed and enjoyed the view. Lovely lovely lovely day.
So - what to do about this little life of mine? As usual, I am going to sit back, watch, wait and see what transpires. I hope it is good.
Firstly - my nightie weighs 200g. I know this because I hopped on the scales this morning, didn't like the result, and whipped off the nightie to get a better reading. Result.
Choices - feast or famine! This week I have choices coming out of my ears. Last week I only had prospects. It is a funny old world. And of course, what do I do when faced with a choice? I shudder and retreat into a corner and hope life sorts it out for me. I go after the change and the challenge and then I totally shit myself and have no idea what to do when presented with the opportunities.
Anyway, I am onto that.
Training. Oh boy. I thought at one stage I might enter Nepean Triathlon. So I took myself out on the bike on Saturday, ostensibly to do 30km to "see" how long it took me. The plan was to then compare with average race results and see how the lie of the land was.
I am very very crap on the bike. Actually, I am very very SLOW on the bike. I took myself around the Regatta Centre and rode as fast as I could (whilst dodging a lot of children, dogs and scooters). I stopped at 25km after a five year old on a pink bike with streamers coming out of the handles appeared to be coming from the other direction in a straight line and then turned and rode into my thigh. I wish I had my heart rate monitor on to see the spike, because it scared the absolute crap out of me. Little girl was fine, I was fine, but it could have been very very ugly.
Anyway, I had put the bike in the big gears and pushed as hard as I could....only to average 20km an hour. I need at least 25 km per hour to be anywhere near "normal" in the Nepean Tri. So I have to find some way to add 5km per hour to my speed between now and November -so if anyone knows how to do this (if in fact, anyone actually reads this blog) could you please let me know.
However, the running is going ok, and this week I did the Cool Running 5km challenge - ran it with friends, chatting and giggling and did it within 20 secs of my pb. Happy days. I think it was because it was so cold I couldnt feel my legs. Then Sunday did a walk / run thing for 25km in the National Park which was beautiful and we sat out at the Nepean Lookout and chatted and laughed and enjoyed the view. Lovely lovely lovely day.
So - what to do about this little life of mine? As usual, I am going to sit back, watch, wait and see what transpires. I hope it is good.
Monday, July 4, 2011
frocks
Computers are great and all but why oh why have I managed to find Saks Fifth Avenue Online Store, which just happens to ship to Australia and has the most FABULARSE dresses in the whole wide world? Last Saturday I was meeting friends, I had stuff to do but could I drag myself away from image after image of Dior, Armani and Diane Von Furstenburg? No. And I couldn't resist a couple of frocks either and now I am hoping they arrive safely and clear customs and are nice decent dresses, able to be worn on all occasions, and I haven't gone and bought some outrageous outfit that would only look good on a tall willowy blonde with a size two figure. Please, please please let them fit. And please let me quickly forget about how much I spent on them. If only Saks online would stop sending me emails, causing me to participate further in this new online addiction, because now, from my desk at the foot of the Blue Mountains, and at the click of my credit card number, I can purchase Louboutin heels, Jimmy Choos and Coach handbags, where previously I wouldn't even have the courage to front up into a store that sold this kind of merchandise. Advertising. It is a wonderful, powerful thing.
Meanwhile training continues - this weekend went out on bike and tried to get in as many hills as I could (hard) around my local area, including half of Mitchells Pass. Went for a trail run with Monica and a couple of the girls from Sparta PT - was good fun and nice to find new paths to take, and meet a million new dogs including a rather excitable doggy who accompanied us for about ten minutes and looked as if he was saying - "c'mon, I know this great track!" (say it in a Scooby Doo voice though). Sunday went for a 1.4km swim (yes, me, I swam YIPPEE and then a bike ride with us doing silly sprints in high gears at the end. Really felt like I wore myself out physically this weekend which was just brilliant, because it knocked me right off to sleep and stopped me thinking about the absolute mess my life is in.
Meanwhile training continues - this weekend went out on bike and tried to get in as many hills as I could (hard) around my local area, including half of Mitchells Pass. Went for a trail run with Monica and a couple of the girls from Sparta PT - was good fun and nice to find new paths to take, and meet a million new dogs including a rather excitable doggy who accompanied us for about ten minutes and looked as if he was saying - "c'mon, I know this great track!" (say it in a Scooby Doo voice though). Sunday went for a 1.4km swim (yes, me, I swam YIPPEE and then a bike ride with us doing silly sprints in high gears at the end. Really felt like I wore myself out physically this weekend which was just brilliant, because it knocked me right off to sleep and stopped me thinking about the absolute mess my life is in.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
I won Lotto!!!
..well, I did win Lotto!!! I won $13.05 which was just a smidgen less than the $3,424.99 or whatever it was to place the damn thing in the first place. Back to the drawing board re: The Commute.
So, where were we before I had dreams of spending Australias chilly winters in Grand Cayman? Ah yes, training. This week has been really good and really different, which is always good to keep the interest factor there. Saturday morning up early to run with Simon, who brought his new friend along. So whilst we ran at an ok pace, we did stop a few times for walk breaks for her, so when we finished, I felt really good and fresh and went for another lap on my own. The achilles pretty much behaved, which made my little heart SOAR!!! So around 14km which is my longest run for quite some time.
Sunday, Monica and I decided to ride to Windsor and back from her place. Never go anywhere with Monica unless you have done your own homework. She will tell you it is only 20km and you end up running 35, panting, out of breath, underprepared and mentally scarred for life. I know, I ended up with heatstroke one day but that is another story. Anyway Westmead to Windsor was SUPPOSED to be 50km but ended up being 62km. 12km on the bike is not that far except when you are a novice, have never been in the saddle for that long, your forgot your knicks and are an old, unfit, fart. Like me. However, it was bloody brilliant. Loved it. Except maybe one hill. Where I cursed a lot. We got home smiling, rosy cheeked, and quite proud of ourselves for surviving. Pair of fecking eejits.
Anyway this girl from the PT class is training for a half ironman and put the call out for people to join her doing hill repeats on the bike, and running. So I said I'd go along. Well for all these years I thought I had been "training" until I go along with her. The "run easy 30 mins" was fine, but on the hill repeats (and it was a bloody big steep hill) she just galloped up doing this high knee thing. I shuffled up the hill with my marvellous hunched over form, trying everything possible to propel myself up that hill but feeling like I was going backwards meanwhile someone was holding a oxy welding torch to my lungs. I might add that I feel I deserve additional points for going out on the years coldest night, when it snowed further up the mountain. Just saying like. So, anyway, I survived that, and plunged my protesting achilles into my new purchased bright red bucket of icy water - to save on water bills from filling the bath after every run.
Anyway tonight was hill repeats on a bike. Fark. After Sunday I was love love loving the bike. I still do. I went out today and purchased a helmet that (I think) looks slightly less retarded than my old one. Although I do not think there is a helmet in existence that is not absolutely ridiculous. But I do treasure my head, and it's contents and this one FITS well, for the first time in living history. And do you know what? I have an alarmingly big head!!! My helmet is size XL. Ner ner ner ner ner. I have something big (beside my rather impressive chest, even if I do say so myself). But me, five foot 2 inches of me has an EXTRA LARGE head. (Quietly wonders to self if it was childrens helmet???) - maybe I have an extra small head. I dunno. Anyway the point is, it is white (to match bike) feels snug and comfy (and not like it would fly off in case of me going over handlebars) and looks slightly less dicky than the previous one which came from the sports section of Target. Enough said.
So - hill repeats on a bike. Well I was reading about TABATA training, basically you flog yourself for a while, then you have a wee rest, and then you flog yourself again. Well this is what we did tonight. Except the "have a wee rest" bit involved cycling down a very steep hill, keeping the brakes on, yet HAVING to move the legs because they were so sore from the climb up. At one stage I was pedalling backwards just to get them moving and stop ACHING. I think I said to Sarah afterward that it was the hardest, yet shortest (40 mins) workout I had done in a long time. Strangely satisfying afterwards but damn hard work at the time. Panting like a person in labour. Cursing mentally because I didnt have the energy to actually say it out loud. But being absolutely determined to keep pedalling and pushing and reminding myself it is just up and down, up and down. Bloody hell. How do people do this competitively? Seriously, my thighs feel like they have grown to about three times the size and are bulging like a Romanian Weightlifters. Of course, they are not, but man, they are twitching right now. And foolishly I have tomorrow off and have organised biking followed by "Teaching Very Fit Friend to Tread Water". How the hell I will do that, I have no idea. So Parramatta Pool after Parramatta Park - heck with all this new found leg strength I might have a run in the morning - a mini triathlon day!!!
Here's to thighs!!!
So, where were we before I had dreams of spending Australias chilly winters in Grand Cayman? Ah yes, training. This week has been really good and really different, which is always good to keep the interest factor there. Saturday morning up early to run with Simon, who brought his new friend along. So whilst we ran at an ok pace, we did stop a few times for walk breaks for her, so when we finished, I felt really good and fresh and went for another lap on my own. The achilles pretty much behaved, which made my little heart SOAR!!! So around 14km which is my longest run for quite some time.
Sunday, Monica and I decided to ride to Windsor and back from her place. Never go anywhere with Monica unless you have done your own homework. She will tell you it is only 20km and you end up running 35, panting, out of breath, underprepared and mentally scarred for life. I know, I ended up with heatstroke one day but that is another story. Anyway Westmead to Windsor was SUPPOSED to be 50km but ended up being 62km. 12km on the bike is not that far except when you are a novice, have never been in the saddle for that long, your forgot your knicks and are an old, unfit, fart. Like me. However, it was bloody brilliant. Loved it. Except maybe one hill. Where I cursed a lot. We got home smiling, rosy cheeked, and quite proud of ourselves for surviving. Pair of fecking eejits.
Anyway this girl from the PT class is training for a half ironman and put the call out for people to join her doing hill repeats on the bike, and running. So I said I'd go along. Well for all these years I thought I had been "training" until I go along with her. The "run easy 30 mins" was fine, but on the hill repeats (and it was a bloody big steep hill) she just galloped up doing this high knee thing. I shuffled up the hill with my marvellous hunched over form, trying everything possible to propel myself up that hill but feeling like I was going backwards meanwhile someone was holding a oxy welding torch to my lungs. I might add that I feel I deserve additional points for going out on the years coldest night, when it snowed further up the mountain. Just saying like. So, anyway, I survived that, and plunged my protesting achilles into my new purchased bright red bucket of icy water - to save on water bills from filling the bath after every run.
Anyway tonight was hill repeats on a bike. Fark. After Sunday I was love love loving the bike. I still do. I went out today and purchased a helmet that (I think) looks slightly less retarded than my old one. Although I do not think there is a helmet in existence that is not absolutely ridiculous. But I do treasure my head, and it's contents and this one FITS well, for the first time in living history. And do you know what? I have an alarmingly big head!!! My helmet is size XL. Ner ner ner ner ner. I have something big (beside my rather impressive chest, even if I do say so myself). But me, five foot 2 inches of me has an EXTRA LARGE head. (Quietly wonders to self if it was childrens helmet???) - maybe I have an extra small head. I dunno. Anyway the point is, it is white (to match bike) feels snug and comfy (and not like it would fly off in case of me going over handlebars) and looks slightly less dicky than the previous one which came from the sports section of Target. Enough said.
So - hill repeats on a bike. Well I was reading about TABATA training, basically you flog yourself for a while, then you have a wee rest, and then you flog yourself again. Well this is what we did tonight. Except the "have a wee rest" bit involved cycling down a very steep hill, keeping the brakes on, yet HAVING to move the legs because they were so sore from the climb up. At one stage I was pedalling backwards just to get them moving and stop ACHING. I think I said to Sarah afterward that it was the hardest, yet shortest (40 mins) workout I had done in a long time. Strangely satisfying afterwards but damn hard work at the time. Panting like a person in labour. Cursing mentally because I didnt have the energy to actually say it out loud. But being absolutely determined to keep pedalling and pushing and reminding myself it is just up and down, up and down. Bloody hell. How do people do this competitively? Seriously, my thighs feel like they have grown to about three times the size and are bulging like a Romanian Weightlifters. Of course, they are not, but man, they are twitching right now. And foolishly I have tomorrow off and have organised biking followed by "Teaching Very Fit Friend to Tread Water". How the hell I will do that, I have no idea. So Parramatta Pool after Parramatta Park - heck with all this new found leg strength I might have a run in the morning - a mini triathlon day!!!
Here's to thighs!!!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
I did Lotto, so if you don't see me for a while.....
Last night I did something I am usually dead against, because I am not a fan of gambling in any form. Well, I do like that song, The Gambler, but that is about it. Don't particularly like horses being raced, whipped etc, don't like Melbourne Cup Day (ever since Derek set fire to his kitchen on MC day) and really really really DETEST those poker machines. But, cold, tired, weary and frankly, very fecking over it ("it" being commuting in dismal weather) I marched into Morries Newsagency and demanded he tell me how to play Lotto with "one of those one's where I don't have to think up the numbers". Morrie kindly said he could do that for me, so I asked him what I owed him. We sorted it out from there. So I am now the proud (?) owner of a "Powerpick 36" the ticket informs me. So he said he would see me Friday morning. I told a friend in work, and told him my motivation (fatigue from the commute) and he suggested that I would buy a penthouse in North Sydney. Feck, you know, if I DID happen to win Lotto, I bet I would still want to work. I get a bit of a kick out of working, especially this consulting / contracting business, because as soon as you are about to get bored you are out on your arse looking for something else. Anyway. Long winded way of saying, loving the job but fecking hating the travel. Hating the travel because it eats in to my time to train, my ability to see daylight and a sleep in every now and then. But the guys I work with are totally GORGEOUS, and the work is varied, interesting and very very busy. I am just afraid though that I am going to wake up one morning and I will be 60 before I know it, because time is just FLYING past in that place. And there is important stuff I need to do with my life and I know the time is really soon, and I thought about it a lot on my run tonight, and it is scaring me.
However, good news is.......two days in a row I have managed to train. Yesterday I did the run across the bridge and over to the parky place, what's it called? Botantic Gardens. No. That's Belfast. Something Botanicy. And that was about 7km. Iced wholeheartedly in ice bath again on arriving home, which WAS about six hours later, but better than nothing. Tonight did my superman impersonation at the shopping centre at Emu Plains (went into the toilets in a suit, came out in running gear) and ran around the river and back before doing the Sparta PT session, which was, incidently, really good, and went really quickly. Always a good sign when you are finished before you know it. So I guess on balance, everything is going not too bad, the whole "eating vegetables till you can't eat any more" thing is working really well for me, and have lost and kept off (most importantly) over 2kgs just from using veggies as grazing food. And my skin is loving it. So if I could get my ankle to behave, it might complete one part of the puzzle in the piecing together of my life......
However, good news is.......two days in a row I have managed to train. Yesterday I did the run across the bridge and over to the parky place, what's it called? Botantic Gardens. No. That's Belfast. Something Botanicy. And that was about 7km. Iced wholeheartedly in ice bath again on arriving home, which WAS about six hours later, but better than nothing. Tonight did my superman impersonation at the shopping centre at Emu Plains (went into the toilets in a suit, came out in running gear) and ran around the river and back before doing the Sparta PT session, which was, incidently, really good, and went really quickly. Always a good sign when you are finished before you know it. So I guess on balance, everything is going not too bad, the whole "eating vegetables till you can't eat any more" thing is working really well for me, and have lost and kept off (most importantly) over 2kgs just from using veggies as grazing food. And my skin is loving it. So if I could get my ankle to behave, it might complete one part of the puzzle in the piecing together of my life......
Monday, June 13, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Running, riding, next I'll be freaking swimming....
Got up at 5am this morning to meet Simon for an early run - he was under strict instructions that it would be slow because my achilles is STILL faffing about being sore. Was quite nervous, as putting the foot on the floor getting out of bed this morning was somewhat tender - but when I started running, it didn't get any worse. Still the run was slow and painful and not like the last few weeks where I have felt stronger and faster. Ah well. I am never going to win anything anyway, but it would be nice to be able to challenge myself a wee bit.
Stopped off on the way home to buy a big bag of ice and iced the living daylights out of ankle and calf which really really really helped. Filled the bath, immersed it, yelled, cursed, shouted at the pain, managed ten seconds max until I worked out it was the toes that were really unhappy, and fashioned a "calf in, achilles in, but no toes in" stance, which worked well. Achilles felt good all day.
Spent the afternoon on a 42km ride in the rain with Monica. At one point it was dismally cold, there was an icy wind and a big hill and a lot of sore thigh action but I thought how nice and rounded my bottom might be if I could do this a little more often, and then I thought, stuff my bottom, I don't care, ARE WE CLOSE TO HOME YET????? Because it very quickly went from exhilarating to freaking freezing and quite unpleasant. Once the wind died down it was ok again and we even decided to do one more lap for Jesus around Parramatta Park before calling it a day. This has been my first real foray into city bike riding, although almost all the riding we did was on a cycle path. About five minutes from Monicas place, the door of a parked car opens about five metres from my face, with me swerving only just in time to avoid the certain discomfort of flying over the handlebars and over the car door. Note to self. Note to self nothing. Not sure how to avoid this one. Anyway, home, showered, warm, and feeling tired but happy and gearing up for another ankle plunge into the Bath of Doom.
Stopped off on the way home to buy a big bag of ice and iced the living daylights out of ankle and calf which really really really helped. Filled the bath, immersed it, yelled, cursed, shouted at the pain, managed ten seconds max until I worked out it was the toes that were really unhappy, and fashioned a "calf in, achilles in, but no toes in" stance, which worked well. Achilles felt good all day.
Spent the afternoon on a 42km ride in the rain with Monica. At one point it was dismally cold, there was an icy wind and a big hill and a lot of sore thigh action but I thought how nice and rounded my bottom might be if I could do this a little more often, and then I thought, stuff my bottom, I don't care, ARE WE CLOSE TO HOME YET????? Because it very quickly went from exhilarating to freaking freezing and quite unpleasant. Once the wind died down it was ok again and we even decided to do one more lap for Jesus around Parramatta Park before calling it a day. This has been my first real foray into city bike riding, although almost all the riding we did was on a cycle path. About five minutes from Monicas place, the door of a parked car opens about five metres from my face, with me swerving only just in time to avoid the certain discomfort of flying over the handlebars and over the car door. Note to self. Note to self nothing. Not sure how to avoid this one. Anyway, home, showered, warm, and feeling tired but happy and gearing up for another ankle plunge into the Bath of Doom.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Harbour Bridge Run
Last night I went to bed at 8pm and set the alarm for five o'freaking clock - the plan being an early and invigorating run before work and in my mind I would be rocking up to work with pink cheeks and that smug feeling of having been up, done my workout before the rest of the world had even got in the shower.....
My sub conscious had other plans, however, and I woke at 11.30pm from a freaky dream about crustaceans hatching out of my bottom. Needless to say I lay awake mulled over this subliminal message my brain was sending me for hours and was unable to get up at the aforementioned hour to run. This made me a little grumpy.
However, no-one ever got anywhere by being grumpy, so I packed my running gear and despite having normal massive handbag full of carrots, pepsi max and a punnet of tomatoes, I also had my work notebook, some files, and then my running gear, hair putting up gear, makeup touch up gear, iPod gear and emergency fake hair gear, all packed and on the train with me, as well as my oatmeal and protein powder shake in another bag just in case it leaked. But I did all this because I was DETERMINED to run in the freaking daylight at least once this week.
I have lived in this beautiful country for almost twenty years. Hang on, it is 21 years (how did I miss that???) and I have NEVER worked in the City before. So I still get goosebumps going over the harbour bridge and seeing the Opera House and being part of the ebb and flow of commuters at city train stations. I do, I love it. But today, just running over the bridge on a normal Wednesday in June was a totally massive thrill for little old me. I felt part of something. If that makes any sense.
Plus the added benefit of getting out in the (somewhat freaking frosty) fresh air, seeing sunlight on a workday, and generally getting away from my desk was BLOODY FANTASTIC. It was icy in the city today with a strong icy wind to boot. But it was just marvellous to be out there getting hot and sweaty and my hair in my eyes with the harbour beneath me, the traffic beside me and fellow runners, walkers, tourists (and a couple of very bored security guys) around me.
My little mind has been feeling very unhappy lately about the amount of time I waste on trains, and the dark nasty conditions either in the morning or at night, so now I know I have NO FECKING EXCUSES!!! My commitment to MYSELF is 2 lunchtime runs per week.
I will still do my Thurs night run prior to the PT session and my normal carry on at the weekends. (Note - "normal carry on" may vary from weekend to weekend...).
Once more I feel much more positive about the future. Plus I have managed to make my new eating regime a habit, having been at it for about four weeks now. Feeling good, positive and despite my FARKING achilles being really really sore post run, I am still smiling (if not smelling slightly of deep heat and looking slightly ridiculous in black silk nightie, one compression sock and a snake bandage over the top).
My sub conscious had other plans, however, and I woke at 11.30pm from a freaky dream about crustaceans hatching out of my bottom. Needless to say I lay awake mulled over this subliminal message my brain was sending me for hours and was unable to get up at the aforementioned hour to run. This made me a little grumpy.
However, no-one ever got anywhere by being grumpy, so I packed my running gear and despite having normal massive handbag full of carrots, pepsi max and a punnet of tomatoes, I also had my work notebook, some files, and then my running gear, hair putting up gear, makeup touch up gear, iPod gear and emergency fake hair gear, all packed and on the train with me, as well as my oatmeal and protein powder shake in another bag just in case it leaked. But I did all this because I was DETERMINED to run in the freaking daylight at least once this week.
I have lived in this beautiful country for almost twenty years. Hang on, it is 21 years (how did I miss that???) and I have NEVER worked in the City before. So I still get goosebumps going over the harbour bridge and seeing the Opera House and being part of the ebb and flow of commuters at city train stations. I do, I love it. But today, just running over the bridge on a normal Wednesday in June was a totally massive thrill for little old me. I felt part of something. If that makes any sense.
Plus the added benefit of getting out in the (somewhat freaking frosty) fresh air, seeing sunlight on a workday, and generally getting away from my desk was BLOODY FANTASTIC. It was icy in the city today with a strong icy wind to boot. But it was just marvellous to be out there getting hot and sweaty and my hair in my eyes with the harbour beneath me, the traffic beside me and fellow runners, walkers, tourists (and a couple of very bored security guys) around me.
My little mind has been feeling very unhappy lately about the amount of time I waste on trains, and the dark nasty conditions either in the morning or at night, so now I know I have NO FECKING EXCUSES!!! My commitment to MYSELF is 2 lunchtime runs per week.
I will still do my Thurs night run prior to the PT session and my normal carry on at the weekends. (Note - "normal carry on" may vary from weekend to weekend...).
Once more I feel much more positive about the future. Plus I have managed to make my new eating regime a habit, having been at it for about four weeks now. Feeling good, positive and despite my FARKING achilles being really really sore post run, I am still smiling (if not smelling slightly of deep heat and looking slightly ridiculous in black silk nightie, one compression sock and a snake bandage over the top).
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Positive Steps.
So - last week I did what I am very good at. Stuffing things up. Despite still niggling hip and very sore achilles, I did 11km with Simon at a much faster pace than I should have. Then I ran another 7km downhill (despite being told by nice physio not to run downhill until hip stabilises) to get my car post puncture. Then Sunday I ran 17km in the national park. By Monday I was in a world of hip and achilles pain and hated running, the world, and all who reside in it. My grumpy demeanour continued right up until the sun came out on Friday morning (coincidence??) and I didn't do a pick of exercise all week, although I balanced that with careful eating so that I wouldn't finish the week REALLY pissed off to have undone all my good work.
I couldn't face getting up at 5am again on Saturday to run with Simon and anyway, I wasn't sure how my achilles would go, so ran this morning instead.
It is amazing what a good run can do for your head.
Set off feeling sore and frankly, a bit negative. But as I warmed up, and the blood started pumping I started to feel absolutely marvellous, and the longer I ran, the less sore the achilles became. Or it might have been the nurofen and codeine tablet taking effect. Not sure, but it felt really good.
Back to the house with a whole new positive perspective and plans for the week ahead that include bringing running gear to work, heck, I even looked at upcoming races, but we all know that is STUPID! Maybe if I can just muddle along with a number of easy runs, say five a week, and do this for three weeks then re-assess.
There is a race I would dearly like to do but I am over making donations to races now! I suppose now is a good time to start planning anyway.
In an effort to be sensible and cross train, this afternoon Monica and I are taking out our trusty bikes for a turn around the Regatta Centre and the River. Garmin has died though, so won't have any idea on time, distance etc, but frankly, that's probably not a bad thing, I think it will be ugly having last been on the bike what seems like an ice age ago.....!
Edit to say: The bike ride with Monica was totally magic and just what I needed. 32km - this season is just gorgeous and the fallen leaves and beautiful autumn colours and crispy temps just added to the experience. We rode around the river from the Regatta Centre and headed up to Regentville and the farms out that way. Was beautiful and just what I needed for my sore hips and calves. Monica loved it too, having lost her mojo after Six Foot and next week another ride is planned. Look out MAMILs!!!!
I couldn't face getting up at 5am again on Saturday to run with Simon and anyway, I wasn't sure how my achilles would go, so ran this morning instead.
It is amazing what a good run can do for your head.
Set off feeling sore and frankly, a bit negative. But as I warmed up, and the blood started pumping I started to feel absolutely marvellous, and the longer I ran, the less sore the achilles became. Or it might have been the nurofen and codeine tablet taking effect. Not sure, but it felt really good.
Back to the house with a whole new positive perspective and plans for the week ahead that include bringing running gear to work, heck, I even looked at upcoming races, but we all know that is STUPID! Maybe if I can just muddle along with a number of easy runs, say five a week, and do this for three weeks then re-assess.
There is a race I would dearly like to do but I am over making donations to races now! I suppose now is a good time to start planning anyway.
In an effort to be sensible and cross train, this afternoon Monica and I are taking out our trusty bikes for a turn around the Regatta Centre and the River. Garmin has died though, so won't have any idea on time, distance etc, but frankly, that's probably not a bad thing, I think it will be ugly having last been on the bike what seems like an ice age ago.....!
Edit to say: The bike ride with Monica was totally magic and just what I needed. 32km - this season is just gorgeous and the fallen leaves and beautiful autumn colours and crispy temps just added to the experience. We rode around the river from the Regatta Centre and headed up to Regentville and the farms out that way. Was beautiful and just what I needed for my sore hips and calves. Monica loved it too, having lost her mojo after Six Foot and next week another ride is planned. Look out MAMILs!!!!
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