Pretty happy with this weeks training.
Monday - Gym / strength session and 9km walk (wee but tired and very very stiff and sore from Six Foot)
Tuesday - 5km just taking it easy round the lake
Wednesday - 5km FAST (for me) around the lake and BodyStep Class
Thursday - 23km ride
Friday - 5km run - sore, tired legs but kept it at 5:45min kms pace
Saturday - BIG FAT NUTHIN'
Sunday - 21km on M7 with a couple of friends.
My legs are really tired today. I had a massage from Enter the Dragon yesterday, but they must all be a little scarred by the last time I visited when I sobbed into a tissue. They probably see me coming and go "here comes that masochist woman" again, (only in Chinese) smile, nod politely and back away . Also they have ditched the Enter the Dragon music and opted for Enya, and it just doesn't feel right. So I came away feeling a little ripped off, he didn't seem to be able to get deep into those muscles and loosen them up, so one leg still feels a bit funny.
Getting up this morning after a latish night with a few sparkling shiraz's was hard, the run seemed to make me feel better and it was finally nice to be able to run with people at a reasonable pace (we reckon about 5.50min/kms) hold a conversation and not feel like I am slowing people down. I guess if I can do the distance on tired legs and a One- and- A- Half- Bottles- of- Sparkling- Shiraz Hangover I can do it at that or better in the race.
I nearly died when I realised Woodford to Glenbrook is next week. I thought it was WEEKS away. So more biking, pump and easy runs next week I think.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Recovery Mode
I didn't pull up from running Six Foot as well as I did from North Face, no sir.
Fair to say that I was doing a good impersonation of someone with a very strange gait on Monday and Tuesday. Monday I decided to go the gym with Yvonne and do some core work (pinched from the PT's routine) i.e. standing on bosu throwing a medicine ball, standing on one leg throwing a medicine ball, lying on back lifting a swiss ball with knees, and crunches with a kettle bell. I figured if my legs were going to hurt, I may as well have my upper body hurt too. We also did some work on the treadmill (2km), some tricep dips and we jumped up and down off a box for a bit. All good clean fun, and after an hour or so of ridiculous looking exercises, we set off for a brisk 7km walk around the river.
Tuesday dawned bright and clear and AGONISING!! Everything had just got tighter, sorer and stiffer. There was only one thing for it - a run. So 5km around the lake - a painful 5km I might add, but after a shower and slipping the feet back into heels, I actually felt really good again.
Today I did 6km round the lake, 5km of which I ran hard.
Lap 1 5:35
Lap 2 5:31
Lap 3 5:37
Lap 4 5:46
Lap 5 5:15
Why am I writing down this nonsense I hear you say? Well because at the moment, I can only hold this pace for a short amount of time - say 5km. The plan is to work up to a half marathon at 5.50 pace which would give me my under 2 hour time that I would dearly love. But I need to write it down so I can look back WHEN I improve (not IF).
Next week, when my legs are not so tired from Six Foot shenanigans I will try to do 10km at about this pace.
This weekend I am running on the M7 course with BB which I am looking forward to, because he will obviously be faster than me, so will be another quicker session.
Tonight I am doing a step class!!! Break out the 80's leotard and leg warmers!!!
Fair to say that I was doing a good impersonation of someone with a very strange gait on Monday and Tuesday. Monday I decided to go the gym with Yvonne and do some core work (pinched from the PT's routine) i.e. standing on bosu throwing a medicine ball, standing on one leg throwing a medicine ball, lying on back lifting a swiss ball with knees, and crunches with a kettle bell. I figured if my legs were going to hurt, I may as well have my upper body hurt too. We also did some work on the treadmill (2km), some tricep dips and we jumped up and down off a box for a bit. All good clean fun, and after an hour or so of ridiculous looking exercises, we set off for a brisk 7km walk around the river.
Tuesday dawned bright and clear and AGONISING!! Everything had just got tighter, sorer and stiffer. There was only one thing for it - a run. So 5km around the lake - a painful 5km I might add, but after a shower and slipping the feet back into heels, I actually felt really good again.
Today I did 6km round the lake, 5km of which I ran hard.
Lap 1 5:35
Lap 2 5:31
Lap 3 5:37
Lap 4 5:46
Lap 5 5:15
Why am I writing down this nonsense I hear you say? Well because at the moment, I can only hold this pace for a short amount of time - say 5km. The plan is to work up to a half marathon at 5.50 pace which would give me my under 2 hour time that I would dearly love. But I need to write it down so I can look back WHEN I improve (not IF).
Next week, when my legs are not so tired from Six Foot shenanigans I will try to do 10km at about this pace.
This weekend I am running on the M7 course with BB which I am looking forward to, because he will obviously be faster than me, so will be another quicker session.
Tonight I am doing a step class!!! Break out the 80's leotard and leg warmers!!!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Adventures with bridges
Yesterdays adventure was we ran the Six Foot Track. It was lots of fun, mostly. Some bits hurt.
Things I have learnt.
Bridge crossing was scary. It swung about. It was very high up. And it went on and on and on....
But probably not as scary as the drive home.
Survived the bridge, the hills and the funny yet not amusing way my thighs decided to seize up going along a seemingly flat piece of trail.
Observations: Halfway up Mini Mini is not a good time to suggest entering "King of the Mountain".
Kneecaps have nerve endings. Painful kneecaps is not a pleasant feeling.
Running up and down stairs trying to find your car is an excellent post run recovery strategy.
Oh, some kangaroos will do anything for a bit of brunch bar.
This little fella let me pat him, it was really funny when the brunch bar stuck his back teeth together and he was chewing like mad to get them unstuck.
After the run, whilst a vodka is fine, using a Vodka Cruiser as a mixer in your neat vodka is asking for trouble.
Things I have learnt.
- Don't suggest things you know nothing about. eg. let's go over that bridge instead of crossing through the river
But probably not as scary as the drive home.
Survived the bridge, the hills and the funny yet not amusing way my thighs decided to seize up going along a seemingly flat piece of trail.
Observations: Halfway up Mini Mini is not a good time to suggest entering "King of the Mountain".
Kneecaps have nerve endings. Painful kneecaps is not a pleasant feeling.
Running up and down stairs trying to find your car is an excellent post run recovery strategy.
Oh, some kangaroos will do anything for a bit of brunch bar.
This little fella let me pat him, it was really funny when the brunch bar stuck his back teeth together and he was chewing like mad to get them unstuck.
After the run, whilst a vodka is fine, using a Vodka Cruiser as a mixer in your neat vodka is asking for trouble.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tool
I have been listening to Tool at lot lately.
Love their sound, and have been blasting it on the way to and from work, singing along. However singing along is a bit hard when you don't know the words, and some are hard to make out.
So I looked up the words to "Stinkfist" - my GOD! Who in their right mind writes a song about poking your finger up someones bum? I am fascinated and horrified at the same time.
Scared to look up any more lyrics....oddly compelled to.
Love their sound, and have been blasting it on the way to and from work, singing along. However singing along is a bit hard when you don't know the words, and some are hard to make out.
So I looked up the words to "Stinkfist" - my GOD! Who in their right mind writes a song about poking your finger up someones bum? I am fascinated and horrified at the same time.
Scared to look up any more lyrics....oddly compelled to.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Stuff - Exciting to me. Probably not to you.
Inventory of exciting things on the horizon:
Next, W2G - I have done this race twice now. First year this was a huge step up for me, I had only ever run 10km beforehand, and took on the 26km blindly. First year, after the run, I sat down and thought I had shattered my pelvis, such was the pain in my - I dunno - back / hips / pelvis / everything.
Last year I ran with a friend and whilst I did a 15 min PB I still don't think I gave it my all.
So this year, I would really like to "race" it. Yes, a quantity totally unknown to me, but one I would like to explore. Lets see. After about 1km I might get bored with the "race it" philosophy and decide it is just a training run, but honestly, in my heart, I would like to race it. Yes I am slow, but if I am honest, I am not that slow and I can do this. Game on. To myself.
Then, very very exciting, is the M7 Marathon. I am still not ready for a marathon, and I know that. And to be honest, I am not all that excited about the prospect of running 42.2km alongside a motorway and waste disposal plant. So my lovely other Angry Dolphin has agreed to a team effort. God love him. So we will do it as a team thingy, and hopefully have a bit of fun into the bargain. I love my wee mate Other Angry Dolphin, he is just so GORGEOUS and happy to do anything just for a laugh, a run, a bike ride or a beer. A good bloke in my books. I will never forget that he gave me the opportunity to do North Face and that meant so much to me.
Then.....drum roll......I get to coerce my good friend Marie and her hubby Ian into City to Surf. This is something that I am doing for them. They need it. They need to stop smoking. They need to get fit. They have talked about doing this for the last couple of years. So I entered them, booked them accommodation and will do it with them. John is even giving up his soccer on that day. So Marie and I set off on a training plan = and suddenly she was called to Switzerland to work. Hmmmm....some people will do anything to get out of training.....ah well, that leaves Ian in my hands.....
And then - Willy to Billy. I sooooo wanted to do this race last year. Things just didn't go my way last year, and I couldn't do it. I was really afraid of the distance too. Now, I am like - 38km? or 34km? or whatever it is? Good . Bring. It. On. Not that I am fantastically fast, or experienced, but that distance no longer scares me. I just need to train better and get faster now. I need Sharenes fancy footwork on the rocky bits, how do you learn that? Sharene????
All v exciting to me. Immediate thoughts are to try and get the M7 half marathon time down....under 2 hours would be amazing to me. Ok.... Under two hours it is..... that's the goal.....
- This weekend Six Foot Track - 45kms of trail - hopefully with a smile
- Woodford to Glenbrook - 26km of trails - with a return journey up the hill just for fun
- The M7 Marathon - Team Angry Dolphins return for a second bout - watch this space
- City to Surf Weekend - booked accommodation, time off work, running with friends for a purpose
- Willy to Billy - wanted to do this race for the last two years - now I can. Giddyup!!
Next, W2G - I have done this race twice now. First year this was a huge step up for me, I had only ever run 10km beforehand, and took on the 26km blindly. First year, after the run, I sat down and thought I had shattered my pelvis, such was the pain in my - I dunno - back / hips / pelvis / everything.
Last year I ran with a friend and whilst I did a 15 min PB I still don't think I gave it my all.
So this year, I would really like to "race" it. Yes, a quantity totally unknown to me, but one I would like to explore. Lets see. After about 1km I might get bored with the "race it" philosophy and decide it is just a training run, but honestly, in my heart, I would like to race it. Yes I am slow, but if I am honest, I am not that slow and I can do this. Game on. To myself.
Then, very very exciting, is the M7 Marathon. I am still not ready for a marathon, and I know that. And to be honest, I am not all that excited about the prospect of running 42.2km alongside a motorway and waste disposal plant. So my lovely other Angry Dolphin has agreed to a team effort. God love him. So we will do it as a team thingy, and hopefully have a bit of fun into the bargain. I love my wee mate Other Angry Dolphin, he is just so GORGEOUS and happy to do anything just for a laugh, a run, a bike ride or a beer. A good bloke in my books. I will never forget that he gave me the opportunity to do North Face and that meant so much to me.
Then.....drum roll......I get to coerce my good friend Marie and her hubby Ian into City to Surf. This is something that I am doing for them. They need it. They need to stop smoking. They need to get fit. They have talked about doing this for the last couple of years. So I entered them, booked them accommodation and will do it with them. John is even giving up his soccer on that day. So Marie and I set off on a training plan = and suddenly she was called to Switzerland to work. Hmmmm....some people will do anything to get out of training.....ah well, that leaves Ian in my hands.....
And then - Willy to Billy. I sooooo wanted to do this race last year. Things just didn't go my way last year, and I couldn't do it. I was really afraid of the distance too. Now, I am like - 38km? or 34km? or whatever it is? Good . Bring. It. On. Not that I am fantastically fast, or experienced, but that distance no longer scares me. I just need to train better and get faster now. I need Sharenes fancy footwork on the rocky bits, how do you learn that? Sharene????
All v exciting to me. Immediate thoughts are to try and get the M7 half marathon time down....under 2 hours would be amazing to me. Ok.... Under two hours it is..... that's the goal.....
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Shit in the Centre Aisle of Aldi.
Each day this weekend I have woken up shit scared that the weekend was over and I slept right through it. That sort of "where am I and what day is it?" feeling.
Anyway I got to thinking out how much time we waste doing stupid things at the weekend. Weekends are very precious and we do tend to spend a lot of time being daft.
For example, the focus of most Saturdays will be Saturday nights dinner, and there is much deliberation over cookery books and the like . Then of course there is the buying of the ingredients, a ritual in itself. And you can't go to the local shopping centre without doing what we refer to as "Looking at the Shit in the Centre Aisle of Aldi". I mean, what other supermarket sells milk, eggs, bread, a long handled sponge, and a deluxe cat toilet? A long handled sponge? Those crazy germans. Last week they were selling a glue gun. Who pops out for a loaf of bread and a glue gun? Anyway we never buy anything at Aldi and usually walk out giggling - it is just a routine we have got into. Sometimes we do Go Lo as well.
Anyway all this eating and drinking takes its toll, so it is important that I get out on my run, and yesterdays run was 11km (not a very long run, but better than a poke in the eye with a stick) and todays was a measly 4km. 4km!! However I did probably about 10kms more on what I like to refer to as a shopping ultra. All day, on your feet, in high heels, pacing is needed, as is a good breakfast.
So not much exciting running to report, I suppose I could say I am tapering for next weeks 45km trail run.
Anyway I got to thinking out how much time we waste doing stupid things at the weekend. Weekends are very precious and we do tend to spend a lot of time being daft.
For example, the focus of most Saturdays will be Saturday nights dinner, and there is much deliberation over cookery books and the like . Then of course there is the buying of the ingredients, a ritual in itself. And you can't go to the local shopping centre without doing what we refer to as "Looking at the Shit in the Centre Aisle of Aldi". I mean, what other supermarket sells milk, eggs, bread, a long handled sponge, and a deluxe cat toilet? A long handled sponge? Those crazy germans. Last week they were selling a glue gun. Who pops out for a loaf of bread and a glue gun? Anyway we never buy anything at Aldi and usually walk out giggling - it is just a routine we have got into. Sometimes we do Go Lo as well.
Anyway all this eating and drinking takes its toll, so it is important that I get out on my run, and yesterdays run was 11km (not a very long run, but better than a poke in the eye with a stick) and todays was a measly 4km. 4km!! However I did probably about 10kms more on what I like to refer to as a shopping ultra. All day, on your feet, in high heels, pacing is needed, as is a good breakfast.
So not much exciting running to report, I suppose I could say I am tapering for next weeks 45km trail run.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Training and Shit
Monday = first pump class in one million years
Tuesday = 8km run at 5am - how bloody smug do you feel after an early morning run?
Wednesday = 7km run at 5.30am - again feeling of incredible smugness - slowly taken over by feeling of incredible DELAYED ONSET MUSCLE SORENESS. Ouch. Pump class worked chest and arms, and now my armpits hurt big time. Running was ok if I kept my upper body still. Walked around work as if mummified.
Unexplainably (there is probably no such word) got large blister from 7km run today. How come I can run 54km and get no blister and then run7km and get nasty blister that squirted water at my face when I pricked it with a pin?
On the long weekend an old dancing friend and I are doing six foot track together. I cannot wait - a nice 45km that may take up to 7 hours. Despite being a dancer he is also a secret runner, though he doesn't like people to know that, hence I am not allowed to name him here in case dancers want to run with him or runners want to dance with him.
And then Woodford to Glenbrook run it has been decreed that we run the race and then run back up to Woodford - so a nice 52km that day.
So a couple of things to keep me out of mischief over the next month. Plenty to train for.
Loving it. Loving my running.
Tuesday = 8km run at 5am - how bloody smug do you feel after an early morning run?
Wednesday = 7km run at 5.30am - again feeling of incredible smugness - slowly taken over by feeling of incredible DELAYED ONSET MUSCLE SORENESS. Ouch. Pump class worked chest and arms, and now my armpits hurt big time. Running was ok if I kept my upper body still. Walked around work as if mummified.
Unexplainably (there is probably no such word) got large blister from 7km run today. How come I can run 54km and get no blister and then run7km and get nasty blister that squirted water at my face when I pricked it with a pin?
On the long weekend an old dancing friend and I are doing six foot track together. I cannot wait - a nice 45km that may take up to 7 hours. Despite being a dancer he is also a secret runner, though he doesn't like people to know that, hence I am not allowed to name him here in case dancers want to run with him or runners want to dance with him.
And then Woodford to Glenbrook run it has been decreed that we run the race and then run back up to Woodford - so a nice 52km that day.
So a couple of things to keep me out of mischief over the next month. Plenty to train for.
Loving it. Loving my running.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
So, it seems if you hang around the streets of Glenbrook long enough, your health care professional will turn up out of the blue, and you can get a consult in the street, free of charge, no medicare card required, and there's not that two hour wait in the surgery....
Well, as luck would have it I bumped into Dr Norm today who had a feel of my cheekbone. And he recommended Hirudoid for it. Hirudoid - which is manufactured for haemorrhoids. Noice. He tells me I have a haematoma there and if I don't do something about it, I will have it for ever. I came home and had a good look at it in the mirror and have realised I also have a dent in my face there now, and a strange black mark. I don't want to have lumps, bumps and holes in my face for ever!!
I also hate my hair. Why oh why did I get it cut? I now cannot tie it back and look like a total moron when I am out running with hair going everywhere. And to top it all off, I am covered in zits. So zitty face, crappy hair and lumpy bumpy face - it all adds up to rather depressing really. I have been looking at hats as a means of disguising hair (and zitty forehead).
However, running has been ok. Monday I tried to kick off the week with a speed session. I know feck all about speed sessions though. So I just ran really fast until I couldn't run any more. Then I had to walk a bit. Then I decided rather than run like the clappers for a few minutes and then die on my arse, it would be better to try and maintain a pace I could hold on to, so I did this, admittedly I did speed up on the last km, I was secretly hoping to better any previous times. I don't really enjoy that kind of running, when you finish feeling like spewing, but I guess I am not going to get faster by plodding along at my dire speed.
Tues and Wed were busy due to impending Board meeting, and I just need to accept that there are going to be times when I cannot run. Thursday I decided to make up for it by running 10km around the lake, and again, tried to see if I could beat my PB. I was 2 minutes off, but I felt it was a nice honest 10km. By Friday afternoon I could not wait to get out the door and get running, so did the river run at 4pm pretty much on the dot. I really enjoyed it. I OVERTOOK someone! First time ever in my life I have done this on the river run.
Yesterday I ran in the rainy misty morning and loved it, and finally today Marie and I did the river run again. I feel like a big fat porker because I have eaten out with family and friends so much this weekend, I almost feel that I have been "slacking off" on everything now that North Face is over. I need to clean up my act and knuckle down - whether I am ready for M7 marathon remains to be seen, but I have Woodford to Glenbrook and Willy to Billy coming up, maybe even another half marathon. I guess I just don't feel committed to anything. Maybe I should just enter that bloody marathon even though I am not really ready. It would certainly scare the knickers off me and get me out training with a renewed sense of purpose. Trouble is, it is not far enough away for me to go, ahhh that is AGES away, stop worrying.....WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED. I knew I blogged for a reason!!!!
Well, as luck would have it I bumped into Dr Norm today who had a feel of my cheekbone. And he recommended Hirudoid for it. Hirudoid - which is manufactured for haemorrhoids. Noice. He tells me I have a haematoma there and if I don't do something about it, I will have it for ever. I came home and had a good look at it in the mirror and have realised I also have a dent in my face there now, and a strange black mark. I don't want to have lumps, bumps and holes in my face for ever!!
I also hate my hair. Why oh why did I get it cut? I now cannot tie it back and look like a total moron when I am out running with hair going everywhere. And to top it all off, I am covered in zits. So zitty face, crappy hair and lumpy bumpy face - it all adds up to rather depressing really. I have been looking at hats as a means of disguising hair (and zitty forehead).
However, running has been ok. Monday I tried to kick off the week with a speed session. I know feck all about speed sessions though. So I just ran really fast until I couldn't run any more. Then I had to walk a bit. Then I decided rather than run like the clappers for a few minutes and then die on my arse, it would be better to try and maintain a pace I could hold on to, so I did this, admittedly I did speed up on the last km, I was secretly hoping to better any previous times. I don't really enjoy that kind of running, when you finish feeling like spewing, but I guess I am not going to get faster by plodding along at my dire speed.
Tues and Wed were busy due to impending Board meeting, and I just need to accept that there are going to be times when I cannot run. Thursday I decided to make up for it by running 10km around the lake, and again, tried to see if I could beat my PB. I was 2 minutes off, but I felt it was a nice honest 10km. By Friday afternoon I could not wait to get out the door and get running, so did the river run at 4pm pretty much on the dot. I really enjoyed it. I OVERTOOK someone! First time ever in my life I have done this on the river run.
Yesterday I ran in the rainy misty morning and loved it, and finally today Marie and I did the river run again. I feel like a big fat porker because I have eaten out with family and friends so much this weekend, I almost feel that I have been "slacking off" on everything now that North Face is over. I need to clean up my act and knuckle down - whether I am ready for M7 marathon remains to be seen, but I have Woodford to Glenbrook and Willy to Billy coming up, maybe even another half marathon. I guess I just don't feel committed to anything. Maybe I should just enter that bloody marathon even though I am not really ready. It would certainly scare the knickers off me and get me out training with a renewed sense of purpose. Trouble is, it is not far enough away for me to go, ahhh that is AGES away, stop worrying.....WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED. I knew I blogged for a reason!!!!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Frizz ball
I spent months nd months cultivating a very long fringe.
She said...."what do we do with your fringe?".
I said leave the length and just cut into it.
And now it's gone!!! Gone to cheeky fringe heaven in the sky. All I am left with is face. Exposed face.
RIP long fringe that was almost good enough to blend into my bob. RIP old friend.
She said...."what do we do with your fringe?".
I said leave the length and just cut into it.
And now it's gone!!! Gone to cheeky fringe heaven in the sky. All I am left with is face. Exposed face.
RIP long fringe that was almost good enough to blend into my bob. RIP old friend.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Bringing the Bob Back Baby.....
I got my hair cut! I have the bob back.
Apart from my sticky out black and blue jawline and my sticky out lump on my cheekbone, I look like ME again!!
Apart from my sticky out black and blue jawline and my sticky out lump on my cheekbone, I look like ME again!!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Oh God
We were just talking today about Christians. I don't trust them. As a child I was dragged around Faith Healing Crusades (where people throw fifty pound notes into buckets and fat Americans preach and people "see the light" and claim to be cured of any number of bizarre diseases or have a clap on the head moment where God talks to them - my entire family embarrassingly enough included), Baptist Churches (once again, my entire family saw the light, but a different light this time, a bathing light in a large swimming pool bath thing where they were pushed backwards wearing a robe into a lukewarm swimming pool on the alter on a Sunday night in February - brrr - and once again, slightly embarrassing), Ian Paisleys church, Presbyterian Churches (before my God fearing family fell out with the Presbo's because they wouldn't let Mum and Dad have a drink of their Holy Communion Wine on a Sunday, because they had not yet "Taken Christ Into Their Lives" ("seen the light")....and despite all this kerfuffle related to god, Sunday School, seeing lights and being bathed in large expanses of Holy Water, I am not convinced. Not not convinced by God Himself, or his existence. I accept that and talk to him quite frequently about various matters. But I quite like the Buddhist point of view. Just be kind. Sort of. Not that I have researched Buddhism in any great depth mind you. I always thought all this going to church carry on was people just feeling smug about themselves - doing good and being kind was more of a Christian lifestyle. Anyway, I was the black sheep because I never saw any light or pretended to, or got bathed in a pale blue robe but I was in the Brownies and the Bunnies, so that must count for something. Mind you, Catherine Carrol, my twin Nicola and I WERE known as the Three Bad Brownies....but that is beside the point....
Anyway, they say (we are back to running now, keep up!!) that you should not do Junk Miles. Research into Junk Miles indicate that this is running with no purpose. So your purpose for running should be hills, speed or long distance. I think they forgot the mental health runs and the runs because you got a new running skirt, or just applied new fake tan, or have this FANTASTIC play list of Metallica and Muse and Tool and Plan B and you can't WAIT to play it, or you need to drop three kilos PRONTO runs, or just maintenance (of the three kilos returning) runs.
So anyway I did a "speed" session today. I thought I would start off with a warm up (bludge) and then run as fast as I could for 200 metres, then slow down to a jog for one minute and then run as fast as I could etc etc etc. It sort of ended up running as fast as I could when I got my breath back and sort of slower jogging just to survive, but on the last km I "fanged" it (well, by my standards) and I nearly lost my breakfast.
BUT I did ALMOST beat my 5km PB, I was about 5 seconds shy of it. So that's not bad, and surely to God or whoever (see above rant) this counts as speed. So, I have a hill / strength session to do and a long run and I can do as many mental heath runs as I bloody fancy once I have these essential ingredients in my running week. :)
It is quite nice to have no running stresses (because I haven't entered anything stressful yet, i.e. the M7 Marathon) and just to be training for fun. Sort of. I tell myself that anyway.
Anyway, they say (we are back to running now, keep up!!) that you should not do Junk Miles. Research into Junk Miles indicate that this is running with no purpose. So your purpose for running should be hills, speed or long distance. I think they forgot the mental health runs and the runs because you got a new running skirt, or just applied new fake tan, or have this FANTASTIC play list of Metallica and Muse and Tool and Plan B and you can't WAIT to play it, or you need to drop three kilos PRONTO runs, or just maintenance (of the three kilos returning) runs.
So anyway I did a "speed" session today. I thought I would start off with a warm up (bludge) and then run as fast as I could for 200 metres, then slow down to a jog for one minute and then run as fast as I could etc etc etc. It sort of ended up running as fast as I could when I got my breath back and sort of slower jogging just to survive, but on the last km I "fanged" it (well, by my standards) and I nearly lost my breakfast.
BUT I did ALMOST beat my 5km PB, I was about 5 seconds shy of it. So that's not bad, and surely to God or whoever (see above rant) this counts as speed. So, I have a hill / strength session to do and a long run and I can do as many mental heath runs as I bloody fancy once I have these essential ingredients in my running week. :)
It is quite nice to have no running stresses (because I haven't entered anything stressful yet, i.e. the M7 Marathon) and just to be training for fun. Sort of. I tell myself that anyway.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Well I did it!! I finished the race! Primary objective was to survive, not let the blood sugar go berserk, not let the head decide it was time to go home prior to 54kms, and stretch target was to finish smiling.
Well I got my stretch target! In fact I smiled ALL day. Well, most of the day....
And smiled...
and there were some big hills that made the smile only on the inside.....
I always get a laugh when I look at that photo....
Reminds me of this one....
So, in summary, I had a brilliant day, there were highs and there were lows. There was scenery that would have taken my breath away, if I had any breath that is.
There were bits that reminded me that "remote" is not the little black plastic box that sits on the sofa.
There were the most amazing views of valleys and trees and cliffs and we saw a very very young cow, so young his coat was all white and shiny and clean.
We had perfect weather and all my gear worked properly, I had no wardrobe malfunctions and didn't run out of anything, get lost or break anything.
Well, except a cheekbone.
I loved this run so much, I am going up there next weekend with a friend just to enjoy some of the course again. I have also just spent this morning entering things. City To Surf - never done it, Willy To Billy, couldn't do it last year because of Swine Flu, and Woodford to Glenbrook - my favourite run of the year.
I have been reading Colins "Outer Edge" magazine - which appears to have every single dangerous sport in the world in there. There is a picture of Colins brother BASE jumping off a cliff in Sydney. Not planning on taking up BASE jumping but wouldn't mind a few kayaking lessons and then doing some adventure races. And the Mud Run. Anything in fact that involves a day out on the trails.
Maybe some climbing, canoeing, I promised myself so many things after I'd done this race, I gotta get onto them all!!!
Well I got my stretch target! In fact I smiled ALL day. Well, most of the day....
And smiled...
Reminds me of this one....
So, in summary, I had a brilliant day, there were highs and there were lows. There was scenery that would have taken my breath away, if I had any breath that is.
There were bits that reminded me that "remote" is not the little black plastic box that sits on the sofa.
There were the most amazing views of valleys and trees and cliffs and we saw a very very young cow, so young his coat was all white and shiny and clean.
We had perfect weather and all my gear worked properly, I had no wardrobe malfunctions and didn't run out of anything, get lost or break anything.
Well, except a cheekbone.
I loved this run so much, I am going up there next weekend with a friend just to enjoy some of the course again. I have also just spent this morning entering things. City To Surf - never done it, Willy To Billy, couldn't do it last year because of Swine Flu, and Woodford to Glenbrook - my favourite run of the year.
I have been reading Colins "Outer Edge" magazine - which appears to have every single dangerous sport in the world in there. There is a picture of Colins brother BASE jumping off a cliff in Sydney. Not planning on taking up BASE jumping but wouldn't mind a few kayaking lessons and then doing some adventure races. And the Mud Run. Anything in fact that involves a day out on the trails.
Maybe some climbing, canoeing, I promised myself so many things after I'd done this race, I gotta get onto them all!!!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Bwwwwwaghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
Jesus, Mary, Joseph and all the Saints...I am TERRIFIED!
Sitting here in bed with a coffee and contemplating that it is less than 24 hours until the race starts. In fact, this time tomorrow I will have been running for two hours. Running, walking, eating cheese sandwiches, hopefully feeling positive (hopefully fuelled by V and a few strong coffees) and hopefully being able to hold a reasonable pace!
I can't believe how scared / excited / expectant / jumpy I am.
One of the local runners organised a get together for all the mountains folk who are doing the race last night. It was a good way to take the mind off the nerves and just be nervous about chatting with a crowd of people, most of whom I had never met before. They were all really lovely and making running the first half sound so easy, I was happily lulled into a false sense of security until someone talked about how he climbed on his hands and knees up to Ironpot Ridge. Ironpot is the bit that you can't train on before the race because it is private property, so no matter what, I wouldn't have been able to see if for myself anyway. Too late now to start worrying!! Feck, I could Worry for Ireland the way I am going.
Anyway, a bit of rock climbing can be fun, said she, reminding herself of her first venture down Tarro's Ladder and the abject fear that ensued.....
So, checklist:
However, next time I write, it will all be over....so I need to enjoy the build up, immerse myself in the moment and savour every little drop of this crazy, exciting, foolish, horrible journey.
Sitting here in bed with a coffee and contemplating that it is less than 24 hours until the race starts. In fact, this time tomorrow I will have been running for two hours. Running, walking, eating cheese sandwiches, hopefully feeling positive (hopefully fuelled by V and a few strong coffees) and hopefully being able to hold a reasonable pace!
I can't believe how scared / excited / expectant / jumpy I am.
One of the local runners organised a get together for all the mountains folk who are doing the race last night. It was a good way to take the mind off the nerves and just be nervous about chatting with a crowd of people, most of whom I had never met before. They were all really lovely and making running the first half sound so easy, I was happily lulled into a false sense of security until someone talked about how he climbed on his hands and knees up to Ironpot Ridge. Ironpot is the bit that you can't train on before the race because it is private property, so no matter what, I wouldn't have been able to see if for myself anyway. Too late now to start worrying!! Feck, I could Worry for Ireland the way I am going.
Anyway, a bit of rock climbing can be fun, said she, reminding herself of her first venture down Tarro's Ladder and the abject fear that ensued.....
So, checklist:
- Clip toenails
- Try not to panic
- Find all the painkillers I can get my hands on
- Again, no panicking
- Charge phone and iPod. Learn the words to Tools "Forty Six and Two"
- Relax
- Don't even think about having a glass of red
- Fake tan those thighs baby!
- Put heart rate monitor on and find resting heart rate, just for a laugh
- Go to bathroom fifty million times
- Check gear. Panic. Check gear again. Panic.
However, next time I write, it will all be over....so I need to enjoy the build up, immerse myself in the moment and savour every little drop of this crazy, exciting, foolish, horrible journey.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Courage vs Fear
What makes people courageous? Is it life experience? Is it not really courage at all, but just getting on with the job at hand? Is it a desire to do the right thing, no matter what?
I got to thinking about courage this morning because I appear to be lacking in this vital quality.
I get scared about all sorts of silly things.
Like this 54km race I am doing this weekend.
But why? So I was justifying it to myself this morning like this.....
I am not going to be strapping 10 kilos of heroin to my stomach and get on a flight to Bali. Repercussions of such behaviour could be:
a) death
b) a long time in a Balinese Prison
Both frightening options.
I am not planning to cycle up the freeway in a pack, clipped into those funny cycling shoes. Repercussions of this could be:
a) death
b) serious injury
I am not planning to abseil down a cliff then climb through a cave filled with water, swim through said cave, where a rock falls behind me and I go to my watery grave. Repercussions of this could be:
a) watery grave
b) a very scary few minutes dying
I am doing a long bushwalk in the most beautiful part of the countryside and to make it go quicker, I will run the bits that I can. I will be with friends. Madzer nutcase friends with freaky feet shoes with open minds and a sense of adventure. The weather is going to be perfect. And I am going to have a mad sense of achievement afterwards. I have trained for this, I know I can do it, and I know it will be hard at times.
Not a frightening option, or scary consequence in sight.
So snap out of it Missus, and get on with it.
I got to thinking about courage this morning because I appear to be lacking in this vital quality.
I get scared about all sorts of silly things.
Like this 54km race I am doing this weekend.
But why? So I was justifying it to myself this morning like this.....
I am not going to be strapping 10 kilos of heroin to my stomach and get on a flight to Bali. Repercussions of such behaviour could be:
a) death
b) a long time in a Balinese Prison
Both frightening options.
I am not planning to cycle up the freeway in a pack, clipped into those funny cycling shoes. Repercussions of this could be:
a) death
b) serious injury
I am not planning to abseil down a cliff then climb through a cave filled with water, swim through said cave, where a rock falls behind me and I go to my watery grave. Repercussions of this could be:
a) watery grave
b) a very scary few minutes dying
I am doing a long bushwalk in the most beautiful part of the countryside and to make it go quicker, I will run the bits that I can. I will be with friends. Madzer nutcase friends with freaky feet shoes with open minds and a sense of adventure. The weather is going to be perfect. And I am going to have a mad sense of achievement afterwards. I have trained for this, I know I can do it, and I know it will be hard at times.
Not a frightening option, or scary consequence in sight.
So snap out of it Missus, and get on with it.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Greetings!
A new blog. Where nobody knows me. Licence to talk the biggest load of shit ever imaginable.
Lets start with....what I do when I am not here.....
Well, I make funny faces at my web cam and I paint my face and I run a bit and like dressing up in nice clothes and wearing perfume and listening to Very Heavy Metal and I think about stuff to write here. Simple.
I daydream a lot and in my head I am very different to the real me. I think this leads to a lot of confusion within.
But we'll get to that.
I sometimes read the death notices in the local paper. Tonight there were lots of deaths and lot of people were 65 when they died and if that is the average then I only have 22 years to go. I better get on with it.
Lets start with....what I do when I am not here.....
Well, I make funny faces at my web cam and I paint my face and I run a bit and like dressing up in nice clothes and wearing perfume and listening to Very Heavy Metal and I think about stuff to write here. Simple.
I daydream a lot and in my head I am very different to the real me. I think this leads to a lot of confusion within.
But we'll get to that.
I sometimes read the death notices in the local paper. Tonight there were lots of deaths and lot of people were 65 when they died and if that is the average then I only have 22 years to go. I better get on with it.
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