It's Saturns Fault...

....because Saturn is in Uranus....or something.

The problem with right now is that life is just very odd.  Very unusual.  Whilst I like to think of myself of a bit of a champion of change, my little heart has been beating very fast this last week or two with lots of decisions to be made and consequences to consider.

Anyway - having plenty of time on my hands at present, I have been able to read the Sunday paper the whole way through (ok I skipped the boring election bit and the sport bit).  There's about three different horoscopes in the Sunday paper - but one thing is for certain - Saturn appears to be in Libra.  They all appear to agree on this.  How does Saturn get there?  "Where" is Libra?  Who makes this stuff up?  Do the stars really align?  Do they move around in the sky?  Is there a possibility they might bump into one another?  Is that the big bang? 

Anyway the last time Saturn was in Uranus or Libra or wherever it is supposed to be, was 1983, so my stars recommended that I cast my mind back to 1983 to see what sort of changes were going on in my life and what lessons I learnt.  Well I was 16 in 1983 so my guess is I learnt nothing (I was a teenager - they know everything)  - but what I do recall was ra ra skirts were in fashion, as were frilly blouses and fringed boots, big hair and knickerbockers.  So I am praying (apart from the ra ra skirt bit) that I don't suddenly get the urge to backcomb my fringe or apply black eyeliner halfway up my temples, or get about in pedal pushers.

Positive change though would be welcomed.  Just lets not go back to electronica and acid wash jeans or hypercolour tee shirts.

M7 Marathon Relay

If this race taught me ANYTHING it is that I really am not even close to being ready for a full marathon. 

That said though, I did enjoy the race, and was surprised at this.

Starting at the halfway mark was a scary prospect, because I knew I would be up the front with all the speedsters and knew that people would start overtaking me, and what this would do to my motivation and confidence.  However, it wasn't too bad, I started off running pretty much on my own (well, Bernie was with me for about thirty seconds until she powered off into the distance!) and it was nice and peaceful, it was a beautiful sunny morning, and things weren't too bad at all.

My big problem with racing is adrenaline.  I've said this before but the excitement, anticipation or whatever it is kicks in BIG TIME when I set off and about 1km in my legs have gone to jelly and I am panicking like mad about all sorts of things.  By the 5km mark I am usually settled down and happy however.  Then about 5kms from the end I get all excited and nervous again and the same thing happens.  It feels like the physical adrenaline is squirting up my legs, a really really unpleasant feeling.

Anyway, first km was run in 4:44.  4:44!!!!  I have never run that fast IN MY LIFE.  Maybe there is something in this "don't go out too fast" lark.  The first 5kms were on or better than target pace (5.45) and I came through 10km in around 55 minutes (which is a PB for me by 2 mins) but then those hills got me and I slowed right down.  Hills.  I use that term loosely but when you are running up them they are hills and make no mistake.

At the turn around point I suddenly found myself ahead of people I would normally be miles behind, which gave rise to quite a few vanity fartleks (but obviously not enough!!)   Anyway, I slowed right down in the last 4kms, which suggests perhaps that if I want to work on my speed, I should look at doing 5km and 10km races and gradually build up holding a decent pace for 15km and then 20km.  Sounds sensible and relatively easy - but will it actually happen I wonder?

Anyway I was running along and suddenly got a very sweaty cuddle and there was my gorgeous friend Eagle who said he had been trying to catch up with me so we could run the last wee bit together.  This was Eagles 115th Marathon, so I was very honoured to run with him.  Suddenly Greg (my marathon relay partner) was there too, and the three of us ran into the Stadium together.  I couldn't see the finish line, it was right the way round the other side of the track!   (It was at this point the "I am not ready for a marathon - ever" thought really reared it's head). 

The three of us crossed the line together and there were lots of hugs and sweaty embraces, anyone would have thought we had won something the way we carried on - but this is what running is all about. 

I did enjoy this run much more than I expected, I wasn't really in the best mindset beforehand, but hanging out at the halfway point with Bernie was fun (Bernie you are a legend, well done on another PB) and just being out there plodding along on a Sunday morning with like minded individuals is a simple enough pleasure, but one that I really enjoy.  I kinda knew from the outset I wouldn't get my PB but it didn't really matter.  As I was telling anyone who would listen 1475 calories is not to be sneezed at!  It is much much more than that though, and I need to remember that despite being nervous beforehand, (and being totally crap at it) I really do enjoy running races. 

The Week From Hell

It really was, the shitest week ever in my life.  But - IT'S OVER!!!  Yahoo.

And guess how long the non drinking lasted?  FIVE DAYS.  Five days then lunch at Rockpool weakened my resolve.  I must admit, I though Rockpool was just ok.  I have had better snapper.  And better company.  Note to self, going out with Borals Director of Finance was never going to be fun.  Ever.  (I suspect he doesn't read my blog, but you are reading this Tim, sorry).

Anyway, so here I am with a dilemma on my hands.  I now have two job offers and I think I am (for once in my life) going to take the job I want to do with the company I want to work for, rather than taking the sensible approach and taking the more secure, better paid job.  Last time I moved jobs I had the bit of paper out with the big line down the middle and the pros on one side and the cons on the other. 

This time I am going to let my heart rule my head.  Trust my gut instinct.  AM I BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO THIS?  Arrrrghhhhhh!!!

I've got a week to make up my mind. 

There is a man outside in a Sydney Water van and I have no idea what he is doing but it sounds like he is playing the didgeridoo through my toilet.  And there is a smell.  Not a nice smell.

So, running, well, it took a backseat this week.  I think I ran twice, and neither run was in any way exceptional and there was none of the ahhhhhhh that feels better.  But I think stress strips away your energy, and now that I am no longer stressed I can spend all next week running, heck, I can do Woodford to Glenbrook every damn day if I want to.

I have M7 tomorrow.  If I wasn't in a team event I wouldn't either bother doing it, as I don't think I have trained enough over the last two weeks, and am not expecting anything great.  However, in my lifelong quest for weight loss I suppose it is worth about 1,470 calories, which is a whole days eating and will "cover" the bottle of fizzy sparkly stuff that Marie and I managed to put away last night when discussing our plans for world domination in the fashion market, my career and Switzerland.  I think by the end of the night we had our own fashion label and were mass producing tunics from our large and airy warehouse somewhere terribly fashionable.  I was also going to work in Basel in her companys head office and be a Friend of Gary (FOG) and really really successful, and eventually rule the world.  You know how it goes after a few drinks. 

Reality struck this morning with a rather dusty head and the smell of poo emanating up through the toilet. 

Anyway, it has been an interesting week, life continues to move in mysterious ways and now I feel it's time to just go with the flow, relax and believe that everything is going to be ok.  Cos it is.  It really is.

What's Got Into Me?

This has been one CRAZY week.  I have been making decisions left, right and centre, and actually acting on them, executing them and moving on to the next one.

The non drinking is going well.  Hell, I went to an Irish 21st Birthday Party last night, with 100 other drunk Irish people and me - sober. 

I quit my job on Thursday - with no other job to go to and didn't go home and get stuck into the wine.  I went to the pub with John for dinner and had two glasses of water. 

I got offered a new job on Friday and didn't pronounce it a good excuse for a celebration (involving wine).

So I think I am doing ok.

I ran today for the first time since last Sundays disaster run.  The first 5km was fine and fast, but I got tired very quickly - probably still a little tired from the virus - and so had a nice leisurely walk.  Why is it always when you are dressed in your running gear with garmin and everything that you meet people you know (like my physio) AND YOU ARE WALKING!!!???  Anyway clocked up about 12km, with a few short walk breaks in the middle somewhere.  My knee, my blister and my hip are all still sore.  Next week is M7.  I don't think I am going to be real happy with the result, but still 21km is 21km and a shit load of calories used up.  I have also lost 2kg this week, by eating clean and no drinking.  And probably a dollop of stress too.

And I lost my beloved hairpiece on todays run.  One minute it was there, next minute there was my stump clearly exposed in my shadow.  (Stump is the very miniscule pony tail I can now sport due to bringing the bob back).  So - as one of my friends pointed out, some local animal may now be either wearing it or making love to it. 

Countdown

Spending the last three days in bed has given me plenty of time to think (that's when I am not having exciting dreams of gas explosions at the bottom of Tarro's Ladder). 

And I got talking to my friend Tim who is just getting back into running after a six month break.

So we decided that we would not touch another drop of alcohol until after City to Surf.

And writing it here means I have to stick to it.

Lately there has been a bit much red wine in the evenings - which is why I am not losing weight despite lots of exercise.  And sometimes wake up feeling tired and sluggish.  I want splarkling eyes and great skin and shiny hair and to wake up feeling marvellous every morning!   And I have twelve foot to look forward to after City to Surf so want to be in top condition for that, not that I am doing the whole 90km, but doing the leg back from Caves House to the Tree in about 5 weeks time - that means Tim will have another five weeks training under his belt and will be back to being fit and fast, and I don't fancy being left alone to go over that swinging bridge in the dark!!  So - self inflicted boot camp here I come!! 

M7 Run

I had been looking forward to todays 16km on the M7 cycleway with Ray - last time we all did the M7 run I felt strong, and fit and just brilliant and really enjoyed it, and was really happy with my run afterwards - however as soon as we started running today it just felt wrong, and by the 8km turnaround point everything was hurting, shins, calves, thighs, arms (sore arms on a run should have been a bit of a giveaway that something wasn't quite right) but struggled on to the end, albeit a lot slower than our initial pace.  On the drive home I started to shiver, then sweat, then my nose started running, my head got sore - which was actually quite a relief because I thought the sore hips / legs were a throwback from last weeks King of the Mountain or maybe an injury, so a common garden cold is a much better excuse for a crap run.

Guess that takes care of the training for the next few days, which is just as well, as I've been feeling tired and uninterested all week - the sniffles probably explain that!

It's two weeks till the M7 - so by then I should be fine and raring to go!! 

King of The Mountain

King of the Mountain - (32km up a lot of hills)  was hard, harder than I expected.  Lots of "gentle" uphills, and I ran with Tim who is clearly faster than me, so I was busy just keeping up and nodding really.  I did have two rather embarrassing moments, one at the first drink station where I nearly tripped over, caught myself in time, yelled out SHITE at the top of my voice and Tim put his hand out to catch me and got a handful of left boob.  So everyone who turned round to see what was going on was treated to a man groping an almost falling over runner muttering expletives.  Good start.

Second drink station I was so freaking puffed from keeping up with Tim that I gulped down some water and it went down the wrong way, resulting in a very unladylike coughing fit which almost bordered on that loud and unapealling retching noise.  Fab.

As the third drink station approached, Tim asked if I was right and would I be able to cope with the obvious distraction of the drink station.  I am pleased to report that I was fine.

We came to a cute little river crossing, which also featured a photographer who took what appeared to be several hundred snaps of me.  Obviously he's seen my type before, won't buy the photo unless it is perfect, so has to take 27 of me and one of Tim, knowing if my hair is not quite right there will be no sale.  Like that freaking photographer from the Woodford to Glenbrook.  Did he bring his Fat Bastard lens I wonder?  Or just his Stupid Hair lens?  Or perhaps both.  Again, glad I entered that under a false name, although I think my cover may have been blown...Anyway, I reminded Tim about how I fell over at North Face due to the over zealous photographer and he noted that I don't cope well with distractions whilst running.  He has a point......

Then, there was a little sign that said "Slight Incline Ahead".  There are some freaking comedians down the South Coast, that's for sure.

This was at the foot of Mount Scanzi - it looked like we were going up a cliff.  Thankfully we sort of wound around and up and not straight up.  That would have involved ropes and crampons I think.

After getting to the top, there was ANOTHER drink station - and they had RUM!!!  And guess what - I resisted.  I may have been braver running down that hill had I taken a wee nip.  But that is by the by.

Anyway, at this point Tim wanted to fang it and see what he could do, and I was happy to let him go and just plod along on my own.  I was happy to be able to resort to a pace that suited me because I was tired to be honest and keeping up chatty upbeat conversation when you are struggling isn't always easy, although I was really really glad of the company and the distraction, but maybe not the groping bit.   

I did enjoy the last 7 kms or so, despite them being tough and having knee troubles, blister woes and oddly, a cramp in my little toe!!  I raced Woodford to Glenbrook the previous weekend and was tired from giving that a good lash (and to be honest, tired from partying on Friday night as well), so was happy to just sit back into it and try to maintain a decent pace - and it got a bit mental in that I had to tell myself I could keep going, when I really felt like I couldn't.  I kept telling myself I had it in me to finish and I was getting stronger, even though that is a load of rubbish and when some wag local drove up on his postie bike along side me and offered me a lift into town for $20 I WAS TEMPTED!!!  (And I had exactly $20 in my camelbak).

Anyway, I did that cross between a smile and a grimace that I find works well when you are doing it tough, and finished in 3 hours and 46 minutes.  I felt on top of the world afterwards, knowing that it was hard work but I did it.  The last 7kms are very runnable, and being fitter (and perhaps better rested) would mean I could really give it a lash in that last section, so I think we need a rematch next year, that mountain and I.

Happy Days

I am drinking champagne and packing for a weekend away in the Kangaroo Valley and I am so excited I could just have another glass of champagne!!

Ok ok it is not REAL champagne, and here I am on a very cold Thursday night, deep in the middle of winter with a glow in my cheeks and anticipation of a really cool weekend.

AND there is a run thrown in!!  Yay - I have been singing that Midnight Oil song - Call me....King of the Mountain.....to myself, and humming away happily.

Never done this race before, and have no expectations (which is shorthand for "excuse for a really shite time") but looking forward to some GORGEOUS countryside, a hill or two (judging by the name - King of The Mountain - there are bound to be one or two) and just hanging out with friends.

Last week I took it easy - first time since North Face really, my legs were bloody sore after a mixture of Six Foot two weeks earlier, and a half marathon the week after.  So I raced Woodford to Glenbrook as best I knew how.  I am proud of how I raced, except for maybe one hill where I was talking to another runner, and let the pace slip.  Every other single bit I gave my all.  From the 12km mark to the end I FANGED it - for me fanging it was 5.30 min kms or thereabouts until about 21km, by then I really slowed down because the legs were sore and tired, but I kept thinking to myself, "what does *insert name of other really good runner here* do when they are tired and sore?  Do they slow down?  No, they keep up the pace.  You will be glad you did at the end."  Well my Garmin told me I did slow down, but it was definately not intended.  Anyway I bloody loved this race and came away with 2.38 which was a 9 min PB on last year and 22 min PB on the year before.  Next year I am hoping for 2hrs 30.   I got a HUGE high at about 15km (admittedly about the same time that "Proud Mary" came on the iPod) and it lasted until the end really.  What is it about runners highs? I dunno but it was bloody lovely and that bit where you push as hard as you can and you can miraculously still breathe and function is just bloody awesome.

Anyway - enough going on about nonsense - two or three weeks after this race is M7 which I do have a goal time for and know it is going to be super tough for me to get it, so there will definately be that "adrenaline squirting down the back of the legs" feeling at the start.  Then City to Surf and then Willy to Billy and today was asked to do half of 12 foot with someone in the dark and that will be soooooo fucking exciting I can hardly breathe thinking about it.  Woooooooo hoooooooooo.....!!!!!

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.

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!!!

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. 

• Don't suggest things you know nothing about.  eg. let's go over that bridge instead of crossing through the river

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. 

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. 

Stuff - Exciting to me. Probably not to you.

Inventory of exciting things on the horizon:

1. This weekend Six Foot Track - 45kms of trail - hopefully with a smile
2. Woodford to Glenbrook - 26km of trails - with a return journey up the hill just for fun
3. The M7 Marathon - Team Angry Dolphins return for a second bout - watch this space
4. City to Surf Weekend - booked accommodation, time off work, running with friends for a purpose
5. Willy to Billy - wanted to do this race for the last two years - now I can.  Giddyup!!

The immediate thoughts go to Six Foot this weekend, but really, it is too late to worry and I will be in good hands, with good company,  this will be FUN.

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.....

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. 

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. 

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!!!!

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. 

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!! 

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. 

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!!!