So last night I went to running and it absolutely poured down. I was feeling a bit uninspired given the weather, but we all gee-d each other up and out we went. Ended up doing laps of Brookside undercover carpark and then headed back along the bike path. My shoes gradually filled with water and I stepped in a few ankle deep puddles, so by the end, each foot felt like weighed 5 kilos!
Everyone there has been egging me on to try for 2 hours on sunday and telling me I'll do it easily (!) but I'm thinking more in the vicinity of 2.10 - I may write 2 hour pacing up my arm and try for it though. Just to see. You're all a bad, bad influence on me! LOL! Any time better than 2.30 is fine with me though!
Tonight I'm going to go and do 5kms or so on the tready at the gym... mostly just to keep my legs moving and so that I feel virtuous! My arms are still sore from PT on tuesday! Worked out my monthly kms today as well - nice to see them increasing again. Next month, I'm aiming for more.
To that end, I hereby do solemnly swear that after the Gold Coast, I am going to do the Brisbane Running Buddies Saturday Runs and go back to tuesday night track. The only variable will be whether I have to work - back to 24/7 shiftwork in a few weeks time so may prove interesting combining running with it.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Out on the Town
Had a lovely night out last night with Tesso, Clairie, Cirque and Skizzik.... so nice to have a get together and unwind a bit! It's been ages since I last did anything like that :) Must admit, catching up on all the CR gossip is so much fun in person ;) Time was also spent egging each other on into various events and races around the place, the crazier the better!
Tonight I've got running group out at Enoggera - a fun one where everyone is tapering so we all get to run together. Only, their tapering speed is sort of my fast anyway, so there's not much difference in it for me!
Four more sleeps to go!
Sunday, June 26, 2005
PB - 10km in 55:59!
Huzzah!!!!
55:59 for 10km at the West End this morning! Lucky for me, Schultzy paced me for the last 4kms or so - I don't know if I'd have been able to do it without having someone to hang on to for grim death the last few kms! By the end, my legs and lungs were screaming stopppp! but somehow my little mantra of 56-56-56-56-56 got me through!
I think this morning was possibly the hardest run I've done so far and now feel absolutely exhausted... but so worth it... feeling really, really happy! Skizzik finally made it to the West End too, which was great! Looking forward to the Gold Coast even more now :)
55:59 for 10km at the West End this morning! Lucky for me, Schultzy paced me for the last 4kms or so - I don't know if I'd have been able to do it without having someone to hang on to for grim death the last few kms! By the end, my legs and lungs were screaming stopppp! but somehow my little mantra of 56-56-56-56-56 got me through!
I think this morning was possibly the hardest run I've done so far and now feel absolutely exhausted... but so worth it... feeling really, really happy! Skizzik finally made it to the West End too, which was great! Looking forward to the Gold Coast even more now :)
Saturday, June 25, 2005
mnnn
Argh, I seem to be doing battle with the blues again lately! I hate feeling like this. I'm no fun to be around either like this, so rather than inflict myself on the running buddies, I piked out again (!) and trained solo in an effort to clear my head and sort some stuff out. I did a bit of a circuit, with 5 mins rowing, 5 min elliptical trainer, 5 min fast run and then 5 minutes on the bike (which turned into 40). Then I went and had a sauna and steam. Came away feeling a bit less disgusting.
Tomorrow morning, I'm going to the West End and I'm going to cheer myself up by running a new 10km time. Aiming for 56-something. *fingers crossed!* Am now back in the land of 77kgs, too :)
Tomorrow morning, I'm going to the West End and I'm going to cheer myself up by running a new 10km time. Aiming for 56-something. *fingers crossed!* Am now back in the land of 77kgs, too :)
Friday, June 24, 2005
Adventure Racing ;)
At the moment, I'm reading a book called 'Appetite' which is the memoir of a woman who had anorexia. It also talks alot about the relationship between food, desire and femininity in western culture (which is why I bought it originally). All of which has also been a key part of the research I did during my MA - I wrote a lot about it in my thesis and in turn, through my art work.
The author fell in love with rowing and talks about how she beat her eating disorder through striving to have a fit body, rather than a thin one (that's a vast simplification of the book of course, but that's the part that I'm interested in currently) and it strikes me that that's how I view my relationship with exercising. I think it's where I might have been going wrong with the whole lose-weight thing lately. I want to lose weight to run faster and get fitter, but to do that, I've been obsessing a little over the numbers on the scale and *getting thinner*. What I should really be looking at is whether I am faster and fitter, regardless. I'll still measure progress by my weight of course (one day I'll hit 75kgs, I swear it) but when it becomes not about the joy of running and exercise, it becomes not-fun, non-rewarding and that's not really sustainable in the long term.
Anyway, that's enough of Hannah's-mental-non-running-ramblings for now!
The good news is that the lovely Skizzik and I may well be doing our first adventure race next month (running-riding-kayaking) and I'm feeling really excited about it! The goal is not really to be uber quick or anything, but just to have fun, to challenge ourselves and complete the course. So strange to be doing things like that - two years ago, I'd have hated it. Now I can't wait! Am soooo excited about the Gold Coast - have accommodation sorted for the saturday night, still pondering what to do about sunday... could drive back to Brisbane after the afterparty, but I'm sooo going to need a shower somewhere in there. Maybe I'll book another night at the hotel on my own or something. Who knows!
The author fell in love with rowing and talks about how she beat her eating disorder through striving to have a fit body, rather than a thin one (that's a vast simplification of the book of course, but that's the part that I'm interested in currently) and it strikes me that that's how I view my relationship with exercising. I think it's where I might have been going wrong with the whole lose-weight thing lately. I want to lose weight to run faster and get fitter, but to do that, I've been obsessing a little over the numbers on the scale and *getting thinner*. What I should really be looking at is whether I am faster and fitter, regardless. I'll still measure progress by my weight of course (one day I'll hit 75kgs, I swear it) but when it becomes not about the joy of running and exercise, it becomes not-fun, non-rewarding and that's not really sustainable in the long term.
Anyway, that's enough of Hannah's-mental-non-running-ramblings for now!
The good news is that the lovely Skizzik and I may well be doing our first adventure race next month (running-riding-kayaking) and I'm feeling really excited about it! The goal is not really to be uber quick or anything, but just to have fun, to challenge ourselves and complete the course. So strange to be doing things like that - two years ago, I'd have hated it. Now I can't wait! Am soooo excited about the Gold Coast - have accommodation sorted for the saturday night, still pondering what to do about sunday... could drive back to Brisbane after the afterparty, but I'm sooo going to need a shower somewhere in there. Maybe I'll book another night at the hotel on my own or something. Who knows!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Food Stuff.
Long run last night was really good. I was panicking slightly about not having been for a couple of weeks, but after I warmed up, I felt really good and could've kept going afterwards. Cheered me up immensely. Have dropped about half a kg since my recent record gain, so things are moving back the way they should. Who would've thought that a tube of pringles equated to about 2kgs of extra weight. I think my body is just uber sensitive to bad food these days. Works in reverse too, because when I set my mind to it, I lose weight fairly quickly for the first little while.
To answer the pringles question, I never usually buy junk food because if it's there, eventually I'll eat it. This time round though, my well meaning mother bought them. Logically, you would think, after dropping 50kgs, I would have enough will power to be able to dance around dressed in bloody pringles and not eat them, but it seems not! I believe that my problems with food completely stem from the relationships my family had with food as a child, but I won't bore you with the details of that! It's a familiar story.
The biggest part of losing the weight was changing my comfort eating tendencies and these days I know that while I might lose a battle or two, I'm winning the war. I hate how irrational binge eating seems, how lazy and weak to not be able to just stop eating when full. To someone who has never had any sort of eating disorder, it must seem strange. I know exactly why I over eat - it's a reaction to factors like stress, emotion and boredom... I've been analysed enough, had enough therapy over this very issue to know exactly why I do it and what I should do to stop myself, but from time to time, it still happens. If anything, when I try and lose a bit more weight like recently, I'm more vunerable to those moments. It's not that I feel particularly guilty once I've over eaten - more annoyed with myself. I think half the battle is just forgiving yourself and starting again. Which I do quite easily these days *L*
It's just such a horrible place to go back to, even fleetingly. Sometimes I daydream about what it would be like to not have to be so incredibly strict about food. Not to have to weigh myself almost daily to keep my weight under control. But at the same time, that's a very small price to pay. I'll do it gladly, if it means I'll never weigh 126kgs again. Blah.
And to end on a good running related note, I'm going to the gym tonight and aim to do 10km. I'll write about the adventure race the lovely Skizzik and I may be doing in the next entry!
To answer the pringles question, I never usually buy junk food because if it's there, eventually I'll eat it. This time round though, my well meaning mother bought them. Logically, you would think, after dropping 50kgs, I would have enough will power to be able to dance around dressed in bloody pringles and not eat them, but it seems not! I believe that my problems with food completely stem from the relationships my family had with food as a child, but I won't bore you with the details of that! It's a familiar story.
The biggest part of losing the weight was changing my comfort eating tendencies and these days I know that while I might lose a battle or two, I'm winning the war. I hate how irrational binge eating seems, how lazy and weak to not be able to just stop eating when full. To someone who has never had any sort of eating disorder, it must seem strange. I know exactly why I over eat - it's a reaction to factors like stress, emotion and boredom... I've been analysed enough, had enough therapy over this very issue to know exactly why I do it and what I should do to stop myself, but from time to time, it still happens. If anything, when I try and lose a bit more weight like recently, I'm more vunerable to those moments. It's not that I feel particularly guilty once I've over eaten - more annoyed with myself. I think half the battle is just forgiving yourself and starting again. Which I do quite easily these days *L*
It's just such a horrible place to go back to, even fleetingly. Sometimes I daydream about what it would be like to not have to be so incredibly strict about food. Not to have to weigh myself almost daily to keep my weight under control. But at the same time, that's a very small price to pay. I'll do it gladly, if it means I'll never weigh 126kgs again. Blah.
And to end on a good running related note, I'm going to the gym tonight and aim to do 10km. I'll write about the adventure race the lovely Skizzik and I may be doing in the next entry!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Blah....
*sighs* back on the wagon *again* :( Last night I ate a whole tube of pringles. Salt and Vinegar too - and I don't even like Salt and Bloody Vinegar. Consequently, my weight is exactly back where I started. 79kgs. Oh well... have a few intense running days coming up, so if I can get back to my usual 77kgs, I'll be happy enough.
Yesterday I had a rest day because my little toe (well, the bone) was a bit sore. It happened a couple of times when I first started running and I imeediately think the worst, so I decided to give it a rest for a day. Long Run tonight though... hopefully that will improve my mood!
Yesterday I had a rest day because my little toe (well, the bone) was a bit sore. It happened a couple of times when I first started running and I imeediately think the worst, so I decided to give it a rest for a day. Long Run tonight though... hopefully that will improve my mood!
Monday, June 20, 2005
Combat + 10km
So, I went and did BodyCombat this morning. Haven't done it in months so thought it'd be interesting for a comparison. The good news was that it barely made me raise a sweat, though my arms will be a little bit achy tomorrow I think. It's nice to know my cardio fitness is so much better than it was - used to leave me huffing and puffing like a trouper - but at the same time, I want something that makes me feel like that so I get a good workout. I actually got a bit frustrated that they had a break between every single track. Anyway, the long and the short of it is that I think I'll try swapping the Combat classes for 'Body Attack' which is supposed to be high impact.
I went back to the gym tonight too and did 10km on the treadmill because the weather outside was sooo revolting. I amused myself by listening to the music channels that play other people's CD's. It sort of satisfies the nosey part of me - It's fascinating to hear what types of music makes people tick! My favourite game is guessing who owns which CD. Anything to make the km tick by a bit quicker.
Didn't get on the scales this morning - too scared after the weekend of too much yummy food, but I will tomorrow morning! Tomorrow I'd planned to do a combat class but I think I may switch to RPM. Reading all the blogs of people who do spin classes, it should do the trick!
I went back to the gym tonight too and did 10km on the treadmill because the weather outside was sooo revolting. I amused myself by listening to the music channels that play other people's CD's. It sort of satisfies the nosey part of me - It's fascinating to hear what types of music makes people tick! My favourite game is guessing who owns which CD. Anything to make the km tick by a bit quicker.
Didn't get on the scales this morning - too scared after the weekend of too much yummy food, but I will tomorrow morning! Tomorrow I'd planned to do a combat class but I think I may switch to RPM. Reading all the blogs of people who do spin classes, it should do the trick!
Sunday, June 19, 2005
I have a cunning plan.
All right. Time to stop being a complete wuss and get down to business.
Much to my shame, I didn't go to Running Buddies yesterday... mostly due to aforementioned psychological wobble which I shall endeavour to beat into submission this week! I think track didn't help matters because it emphasises to me just how slow I am in comparison to everyone else. Hard to watch a 9 year old lap you repeatedly! *snorks*
At the same time, one of the other women who was running was apparently pretty high up in the scheme of things, so I know it'd be completely unrealistic to even attempt to compare me to her. Or, infact, me to any of the other track runners really, since they've all been doing it for a whole lot longer than me. I'm going to try and stick with track though I think. It's all part of the long term process.
So, here's my countdown to the GC Half plan for next week:
Mon 20/6:
morning: 9.15am BodyCombat, Stretch, Sauna
evening: 10km Run
Tues 21/6:
morning: REST
evening: 6:30pm BodyCombat
Weds 22/6:
morning: 9.15am Latin Fiesta
evening: 6pm Long Run, Run Inn Runners - 15kms?
Thurs 23/6:
morning: REST
evening: 6pm Trackwork (5km?) Stretch
Fri 24/6:
morning: 6:00am Body Combat
evening: 6:30pm Body Balance
Sat 25/6:
morning: 6:00am Brisbane Running Buddies, 10:30am Yoga?
evening: REST
Sun 26/6:
morning: 6:30am 10km BRRC, Stretch, Sauna/Steam
evening: REST
There :) If that doesnt shake things up, nothing will. I haven't yet gotten into the classes since I rejoined the gym with Fitness First. I've done combat before though and always loved it. Definitely gets the blood pumping. Is definitely going to be a running week too, with running on monday, wednesday, thursday, saturday and sunday! I'm trying to make this week quite big, because the next week will be my version of a taper for the half.
This is also going to be *the* week for getting to 75kgs. I'm suspecting it's going to be hard work too, since I may have innocently allowed some pork and crackling and cheesecake and alchoholic beverages to accidentally fall into my trap last night. Whoops! Scales'll show it tommorrow, but 75kgs, here I come!
Chaaarrrgggeeeee !!!
Much to my shame, I didn't go to Running Buddies yesterday... mostly due to aforementioned psychological wobble which I shall endeavour to beat into submission this week! I think track didn't help matters because it emphasises to me just how slow I am in comparison to everyone else. Hard to watch a 9 year old lap you repeatedly! *snorks*
At the same time, one of the other women who was running was apparently pretty high up in the scheme of things, so I know it'd be completely unrealistic to even attempt to compare me to her. Or, infact, me to any of the other track runners really, since they've all been doing it for a whole lot longer than me. I'm going to try and stick with track though I think. It's all part of the long term process.
So, here's my countdown to the GC Half plan for next week:
Mon 20/6:
morning: 9.15am BodyCombat, Stretch, Sauna
evening: 10km Run
Tues 21/6:
morning: REST
evening: 6:30pm BodyCombat
Weds 22/6:
morning: 9.15am Latin Fiesta
evening: 6pm Long Run, Run Inn Runners - 15kms?
Thurs 23/6:
morning: REST
evening: 6pm Trackwork (5km?) Stretch
Fri 24/6:
morning: 6:00am Body Combat
evening: 6:30pm Body Balance
Sat 25/6:
morning: 6:00am Brisbane Running Buddies, 10:30am Yoga?
evening: REST
Sun 26/6:
morning: 6:30am 10km BRRC, Stretch, Sauna/Steam
evening: REST
There :) If that doesnt shake things up, nothing will. I haven't yet gotten into the classes since I rejoined the gym with Fitness First. I've done combat before though and always loved it. Definitely gets the blood pumping. Is definitely going to be a running week too, with running on monday, wednesday, thursday, saturday and sunday! I'm trying to make this week quite big, because the next week will be my version of a taper for the half.
This is also going to be *the* week for getting to 75kgs. I'm suspecting it's going to be hard work too, since I may have innocently allowed some pork and crackling and cheesecake and alchoholic beverages to accidentally fall into my trap last night. Whoops! Scales'll show it tommorrow, but 75kgs, here I come!
Chaaarrrgggeeeee !!!
Friday, June 17, 2005
Wobble
I did track last night. I've decided I really like sprinting and I feel like I'm faster at it (which, logically would make sense LOL). I like the freeness of just cutting loose and going hell for leather down the straight. Of course, it doesnt feel so good after a 2km warm up, 1 x 800m, 3 x 500m and another 1 x 800m. I shouldn't have stopped going because I think my times were worse, but at least I went the whole session and didn't have to sit one out like I used to.
My brain has started playing annoying little psychological tricks on me again with the Gold Coast Half. Even though I now know I can physically cover the distance through a run/walk combo, I still feel like I can't or haven't done enough training or something. I really need to shake myself out of it because it got in the way of the lose-5kgs plan yesterday and today :( consequently:
current weight: 76.4kgs
Bah! So close. Self sabotage is soooo UNBELIEVABLY frustrating. Dammit, Dammit, Dammit! It's not irreversable, but tomorrow night I've got dinner at a friends and I know that eating up there is always difficult because I have to navigate my way through the delicious fresh crusty bread, real butter, pork with crackling, chocolate bavarian and patisserie cheesecake :( Far Out. I guess it'll be the ultimate test of my (currently faltering!) will power.
Went to the gym tonight and did virtually nothing. Bad Hannah. My legs are tired from track and I thought I'd rest them for tomorrow with the Running Buddies, but I'm having a bout of last minute wobbles about that too... debating whether or not to go :( Argh.
My brain has started playing annoying little psychological tricks on me again with the Gold Coast Half. Even though I now know I can physically cover the distance through a run/walk combo, I still feel like I can't or haven't done enough training or something. I really need to shake myself out of it because it got in the way of the lose-5kgs plan yesterday and today :( consequently:
current weight: 76.4kgs
Bah! So close. Self sabotage is soooo UNBELIEVABLY frustrating. Dammit, Dammit, Dammit! It's not irreversable, but tomorrow night I've got dinner at a friends and I know that eating up there is always difficult because I have to navigate my way through the delicious fresh crusty bread, real butter, pork with crackling, chocolate bavarian and patisserie cheesecake :( Far Out. I guess it'll be the ultimate test of my (currently faltering!) will power.
Went to the gym tonight and did virtually nothing. Bad Hannah. My legs are tired from track and I thought I'd rest them for tomorrow with the Running Buddies, but I'm having a bout of last minute wobbles about that too... debating whether or not to go :( Argh.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Happy!
Current Weight: 76.2kgs
Weight left to lose: 1.2kgs
yesterday: 10km cycle, floor exercises, stretch
I'm back into thinnest-I've-ever-been territory! When I hit 75.9, there is going to be a lot of jumping up and down, I can tell you!
75kgs has been initial target weight since I started to lose weight, but until now I just kept hovering about two kgs away. As I said before, I'm thinking I might see if I can peel away a couple more in addition but I don't care if I can maintain my weight at 75kgs... I feel fine and I like the changes I'm just starting to see.
I've been eating porridge for breakfast, sushi rolls/chicken salad/protein bar for lunch and meat and veggies for dinner. I've had a handful of almonds here and there as a snack, or a bit of fruit. Once or twice I've had a yoghurt for dessert. If you haven't tried them yet, I thoroughly recommend the French Cheesecake Flavoured Lite Yoghurt by Yoplait (I think that's who makes it) It's gorgeous!
I spoke to my friend Em last night (who I think may be reading my blog now, *waves*) who has just hit the 20 minute mark with her running. I'm so happy for her and I'm doing my best to cajole her into coming to do the 5km at the West End! I'm probably biased too, because I can't wait to get another person to run with!
Speaking of which, I'm doing the Running Buddies on Saturday. Looking forward to it! I've missed Run club for two weeks because my latest exhibition opened and then last night I had to give a talk about it. but it's all back on track now! Bring on the Gold Coast - I'm feeling really optimistic about everything today!
Tonight: aiming for 10km again :)
Weight left to lose: 1.2kgs
yesterday: 10km cycle, floor exercises, stretch
I'm back into thinnest-I've-ever-been territory! When I hit 75.9, there is going to be a lot of jumping up and down, I can tell you!
75kgs has been initial target weight since I started to lose weight, but until now I just kept hovering about two kgs away. As I said before, I'm thinking I might see if I can peel away a couple more in addition but I don't care if I can maintain my weight at 75kgs... I feel fine and I like the changes I'm just starting to see.
I've been eating porridge for breakfast, sushi rolls/chicken salad/protein bar for lunch and meat and veggies for dinner. I've had a handful of almonds here and there as a snack, or a bit of fruit. Once or twice I've had a yoghurt for dessert. If you haven't tried them yet, I thoroughly recommend the French Cheesecake Flavoured Lite Yoghurt by Yoplait (I think that's who makes it) It's gorgeous!
I spoke to my friend Em last night (who I think may be reading my blog now, *waves*) who has just hit the 20 minute mark with her running. I'm so happy for her and I'm doing my best to cajole her into coming to do the 5km at the West End! I'm probably biased too, because I can't wait to get another person to run with!
Speaking of which, I'm doing the Running Buddies on Saturday. Looking forward to it! I've missed Run club for two weeks because my latest exhibition opened and then last night I had to give a talk about it. but it's all back on track now! Bring on the Gold Coast - I'm feeling really optimistic about everything today!
Tonight: aiming for 10km again :)
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Woo!
Owwww. Had PT last night and we did dynamic exercises with weights. I didn't previously know I had muscles beside my ribcage, but now I do and they're really sore! Still, it was really good to get into some good, honest meaty training where I could work hard. Consequently, I got on the scales today and:
current weight: 76.4kgs
Huzzah! 1.4kgs to go :) At this rate, I might even try to drop a few more - considering the healthy average for my height is supposed to be 65kgs (75kgs being the top end of healthy). We shall see, I suppose.
Think I'll go to the gym today and do some cardio... too sore for weights!
current weight: 76.4kgs
Huzzah! 1.4kgs to go :) At this rate, I might even try to drop a few more - considering the healthy average for my height is supposed to be 65kgs (75kgs being the top end of healthy). We shall see, I suppose.
Think I'll go to the gym today and do some cardio... too sore for weights!
Monday, June 13, 2005
Yay for 10k!
Huzzah! I can run properly again! After yesterday's shamozzle of a run, I decided to try again tonight. I took my ventolin as a precaution and then set out on my usual route around the 'burb - thinking I'd take it easy and just do 5km if it was still as uncomfortable as yesterday morning.
The first 3km werent too much fun, but once I got through those, I started to feel heaps better and just ran and ran and ran. So I ended up doing 10km (60 minutes) and by the end I felt great and could've kept going. My legs were turning over well and it all just flowed. How bizarre that 24 hours can make so much difference. I feel so much better mentally now too, knowing that I'm back to where I was and not going to have to start all over again!
Current Weight: 77.4kgs (I feel so Bridget Jones, LOL - in fact, I think they could've written that book about me!)
The first 3km werent too much fun, but once I got through those, I started to feel heaps better and just ran and ran and ran. So I ended up doing 10km (60 minutes) and by the end I felt great and could've kept going. My legs were turning over well and it all just flowed. How bizarre that 24 hours can make so much difference. I feel so much better mentally now too, knowing that I'm back to where I was and not going to have to start all over again!
Current Weight: 77.4kgs (I feel so Bridget Jones, LOL - in fact, I think they could've written that book about me!)
Sunday, June 12, 2005
5kms, gunk and 2.8kgs to go!
I can't believe how much having one tiny little cold can affect your running. I'm pretty much better now, but yesterday afternoon I went out and hit the bike path, meaning to try and run from my place to the city. Big mistake! I had nooo energy and the gunk from the cold made it hard to breath properly as I ran. I ended up admitting defeat and walked most of it instead. I think I did about 10km all up. Must've done something, since this morning my glutes ached from the effort. They're probably atrophied after a week of sitting on my arse!
Today the West End run was on, so I headed down there to do the 10km. Optimistically, I thought once I got into my stride, I'd be able to just push through the end of the cold and do it if I went slow. By 4km I was struggling, so I called it a day at 5km. Yuck. My time was awful too - 29:?? ish, the slowest I've been in ages. Mind you, it probably wasnt helped by the two minutes I spent halfway round, having to take my shoe and sock off to get the bloody cockroach out of it. I can honestly say there is nothing quite as disgusting as having a small cold creepy crawly working its way down to your toes. Gross!
After the run, caught up with Tesso and Clairie and heard amusing drinking stories. Am thinking of joining the Brisbane Running Buddies for their saturday morning runs - could do with another long run during the week to increase my mileage a bit. Probably won't be until after the Gold Coast now (three weeks today, argh!) but I am vowing to go back to doing track then too. I want to maximise my chances of improving my times.
My drop-5kg-before-the-goldcoast campaign is going reasonably well although on revision, 5kgs might be a little too ambitious in three weeks! Have taken off 2kgs of carbo loading over-enthusiasm from the Doomben Half though I knew that first bit would come off easily. Target weight for GC is currently set at 75kgs. To motivate myself, I'm going to include my current weight on my entries. Might just keep me honest and be the little bit of motivation I need to get me there!
start weight: 79kgs
current weight: 77.8kgs
amount left to lose: 2.8kgs
Today the West End run was on, so I headed down there to do the 10km. Optimistically, I thought once I got into my stride, I'd be able to just push through the end of the cold and do it if I went slow. By 4km I was struggling, so I called it a day at 5km. Yuck. My time was awful too - 29:?? ish, the slowest I've been in ages. Mind you, it probably wasnt helped by the two minutes I spent halfway round, having to take my shoe and sock off to get the bloody cockroach out of it. I can honestly say there is nothing quite as disgusting as having a small cold creepy crawly working its way down to your toes. Gross!
After the run, caught up with Tesso and Clairie and heard amusing drinking stories. Am thinking of joining the Brisbane Running Buddies for their saturday morning runs - could do with another long run during the week to increase my mileage a bit. Probably won't be until after the Gold Coast now (three weeks today, argh!) but I am vowing to go back to doing track then too. I want to maximise my chances of improving my times.
My drop-5kg-before-the-goldcoast campaign is going reasonably well although on revision, 5kgs might be a little too ambitious in three weeks! Have taken off 2kgs of carbo loading over-enthusiasm from the Doomben Half though I knew that first bit would come off easily. Target weight for GC is currently set at 75kgs. To motivate myself, I'm going to include my current weight on my entries. Might just keep me honest and be the little bit of motivation I need to get me there!
start weight: 79kgs
current weight: 77.8kgs
amount left to lose: 2.8kgs
Thursday, June 09, 2005
I am having a not very good week. I'm still sick and feel like poo. Yesterday I went and baked myself in the steam room at the gym in an effort to free my sinus up a bit. Because I was there and was sort of in gym gear, I couldnt help but try and do a bit of running. 3km and I felt disgusting - dizzy - so I stopped.
Then, today, I got a rejection letter for a job I could do standing on my head, that I'm way more than qualified for and that I know I did a good interview for. I'm so annoyed and more than a bit upset over it. No doubt that'll pass, but it's so FRUSTRATING.
On the plus side, I did have my first radio interview today, for Planet Radio. Went quite well I think and I got a card and an invitation to go back for my next exhibition.
If I can't do some proper exercise tomorrow, I'm going to go stark stir crazy. Nearly a whole week off for a cold. It's ridiculous.
***This blog entry was brought to you by an overly emotional, grumpy, stressed out and thoroughly annoyed Hannah. Normal viewing will resume shortly***
Then, today, I got a rejection letter for a job I could do standing on my head, that I'm way more than qualified for and that I know I did a good interview for. I'm so annoyed and more than a bit upset over it. No doubt that'll pass, but it's so FRUSTRATING.
On the plus side, I did have my first radio interview today, for Planet Radio. Went quite well I think and I got a card and an invitation to go back for my next exhibition.
If I can't do some proper exercise tomorrow, I'm going to go stark stir crazy. Nearly a whole week off for a cold. It's ridiculous.
***This blog entry was brought to you by an overly emotional, grumpy, stressed out and thoroughly annoyed Hannah. Normal viewing will resume shortly***
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Pho-toes :)
Have just purchased this:
*grins* It does however make me think that I definitely do want to shift another 5kgs. Preferably before Gold Coast, but we'll see how I go :)
*grins* It does however make me think that I definitely do want to shift another 5kgs. Preferably before Gold Coast, but we'll see how I go :)
Sick
Well, the cold that I felt coming on before the half has finally arrived and I feel yuck. My throat is sore and swollen. When I was little the doctor who took my tonsils out botched it and left some of them in there - consequently, when I get a sore throat, It's quite spectacular. Lucky for me, I rarely ever get sick!
So, I'm now dying to get back out there, get running and doing gym things. I'm a bit hot-and-cold too though, so I'm thinking it's probably not a good idea. I was supposed to have dinner with Tess, Claire and Skiz tonight, but I don't want to give them whatever I've got *sulks* so I'm not going.
At least this happened after sunday and not before it! *L* I'll stop whinge-blogging now :)
So, I'm now dying to get back out there, get running and doing gym things. I'm a bit hot-and-cold too though, so I'm thinking it's probably not a good idea. I was supposed to have dinner with Tess, Claire and Skiz tonight, but I don't want to give them whatever I've got *sulks* so I'm not going.
At least this happened after sunday and not before it! *L* I'll stop whinge-blogging now :)
Sunday, June 05, 2005
At first I was afraid, I was petrified...
Kept thinking I could never live without chips on the side...
Then I spent so many nights thinking how I'd done me wrong
And I grew strong - I learnt how to run quite long...
*Ahem* Do excuse my pathetic attempt at rewriting those lyrics. Gloria Gaynor would die *L*
Anyway, the point of that was to say, I DID IT! Pretty much exactly six months to the day since I started running, here I am having completed my first half marathon. I don't think it's quite sunk in yet. It still feels quite surreal - like it didn't happen.
I went to bed early last night and woke up at about 5am, although true to form I couldn't sleep very well. A million doubts flying warp speed through my brain and I kept imagining running bits of the course. I got up and got dressed, but felt so nervous by that point that I couldn't eat anything, so I just hopped in the car and drove to the race. Once I got there and parked, it didn't take long to find all the people from the club and Tracey (my partner-opps I mean pacer-in crime) and Sam (who was all geared up to do a PB) Before I knew it, we'd handed our bags in, got our pacing balloons and stickers and were at the start line. There were heaps and heaps of people and I've got to say, it's the perfect venue for a marathon - the whole thing was just organised sooo well.
We lined up and a couple of people came and lined up with us. A guy who I'd been chatting to thought I couldn't hear him when he laughed to his mates about how crap and inept I was going to be as a pacer when I'd *scoffscoffchucklechuckle* never run more than 18kms. Arsehole. Anyway, in the end I should've probably thanked him really, since I absolutely hate people like that (endured too many years of fat jokes I think) and consequently, I saw red, got really fired up - my nerves vanished and I vowed and declared that failure was not an option. Infact, If I hadn't been pacing, I would've taken great delight in beating the pants off the evil little gnome (he wasnt that far ahead at the end). Oh well. I'll get you next time, Gadget!
I'd written the pace times down my arm and it basically worked out that we were supposed to do 7 minute kms. Tracey and I both naturally run at about 6 minute kms, so it was actually really hard to reign it back, especially at the start. Infact, there were points along the way where we were as much as five minutes ahead... so we walked through pretty much all of the drink stops, walked for a few minutes towards the end, just so we wouldn't come in vastly before the 2:30. I think walking through the drink stops was a good idea really - it broke up the run a fair bit and took the pressure off. Having the pacings written up my arm really helped too - checking our progress every km sort of distracted me from the actual distance. Going slow also meant that we (well, okay, *I*) got to perve on the cute police officers. We even had a toilet stop and one of the ladies from BRRC gave us a tim tam on the way round!
All in all, I think having to go really slow in this half was good for me because it gave me a feel for the distance and made me realise that I'll be able to go a fair bit quicker at the gold coast. I might still walk through some of the drink stops, but even if I do, I couldn't go slower than 2:30 if I tried so it's a nice foundation to have. It was good to do what was a bit of a cruisy run, chatting all the way and really enjoying it. Definitely went a long way in removing the fear factor for next month which is bound to help.
So, to summarise what is probably my hugest blog post ever, I really enjoyed this morning. It sort of represents what my first six months of running has meant to me. When I first started, I had no idea just how much running would make me grow and develop - not just in the distances/speed that I happen to run at, but on every level. Emotionally, spiritually, physically. It's been hard work, but so incredibly rewarding. I've met some lovely, lovely people - both on CR and off it - who've helped me in so many ways. Thanks Guys!
Here's to the next six months of running! 2006 - MARATHON YEAR!
Then I spent so many nights thinking how I'd done me wrong
And I grew strong - I learnt how to run quite long...
*Ahem* Do excuse my pathetic attempt at rewriting those lyrics. Gloria Gaynor would die *L*
Anyway, the point of that was to say, I DID IT! Pretty much exactly six months to the day since I started running, here I am having completed my first half marathon. I don't think it's quite sunk in yet. It still feels quite surreal - like it didn't happen.
I went to bed early last night and woke up at about 5am, although true to form I couldn't sleep very well. A million doubts flying warp speed through my brain and I kept imagining running bits of the course. I got up and got dressed, but felt so nervous by that point that I couldn't eat anything, so I just hopped in the car and drove to the race. Once I got there and parked, it didn't take long to find all the people from the club and Tracey (my partner-opps I mean pacer-in crime) and Sam (who was all geared up to do a PB) Before I knew it, we'd handed our bags in, got our pacing balloons and stickers and were at the start line. There were heaps and heaps of people and I've got to say, it's the perfect venue for a marathon - the whole thing was just organised sooo well.
We lined up and a couple of people came and lined up with us. A guy who I'd been chatting to thought I couldn't hear him when he laughed to his mates about how crap and inept I was going to be as a pacer when I'd *scoffscoffchucklechuckle* never run more than 18kms. Arsehole. Anyway, in the end I should've probably thanked him really, since I absolutely hate people like that (endured too many years of fat jokes I think) and consequently, I saw red, got really fired up - my nerves vanished and I vowed and declared that failure was not an option. Infact, If I hadn't been pacing, I would've taken great delight in beating the pants off the evil little gnome (he wasnt that far ahead at the end). Oh well. I'll get you next time, Gadget!
I'd written the pace times down my arm and it basically worked out that we were supposed to do 7 minute kms. Tracey and I both naturally run at about 6 minute kms, so it was actually really hard to reign it back, especially at the start. Infact, there were points along the way where we were as much as five minutes ahead... so we walked through pretty much all of the drink stops, walked for a few minutes towards the end, just so we wouldn't come in vastly before the 2:30. I think walking through the drink stops was a good idea really - it broke up the run a fair bit and took the pressure off. Having the pacings written up my arm really helped too - checking our progress every km sort of distracted me from the actual distance. Going slow also meant that we (well, okay, *I*) got to perve on the cute police officers. We even had a toilet stop and one of the ladies from BRRC gave us a tim tam on the way round!
All in all, I think having to go really slow in this half was good for me because it gave me a feel for the distance and made me realise that I'll be able to go a fair bit quicker at the gold coast. I might still walk through some of the drink stops, but even if I do, I couldn't go slower than 2:30 if I tried so it's a nice foundation to have. It was good to do what was a bit of a cruisy run, chatting all the way and really enjoying it. Definitely went a long way in removing the fear factor for next month which is bound to help.
So, to summarise what is probably my hugest blog post ever, I really enjoyed this morning. It sort of represents what my first six months of running has meant to me. When I first started, I had no idea just how much running would make me grow and develop - not just in the distances/speed that I happen to run at, but on every level. Emotionally, spiritually, physically. It's been hard work, but so incredibly rewarding. I've met some lovely, lovely people - both on CR and off it - who've helped me in so many ways. Thanks Guys!
Here's to the next six months of running! 2006 - MARATHON YEAR!
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Will do nothing today. Ditto yesterday. I've opted for the lots-of-rest option while I try and shake this cold. Today I feel about the same, which I'm taking as good, because at least I'm not all snotty. If I'm like this tomorrow, it'll all be okay...mostly I just feel tired, but a slight caffiene bomb before the race should fix that :)
Still grinning about that dream yesterday - running has permeated my subconcious through and through it seems, if I'm now dreaming about doing it! To answer your question Tesso, no, I didn't see myself cross the finish line - interesting that most runners don't!
On the positive side of things, I'm liking these pace times. They look doable, even for me!
1 km 0:7 11 km 1:17
2 km 0:14 12 km 1:24
3 km 0:21 13 km 1:31
4 km 0:28 14 km 1:38
5 km 0:35 15 km 1:45
6 km 0:42 16 km 1:52
7 km 0:49 17 km 1:59
8 km 0:56 18 km 2:06
9 km 1:03 19 km 2:13
10 km 1:10 20 km 2:20
21 km 2:27
(hope that formats properly, can't be arsed to make a table for them!
Righto. This'll be my last entry before the big day! So long and thanks for all the fish! *grins*
Still grinning about that dream yesterday - running has permeated my subconcious through and through it seems, if I'm now dreaming about doing it! To answer your question Tesso, no, I didn't see myself cross the finish line - interesting that most runners don't!
On the positive side of things, I'm liking these pace times. They look doable, even for me!
1 km 0:7 11 km 1:17
2 km 0:14 12 km 1:24
3 km 0:21 13 km 1:31
4 km 0:28 14 km 1:38
5 km 0:35 15 km 1:45
6 km 0:42 16 km 1:52
7 km 0:49 17 km 1:59
8 km 0:56 18 km 2:06
9 km 1:03 19 km 2:13
10 km 1:10 20 km 2:20
21 km 2:27
(hope that formats properly, can't be arsed to make a table for them!
Righto. This'll be my last entry before the big day! So long and thanks for all the fish! *grins*
Friday, June 03, 2005
dreaming about it...
I dreamt last night about the half - that I couldn't find the start time, was late and missed it - I think I joined in half way and had to chase everyone. The amusing thing was though, that in the dream, heaps of people had CR caps on - and Eddie was in the lead!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Oh Nose!
Last night at club my nose started running a bit... tonight I feel a bit blah, achy and tired and like a cold is coming on... my throat is a bit sore too. I refuse to get ill before sunday. I do! I picked up my race kit tonight and dammit I'm going to do that half, if I have to walk the entire thing feeling like poo. Which I may. But, I've started taking massive doses of vitamin C and so hopefully, all shall be fine on sunday *nods to self*
Last night we did an easy hour run as a large group which was really nice. Good to run with the faster (and slower) people, gossip and catch up. Poor Sam fell over quite spectacularly - she did a better job on her knee than I did on my chin. Hope she's feeling better! Today I went to the gym and was a bit slack - did half an hour easy rowing. I quite miss actual rowing... when I've got more money I'll have to join another club and take some more lessons.
Right. Healthy thoughts. Healthy. Maybe if I dose up on sudafed, I'll run quicker! (sends me round the bend as it is!) LOL!
Last night we did an easy hour run as a large group which was really nice. Good to run with the faster (and slower) people, gossip and catch up. Poor Sam fell over quite spectacularly - she did a better job on her knee than I did on my chin. Hope she's feeling better! Today I went to the gym and was a bit slack - did half an hour easy rowing. I quite miss actual rowing... when I've got more money I'll have to join another club and take some more lessons.
Right. Healthy thoughts. Healthy. Maybe if I dose up on sudafed, I'll run quicker! (sends me round the bend as it is!) LOL!
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Pumping Iron + Radio shows!
Thanks so much for all the bling bling comments! *L* Damn right, Clairie, I did wear it to coffee - what can I say? It matched my shirt! LOL...
On monday I had training and we worked my arms so hard I almost threw up. I hate the sensation of doing weights when you reach your limit and get tired, because you feel like you're pushing/pulling like buggery and yet you just can't make the relevant bit move more than half an inch. Really frustrating and not pleasant. Still, I guess it's good mentally in a way, to have that mind-over-matter challenge. Can use it as a metaphor in other parts of my training, like running :)
We decided on monday not to work my legs so they'll be strong for sunday. Every time I hear the word 'half', my stomach flips over. But all will be well (she says nodding and trying to push that bar half an inch). My trainer also worked out a bit of a taper for me this week. I don't think I'm going to be very good at tapering... I had a rest day yesterday and I'm already dying to go out and run. I'm running tonight with the club but I don't think we'll be going too long because of sunday. Then sometime between thursday and sunday I think I'll do an easy 5km, though Tony (trainer) thinks I should hold off til sunday *pout* apparently I'm supposed to be itching to run by sunday but I am already! Meh.
Oh, and you know, if you happened to be listening to 4ZZZ on the 12 June at 12.30pm, you never know... you might just hear a certain artist-runner talking about her artwork on air :)
On monday I had training and we worked my arms so hard I almost threw up. I hate the sensation of doing weights when you reach your limit and get tired, because you feel like you're pushing/pulling like buggery and yet you just can't make the relevant bit move more than half an inch. Really frustrating and not pleasant. Still, I guess it's good mentally in a way, to have that mind-over-matter challenge. Can use it as a metaphor in other parts of my training, like running :)
We decided on monday not to work my legs so they'll be strong for sunday. Every time I hear the word 'half', my stomach flips over. But all will be well (she says nodding and trying to push that bar half an inch). My trainer also worked out a bit of a taper for me this week. I don't think I'm going to be very good at tapering... I had a rest day yesterday and I'm already dying to go out and run. I'm running tonight with the club but I don't think we'll be going too long because of sunday. Then sometime between thursday and sunday I think I'll do an easy 5km, though Tony (trainer) thinks I should hold off til sunday *pout* apparently I'm supposed to be itching to run by sunday but I am already! Meh.
Oh, and you know, if you happened to be listening to 4ZZZ on the 12 June at 12.30pm, you never know... you might just hear a certain artist-runner talking about her artwork on air :)
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