Swim, Bike and White Bread!

I've been feeling really disgusting over the last few days - I think mostly it's because of the bad stuff I ate last week combined with a fair whack of water retention. You'd think I'd learn that white bread does not agree with me since it makes me feel bloated and gives me heart burn whenever I eat it, wouldn't you? *L* I don't even bloody like it, really! I function best on fresh fruit, salad, lean meat, veggies, nuts and the odd bit of grainy bread or ryvita. I feel better when I eat consistently like that, so I shall stop sabotaging myself. Perhaps it's my subconcious freaking out over the rapidly approaching Tri. *butterflies*

This week is thus hereby dedicated to undoing what I did last week, dropping my unwelcome added wobbles and making myself feel better before sunday. I think I'm actually looking forward to having a bit of a rest while I'm away - I'll still exercise of course, but I'm not going to panic about trying to keep up my mileage etc while I'm there. I think I'll cut back to training 3 days a week and leave it at that. It's only three weeks, anyway.

Yesterday I went for a swim and did 500m - I can't bear it when people with kicboards or water runners purposely cut in front in the slow lane - I had to stop for a few seconds to let one go, then I had to overtake another (which nearly killed me because it meant a short mad spurt of speed in the mix!) I also bumped into Tori, who was there swimming with her daughter. She was telling me about her tri coach - maybe it's just because I'm more conscious of it now, but it seems like everywhere I go these days, I either meet someone who is training with someone, or runs their own group. I had no idea there were quite so many tri squads in Brisbane!

Today I went for a bike ride, ventured slightly futher afield. I'm going to get a new battery for the pedometer so I can see how far I'm going. I'm feeling slightly more comfortable on the bike now - but I'm still sticking to the streets rather than the main roads. I wish the maps showed which streets have major hills! The place I'm house sitting has some *huge* ones and it's difficult for me to plot a flattish route. Perhaps I'll just have to take the bike somewhere else and ride.

Will try and make it to the gym tonight for some weights/swim session.

5kms and a DNF

My sister sent me this picture by text message this morning. This is what it's like in the UK at the moment! I'm going to freeze! *L*

On a different note, went to the West End today - started the 15km race, pulled out after 5km. My first DNF, but I think I was a being a tad overambitious to think I could run 15kms two days in a row, let alone after one of them being hills. Oh well! Got to catch up with a few people and watch them finish for a change which was nice! (nothing like a good bellow as someone heads for the line!) I'm also feeling a tad PMTish, and have eaten lots of rubbish this weekend which has made me feel yuck and bloated.

Nevermind! Tomorrow is a new day - back on the healthy eating wagon and a week of joining various amounts of swimming/bike/running together. I'm not focussing on mileage this week, only on feeling good and comfortable ready for sunday.

The Road Teaches Humility

This morning I went to the Running Buddies as usual and Sam finally succeeded in egging me on enough to have another crack at Mount Cootha. I felt quite flat and lethargic when I woke up this morning - partly from yesterdays cross training effort and partly from eating too much dinner but I decided to give it a go. I learnt a valuable lesson:

Off we set, up the mountain and I knew by the first, extrodinarily long hill that I'd bitten off way more than I could chew. Sam ran with me for a while but I hate feeling like I'm holding people back so I told her to take off after the others. For most of the way up the mountain, I felt really irritated at myself and quite tearful (emotional runner that I am) and contemplated turning back or cutting through up the 5km track to the top then realised that Sam said she'd probably wait for me at the top so I had to do the whole thing. I huffed and puffed and swore and slowed to a walk and kicked myself mentally up the bum for getting too cocky. The sun was starting to glare and it was getting more and more humid and I felt like I was fighting the road and the hills and the mountain.

When I got past the worst part of the ascent, into the more bushy part of the run, something just happened to me. Sorrounded by the bush and the wind and glimpses of a beautiful view, I just decided to just relax and enjoy the run, regardless of how much I walked. I put aside all the pressure that I was putting on myself and remembered a time when walking 500m down a flat road seemed difficult. Looking back at my years in the morbidly obese category, the sensation that stays with me the most is a feeling of being trapped in my body, of slow motion and everything being such an effort. I think that's actually why I get emotional about my running - I still have that sensation of really pushing my body - of moving being an effort, only now it's because I'm challenging myself physically, not just because I want to get out of a chair or go up a single flight of stairs.

Today as I slogged my way up that mountain, I realised that there's nothing wrong in accepting my limitations now - It doesnt mean that I'm not pushing against them in the long term. I'm still going to work to improve (and one day, I will run that entire mountain, beginning to end - that's a promise!) but it's not the same thing as accepting how I was when I weighed 126kgs. Defeat doesn't mean the same thing anymore.

Once I admitted 'defeat' to the mountain, I felt like I could start to work with it, rather than against it - I started to enjoy my run/walk/run and I got to admire things I might not have seen otherwise - a whole flock of grazing sulphur crested cockatoos, for example. One of them looked at me as I went by and I swear, it really seemed to look at me. I think if it was able to smile, it would have!

The road teaches humility; the lesson is freedom.

moan, whinge, bah humbug *L*

So, I've now got the bike, bought a helmet and a gel seat cover (not that it makes things that much better! to steal a minerism, my back groin feels like it's never going to be the same again!)

I took it out this afternoon and did some killer hills, followed by a shortish run on jelly legs. I have no idea if I'll be able to tackle Mt-C tomorrow!!! I suspect I may well be crippled ;)

I'm sort of remembering why I love running so much - it's so simple, so easy, so... sort of pure.... you just stick your shoes on and go.... perhaps this reaction is partly because I'm fairly nervous about riding on the main roads around here - I feel like it's taking my life in my hands, somewhat! Traffic sucks.

Swam yesterday, 400m freestyle hurrah! Next week comes the interesting task of trying to join everything together in training! argh!

10k and Muahahahaha

Running group last night - 10km. We all started off as one big group and then broke into two, with the slower group turning back sooner. At the moment, I feel quite torn! When they split, I stood in the middle with both the slow group and the faster group beckoning at me to go with them *L* I went with the faster group and then felt like I was cheating on the others!

I half questioned my decision as the faster group seemed to speed up as we went along though - lots of hills at five-something pace and once again I had to work my butt off to keep up. Again, they were all on recovery from the 500k relay, so I think on a standard week, I'd be eating their dust. Even though it's tempting to carry on with the slower group and be able to chat and have fun, I know that choosing the harder option is the only way I'm going to get any better so I just have to bite the bullet and ignore how much it hurts! Speaking of hurt, poor old Sam took a tumble last night. I think she's going to have some impressive bruises this morning!

While we were running, I was chatting to MJ about Bribie and she decided to enter with me! So now I have someone to share the whole experience with which is lovely. This triathlon thing is contagious I'm sure ;) muahahahaha! I'm going to go and pick up my borrowed bike today too, so this afternoon I might hit the bike tracks. Also planning a swim later this morning.

Sam half convinced me to have a go at doing the Mount Cootha run with the running buddies on saturday. I am going to be sooo incredibly slow, I still don't know if I'm ready to do it with other people. Plus, I was going to do the 15km at the West End on sunday. Which I could probably still do if I ran conservatively (or did the 5km instead) Or, I could go up to Shorncliffe and do the 5km time trial on saturday instead.

Choices, choices!

Purple Tri Suit

Bit the bullet today and went tri suit shopping. Tried on three different suits before spotting something sticking out of the bargain rack at the front - a purple brooks all in one suit in my size - and even better, reduced to $30! Bargain! The Zoot one fitted better and was much more flattering being a darker colour, but for the sake of saving $120 I don't really care... I want to just have a go at Bribie and see how I feel before I start throwing huge amounts of money into it. With xmas and an overseas trip coming up, my finances are a little woeful at the moment - and when I get back from overseas, there's the slight issue of getting hold of a bike, too! If all goes well, I'll invest in a really good one - I like the look of those orca suits. Yummy.

So anyway, all up I'm feeling pretty smug and pleased with myself. Had PT this morning and got told off by my trainer for not keeping a food diary - oops. Naughty me. At least the thought of having to wear a purple tri suit in a few weeks is going to keep me motivated to drop a few more kilograms. It's not very flattering at all, but I just keep thinking of the Nike slogan - Run Ugly! I'm definitely going to fall into that category *L*

Spent yesterday moving most of my belongings over to the house I'm sitting. It's in quite a nice spot really - right next to bush reserve opposite some bike trails - which I'm dying to get out and run (and ride!) and, nearer to running group, too! D

Noosa pic and 300m freestyle

Got my Noosa pic - I think the expression on my face says it all *L* Paiiinnnn! *L* I'm also quite amazed to see that it looks like I've got the start of some muscles these days!

I feel pretty good after yesterday's effort, although I'm still a bit tired. My legs aren't as sore as they have been, although no doubt tomorrow will be the decider! I'd really like to have a go at doing a longer distance now as well. I've been mucking around with the idea of doing a 30km run for ages, so perhaps I'll have a go at that next time. My long runs should really start being, well, long! I think I've decided that I'll make the Gold Coast my first full Marathon - too much going on through April for me to do Canberra - my abstract got accepted for a conference in Atlanta, so if I get funding for that, I may be away for a week or two.

Ladies and Gentleman, went to the pool this morning and -*drumroll*- I swam 300m non stop freestyle! Slowly, but psychologically I feel better about it now :) Now all I have to do is get quicker. I discovered that if I wear an old pair of nike bikepants underneath my swimming costume, it's equivalent to what I assume vaguely resembles a tri-suit and the drag of the water doesnt yank on them too much. I do look slightly like a very bad 80s aerobics queen - at least the shorts and the cossie are the same colour though!

25km Long Slow Run 2:35

Well, that 25km wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be - infact, I did it a minute quicker than last time (although there were a few drink and stretching stops which we didn't count) I think subconciously the last couple of crappy 10km races I've done (where I felt like I was about to die) had made me think I was going to feel the same way on a long slow run.

Sam and I set off from the Ship Inn, over the Story Bridge and then down to New Farm Park - then we came back up past the Riverside Centre, down to the Regatta, back up, across the Victoria Bridge and through South Bank. Starting at 5am was a fantastic idea - the first hour was lovely and we were up over the Story Bridge before we knew it. Very civilised pace meant we gossiped just about all the way (huffing and puffing slightly, anyway)

I feel quite good really. Much better than after the 10k last weekend. My calves were cramping a tad and the last 5k were hard, but all up I'm pleased. Which means one thing:

There's no escape from Kurruwa!

freestyle getting better!

Hurrah! I somehow swam 400m FREESTYLE this morning! No breaststroke at all! I had about 20 seconds rest every 100m, but I feel like I'm making progress :) i swam really slowly and tried to focus on breathing and rhythym (which are the main pointers I got from the stuff I read)

You also have to love how the universe works - just as I got there, the guy in the next lane to me started chatting and turns out he's just started a triathlon club at the pool (which is just down the road from me and much closer than the Enoggera one!) when I got out, I found he'd slipped a card under my bag!

This would be perfect, except for the fact that I may now be house sitting for a friend for a few months and she lives near Chermside! Having said that, I think they have a pool!

Tonight I've planned a gentle 5km in the lead up to saturday and a weights session.

10km run

Went swimming again yesterday, did 1100m though again with the 100m freestyle-then-bust woe. Prompted by Lulu's comment (thankyou, Lulu! :) I decided to do a bit of research on technique and have decided to try and focus on getting that better rather than increasing distance. I'm approaching it in the same way as I did running. Instead of jog-walk-jog-walk, I'm doing freestyle-breast stroke-freestyle-breastroke. Hopefully the breast stroke intervals will get less!

Today I paid for the Tri - *gulp* - no escape now!

Went running tonight with the Run Inn crowd. Went with the faster group again, thinking, wow, this isn't as hard as last time, only to realise they were all on an easy run because they're doing the 500k relay this weekend! dammit, LOL! Finished feeling like I wanted more - has to be a good sign. I'm trying not to feel yuck about my backsliding times lately - I know it's the weather, but I hate feeling like I'm going backwards in my running rather than forwards. It'll be interesting to see what I'm like when I go over to the UK for a few weeks to the freezing cold weather!

Finished reading the Hal Higdon marathon book that Tracey gave me. I'm feeling all inspired all round, really. I think my eyes are bigger than my stomach (or rather my brain, my legs!) in terms of all the running things I want to have a go at next year and beyond. Next year is definitely marathon year. After that, I think I may venture toward the (as Tesso called it) dark side and see what other horrific sounding running events I could enter ;) anything that sounds undoable is instantly appealing to me! Looking much, much further ahead, 100 miles sounds like a nice round number....

On saturday morning at the Running Buddies, Sam and I are going to have a Kurrawa decider run where we'll do the 25km and see how we cope (or rather, how I'll cope in the heat, seeing as she's much better at running than me) if it's awful, I don't think we'll do it to ourselves. We're going to start early, at 5am so we finish with everyone else. Having seen just how much the heat affects me, I'm not feeling that keen on half killing myself to do Kurruwa. Though, it'd be good fun I think with everyone there! Mnnn.

Tomorrow the great clothing-i-can-swim-bike-run-in experimentation continues.

1000m swim

Woke up this morning expecting my legs to be killing me, but actually, they're fine - it's my shoulders and back that hurt! Not to mention my er, bike seat - omgomgomg!

Gingerly ventured to the pool and swam 1000m. Still only managed 100m freestyle, did the rest as breaststroke, but tried to intersperse it with little bursts of freestyle. Made me realise how much work I have to do!

Was going to go to the gym tonight, but alas, I have a pile of 40 essays to mark by wednesday so I spent the evening knee deep in assessment criteria instead! Tomorrow, no doubt!

Tri training

Two blog entries in one day. I must be keen! Couldn’t help but blog the tri training experience though!

I am completely wiped out!

After the 10km this morning, I got home, had a shower and then did a few errands before having an early giant lunch and then heading to J's. My legs still felt a bit wibbly from the morning but I was determined to have a go at our own mini-tri this afternoon to see how I went.

First, we rode down to the pool. That in itself was an experience, since I haven't ridden a bike in six years and when I did there was no such thing as gears. Very strange to have my bum up and my head down, too - but on adjusting the seat a bit, found it did make a huge amount of difference. They say you never forget how to ride a bike, but I think it's bollocks. I think actually, it's bloody hard to remember how to ride a bike well.

Once we got to the pool, we did 500m. My freestyle sucks woefully. J was very good though and didn't laugh at me when I resorted to breastroking after 100m. Something I'm going to have to work on for sure. It's quite annoying because I have such vivid memories of actually being quite a strong swimmer as a kid. Same with playing with the piano. I remember being a grade 8, but when you put me infront of one now, I can hardly play a tune anymore. *snorks* I guess the key here is repetition and practice.

Then, we jumped out of the pool and got back on the bikes and rode 12km through bush trails. Some of the hills killed me - mostly due to having to get used to shifting my weight, find the best line, getting the right gear and keeping my balance all at once. Lots of fun though - whizzing up and down hills was loads of fun. I think that I need to concentrate on getting comfortable and then I can really let fly. And, I only fell off three times *snorks* not that I actually hit the dirt, it was more of an ungainly hopping sideways. I am so unco, it's embarrassing.

When we got back, we dumped the bikes and ran a hilly km or so around the block. My legs felt like jelly, having cramped up a bit in the pool. All up I was quite surprised I held up as well as I did - the bike ride at Bribie isn't going to be trails and we swam further than the enticer distance (300m) so really I just have to get my head around the bike and joining it all together.
I learnt tons about technique, rules and training from J - helped heaps.

One thing is for sure - parts of my anatomy are KILLING me! Why don't they make bike seats wider for girls? or perhaps you just get used to it! I also have to figure out a cost effective way to wear clothes that I can swim, bike and run in, get elastic laces and work some of this stuff into my training routine!

Definitely going to be an early night for me!

10km in 57.15 :(

This weekend is shaping up to be huge - yesterday I did an easy 10km with the running buddies, or rather - Sam, Schultzy and I did an easy 10km while the others took off up Mount Cootha! I'm not quite brave enough to have a go at that with other people just yet, and besides, I wanted to go well today at the BRRC 10km.

I don't think I realised just quite how much the heat takes it out of you - it was really, really humid again today and everyone was sweating buckets too. I managed 57.15 again which annoyed me immensely. Particularly as I was running perfect 5.30 pace for the first four kms. I just couldn't sustain it though and slowed. My throat is still sore as well and so I think a visit to the doc is going to have to happen. Blah. Antihistamine doesn't help either, so I know it's not just killer hayfever. I want to get under 55 minutes so badly I can taste it! ggggrrrraaarrrggghhhh!!! *L*

This afternoon I am doing my first tri-training attempt with an IM friend, John. He's another person who has volunteered to lend me a bike for the Bribie Enticer Tri (thankyou to those of you who've offered btw - much appreciated :) so looks like I'm entering! I'm slightly scared because he's so fast at everything and I'm buggered from running this morning already, but I've got til this afternoon to recover. All I can do is my best, anyway. I'd better get used to multiple lumps of exercise on the same day - I think there's going to have to be a lot more of it!

feeling better, 500k and Bribie Tri?

Woke up this morning feeling vaguely human again, aside from a bit of a headache. Yesterday my kidneys were really sore and aching all day, so much so that I almost ended up at the Doctors, but woke up this morning feeling pretty much fine, except for a bit of a headache, so hurrah, I think I'm on the mend! Had PT this morning, did weights again. I still can't believe I'm bench pressing 40kgs - I remember so clearly struggling with 20kgs!

Last night I did go to running club but decided just to run with the slowest group. We did about 40 minutes with a few walk breaks and once I got going, I felt fine. Really should've gone with the next lot up, but had decided to take it easy. A new girl came last night and she's similar to me in speed, so we had a bit of a hit out in the last km to get our heart rates up a bit. At the end, I still felt like I'd piked out even though I knew it was sensible to take it easy - wanted to do it all again. Funny how much it hurts to really push yourself and how you question why you do it to yourself, but then when you slack off a bit, you crave that sensation. Or at least, I do... I like feeling like I couldn't have worked any harder if I'd tried.

Anyway, it was probably good for me to take it easy and may well benefit me on the weekend. I'm still planning to run with the running buddies on saturday, though will probably be a slacko effort again before attempting to smash my 10k effort on the sunday.

Looks like I may end up running the 500k relay next weekend too - they're one runner short - I'm sort of torn about doing it because I promised Sam I'd run 25k with her before Kurruwa and we'd planned it for next saturday, but we'll see. Also had a chat with one of the girls at running last night about the local triathlon club (at Enoggera) so I really should ring the guy who runs it and see if I'd be up to getting involved. I'm contemplating doing one of the enticer tri's at Bribie - there's one at the beginning of December, one in February. I don't own a bike, so that's my next challenge - finding one! I'd like to buy one, but there's no way I'll be able to do that til the new year. Money is decidedly tight again!

grumpy

Well, whatever is in my system is still there :( At least it hasn't gotten any worse, stopping at the sniffles and a sore throat, but more annoying is the fact that my energy levels are non existant. I feel absolutely exhausted and very lethargic. Managed to force myself off to the gym yesterday for some cross training, but bit of a crap effort.

Tonight I'm torn between doing the cool night classic or going to run group. Not that I think I'm going to be too flash at either of them in this state! Blargh. Nothing to do but try and push on through it.

Noosa: The Good, The Bad and the UGLY!

Hardly know where to start on this one! Finally managed to get a motel room in Maroochydore for the night on saturday, so I went and helped rack the bike and pick up our race kits on saturday afternoon. Saw Schultzy who did a commando roll into a flower bed at running on wednesday - turns out he actually broke his hand, poor thing!

Got up at 4am to find I had a really sore throat. I'm not sure if it's the same bug that I had early this week, but all was not well. Being slightly asthmatic, things of that nature never bode well for me, so I pretty much scrapped my PB plan then and there :( I drove up to Noosa and met my team mates at 6am. Saw the lovely Karisma, on the way into get numbered but couldn't stop because I was terrified of losing my team mates (having only just met them, I didn't think I'd find them again in the crush! LOL!) we got tattooed and then began the long process of waiting around in the transition area. Bumped into Tori after her swim and we had a good chat. Saw Puntermatt too, looking all posh with his official press pass! (I want that job!) Also saw Little Kirlou I think, not that he knew who I was *grins*

The swim looked brutal and some of the other people in the other zenergy teams (organised by my trainer) came back with black eyes and various bruises. My team mate escaped the scraps but looked exhausted! I'm starting to think the run is the 'easier' leg after having seen what the others had to do! Definitely made me realise that I am going to have to be doing a lot more training before I'm even half way ready to do the whole thing. At the moment, I don't think I'd last five minutes!

My rider came back quite early in the scheme of things which was good for me, since I knew I'd be slow. Lots of fun tagging hands and then zipping off through the transition area to the start line. Saw a whole tent load of familiar faces as I took off all yelling for me *grins* Competing with people from PT was fun but not as much fun as it would've been with fellow running friends - I think it would mean more with people you have a rapport and friendship with - so it was lovely to get that boost as I went by :) Made me realise just how lucky I am to be part of such a great running community, actually :)

Predictably, I felt absolutely shit for the first 4km. Really, really bad. Almost to the point where I thought I can't do this today! but the idea of letting my team mates down made me realise that a DNF was definitely not an option so I ignored my legs and my burning throat and lungs and kept going. I didn't actually like the way the run course was set out at all - 4km to the turn around and then 6km back (with two separate loops around culdesacs to make up the extra distance. At the half way mark, the sun came out and it got really, really, REALLY disgustingly humid. It was like running through soup. The glare came up off the pavement and it got really difficult to breathe. Some kind souls were out on their driveways with their hosepipes dousing us as we went by - temporary respite from the temperature.

It was positively the hardest run I think I've ever done, ever. Way harder than 25km. Seeing all the full tri competitors keep on plodding on was really inspiring though and seeing them made me keep going. By comparison to them, I should've been fresh as a daisy and if I had resorted to a walk, I knew I would look like a complete cop out. (not that I didn't fantasise about stopping for a walk relentlessly!) I did manage to overtake a fair few team runners on the way which was nice and even managed a bit of a last minute glory dash over the line. I finished my run in 57.33 (crapola but expected!) but overall our team finished 134th. I was 584th in the run (132 in the category - though quite what that bit means I'm not sure ;)

As I crossed the finish line, I started feeling not very well at all.... the world sort of started to tilt on me and I thought I was going to throw up. Had to grab the rail for a few minutes. One thing I noticed is that they didn't seem to have anyone keeping an eye on finishers like they do in fun runs. I suppose they assume everyone is fit enough to cope. There were about a million people all packed together and being so hot and out of breath made me a big panicky. Nearly went to the medical tent actually as i had the shakes. Bloody virus. Bloody humidity. *L* It was really weird not seeing anyone I knew after, either... couldn't find the water and got a bit disorientated. After a while, a good sit down and whatever was left in my fuel belt bottles, I calmed down and went for a shower and some food. Felt better after that. Good job I didn't land on my face really though - I wonder if I'd still be there! *snorks* my fault for running feeling ill to begin with.

All up, despite having such a bad run I did enjoy the triathlon. I think it sort of left me feeling a little bit thunderstruck at the moment... thinking about how hard I struggled just to finish the run today made me reevaluate my fitness levels a fair bit. I know I can train up to it, but it's going to take some time to get there I think. I'm also packing it about Kurruwa now, since running in that sort of heat was incredibly difficult today. Not that I'm going to back out of Kurruwa for anything (too stubborn for my own good!) but still! *freaks out slightly*

Anyway, hopefully whatever is wrong with me will fix itself in a few days and I'll be set to have a proper crack at my 10km on sunday at BRRC :)

10km - 2kgs = feeling better!

Hurrah, I finally feel better! Nothing quite like feeling constantly nauseous for four days, NOT! *bleurgh* I lost another 2kgs in the process!

Went running last night with the faster group. Again, I absolutely worked my butt off to keep up with them, and I still had to walk up parts of the final, mammoth nasty hill. Sweated buckets, too. That said, I feel like I'm able to run at a slightly faster pace than before, so that's good. Felt much harder than last time, but perhaps that's because I've been sick, too.

Getting excited about Noosa.... much more nervous than usual. Partly because I want to smash my 10km PB, and partly because the tri is so new to me. I want to love it :) everyone keeps telling me I will but you never know. I'm wishing I could get accommodation up there somewhere but everything is booked solid. Might try one or two towns down and see if I have any better luck. Parking is going to be a pain in the bum, that's for sure.

10km Social Run + feeling yuck

Yesterday I woke up feeling a bit dodgy and it didn't improve over the course of the day either - nauseous with stomach ache. Despite feeling shitful, I went out to Sandgate to do the 10k social run with the Run Inn people. Tracey came and we got to have a good gossip and catch up. Even though I was feeling under the weather, I felt good during the run and that I could've carried on. Nice to just kick back and chat though.

Afterwards everyone had fish and chips for dinner, but the smell/sight of deep fried food made me feel a million times worse, so I headed home. Tentatively ate some salad and a mango for dinner but the stomach thing got worse - ended up spending the night with a bucket by my head though hurrah, I didn't need it. I hate throwing up.

Anyway, woke up this morning, feeling less nauseous but still with the stomach pain which is vaguely reminiscent of when I had appendicitis. If it doesnt get better today, I'll have to go see the doctor I think. It's probably just a virus.