My trip to Cairns was fab. Basically three days of gluttony, but back on the lite n' easy wagon today. Giving the scales another week before I see what damage I did!
Got up at 5am today and headed to the 5km time trial. So many new people, I hardly knew anyone! Did 28 mins I think, but I wasn't pushing it at all so I'm happy enough. Felt reasonably comfortable the whole way too (or at least, until I stopped!)
The weirdest thing is learning to trust my foot again. I'm still very suspicious of even the slightest twinge or ache. I can still slightly feel where the problem was (after a run anyway) though it is nothing compared to what it was like. All ithings considered I think that's normal, so I'm proceeding with caution and monitoring things as I go.
I'm really looking forward to going back to wednesday night running - it's amazing how much gossip you miss when you don't go for a few weeks. Not so keen about the idea of going back to track because I know it is going to be soooo much more painful to start with, but I think next week is surely the week. Because my focus is currently on distance, I'm even wondering if I should still be doing track cos I don't really need to go faster, just longer - but I know the answer is probably yes... anything that improves my cardio would have to help me.
So many races and things coming up, gotta be right for them! I'm particularly eyeing up the Mount Mee 50km on 29th April. It's only a week after the Brisbane Mara, but I think I'd rather run long at Mount Mee instead... hills, trails, variety.... not just the same old bike paths we all know and love/hate. If I do it, it starts at 6am, but I'm going to need at least two hours head start so I don't hold everyone else up. I'll have to ask Uncle Phil (I can see the expression on his face already!) I'd rather do it at a comfortable pace and with some walk breaks than with the stress of a pace car up my behind the whole time.
Anyway, had better go and get ready for the GH run with Vegie and Davo tonight! It's sooo unbelievably good to be running again!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
I'm baaaaacccckkk ;)
Had a fabulous (if lazy!) weekend on the beach - ate waaaaayyyy too much junk and am consequently feeling the effects this morning. I'm also not getting on the scales for a week, lest I scare myself. I'm going to Cairns for work weds-fri and I can't take my lite n' easy with me, so I'll have to be sensible whilst I'm up there, too.
On the positive side of things...
I did my long run this morning as it didn't get done on the weekend. I ran for 2 hours! No foot problems, either! RAH! Started just before 5am, in the pitch black. Bit hair raising, starting out alone on the dodgy bike paths, but pleasantly surprised to find quite a few other runners out at that hour, so it wasn't too scary. Didn't feel overly tired or that I had to stop (not even a water stop was had!) and kept my legs turning over. It was probably a little slower than normal, but at this stage, who cares! It was just so good to be out there running :)
A few people have been asking if I'll still be doing the GCM, what with the fact I've missed the best part of two months training with my stressie. It's freaked me out a little because I started to doubt myself. It'd be quite easy just to give it a miss and blame my injury, but I'm now recovered I'm not about to cop out. I'll listen to my body of course, but I know I can do it - this years GCM is really a stepping stone to the GH100 anyway. A training run. It's not necessarily about a fast time, but about finishing comfortably so I don't wipe myself out for a month.
This morning has made me feel that I'm not quite as behind the eight-ball as I thought. Had I had a bit more time, I would probably have gone to 2:30. The next few months are going to be disgustingly hard as I ramp up the training to catch up, but I'm prepared to do the work. I've signed up for another hard-core bootcamp next month and I'm going to carry on doing circuit training on the other mornings and return to running my usual schedule. So with a couple of weeks lead in to work up to it, my training will start to look like this:
M - 10km + Circuit training a.m
T - Bootcamp a.m, Track session p.m
W - Circuit training a.m, 10 km group run p.m
T - Bootcamp a.m, PT p.m (fortnights)
F - Circuit training a.m
S - Long Run (building from 2:30 base, increasing by 10 mins each week)
S- REST DAY - 1 hour walk
Last year, the longest run I did was 3:30 - this year, I'm going to make it at least 4 hours - again, with the ultras in mind. I'll also alternate the flat with trails. The trails will possibly be longer runs and have walks in them, to try to simulate what it will be like to be out there for hours. Continuing to run long on the flat should hopefully see me avoid feeling like utter crap at the GCM where it's soooo totally flat!
I'm running at GH on the weekend, when I get back from Cairns with Vege and Davo. Chance to get some night running in, can't wait! I've missed catching up with everyone so much!
On the positive side of things...
I did my long run this morning as it didn't get done on the weekend. I ran for 2 hours! No foot problems, either! RAH! Started just before 5am, in the pitch black. Bit hair raising, starting out alone on the dodgy bike paths, but pleasantly surprised to find quite a few other runners out at that hour, so it wasn't too scary. Didn't feel overly tired or that I had to stop (not even a water stop was had!) and kept my legs turning over. It was probably a little slower than normal, but at this stage, who cares! It was just so good to be out there running :)
A few people have been asking if I'll still be doing the GCM, what with the fact I've missed the best part of two months training with my stressie. It's freaked me out a little because I started to doubt myself. It'd be quite easy just to give it a miss and blame my injury, but I'm now recovered I'm not about to cop out. I'll listen to my body of course, but I know I can do it - this years GCM is really a stepping stone to the GH100 anyway. A training run. It's not necessarily about a fast time, but about finishing comfortably so I don't wipe myself out for a month.
This morning has made me feel that I'm not quite as behind the eight-ball as I thought. Had I had a bit more time, I would probably have gone to 2:30. The next few months are going to be disgustingly hard as I ramp up the training to catch up, but I'm prepared to do the work. I've signed up for another hard-core bootcamp next month and I'm going to carry on doing circuit training on the other mornings and return to running my usual schedule. So with a couple of weeks lead in to work up to it, my training will start to look like this:
M - 10km + Circuit training a.m
T - Bootcamp a.m, Track session p.m
W - Circuit training a.m, 10 km group run p.m
T - Bootcamp a.m, PT p.m (fortnights)
F - Circuit training a.m
S - Long Run (building from 2:30 base, increasing by 10 mins each week)
S- REST DAY - 1 hour walk
Last year, the longest run I did was 3:30 - this year, I'm going to make it at least 4 hours - again, with the ultras in mind. I'll also alternate the flat with trails. The trails will possibly be longer runs and have walks in them, to try to simulate what it will be like to be out there for hours. Continuing to run long on the flat should hopefully see me avoid feeling like utter crap at the GCM where it's soooo totally flat!
I'm running at GH on the weekend, when I get back from Cairns with Vege and Davo. Chance to get some night running in, can't wait! I've missed catching up with everyone so much!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Behold, for today I RAN!
Had a bit of a late night last night due to a work function, so I got up at 6am and headed out along the bike paths. I do love where I live - it's so close to kilometres of pretty tracks perfect for running, walking and cycling. There are always heaps of people around on the weekend too, so I feel safe going out alone.
I went out with the intention of having an easy run just to test my foot out. It was really hard going at the start - I've been sick the last week or so and I'm still not 100% and my lungs felt really sort of 'stiff' from it. After half an hour or so, I felt like my body remembered what it was supposed to do whilst running and it got a little easier. My legs felt fine pretty much the whole time - I guess that's from having weeks off, plus I'm now carrying almost 8kgs less weight around with me, which surely has to help!
Arrived back home an hour and a half later. But there were quite a few walk breaks in there, too. I went out with the intention of doing 5kms or so, but it just felt so good to get my heart rate up a little!
The best news is that my foot held up... only able to feel it very slightly once or twice on the run and it was fine after. Despite todays over enthusiasm, I'm going to ease back into it over the next few weeks. No track for another week or two, probably no wednesday night run next week either.
This break has definitely fired me up to work harder and run faster than ever before...
I'm on the way back, baby! Look out! ;)
Had a bit of a late night last night due to a work function, so I got up at 6am and headed out along the bike paths. I do love where I live - it's so close to kilometres of pretty tracks perfect for running, walking and cycling. There are always heaps of people around on the weekend too, so I feel safe going out alone.
I went out with the intention of having an easy run just to test my foot out. It was really hard going at the start - I've been sick the last week or so and I'm still not 100% and my lungs felt really sort of 'stiff' from it. After half an hour or so, I felt like my body remembered what it was supposed to do whilst running and it got a little easier. My legs felt fine pretty much the whole time - I guess that's from having weeks off, plus I'm now carrying almost 8kgs less weight around with me, which surely has to help!
Arrived back home an hour and a half later. But there were quite a few walk breaks in there, too. I went out with the intention of doing 5kms or so, but it just felt so good to get my heart rate up a little!
The best news is that my foot held up... only able to feel it very slightly once or twice on the run and it was fine after. Despite todays over enthusiasm, I'm going to ease back into it over the next few weeks. No track for another week or two, probably no wednesday night run next week either.
This break has definitely fired me up to work harder and run faster than ever before...
I'm on the way back, baby! Look out! ;)
Friday, March 16, 2007
Halfway There! WOOHOO!
7.5kgs to go... I am now back in skinniest-ever territory ;) Very Happy Me.
Now all I have to do is get back to running... I've been really sick the last three days, so I've done no exercise at all for those days.
My foot feels better. Fingers crossed for a run tomorrow morning!
Friday, March 09, 2007
Mend, Dammit! 78.3kg
As you can see, I'm still chipping away at the scales... 300 grams or so and I'll be back to the lightest I've ever been... then it's all new territory, baby! Highly amusing really given that I can't run and yet here I am dropping all this weight! Lite n' Easy rocks my socks. I ate a chocolate muesli bar yesterday. It's all in the portion sizes - either that, or it's laced with amphetamines or something!
My foot feels lots better. So much so, I almost had a repeat sneaky run this morning but I held off and (tried to) satisfy myself with an hour of walking up and down a bloody big hill instead.
Still haven't mustered the courage to face swim squad yet. Maybe it's just that I'd rather be doing stuff outdoors. Who knows! Anyway, one more week off then I shall try my luck with my foot again.
All this time out is putting crazy insane ideas in my head about all the things I'm going to strive for when I get back into it. I figure, if I can get down to 70kgs, I'm naturally going to be heaps more efficient (and dare I say, better! faster!) at running because I won't be carrying around 15kgs that I don't need. I want to be insanely, crazily fit, strong and toned and I'm going to work my arse off to get there!
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Well, I snuck out for my sneaky run at Sandgate this afternoon. I went for a half hour, with a few walk/water stops thrown in because it was about 10.30am and bloody hot.
This wasn't the smartest idea I've ever had.
My foot felt okay during the run itself, but by the time I got home and showered and changed and things, it's back to being sore even just to walk around on.
Bugger it :(
So I'll give it another couple of weeks and try again, I guess!
Anyway, my running pal Ange sent me an email about her swim squad, so I think I'll give it a go next week. I'm slightly terrified, considering I can get about 300m before having to switch to anything-but-freestyle but everyone has to start somewhere, I guess!
78.9kgs (6.1 KG down!)
This wasn't the smartest idea I've ever had.
My foot felt okay during the run itself, but by the time I got home and showered and changed and things, it's back to being sore even just to walk around on.
Bugger it :(
So I'll give it another couple of weeks and try again, I guess!
Anyway, my running pal Ange sent me an email about her swim squad, so I think I'll give it a go next week. I'm slightly terrified, considering I can get about 300m before having to switch to anything-but-freestyle but everyone has to start somewhere, I guess!
78.9kgs (6.1 KG down!)
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Ho Hum
So... nothing much to report on the exercise front really except more swimming and double sets of push ups, sit ups etc at circuit training to avoid the intermittent shuttle runs!
I went and had my root canal work which was positively the most painful experience of my life to date, surpassing a burst appendix. I've not had kids though, so perhaps my comparison is unfair! Came out with a very light wallet and a very big payment plan :(
I went to have my xray, which was conveniently located next door to the dentist, only to discover that they didn't bulk bill. Consequently, I couldn't have it done and after a bit of calling around and some blubbing in my car, drove out to Indooroopilly where they do bulk bill.
The good news is that xray showed no visible fractures. I was due to go back to the podiatrist today. Or at least I thought I was, based on the appointment card given to me. I got out of work and arrived for the appointment, only to discover the receptionist had written the wrong date (the 1st instead of the 2nd). Oops. I dropped the xrays off and cancelled the appointment for tomorrow because my boss is being very understanding, about me skipping out, but between the my foot and my teeth, I'm only compelled to push my luck so far.
At the end of the day, I just can't really afford to go back to the podiatrist or to have an MRI so I'm just going to have to wing it. My foot actually feels heaps better, so currently I think I might try to have a bit of a sneaky run this weekend sometime to see how it holds up. If it starts hurting again, I'll assume it is a SF, stop, bite the bullet and take the next four weeks off. Really that's all anyone can do anyway!
I went and had my root canal work which was positively the most painful experience of my life to date, surpassing a burst appendix. I've not had kids though, so perhaps my comparison is unfair! Came out with a very light wallet and a very big payment plan :(
I went to have my xray, which was conveniently located next door to the dentist, only to discover that they didn't bulk bill. Consequently, I couldn't have it done and after a bit of calling around and some blubbing in my car, drove out to Indooroopilly where they do bulk bill.
The good news is that xray showed no visible fractures. I was due to go back to the podiatrist today. Or at least I thought I was, based on the appointment card given to me. I got out of work and arrived for the appointment, only to discover the receptionist had written the wrong date (the 1st instead of the 2nd). Oops. I dropped the xrays off and cancelled the appointment for tomorrow because my boss is being very understanding, about me skipping out, but between the my foot and my teeth, I'm only compelled to push my luck so far.
At the end of the day, I just can't really afford to go back to the podiatrist or to have an MRI so I'm just going to have to wing it. My foot actually feels heaps better, so currently I think I might try to have a bit of a sneaky run this weekend sometime to see how it holds up. If it starts hurting again, I'll assume it is a SF, stop, bite the bullet and take the next four weeks off. Really that's all anyone can do anyway!
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