Hannah

Week One

2009-06-15T16:09:00.003+10:00

I'm home and it's monday... I was discharged from the private hospital, had a really rough weekend and spent most of it in the public hospital, but I'm home now and contemplating what to do in terms of exercise for the week. I think I will start with walking... I don't think I need to buy new shoes just yet, since the pair I have were quite new when I stopped running.

Today, I am resting, but tomorrow I will spring into some sort of physical action...

So, rough plan for the week:

Tuesday:
Walk 30 minutes, stretch

Wednesday:
Walk 35 minutes, stretch

Thursday:
Walk 40 minutes, stretch

Friday:
Walk 45 minutes, stretch

Saturday:
Walk 50 minutes, stretch

Sunday:
Walk 60 minutes, stretch

I'd like to be walking for an hour by the end of the week. Then I will probably follow it with another week of just walking for an hour and trying to stretch some life back into my muscles. Yea Gads. It is certainly going to take a long time to get back to the lolloping along of olde. I foresee PAIN and SUFFERING. But it's my fault for doing NOOOO exercise for years.

I heard that the Run Inn is starting a new walk/run group after the GCM, so hopefully I will be able to cope with that by next month.... maybe I can convince my best friend Em to come along with me, though she can run anyway, now. Lucky thing.

Does anyone know if everyone still meets at the Regatta of a saturday morning at 6.30am or so for long runs? I am thinking about coming along but just walking. Then having coffee afterwards or something. Must email Tracey, Sam, Jill and Ronnie and see what they're doing these days.

2009-06-10T14:58:00.002+10:00

Hallo :)

So, I just posted a reintroduction on CR and now I am back blogging, too.

I'm currently still in hospital after a week, but am due to be discharged on saturday. I think I have finally decided that running is a healthier obsession than some of my other problematic sorts, so I am going to make a concerted effort to at least get back to doing SOME exercise.

One of my major hurdles is going to be facing people wearing a singlet.

Why?

Firstly, because I have put on so much weight (I got back up to 120kg, now back down to about 98kg - when people knew me as a 'runner' I hovered between 79-85kg). So I have a fair way to go with that. Not to mention that I have the added problem of an eating disorder, which makes weight loss particularly triggering.

Secondly, (and this is infinitely more difficult to talk about) since I have been sick, I've had a very major battle on my hands with self harm. When I say self harm, I specifically mean that I have damaged and disfigured my own body. It means that my arms, shoulders and wrists are now literally covered in very big, very obvious scars. I do look rather like a patchwork quilt.

Self harm is a scary, scary thing, horribly difficult to conquer and seems abhorrent to so many people - it's shocking to see the results on another person and I can understand that - but it's really hard to face the question 'what happened to your arms?' all the time when you're trying to move on with your life. I'm sick of telling people I got mauled by a tiger ;)

So anyway. I have a few biiiigggg problems to tackle in my attempt at coming back to running. I have nooo fitness whatsoever. None. I have to motivate myself to start the horrific initial stage of walk-run-walk-run-collapse-crawl-and-repeat that I remember all too well from the first time I learnt to run. I know it's worth it in the end, but it's going to be even less fun with an extra 20kgs on me!

I hope you're all well (if anyone is still reading this, of course!)

I shall report back next week, with a plan and some small goals.

Ciao!

Whatever happened to Hannah?

2008-04-04T21:09:00.002+10:00

Hello Team. Not sure if anyone actually reads this blog anymore, but I felt some compulsion (after four months!) to update a little bit.

So, what's been going on?

I've been in and out of hospital. I had a course of ECT (electro convulsive therapy) to try to treat my severe depression and various other joyful things, only it REALLY didn't agree with me and now I have amnesia. I literally cannot remember the last eight weeks and half a ton of stuff beyond that. I actually forgot that my sister has three kids, couldn't remember my home phone number or how to get from home to work. It is soooo frustrating, I cannot express exactly what it's like.

My mother keeps telling me all about things we did during the eight weeks I was in during ECT and I have no recollection. I feel like someone stole my body.

Add to which, they let me out too quickly afterwards, stupidly I went back to work the day after being released (stress from funding cuts being the main motivator with that) and predictably, I had another melt down.

Currently I'm out on day release for the weekend, and have to go back on sunday arvo, but I think I've been back in for a month now.

I can't quite figure out what the bloody hell happened to my life. It just sort of exploded on me!

Obviously, I've done no exercise in MONTHS. My weight is up to 100kg again (joy...) though I have lost six kg due to crap hospital food. Despite all the physical rest, my foot STILL bloody hurts.

Blah.

Anyway, I'm still kicking (with one foot, anyway) and I hope things are going better for all of you! I am doubting whether I'll ever be able to run again at this point :(

hi

2008-01-21T17:19:00.000+10:00

hello all, very quick post to say I'm still here, still alive. I'm using one of those dodgy netkiosk thingies. I'm in hospital unfortunately and have been for the last ten days but hoping to be out tonight or early this week! Dying to get out into fresh air!

Hope you're all well, safe and happy.

2007-12-16T12:16:00.000+10:00

Still chugging along. Went for a slow walk on friday. May even do it again today. Woo! LOL.

I'm going up to Mooloolaba for a few days at xmas. I think my nearest and dearest are rather afraid to leave me alone on significant dates now. That said, I'm looking forward to spending some time swimming, sunbaking and reading. My planned reading for the break currently includes "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" which I've been meaning to read for years.

Thanks also for all the comments, lovely people. It's nice to read supportive stuff. I will have to read more blogs - I've not been online so much lately.

In an effort to do something positive, I took this photo the other day on my walk. The good thing about walking is that I can carry my camera, which I can't do when I run (too much shaking for an SLR!)

Hope you're all looking forward to a very happy xmas and new year. I've got my fingers crossed that 2008 is a whole lot better than 2007!

H x

I have no hair

2007-11-24T14:26:00.000+10:00

Because every woman should shave her head at least once in her life time, and my hair was very short anyway, I decided to do mine ;) snap decision, though on retrospect, I really should've done it for charity.

It's quite liberating, though my head is a bit cold. It's growing surprisingly fast, too. It feels great and I can't stop rubbing my head. It also has fantastic velcro properties ;) Just kidding.

Of course, I also seem to fit right in at the mental health section of the local hospital now. Just call me Britney. Not! I don't know why I've been so hush hush about what's been happening to me lately - I think it's that I have been scared people will judge me for it. But perhaps, while I don't talk about this stuff, I'm actually lending power to that idea.

Anyway, the long and the short of it, if you hadn't guessed already, is that I've been suffering from acute, clinical depression as well as bulimia and a personality disorder. All in all, I've been as low as you can possibly get. My birthday was the pinnacle and, well, I'm lucky I'm still here.

It's hard to explain what that's like to someone who hasn't been there. There's a line in the sand in life and once you've crossed it, the knowledge that you're capable is always there. Then there's the effect such things have on the people who love you. I'm still working my way through that aftermath.... I am still the Hannah that people know, but on another level, I am quite literally, a big, fat mess. My family and workplace have been really supportive, but funding changes at work have made things quite unstable so who knows what the future holds.

Depression makes me behave like a hermit. I can go out to see friends in small groups or go to the movies, but I struggle with large groups or public events. I have no motivation to do anything or go anywhere. The effort it takes me to fight my illness every day seems to just suck all will out of me.

I know that eventually things will have to settle. In the mean time, I'm attempting to weather the storm. I do want to get back to running. I just think it's all going to take some time. One day at a time!

Hola

2007-11-17T22:31:00.000+10:00

Hello Blogland,

I’m still kicking. Or at least I really would be if I could kick one foot with the other without falling over. I’m currently on another round of name-that-antiinflammatory and trying to muster some enthusiasm to move my ever-expanding arse. If my foot isn’t better by February (marking 12 months since I hurt it) I’m going back to the specialist and begging for surgery.

I did go swimming last week. Once. The only thing that’s getting a major work out around me currently is the local mental health system. I’m collecting labels.

Besides spending quality time with my Psychiatrist, therapist, doctor and caseworker (we are just one big happy family, really) I am currently working many, many hours a week. Which is good, really, since this is a stormy time for my employer with recent funding cuts and may go some way to helping me keep my job. There are also family problems brewing, just to add some icing to the overbaked cake.

I saw the running girls tonight. Went to Ronnie’s and had Mexican. Complete with Sombreros and plastic cacti. It was nice to see them all.

Now Don't Die of Shock...

2007-10-26T23:24:00.000+10:00

It's only been a month since my last ~~confession~~ post.

I'm still alive. Obviously.

I will try to restrict this entry to running related stuff. Of which there is little, since I literally haven't done any exercise since my last post.

I am currently still waging war with my bloody orthotics and that is still just in the day to day scheme of things. I have blisters all over my feet as I try them in various different shoes. Shoes which were once comfortable without orthotics become unbearable with. I am rubbing parts of my feet raw. In sheer desperation, today I went into the city and spent $180.00 on a pair of work shoes that will hopefully do the trick. We shall see. I have had the orthotics reviewed and reshaped, but it is a long and painful process. My foot feels no better, so in the long term, it looks like I may well be facing surgery.

I am also still rather unwell. I am currently going up and down every two weeks or so, feeling better then worse, then better, then worse. It sucks. A lot. I rattle when I walk from the amount of medication I am currently taking. It's all rather a big change for someone who not so long ago, rarely took so much as a panadol.

My lovely friend Em is running with the club now and loving it. I am hearing news via the grapevine and missing it all rather a lot. If I can muster the motivation, I am going to try to go to tuesday track sessions and just use the time to walk around the outside of the field, until/if I can start to jog gently.

Unfortunately, my injury, combined with my illness, the side effects of the medication and my resurfaced eating disorder means that I am currently back at 105kgs and a size 20. I am secretly terrified of seeing the wider running cohort because I am so embarrassed by regaining all the weight. I know (I hope!) that no one is going to judge me for it but it is mortifying.

I'd completely forgotten how awful people can be when you're fat - a few weeks ago I had to try to find an evening dress for a work function. I finally found something I liked and the woman in the shop literally sneered at me and asked incredulously if I was shopping for myself. She then told me they didn't have my size and that they only went to a sixteen. It is pretty mortifying to be treated like that. Needless to say, I didn't buy anything to wear.

So yeah. It's all fun here. But I'm not ready to give up on running just yet. I am right back here at square one, but one day, I'd really like to be able to run again, just a little. I'm going to continue to try to get back to running, anyway.

Far OUT! You have got to be kidding...

2007-09-30T13:36:00.000+10:00

I woke up this morning to find my foot is sore again. Not only that, but I also have a sharp pain in the other one, too. Feels like a pinched nerve or something.

All from walking 3km?

Blah!

TT

2007-09-29T11:57:00.001+10:00

This morning I went to the 5km time trial at Shorncliffe. It was really good to see everyone, although I felt really self-conscious going back looking and feeling so overweight and unfit. Was great to see Uncle Phil though, who is looking heaps better after his surgery.

So much has happened since I was last there – the problems with my foot and then the other stuff that’s had me in hospital three or four times… all in all, I feel rather changed by the last few months. Hopefully in a good way. Time will tell, I guess!

Anyway, my orthotics are still painful, so I probably walked 3km today. My feet are sore, though not blistered. I did attempt to run a couple of hundred metres, just to see what it feels like with the orthotics and it felt truly bizarre, like I am running with my toes turned in and down. My body weight and stride has shifted so much that I’m paranoid I’m going to twist my ankle or fall over. I’m not quite sure what affect running on the outside of my feet is going to have on the rest of me, either.

Anyway, babysteps.

Only seven months, three weeks to go until I can take them out.

Orthotics...

2007-09-27T18:26:00.000+10:00

Orthotics....

Ow.

I feel like I'm walking on potatoes. It feels so unnatural having my weight moved to the outside edge of my feet. Like I'm going to twist my ankles very easily.... I am currently doubting very much that I will ever be able to run on these, let alone get used to it! They're so hard.

Time will tell, I suppose. I go back for a final check in, in a few weeks.

I may attempt to walk the 5km time trial on saturday, depending on blisters.

update

2007-09-23T15:21:00.000+10:00

Well, I pick my orthotics up tomorrow. They said I should wear them for a week to get used to them before starting to try to run again. With the rain and cold last night, my foot is still hurting which means I shouldn't really run until it doesn't hurt again anyway.

I also appear to have an ear infection, caused by a sore throat, which was caused by hayfever. Consequently, I constantly feel like I've been swimming and want to jump up and down and shake my head to dislodge the fluid. No gratifying rush of water though. Sooooo frustrating! It also means I'm almost completely deaf in one ear and very dizzy as a result. My lovely running doc, C, is on holidays, but if it's not better in a few days, I'll have to see one of the other doctors for some antibiotics or something.

Had coffee with my lovely now-running friend, E, last night. She has started coming to the run inn and is loving it. I hope I can get back to the point where we would be able to plod together.

Am starting to tackle some of the other health issues I've had recently. It's a slow process and long term treatment, but I'm going to give it a go to see if it works. Better than doing nothing.

Drumroll, please... finally saw the foot doc

2007-09-12T17:53:00.001+10:00

Went to see the foot doctor today and ended up spending the entire day at the Brisbane Private Hospital. I am so completely over spending days inside hospitals, but I decided, after waiting for months to get in and see the specialist it would be worth it just to finally, finally get a prognosis.

My initial appointment was at 9.30am. The doc looked at all the x rays, bone scans and then finally, the last MRI that diagnosed the Bursitis. Then he tells me that actually, he doesn't think it is bursitis at all. Instead, he thinks a bit of the bone in my foot has died because it shows up as a horrible grey colour, not white like fluid. This would also explain why nothing showed on the bone scan, since there is no increased blood flow to make it a 'hotspot'.

Cue much panic and him not giving me a straight answer on what would happen if it was dead.
So, I get sent straight off for another $450 MRI scan to confirm it.

With much baited breath and gnashing of teeth (and contemplating a lifetime of pain in my foot or surgery or far worse no more running) I finally get back in to see the specialist at 4pm.

He reviewed the new MRI and turns out it is bursitis after. Phew. Chronic Sesamoiditis, to be precise. To fix it, I've got to get an orthotic made for the foot and wear it for six to eight months. It will probably take that long until the inflammation goes down and the bursa thins out again. I can try running on it when it starts to feel better but I have to stop immediately if it hurts. So this means no long runs for a long time and counting forwards eight months, looks like I might not make it to the GCM next year either. Waa.

Looking at the bigger picture, I know this is actually good news (no surgery or cortisone!) and I'm very happy the bone wasn't dead. I guess part of me had been waiting for this appointment for so long that I had half imagined there'd be some magic bullet cure. Or that it wouldn't take so long to fix. Or that I'd known how to fix it months ago. At the moment I just feel cranky because I walked alot yesterday to stir it up for the specialist and consequently my foot now hurts like hell again and I'm truly, truly sick of it.

But there we are. Thinks could be worse. Once I have a couple of orthotics made, I can start trying to run again. That at least, is something.

update

2007-08-23T15:52:00.000+10:00

Hello, hello.

Another non-running blog post for you all. I am unfortunately still stuck in the land of non-running until at the very earliest, 12 September, when I see the specialist about my foot. The last few months have definitely made me appreciate what it is to be healthy and fit. I know I keep saying it, but I will never take it for granted ever again. It has made me realise that it is perhaps not a good plan to rely so heavily on running as stress relief and a social life - good to have other options to fall back on.

Not much else to report... I recently had an exhibition, sold some work. Work is crazily busy, as always. My sister is pregnant again and my car is being repaired, post limo-bust up. I still can't work out how my car was hardly damaged and the big expensive monster was trashed!

I have also had all my hair cut off again in a short, messy 'bed hair' crop, a la halle berry/michelle williams.

limo

2007-08-10T17:27:00.000+10:00

I forgot to mention in my previous post that I had a car accident last week.

I was driving to work, minding my own business and waiting to turn into the car park at work, when a bus stopped to let me through. Without thinking (!) I pulled across and promptly hit a car.

Not just any car, either. No.

I hit a two week old, chaffeur driven car, which, apparently (on looking at the business card of the driver) was actually a limo. I managed to take out three panels of his car, but only scratched the paint off the front of my faithful little toyota starlet.

Either way, I still have to pay the excess, so I'm getting mine repaired too.

When I'd calmed down from that, I went into work. Later, I went to leave for a doctors appointment to discover I had locked my keys in my car in the kerfuffle. It was only that I left the boot unlocked that I managed to scramble through and unlock the door without having to call the RACQ.

Whose overdue membership fee, I promptly decided to pay!

update

2007-08-08T14:40:00.000+10:00

I have had about a million emails from everyone asking why I haven't blogged anything in ages, so I thought I should do a brief update of sorts.

I'm still not running and am still waiting for my specialist appointment to come up. The good news is that because I've done virtually no exercise for ages (and I'm talking one RPM class a week if that!) my foot actually feels a bit better. I may start walking to see if it recurs.

I've since had some other medical problems, which has resulted in a lot of doctors appointments and various other stuff. It is hopefully nothing that won't respond to treatment but it's meant I haven't been a very well girl, hence no blogging.

I have also put on a fair amount of weight again. I'm not back to 126kgs, but I'm a lot fatter than I've been in a long time. It's not a very nice place to be.

At the moment, I'm hoping that once I get the all clear to start running again (and learn to run again!) and with some more treatment for other stuff, things will improve.

dreaming

2007-07-12T15:58:00.000+10:00

I dream last night that I was on a long run on the bike path by the river - the sun was sparkling on the water and the wind was in my hair. I could feel the salt drying on my skin and my heart pumping the blood through my body... felt really alive and full of joy to be plodding along like I used to.

Then I woke up :(

Anyway...

I got bumped up the waiting list for the specialist another week, after my doctor sent a faxed referral. I did learn to call on mondays though, to see if there's any more cancellations. I feel like just bloody running on it, only I don't want to be in pain for the foreseeable future or do any long term damage.

Have been doing RPM classes with Linda. The biggest achievement in which has been that my arse is no longer as sore as it was after a class any more. Perhaps it's because I'm spending so much more time sitting on it!

2007-07-08T20:22:00.000+10:00

GCM pics here:

http://www.coolrunning.com.au/gallery2/v/CoolRunners/Unsorted/goldcoast07/

Nothing else to report, save that I had my very last PT session ever, have been doing the odd RPM class and my foot is no better... boring, boring!

GCM 2007

2007-07-01T17:49:00.000+10:00

So, ventured down to the gold coast today to watch everyone do the half, the 10k and the marathon. Full of memories of last year and it killed me watching everyone get all pumped and take off, only to stand like a lemon and watch.

Pretty emotional and it actually sort of took me by surprise - I was quite prepared to stand and cheer and take lots of photos, when I remembered to hand my chip back in and was told I couldn't even get the tshirt because they're for 'finishers' only. Much to my embarrassment I almost cried in front of the woman. Yes, I know it's only a bloody race, it's only a bloody tshirt and there's always bloody next year, but it still upset me. I'm easily upset currently, much to my irritation. I just can't wait for this year to be over.

It wasn't all doom and gloom though - this pic is me and running buddy Tracey stealing the sub 3.30 marathon sign at the start of the race. It's the closest we're ever going to get to one and we gave it back afterwards, honest ;)

I took about 200 photos all up but I'm not uploading them until I get to work (and fast broadband) but lots of nice shots. Susannah did an amazing PB, coming in at just over 3.30 (18mins!) and Ronnie came in at 2.15, smashing her PB by 15 minutes! Great to see.

I couldn't find the CR cheer squad and couldn't hear well enough to use my mobile - too much noise and if I moved, I'd have lost our spot/table/place which I was holding for the run inn runners. Mind you, I almost didn't want to see anyone when I feel so revolting - better for me to just pull my head in and get on with getting myself sorted out before facing lovely CR people. Was quite happy just seeing one or two familiar faces and having a relatively quiet one.

It's good that it was quiet, because if I have anything to do with it, next year is going to be anything but! Nothing motivates more than a good dose of abject frustration.

Quiet on the Western Front

2007-06-29T22:28:00.000+10:00

Well, not much new to report here. I'm still waiting for my appointment with the doc to see if there's anything that can be done about the wait for the specialist. I don't think the antibiotics I'm taking are doing anything for my foot. The anti-inflammatories help, but the dose isn't high enough to make much difference (it's Prexige again, but only one a day).

Went to the run inn on wednesday to wish everyone luck at the coast. Really bittersweet because it made me remember how electric and exciting it was this time last year for me as I got ready to run my first 'proper' marathon. I know there'll hopefully be many more (and if nothing else, being on the bench is increasing my motivation for when I can run again) but it still made me want to cry! Whinge, whinge, whinge. I will never, ever, ever, take running like I was, for granted, ever again.

Have realised I'm supposed to be at a work-related function on saturday night and I can't really get out of it without looking enormously rude, so I have decided to car pool with the girls on the sunday morning. The lovely Susannah had offered me a bed in her apartment bless her and I feel reeeallyyyy bad about not using it, but I don't want to dampen anyone else's experience while I'm such a misery guts.

The truth is that my current state of woe is due to a bit more than a bung foot unfortunately and while I'm prepped and ready to cheer my lungs out for all and sundry, until I get my head together and sort myself out a bit, I have a suspicion that I'm going to tend to be a bit of a piker. The important thing is that I'm doing something about it, so I hope everyone can be a bit patient with me until I get myself together.

That said, I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the race. I am contemplating giving my chip to someone uber fast so that I can claim a sub 1:40 half, but I think that might be cheating ;) I am going to take my camera and take lots of pics for everyone, too.

fark!

2007-06-27T09:32:00.000+10:00

Rang up today to get an appointment with the specialist. Whose first available appointment is October 31st. That's almost four months away. Four months. By which point, if this doesn't fix itself, I will have had !@%#$ bursitis for eight months straight. Far Out.

Did half an hour on the bike and a body balance class and then an RPM class this morning, followed by a brief swim. My butt is killing me from the bike seats and I've discovered I can't even do most of a body balance class because it involves flexing your feet in a painful manner. I am suspecting the same will be true of yoga.

Blah. Blah. Blah....

referral

2007-06-26T17:27:00.000+10:00

Thanks for all the supportive comments, guys. Much appreciated!

Went back to see my lovely running doc and now have a referral for the specialist. I've also got another course of anti-inflams and some antibiotics to take (apparently there can be infection in the bursa). The Doc doesn't think another round of pills will help after all this time (but hey, worth a shot!) and that the specialist will go with cortisone, which, I've decided, if it's put to me as a treatment option, I will try in conjunction with no running for the foreseeable future while all this gets sorted out. If the cortisone doesn't work, then it means surgery. Blah!

It's been really interesting hearing about everyone's experiences with cortisone, good and bad, but currently I am at the stage where I am in pain at some point every day with it so I'm ready to do whatever it takes. If it doesn't work, nothing ventured, nothing gained. You never know, perhaps the specialist will have other options for me to consider, too.

Am doing RPM classes with running buddy L and some body balance with workmate, S. Will throw myself in the pool a few times a week and hopefully that (and my Psychologist!) will stop me rocketing all the way back to morbid obesity.

There you go, an almost positive blog! I'm going to have to think of other things to write about in the interim period ;)

2007-06-23T18:22:00.000+10:00

Went to the 5km TT this morning at Shorncliffe and had a bit of a chat with Uncle Phil about the bursitis and cortisone and stuff. He's not sure that getting an injection is the best thing and reckons it often doesn't work. After lots of reading (hurrah for CR and google) it seems there are definitely two schools of thought. Those for, those against.

So, I'm thinking perhaps I should just get in to see a podiatrist (Nathan Eadie was recommended to me but apparently he's hard to get in to see - very popular) get everything assessed and just take a few months off completely to see if it helps, before resorting to steroids. Gah. I dunno.

It is going to absolutely kill me not to run. Mostly because once the memory of the endorphins fades, I'm terrified I won't ever find the motivation to start again. I feel like running now defines a part of who I am and no other form of exercise really does it for me anymore. Anything else I might like to do (team sports like football, netball, volleyball) are all going to involve the same old pounding. I'm scared I'm really going to let lose the hounds and rocket back up to 126kg.

I picked up my GC race pack today as well. I didn't downgrade it to the 10km so technically I'm still entered in the half. I'm debating the wisdom of doing any event at all really - all it's going to do is agravate the situation and I don't even think I would make it to the 10km mark currently. The jury is still out but my foot hurts after a 5km jog this morning, so it's not looking good. What a waste of $65.00.

Blah. Just call me Ms.Misery Guts. I'm not blogging again until I have something positive to say! I can't stand listening to myself!

MRI results are back

2007-06-22T12:29:00.000+10:00

Well, the good (?) news is that my foot problems werent just my imagination.

I have bursitis in two of the joints in my big toe. The MRI picked up fluid in them and a bit of distention, but apparently not enough to need draining (!)

I haven't really had a chance to google/search CR about it yet, but from a brief glance at the web, seems treatment is rest (check) anti-inflammatories (check) ice (check) and failing those three (check) cortisone injections. Bugger me :(

Besides the fact that I'm not too fabulous with huge needles, I'll have to find out if this is a long term solution or just a temporary one. If it's a temporary one and it's going to come back, what's the point?

Blah. Who would have thought something so small could cause so many problems!

But on the bright side, at least it's not more serious.

50 minutes

2007-06-16T08:37:00.000+10:00

Finally went for a run this morning, after getting over the worst of the bug. I haven't been that sick in ages! Blah!

Met Linda at the park down the road and we did a slow 50 minute plod. Hopefully we can increase that slow 50 minute plod to 60 minutes next week.

My MRI is booked for thursday. If it doesn't show anything (and therefore that I am not doing myself any major damage through increasing training) I've decided I am going to just going to bite the bullet, stick my head down and try and run through the pain. If something does show up (and I totally can't believe it won't!) I guess I can find out what my options are but at least I'll know where I'm at.

Thinking about going to Lake Manchester tomorrow.

All change...

2007-06-09T19:38:00.000+10:00

Forgive me, running gods - it has been some days since my last confession.

No change with my foot. I've been running very little. Toyed with the idea of running at the Queensland Half, but an attempt at running 10km the wednesday prior put rest to that idea. I got 5km in and then the pain in my foot kicked back in and I ended up walking the rest of the way home. Instead, I helped out by doing rego and then giving out bling and towels to the finishers. Nice to see familiar faces, even if it was a bit hard not to be out there.

I stopped taking the voltaren about a week ago, as my kidneys and back started to hurt. The minute I came off it, the foot problems started back up. Although, I think it's not quite as bad. Hard to tell if that's my wishful thinking!

Running on wednesday night was interesting. The heavy rain meant that no other beginners showed up and consequently, I almost escaped without a run. Ended up being shoved out of the door with Uncle Phil and Kylie and ran a few kms. They slowed down for me, but it was still pretty fast for me. Gone are the days when I could just about keep up when they did slow down!

Eventually, Uncle Phil, Kylie and Mattie dropped off the back with me. I hate other people having to do that for me, but I needed a break, so we walked a way. I'd done a PT session in the morning, so I suppose that didn't help matters, either!

I've been working really, really hard lately both at work and on another exhibition that I have coming up next month. Consequently, I'm a bit run down and have caught a nasty bug from somewhere that is making me feel like death warmed up.

I'm getting so sick of hearing myself whinge, I can't imagine how bloody irritating it must be to have to listen to me lately! LOL! As Uncle Phil reminded me on wednesday, there are worse things in life to deal with than a sore foot and I will eventually get my fitness back and run without pain again.

I've also started getting help working on some of the issues that tie into my problems with food and depression. It's not a very pleasant process - reopening old wounds, and facing some nasty stuff, but if it means that I can come out of the other side of all this feeling stronger, fitter, healthier and happier, then it's got to be worth it in the end.

Everything seems to be in a state of change lately - my personal trainer has increased his fees way beyond my budget, so I've got three more sessions left before I give that up. I feel a bit sad about that, too - I've been training with him for over three years and he's helped me a lot. That said, it's probably also a good thing for me, too. I've rejoined the gym so I'm not going to stop exercising or anything, but I really need to just take some time to sort myself out.

Having this bloody foot problem has definitely taught me about humility and not to take fitness or exercise or running for granted. I'd forgotten how much of an achievement it is to even be able to run 5km - 5km currently feels like 30km used to. I'm still undecided as to whether to go ahead with an MRI but I probably will.

At the moment, I feel a bit like I've fallen apart and am currently trying to put myself back together. The good thing about that I suppose, is that as I remake myself, I can be better than I was before.

Anyway, enough of a heartfelt entry from me and back to your regular viewing. Speaking of which, Shane, where is your blog now? I keep meaning to catch up and leave you comments, but I can't find it!

Goal Shoals

2007-05-27T13:52:00.000+10:00

Well, I hope I'm not tempting fate in saying this, but now my foot is feeling oh so slightly better, I feel like planning some goals for the next year or so. Something to aim towards, because not having goals currently is making me do sweet FA!

I've finished the first course of Prexige and am now onto Voltaren three time a day for a couple of weeks. I can feel the injury a little bit more again (thinking it's because voltaren isn't as strong) so I'm not counting my chickens just yet but it would just be nice to have something to daydream about when I'm driving myself nuts watching everyone else do all the big races!

I was supposed to do the 5km TT yesterday morning and slept in, so this morning I went to Mt.Cootha and did 45 minutes on the trails. Bit of a rush because I have to go and take my exhibition down today. Walked a fair bit. As I was run/walking, I was thinking that perhaps Six Foot might be a good training goal. I'm thinking I'll need at the very least, a solid six month lead up (which is going to mean training through the hot weather, argh!) but as long as my injury continues to improve, it's a realistic idea. Gives me a few months just to come good, then I can kick in to it properly.

I'd also like to do the 24km GH run at the end of july and then (all being well!) the 30km in september (what happened to the 50k option?) I want to regain a bit of confidence in my ability to do the distance. Amazing how much you can take that for granted.

I'm still not quite sure about the Queensland Half next weekend. It's a bit scary because it's such a jump in distance from what I have been reduced to. The last three or four weeks at least, I've run nothing longer than about 10km. I don't know whether I should just skip it, do the 10km (though it'll kill me to be there and not do the half!) or pace the 2:30 group again with Ronnie.

What other goals should I have for the next year or so? (other than 100 miles next year!)

Glasshouse 11km

2007-05-20T15:21:00.000+10:00

Well, it was good to be back at Glasshouse. Even if it was really bizarre to be doing the short event. Felt a bit sad I wasn't able to have a crack at the 80km, which was one of my previous goals for the year. Anyway, I'm sure all this complete and utter frustration will push me to train harder once I'm able. Look out, next year!

Linda and I ran the 11km in about 1:10 I think. Foot felt okay, though started to twinge and swell half way through. (aren't I glad I didn't have a crack at 30km? I almost did - wouldn't have made it to 20km) Very strange to feel soooo unfit whilst out there - I remember just being able to keep on going. Not that GH is ever easy, but all this has certainly made me appreciate being able to stumble along consistently for hours like I could.

Oh and add to that the fact that just as I came off the trail onto the last 100m of tarmac, I managed to full on kick a tree root with my bad foot!

$%&*#&$ !!

(well, I don't think I was as polite as that!) Stuck my foot in the icy cold pool for 20 minutes then again when it started to throb and now seems not to be too bad again, but tomorrow will tell no doubt.

Really good to catch up with a few familiar faces. Tanky absolutely decimated her 80km. I think she said she did it 2 hours faster than last year! Vegie did the 30km with Di and came in looking fresh as a daisy. I got a text from Susannah saying she came 12 th Female (out of two hundred!) in the Great Wall of China Marathon. That girl is absolutely phenomenal! Inspirational :) I'm sure she could make it on the Aussie ultra team if she wanted.

A new week and back to work tomorrow :( Can't believe how quickly my two weeks off went! Tentative plans for the week:

Mon: Circuit training a.m + 5km walk/run
Tues: Track session
Wed: PT session a.m, Club run p.m
Thurs: 5km walk/run
Fri: Circuit training a.m
Sat: 5km TT a.m + 1:30 (?) hour run
Sun: REST

The saturday long run will vary depending on how my foot holds up, as will the 5km runs on monday and thursday.

Hope everyone that went to Warwick had a fab time. I really missed it! Next time, Gadget!

Ahhhhhh (that was a good sigh, for a change)

2007-05-19T17:09:00.000+10:00

I'm hoping I'm not going to jinx myself here when I say this but I can't help it.

MY FOOT FINALLY FEELS A BIT BETTER!

Praise the running gods, I think the anti-inflammatories are starting to work! I have been taking 200mg of Prexige (lumiracoxib) twice a day. Once I finish that, I move to Voltaren for a bit. All things being well, I may well be on the mend! I wish I'd had the brains to just go and see my favourite running doctor when it first happened. The real test will be when I finish all the tablets I guess but right now I'm just enjoying being almost pain free!

I didn't realise just how much this injury really hurt and how constant the pain was, until it started to feel better. My general mood is so much better too - as I'm sure everyone around me will agree, it was all starting to make me very, very cranky. Sleeping heaps better too.

It is sooo unbelievably nice to be able to walk around without pain and not to have to favour one side of my foot as much. To be able to stretch and point my toes in bed without wincing.
I can still feel the injury, but it's heaps better and I feel rather like a new woman today!

So much so, that I think I will go and run a sedate 11k at GH with Uncle Phil, tomorrow. It's apparently not as hard as previous ones, I have new shoes and it's not on concrete so I feel relatively happy to give it a go!

So good to see a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel :)

Progress....

2007-05-17T14:05:00.000+10:00

So, went off to see my favourite running doc this morning for a fresh perspective. He thinks I have torn the ligament where it joins the bone in the ball of my foot. Ties in to what Uncle Phil thinks too.

So now I have two new types of anti-inflams to take but if that doesn't fix it, looks like cortisone injection and a trip to the specialist might be in order. Blah! I'm really hoping the drugs do it. If they do, I might be back to normal in a couple of weeks! Hurrah!

So good to be made to feel like I'm not going crazy and it's not all in my head. The doc was soooo fabulous, I think he might be stuck with me from now on - he even gave me his mobile and home phone number incase I have any problems! Certainly beats the various levels of disdain the rest of the doctors I've tried have displayed.

Fingers are crossed!

7km

2007-05-17T00:55:00.000+10:00

Got my new shoes tonight. They are bouncy :) Alas, my foot hurt after 3km tonight. Managed 6 or 7kms with the beginners again.

Today I began the four times a day icing and rubbing. Also bought some anti-inflam gel to see if that helps matters. Spoke to our resident running doc at the club and am going to go and see him. I think it can only be a good thing to see a doctor who runs.... may shed some light on matters. At this stage, I'm desparate enough to try just about anything!

Because I have not much else to say, here's another pic from Australia Zoo. I think this one was a king brown. I would really like not to ever meet one of these guys without there being a sheet of perspex between us. Beautiful, but nasty!

Track

2007-05-15T22:55:00.000+10:00

I went back to track last night. Managed about half a session I think. Uncle Phil finally succumbed to the vast amount of whinging I've been doing about my foot and poked and prodded it for me. Something is clicking in it and the tendon is swollen. I actually have really loose joints - my shoulders and hips partially dislocate quite often. It sounds revolting but it doesn't hurt too badly because I put them back into place as soon as I feel them start to go. If that's what happened to my foot, it makes sense that it didn't show on the xray or scan or anything.

Anyway, I am now on orders to ice it four times a day for three days, see how it goes, then we'll try alternating with really hot and then really cold water for another few days. Fingers are crossed! I have to say I accidentally banged it on a door jam today and it would be an understatement to say the air turned blue!

On the plus side. I went to Australia Zoo yesterday and got to eyeball a tiger. And I mean really EYEBALL a tiger. He walked right up to me and stared me in the eyes. There would've been perhaps six inches between our noses. It was bloody incredible :)

Here's the pick I took as he turned away. I was too stunned and too busy looking at him to press the button whilst we had eye contact!

Tomorrow night I'm running again. Currently I'm thinking I will go to Glasshouse and run the 12km with Uncle Phil. I just don't trust myself to make it through 30km currently and I don't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere with a bung foot.

Another positive - I'm buying new shoes tomorrow!

10km + MDC 8km

2007-05-13T14:33:00.000+10:00

On thursday I did a PT session and got my butt kicked by my trainer for being crap with my food again. Hopefully it will inspire me to improve. I'm going back on Lite n Easy at the end of the week after cancelling it in a fit of irritation at myself for wasting money on it when I was cheating anyway.

On friday I went back to circuit training which was good. Nice to be back and there was a huge rainbow afterwards. The mosquitos were shocking though - apparently there is a swarm of salt marsh mossies in the area that have flown down from sandgate that been causing problems. Having pommie blood, I am a beacon for them, aerogard or no!

On saturday, my foot still felt okay, so I went out and ran 10km on the nearby bikepath. Hard work. I think you know you're unfit when 10km seems a long way again! LOL! After that, I went to a 50th Birthday party and my foot throbbed the whole way through. I wore flats, but still drove me nuts. Got to bed at 1am.

Today, I did the MDC 8km. Was rudely awoken by the lovely Ronnie banging on my front door - I had slept in! I hate doing that - of course I bolted around my unit throwing clothes on and grabbing stuff. I must've been in a deep sleep, since I answered the door practically naked! Poor Ronnie! Anyway, managed to get myself together and fell into the car half asleep still, putting socks and shoes on and timing chip.

Arrived at the start, went to the loo and then before I knew it we were off. I knew the minute we started running that I was going to feel it. My thighs were fatigued from yesterday and I thought I might have to walk. Eventually I fell into a rhythym though and kept going. I really wanted not to have to walk... would be really depressing not to be able to complete 18km in a weekend. This time last year, I did 42km in a weekend at Warwick without batting an eyelid (okay, well, I was buggered, but I did it). Anyway, no use dwelling on that!

Bumped into the lovely tanky on the way back and had a brief chat. I've missed all the races and ultras so much and I think a large part of that is the people - they rock. By that point in the run, my foot was really starting to hurt and I felt like shit. Tanky dropped back to walk with her parents and I carried on.

The finish chute was absolute bedlam. To be completely honest, I've never yet experienced a good USM event. The poor volunteers were overwhelmed - we got herded into the finishing area, packed in like sardines. It took me over 20 minutes just to reach water. Mostly I think it was because the race packs weren't assembled so people were picking up bits and pieces from tables along the way, taking ages to move. Again, the volunteers were doing a great job and there were apparently 1000 more entrants than they expected, but USM really should have made the water tables easier to access. It's not just inconvenient not to be able to get to water, but dangerous. At those events, most of the people running don't normally run and they need to drink. As did I ;) If it had been hotter, I imagine they'd have had to start pulling people out over the barricades, like at a rock concert!

Anyway, that's my grumble for the day. I did get a funky pink water bottle too. Once I got clear of the madness, I discovered my foot was really really REALLY unhappy with me again and limped back to the car. Hopefully it will be better tomorrow because I'd like to either do circuit training or the social run at sandgate. Or both. But we shall see. If it's this bad tomorrow, I will be happy just to walk normally!

B L A H

2007-05-09T15:06:00.000+10:00

So, last night I went to track for the first time in ages.... to watch :( Not a good move since it made me feel like kicking my !*%$*#(% dodgy, crappy IRRITATING GODDAMN FOOT against the wall repeatedly. I am sooooo soooo soooooo bloody frustrated, I cannot express how pissed off I am with being injured. It's ridiculous. This has been going on for more than 3 months now and watching everyone whizz around last night made me think about how unfit I am now and that I'm drifting away from all those goals :( Seeing all the events coming up that I was going to do isn't helping either.

Seems the hills at Mount Cootha don't agree with whatever it is that's still not mended. I'm doing my best to ignore it and just run on it anyway, but I'm a little scared to go all out and sprint on it at track incase something snaps or pops or otherwise. I think it's safe to say after ten days of max dose, the anti-inflams are doing absolutely nothing to make it any better.

Perhaps I should just sprint on it and see what happens. I seem to be playing a game of chicken with myself currently... seeing how far I'll push things before I lose my nerve.

BLAH.

Anyway, I know it's not the end of the world. I just want to get back to training and having some goals to work towards. I feel (and look!) like a blimp currently.

Mount Cootha 1:50

2007-05-06T14:34:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I met Sam and Jill for the usual run up Mount Cootha. It's been a while since I did the regatta loop and so I was a bit worried I would have to walk the entire thing or that I would have to turn back.

I did a fair amount of walking, perhaps four bursts. Half way up I bumped into Deb from BRRC and we ran the rest of the way together which was good. Nice to have some company for the hills. Then she turned down a different road and I ran past Tori with her Tri squad on their way up.

I got back to the Regatta and found I'd run it in 1:50, which is exactly the time I do when I run the whole thing without stopping. Very bizarre. I must have been running quicker when I did run, or walking faster or something but I was just happy not to have taken three hours! My foot hurts a bit after it - sore to wiggle my big toe up or down. I think hills agravate it.

After the run, I met the girls back for Breakfast and Schultzy rocked up after a run and joined us. Last night, I had my art exhibition opening which went fairly well I think. Loads of people came which was nice, including the lovely Tesso. The show is up for almost a month though, so I think some people will look at it during the coming weeks.

This morning, I met Sam and we went for a walk through the park near where the both of us live. My hips were a bit stiff from Cootha, but nowhere near as bad as I thought they'd be. I've got the next two weeks off from work so I'm planning to catch up on lots of blogs, read, eat, sleep and run a lot.

2 hours

2007-04-28T20:00:00.000+10:00

So, this morning I decided to test my foot out again and went for a run out at Shorncliffe. No idea how far I went, perhaps 15km? I ran from Sonomas out to the other side of the old bridge at redcliffe and back. There was a little walking in there... not that I was killing myself, more that I was taking it easy.

The old bridge is perfect for intervals (not that I was doing any!) there are lampposts every 25m or so. I saw some poor fisherman who had put a fishhook right through the skin on the back of his hand. Owwwwww.

As I ran (pointedly ignoring foot) I was contemplating whether I might be crazy to attempt to train for the GCM in 8 weeks. I mean, I could cover the distance, just for fun. Might take me six hours to finish and it would probably HURT like a bastard afterwards, but I could....

I might just do it, even just so I can squarely give the giant finger (or should that be toe?) to the foot-gods.

Who knows. Tomorrow morning is the Mount Mee run. I might just do that, too.

Bone scan results

2007-04-27T14:21:00.000+10:00

Well, I finally got my bone scan results today. No sign of a break, a fracture or a bone tumour (aren't I glad my doctor didn't tell me he was looking for that until I knew I didn't have one? LOL)

This is good since it means there's nothing structurally wrong with my foot, save for the usual wear associated with runners, apparently. It's also bad because I now just have to try to tough out whatever is wrong with it. It still hurts and I still don't have any answers. I feel like I would like a bloody reason for the WEEKS I've had to take off! LOL!

Anyway, that's not going to happen and I'm back to square one on not being able to afford the podiatrist, so I've started taking the maximum dose of anti-inflammatories for a week and have thrown in a daily glucosamine tablet for ever after.

Hopefully things will improve.

At least I can possibly have a crack at the Mount Mee 10km on sunday.

Exhibition

2007-04-25T14:26:00.000+10:00

Well, still no foot news I'm afraid. I've rung twice and they still haven't gotten back to me!

But anyway, in the meantime (and because some of you have asked) Here's an invite for my upcoming exhibition, 'Say Cheese' at the Queensland Centre of Photography.

It opens on Saturday, 5 May at 33 Oxford Street, Bulimba and the show runs until 27 May.

For more details, check out the news section on my website at: http://www.hannahbroom.com

Bonescans and Brisbane Marathon Bag Lady

2007-04-22T16:00:00.000+10:00

Went to have my bonescan. Definitely not the most pleasant thing I've ever done - they inject you with radioactive isotopes, then you have to wait around for two hours for it to go through your system, whilst drinking tons of water. Then they hog tie your feet in various positions (which hurt with a sore foot!) and videotape the glowing stuff moving through your blood stream. Anyway, four hours later it was done and tomorrow I can ring to see if my GP has the results. Hopefully they'll give me them over the phone. If not, it's another visit to the doctor.

Today I went to help out at the Brisbane Marathon in the baggage area with toasty and my running buddies Ronnie, Tracey and Jill. When we got there nothing was set up. Within minutes, throngs of marathon runners had descended on us and about 45 minutes of madness ensued. We managed to get all the bags in rows and ordered by number though. There's something very satisfying about that (must be the virgo in me!) and no one had to wait more than a couple of seconds when dropping off or picking up. Had a lovely time with the gals and toasty, joked and gossiped as we went. Got to say hello to most of the usual suspects too. There were quite a few amazingly rude people too, who just slammed their bags down when dropping off and then when they picked them up, they just grabbed them and walked away without saying anything. Naughty wench that I am, I started yelling 'YOU'RE WELCOME!" in a bright, cheery voice as they departed. I cannot, cannot, cannot abide that sort of rudeness. Even if we weren't volunteers, it's so unnecessary and ungrateful. But anyway, enough of my soap box.

By the time we'd done most of the baggage, my foot was really hurting. It's been feeling a lot better the last few days (typical, after tests and all!) but today it ached like hell. I felt really jealous of everyone out there running! I also remembered how horrific my half was at the race last year and by the gods, after all this, next year, I'm soooooo going to whip it's arse!

I think the realisation that all plans and goals for the rest of this year are on hold is finally sinking in a bit. Bit depressing. I am thinking that if the foot issue does turn out to be soft tissue, I should give my foot another two or three weeks off before returning to running, and that doesn't leave me enough time to get into shape for the GCM. After having done the full last year, I feel weird about dropping down to the half there.

Anyway, whinging doesn't get me anywhere, that's for sure. Will just have to suck it up and get on with things.

Congrats to everyone who did the Bris Mara this morning. It looked so hot, you poor things!

xray and bloods okay

2007-04-17T17:06:00.000+10:00

Well, my xray and bloods came back clear, so I'm off to have a bone scan on thursday. It's going to cost $550 or so and I think I will get some of that back on medicare. I really, really, really hope so anyway. If I don't I'm going to be in trouble but I'm at the point where I just want to know whats wrong. Tomorrow I'll ring medicare and check.

Even though it is good that both the xray and bloods were clear, it's sort of horrible too because I don't have any answers. I feel like maybe I should just be putting up with it and running through it...which is what I was doing previously. It's not an unbearable sort of pain, it just won't go away. Maybe if I just give it more time it will heal itself..... if it does turn out to be just some sort of soft tissue injury I'm going to kick myself repeatedly. Though obviously not with my right foot!

Anyway, nothing to do but wait until next week I guess... still a cranky, fat and generally miserable Hannah til then :(

What the Doc Said

2007-04-14T14:49:00.000+10:00

So I woke up this morning and (Carpe Diem) rang the doctors. Went in and he poked and prodded it and on monday I'm going for a blood test (to rule out gout, of all things! I thought only old men who drank too much got gout) and another xray to check for stressies.

If the xray comes back clear, he'll then send me for a bone scan. Depending on what happens with that, the next step would be a trip to the bloody orthopaedic surgeon. (*freaks out and attempts deep breathing*)

Id quite like it to be gout actually, since that's easily treated. Or even a stressie that's not yet healed. Or basically anything that doesn't involve letting anyone with a big fat needle/knife near my foot!

I think, ladies and gentlemen, that all 100 mile bets are off until I get the results :(

Soooooooo unbelievably annoying. But at least there's now a plan of attack, even if it does suck.

Fatter, Fitter, Fubar foot!

2007-04-13T20:00:00.000+10:00

I started bootcamp this week and did reasonably well on the fitness test. Blitzed everyone on the leg strength test by about a minute though, which was a nice surprise (must be the hilly trails!) Also did personal training and confessed to my trainer that I've fallen quite spectacularly off the diet wagon and practically have to start all over again.

Anyway, the less said about that, the better. I'm back on lite n' easy and even if I'm fatter again, I feel I'm getting a bit fitter. Ran on wednesday night and it wasn't quite as difficult as the week before. I did however manage to stick my foot in a hole and twist my ankle (the other side to my existing foot problem) but thankfully I was able to run it out and it felt fine the next morning.

My foot is still not right. Yesterday morning after bootcamp, I walked from the train to work and I almost cried at the constant stabbing pain through the joint. Being in a reasonable amount of pain for this long has just made me completely and utterly miserable. I'm still doing my best to hold on to my denial and run because currently it's the only thing that making me feel (temporarily) better. It actually does feel better whilst I'm wearing trainers though, possibly because it's cushioned. I run, it hurts, I rest, it feels better so I run, then it hurts again. Repeat. The only option is to just go to the bloody doctor, I guess :(

I know I could be doing serious damage by continuing to run on it without having it checked. I know that the longer it carries on, the more unlikely it is I'll be up to the 100 miles or any race really. I don't really want to go into details here, but there's a lot in my life that is a struggle currently and this is all just the bloody icing on the bloody cake. Nothing is more ugly and unproductive than a good dose of self pity I know... I just have to pull myself up by the bootstraps and do what I can to make the changes that will solve the problem.

3:20 of trails and some very evil hills!

2007-04-07T13:42:00.000+10:00

Yesterday, I went to the Intraining Easter Egg run at the West End. Unfortunately, once I got there, I decided not to run - partly because they wanted $25.00 which I couldn't afford (I had thought it was $15.00 - I'm sure it used to be!)

More annoyingly, my foot is *still* not right which is what sealed the deal. I wore heels the day before at work from 8am - 11pm (it was a long day!) so that may have had something to do with the pain kicking off again.

I'm trying not to launch into a big whinge about my foot but it's driving me absolutely insane. I go for a run (or seemingly, wear heels!) then I have to take one or two days off for it to settle, then I think perhaps it's okay, run again and it hurts again. I'm thinking I'm going to have to go and beg the doctor to see if they can scan it for free. I just want to know I'm not doing any more damage whilst I'm blatantly ignoring the problem and running anyway. Bad, bad me. I know it's naughty.

On that note, I was very, very naughty this morning and ran/walked/ran for *drumroll* 3:20 on the trails around Mount Cootha. It was such a perfect morning this morning, I just couldn't help myself. Gorgeous clear sparkly blue skies, just the hint of a cool breeze, the temperature is perfect and everything smells faintly like eucalyptus. I've had a map of the Mount Cootha trails pinned next to my computer for a couple of months and decided it was time to go and test some of them out.

I started out at the JC Slaughter Falls (for ease of parking!) and ran the Hovea track and then the Aboriginal art trail. It's not very long and somewhere along the way I found a fork which led up into the bush for a couple of kms so I decided (feeling all adventurous) to follow it and see where it led. Turns out it was a closed trail which had been shut for revegetation. Oops. Shame it's shut, it was lovely. It came out somewhere on the usual road to the top, so I turned right and ran up the hill towards the cafe. I consulted my little map and turned onto the Honeyeater track. Fun going down, nice views along the way. Down the bottom of that, I did a quick loop around the Butterfly Trail and had a bit of a look at the 'enviro hut' thing they've got down the bottom. By the look of the map, somewhere it links up to the 'Kokoda track' and a few others I'd love to do, so I'll have to consult the street map and go back. It'd be great to have run every single trail on the mountain at least once.

On the way back up, I think I came across the Reservoir track (not on my map) which is quite short in terms of distance, but has some almighty hills in it. Parts of it were so steep, I actually had to stop twice whilst WALKING up it to catch my breath. Mental note: perfect spot for some six foot training, I'm thinking.

Climbing back up the Honeyeater track, I then ran back towards the cafe, then veered left down the Summit Track which leads back towards where I'd parked. Stopped for a quick toilet break and then turned out of the JC Slaughter Falls car park and went left, past the Hoop Pines picnic area and the Silky Oaks one.

Just after that, I turned up into the Powerful Owl Track. Holy crap! I wasn't feeling too fresh after a couple of hours anyway, but there are some more BIG hills on that one! Headed for Channel 9, but then detoured to Simpson Falls and then the Euginia Circuit. I had to walk the majority of that one - heaps of loose rocks and tree roots. Interesting seeing where the falls where (or at least, where I assume they should be - was completely dry) and hopped across the falls to the other side, where the trail snaked up the hill again.

Eventually, I wove my way back to the Powerful Owl trail and discovered that going down the enormous hills was a lot worse than going up! The sensation was rather like standing on marbles whilst on the edge of a cliff. How I didn't end up going arse over tit all the way to the bottom, I don't know!

Feeling quite pleased with myself (and glad to be back at sea level!) I then headed back along the road to JC Slaughter Falls, finishing with 3:20 on the clock. Quite how far I went, I've got no idea. I'm inclined to think that it wasn't actually very far - most of the trails are pretty short, and even though I ran both ways along most of them, I don't think it added up to much. That said, trails take practice and walking trails at a reasonable pace isn't always easy, either.

Time on feet, baby.

Anyway, next on my agenda (foot-willing!) is working out what order to do the trails in, in order to run every single trail in the same session. That ought to take me up to 6 or 7 hours, at least! Perhaps I'll post it on Coolrunning and see if anyone has a preplanned route.

20km Glasshouse Night Run

2007-04-01T10:02:00.000+10:00

Last night I headed up to the Glasshouse for a night run. I was interested to do it because the only time I've run in the dark was when Suzannah and I did the 50km last september.

Drove up to the start and met running buddies Vegie, Di and Schultzy. There were about 27 starters, with around seven of those doing the 20km. Tanky was doing the 10km. I felt quite good after the 5km that morning and was glad I hadn't pushed myself too hard - particularly when running up the path to the top of Wildhorse.

It was a really interesting experience for me - I learnt heaps in preparation for the big one: I learnt that I am going to have to carry insect repellent with me during the night (or I may be anaemic by the end of the run!) that I desparately need some trail shoes (nothing like kicking rocks to wake sore toes up!) and ditto with a nuclear-bright headtorch. Schultzy did a most impressive commando roll over a tree branch so I think the more light the better in my case!

The run also showed me just how work I'm going to have to do to get my fitness back to where it was (and beyond!) which was a bit depressing, but can't be helped! I had a few walk breaks and I noticed my comfortable pace was much slower than the others. It wasn't hard to keep my legs going exactly (I guess I can thank all the walking up hills and weights sessions for that) but moreso my breathing - after a time I had to shut up and just listen to the others chatting rather than joining in.

After the run we all headed back to the servo for a drink and some of Kelvin's yummy chocolate things. I gained another two volunteer pacers for the 100 miles. I had been feeling a bit like perhaps the 100k was a more realistic option, but now I feel fired up to just shoot straight for the big one.

My foot held up reasonably well. It is slightly sore this morning, but a couple of days rest should sort that out. Robert Song asked if I know what caused the stressie in the first place: to be honest, I'm not sure - when I look at the different factors involved I think it was probably a combination - I was wearing old (dry!) shoes for part of the race which had no bounce left in them at all. I was only walking in them, but my instinct is that they would have had an effect. I was also trying to speed walk off the balls of my feet and I've never done that before really. I'd also been very slack with my training prior to the event, not running more than 2 hours or so and none of that on the flat. The fact I'd been running hills so much might have contributed.

I'm going to get Uncle Phil to check my current shoes on wednesday. They're pretty new so I feel confident they're okay, but it'd be nice to rule them out. I'd really, really, really like to buy some trail shoes, but short of a financial miracle, it's not going to happen for a month or two. I have a plan or two in place though - may do a bit of graphic design work on the side to generate the money.

Today is a rest day... tomorrow looks like it will be circuits and a run, or a run at the very least.

TT run and 50km at Mount Mee?

2007-03-31T15:17:00.000+10:00

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!

I'm baaaaacccckkk ;)

2007-03-26T08:52:00.000+10:00

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!

2007-03-17T19:48:00.000+10:00

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! ;)

Halfway There! WOOHOO!

2007-03-16T11:43:00.000+10:00

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!

Mend, Dammit! 78.3kg

2007-03-09T21:29:00.000+10:00

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!

2007-03-03T13:52:00.000+10:00

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!)

Ho Hum

2007-03-01T14:53:00.001+10:00

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!

swimming, sinking, swimming...

2007-02-27T09:16:00.000+10:00

Almost 6kgs. Hurrah!

I'm going to have my xray today. Root canal this morning, too :( Good job I took an RDO from work!

I've been swimming several times this week and am slowly trying to improve - ie. swim further before drowning. Went to circuits yesterday morning only to find they were doing a run! Poo! The one time I can't do a session, it's one I'd love. Anyway, I got sent home by the trainer, but he assures me tomorrow morning will be back to strength work.

I'm already cranky because I want to run. I'm even dreaming about it and I keep catching myself attempting to run while doing mundane stuff and having to stop. My foot is a little better I think - though I took some painkillers yesterday at work.

Suspected Stress Fracture :(

2007-02-23T13:55:00.000+10:00

Soooo... after yet another day of fairly constant aching/throbbing foot pain I caved in and went to the podiatrist. She said that she thinks I may well have a stress fracture of one of the sesamoid bones (which, as far as I can gather, are the two little knobs of bone that hold one of the tendons in place)

This means an xray, then possibly another in a few weeks. She wants me to have the first xray to check it isn't a more serious (splinter?) fracture first, even though if it is a SF, it's probably not going to show up on the initial xray.

This means I'm looking at at least another week with no running, then if it is a SF, another five. Waaaaaaaa. *bangs head against keyboard* I nearly cried. Only time will tell, I guess. I'm trying not to get depressed about this until I know what I'm looking at.

She taped a pad to my foot to take some of the pressure off which instantly felt heaps better walking around. I'm supposed to ice it every day, too.

Bugger, bugger, bugger.

80.1kg

2007-02-22T08:13:00.000+10:00

Well, didn't make it to track on tuesday. Eventually wiggled my foot and decided against it. Did go running last night, just a short one, 45 minutes fairly slowly and my foot hurt the entire way :( I can run on it, but the pain is the sort that makes me feel slightly queasy, which I know is not a good sign :(

I'm giving it a deadline. If I can't run long on saturday, I'm going to the podiatrist on monday. Stupid, stupid, stupid foot! Grr!

At least I'm still getting skinnier. It's probably all my running muscles disintegrating from underuse *L* Had a nightmare PT session this morning... really hard work. I'm going to be sore tomorrow.

4.2kgs down

2007-02-20T15:31:00.000+10:00

Did rather a hardcore session at circuit training yesterday morning. Consequently, I can barely lift my arms above my head today! It drove me nuts not running on the weekend and I have to admit there has been a little running with circuits. Not more than a couple of kms though, honest!

My foot feels better, though I can still feel the problem (whatever it is) when I lift my big toe up (as if I was trying to point it at the ceiling). I couldn't resist chucking my gear in the car for track this afternoon. I'll go, but if it hurts, I won't do the session :(

I'm going to do circuits and run tomorrow night, though.... I am too stubborn for my own good sometimes. All depends on how tonight goes, I guess.

According to my scales, I have now lost 4.2kgs - only 10.8 to go, Gods help me! I know I am getting slightly slimmer again by the fact my jeans are a bit looser.

On thursday, I'll see my PT and if he notices the difference, I'll know I'm on track!

On the weekend, Gods willing, I will be running long at last! HURRAH!

3k Challenge, Ship Inn

2007-02-17T22:06:00.000+10:00

Friday morning I went and did Circuit training. There was a little bit of running, but much more strength work. The only thing I couldn't do was the proper push ups - bending my toe upwards hurt. So I did them on my knees instead. Not as hard, but better than nothing!

Felt like I was starting to come down with a bug on friday and left work a bit early, but had a change of heart and made it to the 3km challenge anyway. So much fun... so many familiar faces :)

Lovely to see everyone. Picked Tanky's brains re GH and 100 miles and ultras and things. The more I think about it, the more I'm becoming obsessed with 100 miles, Gods help me!

Decided not to push my luck with my foot and didn't go on my long run today. Will go for a swim tomorrow instead. Gotta keep this ticker moving in the right direction! *grins*

Thanks for all the comments guys. I swear, everyone should have a blog - there's so much collective wisdom here!

positive thoughts...

2007-02-15T12:23:00.000+10:00

Went back to running last night. Went a bit slower than normal, but managed an hour or so. This morning, I woke up and found my toe was sore again :( Not as bad as monday, but still ouch. I can still run on it, so had a bit of a walk and ran some stairs this morning. Not wanting to push it too much though :( It's sore on the inside edge at the widest part of my foot :( Hurts if I press on it and aches after exercise. There's no muscle or soft tissue there to damage *worries*

I guess there's nothing to do but wait and see - I can't afford to go and get it checked.

Anyway, positive thoughts!

Last night I bought a proper running backpack so I can run to and from work. Once my foot stops hurting, I'll start doing that, too.

some rest

2007-02-13T20:09:00.000+10:00

Had the last two days off as rest days - my right big toe was sooo painful on monday, it was insane. I had these horrible stress-fracture thoughts going through my mind, but it's heaps better today so I'm slapping myself for being far too melodramatic. Mostly my ankles and shins are a little sore from all the circles, but aside from that I feel great. Back to it, tomorrow.

I'm a bit irritated at myself that I didn't push on and do the 12 hours, but I suspect that if I had, I would've hurt myself. The pain in my foot was way worse than any of the post-run aches I've had. But, there's always that what-if, what-if. It irks me that I was out on the trails at Binna Burra for hours and hours a few weeks ago, without a problem, but I struggled so hard with complete flat. Anyway, no use stressing about what I can't change.

Lite n'Easy continues to go well... about 3kgs down and creeping closer to my pre-massive-blowout weight again and feeling tons better. Everyone at work ate warm caramel date loaf infront of me in a staff meeting today and on sunday night, my meditation group ate tim tams. So, so far so good - am resisting temptation. Tony (PT) rang today to see how I went at Caboolture so it was nice to be able to say I'd been a model of good behaviour with food! Hopefully it will soon start to show!

Am actually dying to get back out there and train. I want to get my long runs happening properly again and hop back into a decent training routine. I've been watching too much of the Biggest Loser and wishing someone would kidnap me for four months of intense training. I'd LOVE to do it! I wish someone would run a month long bootcamp at a reasonable price :) (spoken like a true endorphin junkie!)

DNF - 6:00

2007-02-11T12:39:00.000+10:00

So, my first ever DNF! I guess it has to happen sometime. I made it to six hours and then decided that for my health, sanity and ability to train in the near future, I should stop.

Arrived at Caboolture quite early and it was great - a total CR fest! Met a few new faces and caught up with some I haven't seen in ages, which was lovely. There were heaps more people this year and lots more on the track in the first few hours.

Before long, we were all lined up into groups according to how long we were running and then, all of a sudden, we were off! I put my ipod on and realised that somehow, my music had been replaced with podcasts of Kyle-bloody-Sandilands, the annoying git from Australian Idol! Argh! I pressed buttons to no avail, so had to console myself with disagreeing wholeheartedly with the utter rubbish that springs forth from that man’s mouth.

On running around the track, I noticed that the lovely Davo had put encouraging signs up for us all in strategic spots… it gave me a giggle and a lift every time I went by them. That man needs a medal! Counting laps and cheering, he’s one of a kind!

At about an hour and a half in, the storm clouds that had been gathering in the distance hit and the rain started falling. I whipped off my ipod and handed it to Davo as it’s not in a waterproof case. I wish they made waterproof cases for the nano. I’m not game enough to risk gladwrap! At least it meant I got a break from Kyle! I then realised I’d left my bag out in the open and that it was unzipped, so I had to divert quickly and grab it. Everything inside, including my dry clothes, my purse and phone (!) got absolutely soaked.

The rain got pretty heavy and running around the track was a bit like going through the rinse cycle of a washing machine. Repeatedly. The track turned to mud and I started gathering up half the course in my shoes. (note to self: buy gators!) Annoying little pebbles that rubbed at the soles of my feet. The body glide wore off my arms and I started chafing majorly. It’s quite impressive today, but I won’t inflict a photo on you all!

My shoes filled up with water and became like concrete and cane toads started appearing all over the place. I found myself having to jump around a bit to avoid landing on them. Tess ran by me and almost took a wrong turn, hee hee! Mind you, it was fairly hard to see where we were all going at that point!

At about three hours, I realised I was in trouble. All the long runs I've done in the last month have been on hills and trails and the constant flat started to kill me. My hips and back hurt and I started realising I was going to have to fight to make it to six, let alone twelve hours.

Tanky ran by me and told me she knew I had more in me and I knew I did, too which caused me have a quiet, miserable blub on the back straight. Shortly after, the rain began to ease up and the mud started to get deeper. I resorted to walking all laps and spent some time going around with Cirque who did a great job in listening to me whinge!

At about four and a half hours, I grabbed my ipod again and managed to make it play properly. The first hour or so is the playlist I used when I ran the GCM and it made me reflect on that. Consequently, I pulled my head in, stopped feeling sorry for myself and got angry with that 500m circle of mud. I decided to make it to six hours at least. I started power walking (Hermie gave me some great tips as he lapped me!) and just put my head down and bum up and went for it.

At six hours, I decided enough was enough. Uncle Phil (Coach) was there and walked the last couple of laps with me, which meant a lot. He was very good and didn’t say ‘I told you so’ once. Mind you, I think I said that to myself instead. Bah!

What did I learn from this experience? That I need to do a lot more training if I’m going to have a crack at the GH80km and that I’m going to have to seriously think about whether I can make the distance on my own before I attempt it. If I get stuck out there, you can’t just walk off the track.

Call this a new resolution… more training, less whinging!

Some thankyous…

The CR cheersquad and lapcounters were brilliant as always! A big, huge thankyou goes out to Davo, who did an amazing job at keeping everyone's spirits up - from putting encouraging signs up around the track, to putting an esky full of free drinks out for coolrunners, to counting laps for Tanky and I. Davo, you rock - I'm waiting for an opportunity to return the favour!

Thankyou to Cirque for coming and cheering, the crew from the Run Inn (was great to see all of you!) Hermie for offering some much needed encouragement around the track, AB for checking all was well after and Tanky for being my inspiration! You rock, Girl - couldn't have made it to six without you!

Thanks to Geoff and all the volunteers that make this event so special. It has a unique atmosphere and I'll be back - me and that track have unfinished business!

Despite the DNF, I had a great time.... If nothing else, it showed me I've got a whole heap of training ahead of me before GH! Congratulations everyone on some fab PBs and records. Tess for the 50k, Clairie for the 36km (?) and many more.

Mt Cootha, Lite n' Easy and Training

2007-02-03T12:48:00.000+10:00

Went and ran the whole of Mount Cootha again this morning with the girls, so it seems the last time wasn’t a figment of my imagination! We did it quicker as well, I think, although I didn’t wear a watch this time so I couldn’t say for sure.

I have started on Lite n’ Easy – it’s amazing! I can’t believe it’s calorie controlled! I’m on the lowest calorie plan they do, but when I unpacked the boxes there is just sooo much food. It’s a lot of fresh stuff, which is great and there’s no cooking, very little washing up and no going to the supermarket involved, so you might say I’m in heaven! I could totally eat this stuff for the long term, even if I wasn’t dieting. Unreal.

Anyway, enough gloating about the joys of Lite n’ Easy!

My entry for Caboolture D2D is in and paid for and I’m now starting to get a bit nervous! Though, I do think it’ll be a bit like a party with so many lovely coolrunners in attendance! The fact that I’ve done very little training and lots of races and events is a bit worrying, but I’m quite happy to walk as much as I need to. I’m looking at it as a starting point, now I’m starting back into marathon training again.

Running on Wednesday night was fun, but not very hard work… we’re all still stuck in one big beginners group again and whilst 40 minutes is great, I really need to start doing at least an hour and at a faster pace. Next week, Ronnie, Carolyn and me should get to hang off the back of Phil’s group for a while then drop off which should solve some of the speed/distance problems.

Also heard that I’ll be having an exhibition at the Queensland Centre of Photography in May. Yay me!

27:30 TT and New Hair ;)

2007-01-27T14:49:00.000+10:00

I went to do the 5km TT this morning, after wussing out on a run yesterday... I just couldn't drag myself out of bed and then when I got up, I spent the whole day cleaning and doing eight million loads of washing. It was disgustingly humid at the Time trial and I almost threw up mid run from the effort. Did 27:30 though, which was about 25 seconds quicker than last month.

Today, I also got my hair cut a lot shorter (it was past my shoulders and a bit like a giant hairy blanket!) My head now feels all light and floppy. But I like it :) Not sure what it'll look like after copious amounts of exercise, but only one way to find out! It definitely looks healthier, which is good.

I did Track on tuesday and ran my fastest 400m in a while at track... 1:40 and that was with sore, sore glutes from Binna Burra. Yay me.

Wednesday was a medium long run, although a new lady came so Ronnie and I had to take her out - we did a 6km loop then dropped her back and took off for a few more kms. I hope we didn't kill her - both of us were chomping at the bit but we kept the pace down I think. Have to see if she comes back next week!

Thursday I did Personal Training - Tony thinks I should go onto the CSIRO diet for a while, but it involves lots of cooking and I am, for want of a better word, a shitful cook - and even if I wasn't, I don't have much time to do so. I'm going to ask him to write me a week's diet instead. With easy stuff that doesn't involve effort ;) You wouldn't think food could be such a major thing, would you? But it is for me, as we all know!

I watched Blue Crush last night and am feeling all inspired - I want to look like that surfer girl ;) at least, I want to be that toned, anyway!

Binna Burra Babes Go Bush: 35km of trails

2007-01-21T21:48:00.000+10:00

Back from a weekend up at Binna Burra. For those not in the know, Binna Burra is up in the mountains and rainforest about an hour and a half outside Brisbane. It’s one of those gorgeous, forgotten places that you know about but seldom visit.

Left work early on friday to head up to Binna Burra with running buddy Suzannah. River City Runners (RCR) had planned a weekend up there and thrown the invite open to whoever wanted to come. Both S and I love trails, so was a great excuse for a weekend away!

We arrived at about 4.30 or so and checked in. I'd never stayed there before, but it was great. They have safari tents with little verandahs and their own campfire. Plus, a gorgeous gorgeous view out over the rainforest to the coast. Vegegirl arrived as we were about to start cooking dinner and we all sat around the barbeque and gossiped. Well, okay, Vege and I sat - S cooked - I bought her dinner the next night instead. Not wanting to inflict my culinary crapness on possibly the best cook I've ever met! She cooked risotto with champagne and pine nuts on a BBQ hot plate. Unreal.

The next morning, we got up at 5am and went to meet the other runners. They were very speedy and left us in the dust! We ended up with Linda, Andrew, Harvey, Lisa, me and Susannah. Hadn't met Harvey before - he was from RCR but set out with us just wanting to do 10km and turn back.

We did the Coomera falls circuit which was about 18km. Looked fairly simple on the map, quite a scenic route. We didn’t actually read the sign about it near the track though, which told us all about what was to follow and that we shouldn’t do it after rain! It had rained the night before!

We started off at a nice gentle pace into the bush. You really have to watch where you put your feet because of all the tree roots and loose rocks. You also have to be covered in mossie repellent and wear decent socks, because as we discovered, the leeches were shocking!

Being a bit of a pommie still, I still have a slight issue with leeches. Bugs, snakes, insects, general wildlife is fine. Leeches, nah. They only really got a hold when you stopped moving though which was a good incentive to keep running. I just kept telling myself they use them in medical situations, so they're not evil really. Honest.

The first stop was a gorgeous lookout, about 5km in. It was the highest lookout I've ever been on - it made me a bit dizzy! We took loads of photos (will post them when I get them from Vege and Suze) Then, we headed off down the trail. Harvey decided he felt good, didn't want to turn around there so he came with us. Shortly thereafter, we were forced to slow to a walk which we were to maintain for the next 10km or so.

The rain had made all the rocks slippery and there was a massive, sheer drop on one side, so it was fairly vital to be careful. It was then that Susannah practically gave herself a concussion, headbutting an overhanging branch. It made quite an impressive crack and I grabbed her round the waist as she teetered sideways towards the edge! LOL!

We spiralled down into the valley below. Then started the first of what became 19, yes, 19 river crossings. Not just little river crossings either, but giant stepping stones and waterfalls. It was gorgeous. It was so quiet, I felt completely enveloped by the energy of the place. As I said, I love trails and I love the bush. Perfect combo – would’ve loved to stay by the water (minus the leeches of course!)

Crossing the river so many times became highly amusing. Lucky for us, the water didn't get very high and was crystal clear without being freezing. Harvey filled his bottle up at one of them. We came across a brilliant blue crayfish that hissed at us and snapped it’s pincers before running away. Pity they're protected - they're beautiful *and* I imagine, delicious, with some salt and lemon!

Harvey and Andrew being gentleman decided to help us girls across the river. I think it was at the second or third river crossing that Harvey took a massive tumble – he must’ve stepped on a slippery bit and landed on his chest on a rock which must've really REALLY hurt. He was okay though, except for some bruises and a chipped tooth and hopped up. At the next river crossing, he did the same, this time landing flat on his back. Once we knew he was alright, it was just all too much for Vege and I, who dissolved into hysterical fits of laughter.... not good when you're trying to balance on a slimey rock at the time ;) I got my feet wet ;)

Andrew came across after us and then promptly dropped his water bottle in the river – fuel belts and clambering over rocks don’t mix! There was a tiny waterfall where we were and every time he tried to drag the bottle across the river with a stick, it got flipped back down the rapids. Eventually, after about 89 attempts he managed to flip it out, across the river to dry land and we all applauded.

The leeches started to get really bad - they're amazing little things - they seem to sense body heat and when you looked at the ground, they were crawling towards you. Every half an hour or so we stopped to flick them off. If you aren't quick enough, they latch onto your fingers! I felt one bite my toe and hopped up and down on one foot and pulled my sock and shoe off, with Andrew holding onto my wrist while I tried not to fall back into the drink! It didn’t get me though, hooray!

Eventually, the trail widened out and started to climb up again to where we could run. Put in more of an effort and Andrew and I ran ahead to the finish, dodging the tourists on the way. Lisa came out 30 seconds or so later and the two of us sat down to wait for the other girls. Andrew went off for a shower and while we were waiting, we had a muesli bar and caught some sun on a bench.

All of a sudden, Lisa was standing on the top of the picnic table pulling me up after her, shouting "SNAKE!" - a brown snake (we weren't sure if it was a green tree snake that was brown or an actual brown snake) had slithered across under our legs to the bush on the other side. I hadn’t even seen it – I’ve decided it’s definitely time to get my eyes retested! Certainly got the adrenalin going!

That night, we all had a massive dinner together in the cafe and then sat round the campfire gossiping. It was so nice just to relax and chill out. I should've done similar during the xmas holidays. Alas, for crap finances. Adrian and Karen (Karisma) had arrived earlier and so we all sat and chatted. Headed to bed at about 10pm.

On arriving back at the tent, it became apparent that we had new neighbours in the safari tent next to us and that the husband snored like all hell. Evil as I am, I’ve found that if you impersonate someone who snores, they’ll often wake up enough to shut up. So I had a crack at it, but to no avail. Made the girls giggle though! Eventually I managed to drop off to sleep.

This morning (Sunday) we all got up at 5am again and headed out for another run. This time, only Lisa, S and I were in the slower group. We headed out on a different trail, over the other side of the mountain. Amazing how different the terrain and eco system was, just so close together.

This trail was 22km and took us six hours! Though the bush was heaps drier - more eucalypts and *bonus!* no leeches! Though apparently the boys still found them! It was just stunning scenery.... again, very dense and rugged... about 12 river crossings this time. We walked the whole way, just chatting. There were beautiful crystal clear creeks, waterfalls and brilliant green mossy boulders... massive, massive ancient trees and clearings - just amazing. I wanted to stop and have a swim but we were running a bit short on time. We clambered through lantana and long grass, over tree trunks practically taller than me and wiggled underneath them. At times the trail was so narrow, you had to rock climb across to where it widened out.

Loved it. It's amazing how close to Brisbane it all is, yet I've hardly been up there... the peace of the place, the overall sense of tranquility.... just gorgeous. I don't think I can rave enough about it! So good to get some time away from work. Even though we didn’t actually do tons of running, I still broke a sweat and have slightly sore hips from the hills. Vege is going great guns and I think she’ll be back running longer distances again before we all know it!

Must thank the lovely Vege and Susannah for a fabulous weekend. It was so nice to share it with great people. Makes so much difference. I think Binna burra would be the perfect place for a big CR weekend away!

Rah!

2007-01-16T13:12:00.000+10:00

Gorgeous Pink Dirty Harriettes for your viewing pleasure :)

Have eaten substantially more carbs this week and feel muuuuccch better for it. My weight has gone up a kg again as a result, but my body fat is still dropping (love those new scales!) The hardcore training has also been having an effect I think and my body is finally getting used to working harder again! Hopefully I won't look quite so chunky as I do in this picture! *cringe* I feel like an amazon in comparison to the other girls, but at the end of the day, realistically I know that even if I was 60kgs, I'd still be really broad and tall. No tiny waist or curvy hips for me anytime soon!

Just gotta make the best of what you've got, no doubt!

On monday, I fronted up for circuit training and we did strength training, then stair running. As is the way currently, I felt awful to start, but the more I did the faster I went! Did an extra set of stairs on my own at the end, then felt very saintly ;)

I am absolutely brimming with enthusiasm for races this year.... such a turn around from the end of last year where I felt completely uninspired. The Dirty Harriettes are considering an assault on Kokoda on the GC in July, 100 miles (yes, miles!) is looking mighty tempting (if I survive the preceeding training!)

My enthusiasm may be getting the best of me again ;) But it's sooo much fun!

Track tonight!

Hares and Hounds

2007-01-14T20:57:00.000+10:00

Last night, Lisa (aka Vegie) came round to crash before the H&H run up at Glasshouse today. We got up at 2am and headed out... I don't think I'll ever get used to getting up at 2am for a run! Makes 5am feel almost luxurious!

Arrived up at Glasshouse at 3.35am, just after the hares had set off. Bumped into a few familar faces and met up with my fellow team mates, "The Dirty Harriettes" and beautified ourselves with glittery tattoos, pink lipstick, tiaras and bling.

I ended up doing the first leg in the dark. Going on past experience, I was a bit nervous about it, since I have a tendency to get lost fairly easily, but the markings on the course were absolutely fab - best I've ever seen up there and I managed to make it through my first leg in tact.

The weather was really humid and by the time I'd finished my first leg, I was sweating buckets. Tanky and I alternated the first few legs and then I ran Lisa's legs with her too. Made my total run 24km, which was nice. The more I ran, the better I felt. Do really want to buy some proper trail shoes though!

Somewhere along the way, out on the course, my car battery decided to die. Talk about timing. Thankfully, the boys were driving my car and I was riding in Karen's car. They had to push start it at every checkpoint. No mean feat given the hilly area!

I think my favourite part of the run was Henessys Hill... all the Mount Cootha running and squats have been doing wonders for my legs and I felt really good. Infact, the more I ran, the better I felt so I'm feeling more optimistic about my prospects for actually being able to cover 100km in September.

I do love the Glasshouse area - gorgeous, natural backdrop for running, fresh air and peace and quiet. Just fabulous.

At the end of the run, we met back at the pool for a shower and barbeque. Then I tried to ring RACQ to get them to bring me a battery, but unfortunately, they only accept a credit card and I cut mine up last year - they'd only come out to jump start me, but we could do that by clutch starting it anyway. Schultzy and Davo push started the three of us down the hill, bless them! Thanks Guys!

So, Adrian volunteered to drive my car to a car place for me so I could buy one. Davo lent me some tools so we could change it over when we got there.

We were literally the last customer the battery world place served! So lucky we got there in time! The the boys swapped it over for me and all was well.

How great are our Brisbane running boys? They all went completely out of their way to help me out today... makes me really proud to be part of the running community. Lovely, lovely people we have!

burst of activity!

2007-01-11T20:04:00.000+10:00

I am buggered! I think I've rather overdone things in the last week or so.

Lets see: Cootha on saturday, circuit training monday, track on tuesday, running last night, personal training today, circuit training tomorrow morning, rock climbing tomorrow night then Hares and Hounds at the GH on sunday!

Well, the sudden burst of lets-get-fit-again has meant I've dropped 3kgs since monday *LOL* Hear me roar! I actually bought some scary scales on the weekend too - they measure hydration and fat aa well as kgs. Fascinating stuff!

The no caffiene, chocolate or alchohol thing continues well. I'm drinking about 4L of water a day though and it's not a struggle by any means. I think my innards must've been shrivelled up like prunes before!

At running last night I had a total shocker... I think I got a bit cocky after doing mount cootha and I tried to move up a group again... BIG MISTAKE! I knew I was in trouble after about 3km... didn't know whether to faint, vomit, fall over or cry. I settled on almost crying before two others volunteered to drop off the back with me. Still, learnt my lesson... I shall stay with the other group a while longer.

Next weekend I'm going to Binna Burra with GH running buddy Susannah - I'm really looking forward to getting away for a while!

MOUNT COOTHA IS MY BIATCH! FINALLY!

2007-01-06T15:49:00.000+10:00

Got up this morning feeling like poo, bloated, achy yuck. Met the gals and guys (*waves at Owen*) for the monthly mount cootha run and what do you know?

MOUNT COOTHA IS NOW MY BIATCH!

Funny really, after two years of mostly being a lot fitter than I am now, I have a go post-xmas-gluttony, feeling awful and had the best run I've had in ages.

I started off with Ronnie and we headed out to the botanical gardens which are on the way. I decided to fall in behind her and we chugged up the first hill. Then Ronnie asked me to go infront of her so off I went. I went really, really slowly just taking my time. Before you know it, I'm up at the yellow gates of doom where I usually conk out.

The yellow gates passed me by and I got to the TV towers. By that point, I realised that if I kept at it I might just make it the entire way, so I buckled down and set to. Didn't stop for water, didn't stop for a chat with the others who were getting water, just kept on.

Passed a beautiful white cockatoo, who was grazing on the grass on the side of the road. He eyed me up and down and it reminded me of one of the first times I tried to run it and came accross a flock of them.

Once I got up the major incline, I found I could speed up a bit which was great and settled into my normal pace. The sun was shining, all was very quiet and the smell of warmed eucalyptus wafted on the breeze. Found myself grinning and feeling fabulous.

Hit the cafe at the top and sailed past the gals again who were on a toilet stop (or would've been, if they hadn't been locked!) and carried on down the hill. I can't believe how good I felt the whole time... my legs were working but not wobbly and I could breath reasonably well. I kept misting up my sunnies, but that's bound to happen.

Got back to the regatta in 1:47, which is a PB of at least three minutes :) I think the secret to cracking it was just to go out MUCH slower on the first two hills. Once I did that, I could cope with the rest easily. Hurrah!

I'm still bouncing up and down - now I've finally managed to crack it, I'm wondering if I can do it quicker!

HURRAH!

Happy New Year!

2007-01-03T15:24:00.000+10:00

Wow, can you believe it's 2007? I feel like I should be somewhere in the middle of last year, still ;)

So, what have I been doing in the last week or so? On saturday I went to the 5km time trial at Shorncliffe - 27:50ish. Not fabulous, but not as bad as the last few have been! An average time for me, which I'm quite happy with really, given xmas and everything! My running amigo, Ronnie did a ripper PB, taking three minutes off her last time - all I could do is jump up and down and yell as she came towards the line - she's lost loads of weight and been working really hard. Uncle Phil was all proud of her, too - grinning from ear to ear and slapped her on the back and everything, bless him.

I've been swimming a couple of times, nothing major but it reminds me how out of practice at it I am - my arms were so sore the next day!

Last night was a killer track session - deceptively so... we did our three warm up laps, stride throughs, then drills (fun but hard on the legs!) then Phil beckoned us over to a set of concrete stairs by the edge of the track - we had to bolt up and down them as fast as we could. Coming down was actually heaps harder than going up but it was interesting to have it pointed out to me that I favour landing on one leg. Who knows why! Must be to do with being left or right handed.

Tonight is medium long run. Hoping tonight won't be as painful as last week! Although, I have kept to my new years resolutions so far (no alchohol, caffiene or chocolate!) and have been eating well, so I feel slightly less disgusting in myself!

The hardest thing was always going to be no caffiene - being a diet coke addict, I virtually live on the stuff, particularly whilst I've been working three jobs - it's the only way to cope with the hours! Still, so far, so good - the biggest side affect has been the headaches. Massive, massive, horrible headaches. Nothing a few panadol and a lie down can't fix, but it's a good job I'm not back at work until next week!

Feeling all fired up and ready to go for this year - the rest of the month is focussed on getting my fitness back and then back into building up for the gold coast marathon. Last year, I did 4:42 (after being reeaaalllyyy sick with a chest infection for several weeks before) so this year, my 'Plan A Goal' will be 4:00, my 'Plan B Goal' will be 4:10 and 'Plan C', 4:15. Of course, it's always nice just to cross the line, too ;) *LOL*

Uncle Phil is taking a slightly different tack with my training for the GC, too - last year, I think I was just stunned and amazed I could actually cover the distance without dying and ran very conservatively in training and in the race. I know I did the first half too slowly. This year, I'll be doing my long runs on saturday mornings as usual, but I'll also be doing the short BRRC runs, too. 5km runs for training, now there's a novelty! The idea being, I think, to keep my endurance up and keep me running little bursts at a faster speed so I don't decimate my fast twitch muscle fibres in the same way as last year.

Me. Fast twitch muscle fibres. *L* they're in there somewhere, honest!

Oh, and seems I have a new reader, Ness. *waves* Hi Ness!

Hope you all had a fabulous New Years Eve! Hope 2007 brings you lots of great things :)

bleurghhhhh!

2006-12-28T10:38:00.000+10:00

Went for my first post-xmas run last night... felt every single mouthful I've eaten in the last two weeks! Bleurgh... mind you, we did go out at a reasonable pace (for me and Ronnie, anyway!) doing 5:43's for 10k. I can't believe I ran Doomben last year quicker than that, for twice as long!

Still, that's what slacking off does for you!

Did go and see Uncle Phil early to nut out a training program. As much as I'd like to do it, I think 6ft is off the cards for this year. Mostly because I don't think I'll be fit enough by that time and the date also clashes with my Mother arriving back from the UK after three months.

Basically though, I've got a month of working on base fitness - my long run will be an hour and a half with no increases til Feb. I'm going to try and hang on to Sam for as long as possible, Ronnie is going to do the same to me and between us, we should hopefully all improve!

I will get quicker, I will! LOL!

blah... need to detox!

2006-12-21T21:50:00.000+10:00

Oh....god..... I can't wait for xmas to be over and be back to normal drink/eat patterns. I've got two more xmas parties to go (I've counted up about eight parties in total) and I'm feeling like a giant balloon. Ick. I don't normally drink and I rather suspect I made it into double figures tonight at my work function. Bleurgh. I've got a 5.30am personal training session tomorrow, more fool me. What was I thinking ?!!?!

Last night I went for the xmas run at the Run Inn which was nice. We went via Vic and Barbs place. Vic hasn't been very well, so it was nice to go and sing carols at them and spread some xmas cheer in a sea of orange shirts.

Told Uncle Phil (aka Coach) about the six foot track plans. KT reckons that because I did an ultra in the cut off time I can do six foot if I want. Uncle Phil wants to talk about it some more *weg* I think he thinks I may break my neck if I try it this year. Which is a fair concern I guess. I am more than a little undercooked. I dunno. I'm just gagging to get back into hardcore training for a goal. Anyway, I'll go and harrass him next week sometime with my crazy plans for the year and we can work something out. The main goal is 100km and a sub-4 marathon anyway. Six foot is just a passing fascination with the seemingly impossible. The minute someone tells me I can't, the minute I want to prove that I can.... ;)

I had some fun making the CR xmas logo last week. Looks like I might be doing a spot more web design stuff for local running clubs. We shall see!

Happy xmas y'all :)

fame, 5km and fabulous pancakes

2006-12-17T15:51:00.000+10:00

Page 27 of the Sunday mail ;) The reason we all look so amused is that the photographer had us running in slow motion towards him ;)

Ran 5km this morning and walked a bit more - was more a social run thing for Steve's 50th. The breakfast rocked - pancakes and icecream and gluttony. My xmas food binge continued with lunch at a friend's place. She cooked us proper indian food and it was beaaauutttifull :)

Bought some new running shorts. Adidas made loose shorts with built in bike pants. Fabulous though my legs still chafe a touch. Am thinking they'll improve once I get rid of the xmas kgs!

Am thinking of giving 'lite n easy' a go for the new year... I'm crap at cooking, so may stop me from getting bored of my own stuff. Plus, it gets delivered which is fab and means not having to go shopping *and* all you do is heat it. It also looks yum!
We shall see.

I want to start planning my training out for 2007 now, but I can't find dates for half of the events. BRRC don't have them up yet. Guess that'll come. I'm also thinking about doing two track sessions a week when I can. Depends on work a bit, too as next year I'm going to be travelling a bit more and have a few more forums to chair. It may end up being an extra track sessions when I can squish it in, but that's better than nothing!

1:30 run from southbank

2006-12-16T12:02:00.000+10:00

Ran for an hour and a half from Southbank this morning. Bit of a struggle to get up - I'm finding it hard to sleep in this heat. That and the fact I'm chugging back tons of caffeine before I give it up!

Very, very humid... ran over the story bridge, back up through the gardens, up towards the regatta to the railway bridge, turned around, ran back, over the goodwill bridge to the Ship Inn. Sweating absolutely buckets the whole time.

Still, we love our queensland summers. Honest ;)

2007 Goals

2006-12-15T22:57:00.000+10:00

1. I am going to give up caffeine, chocolate and alcohol for a year. Mostly just to see if I can, but also, in an effort to get healthier, fitter and feel good.

2. This is a common goal for me, but 2007 is the year I’m going to do it – I am going to get to 70kgs if it kills me!

3. I am going to run a sub 4 hour marathon at the GC in July

4. I am going to do six foot track and finish (if they’ll let me enter!)

5. I am going to run 100km and finish

6. I am going to run a sub 54 minute 10km

7. I am going to run a sub 25 5km

8. I am going to train consistently and do exactly as I am told in order to get there!

The Biggest Blister on the face of the Planet!

2006-12-13T21:21:00.000+10:00

So, I didn’t do Kurruwa… *rolls eyes at self*

But I do have an excuse or two. I seem to be in the wars lately!

I was all teed up to run with Schultzy – I was going to do the first leg, he was going to do the second. I finally committed to doing it on the Wednesday at the Run Inn. Then, on the thursday, I went to personal training and managed to pull a muscle on the front of my right ankle. I didn’t even know you had muscles there, but apparently you do and it hurt like a bastard.

By Saturday, it was no better (the pain of weights hitting the usual 48 hours after) and I met the girls at the park down the road from me for a gentle hit out. I ran there and after 500m knew I wasn’t going to be able to do Kurruwa. Waaa. Schultzy ended up running the whole 50km on no training, the crazy, crazy man.

Anyway, next year, I’ve decided I will do the whole 50km. So there.

My glass house running buddy extraordinaire, Susannah, came fourth female so I’m egging her on to get bling next year. She said she went out too slowly (!) so I reckon she’s got it in her! Go Suze! Woooo!!

On Monday, I went to the social run out at sandgate. Managed to forget my socks and ran without, thinking I’d be fine (I’ve run without at the tris without incident) we had the most fabulous (fast, fast, fast!) 45 minute run and I could feel my left shoe rubbing, but was feeling so good keeping up with Sam and Phil that I didn’t want to stop.

By the time I got back to the cars, I had gained the most impressive blister of my entire life to date – about three or four inches long, one inch wide along the arch of my foot. It is disgusting!

I bandaged it up, shoved a layer or eight of sports tape over it and tried to do track the next night. No way… any time I start running, it feels like someone is shoving a knife in the side of my foot. I went home in disgust, succumbed to the temptation (though I know you’re not supposed to!) and popped it. Ewwwwww. I should really take a photo, or name it or something!

Went and bought some of the gel dressings, had another go at taping it. Went to running tonight, 3km in, knives. Foot. Owww. Walking. I did however manage to end up getting my photo taken with the gals for the courier mail ;) Keep your eyes out for my five minutes of fame ;) two of the boys may be able to make their TV debut, too! Ah, fame ;)

Anyway, currently I’m planning no more hardcore running until Tuesday. Really annoyed since I actually feel semi-enthusiastic about it all again!

The last couple of months have been really weird for me for running. I've been really busy for work, struggling with weight and food and motivation and things. January 1 will mark two years since I started running... I think I need to sit down and plan out next year some more! Perhaps some goals will get me going again ;)

1:47 Mount Cootha again!

2006-12-02T09:20:00.000+10:00

Monthly mount cootha run this morning. Didn't sleep very well last night or the night before so I wasn't feeling too optimistic about the climb.

That said, I got all the way to my furthest point I've ever reached - the yellow gate. Heaps better than the last run up there, heaps less walking too, though we did it in the same time apparently!

Am starting to reconsider Kurruwa... just a little... *L* Sam still doesn't want to run it, but Schultzy does and is hopefully still looking for a partner. Mmnnnn.

I have new, pink 2120s. They are bouncy!

update

2006-11-26T11:35:00.000+10:00

Over the last few weeks, I've been focussing on getting fitter, thinner and more positive about my running. I'm back to doing two hour long runs (hurrah!) and am starting to feel the benefit, although it's making any runs I do a day either side of them crap.

The scales are moving the right way and I appear to have once again found the will power to say no to the veritable sugar-and-carb-fest that is my workplace, bless them! What I can't work out is how all my colleagues are so skinny. Sooo not fair. My theory is, once you've managed to turn down **unbelievable** french patisserie chocolate mud cake, double cream *and* dreamy donuts in the one day, you've come too far to give up!

It's actually amazing how socially incorrect it is to refuse cake/chocolate/naughty food. People actually almost get offended. I suppose it's the same thing as drinking. I don't drink (well, very very rarely anyway) and when you go out, if you don't have an alchoholic drink in your hand, people think there's something wrong with you. Very weird. At least with runners or fitness freaks you can say you're in training ;)

Circuit training is going really well. Loving being outdoors and with other people and it's in the perfect location for me. I've trained six days this week. Finally took today off as a rest day, since yesterday was a bit of a killer.

Yesterday, I went to do the 5km TT out at Shorncliffe, but arranged to meet Sam at 5am, then Tracey at 5:45am to run with them to make two hours running time total. Gods, it was hot. I sweated and huffed and puffed my way through the runs and ended up back at ye olde faithful marathon plod which at least keeps me moving forwards. The last 5km took 32 minutes *ROTFLMAO* I didn't feel too bad about that though, considering I've absolutely whipped my own butt this week.

Plans for the week ahead:

Mon: a.m circuit training, p.m social run (if I can get there in time!)
Tues: p.m track
Weds: a.m circuit training, p.m medium long run
Thurs: a.m hours run/walk on own or swim
Fri: a.m circuit training
Sat: a.m Mount Cootha 15km
Sun: Rest Day

Sam and I also made an executive decision yesterday that we're not going to run Kurruwa this year. Neither of us feel fit enough and we'd rather do Mt Cootha as usual.

I'm getting new shoes next week, too. The next 2110's are PINK! Woohoo!

yay...blah....

2006-11-12T10:58:00.000+10:00

I have had a bit of an up and down week.

Circuit training is going well, enjoying the variety of sessions and being outdoors. Track is not so great with me feeling incredibly slow most of the time (but at least doing the whole session, which is something I suppose!) I have also eaten extrodinarily well all week, feel better for it and then got on the scales to discover I have put weight on. Again. *grrr*

Wednesday night running was okay, although training twice a day (circuit in the morning) was a bit of a killer. Thursday I did personal training which was, as usual, really hard. My trainer has a new torture device - I mean, machine - that vibrates at various frequencies. Then you do squats and stuff on it and the vibrations make your muscles work twice as hard to do the same exercises. I could hardly walk the next day!

Yesterday I went to the Regatta to do a planned two hour session. Ran out feeling like utter crap and thought I'd be walking shortly. Almost exactly after 5km of badness, I suddenly felt really, really good like I did when I was doing really long runs for the GCM. It was so nice to feel like that - I'd forgotten how good it is to run well.

I turned around at the hour mark and I really must've been going faster because I did the return 20 minutes faster than I went out! I think what that means is that I was moving really slowly on the outward leg!

Today I went to the 10km BRRC run at the West End. The AGM was today so there were quite a few people there. I was asked if I wanted to be involved in the committee this year, but bearing in mind that I hardly have time to breathe at the moment, I said no.

The 10km was definitely hot - I was absolutely drenched by the time I finished. It was positively the worst 10km I've run in ages. I ran the same time that I did when I ran my second 10km ever. 59:20. Ugh.

I know I ran yesterday and all, but I usually manage around 57 something even when I feel bad/have run hard the day before. Bit of a wake up call really. Definitely leaves me wondering about Kurruwa and whether I should do it. Heat really kills me. Not that I would dream of running at 10km pace or anything (the aim being just to finish!) but still. I am severely undercooked for the distance and there's no time to prepare. Hmn.

Oh well - nothing to do but stop whinging and work harder I guess!

1:48 Mount Cootha Run

2006-11-04T14:14:00.000+10:00

This morning we did a very soggy mount cootha run. Met everyone at 6am and was great to see there was about twenty (?) of us. There would have been a few more too, had it not been for the rain and the various family commitments.

Headed out together, but soon enough I dropped off the back as I was the slowest there today. I'm still much too heavy and I knew I was going to have a hard run within the first couple of kms. I chugged along though and groaned when I passed my usual yellow gate (the furthest point I've managed to get to, running continuously up there) and had already had several walk breaks! Actually, I didn't even make it up the first hill by the botanical gardens. LOL!

I swore at myself and my dodgy stomach and an achey knee, but even though Mt.C was soundly whipping my arse, it still worked it's magic on me. The cloud was low and it was all misty and beautiful. Quiet too, since no one goes up there when it's raining. Got to the highest point to find Sam, Jill and Ronnie had waited for me, bless them. Ronnie had run from Slaughter Falls and ran the **entire** thing! WOOHOO! Go, Ronnie!

I felt INCREDIBLY slow and disgusting, but apparently it wasn't as bad as I thought, since I still went quicker than last time! Once we started running as a group, I got more of a rhythym happening and it wasn't so bad. My stomach settled a bit and before I knew it we were at the top and coming back down.

I have a secret plan of attack to make Mount Cootha my biatch - I'm going to run it as slow as I possibly, possibly can one day. Even if it takes me three or four hours. .. so watch this space ;)

The badness that was the way up also made me realise how much I really need to get back into some decent training. I've done nothing about Kurruwa! I'm still exercising loads (though no long runs, particularly) but I'm still too heavy and I feel like I'm running with a backpack on the whole time. Only one way to cure that! Back on the diet wagon with me. Working in an office full of sugar junkies and foodies is not helping - I need to get some self control!

Plan for the week:

Sunday: REST
Monday: Circuit Training + 5km
Tuesday: Track
Wednesday: Circuit Training + Medium Long Run
Thursday: Personal Training
Friday: Circuit Training
Saturday: Long Run
Sunday: BRRC 10km

losing my pants!

2006-10-26T22:25:00.000+10:00

My plan to beat back the lard continues :) I'm tired already and it's only thursday...

Track on tuesday went well - that is, until my knicker elastic broke (seriously!) and I had to cut the session short. Everyone thought it was highly amusing to see me lolloping along whilst holding up my pants! I don't think I'm ever going to live it down - duct tape jokes abounded the following night at the Run Inn *LOL*

Mental note to self: Stop buying dodgy cheap Woolworths underwear - bonds for running all the way, baby!

On Wednesday morning, I went to my first circuit training session at the park just round the corner. I think it was truly invented for me, since I can literally roll out of bed at 5.30 for a 5.45am start. Lots of strength work, mixed with sprints. Lots of company and did I mention the trainer is hot? *L*

On wednesday night I went to the Run Inn (cue knicker jokes) and we did a nice cruisy 10km. Ran with Ronnie and caught up on all the goss. Tracey was nowhere to be found.

This morning I did personal training session and then went for a swim. That, combined with the circuit training has left me pretty sore - I can barely lift my arms above my head and I hate to think what my legs will feel like tomorrow!

Tomorrow I'm going back to circuit training - tossing up between doing it two or three times a week. Currently, I think I'll do three sessions a week for a little while, so I can get some general fitness back and lose a bit more weight.

Plans are afoot for next year, also, thanks to a 2007 Goals thread on CR. It involves six foot and then 100km at Glasshouse. No getting out of it now it's public! Whoah!

Perth

2006-10-24T21:09:00.000+10:00

This weekend, I went to Perth to visit my Dad. Consequently, I ate lots of delicious but evil food and am fatter again. Was lovely to see him though. It's a beautiful place though and I have a plan to tackle my most subsequent weight problem. Again!

I've been running since my last entry as usual but haven't been going to the gym. I think I've just reached saturation point with the gym. Plus, it's indoors and the treadmill is BORINGBORINGBORING. Weights I do with my trainer anyway. On monday I ran on the bikepath at Kedron Brook. (yes, alone! bad me) There were loads of people out though, so it was safe.

While I was running, I picked up a leaflet for a group fitness session that runs three mornings a week just around the corner from me. So I'm thinking I'll give it a go tomorrow morning and see if I like it. If I do, I'll ditch my gym membership and do the group sessions instead. It's outdoors, I'll have company and someone to push me - for the same price. It'll hopefully complement my running and increase my strength.

Group run tomorrow, 5km TT on saturday.

15km with Tesso :)

2006-10-14T11:27:00.000+10:00

It's been ages since I last blogged. Again!

What have I been doing? Group run up Mount Cootha last weekend was fun... reallyreallyreally HARD PT session which almost had me throwing up, then a reallyreallyreally hard track session. So good to feel like I've got some juice again. By the end of the session, I wanted to just hug the ground and cry. I truly did.

Had to work on wednesday night, so I didn't run again until today. I made the huge and stupid mistake of eating KFC for dinner last night. The smell got me (love it) but I haven't eaten it in years and I forgot just how greasy it is. As someone that doesn't even cook with oil, I've felt nauseous ever since.

Consequently, when I went running this morning, I felt like absolute death warmed up. Seemed to be a few variations on a theme too - Liz and Tess both felt off colour but for different reasons. Ended up doing about 15km and Tess ran with me the whole way, bless her! Thanks Tess!

When we finished, I felt a ton better than I had when I started and prolly could've carried on a bit. Couldn't have gone any faster during the run though! Definitely time to start planning out the next month or two - Kurruwa is rapidly approaching and I had better get some fitness back for that!

track + medium run + 5km TT + Bribie Beach Bash

2006-10-01T22:20:00.000+10:00

Whoah, another big update. I shall endeavour to keep this brief:

On tuesday, I did track. First time in ages I've felt like I can really dig in again. Helped massively to have Linda there to chase. Worked my butt off and paid for it the next day!

On Wednesday, I did a medium long run - 10km. It poured with rain and we got soaked. I loved it - there's something so honest about running in weather like that - slogging it out - and once you warm up, it feels fantastic. Fab. Felt pretty good, could've gone further.

On friday, I did personal training and whipped my butt doing squats, lunges and various other torture devices. Good hard session, really REALLY sore from it.

On Saturday, I did the 5km time trial at Shorncliffe. 27:something. Could've gone a bit harder. I seem to be scared of starting too fast. Must fix that. But at least 27:something is around an average time for a 5km for me. Nowhere near my PB (25:50) but better than I had thought. Shows I'm not quite as slow as I feel I am. There's hope for me yet!

Today, I did the Bribie Beach Bash. Ummed and Ah-ed over 15k or 30k, in the end, chose 15km on instructions from Coach Phil. Not really training for anything, just wanted to have fun so did. Good run, best I've had in AGES - annoyingly I'm positive I did waaaaayyyy better than last year, but I didn't blog the time then, so I don't know. I did 1:37 this year and again, could've gone harder. I actually overtook people. Couldn't believe it! The weather was great and remembered to wear sunscreen this year, so I'm not burnt, either!

Now my energy/enthusiasm is back, am now plotting away for goals for next year. Next year, I'm aiming for:

- Six foot (if I'm ready in time and if I'll stand a chance of making the cut offs)
- Glasshouse 80km/100km (if I feel ready)

Along the way, I'll also do the Gold Coast Marathon, but that'll be as a bit of a training run. Flat bitumen is becoming a little bit boring, unfortunately.

bang goes the 5kgs :) yay!

2006-09-24T15:34:00.000+10:00

Got on the scales this morning to find I now weigh 79.8kg - despite having cake last night with the lovely Sam ;) Got my first 'reaction' from eating high fat food on Xenecal... not too bad (not as bad as I had been led to believe!) but not something I really want to repeat *L*

Total weight loss is now: 5.2kgs! (in a week - holy crap!)

Today I've done nothing except potter around in my unit, unpacking stuff and putting together my kitchen table from IKEA. I had thought that IKEA stuff comes with everything you need to put it together (usually an allen key!) but apparently not. I had to go out to Bunnings to buy a screwdriver. On my return, I got a flat tyre and a lovely man changed it for me! Restored my faith in men, somewhat! ;)

I'm feeling good from yesterdays run. Slightly sore glutes, but nothing major. Feeling better and better about running as you can probably tell from the sudden blog increase! I'm currently contemplating having a go at both RPM (spinning) and BodyAttack (aerobics or something) this week... time to try some new stuff at the gym...

Plan for next week (still messing around with this schedule):

Monday -
a.m RPM
p.m Social Run

Tuesday -
a.m
p.m Track

Wednesday -
a.m
p.m Medium Long Run (may even attempt to hop up a group again!)

Thursday -
a.m Body Attack
p.m Yoga

Friday -
a.m PT session
p.m Balance

Saturday -
a.m 5km TT

Sunday -
a.m Bribie Beach Bash 15km? 30km?

2 hours and a new place!

2006-09-23T12:03:00.000+10:00

Met Sam at 4.30am this morning to go for a two hour run. It reminded me of GCM training, running along the brissie river with the water soooo still. We met so early because I had to be back by 7am for my sofa to be delivered.

The good news is that I'm now in my new unit and just sorting through stuff and getting settled. Hopefully I should be able to read more blogs and comment a little more! Sorry, guys ;) I feel terrible not answering questions or leaving you all comments. Still, new house, new start!

The two hours was done at a very slow pace and was a bit of a struggle towards the end. I can't believe not so long ago I was running 42.2 on the flat and feeling fine for at least the first 3 hours. Oh well. My legs remembered how to work so with a few more repeated efforts, I'm hoping my form (such that it was, ahaha!) will reappear. Sam is a bit quicker than me normally, so once I get back into it, she's going to start upping the pace on me a bit. That should get me faster!

I have now lost 4.8kgs - monday marks a week of xenecal. I feel fine - actually, I feel heaps better without the extra weight. Now all I have to do is keep up the good work for a few more weeks and I'll be back to fighting fit in time for summer :) Naturally, when I eat low carb diets it tends to drop off me at the start. I have no doubt that now I'm hovering back towards where my weight has stabilised in the past (76-79kgs) it'll slow right down. But, the emphasis will always be on healthy eating. I'd love to get to 70kgs, but we shall see! Not up for starvation to get there LOL!

3.2kgs down and feeling better :)

2006-09-20T08:46:00.000+10:00

Feeling better :) Have lost 3.2kgs of the extra 5kgs of doom. Xenecal is interesting stuff. I admit, I found it a bit scary that they would give me the stuff that easily - I was right on the threshold of not having a big enough BMI. I only qualified for it because of the family risk of diabetes. I had a bit of a mental fight with myself because using it feels a bit like 'cheating' - but at the end of the day, I was spiralling back the way I used to be and needed to take control again. So I'm not going to feel guilty about using dietary aids. I've got nothing to prove any more ;)

In the end I bought a 2 week supply because it's as expensive as all hell and will see how I go. Really, I'm just looking at it as a kick start. If you eat a very low fat diet (which I do normally) it doesn't really make any difference. Except it makes me extra cautious about not eating the wrong stuff. Another deterrent is always good.

I feel so much better being 3kgs lighter again. Did track last night and though I still ran badly, it wasn't so much of a struggle. I did the whole session which I haven't done in a few weeks.

Tonight is medium long run and I'm looking forward to it! I really must be picking up again!

Two laps of Mount Cootha and White Goods

2006-09-17T22:12:00.000+10:00

Again, a huge gap in blogville, sorry guys! I should hopefully be moving on wednesday, so fingers crossed, by the end of the week everything will be back to normal. For the curious, I'll be moving to Wooloowin, just near clayfield/nundah on the northside - very near a lovely park and prime running area! (though, is also smack bang in the middle of crazed-brisbane-runner-rapist territory, so we'll see!)

On the plus side, I've spent most of the last week or so trying to get my head straight about everything. Mostly freaking out over the fact I'm 5kgs heavier, which, I must say, is a sterling effort, even for me! Still, nothing to do but get it off again.

Yoga monday, did a track session tuesday (still feeling crappy) medium long run wednesday (now tracey is back it's fab, yay!) PT on friday and then my long run (!) today as it was pouring saturday. I used the alone time to think about everything - I ran about 2:45 and did two sloooow laps of mount cootha at a walk/run. Felt reasonable, although I'm half dead from my trainers attempt to kill me on friday still. My thighs are in agony!

I do love the changing smells on mount cootha - warm eucalypt, cool air wafting through the trees. Yummy. And, I got SPOTTED! by a cyclist cool runner - I must have looked amusing - It took me a while to process the fact that a cyclist was yelling 'GO COOLRUNNER!" at me - I thought they were yelling, "GET OFF THE ROAD" or somesuch! LOL! Not sure who it was - didn't recognise them with glasses and a helmet! Anyone?

So, my trainer has a nifty idea about getting me to drop the extra weight - firstly, I'm going to eat the same thing for an entire week. I admit, I'm a creature of habit, so that's capitalising on that fact. Have to get me out of my bad habits again.

Even though I find it incredibly embarrassing to admit, I talked to him a bit about my comfort eating issues and his solution (which is quite clever, actually) is to take the emotion out of food - get the focus back on food being something I have to do to live, rather than something to live to do. Simple really, but we shall see if it works. I'm also contemplating going on Xenecal. Nearly took it when I was much heavier, but then even when I was seven kgs lighter than I am now, I could never shift the last five kilograms. So maybe it'd help, we shall see! My other strategy is possibly going to see the Psychologist - can get three free appointments through work - might help, who knows. Maybe some good strategies for breaking myself of the habit once and for all, dealing with the issues or whatever.

Now seems like the best time to be doing all of this stuff - while I'm moving, it's a perfect time to break old habits and form new ones. New stage in my life and all that. Accordingly I spent a TON of money today on white goods, gods help me. Tomorrow shall do the same at IKEA. But, at least my new place will look beautiful!

My plan for the week is to get up and do **something** every morning - even if it's just a slow jog/walk for 30 minutes. Will do track and medium long run and long run as per usual - just want to start throwing in other stuff, other classes and things as well.

sorrrreeeeeee

2006-09-07T08:14:00.000+10:00

I have *never* been as sore as I was on monday. I hobbled into work and actually felt nauseous when I moved. I took four ibuprofens during the day.

Thankfully I felt infinitely better the next day. Currently I feel pretty much back to normal, although I haven't yet attempted to run or do any sort of exercise - I will try and do a gentle run on saturday.

The unit I thought I had got in Hamilton, fell through :( so I'm back to unit hunting, which is why I'm a little quiet... but I'll get there!

50km at Glasshouse! We did it AND we got bling!

2006-09-03T17:44:00.000+10:00

Wellll, I'm alive! We made it. Today we ran 50km :) I must thank the amazing Suzannah for being brave enough to have a go at it with me. I couldn't have done it without her! Now for a bit of a race review...

Woke up this morning at 2:00am after having absolutely no sleep. I spent the whole night (ha! make that, interlude!) tossing and turning and waiting for my alarm to go off. Thankfully no late-for-race dreams! Got up, got myself together and waited for Suzannah to pick me up at 2:30am.

We headed off up the coast and shared our mutual sense of holycrapwhatonEARTHarewedoing and general panic. I don't think I have ever felt as nervous for a race as I did today. Absolutely packing death would be an understatement.

Arrived at the starting point, the local school at about 3.45am and met up with a very bleary eyed looking bunch wrapped in blankets. The mosquitos were absolute murder but managed to borrow some much needed bug spray so all was well. Saw Lady Jove who completely inspires me with the way that she is so independent out there. Sister doing it for herself! The time went by so fast that before we knew it we were off.

I was soooo glad to have Suze with me - my sense of direction is terrible at the best of times let alone in the pitch black. Thankfully Lady Jove was able to point us in the right direction several times and thus we avoided doing 50km back to Caboolture!
Directions aside, I actually didn't mind running in the pitch black. The advantage is in not being able to really see how far you're going. The disadvantage is not being able to really see where you're going either at times - I was soooo close to doing THE most spectacular face plant, ever. I narrowly avoided falling head first into a deep pit of muddy water, piroetting gracefully and leaping to one side, then doing a bit of a out of control drunken sideways tiptoe for a couple of meters. Suzannah nearly wet her pants, as did I. *L* We had a blast.

The first loop was short (8km I think) and ran out over "hamburger hill" which surely has THE best view in the entire universe, through the macadamia farms and beyond. We passed through the school checkpoint, grabbed some water and waved at Clairie, Cindy and Sam who had arrived for the 30km. It was starting to get light which made things a little easier. We headed out for the biiiigggg loop and gossiped our way through.
We made a rare sighting of what we think was a giant, black cat eating cockatoo - they were ENORMOUS... beautiful things. I continued my usual habit of tripping over every two seconds. Usually as we broke into a walk on the rougher, muddier sections and just as I expressed how you couldn't really run on them without breaking your neck. There was a lot of walking up the hills and through the mud - it was just impossible to go any faster, really. That and I had another bad case of the gold coast 'be conservative' approach that told me even though I could've run up many of the smaller hills, I should save my legs.

We could see Lady Jove off in the distance for a lot of the way, but as we entered what I'll call the just-like-the-powerlines section (not sure exactly what it was called, but similar in difficulty and steepness) she got way ahead of us and we didn't see her again til the end. This section was full of massive, massive near-vertical rock cliffs. They were definitely the hardest part, but also the most enjoyable. I actually love going up them because they look so impossible. Great to really start puffing and working and using your hands and feet together in parts. I felt like neanderthal woman at times, my knuckles were almost dragging the ground at that point!

We climbed up and up, around and down and broke through into some easier track sections where we could run again. My legs started to feel it but I kept on keeping on. A quick loo spot (a very scenic loo stop!) at the top of the hill in the above piccie and we were on to the next section.

I think one of the nicest things about the GH trail runs is the peace and quiet - being completely away from any non-natural sounds. It smelt beautiful and just the chance to look at the flowers, brightly coloured agate rocks and fungi, the amazing variety of soil colours which change so frequently and the wildlife makes it really special. All stuff you'd probably never see if you didn't get right out there.

As we passed through the last checkout, Suzannah and I had practically exchanged life stories which was great and we knew we were on the way home with 12km to go. Tracey texted me to see how things were going, not knowing I'd taken my phone out with me so I texted her back ;) I keep forgetting my phone has a camera in it, so I tried to use it a bit this time. The photos I took were a bit steamy like the one above - from all the body heat in my fuel belt I guess.

The last 3km seemed to go FOREVER. Poor Suzannah had to humour me whilst I stopped to walk up some relatively tiny hills but once we were over hamburger hill again, I realised we were really going to do it. We hit a run down the very last track back towards the school and finished with a lap of the oval. Done, done, done in 7:29 - We got silver and bronze bling for our trouble, too!

Sam and Cindy had waited around to see us finish which was so lovely of them! Phil left his number and we rang him to say we were alive. After the presentations, we packed up and headed home. When I got in I had an amazingly good shower and a couple of hours sleep.

Tonight, I'm actually physically feeling *infinitely* better than I did after the GCM. I'm stiff and sore (and the next few days'll be fun!) but nothing like I was then. All that worry about running like crap and I felt fine, really. Perhaps it was something to do with all the enforced walking we did, but I didn't struggle nearly as much as I thought I would.

As we were running, I waa thinking to myself how absolutely bloody amazing the 100 milers were... infact how amazing the 100k-ers are too.... when I think about how hard it is to run 50km, then think about doing it three times and then some, it just blows my mind. It made me doubt if I'll *ever* be physically able to do that sort of distance but we'll see. My plan is to spend the next little while doing some quality, shorter training and getting stronger overall. Then I'll think again about goals.

This race has sort of marked the end of the racing season for me. Looking back on this year, it's been insane! I've done three marathon length events, two of them longer than a marathon. I've set myself a new half PB and trained harder than I ever though possible to get there. I've met some new and amazing friends, both on CR and off. (speaking of which, I met blue dog and horrie today! *waves*) All up, it's been fab. Who knows where the road leads next :)

the big 5-0 tomorrow!

2006-09-02T16:17:00.000+10:00

Haven't blogged in ages! Haven't read blogs in ages... more to the point, haven't read CR in ages! What is the world coming to? ;)

Mostly, I've been working hard - unit hunting seems to have been successful. I found a great two bedroom unit in Hamilton. It's very run down, but that means the rent is cheap. With some TLC and possibly an argument with the real estate about needing a new cooker, it'll be fine. It's near kingsfordsmith drive, almost on the river - which has miles and miles of bikepaths and my fave running spots :) I went past the end of the road almost every week during my long runs for the coast... funny how these things turn out!

I've also been writing applications for exhibiting at various galleries around bris in 2007 and trying to put together a grant to fund the research and production for my book. Fingers crossed!

Soooo..... tomorrow (or rather, it's going to seem like tonight) is the big 5-O. I'm soooo unbelievably nervous. Way worse than the GCM. I haven't done much running at all in the last two weeks. I am feeling terrified, but underneath that I have some vague zen sense of acceptance in my impending fate, whatever that may be! ;)

I'm also looking forward to having a rest, truth be told. The more I think about it, the more the lets-have-fun approach for a while appeals. Wednesday night was the lovely Tracey's first run back after her stress fracture and torn stomach muscle and we've decided to kick back into things together. She has to ease back into it slowly, I have to recover from GH and work on running quicker than a slow lollop again. Together we shall be victorious, muahahaha!

Noosa 2:06

2006-08-20T16:29:00.000+10:00

Well, a truly disgusting run today, but, mea culpa – I suspect the following may have had something to do with it:

1. I have eaten rubbish in the last fortnight. Thus, I am heavier again and feeling every bit of it.
2. For whatever reason, I am not running as well as I was before GCM.

I’m not quite sure why I’m still flat as a tack after the GC. I mean, eventually you have to reach a point where you stop blaming the marathon. I’ve definitely not been running as fast since then – more focussed on distance and endurance for the GH and I guess with speed it’s a case of use it or lose it.

I used my plod today as time to reflect on where I want to go and what I want to do with my running next. My last big event for the season is the GH 50km – anything else after that will just be for fun.

As you guys all know, I had gotten all fired up for getting into ultras (and still am) but I think I need to spend some time going back to basics, cementing all the groundwork I’ve done in the last year before I try to ramp things up any further. I think I’d be nuts to ignore everything and just keep on pushing when my body (in numerous ways) appears to be telling me it’s not happy. Quite ironic really, to feel most comfortable in long slow runs but to struggle physically to recover in an average timeframe! LOL!

Between September – March, I’d really like to have a bit of a break, then get a bit quicker on shorter distances, work on my technique and overall fitness. I’m also going to go and visit the podiatrist because I think the time has come to admit (much as my wallet would like to deny it) that I need an orthotic or something. Whenever I get injured or something twinges, it’s on the left side. My left foot hurts during runs and my left hamstring is constantly really tight. All of which gives me the sneaky suspicion that it’s not quite right. It doesn’t feel the same as the other leg during a run.

Anyways, on to the Race Report:

Sam and I drove down to Noosa yesterday afternoon, just in time to pick up our race kits (aka race number, chip and pins) and the biggest race tshirts in the history of the known universe. Last years shirt was so small, I ordered a large this year and (of course!) this year they’re different and massive. So, have consigned this one to the gym/nightie pile.

I do love Noosa as a place – the atmosphere is great and it’s really relaxed. We had an icecream, sat on the beach to watch the sun go down and then checked in. Followed by dinner at the RSL (where I kept expecting to see loads of Crs – felt like GC all over again!) and then had a reasonably early night.

Got up at 5am, headed to the startline and chatted with some familiar faces. Noosa is nice like that – small enough to see loads of people you know, big enough to be fun but not chaotic like the B2B.

Before I knew it, we were off and heading out on the road. Forgotten just how flat the whole course was. Two loops meant I got to see everyone a few times which was great for waving and high fiving people. Which was a great distraction for me, since by 3km I knew I was going to have a shocker, let the 2 hour pacer go and slowed right down.

It was soooooo hot. Me and heat don’t seem to mix well at all whilst running and I could hardly see where I was going during most of the run (note to self: buy new sunnies!) I tuned into my music, tried to zone out and decided at the very least, I was not going to walk ANY of the course (since last year I did 2:13?) and walked quite a few chunks.

When I got to about 9km, my body decided that it had had enough. Despite having breakfast, all of a sudden, I was absolutely STARVING. It was like I suddenly felt my blood sugar drop and I ran out of juice in a big way. Luckily, I had packed a couple of gels in my fuel belt and downed one that more or less instantly picked me up again. I have no doubt that if I’d run that distance without gels (which I’ve often done!) I would have DNF’d. Anyway, kept on keeping on and started feeling slightly better. Had another gel at about 15km just to be on the safeside.

The rest of the kms chugged by, and I amused myself by waving at everyone and experimenting with my running stride, loosening my shoulders up and trying desparately to stop sticking my thumbs up when I run. It’s so subconscious but I must look ridiculous doing it… I’ve got no idea why I do it, either - it just feels comfy. Something to work on when I get cracking on technique, no doubt!

Finished in 2:06 by my watch, which is ten minutes slower than Doomben but a fair bit quicker than last year on that course (so it bloody should be, mind! LOL!) so all up, I’m being philosophical about it all. Quite a few people seem to have bad runs, so at least I’m in good company!

busy!

2006-08-16T20:31:00.000+10:00

Everything is so busy lately - I haven't read blogs in ages :( Sorry guys... hopefully things will calm down soon.

On monday I did Yoga and managed to reach my toes in one of the stretches for the first time ever! As someone who is terminally unflexible it was a great moment - I almost crowed in jubilation, but I don't think the rest of the class would've appreciated it!

Tuesday (yesterday) was track and a bit better than last week. I'm still slow as all hell but I felt much better than I have been. Last week was just disgusting. I have reallllyyyyyy sore inner thighs today from it so I must've worked hard.

This morning I went for a run with the group up at Redcliffe along the water. Reminds me of GC training as there are kms of bikepaths to run on along the front. Fabbo!

Sunday brings Noosa - 1.55? Think I'll be heaps slower, but we shall see...

3 Hour Trail run + Yoga

2006-08-12T12:19:00.000+10:00

Well, mount cootha may not be my biatch, but Mount Gravatt now is ;) It's a lot easier (and smaller) than Mount Coot-tha, but yay me. I clearly remember not so many years ago being dumbfounded at the thought of even walking to it, let alone up it!

This morning my lovely GH 50km partner in crime, Suzannah, took me for a run around our local area. She lives just around the corner from me which is handy and I was amazed at the trails within running distance of my house! We went all through Toohey Forest which I've been itching to do for ages.

My long, long runs are the only time at the moment where I feel good about my running. I love it... love the fresh air, the scenery. Suzannah and I seemed to both have a bad case of the break-yourself-bug, because we continuously managed to trip over stuff, slip and almost turn ankles on the way. Honestly, I'm clumsy at the best of times, but this was a new level for me! I stopped counting after eight near misses.

The run was lovely and very civilised. The most amusing point was about five minutes from the end of the run where we got back into suburbia, only to come face to face with three, extrodinarily loud Geese, honking their heads off. Both of us stopped dead because geese have a bit of a reputation, but we got by without being chased! We also came across an enormous grey dog in the bush that put it's hackles up at us too. The owner didn't seemed to care!

We also bumped into half of the river city runners on the back of mount gravatt, a ton of people doing bootcamp and a guy walking a dog that looked more like a powderpuff on legs than a canine!

Contemplating doing west end tomorrow - depends on how my legs and feet are. Did yoga after this mornings run and my yoga teacher told me I should do a shoulder stand after training to drain the crap out of my legs. Makes sense in theory and I did it today, so we'll see if it (and skins) make a difference.

Oops!

2006-08-11T18:50:00.000+10:00

I got the wrong date for my party - it's actually going to be on SATURDAY 26th August... got to have sunday for recovery!

birthday party

2006-08-10T19:50:00.000+10:00

We interrupt this whinge-cast to bring you a special announcement. On 27th August, I'm having a bit of a birthday bash, to which you all invited. Two of my friends have taken it upon themselves to throw a party for me (awww!) so I've sent out a big email.

However, I don't have some people's email addresses, so if you're reading this and I know you and you would like to come, please let me know what your email address is and I shall forward you an invite!

Broken record alert!

2006-08-09T23:23:00.000+10:00

Yes, welcome to another whingy post ;) I'll try and keep it short until such times as my mood and/or running improves!

On the positive, my heel feels okay today. On the negative, crap track last night was followed by an even worse medium long run. I'm never doing weights the morning of a run again! That aside, 10km felt like 100km. I'm hanging out for my long runs because at the moment, it's the only time I feel like I'm not running backwards coming forwards.

On another positive, I'm looking at a unit in Ashgrove tomorrow, so I might be living back on my beloved northside soon! Yay!

Also, cirque asked the reason for my very late night on saturday. Nothing exciting I'm afraid (still single!) I went up to woodford to visit friends.

Hope you are all feeling better than me! Must read some blogs!

crap track session :(

2006-08-08T23:36:00.000+10:00

Track tonight sucked... only made it half way through the session - my right achilles is twingy (feels tight) and I didn't want to push it. I think I stretched it too much in Yoga last night.

I'm doing my best to suck up the feeling crap at running thing, but it's sooo frustrating. A lot of the people around me who I used to run the same speed as are now doing incredibly well and zooming off ahead - great for them, lonely for me!

I must be hormonal or something - up and down like a yoyo at the moment!

25km hilly long run + 12km B2B = big weekend!

2006-08-06T17:59:00.000+10:00

Huge running weekend! It's so nice to start to feel some enthusiasm for running again!

Saturday: 25km including a lap of Mount Cootha: 3 hours

Woke up at 4.30am and met Sam at the Regatta at 5.30am. Lucky for me, Sam wanted to run long too and now I'm not doing ridiculous 35km distances every week I'm getting more company!

We set off down to the Botanical Gardens and back, which gave us a flat initial 10km. Was expecting to feel quite disgusting after wednesday's horror, but it was fine. Did a nice, slow plod which surprised me when we hit 5km in about 28:00 minutes (close to my PB, not so very long ago!) Was having a lovely time chatting as we ambled along.

Quick toilet stop at the Regatta on the way back, then we headed off out through toowong to Mount Cootha. Was curious to see how much (if) I had improved since last running it, which must have been at least six months earlier.

For those that have never run Mount Cootha, it has a 2km hill after a 2.5km flat run to it. Last time I did it, I was walking by about 500m up the initial slope. I know exactly where I could run to because there's a chevron sign at the exact spot and I hated never being able to get past it. This time however, I ran all the way up that initial bit without feeling like I was going to die, took on the next bit, and the next and the next without having to walk - and finally got to about 500m (?) before the television towers when I caved in to a slight walk.

I have to say, I'm not feeling too bad about that, considering I thrashed all previous attempts at the run and had already done 10km before trying. I have a sneaky suspicion that if I had a go with fresh legs and took my time, I might actually now make the entire run without walking.

So, Mount Cootha is not yet my biatch, but watch this space! *LOL*

After the run, stopped for fruit toast with Tesso and co, then headed off to Yoga. I'm still as unflexible as buggery, but am hoping I will start to get some benefit soon!

Sunday: B2B 12km: 1:13

Had a very late night last night, coming home at 12.30am then getting up at 4am. Three and a half hours sleep does not a good running hannah make! Still, at least I had the motivation to get out of bed which is a step in the right direction after the last month or so!

Drove to Sam's and carpooled with her and Jill to the bus and then on to the race. Last year, I had a shocker of a race at B2B so it was a bit of a mission for me to run the whole thing this year.

The race started early (wonder if any elite athletes complained about that to the race director for this event? LOL!) and I was immediately reminded how insane massive events over shorter distances are. I had promised myself not to sprint up the bridge but to take things steady and consequently got just about flattened by a ton of people from the yellow zone doing the glory dash. I got elbowed and pushed and shoved around and one guy cracked me so hard that I think I'm going to have bruises. He just ignored me when I bellowed (aka swore) at him and didn't even acknowledge me.

2km in, was highly satisfied as I started passing all the rude, yellow glory dash people but had to stop and use the loo which took me about five minutes because there was a queue! Felt much better afterwards and then settled into a steady pace. Felt surprisingly okay considering the long run yesterday and spent the rest of the time being fascinated and horrified by the various people (can we call them Ruggles? like Muggles - but non-running folk?) doing all manner of rude, obnoxious and disgusting things.

I couldn't believe the number of people cheating - some going down side streets, others chopping massive corners off the course. I just don't understand where the sense of achievement is in selling yourself short like that. I also had the misfortune to run next to a guy who spat at my shoes and coughed like a metronome (hacked up crap every six strides - I know because I counted!) Just disgusting...

Crossed the line in 1:13 or so. Was a bit miffed to miss out on the 70 minute line by so little, but considering the long run yesterday and the toilet stop enroute, I think I would've scraped under so I'm happy enough. Safe to say I think I now got the monkey off my back for this race and won't be doing it next year!

Give me trails and smaller proper running events any day. The one thing I will say for the B2B is that it was very well organised and the marshalls were great.

meh

2006-08-04T18:41:00.000+10:00

Argh, I hate crazy busy weeks! The good news is that my most recent cold seems almost gone. About time! Other good non-running news includes the recent purchase of shiny red shoes. Just call me Dorothy ;)

Anyway...

Track on tuesday was pretty hard. Nasty session, with no drills and a combo of 400m and 800m sets. Yucccckkkk. I still feel really, terminally slow and got my butt whipped by everyone. Only started to feel halfway human towards the end. How does that happen?

Despite my crap running, I enjoyed the last thing we did - we got staggered into 2 second intervals (slowest to fastest, with me being about fourth from the front) and did an all-out, give-it-everything-you've-got-then-fall-over-dead 400m sprint. I went for it and crossed the line joint first with someone from behind. Not really sure what that means exactly, other than that I am perhaps able to do better earlier on in a session than my running suggests. Blah.

Wednesday night saw my first medium long run with the group for a few weeks. Again, utterly, utterly shite session. Angie's garmin said we were running 5:50 pace (though that was what it said at the top of a hill!) and to me, it felt like 5:00 - I struggled like hell and ended up running in with a first timer who had had time off running.

I want to make excuses for myself and say wednesday night was crap because I was tired and had done a weights session at PT that morning, but the truth is that I'm also just shit at running at the moment. I need to suck it up and just keep on keeping on.

Seems I have also managed to miss the cut off date for the Lamington classic accommodation - Schultzy put the wind right up me on tuesday about everyone twisting their ankles up there and now I'm feeling slightly nervous about entering.

I'm sure I'll feel better about everything after this weekend - doing a long run tomorrow 25km-ish which will include another attempt on Mt Cootha with Sam and then the 12km B2B on sunday.

Onwards and up (and up, and upwards)!

A cunning training plan

2006-07-30T17:23:00.000+10:00

Thanks to Vege for the lovely 'after' pic of us (Me, Vege and Davo) in which you can also see my new haircut (although, it's a bit sweaty and revolting in this pic!)

Have put together a bit of a training plan for the next few weeks in the lead up to the GH. Am also going to try my hardest to lose a few kgs before then too. I look like such a lard arse lately. It's all this time off I've been having ;) I know I keep saying I'm going to lose weight, but I figure, it's better to keep on trying and fail sometimes, than not to try at all!

Spaces are where I've not decided on what to do as yet (am still tweaking this plan!) Really, I would like to do a long run every weekend, but it's just a case of fitting them in. I'm going to start running laps of mount cootha I think...

Week 1

Sun 30 July REST
Mon 31 July Yoga
Tues 1 Aug Speedwork
Wed 2 Aug PT + Run Inn 15km
Thurs 3 Aug gym
Fri 4 Aug gym
Sat 5 Aug Yoga + BRB 30km (inc. two laps of mount cootha?)

Week 2

Sun 6 Aug B2B 12km
Mon 7 Aug Yoga
Tues 8 Aug Speedwork
Weds 9 Aug Run Inn 15km
Thurs 10 Aug gym
Fri 11 Aug gym
Sat 12 Aug Yoga (+ poss long run w S)

Week 3

Sun 13 Aug BRRC 16k (or long run w S)
Mon 14 Aug Yoga
Tues 15 Aug Speedwork
Weds 16 Aug PT + Run Inn 15km
Thurs 17 Aug gym
Fri 18 Aug
Sat 19 Aug

Week 4

Sun 20 Aug Noosa 21.1km
Mon 21 Aug Yoga
Tues 22 Aug Speedwork
Weds 23 Aug PT + Run Inn 15km
Thurs 24 Aug gym
Fri 25 Aug
Sat 26 Aug Lamington Classic 1 22.5km

Week 5

Sun 27 Aug Lamington Classic 2 22.5km
Mon 28 Aug Yoga
Tues 29 Aug Speedwork (TAPER)
Weds 30 Aug Run Inn 15km
Thurs 31 Aug (TAPER)
Fri 1 Sept (TAPER)
Sat 2 Sept Yoga

Sun 3 Sept 50km GH!

Glasshouse 24km + six hour at GC?

2006-07-29T17:31:00.000+10:00

*claps hands* ladies and gentleman, girls and boys - the running mojo has landed on planet Hannah once more, hurrah! I was starting to fear it wasn't ever coming back!

Woke up at 5am, pulled on my clothes in the dark and hopped in the car. Stopped at my local servo to get some petrol. Every time I do a long run, I seem to end up stopping at my local servo for one thing or another, and the guy in the shop thinks he's gotten to know me. He always asks me where I'm off to at that hour in the morning even though I tell him every time I go in there I'm going running. Then, he tries to get me to do a multi-buy of whatever it is I'm buying, usually water. Yes, it may technically be better value to buy three massive bottles - but I just want the one small one, thankyou.

You would think, after six months of early morning visits, he'd cotton onto the fact that I just want the small one sooner or later, wouldn't you? I'm developing a nasty case of water rage *L* soon I may even resort to taking it out of the tap ;)

Anyway, slight detour there. Where was I? Oh Yes.

Drove up the coast (and think I got done by a speed camera on brekkie creek road, even though my speedo said I wasn't speeding, bugger it). Arrived with plenty of time and hopped out to get my number. Before long, people started rocking up and there was quite a CR convention.

Davo and Vegie Girl arrived to do the 8km but somehow I (according to them ;) managed to twist their arms into doing the 24km with me. My cold was a bit better and hasn't gone to my chest like the last one, so I felt okay to run even though I knew it would be slow. I felt a bit uncomfortable and realised in my early morning stupor, I had put my tights on back to front. Oops.

We chatted our way through the run, walking up the nasty bits. There was a fair amount of mud, but nothing too bad. We bumped into Lady Jove somewhere along the way and ended up running as a group. The scenery was just unreal - it's so beautiful and green up there - the mountains are just stunning.

The time seemed to fly by so fast, before I knew it we were back at the start and finishing the run. 3:13 or so, so a nice long run over a short distance :) Thanks Davo and Vegie for running with me!

Am contemplating doing the six hour track run at the Gold Coast, depending on how things pan out. Apparently, it means I have to join AURA. *LOL* But you know what they say, in for a penny, in for a pound. Are any of you guys going? Six hours is the shortest event.

EDIT: Stop the press! No GC 6 hour for me - have just seen how much it costs to enter! Shall have to do my own long run instead... oh well!

Public Health Hazard. For a Change.

2006-07-27T18:27:00.000+10:00

Well, I'm sure you'll all be delighted to know that I am sick... again! *L* I really don't know what's going on with me this winter - normally, I'm healthy as an ox. So far I'm stuck with just an excrutiatingly sore throat and extreme fatigue. My mother had the same thing and now has mild pneumonia (!) but I'm hoping that the fact that I'm healthy and don't smoke like a chimney will prevent it from progressing any further.
I'm eating enough vit C to sink a ship so fingers crossed!

I went to track on the tuesday. Good session, good to break a sweat at last. Feeling like a tub of lard from the time off. It's definitely getting warmer because the mossies are already out in force biting me on the arse. I had skins on, but still I walked around scratching my behind like a bogan. Good job it was dark!

Went for a little run wednesday morning as this was then the bug I've got had started to kick in. Did 5km reasonably quickly for me - my old run took a bit less time, so that was quite nice. Came back in with the hot and cold flushes and gradually felt worse from there.

Consequently, today has consisted of nothing other than a ton of soothers and some croaky swear words, inbetween having to speak for an hour last night at a public forum and then teach for six hours straight today. Blargh. LOL.

Still feeling a bit 'out of the running loop' from all of this. I feel a bit off kilter :( once I get my wednesday night runs back on track, all will probably fall into place. I entered the Bridge to Brisbane today and sent my GH entry off the other day too (decided on the short course this time round, the long one in september)