Bit of a bad week!

This week has been pretty gnarly thus far.... track on tuesday night was HELL... sweat pouring into my eyes, lungs burning, heart about to explode and some really *really* tough efforts. Second week in a row where I felt like I was just going to vomit everywhere if I pushed any harder.

Medium long run tonight was similarly nasty. About 15kms of desparately trying to keep up and mostly failing miserably. By the half way mark, I was being pathetic and just about crying on the uphills. Tracey suddenly found her legs and took off (I swear that girl is doing extra special secret training!!!) and I could hardly breathe I was working so hard. Faded by the end, so the lovely Joan came and ran with me. The annoying thing is, once I drop the pace down a bit, I feel fine.

It's nights like this though where that annoying little voice in the back of my head tells me I'm just not getting any better or any quicker, that I'm holding people back and if I was improving in any way, it wouldn't be such a bloody struggle all the time. Argh. Rubbish I know but I'm just in need of a 'good' run - one of those occasional runs that happen out of the blue where you just feel fit and great. I know this is the grunt work, and a 'good' run wouldn't be - but I felt so awful tonight! I had goosebumps, felt shivery and cold, thought I was going to throw up, all over again!

When I finished, I probably drank a litre and a half of water and felt slightly better, even though I drank all the way through the run. I can't even think about eating dinner though. Not that it'll hurt me not to - I'm struggling just as hard with my food, still! Generally, this week, I feel fat and bloated and slow! Fingers crossed next week is a thinner, less slow and more positive week.

With all this horrible, horrible nasty training going on, if I don't do a sub 2 hour half this year, I'm seriously going to have a caniption. I physically couldn't work any harder in the sessions I'm doing, than I am right now!

Did I mention, thus far this week, I've also had one huuuuggeee barney with the next door neighbours, botched a fire drill at uni, been told off by security guards for unknowingly breaching uni WH&S, pranged my car and broken a clients computer?

Yep, next week has to get better!

bits and pieces - weights session

Having a non-running day today. Am just about to head off to the gym to do some weights. The week looks like this:

Monday - Weights
Tuesday - Speedwork
Weds - Medium Long Run
Thurs - Weights/swim
Fri - swim/bike
Sat - Long Run (2:30 - week 2 of 3 wk plateau)

This week I'm going to do my best to sort out my eating again... there has to be a middle ground here somewhere for carbs, surely! LOL! Phil emailed me too after reviewing my program, to tell me I hadn't put enough plateau weeks between the blocks of increasing long runs, so this week will be week 2 of 3, running 2:30. (shh, but I actually did 2:40 on saturday! oops!)

This means I've now completed the first of the four training blocks! A quarter done, Woo! I'm thinking each quarter is going to get progressively harder from here on out ;)

I've also just counted my kms for last week and I ran 50kms! (how much better do I feel than that week where I did 60km and almost killed myself?) If I stick to target, I'm on track for a 200km month at least :)

I'm thinking I shall have to suspend judgement on the glasshouse idea until after the GCM... there's lots of time to decide and as you guys say, I could always do the 30km to see how I feel..... so watch this space ;)

To answer some of the questions/comments you lovely bloggites left, too:

Shane asked
just wondering what races if any are you planning to do before the GCM. Brisbane 1/2 - full, Warwick, Queensland 1/2?

I'm definitely going to do the Brisbane 1/2 and the Queensland Half, along with the longer BRRC runs... not sure about Warwick (depends on finances!) although it's very tempting because everyone says it's so much fun!

Clairie you looked fine in that running outfit! Happy to swap *L*I'd love to be able to get my belly out but I think I might take sideswipe someone if I let it loose! Besides, no one looks glam when they run! If you did, you wouldn't be working hard enough ;)

Oh, and on another note entirely, I was reading back through some of my old blog entries from this time last year. This time last year, I'd just run my first 10km race without stopping, ever ;) The month before saw my first 5km race ever. How time flies!

2:30 Long Run + contemplating Glasshouse?

Yesterday morning, I heaved myself out of bed at 4am to go and start my long run (2:30 this week) I’m starting to feel just a little bit tired lately, though I’m not sure if it’s from all the running or being back at uni teaching. Probably a bit of both!

Ate a couple of bits of toast, then discovered my mp3 player is broken. Good excuse to buy an iShuffle I suppose, but couldn’t have been worse timing (a. I’m still waiting to get paid, and b. no music during the run!). Headed out to the regatta and started the run. I’d planned to meet Tracey half way through and she would run the last 1:30 with me. Funny being at the regatta and there being no one around though! Seemed wrong, somehow!

Started running along the river, down towards the botanical gardens and wished I had my camera with me. The sun was coming up and the river was so perfectly still, it looked like liquid silver. Gorgeous. Definitely made up for the uber-early rise! Despite my moaning, I do really like that time of day. It’s so peaceful.

I plodded along, looking at everything and played my favourite running game, where I see how many cyclists (2 points) and runners (1 point) I can get to say hello in the space of 60 minutes. I’m thinking perhaps the Brissie CRs should have a little online competition, since so many of us run along the river. Obviously, there are ways to do better (run at peak times!) but it’s good fun with other people and breaks the run up. I’m wondering if people are friendlier in a particular part of Australia than another, or if we’re all the same at 5am!

I seem to have beaten my cheating-whilst-running-alone habit somewhat. Didn’t stop except for a drink at my turn around, woo! I must be getting used to running longer. Arrived back at the regatta at 6am, met Tracey and we headed off again. Another lady, Geraldine from InTraining, ran with us, so we got to have a good gossip. Headed down to the story bridge via the gardens and back. My legs were really sore from PT again but aside from that, felt fine. I was hungry by the half way mark, but still coping without gels (will buy some though I think)

This morning I got up at 4am again (!) to go and marshall at the BRRC Half Marathon Champs. Surprisingly, I wasn’t sore from yesterday’s run… I think my body is starting to adapt a little bit, which is fab – particularly when I can remember how much running a half marathon used to absolutely flatten me and I could hardly walk, after!

Took my camera and took lots and lots of pics. Over 150, actually. I’m on dial up at the moment, so I really, really can’t be bothered to upload every single one, but have put some in the CR photo gallery: http://www.coolrunning.com.au/gallery/Unsorted?page=1 Was a nice morning… got to chat to everyone, watch the race… loads of Pbs! You Go, Girlfriends! Lots of bling bling floating around ;)

Mrs FatBloke asked me to email her some of the photos I took and it just so happened that she wrote it on a glasshouse flier. Which, inevitably, as I copied the email address, I started looking at… I’m probably getting ahead of myself (one thing at a time! Want to get through the GCM first of course ;) but am sneakily contemplating having a go at the 50km at the Glasshouse 100 in september. All advice welcome – no idea (except for reading blog reports on it) if it’s a reasonable ultra course to attempt for a first timer, or if I should hold back til something more suitable for plodders like me comes along. Early days, anyway :) All thoughts on the matter very welcome! You lot are my font of running knowledge ;)

Congrats to all this morning who did well. Must go and read six foot track race reports :)

Equine Eating + medium long run

Last night saw me do my hardest medium long run in ages... a lot of the fast people were away on taper for six foot, so some of their running buddies decided to take it easy and run with our group. Consequently, we set out on what was quite a decent pace for Tracey and me and before long we found ourselves really having to work to keep up. Before long, we were a way behind - particularly with the hills! It's always an awkward situation when that happens because people start having to wait at drink stops for us and things, but to my mind, they were all going quicker than usual anyway ;)

We basically ran from Enoggera, out to the city, back through the rear of Spring Hill, through QUT in Kelvin Grove (where I work) and then back along Kelvin Grove Road, through Newmarket to Enoggera, with a slight loop back to the shop. Phil told us we were only going to be doing 75 minutes, but I think it was a little bit longer than that!

I'm feeling quite tired this morning - I've got PT this afternoon. I hope he doesn't want to do legs or I may just keel over!

Since I started the marathon training, I've been eating like an absolute horse. I'm hungry so often and so I'm eating almost probably twice what I would normally eat. Partly I started eating more because Phil told me off a few weeks ago *grins* and so my weight consequently went up three kgs. Then after a while it stabilised, and now it's going back down, even though I'm still eating tons! It actually got me wondering if I was eating enough before! Sounds weird in that I was still overweight on eating less, but I guess you need energy to fuel your body, in order to push yourself harder...

Fascinating though and I'm LOVING eating more... Quite tempting to stay in training indefinitely actually, purely for the side benefit ;) (ha, just kidding!)

2:30 long run on saturday :)

Track

Really tough track session tonight - it was so humid, it was revolting. By the end, my singlet was clinging to me in that highly unattractive, soaked-right-through sort of way. I quite like the ugly sessions though - they make me feel like I'm doing some of the grunt work to get me where I want to go. I'm more scared of the medium long run tomorrow night. Phil seems to be on an evilness kick lately, because so many of us are training for specific events.

We did a series of drills and sprints which I really enjoy. Much better than plain 400/800m sets. Again, I feel more and more that it's changing my form for the better. Track emphasises technique and also the results of applying it better - if you move your body more effectively, your next sprint improves. We've been doing all manner of stuff, including walking sideways, lunges and accelerating to full speed over set distances. As well as the obligatory nasty longer sprints (800m or so, but different routes around the oval)

IWD 5km

The International Womens Day 5km Fun Run was actually more like a 5km swim this morning. I think it rivalled the fabled 25km Championship Run that Tess, Clairie, me et. al did last year in terms of the amount of water I breathed in. It was also fairly slippery underfoot, so it didn't make for fast times (or even reasonable ones in my case! LOL!)

Arrived on the bus instead of driving because the parking fees at southbank are pretty monumental and headed to see the bag lady (aka Clairie!) who was as cheerful as normal :) (I almost didn't recognise you dude because you look so different with your hair down!)

Bumped into Tanky who was set and ready to go. Before long we were at the start line. Stupidly I thought I'd stay at the back so the fast runners could get going. Once we started I remembered that for races like this where you've got heaps of walkers and people who've never run before, I'm actually probably not one of back-of-pack runners. I may even qualify as a middle-of-the-packer! Tanky had moved to the front before the start and I cursed myself for not following at least some of the way.

Off we went, with the usual assortment of people wearing thongs, jeans and one or two actually running WITH umbrellas. Open umbrellas, with pointy metal spikes on them. I almost lost an eyeball to one of them... it's so dangerous, they shouldn't allow it. After the 1km mark, people started slowing to a walk around me and I started dancing around people, trying to get to some runners of similar pace. By the time we hit the start of the small hills through the garden I was cheering to myself because I could speed up and overtake.

Radar and the boys in kilts were just bloody hilarious. Priceless. I think that was the hi-light of the run for me! I wanted to stop and tease them all mercilessly, but like a good girl, I pushed on. Just as my legs started to warm up, we were back at the Goodwill Bridge. I can't believe I was actually pleased to see a hill (again, room to overtake!)

Mostly, I just had intentions to enjoy the run and potter along because I knew I'd be buggered after yesterday's long run. My legs weren't actually sore from it (that'll probably happen tomorrow) but I did feel tired. It took the whole 5km for me to warm up and feel half way comfortable. I crossed the line at -wait for it- 32 minutes *LOL* and though I didn't really care, of course Coach Phil had to be standing right on the finish line. As I went past he grinned at me and said, in this particular coachy-how-slow-were-you tone... morning, Hannah *LOL* (yeah, yeah...)

Afterwards, I managed to find Tracey in the masses, and Ronnie and we had a quick chat with Angie, standing under one of the City Cat shades. By that point the rain was blowing horizontally into us and I was starting to shiver. Poor Phil and Di and a lot of the boys were marshalling - all the volunteers must've been absolutely freezing - at least we got to run to warm up (briefly!)

Despite the rain, I quite enjoyed the run, but I don't know if I'll do it again - too many people, too little room to move... I never set out to do a good time or anything, but it drove me a little nuts to have to fend off wayward umbrella spikes, people who stop dead right in front when they decide to walk, as well as people in thongs. I think I've become a bit spoilt being able to run with runners normally! Ah well!

Big thankyou to all the volunteers and marshalls though - fab effort in awful conditions! You're all stars!

2:20 Long Run - Mt Cootha

Resting Pulse Rate: 50

Forced myself out of bed this morning at 4.30am, got ready and tried to find something to eat for breakfast that didn't involve dairy or fruit - settled on ryvita and some jam. Yucko at 5am but did the trick! It was actually cold when I got up? Has anyone else noticed that we've suddenly just flipped into autumn?

Met Tracey and Sam at the Regatta and Cheryl joined us for a run over Mount Cootha. I was feeling slightly dubious about the run when we started and Sam and Cheryl went off ahead, but the good part was that it meant T and I could run to our own pace. Hit the start of the 2km hill of doom feeling quite good and bugger me - I ran straight up it! That's the FIRST time I've ever been able to do that without a walk break. *insert jerry springer victory dance here!*

It was a gorgeous running morning, overcast and occasional light drizzle, so the run was nice and cool. No direct sun really, so we chugged our way up and up. I felt sooo much better the whole way than the last time I tried to run it. I think we took fewer walk breaks, and that theory seems to be supported by the fact that we hit the bottom about 25 minutes sooner than the last time (timing to be confirmed - gotta see if I've got the time blogged somewhere!) This theory was sort of confirmed by the fact that we could see Sam and Cheryl ahead of us at some points.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic that it won't be tooo long until I'm able to run the whole of Mt Cootha with no walk breaks. Tracey isn't so sure, but she's still walking less than me, so I think she underestimates us LOL! I feel like I've got the hallelujah chorus playing in the back of my head when I run at the moment - it's just so GOOD to feel so GOOD! LOL! If this is what all these long runs do to you, I'm a very happy bunny!

Got back to the Regatta and still had about 30 minutes left to run of my long run of 2:20 so left the girls to breakfast and headed down towards the gardens (waa!) Bumped into a few familiar faces from the West End along the way and generally counted down until I could have some raisin toast. When I returned, I found I wasn't actually hungry anymore! I've been running without GUs for a while (mostly just because I keep forgetting to buy some) and it seems I can manage up to about 2:30 without them if I need. Though, will prolly experiment with some too, just to see if it makes much of a difference.

IWD run tomorrow. It's going to be a very sore and sorry 5km for me, after all those hills!

pulse rates, track and plans

Resting Pulse Rate: 48

I'm being good and trying to remember to take my pulserate every morning! We'll see how I go - it's lower than the last time I took it! I'm assuming that's good.. should really read some more about it..

Went to track last night - we did a heap of different sorts of exercises and various sprint tempo type runs. I enjoy those sessions much more than the usual 400m/800m lap arrangements. I think it's improving the way that I run, too. Good session anyway and definitely got me sweating!

Angie wants to find my blog so she can read all about my little mission to beat her *grins* I'm enjoying training with her at track and things - despite our respective competitive streaks, we're mates which makes it all the more fun!

Tonight is medium long run and I'm feeling quite scared because it's apparently going to be a tough session again with hills of doom! (everyone said the last one was nasty!) hopefully I'll continue to feel as good as I have been, tonight! argh! LOL!

All up, this week has looked/looks like this:

Monday: Social Run
Tues: Track
Weds: Medium Long Run
Thurs: Weights/Swim/Bike
Fri: Rest
Sat: Long Run 2:20 (Tracey and I are going to run Mt Cootha as part of that)
Sun: Womens Day 5km + swim

7km Social Run

Went and did the social run out at Sandgate tonight with Tracey. When I got there, felt quite sore and sorry for myself but once we got going, I felt better and better and felt like I could've carried on! We were going at a slow pace but it was really comfortable, we chatted as we went and even the hills didn't really phase me. I love runs like that, where it feels good and you just look like one big moving grin :)

I think I'm finally starting to feel the benefit of all the runs I've been doing lately - I'm back on track, recovering better and better, the more-carbs approach seems to be doing wonders for me (and I can train loads harder because of it) and consequently, I'm feeling really excited about the next few months.. they're full of events and perfect running weather :) *contented sigh* ah, happiness is!

Talked to a few people tonight about coming down to Sydney for the C2S this year. It'll depend on my finances, but I'd love to do it :) Get a chance to meet some more of my fellow CRs!

In fact, all I have to do is try and find someone who wants to swap their volunteer shift at BRRC for the half mara champs next weekend and my life will be complete ;) Everyone I would ask is on the longer run shifts anyway! Maybe I'll just have to grin and bear it and do my long run in the afternoon or something! Not the end of the world ;)

20k 2:06

Well, I wasn't really too optimistic about today's long run at BRRC - I knew I'd go slower because of the 5k yesterday so it was more a training run than anything else. I actually ran a faster pace when I did the rainy 25km there some time back, but like I say, I hadn't thrashed my legs and been surfing all day before that!

Still, all things considered it wasn't too bad - I felt like I could've carried on doing the pace I was doing (6:18 average - but I had drink stops as well where I walked during that - if I settled into that pace for the entire marathon, I would manage 4:25 which would be absolutely fine with me!)

Arrived at the West End to see all the usual suspects - lots more people there this morning... I suppose with Canberra sneaking up on us, everyone is busy preparing. We set off and as usual, everyone took off ahead. I purposely hung back (let Angie go *grins* she wasn't doing the whole 20k anyway) and just plodded along behind a few people who were doing perfect, bang on six minute pace. I stayed with them for the first 11km or so, then slipped back a bit - let myself walk through the drink stops, which really, I shouldn't have done - but like I say, wasn't really aiming to do today fast. Coach Phil was there, watching and geeing us on! It's amazing how much more pressure you put on yourself when your 'master' is there watching... I'm the same way with my Personal Trainer when we're doing bootcamp - you want to please them ;) a little bit of hero worship never hurt anyone, I'm sure ;)

The lovely Karisma ran her warmdown lap with me on the final loop. I was definitely stuck in the same gear on that lap! Still, consistency is not necessarily a bad thing! We had a good chat and the last 5km passed quite quickly. I think that it'll be interesting to see how I go on the upcoming self select distance (between 7-35km) because I'll make sure I'm fresh for that and I know damn well I can go faster. I learnt so much from yesterday's effort about what happens when I really truly focus - I thought I had been pushing myself, but I seem to have discovered my limits are a little further away than I thought! I think I believe in myself a bit more now - that I can actually go faster with some hard work!

Surfing was good, though it was rough, very choppy with strong currents - and the waves were waaaaayyyyy bigger than last time - but I think every time I go, I'll start to get a little bit better and be able to stand up more!

WOOOHOOOOOO !!! 5km PB 25:50!

omgomgomg! *much squealing and jumping up and down and cheering*

Seems my sneaky suspicion that I was getting a little bit faster at track was spot on! I went and did the 5km TT this morning at Shorncliffe and took a great big chunk (1:35!) off my previous time. I crossed the line at 25:50.. and, I finally, finally, finally did what I've been dying to do for about six months - I beat Angie!

I think this means I'm now over Caboolture ;)

It was a *REALLY* hard run this morning though - I have sore legs from PT on thursday and I always get so bloody nervous at the start of the time trials... I think they hurt a million times more than the longer runs I've done, but I guess at least it's over quickly! My plan was just to hang behind Angie the whole way, match her pace and then try and speed up at the end. It all went according to plan and felt a bit more comfortable than last time too. I knew we were going a bit quicker than last time, but I didn't look at my watch much (can't really tell anyway since they don't have k markers and I'm not familiar with it enough to know where the breaks are)

We hit the turn around and I was still hanging just off the back of angie. As we went round the cone, she got a little bit ahead of me.... the return is worse because you can see the end (the pier) in the distance and it looks closer than it is. It's hard not to speed up too early. Angie started to get away from me, my breathing was absolutely killing me and I started reaching that point where you feel like you're almost hyperventilating. I kept telling myself just to hang on, not to let her go because I knew I'd be really irritated with myself. The gap widened to about 10 metres and I concentrated like hell on keeping it at that. By the last 200m, the gap was at about 20m and I knew I was going to have to sprint flat out to pass her before the line. I could see the others standing at the finish, most of them bellowing.... so I thought, now or never and put EVERYTHING I had into the last sprint. Despite the excruciating pain of it, it was a bit of a pivotal moment for me because I suddenly found my ability to really block everything else out, crash through the pain barrier and really focus. Everything else in the world seemed to just disappear - tunnel vision! (or maybe that was the lack of oxygen getting to my brain? LOL)

I passed Ange about 25m before the line and just couldn't believe it. Contemplated heaving my guts up briefly and couldn't talk for about five minutes either, except to swear profusely between gasps. But, I did it! I did it! I did it! I'm absolutely, completely ECSTATIC! I've been trying sooo hard to break into the 25:something bracket for ages and I completely didn't expect to do it today! When I looked at my watch, I thought I was imagining it - I still do! I hope I didn't dream it :)

Now, I'm off to steal a bit of a cat nap before going surfing again - I only had three hours sleep last night!

Raisin Toast, Resting, Swimming and Stuff!

Swam laps on tuesday morning, felt fantastic.... by that evening, felt much worse and track was evil. Speedwork whilst coming down with a virus is really not a good combination and after a warm up and about three attempts at 400m sets (and doing 1:54 (under 5 min pace?) exactly for each?) I got sent home in disgrace by Coach Phil! Good thing really, since I thought I might throw up or pass out by the end!

Interesting though too, since I know that if I'd been well, I would've been able to go a fair quicker than I did. Which sort of makes me feel like I'm getting faster, even though I have no proof to back up that theory at all. Finally feeling better after Caboolture, maybe. Was ordered not to come to last nights medium long run, so I've really done nothing much this week.

I'm still not feeling well - though the bug has yet to shift from sore throat to snottiness. Fingers crossed it won't (been drowning in vitamin C!). Mostly I just feel tired. Have been eating lots more generally (lots more carbs, too) and actually feel REALLY good for it. I think my body was actually crying out for more food. Despite eating loads more, have stuck at the one-down kg weight, which fascinates me since normally I'm up and down like a yoyo. Of course, I'll have to reign myself in somewhat soon, but I'm starting to think that it's not really a very good idea to be training for marathon and trying to lose weight by cutting calories and carbs. I think I'd rather carry on eating decent amounts, be a bit heavier and just feel like I have the energy to train harder. Maybe training harder will be enough in itself to shift the weight naturally.

Had breakfast this morning with the lovely Lulu who is up on business - not to mention my usual partners in crime, Tess, Clairie and Cirque. Much gossip and raisin toast was consumed. I do love meeting my fellow CRs from interstate! I think I need to score a job where I can travel ;)

Swimming laps at the gym on tuesday made me realise how much I used to enjoy just going to the gym, without the pressure of having to do anything in particular. I think that I'll have to start doing a few classes there again... I'll finish my house sitting stint in a week or so, so will be back at my old gym before long. Looking foward to getting stuck into my routine.

Now, really have to go and get ready for my PT session :)

blahhh

I'm fighting the feeling that everything is falling apart today. Yes, rubbish I know and I keep telling myself that. Didn't do the long run I was supposed to do on sunday, took monday as a rest day and now I appear to be coming down with a cold :( My throat is sore and I feel fatigued.

After eating more carbs, I'm up one kilogram again (but still down one in the big picture) but aside from this virus, feel like I've got more energy. I'm taking some vitamin C tablets so hopefully that'll knock the bug on the head. Blah.

YESTERDAY: rest day
TONIGHT: track
WEDS: medium long run
THURS: PT session (weights)
FRI: swim/bike
SAT: 5km TT
SUN: LSR 2:10 (going to run the 20k at BRRC and add on whatever is extra)

I'm not going to get sick. I'm not! I refuse! LOL!

Baby Bribie Tri no.2

Well, that was interesting!

Got up at 4am this morning, got my stuff together and headed to Bribie for my second attempt at one of the mini triathlons. The weather was beautiful and so on the way, I got to see a stunning sunrise. See, the things people miss by sleeping in on a sunday! (anyone would think they had some sense, getting a lie in!)

I am also horrified to report that on the way, I saw a pack of about ten cyclists pedalling along the BRUCE HIGHWAY in the DARK with nothing but flashing rear lights. They were practically invisible. *shakes head* I can appreciate that it's a nice flat straight road to cycle, but to do it on a freeway where the speed limit is 110kph and most people drive like lunatics anyway - now that's insanity, surely. I wonder if it's illegal?

Anyway, enough of my rant! Got numbered up. This time round, I learnt from my mistakes and wore a pair of bike pants under the purple suit of doom so when the legs of it rode up, it didn't matter. I also wore socks in the ride and run which helped enormously too. I don't care if I'm supposed to be all hardened up and go sockless - I'd rather wear socks than get blisters!

Before I knew it, we were off. Last time, the swim was really good. There was a great current pushing us down the beach, but this time round I really felt my lack of training for it and the lack of the aforementioned current because it was really, really hard. There were also some little waves this time just to make life interesting. Staggered out and thought my legs would never recover. My shoulder still isn't right after the surfing lesson either, so all in all it was a crap swim.

Got into transition, dumped my swim goggles and hat, grabbed bike helmet and bike, headed out to the bike exit. Tried to mount and then discovered my chain had come off. Oh Bugger. No knowing the first thing about bike maintenance, one of the marshalls had to help me put it back on and it took about five minutes :( I got grease everywhere in the process and took off on the bike ride feeling pretty narky with myself. My legs were still quite tired from the swim and so I trundled around the course twice and was very glad to be finished that leg. I do have to mention here, how absolutely lovely Cirque's boys are - they cheered me on every time they saw me out on the bike leg. They're such a credit to their fab mum - really nice, friendly kids :) Cirque cheered for me too when she saw me although I was a bit preoccupied with not going A over T on the turnaround to wave too much LOL!

Hit transition again, headed out on the run. Initially my legs were heavy but gradually warmed up. Infact, the run part was substantially better than the last time I did it - I may still feel crappy from running long distances, but the advantage is that 3km now feels like nothing! Last time I ran it, I had to walk about three times - this time, I didn't walk at all (except to drink once at the turnaround)... So, it didn't all go horribly. I've got no idea how long it took me to do the course though (am waiting for times to come out, though I suspect it'll be worse than last time, by a mile. Ange did the long course and said her swim was three minutes slower than normal, so perhaps I wasn't alone in feeling yuck about the swim leg.

After I finished, I stuck the bike back in the car, changed and headed back to watch the long course finishers come in. Saw Coach Phil *grins* who had heard via Ange (aka my closest competition!) that I wasn't eating carbs in an effort to lose weight. He promptly bollocked me ('told me off' - aussie translation!) and told me that's why I'm struggling still - told me to take a few days off and eat carbs. *L* On that advice, I've promptly just eaten the best part of a bucket of cookies and cream icecream *belch-of-tanky-proportions* and it was goooooooddddd!!!

I'm still trying to come to grips with letting someone else have 'control' of when I run and how much I run. I seem to have definite control freak tendencies and it's actually really hard for me to trust that running less will actually make me run better. I do trust Phil though and so I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to get me back on track and running better than before. Bit upset about losing my junky (read social) kms though :( half tempted to sneak a few in, but that then kinda defeats the purpose!

swim and bike

Since wednesday nights pathetic run, I decided it would be wise to do some cross training and not run til sunday, when I'll do the mini tri and follow it with my long run (I'll get to do it at Bribie, which is always beautiful - love running on the beach!) I think I feel a bit better for it, too :)

So on thursday, I went and swam. My right shoulder is still funny from surfing - I think I may have pulled something because when I pull on the stroke, it hurts down the whole arm. I'm sure it'll come right though, so I didn't push things too much. it's the first time in ages that i've swum in the gym pool which is indoors, 20m and disgustingly warm. I forgot how irritating turning around every 20m is (particularly if you're me and can't roll!)

Yesterday (friday) I went for a bike ride. I have to admit I haven't ridden since before xmas, so that was a slight shock to the system too! LOL! While I was riding I realised the run distance is longer on this tri, so I'm not going to be able to better my time from the last tri anyway. In a way, that's quite good because it allieviates some of the pressure I put on myself. Looking forward to it though, it's such a nice morning!

The Girl has a Plan!

Went and saw Phil at the Run Inn tonight and got him to look over my training plan, which, I have to admit, has been all over the place. I've really just been running what I feel like running - I don't know if it's come out clearly enough to read, but this is february so far - as you can see, no consistency or plan to it really. Oops!

What I'll be doing in the count down to Gold Coast will instead be based on three runs a week for training. Speedwork on a tuesday, medium long run on a wednesday night and a long run on the weekend (adding in cross training of course - one total rest day a week). Apparently, I'm going to be running smarter, with no more junk kms where I'm struggling just to keep going.... The long runs will also go by time not kms which will be an interesting change for me, mrs-counting-kms!

Basically, the time between now and the gold coast have been broken down into four blocks of five weeks, increasing the long run by ten minutes every week with a temporary plateau between to give my body time to adjust to the distance. The maximum distance I'll run prior to the marathon will be about 35km.

I'm thinking this is going to require a fair degree of discipline from me - particularly in terms of the long runs. So often, there's stuff on during the weekends, races and things that I want to do, that I'm really going to have to think about and work out what I want to do - no more trying to run a reasonable 15kms two days in a row!

I still have to go through and change stuff around on the rest of the calendar, but I'll probably post it when I've finished. I've got a review of the program in four weeks. Phil doesn't know what time I'm likely to get until I recover and start recording times from west end etc, but he thinks somewhere between 4-5 hours is likely.

I signed up for the enticer tri at Bribie this weekend tonight as well. It'll be just for fun and lets hope it won't kill me too badly - I haven't ridden the bike since before I went away! I'm not going to do any running for the rest of the week either, so it'll give me time to get back to the pool and probably have a ride too.

Did a very miserable 45 minute effort tonight, still feeling crap but I've vowed and declared not to complain anymore! Ending on a positive note, the assault on my wobbles is going well :) I may even take a pic of the purple tri suit this time ;)

Back on Track (well, almost!)

I think I am one of the worlds most impatient people when it comes to this whole marathon recovery process. My brain is absolutely firing on all cylinders and wanting to run, run, RUN... my body on the other hand, still feels rather like it's been hit by a steam train. I know I'll come good, I just feel like moaning, bitching and whinging about it lots. Anyone who'll listen has copped it over the last few days!

My ants-in-the-pants state was heightened last night by the fact that I went to a marathon clinic last night at the Run Inn. Really enjoyed it and got a lot of useful hints and tips out of it. One of which being keeping track of my resting heart rate every day and looking at it in relation to my training to see how I'm going.

It's certainly made me rethink having a crack at the Brisbane Marathon in April.... I'm going to do the half instead. Mostly because the recovery time eats into the training time I have for the Gold Coast and I really want to have a good lead up to that. I'll just have a crack at the half instead. I've also got to sort out which events I want to do and work it out so they don't ruin my long runs. Mnn. Finally getting Phil to look at my program tomorrow - now I've quit the evil temp job I've finally got time!

Went to track tonight.... I think tuesday sessions suit me better... I was a tad apprehensive knowing that I'm still not firing on all cylinders, so went thinking I'd just see how I went and not push too hard. Strangely, I'm able to sprint really hard over short distances and not feel tired (although breathless as hell!) but anything longer, like a 400m repeat just floors me. It must be different muscles groups or something. Psychologically, I always feel like I do better at sprints anyway and I think I just about matched everyone else tonight (except the uber fast boys) so who knows.

I'm dying for the 5km time trial to come around on the 25th, because (fingers crossed!) I'll be back to normal by then and hopefully feeling the benefits of all the kms I'm doing lately!

Hope you're all having a fabbo week!

Surfing, 16.1km and dodgy foot

Yesterday I had my first surfing lesson which was soooo much fun! I think a new addiction may have been borne! I had lessons right outside the Southport SLSC where we had the CR get together after the GCM and I found myself getting all excited about this year and remembering how much fun it all was!

I had no idea just how physical surfing is - there were about 15 people in the lesson and I was the only girl matching the boys wave for wave - the other girls turned up in stupid little bikinis and wouldn't go out past their knees (why they were doing surfing lessons, I've got no idea!) I ended up in the washing machine a few times and have bruises in all sorts of places today and tripped myself up on the rope a few times, but I loved every minute of it. By the end of the lesson there were only about four of us left - everyone else was apparently buggered... so being reasonably fit seems to have paid off! It meant I could spend a little longer out there and consequently, by the end of the lesson I managed to stand up for about two seconds. Am now dying to go back and practise! The Lovely Man made me laugh - he played beachboys the whole way down the coast *LOL*

Went to the West End this morning to do the ten mile race. When I woke up it was absolutely pouring and whilst the thought of staying in my lovely warm bed was really, really tempting I remembered the last really rainy 25k we did there and how much fun it was, so got up and got ready. I was also really really REALLY sore from surfing! My core muscles and upper body muscles are screaming!

Arrived just in time and saw Clairie and Tess, Shane, Sam and a few other familiar faces. Sorted myself out and off we went. My goal was just to run the distance because I'm still not quite up to speed after caboolture. Consequently, came in at 1.46 (exactly ten minutes slower than the same run, last year! waaaa!) and ran with Angie the whole way. On the positive side of things, I did collect some more gold bling since I was the only one in my age category running! My foot/hip hurt the whole way though, so I think a visit to the podiatrist is definitely in order :( bugger :(

Us CR's seem to do well in the wet - Clairie, Tess and Shane all scored bling again too! Go, Us! Fab effort Team! :)

Now, I'm off to rest my poor sorry weary self. I'm getting a bit impatient to get up to speed again but I guess that'll come over time... hopefully by wednesday I shall be entirely back to normal!

sore hip

First run after the big M today.... yesterday I think I actually felt better than today! My right hip is really sore - I think I've sprained/pulled something so I took a couple of anti inflammatories :( I can't work out why it only started hurting today though?

Tonight, I ran with the beginners and did a very gentle 5 or 6kms with walk breaks. I'm not rushing things til my hip feels better. Might hit the pool for a few days instead. Oh, did I mention a certain lovely man and I are going to learn to surf on saturday? I'm so excited ;)

Day One of the Wobble Assault ;) (mine, not wobblys!)

Vegie girl took this awesome pic of me and Tess - I think it's my favourite running photo so far - made all the more amusing by the fact that Tess is going so fast, she's a blur! LOL! We really must try and get a nice CR gals pic one day, with us all together, running :)

Yesterday, I felt pretty exhausted and the same thing today... my foot is getting better though, which has to be good (was having nightmares about what the podiatrist might say) my hips are pretty stiff and sore and everyone at the evil temp job was giving me strange looks for limping around the office.

I'm still feeling all happy and bouncy - if I wasn't so sore, I'd be out there running right now. Best to have a bit of a rest though I think - tomorrow I've got PT, then on wednesday I'll go to running group and see how I fare.

Another thing I think I got out of the race was a renewed desire to drop the extra weight... I'm naturally so much more chunky than everyone else, but I just *know* that a big part of the secret to getting my times down, is to be lighter. We all know I've been harping on for forever about doing it and somehow I just haven't gotten there yet.. but I think perhaps the fact that I surprised myself this weekend might be the extra bit of motivation I need... If I can do it being overweight and undertrained, how would I go if I was the right weight and had the miles in my legs? *LOL* I think I'll start with small goals - not weight targets, but races and TTs ;) Today was therefore Day One of the Wobble Assault.

I've got three events, three sundays in a row this month - on the 12th, the BRRC 10 mile, on the 19th, the Bribie Tri (planning for the short one, but you never know!) and on the 26th the BRRC 20k. Oh, and there's a 5km TT on the 25th, too. I'm loving this time of year - everything is really just grinding into full swing and there's so many great events to run :)

43.5km in six hours :)

I can't stop grinning and I still feel like last night was a figment of my imagination (albeit a very painful one!)

Headed up to Caboolture and arrived at about 4pm. Saw Clairie, then bumped into the girl who taught me to row, a few years back. It was one of those funny things really, since it was while I was rowing and just starting to get fitter that I first saw the BRRC road runners charging along the river and decided that I wanted to be able to run. Nice sense of the wheel turning full circle to see her there :) Got dragged into a card game which I didn't have a clue how to play and despite my best efforts to lose, actually kept winning until I'd cleared the bank out. I quite wish it'd been real money LOL!

There were tents lined up along both sides of the track and gradually more and more people turned up. The lovely Cirque arrived to lap score for me and we settled ourselves into the lap scoring area and chatted a bit. It was pretty hot at six o'clock still, and I wasn't really looking forward to the first section of the run but before I knew it, we were off!

The course was a 500m unsealed gravel track around the historical village. I'd wondered if the looping would drive me nuts, but it didn't - there's always different stuff to look at and people to talk to on the way by. I loved how supportive everyone was, geeing each other along. Tess looked really strong and really determined from the start. I stuck to my run-four-walk one plan and it worked beautifully for me. I had to make myself walk the first few times because I wanted to keep going, but I knew if I didn't, it would cost me later on!

Two hours rolled around quite quickly, new runners came onto the track which was nice - new people to talk to - and we changed direction. It got darker and cooler which helped and I started to think maybe the six hours wasn't going to be as bad as I thought. Infact, I felt really good until I got to 3:30, when I think I must've hit what everyone calls the wall. My calves started to cramp up and tighten and my left foot was hurting. (I've decided after last night, I am going to get orthotics - it totally wasn't aligned right or something last night - the other foot was fine!) I dropped my walk-run ratio down to 3:1 and carried on. Cirque started to walk some of the walking laps with me, which was nice as it gave me some conversation to distract myself. By that point, a ton of people were sitting in the pub and yelling out encouragement as we went by. I got to the point where I just had to put my head down and focus on putting one foot infront of the other. It was hurting!

The next hour or two passed in a bit of a blur as I got gee-d along by other CRs... vegie girl, tanky, AB, Run67... too many to mention and gradually I got to the point where I felt better again. My calves stopped cramping and the magic 42km mark started approaching... I was feeling much more tired and walking a lot more, but the thought of doing marathon distance really spurred me on.

The magic 84th lap was soooooo good - I practically sprinted it... couldn't believe I'd really done it and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much! As I went past the lap scorers I started bouncing up and down and shrieking :) If I'd had the energy, I would've done a victory dance as well :) When the hooter went, I dropped my bag of sand (to show where we finished on the lap) and felt this moment of absolute pure happiness.

Thinking back on it, I don't think I ever, at any point, thought I wouldn't make it to six hours. Even when I felt like crap because I knew I'd just walk the rest. Since I've been running, I've been able to set these increasingly more difficult goals for myself and being able to achieve them has just enriched every part of my life. Running makes you a stronger, better person I think, because it teaches you to believe in yourself and follow through. If you believe in yourself, then there's really nothing you can't do.

I would also like to take this opportunity to whole heartedly thank the lovely Cirque for being my lap scorer - without you, I just couldn't have done it. You made my first marathon distance so special. You're a star! She even made me a lovely excel spreadsheet with my splits which I've uploaded to the net. see here.

Next year, 12 hours :)

New Shoes, a Decent 10km and 6hr Strategy :)

A recent bit of artwork to amuse you. I've named it 'Gecko Girl' ;) Since making it, I'm actually not too keen on geckos anymore! I wonder why? LOL. It's actually okay for general viewing, too! Thanks for all the lovely comments, everyone. I'm bearing up - just going to take time to find my sense of direction again, but it's coming!

Anyway, am feeling slightly better tonight, after a dodgy start this morning - I turned off my alarm in my sleep and woke up an hour late! Somehow I still made it to work on time though (go figure?) so it wasn't a drama. Still feeling a bit 'jetlagged' from the last week or two, but went to run club. As I got there I decided the time had come to spend some of my ill gotten gains (debt collection wages!) and buy some new shoes :) same as last time, Aasics 2100's that everyone wears (and I do LOVE them!) only this time they're orange not blue trim :)

Love that bouncy feeling you get from new shoes :) I was feeling pretty buggered so I didn't expect to have a good run at all - with one thing and another, I hadn't really run since the TT on saturday (give or take a few kms at the gym as a warm up before a weights session) but the rest obviously did me good, since I felt and ran about a MILLION times better than last weeks effort. I couldn't help but share my joy at regular points along the way. I must have just been physically exhausted the last week or two, having come back from the UK and then doing that huge 60km week. It sounds stupid but you just don't realise quite how much difference it makes until you feel better! I'm even contemplating decreasing my number of runs to three or four a week, but just increasing the distance on the long run. Which is probably what I should've been doing anyway.... that'll teach me to get someone to look at my program. Really should take it to Phil soon!

On the run, we got about half way in and then Tracey and Sam turned back (has an exam tomorrow so wanted an early night) I nearly went with them, but I felt so good that I decided to carry on. The group went a bit slower than last week I think (Phil reckons we were doing 5:30 pace for the 70 mins) which is probably why I felt less dead, too. I actually kept up with the faster people from the middle group all the way.... except for perhaps the last km or two, when they started to speed up and I had to drop back a little. Wouldn't have been more than a minute behind them though.

Faxed my entry through for Caboolture today! 'Coach' Phil reckons my ratio of run to walk should be 4:1 and to work downwards from there - see how far I get, then decrease to three laps of running and so on. He doesn't think I should walk more than one at a go, but I dunno! Strangely, I don't feel nervous at all... I felt more nervous at the 5km TT where my stomach was in my mouth for about an hour. Perhaps it hasn't sunk in yet that I'll actually be doing it. It's probably just that I don't have any expectations for it at all. I don't even care if I don't manage the whole six hours. Anything longer than three will be a bonus and I figure that once I'm past three I'm on the downhill anyway and it'll be easier to keep on going, even if I have to crawl on my hands and knees!

The lovely, lovely Cirque has offered to be my lap scorer for which I am eternally, eternally grateful.... I'm thinking I'm going to have to be cirque's cheersquad/running buddy at the MDC :) Bring on the weekend! It should be a really good night - lots of friendly faces and a chance to have some fun afterwards, too :)

Crash Bang....

I must apologise for being so grumpy/down/generally absent in the last couple of weeks. The reason being that I've been going through a bit of a tough time... the result of which has meant that on sunday, I finally closed my business down :(

I'm still a bit shell shocked over it all, since it was three years of absolute blood sweat and tears to get it up and running, but in the end, I think I just had to admit to myself that even though I have limits and I can't do everything, all of the time. The stress and the hours were just 24/7 and no one can exist like that for the long term. Not quite sure what's next on the agenda for me, other than teaching at uni for another semester - I'm going to use that time to think through my options.

Have discovered I can enter the 6 hour race, if I fax through my entry form tomorrow... I just have to try and organise someone to count laps for me, which I shall hopefully manage tomorrow, when I'm at run club.

Onwards and Upwards, Team!

grumpy

I went and did the 5km time trial yesterday morning at shorncliffe. 27.25 :( Which means, really, that I've not gotten any faster since the last time I did a 5km time trial which was about eight months ago I think. Hopefully with some speedwork, I'll get better.

Oh, and looks like I will be coming to watch the caboolture run - in my overly stressed state, I got my dates muddled up and thought that my prior commitment was that weekend, when it was actually this one. It was mortifying enough that I turned up late this weekend (the equivalent level of embarrassment would probably be getting the dates of your own wedding mixed up and getting a phonecall from the party asking where you are) but there's nothing to do now except suck it up and get on with things :(

Argh. I'll be back when I feel less grumpy and stressed. Trying to look on the bright side, maybe this means I can do the 6 hour race. If they let me enter late and if I can find a lap scorer.

Exhausted 10km :(

Dear me, seems that huge week last week (combined with my long walk yesterday) has really caught up with me. I think doing the best part of two full time jobs at once doesnt help matters either - I've had about four hours sleep each night for the last week and generally I'm feeling absolutely exhausted. Ran 10km or so tonight with the club and barely kept up. It was disgusting! I don't even get tomorrow off, unfortunately, since I have to go up the coast to do a photoshoot. I may go and watch the beer mile tomorrow afternoon at least, if I can finish the work I'm supposed to have already done :( argh!

Consequently, I've decided to take another rest day tomorrow. Friday I've got a PT session but I'm declaring my legs and glutes a no-go area because I want to do the 5km time trial. Then sunday is the West End 15km which I shall just take slow and steady. As yet, I still haven't been able to show Phil my training program, so I think I'll have to email it to him instead!

I'm going to try increasing my mileage much more slowly, building up from 40km. I think I've just got to find what average works best for me - I think as long as I can stay on my feet for four to six hours and cover 42km, that's the main thing! I'm hoping that after a few weeks of this more intense training my body will get used to it and I won't feel quite as awful as I do at the moment!

Tell me you get used to it! Please?

2.30 walk-run-walk!

Well, launched into my easy week with gusto this afternoon. Decided to run home from work... from the City Centre to Kelvin Grove, to Newmarket, Enoggera then finally McDowall.. which took me 2:30 because I discovered my backpack jiggles far too much for much of a run! No idea how far it was...15km maybe? Better than sitting crammed on an almost permanently stationary bus for an hour, that's for sure!

Running club tomorrow night. Hurrah!

60km for week!

Picked Tracey up this morning for Mount Cootha. Somewhere along the line, I think we'd gotten our wires crossed since she thought we were only doing a section of it - I'd told her the loop from Slaughter Falls is 10km, which it is - I just forgot to tell her we would run from the Regatta which makes it 15km. I don't think she was very impressed actually *L* but she ran better than me! That girl really underestimates herself! Mt Cootha still has me beaten (mostly due to this weeks efforts) but not for long, dammit!

Oh, and Rejoice, for after all my whinging and moaning about having no running buddies to actually run with, I may have found myself a Marathon buddy to do long slow runs with! Lisa (CR VegieGirl) is also doing the GCM - I had thought she was quicker than me, but I'm not complaining! (Thanks, Running Gods! I remain your humble servant!)

When we finished Mt Cootha, I realised I'd done 57kms for the week total and was mightily tempted to do another 3kms (with much egging on from Tesso!) so when I got home, I did go out and do another 3kms, although it took me forever because I was sooooo tired. But it meant I ran 60kms this week.

60 KMS! *insert jerry springer dance, cartwheels, much whooping, cheering and general get-down-with-my-bad-self here*

Can't believe it - happened by accident really, too! Tomorrow shall be a rest day and next week will be a bit easier. Next saturday is my first 5km TT of the year. Time to start putting some speed on in my effort to drop my 5km times down. I haven't run a 5km for ages (march last year?) so it'll be fascinating to see if I've improved at all.

Oh, and I'm pleased to announce that I've now dropped my 3kg xmas spare tire :) three weeks on, three weeks coming off! Wahoo!

Rest Day :)

There is nothing like reeeallllyyyy working your butt off to make you appreciate a rest day :) Also survived another day at the new job. Can't wait to get my security pass since it gives me access to the stairwell so I can climb the stairs instead of catch the lift. Work is on the 17th floor though... but I do like a challenge :)

Have managed to talk tracey into doing mount cootha with me tomorrow, hurrah! :)

8k run instead of track :(

So I made it back to track tonight. Unfortunately, it was so wet, there was no track, so instead everyone decided we should go for a little run. I almost backed out because I'm really tired from work and all the running I've been doing this week. Not to mention the effort that last night took! I knew I'd be slow, my legs were immensely heavy and I walked a lot. I wanted to hug the ground and cry several times. I doubt I'd have been any good at track even if it had been on in this state, but I was a bit disappointed. I'm now sitting on 42k for the week (a marathon!) so if I can squish another 8km out of myself on saturday, I shall be one happy gal!

Last night I broke the strap on my HRM wrist watch too *grumps* I'm going to have to get it fixed now before I can use it again. Might give me the impetus to actually read the instructions this time ;)

Am having fun inputting my training plan into my computer. Applemacs have this great thing called iCal, which rocks immensely since you can colour code everything, print it out, save it as pdfs and everything. I might upload my plan for each month in my blog as a jpg.

Thinking about doing my own private six hour stint on a treadmill at the gym. If that doesn't drive me insane, nothing will, but it's the only way I can think of to run that long, alone, without it being dark (and dangerous for single female runner) or way too hot to run. If I did it on a sunday for a long run, I could even start at a reasonable hour and finish at one too. Plus, anyone who is a fitness first member in Bris and felt like popping in to say hi or even run a little way with me, could. At least I'll also have the tvs to keep it a little bit more interesting!

Also contemplating doing the Brisbane Marathon as a training run for the GCM... no time in mind for that one, just curious to get a feel for the distance and gauge where I am in the scheme of things by that point.

Still trying to catch up on blogs! This weekend, promise!

7-10km yuck run

Went to running group tonight, bit the bullet and set out with the middle group again. I've been feeling much better running again and felt a bit more confident than last week. Unfortunately, several of the people in the group are training for various things and so we went out quite fast (for me) and did some nasty hills too. We got half an hour in and I knew I was flagging because I had to start walking some of the hills. I hate doing it when you're running with a group at night - falling behind is not really an option and it means someone has to come back with you :(

Lucky for me, one other guy (who also usually runs with that group) was struggling, so he and Schultzy turned back with me. As soon as we settled into a more sedate pace, I felt fine and could've carried on even once we got back to the shop. Looks like I'll have to go down a group again though - I hate having to pike half way and hold other people back because I can't keep up. When I ran with them before, we had a sort of a middle-ground group who would hang off the back then drop off when we needed to, but most of them have either sped up heaps or are doing their own thing. It's frustrating really, but I guess that's life. I just seem to be at a weird point in my running generally, where I'm a bit faster than most beginners but not quite fast enough for most other people... so I've got a severe shortage of running buddies to actually run with! I need to egg tracey on to start training seriously with me - she's thinking of doing mt cootha with me on saturday.

One positive thing is that my mileage has jumped up quite sharply this week. Provided I do my track session tomorrow and then the saturday run, I'll finish the week on 50-something kms! Most I've done before in a week is just about 40. I'll have to have a bit of an easier week next week so I don't do myself a mischief. Ten percent rule *cough cough* I'm listening, really!

CR B-fer and I have set ourselves a little competition for 2006 to see who can crack a sub-23 min 5k, sub-50min 10k and 1:50 HM in 2006. I suspect it won't be me since my goals are a tad optimistic ;) but it'll be fun trying!

In non running related news, I survived my first debt-collecting work day today. I suspect I'll have this temp job until they try and put me on the phones. Then I suspect I'll be off. Oh well! At least it's work!

Oh, and Apologies to everyone whose left me nice comments on my blog lately, I'll have to sit down and have a mammoth blog reading session to catch up on you all. I love you all really, honest ;) *hugs*

7km Social Run

Went to the running group social run tonight at Sandgate. Probably did 6 or 7km and although my legs were heavy from yesterday, felt like I could've gone further (although not faster!) so perhaps I'm finally getting somewhere :) have lost 1kg of my 3kg xmas belly.

Organised my appointment with Phil to sort out my program. Now I just have to actually write it all down in a way that makes sense to people other than me. I think it'll do me good to have some direction and organisation in there. Make sure I'm doing it all sensibly.

In other news, I think I need new shoes - my left foot and the area just behind my knee has been hurting a little bit (might be all the hills I've done lately) but I suspect it's my shoes as this seems to happen whenever I'm due a new pair. As soon as I've got a bit more work coming in, I'll get some - and I think I may even give in and get orthotics for that foot - there's something not right, there. Anyway. Shoes and things shall have to wait for a bit.

My job interview for 2 mth temping went well, but it's debt collecting - the reality of which sank in at the interview and now I'm feeling a bit blah about taking it - I'm not really programmed to do hardcore demanding of money (except when it's money owed to me, that is! LOL) Anyway, shall have to have a think about it. Perhaps something else will turn up... am knee deep in selection criteria for a job or two I'd really like, anyway!

2:15 solo run and my very own 6hr race

On saturday, went to the running buddies and did a *rreeaaalllllyyyy* pathetic 10km down to the botanical gardens and back. I drive myself insane when I run alone and without music - I cheat continuously, having walk breaks left, right and centre. It makes me wonder how on earth I'm going to manage to get my mlieage up for the GCM when there's no one as slow as me who wants to run the longer distances.

Moan, moan, moan, LOL! Gods I sound grumpy, don't I? *shakes self*

Last night I went up the coast to see friends and got back really reeeeaaallly late. Woke up at 5.30am, and then realised I'd never make it to the West End for 6am for the 14km start and went back to bed. I was really tired, but when I woke up the second time I was really irritated with myself for doing it. I really wanted to do the 14k to prove to myself that my recent spate of walk breaks *is* all in my head and I *can* still run without them. Meh. Sam sent me a text message about missing it - *L* the Brisbane running grapevine is faster than a speeding bullet, it seems!

Perhaps it was a good thing really, since it made me kick myself up the bum and start to organise things. This week has been a bit slack since it's my first full week back and I somehow reckoned that meant I could take it easier *L* (except for the mount cootha run that is!) so this afternoon I resolved to put in a decent effort as penance.

I headed out of the door and embarked on my very own running adventure across three suburbs and numerous bike paths through Kedron Brook, Stafford and McDowall. Got home 2:15 later, so that was the biggest training run I've ever done on my own! No idea how far it was - am about to have a look at the gmap pedometer website to try and work it out. There were lots of walk breaks of course but also lots of hills, so I reckon I probably did 20km.

Phil is doing training plans, so I'm going to go and see him with mine and get him to tweak it. Next week I'm going back to speedwork, come hell or high water. Enough messing about - time to start putting in some hard work and trusting that despite what my brain tells me, I am not getting worse really!

Tomorrow I've got a job interview for a bit of temping work (January is deathly quiet for the self employed!) so if I get it, I'll be working in the city centre for a while - am thinking of joining the regatta runners a couple of times a week to bump my mileage up. Oh, and thanks for all the comments everyone - my email is playing up so I only just got them - thanks for the HRM info, LL - makes sense - still trying to work out how to use it but I'm getting there!

Oh, and Woe, it seems the Dusk til Dawn run is going to clash with another commitment as I feared, so I'm not going to be able to do it :( I think I may just do my very own little six hour event around Brisbane instead (should kill or cure my penchant for walking breaks!) - start at 3am from the regatta one saturday maybe :) details to follow, no doubt!

feeling hot, hot, hot!

Another picture! This one is Exmoor, one of the wildest parts of the UK. My sister took me for a drive there when I stayed with her. Beautiful place, but again, soooo cold!

Last night was my first night back at running club - great to catch up with some familiar faces. My legs were so sore from PT that I went with the easier group again - not that it was that much eiaser - we did about 7km of hills! This week seems to have a bit of a hills theme actually, as tonight I went out and ran 5km of hills on my own.

I got a heart rate monitor for xmas and tonight was the first time I attempted to use it -the instructions are so hard to follow! Apparently, I was working at 78% of max effort, which doesnt seem like much... must read up on what I'm supposed to be doing! Am starting to feel a bit better when I run now which is good - starting to get a grip on my holiday blow out! Still trying to shift my extra spare tire though, but I'll get there!

The speedwork that wasnt!

Another UK piccy. This is my gorgeous lovely three year old niece, Charley. While I was away, I endeavoured to get her to follow in her aunties running footsteps by chasing her across the sand in Devon ;) She's not hooked yet, but give me time;)

My Mt Cootha effort definitely caught up with me on sunday - I went to a social going-away run for MJ who is off to join the girls in green. Lovely to see everyone. We went to the wetlands which are really close to me. Like Tess, I've never run there before, but I'll be back! Very relaxing and peaceful. Cycle track is good too - good place for me to practice my turns without the fear of getting squished by over zealous truck drivers. Anyway, most people decided they were running 10km, but after the first 200m I knew my legs weren't in agreeance - had that horrible concrete boots feeling. It was such an effort, that Tracey and I turned around at the 3km mark, making a 6km effort with walk breaks. Liz was supposed to be on a rest day, so she came back and did the return with us. Had a good yack.

On Monday Night I was so sore from Mt.C that I could hardly walk. How can three weeks make so much difference? it's so unfair! LOL! Luckily, the worst was soon over, but I took yesterday as a rest day just incase. I've decided the quickest way to demotivate myself is to run while I'm really sore, since it inevitably makes me run badly and therefore makes me feel crap.

Anyway, this morning, I went and did my first PT session for 2006. Paiiinnnn!!!! PAIIINNN!!!! Gods, it was disgusting. I sweated and swore and complained my way through various sets. Tony (PT'er) has decided that we need to work on my upper thighs so I can drive through with more power when I run. It's something I know I'm bad at - when I'm tired, I shuffle along without moving my upper legs much. Really bad habit and slows me down. I think speedwork will help me with that - sprinting makes me lift my knees right up. I've got homework to do, including regular sets of dynamic lunges (evil, evil things) huge step ups (also evil) and jumping, knees to chest repetitively (yep, evil as well) Oh well. If all this evil makes me quicker, then give me horns and call me satan!

After the PT session I went to the pool and did a very slow, very pathetic 300m with many breaks. The cold water felt great on sore muscles so hopefully tomorrow I won't be too crippled. I was going to go back to speedwork tonight, but alas, I'm just too buggered from this mornings efforts. I figure it's probably not worth it/good for you to try and do speedwork on tired legs - there's another session on thursday I'll go to instead.

Tony also tried to sign me up for the Mooloolaba Tri - the whole thing this time, but I'm feeling a tad scared at the prospect of doing an olympic distance tri there - it's a USM event and if it's as big as Noosa, I don't relish the thought of having to deal with the washing machine of people... although, if I got right at the back it might be okay. That said, I know there's surf at Mooloolaba and as yet, I've got no experience at swimming through waves (aside from a failed attempt at learning to surf) plus I know there's a hill in the run section. I think I'd rather do a full distance at Bribie first.... less pressure, although the bigger number of people at Moo would mean less pressure to finish in a reasonable time so as not to hold marshalls etc up.

And then there's the issue of the BRRC race, which is a 7-35km self select event - which I had planned to do 35km at in preparation for working my way up to 42k.... I dunno! I guess I need to have a good think about it.

I also have this horrible, horrible feeling that the Dusk to Dawn is going to clash with another commitment - and if it does, I won't be able to do the run :( but I'm ignoring the nagging feeling in the hopes I'm mistaken. Shall have to find out.

15km Mt Cootha Run

With some trepidation, I ventured out to the running buddies this morning and despite thinking I would do a flat easy 10km, decided to do the Mount Cootha run instead. I figured that if todays run was going to be painful (which it was, either way!) it might as well be really painful! I walked more of it than last time, but then, I wasn't jetlagged, 3kgs heavier and 3 weeks less fit before ;)

Despite all that, I really enjoyed it - it's such a nice place to run - the smells, the bush - and, even better was the fact that it started to rain just as I reached the top and all the clouds rolled in so it was all misty and mysterious. It's one of the many reasons I love living here - you can run through big fat clouds and soft raindrops and not freeze to death! Because I was sooo slow, I did the circuit on my own again and it was nice to get some thinking time to myself as well.

Am contemplating making it a weekly thing - probably just me until I can run the whole thing without stopping - will start keeping track of my total running time over the course and then work on increasing that bit by bit. infact, add Mt Cootha to my goals for 2006 - I'm going to run the whole thing non stop by the end of the year!

Caught up with Tesso and Clairie which was lovely - feels like I've been away forever, even though it was only three weeks! Social run tomorrow with MJ - looking forward to that too, and hopefully seeing Sam (who wasnt at running buddies today) and Tracey too.

It's sooo good to be running again - nothing can be as painful as todays effort was, so the only way is up!

UK, Goals and Aspirations!

Arrived back to the humid goodness of Brisbane yesterday morning. Although, I must admit, the ‘good’ part of the humid has already started to wear off! Ah, the joys of living in a tropical climate. Certainly better than freezing though! This is a picture of the xmas tree we had. Awww. Pretty.



Overall, I enjoyed the trip – it was lovely to see my family again and spend xmas and new years together. I like the sense of history that you get in England… there are stories ingrained in everything over there; everywhere you go, every surface, every place…the past reads like Braille. The countryside is really pretty in winter, although quite stark during the day. particularly when there's a frost!

I ventured onto the scales this morning, and much to my disgust, I put on 4kgs while I was there! I’m confident it’ll come off again though (and a bit more besides) and I thoroughly enjoyed every mouthful of turkey/stuffing/chocolate/cake/venison/flapjack/revels/smoked salmon, so I remain unrepentant! I’m not looking forward to the next few weeks of pain of course, but needs must! ;)

Anyway, enough of my gluttony ;) time for my promised goals post!

One Year of Running!

The first of January marked one year of running for me. I can remember feeling very apprehensive about spending $200 on running shoes because I thought I’d probably give up after a month or two. I consoled myself that I could always use them as cross trainers at the gym if it didn’t work out. I started by running on the treadmill and then running down the street. I don’t think I ever imagined I’d still be running now let alone having worked my way up to 25km!

My first attempt at running with other people was the January BRRC 5km. I was so nervous and by 2km, I’d slowed to a walk. I still felt proud when I crossed the line though! It’s also where I met many of my lovely running buddies and fellow CRs… Tess, Clairie, MJ, Brenda, Karisma and many more besides. I joined the Run Inn Runners and fell in love with club runs :)

This year, I've done three half marathons, one 'official' 25km run and numerous 5, 10, 15km races. I've taken six minutes off my 10km time and about 18 minutes off the half. Overall, I think my favourite run of the year was the 25km run at the West End a few months back, where it poured and poured with rain and we got to jump puddles and squish in our shoes. That, and the Bribie Beach Bash. Magic!

GOALS for 2006 - DEEP BREATH - GULP!

So, my goals for 2006 are split into different options - I like to have a back up goal, so if I don't make one, I can still tick off another. Plus, I know some of them are a little ambitious, but like the quote I saw today on a card - "shoot for the moon, if you miss, you'll still land among the stars" cheesy, I know but who cares ;)

GOAL ONE: Complete 42.2km (Gold Coast Marathon)

a. in 3:59
b. in 4:10
c. in 4:20
d. just to cross the finish

GOAL TWO: Half Marathon Times - reduce to:

a.. in 1:50
c. in 1:55
b. in 2:00
a. in 2:05

GOAL THREE: 10km Times - reduce to:

a. in 49:59
b. in 51:00
c. in 52:00
d. in 54:00 (had to put this one down, since I've been trying to crack it forEVER!)

GOAL FOUR: 5km Times - reduce to:

a. 22:00 (muahahaha - doesn't hurt to dream!)
b. 23:00
c. 24:00
d. 25:00

GOAL FIVE: 3km TT times - reduce to:

a. 14:00
b. 14:10
c, 14:20
d. 14:30

GENERAL GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS

I want 2006 to be the year where I take my running up a level... put simply, I'm going to work my butt off ;) I'm going to commit to regular speed work sessions and write a big plan so I can work towards the Gold Coast Half. Depending on how things pan out, I may even have a go at Canberra as a warm up (my conference funding got rejected, so doesnt look like I'll be going to Atlanta afterall)

I'm going to carry on doing triathlon, but more as a cross training exercise and for the fun. Though of course I want to improve my times there too ;)

I also want to do the caboolture dusk til dawn - the six hour event which I shall just walk-run-walk, slow and steady...

By the end of the year and just between you, me and the gatepost, I may even have a go at a 50km event. Just, you know, to see if I can ;)

frosty the running snow woman!

Hello all :) This is a picture of the sunset in the UK countryside where I'm staying. I've got a ton more, but I'll wait til I can upload them all in one go.

Managed to get myself to the local athletics centre the other day in the belief that perhaps it might be less icy than the roads - I discovered that actually, it is probably more icy on a track - particularly when it's 2 degrees!

I think I lasted 20 minutes before the pain of the cold got the better of me and I came into the warm. I did ask about using a treadmill indoors but they wanted me to have an induction session on it first so I decided not to ;)

I'm resigning myself to the fact that there will no doubt be three weeks of serious pain when I get home to burn off all the calories I'm consuming. The good thing about this resignation is the fact that I'm not going to worry about it so much. No point!

Went for a run this morning and it was much milder, thankfully. Very different running when it's soooo quiet - great seeing all the local animals around - birds, horses, pheasants, deer... smells very nice too - the air is really clean :)

I've been making certain running resolutions etc for next year plus a big 1 year running anniversary post for this blog, but I'm waiting til I get back to Bris to post that :) Hope you're all well and enjoying the sunshine (!)

It is soooo frigging cold here! I went out this morning for my first run - it was frosty and icy and I couldn't feel my nose. By the time I got back, my torso was warm enough under three layers, but my legs were freezing and blotchy red. Was quite pretty though in the middle of the countryside... absolutely silent... except for the occasional cows and birdsong.

Eating waaayyy too much - but we knew that would happen ;)

Couldnt resist posting something from the airport here in osaka, japan - free internet access at the airport begging to be used! (plus, I:ve got hours to waste before the second part of the flight to london.

It is SOOOO bloody cold here... the UK is only going to get worse! The hotel was nice though (I stayed overnight) with a multifunction toilet (!) and non fogging bathroom mirror )bizarre!

Ate too much on the plane but there:s not much else to do! was highly amused to find out justhow much more comfortable the seats are when you fit into them... last time I flew, I couldn:t even press the buttons on the armrest without digging my hand down and taking pot luck... and the seatbelt had miles of slack too lol (stupid stuff, but mademe grin!

Now I:m off to find something interesting to do for a few hours while I waitfor my plane - this keyboard is driving me nuts!

Sionara, CRs!

3rd Female Team!!!

I just checked the kurruwa results - Sam and I were third female team! (and, for once, we weren't even the last all female team, either ;) LOL

Yay Us!

Catch you all on the other side of the world! xxx

Kurruwa 25km 2:45

Everything you could do wrong before a race, I did before the Kurruwa 25km today! Finished in 2:45 which, considering there was a fair amount of walk breaks going on, was not my best, but not my worst either.

I went to see friends last night and despite my best intentions, got to bed very late at 1am. I got up at 2am reminding myself that the night before a race is never good rest anyway. Sam and I ended up carpooling with MJ and Mark (Iliketoast) which was really good fun and we gossiped the whole way down the coast. We arrived at 4.30am and registered. Everyone looked so very, very fit and determined. My goal then and there was just to finish. Schultzy was there, back from holidays and decided to run the first leg with me. Saw Tesso who was really nervous - and Clairie who was bouncing off the walls!

Before long, we were off. MJ took off up the front with others and I plodded away at the back. We were still going quite quickly for me, doing five-something kms for the first six or seven kms. Sam and Iliketoast were both running the second leg, and went ahead to provide cold water, sponges and sprays at points along the way.

I knew it was going to be a tough run when at 7km, my left shin started hurting in quite a major way. I stopped and stretched it, swearing profusely to myself. Schultzy ran on ahead a way, but needed a few toilet stops so we caught up with each other soon enough. I started to struggle a bit and felt terrible for Sam who was running the second leg and the longer I took, the hotter her return leg was going to be. They decided to have a 2:30 cut off to avoid people having to run the second leg any later, but I immediately felt disheartened since I knew even if I was firing on all cylinders, my PB for the distance was 2.36.

After a while the pain in my shin shifted around to my calf muscle and I started feeling myself limp to compensate. I had a little voice in my head telling me it was not a good idea to carry on with pain like that, but then I realised if I stopped, I'd be completely stranded since our teammates had gone ahead to their start line. So, I made a resolution just to get there, even if I had to walk the whole way. It was (probably) the right decision since by the time I got to about 15km, I got into a bit of a rhythym and my calf became bearable.

They promote Kurruwa as being a flat course, but it definitely isn't a course for the inexperienced runner really. I found myself wondering why I was doing it on many occasions. Usually up the 97 steps and several hills. The worst bit was a huuugggeee hill right at the end, which I didn't even attempt to run after doing 24kms. The heat was pretty nasty by that point and I felt every bit of it.

When I finally finished, I was happy just to stand there and down four cups of water and endura in a row. MJ, Schultzy and I then jumped in the car to crew for our team mates. We had a lot of fun getting ahead of them on the course and returning the favour and cheering for every single coolrunner we saw! We had some party horns and harrassed *ahem* encouraged every runner we saw on the course. Most of them loved it!

Sam crossed the line in 2:37 looking absolutely stuffed, bless her - superb effort considering how hot it was, and she accidentally did an extra set of stairs in there too! Jumped up and down repeatedly, bellowed loudly as she crossed the link and gave her a big hug. Perfect moment!

The barbeque afterwards was great and was a chance to gossip with everyone. The running buddies all went fabulously! Tess and Nick had the most fantastic shirts and xmas hats.

Really enjoyed the day although I swore I'd never do it again during the run. Now I'm not sure. It's definitely a challenge and now I have a time to beat. I'm hoping my calf comes good tomorrow - it's always that same leg that gets injured but I'm defiantly trying to avoid orthotics. Hopeefully it'll be fine!

Congrats to everyone who raced - great effort :)

10km run and discoveries

Yesterday I went for a cruisy 50 minute run. Interesting being in an entirely new suburb and finding all the new places to run. I actually discovered a bike path with permanent exercise apperatus on it - so I can do a bit of circuit training when I feel like it :) The whole area is absolutely FULL of hills too which is quite nasty (but good for me too!)

Today I lounged around by the pool for a few hours with a friend which was bliss. I think that when I get back from the UK, a CR/running friend pool party and barbeque may be in order! I'm thinking hawaiian theme... fairy lights.... cocktails and music... got to make the most of this place while I'm here!

Tonight I did my 10km or so with the Run Inn Crowd. Phil very kindly extended my bike loan indefinitely, which is sooo nice of him - so I can settle into training on it for the next tri or eight. It gives me a little more breathing (saving!) room in which to scrape the money together for my own bike. It was so unbelievably humid tonight, I sweated buckets and it felt like we ran for 2 hours not just 10km or less. Such hard work! I kept up with the faster people until the last ten minutes or so then fell back a minute or so. I'm not going to bust a gut with the weekend looming, anyway!

With all the panicking I did over the tri, I got distracted from panicking about Kurruwa. Which was probably a good thing. Only a few more days to stress! Meh! I'm sure it'll be fine. Caught up with MJ tonight and Sam and I are going to carpool with her and Mark down there and back. Should be good fun! Will probably run with the Running Buddies on saturday but do a very, very, very cruisy effort. Mostly for the breakfast after, anyway!

900m swim

I thought I might feel really really sore today, but thankfully only the muscles over my lower back and the muscles that go over the top of your elbows are achey. Everything else is a little tired but fine, though 48 hours after a race is usually when I feel worst, so we'll see! I'm even contemplating going to track tomorrow night because I don't have to work (or rather, I'm not going to work!) We shall see!

Went to the pool this afternoon, did 900m (with rests after 300m) before getting kicked out of my lane for swim school. My freestyle is really starting to feel better in terms of getting a rhythym and because of that, my body is a bit more relaxed in the water - which is helping my breathing too :)

I seem to have gotten a much better grip on my diet now too, having lost the four (yes, FOUR!) kgs I put on recently and am back to 77kgs. If I can just keep it up, I'm going to hit 75kgs before I go to the UK. I'd even like to get to 73kgs if possible (2kgs being insurance against inevitable xmas gluttony!) But having said that, I leave on Dec 15th, so perhaps that's a bit of an unrealistic goal. As long as the scales don't go up from here on out, I'll be reasonably happy!

Plan for this week:

mon: swim (900m DONE)
tues: track (moderate effort) or 10k cruisy run
weds: 10km Group Run
thurs: swim + weights
fri: REST
sat: REST
sun: Kurruwa 25km

Bribie Tri - I made it!

Well, I survived! *grins* where to start?

Last night was my trainer's xmas party, so I went along to that, drank water all night and left early. I am obviously the spirit of xmas *L* Actually, I was glad to get home early so I could get everything together and try to get myself in the zone. John rang me to check I'd remembered everything and to gee me up which was nice. I managed to fit the bike in the car (toyota starlet) which is a feat in and of itself and packed everything else up.

As usual, I spent last night tossing and turning and dreaming that I was doing the tri and had gotten lost, was late starting or generally making a huge mess of the whole thing, so when 4am came, I was happy to get up and get moving. Put the purple suit of doom on, groaned at myself in the mirror and was out the door by 4.30am.

Got to Bribie just as the sun finished coming up and was very happy to see the water looked like glass. There was a much more relaxed atmosphere than Noosa which was nice - I was nervous as anything, anyway - if it'd been like Noosa, I would probably have been hysterical by then! Bumped into another John from running group who was also doing the short course and was lovely enough to answer all my last minute questions and show me where the swim started/finished and where the run and bike entrance/exits were. I was happy to see a few other people doing the tri on mountain bikes and racked it, then went and got numbered up.

Before long, we were all down at the edge of the water, where I bumped into MJ who was also doing her first tri after being corrupted by me (actually, I think she was really already set to do it - didn't take much!) - my heart was in my mouth and my stomach was doing cartwheels. After a couple of waves, we were off! The water was surprisingly warm (much warmer than the pool!) and surprisingly easy to swim in - must be the salt. We had a straight course, parallell to the beach which helped. Couldn't see a thing through my goggles - only saw peoples feet when they were two inches from my face. Didn't like being sorrounded by people very much - arms and hands and everything crashing into everything else. It actually slowed me right down and I had to keep sticking my head up to see where I was going. Seems like my breaststroke would've been fine anyway! Swam in feeling like I'd taken it wayyyy too easy. There I was thinking it was going to be the hardest leg for me, and it was actually the easiest by far!

As I got up to transition I spotted the very lovely Cirque and Cirquelets who had come to watch and they were all cheering me on, bless them! I nearly cried *grins* It was so nice of them to do that and such a surprise! Definitely spurred me on!

Bolted up to transition, tried to get some of the sand off my feet, shoved my shoes on (thankyou elastic laces!) and my helmet, grabbed my bike and took off. Some of the others from my wave were actually changing into running clothes! Started peddling and got overtaken by about a million people going at a billion miles an hour. Soooo fast! Stuck my head down, tried to keep out of the way and peddled but it was definitely my hardest leg - need much, much more practice, that's for sure! Ended up counting squashed cane toads (noice!) to distract myself *L* Some of the elite lot seem to be complete gits - one or two were just bellowing at me and the people in front to "GET LEFT!" even though we were all on the hard shoulder and they had stacks of room. It's all in the tone they use I suppose, but I don't think it's necessary component of success to behave like a bastard! Anyway...

Before long, I was coming back into transition, racked the bike and almost took off with my helmet still on *L* the marshalls stopped me in time (how embarrassing would that've been? LOL) My legs were like jelly from the bike, and it took me about 1.5km (with, I hate to say it, a very slight walk break or two) to get comfortable before I could pick it up on the return. Must take some time for your muscles to settle again or something. No chance of doing anywhere near my 3km TT effort, so I just did my best and started picking off people - one girl had been just infront of me the whole way (she was wearing a cotton singlet, bra and baggy shorts for the whole thing!) so I focussed on her and decided I'd get over the line before she did. I think running helped a lot - a lot of the faster people on the swim/bike seemed to die in the run leg. Caught her and sped up. I did my usual favourite little glory dash trick and started to sprint as hard as I could for the line. Caught one or two more on the way into the chute and could see another woman about 20m from the line so I went absolutely flat out (so did she!) and we just threw ourselves at the finish - Cirque and sons and various other lovely people I knew started bellowing for me, so did the commentator and I made it over the line first. I have to admit its quite annoying when other people do that to you in a race, but dammit, it felt soooo good!

Overall, I'm actually pretty surprised at myself. I found the progression from one activity to another suited me because it meant I could use more of my physical strength and different muscle groups, rather than relying solely on my cardio fitness. I was probably most anxious about the swim but I feel like I could go heaps faster on that, use my upper body as much as possible, do the bike (because I think I'll always be crap on a bike!) and then go faster again on the run. My goal with this one was just to finish so I'm happy - as I say, I know I need to work on the bike leg for sure - the one I rode was quite heavy and I also think it would help to get someone to set it up for me properly.

Stayed and watched the winners get their cups which was really interesting in itself - to hear the different times and things - gives me an idea of what constitutes an elite time, a reasonable time and the rest. Interesting to look at the different body shapes too - a lot of triathletes actually seem to have a different shape to runners - they're more muscular with wider shoulders or something. It gives me heart actually, because I think that's more the bodyshape I'd have if I dropped another 10kgs - and, some of the category winners were quite solidly built like me, too!

Oh, and I won a random draw prize! What does the girl without a bike win? a new bike tire, a bike service and a bike pump of course! *L* I did also score a water bottle and a half hour massage (that'll do nicely after kurruwa, thankyou very much!) so I can't complain! I ended up giving the tire to John for showing me all the starts and finishes and everything - it was really nice of him and it made a heap of difference to my whole experience.

So, yeah - a good day. Will I do another one? Absolutely - If I can wrangle the bike loan til february, I'll definitely do the next Bribie one in Feb, though I think I'll stick with the shorter distance still, til I get my confidence up. Next year, I'll do a full length Tri for sure :) Hooked :)

Oo, and thanks for all the text messages and blog support guys - you rock!

little plastic bits and mentalness

Finally feeling a little more human! Hormones - gotta hate them. A combination of that and a case of the lonelies has had me feeling round the twist the last few days. So few of my friends are single these days that I don't think many of them understand quite what it's really like on a full time this-is-my-life sort of basis. Most of the time it's fine and I enjoy the freedom immensely, but occasionally it can just eat away at you. Anyway, doesn't help to dwell, so nothing to do but get on with things, no doubt!

Back to running talk...

This week, I've noticed that for some strange reason, before any major sort of race or event, I suddenly feel like all my training has backslid and that I'm back to square one. The more it happens, the more I realise it's just a mental thing because even if I don't go well at something, I can still do it (and therefore my training is in fact, adequate) The only time I didn't feel like that was before the Noosa Tri and we all know how that turned out - so really, based on that logic, I should be worrying if I *don't* feel under prepared!

On the plus side, I've shed most of the weight I put on due to my naughty week last week, hurrah! My purple tri suit thanks me. The only problem being that I'm back to square one in that I'm the same weight now that I was when I bought it so it still looks horrific. But at least I'm not on Square two anymore and it won't look worse than it did! ;)

Yesterday I was at a photoshoot and dropped a huge painting that was mounted on 9mm MDF board onto my foot and it took a chunk out of my little toe! It feels a little better today but I'm keeping an eye on it - I've broken that toe about three times (mostly from stubbing it against my futon base!) so it doesnt take much :( positive thoughts - it's going to be fine!

Went to run club last night, went for an easy run. Felt like a piker ;) Went to the gym tonight as well, got a bit carried away with the chin up bar which might not have been such a good idea so close to the weekend, but we shall see, no doubt. Am slowly getting used to my shoes without socks and elastic laces (buggered if I can work out what you do with the plastic bits that come with the elastic laces though!)

The big day approaches *omgomgomg* !!!