Feeling better! yay!

HURRAH!

I finally feel better! Antibiotics rock and aside from being uber tired from coughing all night still, I feel so much more human. As someone who rarely, rarely gets ill, I can't believe I've been sick for almost three weeks all up.

But anyway. There is now a light at the end of the tunnel and without wishing to tempt fate, I'm starting to think I shall be fine come next weekend!

On wednesday I went to the Run Inn thinking I might run, but by the time I got there, I felt awful still. Phil took one look at me, told me not to be stupid then gave me a much needed lecture on how he's flogged my butt over the last six months, all the hard work is done and how I'll be fine ;) Definitely needed to hear it!

Instead of running, I stayed around and chatted with everyone before they ran. Got to love the atmosphere close to big events... everyone is so pumped! I'll probably (gingerly) run the 5km time trial tomorrow and see how I go. No big efforts, but just enough to see if I can move more than ten feet at speed without coughing my lungs up.

On thursday, I ventured to Personal Training for a repeat lecture from Tony. I really think Phil and Tony should meet one day - they'd get on famously ;) *grins* Again, the lecture helped reinforce in me that I haven't wrecked six months of hard work and it will be okay. Did a reasonable weights session, although felt really tired and very nauseous afterwards. Hopefully that's a thing of the past from now on!

I have been reading running magazines today and making a conscious attempt at getting myself all enthusiastic and in a positive frame of mind. Thus far it's working!

Thankyou all for your lovely comments... they mean so much to me :) I finish my antibiotics tomorrow - cross your fingers for me!

still sick... (broken record, aren't I?)

Well, the good news is that I don't have bronchitis... yesterday I felt so awful that I caved in and went back to the doctor. What I do have is either a nasty throat infection or a particularly nasty virus. Personally, I think it's the former since I have the most bizarre constant feeling of someone squeezing my throat (pressure? swelling?) and am coughing up nasty, nasty never-before-seen stuff. My voice is still mostly MIA, too.

But enough about that, TMI, I know!

Either way, I'm on another course of antibiotics which (thanks to a double dose - shh!) seem to be starting to have an affect. I almost contemplated dragging my butt to track tonight, but have decided not to tempt fate any more than I already have. Instead, I'm going to try and do ALL of my marking at work so I can stop stressing about it. If I feel better tomorrow, I may run, but not holding out much hope. What I'd really like is three days off work completely in which to sleep hugely, but alas, that isn't going to happen any time soon. Having three different jobs, two of which are casual, negates the desire for unpaid sick leave. *sighs*

Not much I can do but wait this out I guess.... at least it happened this week, not next week... though it's all rather too close for my liking. Am being philosophical currently :)

Fingers crossed

GGGGRRRR!

I'm going back to the doctors tomorrow if I'm not better....
I think I might have mild bronchitis :(

Pass me the antibiotics....

2:00 hours - Easy (?!?!)

Grrr Arrrgghh! I can't believe it! I'm sick AGAIN! The only good thing being that it's not quite as bad as before - this time I can at least do stuff... I'm just incredibly snotty, tired, irritable (whodathunkit?) and best of all (!) have lost my voice. I can grate out an attractive two-octaves-high-than-normal squeak, but that's about it. My students are going to have fun with me tomorrow!

I did my best to ignore the crappiness yesterday when I went out to run two hours easy. There was I thinking, ha! I only have to run 2 hours! and that it would be cruisy, but nope, it was hard. Very bloody hard actually. Sam started off with me but I sent her off ahead after the first 5kms because I knew I had to slow down or I wouldn't make it. Had a couple of stops and stretches, but ran somewhere near to 20kms (to the bowls club by new farm park and back)

7km track + 16km hills + PT = tired!

Hmmmnnn..

I was sooo unbelievably sore on monday from the 32km of killer hills that I almost couldn’t walk! For those of you who are curious to know where we went, I’m going to try and get a copy of the route from Angie, who was wearing a NavMan Garminesque thingo and shall post it here. I went to the gym and tried to do my 5km slow recovery run and after about 30 seconds on the treadmill decided it was a bad idea. Instead I stretched and came home. I’m a little bit paranoid about breaking myself before the big one! LOL!

Track session on tuesday. Less sore, but still hurting. One of the gals was wearing a garmin and interestingly, it showed that we run a lot further at track than I thought – I thought we were doing possibly 4 or 5km but tonight we did almost 7km and that was an easy session. The session I missed last week was closer to 10km.

The interest in blogging continues to mount at the Run Inn and I am compiling a bit of a list of blogs to put in the newsletter – so you might all be getting emails from me asking if you mind! I have also finally managed to start using bloglines properly (had to chance browsers to get it working) and am loving it! Saves so much time seeing who has updated!

Wednesday (last night) was medium long run. 16km hills, hard!!! Still feeling the effects of sunday I think. Came home strong though, running with the lovely Sam. I think she wss doing it easy, but it was funky to be able to keep up with her for once!

This morning I did PT ...

Meh. Onwards and upwards! Back to your regular viewing!

32km Samford Loop -hills, hills and more hills!

Hurrah - I can run again!

I must admit, I did briefly question my sanity this morning as I crawled out of bed at 4am to go and do the 32km Samford loop with Phil and co. Woke up feeling nauseous and tired – the antibiotics and new inhaler seem to be working but I spent most of last night coughing my lungs up. Blah! I just kept telling myself that it was my last loonnggg run before the big one, so I didn’t really want to miss it!

There were two groups running, the slow and steadies (us) and the whippets fast people. Ended up with me, Angie, Suzannah, Phil, Sue and a new guy in our group, although Sue, Suzannah and the new bloke soon pulled ahead. The run started out being a bit deceptive – lots of nice gentle rolling hills which were quite fun. I was a bit worried how I would go with the asthma, but took my Ventolin as well as the preventative puffer and it seemed to stop it being a problem.

After a while, the hills started getting bigger and longer, and bigger and longer still. I felt like I was doing one huge Mount Cootha summit run (I can’t wait until after the GCM to have a go at that again actually – dying to see if I can run the whole thing yet) Everyone said I was very quiet during the run (except to whinge occasionally or swear profusely at the next upcoming mammoth hill) but mostly I was stuck in ‘survival mode’ as Angie calls it – chugging along trying to breathe.

By the time we hit 3 hours, I was starting to h-u-r-t quite a lot – my knees and calves were seriously aching and really fatigued. I think that sort of running is probably good for me – to teach myself to feel that and know I can keep going anyway.

Looking at the positives, even though I’m still fighting the tail end of the flu and felt tired, I ran the vast majority of the hills. I know that not so long ago, I would’ve been walking a lot more of them than I did today. All up we did about 32km in Phil’s 3:30 (which in real time took us about 3:50, including drink stops)

I can’t believe that I’m now on the tail end of the marathon training! So exciting!

Doomben piccies

Mid race ;)



Suzannah (who ran the GH with me) Me and Rell
Me and Sam

I caved in today and went to the doctors to get some antibiotics. I'm still sick and it's now settled right into my chest, making my asthma heaps worse. I tried to do Personal Training yesterday and came over all dizzy when doing step ups!

Phil told me no running until sunday and only then if I'm better. I've also got a new inhaler, which should hopefully sort me out. I have to admit I feel like absolute crap though! Trying not to stress out over it - there's nothing I can do about it but try and get better - but am wondering if taking an entire week and a bit off training is going to have an effect on the GC...

Sick :(

I seem to have caught a really nasty flu bug and consequently, spent most of yesterday flat on my back in bed. I'm upright again today, but only just. No running for me last night and none tonight either as a result :(

I hate being sick, I really do!

On a positive note, this weekend Phil tells me I am doing the (infamous) Samford loop which is apparently comprised of 35km of hills... by then I shall hopefully be back on track and feeling 100% again!

Queensland Half :) SUB 2!!!

Soooooo *grins*

1:56!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is officially a NINE minute PB ;)

*insert obligatory screaming, shouting, jumping up and down and jerry springer dances here* I'm still practically doing cartwheels as you can probably tell... I don't think it has quite sunk in yet that I FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY managed to do it - I finally managed to break 2 hours for the half and a little more besides!

Okay (getting self together) Bit of a race report:

Woke up feeling quite average but okay, got dressed, ate some porridge and headed out of the door. By the time I arrived, I was starting to feel nervous as all hell and consequently was jumpy as anything! Saw Phil who told me to go out steady and work my way forwards from there.

Wasn't sure how I was going to go at all - physically felt good from three days of no running but then I felt good before the Brisbane half, so I didn't want to take that as an indication.

Said hello to everyone and by the time I'd been to the loo twice (nerves!) we were on the start line. A very quick warm up and then we were off. I positioned myself next to the 2 hour pace group thinking I would heed Phil's advice, go slow to begin with then try and pull ahead. The 2 hour group were doing bang on my splits for the first couple of kms anyway!

After a while, I decided to try running infront of them and see if I could just maintain that position. Poor old Rell was running with me for a while but I was so focussed on the race I was incredibly antisocial! I stuck my music on, said nothing, hopped into the zone and just went for it. I managed to say hi to a few people along the way but a lot of people cheered me as I went by and I either didn't hear, didn't see or had no energy to say hi back! Sorry guys!

The best thing about all the long runs I've been doing, is that km markers now seem to tick by nicely when I race.... no more praying for them to come. Settled into a rhythym and before I knew it, we were at the 10km marker. I looked at my splits again and realised I was ahead quite significantly - crossed 10k at a new PB of 54:20! woo!

Though that was a nice motivator, it also worried me a bit and I wondered if I was going to get to 15km or so and just blow up if I didn't slow down. I decided just to try and hold my pace and see what happened. I could possibly have speeded up a little too at times, but held back just a smidge.

Saw the CR cheer squad who were in fine form - Davo and Cirque, you guys deserve a medal for cheering so loudly! It helps sooooo much. I can't wait until you guys run and then I can do the same for you again!

I hit 15km, checked splits, still a few minutes ahead and started passing people - poor Rell got left on her own and I realised as we went around the turns that I was starting to catch some familiar faces who normally leave me in the dust. It was probably at that point that it dawned on me that I might actually manage to go sub 2 but I tried to keep the idea out of my head incase I jinxed myself!

17km came around... still feeling fine.... 18km ditto..... at 19km I started having to work a bit more - particularly when a Pat Carroller lady with long black hair came by me and we kept playing cat and mouse with each other! She got me in the end but I resisted the urge to go after her for fear of blowing up before the finish.

Then, all of a sudden, I can see the race course and the final turn into the track... and there, standing on the side of the road is Phil. I look at my watch in disbelief and start grinning madly at him. He (in typical Phil-coach style) looks at me, nods and grins to himself and then says, "Well, come on then..... put some effort in!" shooshing me towards the finish as I go by *ROTFLMAO*

The best bit of the whole race is definitely the last 100m down the track to the finish - you go right by the grandstand and everyone is cheering and yelling. It rocks! I crossed the line and screamed and jumped up and down repeatedly, bouncing all over the place.

Unfortunately for Sam, she happened to be the first person I saw as I came over the line (she was only about 40m ahead of me) and I grabbed her and hugged her and carried on jumping up and down *L* Then I had soo much fun seeing how everyone went - it seemed to be PBs all round! I was so excited I even gave myself an asthma attack but a quick dose of inhaler (Thanks Tracey!) soon fixed that.

Afterwards, I caught up with Davo and Cirque, Robert Song and Tess and many other lovely CR faces. Also got to meet IronPete *waves*

I stayed for the presentations but alas the fab random draw prizes were not to be mine :( Not that it matters, I got my sub 2 and that's enough for me!

If you'd told me last year when I crossed the line in 2:30, that I'd do 1:56 today, I would have laughed my head off, but here I am! I surprised myself today in a really big way. It wasn't anywhere near as painful as I was expecting either! I had no idea I was capable of getting any lower than just under sub 2 and was half resigned to the idea that I might never manage it. That it just might not be in me!

Today was really like all my christmasses came at once :) six months of hard work, speedwork, long runs, training runs and events have finally paid off ;) What ever happens from here on out no one can take today away from me :) It's mine - all mine! :)

Congrats to everyone who ran today, hope you all had a fab race and thankyou to the cheersquad, the volunteers, helpers and organisers :) Can't wait for next year!

New Shoes, New Skins and Busy stuff!

Whoah. Firstly, I must apologise for being slack and not reading blogs for a few days. It's assessment time at work at the moment and consequently, everything has gone nuts. What have I been doing this week?

Monday: 5km Recovery run + swim
I have decided that treadmills now bore me absolutely rigid. No wonder I never got past running 3km when I first started running - I struggled to do it on monday because it drove me so crazy not to be going anywhere!

Tuesday: Track session
Enjoyed this one - did wind sprints (tempo type runs) instead of normal sets.

Wednesday: Group run - 12km?
Bit of an easy run for a mini taper before this weekend's half.

Thursday: PT session
What else can I say but owwwwwwwww

I forgot to mention that as a result of sundays long run, I managed to reopen the blister I got at glasshouse and have spent most of this week whinging about how much it hurt. It's more or less healed again now, but I'm going to have to tape it on sunday!

Oh, and I had some running related retail therapy this week too:

I have new shoes! (same old Aasics 2110s but they work for me - and they're the new colours - turquoise and light blue)

and, even better -

I finally have full length skins! They're blue and silver. I caved in and decided being as how I'm running so long these days, I could probably put them to good use!

3:00 Long Run (32km?)

Struggled my way out of bed this morning - thankfully it wasn't unbearably cold, so I managed to extricate myself from the doona without too much trouble!

Because I did the 5km TT yesterday, I had to do my long run today. I saw a whole truckload of familiar faces along the way including Eddie, Runner Bee, half of intraining and one or two others who shouted hello whilst the sun was in my eyes (so I'm sorry if you said hello and I was vague!)

Funny how different the running crowds are on a saturday to a sunday though! The Brissie to Bay Bike rides were also on and lapped through part of the riverside bike path by the gardens. Normally not a problem for me since I've become used to dodging bikes and hearing them approach - but this ride was *full* of kids and people who obviously never get on their bikes normally - they didn't yell out on approach and were weaving precariously across both lanes and at stupid speeds. They didn't care about give way signs or slow down signs or pay much attention to the occasional marshall I saw, either. Infact, I got quite shitty after almost having to jump in the river to avoid colliding with another zigzagging yuppy on a shopper bike and was just waiting for the accident to happen. Sure enough, not three minutes later, I round the corner and there is the stupid woman, sprawled out underneath her bike on the ground after colliding with another bike.

One or two other riders stopped to pick her up and dust her off so I didn't stop but it made me more worried for the hundreds of kids riding their bikes on the path too. On the whole they seemed to be better behaved than the adults, but it was bedlam and I would be very surprised if there weren't a whole lot more serious stacks on the course.

Anyway, enough of a rant about that - at least the occasional arsey 'proper' bikers can generally ride straight and at a reasonable pace - and don't almost knock you into the drink!

The rest of my run was great - no more bonking and having to walk at 25km (It still makes me giggle to use that expression: it means entirely different things in the UK to Aus) I had about four drink stops all up and stopped to stretch briefly on one of those but overall, I felt heaps better than the last time I did that run... once I get into my rhythym, I'm fine :)

Incidentally, can any of the lovely brissie bloggers tell me how to extend a run past brekkie creek? I end up at the end of a bikepath in a small park on the riverside of the road - do you cross the road somewhere to carry on down towards the gateway bridge? I have to do 3:30 after Doomben and want to try and go a little further on my usual route! Ta!

5km TT - 25:50 again!

Woke up this morning and was about to head to the regatta when I realised that this morning was actually the 5km TT instead, with a long run tomorrow. For some reason, I thought it started at 6am, when really it starts at 6.30am and bombed it from my place to Shorncliffe in record time (30 minutes from the south side! LOL!)

In my haste, I forgot my fuel belt or I would probably have continued my long run so I could sleep in tomorrow morning. Instead I'll have to do 3 hours tomorrow. I hate rushing to get ready and get to places - puts me off kilter. Anyway, at least I made it and half an hour early at that!

Lined up with Sam, Tracey and everyone else. My butt is still chronically sore from PT on thursday and my gazelle-feeling from wednesday was gone, so I decided just to run at a quick but sustainable pace and see how I went. Was bang on at 12:30 on the turn around, but slowed a little on the return, meaning I came through the line in exactly my last PB from a few months back. Grrr! Arggh! LOL!

I spent a few moments berating myself for not pushing a tiny bit harder (because I probably could've) and getting a new PB, but then I realised that last time I ran that time, I had to hang off Angie's butt the whole way and by the time I hit the finish, I sincerely felt like I was going to die. This time, I ran how I felt and it was nowhere near as painful as the last time. I really need to find someone to hang off who wants to run 24:something ;)

So, I may not have improved my time, but it felt better - and I felt like my form has improved too. Like Cirque, I've been concentrating on lifting my chin a little, as well as lengthening my stride and keeping my shoulders/arms down to open my chest.
Tracey did a PB as did quite a few of the gals. Yay, us!

Looking forward to the Queensland Half immensely. Got a lovely email from Tanky, who offered to pace me on my 2 hour attempt :) So nice of her - have decided that since I'm sort of a woman on a mission with this whole 2 hour mark, I want to do it solo - but just you lot wait until I do finally manage to crack it - you're all on my 1:55 pacer list for sure! (if you're willing of course ;)

After the TT, went to the gym for a good stretch. My butt is soooo sore. Lunges should be band! Then I headed into the sauna to warm up. My gym membership is worth every penny in this colder weather - the sauna is the BEST way to get the chill out of your body after an early morning :) I think a repeat performance may be due tomorrow after my 3:00 hour run! I know it's not great for muscle recovery, but it's sooo good to be warm!

Crap Track but Fabulous Run!

Morning, my fellow lovely bloggers! I seem to be full of the joys of spring today :)

Monday, I decided I'd earnt a rest day after a big weekend and so I skipped my swim. It was also due to the fact that I'm currently snowed under at work!

Tuesday, I ventured back to track. Felt fantastic, but as soon as I started strides, I knew my body wasn't so keen - my left hammy was wound so tight it wasn't pleasant. It didn't hurt exactly, but it meant that I kept veering to the left and getting in front of the girls next to me. You'd think this would be an advantage at track where you're going round and round and round - but alas, not! I ended up doing one set and then calling it a night. I considered carrying on despite the hammy, but Phil told me he'd shout at me if I did, so I didn't *L*

Last night I went to do my medium long run with the group. I still felt bloody fantastic and despite some reservations on how my hammy would go, I had the best run there that I've had in ages. I didn't run at the back, I didn't fall off the back - infact, I stayed right at the front for the entire run and then felt I could've carried on afterwards!

I do love runs like that - everything comes together, breathing is great, lots of energy and body following through. I came home on such a high... I don't want to tempt fate but I feel a little like everything is starting to come together :) It's like peaks and troughs - you have a few weeks of feeling awful, then your body just adjusts and you feel great. I think I've finally shaken off the bug that was making me feel run down and am now buzzing.

This morning I had a PT session which was hard but I still feel fantastic. My mind feels clear and the GCM is on it's way. Phil jiggled the last few weeks of my program around, so now I'm looking towards a 5km TT on the weekend, 3:00 run on the weekend - the next week is Doomben Half and then there's a 20 mile BRRC meet (where I'll add on the extra to make it 3:30) then I'm almost on a taper!

WoOhoO!

Warwick Pentathrun

I feel like I've lived three weeks in two days! Another huge race report coming up, sorry!

Friday night

Left work at 3pm on friday feeling like absolute crap. The bug that I've been fighting for a few days came back with a vengeance and I felt hot and cold, fatigued and headachey. By the time I arrived, I almost felt like heading for home!

It was around 5pm when I got to Warwick and no one else was around so I headed to a nearby cafe. Had a drink and read for a while. Then got jeered at and followed back up the street by some scary looking teenage boys, so I hopped back in my car and sent a few text messages to see how everyone was progressing. Thankfully, Tess was just across the street and so I headed into the pub with them for dinner.

Cirque was picking up Jen and The Owl from the airport and arrived shortly after, closely followed by Miners. A great evening of catching up with loads of CRs ensued - so many it's impossible to remember everyone, but there must've been at least 20 of us! Saw Vegie Girl again which was lovely, and Iron Bee, who I've met previously but was the first chance I've had to sit down and have a decent chat with him. After learning all about why he wears a bee costume (raising awareness about diabetes) I'm really inspired. I'm just about the only person in my family who doesn't have diabetes, so it's a cause close to my heart too.

Turned in at about 9.30pm and hopped into bed. Had my usual pre-race dream where I'm late for the starting line. I don't know why I dreamt it this time round - I wasn't even in 'race-mode' for the weekend! Training runs, all of them! LOL! I had paid for all of saturday events and was undecided about sunday, what with the nasty cold.

Saturday Morning: The Half Marathon: 2:05

Woke up to a chorus of alarms and got dressed ready for the half. Still felt yuck, but mildly better than the night before. Lucky for us, the half left from outside the motel, so we were perfectly placed to roll out of bed and onto the start line.

Despite my intention of not wearing a watch, I did end up wearing one - mostly because I wasn't sure if they'd have a clock and I wanted to see the end time (just not the km times!) It was pretty chilly when we started out - thanks for the gloves idea, Tess! You ROCK!

The course was incredibly pretty - misty rolling hills, mountainous backdrop, wide open space and fresh air. The bonus about doing Glasshouse 30k the weekend before was that it meant the hills in the half looked like bumps *LOL* Set out at a comfortable pace and just stuck with it. When I get comfortable and get into a rhythym, I feel like I can keep chugging along for a long time - it's what everyone calls their marathon pace I guess - I just can't seem to speed it up much for a shorter distance!

The km markers were great - really clear and easy to spot from a long way off. I knocked them off one after another. Between 11-14km my stomach decided to start messing around and I started looking for suitable bushes to duck behind. Unfortunately (or rather fortunately for those behind me!) there were no decent bushes in sight, so I managed to hold on til the finish. It did however mean that as I hit about 17km I needed a slight walk break up a hill (which also happened to be when the car load of CR cheersquadders flew by, dammit!) but bit by bit, I ran down the rest and came through the finish in 2:05. Two minutes quicker than Brisbane so I'm moving in the right direction again, hurrah!

As soon as I got through the chute, I bolted for the toilet. It was highly unattractive and slightly flooded (I think the cistern had been leaking) but I had reached the point of no return! Thankfully, it wasn't until afterwards, when I flushed it, that I realised a massive frog had been sitting under the rim the entire time - ewwww! (I bet that's what it had been saying, too! poor thing! LOL!)

Event 2: Cross Country 4.8km: 28:00?

After the half, we headed back to the motel for showers, threw on clean running gear, grabbed some lunch and then off to the next race. I caught a lift with Schultzy and Geoff which was fab because I had no idea where I was going! When we arrived, I also got my first glimpse of a certain gorgeous little CR baby belonging to our very own Shane and Cassie. Sam is sooooo beautiful - I bet the two of them didn't get a minute to themselves amongst all those adoring CR aunties! (cluck, cluck, cluck!)

The cross country took place at an equestrian centre and featured grass, hills, horse jumps and more. I was pulling splinters out of my bum at the end! Literally! My legs were tired from the half still, so Jen and I tootled around. It was pretty dusty and hot by then. Hopped across the line gratefully!

Event 3: 5km Road Race 43:00?

The 5km took place at the local industrial area, beginning at the Big W distribution centre. This would have to have been my absolute favourite race, mostly because I got to run it with Cirque, Jen and the Owl. Poor Cirque wasn't feeling too well either and ran the whole race pausing regularly to almost vomit. Cirque, you are an absolute legend for running the race - I would've pulled out after 500m!!!

Other hilights included watching Miners wear the big girls blouse for the entire race and reuniting a poor little girl, crying her eyes out, with her Dad. The finish was accomplished with loud singing of 'Chariots of Fire' and 'She'll be coming round the mountain...' lots of clapping, laughing and cheering all round. Fabulous.

Saturday Night Dinner

By the time saturday night dinner came around, we were all feeling the events of the day. My legs started to stiffen up, but I decided to run the sunday events as well. Afterall, it seemed rude not to, considering I'd already done three!

The dinner took place in the hall at the aquatic centre. They played the video of the races and Iron Bee did a guest speaker spot. Then we had presentations - I got second in my age group for the half marathon (*snorks* more twenty somethings obviously need to be running the half! Or actually, not - I like getting bling!) The medal is funky - silver and hot pink!

Our table cleaned up, actually - the Cirquelets got medals for every race and so did Kate (a woman I met on the bus who was there all on her own, who we then adopted for the evening) so there was bling all round! It was great knowing so many of the medalists - much cheering and stomping of feet was had!

Dinner was great - the food was amazing for the price! But I think we were all desparate to fall into bed when it finished. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow!

Sunday Morning, Event 4 - 10km Ascent 1:17?

Jen, Owly and myself got together with Vegie and ran the 10km as a group. I must admit, I was questioning the sanity of my decision to do five races by that point. When I woke up, my legs weren't as sore as the night before, which was good but I felt tired.

We set off at a comfortable pace, with the finish car right behind us. The first part was quite good - undulating. Then when we got to 5 or 6km, true to form, the nasty great big hill started. It immediately reminded me of mount cootha - so that will be a definite training strategy for next year!

After a while, we decided that walk-run-walk-run was a far more sensible approach so started picking off landmarks for each stretch. It seemed to work and we chugged our way upwards, stopping for drinks on the way.

Reached the finish line to another loud chorus of 'She'll be coming round the mountain...' which definitely seemed more apt! Cirque was also standing 200m up from the line, cheering us on which was lovely!

Event 5: 1500m Dash 7:33

I really surprised myself with this one - a 1500m dash up the high street and back. I started out conservatively because I thought my legs would give out. Weirdly though, I managed to run at 5:00 pace and crossed the line in 7:30!

I felt better after the last race and 42.2km than I did after the initial half marathon! When I sit down and add my times up, I think I did the 42.2km in around 4:30 which is fab. I think I could probably shave some off that yet, although it's different doing it over two days than in one hit. Not sure which is the most taxing!

I also realised this weekend that realistically, my gold coast time is going to sit around that mark anyway - if I struggle to get sub 2 for a half, then 4:30 or so is probably the optimum time for me. I'm quite happy with that for now. Years to come in which to improve that marathon time, anyway - as I start to look past the Gold Coast at other events, the less pressure I feel about it. Though, the nerves are always going to be there!

----

Doubtless, I've forgotten tons of stuff - The Owl misplacing her coffee cup in the motel room for one and Jens WTF hat ;) I really enjoyed the weekend and I'll be back! Can't wait for the photos! Thanks all the Warwickers for making it a great weekend!

Go, Team CR!!!

Giant Green Asteroid!

Went to track on tuesday night and limped my way through the session - who would've thought a stupid little blister between your toes would be so painful? (I even resorted to taping a corn pad between my toes the next day!)

Track was quite gentle because most of us had done Glasshouse. Suzannah had even run 12km the next day! (mind you, it turns out that the girl runs 100km weeks!) We did about four sets of five laps at 70%. As we were standing recovering from one of them, all of a sudden this bright green flare passed overhead. At first I thought it was a firework gone awry, but it was silent. That's when we realised it was an asteroid - later confirmed by the evening news!

Apparently, people kept phoning the observatories because it was so bright! I'd never seen one so close before... it seemed like it landed quite close. A few years ago, a friend showed me an asteroid she'd found - they're really strange things - very heavy lumps of metal, covered in small bumps that look like warts. They're really cold too and perfectly round. Hah, X files, eat your heart out - come to track!

I missed the wednesday run because of work :( In my absence, I also got nominated as captain of our trivia team because 'I wasn't there to argue' LOL. I don't think they realise I'm crap at trivia LOL!

Aside from that, I've also got a nasty cold which I've been fighting with my usual mega doses of vitamin C. I'm working this afternoon until 3pm then heading down to Warwick (yaaayyyyy!) so I'm hoping I feel slightly more human by tomorrow :( Fingers crossed!

blisters, pictures and weight loss

This is one of the 'orange wall' piccies ;) I really want the high resolution copy so I can get it blown up. Everytime I look at it I grin stupidly ;)

I have the biggest, most painful blister from the weekend. It covers almost my entire little toe and goes between my toes. I've got two bandaids on it and I'm still limping! I'm hoping my trainers are a bit more comfortable than my work shoes but we'll see! Except for my nasty blister, I'm not as sore as I thought I would be actually. My hips ache a bit when I first stand up, but it's bearable. I went for a recovery swim last night which helped matters too.

Tonight is track and I don't know quite how I'm going to go, but we shall see! If I pick up okay, doing every event on the weekend is starting to look appealing (at the moment, I've just entered the saturday runs) I now have to go to a work function friday evening, so I'm debating whether to drive down late or just go saturday morning.

Weight loss continues - another half a kg gone :) yay! The diet is going okay, although I've been avoiding the protein shakes *grins* am still working on 3L of water a day though (do you think diet coke counts? *wicked grin* shhhh!

Glasshouse 30km!

I hardly know where to start with this race report! Here goes!

Got up at 3.30am and drove to Ronnie's to meet her and Sam so we could carpool. Makes the trip to races much more fun! Headed up the freeway to Beerwah and just as we got into the area, we got overtaken by a speeding Aasics van containing Phil, Di, Angie and co. It was quite lucky really since we had no real idea where we were going and we managed to follow them the rest of the way. Mind you, Phil got us lost once anyway, but we won't talk about that ;)

We arrived at the last decent loo stop aka lookout toilets before the race. It was just too early, so we all looked at the view out across the mountains as the sun rose through the mist. It is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, that's for sure. Really took my breath away and I wished I'd taken my camera! Sometimes it's nice not to though - it's as if the special moments like that, shared between a few, link you all together.

Arrived at the start and really didn't want to get out of the car. It was sooo cold! Saw CRs Veggie Girl and Davo who had been there for hours already. They were all rugged up in blankets and we had a good chat waiting for the start. Saw a lot of friendly faces which was nice and went some way to calming my nerves. Suzannah (from track) came which was lovely. It ended up being me, suzannah, angie, schultzy, phil and stu all running in our bright orange shirts as a group.

Before I knew it, we were off. Nice easy pace and a gentle up and down lulled me into a false sense of security before we turned off into the bush and down the side of the mountain. My first thought was OMG - how on earth am I going to manage 30km of this? We had to slow to a walk and carefully hop down the hillside which, like a lot of the trail, was bumpy uneven 4WD tracks, with a coating of loose dust and gravel which made it even more dangerous. I nearly went arse over tit multiple times in the first 2km, but somehow managed to stay upright (thankyou core strength exercises!)

My nose started to run and continued until the end. I spent the whole 30km continuously blowing my nose - I think I must've had hayfever or was allergic to something in the air. It was incredible *L* At least it was a distraction from my feet! We tootled along at the back and before long, arrived at the first checkpoint. I was cautiously optimistic at this point, feeling pretty strong. Perhaps it was the coldness of the start or the just the ever changing sorroundings and obstacles, but it passed by quite quickly. We grabbed some water, lollies and endura and carried on. A lot of the trail has blurred into a continuous stretch in my mind already!

For some reason, there was a huge amount of fairly deep sand along the trails. It was like running on the beach in parts! I don't know if they were just filling some of the potholes or not but it made for hard going and Schultzy remarked that it was like running at Surfers Paradise, renaming it 'Runners Paradise' (I thought it was more like Runners Hell, but what can you do?) We bobbed around as a group, running with different people at various times. I surprised myself by staying around the middle and front for a lot of the way. We walked a lot of the hills which was fine by me!

The next checkpoint was situated at the top of the biggest frigging hill I think I have ever seen. All potholed and lose gravel, too. The marshalls at the top must've had such a great view of us all chugging our way up the side of this awful, awful thing. Got to the top and drank about four straight cups of water and endura, ate more lollies and then off we went again.

By the time we got to the powerlines section, I was starting to feel it. This consisted of an array of steep rock faces, much of which we had to clamber up on hands and feet. It seemed to go up for ever and between gasps I told Phil I hated him *L* Obviously, it's a love-hate relationship like all good coaches. Needless to say, it was hard going and by the time we hit the top, I had so much sweat in my eyes I couldn't see properly!

I can't remember if it was before or after this that we also came across the most gorgeous view. We're so lucky to live in this part of the world. It was just stunning and I felt really priveleged to be able to be there to see it. How many people never bother to go further than ten minutes down the road, or even anywhere they can't get to by car? There are so many beautiful things out there just waiting to be discovered and all it takes is the effort to go looking.

We started to pass people and I continued to feel really good, even pulling ahead a tiny bit at times, with Phil wisely reigning me in. I didn't start seriously struggling until we literally had about 1km to go (by which time we'd technically already done 30km, since the course is actually 31.1km!) then despite the first and only serious bout of prodding from Phil, found myself walking up the hill. If I'd known exactly how close I really was, I may have been able to run the whole last bit, but I guess I was still trying to conserve some energy to see me to the finish. That part is all mental and something I'm going to have to continue working on.

We rounded the corner and there was the finish line! I couldn't believe it actually... I kept expecting myself to have another serious blow up and end up walking vast sections of the course, but it didn't. Which was so nice, because it renewed my faith in all this training I've been doing and my progress so far.

I think my favourite part of the race was running towards the finish line, side by side with each other - a wall of orange singlets. We could see everyone dashing for their cameras and I think they'll be some lovely piccies from it. We crossed the line in 4:01. Running as a group was sooooo good and helped so much. I'm so lucky to have such lovely running friends - not just the people who ran with me today, but all of you guys too. The support is just so fab.

All up, I think I surprised myself today. What a difference a couple of weeks can make. Once I find my pace and trust myself, I can do this stuff. I've discovered I really like trail running. I like the variety of it, the constant changing of the landscape and the path - the different obstacles along the way. It was, all in all, a great run :)

Hooray! Look out Warwick, here we come!

7km lazy lollop

Went to the Regatta this morning and had a lovely bludgy 7km or so walk interspersed with the occasional lollop. It was quite nice not to have to head down to brekkie creek for once! Met Sam for brekkie and caught up with Clairie, who I feel like I haven't seen in forever! I took a bag of my old 'fat' clothes to give to Tesso, whose neighbour is doing a clothing stall for charity. I pulled out an old brown pair of trousers of mine and we had a giggle over the hugeness. I could practically use the arse as a hammock now!

Strange letting go of the last few reminders of how I once was but also very therapeutic. The trousers were bought when I'd already lost 20kg and I clearly remember them being too tight!

Anyway... on another note....

I emailed my personal trainer yesterday to ask a couple of questions about the new diet. He cracks me up - this is what he sent back. Incidentally, if you've ever wondered where I caught the habit of calling people 'dude', this'd be where *grins*

Yes you can swap the morning and afternoon snack around. No you cannot try
to drink 3 litres of water per day, it is essential that you drink at least
3 litres per day!

*snorks* Okay. 3L it is. *cough* I also commented on how disgusting the sculpt protein drink is when made on water - to which he replied:

You can have one sculpt shake per day with no fat milk - any more
must be on water. You'll be ok, it's not going to taste like a chocolate
milkshake dude!

and then, an example of why he's fab at his job -

You can do this and it will be worth it!

Aw. I have to say, I'm feeling better for eating like this already. Though eating fruit toast without butter was a bit of a challenge today (dry as!) The scales are moving in the right direction again, however!

Right. Bed! Tomorrow is craziness and evil - must have lots of sleep for it!

Track + 15km + Food Glorious Food...

Wow, I actually went a few days without posting anything! LOL!

Tuesday was track. Reasonable session, only I felt pretty tired from the weekend. Rel came for the first time which was great - we've got such a nice group of people doing track now, it's so much fun. Painful, but fun ;)

Wednesday night was at the club. Tracey decided to run with the shorter group, so I ran with Phil's group and lucky for me, there was a new girl who had just moved up from beginners so I had some company at the back. Still felt tired from the weekend and Phil came back to run us in at the end. Repeated mantra of no-pressure to myself. I've come to terms with the idea that I'm probably going to be closer to five hours in the GCM and am working on not caring ;)

Yesterday, I went and had a PT session and got weighed and measured again. I lost half a cm from my waist, my boobs actually got slightly bigger (hurrah!) and I am down half a kg. I showed Tony my food diary, which apparently wasn't too bad. Though it did have muffins on it,here and there ;) Consequently, I am now following Tony's "Lean Mean Running Machine" diet, which looks like this:

---

BREAKFAST
Wholegrain toast x 2 with 2 egg whites and 1 whole egg
Or
1/3 cup of oats, and serving of Sculpt and skim milk

SNACK
3 Ryvita or Rice Cakes with weight watchers cottage cheese or 85g tuna snack
Or
Sculpt Bar
Or
Sculpt shake on skim milk
Or
1/3 of a can of chick peas with ¼ avocado and 4 cherry tomatoes

LUNCH
Wholegrain sandwich with 125 –150g lean meat (chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon) with salad
(For example – 6-inch subway, no cheese, no sauce, balsamic vinegar is ok)

SNACK
1 piece of fruit and a handful (approx 25g) of almonds
Or
Low fat yoghurt

DINNER
200g of grilled lean meat (steak, chicken, fish) with salad or fibrous veges (no potato, pumpkin, corn)
(For example – Kebabs, mixed grill, meat and vege stir fry, meat and salad)

NOTES
1.Allowed 2 treats per week – 2 pieces of fruit toast on Saturday morning is a good treat, try to have it without butter
2. At least 3 litres of water per day
3. Leave 90 minutes between workout and next meal
4. Alcohol – only 2 drinks per week
5. Must record exactly what was eaten on your Nutritional record sheets

---

It's always interesting talking about nutrition because I learn something every time - this time, I learnt that the porridge I was eating religiously for brekkie is not good for me (I have the flavoured stuff because unflavoured is so nasty without jam/honey/something on it) I also learnt apples after lunchtime aren't good either.

I think I can probably follow this plan. I had the breakfast this morning and liked that. The thing I'm going to struggle with will be drinking 3 litres of water a day. The sculpt stuff is protein powder/bars - I don't always have time or opportunity to eat during my work day, so they're really an easy alternative. I've got to say it's bloody revolting stuff though. One of the worst protein powders I've tried! Oh well! Perhaps it'll grow on me. Haven't tried the bars yet.

Today is a rest day, tomorrow will be a very cruisy 5-10km (if that!) before glasshouse on sunday. I know I keep saying it, but I'm sooooo nervous!

Mt Mee 10km

My cold seems to be in suspended animation, so I headed out to Mount Mee for the 10km this morning. Tracey, Rel, Ronnie and I carpooled and the trip up was great fun. It's such a beautiful area - really scenic and being a passenger gave me a chance to appreciate the views.

When I woke up, my legs were really, REALLY sore from yesterday's 30km+ and I felt slightly nervous at the prospect of having to run a 'slightly' *cough* hilly 10km. I really didn't care how long it took me or how much I walked and yay for me, Tracey was in the same sort of mood, so we plodded along together, walked up the steepest hills and generally gossiped away the run.

The return route was much easier for some reason, despite it being an out and back course. I think perhaps we had more downhill on the way home. Certainly felt like it, although there were one or two killer hills in there too. Arrived back at 'base camp'
at about 1:07 *LOL* but as I say, this new no-pressure strategy of mine seems to be working because I couldn't have cared less!

The scenery on the run was fantastic and the company great - It was nice to do a run that was comfortable like that (it's been a while!) My legs were feeling it, but the walks up the worst hills took the edge off. I can remember when doing 10km two days in a row used to kill me, so today was a good chance to count my blessings :)

Also got a chance to have a chat with Karen (CR Karisma) which was lovely *waves* - I haven't seen much of her lately with all the races around the place. She is such a calm person and through the things she says, reminds me why I love to run and why the journey is just as important as the finish line :)

Incidentally, it seems half of you keep getting redirected to bible websites via my blog URL! As Tanky says, maybe I'm being targetted, LOL! Not that I'm getting all conspiracy theory or anything, but funny they hone in on the resident pagan CR blogger! LOL! Is it happening to any of you?

And to answer Tess (I think it was Tess who asked!) question - I'm doing the 30km at Glasshouse and I'm quite scared *grins*

According to my new revamped Tony-PT-esque training schedule, tomorrow is a 5km recovery run followed by 20 minute swim.

Hope you all had a fab weekend :)

Three Hours Something, max HR and cramps

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten...

-Natasha Bedingfield, Unwritten

I think this would have to be one of my all time favourite songs... I listen to it a lot on my ipod and it makes me feel like everything is right with the world ;)

Met up with the Running Buddies crew this morning to do 3:10. Schultzy ran with me, even though I knew I would be incredibly slow, all things considered! I went to bed really early the last two nights and had a nap this afternoon and my cold seems to be improving. I hadn't realised just how tired I was on top of everything else. I may have to start having early nights as a matter of course!

We ran from the Regatta down to Breakfast Creek and then out towards the Gateway Bridge - we turned at the end of the footpath in a small park by the river. I felt bloody fantastic all the way back until the Botanical Gardens, when I started to struggle somewhat (the last 5kms) I ended up doing a walk-run-walk-run to try and ease my calves which were cramping like all hell. I was really thirsty - I don't think I've ever drunk so much on a run! (perhaps that's why the cramps?)

The interesting thing was that Schultzy is really good at splits and we were going at an even pace for the 25km. I even wore my heartrate monitor for once, and it sat on 160 for the entire run. Once I'd started struggling a little, it went up to 165, but no more. I still have yet to find out exactly what my max is (should really wear it at the next 5km TT) but according to an online calculator and my resting heart rate of 55, it should be around 198 - which makes 160 around 80% - no idea if that's ideal or not... Time to do some research!

Pretty tired from this morning - am feeling slightly nervous about Mt Mee tomorrow! Ah well...

PT Epiphany :)

I am coming down with a nasty cold I think :( Haven't had enough sleep over the last few days and working really, really hard so I guess it was just a matter of time til I got the lurgy. Have taken half a ton of vitamin C and went to bed at 7.30pm last night so hopefully I can fight it off!

Yesterday I went and had the best personal training session... he sat down with me and we started plotting out my program between now and the GCM. Mine was no good by all accounts - got told off for not incorporating an easy week, er, ever. Apparently, the plateau's in my running program do not equate to an easy week... it's a bit delicate trying to balance my trainer's program with Phil's, but Tony (trainer) seems happy to leave that side of things to Phil and work with me on weights, other cardio and nutrition. I've been training with Tony for about three years now and it's quite amusing that he knows me so well -

One of the things that made heaps of sense to me was when he said that if you train really hard all the time, with no easy week to recover, you end up being able to train all the time but you're only about to put in 70% effort - whereas, if you recover fully and regularly allow your body to adjust, you might be doing less sessions but those you do, you do at 100% and get better results. It made me turn red and grin actually because this is exactly my problem - my instinct, when I've gotten really crap results, is to think I should be pushing harder - which usually only makes it worse!

Everyone has been saying this to me in numerous ways, but for some reason it didn't really click in my head until Tony said it.... so consequently, I've decided to bump PT up to weekly sessions (currently fortnightly) until the GCM, to keep me on track with nutrition and losing weight - and to keep myself in check ;)

I came away feeling a lot more positive about things. I don't even care that I've done the bare minimum of what I set out to do this week in training... if this cold doesn't improve tomorrow, I may even take the rest of the week off entirely. It's a bummer because I've paid for Mt Mee already, but maybe I'll be okay by then :)

track and 10k

Woe! I looked at the weekend results tonight and lo and behold, I did worse than I thought. Have built a bridge however and am mostly over it :)

Went to track last night and did a reasonable session. Phil pulled Schultzy and I out one set early for warm down. I was still quite sore yesterday, so I didn't complain. Phil gave me another pep talk which helped. I am immensely stubborn about this whole running lark, it seems... I'm so impatient to get better and improve that I seem to end up being my own worst enemy sometimes! Anyway, I digress...

Woke up this morning feeling less sore, but still tired. The new training plan morning sessions have been absent this week thus far - mostly because I didn't bargain on feeling so bushed from the weekend. I think it's going to take me a few days to recover properly. I'm not too concerned because I know I've got a big weekend coming up with Mt Mee and a long run.

Tonight I ran with the slower group - did about 10km, although they weren't slower at all really. Few people in that that should shift up to the next group. Felt a bit blah about not sticking in with the usual crowd, but I just need some time to find my feet again I think.... some sense of running-equilibrium.

On the plus side, weight loss appears to be going reasonably well.... PT session tomorrow :)

Thoughts, Plans :)

Spent this morning having a therapy session with some weights at the gym, then had a sauna and vegged out in the aromatherapy room whilst thinking everything through. Onwards and upwards, as they say!

Thankyou all for your comments... they all made sense. Shane, you're right - I do think too much and I'll have to see if I can remedy that situation! Music seems to help :) I'm not going to kill myself by doing huge sudden increases in training, but I am going to try to maximise my chances of improving along the way to the GCM. This means fitting in a bit more yoga, a bit more cardio and really, really trying to drop a few more kgs. One of the ways I can do that is to keep myself very, very busy so that I don't have time to eat more than I should!

I've been thinking about why I haven't been able to lose any more weight in the last few months. It's another one of those annoying things - I managed to lose 50kgs but all of a sudden, now I struggle three times as hard just to move five. Every time I've tried recently, I've come to a grinding halt. No point in making yet more excuses for why that might be... I know what I have to do, I just have to buckle down and do it! So you can all expect copious amounts of food and weight related entries in the next month or so as I try to keep myself honest!

My new job has unsettled my routine a little and so today has been a great opportunity to refocus and work out ways around the occasions where things clash.

The next week look like this. My plan is to see how I go and adjust accordingly:

Mon
am: weights
pm: REST

Tues
am: gym
pm: track session

Weds
am: BodyCombat
pm: Run Inn 15km

Thurs
am: PT session (Weights)
pm: RPM/gym (dep on legs!)

Fri
am: easy 10km
pm: Body Balance

Sat
am: Long Run (3:10) Yoga
pm: REST

Sun
am: Mount Mee 10km
pm: REST

Brisbane Half :-( Argh!

Well, I really should've known today's race wasn't going to go to plan when I (once again!) managed to turn my alarm clock off in my sleep - despite the fact that I put it on the other side of the room for that exact reason!

Luckily, my brain decided to wake me up at 5.30am, at which point I leapt ten foot skyward, dressed extrodinarily quickly and was at the race with 15 minutes to spare before the gun went off. Plenty of time *L* I actually hate it when things like that happen - I like to have a little bit of time to make sure I've got everything and get in the right head space, so it threw me a little bit.

Started bumping into familiar faces pretty quickly, and felt incredibly nervous. Found MJ and Chelle who were both pacing - 2:00 and 2:10. Everyone was so lovely and about eight million people wished me luck for sub 2. We started all of a sudden, no gun (at least, I didn't hear it if there was!). The first couple of km's were immensely overcrowded - tried to hang with the 1:55 pacers but kept getting stuck behind slower runners and had to sprint clear stretches to stay in the same ballpark.

Strangely, I felt very good in the first 3km, whereas usually I feel awful. Bit of an omen no doubt, since everything basically went downhill from there. We went over the Goodwill Bridge, down to the regatta, back up, around the gardens once, before coming back over the bridge, down to the West End, to home. By the time I hit 9km I felt absolutely shocking. It was really humid and I walked through several drink stops.

Worse than that though, was the mind games I had going on with myself. Feeling that bad, that early really, really messed with my head and I found myself wondering how on earth I ever thought I would be able to run the GCM if I felt that bad on a half, which I've been running (and then some!) practically every weekend for the last three months. I even found myself thinking, well, maybe I'm just not built to be able to run quicker than this... *shudders* it's such a defeatist way to think about it, I can't bear it - but on the run it all seems so logical!

I watched the 1:55 pacers disappear into the distance, then despite giving me loads of encouragement, lovely Chelle also slid by. That was the point at which I realised I'd really, really buggered it. I guess part of the mara training has been about maintaining a slow pace for a long time, so once I'd dropped back to that, I felt somewhat reasonable again and had no worries with keeping running - it's just not a fast enough pace for sub 2.

Saw the CR cheersquad, who were doing a fab job out at the West End! It helps soooo much to have that sort of encouragement and even though I felt so awful, hearing everyone barracking for me put a massive smile on my face.

Came through the line and saw the clock, which read something like 2:34 (not entirely sure on this - will have to check my time once they're up) and had a complete meltdown, forgetting that 30 minutes of that was the marathon timing. So for about five minutes I thought I'd run my slowest half ever *L* Sooooo not a good feeling.

At which point, Miners came over to say hello and found me absolutely bawling my eyes out. *L* The lovely man gave me a giant hug, despite me being all sweaty, snotty and disgusting (he hadn't done his 10km yet so was all clean and fresh!) and I got control of my drama queen self. I just get so emotionally invested in my running - I'm not sure it's an entirely healthy approach really, but if you're training hard, there's just no way around it, as far as I can see!

Chelle came over and enlightened me about the extra 30 minutes and I felt slightly better and then I started finding out heaps of people had had bad runs. The humidity perhaps, or maybe even just the course being so familiar to a lot of us. I'm not sure. Saw Phil after the run and he gave me a hug too, bless him. He's such a star - I feel really lucky to have someone like that coaching me. He always knows just what to say.

After the random draws, I headed up to the Ship Inn and grabbed some food with Mark (IlikeToast) Katy (Ihatetoast) Tess, Cato and Julia Thorn. Gossiped about Warwick and the run and everything inbetween. Then I came home and am contemplating a snooze.

I'm not feeling as upset about missing sub 2 as I was - I'm still incredibly, incredibly frustrated because I know I'm capable of it. I know I can do it - I'm training my arse off and it just seems soooo unfair that I couldn't pull it off today. It means I'll be trying for sub 2 at Doomben/Warwick Half instead. Hopefully the weather will be kinder and I'll have a better day at the office! I suppose in the long term, the goal is the GCM not a half, so I have to bear that in mind, but it would be soooo nice to be able to crack this goal, this sub 2 thing that I've been trying to do for a year!

Although Phil reckons I just had a bad day, today really did spur me on to try to step up my training a bit - so I'm going to vamp up my weekly plan a bit and try and fit in another run, some more cardio and another weights session each week. It means I'll be training twice a day most days, but I think that as long as I make sure I take my rest day I should cope. However slow I may be, I think my endurance has improved enough to cope with it! I'm also going to try and boost my efforts to drop some more weight (not that I'm not ever not trying, really!)

So listen here, Running Gods - shove me and I'll shove back harder!

track + lazy 8km

Thanks for all your supportive comments - I think Six Foot is now definitely on the cards! Shane, you're a genius - Kurruwa 50km would be a perfect qualifying race for it - thinking back on how horrific I found the 25km last year and how I swore I'd never do it again - if I can manage the 50km in those temperatures, I think I should be qualified to enter the biggie by the time march rolls around!

It sounds weird, but I think plotting my next adventure post GCM is exactly what I need for a bit of a boost in motivation. I'm over half way through my program for GC and am starting to feel slightly flat from it. Not tired exactly, but not driven as strongly. So this will be a great pick me up.

On tuesday night at track, one of the boys was getting married and so we had a celebratory beer mile for him. I feel like throwing up at the best of times at track, so I watched and ran, rather than drinking beer, eating chips and pizza and then running. It was quite hilarious listening to the results - the burps were so loud I half thought I was running with Tanky ;) After that we watched one of those 30 second marathon videos of one of the Six Foot Survivors - which made me feel even more like throwing up *grins* from omg-what-am-I-thinking nerves.

On wednesday morning I went and ran a very lazy 8km or so. Tonight I think I'll head to the gym and try and do the same on the tready - purely so I can watch 'The Biggest Loser' Finale at the same time!

The weekend is getting closer and the nerves are starting to set in...

Six Foot/Feet under?

PT session yesterday, which has decimated my abs. I think my stomach may never recover! *winces*

Got talking to Tony (trainer) who is a really bad influence on me at the best of times *L* and now I already find myself contemplating what to do after the GCM. I plan to have a few weeks easy to recover, but as I said in one of my last posts, I don't really want to let my long runs slide too much. (Not that I want to run 3 hours every weekend by any stretch, but I'd like to stick with 2 at least)

So now I'm thinking I want another giant, impossible goal to aim for.... the hardest thing I can possibly think of... the thing I doubt I'd ever be able to do (so I can prove to myself I can) *deep breath*.....

I want to do Six Foot.

This leaves me with several things to contemplate. One, being whether it would be good for me to sustain/ramp up training so soon after a marathon.... another being whether they'd let me in, not having run a sub 4 marathon (although, there was the six hour event at caboolture) - The next six foot is in march 07, and I might have to find a marathon to run before then - there's one at Toowoomba I could do. Hills would be advantageous too.

Mnnn. I must be absolutely nuts. Do you think I'm insane? I haven't mentioned the idea to Phil as yet, because I know exactly what he'll say ;) (may have to leave that til after GCM at least!)

Track session, tonight!

3:40 Long Run (oops!) and a Trophy!

Yesterday I went out to do my longest run yet, 3:00 hours. I woke up at 5am, then somehow managed to reset my alarm clock to 6am in my sleep! I woke up an hour later and realised what I'd done. I almost stayed in bed and resolved to run today instead, but last night was The Run Inn Xmas Party, so I knew there'd be no chance of me getting up any earlier this morning!

Consequently, by the time I arrived at the Regatta and started running it was 7am and I wasn't looking forward to the hotter weather. Plus, as I ran down the first 5km stretch of the bike path, I kept seeing everyone else on their return leg! Lots and lots of people out there in preparation for the Brisbane Marathon next weekend. It made for a nice, pumped up pre-race atmosphere, anyway!

Last week, MJ showed me the way to get down to Breakfast Creek, so I headed out there. This time, even though I knew it would take me over my 3 hours a little, I ran the extra bit to the hotel because I could see the clock tower and I felt sooooo much better than last week at the 15km mark! I was probably a little too cocky for my own good though, since by 20km, I was starting to feel it.

On the way back, I realised that everything looks a whole lot different and consequently somehow managed to take a wrong turn through Hamilton and got lost. First time that's happened to me on a run and not a very nice feeling!!! The markets were also on at the Powerhouse (en-route) so by the time I had found my way back to where I should have been and fought my way through the markets again, I was about twenty minutes later than I should've been. After the 3 hour mark came and went and I was still 5km or so away, there were also a few more walk breaks!

I rolled back into the Regatta with a 3:40 total run.

Oops!

On the one hand it was interesting because I compared it to how I felt at Caboolture at the 3:30 mark, where I was walking a lot more and realised I felt a lot better. But I have to say I'm a bit worried about how I'm going to pull up for track on tuesday and whether I'll be recovered for the half on sunday! I told Phil about my adventure and he said not to worry, so I suppose I'll just take things as they come. There's always the Queensland Half for breaking 2 if it doesn't happen this time.

Last night was the Run Inn Xmas party and was heaps of fun with over 100 people attending. Even more of a surprise was that I won the club 'Encouragement' Award! My first trophy! *grins* It was so lovely of them, and such a surprise! It's going to have pride of place somewhere prominent!!!

$65 a month shoe habit? argh!0.

Track last night - drills, which was fun - sets of three loop repeats which was not - I'm feeling the effects of my longer runs at the moment and felt like I had concrete boots.

Went to the group run tonight - 14km out to Albany Creek and back *moans* hills and more hills with very few drink stops and very little light. Struggled with the first 5km but gradually warmed up and then on some insistance from coach phil got shoved up the front and managed to keep up with the quicker people for a few kms. Didn't finish at the front, but wasn't at the back, either :)

The benefits of all these looonnggg runs seems to be that at that point where most people are starting to slow down to a reasonable pace, I'm finally starting to feel half decent and hitting my stride. It's quite comforting really, although the first part of a run never fails to feel nasty, the first 3km particularly. I'm thinking, after the marathon is over and I've had a rest, I might try to keep my normal long run at 2 hours or so.

I also think I need new shoes again. My left foot and shin started to hurt a little and I've learnt that's usually a sign that I need new ones. I bought my last pair in early february, before Caboolture - it's now the end of april, so three months worth of running (600kms or so?) and they're stuffed. If this keeps up, that works out to be a $65 a month shoe habit. *rolls eyes* I know, I know - can't do without proper shoes, but at this rate, I'm never going to pay my mastercard off!

Did my entry for GCM tonight too. Got my first real dose of butterflies as I ticked "marathon", too! It's all locked in now ;) I've been catching up on my race entries as well - paid for the brisbane half too - I've decided I might try and stick with the 1:55 pacers, see what happens... bit scared of running with pacers because it's a bit more pressure, but I figure I may even know them, so might as well take my shot. I'm going to combust if I don't break 2 hours, anyway!

2:50 Long Run

On thursday I compensated for missing my usual group run and went out for a 15km run alone. Ran near my house and it made me realise I run a bloody lot further in 1:30 these days! LOL! Got all the way down past the QE2 athletics stadium and half way to McGregor. Quite bizarre! *L*

Did a verrrryyyy hard very long 2:50 this morning. All I can say is THANKYOU MJ!!!!! She caught up with me and decided to run the whole way with me. Not only that, but she showed me how to join onto the next section of bikepath that runs from new farm out to the gateway bridge. By 2:30 I was starting to struggle and there were a few walk breaks. But I made it!

I have to say I am absolutely stuffed though - was away with the fairies when we finally got back to the regatta. But brekkie and a full fat coke with Tess, Clairie, Nick, Liz et al. soon fixed that. My legs are incredibly sore. I think we ran the distance a bit faster than I would run on my own (which happens when you have company no doubt!) so that's prolly why I'm feeling it!

Tess, I must've been hallucinating when I told you my iPod Nano was $100 - I was thinking of the shuffle I nearly bought - it was actually $219 for a 1GB nano. I think I'm in denial (or rather, my credit card is!) LOL! Lovely to see you gals for brekkie and hear canberra stories, too :)

track

Did track last night. Even though I grunt and groan and complain about it a fair bit, I'm really enjoying it. It makes me wish I'd stopped arsing about months ago and done it regularly. It's come as a bit of a surprise to me that I can actually sprint!

I have this theory that I'm built for comfort not speed in my running... but I'm starting to think I may need to build a little clause into there that says, built for comfort, not for speed - except where competitive spirit kicks in! I really just can't help myself when I see someone between me and within a reasonable distance of the finish line ;)

Anyway, my new job is going really well and I'm enjoying it - unfortunately I had to work tonight and then next wednesday (for the other job!) instead of running with the group, so I'll have to make up for it tomorrow morning (and next week) on my own - but at least I have my music to keep me company now ;) Bring on the iPod nano flavoured goodness ;)

I will be working through all the bank holidays unfortunately, catching up on marking but am intent on doing my best to squish in lots of running and catching up on all your blogs!

The Runners Blessing

The Runners Blessing

May you have cool, still nights
and the promise of clear, endless morning.
May the sun rise to greet you with open arms;
and the horizon bow deep beneath your feet.

May you always have water to quench your thirst,
Air to fill your lungs and joy to lift your heart.
May your feet carry you wisely
Swift or slow, towards home.

May you always have heart for your fellow travellers,
and the rhythm of the road to guide you;
May you know the sweetness of victory,
The sorrow of loss and the surrender of both.

--Hannah Broom

(I'm feeling all poetic after seeing the dolphins and reading all the canberra victory posts! Can you tell?)

LSR 2:40 + Sonomas Fun Run

You know how I said I wasn't going to buy music til next pay? Well, I lied ;) I bought an ipod nano yesterday and it rocks :)
I'm forseeing 5k, 10k, 21.1k and 42.2k playlists, all set with the right tempo music for the runs :) My credit card isn't too happy, but I really don't care!

Long run today of 2:40, which I cobbled together from various bits of running. Got up at 4am and went out to Sandgate for the Sonomas Fun Run. Was good to get a bit of a change of scenery, and meant that by joining that 8km race in, I got to run with people some of the way. I must admit, I struggled to get up this morning - now it's getting cooler, it's getting more of a challenge to separate body from nice warm doona! But I did, thinking of everyone down at Canberra, where it's much colder!

Set off at 5am alone and did a 1:30 stretch alone, out along the bay and over the old bridge (no cars! bliss!) Just as I was going over the bridge, the sun came up and the entire sky was absolute scarlet. It's moments like that that the photographer in me comes out and I wish for a camera... but at the same time, it's sort of nice to keep moments like that just for me. It was stunning, anyway - one of the best sunrises I've ever seen.

Arrived back at the race to register and then Tracey and I headed out for another 20 minutes or so while we waited for the 7.30 start. Then off we went for the 8km race. I had planned to do my 2 hours before the race, so I wouldn't have to run extra, but I just couldn't bring myself to get up earlier than 4am, in order to fit it in! We went slowly for the first few kms - got to admit, stopping for anything longer than a minute in the middle of a long run makes it murder to start off again! Like warming up all over again.

As we rounded the bay, we were running right next to the water and we looked down beside us to see a gorgeous dolphin swimming along... another magic moment - how lucky were we?

By half way, we'd speeded up somewhat and then that we weren't that far behind Angie, who'd also joined on her long run, running from home to the race. In the last few kms, we could see her not to far ahead, fading. So even though I had sworn I wasn't going to race, I took off after her. As I went past she said she had a stitch. Then I sped up even more towards the line. Stuff like this irritates me because the fact that I could sprint obviously means I can go at a faster general pace, but I never know I have it in me til I see the finish line LOL (It's all psychological, I'm sure!)

Crossed the line and as I was getting my breath back, Tracey comes up and grabs me - turns out she sped up once she saw me going ahead and passed Angie as well! I was so happy for her - she's been working really hard at her running lately and it's all starting to pay off! *go tracey, go tracey, go tracey!* (does jerry springer dance) Poor old Ange wasn't having a good day.

Crossed the line and went for another warm down run, to make my time up to 2:40, et voila. Feeling good, feeling like I'm making progress. A nice morning was made even better when I got home, I hopped on the internet to find Clairie had done 2.23 at Canberra! Ya Little Ripper! Awesome stuff... Can't wait to hear/read all about it :)

14km Medium Run

Oh dear, I've been a very bad slack blogger lately - I'm struggling to keep up with everyone's blogs at the moment! Apologies and hope to read all my lovely commenters entries over the weekend! I will have an excuse for that as of next week - I start a new part time job next week, so will be going between that and teaching - will hopefully equate to full time income finally and then I can really put my business to bed :)

Shane asked if I had my retail therapy and bought an ipod/ishuffle for my long runs, but unfortunately, I decided to wait til my next pay since I rather emptied the coffers on running clothes this fortnight ;) But, there will be music coming my way soon. If there isn't I sincerely may go mad!

Oh, and I'm thinking the theory about one calf chafing from running loops at track was spot on! Thanks!

After my long run on saturday and a very late, somewhat drunken night out, I took sunday off. Monday I felt unwell (thought perhaps I was coming down with a bug) so I didn't run. By yesterday I was absolutely chewing the doorframe I was that keen to get out there! LOL! So I drove to track, all ready to kick my own butt and then some terribly inconsiderate thunderstorm started and so there was no speedwork for me. Rain I can handle - lightning no one seems to be game enough for. If I'd bumped into any of the others (who apparently showed, but I missed them) I may have done it anyway ;)

So, tonight I was all set for a big run with the run inn crowd and thankfully no thunder and lightning this time. Bit of rain though. Was interesting running without track actually - good for comparison. Kept up with the middle of the pack much more easily, though I spent the entire run with a stitch in one side, then on the other (too much lunch!) I'm still feeling a bit more speedy which is nice - trying not to get too complacent because as I've said, I'm sure the minute I start hiking my long runs up some more, I'll slow back down!

Everyone keeps commenting to me lately that I'm looking really fit and skinnier ;) Which is lovely of them, but I just can't work out why! My scales say I've lost maybe a kg or two, but nothing noticable. Maybe it's the new gear ;) Having said that, I certainly feel fitter so who knows! It gives me motivation to really work at the weight loss though - if I can't shift it during hardcore trianing, I'm never going to! I wish this whole losing weight thing came more easily to me - I lost 50kgs, why can't I make myself shift another 8kg? It's insane!

Anyways, thinking of doing my long run out at Sandgate on the weekend for a bit of a change of scenery - there's the Sonoma's fun run on too (8km) so if I time myself right, I can join it on as part of the long run.... actually supposed to do 2:40 this week (finally! yay!) so I'll have to run at least 2 hours before that.

Hope you're all doing well! Shall catch up on blogs soon, promise!

2:30 Long Run

I think I'm starting to settle in to having to do my long runs alone. I've set them up so that at least I finish at about the same time as the other running buddies and can have brekkie with them, so I guess it's not really like I'm all alone! LOL!

Ran down to New Farm again and did a loop around the powerhouse. Tried to find my way further down (towards the gateway) but couldn't work out how the roads joined up. I'll have to look at a map for next time. Got to my last turn around in record time (like, 15 minutes quicker than last time?) which was quite bizarre! Slightly annoying because it means I end up joining time on to the end of the route, but I'm not complaining! Faster running = very good.

I feel a little bit like I've finally shifted out of second gear and into third. Hopefully I can continue feeling this good, though I suspect that as I progress through my program, there'll be times where my body has to catch up to itself again. That's what the plateaus are for no doubt! This was week 8 of 20 - approaching half way point! Scary, exciting stuff ;) Next week I finally start upping the times until I hit 3:10 and my next plateau.

Bumped into Tess at Brekkie and wished her luck for Canberra - she was just off to the physio to get the prognosis on running the big M. I hope everyone who is running it does fabulously... I can't wait to see how you all go!

Break on through to the other siiiidddeeee :)

Monday:

Went out to Sandgate for the social run. Hammys were a tad achey from the 21km the day before. Did 8km at five something pace which surprised me because it felt wayyyy slower. Nice to run right next to waves crashing against the walkway, very dramatic (if slightly damp on occasion!) After 5km, soreness and tiredness started to fade slightly and was able to pick it up and even ended in a sprint finish (where on earth did that come from?) Ha! *grins*

Tuesday:

Track session - felt like poo, but ignored my legs and carried on. Think I was a bit slower than usual, but tiredness probably to blame! We did drills again - I love those, and the strides at the start too... zooming along is so satisfying :) It's the continuous laps with jog recovery that I dislike!

Mysteriously, also managed to chafe the inside of my right calf muscle... I must run with my feet closer together when I'm tired or something - never managed it before! If I'm hitting one leg with the other, makes me wonder why my left one wasn't chafed too! Either that, or perhaps my calves are getting fatter? LOL!

Today and Tonight

Went into the city today and to my delight, found rebel sports was having a massive sale - loads of running gear reduced and then an extra 50% off the reduced price! Hence, running tops, shorts and bra-tops (brooks, addidas, nike, aasics etc) for $20-30! Mens stuff too, so well worth a trip for brissiefolk, I reckon! (hear my bank manager scream - but at least I look funky and for a fraction of the normal price!)

Was feeling really apprehensive about tonight, considering I've been running five days in a row without a break. That said, I think I'm finally starting to feel the results of all the extra effort I've been putting in - tonight's run was soooo much easier. Had a sense of things starting to just click into place. Phil said we weren't really going any slower than previous weeks - but there were less hills. Anyway, woohoo, definitely a breakthrough night. Finished feeling like I could've carried on and almost did a small victory dance because yes, get this - I finally managed to stay with the pack!! Without crying or hyperventilating, either ;)

So all in all, I'm feeling quite pleased with myself tonight - I didn't realise just how much I needed to have a 'good' run and even though sunday didn't work out quite the way I wanted, I felt good then too, so really that makes two good runs this week :)

Absolutely blissful not to feel like I had concrete feet :) We sorted our gold coast accommodation tonight as well and it's all feeling a bit more real and getting exciting :) Can't wait!

Happy Me :) (endorphin'd up)

Local pool

5km TT 27:07 + 21km 2:05 PB

Huge Post, I'm afraid! Sorry :)

Saturday: 5km TT @ 27:07

Yesterday I went and did the 5km TT at Shorncliffe again. Sort of knew I wasn't going to do a PB again. Personal Training seems to be playing havoc with my running at the moment - doesn't matter when I schedule it, I end up being sore during one run or another which makes me slower! I had PT on *thursday* and by *saturday* I was still feeling the effects of the weights session - and he didn't even work my legs hard because I asked him not to! *cough* LOL!

Tracey made it to the TT despite having accidentally slept in due to too much champagne the night before (the benefits of catching a lift with other runners I guess - there's no escape and they will come and beat on your door until you get up *weg*) Usual suspects were there... Schultzy, John, Angie, Joan, Phil and Di of course! Saw Shane and his partner too, who seemed really nice, though I didn't get a chance to say hi to her. Next time! Non-running partners who come to watch their other halves at ridiculous hours of the morning on a weekend must really be special people to my mind! Mr Clairie has always blown me away too, in that regard ;)

Angie arrived with an evil glint in her eye and sure enough, took off as soon as we were over the line. Trace and I ran together for the first half and we weren't too far behind for most of the first half, but just as we approached the turn around, she started to feel the effects of the night before and despite me trying to gee her on between wheezes, couldn't pull her with me. Started to speed up, though I knew I wasn't going to do a very good time. Crossed the line in 27:07 which I wasn't very impressed with really, but such is life! Aside from that, I knew I'd be running long the next day so figured perhaps saving the juice was a wise move.

Sunday: 21km @ BRRC 7-35km Self Select: 2:05

Got up at 4:30am and realised winter is definately on it's way - it was quite cold! Got dressed, threw on a jumper and headed to the West End. Clairie was marshalling, but felt like people were missing too - Tesso being a notable absence, poor thing. The Moo Tri is on this weekend, so a few people were up the coast for that, too. Leg muscles felt slightly less sore, although I've got a niggle in my right calf muscle - feels exactly like the intial twinge you get before a big cramp. Am not very impressed with it and holding my breath that it sorts itself out. I'm not sure if it's the start of something that I should rest early or if I should just carry on running and hope it resolves itself, as most niggles do.

I made the mistake this morning of starting the race whilst undecided on quite how far/long I was going to run. Big mistake, huge - meant I couldn't settle into a pace for a while and caused havoc with my 'gameplan'. Technically, I was supposed to do 2:20 for an easy week. I hate finishing mid lap though, so I knew I'd either be doing 21k or 28k (loops of 7k)

We all set off together and I let the pack zoom off ahead, even the people I knew would be running at a similar pace to me. That's the thing about the self select - you can't be sure how far everyone is going, so you can't use them as pacers for the distance. It took me the first 2km or so to warm up and get into my groove, then I started to feel really good. Which came as quite a surprise really - I was going at a faster pace than normal. Even more of a surprise though, was that I started reeling people in and passing them and turns out they were the 14km runners so by all rights should've been leaving me in the dust!

I knew I'd be in trouble if I went too quickly, particularly if I did the 28km at that pace, but I felt so comfortable, I decided to see how long I could hold the faster pace. Zoomed through the 7km mark and didn't need to stop for water - drank as I went. That in itself is an indication to me that I was going well - last month I ran the 10 mile there after a TT the previous day in 1:46 and I **had** to stop for water twice I think.

Passed a few more people on the next loop - had a bit of fun with a girl in green, where we went back and forth for a while, before she finally got me 500m from the end of the loop because she was finishing! (another 14km runner). Even more of a surprise was then passing one of the girls who does tuesday track sessions with me and usually whips my butt ;) When I hit the next turn and could see I was widening the gap between her and me, I committed to just putting everything I had into the next loop and finishing hard at 21km. I must admit, I had aspirations of finally cracking that sub 2 half and I'd been running five-something kms the whole way.

It wasn't until I hit about 17kms that I started to realise I'd gone out too hard... my breathing was fine, it was more a case of tired legs. I started that horrible process where you watch your splits slowly go down the pan with each subsequent km marker. The sun had come out and it was heating up and I basically blew up and started to slllooowwww down quite spectacularly.

Crossed the line in almost exactly 2:05. Which is actually a PB of 5 minutes, since the last half I did was Noosa last year in 2:10. Have to admit to being annoyed at myself though - if I'd paced myself better, I think I could've cracked 2:00 today, but because I didn't decide to go for it until the second loop, my very early kms were slower than they should've been and the majority were too fast. If I'd stuck to bang on 6:00 pace, I might've squeaked in.

Anyway. instead of moaning about it, I'm really just going to try to learn from it:

Things I learnt

- decide on game plan before the race, not during!
- tapering makes me faster, PT and running a 5k TT the day before trying to race, does not.
- gels work for me (thanks clairie!)
- My first half took me 2:30, the second 2:15 and the third 2:10. I've just done 2:05, so next up surely is 2:00? *L*

Up to now, my long slow runs have been exactly that - long and slow. I'd say around 7:00 pace (comfy and feel like I can run that forever) I'm now wondering though, if I should try to amp up the pace in those to 6:00 if that's what I want to do in the marathon. Or should I stay with the same reliable plod for time and carry on doing fast for midweek run and speedwork?

Track and 14km Medium Run

Thankfully, this weeks track session and medium run were a bit kinder to me ;) Seems Phil actually reads my blog from time to time *LOL*

Track involved more drills which I really like - short sharp sprints and various strides and pick ups. Hard work but fun. Then tonight we had slightly less fast run than last week (thank the gods!) but it did include some nasty nasty hills. Anyway, I feel like I coped slightly better. Didn't get too far behind the others (though I think the hanging-with-the-pack theory will take some more work yet!

Operation Anti-Wobble has fallen by the way side in the last couple of weeks but is now firmly back in place. Only trouble is that I'm right back where I started before plus two kgs but better to get back on the wagon now, than not at all or in another 2kgs time. So, watch this space ;) I'll get to 70kgs before I run the GCM if I have to gaffa tape my mouth shut, dammit! LOL!

Actually, that just means I set myself another goal, doesn't it? I've never actually set myself an exact 'ideal weight' before! Ooooo no ;) Another challenge ;)

Also had my four (actually fifth though) week 'check up' with Phil tonight too - apparently, in my eagerness to run longer, not only had I forgotten to put in plateaus at the end of each five week block of increased long runs, but I hadn't put in shorter run too (ie - in this block each week I did 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30 then the plateau with another two 2:30s) I thought this week I was due to do 2:40 but apparently, I'm supposed to drop to 2:20 to give my body an easy week before increasing again. I had thought that was what the plateau was for, but nope! I have to admit, I'm a bit miffed cos this weekend is the 7- 35km self select at the West End and I really want to do a looonnnggg run (just to see if I can!) but I'll be good, follow my program and not disobey my master ;)

Aside from that, everything is going okay.. am thinking of slowly adding in a few more crosstraining sessions to the weekly program so some days I'll train twice a day (no running twice a day though! bugger that! LOL!)

So, plans for the next fortnight now look like this:

Monday - Weights (done!)
Tuesday - Track (done!)
Wednesday - Medium Run 14km 120mins
Thurs - PT and swim
Friday - REST DAY
Sat - 5km TT (fingers crossed for PB!)
Sun - 2:20 at BRRC + Swim
Monday - Swim + Social Run 10km
Tuesday - Bike + Track
Wednesday - Swim + Medium Run
Thurs - Bike + Weights
Fri - REST DAY
Sat - 2:40 (I think!)
Sun - Surfing maybe... swim/weights

I'm starting to think I might actually break 200kms for the month! Woo!

Whingeless 2:30 Long Run Again :)

Well, you'll all be relieved to know I've taken off my whinging pommy pants ;)

Decided to take Robert Song's advice just to go out and run and enjoy it. Which is what I did. It was also my longest run on my own (2:30 again this week) I didn't cheat too much, although I did stop for water a few times.

Got up at 4am and drove to the regatta, arrived at 5am and started plodding down towards the gardens, where I bumped into Clairie, Glenno, Lizzle and others coming the other way! It was still quite dark at that point so we waved madly and kept on keeping on. The first fifteen minutes of any run I do always seems to feel bad - my legs feel tired. Once I get past about 3kms, I feel loads better.

Ran through the gardens, down past the riverside centre and out to New Farm Park. Did a quick loop and a water stop. I could feel my fuel belt chafing my back (it's quite impressive actually - almost good enough to warrant a photo, except for the fact you'd all have to see my builders bum!) Kept seeing various people I knew run by from the regatta crowd and then bumped into Sam and Cheryl under the Story Bridge... typically, they caught me on a brief water stop as I was walking around the corne LOL. I'd turned around at 1:15, but seemed to be going faster on the way home, since I got back to the regatta about 15 minutes early. Luckily, Siri (I think that's her name? lovely blonde american lady) was out riding her bike and rode along with me chatting as I joined on the extra through Toowong.

Got back to the Regatta and caught Sam for brekkie. I think everyone else was still out running. It was so hot this morning, I felt sorry for them!

I've decided that the only way to deal with my recent bout of woe-is-me about being slow, is to just push harder. So, on wednesday, I'm making it my mission to hang with the pack for the entire run. If I have to sacrifice my dignity and constantly swear/moan/hysterically cry to do it, I'm going to *LOL* (Yes, drama queen through and through!). Every week I push hard, but I can't be far away from being able to do it, surely... they're never more than about 20-30m ahead. Worth a shot, anyway.

Hope you're all having a fab weekend!

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!