frosty the running snow woman!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sionara, CRs!

3rd Female Team!!!

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

Yay Us!

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

Kurruwa 25km 2:45

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Congrats to everyone who raced - great effort :)

10km run and discoveries

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

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

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

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

900m swim

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

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

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

Plan for this week:

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

Bribie Tri - I made it!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

little plastic bits and mentalness

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

Back to running talk...

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

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

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

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

The big day approaches *omgomgomg* !!!

Swim, Bike and White Bread!

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

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

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

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

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

5kms and a DNF

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

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

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

The Road Teaches Humility

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

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

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

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

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

The road teaches humility; the lesson is freedom.

moan, whinge, bah humbug *L*

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

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

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

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

10k and Muahahahaha

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

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

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

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

Choices, choices!

Purple Tri Suit

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

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

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

Noosa pic and 300m freestyle

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

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

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

25km Long Slow Run 2:35

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

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

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

There's no escape from Kurruwa!

freestyle getting better!

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

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

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

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

10km run

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

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

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

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

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

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

1000m swim

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

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

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