roll on '07!

this is a photo of my texta-d arm after the biathlon that I did a few weeks back - some proof! And hopefully an indication of things to come. (check out the beautiful bike in the background... and the pull bouy... and the messy bookshelf :)

I am very excited about 2007, personally and in relation to my training. This is the first year I have started out being a fit active person and I think that is very cool.

I am starting the new year with the 16 k black stump "party pooper" option tomorrow. Yay! Can't think of a better way to start the year. Especially as it is NOT going to be 40+ degrees!

(oh and in training news for today - I did get out on the bike! unfortunately it was an aborted mission after 8k cause of some leg issues that I didn't want to aggravate for tomorrow - but i did it! and didn't fall off!)

mind games

CR 5k challenge this morning. I was not sure what my strategy would be or even really why I was going - but for some reason I got out of bed and there I was. Nearly turned around after i got out of bed, in the middle of the drive there and after my warm up. But no... mind game one - victory!

I was fortunate to have Tiger Angel to run with who was back for her first 5k in quite some time after injury/illness lay off. I quite cruelly grilled her on triathlons and transitions and she talked me through the process - which was invaluable for me - but perhaps less fun for her :) (*thanks TA :) *) In the end I crossed the line in 28.59 after TA took off with a sprint finish! Yay!!

I actually felt quite comfortable for that part of the run (avg pace 5.45) but the run back was a different story. I just felt quite bleughghhh (aside from the great company which was the only thing that kept me running!). We were going slower (6.20 pace) but it really bought home to me how much it is all in my head. No matter what speed I do - it feels like that is as fast as I can go and I can't imagine ever going faster. Of course I do and have - but there is still the little thought that 'maybe it was just a fluke and i'm never going to do that again'. So knowing that it is all in my head should mean that I can change it easily when I like - but that is a quantum leap I haven't quite made yet :)

change of plans

i have made some investments lately... my first pair of stretchy laces for my shoes, and a very pretty pink timex waterproof watch.

in addition - after gnome's comment yesterday I thought - why am I waiting for this triathlon in Feb? Why don't i just do it and get it out of the way? I'm not going to get a whole lot better in a month and no matter what, my first one is going to be a PB! So i just did it. I signed up for the Nepean Triathlon next Sunday 7 Jan. Not the enticer either - the sprint one. 750m swim, 20k ride, 5k run. My goal is sub 2 hours which should be ok. The stretchier goal is 1hr 45. This will still put me right at the back of the pack - but I am telling myself that i don't really mind....

I know that I can do all the distances - the question is whether I can do them all in a row!!

here it is... http://www.nepeantriathlon.com/summer_sprint.html

also planning on doing the CR 5k tomorrow am, the black stump run (maybe.. probably...) 16k version on monday and then this on the next sunday. Its a bit exciting actually.

almost as exciting as the fact that I got to leave work at 2pm today :)

blah...

crappy morning for me really.

having had a couple of days off i was determined to get back on the bike. i got up bright and early and got dressed and ready. then i needed to pump my tyres up. the morning went downhill from there. i could pump the front one up no worries. however when it got to the back one i started having all those problems i had previously - the pump would just shoot straight off when the pressure got to around 80. It was driving me NUTS!!!! Nothing I did would make it work and eventually i just gave up.

I'm sure it shouldn't be so hard. And I tried everything. So who knows what was wrong. Think I need to go back to the bike shop for some help.

Anyway that completely threw me and just compounded a few things that are bugging me at the moment. I felt (and still feel) a bit overwhelmed. For the moment I am not even sure why I'm bothering with any of it. Plus I'm a bit homesick. I really need a holiday (haven't made more than an extended long weekend in a couple of years now) and a few other things are all adding up to feeling a bit down in the dumps.

i thought i'd feel better if i went out for a run so out i went. didn't feel better after 10 mins so i turned around. was going to walk but thought if i ran i'd get home quicker. all up 20 mins and 3k. greattt...

hoping its just one of those days...

[EDIT - perked up a bit during the day and met sparkie at ABC pool for a swim (mate i did warn you about my punched-in-the-face-impression after wearing goggles!). Ended up doing 1500m. Had lots of issues with my goggles leaking. think that they just aren't the right ones for my face. VERY slow!!!!!!]

No watch Christmas 5 or 6ish km :)

Perfect day for it - Perth has put on another stunner for me. Clear skies - a few other runners out but mostly I just went out cause I enjoy it. No watch which is a strange experience for me! Quite liberating though!

Merry christmas all :)

xxx

Perth take 2

Headed out for a gorgeous run today down on the foreshore near my old uni (UWA) - 3.5k towards the city past the swan brewery and then back for 7k all up at 6.02 pace. The wind was so strong that I thought I was stationary - but turned out I was sitting on about 6.10 pace. Then for the return trip I could crank it up because I had the last vestiges of a tail wind. For some reason though as soon as I turned around the wind dropped significantly. No justice!!

Still it was a beautiful morning to be out (except the cyclonic winds) and met some lovely girlfriends for breakfast on the river.

Hoping to run tomorrow but if i don't get a chance to update - Merry Christmas everyone - hope you've all have an excellent year and get a chance to overindulge in a serious way tomorrow - you deserve it :)

perth explorer

arrived in perth pretty late last night and got to bed around midnight (2am sydney time) but woke up around 6am still (perth time) so headed out for a run. About 7.7k in 48ish mins i think (can't be stuffed looking!).

lovely run actually - the weather here is perfect. Have since managed to have a manicure and pedicure, lunch and bought two dresses. Tonight have a big family do which should be lovely. hopefully more running tomorrow though!

x

rest day :)

thought it would be prudent to take a rest day today for a few reasons:

- i woke up tired
- i'm a bit lazy
- yesterday my legs were aching all over - not the muscles but it felt like the bones were tired. very strange sensation and i'm sure its just from 3 hard days (long run sunday, monday spin plus 8k walking, tuesday 10k run including a track session plus 4k walk)

only one more sleep till I go home for a few days :) unfortunately back at work next week, but 5 days is better than nothing!

EDIT - interesting article on my coach/program writer Sean Williams and his penchant for barefoot running - he hasn't asked us to get the shoes off!

check it out

looking back, moving on

I thought it was time for a Gronk-inspired reflection piece looking back over 2006. Actually its almost a bit much and I get a bit misty eyed thinking about it because during the year I have made a lot of changes and had a lot of beginnings but also a lot of endings and had to face a few not-so-nice parts of myself :)

I couldn't have imagined when I started reading www.coolrunning.com.au or when I got the courage up to commit to this running business in a public online forum (the blog) that I would actually follow through with it. How many times have I started things (particularly fitness related) and stopped because they were too hard or because they didn't fit with how I saw myself (ie. unfit and 'no built to be a runner')? I can't count.

But somehow I did it. I set myself the goal of running a half marathon this year - and I bloody did it. I still don't quite believe it, and I still manage to minimise that achievement (a huge one for me) by giving myself grief for being slow, or missing sessions, or nowadays for not doing enough training in the cycling and swimming department.

But - overriding that is that now I know that I can set myself a goal and I can do it. I actually do have a bit of willpower. Admittedly its variable willpower and works less after lunchtime when there is chocolate about - but I can decide to train and then follow through with it. I know it doesn't sound like much - but it is to me!

Plus I have had so much fun this year. I can't even begin to say how much the support of all my new CR and blogging buddies mean to me (you all know who you are :) - and so much more than just running too - I love you guys! A few memorable times I've had so much doubt and you've dragged me back up and I truly appreciate it. And whereas originally I would just tell you all about my hangovers, now lots of you get to participate in generating them - which is much healthier I think!

Highlights have included:

- racing (who would have thought!)- i suspect its more the atmosphere than the actual racing given that almost every time I wonder why i do this to myself - in particular the Sydney half which was such an amazing thing for me

- Long runs with the girls.

- Feeling so much healthier.

- Having an achilles tendon now - and hamstrings!

- Setting harder and harder challenges for myself.

- Being that sporty person in the office that everyone rolls their eyes at when I tell them I've already done an hour and half of exercise before I walked in the door.

- So much more energy.

- Perving at cute running and multisport boys.

Lowlights/obstacles:

- Giving myself a hard time about speed/training/[insert miscellaneous] :)

- Getting the 'iron woman' nickname for all the wrong reasons... and the resultant plethora or blood testing and lack of energy - culminating in the 10k at Fitzroy falls which had me wondering whether I could do it any more.

- Letting personal stuff sometimes get in the way of my training.

(but really there were waaaaayyyy more highlights than lowlights)


What now???

Well I have decided to give that triathlon business a go and that has meant that I seem to have lots more goals now... 2007 goals are... (in no particular order yet)

- eat better (this is going to be a big one...)
- All Women's Triathlon - early Feb - Sprint Distance (750m swim, 20k ride, 5k run)
- Olympic Distance Tri sometime in 07
- (this is a maybe) Rottnest Marathon in October...
- Get my 1/2 mara time under 2 hours
- 10k time down to 52 mins EDIT - ok fine - 50 mins
- 5k time down to 23 mins
- Do all the same races I did this year and do them faster!
- EDIT - including City 2 Surf - Sub 80 mins...
- Get comfortable on the bike - i want to be able to indicate at least :)
- Get faster in the pool
- back myself a bit more.

anyways - feeling like I've written a book (novella anway) so should cut myself off - there really is something self indulgent about a blog. But hey, its a blog - its like a narcisistic paradise :)

Roll on '07

[EDIT - ok just made some goal changes/ add ons after some peer pressure :) Also - you will all no doubt be pleased to know that I went to sweat this morning and had a great session!!! 5k warm up, 5 x 600m reps and then a few k cool down for about 10k all up. I was really happy with my times: 2.48, 2.45, 2.40(!), 2.50, 2.42.]

spinning

i am getting attached to spin classes! went at lunch today and it was a ripper with lots of hills. Its like training on my bike without actually getting on my bike - which is bad... but at least i'm training...

its not really that sustainable cause it takes too long at lunch time but this time of year I can get away with it.

DEFINITELY going to Sweat tomorrow am - please kick my ass if I don't :)

long run sunday

the plan today was a rendezvous with the owl, lulu and sara from sweat for our long run - between us the length varied from 90 mins to 2hrs. i had 2 hours but was quite willing to facilitate an early stop :)

so we did 1hr 40mins and think we covered aroun 15k in that time which was great. i felt pretty good and especially on the york rd hill that usually makes me huff and puff and want to stop. noice.

after that was the Sweat Christmas Picnic which was lovely. loads of food (an interesting blend of ultra healthy and ultra unhealthy - including choc wedges...) which was also lovely.

Sean had arranged a speaker William Tan (I think!) to come along. He is a wheelchair athlete, of Chinese origin but lived mainly in Singapore. He caught polio as a 2 year old but his family was quite poor and so he didn't have a wheelchair or even crutches and leg splints to start with. However, he grew and through determination ended up racing his first marathon in Singapore in an old hospital wheelchair. Pretty amazing, and since then he has done 60 marathons including 10 in 65 days - one of which was the antarctic marathon!!!! He was also a great speaker and on top of that the proceeds of his book go to charity. makes you think... lots of things in my life that i see as obstacles/barriers - a healthy dose of perspective is a beautiful thing. not much you can't change if you really want to.

ah - how good is sunday????

i did it!

As I have told a few people (who i hope realise i was not serious...) I am definitely official multi sport athlete now because... i have a number in permanent texta on my arm :)

however, before i even think of myself in the same sentence as athlete i will need to work on my swimming!! (and my running but in this case mostly the swimming.

As per usual I got there early... registered, added myself to 'wave 5' (of 6) which had the target time 31-33mins. met up with my friend (sort of work associate) mike who is speedy. he went with wave 2... there were a lot of fast striders there than I recognised but have never met. They have usually left any striders event by the time I finish...

Anyway obviously it was a quiet week this week and I decided to go with wave 4 otherwise wave 5 would have been ...me. but turns out that was a good plan because after starting at the back of the pack I would have passed 20 people in the first k. One or two people passed me later on. I was thinking that I had gone out too fast because it was hurting and the 2k split was 10.30. However, the 4k split was 21mins so i was spot on. (interesting to compare that 4k with my 4k Mothers Day race in May this year which was pretty much the same course - 22.34 - i thought i'd improved more than that...)

OK - so with a transition (you have to walk down the stairs and the length of the pool, get changed and jump in lane 3) and only 300m swim i finished in 30.12. That is over 9 mins for the transition and swim. That is REALLY slow!!!!!!! I struggled with the swimming after being free to breathe during the run. To suddenly be having to hold my breath was rough. Plus i'm slow swimmer. I was overtaken by two people and overtook two others.

anyway - lots of learnings... i think i wasted lots of time getting out of my running gear and need to streamline that a bit. Maybe elastic laces :) that would definitely gain me 10 mins or so...

right-o

yes the planets are aligning in such a way that suggests that I will most likely attend the biathlon (aquathon for miners) tonight... i didn't swim last night or ride this morning so i have tapered nicely :)

however, i reserve the right to change my mind.

heading for chocolate at lindt this morning though so that will add another parameter into the equation...

groundhog day...

didn't go for my run this morning so did a spin class at lunch and plan to go for a swim after work...

tomorrow after work i think that i am going to do one of the Boy Charlton Biathlons... this involves 4k run followed by 300m swim.

http://www.andersonevents.com.au/BiathlonRaces.php

Not much/far at all but I still manage to feel a bit nervy about it all...
we'll see....

sweat machine

all my life i have never really been much of a sweater. this has changed at some point during the year and now i sweat buckets! I did a spin class at lunch and it was great and i really enjoyed it but man did i get up a sweat. nice red cheeks too.

not my best look... although possibly better than the yellow unitard i had to wear for a school play in year 9. that was horrendous-er.

anyway - it is part of my penance for not going to sweat this morning. the other bit is a swim after work today.

the good thing about spin classes is that i can work my legs a lot harder than on my real bike cause i don't have to worry about falling off and can drink at will :)

much less stressful...

EDIT - after work hit the pool - 1.3k - used pull buoy for 200m at 1000 and 1200 just to remind my body where it should be in the water (ie not sinking...)

have decided to just increase by 100m each session. i could do 2k without too much of a struggle but i think it is good for me to increase it systematically for a while for a few reasons. firstly i think psychologically if i build up slow it won't seem like such a drudge and i will be more likely not to ditch it, its good to have a target each time (not just 'whatever i feel' and probably i will keep my form better if i do it gradually... that is the theory anyway!!!

ok i didn't go...

but i did do something and didn't just stay in bed. ok - slept in till 7.45ish... but was out the door by 8.30...

decided i wanted to swim today and i also thought a run wouldn't go astray so the morning panned out like this:

Run around the park a couple of times (inside loop) - 8.07k, 6.33 avg pace, 52.50 all up.
run via home to pick up backpack and hydrate (hehe how much cooler does that sounds than 'have a drink')

Run to the pool (Cook & Phillip park) - 2.9k - 6.33 avg pace - 19.02

Swim - 1.2k - freestyle. no idea how long i took - but i was slowwwwww. had planned 1.5k (nice round number) but my goggles started leaking and annoying me and i wanted an excuse. Also getting some twinges in my right knee which i think may not be quite right from the 1/2.

Shower etc then run home - but didn't quite make it - was pretty tired by this point. Did about 2k i think - v slow.

Still I'm not unhappy with 13k run and 1.2k swim for the day although i would have liked to do more. It did work out to around 2 hours of exercise which is not too bad. I may (or may not) go for a ride later this arvo when it cools down...

The swim really stretched out my legs - no soreness or heaviness or tightness at all.

oops

another two days with no training - but i'm not too worried. i suspect i needed this week as a bit of an off week. the half took a bit more out of me than I think i realised. plus i've had a couple of late nights in a row and needed to sleep in this morning and then i had a bit of a headache this morning... (as a few people i ran into at bondi junction this morning will attest - hey sparkie, blkbox & beki!).

anyway - i am having a bit of an inner conflict at the minute. to go or not to go...

tomorrow am there is a triathlon training session in la perouse that is run by the squad I was training with. its a series of little mini triathlons - the course is 100 – 200 meter swim, 4km bike & 1 – 2km run. apparently it would be 2 - 4 reps of that course with breaks in between. Its a great opportunity to give it a go and try out all the transitions and stuff like that.

but for some reason i am having a bit of ambivalence/resistance. normally whenever i feel that about something i take it as a sign that i really need to do it. but i just don't know this time. i think i'm scared of being too slow, that i will look like a slacker cause i stopped training with them a month or two ago after such a short time, that it will be too hard and i will realise i'm totally crap!!!!

the option is to do my own version - run down to cook and phillip or even to icebergs at bondi and back and then jump on the bike... or just do my long run...

but i suspect i need to harness some courage and go to the session. no promises...

10k 1.05.something - 6.35avg pace

did it. after everyones lovely comments and scaring myself with the thought of entering the tri I have planned at the end of march it just didn't seem so hard to drag myself out of the house this morning.

i didn't feel great on the run (weak legs, bit light headed - same old) but at least i did it and not as slow as I would have anticipated (i was thinking 7min kms). the mountains (i mean slight inclines) around the park were a bit of a struggle - but then I thought about all of the sweat crew doing big bertha or some such thing and told myself to stop whingeing :)

have my work lunch this afternoon and then a christmas dinner so i am not sure how much training will get done tomorrow morning - but hey - i could turn over a new leaf between now and then and not drink ;)

(oh - and just to punish myself at the end I did about 80m of walk lunges - eek!!! and at the half way point and at the end added 10 jump squat things. farrrrrkkkk)

full disclosure

tempting not to update because i haven't done anything but i told myself a while back that i wouldn't censor because i need you guys to give me a reality check and/or kick my ass if i'm being lazy.

yesterday after work i planned to go for a swim but in the afternoon i felt my energy levels plummeting and it was someones farewell drinks and i felt guilty and went to that instead (didn't drink though - just in case my motivates were being questioned...).

then this morning i had planned to do an hour run - but got up at 5, pottered around and realised i was (once again) exhausted. despite 9 hours sleep. so i went back to bed for 2 more hours and then walked to work.

feeling icky and lazy but some part of me is feeling like to push through at the moment would be silly. the iron levels are still too low and maybe that is part of it - and probably keeping on training so hard is counterproductive.

or maybe i am just buying into the christmas laziness.

ah well. tomorrow... (heard that before...)

the wash up

i'm tired

my quads hurt (bit less now)

my right knee hurts (bit less now too)

i think that they are a bit related and it could be ITB tightness causing the knee pain. so a bit of stretching and I'm sure I'll be right as rain. walked in to work today and i could feel the knee a little but not too bad. Will swim after work (i will i will i will i will) and walk home for a gentle day but still 8k walking and hopefully 2-3k swimming (slowly...).

kind of off topic - but i went back to the doctor last night get the results of all the tests i did last week. nothing came back as a problem, which is great, but still leaves a bit of a question mark over the iron. The iron levels have improved over the last 6 weeks, but not a huge amount, particularly as I am on a double dose. Still only at 12% saturation. Ah well - at least its going upwards. Does explain why I haven't been immediately feeling like jumping out of my skin!!

(at least i know it wasn't an iron-euphoria PB on sunday then :)

Central Coast Half

well - i had no clue how i was going to go today - but, happy days, i managed a new PB!

2.01.38

So close to 2 hours... but that will have to wait for next time.

Headed up to The Entrance on Friday night with Jen and the Owl (thanks for the ride and the company ladies - it was just exactly what I needed... :) Had a fabulous dinner and a few beverages as we weren't going to be running (much the next day). A funny bunch we make hey girls???

Saturday was gorgeous - not the best weather (overcast) but it wasn't raining and for that I was extremely grateful. We ate a bit more (ok a lot more) and spent some time shopping and enjoying the 'Entrance Mardi Gras' - which no - is not at all like the Sydney mardi gras - which is probably lucky as it is The Entrance cinema that refused to show brokeback mountain...

Portrunr was also in the area and came in for the afternoon and we had a great play with the kids. sooo cute! Saturday night was the Coolrunner convention at dinner - pasta/pizza all round and we were all good and carbed up. Go Girl joined me on the fold out sofa bed and we hardly slept due to loud kids slamming doors and being noisy (kids these days....).

Up early this morning after hearing a storm through the night. Of course it was dreary and drizzly. Ah well - the things we do. The line for registration was long and wet and finally we got the race underway. So many coolrunners it was unbelievable. I made a new friend to run with early on although she ditched me to speed off around 14k.

I felt great for the first 10k. This was a huge relief as I had no idea how I was going to feel. I was quietly thanking Iron... took my gel at around 9k which ws the Gu - plain flavour one - a big winner for me as I can't handle the coffee one. There was a lot of puddle jumping but I kept a pretty consistent pace throughout.

I was starting to struggle with about 2k to go when the lovely Miners came to my rescue and ran in with me. I am not sure whether he was running in front of me as a target for me or whether he was just struggling to go slow enough :) either way it was incredibly appreciated - thanks A :)

i was so relieved to cross the line in the time I did - 3 mins faster than the Sydney 1/2 which given my shoddy training of late and health-related-setbacks I was ecstatic with. After we went back and showered though and started heading over to breakfast, the euphoria started to wane and I started to feel really light headed and a bit sick. Had to have a little sit down in the lift. Food improved things but I am still feeling a bit queasy and my legs are aching!!!! Not altogether surprising I guess...

There were so many great runs:

- the Owl's 14 min pb (and that monster smile as she ran up to us screaming for her)
- Jen (who is officially back)
- Lulu who had a rough one but showed again why she is one of the coolest toughest chicks I know
- Nat who was close to her pb
- BCFC who pretended he was around my level but was LYING!!!
- Belinda - again :)
- Kerry - didn't chat but apparently a pb
- Mr Lulu - ridiculously fast - even with a toilet stop
- Kit I heard did a pb
- SF Gnome - pb!!
- caro - on fire as always
- Dario26 (although he could have gone faster....)
- Portrunr who I am sure did great but I didn't even ask his time!!! And gronk, plu, rags, nando, jd, horrie, rob who I also didn't ask! and probably more!!! my brain isn't doing so good :) will update with memory...

and everyone else - I can't even remember and I am sure I forgot to ask everyone!!!

Thanks to everyone for the cheers at the end - it really helped so so so much :)

ok - now there is this triathlon business that i've signed myself up for.... but perhaps a rest day first.

the home stretch

did 5k this morning in around 32 mins. about 6.30 pace I think. didn't feel too crash hot to be honest. dunno whether its just that i am under trained, tired legs from kicking stuff, didn't really eat dinner, had a couple of wines (ok 4) or what.

i'm going to do half an hour ish tomorrow morning but i have to say that compared to the Sydney half I feel drastically underprepared for sunday. i feel very unconfident - but now i feel is the time for misplaced confidence and positivity :) so who knows - i might surprise myself and do a MASSIVE pb :)

coolrunning isn't working on my work computer anymore :( i can get the banner but nothing else. anyone got any ideas???