Taking a rest

Well gang, I am off program and taking a little rest from doing run training. I've told the coach that I am hanging up the running shoes for a spell.........................that's not to say that running has ceased......I will still do some running with my favourite triathlete.................................but I am working through some personal challenges at the moment and want to keep running as a joy.....................................am using my body in other ways (namely yoga) and totally loving the discovery.
So hopefully I will see you soon, out and about on some new running tracks :)

PS I do have to say that with less running I once again have feet that look fabulous in shoes!

Bitumen is boring #4

The final trail run of the 2012 Salomon Trail Running Series was held at Anglesea on 23rd September. The chance to combine a trail run and a night away was too good to resist................throw in some gorgeous (warmer) spring weather, tasty lentil burger from Bottle of Milk in Lorne (http://www.thebottleofmilk.com/menu.html) and it was a great weekend. Have waited weeks to post this in case there were decent snaps of me running, but alas there aren't.
Loved the trail running series, plenty happy about running up hills and down dales, through muddy puddles and leaping over logs.

Above average

I am not above average in many things...................in fact I am pretty average at most things..........however I am more than happy to accept being above average for the number of pairs of shoes that I own.................well into 3 digit numbers!

 

 

from the Herald Sun Monday 17th September 2012

 

SOLE devotion and the perennial appeal of a new pair of shoes is seeing women hoard heels, thongs, sandals and stilettos in their wardrobe.

 

A survey of more than 1000 women by retailer Target has revealed that Australian women own an average 25 pairs of shoes.
And they are also not bothered about trying before they buy - six in 10 women said they shopped for shoes online.

More than half those polled admitted to owning a pair of shoes they had never been worn.

Target's business manager for footwear, Don Murphy, said heels were the most popular shoe.

Women reported they owned at least six pairs, he said.

"As you might expect, we've discovered that 18-29 year-olds on average wear a 7cm sized heel."

Model Amelia Schubert, from Giant Management, has about 30 pairs of shoes.

"Shoes have the power to change your entire look. You can buy a new shoe and it can instantly change an old outfit," she said.

Forget the glass slippers

Thanks Stu :)

Knock knock

Who's there?
Me.
Me who?
Me who writes this blog.


Long time no write! That could be because the running hasn't been happening as planned..................anyway this morning's run along the Bay was windless and not wet...............yay! But it was about 15kms........................the usual aches and hurts (during and post!) that some yoga poses helped alleviate.

Couldn't have said it better myself

I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far. I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

John Bingham, author and runner


That's pretty much is me..............................some would say I am not built for running and I am likely to agree but I can run and I can even run in heels if there is a need.

I often get caught up in pace, distance, run sets, form, stride, foot strike, blah, blah, yada yada and that can take me away from being present. I am doing my best to be 'yogic' about my running......by finding joy in my experiences.

So..................I am a runner because I run.

Tell me what you are :)

Bitumen is boring #3

The run (3rd in the Salomon Trail Running series) was up at Silvan in the Dandenong Ranges AND was advertised as the toughest (but most rewarding) runs of the series in length of the courses as well as a bit hillier.............................the start / finish area was at the foot of the mighty Silvan Reservoir dam wall in the highly manicured picnic area with stone terraces, vine covered pergolas and rhododendron gardens dating from the 1930s.

This run was also the test run of the new trail runners................

Verdict: it was a stunning trail run but we thought the previous trail run was more challenging.........or did the trail runners make that much of a difference that it all felt easier? Who knows.........the shoes were ACE to run in - I felt so much more steady on the uneven ground and I was more confident running through the mud and puddles and not so worried about slipping and sliding..................

The trail runners can take me from traversing the chandeliers of life.........................

to running muddy trails and still have fabulous looking shoes (albeit flat shoes)!

 

 

PS........................my muddy feet/legs looked just like a hairy pooch's paws..........................

 



Trying to banish the winter woes

Still running but the cold dark mornings are still failing to inspire me to get out and run as often as is in my program..................then my day starts and running at some point in the day is not an option........................and before I know it, the sun is dipping below the horizon and night falls. And then it is cold and dark (and usually windy) and I am not inspired to run....................ho hum!
Excuses?................................................ yeah I would agree that its all an excuse but being inside in a heated yoga room or in a gym doing weights seems preferable to fighting the elements outside. I am excited that the days are getting longer and once the days start to warm up I will be over the moon!

I am still moving my body on a daily basis and enjoying how I am moving it but what I am doing won't necessarily have me ready to run a half marathon in the Melbourne Marathon event in October...................so I have dropped back to running the 10kms...................will I miss running the marathon? Probably will miss the sense of achievement of completing the 42.2 kms and the training that has been put in to get me to the start line. But oh my, I will not miss the post marathon pain nor having my toenails fall off! (My feet are looking decidedly less gnarly only now, 5 months after running the marathon earlier this year)
I now need to re-set my goals for running the 10km event....................will get back to you on my goal once I have a look at the course :)

Back soon x

Not quite the Olympics but............

I have been running and doing my sessions but also taking the lead from the pooch so that I achieve what Coach Tippett has instructed - to just enjoy the run. Not that I am chasing balls or pulling on the lead.....................rather, I am not getting hung up on pace and speed and taking the time to take in the scenery.
Did the Develbend dirt road run (10km) on Sunday and came in 4th in my age group - 13 secs off 3rd place and 1min 12 secs after the winner.................not bad for just enjoying the run.

Bitumen is boring #2

Salomon Trail Running Series - Run 2 out at Plenty Gorge.

Overnight rain meant that the 2 river crossings were taken out of today's run because water was apparently at chest depth.................the ground was sloppy, slippery and very muddy. But it was a HOOT! I tripped over rocks and branches more times than I can recall, scrambled up steep inclines on my hands and came 12th in my age group. It was loads of fun and I didn't care about the time, my pace, just about having some fun. I could picture the pooch whooping it up had she been there :)

Maybe will see you at the 3rd run out in the Dandenong Ranges in a month? (http://www.salomontrailseries.com.au/)

Puppy's play

The Coach says 'just go and enjoy your runs".....................the yoga teacher says 'yoga is just playing with shapes made by your body" and then I take the pooch out for her walks  and I watch her absolute pure joy at being outside and running, chasing the ball, doing nutsy runs after having a dip in muddy puddles and tagging other dogs.....................I think the universe is trying to tell me something......................so what can I learn from the pooch?

1. Positive attitude - what's the best day of the year? Christmas? Your birthday? For our pooch, every day is the BEST day...............imagine how wonderful it must feel to be a dog and wake up each morning thinking 'YAY!'
2. Walking the walk - in other words, doing what you say you will do. Dogs aren't interested in the talk, only in the action. Judge yourself by your actions - others do! Our pooch is not interested in being told that she will be taken on a walk.......... she justs wants to be on the walk!
3. Accepting what is - have you ever seen a blind dog? Or a 3 legged dog? They still love life and nothing gets in the way of having fun! Our pooch is a little heavy at the moment (she blames winter) but even so, she just gets on with being a dog.
4. Trust yourself - Pooches somehow know when there is a 'vibe' in the air and their instincts are usually pretty spot on. Listen to what your gut is telling you, sometimes that all you have when you have a big decision to make.
5. Support your friends - regardless of what mood you come home in, your pooch is always happy to see you and hang out with you. Our pooch will just listen, be a shadow and not offer advice!

So............where does this leave me? Well I am still running, trying not to beat myself up when I don't run as well as I would like to.................but mostly I am trying to just enjoy the run because at some point this year, the joy of running went doing the gurgler...............................

Where's Wally?

Mmmmm not sure where the heck Wally is...........................the question on my lips is....................where the heck have I been?
I have been here, just doing my running, yoga and weights sessions....................just quietly doing what I can.
Bonus result of a day trip to regional Victoria last week was a pair of wedge ankle boots that were on sale.

Would you like some whine with your gratitude?

This morning I was once again made acutely aware of EGO!

The long run from South Melbourne into and around the river and The Tan and back to South Melbourne was shadowed by this shoulder hurting and that elbow hurting, this wrist hurting and did I mention that my quad was hurting? Oh and there were aches and tired legs and my running partner who wanted to go back to sleep. Did I mention that the most I probably contributed to the run this morning was whine after whine after whine (apparently I have whined more on other mornings...............who me? Surely you are mistaken)............................we arrived back at the car which was parked directly outside yoga, did away with the runners, grabbed a sweat towel and headed indoors to the heated studio.....................the divine yoga teacher Masha guided us through the practice and spoke about non-violence in reference to self........................mmmm this had my attention....................she explained that as our own harshest critics we often are hard on ourselves for things that we think we cannot do..........................mmmmmmmmmmmmm.........................sounds like the stories I have running 24/7 in my head about myself. She went on to say that instead of thinking about whatever aches and pains you may have, be grateful instead......there are plenty of people who don't have shoulders like me so be grateful that I have shoulders! Be grateful that I have legs that can run, be grateful that I can move and see and smell and and and and!
So I wobbled, stretched and moved my body through the class today, listened to my limbs, pushed where I could, pulled back when I needed to, grateful that I have a body that can feel.

PS Tues and Wed run sessions completed too!

Diet running

My running at the moment is a little like being on a diet - as in, not indulging in it very often...don't get me wrong, I am still pulling on the running gear and heading out but my motivation and inspiration is pretty low.............even on the days when it's not wet and freezing cold :( mmmmmm not great I know................perhaps my best chance to turn this around is...................................a new pair of shoes............see below :)



Looking back

Coach Tippett thinks that my current program is some of his best work yet....................let me be the judge of that...................
Yesterday's run session in crisp pre-dawn conditions (4.30am) consisted of a warm up, 8 x 1km efforts and a cool down. I followed the run session with a challenging yoga class.................the stretch after the run is like the cherry on top of the ice-cream :)
It is almost 1 year since I started this blog.......................the sole purpose was to document my progress, thoughts and achievements after the ill fated trip to the Gold Coast to run a marathon.   

What I have realised is that shoes (old, new or otherwise) have not featured anywhere enough! It is also insightful to read back over my entries and get glimpses of how I was seeing the world. But more than that, running has shown me that when things get tough, somehow, from somewhere deep inside me, I find a source of strength and determination to push through the pain and keep moving........................my training this past year is evidence of my tenacity, my resilience and my passion................................having this blog is a nice reminder :)

Pedalling the Pavé

What an outrageous and crazy spectacle to signal our arrival @ Hawthorne Velodrome (after the trail run yesterday morning) for the start of Melburn Roobaix (http://fyxomatosis.com/index.php/melburn-roobaix-mainmenu)
For those unfamiliar (me included) with what has been a cycling cult classic over the past 5 years, Melburn Roobaix is a cycle rally based on the French spring classic 'Paris-Roubaix' which is one of the oldest cycle races in the world.

Like the French version the route incorporates some of Melburn's longest and bumpiest cobbled pavé sectors, dirt tracks, cycle paths and finishes at the Brunswick outdoor velodrome.
Unlike the French version there are no prizes for first, second or third. It is not a race.

There was lots of lycra. There were long socks with dubious costumes-see below.  There were many pairs of skinny jeans. No matter what sect of the cycling religion you follow, there were fellow bretheren. Join in the fun whether old and new, young and old, ladies and gents, on bling bikes or beaters; fixed or free, geared or singlespeed, one wheel or two.

 I was decked out in a black long sleeve thermal and wore a classic green cycling top from Paris no less, paired with two pairs of gloves-black ones bought last weekend in Hobart under fingerless gloves patterned with cowhide, black jeans, scarf and my Nutcase "I love my brain" #8 ball helmet...........and my pink Diesel sneakers................check me out..................

For a chick who doesn't ride very often at all (last time I was on a pushie was to St Kilda from home and back again about a year and a half ago), my efforts surpassed my expectations..................over 5 hours we covered about 60kms and climbed some steep hills and sections of pavé(cobblestones) .................. 2 fabulous (experienced cyclists) that joined me on this adventure are to be thanked HUGELY for helping me with the cycling etiquette that kept me safe (out of potholes, eventually away from shattered glass and on my side of the road/path)...........................I misinterpreted hand signals early on, thinking that the pointing and spirit finger movements were pointing out scenic aspects.....................BONG BONG.................after riding through broken glass that I had been signalled to avoid - I had been looking at the ground to find what was of great interest but did not realise it was in fact the glass- I clarified the meaning of the non verbal gestures. I have added a call-out to the repertoire of cyclists......................cycling etiquette 101: when approaching a crossroad, the one in the front checks for traffic and calls out one of 2 things:- clear means all good to cross, stopping means.......it's not ok to cross! I have simply added an extra dimension to the call-out.................clear if you hurry..................the girls riding with me yesterday clearly understood my call-out! The pitch at which it is stated/shrieked/squealed indicates how quickly to hurry!

Bitumen is boring!

Tried out my first ever trail run yeserday morning in the Salomon Trail Running Series (http://www.salomontrailseries.com.au/) .....................it was fun.....................one of the best things was how short the distance was - 5km....................to have the run started and finished in under 30 minutes is a dream! Yesterday's race was held at Kew (Studley Park)...........it was scenic, muddy, fresh and crisp, the air was filled with chattering birds (probably laughing at us all),  running through fern-fringed surrounds, jumping over slippery muddy puddles, weaving through towering stands of gums and sweeping along flowing trails beside rivers and creeks. And for someone who was just out to give it a go and was enjoying the scenery along the way I managed to come 6th in my category.

Looking forward to getting dirty again :)

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy

Post birthday run once we were back in Melbourne.........................it was struggle-town!

Anyway that was Sunday and today is Tuesday.......................this morning started off with a yoga class and was followed with a quick run session that consisted of a warm up, 3 x 1km @ race pace with 3 minute float between each kilometre and then a 10 minute warm down...easy peasy lemon squeezy

Hope your day has been easy so far too :)

Let her eat cake!

Ah another year older, not certain that I am any wiser............................I spent my birthday in gorgeous new surrounds...................Hobart! Suprisingly to this destination we did not take our running gear..............

H is for happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday Miss Leannie, happy birthday to me!
O is for Oh I cannot believe that I was told that Hobart wouldn't be any colder than Melbourne......and that I believed what I was told!........on the way to breakfast we needed to buy gloves......................on top of Mt Wellington the wind was howling and it was minus 6.6 degrees!
B is for brilliant breakfasts each morning at quirky little cafes..................check out Machine Laundry Cafe as well as Tricycle Cafe :)
A is for the Henry Jones Art Hotel (http://www.thehenryjones.com/) located on Hobart's waterfront. Love!
R is for red kid suede shoes for my birthday! Dorothy eat your heart out! Love, love, love!

T is for how travel opens your world.......................T is also for thank you x

From Paris with love

Listen to this song, From Paris to Berlin whilst reading today's entry :)

Today's 90 minute run session was not really held in Europe but we did run the length of Collins St from the Paris end to the New York end......................past Chanel, Bally, Coach, Bulgari, Hermes...............................we may as well have been running down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, with luxury specialty shops and large deciduous trees lining the streets...................the intervals run session took us from South Melbourne (parked out front of yoga) up to The Tan, past Birrarung Marr to Collins St, down Collins to Docklands, across to the Convention Centre, by Crown Casino, along the river back to The Tan and back to yoga........................15kms.....................we then headed into a morning Vinyassa Flow yoga class...........aaaahhhhhh!

(PS did an hour run yesterday foloowed by a weights session)

x

Just perfect

I have to say that the past week has delivered the most perfect running conditions....................except they have been wasted on me because I have either been a) sick with gastro and couldn't have given a toss or b) just not keen on heading out in temperatures that are hovering around the big fat zero!
This morning was no different........still, clear and crisp conditions outside.............but try as I might to visualise myself running the gritty Tan track, I pulled the doona closer to my face and grabbed another 30 minutes of snuggle before getting up to head to yoga........................yoga that is practised in a room heated to 27 degrees......................mmmmm, fabulous!
I have checked the weather forecasts for the next few days and I am inspired that the morning temps will at least be double digits :)

I got nuffin'

Ahhh the Sabbath.................the day of rest....................the gastro has finally exited (just yesterday) and bid farewell so in effect my entire week has been a Sabbath.....................bed rest with no running, no yoga, no gym, no energy, no wellness.........dare I even say, no interest in looking at shoes, even online! Sacre bleu!

Goodbye Gastro

Oh gee........................am just climbing out of the gastro pit that I have been in for the last few days..............granted the vomiting has finished but the ghastly nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach lingers..............................my favourite triathlete shared the gastro with me and not one to feel left out, the pooch joined in the chuck fest last night.......................so no running, no yoga, nil, zip, nada, nothing except bed rest!

Captain Triathlon

Not much to say other than this morning's hour run is done.......it was pretty bloody icy....................I am typing with stumps.......................where my fingers used to be...................oh and the other thing I would like to say is that I totally enjoy watching the city wake up and the reason I get to watch the city wake is all courtesy of the fabulous, Mat Tippett (http://www.etpa.com.au/).............is he handsome? Of course he is! Is he superhuman....................he sure is................Captain Triathlon may just be at an event near you soon...............

I am Mac 'n' Cheese

Yesterday's run was short and quick - an easy tempo run of only 40 minutes.

I had an appointment at 11am and I had an emotional response during the appointment and sought out a dish of Asian noodles for lunch.................whislt eating the smooth flat rice noodles with tofu and vegetables I realised that they are one of my go to comfort foods.............which got me thinking about why I seek that noodles over other comfort foods......................hello Google..............................apparently comfort food may have a nostalgic or sentimental appeal (um...........................eating noodle dishes was not a favourite past time of my childhood even though we lived a few years in Malaysia...................in fact, that the years in Malaysia were riddled with axiety about sanitation and foodhandling among other things).........so maybe it is simply an easy-to-eat and easy-to-digest meal that increases positive feelings.........whatever the reason, it worked....................I found a quick quiz to find out what comfort food you are........ http://www.blogthings.com/whatcomfortfoodareyouquiz/ and it seems I am 'mac n cheese' (lactose intolerant and don't think I have ever eaten Mac n cheese but does that matter?)!  How 5 questions can be pretty much on the mark to sum me up, beats me..............but anyway this is how I am described...........When you are stressed out, you seek safety above everything else.
And nothing is more nourishing than a big warm plate of carbs.Taking risks takes a toll on you, and you prefer your comfort food to be old fashioned. You're the type of person who could eat the same meal every night, especially when life is hard.  
What comfort food are you?

Glamour Puss

Started the day with a weights session with the interval run session as a chaser and I indulged in some dance anthems (from about 10 years ago I realise.......eek) whilst I was at it.......have a listen too...........Chicane, Funkstar De Luxe, Kelis, Mr Timothy, We are family, Was not was, Happy, Flower Power, Stay, Push Up, Is it cos I'm Cool ........seriously that was another lifetime but I might add the heels were as glamorous then as they are now :) ah................the memory of me perched on the bar in a fabulously fringed (vintage) frock with my feet slipped in a glittery pair of seriously sexy heels.........................holding court and watching the comings and goings..................stories for another time :)

FYI

• Yesterday's run session was once again undertaken in the sanctity of the gym and then followed up with a sweaty, bendy yoga session in which we explored courage.......I was challenged
• Today we skipped the run and weights and took the pooch for a stretch on the beach @ Port Melbourne.
• My nephew looked through his 'nockulars' (in Queensland) and waved at our pooch (in Melbourne)
• I realise that I am a bit slow to catch on but the series Nurse Jackie is fantastic. Get it!
• Apparently running a marathon is all about triumph over adversity. There's nothing in life that you can't triumph over after that". I have run 3 marathons and I am currently testing this theory....................
• I have been experimenting making muffins without sugar - mixed results...inspired by 'The Sweet Poison Quit Plan"
• Watch 60 Minutes tonight to catch the story about a married couple, Kel and Gaz Pitman (in my age bracket) who do Ironman events.....................forever young.................did I mention we share the same coach?
• Cross country mountain bike riding builds big quads (watching some of the action of the World Cup on TV)
• I would really like to write a story for little people
• Finally................

Winter warmer

I know, I know..............we aren't officially in the season of winter yet but with forecasts of wild weather heading our way (and I only had to look at the evidence outside the windows this morning to know that it was true) took my run indoors at the gym.....................with an apparent temperature (takes into account the wind chill) of -1.3 I don't think I was being a sook wanting to stay in doors - I did the interval session, sweated and clocked just over 10kms....................if I had taken my run session outside I doubt that I would have warmed up enough to sweat and I don't think I would have had enough head space to contemplate the puzzle of life because my thoughts would have been spitting chips about running in such crap conditions!
Anyway I am looking forward to tasting the winter warmer that I have made for dinner...................vegetarian lasagne..............mmmmmm (courtesy of this week's WHO mag)

Later alligator

Ha the alarm sounded early this morning and even though I had done visualising before falling asleep last night, I was lightning quick to decide that I wasn't getting up and promptly fell back asleep...............only to get up a little while later to do an early morning yoga class....................I know that I will catch up the missed run session later.......................
May your day be bendy :)

Cool, cold, colder

This morning's apparent temperature (takes into account wind chill etc) was 1.4 degrees..............an icy windy 1.4 degrees.....................no matter what direction we ran through the city we couldn't dodge the wind, so thankfully the run session was a mere 40 minutes long........just as we were almost finished it started to rain icy shards.................heading indoors to the gym afterwards was a welcome respite from the cold but the steaming shower post weights was the best reward :)

Face mask

Did a yoga class this morning......................the yoga teacher, whom I had never met before, was like most yoga teachers - calm, zen, light on foot, wise and at peace..............................as well as super strong and bendy.........................oh and overflowing with an abundance of yoginess statements........................the words that resonated with me today were faith, trust and love..................it was as though she knew about my crossroads......................so much so that when savasana (corpse pose) at the end of the class, I felt a tear escape each closed eye and slide down slowly to the nape of my neck.......being present to the tears rolling down made me wonder whether the ties of my 'everything is ok' mask were slipping or unravelling...........................

The wonder is that people often come to yoga for the stretch, and leave with a lot more.

Fun run in the sun

Apparently what distinguishes those of us at the start line from those of us on the sofa is that we learn through running to take what the day gives us, what our body will allow us and what we can tolerate........my body certainly spoke to me at the fun run this morning in Templestowe...............originally slated to do the 10km run, my body really wanted to do nothing more than 5kms and that was that. The day was crisp and glorious.......fantastic running conditions.............also great conditions for walking the pooch who waited patiently in the car :)

Awesome Presence

This morning's run was really grounded in being present............not sure that I made a conscious effort to be present but it just seemed to happen...............it started when I farewelled my favourite triathlete off on a 5 hr bike ride to Kinglake and I heard the rain falling on the roof..................normally hearing rain (knowing I am heading outdoors) turns me off..............however today I walked out the front door and turned my face skyward and felt the drizzle on my face. I was tempted to walk back inside and skip the run but I grabbed my keys and jumped in the car...................when I got to the Tan it was raining.....................I started my Garmin watch and off I went..........I was aware of the biting cold wind on my face, the crunch of autumn under my feet, the grit flicking up onto my legs, the sound of the seashore in my ears as I ran into a slight headwind, the greyof the skies, the roar of the passenger plane overhead bringing people to Melbourne, the yellow tinged glow of the lamplights along the streets, the metallic scraping of the trams moving, the magpies warbling in conversation, the chatter of friends out walking, the megaphone voice instructing the rowers, the pelaton whooshing by, the pooch whining to its owner to keep moving.....................it was a run that was alive.
My awareness continued beyond my run..................the creaminess of the soy milk in my coffee, the coolness of the house, the dryness of the newspaper..........................I headed over to South Melbourne for a dynamic yoga class.....................I was present to my Ujjayi breathing, to the spots in my body that I was holding tension, to the rivulets of sweat springing from my skin, the laughs in the room after the teacher cracked a joke and the tears that ran from my eyes when we were in Pigeon pose..............................the most important pieces of equipment you need for doing yoga are your body and your mind.

Caped crusader

I kid you not, a man was running near Birrarung Marr (near Fed Square along the Yarra River) this morning, his black cape billowing out behind him...........my short 40 minute run through the city was followed by an hour yoga class @ Union Yoga...................gorgeous way to start the day :)

Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are

Pain killer or killer pain

Lovely calm morning for my run session........thinking about the grief that my shoulder gave me yesterday during the run, I decided to swallow some pain killers before I set off in the hope that they would dull any ache that might show it's annoying head.............nah the pain killers didn't work..........oh well :(

Stress reliever!

We live in a world of increased accountability and everything seems to tout volumes of evidence/research that back up the reasons why we should be doing something or not doing something........running and exercise is no different........I subscribe to a number of online sites about health and wellbeing and spend my hard earned dollars on magazines that tell me that exercise has many benefits. The benefit of helping to keep migraines at bay is a stand out for me.........I have tried hard to dodge one today and I wrestled with 2 last week.....so I will keep on running to stay at least one step ahead of the migraines........there is also something to be said about keeping stress at a minimum and if research is to be believed, exercise (including running) assists in this.......I can see myself quietly rocking in a corner with an exploding head should I ever hang up my running shoes....appealing thought isn't it?..... This morning's run started a little later than it would normally........I was a bit achy from weights but a little quote handed out freely at yoga a few days ago kept swirling in my head "how you do anything is how you do everything".......that quote was my running friend as well as remembering to breathe through my discomfort........I will admit that I was happy to finish the 65 minute session mainly because I was so bloody present to my shoulder ache that I was ready to rip it out of it's socket! Anyway I will just add that I am taken with the scrumptious new season shoes.........I am aching to try some on......that is an ache I am happy to have!

I got chills, they're multiplying......

This morning's run session was mighty chilly.......another struggle to get out of bed but what got me up was the statement from yoga last night "how you do anything is how you do everything".........I thought about how I do anything (and I am still thinking about it) and that was enough to propel me out of bed and into the dark cold morning...........happy that I covered just over 14.5kms before breakfast. Have you worked out how you do anything and everything? Is it confronting for you?

Definition of Insanity

Many of you would be familiar with Albert Einstein's definition of insanity: the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.......................my post migraine (very) slow and easy hour long run today provided me the head space to weigh up things and contemplate my options......................I think I have been able to pinpoint the insanity in my life and am making moves to change it........................do you know what your insanity is?

Not hanging around

Yesterday....................less than 24 hours ago..........................the plan was to do the interval run session (about 90 minutes in total) before heading out for a day of rock climbing and abseiling in the You Yangs................however once the alarm rang somewhere between 4 and 5 am, we decided to ignore it and bunker down for some more sleep eventually getting up around 6.30am...................I did my best to ignore the niggle in my head (I had been wrestling with an ongoing headache for 3 days prior) but as we drove towards to You Yangs, little tears escaped my eyes (my realisation that a migraine was coming) and ran down my cheeks..............I tried really hard to wish it away and in a vain attempt to kick it to the kerb I swallowed 2 neurofen......................by this stage the mountain range was in sight and I had become a silent weeping blob in the passenger seat :( I cried my apologies to my favourite person when it became evident that the rest of my day would be spent in the dark of the bedroom taking magic migraine tablets and unable to withstand noise, movement or light.
Next time

Finding my feet

40 minute run done and dusted...............I realised that it takes me about 25 minutes before I find my running feet.....................you know that feeling..........when your breathing is settled, when you have adjusted and then readjusted everything from your clothing to your bra straps, scratched all your itches and the sweat starts to bead........................and as I ran today I thought about the following tips that I saw posted on facebook this morning. Happy Friday!

Self Help Kept Simple
1. Don’t eat what you don’t need.
2. Stop doing what doesn’t work.
3. In most instances, the solution is you.
4. Getting offended is optional. As is getting off your arse. See how that works?
5. Changing fifty things at once is a bad plan.
6. Knowing isn’t doing. Do more.
7. Joining a gym isn’t attending a gym.
8. Being smart is not the same as doing smart.
9. Intentions aren’t actions. Stop intending.
10. You won’t undo three decades of bad choices in three weeks. Be realistic.
11. Be more committed to success than comfort.
12. Control your controllables and let go of the rest.

Morning and Night

Yesterday it was a morning 70 minute hill run session followed by restorative yoga session that night..............the happy baby pose makes me smile :). Today was a rest day and tomorrow starts with a gym session.
Happy hump day!

Buddha baby

I am writing this blog very much post run and yoga session.....................over 24 hours later in fact................I am feeling the effects of the yoga session and am excited about doing another class this Tuesday evening...........during the run session I felt heavy - might have something to do with the PMS symptoms that I have been lugging around with me all week.................I had a few niggles and I won't fib and say I wasn't happy to get it finished! We ducked home for a coffee and some fruit and yoghurt before heading back to yoga and despite the chilly morning, it wasn't long before I had sweat droplets hanging from my nose tip!

Sleepy run

Mmmmmm.....................I have managed to grab 2 hours of sleep on the wrong side of midnight and no amount of being present, counting sheep, writing lists, melatonin or sleeping tablet is assisting me to get any more slumber.....................oh blob! My run session in a couple of hours is sure to be a top effort!

Winter workout

Excuse me for thinking that winter has landed on the doorstep.................yesterday at work it reached a massive 10 degrees and was wet, cold and windy. The only way that I could convince my body to crawl out from under the doona today (ANZAC day) with very similar weather conditions outside was to compromise and take myself to the gym to complete the hour interval session. So........................armed with my ipod I exposed myself to the icy morning but thankfully only from the front door to the car and then from the car to the gym door. I was truly thankful that I had an indoor training option but seriously my ability to stay focussed (and motivated) when all I was doing was running on the spot was challenged. Followed up the interval session with a weights workout with my beloved and was rewarded with steaming coffee from our local cafe :)

Run, stretch and eat

Today: a run before yoga before breakfast :)

An easy run followed by a restorative yoga session @ Ohana Yoga and Wellness (http://www.genakenny.com/) that released my tight lumbar (courtesy of moving 150 or so archive boxes from a cramped mezzanine at work yesterday) and then to breakfast at Hot Honey (http://www.hothoney.com.au/)...................... I can recommend the homemade baked beans with crispy ciabatta................check out also the fabulous range of homemade cakes :)

Foxtrot Friday

It was the quick stealth that caught my eye
In the dark of dawn, twas the fox, not I
Our gazes locked on the other
As we stepped a wary foxtrot until..................

I sprang into action, arms flailing as I excitedly chased the fox along the street in South Yarra. Perhaps the fox feared I would catch it, so it crossed the street and challenged me to chase it again.......................as much as I wanted to continue the foxtrot, my purpose for being out before the sun came up was to complete a run session...................40 minute hill session........................noctural activity was high and I do believe that I startled a possum enough to cause it to fall out of the tree..........I didn't see the possum fall but I heard what sounded like a balloon, filled with water, hit the ground...........oops.....................me startling the possum may have had something to do with my excited state of being after chasing the fox, the kick-ball-changes/waltzing and leaps that I incorporated into the run or possibly the stylised arms that accompanied my loud whispers of 'foxy'.

Fun :)

Back in the groove

Getting the running shoes on upon returning from Bali has been a little more difficult than first I anticipated................the opportunity to snuggle under the doona has been a little too seductive..............however feeling good about myself starts when my body is moving so my runners were laced up on Saturday morning (before I flew to Perth for a wedding) and we headed out to do an interval session.................mission accomplished even though my legs felt like lead!

About the wedding............it was wonderful to be back with dear friends (even if it was only for a short time) to celebrate and share such a loving occasion.........congratulations to Mitchell and Emma.......(I haven't checked with M&E about putting up photos from the event on this blog so here is a photo of the shoes that I unveiled at the wedding)...........BTW my shoes were a hit and were photographed by a number of guests!

Amazing...............

Just saw the power and awesomeness of Kurt Fearnley http://kurtfearnley.com/
What a guy!

Blissed in Bali

What better way to pamper my body and soul as reward for completing those early morning run sessions and for getting through Term 1 still alive (just)...........as well as to thank my favourite person for being supportive through it all...........and a perfect opportunity to spend time with dear friends............an Easter escape to my favourite tropical island, Bali.....thank you for a wonderful holiday xxxxx

My feet were treated to massage and reflexology and the training diet was almost relaxed and chilled out as we were! Even though the running clothes were packed (after all I have my next run program), we opted instread for dynamic (read hard-ass and sweaty) morning yoga each day followed by eating, swimming, reading..............I even found a sexy pair of platform heels................yet to be debuted on Australian soil.................here is a sneak peek................

Some other smile inducing snaps........................(creatively arranging the photos is not an option on this blog!)

Tomorrow morning my runners will be pulled on and taken on a 60 minute hill run..............................

Did that really happen? Part 3

I haven't run all week, in fact I have done very little.................by Wednesday I was moving in a more human fashion and less like someone with a carrot wedged between my legs...........yesterday I even started looking at what my next run event will be..............check out http://www.greatoceanroadmarathon.com.au/ .......................however I would like to try the half marathon...........................and today I did my first post marathon gym session......................and to think that this time last week I was about 4 kms into the marathon is surreal.

Did that really happen? Part 2

So once I had been given the all clear from the med tent, I shuffled to the car and was driven home by my champion triathlete (who shaved 14 minutes off the previous Ironman time).............we both were incredibly stiff and sore and tired but couldn't wait to tuck into our post race meal (even if it was after 11pm) of lentils and quinoa.................mmmmmm yum!
Sleep didn't necessarily come easily, with both of us bouncing around courtesy the caffeine tabs taken during the race (I digress but I recall the look I got from Zoe when I was waiting in transition for Stu to get back from his ride, I was jumping up and down on the spot and wondered aloud whether I needed to take any more caffeine before I headed out on the run!)...................not even a sleeping tablet worked like it should!
We get up the next morning to get ready for work and my left foot had been truly mashed in the marathon...................

The casualty count included 3 juicy blisters, one very bruised toenail (that now is in the process of leaving home) and a big toe that is really only half a nail now.......................I had the chore of wearing flat shoes all week and kids at school took great pleasure to tell me that I looked 'funny' when I don't wear high heels....................oh the indignity!

Did that really happen? Part 1

Wow, Ironman Melbourne was a week ago today...........the pain has subsided, the blisters have popped and my feet can handle being encased in shoes once more.
The fortnight leading up to the event was not great for me with regards to physical preparation, even if it was taper time but the energy and vibe at the Frankston start line was something worth experiencing.............I saw the professional triathletes off in the water @ 7am (dawn had not broken yet), then the open athletes (including my favourite triathlete) 15 minutes later and then my team swimmer, Zoe @ 7.30am. A total of 1600 athletes started the race!
It is exciting to see wetsuited swimmers leaving the water after 3.8km and running into T1......spectators run and dart to get the best viewing of the athletes as they disrobe from their marine clothes and get kitted up in their cycle garb for the 180km ride.
Once Zoe had passed the timing chip to Stu (aka Waffle) he was off on his cycle along the Eastlink with two laps of 90kms. He estimated this would take him around 6 hours so there was some time to kill........................

Zoe graciously hung out with me at the cafe near the Frankston Pier where she ate hot chips and drank coffee and I continued to carb load (banana and staminade!).................we watched the pros move from T2 and head out on the marathon (42.2kms) from Frankston to the finish line @ St Kilda................waiting in transition I managed to see my favourite triathlete and stole a kiss before heading out on the marathon!
Let me tell you I was on fire..............as I ran through drink stations, past spectators and through the live broadcast stations along the route, I was told how fresh I looked and how good my form was.................................I wasn't looking so fresh when I finished (but that's another story)..............the run was scenic and it was a hard run but the support was sensational and for a teeny weeny second I thought to myself "you should try doing the whole thing one time Leanne", my position now remains very clear - stick to just running! The camaraderie was alive all the way along the course - the human spirit and individual focus was really inspiring. At about the 35km mark my legs and feet were in great pain and I wanted to take a break and walk but playing on repeat in my head was a comment from Kellie (we share the same coach) to her husband at a triathlon the previous month "Gaz we're all hurting. Harden up" ..........................if others around me (who had swum and ridden) were still running/moving/shuffling then what reason did I have to not keep running?
Seeing the finish area lit up, with music pumping and the crowd cheering on everyone, it was hard not to feel like a champion. The run chute to the finish was packed with people and I met Zoe and Stu about 300m short of the finish line so that we could run over as a team! It was an amazing finish! It was like no other finish line I had ever run through before.

My favourite triathlete was waiting for me. The rest is a little hazy as I ended up in the medical tent with low blood pressure and dehydration (even though I was well hydrated before the race and I took drinks at all but 3 of the 21 stations along the route)................I was placed on a stretcher, had my feet elevated, was wrapped in a foil blanket and was unable to have a drip because my veins had collapsed........and my favourite person waited with me until I was given the all clear to head home.........at about 11pm!

Coming soon

My post marathon blog is coming...............soon.....................I know it is 2 days since the run but I have hit the ground (running!!) since then at work......................

Carb loading

Carb loading started at 10am this morning and will continue until about 3 hours before I set off on the marathon. This regime is different to other carb loading preparation that I have done for previous marathons. The measured carbs that I have had on the hour every hour today are from a different food world from the one I normally exist in..........so today's intake has consisted of rice cakes, k time bars, staminade, pasta and bananas. Anyway I have been told that this regime will give me energy to burn........ I am part of a team for this event- our team name is How Good Is This #1....if you want to follow us ( Zoe, Stu and I) you will see the action between the start at Frankston and the finish line at St Kilda or online @ http://ironmanmelbourne.com/ See you out there :) ( PS to my favourite triathlete, go get 'em tiger)

Just saying..............

All the best to everyone competing in Ironman Melbourne on Sunday

What if..............

This morning was about the 'what if'.....when the alarm went off, I wanted another 10 minutes and then when it went off for the second time, I stayed under the covers for another 10. The third time the alarm sounded, I decided I really just wanted to stay in the warmth of the bed.......all the while I was visualising myself doing the hill run..............the 'what if' question got the better of me........I took myself to the Tan to run around the steets of South Yarra and as I ran I pondered the 'what if' questions....what if I had done all of my training sessions, would my run on Sunday be any better? What if I don't fuel properly for Sunday? What if it rains on Sunday and I slip? What if I don't sleep well in the days leading up to Ironman? What if I had managed my stress better? What if? What if? What if? WHAT IF??????????
Seriously it almost tipped me over until I decided to forget trying to second guess everything and just run............and that worked for me!

Team mates

Just wanted to thank my Ironman team mates for generating as much positivity as possible to combat my anxiety.............I have just been reminded that we are in it for fun and it will be fun!

Almost there

Yesterday's training session was relatively short (70 minutes) compared to the length of some of my recent jaunts...................the countdown to Melbourne Ironman is now in single digits..................in fact it is 4 more sleeps or 4 more get ups................mmmmm..............................however I haven't made this morning's effort of 40 minutes of hills.................let's see what tomorrow morning delivers.............I know 40 minutes isn't long but with this morning's headache and feeling a bit drowsy from last night's sleeping tab and the hamstring niggle, staying in seemed the most supportive option.
To all those swimming, riding and/or running in the Ironman event - see you there and may everything come together just as you have trained and planned for :)

The hare and the tortoise

Heading into taper week, today's run was important to me for 2 reasons - 1 as a confidence builder just to prove to myself that I can do it and 2 just for continuing to have my legs move seeing as my run efforts this past week have not been extraordinary! So out we went, the hare and the tortoise. The hare was a fine thoroughbred and had a mighty fine gait and pace and the tortoise just wanted to finish the session. The hare had a much longer run session than the tortoise and about 30 minutes into the run, the tortoise was not sure whether she had locked her vehicle so the hare and the tortoise turned and ran back to the car. (BTW the car was locked). Off the two went again. Soon it was time for the tortoise to head back as her session was almost completed. The hare continued beyond to St Kilda. The tortoise finished the session and was happy......slow and steady wins the race!

Not a nun's habit

 6: The number of months it takes for a routine to become second nature. BUT it takes just 3 weeks of sticking with a new activity, like daily stretching or core work, to make it a habit.........running therefore is second nature (as is buying and loving shoes)................................but based on these stats, my recent lousy headspace could be considered a habit so best I turn it around ASAP...........it is amazing how insular you can become even when you are surrounded by love and positivity..................I am almost back!

Baby Steps

This morning was a little test for me.....................thankfully my favourite person was happy to run with me to support me after my weekend meltdown......................Coach Tippett said just to run easy, so we traipsed through the city for 80 minutes at an easy pace...................and I survived!

Walkies

Sheesh.......................................after cooking myself on Sunday, I was thankful more than ever that yesterday was a public holiday......................didn't move far from being on my back and when I did, I was told that I looked like a little old person shuffling......................needless to say I didn't do my 30 minute recovery run yesterday and instead of trying an 80 minute tempo run this morning, I walked the pooch at The Tan whilst my favourite person did 1km sprint efforts.......................let's see what I can manage tomorrow morning :)

Overcooked

Yesterday started as any other day but ended quite differently to anything I had previously experienced.......the run was a 2hr and 40 minute session and it needed to be run mid afternoon to mimic my marathon start time. My triathlete and I had spent some relaxing time in the morning just hanging out on the day bed fueling for the run and getting the head ready for the session. However my head struggled to be positive about the run from the beginning...........anyway we headed over near Port Melbourne as our starting point...........it seemed that everyone was out enjoying the gorgeous day..........after a while I started to feel what is best described as "murky" in my gut but onwards I pushed. I drank at every water bubbler and after an hour 20 I turned around to head back to the car (my triathlete was doing interval sets so we weren't running with each other). My thoughts weren't positive at all about my efforts and I was beating myself up to the point where I had to stop running because I was quite upset and struggled to inhale deeply enough......once I had settled myself down enough to continue, off we went again only to get a few kms further along before I had to stop and pull myself together again. At that stage my triathlete's legs were aching and we decided to walk for a little bit. It was about now that I started to spiral down..........we tried a run/walk/sit on bench routine to get closer to the car. Oh and the wind......it was rather chilly and it was then that my favourite person arranged a meeting point and continued the run to the car. It was about now that I was making audible pained sounds and trying really hard to stay upright as I made my way to get picked up. I sat on the ground because I was feeling very faint and once my triathlete collected me I burst into tears because I felt so poorly :( arriving home, my teeth were chattering and walking proved to be difficult. I lay on the bed and asked to be wrapped in a blanket......my lips were turning blue and I lost all colour in my face.........my triathlete ran a bath for me which helped warm me..........no sooner was I out of the bath, my inner mermaid vomited stuff that looked like seaweed (what the hell?).........I was what is known as "cooked" in as much as I had completely depleted my body in every possible way.......I have lived to see another day but geez I feel like crap today!

An hour 40 minutes

That was my run this morning..........I left my sick triathlete asleep and headed out to The Tan....I kind of felt like a mouse on an exercise wheel, running around on the track almost 5 times.......this is what it might have looked like................ Can you spot me?

Hot whore

My blog title is so called because I was called both this week.......a crazy week in which I was really unmotivated and tired and essentially couldn't be bothered..........running took a backseat to my wallowing but by the end of the week and the name calling I was ready to put the runners on again and get on with it........I was called an effing whore earlier in the week by a neighbour of the school, who screamed obsentities over the school fence like a banshee. Am pretty sure that her rage was enhanced by chemicals and rational she was not. The image of her hanging onto the wooden fence with her angry eyes popping over the top is etched into my memory and her screeching only stopped when police intervened. By the end of the week, another parent had decided that she would take a photo of me that was up in the front office and hang it in a frame in her lounge! When I called to speak to her about it, she told me that I looked hot in it! Mmmmmmm, odd. It is due to be returned tomorrow.......... So back to my running - headed out on a 60 minute tempo run yesterday and today's effort was a 2 hour 20 minute session covering a total of about 37kms this weekend. Am wondering what this week has in store for me...........

One foot in front of the other

We got up.
We got dressed.
We drove to South Yarra.
We ran hills for 70 minutes.
We were both tired.
We did not talk much.
We got back into the car.
We arrived home.

The End :)

Doing a dump

Wretched migraine that wiped out my entire weekend.......woke with it on Saturday and my magic migraine pills that normally make them disappear quickly had little impact and I spent the weekend shrouded in darkness and quiet..........................and Monday is Migraine hangover day..................joy! I was supposed to run in a Sri Chinmoy event (15kms) yesterday.................all part of the marathon preparation...........................am feeling pretty flat about not running that, as well as feeling like I am letting my IronMan team down...........................I know I need to put some stress management in place because feeling like a tight rubberband is not living at all...............................Cue Coach Tippett pep talk...........................he talked me through how I was feeling and gave me some strategies to help change the way stress affects me.............................one of them is dumping (or maybe it was bumping but I going to stick with dumping).....................and not in that way! It's about having a visual (and for me it is a tennis racquet) and as the things that stress me come up (which is far too much too often), allow myself to see me dumping it behind me with a hit of my tennis racquet.............he said that initially I may need to move my body to do the action but over time I will be able to 'see' myself doing it and it will be just as effective............so if you see me throwing myself around with an air racquet and grunting, grab a front row seat and feel free to cheer me on!

Mantra

And as if by magic, this quote lands in my lap.........................Lacking Confidence? Remember the most successful run you had. It could be a race or in training, but remember how you felt. Repeat this mantra, 'I've done this before, I can do it again. I'm strong, I can finish'.

Success

This morning's 1hr 45minute interval session was a success......................as far as toe pain is concerned. Today I did not need to stop to take my foot out of my runner and massage it before continuing my run..........this is fantastic progress.However in terms of my thinking and head space, I am not convinced that I can do this (even though I have run 2 marathons already), I am exhausted and down on myself............................my triathlete gently reminded me that thinking this way about myself is usually my default position......................so whislt my body has been training for this marathon for about 8 weeks my thinking really needs to be spoken to!

PS today I was at a leadership summit and one of my colleagues came up and asked me why I had such sensible shoes on............I love that people notice my shoes :)

Pre dawn observations

Nothing cerebral or profound but these thoughts were thunk when my triathlete and I were running hills in South Yarra @ 4.30 this morning.......................

• Fancy houses still have smelly rubbish
• It is not OK to leave your pooch in your car overnight - even if your car is a Mercedes
• You can sneak up on possums, even in a vehicle
• Window shopping is enjoyable at anytime of the day.....shiny shoes catch my eye anytime, anywhere
• Older women have unique ways of wearing an afro
• People in the shower need to be aware that you can be seen through the transluscent bathroom window, particularly when it is open
• Habits die hard, even if it is before the sun comes up - man spotted in his sleek sports car checking for small change in every parking meter
• A man sitting in his van listening to loud opera music @ 4.30am is usually included in a crime movie plot
• Bananas give you legs
• There are more bats in Melbourne than in Gothic City 

What have you seen today?

Size really does matter

It appears that the root of my little toe issues has been my shoes....................running shoes to be exact! The shoe mode,l that has been fit for my foot, has been superseded and so I upgraded to the new version a couple of weeks ago (check out the sales line.............The 18th version of ASICS’ flagship Structured Cushioning model continues to offer top of the line technology while maintaining the classic ride and comfort that has made the series an icon)..........after the painful run yesterday, I spoke with the Coach and he theorised that the issue sounded like my toes were under pressure............................my triathlete took some measurements of my new runners and compared them to my worn out superseded runners.................the new runners have a difference of 4mm less area across the top of the shoe and owuld be squishing my toes...................this morning's run was a bit of an experiment............................I wore my old model runners and VOILA..........................I ran relatively pain free..................now the mission is to find some of the 'run out' model shoes in time for me to break them in for the marathon..................5 weeks and counting!

Toe Squared

I found a pair of shoes in my collection that I was able to get my foot into yesterday........I was able to walk without so much as a limp as there was no pressure on my little toe..........the saviour was a pair of square toe loafers with a small heel. However putting my foot into runners this morning was not easy, even with encasing all toes in lube......my two hour run was interrupted with frequent stops to undo my shoes, massage my toes and slip them back in again. At one point the pain was so excruciating that I had some tears but figured I needed to get back to the car somehow and running was quicker than walking. I thought about whether I need to go shopping today to find another pair of square-toed shoes because I know that somewhere there is a law that states wearing the same pair of shoes several times in a week is likely to cause widespread devastation in the natural world........and I wouldn't want to be knowingly responsible for that. Tomorrow's run session may need to take on the form of deep water running.....

Nude man walking

Running along Port Melbourne on a 90 minute interval session @ 4.30 this morning my triathlete asked me if the man walking on the beach was naked. "Nah" I said "he has speedos on". A few more steps and what I thought was a pair of speedos was actually a mass of pubic hair.....another couple of steps closer as he bent over to pick up his clothes and it was as though everything turned into s.....l......o.............m...........o............he bent over and I could have sworn his member touched the sand forming a tripod fit for a camera......................his mouth gaped open as his eyes met ours.....................as we ran by I said to my triathlete "Yep..........................................he was naked".
I had some issues with my little toe and when I pulled off my socks and shoes back at home I could see (and feel) that some rubbing had occurred (not sure how because I wear individual toe socks and I had put barrier cream all over  them)............this resulted in me having a meltdown before work trying to find a pair of shoes that didn't cause me excruciating pain.......................I ended up swallowing painkillers to get me out the door..............my little toe is already thanking me that tomorrow is a rest day.

Holy Bat Girl

Can you tell I am back at work? I know I am back at the chalkface because I am extremely time poor and if you have read my recent blog entries you might have noticed that I have written about several run sessions in one entry.......................and today's entry is no different.................early morning runs with low flying bats and pouncing possums is the way I have started my work days this week.........last week was a crappy week for running - bloody exhausted and struggled getting out of bed so I am doing my best to make sure that I get my saggy butt out on the road for all my run sessions this week.....................the marathon is looming!

Oh no

The run session this morning didn't really even get off the ground......................arrived at the Tan bleary eyed and yawning and I felt that familiar ache in my groin area but I dismissed it blaming my active imagination...........................mmmm.....................managed about 4 minutes of running before reassessing the situation and walking back to the car with what would have looked like a giant carrot wedged up my butt! Tomorrow's 2 hour run will be interesting. Oh great!

Charging elephant using a snorkel whilst fending off a rat attack

It became apparent to me this morning when we were out on the run session was just how noisy I am! Running under the cover of pre-dawn starting off at The Tan (which is a soft surface of gravel/aggregate) each step is crunchy as your foot touches the gravel.........crunch, crunch, crunch..........however a strapping young man was running towards us and you couldn't even hear his strides..........he just glided by.......................meanwhile listening to my breathing was like listening to an elephant breathe through a snorkel......ok maybe a slight exaggeration but you get the idea...............there was no hope of me sneaking up and surprising anyone!
We had almost finished the first lap of The Tan when a horse sized animal charged towards us........as we got closer we realised that it wasn't a horse but a RAT! It's glassy beady eyes stared us down and it picked up its pace altering its direction ever so slightly to ensure that it was in line to run up my leg................I suddenly became an elite hurdler and brought my knees higher than my head and took a sideways leap pushing my triathlete out of danger's way in a single leap! Ok................................maybe the rat wasn't as large as a horse but it definitely ran at us...................true!

Hamstrung

Did an early 2 hour run along the bay yesterday and at about the 1.5hour mark I commented to my triathlete that it was amazing that it all just felt so easy and certainly not like we had been running for 90 minutes.......................spoke too soon.............................I am guessing that in the very next minute an ongoing ache in my groin region decided to speak up and remind me that it was very much still there................. I haven't mentioned this ongoing groin-age issue - I mean, some things are just between you and..........................well............................you! Anyways the next 30 minutes felt very much like 60 minutes and reaching the car felt like I had crossed the finish line........................moving in and out of the car wasn't that easy and following up the run with an hour in the gym meant that some exercises were excluded so eliminate any further strain.................................had an appointment with He Who Works Magic @ Melbourne Muscular Therapy.....................my maxi dress was hitched up to my waist, I was laying prone on the therapy bed and He Who Works Magic was using his elbows to release the knot in my hamstring (which led to referred ache in my groin!)

Today's jaunt was described in my program as " 60mins tempo run Note: try and relax today and just enjoy the set please"........................mmmmmmm..........................with my hamstring feeling every treatment poke and kneeding, on top of feeling tired and throw in the 26 degree starting temp and I can assure you that enjoyment was not how I was thinking about the run.....................thought about giving in about 20 minutes into the set but figured 2 more lots of 20 minutes and I would be done. I finihsed it, not well but I finished it and look forward to knowing that tomorrow's run is only 40 minutes! Happy to report that the groin-age ache appears to have been sent packing! YAY!

SHOCK! HORROR!

Imagine my surprise yesterday afternoon (after being in heels and on my feet all day presenting to staff) of having aching legs and sore feet......................this is not something I have necessarily experienced before and I can only put it down to the fact that my holidays have been super relaxed, wearing flat shoes pretty much all the time and the simple act of being in heels and doing what I normally do sent shock waves (and subsequent aches) to my legs and feet! So just as in my running program I do specific run sets to build endurance, it appears that I will need to adopt a similar approach to be in heels on a daily basis........................of the SHOCK of it all :)

That aside the couple of run sessions that I have done since my last entry have been long and constant and it is the HORROR of getting up around 4am to get the runs done before work that has me mourning the end of holidays when I wasn't so much of a slave to the alarm clock :(

Trifecta

Who knows where the time goes but I have done 3 runs since my last entry and have not been able to find a window of opportunity in my day to write about them.........................until now....................... So in summary.............................it is 8 weeks today until I run my next marathon and the number of run sessions each week are increasing.....................long runs are back on the program and I really enjoy just getting out and running...................anyway I have clocked up just over 87kms in a week and that is even with missing one run session! Looking at my program for the next fortnight it won't surprise me if I clock up over 100kms each week..................just in time for school to start back!

PS........Shoes: I am still without a pair of red Mary-Janes but I am hopeful that a pair will find me soon.
PPS.......Feet: have taken immediate action to attempt to restore my gnarly toenail-less feet to their former glory.

Australia Day

Public holiday = no work = little sleep in = running as the sun comes up.....................glorious morning along the Bay with lots of people taking advantage of the public holiday to continue shananigans from last night and/or set up on the beach for today's shananigans! Have a fabulous day everyone.....I have completed one run (60 minutes) this morning and have a second session this afternoon.