Heels and Hills........what's it all about?

Sandals, kitten heels, pumps, stilettos, wedges, platforms, mules, Mary-Janes, boots...........I am a lover and consumer of all things shoes. However I have had to make way in my collection for runners in my quest for endurance running......this is my story.

Tuesday 28 August 2012

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 :)

Monday 27 August 2012

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..........................
 




Wednesday 22 August 2012

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

Tuesday 7 August 2012

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.