I've done bugga all marathon training for Sydney, which i was ( AM? ) still really keen on! Maybe its just post Cities PB blues? Or maybe as i have been really busy with kids, work, other stuff. Probably a bit of both.
The week past:
Monday: stair reps - 5 X 16 flights
Tuesday - boxercise(jazzaxise...whatever... - focus on stomach muscles - ouch.
Wednesday - more stairs - same as before
Thursday - 4.5km run home from blacktown station
Friday - guess what...more stairs. same as monday.
Saturday - 12km run, with 3 rep of 8 min at about 4:30 pace - thats smokin for me! Followed by 19km run with rach, with a stop at my parents for 15 mins at 12km for a drink and chicken wing.
Sunday - 30km bike ride with Rach.
So, not a typical marathon training week, but plenty of stuff to keep me going. R's HIM is fast approaching, and the training is getting tough. But she has a few training partners now - time to lean on them for company and motivation i think. We cant wait to go away to cheer her on!!!
Also, managed to buy 2 good bikes off ebay for the girsl - both lightweight ladies MTB - simple shimano gears, good brakes, great value. There were about $80 each, and the girls love them! :-)
The sydney tower run up is on Friday - thank god! I will probably continue one stair session a week in training, but the three sessions play havoc with my mara training and flex time!
And remember....Troopy still rocks.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Evelators Rock
Having signed up for the Sydney Tower Run Up, i have done two stair work outs this week, and my calves are killing!!!! It is so hard. Its on the 29th August, so i only have 3 weeks to worry about it luckily!!!
I walked the CR West Sydney 5km challenge today - a really nice way to hang out with running friends and have the kids get active too. It is a great idea!!
I did do a nice 12km run with 4 x 1km intervals one early morning before work, and one session of boxing training ( boxercise, jazzacise, whatever...) at the PCYC, so despite a lack of distance running, i still feel like I had a good week.
Just finishing it off, having spend an arvo at Homebush relaxing, good food ( too much!!) and good company. Noice.
I walked the CR West Sydney 5km challenge today - a really nice way to hang out with running friends and have the kids get active too. It is a great idea!!
I did do a nice 12km run with 4 x 1km intervals one early morning before work, and one session of boxing training ( boxercise, jazzacise, whatever...) at the PCYC, so despite a lack of distance running, i still feel like I had a good week.
Just finishing it off, having spend an arvo at Homebush relaxing, good food ( too much!!) and good company. Noice.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Running Rocks
| Ian ELGEY | Quakers Hill (NSW) | Male | 3:44:18 | 30-39 |
Thats what i achieved from 4 months of work!! And i am stoked!! I cracked sub 3:45 !! It was a great result from a tough and enjoyable build up!!! The training plan was doable ( well, i never did a full week !! ) , and the runs with friends were awesome ( lots of good long runs with Marls and BennyR ), and the support from Rach and the kids was critical and fantatic!!! All up, a great result i am proud of from solid work and support from many people!
I was very grateful to get some encouraging emails, phone calls and sms's the day before the race - all were very unexpected and most appreciated. :-)
I blogged i guess ( post race report ) on CR instead of here, but a week later, and just back from a run with Ben and Marls ) I thought i would update the blog, and try and get back in the habit, maybe weekly.
Rather then type, below are some photos from the marathon, one typical of a cold morning run from home, and a few from this mornings run around Homebush/Meadowbank (regular training route). I think together they show why i run better then i could put into words.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Mega Update
I am not sure why for some periods of time we update blogs and emails religioulsy, and other times, they just slip away. Its been a while since updating my "online" running buddies, blog and spreadsheets! happy to say its due, in part, to the amount of running and excercise Mouse and I have been doing! The other factor may be that Mouse and get probably 200 emails between us a day for work, and the novelty is gone by the the end of the day!!!
Life at home as been rather uneventful, in a nice way :-) We have been happy at home, warm, and well fed ( we love to cook for each other and eat!! ) The kids all performed recently for Education week in dancing and singing, and i expect good reports from the teachers...but its interview night in 2 weeks ...time will tell!!! Jnr 2 made it to the District cross country competion, and came 21st - up from about 70th last year. Jnr 1 has made a home movie with his friends for a short film competition ( an example of previous work! ) , and Jnr Jnr has been learning the keyboard.
I will let ( encourage! ) Mouse to record for all time and all to view her events lately, but to summarise, shes done Club Champs Tri, had a birthday, and done some fantastic track work :-)
I have been following a Marathon Training Plan from Endurance Training - it seems to work for me so far as keep me motivated, and I am completing 75% of the sessions, most of those alone, so a plan i can follow and adjust to is important. I picked a target marathon goal of 3:45, and pace of 5:19mins/km - eeeek!!!
The runs i have done with friends have been really great motivators. I have my semi-regular long runs with Benny and Marlz (thanks guys!), a few with Mouse when kids etc allow ( always great, everytime ), some recovery runs with our "Slow Running Group" at work ( their name, not mine ;-) ) , one long run with a bunch of mad CR's in the rain, and the first of hopefully more to come speed/stength sessions with Cameron off CR too.
The training plan is hitting peak time now - 35km long run this week, and woodford to glenbrook next week, then taper. The plan is to do Cities again this year in late July, followed by Blackmores in September. Both are key races for me for different reasons. I want to do Cities faster this year then last year ( 3:53 last year - my first sub four ) And the Sydney Marathon - i can see the harbour, the bridge, the quay and opera house now, and hear the crowds as you run towards them all. It will be an awesome finishing chute, so i want perform well there too!!
Both, coupled with some long runs leading to XMAS, put me in a good position to train for 6-foot - not to complete, but just to be ready to train for it. After this years whimpy injury and change of plans, i want to build the fitness and stay there over the silly season, ready for 6-ft build up.
I am pretty keen to attend, and hopefully keep going, the Sydney West CR 5km Challenge Its really close to home, and should be a nice route and location. Early in the morning is a good time to do the run there, before the million families turn up, especially in summer. Actually, summer morning there, with breakfast afterwards, will be brilliant!
Well, I am glad i put some thoughts on the blog......thanks for stopping by!
Life at home as been rather uneventful, in a nice way :-) We have been happy at home, warm, and well fed ( we love to cook for each other and eat!! ) The kids all performed recently for Education week in dancing and singing, and i expect good reports from the teachers...but its interview night in 2 weeks ...time will tell!!! Jnr 2 made it to the District cross country competion, and came 21st - up from about 70th last year. Jnr 1 has made a home movie with his friends for a short film competition ( an example of previous work! ) , and Jnr Jnr has been learning the keyboard.
I will let ( encourage! ) Mouse to record for all time and all to view her events lately, but to summarise, shes done Club Champs Tri, had a birthday, and done some fantastic track work :-)
I have been following a Marathon Training Plan from Endurance Training - it seems to work for me so far as keep me motivated, and I am completing 75% of the sessions, most of those alone, so a plan i can follow and adjust to is important. I picked a target marathon goal of 3:45, and pace of 5:19mins/km - eeeek!!!
The runs i have done with friends have been really great motivators. I have my semi-regular long runs with Benny and Marlz (thanks guys!), a few with Mouse when kids etc allow ( always great, everytime ), some recovery runs with our "Slow Running Group" at work ( their name, not mine ;-) ) , one long run with a bunch of mad CR's in the rain, and the first of hopefully more to come speed/stength sessions with Cameron off CR too.
The training plan is hitting peak time now - 35km long run this week, and woodford to glenbrook next week, then taper. The plan is to do Cities again this year in late July, followed by Blackmores in September. Both are key races for me for different reasons. I want to do Cities faster this year then last year ( 3:53 last year - my first sub four ) And the Sydney Marathon - i can see the harbour, the bridge, the quay and opera house now, and hear the crowds as you run towards them all. It will be an awesome finishing chute, so i want perform well there too!!
Both, coupled with some long runs leading to XMAS, put me in a good position to train for 6-foot - not to complete, but just to be ready to train for it. After this years whimpy injury and change of plans, i want to build the fitness and stay there over the silly season, ready for 6-ft build up.
I am pretty keen to attend, and hopefully keep going, the Sydney West CR 5km Challenge Its really close to home, and should be a nice route and location. Early in the morning is a good time to do the run there, before the million families turn up, especially in summer. Actually, summer morning there, with breakfast afterwards, will be brilliant!
Well, I am glad i put some thoughts on the blog......thanks for stopping by!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
A full day monday
Its been a good week thus far...on the weekend we went swimming for a few laps at Blacktown pools. Georgia tried out flippers, hand fins and generally mucked around in the lap lane, whilst Rach and I alternated doing laps.
Saturday night was a cocktail party with one of rach's friends to make up for missing our engagement party...well it was a great party, and all the way over at Bondi, so it was Sunday morning before we got home, and there was no way we would make SMC!!! ( atleast not sober! ) Thomo wins again!!!
On Monday, I went in the NSW Police Games, in triathlon and cycling. Both were a lot of fun. I comfortably swam the 500mtrs ( slowly, but even over took one or two others...) leaving the water about 6 from last. The 20km cycle was solid - i tried to keep the bike above 28km per hr at all times, and achieved that for sure. And then came my favourite leg, the run. I started off slow, letting the run come to me after the bike, and built it up. From about 1.25km i started overtaking people. I got a perverse sense of pleasure overtaking those in tri suits!! Is that wrong :-) I didn't record the times of any of the legs very well, but was under 5km min for the run i think from the rough recording i made. I am stoked with that!!!
In the afternoon, a team of us took part in the 40km cycle. There were dozens of experienced riders, and then us. I learnt the fun of drafting, and since there was a headwind on the long 2km side of the lap, really tried hard to share the load with some other riders on the track. The headwind was tough - it dropped your speed by 10km an hour if you did not put in a BIG effort. I finished that in about 1:20:00, which is better then expected!
All in all, it was a great day - and a great reminder to me that there is nothing like an entry form and payment to get me off my bum and out and exercising!!!
Now...bring on a long weekend, chocolate and the easter show!!
Saturday night was a cocktail party with one of rach's friends to make up for missing our engagement party...well it was a great party, and all the way over at Bondi, so it was Sunday morning before we got home, and there was no way we would make SMC!!! ( atleast not sober! ) Thomo wins again!!!
On Monday, I went in the NSW Police Games, in triathlon and cycling. Both were a lot of fun. I comfortably swam the 500mtrs ( slowly, but even over took one or two others...) leaving the water about 6 from last. The 20km cycle was solid - i tried to keep the bike above 28km per hr at all times, and achieved that for sure. And then came my favourite leg, the run. I started off slow, letting the run come to me after the bike, and built it up. From about 1.25km i started overtaking people. I got a perverse sense of pleasure overtaking those in tri suits!! Is that wrong :-) I didn't record the times of any of the legs very well, but was under 5km min for the run i think from the rough recording i made. I am stoked with that!!!
In the afternoon, a team of us took part in the 40km cycle. There were dozens of experienced riders, and then us. I learnt the fun of drafting, and since there was a headwind on the long 2km side of the lap, really tried hard to share the load with some other riders on the track. The headwind was tough - it dropped your speed by 10km an hour if you did not put in a BIG effort. I finished that in about 1:20:00, which is better then expected!
All in all, it was a great day - and a great reminder to me that there is nothing like an entry form and payment to get me off my bum and out and exercising!!!
Now...bring on a long weekend, chocolate and the easter show!!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Project "Get Fitness Back"
Project "Get Fitness Back" has begun!!
Fitness is slowly coming back now for Rach and I after some time off...we both have cycled a few times in the last week and swam as well, which is great. I can now (semi)comfortably do 600mtrs without stopping, gasping for air etc...which is good since I am doing my 2nd ever tri next week - the police games - the swim is 500mtrs! I have dibs on last place...thats at 7am, and some fellow IT nerds are doing the cycling that afternoon - 40km....i will sleep well that night i know.
Last night i was out for a 10km run - died in the @ss at 1.5km with asthma, struggled to 2km, then turned around before puking. I didnt take ventolin ( stupid i know ). But my walk home became a shuffle, then a jog, and just before the final turn off the M7 for home, i started feeling good and kept running. So after my crappy start and rest breaks, i did the 10km in 1:01, which I am stoked about. I have been putting off taking part in a study into asthma medications on long distance runners - mainly as i have not been doing any long runs lately - but they emailed me the other day and I really should contribute. It could help them, and help me understand my own condition and parameters better too.....
It was great reading the 6ft reports - and seeing the photos too. I will be there next year inspired once more. Bruce, Scurry and Andre from PPR all had runs that inspired me - thankyou and congratulations!
PS - to get back in shape, i will have to stop eating burgers called "The Fat Bastard"
- check out the size of it, and yes, no salad!!
Fitness is slowly coming back now for Rach and I after some time off...we both have cycled a few times in the last week and swam as well, which is great. I can now (semi)comfortably do 600mtrs without stopping, gasping for air etc...which is good since I am doing my 2nd ever tri next week - the police games - the swim is 500mtrs! I have dibs on last place...thats at 7am, and some fellow IT nerds are doing the cycling that afternoon - 40km....i will sleep well that night i know.
Last night i was out for a 10km run - died in the @ss at 1.5km with asthma, struggled to 2km, then turned around before puking. I didnt take ventolin ( stupid i know ). But my walk home became a shuffle, then a jog, and just before the final turn off the M7 for home, i started feeling good and kept running. So after my crappy start and rest breaks, i did the 10km in 1:01, which I am stoked about. I have been putting off taking part in a study into asthma medications on long distance runners - mainly as i have not been doing any long runs lately - but they emailed me the other day and I really should contribute. It could help them, and help me understand my own condition and parameters better too.....
It was great reading the 6ft reports - and seeing the photos too. I will be there next year inspired once more. Bruce, Scurry and Andre from PPR all had runs that inspired me - thankyou and congratulations!
PS - to get back in shape, i will have to stop eating burgers called "The Fat Bastard"
- check out the size of it, and yes, no salad!!
Friday, February 22, 2008
its been a long time...(ntr)
Well, its been a long time ( about 2 months ) since we wrote anything....why?? um...injury and lack of mojo perhaps?? are they related - yes.
Since the CR XMAS run, i was training hard for 6ft actually - the shortest and hardest session being hill reps up rooty hill in 99% humidity, and one magic run at quarry road was started at 5pm, and i finished it at dusk with a headlamp!
i was hitting quarry road for 2 laps for a few weeks in a row, when it then hit me back! I started the run with a slight sore right knee, and finished with a very sore left knee, around to my calf. This pain persisted with any running at all until about 3 weeks ago. Given i was playing catch up ( and breaking the "10% increase in exercise" rule ) when i got injured, I have given up on 6ft this year, but will target it next year instead. Bummer. Atleast this time i wont have virtually 4 months off running before the training commences!
That said, my first run since the knee injury was actually my first Tri - an enticer with Hills. It was so much fun. Rach and I did all together, and the kids had such a great time also. I loved that afternoon! I have signed up to do the tri in the police games on 17 March - 500 / 20 /5. (also doing cycling on same day 40km, and 8km run the week before) I am not worried about the ride or run ( and have no probs coming last! ) but still the swim is daunting! Rach and I have been training a little for the Club Champs, and i have been to the pool twice this week, where i can now swim ( slowly and poorly, and a mixture of breaststroke and freestyle ) 600 metres without stopping or pushing off the edges. It is so hard!
How is it one can run for hours, and feel OK, but swim for 5 mins and feel absolutely spent!!! I am sure it is doing my asthma a world of good ( theory says it should ) but i am yet to notice a reduction in ventolin usage....hmmm..
I know how serious (or not ) i intend to take tri's - they are the cross training to marathon goals. As such, i am reluctant to spend $$ on bike improvements, however i am very tempted to get cleats and shoes for my bike. Problem is the retail value of my bike ( which i think is great! ) will more then double with the addition of new pedals and shoes!!! C'mon ebay! drop me a bargain!!!
Great news ....Rach and I have a wedding date planned...Feb 14 2009! What can i say - a great day for such a great day. ( And we just confirmed that our very good friend will be conducting the ceremony for us too! yay!)
Finally, back to running, we did SMC last week. It was great to be back at our club ( thats what it feels like ) chatting and waving to old running friends and familiar faces ( Ray ( or BB!), Luis, Andre and Terry from PPR, Mike "the marathon marvel" to recall a few) . I really enjoyed it, and it was longest run ( 10km ) in about 6 weeks, so it was such a release of endorphins and relief to do it there, and feel good at the end. It was a great run! Thanks rach ( your gorgeous when you run! ), Thomo, Heather and Keg for a good morning out! This week, I went running with a workmate on Wednesday - he is a great cyclist, but struggles running, and i was glad i could help him achieve longer running spans between walks - i hope i can keep do some more with my group friends at work - they help me so much in the office!
Cheers to returning to fitness!!!
Since the CR XMAS run, i was training hard for 6ft actually - the shortest and hardest session being hill reps up rooty hill in 99% humidity, and one magic run at quarry road was started at 5pm, and i finished it at dusk with a headlamp!
i was hitting quarry road for 2 laps for a few weeks in a row, when it then hit me back! I started the run with a slight sore right knee, and finished with a very sore left knee, around to my calf. This pain persisted with any running at all until about 3 weeks ago. Given i was playing catch up ( and breaking the "10% increase in exercise" rule ) when i got injured, I have given up on 6ft this year, but will target it next year instead. Bummer. Atleast this time i wont have virtually 4 months off running before the training commences!
That said, my first run since the knee injury was actually my first Tri - an enticer with Hills. It was so much fun. Rach and I did all together, and the kids had such a great time also. I loved that afternoon! I have signed up to do the tri in the police games on 17 March - 500 / 20 /5. (also doing cycling on same day 40km, and 8km run the week before) I am not worried about the ride or run ( and have no probs coming last! ) but still the swim is daunting! Rach and I have been training a little for the Club Champs, and i have been to the pool twice this week, where i can now swim ( slowly and poorly, and a mixture of breaststroke and freestyle ) 600 metres without stopping or pushing off the edges. It is so hard!
How is it one can run for hours, and feel OK, but swim for 5 mins and feel absolutely spent!!! I am sure it is doing my asthma a world of good ( theory says it should ) but i am yet to notice a reduction in ventolin usage....hmmm..
I know how serious (or not ) i intend to take tri's - they are the cross training to marathon goals. As such, i am reluctant to spend $$ on bike improvements, however i am very tempted to get cleats and shoes for my bike. Problem is the retail value of my bike ( which i think is great! ) will more then double with the addition of new pedals and shoes!!! C'mon ebay! drop me a bargain!!!
Great news ....Rach and I have a wedding date planned...Feb 14 2009! What can i say - a great day for such a great day. ( And we just confirmed that our very good friend will be conducting the ceremony for us too! yay!)
Finally, back to running, we did SMC last week. It was great to be back at our club ( thats what it feels like ) chatting and waving to old running friends and familiar faces ( Ray ( or BB!), Luis, Andre and Terry from PPR, Mike "the marathon marvel" to recall a few) . I really enjoyed it, and it was longest run ( 10km ) in about 6 weeks, so it was such a release of endorphins and relief to do it there, and feel good at the end. It was a great run! Thanks rach ( your gorgeous when you run! ), Thomo, Heather and Keg for a good morning out! This week, I went running with a workmate on Wednesday - he is a great cyclist, but struggles running, and i was glad i could help him achieve longer running spans between walks - i hope i can keep do some more with my group friends at work - they help me so much in the office!
Cheers to returning to fitness!!!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Merry Christmas all
Well the come back trail is going well. We all did the 5km last Friday evening at Chunderbolt's race in the 5km twilight series. Kids had a ball, I had a ball and NTR enjoyed the walk with mini mouse jr... Dinner with the lovely Benny and Des after was also fantastic :-)
Saturday morning saw me get back into brick and for the first time ever I did the whole thing!!!! Normally the guys are way too fast and I have to drop a lap on the bike in order to finish in time but this week for some strange reason I got it all in, yippee.
Christmas yesterday saw me get SO spoilt!! I won't list everything but the best bits from NTR: vegetarian cooking class at Manly; cycling glasses with the 4 different lenses and a beach chair I have been "hinting" at for a couple of years now!! The kids all bought me a gorgeous and HUGE photo frame with about 12 photo spaces so we can put pics of us all together in it. That one bought a tear to my eye!!
All in all very spoilt and with all the new gear of course I had the urge to get angel out for a ride. BUT my bike pants were in the wash so I went for a 5km run with Ian, kids and basil the beagle. Felt great and ran back with Lachlan as the girls had headed back early with Ian. It was fantastic running with Lachlan, he was trying out his new running shirt and he loved it.
He is much closer to my pace than NTR so I think I may have found myself a new running partner! :-)
Saturday morning saw me get back into brick and for the first time ever I did the whole thing!!!! Normally the guys are way too fast and I have to drop a lap on the bike in order to finish in time but this week for some strange reason I got it all in, yippee.
Christmas yesterday saw me get SO spoilt!! I won't list everything but the best bits from NTR: vegetarian cooking class at Manly; cycling glasses with the 4 different lenses and a beach chair I have been "hinting" at for a couple of years now!! The kids all bought me a gorgeous and HUGE photo frame with about 12 photo spaces so we can put pics of us all together in it. That one bought a tear to my eye!!
All in all very spoilt and with all the new gear of course I had the urge to get angel out for a ride. BUT my bike pants were in the wash so I went for a 5km run with Ian, kids and basil the beagle. Felt great and ran back with Lachlan as the girls had headed back early with Ian. It was fantastic running with Lachlan, he was trying out his new running shirt and he loved it.
He is much closer to my pace than NTR so I think I may have found myself a new running partner! :-)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
quick running update... (ntr)
Its certainly been hot and humid lately, and 3-4months of little activity, but plenty of carbo loading are evident. Its great though to find it tough, knowing that it will come together if i just remain a little consistent in training.
A summary of what been happening from my running log...
4/12/2007 8.8km 0:55:00 casual run 30degrees A very hot humid day to choose to start running again after European holidays - plus it was my birthday. Very hot, along the parklands track to nurragingy and back.
7/12/2007 5km 0:30:00 parra park 34degrees Hot return - met a colleague by chance, and stopped for a a chat.
9/12/2007 12km 2:00:00 quarry road 25degrees 1 lap running/walking of quarry road with Rach - great to exercise together again! Yeah!!
11/12/2007 3km 0:30:00 rooty hill repeats 30degrees 6 hill repeats of rooty hill - stupidly tough!
13/12/2007 10km 1:00:00 tempo training run 25degrees 5 sets of 2km at 5min pace, with 2km running recoveries.
17/12/2007 22km 2:30:00 training long run 34degrees Hot humid run, Nurragingy and back, then on M7 to Obriens glass seven hills. Had to develop plan of 2km run, 30 sec recovery to cope with lack of fitness and the heat.
I am looking forward to some more long runs - i need to get a new mp3 player. I love listening to music and podcasts on the long solo runs. Tip to remember: although it looks nice and shiny now, ipod shuffles do not recover from an accidental round in the washing machine....
Now, how to run whilst enjoying the festive season and all the bevies' it is sure to offer.....
A summary of what been happening from my running log...
4/12/2007 8.8km 0:55:00 casual run 30degrees A very hot humid day to choose to start running again after European holidays - plus it was my birthday. Very hot, along the parklands track to nurragingy and back.
7/12/2007 5km 0:30:00 parra park 34degrees Hot return - met a colleague by chance, and stopped for a a chat.
9/12/2007 12km 2:00:00 quarry road 25degrees 1 lap running/walking of quarry road with Rach - great to exercise together again! Yeah!!
11/12/2007 3km 0:30:00 rooty hill repeats 30degrees 6 hill repeats of rooty hill - stupidly tough!
13/12/2007 10km 1:00:00 tempo training run 25degrees 5 sets of 2km at 5min pace, with 2km running recoveries.
17/12/2007 22km 2:30:00 training long run 34degrees Hot humid run, Nurragingy and back, then on M7 to Obriens glass seven hills. Had to develop plan of 2km run, 30 sec recovery to cope with lack of fitness and the heat.
I am looking forward to some more long runs - i need to get a new mp3 player. I love listening to music and podcasts on the long solo runs. Tip to remember: although it looks nice and shiny now, ipod shuffles do not recover from an accidental round in the washing machine....
Now, how to run whilst enjoying the festive season and all the bevies' it is sure to offer.....
Friday, December 14, 2007
inspiration for me....(ntr)
Tonight, i saw, in my own biased eyes, something very inspiring.
At little A's, a boy in the under 11's was running the last race of this sticky night. I've seen him there for the last 2 years, and he is not the fastest in his age group. Actually, he comes near the back of every event, and even tonight he did not want to run at all. But he did. And the race was the dreaded 1500mtrs. When you 32, and especially when your 11, 1500 metres is a long way.
So it starts as a pack start, and he took off at the 1500 mtr pace he knows - jog to start, run hard at the end. But it was not long when he was at the back. Not much longer, and he was lapped around the 400 metre track by the faster boys, who are quick to run, and quicker to say 11 year old boy style comments to slower runners.
The faster kids had finished and were standing by the finish line, as the boy at the back jogged past them - he had another lap to go. And he kept jogging, asking his younger sister not to run with him cause he finds it embarrassing. And he kept going. And at the end, he gave an almighty sprint to the finish, to come last by a few minutes.
What was inspiring was that normally he would stop. Tonight, for some reason, on the night he did not want to go, this boy didnt stop. Didnt walk. Didnt pass anyone. But still kept going, focused on his run. And the sprint at the end came from nowhere - his body a second before was drooping and dragging his feet behind, before his eyes narrowed, and the jog became a sprint. All the way to the finish, and as he caught his breath, a smirk came over his face, as he knew he had won his own race.
It was a great finish, and a great run, which really inspired me, and will give me the conviction to keep going next time i want to quit, somewhere down the back of the pack. He finished to a few claps, like you get at the back of the pack. Out of however many people are watching a race or run, a couple get the special effort it takes to do something you are not a natural at, and push through.
And on nights like tonight, you can bet the boys father is glad he is wearing sunglasses, as seeing his son growing and running into an inspiring and courageous young man, can fill him with so much pride his eyes may very well have welled up with an unexpected tear.
At little A's, a boy in the under 11's was running the last race of this sticky night. I've seen him there for the last 2 years, and he is not the fastest in his age group. Actually, he comes near the back of every event, and even tonight he did not want to run at all. But he did. And the race was the dreaded 1500mtrs. When you 32, and especially when your 11, 1500 metres is a long way.
So it starts as a pack start, and he took off at the 1500 mtr pace he knows - jog to start, run hard at the end. But it was not long when he was at the back. Not much longer, and he was lapped around the 400 metre track by the faster boys, who are quick to run, and quicker to say 11 year old boy style comments to slower runners.
The faster kids had finished and were standing by the finish line, as the boy at the back jogged past them - he had another lap to go. And he kept jogging, asking his younger sister not to run with him cause he finds it embarrassing. And he kept going. And at the end, he gave an almighty sprint to the finish, to come last by a few minutes.
What was inspiring was that normally he would stop. Tonight, for some reason, on the night he did not want to go, this boy didnt stop. Didnt walk. Didnt pass anyone. But still kept going, focused on his run. And the sprint at the end came from nowhere - his body a second before was drooping and dragging his feet behind, before his eyes narrowed, and the jog became a sprint. All the way to the finish, and as he caught his breath, a smirk came over his face, as he knew he had won his own race.
It was a great finish, and a great run, which really inspired me, and will give me the conviction to keep going next time i want to quit, somewhere down the back of the pack. He finished to a few claps, like you get at the back of the pack. Out of however many people are watching a race or run, a couple get the special effort it takes to do something you are not a natural at, and push through.
And on nights like tonight, you can bet the boys father is glad he is wearing sunglasses, as seeing his son growing and running into an inspiring and courageous young man, can fill him with so much pride his eyes may very well have welled up with an unexpected tear.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
I can still run (Mouse)
Well, that should read "I can still jog - albeit slowly". 40mins with Basil after dinner (a delicious linguini dish with king prawns and calamari - god I love food) and I feel like I could get back into this after all :-) Might take a while to work off the extra 10kgs but I tell you - they are coming off!!
Swim tomorrow - I can't wait, I am so happy that I have finally made that often dreaded but always exhilarating first step back into exercise!!
And Happy birthday to my man for yesterday. I think I proved I have wifely abilities by cooking a thai green curry with king prawns - from scratch mind you and chocolate nut brownies - also from scratch and man these things are good!! Tonight was the afore mentioned seafood linguini and I am now feeling rather chuffed and pleased with myself.
I think I am going to be pretty alright at this marriage stuff ;-)
Swim tomorrow - I can't wait, I am so happy that I have finally made that often dreaded but always exhilarating first step back into exercise!!
And Happy birthday to my man for yesterday. I think I proved I have wifely abilities by cooking a thai green curry with king prawns - from scratch mind you and chocolate nut brownies - also from scratch and man these things are good!! Tonight was the afore mentioned seafood linguini and I am now feeling rather chuffed and pleased with myself.
I think I am going to be pretty alright at this marriage stuff ;-)
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Home, a cold and a missed triathlon
We are home... At last....
I have a cold so have not done any exercise since getting home. I kind of knew it would happen, all the flying, lack of sleep and changes in temperature had to have some effect!! So as I wasn't feeling the best (i.e. could hardly talk this morning and sneezing non stop) we didn't make the hills club tri this morning. Whole family was disappointed but next time we will certainly be there with bells on!
Time to get back into it, I am looking at trainers to make use of my old bike so if anyone has any ideas about good brands - let me know. I don't know much about them but I know I want/need one!!
It is Ian's birthday on Tuesday, we have a few little surprises for him but I will need to get a few more tomorrow. I love buying pressies, especially as we buy a lot of sporting gear for each other and it gives me a good chance to go window shopping!
Not much else to report - back into my weekly schedule for this week. Will be a ride tomorrow, I can't wait to get onto my bike again!!! Also looking forward to some early morning jogs now the weather is nice again, I think when I left I was wearing gloves and a jacket for my morning runs - thank goodness for summer!
It is my favourite time of year now - summer, christmas, bbq's, pool parties, outdoor dining - sometimes I realise how lucky we are, I love this country :)
I have a cold so have not done any exercise since getting home. I kind of knew it would happen, all the flying, lack of sleep and changes in temperature had to have some effect!! So as I wasn't feeling the best (i.e. could hardly talk this morning and sneezing non stop) we didn't make the hills club tri this morning. Whole family was disappointed but next time we will certainly be there with bells on!
Time to get back into it, I am looking at trainers to make use of my old bike so if anyone has any ideas about good brands - let me know. I don't know much about them but I know I want/need one!!
It is Ian's birthday on Tuesday, we have a few little surprises for him but I will need to get a few more tomorrow. I love buying pressies, especially as we buy a lot of sporting gear for each other and it gives me a good chance to go window shopping!
Not much else to report - back into my weekly schedule for this week. Will be a ride tomorrow, I can't wait to get onto my bike again!!! Also looking forward to some early morning jogs now the weather is nice again, I think when I left I was wearing gloves and a jacket for my morning runs - thank goodness for summer!
It is my favourite time of year now - summer, christmas, bbq's, pool parties, outdoor dining - sometimes I realise how lucky we are, I love this country :)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Fromage, rouge vin et escargots
Bonjour from Paris!! It has taken a while to update this, but I have left it until all our Parisian experiences could be combined into one blog. We leave tomorrow for Italy but this week has been the most magical, amazing week of my life.
Paris is gorgeous and something about it has calmed us down, relaxed us and made us so ridiculously happy!! So far we have seen all the touristy things: the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe (amazing view from the top), the Eiffel Tower (again, great view from the top), the Musee d'Orsay, Montmatre (complete with a sketh of both of us which s gorgeous), the Picasso Museum, Notre Dame, Catacombes (scary but quite amazing) and others I can't remember....
Favourites were the top of the Arc de Triomphe, it was much less crowded than the Eiffel tower and the view was just as good. Also loved Montmatre on our second attempt at going there - the first time we got off at the metro stop at the Moulin Rouge with is the seediest, grossest part of Paris I have seen. Sex shops and strip joints galore - we stayed about 20 mins then left! Luckily the second time we found the metro stop nearer to the artists area.
The big disppointment for us was the Louvre - sorry to all you art lovers but it was BORING!!!!! There are only so many white statues and religious pictures filled with flying babies one person can look at in a day.... It was too much and all the same to us, we loved the impressionists at the Musee d'Orsay and all the religious symbolism stuff in the Louvre just looks like crap to me.
Food wise we have been feasting! I feel like I am about 15kgs heavier but I am feeling very content, like a big fat, lazy cat lying on the lounge :) Heaps of cheese, red wine, baguettes and even a few meals of snails have kept us going - the food is quite cheap and just delicious. Bring on Italy with the fresh pasta and more wine I say - though it is very sad to leave paris.
We have decided to come back at the latest when we retire or in a few years anyway, perhaps to live, it has just had the hugest impression on us. Jen you were right - it is amazing!!!!!!
More to come shortly - viva Italia!!
Paris is gorgeous and something about it has calmed us down, relaxed us and made us so ridiculously happy!! So far we have seen all the touristy things: the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe (amazing view from the top), the Eiffel Tower (again, great view from the top), the Musee d'Orsay, Montmatre (complete with a sketh of both of us which s gorgeous), the Picasso Museum, Notre Dame, Catacombes (scary but quite amazing) and others I can't remember....
Favourites were the top of the Arc de Triomphe, it was much less crowded than the Eiffel tower and the view was just as good. Also loved Montmatre on our second attempt at going there - the first time we got off at the metro stop at the Moulin Rouge with is the seediest, grossest part of Paris I have seen. Sex shops and strip joints galore - we stayed about 20 mins then left! Luckily the second time we found the metro stop nearer to the artists area.
The big disppointment for us was the Louvre - sorry to all you art lovers but it was BORING!!!!! There are only so many white statues and religious pictures filled with flying babies one person can look at in a day.... It was too much and all the same to us, we loved the impressionists at the Musee d'Orsay and all the religious symbolism stuff in the Louvre just looks like crap to me.
Food wise we have been feasting! I feel like I am about 15kgs heavier but I am feeling very content, like a big fat, lazy cat lying on the lounge :) Heaps of cheese, red wine, baguettes and even a few meals of snails have kept us going - the food is quite cheap and just delicious. Bring on Italy with the fresh pasta and more wine I say - though it is very sad to leave paris.
We have decided to come back at the latest when we retire or in a few years anyway, perhaps to live, it has just had the hugest impression on us. Jen you were right - it is amazing!!!!!!
More to come shortly - viva Italia!!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Hyde Park London - made for runners
Well, we spent a week in London and it went way too fast!!! Almost as fast as the massive crowds down Oxford St on a Friday night - just nuts!! It was beautiful, and surpassed my expectations easily!
Rach and I stayed in south west Kensington, around the corner from Royal Albert Hall and about 500 metres from Hyde Park. Out of the seven days, we literally went for a run 3 of them. Although the last one was up to Portobello Rd Markets, Notting Hill, and we had not chance of running far that day. Just so many great things to look at and a few to buy. The runs we did around Hyde Park were fantastic. There are so many paths, and the park is HUGE. We saw some hard core swimmers doing laps in the lake/river in the middle of the park, The Serpentine. One had a wetsuit on, the other, remarkably similar looking to The Keg from CR, was calmly hopping out of the freezing water for a cold outside shower in nothing but speedos!!
We saw a lot of squirrels and even more runners. It always makes me feel good seeing runners - even if I am not running, as you know how someone feels on a good run! There seems to be a lot of people who run to work in London judging by the packs they carry and that they are heading towards the city. Also, for a town with narrow streets, optional road rules and massive buses, there are cyclists on every road, cruising along with no helmet but usually with a basket on the front.
We have been updating Rach's facebook with photos of the trip, if you'd like to see us in action in London.
Although having a great time and not wanting the holiday to end, Rach and I skip back in to Sydney mode, and start planning our 6 Foot, triathlon and fitness goals...all to start pretty much as soon as we land - 2008 will be another big fitness year for us both! But we need to survive Paris, Venice, Florence, and Hong Kong first!!
Rach and I stayed in south west Kensington, around the corner from Royal Albert Hall and about 500 metres from Hyde Park. Out of the seven days, we literally went for a run 3 of them. Although the last one was up to Portobello Rd Markets, Notting Hill, and we had not chance of running far that day. Just so many great things to look at and a few to buy. The runs we did around Hyde Park were fantastic. There are so many paths, and the park is HUGE. We saw some hard core swimmers doing laps in the lake/river in the middle of the park, The Serpentine. One had a wetsuit on, the other, remarkably similar looking to The Keg from CR, was calmly hopping out of the freezing water for a cold outside shower in nothing but speedos!!
We saw a lot of squirrels and even more runners. It always makes me feel good seeing runners - even if I am not running, as you know how someone feels on a good run! There seems to be a lot of people who run to work in London judging by the packs they carry and that they are heading towards the city. Also, for a town with narrow streets, optional road rules and massive buses, there are cyclists on every road, cruising along with no helmet but usually with a basket on the front.
We have been updating Rach's facebook with photos of the trip, if you'd like to see us in action in London.
Although having a great time and not wanting the holiday to end, Rach and I skip back in to Sydney mode, and start planning our 6 Foot, triathlon and fitness goals...all to start pretty much as soon as we land - 2008 will be another big fitness year for us both! But we need to survive Paris, Venice, Florence, and Hong Kong first!!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Lights of Las vegas
WARNING: this post has absolutely nothing to do with running.
I am in Las Vegas for work, not a bad place to wait out the week until L-Day :-) I am staying "on the strip", at the Monte Carlo. The hotel is lovely but my room overlooks some major construction and it is going on 24/7. Think I need to ask to be moved - it is so noisy!
Las Vegas is even bigger and brighter than I imagined. I leave for work at 8am and there are people in the Casino just getting warmed up from the night before. Crazy days. I have also discovered a previously hidden talent for Blackjack which I plan to test tonight.
I have been going to the gym here, at the bargain price of $19 per day - total rip off!!!!! The gym is usually empty which is great so I have been doing some jogging, cross training and weights. Need to do some cycling as well (as we have our first tri soon after we get back) but I find cycling so boring at the gym.
I have seen the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, Caesars, New York New York, Excalibur, the Venetian and Circus Circus. I played Blackjack last weekend, still learning when to stay, hit and double down but came away about $40 up which was sweet!! The hotels are amazing, the Bellagio is my favourite I think, it is just beautiful and has a gorgeous garden inside.
So.... I have 7 sleeps until I see NTR again in London - OMG I can't wait!! So exciting, I still have travel between Paris - Venice and Venice - Florence to organise but otherwise we are set! More to come shortly, hopefully I will have made my millions at the Blackjack tables ;-) (Not really sure if this is possible playing with $60 maximum but we shall see, hehe).
I am in Las Vegas for work, not a bad place to wait out the week until L-Day :-) I am staying "on the strip", at the Monte Carlo. The hotel is lovely but my room overlooks some major construction and it is going on 24/7. Think I need to ask to be moved - it is so noisy!
Las Vegas is even bigger and brighter than I imagined. I leave for work at 8am and there are people in the Casino just getting warmed up from the night before. Crazy days. I have also discovered a previously hidden talent for Blackjack which I plan to test tonight.
I have been going to the gym here, at the bargain price of $19 per day - total rip off!!!!! The gym is usually empty which is great so I have been doing some jogging, cross training and weights. Need to do some cycling as well (as we have our first tri soon after we get back) but I find cycling so boring at the gym.
I have seen the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, Caesars, New York New York, Excalibur, the Venetian and Circus Circus. I played Blackjack last weekend, still learning when to stay, hit and double down but came away about $40 up which was sweet!! The hotels are amazing, the Bellagio is my favourite I think, it is just beautiful and has a gorgeous garden inside.
So.... I have 7 sleeps until I see NTR again in London - OMG I can't wait!! So exciting, I still have travel between Paris - Venice and Venice - Florence to organise but otherwise we are set! More to come shortly, hopefully I will have made my millions at the Blackjack tables ;-) (Not really sure if this is possible playing with $60 maximum but we shall see, hehe).
Saturday, October 27, 2007
hot running...NTR
It was another hot day at Parra Park Runners yesterday. However, it was handicap race day, i saw some familiar faces ( Andre from PPR, Terry "the talker" who also runs at SMC, and Thomo from CR ) so it was an enjoyable run. I did the 8.33~km in 41:15 - i was happy with that, although i was secretly hoping for a sub 40...again i keep hoping! I have done it twice in 16 attempts!
Despite craziness at work and home ( hosting two birthday parties in one weekend is not recommended people...), i managed a few runs since the last post..a 21.1km run in 1:55:00, with about 10km of it with BB ( thanks for the run Ray), and a 10km run on the new parkland trails and M7, in 0:55:00 ( something about runs ending in 55mins there! )
I may squeeze in a swim this weekend, as Rach and I are doing a tri ( me the enticer, she the Sprint ) on December 2 with our tri club,the aptly named Hills Tri Club and i need some more swimming practice!
Yes...its only 6 days till i leave for London!!! yay! rach and i both arrive in heathrow about 40mins apart...our embrace might last 6 days!! sigh....nothing more to be said except i can't wait!
Despite craziness at work and home ( hosting two birthday parties in one weekend is not recommended people...), i managed a few runs since the last post..a 21.1km run in 1:55:00, with about 10km of it with BB ( thanks for the run Ray), and a 10km run on the new parkland trails and M7, in 0:55:00 ( something about runs ending in 55mins there! )
I may squeeze in a swim this weekend, as Rach and I are doing a tri ( me the enticer, she the Sprint ) on December 2 with our tri club,the aptly named Hills Tri Club and i need some more swimming practice!
Yes...its only 6 days till i leave for London!!! yay! rach and i both arrive in heathrow about 40mins apart...our embrace might last 6 days!! sigh....nothing more to be said except i can't wait!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
feeling good...chocolate and holidays does that...
It’s Saturday night, and I am home alone, and feeling quite good. No single reason...I spent this morning at BRICK - once again it lived up to its name. I find I have no idea of the effort on the bike - I blow my "asthma seal" every week - with running I have more control and can build up to a pace, I need to learn that on a bike ( that is not saying my pace is fast, its just hard for me! ) . I spent the rest of the day shopping for little G's birthday - rach and I have got her a cool present...cant say what it is...even 6 year olds surf the web!! After that, started painting the mid-renovation pergola, and then made a mountain of seafood marinara with tomato sauce and pasta.
I also spoke to rach about three times today - which is great - I love phone cards!! Some days we talk more then if we are both in Sydney - I guess you don’t take someone’s presence for granted when you know they wont be home for a while...anyway, it was great. Less then 3 weeks till
Back to running...not a lot done. I spent a few days with the kids and Basil at
Signing off from a low mileage week, but finishing it on a happy high note!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
it seems funny now...
a few days is all it took for a bad run to become a funny one!
Despite feeling a little under the weather ( hayfever, cold, tired ) i thought it would be a great idea to not only run home from work ( about 15km ) but do a few laps of parra park before i did that, just for good measure. And my route home would be on the new transit lanes/paths along Old Windsor Rd to the M7 - something i have been thinking of using for long runs in the future. Hey, I have done a marathon, surely i can do this! well.....
The parra park 8km part was fine. The next 2km was fine, but then, as i discovered the cycle path from westmead which meets the M7, it all became a chore. I walked. I stopped. I ran. I cussed. Repeat. It really got messy when i started dry reaching on the last 8km or so. Could it get any worse? Well...about 500metres from home, 8:30pm ( 1 hour over due! ) i was rounding a corner on the M7 cycleway, and had to dodge a Motorbike taking shortcuts on the pedestrian path! That was the final straw! I hated running that night!
Dragged myself home, exhausted. Collapsed on the lounge, only dragging myself to the shower in time to vomit lunch and Gatorade and watch it circle the drain hole! ( sorry for the imagery this might invoke! )
Rach was severely non-impressed by my stupidity, when i was not 100% fit or healthy! It was a silly move!
But just like my nan used to say, its only 2 days between a bad and good haircut, its only a few days between a bad and good run - i can see it was stupid, but now i know a new route home from work , i know not to bother with the extra laps at parra park first, and aso, even though i am pulling out of FFFT marathon, it is much better the bombing it totally, and being a wreck for the holiday in 28 days!!! ( but whos counting hey!!)
Despite feeling a little under the weather ( hayfever, cold, tired ) i thought it would be a great idea to not only run home from work ( about 15km ) but do a few laps of parra park before i did that, just for good measure. And my route home would be on the new transit lanes/paths along Old Windsor Rd to the M7 - something i have been thinking of using for long runs in the future. Hey, I have done a marathon, surely i can do this! well.....
The parra park 8km part was fine. The next 2km was fine, but then, as i discovered the cycle path from westmead which meets the M7, it all became a chore. I walked. I stopped. I ran. I cussed. Repeat. It really got messy when i started dry reaching on the last 8km or so. Could it get any worse? Well...about 500metres from home, 8:30pm ( 1 hour over due! ) i was rounding a corner on the M7 cycleway, and had to dodge a Motorbike taking shortcuts on the pedestrian path! That was the final straw! I hated running that night!
Dragged myself home, exhausted. Collapsed on the lounge, only dragging myself to the shower in time to vomit lunch and Gatorade and watch it circle the drain hole! ( sorry for the imagery this might invoke! )
Rach was severely non-impressed by my stupidity, when i was not 100% fit or healthy! It was a silly move!
But just like my nan used to say, its only 2 days between a bad and good haircut, its only a few days between a bad and good run - i can see it was stupid, but now i know a new route home from work , i know not to bother with the extra laps at parra park first, and aso, even though i am pulling out of FFFT marathon, it is much better the bombing it totally, and being a wreck for the holiday in 28 days!!! ( but whos counting hey!!)
Sunday, September 30, 2007
A couple of runs....( ntr)
Its been a while since putting pen to paper ( so to speak ) in this blog. ....
I've done 6 runs since last post....two with a friend at work who is just starting and trying to get fit. These are normally Wednesday lunch time, up to parra park, cut through the middle, and back to work.About 4-5km i think. Not a challenge, but a nice run, good to be away from the desk for an hour, have a chat and help someone.
SMC Race 1- after missing my alarm and nearly missing it ( yikes! ) i had a great time - ran a little with Rags ( as i always seems to do - i think i force him to start slow! ), then chased and got chased for the rest in friendly competition and jest. Finished the half in 1.50.04. I then updated the SMC website with results, which i think took just as long!
Sydney Running Festival - Half Marathon - A GREAT DAY! I really enjoy this course ( all of it, including the city west link - but mainly the run over the bridge on the road ( you can only do this in this event or if drunk ), over the darling harbour flyovers, and in particular, the finish around the Quay is fantastic!! I am seriously thinking this will be a marathon event for me next year...just for the finish!! I ran with Andy from work - it was his first organised run, and a single use of the garmin the week prior indicated a 6:30min/km pace. We finished in 2:03, and could have gone harder and faster - we chatted the whole way. However, my legs certainly knew i did 21.1km, regardless of the time. The day was drenched in sun, and the city seemed to be full of CR's who Mouse and I kinda know now after 3 years of running, so the day was all round a great day - (ps have i said how much i miss Rach yet....I MISS MY MOUSE!! )
Parra Park Runners - Friday 1pm - 28c, windy. My little running log entry says its all: "parra run - felt I was pacing OK but must have got it wrong...man, it was the first hot day, breezy and after the half on Sunday, my legs were shot!" I finished in 48 minutes or something...didn't really take it in at the end, i was cooked!
BRICK Session with Hills Tri Club : This was really cool! Started with drills the same as FreeSpiritFitness Run Club ( so i know they are good! ) about 10km on the bike, then 2 2km loops running, each with 2 hill reps - they BURNT my quads!!. Then another 6km on the bike, a final 2km loop running, with another hill rep. It was a great session "just tough enough" i think - i was hurting but in that enjoyable good way, youknowwhaddamean? At the end of the session i realised again i have NO abs. I must be been born without them. I cannot do the ab strengthening exercises - they just hurt my back too much. :-(
Well, its Sunday of the long weekend - i have mowing, cleaning and edging to do. Then I am off for my first ever swimming session at blacktown pools- hope i don't sink!! I am aiming to do maybe 10-15 laps? Who knows....
I was ( is the past tense telling? ) planning on doing the Fitzroy Falls Marathon ( indeed i tried to enter...just forgot to put entry form in the envelope i sent them!! ) but BennyR has been unwell and not entering. If i do a good 30km run tomorrow, then I will still go. If it bombs, then i will pull out i think....i dunno...i could be convinced either way!
Exciting news....tomorrow i can say "Rach and I meet in London next month". And in 3 days, i can say " in less then a month, Rach and I will be together in London" L -day is what we call it!! we are counting it down!!!
Rach has been hitting the gym hard and swimming, not to mention doing the Chicago Half!!! Yeah baby!! In a city alone, in a run alone - that's a great effort!!! Cant wait to tun around Hyde Park, down the Champs Elysées past the Louvre, over the bridges in Venice....I think the M7 runs we do wont be as interesting when we come back!!
When your loved one is away for so long, you can go on, get to work, eat, sleep....but its like there is a constant hunger, a constant yearning that shadows you...its with you everywhere you go, wishing they were with you. So yes, you can go about your business, but its just not the same....nearly a month to go till L day!
I've done 6 runs since last post....two with a friend at work who is just starting and trying to get fit. These are normally Wednesday lunch time, up to parra park, cut through the middle, and back to work.About 4-5km i think. Not a challenge, but a nice run, good to be away from the desk for an hour, have a chat and help someone.
SMC Race 1- after missing my alarm and nearly missing it ( yikes! ) i had a great time - ran a little with Rags ( as i always seems to do - i think i force him to start slow! ), then chased and got chased for the rest in friendly competition and jest. Finished the half in 1.50.04. I then updated the SMC website with results, which i think took just as long!
Sydney Running Festival - Half Marathon - A GREAT DAY! I really enjoy this course ( all of it, including the city west link - but mainly the run over the bridge on the road ( you can only do this in this event or if drunk ), over the darling harbour flyovers, and in particular, the finish around the Quay is fantastic!! I am seriously thinking this will be a marathon event for me next year...just for the finish!! I ran with Andy from work - it was his first organised run, and a single use of the garmin the week prior indicated a 6:30min/km pace. We finished in 2:03, and could have gone harder and faster - we chatted the whole way. However, my legs certainly knew i did 21.1km, regardless of the time. The day was drenched in sun, and the city seemed to be full of CR's who Mouse and I kinda know now after 3 years of running, so the day was all round a great day - (ps have i said how much i miss Rach yet....I MISS MY MOUSE!! )
Parra Park Runners - Friday 1pm - 28c, windy. My little running log entry says its all: "parra run - felt I was pacing OK but must have got it wrong...man, it was the first hot day, breezy and after the half on Sunday, my legs were shot!" I finished in 48 minutes or something...didn't really take it in at the end, i was cooked!
BRICK Session with Hills Tri Club : This was really cool! Started with drills the same as FreeSpiritFitness Run Club ( so i know they are good! ) about 10km on the bike, then 2 2km loops running, each with 2 hill reps - they BURNT my quads!!. Then another 6km on the bike, a final 2km loop running, with another hill rep. It was a great session "just tough enough" i think - i was hurting but in that enjoyable good way, youknowwhaddamean? At the end of the session i realised again i have NO abs. I must be been born without them. I cannot do the ab strengthening exercises - they just hurt my back too much. :-(
Well, its Sunday of the long weekend - i have mowing, cleaning and edging to do. Then I am off for my first ever swimming session at blacktown pools- hope i don't sink!! I am aiming to do maybe 10-15 laps? Who knows....
I was ( is the past tense telling? ) planning on doing the Fitzroy Falls Marathon ( indeed i tried to enter...just forgot to put entry form in the envelope i sent them!! ) but BennyR has been unwell and not entering. If i do a good 30km run tomorrow, then I will still go. If it bombs, then i will pull out i think....i dunno...i could be convinced either way!
Exciting news....tomorrow i can say "Rach and I meet in London next month". And in 3 days, i can say " in less then a month, Rach and I will be together in London" L -day is what we call it!! we are counting it down!!!
Rach has been hitting the gym hard and swimming, not to mention doing the Chicago Half!!! Yeah baby!! In a city alone, in a run alone - that's a great effort!!! Cant wait to tun around Hyde Park, down the Champs Elysées past the Louvre, over the bridges in Venice....I think the M7 runs we do wont be as interesting when we come back!!
When your loved one is away for so long, you can go on, get to work, eat, sleep....but its like there is a constant hunger, a constant yearning that shadows you...its with you everywhere you go, wishing they were with you. So yes, you can go about your business, but its just not the same....nearly a month to go till L day!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Steak and running do not mix....
I had dinner BEFORE the gym yesterday and felt horrible!! We wanted to have dinner cooked and be eating by 8pm which is when the new Heroes episode started. Heroes was great but the gym was not!!
Lesson learned - morning or pre-dinner sessions only. Knee is still sore which is weird, have never really had bad or sore kneees before. Have tried stretching my quad but it doesn't seem to be working....
Saw some good photos of Ian from the Half - some funny ones too - you know which ones I mean babe!! hehe
Lesson learned - morning or pre-dinner sessions only. Knee is still sore which is weird, have never really had bad or sore kneees before. Have tried stretching my quad but it doesn't seem to be working....
Saw some good photos of Ian from the Half - some funny ones too - you know which ones I mean babe!! hehe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
