Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Insane in the Membrane - Insane in the Brain.....
Right. So, I had Monday off from all activity and by Monday evening I was feeling fine, and feeling guilty for not doing anything, but went home, put the feet up and took it easy.
Plan was to have Tuesday off as well, but as I was feeling ok, I thought I'd just do a nice flat run and see how the ankles were feeling. All was well but I am still not getting any faster, even on the flats. However, I read recently that you either increase distance or speed, but not both. And I have ramped up the distance with the last week 67km and the week before 92km.
Now - the dilemma. What to do this weekend. Long run? How long? Should I begin to taper? Hills or no hills?
Then last night I got an email from another North Facer saying they were doing a night time run from the start of the race and then the last two checkpoints. Now I know the last two legs of the race are pretty tough going and includes Kedumba (large, cliff like and 7km of freaking big hill - last time I went up here I fried my achilles).
I went to bed pondering this opportunity. I had one of those dreams about running in the mountains again, this time I dreamt it was a 64km run and it was fine and nothing bad happened and I woke up feeling refreshed and happy. I think my mind is messing with me.
So - Pros for doing the Friday night run:
He did say that if need be, he could pull me up Kedumba with a rope. Note to self: Pack Rope.
My heart is absolutely racing at the thought of this, a mixture of excitement and fear. The scary bit is the pointy green line to the right on the map below - basically going across the Jamison Valley at night in the dark. Am I mad? But then I think about all the crazy mad things that people do and in the grand scheme of things, this isn't really that mad. So it isn't. Potatoes.
Plan was to have Tuesday off as well, but as I was feeling ok, I thought I'd just do a nice flat run and see how the ankles were feeling. All was well but I am still not getting any faster, even on the flats. However, I read recently that you either increase distance or speed, but not both. And I have ramped up the distance with the last week 67km and the week before 92km.
Now - the dilemma. What to do this weekend. Long run? How long? Should I begin to taper? Hills or no hills?
Then last night I got an email from another North Facer saying they were doing a night time run from the start of the race and then the last two checkpoints. Now I know the last two legs of the race are pretty tough going and includes Kedumba (large, cliff like and 7km of freaking big hill - last time I went up here I fried my achilles).
I went to bed pondering this opportunity. I had one of those dreams about running in the mountains again, this time I dreamt it was a 64km run and it was fine and nothing bad happened and I woke up feeling refreshed and happy. I think my mind is messing with me.
So - Pros for doing the Friday night run:
- Organised runs with others are a heap more fun than just plodding along on your own
- An adventure!! In the dark!
- Good training on a tough piece of trail
- Gets my long run over and done with for the weekend, all day to recover Saturday then can fit in another longish one on Sunday
- I have no plans for Friday
- It is going to put me WAAAAAY outside my comfort zone - which will be great for my confidence - AFTERWARDS!!
- The snakes should all be in bed
- I am terrified.
- It will be dark, what if we get lost?
- I am terrified
- What if it is too much too close to the actual race and I don't recover in time?
- I will really slow down the other runner
- Did I mention I was terrified?
He did say that if need be, he could pull me up Kedumba with a rope. Note to self: Pack Rope.
My heart is absolutely racing at the thought of this, a mixture of excitement and fear. The scary bit is the pointy green line to the right on the map below - basically going across the Jamison Valley at night in the dark. Am I mad? But then I think about all the crazy mad things that people do and in the grand scheme of things, this isn't really that mad. So it isn't. Potatoes.
Course map - the entire course
Monday, April 19, 2010
Only two more days without benchtops! This kitchen has taken so long to create, I tell you, the painting of the roof of the Sistene Chapel was probably speedier than the builder we managed to find. I did smile at him through gritted teeth when he informed me it was going to be ANOTHER two weeks after the kitchen is finished to make two cushions for my window seat. I could have knocked up one myself by now...keep smiling, he is already scared of me....I can tell.
Things I found amusing this week: iTunes is telling me that The Beautiful Girls is FOLK music!! Images of people dancing the Polka in dirndl skirts...
Anyway...life....continues to move in mysterious ways. Last week the training was going great guns and I was wildly optimistic about life in general and The Race in particular. This weekend was a total SHAMBLES in terms of training and now I am feeling wildly out of my depth, afraid and wishing to almighty god that I had never entered this race. That's us Librans for you, keen on keeping a balance. One week wild optimism the next we've got the fear of god in us. Maybe that's not balance, maybe that's going from one extreme to the other, but anyway...
Friday night was the engagement party and in my head I envisaged myself bringing a four pack of sparkling mineral water, and staying lovely and clear headed. So I have no idea then how I came to be reaching into the wine fridge in the local bottle shop and extracting a bottle of Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, and drinking the lot whilst partaking of karaoke singing and dancing around with a microphone in my hand to AC/DCs "It's A Long Way To The Top".
Saturday mornings 30km run was out of the question. I woke up with a face full of cold sores and a thumping headache. There was only one thing for it, so I sent Husband out for a Sausage McMuffin, took some nurofen and went back to sleep.
Was feeling very guilty and stressed however at the lack of running, and was supposed to be going to Star City for the Sales Society Ball, so made my excuses for that, and headed out for a 15km run instead at 4.30pm. It was very dark by the time I got home. I explored some new local streets and to be honest, this run made me feel much better (I sweated out what was left of the Sauv blanc, my face was crispy with salt afterwards).
The plan for Sunday was to get up at 5am and go to SMC to do the Half Marathon. Another EPIC FAIL!!! Went to bed super early, with everything ready to go, woke at 5am and thought, nup, can't get up. Too bloody tired. Treated myself to another three hours in bed and headed off to the Oaks Trail to do a very slow and uncomfortable 18km. Ankles niggling, it felt like an effort to lift my arms - I considered pulling the pin at 2km but persevered, at least the run home was downhill (well sort of, until that last big hill).
Decided to have a few days off. I am totally knackered, and am now having bad dreams again about this race (as well as very jumpy legs every night). I woke up in the middle of the night last night having dreamt I was dying, so found myself sitting up in bed, gulping for breath. Even my dreams are dramatic. My ankles are getting stiff and sore and my heart is not in it. I even cancelled Sven / Darren, so it felt really odd this morning heading off to work without looking like a packhorse, with bags of running gear, gym gear and the like.
Pretty sure a few days off (and NO SAUV BLANC) will fix me up and I will be raring to go by Wednesday!
Things I found amusing this week: iTunes is telling me that The Beautiful Girls is FOLK music!! Images of people dancing the Polka in dirndl skirts...
Anyway...life....continues to move in mysterious ways. Last week the training was going great guns and I was wildly optimistic about life in general and The Race in particular. This weekend was a total SHAMBLES in terms of training and now I am feeling wildly out of my depth, afraid and wishing to almighty god that I had never entered this race. That's us Librans for you, keen on keeping a balance. One week wild optimism the next we've got the fear of god in us. Maybe that's not balance, maybe that's going from one extreme to the other, but anyway...
Friday night was the engagement party and in my head I envisaged myself bringing a four pack of sparkling mineral water, and staying lovely and clear headed. So I have no idea then how I came to be reaching into the wine fridge in the local bottle shop and extracting a bottle of Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, and drinking the lot whilst partaking of karaoke singing and dancing around with a microphone in my hand to AC/DCs "It's A Long Way To The Top".
Saturday mornings 30km run was out of the question. I woke up with a face full of cold sores and a thumping headache. There was only one thing for it, so I sent Husband out for a Sausage McMuffin, took some nurofen and went back to sleep.
Was feeling very guilty and stressed however at the lack of running, and was supposed to be going to Star City for the Sales Society Ball, so made my excuses for that, and headed out for a 15km run instead at 4.30pm. It was very dark by the time I got home. I explored some new local streets and to be honest, this run made me feel much better (I sweated out what was left of the Sauv blanc, my face was crispy with salt afterwards).
The plan for Sunday was to get up at 5am and go to SMC to do the Half Marathon. Another EPIC FAIL!!! Went to bed super early, with everything ready to go, woke at 5am and thought, nup, can't get up. Too bloody tired. Treated myself to another three hours in bed and headed off to the Oaks Trail to do a very slow and uncomfortable 18km. Ankles niggling, it felt like an effort to lift my arms - I considered pulling the pin at 2km but persevered, at least the run home was downhill (well sort of, until that last big hill).
Decided to have a few days off. I am totally knackered, and am now having bad dreams again about this race (as well as very jumpy legs every night). I woke up in the middle of the night last night having dreamt I was dying, so found myself sitting up in bed, gulping for breath. Even my dreams are dramatic. My ankles are getting stiff and sore and my heart is not in it. I even cancelled Sven / Darren, so it felt really odd this morning heading off to work without looking like a packhorse, with bags of running gear, gym gear and the like.
Pretty sure a few days off (and NO SAUV BLANC) will fix me up and I will be raring to go by Wednesday!
Friday, April 16, 2010
And then I saw the man in the wheelchair....
DID NOT want to run last night. Tired and grumpy on one hand. Terrified of having a day off on the other and feeling like I'm starting all over again. And, to a certain degree basking contentedly in the effort to date.
Anyway, I ended up out on the streets in the dark, internally grumbling to myself.
Then I saw a man in a wheelchair, pushing himself along Rusden Road in the dark. And I felt happy that I can get out and experience that free sensation you get when you run. And the internal grumbling went, and I came home with a big smile on my face, 7km in the bank, and gratitude in my heart.
Anyway, I ended up out on the streets in the dark, internally grumbling to myself.
Then I saw a man in a wheelchair, pushing himself along Rusden Road in the dark. And I felt happy that I can get out and experience that free sensation you get when you run. And the internal grumbling went, and I came home with a big smile on my face, 7km in the bank, and gratitude in my heart.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
More Training Blether
I have a confession. The "real" reason I entered this stoopid race was to lose 5kgs. I reckoned the sheer fear of the event would have me running more and therefore as a result I would lose weight.
I didn't factor in having no kitchen for a month. One sure fire way to take the excitement out of eating is the prospect of washing your dishes in the laundry sink and making everything in a toasty machine.
Those bags of brown rice that you put in the microwave are now my staples coupled with veggie wraps in the toasty machine (with melted cheese on the OUTSIDE, yum). So scales so far have registered about a 2kg loss. 2kg!! I have never worked so hard IN MY LIFE and all I get is a measly 2kgs!! Mind you, I have been having really odd cravings, yesterday I took the day off work so that I could do a long run, which was just as well, because not only was I craving cucumbers and balsamic vinegar, but made a 30km round trip just to pick up some special balsamic dressing....
But seriously, I have put so much into training for this race, and yesterday I was asking myself why. Others I know have grand plans for a podium finish or a certain time they want to achieve. My goals are no less important to me than theirs, but mine is simply to finish within cut off (and I am so well organised that I haven't quite figured what the cut off IS as yet for the marathon pairs)....and not to suffer too much on the day!! Oh, and to enjoy a pleasant day in the mountains!
Anyway, that said, I have stepped up the training again to include a mid week longer run, so yesterday ran from home, down Mitchells Pass, around the river, back up to the Old Highway and up the stairs to Elizabeth Lookout and along Glenbrook Road and up Allen Street to home. I was very pleased with myself to have run (albeit slowly) all the way up all the hills.
So this week so far:
Monday PT Session and 5km on the bike
Tuesday 6.5km
Wed 21.75km
Plan for the rest of the week:
Thurs: 6.5km
Friday 6.5km
Saturday: 30km (but not "mentally" there yet - needing some incentive!!)
Sunday: 16km
Next week will make two of the mid week runs longer.
I am surprised at how well I am recovering from longer runs. I am scared not to run every day - in case I "forget" how to do it!!!!
I have terrible chafing on my back from my new fancy pack - so need to organise some tape or something for race day.
Otherwise all is going well!!
I didn't factor in having no kitchen for a month. One sure fire way to take the excitement out of eating is the prospect of washing your dishes in the laundry sink and making everything in a toasty machine.
Those bags of brown rice that you put in the microwave are now my staples coupled with veggie wraps in the toasty machine (with melted cheese on the OUTSIDE, yum). So scales so far have registered about a 2kg loss. 2kg!! I have never worked so hard IN MY LIFE and all I get is a measly 2kgs!! Mind you, I have been having really odd cravings, yesterday I took the day off work so that I could do a long run, which was just as well, because not only was I craving cucumbers and balsamic vinegar, but made a 30km round trip just to pick up some special balsamic dressing....
But seriously, I have put so much into training for this race, and yesterday I was asking myself why. Others I know have grand plans for a podium finish or a certain time they want to achieve. My goals are no less important to me than theirs, but mine is simply to finish within cut off (and I am so well organised that I haven't quite figured what the cut off IS as yet for the marathon pairs)....and not to suffer too much on the day!! Oh, and to enjoy a pleasant day in the mountains!
Anyway, that said, I have stepped up the training again to include a mid week longer run, so yesterday ran from home, down Mitchells Pass, around the river, back up to the Old Highway and up the stairs to Elizabeth Lookout and along Glenbrook Road and up Allen Street to home. I was very pleased with myself to have run (albeit slowly) all the way up all the hills.
So this week so far:
Monday PT Session and 5km on the bike
Tuesday 6.5km
Wed 21.75km
Plan for the rest of the week:
Thurs: 6.5km
Friday 6.5km
Saturday: 30km (but not "mentally" there yet - needing some incentive!!)
Sunday: 16km
Next week will make two of the mid week runs longer.
I am surprised at how well I am recovering from longer runs. I am scared not to run every day - in case I "forget" how to do it!!!!
I have terrible chafing on my back from my new fancy pack - so need to organise some tape or something for race day.
Otherwise all is going well!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Caterpillars
Caterpillars....big hairy poisonous ones, they are invading my bedroom and last night I noted they are moving down the stairs. And there are moths everywhere. What's going on?
Anyway, I suppose if I do leave all the doors and windows open I will receive opportunist grubs checking out the joint, but it is just such a beautiful time of year.
Last week was my biggest week of running EVER with the following runs:
Monday 29.5km of the North Face course
Tuesday - 5.5km to weir including Cardboard Sleighing
Wednesday - Get Out Of Bed Fail - nada
Thursday - Get Out Of Bed Success - 6.5km
Friday - 5km to weir - no cardboard sleighing
Saturday - 40km up hill and down dale (Woodford to Glenbrook to Woodford)
Sunday - 6.5km Boorea Street loop
Wow - 93km for the week. And I am still standing and not making old lady noises when I move!! Wooooohoooooooo!!
A very wise man told me once that your mind gives up before your body does. Somehow (and I have no idea how) I talked myself into believing I could run 40km at the weekend. And guess what? I did!
I am not sure if I am sounding a bit like a wanker here, but I am dead proud of myself. I would have happily worn a tee shirt saying "I ran 40kms today" if I had such a garment. Maybe even a sticker on my forehead would have done. I will admit to putting up a wanky facebook status and emailing those dear to me of my accomplishment. So now I should shut up about it and get on with the training.
This week is going to be tough in terms of time management because Tuesday night we have been invited to dinner with Irish friends (late night, some alcohol may be consumed), Friday night is Eoins and Kirstens engagement party, and Saturday night is the Sales Society Ball. In around all this I plan to fit 82.5km of running (according to my hastily made up plan for the week).
Tonight is PT with Sven / Darren from Shalvey. I will have to stop calling him that because he tells me he is coming along to the next SMC. I hope he has something easy for me this week because frankly, I am knackered. Last night in bed my legs must have still thunk they were running, because they were jiggling around all over the place. I had to get up and sleep in the spare room because they kept involuntarily kicking Small Dog. God I was grumpy and cross eyed this morning until that first coffee kicked in.
Oh and there was a big snake on the Oaks Trail! Didn't I say earlier about death adders on the trail? Well these guys on Saturday described this Tiger Snake as having a head like a bulldog. So of course I goes home and googles Tiger Snake only to find they are an angry fierce customer, more cranky than me after a big weekend and no coffee and THEY LIVE ON MY FAVOURITE TRAIL!! Of course every single stick, leaf or moving thing I saw after that resembled a cross between a snake and a bulldog. Which is probably why I finished that run in record time for me!!
Anyway, I suppose if I do leave all the doors and windows open I will receive opportunist grubs checking out the joint, but it is just such a beautiful time of year.
Last week was my biggest week of running EVER with the following runs:
Monday 29.5km of the North Face course
Tuesday - 5.5km to weir including Cardboard Sleighing
Wednesday - Get Out Of Bed Fail - nada
Thursday - Get Out Of Bed Success - 6.5km
Friday - 5km to weir - no cardboard sleighing
Saturday - 40km up hill and down dale (Woodford to Glenbrook to Woodford)
Sunday - 6.5km Boorea Street loop
Wow - 93km for the week. And I am still standing and not making old lady noises when I move!! Wooooohoooooooo!!
A very wise man told me once that your mind gives up before your body does. Somehow (and I have no idea how) I talked myself into believing I could run 40km at the weekend. And guess what? I did!
I am not sure if I am sounding a bit like a wanker here, but I am dead proud of myself. I would have happily worn a tee shirt saying "I ran 40kms today" if I had such a garment. Maybe even a sticker on my forehead would have done. I will admit to putting up a wanky facebook status and emailing those dear to me of my accomplishment. So now I should shut up about it and get on with the training.
This week is going to be tough in terms of time management because Tuesday night we have been invited to dinner with Irish friends (late night, some alcohol may be consumed), Friday night is Eoins and Kirstens engagement party, and Saturday night is the Sales Society Ball. In around all this I plan to fit 82.5km of running (according to my hastily made up plan for the week).
Tonight is PT with Sven / Darren from Shalvey. I will have to stop calling him that because he tells me he is coming along to the next SMC. I hope he has something easy for me this week because frankly, I am knackered. Last night in bed my legs must have still thunk they were running, because they were jiggling around all over the place. I had to get up and sleep in the spare room because they kept involuntarily kicking Small Dog. God I was grumpy and cross eyed this morning until that first coffee kicked in.
Oh and there was a big snake on the Oaks Trail! Didn't I say earlier about death adders on the trail? Well these guys on Saturday described this Tiger Snake as having a head like a bulldog. So of course I goes home and googles Tiger Snake only to find they are an angry fierce customer, more cranky than me after a big weekend and no coffee and THEY LIVE ON MY FAVOURITE TRAIL!! Of course every single stick, leaf or moving thing I saw after that resembled a cross between a snake and a bulldog. Which is probably why I finished that run in record time for me!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
