October Summary

Bloody Hell, October is almost over, but the good news is I managed to run into the triple digits.

October k’s – 135

Injuries – none, seem to be traveling along nicely and for a hack athlete I have a crack medial medical team behind me

Excuses – Only that I must be patient and can’t run as much as I want to, spirit is willing and all that

Events – None, just building

Upcoming events – A few things to look forward to in November, The Melbourne Mile (1.6 kms funnily enough) and the Great Australian Run (15km) and maybe a sneaky 1500 on the track on the 22nd

Goals – a 5km road PB before the end of the year

Summary – P A T I E N C E, my least favourite word. Pretty much every run for Oct has been at sub 5 minute Kms so I am really pleased with where my fitness and endurance is right now, just have to find some speed again, I am hoping my doctor will let me return to interval training within the next week or so.

I finished the month with a great 45 minute run this afternoon, 9.3km and I allowed myself to step up to 4:30 kms for the last 1.3km, it felt good!

Now I am just trying to cool my heels and reign in my desire to run every day. Today I was reviewing the weekly plan and got into a shitty mood knowing that tomorrow morning I have to get back on the bike instead of enjoying a quiet morning run at Jells or somewhere else lovely. I am toying with the idea of taking my bike to Jells and riding up to Lysterfield Lake and back. Only problem is my Mountain Bike is getting on a bit, I need new tyres and I don’t have a puncture kit, should I risk it?

JH, I wish I could get 1600kms out of my shoes, problem is that as soon as they start getting over 700km I start to pull up sore, as soon as I switch to a new pair all is OK again. I suppose I am just a delicate little (ok, not so little) princess.

Feeling a bit traumatised this evening, 2 good friends have had a very bad week this week and I have been doing my best to be supportive and say the right things and be strong. I hope that I have been of some help, I want to be able to say the perfect things to make it all OK for them and take away the hurt and it hurts me that I can’t. My heart is broken by proxy and I really just want to have a bit of cry because I hate it when the people I love are suffering

Em can’t think of a title

Coz it’s Thursday and I am bloody tired.

Rest day today and my weekly massage, bit tight in the shins today and now that I am running with some consistency again I realise how important it is for me to keep this weekly appointment. The shoes I wore yesterday have about 730km on them, I thought I could stretch them out to 800km but they felt decidedly flat yesterday and I could feel afterwards that they are done.

Comments on comments

Thanks for tip about the crunches Flip, I would most definitely take any core strength advice from you very seriously. I have been varying what I do with my 100 crunches, generally 50 normal crunches, then 25 oblique each side and follow that with a couple of Pilates exercises as well. I have been doing this after every run, straight after so I don’t fall into the “I’ll do it later trap” and then never do and I do another set after my windtrainer session. This means I have been doing 500 to 600 various crunches a week for the last 3 weeks, I am waiting with baited breath for my first Ab, I am sure it will emerge from hibernation any day now

I am sure I will be on the tan at the same time next Tuesday, afterall I am there every Tuesday at that time, it is Buster that is following me you know Though somehow I get the feeling that if there were any strategic attacks of the vapours that he would probably hurdle my lifeless body and keep on going without skipping a beat.

I keep hearing a funny noise coming from the corner of the room and such is my fear of all things that creep and crawl I am now convinced there is a bug or a spider laying in wait for me, if you need me I’ll be crouched in the other corner with a can of Baygon.

If I don’t post tomorrow the damn thing took me down

Em runs slow

Today was my consecutive running day so it had to be slow and short, just 25 minutes and 4.6km so just under 5:30 kms. I am trying to learn to enjoy these recovery runs but they are not my favourite workout, I suppose I just prefer working hard. Afterwards some stretching on the grass and enjoying a warm sunny afternoon, then I did 100 crunches before heading home.

On Monday night I finally managed to see a film that I had been wanting to watch for ages, Pan’s Labyrinth and after just one viewing I have already added it to my favourite films list. It is set in Franco’s Spain, during the Civil War and follows the story of a young girl whose mother has remarried an Army Captain after being widowed a year earlier. The Captain is cruel and vicious and Ofelia escapes into a fantasy world to cope with what is happening around her. I couldn’t recommend this film highly enough, it is deeply moving and the story draws you right in, the lead female characters, Ofelia the young girl and Mercedes the house keeper engender a deep empathy. In the hands of a big American studio and a less skilled director the film probably would have gone off the rails and become ridiculous, but Guillermo Del Toro put together a wonderful and engaging story. The fantasy sequences are not drawn out, they are beautifully shot and paced and you don’t find yourself thinking “all right, get on with the quest already”. My final praise is reserved for Ivama Baquero who played Ofelia, the lead character, there was a subtlety and nuance to her performance that you just don’t get from those obnoxious American child actors. It takes quite a bit to make me cry at a film, this one definitely got me going, it also takes a damn good story to stop me either falling asleep half way though or walking away bored, this made me do neither.

Em Swoons

I was feeling a bit rotten today, that time of the month and all, cramps and nurofen made for a pretty sore tummy by this afternoon

I contemplated swapping my days and making today an easy 25 minutes and tomorrow my 50 minutes, but it didn’t seem much sense to have the recovery run before the hard run so I just had to HTFU really. As it happens once I got going I felt OK, I never felt 100% but at this time I am going to feel heavy and unco anyway so no point getting all bent out of shape about it.

About 3km into the run, just after I had crossed onto the tan I saw a vaguely familiar figure running towards me, Hmmmm, who on earth would be running in full length track suit pants and bloody hell he is tall

I continued on my way to do a lap and back around at the pillars again I spotted a mate from my club so I stopped for a few minutes for a chat (so I suppose today was really a 35 minute run followed by a 15 minute run with a little break in the middle). She was supervising her group of school girls who had had a bit of a giggle over “harry highpants” in the tracky daks, Lou and I knew better of course.

Back on track and heading towards Morrel Bridge I am plodding along when sans tracksuit pants in favour of shorts the long and lovely legs of Craig Mottram (fortunately still attached to his body) glide effortless past me and off into the distance (and I wonder why my 8th Km today was run at 4:34!), well lordy me didn’t I damn near have an attack of the vapours.

Of course he made it to the end and had time for a rest before setting off again for another rep just as I finally made it to the end, at that point I was mighty grateful to be able to hide my eyes behind a pair of mirrored sunglasses, damn, what a fine pair of legs! Folks, you will all be pleased to know that even though we passed within 30 cm of each other that the big fella remained unmolested.

Let’s face it, I talk a big game but the reality is I really am a ‘fraidy cat and would never say boo to a mouse, even if they do have magnificent long legs and a cheeky smile.

In all seriousness it was very cool to see him down there slogging out his reps on the tan just like the rest of us on any given Tuesday afternoon, especially when he could quite easily retreat to the relative anonymity of Olympic Park.

Back to me now! 50 minute run, in two parts as mentioned, a bit slow at the start but finished nice and strong, just over 10.2km all up and a great start to the week.

At lunch time today I went to the Nike staff store, I was given a one off pass earlier this year when the Nike sponsored Run for the Kids training series finished. What a place! I felt like a kid let loose in a toy store, all the current gear but heavily discounted. I picked up white dri-fit T-Shirts and black long sleeved run tops for the Trailwalker girls, we are going to get some screen printing done and will look pretty special next year. I also grabbed a running shirt and some socks to give my brother for his birthday, a pair of trackie pants for me and a cute pair of mauve Nike Frees, not for running just for wearing as casual shoes.

Phew, my poor credit card.

Did I mention I saw Buster on the tan today?

You are keeping me from my book

It’s Monday and Monday sucks, so why not add to the joy by spending 30 minutes on the exercise bike

Very much looking forward to being able to run 5 days a week again.

After the bike some core work, 100 crunches and some pilates stuff.

So what have I been reading?

I’d love to impress you all by waxing lyrical about Camus, Satre, Nietzsche and Kafka and although I have read plenty these guys have written it is a slightly less lofty tale that has captivated me these last couple of weeks.

It is The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, I bought it on my pre-holiday book binge at the end of September, the cover drew me in. I will let you all in on a little secret, despite my brittle, even cynical exterior (come on, someone protest) I am actually a bit of a romantic on the inside and the more tragic the better really and this book has more than it’s fair share of pathos. Though I am not too sure it will really appeal to the men, the lead character loses something rather important early on and it may make you all a little uncomfortable.

Now for a pop quiz, boffin points go to the person who can tell me which song by The Cure was inspired by which novel by Camus.

Spent most of the day reading a book I can’t put down.

Went for a 60 minute run, bloody hot, covered 11.5km, didn’t take the book with me.

A load off my head

Lucky me, I scored a couple of quiet hairdressers today, apart from the obligatory “so what are you doing with the rest of the weekend?”, which I was asked 3 times (by the colourist, then the hairwashing apprentice and finally by the hair cutter) I was left in peace.

2 and a half hours later I walked out with lots of lovely blonde bits in my hair and about 30cm less of it when I walked in. By the end the pile of my hair on the floor looked like a small Lhasa Apso had fallen asleep there. It feels great not to have a great big pile of hair up in a pony tail, it was getting pretty uncomfortable.

I did pop down to the track this afternoon and arrived just in time to lap count for a couple of team mates who were running the 5000mtre. Because there were not too many women they ended up running the > 18:30 mens open and the women’s open races together, I also took pity on two girls who didn’t have lap counters and ended up keeping track of 4 runners! Fortunately (well for me anyway) one girl pulled out 6 laps in and the remaining 3 were well spaced enough for me to keep track. It was pretty warm and blowy out there today, not great conditions for a distance run but everyone was pretty pleased with their performance, there was even a PB.

Now that I have seen what it is all about I am not as worried as I was initially and I look forward to having a go myself sometime before the end of the year.

Now JH you cheeky sod, casting dispersions on my age, how terribly ungentlemanly, you old bastard

Do you wanna see a picture?

Bit dodgy though because I took it with the web cam so you can’t see the colour, what you can see is the freckle explosion from my trip to Queensland at the start of the month, my hair used to be halfway down my back!

Split Enz

Naaaa, not the boys who stole mums makeup and mucked about in leaky boats, rather the tragic state of my hair. Such is my general unwillingness to spend a hour in a chair, held captive to a relative strangers small talk that I have now gone 20 months, yep, 20 MONTHS without a haircut.

Sadly the hair is getting a bit long, very shabby and a pain to look after, not to mention literally a pain to run with because it is so heavy I have to put it in a bun or wear plaits so it doesn’t pull.

So tomorrow morning I submit to not one but 2 hours in the chair as I attempt to transform myself from bag lady back into a reasonably presentable young woman as I not only get half the length of my hair lopped off but blonde foils (that’s blonde stripy bits for the boys out there asking WTF are foils?) to cover the increasing amount of greys that haunt me as I get farther away from 30.

I guess I’ll just nod alot and go “hmmmmmmm”

This afternoon I ran for a whole 50 minutes!!! And I ran blind, nope, I didn’t add to the excitement by downing a bottle of vodka before hand, I forgot my contact lenses and I can’t run in my glasses because they slip off my nose. It wasn’t a bad run but not being able to see properly does mess with my proprioception, I feel distinctly uncoordinated and end up putting my feet in little divets and potholes and have trouble regulating my gait, funny hey. Anyway, I ran 10.3km then did some stretching at the end and 100 crunches.

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to head to the Knox track to watch Round 2 of the AV Shield Comp (South East region). As well as some longer distances at 3000 and 5000 mtres it has also been suggested that I try a couple of 1500s as well, yikes, talk about getting way out of my comfort zone. I won’t be ready to try something on the track for another month or so but because the Comp is close to home this round I figured I may as well go and see what all the fuss is about so I feel more comfortable when I decide to give it a go.

Hey Sassy, thanks for asking, Scully is doing quite well now, she had her course of tablets and hasn’t thrown up now for about a week so I am hoping that what ever she had has settled down.

This is completely unrelated to anything, I just though it was funny, just wait, it’s not what you think.

Yuck

I hate doing strength work, I have devised a pretty simple little program for myself, just using light 3kg free weights and my own body weight.

It only takes about 10 minutes.

But I HATE doing it!

Can you imagine that, I can happily spend 2 hours running on my own, but it kills me to find the motivation to spend 10 lousy minutes 3 times a week doing some basic strength training.

It’s so BORING.

I don’t mind doing the core work, but it is the lunges and squats and calf raises that I hate doing.

So I only did crunches tonight see above for my whiny list of excuses

I was also allowed to run again today, only 20 minutes but it was cool to get out there again for the second day in a row. Easy was the order of the day and I did as I was told, 3.7km, so just a little bit over the 3.5km I said I would stick too. It was so damn easy I think I dozed off there someone during the 2nd kilometre but managed to wake up before I ran into the river. This is by no means a mark of disrespect for those for whom 5:30 kms is a fast pace, just remember my 4:30 minute kms gut busting 10km race pace is pedestrian for some runners, it’s all relative.

Rest and a massage tomorrow.

more animals

And hot cross buns will be on sale next week

The Melbourne City Council, in their infinite wisdom, have decided that October 21st is not too early to put the bloody Christmas tree up in the City Square.

As if it is not a difficult enough time of year for me without me having it on my mind 2 months out.

Bastards

My run this afternoon was a bit wild and wooly, a wicked cross wind going over Morrel Bridge nearly lifted me up and dropped me in the river, the head wind up Anderson Street was particularly cruel and coming back around the tan near the pillars a little willy-willy whipped up and I got a face full of dirt. Despite this I still managed a decent 9.3km in 45 minutes, after which I spent some time on the grass back at Birrarung Marr (the park near Federation Square) where I did some stretches and crunches. Tomorrow I get to double up, but just an easy 20 minute recovery pace.

Don’t worry folks, I manage to keep the Black Puppy of mine in check and despite having him jump around and nip at my heels since my late teens he does not seem to want to grow into a big dog. Thus far I have been able to keep him shut up in the laundry if he bothers me too much. Some of my family members have suffered from full blown Depression so I am certainly aware of what it can do to a person, without going into too much detail there have been breakdowns and lost years. However we are a small close knit family and with support everyone has always pulled though and I count my occasional moody periods as a very minor manifestation and I have my ways of coping.

I didn’t want to write that and it is all I care to share, however it is not some awful dark secret that needs to be hidden away like it once was, in my Grandmothers time the attitudes were far different to what they are today. Personally I don’t believe there really is any kind of normal, just degrees of madness and we are all touched in our own way aren’t we.

Enough of that now.

Have the other WordPress bloggers discovered the nifty new Poll feature? I have been itching to post one so here goes, hope it works –