Out at 4:30 this morning for 4.5 k's of 'speedwork', even though my version of speedwork translates to about an 8 minute kilometre, lols.
It's now just over a week until the HM, and I'm not really nervous...I'm in a good place, my mind is full of 'I can, I will, I know' kind of thoughts. Sometimes when I'm running I wish I could upload to blogger straight from my brain, sizzle out those crazy, exciting, uplifting thoughts to use later, although really I can look over them anytime I like just by going for another run.
I'm planning to back today's run up with another easy 4 k run tomorrow, and then a nice long walk on Saturday before putting in about 8 or so on Sunday. Next week I'll be tapering, and to stop myself going mental I'm going to head out on Mon-Wed-Fri for easy, 3-4 k runs.
I'm so pleased that the last two weeks of training have come together so well, it's really boosting my confidence. I've been strangely certain of my ability all through my training but I really feel that I can acheive my goals in this race.
I can't hardly wait :D
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The last long run
Yesterday I did my last long run before the Half Marathon in two weeks time. 22 kilometres, which took three hours, nine minutes, and sixteen seconds. Not bad.
I wouldn't say I was excited for this run...it's pretty hard to feel positive about the physical and mental slog associated with that kind of effort. More than anything I felt relieved to know that this was the last time that I'd 'have' to cover this distance for a long time.
Yet somehow I'm convinced that I'll do this again. Even as I was out there, tired, uncomfortable and consumed with thoughts of bacon, I knew I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I was running along, both loving and hating it, and planning where I'd go after the HM to run for fun.
My cousin Aimee, with whom I seem to have many parallels (even though I have not seen her in years and years) ran her first half yesterday. It was the Gold Coast half marathon, which is quite a serious event. It has a three hour cutoff.
She didn't make it. She finished allright, but she finished outside the three hour limit, outside her time goal, and the rules of that race are such that she was disqualified and does not record an official time.
I was gutted for her. Self centred creature that I am, I immediately started googling cutoff times for my own race. I don't think there are any, my race starts at 7am and the latest race (the 5k) starts at 10:30. I think a lot of the time cutoffs are more about being able to keep roads closed than anything else.
I don't think I can run the distance much faster than I have in training, and so my goals are simple. I want to finish in under three hours, and I want a negative split, both of which I've been able to do in training.
Variables are - the course is different terrain to what I've covered, so I may lose some time, but also the course does not have red lights, and my training ground does.
I'm starting in the 3rd wave, and hope to be well back to let all the speedies go. I don't want to add too many unnecessary miles swerving around others.
I want to drink plenty of water, stick with the gels that I know work for me, and mostly just...relax, enjoy it, see it as an experience.
I wouldn't say I was excited for this run...it's pretty hard to feel positive about the physical and mental slog associated with that kind of effort. More than anything I felt relieved to know that this was the last time that I'd 'have' to cover this distance for a long time.
Yet somehow I'm convinced that I'll do this again. Even as I was out there, tired, uncomfortable and consumed with thoughts of bacon, I knew I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I was running along, both loving and hating it, and planning where I'd go after the HM to run for fun.
My cousin Aimee, with whom I seem to have many parallels (even though I have not seen her in years and years) ran her first half yesterday. It was the Gold Coast half marathon, which is quite a serious event. It has a three hour cutoff.
She didn't make it. She finished allright, but she finished outside the three hour limit, outside her time goal, and the rules of that race are such that she was disqualified and does not record an official time.
I was gutted for her. Self centred creature that I am, I immediately started googling cutoff times for my own race. I don't think there are any, my race starts at 7am and the latest race (the 5k) starts at 10:30. I think a lot of the time cutoffs are more about being able to keep roads closed than anything else.
I don't think I can run the distance much faster than I have in training, and so my goals are simple. I want to finish in under three hours, and I want a negative split, both of which I've been able to do in training.
Variables are - the course is different terrain to what I've covered, so I may lose some time, but also the course does not have red lights, and my training ground does.
I'm starting in the 3rd wave, and hope to be well back to let all the speedies go. I don't want to add too many unnecessary miles swerving around others.
I want to drink plenty of water, stick with the gels that I know work for me, and mostly just...relax, enjoy it, see it as an experience.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Shufflin' shufflin' yeah...
I've had a rough couple of weeks running wise...I'd be fibbing if I said it was anything so glamorous as being overtrained, I think it was more just an attack of the lazies, a cloud of demotivation. I even skipped my long run last weekend *hangs head in shame*
Soo, this week I've made a concerted effort to get out there, and I'm pleased with how it's gone so far. 6.8 on Tuesday morning, 6.2 today, and I'm hoping for 22-23 on Sunday's long run. I'm particularly pleased at having gained some consistency during a week that has involved some seriously cold weather, so cold that people have been saying things lik "It's cold...even for Melbourne!"
The Run Melbourne HM is....five and a half weeks away, so I'm both on track and not on track. I can do the distance, not with any sort of speed but, well, I'm not that kind of runner anyway.
Soo, this week I've made a concerted effort to get out there, and I'm pleased with how it's gone so far. 6.8 on Tuesday morning, 6.2 today, and I'm hoping for 22-23 on Sunday's long run. I'm particularly pleased at having gained some consistency during a week that has involved some seriously cold weather, so cold that people have been saying things lik "It's cold...even for Melbourne!"
The Run Melbourne HM is....five and a half weeks away, so I'm both on track and not on track. I can do the distance, not with any sort of speed but, well, I'm not that kind of runner anyway.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The longest week
So last week blogger had some pretty serious issues, ending up in 'read only' mode, but it's come back to life now so I can finally put down some, ah, week old thoughts.
After my last long run, I felt a lot more sore than usual but headed out to Tuesday's Run Melbourne training session expecting to do a nice, easy run.
But then I just didn't :/ My everything hurt. I was gasping, shaking, and had crippling pain locking up the front of my ankles and shins. Not the plan. The next day I was even worse, nauseous, lightheaded, nasty headache, and shaking uncontrollably.
I took the rest of the week off, and didn't head out for another run until Saturday, when I did a very easy, experimental 3.something k's.
The whole thing had me scratching my head. If I recovered well from 19 kilometres, why couldn't I recover from 21.1? What had I done differently? My hydration was spot on. True, I'd used a different brand of gel, but could that make such a difference? Was it just the sheer distance?
What didn't I do? I didn't have an ice bath. I didn't roll my legs out. I didn't rub my legs down with deep heat the way I normally would.
The only other thing I can think of is that I went too fast. I treated it as a dry run for raceday, not as just another long run. I pushed really hard in the last few kilometres, and I can only assume I'm paying the price.
So, the plan for this week is for short runs 5-6k Monday/Wednesday/Friday, and then a repeat of the same distance on Sunday. Ordinarily I'd go up by two kilometres, but I'd rather do a repeat of the distance and feel ok. I'm crossing my fingers for fresher legs, and that it'll take a heck of a lot longer than three hours.
After my last long run, I felt a lot more sore than usual but headed out to Tuesday's Run Melbourne training session expecting to do a nice, easy run.
But then I just didn't :/ My everything hurt. I was gasping, shaking, and had crippling pain locking up the front of my ankles and shins. Not the plan. The next day I was even worse, nauseous, lightheaded, nasty headache, and shaking uncontrollably.
I took the rest of the week off, and didn't head out for another run until Saturday, when I did a very easy, experimental 3.something k's.
The whole thing had me scratching my head. If I recovered well from 19 kilometres, why couldn't I recover from 21.1? What had I done differently? My hydration was spot on. True, I'd used a different brand of gel, but could that make such a difference? Was it just the sheer distance?
What didn't I do? I didn't have an ice bath. I didn't roll my legs out. I didn't rub my legs down with deep heat the way I normally would.
The only other thing I can think of is that I went too fast. I treated it as a dry run for raceday, not as just another long run. I pushed really hard in the last few kilometres, and I can only assume I'm paying the price.
So, the plan for this week is for short runs 5-6k Monday/Wednesday/Friday, and then a repeat of the same distance on Sunday. Ordinarily I'd go up by two kilometres, but I'd rather do a repeat of the distance and feel ok. I'm crossing my fingers for fresher legs, and that it'll take a heck of a lot longer than three hours.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
She's going the distance!
Long run day yesterday, and I covered the entire 21.1k. In under 3 hours, which was my raceday goal!! (and the crowd goes wild, yeahhhhhh)
This was the best, most magical long run ever. I hydrated perfectly and took on gels so i am reasonably certain that all the amazing feelings i had were as a result of endorphins and not some sort of dehydration thingy :)
This was one of those runs where I laughed to myself, even whooped with joy, and at times felt such emotion I was close to tears. I was nervous beforehand but as I ran I knew I could make it, and was so proud of myself and excited about what I was doing.
It's hard to compress it all into ideas...so I'll just say that I'm looking forward to next time the distance goes magic.
This was the best, most magical long run ever. I hydrated perfectly and took on gels so i am reasonably certain that all the amazing feelings i had were as a result of endorphins and not some sort of dehydration thingy :)
This was one of those runs where I laughed to myself, even whooped with joy, and at times felt such emotion I was close to tears. I was nervous beforehand but as I ran I knew I could make it, and was so proud of myself and excited about what I was doing.
It's hard to compress it all into ideas...so I'll just say that I'm looking forward to next time the distance goes magic.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Suunto Run Melbourne Training..
..has started for the year, wahoo! I got a lot out of it last year, so going again this year was a given. I had a total blast last night!
Brought my gear into work with me, which is a slight hassle but so long as I am a bit organised isn't too bad. The main negative was that I'd gone out for a quick 4K run in the morning and when I opened my bag at 5:30pm to get changed my sports bra was still slightly damp (altogether now..ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww).
I got changed, dashed out the front and jumped on a tram. I work at one end of the city and training starts at the other (of course) so it takes a good 15 minutes to get down there. I wasn't nervous like last year, rather I was ready and raring to go!
I ran in the beginners group as that's what I did last year and being still quite slow it seemed a good place to start. Running a similar route and distance to last year was a great way to see how far I've come, and I am amazed at how much easier it was for me. Last year I was well down the back of the pack, walked a fair bit, and could never make the 1K around the base of the MCG without stopping. This year I freakin' smashed that! Maintained a 7:46 pace most of the way with very few stops, and was with the front pack for most of that time. I amazed myself as I pretty much only do run-walk-run so had been unsure how I'd go without my walk breaks, but it was fine as the pace was gentle.
At the end I was one of the people the leader tapped as being ready to move into the 5K slow group, so next week that's the plan. Am pretty sure I'll get smashed there but, oh well, I can always drop back if it's too hard!
I'm really pleased with how the whole thing went. Run Melbourne is my favourite event, I love the fact that it's aimed at getting people out and running, I love that the slogan is 'Anyone can'. I'm sure I'll always have a soft spot for it as it was my first running event, and I'm so excited to be running my first half marathon there.
It was also my first time running in the morning and then again in the evening, and I was surprised at how good I felt.
Brought my gear into work with me, which is a slight hassle but so long as I am a bit organised isn't too bad. The main negative was that I'd gone out for a quick 4K run in the morning and when I opened my bag at 5:30pm to get changed my sports bra was still slightly damp (altogether now..ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww).
I got changed, dashed out the front and jumped on a tram. I work at one end of the city and training starts at the other (of course) so it takes a good 15 minutes to get down there. I wasn't nervous like last year, rather I was ready and raring to go!
I ran in the beginners group as that's what I did last year and being still quite slow it seemed a good place to start. Running a similar route and distance to last year was a great way to see how far I've come, and I am amazed at how much easier it was for me. Last year I was well down the back of the pack, walked a fair bit, and could never make the 1K around the base of the MCG without stopping. This year I freakin' smashed that! Maintained a 7:46 pace most of the way with very few stops, and was with the front pack for most of that time. I amazed myself as I pretty much only do run-walk-run so had been unsure how I'd go without my walk breaks, but it was fine as the pace was gentle.
At the end I was one of the people the leader tapped as being ready to move into the 5K slow group, so next week that's the plan. Am pretty sure I'll get smashed there but, oh well, I can always drop back if it's too hard!
I'm really pleased with how the whole thing went. Run Melbourne is my favourite event, I love the fact that it's aimed at getting people out and running, I love that the slogan is 'Anyone can'. I'm sure I'll always have a soft spot for it as it was my first running event, and I'm so excited to be running my first half marathon there.
It was also my first time running in the morning and then again in the evening, and I was surprised at how good I felt.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
On the wane
It's been a very patchy couple of weeks, and I'm still feeling less than 100%. My legs are feeling a lot better since the foam roller entered into play but almost everything else is feeling a little worse.
I made it out for the monster long run, coming in at 18.66ks in 2:47:11. It was a mammoth effort and I really felt nervous before heading out for that one, panicky and unsure about myself. But, I made it.
Maybe it was due to the five-day long weekend that my long run was in the middle of, maybe I was just a little too pleased with myself...either way, I didn't make it out for another run until Thursday. Non, non, non awesome. I like to head out Tues/Thurs/Sun, with other days as optional extras. But yeah, motivation, energy and nutrition have all been low and I find myself more than a little unenthused.
I did put in a nice 6K's on that Thursday run, and just shy of 7K's on Sunday, so I think that's a start.
I'm trying to find a happy medium, where running is less of an all-consuming passion and more just something I love, something that I do, because the intensity of that passion tends to wax and wane. When I'm in love, smashing kilometres and loving it, that passion can be a lot easier to sustain. When I'm doing it hard, feeling fat and hopeless, and worried about my abilities, it's obviously a lot harder to feel that love, and my attention seems to divert to other things. So if I can learn to see it as a granted rather than a lofty, endlessly-chased goal, I can hopefully gain some perspective and be able to incorporate it into my life long term.
I made it out for the monster long run, coming in at 18.66ks in 2:47:11. It was a mammoth effort and I really felt nervous before heading out for that one, panicky and unsure about myself. But, I made it.
Maybe it was due to the five-day long weekend that my long run was in the middle of, maybe I was just a little too pleased with myself...either way, I didn't make it out for another run until Thursday. Non, non, non awesome. I like to head out Tues/Thurs/Sun, with other days as optional extras. But yeah, motivation, energy and nutrition have all been low and I find myself more than a little unenthused.
I did put in a nice 6K's on that Thursday run, and just shy of 7K's on Sunday, so I think that's a start.
I'm trying to find a happy medium, where running is less of an all-consuming passion and more just something I love, something that I do, because the intensity of that passion tends to wax and wane. When I'm in love, smashing kilometres and loving it, that passion can be a lot easier to sustain. When I'm doing it hard, feeling fat and hopeless, and worried about my abilities, it's obviously a lot harder to feel that love, and my attention seems to divert to other things. So if I can learn to see it as a granted rather than a lofty, endlessly-chased goal, I can hopefully gain some perspective and be able to incorporate it into my life long term.
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