Mt Wellington from Hamden Park Road.

My neck and shoulders are still sore so I am off to the doctor today then I might have to consider some physio if it doesnt get better- my neck is very sore to touch and my non- medically minded colleagues have diagnosed whip lash.
I am heading to Hobart tomorrow to meet the long lost relatives so Bella is under the control of BF which is causing me angst all ready. BF doesn't like to walk Bella (unless it is 6am and he just got home from the pub and decides to follow me to work with Bella wearing only his red man panties- but that is a whole other story) and so I am preparing to be greeted by a lot more damage to the lawn on Sunday.
I was hoping to have a run in Hobart and I haven't ruled it out yet, I will try to go to spin tomorrow morning before we leave but if I am still in pain I may give that a miss. Funny, I don't mind ankle pain, but this is horrible.
Thanks for all your kind comments- I had forgotten about falling over on Saturday too so yes, I do spend a lot of time on the ground.

Hit by a truck (well dog really)

You might remember my friend Leslie, with the arm in a sling after surgery after she was knocked over by her dog at the park?? Well this morning she and a friend came to the park just as Bella and I were leaving so I could go to the gym (you know where this is going don't you?) and they had Arnie and Lucy, Leslie's two dogs with them.
I very nicely offered to pick up Arnies poop because Leslie was still in a sling and her friend looked freaked out by the thought- as was I but I figured if I can pick up Bella's, I can pick up Arnie's. As I walked back from the bin Arnie hit me from behind as he ran along chasing Bella and knocked my legs clean out from under me. The first thing that hit the ground was the back of my head.
It took me a little while to realise where I was and what had happened by which stage Leslie and her friend were trying to make me stay on the ground while I was trying to get up while the dogs were coming over to slobber on me.
I didn't make it to the gym and now I am sitting at work, my neck and shoulders are so stiff I can barely move them and I have a thumper of a head ache.
I think I might have to go home but I am moving offices to a new task force next Monday so I have a lot of stuff to tidy and arrange.
I haven't googled my symptoms (yet!) but I am tipping this could nearly be a mild concussion- all I want to do is sleep but Leslie was a nurse and said I should try to stay awake!

*Edit* I came home from work early and rang "Nurses On Call" and after asking a lot of questions the kind nurse stopped laughing at me and told me it was all right to have a sleep, some panadol, no alcohol and if my pupils were different sizes, my arms felt tingly or I started vomiting then I should go to hospital. So I have just had some sleep and I feel a bit better.

Morning Run

I am on arvo today so I slept in until 6 and then took Bella to the park before heading to the Tan. I did one lap then headed over the Yarra and ran to Clarendon Street and then back along the other side, then another lap of the Tan and I was done. I bumped into a friend on the last lap of the tan and so I stopped for a quick chat that turned into a long chat so when I went to run again my muscles had cooled down and my ankle was hurting a lot more. I was going to run a bit further but I decided not to push it. I think it was about 13.5 km and my heart rate max was 86% and average was 75%. I averaged 6.30 min/k which was what I was aiming for.
Steve was right- I need to find new places to run- I really enjoyed this run because I had the security of knowing where the toilets were in the early part of the course (!) and then I was along a path where I don't normally run and I also got to run amongst the normal people in suits heading off to work along southbank.

My legs were still screaming at me from pump class on Sunday- I had to run and answer my phone at work yesterday and every step hurt everywhere, including my pecs. Luckily I had a very good bra on today so there was no painful pec jiggle!
I had a swim yesterday morning before work because I was having dinner with girlfriends last night and wouldnt make it to spin class. I am not sure about the swimming in the morning thing- I was so tired all day and it makes me hungry.

Anyway I am off to walk Bella again so that I can wear her out so she doesn't dig anymore holes.

Too much red wine (and pump class)

I got up very very late this morning- possibly the latest I have slept in for ages- and I really earned it. I drank and ate so much yesterday that I definitely needed a little lie in. Sadly while I was at the wedding Bella chose to punish me by digging SIX holes in the lawn- it looks awful. I didn't notice last night so it was a rude shock this morning.
I walked Bella to East Malvern to collect my sisters car and then drove it to her house and she drove us home.
I pretty much just cleaned all day then went to Pump class tonight and I really cranked up the weights- my legs, butt, arms and shoulders will be shouting at me tomorrow.
I was planning on going swimming in the morning but I will see how things pan out- I am worried my shoulders will be too sore- might just use the kickboard and flippers.

Boring run

I headed out this morning feeling less than happy after a very bad nights sleep and I think I should get used to it, definitely more where that came from. I walked Bella and for the first time I realised that it didn't take me a 2km walk to get my joints moving freely and pain free! Bella had a very good run and didn't get into any blues in the park.
I drove to the Tan simply because I was lacking in imagination and did two very poor laps- on the second I stumbled over my enormous feet and did that stumbly run where you are trying to stop from falling but all you do is increase the pace for when you eventually hit the deck. So now I have a wedding to go to with nasty scrapes on my right leg (the right side is the problem everytime!)
I got up hastily- but there is no disguising the fact I had been lounging on the track, I was covered in dust and bleeding.
I kept running- but I decided to head down the path along the Yarra so I didnt have to look at anyone who saw me reclining on the ground. I wasn't very happy and my leg was stinging so after I stumbled two more times but managed to stay upright I thought I should quit while I am still in one piece. I must have been more tired than I thought if I couldn't even lift my feet properly without concentrating.
I am icing my foot but it really felt good after my run, I had no real soreness in my PF or ankle- mainly just the toe extender- and the palms of my hands and my right lower leg. One day I will be grown up enough not to have scabby knees and grazed palms!

3 Laps of Tan

I headed out a little later than usual this morning- got to the Tan at about 8am after walking Bella and driving to the Tan in the luxury of a car that doesn't wake up the neighbours everytime I drive off!
I did my first lap averaging 6.30min/k and then tried to ramp up the pace for the second lap- sadly I had used up all my energy on the first run up the hill and found myself severly lacking for the second trip. I still averaged 5.33 min/km for the second lap and the third was pretty abysmal because I was exhausted but I concentrated on keeping it around 6.30 min/k. My heart rate was okay- it was climbing through the roof for the quick lap when I was going up the hill but otherwise stayed around 75%.
I was a sweaty girl when I finished- and very unhappy because it meant climbing into my new car and being far too concerned about how dirty the seats would get. I don't know how long I will be this precious for!

I went to the physio afterwards and she told me that the pain in the top of my foot is a strained big toe extender tendon (yes Deege, I made that one up too!) so she got stuck into it and I nearly cried- but it is better than my diagnosis. The rest of my problems are all being managed nicely according to the physio and she said I should just keep going, every 3 days for a run and only go back to her if there is a problem. I am happy with that because my health insurance doesn't subsidise my visits very much after this many.

More rest days....and a new car

I took the train to Warrnambool yesterday and bought a car! I have said goodbye to my 94 Laser TX3- red of course and now I have a 2006 Mazda3 and a lot more debt. I do miss my old car- but the exhaust got so loud that I kept turning up the radio to drown out the sound that I eventually blew out the speakers. It really sounded like a truck- my new car purrrrrrrs!
I spent the night at Mum and Dad's then drove home this morning- it is nice to go home even if it is just for the night though it always results in too much red wine.

The top of my foot has been really sore, it doesn't matter what shoes I wear or how much I ice it, it just really hurt to walk. I think the rest has been fantastic though and it is getting better so the plan is to see how it is in the morning when I go for a walk with Bella and have a run if it doesn't hurt at all.
I have booked to see the physio in the morning so it should all be sorted out anyway.

The new plan (depending on what the physio says) is the Sri Chinmoy HM on 27th of May (after I get back from Perth).

Damn rest day (strange foot pain)

I had to work early this morning so I didn't make it out for anything other than a walk with Bella before I had to stand at the tram stop waiting for a very very late tram. I was still the first one in the office and spent a very boring day doing nothing worthy.
I took Bella for another walk when I got home and realised that my weird top of the foot/ big toe pain is getting worse. Of course I have been checking runner's rescue and have decided that I have a stress fracture in my metatarsal- who knows but it damn hurts.
I have two days off now and I am heading to the countryside to buy a new car- hopefully! My old car is safely in the hands of BF's dad who is fixing it for the new owner (18 y.o guy- I am sure he would have preferred the noisy exhaust).
My Mum has found the perfect car for me in Warrnambool so I am off on the train in the morning to see if she is right! Hopefully I will be driving back to Melbourne- not that I don't like the train but it wears thin after a while, especially during school holidays.

1.3km (dont worry it was a swim)

Had a great sleep in- it is so nice when I wake up, realise it is morning and I haven't been called into work during the night! One more night- touch wood.

I walked Bella then rode to the Prahran pool for a swim- I took my flippers and after a short warm up I just grabbed my kickboard and used my flippers to power along- my legs were burning and it felt really good. I finished off with some laps - freestyle up and breaststroke back. I felt so tired while I was swimming but when I got out I felt really good.
I forgot my thongs again so when I had a shower I stood on my kickboard- last time I forgot them I showered in my flippers and nearly fell over several times- I imagined that I would fall and someone would have to break down the door to rescue me as I lay on the floor wearing nothing but flippers. Maybe next time!
I also rode my bike for about an hour- I said I would feed my friend Amy's two cats while she and her family were away- forgot I had no car but it wasn't too hard to cycle there and go to the supermarket as well.

I have decided not to do the Bunbury HM- I really wanted to run with Celeste because it would be her first HM but now she is injured and I don't think it will be the same. I rang and cancelled the motel I booked for Cam, Bec, the kids and I and they didn't charge me for it. I think I might either do the Run2the G HM or the Sri Chinmoy Williamstown HM on 27 May instead. So I am still going to Perth to see Harry and Daisy (and Cam and Bec) and I will hopefully get to meet Celeste also. I sort of feel a bit relieved- I wasn't feeling that confident with such a small field and they make the HM start 90 minutes after everyone else - and I need a head start not a time penalty! I feell like a piker especially because I have already sent off my entry form- I emailed the organisers and told them to keep it for next year!

Run around the lake

I got up at stupid o'clock this morning (5am)- took Bella for a quick run then headed out to run to Albert Park Lake- fortunately my friend Deb was driving past on her way to the Tan and she offered to drive me to the lake.
So I did two laps- the first at 6.30 min/k pace and the second at 6 min/k pace. I am so bad at keeping a constant pace and considering how flat it is around the lake it is a bit embarrassing. I just lose focus and slow down. I tried to keep on top of it and stay focused but I was a bit all over the pace. I also tried the sports beans I bought at a cycle shop the other day- I think the gels have caffeine in them and it is no good for my guts and usually results in a "comfort stop"- the beans were fine, though I couldn't chew and run at the same time! What an unco loser!! Sadly after I paid $3 at the cycle shop I found them at Coles for $1.50.
I ran home from the lake - making it 12km all up and I was pretty happy that I averaged 6.10 min.k for my two laps.
When I was walking Bella I noticed that the bone that runs along my foot towards my big toe was quite sore- I thought I must have taped my foot too tight so I loosened off the tape but it just got very sore as I was running and now I am in quite a bit of pain.
It all makes sense- now that I can run without the PF or my ankle hurting I have to have another niggle- surely it is psychosomatic- I just need the attention for my feet!
Back to the physio next week for sure.
BF has gone to his parents for a few days and work told me to do my computer assignment from home for the weekend so I am not going to work- just hanging with Bella in the sun!

Great Friday (Only 4.5kg to Bunbury!)

The weather is fantastic this morning- such a glorious day and such a shame I have to work at 3pm but thems the breaks.
I got up early and went and met Leslie who has the two large dogs, she had recent shoulder surgery after her dog Arnie knocked her over while we were out walking and dislocated her shoulder and broke part of the socket off! So it is hard for her to walk her dogs and I have been terrible and haven't helped her apart from one measly walk a few weeks ago. So I took Bella and Arnie (enormous white American bulldog - possibly part pony!) and she had her elderly boxer Lucy.
We wandered around the various parks in the area until the dogs were exhausted and then we walked them back to her house. I feel like a much better person now- she pays a dog walker because otherwise the dogs become destructive so I must make more of an effort in the next few weeks. Bella loves playing with Arnie too because he is indestructible.

Anyway- yesterday I did spin class in the morning and rode my bike to and from work- I took Bella for a massive power walk as well. I went to Weight Watchers last night and I have lost 1.3kg in the last two weeks! I was so happy with myself- finally I am making the right decisions.
I am going swimming this morning before I go to work- because I have no car, I have no choice but to ride to the pool but it is such a lovely day I think I would anyway. My legs are killing me from pump the other morning but I am feeling strong at the moment- though my PF is a bit sore so I am definitely thinking that the 2 rest days between runs is a good idea. I will go back to the physio next week.

46 Sleeps Until Bunbury!

Had a massive sleep in until 7.30 this morning- Bella didn't even mind because she was asleep beside the bed because BF had to work until 5am. After I had taken Bella for a walk I ran down Orrong Road to the Yarra and back again- 5km all up and it is very undulating! This is the beginning of my Great Train Race training- but I think the key might be to do the hills as part of a much longer run because it was pretty easy today. My heel/ PF thing is pretty sore but the usual ankle problem is slowly subsiding!
I also went to Pump class today (with the crazy shouting nasty instructor who likes to tell people off for putting away their step early!!) as well so I am feeling all right about going to weigh in tomorrow night- I will probably keep putting on weight thanks to last weeks inactive little tapering session but seeing as I am working over Easter there shouldn't be a blow out with chocolate and hot cross buns.
I need to find a pool that is open on Good Friday so I can keep my plans of cross training going.

Bella is a Staffy Lab cross- which makes her very playful but very determined!

Taking it very easy

I had yesterday off and today was a bit of a rest day also! My BF organised for his dad to fix my car up a bit and sell it so I drove it to Bendigo at 5.30 this morning and organised to work an afternoon shift- I got the train back from Bendigo after saying goodbye to little red car (hopefully forever!).
I didn't get to walk Bella properly because I left so early so I was not surprised to see she had dug a massive hole in the lawn. I took her to the park and she got into a fight so I gave her a talking to about smartening up- just like my mum would have given me.
I decided to make it to 1200 Pump class at the gym but halfway out the door on my bike I realised that it was Tuesday not Monday and I was actually hurrying to Yoga. So I went anyway but spent my 40 minutes on the x-trainer doing interval work then gave the stepper a hiding as well. The intervals were based on the ones I would do around the Tan but it is surprising when you get a speed up on those things that they get a bit wobbly and I was a bit frightened that I was about to cause an incident!
I weighed myself at the gym and I am horrified at myself.
My muscles are still a bit sore but my ankle has pulled up really well so I am almost committed to the Great Train Run (and also Run2G)
Arvo again tomorrow so I might try a run tomorrow morning.

Run4Kids 88mins!

I am pretty glad that is over! It was so much fun and I beat last years time by 7 minutes!
I got up way too early, walked Bella to the park (where I was standing beside the road trying to work out what a noise was then I realised it was a couple having "ooshmackoondy" in the car I was standing next to- I was embarassed and they should have been).

I got home, stressed some more about doing number 2s then went and picked up my friend Kendra. I parked near work and we walked to the mosh pit! There were so many people- we ended up going to the Music Bowl toilets because the queue was only 20 metres long, not 120m! Then we had to find the baggage drop off then join the start. It must have taken 20 minutes for me to cross the line and the whole time I was getting less friendly with the organisers. Finally we were running and over the line and heading straight for the tunnel.

I didn't think the tunnel was that bad this year- last year I couldnt breath in there- but I lost Kendra who sprinted away. As usual the hills killed me and I was seriously thinking about walking up the Bolte but I took a few steps then realised I might never start running again so I kept going.
The Latrobe Street hill was probably the shortest but the worst for me- I was really struggling and hating every second- then when I got to Spencer Street I was back weaving through the crowd again.

My ankle was fine- my inner calf muscle was very nasty though and I might have to routinely strap it because I was starting to think that I would have to stop on the Bolte because it hurt so much. But I got distracted by Britney on my ipod and tried to forget about it.
My splits are all over the place- a few in the 5m/k and a few 6m/k and a 4 and an 8???? But my average pace was .......5.53 m/k! That is my fastest yet- faster even than the 8km Zoo Run! That is based on the course being 15km, and I am more inclined to believe that it was 14.8 which would still keep me under the 6min/k limit! I was so excited when I realised that I was going to beat last years time - I actually had some go left in my legs which is the opposite of last year where I could barely raise a trot at the end!

When I finished we were shunted into a mass of people that moved ever so slowly and all I wanted was a drink- I didn't drink at all on the course - though I poured one cup over my head. I was hungry, tired, blood sugar was getting low and we were shunted in with all the prams and bikes on sticks- the next person who pushed their pusher into my ankle was going to have that pusher pushed somewhere unpleasant!
After about 15 minutes I was given a bag containing rubbish but thankfully it had a tiny bottle of water in it and some lollies so my patience, tolerance and happy thoughts returned.

I went to Transport and met lots of Ausrunners and Coolrunners- had two beers (or was it three) then headed home (via the fish and chip shop....I know, but I decided I had earned it)

So I am sitting here in my 2XU tights (had to return them and get the small ones!) with my foot in a bucket of ice bricks. So tired and I was hoping the housework fairy might have visited while I was away but she must have run out of time.

50 Sleeps till Bunbury (twas the night before Run4Kids...)

This morning my ankle was very sore so I am not feeling very good about tomorrow morning- but I am still preparing as if everything was going to plan. I had a terrible nights sleep so hopefully I will be exhausted enough to sleep tonight. I am thinking all the blogging and "foruming" has built this excitement up and made me more nervous then I realised that I am just as bad everytime I have a run like this to do, it has nothing to do with anyone else but me!

So there the number is- on my nice green lawn thanks to a lot of buckets of washing machine water- I think I have ruined the carpet and my back!

I think I might have to re-organise my training schedule for Bunbury- my ankle hurts for a while after a run and it doesn't matter if I am running 5km or 10km so I think I will only run every three days instead of every second (with spin, pump or a swim on the others) and I will make those runs count for more than I have been. "work smarter not harder" is the suggestion of a crazy man who was once my boss- and it is the same theory- though I will run harder and smarter hopefully.
Anyway good luck everyone- especially in Perth for the Bridges Run. I am looking forward to catching up with everyone and relaxing at the end.

2 More Sleeps! (51 sleeps till Bunbury HM)

No running today, just the usual dog walking.
When I am on leave I spend way too much money so I decided that I wouldnt go to Chadstone this week and therefore would save money and not eat too many gyoza. Today I accidently drove to Moorabbin and went to Sportsmart and spent $202 on 2XU compression tights, body glide (my bra has been killing me lately and my heart rate monitor rubs me until I bleed) and two dri fit tops. It is so much cheaper than Rebel- though not as convenient- but I have been looking for inexpensive dry fit tops to replace my heavy cotton ones. I know it is a bit silly but I am going to wear the t-shirt for the first time at the Run4Kids....What could possibly go wrong!
I have started to carb up a bit- not like in October but still having a bit more bread than is normal and I am cutting out dairy (apart from that tiny bit I just had in my coffee) to see if that helps me on race morning.
I am off to lunch with a long lost friend from uni who has recently returned from living in America and has a beautiful little girl called Matilda.
(Technically last day of leave so I am also trying to do all the other things on the list that I wrote on Sunday night!). Drycleaning.....massive pile of handwashing...

3 More Sleeps!

I just got back from a 5km run around the tan- I took it pretty easy and realised that now I have calibrated my heart rate monitor/ foot pod correctly I have established that I can easily run at 6min/k- not the 6.45 that I thought! So hopefully my real race pace will be in the 5min/k range. I taped my foot again- it takes ages for me to get it right- I took photos with my digital camera as I took the tape off once piece at a time so that I can watch the pictures in reverse to tape up, but I still stress that I haven't done it right. At least this morning I shaved my foot- not that I have Hobbit feet but it was hurting so much when I took the tape off.

My run this morning was not as easy as I thought- I have really taken it easy because of that silly ankle and I am very concerned about Sunday.
I have accepted that it is going to hurt- and not just my ankle, I am very underdone and I should be feeling fresh now but I am feeling a bit unfit.
I am getting the 7.26 tram from the end of the street which should get me there with half an hour to spare (easily) so I can drop off my bag and queue for the toilets and then meet the ausrunners in the rotunda. I have to tell you that everytime I think about the run, I need to go "powder my nose"- I hope I can harness this nervous energy and get it working for me not against me!

I dreamt last night that I was running in the race and I kept taking my track pants off and running along the track (with lots of stairs for some reason) then I would look down and I was still wearing my track pants so I would take them off and start running again only to find I was still wearing my track pants. The worst part is that I woke up with a blister and I was sweating like the proverbial!

Sarah-the Tan track is the path around the Botanical Gardens close to the city- it is about 3.8km and was once covered in tan bark so it is called the Tan. If you went past it now you would be so excited because no matter what time of day there are people of all shapes and sizes running, pushing prams or walking around it.

Short Run

I went for a very short run yesterday after I taped my foot up like it was part mummy and I had no heel pain whatsoever! I didn't run very far 5km along Orrong Road to Toorak Road, down Clendon Road to Malvern then back the way I came. I don't normally run along the road because I prefer a track or a park but this was a bit interesting because it had hills and I was running in Toorak just plain gawking at the houses. Money might not buy you happiness but it buys you a big fence to hide all that sadness! The pace was very slow but I got up the hills quite welll and I am planning on using Orrong Road to train for the Great Train Race because it is massively undulating all the way down to the Yarra and back- though it is not very far- maybe 2.5km there.
I had dinner with some girlfriends last night- big on gossip and a great catch up session and I decided to leave the car in Albert Park (maybe too much wine, maybe not but I didn't think it was worth risking it). So Bella and I got up early this morning and walked to the car via the lake. All the Grand Prix infastructure is nearly gone from the lake- but it is all dusty and horrible so it will take a while before it is back to normal.
Not sure about going to spin class today or whether I should taper some more. In "Lore of Running" Noakes says that the reason we find it so hard to taper is because of our ego- we need reassurance that we are still fit so we want to keep exercising to prove to ourselves that we can do it. So I am going to try to ignore the ego and taper properly.

Boring spin

Slept in am until 7am this morning! I am going to train really hard and try to get to sleep in until 8am by the end of the week. Mind you, none of my resolutions or goals have gone that well this year- in fact I can pretty much tell you that I have failed in every single one of them- guitar is gathering dust in the corner, missed my March run due to dodgy ankle flaring up, feel like I am gathering dust while I run, if you only knew how many chips I have eaten in the past week alone you would shake your head and make tut tut noises and as for staying under 70kg I am getting further and further away. I shouldn't be so up beat about it- I should be having a very serious talking to right now.

Went to the physio today- my calves have had rocks in them for the past few days and I was hoping for a serious massage but she didn't think I needed it. All my other ankle problems have subsided- but the heel pain is still there and the physio now thinks it is PF- dammit. So I have had a lesson in taping my foot and a list of other hopeful remedies. I am hoping I can get past the Bunbury HM and then I promise I will have six weeks of no running. The physio said stop being so dramatic- I might not need that at all.

I went to spin tonight and I absolutely hated it- boring music, boring instructor and I really needed someone to motivate me tonight and it didn't happen- maybe that is why I like running- I control the music and I don't have anyone else to fall back on for motivation. I left early and my heart rate was oh so low for the whole time.

Tan, Yarra etc

I had a lot of sleep last night! And then an extra hour this morning- so it was as busy as Bourke St mall around the Tan when I got there at about 7am (though I was thinking it was really 6am!) I ran a lap and was planning on heading back along the river to St Kilda Rd and back down the other side- but I had to stop and go to the toilet in the stinky public toilets. I was leaning over enthusiastically papering the toilet seat (sorry too much information) when my sunglasses fell into the toilet. Good sunglasses too, not cheap ones. I couldn't leave them there so I had to go outside, get a stick and fish them out. I couldn't bring myself to keep them so I left them in the bin.
My run was okay- I didn't push it too hard and only ran 9km. My ankle was fine apart from the lingering pain in my inner heal. My calves were like rocks so I stopped and strectched but it didn't seem to help. I am going to change my phsio appointment time and get them worked on early this week.
Though I have been tapering for ages due to the dodgy ankle I thought this week I would just have smaller runs but keep going to spin and pump but lowering the intensity.
Not much planned for my week off- apart from shopping for new sunglasses.

Rest Day Again

I didn't have much sleep last night - had to go and collect a very damp half drowned BF at 2.30am and then didn't really get back to sleep after that- I am thinking of suggesting that he goes and lives with kathrynoh's housemates and she can come and live here in tranquility.
So I am quite tired and don't feel like doing anything. I have next week off so I have planned a week of short runs, pilates and pump- if I do half of it, it will be a miracle.
It absolutely poured yesterday just when I was taking Bella for a walk- but it felt so nice that I kept walking until it was raining so hard that Bella was heading for home without me.
I went to the Adidas sale this morning- I got there two hours after it started, queued for 20 mins to get in (and I refuse to queue to get into bars) and there was nothing but desparate people fighting their way through boxes of bad polo shirts. I will resist the urge to tell you the thoughts I was having about my fellow tight a$#es- lots of people who might wear a lot of leisure wear EVERYDAY and never do any exercise, and who might wear their good Adidas trackpants to court if they were ever required to attend to answer charges relating to their lowered Commondoore. Ooops, that bit of nastiness just slipped out. But I am pretty sure that the people who started the Noble Park "riots" might have just updated their wardrobe.

Boozy Book Buying

I didn't go to spin this morning- I took Bella for a walk and came into work at 7am- I hate being here early but it means I can leave early and I have a valuer coming to see my flat so I can get a loan for a newer car.
I went to WeightWatchers last night- it was as bad as I thought- 75.6kg (Okay worse than I thought but only by 0.1kg) so I have put on an amazing amount of weight since Christmas. Time for that to go before I end up back where I was. I am going back to fat club next week so that I can record an amazing drop in weight due to not eating any chips over the weekend or next week. I am sure I can do it.
After fat club I caught up with my friend who has been working in East Timor and I resisted the urge to drink a million beers as is usually the case with this friend- and I left the pub only a little bit "socially excited". I then decided to go to Borders and buy a running book- I am sure the sales assistant was bemused by my glassy eyes and boozy breath as I paid for the "Lore Of Running" (have been reading good things about it on the net while I am supposed to be working- I am a little under- utilised at work and I hate it). I also bought the new Norah Jones CD too so I might have been more socially excited than I thought.
Anyway I am going to try to get to spin or pump tonight after the valuer leaves but I don't know how successful that will be.

3Laps of Tan

Woo Hoo- so exicted that I ran a but further WITH NO ANKLE PAIN- I am back! I am not concerned about the Run4Kids anymore- I felt good, and my ankle was fine, though it is a bit tender now that I have cooled down. I didn't run very fast (av 6.20 m/k- fastest 5.15!) but my heart rate was fairly normal (max 89% and average 78%).
It was so foggy when I started off (after walking Bella which is always a good warm up for my ankle, it starts off sore but after the 2.5km walk it is usually feeling good) and it took me a while to get my rhythym but then I felt fine. I started thinking that people who run in daylight are a bit slower because I was actually passing people and this never happens. Then I thought- maybe I am getting faster!
About a year ago I would run at 5am and there would be four other people I would see everyday and we would wave at each other and say hi- it is so busy at that time now- and I imagine it might get busier when daylight savings finishes and it is a bit lighter. Maybe the depths of winter will test their mettle.
Weight watchers tonight (then meeting a mate who has been away in East Timor for a few months- at the pub) and I am predicting a significant increase to about 75.5kg- no point starving myself today just to get a few grams off, just eating sensibly and committing to going to fat club every week from now on until I can trust myself again.
Thanks so much for all your encouragement and positive comments, it is worked a treat and banished my ankle pain!

11 Sleeps Till Run4Kids!

I ran last night- it is such a rare occurrence for me to convince myself that I have run out of excuses and I have no choice but to run, in the afternoon, with normal people, not early morning freaks, in daylight!
I went to the tan with Bella- I was going to do 8km if my ankle let me but the good news is my ankle was fine but Bella was a pain, she just isn't fit enough to keep up so I only did 6.5km and the pace was terrible. It was still very humid so I sweated buckets despite the continual stops while Bella pretended she was going to pee then just had a sneaky rest. I made it back to the car, stretched and went home. I considered running a few more km in the streets around home but I thought I should just quit while I was ahead. No ill effects with the ankle this morning- I had it in the icy bucket on and off all night and I am pretty happy with it. I taped it as best as I could like the physio said to, but I was so sweaty that it started to peel off. I also taped my foot to make my heel a bit fleshier and more padded to land on.
This morning I did spin after I took Bella for a walk- the class was really good. I made sure I got my heart rate up quickly into the new target zone and then kept it up even during the recovery periods. We did intervals and it was a great workout- hill intervals and sprint intervals- just the sort of thing I should be doing while I run!
No muffins yesterday and I am going to try for no muffins all week! I will also try tonight to cook something healthy instead of something easy.
I AM GOING TO WEIGHT WATCHERS TOMORROW NIGHT- I really have to get rid of this extra "condition" before Bunbury.

Shaking Like A Rattle

I had to start work at 7am so there was no time for a run mainly because I had to water the garden at 6am then jump on the tram- damn these water restrictions, It would make more sense to just launch stage 4 and then I could water the two trees I have when I am bucketing out the washing machine water. I feel obliged to water my Japanese Maples because they were so expensive and I nearly killed them by assuming they didn't need much water.
Anyway I have started actually taking the vitamins that I keep buying- I thought it was a bit of a waste when I cleaned out the bathroom cupboard and there was a lot of money tied up in bottles that I am never organised enough to open.
So I bought a pill container that only just fits in the morning and afternoon doses- so I am trying to remember to take:
Iron - to stop the anaemia
Vitamin C- to help the iron absorption
Fish Oil- weight loss and lubricating the joints (??)
Chinese Arthritis and Joint vitamins- repairs sprains, treats bursitis and
Anti Imflams- for my damn ankle

I didn't have a laksa or pad thai last night! I had my left over rice and that was it- and today is the day of no more muffins. I am starving and I would love an enormous muffin right now even though I just had lunch but I am sure I can make it. I just had a lot of vitamins so that should fill me up! I hope they don't get together and cancel each other out.
I get to finish at 3 today so I will try to make it to spin or I will be taking Bella for a run...at night- I am not sure if it is possible yet, maybe I just can't run at night, maybe I am just not cut out for it.

No Laksa, No Pad Thai

When I decided to run this morning I forgot to take into account my sore neck- not a running injury, more like a sleeping too long at a funny angle then waking with a start and giving my neck a big ole jerk when I woke up - it really bothered me all day- especially on the bike because I couldn't turn to look behind me, I would physically have to turn my whole body around and that is a recipe for disaster.
So when I woke up this morning, my neck was still very stiff and sore so I went back to sleep until BF got up and made so much noise it was like he had a brass band playing. Eventually I got some more sleep and Bella waited patiently until 8 to go to the park.
Then I went to spin class- the instructor was really good and I got a great cardio work out. I rode home, had to get off my bike to cross the road again because I couldn't look behind me. And I have been doing all the tidying, cleaning and vaccuuming that escaped the weekend.

My weight loss is now solid weight gain- so I have decided that my grandiose plans of not eating chips or bread for a week are just not working so I am going to have to make everyday the Monday that the diet starts. So today my resolution is not to have a fatty laksa or enormous pad thai tonight while I am on afternoon shift. The boys all like to head out and get something cheap and enormous and I am just going to say no, and get a clear wonton soup for dinner. Wish me luck because I can usually start pining for a serve of pad thai that is too high to jump over at about 5pm. I have some "fried" rice to take to work as well so I should be able to avoid those fantastic muffins from the canteen also- I must learn to ignore them.

Deege- I am inventing new names for muscles -the IT Post is (in sara's world) the muscle that runs up the inside of your calf- I can't remember what the physio called it so I had a stab- I am sure proper medical types would tell me I am very very wrong- but I am fairly confident they don't read my blog.

No Run Today

Got up late this morning and had to take Bell for a walk because she had already punished me for sleeping in and had dug a hole in the turf. We had a quick walk and then I had to ride to Elwood and collect my car which we left outside a friends house last night after waayyy too much red wine. Then I had to take Bell to the vet for her yucky ears. I just wasted today- my sister brought around the Little Miss Sunshine DVD and even though I have already seen it I watched it again- I just love it, such a funny funny movie.
I did go to Pump class and I have to say my arms are getting competitive for the favourite body part- my biceps got a massive workout today. Then Bella and I had a walk to Toorak to return the video. I am absolutely knackered now and not long out of bed.

Can't decide whether or not to go for a run tomorrow or not- my ankle is okay and I really think I will try a 5km run with the option of extending if doesnt hurt. I am on arvo shift so it would be a shame to waste all that time by not running.

Running with Craig Mottram

Okay he didn't run, and I didn't get close enough to him to actually say I even stood with him- more out of fear that I would be overcome with awe, prostrate myself on the ground in front of him shouting "I am not worthy!".
He had answered some questions in front of the whole group but generally just stood around looking tall, gorgeous and fit (in every sense of the word)- then he just ran up Anderson Street and he was gone.
I joined the comfortable 4km run and it was pretty easy, I can run and have a conversation without a problem (until Anderson Street) . My ankle didn't hurt one bit while I ran though it did hurt a bit when I had stopped- but that is not running pain, it is walking pain (yeah right).
So I am icing my foot now and I am hitting the anti inflams also. If I am allowed I might try a 10km run on Monday morning- though I was supposed to ring the physio and leave a message first.
I did Pump last night- very aggressive instructor- shouting at people for packing up early and belittling the woman who asked for the music to be turned down. She was nasty but she kept me on my toes because I didn't want to attract her ire for doing the wrong thing.
I stepped up the weights as well.
Man the cars are noisy at the Grand Prix- by tomorrow I will trying to get so far away from the city- might find a track to take Bella for a walk.

I am just back from my training day/night and it was a bit of a morale boosting exercise, getting to know everyone else in the office who we have been bumping into at the photocopier but didn't know their names. It was actually a lot more fun than I thought- we stayed in Trawool which is miles from anything and we had some get to know you sessions and some "team building" stuff. Then there was drinks, a swim, dinner, a fantastic guest speaker who told about policing war crimes in Sierra Leone and a lot more drinks and ......karoke. You will all be relieved to know that I decided my office has a bit of respect for me at this stage and so I decided to save my Dolly Parton "9 to5" rendition for another time. I made it to be at 2am but the boss finally got the karoke machine turned off at about a quarter to four after hearing the fourth version of "My Way" which apparently once was his favourite song.
I had a swim this morning to clear the head and then we had more training to do before returning to Melbourne.

So I am sitting here, a little seedy, and I was thinking that a few slices of buttery toast would be the answer- then I read Kathy's blog and I have decided to get back into the weight loss regime- which means going back to Weight Watchers and taking what I eat seriously. Kathy has lost 40kg- she is absolutely amazing. So no toast for me- I am going to walk Bella then going to pump class.

My ankle is okay after my run yesterday- slight pain in my ITpost (?) and the inside of my foot but nothing that gives me concern.

Went for a run this morning (5km at Tan) - with Bella so that I didn't get the urge to run too far and it didn't hurt too much but it did hurt. My leg and heel were still taped but it was the inside of my heel that was hurting. The physio says I definitely don't have PF which is good. I have to ice my leg and ankle now so I hope I am not tasked with driving today.
Bella had a good run- wagging her tail and flirting with anyone else running past - she does this to men, children and old people- sorry ladies you don't get a look in! But she also does it the manequins in the window of Witchery. I stopped running with her when she started limping a while back so I didn't want to take her any further- she has to "canter" to keep up with me now instead of just "trotting" but I am not sure if she has been getting slower or I was getting faster!
So I am off on a training day today and tomorrow which means I won't get to run etc but I will be there Saturday morning at Run4Kids training at this stage.

Physio

I saw the physio today (after a great girly catch up with my mates Kendra and Sav) and she says there are about three different things going on with my right foot and it is all about trying to treat one or two without aggravating the others. We have no idea why my ankle/ heel was unhappy on Saturday or why it still continues to complain. My ankle is always swollen a bit but it looked bad today so there was a bit of massage to try to move some of the fluid on.
The plan is more icing, more stretching- try two light runs and then I have to leave Mary (PT) a message about how it is going.
So I am missing Run4YourLife at Daylesford on the weekend- I was looking forward to it but now I will run tomorrow morning before work then again on Saturday morning- might do the comfortable short run (and get to see Buster!)
I am not scared of running R4Kids- I will be a bit underprepared but I seem to do all my runs like that and I don't think it hurts. I am not really scared about Bunbury either- but I would like to progress not slide back down into despair.
My leg is taped at the moment - to support my ITpost (??) - inner leg and my foot is taped around the ankle because despite there being plenty of flesh and padding on the rest of my body, there is very little on the heel of my foot.

Anyway I just had the bank man come out and go through the loan process with me. I am one step closer to a better car (still about three weeks away). I drove a Mazda 3 today and quite liked it- and I loved getting to test drive without the car salesman- though this is the first time that I have been allowed to do that. I must look trustworthy.

How To Measure Your Calf Muscles...

1. Get a ruler and place it so that it is at ninety degrees to the wall- or take a piece of tape with centimetres marked on it starting at 0 and place the 0 end against the wall at ninety degrees.
2. Place one foot at about 10 centimetres out from the wall and bend that knee so that it touches the wall. If you can touch the wall, move your foot back a centimetre and try again. If you can't touch the wall then move your foot closer to the wall and try it again. Keep your heel on the ground.
3. Repeat with the other foot.
My best left leg stretch is 12cm but my right leg is 6cm! That is why I say there is 6 cm difference in the calf muscle- I am sure it isn't actually 6cm left but the physio says that when I am facing away from her she can see the difference in the size of my calves. Normally I would like them both to be small- but I have inherited my mothers small calves so I don't worry about their size- now gluts are another story. Calves are definitely my favourite body part. (What is yours??)

Anyhoo, I went to spin this morning and realised that I have been taking it way to easy in spin because my heart rate monitor was calibrated poorly. I worked so hard to get my heart rate up to 65% within minutes of starting the class (it is all downhill when I ride my bike there so it barely registers) and then battled to keep it going up and up. My max was 88%- though we were supposed to be doing intervals and 90% was my goal for two minutes. I averaged 70% which is not as good as my old heart rate monitor (!!) but still better. I had to leave early to ride to work and have a shower. I remembered my towel this morning- not like yesterday when I had to sit in my cycle gear (mountain bike street clothes not garishly hued racing bike lycra!) until my BF came to work and brought me a towel- the paper towel was never going to cut it.

20 days until R4Kids

I did go to pump last night and I am just starting to feel it in my legs- oh it is going to hurt! I realised that because it is a public holiday today the gym doesn't run its usual classes and that means no cycle class to get these wooden legs moving. So I am back to pump tomorrow morning and by then I will really be hurting. Normally I don't really load up the bar because I don't want sore legs for my run the next day, but because I am not running again until the physio looks at my ankle I am going to load that bar up until it hurts! (not really- I am such a wuss) I might head to the gym this afternoon after work and make up my own spin class. When I said spin wasn't really exercise, I should have added that this is a new thing- now that I think I am a runner I don't even rate swimming as exercise because I don't get the tired, good hurt, exhaustion feeling that running gives me. I sweat buckets in spin class but I don't go home with legs that feel like they couldn't take one more step like running sometimes does for me.
My ankle still hurts to walk on- and last night it was hurting while I was trying to sleep so I hit the nurofen again. That probably sounds bad, but it has been like that for a year, just a bit more chronic now.
I put some tape on the carpet so I can monitor my calf stretches- so far my right calf is still 6cm shorter than my left so I have left the tape there so I remember to do the stretches.

Enough posting about not running- two more sleeps until I can see the physio.

The plan

I felt miserable for a while but I know that I am fit enough to do the Run4Kids without really pushing it in the next three weeks so I will just do spin and pump until I can see the physio so I should get some sort of effect from training my legs and doing strength work. I will hit the anti-inflams, fish oil and everything else I can find in the medicine cabinet- including iron tablets. I am just concerned that the physio will tell me to stop running and I am definitely doing the Bunbury HM with Celeste.
So off to Pump tonight.
Oh- I test drove a car yesterday- nice and boring off white Toyota Corolla- and the salesman must have used all the text book moves "So Sara, can you see yourself owning this car?" I think he meant "Silvano, I can see yourself spending the commission on this car". Will wait and see.

Too much pain

I made it out for my run a bit late this morning- it was 7am and definitely light around the Tan when I got there but I headed off feeling very good. I had a bit of ankle pain when I started but I was ignoring it as usual and made two laps without a drama- the pain was getting a bit stronger and it wasn't just the usual inside ankle pain, I started to get pain up the inside of my lower leg too. I did another lap and it was really sore, almost the whole way around the ankle, up the leg and I was starting to hate it. I was pretty unhappy because I had so much energy, I wasn't tired and I was easily maintaining a 6.20 pace. I left the tan and headed off along the Yarra just to mix things up, but as I jogged along the track I just felt like I couldnt run any more because of the pain so I turned around and walked back a bit. I tried running again and thought that it wasn't hurting but then I realised that I was only using the ball of my foot and I was doing proper limping/ running. So all up I managed 14km of pain. I made it back to the car and came to work where I have made a physio appointment and sat here in miserable silence. I think it is time for cortisone.

Still no exercise

I didn't make it to the park today, haven't run, or walked Bella and I am still in my pyjamas- lucky I am on arvo shift. I woke up at 5.30, ipod charged over night ready, running gear laid out, ready to walk Bella and then do a massive run before it got too sunny. Unfortunately I woke up with massive pains in the stomach like the worst period pain, but with some crazy pain in the back thrown in. I felt awful and hunted around for some drugs, any drugs- preferably nurofen plus, couldnt find anything so I let Bella in and we went back to bed in the spare room. I eventually went back to sleep and then after my boyfriend realised I wasn't out running found me some pain killers I slept until 9.30. My gut and back still ache a bit so I am not running today either.
It makes me pretty unhappy when I don't do anything for a few days (and I don't really count spin as exercise) so I am pretty determined to do my long run Saturday now- that means missing Run4Kids training sessions which is a shame because I really enjoy them. I also have to work Saturday so I can get my run out of the way, ice my ankle at my desk then come home for an early night. Thanks for all your advice about resting- it makes me feel better about not running- I aways feel that if I don't run nearly every day then I am heading back to my old pre running fat days.
I have been strapped for cash recently- hence the frantic search for cheap running shoes that eventually bore fruit- and I desparately need a car that doesn't sound like a truck (or racing car as my nephew described it). It would cost as much to repair my car, as it would to buy it- those 94 Laser TX3s are worth a hellofalot these days!
So I am topping up the home loan and getting a newer car- my brother said it is either financially irresponsible or very good economic management. I am very excited- even though I can't quite afford the lovely car my sister just bought - Audi A4- it would be nice to have something that Bella doesn't hear when I am still 2 km away. The boys I work with have agreed that some people (who frequent Chapel St on a Friday night) would pay a lot of money to have a car that sounds like mine!

No exercise (24 days to go)

I am having too many rest days at the moment because I am struggling to stay awake- I considered calling in sick this morning but then I remembered that I don't have any more days "without certificate" and I didn't want to go and bother a Doctor, tell some lies and get one. So I reset the alarm, got another hour in bed then took Bella to the park. I did some power walking around but I wasn't kidding anyone, I was supposed to run about 8km this morning. I was thinking about doing it tonight but then I remembered I am going to have a long run tomorrow morning so I will just do that instead- then maybe go to Pump class so I won't feel so bad. Time for me to really hit the iron tablets I think because I have been eating lots of spinach, chicken etc and it isn't boosting my energy levels at all.

Spin class (25 DAYS UNTIL RUN4KIDS!!)

I went to spin this morning before work (after taking Bella for her usual trot around the park) then rode my bike to work. After fiddling with my heart rate monitor limits the other day I really struggled to get my heart rate into any sort of anaerobic/ aerobic zone- previously my 65% limit was 122 bpm, but now it is 138! At spin class I have to work so hard to get my heart rate to budge, it really wants to hang around 110 and I have to try so hard, mess around with the resistance and pace to get it up into a zone where my heart will be working- so now it is even harder! I know that nothing has changed, just the silly numbers on my watch, but it still messes with my head when I am struggling to work up a sweat.
My max heart rate was only 76% and my average was 57%- though the ride to work has some easy flat sections and finishes off with a fantastic gradual downhill and my heart rate would back off a lot.
Anyway, glad to be back at work after two more days re-training in certain aspects of work that apparently require six monthly updates.

3 Tans

I have had the last two days off running and I though my knee was getting better but it still hurt a bit this morning. I took Bella for a walk then ran three laps of the Tan- I averaged 6.24 min/km and my heart rate average was 154 (73%)- and my max was 183 (86%).
I was supposed to do intervals but I didn't think I had the energy to keep any real pace up. My diet has never been very good or very bad but now I think I need to make a decision to only eat things that will be good for me- I am so tired all the time and although I get up early, I get to bed very early too. I think I could be a bit low on iron- because of the no red meat thing it is easy to slip a lot.
I am going to have my long run on Friday because I am on arvo shift and I am going to try drinking a bit more while I run and try to find a gel that I can have while I run that does not have the consistency of snot! It was pointed out on Ausrun that my half marathon is closer to a marathon time so I need to prepare for it that way with my hydrating and fuelling etc.
Last night I was getting some chairs from my sister and I was parked in the carpark under the flats where she lives in Toorak- a girl rode her bike into the car park and I instantly was checking out her t-shirt because it was a Nike one with the power song written on the front- then I had a closer look and it was the same girl who I see every week at the Run4Kids training sessions on Saturdays! I had actually just emailed her that morning because she hadn't seen the photo of the runners in the Herald Sun so I had emailed her a link to Andrews blog so she could see herself in the photo. She lives in the same block as my sister. I was so spun out by the "small world" thing.
Anyway her Power Song is DangerZone and I think it is great. I was unsure of mine but now I have decided on "Black Betty" by SpiderBait

R4Kids Training (d-8.5, w-32.3,m- 23.5,y- 229.2)

Saturday morning I made up for being a nasty minded person and went and collected Leslie and her two dogs and went for a walk with Bella. Leslie was very grateful so I plan to call her next week when I can also.
Then I went along to the Run4Kids Training session at the Tan. I went with the 10km "comfortable" run but in the end we only went about 8.5km - it was pretty warm and I wasn't wearing a dry fit top so I was a sweaty sweaty mess. My heart rate maximum was 92% and my average was 82%. As we headed back I tried to stretch out the last 2km with a bit more speed- there was a break away group up ahead and I tried to catch up but then they just sped away from me but I tried to keep the pace up. I started my effort at 5.30 m/km but when I got to the bottom of Anderson Street I was back up to 6min/k.
I had to hurry home after the session because Prue was coming to pick me up because we were going to the farm.
I was still red in the face and sweating a lot even after my shower when I got in the car- but I think I cooled down by the time we got to Ballarat, then it was another 90 minutes in the car with my muscles slowly seizing up before we were home.
Bella loves the farm - swimming in the troughs, rolling in dead things, eating heaven knows what.
Mum and Dad were baby sitting a 3 year old and a one year old for the night so we were instantly changing nappies, wiping noses and playing hide and seek.
We had some friends over for dinner which was fantastic- though I "accidently" drank a whole bottle of sparkling burgandy, two brandy and drys and a shot of limoncello. I woke up a bit slowly but didn't feel any ill effects which was lucky because I was being shadowed by a 3 year old who wanted to help me while I assembled the patio heater we bought for Dad for Christmas- the patience was wearing a bit thin!

Spin class

I worked till late last night so I really struggled out of bed at 5am this morning- I have been having very bad sleep recently- I collapse into bed and fall straight asleep then wake at about midnight thinking it is time to get up, and then continue to wake up throughout the night.
(Right now there is a bloke in my office shouting at his wife on the phone- and he doesn't even need to use the phone, I am sure she can hear him anyway- but the best thing is he is shouting "STOP YELLING" continuously at her- gotta love how professional some people can be- I obviously got more sleep than he did)
I walked Bella then rode to Spin then left early to ride to work- all by 7am- I was still asleep when shouting man starting ripping into his wife, but I am really awake now.
I am planning to go to pump tonight, but we will see how that goes, my dedication falls off in the afternoons.
I am going home to the farm tomorrow so I should definitely get a run in tomorrow morning. I think I am going to start doing my long run during the week when I have afternoon shift instead of the weekend.
As for my new shoes- I was just going to buy them from Rebel- bite the bullet and not worry about $30- 40 that I could save by ordering them over the internet- athleticedgeonline have them for $180 and I can get them at Rebel for that. But they don't have my size- I rang Sportsmart and they have my size and sometimes they give you discount if you work for the "emergency services" so I am just going to get them there, tonight!

Tan and Yarra (d-15, w-23.8, m-15, y-220.7)

I had a pretty disappointing February- didn't really run as far as I wanted to- so I have kicked of March with a 15km run this morning. I am on arvo shift again so I got up at 5 as usual and walked Bella before driving to the Tan. I did two laps then ran along the Yarra to Macrobertson Bridge then crossed over to the Richmond side and ran back. My foot pod decided not to play for a little while and then joined back in- but it was pretty close to one of the signs saying how far it was to Punt Road so I was able to work out the distance- I will check it with www.mapmyrun.com .
I have adjusted my heart rate maximum to 211- which is just one beat above my last previous highest reading- it was about 15 bpm too low I think. So today I averaged 76% and my maximum was 87%- far more normal readings. My maximum pace was 4.21- I think that was when I did a "vanity fartlek" at the end because there were people watching.
There were so many cyclists on their way to work and they look fantastic- the flashy coloured lycra clad bodies of those on racers who just whiz past you almost too close, the more mundane street wear worn by those on mountain bikes and then the lycra clad older ladies on more sturdy bikes who ring their bell as they go past.
The plan is to do some weights today at the gym, spin tomorrow then Run4Kids training on Saturday.
My new Polar watch has a function where it can display number of days until an event- so now I have a countdown on my watch telling me how long to Run4Kids- 31 days and counting. Every time I look at my watch I am reminded- it reminds me of a book I had to read at school and there is a phrase that I love "At my back I always hear, Times winged chariot hurrying near"- might have to google and see where it is from- unless someone can help me out?

Rest Day Maybe

I worked till late last night and when I got up this morning it was raining again (woo hoo!) so Bella got a very short walk and I didn't go for a run. But I thought I would use todays post to tell you about someone I know, who will probably read this post, who is a little new to the text abbreviation thing. This only came to my knowledge last week when she told me about a text message that she had received from a used car salesman- she had written something cheeky about the price and he responded with '"LOL". Sadly, instead of realising that her text had been received with good humour, this person interpreted that as LOTS OF LOVE.
I have to say I PMSL (and I was ROFL) when she told me- but sadly she still didn't know what I meant.

Oh the drama!!!

This is my nephew and the stuff croc that my sister and I bought him for Christmas- he really sleeps like that apparently!

My morning started off okay- took Bella to the park for a walk with Leslie and her two dogs Arnie and Lucy. However on the last lap of the park, Bella and Arnie were chasing each other in a very disorderly manner and Arnie ran right through Leslie, knocking her off her feet and generally A over T. The result- dislocated shoulder and broken shoulder bone. At the time Leslie wasn't in too much pain so we rounded up the dogs and I walked her home leading Arnie because he really isn't much smaller than a pony and just as strong. This isn't the first "park/dislocated shoulder/ someone wearing a sling for 5 weeks" incident that Bella and I have been involved in, so I am a bit concerned that we are just bad luck in general.

I also discovered that I am not a nice person, I act like one- I help out like one and volunteer to help like I genuinely care- but on the inside I am thinking "damn, now I am going to miss Pump class at the gym, I hope she doesn't live too far away, can I just call her a cab?".

But it worked out well for me- I made it to Pump class and it hurt a lot, a real lot and I take that as being payback for the uncharitable thoughts.

Intervals

I am on afternoon shift today so I had my third lovely sleep in -in a row. I was still at the park by 7am and it was nice to see other people and Bella got to sniff and wag at other dogs.
I drove to the Tan and did a 10 minute warm up before trying some intervals. A friend of my sisters told me to try the following session:
90 sec sprint then 90 sec recovery x 2
60 sec sprint then 60 sec recovery x 4
30 sec sprint then 30 sec recovery x 4

So that is what I did- the two 90 second sprints killed me- my heart rate max was 95% and my
average was 85%. The next four were just as bad and my max heart rate was 98% and my average was 88%. Then the four 30 second efforts were even worse- my max heart rate was 103% and my average climbed to 90%.
I guess it makes sense- my heart rate didn't have as much time to recover as the efforts got shorter.
I did these efforts around the tan then along the Yarra- as I came back to the bottom of Anderson Street I decided that rather than run up that hill about 600metres from the car, I would rather run 3km around the other way to the car. So that is what I foolishly did- I was so tired from my efforts that I struggled around the Tan the long way to the car.
Running around the Tan the "wrong" way is known as a Perve Lap at work- you get to check everyone out as they run toward you. Because I was doing my PL at 8.40 a.m. there was hardly anyone around, it was after the fitness fanatics have gone to work, but too early for the mums to be out with the prams.
As I ran back up to the top of Anderson Street from the Domain Road side my heart rate hit an all time high- 112%- a new record.
Time to spend some quality time with the manual and sort out this problem so I can get some normal looking readings.

I forgot to mention my heart rate monitor is the Polar RS200 sd- it comes with foot pod and it really shouldn't interact with anything- I think that I just haven't calibrated it properly.

Rest day sort of

I had a lovely sleep in this morning until Bella decided it as time to go to the park. We went for a quick walk then I rode my bike to the gym and did a spin class. Then it was off to lunch with my buddies Sally and Catie- two girls from school who I hardly ever see anymore but when we catch up it is like we speak every day- it does make it harder now that Catie has moved to Mackay but she came back this week for a visit with the news that she is pregnant!
I iced my ankle and foot today because it really hurts- I think it may PF for sure but I will be going to the physio this week to get a real diagnosis.
After lunch my sister came over and we did some weights in the yard (neighbours must have thought we looked ridiculous) because Pump was cancelled this afternoon AGAIN.
I jumped on the scales at the gym this morning and wasn't that horrified- considering how poor my diet has been recently I wasn't as heavy as I thought. The gym scales are about 2.5kg higher than the fat club scales so I would still be at my "goal" weight. Time to get serious about the food choices now.

Run4Kids Training Run (11.8, 83.4, 196.9)

When I woke up this morning, (you were on my miiiiind) IT WAS RAINING! Lovely solid rain that was watering my lawn and my fading Japanese maples. I was so glad that I could just go back to sleep. I woke up a few more times as it got a bit lighter and it was still raining then at 8am Bella couldn't wait anymore and demanded to be walked.
I decided to take her for a quick spin around the park to walk the ankle pain away then head to Run4Kids training at the Tan.
I joined the 8km slow group and was then informed that we were running 10km. I was a bit nervous because I hadn't run since last Saturday and I was unsure how I would go. We set off around the Tan then went over the Morrell Bridge at the bottom of Anderson Street and ran into the city, across the bridge at Southbank and back along the Yarra to the bottom of Anderson Street. We went up the hill and that was it- my foot pod usually over estimates the distance and had it at 8.04km but the leader said it was about 9km- I am more inclined to think my foot pod was right because I felt good and the pace was comfortable which is usually between 6.15 and 6.30 min/kms. According to the pod, the maximum pace was 3:15km and I have no idea how that happened? Must have been when I was in the car!
My max heart rate was 103% again- 193 so I think that I might have to play with the settings.
I cooled down a bit then did some stretching- met TigerBoy and then I decided to do another lap- silly really because I had eaten a piece of banana cake and my body then spent the whole lap trying to decide whether it was staying or going. My ankle hurt too which was fairly normal but it held up well during the run and I didn't even notice it until I moved off for the second run.
My stats are really bad this week, two massive bruises, one run, two spin classes.
As for the occupation it isn't as exciting as secret agent, but probably something I won't write about here.

spin last night

I finally made it to spin last night- though I ended up with only five hours sleep because I had "homework" to do- though I thought that a bit of spin wouldn't be such a bad thing. I didn't even enjoy the class because I was trying to do my homework in my head. The instructor would be saying sit down and I would be standing up. It was a very bad idea regardless but I feel terrible because I haven't done any other exercise this week other than the two spin classes- tomorrow is supposed to be another 16km run but I don't know how I will go.
I have been so active all week and frantically trying to get enough water on board in the evenings means that I get up three times in the night to "powder my nose". I have a nasty bruise on my upper thigh- 6cm across and suitably purple and blue as well as other random bruises I can't recall occurring. Thankfully the course is over, we all passed and I can go back to my normal routine.

The photos were taken at the dog beach at the end of Sandown Street in Brighton- it is so pretty with the marina there and the kite surfers over the jetty. Bella loves it.

Again no exercise today- but I am planning on hitting spin class tonight (unless they have cancelled it)!. I have been doing a course and it is pretty exhausting- lots of climbing over fences, carrying heavy things and generally being far more active than I am used to at work. It is good to get out of the office and learn new things- though I seem to be learning the hard way and the instructors like reminding us that if there is pain involved then the learning curve is a lot steeper.
My ankle has been hurting a bit- especially if I have to drive with it on the accelerator- I really dont drive much- I get the tram to and from work and I ride my bike a lot so I really notice it. I haven't run since Saturday so I am hoping that the rest has done it well.

Pump Class

Okay it got a bit warm today- so BF and I headed to see Pans Labyrinth- it is fantastic but a bit simple like a children's story. I laughed, cried, gasped in all the right moments- and shut my eyes and put my hands over them in more than one scene.
I then went to Pump class and I must have worked far too hard- my arms are still struggling to respond to my requests to lift things. I think I need to drink a lot more water on these sorts of days- though it feels like I spend all day "powdering my nose" I think it would make me feel a bit better.
I am doing a course all week- 7am- 3pm everyday which I will find exhausting but it also means I can't exercise in the morning. So hopefully it will be a lot cooler and I can convince myself that it is possible to exercise after 11am!
Yesterday my sister and I took Bella to the dog beach in Brighton- it is absolutely gorgeous, right by the marina and lovely city views! I will post some photos when I am not so tired and my arms are talking to me.
Thanks for all your positive comments about my ankle- I think the physio said it is a bit of PF and "bursitis"?? and a bit of poorely rehabilitated ankle problems. The plan is to keep icing, tennis balling, massaging and stretching- and if I have anytime left I will keep running!

3 x Tan (11.5, 19.5, 71.6, 185.1)

Got up sort of early- these hot days really start to build up the heat in the flat after a while and I have put my foot down and said NO to the nagging about getting an air-conditioner. It is only about four nights a year when I have trouble sleeping- I even move to the spare room when BF grumbles and puts the fan on. I bought a great looking retro fan- too bad it sounds like an 747 taking off!

Anyway- walked Bella to warm up the ankle then headed to the Tan for three laps- I was going to go to the lake but it was still windy and it is unbearable in the wind whereas the Tan is quite sheltered.
I ran my three laps- the original plan was two but that hardly seemed enough so I thought maybe two more. I saw Em and Clarkey at the Nike tent getting ready for the training session as I completed my third lap- I stopped for a chat then kept going. My heel started to really hurt so I decided to call it a day. My ankle hurts in different places throughout the run- the second lap it hurt on the inside closer to the sole, but at the end it was the outside in that little hollow just behind the ankle bone- it is all a bit strange. I have my whole foot in a bucket of icy cold water right now- keeps me cool too!

Another damn rest day

Enforced rest today because I got up early and walked Bella before heading to the gym to do spin class before work and the gym wasn't open yet. I pity whoever it was that slept in because there was a large lynch mob disgruntled lycra clad people waiting out the front. I waited an extra fifteen minutes and then went back home. I was doubly angry when I checked the timetable and realised that they have cancelled the Friday night spin class that I sometimes went to.
I took Bella for another shuffly walk and got to work early. I was purposefully not running because I wanted to rest up my ankle and knee.
I am so angry at the gym- Fitness First- more like Finance First. They have removed the bike racks so I can't secure my bike in the gym but now have to tie it to a post on Chapel Street. They have also stopped several classes at times I liked. They have removed the speedos from the spin bikes so I can't work out the cadence quickly. Dammit, I am writing a letter.

Rest days

This is me at 7.00 a.m. yesterday after we ended up in Nagambie on the way back from our work trip. We had to stay the night in an absolutely fantastic resort for next to nix and then headed out on the lake for a paddle first thing in the morning. Sadly I drank too much the night before and didn't really appreciate how glorious it really was. It is quite obvious that I did no exercise yesterday (apart from the paddling!) and had a "rest day" this morning. I had a BBQ last night with Mum and my sister and her housemate after we decided not to brave the smooching couples at any local restaurants so I cooked up at home. I have to say it was the first time I have ever driven the BBQ- being a non-red meat eater I have never been appointed as the chief BBQer. There were no complaints but I am not sure if that is just because they were being polite. Anyway it all went well and I didn't even drink too much but then as I went to bed I was overcome with nausea and threw up my dinner. What a waste!

Mum was good enough to do all the dishes, bless her.

Wind In My Face (8, 8, 60.1, 173.6)

Yesterday was a rest day so I headed back to the Tan track this morning for some intervals. I have decided that the sprints were okay, I didn't feel like I was running enough to call it exercise. So I am going to swap them for intervals- I hope I have this theory right.
I did two laps of the tan and alternated between running as fast as my chunky legs would carry me for 250 metres (about 5.10 pace) then gasping for air and slow jogging for the next 250 metres. I realised that when you run fast(ish) you get such a lovely breeze on your face! It was a lovely feeling, shame I can't make it last a little longer.
I didn't head to the Tan until 7am because I had dinner with some guys I worked with a few years ago and there were many stories to go over and lots of gossip to catch up on. I am always reminded of how I prefer to run earlier when I get to Alexander Avenue near the Swan street intersection and I get a mouth full of air pollution every time I gasp for air.
Anyway it felt good and I stretched well before returning home.
So much cleaning to do because Mum is coming to stay tomorrow night and I am going away for work tonight.
Must go find the mop.

Back In PumpTown

I headed back to pump class last night- it took all my energy just to walk to the gym so when it came to waving the barbell around the room I have to say that I didn't really have a lot left in the tank after my long run in the morning. I kept the weights light because it has been over a month since I went to pump class- and I am getting ready to feel the pain tomorrow. I do enjoy pump class but I absolutely despise lunges- my calf troubles don't help either. I wandered home and then spent a good hour on the couch. I took Bella to the park again then settled back on the couch for "So You Think You Can Dance". I am so impressed with people who can dance even a little bit- so I love these guys, I just don't like that they are so..... American, or cheesy, over confident, strutty, y'all, "on the love boat" etc, I forgive them because they look amazing.
The new half marathon record is now 58:?? and that is what I am even more impressed about- I would be more than lapped by the new record holder. I cannot even sprint as fast as they go for the whole half marathon.

Tan, Lake, Fed Square (15km, 42.5, 52.1, 165.6)

I really wanted to do a long run this weekend so even though I ran yesterday with the Run4Kids training group, I decided to head out this morning for a few more kms. I walked Bella first to warm up my ankle then drove to the Tan. I parked around near the shrine then ran around to the bottom of Anderson St, over the river, into Fed Square, back along the other side of the river, along the tan track, down domain road to Albert Road and along to lake, around the lake then back to the car. The foot pod was slightly out so I ran a little bit extra just in case it wasn't exactly 15km. It took me ages. I was a bit tired after yesterday- and my three other runs this week have been at 6min/km which I find a stretch. I am happiest at 6.30 min/km and I was around that for most of todays run. The lake was horrible though- the wind was really bad down the beach side and I just pulled my hat closer to my ears and concentrated on the ground about 3metres ahead. My max heart rate was 182 (97%) no prizes for guessing that was Anderson Street hill, and my average was 156 which is a bit better (83%). Ice and rest for the remainder of the day.

It is healing, but it still looks awful.

Just checked out my time for the Zoo run and they have me down as 49:13- almost a minute out. Am very miffed. I will be writing a letter- this won't be the last they hear of me (waving fist ineffectively)

Glared so hard my eyes bled

I was a very unhappy person yesterday afternoon- and bursting a blood vessel in my eye didn't help my glaring look. I have this big red blood spot on my right eye that looks horrible. Even the "client" we had in the office asked me if I knew I had a haematoma in my eye- and that it looked very red and nasty. I was feeling very nasty also. I ended up doing 3 hours overtime because of reasons beyond my control, but not beyond my colleague's.
Any way, because I looked horrible and had a matching mood, I didn't feel like going out afterwards so I was in bed by 8pm...on a Friday night...yes I am sooo sad.

But this morning I got up, very rested, walked Bella then headed into the Tan for a Run4Kids training run. I got to meet Em and caught up with Kathrynoh again. I decided to do the 8km medium run which should have been a 6min/km pace. I met the leaders and then we stood around for a while and it was about 9.20 by the time we headed off. The pace was a lot quicker than I thought- I kept up for most of the first lap but the hill hit me and I couldnt keep up during the second lap. I ran by myself for the next couple of kms then the slow group swept me up- but even they were going quick. I finished in a time of 48:57 for the 8km which is about 6.07 min/km. My heart rate averaged 94% which is as bad as usual- and my maximum was 104%. My second lap was only 30 seconds slower than my first lap.
Definitely the slow group for me next time. I was supposed to do a long run today but I don't know if I will try to do it tomorrow instead or just leave it for next week.
Boring weekend planned again. Might have to win tattslotto to make it more interesting.

Treadmill run

No run this morning because I just ran out of time. We started work at 7am so while I usually cram in a spin class, walk the dog and ride to work, I just couldn't be bothered this morning. Yesterday my legs felt quite good after the zoo run so I took myself off to the gym and tried to calibrate my foot pod on the treadmill. For some reason I thought that instead of just running a km to calibrate I would run 5km so I set the tready to 6 min/km and just ran- it still feels too fast especially at the start but after a while I could probably have cranked it up a bit. I live in fear of falling off the tready and I have had my share of near misses so I didn't fiddle with any buttons- resisted the urge to slow it down when I was worried about the pace and had a really good run. I wasn't watching the TVs they have so it was quite tedious just watching the numbers on the display just tick over- but I did sweat a lot more than I do outside.
Hopefully my foot pod will now accurately record the distance I plod (and maybe be a bit forgiving on the pace?).
I did some weights then walked home via supermarket. Afternoon shift yesterday normally means I consume a serving of Pad Thai that would feel four people, but I was so restrained and had wonton soup instead- the boys all got burgers and chips, lovely fat chips, with salt and fat and crunchy goodness. I didn't even steal one.

Zoo Run

I did the Sunset Series Zoo Run last night which was a bit of fun- I did the 8km option and was hoping for 6min km but it didn't pan out that way but only by 17 seconds! I parked a mile away because I thought it would be really packed but there was heaps of parking. Then I finally joined an enormous queue for my race number which I soon realised didn't have a timing chip in it. I met up with Deege and she introduced me to a lot of people I have only been reading about.
I made the foolish mistake of sparking up a conversation with a woman in non running attire who was making her way through the jam packed starting area- while Deege looked on in amusement I copped the aroma of someone who had spent the last week in the pub. I thought I was being cheeky in suggesting that she had forgotten her race number and she then wouldn't leave and kept assaulting my nose with her aroma and engaged me in a conversation that I couldn't understand and kept putting her arm around me.
Anyway we finally started running and it was down hill which is my favourite sort of hill- that obviously gave way to the uphill so I realised again I had no idea of what I was in for. I saw Lee on the up hill in her Skins powering away. We then ran into the zoo and through the rainforest section- it was really quite fun weaving our way through the trails. Then along the path and out the entrance for a trip around some nearby parkland then back to the start to do it all again.
I used up way to much energy on the second hill then felt like I was dying in the zoo again- I stopped to take some photos quickly then continued on. I realised I would really have to push it if I wanted to go under 48 minutes so I was sprinting in my mind but not in reality! I made it to the finish line in 48:17.
I started to queue for a vegie burger and show bag but I really couldn't be bothered. I caught up with a few ausrunners then hurried home.
I was a bit worried that Bella would have destroyed my lawn while I was out because she wasn't happy when I left, but she was fine. I scoffed some pasta then climbed into bed.
My splits:
6.11
6.27
6.01
6.28
5.21
6.32
5.43
5.30

Preparing for zoo run by eating too much

I didn't run this morning - slept in until 6am then walked Bella. I was home alone so Bella slept beside the bed until 5am when she barked at me and then got sent outside for her efforts in getting me to the park.
Last night I started the anti-inflams again and iced my knee and the result is that a very thorough fitness test has cleared me to run in the Sunset Series Zoo Run tonight. Okay the fitness test was just a short jog at the park. Anyway, here is hoping that it holds up otherwise I will be seeing the physio about it quick smart. The ankle is still the same, bruising is going down but a bit of swelling remains.
Thanks for all your stories about similar floodings- I didn't feel so bad then. And yes, the person responsible was spoken to loudly at the time and yes it was pointed out to me that I should have checked everything that he had done.
I am looking forward to the run tonight- as well as meeting other ausrunners. I have no idea about times etc. I have used it as an excuse to eat some crap food (first chicken parma in ages last night and oh it was good!) and beer, and bread for breakfast this morning (just bread, not beer and bread) Normally I run on an empty stomach so this will be a little different.

Tan (d-6.5k, w-6.5, m- 16.1, y-139.1 ??)

I got up at 5am this morning took Bella for her usual walk around the park then back home. It is so dark again in the mornings- it just sort of sneaked up on me and it means that summer is on the way out.
I was going to get the tram to work then have a run, but I missed the tram so I started jogging until the next tram came along. Only made it about 2km before the next one, so better than nothing. I got to try out the backpack with all its million straps- no matter how tight I got them, I could still be heard a mile off with the fish oil tablets bouncing around so that it sounded like I was loaded up with maracas.
I then dumped the big maraca at work and ran to and around the tan. My knee was so sore at the start that I nearly turned around but it sort of needed to be "clicked" and then it was fine again. I am too embarassed to post the pace, but it was very slow. I am trying to ease back a bit and take care of my ankle - and I am saving myself for the zoo run on Wednesday. When I got back from my run I remembered that I normally do sprints on a Monday- I have no idea why I even forgot. This getting old and fuzzy in the head thing is just silly- I am only 32!

Yesterday saw me lose it completely- I was doing loads of washing and decided to let one wash cycle go down the drain instead of saving it for the lawn because it had already been through one load of washing (the final rinse becomes the wash water for the next load- my water saving has become obsessive). However, someone (not me) had tampered with the hose that should have been going into the bath and down the drain, but instead went all over the bathroom floor, all over the hallway carpet. I spent the whole day with every towel I own mopping it up. I was exhausted after it all because I had been putting the towel down then walking up and down the towel until it was soaked then starting again. So my flat smells like wet wool and the carpet is still a little damp- might have to put the heater on it tonight!

2 x Lake (d- 9.6, w- 25.1, m- 9.6, y-123.1)

My run this morning was all over the place. My ankle was fine when I got up and didn't hurt at all while I took Bella to the park so I decided that I should get out and run while I could because the weather is only going to be horrible and hot all weekend. Unfortunately I had very disjointed sleep - had to pick my sister up from the boozer then was woken numerous times by drunk BF trying to get a lift, see if I wanted any KFC (very caring) and see if I just wanted a chat. The answer to all those questions was NO.

So it was very late when I headed out around the lake due to several attempts at sleeping in.

My inner right ankle gave me grief almost from the outset and I couldn't think why then I remembered the Physio suggesting that I press a tennis ball into the muscle when I get the chance. So I sat on the couch and did as she said while being watched very closely by Bella who thought she might get to chase that ball. And man did it hurt.

The second lap didn't hurt as much and I found that if I stopped for just a little bit then the pain subsided.

I used my new heart rate monitor and foot pod- the foot pod said that the distance was 5.01 km around the lake which was a bit interesting. The first 500metres also read as 530m so I will have to calibrate it properly- though I loved it saying that I was doing 5.40 m/k!

Sick day

Decided to stay home today and do some serious icing and resting with my ankle. I don't want to be carrying more injuries for longer than necessary and because this one is just a knock (though a painful one!) I am sure if I rest and ice it then it will be okay. My ankle is purple all and massive but not as sore as last night which is good.
So I have re- planned my runs for this weekend- I might put my run off till Sunday morning now- it is supposed to be hot so if my ankle is good I will head out for maybe just a 10ker. Not a good start after I was so happy with my running in January, but oh well, will see how I go.
The plan for no booze and no carbs took a beating on the 1st of Feb so I will just be making a conscious effort to cut down.

Physio

No run today because I was seriously short of time and I knew I had a physio appointment today and I don't want to turn up all puffy and swollen because she keeps talking about cortisone injections.
My ankle still isn't strong enough, my stretch is still about 5 centimetres shorter on my right leg and the ankle joint is still jammed up. Having said that the physio is still happy with my progress and doesn't mind if I keep increasing the distances I have been running.
I have a lot of work to do and a lot of stretching and massage. She recommended that I massage it myself constantly and maybe see a MT once every six weeks. There is one who works out of our building and we can go in work time so I might have to make an appointment.

*Edit*
Just came back from walking Bella again and dammit but if cricket training wasn't still going- and I copped a straight drive to the ankle with a cricket ball. My ankle is now the size of a cricket ball. Yes it was my sore ankle. Aaarrrggghhh!