This week has gone by insanely quick. I wish I could say the same about my running times but hell you’ve got to start somewhere, don’t you? Week 2 of training went well and culminated in the Glenorchy Fun Run this morning. I was feeling a bit better on the corporate front and the week wasn’t as emotionally taxing as last week. I didn’t have to work crazy hours and I even won a radio trivia competition on the way home from the cheesemine on Friday. #winning!
Here’s how I ran it.
Monday 13/7/15
After my long run on the Sunday my legs felt a bit tired on Monday doing my “easy 30”. I ran a nice easy 5km loop from UTAS down Sandy Bay Road to Long Point Road. I didn’t hit any PB but thats not what its about. It felt good to stretch the legs and just run.
Wednesday 15/7/15
I did not want to get out of bed. It was cold. I didn’t sleep well. A million excuses filled my head about why I shouldn’t run but I listened to the one lonely little voice that said “just do it” and I did.
It was my first speed/interval session 10 x 1min run and 1min walk. I don’t normally do these. I’m a one speed kind of girl so this type of training is really important for me to improve. I don’t have a Garmin and I use the Nike+ app on my iPhone to keep track of my running stats. Nike+ is great for keeping track of pace/distance etc but crap at helping you out with intervals. I downloaded a running interval timer app that was meant to buzz when I hit my minutes. Off I went and 2 minutes in, I’m like “wow this is the longest minute EVER!” Turns out the app doesn’t play nice with Nike+ and music. I need my tunes to run (I’ll wean myself off one day…I promise). After a fair bit of stuffing around I got things to work and enjoyed the intervals so much I did 5 extra.
I think I could have done better with this. Dodging pedestrians and traffic on Sandy Bay Run was not fun when all I wanted to do was run flat out! It didn’t help that I was out there a bit later than normal due to battling my laziness and crappy apps. I’m going to try and do this at the bike track next time so I’ve a distraction free stretch of trail to run. Once I get my track training fees sorted I’ll do it on the track and smash it. Time wise my running minute was at sub 5min per km – I’m happy with that…for now anyway.
Friday 17/7/15
Easy 45 day today. I’m getting the hang of the time instead of distance thing. I did take it easy and paced myself staying at a steady 5’45” per km pace for most of the running time. I finished a bit faster with the last 3km of my 8km at 5’30”. I ran the Sandy Bay loop again. It was bit creepy running along the beach without the street lights on. I hope the council gets onto that soon!
Tonight I went to a corporate function at the Grand Chancellor. It was a 6 course Winter Feast which started with pre-drinks, a shot and matched wines with each course. This corporate punk let loose and had ALL the alcohol that was on offer and then some. Silly, silly Jelly!
Saturday 18/7/15
Today was meant to be my debut Parkrun – I even had my barcode printed out and laminated. I woke up in pain. Alcohol is a demon bastard. Why does it taste so good? No Parkrunning this morning.
Once the room stopped spinning I had a shower and moved into the lounge room to watch informercials. This is my hangover ritual. Infomercials are the only thing I can watch without having to think much and just quietly they are hilarious. I managed to resist buying the best eyebrow pencil in the world, Dr Ho’s magic belt and ridiculously expensive protein powder by the so-called “beauty chef”.
I knew it was time to run when I was considering buying the VibroSlim Ultra Vibration platform. It claims you can get the equivalent of a 30 minute run just by standing on this board for 10 minutes! Wow – this means I could do all of my training just standing there. Maybe its not so crazy – I mean the scientists and their graphs say it works? What really got my hungover, self-pitying arse off my couch was the image of the middle-aged woman sat in her recliner, vibration board under her feet in her sensible heels saying “its great I can just sit here and watch TV and its like I’ve ben out for a run”. It was pathetic. I was pathetic. A board wasn’t going to help me, feet on tarmac will.
So feeling very “dusty” I got out and ran my own Parkrun 5km. It HURT, my legs were lead, my head felt like it was going to explode. Fresh air and sunshine are amazing hangover cures. By the end of the 5km I felt amazing. I even managed a 5’30” pace which is my usual. I was proud of myself for getting out there and discovering this amazing hangover cure! It’s just too bad I am not drinking again, EVER.
Sunday 19/7/15
After an amazing sleep, I set out to Glenorchy for the Northern Suburbs Athletics Club annual Fun Run. It was FREEZING – the phone said it was -3! This was my 3rd time doing the G10. It also happened to clash with my scheduled 14km training run. What’s a girl to do? I decided to multi-task and run an extra lap of the course hence the G10 became the G15.
The Tasmanian Road Runners had pacers for the event. Pacers are awesome for people like me. I have no awareness when it comes to pace and having these Angels around help me make all the difference. I stuck with Jarrod the 55′ pacer and Shelley Miller, local running community legend. I felt really good running solidly at that pace. I have the tendency to start fast, kill myself and fall into a heap at the end of a fun run. Not this time! About 1km out from the 10km , I opened up and went for it. A nice cheer from Shelley helped me get to the finish faster. I think I finished at around 54′ or thereabouts – official results are not in yet. I’m happy with how I went.
Now normally when you see this sign its time to stop. Not this time.
I stopped for about a minute to strip down to my singlet because I was so hot and then I kept running. It was great! Usually after the end of a fun run I’m buggered, I can’t run another step nor do I want to. This time I was on a mission and just did it. (Jeez I’m starting to sound like a Nike ad!) The last 5km was no pressure, relaxing and I really enjoyed the scenery of GASP. This was my longest run on the program so far and if I’m completely honest I really enjoy the long runs in the sunshine.
I hope I can keep this mental state when I line up for Cadbury in January. Running is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. The funny thing is that they each help the other out. My hangover experience is a perfect example of that. The run helped me both physically and mentally – I just need to focus on those positive voices in my head. I’ll get there!
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