The Road to Canberra

Wow, I can't believe it's been over 3 months since I've posted.

Life has been busy :)

Four more sleeps and I'll be running my second half marathon in Canberra.

It's not been an easy few months of training, but what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger ............ right??? LOL

My last event was early February and was the 10km Sun Run, where I struggled with my slowest time in a very long time.  I was struggling with itb issues, which when seen by a good physio, a lot of the problem came down to the shoes.

Sorry Hoka, but you just weren't made for me.  So back to Asics and a few physio visits and all seems to be going well ............. yay.

So between itb, shoes and seeing a sports dietician and being on a low fodmap diet to sort out some sensitive tummy issues, it's been a busy few months.

Even though I was struggling with itb and at times barely able to string together a km, I kept on training and with the addition of strength training, I'm feeling good.

I've had some of my best runs in the last month, with family (thanks Miss Brittles) and with lovely Run Club ladies.  They've all been positive people and without their company I would not have run the distances I did.

At times when I was doubting running and thinking the bike looked like a good option, I have now found my happy running place and looking forward to Canberra Half Marathon.

A couple of weeks ago I had a lovely Run Club lady ask if I'd like to run with her in Canberra as this was a training run for her in the lead up to the Gold Coast Marathon.  Initially I was reluctant to run with her, because I struggle with my head.  But with some consideration I decided that yes, I'd love to share the experience with someone and this someone is one of the most consistent runners out there.  When she sets a pace, she very rarely deviates from it.  No pressure my friendly runner :)

Good luck to all who are running this weekend.  I know there's quite a lot of us who'll be in Canberra but we've also got Victorians who'll be running the Geelong Half Marathon.

11km LSR was run on Easter Sunday at about 4pm, when it had been pouring with rain all day.  I did not feel the love to get out, but decided to listen to a podcast, Marathon Talk, where the legend Rod Dixon was being interviewed.  That podcast could've been written for me.  It gave me one of the best runs in a long time.  There were many things that I'll draw on while running on Sunday, including my virtual friend Carol - we're running this together Carol xx

No New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone, wherever you may be in this gorgeous world of ours.

I hope 2015 proves to be everything you make of it.

What will be your New Year's resolutions???

Me, I'm not making resolutions - I'm making goals.  Goals that will help me to stay healthy and on track for both food and exercise.

So, my goals this year will focus on fitness and health.  By focusing on running goals, my weight will be maintained.  Last year I had a monetary goal as well, which I achieved but I will also share my monetary/family goal in a few minutes.

2015 Goals:

• To run two half marathons:
• Canberra - April, will be a good solid run
• Gold Coast - July, will be a pb
• Europe - July - October
• Garry and I will have  a 12 week holiday to Europe in July and return home in October.  This is something I've wanted to do for many many years.  It will be done on a budget and will involve lots of running.  I've already found 10km events in Ireland and London and a 5km event in Scotland.

2015 Events:

January

31st   10km Sun Run, Sydney

February

22nd   Enticer Triathlon, Huskisson (open water swim eeekk)

March

22nd   Enticer Triathlon, Parramatta

April

12th    Half Marathon Canberra

May

2nd  MS Mega Swim.  As part of a team, we'll swim for 24 hours
10th  4km or 8km Mothers Day Classic, Parramatta

17th   SMH Half Marathon Relay (14.5km leg)

July

5th   Half Marathon, Gold Coast

some runs throughout Europe - will be keeping my eyes open for any in France, Italy and Spain.  

Oct/Nov

10km Rebel Run, Sydney

Nov

10km Central Coast

Happy running and healthy eating to all my friends :)

Running Shoes

Running shoes, the tool that will assist us with our running.  So many styles, so many colours out there, which ones do we choose.

Thankfully I've been reasonably fussy with shoes, knowing that good shoes will be good for my feet and legs.

I've comfortably run in Nike and Asics but a couple of months ago I got fitted for some Hokas and decided to give them a go.  I have quite a few friends who run in Hokas and rave about them - the support for joints and their comfort.  These ladies have run marathons and will not wear anything else to run in.

Hokas are considered a neutral shoe so have required some transitioning for me.  Initially I wore them on a Parkrun but within about 800m was struggling with calf pain.  I've very carefully worn them and built up distance in them, so that I'm now running 10km in them and have run a couple of events in them.

Now, it's a well known fact that I'm not the fastest runner out there, geez, I'm a plodder.  But I do enjoy my running (most of the time).  However, over the last couple of months while running in the Hokas my pace has dropped off a bit, about 20 - 30 sec per km.  No big deal, I'm not an Olympian.  But I would like to be a tiny bit faster when I know I am capable of running faster.

This weekend I went on a 12km LSR, and decided to try my trusty Asics.  It was a good run, pace was good, and I completed the distance.  But oh my oh my, within an hour and still 36 hours later, my knees are struggling with joint pain and the feeling of stiffness.

So in my old age (wisdom), I will keep plodding with the Hokas.  I'll take the support they provide for my knees over pace any day.

The Year That Was

Time to reflect on the year that was.

A very wise person said to me, 'Write down all of the events you've completed and look at what you have achieved."

Well, I've done that.  The events are achievements in themselves, but the training behind the events is what really takes the time and the committment.

I had a few spare minutes, put pencil to paper and did some research.  This is the mammoth amount of events completed in 2014.  Not too shabby an effort, for someone who 18 months ago had to go and practise a 4km route to ensure she could run her first event.

 

 

Date	Event	Distance	Time	Ranking F40-49
1 Feb	Sun Run	10km	1.08.54	20.97%
16 Mar	Triathlon Pink	Enticer	55.06
12 April	Canberra	10km	1.05.41	28.99%
18 May	Sydney Half Relay	14.5km	1.46.43
6 July	Gold Coast	21.1km	2.27.55	15.81%
13 July	Sydney Harbour	10km	1.05.29
10 Aug	City 2 Surf	14km	1.40.17	55.09%
22 Sept	Blackmores Bridge Run	9km	1.00.22
4 Oct	Western Sydney	10km	1.11.24
12 Oct	Triathlon Pink	Enticer	57.36
2 Nov	Rebel Run Sydney	10km	1.06.32	38.16%
9 Nov	Nepean Triathlon	Enticer	49.24
23 Nov	Run for the Hills	8km	57.16	46.34%
13 Dec	Hills Triathlon	Enticer

 

Now, looking forward to Xmas with my family, enjoying being able to train without the constraints of work.

Bring on 2015 - the year of two half marathons.

time just flies

My oh my, tomorrow is December.  Time just flies, life is so busy fitting in this exercise stuff, that I struggle to get to the shops for Xmas shopping.

It's been a busy couple of weeks and I'll start from earlier and work my way forward to today.

Last Sunday I ran an 8km very hilly 'Run for the Hills'.  It was a local event, with about 500 runners and nice and close.  We only had to drive about 15 minutes to get there, parking was easy and a pretty impressive goodie bag.  Now, I'd woken up a couple of days earlier with a bit of a sore throat and continually having to clear my throat with the ahem bug.  The Friday beforehand it was a scorching 43 degrees, so I was a bit worried about the heat.  It was warm, about 25 degrees at 8am, which felt hotter in the sun.

The run started well, the first 2kms were less than 6 min pace and just over 6 min pace.  I knew I couldn't keep it up, but it was fun feeling good and running well.  About the 2.5km I caught up to Molly and we pretty much ran/walked the hills.  It was nice to run with her, been a while since we've run together.  I had run this course a couple of times and knew what was in store, but it was incredibly difficult in the heat and my health not being 100%.  Once we got to the crest of the last hill, I knew there was less than a km to go and a small incline to go up.  But once over the crest, the finish line was closer than I though - no incline to run up.

It was also lovely to finish together with Molly!!!  And I was aiming for less than 1 hour and made it in about 57.51 minutes.  Quite enjoying the smaller events, was impressed to have the option of some yummy summer fruit at the end and once we got home recovery was a dip in the pool.  Even Jake the dog enjoyed a dip.

Impressed to see for the first time I got some air while running!!!

Fast forward to this week and I was still struggling with this cold and horrible coughing fits.  Following on my coach's advice, I didn't run.  Don't think I could've run anyway!!!  I struggled through the week, but couldn't face Friday, so had a day off, went to the doctors.  I didn't want antibiotics, I wanted some answers.  My body seems to breaking down every 12 weeks or so and struggling for 7 - 10 days with a cold that knocks me about.    I gave her lots of my background information, exercise etc and she took some blood for tests.

I was to run the Central Coast 10km today, but decided not to compete.  Would've loved for a pb, as it's a nice flat course and small field.  But that was not to be.

I still went and became the support person for some lovely girls from Run Club and Kelly (12wbt amazing girl) who were running the half and my hubby who was running the 10km.

Once the runners were off, it was coffee time and I found a nice sunny/shady spot about 300m from the finish line where I could see the runners coming towards the finish line.  It didn't take long for the elite athletes came through and wow, they're impressive!!!

I had a light bulb moment today while watching the runners coming through.  As you'd know from previous posts, I'm quite tough on myself and beat myself up about being slow.  But today I watched ladies and men, all ages, all sizes, finish the 10km and the half marathon.  I was particularly interested in the group around my finishing times and do you know what - they were all enjoying themselves and they all looked fit and there were lots of people coming in after them.

It made me realise that I'm doing ok!!!!

Looking good Kelly!!!

Great run Michelle!!!

Well done Molly, how many half marathons is that this year??  You champion!!!

All this good headspace stuff is going make my 2015 amazing.

Starting to get itchy feet over running two half marathons in 2015!!!  Think I might need to register for Canberra and the Sun Run :)

A big couple of weeks with so much learnt

Warning, this is a long post with lots of photos.

Well, I've had a big couple of weeks, with lots learnt both physically and mentally.  Things I've learnt, I'll be taking with me into the new year and working on in 2015.

Last Sunday I participated in the Nepean Triathlon in the Enticer distance.  This consisted of a 250m swim, 10km ride, 2.5km run.  Now the distances may seem small, but when ou put them all together for the one event, it's really tough on your body.

Earlier in the year I participated in a triathlon at the same venue (swimming at a regatta centre) and it was a really bad experience for me, having to get pulled out of the water and on oxygen for 20 minutes due to a respiratory infection and low oxygen levels.  Over the last few months I've done what I can to overcome the anxiety from this.  I've attended open water swimming clinics and a stroke correction clinic.

The day dawned, the race was not until 4pm, the weather was HOT!!!!  I was fine in the morning, very aware of nutrition throughout the day, but from about 12 nerves started to get the better of me.  Nerves and anxiety - yuck!!!!!

I'm so lucky to have found Mind Body Motion Run Club, because I've made some amazing friends.  Ladies who also like to participate in triathlons, so once we were at the venue, there were a lot of familiar faces.

My goal for the day was focused on the swim - mostly to finish happy and healthy but secretly to finish within 10 minutes.

I'd like to say a special thanks to Sue Linsen for her amazing photos - she just seems to capture the moment magically.

I've been overweight/obese for over 20 years and in those 20 years used to hide behind my children or not be in photos.  It's taken me some time but I'm now starting to like the photos of me that I see.  I think the photographer has a lot to do with it - she captures those moments that are not set up.

My times for the triathlon were;

Swim 7.01
transition 2.58
cycle 23.03
transition 1.11
run 15.09

I was stoked with the results.  I may have been down the far end of the pack, there were some serious triathletes out there, but I did it and I did it for me!!!!

Lessons learnt:  More swimming training is needed and I need to train two disciplines together, particularly cycling then running, even if it's only 2km off the bike.

Now, roll on one week to a 10km running event - Run Sydney, 10km around the 2000 Olympic Games precinct.

My plan said for it to be a pb run.  I've really struggled with running over the last 4-6 weeks.  Struggling to run any distance without 'needing' a pit stop or drinks break.

Today a couple of Run Club ladies offered to run with me, but I wanted to run on my own and be responsible for my running.  I'm happy to say I ran the whole way!!!  Secretly had a goal of 1.05 which would've been a 6.30 min/km pace.  I came in at 1.06.32 which was 6.32 pace over the 10.2km I clocked.  Lesson:  take a few seconds off goal pace to allow for the couple of hundred metres extra that I always seem to run.

I was happy with the result, happy that I ran it my way and happy after hearing some devastating news about a family member and a marathoner in the states.  Two great ladies who've been diagnosed with different forms of cancer.  A few reflective moments while running today, to think of these ladies and appreciate my health and my ability to run.  What's a couple of minutes when you can run 10km and others are facing very confronting issues with their health.

Run Clubbers heading off to the start line

Lesson learnt:  I can run!!!  It's time to push myself out of my comfort zone and push.  No matter what distance I run, I seem to run in my comfort zone.  I do work hard but I know I can work hard, push myself a bit more.  Next year I'd like to work on pushing myself out of my comfort zone - what's the worst that can happen??  I'm not going to die.  I might need to stop and walk for a bit??  Time to talk to the coach about this :)

Inspiration

Inspiration - such a big word, that makes such a difference in people's lives.

We can be inspired or we can inspire others - or both.

I have been told a few times now how I inspire people and it's a truly humbling thing to hear.  I didn't begin this journey to inspire others, I did it to purely lose weight, didn't even plan on long distance running, but some things just evolve.  As you lose weight, get fitter and stronger and have more self belief, you begin to tackle more challenges in life.

Early on in my running journey, a good friend, Donna, recommended I join the facebook group, 'Running the World'.  There are some amazing people on Running the World - regular people who do amazing things, from beginning runners to ultra marathoners, to people running marathons on a weekly basis.  They are doing things that make me go 'WOW'.

There is one guy who I admire on the Running the World page, a pretty buff looking guy, self confessed bad ass, who runs and runs.  He runs marathons and ultra marathons - road and trail, and is now in training for an Ironman!!!  He's one of these guys that you admire from afar and build up an image of him having been a runner for his whole life and being super disciplined in his life.

This morning I was shocked to see on my newsfeed a post about Tim, and how he'd lost 90lbs and his running journey.  I read this article and was in total awe of this man, to not only lose alot of weight but then to run, faster, more effectively and focus on the nutrition to make his running better.  Here I thought he was just a badass American who'd been running forever.

Here is the article.  Have a read.

Tim Christoni - badass or Mr Nice Guy?

So I'm sorry Tim, I know all the Running the World people think you're a badass runner, but I think you're a Mr Nice Guy who's turned a page in his life, respecting his body and working extremely hard.

I've been told over time that I'm an inspiration, and like I said I didn't do or start this journey to inspire others - I needed to start respecting my body and looking after myself.

Last weekend was my son's 21st birthday and I spent many hours scanning photos and creating a powerpoint for the night.  It was extremely difficult to find any photos of me with my children and the photos I did find had me hiding behind my children.

Since losing the weight and becoming a runner, I can now proudly stand beside my children.  Proud to be me, proud to be their fit, healthy mum.  No more hiding.

Whatever journey you're on, wherever you are on that journey, find people who inspire you, keeping JFDI!!!!  Find those positive people and get rid of the baggage!!!!