Last of the Pelagic Running Sharks

Recipient of the Ning-Nong of the Year Award

2006-11-26T16:44:00.000-08:00

Recipient of above reward would be...moi.

Alarm is set to go for an early Monday morning Body Attack class. If I get up at 5.00 am, out he door at 5.20 am, I can be at the gym at 6.00 am and ready for the class at 6.15 am.

Alarm goes. I bolt out of bed without hesitation, knowing that if I give myself even one minute to lie there, I'll talk myself out of getting up. I'm up, scrambling into clothes, gulping down coffee, grabbing bags packed the night before. Out the door, and I notice it's dark. Very dark. I put this down to the fact it was very overcast yesterday, and will probably be so today.

I'm halfway to the gym before it dawns on me that it's 4.45 am.

Muggins set her alarm for 4.00 am.

Kept going to the gym - fortunately I had some library books I was returning, so I found a brightly lit spot and read them, and was at the door feeling toey by the time the gym doors finally opened.

Ah well...

I was quite good last week - not too much as the knees give the odd squawk if they feel they're being pushed too far, but did lots of other stuff as well.

Mon: Body Attack class
Tues: Rest
Wed: 2km run, 6 x 80m warm up sprints (waiting for mate to arrive for our joint session), cardio & weight training outdoors
Thurs: Body Attack class
Fri: 5 km run
Sat: Body Attack class / 3 km run to gym with backpack when I realised how late I was!
Sun: 6 km run

Weekly running total: 16km. As I keep reminding myself, at least I'm doing something...

Inspiration in a flash of sequins...

2006-11-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

I have been doing something with my time besides not writing here the last couple of months...and it's even something constructive. I've been helping a friend get her own fitness regime underway. While always stressing I'm *not* qualified as a personal trainer, meeting up with her a couple of mornings a week has helped make sure I get out of bed. And it's been fun working out by the harbour. She's even venturing to run a bit in 1 min intervals!

We had a session this morning - I got in earlier and did 10mins running, then stretches and a few 80m sprints while waiting for her. After we walk/ran to the playground we do our sessions in, we did some circuit training (I carry a few items like skipping ropes and resistance tubes in a backpack).

Got into work and found inspiration in a flash of sequins. Images of a 1920s flapper dress that a UK dealer has sent me - greens and aqua, like a particularly flashy mermaid who likes a bit of bling. It's a waterfall of light. Measurements are fine, but I have reservations about the length - am going to check some of my other dresses when I get home tonight.

Also an hilarious purchase - a 1920s (of course!) bathing suit. I was amazed all over again at how anyone got into these things - I always knew wool was heavy, but until I picked it up I hadn't really thought of just how much drag in the water these things would cause. I should wear it in the pool - it would add a lot of extra resistance! I'd be muscled up before I knew it.

Makes me appreciate Annette Kellerman all over again - she pioneered this style (form fitting with built in shorts and skirt - it might be heavy, but it still beats what the Victorians were kitted out in.

I'm alllliiiive!

2006-11-20T18:35:00.000-08:00

Almost two months - phew, I'm on the ball, eh?

It's been hectic. Life getting in the way, all that sort of stuff. I chopped off my hair in the Louise Brooks Dutch Doll bob, btw - can't believe I hesitated over it. But aside from that, work and family 'stuff'...almost all of it good. Just time consuming.

I've kept an oar in with the exercise, although the weight crept up a bit (and I've started knocking that off). It's been hard having the running curtailed, but I'm doing 5kms and last weekend managed 7km...pain free, which is the important thing. Lots of squats and lunges to hopefully to something about getting that VMO in working order.

I've been on a bit of a vintage 1920s dress buying binge - sort of goes with the hairdo, I suppose!

Summer Arrives with a Roar

2006-09-23T23:49:00.000-07:00

Summer has arrived - and it is not shod with soft feet and breezes. I know it's early to proclaim, and the predictions are that it will be back to more seasonal temps tomorrow but for today it was a roast. I went for a run at 8.00am, and that was almost too late in terms of temps. Had a champagne breakfast to celebrate a birthday in the family, then came back to go to the beach with Bec and the nephews and niece. With a warm eddy lurking offshore, it was the only thing to do. So that first plunge of the season wasn't nearly as bracing as you'd expect!

It's been a real struggle lately. I had another health blow - woke up last Monday morning with everything in my stomach wanting out - now! Both exits, no waiting. Still don't know what it was - no one else came down with food poisoning that was at the lunch on Sunday. The roiling stomach of the rest of the week suggests a virus. I'd hoped to be back on my feet by Thursday and set the alarm for a run and had all my gear laid out, but as soon as the alarm went I knew I wasn't going anywhere.

On the plus side, I've been able to buy a Ferdinand Preiss figure. Not bronze and ivory, of course (I haven't come into a substantial inheritance of late), but one of the other spelter and ivorine figures the firm turned out. More inspiration for my Deco dream apartment of 'one day'.

Ice Cold Gin

2006-09-12T18:16:00.000-07:00

Well I didn't see my dream Deco cocktail cabinet...but I did pick up a very nice vintage silver cocktail shaker, c. 1930s. Got it for a song, too - the antique place was closing down. Also had a lot of fun in Norman Lindsey's studio and gallery admiring his exhuberant, buxom nudes, and then wallowed happily in the surroundings of the Carringdon, having high tea.

I've been a lacklustre slug lately, barely able to keep up with work, let alone do anything else. But picked myself up this morning and ran 5kms on hills, so evidently I haven't lost all fitness. Knees okay thus far.

I think it helped that I slept like a log. Got out the old 1930 Savoy Cocktail book and did myself a couple of White Lady cocktails - it certainly did the trick.

Summer is coming on and I do need to get out of the doldrums!

Whaddaweek!

2006-08-31T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hectic all the way...but, now it's Friday, I'm feeling much more on top of things. There was an iota less self-loathing when I completed the workout this morning. Unfortunately work committments have resulted in only getting in two sessions so far.

Tues: 5km.
I think I was correct in that this is pretty much the utmost I can manage at the moment. There wasn't any pain at the end, but there was 'pre-pain', if you know what I mean. I was worried I might be sore the next day, but so far they've held up. I'll go for another run on the weekend.

Fri: Gym
Tried for cycle class and managed to miss it, so did 30 mins on the bike and then lower body exercises with an emphasis on the Quads and VMO in particular. Then a long stretching session, as I felt amazingly stiff. I felt more human at the conclusion of it all.

Staying with a mate this weekend - the owner of the dress trasher of a couple of weeks ago. He went missing the other night, and she and her husband spent six hours looking for him when they found he was gone. Looks like he got down into the creeks. He was certainly being a doggy-dog!

We're hoping to get up to the Blue Mountains and have a wander around the antique shops. I, of course, have no money, but if I do see my dream Art Deco cocktail cabinet I will not be held responsible for my actions...

When I do get around to getting my own flat it's going to be a bit of an 'eclectic' mix. And by eclectic, I mean dog's breakfast. I love Art Deco, but I'm afraid that those beautiful, clean lines and lack of clutter are antithetical to my nature. I'm a hoarder and love my clutter. High Victorian would probably suit me more. While I love the styalised decorative motifs of both, I suspect in many ways I lean more to the organic shapes of Art Nouveau rather than the geometricism of Deco.

So I'm hoping to have a few Deco pieces that I hope will not sit too ill-at-ease with pieces reflecting what my boss in London (one of the UK's most innovative and cutting edge young architecural project managers) called my 'love of overblown Victoriana'.

It Lives!

2006-08-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm alive. And a lot has happened in my life since I last posted...just not much of it running or exercise related! It's all good stuff, too. I'm happy with developments at work, and I'm finally motivated to get a little personal project forward to the next stage. But will write more of that if/when it comes to fruition.

The Red Dress episode had a sequel! Stayed with a friend that weekend, and she had invited some old cronies of ours over for dinner that Friday. Had a wonderful time, and mixed up lots of Singpore Slings. Unfortunately, we decided to break out the lovely classic martini glasses to have them in. These are virtually self-spill (you can see where this is headed...). After dinner, the dogs had to be let in. And her border collie - who just wuv wuv wuvs me - had to demostrate his boundless affection by being in my lap. Dog, cocktail and dress all came together in a tragic clash, and I was left to admire the effect of cherry brandy on red velvet. I'll spare you the gory cleaning details. Friend was horrified, but I wouldn't have a bar of it - you can't have a dog like that around spillable drinks and not expect tragic consequences, so I accepted full responsibility.

Anyway, I did - finally - get out the door yesterday afternoon for a very gentle 2.5 kms along the beach while the tide was low and the cant minimal. I could have done a bit more, but was not feeling up to speed and wanted to see how the knees would be today. They're (touch wood) fine at the moment. So I'll try another run up to 5km tomorrow. Came back and did my physio exercises and upper body stuff.

I'm feeling the loss of fitness, but psychologically not too bad. And I didn't put on scads of weight, although I feel bloated...in fact, a bit has come off (a very little bit). I have had a couple of episodes of too much grog. But the situation is all 'salvageable'!

Devil in a Red Dress

2006-08-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

I seem to start a lot of blogs and replies to blogs with a 'cheers for your support!' message, and I hope that hasn't dulled the sincerity. I really do appreciate all the messages after yesterday's meltdown.

The truth is that while I often sound like Pollyanna - in person as well as online - there has always been a very dark, moody side, and a tendency towards feelings of depression and worthlessness. I have to fight very hard to combat these. That's one reason I am so adamant about my committment to exercise - I know what happens to me emotionally when I can't move properly. No doubt a psychologist would have a field day connecting it with all the childhood illnesses when over-exertion following the surgery led to collapse and rehospitalisation. I don't know if that's at the root of it, or whether it's just a basic physiological response to not getting proper exercise. (Whoops - there I go, over thinking/over writing as usual). All I know is that it feels awful, and I feel a particularly passionate self-loathing right now.

So I got up, donned a red vevet Morrissey dress that is totally inappropriate for work, and some of my favourite jewellery and a pair of boots. I suspect all I need is some feathers in my hair to look like a Wild West saloon girl. But it's keeping me holding on by the fingernails.

Got a reminder that my running schedule is due for revision by my coach. What running? I'm going to send a completely honest account of what I have done and not done over the last month, and ask - if he's willing - to help me develop a recovery program. I was able to do 10kms on Sunday before the pain hit...I figure I should be able to manage at least two to three session a week of up to 5kms. But first I'm taking at least a week off, to shake this cold.

Misery

2006-08-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

I'm so miserable I feel I shouldn't even write this entry. Who wants to listen to nothing but a grizzle? I try so desperately to be bouyant, but for the last couple of days I've largely just been gritting my teeth and getting through it. Yesterday I had a ghastly session at the gym - I knew as soon as I got out of bed at 4.50 am that I didn't want to be up, and even walking down the street - by which time I usually love being up and about, even in the dark - I had a moment of seriously considering turning around and going back to bed. The gym was foul. I might as well have been made of lead, body and mind.

Today I know at least part of the reason. I had a sleepless night, where every tree thump and flickering shadow caused by the high winds was an intruder, and I saw shadows at the food of the bed. Started coughing. Woke up this morning with a sore throat, runny nose, aches (some of them from the upper body weights yesterday, but god knows what else) and general fuzzy headed misery. The cold is back - with a vengeance. ('Death Cold II: Hack Harder!)

I've had some somewhat complex and involved issues to work through at work as well, and am trying to think straight when I'm not entirely sure how to spell my own name.

At least this explains some of my horrific depression lately. A lot of it was brought on by being unable to run, but the self-loathing is never a good sign. Injury and sickness - I can't do *anything*. All I want, right now, is to be able to breath and run without pain. I just want a chance to be fit and to train.

Others have it worse - in every way. Just suck it up, Pelagic.

Spring = Getting Act Together

2006-08-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

I know it's still winter...it just hasn't felt like it over the past couple of days.

Was flipping through the race results today, and started getting alarmed - could it really have taken longer than 90 minutes? I didn't recall it being that bad, even before the time adjustment...

Finally went back to earlier times and found that it wasn't as dire as I remembered. After the time adjustment, it was 84.42. So not great, but not too bad. Just a couple of minutes slower than last year.

I can feel a tremendous 'getting act together' urge coming on. Whipped through some financial business. Had a no-nonsense breakfast. And am going to look at drawing up a recovery program to do something productive about getting back to running properly. Cycling classes and cross trainer sessions - yucky, but I don't see much of a choice at this point. Cycling to sort out the quads, crosstrainer to mimic running without joint stress.

I wonder if running on the beach would help that as well...I quite enjoy it, and there wouldn't be any impact. I run lengths of .62 km, so the cant isn't a huge problem. It's tough on the calves, but I only do about 5 km at a time.

I need an exercise treat, though. And I reckon inline skating is the way to go. I used to love this in the UK - invested in what was then top of the line skates, and used to do the Wednesday and Friday night skates around London. I'll never forget flying down the hill to whip around Trafalgar Sq and then up through St James' Park, or going and a rate of knots through Picadilly Circus. One night a group of us were seperated from the others, and I found myself sandwiched between two double decker buses going flat out to keep up with the traffic. It improved my skating to no end! As did going over cobblestones, jumping traffic monitor cables and manhole covers and tackling both up and down hills. No time to think, you just do it. So I might sashay off to Manly soon and see if I can recapture any of that.

Nephew is named! Kieren (I think they've gone the 'K' rather than hard celtic 'C' option for spelling). Means dark one, and he certainly is with his mop of black hair. I'm glad my lobbying for an Irish name paid off, although I still think Eamon or Liam would have been good choices. Anyway, it suits him.

Non-Exploding Knees

2006-08-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

Well, the C2S is over, and my patellas are still intact. Barely. I just checked...

It was a gorgeously warm day...warm enough to make me grateful for the breezes along the course, and for every bit of shade. I took the bus into town, and all along the route people were getting on in their running gear, clutching maps and race bibs. The city was swarming with red caps by the time I got to my registration centre at 8.00 am. I toddled on up to the start, made the necessary portaloo stop (and could probably have done with another one before the start) and then took my place in the A Group second edition start.

I must have been in my own little world, as the only 'characters' I saw were a couple of gorillas and big bird. I had told myself - very sternly - that if in any doubt I was to drop down to a walk, but still felt very unsure as to how far I'd be able to trot before the last month caught up with me.

The A group start made a big difference - I didn't see anyone walking until we got to the tunnel, and there wasn't much need for manouvering around people (unlike last year's duck and weave). It did take a minute or so of walking before we actually began running though - I kept reminding myself that it was all to the good, as I wouldn't be tempted to belt out too fast to keep up with those around me. Settled into a plod. It was a solid plod, but it was still a plod.

And plod I did...all the way up Heartbreak Hill (don't think I dropped much speed there). I was starting to feel a bit tired with the undulations afterwards, but the knee 'issues' didn't make themselves felt until the 10km mark. Then my patellas remembered that they were fragile little flowers that needed to be nursed and coddled, dammit, and from then on they made their crankiness known.

The last 2km were a cow. I found I had something more to give in terms of cardio fitness, but the knees were having none of it. I managed a very interesting kick over the last couple of hundred metres, though - a sort of stiff legged, limping slight increase in speed. If it's on video, it should be a riot. The Igor kick.

Coming home down hill was fun - I was walking on tiptoes, trying not to bend the knees at all, as once they cooled down they were screaming. Today it's the quads, though - sore as I've never known them after a run or race. Very odd!

Don't know yet what my time is as I'm a mug and forgot to stop the watch as I went over the line - I'll see what the adjusted official time shows up as. Slower than last year by a good few minutes, I'm afraid. But - and I'm clinging to this - at least I ran it all and came through more or less intact.

Ray of Sunshine

2006-08-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

A ray of sunshine has arrived. If somewhat overdue!

At about 10.30 pm last night, after needing to be induced, my new little nephew was born. I was at home holding the fort and acting as a relay point for information when the word came through.

No name had been decided on when I spoke with Bec this morning - of course I'm lobbying heavily for the Irish suggestion that has been nominated. Becster was in Madonna mode - crooning over the phone because bub had just opened his eyes to look at her with a 'hello!' expression.

I'm as cheerful as possible in other respects. You'll note the blog name has changed - reference to 'marathon training' was not only dull, it smacked of hubris in my case. I'm about as adapted to running as a shark is to life on land, so it seemed appropriate.

Messages of support have been much appreciated - you people know what it is not to be able to run! Non-runners can console and I really appreciate that, but they can't quite emphasise. Fortunately my best mate is an ex-competitive sprinter, so - while she vows she will never, ever run again (too much competition pressure years ago) - she really does understand it. When the knee issues first hit I explained in an understated way what the problem was - and with her, I didn't need to indulge in melodramatic wailing about how this would stuff up my training and how serious it was. She knew exactly what was going on, and how serious it was - and she responded appropriately.

It's actually not too bad at the moment - a tightness on the outer knee more than any pain. I've been massaging it by hand (god knows what people on the bus thought I was doing), and will go find a tennis ball today to see if that helps. I think the taping did assist.

As I was telling Beki (someone in a position to acutely and unfortunately to really understand what I was saying), it's not going up the Hills on Sunday I fear. It's the coming down! Last year I had substantial negative splits - the beginning was a crawl because of the crush, and things didn't really thin out until the hills - so I flew the downhills and made up quite a bit of time to the finish. I can't see that happening this time - it'll be a crush at the start, and I could well be limping at the finish.

A Challenging Week

2006-08-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

I decided on the above euphamistic title, as I get a bit tired of grizzling about how miserable I am. This past week was not easy. As well as refraining from running, I had to struggle through the vile alien virus (or whatever it is). Feeling ill all the time. As in nauseous. Kept deciding to go the gym the next day, only to decide the next day that I just felt too lousy to justify it. Finally, in frustration, I walked 5kms yesterday, and got up at the crack of dawn today to go gymming. 100% or not, I had to do something. And braved a cold, wet, pre-dawn morning to do it.

It wasn't exactly brilliant - 25 mins cross trainer followed by 5 mins walking, 10 mins running at 9 - 11kph, then five mins cooldown. Lots of stretches. The running was only a couple of kms (less, I suppose, at the rate I was going). But it had to be done.

And now I'm sitting here feeling a bit better for having done something physical...and wondering how the patellas are going to take it all.

I'm going to be in fine fettle by Sunday at the C2S. Not!

Other distractions including the late arrival of my newest niece or nephew. I've been on bub-watch - staying over a couple of nights in case my sister goes into labour so I can look after her kids while she goes to the hospital.

Must admit that I had a bit of a private party on Friday. I was supposed to be staying with a mate, but figured I'd better be around in case my sister needed me. Although what could I would have been to her with a few Straits Slings under my belt - with extra lashings of everything in them - is another question.

But this too shall pass.

In a bad way

2006-07-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

Not good. I've got a very, very unpleasant...something. 'Flu? Some sort of upper respiratory tract infection? Don't know what it is, but it caused me to have the first day off work in over a year. Tremendous nausea.

Resting knees to allow more complete healing. Then starting from scratch. Refusing to allow self to get depressed about all this!

The Joys of Treamill Running

2006-07-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

No...seriously!

I'll take treadmill running if it lets me run pain free!

Did 20 mins on the crosstrainer, keeping the HRM between 150 - 160 bpm (you have to work to get there!). Stopped, stretched, then did 20 mins on the treadmill at 9kmph with a slight incline.

Of course, when I didn't start getting sore, the little devil on the shoulder started whispering 'go on...you said you'd stop sooner if you felt pain. Why not go longer than planned if you feel no pain? And a bit faster too, while you're at it?'

Flicked the devil off my shoulder, plodded along gently, and decisively took myself back down to a walk the moment I ticked over the 20minutes. And now, several hours later, I am not particularly sore, although precautionary icing is going on. I must admit being tentative about facing stairs afterwards, but it's all good so far- as the man said at each floor after jumping from the Empire State building.

I started toying with the idea of doing at least the first half of my long run this weekend on the treadmill. And then, perhaps, even the whole thing. Such a feat would earn me a place next to Tantalus, Sisyphus, Ixion and their merry mates in Tartarus. I can think of no greater torment. But I know some people talk about the experience of running for a couple of hours on a treadmill as instilling mental discipline (that, or I'm sure it will fragment my sanity).

I'm having a few moments of hair madness. Getting fed up with this long blah thing. Which I wear up most of the time anyway. Am considering a Louise Brooks style cut...at the very least it would be worth it to walk into my salon with a photo of the quintessential flapper chick and tell that that's what I want. I suppose it would make a change from would-be Jennifer Anistons and Paris Hiltons.

The main question would be...what to do with that fringe when running?? Any suggestions? Pull it under a cap outdoors?
Tuesday run: 3km, easy treadmill.

Limbo Land

2006-07-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

Limbo...although it has elements of purgatory!

Went for a 10km run on Sunday. Didn't really expect to get the 20 km + that I had planned done, and had a feeling it would be silly to try. So as soon as the knees began feeling 'tight', I stopped. I'm not sorry I did...I could have pushed on, only to have to break out the self-flagellation whip today and ask why-oh-why I ignored the signs and tried to run through pain. Ice. Anti-Inflam. The usual. It's feeling okay today, so I may venture a treadmill session tomorrow.

I'm coming round to it. I know the VMO is stronger...at least I'm doing something to address the root causes of this problem. And there's no point in grizzling about it to excess...funnily enough, in my younger days I always thought of myself as a terrible pessemist. But as I get older - while I'm still inclined to be a realist - I seem to have a spirit of optimism that is getting stronger.

I ran through some worst case scenarios while running. There is a possibility I need to push back my goal to Melbourne. I also need to face the possibility that I may need to look to next year and Canberra.

And - the worst of all - I may not be able to overcome this. Even while working like anything to address the root cause of it, with the best will in the world, I may not be able to increase my mileage beyond a certain threshold...or it may take years before I can handle volumes of weekly mileage in excess of 35 - 40 km a week. In which case, I obviously need to put aside any marathon dreams and look at shorter distances. At least I'd still be running.

I don't like these ideas. And I'll fight with determination to get up to scratch as soon as possible. But I have to accept these as possibilities, ranging from strong to remote, and take responsibility for my own actions in addressing them and planning for a future that includes running...in whatever form I can do.

Treading water - or wish I was!

2006-07-20T23:57:00.000-07:00

Not much to report...other than that I feel like a miserable goose. I'm an idiot. Everyone who knows anything about this condition agrees with me that I'm an idiot. I don't think it's possible to feel much more remorse than I'm feeling this week. Who ever would have thought that trying too hard could bring so much guilt with it? Am refusing to be demotivated by this.

Have rested the knees. And done my physio exercises. Oh, have I done my exercises! Ice...anti-inflams...if willpower alone could do it, I'd have knees of seamless steel that would operate as smoothly as Baileys over ice.

I'll rest them tomorrow again, and then give Sunday a bash.

2006-07-18T19:55:00.000-07:00

And now for some utter self indulgance - and I don't just mean two posts in one day (please, everyone - come join me in denial! Look at the pretty shiny things...not at the poor old knees!).

Em raised the all important issue of what to wear with extravagent necklaces...fortunately, I collect Michal Negrin outfits as well! These are a couple in the wardrobe - the one on the left is a wrap that looks great over some of the dresses, but equally great over jeans. It's a brighter green than it appears here.

The other is a slip dress (under a bolero) that has schwarovski crystals on it - this is a bit of a favourite of mine. One of the great things about working in the Museum world is that being a bit bohemian in taste is almost the norm - people don't think I'm too odd when I come in wearing cameos and vintage 20s velvet along with jeans and knee high boots. And fortunately there are always plenty of exhibition openings to attend where I can don the more OTT necklaces. Yes, I love my bling! While many of my friends love the designs as well, the other greatest fan is my 2.5 year old niece - she toddles into my MN drawers and dives into the boxes, and can often be persuaded to go to bed by the offer of wearing one of my necklaces. I think the most complete sentence she's managed yet is 'That's a pre'y dress, Aun'ie Pel!'

I love the rich, layered concept of Michal's designs - she takes the best elements of 18th - 21st century jewellery and makes them her own. Not only are they sumptious to wear, but they are so well crafted they are light and comfortable. They feel as good as they look. Same for the clothes. She has many imitators, but no one comes close to her unerring eye for detail and beauty.

Are you there, Pel? It's me...your knees

2006-07-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

Anyone who thought my silence over the last few days was ominous would be correct. I've been painfully contemplating my knees and future directions. I nursed them through a treadmill run on Saturday, then the easiest 15kms imaginable on Sunday. No hills...run on grass verges when I didn't have better footing...even did the last 15 mins or so doing laps of an oval to save them as much as possible. But as I walked my cooldown and hit the down hill, the pangs under my knee caps told me the long-dreaded 'issues' had resurfaced.

My forehead must be bruised from where I've been whacking my palm against it to the chorus of 'What were you thinking?' With my history, doing my longest run in the current build up, over hills, then following it a few days later in what was supposed to be an easy week with my fastest 10kms run in part on concrete and bricks was utter lunacy. Now I just can't believe I didn't see it coming.

Anyway, I haven't run this week - instead I've been getting better acquainted with icepacks and anti-inflammatories. Have also done a cycle session and lots and lots of the strengthening exercises I need to do.

After I got over the raging denial, I faced the fact that I have to be realistic about my prospects for Sydney in September. I've always held the Melbourne marathon 'in reserve' in case something like this came up. But I have to be brutally honest with myself about both ideas. I don't want to start running that distance and come limping home in a run/walk/crawl. As it is, I'm not exactly doing huge amounts of mileage (following scrupulously the plan that has been established for me), so the loss of too much training time will leave me more raw than merely a bit underdone.

If I need to, I will have to be prepared to miss Sydney and even Melbourne in order to devote myself utterly to addressing these muscle imbalances and a very, very slow build-up. So perhaps Canberra (sigh!) next year.

Anyway...I still have a bit of time. I saw the physio this morning, and she wasn't as gloomy about it all as I thought she would be. She cheerfully agreed that I was an idiot in my running last week. But apparently the inflammation has come down, and - while my knees are doing a snap-crackle-pop - there's not too much pain. We've talked management strategies. Now I just need to talk with Pat about how to manage this, and whether I need to re-set my immediate goals yet or if we can wait and see. I've been advised to let the knees settle a bit more, so will do some cycling tomorrow and will see how they're acting on Friday (which will be - yuck - probably a treadmill session to see how they're acting).

Week 10 total Mileage: 49km

Crankypants!

2006-07-13T18:13:00.000-07:00

I am a wee bit cranky this morning (not that many folks will have noticed, as I'm such an antisocial moo anyway!).

Went for a nice easy run. Left GPS system at home - decided to just run with HRM. Was deliberately going to hold back the pace and not try to duplicate yesterday. It was also wet, so very poor surfaces. Did about 9km, all well and good.

BUT...knee is feeling off.

And NO BLOODY WONDER! I have to do much of these morning runs on the worst surfaces as there's no where else I can think of that is 'safe' enough. This means I am literally trying to do speedwork on bricks. Bloody bricks! If I don't slip and kill myself in the rain, I'll pulverise my knees. Given I have a history of ITBS, this is horrific. And all because some SOB grabbed me.

I'm tempted to run back in Farm Cove with my mobile in one hand and my panic button siren in the other. If I see him, I'll run after him and press it up to his ear. I'm that angry. Someone give me mace!

I admit that doing 20kms over hills last weekend - an increase of distance, time and difficulty of terrain - was not the best thing I could have done. But my alternative was what - run up and down the side of the highway in the only flat stretch? Or do laps of the high school oval for 2 hours?

Sigh. I need to sort this. I don't want to sabotague my training by running on bricks and having my kneecaps fall off in protest. Might book in for a massage as well to cheer myself up.

On a more cheering up note...Michal Negrin has 30% off at the moment, and my belovedest mother told me to go pick myself out a birthday and Christmas present. She knows how Negrin-Centric I am. So among other items (broach, haircomb, ring), I chose a necklace I've had my eye on for quite a while. Only one they had in the shop - I think they said it was a limited edition. Very similar to this one, but with a different cameo and colour scheme (more purple and green rather than pearl beading).

This training business actually works, eh?

2006-07-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

I'm in an excellent mood this morning!

It's an easy week of 50 min runs and a cutback on the long run. So Tuesday did my 50 mins...then got a bit carried away with champagne cocktails at the opening of a new exhibition at the Sydney Museum. So swapped my planned Weds run with Saturday's day off. Ran again this morning, and was suprised that - even though I wasn't make a particular effort - I did the first km in 4mins! Phenomenal for slow-poke me. I finally managed 10kms in 51.40...bear in mind that I'm a slug. It was over a flat course, but still - it wasn't an all out effort, but it beat my only 10km race time (55 mins - ouch) of nearly three years ago. So a personal best. Those hills really do make a difference!

Came back to attend a reception for Princess Anne...was less interested in her than in inhaling the breakfast offerings. Smoothie shots were a nice way to kick off the morning.

Tuesday Run: 8.2km
Thursday Run: 10km
Weekly running total: 18.2km

Wiped

2006-07-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

Did my 20kms yesterday...actually probably did more. I went running in the State Forests (yay! trails!). Lots of tall trees. Looked at my GPS at one point as I was pelting along on a straight bit of trail doing at least 11kmph,...only to see I was - purportedly - doing only 7kmph. Which dropped to 6.5 as I watched. Then to 0. I kept waiting for it get a clear fix and jump up, as it sometimes does (which stuffs up your max pace and speed readings, but that's not a huge concern). It didn't. I was running back and forward on the straight length of trail to get it to tick over to 10kms, and it refused to budge. So finally I went sod it and got back on the roads - kept going until it was 'officially' 20kms, but goodness knows what it really was. I'm rubbish with distances...which is why I use a GPS system!

And...it was all Hills. I was still looking after the friend's dogs, so I was running smack bang in the middle of what is know - for good reason - as the Hills District of Sydney. Didn't actually mind it...kept firmly fixed in my head that all this was doing good for me, and would make me stronger.

It did, however, utterly wipe me out. I iced the knees and have no specific pain today - other than a slightly tight calf - but I just feel like a dishrag. Felt worse last night...crawled into bed. Felt hot and tired, so hurled off the doona. Still managed an exotic dream.

I'm becoming concerned at the matrimonial theme emerging in my dream adventures. This time I was married to...and you'll never see this one coming...Abraham Lincoln. It was circa-1863, and I had just done an absolutely splendid job of refurbishing the White House...and had done it on a *much* better budget than Mary Lincoln did historically. Subsidised by my own personal fortune. I wasn't Mary, btw - I was someone called Alexandria, and I wasn't my tall, rangy self, either. I was some slight, graceful, elegant lady (my antithesis, in other words).

Now, what is all that about, I ask you? I admire Lincoln tremendously, but I have never fancied him! And what is with all the cozy domesticity that is creeping in to disturb my nights? All this marriage business? Why couldn't I dream that I was strategising with Abe on how to defeat McClellan in the 1864 elections? Or that I was a member of his cabinet, exchanging ideas with Seward on how to handle the Trent Affair? Instead, I'm redecorating the White House!

New theory - when you have a liaison with someone in a dream, it doesn't necessarily mean you're attracted to them romantically, but rather than you admire them and wish to emulate them in some way. Hopefully the 'marriage' theme is a variation on that.

I'd rather dream about Dagon and Yog-Sottoth, frankly.

Easier week coming up. No speedwork. Cutback on long run.

Sunday's run: 20kms
Total Week 11: 40kms

No more Cthulhu

2006-07-07T21:47:00.000-07:00

No electric blanket - not even to warm up the bed before getting into it! Much as I enjoyed The New Adventures of Sherlock Homes "Episode 1: The Curse of Cthulhu", I know it doesn't take much for my wonderfully lurid, interesting dreams to turn into not-so wonderful, vivid nightmares (I've done everything from have my throat slit by Jack the Ripper to hack up a madman myself with a carving knife).

Nothing spectacular on Friday - warm up, sprints, 10 mins run. Was supposed to compare distance to a run 2 weeks ago, but it was a session that I missed when I had the cold.

Finally got off my backside and up to the gym to do a spin class...missed it by one minute, but the class was packed so I didn't want to slip in. After cursing myself for a few minutes I realised this was a *good* thing - I've got a long run tomorrow, and I wasn't sure if doing my first cycle class in months beforehand was a spectacular idea. I finally decided I could always back off on intensity if I needed to, but the decision to participate was taken out of my hands. Instead, I hopped on a bike and did 30 mins worth of hills - got the heartrate within a decent but not too hard zone (between 65 and 80% of max) and could feel the quads working, which is what I was aiming for. Then I did another 40 mins of upper body and ab work...decided not to try anything too much on the lower body, as I figured the cycling would be enough. Was actually quite refreshing to do a fairly laid back workout, but one with clear purpose and intent.

The best bit was that the exercises the physio has perscribed seem to be working. I've always had problems on the upright bikes with any length of time, as my hip/backside became very sore. I had to shift position often to relieve the discomfort. I was able to do the 30 mins without any discomfort of that sort at all - when I changed position, it was to hunker down for the 'climbs'.

Friday: 6.5 km
Saturday: Crosstraining (cycling + resistance)

Electric Blanket Dreams

2006-07-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

Tuesday's run was a bit of a dog's breakfast - 6 x 500m intervals. But it started bucketing down and - seeing as I'm still doing it on bad footing - I was actually sliding on the bricks as I ran. Needless to say, I didn't meet my time goals. After doing 4 x 500m I gave it up as a bad job and ran back...still had to come back the same distance, but did it safely.

It was only after the run that it occured to me - d'oh, I could have just done it at the gym on the treadmill! Doing one session there wouldn't hurt me. What a ning-nong!

Today's run was nice and easy...covered about .5 km distance further in the same time as last week, so that was good.

I'm dog sitting at the moment in a friend's very large house. While I turn the electric blanket off before I curl up, I wonder if that's what's been causing my lurid dreams? Had a doozy the other night. If you've read H.P. Lovecraft's works, you'd be familiar with his...erm...cast of characters (Cthulhu, Yog-Sottoth, Shub-Niggureth, etc). Well, there I was with my good friends, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson (!), chasing down some of the critters that had stepped out of the pages of Lovecraft's horror stories(!!). I distinctly remember Dr Watson and I had tracked a series of disturbances down to an 'elemental' - sort of a mini-elder god. It was a strange little thing - if I was in Lovecraft mode, I'd call it 'indescribable'. He believed in hinting at horrors. Anyway, I was burbling away in their bizarre language - am not sure if I managed any 'Aiee Aiee's, but there were certainly a few bubbly, gutteral phrases that I recognise from the stories. It did the trick, and off went the critter. Holmes did nothing to really help us, but was content to let us do it ourselves.

It drifted off with the three of us resolving to go and tackle Cthulhu. We linked arms and - no, I am not making this up - exited stage left, singing "I do like to be beside the seaside" as we went off to face the tentacled one.

By contrast, last night's dream where I was going to marry Bill Gates was positively tame by comparison.

Tuesday's Run: 6.5km
Thursday's Run: 7.4km
Weekly Running Total: 13.9

End of Week 12

2006-07-02T18:33:00.000-07:00

Well, got through Week 12...just. Had a mad weekend, trying to fit everything around media functions for work, extravagently decorating my nephew's cake and helping with his fourth birthday and getting ready to spend a week housesitting for a friend to look after her dogs...everything taking place all over Sydney, of course. So was up to nearly midnight on Friday (after a 4.50am start), spending time with Spiderman and a lot of cake icing and colouring, followed by a 6.00 am start to get my long run in.

But - grizzle grizzle grizzle - it's all done and now I've got a (hopefully!) quieter week.

Friday's Run: 10mins warm up/cool down run, 6 x 80m sprints, 4min/2min/4min/2min w/30 sec jog recoveries, goal to get back to point A before fourth interval was up. Met Goal! Yay! 7km

Saturday's Run: 16km

Running Total Week 12: 36km

Sunburn in June

2006-06-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

Beautiful, dazzling midwinter day in Sydney. I made good my midday escape from work (very busy at the moment, but desperately needed the run). Meant to grab a cap. Forgot to do so. Cursed sun in eyes, but enjoyed the sun on the water (I seem a bit obsessed by the effect of the sun on the water, don't I?). Mingled with tourists - everyone just felt good, and there was a happy vibe. My left leg felt a bit stiff, but I wasn't too phased.

Caught a look at myself in the mirror after my shower...don't think that's just a 'glow' I've got going.

I think I've managed to get a light burn. In June.

I am, officially, an idiot.

Thursday run: 7km
Weekly Running Total: 13km

Whaddaya mean, Shakira, that 'Hips don't lie'?

2006-06-26T15:53:00.000-07:00

Another new name for my blog: "The Perils of Pelagic"! If it's not one thing, it's another. Snidely Whiplash will be tying me to the traintracks any day now.

There was something comic about the scene at our house this morning. It's not every 32 year old woman who has to sneak out because her overprotective family might try to get in her way.

4.50am and I'm trying to keep a low profile. Which means, of course, I blunder into everything, then turn on all the lights, then have the TV on too loud. A voice - laden with suspicion and concern - floats down the stairs.

"Pelagic? Is that you up?"
"Yes."
"What are you doing up this early, darling?"
"Mumble."
"It's very early."
"Mumble."
"Is everything alright?"
"Fine."

The wall of monosylables and mumbling did the trick. That, and I'm sure an element of disbelief. Given I came home early from work yesterday and spent most of my evening curled up on the couch grizzling about how I shouldn't have eaten dinner because I felt so crook and what was this stomach bug thing anyway, before crawling into bed at 8.30 pm, and they wouldn't have thought there would be any possibility I'd be running today.

I was a bit concerned when I got into work and found that not only is my stomach still upset, it's rather *explosively* upset. Fortunately got through the run without needing to take a comfort stop. But now, of course, everyone will know I've been for a run, and won't take any whinging about stomach bugs seriously. So it had better clear up soon!

Hip pulled its neat little party trick again after I'd showered here at work, although this time I didn't feel the rising panic last time it seized up as I knew, contrary to how it felt, the femur hadn't disconnected from my hip.

Workout wasn't too difficult, thankfully: 10 mins warmup / 10 mins cooldown, 6 x 80metre warmup sprints, intervals at 3 X 1min, 30sec JR / 5 X 30sec, 30sec JR. Aside from the nausea and occasional ferocious abdo cramping, and a bit of lingering mucous in the nose and throat, the rest of me is actually feeling pretty good. In an 'Apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?' sort of sense.

Tuesday Run: 6km
Weekly Running Total: 6km

Trotting around

2006-06-25T02:30:00.000-07:00

Still can't shake the not-quite-right feeling, but it doesn't seem too overly connected with congestion. I had a late night on Friday - I'm on the Social Club committee at work, so of course I had to attend the function we organised...although perhaps that doesn't excuse the drinking and dancing until late when I'm supposed to be recovering. Didn't run Saturday, went out for a very easy hour this evening. Felt sick, but suspect it was the late lunch sitting heavy on my tum (although it's possible I have a bit of a bug unrelated to the cold - I've had an upset digestive system for a few days, will spare messy details).

I'll pick up the schedule next week where I'm supposed to be at...Week 12 in the countdown, from memory. In spite of queesy tum, the legs felt strong. They demonstrated how strong they were when - in the gathering gloom on a woody part of the path - I saw a solitary male walking towards me. I picked up speed and *flew* past him! (Poor guy - I'm sure he was totally innocent - it's just my personal space bubble gets bigger and bigger as it gets darker!).

Sister's Sister-In-Law's husband (um - should I just say 'guy I know') is looking at doing the Blackmore's Marathon...hope he does. I'd never be able to train with him (unless I change my name to 'Albatross' and hang myself around his neck), but would be nice to have someone else there at the start that I know!

Sunday's Run: 10km
Total for Week: 15km (ulp!)

Teeentatively stepping out

2006-06-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I was feeling pretty okay this morning. Breathing unimpared, and resting HR back to normal. Decided to tentatively venture out (not telling anyone - both my mother and my boss have been making their views on running with so much as a sniffle known). Just 35 minutes, easy jog, keeping the HR down. Eased off on the hills.

It seemed all good! I'm still feeling a bit on the nauseous side, but I'm wondering if that has something to do with the post-nasal drip. Didn't need to use the tissues I carried with me, and breathing seemed okay. So it wasn't a case of Chthulu slobbering forth from Ry'leh, bubbing mucous (erm...sorry for graphic imagery, those mucuousphopic individuals out there).

Got into work to find crystal blue skies overhead and a thick bank of fog all up the Harbour. The Bridge seemed sealed off by walls of white - it was impossible to imagine the skyscrapers just beyond it.

Self-Pity Festival

2006-06-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I've moved on from the Pity Party and the Pity Gala Ball...it's now a Self-Pity Festival!

Not really, though. I knew at the outset, given my history, that I was if anything overdue for a cold. I'd done well not to have one in months and months, and to escape one when I returned from the UK. I can only be grateful it has hit me comparatively early on, and I'm not missing any 30km runs.

I'm actually feeling better today, and sounding less like I'm channelling Cthulhu. Of course, that could be the meds clearing me up a bit - certainly they're imparting a feeling of mellow well being (no wonder you have to go through hoops these days when purchasing over the counter stuff - might as well belly up to the chemist and ask for chewable morphine!). Still lousy but, touch wood, it doesn't seem to be bronchial.

Today is the first run I've missed since I started the program, and I hate it. But that means the next one isn't scheduled until Thursday, and then it's a fairly easy, steady one. I'll be leaving off speed sessions at the very least, I imagine.

The pause has given me a chance to consider my cross-training schedule, and what a lazy slacker I've been there. I've done a few sessions, but not many, and frankly they've been a bit haphazzard (some Body Attack that I've justified as 'plyometric' and Taebo). I really need to look at what will actually address my muscle imbalances. Cycling is the obvious one...I'd love to do some more inline skating, too, but need to check out whether that will hit the spots I need done.

Never Abuse the Bod

2006-06-17T22:05:00.000-07:00

Verbal abuse, I mean!

A few hours after I wrote the last post, the throat started feeling a bit foul. I hoped that it was one of my phantom sore throats, but by the end of the day I knew it. I've come down with a cold (which offers a third explanation for Friday's poor showing). Feeling very sorry for myself, I hurtled off from work to spend the weekend at a mate's place. After all, if you're going to have a pity party, you might as well expend the guestlist if possible!

Saturday was supposed to be xtraining...I don't know if buying a new pair of boots and a dress from Morrissey at a fantastic sale price counts as training, but if so, I achieved it. Then spent much of Saturday night lying in bed debating whether to run or not on Sunday morning. The pro/con list read a bit like this:

Pro
- Symptoms are, thus far, above the neck...stuffed up ears and nose and sore throat.
- It would be better to do my long run today, as it's only an hour with the cutback week. If I need to miss a run, it might as well be my early week speed session where I can see where the cold is going, and better to miss a speed session than an easy run
- I really needed the psychological lift and solitary time

Con
- Exercising this early in the cold might put too much strain on the system and make recovery time longer
- Was I just kidding myself about how I was feeling?

In the end, the psychological factor cast the deciding vote. I badly needed a run. But I chucked the speed/distance monitor and ran solely on time and my HRM, not allowing it to creep up past 155bpm except on a hill or two (mate lives in a very hilly area). I did need it - it was bright, clear, and cool - dream running weather. I was able to run on the trails nearby, which is a treat given that I don't have easy access to them here.

Turned off the MP3 player for safety reasons as well as a need for quiet and birdsong when I got into the bush...took it very, very gently and thoroughly enjoyed it. Every time I got to a lovely clear straight on that dirt I wanted to take off, but held back strongly. So I finished feeling very good, and not at all overtaxed.

Fingers crossed I don't get too knocked around with this cold - unfortunately I'm prone to them, and sometimes they go feral and go for the chest. More recently, though, they've been head-centric.

Orthotics are thus far going brilliantly, so that's one thing I can be very happy about!

Sunday Run: 10km
Weekly Running Total: 30km (more or less - need to total it all up)

Slug on Feet

2006-06-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking about changing my blog title to the above - whaddaya think? Or perhaps reverting to the nickname my sibs gave me ten years ago..."Last of the Giant Slothes".

I am really, really slow. Staggeringly so. Tragically slow. Golden Syrup on an Antarctic morning would move faster than me.

How pathetic am I? Well, I did my 3km time trial this morning in 14min20sec.

I can make up all sorts of excuses, of course. The footing was less than ideal (thank you, Mr Pervert) where I ran it. The left hip is a bit sore adjusting to the new orthotics (but it was well and truly warmed up before I started!), and I'm not sure if the GPS was getting the right reading on the far side of Darling Harbour where I finished up as the 1km mark registered as further away than when I ran it at midday a week or so ago to measure the distance. I swear the distance measurement wasn't moving for a while there this morning! Don't know if there was a stutter in the sattelite lock because of the tall buildings. I was so sure I was getting the pace required, and according to where I was at 2km I should have had plenty of time to finish under 14min.

But, as they say, a poor workman always blames his tools, and I'll cop the 20sec margin on the chin and do better ("The only way is up, baby" and all that).

Silly me with all that plod-plod-plodding for so long. I doubt I've got a fast twitch fibre in my body.

Anyway...positive side...so far so good with the orthotics. Wore them Tues and Wed afternoons, then took 'em for a test drive yesterday. Easy 40 mins. Hip is a wee bit stiff (possibly thanks to all I've been putting it through with exercises and such) and there's the odd little muscle twitch or pang, but by and large it all seems pretty good at the moment.

This whole cut-back week thing has made me feel slug like. I just feel I should be doing something. Although, goodness knows, that's my style all over - leap into it with enthusiasm and then fade at the end. Doesn't matter if it's 100 metres or if I'm training for an event. So pulling back is no doubt good on several levels.

Enough grizzling. Look on the bright side. I've done every workout for the last 4 weeks. I did fall short of one goal, but at least I've been getting out the and testing the boundaries of my comfort zone. And I am - touch every bit of wood in sight down to the matchsticks - injury free.

Waiting for Podo

2006-06-12T18:35:00.000-07:00

Tuesday morning, and I'm off to see the podiatrist to pick up the orthotics this afternoon. Fingers crossed! I did hill reps this morning, and there was a teeny bit of narkiness in the knees later. Normally I wouldn't notice it, but I'm so hyper-paranoid about them that it's been an 'issue'.

First hints of sunrise over the ocean as I finished my 10 mins cool down jog. 32 years and I'm not sick of ocean sunrises yet.

Sunday run was good fun - saw an improvement in my distance for the 1:20 scheduled. I'm still working from such a low baseline that I can see significant improvement week to week. Of course now that I'm hyped up about it and want to run longer, further and more days, I hit a cut-back week in my schedule! Ah well...I'm following it religiously, and it seems to be working very well. Besides, next week I add another session...yee-ha!

Sunday's Run: 14.2 km
Running Total Week 15: 38km

Tuesday Run: 6 km (Warmup / Cooldown + 15 hill reps x 30 sec)
Weekly Running Total: 6 km

Quick, GadgetGurl! Load everything into the Ark!

2006-06-08T17:32:00.000-07:00

It's raining, it's pouring...Go-Go Gadget Gurl should be snoring...

But she wasn't! No...Go-Go Gadget Gurl was up at 4.50 am and then out with her new gadget holster today. It's this kewl thing with lots of pockets that slips around your shoulders. Something to carry my phone and security pass in (and keys and money when I run from home). Yay! I had to wrap the phone in a sliplock bag to keep it dry in the pocket, but no worries...didn't even notice I was wearing it, which is all I ask of a gadget holder.

So...by 6.00 am I'm in the city and doing warm up sprints in odd places (not saying where...who knows where that Nutter lurks on-line?). Only place I could find sure footing in the pouring rain. Then my 1km intervals, which were on considerably less than ideal footing...which is probably a good thing, as it slowed me up and I couldn't do my usual hurling of self into first 100 metres then suffer the remainder as I realise I'm not built as a sprinter.

My times were PATHETIC (my so-called 1km 'intervals' would hardly make a decent full marathon pace for anyone with an ounce of talent), but it was empowering and all that crap to get out there and get through the workout. Pouring rain and Perverts are no match for Gadget Gurl!

Then had to come in for the customary explanations as to why it's actually quite fun to run in the rain (as long as you've got decent clothes and a cap to keep it off your face). People assume it's grinding misery. Which it would be if I had to do it day in, day out, I suppose.

And Gadget Gurl was glad for one of her other gadgets today...my waterproof MP3 player. To think I was telling myself I was a dill for buying it! I could wear it out there with impunity, even though we're scanning the Harbour waiting for the Ark to come in this morning.

Today's Run: 8.15km (pretty exactly! I'm wearing my S/D monitor these days. Another Gadget)
Weekly Running Total: 23.80 km

Where'd the week go?

2006-06-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

So where did the week go, eh? Swallowed up in enough rain to make you think about loading two of everything into the nearest boat.

At least we got a dose of Vitamin D today!

Had a session with the physio yesterday - she's happy with how everything is going...tested the ITB a bit further and said that it was still flare-free. So another batch of exercises to remember to do...

All well otherwise...and a delicious long weekend to look forward to! Got out for my run at lunch today and went exploring.

Today's Run: 8.65km easy
Weekly Running Total: 15.65km

Visit to the Podiatrist

2006-06-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

Now this was interesting...

As previously identified, I'm an overpronator. Yucky. But Andrew, the podiatrist, also filled me in on a few more interesting things it's done to my body besides cultivate under-developed muscles. I'm hyperflexible (didn't know that my thumb wasn't supposed to bend back to my wrist!), which is at the bottom of it. My hip tilts forward as a consequence...which explains the sway-back I have.

So now that's all under rectification works - orthotics are on the way.

Did my warm-up today and then 6 x 500m intervals.

Today's Run: 7km
Weekly Running Total: 7km

Sun with Showers

2006-06-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

June 2nd officially does not exist in my family.

My sister and I agreed upon this some time on Friday evening, after she'd picked me up along with her family in the city, when I was the better for a few double rum and cokes with my work colleagues. She was late picking us up. Reason? Our beloved, adored, worshiped mother had asked for a lift to the hospital. She had hypertension and headaches. By the time I met up with the sister in town, her two kiddies - regardless of wind, freezing temps, and rain - had been dancing in the fountains near her husbands work. Then we had to negotiate the bridge. I stayed with them much of the night as we tried to ascertain what was happening with Mum. I think I got through a bottle of champagne, but I'm not sure. Vive la Grog!

Anyway, cut through to Sunday. Mum is okay, we've got - if not to the bottom of it all - than at least to possible causes. She's due out at midday. I go for a run, defiantly choosing to use Friday's experience and lingering anger to fuel my performance.

But then, something magic happened.

I went out consciously deciding I wasn't going to even look at my Speed/Distance GPS systems. I had had a scratchy throat and my resting HR had been a bit elevated, so I thought I might be coming down with something. I didn't give a sod if I ran at a 9 Km an hour pace - all I wanted to do was get out there for my scheduled 1:20 run.

It was a bit breezy, but there was some sun. Not the cloud cover than has come over this afternoon! And I soon decided I wasn't going to run from anger or negativity. While my runs usually have me dwelling on stuff that has irked me during the week, I spared few thoughts for Friday's nutter. Instead, I was thinking how good it felt - how strong and how free and how happy I was. I revelled in good health. I delighted in my poor left leg...still sore at the hip, but now mainly from strengthening exercises. I was thankful for the lack of ITB grief.

A silly song came on (I am the Queen of novelty songs). 'Chocco Chocco'! A lot of nonsense...but as they rattled on about 'Wave to the people on the left hand side! Wave to the people on the right hand side! Wave to the people with the pretty backsides!' I swayed my hands from side to side and picked up my stride for some unscheduled fartleks and bounded with broad strides. I must have looked like a madwoman, but it was...fun!

And then I looked at my watch...I was beating 30 min for 5km, which given I was out for the world's easiest jog, was amazing. I passed 10km at 56 min 30 sec - not an amazing time and nowhere near my pathetic PB, but still amazing given that I was doing this all as easy as possible.

I finally came home with an uphill climb still feeling strong, happy and niggle-free with 14km for 1:21.30.

Impressive? Nope. But it meant the world to me - I went out for an easy run, and had an easy run that felt blissful and strong. Even now, as I look out my window, the uniform cloud cover has broken and there are patches of blue sky. The sun is on our balconies right now, and shining on the whitecaps of the sea.

It's good to be alive, and it's even better to be alive and strong and running.

Sunday's Run: 14km
Running Total Week 16: 34km

The Curved Track

2006-06-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

No doubt about it - life is definitely a curved track, and you can't see what's around the bend.

I was in a good mood this morning - sun was bright on the Harbour, and I was trying a new stretch of forshore for my intervals...arrived to a great view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Then the curve ball.

As I did a walking recovery I was grabbed and squeezed on the backside from behind by a cyclist going at a slow crawl, accompanied by a verbal assault. I stood in amazement as he rode on, continuing to say in a low, loathsome voice over his shoulder all the things he'd like to do to me. By the time I snapped out of my astonishment and flight/freeze response, he was gone and I, of course, thought of all the things I could have/should have said or done. But - thinking it was too late and that he was gone for good - I decided to just use the anger to fuel the rest of the run.

That was when I was aware that he was going back and forward, trying to creep up on me again (but I kept snapping my head around, so he couldn't sneak up). Finally I took off my headphones and confronted him about assaulting me - he again detailed in that creepy tone what he thought of my backside and what he'd like to do with it. I asked him how he thought that made me feel, and said he was harrassing me. Thinking that would be the end of it once I'd verbalised a response rather than suffer in silence, I continued with my run.

But there the was AGAIN - coming back at me. So I stood in his path - he was still crawling along, and diverted at the last minute. As he went past, I shoved him and told him exactly what I thought of sickos who tried to inimidate women who were minding their own business. We passed, I got to my turnaround point mere seconds later, came back... and there he was coming at me again! He must have turned around as soon as he'd passed to have another dive at me. Refusing to be intimidated, I stood in his path again, and gave him another shove and a few more choice words about harrassment and assault. He was having a go back, but I wouldn't back down.

So I finished the last interval, and a runner - brilliant woman, wish I'd thought to ask her name, but she was just what I needed at that point - run up to ask if I was okay, and said she'd seen what was happening and had reported him. As she pointed out, they weren't even supposed to ride their bikes there. She strongly advised me to phone in about what had happened.

I got through the Botanical Gardens...and the Domain...and there he was again, circling around to pass me! What an utter nutter, I thought. Ignoring him, I pressed on, thinking he couldn't follow me through city streets...only to find that he followed me out of the Gardens and onto the City. He pursued me all the way to where I showered - kept circling around. I last saw him as I went into the gym, and I pointed straight at him to let him know I'd seen him stalking me. He was shaking his head at me, and off he went.

The stalking was a mistake on his part. When I pointed out the route to the police, they were hopeful that several CCTV cameras along they way might have picked him up. I also got a good look at him and marked down everything about him that I could, and I was able to provide a detailed written report on his appearance and behaviour.

Our security manager at work was brilliant. He heard my tone of voice when I phoned to ask his advice, and he was with me in minutes. He debriefed me, had me write everything down immediately, and arranged for the police to come in to interview me. He also reinforced that I was right to report the incident - not just for my own sake, but for other runners on that route. At least now it's on record.

Looking back, I don't know what else I could have done. I was running in a 'safe' place. Daylight all around, plenty of other people constantly passing. I tried ignoring him, I tried not responding, I tried confronting him. I was so angry that he felt he could stand over someone and attack them in a manner that amounts to sexual assault in a public place, then stalk me to try and keep up his intimidation.

There now...I feel better for getting that off my chest. And as I've been saying...it could have happened if I was just walking along in a work suit. These things can happen to any woman, virtually anywhere.

If I spit when I cross the finishing line of the marathon, it's because I'm thinking of him. But then again...why waste a thought on a pathetic weirdo who is gutless enough to target a solitary female runner?

I will, however, be kinder to my poor backside from now on. The irony is, the outraged side is the very one I was complaining about yesterday. Never again! I might grumble about my body, but it is my body - and no deviant has a right to assault it.

Today's Run: 6 km
Weekly Running Total: 20 km

Getting my Backside into Gear

2006-05-31T16:40:00.000-07:00

"It turns out my backside is not pulling its weight!" I announced to my sister last night. "Literally! There's a muscle imbalance or two according to the physio, and one of them is my lazy bum." She started laughing, and I pressed on. "So now I really do need to get my arse into gear - hence these exercises I'm entertaining everyone with on the floor. It's to get the backside back into the team, so to speak, so the poor old quads and thighs aren't picking up the slack."

"Is that how the physio phrased it?" She asked.

"Well...she might have been a bit more tactful. But 'getting of arse into gear' was the take-home message. No wonder it's so flat and soft! It's been getting a free ride!"

Anyway, I hauled self up out of bed at 4.50 am this morning to do my little run. Fortunately a fairly laid back sort of thing, as two sessions of muscle strengthening exercises yesterday had left certain parts of the anatomy protesting. This was particularly pronounced when I was running uphill, of course.

How's this - never thought I'd write an entire post about my backside!

Thursday's Run: 8 km (easy)
Weekly Running Total: 14 km

Hello, Mr Hip...

2006-05-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my hip decided 'Sod this for a game of soldiers!' and locked up.

Not during the interval session in the morning, thank goodness - many hours later. I was halfway between my office and that of my boss when it went - I was just on my way in to brief her and our media officer on another issue when 'Ping'! went the left hip. It had been feeling a bit cranky since the run and I was planning to do some yoga when I got home, but...ack! It took a while to unlock, but within a couple of hours I was sitting there shame-faced in the GP's office explaning that no, really...it HAD hurt, even though it was fine now.

He responded by shaking his head and grumbling about 'elite' athletes (which had me smiling to myself - it was probably the first and last time I'd be called 'elite'), and said I was a bit hyper-attuned to my body and all its little aches and pains. Then he mused aloud about runners who come in with a heavy cold and have a grizzle saying they're usually able to run from Palm Beach to Manly, but with the cold can only get as far as Dee Why. Soft tissue problem, he reckoned, and approved of the fact I'd already set up an appointment with the physio this morning.

A blessing in disguise, really. I've had two things on the agenda: talk to physio about ITBS and have my stiff hammies looked at, and get the orthotics that have been on the agenda since July last year. It took the hip going whacko to get me across the door.

Saw the physio this morning. She flat out told me 'Orthotics. Now.' But on the plus side, the ITB is neither as inflexible as I feared, nor is it currently inflammed. She agreed the hip spasm was as a result of the ITBS (and, more specifically, my over-pronating), and also pointed out some fundamental muscle weaknesses. So project one is the exercises to redress these imbalances.

Again, hopeful news on the hamstrings - they're not as inflexible as I feared, so all that stretching must be doing something (she gave me a few horror stories of what *really* inflexible hamstring situations she's treated). Unsurprisingly, my left leg is the big problem area - that's what everyone from chiro to physio has confirmed. Hamstrings are tighter, and the vastus medialis is weaker.

I'm back again to see her next week.

Have also finally gone ahead and booked in to see the podiatrist again. The word from the physio was predominantly hopeful - I was particularly pleased that the ITB wasn't sore at all when she tested it (she said if it was inflammed, I would probably screamed the consulting rooms down with what she was doing to it). But I'm glad I'm getting at it before it starts crippling me on runs.

I also got a lecture on my atrocious posture. Good thing she didn't see me doing the 'bird perch', where I sit with one leg tucked under me. It makes people that see it cringe.

Tues Morning Run: 10 mins warmup jog, 6 x 80 m sprints, 6 x 1min intervals w/45sec SR, 4 x 30sec intervals w/20 sec recovery, 10 mins cool down jog
Weekly running total: 6 km

Another week down...

2006-05-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

The triumph was in getting to the end of the week, and getting in all the sessions I had planned. Albeit with a rather mixed up order! Finally lobbed my long run in on Saturday morning, and had to do a sort of improvised route (mate I was staying with was going to plot me a few neighbourhood loops, but we were distracted by cocktails and singing Tism songs...all very tragic). It actually turned out brilliant - I found a Reserve to run in! Yay! A sort of playground for runners - all bush tracks and sports fields, with water bubblers (ooooo...luxury...not taps!) and even toilets. Had a bit of fun with all that, so was glad I knocked it over that morning.

Then old friends visited that night, and I ate too much cheese and drank too many berry caiprioskas, all the while lamenting the fact that this lifestyle was going to end soon...

Good news is that my mate is as supportive as it's possible to be. And having been a State representative runner in her teen years, she does have useful input!

Week 17 Total: A feeble 29.5km! But at least I got it done.

Staggered to the end of the week...

2006-05-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

Whew - made it into work this morning (40 minutes early, actually! Yee-ha!). Opening last night was all sorts of good fun. Trotted out for my run at lunch, and it went better than expected after yesterday's effort. Sinuses are being a bit arsey, though - I blood in the nose, a sure sign of allergic rhinitis playing up with all the wind around.

Today's run: 7.5 km
Running total: 17.5 km

Shuffling and reshuffling

2006-05-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

Not ideal to do these two workouts with just a day in between, but I've had to do some juggling this week. We have an exhibition opening tonight, so goodness knows what time I'll get home. Can't guarantee a 4.50 am start tomorrow to get the intervals in, so I swapped workouts.

Inevitably this morning suffered for it a bit, but at least it's done! Tomorrow can be a relaxed 40 mins at lunchtime.

Will probably have to do Sunday's long run on Saturday, too - Sunday is shaping up to be an early start for the adored baby niece's christening.

It's all good otherwise. I need to start considering getting new shoes - have been very bad at tracking the mileage on my Sauconys, but I realised with a shock that it's more than six months since I bought them. And gloves. Need gloves. I'm a wuss, yes, but I also have Raynaud's syndrome, which means my hands react 'innappropriately' to cold (e.g. - I can be holding a Frappachino and they'll react is if I'd stuck them in a glacier for half an hour - white and numb fingers). I left mine in the UK. haven't missed them until now as I've usually run after daylight, but in the dark in mid winter I'll be needing them.

10 mins warm up jog
6 x 80m sprints
6 x 1min intervals, 45 sec SR
10 mins cool down jog

Today's distance: 5km (still approx!)
Weekly running distance: 10 km

Cold Weather Wuss

2006-05-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

Now, I know it doesn't even classify as cold weather by the standards of our friends down South. But, as I grizzled my way into the car to get a lift into town this morning at 5.30 am, 7 degrees felt plenty cold. Overcast, too. Just a glimmer of red dawn under the cloud bank on the horizon. Dumped my stuff in that nice, well-lit gym and headed out to the Harbour.

But it was fun! My "speedwork" (and that really does need the quotation marks where I'm concerned) might look like Duck-Waddling-Fast, but at least I made a bit of an effort. And I quite liked having an objective. Wiped myself out, of course, but am feeling alright now. Might take the handy hints and sleep in the skins tonight, though.

10 mins warm up jog
6 x 80m sprints - walk back recovery
6 x 1min intervals, 45 sec SR
10 mins cool down jog

Go-Go Gadget Gurl Rides Again

2006-05-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

Running is supposed to be simple. Just you, the right shoes, and the road.

But then it gets complex. Must have a good sports bra. And can't wear cotton...come to that, must have a good wicking fabric. And a watch. And an MP3 player. And when you're dodgy with distance and pace like I am, the discipline of a GPS system on occasion doesn't hurt. And then a HRM...

By the time I'd donned the Skins and all of the above, I felt quite the Running Tragic. Remember that scene in Kath and Kim when Kim decides to take up running? Dons a replica of Cathy Freeman's 2000 Games running suit and commences warming up. When Brett notes that she looks a bit different to Cathy in the outfit, Kim responds 'Well, that's her problem'.

After that she blithely announces she'll do 'just 10k to start with', sets off, and comes acropper after about three strides.

Well, I felt a bit Kimish today!

Today's Run: 12 km
Week 18 Total: 31.5 km

A pub of the mind

2006-05-20T01:30:00.000-07:00

There's an inspirational place.

An Irish country pub named the Four Alls, located in Sam's Cross outside of Clonakilty. Once upon a time, it was frequented by Michael Collins. He was born in a farm just up the road a piece.

I know it's about five miles from Clonakilty, because I walked them one spring evening. I'd had a good evening meal, emerged at 7.00 pm, found it was still light. I remembered that Michael Collins once made the same journey when he arrived home after being released from Frongoch. He walked the five miles, carrying his baggage, on a cold evening near Christmas.

I set out determined to reach my objective. And reach it I did - as you can see from the photo, it was a beautiful clear twilight. I arrived with the last of daylight fading, and the pub's lights setting out a soft glow. I've never seen a more welcome sight. Never mind that I had to turned around after my visit and walk back to Clonakilty. I knew - in that moment - that what had seemed like a mad idea at the time actually made perfect sense. I was so glad I didn't just take the comfortable option, and shuffle off to one of Clonakilty's wonderful pubs after dinner. I set out and found the one I wanted. And it was perfect.

Had a chat with my sister last night during a little dinner she was having. Even teased her a bit about being reduced to grizzling about my lack of family support in my blog. Then - being oh-so-emotionally manipulative (but she knew I was, and I knew she knew, and she knew I knew she knew) - I mentioned never having had anyone waiting at the finish line for me. I've always caught public transport, done my race, made my own way home (in my very extensive experience of three races). She has the biggest, warmest heart of just about anyone I've ever known, and of course it melted. 'I'll be there! I'll have the kiddies there! We'll cheer you over the line!'

She also admitted possibly having had a hand in getting Mum firmly anti-Marathon, ruefully saying she'd discussed the article she found so disturbing with her. I think Kate Smythe's dramatic collapse at the end of the Commonwealth Games Marathon didn't help either. Wish she hadn't seen that! Never mind that I'd be thrilled with a time anywhere around 1 1/2 to 2 hrs longer than it took Kate to run the course.

Anyway, new MP3 player headphones purchased today as the buds were driving me nuts, and I also bought a pair of skins. The family always did say I spent money like a drunken sailor.
Oh - and ran down to the gym today, did Body Attack and some weights. Need to get that program adjusted...my quads were a bit sore after yesterday, so I didn't want to do any lower body weights ahead of tomorrow's run.

Today's Run: 2.5 km (it's a cross training day, but I slap on my backpack to run to the gym).
Weekly Running Total: 19.5 km

It's aaaalllllll good

2006-05-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

Up! Motivated! New training schedule!

It's all good!

Lovely early morning start in the Domain, even if I find it very hard to get out of plod-plod-plod for a looooong time and actually looking at varying my pace. ("Sprint?" said she, looking at the program. "Hang on...better get my dictionary and check what that means..."). Alright, slight exagration...but 'speedwork' for me usually means cranking it up on the treadmill for a Km or two harder pace for a few intervals.

Lovely hanging mist over the Harbour this morning. When did I become a morning person? What happened to Nocturnal Gurl, who would happily sleep until midday?

Only sour note was HRM deciding that, 30 mins into the workout (when I actually needed a watch and an indicator of how hard I was going), it was going to freeze up. It's only done it once before. Grrrrr.

Note to self: After early morning intervals...and a lovely stretch and shower...do NOT put on boots with heels that make you feel like you're rivaling Centrepoint Tower. The poor old muscles do not appreciate it.

10 min warm up
6 x 80 metre warm up sprints w/walk recovery, building from 70 - near 100% effort
10 x 30sec A-B-A intervals at 80% effort, 1 min SR
10 min cool down

Today's Run: Goodness knows. Shall we say 5 km even?
Weekly Running Total: 17 km

Hurdles and Hope

2006-05-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

Hit a few obstacles. A bit disheartening, this early in the piece.

Not all the family, it seems, is entirely enthralled with the idea of me running 26.2 miles.

I told my sister first. She's been so supportive of my running, and even tried to launch her own running program with me last year (before family committments got in the way). Her husband, my B-i-L, is a marathoner and trialthlete. So I thought there would be a bit of enthusiasm.

Nope. Instant horror. She seems to have read an article in Harpers Weeky or Vanity Fair that suggests I'll drop dead if I try. She is under the decided impression that dropping dead is a run-of-the-mill Marathon experience. I couldn't dissuade her otherwise - whatever that article said, it made a huge impression. She was distressed that her husband ran the Canberra Marathon a few weeks ago and, as he came down with a virus the following week, must have run with the virus (never mind that he got a PB and came in under 3 hrs). Her mind is filled with imagining the damage he might have done.

Anyway, after making it clear she thought it was a Bad Idea, she extracted a promise from me to undergo a stress test to see if my arteries are on the verge of glogging up entirely (never mind that all tests I've had - ever - have indicated my BP and cholesterol levels are ideal) and, all appearances and indicators to the contrary, I'm actually in danger of keeling over any moment. I've agreed. She's decided that SHE is booking it, as she clearly doesn't trust me.

So on to Mother. Who is a saint, and adored by us all. Usually, whatever crackpot idea we come up with, she'll support us, whatever she thinks. I think the only time she's ever really baulked at any of my grand plans has been when I thought I'd do two years of Uni and then take a year off (I wound up following her wishes and going straight through to get the degree with no break), and when I wanted to go diving in Papua New Guinea. She seemed very proud of my Half Marathon.

"Oh, NO!" was her reaction. Complete with gasp. Rather as if I'd announced I'd joined the SAS and signed up for a mission to hunt for Osama in Afghanistan. Clearly, not just a Bad Idea in her books, but a Very Bad Idea.

Then she shut down and wouldn't discuss it. Facts, figures, arguments - none of it would make an impression. Pointless to discuss it. Argument closed. Well, not even an argument. It wasn't even discussed. Just "Oh, NO".

Dad, on the other hand, after asking where they should be stationed to pick up my body when I'd collapsed, declared I should 'do what I wanted to do!', even if it meant 'running or walking' a marathon. Of course, his newfound enthusiasm might have been fuelled by a bit of vino, and the sort of bravado that brings around (another few glasses and he might have volunteered to join me).

So, sadly, not much support there. I'm flying solo. Thank goodness for friends! At least one of them has run a marathon and understands, and another is a former competitive sprinter. Then there's the one married to a triathlon/cycling coach...

Otherwise it's all good. Have made contact with my coach, and the program is being formulated. Had a good lunchtime run today - if it wasn't for the flying insects! They all seem to be swarming in the domain, and I ran into heaps of the little blighters. Still had some stuck to the face when I got back to the office - now, that must have been an attractive sight! Woman with insects.

There are some times when that shower is more appreciated than others.

Today's Run: 7 km (easy - still building kms up again)
Weekly total: 12 km

Early Days

2006-05-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

Haven't established contact with the coach yet, so am just going to work on getting my kms back up to the basic starting point!

Ran 5 kms this morning before going back to the gym for weights - it was a bit bleak getting out at first, but by the time I was opposite Garden Island I could see that red sunrise blaze in the thin strip of sky between horizon and cloud cover. A huge flock of cockatoos wheeled overhead, tumbling and shrieking. So the usual principal of never being sorry you've stepped out the door once the run is actually underway applied.

Today's Run: 5 km easy
Weekly running total: 5 km

First Steps

2006-05-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

Took a significant step today.

Not a no-going-back step...but certainly a money-where-my-mouth is step.

Signed up for an on-line coach. I figure I've been bumbling along now for some years, reading books and magazine articles to try and get the information I need. A bit of independent assessment of the whole thing surely can't go astray.

Marathon Training

2006-05-14T00:48:00.000-07:00

Kick off

And off she ran, pre-mother's day celbrations.

I'll count it as 10 km, although I ran for an hour and that's usually at least 11 km, even at my leisurely long - run pace.

Need to check with B-i-L about his specialist, as I'd rather get my orthotics sorted sooner or later.

But ah...the parrots were calling from the trees (cockatoos and corellas, squabbling) and the lemon myrtle smelled divine as I hacked out my one hour before the Mother's Day celebrations.

Light foot on the pavement...not a bad start.

Starter's Gun

2006-05-13T01:54:00.000-07:00

Training hasn't officially kicked off, but I'm going to start recording matters here.

This whole enterprise may well sink before it's really left the dock - it all depends on how the ITB stands up to the training. But I may as well give it a bash before I throw in the towel.

A little bit of running history from me.

Started walking on a treadmill back in July 2001 as part of a get fit campaign. I'd been healthy and very active in early childhood (there wasn't a neighbourhood tree I hadn't climbed, and I was on my feet all day). But by the age of 10 something wasn't right. I was putting on weight, and losing a lot of days off school. Eagle eyed mother - a registered nurse ever attuned to the health of those around her - sent me in for a battery of tests. These revealed a major kidney problem - a huge cycst. They initially intended to remove the kidney, but were able to merely pack it with fat and left it in situ. Although to this day I'm walking around with one less rib than most folks.

I was keen to get back on my feet again, but an ugly episode when I collapsed and was hospitalised after running up a steep hill from the beach, followed by further hospitalisation on a trip down to Canberra a few weeks later, meant that for a long, long time afterwards I was very ginger about physical activity. And the weight piled on.

I still loved getting out there - owned horses and scuba dived - but my early post-Uni career was not conducive to healthy living. What it was conducive to was lots of late nights drinking and eating rubbish with my colleagues (love 'em dearly - well, most of them - and we still get together for those sort of sessions although we haven't worked together for years).

Anyway, back to the point. I hied myself over to the UK for nearly five years, and it was while I was over there, mid- to late- 20s, that I decided to finally get a handle on my health. Which brings us to me slogging it out on a treadmill in July 2001.

By the end of the year I was trotting. In huge, galumping trainers that I'd had for a million years. Soon got to a specialist running store and got fitted out with a pair of Brookes. And my mileage increased - I was up to an hour running on that thing. Hit my first speedbump when I went outdoors...suddenly my hour on the treadmill was a 20 min struggle along the canals. But I slogged it out, and the mileage went up and up.

Did get my courage together to face a race until 2003 (was it Sept or Aug? Can't remember now!) when I did the London Nike 10 km in 55 min. As you can see, I'm never going to set the track on fire!

Since then I've done the C2S and the Blackmores Half Marathon. So not a huge amount of racing experience...I hope to rectify that on the path to a Marathon.

If Michael Collins could run an Independance Movement like a business, I can surely slip in a bit of training to run a shade over 42 (ulp) km!

Training starts tomorrow.