I have re-read my last post a few times and thought......gee I can write alot of 'obvious crap' when I get on a tangent! I am saying that in the nicest possible way about myself ;-)
My next event is a Women's Triathlon, - held in Invercargill this coming Sunday. That involves a 300m swim, (doing laps at the pool so I don't need a wetsuit yet), a 13k roadbike ride and a 3k run. The swimming with a sports bra under my tankini will be interesting, I haven't checked the weather yet but hopefully we don't have freezing southerly winds while out on the bike and run with the wet tankini on! Someday, - the plan is to get a trisuit! I'm not too worried about it as I've done triathlons longer than this in Oz, I think it's more participation than competitive based. However when I'm out there I will certainly give it my best, - I'm stubborn like that!
On Wednesday night I joined a group of keen hikers to hike up to one of the highest peaks nearby! The farmer opened his farm up, and whoever wanted to go up between 6.30-9pm could that night, - for a fee of $2 which went to the local Sporting organisation. This was a popular event. The view was awesome, night was clear so you could see the coastline and towns even 60k away in the distance one direction and mountains behind us. The walk up and back takes 2 hours at a brisk pace, - then of course we had a few mins at the top to capture the view. We were close to the bush as well, nice appreciating the great outdoors. It is still light at 9pm here just, however evenings are starting to close in on us, - late December it's light till after 10pm, then we have long twilights!
I have quite a few events lined up this year that I want to have a crack at, - runs, triathlons, duathlons, mountain biking and the like! Both my bikes have been serviced this week, and I have new tyres on my mountain bike, exciting stuff!
Study and work are going well. I find it a struggle to retain as much new info as quickly as I would like to, - but will get there.
Will be back with an update on Sunday's pending triathlon!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
LIFESTYLE BALANCE........
When trying to design the lifestyle that suits us best with the resources we have/can obtain we have lots of decisions to make and lots of factors to consider.
As we know, we generally can't have our cake and eat it too, or so the saying goes. We prioritise some things at the expense of others etc.
As for fitness, - once I get into a training zone I'm happy with, I love it. Achieving better performances, feeling more 'zippy' throughout the day etc is very gratifying. I have never had a huge training load compared to what I read others get through however at the moment I have minimum ideas of I like to obtain per week.
For me they are:
* Minimum of 20k running, (no walking included in the 20k) clocked up by Sunday night on the end of a Mon-Sun week. In addition to that I don't like going 2 days without a run, 1 day is fine, (don't wanna risk losing momentum) for no good reason! I like these to include a couple of longer runs outside, (road and gravel, - flat near where I live). I like to include 2 torture incline treadmill sessions, - these are shorter runs generally but hard! An uphill bush run or the like could be substituted for a treadmill run to break things up as long as I push it hard! I have been very consistent with running training of late! Obviously, if I have an injury etc, I need to take what I deem approriate action but don't wanna make feeble excuses.
* I like to get a bikeride of at least 20km, varying terrain in per week pushing up a good sweat, (RPM class would suffice too) OR a swim, at least 1k as fast as possible or even better BOTH. Lately it's been more a case of 1 or other with the swimming or biking.
* I like to do resistance work, - bodyweight stuff such as plank, pushups, dips, stuff with dumbells such as lunges, shoulder work etc. Am really happy if I get in 2 sessions per week of 20 mins of fairly consistent resistance work without too much bumming around between sets. Occasionally, (when I feel like it), - about once a week I do agility work such as running up and down steps/quick feet as fast as I can for a bit.
Some weeks I may do a bit more, particularly if I feel I want to build for an event or push myself, other weeks I may have more on, - but need to keep to this level unless there is a proper reason. I aim to better my run times outside, increase incline/speed on treadmill and lift more/manage more pushups etc resistance wise and love seeing improvement trends.
I am aware:, I have a job, I have study which needs to be seen to, (not in big cram session hits but consistent amounts regularly), I would like to be of help to family and I'm gonna be an Aunty in about 3 weeks which is exciting, I like to keep on top of housework/gardens and general stuff, I am working toward having a social life and do like chilling out!
Sometimes I get so passionate reading about how people keep fit, reading sporty biographies, blogs, magazines that it can consume lots of my mind, - not that I do LOTS of training myself and also the fact I'm NOT a professional athlete, (and will never be.....am realistic here haha). I've also always admired figure competitors, love reading about their prep etc, (have done so far years) but.....don't know if I want to be committed enough to give it a go! Part of me really does, the other part doesn't.
For example sis's hubby's brother was leaving today, (after staying with them/doing some work for a few weeks). I asked lil sis if it would be suitable if I called around to see them and say goodbye yesterday evening. She said, 'come round for tea, we are having nachos, the boys have been wanting them for a few days'. I said to her.....um, I ate some dark chocolate and had some wine and cheese on Saturday night after the race, - it's a little soon for me to plan for another potentially 'off track' meal, I was planning on lean steak strips and stirfried veg with lemon juice haha! She said......'don't you want a social meal with us'? I said 'I would like a social meal, - could I have my nacho mince/beans on salad/no cheese, - or could I come after you have tea'? Her reaction was like: 'harden up and stop making a fuss, I will make you a moderate plate of nachos, corn chips, nacho mince, moderate amount of cheese, (not loads) - put under grill for a couple of mins at end'. I then agreed: - OK, see you then, - and did so and ate the plate full I was served! I liked the mince/veg/bean mix, nice spice but ate the corn chips and bit of grilled cheese served with it!
I do know, clean nutrition does taste real good, and it's very easy to get absorbed with only wanting to eat that. However it's easy to get very absorbed about it at the expense of other stuff. I have always thought personally.....if I have to ring a restaurant to check what was on the menu before attending, I'm going too far! The flip side to it......if I've had a food binge in the past for any reason, (often not always started cause of too much wine)......nachos is one of the foods along with many others that I'd want to 'cram in' before gathering up the momentum to 'get on track' again but if 'on track' I don't seem to crave the less healthy options.
In general I like to be a 'go with the flow' person mostly when it comes to getting along with others. Not a 'princess' or 'potential pain' haha! I know I can get quite absorbed/very structured in a topic I'm interested in at sometimes the exclusion of other topics. I do like building friendships/being social as well!
So it's 'go with the flow/moderation' at social activities, (making a good choice if I can easily)......and my general 'on track' ways otherwise. It's just weird having a full average sized serving of nachos socially, then being back to 'on track ways' straight afterward. The urge to not train/binge was there after the nachos. There was infact 60g dark chocolate left in my fridge which I did relent to after that!
However it finished then, on track now, had my fastest run since August last night. 7.5k completed in 44.5 mins, covering both loose gravel and road. What was really great was that my final km was on the bitchman road, and my fastest km of the run, about 5.02 mins for the km.
The lifestyle balance is a hard art to some degree! Sometimes I think it would be easier in some ways to shut out lots of my life and prepare hardcore for a bodybuilding comp. But for me if I ever committed to that, I think that would be the total focus of my life almost. I really admire those strong minded people who have competed/compete in bodybuilding comps with families, jobs, children etc but manage to keep on top. With running or multisport and the like I feel I can be more flexible. Even if I trained 30 hours a week I'm never going to reach anywhere near the top, (obviously lol)! But I really enjoy running/multisport events, meeting others into events, how I feel after a good workout, like being fit and like keeping to standards I set myself.
Am definitely getting fitter which is great, can tell size 14's are starting to feel a little looser or fit properly.......bring on the 12's and 10's! Although one pair of size 12 stretch shorts have recently just come 'wearable' again. And the 2 XL largest womens colourful tee-shirts I could find that I liked in Thailand, (not many bigger nice clothes for women there) used to cling to too many back rolls and bust. Now they don't cling and I'm wearing them.
In general am achieving quite a bit across lots of different areas which I'm real happy with, - although talked at length about fitness today. Am mastering the art of consistency/not perfection and not stop/start.
As we know, we generally can't have our cake and eat it too, or so the saying goes. We prioritise some things at the expense of others etc.
As for fitness, - once I get into a training zone I'm happy with, I love it. Achieving better performances, feeling more 'zippy' throughout the day etc is very gratifying. I have never had a huge training load compared to what I read others get through however at the moment I have minimum ideas of I like to obtain per week.
For me they are:
* Minimum of 20k running, (no walking included in the 20k) clocked up by Sunday night on the end of a Mon-Sun week. In addition to that I don't like going 2 days without a run, 1 day is fine, (don't wanna risk losing momentum) for no good reason! I like these to include a couple of longer runs outside, (road and gravel, - flat near where I live). I like to include 2 torture incline treadmill sessions, - these are shorter runs generally but hard! An uphill bush run or the like could be substituted for a treadmill run to break things up as long as I push it hard! I have been very consistent with running training of late! Obviously, if I have an injury etc, I need to take what I deem approriate action but don't wanna make feeble excuses.
* I like to get a bikeride of at least 20km, varying terrain in per week pushing up a good sweat, (RPM class would suffice too) OR a swim, at least 1k as fast as possible or even better BOTH. Lately it's been more a case of 1 or other with the swimming or biking.
* I like to do resistance work, - bodyweight stuff such as plank, pushups, dips, stuff with dumbells such as lunges, shoulder work etc. Am really happy if I get in 2 sessions per week of 20 mins of fairly consistent resistance work without too much bumming around between sets. Occasionally, (when I feel like it), - about once a week I do agility work such as running up and down steps/quick feet as fast as I can for a bit.
Some weeks I may do a bit more, particularly if I feel I want to build for an event or push myself, other weeks I may have more on, - but need to keep to this level unless there is a proper reason. I aim to better my run times outside, increase incline/speed on treadmill and lift more/manage more pushups etc resistance wise and love seeing improvement trends.
I am aware:, I have a job, I have study which needs to be seen to, (not in big cram session hits but consistent amounts regularly), I would like to be of help to family and I'm gonna be an Aunty in about 3 weeks which is exciting, I like to keep on top of housework/gardens and general stuff, I am working toward having a social life and do like chilling out!
Sometimes I get so passionate reading about how people keep fit, reading sporty biographies, blogs, magazines that it can consume lots of my mind, - not that I do LOTS of training myself and also the fact I'm NOT a professional athlete, (and will never be.....am realistic here haha). I've also always admired figure competitors, love reading about their prep etc, (have done so far years) but.....don't know if I want to be committed enough to give it a go! Part of me really does, the other part doesn't.
For example sis's hubby's brother was leaving today, (after staying with them/doing some work for a few weeks). I asked lil sis if it would be suitable if I called around to see them and say goodbye yesterday evening. She said, 'come round for tea, we are having nachos, the boys have been wanting them for a few days'. I said to her.....um, I ate some dark chocolate and had some wine and cheese on Saturday night after the race, - it's a little soon for me to plan for another potentially 'off track' meal, I was planning on lean steak strips and stirfried veg with lemon juice haha! She said......'don't you want a social meal with us'? I said 'I would like a social meal, - could I have my nacho mince/beans on salad/no cheese, - or could I come after you have tea'? Her reaction was like: 'harden up and stop making a fuss, I will make you a moderate plate of nachos, corn chips, nacho mince, moderate amount of cheese, (not loads) - put under grill for a couple of mins at end'. I then agreed: - OK, see you then, - and did so and ate the plate full I was served! I liked the mince/veg/bean mix, nice spice but ate the corn chips and bit of grilled cheese served with it!
I do know, clean nutrition does taste real good, and it's very easy to get absorbed with only wanting to eat that. However it's easy to get very absorbed about it at the expense of other stuff. I have always thought personally.....if I have to ring a restaurant to check what was on the menu before attending, I'm going too far! The flip side to it......if I've had a food binge in the past for any reason, (often not always started cause of too much wine)......nachos is one of the foods along with many others that I'd want to 'cram in' before gathering up the momentum to 'get on track' again but if 'on track' I don't seem to crave the less healthy options.
In general I like to be a 'go with the flow' person mostly when it comes to getting along with others. Not a 'princess' or 'potential pain' haha! I know I can get quite absorbed/very structured in a topic I'm interested in at sometimes the exclusion of other topics. I do like building friendships/being social as well!
So it's 'go with the flow/moderation' at social activities, (making a good choice if I can easily)......and my general 'on track' ways otherwise. It's just weird having a full average sized serving of nachos socially, then being back to 'on track ways' straight afterward. The urge to not train/binge was there after the nachos. There was infact 60g dark chocolate left in my fridge which I did relent to after that!
However it finished then, on track now, had my fastest run since August last night. 7.5k completed in 44.5 mins, covering both loose gravel and road. What was really great was that my final km was on the bitchman road, and my fastest km of the run, about 5.02 mins for the km.
The lifestyle balance is a hard art to some degree! Sometimes I think it would be easier in some ways to shut out lots of my life and prepare hardcore for a bodybuilding comp. But for me if I ever committed to that, I think that would be the total focus of my life almost. I really admire those strong minded people who have competed/compete in bodybuilding comps with families, jobs, children etc but manage to keep on top. With running or multisport and the like I feel I can be more flexible. Even if I trained 30 hours a week I'm never going to reach anywhere near the top, (obviously lol)! But I really enjoy running/multisport events, meeting others into events, how I feel after a good workout, like being fit and like keeping to standards I set myself.
Am definitely getting fitter which is great, can tell size 14's are starting to feel a little looser or fit properly.......bring on the 12's and 10's! Although one pair of size 12 stretch shorts have recently just come 'wearable' again. And the 2 XL largest womens colourful tee-shirts I could find that I liked in Thailand, (not many bigger nice clothes for women there) used to cling to too many back rolls and bust. Now they don't cling and I'm wearing them.
In general am achieving quite a bit across lots of different areas which I'm real happy with, - although talked at length about fitness today. Am mastering the art of consistency/not perfection and not stop/start.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
MOONSHINE 5k TRAIL RUN.........
G'day!
Yesterday I participated in the Moonshine Trail Event, at Dolamore Park, a very hilly, bush, trail, National Park type near Gore, (25 mins drive from home).
There were the options of either a Mountain Bike 30k, 39k or 42k mega hilly ride, a 15k trail run or a 5k trail run/walk option.
I signed up for this event before Christmas, was undecided which one to try for, - but due to my lack of fitness then, and the fact I had arranged to do a 20k Mountain Bike trail in event in January, (the one where I had a tyre blowout and had to pull out)......I decided to opt for the 5k run!
Well, luckily the wind and rain held off for the race, infact it turned out an overcast day, (where occasionally the sun peeped through the clouds slightly) and about 18 degrees which is pretty standard here for this time of year, pretty good conditions for trail racing!
The 5k event was the last to leave, and generally the first to finish as you could imagine!
Being 5k, I wasn't too bothered about it, knew it would be hilly, my plan was to go for it as hard as I could and get as close to the front, (or far from the back) as possible! I can say my 4.0 incline (murder) treadmill running where I needed to keep my speed up didn't prepare me to anything like the slope of yesterdays hills!
About 400m in.....I thought 'bloody hell'.........are these hills EVER gonna end? I had a couple of peeps pass up the hills then, I was puffing but thought......this is early, I will catch them later!!! At about 1.5k in I was still shuffling up the steep uphill! But a couple of other 'shufflers' ran past me, then started 'power' walking up the hills and were slightly gaining on my uphill run shuffle!
I am rather stubborn and don't like to walk when I plan on running......however yesterday at 1.5k I did the unthinkable, - I deemed powerwalking as faster and more energy efficient than my slow uphill shuffle so converted to powerwalking up the hill as fast and business like as possible, still puffing LOTS haha! At about 3.4k the person behind me yelled out, - 'it's downhill now', so I started jogging again! The bush track was narrow, a foot wrong could of seen me on a big downhill roll into rocks! There was uneven footing, rocks, tree roots, narrow track, wobbly bridges. I kept the jog controlled, (maybe slow for downhill)....but better that than unskilled me rolling an ankle! I had a couple of runners pass me on the downhill running, obviously more skilled!
The last 500m or so was rather flat, after the bit of downhill controlled jogging I was able to manage a MEGA SPRINT to the finish line! Infact it would of been a spectacle for spectators! ALSO, due to this being an event having less entrants than a Perth event, and possibly more community focussed...........I heard on the commentary box.........'here comes Pip Dodds to the finish of the 5k, sprinting in fast form', - which put a smile on my face!, - made me feel like I'd won the race and had an audience all watching me!
I got presented with my 50ml of native whisky round my neck, (our version of a competitors medal), was congratulated for my efforts and directed to the water by about 4 volunteers at the finish!
All participants in every running and cycling event received this same finishing treatment which was great!
As for my placing......I finished 22nd out of 65 entrants in my event. And 9th out of 29 in my category which was 'females 20-39'. A well trained girl won the 5k event over all! But a spunky guy came in second so I saw at prize giving. There were cash prizes for the first 3 males and females in each event......I tried for them haha!
My time was 40:44 which may sound slow, but given the terrain I'm happy with that for the time being :-)
After the event we were entitled to either a free beer or a can of soft drink, (included in entry price actually),......bet you know what I chose and yep, Febfast is doomed, I didn't want a sweet or artificially sweetened drink so I enjoyed my free 1 local low carb beer! Then we chilled and watched the other run and mountain bike competitors finish.
And we had to stay around till all the 42k mountain bikers finished.......to see if we won a spot prize and see who the first 3 males and females from each category were! There were some good ones going! I was hoping for one of the Allan White Sports $200 shoe vouchers so I could buy a proper pair of actual trail running shoes to have in addition to my normal road runners!
I had no luck on the spot prizes but it was an enjoyable day out, and a very well run event, Gore should be proud! And it was nice and relaxing sitting on the grass watching the big event competitors finish and at the prize giving, even some sun almost managed to peer through the clouds at times!
I've already signed up for the Women's triathlon at Invercargill next Sunday, - a 300m swim, (laps of a swimming pool so no wetsuit required), a 13k ride and 3k run.
One thing with living here is that there are always HEAPS of sporting events of many types on :-) I have a few lined up! And I've run into, (and re-introduced myself) to a few peeps I went to high school with but haven't seen since. So the fitting in process since moving back is progressing not too badly.
I will mention, I enjoy wearing my Garmin GPS watch when I train, that is how I can state.....at the 400m mark, or 3.4k mark or whatever! I like knowing my run distances and times and average speed etc.
Till next time,
Pip :-)
Yesterday I participated in the Moonshine Trail Event, at Dolamore Park, a very hilly, bush, trail, National Park type near Gore, (25 mins drive from home).
There were the options of either a Mountain Bike 30k, 39k or 42k mega hilly ride, a 15k trail run or a 5k trail run/walk option.
I signed up for this event before Christmas, was undecided which one to try for, - but due to my lack of fitness then, and the fact I had arranged to do a 20k Mountain Bike trail in event in January, (the one where I had a tyre blowout and had to pull out)......I decided to opt for the 5k run!
Well, luckily the wind and rain held off for the race, infact it turned out an overcast day, (where occasionally the sun peeped through the clouds slightly) and about 18 degrees which is pretty standard here for this time of year, pretty good conditions for trail racing!
The 5k event was the last to leave, and generally the first to finish as you could imagine!
Being 5k, I wasn't too bothered about it, knew it would be hilly, my plan was to go for it as hard as I could and get as close to the front, (or far from the back) as possible! I can say my 4.0 incline (murder) treadmill running where I needed to keep my speed up didn't prepare me to anything like the slope of yesterdays hills!
About 400m in.....I thought 'bloody hell'.........are these hills EVER gonna end? I had a couple of peeps pass up the hills then, I was puffing but thought......this is early, I will catch them later!!! At about 1.5k in I was still shuffling up the steep uphill! But a couple of other 'shufflers' ran past me, then started 'power' walking up the hills and were slightly gaining on my uphill run shuffle!
I am rather stubborn and don't like to walk when I plan on running......however yesterday at 1.5k I did the unthinkable, - I deemed powerwalking as faster and more energy efficient than my slow uphill shuffle so converted to powerwalking up the hill as fast and business like as possible, still puffing LOTS haha! At about 3.4k the person behind me yelled out, - 'it's downhill now', so I started jogging again! The bush track was narrow, a foot wrong could of seen me on a big downhill roll into rocks! There was uneven footing, rocks, tree roots, narrow track, wobbly bridges. I kept the jog controlled, (maybe slow for downhill)....but better that than unskilled me rolling an ankle! I had a couple of runners pass me on the downhill running, obviously more skilled!
The last 500m or so was rather flat, after the bit of downhill controlled jogging I was able to manage a MEGA SPRINT to the finish line! Infact it would of been a spectacle for spectators! ALSO, due to this being an event having less entrants than a Perth event, and possibly more community focussed...........I heard on the commentary box.........'here comes Pip Dodds to the finish of the 5k, sprinting in fast form', - which put a smile on my face!, - made me feel like I'd won the race and had an audience all watching me!
I got presented with my 50ml of native whisky round my neck, (our version of a competitors medal), was congratulated for my efforts and directed to the water by about 4 volunteers at the finish!
All participants in every running and cycling event received this same finishing treatment which was great!
As for my placing......I finished 22nd out of 65 entrants in my event. And 9th out of 29 in my category which was 'females 20-39'. A well trained girl won the 5k event over all! But a spunky guy came in second so I saw at prize giving. There were cash prizes for the first 3 males and females in each event......I tried for them haha!
My time was 40:44 which may sound slow, but given the terrain I'm happy with that for the time being :-)
After the event we were entitled to either a free beer or a can of soft drink, (included in entry price actually),......bet you know what I chose and yep, Febfast is doomed, I didn't want a sweet or artificially sweetened drink so I enjoyed my free 1 local low carb beer! Then we chilled and watched the other run and mountain bike competitors finish.
And we had to stay around till all the 42k mountain bikers finished.......to see if we won a spot prize and see who the first 3 males and females from each category were! There were some good ones going! I was hoping for one of the Allan White Sports $200 shoe vouchers so I could buy a proper pair of actual trail running shoes to have in addition to my normal road runners!
I had no luck on the spot prizes but it was an enjoyable day out, and a very well run event, Gore should be proud! And it was nice and relaxing sitting on the grass watching the big event competitors finish and at the prize giving, even some sun almost managed to peer through the clouds at times!
I've already signed up for the Women's triathlon at Invercargill next Sunday, - a 300m swim, (laps of a swimming pool so no wetsuit required), a 13k ride and 3k run.
One thing with living here is that there are always HEAPS of sporting events of many types on :-) I have a few lined up! And I've run into, (and re-introduced myself) to a few peeps I went to high school with but haven't seen since. So the fitting in process since moving back is progressing not too badly.
I will mention, I enjoy wearing my Garmin GPS watch when I train, that is how I can state.....at the 400m mark, or 3.4k mark or whatever! I like knowing my run distances and times and average speed etc.
Till next time,
Pip :-)
Sunday, February 10, 2013
SURF TO CITY 12K
G'day! I will try to keep this a bit brief, - time restraints slightly :-)
Yesterday I participated in the Invercargill Surf to City 12k run! This event isn't promoted as a race so there are no records of the position we finish in. About 3500 people participated (the total of all the categories), there were options of: bikeriding the 12k, running the 12k, walking the 12k, plus a 6k run/walk and a 2.5k run for the kiddies.
Cost to enter the 12k run event, (what I did) was $10, (I think I remember entering the Perth 12k City to Surf to be at least AU$50 by comparison). However we don't get a timing chip and the bus ride from the city to the beach is a tiny fee of $2 on top of that.
I thought it was a really well run race, - ok I mean event as this one is not promoted as a race! ;-)
At the beach, (where the 12k events started) there was complimentary water, sunscreen to apply, zumba styled moves for a warmup to all who wanted to participate. The cyclists headed off first, - at 9.30am. There were a heap of them, and even I noted some kids that looked about 5 on their bikes with trainer wheels (just removed) out with their families doing the 12k ride!
About 20 mins after the start line was cleared of cyclists, it was time for the 12k runners to leave, the walkers 3 mins behind that.
I have to say, Invercargill turned on an awesome balmy day by our standards for this event. I arrived in Invercargill at about 8am, already was 21 degrees, (very rare here at this time of day) so I decided to not worry about wearing a sweater to wear to beach, hang around in, then leave in 'left luggage'. Throughout the run we hit 25-26 degrees, - yeah baby!
For the 12k run, - I wasn't sure of an appropriate 'time goal' for myself at the moment. I know my 14k race PB in Perth was 1:14:07 but knew I was FAR FAR off that pace. My slowest Perth 12k City to Surf was 1:15 and I still felt I was quite a bit below that level going by recent run times. Therefore, - my main goal was just to finish, - and hopefully below 1:30 I decided. Up until yesterday my longest run in one hit, no stopping in about 6 months was the 7.5k I did last week.
As for yesterday, the race was on road, (not gravel), I looked at my Garmin GPS watch at when my Garmin clicked over 5k, and it was just over 29 mins, - I found that REALLY exciting as I'd not done a sub 30 min 5k in ages! There was a quick water stop but I still hit the 6k mark in 35:44 so was really pleased still to be behind 6 min kms, just slightly at 6kms! I did start to slow up a little after that, still kept running, but really put my foot down, sped up the pace and passed a couple of people in the last 300m straight. That meant I had given it my complete all and crossed the finish line fatigued with some lactic acid build up! I had run the whole way, my time was 1:16.
What I did notice:
* I have confirmed, - if on concrete or a road, my pace is always going to be slightly faster than running on quite loose gravel.
* Nice flat course, - could be one to aim for a good time on if weather conditions suit if fit!
As for the latest: I got a 6.2k outdoor run done today after work, - fastest time I've done on that run since moving here by 20 secs.
Next race = 5k hilly trail run this coming Saturday.
Till next time
Pip :-)
Yesterday I participated in the Invercargill Surf to City 12k run! This event isn't promoted as a race so there are no records of the position we finish in. About 3500 people participated (the total of all the categories), there were options of: bikeriding the 12k, running the 12k, walking the 12k, plus a 6k run/walk and a 2.5k run for the kiddies.
Cost to enter the 12k run event, (what I did) was $10, (I think I remember entering the Perth 12k City to Surf to be at least AU$50 by comparison). However we don't get a timing chip and the bus ride from the city to the beach is a tiny fee of $2 on top of that.
I thought it was a really well run race, - ok I mean event as this one is not promoted as a race! ;-)
At the beach, (where the 12k events started) there was complimentary water, sunscreen to apply, zumba styled moves for a warmup to all who wanted to participate. The cyclists headed off first, - at 9.30am. There were a heap of them, and even I noted some kids that looked about 5 on their bikes with trainer wheels (just removed) out with their families doing the 12k ride!
About 20 mins after the start line was cleared of cyclists, it was time for the 12k runners to leave, the walkers 3 mins behind that.
I have to say, Invercargill turned on an awesome balmy day by our standards for this event. I arrived in Invercargill at about 8am, already was 21 degrees, (very rare here at this time of day) so I decided to not worry about wearing a sweater to wear to beach, hang around in, then leave in 'left luggage'. Throughout the run we hit 25-26 degrees, - yeah baby!
For the 12k run, - I wasn't sure of an appropriate 'time goal' for myself at the moment. I know my 14k race PB in Perth was 1:14:07 but knew I was FAR FAR off that pace. My slowest Perth 12k City to Surf was 1:15 and I still felt I was quite a bit below that level going by recent run times. Therefore, - my main goal was just to finish, - and hopefully below 1:30 I decided. Up until yesterday my longest run in one hit, no stopping in about 6 months was the 7.5k I did last week.
As for yesterday, the race was on road, (not gravel), I looked at my Garmin GPS watch at when my Garmin clicked over 5k, and it was just over 29 mins, - I found that REALLY exciting as I'd not done a sub 30 min 5k in ages! There was a quick water stop but I still hit the 6k mark in 35:44 so was really pleased still to be behind 6 min kms, just slightly at 6kms! I did start to slow up a little after that, still kept running, but really put my foot down, sped up the pace and passed a couple of people in the last 300m straight. That meant I had given it my complete all and crossed the finish line fatigued with some lactic acid build up! I had run the whole way, my time was 1:16.
What I did notice:
* I have confirmed, - if on concrete or a road, my pace is always going to be slightly faster than running on quite loose gravel.
* Nice flat course, - could be one to aim for a good time on if weather conditions suit if fit!
As for the latest: I got a 6.2k outdoor run done today after work, - fastest time I've done on that run since moving here by 20 secs.
Next race = 5k hilly trail run this coming Saturday.
Till next time
Pip :-)
Friday, February 8, 2013
A BINGE :-(.............(hate that word!)
Sushi I made at back, mini quiches I made in front.
Didn't get a close up before professional cake start being cut!
Lil sis after opening a gift. She is due in 4 weeks.
Lil sis's flash cupcakes.
About to cut the cake, she is due to have a boy in 4 weeks.I took along an expensive, (for me) bottle of sparkling wine I was tempted to try and looking forward to trying. I made a platter of sushi, (some salmon/veg, some grilled cajun chicken/veg, some beef/fennel seeds/veg) and also a platter of salmon, lemon, dill with lotsa mixed vege mini quiches. I made the quiches for the first time, and they turned out great! Mum also made some mini bacon/egg pies, there was also lots of bbqed meat such as chicken, steak, sausages, potatoes, fresh bread plus salads plus a cheese/cracker/dips/spreads/pate/grapes platter, - all very nice!
My sis made special iced cupcakes, (infact I really mean, she has made the best cupcakes I've ever tasted!) Even better than those expensive poshly iced ones that you get in Perth which I tried once or twice! She also got a special cake made by a local cake maker/designer!
So therefore you can probably imagine I ate a bit more than I would in normal at this party, - which I am totally happy with. I did keep away from the bread and garlic bread. I think enjoying and appreciating food at social occasions, (even if it's a bit more than one would normally eat at a meal) is fine. Sure, I could have just gone with some one smaller bit of BBQed meat and some lettuce salad but I like to permit myself to have a bit more when there has been effort put in to create nice food! I noticed I was pretty much the only one drinking my wine....and even justified myself finishing the bottle as a), it was sparkling and I couldn't re-cork it, b) I spent a bit more than I normally would spend on a bottle of wine and it tasted good and c), I was being driven home.
So that was a great night. I don't consider anything of that binge worthy, all of the above totally fine socially, the bad is now to come!
Being I guess a bit liquored up, or just in that 'dumb' mood when I got home.....I felt a familiar urge, all the sushi off cuts in the fridge calling my name at that time. When I make sushi, the end pieces never sit neatly on a platter, - therefore they are off-cuts. I generally eat them with some soy and wasabi as another meal which tastes good, - but actually when hungry as a meal! There were enough off-cuts for 2 meals, I had planned on them for breakfast and lunch today. I SHOULD have just had a glass of water, ignored urge and f**k*d off to bed like I managed to do last time I had such an urge. BUT I gave in and ate all the sushi off cuts with soy/wasabi! Also for the past week I've had various chocolate easter eggs in my fridge, - the total weight of them being about 280g, (2 creme eggs, a few of those mini caramello eggs, a mini pack of 2 mini caramello bunnies, 1 marshmellow egg). I don't know why I really had the chocolate in the house, think I bought it on special, had it to give to people who had something to give me but it had been in my fridge for a week without me worrying about it. BUT the thing I am annoyed at.....is at 11.30pm after polishing off the sushi off cuts, I went and polished off ALL that chocolate mentioned above before hitting bed. I guess that's why people don't keep sometimes tempting foods in the house......however if it wasn't chocolate or sushi off cuts, it probably would have been thick hunks of cheese or even lots of toasties or something silly, once it was diet yoghurt and tuna and vegies a few years back!.
I did tick off all running training for week, happy with efforts there! After Thursdays 7.45k run in the evening, I got the torture hill treadmill session successfully completed yesterday. I have 12k Surf to City race tomoz so can have a day off running training today. Just a bit of resistance work in order plus the walk to pick up car.
Well, - a binge leaves me feeling deflated and annoyed and unproductive! After such incidents in the past I have prooved many times I can move on, train, get back on track straight away, (however I find it tough) haha! However still too often they can lead me into a downward spiral of bingeing, no intense training, not enough productivity for my liking etc etc for however long it takes for me to put the foot down and start getting fit again at a lesser level!
I have read that book, - 'Brain Over Binge', relate to it, even feel confident that I won't binge again for a good while......like the author says she has managed to do for over 5 years! So a 'binge' has made me, (in the past) feel like a bit of a failure with the need to go back to the start again!
I have come to a new conclusion, - that is to not put so much emphasis on a 'binge' or bout of uncontrolled eating I don't see as justified. Therefore I don't see myself as a failure, or that I did a totally lowly thing for resorting to that binge like I may have in the past.
Instead I think......'urgh, just a SILLY thing I did', (not a failure)! If I didn't give into the urge, it would have eventually left and I would still have the chocolate and sushi off cuts in fridge and wouldn't have had last nights party tainted by my binge! Last night I was aware of what I was doing, and aware that I had a choice, spaced my wine with water. I wasn't too drunk that I woke up to lots of food wrappers, that I didn't remember eating after a night out........(I did that a few years back and that was a REALLY silly scenario to get myself into that I have managed to stay away from since)! I will also note, not all my binges have occured from alcohol, lots in past from an 'urge' with no alcohol involved at all.
SO, - where to now? Well, the SILLIEST thing is to think.....I've stuffed it, lose momentum and go on an eating, no training rampage isn't it? That's if our goals are to get fitter, have a healthy lifestyle, be a role model, lose fat and then not fluctuate much etc right? I have also occasionally done the other extreme such as mentally calculating the calories of the binge, (I would estimate last nights as a typical day's worth of calories for me, - ie that I shouldn't eat for today, - plus train to negate it as soon as poss)! A couple of times that has worked for smaller binges where I don't have much on the next day, but for huge binges such as 6000-7000 plus cals 3 days without food in a lifestyle where we still need to function with normal day to day stuff, .....that's just not feasible!
So really most feasible thing seems to be.....just get back on track straight away, drink lots of water, if overly full, skip a meal or eat lightly till next hungry but in whatever circumstance, make controlled decisions I feel OK or happy with. Just going back to normal styled eating/meals straight away is great with lots of water. A great training session is also good, - ie that will be Surf to City tomoz.
So, - I am just trying to be logical rather than emotional about it. A binge, (of whatever sort) is silly, hopefully they don't happen often at all, if they do, we have to deal with it practically.
Pip :-)
Thursday, February 7, 2013
JUST GET 'ER' DONE!........
G'day!
Well, - it appears life has got busier! Am working full time, trying to study, trying to maintain a fitness regime relative to my goals that I'm happy with, keeping up with housework, garden, wanting to socialise, go to events, - plus get to bed on time. I know that is no worse than anyone else, - and I don't have a partner and/or children to add to that mix like many superheros! But I do feel busy enough haha!
The hardest thing to get done/attended to is.......training and study. Training a couple of times a week is done first thing in the morning, (I still really don't enjoy that torture treadmill hill started by 6am, - but it's over with in 21 mins) and that frees up the evening for not having to getting sweaty, - other than perhaps a few resistance moves. An outdoor run generally happens on either a Sat or Sun morning and a couple of arvos a week, usually in the vicinity of 5 - 7.5km at the moment. I don't mind so much on the weekend but after work, muscles etc just feel a little fatigued, but the sooner after work the run is started, the better. Add to the mix.....Southland weather! We finished our glorious spell of 10 days unfortunately.
Tuesday was one of those ....I ....can't.....be.....arsed days!
It was windy after work, looked like it was threatening to rain and was 13 degrees. But I thought of my younger triathlete cousin whose home I visited a few years back in winter. He had been on a 17k run that morning early, temp was 0 degrees celcius. After a few jobs he was on his turbo trainer in the arvo........so I told myself f**k off outside and get that 6.2k scheduled run done! I got a 7.45k outdoor run completed today, weather only slightly better than Tuesday!
I am still succeeding with the trend of slightly better performances, nothing to write home about but small improvements. I notice I run faster on the concrete/footpaths than loose gravel and lots of my runs have been on lots of loose gravel! A wind coming at me slows me down a bit still. Managed to put a couple of 100m sprints or so into today's run, the best one at the finish line where I was really 'had it'.
My other announcement: - I've entered in the 12k Surf to City run on Sunday! Oreti beach to middle of Invercargill city! I certainly won't be up to my best Perth times in such the event but it will be good to see how this local event is run. But I plan to do it and see what my best will entail! I look forward to a skinny flat white at a cafe after the awards ceremony! I have the 5k hilly trail run the following weekend!
Lil sis's baby shower is tomorrow! I'm making sushi, - and look forward to the party! My sis's husband's Mum and other daughter in law are coming down from the North Island for the weekend to attend the baby shower and catch up so I look really forward to seeing them. I hope to be able to dedicate at least a couple of hours to study over the weekend as well!
Gotta go, think the weight loss is happening a bit slower than it used to, - will have a look tomoz morn and hope it's a couple/few hundred grams down on last Friday's 81.9. Dietary efforts have been pretty good, lots of veg from parents garden, no bingeing, 1-2 meals out a week making a 'reasonable' choice with what's available but not being anal. Am still having a few more carbs in the evening more regularly than what I used to when I considered myself 'on track', (ie 1 medium or 2 smallish new potatoes microwaved, boiled or similar from garden) - but have less skinny flat white coffees in the day now as I'm not in the city! Am shooting for under 80 by start of next month.
Will catch ya soon!
Pip :-)
Well, - it appears life has got busier! Am working full time, trying to study, trying to maintain a fitness regime relative to my goals that I'm happy with, keeping up with housework, garden, wanting to socialise, go to events, - plus get to bed on time. I know that is no worse than anyone else, - and I don't have a partner and/or children to add to that mix like many superheros! But I do feel busy enough haha!
The hardest thing to get done/attended to is.......training and study. Training a couple of times a week is done first thing in the morning, (I still really don't enjoy that torture treadmill hill started by 6am, - but it's over with in 21 mins) and that frees up the evening for not having to getting sweaty, - other than perhaps a few resistance moves. An outdoor run generally happens on either a Sat or Sun morning and a couple of arvos a week, usually in the vicinity of 5 - 7.5km at the moment. I don't mind so much on the weekend but after work, muscles etc just feel a little fatigued, but the sooner after work the run is started, the better. Add to the mix.....Southland weather! We finished our glorious spell of 10 days unfortunately.
Tuesday was one of those ....I ....can't.....be.....arsed days!
It was windy after work, looked like it was threatening to rain and was 13 degrees. But I thought of my younger triathlete cousin whose home I visited a few years back in winter. He had been on a 17k run that morning early, temp was 0 degrees celcius. After a few jobs he was on his turbo trainer in the arvo........so I told myself f**k off outside and get that 6.2k scheduled run done! I got a 7.45k outdoor run completed today, weather only slightly better than Tuesday!
I am still succeeding with the trend of slightly better performances, nothing to write home about but small improvements. I notice I run faster on the concrete/footpaths than loose gravel and lots of my runs have been on lots of loose gravel! A wind coming at me slows me down a bit still. Managed to put a couple of 100m sprints or so into today's run, the best one at the finish line where I was really 'had it'.
My other announcement: - I've entered in the 12k Surf to City run on Sunday! Oreti beach to middle of Invercargill city! I certainly won't be up to my best Perth times in such the event but it will be good to see how this local event is run. But I plan to do it and see what my best will entail! I look forward to a skinny flat white at a cafe after the awards ceremony! I have the 5k hilly trail run the following weekend!
Lil sis's baby shower is tomorrow! I'm making sushi, - and look forward to the party! My sis's husband's Mum and other daughter in law are coming down from the North Island for the weekend to attend the baby shower and catch up so I look really forward to seeing them. I hope to be able to dedicate at least a couple of hours to study over the weekend as well!
Gotta go, think the weight loss is happening a bit slower than it used to, - will have a look tomoz morn and hope it's a couple/few hundred grams down on last Friday's 81.9. Dietary efforts have been pretty good, lots of veg from parents garden, no bingeing, 1-2 meals out a week making a 'reasonable' choice with what's available but not being anal. Am still having a few more carbs in the evening more regularly than what I used to when I considered myself 'on track', (ie 1 medium or 2 smallish new potatoes microwaved, boiled or similar from garden) - but have less skinny flat white coffees in the day now as I'm not in the city! Am shooting for under 80 by start of next month.
Will catch ya soon!
Pip :-)
Saturday, February 2, 2013
FEBRUARY ALREADY!
Hello,
OK: 1 Feb weigh in = 81.9kg, (1 Jan was 85.2kg so I just scraped in to meet the under 82 target I set, and not in a dehydrated state either). Now aim to be under 80 come 1 March.
Running kms for Jan totalled 62.9. Other than for a space of about 8 days around the 2nd week of Jan, (too much gorging, no training) I stayed generally on track. Also I got in a couple of swims, (each just over a 1km) and a couple of bike rides plus resistance work in for the month.
The last few days I've noticed my performances are heading in a slight uphill trend again. I managed to survive both my early morning torture treadmill hill trainings this week without a break or lowering the speed.......only just mind you haha! This morning I did a 7.4k run outside followed by a 2km powerwalk. That was my longest run (in a hit) since maybe late August last year. At the 5k point of my run today, - I noticed my time equalled last Saturday's 5k time however today I encountered many long patches of quite loose gravel which is harder to run on than concrete or grass! The fact I tacked another 2.4k of running onto that run rather than collapsing at 5k today was encouraging.
Have noticed core strength and push up ability has just SLIGHTLY started improving again. August last year, I could do 10 consecutive pushups on toes ( I think I remember hitting 20 a few years back when focussed for long enough). I was disgusted that recently I could barely do 2, and even 15 on my knees hurt like mad! OK, I can kind of do 4 now on my toes, 20 on my knees......at least am heading in the right direction again!
I can't rate swimming high enough though. My job, (peeling and sorting tulip bulbs at a conveyor belt at pace, mostly needing to stand and bend to keep up but sometimes able to sit and bend forward).....I noticed I was getting a sore back, - it started in the lower back, then headed to the upper back/neck region, and also in one finger. OK, I could get by, but bending down crawling under stuff I was hobbling like a slightly frail nana (when bending down), - that with also some probably some DOMS from trying to get fitter! As well as being useful for potential triathlon training, - I find 1km of invigorating freestyle to best of my ability is almost as good as a massage for loosening muscles. Having a couple of 'play laps' of other strokes after the freestyle is good too! The only downside to swimming the the pool that I have been, - is that it's heavily chlorinated.....and that plays with sinuses for a few hours after the swim, - maybe that issue will change after I'm more accustomed to swimming and fitter!
Other news is: Southland has had 9 consecutive awesome days of weather! 9 days in a row reaching over 20 with 6-7 of them getting to between 25-30 degrees! I have been making most of this, even have been naughty enough to get a natural suntan everywhere except face.
Am starting my online fitness course this week......my organisation will need to be.....awesome as I'm keeping up the training too and working!
My sis has her baby shower party in one week, - she is due in 5 weeks time for her first child, - I will be an Aunty!
My 5k trail run is in 2 weeks, - am looking forward to that one! Am still undecided about entering the Invercargill 12k Surf to City run on Sunday next week. I am keen, but some peeps from the North Island are coming down next weekend for my sis's baby shower and spending more time with them could be cool.....hmmmm, I will keep you updated!
Till next time
Pip
OK: 1 Feb weigh in = 81.9kg, (1 Jan was 85.2kg so I just scraped in to meet the under 82 target I set, and not in a dehydrated state either). Now aim to be under 80 come 1 March.
Running kms for Jan totalled 62.9. Other than for a space of about 8 days around the 2nd week of Jan, (too much gorging, no training) I stayed generally on track. Also I got in a couple of swims, (each just over a 1km) and a couple of bike rides plus resistance work in for the month.
The last few days I've noticed my performances are heading in a slight uphill trend again. I managed to survive both my early morning torture treadmill hill trainings this week without a break or lowering the speed.......only just mind you haha! This morning I did a 7.4k run outside followed by a 2km powerwalk. That was my longest run (in a hit) since maybe late August last year. At the 5k point of my run today, - I noticed my time equalled last Saturday's 5k time however today I encountered many long patches of quite loose gravel which is harder to run on than concrete or grass! The fact I tacked another 2.4k of running onto that run rather than collapsing at 5k today was encouraging.
Have noticed core strength and push up ability has just SLIGHTLY started improving again. August last year, I could do 10 consecutive pushups on toes ( I think I remember hitting 20 a few years back when focussed for long enough). I was disgusted that recently I could barely do 2, and even 15 on my knees hurt like mad! OK, I can kind of do 4 now on my toes, 20 on my knees......at least am heading in the right direction again!
I can't rate swimming high enough though. My job, (peeling and sorting tulip bulbs at a conveyor belt at pace, mostly needing to stand and bend to keep up but sometimes able to sit and bend forward).....I noticed I was getting a sore back, - it started in the lower back, then headed to the upper back/neck region, and also in one finger. OK, I could get by, but bending down crawling under stuff I was hobbling like a slightly frail nana (when bending down), - that with also some probably some DOMS from trying to get fitter! As well as being useful for potential triathlon training, - I find 1km of invigorating freestyle to best of my ability is almost as good as a massage for loosening muscles. Having a couple of 'play laps' of other strokes after the freestyle is good too! The only downside to swimming the the pool that I have been, - is that it's heavily chlorinated.....and that plays with sinuses for a few hours after the swim, - maybe that issue will change after I'm more accustomed to swimming and fitter!
Other news is: Southland has had 9 consecutive awesome days of weather! 9 days in a row reaching over 20 with 6-7 of them getting to between 25-30 degrees! I have been making most of this, even have been naughty enough to get a natural suntan everywhere except face.
Am starting my online fitness course this week......my organisation will need to be.....awesome as I'm keeping up the training too and working!
My sis has her baby shower party in one week, - she is due in 5 weeks time for her first child, - I will be an Aunty!
My 5k trail run is in 2 weeks, - am looking forward to that one! Am still undecided about entering the Invercargill 12k Surf to City run on Sunday next week. I am keen, but some peeps from the North Island are coming down next weekend for my sis's baby shower and spending more time with them could be cool.....hmmmm, I will keep you updated!
Till next time
Pip
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