Thanks for the toast Cirque ;-)
Not long after my post on Saturday, Cirque & I left Brisvegas & headed for the Gold Coast. Just as we arrived at Main Beach, we spotted Nando, Rags & Ellie out for a stroll. After lunch with them and some time spent by the pool reading the paper (ah, love Qld in winter!), it was off to the surf club for dinner. Sunday morning was a typical morning for a CR cheerleader - early start, walk to the start & then 5+ hours of cheering at the GCM. It's funny - people kept asking me why I wasn't running. For once I could say that I wasn't injured ;-) But having done all of my long runs on trails over the last 4 weeks has really reaffirmed that road races hold absolutely no appeal for me - if I have choice (as I did this weekend) between a trail run & a (road) race, well there really is no contest.
After the race it was back to the unit for a shower before heading back to the surf club for some more food (an overwhelming theme of the weekend) and catching up with some of my favourite CRs. I had a wonderful weekend though it was somewhat overshadowed by news that a friend had a rather nasty stack off his bike on Sunday - thankfully he is ok :-)
Today I was very tempted to stay in bed but managed to drag myself out just after 5am for an easy 30mins. A few lil tight spots but nothing that an hour with the Tiger didn't solve. Finished with 4.59km in 30:12mins (av 6:34m/k).
MTD: 4.59K
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Ah the serenity..
Well, I'm here in Brisvegas. Finally. Just. Work was feral on Friday & I had a meeting on Friday afternoon which lasted much longer than anticipated so I would have come close to missing my flight but for the fact that my flight was delayed by over an hour. We were almost 2 hours late by the time we landed in Brisvegas at 9.50pm where the lovely Cirque was waiting to pick me up.
Two glasses of wine later & 4 hours of sleep, my alarm went off at 5.10am this morning. No sleep-ins for this girl this weekend. Undercover Bro had very kindly offered to pick me up at 5.40am for a tour of the fabled trails around Mt Coot-tha. After escaping the traffic that was a large group training for Kokoda, we headed straight for the top of Mt Coot-tha before heading off on firetrails on the other side. Don't ask me exactly where we went - apart from the Kokoda trail (and that memorable hill!) I have no idea. But I did notice a sign to the "Powerful Owl trail" :-)
I felt really flat & tired to start with - perhaps unsurprisingly given the lack of sleep I've had this week & the fact that we headed straight to the summit of Mt Coot-tha first. But I quickly settled into it, assisted greatly by the Bro's company, tour guiding & conversation - thanks D!
1:52 later we were back at the car. Nothing like a great run on a beautiful trail to put a crap week at work behind you. Finished with 13.61km (av 8:16m/k!!)
Will add the elevation graph when I get home - should be a pretty picture ;-)
Edit - as I said, a pretty picture !
Total for June - 91.87k
Two glasses of wine later & 4 hours of sleep, my alarm went off at 5.10am this morning. No sleep-ins for this girl this weekend. Undercover Bro had very kindly offered to pick me up at 5.40am for a tour of the fabled trails around Mt Coot-tha. After escaping the traffic that was a large group training for Kokoda, we headed straight for the top of Mt Coot-tha before heading off on firetrails on the other side. Don't ask me exactly where we went - apart from the Kokoda trail (and that memorable hill!) I have no idea. But I did notice a sign to the "Powerful Owl trail" :-)
I felt really flat & tired to start with - perhaps unsurprisingly given the lack of sleep I've had this week & the fact that we headed straight to the summit of Mt Coot-tha first. But I quickly settled into it, assisted greatly by the Bro's company, tour guiding & conversation - thanks D!
1:52 later we were back at the car. Nothing like a great run on a beautiful trail to put a crap week at work behind you. Finished with 13.61km (av 8:16m/k!!)
Will add the elevation graph when I get home - should be a pretty picture ;-)
Edit - as I said, a pretty picture !
Total for June - 91.87k
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Are we there yet ?
Normal transmissions will resume once clients stop removing things which have been on their desks or in their in-boxes for 3 months, sending it to me & expecting it to be finalised by COB Friday :-)
40mins hilly run around the hood at 4.45am this morning - 6.33k (av 6:19m/k). Felt very flat - perhaps 're-hydrating' with red wine & coffee (but no water) after getting home from work last night was not the best idea....
MTD: 78.26k
40mins hilly run around the hood at 4.45am this morning - 6.33k (av 6:19m/k). Felt very flat - perhaps 're-hydrating' with red wine & coffee (but no water) after getting home from work last night was not the best idea....
MTD: 78.26k
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Are we there yet?
I. Hate. End. Of. Fn. Financial. Year.
Up at 4.30am today for a session on Apollo in front of the telly -
5mins w/u
5mins - 30sec effort/30sec recovery
6 x 5mins efforts/2mins recovery
5min c/d
Total: 57mins
Up at 4.30am today for a session on Apollo in front of the telly -
5mins w/u
5mins - 30sec effort/30sec recovery
6 x 5mins efforts/2mins recovery
5min c/d
Total: 57mins
Saturday, June 23, 2007
In the shadows...
Quote for the week: Important events - whether serious, happy or unfortunate - do not change a (wo)man's soul, they merely bring it into relief, just as a strong gust of wind reveals the true shape of a tree when it blows off all its leaves. Such events highlight what is hidden in the shadows; they nudge the spirit towards a place where it can flourish.
It's been a crazy week - too much work, not enough sleep & even less training. It will be even crazier this week - so much so that I'm a wee bit concerned that I might not make my flight to Brisvegas for the GCM on Friday night......fingers crossed.
Monday was a rest day - I was rather sore & tired (physically & mentally) after the weekend's activities. Tuesday & Wednesday were a write off - Tuesday because I rolled over & went back to sleep after waking at 5am to the sound of rain & Wednesday due to work. Thursday I finally got moving again. I was due to run from Rozelle to work but stuffed up the logistics so had to settle for an interval session on the bike at the gym-
5mins w/u
5mins - 30sec effort (135RPM/L6)/30sec recovery
6 x 4mins effort/2mins recovery
5mins - 30sec effort (140RPM/L5)/30 recovery
5mins c/d
Total: 51mins
I was rather 'glowing' by the time I had finished.
Went out yesterday (Saturday) for my long run around the Glenbrook National Park. I honestly don't enjoy doing my long runs on Saturday mornings but I can always get myself organised - eventually - for a trail run. So it was 11am before I left the car & started running. The causeway at Glenbrook had been closed for over a week due to Sydney's crap weather but a call before leaving home confirmed it had re-opened & that there was about 200mm of water over the road & about 100mm over the footpath. What they didn't tell me was how icy it was - I actually couldn't feel my toes for a few minutes after passing through it!
After leaving the car I took the Ironbark - Euroka - Mount Portal & return loop, finishing with 16.13kms in 2:00:39 (aver 7:28min/km). Think I'll call this one the Rollercoaster in future.
It's been a crazy week - too much work, not enough sleep & even less training. It will be even crazier this week - so much so that I'm a wee bit concerned that I might not make my flight to Brisvegas for the GCM on Friday night......fingers crossed.
Monday was a rest day - I was rather sore & tired (physically & mentally) after the weekend's activities. Tuesday & Wednesday were a write off - Tuesday because I rolled over & went back to sleep after waking at 5am to the sound of rain & Wednesday due to work. Thursday I finally got moving again. I was due to run from Rozelle to work but stuffed up the logistics so had to settle for an interval session on the bike at the gym-
5mins w/u
5mins - 30sec effort (135RPM/L6)/30sec recovery
6 x 4mins effort/2mins recovery
5mins - 30sec effort (140RPM/L5)/30 recovery
5mins c/d
Total: 51mins
I was rather 'glowing' by the time I had finished.
Went out yesterday (Saturday) for my long run around the Glenbrook National Park. I honestly don't enjoy doing my long runs on Saturday mornings but I can always get myself organised - eventually - for a trail run. So it was 11am before I left the car & started running. The causeway at Glenbrook had been closed for over a week due to Sydney's crap weather but a call before leaving home confirmed it had re-opened & that there was about 200mm of water over the road & about 100mm over the footpath. What they didn't tell me was how icy it was - I actually couldn't feel my toes for a few minutes after passing through it!
After leaving the car I took the Ironbark - Euroka - Mount Portal & return loop, finishing with 16.13kms in 2:00:39 (aver 7:28min/km). Think I'll call this one the Rollercoaster in future.
The view from Mount Portal is one of my favourites in Sydney -
(c) Spud 2007
I've pulled up pretty well. Shins are a bit tender as most of the steep downhills on this course as on the road. But otherwise a-ok :-)
MTD: 71.93kms
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Up, up & away !
I headed up to Katoomba today for my rock climbing course. From misty, foggy & downright cold Katoomba we headed to Mount York which is on the very western edge of the Blue Mountains where it was cool & fortunately dry - the sun from time to time came out before hiding behind the clouds again.
Let's see - the first thing I did was step sideways off a ledge & abseil down a 25m cliff - the first time I've ever abseiled. And then I climbed back up said cliff - the first time I've climbed outdoors & we started on a 25m climb. OMG. The second climb I struggled with & didn't make it to the top. And the third - the subject of the photos - involved my instructor climbing up first & once he was at the top, I followed, removing the equipment from the wall as I went. It is such a head game - I kept telling myself that I had to control my thoughts - I was safe, I had to trust the rope & footholds (some of which were no bigger than a 50c piece) & to use technique rather than sheer strength to get me up the wall. I came off the wall twice & have a rather large lump on my right shin to show for it. Quite simply it was scary & exhilarating - talk about an adrenaline rush !
I am absolutely exhausted now - mentally & physically. After a baked dinner (thanks Mum!) I am going to sleep very soundly tonight :-)
A few photos - further evidence of my insanity Tesso :-)
This woman was climbing the same wall - of course with more skill, efficiency & technique than me. But this photo gives you an idea of the height I was at when the other photos were taken....
Let's see - the first thing I did was step sideways off a ledge & abseil down a 25m cliff - the first time I've ever abseiled. And then I climbed back up said cliff - the first time I've climbed outdoors & we started on a 25m climb. OMG. The second climb I struggled with & didn't make it to the top. And the third - the subject of the photos - involved my instructor climbing up first & once he was at the top, I followed, removing the equipment from the wall as I went. It is such a head game - I kept telling myself that I had to control my thoughts - I was safe, I had to trust the rope & footholds (some of which were no bigger than a 50c piece) & to use technique rather than sheer strength to get me up the wall. I came off the wall twice & have a rather large lump on my right shin to show for it. Quite simply it was scary & exhilarating - talk about an adrenaline rush !
I am absolutely exhausted now - mentally & physically. After a baked dinner (thanks Mum!) I am going to sleep very soundly tonight :-)
A few photos - further evidence of my insanity Tesso :-)
This woman was climbing the same wall - of course with more skill, efficiency & technique than me. But this photo gives you an idea of the height I was at when the other photos were taken....
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Happiness is...
...running along a trail, not having seen anyone for over an hour, in the pouring rain with glasses which are half fogged up & half rain splattered, it's bloody cold (wearing long skins, long sleeve top, 2xu jacket, hat & gloves without overheating), the water that inundates your shoes as you run through the puddles is icy cold & yet still thinking to yourself that there is nowhere else you'd rather be right now :-)
It is also waking to the sound of rain falling - and turning off the alarm, rolling over & going back to sleep for another 1.5 hours :-)
I headed up to the Oaks Fire Trail at Woodford today (basically the start of the W2G course) for my long run today. I really enjoyed it. I felt strong but took it easy because it would have been a long, cold walk out if I'd hurt myself. The track wasn't in the best condition - it was alot more exposed than I recall & thanks to all the rain, the sandstone slippery & even the clay was soft. I nearly went A over T several times when what appeared to be sandstone actually turned out to be soft clay! I didn't see anyone else for the duration of my run (who else would be that crazy!) - the time to myself was exactly what I needed after a feral week at work. Combined with the weather (my favourite running conditions) & it was like soul food. Finished with 16.36k in 2:00:54 (aver 7:20min/k) one happy gal :-)
MTD: 55.8k
It is also waking to the sound of rain falling - and turning off the alarm, rolling over & going back to sleep for another 1.5 hours :-)
I headed up to the Oaks Fire Trail at Woodford today (basically the start of the W2G course) for my long run today. I really enjoyed it. I felt strong but took it easy because it would have been a long, cold walk out if I'd hurt myself. The track wasn't in the best condition - it was alot more exposed than I recall & thanks to all the rain, the sandstone slippery & even the clay was soft. I nearly went A over T several times when what appeared to be sandstone actually turned out to be soft clay! I didn't see anyone else for the duration of my run (who else would be that crazy!) - the time to myself was exactly what I needed after a feral week at work. Combined with the weather (my favourite running conditions) & it was like soul food. Finished with 16.36k in 2:00:54 (aver 7:20min/k) one happy gal :-)
MTD: 55.8k
Friday, June 15, 2007
TFIF
What a week. Sooo much has happened since Monday :-)
Since I got back from Nepal, I haven't really been feeling the cold very much. But Wednesday was, by the far, the coldest morning out here at Penriff yet - my windscreen was still covered in ice when I tried to leave home at 7.15. I headed out at 5.15am in a long sleeve top, lightweight jacket, hat (CR of course), gloves & skins & promptly overheated. An easy 30mins around the hood - my legs felt a bit dead after a massage the day before but otherwise there were no probs whatsoever. Finished with 4.95k in 30:44mins (aver 6.12min/k).
Thursday morning I was up at 4(fn)30 & on the trainer at 4.45 for an interval session. After a lateish night, I wasn't that enthusiastic about getting up so early but the need to be at work early (earlier),Willy2Billy only being 10 weeks away & 2p's words ringing in my ears (the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary) proved to be sufficient motivation. Despite feeling really tired when I crawled out of bed, I felt surprisingly alert, strong & full of energy by the time I got on the bike -
5mins w/u
6 x 4mins efforts/2mins recovery
5mins c/d
Total: 46mins
then 15mins stretching & into the shower, all before 6am ! I was supposed to run this morning but instead of getting into my post-run shower at 6.15am, I was in my car on the way to work. Grrr. End of financial year is not my most favourite time of year.....
The weather has played havoc with my rockclimbing course - tomorrow's session has been cancelled but at this stage, Sunday is still on. The idea of rockclimbing scares me - but I'm not that disappointed that tomorrow has been cancelled - it means I get to go for a trail run instead :-) Now I've just got to decide where.....
MTD: 39.44k
Since I got back from Nepal, I haven't really been feeling the cold very much. But Wednesday was, by the far, the coldest morning out here at Penriff yet - my windscreen was still covered in ice when I tried to leave home at 7.15. I headed out at 5.15am in a long sleeve top, lightweight jacket, hat (CR of course), gloves & skins & promptly overheated. An easy 30mins around the hood - my legs felt a bit dead after a massage the day before but otherwise there were no probs whatsoever. Finished with 4.95k in 30:44mins (aver 6.12min/k).
Thursday morning I was up at 4(fn)30 & on the trainer at 4.45 for an interval session. After a lateish night, I wasn't that enthusiastic about getting up so early but the need to be at work early (earlier),Willy2Billy only being 10 weeks away & 2p's words ringing in my ears (the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary) proved to be sufficient motivation. Despite feeling really tired when I crawled out of bed, I felt surprisingly alert, strong & full of energy by the time I got on the bike -
5mins w/u
6 x 4mins efforts/2mins recovery
5mins c/d
Total: 46mins
then 15mins stretching & into the shower, all before 6am ! I was supposed to run this morning but instead of getting into my post-run shower at 6.15am, I was in my car on the way to work. Grrr. End of financial year is not my most favourite time of year.....
The weather has played havoc with my rockclimbing course - tomorrow's session has been cancelled but at this stage, Sunday is still on. The idea of rockclimbing scares me - but I'm not that disappointed that tomorrow has been cancelled - it means I get to go for a trail run instead :-) Now I've just got to decide where.....
MTD: 39.44k
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Unrecognisable
Sometimes I don't recognise myself. I don't think that I've changed in the last year so much as grown closer to the 'real' me - or perhaps I have just learnt to be true to myself. Amongst many other things. I am now doing the things & living the life that I have always wanted but, for one reason or another, never allowed myself to do or have. Or maybe it is just that the old me was kidnapped & this 'new & improved' Jen has been left here in my (her) place, ; -) The 'old' Jen for example would not have signed up to do this in September and she sure-as-hell would never have signed up to do this (*gulp*) this weekend ! :-)
Monday, June 11, 2007
...and I aint seen the sunshine since I dont know when...
A very nice quiet & relaxing (long) weekend after what can only be described as a feral week at work (with another to come next week). After a sleep-in & lunch with my mum, on Saturday afternoon I headed over to the pool for a swim. I have no idea why there weren't more people there - the water in the pool was much warmer that the stuff falling from the sky
outside. Finished with 1.5k - I'm not sure how long it took as I had left my watch at home. I then headed home to do some core work on the swiss ball, my glute exercises & stretches. Phew.
Sunday morning, I had planned to go for a run but quickly discovered that my glutes were rather sore after yesterday's session. Given my ITBs are a bit tight at the moment, the last thing I need to be doing at this moment is running on fatigued glutes - so discretion won out & I rolled over & when back to sleep :-) I spent the afternoon watching a show on Foxtel about an Everest expedition so I dusted Apollo off & spent 75mins on the trainer in front of the telly. Let me say it has been a long time since I spent that long on my bike (*ouch*).
Today, it was time for a run. I opted for a short run this weekend as I have been a bit plagued with tight calves since the Nosh. I headed out on a 10k loop around scenic & smelly Llandilo. Finished with 9.61k in 63:53mins (6.38min/k av).
I have decided not to do W2G in 2 weeks. My only goal for the next 11 weeks is to get to the start line of W2B in the best possible shape & I'm not convinced that W2G at this stage of my preparation serves that purpose. Instead I'm planning to head to Canberra in July for the 25k Bush Capital trail run & am looking forward to catching up with a few people (*waves*).
MTD: 34.49k
outside. Finished with 1.5k - I'm not sure how long it took as I had left my watch at home. I then headed home to do some core work on the swiss ball, my glute exercises & stretches. Phew.
Sunday morning, I had planned to go for a run but quickly discovered that my glutes were rather sore after yesterday's session. Given my ITBs are a bit tight at the moment, the last thing I need to be doing at this moment is running on fatigued glutes - so discretion won out & I rolled over & when back to sleep :-) I spent the afternoon watching a show on Foxtel about an Everest expedition so I dusted Apollo off & spent 75mins on the trainer in front of the telly. Let me say it has been a long time since I spent that long on my bike (*ouch*).
Today, it was time for a run. I opted for a short run this weekend as I have been a bit plagued with tight calves since the Nosh. I headed out on a 10k loop around scenic & smelly Llandilo. Finished with 9.61k in 63:53mins (6.38min/k av).
I have decided not to do W2G in 2 weeks. My only goal for the next 11 weeks is to get to the start line of W2B in the best possible shape & I'm not convinced that W2G at this stage of my preparation serves that purpose. Instead I'm planning to head to Canberra in July for the 25k Bush Capital trail run & am looking forward to catching up with a few people (*waves*).
MTD: 34.49k
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Magic
I have felt displaced since I returned from Nepal - as though my world has been shaken. I am seeing things - life - people - much differently now. Until I read this yesterday, I haven't been able to find the words to describe how I have been feeling -
Most people in our society will never experience the adventure that still exists in places other than King's Cross and, for a privileged few, in space rides to the moon. This is our world. Its benefits are enormous, but so are its dangers. The dangers are those of existing for personal security and comfort, of remaining unaware of other sides to life. We worry whether our clothes and cars and emotions and opinions match the current fashion. We allow these things to assume more importance than the magic of being alive. Meanwhile most people on earth manage to live full lives with only the simplest of trappings. Living the city life it is easy to forget that humanity is not the centre of the universe.
Beyond the suburbs the bush begins. Our lifestyle does no more than acknowledge the existence of wild places. For most, the bush is seen as the distance between two towns, or as a place for a picnic, or to drive through for a change of air. Yet the stillness of green forest smells of life so much more than the noise and haste of concrete jungles. Mountains radiate a sense of timelessness. They are harsher than the forests, less malleable to the whims of industry. In the high mountains there is no question of values. Humans are simply insignificant. In the wilderness we can feel that something larger than us exists, and it is detached from our petty ambitions and frustrations, independent of our complex society. Reality "is", although we cannot describe it with words or photographs or mathematics. The need to seek out this essence has driven people from the comforts of civilised life to the remotest mountains and widest oceans. The struggle for the right to live is the ultimate challenge of life. People in our society are fortunate to be able to choose that challenge, when so much of the world faces the fight to live every day.
Most people in our society will never experience the adventure that still exists in places other than King's Cross and, for a privileged few, in space rides to the moon. This is our world. Its benefits are enormous, but so are its dangers. The dangers are those of existing for personal security and comfort, of remaining unaware of other sides to life. We worry whether our clothes and cars and emotions and opinions match the current fashion. We allow these things to assume more importance than the magic of being alive. Meanwhile most people on earth manage to live full lives with only the simplest of trappings. Living the city life it is easy to forget that humanity is not the centre of the universe.
Beyond the suburbs the bush begins. Our lifestyle does no more than acknowledge the existence of wild places. For most, the bush is seen as the distance between two towns, or as a place for a picnic, or to drive through for a change of air. Yet the stillness of green forest smells of life so much more than the noise and haste of concrete jungles. Mountains radiate a sense of timelessness. They are harsher than the forests, less malleable to the whims of industry. In the high mountains there is no question of values. Humans are simply insignificant. In the wilderness we can feel that something larger than us exists, and it is detached from our petty ambitions and frustrations, independent of our complex society. Reality "is", although we cannot describe it with words or photographs or mathematics. The need to seek out this essence has driven people from the comforts of civilised life to the remotest mountains and widest oceans. The struggle for the right to live is the ultimate challenge of life. People in our society are fortunate to be able to choose that challenge, when so much of the world faces the fight to live every day.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Fishnets, Dumplings & Depp
What more could a girl need or want? ;-)
Thanks to everyone for the comments & the reminders that it was actually a pretty good run under the circumstances.
A few Q&A's first -
Ewen - unfortunately there will be no Six Foot for me next year. A close friend has decided to get married on the same date. And unfortunately I'm not about to break the race record enabling me to run the race and attend the wedding :-(
Rags - no, I didn't catch Owly. She finished about 6mins ahead of me - I wasn't joking when I said she was flying!
Hamburglar - "Nosh" is unrelated to the post-race tradition (the consumption of bacon & egg rolls) but has something to do with the former name of the orienteering club which holds the event - but exactly what I can't remember now...
Some might call my week so far 'lazy' - I prefer to think of it as 'recovery' :-) Monday was a rest day. Tuesday I just managed to drag my butt out of bed at 5am for a 40mins spin (high cadence) on the trainer to get the blood flowing through the legs again while watching a doco on Everest :-) I pulled up from the Great Nosh pretty well actually - some lower leg tightness which an hour in the Tiger's lair later in the today sorted out. Wednesday became another rest day when work got in the way of my plans for a weights session. Today I had an appointment with Saint Andrew after work so I drove to Rozelle & then ran to work in slight, misty rain. 5km in 31mins felt surprisingly easy, at least until a touch of what Ellie would call 'vanity fartlek' which unfortunately coincided with a big hill…. ;-) Friday will be another rest day thanks to back to back meetings - ai ai ai. But I have a few things planned for the weekend which will get me moving again - including the re-introduction of the functional (glute/core strengthening) exercises which I have neglected since before Six Foot. If I am ever going to solve my ITB problems (which really has been an issue for me since I started running) then it is something that needs to become a priority.
I'm still undecided as to whether to do W2G (25k trail race) in just over 2 weeks. I do have a back-up 25k trail race in July planned as part of my W2B preparations. Perhaps it's not the best idea at the moment - but when has that ever stopped me ;-)
And in more news, my firm has agreed to sponsor its employees to enter the City 2 Surf this year. Noice!
MTD: 24.88k
Thanks to everyone for the comments & the reminders that it was actually a pretty good run under the circumstances.
A few Q&A's first -
Ewen - unfortunately there will be no Six Foot for me next year. A close friend has decided to get married on the same date. And unfortunately I'm not about to break the race record enabling me to run the race and attend the wedding :-(
Rags - no, I didn't catch Owly. She finished about 6mins ahead of me - I wasn't joking when I said she was flying!
Hamburglar - "Nosh" is unrelated to the post-race tradition (the consumption of bacon & egg rolls) but has something to do with the former name of the orienteering club which holds the event - but exactly what I can't remember now...
Some might call my week so far 'lazy' - I prefer to think of it as 'recovery' :-) Monday was a rest day. Tuesday I just managed to drag my butt out of bed at 5am for a 40mins spin (high cadence) on the trainer to get the blood flowing through the legs again while watching a doco on Everest :-) I pulled up from the Great Nosh pretty well actually - some lower leg tightness which an hour in the Tiger's lair later in the today sorted out. Wednesday became another rest day when work got in the way of my plans for a weights session. Today I had an appointment with Saint Andrew after work so I drove to Rozelle & then ran to work in slight, misty rain. 5km in 31mins felt surprisingly easy, at least until a touch of what Ellie would call 'vanity fartlek' which unfortunately coincided with a big hill…. ;-) Friday will be another rest day thanks to back to back meetings - ai ai ai. But I have a few things planned for the weekend which will get me moving again - including the re-introduction of the functional (glute/core strengthening) exercises which I have neglected since before Six Foot. If I am ever going to solve my ITB problems (which really has been an issue for me since I started running) then it is something that needs to become a priority.
I'm still undecided as to whether to do W2G (25k trail race) in just over 2 weeks. I do have a back-up 25k trail race in July planned as part of my W2B preparations. Perhaps it's not the best idea at the moment - but when has that ever stopped me ;-)
And in more news, my firm has agreed to sponsor its employees to enter the City 2 Surf this year. Noice!
MTD: 24.88k
Sunday, June 03, 2007
NOSHing with mojo
It's been an interesting day - weekend - really. I've been a bit lacking in my running mojo lately - combined with being in a 'fugly' mood, I wasn't really looking forward to this race (despite the fact that it was one of my favourite races of last year). If it wasn't for the fact that I had arranged to stay at Owly's place on Saturday night & give her a lift to the race on Sunday, I would have stayed at home in bed instead. Thankfully Owly's company, advice & simple presence always manages to sooth a savage Jen - thanks (((Owly))) - so I arrived at the start, still lacking mojo, but at least somewhat closer to being on an even keel.
After starting at the back of the pack, Owly took off & I could not keep up with her - she was flying! I tried to settle into my run but I couldn't. I could spin it & say that I was running conservatively but the truth is that I was being lazy - I was happy to sit behind people kinda sorta running at my pace rather than overtake them, particularly on the sections I know that I run well. I just didn't really want to be out there.
Thankfully I found my mojo somewhere around the 8km mark after taking a wrong turn. I got back on course & found that I had no-one in front of me for a downhill technical section - I love running fast downhill - so I flew down there & suddenly remembered why I love trail running. My mojo returned shortly thereafter. I ran the rest of the race strongly, much better than I did last year. I set my sights on my course PB but finished in 1:55:18 (about 90sec outside last years time). I was annoyed that I missed my course PB but given my laziness in the first half of the race and the fact that I haven't run further than 6k in the last 3 months since Six Foot, I am happy with that result. My left PF is a bit tight but I'm pleased to say that there were no complaints from my ITBs :-)
12 weeks to go to Willy 2 Billy - a race I missed last year - today was a good start to my campaign.
MTD: 19.68k - it's only the 3rd & already more kms than last month !
After starting at the back of the pack, Owly took off & I could not keep up with her - she was flying! I tried to settle into my run but I couldn't. I could spin it & say that I was running conservatively but the truth is that I was being lazy - I was happy to sit behind people kinda sorta running at my pace rather than overtake them, particularly on the sections I know that I run well. I just didn't really want to be out there.
Thankfully I found my mojo somewhere around the 8km mark after taking a wrong turn. I got back on course & found that I had no-one in front of me for a downhill technical section - I love running fast downhill - so I flew down there & suddenly remembered why I love trail running. My mojo returned shortly thereafter. I ran the rest of the race strongly, much better than I did last year. I set my sights on my course PB but finished in 1:55:18 (about 90sec outside last years time). I was annoyed that I missed my course PB but given my laziness in the first half of the race and the fact that I haven't run further than 6k in the last 3 months since Six Foot, I am happy with that result. My left PF is a bit tight but I'm pleased to say that there were no complaints from my ITBs :-)
12 weeks to go to Willy 2 Billy - a race I missed last year - today was a good start to my campaign.
MTD: 19.68k - it's only the 3rd & already more kms than last month !
Friday, June 01, 2007
What the hell are you waiting for ?
Hamburglar, yes I made it into double figures for the month of May -18kms :-)
My first full (5 day) working week in 2 months now - phew, no wonder I'm tired tonight :-)
An easy 30min run at 5.15am this morning on the first day of winter. Must remember my new Nepal-induced mantra about cold weather over the next 3 months - it's not cold until you can't feel your toes for in excess of 12 hours :-)
Niggle free & ready to nosh on Sunday!
MTD: 4.68k
My first full (5 day) working week in 2 months now - phew, no wonder I'm tired tonight :-)
An easy 30min run at 5.15am this morning on the first day of winter. Must remember my new Nepal-induced mantra about cold weather over the next 3 months - it's not cold until you can't feel your toes for in excess of 12 hours :-)
Niggle free & ready to nosh on Sunday!
MTD: 4.68k
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Stirring
Back into the consistent training - it's been a while. Feeling very tired tonight thanks to a combination of a bit of insomnia, crazy work loads & a few late nights & early mornings. But I am slowly but surely getting my groove back. I just hope it arrives before Sunday....
After skipping yoga on Monday morning after a restless nights sleep, I headed to the gym at lunch for a weights session (back/bis/core). I was surprised at how strong I felt given that its been over 5 weeks since my last weights session. But thinking about it, using a walking pole to pull myself through the Himalayas for 3 weeks was probably a good substitute!
Tuesday morning it was back to the gym, this time for an interval session on the bike -
5mins w/u
6 x 4mins efforts (L10) w/ 2mins recovery
5mins c/d
Total: 46mins
Today after another late night, I dragged my butt out of bed for a run. I'm glad I did - it was a beautiful mild, clear morning - very different from the pea-soup fog that I drove through at the same time (5am) yesterday morning. I really struggled to get going but eventually got my act together. I also managed to get lost (again) - the second time I've done that since I got back from my trip. As 2P would say, I zigged when I should have zagged - all the roundabouts & McMansions around here look the same! So much for being mindful - next time I must pay attention to where I am & not dream about great adventures..... Finished with about 6kms which I think is probably my longest niggle-free run since Six Foot. About bloody time too...
After skipping yoga on Monday morning after a restless nights sleep, I headed to the gym at lunch for a weights session (back/bis/core). I was surprised at how strong I felt given that its been over 5 weeks since my last weights session. But thinking about it, using a walking pole to pull myself through the Himalayas for 3 weeks was probably a good substitute!
Tuesday morning it was back to the gym, this time for an interval session on the bike -
5mins w/u
6 x 4mins efforts (L10) w/ 2mins recovery
5mins c/d
Total: 46mins
Today after another late night, I dragged my butt out of bed for a run. I'm glad I did - it was a beautiful mild, clear morning - very different from the pea-soup fog that I drove through at the same time (5am) yesterday morning. I really struggled to get going but eventually got my act together. I also managed to get lost (again) - the second time I've done that since I got back from my trip. As 2P would say, I zigged when I should have zagged - all the roundabouts & McMansions around here look the same! So much for being mindful - next time I must pay attention to where I am & not dream about great adventures..... Finished with about 6kms which I think is probably my longest niggle-free run since Six Foot. About bloody time too...
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Me, myself & I
Well I've been home 2 weeks now. I have found it hard to adjust to life here again. I am finding it very distressing as I realise the extent to which we fail to recognise our blessings & the opportunities we have. But I also recognise that there is nothing I can do here except ensure that I live a rich & full life & use my resources - my blessings & opportunities - to enhance the lives of those less fortunate. Stay tuned because soon I'll be asking anyone reading this to do the same....
The first week when I wasn't working I was lying on the couch or sleeping. Between the chest infection, post-holiday fatigue & a dose of "Bangkok Belly" that I picked up in, well, Bangkok on the way home, I wasn't a particularly well girl. So I made the difficult decision not to travel up to Brisbane with Owly for the Warwick Penath-run weekend. It is a fantastic weekend & I was very sorry to miss it. However it was the right decision - after 4 days of resting, I headed back to work on Tuesday morning (I'd taken Fri & Mon off due to Warwick), I was feeling much better.
This week I've slowly been easing back into the training. After not running for 6 weeks, I headed out last Sunday for a short run. I was surprised that despite having trekked around 250k up & down the Himalayas, a short 20mins run left me with some DOMS. A good reminder of the pounding that the body takes thanks to running - and to resume my stretching regime. I've followed this up with another 2 short runs this week - the longest being 30mins this morning - and an upper body weights session on Thursday. No complaints from the body and with my cough slowly residing, the effects of all that altitude training is becoming noticeable which should come in handy with the Great Nosh (a 15k trail run) next Sunday. I've done bugger all running since Six Foot so it's gunna be interesting.....
The first week when I wasn't working I was lying on the couch or sleeping. Between the chest infection, post-holiday fatigue & a dose of "Bangkok Belly" that I picked up in, well, Bangkok on the way home, I wasn't a particularly well girl. So I made the difficult decision not to travel up to Brisbane with Owly for the Warwick Penath-run weekend. It is a fantastic weekend & I was very sorry to miss it. However it was the right decision - after 4 days of resting, I headed back to work on Tuesday morning (I'd taken Fri & Mon off due to Warwick), I was feeling much better.
This week I've slowly been easing back into the training. After not running for 6 weeks, I headed out last Sunday for a short run. I was surprised that despite having trekked around 250k up & down the Himalayas, a short 20mins run left me with some DOMS. A good reminder of the pounding that the body takes thanks to running - and to resume my stretching regime. I've followed this up with another 2 short runs this week - the longest being 30mins this morning - and an upper body weights session on Thursday. No complaints from the body and with my cough slowly residing, the effects of all that altitude training is becoming noticeable which should come in handy with the Great Nosh (a 15k trail run) next Sunday. I've done bugger all running since Six Foot so it's gunna be interesting.....
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Encore
Ewen - the sky is the limit :-)
Cho La pass (5420m)
Stay tuned - we return shortly to our regular programming...
Cho La pass (5420m)
Stay tuned - we return shortly to our regular programming...
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Back by popular request....
Welcome home David Hicks.
And a few more photos -
The stupa at Bodhnath (Boudha) in Kathmandu, one of the world's largest. It is believed that the first stupa built on the site was built around 600AD.
Lukla airport. Someone described landing at Lukla as 'thrilling'. They weren't kidding.
At Everest Base Camp
The view from my tent after an afternoon snow fall at Monjo (el.2835m)
The view from the tent the next morning after the weather cleared..
The Gokyo valley from Gokyo Ri (el. 5360m)
Chomolungma - Everest - from Gokyo Ri (el. 5360m)
Cho Oyo (the 8th highest mountain in the world) looking down over the Ngozumpa glacier.
On the Cho La pass (el.5420m), looking down the valley to Ama Dadlam. Our next campsite is the orange dot in the centre of the valley.
Another view from the tent, this time at Dzongla (el.4830).
And yes Tess, I have plans to get a little higher than Base Camp :-)
And a few more photos -
The stupa at Bodhnath (Boudha) in Kathmandu, one of the world's largest. It is believed that the first stupa built on the site was built around 600AD.
Lukla airport. Someone described landing at Lukla as 'thrilling'. They weren't kidding.
At Everest Base Camp
The view from my tent after an afternoon snow fall at Monjo (el.2835m)
The view from the tent the next morning after the weather cleared..
The Gokyo valley from Gokyo Ri (el. 5360m)
Chomolungma - Everest - from Gokyo Ri (el. 5360m)
Cho Oyo (the 8th highest mountain in the world) looking down over the Ngozumpa glacier.
On the Cho La pass (el.5420m), looking down the valley to Ama Dadlam. Our next campsite is the orange dot in the centre of the valley.
Another view from the tent, this time at Dzongla (el.4830).
And yes Tess, I have plans to get a little higher than Base Camp :-)
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The Nepal report 2007
The body roams the mountains and the soul is set free
I saw this quote on my last day in Kathmandu. It sums up perfectly how I felt during my trip to Nepal.
I struggle to describe my trip to Nepal as a holiday. It was - by far - the hardest thing I have ever done (both physically & mentally) – ultimately we trekked somewhere around 250km. But it has been more than a holiday for me – more like a life changing experience. It taught me a lot about myself, how strong I am, how blessed I am & about the type of life I want for myself. As incredible as the scenery was, it was the people of Nepal who truly touched my heart with their generosity, compassion & passion for life.
I saw this quote on my last day in Kathmandu. It sums up perfectly how I felt during my trip to Nepal.
I struggle to describe my trip to Nepal as a holiday. It was - by far - the hardest thing I have ever done (both physically & mentally) – ultimately we trekked somewhere around 250km. But it has been more than a holiday for me – more like a life changing experience. It taught me a lot about myself, how strong I am, how blessed I am & about the type of life I want for myself. As incredible as the scenery was, it was the people of Nepal who truly touched my heart with their generosity, compassion & passion for life.
A 'few' photos - first we spent a few days in Kathmandu….
Downtown Kathmandu – being a Hindu country, cows are sacred in Nepal - you can serve jail time for killing one - so they basically have right of way & can often be found walking or laying down in the middle of major roads, completely oblivious to the traffic.
The first time I saw the recluse Chomolungma – Everest - on the trek from our camp to Namche Bazaar (el.3446m ) As I said, she was being a bit shy that day.
Our hotel at Namche Bazaar. The helicopter crashed there about 2 years ago but it is too expensive to remove it (it would need to be broken down into parts & carried out by porters) so it’s stayed.
Our campsite at Dole (el.4200m). False advertising I think 'cause I was looking but didn't find any yetis...
The view back down to the village of Gokyo - and our camp - el. 4790m, from the 'hill' known as Gokyo Ri (el. 5360m) which took us 3 very long hours to walk up. By far the hardest single thing - physically & mentally - I have ever done. I suppose the fact that at 5,500m there is only 50% of the oxygen at sea level didn't help either....
Still climbing...
Finally! On the top of Gokyo Ri (el. 5360). Everest is the peak over my left shoulder. And yes, it is as cold as it appears...
Contemplating Everest.
Snow climbing my way up to the Cho La pass (el.5420m). Yes, it is as steep as it appears!
On Cho La pass. I’d made the mistake of skipping through the snow to get in position for this photo. As I discovered, not an easy thing to do at that altitude...
At the top of Cho La, about the drop down into the next valley. Ama Dadham is at the head of the valley. Our next campsite is the dot of orange near my right hand.
At the top of Kala Pattar (el.5550m) Everest is trying to hide in the cloud immediately above my left shoulder. Everest Base Camp can just be seen to the left of the photo.
Everest poking her head out to say hello (over Nuptse) on the walk to Everest Base Camp
At Base Camp (el. 5364m)
Couldn't resist !
The view from our tent back at Namche Bazaar!
As I said, just a 'few' photos. If anyone wants to see a "few" more, email or PM me...
Righto, 'bout time this blog resumed its normal transmissions I suppose...
The first time I saw the recluse Chomolungma – Everest - on the trek from our camp to Namche Bazaar (el.3446m ) As I said, she was being a bit shy that day.
Our hotel at Namche Bazaar. The helicopter crashed there about 2 years ago but it is too expensive to remove it (it would need to be broken down into parts & carried out by porters) so it’s stayed.
Our campsite at Dole (el.4200m). False advertising I think 'cause I was looking but didn't find any yetis...
The view back down to the village of Gokyo - and our camp - el. 4790m, from the 'hill' known as Gokyo Ri (el. 5360m) which took us 3 very long hours to walk up. By far the hardest single thing - physically & mentally - I have ever done. I suppose the fact that at 5,500m there is only 50% of the oxygen at sea level didn't help either....
Still climbing...
Finally! On the top of Gokyo Ri (el. 5360). Everest is the peak over my left shoulder. And yes, it is as cold as it appears...
Contemplating Everest.
Snow climbing my way up to the Cho La pass (el.5420m). Yes, it is as steep as it appears!
On Cho La pass. I’d made the mistake of skipping through the snow to get in position for this photo. As I discovered, not an easy thing to do at that altitude...
At the top of Cho La, about the drop down into the next valley. Ama Dadham is at the head of the valley. Our next campsite is the dot of orange near my right hand.
At the top of Kala Pattar (el.5550m) Everest is trying to hide in the cloud immediately above my left shoulder. Everest Base Camp can just be seen to the left of the photo.
Everest poking her head out to say hello (over Nuptse) on the walk to Everest Base Camp
At Base Camp (el. 5364m)
Couldn't resist !
The view from our tent back at Namche Bazaar!As I said, just a 'few' photos. If anyone wants to see a "few" more, email or PM me...
Righto, 'bout time this blog resumed its normal transmissions I suppose...
Friday, May 11, 2007
Alive, well & showered :-)
Namaste!
Thanks to everyone for your comments - I have really appreciated them. A bit of 'home' during an adventure that has well & truly pushed me outside my comfort zone. Nothing like not showering for 17 days to make you feel 'precious' ;-)
Just a quick post - I am alive, well & back in Kathmandu after our trek. After seeing nothing moving faster than a Himalayan trail (ie a convoy of yaks) and hearing nothing louder than the bells they wear around their necks for 3 weeks, polluted & chaotic Kathmandu is proving to be somewhat of a culture shock.
I'm really struggling to find the words to describe the trek - I certainly can't in the time I have available now - suffice to say that it was by far the most difficult & challenging (both physically & mentally) thing I have ever done - but also the most rewarding & fulfilling. Nepal & particularly its people have touched my heart & soul. Apart from the scenery, it has been the interactions with the locals that have truly touched my heart. The Nepali are by far the most generous, humorous, good natured & beautiful people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. With porters who don't speak a word of English, I have played cards and also cricket with a bat made out of a tree stump - cricket I have to say becomes very difficult above 4,000m! I have been called 'didi' our young porters - kids under, say, 25 for whom western woman are still an object of fascination. The smiles on their faces when I responded with 'bhye' (meaning younger brother) were priceless & something I will always treasure.
I can't believe my time here is coming to an end - but I am already planning my next 2 visits here. This place has made such an impact on me that I know it is somewhere I will continue to visit time & time again. In the last few days I have also put into place plans to give something back to this wonderful country & to a few very special people which I am very excited to be involved with.
I'm flying back into Sydney on Sunday night so a full 'trek report' & photos will follow soon.
Thanks to everyone for your comments - I have really appreciated them. A bit of 'home' during an adventure that has well & truly pushed me outside my comfort zone. Nothing like not showering for 17 days to make you feel 'precious' ;-)
Just a quick post - I am alive, well & back in Kathmandu after our trek. After seeing nothing moving faster than a Himalayan trail (ie a convoy of yaks) and hearing nothing louder than the bells they wear around their necks for 3 weeks, polluted & chaotic Kathmandu is proving to be somewhat of a culture shock.
I'm really struggling to find the words to describe the trek - I certainly can't in the time I have available now - suffice to say that it was by far the most difficult & challenging (both physically & mentally) thing I have ever done - but also the most rewarding & fulfilling. Nepal & particularly its people have touched my heart & soul. Apart from the scenery, it has been the interactions with the locals that have truly touched my heart. The Nepali are by far the most generous, humorous, good natured & beautiful people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. With porters who don't speak a word of English, I have played cards and also cricket with a bat made out of a tree stump - cricket I have to say becomes very difficult above 4,000m! I have been called 'didi' our young porters - kids under, say, 25 for whom western woman are still an object of fascination. The smiles on their faces when I responded with 'bhye' (meaning younger brother) were priceless & something I will always treasure.
I can't believe my time here is coming to an end - but I am already planning my next 2 visits here. This place has made such an impact on me that I know it is somewhere I will continue to visit time & time again. In the last few days I have also put into place plans to give something back to this wonderful country & to a few very special people which I am very excited to be involved with.
I'm flying back into Sydney on Sunday night so a full 'trek report' & photos will follow soon.
Monday, April 23, 2007
A grand old dame
It's our rest day here at Namche Bazaar so I thought I'd take the chance to post again because it will be quite a while before I can again.
We are actually staying in a teahouse here in Namche. Very basic accommodation - with a crashed Russian helicopter in the front yard (wait til you see the photo!) but after 3 days of trekking (not to mention using a toilet tent), I can't begin to describe how exciting it was to discover that we have an ensuite in our room - with a proper toilet. And a mirror. Amazing how the simple things in life can mean so much :-) By the way, I no longer smell - I had the longest, hottest shower I think I have had - I feel like a new woman :-)
As today was our rest day, some of us set out to walk to the Everest View Hotel which was not only a chance to see the great lady herself but to assist with acclimatisation. Our teahouse sits 100m higher in elevation than Namche and the Everest View Hotel sits another 300m higher than our hotel. Sounds easy but at 3,500m, it's not - it took us 2hrs 15mins to get there!Unfortunately Everest (Chomolungma to the Tibetans & Sagarmartha to the Nepali) was feeling very shy again, hiding behind more clouds. But we still spent an enjoyable 30mins sitting in the sun (mind you it was only 7 degrees!) on the balcony taking in the view of the Himalayan ranges. I can't begin to describe how stunning this place is. Luckily for us we should be able to see Everest tomorrow - and for most of the next 10 days:-)
Tomorrow is a hard day - 6 hours of trekking including climbing to around 4,000m before heading downhill for 2 hours to our camp. My ITB is gunna love it. After that we continue our slow ascent up to the Gokyo lakes region, at an average height of 5,000m before climbing up to Gokyo Ria at around 5,400m. From there, we have a high pass to cross (again around 5,400m) before heading in the direction of Everest Base Camp. Although a visit to Base Camp isn't in the itinerary, our guide has said that if everything goes according to plan we should just a chance to visit it. Lots of prayer wheels are being turned by everyone in the group - we are all excited at the prospect of getting there. But first, we have a few more hills to climb :-)
Will post again when I can.
We are actually staying in a teahouse here in Namche. Very basic accommodation - with a crashed Russian helicopter in the front yard (wait til you see the photo!) but after 3 days of trekking (not to mention using a toilet tent), I can't begin to describe how exciting it was to discover that we have an ensuite in our room - with a proper toilet. And a mirror. Amazing how the simple things in life can mean so much :-) By the way, I no longer smell - I had the longest, hottest shower I think I have had - I feel like a new woman :-)
As today was our rest day, some of us set out to walk to the Everest View Hotel which was not only a chance to see the great lady herself but to assist with acclimatisation. Our teahouse sits 100m higher in elevation than Namche and the Everest View Hotel sits another 300m higher than our hotel. Sounds easy but at 3,500m, it's not - it took us 2hrs 15mins to get there!Unfortunately Everest (Chomolungma to the Tibetans & Sagarmartha to the Nepali) was feeling very shy again, hiding behind more clouds. But we still spent an enjoyable 30mins sitting in the sun (mind you it was only 7 degrees!) on the balcony taking in the view of the Himalayan ranges. I can't begin to describe how stunning this place is. Luckily for us we should be able to see Everest tomorrow - and for most of the next 10 days:-)
Tomorrow is a hard day - 6 hours of trekking including climbing to around 4,000m before heading downhill for 2 hours to our camp. My ITB is gunna love it. After that we continue our slow ascent up to the Gokyo lakes region, at an average height of 5,000m before climbing up to Gokyo Ria at around 5,400m. From there, we have a high pass to cross (again around 5,400m) before heading in the direction of Everest Base Camp. Although a visit to Base Camp isn't in the itinerary, our guide has said that if everything goes according to plan we should just a chance to visit it. Lots of prayer wheels are being turned by everyone in the group - we are all excited at the prospect of getting there. But first, we have a few more hills to climb :-)
Will post again when I can.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Everest baby!
Hello :-)
So much to tell you but so little time.
I am now on day 3 of our 20 day trek. I find it hard to believe that I've been on holiday for less than a week - it feels like I've been away for a month already.
We are now in Namche Bazaar (el. 3346m). The trek today from our campsite at 2,800m was tough - we followed the Dudhi (milk) river before climbing 700m up a trail. It was relentless. Think Pluvio :-)
I am having an absolute ball - our group & team of porters & guides are all fantastic. Unfortunately my ITB is not so great - it is not enjoying the downhills at all - but fortunately we've got another 15 days of going uphill before I have to really worry about it ;-)
Yesterday was pretty special. It got very cold at camp in the afternoon & rained for about 2 hours. Once the rain stopped & the clouds cleared, we found that it had snowed on the high ranges surrounding our campsite. We are sure to get snow the higher we go. Cool :-)
And then there was Everest. I saw her today for the first time. She is beautiful. :-) She was very shy - the peak was just hiding behind some cloud. Hopefully she'll come out to play tomorrow. We have a rest day but as part of our acclimatisation, we trek to a higher point above Namche where will (hopefully) be able to get a better view of her.
Apart from the ITB, I'm feeling great. No problems with the altitude so far. I am somehow already losing weight despite eating my weight in food. It's the best diet ever :-)
We have a rest day tomorrow & stay here in Namche tonight & tomorrow night & before setting off for even higher places. It might be 10 days before I get net access again so I'll write when I can.
Gotta go. My first shower in 3 days is waiting :-)
So much to tell you but so little time.
I am now on day 3 of our 20 day trek. I find it hard to believe that I've been on holiday for less than a week - it feels like I've been away for a month already.
We are now in Namche Bazaar (el. 3346m). The trek today from our campsite at 2,800m was tough - we followed the Dudhi (milk) river before climbing 700m up a trail. It was relentless. Think Pluvio :-)
I am having an absolute ball - our group & team of porters & guides are all fantastic. Unfortunately my ITB is not so great - it is not enjoying the downhills at all - but fortunately we've got another 15 days of going uphill before I have to really worry about it ;-)
Yesterday was pretty special. It got very cold at camp in the afternoon & rained for about 2 hours. Once the rain stopped & the clouds cleared, we found that it had snowed on the high ranges surrounding our campsite. We are sure to get snow the higher we go. Cool :-)
And then there was Everest. I saw her today for the first time. She is beautiful. :-) She was very shy - the peak was just hiding behind some cloud. Hopefully she'll come out to play tomorrow. We have a rest day but as part of our acclimatisation, we trek to a higher point above Namche where will (hopefully) be able to get a better view of her.
Apart from the ITB, I'm feeling great. No problems with the altitude so far. I am somehow already losing weight despite eating my weight in food. It's the best diet ever :-)
We have a rest day tomorrow & stay here in Namche tonight & tomorrow night & before setting off for even higher places. It might be 10 days before I get net access again so I'll write when I can.
Gotta go. My first shower in 3 days is waiting :-)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Namaste from Kathmandu !
Just a quick post from Kathmandu.
I only arrived yesterday lunchtime but I feel like Ive been here a week already. And I mean that in a good way. I've visited some 'interesting' places in Sth America but Kathmandu is by far the poorest & most polluted place I've ever been. And yet, it's wonderful & fascinating. And I'm not even in the mountains yet :-)
We fly out to Lukla tomorrow & then start walking. Without wishing my holiday away I am very much looking forward to getting into the mountains & starting the trek. Garmin Elektra has come along for the ride so the elevation profiles should be interesting ;-)
Off to enjoy my last shower for a few days - I'm going to make the most of it ;-)
I only arrived yesterday lunchtime but I feel like Ive been here a week already. And I mean that in a good way. I've visited some 'interesting' places in Sth America but Kathmandu is by far the poorest & most polluted place I've ever been. And yet, it's wonderful & fascinating. And I'm not even in the mountains yet :-)
We fly out to Lukla tomorrow & then start walking. Without wishing my holiday away I am very much looking forward to getting into the mountains & starting the trek. Garmin Elektra has come along for the ride so the elevation profiles should be interesting ;-)
Off to enjoy my last shower for a few days - I'm going to make the most of it ;-)
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
So long, farewell...
Wow. So long since I updated. So much is happening in my life at the moment....
I have vague recollections of doing a 40mins session on the bike last week watching the '05 TdF (thanks Miners), a swim & an upper body weights session. Also spent an wonderful weekend in Canberra for the marathon... My ITB has been ok - a few grumbly moments but I'm pretty confident now that it will be a happy camper over the next month. The 'stick' is packed just in case.
Leaving for the airport in less than an hour. I'm all packed & ready to rock & roll. I have wanted to travel to Nepal & see Everest ever since I was a little girl. So you can imagine my excitement now :-)
Stay safe everyone. Will try to update when I can.
I have vague recollections of doing a 40mins session on the bike last week watching the '05 TdF (thanks Miners), a swim & an upper body weights session. Also spent an wonderful weekend in Canberra for the marathon... My ITB has been ok - a few grumbly moments but I'm pretty confident now that it will be a happy camper over the next month. The 'stick' is packed just in case.
Leaving for the airport in less than an hour. I'm all packed & ready to rock & roll. I have wanted to travel to Nepal & see Everest ever since I was a little girl. So you can imagine my excitement now :-)
Stay safe everyone. Will try to update when I can.
Monday, April 09, 2007
It's only cross training, it's only cross training, it's only cross training...
Thanks Benny ;-)
Easter Sunday saw me dust off several easter eggs & Apollo. I haven't ridden since before Six Foot so I wasn't sure how the ITB would go. Did an easy 30mins on the trainer in front of the telly - ITB was fine. Yah!
Today (Monday) it was back to the pool for another swim - 1500m this time. I've almost done more swimming than running this month.
One week tomorrow I leave for my holiday - woohoooooooooo :-)
Easter Sunday saw me dust off several easter eggs & Apollo. I haven't ridden since before Six Foot so I wasn't sure how the ITB would go. Did an easy 30mins on the trainer in front of the telly - ITB was fine. Yah!
Today (Monday) it was back to the pool for another swim - 1500m this time. I've almost done more swimming than running this month.
One week tomorrow I leave for my holiday - woohoooooooooo :-)
Saturday, April 07, 2007
We resume our regular broadcasting....for now
Haha. Thanks to everyone for your faith in my abilities to swim, ride & run but I won't be combining those 3 activities...yet ;-)
Good Friday I headed out at the positively decadent hour of 9am for another short run. 26mins & 4.37kms later I had decided that I'm not running again until my trip. My ITB is certainly improving - the post-run discomfort is decreasing with each run - but not enough to justify the risk that it won't recover sufficiently before my trip & will cause me problems while I'm away.
Today I headed over to the pool mid-afternoon with the intention to 'suck it up princess' & get in the unheated, outdoor 50m pool. Fortunately or unfortunately (I haven't decided which) the 'big' pool has now closed for the winter so there was no choice but to swim in the indoor, heated 25m pool :-) Did 1.75k pretty comfortably, sans pull buoy this time. Every time I swim I think that I've gotta do a stroke correction class given that I last had a swimming lesson when I was about 8. Maybe later in the year...
Edit: yes, Flakey - although I've decided not to do the 10k at Canberra, I'm still coming down on Saturday with Go Girl for a weekend of cheering & socialising :-)
Good Friday I headed out at the positively decadent hour of 9am for another short run. 26mins & 4.37kms later I had decided that I'm not running again until my trip. My ITB is certainly improving - the post-run discomfort is decreasing with each run - but not enough to justify the risk that it won't recover sufficiently before my trip & will cause me problems while I'm away.
Today I headed over to the pool mid-afternoon with the intention to 'suck it up princess' & get in the unheated, outdoor 50m pool. Fortunately or unfortunately (I haven't decided which) the 'big' pool has now closed for the winter so there was no choice but to swim in the indoor, heated 25m pool :-) Did 1.75k pretty comfortably, sans pull buoy this time. Every time I swim I think that I've gotta do a stroke correction class given that I last had a swimming lesson when I was about 8. Maybe later in the year...
Edit: yes, Flakey - although I've decided not to do the 10k at Canberra, I'm still coming down on Saturday with Go Girl for a weekend of cheering & socialising :-)
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The sun will come out to-morrow....
Alright 'Bro - an update ;-)
Let's see. My work/life/training balance has been seriously out of kilter over the last 10 days with lots of work, even more socialising & very little training.
I temporarily relocated to Ellie's place in the eastern suburbs from Wed to Fri last week when work & social events resulted in a couple of late nights & early mornings. World's collided for a fellow CR blogger (*waves*) when I met his father at a work function on Thursday morning! Talk about a small world. Thankfully I had been on my bestest behaviour :-) Said blogger looked very shocked & confused when I told him about it at CR drinks on Thursday night ;-)
CR drinks on Thursday night was lots of fun - as always. There is nothing like spending a few hours talking to such passionate & inspiring people. I left drinks rather sober & extremely inspired & excited by the adventures ahead :-)
Early Saturday morning Ellie & I set off on our road trip to Port Macquarie for the IM. It was my second time at an IM event & I was really looking forward to cheering on Miners & MissZ (*waves*) as well as my uncle as he competed in his 5th OzIM (6th in total) & what he said would be his final IM. He has since said that he will come out of retirement & do another IM if I do one. Haha.
Portrunr (*waves*) & his lovely wife very kindly offered Ellie & I their lounge room for the duration of the weekend - thank you :-) We got to Port Mac just before 12 & after checking in, we headed down to meet Miners, my aunt & uncle for lunch. The rest of Saturday was taking up with eating, talking, wandering around the expo & hunting down ice cream with Miners and our fellow cheerers Hamburglar, the Mango brothers, Nando, TA & Gnome.
Ellie, Portrunr & I were up at 5am on Sunday morning & at the start before 6am. Somehow in the masses of people we managed to track down both my uncle & Miners & wish them luck -
L-R: me, Ellie, Miners & Hamburglar (from whose blog I pinched this photo!)
Sunday largely consisted of cheering, talking, eating, sitting, standing, dancing in the grandstand at the finish & admiring athletic ability for 17 hours! Triathletes really do have the best.......bikes :-) It was my first time hanging out in the grandstand at the finish line. What an amazing experience - so much noise! It's a cliché but the atmosphere really is electric. So many favourite moments - watching Rooster's emotional finish; seeing my uncle & Miners cross the finish line after challenging days; watching another guy kiss his wedding ring as he ran down the finishing chute; and another sprint to the line to make it under 11hrs with every single person in the grandstand on their feet & screaming for him to make it (he made it with 2sec to spare!) I get goose bumps thinking about it now.
My uncle was very pleased with his race, finishing 5th in his age group & missing out on an automatic spot at Kona by a few minutes! Not bad for an old fella ;-) Both my aunt & I have since told him that he's got to do another OzIM 'cause we both want to go to Kona for the Big One :-) I was one very tired chicky by the time the final competitor came in after 17hrs 9mins (11.39pm).
Both Ellie & I had Monday off work so we spent a relaxing morning catching up with Miners over breakfast & then catching up with my aunt & uncle on the beach before heading for home. Got home just before 7pm, one tired but inspired girl.
As for me, I've done a few short runs over the last 10 days or so & headed out again this morning for another easy flat 25mins (4.16k). My ITB is quite cranky today as a result but overall it has been improving. I was able to climb up & down the steps (seats really) in the grandstand on Sunday without problems. I've decided not to do the 10k at Canberra - my trip to Nepal is only 13 sleeps away now (!!!) & only 3 days after Canberra so I can't afford to aggravate it further - 3 weeks is a long time to trek through the Himalayas with an grumpy ITB. If that means that I need to stop running over the next 2 weeks & swim instead, so be it. Maybe it won't be my uncle's last IM after all ;-)
Let's see. My work/life/training balance has been seriously out of kilter over the last 10 days with lots of work, even more socialising & very little training.
I temporarily relocated to Ellie's place in the eastern suburbs from Wed to Fri last week when work & social events resulted in a couple of late nights & early mornings. World's collided for a fellow CR blogger (*waves*) when I met his father at a work function on Thursday morning! Talk about a small world. Thankfully I had been on my bestest behaviour :-) Said blogger looked very shocked & confused when I told him about it at CR drinks on Thursday night ;-)
CR drinks on Thursday night was lots of fun - as always. There is nothing like spending a few hours talking to such passionate & inspiring people. I left drinks rather sober & extremely inspired & excited by the adventures ahead :-)
Early Saturday morning Ellie & I set off on our road trip to Port Macquarie for the IM. It was my second time at an IM event & I was really looking forward to cheering on Miners & MissZ (*waves*) as well as my uncle as he competed in his 5th OzIM (6th in total) & what he said would be his final IM. He has since said that he will come out of retirement & do another IM if I do one. Haha.
Portrunr (*waves*) & his lovely wife very kindly offered Ellie & I their lounge room for the duration of the weekend - thank you :-) We got to Port Mac just before 12 & after checking in, we headed down to meet Miners, my aunt & uncle for lunch. The rest of Saturday was taking up with eating, talking, wandering around the expo & hunting down ice cream with Miners and our fellow cheerers Hamburglar, the Mango brothers, Nando, TA & Gnome.
Ellie, Portrunr & I were up at 5am on Sunday morning & at the start before 6am. Somehow in the masses of people we managed to track down both my uncle & Miners & wish them luck -
L-R: me, Ellie, Miners & Hamburglar (from whose blog I pinched this photo!)
Sunday largely consisted of cheering, talking, eating, sitting, standing, dancing in the grandstand at the finish & admiring athletic ability for 17 hours! Triathletes really do have the best.......bikes :-) It was my first time hanging out in the grandstand at the finish line. What an amazing experience - so much noise! It's a cliché but the atmosphere really is electric. So many favourite moments - watching Rooster's emotional finish; seeing my uncle & Miners cross the finish line after challenging days; watching another guy kiss his wedding ring as he ran down the finishing chute; and another sprint to the line to make it under 11hrs with every single person in the grandstand on their feet & screaming for him to make it (he made it with 2sec to spare!) I get goose bumps thinking about it now.
My uncle was very pleased with his race, finishing 5th in his age group & missing out on an automatic spot at Kona by a few minutes! Not bad for an old fella ;-) Both my aunt & I have since told him that he's got to do another OzIM 'cause we both want to go to Kona for the Big One :-) I was one very tired chicky by the time the final competitor came in after 17hrs 9mins (11.39pm).
Both Ellie & I had Monday off work so we spent a relaxing morning catching up with Miners over breakfast & then catching up with my aunt & uncle on the beach before heading for home. Got home just before 7pm, one tired but inspired girl.
As for me, I've done a few short runs over the last 10 days or so & headed out again this morning for another easy flat 25mins (4.16k). My ITB is quite cranky today as a result but overall it has been improving. I was able to climb up & down the steps (seats really) in the grandstand on Sunday without problems. I've decided not to do the 10k at Canberra - my trip to Nepal is only 13 sleeps away now (!!!) & only 3 days after Canberra so I can't afford to aggravate it further - 3 weeks is a long time to trek through the Himalayas with an grumpy ITB. If that means that I need to stop running over the next 2 weeks & swim instead, so be it. Maybe it won't be my uncle's last IM after all ;-)
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Ultra violet
Thanks Owly :-)
A lovely relaxing weekend - exactly what I need given that I'm away 2 of the next 3 weekends before flying out for Nepal in 23 sleeps :-)
Saturday afternoon I headed out for another 20mins run to stretch out the ITB. It is improving, albeit slowly. It was alot less 'apparent' during this run &, more encouragingly, has been much happier today than it was the day after my last run. I was pretty pleased that I only had a short run on the cards - not only was it extremely humid but in that short time, I saw not 1 but 3 different P-plate drivers skid around corners (probably deliberately) on the slippery road conditions. Idiots.
MTD: 73.14k
Anyhoo today after a lovely breakfast I headed off for a swim. Yes, you read that correctly - I went for a swim. Swimming is my exercise of last resort when I can't run or ride. I don't know why - I actually enjoy it. During January last year I swam something like 16kms in an effort to stay fit when I couldn't run thanks to my ITB & I haven't been in a pool since! So I was somewhat surprised to swim 1,500m pretty comfortably - mind you it was with the assistance of a 25m pool & a pull buoy to make sure I didn't aggravate my knee. I had planned to do a 1km but felt pretty good so I kept going. It was pretty slow - about 30mins I think. But hey, it's done :-)
A lovely relaxing weekend - exactly what I need given that I'm away 2 of the next 3 weekends before flying out for Nepal in 23 sleeps :-)
Saturday afternoon I headed out for another 20mins run to stretch out the ITB. It is improving, albeit slowly. It was alot less 'apparent' during this run &, more encouragingly, has been much happier today than it was the day after my last run. I was pretty pleased that I only had a short run on the cards - not only was it extremely humid but in that short time, I saw not 1 but 3 different P-plate drivers skid around corners (probably deliberately) on the slippery road conditions. Idiots.
MTD: 73.14k
Anyhoo today after a lovely breakfast I headed off for a swim. Yes, you read that correctly - I went for a swim. Swimming is my exercise of last resort when I can't run or ride. I don't know why - I actually enjoy it. During January last year I swam something like 16kms in an effort to stay fit when I couldn't run thanks to my ITB & I haven't been in a pool since! So I was somewhat surprised to swim 1,500m pretty comfortably - mind you it was with the assistance of a 25m pool & a pull buoy to make sure I didn't aggravate my knee. I had planned to do a 1km but felt pretty good so I kept going. It was pretty slow - about 30mins I think. But hey, it's done :-)
Friday, March 23, 2007
Flying without a net....
My favourite photo from Six Foot -
L-R: Ellie, Go Girl, me, 2P, Owly & Lulu
Thankyou to everyone for your comments & congratulations - I truly appreciate it :-)
A few people have recently asked who my never-before-referred-to-by-name coach is. He's probably going to kick my arse for embarrassing him but I don't care :-) 2P has, for the last 15 months, counselled, encouraged, supported, advised, cajoled & bribed me & (when necessary) kicked my arse in an effort to get me to the starting line of Six Foot 2007. He has always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. Isaac Newton said it better than I can - "If I have seen further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." :-)
Enough of the mushy stuff - Becky O asked about whether I'd suffered from PSFS (Post Six Foot Syndrome). I did. Between the race itself, my holiday & a variety of other 'stuff', I hadn't given any thought to 'what next'. I have added to the very long list of lessons I've learned from this experience to always look at each event not as a destination (which is what I did for Six Foot) but as just another step in the journey. I have today finally removed the Six Foot course profile from the wall of my office & here at home & now have shifted my focus to my next big scary goal - 50k at Glasshouse in July :-) Yes, my approach to training & racing isn't particularly conventional but hey, I'm having fun !
My recovery from Six Foot has been somewhat passive. The DOMs (which wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected) had gone by Wednesday - my energy levels have been good - my left ITB however has been somewhat cranky. Oh well, I've enjoyed having an excuse to sleep in but now I'm really itching to get back into the training again. I went out for an easy 20mins last run - the ITB was certainly apparent but didn't worsen over the course of the run. It has however been a bit more grumpy with me than normal today. I also headed back into the gym this morning for an upper body weights session - it has been soooo long since I've done one that I'm tempted to put out a missing persons report on my biceps ;-)
My trip to Nepal is now less than 4 weeks away - yippee! But before then, I've got a few road trips planned. Firstly, I'm temporarily relocating to the eastern suburbs next week (thanks E!) - soooo looking forward to spending my mornings in Centennial Park with Lulu & Ellie. Then next weekend Ellie & I are off to Port Mac for the IM. Looking forward to cheering on Borat, sorry I mean Miners, in his second IM and my uncle in his 5th (& what he tells me will be his last) IM. 2 weeks later Go Girl & I are off to Canberra for the marathon weekend where I'm going to chase (and hopefully keep up with!) Lulu in the 10k on the Saturday afternoon before cheering on all my friends in the marathon on Sunday. I'm excited :-)
L-R: Ellie, Go Girl, me, 2P, Owly & Lulu
Thankyou to everyone for your comments & congratulations - I truly appreciate it :-)
A few people have recently asked who my never-before-referred-to-by-name coach is. He's probably going to kick my arse for embarrassing him but I don't care :-) 2P has, for the last 15 months, counselled, encouraged, supported, advised, cajoled & bribed me & (when necessary) kicked my arse in an effort to get me to the starting line of Six Foot 2007. He has always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. Isaac Newton said it better than I can - "If I have seen further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." :-)
Enough of the mushy stuff - Becky O asked about whether I'd suffered from PSFS (Post Six Foot Syndrome). I did. Between the race itself, my holiday & a variety of other 'stuff', I hadn't given any thought to 'what next'. I have added to the very long list of lessons I've learned from this experience to always look at each event not as a destination (which is what I did for Six Foot) but as just another step in the journey. I have today finally removed the Six Foot course profile from the wall of my office & here at home & now have shifted my focus to my next big scary goal - 50k at Glasshouse in July :-) Yes, my approach to training & racing isn't particularly conventional but hey, I'm having fun !
My recovery from Six Foot has been somewhat passive. The DOMs (which wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected) had gone by Wednesday - my energy levels have been good - my left ITB however has been somewhat cranky. Oh well, I've enjoyed having an excuse to sleep in but now I'm really itching to get back into the training again. I went out for an easy 20mins last run - the ITB was certainly apparent but didn't worsen over the course of the run. It has however been a bit more grumpy with me than normal today. I also headed back into the gym this morning for an upper body weights session - it has been soooo long since I've done one that I'm tempted to put out a missing persons report on my biceps ;-)
My trip to Nepal is now less than 4 weeks away - yippee! But before then, I've got a few road trips planned. Firstly, I'm temporarily relocating to the eastern suburbs next week (thanks E!) - soooo looking forward to spending my mornings in Centennial Park with Lulu & Ellie. Then next weekend Ellie & I are off to Port Mac for the IM. Looking forward to cheering on Borat, sorry I mean Miners, in his second IM and my uncle in his 5th (& what he tells me will be his last) IM. 2 weeks later Go Girl & I are off to Canberra for the marathon weekend where I'm going to chase (and hopefully keep up with!) Lulu in the 10k on the Saturday afternoon before cheering on all my friends in the marathon on Sunday. I'm excited :-)
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
2007 Six Foot Track marathon - race report
*world's longest race report warning*
You have been warned.
I'll leave out all the pre & post race festivities & frivolities - this is going to be long enough without going into it all - suffice to say that I had a wonderful, fun & laughter filled weekend with a group of people who I have only met in the last year or two but who have come to mean the world to me.
Firstly thank you to everyone for your concerns. So many people came up to me after the race & said 'Jen I was really worried about you'. Thank you also for not sharing your concerns with me before the race!
Even the coach called my training for this event a 'dog's breakfast'. My longest run had been the Black Stump run (33k) on NYD. An injury started to creep in towards the end of January so that my last run over 20k was at the end of January. In fact, since then I think I had only run further than 10k no more than 3 times. I wasn't even sure I would start until about 10 days before the run. At least being 'overtrained' wasn't an issue ;-)
With that limited preparation in mind, I knew that I had to run it with my head. I had a conservative plan which I had to stick to in order to even give myself a chance of finishing. The plan was based on getting to Pluvio at 6:45 pace - 64mins to Megalong Road, 2 hours (cumulative) to Cox, 4 hours (cumulative) to Pluvio - and then hanging on. Looking at my splits after the race, I was actually behind them the whole way for one reason or another. I had eg allowed 22min to get to the Nellies Glen sign - in fact, at the back of Wave 4 it took 25:45! A few people have asked if I felt stressed or uncomfortable about being that close to the cut-off. In all honesty, I didn't think or worry about the cut-offs at all during the race. I knew what I had to do (my splits & aver pace for each section & the parts of the Track that were likely to throw out my averages) and simply focused on that. From the time I got the Nellies Glen sign for the rest of the race, I told myself that I had gone out more conservatively than planned so I would (I hoped) have a tad more energy coming home. Overriding all that, I knew that my attitude was crucial & that I had to stay strong mentally - amongst other things, I made sure I had fun by running into aid stations yelling "876 reporting for duty" or "876 checking in". You had to be there.
Anyway on with the race -
Saturday morning, I was woken by an SMS before the alarm went off. I felt strangely calm & centred all morning - I don't think I could believe that I was actually running! The only time I got a bit nervous was when Owly, in the car on the way to Catalina Park, started talking about how nervous she was about next years race!
After watching waves 1 - 3 start & jumping in at the front of the pack for the obligatory photo under the 'start' banner, I headed to the back of the pack. I had run the first section to Megalong Rd in training & had stuffed it up by going too quickly. I was not going to make that mistake again. I had Ewen's company for the first 3k or so. We got to the Nellies Glen sign in 25:25 - almost 4mins slower than planned. My mantra for the run down to Cox was 'effortless'. It was hard to resist the temptation to chase everyone who took off when we hit the fire trail but I did ("effortless Jen effortless") & settled into my own race. Good thing I did too because although I passed (literally only) 1 or 2 people, I ran by myself - with no one else in sight, ahead or behind - until the final aid station before Pluvio. I felt really comfortable out there on my lonesome.
Arrived at Megalong Road in 67:20 (3:20 outside schedule) and then set off towards Cox. I really enjoyed the run down to Cox - I love the downhill technical stuff. I remember thinking to myself what a blessing it was to be able to run this section by myself. Not because I avoided getting held up in a conga-line of runners but because it was quiet, peaceful & I could run my race.
I'm not sure what happened during this section - whether I was being too conservative or I switched off mentally but I arrived at Cox in 2:09:40 (9:40 behind schedule) - & and made what one of the firies said was one of the most delicate crossings.
I've never run with wet shoes before which made me a little nervous so I coated my feet in Bodyglide which worked - no blisters at all! I knew that I was pretty close to the cut-off but it didn't bother me as walking up hills is one of my strengths. So off I went humming 'she'll be walking up the mountain when she comes'. Owly & Cirque will understand ;-)
I won't deny that I wasn't unhappy to see the top of Mini Mini - that last section is a kicker - & then it was down down down to Alum River. Gosh it was wonderful to run again - at least until I almost ran over the top of something dead (I think it was the calf that 2P had previously mentioned). Ick. Oh the joys of trail running!
Arrived at the aid station with the sprinkler (Big River?), called out "876 checking in" & heard someone call out my name. And there was Go Girl sitting under a blanket. I had to do a double take. I couldn't believe it. Go Girl was (with 2P) instrumental in getting me to the start line - she & I had agreed to make Six Foot 2007 our goal way back in December 2005 when I was still 3mths away from running again thanks to my ITB problem. I walked over towards her (as she, with her wonderful grace & poise, told me that she was ok, not to worry about her & to keep running), stopped for a quick chat, gave her a cuddle & then turned back towards the road, vowing to finish the race for both of us. I pulled myself together & started running again. 30sec later Garmin Elektra flashed a 'low battery' warning. "Farkkkk. Deep breathe Jen. Remember cool, calm, collected, centred. It's ok. You can do this. Listen to your body & read the course. You don't need Elektra to do this'. Despite my lil pep talk, I was mighty relieved when Elektra stopped flashing at me & regained signal.
The climb to Pluvio was non-eventful - just one stop to take a rock out of my shoe. Ken Smith (CR Lastish) caught me at the last aid station before Pluvio. And then 500m before Pluvio, Cam Arnold - the 7 hour sweeper - caught us. I knew that he was ahead of schedule so I wasn't bothered. After a quick chat, I discovered that he was running an even pace for the whole race, whereas my plan was based on a 30/30/40 breakdown so I had some time up my sleeve.
We arrived at Pluvio at 4:07:55 (7:55 outside schedule). I suddenly realised that there had been no complaints from my piriformis or ITB which had caused me so much trouble over the last month - woohoo! In fact there had been no complaints at all - my body was feeling tired but good & I was still having fun.
After a cup of coke, I set out to run/walk my way along Black Range Road. I was actually surprised at how much of Black Range Road I was able to run. I kept repeating to myself "choose your walk breaks prudently - always look for the possibilities - no double digit splits". I started to pick people off along Black Range - that sounds terrible because I know they were hurting but I'd spot someone ahead & slowly but surely reel them in. Actually, I wasn't passed from the time I hit Black Range Rd until the other side of the Binda Cabins. Black Range came & went quickly - in fact, I missed the sign to the Moorara Boss Fire Trail completely & only saw the sign for the Mount Warlock Fire Trail when I stopped for a drink at the aid station.
I arrived at Deviation (woohoo) with 10.6k to go & stopped for a toilet break. By this stage, I was breaking everything down - only focusing on the next 3.2k until Caves Road crossing. And what a 3.2k they were. I almost lost a shoe in what turned out to be a tiny yet deep mud puddle. And that second hill! OMG. I arrived at the bottom, looked up & said (loudly) "you've got to farking kidding me" - the only time I let myself slip mentally during the race. There were 2 people walking up it at the time - a woman was actually trying to walk up it backwards! Although I was tired, fortunately I wasn't struggling as much as she was so I put my head down & walked strongly. One of the two people kindly told me as I passed half way I had just done the toughest part of the course between there & the finish. Good news indeed!
Woohoo - Caves Road crossing! Only 8k to go. About this time my left ITB (my good ITB!) started to bite. But I just ignored it - my leg would have had to fall off to stop me from finishing. And even then, I would have crawled the whole damn way. Those last 4.4k from the Binda Cabins aid station were the longest 4.4k of my life but I knew that I would soon hear the announcer.
Just before the left turn off the fire trail & onto the pathway, I heard Sparkie's voice. I knew there would be some of the cheer squad with him so I yelled out something about Sparkie having a loud voice. Turn left & there is Sparkie & Owly (with pom poms of course). Owly had been sitting. She stands up in excitement & falls over onto the track. For a moment I think that I'm going to have to hurdle over her 'cause there is no way I'm stopping now (sorry Owly) but fortunately for both of us she's on her feet quickly. I pass them & realise that both Sparkie & Owly are now running behind me. Sparkie sneaks past at some stage & takes off - meanwhile Owly is singing "she'll be running down the mountain when she comes" before going onto tell me about Fats' remarkable race. I sneak a peek over my left shoulder at Caves House - OMG! Then there is the sight - and noise - of the cheer squad at the bottom of the stairs. Incredible. I get goosebumps thinking about it even now.
Down the steps without falling & into the finish chute where I spot Spud hanging over the barricade, grinning madly. And then to finish off my race perfectly, I see Ellie standing there ready to give me my medal (and receive a very sweaty & teary hug - sorry!). I discover my dad is standing behind the barricade next to her - another sweaty & teary hug.
So I finished my first Six Foot Track in 6:50:06. One of my biggest battles with running has always been the (mental) limitations that I have placed on myself. So one of the things that excites me most about this run is not only that it came off the back of a rather limited preparation, but that it has opened my eyes as to what I might be capable of with a full and uninterrupted training program.
Apart from my left ITB getting cross with me over the last 5k, physically I had a great race - my piriformis & right ITB which caused me so much grief through January & February were fine. No blisters, no falls & no cramps either. I didn't actually take in much during the race - 4 GUs, about 400mls Powerade, 2 cups of coke, 2 pieces of watermelon & loads of water. I did feel a bit queasy through the Deviation section though I actually think it was because I couldn't get that sickly sweet taste out of my mouth. Ick.
A few thank yous just in case anyone is still reading this - Spud who first put the idea in my head. Horrie & Belinda for your incredible faith & confidence in me. The PG - I can't begin to describe how much you all mean to me. Go Girl - such grace, strength & support. 2P for teaching me (amongst many other things) that I can because I can accept it if I don't.
I've recovered pretty well from this crazy adventure. My left ITB doesn't like walking down stairs right now but other than some DOMS & my cold making a bit of a resurgence, that's it :-)
My next big adventure is my trip to Nepal which is in a months time so my focus until then is recovering from Six Foot and possibly running the 10k at Canberra. I haven't decided yet on a longer term goal but I've got a few ideas.....
Edit: photos updated
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Mission accomplished - Six Foot Track 2007
I have had such an amazing weekend and I'm not just referring to the race. I spent the weekend in a beautiful part of the world with some of my favourite people without whose faith, support, love & encouragement I would not have achieved a goal I set for myself 15 months ago.
I haven't had much time to myself this weekend to begin to digest yesterday's events - finishing my first Six Foot Track marathon (not to mention my first ultra!) in 6:50:06. I think a few photos can tell the story better than I can right now - full race report to follow soon.
Sneaking in the front to get a photo under the start banner...
Where's Jen? Can you tell I was a bit happy to be there?
Owly ran behind me singing "she'll be running down the mountain when she comes" while filling me in on Fats' amazing race over the last couple of hundred metres...
Mission accomplished!
I haven't had much time to myself this weekend to begin to digest yesterday's events - finishing my first Six Foot Track marathon (not to mention my first ultra!) in 6:50:06. I think a few photos can tell the story better than I can right now - full race report to follow soon.
Sneaking in the front to get a photo under the start banner...
Where's Jen? Can you tell I was a bit happy to be there?
Owly ran behind me singing "she'll be running down the mountain when she comes" while filling me in on Fats' amazing race over the last couple of hundred metres...
Mission accomplished!
Friday, March 09, 2007
T'was the night before Six Foot & all through the house....
Jen was running around like a madwoman trying to pack after CityRail thwarted my efforts to do so last night...
Anyhoo, it's done. I'm packed & ready & waiting for Alfie (otherwise known as the Lulumobile) to pick me up shortly for the trip up to Katoomba ahead of the race tomorrow.
I thought I'd be a bundle of nerves today but even despite developing a headcold yesterday, I'm feeling calm & centred today. I had a great nights sleep & am feeling more rested today than I have in a while. Mind you, it's entirely possible that I'll be reduced to a blabbering bundle of nervous energy by the time I get to the Edge Cinema to pick up my race pack in an hour!
My preparation has been far from ideal - but as the coach would say 'it is what it is'. Given the last few weeks, even starting this race is an achievement. I'm so happy that I even have the opportunity & privilege of doing so. I know it will be the toughest thing I've ever done but I'm ready for, and looking forward to, the challenge -
The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further or box better. Hoppie's dictum to me: 'First with the head and then with heart' was more than simply mixing brains with guts. It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts.
Bring. It. On. :-)
Ciao - see you on the other side ;-)
Anyhoo, it's done. I'm packed & ready & waiting for Alfie (otherwise known as the Lulumobile) to pick me up shortly for the trip up to Katoomba ahead of the race tomorrow.
I thought I'd be a bundle of nerves today but even despite developing a headcold yesterday, I'm feeling calm & centred today. I had a great nights sleep & am feeling more rested today than I have in a while. Mind you, it's entirely possible that I'll be reduced to a blabbering bundle of nervous energy by the time I get to the Edge Cinema to pick up my race pack in an hour!
My preparation has been far from ideal - but as the coach would say 'it is what it is'. Given the last few weeks, even starting this race is an achievement. I'm so happy that I even have the opportunity & privilege of doing so. I know it will be the toughest thing I've ever done but I'm ready for, and looking forward to, the challenge -
The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further or box better. Hoppie's dictum to me: 'First with the head and then with heart' was more than simply mixing brains with guts. It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts.
Bring. It. On. :-)
Ciao - see you on the other side ;-)
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Preparing to launch
The rollercoaster continues. Monday I think the realisation that I was absolutely, most definitely starting Six Foot started to sink in & I was very nervous all day. Let's just say it was not my most productive day at work. Tuesday, I was just a wee bit less nervous. Today, I am feeling cool, calm, collected, centred & ready - at least until I start reading all the threads on CR & then I get nervous. Gawd knows what emotion tomorrow will bring. Thankfully I've got Friday off work to sleep in & relax a little.
Anyhoo back to the week. After Ellie's birthday dinner on Monday night, I was homeless so thankfully Lulu & WTR took pity on me & took me home with them to their lovely abode (thanks!). This meant that Lulu & I were able to go for a run together on Tuesday morning. It's been far too long since we last ran together - during 9k at the Blackmores Festival in September I think! We left Lulu's house at the decadent hour of 6.15am (at which time I'd normally be getting in my post-run shower at Penriff) for a lap & a bit of Centennial Park. What a lovely way to start the day - a run before daylight with wonderful company. Thanks L! I was a wee bit flat during the run but woke up feeling extremely hungry so perhaps I didn't eat enough at dinner the night before. Accordingly to Garmin Elektra, we finished with 6.7k in 43:28min (aver 6.29min/k).
MTD: 21.7k
So that's it. No more running for me before Saturday. I had kinda sorta pencilled in a mini-run on Thursday morning but I now have a final tune-up visit to Saint Andrew planned for Thursday afternoon which means I have a 25mins walk to the station to do instead. Carb loading started today & I'm sick of water already!
I'm off to organise my gear for the weekend. The only thing I'm undecided on is which of 3 tops to wear. They are all red (of course) - my shoes are red too - so colour won't be a consideration ;-) Think I'll just pack all 3 & decide the night before. Typical female I know!
3 sleeps to go now - as Kit would say, I'm Big Kev excited now :-)
Bring. It. On. I'm ready :-)
Anyhoo back to the week. After Ellie's birthday dinner on Monday night, I was homeless so thankfully Lulu & WTR took pity on me & took me home with them to their lovely abode (thanks!). This meant that Lulu & I were able to go for a run together on Tuesday morning. It's been far too long since we last ran together - during 9k at the Blackmores Festival in September I think! We left Lulu's house at the decadent hour of 6.15am (at which time I'd normally be getting in my post-run shower at Penriff) for a lap & a bit of Centennial Park. What a lovely way to start the day - a run before daylight with wonderful company. Thanks L! I was a wee bit flat during the run but woke up feeling extremely hungry so perhaps I didn't eat enough at dinner the night before. Accordingly to Garmin Elektra, we finished with 6.7k in 43:28min (aver 6.29min/k).
MTD: 21.7k
So that's it. No more running for me before Saturday. I had kinda sorta pencilled in a mini-run on Thursday morning but I now have a final tune-up visit to Saint Andrew planned for Thursday afternoon which means I have a 25mins walk to the station to do instead. Carb loading started today & I'm sick of water already!
I'm off to organise my gear for the weekend. The only thing I'm undecided on is which of 3 tops to wear. They are all red (of course) - my shoes are red too - so colour won't be a consideration ;-) Think I'll just pack all 3 & decide the night before. Typical female I know!
3 sleeps to go now - as Kit would say, I'm Big Kev excited now :-)
Bring. It. On. I'm ready :-)
Sunday, March 04, 2007
All systems are GO
Wow. So much has happened since my last post. It's been a big week - a couple of late (and big) nights including a dinner with my folks to celebrate my dad's retirement and then on Friday an overhang, a fractured tooth while eating my lunch on Friday & an argument with a doctor who wanted to give me one of my vaccinations for my trip to Nepal next Friday (ie the day before Six Foot). When I told him that I couldn't have one the day before the race, he said to me (with a straight face) "what does it matter if you have a bad reaction to it & have to pull out at the last minute - it's not like you are going to win, is it?". I kid you not.
So far as running - and Six Foot - is concerned, it's actually been a great week. Although I haven't said much about it, there has been considerable doubt in mind over the last few weeks about whether I'd even start Six Foot thanks to my piriformis & ITB problems. Not being able to run 8k without pain does that to ya. But it's made a HUGE improvement this week so I will now certainly being lining up at the start of Six Foot in 6 sleeps time :-) I don't know how the day will unfold but regardless, I know that I have done everything I could have done (under the circumstances) to be ready & however it unfolds, I know it will be a big achievement :-)
Monday & Tuesday were rest days. Wednesday morning I was up at 4.30am to run before work. It was a bit of a struggle to get out of bed after getting very little sleep. Took a slightly more rolling course (ever so slightly) than Sunday. Although my ITB was still gumbling, it certainly had improved since Sunday's long run. And my glute/piriformis was fine - no niggles from it at all for the first time in what feels like a very long time. Happy days :-) Finished with 7.84k in 49:45mins (ave 6:20k/min).
Total for February then is 85.52k. Significantly down on January but ya get that ;-)
I went out for a long run on Saturday morning so as to give me maximum recovery time before Six Foot. I need some sleep after a big week so I decided to sleep in & then head out for a run whenever I woke up. Didn't seem much point in going out early to avoid the hot weather given next Saturday is unlikely to be anything than other bloody hot! So it was 9.30am before I finally rolled out the door - only to be stopped in my tracks by Garmin Elektra who wouldn't wake from her slumber. Ai ai ai. So I headed back into the house & grabbed an old sports watch - it was actually nice to run without knowing the pace. I just listened to my body & ran how I felt.
The plan was 12k - in the end according to gMaps I finished with just under 15k in 1:36 (including walking through drinks 'stops' & road crossings) and, most importantly, with absolutely no niggles or complaints from either my ITB or piriformis/glute. I could be happier right now.
Today after a lazy morning (great to see you E!) I decided it was far too hot for a spin outside so I set up the trainer in front of the TV & did 50mins at 75-80% MHR. Great way to end a fantastic weekend :-)
Not long now !
So far as running - and Six Foot - is concerned, it's actually been a great week. Although I haven't said much about it, there has been considerable doubt in mind over the last few weeks about whether I'd even start Six Foot thanks to my piriformis & ITB problems. Not being able to run 8k without pain does that to ya. But it's made a HUGE improvement this week so I will now certainly being lining up at the start of Six Foot in 6 sleeps time :-) I don't know how the day will unfold but regardless, I know that I have done everything I could have done (under the circumstances) to be ready & however it unfolds, I know it will be a big achievement :-)
Monday & Tuesday were rest days. Wednesday morning I was up at 4.30am to run before work. It was a bit of a struggle to get out of bed after getting very little sleep. Took a slightly more rolling course (ever so slightly) than Sunday. Although my ITB was still gumbling, it certainly had improved since Sunday's long run. And my glute/piriformis was fine - no niggles from it at all for the first time in what feels like a very long time. Happy days :-) Finished with 7.84k in 49:45mins (ave 6:20k/min).
Total for February then is 85.52k. Significantly down on January but ya get that ;-)
I went out for a long run on Saturday morning so as to give me maximum recovery time before Six Foot. I need some sleep after a big week so I decided to sleep in & then head out for a run whenever I woke up. Didn't seem much point in going out early to avoid the hot weather given next Saturday is unlikely to be anything than other bloody hot! So it was 9.30am before I finally rolled out the door - only to be stopped in my tracks by Garmin Elektra who wouldn't wake from her slumber. Ai ai ai. So I headed back into the house & grabbed an old sports watch - it was actually nice to run without knowing the pace. I just listened to my body & ran how I felt.
The plan was 12k - in the end according to gMaps I finished with just under 15k in 1:36 (including walking through drinks 'stops' & road crossings) and, most importantly, with absolutely no niggles or complaints from either my ITB or piriformis/glute. I could be happier right now.
Today after a lazy morning (great to see you E!) I decided it was far too hot for a spin outside so I set up the trainer in front of the TV & did 50mins at 75-80% MHR. Great way to end a fantastic weekend :-)
Not long now !
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