With apologies to FDR,
"It is not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends herself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if she fails, at least she fails while daring greatly, so that her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
Friday, March 31, 2006
Back in the swim of things....
Just a quick post tonight - it's now 9.32pm; I've spent over an hour on the phone to Bigpond after my broadband died (grrrr), I've still got to throw my stuff together for our road trip this weekend (can't forget the pom-poms or the camera!), ice my slightly tender shin and I need some beauty sleep because I have to be on a train at - wait for it - 6.12am! Yes, we cheerleaders are a committed bunch!
Activity: swimming
Time: 5.30am
Duration: ?
Distance: 1km
After swimming something like 16kms in January while I was injured, I haven't set foot in the pool since! Decided to head to the pool today to give my legs a bit more of a rest. I have to say that I have pulled up really well after yesterday's run - my legs aren't feeling beaten up at all :-)
I didn't realise that I was still feeling the effects of Wednesday nights upper body session with Satan until I tried to swim. It hurt. My shoulders & back burned the whole bloody way. It was one very long and painful kilometre.....
Very excited about our roadtrip up to Port Macquarie tomorrow to cheer on Sunday's IM event :-) Full report & photos to follow next week!!
Activity: swimming
Time: 5.30am
Duration: ?
Distance: 1km
After swimming something like 16kms in January while I was injured, I haven't set foot in the pool since! Decided to head to the pool today to give my legs a bit more of a rest. I have to say that I have pulled up really well after yesterday's run - my legs aren't feeling beaten up at all :-)
I didn't realise that I was still feeling the effects of Wednesday nights upper body session with Satan until I tried to swim. It hurt. My shoulders & back burned the whole bloody way. It was one very long and painful kilometre.....
Very excited about our roadtrip up to Port Macquarie tomorrow to cheer on Sunday's IM event :-) Full report & photos to follow next week!!
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Be brave....
Wednesday 29 March - a Saint and Satan...
Had to leave home at 6.20am this morning in order to make it to Concord to see Saint Andrew at 8.15am - but he's worth it. He's a saint after all ;-) Had some x-rays taken which should make very interesting viewing when I head back to see him on Monday morning...
Activity: weights with Satan
Time: 6.30pm
Duration: 30mins
Another really tough upper body circuit with Satan. I felt weak but the reps and weights didn't reflect that:
* assisted chin ups
* prone hold with toes on a swiss ball;
* reverse flyes;
* single arm shoulder press while standing on one foot;
* crunches,
repeated 3 times.
Very excited about the CR cheersquads road trip to Port Macquarie for the Ironman this weekend :-)
Wednesday 30 March - yes, you guessed it: another RUN!
WOOHOO
Activity: run
Time: 5.30am
Duration: 25mins + 20mins walk warm-up & cool down
Up at 5.30am for yet another run. The plan was to do 5 x 5mins runs with a 1min walk recovery but I felt so good that it ended up being 2 x 12min 30sec run with a 1mins walk recovery (+ calf stretching time in the middle). Don't worry - I'm not pushing it. It was a slow pace and I felt GOOD :-) (Edit: approx. 4kms)
I was a bit worried about my right shin yesterday - it had one rather tender spot - but after icing last night and this morning, it's feeling fine today :-)
Did I mention that I'm one rather happy gal? :-)
Had to leave home at 6.20am this morning in order to make it to Concord to see Saint Andrew at 8.15am - but he's worth it. He's a saint after all ;-) Had some x-rays taken which should make very interesting viewing when I head back to see him on Monday morning...
Activity: weights with Satan
Time: 6.30pm
Duration: 30mins
Another really tough upper body circuit with Satan. I felt weak but the reps and weights didn't reflect that:
* assisted chin ups
* prone hold with toes on a swiss ball;
* reverse flyes;
* single arm shoulder press while standing on one foot;
* crunches,
repeated 3 times.
Very excited about the CR cheersquads road trip to Port Macquarie for the Ironman this weekend :-)
Wednesday 30 March - yes, you guessed it: another RUN!
WOOHOO
Activity: run
Time: 5.30am
Duration: 25mins + 20mins walk warm-up & cool down
Up at 5.30am for yet another run. The plan was to do 5 x 5mins runs with a 1min walk recovery but I felt so good that it ended up being 2 x 12min 30sec run with a 1mins walk recovery (+ calf stretching time in the middle). Don't worry - I'm not pushing it. It was a slow pace and I felt GOOD :-) (Edit: approx. 4kms)
I was a bit worried about my right shin yesterday - it had one rather tender spot - but after icing last night and this morning, it's feeling fine today :-)
Did I mention that I'm one rather happy gal? :-)
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
ITB? What ITB?
I wasn't going to mention TPC today but I couldn't let a comment made by my massage therapist this afternoon pass by. She said when referring to TPC (and I quote) "your ITB is fantastic". And yes, she was referring to the correct leg! My response: "are you sure?". I almost skipped back to the office. Almost, but not quite :-) Now I can't get too excited because I still have the funky hip/groin/adductor problem which I think caused TPC to have a tantrum in the first place but I couldn't help be a v. happy gal after this news...
Activity: run
Time: 6.30am
I decided to head to the oval this morning for today's run as my legs were feeling a bit beaten up this morning. And what a good decision it was. There was a mist this morning which appeared to have settled in the centre of the oval and was accentuated by the white picket fence surrounding the oval. Simply divine.
Anyhoo, an easy 20mins around the oval. All bits & pieces (including my cardio fitness) felt good. A wonderful way to start a day!
Activity: run
Time: 6.30am
I decided to head to the oval this morning for today's run as my legs were feeling a bit beaten up this morning. And what a good decision it was. There was a mist this morning which appeared to have settled in the centre of the oval and was accentuated by the white picket fence surrounding the oval. Simply divine.
Anyhoo, an easy 20mins around the oval. All bits & pieces (including my cardio fitness) felt good. A wonderful way to start a day!
Monday, March 27, 2006
Satan returns....
My lower legs are feeling pretty beaten up today but TPC is behaving herself so I can't complain too much. Definitely heading back to the oval for tomorrow's run...
Activity: weights with Satan
Time: 5pm
Duration: 30mins
Satan has returned from her holiday so it was back to the gym tonight for a session designed to torture my core/abs...a circuit of:
* lunges;
* adductor exercise with a swiss ball;
* supine single leg extensions off a bench;
* oblique exercise using the swiss ball; and
* some other core/abs exercise using a swiss ball*,
repeated 3 times.
Tough as always - but thankfully, I've done my work while she was away; otherwise this would really have hurt! Finished with 18mins on the bike (L7, 95RPMs, 4.92kms) (that spin class is getting closer!) and 20mins of stretching.
An easy 20mins around the oval tomorrow morning followed by a much-needed massage later in the day...
* gee I have a way with words today (not)...at least I know what I mean...
Activity: weights with Satan
Time: 5pm
Duration: 30mins
Satan has returned from her holiday so it was back to the gym tonight for a session designed to torture my core/abs...a circuit of:
* lunges;
* adductor exercise with a swiss ball;
* supine single leg extensions off a bench;
* oblique exercise using the swiss ball; and
* some other core/abs exercise using a swiss ball*,
repeated 3 times.
Tough as always - but thankfully, I've done my work while she was away; otherwise this would really have hurt! Finished with 18mins on the bike (L7, 95RPMs, 4.92kms) (that spin class is getting closer!) and 20mins of stretching.
An easy 20mins around the oval tomorrow morning followed by a much-needed massage later in the day...
* gee I have a way with words today (not)...at least I know what I mean...
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Herb Elliott & I...
For 2P - a running related post for once ;-)
Saturday 25 March 2005 - a date with a Saint...
Rolled out of bed early to met The Owl outside the Drummoyne Rowers at 8am to catch up with everyone who ran the CR 5km challenge - not to mention, joining them for breakfast ;-) I never cease to walk away from any gathering of CRs with a spring in my step; I always feel a little more inspired and uplifted after spending time with such a positive and supportive group of people. The Owl & I have decided to do our own non-challenge next month - we'll run the 5km at the same time the 'challenge' is on but at our own easy recovery from injury/illness pace so we have a legit excuse for joining breakfast ;-)
I had to leave breakfast a little early to head over to Concord for my date with Saint Andrew, the chiro who helped 2P with his 6ft campaign given his ITB problems. My 45mins initial consultation turned into 1hr 15mins. I've never had a more comprehensive assessment before.I'm going back on Wednesday morning for some x-rays and a few more tests before we'll start talking about adjustments. He is holding off forming any conclusions about my 'issues' (yes, there are several) until all the tests are done but he is of the (preliminary) view that my orthotics might be wrong for me.....
My running-related day continued when I headed out to Penriff for my sister-in-law-to-be-one-day's surprise birthday party where I spent a couple of hours talking to my uncle (the IM) about 6ft, triathlons, IMs and all things running related. It turns out that he has actually qualified for the Tri World Championships which are being held later in the year in Switzerland - not bad for an old man eh ;-) He tells me that he has one more IM left in him (he has done 5) & I've promised to be there to see it. I just hope he chooses somewhere cool to do it ;-)
Sunday 26 March 2005 - Herb Elliott & I...
From the SMH 18/2/2006:
"The great Herb Elliott, never beaten over a mile, recalls the key to what he was told by his legendary coach, Percy Cerutty: "The only way a human being can grow is to be outside your comfort zone. That is what I carried through every training session and every race. I carry it still."
Today's run reminded me of reading this last week. After 4 months off running thanks to TPC, I have come to realise that every run is a good run - but geez, this one was tough. The weather (very warm), having very little sleep over the last few nights, eating far too much food last night & being very dehydrated today (not helped by lots of wine last night) did not help. Anyhoo I pushed through and finished the session I had planned - 5 x 5mins run with 1min walk recovery (50mins session in total).
Tough but TPC behaved herself so I'm happy. However I'm not convinced that I like (or my shins are happy with) my new shoes. Mmmmm.
This week: let's see - I didn't get my swim in but I did manage:
1 x pilates
2 x runs
2 x weights sessions
The week ahead might look like this...
Monday - Satan returns!
Tuesday - run (20mins on the oval) + massage
Wednesday - Satan + Saint Andrew
Thursday - run (25mins)
Friday - swim
Saturday - run (25mins) then the CR roadtrip to Port Macquarie for the IM!
Sunday - rest & cheersquad duties at IM!
Saturday 25 March 2005 - a date with a Saint...
Rolled out of bed early to met The Owl outside the Drummoyne Rowers at 8am to catch up with everyone who ran the CR 5km challenge - not to mention, joining them for breakfast ;-) I never cease to walk away from any gathering of CRs with a spring in my step; I always feel a little more inspired and uplifted after spending time with such a positive and supportive group of people. The Owl & I have decided to do our own non-challenge next month - we'll run the 5km at the same time the 'challenge' is on but at our own easy recovery from injury/illness pace so we have a legit excuse for joining breakfast ;-)
I had to leave breakfast a little early to head over to Concord for my date with Saint Andrew, the chiro who helped 2P with his 6ft campaign given his ITB problems. My 45mins initial consultation turned into 1hr 15mins. I've never had a more comprehensive assessment before.I'm going back on Wednesday morning for some x-rays and a few more tests before we'll start talking about adjustments. He is holding off forming any conclusions about my 'issues' (yes, there are several) until all the tests are done but he is of the (preliminary) view that my orthotics might be wrong for me.....
My running-related day continued when I headed out to Penriff for my sister-in-law-to-be-one-day's surprise birthday party where I spent a couple of hours talking to my uncle (the IM) about 6ft, triathlons, IMs and all things running related. It turns out that he has actually qualified for the Tri World Championships which are being held later in the year in Switzerland - not bad for an old man eh ;-) He tells me that he has one more IM left in him (he has done 5) & I've promised to be there to see it. I just hope he chooses somewhere cool to do it ;-)
Sunday 26 March 2005 - Herb Elliott & I...
From the SMH 18/2/2006:
"The great Herb Elliott, never beaten over a mile, recalls the key to what he was told by his legendary coach, Percy Cerutty: "The only way a human being can grow is to be outside your comfort zone. That is what I carried through every training session and every race. I carry it still."
Today's run reminded me of reading this last week. After 4 months off running thanks to TPC, I have come to realise that every run is a good run - but geez, this one was tough. The weather (very warm), having very little sleep over the last few nights, eating far too much food last night & being very dehydrated today (not helped by lots of wine last night) did not help. Anyhoo I pushed through and finished the session I had planned - 5 x 5mins run with 1min walk recovery (50mins session in total).
Tough but TPC behaved herself so I'm happy. However I'm not convinced that I like (or my shins are happy with) my new shoes. Mmmmm.
This week: let's see - I didn't get my swim in but I did manage:
1 x pilates
2 x runs
2 x weights sessions
The week ahead might look like this...
Monday - Satan returns!
Tuesday - run (20mins on the oval) + massage
Wednesday - Satan + Saint Andrew
Thursday - run (25mins)
Friday - swim
Saturday - run (25mins) then the CR roadtrip to Port Macquarie for the IM!
Sunday - rest & cheersquad duties at IM!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Now is the winter of our discontent...
Thursday 23 March 2006 - legless...
Activity: weights (lower body)
Time: 6.15am
Duration: 40mins
Headed to the gym this morning for a lower body weights session before work. A circuit of:
* 45 degree leg press;
* hamstring curls on the swiss ball;
* single legs squats on the side of the step (focusing on VMO);
* some bridge move on a swiss ball for my glutes;*
* squats with a medicine ball squished between my knees (again, with a VMO focus);
* straight arm prone hold - toes on swiss (60sec) followed by toes on ground (60sec),
repeated twice.
Not surprisingly - another tough session. Increasing the weights on the leg press and adding the 3rd exercise to focus on my VMOs just about destroyed my quads which I really noticed when I had to walk up 4 flights of stairs to get to CR drinks that night....God I hate those stairs ! Finished the session (in the gym, not at the bar) with 16mins on the bike (L7, 90RPMs) and 25mins of stretches.
It was wonderful to catch up with everyone at drinks - though the fun (!) really started when I got home at 12.30am to discover that I was locked out of the house and Mr Jen was very soundly asleep inside it. Grrrrr.
Friday 24 March 2006 - swim, nah make that a rest day...
No exercise today. Too tired. Will do 30mins of stretches tonight.
* don't you love my highly technical names for things...
Activity: weights (lower body)
Time: 6.15am
Duration: 40mins
Headed to the gym this morning for a lower body weights session before work. A circuit of:
* 45 degree leg press;
* hamstring curls on the swiss ball;
* single legs squats on the side of the step (focusing on VMO);
* some bridge move on a swiss ball for my glutes;*
* squats with a medicine ball squished between my knees (again, with a VMO focus);
* straight arm prone hold - toes on swiss (60sec) followed by toes on ground (60sec),
repeated twice.
Not surprisingly - another tough session. Increasing the weights on the leg press and adding the 3rd exercise to focus on my VMOs just about destroyed my quads which I really noticed when I had to walk up 4 flights of stairs to get to CR drinks that night....God I hate those stairs ! Finished the session (in the gym, not at the bar) with 16mins on the bike (L7, 90RPMs) and 25mins of stretches.
It was wonderful to catch up with everyone at drinks - though the fun (!) really started when I got home at 12.30am to discover that I was locked out of the house and Mr Jen was very soundly asleep inside it. Grrrrr.
Friday 24 March 2006 - swim, nah make that a rest day...
No exercise today. Too tired. Will do 30mins of stretches tonight.
* don't you love my highly technical names for things...
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Time to take this show on the road....
After discussing the issue with my mentor/guru yesterday, I decided that it was time that I graduated from the oval and got back on the road. Let's face it, I could keep running around and around in circles around the ever-darker oval but that would be boring.
So the plan for this morning was 4 x 5min run with a 1min walking recovery. Given that I live in one of Sydney's hilliest suburbs, finding a flat bit of road to run on not far from home (just in case I had to bail...) was pretty bloody hard so in the end I did an 5mins out & back in either direction from home.
Very pleased to report that TPC was happy; no discomfort at all! *yippee* My cardio fitness felt good - there is something to be said for walking breaks - though my legs were getting tired towards the end. Happy days :-)
Edit: headed to the gym tonight for an upper body weights session - a circuit of:
* reverse dumbbell flyes (increased to 7kgs);
* single arm cable rows;
* barbell bicep curls;
* single arm lying tricep extensions;
* lat pulldowns; and
* internal/external rotator cuff stuff,
repeated twice. Tough, particularly given I increased the weight on the first exercise in the rotation. Nice way to end a good day :-)
So the plan for this morning was 4 x 5min run with a 1min walking recovery. Given that I live in one of Sydney's hilliest suburbs, finding a flat bit of road to run on not far from home (just in case I had to bail...) was pretty bloody hard so in the end I did an 5mins out & back in either direction from home.
Very pleased to report that TPC was happy; no discomfort at all! *yippee* My cardio fitness felt good - there is something to be said for walking breaks - though my legs were getting tired towards the end. Happy days :-)
Edit: headed to the gym tonight for an upper body weights session - a circuit of:
* reverse dumbbell flyes (increased to 7kgs);
* single arm cable rows;
* barbell bicep curls;
* single arm lying tricep extensions;
* lat pulldowns; and
* internal/external rotator cuff stuff,
repeated twice. Tough, particularly given I increased the weight on the first exercise in the rotation. Nice way to end a good day :-)
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Change of plans....
It's Tuesday morning and already my program for the week has been thrown out:
Monday 20 March 2006 - pilates
Bumped (briefly) into FPT on the way out of the office tonight. Did a pilates class tonight (instead of my planned upper body session) at the suggestion of a girlfriend. Great - and tough - class. It's been a while since I did one and I was a bit nervous given the last class I did aggrevated TPC a little but I'm happy to say that she (TPC) was fine.
Great run from Craig Mottram in 5km at the Com Games. 2.35mins/kms - wow!
Tuesday 21 March 2006 - rest day
Last night my heart said I should run this morning; my head said walk - and, for once, I listened to my head. One of the moves in Pilates last night highlighted the fact that I've still got the funky hip/groin/adductor problem which either caused or contributed to TPC's appearance - meaning I've still got a lot of work to do before I'll be back to running at 100%.
Anyhoo, my (alternate) plan to go for a walk this morning went out the window to when I woke this morning to the sound of heavy rain. Now I lurve running in the rain but hate walking in it so I stayed in bed for a bit longer before getting up & doing 30mins stretching. Will head out for a run tomorrow morning....
Monday 20 March 2006 - pilates
Bumped (briefly) into FPT on the way out of the office tonight. Did a pilates class tonight (instead of my planned upper body session) at the suggestion of a girlfriend. Great - and tough - class. It's been a while since I did one and I was a bit nervous given the last class I did aggrevated TPC a little but I'm happy to say that she (TPC) was fine.
Great run from Craig Mottram in 5km at the Com Games. 2.35mins/kms - wow!
Tuesday 21 March 2006 - rest day
Last night my heart said I should run this morning; my head said walk - and, for once, I listened to my head. One of the moves in Pilates last night highlighted the fact that I've still got the funky hip/groin/adductor problem which either caused or contributed to TPC's appearance - meaning I've still got a lot of work to do before I'll be back to running at 100%.
Anyhoo, my (alternate) plan to go for a walk this morning went out the window to when I woke this morning to the sound of heavy rain. Now I lurve running in the rain but hate walking in it so I stayed in bed for a bit longer before getting up & doing 30mins stretching. Will head out for a run tomorrow morning....
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Mrs McCann, take a bow!
Wow. What a morning. I had planned to get up early to go for a run before watching both marathons at the Com Games but instead I rolled out of bed at 9.15am and just managed to make it to the couch (with coffee in hand) in time for the start of the womens race at 9.30. Although the coverage was pretty ordinary, the women’s race was fantastic. For the last 3 kms, I couldn’t sit still – I ended up standing next to the couch, yelling at the TV, trying to will Kerryn across the line. It obviously worked ;-)
What a race it was – the lead changed something like 6 times within the last km. I had tears in my eyes and goosebumps watching her cross the line and her post-race interview. All of our runners (both male and female) did us proud :-)
Anyhoo, I went out for my much delayed run at about 5.15pm this afternoon. Another 15mins walk to warm up followed by another 20min run around the local oval (followed by 30mins of stretching when I got home). It felt physically harder than Thursday mornings run but I think I was pushing it at a slightly faster pace. While I am still feeling v. unfit, I am pretty pleased with my progress; both physcially and mentally. Might be time to think leaving the oval and returning to the road next weekend (she says with fingers crossed…)
The week ahead:
Monday – weights
Tuesday – run
Wednesday – weights
Thursday – run (+ CR drinks!)
Friday – weights
Saturday – rest + visit to Saint Andrew (the chiro who helped 2P with his 6ft campaign)
Sunday – run
plus I want to squeeze in a swim and a walk or two (just not quite sure where yet....)
What a race it was – the lead changed something like 6 times within the last km. I had tears in my eyes and goosebumps watching her cross the line and her post-race interview. All of our runners (both male and female) did us proud :-)
Anyhoo, I went out for my much delayed run at about 5.15pm this afternoon. Another 15mins walk to warm up followed by another 20min run around the local oval (followed by 30mins of stretching when I got home). It felt physically harder than Thursday mornings run but I think I was pushing it at a slightly faster pace. While I am still feeling v. unfit, I am pretty pleased with my progress; both physcially and mentally. Might be time to think leaving the oval and returning to the road next weekend (she says with fingers crossed…)
The week ahead:
Monday – weights
Tuesday – run
Wednesday – weights
Thursday – run (+ CR drinks!)
Friday – weights
Saturday – rest + visit to Saint Andrew (the chiro who helped 2P with his 6ft campaign)
Sunday – run
plus I want to squeeze in a swim and a walk or two (just not quite sure where yet....)
Friday, March 17, 2006
Friday night and the lights are low....
I had a chat to the Satanic Spin Instructor this morning in the gym and told her that I'll be back next month. I am sooooo looking forward to that!
Activity: weights (lower body)
Time: 6am
Duration: 45mins
Headed to the gym before work today for a lower body session including:
2 sets x 45 degree leg press;
2 sets x hamstring curls on the swiss ball;
2 sets x squats with a medicine ball squished between my knees (to focus on my VMO),
and two other exercises I've since forgotten.
Followed it up with 14mins on the bike (L6, increasing to L7 @ 8mins; 90 RPMs) and 30mins of stretching. Lovely way to start a Friday....
I had planned to go for a swim tomorrow but my head cold is actually worse today than it has been for the last few days so I think I'll be keeping well away from all public pools until I'm back to 100%...
Edit: iced my knee earlier tonight and was just about to do it again when I noticed that my right knee (TPC) is noticeably warmer than the other.....I assume that's a sign of inflammation or somethin'. Bugger. Off to get some more ice...
Activity: weights (lower body)
Time: 6am
Duration: 45mins
Headed to the gym before work today for a lower body session including:
2 sets x 45 degree leg press;
2 sets x hamstring curls on the swiss ball;
2 sets x squats with a medicine ball squished between my knees (to focus on my VMO),
and two other exercises I've since forgotten.
Followed it up with 14mins on the bike (L6, increasing to L7 @ 8mins; 90 RPMs) and 30mins of stretching. Lovely way to start a Friday....
I had planned to go for a swim tomorrow but my head cold is actually worse today than it has been for the last few days so I think I'll be keeping well away from all public pools until I'm back to 100%...
Edit: iced my knee earlier tonight and was just about to do it again when I noticed that my right knee (TPC) is noticeably warmer than the other.....I assume that's a sign of inflammation or somethin'. Bugger. Off to get some more ice...
Thursday, March 16, 2006
I'm back baby...
I refuse to continue counting my pain-free runs (it's a bit negative me thinks) so instead, I'm just going to say that I went for a RUN this morning *yippee* Can't begin to describe how happy I am to be able to say that....
Activity: run
Time: 6.15am
Duration: 20mins
Kookaburras: several
After my usual 15mins warm-up walk, I set out to run laps of the oval again. 20mins passed by so quickly. My fitness is lacking but that will come with time. I'm a v. happy gal :-)
I actually had quite a leisurely morning; I spent most of the day at a seminar which started at 9am so I went for my run, came home (passing Mr Jen in the hallway as he went to work) and did a leisurely 30mins of stretching before sitting down at the 'puter to eat my breakfast and catch up on CR before climbing on a bus at 8.45am! I could get used to this!
I'm happy to say that there were no blond moments or shoe sagas today so I went to the gym tonight to make up for missing last nights session:
Activity: weights
Time: 6.30pm
Duration: 40mins
My usual upper-body session today:
* reverse dumbbell flyes;
* single arm cable rows;
* barbell bicep curls;
* single arm lying tricep extensions;
* lat pulldowns;
* internal/external rotator cuff stuff,
repeated twice.
A tough - and fun - session. I was able to increase the weight on the tricep extension and I think its about time to increase the weight on the flyes....
Will ice TPC tonight (just as a precaution) before heading to the gym in the morning for a lower body session...
Activity: run
Time: 6.15am
Duration: 20mins
Kookaburras: several
After my usual 15mins warm-up walk, I set out to run laps of the oval again. 20mins passed by so quickly. My fitness is lacking but that will come with time. I'm a v. happy gal :-)
I actually had quite a leisurely morning; I spent most of the day at a seminar which started at 9am so I went for my run, came home (passing Mr Jen in the hallway as he went to work) and did a leisurely 30mins of stretching before sitting down at the 'puter to eat my breakfast and catch up on CR before climbing on a bus at 8.45am! I could get used to this!
I'm happy to say that there were no blond moments or shoe sagas today so I went to the gym tonight to make up for missing last nights session:
Activity: weights
Time: 6.30pm
Duration: 40mins
My usual upper-body session today:
* reverse dumbbell flyes;
* single arm cable rows;
* barbell bicep curls;
* single arm lying tricep extensions;
* lat pulldowns;
* internal/external rotator cuff stuff,
repeated twice.
A tough - and fun - session. I was able to increase the weight on the tricep extension and I think its about time to increase the weight on the flyes....
Will ice TPC tonight (just as a precaution) before heading to the gym in the morning for a lower body session...
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
For a redhead, I'd make a great blond*
Another shoe saga for me today. D'oh. God knows what's going on; I'm not normally so "blond"* I had planned to go to the gym tonight for an upper body weights session but instead, I left my gym shoes at home. Grrrrrr. So what did I do instead - work late :-( and then came home and did 40mins of stretching :-) so it wasn't a complete loss.
Despite drinking 2+ lts of water after yesterday's massage, taking magnesium and sleeping in my skins (such a sexy look - not), my legs and in particular my adductors were feeling v. battered after yesterday's massage so I went for a walk this morning for 30mins. A v. easy session but it served it's purpose - to stretch my legs and warm up for the 40mins stretching session which followed.
My legs have loosened up considerably during the course of the day so I'm off for another run in the morning. *Yippee*
* No offence to any blonds reading. Some of my best friends are blonds, truly...
Despite drinking 2+ lts of water after yesterday's massage, taking magnesium and sleeping in my skins (such a sexy look - not), my legs and in particular my adductors were feeling v. battered after yesterday's massage so I went for a walk this morning for 30mins. A v. easy session but it served it's purpose - to stretch my legs and warm up for the 40mins stretching session which followed.
My legs have loosened up considerably during the course of the day so I'm off for another run in the morning. *Yippee*
* No offence to any blonds reading. Some of my best friends are blonds, truly...
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Understatement of the year!
Taken from R4YL - and I quote "this muscle [TFL] is utilised constantly during running and unless looked after, it will haunt you". No joke. I think my battles with TPC over the last 7 months are pretty bloody good evidence of that...
Activity: pain-free run #3
Time: 6.15am
Duration: 15mins
I have to say that I am really beginning to miss (and looking forward to reinstating) my v. scenic ;-) Tuesday morning laps of the Bay. After being injured for so long, every run is a good run - but still running round and round in circles while counting kookaburra sightings (4 today; sorry no photos DCG) is a little unexciting...
I must admit that I was a little nervous about this run as TPC was a little tight when I tortured it with the rolling pin last night but I'm happy to say that it was fine this morning - no complaints at all :-) My fitness also seems to be improving noticeably already - I was able to pick up the pace this morning a little this morning from my usual slow shuffle *yippee*
Edit: head cold was no problem this morning - hopefully it stays that way.
Spent my lunch hour (+ a little bit longer) getting tortured by the Satanic Massage Therapist; can't complain too much. TPC is on the improve and life is good :-)
Activity: pain-free run #3
Time: 6.15am
Duration: 15mins
I have to say that I am really beginning to miss (and looking forward to reinstating) my v. scenic ;-) Tuesday morning laps of the Bay. After being injured for so long, every run is a good run - but still running round and round in circles while counting kookaburra sightings (4 today; sorry no photos DCG) is a little unexciting...
I must admit that I was a little nervous about this run as TPC was a little tight when I tortured it with the rolling pin last night but I'm happy to say that it was fine this morning - no complaints at all :-) My fitness also seems to be improving noticeably already - I was able to pick up the pace this morning a little this morning from my usual slow shuffle *yippee*
Edit: head cold was no problem this morning - hopefully it stays that way.
Spent my lunch hour (+ a little bit longer) getting tortured by the Satanic Massage Therapist; can't complain too much. TPC is on the improve and life is good :-)
Monday, March 13, 2006
I feel the need, the need for speed....
I was doped up on cold & flu tablets today. You gotta love pseudoephdrine (can I even say that without having the drug squad turn up at the front door?) Anyhoo, thanks to the said drugs, I actually felt human today AND managed to have one of most productive days at work ever. Neat ;-)
Judging how I felt today (when the drugs wore off), I might actually change the program & make this week an easy/recovery week in the hope that I'm back to 100% next week.... We'll see.
Activity: weights with Satan
Time: 4.30pm
Duration: 30mins
My last session with Satan for 2 weeks as she is heading off on holidays. How rude. I'm going to have to torture myself now ;-)
A really tough session - I think the cold & flu tablets started to wear off in the middle of it - an upper body circuit consisting of:
* assisted chin ups
* prone hold with toes on a swiss ball - try it (but only if you have a strong core); it's nasty!
repeated twice and
* a twisting oblique move (I'm yet to learn the name of) with a swiss ball;
* reverse bent-over flyes;
* single arm dumbell shoulder press while standing on one foot...
repeated twice....
Finished my visit to the gym with 12mins on the bike (L6, 90RPMs) and 20mins of stretching..then it was back to work :-(
TPC tells me that she is very much looking forward to her outing tomorrow morning. Interestingly there is an article in R4YL which arrived today on my TFL which Jen is very much looking forward to reading about given her problems with it recently...
Judging how I felt today (when the drugs wore off), I might actually change the program & make this week an easy/recovery week in the hope that I'm back to 100% next week.... We'll see.
Activity: weights with Satan
Time: 4.30pm
Duration: 30mins
My last session with Satan for 2 weeks as she is heading off on holidays. How rude. I'm going to have to torture myself now ;-)
A really tough session - I think the cold & flu tablets started to wear off in the middle of it - an upper body circuit consisting of:
* assisted chin ups
* prone hold with toes on a swiss ball - try it (but only if you have a strong core); it's nasty!
repeated twice and
* a twisting oblique move (I'm yet to learn the name of) with a swiss ball;
* reverse bent-over flyes;
* single arm dumbell shoulder press while standing on one foot...
repeated twice....
Finished my visit to the gym with 12mins on the bike (L6, 90RPMs) and 20mins of stretching..then it was back to work :-(
TPC tells me that she is very much looking forward to her outing tomorrow morning. Interestingly there is an article in R4YL which arrived today on my TFL which Jen is very much looking forward to reading about given her problems with it recently...
Sunday, March 12, 2006
A 6ft hangover
What an incredible day yesterday was. Unfortunately I've woken up this morning (Sunday) with a nasty head cold and am feeling pretty bloody ordinary right now so I can't be bothered writing a long post....
Saturday
Spent Saturday cheering at the Six Foot Track marathon which is a 45kms race through the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and is generally considered Australia's toughest marathon.
Friday night I left work and headed to my folks place at Penriff - at the base of the Blue Mountains - so it was only an easy 50min drive to the start on Saturday morning.
I arrived at the start at about 7am and caught up my fellow cheerleaders Lulu, Go Girl (with Go Baby in tow) and The Owl. After chatting to a few people, we saw the runners head off and then headed to Blackheath for breakfast - fruit toast and coffee, yum! After that, it was back in the car for a convoy to the finish at Jenolan Caves which trip took close to an hour, arriving with about 30mins to spare before the winner came in, and caught up with a group of Striders-girls who were also acting as cheerleaders for the day.
An incredible day - I can't begin to explain the atmosphere at the finish line. There is something about watching people (particularly those you know) achieving their goals and dreams which never ceases to inspire me. I got goose-bumps a number of times during the afternoon, particularly when 2p crossed the line so strongly after a nasty battle with his ITB in recent weeks.
This quote which I recently read I think sums up the amazing performances that I saw yesterday:
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE TO A WILLING HEART
You can do anything in this world you want to do, but you must want to do it badly enough.
You really can have everything you want, if you go after it. You have to want it. The first ingredient of success is desire. Your desire for success must be so strong within you that it's the very breath of your life. It must be your first thought when you wake in the morning, and your last thought when you go to bed at night.
You can be whatever you make up your mind to be. What's in your mind is all that counts!
I have put this quote in my diary. Yesterday has only fueled my desire to achieve my goals this year. I have got a lot of work to do but BRING IT ON!
Sunday
Head cold + rest for TPC after lots of standing & walking up and down hills yesterday = rest day.
Hopefully this head cold is only a short one - After watching the amazing performances of so many of my friends yesterday, I've had one major dose of motiviation to recover from this injury and get on with it myself:
Monday: weights with Satan
Tuesday: run (15mins) + massage
Wednesday: weights
Thursday: run (20mins)
Friday: swim (40mins)
Saturday: rest
Sunday: run (17.30mins)
So much for my short post!
Saturday
Spent Saturday cheering at the Six Foot Track marathon which is a 45kms race through the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and is generally considered Australia's toughest marathon.
Friday night I left work and headed to my folks place at Penriff - at the base of the Blue Mountains - so it was only an easy 50min drive to the start on Saturday morning.
I arrived at the start at about 7am and caught up my fellow cheerleaders Lulu, Go Girl (with Go Baby in tow) and The Owl. After chatting to a few people, we saw the runners head off and then headed to Blackheath for breakfast - fruit toast and coffee, yum! After that, it was back in the car for a convoy to the finish at Jenolan Caves which trip took close to an hour, arriving with about 30mins to spare before the winner came in, and caught up with a group of Striders-girls who were also acting as cheerleaders for the day.
An incredible day - I can't begin to explain the atmosphere at the finish line. There is something about watching people (particularly those you know) achieving their goals and dreams which never ceases to inspire me. I got goose-bumps a number of times during the afternoon, particularly when 2p crossed the line so strongly after a nasty battle with his ITB in recent weeks.
This quote which I recently read I think sums up the amazing performances that I saw yesterday:
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE TO A WILLING HEART
You can do anything in this world you want to do, but you must want to do it badly enough.
You really can have everything you want, if you go after it. You have to want it. The first ingredient of success is desire. Your desire for success must be so strong within you that it's the very breath of your life. It must be your first thought when you wake in the morning, and your last thought when you go to bed at night.
You can be whatever you make up your mind to be. What's in your mind is all that counts!
I have put this quote in my diary. Yesterday has only fueled my desire to achieve my goals this year. I have got a lot of work to do but BRING IT ON!
Sunday
Head cold + rest for TPC after lots of standing & walking up and down hills yesterday = rest day.
Hopefully this head cold is only a short one - After watching the amazing performances of so many of my friends yesterday, I've had one major dose of motiviation to recover from this injury and get on with it myself:
Monday: weights with Satan
Tuesday: run (15mins) + massage
Wednesday: weights
Thursday: run (20mins)
Friday: swim (40mins)
Saturday: rest
Sunday: run (17.30mins)
So much for my short post!
Friday, March 10, 2006
'Twas the night before 6ft & all through the house....
not a creature was stirring; except for Jen_runs :-)
It's the night before 6ft* and I am excited :-) I love 6ft - and I say that as a spectator, volunteer (last year) and cheersquad member! It's 10pm and I should be in bed - I need to be in the car by 6am tomorrow to head up to cheer on all my friends and some fellow bloggers but here I am; at the computer, faithfully blogging my adventures! And yes, the camera is packed and there will be photos!
Anyhoo let's talk about my exercise for a moment:
Activity: weights
Time: 1.30pm
Duration: 40mins
I managed to escape the office (just) around lunchtime today to head to the gym. My shoe saga continues - today, I got in the lift, went down 18 levels, walked through the building, turned right and started walking down the street and got about 30m before I remembered that I had forgotten to pick up my shoes which were still in my office. D'uh! So back I went back to the office to get my shoes and made the mistake of checking my emails - 30mins and 2 urgent emails lately, I finally escaped the office and made it to the gym.
I wanted to do a lower body session but given yesterday's run and massage, I figured my legs needed a recovery day so another upper body session it was:
* reverse dumbbell flyes;
* single arm cable rows;
* barbell bicep curls;
* single arm lying tricep extensions;
* lat pulldowns;
* internal/external rotator cuff stuff,
repeated twice - the same session as Monday. I had a couple of urgent things sitting on my desk so I didn't have much time to be inventive. Nonetheless, a tough session - I increased the weight on both the bicep curls and lat pulldowns and completed almost full sets on the new weights- happy days!
Off to bed now - full 6ft report to follow tomorrow!
* for those who don't know about the mystique & magic that is 6ft, you'll have to wait another day - I'll fill you in tomorrow :-)
Edit: DGC - I'll take my camera next time and get a photo for you :-)
It's the night before 6ft* and I am excited :-) I love 6ft - and I say that as a spectator, volunteer (last year) and cheersquad member! It's 10pm and I should be in bed - I need to be in the car by 6am tomorrow to head up to cheer on all my friends and some fellow bloggers but here I am; at the computer, faithfully blogging my adventures! And yes, the camera is packed and there will be photos!
Anyhoo let's talk about my exercise for a moment:
Activity: weights
Time: 1.30pm
Duration: 40mins
I managed to escape the office (just) around lunchtime today to head to the gym. My shoe saga continues - today, I got in the lift, went down 18 levels, walked through the building, turned right and started walking down the street and got about 30m before I remembered that I had forgotten to pick up my shoes which were still in my office. D'uh! So back I went back to the office to get my shoes and made the mistake of checking my emails - 30mins and 2 urgent emails lately, I finally escaped the office and made it to the gym.
I wanted to do a lower body session but given yesterday's run and massage, I figured my legs needed a recovery day so another upper body session it was:
* reverse dumbbell flyes;
* single arm cable rows;
* barbell bicep curls;
* single arm lying tricep extensions;
* lat pulldowns;
* internal/external rotator cuff stuff,
repeated twice - the same session as Monday. I had a couple of urgent things sitting on my desk so I didn't have much time to be inventive. Nonetheless, a tough session - I increased the weight on both the bicep curls and lat pulldowns and completed almost full sets on the new weights- happy days!
Off to bed now - full 6ft report to follow tomorrow!
* for those who don't know about the mystique & magic that is 6ft, you'll have to wait another day - I'll fill you in tomorrow :-)
Edit: DGC - I'll take my camera next time and get a photo for you :-)
Thursday, March 09, 2006
My guardians...
Apologies everyone - I've just realised how long my last 3 posts were so I'm going to make this really short and sweet:
* my body is fighting off an assault from all angles at the moment - the girls in the offices either side of me at work at sick, as is Mr Jen.... I have a sore throat but hopefully it won't progress :-(
* I ran this morning watched over by my guardians - 4 kookaburras who sat on the top of the sight-screen and watched me run round in circles. Actually they weren't really there to watch me - they were looking for worms and other critters for breakfast on the grass of the oval
* did I mention that I ran today? 17mins 30sec - without stopping and pain-free. Needless to say, I'm pretty bloody pleased...
* had a massage this afternoon - need to spend some time focusing on stretching my hips, groin and adductors (my adductors in particular I think are a big factor of TPC's appearance);
* but the TPC is a little funky at the moment. Over the last days, TPC has been making a few complaints when walking up stairs. The 'funkiness' is at the top of kneecap; a new spot for TPC to make its presence known. Not sure what's going on but I'm being very careful and conscious of it....
* my body is fighting off an assault from all angles at the moment - the girls in the offices either side of me at work at sick, as is Mr Jen.... I have a sore throat but hopefully it won't progress :-(
* I ran this morning watched over by my guardians - 4 kookaburras who sat on the top of the sight-screen and watched me run round in circles. Actually they weren't really there to watch me - they were looking for worms and other critters for breakfast on the grass of the oval
* did I mention that I ran today? 17mins 30sec - without stopping and pain-free. Needless to say, I'm pretty bloody pleased...
* had a massage this afternoon - need to spend some time focusing on stretching my hips, groin and adductors (my adductors in particular I think are a big factor of TPC's appearance);
* but the TPC is a little funky at the moment. Over the last days, TPC has been making a few complaints when walking up stairs. The 'funkiness' is at the top of kneecap; a new spot for TPC to make its presence known. Not sure what's going on but I'm being very careful and conscious of it....
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Food, glorious food
I have to tell you about my lunch today. I had the world's best salad. You know, one of those 'design your own salad'. Now it wasn't the world's best because I designed it (it was delish though!) but because:
(a) it was huge - I was full by the time I'd eaten half of it; and
(b) they didn't fill it with lettuce and then give you a single corn kernel, a single piece of shredded carrot and half a mushroom. Instead it was full of the good stuff with only a little bit of the boring stuff (ie lettuce).
It quite simply rocked! Happy days. And BTW, I had iceberg lettice, carrot, corn, cucumber, mushrooms, grilled chicken, egg and pumpkin. Did I mention it rocked? Tomorrow, I might add some chickpeas or maybe pasta or maybe avocado or maybe......
Activity: weights with Satan
Time: 6.30pm
Duration: 30mins
I arrived in the gym tonight to discover that I had managed to bring different shoes - ie, one Brooks Trance and on Asics something-or-other. After a moment or two of swearing under my breath, I discovered that I had actually managed to pick up a left and a right shoe! So there was nothing to be done other than put my mismatched shoes on and head out to meet Satan. It was such a good look - I wonder how long it will take to catch on as the latest 'cool' fashion... If and when you see it in Vogue, you'll know where it came from ;-)
Satan had a lower body and (predominately) core session tonight - I love doing ab/core stuff; my core strength is the thing that I am most proud of after my back problems 2 years ago. If I could only get rid of a layer of padding, I'd have a 4-pack :-)
T'was a circuit consisted of:
* weighted squats with a barbell (weight increased on the second set);
* a leg lowering-core exercise off the end of the bench;
* a funky core exercise - prone hold with toes on a swiss ball, then bending your legs so your knees touched the ground (god knows what it's called);
* an oblique exercise using the swiss ball;
* some other nasty core exercise that I've since forgotten,
repeated twice. Nasty session but god, it was great !
Followed up with 10mins on the bike (L5, 85RPMs). Very easy in fact; I don't think my heartrate moved but the session served its purpose - I just wanted to get my legs moving again on the bike. Now to give myself a goal to return to spin classes, I've decided that April 19 has a nice ring to it. That's 6 weeks. TPC is looking forward to it. Don't worry, I'll be careful and sensible...
"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom"
(a) it was huge - I was full by the time I'd eaten half of it; and
(b) they didn't fill it with lettuce and then give you a single corn kernel, a single piece of shredded carrot and half a mushroom. Instead it was full of the good stuff with only a little bit of the boring stuff (ie lettuce).
It quite simply rocked! Happy days. And BTW, I had iceberg lettice, carrot, corn, cucumber, mushrooms, grilled chicken, egg and pumpkin. Did I mention it rocked? Tomorrow, I might add some chickpeas or maybe pasta or maybe avocado or maybe......
Activity: weights with Satan
Time: 6.30pm
Duration: 30mins
I arrived in the gym tonight to discover that I had managed to bring different shoes - ie, one Brooks Trance and on Asics something-or-other. After a moment or two of swearing under my breath, I discovered that I had actually managed to pick up a left and a right shoe! So there was nothing to be done other than put my mismatched shoes on and head out to meet Satan. It was such a good look - I wonder how long it will take to catch on as the latest 'cool' fashion... If and when you see it in Vogue, you'll know where it came from ;-)
Satan had a lower body and (predominately) core session tonight - I love doing ab/core stuff; my core strength is the thing that I am most proud of after my back problems 2 years ago. If I could only get rid of a layer of padding, I'd have a 4-pack :-)
T'was a circuit consisted of:
* weighted squats with a barbell (weight increased on the second set);
* a leg lowering-core exercise off the end of the bench;
* a funky core exercise - prone hold with toes on a swiss ball, then bending your legs so your knees touched the ground (god knows what it's called);
* an oblique exercise using the swiss ball;
* some other nasty core exercise that I've since forgotten,
repeated twice. Nasty session but god, it was great !
Followed up with 10mins on the bike (L5, 85RPMs). Very easy in fact; I don't think my heartrate moved but the session served its purpose - I just wanted to get my legs moving again on the bike. Now to give myself a goal to return to spin classes, I've decided that April 19 has a nice ring to it. That's 6 weeks. TPC is looking forward to it. Don't worry, I'll be careful and sensible...
"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom"
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Friday night and the lights are low....
Monday 6 March - a happy camper :-)
I pulled up pretty well after Sunday mornings little adventure. Strangely my left hip was a little funky & I had a bit of DOMS in both my adductors and shin muscles (whatever they are called); my shins however were fine *phew*. One of my concerns about getting back to running is my history of shin splints and I confess that I haven't been doing my shin/calf exercises lately. Opps. Another thing to add to the list of things to do to bring consistency to my life... TPC however was fine; no tightness whatsoever (*yippee).
Activity: weights
Time: 6.30pm
Duration: 45mins
Headed to the gym tonight for a weights session by myself. Gave my legs a rest by doing an upper body circuit of:
* reverse dumbbell flyes;
* single arm cable rows;
* barbell bicep curls;
* single arm lying tricep extensions;
* lat pulldown;
* internal & external rotator cuff thingys,
repeated twice.
A pretty tough session; managed to increase the weights on a couple of exercises which was good. Finished the day with 30mins of stretches in front of the TV while Mr Jen cooked a baked dinner - yum!
Tuesday 7 March - on the road again...
Activity: walk
Time: 5.45am
Duration: 45mins
Given the DOMS I decided against another run today and instead went out for a 'power walk' (gosh, I hate that phrase). I walked past my oval where I usually do my runs - it's unlit and almost pitch-black so I'm not sure what I'll do about Thursday's session. Just as I thought to myself "you'd be mad to run there in the dark; you'll break something", in the darkness I could just work out the figures of two people running laps around the oval. Blokes of course ;-)
A pretty uneventful walk, accompanied for the first time since before Christmas by my iPod. Helps to drown out the noise along Military Road....
TPC has been a bit funky tonight; nothing drastic - just a touch of tightness that wasn't there yesterday. C'est la vie. That will happen I suppose...
It's only taken me 2 days but now I've finally worked out what I'm doing for the rest of the week:
Wednesday: weights with Satan + 10mins bike (easy and subject to the TPC pulling its proverbial head in)
Thursday: run (17.30mins) + a much needed massage for my back, neck, ITB and other assorted unhappy pieces...
Friday: weights session (upper body)
Saturday: rest day - cheerleading duties at 6ft
Sunday: run (20mins) (subject to the TPC's reaction to Saturday's activities)
Off to research a little race later in the year that I have my eye firmly on....
I pulled up pretty well after Sunday mornings little adventure. Strangely my left hip was a little funky & I had a bit of DOMS in both my adductors and shin muscles (whatever they are called); my shins however were fine *phew*. One of my concerns about getting back to running is my history of shin splints and I confess that I haven't been doing my shin/calf exercises lately. Opps. Another thing to add to the list of things to do to bring consistency to my life... TPC however was fine; no tightness whatsoever (*yippee).
Activity: weights
Time: 6.30pm
Duration: 45mins
Headed to the gym tonight for a weights session by myself. Gave my legs a rest by doing an upper body circuit of:
* reverse dumbbell flyes;
* single arm cable rows;
* barbell bicep curls;
* single arm lying tricep extensions;
* lat pulldown;
* internal & external rotator cuff thingys,
repeated twice.
A pretty tough session; managed to increase the weights on a couple of exercises which was good. Finished the day with 30mins of stretches in front of the TV while Mr Jen cooked a baked dinner - yum!
Tuesday 7 March - on the road again...
Activity: walk
Time: 5.45am
Duration: 45mins
Given the DOMS I decided against another run today and instead went out for a 'power walk' (gosh, I hate that phrase). I walked past my oval where I usually do my runs - it's unlit and almost pitch-black so I'm not sure what I'll do about Thursday's session. Just as I thought to myself "you'd be mad to run there in the dark; you'll break something", in the darkness I could just work out the figures of two people running laps around the oval. Blokes of course ;-)
A pretty uneventful walk, accompanied for the first time since before Christmas by my iPod. Helps to drown out the noise along Military Road....
TPC has been a bit funky tonight; nothing drastic - just a touch of tightness that wasn't there yesterday. C'est la vie. That will happen I suppose...
It's only taken me 2 days but now I've finally worked out what I'm doing for the rest of the week:
Wednesday: weights with Satan + 10mins bike (easy and subject to the TPC pulling its proverbial head in)
Thursday: run (17.30mins) + a much needed massage for my back, neck, ITB and other assorted unhappy pieces...
Friday: weights session (upper body)
Saturday: rest day - cheerleading duties at 6ft
Sunday: run (20mins) (subject to the TPC's reaction to Saturday's activities)
Off to research a little race later in the year that I have my eye firmly on....
Sunday, March 05, 2006
I'm back baby !
I have an announcement to make - I ran 15mins (with a 1min walk break somewhere in the middle) PAIN FREE this morning !
WOOHOO :-)
I can't begin to tell you when happy I am today.
When I crawled into bed last night (actually I think it was the early hours of this morning), I was kind of dreading having to get up early to go for a run. Must have been numerous glasses of wine talking 'cause as soon as the alarm this morning I was up and out of bed, feeling everything from nervous to excited about heading out for a run as a part of comeback no. 2
After a 12mins walk to warm up, I set out to run laps on the grass around my local oval. I took a 1min walking break at about the 8.30min mark because of a lack of fitness but finished quite strongly. TPC behaved herself very well; there was none of the generalised tightness that I experienced during comeback no.1. There was a slight niggle in my knee as soon as I stopped running but it was gone by the time I had walked across the oval. Normally I'd stop to (briefly) stretch my calves, glutes & ITB straight after running and before finishing off my session with a bit more of a walk. However just for something new, this time I decided not to stop to stretch and instead to "stretch out" my legs by walking for a further 15mins (42mins session in total) before stretching and icing TPC when I got home. Even now, hours later after walking up and down numerous flights of stairs, TPC has still been on her best behaviour. To say I'm a happy gal would be an understatement.
Edit: very happy with my new snazzy (though not so clean anymore) shoes :-)
My wonderful day continue when Mr and Mrs Lulu hosted a "runners" lunch (which Mr Lulu's delightful mother 'crashed' and listened to us talk about - yes, you guessed it - running!) for Mr and Mrs Wildthing, Mr and Mrs Kit, The Owl, Don Juan, Go Girl and myself. A wonderful afternoon with great company, great food and great wine.
I've been on an emotional rollercoaster over the last 4 months - can you believe that it has been 4 months (as at next Saturday) since I pulled out of the CC Half? A wise friend asked me on Friday to think about what I can do to find some consistency, both physically and mentally which proved to be a tough question to answer - however this is, I think, what I need to do:
* make more time to read (in addition to my travelling time). Reading seems to 'centre' me. Maybe it's the escapism element?
* make sure I read my health and fitness magazines. There a couple of magazines that I buy (including R4YL and RW). I always feel more focused and motivated after reading them. The last few months editions are currently located in a big pile in the lounge room gathering dust;
* not get stressed about planning the wedding - it's supposed to be a fun time, not a stressful one;
* exercise at least 5 times per week;
* stretch every day;
* focus on slowly building up my fitness, particularly on the bike and the elliptical machine. My goal is a return to my beloved spin classes. I need to set a date for achieving this goal; I'll think about it and get back to you....
That's all I've come with up so far. I'll think about it more over the course of this week....
My draft schedule for the week ahead looks like this (final schedule is waiting confirmation from my 'guru'):
Monday: upper body weights session OR pilates + cardio (16mins elliptical)
Tuesday: TBC
Wednesday: weights session with Satan + 10mins bike
Thursday: TBC
Friday: lower body weights session
Saturday: cheerleading duties at 6ft track!
Sunday: run (TBC)
WOOHOO :-)
I can't begin to tell you when happy I am today.
When I crawled into bed last night (actually I think it was the early hours of this morning), I was kind of dreading having to get up early to go for a run. Must have been numerous glasses of wine talking 'cause as soon as the alarm this morning I was up and out of bed, feeling everything from nervous to excited about heading out for a run as a part of comeback no. 2
After a 12mins walk to warm up, I set out to run laps on the grass around my local oval. I took a 1min walking break at about the 8.30min mark because of a lack of fitness but finished quite strongly. TPC behaved herself very well; there was none of the generalised tightness that I experienced during comeback no.1. There was a slight niggle in my knee as soon as I stopped running but it was gone by the time I had walked across the oval. Normally I'd stop to (briefly) stretch my calves, glutes & ITB straight after running and before finishing off my session with a bit more of a walk. However just for something new, this time I decided not to stop to stretch and instead to "stretch out" my legs by walking for a further 15mins (42mins session in total) before stretching and icing TPC when I got home. Even now, hours later after walking up and down numerous flights of stairs, TPC has still been on her best behaviour. To say I'm a happy gal would be an understatement.
Edit: very happy with my new snazzy (though not so clean anymore) shoes :-)
My wonderful day continue when Mr and Mrs Lulu hosted a "runners" lunch (which Mr Lulu's delightful mother 'crashed' and listened to us talk about - yes, you guessed it - running!) for Mr and Mrs Wildthing, Mr and Mrs Kit, The Owl, Don Juan, Go Girl and myself. A wonderful afternoon with great company, great food and great wine.
I've been on an emotional rollercoaster over the last 4 months - can you believe that it has been 4 months (as at next Saturday) since I pulled out of the CC Half? A wise friend asked me on Friday to think about what I can do to find some consistency, both physically and mentally which proved to be a tough question to answer - however this is, I think, what I need to do:
* make more time to read (in addition to my travelling time). Reading seems to 'centre' me. Maybe it's the escapism element?
* make sure I read my health and fitness magazines. There a couple of magazines that I buy (including R4YL and RW). I always feel more focused and motivated after reading them. The last few months editions are currently located in a big pile in the lounge room gathering dust;
* not get stressed about planning the wedding - it's supposed to be a fun time, not a stressful one;
* exercise at least 5 times per week;
* stretch every day;
* focus on slowly building up my fitness, particularly on the bike and the elliptical machine. My goal is a return to my beloved spin classes. I need to set a date for achieving this goal; I'll think about it and get back to you....
That's all I've come with up so far. I'll think about it more over the course of this week....
My draft schedule for the week ahead looks like this (final schedule is waiting confirmation from my 'guru'):
Monday: upper body weights session OR pilates + cardio (16mins elliptical)
Tuesday: TBC
Wednesday: weights session with Satan + 10mins bike
Thursday: TBC
Friday: lower body weights session
Saturday: cheerleading duties at 6ft track!
Sunday: run (TBC)
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Wise words to start the weekend...
I love this -
There can be no courage when there is no confidence or self belief.
Half the battle is won in your own conviction that you can accomplish what you begin.
Confidence does not come out of nowhere. It is the result of constant work and dedication.
Day by day, step by step, one stroke at a time, you will find yourself accomplishing things easily and confidently.
It is then that you'll achieve things that you never thought you could do.
Have a great Saturday everyone!
There can be no courage when there is no confidence or self belief.
Half the battle is won in your own conviction that you can accomplish what you begin.
Confidence does not come out of nowhere. It is the result of constant work and dedication.
Day by day, step by step, one stroke at a time, you will find yourself accomplishing things easily and confidently.
It is then that you'll achieve things that you never thought you could do.
Have a great Saturday everyone!
Friday, March 03, 2006
The long awaited update !
OMG, I can't believe it's been 10 days since I last updated. Don't ya hate it when life gets in the way. Anyhoo instead of boring y'all (and me for that matter) to tears, I'll keep this brief.
I'm not even going to bother doing a recap for the month of February. Let's just write that month off - put it this way, I didn't get into the pool once in the month of February! Lucky I'm not one of those silly triathletes eh? *kidding*
The rest of last week (Wed 1 - Sun 5) was marked, quite simply, by chaos. I had Friday off work so in an attempt to cram 6 days work into 4 (not to mention having to leave the office at 7pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights because of various birthday & in-law dinners), I skipped both a planned session with Satan on Wednesday night and a walk on Thursday morning in favour of spending the extra time in the office.
I was however lucky enough to spend last weekend on a property on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales with no TV, radio or mobile phone reception. Ok, so having an encounter (my first ever!) with a leech wasn't so lucky, but that's life I suppose. It was quite simply bliss (the no-technology part; not the leech...) and a much needed break from the madness. I took my camera but, alas, forgot to pack either my spare batteries or my battery charger. D'oh.
This week has been no less crazy but I have (so far) managed to squeeze 4 sessions in. Very little in light of what I was doing late last year but more than I've done in a long time.
Monday was an upper body & abs circuit with Satan - a particularly nasty one too; I was still sore around the shoulders on Wednesday night which was very unusual. From what I remember (writing this 4 days later) the session included:
* assisted chin ups;
* bent-over reserve flyes;
* prone hold balancing my toes on a swiss ball;
* seated military press;
* some other ab/core exercise I've since forgotten,
repeated 3 times.
Finished with 15mins on the elliptical machine. Oh man, I'm unfit! No complaints from The Problem Child (TPC aka my knee/ITB) either!
Tuesday - 45mins walk around the 'hood. A relatively flat course with a few (small) inclines. Still no complaints from TPC.
Wednesday was, thanks to work, a rest day. Between a 4 hour seminar in the morning and a 2 1/2 seminar at night, I needed to spend the rest of my waking hours in the office :-(
Thursday - I wasn't able to get an appointment to see Satan today so, with fingers crossed, I took myself off for a lower body session at the gym - circuited consisted of:
* 45 degree (incline) leg press;
* hamstring curls on the swiss ball;
* lunges with the backfoot on a bench;
* prone hold with toes balancing on the swiss ball (60sec) immediately followed by prone hold on knees (60sec),
repeated twice.
For fear of upsetting TPC too much, I skipped the elliptical machine and went home and did all my stretches while watching Lost. Happy to say TPC behaved itself magnificently :-)
Today - Friday - has been a great day. A 40min walk this morning on the same course as Tuesday, a productive day in the office and (the best news of all) I've found my running mojo in a pair of Mizano's at lunchtime. I've been feeling very flat so far as my running is concerned lately (as you could probably tell). I'm almost shamed to admit it but reading about the successes of my friends in particular has been getting me down (while I'm v. happy for them, I feel only more frustrated about my own position). However as a very dear friend reminded me this week, you only get one shot at things so I decided to pull my finger out and get back on the road.
First stop was for a new pair of shoes because my old running shoes (which I've been wearing on my walks and to the gym over the last few months) are well and truly dead. I know I should only wear them running but hey, it's now been 4 months since I did much of that! I found my mojo the minute I walked into the shop. I feel excited about the prospect of running; it's been a long time since I felt that way :-) You gotta love retail therapy!
Alas, they aren't red - instead racing orange (and yes, I'm wearing them as I type!) They look like very fast shoes to me - I think they and TPC are going to have a long and loving relationship:
Interesting the dude in the shop suggested that my old Brooks Trance may have been a bit too much support when combined with my orthotics. Who knows but RIP Trance. Vive la Mizuno :-)
How cool are the heels?
Tomorrow - Saturday - will be another rest day. I'll be doing wedding organising 'stuff' tomorrow morning down at our reception venue, spending a couple of hours in the office tomorrow afternoon and then a(nother) birthday dinner for a friend tomorrow night. Sunday however my new babies and I will be spending a little time at a local oval together. Stay tuned. I'm back baby!
I'm not even going to bother doing a recap for the month of February. Let's just write that month off - put it this way, I didn't get into the pool once in the month of February! Lucky I'm not one of those silly triathletes eh? *kidding*
The rest of last week (Wed 1 - Sun 5) was marked, quite simply, by chaos. I had Friday off work so in an attempt to cram 6 days work into 4 (not to mention having to leave the office at 7pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights because of various birthday & in-law dinners), I skipped both a planned session with Satan on Wednesday night and a walk on Thursday morning in favour of spending the extra time in the office.
I was however lucky enough to spend last weekend on a property on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales with no TV, radio or mobile phone reception. Ok, so having an encounter (my first ever!) with a leech wasn't so lucky, but that's life I suppose. It was quite simply bliss (the no-technology part; not the leech...) and a much needed break from the madness. I took my camera but, alas, forgot to pack either my spare batteries or my battery charger. D'oh.
This week has been no less crazy but I have (so far) managed to squeeze 4 sessions in. Very little in light of what I was doing late last year but more than I've done in a long time.
Monday was an upper body & abs circuit with Satan - a particularly nasty one too; I was still sore around the shoulders on Wednesday night which was very unusual. From what I remember (writing this 4 days later) the session included:
* assisted chin ups;
* bent-over reserve flyes;
* prone hold balancing my toes on a swiss ball;
* seated military press;
* some other ab/core exercise I've since forgotten,
repeated 3 times.
Finished with 15mins on the elliptical machine. Oh man, I'm unfit! No complaints from The Problem Child (TPC aka my knee/ITB) either!
Tuesday - 45mins walk around the 'hood. A relatively flat course with a few (small) inclines. Still no complaints from TPC.
Wednesday was, thanks to work, a rest day. Between a 4 hour seminar in the morning and a 2 1/2 seminar at night, I needed to spend the rest of my waking hours in the office :-(
Thursday - I wasn't able to get an appointment to see Satan today so, with fingers crossed, I took myself off for a lower body session at the gym - circuited consisted of:
* 45 degree (incline) leg press;
* hamstring curls on the swiss ball;
* lunges with the backfoot on a bench;
* prone hold with toes balancing on the swiss ball (60sec) immediately followed by prone hold on knees (60sec),
repeated twice.
For fear of upsetting TPC too much, I skipped the elliptical machine and went home and did all my stretches while watching Lost. Happy to say TPC behaved itself magnificently :-)
Today - Friday - has been a great day. A 40min walk this morning on the same course as Tuesday, a productive day in the office and (the best news of all) I've found my running mojo in a pair of Mizano's at lunchtime. I've been feeling very flat so far as my running is concerned lately (as you could probably tell). I'm almost shamed to admit it but reading about the successes of my friends in particular has been getting me down (while I'm v. happy for them, I feel only more frustrated about my own position). However as a very dear friend reminded me this week, you only get one shot at things so I decided to pull my finger out and get back on the road.
First stop was for a new pair of shoes because my old running shoes (which I've been wearing on my walks and to the gym over the last few months) are well and truly dead. I know I should only wear them running but hey, it's now been 4 months since I did much of that! I found my mojo the minute I walked into the shop. I feel excited about the prospect of running; it's been a long time since I felt that way :-) You gotta love retail therapy!
Alas, they aren't red - instead racing orange (and yes, I'm wearing them as I type!) They look like very fast shoes to me - I think they and TPC are going to have a long and loving relationship:
Interesting the dude in the shop suggested that my old Brooks Trance may have been a bit too much support when combined with my orthotics. Who knows but RIP Trance. Vive la Mizuno :-)
How cool are the heels?
Tomorrow - Saturday - will be another rest day. I'll be doing wedding organising 'stuff' tomorrow morning down at our reception venue, spending a couple of hours in the office tomorrow afternoon and then a(nother) birthday dinner for a friend tomorrow night. Sunday however my new babies and I will be spending a little time at a local oval together. Stay tuned. I'm back baby!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
I'm still here !
Yes, still here. Between working stoopidly long hours, trying to organise a wedding & squeeze some degree of exercise in, I haven't had time (or quite frankly) the inclination to update my blog. Still doing some exercise, still not running - you know the usual drill...
Hopefully I can have a chance to do a full update over the weekend (fingers crossed!)..
Hopefully I can have a chance to do a full update over the weekend (fingers crossed!)..
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