Fit Mumma

250mtrs x 10 sprints followed by an easy 5kms...

Is what IronMumma and I did this morning@ 6am.

Yah us!

I was sucking it in I tells you!!! But we did it and I felt great for it. Afterwards!

Sprints were done in about 58-60 seconds, so a pace of around 3:55min/km. Which I'll take.

5km was run in 30mins or thereabouts.

All in all... a good running day!

Hugs

Bxo

For the love of running & life in general...

I ran just 10kms on Friday... and not very quickly.

In fact, quite slowly.

Still, I ran 10km non the less.

I was supposed to run much farther, but I didn't feel right.

My hypothyroidism seems to be playing up... I need to check my hormone levels and maybe readjust my medication accordingly. I am also interested in looking at iodine treatments.

Afterwards with my Sports Therapist... he did some dry needling on my right glute... arhgggg pain, that and his pressure work... AGONY!!! Still my right ITB is responding well and so are all my other muscles, so we are on the right track.

I love my running.

LOVE IT quite INTENSELY!! ... I was getting so obsessive about it that it was becoming the only thing I wanted to do.

So I have had to re-evaluate myself a bit in this regard.

Obviously while training for a marathon, I am only going to be running a LOT MORE, not less.

However, when not running... I am working on getting my home organised... and enjoying some quality family time.

I can not say I really believe in balance... honestly, that feels like giving a BIT of myself, and my attention to many different things, all at once.... and never really excelling at any one of them.

To me trying to be balanced really goes against my grain... it feels more like suffocting or drowning to me. It's fair to say I am very passionate about the endeavours I undertake, about my life, my family, my home... and so the best I can do {and what feels right for me} is give my everything to each (and all) of those areas of my life while I am doing it... to live with intention and mindfulness.

That is what I am working on right now... enjoying all aspects of this gift of life.

Hugs

Bxo

Running in severe winds...

Yesterday morning. BOM indicates there were NNW winds of up to 72km/hour at around 6.23am... so just 7 minutes before the FIT gals all headed out on our usual Tuesday morning run.

YUK is about all I can say. We ran beside the lake for a small portion of our run. Thee water was lashing up onto the running path... it was cold, wet and very, very WINDY! I must say though, running with the wind behind us was quite nice!

And at least the rain held out until we got home. It started raining around 8am yesterday morning and hasn't really stopped much since. The sun has appeared today tho, and so that's nice.

Our workout yesterday morning consisted of:

• 2km warm up
• 1600mtr full pace
• 400mtr recover pace
• 1200mtr full pace
• 400mtr recovery pace
• 800mtr full pace
• 400mtr recovery pace

I have to say that this was another spew worthy workout for me. Right up there with the 200mtr x 20 that IronMumma tried to get me to do about 6 weeks ago!

So aside from the revolting weather and the desire to lose my stomach contents, it was a good workout really!

Happy Training... in all kinds of weather and conditions! Blah!

Hugs

Bx

Numpty had a fall...

It was bound to happen.

Sooner or later.

That this super uncoordinated person took a fall.

The super unco... that would be me naturally!

Yes.

Today I fell face first into the road.

Thankful that IronMumma did not laugh AT me.

Quote of the day: her hubs asks me "how do you fall over running"?

Yes, yes I know!

I was supposed to do another long run.

Instead I called it quits at 5.5km.

I think I've done enough this week...

Sometimes we can ignore that voice that tells us to slow down and take it easy, we can power on and have a great run.

Other times we need to listen to that voice, heed the advice and rest up some, otherwise we get injured.

Thankfully the knee is not damaged as far as I can tell {see how I go next run}... just a surface scratch. Palms of my hands are also a bit banged up. But I'll be right... and I had a super wonderful nurse in Mikaela... who cleaned me up and dressed the wound beautifully. Thanks bubs!

Happy Saturday.

Bxo

Mind over Matter...

A little poster art I created in PhotoShop. 

When I did a 25km run with IronMumma last week.

I got teary at around 18km, I felt bad... I was doing my best but I really felt that my best was not good enough.

I actually said that aloud as I ran and slowed to a brief walk "my best is just not good enough"...

I then went on to have my most successful week of running to date. It was a joyful week of running for me, I backed up the 25km with a half marathon, then two days after started my training again... a steep hill run on Wednesday, and a 6.5km easy run today.

It is heartbreaking to me that I would say such a negative thing to myself. But I did.

The state of our minds plays the most significant part of our fitness and diet success. By far.

And here is the thing... I was giving my very best.

So, how can my BEST not be good enough?

It's all I've got!! I can give no more.

That is all one can ask, of ourselves and of each other.

We do also need to take care not to overdo things... this morning IronMumma and I thought we might be able to knock out 12-15kms, but we decided to call it a day at 6.5km.

Running this past week looked like this for me:

• Friday 25km
• Saturday REST
• Sunday REST
• Monday 21.1km (Half Marathon)
• Tuesday REST
• Wednesday 4km steep hill 
• Thursday 6.5 easy run

During the half marathon I did on Monday... I was reluctant to start, I really didn't want to be there {or a repeat of my last long run} but once the race started, I ran & there was no negative self talk. Only positive.

I am going to keep working on keeping it that way.

Bx

Day two after my third half and feeling fiiiiiinnnnneeeee....

WOW, this body adapting stuff is really exciting I must say.

Loving that I don't even feel as though I did a half two days ago.

The first one... I seriously could not move {very much} for two weeks afterwards.

Now, today... I feel great.

Loving that.

Got up at 6am this morning to run up Red Hill. 

I did not run all of it, I did most.

I felt okay, not super strong or anything, and I was slow... but I felt fine.

There were lots of peeps out today, most of them cyclists. Most of them climbing Red Hill too. It was a hive of activity in the Berra at 6-7am I must say :) It felt good to be out there.

As I was running home a huge group of about 50 riders passed me... very nice start to the morning I gotta say. Quite a buzz to have them all zipping by so quickly!

Here I am sporting one of my new Lorna Jane tees... sorry LuluLemon {you are still my favourite, but I just couldn't resist the slogan :}

Happy Wednesday.

Bx

Third Half Marathon Race Report...

I had to arrange a babysitter so that I could do this race this morning... with Nath and Mikaela out of town for basketball, it was my only way to make it happen.

So I did.

But this morning... I really didn't WANT to do the race.

I was dawdling to leave the house. Perhaps I would miss registration all together?... YES, yes that is a possiblilty... so let's go see... then I can come home {and say "oh, well, I tried"}...

Yeah, they accepted my registration 10 mins before the race.

So I ran.

And I did not stop {except for water & Gatorade} until I crossed the finish line.

AWESOME!!!

I could not ask for more... simply because that is a new PB for me.

A PB of the mind. The BEST kind of PB, no? YES!!!

In all previous half marathons (oh yeah all of two of them!) and long runs, I've always walked. I've always got to a point where I had to quit on myself.

NOT today, NO sireeeeee.... today I really felt so strong the whole way.

I HURT, yes... at around 4 laps to go would have been the toughest... but then there were only 3 to go... and two and then that last glorious lap :)

Plus this came backing up after my last half, 3 weeks ago & my 25km run with IronMumma on Friday.

I am SUPER pleased I did run afterall. Super happy to have reached this finish line, that's for sure!

I crossed the line in 2:10:01... which is in between my previous two half's. PB remains at 2:07:25.

Results and mile splits look like this:

Even with this really awful photo of me up on the website... I mean really is that the best one if me?? I'd hate to see the worst one!!!

Also super happy to have met a few wonderful women. Robyn (who has done about 30+ half marathons) I ran with the whole race... we just fell into stride together and kept our pace VERY consistently the whole time. She is another FIT gal and I feel so SO happy to have had the privileged to run with her today. Thanks Robyn. Then there was Maria, very strong and inspiring runner. And Anne who is visiting from overseas.

Also, gotta say... I love the venue, the 1 mile loop... LOVED it. Was like counting down sets for me and that worked well... also the loop did not seem that long to me. Loved the community feel, the spectator participation, the organisation... the chilled out relaxed feel that can only but be a Sri Chinmoy event. LOVED it all really! Pancakes when you finish, need I say more? :)

At home post race, pre shower!

Now for intervals tomorrow morning...mmmm...  I'll go, but take it easy. 

Pssstttttt: maybe, just maybe I am a runner after all, certainly today makes me start to feel like a real one :)

Happy Running.

Love out...

Bxo

My Running Bucket List...

We've all got one. 

A list of events, races, marathons we would LOVE to participate in one day.

This, of course, would be in the ideal world where wishes are made, age is irrelevant {and really it is}... money is not an issue, time and training, injuries are also no problem. Oh, and in some cases my actual ability is not a factor... ie. my ability matches these dreams {only in my dreams!}. Life is perfect basically :)

In no particular order, I give you my list:

Boston... okay this really is THE Godfather of all marathon's, the ONE to do. Aside from being the world's oldest marathon, it is also the first marathon a woman ever ran in, and she was disguised as a man to do so... she was rapt when the men she was running with realised she was a girl and encouraged her to take her hoodie off. The crowd were also full of encouragement and support and cheered to see a woman running. LOVE it!! LOVE Bobbi Gibb! I first read her story here, and it totally blew me away then and still does now.

Paris - I love this city, it really is the most magical place to be in... and I would love to run down the Avenue des Champs Elysees and past the Eiffel Tower. Amazing. What a rush that would be. Paris holds such fond memories for me, holidaying with Nath and Mikaela. xo

London... again more fond memories holiday with Nath and Mikaela & I love this city too... 

 
San Francisco... I've never been, I've always wanted to go... Nath has been and it is one of his all time favourite cities in the world. 

Venice ... another city I adore, and fond (and some not so fond) memories holidaying with Nath and Mikaela. Only, no offence kidlets... I'd rather go alone with Nath next time!

Florence  Okay, I have a HUGE thing for Italy... having lived there for a year, and my family heritage, and holidays... and it is just the most amazing place on earth to me. Makes my heart sing being in Italia!.

Milano, this is where my {mother's} family originates from... it would be a joy to run this marathon. JOY... joy joy!

Pisa... this is such a magical place for me... Nath, Mikaela and I had the most wonderful time here, I even climbed the tower!

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe... breathtaking, no? need I say more!

New York, but of course!!! I've never been and  always wanted to go.

Melbourne I LOVE LOVE Melbourne... it is distinctive and warming to my heart this city!

Adelaide, I've spent lots of time here over the past 6 years. My dear husbands home town... would be fabulous to run with family and friends out in droves to support. Ha! Maybe I'll do it in 2012, depending on dates.

El Scorcho, Texas... would this be crazy or what. 50kms starting at midnight. I like that it is a loop track, so if you had a support team, they'd be able to cheer you on through-out the whole race.

Australian Outback Marathon... I mean WOW - I think this would be one of those lifetime experiences that just stays with you forever.

Larapinta Trail, NT Australia... I would love to do this. I think it would be spectacular. I love the idea of running a few hours each day for 6 days... awesome. Camping out under the vast blanket of stars that only the desert has. Magic.

Ecuador Running Adventure... I like the idea of Nathan hiking for the day and me running, then meeting up each night. Maybe this is something we will do in our retirement :) This would be super challenging at 12 days.

The North Face 100... this would be incredible to be able to achieve such a feat, it would be my ultimate dream. This video makes me cry, and my 2 year old scream "GO" at the computer! The Australian Blue Mountains are magnificent... no doubt.

Oh, and I should add that this dream list, does not take into account the little matter of qualifying either! Ha!

So yeah... that's my bucket list for running. So far, I am sure I could add more as my running continues.

We gotta have dreams :) Even if they don't ever come true, it's nice to day dream them anyways.

Hugs

Bx

25km run, hurt some...

Yes, it did.

I cried at about 18kms because I was not doing as well as I had imagined.

Often I imagine my run to be much more enjoyable than it is in reality... those last kms hurt no matter what my positive visualisation had been prior to the run.

That's okay.

Here is the thing... I *love* running... I love getting out there. I love pushing myself.

It was a good run. Once done.

Here's another the main thing... I did it, I ran further than I ever had before.

I need to stop being so damn hard on myself and ...

Work on my positive affirmations during the run, I can hold onto them for so long, before my inner quitter tells me to STOP, or walk...

I find it super frustrating, but I know I will get there, I know I will overcome my weakness.

And with every run and workout, I am doing just that!

Instead of focusing on the small amount of negatives... what I am trying to do is to change all negative thinking into positive affirmations...

To rejoice in all the accomplishments I have made... I think I'll have to work on a list to remind myself.

In the meantime I think this is a very nice reminder:

Image from an ebook I purchased from here. 

I think we can all do with being as positive and encouraging as we are to our friends... to ourselves also.

Happy Long Weekend. 

I am having a quiet one at home as Nath and Mikaela are away for basketball, the boys and I are chilling out avoiding the cold Canberra winter.

Oh and I am snuggling in my new RUN hoodie:

Hugs

Bx

Art Journal Page...

On running:

Results is my word for this year.

I think, so far, I am getting some pretty good results for the year.

Some days, I still find it hard to classify myself as a runner, but I am starting to see myself as one.

It's just that I run with a {Iron} woman who does what I do... in her sleep.

I am learning, that's okay.

She has never made me feel inadequate, she has always been very supportive & encouraging.

I am learning, that I am my own worst critic.

That nasty little voice can get the better of me during some runs {or if I miss a run}... and I need to remind myself why I do this, why I run. And squash that negative voice.

I would like to create an art journal page with this post soon.

I think once I get quite a number of weeks where I have run 5-6 times during the week... THEN I will really think of myself as a REAL runner.

Right now I am managing about 3-4 good runs... so I am getting there.

25kms today... we'll see how I go.

Happy Friday to you.

Bxo