Oh Dear...

Well, Merry Christmas - It's the 21st December 2010 today, 4 more sleeps till Santa comes. I wonder if he will bring me some motivation, or a new hip even.

After, actually during, the second spring into shape 8.5km race my running has taken a turn for the worst. After running one of the best runs of my life at the Melbourne Marathon, I struggled my way through the 8.5km of Spring Into Shape a week later, which turned out to be one of worst runs of my life. I don't think I left adequate time to rest and recover from the 10kms and shortly after the 3km mark my right hip started to give me grief.

Long story short, here we are 2 months later, my hip still giving me trouble and I've only managed a very short 1km run (in Papua New Guinea which came with it's own set of challenges - see pics above - very hilly, altitude and prickles!!) since dragging myself accross the finish line.

So where to from here? Good question.

I guess I need to get my hip looked at for starters, it is deffinetely something more than tight muscles causing me such intense pain. I've had plenty of deep tissue massage and my massage therapist ensures me everything is loose and the muscles are all in order. My mum said an x-ray should be able to give a lot of information, so after christmas I'll get myself to the vet and see what they say.

I think I lost my motivation somewhere along the way too, so I probably need to get that back. I guess part of me was secretly glad that I had hurt myself - it meant less washing, more time to sit and bludge, not feeling so wrecked and exhausted and I could keep dry with all the rain we have experienced lately. My running partner Running Lemming also left for her overseas jaunt so it has been difficult to make myself get up into action.

The laziness part of it has been good for a while, but now my muscles are starting to turn into fat and my previously tonned bits and pieces are becoming all a bit to jiggly for my liking. My bum which grew in size (from the muscle I gained) has unfortunately stayed the same size, it's just become saggier. In all I've lost 2kgs in 2 months, so the muscle tone has deffinetely decreased.

Ok - So clearly my hip problem isn't going away any time soon. And clearly I am not about to wake up and all my jiggly bits will be gone. I need to take some action.

Steps - In no particular order:

1. Get hip looked at.
2. Look at alternative exercise options - Gym membership?
3. At least try and go for short walks or runs before I feel my hip flare up.
4. Make time to take any of these steps.
5. Stretch more.

Ok... feeling a little better I have admitted some things to the general public. Denial is great for a while, but I'm getting sick of that nagging voice in the back of my head and more importantly I don't want to feel self consious in the summer sun if I don't have to.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

The Melbourne Marathon Aftermath

YES! I did it, and ticked off one of my dreams/goals in the process. 10kms non stop - and what a great race it was. Apart from being a little late starting because I couldn't find a place to park, the race couldn't have gone any better.

The conditions were perfect, cool with no wind and no sun. The track was perfect because I was so late starting there were barely any people to dodge - except for the ones I eventually caught up with who were walking. My body felt great - no aches or pains, no breathing troubles, nothing. And to top it all off I had my lovely supporters come down and cheer me on around the 8km mark - just what I needed to boost my spirits for the remainder of the race. And then again, as I did the last lap and crossing over the finish line in the MCG.

Thanks again girls - you have no idea what a difference it made having you all there. And Running Lemming, it wasn't the same not having you running alongside - hopefully we can fit in a couple more training runs before you head off on your adventure.

It's taken me a good 4 days to recover from the race - living on coffee and red bull. Feeling much more revitalised to get back out there once again - although might be a little difficult in this downpour we are currently experiencing.

Spring Into Shape Race 2 next weekend - thinking I may downgrade to the 8.5km again, so I can compare my improvement from last time and also that 10kms really took it out of me, not sure I am quite ready to tack the 12.5km just yet.

The black line was the very pretty and scenic Melbourne Marathon 10km course.

Race 1 - Spring Into Shape

After a late night at a concert, only a few hours sleep and a bruised ankle - I managed to romp it home in the 8.5km in the first of three in the series. I think I got just about on 55mins, which is great. Kept my pace of 6.30mins p/km up the whole time which really is a great improvement.

I'm so wrecked now I can barely type - they just don't make keyboards for tired paws.

Off for a cat nap. Stay tuned for the official time a little later on.

R.C

Spring Into Shape

Spring is finally here! After a long, freezing cold and wet winter the days are getting longer and the sun is making an appearance.

So after a bout of sickness, lack of motivation and a whole lot of rain - it's time to get my cat butt into full gear. The Spring Into Shape series commences this coming Sunday 12th September.

I would have liked to be a little more advanced in my training by this point but no point dwelling on that now. I've reduced my original distance of 12km down to the 8.5km race. Myself and Running Lemming have never actually completed that distance to date, however the 7km training runs at Hobo's have been a great help towards achieving this goal.

So it's all systems go for Sunday. I've done 2 x 7km runs this week and feeling good to go. I just need to pace myself and try not to drop off too much. And of course I will be having my pre race banana, coffee and in addition my new found friend Berocca.

Wish me luck!!

Running Cat seeks vet

So due to being extremely busy, heavy rain and now coming down with a chest cold I haven't been able to run for nearly 2 weeks!!! Ugh, hopefully I come good soon and getting back into it won't be so bad - wishful thinking.

I just hope it doesn't put me too off track to be unable to complete the 12km race I have scheduled in september.

Running Lemming, sorry for piking on sunday, but I think the sleep in did me good - even though I am still unwell. I am hoping to make it to Hobo's tomorrow night as I won't be there Thursday.

Seeing some improvement

Headed out with Hobo's last night. 7km along the Strand in Williamstown from the Athletics track to the Timeball and back. This is the second time I have completed this run, and while it is still hard work and a decent run, it was a little easier this time. I even managed to complete it with a steady faster pace of 6.18mins p/km and didn't stop. Recovery was very quick and I held a conversation for the most part - which was great as it made the time go quicker and less time to think about the excruiation you are putting your body through. I'm feeling pretty good today, with the exception of sore knees, but I think a bit of rest will sort that out.

I'm pleased I can now do 7kms straight. Granted it's a flat run, at night (no sun wearing you down) and in a group. But 7kms is 7kms. I've just realised it's only just over 6 weeks until I've signed up for a 12km run for Spring Into Shape!! Oh boy, I still have a lot of work to do between now and then. Hopefull my strength and energy levels continue to improve so I can start fitting in 3 training sessions a week to get the results I want!

Running Lemming - I wish you lived closer, Hobo's is exactly the kind of group to get us where we need to be!!!!

Sunday 25th July 2010 - Solo Run 34 mins

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2 more sleeps!

That's right. 2 more sleeps before the Run Melbourne 5km. I'm pretty excited about it. Excited about a new PB, excited about following through with my goal, excited to give this race everything I have! Running Lemming and I have been putting in the hard yards with consistent training - so fingers crossed for a great result on Sunday!

I was a bit worried about my knees as they have been giving me some grief the last couple of days, but I think a bit of rest has done them good and hopefully they hold out for Sunday.

My last training session on Tuesday night was great! It sure was a killer of a run and plenty of hills - but what made it great was the rain. Wow, it sure bucketed down and I was completely saturated. I felt like I was on the Biggest Looser and they were hosing me down while I desperately ran for my life. I've managed to get my runners dry, I just hope they don't stink now - that would be annoying.

Anyway, looking forward to sunday. Best of luck to Running Lemming too!!

13/7/10 5km Suunto Training Run - Last session

6km in 34mins, average pace 5.34

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First time at Hobo's Running Club - tonight

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I have my first training session with Hobo's Running Club (Hobson's Bay) tonight. By the sounds of it, they are much faster and run much further than my ability to date. The guy I contacted assures me that someone will run with me the whole way - hopefully I'm not holding up someone elses training because of it. Anyway, I'm a newbie, but hopefully this solves my problem of not having to run alone in the dark. I run much better in a group anyhow so I'm looking forward to seeing how I perform tonight. This is the course I will be running tonight. Should be pretty running along the foreshore, the city lights are visable from Williamstown. I forgot to mention it's a 7km run, and the "slower runners" usually pace around 5.30mins per km. Oh boy, this will be interesting!!

5km 31mins average pace 6.10

Had a great session last night and was able to get into a good rhythm. Feeling really good this morning and pumped for Run Melbourne. Last night was the second last Suunto Training session so I really amped it up. We ran about 6.20min p/km for the first few kms and then the last couple about 5.45min p/km. Great effort!!

6.1kms 45.50mins average pace 7.30

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Second post... the afterthought...

Hmm, so after going to bed last night and being quite chuffed about my new blog, I realised that in fact I have had a blog before. Several years ago, I set out on an amazing adventure. Travelling solo around the globe, seeing far away places that I'd only ever dreamed about. My dream became a reality, and so too will my dream of completing a marathon!

Heading out this afternoon for a run, aiming for 6kms non stop including one steady hill. This will be the first run I have done solo in several weeks, I hope I have the stamina and persistance to go all the way and get a good time.

First Post

Ok, so I've never really seen the point of blogs, never read them, never post on them and never had one. Thinking about it though, I don't think I've ever really had enough interest in a topic to create and maintain a forum and fill it with enough content to be of interest to anyone (myself included). Until now.

6 months ago, I could barely run for more than a minute without getting so out of breath I felt like my lungs may just self combust. I had always seen running as quite pointless and what on Earth crazy person would want to subject themself to something so ridiculous as running? I mean really, between the sweat, the puffing, the panting and just the total unco-ness of the whole concept - it really wasn't something I was willing to give any time to whatsoever. Until now.

So; 2 things. I now have a blog. I now run 5km without stopping.

Running Cat