10 Km today - 35.3 Km for the week

Had a shit hot run this morning (though more adventures as the lights went off around The Tan too early again). Decided against the 1Km splits at race pace and instead just decided to lift the pace overall to about 30 seconds off race pace with some bursts at race pace. All up ended the 10Ks with an average of just over 5min Ks. Felt great at the end and did the distance in about 51minutes. Finished the month at about 235 Ks overall, first month over 200, Yesssss and am on track for about 65 Ks this week. I can see now why the Elites really have to make a career out of being an Athlete, as the weekly Ks creep up I find that I need more sleep. Every weekend involves a nanna nap or 2 and I am zonked by about 22:00. I can just imagine the amount of Z's those guys and gals clocking up 150 Ks or more a week need!! Enough running chat for today. Band of the Week The woman I sit next to is on leave at the moment, so that means I get to listen to the radio all day. One of the feature records on the J's this week is the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. I have heard them before but the new one kicks butt, will have to see if I can get it off Itunes. Song of the Week Ok, so it is not especially new but I am loving "Lovers and Sinners" (Dallas Crane) and "One Crowded Hour" (Augie March)

11.3 Km today - 25.3 Km for the week

Kept it slow today, just over 11Km in 60 minutes, including 2 laps of The Tan. The curators at the Botanical Gardens seem to have forgotten that daylight savings was extended by a week, every morning this week the lights on the Birdswood Ave side have gone off at about 07:00, but it is still very dark at the time so part of my run this morning consisted of trying to keep a steady pace and not trip over tree roots etc. I will up the pace a bit tomorrow, probably about 10Km but I will do some 1 Km intervals at race pace, maybe just 2 or 3. The football season starts tonight, oh dear, I live with a Tigers supporter so I am bracing myself, another 8 months on the roller coaster :-) I was having a think about my running goals today, and what it is that motivates me out of bed at 05:00 most weekdays and not much later on the weekends. It seems that a spark has just gone on inside me and I have found something I really enjoy, I don't even have to talk myself into getting out there most days, if I could bottle it I would make a fortune. Some of my friends and co-workers say things like, "Oh, you're so good, I wish I had your motivation", or "how do you do it." or the less flattering "You Psycho". But truly, I am nothing special, the only secret I have is that I stopped making excuses, it really is that simple. I wish people would stop calling me a Psycho though..........

8.7 Km today - 13.7 Km for the week

The usual routine this morning, up while the birdies are still sleeping and the possums are still playing and off to the City and The Tan. Decided to mix it up a bit today and start running up some of the hills. All around The Tan (for those who are not familiar) there are various paths and driveways the wind up hill from the main track. This morning I powered up 4 of them at a good clip and the jogged back down again and continued on my merry way. All up my average per Km pace was about 5:24, nice and comfortable with a bit of a sprint over the last 200 meters. When R4K is over I am going to join some of the Start to Finish sessions on a Saturday morning. I am wanting some variety and want to keep up with the group training. Checked out some airfares today for July (Gold Coast half marathon), I can get up there and back for about $230. With baby bro and sis living up there I am set for somewhere to stay so will head up the week before to aclimatise. Spent a small fortune on new glasses and prescription sunnies yesterday so shall have to hold off on booking the tickets for a couple of weeks, curse my dodgy eyesight.

Just kicking back and taking it easy

Ahh, the rest day, an extra half an hour in bed this morning, lovely. Mum came into the city today to meet me for a coffee, she was very proud showing off her new size 14 pants. I am very proud of her losing almost 30 Kgs, go mum! She then proceeded to give me a stern talk about making sure I look after myself and eat enough. I don't think she has forgotten my "one meal a day" phase I went through in high school. I assured her that Yes, I have lost alot a weight but No, I have not achieved that through not eating and that in fact I eat like a horse, hell if I wasn't a Vego I probably would eat a horse (OK, no, that is a gross exaggeration, I couldn't eat Phar Lap) - meanwhile while she was giving me this talk I was busy eating the marshmallow and mini flake that came with her skinny hot chocolate while I drank my full fat latte, Ughhhh, there is nothing more grotesque than skinny lattees, uck, gross, yucko. Starting to look forward to the Run for Kids, I am just going to go out and enjoy that one. As there will be a slow start I am not fussed with setting a time goal for this one, having said that 90 minutes would be great. PS - have just noticed the monthly KMs have ticked over the 200 Km mark, YAY for me!

The Day After, 5Km easy today

Whoa, the legs are a bit sore today, particularly my hamstrings. Haven't felt like this since I started running, I definitely gave it my all yesterday. Just an easy 5Km today with the R4K training group, joined the 5Km slow group but I ended up pulling away from them pretty quickly and just settled into a nice easy 5:30 pace and cruised back to Nike on my own. Yes, I probably should have rested, Yes, I know I was bad, but it did feel good just to turn the legs over. I shall most definitely not run tomorrow morning, in fact I am looking forward to the "sleep in", that is, I get up at 05:30 instead of 05:00, what luxury!!!! This week I am going to focus on positive thinking and getting rid of that self defeatist chatter that was plaguing me yesterday. Right now though, very tired, there is an old Clint Eastwood on Foxtel so it is soup, toast and a movie night. No doubt I will fall alseep by 21:30 :-)

Race Day!

Here is my race report - remember kind readers, that while I have been building a fitness base for 2 years I have only been seriously running since January this year, prior to that I was doing only 40Km a week at the most on a treadmill. I have just recently worked up to 60Km weeks, with all the running done outdoors (these feet have not touched a treadmill in 3 months) Finish time was 50:45 or thereabouts, will have to confirm when it is posted on the race site. I was definitely under 51 minutes though. So I can very close to my goal. I was running quite strong up until the 8Km mark, all splits except 7Km were under goal pace. But coming off an incline at close to the 8Km mark I felt really nauseous, I didn't vomit but I had to stop and catch my breath. I think I stopped for about 40 seconds and was able to push on again. Then about 500 meters from the finish I had another turn but only needed to stop for about 20 seconds and then just ran through it to the end. So If not for the "chuck" breaks I probably would have finished in my goal time. Some positives from today were that I PB'd on both my 5Km time and my 8Km time (about 24:48 and 39 something respectively, remember was feeling pretty bad at 8km) Here are my takeaways from today -

• No eating fruit before a race EVER, this probably contributed to the nausea. In future it will be dry toast and maybe a cup of tea or water.
• I will be incorporating weekly speed sessions into my training to help me improve my stride and efficiency. This is not the first time that someone has commented to me that I run flat footed, maybe a bad habit from the treadmill days??
• I need to do something about the race anxiety, I was almost having panic attacks out there, I mean for god sake, it is not sheep stations, what on earth do I have to be nervous about. This is weird behavior, hopefully it will go away as I gain experience. It effected my breathing and probably contributed to the nausea as well.
• Get rid of that negative voice in my head that kept telling me that I was going to fail and that I can't do this, banish that nasty little demon, grrrrrr!!!!!
• Most importantly keep getting out there every morning and keep enjoying myself.

I will certainly be back for more and I remain focused and confident that I can do the half Mara in July and the full in October.

Drum roll please, I will also now set myself a 10Km goal of 45 minutes. Give me a few more goes at it and I will be in a position to put a time frame on this :-)

Finally a big huge massive thanks to Rogo who paced me though the distance, kept my spirits up when I felt like shit and gave me heaps of great advice along the way and at the end. I can honestly say that without his help I would not have finished in the time that I did.

Thanks to all the other Ausrunners to for your cheers as we passed on the course.

Oh, there where quite a few camera's on the course so I am prepared for a very dodgy photo to turn up on the race site at some stage.

Just though I would add my splits for today as supplied by my most excellent pacer -

KM SPLIT TIME

1 5.12

2 4.57 10.09

3 4.51 15.01

4 4.52 19.53

5 4.54 24.47

6 4.55 29.42

7 5.05 34.48

8 5.11 40.00

9 5.38 45.38

10 5.07 50.45

The day before race day........

Just taking it easy today, getting all the chores out of the way because I know I won't feel like doing them tomorrow. It was nice to spend an extra hour in bed this morning and I had another nap this afternoon. Though I did miss my run this morning. Today I have eaten - Breakfast 2 hot cross buns (one with a little butter and one without) Lunch 1 home made salad sandwich (avocado, tobasco, tuna, lettuce, carrot, mustard, tomato, cucumber) 1 glass of orange juice my usual supplements Snacks I slice of plain bread an apple Dinner Will be having pasta with tomato sauce and mushrooms and an apple afterwards Race morning As per a long run I will have either a fruit bun or a couple of slices of toast with jam (no butter) before I leave the house and some Endura and a piece of fruit in the car on the way there and then nothing from 45 minutes before the race. Throughout the day, about 2 litres of half 1/4 strength Endura. That is you are supposed to mix 1 scoop with 200ml, I am mixing 1 scoop per litre. I will have half strength pre race, just like I do before the long runs. Warning - next bit for girls eyes only, boys can read ahead at their own peril....... It just happens to be my t.o.m at the moment, since I started running seriously last December I have, with one exception, been untroubled. Which after years of pain is quite exciting, looks like exercise has made quite a difference. Things are still not perfect though and I never know what my body will decide to do so I am experimenting with loading up on Endura the day before and morning of to see if that has any impact on lessening the cramping. Here's hoping it helps otherwise it is nurofen and running though it.

11.7 Km Today - 28 Km this week

Tan run again today, very dark mornings at the moment, a bit tricky around the unlit sections. Threw in a couple of speed intervals, I will start getting more serious after the R4K and step up the training for the half. I am starting to get into quite a comfort zone so my next goal will be to start stretching myself to keep it interesting and put more variety into the workouts. Is it foolish to train for a half and a full marathon this year with the side goal of trying to get the best 10K I can?? Maybe I should just tackle one thing at a time, I don't know, as long as I am enjoying myself I won't lose any sleep over it. I have been contemplating joining an Aths club, but I think I would like to continue on my own this year and build my base and more importantly my confidence in myself. I am happy just being in competition with myself at the moment, the self esteem may take a battering if I start pitting myself against others. Particularly people who have been at this game since they were kids. Had a funny encounter yesterday morning that I forgot to relate. I was waiting for a tram to pass so I could cross the road and there were a couple of drunk bogans using the ATM (thurs and fri morning runs are always fun and games as I work my out of the cbd!) one of them decided he was going to go for a run with me, well, he only lasted about 10 meters. So, I can take comfort in the fact that no matter how I perform on Sunday I know that at least I can outrun a drunk bogan :-) There were some leaving drinks at work today I'll admit that I caved and had half a glass of champers, but the fact that I had to drive home kept me to just the one. Got out a bit later today and got caught up in the traffic, but all up the Comm Games have not really caused me any grief on the roads. Didn't really mind the extra time on the road today because I got to catch Hack for a change so I don't have to download the Podcast.

11 Km today - 19 Km for the week

11 Km today, which included 2 laps around The Tan. Forgot my watch this morning so I had to go without the footpod and HRM, felt weird because they are so much a part of me now. I know that the purists will say that I should go without and rely on what my body tells me, but I am addicted to my techo gadgets. I just love knowing exactly how far I have run. Anyway, I was out for about 55-60 minutes and I felt really good. I am feeling a bit sluggish with the reduction in mileage this week (especially as I am just as hungry as every, but scales have shown no change so can't complain) but I will be glad when I have fresh legs on Sunday. Bit nervous about the 10Km, I am not putting to much pressure on myself apart from aiming for an under 50 minute time. Not sure how I should attack the course but as I keep saying I will use it as a tester and I will develop a technique over time I am sure. Just keep thinking about the pancakes at the end, what a stroke of genius that is :-), so easily pleased am I.

No running today

Felt like crap last night, thought maybe I was getting a cold. Went to bed early and forgot to set my alarm, which I never forget, ended up waking up at 6:15, I normally get up at 5!!! Well, I must have needed the rest and I woke up feeling fantastic so I obviously shook off whatever was bothering me. It has forced a change in the game plan for this week as I was going to run today and rest tomorrow. No time to run tonite due to family dinner (I should be getting ready now, yikes) so I will run tomorrow and Friday and then still rest on Saturday. Will have to resist temptation tonite and order something appropraiate for dinner and stay off the red wine. I have decided to skip the alchol in taper weeks, oh the sacrifices we make, a family dinner with no drink, how will I cope.......no seriously I love them, but still, sober.......

8.4 Km today - first running day this week

Went to the Comm Games last night to watch Craig Mottram contest the 5000m. What a race!!!!! I don't know anything about the tactic/technical side of things, but I was in awe, the 13 minutes passed in a blur and I yelled myself hoarse. Craig ran so well and was just pipped at the end by Cloghe a pocket rocket who just streaked ahead in the last 150m or so. I was so wound up that I did not get to sleep until after midnight and then had dreams all night about men running around a never ending Aths track (I kid you not). I was shattered this morning and really struggled to head out for my run, plus it was a bit chilly this morning. But I sucked it down and thought about the likes of Craig Mottram and Kerry McCann and Benita Johnson and knew that they did not get to where they are by wussing out of a run because they were tired and it was too cold. Not that I will ever be at their standard but they can still inspire me. So run I did and it really cleared the cob webs, like every other time I have stuggled I have forgotten about it within 2 minutes of getting started. Bought 2 more long sleeve tops today, and there was a Brooks rep instore who is sending in a winter '05 waterproof vest for me at a discounted price because they didn't have any in from the current season. Thought that seemed like a nice gesture. I figure I would overheat in a long sleeve waterproof and that a vest would be perfect, as long as I can keep my chest and back dry running in the rain probably won't be too bad - famous last words I am sure.

No Running Today

Today is a rest day, and I think I really needed it, am feeling very tired. But it was a big week last week and I don't have any soreness so I can't complain. Trying to concentrate on eating well this week as the mileage will be lower in preparation for the 10Km on Sunday. Down to 60.5 Kg and the body fat down .6% since I was last measured 4 weeks ago (getting there slowly, could be in trouble with easter coming up) Off to the Athletics this evening, looking forward to the 5000m!

20.45 Km today - 61.4 Km for the week

Phew, that is my first 60+ week, big pat on the back. No niggles, soles of my feet a little sore but apart from that feeling good. I won't push the long run past 20 Km until I have completed the R4K in 4 weeks time. Today's run was at a slightly higher pace than last week, 5:24, last week was 5:54, I should probably have run more conservatively, but I was feeling comfortable. The 10Km is next Sunday so this is my plan: Monday - Rest (Comm Game Athletics in the PM, must remember to pack a nice dinner so I don't have to resort to takeaway) Tuesday - 8 Km (The Tan), 5:30 pace or thereabouts Wednesday - 8 Km (The Tan) with some Fartlek Thursday - Rest (twice in one week, a treat!) Friday - 11 Km (The Tan 2 laps) - 5:30 to 6:00 pace Saturday - Rest (3 times in one week, bliss!) Sunday - Race Total for week - 47 Km Then 2 weeks later R4K 14.7 Km As I type here on the lap top the Marathons are on the TV in front of me, I can not believe the pace these runners keep up for 42 Km, I reckon if I was out there with them I would be lapped for sure, such incredible athletes.

Ok, this blog's namesake is trying to sit in my lap, and hence on the lap top! time to sign off, can't say no to a cat.

5.41 km today - 40.9 Km for the week

Speed work today - Ughhhhh I am definitely not built for speed! 3 Km warm up then 4 fast intervals of 100m followed by 200m recovery, then warm down run to home. Probably not that impressive by most peoples standards but it was enough for a slow poke like me and I am feeling it in the legs now. I will include speed sessions in my training from now on, I am sure it will get easier for me. Will do some core strength work this afternoon and have another long run tomorrow. Watched both the women's and men's Comm Games triathlons today, Gold for Australia in both events. The silver medalist in the women's was 34, that is 2 years older than me. I am truly humbled when I watch these events, these are amazing athletes.

8.09 Km Today - 35.5 Km for the Week

Seriously lacked motivation this morning, dragged my feet about the place while getting ready, was also really hard to get out of bed this morning. Still, I got myself out there and did the 8 K's, and it turned out to be my quickest run this week, even running through a stich for the last 3 K's. I am proud of myself for not bailing this morning!! As we get into winter I know that I will be tested like this on a pretty regular basis. I just have to remember how great I feel after I have finished and had a shower and some breakfast. Am on track for about 63 K's this week, my biggest week to date, so it is probably natural that I am a bit tired today. I have a 10 Km race (LOL, shouldn't really call it a race, that gives the impression that I will be competitive!) next Sunday so next week will be a lower mileage week as I do a mini taper to prepare. I am hoping to finish the 10 Km in under 50 minutes.

11.3 Km today - 27.4 Km for the week

2 Laps around The Tan today, am on track for a 60+ Km week, my biggest yet. Have decided to give the Puffing Billy Race a miss in favour of the Mother's Day Classic the week after. I am entering the 8 Km this year so I will start doing 2 laps of The Tan a couple of days a week, I really need to conquer Anderson Street. N will do the classic with me again this year, but she will be doing the 4 Km, then off for a pancake breakkie afterwards! Quite weary today, getting to the end of the week. There was a birthday in the office (which meant cake) and then a going away lunch at the Pub, which meant Pasta for lunch because that's all a vego can get. I don't usually eat a high carb lunch, it makes me all sleepy in the afternoon. I have to stop comparing myself to other runners. I will be out there feeling good about myself and a super fit, super lean chicky will fly past me, her training pace being my race pace!!!!! Oh dear must remember have only been seriously running for about 3 months now, can't expect miracles.

8 Km today - 16.1 Km for the week

Another cruisey 8Km this morning before work, still cannot believe I willingly get up at 5am so I can get to the city to run before work, kept to a nice sensible pace today. The early start does have some advantages, there has been a beautiful full moon and I love the sun coming up as I run, makes me feel very peaceful. Wore my new Adidas leggings, they are sooooo comfortable, will have to buy another pair, felt like a second skin. Had a laugh on the last leg back into the city up Collins St, was totally in another world day dreaming and I nearly ran straight through the Queens Baton Relay change over :-). That god I pulled up at the last moment, I would have been pounced on by swat teams and spirited away never to be seen again and then gone down in history on endless "blooper" tape replays as the idiot who ran through the baton relay! Bit of a party vibe in the city now that the Comm Games are upon us, so I got a bit carried away and bought a ticket to the Athletics. I get to see Asafa Powell in his 100m final, and Craig Mottram in the 5000m. Really feeling like a treat tonight so I might lash out on Fish and Chips, haven't had them since visiting baby sister in Qld last November, I think once every 4 months or so won't kill me. Anyway, weighed myself this morning, down to 60.4 Kg, pretty happy with that considering I am 172 Cm tall. and only .4 off the goal weight. Have dropped a Kilo in 2 weeks, I put it down to cutting out the Charity Choccie Freddo every afternoon (850 Kj) and the increase in weekly mileage. More Jana bashing in the paper today, this time Raelene Boyle getting stuck into her for pulling out of the QB Relay. I am the first to admit that I think the Jana is a bit nutty, but give the girl a break, I cringe when I think of all the silly things I said and did at her age, at least my muck ups aren't a matter for the public record. The girl owes us nothing, she just wants to get out there and be the best athlete she can be, could you imagine if she ran the QB relay, tweaked something and then didn't run well in her race, she would be crucified by the media. Mmmmm, now I think I will have flake and a potato cake............

8.2 Km today

The fog cleared today, just re-read yesterday's post, what a miserable mood, must have been the full moon :-) Had a fantastic run this morning, just seemed to cruise along really nicely. Obviously getting fitter is a gradual process but some days I really feel like I have shifted up a gear and today was one of those days. This week I must concentrate on not going out so hard on the training runs though. I think as I get some more race experience I will be able to better gauge my optimum training pace. Met B & K for a coffee before they headed back to the Gold Coast, was a nice treat and had a good catch up. I think having baby brother and K away overseas for 3 years has tightened the family ties, I had such a good laugh this afternoon, just a shame they have decided to relocate up north. Oh well, makes for cheap holidays and no drama's finding accomodation for the Gold Coast half in July! Treated myself to some new running gear today, some gloves (anticpating winter) and a headband from Nike and some way cool 3/4 running pants from Adidas. I probably spend way too much money on this stuff, but why not, I only have me to worry about. I need to do some goal setting, I am thinking about setting goals for the 10Km and half marathon (full marathon goal is just to finish the damn thing!). Being a complete novice I don't know where to start. I will treat the Sri Chinmoy 10Km on the 26th as a benchmark and set my goals after that. I want to attack this race seriously now that I have a few fun runs under my belt. I really have no idea on a race strategy, I'll have to read up. It's all part of the fun though. I will never be great but I will certainly be the best I can possibly be.

Feeling Blah......no running today

Would like to head into the city for a 10Km session with the R4K training group, however after 20 Km yesterday I really should rest today. My legs feel fresh but pride comes before a fall and all that so best err on the side of caution. Will get stuck in again tomorrow morning, the weather is looking a bit inclement this week so it will give me a taste of Winter. Feeling very blah today, must be the grey day and the black dog nipping at my heels, I suppose I can't expect every day to be perfect. I cleaned out some drawers in a cabinet today so I could store all my running gear in one place (shorts, leggings, various tops, it all adds up) and found a big stash of old chocolate wrappers. Oh dear, like any junkie with a habbit I'd sneak off for a fix and hide the evidence, also found some old "fatty" photo's from my 30th, I binned those quick smart, along with the choccie wrappers. Entered a 10km run today, 2 weeks prior to the R4K, I have not done a fun run since Spring into Shape 3 and I did not have very much training behind me then. An 8Km training run is now faster than my best SIS effort. I won't get into setting a strict goal time for March 26, but it would be good to finish in under 50 minutes. I dream of being able to do 10Km in 45 minutes, I wonder if I will every get there? Maybe I should start setting some concrete time goals for myself, just to keep things interesting.............. Ughhh, really wish this mood would shift, might head out for a walk to clear my head.

19.3 Km today - 58.5 Km for the week

Joined some of the Ausrunners for a 20 Km run today, nothing like meeting in a dark carpark on a Sunday morning, very "Spy Who Came in from the Cold"! Great run though and kept me to a sensible pace, I tend to lose my discipline when I am on my own. I really think those Skins were money well spent because at this point my legs feel fine after my longest run yet. Have also been on the Glucosamine for 6 weeks now and have not had a niggle in the right knee for the last 3 weeks, have not even needed ice after a long run. This has been my second week of 58 Km, tempted to head out this afternoon for 2 Km just to get the 60! But that would just be a little obesessed and silly I suppose. I think I have settled into a nice pattern and will keep the weekly distance at about that, will start the half marathon training at the start of May. Appetite still a bit off, have not eaten enough yet today to re-fuel. Planning nice big veggie (soy) burger for dinner with an egg as well, heaps of protein. Looking forward to a good bushwalk tomorrow then may head in for a R4K run, will see how the legs feel. Off topic - hard rubbish on at the moment, so far the scavagers have taken my old broken venetian blind and a manky old shower caddy. Still doesn't top the time when some took one old boot from the pile, classic!!

5 K today - 39.2 K for the week so far

Just did an easy 5 Km (medium pace) run with the R4K training group at Fawkner Park this morning. I was going to do 10K medium but thought I would take it easy with a 19-20 Km hit out ahead of me tomorrow morning. Spent the rest of the morning and afternoon doing a sping (should I say Autumn) clean, there is a hard rubbish collection this week so all the junk is out on the nature strip. I have just woken from a lovely little nanna nap, I love long weekends! Just a little bit less urgency to fit everything in. Something funny seems to be happening with my appetite at the moment, I just don't seem interested in eating, very very odd behaviour for me. I seem to be running more on nervous energy than anything else. I hope it passes soon, I need to be healthy, I can't have my body breaking down on me. Now that I have cancelled my gym membership I must be stict with myself and make time to do my core conditioning exercises at home. I just couldn't go to that gym anymore, to many poser dickheads taking up all the equipment and the gym floor space was too small. Of course this means I must face winter running in the great outdoors, Brrrrrrr. I think I will be fine, last time I tried to run on a treadmill 2 months ago I was bored stupid after 1 Km, I have enough mileage behind me now to be motivated enough to get out there in all weather.

8.2 Km Today - 34.2 Km for the Week so far

Took the day off work today, may as well make the most of Labour Day and have a nice long weekend. Headed out for a run at about 09:15, just an easy 8Km so so through the park. Trying very hard to keep the per Km rate reasonable for the training runs, I have a terrible habit of going out too hard. Managed to keep to about 5:30 per Km. Did some long strides in the last 200 meters or so, just trying to lengthen my gait a bit and be less of a plodder. Trying to concentrate on not coming down so hard, it is tricky to change your style but I am sure I will get there. I might hook up with the R4K training group tomorrow morning and do a 10Km medium (still can't believe that I can do 10Km as a training run now, used to be a long run!!). I am really enjoying running with a group, will miss it when R4K is over. It was hard for me to front up at first, I was so far out of my comfort zone it wasn't funny. Some of the Ausrunners told me to introduce myself and it took alot for me do it, but am glad I did. I will also be doing a long run, about 18Km on Sunday with the ESRG, really looking forward to that. Downloaded a half marathon training plan yesterday, it is an 8 week lead up so I will get stuck into that at the start of May in preparation for the Gold Coast. Will just concentrate on building the weekly mileage slowly until then and get stuck into some fun runs. Bought some running shorts today (yikes), not sure yet if I will wear them, but will probably just have to get over myself, can't run on the GC in leggings, too warm.

This is day one

Welcome to my blog! I have started this to track my journey to my first Marathon in October, and hopefully beyond. Don't be too surprised to find the odd off topic ramblings as I believe there is more to a runner than just the ability to put one foot in front of the other at something faster than walking pace. Some history perhaps? 2 year ago, having not long turned 30 I was 15 Kgs overweight and miserable (no thanks to my family and freinds who claim not to have noticed this, sorry guys but sometimes a girl needs to be told). So here I was, standing on the precipice, I could have slipped slowly and inevitably into early middle age malaise, or I could pull my socks up, stop making excuses and bloody well sort myself out. So sort myself out I did. 2 years later the first part of the journey is over, 15 Kgs have been shed and a new attitude has been born. So thus begins the second part of the journey, I am not the sort of girl to slog away at something with no discernible goal, I need something more than, "I do this because it is good for me". So November last year I climbed off the treadmill and ventured outdoors, 20 Kms a week became 30, fun runs were entered and enjoyed, a gym membership was relinquised. 30 Kms a week, became 40, then 50, Longs runs are well and truly in the double figures. So why not enter a Marathon I thought to myself? Why not indeed! I was not especially athletic as a child, I did not get to do Little Aths or participate in any team sports, it was not an option in our house, I understand that for my parents just surviving from week to week was enough, they did not need me nagging for exta curriculars. My sporting experiences have been quite negative, I kinda enjoyed cross country at high school, but I did not attend a sporting school, academics were more important. I dabbled with Baseball as an adult, nothing serious just a little 3rd division team for fun, but the coach had an annoying habbit of making me feel totally useless. So after nearly loosing a tooth after the coach hits me in the face with a fast pitch (hey I can take a hint), I was outta there. At first I didn't think it was possible, that little voice in my head was telling me that I was not capable of running a Marathon, that I should not even bother trying, save myself the embaressment of failure. But then something changed, for the first time I have begun to believe that yes I can achieve this thing, thanks in no small part to a great bunch of people, the Ausrunners, who are full of great advice and encouragement. So here's to you guys and here's to me, it's gonna be a fun ride.