Birthday gear!

My birthday is coming up (which means so is my first ever half marathon, in seven day's time, no big deal), and hopefully I will get some new running gear.

Because I went into the Rebel Sports today, and man I could have bought half the shop

These shorts are such a cool colour! But they are probably a bit short (chub rub).

These ones are also pretty choice. They're a bit longer, which is how I like them, but still kind of colourful.You can't see in this picture, but they do have green under-short-type things to make them a bit more colourful.

 

I like these ones too! But I think if I wore them they would be a bit baggy and big in the bum. Check out that alliteration!

 I also really love this shirt which I tried on. It has a piece in the back which is made of really light material. It would be great for my run next Sunday on the coast, when it is apparently supposed to be 22 degrees (aka, HOT FOR A RUN)! Unfortunately, they did not have it in the size I like. I like my running tops to be a little bit baggy so that I feel comfortable and flexible in them, without worrying about them riding up or what have you.

I like these also, but having already bought grey/light-coloured running tights, I do not know if I would buy a second pair. The ones I bought while on holiday the other week have been a teeny bit of a disappointment. They are a little bit more susceptible to VPL, and definitely show a little bit more jiggle than I would like hahaha they are very very comfortable, though! I am still happy to wear them, especially when I am just bombing around the house hahaha but I would probably want to think twice about another non-black pair.

Feb goal

It's been nearly a whole week, yes I know. It has taken me that long to feel confident that my back is completely ok. Your back is just one of those things you could take care of (so are knees, but.... oh well...)!!

Today I went for an easy 3km, with no music. It was a good, standard run. I started out sorta quick, and maintained it for a wee while. It took round about the usual time 3km takes me.

What I would really love, is that come February, I will be sprinting the full 3km. When that next Triathlon rolls around, I want to win the team division. After my Half (next Sunday???!!) I want to start really focussing on improving my speed. I have what could be an unrealistic goal, but what the heck, I may as well.

Goal by Feb: 3km in under 13 mins.

If you are aiming for speed, then you're aiming for speed!

Half-Marathon post-poned :(

I think this title speaks for itself.

My back is stuffed, I am two weeks' behind in my training, so it just seems wise to post-pone my run.

Feeling pretty stink right now. I was so stoaked to be doing a Half before my 24th, and to be feeling (somewhat) on track. But I just feel so behind after this week (and still needing a fair bit of relaxing to make my back get better), I know there is no way I would cope with 10km, let along 21km.

SO I hope to run the Napier City Pak'n Save Half Marathon on the 28th of October - three days before my birthday!! You can even register online, which is fantastic.

Which also means, "I forgot to register," can't be an excuse. Because I have the registration form open right now. And it only costs $35. I just need to walk to my room to get my account details....

Ok I've done it. I have officially registered for my first ever half marathon. I'm Bib number 702. Hopefully 702 is my lucky number!

Who would have thought when I began this post that my mood would have changed from really gutted to totally excited!

SO EXCITED!!!! #rebeccablack HAHA

Worst injury yet

This coming weekend, I am supposed to be tackling my first ever half marathon.

However, I have some bad as news.

I have stuffed my back up. Like an old lady. When I stuff up my knees it's a familiar hurting, I know what has caused it and I know how to fix it (rest and massage and bucket loads of anti-flamme). It's as if you had been bent over for 24 hours, and then  had to stand. Only the pain feels on-going. There doesn't seem to be a position I can get in that doesn't hurt it.

Waaah waaah I sound like a big baby! Hopefully this stretch will help:

source

Overused muscle, apparently. But it's an injury that will probably stop me from doing my half :( I might cry.

But you know what? On the days that I feel like my life if a bit difficult, I remember that I'm not in a love triangle with a vampire and a werewolf. That really helps me get some perspective LOL

Here's hoping that you don't have any injuries that are making you rest when you should be preping for a race!

Running sounds

On my run the other day, I decided that I wouldn't listen to my usual running playlist (Van Halen, Journey, Billy Idol). Instead, I just chucked my iPod on shuffle and went for it.

Some of the tunes that were surprisinly fantastic at keeping me going were:

The Chilis (a very, very old favourite. Not a fan of the new stuff)

Right on time

Get on top
 

 

Sugarbabes, Hole in the head

and a whole lot of Beastie Boys

Whatcha Want

Sure shot

aaaaaaand finally, my favourite was a good New Zealand song. It was the first one that came up, and man it really got me running!

All it takes, by Stellar*

I never really got the * on the end of that, but then P!nk has an exclamation mark, and even Panic! at the disco and The Go! team really bugs me.

Chuck a random ! into your next run!

A short run is not quitting

Did my run!

Luckily I didn't promise to do 15km...

Because even though I set my alarm and set out my running gears and had every intention to nut out my 15km run, I cut it short.

By about 10km.

There were a number of reasons for this. Reason number one was that I had made a coffee date for 1pm, and I figured a 15km run would take me near 2 hours. I would therefore not make it to my coffee date.
Reason number two was, guess what, my knees. They were not happy. I would LOVE for this to be just an excuse, but it seems that my knee problems are well real, and definitely not imagined. Sad face!
Reason three: Hmm. Seems there were only two reasons. I guess this reason would have to be laziness/lack of motivation.

But it meant that I got to trial my NEW RUNNING TIGHTS!

Please ignore the loo paper in the background! LOL

They were not even expensive (from Cotton On), which is why I allowed myself to get them without them being a reward. They were super comfy, didn't have any embarrassing sweat marks at the end, and prevented chaffing. Win, win, win! I bought them on holiday with the BF (will probably post some sweet photos later!). I may have even found my future wedding venue while there. It was an incredibly successful getaway haha

15km to come in the near future! I have decided that while I may not be prepared to run the full 21km come October the 14th, I will be able to at least run 18km (I hope), and walk/run the rest.

Fingers crossed my knees hold up, and my focus does too!

What do you do to help you maintain focus when you know you're not as prepared as you could be for a race?

Lesson learnt!

I might need to eat my own words.

I realise I promised I would go for a run today, and the day is still young! But my knees are feeling not so great :( I can't decide if it is worth it to go for a run, and risk making them sore. I will have a few days off (HOLIDAY!) when they can get better in... but still a risk!!

But I DID get a haircut! I have had all most of the yucky ends trimmed off, and it has made a big difference! It doesn't feel as yuck, nor does it look all stringy and rank.

 Hurray! It's even kind of shiny! Also, this is the straightest my hair has been for a long time haha I am far too lazy to straighten it properly.

And you know what? It was my old, old hair dresser, who I originally left before I started this idiotic, merry-go-round of trying different hairdressers. When it came down to it, getting a cut was what made me realise that she is the one I truly trust with my hair. Lesson learnt!

And you know what? Bugger it, I'll go for a run.

I am on...

HOLIDAY!

Yeeehaa, a whole week off work! I love school holidays!

I hope you weren't expecting a post about running, because I haven't been on one yet this week. Instead I have been buying shooooeeees!

 

And a necklace:

 

The BF and I went to a 40th anniversary dinner for the rugby team he played for last year. It was a posh, posh affair. Some ladies were wearing hard out proper ball gowns, and had had their hair done and the hairdressers and stuff. Hard out!

I did not go that hard out, but I did get my glad rags on and did my best to scrub up!

I even bought one of those hair things that give u a nice bun. It worked super easily and looks "soo glamourous!" according to my sister.

Yes, my re-growth is yucky. I am still trying to find a hairdresser who is not an idiot. 

So! Fun weekend! Run tomorrow to top it off, I promise.

Sleep in vs running.

This is a tough tough choice I face nearly every day.

Because my job requires me to work until at least 8 pm, and at the moment till 8.45, I don't get home to have dinner until around about 9 at night.

It also means that I refuse to get up until 9am. Sleep is important, and without it I am a grumpy grumpy girl. Some runners can get up at 4am to go for a run, and on race day the adrenalin kicks in and the early start doesn't bother me. In fact, I know that if I go for a run as soon as I get up I am much more likely to feel happier at the end of the run, be that because I held my pace, or because I ran further or faster than normal. But on any normal day, the thought of waking up early to go on a run is super hard for my brain to accept. Even though I love running, and know I will be stoaked at the end, I find it so hard to fight sleep!

So today, which is my last day of work before the school holidays start and I get a two-week holiday, my brain was already in holiday mode and I slept in instead of going for my run. Not only could I not get up early to go for it, but I couldn't even get up at my normal time to get out there!

Right now I'm thinking to myself,

"Hello? You're training for your first ever half marathon in TWO WEEKS! Shouldn't you therefore be actually training?" 

I mean, even now I'm typing this blog instead of getting my running gears on and going for a jog.

 Writing running blog ≠ actual running :P

Hmm, have time to put make-up on and pose for a photo, but not to go for a run...

But luckily, next week I will be on holiday when other adults (aka, my friends) are not. I will have hours upon hours in which to go for runs! I will be so bored, I might even go for a bike ride afterwards (ok, probably not, let's not get carried away).


I hope you are looking forward to a run-filled week from me next week!

Better now!

Thanks for all your concern after my self-inflicted illness haha

On Sunday I was MUCH MUCH BETTER!!

Look how chuffed I was haha



And would you believe it, I smashed out a 12km run easy as. I am not sure why it was so so easy. Breathing was fine; pace was fine; keeping it up was fine. Probably because it was a be-a-utiful day! It was sunny, I ran along the river and around the University, there were cherry trees everywhere, man I love cherry trees! I was in a goooood mood


So this Sunday I am hopefully going to find my 15km just as easy... I hope the sun is shining and I am not hung over and not knackered from a rugby club dinner on Saturday.

On a completely unrelated note, my hair has been growing! And not snapping off. 

However, it has come to another stand-still :( I honestly use the creme de la creme of shampoos and conditioners (or at least that is what one hairdresser said when I told her what I used), I still don't often straighten go crazy with hot tools on it. Hairdressers are always confused as to why my hair is so dry and why is doesn't grow and why it snaps off.

They say, "Oh, you shouldn't tie it up when it is wet."
I don't.
They say, "You should use protein shampoo."
I did.
"You shouldn't dye over the bits that have already been dyed."
I have never.
"You shouldn't get such closer together foils. I'll do it like this for you."
Ok.
"I'm going to give you skinny foils"
Um... as long as it matched what I already have.
What the hell, why doesn't it match?
"You use too my protein shampoo."
I say, "What the hell, you just told me to use it."


Is there such thing as a hair doctor??? I need one. Not an idiot hairdresser. Got the running under control, why not my wrecked hair???!

Too hungover

Am too hung over for a run today.

Last night was Netball prizegiving, and because our team coached ourselves we got a bar tab. I'm sure you can imagine how things went from there!

When I'm feeling better I will go for my long run haha

But for now I think I will go back to bed :P

Night! 

Awkward...

Went for a run today. Was supposed to run as fast as I could for 25 minutes. Instead I ran as fast as I could for about 1.5km then went back to normal pace.... I tried!

The way I see it, is it's like going back to square one, but in a good way. It's like when I started running. I'd run the first 1km, then walk for a bit, then run the rest. I have to build up my stamina in the exact same way. For now, I will need to work towards being able to hard-run a long distance.

On the awkward side, on both runs this week I have been spotted by workmates. One guy was completely normal about it. Except it was the day I was utterly soaked... definitely a bit awkward.

Today, a girl mentioned she'd seen me and was definitely smirking... what? Why? I was on a run. Looking after my health. Getting fit. Having fun. I'm not even a crazy slow runner (most of the time...). Why does that deserve a smirk? My shirt wasn't even see-through this time! WHAT IS THERE TO SMIRK ABOUT?!

Trying to look kind, but actually looking patronising.
Found this here.

So, that was a bit awkard too.

Have you ever had that? People thinking there's something to feel superior about just because they see you.... doing what? Something different from normal? Something that may imply that you are unhappy with yourself or how you look? Why should I be embarrased that I was on a run? I'm PROUD that I'm a runner. No smirk necessary.

When the BF is away...

....the mice come out to play?

No that's not really what I meant haha.

What I mean is that whenever I don't stay at my partner's house, I often am more motivated to go for a run.

Usually when I wake up at his house, I have to walk home. And before I do that, I have to put in my contact lenses, and I have to put on make up, which means I also have to wash my face at his house. When I get home, I've already got a fair amount of my morning routine done, so I often think, "Run? Neh. Too lazy. Already up now."

So when I sleep at my own house, I can wake up, get into my running gears straight away, not bother about putting make up on (well, not a lot... yes I am that vain), and just get out and go!

Looking forward to doing just this tomorrow!

Hopefully it doesn't rain again haha

Wardrobe malfunction!

On a normal night, I will stay up till past midnight. I don't do much, just check out a few things on the internet, do a bit of work, watch the late night news. I am often at work till after 8.30, so I have tea quite late too. So I usually sleep in till aroud 9.30. I realise for most people this is a crazy sleep in, but some days I struggle to get up even at this time!

Last night, however, the BF and I were in bed before 10. Crazy! Then, when I woke up at 8.20 I was awake and ready for the day! This almost never happens to me haha

So I got up and went for a run!!

I wasn't planning on doing a long run, even though I had a bit of extra time. It was drizzling a bit, but not the huge amount it has been lately. I have a bit of a confession - I do not wear hard out running gears every time I run. Obviously I wear a decent pair of running shoes, but I only own one pair of running tights, and more often than not I'll run in my Nettie training shorts. Not only this, but I'll often just wear an oversized, cotton Netball shirt. Not ideal for running, but I have so many of them, they are more convenient than washing the three expensive dri-fit material shirts I have.

So today I was in standard shorts and a Netball shirt, out on my run.

Yeah, it was raining but I wasn't really bothered. I was in a really good frame of mind for running today. Even when I was passed by a 50+ yo man, I was like "I am running with the best of them! This old guy is clearly a keen as runner, still running in his 50s/60s, in the rain! I am clearly as keen as him to be out here in this weather!! Yaaaaay running high! I'm a legend!", instead of "omg I suck I just got passed by a 60 yo".

But then, as I was running down one of the main streets in my city, it dawned on me.

Remember how I said it was only drizzling? But how the past few weeks it has been pissing down? Well today I underestimated the rain. I was running, totally soaked through, in a white shirt. In the rain. With a black sportsbra on. Down one of the main streets. In a seethrough shirt. I am an idiot.


By the time I got home, the front of me was drenched. I had water in my eyes, the front of my shirt was clinging to me, my hair was totally matted and yet the back was COMPLETELY dry??!! Why couldn't the front have been dry?? How does that happen? Not only that buy I had to condition my hair twice just to get all the knots out.

I realise I look about 15, have terrible re-growth, and that this picture is ridiculously pixelated.

But besides all that, I am still stoaked that my run went so well! 6.5km in 42 mins. Not a speed run, but still really pleased I got out there and went for a run :) Even if I did look like I was in a wet t-shirt competition.

15k today

Yeah, 15k that I didn't do.

I'm still injured. Deja vu? This is definitely repeating what was happening a few months ago.

What should I be doing instead? Swimming? I hate swimming. You have to pay to use the pool (don't have to pay for running on the street), you have to wear togs, then you have to spend ages drying off before you get in the car to go home to shower. And you get chlorine in your hair.

Cycling? Don't own a bike. Don't own a helmet. Both too expensive to buy.

Gym? Expensive. Have to make time, rather than just go out the door when I feel like it. Whole weeks' worth of money wasted.

Ugggh why is staying fit and healthy so hard? And why is it making me feel UNhealthy and sore?

Today is definitely a day for catching up on blogs. Probably wedding- and interior design-related ones, rather than running.

Bad but good....

Today I went on my "speed run", only I was not speedy at all.

Having had such stiff legs this past week, with semi-sprained calf and other muscles, I thought "Hmm. I shouldn't run for a few days. On Thursday I will be FIiiiiiiine!"

On Thursday I was not fine, but I was stupid and went anyway. It was bad in that my knees were not happy. Half-way through it was like my bones were grinding against each other. It was bad in that my breathing would not settle. I was huffing and puffing like I was back in January.

But it was good in that I didn't stop! I refused to throw in the towel, and I ran the whole measley 3km because I didn't want to be a quitter.

Boy did I pay for it for the rest of the day; my knees were shot. I have no idea how I will manage my 15km on Sunday in preparation/as part of my training for my half marathon in October.

So, today my speed run was bad because it really hurt, my breathing was rubbish, but it was good in that I didn't give in, but then, it was really bad because in reality I should have kept my head, and realised that turning back for home was probably better for myself in the long run (haha PUN!)

The moral is, being a stubborn runner can be good, but it can be bad!! :( So to cheer myself up, here's a funny pun:

Haha, gettit?

Cheeky monkeys

Today I went for another fartlek. Seems I really enjoy them! There is just something about running fast and hard. Do bear in mind that I am only running hard and fast for five minutes at a time, though, haha.

But today, not so enjoyable. I walked some of my run, my knees packed it in, I got a sore shoulder and side, and did I mention I walked some? And now, even though I stretched, my thighs are stiff as. Boooo.

On the upside, I did make a monkey display out of paper today at work, with a big speech bubble saying "Don't monkey around! Re-enrol now for term 4!".

It took up the better portion of my afternoon where we didn't have any kiddies. If you are unsure what I do, I am a tutorrrrrrrr. I avoid teaching my students to use multiple letters in words, though. Maybe tomorrow I will upload a picture! But till then, here is a display I did for Term 2, it was ahhhmazing!



What kind of job to do have? Do you get to spend hours cutting animal shapes out of coloured paper?

Whoops...

Did I mention that during my 10km race it was pissing down?

Well that day had nothing on today. It BUCKETED down all weekend. The front of my house was a swamp.

So, as you may guess, I didn't do my 12km training run :( I feel MEGA guilty and sad! That means that I only got to 1 run of 4 this week. Pathetic. I didn't even have Netball because the season is over.

Instead, I stayed inside and ate lamingtons with the BF, watched the ABs beat Argentina, and cleaned under my mum's kitchen sink as it has been a total mess for the past 20 years. She and Dad are currently in Bangkok/on a flight to Amsterdam, so she can't stop me from throwing out year's and year's worth of plastic bottles and containers.


On the up side, the other day I went for a paced/fartlek run, where I ran as hard as I can for 5 minutes, then jogged for the next 5 minutes. And I ran 5km in 30 minutes! Yay. This is probably a record for me.

Hopefully I get some decent use out of my running shoes soon! Long-run on a weekday, here I come!

Training for a half

Heck yeah I just wrote that!

Do I expect to run it all? Hmm, debatable.

Am I going to try? Fo Sho!

Here is a week screen shot of the plan I prepared for myself for the Half I didn't run.


I planned the runs I would do on every day, and on what days I would do cross-training (i.e., Netball).
Yes, it is colour coded. Yes, those colours are arranged into a rainbow.
No, I did not stick to any one of those runs. I did stick to the rest days though, haha.

My new training plan does not require for me to run on a certain day; instead, it is flexible. I chose what type of run I do on a day.

For example, a week consists of

1. A long run
2. A short, as-fast-as-I-can run
3. A medium, fartlek run (Slow then fast then slow then fast)
4. Crosstraining/moderate run
   

Do I actually know anything about running, aside from how to actually run? No. However, my wee plan was created by an exercise physiologist.

Last week I did a 10km run on Sunday. It wasn't easy, but it didn't totally kick me in the shins either. I was a bit sore afterwards, even though I stretched a lot, and I didn't get a PR, but it was a good run overall.

Hmm, thinking of sore legs, my knees haven't hurt for a long long time. Hurray!

So, here's hoping it'll do the trick, and that I don't bank too many runs!

10km race

So. My 10km race.

On the day there were 3 races: A Half, a 10km and a 5km. The half was timed by the people running the race, and the runners all had wee timers or whatever stuck to their bibs. Unfortunately, they left the timing of the 10k to the runners themselves :P

At 10am the runners for the half marathon left, and then the runners for the 10km merged onto the road, and ten minutes after the half marathoners we started.

It was pretty cruisey at the start; there was a big hill at the start that you could coast down. The scenery was beautiful across the bridge over the river. It also ran along the lagoon, and passed some beautiful houses.

Yes I realise it looks cold - that is because it is Winter here.
OH did I mention it was ABSOLUTELY PISSING DOWN THE ENTIRE TIME. The whole race.

The course was really flat so it wasn't hard, but mentally I wasn't the best. The rain didn't help. I was struggling a bit at the start, and so I started, again, thinking of passing people, and I perked myself up by thinking "I am going to make this 10km my bitch!" Lame I know. Luckily a lot of it was along a route that I run all the time, which was good for me I think.

With my plan to run it in 1.05, I was trying to run 6.50 minute Ks. But that pretty much went out of the window on my second km that wasn't downhill. So I thought bugger it, I'm going to run it how I like it, and just do my best to push the second half.

At the half-way mark there was a wee old bloke who read out our times to us as we ran passed him. It was really cute haha and he called out "45 minutes something something", and I said "Thanks!" while secretly thinking what the fuck, I am slow today. There is no way I am hitting my mark today.

But I kept up, and I kept passing people (although along the lagoon stretch I did get passed by one lady, grrr), and I happily pushed it. There were even some bagpipers practising along the route, which I took my earpiece out for.

Once the track looped back to the bridge, I passed a walker. He was humming, so it was tough getting in front of him! I felt like I was going pretty well, even though lots of half-marathoners were passing me. One boy from my work did, and he turned around and waved which was really nice.

But I hadn't thought about how much of a bitch that hill was going to be running it on the way up. It killed me. I was huffing and puffing, I may as well have been walking haha. I even walked for two steps before I gave myself a big telling off and picking up the pace again. I felt sad, but at least I knew I was really knuckling under and giving it everything. I was shagged.

The end of the race was misleading; I thought the finish line was much much sooner than it was. In that last .5km after the hill I was shamelessly passed by quite a few people, including the walker I'd passed earlier. I kept running, and when I turned the corner to the last few metres (maybe 200?), I couldn't go any faster.

You know how getting to the finish line somehow gives you that extra boost of energy? Well that didn't happen for me. I looked up and saw the big clock, and it read 1.19.47. I thought, You're joking. My aim was 1.05, and I'm nearly 15 minutes over?? What a joke. I dug deep and picked up the pace for the last 20 metres so that I would get under 1.20.00, and luckily I did, but I was still waaaay off my aim. :(

The bonus at the end? George (the BF) was waiting at the finish line! I didn't know he'd come along. Yes, he was clearly there to report on it, not to see me, but he did call my name and wave in my face to get my attention after I'd crossed that finish line. And then he pocketed my ipod for me because by then it was bucketing down. I was freezing and drenched, my hair was totally matted into a nest. So I was pretty happy when he said he could take me home. So well done George, you're a top BF haha, even if I'm not a top runner.

We got a free energy drink and bananas (neither of which I had, I just beelined for the water), and the half marathoners got a medal. I was jealous; I wanted a medal! haha. But I was gutted that I was so so so over my time. George said that when he interviewed the winner, he'd said the rain slowed everyone down. I realised that 1.05.00 was very ambitious, but I'd run it in 1.08 before hand, so when I came in a 1.19.55 I was really really gutted.

It wasn't until 7pm that night, sitting at home in my pyjamas, drinking a hot coffee, after my shower and hours later, that I realised the clock wasn't showing our time. It was showing the time for the half marathoners. Who started 10 minutes before us. Which meant that I was actually 10 minutes out.

Which means I actually finished in 1.09!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Relief and redemption! Haha yaaaay!

Bit of a gap...

Wow there really has been quite the gap since I last updated my wee running blog.

This is mainly because I have been on holiday in Britain and Paris!

What? You don't think it's normal to do stag leaps in photos?

This one was taken just before my stag leap. Poor timing on the photographer's behalf!


Just visiting Vernon and Petunia Dursley at 4 Privet Drive, Surrey. Harry Potter wasn't there though, obviously.

I went with my sister for a wedding in Scotland. After the wedding, she went with her boyfriend to Iceland, and I went to visit a friend in Kent for a week, then do a Contiki tour in London and Paris. It was fantastic!! It was my first time to Europe and I totally loved it. The whole thing was so cool, my favourite parts being visiting the Harry Potter studios, biking in Paris, and being in places and seeing things that are heaps heaps older than anything in New Zealand haha.

Big question is: Did I go running while on holiday?

Heck yea I did! I am definitely that extreme haaha. They were incredibly short runs. I went for one in Fenwick (just outside Glasgow), one in Kent, and one around Russell Square in London, where I got lost and actually ran for much longer than I realised.

One was 4.5, one 2.8, and the other I think was around 2km. Oh, and I also went for a 3km run on a treadmill in our incredibly flash hotel in Korea. So nothing terribly strenuous! I still felt like a champion though, going for runs while on holiday haha.

As you may be able to guess, I didn't get any training in for my half marathon in August. So I didn't do it.

A bit gutless? Yes possibly. Realistic? Yes, I think so. I hadn't done any long runs since I got back from Europe, just a few short ones. I have recently been promoted at work (Hurray!), and have found it really hard to find time to get out and run. A poor excuse, I know, but what can you do! Since I've settled in to the role I'm definitely going to set aside more time to get up early and knock off a run.

Instead, I did the 10km race, with the aim of finishing in 65 minutes. This was a bit ambitious, I think, but hey! Nothing wrong with a BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal. Lame I know, but my boss's silly sayings have caught on, just like I have started him saying 'sheezamageeza' instead of swearing).

But right now I have to go and make tea (mashed potato and steak), so I will tell you how it went later!

Fantasy Netball

For years my bloke has been obsessed with NRL Dream Team.

It's where you pick players you want from every League team to make your own 'dream team'. Then, if those players do well in real games, they, and your team overall, get points. You play against other people with dream teams and whomever gets the most points wins (obviously).

He looked forward to it more than anything I can think of. No really, I just thought about it for ages and the only thing he might have looked forward to more is actually playing a game himself. I thought this was stupid. Really, really stupid.

Until I started my very own NETBALL DREAM TEAM! I'm a bit late on the boat - the ANZ Championship is already up to round 11. My team is stacked! I've got some of my favourite players and some newbies who I'll be keeping a close eye on! They'd better perform well this week lol

Blauurrrgh

Definitely how I feel today! How I've felt all week!

BUT I DID go for a run. Hurray! A wee 6km one that wasn't hard but wasn't cruisey either. Some days I cannot believe that I ran a whole 13km. There really is a lot of truth in being mentally prepared for a run. On a day where I haven't planned a route, it's often tempting to take a short one. Luckily I have never really done that - instead I seem to run further than planned! But recently I've hit a plateau with my running (or even a downhill...) and it's not been fun. It results in feeling Bleaaauurgh!

This month I set goals that, in hindsight, were far too ambitious. I should have known that I'd find it difficult to fit in three runs a week along with Netball three times a week. However, I also should have tried much much harder! One run a week is NOT the type of runner I want to be!

I didn't make this picture and I wish I could remember where I got it from! Sorry!

Warning: This post is not about running!

I have some bad news.

I feel like I have fallen off the running bandwagon.

Even just saying those words makes me feel sad and guilty, and want to promise to get back on it as soon as possible! But it seems that life just gets in the way - my job, seeing my bloke, Netball... not to mention my total laziness when it comes to doing my washing so I've actually had no clean work out gear for days. That's been my excuse anyway.

Instead I've been reading a million wedding blogs (an obsession. Sad, I know, especially considering I don't even live with my BF, and we are years and years off weddings), and preparing for one of my favourite, anual jobs: Wedding Expo modelling! Every year I get to model beautiful wedding dresses (and one year a not-so-beautiful wig) at the Wedding expo. Here I am last year wearing a hat/fascinator. The lady was adamant that it MUST be called a 'hatinator'. No joke.

Here is the 'hatinator' in all its glory from the back.

This is one of the biggest dresses I have worn. It was a bitch to walk around in and collected fluff from the carpet the whole day.

This photo was actually used in an advertisement for some wedding magazine!! They obviously couldn't tell there was a shit-load of blue fluff on the skirt.
Sorry the picture is so fuzzy. You can see it for real here

Because of this year I want pearls. And a spray-tan all year round. But not the hair-do.

It is something I look forward to doing all year! This is the fourth year I've done it. Sometimes we wear average dresses, sometimes we have really stupid hair, but man it is so much fun! I will try to get some photos.

I will also try to actually GO FOR A RUN THIS WEEK!!!! I'm supposed to be training for a half in AUGUST! Yikes :(

Running the 13 km!

Back to re-capping how my race went!

My friend was speedy. Her pace was faaar too fast for me; I didn't even think about trying to keep up with her. This was my race, I was going to run it they way I knew how. I'm smart enough not to risk being able to run the whole thing just so that I can look cool with a friend. Besides, I wouldn't have looked very cool when I told her I'd have to stop to walk. She ended up running it in 1.10 with her boyfriend. Crazy! Nice way to spend your Sunday though haha

The start was not the easiest. I've had tougher runs, but I was worried my head wasn't in it. The route was rolling hills - up down, up down, up down - and I wasn't expecting it. The road just went past farms, so there wasn't much to look at or run past really. Even though it was beautiful scenery, the lack of landmarks made it feel like I was running really slowly, and not getting very far at all.

However, I carried on! I would spot a person in front of me and chase them down. I know that sounds horrid, but otherwise I wouldn't have had anything to preoccupy me. Right at the start there was an old guy, probably in his 70s, WALKING AT MY RUNNING PACE. It took me so long to get level with him. When I did I said "You've got some pace on you! You're walking as fast as I'm running!" and this old bloke goes "No no, you're doing really well!" it was so so cute and easily my favourite moment of the whole race. We talked about the weather and how it was a great turn out - much nicer than last year he said, when it rained heaps. I told him I'd only been running since January, so it was my first real race ever. When it started to look like I was getting ahead, he said "Have a good race!" He was just so lovely.

I hit 4km almost exactly at 30 minutes. 29 to be exact. I knew I'd need to pick up the pace to get the whole 13km done in 1 hour 30.

So I carried on and past a few people. Quite a few, actually! There was one girl who I was chasing down for ages. I only managed to pass her when she stopped to stretch out her leg, but she didn't catch up to me so I supposed that counts! After about 5km it flattened out. I had the distances written on my arm - 2km, 5km, 10km. I ran past two water stops, and I walked a few steps while I had some sips. It was too hard to run and drink at the same time! I nearly got covered in water the first time I tried hahaha

When I saw the sign that said '4km' to go, I was chuffed. 4km is easy! I was feeling well fine. I hit 8km at around 55 minutes. When I hit 10km, I popped my ipod on and was away. I must have picked up my pace, because that's when I could no longer sense the lady behind me. I had a jet plane (lolly!) just as I hit the part of the track that ran along the river. That was beaaaaaauuutiful.

Part of the track ran perpendicular to the river. It looped around an inlet to the river so that you momentarily ran away from the river at a 90 degree angle, then back towards the river so you could see the runners behind you. Some of the marathon runners had caught up with me and were passing me (!!??), AND THE OLD GUY WAS STILL BEHIND ME. HE'D KEPT UP THAT PACE THE WHOLE TIME! What a legend!!!!!!!  I hope that when I am his age I'm just as awesome as he is. I was honestly in AWE and grinning from ear to ear for him.

Once I hit 2km to go, I picked up the pace. Nothing like a little Avril Lavigne to get you going hahaha. I passed a few more people, and I wish I'd pushed it a bit harder. The last 1km was down one road, then the last 10 metres was around a corner. Once I turned that corner I made for the finish line, but I didn't see the massive clock they had with my time. I'm so gutted now that I didn't see it! But the time on my watch was at 1.32. I got some flowers (it was mothers' day), some water and a banana.

As well as a huge running-high and shit loads of pride!

13km done!

13km baby!

I know it's been over a week since I last updated. This is because the 13km Bunnythrope to Palmerston North run had snuck up on me without my realising. How cheeky of it! I did manage to get in a morning's worth of preparation hahahaha

My goal was to complete it in 1.30. I came in, according to my watch, at 1.32. Yaaay! So so so stoaked! Somehow I missed the HUGE clock at the end showing me my official time? Idiot lol

So I went for a run on Wednesday, even though I was supposed to be resting before the race. I also played two games of Netball and had Netball training, which was heaps of fun.

Anyway, this is my race-day eating plan. I got my friend (PE-Kylie!) to tell me when and what I should eat/drink!
Two hours before the race starts: Breakfast. No caffiene. I had peanut butter on toast (just like normal), with bananas on top. Om nom nom nom!

One hour and a half/One hour to go: Red powerade. Usually I prefer blue powerade but I didn't want to be running with a blue tongue! I drank maybe half of this because I didn't want to need to pee half way through the race!

I also took two nurofen for my knees/ham-strings/calfs! These have been BITCHES recently. I need to stretch them all the freaking time it's very very annoying. I am well sick of them being sore.

Once we got to the start I went to the toilet, and then hopped in line to wait. Waiting sucked lol, but it did give me a chance to get mentally prepared. I had a good think about how I wanted to run the whole thing. No stops! No point entering a race if you are going to be lazy about it. Lucky I was standing with a friend who told me they were starting! Cos I hadn't noticed them counting down at all hahaha.

So off I went!

"Organic" products

Now you might remember that one of my 'resolutions' for this year was to take better care of my hair. So far that's meant not dying it as often, not dying as much of it, avoiding straightening it/using hot tools on it, using expensive shampoo and using treatments.

Today I dyed my hair for the first time all year. I went to a new hair dresser and she was so lovely. One of the most important things I find in a hairdresser is someone who genuinely listens to you, and who you can chat with. Obviously whenever you try a new hairdresser, you're bound to have differences in the result. So today, my hair was a bit yellow-er than normal, and a bit more stripey than I'd like it. HOWEVER, HAIR is NOT an important thing to worry about in the scheme of things. I know that after a few days, it will no longer be stripey. I also know that with a few washes with purple shampoo, it will be back to it's less-yellow self. Not only this, but I know that this happens every single time I got to the hairdressers, whether new or not.

So even though there's a wee while before I'm totally, 100% happy with how my hair looks, I know that IT WILL BE FINE! And if not then she lives right around the corner from me and is too happy to fix it :)

Furthermore (I sound like I'm writing a persuasive essay!), she uses 'organic' products. Now, generally, being organic means natural. However, my mum's a chemist so I know that organic actually means it's made up of carbon atoms. Did you know that EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD is made up of chemicals? So when a product tells you it's got no chemicals in it then it's talking bull shit. What it actually means is no nasty, man-made chemicals that might do a lot of damage. However, one must keep in mind that anthrax is an organic chemical. Anyway, what I'm hoping is that the natural products won't be so harsh on my hair, therefore making it less likely to snap off!

Here's to hoping my hair will get beautifully long and blonde and non-stripey!

Cheeky extra k

Yesterday was a holiday in New Zealand for Anzac day. In our family, it means it's my sister's birthday, and has been my mum's birthday the day before hand. So we've been eating cake and going out for tea and not having proper lunches because of the holiday/birthdays!

So I decided to go for a decent run on my day off. I've also had that NASTY ANNOYING INJURY that's been putting me off my runs recently. Hence why I was mega keen to get out there yesterday!

I planned a 6 km run on mapmyrun that ended with a distance for a cool down. I ran without my ipod in - I use it as an incentive for if I find the run tough. I say to myself "Just to the next corner and you can use your ipod" instead of having to walk. Once I'd done my 6km, I realised that I still had a big of energy, so I ran a bit further and ended up running 7.5 km! A cheeky extra 1.5km hahaha

It's always great to exceed your goals. Can't wait to do it again!

What I've learnt today

Saturday, two games of netball, won both (smashed both, actually!) and one sore knee.



I only played one quarter of the first game, but the whole of the second. Man it is so awesome to be back! Our team did some beautiful plays and passes (and some ugly ones, but let's not think about those haha), and everyone was soo lovely!

To be honest, my knee was a bit sore.

 BUT THEN...
My awesome friend Kylie came over to my house and gave it a mean as sports massage. I LOVE having PE and dietian friends lol

So, things I learnt about giving a massage
1. Massage in the direction of the blood flow, i.e., towards the heart. Don't know why this is, but just do it.
2. The harder you go, the slower you go.
3. Massage with a flat hand to begin with, to warm the muscle up. Then you can use thumbs/fingers/knuckles/noses/ears whatever tickles your fancy. 
3. Shave your legs before you have a leg massage
4. Don't leave the Anti-Flamme on the floor with the top open, and accidentally stand on it so anti-flamme goes everywhere. My room is going to smell like peppermint for days.

Yes I know there are two threes. I was lazy.

Kylie also said that my right knee was close to going too. So she's offered to give me another one on Tuesday!! AND we found powerade in her car right when I said I felt like one, AND she found some lipgloss in there too. What a great day!!!!!

Brown and blonde

I am SO FREAKING SICK OF INJURIES!

All this extra exercise is really taking its toll. I have never had so many injuries in this many months.

But then I've never wanted to exercise this much! So unfair that I want to so much, but can't. I played Netball on Tuesday (when I got injured), and was naughty and went to NB training on Thursday. I took it easy, but in hindsight, it probably didn't do me any good.

I'm supposed to have my first game tomorrow :( But I think I will probably end up a cheerleader instead!

On a completely unrelated note, my hair is an absolute mess. I desperately need to get it dyed, and a trim, and a wash! HAHA I've contemplated dying my hair back brown... but honestly it just does not suit me. My skin is faaar to pale. I'll just have to battle out with blonde!!It looks heaps better blonde, I think. Ignore my sleepy/drunk eyes haha

Packing my running shoes!

Back from my holiday to Brisbane, Australia!


I have no pictures as I have no camera :( Hopefully I will get my Iphone soon so that I can finally have some way of taking photos haha

The whole time we were there, my friend and I wanted to go for a run. I KNEW I should have taken my running shoes! But my bag was packed (Haha pun!) with clothes, that I now know I didn't need. Bridie (the friend I was with) is a fitness fanatic. So we were both really missing running! We even got given free passes to a gym! It would have been perfect!

Moral: I am never travelling without my running shoes ever again!

Easier and easier

Today I did a 7km run. Running honestly feels like it is getting easier and easier. I felt like I could have run further if I'd set my mind to it; however I'd been mentally preparing to stop at one intersection in particular, so once I got to it, I stopped.

It was such a nice route! It was a beautiful day, there were people everywhere walking dogs and children, and I ran along the river. I ran the whole thing with music; this might explain my time of 46 minutes.

Bloody lucky I went for a run, cos I've had so much chocolate today! Hahaha Mum bought her church some little eggs, and there were heaps left over so I've been helping myself... not exactly good for my health!

Oh well. When I'm in Brisbane this week I will have to be careful to eat... carefully...
That's right! I'm going to Brisbane! And although I wish it were to watch the Queensland Firebirds play the Central Pulse on Sunday (Get up Manawatu!), it is for work a conference. Luckily, I am going three days earlier for a wee get-away :) And who can really complain about a paid trip away? After such a cruisey 5 day weekend (Thursday just felt like a weekend, cos I went to a gig and had a crazy drunk girls' night), and a holiday in a hot city with a casino and awesome shopping, I am going to be all laxed out, and rearing to get into work next term... well at least I hope so haha

Can't wait! Am debating whether or not to pack my running gears... maybe I'll knock off a cheeky 10km while I'm there (haha probably not).