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.